JotCast | MLBTR Chat: 12/15/21

MLBTR Chat: 12/15/21

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Anthony Franco

4:57

I have a hard time seeing them finish above fourth really, but they like their roster more than basically everyone outside the organization does

Dipoto Claus

4:57

Do you see a major bat under my tree this year

Anthony Franco

4:57

Dipoto -- Mariners' president

4:58

Yeah I think they're getting an impact bat of some sort. They'd probably be my pick on Bryant at this point, Story obviously a possibility too

Cars

4:58

Kris Bryant usually puts up good OPS & OBP numbers by seasons end. I can't think of a time except 2015-16 when Bryant carried the team. Or have a good remembrance of how he achieved his numbers after 2016. Overrated?

Anthony Franco

4:59

I wouldn't say he's overrated unless you're thinking of him as a perennial MVP guy. Bryant's a well above-average, All-Star type player most years, as you said

5:00

He peaked earlier than most and probably isn't going to get back to his 2016 self -- he just doesn't hit the ball that hard anymore -- but he's still really good

The North

5:00

Why not let Vladdy try 3B again?

Anthony Franco

5:01

He was never good at it, and he's clearly comfortable at first

I'd leave him and let him rake

Bryce MVP 3

5:01

With Harper & JTR in their prime, aren't the Phillies in " win- now" mode? If so, why were they so quiet before the lock- out?

Anthony Franco

5:01

Definitely "win-now," and I think they'll be more active after the lockout

5:02

A few teams that were right near the luxury tax threshold (Yankees, Red Sox, Phils) were quieter than normal during the early stages of the offseason. Feels like they each wanted to see where the tax thresholds land in the next CBA before diving into a huge long-term deal

Sahil

5:02

Do you think the Orioles sign another starting pitcher to a major league deal after signing Jordan Lyles?

Anthony Franco

5:03

Yeah, although probably not anyone great. Chris Archer on an incentive-laden deal or something

Steve Nebraska

5:03

Do you ever see anyone cracking 60 steals again? Sabermetrics killed the SB :(

Anthony Franco

5:04

Dee Strange-Gordon got there a couple years ago

Teams are definitely less willing to run than they used to be, but I think there'll be another 80-grade runner who steals 60 bases, yeah

Brook

5:04

Do you like the idea of sliding Gallo or Judge to CF, then Yankees can get a FA corner OF? If so, who'd be a good corner OF to get?

Anthony Franco

5:05

I'd probably just keep Hicks in center when healthy and occasionally rotate those other guys through. Doesn't seem like they want to place a huge defensive burden on either Judge or Gallo

OriolesFan

5:05

Does Mullins match his numbers this coming year?

Anthony Franco

5:06

I'm guessing he'll regress a little bit, just because he was so incredible this year and it's hard for anyone to keep that up (hence literally nobody else going 30-30 in 2021). But I buy that he's taken his game to new heights and is an All-Star caliber player now

Rangers fan

5:07

Rangers over/under 80 wins?

Anthony Franco

5:07

Subject to change with other moves this offseason, obviously, but I think they're a sub-80 win team as things stand

Al Kaline battery

5:07

Does Rick Porcello have a chance to sign a MLB deal anymore?

Anthony Franco

5:08

I have no idea if Porcello wants to continue playing -- we've basically heard nothing on him for over a year -- but he'd need to take a minor league deal at this point if he did come back

Intentional Walk

5:08

What kind of production could you foresee from Freddie Freeman six years from now?

Anthony Franco

5:08

Guessing he won't be very good at age-38, but that's the price of doing business to get another three or four elite seasons

Rangers29

5:09

What is a realistic time frame for Jack L. to be toeing the rubber in Tex?

Anthony Franco

5:09

Early 2023 feels right. They'll want to keep an eye on the innings next year, and his off speed stuff and command could be a little spotty any times at Vandy

5:10

He's really good, to be clear. But there were outings in college where he just overpowered guys with his fastball and developing more consistency with the secondary stuff figures to be a developmental priority for Texas

Al Kaline battery

5:10

Did Nick Castlenellos help his market by not signing before the universal DH is confirmed?

Anthony Franco

5:10

Doubt it matters a whole lot. I think the majority of teams were operating on the assumption of a universal DH anyways

Michael

5:11

Is there anything to stop a team from signing a player to a $300 million deal during the lockout?

Anthony Franco

5:11

Yeah, you can only sign minor league deals and MLB will veto anything they see as a circumvention of that rule

Mastermind

5:12

Here’s a nice trade idea that works for all 3 teams involved (Rangers, Reds, and Yankees). Rangers get Luke Voit, Eugenio Suarez, and Luis Castillo. Reds get Cole Winn, Michael King, and Josh Jung. The Yankees get Isaiah Kiner-Falefa. Who says no?

Anthony Franco

5:12

Rangers

Billy Beane

5:12

Ownership instructs us not to sell off players. Do we have enough of a core to compete with some discount veteran additions?

Anthony Franco

5:12

If the A's just ran things back with their current core, I think they'd be pretty good, yeah

Sandy

5:13

Should Pete Rose be in the HOF? Will he, ultimately, get in?