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Front Office Chat: 9/9/22
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Anthony Franco
2:44
As far as the roster itself, there are a lot of holes on the position player side that have to be addressed
2:45
Max Stassi regressed this year, so you at least want a better 1B than Kurt Suzuki. Probably have to give Jared Walsh another shot given his pre-2022 success and how much is to be done on the rest of the roster. Need at least one new middle infielder who can push Rengifo to a utility role
2:47
Rengifo's been alright this season and maybe he plays his way into everyday reps eventually, but between the injury histories of Rendon and Fletcher, there'd probably be playing time if that happens
2:48
Could use a veteran corner outfielder to complement Adell, some bullpen help. It's a lot
2:49
On the plus side, hadn't realized how great Logan O'Hoppe's been at Double-A since they acquired him. I guess he's a more viable 2023 catcher than I'd realized, maybe you just push Stassi to the backup role
But the infield/bullpen/corner outfield are all pretty problematic
Tony Kubek
2:49
What's the future look like for Michael Kopech and Garrett Whitlock? Bullpen? Closer? Starter? And whatever the role, will either turn out to be All-Stars?
Anthony Franco
2:50
I like Whitlock in the multi-inning relief role, and it seems the Red Sox prefer him there too. Yeah, I think he's an All-Star caliber reliever already basically
2:51
I think Kopech might also wind up being more effective in the bullpen but they'll probably give him another season to continue building reps in the rotation before making that call. He's looked promising as a starter, just seems to have hit a wall recently
Which is totally understandable since he threw 69 1/3 innings last year and didn't pitch at all from 2019-20 because of Tommy John/COVID
Arthur Dent
2:51
The wild card contenders are starting to separate themselves from the pack.  If you had to speculate, how do you see the the first round of the playoffs shaking out?  Can any one of the WC teams take it all.  I’m starting to get pretty bullish on the Mariners.
Anthony Franco
2:53
They all could take it all, that's just kind of how the MLB postseason works. Last September, I think most people would've called the Braves the worst playoff team. I remember getting chat questions complaining about how Dodgers - Giants couldn't be the NLCS
2:54
Here's how I'd rank them though:

  1. NL East loser
  2. Rays
  3. Padres
  4. Mariners
  5. Blue Jays
  6. Phillies/Brewers
MikeD
2:54
Can Vinnie Pasquantino, Nick Pratto, Sal Perez and MJ Melendez all exist in the same team and play regularly?
Anthony Franco
2:55
I don't see how they can all play regularly, but there's a good chance one of the young guys (Pratto most likely) just doesn't play well enough to warrant everyday playing time
And at that point, then yeah, you can keep all three between catcher/first base/DH/some corner outfield work
Sully
2:55
If the Sox let Bogaerts walk, who starts at SS in '23?  I mean, besides Dalbec, obviously.
Anthony Franco
2:56
Haha yeah I'd have taken the under on 0.5 MLB starts at shortstop for Bobby Dalbec, would've lost
2:57
I think they'll wind up kicking Story back across the bag while playing matchups at second base between Hernández and a Brando Drury-esque free agent
Moose Skowron
2:57
Is Miguel Andujar actually going to get a chance to play with his call-up this week? Why do the Yankees hate him so much?
Anthony Franco
2:57
Doubt it, he's just an up-and-down guy for them
2:58
It's tough because he hasn't performed well enough since 2018 to warrant everyday playing time. But you can argue they haven't given that chance, and I'm sure it's difficult to get into a rhythm when you're playing as infrequently as he has
Think he just needs a change of scenery
Guest
2:58
Loving that the Nats are giving a lot of their rookies (young and old) some time in the majors. At what point do you go from a small sample size that can't be reliably projected to the future to: wow, he's good and part of the future....or damn, he just isn't good enough. A full season for pitchers and a half season for position players?
Anthony Franco
2:59
Wouldn't say there's a hard-and-fast rule. All kind of depends on the scope of the production right? If he's a position player striking out 40% of the time but posting decent overall results for three months because he's hitting .380 on balls in play, I wouldn't really buy it
3:00
If it's a pitcher who's got a 2.85 ERA but doesn't miss bats, kind of a similar story
Broadly speaking, I'd have more faith in hitters who have strong strike zone awareness and bat-to-ball skills early on
3:01
As far as pitchers go, if the guy's got huge stuff and is striking a bunch of people out, I'd buy in almost immediately
Bochy's Ghost
3:01
What do you and the MLBTR staff the cost of the Giants retaining Carlos Rodon? Do you predict Rafael Devers testing the FA market, and what do you predict he will land in a contract?
Anthony Franco
3:01
We haven't decided on this but I like Rodón around 6/150
3:02
Steve and Tim are almost assuredly going to push that number down for our final predictions. I was highest on him last winter -- too high in retrospect, although they were too low (but closer) -- and expect I will be again
3:03
It's mostly a philosophical thing. I kind of shrug at injuries and just want to bet on talent, since everyone's an injury red flag to some degree. They value durability track records more than I do
Peter R
3:03
In view of the collapse of NYY and the poor trade results,  do you think Cashman is on a hot seat? Also do you think they will spend more in Free Agency this off-season? Right now the Mets are getting most of the attention from fans and they will spend again. Thank You.
Anthony Franco
3:04
I don't think Cashman's on the hot seat unless maybe they somehow lose the AL East and get bumped in the Wild Card round. If they win 96 games, take the division and make at least the second round, that's not a bad season. It just feels disappointing because they were on such a great pace before falling off
Do expect they'll spend in free agency, particularly on the top-end starting pitching
Brian
3:05
When are the key off-season dates this winter? Free agency, non-tenders, Winter Meetings, etc.
Anthony Franco
3:06
Looks like Winter Meetings are December 4-7. Non-tender deadline's going to be mid-November
The start of free agency is just five days after the end of the World Series, so that depends on how long the Series goes
Mo Vaughn
3:07
Who’s the next project pitcher for the Dodgers, a la Tyler Anderson, Andrew Heaney, etc…
Anthony Franco
3:07
Drew Smyly? Maybe they take a shot on Matthew Boyd's transition back to the rotation
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