Dave Cameron: Welcome to the FanGraphs Trade Deadline Chat Extravaganza. I’ll be here from 12-1, followed by Jeff Sullivan, then Eno Sarris, then Carson Cistulli will take you to the trade deadline at 4:00. I’ll come back at 4:00 and hang out for a bit to wrap up all the straggler deals that wander in after the deadline.

Dave Cameron: Obviously, we’ll be mostly focused on trade reaction/speculations today, but if nothing happens, we’ll talk about other stuff too. This isn’t going to be a typical Q&A, and we’ll try to keep it more real time then playing catch up on a backloaded queue, but I’d guess we’ll sneak in some regular questions here and there as well.

Comment From Guest
Yesterday on Twitter someone (I think Bowden) mentioned that the Cardinals should pursue Chris Owings with DD blocking his way at the MLB level. If they could make this happen at the deadline without giving up Taveras, Martininez, or Wacha do you think it improves the team (significantly) in the short term and long term? Also, excluding those 3, what do you think it would take? Maybe a package of Joe Kelly and Kolten Wong for Owings and something?
P.S. Your piece on Lee yesterday was excellent.

Dave Cameron: I wouldn’t give up Kolton Wong for Chris Owings straight up. Terrible plate discipline, PCL power.

Comment From Rexel
Do the teams realise the deadline is today?

Dave Cameron: They also realize that you can make trades in August, especially with the kinds of role players that are available.

Paul Swydan: Hi everybody!

The perpetual rebel intellectuals – aka Jeff, me and maybe even Chris – will be here at 9 pm ET to talk trades, trades, TRADES, TRADES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Get your questions in, and I’ll get up some sweet, sweet polls action (posted at bottom of transcript). See you soon!

Paul Swydan: Both of the acquisition polls should read “most impactful this season.” I only made that clear on one of them.

Chris Cwik: I’m ready to light this candle. Just waiting for Swydan

Paul Swydan: So, there MAY be a three-way trade tonight:

https://twitter.com/jcrasnick/status/362372652251348993

but there is DEFINITELY going to be some three-way chatting, because the menage a chat is back, BABY!

Comment From Guest
So is this one of those “Very special FG’s After Dark Chats” like those very special episodes of bad tv series of the 80’s and 90’s?

Paul Swydan: Yes. Yes it is.

Jeff Sullivan: Hey guys and welcome to this chat

Comment From JEB
Gasp…are you actually, on time?!

Jeff Sullivan: lol no

Jeff Sullivan: Let’s talk about baseball and the trade deadline!

Jeff Sullivan: Let’s not talk about fantasy baseball

Jeff Sullivan: And if you ask me for a ROS projection, and I tell you to go to FanGraphs, it’s because they have better ROS projections than my human brain does

: We’ll get started in about 15 minutes…. get your questions in early!

Comment From Dr. Met
Can you name 3 guys who immediately jump out at you as likely to be promoted once the trading smoke clears next week?

: I wrote a piece for Prospect Insider looking at five AL prospects that could get called up in the second half (with the NL coming next week) and mentioned Taijuan Walker, Asher Wojciechowski, Marcus Stroman, Nick Castellanos and Xander Bogaerts.

Comment From dgco
I hear varying opinions on Jose Ramirez (NYA). Any thoughts?

: I saw him pitch in May… good fastball, excellent change up — the breaking ball will determine his eventual role: starter or reliever… I have hope for him as a No. 3/4 guy but time will tell.

Comment From Milhouse
Does a prospect come to mind who could be a Matt Carpenter type? Kevin Pillar maybe though he’s an OF vs. IF?

Eno Sarris: woof. Had some connection issues. here in fifteen minutes.

Eno Sarris: These lyrics of the day are from the week I spent in Chicago…

I was reading ingredients,
Asking myself “should I eat this?”
…
I was scratching off silver ink.
I was deciding what to drink.
…

Comment From Cliff
If the Blue Jays decide to trade away Josh Johnson prior to the trade deadline, what kind of package could they receive? Which teams do you think would be interested?

Eno Sarris: Not a great package, not like a Carlos Danger package. But I can’t imagine an AL team wants in right now. Honestly, I wouldn’t bet on it, even with a team that’s forward-looking, his stats right now are not something you really want…

Comment From person
Anthony Rendon played SS yesterday. If he gets eligibility there, about where would you rank him? Would you rate him +/- Nick Franklin?

