Hope everyone's enjoying the holiday season thus far! Let's get things underway for today.

22/12/2015 20:08
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Steve Adams

149e200961ea52955bd55cb49a127935?d=identicon

varun

thoughts on de aza signing by the mets?

It's fine -- he got less than I thought he'd command, honestly, so the price on him is nice. I think Span was a better fit for them, though, and the same goes for Venable. Playing De Aza in CF with any sort of regularity seems like a poor choice at this point, but he's a solid bat against RHP at least. And if he bombs, he's cheap enough that there shouldn't be any real reluctance to just DFA him.

22/12/2015 20:10
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Steve Adams

94232713abf350f0cbdf95e74ace05e9?d=identicon

jill

What LRP do the twins get. And what's the cost

I think they'll go the trade route and maybe add a couple others on minor league deals. The Abad pickup wasn't a bad signing (I didn't even realize the awful pun there while typing it, but I have to leave it now, ha). Some candidates I like for them: Tony Cingrani, Will Smith, Mike Dunn.

22/12/2015 20:12
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Steve Adams

8ed96183169cc6676222f7bdf8104775?d=identicon

Anonymous

Do u get payd for working for mlbtr

This is my full-time job, yes.

22/12/2015 20:12
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Steve Adams

8878e7050143a0fe4020498043fcc0da?d=identicon

Nate

Did the Cardinals overpay for Leake?

Not really -- that's just what a mid-rotation arm gets in today's game. If he were 30 or 31, like most free agents, he'd probably have gotten one of those 4/52-ish deals. But, the Cardinals are buying more of his prime than most free agents due to the fact that he's 28, so the price had to be a bit higher. We predicted 5/80 on our Top 50 and in our Free Agent Profile for Leake. Not saying that to pat myself on the back or anything -- we've certainly missed on some, too -- just to say that this wasn't really an unexpected price tag.

22/12/2015 20:14
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Steve Adams

D92c25d41fcd9f8ab35545ef34b1e7ed?d=identicon

Bill

Thoughts on the Alex Gordon to the Wsox chatter?

Makes plenty of sense. Avi Garcia just isn't very good, and Melky's a defensive liability with a decent bat. He'd be a significant upgrade for a team that I think will be quite a bit better in 2016 than it was in 2015 with or without Gordon.

22/12/2015 20:15
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Steve Adams

Bfbd7e1d5cb08db193766bbe6e304f30?d=identicon

padresbeliever

Cashner, Norris & BJ Upton for Gallo and Profar

No way Jon Daniels bites on that.

22/12/2015 20:16
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Steve Adams

B82a9a13f4651e9abcbde90cd24ce2cb?d=identicon

Mark

When the Pirates young pitchers come up this year, does Jeff Locke move to the bullpen or become a trade chip?

There's no great way to predict what'll happen. Locke or another pitcher could be on the disabled list, for instance. If everyone's healthy, Locke or Vogelsong to the bullpen makes the most sense knowing what we know now -- it'd be wise to keep either around in the event of an injury down the line. Of course, I think Pittsburgh should and very likely will still add another arm, shifting Vogelsong to a swingman role.

22/12/2015 20:18
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Steve Adams

411da68f378eda6ae9e1d4d6a3e4ec87?d=identicon

Samson

Do you see the Braves trading Nick Markakis at some point this season?

I don't see why they'd be closed off to it, but his value isn't exactly sky-high now coming off a three-homer season and having just turned 32. The upped BB% makes him a bit more palatable, but the batting average probably regresses a bit in 2016 as well, taking the OBP down with it.

22/12/2015 20:20
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Steve Adams

F8d623a78c27641412debac4080ece7a?d=identicon

Joey

Did you see Stars Wars The Force Awakens yet?

Hoping to do so this weekend.

22/12/2015 20:21
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Steve Adams

73a1fe142e63ed6670a44323f1b33190?d=identicon

Anonymous

CRAZY STAT! Last 2 seasons Heyward averaged a HR every 46.7 AB while Leake averaged a HR every 34.3AB.

Is that some attempt to downplay Heyward's value? You could do a lot of weird, arbitrary things like that with pitchers' home run stats. Madison Bumgarner probably homers more per AB than some 20-25 homer bats. Doesn't mean much.

22/12/2015 20:22
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Steve Adams

3a368818b7341d48660e8dd6c5a77dbe?d=identicon

Joe

De Aza? Really?? Nothing better the Mets could do??

