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Trade Rumors Front Office Chat

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Anthony Franco

2:27

As for Sung-bum Na, I don't think he's generally viewed as a regular right fielder in MLB. I could see a bunch of clubs, K.C. included, looking into him as a corner outfield/DH lefty power bat off the bench though

Dave

2:27

Was surprised to see all 3 of you pick Kikuchi to the Cubs and not have them after anyone else. What specifically about him makes him a fit in Chicago as opposed to other guys of his caliber?

Anthony Franco

2:27

Ha, yeah, that was entirely coincidental

2:28

I think the picks where we were unanimous (Ray/Toronto, Canha/Cleveland, Kikuchi/Cubs) came off as connoting a lot more certainty than anyone of us feel about them

2:29

As for my logic (and I assume Tim's and Steve's as well) on the Kikuchi fit, he just feels like the upside type play the Cubs can shoot for. They have some money to take a small risk like that, and Kikuchi throws hard and misses bats

Jed Hoyer has talked a few times about wanting to get more swing-and-miss and change up the look on a rotation full of soft-tossing sinkerballers. Kikuchi fits that bill more so than someone like Steven Matz

West Coast Mets Fan

2:30

One would think after such a disastrous 2021 one would think that Cohen and the Mets will be very active this off-season. Why is so little activity predicted and not really any impact players (with the exception of Marte) heading their way?

Anthony Franco

2:30

They were my pick for Kris Bryant, so I'm with you. I think they'll be very aggressive, but it was hard to peg them on specific players since we still don't know who'll be leading baseball ops

2:31

Tough to say that Player X feels like a Mets' type of acquisition when we don't know who their incoming front office leader is

Michael Nelson Fish Man

2:31

MLB.com had Robbie Ray going to Anaheim. How likely do you see that being, given you guys unanimously predict he will stay in Toronto

Anthony Franco

2:32

Similar thing to the Kikuchi response earlier. We all thought the Jays would make a strong push to bring back one of Semien and Ray and liked Ray as the better fit for what they're doing

But I don't think it's any sort of fait accompli he's back, and I'd have the Angels among the top two or three suitors for him if he winds up leaving Toronto

Jeremy

2:33

Which A's/Marlins pitchers do you actually think get traded before opening day?

Anthony Franco

2:33

Bassitt, Manaea and Pablo López

RAGBRAI

2:33

Does the Hot Stove get turned down a very low simmer on Dec1st? When will it heat up again? Jan? Feb? God forbid, March?

Anthony Franco

2:34

It'll shut off completely on December 1, unfortunately

Assuming the CBA expires with no deal -- which looks increasingly likely -- they'll almost certainly lock the players out and institute a transaction freeze

Curious Cat

2:35

What team do you think will spend the most this off-season?

Anthony Franco

2:35

Detroit or Texas

RAGBRAI

2:35

If AZ wants to build around Marte, Kelly, etc does that mean Varsho get most of his ABs in the OF?

Anthony Franco

2:36

Yeah I think scouts have never been enamored with his defense behind the plate really. He's a bat-first player, and moving him off catcher in deference to Kelly might allow him to be a better hitter since left/center field is so much less physically demanding

2021>2020

2:36

What's going on with the Mets front office? Hard to follow all the updates. So they're not trying to get a POBO now, just a new GM?

Anthony Franco

2:37

Yeah, it seems like that's where it's headed. Not sure it makes a huge difference, since it's mostly a title inflation game

Hiring somebody else's second-in-command GM? Make him your president of baseball ops

2:38

Hiring somebody else's AGM? Make him your GM. It just gives you more flexibility in future hiring cycles

Lon

2:38

Are you Insiders hearing any rumors on the new CBA? Are we headed for a lock-out or is it, Play Ball?

George Hunt

2:38

How long do you think the baseball stoppage will be ?

Anthony Franco

2:39

I'd be surprised if the lockout lingers into the season or Spring Training. I'm hopeful it's over by the end of January

Guest

2:39

1.) What should the ChiSox do about right field? What will they do?

Anthony Franco

2:39

I think they should sign Michael Conforto, although I don't know the payroll space is available for that

2:40

I think it's more likely they sign a cheap left-handed bat like Joc Pederson to platoon with Engel

mmddyyyy

2:40

If a player's only outcomes were singles or strikeouts, what type of batting average would they need to be productive?

Anthony Franco

2:41

My first thought is like .400

Maybe .375

2:42

A player with a .375 OBP and a .375 SLG is pretty valuable, although this guy gives some of that back by never making any sort of productive out, so I'd probably go somewhere between .375 and .400

Donny Baseball

2:42

How likely do you think it is that the Yankees sign their shortstop before the lockout occurs? Also, do you see the. A

Anthony Franco

2:42

I'd be surprised if the Yankees jump the market. Steve raised a good point in his post on potential early deals this morning

2:43

Teams like Detroit and Seattle aren't going to come anywhere close to whatever the next luxury tax threshold will be, so that's not an issue for them

The Yankees will, and I think their front office will want to know what that ends up being before making a massive commitment like it'd take to get Seager/Correa

Tommets

2:43

Baez one of the first to sign to the Mets? I'm going to guess $110mil+ but opt-out after 2 years that gets him about half that guaranteed

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