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MLBTR Chat: 12/8/21
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Anthony Franco
6:40
They could be legitimately willing to trade Sonny Gray to cut costs without doing a fire sale
I don't think they're rebuilding, no. If Gray or Castillo/Mahle end up on the move, I'm guessing they'd bring back a pre-arb big leaguer or two as part of the return
Jays guy
6:41
What good is the salary floor. Won’t the mlb just turn into the nhl, where rebuilding teams are willing to take bad deals for prospects and have them never play, and thus the team never actually trying to be competitive?
Anthony Franco
6:42
I think that's exactly what would happen, which is why I'm not a proponent of the salary floor
Will
6:42
Thoughts on moving Perez to DH when Melendez is ready to play in the MLB?
Anthony Franco
6:43
That really depends on Pérez, I think. The public framing metrics have never loved him, and I think there's a strong case for doing something like this just looking at the numbers from the outside
6:44
But that's a lot tougher if he's dead-set on remaining a catcher. He means a huge amount to that franchise and fanbase, obviously, and you don't want to alienate him by suggesting he move off the position entirely if he's not amenable
Jon Van Gink
6:44
Hey Anthony, What do you see the Phillies infield looking like next year? What will they do with Gregorius? Do you see Bohm being the everyday 3B or switching to 1B if there is a universal DH where Hoskins moves to 1B?
Anthony Franco
6:44
Still expect a move there. Philly's as good a fit as any on a Chapman trade, I think
6:45
At short, I could see like an Andrelton Simmons stopgap signing until Stott's ready
6:46
Can do a kind of quasi-platoon with Simmons and Gregorius too. Not based on handedness so much as that day's Phillies starter. Have a ground-ball guy like Gibson or Ranger Suárez starting? Roll with Simmons
On days when you've got Nola or Wheeler missing a ton of bats, Didi makes more sense, etc.
Pavin Smith
6:46
What is preventing the diamondbacks from diving into a full on rebuild?
Anthony Franco
6:47
This is a good question. I think a lot of it is just philosophical -- Mike Hazen, Amiel Sawdaye, some of the other top decision-makers there just don't seem to like the idea of losing on purpose as a concept
6:49
But I think they're also of the opinion (not unjustifiably) that they already have the controllable, young position player core you're largely hoping to come out of a rebuild with. Marte, Carson Kelly, Josh Rojas, Zac Gallen on the pitching side are to varying degrees the kind of pieces you can build a contender around
And so I'm not sure a rebuild gives them a dramatically better core in 2023 than they have already
Guest
6:50
what are the chance the Rays actually trade Kevin K?
Anthony Franco
6:51
I think this is happening this year. Kiermaier's guaranteed $14.5M in the final year of the contract, with a 2023 option that's reasonable but wouldn't be amenable for the Rays
6:52
I think we've probably hit the sweet spot on the deal where another club sees it as about value neutral and is willing to swap for a reliever making a few million whom the Rays like, something like that
twins fan
6:52
Who's your best guess opening day starter for the Twins? Are they on the roster already?
Anthony Franco
6:53
Wow, good question. Chris Bassitt?
They pretty much can't already be on the roster. I like Bailey Ober as a solid mid-rotation guy, but you can't go into a season with him as your top arm and reasonably expect to compete
Coolerking
6:53
Would a DeJong trade need to include prospects or money going to the new team?  Or does he still have value relative to his contract?
Anthony Franco
6:54
I think it's slightly underwater but not absurdly so. Maybe they chip in a couple million each year and pick up a mid-tier prospect in exchange?
Reacher
6:54
Will Like Voit be a sure trade if the NL DH goes through ?
Anthony Franco
6:54
I don't think it's a lock, particularly if Rizzo signs elsewhere
TRADE RUMORS
6:55
i understand that you guys only post factual things that happen, but your website is called mlb trade rumors. Rumors are defined by a currently circulating story or report of uncertain or doubtful truth. I feel you need to change your name.
Anthony Franco
6:56
Ha, I disagree with this characterization. I think we aggregate rumors, they just come from reporters who have a general track record of reliability, at least w/r/t certain teams
PATigersfan
6:56
Not being a smart a— here….   But…. What exactly does a hitting coach do?  “Let us try and swing only at pitches in the strike zone”.  “Let us work on that hitch in your swing”.  Guys have been hitting since they were six, and it is how most made it to MLB in the first place.  What “concepts” can be implemented?  Thanks.
Anthony Franco
6:57
I'm sure it varies team-to-team, but I think there's a lot to work with on data now
6:58
Something like "your exit velocities are down on pitches in the upper third of the strike zone. So let's find ways to either make a mechanical adjustment to your swing path that allows you to cover that pitch better or an alteration to your approach so that you lay off those pitches until you get into two-strike counts"
Bill J
6:59
Speaking of Rizzo, where do you see him landing?
Anthony Franco
6:59
Atlanta if they lose Freeman. I kind of like Cleveland as a dark horse on Rizzo too, maybe Miami
BhamBrave
7:00
Do the Braves extend Dansby Swanson?
Anthony Franco
7:01
I could see that, sure. Not really the kind of thing you need to worry about until Spring Training, but I'm guessing there'd be mutual interest in extending that relationship beyond next season
Jose Ramirez
7:01
Do I finish the 2022 season a Guardian?
Anthony Franco
7:02
I kind of lean towards no. But I don't expect him to be traded this offseason, so I guess it mostly depends on how they play in the first half of next year
I don't love the roster really, but I believe Steve, Mark and maybe Tim are all more bullish on the Guardians than I am
Guest
7:02
Will the Giants sign a player for over $50M total contract? If so, who do you think is most realistic?
Anthony Franco
7:03
Hmm, I lean yes but don't feel great about it. Rodón feels most likely to me
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