Yeah I don't love the fit for them, necessarily, but the price was fine.

22/12/2015 20:23
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Steve Adams

Dfcf28d0734569a6a693bc8194de62bf?d=identicon

G

What is a realistic return for Ivan Nova?

I don't think he has much trade value -- he'd probably get close to what he's going to make in arb as a free agent since he's coming off a pretty weak effort in his return from Tommy John. I'd consider a not-terrible relief prospect a decent return, but it seems like the Yankees are trying to market him as if he's fully healthy in trades. He may be, but a club isn't going to pay full price for 180 quality innings there, since who knows if he can actually do it?

22/12/2015 20:24
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Steve Adams

1a7d4fe3fc241dbdce85299f91937f0e?d=identicon

Anonymous

Your pick for AL East in 16?

Not picking any division winners right now. There's half the offseason left and a boatload of quality free agents still on the board.

22/12/2015 20:25
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Steve Adams

A80962f9c5a55ae83b0e7319b2fd96af?d=identicon

Lou

Ricky Nolasco for Matt Kemp. Who says no, or what other factors would have to be in play?

Kemp's contract is much, much worse. Twins don't take him on just to dump Nolasco. It's not like they need corner outfielders -- they have too many corner players as it is.

22/12/2015 20:26
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Steve Adams

Ce82e095eb319ac157535e41fe67b816?d=identicon

hiram

Kelly Johnson back to the braves a possibility

Yeah I think he makes some sense there or in D.C., to name a couple of fits.

22/12/2015 20:27
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Steve Adams

6766992ca3827afeb1181bf1c123b230?d=identicon

Tanner

Giving Cischek the closer job going into spring training seems a bit risky. Any shot the M's try to sign Seung-hwan Oh to compete>

I can see them having some interest, but scouts I've talked to think Oh is more of a seventh-inning guy than an elite high-leverage arm. Mostly fastball with a decent slider that's something less than a wipeout offering.

22/12/2015 20:28
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Steve Adams

D52e32f3a96a64786814ae9b5279fbe5?d=identicon

James

Are you surprised Ron Gardenhire hasn't had any managing offers? What do you see in his future?

Not really. Gardenhire's a great motivator and communicator, and his players love him. But, I also think he's a pretty poor in-game tactician who is behind the times when it comes to bullpen usage and defensive shifting.

22/12/2015 20:28
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Steve Adams

A80962f9c5a55ae83b0e7319b2fd96af?d=identicon

Lou

Would a package of Seager, Puig, Montas and lesser prospects net Fernandez?

I'd imagine yes, but the Dodgers wouldn't part with Seager in any trade at this point.

22/12/2015 20:29
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Steve Adams

495b3121d23f5988b133882b36aa7214?d=identicon

Jimmy

Zobrist > Castro right?

Yeah -- I'm not a huge Starlin guy. He's been legitimately terrible for two of the past three seasons, barring his largely BABIP-fueled surge in September.

22/12/2015 20:30
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Steve Adams

F8d623a78c27641412debac4080ece7a?d=identicon

Joey

Do the Rays move any of their starters this off season?

There's no real need for them to do so like there was when Price was getting really expensive via arbitration. With so many clubs looking for starting pitching, though, I think there's a real chance that one of their guys gets moved. People always want some kind of percentage on these things, but that's always going to be a pure guess. I lean toward someone getting moved just due to the demand, so I suppose I have to say the percentage would be slightly higher than 50%.

22/12/2015 20:33
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Steve Adams

0a6194fd0e695254a939a25c3d868d2c?d=identicon

Jake

Best fit for Latos?

Pittsburgh or Kansas City, of the teams listed. Rays would be good, too, but he'd be in the AL East there. KC gives him a huge park and a strong defense, while Pittsburgh has the greater track record with revitalizing pitchers, is in the NL and has a pitcher-friendly park as well. Bucs need another rotation arm more than the Royals, in my view.

22/12/2015 20:35
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Steve Adams

Df149285a06422158c8520129dd33646?d=identicon

Andrew21

tyler clippard to twins?

Twins are more focused on lefties and don't seem inclined to go three years on any relievers. If they could Clippard at something like 2/12, maybe they see it as being opportunistic and thus jump in, but I'd guess he goes elsewhere (and gets more money than that).

