Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat – 12/16/24

Ben Clemens: Hey everybody, welcome to my final chat of the yr

Ben Clemens: 2024 was an superior yr of baseball, and I’m going to recollect it fairly fondly, so when you have any yr in evaluation kind questions, ship them my manner

Ben Clemens: within the meantime, let’s reply some common questions

Sig Mejdal: ought to I recover from it and commerce Coby mayo for an SP like Stop or Castillo? Or hoard prospects and hope they work out and signal a lesser SP like Flaherty?

Balmore Invoice: What are we doing?! Can we not commerce extra from our huge league roster (Mountcastle, Heston, Ramon urias) and/or prospects for pitching? Is anybody apart from Jackson and basallo off limits? Who ought to we goal?

Ben Clemens: Ah sure, “Right here’s Ramon Urias, give me one of the best pitcher you may for him”

Ben Clemens: sadly, that wouldn’t get too far

Ben Clemens: I believe that the O’s are in an attention-grabbing spot. The actual factor I would like them to do is signal some gamers to extensions

Ben Clemens: I favored their commerce for Burnes, for instance, and I wouldn’t hate seeing them replicate that, however one factor I really feel very positive about is that they shouldn’t do half measures

Ben Clemens: Half of Adley’s group management is gone. 1/3 of Gunnar’s. You will have a uncommon alternative. The current issues

El Tim: If Shohei pitches most of a full season at an aceish degree, may he win Comeback Participant of the 12 months the season after successful back-to-back unanimous MVPs? Appears very on-brand.

Zilko: I do know all of it is dependent upon worth, but it surely feels just like the Purple Sox ought to double down and get Burnes, no?  Saved cash by buying and selling for Crochet, a number of elite place participant prospects on the cusp of the MLB.  Burnes-Crochet 1-2 feels prefer it will get you fairly dang far in each the common and postseason.

Ben Clemens: I believe that they’re in want of extra gamers

Ben Clemens: pitcher? Bregman? Teo? I don’t have an excellent robust tackle which possibility they need to take

Ben Clemens: however this isn’t a terrific group as it’s

Nickles: Will the Yanks remorse not topping the Cubs supply for Tucker? Reportedly they balked at Gil and Lombardi.

Ben Clemens: If that reporting is true, I believe that was a giant error on their half

Ben Clemens: they even have nice proof of how nicely a commerce for a FA-to-be celebrity can work out

Pitchers Checklist: Why is the SP market a lot hotter this yr than final, when Snell and Montgomery signed so late? Are groups prioritizing clear Sport 1/2 playoff starters, no matter worth or age? Whereas the pen market has been gradual to develop. An attention-grabbing shift from the current mantra to not overpay pitchers…

Ben Clemens: Yeah, I’m stunned. I suppose we’ll have to attend for another prime hitters to signal to see whether or not it’s the entire market being sizzling or simply the pitchers who’ve signed thus far

Child: In a vacuum, ought to the Mets (a) resign Pete, (b) signal Bregman and shift Vientos, or (c) tackle the void through commerce (e.g., Arenado)?

Ben Clemens: I believe I like B most of those choices

Ben Clemens: but it surely relies upon what the marketplace for Arenado seems to be like

Davy Andrews: Hey Ben, simply wished to let you already know that you just seem within the background proper across the 2:30 mark of the video clip on the prime of this text.

Ben Clemens: Hey Davy! Spectacular spot

Ben Clemens: I questioned what sort of angle these cameras have been capturing, I suppose now I do know

Ben Clemens: I really feel like they have been completely positioned to cdatch the whole thing of the gang milling round

AAAA: Solely two defensive shift violations have been referred to as final season (each after supervisor challenges and each within the span of ~per week)–does that appear low?

Ben Clemens: not likely… you may simply have a look at the place you’re standing, which appears to make it loads more durable to unintentionally run afoul of

Visitor: Does anybody know the principles by which group names reference a metropolis or state? Might the As theoretically quickly rebrand because the Sacramento As?

