JotCast | Front Office Chat: 12/8/23

Front Office Chat: 12/8/23

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Jorge78

4:26

Why are people down on my man "The Dane" Dunning? On him it's always "back to the bullpen" though he does well as a starter. What am I missing?

Anthony Franco

4:27

The stuff isn't eye-catching and Texas has a strong rotation around him

4:29

Totally defensible to open the season with Dunning as the #5 starter but there's value, if they open with him in long relief, in knowing that he's capable of seamlessly stepping back into the rotation whenever somebody above him gets hurt

Thank you for the chat!

4:29

Are there any comps similar to Soto, in regards to a top 5 player playing on three teams in three years so early in his career (and maybe four for four next year)?

Anthony Franco

4:30

Nobody springs to mind off the top of my head but I'll throw this out there if anyone has any suggestions

4:31

Machado played for three teams within a span of two years, but I don't think "superstar who got traded as a deadline rental and then signed elsewhere" is really what you're going for

Angelos in the Outfield

4:31

Do you think the potential sale will have ramifications for the O's off-season? On the one hand, I could see a holding pattern. But then they did sign Kimbrel. Whose money is being spent?

Anthony Franco

4:33

Seems like you're putting the cart before the horse. That report didn't offer specifics on how likely it was for a deal to be finalized. There have been other ownership sales (Nats and Angels recently) where the current group floated the idea of a sale and then pulled back when the market didn't materialize

The Angelos family is still holding the purse strings this offseason

Thank you for the chat!

4:33

Is Stanton a rosterable player across the league? If Yanks pay all the contract would they get even a nominal prospect in return? (prior to the obvious cut)

Anthony Franco

4:34

There are plenty of teams that wouldn't take him on their roster but he'd get a look somewhere

4:35

Still some power upside. We're only one year removed from him hitting at a slightly above-average level

Guest

4:35

What do you think David Robertson gets?

Anthony Franco

4:35

One year at like $9MM

CHC/CLE Trade

4:36

Christopher Morel, Alexander Canario, Ben Brown, and Hayden Wesneski for Bieber and Clase. Is that fair?

Anthony Franco

4:37

I think it's light from the Cubs side. I'm on the lower end of Morel evaluations admittedly, but I just don't see the high-end headliner there that would lead me to give up Clase

Question Mark

4:37

Is Henry Davis ready to break out? Sometimes it takes a year or two before you realize why the player was taken first overall in the draft...like Torkelson.

Anthony Franco

4:38

Davis should be better than he was this past season but I don't think he's going to take the kind of step forward that Tork did

4:40

Davis' prospect stock was never as high Tork's to begin with -- the '21 draft just didn't have a clear headlining talent -- and he'd been trending down before getting to the majors. Torkelson also showed better strike zone awareness in his rookie year than Davis has

SO on TBJ

4:40

It's earlier than than the chat. Things may have changed since I submitted this. BUT EVERY CITIZEN OF TORONTO IS FOLLOWING A JET LIKE NOTHING WE'VE EVER TRACKED BEFORE. WE'RE LOSING OUR MINDS UP HERE!
As you were. No question. Just a freak out. ,

Anthony Franco

4:41

Haha how are you feeling three hours later with still no resolution?

BaronRZ

4:41

Any word on Wander Franco?

Anthony Franco

4:41

Crickets.

Dollar General Mo

4:41

Which relief pitchers will I pursue?

Anthony Franco

4:42

Cardinals are up against last year's spending level, so they'll probably add one of the fairly cheap two-year deal guys (which I'm guessing you expect based on the chat name)

4:44

They've been linked to Phil Maton, who works well enough, but you could sub in Keynan Middleton, old pal Chris Stratton, Ryne Stanek, etc.

John B

4:44

Max Scherzer Az, Det, Was

Anthony Franco

4:45

He changed teams and fairly quickly became a Hall of Fame talent but Scherzer wasn't really a star at the time Arizona traded him

Bob T

4:46

Happy Holidays Anthony. Where do the Angels go from here? A smart owner would hire a POBO and let that person decide what it will take to build a solid foundation for the future. Of course, Arte isn’t that kind of owner. I think the Angels should forget about trying to make the postseason and build around the young players they brought up from AA last season. Again though, that isn’t Moreno’s way.

Anthony Franco

4:47

Yeah I think this about sums it up. I agree with your point about what they should do -- I don't even think Minasian would be a bad choice if they let him operate with less oversight -- but Moreno just doesn't operate like that

4:48

Guessing they'll add a starter and some kind of middle-of-the-order bat to step in at DH (Snell and Teoscar, something like that) and give it another go

Keith

4:48

The Athletics are looking to add an inexpensive veteran starter. Is there going to be a Rich Hill reunion?

Curious A's Fan

4:48

Oakland only has 17 position players on their 40 man roster. Is there a FA bat that would fit?

Anthony Franco

4:49

Hill has suggested he might not play the full season and could try to sign a contender midseason. The A's, needless to say, are not that

I'd have them on an Eric Lauer type

4:51

On offense: going to be a few rebound candidates. Brian Anderson, Nick Ahmed, maybe a veteran catcher like Stallings so they don't have just the young guys in Langeliers and Soderstrom back there

grouchy A's fan

4:52

Are the A's really going to go into the 2024 season with a lower payroll (currently at ~$34 MM per Cots) then they had in 2022 ($47 MM) or 2023 ($57 MM)?

Anthony Franco

4:52

Forst has said he expects it to be higher than '23. I'm skeptical on that, would guess it probably settled between the '22 and '23 figures

Dave

4:52

Busch Vargas Stone Frasso from LAD for TB Glasnow Who says no?

Anthony Franco

4:52

Too much for the Dodgers to give up for one year on Glasnow

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