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Front Office Chat: 1/19/24
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Anthony Franco
1:58
Hey everyone, hope you're all having a good week!
1:59
Going to have to keep this one right at an hour to help my family with snow removal before my coverage shift tonight. Will try to move a little more quickly to get through as much as possible
Let's get rolling
TCBASICS
1:59
Thanks for these chats... Cashman has done a lot of roster maneuvering. From what Cashman has said in public. Do you think Its a 3rd baseman or a relief pitcher the next move. If they get a 3rd Baseman Gio or Chapman type. Then DJ can go back to be the Jack of All Trades he was originally signed to be. With the leaving or trading of BP pieces does signing a hader or that type of FA ..... does it make sense like bring back Wandy Peralta? what's your take
Anthony Franco
2:00
I buy that they're ok with LeMahieu at third. Chapman is the kind of hitter -- righty bat with power but a bunch of strikeouts -- that they've tried to move away from. Urshela would be an ok fit if he only gets one year but I don't think it's a must-add position
2:01
Bullpen, yeah, I could see an addition there. Peralta's a solid pitcher who they apparently love in the clubhouse, and he fits the ground-ball mold they target (with a lot of success) in relief. Bringing him back makes sense
Adames
2:01
How likely do you think it is that Adames is playing for another team on Opening Day at this point? Marlins? Giants?
Anthony Franco
2:01
Pretty slim. Hasn't been much talk about him, they've downplayed the Burnes speculation enough that things have quieted down there too
2:02
If there were other shortstops available where Milwaukee could pivot or if Brice Turang were better as a rookie, an Adames trade would've been an easier sell
Utah Fan
2:03
How serious are the Athletics about possibly playing at Smith's Park in Salt Lake City? The ballpark is a hidden gem, as is the city itself and the entire Wasatch front. It seats almost 15,000 and they draw well. This area is ripe for expansion and by having the A's play some games in SLC they can prove they are ready.
Anthony Franco
2:05
Seems like one of many sites under consideration, nothing to suggest SLC is any kind of favorite. My guess would be that they play in Summerlin for a few years -- it's right outside Vegas and their AAA affiliate is already there -- but I'm kind of hoping somewhere like SLC or Reno can get a team for a couple years
ArthurDent1961
2:05
If the Astros pen Hader, does that signing move the needle at all for how you’d rank the AL West teams?
Anthony Franco
2:05
I'd probably have had Houston at the top anyways, guess that moves them a little more clearly ahead of Texas for me
Paul K
2:06
Hicks for 4 years for $44MM to be  SP/RP swing; Rodrigues for 4 years for $32MM to be a SP/RP swing. Which team got the best value? How do the deals compare?
Anthony Franco
2:06
I think you're right to group them together. Pretty similar concept with a slight edge on the money for Hicks because he's shown the ability to at least be an effective reliever at the MLB level
2:08
I've never seen Rodríguez pitch so we're basically going off a couple of scouting reports there. I'd probably prefer him at 4/32 than Hicks at 4/44 based on Hicks' injury history, but it's with the caveat that we've got pretty limited info on Yariel
Dave
2:08
Lad C Will Smith extension prior to opening day? Yeah or Nay?  Thanks
Anthony Franco
2:09
Smith is pretty deep into arbitration and already slated to reach free agency at 31. An extension even by a couple seasons would really diminish his earning power in free agency
2:10
So I'd guess probably not. At the very least, I'd want to beat Realmuto money (5/115) if I were in his position even though he's still two years from free agency
Guest
2:11
Luciano really goint to start at SS for SF?  Or do they bring in an experienced SS (Maybe T Anderson) as a bridge/insurance policy?
Anthony Franco
2:11
Farhan has talked about wanting some kind of veteran insurance option but it seems like they're committed to giving Luciano the first shot
2:12
I forget who the reporter was -- maybe Ken Rosenthal -- but there was something a few weeks ago downplaying the possibility of them going for a stopgap veteran like Anderson or Rosario, since they didn't think those players were markedly better than Luciano would be
Plan C
2:12
What should the Cubs do if they don’t get Bellinger OR Chapman?
Anthony Franco
2:13
Robert Stephenson
2:14
I know it's not Hoyer's style to spend on relievers, and I think that's generally wise, but they're in a position where adding a high-leverage arm makes a lot of sense. It's a solid bullpen but limited on high-end talent, above-average but not great roster that can compete in a relatively weak division
PawPaw
2:15
Your opinion on Ozzie Albies not on top 10 MLB Second Basemen?
Anthony Franco
2:16
It's always easier to complain about a list when you don't make one of your own, but the MLBN list having Julien and Gelof (both of whom I like) above Albies doesn't make much sense to me
2:17
I'm almost positive I'd have Albies in the top 10 at the position, probably top five
Question Mark
2:17
Can a player, who is at the end of their contract, be traded during the season...and then picked back up by the team that traded him, in the offseason?  For example...The Mets trade Alonso at the trading deadline to the Cubs, and then after the  season, pick him back up and give him a seven year contract!
Anthony Franco
2:17
Sure. It's not as common as you might think but happens on occasion (NYY with Aroldis Chapman, CHC with Jason Hammel)
Osleivis
2:18
With Wander Franco and Brujan gone from Tampa, and a whole bunch of question marks in its infield (Jose Caballero, really?), will Osleivis Basabe be able to carve out regular playing time, or is he doomed to be a part-timer? He has a much better minor-league record than any of the other suspects. Why wouldn't the Rays give him a position and let him run with it?
Anthony Franco
2:20
I don't think Caballero really stands in the way. He's a Rays-style player -- they love guys with infield versatility and OBP skills -- and they're just trying to collect options to mix and match
2:21
I think Walls probably gets the first chance at SS once he's healthy -- might be a little delayed coming back from October hip surgery -- but I agree that Basabe has the highest upside of that group and, in an ideal world, he'd take that job
Who's on first?
2:21
Who will have a better sophomore year: Nolan Schanuel or Vinnie Pasquantino? Obviously Vinnie will have more home runs, but will he hit for a higher BA, score more runs, etc.?
Anthony Franco
2:22
I'd take Vinnie. Schanuel probably starts the year in MLB but I think he'll need to go back to the minors at some point
2:24
It's not a knock on him necessarily -- holding his own against MLB pitching within weeks of facing Conference USA arms is pretty remarkable -- but he's going to need to get the ball in the air more often as a first baseman, and it'd be easier to work on that against minor league pitching
Matt
2:24
If the A’s play somewhere other than Oakland or Las Vegas while their new stadium is being built, what do they call themselves? The prospect of the “Oakland A’s” or “Las Vegas A’s” playing in Salt Lake City is amusing to me haha
Anthony Franco
2:25
Haha I didn't consider this. I assume they'd just call themselves Las Vegas no matter where they are as soon as they leave Oakland
Timbo
2:25
At what point do you think free agents start to feel squeezed? If it were me, I’d be wanting to look for apartments, etc. so I don’t feel rushed
Anthony Franco
2:26
This'll differ for each player. I think most guys would like to know where they're going by the start of Spring Training at least
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