Ben Clemens: I imagine they may have, becuase they selected to only be referred to as the athletics as an alternative of including at eam title

Ben Clemens: a metropolis title, moderately

TKDC: I really like the Stroll-Off characteristic you all added, although I’m just a little unhappy I got here one proportion level wanting platinum standing. Have you learnt what number of days have been coated by it? I do know it’s wanting a full yr, and I simply wished to know what number of days I didn’t go to Fangraphs?

Ben Clemens: I believe we reduce it off two Saturdays in the past

TheBeatlesShow: Hey, Ben.  Brent Rooker good for 50 HR’s in Sacramento?  Joyful holidays.

Ben Clemens: that could be a LOT of house runs

Ben Clemens: greater than Statcast thinks he would have hit if he performed the entire season in Cincy final yr

Ben Clemens: so I’m gonna say no. I don’t suppose the park goes to be one of the best hitter’s park in baseball or something. Only a lot friendlier than the Coliseum

Justin: Kyle Tucker: set-your-watch-by-him 5 conflict all star, or going-forward 8 conflict superstud?

Ben Clemens: for me, the primary

Ben Clemens: exhibit the second earlier than I’m keen to imagine it, you already know?

Justin: Greatest christmas music?

Ben Clemens: I’ve a couple of contenders, I’ll give my spouse credit score for these as a result of I wasn’t a giant Christmas music individual as a child

Ben Clemens: Christmas Wrapping by the Waitresses, Merry Christmas by Elton John and Ed Sheeran, Fairytale of New York by the Pogues, and the complete Sia Christmas album are my go tos

Ryan: Purple Sox don’t have a shortstop. Dbacks have two. Dbacks additionally want a primary baseman. Who says no to a Geraldo Perdomo for Tristian Casas commerce?

Ben Clemens: by like, loads

Ben Clemens: I believe Casas is simply higher along with having an additional yr of management

Visitor: Submit Kyle Tucker commerce: The Cubs outfield is LOADED. Do you suppose Bellinger/Suzuki are most probably to be moved?

Ben Clemens: Sure I do. Final week, Seiya’s agent talked about that he was not occupied with being a full-time DH, and that he’d particularly seemed to keep away from that when he signed his free company contract

Ben Clemens: I believe that places them in an enormous bind, tbh

Ben Clemens: there’s simply nowhere for him to play. I believe that they’re going to finish up buying and selling him, in all probability for not that a lot as a result of it’s an ungainly marketplace for nook OF bats with some good free brokers accessible for contending groups nonetheless

Ben Clemens: I’d make a transfer to get Kyle Tucker each time nonetheless, however they positively must make some extra strikes given present roster development

drhotdog: as an angels fan ive been dreading a nolan areando commerce.  is there a commerce you suppose could possibly be win-win? cuz i solely see catastrophe brewing

Ben Clemens: no. Arenado to the Angels solely is sensible as a result of he’s from there

Ben Clemens: I really like that he talked about how a lot he wished to win, then gave an inventory of groups that had a bunch of groups that eclipsed .500 and have legit WS aspirations

Ben Clemens: after which the Angels

Ben Clemens: like, you may simply say you want the place you’re from, that’s okay too

Justin: Everyone knows the Pirates aren’t gonna supply sufficient {dollars} for teoscar/santander, the principle cleanup type nook OFs in FA.  Aav in all probability 20-30.   Assuming they may afford a AAV nearer to 10-20, who’re some commerce targets who make sense?

Ben Clemens: what about Seiya???

Justin: What are your ideas on the Horwitz deal from the pirates POV?  Strong sufficient leadoff hitter at 1b for a couple of years?

Ben Clemens: that is the sort of commerce you make when you already know you’re not going to spend any actual cash in FA, in my view

Ben Clemens: he’s a wonderfully cheap blah bat, if he finally ends up as a rotational participant that’s fantastic

Ben Clemens: for those who’re relying on him as one among your greatest hitters, you probably did one thing mistaken

Yeah Effectively Hiura Towel: Even with Soto, the Mets nonetheless want pitching. They’ve received Senga and a bunch of query marks. Is that this group actually a contender with out additional additions?

