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Trade Rumors Front Office Chat With Anthony Franco
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baby shark do-do-do
2:16
How much fun are the Phillies gonna be this year? Nothing but offense and fielding blunders!
Anthony Franco
2:16
It's an interesting strategy, for sure
2:17
Tim pointed out this morning that the Phils have done this kind of thing for years now across multiple front office regimes (like when they signed Carlos Santana to push Rhys Hoskins into left field)
2:18
They just don't seem to value defense organizationally the way other teams do. And in their defense, they did need help in the corner outfield and at DH and there weren't many better overall players there than Schwarber and Castellanos
Don
2:18
With the Yankees infield & DH set, will LeMahieu see a serious drop in playing time, or will they find a place for him everyday as a superutility?
Anthony Franco
2:18
I think he'll play more or less every day moving around the diamond
2:19
Rizzo, Donaldson and DJLM himself are all on the older side. Donaldson/Stanton have some durability question marks. There'll be room for all of them, even if a projected Opening Day lineup will have to exclude somebody good
baby shark do-do-do
2:19
Wtf is going on with Correa? I know big contracts can take time, but he's had plenty of time.
Anthony Franco
2:19
A lot of the big-market teams just seemed to sit him out
2:20
Yankees didn't want to spend on a shortstop. Neither did the Phillies. Dodgers signed Freeman, Tigers went with Baez
Red Sox's willingness to spend at that level is a question mark
Rangers obviously went with Seager/Semien
2:21
So we ended in this weird spot where the most obvious suitors have seemingly passed on Correa. Toss in that he changed agencies during the lockout, and it's not too surprising he's seemingly dragging things to the wire
Yankees101
2:21
How are the Jays favourites in the AL? Lost Ray, Matz, Semien and added Gausman, Kikuchi, Chapman.... They haven't improved at all
Anthony Franco
2:22
Even if you think they've mostly just treaded water -- which is justifiable -- they won 90 games last year despite getting like a third of the season from George Springer and having a series of bullpen collapses
2:23
Better health and fortunes in close games alone should make them really good, and there's probably room for someone like Bichette to take another step forward and become a true superstar
Old_Chief
2:23
Does anyone have a genuine idea what the Rockies are doing?
Anthony Franco
2:24
They think they're pretty good, and they identified (correctly IMO) that the offense in the outfield wasn't good enough
So they signed a very good player
2:25
I think you can make a strong case they should've traded Gray/Story last summer, moved Márquez this winter and rebuilt
But they maintained throughout they don't see it that way. If you take then take them at their word they're trying to contend, Bryant makes sense as a target and Dick Monfort was willing to spend for a guy of his name value
2:26
Are they actually good? I don't think so. But they're clearly going for it to some extent, and at this point, I think should seriously consider trading from (an admittedly already weak) farm system to bolster the bullpen and rotation depth
They're in too deep to turn back now
Hits Like Rays
2:26
Hi Anthony!  What do you make of the Rays relative lack of movement while the Blue Jays and Yankees have grown so much better before and after the lockout?
Anthony Franco
2:27
It's not super surprising to me. They were already at a franchise-record level of payroll, and the roster's strong across the board
They were sort of in a Cardinals situation where they didn't really have any weaknesses, making it tough to upgrade unless you're acquiring legitimate stars
2:28
By all accounts, they made an earnest run at one of them but just lost out on Freeman. After that, I think they're pretty much done for now. Does trading for Luke Voit or signing Michael Pineda provide a huge upgrade over what they already have?
Arise, Sir Loin of Beef
2:29
The Mets bullpen seems a little less than stellar. Who is available either via free agency or trade?
Anthony Franco
2:29
I could see them trying to make a run at Hader or Taylor Rogers, but I actually think the bullpen's alright
2:30
Díaz, May, Ottavino and Lugo is a pretty good back four. If Milwaukee and Minnesota don't end up moving those guys I mentioned (and I don't expect them to), then I think the Mets are probably content with what they've got
Luke the Drifter
2:30
Do you see the Rangers trading some Rookie infielders due to the glut of current ones and free agents signed.
Anthony Franco
2:30
I think the IKF trade was basically that move. Jung got hurt, so now you've got a season to see if Nick Solak or Andy Ibanez can be anything
Bill
2:31
How much of an upgrade would Sean Murphy be for NYY over the platoon of Higashioka and Rortvedt? What would it take to get him in a deal that excluded either seemingly available Oakland starting pitcher, now that they have Langeliers?
Anthony Franco
2:31
He'd be a huge upgrade but I doubt Oakland moves Murphy. They're not really tearing down, they're just saving money
2:32
And Murphy's making nothing and controllable for four seasons. I get they brought in Langeliers, but having too much catching depth feels like a "problem" they can sort out next offseason when they try to contend again
Bob T
2:32
Now that the Angels signed Bradley and Tepera how would you rate their bullpen? The pen seems to be well balanced and Iglesias is a lights out closer. The Angels seem to have taken a step up and should be in the race much longer than 2021
Anthony Franco
2:33
It's fine, probably right around average. Loup's a bigger upgrade than Bradley, love the Tepera pickup. Middle innings are still rough
thebeatlesshow
2:33
What the hell are the Angels doing?  Looks like they've given up signing any kind of credible starting pitching...or dealing for it.  It seems like they've chosen instead to sign every available reliever (that the Cubs didn't sign) and every mediocre middle infielder.  What do see as their over under on wins this year?  (I don't know that they can hit .500 again.)
Anthony Franco
2:34
I've said a few times I actually think the rotation's ok, although that's partially because I'm still bullish on Canning, who's now hurt again
But yeah, doing nothing at shortstop is rough
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