Front Office Chat: 6/26/26
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Anthony Franco
3:28
I get it though, finally hit some adversity they haven't easily overcome
Big swing in the rotation still feels like the play. Should be in on Skubal, Gray makes a lot of sense even beyond the geographic proximity
3:30
Left side infield is a problem too. Riley still hasn't pulled out it, Kim looks terrible. Mateo isn't a regular
3:31
That's a tougher fix since most of the guys who could plausibly be available (Chapman, Bichette) are on bad contracts they're not going to want to take on top of the Riley money
3:32
Could try to pull Paredes from Houston. Make a run at Ezequiel Duran or Royce Lewis?
3:33
Assuming neither Jeremy Peña or Zach Neto are realistically available and that the Nats wouldn't trade Abrams within the division
walterj23
3:33
Do you think Posey will change his mind closer to the deadline on not trading Logan Webb?
Anthony Franco
3:34
Typically doesn't happen when an exec is willing to public and say the guy isn't available
Guest
3:34
Dustin May, when he signed with the Cardinals, talked about their pitch on keeping pitchers healthy. At this point is that a trend as far as arm health? No major league arm injuries this year or last as far as I know. Have they got something going there?
Anthony Franco
3:35
If I had any idea what they were doing to keep pitchers healthy, I'd pitch it to other teams for enough money that I never have to work again
3:36
It is a remarkable run. Obviously a big amount of luck involved as well. Maybe there's something to the fact that aside from May, they haven't had a ton of power arms over the past couple seasons
3:37
Drawback to that is they have a bottom 10 rotation in MLB, but credit to their training staff for whatever they've had going
Ao
3:37
Should the Braves look at Tovar of Colorado? He’s on a longer term contract, but it’s not outrageously expensive (in baseball terms). Hes shown he can’t be a 20-25 hr in the past with GG defense. Maybe a change of scenery from Colorado with a better offense could do him some
Anthony Franco
3:38
I just don't think that approach is ever going to work
He has bat speed but it's tough to even hit for power consistently (much less run a tolerable OBP) if you swing at everything
Guest
3:39
I know the strikeout and walk rates for May are right around league average and he's never been a true ace. But given that he's mostly pitched really well outside of the two clunkers to start the season and the one against the Royals, is there a case that we can get a haul for him as the third-best pitcher available at the deadline? Surely somebody looks at that velo and thinks they can tweak something to make him a playoff-caliber starter at least, right?
Anthony Franco
3:40
Guess it depends on who else moves but third best starter available seems rich. Would clearly be behind Skubal, Peralta and Mize if all those guys go. Sonny Gray and Robbie Ray contracts are more of an issue but I think they're better pitchers than May, might take Foster Griffin as well
3:42
I think he's a fine Game 3 or 4 playoff starter, albeit one I'd pull after two times through the order. I'm maybe a little higher on the return they'll get than Steve was when he discussed this in the mailbag this week but don't think he'd command a Top 100 prospect as an impending FA
Guardsball
3:42
Cooper Ingle has played 7 games in the outfield since college. He's absolutely hit enough to warrant a call-up, but designating an outfielder makes it seem like the Guards plan to use him there. Maybe they could move Fry to the Outfield and have Ingle catch?
Anthony Franco
3:44
Probably DH more than anything, cut back on the Hoskins playing time. Fairchild is what he is, good Triple-A player but not someone who's going to hold an MLB roster spot all season
3:45
Mix Fry into the corner OF a little bit as a short side platoon guy but I think this is about Ingle > Rhys for the most part
3:46
Doubt he's more than an occasional depth catcher. They love defense back there and if they thought Ingle would be up to that standard, they wouldn't have traded for Bailey
Jagger
3:46
Do you think some teams will be confident they can fix Kodai Senga and trade for him?
Ao
3:47
Just to add to the Mets questions… should they dfa Senga? Baty, Vientos, Alvarez and the entire bullpen must be on the table right?
Anthony Franco
3:47
Yeah Senga's a release for me. Vientos pretty close to DFA territory as well
The Knuder
3:47
So, Adrian Morejon for James Wood straight up, no?....Kidding. But, given the Nationals' horrendous bullpen, is there any change the Pads and the Nats line up on something, even though the Pads as buyers would be looking for major league help, not prospects?
Anthony Franco
3:49
Yeah I don't think the Nats are in position to trade for any of the veteran relievers. Could see them being in on Bradgley Rodríguez but he's obviously not a big piece in an Abrams trade or anything
3:51
Something around Bradgley and Jacob Young or Luis García Jr. maybe? Latter would be a tough roster fit for SD since they already have too many guys who can't defend but they also need bats where they can find them
Nooooooot
3:51
Does Nootbaar get traded? If so, what does the return look like?
Anthony Franco
3:52
Chaim Bloom keeps stressing not deviating from the long-term plan and they have Baez looming, so I still lean toward them cashing him in
3:55
Lesser return than Donovan. The Gray trade wasn't a comparable situation on contract obviously but a similar prospect value to Fitts and Clarke for Noot seems about right
Angels
3:55
As much of a joke as they are. Had they had a real closer, they could be within around 5 games of the wild card. Anyone within reason to add as a backend reliever? Please ignore the timeline for Joyce coming back
Anthony Franco
3:57
I think this would be shortsighted yet again but they could trade for Kenley back. Luke Weaver has closing experience and is better than anyone in their bullpen
3:58
Weaver would cost legitimate mid-range prospects, Jansen's more of a salary dump. Both controllable for next year so they could frame it as more about '27 than "buying" for this year
All Rise
3:58
Judge has to be a hall of famer, right? Counting stats might be a little light but peak will get him there?
Anthony Franco
3:58
Oh yeah, he's first ballot
Bryce
3:58
Is this Eldridge's breakout year?
Anthony Franco
3:59
Not sure I'd describe it as a breakout year since he's a rookie but yeah, he's awesome
4:01
Can't imagine he's going to keep the strikeout rate this low -- guys almost never make more contact against MLB pitching than they did in the minors -- but he doesn't get beat in the zone a ton and is patient enough that he's not going to take himself out of ABs
4:03
Should still see a heavier dose of breaking stuff as he goes along (already has to an extent this month) but there's the skillset for a Matt Olson type career in here
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