You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
MLBTR Chat With Mark Polishuk
powered byJotCast
Prev Page View Full Chat Next Page
Mark P
9:45
Maybe slightly more likely, though every player's standpoint is different.  Some guys are eager for extensions just to lock in that one big life-changing contract, or because they've had injuries in their past, etc.
Movie Night
9:45
What's your favorite baseball movie of all time?
Mark P
9:47
It's a tight race between A League Of Their Own and The Sandlot.  If I can suggest an underrated baseball movie, there's Sugar --- a great story about a Dominican prospect adjusting to America and playing pro ball
Tab
9:47
Percentage guess Ichiro sticks on the 25 man roster?
Mark P
9:49
Like most people, my suspicion is that Ichiro will formally retire from MLB after the Mariners' series in Japan.  He is a physical marvel and I could see him trying to play another season or two in Japan, though his days of being a Major League player are probably over.
Jim P.
9:49
Can you give me a Ellsbury trade for the Yankees. Cueto?
Mark P
9:50
That rumor didn't make a ton of sense to me.  If you're the Giants and trying to unload Cueto's contract, you can at least take on another "bad" contract that provides some upside in 2019.  After Ellsbury's injuries and lack of performance, why even take the risk?
Nate from 618
9:53
Why isn't Seattle trying to market Dee Gordon? Speed, defensive versatility, not far removed from all-star level performance.
Mark P
9:54
I'm sure GM Jerry Dipoto has made lots of calls about Gordon, though after three straight subpar years at the plate and a big salary, Gordon isn't exactly a hot commodity.  And "defensive versatility" is a bit of a stretch, considering how Gordon struggled in CF
Eppler
9:56
Any bad contract(s) that can be swapped for Pujols?
Mark P
9:58
(This would be Angels GM Billy Eppler)

Pujols has a full no-trade clause, for starters.  And honestly, his deal might be completely immovable at this point.  I hate to say any deal is untradeable since we've seen some surprising moves in the past, but Pujols' contract is about as close to it as you can get
Billy Beane
9:59
I still a starter or two, what's left out there for me ?
Mark P
9:59
Quite a few options, really.  I like the idea of Gio Gonzalez returning to Oakland
Brent
10:00
Whose rebuild do you see turning successful first- Baltimore or Miami?  Miami has better prospects but the new O's front office has a much more successful history
Mark P
10:01
Technically, we haven't seen how Mike Elias fares as an actual general manager yet, so it's probably too soon to consider him "much more successful" (though his track record is impressive)

I'd say Miami just because they have a brief head start, whereas the O's are still close to rock bottom
Friedman
10:02
What can I get for Joc?
Mark P
10:04
(This would be the Dodgers' Andrew Friedman, btw)

It's hard to say, since Joc has two years of control left, and he still might have breakout potential.  That said, he can't hit lefties at all, so it's hard for another team to value him as a true everyday outfielder.  I see Joc as perhaps a piece in a larger trade, rather than a centerpiece of a deal himself
Pirate fan
10:05
What  do you predict offensively and defensively at SS and 2nd this year and who ends up w/ the starting jobs?
Mark P
10:06
Newman and Frazier, ultimately.  Newman won't deliver much at the plate at first, but he'll be at least an okay defender.  Frazier is a player I like, he could be a nice regular for Pittsburgh
Tyler Joseph
10:06
In a world where the Padres sign both Harper and Machado how far from the Dodgers are they?
Mark P
10:07
They're still about two hours away, as per Google Maps
In a more serious answer, San Diego would still need some big pitching help
Chris
10:08
I dont want to sound like Man Screaming at Clouds, but can we be done with this trope of people signing in as FO execs/managers already? Was it ever clever/amusing?
Mark P
10:09
You mean these aren't the actual GMs writing in to ask my advice?!
Gogerty
10:09
Dansby Swanson turn it around this year?
Mark P
10:10
I still have belief that Swanson can become a solid-to-very good MLB regular.  He's just 25, after all.
Justin Verlander
10:12
What does my next contract look like? I'm old, but still a top 5 pitcher in mlb.
Mark P
10:14
Verlander turns 36 in a few days, and will be 37 on Opening Day 2020.  He's scheduled to hit free agency after the current season.

If he turns in another season like 2018, I can see a team ponying up for three guaranteed years.  Verlander would have a lot of evidence of a late-career revival, and he's a good combination of a ticket-selling big name, a clubhouse leader, and a top-of-the-rotation ace that could make teams bend on giving a 37-year-old pitcher a three-year contract.  Maybe a two-year deal with a vesting option just to be safe, however.
Jim
10:14
Why have the Yankees been hesitant to move Clint Frazier after this past year?
Mark P
10:16
Why move a young prospect with that much upside, especially since his trade value may be lowered after last season.
Bob Loblaw
10:17
Name your favorite mlb player nickname - past or present.
Mark P
10:17
Hard to top Cool Papa Bell
Steve
10:18
Mark, where u do see Felix Hernandez this time next year? Will he get a contract to be a starting pitcher or bullpen or a minor league contract?
Mark P
10:19
If he duplicates his 2016 numbers, a low-value MLB one-year deal.

If he duplicates his 2018, minor league deal
Jeff
10:20
Please explain the Giants' strategy.  I can understand trying to win in 2019 or building for the future. The Giants seem to be doing neither.  They seem caught in the middle with no strategy, whatsoever.  What are your thoughts.
Mark P
10:23
The Giants are in a tough spot, since almost all their expensive guys didn't play well last season, or were hurt, or have no-trade protection (or all of the above).  For those reasons, it's hard to totally swing into rebuild mode, since then they're just moving contracts for the sake of cutting payroll, rather than actually adding young talent.

It might be prudent for the front office to see how at least the first half of 2019 plays out to see what the Giants really have.  If there are more struggles, then you can see what shakes loose on the trade front.
George
10:23
Between Sale, Bogaerts and JD, who do you think is more likely to stay in Boston for the long-term?
Mark P
10:23
Of those three, Bogaerts.
jim
10:24
Is Alex Verdugo going to make the 25 man roster for Dodgers and will he be a starter?
Mark P
10:25
I think he'll break camp, but won't be a starter (in part since L.A. has very few real "starters" in their lineup)
Connecting…