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Front Office Chat: 1/9/26
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Anthony Franco
5:00
Good afternoon everyone, hope you've enjoyed your week! Steve's off today and it's been pretty busy so I'll probably have to keep this one around an hour
Pudge
5:00
What is Detroit thinking?? Vladdy's final year of Arb was 28Mil. 30 is closer than 19.
Anthony Franco
5:02
Covered this in more detail in the Skubal writeup itself but the $19M is way closer to the precedent we've seen for starting pitchers than $32M -- both in terms of max value and raise relative to the previous season
5:04
Skubal's trying to get a $22M raise, which is unheard of in arbitration. I understand why he's trying to do this -- both in terms of wanting to be valued as a top five player in MLB, which he is -- and to break the ceiling that arbitrators have put on starters
ThePhillyPope
5:04
The Phils don't seem to be "in" on any starting pitching this off season. IMO the rotation after Sanchez & Luzardo is very suspect. Nola is average at best, Walker is worse, Painter is unproven, and we have zero idea how/if Wheeler will come back from his surgery. What are your thoughts?
Anthony Franco
5:06
The budget isn't infinite and they were right to make Schwarber the priority. I'd still like to see them add a swingman (or give Keller a rotation opportunity, but it seems they closed the door on that right away) but I'm alright with the rotation for the moment
If Painter continues to struggle and/or Wheeler comes back shaky, it becomes the priority at the deadline. I think they're talented enough both at the top end and in the lineup that they can give it a few months to see how things shake out
MetsFan
5:07
Has your projection for Kyle Tucker changed since the beginning of the offseason? I know you guys originally predicted 400/11, curious if that's changed since he's still unsigned so close to spring training.
Anthony Franco
5:08
I'd probably drop into the 350-375 range at this point. Tim Dierkes was there the whole time and deferred to Steve, Darragh and myself in agreeing to 400. Still would be surprised if we're looking at three or four with opt-outs though
jrizz1e
5:08
does the diamond sports group news from yesterday put the market on any sort of hold?
Anthony Franco
5:11
Doubt it matters much at the top end since it's mostly mid-market teams that are fighting the TV stuff. Could see it trickling down a little more to the mid-tier guys, though they're the ones who get the hit the hardest for remaining unsigned close to Spring Training anyway
5:12
I wonder a little bit about the Angels though. They feel like they should've been involved on Suárez (Ranger and Geno, really), Gallen, etc. and a dark horse on Belli. This could be Arte Moreno's excuse to do essentially nothing
Kay
5:12
Rob Manfred HAS to know that a free agency deadline is a non-starter, right??
Anthony Franco
5:12
Yeah I can't imagine the PA's agreeing to that. Players resoundingly hate it
5:13
It's just an opportunity for Manfred to frame it publicly as something he wants that'd be exciting for the sport, and I'm sure there are plenty of fans who agree with that, though his primary motivation (which he leaves unsaid) is cost suppression
Brian
5:14
Is bellinger worth 30 million a year?
Anthony Franco
5:14
For the Yankees or Mets on a four-year deal? Sure. For six or seven? Pass
Dana Brown
5:14
Would Abreu and Blubaugh be enough for Cowser from Orioles?
Anthony Franco
5:15
I'd be all over that if I were Baltimore but I'm lower than consensus on Cowser and I assume higher than most on Blubaugh
5:17
Cowser's not a center fielder for me, and the whiff rates are really problematic in a corner. He's great for a month at a time and otherwise borderline unplayable
Ken Card
5:18
Where does Donovan go AF?
Anthony Franco
5:18
I'll take the Giants. I still can't believe they're content to add Mahle and Houser and call it an offseason
Hits Like Rays
5:18
With only three guaranteed contracts (Yandy Diaz, Steven Matz, Cedric Mullins), the arbitration salaries MLBTR published yesterday, and the rest of the roster making $800,000, the Rays total budget right now is only around $60 million.  Who else should they sign???  Miguel Andujar?
Anthony Franco
5:20
Yeah I like Andujar as a target. Not ideal to need to play him in the outfield but the Rays' current group is a lot of role players, most of whom hit left-handed
5:22
I assume they'll wait out the rotation market and backfill the Baz spot for $6-8M on a one-year deal in free agency. Maybe Littell falls through the cracks, could be a Quintana type
StantheFan
5:22
Do you think the Skubal arbitration ask do anything in the way of Detroit possibly trading him or nah?
Anthony Franco
5:23
I don't think it has any impact on whether they'll trade him this offseason. They should expect to win the AL Central
Nick
5:23
Who is playing third base for the pirates in 2026?
Anthony Franco
5:25
Someone outside the org. Triolo finished well and I like him as a utility piece but not an everyday player at short or third. If the Phils do end up signing Bichette, Pittsburgh makes the most sense for Bohm. Still think there's an outside chance the Rangers add a third baseman and move Josh Jung
alfj
5:25
Do you foresee problems with Venezuelan visa problems?
Anthony Franco
5:26
Don't know enough about this to have any idea. Every team has basically put out some kind of statement saying they're monitoring things but haven't seen any express concerns about it so far
Curious A's Fan
5:26
Please help settle a disagreement I'm having with a Red Sox fan. They say Bello + Wong for Langeliers is a good deal for both sides. I don't think the A's make that deal. Your thoughts?
Anthony Franco
5:29
Hmm, I'm somewhere in between. Agree that the A's would balk at that but I could see a Bello/Langeliers framework being workable if the Sox kicked in some mid-level prospect/controllable bullpen talent that the A's liked
Alan
5:29
Why has the market for JT Realmuto been so slow? He's really the only good catcher on the market. Do you see the Padres who could use him land him on maybe a one year deal?
JJ
5:29
If the Phillies do actually sign Bichette, is there just zero money left for JT? If I'm him I would take a discount to stay on this team with Bichette, would be the best lineup since he joined the team and his last best shot at a ring
Anthony Franco
5:30
Saw one of the bigger name reporters (believe it was Jon Heyman but don't quote me on that) loosely float the idea that Realmuto was looking for three years
5:32
And yeah, if that's the case, I get why it still hasn't happened. He'll be 35 in March and has a ton of mileage on his body. Matt Gelb has previously reported that the Phils are willing to go multiple years, which I assume means two
5:33
JTR's the only regular out there in free agency, so his camp is probably hoping they'll blink on the third year (helps their leverage a bit if the Twins won't move Jeffers). Still don't think Philly or anyone else is going to go there, though
Anthony
5:34
Last year I hoped the Astros would sign Lefty batter Sheets to play1st and OF, he had a decent year for Padres. Out of these 3 lefty who do you think has the best chance on a bounce back. Conforto, Winkler or Benson?
Anthony Franco
5:35
Will Benson's still on the Reds. Could trade for him, but it's not like Cincinnati needs to just give him away. I'd rather have Conforto than Winker among the free agents but that's pretty bleak
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