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Mark P
8:33
The Weekend Chat (postseason edition) is here! We'll take a minute for some questions to stack up, and then pitter patter, let's get at 'er
Phillie Phanatic
8:35
If Phils lose does Thomson get fired?
Mark P
8:36
I'm not sure there's anything that be pointed at as Thomson's fault, in relation to why the Phillies aren't able to get over the hump and win a title.  But, with relatively little roster flexibility, it's possible a managerial change might be viewed as a step that can be taken to try and shake things up.

If Thomson wanted to continue managing, I suspect he might find another job as early as this offseason, given his track record and how many teams are looking for new dugout bosses
Ca$hman
8:37
Did Devin Williams late season resurgence get him into qualifying offer territory and if so does he accept it?
Mark P
8:37
He would absolutely accept it, but there's no chance the Yankees would float $22MM to a reliever coming off such an inconsistent season.
Joe
8:38
Do the Reds trade for a middle of the order bat or sign one? What would they have to trade?
Mark P
8:41
Given their payroll limitations, a trade seems more likely, though the Reds should or could be able to find a decent hitter at a reasonable price.  Martinez and Pagan both coming off the books frees up a big chunk of payroll space that Cincinnati can re-invest towards a big bat.

On the trade front, the Reds technically have a pitching surplus.  But, like I say about any team that seemingly has "too much" pitching, trading one arm and then running into an injury or two can very quickly put a team into a rotation hole.  So, if the Reds go this route, they'll have to be very careful about who they'd trade.
Boomington
8:41
Christian Walker a good fit for Reds?
Mark P
8:42
If the Reds are going to trade for someone, probably not the guy entering his age-35 season, who is owed $40MM over the next two seasons, and is coming off a 99 wRC+ year
Jim
8:42
When do the Arb projections drop?
Mark P
8:43
I believe they're coming this week, and possibly as early as tomorrow. Stay tuned!
Mariners
8:44
I'm both nervous and confident.... which one wins out versus the tigers?
Mark P
8:44
Losing Game 1 was a real blow to the Mariners with Skubal going tonight.  If the Tigers are up 2-0 with the series going back to Detroit and Skubal on tap again for a hypothetical Game 5, the M's are in major hot water.
Ang T
8:45
Is it a given that Vientos replaces Alonso if Pete leaves in free agency?
Mark P
8:46
In my Mets offseason outlook from the other day (self-promotion, woo hoo!), I suggested that the Mets could sign a veteran left-handed bat to platoon with Vientos.  Someone like a Cody Bellinger who can play both 1B and the outfielder would be ideal, though Bellinger is a nice fit on a lot of teams.  

Vientos' offense was so lackluster in 2025 that if you're the Mets, I'm not sure how confident you can be in just handing him the first base job outright.
Dylan beavers
8:47
Do I get extended this off-season
Mark P
8:50
/checks MLBTR Agency Database
/sees Beavers is repped by someone other than Scott Boras

Yes, it's possibility!  Now that Basallo has been extended, you wonder if that breaks the seal on the Orioles locking up more players from this second wave of the young core.  Beavers is repped by the Beverly Hills Sports Council, who has negotiated other early-career extensions for the likes of Jackson Chourio and Kristian Campbell
Mets fan
8:50
Should I expect the mets to have the same coaching staff layout with a pitching and hitting coach with an asst for each or is it possible we get an associate manager, offensive coordinator, field coordinator, etc?
Mets shakeup
8:50
Were you surprised to see to the Mets fire so many coaches? Hefner had a pretty good reputation as a pitching coach before this year and Stearns didn’t do a good job of giving him much to work with this year.
Mark P
8:52
Speaking of people who won't be unemployed for long, I expect Hefner to quickly land on another MLB staff for 2026.  I agree with the assessment that the Mets' pitching struggles were more due to personnel and a flawed approach to the rotation more than anything Hefner did.  (That said, there's also the caveat that I don't know what was happening within the Mets clubhouse.)

