Kevin Goldstein FanGraphs Chat – 11/22/2021

Kevin Goldstein: Hi everyone. Hope everyone is planning for an enjoyable and safe holiday. Eating good food is good. Let’s chat.

Vince L.: KG, what are we to make of offseason rumors? Are they started by agents? Players’ families/friends? Frauds trying to make a name for themselves? Fans? Writers? How does some stuff get out, and then the stuff that actually happens sneaks up on us?

Kevin Goldstein: All of the above? Teams leak, players and agents leak a bit more, and you always have to be careful and fake and not fake but fraudlent twitter accounts making stuff up. Some teams are much better and keeping things quiet than others….

A big dumb idiot: Allow me to be the oaf who asks if i’ll like SMTV is the social stuff is a big part of my Persona enjoyment

Kevin Goldstein: You might not? SMT as a series is far more about the battle system, which is very Personal-like but a bit more . . . intense and punishing might be the right words? There is a story, and it’s solid, but it’s in the background. Best way to put it is that I’m about five hours into the game, and while it head a very good setup, there has been very little story and a whole lot of fighting and learning systems for the last four of those hours….

Steve: When will Fangraphs start rolling out its top prospect lists?

Kevin Goldstein: VERY SOON.

Josh: Where does Seiya Suzuki slot in on the International Board?

Kevin Goldstein: More importantly . . . should he? I’ve never been a fan of putting established NPB free agents on lists with prospects because it’s very apples and oranges.

Sabey Sabes: If you’re advising Franco on the extension offer (assuming its 9 figures), do you grab the bag now?

Kevin Goldstein: I don’t know all the details, but more importantly, I don’t know what’s important to Wander, and that’s the real key here.

Oklahomabrave: As a Braves fan I’m excited to see us connected to Seiya Suzuki. We haven’t been in this market for like ten years, believe any fire to this smoke?

Kevin Goldstein: I do. I think he’ll generate considerable interest as a pretty good outfield piece.

Ben: I know Rule 5 guys rarely amount to much, but anyone left unprotected jump out? Those of us clinging to tanking teams need something to keep us interested.

Kevin Goldstein: Yeah, find prospects to be excited about. Ever since they moved the Rule 5 stuff back a year, it’s been very hard to find impactful players, but a guy like Whitlock will always fall through the cracks here and there. Plus, we are very much ramping towards a world where the Rule 5 doesn’t happen due to labor strife.

Asinwreck: In your podcast this week, you said Steve Cohen would either be great or terrible to work for, with nothing in between. How likely is it that he’d do a Ted Turner, initially being a nightmare to work for (even managing the Braves for a game), then experiencing a learning curve and putting in place remarkable stability and a clear leadership vision with Schuerlholz, Cox, and Snyder?  Is Cohen the kind of wacky billionaire capable of mercurial swings from colorizing film classics and then starting TCM?

Kevin Goldstein: It’s certainly a possibility. I’m a believer than people can adapt and change.

Nick D.: Does Nelson Velasquez’s AFL performance significantly improve his outlook in any way?

Kevin Goldstein: Not in any kind of big way. AFL history is littered with big performances from players who did not move on to great careers. Velasquez is solid, but not some big prospects, and the AFL didn’t change anything. For the most part, AFL pitching is not great, and that was especially the case this season.

Mike: Hey Kevin – do you and Eric have a plan to release prospect lists in December (particularly interested in the international prospects)? Looking forward to some Fangraphs #content even during the lockout.

Kevin Goldstein: VERY SOON.

J Nappa: The Rays definitely found a gem in last year’s draft in Manzardo? Is it me or does he just remind you of Lance Berkman? His hitting profile already has him as one of the best of his draft class.

Kevin Goldstein: Pump the brakes there. He’s a good bat, one of the better ones in the draft, but that’s WAY too aggressive a comp at this time. He had an excellent couple of weeks in the complex league, but a for a player coming from a major college conference, that’s really just holding serve.

