Jay Jaffe: Hey folks, pardon my tardiness. I have been working on a big Hall of Fame-related piece that I had hoped to run today but that still has some loose ends to tie up and got a little carried away.

Jay Jaffe: That piece absorbed a lot of my attention this week, hence the lighter load of published pieces. I was very happy with the response that the Joey Votto piece (https://blogs.fangraphs.com/joey-vottos-gotten-his-groove-back/)

Jay Jaffe: Anyway on with the show…

Lorenzo: Will someone be doing a piece on J.R. Richard?  I didn’t realize that his career was tragically cut short at his peak, along with some major controversy over how the Astros handled his injury.

Jay Jaffe: The news of Richard’s death hit me hard, because I remember how impressive and imposing he was (especially when Nolan Ryan joined that staff), and then how sad it was that he was struck down in  his prime. A tribute to him is right in my wheelhouse, but as I am heading to San Diego for a week of vacation with my parents and my brother and his family on Sunday, I’m not sure i can put together something in a timely fashion. We’ll see.

Jay Jaffe: Reminds me that I wrote my Frank Robinson tribute while in Salt Lake City for a long weekend of skiing. tough timing.

Dan Szymborski: The appointed time has arrived.

Sad, Confused Marlins Fan: Is this a regular Gallo ebb and flow thing or is he pressing with the new team?

Dan Szymborski: I think it’s just a bad run

Moose_Bolton: If you became a chess grandmaster, what do you think the Szymborski Gambit would consist of?

Dan Szymborski: Dunno, grandmaster Szym would be better than actual Szym

Dan Szymborski: And I think all the good gambits have probably been discovered?

Jay Jaffe: Hey folks! Welcome to another edition of my chat, this one falling on the same day as my father’s 80th birthday. I’ve just completed my annual Replacement Level Killers series, the last installment of which — center fielder and DHs — went up just a couple of hours ago https://blogs.fangraphs.com/the-2021-replacement-level-killers-center-…

Jay Jaffe: I briefly addressed the Rays’ Nelson Cruz acquisition therein, but here’s Dan Szymborski’s writeup, freshly minted for your enjoyment https://blogs.fangraphs.com/tampa-bay-obtains-a-cruz-missile/

Jay Jaffe: Not sure how soon we’ll have analysis of the Mets trading for Rich Hill —  I mean, Dick Mountain — but soon enough.

JD: Will Gallo be traded?

Jay Jaffe: I think so. He’s having an excellent season, making his 2nd All-Star team, comes with a year of club control so the return will be strogner, and he’s versatile enough to fit any team with an OF, 1B, or even DH need.

Jay Jaffe: Still think the Padres and Yankees are the most likely destinations

Dan Szymborski:  Take off every ‘ZIG’!!

Dan Szymborski: It’s chat time!

Dan Szymborski: uh oh

Jon G: There’s been debate on Cubs twitter about how attractive Kimbrel’s 2022 option is in trade. Does ZiPS say anything about how much surplus value that option provides? What would a reliever like Kimbrel expect to get on a one year deal on the market if he limited himself to that structure?

Dan Szymborski: Relievers are always tricky! From my piece today, I think I’m valuing Kimbrel more highly than most of our readers.

Dan Szymborski: I think at the level Kimbrel’s returned to, it does have value.

Jay Jaffe: Hey folks, good afternoon and welcome to my first chat of the second half of the season. I’ve got a piece up today on All-Star Game MVP Vladimir Guerrero Jr. with an eye on the areas he’s improved https://blogs.fangraphs.com/vladimir-guerrero-jr-is-soaring-to-new-hei…

Jay Jaffe: and also not one but two podcast appearances, one with Dan Szymborki for FanGraphs Audio in which we discussed the Home Run Derby, All-Star Game, and Joey Gallo https://t.co/XNafn24I3L, and one with Kevin Goldstein in which we not only discussed the aforementioned festivities and some Hall of Fame stuff but also chatted with a reader who’s getting his PhD in studying graffiti (?!) https://t.co/I8hUS5v68d

Jay Jaffe: Anyway, on with the show

Steve: What is wrong with Wander Franco? An 80 hit tool? Swings at balls and let’s strikes go by.

Jay Jaffe: Guy’s been in the majors less than a month. Mike Trout hit .220/.281/.390 in 40 games in 2011. As Kevin Goldstein would say, calm down.

Jay Jaffe: Baseball is hard

Dan Szymborski: I’ve got bourbon; let’s do this.

Greg: Your article summed it up well — the Braves are done. So what does a good trade deadline plan look like for them?

Dan Szymborski: I think you have to shop Morton

Dan Szymborski: And I’ strongly consider trading Heredia/Almonte if you can get an interesting sorta prospect for either. They’re not young

Dan Szymborski: Neither should be playing full-time rest of season or Arcia for that matter

Dan Szymborski: Not sure if there’s Smyly interest, but I’d at least inquire