You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Front Office Chat: 11/10/23
powered byJotCast
Prev Page View Full Chat Next Page
Cubs
4:24
Do you think it’s more likely than not that the Cubs get at least one of Ohtani, Yamamoto, Bellinger, or Chapman?
Anthony Franco
4:26
I consider them perfectly viable suitors on Bellinger or Chapman (a little less so on Ohtani/Yamamoto, but they'll obviously be involved there to some extent). Would I say there's a greater than 50% chance they come away with one of them though? Probably not. Think I'd put that more in the 30-40% range
Baseball Fan
4:26
Hi Anthony. Do you think MLB should have a rule requiring teams to have a managerial vacancy before interviewing candidates? It seems unfair to David Ross that the Cubs could interview Counsell before firing him. Ross could have interviewed for one of the other vacancies that were already filled. They did the same thing to Rick Rentería.
Anthony Franco
4:27
Don't see it happening because managers aren't going to have much bargaining power but I do think this would be a good rule for the game in general
4:29
You could argue that it'd have the opposite effect. Maybe three or four managers would've gotten fired so their teams could talk to Craig Counsell instead of one (arguably two, depending on how you feel about Showalter). But I agree that it kinda sucks to see teams doing this, especially late enough in the offseason that the chances for Ross to land somewhere else this offseason are pretty slim
CatdinalRed
4:29
Would the Cards be in the market for the "pillow" contracts that Servino and possibly Giolito would be looking for? I think getting a top starter in FA, and another (like Cease) via trade plus 2 bounce-back types would be the path forward. Getting 2 or 3 FAs seems out of the Cardinal norm.
Anthony Franco
4:30
Yeah certainly possible. Giolito or Severino can't be the headlining pickup. But if they're also signing Nola or Gray and trading for a lock to hold a rotation spot, a bounceback flier for the final acquisition works
Hits Like Rays
4:30
I think the Rays are most likely to trade Randy Arozarena this winter than any other of their stars.  Arozarena has bigger name recognition, will cost a lot more in arbitration than Brandon Lowe, can probably bring back a bigger return due to lack of health concerns and the relatively weak free agent market for hitters, and is most easily replaceable as a right-handed corner outfielder.  It would be shocking for Rays fans to see it happen, but what are your thoughts?  What could they get for him?
Ryan
4:30
Seattle and Tampa Bay become trade partners again. Seattle send Bryce Miller, Cole Young and a PTBNL for Yandy Diaz and Randy Arozerna. Is it doable?
Anthony Franco
4:32
To the first question, I agree. I'd more surprised if the Rays traded Glasnow or Brandon Lowe than if they moved Arozarena. The outfield would still be pretty good. Not a great time to move Lowe and the pitching staff would look really rough if they dealt Glasnow
4:33
To Ryan's question ... man, I can't see the Rays trading both of those guys in one deal. Miller and Young are both really appealing pieces but giving up Arozarena and Yandy would be a really big hit to the offense
Dodger Dave
4:33
Cease and Jimenez for Stone Sheehan and Pages —- Who says no? BTW Thanks for weekly chat!!!
What would the Dodgers have to give up for Luis Robert’s? Prospects and MLB talent.
Anthony Franco
4:37
Don't think there's a clear enough headliner in the first one for Chicago to do it. Robert is a top 5-10 trade asset in MLB. They'd have to be blown away. Dodgers could probably put together a package around Bobby Miller and James Outman or Gavin Lux that would make Chicago think about it, but I'd be really surprised if anyone meets whatever astronomical ask that Chris Getz puts out there
Curious A's Fan
4:37
Is there an MLB team that gets less local/regional media coverage than the A's?
Anthony Franco
4:38
I can't speak to this in terms of coverage on local TV or whatever, but from a beat reporting perspective, I don't think so
4:39
Steve and I were talking about this a couple months ago. The consistent presence on the A's beat has basically dropped to only Martín Gallegos with MLB
Jack
4:39
What are your predictions for free agent signings by the Cubs? Will they be in on Blake Snell?
Anthony Franco
4:41
I put them on Imanaga in our prediction contest but I could see them as a fit for Snell, sure. They should get one of the notable starting pitchers. E-Rod or Gray seem plausible too
Hits Like Rays
4:41
Which teams are looking for a 2B, and what would the Rays be able to get from them for trading Brandon Lowe?
Utah Fan
4:41
What would a trade involving Jorge Polanco look like? Is Pittsburgh a decent landing spot for him. Toronto?
Anthony Franco
4:42
I looked through the second base trade market in the subscriber email on Wednesday, so check that out if you haven't. Did that specifically with regards to Polanco, but there'd obviously be plenty of overlap for Lowe as well
4:44
Lowe's a little cheaper and has one additional year of control, so he's a little more valuable. They're both solid trade pieces though. A back of the top 100 type or a potential mid-rotation arm with a couple seasons of control is a reasonable ask on Lowe. Probably more in the B-level prospect range on Polanco
thebeatlesshow
4:44
Hiring a 71 year old guy to manage with a GM having only one season left in his deal (and the team pretty much in shambles), am I wrong to assume that both guys are basically placemarkers...this year and gone?
Anthony Franco
4:45
Certainly don't think the Angels hired Ron Washington with the intent of firing him after one season, but yeah, I could see things playing out that way (especially if they don't re-sign Ohtani but still try to make a push for contention)
Utah Fan
4:45
Sonny Gray signs with Baltimore?
Anthony Franco
4:46
Similar answer to the question on the Tigers from earlier
4:47
They have the payroll space to do this. It makes perfect sense given the way the roster is constructed. It's just hard to project since we haven't seen this front office or the John Angelos ownership group make a move like that yet
I wouldn't at all be surprised if Baltimore signed Gray, but they also wouldn't be in my top three if I were guessing his landing spot
Jeff
4:48
What kind of crazy move will the Padres make this year?
Anthony Franco
4:48
Ha, trading Juan Soto and trying to reallocate that money by signing starting pitching would be pretty crazy
4:50
I generally expect they'll keep Soto and just play things more cautiously than they have in the past couple offseasons, but a Soto deal is the move that could kick of a domino chain for Preller to reshape a third of the roster within two weeks
Joe
4:50
Bold prediction time. The Yankees are after two outfielders. Who do they get?
Anthony Franco
4:51
I put Lourdes Gurriel there on the top 50 so I'll stick with that one. I guess give me Kepler for the other
4:52
Not ruling out the possibility they add somebody more notable, to be clear. If the Giants don't end up with Bellinger, the Yankees would be my pick there, but I like the fit in SF a little more
Paul M Wade
4:52
Do you think the Royals get a long-term deal done with Bobby Witt Jr. this winter? Secondly how active do think they will be in free agency and the trade market? Thank you Anthony!!
Anthony Franco
4:54
Going to be tough to get Witt done at this point. Probably costs more than double the largest contract in franchise history at this point. I don't doubt that they'll touch base with his camp, but I would be a little surprised if they managed a deal
4:56
I do think they could be pretty active in the middle tiers of free agency though. They don't have much on the books and while they're not one move away from contention, they do have to start putting some more pieces in place
Candelario, Gurriel, Flaherty, Giolito -- someone in that range of free agency makes sense
4:57
Could throw Imanaga or Jung Hoo Lee in there too, although I don't know if those guys might prefer a coastal market and/or more immediate path to contention
Connecting…