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Mark P
8:06
Welcome to the Weekend Chat! Let's take a minute to let the questions roll in, and we'll commence with the chattin'
Greg
8:07
Pirates get Taylor Ward from the Angels for Mike Burrows. Who says no?
Mark P
8:07
Angels probably want more for Ward
Jake from State Farm
8:08
Do the Athletics have a legit shot at making it even remotely close to the playoffs? They have made some good moves in the offseason and had a pretty good end to the season, maybe even better than someone like the Orioles. Does this lead to a potential playoff game from a team playing in a minor league ballpark in Sacramento?
Mark P
8:10
They'd need to upgrade the rotation and lineup with at least one more player apiece before I'd consider them for the postseason.  The A's are maybe helped by the relative weakness of the American League, yet while their roster has talent, they're still a few steps behind.

Though I think we all agree that an ALDS matchup of the Rays and A's from two minor league parks would be hilarious.
Blike Chizzo
8:11
The Nats have not been mentioned in recent 3B discussion. Do you think they stand pat and give Tena a shot, or could they be a dark horse candidate in the FA market?
Mark P
8:12
Tena is a possibility for a timeshare, probably along with whatever veteran the Nationals bring in for a one-year contract.  Brady House is coming soon so the Nats probably aren't likely to tie down the position with a long-term add
Breslow is broke
8:13
Nolan playing 3rd for redsox this year chances?
Mark P
8:14
Fairly slim. The Devers situation would be a little awkward, but you'd think Devers would agree to a position switch out of sheer common sense.
But more to the point, I'm not sure it's a great fit, as much as Chaim Bloom would certainly have insight into Boston's prospect base
Guest
8:15
Will the Marlins improve their big league roster or do they face a grievance for not spending revenue sharing money?
Mark P
8:17
Ken Rosenthal discussed this issue in a column a couple of weeks ago.  With $82.8MM in estimated luxury tax figures, the Marlins are around $23MM away from hitting the approximate $105MM magic number.  That's not a big gap to fill up, since if all else fails, Miami could just take on some other team's unwanted contract before Opening Day in a pure salary dump
Squints
8:19
Who's your NL Central favorite as of today?
Mark P
8:20
Chicago....

....which means that the Brewers will probably win the division since underestimating them always backfires
Snakes
8:20
What move is next for the Dbacks?
Mark P
8:21
A pitching trade is inevitable, it's just a matter of who (very likely Montgomery) and to whom.  A deal might not happen until after Roki Sasaki signs, so the D'Backs can access offers from teams who miss out
Posey
8:23
Am I going to make any more signings or am I just going with the Adames deal.
Mark P
8:25
Andrew Baggarly had an interesting piece on the Giants' trade endeavors the other day.  Reading between the lines, it basically sounds like other front offices are just going "give us Eldridge for player X" and not budging much, hoping they can take advantage of any desperation from a first-time PBO and GM.

So yeah, sometimes the pros aren't that different from when you're floating a crazy trade offer to the new manager in your fantasy league.
8:26
Obviously the deeper we get into the offseason, the offers might get more reasonable and the Giants might be able to get something done on the trade front.  Or, depending on how much money Posey is being given to spent, another signing or two is plausible.
Big Dombo
8:27
After all the dust settled, I’m pretty happy with what the Phillies did. But Hoffman seems as good as gone to a team needing a starter. Would the Phillies be into a high leverage arm who didn’t quite read their market correctly?
Mark P
8:28
Another reliever certainly still seems possible, whether that's a free agent in the scenario you present or perhaps in a trade.  I don't think the Phillies are "done" with the heavy lifting just yet, since I just sense Dombrowski has a big trade up his sleeve
Hmm
8:28
Higher odds of being dealt before opening day: Luis Castillo or Dylan Cease?
Mark P
8:30
Cease seems the likelier trade candidate in my view.  Seattle doesn't "need" to trade Castillo, narrow payroll notwithstanding, since running it back with that elite five-man staff is very tempting.  

Technically the Padres don't "need" to trade Cease either.  But, moving him a year in advance of his likely departure in free agency makes sense, and the Padres could get back some pieces to help them in 2025 and in the longer term
Metsfan
8:32
Alonso, this is getting a little absurd. His market sounds terrible. Why not stay where he is comfortable, chance of winning, even at $90m/3 years? Him thinking he should be paid as the best 1B just doesn’t make any sense
D. Stearns
8:32
Pete alonso 4 years 110, with a 5th year option for 25 million with a 2million buyout?
Mark P
8:34
Alonso seemed like a good candidate to end up with a shorter-term deal with at least one opt-out, and these types of projected contracts (particularly the first one) make sense if the last 3-4 years of the deals are all player options
Dodgers
8:35
Do HOF players get to choose which cap they wear in Cooperstown? I thought I once read that it was dependent upon where they had their most success or where they won a championship. What about a guy like Mookie, who won in both places and had success in both places?
Mark P
8:36
The HOF chooses the cap.  In Betts' case, it seems pretty likely that he'll end up in a Dodgers cap when his career is over and he's on his way to Cooperstown.  He's already had five seasons in LA, in comparison to his six in Boston
RedsfanKen
8:37
So will the Reds land an outfielder or another big bat?  Tired of all the bark and no bite.
Mark P
8:39
The infield picture is full enough that the outfield is probably the likeliest spot for an upgrade.  And yeah, it's been pretty quiet in Cincinnati so far.  Whether that reflects patience, lack of payroll, or what remains to be seen.  But, as I hasten to mention many times in these chats, there's plenty of offseason remaining for the Reds or other quiet teams to swing some bigger moves
Leo D
8:39
Do the Cubs really give 3B to Shaw?
Mark P
8:39
Nope, it seems like they'll bring in a veteran to platoon with Shaw or at least compete for the job.  If nothing else, it lessens the pressure on Shaw as he approaches his MLB debut
Sad Blue Jays Fan
8:40
Will the Jays be looking at a rebuild anytime soon?
Mark P
8:41
Seems that way.  This upcoming season has the feel of 2018, when it was pretty clear that the window was closed but they had to play out a few months first just to ensure that the previous year wasn't a Murphy's Law situation
Jed Hoyer
8:44
Why do i always go dumpster diving for FA players
Mark P
8:45
One can certainly argue that the Cubs should've or could've been spending more, but their expenditures on Swanson, Suzuki, Imanaga, Taillon, even Bellinger put Hoyer well above
"dumpster diver" status
Grant
8:46
What are your thoughts on the Twins? I know they faded hard last year once Joe Ryan went down but am I crazy thinking this team can contend for the division as Buxton, Correa, and Lewis are all back and the pitching is deeper than we were last year?
Mark P
8:47
The Twins have two main issues as I see it.  One, their roster has enough built-in injury concern that I doubt you'll ever get a lucky year where pretty much everyone avoids the IL for any extended period of time.

Two, their payroll limitations mean that they don't have any easy routes to get much better.  If Falvey swings a couple of creative trades to shed money and add talent, I'll be the first to tip my cap to him, but that's easier said that done.
8:48
Said THAN done
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