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MLBTR Chat: 1/25/23
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Anthony Franco
6:26
I expect Rojas in the lineup at shortstop most days (assuming he's healthy after the offseason wrist surgeries). Lux primarily at second with Muncy bouncing between second and third
6:27
Once someone gets hurt, Miguel Vargas gets into the mix at third base and they shift things around accordingly
Hubs
6:27
Chances Angels make playoffs?
Anthony Franco
6:28
I feel better about it this year than I have in any of the last five, since they finally added some position player talent around their stars. Among a group of five or six teams in the AL that seem like they'll be in a cluttered wild card mix
Rox
6:28
The Rockies seem to be in the same position every offseason, where they think they’re one or two pieces away from contention without ever being very close. Is replacing the front office the only way to fix this?
Anthony Franco
6:29
Not sure that'd do it. Feels like an ownership issue
6:30
Owner Dick Monfort consistently broadcasts (and I assume genuinely has) more optimism in this core than they've earned. Even if they were to make changes in the front office -- which they won't, having just hired Bill Schmidt on a full-time basis -- they'd be hamstrung by ownership's faith in this group
6:31
At this point, I think they're too far down the road for a traditional rebuild anyways. They've cluttered the long-term payroll with a bunch of investments (Bryant plus extensions for players like Freeland, Senzatela and Díaz) that they couldn't shed even if they tried. Have to just kind of wait it out at this point and hope that the young position player talent which is coming through the farm system can carry them back to contention a couple years from now
Post-Credits Scene
6:32
What's the most meaningful addition that the Blue Jays can make at this point: bullpen, lefty-mashing OF, or SP5? Who do you like among remaining FAs?
Anthony Franco
6:32
A fifth starter for me. I just don't think Yusei Kickuchi's a viable MLB starting pitcher
6:33
Free agent market is picked through obviously. You're basically down to Wacha or Greinke as plug-and-play rotation options. Maybe there's a trade to be had for a Chris Flexen or Adrian Houser type
6:34
Getting another starter could have a trickle-down effect on the bullpen, since I think Kikuchi could be a decent lefty specialist in relief. Obviously that's not what they envisioned at the time they signed him, but I think it's their best path to salvaging something from a deal they probably want back
NYC Bobby
6:34
Tony, will any more notable players be dealt before the season gets underway?
Anthony Franco
6:35
Does Max Kepler count?
Lefty Grove’s right hand
6:35
Who would you bet on to win the final 5th spot in the A’s rotation?
Anthony Franco
6:36
Assuming the top four is Irvin, Blackburn, Fujinami, Rucinski, I'd guess Waldichuk gets the last spot
TxDude
6:36
Think the Sox work out a trade involving Barnes now that he’s been DFA’d?
Anthony Franco
6:37
Seems unlikely but not impossible. Red Sox would have to eat virtually all the money ($9.75MM) to do it but they're going to be on the hook for it anyways if they release him, so they should be open to it
6:39
And if Boston's paying Barnes down to like $2-3MM to salvage a lottery ticket prospect out of the deal, I'd give that serious consideration if I were another team. He still throws hard and can miss bats, and if you get him on the current contract -- again, paid most of the way down by Boston -- it comes with a 2024 club option that offers you some upside if you get him back on track
Wait until he gets released and sign him for the league minimum, and that 2024 option goes away
KC Royals
6:39
Will we trade Dozier?
Anthony Franco
6:40
Hard to envision anyone doing that. He'd be a minor league deal candidate if he were a free agent and he's still due $17.25MM over the next two years
Mets Fan
6:40
What do you think the Mets next move is, what they should actually do?
Anthony Franco
6:41
Signing a left-handed reliever
Assuming Will Smith costs less than Chafin or Matt Moore, he'd be my pick of the group
Jose Siri
6:41
Are the Rays content with me in CF or is a trade coming?
Anthony Franco
6:42
Not too many center field trade candidates out there, unless you're meeting the Pirates' massive ask on Reynolds. Feels like Siri's the guy
6:43
Kepler could work to split time in CF with Siri and in RF with Margot
Justin
6:44
Do you think despite the Michael Taylor trade, the Royals may sign another outfielder or two for a cheap price like Tyler Naquin or Chad Pinder? Cause outfield depth for them was already thin before the Taylor trade
Anthony Franco
6:45
Yeah I'd be surprised if they don't bring a lower-cost veteran. Running with a group of Melendez, Waters, Isbel, Olivares, Dozier is a little light
Sam
6:45
Who is the face of baseball 5 years down the road?
Anthony Franco
6:45
If he stays healthy, probably still Ohtani
6:46
Julio Rodríguez, Adley Rutschman if you're looking for the budding superstar type
Scott Harris
6:46
How long do you think I should stick with Torkleson at 1st? Should I sign someone just in case?
Anthony Franco
6:47
(Tigers)
6:48
I don't mind them rolling the dice on Miguel Sanó or something as a potential midseason trade type. Tork should get regular run -- it's not like the team's going to compete this year either way -- but if he's not playing well for three months as he was last season, they'd have to consider sending him back down to get his confidence back on track
6:49
Could rotate a low-cost pickup into the DH mix in the interim if they're willing to curtail Cabrera's playing time
6:50
Generally speaking, I'm still optimistic about Torkelson long term. His track record of hitting before 2022 was just too good for me to abandon hope after a rough debut
Alan Watts fan
6:50
What are the odds that LA cuts salary and stays under the tax this year? If they pay the tax it lessens the return on Urias leaving after rejecting the QO
Anthony Franco
6:51
Feels unlikely with the Bauer money coming back on the books. They're already over and don't really have an obvious salary dump candidate who's not going to play an important role on the 2023 team
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