That's a good quick and dirty summary. Tools are largely physical - run, power, throw - but can incorporate the mechanical too. Skills represent refinement, and are about what happens during games more than tools, which express raw abilities.

A bit confused. I've never believed in buying relievers, especially when your budget is low. I don't know if they sold low on Lawrie so much as they got rid of a guy whose character flaws outweigh his mediocre production.

If he did what his girlfriend accused him of doing, I'd be fine with never seeing him in an MLB uniform again.

I'm really not a fan of judging any team's offseason when they haven't done much yet. There's a lot of time left and a lot of players without teams.

Well you're not likely to get shot at the Opryland, but you might die of starvation wandering its halls.

Of course, although I only went to three new places. Two Ten Jack was the big group dinner and an enormous hit. I love everything about that place.

I assume the infield includes Harrison and Kang at 2b and 3b.

I doubt it.

It's "having a major league stadium on public transit" great.

His buddy hired him. That's the number one way to get a GM or manager job in baseball right now - make sure you have a friend doing the hiring.

Jaipur. If you go to my top 80 boardgames (http://klaw.me/1iWV10k) there's a ranking of two-player games at the bottom.

Winning generally leads to financial success in baseball. Losing sometimes does, especially when the league is subsidizing you (coughMarlinscough), but winning is a much better formula.

I like Cessa as a depth guy, liked him for Detroit in the Cespedes deal but think Wilson provides now value and fits their roster better. Not sure why the Yanks have become cost-conscious all of a sudden.

Already posted about a half hour ago. http://klaw.me/1UdtR2N

What he's saying isn't just insensitive, but indicative of someone who doesn't think before he speaks. That should concern the Nats' FO and ownership most of all.

No idea, and while I know someone said it was "two significant prospects" on air the other night, I don't even know if THAT was true. The one way I could justify it for LAD would be if they intended to use Chapman for more like 100 innings in relief. He could be a 4 WAR reliever, higher by WPA if the manager used him in high-leverage situations.

Always thought he was a AAA or 4A slugger type. Toolsy but not very disciplined. This was his third straight year with AA time and second in the PCL.

No, I think he's the one who pushes Albies, whose arm is a little light for short, to second. I don't know what the 15/25 refers to.

Doubt they keep more than two. Really no disincentive to do what they're doing - $25K a pop for extended tryouts in March.

Not really. Should ensure Rendon goes back to 3b where he belongs.

Don't think he has much left but I wouldn't say he's done. Half a year in AAA wouldn't kill Peraza - in fact, I'd move him back to short and see if he can still do it.

Fewer in total, but no fewer quality questions.

Bullpen. Never has had a good enough changeup to get RHB out.

I think so. But I wonder if this opens them up to trade Soler. Heyward can handle CF but I doubt he's plus there. We know he's ridiculously good in RF.

I think so. But I wonder if this opens them up to trade Soler. Heyward can handle CF but I doubt he's plus there. We know he's ridiculously good in RF.

Most trolls are gone. Also don't get the people who complain that I answer non-baseball questions.

You act like that hasn't already happened in the last ten minutes.

Hell yes they do.

Fourth starter. Very worried about durability. Smaller frame guy who's had some issues getting through a full season healthy.

I've always been a natural writer (in the sense that I don't find it difficult or frustrating, not that I'm some innate Hemingway). I'm more comfortable expressing myself in writing than verbally, although I've had to get better at the latter.

Yes. Alfaro's a better hitter though.

I have not. Devices were pretty expensive until the last year or so.

Not sure they need another SP; Hammel is the 5, and they have Warren and Wood in the pen as long options, which could also make Hendricks a short starter. CF options this winter weren't great. All depends on the cost but I don't think this is a poor use of resources. Also bear in mind that next winter's free agent class is a dumpster fire.

Yes. Needs to show he can throw enough strikes first, then to get some left-handed hitters out.

I love that phrasing - like Casey Close just showed up at the door, but instead of carrying a giant check, he was asking for one.

I don't think he's ready now, but he could be their starting 2b in 2017. Pretty toolsy kid who put everything together a little late, like Willson Contreras with the Cubs.

I don't know their plans - I'm sure they're scrambling a little bit right now - but I think they'd be better served to see if there's a hitter available in trade, and spending their available cash on one of the many good SP out there. Leake and Kazmir come to mind immediately.

Torres. Better fielder and I think more chance to hit for power. Albies is the safer bet to hit.

Is this some sort of curse?

I would love to do so. There are one or two projects I need to complete (or start and complete) first.

I'm a bit down on him after that first year in pro ball and a very bad look in the AFL after I saw him so much better in college. Lot of holes in his game for someone whose tools are so damn good.

No, but I'll probably get there in March. I think Hedges has value because there is always more demand for catching than supply, but yeah, the way they mishandled him in 2015 didn't help.

Duplantier, if he's not hurt, which he has been, which I know you'll find terribly surprising for a Rice pitcher.

An utterly pointless gesture, regardless of his merits as a player.

I think defensive metrics, especially the proprietary ones that teams use, are more accurate than critics understand, even if they lack the precision that offensive measures provide. The question is seldom "how much was he worth" but "how much will he be worth?" To answer the latter, you need to try to impute the player's true talent level from his performance. That is less about precision in a single period of time and more about directional accuracy over a larger sample.

Comfortable but concerned would be a good way to put it. Evolution has been genetically modifying organisms for millions of years, yet only one has become dangerous enough to wipe out thousands of other species and take over the planet: Us.

The Cards made some tweaks last year that helped him. He starts high and often comes a bit down towards the ball, which produces a lot of groundballs, something he didn't do as much as a minor leaguer. He's big enough and has the lower body strength to hit for more power. I think there's a chance he does that now.

I'm going to say under 1%. Had to think for a second about it when you said "picks" but you're right (and I was wrong!).

That's about right. I don't know if he stays at third, and he probably won't, but I'd give him every chance to do so.

Maybe a couple but it won't matter in the end. He'll get 95% or more. And yeah, he was not a good guy, especially not as a teammate (so I hear - this is terribly secondhand, so feel free to dismiss it), but he skates on that while Bonds gets murdered for it.

Ehhhhhh i'm not so sure about that. As I said above, there's a lot of offseason left to be played. They may think Corbin's ready to make 32-33 starts, but in his first full year back from TJ that's very foolhardy. They were also well behind LAD/SF on paper coming into the winter; they're slightly ahead now, but the other two clubs have barely made any moves while the Dbacks are probably done. AZ still needs something in the middle infield, though; Ahmed is terrible and Owings isn't much better.