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limpbrisket
10:40
What are the chances the Dodgers hold the line in free agency this year as opposed to going for a Tucker or Bellinger? 4 of their top 5 prospects are outfielders so hearing about them having interest in an outfielder seems weird to me. Edman's ankle is supposed to be fully healthy by spring training, doesn't that make him the likely CF with Teoscar in LF and Pages in RF?
Mark P
10:41
If you're the Dodgers, you never really need to "hold the line."  If you sign Tucker then need room for your prospects later, Pages or one of Teoscar/Edman could be traded.  Or, a couple of the outfield prospects could be sent elsewhere in trades for other roster needs.
Oren
10:42
With a very limited SS market and teams like the Braves, Pirates and others looking, would the Jays be able to find any value trading Leo Jimenez? He's out of options and seems down on the Jays IF depth chart, especially if Bichette returns. But he was a decently ranked prospect and looks to have skills to be a potential second-division starter
Mark P
10:43
Jimenez indeed seems expendable in Toronto, but at least some other teams might not be too keen on a player who's out of options. I wouldn't expect a ton back on the trade front.
Michael B
10:43
With the potential of a Naylor signing, do you think the proverbial dam has been broken on free agent signing?
Mark P
10:45
Usually these types of early signings (Naylor, Nola to Philly, Diaz to the Mets) are players that were always pretty set on staying with their former teams, and just took a cursory look around the market before their team met their asking price.  I don't think it's too much of an omen of anything, unless we see a couple of other players in Naylor's general situation following suit.
Cleveland
10:46
A bold trade target for Cleveland? Marte would be nice. Would finally give Jose the help he’s needed since Lindor left. I get Cleveland is cheap, but they have absolutely no money attached to anybody really. Even adding Marte would have the payroll below 100 mill, which they have operated at before.
Mark P
10:47
While I doubt the D'Backs will actually trade Marte, it's very true that adding even one more premium bat would make the Guardians a much bigger threat.
Mariner Masochist
10:47
With the signing of Josh Naylor, is this is offseason the Mariners dive back into the free agent pool? Owners say they have money....but....
Mark P
10:48
I would not be shocked if Naylor is basically it for Seattle on the FA front, apart from some lower-level types of deals with relief pitchers or something.  Re-signing Polanco probably takes priority now, and that might still be a possibility depending on how much Naylor signed for (or, if ownership is willing to bump payroll a little higher)
What about Ann?
10:50
Why is Nick Allen looked at as a terrible option at SS. The guy has net value and is in the top 30 SS
Mark P
10:51
He is almost literally the worst hitter in baseball.  Allen is a very good defensive shortstop, but even then there's a different between going "glove-first" at a position and going "just glove only."
SouthJerseySteve
10:52
Nick Castellanos (1/$20M)  to the lefty heavy Red Sox for Jordan Hicks RHP. (2/$25M). Who says no?
Mark P
10:52
Boston. Castellanos just further clogs up the lineup with no guarantee of even above-average hitting.
Breslow got robbed
10:53
If the Sox can re-sign Bregman, or a free agent like Okamoto (I prefer the RH bat), could the Red Sox deal Marcelo Mayer for a pitcher? Thinking of a Bubba Chandler type.
Mark P
10:55
That would be a very fun type of trade.  I don't think Boston is really ready to move Mayer before they have more of an idea of what he is
Miller
10:55
Could Paul Toboni's background in Boston make them a good fit to swing a trade for MacKenzie Gore? Toboni knows the farm to go along with younger players with MLB service time.
Mark P
10:56
This is a distinct possibility.  I do think Gore will be dealt before he reaches free agency.
Aj preller
10:56
What are the chances padres sign Imai?
Mark P
10:57
Feels like his asking price will be too high for what San Diego is willing or able to spend
STL
10:58
True/False: Wetherholt makes opening day roster?
Mark P
10:59
Leaning towards false. He doesn't have much experience at Triple-A ball, so the Cards might want to give him a bit more seasoning before bringing him up.
Sir Nerdlington
11:01
What do you make of the Cubs opting to stay significantly under the CBT and aligning contracts to expire with the current CBA while other teams charge ahead and pay the CBT penalties or sign decade long deals?
Mark P
11:02
Seems a little short-sighted for a team that could be real contenders in 2026. There's a chance that waiting too long for the CBA makes the Cubs miss a window here
JL
11:04
Just want to say thanks for the Sunday evening chats.  I look forward to them as part of my Sunday evening routine.  Thank you!
Mark P
11:04
My pleasure!  Hopefully your routine wasn't thrown off too much by the "slight" delay within tonight's chat, lol
Dave Dombrowski
11:05
Andrew Painter and Bryson Stott for Ketel Marte, minor leaguers added as needed. Who says no?
Mark P
11:06
Painter's inclusion in a trade package would at least get Arizona's attention, even if I ultimately still think Marte is staying put.

Remember, the D'Backs aren't in a rebuild mode here.  If anything, the setbacks of the last two years have made them even more hungry to win and properly follow up that pennant
Guest
11:07
Is there any team that can even hope to beat the Dodgers in the next 5 years with that Ohtani contract and a pretty stacked system? Even if a cap was imposed, that contract frees up money for a decade
Mark P
11:08
The Dodgers needed about 100 breaks to go their way in order to get past Toronto in the World Series.  As great as that roster is, it isn't unbeatable, since anything can happen in baseball.
Armchair GM
11:09
I don’t foresee the Astros sugning big contracts for pitching. I think their targets will be like Verlander or Kelly.  Therefore, how important do you think it would be for them to extend Hunter Brown?
Mark P
11:11
Brown is represented by Scott Boras, so the chances of an extension are pretty slim.  This obviously doesn't make Brown a trade candidate or anything, but it does perhaps make Brown's remaining three years of control as a particular window for the Astros while they have a clear-cut ace.

Kelly or a reunion with Verlander would both be sensible moves for the team in 2026 (and maybe 2027?)
BillyGoat
11:11
Do you believe that Cubs actually have interest in dealing a package for Joe Ryan and/or Byron Buxton?
Mark P
11:12
Ryan moreso than Buxton, but sure, what team wouldn't have interest in either of those two?
Blue
11:12
When Dodgers lost they choked and when Dodgers won they needed had 100 breaks.
Mark P
11:14
Haha, I didn't want to sound too much like a bitter Jays fan there.  But that series could've easily gone Toronto's way if any of the aforementioned 100 things had gone in the other direction.  It speaks both to how good the Jays were, and to how good LA is for still getting it done when a lot of their roster wasn't very effective in the WS
Skenes
11:15
What are the realistic expectations for the Pirates to improve their offense?
Mark P
11:17
Trade a quality pitching prospect for a quality young hitter who becomes a long-term answer for the lineup.  Or, trade a quality pitching prospect for an established hitter who becomes a short-term answer.  

The built-in other observation is that the Pirates have identified whether there's something amiss with the way they're developing hitters, or if they're just picking the wrong players.
chazz
11:18
spencer jones cam schlittler george lombard 4 skenes and brian reynolds who says no
Mark P
11:19
Pittsburgh would want more than that for Skenes alone
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