Ben Clemens: I imply…. why would we anticipate no additional additions

Ben Clemens: It’s December 16 and 17 of the highest 50 free brokers have signed

Ben Clemens: ‘is that this group actually a contender’ yeah the group that simply made the NLCS, signed Juan Soto, and nonetheless has a payroll practically 100 million decrease than final yr’s is a contender

RetireNutting: WRT your O’s Adley window response…aren’t the Pirates in the same spot with Skenes’ window only a few years earlier? Couldn’t the 2 groups match up properly on say a (one among) Jared Jones/Mitch Keller for Coby Mayo type of deal together with different items to make it work?

Ben Clemens: I don’t actually perceive why the Pirates would do that

Ben Clemens: I imply, until the O’s simply bowled them over with worth. However the O’s don’t try this. they particularly attempt to win each commerce

Thanks for the chat!: Within the case of Bellinger, can money be conditionally added to the deal based mostly on decide in years?

Ben Clemens: It could actually. The Arenado-to-the-Playing cards deal had the Rockies kicking in a special amount of money based mostly on whether or not he exercised his decide out. Equally, the Mets had some conditional money on Verlander’s commerce to the Astros

Sizzling Range Please: What was probably the most impactful commerce of 2024?

Ben Clemens: The preseason Soto commerce

Ben Clemens: not solely did it spearhead the Yankees, but it surely gave the Padres a head begin on rebuilding their rotation, and the 2 mixed had enormous impacts in each leagues

Sirras: What was probably the most shocking second of 2024 for you? Most shocking storyline?

Ben Clemens: Shohei going 50/50 shocked me. I didn’t even contemplate him a contender for it

Ben Clemens: I believe that probably the most shocking storyline for me was Skenes turning into one of the best pitcher in baseball (ish)

Ben Clemens: I used to be too low on him heading into the yr

Colton: The information that the Astros are in on the Arenado sweepstakes (if that’s what we’re calling them I suppose) was not shocking, however the timing appeared off with the transferring Tucker instantly earlier than it got here out. Any concepts on a possible return for him could be when the Cardinals transfer him?

Ben Clemens: Yeah…. truthfully I may completely see this, the Astros appear to be going full thrift mode out of nowhere

Ben Clemens: and possibly they’ll get the Cardinals to eat a bunch of cash, kick in some prospects, and try this

Ben Clemens: one factor I’m inquisitive about is whether or not they suppose Paredes can play third

Ben Clemens: I believe he can, and if he’s na common defender on the market, I don’t fairly perceive the impetus to maneuver a bunch of items to get Arenado

Ben Clemens: but when they suppose he’s higher suited to first base, then I prefer it extra

SPArn: Did you get a ok (literal) have a look at Andres Chaparro in his cup of espresso final season to audibly giggle on the “If Chaparro can play third base” qualifier in at the moment’s ZIPS Nationals write up?

Ben Clemens: I watched loads of Nats video games within the second half of the yr

Dan’l: What do you suppose is the first cause for the Playing cards to maneuver Arenado this offseason? Wage aid? Honor his need for a successful group? There’s an opportunity Arenado is value extra subsequent offseason, as his common wage is decrease and possibly (?) his offense improves in 2025.

Ben Clemens: Yeah, wage aid and since he requested to be traded

Troy: The mariners appear to have put it on the market that they might commerce Luis Castillo for actual affect, seemingly at 3B or 2B. Do you suppose that commerce truly exists? It’s laborious to ascertain prying guys like Westburg or Mayo (who may not even be 3B) from Os or Vientos from the Mets

Ben Clemens: Nah, I don’t see it occurring

Ben Clemens: The Mariners may at all times fully change their methods, but it surely’s clear that they worth pitching EXTREMELY extremely

Ben Clemens: so positive, they might commerce Castillo for actual affect

Ben Clemens: however they may suppose actual affect is like, Brice Turang + Joey Ortiz

Impartial Followers Fan: Which group has one of the best bandwagoners to haters ratio going into 2025?

Ben Clemens: the Padres, possibly?

