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Front Office Chat: 11/21/25
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Anthony Franco
1:45
Hey everyone, hope you're well!
1:46
Going to wrap right at 2:00 Central with the NT deadline but it's still pretty dead right now so we'll get this going a little early
Unclemike1526
1:47
Players who accept the qualifying offer have some kind of trade protection right? I mean a FA can't be traded for so long after they sign to prevent teams from signing them and trading right? Exactly what are the rules concerning those situations? Thanks
Anthony Franco
1:47
Yeah this is the same as if the player was a major league free agent who signed an MLB deal. Can't be traded without consent until June 15
A's Fan
1:47
Do you see any world where the A's could potentially be in the running for a Zac Gallen?  Say they considerably overpay, 5 Years/125 million.
Anthony Franco
1:48
Yeah I assume that'd get it done. Think it would go pretty badly though
1:50
I'm already basically out on Gallen. The stuff gets incrementally worse each year, assume the HR rate will continue to climb. He'd be my pick to lead MLB in home runs allowed next season if he signed in that park
Michael
1:50
I listened to the Podcast, and I feel Tucker is a hard one to predict.  But, it feels like he might be a player the Giants or Angels would seriously consider.  Thoughts?
Anthony Franco
1:52
Would probably have the Angels a little behind the Jays, Yankees and Giants as likeliest options -- Halos are still a little cluttered in the corner OF and they have so many other needs to address -- but neither would be all that surprising to me
Thompson
1:52
Final prediction for Jonah Heim and Adolis Garcia?
Anthony Franco
1:52
I'll go García NT. Heim tendered but traded later in the offseason
1:53
Hopefully the Rangers at least wait until the end of the chat to prove me wrong haha
Michael
1:53
Do you see any scenario in which AA is in on Bichette?  Or do you think the Dubón trade ends any other activity at SS for the Braves (Bichette or Kim)?
Anthony Franco
1:54
Bo would be so out of character for them. I don't see that one. Don't see why Dubón would take them out of the mix on HSK, just offers them cover if the asking price is outlandish
1:55
I'm not sure the post-surgery version of Kim is all that much better than Dubón frankly, but the league seems to like HSK more than I do
Bruce Stringbean
1:55
What kind of deals would you expect for Max Kepler and Austin Hays?
Anthony Franco
1:55
One year each. Around $7M for Kepler and $4-5M for Hays
El Chupacabra
1:55
Royals need a RH outfielder.  Morel, Fraley, and Bleday were recently DFA’d. Which should they go for?
Anthony Franco
1:56
Fraley and Bleday are lefty hitters and Morel's barely an outfielder, so if you're looking specifically for a righty bat, none of them
1:57
I think Fraley's the best player of the group and would be fine if they tossed him $3M as a platoon option in LF
Joe from Milwaukee
1:57
Jarren Duran for Freddy Peralta straight up. Why says no and why?
Anthony Franco
1:58
Hmm I see the logic for both but I'd pass if I were Milwaukee
2:00
Duran has the extra control years obviously but he's already around $8M, so the arb price is probably going to be $10-12M by '27 and above $15M two years from now. It's quickly into "should they listen to offers on Duran" territory for them
2:01
Obviously they could get something back down the line but the costliest arb years are going to have huge surplus value, and they'll get a pick after the first round in '27 if they hold Peralta all year (barring injury). I'd rather have the more valuable player for the upcoming season at that point
The Mayor
2:01
Could you see the Tigers adding Harrison Bader to the outfield mix?
Anthony Franco
2:03
There are other teams that feel more desperate for a CF (Phillies, Orioles, Guardians, Angels) so they wouldn't be my first choice, but it's not like I'd be stunned if he goes there. Short enough commitment that they're not worried about blocking Clark, Meadows could play more RF and hedge against regression from Wenceel
Arizona
2:04
Take away the intradivision nature of the trade, but could Arizona and the Dodgers line up for Max Muncy? Maybe Alek Thomas and Druw Jones with LAD paying halfish?
Anthony Franco
2:04
Not seeing what this achieves for the Dodgers
Royal
2:04
I've always wondered why second base is such a seemingly throwaway position. Shortstop is generally understood to be the more difficult defensive position and in recent memory, has also been far ahead of second base in terms of offense. Secondarily, I've always wondered why some shortstops don't jump at the chance to join a team with an entrenched star at short so their bat plays better and there is less pressure on defense while competing for a ring. Any insight on either of those questions?
Anthony Franco
2:05
I think the first part is more about teams' increased willingness to live with bigger shortstops who aren't as rangy as they were a couple decades ago
2:07
There used to be more of the Nick Allen glove-only types than there are now. Some of it is the use of WAR models that make it harder to justify completely punting offense at that position even if a guy's a great defender. Range also matters less than it used to when strikeout rates are way higher and such a high percentage of offense is generated from home runs rather than teams trying to string together singles
2:08
But there are only so many competent defensive infielders who can hit, so if teams are more willing to leave those guys at SS, it's going to stretch the divide in offense between the two middle IF spots
2:10
On question 2, there are some guys who just pride themselves in sticking at shortstop as long as possible, but this isn't as rare as it'd seem from your question. Semien was fine signing as a second baseman. Adames might have moved if the Giants weren't all in on him, Bichette could slide over
Alex Anthopoulus
2:10
Can you elaborate more on why do you have a lower opinion on HSK than the rest of the league?
Anthony Franco
2:11
I've just got some concerns about the arm strength on the left side of the infield post surgery and he's never had the power to be more than an average hitter
2:13
Don't think he's a bad player but he'd be in the bottom third of starting shortstops for me if you go team by team around the league. In comparison to Dubón, I assume they're each competent but not Gold Glove caliber defenders as everyday shortstops
2:14
Dubón's probably 10-15 percent worse than an average hitter and Kim's like 5 percent below. I'd rather have Kim, but when you're weighing one year of Dubón at $6M vs. multiple years of Kim at $15M+, I'd rather use the money on pitching
Billy Beane
2:14
Do the Astros trade Jake Meyers while his stock is up?
Anthony Franco
2:15
Have see multiple Houston beat people (Rome and McTaggart) float this so I assume it's something the front office is genuinely considering, yeah
2:16
Depends on return, of course, but it feels a little cute for me. They're already weak in the outfield, can't trust Zach Cole as an everyday CF given the minor league strikeout rates, and I buy Meyers' offensive improvements enough to see him as an above-average regular at a position where there aren't alternatives in free agency or trade
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