Send new question
3e06fa3927cbdf4e9d93ba4541acce86?d=identicon

Michael

Jose Fernandez on the trading block or what?

Jeff Todd is answering Writing
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

Thanks for your time!

14/01/2016 22:56
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

61409aa1fd47d4a5332de23cbf59a36f?d=identicon

John

Hector Santiago/CJ Wilson and Nick Tropeano for Blackmon and LeMahieu. Who says no?

Well I hate to end on a hypothetical that I don't like, but ... no way. I'm not in love with either of those Rockies players, but they both look like better assets to me than any of the pitchers you are talking about.

Let me just say this on these two teams to wrap things up:

1) If the Angels want a quality OF that isn't going to bust their budget, they will have to part with Heaney or Skaggs;

2) the Rockies have some real flexibility here and are right to take their time finding the right match ... I wonder if just one arm is going to do enough to move the needle this year, though, so I still think I'd be in favor of trying for a return on CarGo that has a few good, less advanced arms

14/01/2016 22:56
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

3a368818b7341d48660e8dd6c5a77dbe?d=identicon

Joe

Do you see cricket star Kieran Powell ever making the big leagues? He held a large tryout yesterday in hopes of making the transition to baseball without ever playing at any level before.

Realistically? No. And I'm no hater of the sport -- I love international games.

This all makes me think of that clip from a few years back when softball pitching legend Jenny Finch just dominated MLB hittes. So much of the art of hitting is related to the deeply embedded, instant reactions that players have from seeing so many danged baseball pitches.

Cricket bowls and softball pitches move differently. So, there's a lot more than just the physical elements (assuming he has top-notch abilities in that regard).

14/01/2016 22:52
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

Picture

Jeff Ludy

Hi Jeff! Will Cincy trade Jay Bruce or has that ship sailed?

Seems less and less likely. Real question is whether there are any teams that are aching to take on that salary and plug him in right now. Not really looking like it to me.

Could be a situation where their best bet is to hope he has a big first half and then flip him. All the more appealing given the restricted supply we've seen at the deadline in the two-WC era.

14/01/2016 22:50
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

Three more!

14/01/2016 22:48
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

37148dfd2a3e2ea78a8e2a54b3c196f1?d=identicon

Yaakov

Zach Wheeler for Moncada Who hangs up?

You know the biggest issue with prospect-for-prospect trades? (Or, in this case, a guy who is delayed from the big leagues and has similar uncertainties.) It's that there's no urgency to do them. You don't need to fit player X in at the major league level right now, because neither of them would be playing in the bigs right now.

In the rare circumstances they do go down, it tends to be near-term needs. Like, you could say the Souza for Ross/Turner element of last year's Myers+++ trade was a prospect swap. But they were all stepping right into MLB jobs or going to next-in-line type of spots.

14/01/2016 22:48
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

Picture

Greg Smith

How would you rate what the Giants have done this offseason

Really like Span. I'm sure they felt good about the scouting that went into Samardzija. Cueto is just such a wild card ... that could be a stroke of genius, or it could hurt in the long run. But look, that group has a lot of upside for what they paid. You could argue all were buy low type players, even at the big guarantees they landed. It wasn't inconceivably entering 2015 that it would have cost 60+ for Span, 130+ for Shark, and 150+ for Cueto.

14/01/2016 22:46
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

40d18d5a7ae85f9597a40f1306041fd1?d=identicon

Sean

Why does it still say you're answering that Jose Fernandez question?

No idea. My answer was:

No, I don't think he'll be traded. And I don't think he'll be extended, either.

14/01/2016 22:44
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

Ab02fceb9689114b1cd1844e456c0695?d=identicon

Javier

Is Alexi the last move the Padres make? do you see/hear anything about them? A.J.'s been pretty quite

Don't see why it has to be. Again, dollars aren't reported yet, but I can't imagine he's going to cost so much that their hands will be tied to pick up another piece or two.

14/01/2016 22:43
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

A034ac1ccccdb8d5fa81ebd205c69b4b?d=identicon

Cynical lawyer

I just wrapped up 3 days of depositions -why am I doing this again?

Hey - are you me from three years ago? You can see how I answered the question!

14/01/2016 22:42
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

A07f92a0de6db2e7af93648f2fb524b1?d=identicon

BRANDON CRAWFORD

Do you think my power is sustainable? Or was last year my career year?

You probably assume he steps back a bit but is still productive, right?

