JotCast | MLBTR Live Chat

Jeffrey Todd

3:00

Hey! Let's chat about ... I don't know, not much in the immediate transactional world so we might have to get creative. Let me know what's on your mind.

I'll let the room fill up here and we'll get rolling shortly.

Theo In Chicago

3:05

Is there any chance I make a second coming (well third actually) to Boston

Jeffrey Todd

3:06

Y'know, I haven't really sat and thought about it carefully, but it is a fascinating possibility. Obviously there are a few rumblings of discontent in Chicago and all bets are off if they whiff on the postseason. Loads of possibilities for Boston, though. Nothing can be taken off the table at the moment.

Nico

3:06

Do I fill the need for a leadoff hitter and 2nd baseman next season? Seems to not get phased by the moment

Jeffrey Todd

3:07

Slow your roll, Nico Hoerner fans. He wasn't shaking in his boots for his debut, which is good. And he is indeed able to make contact, as expected. Beyond that, we don't know much at all from one night. He has a sub-.400 slugging percentage in Double-A. I don't think he's a slam-dunk regular 2B/leadoff hitter for a contender by any stretch.

3:08

Not trying to hate on the dude here, just ... the expectations ramped WAY up very quickly.

Random guy here to aska question

3:08

What needs do the rockies need to make this off-season?

Jeffrey Todd

3:08

Hoo boy where do we start.

3:09

I mean ... there are some similarities to the recent Marlins teams in that there was really good young core talent, some of which got extended for big $$$, and some serious money spent in free agency. And it all didn't work ... and there wasn't more cash available to keep adding necessary pieces.

3:10

Maybe there's more money in the piggy bank that we don't know about. Hard to know from the outside. Coors Field does well and they have a broad TV market, but obviously this isn't a top of the line earning franchise.

3:11

To an extent they simply have to put everybody back out there and hope for improvement. I'm sure there'll be some roster tweaking, but they can't attack free agency the way they have.

Justin

3:12

Will the Blue Jays be players on any big FA’s this offseason?

Jeffrey Todd

3:14

I think there's some real restlessness. And the young core is there. Perhaps it's roughly where the Phillies were pre-2018, when they signed Arrieta? Toronto's books are pretty clear, except for the weird Grichuk contract.

Bravos

3:14

Did you think the Braves will Bring Back Donaldson?

Jeffrey Todd

3:15

It'd be hard to predict that it's likely. I think JD is going to the highest bidder. But I'm sure ATL will have a price in mind and will try for him. We know GM Alex Anthopoulos loves him (for good reason).

Jonathon b

3:15

Is mike trout's injury a concern

Jeffrey Todd

3:16

Doesn't seem to be, nah

Zak

3:16

Why is Acuña getting no love for the NL MVP race? Dude is on the cusp of a 40-40 season.

Jeffrey Todd

3:17

The counting numbers are nice, but dingers are up everywhere. He's got a 120 OPS+. That's not really an MVP number. Acuna is amazing and probably is the most valuable player in baseball (on-field value + contract). But I don't think this is the year. There'll be more to come.

3:19

BTW I predicted Rendon a long time ago ... in part b/c everyone will suddenly go "OH WOW we forgot about this guy for so long!" Not sure he gets there but I feel pretty good about that guess and reasoning.

CardsFan76

3:19

What do we do about the outfield?

Jeffrey Todd

3:21

I don't even know. They have traded away such an unreal volume of good but not great MLB outfield talent and it doesn't stop coming. I do think they could pretty much roll with what's there and focus the acquisition efforts on other areas. More than anything, might be driven by opportunity and the way the season turns out.

Mike

3:21

Hello what kind of moves in the off season do you see the pirates doing?

Jeffrey Todd

3:21

Budget-conscious ones

3:22

I mean ... obviously, ha. But really, the front office isn't able to do more than compile targets they want and decide on limited offers they can make and then go see what fish are biting.

3:23

As far as whether they will be looking to add or sell, etc .... I'd expect a sort of opportunistic approach. They aren't likely to blow it up. But they'll consider moving Vazquez and perhaps others at the right price. No matter what, I think they'll make a few targeted adds and hope the team is reasonably competitive.

Rob

3:23

Do you think optimism in the jays' young hitters is a bit overstated. Other than Vlad and Bo (and 'maybe Guriell), who really projects as an impact bat? It seems like they're down on Alford (who, but maybe

Jeffrey Todd

3:25

No, I don't think so -- if you believe in Vlad and Bo, what more do you need? I don't mean those two can carry an entire franchise without other talent, of course, but in terms of high-end young talent. If you develop two mega-stars at the same time, you should be able to find the other pieces even if you don't develop any other star-level players. Some will come from the farm, including recent trades. And they can add free agents.

I could see the Jays functioning a bit like the White Sox did last winter.

Ryan

3:26

Odds of the Giants extending Madison Bumgarner?

Jeffrey Todd

3:27

As in, new deal before he's a free agent? We've heard nothing about it. Not to say it isn't possible -- they did just that with Hunter Pence. But I think odds are he tests the open market. Still at least some not-insignificant chance he ends up back there. They did decide not to trade him after all.

Kate Upton

3:27

You think Phillies, Angels, White Sox and Padres may all be contenders for Gerrit Cole this off season?

Jeffrey Todd

3:28

I think his market includes any team with reasonable hope of contending and at least the hypothetical capability of doing a huge deal. Even if the rotation isn't really the priority.

3:30

The Indians and Rays aren't going to do that kind of contract. Otherwise ... not sure we can really rule out any team with a thought about winning. Nats and Mets aren't likely but who knows if situations change (Stras could opt out; Mets could make a trade).

Travis

3:30

Bruce Bochy has managed in the majors from 1995-2019, his record is 1995-2019. Should he suspend himself for the rest of the year to keep that symetry?

Jeffrey Todd

3:31

Doesn't seem like the most interesting coincidence. I'd finish it out and get all the rest of my gifts.

Dan

3:31

Red Sox starting a downward spiral to insignificance?

Jeffrey Todd

3:31

Nope

Michael Scott

3:32

What is a realistic contract expectation for Donaldson to come back to the Braves?

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