JotCast | Front Office Chat: 9/29/23

Front Office Chat: 9/29/23

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Sockpirate

4:27

With Baltimore and Tampa Bay being low budget teams and being atop the A L East, does it make scouting and player development more important? Is there something that Tampa Bay does differently that vkeeps the Rays competitive year after year?

Anthony Franco

4:28

Every team would agree that scouting and player development are crucial. They just have different ways to attack it, with varying levels of effectiveness

4:29

Baltimore had a lot of high draft picks and basically didn't miss. Getting Rutschman and Henderson in the first two rounds in 2019 is a franchise-changing haul. Kjerstad, Cowser, Gray-Rod, Westburg all look like strong value. They turned Kyle Bradish into a really good pitcher out of nowhere

4:31

Tampa Bay is really aggressive with their roster churn. That's largely a payroll thing, but it's also because they're willing to hunt value even if it means trading Austin Meadows (who wasn't that expensive when they moved him) for Isaac Paredes -- a deal that was largely unpopular with the fanbase but clearly the right decision

4:32

They're also just very good at not giving playing time to bad players. The depth of the farm system means they're always running out guys who bring something to the table -- even if "just" a plus defensive infielder like Taylor Walls or a kind of limited platoon profile in Luke Raley. They have guys play the roles they do well

Rockin’ Leo

4:32

How much uncertainty, if any, does Max Friend’s recurring blister problems put on his earning power in free agency?

Anthony Franco

4:33

Not a factor right now, since he's not a free agent until next offseason. If he misses substantial time next year, it matters, but there's no indication that'll be the case

Sockpirate

4:33

Anthony, what I meant by "more important" was in comparison to buying established players. The Yankees and Red Sox appear to be headed in the player purchasing direction in the off-season ahead.

Anthony Franco

4:34

I don't know that I agree with the premise. The Yankees stayed in-house at shortstop this year, they brought up a bunch of prospects in September. Boston gave extended run to Triston Casas and a full-time rotation spot to Brayan Bello. They've each tried to improve the farm system and integrate young players into the mix

4:35

They just haven't built the same level of organizational depth that Baltimore and Tampa Bay have. The O's and Rays executed better though, I agree

Julio Urias

4:35

Does he pitch in the majors next season?

Anthony Franco

4:36

No one knows the answer to this yet

John B

4:36

Logan Webb said after his last start that the Giants needed to make big changes to create a "winning culture". While I think most fans would agree, that seems unlikely under the current management. Feels like they are locked into the team that they have and it's hard to see that changing.

Anthony Franco

4:38

That's an easier thing to say than execute. I imagine Webb's referring mostly to the heavy platoon usage and their tendency to mix and match on the pitching staff. I think the front office would agree they'd prefer more stability in the everyday lineup, which puts them under a decent amount of pressure to land either Ohtani or Bellinger this winter

Stopper

4:39

If you had to choose between Andres Muñoz or Jhoan Duran as your stopper, who would it be?

Anthony Franco

4:40

Can't go wrong but I'd take Munoz. Feel slightly better about the strike-throwing there

BoSox

4:40

Has Brayan Bello simply run out of steam in his sophomore year, or is he really just a #5 starter or swingman?

Anthony Franco

4:41

I think it's closer to the former, although he'll need to find a better plan of attack against left-handed hitters if he's going to be consistent enough to carry 2/3 starter numbers all season

Big Bob

4:42

What is the most important upgrade (position) the Dodgers need for next season.

Anthony Franco

4:42

Rotation, corner outfield, potentially a DH if JDM walks

TheBeatlesShow

4:43

Hey, Anthony. Thanks again. Buck Showalter Hall of Fame?

Anthony Franco

4:45

The lack of postseason success would probably keep him out for me personally, but I think he's respected enough around the game that he will get in

The King

4:45

The Yanks' Michael King has had an amazing second half. Is this just one of those amazing second halfs that disappear, or is he the real thing, and will he be the team's #2 starter next year?

Anthony Franco

4:47

Putting him above Rodón and Nestor as the #2 starter is too far, but he has been so good as a starter that I've come around on the idea of him securing a season-opening spot. Would've guessed he'd pitch his way back into the multi-inning relief role a week or two ago

4:48

He still has to show he can work into an opposing lineup a third time consistently. Most of his starts have been five innings or fewer, which is understandable since they don't want to pile on too many innings

4:49

But he had the 13-K, seven inning gem against Toronto that offers hope that's a reasonable next step forward

TheBeatlesShow

4:49

Let's try again...Anthony, I understand the reasons behind the owners limiting September roster expansion to 2 players (extra salaries and service time), but I think 28 players is too low. What would you think about the limit raised to 30 or even 35 players?

Anthony Franco

4:51

I like it at 28. Never was a fan of drastically larger September rosters. There were a lot of substitutions that bogged the games down, and I'm generally opposed to dramatic changes to the way the game is played within the middle of a season

Billy’s Beans

4:51

Would you rather be the GM of SF, SD, or ARI rosters?

Anthony Franco

4:52

Roster alone, Arizona. If you factor in the expected payroll freedom that goes along with it, I'd take the Giants

Current greats

4:52

Rank these in likelihood of HOF, Kershaw, Greinke, Verlander, Scherzer, and Wainwright

Anthony Franco

4:53

Kershaw has had the best career of the bunch for me, but the first four are all getting in (probably on first ballot)

4:54

Wainwright is borderline. I could go either way on that one. I lean towards him getting in as well

Harry

4:54

Is 2023 Bellinger the real deal, or wa

was this an outlier?

Anthony Franco

4:56

Probably more of a low-20s HR guy than pushing 30 but otherwise this feels about right. Not the same kind of power he had at peak but he's making a ton more contact than he used to with good defense in center field

Andy Friedman

4:56

Will Max Muncy be DH next year? He’s kinda bad with the glove. Busch, Lux, Rojas, CT3, and Vargas plus Vivas as back up at AAA should cover the 3 infield spots left of Freddie.

Anthony Franco

4:57

Busch isn't a good defender either. Rojas is all glove. Taylor and Vargas could be good offensive players but it's not a lock

4:58

I think there are enough red flags with the guys you mentioned that they'll still wind working Muncy around the infield

Jefferey

4:58

Boras clients have had some rough years. Do you think Manfred is smiling?

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