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Front Office Chat: 6/14/24
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Anthony Franco
3:30
He could do it but the comments from both Bryce and Phils' brass over the winter made it seem like they were pretty definitively committed to first base. Guess they feel that'll keep his arm healthier
AHume92
3:30
There seems to be more significant roster movement than usual this year (the Biggio DFA, Vogelabch DFA, Ramirez release, and Abreu release all come to mind).  Is this a function of the larger post-season field (more teams still fell they should take a shot), a collection of truly awful players (Ramirez and BIggio don't seem to fit that description), or something else?
Anthony Franco
3:32
Wouldn't describe any of those players as truly awful, but Abreu's and Vogelbach's production has been. Biggio aside, they're all very limited defensively too
3:33
I don't know that this is rare -- big names underperform and get cut every season -- but to the extent there's a trend, it's that teams don't have much use for guys at the bottom of the defensive spectrum who aren't hitting
Mike d
3:33
time for you to play GM…….What’s a hypothetical trade by the Reds and Mets that would involve JD Martinez coming to Cincy to be their DH?
Anthony Franco
3:35
This would be a really good fit and would probably only cost a couple mid-level guys. It's not like JDM was in especially high demand over the winter
3:37
I don't know how the Mets feel about the middle of the Cincinnati farm system, but a Sammy Stafura or Cam Collier type feels about right
Youkilyptus
3:37
The Sox (guess which ones) have the eighth best run differential in the sport and talent returning from the IL.  Isn’t this a team worth investing in?
Anthony Franco
3:39
Yeah, it's a better team than I gave them credit for coming into the year. The pitching staff has held up, the offense has been ok despite losing 75% of their projected infield for most of the season
3:42
Everything out of Boston makes it seem like the front office is reluctant to push in -- seems like they didn't expect to be particularly good either -- but they've played well enough to warrant bringing in some bench depth and probably bolstering the middle relief group
Guest
3:42
Thanks for donating some time on a Friday! In your opinion, which team choosing to sell instead of buy or stand pat and hope would make for a more interesting Deadline: Arizona or St Louis? If they both sell is it the most interesting, or would they dilute each other's ability to make quality deals?
Anthony Franco
3:44
I'd go with St. Louis as the more interesting seller of that duo. Helsley would be one of the best relievers available, Goldy would be a fascinating trade candidate
3:45
I thought there was an outside chance we'd get Gallen on the market if things really went to hell for the D-Backs. But they've hung around while he's been hurt so I can't see that happening at this point
MelOtter
3:45
The Rays & Astros appear both to be in an odd place, where they could stay the course & hope for better luck & healthier arms, or shift to a modified sell mode & re-arm for next year. Do you see Rays selling on Diaz, Paredes, Civale &/or Fairbanks, and Astros getting bold with a Bregman, Pressly &/or McCormick? If they sit back I think either team is risking a long rebuild.
Anthony Franco
3:46
Tampa Bay seems more likely to be cleared-eyed about where they stand. I'd be surprised if they moved Paredes but guys like Arozarena, Díaz, Eflin, Fairbanks could be in play
3:49
Houston seems determined to hold on, which is understandable given how much success they've had with this group and the resources they poured into this year's team. If they're 7-10 games under at the deadline, they should feel like they've got no choice but to move a rental like Bregman, but I can't see them completely overhauling the roster
Bruce
3:49
As they battle to overcome the sleeping bats of Olson, Riley, Murphy, and Albies as well as season-ending injuries to a top pitcher (Strider) and a top hitter (Acuna) and somehow still make it into the playoffs, Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos must also prepare for a 2025 pitching staff that conceivably could  be without Max fFried, Charlie Morton, and A.J. Mnter.  Any suggestions?
Michael
3:49
Please tell me ATL bats will rebound at some point this season?  Sometime?
