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Mark P
7:27
One of the final Weekend Chats of the regular season is now underway. Let's take a minute for some questions to pile up, and then launch....
Noah
7:28
Do you think we see any FO/Coaching changes in Tampa next year? Two meh years in a row and a lot of guys at all levels took a step back this year…
Mark P
7:30
A new ownership group means nothing is guaranteed, but reports have already indicated that no big changes are coming.  And, I feel, rightly so.  2025 could easily be viewed as an aberration due to the oddity of the ballpark situation, and the Rays' track record is pretty stellar
Jason
7:30
How in the world are the Guardians still in the wild card picture, and seem destined to finish above .500 regardless?  On paper this team looks…not very good.
Mark P
7:31
The struggles of many other AL teams have opened the door for the Guardians, and it has helped that Cleveland has been feasting on some lighter competition
Cleveland/Texas in the final series of the regular season, and that would be a lot of fun if that's a de factor play-in series for a wild card slot
Slider33
7:31
Time for the Reds to pack it up?
Mark P
7:32
Speaking of teams that had a door open for them, the Reds have been struggling badly over the last four weeks.  Cincinnati only had to play decent ball in that stretch, and they'd be well in front of the Mets at this point
A frustrated Angels Fan
7:34
I don't get it, this season should have been better. I'm not saying they were supposed to make the playoffs but to not trade outgoing free agents for prospects and then absolutely screw up the number 2 pick in this years draft. I would think the front office and manager /coaches would be changed. What do you think?
Mark P
7:36
Ron Washington's health situation probably means he'll return for a proper full season as manager in 2026.  Perry Minasian just signed an extension about a year ago, through 2026 is the last guaranteed year of that extension.

The bigger problem is still at the ownership level, as the Angels simply lack much direction.  This isn't at all to say that Minasian is blameless for the state of the roster, but to some extent his hands are tied by Arte Moreno's wishes.
Guest
7:37
If the Rangers DO make it, is Eovaldi able to be back in time?
Mark P
7:37
Nope. When he went on the IL, there was no "well, if they make it deep enough into October..." qualifier on his status.
Herman
7:38
Hey Angels fan, the Braves did the same dumb stuff not trading Iglesias or Ozuna. Please tell me they don't go wild and offer Ozuna a contract for 2026?
Mark P
7:39
Ozuna is almost certainly gone.  Much more likely that Atlanta opens up the DH space and payroll space by letting him walk.
Guest
7:39
Can SDP resign King given their other payroll commitments?
Mark P
7:40
Given all of the time King has missed this year, it might've helped keep him in the Padres' price range.  Chances are King is looking at either a one-year contract or a 2-3 year deal with multiple opt-outs, so he can (in theory) re-enter free agency next winter after a full and healthy season to land a bigger long-term deal.
7:41
It's not entirely out of the question that King accepts a qualifying offer from San Diego, for such a short-term pact.  Or, maybe the Padres work out an opt-out laden new contract themselves.
What? Good News for the Nats? Unpossible!
7:42
No real question, just sharing my real enjoyment of the rookie season that Daylen Lile is having. .288/.339/.457/.796. With 14 doubles, NINE triples, and five HRs in 79 games. Nats 2021 draft is actually looking kinda OK. Which is a refreshing novelty for the team.
Mark P
7:43
He's looked really good, so that's at least one silver lining in a grim Nationals season.  At the very least, Lile has put himself in the running for an everyday job next year, even amidst a fairly crowded OF picture
Hud
7:43
Who's your MVP pick, Judge or Raleigh?
Mark P
7:43
Who would get your vote as AL MVP?
Judge (30.1% | 195 votes)
 
Raleigh (69.9% | 452 votes)
 
Total Votes: 647
Baseball fan
7:44
How do you think Yesavage does tomorrow? What do you think his role will ultimately be down the stretch and into the postseason, and would you have made the move as Tor?
Mark P
7:47
He'll ultimately be a reliever, since the Jays have too many other proven veterans as rotation options.  To that extent I'm a little surprised he's debuting as a starter at all.
7:48
As to whether or not I'd have done it, I guess it can't hurt?  The Jays' bullpen has been shaky enough (despite some better results in the last week) that Yesavage might provide some spark, and an unknown quantity for opposing batters
Giants Collapse
7:49
arw the Giants of the last month closer to what they are than that mid-summer run? And how much do they need to do in the offseason to truly compete all of next season? Pitching moves only with the offense they have and Eldridge on the way?
Mark P
7:50
It can be reasonably assumed that Devers and Adames will hit more their usual selves (as they have in the last month or so) in 2026 than they did for much of 2025.  While rotation help is certainly a need, the Giants need to address the outfield, and second base.
UGA 44 Vols 41
7:51
Do you see the Braves having a real chance at Kyle Schwarber and do the Braves trade Sean Murphy this offseason?
Mark P
7:52
Murphy is owed $45MM over the next three years, and he'll spend the offseason rehabbing from hip surgery.  His trade value is pretty minimal right now, so the Braves' plan is probably just to keep Murphy/Baldwin as the catcher/DH combo.

Schwarber would be a great fit basically anywhere, but a particularly great fit in Atlanta.  That said, I find it hard to believe that the Phillies won't break the bank to re-sign him.
Kris Bubic
7:53
Do I sign an extension this offseason, or bet on myself to deliver a full season of all star stuff and get PAID
Mark P
7:56
As good as Bubic looked this year, missing two months with a rotator cuff strain will throw a wrench into his asking price for any extension talks.

Given how the Royals have made a point to lock up starting pitchers, it wouldn't be a surprise if they also talked with Bubic about a long-term deal.  Or, on the flip side, they may be less open to extending Bubic since so much has been invested elsewhere in the rotation.

Keep in mind that Bubic has already had a lot of ups and downs in his career, plus injury issues.  He might welcome the chance to lock in some life-changing money right now, even if that means he leaves some on the table in foregoing free agency.
Ethan
7:57
Do you see the Guardians non-tendering Nolan Jones next year?
Mark P
7:57
He will be arb-eligible for the first time this winter, and is controlled through 2028.  So that's enough control at a cheap enough price tag that the Guardians might give him one more chance....but yeah, I'd lean towards a non-tender
RJ
7:58
Do the Angels go after Cody Belinger this offseason? Seems to be a good fit
Mark P
8:00
I'm sorry to keep giving the same answer to Angels fans year after year when they ask about big-ticket free agent pursuits.....but if you're a star player with options, why choose the Angels over a team with a much more clear-cut chance of winning?  LAA would have to drastically overpay to get onto Bellinger's radar.
Race of the Century
8:01
Willie Mays Hayes vs Adult Benny the Jet Rodriguez. Who wins?
Mark P
8:01
Outstanding question. My pick is Hayes, because we saw more of him as an adult than we did of Benny the Jet.
Playing Nats GM
8:03
Who is a realistic target for the Nationals this offseason assuming they moderately spend with new front office hire(s)? They can't go another offseason with some ridiculously low $50M budget again.
Mark P
8:04
I think another lower payroll is very likely, barring a real change of direction from the Lerner family.  It may depend on who the next PBO/GM actually is, but in all likelihood, the Nationals will continue in low-spending rebuild mode, adding just some veterans on one-year deals.
The Shortstop Andres Gimenez
8:05
Are the Blue Jays telegraphing something in subtly moving Gimenez over to SS in Bo's absence?  I've always thought the trade with Cleveland last winter made very little sense if Gimenez wasn't being seen as the opening day SS in 2026
Sneaky Pete
8:06
Can the Giants front office convince Bo Bichette to take $225mil to play 2nd base?
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