Paul Sporer: Hey everybody, we’ll get going very shortly. I’m relieving Dave Cameron today, though it’ll be more the traditional 1-inning use (i.e. 60-90 minutes of chatting) as opposed to my normal multi-inning relief chats (multiple hours) just bc of scheduling.

Comment From Jon
Hey Paul! Do you like any of these RPs for save speculation? Will Smith, Tazawa, Soriano, Strop, Jim Johnson, Delabar, Cecil, Hudson, Burgos, Siegrist

Paul Sporer: Smith is very interesting if KRod is moved (and he should be). Otherwise, I’m looking at Tazawa for a similar reason and Hudson as a long-shot sleeper-type

Comment From Jon
Which side do you like in a keeper? Polanco+ AJ Ramos or Odor + McCullers

Paul Sporer: That’s not bad, but I’d lean the first side

Comment From AL Pitching Coach
It’s Paul!!! What an unexpected treat for Wednesday! I’m in an AL-only league looking to scoop up the next impact SP to be called up from the minors. Am I right in thinking the top 3 options are Jose Berrios, Brian Johnson and Luis Severino? If so, would you be so kind as to rank the three in terms of 2015 impact, as well as tell me anything you feel relevant in their regards? Your help is greatly appreciated.

Paul Swydan: Hi everybody! Jeff is on vacation, so you’re stuck with just me! Get your questions in, and I’ll see you at 9 pm ET.

Paul Swydan: OK, let’s do this.

Comment From Pale Hose
Did you have a good 4th, Paul?

Paul Swydan: I did. Went to a friend’s lake house, and two of the houses on his lake had dueling illegal fireworks shows. It was pretty awesome, actually.

Comment From Pale Hose
One of these years there will be a FG meetup I can make it to.

Paul Swydan: I know, I was disappointed I couldn’t make the DC one this weekend, since I set it up and all. But I heard good things!

Kiley McDaniel: Kiley is here and he’s slightly sunburned from some day HS tourney games yesterday

Comment From Bob Benson
Last week in his chat, Cameron mentioned that you two had discussed Hunter Renfroe and that you would be downgrading his prospect status. Can you elaborate on why?

Kiley McDaniel: There were some contact/approach concerns on Renfroe from back in his amateur days, but he hit so you couldn’t really factor that into his prospect status as much, unless you were really convicted it wouldn’t work at higher levels, which most scouts couldn’t do because all the tools are there.He had a yellow flag of a tough half-season at AA last year that we needed to pay attention to this year and he hasn’t really improved. Now those concerns are real and that Jeff Francoeur comp I got seems more real, too.

Comment From Nick C
Are the Mets in on any other international free agents not named Gimenez or Gregory Guerrero? I know they have little money left over after trade.

Kiley McDaniel: Most prospects under 500K don’t have a high profile, so I wouldn’t expect to hear much more. That said, if you look at the J2 boardhttp://www.fangraphs.com/sc…

the Mets did the best of any team at getting two high end players and staying under their pool, with the Braves just behind them. That’s the best you can ask for among the 20+ teams staying under their pool. You have permission to be happy about this.

Comment From Stanatee the Manatee
I live near a couple Frontier League teams. How much do MLB front offices scout/keep an eye on independent minor leagues like that one?

Eno Sarris: heyo! weird day! be here shortly.

Eno Sarris:

Comment From hooha
Thirsty Thursday has now become Wet Your Whistle Wednesdays

Comment From hooha
Wacky Wednesday?

Comment From Good Wood
All hail Cesar Hernandez!

Comment From hooha
If you’re here chatting today, does that mean tomorrow is Friday?

Paul Swydan: Hi everybody!

Join Jeff and myself tonight at 9 pm ET for all the baseballing action you can act on.

It’s Jeff’s last chat for two weeks, so get in all the fancy Royals questions you’ve dying to ask! See you soon!

Paul Swydan: Hi guys! Let’s do this.

Comment From Jung Ho Kodos
Head to head league where I’ve taken second place 5 years in a row. Should I trade Joc for Stanton if I’m comfortably in the playoff picture and can survive the time between now and when Stanton comes back, or should I be worried about Stanton’s power when he gets back?

