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Front Office Chat: 3/21/24
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Anthony Franco
3:01
Hey all, hope you're doing well! Looking forward to another of these, let's get rolling
Red Sox Fan
3:01
Wilyer Abreu had a late start to spring training and i believe doesn't have a hit yet and Kristian Campbell is struggling...too early to go to Mayer and Anthony to start the season?
Anthony Franco
3:03
I'd be more inclined to break camp with Mayer than Campbell or Anthony but I think there's a reasonable case for any of them. Wouldn't say that Abreu's status has much of an impact on Anthony. Even if Abreu requires a minimal IL stint, they won't call up Anthony until they feel like he can be there for good
3:04
But it's very possible he's just better than Rafaela already
CO
3:04
With the introduction of the ABS in ST and likely coming soon to the regular season, do you think that some teams might value pitch framing less than they have previously?
Anthony Franco
3:05
Slightly yes but they're going to at least break in the ABS as a challenge system for this exact reason. Players were concerned that a full ABS would too dramatically change the nature of the position, and MLB seems fine with that as a reason not to fully adopt without at least seeing how the challenges work first
3:07
If players get very good at optimizing the challenge system (i.e. getting the vast majority of calls overturned, using them only in high-leverage spots), then framing still becomes less valuable. But in the short term, I think it'll be a pretty small impact
Gene Parmesan
3:07
How long of a leash does Marchan have as JT Realmuto’s backup, especially with the goal of getting JT out of the crouch more this season?
Anthony Franco
3:08
As long as Marchan is handling himself as well as they expect defensively, he should be fine. They've lived with zero offense from Stubbs there for the past two seasons
Gadzooks
3:09
Who's the biggest "what-if" player in MLB history, Anthony?
Anthony Franco
3:14
My first instinct here would be to see what the top Black players pre-integration (Paige, Gibson, etc.) would have done against AL/NL competition.

In terms of injuries or personal issues, more recent players spring to mind. Would Josh Hamilton have been a Hall of Fame level player if not for the substance abuse problems? How good would Grady Sizemore have been if he'd stayed healthy for more than four years?
3:15
There are probably better examples of that historically that you guys can come up with. J.R. Richard maybe?
Guest
3:15
Anyone on the Nats who you think will surprise--either for better or for worse?
Anthony Franco
3:18
Not a surprise player really but I'm excited for a hopefully healthy season from Cavalli. I don't know if Tena can defend anywhere but I think there's a decent bat-first utility guy in there. Could see a slightly higher level from Jake Irvin where he cements himself as a #3/4 starter
Josh Elliott
3:19
will we see trades for guys that are out of options? I dont recall seeing many of them in the past.
Anthony Franco
3:22
We'll get a few, they're usually DFA-type trades though. Fringe roster player gets moved for cash or a 40 FV prospect. Just scanned our Out of Options 2024 list and there aren't a ton who jump out as guys who got squeezed off the roster and traded
3:23
Joey Bart is the big one. Guardians got a pretty good year out of Pedro Avila after landing him from San Diego. Beyond that, it was mostly waiver movement for the bubble guys
PATigrrsFan
3:23
Seems like the Tigers were pushing Torkelson out.  Has he pushed back enough to stay in Detroit?
Anthony Franco
3:24
Door was closing but they haven't slammed it shut, largely because they need a right-handed power bat
3:25
The spring is encouraging and some of the outfield injuries open a path to more playing time (either directly or at DH with Carpenter in RF), but he still needs to show he can make enough contact in more than a couple weeks of exhibition games
Peter Provolone
3:26
Is the Verdugo signing a clue that they're more worried about Profar than they're saying?
Anthony Franco
3:27
Profar's already back in the lineup today. Verdugo's just a cheap alternative to Kelenic
RoxTalks
3:27
Amador now going to be the OD starting 2B in Denver? Put up good OBP numbers this spring, but didn't hit for much power, and had a rough first showing last year?
Anthony Franco
3:28
Nah, I assume it'll be Kyle Farmer. They optioned Amador really early in camp, which makes sense because he clearly needs more time in the minors. The hope is that he'd beat out Thairo and Farmer by the second half but rushing him now because Estrada got hurt is bad process
Big Al
3:29
Does Bauer ever get a second chance? be a good deal for a team that need pitching, if it doesn’t work out, you could always just release him
Baseball fan
3:29
Will Urias be picked up by anyone
Anthony Franco
3:29
I can't see any way either of them play in the majors again
Challenge system
3:29
Do you feel like it’s an improvement? I enjoy the extra strategy and accuracy it added to spring games
Anthony Franco
3:31
An improvement over full ABS or on the human umpires? Yes to the latter. I think we'll get full ABS eventually because there'll still be controversy about missed calls that weren't challenged (either because the team ran out or the player incorrectly decided not to) and the league will decide it's better to just let it call everything
3:33
No issue with them testing the modified system first though. It does provide a more strategic element and preserve some of the receiving technique discussed in the earlier question.

But they tried a challenge system in tennis for a while to preserve some of the human element and everybody hated it because it ended up feeling like a half-measure
Paul
3:33
Will there be a work stoppage and how can they avoid it
Anthony Franco
3:34
I mean, they could avoid it by seriously opening negotiations earlier in the process. There's nothing that requires them to wait until the CBA expires to begin seriously negotiating
3:35
They just don't have an incentive to do that. They're going to take hard-line positions in bargaining to try to squeeze whatever they can out of negotiations, which means pushing until the last possible second before players start facing lost game checks and teams are potentially losing gate/TV revenues
Pete
3:35
When do you think the Marlins will trade Alcantara?  There doesn’t seem to be much point in holding him - injury or performance issues could arise.  Is it just a matter of him getting a few solid starts under his belt to show that he is right?
Anthony Franco
3:36
Yeah I think that's basically it. Probably some small intangible value of having him start on Opening Day from a marketing perspective, but it's mostly about letting him show that he's healthy and can still carve up real lineups
I assume they'd seriously consider moving him as early as May and think there's a decent chance he's gone by like mid-June
CO
3:37
Who would you like to see take the RF job in Colorado? I really like Veen/Bouchard splitting time and what Veen's presented so far in ST, but he might some more seasoning in AAA before getting the call.
Anthony Franco
3:38
I don't know that you're learning much more about Veen in Albuquerque at this point. Could always send him back down after a few weeks if the strikeouts get too high and start messing with his confidence
3:39
I like Bouchard more as a bench bat. Take some at-bats against LHP from Veen and Jones, will probably need him at DH before long given Bryant's injury history
John B
3:39
Giants over/under 82 wins.
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