JotCast | Front Office Chat: 10/10/25

Front Office Chat: 10/10/25

Prev Page View Full Chat Next Page

Anthony Franco

3:38

Cleveland's got an uphill path to winning 88 games again if they hit like they did. Feels like St. Louis is going to get pretty bad. I don't expect Miami to hang around .500 the way they did this season

Still an A

3:38

Does Schwarber re-sign with the Phillies and what type of deal is he looking at?

Anthony Franco

3:38

I'll take 5/130 to stay in Philly

Unqualified Reds GM

3:38

Pete Alonso signs with the Reds. Am I crazy for thinking that?

Anthony Franco

3:39

Nope, realistic dark horse

Eric Valent

3:39

What does a prospective top 10 offseason trade candidates list look like?

Anthony Franco

3:39

We'll have more than that in a couple weeks! Lots of Cardinals and Twins plus MacKenzie Gore

Mike Elias

3:39

Let’s say the Orioles hire Rocco Baldeli. Any chance RB and maybe some lobbying from Adam Jones gets Byron Buxton to drop his no trade clause? Package up with Pablo Lopez for a prospect haul, everyone wins. Thoughts?

Anthony Franco

3:40

Buxton has said so many times that he's staying in Minnesota that I have no reason to believe he'd waive it to rejoin Rocco anywhere

BTinVT

3:40

Ashcraft/Pirates potential front end starter? Thank you

Anthony Franco

3:42

Obviously it's not the likeliest outcome for a 26-year-old who has eight MLB starts but I think he has the upside to be that, yeah

3:44

Need to see how the stuff holds up when he's facing a lineup more than twice, but I'd absolutely give him a chance to start next year and see where it goes

Hits Like Rays

3:44

Did Jake Mangum show enough this year to be considered the Rays starting CF for 2026?

Anthony Franco

3:46

I'd probably have him in left because of his arm and play Simpson in center, but I'd be alright with both of them out there

3:47

I'd prefer that to Morel and Pereira. Kind of like Palacios as a part-time guy

Braves Fan

3:47

Are we in on Cease or will he be too pricey? Hew

Anthony Franco

3:48

Guessing he's out of the price range. I think he's three years at a premium AAV but Darragh/Tim are both on him as a near-$200MM guy still

3:49

Don't really see the Braves doing either, especially not the latter if they weren't willing to pay Fried anywhere near that

Catching powerhouse

3:49

Obviously Amaya and McGuire are being traded. What will they get for them? The Cubs have four MLB catchers, so I think those are the two destined to leave. Thoughts?

Anthony Franco

3:50

McGuire's not getting them anything. He's been fine as a backup this year but he's Reese McGuire. Amaya could pull a controllable middle reliever or something

3:52

Former notable prospect who played well in a small sample this year but he's going to turn 27 next spring and keeps battling injuries. He's an interesting flier for someone (that's the Nationals' music) but tough to rely on as a #1 catcher

Giants

3:52

If you were Buster how would you approach the starting 5 for 26'? To battle for WC as likely division win is out of reach?

Anthony Franco

3:54

Trade for one MacKenzie Gore or Joe Ryan and then add an innings eater like Adrian Houser or a Zack Littell reunion

Yankees

3:54

More likely: Substantial changes or run it back with Rodon, Cole, and Fried and hope for better luck with good health?

Anthony Franco

3:56

Should be the former. Potential FA departures for Bellinger/Grisham, real questions about Volpe/Domínguez. Need to overhaul a decent portion of the bullpen with Weaver/Williams hitting FA and the Doval and Bird trades flopping

3:58

Referenced Bichette earlier in the Rangers question but they should be on him to add a different look in the lineup. Can't imagine they're bringing Williams back so they'll need to find a leverage reliever in front of Bednar, probably on the trade market

3:58

The Orioles shock the baseball world and land Pete Alonso early in free agency bringing in the veteran leadership and big LH bat.

Anthony Franco

4:00

Alonso's a righty hitter, to be clear. Can't see them doing this even with Mayo struggling. They need to revamp the whole bullpen and add a starter who pitch in the top half of the rotation

4:00

What would it take for the Mets to get Pete Fairbanks? I feel like even if Diaz stays/resigns, he's someone they should look at.

Anthony Franco

4:02

Sure. Very likely to get traded (he'll be high on that Trade Candidates list) and probably only costs a couple mid-tier prospects. Believe he escalated the option price to $11M, which isn't a huge bargain for one year when his strikeouts have dropped over the past two seasons

Triston Casas

4:02

What do the Red Sox do with me? I have like no trade value right now, but it seems like the focus is upgrading 1B.

Anthony Franco

4:03

Feels like it has to be a change of scenery trade at this point. Could option him once he's off the IL, I guess, but it's not like he's going to rebuild much value even if he mashes in Worcester

Bill

4:03

Do you have the same mindset as Steve and have almost no thoughts on managerial choices? If not what are your opinions on Atlantas next manager options?

Anthony Franco

4:04

More or less. It's not that I don't think they matter at all but I don't feel like I have any insight from the outside on which ones are the right fit for each clubhouse

all in the suit that you wear

4:04

The Red Sox have LHP Garret Crochet and LHP prospects Tolle, Early and Harrison. Do you think this precludes them from signing a LHP free agent pitcher such as Ranger Suarez?

Anthony Franco

4:05

No I wouldn't weigh that at all

4:07

I don't care about handedness for starting pitchers. Ranger's also way different stylistically than Crochet and Tolle as a 90 MPH sinker guy who thrives on weak contact. Early has some similarities but throws a lot harder. Harrison's probably not even in the rotation

Optimistic Giants Fan

4:07

Casey Schmitt, Jhonny Level, and Hayden Birdsong for Sandy Alcantara. Who says no?

Anthony Franco

4:07

Miami could beat that pretty easily

4:08

Birdsong :(

Connecting…