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Front Office Chat: 12/20/24
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Anthony Franco
3:33
Scott Harris has talked about adding a right-handed bat so many times that I'd be really surprised if they don't come away with one. Relief market hasn't moved and they should be involved if they're not going to invest in starting pitching
Luxury Tax Implications
3:34
When a team trades for a big AAV player but the former team pitches in some money, how does luxury tax calculation work? My thought here being: Is it possible for SD to convince Oakland to take Bogaerts and beging paying down some of his salary in like 2028? That way the team from Nowhere can reach their necessary salary floor but still stink to get better draft picks then have some salary relief when they move into LV and presumably raise payroll to actually be competetive?
Anthony Franco
3:37
You can do this, but I think Bogaerts is just owed way too much for the A's or any team to be willing to do it. The trading team is still taxed on an annual basis on whatever money they've agreed to pay down. So even if they offloaded Bogaerts' entire salary for the next three seasons, you've got another six seasons at a $25.45MM AAV to deal with
3:39
The A's aren't going to want any part of that money on a player who's already trending down. If San Diego's paying the majority of it, then Bogaerts is still going to take a big hit towards their '25 CBT number because that's based on the AAV. So this would help with short-term cash flow but would only moderately reduce the AAV
Eric
3:39
What do you expect the Brewers in terms of acquiring an infielder on the left side? Obviously can move Turang or Ortiz to short and work in house with the limited payroll but seems like they should make some sort of a move.
Anthony Franco
3:41
Durbin will be in the mix but I agree that they still make sense for a modest free agent play for someone like Moncada or Brendan Rodgers
3:42
Dunn and Durbin both feel like utility types. So much of Frelick's value is in his range, so I've never been a fan of the idea of kicking him into third base
Smiling Joe Randa
3:42
Would the pirates actually consider trading for Bo Bichette?
Anthony Franco
3:43
I can't see them sending future value for a $16.5MM rental. Would make sense if they were serious about competing for the Central this year though
Mr. Pasta
3:43
Thanks for taking my question. In your best estimation, do the Blue Jays get one of Burnes, Bregman or Teo and, regardless who signs them, which deal ages the worst for the team signing him?
Anthony Franco
3:43
Can I take none of the above and stick with Santander?
3:44
I'd take Teo of the three you mentioned. Can't say I'd love the money on any of those guys, would be most wary of $225+ on Burnes
Bryan
3:45
Don't the Dbacks and Guardians match up on a deal for Naylor?  Dbacks send Ryne Nelson/Pavin Smith for Naylor.  Losing Walker creates a huge hole in the middle of the lineup.
Anthony Franco
3:46
Yeah I don't mind this framework. Think it'd be a really good move from Cleveland's perspective
3:47
Feels like the D-Backs are the "losers" from an overall value perspective here (mostly because of Nelson) but they're also going into their last season with Gallen so there's a fair argument for pushing the chips in to lock down first base for a year
LetsPlayTwo
3:47
Is it true Sasaki can’t sign until January 15th? Are the Mariners waiting on this to make some moves? What is the front office doing, Mariners fans are so tired of squandering the best pitching in the league. What will be left mid January other than the typical players Jerry believes will have a bounce back season?
Anthony Franco
3:48
Can't officially sign until the 15th, that's true. He could make his decision and reach an unofficial verbal agreement at any point
3:49
I don't think the Mariners or anyone else is waiting on Sasaki to make other roster moves though. Every team knows that everyone else wants him. The Dodgers and Padres probably feel best about their chances to pull this off, but no one can let the rest of the market pass by because they're banking on getting Sasaki
Barney Rubble
3:49
What will Cleveland do to address their pathetic offense in center and right field?
Anthony Franco
3:52
If they keep Lane Thomas, I expect he'll perform better than he did for them down the stretch. They'd either have to live with him in CF or accept getting no offense out of the position until DeLauter arrives though
3:53
Could bring in Austin Hays as a short-side platoon bat to pair with Brennan/Schneeman until DeLauter's ready
Guest
3:53
Love the Walker deal way more than Arenado, but Astros really need a LH OF as well.  Assuming they probably aren’t paying up for anyone like Santander.  Who do you think they can target?
Anthony Franco
3:54
Profar would be ideal but he's probably out of the price range. Feels like a Verdugo landing spot that you fix for real at the deadline
Chief
3:54
With the starting pitching market exploding, did the Royals sell low on Brady Singer?
Anthony Franco
3:56
Singer has never really figured out the third pitch and the platoon issues. I didn't love that deal for them at the time and think it looks moderately worse now given the prices you referenced, but I also get why they felt he was expendable
3:58
My reservation is more so with jumping on India that quickly as opposed to waiting out the market on Profar or seeing if someone like LaMonte Wade Jr. ends up moving for very little. They did need to add an OBP presence, but they pigeonholed themselves on getting a leadoff guy right away
Impatient Reds fan
3:58
After seeing what the market looks like,  do you still think Joc Pederson signs for 2 years 24 mil?
Anthony Franco
4:00
Yeah. The starting pitching market was heavier than we expected, and obviously Soto did extremely well, but I don't think we've seen much to suggest the bidding for mid-level hitters is going to take a corresponding step forward
Birdfan
4:00
Would Westburg to Seattle  for Kirby be the framework of a deal?  Mayo to third.  Throw in Ohearn to free up DH and let Mountcastle share with Kjerstad at first untill Basallo comes up.
Anthony Franco
4:01
Much as I love Westburg, I think Seattle's just a hard no on Kirby
4:02
I'd think about one of Miller or Woo for Westburg if I were them, but that's probably not enough for Baltimore to do it
wvpirate
4:02
Which current free agent outfielder do you see the Pirates signing?
Anthony Franco
4:04
Kepler there would've made a lot of sense. Feels like you're looking at a Laureano or Dylan Carlson flier
Wouldn't have much to recommend them but they're probably better than Edward Olivares and Bryan De La Cruz?
Axl Rose
4:05
The Phillies biggest move of the offseason has already happened, or has yet to happen?
Anthony Franco
4:06
I think it already has. Feels like they expected to find more interest in Bohm as the centerpiece of a trade for an impact player
Didn't happen and now they've moved to tinkering because they started the offseason with a huge payroll and aren't finding the value they've liked on the trade market
4:09
It's not exciting right now but I think that'd be defensible. The playoff failures hurt, but forcing changes to what has been one of the league's best rosters for the last three years because of one bad week of play isn't good process. Running it back with basically the same 95-win roster + Kepler and Romano swapped in for Hoffman isn't a bad outcome
MLP
4:09
Jameson Taillon isn't a bad guy to have on your team, but his contract ($18M a year in each of the next 2 years) seems pricey, even in this market.  Does he have any surplus value at all above that at his performance level last season?
Anthony Franco
4:10
Nah, I think you're right. Certainly not a disaster but it's not super exciting either. Feels like it's basically right at market for his age 33-34 seasons
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