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Slappy Slapster
2:39
As commented earlier, Singer for Ward makes sense. Thoughts on Bubic for Ward?
Mark P
2:40
Also a sensible move, though Bubic at a projected $6M makes him a valuable trade chip for players with a higher ceiling than Ward.
SKUBAL AND CROCHET
2:41
Odds Boston tries to pry Skubal and uses Duran/Abreu + some prospects?
Mark P
2:43
The Sox will absolutely at least check in on Skubal, and can offer enough in return to make Detroit think about it.  Skubal probably isn't any likelier to sign an extension in Boston than he is in Motown, however, so the Sox will have to gauge how much they want to give up for what'll very likely be a one-year rental
Skip
2:44
Can Joe Ryan return a top 10 global prospect? What teams are most interested in him?
Mark P
2:46
If the Red Sox did go big on a pitcher trade, Ryan is the likelier candidate than Skubal.  Actually, Pablo Lopez is the likeliest of all since the Twins would welcome saving some money, but sticking with Ryan, the two sides already had some talks at the deadline.

Ryan is projected to make $5.8MM in 2026 and is arb-controlled through 2027.  That's an inexpensive price for a frontline pitcher, so he'd fit into any team's budget.
With just two years of team control, however, that's probably not enough to pry a top-10 prospect
Bernie Brewer
2:48
Does Woodruff come back to the Brewers? Won’t his injury situation limit his opportunities elsewhere?
Mark P
2:50
Woodruff looked so good in his limited outings this season that I think he'll get plenty of attention in free agency.  Not necessarily on a long-term contract, however, which might keep the Brewers in play to some limited extent.  Woodruff is an interesting qualifying offer candidate, in fact, if the Brew Crew wanted to go that route
Ricky
2:51
Would bichette accept playing 2B for the Jays
Mark P
2:54
Bichette's reps surely have a strategy in mind for explaining their client's inconsistent-at-best defense, but the easier route would indeed be a willingness to change positions.  An elite shortstop makes more than an elite second baseman, but Bichette's bat will get him paid anyway, and a position change might even help him if he becomes a plus at 2B.

As I and many others have pointed out, the Andres Gimenez trade seemed like Toronto's hedge against a Bichette departure.  So if Bichette was willing to go with 2B, a path can now emerge towards a reunion with the Jays.  I still feel that overall, Bichette will sign elsewhere.
Pumpsie
2:55
Would Rice and Caballero be better next year than McMahon and Goldschmidt was last year? If so, where does McMahon go? Angels?
Mark P
2:56
McMahon's contract won't be the easiest to trade.  The question the Yankees should be asking if Caballero over Volpe, not McMahon.

Rice is pretty much looking like a lock to be the starting 1B (and occasional catcher) next year.  Goldschmidt will likely head elsewhere.
Guest
2:57
Does Colt Emerson start next season with the M’s
Mark P
2:58
If he has a big spring, I can see the Mariners putting him on the Opening Day roster and aiming for the PPI bonus.  Crawford is still the shortstop, but Emerson could be tabbed for a hole at 2B or 3B
Cubs
2:59
Cubs have to re sign Tucker after what they gave up for him right ?
Mark P
2:59
You'd think so, but all signs point to Tucker leaving
Oriole Orange turned Blue
3:01
I don't understand why teams let their players play through injuries rather than just letting them heal up?  It seems risky to let an already injured player possibly further aggravate the problem further.  Why not just put the injured player on the IL and let the back up play?   Austin Hays used to play injured for the Orioles and it drove me crazy! He'd have an All Star half season bookended by an injured other half.  The same with Colton Cowser now.  Broken finger and then broken ribs, but he plays through it with dismal results.  Kyle Tucker and Gleyber Torres the same thing.
Mark P
3:05
It depends on the player and the injury in some cases.  Like the cliche goes, there's a difference between playing "hurt" and "being injured," since over the course of a six-month baseball season, pretty much everyone is varying degrees of banged up.

You're not wrong that in many cases, having an obviously struggling player on the field is doing more harm than good, even if a team has no ready-made backup option to use.  

But sometimes, a player is able to play through injury just fine, like Tucker over his first month after the hairline fracture.  Or in Torres' case, if he gets sports hernia surgery in mid-July when it first arose, then he's likely gone for the rest of the season.  That's not a welcome outcome for a player like Torres who is chasing a free agent contract, plus the simple fact that he wanted to keep contributing to a Tigers team that was (at the time) flying high
Twins fan
3:05
Does a trade based around Joe Ryan and Coby Mayo make sense for either team involved?
Mark P
3:06
The Orioles should be burning up the Twins' phone lines for Ryan or Lopez.
JeffyM
3:06
Do Yesavage and Lauer just slide into the rotation for Scherzer and Bassitt next year, or do you think the Jays are active on a starting pitcher in FA or trade?
Mark P
3:08
Next year's rotation lines up as Gausman, Yesavage, Berrios, and Lauer, so there's definitely a need for at least one and probably two more starting pitching additions.
Ebenezer_Batflip
3:09
Any chances for the Reds to trade Hunter Greene for Jarren Duran + other players or prospects? Feels like those two teams are good potential trade partners with each having a surplus of what the other needs.
Mark P
3:10
Greene has a higher ceiling for me than Duran, so if I'm the Reds, I see if I can talk Boston into another starter.
Hits Like Rays
3:11
Your thoughts on the new Rays' owners being able to really raise the player payroll if Tampa will not spend "one dollar" to help build a stadium?  Or are the Rays now more likely to just blackmail some other city and re-locate?
Mark P
3:12
The new group's desire to have a new ballpark ready for Opening Day 2029 seems wildly optimistic, so I don't think Tampa fans should feel entirely safe yet about the Rays staying in the Tampa/St. Pete area
Mac
3:12
You’re NHL Stanley cup finalists for 2025 -26
Mark P
3:13
Continuing the long history of players finding immediate championship success as soon as they leave the Leafs, I'll pick Mitch Marner's Golden Knights to hoist the Cup by beating the Panthers in the finals
Jason C
3:14
What do you see the Atl doing this offseason?
Mark P
3:15
Lots of bullpen moves, a new shortstop, maybe a new second baseman as well, plus at least one starting pitcher.  Technically Atlanta could have a rotation surplus between a new arm and their current staff if everyone is healthy, but everyone won't be healthy.
3:16
That's it for today's chat.  Thanks for everyone's questions, and I hope everyone enjoys Game 1 of the ALCS!  We'll be back with more chatty goodness next weekend.
3:17
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