Bart: Do MLB players receive any income or health benefits from the union or team during a players lockout?

Kevin Goldstein: Absolutely. The union has a war chest for just such an occasion as we’re about to see.

Ben: Do you know why Andrew Heaney doesn’t show up on the Dodgers’ depth charts yet?

Kevin Goldstein: Um, he’s there . . . ?

Amir: What Marlins pitchers could the Jays acquire for Vlad Guerrero

Kevin Goldstein: I’m very confused by this question.

CY: I know it sounds like a pipe dream, but given what the Rangers are saying publicly, is something like Kershaw, Story, Suzuki, and Gray within their new expanded budget? That would seem to be about $80-90M AAV.

Kevin Goldstein: I mean, technically yes? There are 30 teams interested in free agents and trade targets, so assuming any team is going to land a specific list of four is a dangerous thought. They might go far all four and be super happy to get one.

Matt: It seems like more teams (Rays, Dodgers etc..) seem to be targeting and teaching horizontally breaking sliders. What new insights in data have they found, and is this a move away from the more typical high fastball curveball combo that the Astros targeted?

Kevin Goldstein: Rising four-seamers are still the hotness in terms of fastballs, but more and more teams are getting into these sweeping sliders in terms of breakers.

Liam McPoyle: Isn’t Syndergaard’s contract on the high end?  I mean, if he has a great year, he will have earned his money.  However, I would give the o/u on IP as 85.  That’s not worth the money.

Kevin Goldstein: Yeah, I was surprised by this in that there’s no second year or option here. The Angels trying to plant a flag in terms of being big players for FAs might have entered into it.

Christian: Does Nick Senzel still profile as a utility hitter? Is there a path for him to become a starter?

Kevin Goldstein: It’s tough, right? He’s gotten 600+ big league PAs and there’s really no indications anywhere of him being good enough for an every day role…

Guest: Do you think the Marlins are a serious contender if they go out and sign some bats? As a hypothetical, let’s say they sign Nick Castellanos then trade for Mitch Garver and Byron Buxton (giving up Meyer+). Do you think they become a genuine threat with those moves?

Kevin Goldstein: I think with some smart moves and a few breaks, they could be playing important games in September…

Vic: Do you see a team taking a chance on Monte Harrison at this point?

Kevin Goldstein: Sure. He’ll absolutely get more chances.

Alby: What the heck is wrong with the owners? They’re making good money, yet they’re obsessed with stiffing their most marketable asset — actually, their only asset. Why should I continue to be a fan?

Kevin Goldstein: Because you love the game and you love the players? I don’t think you have to de-fan yourself from the game because of labor strife.

Yeff: ply

Kevin Goldstein: 2-ply? 3-ply?

JB: All the leaks about the Yankees preferring a stopgap at shortstop to wait for Volpe and/or Peraza to take the job in 2023 (I don’t buy it) has me wondering – what off-field did Volpe do that transformed his offensive output? He was a high draft pick, but never seen as a guy who’d put up a 1.000 OPS in high-A at 20 years old. What gives?

Kevin Goldstein: Volpe completely overhauled his swing on a mechanical level. He’s like a different dude.

Jim: Is there reason to believe Matt Manning’s strikeout numbers will approach average?

Kevin Goldstein: I definitely think so. I think he’ll get into the 7-8 per nine rate and be a solid non-star starter.

Guardians of the checkbook: Do you think Steven Kwan can be a good MLB starter in a similar mold to Arraez or Mardrigal? His AA and AAA numbers are excellent and 2.5% SwStr% doesn’t grow on trees

Kevin Goldstein: He’s a strange guy to wrap your head around, but that could be said for Arraez and Madrigal as well. The question becomes just how valuable that profile is as a corner OF?