Ben Clemens: it’s query

Danny G100: I’d prefer to push again on the Suzuki factor… I believe he’s the 2nd greatest hitter on the group and may actually cut up time with Tucker in proper subject. As a cubs fan I might take loads in return like stable third baseman or a prime 2 starter on the rotation

Ben Clemens: okay, what if he tells you “I don’t need to play DH, I’m requesting a commerce if I’m not going to be an outfielder”

Ben Clemens: I believe Seiya is nice, I’m constantly making dumb predictions about how good he’ll be

Ben Clemens: however I don’t know, they’re like a fantasy group that unintentionally ended up with 5 first basemen

Ben Clemens: you may’t simply go eh, it’ll work

Ben Clemens: I’d desire to have all the nice gamers on my group. however I dunno, are you gonna ask Tucker to DH? Bench Ian Happ?

Jazzy: Is it troublesome to maneuver a participant like vientos from third to first?

Ben Clemens: I don’t imagine so, no

Ben Clemens: there aren’t loads of examples of men NOT with the ability to adapt to first

Northside: Why the curiosity in Jesus Luzardo? He’s continuously injured.

Ben Clemens: so, I’m with you

Ben Clemens: I simply don’t see it. However lots of people do

Ben Clemens: he has electrical stuff and he’s had some good outcomes when he can keep wholesome, which is unquestionably occasionally

Jazzy: Do you suppose Bergman is starting to say no? I’m not bought on him for the Mets in the event that they go that manner?

john darc: Promote me on the Yankees needing to crawl to Bregman and pay celebrity cash for a man who isn’t producing like a celebrity

Ben Clemens: alright, I suppose the pitch is that this

Ben Clemens: Bregman’s final three years: 5.4 WAR, 4.5 WAR, 4.1 WAR

Ben Clemens: Yankees who’ve hit 4.1 WAR in any of the final three years:

Ben Clemens: Aaron Decide (3x), Juan Soto

Dan’l: It is senseless to maintain Helsley, sure?

Ben Clemens: Not NO sense, however let me put it this fashion: I’d settle for 90 cents on the greenback to commerce him

Ben Clemens: it’s not out of the query that they’d get a greater return by ready for the deadline, and that’s attention-grabbing to me

Ben Clemens: however they appear critical sufficient about retooling that retaining a better, and a dominant one, doesn’t actually monitor with what I’d be attempting to do

SPArn: An actual query – Are you a much bigger believer in Herz, Parker, Irvin, or not one of the above being a member of the following contending Nats rotation? 2026… please? I lean Herz b/c of the bat lacking, despite the fact that it is available in a bizarre manner (I believe he throws one fastball at… 5 completely different velocities?)

Ben Clemens: I believe it’s Herz? It’s him or Parker for me

Okra: I believe the Rays could have enormous quantity of rain delays this yr which is able to put an additional pressure on all their pitchers (and sure make them underperform.  Do you agree?

Ben Clemens: I don’t know the way precisely they’re gonna deal with it, however they handle to play FSL video games with out blowing individuals’s arms out

Ben Clemens: I believe they’ll in all probability be capable of determine it out, although I do agree that on the margin it gained’t be splendid

Telemachus: Do you suppose Milwaukee may have gotten a greater bundle for Williams? A deal together with a prime 100 prospect and different items?

Ben Clemens: I believe that the deal they received is RIGHT according to what they want

Ben Clemens: they struggled mightily within the rotation final yr they usually simply can not afford to signal individuals given their funds constraints

Ben Clemens: they’re attempting to win yearly

Ben Clemens: they appear to have a window proper now, too: the Cardinals are taking a step again and the opposite groups haven’t fairly gotten issues collectively but

Ben Clemens: “oh this man is a prime 100 prospect” might be not as interesting to them as a complementary and fairly good prospect (Durbin) plus a rotation starter for this yr

Visitor: I like the way in which you characterised the Devin Williams commerce, with the Brewers rotating the wheel of efficient pitchers. However sooner or later, for those who simply hold staying on the identical degree, you’ll at all times get the identical outcomes. Sooner or later, don’t they must go all-in (or not less than be additive, moderately than attempting to take care of establishment)?

Ben Clemens: Philosophical query, actually

Ben Clemens: Would you moderately get a ton of so-so bites on the apple, or go extra boom-bust?