22/12/2015 20:36
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Steve Adams

828f77f7a79774558b0124b7ea6f07fd?d=identicon

Hank Hill

Why on God's green earth haven't the Astros signed a starting pitcher yet?

It's not like there's suddenly a shortage of arms on the free-agent or trade market. There are a lot of clubs that have needs to fill yet. Much of their offseason has probably been focused on getting a closer, Plus, Keuchel-McHugh-McCullers-Fiers-Feldman isn't a bad 1 through 5.

22/12/2015 20:38
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Steve Adams

4998afe8a5019240b9910f2421f9da38?d=identicon

Arden

Cespedes contract over/under 125 for 5 years ?

I'll take the over on both.

22/12/2015 20:38
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Steve Adams

2edc97ebb006534eb1cec89a6bf251df?d=identicon

Wei-Yin Chen

Do I really get a $100 million contract?

I think more like 5/90.

22/12/2015 20:38
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Steve Adams

A97fedbce30ecfbc5f77f23789b0ee00?d=identicon

Clark

Mets need a bullpen arm so how about
Boxberger for Nimmo, Plawecki, Dominic Smith, Ikeel Morris, Ivan Wilson

Too much for New York to give up there.

22/12/2015 20:39
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Steve Adams

5ab7c38873a8204a8f456da17db7fa17?d=identicon

tpaine

if the winter meetings were moved to the last week in January wouldn't it be more fun.

Would probably just delay the bulk of the offseason action. Their current slot is fine.

22/12/2015 20:40
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Steve Adams

7746deb93ebed6cab1213d6c85dceba1?d=identicon

Met fan Scott

Does the acquisitions of Walker and Cabrera mean the Mets might shop Flores?

Think it just means Flores will be in a utility role, bouncing around between 2B, 3B and SS. He's a nice fill-in at any of the three positions, especially considering Walker and David Wright have some injury issues.

22/12/2015 20:41
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Steve Adams

E4310b75f2fa9595f8154411924b19b1?d=identicon

Rob

Staring contest.... go....

You can't tell but I haven't blinked since the chat started. I'm winning.

22/12/2015 20:41
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Steve Adams

B02693850867530f60f737072ca66964?d=identicon

Jeff Todd

I'm better at this than you ;)

Jeff is better than me at most things.

22/12/2015 20:41
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Steve Adams

37cef8d9994c0010771141e7be20dca1?d=identicon

Bobby Evans

Who will we sign for left fielder?

Evans mentioned trades frequently on MLB Network Radio yesterday when talking about left field. I'm sure part of that is not wanting to put out there that they can still spend top dollar on the Cespedes, Upton, Gordon types, but they're probably exploring the trade market in earnest as well. If I'm picking a free agent, I go with Upton there -- but I think there's a very real chance they trade for a LF instead.

22/12/2015 20:44
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Steve Adams

27adb0b3f92d9b8f7fa4cb55b60114cc?d=identicon

Lawrence

Fister to the Tigers as a reliever/spot starter?

He's going to want a rotation spot somewhere.

22/12/2015 20:44
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Steve Adams

6766992ca3827afeb1181bf1c123b230?d=identicon

Tanner

Any elite Cuban players in the mold of Abreau coming to the market in the next year or two?

There's no telling when Cuba's top players are going to leave the country, so there's no real way of knowing when the better players will be coming stateside. You're better off looking to NPB and KBO for more predictable free agent timelines.

22/12/2015 20:46
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Steve Adams

Dcbe6f24319e10a151d1cfadc5c54e3a?d=identicon

Sven

Best guess on Pedro Alvarez and Chris Carter destinations?

Solely guessing here: Carter to Brewers and Alvarez to Orioles (assuming Davis signs elsewhere).

22/12/2015 20:47
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Steve Adams

4998afe8a5019240b9910f2421f9da38?d=identicon

Arden

Follow up: Cespedes contract over / under $135 for 6 years?

I like something around $140-150MM over six years for him. Not saying I'd pay it, just that I think he can get it.

22/12/2015 20:48
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Steve Adams

965366c5fea0f6519a31c3b9f4470e7e?d=identicon

Scotty Allen

Does C.J. Wilson hold any value on the trade market? If the Angels ate 10 mil of remaining 20 mil, could they get a decent RP back?

