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Front Office Chat: 6/28/24
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Anthony Franco
3:58
Hey everyone, hope you're all doing well! Will probably have to keep this one around an hour. Let's get rolling
hllywdjff
3:58
Do you think the Mariners will take a big swing at the trade deadline or just try to fill with some minor pieces to see if they can get over the top?
Anthony Franco
4:01
I think they'd like to take a big swing to add offensive help but we'll have to see what kind of impact bats are actually out there. Miami, Colorado, Detroit and Oakland don't have much they're likely willing to deal in that regard. White Sox aren't guaranteed to move Robert. Taylor Ward would be a good fit but the Angels could be apprehensive about an in-division trade
Guardian Buster
4:01
Please explain how 'discount pick' in draft to save funds helps get other picks. It seems to me if you have more money, the guy you pick at 36 (for example) first off, has to be there and not picked earlier, and so he is entitled to a 'slot value'.
(continued) oops on button push. So how does saving on early pick help ? I don't see the choice the draftee has, except to not sign
Anthony Franco
4:03
Going underslot at 1 would obviously leave more in the bonus pool for Cleveland at 36. I think you're asking why that matters?
4:05
Slot value at 36 is around $2.6MM. Let's say the player the Guardians want there is a high schooler who they think is a top 20-25 talent in the draft. That player also believes that's where he fits in the class and is telling teams that he wants a $3.5MM bonus (which would be more commensurate with the mid-late first round)
4:07
You could try to call him on it, pop him at 36 and offer him $2.6MM. But he could go to college and bet on himself to play his way into the top 10 or 15 three years from now and you're getting nothing out of that pick.

They'd get a compensatory pick in '25, so it's not a complete waste, but every team would rather get the player into the farm system now than wait and try again with someone else next year.
tonyv
4:07
Any opinion what kind of bat the Pirates can get for Bubba Chandler?
Anthony Franco
4:10
He's the kind of prospect who could center a package for an above-average player with multiple years of control. A Jazz Chisholm type maybe?
4:11
I think he'd be light as a headliner on a Robert caliber star, but the Bucs shouldn't give him up for any kind of rental
Can-non or Can-oui?
4:11
Cannon seems like an interesting arm on the south side. Does Clevinger come up and take his spot? Kuhl's? How do they balance the youth movement vs drumming up trade interest?
Anthony Franco
4:13
They're not going to drum up any notable interest in Kuhl or Flexen anyways. I'm kinda lukewarm on Cannon but I wouldn't option him to make sure Flexen keeps getting the ball every fifth day
George
4:14
Happy Friday & thanks for the chat. Is it fair to think of Kevin Alcántara as a taller version of PCA with power, and do we see him up for the Cubs this year or his timeline later?
Anthony Franco
4:16
Broadly similar but I think PCA's a better contact hitter and defender. Alcantara's more of a boom or bust type because of the power
BrewingWins
4:16
With a 6.5 game lead in the NL Central, I think the Brewer’s are out performing expectations this year. Assuming they hold that lead going into the trade deadline, what do you see the Brewers doing at the deadline?
Eric
4:16
Whos next off the scrape heap for the Brewers starting rotation?
Anthony Franco
4:17
Yeah it has to be starting pitching. They'd be a really good fit for Fedde
Rox fan
4:17
Will Colorado ever develop decent pitching? Why not just draft all or mostly pitchers like Angels and Dodgers did a few years ago? Spend more money on development or have Manfred kill the balls in coors please
Anthony Franco
4:19
They developed Márquez, Freeland, Gray and Senzatela a couple years ago. That was a good rotation at its best. Just didn't align it with when they had a good offense back in the middle part of the 2010s
4:20
It's not easy. Coors is a real structural disadvantage for building a roster. Hitters have to wrestle with pitches moving differently at home and on the road. Pitchers have to work harder because it's tough to get outs there
I think they're moving in the direction you mentioned: targeting starting pitching in trade, taking Dollander in the top 10. But it's not as if they've got a good lineup right now, so they can't focus 100% of their resources on pitching. They need help everywhere
Small markets
4:21
Smaller organizational rosters and draft classes hurt small markets who build through development and depth, like Cleve, Minny, TB, etc. do you see mlb addressing this or is the bottom line savings too important?
Anthony Franco
4:22
Not sure I agree with the premise. The vast majority of the minor league roster cuts are guys who would never have made the majors anyways. There are a handful who'll fall through the cracks, but I'd guess that you're talking almost completely luck in hitting on a 32nd-round draftee or something like that
4:23
To the actual question, no, I don't think the roster spots are coming back. It's something owners have been hellbent on for a long time because it's marginal cost savings
Mel Harder
4:23
Odds of Cleveland landing Taylor Ward or Brent Rooker?  Seems like I haven't heard much about either one and I'm not sure Rooker can play much OF anyway?  If not what else would be available in terms of a RH OF bat?
Anthony Franco
4:24
Yeah I think they're both logical fits. Would prefer Ward for them because of the defense -- ideally want to keep the bulk of the DH at-bats open for Fry -- but either one would fit and could push Brennan/Schneemann into a fourth OF role
Toronto
4:24
If Atkins trades Bichette, I think the Dodgers match up well. What type of pitcher would Toronto want from LA? Would Friedman meet that price?
Anthony Franco
4:27
Agree that the Dodgers would be the obvious fit if the Jays went there on Bichette. Still skeptical they will. Atkins shoots it down any chance he gets.

Feels like Gavin Stone's too valuable for the Dodgers to relinquish at this point. Maybe the Jays love River Ryan? Josue De Paula could fit on the position player side
4:28
Even with Bichette having a down year, they'd have to get a Top 50 caliber guy back for a year and a half of Bo
First Noel, Noel on First
4:28
Also with Cleveland: They seem hell-bent on playing Arias. Has he supplanted Rocchio as the SS of the future?
Anthony Franco
4:29
I still prefer Rocchio but I'm not convinced either one is the shortstop of the future
Dave
4:29
What do you think about rumors of Skubal to the Dodgers? If LA took on Báez contract along with Skubal , what kind of prospect package would Detroit ask for?  Thanks for the chat.
Anthony Franco
4:29
Can't see the Tigers trading Skubal. They wouldn't dilute the return by packaging him with Báez if they did
Mr. Irrelevant
4:29
With their payroll constraints, do you think Profar is pricing himself out of San Diego or would he consider taking a discount to stay? He seems to really enjoy playing there and he’s the one that fires the team up. This is what they we’re missing last year.
Anthony Franco
4:31
Yeah I'd guess he sticks around. He's having an awesome year but we've got a decade before this of him being a maddeningly inconsistent player. Feels like they should get something done around Lourdes Gurriel money, maybe a little above
BILL G.
4:31
It's nearly 5 years since Cherrington took over Bucco's GM slot.  Time to evaluate trades, signings and releases.  At best he gets a C.  What say you?
Anthony Franco
4:34
Seems about right. The rebuild has moved really slow. They hit on Bednar, getting Suwinski for Frazier is a win. Not a ton else after that in terms of MLB acquisition. They've built a great pitching pipeline but the hitting development has been mediocre
4:35
Obviously ownership's not doing them any favors, but it's hard to be super enthused with how the Bucs have done over the last few years. They're improving but at a much slower pace than you'd want to see
Mike Piazza
4:35
Having a shot of picking a late round pick and having them become a HOF has always been one of MLB’s selling points. Sad to see that change
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