Ben Clemens: I keep in mind pondering, when the Stearns period began, that his plan of not likely bottoming out and attempting to compete instantly was novel and enjoyable

Ben Clemens: I believe this could be a grass is at all times greener state of affairs right here. I’m a giant fan of taking photographs when you may, and I fully agree that the Brewers refuse to do this

Ben Clemens: however I positively perceive their perspective

Ben Clemens: they actually need to be aggressive and produce the followers out yearly

SPArn: Thanks for all of the enjoyable in chat and on the web site this yr. 5 issues was my favourite learn each week. Z Lowe could be proud

Ben Clemens: Thanks very a lot

Ben Clemens: 5 issues may be very laborious to put in writing, simply because the concept technology a part of it takes a really very long time and the giffing isn’t automated, but it surely’s additionally my favourite factor to put in writing, so it really works out

SPArn: What are you wanting ahead to most, personally, in 2025?

Ben Clemens: I’m gonna restrict this to baseball

Ben Clemens: as a result of if not, it’s my journey to Scandinavia that I’m planning

Ben Clemens: however: I’m excited to see what Ohtani does again on the mound

Ben Clemens: and I’m very excited to see a Chapman/Adames infield in individual incessantly

Danny G100: Any predictions for DeGrom this yr? I hold seeing stuff like he’s nonetheless a prime 7 or 8 pitcher in baseball.

Ben Clemens: I believe he’ll nonetheless be one of the best pitcher in baseball on a fee foundation

Ben Clemens: I actually do not know tips on how to handicap his well being

Ben Clemens: I’m going to be very excited to observe, although

john darc: I used to be frightened that will be your reply, that Bregman’s “down years” are nonetheless higher than anyone on the group not named Decide. I simply fear they’ll must pay him like a celebrity and it’ll forestall them from going after Tucker in free company as a result of “Oops, we spent all our cash!” faux austerity nonsense.

Ben Clemens: yeah I imply, that’s all nicely and good, however they can’t run the group again as is imo

Ben Clemens: Decide is nice RIGHT NOW

Ben Clemens: give him some assist

Henry Dodger: Do you suppose subsequent low season’s free agent market could be cooler with the CBA being only one yr from accomplished, or is there no causation there?

Ben Clemens: I believe it is dependent upon how the inner conversations are going, and likewise very importantly on how the television deal fallout is taking a look at that time

Proper Area: Tucker put up a 180RC+ final yr with good fielding and baserunning. His fluke shin damage apart, is he proper up there with Soto as among the finest gamers in the mean time?

Ben Clemens: nicely a method of taking a look at it’s simply projections. He has a 5.1 WAR projection over 672 PA. Soto is at 6.8 WAR in 686

Ben Clemens: Tucker’s WAR projection is fifteenth in baseball, in order that’s positively star degree

Ben Clemens: And for those who aren’t as bullish on the varied defensive worth changes propping individuals up, you possibly can dock Cal Raleigh, Michael Harris, and William Contreras out of that listing and get him to twelfth

Ben Clemens: however let’s put it this fashion: in an abbreviated season, Tucker put up one of the best numbers of his profession, by 30+ factors of wRC+, and projection programs suppose that in all probability he’s not abruptly that good on a go-forward foundation

Ben Clemens: in a full season, Soto put up one of the best full season of his profession (inferior to 2020 on a fee foundation), however by meaningfully much less

Ben Clemens: and our projection programs suppose he’ll be not too removed from the hitter he’s been most of his profession, although they appear to love his plate discipline-driven producdtion just a little extra on a go-forward foundation

Ben Clemens: both manner, each are nice. However the truth that SOto has 4 seasons higher than Tucker’s greatest season, and is youthful, in all probability implies that Soto is best

Visitor: With a final place end, and one of many worst farm programs, ought to the Jays begin a hearth sale and attempt to get some worth for his or her prime property?

Ben Clemens: If Vlad will not be occupied with an extension, then possibly

Ben Clemens: if he’s: you don’t get Vlads fairly often, possibly pay him and hold attempting to win

Sir Nerdlington: how can the cubs ‘be going all in’ per the post-Tucker commerce reporting and but nonetheless deal with the CBT like a wage cap? It’s like we’re rooting for the brewers besides, ya know, with out the division titles.

