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Front Office Chat: 12/27/22
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Anthony Franco
7:56
Hey everyone, going to start a few minutes late here. Finishing up on Eovaldi
8:06
Alrighty, sorry about that
8:07
I'll stick around beyond 8:00. Let's get rolling
JOE
8:07
Now that Varsho has been traded, is Arizona done dealing away outfielders?
RAGBRAI
8:07
How do you see the AZ outfield shaking out on Opening Day?
Anthony Franco
8:07
I addressed this more in my subscriber piece that should come out tonight but yeah, I could see another trade in the right situation. Bringing Gurriel in means there’s still plenty of depth, and flipping someone like McCarthy (or at least Dominic Fletcher) for pitching help makes sense. Don’t think they’d force it, but I’m guessing they’d listen.
Bruce
8:08
I know you have repeatedly made clear your dislike for Phillies signing of Walker, but you don't seem to have the same negativity toward the Chris Bassitt signing at more dollars, although one less year. How is Bassitt better than Walker?  Both certainly have similar injury histories and Bassitt appreciably older.
Anthony Franco
8:09
Yeah it’s a fair question. They’re pretty similar, but I just think Bassitt has the edge in most areas. He has a more consistent track record of avoiding hard contact, slightly better K/BB numbers when he’s at a platoon disadvantage. Bassitt misses a few more bats on pitches inside the strike zone, which I like as a general proxy for stuff quality
8:10
They’re not wildly different and the price point on Bassitt seemed more fine than any kind of bargain, but I do think he’s the better pitcher.
Dave Dombrowski
8:10
Does signing Kimbrel preclude trading for Hendriks? Would McGarry, Morales, and a lottery pick or two be enough?Hendriks would make our bullpen championship worthy.
Anthony Franco
8:11
Don’t see why Kimbrel would rule them out on Hendriks. Agree he’s a good fit for Philly if White Sox really commit to moving him.
Package you mentioned wouldn’t do it for me, but I’m lower on McGarry than most I think. Just too scarred by watching his control disappear every time I thought he was taking a step forward at UVA.
Chip
8:11
Wanted to give a shoutout for Trade Rumors Owner Tim Dierkes. Not only does he oversee one of the best news sites out there but I know he is a great boss, lucky to have people like you aboard and I am sure you feel lucky to work with him !!!!
Anthony Franco
8:11
Agreed, Tim’s great!
Guest
8:11
One writer has declared Casey Donovan and Gerald Carillo being DFA'ed as evidence that the Nats didn't receive value from the "just another guy" portion of the Scherzer/Turner trade last year. Yet, after being DFA'ed and passing through waivers, they are still prospects in the Nats system and will be controlled for years to come if they improve sufficiently to be major leaguers. Yes, there was a risk in exposing them to other teams. But no, nothing has changed in the value of the two players to the Nats once they made it through waivers. Who is right on this one?
Anthony Franco
8:12
I’d say the fact they both went unclaimed on waivers reflects how poorly they’re now perceived around the league in a way that the organization surely wasn’t hoping for at the time of the trade. At the same time, I don’t think it’s a huge deal. Gray/Ruiz were the key pieces, and the trade’s success comes down to how they develop. Third and fourth players in trades like that don’t pan out all the time.
Dodger Dave
8:13
Greinke  - Dodger reunion in the cards?
Anthony Franco
8:13
Think he’ll find somewhere that values league average innings in bulk a little more than L.A. It’s not implausible but they wouldn’t be my first pick
Carter Hawkins
8:13
Alcantra. Davis and Killian to thre Padres for Tatis and 150 million. Move Tatis to 3rd or replace Happ in left if you can get a decent return for Happ, like from the Yankees where Happ would be a perfect fit. Who laughs and hangs up first?
Anthony Franco
8:14
Don’t think either team’s doing this. Padres are paying down half the money on a player they thought was the face of their franchise 12 months ago, while Cubs are giving up a few of their top prospects and taking on almost $200MM for a guy who’s coming off two surgeries and a PED suspension.
Guess I’d say the Cubs would be less likely to make this trade, though I doubt either team would
Dodger Dave
8:14
Pls propose prospect and/or MLB package from LAD for B Reynolds
Anthony Franco
8:15
These are always so hard since it’s so much about how the Pirates value the L.A. prospects involved. I’d be pretty intrigued if I were Pittsburgh if Dodgers offered two of three from Vargas, Busch and Pages, but it depends on how their scouts feel about everyone in the system. As the A’s end of the Sean Murphy shows, that’s really variable throughout orgs
Dodger Dave
8:15
AJ Pollack LAD reunion? Your thoughts
Anthony Franco
8:15
Sure, I can see it
CardinalRed
8:15
Why has Chafin not signed with the Cards yet? They need LH'ness in the pen. Ground ball pitcher than can get a K as well, don't see a more logical fit.
Anthony Franco
8:16
I’m not sure why Chafin hasn’t ended up anywhere yet, but yeah, the Cardinals are a great fit. Cubs/Astros work too
Juice box
8:16
who ends up being the best hitter out of Torkelson, Pasqatino, Casas or Miranda?   I want to believe Tork…but I may bet on P-diddy
Anthony Franco
8:17
Yeah at this point, I’d take Vinnie P. Guess I’d order the rest Tork, Miranda, Casas
CardinalRed
8:17
Why is there all this talk of Mikolas deserving an extension? He's has 2 good years, 18 and 22. Got a 4 year deal after 18, got hit around a bit in 19 and had 9 starts total in 20 and 21. Not a good track record at all.
Anthony Franco
8:18
I haven't really heard anything on Mikolas. I guess the logic would be that most of the starting staff is headed for free agency after next season and you have to keep someone
8:19
But I agree, wouldn't really be itching to sign a 34-year-old pitcher to an extension earlier than I have to
Brian Anderson
8:19
Wouldn’t I be a perfect backup for Miguel Vargas at Chavez Ravine?  I am a decent defensive 3B and LF and I am reasonably priced.
Anthony Franco
8:20
Dodgers could check in, sure. Think he could find somewhere with a clearer path to everyday reps though
Juice box
8:20
Grissom sure was unheralded before this year…yet he seems to hit wherever he goes. Thoughts on him as a long term middle infielder?
Anthony Franco
8:21
Think it’s still too early to make definitive conclusions about the glove, but the concerns scouts have had was backed up in his early-career defensive marks. Doesn’t mean he can’t get better, but it feels like you’re hoping he’s a fringy but capable defender up the middle whose bat carries the profile
Nate
8:21
Would Mat McLain for Jo Adell work straight up? If not, what/who else would be needed from either side?
Anthony Franco
8:22
Hmm yeah, I like this one. McLain’s a weird player, didn’t expect he’d transform into the three true outcomes type he’s seemingly become in the minors
James
8:22
Tigers or Marlins. If you had to bet on a team’s future over the next three seasons, who would you pick?
Anthony Franco
8:22
Detroit
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