JotCast | MLBTR Chat: 2/2/22

MLBTR Chat: 2/2/22

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Scott

3:56

Who do you think the Cubs will get to play shortstop next season

Anthony Franco

3:56

I think the likeliest solution is to just roll with Hoerner there

3:57

Unless you're signing Correa, who's the type of young superstar you make room for, why not see if Hoerner can cut it at short during a season where you're probably not contending anyways?

I'd rather do that than sign José Iglesias or whoever

3:58

Serious question - If the Orioles don't have a chance in the next 7 years, why should I continue to follow them and baseball? Does some sort of market-sized or revenue-based realignment make sense?

Anthony Franco

3:58

To be clear, I didn't mean to imply with that earlier answer that I don't think the Orioles have a chance to compete in the next seven seasons

3:59

They absolutely do and probably will. I just meant that the other AL East all have a chance to compete within the next two years -- which I don't think Baltimore does -- and a promising long-term outlook

So I don't know why you'd take the Orioles as the most likely team in that division to win a championship within the next seven years when they're probably punting on two of them

Nathan

4:00

Do you think the A's will be more open to packaging their guys given the compressed timeframe before Spring Training? Not Olson/Chapman as asked above, but maybe Olson/Bassitt to a Yankees team that could use a solid SP in the rotation or Chapman/Manaea to the Mets? How would the convenience of such one-stop shopping affect the return going to Oakland?

Anthony Franco

4:00

Packaging one of the starters with an impact position player is easier for me to see, but I still think it'd be more a situation where another team bowls them over with an offer as opposed to Oakland feeling pressured to get those guys off the roster

4:01

They'll probably have to hold a couple guys until the deadline. I'd imagine that's fine, so long as they ship out two of the bigger salaries before Opening Day

Jake

4:02

Bobby Witt opens at short for the Royals?

Anthony Franco

4:02

I actually think he'll be their Opening Day shortstop, yeah

I buy that the Royals are less likely than most other teams to hold him down a few weeks for service reasons, and he has absolutely nothing left to prove in the minors

2022 Season

4:03

Why are my comments always ignored?

Anthony Franco

4:03

This isn't intentional. I basically don't pay attention to the questioner name unless it informs the question itself. Just a ton of people in here, sorry

Erik Fox

4:04

Does Bobby Dalbec the 1st baseman for the Red Sox come August 1?

Anthony Franco

4:04

I doubt it. If they don't add a first baseman this offseason, I'd guess Casas takes the job by then

I'm pretty low on Dalbec generally though. The K/BB profile is really bad

Guest

4:05

Not really a question but an observation. Starlin Castro is at 1,722 hits and is only 31. You think there's a chance he gets to 3,000? I feel like no one ever talks about him anymore.

Anthony Franco

4:05

He got released by the Nationals after being suspended for a violation of the domestic violence policy in August. If he had a chance at 3000 before, that's out the window now

Tommy Two Ms

4:06

Is there a reason for the lockout. Couldn't the league negotiate without a lockout?

Anthony Franco

4:06

They could, but they're afraid of the players going on strike

4:07

Without a CBA, the players could've stopped playing whenever they wanted. That's pretty significant negotiating leverage -- imagine them playing most of the season, then going on strike in September. The playoff games mean a lot more to MLB (financially) than they do to the players. MLB wasn't taking that chance

Giants

4:07

Everyone wants the Giants to get a RHH outfielder, but how about schwarber to replace Dickerson? Schwarber has a strong OBP

Anthony Franco

4:08

Similar to the Bryant/Castellanos earlier, I like Schwarber a lot but would be concerned about running him out there defensively in Oracle

Bereft of Pitching in St. Paul

4:08

What are the Twin's plans to address the (lack of) rotation? Any trade rumors. Didn't do much in FA before the lockout.

Anthony Franco

4:09

No substantive rumors really, they've played things pretty quietly. But you're right, they have to add at least two starters and that's probably coming via trade

4:10

I think Minnesota actually makes a lot of sense as a dark horse candidate for the Olson/Bassitt (or Manaea) package deal floated earlier

Andrew

4:10

Cano for Kimbrel. Bad contract for bad contract. Done deal?

Anthony Franco

4:10

If the White Sox just wanted Kimbrel's money off the books, they'd have bought him out at the start of the offseason

4:11

Can't see why they'd take on Canó, who would add $24MM to the 2023 ledger, even though they need second base help

Eagles11

4:11

Will the Jays trade Teo over the next 2 seasons, as he is a FA, and the Jays will have payroll commitments for Bichette and Jr. among others?

Anthony Franco

4:12

I'd be surprised if they signed him to an extension, given the other guys they'd probably rather commit to long-term. But that's not to say they have to trade him either

Play out his final two arb years, try to win the division both seasons, and then let him walk with a qualifying offer

727

4:13

The Rays have won the ALE two years in a row and are still being treated by national media sites as if they could come in 4th. The team is largely in tact from last year's 100 win season and Wander will have a full year with Baz getting more than 3 starts, so what are your thoughts?

Anthony Franco

4:14

I wouldn't put them fourth in the division, but it's a tough one to repeat. At the moment, I think they're the best team in that group but I expect the other contenders to be more active in upgrading the rosters whenever transactions start again

fake GM

4:15

So can I assume Kumar rocker is a unrestricted free agent who could be signed even before the lockout ends?

Anthony Franco

4:15

No, he's eligible for the 2022 draft

Brew Crew Fan

4:15

Do you see the Brewers making an impact in free agency?

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