Ben Clemens: No, the Brewers are manner higher at maximizing their roster

Ben Clemens: however yeah, kinda wild imo

SPArn: Re: the what are they going to do, ask Tucker to DH/Happ to sit down sometimes, remark – I suppose Tucker being an upcoming FA is a wrinkle in what I’m about to say, however are we… overrating the human component there? Like, they’re handsomely paid… the Cubs ought to in all probability be capable of ask them EXACTLY that lol. I really feel like we additionally simply realized from the Reds that there’s no such factor as an excessive amount of depth/simply let this stuff work themselves out as a result of they seemingly will

Ben Clemens: okay so, you possibly can at all times strive that

Ben Clemens: one wrinkle is the funds component

Ben Clemens: and clearly the Reds weren’t in love with their experiment b/c they went forward and traded India as quickly as they didn’t have urgent damage points

Ben Clemens: however the human component issues! additionally they’re attempting laborious to re-sign Tucker and likewise presumably to search out some contract extensions for younger and good gamers

Ben Clemens: they usually’d inevitably stunt PCA’s progress by doing this

Ben Clemens: one place the place the Reds differed is that it was fairly apparent who wanted probably the most taking part in time (Elly, McLain)

Ben Clemens: and people man shappened to be the younger gamers

Danny G100: I believe what I meant with the suzuki take was that Happ, PCA will hold their jobs with Bellinger being traded.

Ben Clemens: so in the event that they commerce Bellinger, I suppose issues get just a little simpler

Ben Clemens: however that’s nonetheless one among Seiya, Happ, or Tucker DH’ing a ton

Ben Clemens: Bellinger to the Yankees, possibly?

Leric A Ongenhagen: holy cow Cubbies. In the event that they land Luzardo, do you suppose they personal the NLC? How would tank them in opposition to the complete NL if they’ve Luzardo?

Ben Clemens: Perhaps I’m only a dummy, however touchdown Luzardo wouldn’t transfer the needle a lot for me in any respect

Ben Clemens: I’m not a giant MIchael Busch believer, and for no matter cause I can’t speak myself into Hoerner despite the fact that I believe the info disagrees with me

Ben Clemens: however I do suppose they’re co-favorites within the NLC with the Brewers

David Stearns: Pete Alonso doesn’t have a lot of a market does he simply return to the Mets on a Bellinger kind deal?

Ben Clemens: Yeah, I believe that’s within the playing cards, though “doesn’t have a lot of a market” is fairly theoretical at this level

Yukon Cornelius: Is Kerry Carpenter nearer to a future star or full time platoon participant?

Ben Clemens: i feel he’s nearer to a future star

Ben Clemens: I don’t suppose he *IS* one, essentially

Ben Clemens: however for those who hit that nicely in opposition to righties, I’m gonna allow you to bat in opposition to lefties too

DeeBo: Do you suppose free agent market “greenback per WAR” calculations miss the purpose? I get how there’s a market common, however every group’s personal {dollars}/WAR tolerance would appear to rely upon their funds + capability to develop (low cost) expertise internally by means of the minors

Ben Clemens: I truly wrote about this a couple of years in the past

Bullock’s: Giants by some means solely at $167M for subsequent yr.  They gotta get Burnes and get again within the playoffs, no?

Ben Clemens: I believe that they need to completely be attempting to make the playoffs

Ben Clemens: I believe that signing Burnes makes loads of sense, too

Ben Clemens: and never simply selfishly b/c I need to watch him, although additionally that

J: Ginny Searle had a fairly good take at BP concerning the Seiya state of affairs. If Bellinger’s moved, between Tucker backing up CF on off days for PCA, Tucker and Happ DHing infrequently, and inevitable accidents, Seiya can in all probability get 600ish innings within the OF at the same time as a major DH. It simply is dependent upon what number of innings he must be comfortable.

Ben Clemens: Ginny’s stuff is nice, and I suppose that is sensible if they’ll commerce Bellinger

Ben Clemens: in principle, Bellinger’s market might be not enormous

Ben Clemens: provided that he selected to remain on a participant possibility

Ben Clemens: however possibly they’ll pay some down (hahahahha Cubs followers, enjoyable joke about your group being cost-insensitive) or simply let him go for nothing?

