Anthony Franco

• Good afternoon, hope all is well!
• Looking forward to another of these, let’s get rolling

Hits Like Rays

• All of the Rays’ starting pitchers are free agents in the next 15 months (Freddy Peralta and Nick Martinez after this year, then Drew Rasmussen, Shane McClanahan, and Griffin Jax after 2027).  What do you think the Rays will do about this?  I assume they will let Peralta and Martinez walk in free agency, then try to extend one or two of the 2027 class and trade the last one this winter to bring in younger talent…

Anthony Franco

• I think Rasmussen gets moved this offseason because of the option escalators. Could see them bringing Martinez back, not Freddy. Probably going to need another mid-level FA add like that, maybe they built another reliever out given the success they’ve had going that route in recent years
• Tyler Wells has been a pretty good starter. Can keep him in relief rest of the way this year and give him a rotation look in ’27. He’ll also be a free agent after that but helps cover for the shorter-term losses

Tiger Fan

• The Tigers have been hot as of late, do you think they should have picked up a bat at the trade deadline?

Anthony Franco

• I think they handled the deadline appropriately. Had to move Skubal with where they were in the standings, less so on Mize but when SD put Mayfield on the table, makes sense to pull the trigger. Hold all the other short-term guys and hope to still make a run
• Different story if they’d have been in possession of a playoff spot two weeks ago but at the time they decided to move Skubal they were 52-58 with five teams to jump in the Wild Card
• Credit to the team for not quitting and putting themselves back in position to compete for a playoff spot but buying would’ve felt irresponsible with where they were at a couple weeks ago

Fake Jim Bouton

• Is Spencer Jones next year’s CF for the Yanks?

Anthony Franco

• I expect him to get the first look, yeah

Arizona

• So given we chose to stand pat at the deadline then immediately shut Puk down…how viable are our wild card chances? Seems like you can basically guarantee 1+ of the four big injuries are going to fail to return as well (Burnes Gurriel Lawlar Martinez). And then 1+ won’t perform even if back… should fans just look at 2028 and hope the Minors have seasons in 2027 because they are a different union now?

Anthony Franco

• Pretty bland deadline, can’t believe they came away with no pitching. I know they put out the Holmes thing and there’s probably some truth to the bad timing there but a) you’re allowed to try to make trades before deadline afternoon and b) that doesn’t explain not getting any bullpen help
• Would probably have them around 35% to get in. Think they’re a little worse than San Diego, about on par with Philly. They’re a couple tiers below the Cubs or whichever division winners finishes 3rd who they’d play in the first round

Chris

• Is it far to say that Bichette’s opt-out odds are ~40% now?

• 

  Unlock Subscriber-Exclusive Articles Like This One With a Trade Rumors Front Office Subscription

  • Access weekly subscriber-only articles by Tim Dierkes, Steve Adams, and Anthony Franco.
  • Join exclusive weekly live chats with Anthony.
  • Remove ads and support our writers.
  • Access GM-caliber tools like our MLB Contract Tracker