JotCast | MLBTR Live Chat

MLBTR Live Chat

Jeffrey Todd

3:30

It has been too long!

I'm back.

I'll let the room fill up a bit and then we'll get rolling ...

Dark

3:34

Seems a tad early to give up on Vlad at 3B, no?

Jeffrey Todd

3:35

Yeah that was my thought ... but it obviously speaks to the fact that they already knew what they were looking for and didn't see it. And perhaps the fact they drafted a quick-to-the-majors superstar 3B candidate in Martin helps with the decision?

3:36

If you really don't think Vladdy will be a palatable enough defender over there in the long run, after a long time of watching him, then maybe it's better to just pull the plug now and get him comfy at first.

Giants

3:37

Joey Bart plays in over/under 30.5 games?

Jeffrey Todd

3:38

I'll take the under. I think he probably still has some developing to do. Even if the Giants are looking to make a run at it in 2020, and don't care much about service time (whether for adding a year of future control or avoiding Super Two), it's a tough time to just chuck a guy like that into the majors.

3:38

The phillies roster stinks

Jeffrey Todd

3:39

I'm not so sure about that. If you take the dim view of some players, sure, but it's also not hard to imagine some serious star power and a quality supporting staff. Mostly I believe the four best teams in the NL East are pretty evenly matched, especially in a short season.

Tommy Pham is cleared to re-join Padres, so good news there.

Marcus semien

3:40

Chance I re sign in Oakland

Jeffrey Todd

3:40

Tempting to think they could go for it as part of a push to get the ballpark over the hump. But ... it's a heckuva risk. They've never really spent like what'll be required (assuming he plays to his 2019 standards, give or take).

Russell Martin

3:41

Is there a job for me? Or...do I even want one? unofficially officially retired?

Jeffrey Todd

3:42

Haven't heard anything there. Maybe he ends up with the Giants or some other team that has a surprise opening and wants a solid MLB backstop? He obviously didn't feel like taking a minor-league deal and battling for a roster spot, so he may not want to do that now, all the moreso given the covid circumstances.

Juice bus

3:43

Hilliard Is good right? chance to win a starting gig in Colorado?

Jeffrey Todd

3:44

There's plenty of opportunity there, though it doesn't help that they have like 8 left-handed-hitting outfielders. I would temper expectations on a true outbreak but one never knows. Examined it a few months back: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/04/what-in-the-sam-hilliard-do-the...

The ghost of Sid Bream's slide

3:44

If Trout ends up opting out of the season, will there be a mass exodus of players following his lead? Kind of hard to keep playing when the sports best player opts out.

Jeffrey Todd

3:46

I don't think there'd be a mass exodus, because a) I think there are a lot of guys that are determined to play and b) every player that opts out leaves an opportunity behind. Even if the immediate earnings aren't that great, it's a chance to suit up in a MLB uniform and maybe earn yourself another contract.

Intervening Variable

3:46

It seems to me that if the low number of positives for COVID continue this season could be a potential win. What is your over/under for when we'd be past any hiccups that could undermine the season? Mine is 31st since we be past two or three series.

Jeffrey Todd

3:47

I don't think there's any point beyond which the season is safe. Obviously the determination to play the postseason will increase with every game played -- the owners are paying up front and cashing in later -- but we can't assume anything about the state of the United States or the public health crisis.

Kyleschwarbersmom

3:47

Are the videos done or just on hiatus?

Jeffrey Todd

3:49

Just on hiatus. We are still committed to doing it -- especially when we were toughing out the shutdown -- but had to halt things for reasons I can't really get into. But we had been working on doing longer-form videos rather than the quick ones.

3:50

Actually we have some really cool stuff pretty far along in development ... hopefully we'll relaunch it sooner than later.

3:51

who wins A's 2B job? Will Luzardo and Bassitt tandem start now?

Jeffrey Todd

3:51

I'd honestly be pretty surprised if the A's ended up giving the 2B gig over to one guy. Could always change if someone emerges but even that is hard to do in a short season.

3:52

If you figure Luzardo is going to be behind the curve for prep and too precious to risk ... they may not ultimately fully stretch him out. Maybe he functions as like a 3-4 inning guy to begin and then they see how it goes?

Guest

3:52

Cincinnati 2020 world champs....wire to wire 30 years after their last wire to wire world title!

Jeffrey Todd

3:53

The twin gifts of the easy schedule and universal DH certainly don't hurt.

Martin is not a 3B

3:54

His arm doesn't play there, he is a CF or maybe even a 2B on this Jays team. And putting him there would block Groshans and Martinez/

Jeffrey Todd

3:54

Let's wait and see. But fair enough as befits the Vladito point ... not like Martin is clearly identified as a third bagger or something.

3:56

Re the other guys ... teams aren't worried about blocking prospects. You can always downgrade a guy on the defensive spectrum. I guess the broader point is the Jays have a lot of good infield prospects, including left side of infield prospects.

Todd

3:56

Speaking of top prospects changing positions, do you see Wander moving over to third since the Rays have Willy Adames at short?

Jeffrey Todd

3:57

Really no reason for the Rays to give much thought to that now. Think of the Astros with Correa/Bregman. It's mostly a sort of practical roster question if you end up with both guys in the majors performing well at the same time. If they're both capable of playing short, it won't be hard to resolve.

Buster Posey

3:57

If a player opts out and miracle of all miracles happen and a vaccine is found or the world somehow changes can they opt back in? ...asking for a friend.

Jeffrey Todd

3:57

I assume not but I'm honestly not sure.

3:58

Probably not ... think of the roster machinations the team will have to make.

Paw Paw

3:58

Got no problem with players opting out what about you?

Jeffrey Todd

3:58

I can't imagine why anyone would have a problem with it. Beyond the moral dimensions, it was agreed to between the teams and players.

Alex Anthopoulos