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Mark P
1:26
It occurs to me that I could've been called myself "Moderator Mark" for the last six years of these chats.  While I wince at the missed opportunity, let's take some of your questions and address some admittedly more relevant baseball topics!
Ca$hman
1:27
Does Trent Grisham get a qualifying offer? Does he accept it if offered?
Mark P
1:28
The Yankees will very likely extend the QO, and Grisham will surely turn it down.  Coming off such a big platform year, Grisham is looking for a pricey multi-year deal, not a one-year payday.
Optimistic Giants Fan
1:28
What's the crummiest bullpen thats ever won the World Series in your opinion?
Mark P
1:29
Just from recent memory, the 2019 Nationals and 2023 Rangers didn't exactly have great pens, though they had just enough relievers get it together for just long enough in October.
Braves Fan
1:30
What will the Braves do at SS if Kim walks? Do we see Profar or Murphy traded to help fill that hole?
Mark P
1:32
The likelier scenario is that the Braves trade from their farm system or perhaps move a pitcher to land another shortstop.  Murphy doesn't have a ton of trade value at this point, plus Atlanta might want to keep depth at catcher in case Baldwin has a sophomore slump.  Also, the Braves have to be thinking Murphy has a rebound in him, and THEN the club might be more inclined to deal him if Baldwin is firmly established as the top catcher.

Profar's PED suspension probably cooled a lot of teams on his services.  Plus, if the Braves dealt Profar, then that's another hole to be addressed for left field.
Brady
1:32
Do you think the Tigers should go all in this offseason?
Mark P
1:34
Scott Harris has kept things pretty low-risk during his time in charge of the front office, so an all-in push in Skubal's last year of control doesn't seem likely.  Same with Tigers ownership, who seem content to keep spending in check.

Granted, the team has made it to the ALDS in each of the last two seasons, so it's not like things are going poorly in Motown.  But the ceiling for this team definitely seems higher, especially with an ace like Skubal in the rotation
Mark
1:35
Will A. Garcia be a Rangers next year or trade bait?
Mark P
1:35
Trade bait or probably even a non-tender.
Craig Breslow
1:36
can you see me making a package deal with the Cardinals for Gray, Contreras and Wynn
Mark P
1:37
Cardinals aren't going to move all their trade chips in one deal, and moving Winn doesn't seem likely at all.
Cal
1:37
Is Cal Raleigh the MVP?    Only 6 players have hit 60 homers.  And I am a catcher with a platinum glove. Who play 159 games
Mark P
1:37
He'd be my pick, if I had a vote.  Judge's numbers are overall better, but the degree of difficulty for a catcher hitting 60 home runs in that home ballpark is wild
Ryan
1:38
What bats do the Pirates sign or trade for this offseason?
Mark P
1:39
Spencer Horwitz-type players, in all likelihood.  This isn't necessarily a bad thing since Horwitz had a good year, and obtaining controllable young hitters is something the Pirates should absolutely be doing.

Of course, what they also "should" be doing is being willing to spend more on hitting.  Until they do so, however, I'll continue to assume they'll keep looking for cost-effective bats rather than more proven talent
Arte Moreno
1:40
Could you see Bo Bichette shifting to 3B or 2B this off-season?
Mark P
1:41
Bichette's arm isn't great, so 2B seems to be the more likelier option if he is open to a position change.

From both a financial and common-sense standpoint, it would make sense for Bichette to move off shortstop.  Being willing to play 2B opens the door for more potential suitors, plus it solves concerns about his glovework at short.
TameImp
1:42
After a really rough postseason  - what is Luke Weaver looking at in FA? Less than what Holmes got last year?
Mark P
1:44
Holmes isn't an ideal comp since he signed as a starting pitcher.  Weaver said in September that he is open to considering a move back to rotation work, though it depends how many teams share a belief that he can return to his early-career starting form.

Chances are Weaver remains a reliever, and still lands a multi-year deal.  A one-year "prove it" sort of pact is possible, and Weaver might even prefer such a contract since it would allow him to re-enter the market next winter on the heels of a better platform year
Freddy
1:45
Any chance that Buxton changes his stance on his no trade clause?
Mark P
1:45
Only Buxton knows this for sure, and he was adamant even after the deadline fire sale that he wants to remain in Minnesota.
o-birds
1:47
Is Albert Pujols an actual candidate to manage the O's? l just don't see it and what are our chances of signing Valdez or Gallen?
Mark P
1:48
He's supposed to interview for the job, so I assume Pujols isn't being called in just to talk about his three-homer game in the 2011 Series.

Valdez/Gallen would represent a new frontier for the O's in terms of free agent spending.  Even before the Mike Elias era, the Angelos ownership was famously wary of committing big money to pitchers.  The catch here is that I wonder how much Gallen will earn in the wake of his so-so 2025 numbers, and if that could drop him into Baltimore's price rang
range
Mark
1:49
Do you think The Pirates will make Jared Jones and/or Oviedo available this off season? When is Jones expected to be ready and what do you think it would cost the Red Sox to trade for either of these pitchers?
Mark P
1:53
Jones is expected back by May, as he underwent a brace surgery rather than a Tommy John surgery.  He could conceivably return before then, to boot.  

While everything seems okay with his recovery to date, there's still enough rehab to come that I can see teams shying away from a pitcher coming off major UCL surgery.  Or at least, Jones might draw less attention than some of the other arms Pittsburgh has on offer.

Oviedo only logged 40 1/3 innings in his own comeback year, as he was sidelined by a lat injury in the wake of his Tommy John rehab.  I'm not sure he was viewed as a prime trade chip even before all these injury woes, so his value is pretty low at the moment
As it relates to the Red Sox, Boston is probably going to be aiming higher with their pitching search
Guest
1:54
I was thinking after the regular season that Judge was the MVP, but Raleigh is seriously carrying the Mariners throughout the postseason. Will this sway any voters?
Mark P
1:54
Awards voting is done after the regular season, before the playoffs begin.
Starting Pitchers
1:56
Who has more value relative to expected prospect cost in a trade? Peralta or Skubal?
Mark P
1:58
Peralta will earn $8MM next year, and Skubal will cost roughly $17.8MM (as per Matt Swartz's arb projection).  Even with that big gap in price tag, Skubal should net a bit more in a trade return because he is arguably the best pitcher in baseball.  Peralta is a very good pitcher in his own right, but maybe more of an ideal No. 2 starter on a contender
Robbie Baseball
1:59
Honest question, how is George Springer not a candidate for the MLBPA Comeback Player of the Year award?
Mark P
2:00
The award usually goes to players returning from injury, not players coming back from a bad season.  DeGrom has to be the top choice for the AL honors.
Guest
2:00
what is you take on ontani thowing 6 shut out innings ant hitting 3 home runs been a 55 year old baseball fan and thats simpiy amazing
Mark P
2:01
You can't make this stuff up.  Ohtani is delivering iconic performances on a regular basis, and even he outdid himself last night.  Maybe literally the best game anyone has ever played, and in a playoff game to boot.
Trade
2:02
Jose Soriano for Brett Baty who says no?
Mark P
2:03
Not sure either side would see that as a total fit.  The Mets obviously need starting pitching, but Soriano is maybe too grounder-dependent for what they're looking for
Kevin in Pa
2:07
Bloom mentioned the Cards would be in the market for pitching. Does this mean Quintana or more like Cease? Thanks
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