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Front Office Chat Nov. 29, 2024
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Darragh McDonald
2:00
Hello, hello.
My American colleagues are presumably eating leftovers somewhere, so the Canadian must step up.
Posey-ing a Question
2:00
Giants need a shortstop and a starter - more than they need to protect draft picks?  Adames and Burnes - right?
Darragh McDonald
2:01
I initially expected Posey to come out guns a-blazing but it was reported that they're going to dial the payroll back a bit.
2:02
It's also been suggested that they may not be thrilled about the draft pick stuff. They gave up two picks last year to sign Snell and Chapman, then went over the tax line. That means signing a QO guy this offseason results in losing two more picks.
Signing both Adames and Burnes would mean forfeiting four picks. So, I don't know if I'd get my hopes up.
Front Office
2:03
When will Front Office articles be filterable in the app? I have the Feeds for each (Front Office & Front Office Origianls) turned on, but there aren't any articles in them.
Darragh McDonald
2:04
That would be a question for Tim. I think there's a lot of stuff with the app that they're looking to modify, including getting the Front Office stuff on there. I don't really know the ETAs myself.
If you send an email to membership@traderumors.com, Tim will see it.
Money and Prospects
2:05
What is the "asking price" for Crochet?  If the Sox offered Mayer, Abreu, and a Bleis...could the Sox throw in a salary dump of Yoshida into this type of deal?
Darragh McDonald
2:07
If you're the Red Sox, you're probably looking to minimize the prospect cost on Crochet, not adding Yoshida in order to give up even more prospects.
Voting
2:07
I thought it was noteworthy that Ketel Marte got a 6th place MVP vote. When does the average end of year award voter submit their ballot? Would it have been submitted while Marte was hurt? I don't see any other logic leading to such a low placement for a season like that on a team that missed the playoffs on tie-breakers.
Darragh McDonald
2:07
I believe voting happens right after the end of the regular season.
Chief Knockahoma
2:08
At what point in the season do teams need to be below the CBT threshold to reset the tax?  Recalling the 2023 Angels attempt to get below the CBT threshold well past the trade deadline by waiving players that other teams might want for the playoff run.  Are teams able to begin the year above the $241MM level in 2025 and jettison players prior to the playoffs (assuming they are going to miss the playoffs in 2025) attempt to do the same?
Darragh McDonald
2:08
Yeah, it's calculated at the end of the year, taking into account the entire season.
2:09
The Angels were on pace to be above the line, but got rid of some money via waivers and limboed under. The 2024 Blue Jays are similar. They were on pace to be tax payors but traded away guys at the deadline and lowered their commitments.
Arthur
2:10
What do you expect from the Sacramento and Tampa ballparks? Hitters’ park, pitchers’, neutral?
Darragh McDonald
2:10
Tampa, I've heard the dimensions are similar to Yankee Stadium, with the short porch in left. So, in short, pretty hitter friendly.
2:11
With Sacramento, there seems to be a bit of a disconnect. Susan Slusser talked to some players for an article in the Chronicle and they were saying that someone was going to hit 80 home runs because it's so hitter-friendly. But then the data at Baseball America says it's actually one of the most pitcher-friendly Triple-A parks.
I trust BA there, personally.
Luc
2:12
Are the Giants even going to put an offer for Soto?
Darragh McDonald
2:12
Doesn't seem like they are in the mix, no.
Anthony B
2:12
Morning, if the yanks miss on Soto , who do you think they could/should look to in order to fill that home in lineup and the holes in outfield? Thanks for your time
Darragh McDonald
2:13
All reports indicate they will go after all the other top guys. Could be Bregman, Adames, Alonso, Burnes, Fried, etc. Everything will be on the table.
Olereb
2:13
I read where the Braves are trying not to be 3 time payers, but I also see where they are still interested in bringing both Max and Charlie back. What is to prevent them from signing Max for 15 million this year and make it up to him the following year, and do Charlie the same with 8 this year and 8 next year regardless if he plays next year or not. Final question, what do you see the Braves doing this year?
Darragh McDonald
2:14
A player's CBT hit is the average annual value of the deal, for exactly this reason. A team can't do something crazy like $8MM in the first deal and $52MM in the second year, just to get around the tax.
Guest
2:14
will the Pirates sign any free agents to fill their first base role and if so, who do you think that will be?
Darragh McDonald
2:15
I would guess they end up with... LaMonte Wade Jr.?
Tom Fonthill
2:15
Re - Roki Sosaki -- can a team see to it that he is offered advertising contracts outside his baseball contract in order to convince him to sign there ??   e.g.,  the Blue Jays offering him advertising throughout Canada ??
Darragh McDonald
2:17
I don't know what the rules are about team involvement. But there was someone, maybe Jon Heyman, who suggested Sasaki would get more endorsements if he signed somewhere other than the Dodgers, where he would be in Ohtani's shadow. Supposedly, Kodai Senga got more endorsements than Yamamoto for this reason.
2:18
So, it's something that he could consider. I don't know if the Jays are allowed to line up contracts, but he could think about the economic benefits of tapping into the Canadian market.
Angel Fan
2:18
What are the chances the Angels trade Trout?
Darragh McDonald
2:18
Pretty close to zero.
2:19
He has a full no-trade clause and has said he wants to stay.
Even if he wanted out, the contract has negative value at this point.
GBS42
2:22
Hi, Darragh, thanks for the chat. I've had questions about signing bonuses for a while, and Snell's $52M bonus certainly brought them back to my mind.
To complete my signing bonus question, I heard Snell receiving all of his up front to balance out the deferred money. A lump sum up front seems like the traditional version of a signing bonus, but I've heard of other signing bonuses being spread out over several years. In those cases, how and why is this treated differently than regular salary?
Darragh McDonald
2:23
I'm not an expert on state-by-state tax law but former player Trevor May says that signing bonuses are taxed in your state of residence, not your state of employment.
Since Snell lives in Seattle, that signing bonus will be taxed at a lower rate than if it was paid out via his salary when he is employed in California.
Tony
2:24
Happy holiday season and thanks for the chats. Do you expect the Cards to find an acceptable deal for Arenado? I am speculating (aren't we all) but do not believe the Cards want to send money along with Arenado (he already comes with ~10-15 million from the Rockies).  The state of the NL central is such that even as currently constructed the team could be competitive in the division.
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