14/01/2016 22:41
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

40d18d5a7ae85f9597a40f1306041fd1?d=identicon

Sean

Will opt-outs become more common than club options in a few years?

Not more common. But this is all a product of the loosening of constraints on how deals are structure. Increased creativity. It's the money flowing in, but teams looking for ways other than *more guaranteed money* to entice players to sign.

I talked about this a bit way back when on the podcast. Other indications are things like the Hector Olivera deal, the Dodgers' manic international spending, the Nationals' repeated contract deferrals. It's the wild west, and it's awesome.

14/01/2016 22:41
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

04e7096ee6edc7de8cd3836738cfa4f7?d=identicon

Ray Ray

Rockies just said that CarGo isn't going to be traded this off season. Blackmon , Dickerson or neither gets traded before Opening Day?

They did not say that. Bridich reportedly told CarGo not to worry about the rumors. From everything Bridich has shown us, he's not going to just rule out a move like that.

14/01/2016 22:39
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

Hmmmmmmm

Roch Kubatko @masnRoch
Per industry source, #orioles have made offer to Cespedes. Seem to prefer him over Upton at the moment. Nothing new on Chris Davis.

14/01/2016 22:38
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

538c4cda9f1de8154b56607e753067e5?d=identicon

Pony

Mike Trout or Clayton Kershaw, which do you prefer?

Trout. The answer is always Trout.

Of course, Kershaw could also end up being one of the very best pitchers ever. Love them both.

14/01/2016 22:38
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

517344b78a8f80ea5fa8bd33404ef870?d=identicon

B. Showalter

Chris Davis has to be better than 50/50 to go back to the Os, right?

In my mind, yeah.

14/01/2016 22:37
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

2ef1cd7154ed4655f9ab0c086f534a0f?d=identicon

LA fan

How much value does Alex Wood have on the trade market?

A fair bit, I think. Obviously he's got the questions we've always heard about, but he's been fine and pretty effective. A lot of teams would love to have a cheap and productive arm like that in their rotation.

14/01/2016 22:37
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

17ad55a9b8384777496330d23e59d520?d=identicon

Rick

Answer a Marlins qestion man

Just did much of our podcast on the Marlins, but yes, I should do that.

14/01/2016 22:36
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

2fc1c0beb992cd7096975cfebf9d5c3b?d=identicon

Bob

Is Todd your real last name?

Um, yes. Is it that hard to believe?!

14/01/2016 22:35
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

A32417899e2db4290fb0d3634d33c9a3?d=identicon

Conn

Nathan Karns... James Paxton... 6 Man Rotation, or is someone 'pen bound?

Has any team really ever started the year with a 6-man rotation, let alone run with that all year long? Something is going to give - ST injury, someone struggles, a need opens in the pen and it makes more sense to use player X there, etc.

14/01/2016 22:34
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

E5a0c09fa0f98ccc19040affba367ac3?d=identicon

Gregory P.

Who is a good team that no one is talking about?

Indians?

14/01/2016 22:33
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

27291f17079b5a0ed2c7ed9590a85e86?d=identicon

Tj

Cliff Lee to Cubs on a one year deal ?

One of the teams I've thought of, yes. Travis Wood makes that nice swingman to pair with Lee. But there are lots of others, too.

14/01/2016 22:32
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

3e06fa3927cbdf4e9d93ba4541acce86?d=identicon

Michael

Trade you really want to see happen is....

Carrasco. I want him to go somewhere, anywhere. Because that would mean someone is really betting on him with a legit young OF, probably, and it would be a fun deal to track.

14/01/2016 22:31
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

A4f3e65407c9ea3f337543cbbc635077?d=identicon

Mikes Mets

Marlon Byrd to the Nats to platoon with Revere?

Harper is the RF. Werth/Revere/Taylor will mix around for the rest of the ABs. They tendered Tyler Moore. Just no fit at all.

14/01/2016 22:30
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

59c3ab1a9fe8eeb4f530a1fceed03087?d=identicon

E. Longoria

The Rays HAVE to get a bat, right?

There's been a lot of chatter about that. But they did already get Miller and LoMo, if you are buying into their stock. Still seems like they will pull something off eventually -- they have so many different kinds of pitching assets that it just stands to reason something will line up.

14/01/2016 22:29
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

Dd480f25b31ec27223fee2c6edcacb3c?d=identicon

KM

Soler for Inciarte?

Challenge trade!