Tiger Fan: With the Yankees and Tigers both hemming and hawing on big money shortstops, could Correa’s market be a lot smaller than his talent suggests? Who else is realistically in on such a high priced, polarizing figure?

Kevin Goldstein: It’s still November, and we are ten days away from a lockout. I don’t think now is the time to start analyzing market trends. I think he’ll do just fine in the end.

Luxury Tax Evasion: If you’re Andrew Friedman, are you looking to trade David Price? Clears out some luxury tax space for FA acquisitions, and they might get something in return given that he’s still somewhat productive, if underutilized.

Kevin Goldstein: I mean, if I’m Andrew Friedman I wouldn’t care a ton about the CBT, you know? They’d have to eat a lot of money and in the end if just might not effect payroll enough to be worth it.

Ben Cherington: If the league banned the use of off-speed pitches (fastballs only), who would be your pick to lead the league in home runs?

Kevin Goldstein: Vlad and Tatis.

Inaccessible Rail: The price for starting pitching this off season has really surprised me, especially with regard to Verlander and Syndergaard, both coming back from serious injuries. Is the entire market for starters going to be like this?

Kevin Goldstein: Honestly, it’s surprised me as well. Max Scherzer must be very happy right now.

grover: If the tear down rumors are true (grains of salt taken) then the A’s are facing a radical change in their roster. What would be your personal ratio of Dread/Excitement if you were in Oakland’s Front Office this winter?

Kevin Goldstein: Mostly dread. That front office wants to win, and I don’t think they WANT to do this…

Ben: Any guesses as to why the Rays didn’t protect Blake Hunt? He is on the BOARD as a 50 FV with a 2022 eta. Do the Rays think is farther away and no one will rule 5 draft him? Or are they planning to trade him before the draft? Or do you think they are just a lot lower on him than you and Eric?

Kevin Goldstein: The Rays had a serious crunch and decisions had to be made. It’s really hard to take a catcher with 17 games above A-Ball and expect him to stick in the big leagues, He also had a disappointing year. I think they made the right choice there.

Fart Barfunkel: How serious are the rumblings that the Yankees aren’t going after a big SS fish and just “monitoring the market” or is it just media posturing?

Kevin Goldstein: It’s kind of useless information, really. “Monitoring the market” means they’ll be kept in the loop on those guy and they can step in at anytime. It’s like going to an auction and sitting on your hands until the final parts of the bidding.

Chris: Jerry dipoto said he was meeting with 4 prominent free agents before Thanksgiving. When that happens do you offer contracts to all the players with the understanding of one takes it then the other 3 offers are pulled? Or do you only offer to your top target and wait to offer the other 3?

Kevin Goldstein: I’d be really surprised if any offer was made in those meetings. It was likely just feelers for what the player is looking for and if he’s open to coming to Seattle. That said, things like that do happed where you tell an agent that you have multiple offers out there, and an acceptance of one or two might force you to rescind the others.

Brodie’s Ghost: What do you make of the narrative that the Mets are waiting out Stearns and that Eppler is bait for Stearns? How do you think the Mets can optimally contend for the division this year without bogging down the payroll longterm?

Kevin Goldstein: I think that was a possibility, but I don’t anymore. I doubt Eppler takes the job if he thinks somebody is going to be brought in on top of him in 12 months.

Kevin Goldstein: As for the Mets offseason, that’s very much a TBD.

Inaccessible Rail: I see prospect writers like you frequently use the term “goof,” as in “He’s a 24 year-old fastball goof.” Does that mean the player is one-dimensional? Something else?

Kevin Goldstein: Yeah, one-dimension. I think ‘power goof’ is the only goof term I use personally.

Mucho: What do these days typically look like for front office staff? Is it a lot of sitting around and waiting, or more like endless player research and strategizing roster permutations?

Kevin Goldstein: Yeah, it is definitely NOT a lot of sitting around. There’s always something to do.

Jake G: If service time rules change in the new CBA, do you think that would likely take effect immediately, or have a delayed enforcement so there isn’t a double free agency of sorts, come February?

