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MLBTR Chat: 2/1/23
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didi and simba
2:27
Are we through?
Anthony Franco
2:27
Just depends on their appetite for a minor league contract. They could certainly get a non-roster spring invite if they wanted them
This is Gregorius and Andrelton Simmons, to be clear
Jed Hoyer
2:28
Who swings a trade for one of Madrigal or McKinstry?
Anthony Franco
2:28
McKinstry's out of options and didn't hit last year. He's just a roster bubble guy for me
2:31
Madrigal's interesting and a guy teams could take a look at if the Cubs are willing to sell low. The White Sox speculation is probably overblown given their previous ties but does make some sense. Boston fits, a non-contender like Detroit could give him a look
2:32
The profile feels very Royals too, although they might just think Michael Massey's better
Guardians
2:32
This is the.year. No shift. JRam is AL MVP
Anthony Franco
2:33
I don't think you even need the shift ban to make the argument for it. He wasn't going to win last year with what Judge did but he was trending towards a top three finish before the hand injury
Sensei
2:33
Do you ever see a time where MLB allows teams to designate one player every 5 years and it not count against the lux tax?
Anthony Franco
2:34
Not something I think the smaller-market owners would sign off on
cpins
2:34
You guys recently reported that Khalil Lee is being investigated by Major League Baseball under the league’s domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy.  He's looked like a borderline 40-man roster-worth guy the past 10 months.  Does the investigation limit what the Mets can do with his roster-spot?
Anthony Franco
2:35
During domestic violence allegations, it's not uncommon for the player to eventually get placed on administrative leave (which temporarily removes them from the 40-man roster). Any suspension puts them on the restricted list, which also takes them off the 40 for as long as it runs
Another Dana Brown
2:36
Do you edit any of the questions that you get?
Anthony Franco
2:36
Haha I do not
Seiya Suzuki
2:36
I put up a wrC+ of 116 my rookie year while making all kinds of adjustments. What are the chances I can make that 130 in my sophomore season? Would make a massive difference in the Cubs' outlook
Anthony Franco
2:37
Yeah I think that's doable. Power, patience, the bat-to-ball skills translated against MLB pitching
2:38
I'm all in on Suzuki as a middle-of-the-order caliber bat. Probably my favorite move of the Cubs' last two offseasons
Err Fryar
2:38
It seems like when players opt out it’s a good call but not always… has Profar backed himself into a bad corner?
Anthony Franco
2:39
I think the opt-out was a no-brainer. Still expect him to top 1/$6.5MM, it's just not that much money in today's spending environment. Given the lack of activity on the market, it seems likely his camp overshot things on the initial asking price but I'd be surprised if he doesn't come out slightly ahead of where he would've been with San Diego
2:40
I'd put him around Trey Mancini money at this point -- 2/$14MM with another opt-out chance next winter feels right. He's not the most exciting player in the world but he's a perfectly fine everyday left fielder
ManBearPig
2:41
What do ChiSox do if they're not contending in June? Blow it up? Try for a big trade? Stand pat? I don't see a lot of good outcomes for this team...
Anthony Franco
2:42
Yeah it's an interesting dilemma and certainly not out of the realm of possibility. They'd have to listen on the rentals like Giolito and Reynaldo López and if they underperform for a second straight year in a relatively weak division, it's a fair question whether this group can get where they need to go
2:43
I don't know if they'd truly blow it up but expect there'd at least be plausible reports of them taking offers on Tim Anderson, Kendall Graveman, etc.
JimO
2:43
Where do we project Aaron Ashby to be this year?  In the starting rotation or in the bullpen?
Anthony Franco
2:44
I expect Milwaukee trades one of Houser or Lauer (probably the former) to get Ashby into the rotation
2:45
Ashby will probably get some tandem work and come in as a bulk type behind openers, etc., but functionally, I think he'll be more of a "starter" than a "reliever"
SandyIsTheGreatest
2:46
Lux is now SS for LA so Michael Bush is new 2B?
Anthony Franco
2:46
Friedman said over the weekend they want to give Miguel Vargas a look at second with Lux at shortstop. I remain skeptical about how long Lux holds up on the left side of the infield given his arm but that feels like the starting point
2:47
Busch probably starts in OKC but I'd get him some more left field work down there. I have a full post on the Dodgers' outfield options aside from Mookie that'll hit the site in the next couple hours
Underdogs
2:48
The question about Matt Wisler got me thinking - teams seem more willing to jettison pitchers who post nice ERAs and WHIPs because of velocity concerns or BB/K rates or K rates. I understand that they can be indicators of problems ahead but isn't that putting the cart before the horse? Keep guys with potential and let loose guys actually getting the work done, even if they are doing it in concerning ways?
Anthony Franco
2:49
I'd make the opposite argument that if you believe a player's going to see his production fall off, why not move on before that happens? Something to the effect of that Bill Belichick quote about it better to move on too early than too late
Trog
2:50
If you were to assemble a team of remaining FAs (C Sanchez, 1B Gurriel, 2B Solano, SS Andrus, 3B Moustakas, LF Profar, CF Bradley, RF Naquin, DH Sano, SP Wacha, Pineda, Bundy, Minor, Kuhl, RP Britton, Chafin, Moore, Fulmer, Harris, Will Smith, Bradley) ... which MLB teams would they finish with a better record than?
Anthony Franco
2:50
Answered a similar question a few weeks back, I think. Pretty sure the answer to this is none of them
2:51
It'd be a decent bullpen and the rest of the roster would be really bad. It's a bunch of pitch-to-contact starters in front of an aging team that'd be pretty rough defensively, by and large
Tyler
2:52
Edward Cabrera or Braxton Garrett for Marlins 5th starter?
Anthony Franco
2:52
I'd give Garrett the first shot with Cabrera in the bullpen to start
2:53
They'd both be in the rotation before long because of injuries obviously
Dub
2:53
Anthony: Good Afternoon. Would you judge the Marlins off season as a success?
Anthony Franco
2:55
Broad question that depends on how you define success. I think they're better than they were at the end of last season. Liked the Arraez trade well enough (I know Steve feels differently on that one), don't mind the willingness to experiment with Jazz in center field given the lack of alternatives at that position
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