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Front Office Chat: 7/14/23
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Giants fan
4:18
Whether the angels lose ohtani in trade or free agency, he seems like a goner if they can't make the playoffs. What are the chances that they consider trading Mike trout at that point?
Anthony Franco
4:18
Not going to happen midseason. It's so much money to take on during the year and he'll be on the injured list past the deadline
4:20
Next winter, I think there'll be reasonable baseball arguments for the Angels to trade Trout. I don't think they'd do it. Arte Moreno cared about bad PR enough to take Ohtani off the trade market last summer, and losing both of those guys in a span of six months would make the short-term MLB product terrible to watch
4:21
But if the decision were strictly up to the front office about the best long-term steps for the baseball team, you could make a pretty good case that trading Trout and taking a couple years to rebuild a bad farm system is the best course of action if Ohtani leaves
SteveM
4:21
Baltimore Orioles-Miami Marlins World series? The way these teams are playing I see it as a possibility and that would be good for baseball to see those two teams rise above years of losing big.
Anthony Franco
4:22
Baltimore feels more plausible to me than Miami does, but they've both got good chances to get into the playoffs and once you do, anything can happen
Vladdy's Daddy
4:22
Who's more important to the Jays' second half? A "Living up to his potential" Vladdy or a "Back to Cy Young form" Alek Manoah?
Anthony Franco
4:23
For this season alone, I think Manoah finding last year's level would be more impactful, since the rotation depth is the roster's biggest question mark. For the organization's overall future, I'd rather have 2021 Vlad than '22 Manoah
Dave
4:24
Who is more likely to become a true staff ace, Dustin May or Nick Lodolo, and do you see either one surpassing Dylan Cease's future production?
Anthony Franco
4:24
I'll take the under on them both for Cease. Give me Lodolo over May
4:25
I think May's a little more talented than Lodolo but the injury history is getting really concerning
Plus, if we're only doing "staff ace," it's a lot easier to get there with the Reds than with the Dodgers. Lodolo basically already was that for Cincinnati before he got hurt
ewitkows
4:25
Totally not happening but what would the Brewers have to give up for Shohei?
Michael
4:26
If the Angels play 50/50 til deadline, buyers or sellers?  Can you imagine a scenario where LAA would ever trade Ohtani?
SteveM
4:26
Otani, Dodgers, end of story.
Anthony Franco
4:28
I'm coming around on the idea of them trading Ohtani midseason. Wouldn't say it's likely but plausible. If they're 6+ games out of the Wild Card at the deadline, it's really hard to defend the decision to hold onto him
4:29
Getting Moreno to agree to trade him to the Dodgers though? Much harder sell. They're more of a potential free agent destination than a trade situation for me
4:30
As for Milwaukee, it's tough to draw up a package that seems workable. Chourio would be a non-starter from Milwaukee's POV. Too talented a prospect to give up for any rental, even the best player in the league
4:31
But a package of like Jacob Misiorowski, Robert Gasser and Garrett Mitchell or Sal Frelick just doesn't feel like it's moving the needle for the Angels. Brewers don't really have a headlining prospect below Chourio who seems like a fit there
Dave
4:31
Higher upside for this year and the future...Christian Walker or Teo Hernandez?
Anthony Franco
4:33
I'll take Teoscar on both. A little younger, generally hits the ball harder
4:34
Walker might be more stable because he's got a better approach but Teoscar at his best is more capable of carrying a lineup than Walker is for me
Dave
4:34
Do you see Eloy Jiminez finally overcoming injuries and establishing himself as a star and fixture in the White Sox lineup?
Anthony Franco
4:35
Can't get there on Eloy anymore. He's just had a lot of the nagging soft-tissue injuries
4:36
He's a good player, and I could see an isolated season or two where he stays healthy and puts up a 145 wRC+ or something, but I don't think we're talking about an annual All-Star the way I would've assumed three years ago
Duke of Flatbush
4:36
Thanks for the chat, Anthony. Still a few weeks away but how do you see the Dodgers bolstering the pitching staff? Will they go after rentals or make a move to give the staff some stability with a front line starter? Rentals give us “tired arm Scherzer” types who are worried about their next contract and, perhaps, not having much loyalty to the Landlord.
Anthony Franco
4:37
Boring answer but they'll explore both markets. Clearly good enough to "settle" for a rental -- already been tied to Giolito, for instance -- if the prospect returns on the controllable arms are too much
4:38
There aren't many controllable top-end starters that seem likely to be available. Shane Bieber maybe, but he's pitching more like a #3 than an ace. Pirates probably aren't trading Keller. Seattle could listen on a pitching for offense thing, I guess, but that feels more like wishcasting from other teams
Dane Myers
4:39
Am I for real?  Seems like there is an opening for me.
Anthony Franco
4:40
It'd be a cool story but generally, a 27-year-old who's a month removed from being in Double-A isn't a good bet to be an everyday big leaguer
4:41
Happened for Jeff McNeil but I can't think of anyone else recently who'd fit that profile
Rounding the Bases
4:41
Does Scott Barlow go to the Braves with Nick Anderson sidelined? Where else could he fit in? I assume KC would want to move him sooner than later.
Anthony Franco
4:42
Could fit on every contender essentially. He's better than any team's eighth reliever. Bullpen adds stack really well since you can just push everyone down a peg in the leverage hierarchy
Rounding the Bases
4:42
What could the Royals get back for Barlow - how high should they aim in deals (esp. with the Braves, who just lost Nick Anderson)?
Anthony Franco
4:43
With a year and a half of club control, I think a 45 FV prospect (not quite top 100 caliber but typically in the 8-10 range of a team's farm system) feels like an appropriate headliner
Madag
4:43
Kyle Tucker tries to sell Shohei Ohtani on coming to Houston as a free agent. Should this give the Astros some encouragement about extending Tucker's contract?
Anthony Franco
4:44
Ha, I wouldn't read anything into that. Tucker's around for two more years regardless and playing with superstar teammates (even for two years) seems cool
steven
4:44
I think the Dodgers should trade Devin Mann, what do you think? If they do trade him do you think an acquiring team will call him up and make them their utility player? One of my favorite prospects.
Anthony Franco
4:46
He's mashing in Triple-A but he's 26 and went unselected in the Rule 5 draft last offseason. Could see him getting moved for a rental middle reliever or a depth starter but there's not a ton of trade appeal
Dave
4:46
What kind of impact do you see Oneil Cruz having when he returns?
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