Kevin Goldstein: Yeah, they would start NEXT off-season.

TooDamnTall: When working in a front office, do you have the same information as the owners? The coaches? Or are there silos of knowledge where some information isn’t shared?

Kevin Goldstein: Oh god, there are huge silos. I know of moves that have been made and even AGMs didn’t know about it until they saw it on Twitter.

Mucho: Do you still hear rumors from your connections?

Kevin Goldstein: I do, but I’m not somebody who wants to be in the rumor business. I have fun doing it during the draft though.

SJ: As someone who’s been running the whole questionnaire gauntlet recently, how much time/attention is really given to each of those? Does the front office develop a thorough opinion of your candidacy based on them or is it more to just test that you clear a certain bar?

Kevin Goldstein: I can only speak for one team, but they mattered quite a bit.

Doug: Brian Metoyer spins his curve 3200 rpm. 40th rd pick. Arm strength is adequate (mostly low 90s). Control/command isn’t good, but I see an athletic delivery and he hasn’t had tons of pro reps. Older dude. Chance he gets popped in the rule 5? Speaking of, why would the Mets not 40 him, given they have only 37 spots filled, including one for Mark Payton?

Kevin Goldstein: Well, the Mets plan to make moves, so they need room, and Metoyer has barely pitched above A-ball so they don’t think he’ll stick.

Ben: Are free agents like Carlos Correa and Freddie Freeman still in the players union? Or do they have to leave the union and re-join once they are back on a 40-man roster?

Kevin Goldstein: Still in the union.

Bort: Thoughts on Aaron Ashby? His combination of great stuff and a high GB rate seems *very* attractive.

Kevin Goldstein: VERY attractive indeed. Needs to find some consistency in terms of command, but the stuff is very very good.

Yeff: What are your thoughts on Caleb Kilian? I think he can start in the show possibly for playoff teams

Kevin Goldstein: He’s a solid starting prospect. I don’t think he’s top 100 or anything…

TooDamnTall: Are expectations too high for Bob Melvin going to SD? I have no idea, but I think automatically assuming a manager can go into a different situation and succeed seems overoptimistic. Other guys have done it, but it sounds really hard.

Kevin Goldstein: It’s really hard, but if anyone is up for the task, it’s Melvin.

Marcelino: What’s the likelihood of no baseball on the scheduled opening day ?

Kevin Goldstein: Significant, but probably under 50%.

Kevin: Does Ohtani’s success open the door to more two-way players or is he just a freakishly gifted outlier?

Kevin Goldstein: The latter.

Josh: Hi Kevin, thanks for the chat. I’m curious about how things like swing/mechanical changes are brought up/addressed during Free Agent negotiations. At what point are they typically discussed and do agents ask teams if they have anything like that they want or are the teams the ones that usually broach the subject?

Kevin Goldstein: It came come from both sides. During my time with Houston, our ability to utilize data in terms with working with pitchers was often an impactful selling point.

Justin: What kind of things do teams think about when deciding which/how many rule 5 prospects to protect that a fan would not typically think about?   My guess is just the overall opportunity cost of what else could be used by that 40 man spot, but i’ll hang up and listen.

Kevin Goldstein: Yeah, the opportunity cost of the 40-man spot is a very big factor than I’m not sure fans (in general) appreciate enough. After that’s there are two pieces to think of. What are the chances that this player would get chosen (everyone talks about that), and what are the chances that the player would actually stick (not enough people talk about this).

Mike: What’s your favorite DeLillo?

Kevin Goldstein: White Noise.

Liam: How much sway can an FO have on payroll? Do owners set hard budgets that the front office has to comply with or is it common for owners to spend more than they planned if there’s a guy the gm really wants to go after

Kevin Goldstein: Owners set hard budgets, and teams spend a lot of time trying to excite their owners it a way that allows them to exceed it.

