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Mark P
7:26
Welcome to the Weekend Chat!  We'll get cracking on some questions in a moment once the queue starts to fill up....
RoyalBlue
7:27
Is Cole Ragans the real deal? Dominant outing today.
Mark P
7:28
Spring Training performances should be taken with a grain of salt, but Ragans has looked terrific since arriving in KC.  That is looking like a steal of a trade for the Royals.
Luke Geary
7:29
Odds blue jays trade kukuchi or Bowden Francis
Mark P
7:29
And what, sign another pitcher?  (Like Montgomery or Snell?)  The Jays aren't to subtract from their rotation depth without a good reason, since just one injury can quickly turn a plus into a minus
Paul
7:30
Do you think the Yankees will ever get rid of the hair/facial hair rule? I can’t see a guy like Josh Hader or Bryce Harper (just as an example of players that would break the rule) wanting to go there solely because of the severe limitations of hair. Seems like they could lose some players that want to go there if they can’t have the hair they want.
Mark P
7:31
If someone offered me a nine-figure contract, I'd shave without a second thought.  But that said, it's also a little silly from the other side as well....would a player refusing to shave be such a deal-breaker for the Yankees?
LennyD4
7:31
Whit to the Buc-o's?  Makes a bunch of sense
Mark P
7:32
Merrifield already signed with Pennsylvania's other team a couple of weeks ago
Hed Joyer
7:32
It pays to be patient.  Basically got Belli on another 1 year contract, which is perfect for our needs with PCA ready to take over CF full time 2025
Mark P
7:32
It was a perfect storm of circumstances that seems to have worked out quite nicely for the Cubs
John
7:33
Does Jackson Holliday have to do anything this spring statistically to make the team? Or is it a decision basically already made?
Mark P
7:33
If he looks drastically overmatched at the plate all spring, some Triple-A time seems likely.  But in all likelihood I'd expect Holliday to be on the OD roster
thegreenmonster
7:34
thoughts on the John Shreiber/David Sandlin trade and why it happened?
Mark P
7:35
The Royals wanted a pitcher who could help them compete now, and might feel they're buying low on Schreiber.  And Boston probably feels like they're selling high, and getting an interesting young arm into the system and also opening up a spot in the pen for other relievers
A Fan
7:35
So.. a free-agent signing deadline? I don't love the idea of a 2 or 3 week frenzy, but if there's an opening date for signing then why not a closing date? Maybe Feb 1?
Mark P
7:36
I'm not in favour of a signing deadline, since it's a thinly-veiled excuse in my view for teams to try and squeeze players on contracts.

The start of Spring Training is basically an unofficial deadline already, since players are naturally going to get antsier about their contracts once camp is underway
Blue Jays fan
7:36
would the jays have signed Bellinger for the deal the cubs gave him if they didn’t sign Kiermaier and IKF?
Mark P
7:37
Bellinger was probably more amendable to such a deal from the Cubs than other teams, due to his comfort level in Chicago
Yanksfan18
7:38
With the Cody bellinger contract happening could we see a similar contract for snell a one year high aav with opt outs?
Fred Bird
7:38
Does Monty’s price tag drop like Bellinger? And he signs a three year deal with the Cardinals
Matt Chapman
7:39
What sort of contract do you think he’ll land now? Does Bellinger’s figure affect him?
Mark P
7:41
Obviously a lot of speculation about whether the "Boras Three" might also look to sign shorter-term, high-AAV deals with opt-outs in the wake of the Bellinger contract.  Surely every suitor for Snell/Montgomery/Chapman had already approached Boras with the same idea before today, and it might depend on the player and the offer as to whether they're comfortable taking such a contract.

Like I said for Bellinger, taking such a deal from the Cubs was probably preferable to taking such a deal from an entirely new deal.  No idea if the others feel the same way, or if the Padres, Rangers/Cardinals, or Blue Jays might have a slight edge if they're willing to make a similar offer now
Matt
7:42
I know they won't do it, but JD Martinez to the Guardians just makes too much sense.
Mark P
7:43
Cleveland has yet to indicate that they're willing to spend basically anything, plus Kyle Manzardo seems to be the choice to pair with Naylor for 1B/DH duty.  Signing Martinez would complicate that, but you're right, obviously JDM would be a huge help to a lineup in need of hitting
Giants
7:45
Why haven’t we signed Greinke for 7 mil to give the staff a bit more experience?
Mark P
7:46
Greinke wasn't very good last year, and the Giants might prefer their internal arms
While I agree that SF could use rotation help, they should aim for a much clearer upgrade than Greinke
Guest
7:47
Anybody besides the Braves or Dodgers win the NL pennant in the next 5 years? Phillies possibly?
Mark P
7:47
I guarantee that it won't be all Braves/Dodgers for the next five years.  Anything can happen in the playoffs.
Fair Deal Dean
7:47
Which Nora's client signs next (Chapman, Montgomery, Snell)?
Mark P
7:48
Who is the next Boras client to sign?
Chapman (33.8% | 518 votes)
 
Montgomery (43% | 658 votes)
 
Snell (23.2% | 355 votes)
 
Total Votes: 1,531
I assume you meant Boras there, and not the clients of Nora Durst, Carrie Coon's character from "The Leftovers" (most underrated show of all time, btw)
Peraza
7:50
have the Yankees killed my trade value?
Mark P
7:51
It's too early to close the door on Peraza's career, and he's still lined up to take over in the middle infield next year when Torres departs.

That said, the Yankees have had something of an unfortunate recent history of prospects who kind of fizzle out at big leaguers, due to a lack of consistent playing time
Riley Greene MVP
7:51
Do you think Bartolo Colon should come back from retirement and pitch for the Tigers?
Mark P
7:52
I could be doing these chats 10 years from now, and still advocating for a Bartolo Colon return
Dick Monfort
7:52
Obviously my player development system is the best in the league (sarcasm intended).  But what exactly separates player development systems from others?  Analytics? One on one and continuity in coaching? Money? Facilities?
Mark P
7:54
It's an easy answer, but.....all of the above.  Teams go to great lengths to keep a lot of their R&D secrets to themselves, and there is no one secret answer (to the chagrin of some teams who keep hiring Rays executives)
Oriole fan
7:55
Why is it not the Orioles trying to sign Montgomery? We traded for Burnes and now with Braddish and Means out we should all in since Burnes will be gone after this year. Plenty of payroll to get him.. we could be clear favorites in division if it would happen
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