Anthony Franco

• Good afternoon, hope you’ve all had a good week!
• Looking forward to another of these, let’s get it going

BB

• Do you think Sato, Ralphy Velazquez, or Emmanuel Rodriquez will be valuable in 2027?

Anthony Franco

• I think Ralphy will be, more skeptical on the other two

Attic Wombat

• I read that there might be a free agent signing frenzy before the lockout deadline. Can you imagine any possible resolution that could make jumping in early a bad move?

Breaker

• What are the latest rumors about the lockout? Is there any kind of a frame work or anything in place.

SandyG

• Hey Anthony, Thanks for the chat! Do you believe the conventional wisdom that we will see a pre-lockout frenzy of free agent signings? And where do you predict Skubal will sign?

Anthony Franco

• There’ll be a lockout, there’s not going to be any kind of framework in place until late February or early March in the best case scenario. Neither side has much incentive to move off their asks until there’s an actual threat of losing games
• I do expect a frenzy, though not to the same extent as ’21 because this free agent class isn’t good. I don’t really expect the CBA structure to immediately make any of the November free agent/trade activity look bad
• The only concern I could really see is that a team signs Skubal for like $50MM+ annually and then the cap comes along and they have to find other ways to cut spending to comply, but there’d be at least a one- or two-year grace period for the huge spenders to get under anyway

Sandy at 90

• Chances Skubal signs with LAD before lockout on Dec 1.

Anthony Franco

• As for Skubal, I guess right now I’d lean Mets but do expect him to sign pre-lockout and obviously wouldn’t be surprised if he stays in LA

Rusty Shackleford

• Will Warren seems prime trade bait to me. Young controllable pitcher for young controllable bat. Where is a good destination?

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