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The Hot Stove post yesterday, on McCutcheon, drew the most interest.  

That weirds me out, since November through January is supposed to be about Dr. D and not about the Hot Stove.  But:  have it your own way.  I've got nothing against publicity stunts, so here is a bit of MLB Trade Rumors chat.  Edited for your convenience.

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Prich

2:07

Pirates pick of Walker *or* Paxton for Bell... Who says no?

Jeffrey Todd

2:08

Given that he kinda doesn't have a position, I don't think Bell has shown quite enough as a hitter in the minors to warrant that kind of return. Walker/Paxton are both established MLB pitchers with loads of upside (and plenty of risk, of course).

Just don't see it as a worthwhile roll of the dice for SEA.

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This reminded me SO much of the 1990's STATS AOL boards.  In a sort of Steve Buscemi kind of way.  "Tank for Trout, who says no" used to be your go-to thread title if you wanted a flame war with Inside Pitch and TopCat.

Gotta love Prich's emphatic "OR!"  He didn't want the chat laughing him out of the room on the Pirates behalf.  They'd get EITHER pitcher, so it's not as crazy as it sounds for the Pirates.

Fans love prospects so much :- )

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Nate

2:09

There are 3 closers available and more than 3 teams that need one. Who are some closers that could be moved via trade?

Jeffrey Todd

2:10

Well, there are also some teams -- such as the Pirates -- that won't feel strictly bound by having a "closer." It's not unimaginable that even a team like the Giants or Nationals will do something a bit different -- maybe sign Greg Holland and add some of the best set-up guys, I don't know.

2:12

That being said, KC has to seriously consider trading Wade Davis and possibly Kelvin Herrera. The O's miiiiiight listen on Britton. David Robertson may be available. So there are some other outlets.

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WE don't need one Angels fans BWAHAHAHAHHA

Trading for Wade Davis or converting KKKKarns to setup man:  who says no?

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Paintrain

2:19

Do you see eric thames being an impact bat? How big of a contract do you think he will sign?

Jeffrey Todd

2:20

That requires a real scouting assessment, not just a statistical look. Obviously his KBO numbers are amazing, and other guys have done well upon transition, and he was considered a MLB talent earlier in his career. I think he'll get 2-3 years at a pretty decent rate -- maybe somewhere in the $5-7MM annual range? -- but may also consider Japan.

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did we tell ya we love ya, moe dog?  eh?  eh?

though we don't love as much the fans who consciously or subconsciously de-capitalize the names of people, deities and nations while going ahead to use their caps keys five words later, and of course to begin their own meaningless pen names.  paintrain probably calls short people dwarves too instead of dwarfs.  not that trivializing others is a big deal.  /random life lesson from the epic ssi.

just kidding this was about thames.  if you can spend six mill for aoki or smith, can you spend it for thames?

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2:21

What team could realistically trade for Zach Britton?

Jeffrey Todd

2:22

Any big-market team, even those with good closers. I mean, can you imagine having him and a high-K guy like Kimbrel in the same pen? "What do we need right now, a K or a groundball?" Snap your fingers, and you get it.

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I never thought of that.  The 2017 M's could go with a Miller-Chapman bullpen at half the price of everybody else!

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Michael

2:28

Other than Sale, are there any other aces available for trading?

Jeffrey Todd

2:28

Archer and Quintana are the other best plausible trade pieces.

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G-Moneyball thinks we offer Chris Archer to ourselves, on an in-org basis, and he's probably right.  In any case, Jerry DiPoto has us all guessing as to whether he'd swing a big deal for a twin Cy Young pitcher to pair with our current one (Paxton).  Let them tassssste the double gunssss.  Hard man to read, that JeDi.

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Rhendricks

2:46

What is Adam Lind's value this off-season after the numbers he put up this year?

Jeffrey Todd

2:47

See both of these guys' [with Brandon Moss - Dr. D] presence, along with Pedro Alvarez, Kendrys Morales, Trumbo, Holliday, Beltran, even Billy Butler, and others makes for quite an interesting situation.

There are so many slugger-ish guys out there. I don't know that I see them all getting really nice deals. Some teams are just going to sit back and wait for the ones who shake out, and hope for a bargain.

(Moss is a FA; don't think he'll get a qualifying offer.)

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The M's site has 'Bach as a guy who wants to compete for the 1B job next year.  Compete with who?

Enjoy,

jemanji

(get it?)