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MLBTR Chat: 2/2/22
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Anthony Franco
4:16
They've already got a good amount of money on the books. I think it's likelier they upgrade via trade than a huge free agent splash, but it wouldn't surprise me if they're mostly done altogether
Bob
4:16
Do you see the Pirates trying to make any moves to better the club? Hopefully for this year and not again claim to be rebuilding.
Anthony Franco
4:17
Nah, they're still rebuilding. I'd sign a second baseman and an outfielder to minor league deals, but I think the current roster is mostly what you'll get
Red Sox
4:17
Better chance of being a high end starter, Houck or Whitlock?
Anthony Franco
4:18
Whitlock seems likelier to me. Still think Houck would have trouble as a traditional starter based on the arm slot giving such an early look to left-handed hitters
4:19
But he was awesome last year, to his credit. If he does that again, I'll concede I was just wrong on him
That guy
4:20
What do you think the "drop dead" date is before we start missing regular season games?
Anthony Franco
4:20
March 1 to start the season on time. Like March 8 to play a full 162? Could see them starting the season a few days late and scheduling some doubleheaders to compensate if it falls between those dates
Mr. Burrito
4:21
Would it be a smart bet for the Dodgers to re-up Bellinger now, after a horrible year, than to ride out a possible comeback and re-up then? I know it would be a huge gamble, but getting the version of Bellinger that existed until last year for a slump/injury price also could be a huge value.
Anthony Franco
4:21
Takes two to tango, though. I doubt Bellinger wants to do something like this. He's already banked huge career earnings, so he should be able to afford to bet on himself
Deep thoughts in the snow
4:21
Any chance IKF stays at SS in Texas? Seager 3B semien 2B
Anthony Franco
4:22
Seager's the shortstop. I think IKF moves to third early in the season and becomes a utility guy after Jung comes up
Guest
4:23
If Goldschmidt compiles a few more seasons of over 3-4 WAR, he's a HOFer, right? Quiet greatness.
Anthony Franco
4:24
I think he's on that track. Probably needs to get to 2000 hits (which shouldn't be much of a problem) and 350 homers and I'd guess he eventually gets in
As you said, just a quietly awesome player on both sides of the ball year in and year out
Ben
4:25
Check out Dalbec's Baseball Savant page and similar hitters and tell me if you're still low. He has better plate discipline than the K/BB last year would indicate.
Anthony Franco
4:26
I've had a few people push back on Dalbec based on the batted ball metrics. He hits the ball super hard, I get why people like him. But he's got a career 18.5% swinging strike rate, which is almost three points higher than Miguel Sanó's career mark
4:28
Even if he walks a bit more, I think he's a Sanó type of player, which is fine but not a core piece
TC
4:29
Last triple crown was in 2012, Miguel Cabrera, first in 45 years.  Any current player a threat to hit for a triple crown?
Anthony Franco
4:30
Vlad Jr. flirted with this for a while last year right? Wouldn't shock me if he does it at some point in his career
Aris B.
4:30
Is the Bryant to Colorado hype real? I've been reading more into it and it seems that the organization would want to add him for the bat, but it's unclear where he would play
Anthony Franco
4:31
They could play him at either third (if they move McMahon up to shortstop) or in the corner outfield, but I doubt they'll spend at that level
Aris B.
4:32
Is there any undervalued relievers high on your board for next year?
Anthony Franco
4:33
I'm not sure if this is supposed to be from a fantasy perspective, in which case these guys probably aren't super helpful. But just from a straight productivity standpoint, I was really intrigued by San Diego's flier on Luis García after what he did in St. Louis and I think Connor Brogdon could be really good
MoJo JoeJoe
4:33
If you had the choice of having 1 game or your life, what would you choose?…Perfect game? 5 Home runs? Hit for cycle?
Anthony Franco
4:34
Definitely not the cycle. I think the perfect game, just because that really builds in anticipation as it goes and can vanish on any given pitch
But you could sell me on the five-homer game, since you'd be literally the only person to ever achieve that
Fredbird
4:35
Any chance the Cards look at SP surplus in OAK? Not sold on rotation
Anthony Franco
4:36
Seems like the bullpen's the bigger focus there. I think they generally like the starting five and would probably look more into depth pickups than an impact guy like that
Twinssss
4:37
From last week: Dark horse MVP and Cy Young picks?
Anthony Franco
4:38
Not sure if these are far enough off the board to be true "dark horses" but I'll go Kyle Tucker and Willy Adames for MVP
4:39
Neither guy has ever finished in the top 15 in MVP voting, so I think that's right on the border between "vaguely plausible" but "unlikely"
4:40
Cy Young was tougher, particularly in the NL. Alek Manoah was the guy who stood out in the AL though
4:41
Best I had in the NL was Joe Musgrove, who's never gotten a CY vote or played in an All-Star game but is consistently just really good
Alright everyone, we're past ninety minutes on this, so I've gotta wrap it up
4:42
Apologies for all the things I couldn't get to, had around 550 people in here at peak
I chat with Front Office subscribers every Friday afternoon and answer a significantly higher percentage of questions in those given the much smaller queue
If that's of interest, here's a link to our membership page
I'm also on Twitter @affranco10. I try to get back to people within a day or two on there if you want to ask me anything
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