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Mark P
8:30
Due to some scheduling changes this weekend, the Weekend Chat is being launched now instead of the usual Sunday evening timeslot.  Better early than never?
8:33
Haha, the actual link to the chat might've been helpful to post, rather than a link to Erasmo Ramirez's Baseball Reference page.  Geez, this switch to Saturday night has left everything haphazard...
Pot belly
8:34
who is the closer for the tigers this year?
Mark P
8:34
Probably Foley, though I could see any number of pitchers get save chances if the "pitching chaos" strategy continues in 2.0 form
Ohtani’s Scapegoat
8:35
Are the Dodgers a failure if they don’t win the World Series?
Mark P
8:36
It's extremely hard to win the World Series, so no.  Despite the high expectations, if the Dodgers "only" win a pennant or make the NLCS, that's a solid result.
Pirates Dead-Ender
8:37
Who's gonna have the better season: Trea Turner or Bo Bichette?
Mark P
8:37
Who will have the better 2025 season?
Bo Bichette (26.8% | 267 votes)
 
Trea Turner (73.2% | 731 votes)
 
Total Votes: 998
8:38
Interesting question here.  Common sense might say that Bichette is extra motivated after his down year in 2024, but the fact that Bichette had such an inexplicable down year is a red flag unto itself.
Chucky
8:38
What’s your take on Max Scherzer at 40 years of age? Can he give the Jays a boost or is he depth fodder at the deadline?
Mark P
8:39
As a Jays fan, it would be awesome to see Scherzer turn back the clock and deliver another great season.  But, I'd also be more than happy with a just a decent season, with Scherzer staying healthy and perhaps posting numbers akin to his 2023 campaign.
Mr. Baseball
8:40
Should the O's sign Kyle Gibson and/or David Robertson to strengthen their pitching staff following the Rodriguez and Kittredge injuries?
Never enough pitching
8:40
With Grayson and Kittredge going down, what’s the Os move now?
Mark P
8:41
The Orioles have a fair amount of pitching depth, so in a perfect world, one of the young guys steps up to fill in while Rodriguez is out.  If Gray-Rod isn't out for too long, having Povich or someone handle a few starts isn't a bad outcome.  

However, Robertson would look pretty great in that bullpen right now given that Kittredge will be missing a big chunk of the season.
8:42
Not to keep beating the drum about this topic, but this is why the Orioles probably should've aimed higher with their pitching targets this winter.  Morton and Sugano are both interesting additions, but Baltimore still lacks that top-of-the-rotation ace they lost in Burnes.
Bzzz
8:42
Bees?
Mark P
8:43
Beads?!
Brady
8:43
How likely is it that the Phillies are serious suitors for Tucker or Guerrero next winter
Mark P
8:45
Seems like the Phillies have interest in retaining Schwarber, so that keeps a big salary on the books.  Possibly two if Realmuto is also extended.  It is possible the front office views either Tucker or Vlad as a special enough case to throw financial caution to the wind for at least one year, since Castellanos/Walker both coming off the books after 2026 will provide some relief
8:46
In short, the Phillies have the money to be basically in on anyone, and either Tucker or Guerrero would naturally be big upgrades in that lineup.  Either Tucker goes into RF and Castellanos moves to LF, or else Guerrero plays first base, Castellanos goes to LF, and Harper returns to RF duty
Lawrence Butler
8:47
I know I got a pre-arb security deal after only inking an $800K signing bonus. But I sold myself short big time. Bobby Witt Jr had a strong 2nd half season as a shortstop and got a much larger guarantee. Sure Butler would've anyways hit free agency after 2029 and they play different positions. But maybe he shouldve considered betting on himself
Mark P
8:49
Witt and Butler aren't really comps whatsoever.  Witt was a blue-chipper that has been projected for greatness since well before his draft date.  Butler was a sixth-round pick who didn't really get on anyone's prospect radar until 2023, and his MLB track record is still quite limited.

I think Butler made a pretty wise move in locking up life-changing money right now, and striking while the iron is hot.  If he ends up playing so well that this deal ends up looking like a bargain for the A's, I think that's a risk Butler was willing to take
Joe
8:51
The Yankees must be happy that they didn’t trade Stoman with Gil and Cole going down this week.
Mark P
8:51
All together now.....you can never have too much pitching!
Mariners
8:53
Good thing we didn’t trade a started now with Kirby out? Or
Mark P
8:55
You can never have....oh wait, always used that line

Kirby's injury seems relatively minor, and it makes sense that Seattle is being as cautious as possible.  But the threat of a rotation injury also underscores why the Mariners should've done more with their lineup this winter.  The team is so pitching-dependent that isn't a reach to say that one major rotation injury could sink the season.
The Sky is Falling
8:55
What do the Yankees do if G Cole and/or G Stanton are out for the season?
Mark P
8:59
Stanton's absence is somewhat easier to address, since the Yankees can cycle guys through the DH slot or perhaps look to sign J.D. Martinez.

Replacing Cole is a lot trickier, with the caveat that the Yankees managed just fine without Cole for a big chunk of 2024.  But, lightning striking twice on that front doesn't seem too likely, plus now their depth has already been stretched with Gil out for months.

If Warren or Headrick or someone can step up to cover innings in the short term, that would be even bigger for NYY as Gil's emergence was last year.  However, then the Yankees also have to rely on all of Fried/Rodon/Stroman/Schmidt staying healthy too, since losing even more depth really puts them in a bad spot
Ben
8:59
Preller has been so quiet. With the pitching injuries going around, how likely does he throw a curve and trade Cease before opening day?
Mark P
9:00
If some desperate team made an absurd offer for Cease, Preller would likely accept.  But, barring such a Godfather offer, it surely seems like Cease will remain a Padre
todd j
9:01
historically you never want to put too much stock in spring training however the giants seem to be coming together nicely and are poised to have solid season and make a run at the wild card, your thoughts
Mark P
9:03
By coincidence, I happen to be writing the Giants' offseason review piece, so stay tuned for that within the next day or two.

Not to spoil my post in advance, but while the Giants have talent on their roster, a lot has to go right for them to overtake any division rivals, plus other NL wild card contenders.  It's not out of the question that SF might emerge and make the playoffs.
Nick
9:06
Which is more likely: White Sox winning record or Dodgers missing the postseason
Mark P
9:07
Dodgers missing the postseason. A scenario might exist where LA has a pretty good season but, due to injuries or a few down years from key players, falls just short in a competitive National League.
Adam
9:08
What kind of market is there fir Tijuan Walker?  Phils have to be trying to move him, he looks “fixed” this spring and theres always a team looking for a innnings eating arm
Mark P
9:08
Teams are going to be looking far more closely at Walker's previous two seasons than they are at a few innings in Spring Training.  I doubt the Phillies would get much of anything in return without eating the big majority of his contract.
Bubba
9:09
Has there been any word on Brandon Belt, retirement or otherwise?  It's between him and JD Martinez as to which best old bat could fill in for Stanton in my opinion.
Mark P
9:10
We haven't heard anything about Belt in almost a year, so it might be that he's unofficially retired.  It's still surprising to me that no team picked him up following his very solid 2023 season, but after a full year away from baseball, it's also hard to see Belt re-emerging
Minister of Silly Walks
9:13
In your opinion, who is the most underrated player right now
Mark P
9:14
Whomever I answered the last time someone asked me this question, since whomever the player was, they're so underrated I've forgotten my response.

My answer this time is Yordan Alvarez, which is kind of a hot take?  He's underrated in the sense that everyone knows he's a good hitter, but I'm not sure people quite realize exactly how great his numbers are
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