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Front Office Chat: 6/14/24
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Anthony Franco
3:00
Good afternoon everyone, hope you're all well!
Decent amount in the queue already, let's get rolling
Rick
3:01
Like to get your initial thoughts on Manzardo in his limited action so far. Have you seen anything to think he will develop into a better than average hitting first baseman?
Anthony Franco
3:02
Nothing super encouraging in the limited MLB work but the plate discipline profile was so strong in the minors that I think he'll be a good player
3:03
First base only with limited power is a tough profile to pull off, but the patience and pure hit tool look really encouraging
Guardian Buster
3:03
If a player is traded, his remaining salary counts against acquiring team's total vs luxury tax total...right?....so if enough cash is added to that trade to pay the amount of salary due, does the cash negate the salary total vs Luxury tax ???
Anthony Franco
3:04
Correct. Whatever salary hasn't been paid -- so this year's number is prorated based on how many games are left -- count against the acquiring team's CBT number
3:05
But if the trading team includes cash considerations, that amount stays on the initial team's tax ledger
Cubs
3:05
The Cubs are in a bad spot. They pretty much can’t sell at the deadline because they don’t have any good rentals (aside from Belli but his contract structure limits his trade value a but) and their best relievers (always trade candidates) are hurt. They won’t enter a rebuild for 2025 so they won’t trade their better players that are still under control. And it doesn’t make sense to push all the chips in right now (since they’re pretty terrible at baseball right now). So what do they do at the end of July? Status quo and hope for the best?
Anthony Franco
3:06
Yeah I think this is a fair characterization. I don't see them doing any kind of major sell-off even if they fall completely out of it (which seems unlikely given how mediocre most of the NL is)
3:08
I'd guess they end up being pretty quiet for the reasons you said. Could add a setup arm or two and hope that Matt Shaw forces his way into the lineup late in the year to get Morel off third base
Ben
3:08
Hi, Anthony! There are currently 8 teams fighting for 2 wild card spots in the National League that are within 3 games of each other in the standings (Padres, Giants, Cardinals, Reds, Diamondbacks, Cubs, Pirates, Nationals). If the trade deadline were today, which of these teams would be buyers? Which ones do you suspect would stand pat? Do you think any of them would sell? Thanks in advance for your response
Anthony Franco
3:09
Figure I'll take this one now since it's related to the previous question
3:10
Padres will be aggressive. Giants should be, Cardinals might depending on where they stand in six weeks. Cubs, Reds and D-Backs feel like stand pat/modest buyers to me
I still think Pittsburgh and Washington (and the Mets, who aren't much further behind) are going to end up as soft sellers
Fans of Teams Beaching in October
3:11
If the White Sox combined Robert and Crochet into one deal (lol), would we be able to get a return similar or better than Washington's for Soto?
Dave
3:11
What would it take to get Robert Jr to LAD? How a package of Vargas or Outman, Ryan, and DePaula?
Mariner lifer
3:11
what do the Mariners give up for Luis Robert?  
Anthony Franco
3:12
To Question 1: yeah, I think a Robert/Crochet package would beat the Soto return. Robert should get like 80% of the way there on his own
3:14
That Dodger package feels light, but I guess it depends on how the Sox feel about Ryan. Something built around Rushing and DePaula seems more likely though. I don't think Vargas or Outman move the needle all that much
3:16
The Mariners have a bunch of top-end talent that the Sox could sift through. Emerson's the obvious starting point. Him + Lazaro Montes would be a really good duo for the Sox to build around
Jeff
3:16
Thoughts on the Abreu release?
Ryan Red Leg
3:16
Any chance the Reds take a chance on Jose Abreu?  Or would that be useless?  Surely he didn't just forget how to hit.
Senator Elizabeth Warren
3:16
Could any contenders give Abreu a shot?  Yankees?  Red Sox?
Anthony Franco
3:18
A little surprised that ownership was willing to completely admit failure on it with this much money left, but it's not like Abreu gave the front office much choice
3:20
I think he'll get an MLB deal -- Sox and Reds both seem like decent fits -- but it'd have to be as a bench bat and other teams would be willing to move on quickly if the change of scenery doesn't do anything. He's 37 now and has had one good month in the last season and a half; he's probably just done
Bird Man
3:20
Can the O's salvage any trade value from Cedric Mullins or is he strictly a DFA at this point?
Anthony Franco
3:21
No need to go that far. If they don't push in for Robert, Mullins is probably still better than any other CF who'd be available at the deadline
3:22
He's still a really good defender and baserunner. Probably done as a clearly above-average hitter, but he's an ok player if he can get back to being 10-15 percent below average offensively (which feels doable)
Rich
3:22
Hey Anthony, what ever happened to the "sticky stuff" issue? Has MLB achieved it's desired reduction in spin rates? Or has it just quietly given up? Thanks in advance!
Anthony Franco
3:23
I think they basically achieved what they wanted. The period mound checks were enough to get the most egregious uses out of the game
3:24
There's evidence that pitchers have found workarounds -- spin started to trend back up a couple months after the initial crackdown dropped spin rates significantly -- but it'
Sorry
3:25
It's not as egregious as it was in 2021, which is all that MLB seems to really care about
Yanks
3:25
Does Trent Grisham have any sort of trade value? obviously he hasn't hit all year but with irregular playing time and he still looks great in the field. Martian doing everything he can to make it back to the Bronx and it's going to get loud if they don't bring him up
Anthony Franco
3:26
Nah, I don't think there'd be any interest in him at $5.5MM. He's not hitting at all and going to be non-tendered next winter
3:27
If the Yankees decide to bring Domínguez up, they can just DFA Grisham. They just don't have the everyday ABs in the outfield right now and it's not ideal to have Domínguez playing two or three times a week. If one of Judge, Verdugo or Soto went on the IL, we should see Domínguez in there everyday over Grisham
Kirt
3:27
Have you heard any new news on Wander Franco?
Anthony Franco
3:28
Legal process is still playing out. Believe the latest reporting out of the DR was that prosecutors need to file any formal accusations by the early part of July
Kirt
3:29
Will Bryce Harper ever go back to the OF?
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