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Trade Rumors Front Office Chat: 10/29/20
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Ronson
2:29
Will Justin Wilson be fined and/or suspended?
Steve Adams
2:29
I assume this means Justin Turner?
2:30
It will depend on what was bargained into health/safety protocols, but MLB's statement sure seemed to imply that he could be disciplined -- at least that's how I read it. I think a fine at the very least, and I wouldn't be surprised if he receives some form of suspension in 2021.
Ronson
2:30
oops. Yes!
Steve Adams
2:30
Ha, all good
Orioles just announced four players -- RHP David hess, RHP Branden Kline, RHP Kohl Stewart and INF/OF Andrew Velazquez -- cleared waivers and were outrighted to Triple-A. Hess elected free agency.
2:31
Well, the Orioles' announcement didn't specify that. But Roch Kubatko from MASNsport reported that, and he's as reliable as it gets re: Orioles news.
Bruce
2:32
Is there no deal that makes sense for rebuilding Halos that would enable a team to pry Trout away from Angels?
Steve Adams
2:32
The Angels aren't rebuilding
2:33
They aren't very good at building a winner -- or haven't been, anyway, we'll see how the new GM does -- but they've certainly been trying and will continue to try.
El
2:33
Ton of teams need starting pitching this offseason but there seems to be a lot of constraints in terms of payroll flexibility due to COVID. Once Bauer is gone do you see a lot of pitchers with favorable contracts being traded away? Any guess on who?
Steve Adams
2:34
I do think we could see some of that, yes. I'll run through a few candidates who stand out to me:
2:38
A's: Chris Bassitt, Sean Manaea
Mets: Steven Matz (though he could just be non-tendered or outrighted)
Phillies: Vince Velazquez (also a NT/outright candidate)
Pirates: Joe Musgrove, Trevor Williams, Steven Brault
Rays: Ryan Yarbrough
Rockies: Jon Gray
Royals: Jakob Junis
Tigers: Matthew Boyd, Michael Fulmer, Spencer Turnbull, Daniel Norris

Those are all arb-eligible, but I'd bet there are some pre-arb guys who'll be dangled too
Joey Lucchesi, Cal Quantrill come to mind.
GBS42
2:38
So, La Russa is back on Chicago's South Side.  How long does he last?
Steve Adams
2:39
Has to last at least a year, I would think. Well-- barring him doing/saying something so outrageous that the team backs out sooner, I guess, ha.
allphilly
2:39
How do you go about rebuilding the bullpen in Philadelphia?
Steve Adams
2:40
I'd start by putting an enthusiastic claim in on Brad Hand. Though not sure he'll get to them.
2:41
Failing that, I think they should be in the market for one of the top names -- go get Liam Hendriks -- and then just be aggressive in scooping up solid arms who are struggling to find deals that align with traditional market expectations.

That obviously depends on John Middleton's willingness to spend after such catastrophic losses, but if you are a team that is close to contending and has one true, glaring weakness like they do, you really could take advantage of the inevitable freeze on the middle tiers of free agency.
Senor Pelota
2:41
Any chance Boston picks up Hand on waivers and Wong on a multiyear contract?
Steve Adams
2:42
I don't find either of those scenarios to be unreasonable. The Red Sox are fourth in waiver priority but the first of the teams on that priority that I can see plausibly making the claim.
If that makes sense.
Basically, the Pirates, Rangers and Tigers aren't winning jack next year and aren't claiming Hand. The Red Sox could at least feign an attempt at contending.
2:43
And hell, even if they don't, Hand will be in-demand next summer on the trade market if he doesn't collapse.
Mariners fan
2:44
I see that Rusney Castillo if finally a free agent.  Do you see anyone taking a crack at him?
Steve Adams
2:44
Yasmany Tomas, too!
Someone might give either of them a minor league deal, sure.
Twinsfan
2:44
Who are the most under rated free agents and who do you think will sign them?
Steve Adams
2:46
It's sort of a relative term. I generally think there are going to be very good deals available at 2B because, as I referenced earlier, the market is so flooded every year. I think Kolten Wong is an easy everyday 2B with a high floor, but you might be able to get him on a modest two-year deal. Same thinking applies to Cesar Hernandez.

It remains to be seen how the market will perceive James McCann, but I find myself higher on him than the rest of the staff at MLBTR and think he'd make a nice Realmuto replacement for the Phils -- probably at something like 15 to 25% of JTR's total price.
2:47
The relief market will have tons of bargains, too.
2:48
Yusmeiro Petit never seems to get tons of love but is as reliable a reliever as there is despite the lack of overpowering stuff. Tyler Clippard was insanely undervalued last year and is so valuable as a RHP who can crush lefties with his devastating changeup, given the new 3-batter rule. Jose Alvarez has pretty anonymously been a high-quality reliever for years now and will be overlooked because he barely pitched after the worst injury ever
(Line drive to the groin)
When I’m 76 ....
2:49
I’d rather go Fishing every day or see the Country driving in an RV.  What is LaRussa thinking?
Steve Adams
2:50
He's never fully retired from baseball. He was working in the Angels' front office this past year. Guy loves baseball and would rather remain a part of it forever than walk away. I can't blame him. He can go fishing in the offseason, haha.
GBS42
2:50
Contracts for the Cadinals to keep the band together:

Yadi - two years, $12M total, games played incentives up to another $1-2M or so per season
Waino - one year, $6M plus $3M in games started incentives
Also, Wong - three years, $21M total

Seem reasonable?  Too high?  Too low?  Keep some guys and let others walk?  I don't see them finding $20M+ per year for LeMahieu unless his first 2021 salary is really low to allow them to get past Carpenter's and Fowler's contracts.
Steve Adams
2:52
I think Molina takes so much pride in his craft and his reputation that he'd want more than that. The Waino contract seems reasonable-ish, though he'd have an argument if he pushed for more.

If Wong was open to 3/21, I feel like they'd have sorted that out by now.
Joe
2:52
Larussa signing screams "Jerry making amends as he goes into the sunset".  He gets a year, then Jerry hands over control to someone else, and Hahn gets to pick from the castoffs in 2021, right?  And avoids the AJ Hinch controversy?
Steve Adams
2:54
Feel like Reinsdorf just didn't want to bring in a young manager and wanted an experienced grizzled "winner" or something. If he only wants La Russa for a year, giving him a multi-year deal was odd. It's not like TLR had other offers elsewhere. He could've just said "Hey I'll give you two million bucks to manage in 2021 and we'll see how it goes after"
Maybe TLR was only coming back with a multi-year deal or something, but it feels like Reinsdorf wants more than just the lone year.
Joe
2:54
Predictions on where Wilson Ramos lands and what kind of contract he'll get?
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