JotCast | Trade Rumors Front Office Chat

Trade Rumors Front Office Chat

Anthony Franco

2:00

Hey everyone, hope you're all having a good week!

Looking forward to another chat, let's get going

jaysfansince1977

2:00

Hi, a quick thanks for these chats!! Now my Question: Any thoughts on how the proposed 250 Mil renovations to SkyDome (Rogers Centre) may affect the Jays ability to entice more interest in players wanting to come north of the border to play with the Jays? and your thoughts on the Jays as a possible landing spot for Correa?

Anthony Franco

2:02

I doubt renovating the stadium has a ton of effect on player interest. Most guys are going to go where the best offer's put forward, and I assume players who might be reluctant to go to Canada aren't going to consider stadium upgrades enough of an incentive to do so

2:03

That said, I think Toronto's a desirable landing spot for a lot of other reasons: payroll flexibility to make competitive offers, a great young roster that should be set up to contend for a while. I think they're an interesting dark-horse fit for Correa. Wouldn't peg them as the favorite but wouldn't be shocked if they got him either

Astros fan

2:04

How good is Story defensively? How long will he stay at shortstop?

Anthony Franco

2:04

That's a question that's got its fair share of debate. The public metrics tend to like him quite a bit at shortstop, and he's got good range and hands

2:06

He's had bouts of issues with throwing -- both from an arm strength and accuracy perspective -- that have led some scouts to suggest he's a better fit at second. I'd still be OK with him at short for the next few years barring some absolute meltdown from a throwing perspective. I think you can live with the occasional throwing error if he's getting to balls most guys wouldn't even touch, but different teams' mileage may vary on that

RAGBRAI

2:06

Whenever things get settled how long do you think spring training will last? Do you think there will be FA signings after opening day or will we see the mad scramble like we did before Dec 1 deadline?

Anthony Franco

2:06

Both really. I think it'll be absolutely hectic, as it was in the weeks leading up to the lockout, and there'll be a handful of guys who don't sign during that initial run and linger in free agency through the start of the season

Oregon Coast

2:07

Haywood for Hosmer? Bad contracts, both, but Pads need OF, Cubs a 1b.

Anthony Franco

2:08

Hosmer's under contract for two years longer than Heyward at $18MM more in guaranteed money. I don't think the Cubs would go for it

2:09

Particularly given their competitive window. They're probably not going to be good in 2022 regardless, and 2023 looks iffy as well. Why not take the higher salaries on Heyward up front and have the books clear by 2024 as opposed to locking down a longer commitment with Hosmer

Parker

2:09

At some point the Red Sox have to take a big swing right?

Anthony Franco

2:10

Yeah, it seems they're at least lurking. They've been tied to Story, wouldn't shock me if they jumped into the mix on Freeman or Bryant

2:11

The chance to go big on a pitcher (at least via free agency) has pretty much passed them by. But they could still move things around on the infield to accommodate a big-ticket item, and I'd be surprised if they weren't at least in the "reported interest in Star Player X" mix coming out of the lockout

Hugh Murris

2:11

Besides Jeff McNeil, Dom Smith and JD Davis, who on the Mets 40 man roster have moderate value to other clubs?

Anthony Franco

2:13

I guess that depends on how you define moderate. Mark Vents and Ronny Mauricio are both on the 40-man. They're not elite prospects but they'd have value. A couple of the depth starters like David Peterson/Tylor Megill would as well, if the Mets looked to move them

WAR

2:13

I have often wondered why teams spend on a singular player, Correa as an example when the odds of that player changing games , win totals or championships for the contract doesn't happen. (Trout, Pujols,Cole, Lindor). Teams that seem to spend that money on depth, take advantage of a up year and extract the most (Moneyball reference in the batting cage)

Ginats while they fell short also opened themselves up to constant possibilities, LAA haven't won when they have Redon, Trout , neither have NYY or BOS. The list goes on, i see why the owners are reluctant to spend on players long term, maybe if the team could include an opt out clause as players do then that could drive the player to perform to contract?

