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Front Office Chat: 3/10/23
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Anthony Franco
3:59
Hey everyone, hope you're all having a good week!
4:00
Going to hold this week's chat closer to an hour, so I'll move a little quicker through questions today
Let's get rolling
Chip
4:00
Okay Boston countered the shift rule change by moving an outfielder to mid right field for Joey Gallo so do you think MLB makes a move to counter the counter ??
Anthony Franco
4:01
Not right now but I do think the league would do this if what Boston showed against Gallo becomes prevalent
4:02
It defeats the whole purpose of the shift ban and there's nothing that says the league can't require outfielders to stand X number of feet into the grass
The Odd Couple
4:02
Which AL Central Oscar has the better immediate future—Colas (Chicago) or Gonzalez (Cleveland)—given their respective ballparks and teams? Thanks
Anthony Franco
4:03
I like Gonzalez more, in large part because he's already shown he can carry some of it over against big league pitching. The approach worries me but he clearly has power potential and can move the bat around the strike zone
4:04
Colas has a similar profile really, but I'll lean towards the guy who's already done it for 400 plate appearances at the big league level
Brewers
4:04
Is it weird that I would rather the Brewers trade Woodruff, Burnes, and Adames now rather than wait until the trade deadline or next off-season ?
Anthony Franco
4:04
I don't think you're getting your wish on that one
4:06
I get the logic behind it but they're not that far away from St. Louis and the trade value at the deadline for those players shouldn't be too much lower than it is now barring injury or underperformance. If ownership's fine with where payroll is right now, then I'm with the front office in taking your swing at it and reevaluating how things look around the All-Star Break
Space Needle
4:06
Kelenic's tearing up the spring. Has he found true religion with his bat this time around?
Anthony Franco
4:07
I don't care about the spring stats but I'm still in on Kelenic taking the step forward this year. Youth plus his Triple-A production last season keeps me optimistic
Gene Conley
4:07
The two Grays—Sonny and Jon—had eerily similar records last year. Which Gray will likely have more success this year?
Anthony Franco
4:08
I'd slightly lean towards Jon Gray. Typically misses a few more bats and throws harder, and I guess I feel a little better about him staying healthy
Mr Fantasy
4:08
Will umps be calling balls on pitchers with weird windups and double steps?  If so who should I avoid in my fantasy league
Anthony Franco
4:09
They're supposed to -- Luis Garcia and Kevin Gausman have been the league's examples of guys to crack down on -- but I really don't expect it to have any effect on those players' performances
4:10
It's more a cosmetic/feel thing at the very start of their motion than anything integral to the delivery or stuff itself. I'd be surprised if they can't adjust by Opening Day
Old_Chief
4:10
Which of the remaining starters would take a minor league deal or a split contract with an MLB value and innings pitched incentives?
Anthony Franco
4:12
At this point, I think that's what everyone still unsigned is going to have to do. Archer, Bundy, Keuchel, Pineda, Aníbal Sánchez all feel like minor league deal guys to me. Probably Mike Minor too but maybe he squeaks out an MLB deal as a potential lefty relief option
Trevor Bauer's the exception obviously. He's not taking a minor league deal
4:13
If any team eventually decides to bring him in, it'd be to immediately join the MLB rotation
Dodger Dave
4:13
What is your expansion timeline (plus top candidate cities) or is process still held hostage by interminable Tampa and Oakland situations?
As a part of expansion will there be a complete reshuffle of teams along geographical lines example NY, LA and Chicago teams in the same division?
Anthony Franco
4:15
Yeah I really don't have an idea on expansion, don't think the league itself even does yet. Manfred has consistently maintained the Rays and A's have to get sorted out first, though both those should be figured out by the start of the next calendar year. I guess this could apply to the Orioles now too, even though it seems like they'll eventually just get Baltimore to agree to a lease that's more favorable to the organization from a tax perspective
I'd guess we don't see any expansion before the end of the decade though
4:17
As for the league restructure, while I don't see any compelling reason to stick with the AL/NL structure at this point, it'd probably just be simpler to stick one new team in each league than completely overhaul stuff and do an East/West arrangement or whatever
Clete Boyer
4:17
Question about two minor leaguers: Do either Greg Jones (Rays) or Jadiel Sanchez (Angels) have any kind of future other than on the bench?
Anthony Franco
4:18
Jones has always felt like a depth guy to me. He can run but I've never bought him as a hitter
4:19
Couldn't tell you much about Sanchez other than that he was in the Syndergaard trade last summer. Seems like he's got a little bit of power and decent bat-to-ball skills but is limited to the corners and doesn't walk much
4:20
Not generally a profile I'd bet on but I've never seen him personally
Old_Chief
4:20
Which of those remaining pitchers has the best chance of a rebound season?
Anthony Franco
4:22
Think I'd take Pineda of the remaining depth starters. Control's still good and I can buy that he never really got into a groove last year because of the various injuries
Obviously not super enthused with anyone in the group though. There's a reason they're all still hanging around
Midseason Decisions
4:22
Where would you put odds on Ohtani getting dealt midseason. Even if it made sense, wouldn't it be among the worst PR moves in team history?
Anthony Franco
4:24
Hmm, like 25%? I think the Angels will be competitive enough they won't have to seriously consider it and even if they're out of it, feels like a situation where ownership could step in and mandate that they hold onto him for the second half for the PR reason you suggested
4:26
It shouldn't actually be bad public relations. Not trading him but letting him walk for just a draft pick that offseason would be much worse for the franchise long-term. But it'd save the organization some near-term embarrassment -- the Red Sox still take some flak for trading Mookie Betts that they wouldn't have if they just QO'ed him but made no effort to re-sign him -- and keeping Ohtani brings in more gate revenue in the second half than if they move him
All that said, I like the roster enough this year that I think they'll be in it and it'll save them the decision
Guest
4:27
Hi Anthony--thank you as always for these chats.  I was curious what your opinion was on Sam Coonrod and Bryce Montes de Oca, and if you see them making the Mets opening day roster.  Thank you very much.
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