JotCast | Front Office Chat: 10/7/22

Front Office Chat: 10/7/22

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Bill

3:56

Should Ozuna be on the Braves post season roster? Riley and Harris got nice extensions where is the love for Swanson?

Anthony Franco

3:58

Very different situations of their careers, particularly for Harris. Riley got more money than I expect Swanson to but it's easier to commit ten years to a 25-year-old than to a 28-year-old

Harris wasn't anywhere near free agency, so he's more in the Albies/Acuna bucket. They have done a great job keeping their core position players in place though

Hunter Brown

3:58

How do I fit into next year's rotation? Or maybe I don't...

Anthony Franco

3:59

I think Houston will trade one of Garcia or Urquidy this winter. Even if they don't, Brown could start in long relief and move to the rotation as injuries or underperformance dictates. That's basically what Spencer Strider did, for instance

Texas Fan

3:59

Whom do you see Texas going after for pitching.

Anthony Franco

4:00

They'll be in on pretty much everybody, including the top names. Which one of deGrom, Rodón, Verlander or Kershaw will they get? I don't know, but I expect they'll be tied to all of them and come away with one

Guest

4:00

The end of the shift is coming. I assume pull hitters will benefit the most. Are there any you consider more likely to "significantly improve their batting average" as a result?

Anthony Franco

4:01

Basically left-handed hitters who make a decent amount of contact but get shifted all the time because they pull a bunch of grounders

4:02

Anthony Rizzo, Corey Seager, Vinnie Pasquantino perhaps

Guest

4:02

Hi Anthony, thanks for the chat as always. so much talk about non tendering Bellinger. I get it but he has probably added 20 points to his BA since he stopped swinging for the fences on every pitch. His defensive skills are excellent. I know $20m is out of the question but it seems like a waste to just release him. I know you have answered this question before but… thoughts?

Anthony Franco

4:03

The thing about "20MM being out of the question" is the issue. Arb salaries don't go down. If they want him back, it's at roughly $20MM

4:05

Doesn't mean he's not a useful player for all the reasons you indicated, and he'll probably sign for more than anyone else who gets non-tendered. But he's not a $20MM player and I think the Dodgers will just have to cut bait. Could try to bring him back for less at that point but they'll have competition at that point

Duffy Scliff

4:06

Could Ohtani make a run at the AL Cy Young? He was one of the top 5, if not top 3 pitchers in the AL.

Anthony Franco

4:07

He's not going to win but I could see him getting into the top three to five. I agree he should have a stronger case than I expect him to, actually think the two-way thing works against him here

4:08

The general perception is "wow it's incredible that he can do what he's doing." Which is true, obviously, but it almost glosses over the fact that if he were just a pitcher with 166 innings of a 2.33 ERA with a 33.2% strikeout rate, we'd at least be talking about him compared to guys like Cease and Manoah

4:09

Verlander has a 1.75 though. He's going to win

A's Fan

4:09

When will MLBTR publish the arbitration estimates for 2023?

Anthony Franco

4:09

Likely within the next week or so

A's Fan

4:10

You mentioned Chris Bassitt earlier... does he get a QO from the Mets?

Anthony Franco

4:10

Yep

Curious

4:10

Josh Bell heads into FA without a QO but has been an inconsistent producer. What kind of contract can he expect?

Anthony Franco

4:11

Yeah he's a tough one. I think he's right on the 3/4 year border right now, lean towards three for like $48MM. I'll have a better feel in a couple weeks, we start Top 50 deliberations next week

Angels GM

4:11

How much latitude do I have this off season. Do you think the possible ownership change will influence some would be free agents

Anthony Franco

4:12

I think the ownership change will indirectly affect free agency. Doubt many players rule out the Angels entirely because of it, but it makes it more questionable how much they'll spend this winter with Moreno trying to sell the team

Dustin may

4:12

Am I a question mark for the playoffs. It sounds like there are some questions or concerns about may make the team

Kimbrel

4:12

Will I be on the playoffs roster and how will I be used. We seem to have numerous options

Anthony Franco

4:13

May still seems up in the air about whether his back will be good to go. I expect Kimbrel to still be on the roster as a right-handed middle innings option

Phillips/Graterol/Martin/Vesia all getting higher-leverage work though

Matty A

4:13

Thanks for the FO chats all year.
What is your way-too-early guess at the bullpen hierarchy in Seattle next season? Who will lead the team in saves?

Anthony Franco

4:16

Sewald - Munoz - Swanson - Castillo

Think Sewald starts as the closer

Rangers13

4:17

What is the max AB a player can get in a previous year and still be in ROY contention the following year?

Anthony Franco

4:17

130 AB's for his career

Mike

4:17

Looking for your picks in playoffs. Please pick EVERY round!!!

Anthony Franco

4:18

Man, let me rapid fire a bunch of incorrect picks. I'll stick with Tampa because that's what I would've picked, even though I now expect Cleveland to win up a game

4:19

WC: TB, SEA, STL, NYM
DS: TB, HOU, STL, LAD
CS: HOU, LAD
WS: HOU

A's Fan

4:19

Thank you for answering my questions.

Anthony Franco

4:20

Ha of course, always enjoy these

Had to move a little quickly at the end since I'm taking over the site and need to get the Padres and Mets rosters up, so apologies on that

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