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Front Office Chat: 12/21/23
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Anthony Franco
3:58
Hey everyone, hope all is well!
3:59
Decent amount in the queue this week, excited to get into it
Mike D
3:59
I’ve read that Shane Bieber has been working with driveline.  Do you think this would intrigue a GM looking to grasp the old 2020 Bieber? If he is able to reclaim some mph on his fastball he would be a steal!
Anthony Franco
4:00
Maybe a marginal effect for some teams but I don't think it can meaningfully change your evaluation until you see in game action whether the stuff looks better
Joe
4:00
Recently I asked for your prediction on the Yankees outfield acquisitions.  You were all kinds of wrong LOL. I think you picked Kepler and Gurriel. Here's your chance for redemption. What will the Yankees starting rotation be to begin the season?
Anthony Franco
4:01
Ha yeah, I forgot about that one (conveniently, some might say)
4:02
At the risk of again being proved wrong within the span of like 24 hours, I'll stick with my pre-offseason pick of Yamamoto signing there
Padre Jonathan
4:02
Did Preller take Holiday leave and forgot to tell people?
joking aside, we have 8 open spots on the 40 man. We’re clearly not in the top market for FAs. He’s losing time filling back end pieces. And what’s the wait with the Japanese closer? Thank you!
Anthony Franco
4:03
Wouldn't read much into the delay on Matsui. It's not uncommon for that kind of hold-up between agreement to terms and physical for deals agreed upon around Christmas
4:04
Just one example, but there was like a two-week holdup between Conforto agreeing to his deal with the Giants and signing last year. I assume it's just a holiday thing
4:05
As for the general offseason, feels like SD just has to wait things out. Everything is moving pretty slowly. There have been a couple signings in the middle of the market but most of it is still held up. Since the Padres aren't playing at the top end, as you mentioned, they're with much of the league in a holding pattern right now
Question Mark
4:05
Would you trade Bryce Harper for Trea Turner?
Anthony Franco
4:05
Nah, I'd take Bryce
RAGBRAI
4:05
As of today how would you rank the NLC teams?
Anthony Franco
4:06
I read this question to ask if nobody in the division made another move this offseason
  1. Milwaukee
  2. Cincinnati
  3. Cubs
  4. St. Louis
  5. Pittsburgh
RAGBRAI
4:06
We saw a surge in SBs last year. Will we see an increase, albeit smaller, this year? Or do you think a decrease or it has plateaued?
Anthony Franco
4:09
That's an interesting one. They kind of leveled off in the second half of last season (albeit still well above pre-'23 levels), so I'd guess against another notable spike
Ryan
4:10
Should the Reds capitalize on the year that Friedl had and use him as part of a package for a starting pitcher?
Anthony Franco
4:11
I can't really see this. Other teams are going to be wary of buying high on him at age 28 coming off an All-Star caliber season. There'll be some skepticism about how well the bat plays outside of GABP
4:12
That's not to say he's not a valuable player and wouldn't draw trade interest, because he obviously would. But I don't think it'd be strong enough for a team to view him as the centerpiece in a trade for a productive starter with multiple years of club control
4:13
And he was too valuable for the Reds to consider him a secondary piece in that kind of deal
Billy Martin
4:13
First Mgr to get fired if their team starts off slow?
Anthony Franco
4:14
This tends to be a guy who has been there for a couple seasons on a team that underwhelmed the year before but still has fairly high expectations going into the following year
4:15
Oli Marmol in St. Louis fits that description the best, I think. Maybe Pedro Grifol with the White Sox
John B
4:15
What do you think about a trade of Carson Whisenhunt and Keaton Winn for Tommy Edman? And a very merry Christmas.
Anthony Franco
4:16
Likewise! I wouldn't do that if I were STL but I don't think it's an outlandish offer. I'm probably a little lower than consensus on Whisenhunt and higher on Edman
Dan
4:16
Do you think Montgomery matches the Rodon contract he's looking for or even exceeding it with the aggressive bidders currently shopping?
Anthony Franco
4:17
Setting the O/U on Monty at 6/162 is pretty good. I'll still go slight under but I'd take the over on the 150 we predicted at the start of the winter
Dan
4:17
Any news on Woodruff?  Is the Mahle contract a good comp?
Anthony Franco
4:18
Yeah I think that structure works. Woodruff's less likely than Mahle to factor in next year but he's a better pitcher, so you'd expect more out of him in 2025
4:19
I'd put the overall guarantee on Woodruff more in the mid-high 20s than the 22 that Mahle got, but I agree you're looking at a backloaded two years there
Dan
4:19
Do you think the salary dump of Houser is the start of cost cutting trades by the Brewers?  Burnes, Adames next?
Anthony Franco
4:20
No, I just don't think Houser and Taylor are all that good
4:21
They're fine depth pieces but I was moderately surprised Milwaukee tendered Houser a contract in the first place. He doesn't miss bats, has had some arm issues over the past couple seasons
Morel
4:21
With his speed and athleticism yet shaky infield abilities,  Christopher Morel is best suited as a right fielder (similar reasons to Fernando Tatis Jr.). Which team is the best fit for him and what would the return be for the Cubs?
Anthony Franco
4:23
Not sure I agree that he's a great fit in right field. He was pretty rough in center. Despite the athleticism, he might not have the defensive instincts to play regularly anywhere
4:25
But to your point, there'd probably be teams willing to give him that opportunity (certainly can't expect Gold Glove caliber results like the Padres got from Tatis though). Mariners could work, Mets potentially. Padres or White Sox fit
Ryan
4:25
I've read a few articles that have mentioned the Reds having interest in Giolito. Please tell me they wouldn't sign Giolito. He hasn't been good in a couple years and gives up a lot of dingers.
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