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Mark P
8:08
2025's success notwithstanding, I think it's still likely that Bichette is playing elsewhere next year.  The Gimenez trade was indeed probably a hedge for the Jays, in part because at the time of the deal, Bichette was still a question mark coming off his rough 2024 performance.

Bichette being open to a 2B position change would also help his overall free agent case, in addition to being the more logical move overall in the long run for him on the field.  Teams that may be hesitant about Bichette's shortstop glovework, or simply don't have a shortstop spot open (i.e. the Giants) would be much more willing to engage in his market for Bichette the second baseman
Veteran Righthander
8:11
An also-ran team you think might be a sleeper for next year, based on later-season call-ups and better performances by starters?
Mark P
8:12
This doesn't really fit your criteria, but the Royals started playing a lot better once they started getting even a modest amount of production from their outfield.  Bolstering the outfield and adding more hitting in general could get KC back into contention next year, since they've got the arms.
Dave Dombrowski
8:15
Given Aaron Nola's decline and Zack Wheeler's postoperative uncertainty, what are the chances I re-sign Ranger Suarez? Alvarado's money is a start...
Mark P
8:17
The 2026 rotation looks like Sanchez, Walker, Nola, hopefully Wheeler, and presumably Painter.  Rather than spend a lot of money on reuniting with Suarez, I can see the Phillies adding more of a depth starter type, since on paper, they might have a rotation surplus if all goes well.

That said, when does it ever go well?  Since unexpected injuries (i.e. Wheeler) or sudden struggles (i.e. Nola) can happen at any time, more pitching is always a need.  Once we get more of a sense of Wheeler's status, it'll be easier to predict Philly's next move
Garrett
8:19
Does Frankie Frisch letting a bunch of his pals into the Hall in the 70s still have an effect today?
Mark P
8:19
It led to an overhaul of how the HOF approaches the veterans committee, though those committees have been altered many times over the years.  Beyond that, I'm not sure it has much impact outside of "who is the worst Hall of Famer?" arguments
Andrew R.
8:20
So Luzardo isn't in the Phillies rotation plans next year?
Mark P
8:20
Whoops, forgot to add Luzardo to that list!  Yes, he's obviously part of the 2026 rotation.
Ken
8:22
Jacob Wilson's defensive metrics at SS leave something to be desired. Should the A's shift him to 3B and have Darell Hernaiz handle SS until Leo DeVries arrives?
Mark P
8:22
Wilson's got a good arm, but it's just a matter of whether or not his range is so limited that 3B would also be a problem.
DT
8:24
Is there a market for Brent Rooker with the emergence of Kurtz and Soderstrom/could he potentially bring back a mid rotation starter type in a deal?
Mark P
8:25
Not that the A's care a ton of about PB, but they just signed Rooker to a long-term deal last spring.  Trading him less than a year after that signing doesn't seem too likely.
Guest
8:27
What would a Naylor contract look like with him only being 28? 4 years 90ish
Mark P
8:29
My feeling is he'll get less than $90MM, though his younger age is a plus.  It's possibly Naylor might even explore an opt-out in his contract in order to maybe re-enter free agency when he's still young, but being a 1B-only player might mitigate that flexibility.
Dave
8:29
Walker Buehler a possibility for 2926 Phillies?
Mark P
8:30
Wow, that's one long career.  Not even Jamie Moyer pitched for 900 years.

Typo jokes aside, Buehler might get himself into the Phillies' plans with a good showing in September (or October....), but odds are, Buehler will want a chance at a clear rotation job on his next team.
Richard
8:32
Is Bochy manager of the Rangers in 2026?
Mark P
8:33
There have been some conflicting reports on Bochy for much of the season, so it's all up to his personal decision.  If he wants to manage another year, it seems the Rangers will happily take him back.  If a new deal is reached, it's probably likely to be a rolling year-to-year type of pact that gives Bochy flexibility if he decides to retire.
Marlins
8:34
who's a FA we can sign? We have the SP, and now with Marsee and Stowers we are in wild card conversation with one more legit bat
Mark P
8:36
This will be an interesting offseason in Miami.  The most probable outcome is that the Marlins will continue to play it safe and sign (at most) a couple of veterans to one-year contracts, since the team needs a lot more than just "one more legit bat" to patch up all the holes in the lineup.
Tiger Town
8:36
If Skubal misses any time or his injury lingers, Detroit is cooked, right?
Mark P
8:38
It doesn't look like Skubal's injury is all that serious, so the Tigers caught a major break.  But yeah, if he'd been hurt, that alone would've almost certainly scorched Detroit's chances.
Midwest
8:39
What does a Salvy extension look like? Who are most likely targets for the Royals to get them into the post season? Also, is Salvy a first ballot HoF or an eventual famer?
Mark P
8:41
It's been such a rough year offensively and defensively for Perez that if it was anyone else, it would be an easy call for the Royals to decline his option.  But, since he's a franchise icon, he'll be back for $13.5MM (really it's an $11.5MM decision for the team due to the $2MM buyout).  

The Fermin trade at the deadline basically cemented Perez as returning for at least 2026. An extension isn't out of the question, but the Royals have enough young catchers in the pipeline that committing too many more years to Perez doesn't seem feasible.
Verlander
8:42
Is he cooked?
Mark P
8:43
He has a 2.44 ERA over his last 10 starts.  Verlander has quickly gone from "cooked" to "on fire," and he's been a big part of the Giants' surge.
AndthenIsaid
8:45
Will shutting Winn down early hurt his chances at a GG?
Mark P
8:47
Nick Allen has the better overall slate of public metrics, as both DRS and OAA love his work.  Winn is only getting the love from OAA, and Mookie Betts is the inverse, getting great DRS grades but only good OAAA grades.

If anything, Winn being such a good defender despite playing hurt all year might be a point in his favor with voters
Preller Jr
8:50
Has Laureano played his way out of SD with his well he has done since the trade? He seems to be a great fit in LF and a backup in CF.
Mark P
8:53
That's a question the Padres won't have to answer for a while.  They hold a $6.5M club option on his services for 2026, and that's a lock to be exercised the way Laureano is playing.
Bernie Brewer
8:53
Do the Brewers and Brandon Woodruff exercise the mutual option for next season ?
Mark P
8:54
Given the long history between the two sides and the circumstances, this might be the rare example of a mutual option has a tiny chance of being mutually exercised.  

But, the much more likely scenario is that Woodruff is a free agent.
Aaron
8:55
Do you keep Volpe out for the rest of the season
Mark P
8:56
At this point, yes.  Caballero looks like the better option, and Volpe is just simply not healthy.
It begs the question of why he wasn't put on the IL months ago.
Chris Getz
8:57
Do the White Sox pursue anything this offseason? They seem to have the infield and catcher covered, and if Benintendi and Tauchman come back, maybe they'll need a starter or two to hold down the rotation until some arms start coming back mid-season. Maybe a power hitting 1B? Josh Naylor?
Mark P
8:58
The White Sox aren't remotely in the position to start signing prominent free agents like Naylor.
DBacks 40-man
9:00
To what degree should I be concerned about the Snakes needing to add 9(!) players back from the 60-day IL at the end of the season? Never mind protecting guys from the R5
Mark P
9:00
A few spots will be opened by non-tenders and free agents, but you're right, it's a large number.  Arizona might be a team to watch when it comes to early-offseason trades.
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