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Mark P
8:15
How kind of MLB to not schedule a World Series game during the Weekend Chat!  Let's open up the queue and see what's what....
Mark
8:17
Where do you ultimately see Juan Soto ending up?
Mike
8:17
Do we think Soto will end up getting 600 million+ this offseason?
Mark P
8:18
My guess is the Yankees bring him back.  I don't think it'll quite hit $600MM since the league and other owners might balk at setting such a new high salary bar, but "only" $550MM seems realistic.
Met you match
8:19
What’s the Mets’ pivot if they don’t land Soto?
Mark P
8:20
A strong argument can be made that the Mets need pitching a lot more than they need Soto, so they'll likely be negotiating on multiple fronts in trying to bring in some big arms as well as continually checking in on Soto
Paul Skenes
8:20
Do you see me signing a long term deal this winter to buy out arbitration years?
Mark P
8:23
Covering just Skenes' arb years?  That kind of a bridge deal seems more realistic than a decade-long extension, just because that isn't in the Pirates' usual ballpark.  Granted, they were proactive in locking up Keller, Hayes, Reynolds, and surely they've had a Skenes extension in mind basically since the moment they drafted him.

If I'm Skenes, locking in a big guarantee already certainly has some value, especially if it doesn't change his free agent target date.  Extending Skenes without getting even an extra year of control might not be worth it from the Pirates' viewpoint, though locking in some cost certainty might be helpful if Skenes' arb salaries end up being through the roof
Mark
8:24
Will Nathan Eovaldi resign with Tx or will he walk?
Mark P
8:25
My hunch is that Eovaldi is more likely to sign elsewhere, just because the Rangers seem to be somewhat limited by payroll. As Evan Grant pointed out earlier this week, the Rangers would love to reset their tax status, and re-signing Eovaldi alone would take them pretty close to the tax threshold.
Stevil
8:26
Which teams do you think are most likely to really shake things up this offseason? My vote goes to the Phillies and Mets.
Mark P
8:27
I guess it depends on what mean by "shake it up," since the Mets will have a lot of natural roster attrition based on free agents alone.  Obviously they must like their core a lot, so NY will be building on what they have rather than making any big subtractions.
8:29
As for Philly, their core is also pretty set, though I do see some room to make some bigger moves.  Harper, Schwarber, Turner, Wheeler, Nola, Sanchez, and probably Suarez, Painter, Crawford, Kerkering, Strahm are the guys who I'd be stunned to see traded this winter.  Anyone else, I wouldn't be entirely shocked, even Realmuto.
Ben
8:30
What do you see the Red Sox realistically doing? How low should my hopes be?
Mark P
8:31
The Red Sox don't seem that far away to me.  Their lineup is already solid and they've got some really good prospects on the way as early as 2025.  Getting one or two more pitchers for the rotation and bullpen might be all ("all" he said, like it's easy) Boston needs to get right back into contention
Bad Management
8:32
Will I ever pitch in a post season game as a Pirate?
Mark P
8:33
You, random person on the internet?  Almost certainly not.

It would be funny if this was, say, Jared Jones randomly firing off a question into the chat window
Bad Management
8:33
Will Paul Skenes ever throw a playoff pitch in a Pirates uniform?
Mark P
8:35
Ah, there's the later version of the message!  :)

The Pirates need bats, and in a sense they're somewhat of an inverse of Boston's situation.  Their pitching should be fine, albeit hoping that the youngsters all keep it going and stay healthy without any sophomore slumps.  Making a keen trade or spending a little extra on a veteran bat would be a big help to the lineup.
Orbit
8:36
I find the “there’s no precedent for Crane to spend or to do a long contract” a little odd. These are unprecedented times for the Astros and Crane likes to win and likes a splash. I’m not saying he absolutely will change, but I think it’s more likely than is being said. Pressly, Valdez, Meyers or Chas,  and Urquidy trades would give the Astros some spending room.
Mark P
8:37
Technically, the Astros have broken the "six-year rule" since Altuve's previous extension was a seven-year deal.

