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Front Office Chat: 10/24/25
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Anthony Franco
3:01
Good afternoon, hope you're all well! Looking forward to another of these
Busy week for us with offseason prep so I'm going to keep this one at an hour. Let's get going
Bo nose
3:02
I sure hope Bichette's addition to the Jays' roster is not a sentimental move nor one anticipating contributions defensively. Ordinarily a plus bat, the area where, arguably, the Blue Jays are strongest as a team right now, he has been feeble against L.A. over the past two years. That's only six games but, combined with the lay-off, is his best usage more likely to be as a super-sub PH than in any starting defender capacity? I think the noise about using him at 2nd is just that, noise.
Duffy Scliff
3:02
Does Toronto realistically have a shot in this series? Does the fact that LAD hasn’t played in awhile hurt them?
Anthony Franco
3:04
Dodgers are favorites but it's like 55-45, they've definitely got a shot. L.A.'s bullpen still feels like a weakness and the Jays should put up a much better fight against the rotation than Milwaukee did
3:06
We'll see on Bo. Obviously if he can move at all, then playing him at second would be ideal. Use Clement at third with Barger in RF and IKF as a defensive sub late in games. If he's so hobbled that he can't field a ground-ball, well he's at least a better pinch-hitting option than Loperfido would've been
Hopeful Halo
3:06
What do you think the angels chances are to land a top starter like Valdez?
Anthony Franco
3:07
Would be out of character for Moreno and they've got so many other needs that I don't think using most of the budget on one top starter would be the wisest choice anyway
3:08
I could see them more in on Gallen or a boring innings eater like Littell. They'll need to spend something on a center fielder and a third baseman and should at least bring Kenley back to solidify the back of the bullpen
Japanese Players
3:08
Who do you think gets the highest contract for Japanese pitchers coming over this year? Imai seems to be the one getting most of the conversation now. I do wonder if he might be getting a little to hyped now? It does seem sometimes we get hyped for a player and they struggle coming over.
Anthony Franco
3:09
Yeah it'll be Imai. He's a bit of split camp guy but I'd be surprised if he signs for less than $130M
3:11
I think the recent track record for the top NPB starters is pretty good actually. Yamamoto's phenomenal. Tanaka worked out really well, Imanaga was excellent value at 4/53. Jury's still out on Sasaki but for even if he's only a late-inning reliever, that's well worth what the Dodgers paid with the hard capped bonuses
Rangers13
3:11
How much do you expect Okamoto to cost?
Anthony Franco
3:12
We all landed at three years and between $33-45MM but there's a really wide error bar on the predictions for players (especially hitters) coming over from foreign leagues
Seems like he's at least equally interesting as Jeimer Candelario or Jurickson Profar were though
Ding a ling
3:12
Has Dillon Dingler really changed his hit tool? Both FanGraphs and MLB gave him a 30 as a prospect, but this past season, he hit for a respectable average. Who's the real Dillon Dingler?
Anthony Franco
3:14
Yeah definitely think he's better than a 30 hit tool. Big step forward in his in-zone contact rate, fewer chases. Hits the ball hard enough to post decent results on balls in play, even if he's probably not turning in a .345 BABIP every year
3:15
Feels like a 50 hitter with average pop who plays really strong defense behind the plate. Good player
Mike Yastrzemski
3:15
Please find me a home?
Anthony Franco
3:15
I fully expect the Royals to bring him back on a one-year deal for $10-12M. He hit well there and it's obviously an ongoing need
3:17
If they go elsewhere, Philly, Pittsburgh or Cleveland would work. Wouldn't pick the Giants to do it after they traded him but it's not like Luis Matos/Drew Gilbert seized the RF job. If they focus most of their resources on the rotation and Yaz is out for $8M in February, I don't see why they wouldn't be willing to circle back
Arthur Dent
3:17
Any chance the Guardians will entertain offers in Steven Kwan? If so, what would Cleveland be looking for in return?
Anthony Franco
3:19
They'll listen because they listen on everyone aside from Ramírez but I have a hard time seeing it. They're in fine shape from a payroll perspective and they can break DeLauter or Valera into right field. Trading Kwan leaves them with three question marks out there
3:21
I'd still need a top 50-75 overall prospect or a mid-rotation starter with multiple years of control to trade two seasons of Kwan at a combined $20M or so in arbitration. I don't have any concerns about the slight dip on offense this year, and he'd be in plenty high demand at the deadline if they're not competitive
First Time Manager
3:21
With how unforgiving the industry can be to managers, do you think Suzuki was wise to take a 1-year deal to manage the Angels? It's one of the least secure positions. Plus Anaheim isn't exactly the place to go if you want your career to start off on a positive note... I can't help feeling like I'd have waited for other opportunities as a first timer. If he flops in 2026 and gets fired, what team would choose him over a different first time manager?
Anthony Franco
3:23
Yeah I think he should've passed on this and tried again next offseason, but I also get that there are only 30 of these out there and you can never know for sure if the opportunity will present itself again
3:24
It's easy to say from the outside that they're probably a 90-loss team again and if that's the case, there's a good chance he and Minasian are both out next offseason. Tougher to take that approach if you've spent the past 5-10 years planning/hoping for a managerial opportunity someday and then passing on one that comes around
South Side Fan
3:24
Who are some realistic FA targets for the White Sox this offseason?
Anthony Franco
3:26
Still not expecting much. Walker Buehler and a Jose Quintana reunion plus a few million dollars on a Lane Thomas bounce back?
3:27
If Montgomery, Teel and one of Quero or Meidroth perform over a full season and they break in Schultz/Smith, you can argue for them to be more aggressive next offseason in trying to put a competitive roster out there in '27. They're not there yet
Optimistic Giants Fan
3:27
What would be your unconventional World Series MVP prediction for each team?
Anthony Franco
3:28
Bieber/Muncy
Sandy G
3:28
Mets' Mauricio and/or Acuna for Rays' Fairbanks. Who says no? Thanks!
Anthony Franco
3:30
Acuña is basically a non-factor for me but maybe the Rays think the glove is enough that he can squeeze out a couple Taylor Walls 2-WAR seasons. I'd be more intrigued by a Mauricio flier but probably not doing that for one semi-expensive year of Fairbanks if I were the Mets
Turk Wendell
3:30
A lot of talk about the Cubs is whether they will re-sign Tucker.  But their biggest gap was a right-handed middle of the order bat.  How do you think they should address?
Anthony Franco
3:31
I think the bigger need is another top-of-the-rotation starter, though the lack of RH pop would be an issue if they trade Suzuki so I'd be disinclined to do that
3:32
If you were dead set on adding a righty power bat, I guess you could sign Suárez and try to flip Shaw for a starter. I wouldn't want to be the team that gives Geno three years at $20MM per season though
Arthur Dent
3:32
Assuming Bader ends up a free agent, what type of contract is likely?
Anthony Franco
3:33
Two years and mid-20s for me but I believe Steve is more open to the idea that someone gives him three years. I just think this year's offense was a mirage and teams are going to see him as a low-end regular or excellent fourth outfielder
Dr Bob
3:33
Since they are old friends what do you think the chances are Mad Max runs it back again in 2026 with the Giants and new coach Tony Vittelo?
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