Jeff Zimmerman: I would worry if Stanto makes it back at all

Paul Swydan: I would absolutely be worried about his power when he comes back, because hand injuries tend to take longer to get over.

Paul Swydan: That’s another good point. Stanton’s injury is a clear sign that the Marlins can sell.

Kiley McDaniel: Headed to Hickory once we’re done here but you people get me for an hour or so. For most basic July 2 questions see the July 2 board (will be updated any minute when the admin sees my email) http://www.fangraphs.com/sc… and the international article archive http://www.fangraphs.com/bl… which has articles covering many of the more nuanced issues in the int’l game

Comment From mike
Bluejays sign Vandy commit Pruit, anything there besides speed and potential?

Kiley McDaniel: Plus speed, CF fit, twitchy athlete, has bat speed and decent results but swing is inconsistent. solid gamble. thought it would take more money than that to buy out Vandy

Comment From Giants Fanboy
Which do you think the Giants are more closer to signing between Fox and Eddy Julio?

Kiley McDaniel: I think it’s a real but unlikely chance on both. Say around 25%? Could jump in the coming weeks as neither have a deal in place yet.

Comment From Billy
So besides Socrates Brito having an 80 name, does he have much future potential?

Dan Szymborski: I am here. Chat has begun. I need to expel some urine before we start, so please fill up the chat with some valuable questions.

Dan Szymborski: If I come back and there are 8 questions “Pick 4 players from my fantasy team to keep” I will be very disappointed and there may be punitive results.

Comment From RotoLando
Is this the 5:00 Free Crack Giveaway?

Dan Szymborski: No, because I am in Eastern time zone.

Dan Szymborski: Even if I were to be giving away crack — which I am not — this would be the noon giveaway.

Dan Szymborski: And given my round, beer-inflated stomach, it ought to be clear that I am not a user of crack or cocaine.

Jeff Sullivan: Let’s baseball chat!

Jeff Sullivan: That was weird. My comment didn’t show up. I think it’s there. Ok!

Jeff Sullivan: A friendly note: unlike most Fridays, this chat will have to end before it stretches past the 2-hour mark.

Jeff Sullivan: Sorry for forcing you to go back to work sooner than you’d prefer

Comment From HappyFunBall
So much has been made (at least here in DC) about the Nats’ starters pitching 41 1/3 scoreless innings. Also worthy of note is that this has been the first time all season that Scherzer, Strasburg, Gio, Fister, and Zimm have all been healthy enough to take their turns in order. How much longer can this reign of terror continue?

Jeff Sullivan: It’s the best rotation in baseball, it seems to be healthy, and signs are encouraging that Strasburg is over that which was making him a disaster. So you can think of the first 2.5 months as representing the extent of the Mets’ opportunity in the East. That opportunity is now gone.

Eno Sarris:

Comment From Miketron
Everything is coming up Milhouse!

Eno Sarris: COMING IN HOT

Comment From Josh G
Do you expect Gomez to eventually start stealing bases again, or will he take it easy given his hip issue?

Eno Sarris: No way he doesn’t get to 15 IMO

Comment From George is Curious
Everyone seems to be expecting the A’s to be big time sellers, but I don’t see it that way. They’re 8-2 in the past 10, and have closed the gap to 9 games. If any team knows what it’s like to make crazy runs and make the playoffs, it’s the A’s, so why are people so convinced that Zobrist/Clippard/etc. will be dealt in the near future?

Paul Swydan: Hi guys,

Jeff’s daughter has a sporting event that starts late tonight, so you’re stuck with just me tonight. Get your questions in and I will see promptly at 9 pm ET!

Paul Swydan: Welcome to the FanGraphs After Dark chat, where I don’t give a damn how close you sit to the field with your children.

Comment From Vic
Do you think Tazawa gets saves chances during the 2nd half of the season?

Paul Swydan: Nope.

Comment From Rusty Shackleford
Hi Paul! Maikel Franco’s month has a lot of people turning heads, particularly after his showing last night. Is it too soon to drop Josh Harrison for him? I mean, he has a 25% HR/FB.

Paul Swydan: He’s certainly having a good run here, and if you don’t need Harrison’s positional flexibility, it won’t be the worst decision ever, but by no means do I think that Franco is this good.