Visitor: Additionally $/conflict appears completely different for hitters and pitchers. Having one quantity doesn’t replicate that imo.

Ben Clemens: I’ve accomplished some checking of this up to now, and the true divide is relievers vs. different

Ben Clemens: beginning pitchers and hitters truly are available fairly shut within the years I’ve checked

Dan Sanchez: On the subject of replicating the Burnes commerce, may the O’s get Stop or Valdez with a bundle like Kjerstad, Suarez and a draft choose or 45 FV prospect? Clearly Suarez isn’t as engaging as DL Corridor however he’s low cost rotation depth for a group giving up a starter and Kjerstad seems like the proper degree of headliner for rental?

Ben Clemens: I believe they may, that feels like an affordable return

Ben Clemens: I believe the Padres would in all probability try this in the event that they like Kjerstad

Bobby Peru: Is Verdugo washed already? The place does he go from right here?

Ben Clemens: yeah, washed imo

SeattleMarinersFan: Your ideas on Julio Rodriguez? He’s solely 23 yrs previous however doesn’t appear to be a stud OF. Nonetheless room for enchancment?

Ben Clemens: I believe we’re seeing various things wanting on the identical man

Ben Clemens: He seems to be like a stud OF to me

Statcast: Will EV90 ever be added to FG?

Ben Clemens: it’s on our listing of stuff, we de-prioritized it to focus extra on getting the varied stuff metrics onto the positioning in helpful methods however I’ll convey it up once more sooner or later b/c I actually prefer it as a stat

Visitor: If I’m making a visit to AZ for Spring Coaching, are there sure ballparks I ought to prioritize visiting?

Ben Clemens: I’m not probably the most educated, Eric is best, however: I really like Salt River FIelds

Ben Clemens: I noticed Acuna hit a homer in AFL there as soon as, it was superior

Ben Clemens: noticed Nicky Lopez hit a homer too, it was a a lot much less spectacular homer

Colin: Do you suppose $/WAR equals out between Def WAR and Off WAR as a result of possibly I’m mistaken however I might positively pay extra for Off WAR then Def WAR

Ben Clemens: Yeah, this I agree with

Ben Clemens: I believe that the market, fairly fairly, feels offensive conflict is extra steady

Songbird’s Hay Den of Iniquity: What’s your tackle Hayden Birdsong? Giants people appear to suppose he’s received one other gear. Prospect hounds don’t appear so sanguine. What would you anticipate from the child over the following couple years?

Ben Clemens: I received some free tickets to a Giants recreation final yr by means of a buddy and who was sitting in entrance of us? Birdsong’s complete household, all carrying Birdsong jerseys

Ben Clemens: both that or only a ton of followers who all went REALLY out of their option to get a customized jersey of a rookie making his first begin

Ben Clemens: I believe that I’d be keen to take a position on him having one other gear, it’s removed from a given and I perceive why he wasn’t an enormous, can’t miss prospect however he feels to me like a type of guys that will abruptly be a lot better if they may simply add just a little command

Ben Clemens: it’s no provided that it’ll occur, however I like a number of of his pitches and his aggression. I simply suppose the ball doesn’t go the place he desires typically sufficient for all of it to work but

Jim Bob Cooter: Is it secure to imagine that the Cubs aren’t even half manner by means of their huge strikes?

Ben Clemens: when it comes to variety of trades, possibly

Ben Clemens: when it comes to whole affect, Tucker goes to be greater than half of the full strikes, so I’d say they’re greater than half by means of

Clen Bemens: Over/beneath Angels playoff over the following ten years: 0.5

Jamie: What do you consider the Woo rumors? The supply is outwardly Woo for Casas, Luis Guerrero, and Allan Castro

Ben Clemens: I don’t have a terrific cause for this, however I’ve been just a little decrease than consensus on Woo

Ben Clemens: I don’t have a robust view on Guerrero or Castro, both

Ben Clemens: so I’d say I’m in all probability the mistaken individual to ask on this one… however I like Casas, and suppose that he’s an affordable headliner for younger pitching if the throw-ins are attention-grabbing to the group buying and selling a pitcher

Bosoxforlife: The Purple Sox gained 81 video games final yr and simply added  a key a part of the equation. I see them as contenders if Anthony or Campbell flip into Jackson Merrill, and do you see them getting something out of Giolito?