14/01/2016 22:28
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

A4f3e65407c9ea3f337543cbbc635077?d=identicon

Mikes Mets

Status on Doug Fister?

Crickets. He'll have his moment, though.

14/01/2016 22:27
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

83930fd731a92d37c5dbb39a9c5e6183?d=identicon

Doug

How do you think Hector Santiago would be valued on the trade market?

Not all that highly, really. I mean, look, this is a world where Kyle Kendrick gets over 5 million dollars (last year). So, he's got excess value, even if you don't believe he'll come anything close to repeating his results. But I don't see him drawing a really top young OF or anything.

14/01/2016 22:27
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

9ec75097ce44559e94e404d6a2d395ab?d=identicon

Phil

It seems like everybody thought revere for storen would be a good swap, and it happened. Are Atkins and Shapiro in this chat right now?

Good reminder ... whoever it was that asked about that specific scenario last week, my hat is off to you!

14/01/2016 22:25
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

C44e1acacdf5711ffa393d32636dc596?d=identicon

Steven

Obviously losing Zach Greinke was a big blow, but with the moves they have made have the Dodgers put together a solid enough rotation to compete next year?

Yes.

14/01/2016 22:25
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

19c9f24dacbc72c7a544aa6695df0cf1?d=identicon

Mozeliak

At what value could you see me dipping into the Upton/Cespedes market?

Cards could be a nice fit for one of these 3/80 + one-year opt-out scenarios, if it comes to that. Not sure I see them going up into the 6/130 type of range though.

14/01/2016 22:25
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

77dcd555f38b965d220a13a3bb080260?d=identicon

Eric

What other moves do you see the Dodgers making?

Well, I don't know, but I do have one firm prediction: they'll sign lots of young Cubans before next July.

14/01/2016 22:23
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

495b3121d23f5988b133882b36aa7214?d=identicon

Jimmy

I'm predicting scary things for the Orioles rotation this year... Agree?

Yeah you have to wonder if the metrics will catch up. It's hard to love that staff. Maybe Gausman breaks out, though?

14/01/2016 22:22
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

9d4fa2b6ca74db5dcb338c9d1c387e3d?d=identicon

Jeff Todd's Beard

What is your beard routine? Oils?

Not shaving.

14/01/2016 22:21
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

5cb978bb09b2d6a6892a1e413725c4ea?d=identicon

Brian Cashman

Can a trade of Refsnyder get me Nick Tropeano ??

Neither seems too exciting to me -- famous last words, right? -- but I'm also not sure either really moves the needle the way the opposing team would want/need.

14/01/2016 22:21
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

0afbff1b55f16b7d8668cca7a05207f4?d=identicon

Killy

What do you think of the Padres' signing?

Seems smart, without knowing the $$$. I love Ian Desmond, but I'm not sure he made the most sense for that organization. (Though I did think SDP was the likeliest team to sign him.) Every possibility that Alexei bounces back and has a solid year -- at least, it's a reasonable risk to take.

14/01/2016 22:20
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

F6091c72854d9aea14b52ff2d417bd55?d=identicon

Maxfield

Do you see Cliff Lee making an impact this year? If so, for who?

I'll keep beating the Cliff Lee drum. Desperately want to watch him pitch. But who? No idea. Seems he might want a greater promise ($/rotation opportunity) than most contenders can give.

But if you are sitting there with a few 5th starter candidates who could also go to the pen or to Triple-A, why not promise him some cash and a rotation spot to open the year and see what happens? Then you just hope for the best and fill in with in-house options or via trade as needed.

14/01/2016 22:18
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

Fd144f65f19df1c7adaa116c44ce2617?d=identicon

Nick

Teheran and Inciarte for Springer and Bregman???

I don't really see why the Astros would do this. I'd rather take Springer's upside, and Teheran is a risk of his own but at a higher cost.

When the Inciarte rumor came up -- which, let's remember, is really a light connection -- my thought went to whether Springer could be dangled for a premium starter. (As in, part of a deal for Carrasco.) I don't see why they'd part with him in this kind of scenario.

14/01/2016 22:17
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

48b260a2d2f02e75d0264307aea8834b?d=identicon

Anonymous

Why is Tyler Clippard still out there and what is realistic on his market now?

We really haven't heard much chatter on him at all. I think a lot of clubs would commit good money on a one-year deal, just because it's a limited risk and you know where your budget stands late in the winter.

