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Front Office Chat: 1/12/24
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Anthony Franco
2:59
Hey all, hope you're doing well!
3:00
Looking forward to another of these, let's discuss
Doug E.
3:00
The Dodgers have had a huge offseason.  I still think they need to improve their bullpen what are your thoughts.  Thank you.
Anthony Franco
3:01
We're pretty deep into nitpick territory here but yeah, in an ideal world, they could use another reliever. Guards against some of the Joe Kelly volatility and the risk with Treinen and Feyereisen coming off surgeries
3:02
It's small, though, somewhat similar to the Braves looking for a better utility infielder or something. It's a good bullpen on a great roster, but no team is ever perfect
Official Gary Gaetti Fan Club
3:02
thoughts on the Bloom hiring by St. Louis?
Anthony Franco
3:03
I like it. He's just in an advisory role. I was mixed on his tenure as the baseball operations leader in Boston but he's clearly a very smart guy who had a lot of success as a high-level executive in Tampa Bay
John B
3:04
Thanks for chatting. The Giants started the off season talking about spending big money on major free agents. At this point they are 28 mil. below last years payroll with a series of questionable moves to show for it after coming up short on most of the top players. Meanwhile Zaidi sounds like he's content to go into the season with Stripling as his #2 starter and Flores hitting cleanup. Do you think they are done or do you see them making any moves that would make them better?
Anthony Franco
3:06
I agree with your general feeling that this is a pretty underwhelming offseason. Lee and Hicks wouldn't have been my main targets. They're upside plays but it's still not the clear high-end talent that the roster has lacked
3:07
Because of that and the payroll flexibility you referenced, I don't think they're done. There's still room (financial and roster fit) to be in on Montgomery or Snell here
Joe B
3:07
Should the Cubs trade for Michael Busch push them to focus on Chapman rather than Hoskins for the remainder of their free agent spending?
Anthony Franco
3:09
That's an interesting one. I don't think it should change their priority if they were leaning towards Hoskins over Chapman. If they feel like a five-year investment on Chapman isn't good value, they still shouldn't do it
I'm optimistic about Busch but he's got 27 MLB games under his belt. There's a very realistic possibility that he isn't an above-average MLB first baseman
3:10
That said, if the Cubs were already leaning towards Chapman over Hoskins as their top priority in free agency, acquiring Busch as another option in what looked live a dismal first base group makes sense
3:11
So I think the Busch trade could reflect an organizational preference for Chapman > Hoskins that already existed, but it shouldn't change how they view either of those players
Closers
3:11
Will Carles Estevez and Gregory Santos be their teams closers on June 1?
Anthony Franco
3:12
Estévez, yeah. I'll lean yes on Santos but that's largely by default because the White Sox's bullpen looks awful
3:13
I think Santos' command is wobbly enough that he's a setup type in an ideal world, but the Sox aren't in position to be prioritizing a closer right now
Craig Breslow
3:13
Who’s starting on opening day for me? If I’m not willing to commit long term money, is there anyway I make a high AAV short term offer for Montgomery or Snell?
Anthony Franco
3:13
(Red Sox)
3:15
Seems like they don't want to do top-of-the-market money on Snell or Monty. I guess I'd take Pivetta as their Opening Day starter for now but it's very possible they bring someone in via trade
Receo
3:15
With the Dodgers new acquisitions, thus far, it appears Kike’ Hernandez will no longer be wearing Dodger Blue…where do you see his market and earning potential?
Anthony Franco
3:16
He's coming off a second straight poor season and underwent hernia surgery in November. The earning potential is low
3:17
I think the versatility and his clubhouse energy are enough for a major league deal but it's one year at like $2-3MM
Chris Getz
3:17
Agree on Santos, and thought he got shakier as the months progressed.  Could see something crazy like Jordan Leasure or Matt Foster closing by the 2nd half of the year, but agree that the Sox bullpen is brutal right now.  Ugh
Anthony Franco
3:18
Foster's an interesting one. I thought he was pretty good pre-TJS but I wonder if he'll throw hard enough to take the ninth inning at any point. Teams usually skew towards velocity at closer
Michael B
3:19
As a Mets fan, I’d like to understand what the team has done or will do to make it attractive to free agents in 2025?  We recognize that they will bring up some youth, but they’ll have to supplement with FA’s.  Thanks
Anthony Franco
3:19
I don't mean to be reductive but the biggest appeal for like 90% of free agents is that Steve Cohen's going to offer a lot of money
3:20
Some guys probably relish the chance to live in New York too
From a roster perspective, it's just ok. Lindor's great, maybe they'll keep Alonso around. Developing but unexceptional farm system
3:21
But most free agencies are financial and that's the area that the Mets can leverage in a way that maybe two or three teams can
wvpirate
3:21
Any news or rumors about the Pirates? What moves do you feel will be happening before spring training starts? Thanks for your time.  Love the chats
Anthony Franco
3:23
I know Cherington has downplayed it a few times but I still think they'll add something at second base. There's some promise with each of Peguero, Gonzales and Bae, but none of them has done enough that I'd feel confident in relying on them from Day One
3:25
Rotation is the other thing. Our "Pirates had interest in Imanaga" post was met with some (understandable) derision, because it's easy to say in retrospect that you pursued a player who signed somewhere else. But the reason we had that on the site at all is that we feel it could inform where they'll go from here
They clearly have some level of short-term payroll space and neither Martín Pérez nor Marco Gonzales should rule them out on another rotation pickup (particularly with Oviedo's injury)
Bruce
3:26
Thanks for the chat.  If you were Chris Young, and the 2024 budget just won’t stretch far enough to sign Montgomery, but  ownership would allow another $10-15 million for this year, what signing wound be your highest priority?
Anthony Franco
3:27
One of the relievers. If I've got $10-15MM left for this offseason alone, then give me Robert Stephenson
If it's $10-15MM including whatever money we take on at the deadline, then a little cheaper. A Hector Neris type
(This is in reference to the Rangers, sorry)
Regular or bench
3:28
Do any of the following havae a chance to be regulars, or are they doomed to utility: Oswal Peraza, Bryan Rocchio, Akil Baddoo, Will Brennan, Everson Pereira.
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