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MLBTR Chat With Mark Polishuk
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Mark P
9:35
I really thought Cleveland would do more to add to their outfield this winter.  At least adding one proper everyday player would've been an improvement, rather than juggling platoons and hoping for breakout performances.  There's still time to make a move now or at the deadline, but it's curious.
Ross Atkins
9:35
Why don't I just go ahead and admit that I am keeping Vlad jr. in the minors a few weeks to gain a year of service time? I'm not breaking any rules in the CBA right?
Mark P
9:37
He would be opening up the Blue Jays to a grievance from Vlad and the players' union that the team would certainly lose.  I'm sure Atkins himself is tired of coming up with far-fetched answers about why Vlad will be in the minors for a few weeks, but I understand why it has to be done
Mike
9:37
If the Nats weren’t in love with Harper, why on Earth didn’t they trade him at the deadline last year?
Mark P
9:38
I think they legitimately thought they could re-sign him.  And, the Nats weren't entirely out of the race by mid-August, so they might have thought they could've made a late run
Norm Cash's Table Leg
9:39
Who throws a no-hitter this year?
Mark P
9:40
I'll predict three no-hitters, but two of them will be combined no-nos.  The other one will come from....oh, let's say Scherzer.
Tieran Alexander
9:40
Any chance Dipoto gets fired if this "rebuild" doesn't work out the way they want?
Mark P
9:40
Well, sure.  If 2022 rolls around and the team still hasn't either made the playoffs or made progress, a change will be made.
Chuck Nazty’s Beard
9:41
Any chance we get Martin Maldonado in Denver?
Tieran Alexander
9:41
Who do the Royals turn to as their everyday catcher with Perez out for the season?
Mark P
9:41
These two questions get looped together since I think Maldonado ends up in KC.  The fit is just too ideal.
9:42
Not sure if the Rockies make another move at catcher.  I wrote this in last week's chat as well, but I thought they'd do more to help that position.  Maybe Colorado could ask Boston about one of their guys?
Mark
9:42
Are the Dodgers ever going to be over the payroll tax level again? It is not like they're not making money in other areas to more than cover it.
Mark P
9:43
I'm sure they'll surpass it at some time in the future (forever is a long time!)  It doesn't appear to be a strategy in the short-term, however, unless they can get a big name FA or two to bite on the kind of shorter-term, higher AAV contract they were offering Harper.
tommy wiseau
9:44
Oh Hi Mark
Mark P
9:44
This chat is tearing me apaaaaaart.
Don Julio
9:44
Trout’s comments on an extension don’t sound very promising.  Do you think he has already made up his mind on moving on?
Mark P
9:46
Don't forget, it isn't like Trout is leaving imminently.  He's still signed through 2020.  Obviously he's not going to say "peace out Anaheim, I'm off to Philly," nor would he go overboard in saying how much he loves the Angels, since it would make him look bad if he did leave.

Trout, as is his nature, is trying to be as low-key as possible about all this hype and just trying to get ready for the season.  I don't think he's at all decided on leaving the Angels, since a lot can happen in two years
Indiansjoe
9:47
If Cleveland doesn’t win this year, over under getting 10 top 100 prospects in the fire sale?  Assuming it’s a complete rebuild.... Kluber, Bauer, Lindor and Ramirez.
Mark P
9:48
Even if the Tribe totally collapses this year, I still don't think they'd go into full fire sale mode.  Remember, they have all these guys locked up for multiple years, and the AL Central doesn't seem like it'll get too much more competitive in the near future.
9:49
I can see Bauer being moved since he'd have the shortest remaining amount of control, but beyond him, I think Cleveland would just retool to try again in 2020
Burrito
9:49
Is 10yr/350m for a 29yr old Trout light, heavy, or just right? The AAV means it’s barely even a raise, no?
Mark P
9:51
It depends on what Trout himself wants, of course, but in my view it's too light.  It's wild that 10 years/$350MM is "too light," but $400MM+ is very justifiable given Trout's unreal production
Mariner Fan
9:52
Can you explain the hate for Kyle Seager?    He plays almost every game, he's a consistent 25 HR, 85+ RBI guy in a pitcher's park, and plays better than average defense.     Yet all we hear is how  he should be traded for a bag of beans.
Mark P
9:54
His bat has really dropped off the last two seasons, which is very troubling.  His defensive ability fluctuates rather significantly depending on which metric you observe....UZR/150 has him as one of the better third basemen in the sport, while Defensive Runs Saved has him as a negative (minus-7 DRS) over the last two years.

It's only natural that a fanbase will start to criticize a guy with a big contract when a team is struggling.  Seager isn't a bad player by any means, but he really needs a rebound at the plate
Orland Sox
9:55
Are there any remaining free agents that could help the White Sox.  I fear another 100 loss season without additional help.
Mark P
9:55
Sure, plenty of guys still available that would improve that roster.  But the question now is whether the team is still willing to spend, or if they were only willing to make a big splash for Machado specifically (and to a much lesser extent, Harper).
Falvine
9:58
Twins have any surprises left before the season starts or are they just banking on internal improvement?
Mark P
9:59
Minnesota has quietly done quite a bit this winter, even if they're lacking a truly huge big splash of a move that their future lack of payroll makes them capable of doing.  It's unlikely they get Kimbrel or Keuchel, but it can't be ruled out entirely
Dayton moore
10:00
Last year I said on air that my team stinks. As a GM, how do I still have a job with the Royals?
Mark P
10:01
Well, he didn't lie.  Moore seems to have limitless rope with KC ownership, and after bringing them a title, it's not undeserved.
boo Jays
10:01
Tellez hit a homerun today and has had over 900 ops in limited action last year. Is it time for the jays to move on from Smoak? They seem to be opening up spots all over the diamond for other kids.
Mark P
10:02
Self-promotional link: I wrote about Smoak as a trade candidate last October.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/10/looking-for-a-match-in-a-justin...
10:03
No doubt the Jays shopped him, though the first base-only type of player doesn't generate a lot of interest these days.  Smoak is a prime candidate to get moved by the deadline, however
Rick
10:03
Do the Yankees break their hr record?
Mark P
10:04
I'll say this about Judge, he's a confident guy!  (And with reason.)  It's definitely possible with that lineup, so I'll predict they will
Angel Fanatic
10:05
Should Angels sign Edwin Jackson or Gio Gonzalez? Still seem thin in starters Heaney already hurt.
Mark P
10:07
LAA is a prime candidate to sign another starter before ST ends, in my view.  They put a focus on adding rotation pieces this winter, but given all their injuries in recent years, even more would've provided more comfort

Here's an angle on their situation, however.  If you're a FA pitcher, maybe you're wary about signing with the Angels BECAUSE of all the injuries.
Nate from 618
10:07
Yu Darvish said he had the best stuff of his life today hitting 97mph. If Bryant is back and Yu is too, were the Cubs right in that they already have what they need to win another championship?
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