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Trade Rumors Front Office Chat With Anthony Franco
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Anthony Franco
2:36
I'm glad they're talking again, but while it seemed like the union dropped their most extreme efforts (huge revenue sharing cuts, earlier path to free agency), MLB came back with a very minor concession and a bunch of stuff that pissed the PA off. That's kind of disheartening
2:37
Giants player rep Austin Slater told Susan Slusser he thought the league's last offer was "disingenuous." Whether you agree with him or not, I thought we'd be past that kind of language at this stage of the calendar
Will in Westport
2:38
Given the combination of his age and his various surgeries (TJS, core, etc.) over the years, how do you folks project the 2022 performance of Justin Verlander with the Astros?
Anthony Franco
2:39
Obviously a bunch of uncertainty because of the stuff you mentioned, but I'm optimistic. I thought JV was basically done as an ace in 2017, and he already proved me wrong once
The last time we saw him, he was among the best three to five pitchers in the American League
2:40
And most notable to me is that the Astros -- who've had an up-close look at his progress throughout the entire rehab process and might not have a ton of money to play with this winter -- struck early to bring him back on a deal that beat our pre-offseason expectations
2:41
They clearly think he's still got top-of-the-rotation upside, and they've no doubt been following everything he's done for the past sixteen months (at least until the start of the lockout). So I fully expect him to be really good
Probably over 150-175 innings as opposed to his typical 200+, but still excellent overall
Robinson Cano
2:41
What do you see me doing this season---compete for a regular spot, strictly bench role, get released or traded?
Anthony Franco
2:42
I think he'll be on the Opening Day roster, play semi-regularly at second base and they'll wait a month to see how he looks
If he's hitting, then great. If he gets off to a bad start, he probably gets released
2:43
The Mets have other 2nd/3rd base options, and I don't think Cohen or the front office -- neither of whom acquired Canó in the first place -- will have any qualms about admitting it's a sunk cost and letting him go if he doesn't look good
2:44
But since you're not going to do much more than save a couple million bucks if you try to trade him before the start of the season, might as well see if he can still be productive first
Stormy
2:45
As Suzuki is not currently on a 40 man roster why can’t he negotiate with teams during the lockout?
Anthony Franco
2:46
Teams can't sign players to major league contracts either. So it's not just that if you were an MLB free agent, you can't sign anywhere. But a minor league free agent can't sign a guaranteed deal right now -- a la the Trevor Gott or Nick Plummer contracts from earlier in the winter
Duffy
2:47
What kind of return would the Red Sox get for Bobby Dalbec right now? If they really believe Casas is the future at first base, maybe they should try to move Dalbec…
Anthony Franco
2:48
Yeah I don't think there's a whole lot of value there right now. The league has really devalued the OBP-limited slugger, and Dalbec's coming off a season with a 6.2% walk rate and a 34.4% strikeout percentage
2:49
Could they flip him for something marginal? Sure. But I think that'd be closer to the Michael Chavis -- Austin Davis deadline swap with Pittsburgh than it would be for any particularly significant help
Question Asker
2:49
I hear a lot of people in my team's fanbase (go White Sox!) talk about trying to trade Kimbrel to the Phillies for Segura.  While the Phillies could use bullpen help, does it make any sense for them to trade away Segura when they already have so many existing position player needs?  I just don't see that happening.
Anthony Franco
2:50
I get the framework and don't think it's crazy, since the Phils do seem to really like infield prospect Bryson Stott, who's a former first-rounder coming off a great year at Double-A
2:51
If they signed Correa or Story, I could see a situation where they hand second base to Stott and move Segura for bullpen help
But I think it requires some form of investment at shortstop, and it's still unclear whether they have the appetite for that
AHIMSA
2:53
ARE THERE ANY CURRENT DISCUSSIONS TO INCLUDE MORE NON-PLAYING PERSONNEL INTO THE UNION/RETIREMENT SYSTEM, SUCH AS COACHES AND BULLPEN CATCHERS WITH THE LARGE INCREASE IN COACHING POSITIONS BEING ADDED BY ALMOST ALL THE MLB TEAMS?
Anthony Franco
2:54
I believe all those people are already covered?
This is from the MLBPA website:
"All players, managers, coaches and trainers who hold a signed contract with a Major League club are eligible for membership in the Association. In collective bargaining, the Association represents around 1,200 players, or the number of players on each club's 40-man roster, in addition to any players on the Injured List."
2:55
So while the PA doesn't bargain on behalf of anyone other than the players, I think coaches have the option to participate in the union. Whether there's any real benefit for them to do so, I'm not sure
neil
2:55
2 things that seem so obvious to me, I don't get why they're not happening: (1) SD sends Myers to ChiSox for Kimbrel.  Doesn't help the $$, but it at least gives each team a piece they need. (2) the Nats should be aggressively pursuing Correa if they actually want to win with Soto or at least showg him that they're trying to win.
Anthony Franco
2:57
Somebody proposed the Myers - Kimbrel thing last week and I kind of liked it, albeit conditional on San Diego kicking in a mid-tier prospect to compensate for Myers' slightly higher salary
2:58
I'm also completely with you on the Nats/Correa. There's zero indication they want to do something like that this winter, but I think they absolutely should look into that
Bill
2:58
If indeed Phils sign Story or Correa, is there a reasonable scenario where DiDi makes an encore in The Bronx for a year (or until whomever of Volpe or Peraza doesn’t get traded for Olson🤗). Yanks would send a pitching prospect such as Gil, Y. Gomez or Abreu to Phils to get the latter to eat a majority still owed to DuDi.
Correa or Story to Phils, then DiDi and cash back to The Bronx for a brief encore in exchange for a young pitcher, such as A. Abreu or Y. Gomez?
Anthony Franco
2:59
Yeah I wouldn't give up Gil or Gomez for Didi if I were the Yankees, no matter how much cash the Phils kick in. He was pretty bad last year on both sides of the ball
3:01
An Abreu -- Gregorius swap? Maybe, Abreu's out of minor league options and hovering on DFA territory if he doesn't throw more strikes soon
Bill
3:01
But that leaves very slim pickings as to the so-called short term solution at SS. Simmons? Whom else?
Anthony Franco
3:02
Yeah it's tough if they're really committed to sitting out the Correa/Story markets. Gregoius, Andrelton, Nick Ahmed, maybe Kiner-Falefa
3:03
Those guys would at least be quality defenders. So while I agree that Gregorius is preferable to Urshela, I'd probably rather have someone from the "no-bat but elite glove" group
Bill
3:03
BTW, does Volt have any trade value? Back to STL for Delong?
Anthony Franco
3:04
Some value but I don't think that holds much appeal for STL. Derrick Goold wrote last week that they're all-in on a DeJong rebound. I don't think they're trading him
3:05
Alright that's all I've got in the queue for this week, and I have to take over the feed from Steve anyways
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