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Travis Sawchik FanGraphs Chat
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Travis Sawchik
12:46
I'm not sure how MLB -- if at all -- would deal with a club breaking an illegal verbal agreement
mg
12:46
Will Otani create a more complicated dynamic around ownership-coaching dialogue about his usage as a player for whatever team he ends up with?
Travis Sawchik
12:47
Ohtani is already the most complicated FA case in history and there are going to be issues like this that arise that we hadn't really considered
Old timer
12:47
How could the A's package their offer to entice Otani to sign with them?  I know; likely fantasy but we can always hope.
Travis Sawchik
12:48
Hey, the A's have surprised us before ... and I would think Ohtani would enjoy living in the Bay Area
Christian
12:48
Enough of the Ohtani talk! What are the Cardinals going to do with all those OFs? They have O'Neill, Martinez and Sierra waiting there for cheap. Trade Grichuk and Piscotty plus a pitching prospect for Stanton?
Travis Sawchik
12:48
I saw Jerry Crasnick poll a number of executives about the landing spot for Stanton if he is traded and the Cardinals topped the list.
12:49
It makes sense. Cardinals have a crowded 40-man and could use some star talent
Jeff
12:49
What if Otani goes to the Astros? At what point do they become like the Golden State Warriors of baseball?
Travis Sawchik
12:49
What if the Yankees' plan is to make Ohtani a Pitcher-DH-Manager
Matt E G
12:49
Could the Yanks lack of a manager hurt their chances of signing Ohtani?
Travis Sawchik
12:50
Yes, Ohtani could make the Astros Golden State-like ... which is why I don't think it's great for MLB
Aaron
12:50
Surely whether or not Ohtani goes to the NL depends on whether *he* wants to play the field - not what the team wants/what makes most sense. At least one NL team will agree to him being an OF if that's what he has set his heart on.
Travis Sawchik
12:51
Right
Jstodola
12:51
Seems possible a team may give up a lot to get Stanton and he may still op out after 2020! Worth the risk?
Travis Sawchik
12:52
Yeah, it's pretty complicated
I am the walrus
12:52
Happ for Honeywell?  Make sense both?  Who would have to add to this trade Cubs/Rays to make it happen?
Travis Sawchik
12:52
I would think the Rays would value Honeywell more than Happ
Josh
12:52
Could you see Ohtani on a team like the Giants, where he can pitch and play LF? That would be pretty fun to watch
Travis Sawchik
12:52
Ohtani in SF would be pretty cool
12:53
And the Giants need Ohtani
Richie
12:53
I'm a fan of an NL team, and do prefer baseball where pitchers have to hit, double switches, etc.; however, this Ohtani business seems like reason #247 why the NL needs the DH.
Travis Sawchik
12:53
Or why the AL should rid itself of the DH. I prefer the NL game
a different matt
12:53
Ohtani really makes a 6 man rotation more possible by taking up DH at bats you probably wouldn't want a DH only player
Travis Sawchik
12:54
Good point! Challenge is teams already struggle to find five competent starters
Kosch
12:56
Stros fan here...since Ohtani is knowingly forfeiting serious money by coming over early, he clearly wants to win.  He's going to a good young franchise that has a championship window open and budget to spend down the line.  That limits your SEA, OAK, KC, White Sox etc
Travis Sawchik
12:56
Well, I don't think KC is going to be on the list... but if Ohtani is looking three years down the road the White Sox could be of interest
Ghost Chili Davis
12:57
Is base stealing only really valuable when a) your chance of success is over 80%, b) when the game is very close, c) when home runs are not as likely, or d) all of the above?  (there could be other combo answers of course).  Where did stealing bases go?
Travis Sawchik
12:57
2017 was not a great environment for base-stealing ... but if you have an 80 percent success rate you should have a green light
Nick Morris
12:58
assuming Ron Acuna plays a full season... over or under 5.0 WAR?
Travis Sawchik
12:58
Only 18 position players reached 5 WAR, so I'd go under
Jstodola
12:58
Are we done talking about juiced baseballs or will that come up again?
Travis Sawchik
12:59
It's going to be an early-season story line, for sure
And y'all -- at least those that voted in Jeff's poll -- actually liked the juiced ball https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/how-you-felt-about-the-2017-season/
1:00
So why would MLB/Rawlings change the ball?
legeisc
1:00
When do the "juiced balls" just become the "balls".
Travis Sawchik
1:00
2019
Ghost Chili Davis
1:00
I forgot to list risk of injury in the basestealing question.  Is the headfirst slide and hand injury another reason we see less stealing from player with the potential to steal more bases (say, Trout or Goldschmidt).
Travis Sawchik
1:01
In Hardball Dynasty I usually have my manager settings on baserunning set at "never"
Ghost Chili Davis
1:01
What percentage of steals of second (or any base but home) are foot first slides?
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