Beignet and the Jets: It seemed like a decade+ ago people were pretty comfortable comparing NPB performance to AAA for evaluation purposes. Now that velocity has exploded in the states but avg velo still seems comparably low in NPB, is that comparison no longer helpful in thinking about how a player like Suzuki might make the transition?

Kevin Goldstein: Actually, I don’t think that comparison was every helpful.

Mitch: Lets get a prediction on how many of the big five A’s arb guys will be traded this winter: Montas, Manaea, Bassit, Olson, Chapman

Kevin Goldstein: Three.

TooDamnTall: You’ve mentioned in the past that there are no small market teams, every team mints money. Is that by yearly profits? Or based on the appreciation of the team’s value?

Kevin Goldstein: Not exclusively, but MORE in the latter and that’s where the much bigger numbers exist anyway.

Matt: You mentioned in an answer to an earlier question that “The Angels trying to plant a flag in terms of being big players for FAs might have entered into” the Syndergaard signing. Is that the impression you’ve gotten from folks in the industry, that the Angels are trying to be big players for FAs beyond the Syndergaard signing?

Kevin Goldstein: Not sure it’s all THIS YEAR per so, but I do think they’re trying to establish themselves as real players in general. The Nats did this back in the day with Werth.

N. Hornblower: Is Jeremy Peña ready for prime time?

Kevin Goldstein: He’ll certainly be ready at some point in 2022, and likely early.

NatsFan: Is what the Giants are doing quickly replicable by other teams?

Kevin Goldstein: Replicable? Yes. Quickly? No.

Joshua: What type of value does Victor Robles have on the trade market? For example. what would be a realistic and fair package the Rockies would have to give up to acquire him? Thanks.

Kevin Goldstein: Why would the Rockies want a fourth outfielder?

171: Does Robert Neustrom get pick up in the R5 draft? Do you think he will stay if he does?

Kevin Goldstein: Really hard to take a non up the middle guy unless you think they are special. He’s a decent prospect, but far from special.

B: Why do these journalists continue to place hometown votes far beyond where their hometown players should be? LaMonte Wade? Sal Perez far higher than is reasonable? It makes a bit of a mockery of the voting in general, I think. Are they just trying to continue the proud history of the BBWAA occasionally being ridiculous? Is there a perpetual selection bias going on with that group? Are they somehow inclined to say hey these players were better, but I’m just gonna vote for who I personally like more?

Kevin Goldstein: You put far more energy into this question than I have into award voting. I just don’t care about award voting.

twinmh: The Astros built 3/5 of a solid rotation this year from young pitchers who never sniffed a top-100 prospects list.  How much does losing Strom hurt their ability to repeat that success?

Kevin Goldstein: There’s no way losing Brent Strom doesn’t hurt. That said, Josh Miller and Bill Murphy mitigate that kind of pain as well as any duo in the game. Both are outstanding pitching coaches and I think the Astros will be fine.

Guest: When you have a team that has players that use interpreters for non-English speaker player communications with the media, do those players also use interpreters to communicate with their fellow players?  Or do they mostly know enough English to communicate baseball stuff and small talk?  Curious if a team with Japanese, Korean and Latin players would have a whole stable of interpreters in the club house.

Kevin Goldstein: In general, the players communicate with each other without the use of interpreters. The interpreters are almost exclusively for media interactions, and some mound meetings.

Gorman: Do you think negotiations are actually intensifying now as we approach the deadline, or are they going at the same pace with both sides expecting a work stoppage?  Chances a deal is struck before?  Thanks

Kevin Goldstein: I think they are intensifying, but the gap is just going to be far too wide to close in ten days. I would set the chances of a deal being struck before 12/1 at less than one percent. I have talked to a lot of people on both sides of the table in the last few weeks, and nobody thinks they’re close to anything productive.