Anthony Franco
3:52
I still feel like Atlanta has to get things going offensively based on the talent. But I expected it'd have already happened by now and am surprised a lineup that good could play this poorly for a 6-8 week stretch
3:53
As for the long-term pitching situation, I agree with Bruce that they should be exploring the trade market for controllable arms. Patrick Sandoval, Erick Fedde, etc.
Ron
3:53
Please rank for ROS butto wicks   Puk musgrove falter nl league only. I ll need 2 of them.
Anthony Franco
3:54
Puk's a separate case because the starting experiment is over. Among the rotation arms, Wicks is the clear top one for me
3:55
Guess I'd go Musgrove after that but he's going to be out for another month at least. I like Buttó but there's no real path to a rotation spot. Not big on Falter despite the decent ERA
tigersfan
3:56
How much would it cost to extend skubal? over/under $200 MM
Anthony Franco
3:57
I'd go under on 200. He could (and probably would, if healthy) get there as a free agent but that's uncharted territory on an extension
3:59
The next two arb years will be relatively cheap because he's working from such a low platform. Even with a huge raise next season -- especially if he wins Cy Young -- he's probably looking at $25-30MM combined for the next two years. Then you're buying out free agent seasons starting at age-30
4:00
He should beat Berríos and Luis Castillo money but I'd guess it ends up in the 150-175 range
Fans of Teams Beaching in October
4:00
Who has a better chance of seeing playoff baseball this year: Vladdy or Pete Alonso?
Anthony Franco
4:01
Jays have a better shot than the Mets but Alonso feels like the likelier of the two to get traded. I'll go with Pete
Wayne
4:01
With regards to your comments about Harper at 1B, it's not just to keep his arm healthier by playing there.  His range at 1B is outstanding and his defensive stats reflect that.  They discovered how good he was when they were prepping him last year before he could return to the field due to TJ surgery.  Harper is a good defensive OF but in time can be a great defensive 1B.
Anthony Franco
4:03
Yeah that's fair. I think a good defensive right fielder is more valuable than a Gold Glove first baseman because of the increased roster flexibility it offers, but Harper being really good at first base is a nice bonus
Cards Fan
4:03
Best starting pitcher out there for the Cardinals to trade for?  Or are they better off just waiting to get Matz back?
Anthony Franco
4:06
They'll need impact behind Gray both down the stretch and into next season. Matz isn't providing that
4:07
I was skeptical on the Luzardo fit earlier in the season because I expected the Cards to fall out of it. But they're firmly in the mix right now and I've come around on that being the kind of arm they should pursue
RAGBRAI
4:07
Who not currently projected for the playoffs has the best chance of making it? Who projected has the best chance of missing it?
Anthony Franco
4:08
Not sure if by projected you mean an actual model or just the teams that are currently in playoff position
4:09
Eh, looking at the FG playoff odds, there's not a huge distinction between those two anymore
4:10
Still not convinced on K.C. Would take Texas, Boston or Toronto to jump in there. I like the Reds in the National League over one of San Francisco or San Diego
Nars Lootbaar
4:11
Its pretty clear that expanded playoffs have been terrible for baseball. We have a playoff race with teams below .500. With a few exception (LAD, NYM, Atlanta, etc.) there is no longer any incentive for teams to make meaningful improvements. Bill DeWitt III has been pretty open about how teams with mediocre regular season records can go far in October. Not only does this mean fans are watching a poorer quality sport and that the off season and trade deadlines are no longer exciting, outside of unicorns like Ohtani (who signed with LAD natch), but also bad teams and stingy owners get rewarded with the randomness of the playoffs. The whole playoff structure (a random sprint) is antithetical to the structure of the regular season (a marathon meant to separate truly good teams from the chafe). And who wants to watch a September playoff race between 5 teams under .500 who have zero star-power and are mediocre at baseball?  Unfortunately, I don't think this genie can be put back into the bottle.
Anthony Franco
4:12
I know this isn't really a question but I mostly agree. There's no going back -- playoffs never shrink -- and the larger field shifts the focus down the stretch from the top teams to average ones
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