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Front Office Chat: 10/17/25
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Anthony Franco
3:33
I'm more concerned about the back with him than this year's performance really. So much of this season's ERA spike was an inability to strand runners, which was never a problem in Milwaukee
Astros
3:33
FYI. Just announce Astros sign Nate Pearson for 2026 as a starter?
Anthony Franco
3:34
Not optimistic but for $1.35M, go nuts. They need to throw more resources at those low-cost MLB or minor league rotation pickups than they have in prior offseasons
Semien to Dodgers?
3:34
Do you think the Rangers could trade Semien and cash to the Dodgers for Dalton Rushing and a low level prospect? Rushing appeared to be in the dog house last year and could benefit being Higashioka’s wing and the Dodgers could use stability at 2B.
Anthony Franco
3:35
No way I'd give up Rushing for Semien. Disappointing rookie year but we're a few months removed from Rushing looking like a top 25 prospects in MLB
Dan S.
3:35
Based on Bieber's body of work since returning from TJS, how do you think his market will come together? Is he a 2-year/opt-out guy or does he a solid longer term deal? Does an AAV in the 20-25 range feel right?
Anthony Franco
3:36
Split camp! I think Bieber's a nine-figure guy and would have him at five or six years in the $20-25M range
3:37
MLBTR is not going to predict on the Top 50 that because I'm the only one who's even close to that haha
3:39
I mostly assume that it was one ill-timed injury that happens to almost every pitcher. So we're looking at a 30-year-old #3 starter who has shown a higher ceiling than that and has no qualifying offer attached. I'm not convinced that Ranger Suárez, who is definitely getting five-plus years and over $100M will be any better than Bieber over that time
RJ
3:40
Do the Angels trade for a third baseman? Or sign a FA third baseman?
Anthony Franco
3:40
I'll probably pick them to sign Geno but it's not like I'd be surprised if they traded for Alec Bohm instead
3:41
They need to add someone from outside the organization while aiming higher than $5M for Moncada
MVP
3:41
How do you define “the most valuable player?” It seems that to most voters he’s the one with the best stats. But the object of the game is to win and Ralph Kiner used to yell the story of how he went in to negotiate with Branch Rickey and was told “We’re cutting you $1000.” “But I led the league in home runs!” “And we finished last. WE can do that without your home runs. That’s not what we’re here for.” ($1000 was a lot more then than it is now.) I always thought a player’s value was measured by how he helped his team win (even if they didn’t go all the way) and that was not necessarily the player with the most gaudy stats. Thoughts?
Anthony Franco
3:42
I'm in the 'most valuable = most productive player' camp. I just think you twist yourself into too many logical knots with the "we could've missed the playoffs without you" argument
3:44
The Angels never made the playoffs when they had Ohtani. The Dodgers would've made it each of the last two years without him (though probably as a Wild Card team this year). Should he not have any MVPs even though he's the consensus best player in the league? Doesn't seem right
Tx Ranger stuff
3:44
What bat should Texas go after
Anthony Franco
3:45
I think they should go after Bregman but it doesn't seem like they want to spend that much. Is Bellinger realistic or are we talking Luis Arraez here? Tough to tell without specifics on their budget but obviously I'd much rather have Bellinger
littlepapi34
3:45
What bats do you see the Red Sox being in on? I’d love to bring back Bregman and see them make a play for Schwarber. Only problem is what do you do with Masa?
Triston Casas
3:46
Am I the everyday 1B for the sox this year? Feels like I deserve one last chance
Anthony Franco
3:48
They should move Casas this offseason and upgrade at first base. Just too much risk counting on him after that injury. The Nationals or Marlins are in a better spot to give him that opportunity

I'd probably put them on Alonso, largely because I find it very hard to believe the Phillies let Schwarber walk, but Schwarber could probably play first base if you gave him an offseason/Spring Training to work on it
3:49
Yoshida is what he is. Useful player but not a guy who's in your way of signing Kyle Schwarber. If you need to eat most of the money to trade him somewhere after signing a bigger bat, that's fine
Jed
3:49
It looks like the Rays have some players with growing contracts and limited control - just the types of players they like to move. Guys like Drew Rasmussen, Yandy Diaz, and Pete Fairbanks all seem like they'd be nice additions to my Cubs team next year. Not that all would be available in the same deal, but what sort of returns would you expect the Rays to ask for for each of these players?