Bob: What am I missing on Kilian? On Saturday he had plus velocity at 94-96 touching 98 and a few versions of fastballs that he uses. His new spike curve was generating whiffs. His command is easily plus. What holds him back from a middle of the rotation career?

Kevin Goldstein: I didn’t say he was bad. I said he was a real starting pitching prospect. I just said he’s not Top 100. That’s not an insult.

DF: A lot of (justifiable, in my mind) anger among Reds fans. My take is that Castellini isn’t wealthy enough to hang with other MLB owners. Teams are private enterprises, but isn’t there some sense of community ownership here? If he can sell at a huge profit to someone able and willing to take on payroll, which is almost a given, could MLB have any influence in encouraging (forcing? :))  him to do so?

Kevin Goldstein: MLB serves the owners, not the opposite.

Mitch: When a trade return is categorized as “PTBNL or cash” what is the determining factor between the two? Does it just give the receiving team a bit of time to further evaluate the potential PTBNLs and if they dont like what they see they just take cash instead?

Kevin Goldstein: Usually it’s just going to be cash when you see this.

Yeff: Why are not the players seeking a $3 million min salary? Name an issue that *doesn’t* cover even a little bit

Kevin Goldstein: Service time manipulation and the draft, among others.

Dave: Are people inside front offices able to tease out what parts of the public rumor mill are legit and what parts are false rumors?

Kevin Goldstein: You can but just directly asking your contact at another team. Something like “Hey friend at Oakland, I see all the stuff out there about you moving some big names. If that’s true, we’d definitely have some interest in [Player].”

Joshua: I can’t remember (but I think it was Ken Rosenthal) who reported that the Nats and Padres had a deal involving Scherzer done at the deadline. Then, obviously, that was not the case and the deal was Turner and Scherzer to the Dodgers. What do you think happened in that situation? Do you think the Nats and Padres were 99% done and the Dodgers swooped back in? Any insight into what might have happened with this massive deal? Thanks.

Kevin Goldstein: I don’t have any insight, but your Dodgers swoop scenario is the most likely reality.

Robbie: Angels just acquired Tyler wade. Think they are going to go all defense at SS/2B next year to save money for arms?

Kevin Goldstein: I think they’re just picking up someone they see as a utility piece.

Dave: When you were with the Astros, how often would reporters reach out to you in an attempt to get information they could share publicly?

Kevin Goldstein: Early on, pretty frequently during the deadline and Winter Meetings, but I was not someone who leaked.

Yeff: Do you expect this CBA to be as evil and anti-player as the NFL one? Would the MLBPA ever do something so heinous to their players?

Kevin Goldstein: They would not.

Yeff: Smartest player you’ve ever been around?

Kevin Goldstein: Define smart? Baseball IQ? Mensa test? Good at pub trivia?

Bearry: versatility is talked about a ton… but how valuable is a guy whose positional versatility is being bad at all four corner spots? Compared to a guy who is slightly below average at SS/CF or catcher? Or like Marte who can fake it all around the field?

Kevin Goldstein: Fun question, and there’s lots of debate on this one. Josh Rojas is another one. He can play a lot of positions, but none of them especially well.

171: Kind of a build-on to your A’s situation response, as well as owners setting payroll, how does a front office handle a situation in which the owner wants to sign/extend a player but the front office isn’t on the same page? For instance, how much would it have sucked to be Duquette when Angelos was demanding Chris Davis be extended on a large deal?

Kevin Goldstein: It would have sucked. There are basically four buckets for owners. Completely hands off (THE BEST), involved, but always deferring to FO (GREAT), involved and occasionally forcing a move that you don’t want to make (most common and mildly annoying), and then the few that actually just make some moves themselves (NIGHTMARE).

Don: Over/under 89.5 wins for the Giants next year?

Kevin Goldstein: I actually think that’s a really good number. Hard to say though until we see how the off-season turns out.

