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Brewers Fan
9:17
I'm not sure who you had going into it, but if Chourio missed the rest of it, does that change your view of the series?
Mark P
9:18
I still think Milwaukee wins with or without Chourio, but obviously losing him would be a blow
Verlander
9:19
Do the giants resign me?
Mark P
9:20
They need pitching and JV did well enough in 2025 that you'd assume the Giants would welcome a reunion.  The ball might be in Verlander's court about whether he'd like to return to a familiar spot, or perhaps seek out a team better positioned to contend
Don Zimmer
9:21
PCA has peaked, and his career year is over. He hits 230 vs LHP and is an easy out vs same. What can we get if we trade him in Dec?
Mark P
9:23
The Cubs would get an absolute haul for a pre-arb player who's turning 24, and who (at minimum) is a speed demon with Gold Glove-level defense in CF

As much as PCA tailed off in the second half, there is absolutely zero chance the Cubs move him.
Frank Drebin Jr
9:23
Have you changed your World Series prediction yet or are you still confident?
Mark P
9:24
My preseason pick was Dodgers/Royals.  I won't lie, I don't love KC's chances of reaching the Series.  Not being in the playoffs is a real setback.
David
9:25
Wells or Rice as the Yankees’ primary catcher next year?
Mark P
9:25
Wells, with Rice moving in as the primary first baseman and occasional backstop
Rockies Front Office
9:26
Who do you feel will be the front runners for the Rockies front office role?
Rockies FO
9:26
Any rumblings on the person to replace Bill?
Mark P
9:28
This will be one of the more interesting GM searches in a while, just because it's so unlike the Rockies to go outside the organization for a hire.  Who knows what their criteria might be, or how they're approaching this process.

I tend to agree with the idea that they'll turn to someone who has worked with the Rox in the past.  For all the Thad Levine buzz, his tenure in Colorado only slightly overlaps with the Monforts' purchase of the team, so I'm not sure he's exactly the known quantity to the Monforts that people think.
Bobby Cox
9:29
I could see Sox signing ozuna to a 1 year deal. They could use him
Mark P
9:30
The Red Sox?  They probably need to keep the DH spot open, either for Yoshida or to cycle multiple guys through.

The White Sox?  Hey, why not, as a veteran bat who can probably then become trade bait at the deadline.  Even for Chicago, however, they might prefer to keep their DH spot free for getting Quero and Teel both into the lineup as much as possible
Torii Hunter
9:31
Should I add wash to my staff if I am the manager?
Mark P
9:32
Speculative on my part, but my guess is that Washington wouldn't want to return to a team that just fired him as manager.  

Wash's most probable landing spot might be back in Atlanta as a coach on the new manager's staff.  As for the Angels, I do think that if the new skipper is a first-timer like Hunter or Pujols, hiring an experienced bench coach is a must.
Guest
9:33
Don't get Cardinals thinking are the going to youth or not
Mark P
9:34
They certainly are this time around.  Given how the veterans with no-trade clauses are all at least "thinking about" waiving their protection, the writing is on the wall about the rebuild.
Phil
9:35
Which MLB veteran do you see having the most difficult time finding a Major League contract next season, similar to the way that JD Martinez and Anthony Rizzo did?
Mark P
9:37
We just mentioned Ozuna in a recent question, and he might fit the bill.  His numbers were okay (21 homers, 114 wRC+) but way down from his previous two seasons.  Ozuna turns 35 next month, he's a DH-only player, and his past off-the-field issues make him a no-go for some teams automatically.
Ang T
9:39
Which route will the Mets go to acquire a staff Ace?
Mark P
9:40
Valdez might be the closest thing to a clear-cut ace in this year's free agent market, given the questions about Cease and Gallen.  (And Tatsuya Imai, who is an unknown against North American hitting.)  So based on scarcity alone, the Mets are likelier to go the trade route for frontline pitching.
Joe
9:40
Are the Rangers able to move any of their big contracts before next season?  If so will the return be worth it?
Mark P
9:42
I think there's some logic in selling high on DeGrom or Eovaldi, because as great as they looked in 2025, the injury risk won't just go away.  

The problem is that if you deal one of those two, that opens up yet another hole in a rotation that may lose all of Mahle, Kelly, and Corbin to free agency.
Ebenezer_Batflip
9:43
Seems like everyone said Story would almost never opt-out, but his season has substantially exceeded expectations and he only has 2 years left on his deal, which would end during a potential CBA lockout. Feels like he's the kind of guy who would prioritize getting a 3rd of 4th year over AAV money. What do you think? Story opts out or stays in Boston?
Mark P
9:47
Story is owed $25MM in both 2026 and 2027, plus he'll get another $5MM on his buyout of a $25MM club option for 2028.  So that's $55MM left on the table if he does opt out, and his contract does last through the end of the CBA following the 2026 season.

Story turns 33 next month, and he's coming of a 101 wRC+ season.  The counting numbers look better than the overall offensive impact for Story, and his defense really dropped off significantly, to boot.  All in all, I suspect he stays in his contract, since his market might not be all that robust.  Besides, why not stick around in Boston on a very promising young team?
9:48
Worth noting that if he did opt out, the Red Sox could override his decision by guaranteeing Story's 2028 salary.  But, I think we can rule that scenario out.
Felix
9:49
Did Shane Bieber show enough in his abbreviated 2025 to get a multi-year pact?
Mark P
9:50
40 1/3 innings of 3.57 ERA ball, with pretty good peripherals (especially a great walk rate) but a lot of homers allowed.  A lot of teams would happily give Bieber multiple years off that production.
Hits Like Rays
9:53
Chances that the Rays keep Christopher Morel around next year for only about $800k?
Mark P
9:54
Morel's arb-eligible salary won't be much, but he also hasn't shown much since arriving in Tampa Bay.  The Rays have their usual gigantic arbitration class that I have yet to entirely sift through, but between their usual slate of trades and non-tenders, I'd lean towards Morel being elsewhere in 2026
Marlins
9:56
Willson conteras as our trade. His contract is underwater, but he supplies defense and offense at first, send lottery ticket for STL to pay half the contract. Sign a good RP and we are a wildcard team
Mark P
9:59
I don't even think I'd call his contract underwater, considering that Contreras has been quite steady over his three years in STL.  

Miami is an interesting team to watch this winter since they "might" pivot to a bigger move or two if they feel they can legitimately contend.  I do kinda think they're more prone to play it more conservative, but since we don't know how Bendix will operate once he gets the green light to build a competitive team (or spend), it's a bit of a question mark
10:00
Plus, don't forget that Contreras has a no-trade clause.  So he'd have to be convinced that the Marlins will be pushing to contend before he signs off on such a trade.
Cry young
10:02
Crochet vs skubal but what about Chapman or freid?
Mark P
10:02
Both have good cases for top-five finishes, even if I think most voters will favor starters over Chapman.
Larry
10:07
Is AJ Preller's job safe? Seems like it is too late to move on after letting him gut the farm .
Mark P
10:08
Preller's contract is up after the 2026 season, so ownership will be making a decision on his future sooner rather than later.  My guess is that he'll get another extension since the Padres keep winning, even if they haven't broken through for consistent playoff success
Ohtani
10:08
MVP again as this king deserves or some other mortal?
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