Keith, do the white Sox have a top 5 system now?

I get Eaton is a good player, but if I told you they traded Gioloto for Eaton straight up wouldn't you say that's fair? Seems to me that those three prospects should have brought back someone with a longer track record of success.

What do you think of the Brewers' signing of Eric Thames? Will be be any good in MLB after putting up Bonds-esque number in Korea?

The wife wants a cast iron skillet for Xmas - any recommendations

I agree with your take(s) on the downside of signing relief pitchers for more than a couple years. That said, as a Giants fan I can't remember the need for one player being so acute. Would you agree that in the case of a team like that Giants that is a true threat to win it all, absorbing the back end of a bad deal like that is justifiable? Especially because they didn't surrender a draft pick to do it.

If, as we expect, Jansen signs somewhere other than LA, does it make sense for the Dodgers to use more of a committee approach in the pen, or should they explore trades for a "proven closer"?

Is there a prospect package not involving Eloy or Happ the Cubs could realistically offer to obtain a solid young starter?

The Ian Desmond deal has to go down as the most confusing of the offseason right? Non of the components of the deal - the size of the contract, the length, the fit of Desmond on the team, giving up a draft pick - seems to make any sense. I guess it is still early, and a team might "out do" the Rockies and give a guy like Trumbo a 5 year deal and give up a draft pick as well. But I imagine the Rangers front office was celebrating.

I loved Brotha Jenkins on the Braves. Really really likeable guy. Did it really make that much sense to trade him and was it because the Braves just gave up on him?

Higher ceiling, Mike Soroka or Sean Newcomb?

Hi Keith, I'm glad Top Chef is back, but disappointed in so many returning chefs. Like you, I would rather see someone new. With that said, who do you think is the best chef to appear as a contestant on the show? Richard Blais? Kristen Kish? Paul Qui? Voltaggios? Someone else I'm missing?

Klaw, How can you be so sensible in every other aspect but have such a bad taste in music?

Will you do a best books of 2016 post?

What role will Blake Swihart have this year?

The general mindset is the Padres took the 3 most talented players in the Rule 5 draft but all are longshots to stick. I know you don't care about that draft at all, but what are your thoughts on the individual players?

What do you think of the rumors that the phillies might be open to moving herrera? Could he get a lot back?

The market for relievers -- especially closers -- seems ridiculously out of control. By definition, relievers are failed starters. For every Mariano Rivera or Bobby Thigpen, there are literally dozens of BJ Ryans and Jim Johnsons. Why don't GMs see this? For the money they gave Chapman, the Yankees could've signed Edwin Encarnacion.

Odds that Mike Montgomery is a serviceable #5 starter?

is the loss of the 27th pick more palatable for Cleveland if they can get Encarnacion on a two year deal rather than the presumed four year deal heading into the winter meetings?

I enjoy reading your analysis, I can live with your outside baseball comments (I don't agree with most of them but it is ok with me), but I really was puzzled by one passage in your Chapmann article on espn: " I can't imagine giving someone with such serious character concerns [...] a five-year deal with life-changing money. To borrow an old line from P.J. O’Rourke, it’s like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys."
You don't like Chapman and I don't either, but I dislike this thinking that since he did something horrible, he should not get to do his job and being paid accordingly. I think second chances, whether it is a pro player or a random dude, and you seem to disagree with it. Would you care to elaborate? thanks

If the Nats truly believe they will not be resigning Bryce Harper at the end of the 2018 season, would now be the time to truly explore trading him. With 2 years left on his obviously under market arbitration contract, the Nats would get a haul back for him. I understand the Nats are in a win now mode, but I believe they could get pieces back to make them still a contender in 2017 and going forward. For example, would a Nats and Red Sox deal be plausible? Bogarts, Bradley, Benintendi, Groome for Harper? Maybe I'm way off on that proposal, but it's something that can be a starting point. Am I way off base on this? Thanks, Keith.

After reading all your free agent signing analysis, seems like you disagree with the amount of $ or/and the number of years 90% of the time. Time to re-evaluate your scale Keith, seems like the industry has much more money that you think!

I am looking forward to reading your book next year. However, I have to admit when you first mentioned you were writing a book, I thought it was fiction! Any chance you'd ever brush up on your wordsmith chops to write the Great American Novel?

Do you think Huntington would have accepted the Eaton offer for McCutchen?

