Eno Sarris: See you at the top of the hour

Eno Sarris: Lyrics of the day are from a song dedicated to the simulations being run on the Rangers and Tigers right now

And I know I can leave in the night
Just a moment in time, a moment in time
Don’t be scared of what you find
In the night

Comment From Trey
Please justify the Reds signing of Skip Schumaker with something other than he can play multiple positions (but not well)…and why two years?

Eno Sarris: I… I can’t. Well… it’s cheap! And he’s got a glove. I suppose it gives them leverage perhaps in negotiations: we HAVE a second baseman to backup Phillips, we don’t need a second baseman back. Or Skip is the backup plan to Billy Ham at second base…

Comment From Jacque
Thanks for the chat despite the busy day you got going on.

Eno Sarris: Oh man I want to write about three posts right now. Going to write YET ANOTHER post about THE TRADE.

Dave Cameron: I’m very excited to spend the next hour talking about David Murphy and Marlon Byrd. Early free agency is the best.

Dave Cameron: If you want to ask about players other than those two, you can do that as well.

Dave Cameron: I suppose.

Comment From JEB
That David Murphy signing is pretty good for Cleveland right? He’s a good off the bench player that will add depth to that lineup.

Dave Cameron: Pretty sure they’re not signing him to be a bench guy. Steamer projects him as a +2 WAR player, and there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be their regular right fielder against RHPs. He’s a perfectly suitable platoon OF, much like David DeJesus.

Comment From Danny
If Cano can’t get a big $/term deal, would it be in his best interest to take a 1 or 2 year deal for $25-$30M a year, and try again? Or just take as much money now as he can get?

Dan Szymborski: Ah, Ruben Amaro Jr. Making the moves that other NL East GMs would make for the Phillies.

Comment From Marc
#AnalyticsPlant strikes again!

Comment From hot corner
How similar/dissimilar are corner infielders Will Middlebrooks, Mark Trumbo and Mark Reynolds? Salaries aside, whom would you choose for 2014 production at the plate?

Dan Szymborski: Middlebrooks has the upside.

Comment From ar
ruiz deal has a limited no trade clause too

Comment From Killa
Which job would be harder, to get RA, Jr to adopt any sort of analytics or getting an orca to play baseball?

Eno Sarris: Here at noon! or nine am, if you live on the right coast.

Eno Sarris: Lyrics of the day from a band that sounds like an updated Beatles in a good way.

This time I’m just gonna take or I’m never gonna shake it,
I’ll just close my eyes and make so that all these little things don’t affect me now

Comment From Henry
Left coast, Eno. Left coast.

Eno Sarris: Right as in correct.

Comment From Sadwick
Guess I’m on the wrong coast…..

Eno Sarris: you and something like 85% of the population.

Dave Cameron: Its awards week, so we can talk about those if you’re interested in such things. Or we can talk trade rumors, or free agent pricing, or anything else that tickles your fancy and isn’t related to your fantasy team.

Dave Cameron: The queue is now open.

Dave Cameron: Just a quick note before we start; today’s chat might be a little truncated, since I’m doing Clubhouse Confidential this afternoon.

Dave Cameron: And tomorrow, actually. Tune in for Blink Watch 2013.

Comment From Matt
What do you see Veras getting on the open market after DET penny-pinched and declined his $3m option? Sox need a right-handed reliable righty reliever.

Dave Cameron: I think he’ll get about $3-$4 million on a two year deal.

Paul Swydan: Hi everybody!

Long time, no see. If you’re wondering why we haven’t chatted lately, then check out my other post from today:

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/hark-the-hardball-times-baseball-annual-2014/

Jeff Zimmerman and myself will be here at 9 pm ET tonight to tackle all of your hot stove questions. We can also argue about the Awards voting if you like.

So get in all of your favorite 11-12-13 nominees, and we’ll see you soon!

Paul Swydan: Hi guys, we’ll get started in one minute. I have to get a fresh beer so that Jeff doesn’t yell at me.

Paul Swydan: FYI: The Hardball Times Baseball Annual 2014, which Jeff contributed an awesome article to, and which I helped edit, is now available on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Hardball-Times-Annual-2014-Volume/dp/1493711873/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1384301846&sr=8-1&keywords=hardball+times+annual+2014

Paul Swydan: Please buy it and help keep us employed. Thanks!

Paul Swydan: OK, let’s get started. Going to begin with an old school Red Sox 11-12-13:

Bill Mueller, Ellis Burks and John Valentin.

BOOM!

Comment From Argis
Pick 3 keepers of Lawrie, Boogarts, Billy Hamilton, and Cueto?

Jeff Sullivan: Hey guys, this is a baseball chat

Jeff Sullivan: In this chat we will talk about baseball, for what usually ends up being something like 110 minutes even though that is too long

Jeff Sullivan: Maybe today I’ll shoot for 90!

Jeff Sullivan: Hold on one second, having trouble with the CiL classic window…

Jeff Sullivan: ugh okay finally, geez

Comment From Guest
Do you believe in the “Coors Field Hangover”? And do you think it may be incorporated into statistics in the future?

Dan Szymborski: And heeeeeeeeeere come the pretzels!

Comment From Froglegs Jackson Jr.
When will ZIPS projections start getting rolled out?

Dan Szymborski: 12/1, I believe.

Comment From Pale Hose
In a Diamond Mind dynasty league format would you rather have Puig or Myers?

Dan Szymborski: Puig. Not that I don’t like Myers, but you gave me a beer n’ tacos q.

Comment From Greg
What do you think of home plate collisions? Part of the game?

Eno Sarris: HEYO

Eno Sarris: Lyrics of the day come from a song that’s either searing social commentary or a love ballad about survival:

And naaw I don’t want to see your thongs
I kinda dig them old school cute regular draws
And I will pause for your cause

Comment From juan pierres mustache
whoa, so early today

Comment From Argos
Hiya!

Comment From Man With A Plan
LET’S GET IT STARTED

Eno Sarris: Starting with an interlude. Just cause.

Dave Cameron: Welcome to Hot Stove, Cool Chats. Or Something like that. Don’t sue me Peter Gammons.

Dave Cameron: Off-season is in full swing, so we’ll talk free agency, trade speculation, contract extensions, managerial hires, or just about anything else.

Dave Cameron: Queue is now open, so get your questions in now.

Comment From Bkgeneral
Red Sox handling of Torey Lovullo is a disgrace.

Dave Cameron: Agree. Holding a coach hostage because they’re holding a grudge from Theo leaving should be beneath an organization like that.

Comment From skipperxc
What could the Brewers do to compete next year? Anything realistic?