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Mark P
8:31
It's the second-last Weekend Chat of the regular season, and potentially the last depending on how busy things get next Sunday.  So, get those questions in now!
Yosef
8:33
Out of the dodgers free agents. Realistically who do you think they'll keep ?
Mark P
8:34
At least one of Rojas/Hernandez, Vesia's club option is likely being picked up, and Muncy's club option will still probably be exercised (though I wouldn't be totally shocked if it isn't).

Beyond that, the other FAs will be let go, and Kershaw is retiring.
Hot Stove
8:35
With this hot streak do the reds squeak their way into the playoffs?
Mark P
8:37
Cincinnati is in a wild card spot right now, by dint of holding the tiebreaker over the Mets. The Reds' final six games are against the Pirates, and against a Brewers team that will probably be resting guys.  So, the Reds' fate is in their own hands, and it helps that the Mets have just been spiraling.

I think I wrote just in last week's chat that the Reds had really missed an opportunity to take hold of the wild card race.  Clearly they read the Weekend Chat and were so enraged that they went on this winning streak!
Austin Hays
8:38
Will my option be picked up by the reds this year?
Mark P
8:39
It's a $12MM mutual option with a $1MM buyout.  Mutual options are virtually never exercised by both sides, so Hays will head to free agency again.
Dan
8:40
Will Sonny Gray agree to waive his no trade clause with a rebuild coming?
Mark P
8:42
He wasn't willing to waive it last year when it also seemed like a rebuild was coming, so I'd lean towards Gray returning.  If he indicated he was willing to be moved, I can see the Cards exploring deals.  Susan Slusser recently reported that the Giants have Gray on their offseason trade radar, and laid out some plausible reasons why Gray might be willing to approve a deal to San Francisco in particular.
Tim
8:43
Did you think Morton and Paddock were big movies at the trade deadline?    Morton over 7 era for the tigers.  Paddock over 6.
Mark P
8:45
I didn't mind either at the time, and to be fair other moves (most notably Kyle Finnegan) have really worked out.  

At the time of the deadline, the Tigers clearly felt they just needed final touches rather than any major additions.  Hindsight is obviously 20-20 on that, but if they do end up collapsing entirely and missing the playoffs, you've got to believe the front office will finally get more aggressive with bigger moves this winter
Yesavage Fan
8:47
Will Trey Yesavage get a spot in the bullpen or perhaps even the rotation for the playoffs. He is electric on the mound as I had the pleasure of knowing him since middle school and graduating with him.
Mark P
8:50
It's cool that you have such longtime ties to a big leaguer!  Well, maybe not "long time" since middle school wasn't too long ago for Yesavage.  lol, man, do I ever feel old in seeing all these players debut who are so young.

Toronto's rotation is a total question mark after Gausman and Bieber.  Yesavage might end up getting a start almost by default, if Bassitt is hurt, Scherzer can't get on track, and if the Jays stick to the plan of having Berrios as a reliever.  It's a real roll of the dice asking a rookie to make a high-pressure playoff start so early into his career, yet it's may not that different from having be, say, a multi-inning guy in a similar role
8:51
Frankly, I think the likeliest scenario is Gausman, Bieber, then "pitching chaos" based on matchups and availability
M
8:51
do we think the Astros or the tigers miss the playoffs?
Mark P
8:52
Will the Astros or Tigers miss the playoffs?
Both are in (24.8% | 126 votes)
 
Astros make, Tigers miss (23% | 117 votes)
 
Tigers make, Astros miss (52.2% | 265 votes)
 
Total Votes: 508
I opted to leave out the "both miss" answer since the Rangers' collapse has erased that possibility
Fish Fan
8:55
Are the Marlins for real? Only 4 games out with a week left in the season? Who saw that coming? Is Clayton the manager of the year?
Mark P
8:57
I wonder how many people read this comment, thought "wait, what?" and then did a double take at the standings.  After losing seven of their first eight September games, Miami is now 10-1 in its last 11 games.

The math is by no means in their favor to actually make the postseason, but the fact that we're having this conversation is a testament to the Marlins' underrated year.
Charleston Chew
8:58
How far can the Mariners make provided they get in?
Mark P
8:59
There's basically no doubt at this point that Seattle is at least getting in, and they're really putting an iron grip on the division title.  The Mariners should worry every single opponent they face in October, and are a legit threat to win it all.
Cleveland
9:00
Manzardo looks unplayable as a 1B, which is saying something. Could Alonso be in the Guardians budget? A lot of money freed up.
Mark P
9:00
Alonso won't be even remotely in their price range.
Drake
9:01
Do you think the A’s try to lock up any others of their offensive core? (Langeliers, Kurtz, Wilson, Soderstrom)
Mark P
9:03
On paper yes, though it remains to be seen if last spring's extension flurry was just to avoid MLBPA pressure and to hit their spending minimum.  

If last winter was an anomaly, it may take for the Vegas move to actually happen before we can start thinking about the A's operating in a somewhat more normal fashion.  Not that they'll start spending big or anything, but at least more common moves like locking players up to early extensions.
In Kurtz's case, I think he has already priced himself out of the Athletics' comfort zone.
Angry Rangers Fan
9:05
The rangers HAVE to sign either Tucker, Schwarber, or Bregman right? Get a proven hitter to help Seager and Langford in that lineup
Mark P
9:06
Assuming that Texas indeed stayed under the tax line and reset their taxpayer status, I can see them making (or trying to make) one big splash.
Carl
9:07
Charlie Morton……prolly at the end of his career. Awesome career tho!
Mark P
9:08
Absolutely.  Despite the tough ending, Morton should be proud of his many achievements, if this is indeed the end of the road for him.
Ken
9:08
Rank from most to least likely to resign with their current team: Alonso, Schwarber, Bregman, and Tucker
Mark P
9:09
Schwarber, Bregman, Alonso, and then a big gap before Tucker.  I'd guess Schwarber staying in Philly is borderline probable given how the organization loves him, and Tucker is almost definitely leaving Chicago
Yankees
9:11
Do the Yankees shop McMahon for a third baseman that can hit and field, instead of just a one dimensional gap filler?
Mark P
9:13
It was surprising to see New York eat all of McMahon's salary at the deadline, so if they were willing, I guess another might be too.  But, as good as McMahon's glove is, the bat just isn't there.

Since the rest of the lineup is full of sluggers, the Yankees might be fine having one glove-first spot in the batting order....especially if Volpe's defensive issues continue on the left side of the infield.  I don't think the Yankees make that trade for McMahon if they were just going to flip him this winter.
Mookie B.
9:13
How wrecked are we without Smitty?
Mark P
9:14
It's a big loss.  The Dodgers have withstood all manner of injuries before, but missing Smith makes that lineup considerably weaker.
Gaurdsball?!
9:14
Are we riding a negative run dif into a division title?!
Mark P
9:15
A minimal offense suddenly isn't such a big problem when your pitchers are allowing roughly 1.5 runs per game.
Rafael Ramirez
9:17
Do you think Kim picks up his option with the Braves?
Mark P
9:19
I think just last week I felt he'd just exercise his player option and take the one-year payday, with the idea of having a full and healthy 2026 to re-establish himself.

But, after Kim has continued to hit for several more days now, I think he might have built enough of a platform for Boras to market him for a multi-year deal this winter.  It'll likely be one of those contract that has multiple opt-outs attached, yet taking such a deal allows Kim more flexibility and more money than simply taking the $16MM for 2026
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