Toy Cannon: Assuming Correa is gone does Javy Baez on a 1/2 yr prove it deal with the Astros draw interest from either party?

Kevin Goldstein: I think someone is going to give Baez far too big a deal, and I don’t think that someone is the Astros.

Fart Barfunkel: Talk me into being excited that my team is one of the 7 “in on” Seiya Suzuki. I think I’m still a bit let down after being all in on Kim last season and seeing him underwhelm (and cutting him from my fantasy team). Where does he rank on the scale of Ohtani-like God to a shrug emoji?

Kevin Goldstein: He’s no Ohtani, but he’s better than Kim.

Dexter from Dexter: Hunter Brown’s MLB outlook – thought?

Kevin Goldstein: Lots of possibilities from here. Could be a shutdown reliever, could be a front-rotation starter, and could be a frustrating number four with huge stuff and big command and pitch efficiency issues.

171: What are your thoughts, if any, on the growing (can we call it that yet?) trend of Co-hitting or pitching coaches? Do players care if there are two voices in one position as opposed to a head and assistant coach? Or is this kind of just a situation where a team likes both coaches but both want the top position?

Kevin Goldstein: Definitely some title inflation in order to keep people going on, but I think it can be a good thing. Often players gel with one coach more than the other, and even they’re on even status, that can make that dynamic easier.

N. Hornblower: Is the whole Rule 5 process more trouble than it’s worth for FOs? Seems silly to have what amounts to a yearly expansion draft where you are in danger of losing good prospects with very little to gain. Would you be fine seeing it go away?

Kevin Goldstein: I’m with you on the ROI aspect of the event, but just making it go away would be unfair to the players.

Gob: What popular sport has the most potential for an analytics revolution in the near future?

Kevin Goldstein: I honestly just don’t track any other major sport. I can name maybe 10 NFL players, more NBA players and just a handful of NHL guys based on the Blackhawks jerseys I’ve seen at the local dive bar.

Matt: I know you have sung the praises of Gremlins 2 in the past, but . . . I guess I just don’t get it. I’ve tried to watched it a couple of times now and literally fell asleep both times. What am I missing here? Why do people love this movie?

Kevin Goldstein: It’s actually a scathing satire on consumerism.

Mrs. Phanatic: If Tampa signed Vinny Velazquez, could they turn him into an elite RP or even a serviceable #3/4 SP?

Kevin Goldstein: If anyone could, they’d be among them, but it would still be doubtful. Not impossible, but doubtful.

CY: How much did Owen White’s AFL performance change his prospect status?

Kevin Goldstein: Not much. Very few AFL performances move needles.

Guest: if you’re the brewers, do you move hader for a bat if the opportunity emerges? or do you think of your 3 SPs + bullpen back end as a strength you don’t want to disrupt?

Kevin Goldstein: I think it’s more complex than that. I would at least listen on Hader to see what I could get while also see what I could get with the money.

Kevin Goldstein: Might make sense, and might not, but it would be worth exploring.

Mike: thanksgiving plans and your favorite thanksgiving food(s)?

Kevin Goldstein: No travel. total of six for dinner (all vaccinated) and menu is still very much TBD.

Pinstripe Perry: How do you like your turkey, KG? Oven, deep fried, thrown in the garbage in favor of better thanksgiving foods?

Kevin Goldstein: Good turkey is good! Oven!

Jim: Any upside with Quintana?

Kevin Goldstein: Yes, actually.

Appa Yip Yip: In the even of a lockout, are front offices still allowed to talk to agents about “hypothetical” contracts?

Kevin Goldstein: I’m honestly not sure what the actual rules are on this, but I’m sure these conversations will happen.

Bert Campaneris: I have inquired Eric L about the international draft before, and I believe he favors the idea. Where do you stand? As someone who hailed from DR, and has a working understanding of the significance of kids being signed with small deals… I am worried about the ramifications of establishing an international draft.

