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MLBTR Chat: 4/19/23
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Anthony Franco
5:59
Hey everyone, hope you're all having a good evening!
1
5:59
If you’re up 1-0 in game 7 of the World Series, who’s you’re all time reliever to come in and close it out In the 9th?
Anthony Franco
6:00
All time? Feels like it has to be Mariano Rivera
Concerned White Sox Fan
6:00
Have the White Sox already dug themselves into a hole they cannot recover from?  The team has looked horrible and many expected as much before the season.
Anthony Franco
6:01
I'm not at that point yet. It's a relatively soft division. Five games under .500 isn't ideal obviously but it's not fatal
6:03
I do think it's a little alarming that they're struggling in the way you'd probably expect. Andrus isn't hitting, Colás has had growing pains. The rotation behind Cease and Giolito have been iffy. Aside from the bullpen completely blowing up through three weeks, the issues are the ones most people would've pointed out three weeks ago
6:04
But it's been three weeks. There's still plenty of time, even if nothing they've done so far suggests more optimism than I had before Opening Day
CY
6:04
Are you buying or selling the Rangers hot start?
Anthony Franco
6:07
Still a little concerned about the offense further down in the lineup, especially with Seager out. But I mostly buy the rotation looking this good if everyone can stay healthy. Semien looks great and Josh Jung taking a step forward is huge. Bullpen's pitching a little over its head right now but there's enough talent there I think it can be an above-average group all year
6:08
They've pulled a couple games clear of everyone else in the AL West and while I'd still take Houston to win the division, I think Texas is right there in that mix
Gadzooks
6:08
Now that Greene has gotten his extension worked out, who's the most likely among the other 4 (Lodolo, Graham, India, Stephenson) to get their extension?
Anthony Franco
6:09
This stuff's always a player preference question obviously, but Lodolo feels like the obvious next target. Offering him something similar to what they just signed Greene for makes sense
6:11
Maybe he's less likely to take it because he's two years older, so pushing back free agency a couple seasons delays his path to the market until he's headed into age-32. But it at least seems like a reasonable starting point for talks. Think it's fair to prefer either one of that duo, and they're obviously in an identical spot from a service time perspective
Beer Noises
6:11
Are you a Garrett Mitchell believer now? (ignoring the IL stint)
Anthony Franco
6:12
Ha, I'm still reluctant to buy in while he's striking out almost 40% of the time. I think there's enough power and defensive ability to be a soft regular but not fully on board with him as a core piece yet
Tim t
6:12
Does the ax fall on Bumgarner tomorrow?   I vote a resounding YES!
Anthony Franco
6:14
I wrote about this for Front Office subscribers earlier this week, but yeah, I just don't see how the D-Backs can keep running Bumgarner out anymore. They're a borderline playoff team and can't afford to give away one in every five games. I'd pull the plug and call up Brandon Pfaadt
6:15
It's a shame because he's had such a good career, but I can't find any reason for optimism to make me think he's even a viable 4/5 starter for a team with playoff hopes at this point
Art the Clown
6:15
Thanks for the chat! Although they're off to a slow start, the St. Louis lineup looks too stacked to  be held down for long. What do you think reasonable expectations are for the team?
Anthony Franco
6:15
Still think they should expect to win the division
Dodger Paul
6:15
Will the Dodgers make a move for someone like Tim anderson
Anthony Franco
6:16
I think that's viable closer to the deadline, sure, particularly if Miguel Rojas continues struggling when he comes back from the IL. Not going to happen anytime soon though
Still far too early in the year for teams like the White Sox to wave the white flag
Josh
6:17
I know it's early, but am I wrong to believe in the Pirates this year? They've looked pretty darn good
Anthony Franco
6:18
Best team they've had in a while but I'm not on them as a legitimate playoff contender yet. Need more than a few weeks to buy into the likes of Rodolfo Castro, Connor Joe and Jack Suwinski making this an above-average lineup
GLW
6:19
Is it me or are the Braves stacked….would you agree probably the best team AA has assembled since he has been a GM period?
Anthony Franco
6:20
Don't know that I'd go that far given the questions at the back of the rotation. They're awesome, don't get me wrong, but they've been very good for about four years now
James from Natal SA
6:20
Looks like there’s less expiring deals on non contenders vs last year. Will 2023 be a sellers or buyers  market?
Anthony Franco
6:21
Yeah I'd agree with this. Could be a pretty light trade deadline, particularly if the Angels play their way out of Ohtani speculation, given the dearth of impending free agents on bad teams. The offseason trade market was already quiet for mostly this reason
ghost team
6:22
Based on his last 2 starts is Kyle Muller in the majors by default as the A's have noone much better ?
Anthony Franco
6:22
Muller was great in Triple-A last year. I think there's a potential mid-rotation starter in there still
6:24
But right now, yeah, there are definitely teams that wouldn't have him in the rotation. Oakland's starting staff is really bad with Blackburn and Rucinski on the injured list
double header
6:24
If the Braves DFA Ozuna and he clears waivers, can they assign him to AAA or have to release him and still pay him (to do even less) ?
Anthony Franco
6:24
Can't send him to the minors. He has enough service time to become a free agent if they take him off the MLB roster
Colorado
6:25
Is Charlie Blackmons name going to come up in trade discussion this deadline? I’m sure they could get a couple baseball bats and some Gatorade for him
Anthony Franco
6:26
I don't see him as a viable trade candidate. He's a franchise icon with full no-trade protection, and they're not going to get a meaningful return while he's on a $15MM salary even if he's hitting well
6:27
Feels like he'd specifically have to ask out to go to a contender for them to consider it
Cardboard boxes
6:27
Was there anymore news about Nicky Lopez I remember some trade buzz about him in the offseason
Anthony Franco
6:28
There was kind of a stray report that the White Sox had checked in on him but it didn't seem like K.C. was interested in dealing him for what would have probably been a bland return after the season he had in 2022
Jorge78
6:28
I'm just curious (my bad habit!) but where do you get the pictures of players that appear at the top of articles please?  Sorry it's not strictly a baseball question.  Thanks!
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