Paul Swydan: HI EVERYBODY!

Paul Swydan: It’s the last chat of the year, and I’m flying solo because Jeff has a Rotoworld mock draft. Let’s get to it!

ben: Betts or buxton for rest of career

Paul Swydan: Definitely Betts. He’s only a year older than Buxton, and already has two productive seasons under his belt. I’m not really bullish on Buxton in general.

Mets Fan: How excited should I be about Alejandro de Aza?

Paul Swydan: Not very. It’s a move that doesn’t have much potential for failure – which makes it similar to the Walker and Cabrera moves – but like those moves, it doesn’t have a big chance for success.

august fagerstrom: hello!

august fagerstrom: being that I missed last week’s chat, what with me being out of the country and all, we’ll go a little longer this week.

august fagerstrom: for now, though, I’m going to head down to the deli and procure myself a sandwich. get those questions in and I’ll be back around noon to commence chatting

august fagerstrom: also, we can totally talk about Star Wars if you guys want

august fagerstrom: today’s chat soundtrack: Vince Guaraldi Trio – A Charlie Brown Christmas

august fagerstrom: I just saw a man carrying a motorcycle up a flight of steps on my way back from the deli, so I suppose we can begin no

Dan Szymborski: There are already 50 questions!

Dan Szymborski: I blame Cistulli for this somehow.

Jones: Braves have done a great job restocking their farm system. However, I feel like they only have maybe a couple actual elite prospects (Swanson, maybe Newcome & Albies). Would you agree, or are there some others in the system you think are elite prospects?

Dan Szymborski: While they’re nto overflowing with elites, they have a lot of *upside* guys, like some of the lower-level pitching they’ve stocked. They’re going to hit on some of those out of quantity.

David: What’s the biggest amount you earn on a bet?

Dan Szymborski: 4400. Bet on Scherzer to win the Cy Young before 2013.

Jeff Sullivan: Hello friends

Jeff Sullivan: Welcome to baseball chat

Jeff Sullivan: Let’s do what we always do!

spoiler: darth is lukes dad

Jeff Sullivan: let’s get this all out of our systems now

Owen S.: How old are you? At what age do you believe you were the unhappiest you’ve ever been? The happiest? I am 28 and this is the worst year of my life.

Eno Sarris: Be here shortly!

Eno Sarris:

Eno Sarris: These guys were great last week. A little harder than I thought from their radio hits, but really enjoyed them.

YD: What are two simple cost effective moves that could make the Royals good again

Eno Sarris: They need an SP and and a 2B. Wait till Kendrick signs and sign Murphy for less? SP market is crazy full of pitchers. Just put a 3/30 offer out there and wait till someone takes it?

Bruce: Who earns more in 5×5 for next year- Soler or Souza?

Dave Cameron: Alright, let’s get this chat fired up.

Dave Cameron: For those who haven’t seen it, Jeff Passan just noted on Twitter than the Dodgers and White Sox are nearing a trade that would send CHW’s top pitching prospect Frankie Montas to LA. It could be lots of things, but Yasiel Puig seems to be the most obvious thing that LAD would want to move for young talent that would interest CHW.

Dave Cameron: So we can speculate about that, or talk about other off-season stuff.

JL: Where does Cespedes land? Tigers? Nationals? Rangers? Somewhere completely random?

Dave Cameron: Tigers, in an Ilitch-engineered deal in January, probably makes the most sense. If they’re really going for it, they’re a player or two short, and he’d help them a lot. No point pushing in halfway.

Ringtone Composer: Over the past 4 weeks, have the Braves made themselves much better in the long run?

Paul Swydan: Hi everybody! OK, let’s do this!

Jeff Zimmerman: Hi

Billy Corman: There is a lot of substance behind the splash the Cubs have made this offseason. Cardinals seem to be missing out (I wouldn’t say they’re missing Cueto, Bob. *laughs*). All I read was the new TV contract money and $200mm for Heyward. Who’s the dance partner they take to the playoffs, Chris Davis?http://tpj.videonativesltd.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/office-space-the-bobs.png

Jeff Zimmerman: I think they will end up with one of Gordon, Cespedes or Upton

Paul Swydan: Here’s the thing. They don’t NEED any one player. But I think they’d be wise to keep upgrading their bullpen.

Paul Swydan: VEEP!

Dan Szymborski: OMG IT STARTED EARLIER, I”M MURDERING THAT SIMPERING JACKANINNY CISTULLI WITH HIS OWN FISTS

Dan Szymborski: OK, got that out of the way

Jose: How does your PC deal with A-Rod?

Dan Szymborski: Same way it deals with other players. Not quite sure what you mean here.

Dan Szymborski: If you mean the missed year and the injuries, ZiPS has historical knowledge of what missed years and various injuries (very generalized) mean to future performance. If the steroids, there’s still not much in the way of evidence that it has any predictive value for future play.

The Dude: As a Cubs fan, should I be worried about Theo’s lackluster record of FA signings?

Jeff Sullivan: Hello friends!

Jeff Sullivan: Let’s baseball chat!

Jeff Sullivan: This one’s coming to you live from Dave Cameron’s living room. Or, arguably, the room beside the living room, which resembles a living room

c: please friend, baseball chat

Jeff Sullivan: It’s what we’re all here for

Gary: Do the Braves have a top 5 system now? Higher?

Eno Sarris: will be here shortly

Eno Sarris:

Anthony: No other suitors for Miller after Astros acquisition of Ken Giles or is a #MYSTERYTEAM preparing to strike

Eno Sarris:

Eno Sarris: That was supposed to say: Dodgers might still want a reliever after the Chapman thing fell through!

hscer: What the…CiL looks all…weird. When did this happen?