Anthony Franco

2:14

I don't really agree with the premise. Mookie Betts helped the Dodgers win the World Series, the Nationals splurged on Patrick Corbin the year they won, etc.

2:16

You're right that baseball requires more than one star. Signing Corey Seager isn't going to move the needle in MLB the way it would to sign Giannis in the NBA or Aaron Rodgers in the NFL can

2:18

Nothing guarantees a World Series, but if I had the money available from ownership to sign Carlos Correa, I'd be in that mix. You just also need to develop around those guys and hit on some other mid-range signings

2:19

As for the opt-out thing, teams can include club options in deals and often do. But you're never going to see them for top-of-the-market guys. If you're Correa, why sign a five-year guarantee with five team options thereafter when another team's willing to offer ten guaranteed years? Ultimately, the demand for those kind of special talents is high enough they won't need to take that kind of contingent deal

Guest

2:19

How can the Dodger’s continue to keep a high payroll and why can’t other teams ? I thought ownership wasn’t making any money, How are teams like the Orioles surviving, or are they making and not spending?

Anthony Franco

2:21

Teams keep their books closed (aside from the publicly-traded ones), so it's impossible to know where there revenues/expenses lie on an annual basis. The Dodgers and Yankees have structural advantages associated with their markets -- better TV deals, gate revenues, etc. -- that I'm sure make them far more profitable that someone like the Royals

2:22

At the same time, I think it's the case that a team like the Orioles or Pirates could spend more but chooses not to. The team's bad right now anyways, and adding $25MM to the payroll in free agents isn't going to make them a contender, so they don't bother

2:24

What you'd hope is that they reinvest the savings they make during the lean years down the line as the young core from the rebuild emerges so they can supplement a more competitive roster in 2023, 24. Whether they will, only time will tell. But the Pirates' ownership group, in particular, doesn't have a great track record in that regard

Kirt

2:24

What is Vidal Brujan's role this year and how much does he play for Tampa Bay, please? Thank you.

rcra_cora

2:24

Do you think Clarke Schmidt will have a chance to stick with the NY Yankees this year? How about Vidal Brujan with the Rays?

Anthony Franco

2:25

Both Bruján and Schmidt both have options, and I think they'll be up-and-down throughout the year

2:26

The former gets about 300 plate appearances while bouncing around the diamond, the latter maybe 15-20 starts? If they immediately step in and offer above-average production then I could see a bigger role. But both those teams have enough depth in those respective areas I don't think they'll be forced to rely on them if they have some growing pains

magrupe

2:26

Would the Jays and Padres agree to a Wil Myers for Randal Grichuk swap? The Jays spend more in one year saving space for arb raises in year 2 and the Padres spread their money out over two years decreasing their tax probability.

Anthony Franco

2:27

I don't think the Jays would go for this. It's not crazy or anything, but if I were Toronto, I'd rather spread the money out over two seasons

2:28

They're trying to win right now, and Myers isn't a significant enough upgrade over Grichuk that I'd dent a big portion of my available spending capacity in 2021 (probably around a third, if you assume they've got about $30MM left based on their spending history and interest in Corey Seager) to do this

Jays Fan

2:28

Any chance we see a pitch clock implemented for the ‘22 season (or ever)? I love baseball, but even I am getting tired of the 3 1/2 hour games.

Anthony Franco

2:28

I'd guess there'll be one in the next CBA. The league really seems to like it

2:29

I agree, I'm on board. Don't even notice the clock in the minors, but the game's just a little more crisp with it in play

Trouty 27

2:29

Anthony, thanks for reviewing my question. Before his injury, Patrick Sandoval showed improvement in his command and his stuff. Can Sandoval be counted on to be a solid three or do the Angels need to trade for a Sonny Gray, Luis Castillo or other solid rotation type.

Anthony Franco

2:30

Yeah I like Sandoval a lot and broadly speaking, I like the Angels' rotation. It's the best group they've had over the past half-decade, in my opinion. I find the infield more concerning than the starting pitching at this point

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