That being said, I do think it's unlikely they re-sign Bregman.  Not totally out of the question, as you noted, but unlikely.  And if you make those other trades to create payroll space, that perhaps creates other holes on the roster.
Dave
8:38
Aiden Miller should be a keeper for the Phillies too?
Mark P
8:39
Yeah, I probably should've more broadly said "all of their very best prospects."

Reportedly Painter was the only prospect that was considered untouchable in talks at the deadline, but I'd have to believe Crawford is up there too, given the uncertainty in the Phillies' outfield.
Ken
8:39
A's need a 3B. Pirates are on the hook for 7.5M for IKF. What would it take to get IKF from Pittsburgh?
Mark P
8:41
It's actually around $6.3MM, as the Jays are covering a portion of IKF's salary.  Such a trade makes sense for the Pirates but if they're moving Kiner-Falefa, they're putting more pressure on their young infield core, or creating a need for them to go get a comparable veteran
Melchez
8:42
Is it true Arizona could deal Jordan Montgomery for a salary dump?  How about to Detroit for Maeda and a prospect like Montero?
Mark P
8:44
That doesn't seem feasible.  The D'Backs are in a bit of a tricky spot with Montgomery, since while they can't get full value for him in a trade, I think most of the league views him as a prime bounce-back candidate.

There's also the possibility that Montgomery just isn't dealt at all.  Even if it seems clear that Arizona wasn't his ideal landing spot, they're still a good team who should contend next year, so it might be a little unlikely that he tries to force a trade.
Potential trade
8:45
Masataka Yoshida for Jordan Montgomery. Who says no?
Mark P
8:45
Arizona, easily
Walter
8:47
I made this Josh Naylor trade purposals on Guardian social site.  Josh and Bo Naylor to the Bluejays for Kirk and Bichette.  The other was Josh Naylor  to the Reds for Spencer Steer... Thoughts...and flaws.
Mark P
8:49
Josh Naylor is only controlled through 2025, so the Reds aren't going to be moving Steer for him.  That Cleveland/Toronto offer probably doesn't work either, since the Guards already have a pretty set middle infield and they're probably higher on Bo Naylor's potential than they are on Kirk
Commanders
8:50
Not a baseball question, but DANIELS IS THE MAN
Mark P
8:50
What an ending.  Has to feel great for Washington fans to finally have their football team seemingly on the right track.
Former champ
8:50
I know Texas won’t spend a lot this off-season but Paul Goldschmidt seems like a perfect fit on a one-year deal. They need a right handed bat. I could see Houston going after him as well.
Mark P
8:52
Houston moreso than Texas since the Astros have the more glaring need at first base, but I agree that both teams seem like logical suitors.  Goldschmidt has Texas ties, as well.
Guest
8:53
Tim K. Why would the Cardinals tear it down? While they missed the playoffs again, they were 24 games better than 2023. It seems like could contend with a few improvements.
Cardinal sin
8:53
Can the cardinals shock and actually be in playoff contention next year? I know they are going with youth movement next year and depending on if they trade gray and/or Arenado, they are an interesting team
Mark P
8:56
It's funny, for as often as we get Cardinals questions in these chats, I feel like it's been a long time since we've seen people saying the team SHOULDN'T blow it up.

I guess there's a chance for some 2024 Mets magic with the Cardinals in contending during a "reset" year, assuming that the Cards have a McDonald's character throw out the first pitch at some point.  But overall, the Cardinals have seemingly felt their player development system has been in need of a refresh for some time, so between that and the TV contract situation, they're ripping the band-aid off and looking to have a rare rebuild year.
Kyle
8:57
*If* the Dodgers finish this, does Dave Roberts get into the HOF as a manager? If I’m not mistaken, he has the best NL record in MLB history
Mark P
8:58
Roberts already has a strong HOF case, so winning another ring just further cements things.
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