Eno Sarris: Desmond back in today, but… I don’t think it will happen. If it did. Huh, Franklin has more SB upside, Rendon maybe more BA… I would still like Franklin, but it’s around there.

Paul Swydan: Hi everybody!

Jeff is on vacation this week, but Chris and I will be here at 9 pm ET to answer all of your baseballing questions (polls at bottom of transcript). Because you work hard for the money and we better treat you right.

Paul Swydan: So hard for it, honey.

http://vimeo.com/5037293

Paul Swydan: RE: Marvel vs. DC – http://www.slashfilm.com/see-how-marvel-is-out-earning-dc-at-the-box-office-graphic/

Paul Swydan: Well well well. It looks like I am actually going to be flying solo tonight, so let’s get to it. You’ve got questions. I’ve got replies. They might even be answers, who knows? The night is young.

Comment From Jaack
Why is this chat on Wednesdays now? Trying to move into Dave Cameron’s shadow?

Paul Swydan: No nothing sinister. I went to the Red Sox game last night, so we’re chatting tonight!

Jeff Sullivan: Hi guys!

Jeff Sullivan: I’ll be with you as soon as I remove this comment spammer http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/jeff-sullivan-fangraphs-chat-72313/

Jeff Sullivan: Never trust anybody who leaves a comment on a chat before the chat

Comment From bdhudson
Do you enjoy moral grandstanding? I enjoy moral grandstanding. Let’s talk some more about why Ryan Braun is worse than Hitler.

Jeff Sullivan: The coverage: already insufferable. Ryan Braun: kind of a douche. Everybody sucks.

Jeff Sullivan: I’m ready to move on and think about other things, like baseball that’s being played, but, man, Braun seems like a bit of an ass. Many players are asses, but seldom is it revealed with such splendor.

Dan Szymborski: If I was a jerk, I’d announce my arrival with the LOUDEST SOUND EFFECT EVER. I can totally gets dozens of people fired!

:

Comment From zack
Man, how desperate are the giants if they are taking a chance on Francoeur?

Dan Szymborski: It’s not really so bad as long as you’re using him as a role player. The risk, of course, is that he starts off with his usual good month with new team and tricks Giants into signing him

Dan Szymborski: Francoeur’s essentially a no money down credit card.

Dan Szymborski: Err no interest

: We’ll get started in 15-20 minutes so get your prospect questions in now… lots to talk about with the trade deadline looming.

Comment From Woods
What will Oswaldo Arcia’s 2014 look like?

: I’m hoping he can hit around .270 with 15-20 homers… a very solid season…

Comment From Howie
What Rookie ball and Short Season prospects appear to be breaking out?

: We still have about a month and a half until I’m comfortable really commenting on that… still too small of a sample. Three really good or bad games can really mess with the stats and the same can be said for the display of tools.

Comment From James
If the Mets were to move Byrd or Buck, what type of prospects could they expect in return? Could they land a top 50 prospect for Murphy, Parnell, and/or Gee?

Mike Podhorzer: I’m here, I’m here! It’s my first RotoGraphs chat so treat me well. I’ll start answering questions at noon and go until 1, so start asking away!

Mike Podhorzer: Okay, I can’t wait any longer, let’s do this!

Comment From bdhudson
Hey Mike, thanks for hanging out. Who do you think are the most over and undervalued fantasy players? Pitcher, hitter, whatever

Mike Podhorzer: I’m going to give you general types, rather than specific names- Undervalued hitters are guys who do a little of everything, like Norichika Aoki. Pitchers, especially in the minors, are ground ballers who don’t have great strikeout rates

Mike Podhorzer: Overrated in fantasy is definitely power hitting first basemen. The top guys are routinely overvalued in my auction. Pitching? Guys whose ERAs are well below their SIERA marks the previous year?

Comment From Oscar
Thinking about proposing my Fielder for Holliday and Minor. I have a big lead in a H2H league so I am looking ahead to the playoffs where ATL has one of the best pitching schedules and STL has one of the easiest hitting schedules. ATL also has one of the best pitching schedules ROS. I have Hosmer and Rizzo clogging up my util positons so this trade would give me a little more flexibiltiy too. Don’t sugar coat it … would I be stupid to propose this trade?