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MLBTR Chat: 4/12/23
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Anthony Franco
6:34
The front office regime looks promising and they're going to get the controllable pitchers back from injury at some point
6:35
This year's going to be another disaster but they should start showing some signs of life in 2024
Southside Hit Man
6:36
Where does the money from the luxury tax go? Is it earmarked for something specific? Is it distributed to the teams that don't go over? Pay for charitable stuff? Lining Rob Manfred's pocket? I feel like this is something we should know.
Anthony Franco
6:36
According to the AP, around half goes to player benefits and retirement funding, while the other half goes to teams that receive revenue sharing at the league office's discretion
Kelpy G
6:37
Why didn’t the Guardians extend Rosario
Anthony Franco
6:39
Nothing to suggest that's off the table. Paying open market prices for probably the top impending FA shortstop doesn't feel very Guardians, but Rosario seems beloved in the clubhouse
6:40
I think it's more likely than not that they let him walk considering the upper minors middle infield talent, but it doesn't seem like a lock that he's gone
Fanthony Ranco
6:40
Could the Tigers buy low on  guys like Tyler O’Neill or Jorge Soler at the deadline and flip them in the offseason for pitching upgrades?
Anthony Franco
6:41
Can't do this with Soler. He can opt out at the end of the season. If he's good enough to have any trade value next winter, he'd just test free agency
6:42
I can kind of see the logic on O'Neill but his stock would have to plummet in the next couple months for the Cardinals to just give him away. Even if they want to deal from their outfield, they could probably find a contender willing to give up more than Detroit would right now
Skipjack
6:44
The number of walks seems to be relatively high so far. Can this be attributed to pitchers not having the time to decide on what pitch and where to throw it due to the pitch clock?
Anthony Franco
6:45
I hadn't noticed that but it's an interesting question. League walk rate is a percentage point higher than it was last April. Pitch clock as an explanation seems plausible, sure
John
6:46
When do the Orioles finally do something about their rotation? I get it may not be time to go all in just yet, but I don’t see John Angelos making the big trade or the big signing to get a true ace
Anthony Franco
6:47
If they're in the playoff mix this summer, I don't see how they don't add at least a mid-rotation caliber arm
Giants
6:48
Can you explain why Daron Ruff is back on the active roster? What is he bringing to the table outside of nostalgia?
Anthony Franco
6:48
He hits lefties and they've got a bunch of LHP on the upcoming schedule
Alan H
6:48
Too early to tell, but Cordero and Brito are boosts for the Yanks right now. What do you think?
Anthony Franco
6:49
Intrigued by Brito. First couple starts have been excellent and the minor league production last year was solid
6:51
Franchy has teased impact tools for multiple teams throughout his career but never been able to sustain it because the bat-to-ball skills aren't good. I'm not buying that one after six games
Bryce Harper Fanatic
6:51
Could the Astros trade Bryan Abreu?
Anthony Franco
6:51
They could get a ton for him but I'm not sure why they would
Yo adrian
6:52
Justin Steele has seemed pretty impressive from mid 2022 through now, but it seems like analysts aren't sold on him, what's the disconnect?
Anthony Franco
6:53
I buy Steele as a third/fourth starter. Don't think he has the ability to miss bats in the strike zone that put him in the top-of-the-rotation conversation but he's good
Just Fowl
6:54
It feels like BOS’ season is already at a critical point. No ace or stopper, hottest hitter hurt, high end acquisition struggling (Yoshida, 70% GB rate), top prospect (Casas) not hitting, and the plan B or C middle infield, Hernandez and Arroyo, looks horrible. The division is tough, and waiting for players to round into form may sink prospects of a wildcard chase. While Bloom may be to blame for the roster, is Cora replaced early in the season, or are slumping players replaced soon before the deficit grows too big to overcome? Team looks non competitive.
Anthony Franco
6:56
I'm more encouraged by the Yoshida start than you are because the plate discipline looks great, but these are all fair criticisms. Not a whole lot to be done right now -- there just aren't impact upgrades available in April -- but you're hitting on valid concerns about this roster
6:57
I doubt they'd replace Cora early in the season. They liked him enough to bring him back post suspension, and the big problems right now are all things that looked alarming before the games got underway
Appa Yip Yip
6:58
Is Matt Chapman getting the Semien deal this off-season?
Anthony Franco
6:58
Semien/Dansby money ($175-180MM) is where I'd have him. Tim thinks he's beating $200MM with a good year
Cincinnati Kid
6:59
ETA on CES and McClain to make it to the big leagues?
Anthony Franco
7:01
Depends on performance in Louisville but they should both be up this year at some point. I buy Christian Encarnacion-Strand as a regular more so than Matt McClain
Lt Data
7:02
What makes you say the Rays are the best in division?
Anthony Franco
7:03
Just think it's the deepest roster. They've got high-end rotation talent and a couple star hitters in Arozarena/Franco backed up by a bunch of athletic role players who can hit and an excellent bullpen
7:05
The Rays get talked about a lot as a team that's always good in a way that confounds people. It's kind of a backhanded compliment that I think does a disservice to the rosters they're running out there. They've got a lot of good players
Just curious
7:05
Where are you guys located
Anthony Franco
7:06
No central office. We just work from home scattered all over. Tim and Nick are in Chicago. Steve's in Minneapolis. Darragh and Mark are either in or just outside Toronto. I'm in Buffalo
7:07
Alright we're past an hour so I have to head back to feed coverage
Thanks for all the questions this week. As always, sorry about the stuff I didn't have time for
7:08
I'm on Twitter @affranco10 if you want to hit me with any other questions. I'll also do a chat exclusive for Front Office subscribers on Friday, as I do every week. I get to the vast majority of those questions
Memberships also come with weekly emails from Steve and myself on various topics. This week, I took a look at some out-of-options players who I could see being on the roster bubble at some point during the season
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