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Mark P
8:40
It's the first Weekend Chat of September, let's go! We'll start once a few questions pile up in the queue...
Joe
8:43
More likely to have an impact down the stretch-Justin Steele or Shelby Miller?
Mark P
8:44
Interesting question.  I lean towards Miller just because he's more used to bullpen work, and because his injury layoff hasn't been as long.
$$
8:45
What does Atlanta do with SS for next year? Dubon and fill his utility role with an addition and concentrate on rotation?
Mark P
8:47
The pickings are slim in free agency, so trading for a shortstop is far likelier than a signing in terms of truly upgrading the position.  Re-signing Dubon can be part of the answer but only in a platoon sense, and Atlanta might prefer to have Dubon strictly in a utility role rather than relying on him for a share of everyday duties.
Ohtani
8:47
Why not put him on the IR now for 15 days is three retroactive days?   They’ve shown they can win a few games without him.  Let hm heal a bit for the post season.
Mark P
8:49
This might ultimately be what the team does, and letting multiple players get some partial rest days as a DH might help the roster as a whole in advance of the October grind.

But, obviously a team would prefer to have Ohtani available in its lineup if at all possible.  I wonder if Ohtani might've already been on the IL if he was eligible to be placed on the 10-day, but because it has to be a 15-day IL placement, that's a good deal more time of an elite hitter on the sidelines.
Cygnus God of Balance
8:50
Now that the Rays and A's stadium situations have been resolved, how soon until we see expansion? Perhaps 2028 after the lockout?
Mark P
8:51
Among the many, many things to be covered in the new CBA, it's likely some path to expansion will be addressed.  It'll take a while for the bids to be collected and awarded and then a couple of years before a team can be launched, so the expansion clubs might not arrive until something like 2032...which would be after the next CBA expires, assuming the two sides agree to another four-year pact
Delauter
8:52
Cleveland should be aggressive and extend Delauter asap. Agree or disagree? I think they should while his value is down because of injuries. Cleveland hasn’t had an offense for a long time. Delauter looks like their best hitting prospect in a long time. I’d take 100 games of Delauter vs 162 games out of most Cleveland hitters the last eight years.
Mark P
8:54
The Guards may have enough lingering questions about his health that they might hold off on an extension for another year or so. But in general, you're probably right that a long-term deal is more likely now that Cleveland has some idea of what CDL can do at the big league level.
Aroldis Chapman
8:55
400th career save today. I’m a hall of famer, right? Who’s hat am I wearing?
Mark P
8:55
"Hold up, what's all this about a hat?!" -- Doug Eddings
Crash Davis
8:55
Do you think the Angels are going to spend big this off season?
Mark P
8:56
Since it'll be several months before the sale is finalized, probably not, especially when the lockout is factored in.  Players will be more open to signing in Anaheim once the new ownership group (and front office, unless Mozeliak is retained) is fully in place.
Guest
8:58
Does Arozarena make sense as an offseason target for the Tigers?
Mark P
8:58
With Riley Greene already locked into left field, probably not.  Detroit could use some hitting help in general, however.
Blue
9:00
Your 2026 WS prediction from NL and AL?
Mark P
9:00
My preseason pick of Seattle vs. LA isn't looking so hot, so I'll now amend it to Red Sox vs. Dodgers.  Injury concerns and recent slumps notwithstanding, I still think the Dodgers can make it back to compete for the three-peat.
Dodgers
9:01
Why aren't the Dodgers locking Skubel up to a long term deal now? It seems like he would be eager to get it done now as well, since nobody (including the Dodgers) are likely to be able to spend as much after this season.
Mark P
9:02
There is no way Skubal isn't going to test the open market.  Granted, there's a strong chance he just re-signs with the Dodgers anyway, but Skubal (and Boras) will want to hear bids from the Blue Jays, Mets, and the other usual suspects to help establish a record asking price
Ed
9:03
i feel like Chris sale is the most obvious blank hat hall of famer. Does scherzer go blank hat or is a Washington hat. And verlander could be a blank guy too but I’m feeling a Detroit hat
Mark P
9:04
Yeah, I'd lean towards Verlander as a Tiger.  Sale is pretty clearly still a White Sox hat, but a couple of more years like this in Atlanta could swing it.  Scherzer is clearly Nats.
Angels fan
9:06
what do you think Stan Kroenke will do when he takes over and do you think he can attract top players
Mark P
9:08
Judging by Kroenke's other ownership ventures, he'll hire a good front office and then basically stay out of their way.  Baseball is a different animal than other sports, but there's no reason on paper why free agents wouldn't be attracted to an Angels team that is capable of winning.

If I'm an Angels fan, I'm very excited to have an owner whose teams have won championships in literally every other sport.
Kyle Harrison
9:09
Hey uhm... remember when I was an ace? Or ace adjacent anyway? Am I just all the way broken?
Mark P
9:11
It's worth noting that Harrison has been good in three of his six starts since returning from the IL, but yeah, the other three have been rough.  The Brewers are considering moving him into some kind of shorter-start or even a relief role heading into October, to see if he can get back on track.
John
9:11
Can us Orioles fans ever have nice things? This window is over, right? Or am I just blinded by my lack of trust for this organization?
Mark P
9:14
Tough week to be an Orioles fan, and really a tough couple of years.  The team has enough talent that I hesitate to say that the window is capital-c Closed, but they're going backwards in what was supposed to be the period when the O's went to the next level as contenders.  Writing off 2025 as a year from hell is a lot harder when it's followed up by another mediocre season.
Braves
9:15
Trade for Pena? What will it take?
Mark P
9:18
Pena is a free agent after 2027, but it won't be as high as the asking price for Kyle Tucker prior to Tucker's walk year.  But, I can see Houston wanting a similar package in the sense of one MLB-ready player (since the Astros still want to win in 2027) and one good prospect who isn't far away from the Show.
9:19
Then again, the Astros have also shown they're happy to just keep some free agents until they hit the open market, so there's no guarantee at all Pena will be dealt.  Retaining him keeps that "infield logjam" situation in place, but as we saw this year, the logjam ended up being a moot point with Correa missing most of the year
Pudge
9:21
Would Trevor Story make sense for the Braves?  I’m sure they can get him pretty cheap…
Mark P
9:22
Hmm, is there any history of an oft-injured big-name Red Sox player suddenly reviving his career after going to Atlanta?

In all seriousness, I'd guess the Braves would want someone with a better recent track record than Story
Which one?
9:22
Does Ohtani go kn the 10-day or 15-day IL?
Mark P
9:22
The 15-day IL
David
9:24
Is Spencer Jones playing his way to an everyday role next year?
Mark P
9:25
If I'm the Yankees, I'm very comfortable with Jones getting the bulk of the work in center field next year.  The defense is iffy, but "iffy" is actually a lot better than what they've gotten from Grisham's glove in the last two years
Ken
9:26
Assuming the A's don't contend next year, do you think they should move Langeliers at the deadline if they get an Adley-like return?
Mark P
9:27
If someone offers that kind of trade package, the A's should definitely say yes.
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