As to the team's coaching titles, it's possible they might switch up some titles and responsibilities, perhaps to more directly specify coaches into specific duties.  Probably depends on who they end up hiring.
Bobby Cox
8:54
I thought Skip S would have been a good choice for us. I dont want Ross, maybe DeRo or eddie p. How about you?
Mark P
8:55
A few months ago, I predicted that John Gibbons would be the Braves' next manager.  I'll continue to stand by that call in the wake of the news that Gibbons is leaving the Mets' bench coach job.
Kwan
8:55
As rough as the outfield situation had been in Cleveland, it feels like they hang on to me for this next season.
Mark P
8:56
Kwan is arb-controlled through 2027, and the Guardians traditionally wait to deal a player prior to his final year before free agency. So unless the Guards are out of the race at the deadline (like this year!....wait....), Kwan will probably get traded next winter
Guardians of the Galaxy
8:58
Given the absolutely abysmal offense displayed by the Guardians this season, do you see ownership finally opening their wallets at least a little to acquire some reliable offense (OF/INF) or should we expect another year of bottom-dwelling offense while we waste quality pitching and JRam's prime?
Mark P
9:00
You're preaching to the choir on this.  Moving Gimenez's contract and most of Straw's contract opened up a lot of extra money for the Guardians, plus Emmanuel Clase's contract might well be wiped off the books by a suspension.  

This is a team with only $37.2MM committed to next year's payroll even with Clase's money still considered.  Even with a gigantic arb class pushing that number up, you'd think there would be some urgency to bring in some kind of proven bat.
Rodney
9:01
The Jays fired on all cylinders the first two games against the Yanks, but baseball fortunes can turn on a dime. Where does your biggest fear lie with the team?
Mark P
9:02
As we saw today, Toronto's relief corps is very shaky.  That doesn't bode well for the bullpen game the Jays have lined up for Game 4, if the Yankees can win Game 3.

Speaking as a Jays fan, I'm obviously very happy with the series thus far, but I'm absolutely not counting my chickens yet
Stevie Wonder
9:05
Do the Royals resign Jonathan India?
Mark P
9:06
I'd think pretty hard about non-tendering him.  It would be a tough pill to swallow just a year after trading away Singer for him, but India had a sub-replacement season. The money KC can save with a non-tender can be spent on a better replacement for 2B, or for outfield help
Tigers Rock!
9:06
Favorite Detroit rockers?  Funkadelic, the Stooges, MC5, or Alice Cooper?
Mark P
9:07
I assume that by "rockers" you're not counting umpteen incredible Motown artists (like Stevie Wonder, who just asked that Royals question).  If so, my answer is the White Stripes.
Mark
9:08
Would the Rangers move Langford? What do you think they would ask for from the Red Sox? I think his bat would be special in Fenway.
Mark P
9:08
Firstly, Langford is maybe the last person the Rangers would trade.  Secondly, the Red Sox have an outfield surplus already.
Angels fan
9:09
What are the playoffs that this chat is speaking of?
Mark P
9:09
Cast your mind back to the magical 2002 season...
Blake
9:10
With the Texas Rangers seemingly heading toward austerity, do you think they will try to move any surprising names this off-season?
Mark P
9:13
Loosely translated, this means "which of the big four contracts do you think is most movable"?

Semien is least-tradable, Seager is next, and the Rangers would get a lot of interest if they shopped deGrom or Eovaldi.  Frontline pitching is always valuable, even for two veterans with injury histories making significant money.  

DeGrom getting through 2025 healthy is a big plus for his market, and Eovaldi was incredible when healthy this year.  One wrinkle for Eovaldi's trade market is the possibility of a sports hernia surgery, so teams may be unsure about how his offseason routine will be disrupted
Angry Fan
9:16
Have you ever witnessed a fanbase as mad as Pittsburgh Pirates fans currently are?
Mark P
9:17
I'm not even sure if the Pirates are the angriest current fanbase.  Angels, Rockies, Twins, White Sox, etc.
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