The winter meetings are a great example of market economics. Supply and demand rule everything that happens. For instance, 5-year closer deals seem insane, unless there aren't many closers and you really need one. That's how a guy like Encarnacion could be unsigned, when he is arguably one of the best players on the market....only, there are a lot of 1B/DH types and not a ton of teams willing to spend money on them. Heck, you even have the concept of value of things having different meanings to different people, illustrated by the trades both Sox teams and the Nationals made. If you want to teach high school kids how our markets work, the winter meetings are your place.

Do you see either Machado or Harper signing an extension with their current teams?

Bobby Valentine as US ambassador to Japan -- insanely stupid idea, or just an insane idea?

Do you think a Severino-type (trained as a starter, but probably won't succeed in the role) would be best used as a multi-inning reliever, 40-45 appearances per year, 1-4 innings at a time, one day of rest for every inning pitched? You could easily get 120 high-leverage innings without overtaxing the arm.

Did you go to any restaurants at the casino while you while in National Harbor? I would think the Voltaggio Brother's restaurant would be on interest to you.

Would it be fair to say that the industry is converging on a fairly similar set of models and metrics for evaluating and valuing talent? If so, do you see trades overall becoming less lopsided (in terms of there being clear winners or losers even at the time of the deal) vs., say, five+ years ago?

I know you're a foodie (tho not a snob), but do you have a secret fast-food indulgence and supermarket goodie you are ashamed of, but give into a couple of times a year?

Hi Keith, no baseball questions today...just wanted to thank you for bringing spatchcocking to my attention. It was the best bird in decades of cooking turkeys, and I have been preaching the gospel ever since.

Now that you're so well-known on the internet & ESPN TV, does your wife ever worry about groupies?

Understanding that valuing the return package is important, from on on-field standpoint only, aren't the Royals probably better off with Soler than Davis in 2017 anyway? Have to figure Davis is never giving 2014 and 2015 quality and quantity of innings again.

Given that the Red Sox have a great young core at the MLB level, is there more justification to sending over Moncada and Kopech to the ChiSox for Sale? Fundamentally speaking, where do you draw the line between giving your young core the best chance to win for the next 3 years vs retaining your kids for the future?

How do you compare Devers and Moncada? Essentially, Devers trading speed for more power? Who do you like more going forward?

Hey Keith - which of the rule 5 picks do you find most intriguing? Do you think Torrens could really stick all year with the Padres? Thanks and love your work.

What caliber of prospect is Lazaro Armenteros? Top 100 potential down the line? GUY or guy?

Does Tony Clark last a long time as Union chief, & (if so) does he feel pressure to 'bring down the hammer' during the next CBA negotiations to make up for perceived failures in this one? Do you think the next negotiations could be more contentious as a result?

Astros have to make a deal for Quintana at this point no? Assuming the rays aren't trading archer there isn't another option that keeps them on their current plan. Seems like the perfect scenario for Hahn to strike gold again.

Keith, knowing how badly most long-term reliever deals work out, would you do (or should LA do) 5 years/$80M on Kenley? Is it possible he is Mariano lite (or heavy)?

On the ESPN article, someone argued for the Ian Desmond signing because of making the All Star team, his batting average, and his amount of RBIs. So my question is, will you have hundreds of copies of your book that you will send to people like that?

Hi Klaw- no question, just wanted to say thanks for all the writing you do on board games. My then fiancee (and now wife) got Lost Cities in 2012 off your recommendation and now own many games off your top 100 list and hope to add a few more this month. Thanks for the countless hours of fun!

What do you think about Jordan Adell? Can he stick in center, and how good is the bat? Top 5 pick?

When do you guys ramp up draft coverage?

Keith, you occasionally use rough language in your chats. I'm wondering if that crosses over to your spoken vocabulary, and if so, how did you go about cleaning that up as your daughter developed her language skills? I'm trying to keep my two year from dropping an f-bomb like her dad does from time to time.

I know the joke is always that this year's draft isn't as good as last year's. Is that the case again this year?

Bellinger Deleon and verdugo for Quintana? Who says no

Cards sign Fowler and have years of Piscotty and Grichuk. What happens to Bader? Is he trade bait?

Hey Keith. I was wondering if you could have your employer add an RSS feed to your blog when you post new content. Not being on Social Media, I tend to randomly check your blog for new material. Thanks.