I'm not sure how to make a prediction, really. Could be there are several teams poking around with two or three year interest and he ends up nearer where we might've expected. Or maybe everyone agrees he has too much mileage and it caught up last year.

14/01/2016 22:14
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

7b5b39a7c47d7e7aa0db3ea36564b2df?d=identicon

Donny

Can Johnathon Lucroy bring premium talent in return this winter still?

If Stearns could get what they think is a legitimate return for him now, without taking the risk of running him out there for the first half, I think he would. I just don't think any teams are willing to roll a big enough wager on his health right now, so Milwaukee is doing the gambling that he'll return to form (and that needs will open up somewhere over the season).

14/01/2016 22:12
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

315a444d13981d7b1f9774152d15470a?d=identicon

Cookie Monster

C is for Cookie, is that good enough for you?

My son loves you! Thanks for writing in.

14/01/2016 22:11
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

C297455c41f2193cfb3b281ec04277fa?d=identicon

Ron

What can Boston do with Rusney Castillo?

Let him play and see what happens. Prospects in the holster for deadline moves as necessary.

14/01/2016 22:11
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

5e0b0e8007393fdc8231b3ede8df7f6d?d=identicon

Yo Mama

Braves done Dealing?

I already answered a Braves question. Stop repeating this poor question, please.

14/01/2016 22:09
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

A91135491e5e5c104009190d1d14aea5?d=identicon

Reds fan

Please give me something to be excited about as a Reds fan. Anything...

If a couple of these young pitchers make it, they could have something brewing. If there is excess, can always trade them.

Plus, it's fun to see what Hamilton and Mesoraco will be able to do. Even Homer Bailey! And you still have old favs Votto and Phillips.

I think their more recent moves have steered them clear of the real disaster potential.

14/01/2016 22:09
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

Ffceb024019496f53355a89c98cca4af?d=identicon

Matt M

Would it be crazy for the Phillies to sell high on Odubel? They have Goedel, Bourjos, Asche, Altherr and Sweeney for the OF with Williams and Quinn on the way

No, not crazy, but you have to find someone who believes his 2015 is his mean going forward. I've not seen any indication that other teams do. Barring some kind of ridiculous return, I think they are better off seeing for themselves if he's a guy who could be a legit first division regular, freeing them to ramp up spending in other areas in the near future.

14/01/2016 22:07
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

36112f3b7ba8bfc69f1d088335c58962?d=identicon

Dre

Any more moves for the Dodgers? Kendrick coming back?

I really never saw the merit to that, myself, at least once they sort of committed to the Hernandez/Utley platoon at second.

His market is kind of hard to figure right now.

14/01/2016 22:06
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

1b83d5da74032b6a750ef12210642eea?d=identicon

Mike

Do you think the Jays are going to add another starter to the rotation?

Well, our old friend Ben Nicholson-Smith just reported on continuing interest in Gallardo. Not sure I see the need, myself, but I'd be all for it if a good opportunity arises.

14/01/2016 22:05
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

Picture

Joshua Burley

The Nats payroll after projected arb and dead money should be about 25mill below where they were last year. Do you see them making another big move or will Rizzo keep some bullets in the holster to fire midseason after he was handcuffed by payroll last year? Seems like it may be better to be prepared to acquire what you know you will need midseason, rather than what you think you need in the winter

Nats are in a good position to wait at this point, I think. Not sure if they'll hold back salary or not, though ... I do think they kind of set the budget each year, and last season may have been a high water mark they won't go near in 2016.

14/01/2016 22:04
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

838769df0343348bab1d029d712e7970?d=identicon

David Stearns

What is a realistic return I can get for Khris Davis once the outfield market sorts itself out a bit?

Not as much as Brewers fans would hope. My sense is just that nobody really sees him as a consistent, everyday 120 OPS bat type of guy. That could change if he does it this year, but not sure it makes sense for the Brewers to just get what they can for him now.

If he was more highly sought after, I think you'd see more interest happening earlier in the offseason.

14/01/2016 22:03
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd

131b98dac8609f781484f08c22a8abaa?d=identicon

Ryan

Most improved team from 2015 to 2016? Most improved for long term?

Red Sox are an easy choice, in large part b/c they just performed so poorly. Similarly, A's, M's, Marlins could see big jumps in the W-L department, partially from their moves but also just how "bad" they were in 2015.

Long term, I like what the Braves have done on the whole. Hard to argue (for me) with the way the Cubs have gone about things.

14/01/2016 22:00
Dilmot avatar2

Jeff Todd