Kevin Goldstein: I’m against all drafts on a moral level, but at the same time, we have to talk about them and write about them because that’s what is happening and it matters.

GBS42: Kevin, I just wanted to say I really appreciate your “like what you like” perspective on baseball awards, movies, etc. With so many people trying to shove their opinions down others throats, this is a refreshing perspective.

Kevin Goldstein: Yeah, I used to be judgmental on that kind of stuff, but we live in a pretty miserable world, and if something that doesn’t do it for me, and isn’t harmful like The Beatles or comic book movies or The Big Bang Theory or whatever makes you happy, that’s great. We need more happiness.

Fart Barfunkel: Why do some FO folks leak? Is it just good relationships with certain media members, trying to drum up early excitement before things are official? What possesses somebody to text Jon Heyman they are close to a deal to acquire ___ from ____?

Kevin Goldstein: Fun question. Some people like to see it in the press and think it’s them. Some people just love talking baseball and don’t get to do it enough internally, and all sorts of other weird reasons.

Tyler: Do you have the same approach with other awards as you do with BBWAA ones? Do you not wish to see your favorite actors be rewarded with Emmy’s or Oscar’s for their performances?

Kevin Goldstein: Don’t care. Maybe I would if I knew them personally, but I don’t.

joe: can we get a 10 hr chin music drop on thanksgiving next year. i really dont like watching the lions

Kevin Goldstein: That feels like a challenge.

Troy: It seems like many people lump the NPB and the KBO in together as roughly similar comps. I believe I read previously the NPB was fairly significantly better, is that still true?

Kevin Goldstein: It’s definitely better.

Greg: Ichinojo losing on hair pull vs Takakeisho: yay or nay?

Kevin Goldstein: I was shocked by that one, but as the biggest Takakeishō fan around, I didn’t complain.

Ben Cherington: When Team A has a player on a trade block, and has multiple offers, how much information is shared with the bidding teams? Does Team B know that Team C is offering specific players, or does Team A say hey you’re going to have to offer x, y, and z to beat the package on the table?

Kevin Goldstein: The latter. I’ve never detailed another offer as much as I’ve said we have better elsewhere.

Matthew: If someone in a FO leaks something to the media that they’re not supposed to and they get caught, does anything happen?

Kevin Goldstein: It has.

SJ: What percentage of leaks from front offices are authorized/known by the higher ups versus an employee doing so on their own?

Kevin Goldstein: 15/85 is my no real thought gut reaction. I think some teams use the media better than others, and many don’t try to, to be fair.

Kevin Goldstein: Ok, folks. We enter our final moments together this afternoon.

Kevin Goldstein: That sounded WAY more dramatic than it is.

YorDaddy: Thoughts Correa’s Jeter comments? I love it personally, and I can’t wait to see the Yankees fans reactions if they sign him.

Kevin Goldstein: I don’t know . . . I haven’t really thought about it much. Wherever he signs, he’ll be loved by the first week of April.

Ben Cherington: How many 80-grade tools exist in the minors today?

Kevin Goldstein: Quite a few, including many who will never see the big leagues.

DF: Re. the Reds, understood, but isn’t it in the interests of most of the other owners for more teams to be competitive? I realize it’s not necessarily true for each individual owner, but collectively it seems to me driving up franchise values via sales is in their interest.

Kevin Goldstein: Yeah . . . long-term thinking is quite frequently not something MLB and the owners are especially good at.

713: What’s next for flamethrower Josh James?

Kevin Goldstein: He’ll get plenty of chances, and at some point have a good year or two.

Kretin: What was it like dealing with the Angels knowing Arte was lurking in the background of any move?

Kevin Goldstein: If you are on the other side, you really can’t let that kind of thing effect you. You just conduct your negotiations and read/react from there.

Kevin Goldstein: Ok folks, I gotta go research a player and some other things, but thanks for all the great questions. The FanGraphs audience always brings it and I have a blast doing these.