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Front Office Chat: 1/26/24
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Anthony Franco
2:59
Hey everyone, hope you've had a good week!
3:00
Let's get started
TCBASICS
3:00
Thanks, Anthony, for these chats. It's getting close to Pitchers & Catchers reporting. a few FA's left out there. Is it time for some to take a smaller contract - say a 1 yr. and show they are worth what they are asking for. Like Snell or Bellinger? Maybe the lesser names? what's your thought?
TheBeatlesShow
3:00
Hey, Anthony.  Thanks again.  This close to Spring Training and with so much uncertainty still over the RSN situation, what do you think the chances are of people like Bellinger, Snell and Montgomery taking pillow deals and going back on the market next year when things should be more stable?
Anthony Franco
3:02
I don't think Snell and Monty are taking pillow deals. Snell's not likely to have another season better than the one he just had. Montgomery could do something like this again but I don't think he has untapped upside or a ton more to prove. He is what he is: a good mid-rotation starter. There's not much upside to getting back to free agency in a year or two, especially since he's already 31
3:03
Seems more plausible with Bellinger, who is still young enough to land a mega deal in a future offseason and might have to prove he's behind the shoulder issue with another strong season
It wouldn't be a straight one-year deal, though. It'd be two or three guaranteed years with an opt-out after next season, similar to what Correa did the first time with Minnesota
AJ
3:04
Jays DH in 2024 is _____?
Anthony Franco
3:04
Feels like it's pointing towards Soler
Rodon Right On?
3:04
How much will Peralta and Middleton cost the Yankees, including luxury tax penalties?   They are the most likely relief signings, right?
Anthony Franco
3:05
They're like $6MM relievers for me. Yankees are taxed at a 110% rate so it'd be pushing $13MM to get them for a year
Brad
3:05
Can you explain some of these non championship team deals to me? Why do the angels pay all this money for relievers? Why are the mets paying 110% tax and Joey Wendle when his production could easily be replaced on a minor league deal? Mets paying relievers with zero starters outside of Senga. Makes little to no sense
Anthony Franco
3:06
I feel similarly with the Angels pursuing relievers when they have so many other holes, which I wrote about in this week's subscriber email
3:07
The Mets throwing $4MM at Wendle (including taxes) isn't much of a factor for me. That's pocket change for them
3:09
To the general point, though, you don't have to be at the level of the Braves or Dodgers to want to improve the roster. Even if the Mets or Angels aren't what you'd think of as World Series contenders, they're going to make some kind of push for a Wild Card. MLB's postseason has enough variance that if you can squeeze in, you've got a shot to make a run
AJ Preller
3:09
Are teams required to have 40 players on a 40-man roster? Asking for a friend ...
Anthony Franco
3:10
Not required. The Padres will get there eventually -- a couple cheap free agent pickups, maybe a waiver claim, contract selection for a non-roster player -- but they don't need to be at 40 at any point
Dana Brown
3:10
Did I do the right thing by signing Josh Hader, or should I have spent the same money on 2-3 middle class relief arms?
Anthony Franco
3:11
I don't love the move -- not a huge fan of investing heavily in the bullpen generally given the volatility -- but I also don't think Houston owner Jim Crane saw it in the terms you're describing
3:13
They were already at an unprecedented level in terms of payroll, and I don't think Crane was willing to push it further so they could bring Neris and Maton back. Felt like a special case where ownership signed off because a) they lost Graveman and b) Hader's a splash pickup
Official Gary Gaetti Fan Club
3:13
What do you think of Hoskins to the Crew? Are they NLC favorites?
Anthony Franco
3:14
I like the pickup, still think I'd take the Reds in the NLC as things stand. Milwaukee's rotation isn't as strong as it once was and the lineup's still middling, if improved
Matty A
3:14
Is Geraldo Perdomo the starting SS on opening day, or does Jordan Lawlar take that job?
Anthony Franco
3:15
That'll be one of the more interesting storylines in Spring Training. I'd guess Perdomo holds the job for now and Lawlar starts in Triple-A, but I could see him forcing his way up there before too long
Brad
3:15
Do you think Hader will loosen some of the self imposed restrictions now that he had his big payday like pitching more than one inning?
Anthony Franco
3:16
Wouldn't expect him to go back to the kind of usage he had for his first couple years in Milwaukee, when he was working 2-3 innings regularly, but I agree that he won't be so insistent on one inning all the time now that he's gotten paid
Madag
3:17
Which playoff team has made the most improvements so far this off season?  Which one has the most yet to do?
Anthony Franco
3:18
Most improved has to be the Dodgers right? I think that'd have been the case if they'd gotten either Ohtani or Yamamoto, much less both
3:19
Least improved: Miami and Minnesota have done nothing. Twins lost Gray and Maeda, which I'd consider more meaningful than Soler, so give me Minnesota
I'd flip to the Marlins if you consider Alcantara's October TJS part of their "offseason" calculus. I do not
Las Vegas A's
3:19
I'm confused. Baseball America described Tyler Soderstrom's bat as "special," and rated his hit tool as a 60. But FanGraphs and others give him just a 45—and that's his future value. How can there be such a wide variance in interpretation? What's your read on him, both for this year and in the future?
Anthony Franco
3:21
The hit tool's the most subjective. It's more of a comprehensive skill (bat control, pitch recognition, bat speed all play into it) than a true physical tool
3:23
I'd be closer to the 45 or 50 range on his bat. I'd have a hard time projecting him as a plus hitter when he has struck out at the rate he has in the minors
Dynasty Player
3:23
Padres could be least improved as well. Losing Snell and Soto and Hader
Anthony Franco
3:23
I think the question was specifically about teams that made the playoffs last year. But as far as overall offseason activity goes, San Diego's probably #1
Official Gary Gaetti Fan Club
3:24
Are the Marlins or Mariners going to move a starter before opening day?
Anthony Franco
3:24
Mariners keep downplaying this. Marlins seem more open to it but I kind of expect Bendix to wait into the season at this point
Lefty
3:24
Giants more likely to sign Bellinger, Chapman or neither? If neither, over/under on 77 wins?
Anthony Franco
3:25
Chapman. 77's a good cutoff. I want to go over but I'm always too high on the Giants
Give me the over, ready to get burned again
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