Front Office Chat: 8/14/26
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Anthony Franco
3:01
Good afternoon, hope all is well!
3:02
Looking forward to another of these, let's get rolling
Hits Like Rays
3:03
All of the Rays' starting pitchers are free agents in the next 15 months (Freddy Peralta and Nick Martinez after this year, then Drew Rasmussen, Shane McClanahan, and Griffin Jax after 2027).  What do you think the Rays will do about this?  I assume they will let Peralta and Martinez walk in free agency, then try to extend one or two of the 2027 class and trade the last one this winter to bring in younger talent...
Anthony Franco
3:05
I think Rasmussen gets moved this offseason because of the option escalators. Could see them bringing Martinez back, not Freddy. Probably going to need another mid-level FA add like that, maybe they built another reliever out given the success they've had going that route in recent years
3:06
Tyler Wells has been a pretty good starter. Can keep him in relief rest of the way this year and give him a rotation look in '27. He'll also be a free agent after that but helps cover for the shorter-term losses
Tiger Fan
3:06
The Tigers have been hot as of late, do you think they should have picked up a bat at the trade deadline?
Anthony Franco
3:08
I think they handled the deadline appropriately. Had to move Skubal with where they were in the standings, less so on Mize but when SD put Mayfield on the table, makes sense to pull the trigger. Hold all the other short-term guys and hope to still make a run
3:09
Different story if they'd have been in possession of a playoff spot two weeks ago but at the time they decided to move Skubal they were 52-58 with five teams to jump in the Wild Card
3:10
Credit to the team for not quitting and putting themselves back in position to compete for a playoff spot but buying would've felt irresponsible with where they were at a couple weeks ago
Fake Jim Bouton
3:10
Is Spencer Jones next year's CF for the Yanks?
Anthony Franco
3:11
I expect him to get the first look, yeah
Arizona
3:11
So given we chose to stand pat at the deadline then immediately shut Puk down…how viable are our wild card chances? Seems like you can basically guarantee 1+ of the four big injuries are going to fail to return as well (Burnes Gurriel Lawlar Martinez). And then 1+ won’t perform even if back… should fans just look at 2028 and hope the Minors have seasons in 2027 because they are a different union now?
Anthony Franco
3:14
Pretty bland deadline, can't believe they came away with no pitching. I know they put out the Holmes thing and there's probably some truth to the bad timing there but a) you're allowed to try to make trades before deadline afternoon and b) that doesn't explain not getting any bullpen help
3:16
Would probably have them around 35% to get in. Think they're a little worse than San Diego, about on par with Philly. They're a couple tiers below the Cubs or whichever division winners finishes 3rd who they'd play in the first round
Chris
3:17
Is it far to say that Bichette's opt-out odds are ~40% now?
Anthony Franco
3:18
Hmm, still think I'd be like 20%. Would be easier to sell me on it if he didn't also have the post-'27 opt out. Season numbers remain mediocre and he's coming off a bad July so it's not like it's been completely smooth sailing after the rough start
Just Wondering
3:19
Now that the deals are complete, which would you rank as the better return, the Skubal or Rutschman trade?
Anthony Franco
3:21
Good question. Think I'd take Skubal and defer to my high confidence in Hope's bat but it's obviously a lot closer than I expected it to be two weeks ago
Brian Cashman
3:21
I never spend big on the bullpen.  Do I make an effort to retain Bednar?
Anthony Franco
3:23
Agree this doesn't feel like a recent Yankees-style move. I'm sure they'll keep in touch but would take the field over him returning to NY. They seem very confident in their pitching infrastructure to develop back-end arms (justifiably given the track record)
Optimistic Giants Fan
3:24
Do you know of any organizational depth/fringe prospect types that we may have not heard of who have AMAZING names? Like Jhostynxon Garcia or Jesus Made but less notable/well known than those guys.
Anthony Franco
3:24
Ha, nobody's going to beat LuJames Groover for me
3:25
Tavian Josenberger's a good one. Had never heard of Dub Gleed until he got traded, big fan
3:26
Names themselves not that amusing but I did appreciate that the White Sox briefly had both Alexander Alberto and Alexander Albertus at one point
Josh
3:27
Dodgers bullpen bad luck or bad management?
Anthony Franco
3:28
Mostly bad luck that Díaz stinks all of a sudden but I'm surprised they haven't flipped him to middle relief for a while and gone back to Scott in the ninth
3:29
Roberts had the "give me another option" quote last night that was really weird
3:30
I get wanting to defer to the track record on the star closer you just signed but it's obvious that the other option is the one who filled in very well for three months and has a 2.25 ERA while striking out a third of his opponents
Prospect callups?
3:31
When do you think Franklin Arias will be called up? He’s killing AAA pitching. And is it possible for Sebastian Walcott to get called up in September to get a taste of MLB action and prime him to vie for a roster spot in Spring Training?
Green Monster
3:31
What's the latest on Kade Anderson's ETA in Seattle?  Thanks!
JT3 et al
3:31
How much does LAD need to struggles before they break the glass on their Farm?  Seems the last place they look for players esp relievers.  How about rolling some rookies out like we past years?  Missing the kids on this team of yesterstars !
Anthony Franco
3:32
Touched on a lot of these in the post this morning:
3:33
I'd bring Arias up now. Skeptical we see Walcott but if Texas is a game out on September 15 and they're still playing Nicky Lopez somewhere, well...
3:34
Dipoto made it seem like Anderson's the first guy if anyone gets hurt and probably in September if not so they can keep building his innings as a starter. Makes sense though I wonder if the 40-man considerations change the thinking if they're completely buried by then
3:36
Don't see a ton for the Dodgers. Believe that De Paula could hit MLB pitching right now but would require them to bench Teoscar to find him everyday playing time. Maybe if an outfielder gets hurt but they've also got Tibbs just biding his time in OKC
Beano
3:36
Anthony, I am interested in how the Cubs will or won't use Ramirez and Shaw next year. I assume they will not sign Happ, giving Shaw LF and utilize Ramirez at DH and as a utility guy. Does that sound right?
Anthony Franco
3:38
Shaw hasn't really shown the bat to just hand him the everyday LF job. Some of that's the injury this year but also reason for legitimate skepticism with the batted ball data that he might not have the power to play in a corner regularly
3:40
A lot of impending free agents in the rotation so they're going to need to be back on the trade market. Imagine one of the two you mentioned gets moved in a deal for a starter and the other plays a utility role
Brewers fan
3:40
Saw Made wasn't in that article, think there is any shot we see him?
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