Jeff Sullivan: Hello friends

Jeff Sullivan: Welcome to Friday baseball chat

Jeff Sullivan: Sorry for the hiccup — had to amend some behind-the-scenes team depth charts

Owen: Should the Nats trade for a SP like Gray/Darvish, or focus on the bullpen?

Jeff Sullivan: Bullpen, for me. Just build that thing out. They have enough starters and if you feel like Roark or Gonzalez might not be so reliable in October, just limit them to five or so innings

Jack: Thoughts on Ramirez for Cishek? Seems like a pointless trade. Was Jerry just scratching his trade itch here? Did the Rays just feel they had to do something, anything about the bullpen after yet another failure last night?

Eno Sarris: be here shortly!

Eno Sarris: Yo I’m here!

Sourman: You pumped for Chris Flexen? I assume you’ll be paying close attention to him.

Eno Sarris: Came into the season like 56th on the Mets starting pitcher depth chart haha.

Topher: best lottery ticket ROS in a twelve team, points league?  Snell, Pivetta, A. Moore, M. Moore, Mejia, Marquez, Lamet. Thank you much sir.

Eno Sarris: Snell and then Lamet.

Dave Cameron: Happy Wednesday, everyone. We’re coming up on the trade deadline, but more and more, I get the feeling that this isn’t going to be a particularly exciting few days.

Dave Cameron: Sonny Gray is going to go. A bunch of solid relievers will get moved.

Dave Cameron: But I don’t know that we’re going to see any blockbusters.

Ned Yost: Altuve leads Judge in both bWAR and fWAR, plays a premium defensive position, and is on a team that is significantly better than Judge’s. There is no saber-metric or old school argument you can use against him. He’s the MVP.

Dave Cameron: They’re tied at +5.5. Position is already included in WAR. Team strength is irrelevant.

Dave Cameron: Congratulations for taking a hard-line stance on something where it’s perfectly reasonable to pick one or the other, though.

Paul Swydan:

Paul Swydan:

Paul Swydan:

Paul Swydan: Hi everybody!

Paul Swydan: Jeff may be here but he is also at a ballpark, so maybe not.

Attila the Hunplugged: Is David Dahl an MLB regular by 8/15?

Eric A Longenhagen: Good morning, This is the water and this is the well.

Eric A Longenhagen: Links!

Eric A Longenhagen: Today’s daily notes: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/instagraphs/daily-prospect-notes-725/

Eric A Longenhagen: I have posts in the queue about the Royals/Padres and Braves/Twins trade. If they get posted during the chat, I’ll add them in here.

Eric A Longenhagen: Also, I’m writing up all the trades that happened while I was away for posterity. Here’s the Quintana deal: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/belated-trade-analysis-white-sox-acquir…

Eric A Longenhagen: Ok, let’s drink full and descend.

Travis Sawchik: Greetings!

Travis Sawchik: Happy Monday, and happy trade deadline week …

String Cheese: Yesterday it was reported that the Tigers could be done dealing. Do you think a “stand pat” deadline strategy would be wise for Detroit?

Travis Sawchik: I’d be looking to move Justin Wilson …. lot of teams have been interested in impact bullpen guys

Jacket: Hey Travis, how well does Devers need to hit for me to keep him over Rob Ray or Alex wood at the same price?

Travis Sawchik: Quite a bit better than his Steamer projection

Dave Cameron: Happy Friday, everyone. Jeff and I switched days this week because he wanted to go climb something this weekend. I fully expect there to be 20 trades in the next 24 hours since he’s gone.

Charles the Cat: If the Cubs are to get one more starter, who do you think they get?

Dave Cameron: The rumor of the morning put them on Darvish, but there are diminishing returns on adding another guy at that level. You’re starting Lester/Quintana/Arrieta in the postseason, so if you pick up Darvish, one of those guys makes just one start in a seven game series.

Dave Cameron: So I’d think it would be more like an Estrada type, a guy who could potentially be a buy low and would give them depth if Hendricks has more problems, then could maybe be a reliever in October.

MK: With everyone focused on Nats bullpen issues, is adding a starter or left fielder the main priority now?

Dave Cameron: I don’t think they need a starter. They basically have a playoff spot locked up, and Scherzer/Strasburg/Gio/Roark is fine for the postseason.

Eno Sarris: This guy danced like this, sang like crazy, and ended up in a tree at some point last weekend at Pitchfork and we should all live so intensely

TimMorris: 7 game series who you got, Dodgers or Astros?

Eno Sarris: I’m going to take the Dodgers. Kershaw gives them two wins (I know it doesn’t work like that, but humor me) and that’s a nice bank. Not sure Sonny Gray changes that calculus.

Nick: Got offered Kyle Tucker and Schebler for Stras and Cahill and a keeper? Take it or leave it?

Eno Sarris: Eh. This run environment seems to create Scheblers left and right and if Stras is a keeper he’s best in deal.

Senor Crabs: I hate to be this guy, but I traded 4 years of Kris Bryant for 4 years of Gregory Polanco and 5 years of Maz and Aaron Nola. Did I do ok?

Dan Szymborski: MAIN SCREEN TURN ON

The Average Sports Fan: Do you think David Wright ever gets another MLB AB?

Dan Szymborski: I think he’ll make an appearance, but not many of ’em.

Guest: If you’re a White Sox fan, who would you rather not see blow games as their closer… Swarzak or Clippard?

Dan Szymborski: Clippard because you’ll directly remember Robertson

Nick: Outlook for Mags Sierra? Can he be an above average hitter?

Jeff Sullivan: Hello friends

Jeff Sullivan: Welcome to a weird one-off Wednesday baseball chat

Jeff Sullivan: Back to normal scheduling next week. I’ve just wound up with two straight Fridays out of the house and off the grid

Carson Cistulli: Jeff Sullivan, making his weekly Friday appearance, On a Wednesday….? This commenter is intimidated – Dare I say – Threatened, yes threatened by change!

Jeff Sullivan: I should also note that Dave will be taking the Friday chat again. Next week, he’s back to Wednesday, and I’m back to Friday

Jeff Sullivan: Normalcy resumes, to whatever extent it ever can