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Front Office Chat: 9/26/25
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Anthony Franco
4:27
If that's the best that's on the table for him this offseason, he might as well stay in St. Louis again and hope he plays well enough this time around to warrant interest at the deadline
Guest
4:27
Most surprising season Story of Springer?
Anthony Franco
4:29
Story's second half has been wild but if you'd told me going into the year that he'd hit .267/.312/.439 with 25 homers, I wouldn't have been shocked. A little surprised he stayed healthy but I would've bought that he had that kind of talent still
4:30
I thought Springer was completely cooked with the way his offense had been trending. What he's done this year absolutely blows me away
Thompson
4:30
The Rangers have significant money coming off the books at the end of the year, with the potential for even more savings with possible trades/non-tenders for Adolis Garcia and Jonah Heim. What higher priced free agents do you think they will be interested in? I would advocate for a hitter like Pete Alonso or Kyle Tucker along with a bounce back pitcher like Zac Gallen or Dylan Cease. Then rebuild the bullpen.
Anthony Franco
4:31
I think Bregman's the ideal fit on paper, though I get why some part of the fanbase might not want it after hating him for so long. Alonso makes sense
John B
4:32
There seems to be a school of thought that it's not worth spending money on top end closers in free agency due to the risk. Would you agree with that?
Anthony Franco
4:35
I used to more than I do now. Still wouldn't be my preferred way to build a team but there are a handful of relievers who have multiple seasons of excellence and enough of a track record where it has worked out. The Edwin Diaz deal has worked for the Mets. Hader got hurt but we've seen how integral he was to Houston's bullpen since he went down
4:36
But I'd generally steer clear of that next tier down, the pop-up relievers who dominate for a season or two right before FA (e.g. Robert Stephenson, Tanner Scott, Jeff Hoffman). Track record for that three-year, $33-40M reliever deal is not great
4:37
Diaz is the only one in the upcoming class I'd feel great about next season, and I'd probably get outbid by being reluctant to go four years as he enters his age-32 season
Polar Bear
4:38
Why is everyoone so sure the Mets won't resign Alonso? He wants to stay and with the numbers he's putting up he's worth what he's asking.
Anthony Franco
4:38
I think there's a very good chance he stays. Just saying it'd make sense for the Rangers to try to get him
moose
4:38
J.P. Crawford's under contract through 2026 and still does plenty of good things as a ballplayer, but what do the M's do if his defense at SS continues to slide even further? Is there a world in which Colt Emerson is given an honest shot to make the roster out of Spring Training next year, and the FO asks Crawford to move to 2B?
Anthony Franco
4:39
I still have a tough time seeing it given how much they seem to love Crawford's intangibles, leader of the infield, etc.
4:40
Not crazy to me that Emerson breaks camp, but they could kick him to second or third (if Geno walks) for his rookie year
The Mayor
4:40
Would you agree with me that heads should roll in Detroit if the Tigers don't make the playoff;s?The second half of the season has been a disaster, the team needs a mini tear down. Who in you eyes won't be back next season?
Anthony Franco
4:42
Nah. I still think Hinch is a top tier manager. Front office had a terrible deadline but they'd done good work up to that point to put this group in place. Learn from it and be more aggressive next summer
Chief
4:42
How do you think the Royals approach increasing their offensive output? Four good players in BWJ, Garcia, Vinnie and Salvy (although advanced metrics don't like his performance), maybe a fifth in Jensen, but three big holes in the outfield..
Anthony Franco
4:46
A tale as old as time. They need Caglianone to improve, for one. I imagine they'll bring Yaz back on a one-year deal. He's solid and that alone is a huge upgrade over what they generally run out there. They'd make a good fit for Bader with the spacious outfield, especially if they've got Caglianone out there and need to compensate for his lack of range
4:48
Have to do something about second base as well. Should see if Atlanta's willing to move on from Albies. Clear fit if the Cardinals do trade Donovan (though I still think STL is better off extending him)
TheBeatlesShow
4:48
One more, Anthony.  How many teams (owners) are not going to be willing to sign free agents because of the loomin lock out in '27?
Anthony Franco
4:50
I doubt this offseason will change much. Even as the '22 lockout approached, there was a mad scramble. Players wanted security and teams were still motivated to improve for whenever the lockout was lifted
Cecil
4:50
How many years and total cost will it take for Josh Naylor to re sign with the Mariners? Same question for Geno Suarez?
Anthony Franco
4:52
We start kicking around numbers on the Top 50 next Thursday so I'll have a better feel for this in two or three weeks. I'd have Naylor around 4/75 and Geno close to 3/60 right now
4:53
No idea yet how anyone else at MLBTR feels about them aside from Tim's mailbag question on Naylor this week, where he wrote that he expects Naylor's camp to shoot for nine figures but doesn't anticipate him getting there
Unclemike1526
4:54
Ricketts has made it clear he's not thinking past 2026 or until a new CBA is ratified whichever comes first. what does that do to Hoyer this off season armed with his new extension? Luckily I think they are pretty well set and don't need much but what do you think happens? Thanks
Anthony Franco
4:58
Pretty deep roster but if Tucker walks, they'd again feel a little light on impact talent. Will be tough to find that on the position player side in trade again, so I imagine they'll be in on the top starting pitchers available (Ryan, Gore, Pablo López)
pitching chaos for everyone
4:58
Thanks for the 2-hour chat, Anthony! Let's go, baseball!
Anthony Franco
4:59
Yeah this has been fun but I need to wrap up here
Well, I can take this one since it's quick:
Wandering Chief
4:59
When does a team have to release players to make room for the return of players on the 60-day IL?
Anthony Franco
4:59
Within the first five days of the offseason
5:00
Thanks for all the questions! As always, really appreciate all of you continuing to support the site. Feel free to throw anything else at me on X @affranco10 throughout the week
5:01
I'll do this again next Friday. Enjoy the final weekend and the Wild Card series! Hoping for some Sunday chaos to keep it interesting
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