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Front Office Chat: 7/19/24
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Anthony Franco
1:53
Hey everyone, realized the email headline didn't update and still says 3:00 pm Central. Planning to get started at 2:00 though, had a late change of plans
1:55
Sorry about any confusion, but I'll stick around for an extra half-hour or so after 3:00 so I should see everyone's questions even if I won't be able to get to them all. I'll be back in an hour
2:59
Alright, I'm back. Have a lot of questions in the queue but I'll get through as much as I can. Let's get rolling
Manfred
2:59
Rob is talking about trading draft picks and expansion. Am I going to be disappointed by getting my hopes up? Or will MLB make fast progress on these developments?
Anthony Franco
3:00
Pretty confident both of these things are going to happen eventually. I'd be surprised if draft pick trading isn't a thing in the next CBA. Expansion's obviously a much tougher change but Manfred seems pretty determined to at least have the ball rolling by the time he's done as commissioner in '29
3:01
Based on that timeline, it feels like we'll be at 32 teams by around 2035
Jake
3:01
Are the Brewers going to be able to hold off the rest of the division? Bullpen will get better once Williams returns, offense is still strong. They have to go and get another starter other than Civale right?
Anthony Franco
3:02
I think so on both accounts. Feel good about them holding a 4.5 game lead in the Central, particularly with Williams coming back as you mentioned. Still would like to see another starter so they're not debating between Colin Rea and Tobias Myers as a potential Game 2 playoff starter
Dallas
3:02
What would it take for the Mets to get Crochet from the Sox?
Guest
3:02
What’s a fair return from Baltimore for Garrett Crochet?
Anthony Franco
3:03
I'd take two and half years of Crochet over where Luis Castillo and José Berríos were when they got traded. Needs to be multiple top prospects
3:05
I don't think the Mets would give up both Christian Scott and Jett Williams, but it's not an outlandish ask from Chicago's perspective. Would certainly need to be built around one of those guys and potentially a Mauricio or Drew Gilbert type
3:06
Doubt Baltimore would put Mayo on the table but something built around Basallo, Cade Povich and some of their mid-level guys feels about right
M’s Fan
3:06
If you were a PoBO and you acquired Crochet what would you do to manage his innings? A) nothing- pitch him every 5 days
3:07
Re crochet.   b) move him to the pen for the rest of 2024 season c) other plan
Anthony Franco
3:08
I'd be inclined to leave him in the rotation. Maybe a couple skipped starts down the stretch if he goes to a team like the Dodgers that has runway in the division. But unless he says he's fatigued or the stuff starts to dip, I wouldn't preemptively 'pen him
Trade deadline
3:08
Mason Miller to LA, Crochet to Baltimore, Flaherty to SD. Can I get this on a parlay?
Anthony Franco
3:09
Best of luck! Seems like the ask on Miller is so high that I don't think he's getting traded
Guest
3:09
Do you have any idea what’s going on with Bobby Miller. I really haven’t heard anything other than sore shoulder for his poor performant so far this year. Any hope for the ROS?
Anthony Franco
3:09
Not sure what's going on. The velocity was down marginally after the injury but the stuff is still really good. He shouldn't be getting knocked around the way he was
3:10
Still optimistic about him contributing down the stretch but the Dodgers can't count on him being in their playoff rotation right now
Nars Lootbaar
3:10
Does Ivan Herrera bring back a better than backend starter with control for next year?
Anthony Franco
3:12
That feels about right. Maybe some level of package deal where they get middle relief help along with a starter (kinda like tossing in Stratton in the Monty trade last summer)
3:13
Herrera's not the most exciting player in the world but he's still 24 and a solid offensive player. Doubt he's going to be a top five catcher but there are probably other teams that  feel he's a decent starting option
Tigers Fan
3:13
Why does everyone want us to trade Skubal? Are we not allowed to have good players? This is so frustrating
Anthony Franco
3:14
The Tigers are a long shot to make the playoffs this year and Skull's awesome. It's going to lead to wishcasting by other teams and fanbases
3:15
Haven't seen anything out of the Detroit media that suggests the Tigers are interested in moving him. No harm in keeping an open mind but they can (and very likely will) just name an exorbitant price that other teams aren't willing to meet and hold him
Diamond Dan
3:15
With Melendez now out how urgent do you feel KC should be to upgrade its outfield? And do they go rental piece (Pham, Andujar) or someone with term like Jazz or Jesus Sanchez ?
Anthony Franco
3:16
Getting a controllable player would be nice because it's not like there's a ton of outfield talent on the doorstep of the big leagues, but anything works really
3:17
It's a huge issue whether Melendez is healthy or not and K.C. should be in on virtually every outfielder available regardless of the control window. Jazz would probably be the ideal fit, but if they balk at the ask and come away with Tommy Pham, it's better than nothing
George
3:17
Hi, Anthony. Welcome back from the sad part of summer when there are no games! What do you project for the Rangers over the next couple of weeks. It feels like they'll be okay and sort of fine for the future. Maybe they make the wild card so they don't sell, but just stand pat for now?
Anthony Franco
3:18
It's a long road back -- arguably a tougher climb in the Wild Card than it would be to catch Seattle or Houston for the West -- but I'm optimistic enough that I don't expect them to sell much
3:20
They're the defending World Series winners and should get deGrom and Mahle back for the stretch run. If they're four or five out at the deadline, they'll probably just go for it
Haven't done enough to be super active buyers, but they don't need a huge overhaul. Maybe they try to thread the needle by trading a Lorenzen and plugging Mahle or Bradford into the rotation, but it shouldn't be much more than that
Former speaker Nancy Pelosi
3:20
Zack Eflin makes a ton of sense for the Red Sox, right?  They have the capacity to take on his full salary to minimize prospect loss, which should work for the Rays.  Is he worth it?
Anthony Franco
3:22
I like the player, doubt the Rays would want to move him in division. He's under contract for '25 and Tampa Bay isn't that far behind Boston for the last Wild Card spot this year.
3:23
I think they'll move Eflin but they'd probably prefer to send him to either an NL team or an AL club that they have no hope of catching this season
all star mvp
3:23
If the Red Sox had to trade one of their “big three” prospects to get controllable pitching, which one would it be most palatable to lose?
Anthony Franco
3:24
Guess I'd move Kyle Teel before Marcelo Mayer or Roman Anthony but the likely outcome is that they'll keep all three
Tom Fonthill
3:25
Hey Anthony.  How long does a MLB team have to keep its draft choices (and signed them) before they can be traded.  I know the Draft Picks can not be traded, but I'm asking about once the player has been chosen (and I'm assuming actually signed)???   Thank you.
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