Kiley McDaniel: Hello from sunny Orlando. I am prepared to chat with you.

Jared: Hi Kiley.

steev: Hi Kiley,

Kiley McDaniel: You guys are so formal, you can just skip to calling me biased next time

Alex: Hi Kiley, what are your thoughts on Cristian Pache’s ultimate offensive ceiling? Thanks!

Kiley McDaniel: He’s an interesting one. I’ve joked that he’s an LSU wide receiver athletically, so almost anything is possible in the long-term. More practically he needs to refine the approach and lift the ball a little more, but he’s also a 70 runner and if doesn’t improve at all he’s something like Kevin Pillar, which may not be what Braves fans want but that’s an everyday guy.

Eric A Longenhagen: Oh hi hello, Eric Longenhagen here from relatively chilly Tempe (38 degrees this morning). I hope you’re all ready for baseball. It approaches.

Eric A Longenhagen: Some stuff really quick…

Eric A Longenhagen: I was on the pod with Carson: https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/fangraphs-audio-luis-robert-and-the-wh…

Eric A Longenhagen: And wrote up Conner Greene, who was dealt over the weekend: https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/instagraphs/scouting-the-talented-frus…

Eric A Longenhagen: Okay chat, let’s do this.

Greg: Favorite under the radar Braves prospect?

Travis Sawchik: Greetings!

Travis Sawchik: It’s been awhile with the holiday last week …

Travis Sawchik: But don’t worry, we haven’t really missed anything ….

Travis Sawchik: 29 of Dave’s Top 50 free agents remain unsigned

Baseball Guy: Best guess as to who’s still out there in, say, June, waiting for the “right offer”? I got Arrieta.

Travis Sawchik: I would be shocked if a top name was waiting until June … but I could see some high-profile March signings

Jeff Sullivan: Hello friends

Jeff Sullivan: Welcome to Friday baseball chat

Jeff Sullivan: Although that’s Friday baseball chat with an asterisk: there’s a decent chance that in about half an hour I’m going to have to go give someone an emergency ride to a wedding

Jeff Sullivan: Not ideal! But here we are. I hope it works out

Bork: Hello, friend, and welcome back!

Jeff Sullivan: Hello friend

Estevao: Edgar

312/418/515
.204 ISO.  .405 wOBA.

Larry

313/400/565
.252 ISO.  .412 wOBA

Coors Field is obviously a factor,
Edgar 147 wRC+
Larry 140 wRC+

But any advantage Martinez might and probably had gets crushed in the overall value analysis, def and bsr big advantage Larry

Dan Szymborski: They should both be in the Hall.   I’m not going to suggest we dont’ vote for Edgar just because Walker can’t get in this year in all practical likelihood.

Bret: How do you evaluate the Blue Jays offseason to date?

Dan Szymborski: Incomplete.  This has been a slow offseason and I’m loath to give anybody a grade.

Dan: Devers’ projection is pretty crazy for a 21 year old.  What does his long term (~5 year) projection look like?

Dan Szymborski: Don’t have it in front of me, but quite solid!

Eno Sarris: is this title about my struggle against the beer belly or

Jimbo Slice: Why did the Pirates system fail Gerrit Cole?

Eno Sarris: I think they need to relax a bit on the four-seamer thing. They really pound four-seamers hard, to the point of taking away two-seamers from prospects, in order to promote good command. But then they need to learn two-seam command, or they throw the four-seamer more than they should, like Cole does.

John M.: Do you really believe the Cardinals will go with Gregorson as their closer going into April? I just can’t seriously believe that after stating they wanted to upgrade the pen

Eno Sarris: Maybe going into April, but they have some pieces, could be Cecil or Lyons depending on how good and healthy they are this year. I don’t think they want to pay full freight on Holland, and I don’t blame them with his mechanics and history.

Eno Sarris: Maybe they sign Bud Norris? Maybe they trade for Bearclaw, Soria, Herrera? Maybe they do both.

Eric A Longenhagen: Good morning from Tempe

Kiley McDaniel: And good early afternoon from Orlando!

Eric A Longenhagen: This will likely be Kiley’s regular chat spot moving forward but we’re both here today as I missed my spot yesterday to see Luis Robert and others.

Eric A Longenhagen: Let’s get to it…

THE Average Sports Fan: If the Reds deal Hamilton, who benefits more: Winker or Ervin?

Eric A Longenhagen: I suppose Ervin because it means he gets more of an opportunity with Hamilton gone and it looks like Winker is already going to have a significant role, even with Hamilton there. But Winker is the better prospect and I don’t think it’s very close.

Eno Sarris: god I love the Hammond organ

Chad: The Giants’ outfield woes aren’t exaggerated, are they?

Eno Sarris: 1.4 win projection for the whole outfield. Worst in the big leagues. By almost a win behind the Royals. And it’s all in a bounce back from Pence, who looked pretty toasty last year.

Chris : The Mets need to shake this roster up. Would a Lagares/Wheeler/Nimmo for Herrera and Merrifield be doable? At least start the conversation.

Eno Sarris: I’d like them to keep Nimmo, but this would be interesting. They still need an infielder, and I’m not sure how much they have left to spend.

Mark: ENO! It’s still like a month until mock drafting on Yahoo! Where can I get my fix?

Travis Sawchik: This is my first chat of 2018, Happy New Year …

Travis Sawchik: I wish there was more to report http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/transactions/#month=1&year=2018

Travis Sawchik: The stove is ice cold

Travis Sawchik: But we’ll talk our way through this lull …

Corey: Is “solving” pitch sequencing a feasible goal for teams looking to gain a new competitive advantage?

Travis Sawchik: I think there is something there to be mined … changing eye levels, disrupting timing, creating anxiety, are real things and can probably be quantified