Jonathan Mayo

So it happens because guys are just talented.

I think what it does is it minimizes the risk, especially when you're considering locking them up for nine years.

And yes, that in all likelihood is going to be a very team-friendly contract, but that's nine years and more money than this franchise has given out.

his baseball IQ and the way he carries himself, you know that he is going to continue to work on his game.

He's going to help the team win even if things aren't going well.

He's not going to let something snowball into something that he can't work out of.

So I think the combination of those things makes you feel much more confident that even if he's not Willie Mays at shortstop, that he is going to be a very, very good major leaguer for a very long time.

You're being light on the power.

He's going to fall into 20 homers this year even if he doesn't hit.

You saw what he did in spring.

He's going to recognize enough bad breaking balls that he'll hit out even if he's scuffling a little bit, and I don't think he's going to scuffle.

So I think –

20 homers is light.

If you told me that at the end of his career he's 35 to 40, absolutely.

It's the bat speed, the exit velocities, the launch angle, all the metrics line up.

Do not put a ceiling on Conor Griffin.

Well, I think you saw a pretty good candidate in Sal Stewart in Cincinnati because he's just going to hit.

There are some good choices.

You've got a guy who's pitching every fifth day here, Bubba Chandler, who I think might have something to say about it.

I don't want to predict.