Front Office Chat: 9/11/2026
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Anthony Franco
3:01
Good afternoon, hope all is well!
Looking forward to another of these, let's get it rolling
CrosbyBaseball
3:01
It feels like the Atlanta Braves, based on recent playoff flops (not winning a series since 2021), might have the most pressure in the NL to not get eliminated in their first-round matchup. Does that track and who else, besides maybe the Dodgers, has a lot of pressure to not only get in but make a deep October run?
Anthony Franco
3:03
Yankees are obviously deep into the Boone era without a title. Phillies have had a ton of regular season success the last couple years but the playoff results have backed up
3:04
It's bad process to make overarching decisions based on the results of a three-game Wild Card series but some of those teams are going to feel like they keep running into the same wall with another early playoff loss
Alan53
3:04
No team that is 3 games up in the wild card race with 15 to play has a 96.4 percent chance of making the postseason. Fangraphs is simply wrong.
Anthony Franco
3:06
This is in reference to the Cubs. Feels about right to me, something like a 1 in 20 chance at a complete meltdown makes sense
3:07
Not only would they need a horrible finish (something like 5-10), they'd need both ARI/SD to have a great final couple weeks and those teams play each other in the last weekend
3:08
Cubs are seven clear of Pittsburgh, who are kind of lurking but only really a threat to the Padres/D-Backs. Bucs would need to sweep Cubs this weekend to have even a prayer of catching them
Sandy at 90
3:08
Who did Dodgers DFA to add DePaula to 40 man roster?
Anthony Franco
3:10
Hasn't been announced yet but Ronan Kopp has had a tough year in AAA so that'd be my guess
No Joy in Natsville
3:10
The Nats have spectacularly imploded over the last several weeks, going 13-29 and landing back into their familiar cellar spot in the NL East with a loud thud. And on top of that there's a pending lockout and uncertainty about ownership commitment. Please give me reason to hope!
Anthony Franco
3:11
They were playing above their head most of the year. I'd say 67-81 is about where they should be right now
3:12
And if you're in a retool, the biggest thing you're looking for is steps forward from Wood, Abrams, Lile, Crews, Cavalli, etc. -- most of which have happened. The back of the rotation and the entire bullpen aren't MLB-caliber, but that's stuff you sort out once you have a contending caliber core in place
Sandy at 90
3:12
Do you think that an acceptable proposal for players and owners to the salary cap issue is a large increase in the CBT, team salary floor in MLB, and a way to make sure small market teams receiving CBT money spend it on players and also player development?
Anthony Franco
3:13
This is just all stuff the PA wants, doesn't achieve anything from MLB's perspective
Mike
3:13
What is Jasson Dominguez real trade value at this point?
Anthony Franco
3:14
Not particularly high. Lower for me than Marcelo Mayer's was when Boston traded him this summer
3:16
He's young and has power, some success in AAA. There'd be teams interested as a change of scenery candidate but nothing to suggest he's improved the defense or the approach that have been the issues
3:17
I think they could get a controllable reliever or a mid-tier prospect if they're ready to move on
Tom Shopay
3:17
Are the Pale Hose going to call Drew Thorpe up this year?
Anthony Franco
3:19
Seems like they don't consider him an upgrade over any of their current starters. He's probably better than Urquidy but not a ton of appeal in using him as a low-leverage reliever
3:20
Fedde's been ok doing his junk-ball thing. Kay's getting knocked around lately but has been a serviceable fifth starter this year. Not going to bump any of Burke, Castillo or Martin despite their recent struggles
Cat_Herder
3:20
I know we're past the point of Verlander throwing meaningful pitches at Comerica.  But, do we see him hobble onto that mound at all?
Anthony Franco
3:21
He's still throwing bullpens. I expect him to come back for at least an inning or two in the final week
Give him the Charlie Morton send off as part of a piggyback start with Flaherty or something
Brewer Fan
3:22
Everyone talks about us being last in homers but since June 1st (or 3rd maybe it is I forget) we are 13th. Still not elite but it really seems like we are turning on the power as the regular season winds down. Think I have reason for hope that we can hit enough homers in the postseason this time?
Anthony Franco
3:25
Still a little skeptical about Joey Ortiz or even Jake Bauers being huge power threats against a barrage of great pitching. A lot of it's dependent on Chourio and/or Contreras going off
3:26
Great team obviously and they're as complete as any roster in baseball, but I still think their path is going to be more about winning a bunch of low-scoring games than slugging their way through October
RoxTalks
3:26
TJ Rumfield has to be in a top 3 position for ROY right? Maybe not in a position to win, but if he has a big September and Sal Stewart slows down a bit, it should at least be in conversation. He's walking almost as much as he strikes out on the year, 14.4% since the All-Star break, and 16.4% (!) since August 1st, which I love to see, ha.
Anthony Franco
3:29
He's having a hell of a year. I don't think he's going to finish top three but certainly an argument for him in there. Would be behind McLean and Wetherholt for me, think I'd have him a hair below Stewart for third
Above Benge for me though
Cardinals
3:29
Who will the Cardinals play at 3B next year? Jordan/Saggese until somebody (Baez) seizes the spot? Any chance of outside acquisition? Jackson Holliday or maybe one of the Mets infielders? Any outside chance at going for Sato?
Anthony Franco
3:31
Jordan and Saggese would be a real letdown.  Would be pretty surprised if they get Sato but I'd also have said there was no chance the White Sox were signing Murakami. We'll see where his market goes
3:32
I think the likeliest outcome is a stopgap like Baty or a Willi Castro trade until Jesus Baez is ready
Down Under
3:32
Casey Schmitt, Willy Adames and Dakota Jordan, with the Giants paying down some of Adames contact, for the last year of Logan Gilbert before free agency. Mariners get power, SF gets a clear #2.
Anthony Franco
3:32
No appeal for Seattle
Pat Murphy
3:33
If voter fatigue weren't a thing, I would win manager of the year again right? I know in the grand scheme that pep talk to Luis Lara didn't make a difference but man that was some kind of moment.
Anthony Franco
3:34
Yeah that was awesome. I agree that there's no particular reason to differentiate Murphy's work this year from the last two seasons but no one has any idea what to do with MOTY beyond giving it to someone who's unexpectedly good
And we can only pretend that the Brewers don't have a loaded roster so many times before it stops being surprising
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