JotCast | Top 50 Free Agents Chat

Tim Dierkes

1:47

Welcome to the Top 50 Free Agents chat! The list can be seen here: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/11/mlb-free-agent-predictions-2019...

1:49

A little introduction before we begin. I'm Tim Dierkes, the creator and owner of the MLB Trade Rumors website. This is our 13th top 50 free agents list. These days, I incorporate tons of feedback from MLBTR's two full-time writers, Steve Adams and Jeff Todd. We put in many hours of Slack chats and emails discussing all of these players and their possible contracts and destinations.

1:50

So we work very hard on the list, knowing full well that A) A lot of what we predict will be wrong and B) A lot of people will tell us we're stupid. This is your chance to satisfy part B with me, in a live chat!

Angels

1:51

Who do you think the Angels can realistically acquire this offseason?

Tim Dierkes

1:52

Their payroll looks fairly tight, but there's also a feeling that Arte might push beyond where he's been in recent years and try to add significant talent. Starting pitching seems to be a must. We went with Happ and Sabathia there, though Steve and Jeff pushed for "Hollywood" Dallas Keuchel.

1:53

The Angels' bullpen would also appear to need work, and catcher, 2B, 3B, and RF could be upgraded.

Matt

1:54

So you don’t see the Yankess trying to

Tim Dierkes

1:54

No, I do not.

Yankees

1:54

You don’t have yankees signing Machado? I doubt philles will sign him!

Tim Dierkes

1:54

The Yankees are a completely viable choice for Machado. We liked the Phillies just a touch better.

Louisville MetsFan

1:54

Will the Mets attempt to sign one of the bigger free agents (Manny to play 3rd or Harper to play OF)?

Tim Dierkes

1:54

I do not expect the Mets to be in that mix.

Orioles

1:54

Who are we shipping out this offseason and is there any chance we sign any player of note?

Tim Dierkes

1:55

The outfield and pitching staff seem kind of thin, even for a rebuilding club. I think they'll throw around a few bucks on the shallow end of the free agent pool.

Potato

1:55

Do you see the Dodgers being big players for Realmuto if Grandal doesnt accept the QO?

Tim Dierkes

1:56

Absolutely. Nor do I expect Grandal to accept.

Scott

1:56

You have Phiks getting Machado. Why are you feeling Manny over Bryce for Phils?

Tim Dierkes

1:57

I think they are both equally viable for the Phillies (though I see almost no chance of both). It was more than when we thought of Manny, we thought the Phils are his best pick because their front office knows him well and seems less likely to worry about the whole villain narrative.

Theo

1:57

Am I Bluffing, that I'm not going to go after Harper?

Tim Dierkes

1:58

Theo hasn't really said anything to indicate that he won't sign Harper, it's more his actions of unloading Smyly to save $7MM. I was really torn because the Cubs had been my Harper pick but it does seem like payroll is too tight. Of course, payroll is just an artificial construct handed down from the Ricketts, so the family can spend as much or as little as it wants.

1:59

There's a fair chance Cubs fans are disappointed this winter - the trade market just doesn't offer much that could fit onto the Cubs' roster. So if they don't sign Harper or Machado, fans will likely not get the star addition they want.

Medic Mike

2:00

You guys put a lot of faith in one story about the cubs and money and now no Harper?

Tim Dierkes

2:01

I also took a much closer look at the Cubs' payroll, especially at an article Rob Huff wrote for The Athletic (I also emailed Rob). Either Theo attaches prospects to unload bad contracts (unlikely) or the Ricketts blow past any reasonable budget (unlikely). Unlikely does not mean impossible though.

Will the Cubs sign Bryce Harper?

Helz yeah! (10.7% | 97 votes)

lol no (89.3% | 811 votes)

Total Votes: 908

Daniel G

2:01

Do the Dodgers have the money to sign Harper?

Tim Dierkes

2:02

Easily. The Dodgers have a ton of payroll capacity this winter. We had them just signing Kershaw, Ryu, and Herrera and it just felt wrong. They could also take on big money in a trade though.

White Sox

2:02

Do you think the White Sox will actually be able to get a big name this offseason?

Steve Adams

2:03

Update! I believe Tim and I have successfully figured out how to do the first co-hosted chat in MLBTR history.

Tim Dierkes

2:03

I do think that. It's weird - I think they will but we didn't end up picking them as a favorite for anyone on the list. They are a real threat for Machado and can afford any free agent. It's a matter of whether they want to push their chips in now or a year from now.

Steve Adams

2:03

Heyyyyyy we've conquered technology. High five, Tim.

Tim Dierkes

2:03

Boom! Things are about to get weird.

Kevin

2:03

If Giants go into a rebuild, where do you see Pollock going? Any chance he stays in AZ?

Tim Dierkes

2:04

I've seen White Sox fans hyping that as an idea, and I like it. Phillies could work. Bunch of teams like the Mariners could use him but might not be able to afford it.

Brian

2:05

If I'm the White Sox, who should I want more: Machado or Harper? The Sox are not locked in long-term at either spot so both are desirable options.

Steve Adams

2:05

Really, though, their CEO, Larry Baer, has been real adamant about not wanting to rebuild.

Tim Dierkes

2:05

They seem equally good to me. I can't really get past the idea of the White Sox doing the largest contract in baseball history with Scott Boras though. Maybe the Boras bad blood is all gone but I'll believe it when I see it.

2:06

I’ve Keuchel at a ton of LA parties the last two offseasons. It’s real.

Steve Adams

2:06

Beyond that, re: White Sox -- they'd need to issue a deal 5x larger than their current franchise record in the midst of a rebuild that didn't really progress as much in '18 as they'd hoped. It's a reach, but not impossible.

Tim Dierkes

2:07

How Hollywood is Dallas Keuchel?

Attends the occasional party where Rob Lowe is present (55% | 232 votes)

Wants his own biopic (45% | 190 votes)

Total Votes: 422

Randy

2:07

BVW going to make surprise moves for the Mets? How aggressive do you think he'll be in the free agent market?

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