Yeah I think if they were willing to eat half the money that's a reasonable expectation. Wilson's a solid pitcher when he's healthy, even if he's getting up there in years and is overpaid in 2016. A team with plenty of money could easily consider him an upgrade over its fifth starter -- Dodgers, Nats, etc.

22/12/2015 20:50
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Steve Adams

3f7d15c797f0310e77f78fce953d026a?d=identicon

Jay B.

Are the Reds tanking?

They're doing what rebuilding clubs have done for years -- stripping down the roster, trading for prospects, etc. It's become some huge issue of late for some weird reason, but I don't think it's anything all that new.

22/12/2015 20:51
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Steve Adams

518183d207ac39dd55a8b0ecced4ab3e?d=identicon

hermit

No pic again

Whoops -- you've all been deprived of (or spared from) my mug.

22/12/2015 20:52
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Steve Adams

Bd1dd12c9279f3eba73506e7c3d797cd?d=identicon

Bryce Harper

Do I get the first 400,000,000 contract??

That'd be my bet, yeah.

22/12/2015 20:52
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Steve Adams

Ebe7f8b32a894c2b1a9ea0f08beafa34?d=identicon

Sieve Adams

Shields for Crawford and so-so prospects.

Padres are shopping Shields but still want quality young players in return, which seems pretty far-fetched if it's earnest in nature. I don't mind the Shields/Crawford or a Shields/Ethier framework, but doesn't sound like Pads will go for it without a change in their approach.

22/12/2015 20:53
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Steve Adams

69058eee1d82b8920518ec23ac33908d?d=identicon

WhiteKnuckler

Gut feeling- does JFernandez get traded this off-season. If yes to whom?

Nope.

22/12/2015 20:54
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Steve Adams

Bddfdb28870c5800d938fa0993c46d65?d=identicon

Bert

Kind of a follow-up, CJ Wilson to the Orioles a possibility? Could use a lefty starter

Orioles would make sense for him as well, sure. Especially if LAA were eating money, as was proposed in the previous CJ question.

22/12/2015 20:55
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Steve Adams

Dc44aaf0eb2217918df02b920f4f3a51?d=identicon

Cincy

Did the Reds get too little back for Todd Frazier?

Seems that way, yeah. I'm pretty surprised that they basically took Peraza and a couple guys who project as part-timers, but they probably like Schebler more than most, and they reportedly love Peraza and are still sold on him as a definite regular. If he pans out and Hamilton finally figures out how to get on base, that'd be a fun pair to put at the top of a lineup.

22/12/2015 20:56
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Steve Adams

F6120da3058dbff82b989d1f5a7b84e6?d=identicon

CONN

SAY CESPEDES TO THE MARINERS! (and mean it)

I can say it but I won't mean it. I don't see Dipoto spending that kind of coin on a free agent.

22/12/2015 20:57
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Steve Adams

21d6cb8984871e8d552101fdbd50a102?d=identicon

Dean

Panda for Shields, straight up?

Have never understood that for the Padres. Shields was overpaid but useful in 2015. Sandoval was genuinely terrible. And he's owed more money over more years. It makes no sense for San Diego.

22/12/2015 20:57
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Steve Adams

7b34fdbd72fdecd596f0c583dd483a0f?d=identicon

Lee

Does Chris Davis get more the the $150mm he turned down?

Yeah I think he'll do better than most are expecting. Tends to happen with Boras' top guys each year.

22/12/2015 20:58
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Steve Adams

C037792e0a7474cc233070802c804760?d=identicon

Cthulouis CK

Dipoto hasn't dealt for anyone the last few days. Is he ok?

Holiday season maybe? Someone may want to check on him just to be sure though.

22/12/2015 20:59
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Steve Adams

92c6b62ed7823f16299c87952863a7f8?d=identicon

Chase F

Manny Machado 2016 AL MVP. Your thoughts?

Don't see any reason why he couldn't get there. Kid's amazing.

22/12/2015 20:59
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Steve Adams

472d46cb829018f9dbd65fb8479a49bb?d=identicon

Jason

Jays have a realistic chance for a big signing or trade. If so, what...I'm dying of boredom here...

They've already brought back Estrada, traded for Chavez and signed Happ. They'll probably add a bullpen arm in January or February -- one of the guys on whom the market collapses -- but I wouldn't be holding my breath for anything major.

22/12/2015 21:01
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Steve Adams