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Front Office Chat: 7/7/25
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Anthony Franco
2:32
Yep, they’re cooked. Ozuna needs to go, take what you can get on Iglesias. I’d shop Pierce Johnson even with the ’26 club option.
2:34
They should deal Murphy either at the deadline or next offseason. I’d be reluctant to trade Harris. There aren’t many center fielders who have shown the two-way ability he did during his first couple seasons, and it’s not like they have a great alternative out there. This season is pretty close to a write-off, though, so I’m surprised they haven’t sent him back to Gwinnett to rediscover some confidence offensively.
2:35
Albies might be a sell-low move but he’s been trending down offensively for a while, and I’d be intrigued to see what they have in Nacho Alvarez at second base. Don’t have to force Ozzie out the door but I’d certainly be open to moving him.
Hits Like Rays
2:35
What do you think are the most likely trade destinations for Zack Littell?  And what could the Rays get for him from those teams?
Anthony Franco
2:38
Fairly cheap rental 3/4 starter, feels like a 45 FV type headliner. Padres, Mets, Angels, Giants (assuming they have no lingering resentment over him trashing Gabe Kapler that one time) all could fit
Jesse
2:38
Ho Anthony, Thank you for the chat. Other than just cycling bodies through, what can the Mets do to address the bullpen? When would you realistically expect teams to start trading rental relievers? Mets seem like they need 2+. And sooner rather than later.
Anthony Franco
2:39
Trade market rarely picks up until after the draft. They probably need to weather it for another two, two and a half weeks before they pull something off
2:40
Agree they could use multiple relievers, at least one lefty. Caleb Ferguson should be gettable right now but if they're waiting on someone like Aroldis or Shelby Miller, that's probably going to stretch right to the deadline because those teams are on the bubble
Pirate Parrot
2:41
If the Pirates are as open for business as your write up suggests will they seek to open the trade market sooner than the norm?  Clear a few of the players who aren't under contract in 2026, is Andrew Heaney's market going to improve in any meaningful way in the next 3 weeks.
Anthony Franco
2:42
Just mentioned Ferguson but yeah, Heaney also makes sense as a guy who could go a couple weeks in advance of the deadline
Craig Mish the Dish
2:42
The Cardinals haved talked ad nauseum about this year being a runway season to see what they've got with the current roster. While most of the focus has rightfully be on Gorman, Walker and Herrera, Nootbaar is another young player with unproven raw talent that remains an unknown. In '25 his stat cast metrics are still great, but his results have been poor, and the Cardinals are overloaded with LH bats. *If* they chose to move him at the deadline (unlikely I know), what sort of return would they get? (this would allow Donovan to take LF permanently and open 2B for Saggese or Gorman)
Anthony Franco
2:46
Haven't really given a ton of thought to Noot as a trade candidate because I think it's unlikely but he'd bring back a good amount with two and a half years of control. Not as much as Donovan but he feels like a pretty stable 2-3 win guy because of the plate discipline with maybe a little more upside based on the exit velocities and
Glenn
2:46
What do you think the Rays needs are at the trade deadline?
Anthony Franco
2:48
Would like to see them add another reliever, especially if they move Fairbanks. (Based on our conversations before our first trade candidate list, Tim and Steve find a Fairbanks deadline deal more likely than I do.) Could try to swap Morel out while adding a more consistent right-handed hitting outfielder
2:50
Obviously catcher has been a need there forever, but unless the Rays have a surprise Sean Murphy deal in them, that's one I have a tough time finding upgrades at the deadline
Devin Williams
2:50
Oh, did I struggle the first few weeks of the season? I can hardly remember, since I've been on an absolute tear in the 1.5 months since then, and am now the only dependable high leverage arm the Yankees have lately. Will my free agency still draw top shelf reliever Tanner Scott-like money, or will teams still be a bit hesitant given how I started the year off?
Anthony Franco
2:51
Yeah he's back in Scott+ territory for me. Probably somewhere between Scott and Hader
2:52
I think there's a bigger risk of teams being scared off by the medical history (especially the 2024 back fractures) than his bad April, but he should do well either way
hey yo
2:52
who is the best SP traded this off-season? the Cubs could use a good pitcher or 3
Anthony Franco
2:54
Hmm, best one traded in the offseason? I don't think the Braves would move Sale, who you mentioned in a separate question (and no, he's already officially out through mid-August so he's not back before the deadline). Maybe Pablo López?
2:56
Also injured through the deadline, but he could be back for the final month or so. Twins are teetering again. Even if they keep the front office in place, if they miss the postseason again, I could see them trading a starter to deepen the lineup over the winter
Cambo
2:56
Is this the year the Phillies finally find that RH outfielder that can play every day?
Anthony Franco
2:58
Eh, I think you're looking at a Ramón Laureano type (low-end regular having a nice season) who can play semi-regularly but still cedes a couple starts a week to Kepler
Ewitkows
2:59
What would it take for the Brewers to get Suarez from the Dbacks? Black or Bitonti and a flyer?
Anthony Franco
3:01
Bitonti's a weird one. Doesn't feel very D-Backs to me with all the strikeouts and the questionable defensive fit. Obviously there'll be teams that really like the power though. Black's kind of teetering on Quad-A territory
3:02
I think the D-Backs would do better than that on Geno but I'm open to the idea that I'm too low on Bitonti. Big tools with huge strikeout tallies in the low minors isn't really my cup of tea
Brewer Fan
3:02
Freddy Peralta could go this offseason
But not to the Cubs lol
Anthony Franco
3:03
Haha yeah, that's a good call
Austin Wells
3:03
Should I be worried? I'm a great defender, but so is every catcher who comes up in the Yankees system, including Ben Rice and JC Escarra. Will one of them take the starting backstop role from me if I don't start hitting soon?
Anthony Franco
3:04
I'd push back against the characterization of Rice as a plus defensive catcher. Escarra, yes, but he's got a pretty limited offensive ceiling. I think Wells' #1 job is safe for a while
PATigrrsFan
3:05
‘a 45 FV type headliner ‘…. Does that refer to overall skill level based on 20-80 scale?
Anthony Franco
3:06
Yeah I tend to think of prospect tiers the way FanGraphs buckets players. They explain it in greater detail here:
3:08
A 50 FV is the kind of prospect who'd land towards the back half of a top 100 overall list. A 45 tends is outside the top 100 conversation but a good prospect who'd fit into like the 7-15 range on most teams' organizational rankings
Tony
3:08
Thanks for the chats.  Since the nats have a hole, how about mo for gore?  Serious question, for a team "giving runway" to young players, why are 40% of our starts going to fedde and mikolas. What could we get for either?
Anthony Franco
3:09
Not much, which is why they're still around. They could trade Fedde to open a spot for McGreevy, I guess. I keep assuming that'll open up organically with an injury but they've managed to go the entire season without a starter getting hurt
Buster P.
3:10
Should I cut Verlander and look for another SP, and what am I going to have to give up to get a good one?
Anthony Franco
3:12
Yeah I'd at least call up Whisenhunt if they're not going to trade for a starter. But I also wouldn't have signed Verlander to the deal they did, so Posey probably has more faith in him figuring it out than I do
ML
3:13
What do you think is the Tigers biggest need? With innings restrictions potentially needed for Mize and Olson to keep them available for the postseason and Cobb not being ready yet, I think a backend SP might actually be as important as 3B or RP.
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