Ben Clemens: yeah, I believe they’re contenders for positive, partiuclarly after they add yet another hitter, which I believe they’ll do

Ben Clemens: actually laborious to know with Giolito

Ben Clemens: you must assume zero-ish given the damage timeline, however with enormous error bars

Jason N: Learn a rumor that Padres have been purchasing Bogaerts. I’m guessing he would approve a commerce again to Boston.  Would a framework work round Bogaerts and stop for story, Casas and yoshida?

Ben Clemens: I have to be lacking one thing

Ben Clemens: why would the Padres do htis?

Ben Clemens: they’re buying and selling one of the best participant within the deal (Stop) and never even saving a lot cash

Ben Clemens: paying MORE cash within the quick time period

Ben Clemens: Story is fairly clearly worse than Bogaerts for 2025

Ben Clemens: Yoshida is at greatest a query mark

Ben Clemens: this commerce would make the Padres loads worse within the quick time period, it’d create an ungainly positional logjam at first/DH, and it will contain buying and selling a pitcher they’re hoping will get them prospect or pivot piece to by some means make shortstop worse?

DeeBo: You’d anticipate a few jersey numbers to be retired in case your group makes 7 straight ALCS and wins two World Sequence. After this newest run, anybody apart from Altuve and probably Yordan get theirs retired by the Astros?

Ben Clemens: like positively him

Ben Clemens: possibly Verlander, he felt like a key a part of these runs

John B: I’ve been huge on Josh Naylor to the Giants, possibly for a few mid degree SP prospects. Does this make sense to you?

Ben Clemens: It doesn’t actually, for 2 causes. One, I’m simply not a Naylor believer. This may increasingly or will not be rational

Ben Clemens: two, I believe LaMonte Wade does loads of what he does, and arguably higher

Ben Clemens: however at worst, at the same degree

Ben Clemens: I believe that the Giants could be higher served to deal with their rotation or maybe attempt to get one other star outfielder to pair with Ramos flanking JHL in middle

Ben Clemens: and provided that the farm will not be wildly deep, buying and selling significant items for a 1b/DH feels prefer it’s a stretch

RMR: How do you suppose groups course of the not-trading-in-the-division standard knowledge?  Tie-breaker? Demand extra worth? Simply don’t contemplate it? Would like to see Suzuki in Cincinnati.

Ben Clemens: I believe it’s a tiebreaker, or near it

Ben Clemens: I may see that commerce understanding possibly, it actually is dependent upon what the Cubs need to do. I believe that transferring Bellinger would occur first most probably

Bosoxforlife: Few issues have shocked me greater than the worth of mediocre pitching this low season. I believed that the Giolito deal final winter couldn’t be topped however $67 million for Severino has challenged it and that is with starters getting used principally as not way more than openers. It’s loopy.

Ben Clemens: Severino in all probability received an A’s increase, however even together with him, I’m with you

josh: ought to/will the tigers make a transfer to consolidate expertise right into a 3-win participant? given the abundance of younger function gamers and lack of above-average regulars (esp within the infield), and likewise the cash to spend on a FA in the event that they vacate a beginning roster spot, this seems like a should in the event that they’re critical about competing

Ben Clemens: they need to have gone nuts attempting to get Kyle Tucker, and doubtless they did

Ben Clemens: ‘consolidate expertise right into a 3-win participant’ is an admirable aim

Ben Clemens: possibly it’s Bo Bichette?

Ben Clemens: however in wanting by means of our projections, I’m attempting to suppose which of those guys are on the block, and eh…. Bichette, possibly Yandy Diaz who doesn’t actually really feel like a star, and nobody else who appears prone to be on the commerce block

Ben Clemens: so sure, I believe that they need to put money into having extra stars on their group, notably through commerce

Ben Clemens: I simply suppose that could be a powerful needle to string

Ben Clemens: on that observe: time to go choose up some lunch

Ben Clemens: and hten again to digging by means of previous prospect lists for a enjoyable article I’m engaged on

Ben Clemens: have an exquisite week, everybody, and an exquisite vacation season