Anthony Franco
3:50
Fairbanks is going to move. He's making $11M, which is more than they're going to pay a closer. Modest return there though, not a ton of surplus value with one semi-expensive year of a rental closer
3:51
His contract had a weird escalator structure that led to confusion about the option price (including at MLBTR), but we got word today that it's $11M
3:52
They just extended Yandy in the spring. That didn't stop them from trading Glasnow, I guess, but I have a tough time seeing him move. Brandon Lowe's more realistic to me
3:55
Rasmussen also just signed an extension but that's an escalator-heavy deal and he's a health risk. I could see him moving but it'd be a pretty good return. Doubt the Cubs would do something built around Alcantara given Rasmussen's injury history but it's not a crazy ask
Angels Fan
3:56
If the Angels signed Bellinger, would he play CF or would they try and trade Ward and move Bellinger or Teodosio to LF?
Anthony Franco
3:57
Probably center field in the short term. Teodosio's not a regular and Bellinger can't be any worse than Jo Adell out there
They could trade Ward anyway if it got them a similarly priced starting pitcher
JTR
3:57
Back to the Phillies? What does the contract look like - old catcher coming off a not great offensive year?
Phillie Phan
3:57
as the new GM for the Phillies, what moves would you make to get the Phillies deeper into the playoffs for 2026?
Anthony Franco
3:58
Must admit that I don't think I'd do the job better than Dave Dombrowski, but I appreciate the vote of confidence
4:02
Feels like they need to bring Schwarber and Realmuto back (expecting a two-year deal in the $30M range for JTR). Add a swingman and a back-end reliever.

Drop Castellanos, which they're doing, and upgrade in the corner outfielder. Finding something with Boston for one of Duran or Abreu would be ideal but it's not like that'll be the only option. Are the Cubs willing to trade one of Happ or Suzuki? If the Giants soured on Heliot Ramos as much as the questioner from early in the chat has, Philly makes sense there. Lot of ways they can go that are better than Castellanos/Kepler
4:04
I don't think they need a huge roster overhaul though. This felt like the best team in MLB until Wheeler got hurt. There's no real alternative to replacing that guy (unless Skubal or Jacob deGrom really do come available on the trade market), so a lot of it depends on praying that he looks like Zack Wheeler when he comes back
Joshua
4:04
Do you think CJ Abrams could be a sneaky trade target for teams? You would think there would be a lot of suitors, and I would think the Nats and the Pirates could match up particularly well. Thoughts?
Anthony Franco
4:05
We're in the process of a Top 40 offseason trade candidates list and I'm pretty sure Abrams is going to make it on there. Steve and I both feel he should be
4:07
Pittsburgh makes sense. They've got Konnor Griffin coming but it's not like Nick Gonzales or Nick Yorke are huge roadblocks to moving Abrams to second base in a few months. Similar setup for the Tigers with McGonigle coming but a middle IF tandem of Baez and an impending free agent in Gleyber
walterj23
4:07
The Cubs have roughly 145 million on the books for next year . How do you expect Hoyer to fill out his roster . Im hoping for a top of the rotation  arm in my christmas  stocking .
Anthony Franco
4:09
Yeah adding more upside in the rotation is the place to take a swing, I agree. They should be realistic FA suitors for Tatsuya Imai or Dylan Cease. Gore or Ryan on the trade front
I'd be surprised if they don't come away with someone who can join Horton and Steele in the top three
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