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Mark P
7:47
The Weekend Chat is back in its regularly-scheduled timeslot of (/Daniel Craig voice) the weekend.  Let's let a few questions pile up in the queue, and then get cooking....
L’Chaim
7:48
Has there ever been an offseason where two teams linked up on three separate trades?
Mark P
7:50
While I don't have an obvious answer off the top of my head, this isn't too uncommon.  Just last winter, for instance, the Guardians and Blue Jays lined up on two trades.  The Rays, Mariners, and Padres used to have a pretty steady pipeline of trades going between each other.
Guest
7:50
If the Cubs sign Bregman do they move Shaw? Will the Cubs sign Bregman?
Mark P
7:52
The Cubs' focus seems to be on starting pitching, so if they have a particularly big move in them this winter, it'll probably be in the rotation.

Their interest in Bregman might be limited to seeing if he's willing to take a shorter-term deal, or if a longer-term deal isn't out there
Matt
7:52
Is everyone waiting on Okomoto and Imai?
Mark P
7:53
Things are usually fairly slow during the holiday season anyway, but yeah, these notable names having set deadlines might well have caused some delay in the broader market.  Probably Imai moreso than Okamoto.
Fake and Real
7:55
Will there ever be another Ohtani? He seems to be the best overall player that there ever was.
Mark P
7:56
Ohtani is definitely a one-in-one for now, but the fascinating next step of his legacy will be his influence on the next generation of players (in both Japan and all over the world).  Maybe a few more players will take the leap of trying to be real two-way players, and we'll see a "new Ohtani" emerge....though then that player will have to be not just a two-way guy, but elite in both areas
JJ Piccolo
7:56
Any chance KC is in the Ketel Marte market?
Mark P
7:58
This isn't a bad fit, except for the Royals' decision to tender Jonathan India a contract.  KC could try to move India elsewhere or flip him back to the D'Backs as part of the trade package and as salary offset, but a limited-payroll team like the Royals can't so easily just eat $8MM (India's salary for 2026).

The Royals do have some interesting young arms that would seemingly be of interest to Arizona.
Greg
7:58
Pirates agreed to O'Hearn deal on the 23rd. It's the 28th now and still not official and no corresponding 40 man move. Is this abnormal?
Mark P
7:59
Not over the holidays, when a lot of front offices are more or less shut down
Buster Posey
8:01
Please make some sense of the Giants offseason. We buy real estate and movie theatres but refuse to spend money on the team. I don’t get it.
Mark P
8:03
"What am I, chopped liver?" --- Adrian Houser

Don't forget, last year's offseason was also rather quiet apart from the Adames signing.  So it could be that Posey and company have one big move like that in mind, and the rest with be comparatively smaller additions like Houser
Tarik Skubal
8:03
At this point, there’s 0% I get traded this offseason, right?
Mark P
8:03
It's not zero, but it's quite unlikely
Joec
8:04
Are you surprised that there isn’t much sandy alcantara trade rumors?
Mark P
8:05
Not really.  The Marlins have been pretty open about their desire to keep him, even if the team isn't hanging up the phone if someone happens to call with an offer.  Given how shaky Alcantara was last year, the offers aren't going to be what Miami wants, and the Fish are now quietly turning from rebuild/cost-cutting mode into trying to contend
Mark
8:07
would a Bello and Casas swap for Gore and Abram’s be a reasonable trade for both teams? Who would say no?
Mark P
8:08
Washington says no.  Casas is a realistic trade chip if Gore or Abrams was dealt to Boston, but given that the Nats seem to be treading water or re-evaluating their rebuild, Bello probably isn't a fit.

If Gore or Abrams are actually moved, the Nats will be looking for younger and more controllable players
Guest
8:11
Are the Pirates building around Paul Skenes? Does the Lowe trade and the O'Hearn signing signal that?
Mark P
8:12
Most definitely. The Bucs realize they have something special in Skenes, and are being more aggressive than usual in trying to make a win-now push
Luis Arraez
8:13
Where am I going? Will I ever play 2B again?
Mark P
8:13
Probably not, given his defensive shortcomings.  It's really tricky to predict a landing spot for Arraez since he has such a unique skillset, and most teams will be looking for more power from the 1B or DH positions.
8:15
We're going to pause the chat for a while, as we've got a bit of breaking news with the Orioles re-signing Zach Eflin. Keep submitting your questions, and the chat will resume later this evening.

Ah, the risks of running a live chat during the offseason!  So much for a "quiet" Sunday evening...
9:09
There we go, now back to the chat after that interruption (an Eflin-terruption, if you will?)
Ron
9:10
which available starter is most likely to sign with the O’s?
Mark P
9:10
Zach Eflin!  :)
Tom
9:10
What are the chances the Orioles are the team to land Framber Valdez?
Mark P
9:12
Perhaps slightly less now that Eflin has filled another rotation hole, but he doesn't solve the Orioles' on-paper need for a clearcut ace.  

It's true that between Bradish, Rogers, Baz, and now Eflin, that's four starters the O's might feel comfortable rolling out there in a playoff series, but you'd think the team would want to have lots of depth available
90 Reds
9:12
Mark, please tell me the Reds have something bigger planned than JJ Bleday and Dane Myers.  As a fan, I am so disappointed.
Mark P
9:13
This certainly won't be it for the Reds, or at least one would certainly think not.  It's a pair of depth acquisitions with upside, and maybe a sign that Cincinnati could be looking to move out of its incumbent outfield options
LA Knight
9:14
Let me talk to ya, Wheres Bellinger signing and when?
Mark P
9:15
YEAH

The Yankees are probably still the favorites, but the Mets stand out as more and more of an intriguing alternative given how many veterans they've now cleared off the roster.  Signing Bellinger would both fill a big hole in the outfield, and give Polanco some cover if the 1B transition doesn't go smoothly
King Felix
9:17
Am I a Hall of Famer in your book?
Mark P
9:18
He's borderline for me, which I guess maybe makes me lean towards no since I'm generally a bit more of a small-Hall type
Astros
9:18
Is Paredes trade inevitable
Mark P
9:20
Hopefully not, since that would seem like something of a short-sighted move from Houston.  Apart from a healthy Yordan Alvarez, I think Paredes can be the most productive hitter in the Astros' lineup next season.  Trading him to address this infield pileup would be a rough decision, even though he's the most easily movable of the group
Joe Ryan
9:21
I'm not getting traded this winter, am I?
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