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A's Outlook '23
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Anthony Franco
3:28
Hey everyone, hope you're having a good afternoon
3:29
Steve Adams wrote the A's outlook but I was recalled for the chat as the corresponding move for Steve's placement on the paternity list
3:30
I basically agree with everything he wrote, which was harsh but true. Let's discuss the bleakness!
A’s fan
3:30
Thoughts on Boyle for ROY next year?
Anthony Franco
3:31
I don't see him throwing enough strikes to hang in that mix for a full season
Will
3:31
First said today that they’ll be active in FA. Who is even realistically obtainable for them that’s difference making?
A’s fan
3:31
What veterans could we add this off-season?
Anthony Franco
3:33
I don't expect any difference-making moves. This team's going to be bad in 2024. I imagine they'll offer the closer role to a veteran like Michael Fulmer or Ryne Stanek, could throw two years and a rotation spot to Jake Junis as a similar dice roll (hopefully with more success) to the Rucinski pickup
3:34
They could bring in Isiah Kiner-Falefa on a one-year deal to play whichever of shortstop or third base isn't manned by Darrel Hernaiz by May
Guest
3:34
Worst season in Oakland History… does Kotsay stay at the helm?
Anthony Franco
3:34
I don't see why they'd fire him. He's had two years with the worst roster in MLB. Not sure what they could've possibly expected
Jay Belton
3:35
This is a hard question to ask as an A’s fan; is David Forst, or anyone in the Front Office, worth keeping around after this scuttle? How can any fan have faith that they are building to win? After all of the trades - they are no better off in the minor league system.
Anthony Franco
3:36
I don't think Forst is in jeopardy yet either, but it seems fairer to question the job he has done over the last couple years than what Kotsay has. Obviously he was put in a challenging spot by ownership, but the trade returns have been so bad across the board
3:37
I (incorrectly) liked the Chapman package more than most. I thought the Montas one was fine, really liked the Hernaiz pickup for Irvin. But only Hernaiz looks like it's working out so far. The Olson trade looks like a disaster, they got almost nothing for Manaea, taking Esteury Ruiz (and Langeliers by implication) over William Contreras was questionable at the time and hasn't worked out in year one
Travis Myers
3:38
I love the A's but MLB needs to have salary basement as well. That way every team has to sign some decent players in the off-season, but I know it will never happen.
Anthony Franco
3:39
I'm not completely out on the salary floor but I imagine we'd see teams work around it by acquiring dead money along with prospects from higher-spending clubs as opposed to never rebuilding
Angry A's Fan
3:39
Why fire Kotsay? Well, there's the poor fundamentals. The bad bullpen management. And the fact that none of the players that needed to show improvement showed any improvement over the course of a 112 loss season?
Anthony Franco
3:41
As someone who watches them every day, you'd be better positioned to speak to the daily bullpen management aspect than I would. There's very little talent in the relief group overall, though, and the roster is largely a collection of one-time interesting prospects who had stalled out in their previous organizations
3:42
I don't know if Kotsay's a good manager, but I don't see how you can fairly evaluate him when he's managing a team that's marginally better than replacement level
A’s fan
3:42
Should the A’s keep Tony Kemp?
Anthony Franco
3:43
Gelof obviously surpassed him at second base. He's miscast as an everyday left fielder. If they want to throw him a couple million bucks because they like him in the clubhouse with a young roster, that's fine, but he's not someone whose production they'd miss much
A’s fan
3:44
I’m assuming Brent Rooker will draw up trade interest this off-season. Could you see him and other players being dealt elsewhere this offseason?
Anthony Franco
3:46
Paul Blackburn probably goes, maybe Seth Brown. Rooker could draw a little interest but it's not going to be a ton. Big power but the defense/strikeouts have always been an issue and didn't get any better this season. He went on the HR barrage in September but struck out at a 37% clip along the way
3:47
Right-handed slugger with no defensive value and strikeout concerns isn't a profile that fetches much on the trade market. That's part of the reason Rooker bounced around before he got to Oakland without ever really getting an extended look. There's some trade value, but I don't think it'll be enough for the A's to deal one of their best hitters when he's not yet arbitration eligible
A’s fan
3:48
Here’s a fun hypothetical (would never happen just for fun): If the A’s brought in Shohei Ohtani how many games would they win?
Anthony Franco
3:48
Assuming it's next year's Ohtani who can't pitch, I'd guess something like 65
3:49
He's not a 15-win player in his own right, but the team around him should perform a little better since it's really tough to maintain performance this poor over multiple years
Green and Gold
3:49
Why is it assumed that the owners will pass the relocation vote? Fisher has been living off their welfare for years and will continue to do so if they move to a smaller market
Anthony Franco
3:50
I highly doubt Manfred would've publicly declared they were waiving the relocation fee if he were getting any sense in conversations with the other owners that they had trepidation about the A's leaving Oakland
3:52
I'd be surprised if they don't approve it unanimously. Even if some of the owners have reservations about the way Fisher has handled this process, they'll probably keep the vote at 100% to present a united front publicly
A's Observer
3:52
So Rooker is a poor mans Pete Alonso? Ha!
Anthony Franco
3:53
It's a fine line. Alonso obviously hits for enough power consistently to elevate past it, whereas the Franmil Reyes types don't
Rick
3:54
What is going on with Tyler Soderstrom?
Anthony Franco
3:55
I'm not super worried about it. He's young. He wasn't even hitting that well in Triple-A at the time they called him up, so it always seemed likely he'd struggle in his first look. It was surprising that they promoted him, since I believe he had the lowest OBP of any qualified PCL hitter at the time
Hank
3:56
Is Gelof legit?
Anthony Franco
3:59
Yeah I'm in. He'll have to make more contact, probably going to see more off speed stuff as pitcher get more familiar with him. But he's a solid defensive infielder with power and a feel for the strike zone who showed decent bat-to-ball skills in college and the minors
I doubt he's slugging .504 every year, but I expect improvement in the strikeouts to mitigate potential regression in the power. Above-average regular for me
Matt
4:00
Could you see the A’s gauging the trade market for some challenge trades of of their young guys? It seems they have so many struggling former prospects they don’t even know what to do with them
Anthony Franco
4:02
They kind of did this with Puk/Bleday last winter, but I'm not sure they have as obvious a player for it this time around. Puk hadn't lived up to expectations as a starter but was still a good enough reliever that he was of interest to a team with playoff aspirations
Ken
4:02
Seth Brown is what he is: a platoon lefty bat with some pop who can play 1B and the corner outfield spots adequately. What could the A's get in a trade for him? I feel like the very right-handed Yankees would be a match.
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