JotCast | Front Office Chat: 6/16/23

Front Office Chat: 6/16/23

Anthony Franco

3:57

Hey everyone, hope you're all doing well!

We'll get going a couple minutes early today

Dodger Dave

3:57

Would Busch and Ryan( or a similar double A pitcher) from LAD entice the Royals to give up Chapman and Grienke?

Anthony Franco

3:58

I wouldn't do that on the Dodgers' end. Chapman's good but he's still a rental reliever. Those guys fetch mid-level prospects, not a Michael Busch type

3:59

Greinke doesn't have a ton of trade appeal. He's a fifth starter at this point

Joshua

3:59

What’s a fair and realistic return for Candelario to the Marlins? Thanks

Anthony Franco

4:02

Always tough to answer these specific one-team trade questions, since I don't know how the Nats feel about everyone in the Miami system. It'd be a decent but not overwhelming prospect, not a guy from the top five in the system. Maybe Victor Mesa Jr.? Jacob Miller?

Bob Loblaw

4:02

Say, hypothetically, the Cardinals decide to trade Paul Goldschmidt. Who would be the trade partners? i.e., need a 1B and are strong contenders to the point that Goldschmidt would even approve the trade. Texas? Arizona? Anyone else? Could the Cardinals get a *very good* controllable starter in return?

Anthony Franco

4:04

I don't think the Cards would actually do this, to be clear. Texas and Arizona probably looking more towards pitching, though I guess you couldn't rule any contender out on Goldschmidt because he's the kind of player you'd make an exception to accommodate

4:06

Astros would have to be willing to bench Abreu, but that's probably worth it for a win-now team. Orioles haven't gotten anything out of Mountcastle. Angels could use a first base upgrade and there's an argument for just pushing everything in this year with Ohtani heading to free agency

Frank

4:06

This Yankee Red Sox series may really tell the future direction of the Sox this season. Yanks in the 3rd wild card spot. 3 Sox pitchers who look like they may be really starting to come through. The hitting and the defense is still just so slipshod at times for the Sox, though.

Anthony Franco

4:07

Yeah I like Boston's pitching matchups this weekend. At home, I'd take them to win this series 2-1

Generally agree that the position player group is just a little light for the Sox though. The middle infield especially just isn't cutting it

tigersFan

4:08

Will the tigers call colt Keith up this year or at least move him to AAA. He is tearing up double a.

Anthony Franco

4:09

I think it's more late-season bump to Triple-A and promote to the majors early in 2024 if he keeps mashing. I don't think he'll spend the whole year in Erie

John B

4:09

Enjoyed the discussion on the podcast as well as Steve's article on Marcus Stroman. Was interested in what you thought it would cost the Giants to get him. If Bart gets it going in AAA would he be a starting point?

Anthony Franco

4:11

Yeah I could see this. I think the Cubs would prefer an upper level centerpiece. Not sure whether they like Bart more than Miguel Amaya, but it'd be an interesting change of scenery buy

4:12

Don't think Stroman has huge trade value in spite of the season he's having -- the player option is just downside for the team next year -- but Bart's value has dropped enough at this point that SF could package him with a minor leaguer or two for Stroman, sure

Trade Proposal

4:12

Alexis Diaz + Noelvi Marte for Cavan Biggio, Ricky Tiedeman, Adam Kloffstein, Zach Pop

Anthony Franco

4:12

Reds pass

Not Elias Sosa

4:12

Can an MLB player under contract, such as Thor, go to the minors for a while with his permission?

Anthony Franco

4:13

Yeah, players with over five years of MLB service can still be optioned to the minors if they agree to it

4:14

That's very rare, though. By nature, most of these guys are supremely confident in their own abilities. If he didn't consent to the minor league assignment and the Dodgers cut him, he'd still have the right to his full salary. There's just not a ton of incentive for the player to agree to this

Diaz destination

4:14

Will the reds really trade Diaz? And if so, who would pull the trigger on giving up the talent required to get him?

Anthony Franco

4:15

I don't see why the Reds would trade Díaz. They didn't want to listen to offers last summer, when he was less proven and the team had no chance of contending. He's more established now and the club, while still a longshot, at least has a path to contending for the division this year

Bob T

4:15

Anthony, I thank you for the Friday chats.
It seems like whenever the Angels go on a winning streak injuries pop up to put a kibosh to the streak. Losing Neto is a devastating loss and then yesterday losing Urshela and Rendon. I guess they will have to call up Fletcher and Soto or Stefanic. This is a big drop off in offensively and defensively.
Meanwhile, the bullpen has been fantastic since Minasian decided to go with the youngsters.
Oh and Ohtani is otherworldly. Comments?

Anthony Franco

4:16

Thanks Bob, always appreciate the questions!

4:18

I agree with your assessment. I liked this Angels team more than I had in years because of the position player depth, largely because they weren't relying on guys like Rengifo, Velazquez and Fletcher. The injuries (particularly Neto) are going to hurt, especially in a tough playoff race

4:19

This year's bullpen is the best they've had in a while. Estévez couldn't throw a strike last night but he's been really good overall. That was one of my favorite pickups of the offseason. They pulled the plug on Tepera quickly, which was smart. The front office has been pretty bold, which is what you want to see when the clock on Ohtani is ticking

Guest

4:19

Nats fan. Have any of the new/younger players particularly impressed you? Lane Thomas is controllable until 2026...do you think they should sell-high on him at the trade deadline? Is Riley Adams a potential trade candidate given how many teams need catchers right now?

Anthony Franco

4:21

It's an interesting question on Thomas. I buy him as an above-average regular and would actually see if he's open to an extension. If the numbers don't add up, though, then I'd listen to trade offers. Don't see this team being a contender by 2025 so the timeline doesn't really align unless they get a longer-term deal done

4:22

Too small a sample on Adams to say he's turned a corner, can't see a contender trading for him to be their starter down the stretch

4:23

Aside from Thomas, MacKenzie Gore's the other young guy I think you're most enthused about the progress he's making. Josiah Gray's having an ok year too and probably a stable #4 starter type, but the strikeout and walk profile doesn't support a 3.19 ERA

Ca(ra)van

4:23

It's time to trade Cavan Biggio isn't it?

Anthony Franco

4:24

One of him or Espinal, yeah

2nd

4:24

After they turned down his option, should the jays resign Whit or will be looking for a longer / richer deal than they can afford?

Anthony Franco

4:24