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MLBTR Chat With Mark Polishuk
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Mark P
9:11
Hi everyone, sorry for the bit of a late start, had a bit of a technical issue.  

"Mark, was your 'technical issue' just you spilling a bag of chips on the ground?"

.....no....
Bc72ca
9:12
How likely is it the Jays will trade pillar?
Mark P
9:14
The latest rumor has the Giants again checking in on Pillar, though I wonder if their recent acquisition of Michael Reed may have addressed their CF need.  Then again, Reed isn't a true center fielder like Pillar.

Regardless, it seems like a decent chance Pillar could be dealt, and a good chance he's dealt before the season is out.  He doesn't really fit into the Jays' longtime plan.
Dark
9:14
If the Indians lose Jose Ramirez for any extended period of time, just how bad is the indians offense through the first month?
Mark P
9:15
Fortunately for the Tribe, it looks like Ramirez just had a knee contusion rather than something very serious.  But even a 10-day IL stint would really thin out that lineup.  Cleveland has to hope a bruise is all it really is
Padres fan
9:16
At what point do the Padres fire Andy Green? If they do what are the chances joe Girardi is interested?
Mark P
9:17
I'm not sure Green has done anything to deserve being fired.  Can't blame him for a losing record when he's running a rebuilding team.
Jake C
9:17
What moves could the redsox look to make if their bullpen situation takes a turn for the worst?
Mark P
9:18
Well, there's this one guy Kimbrel who's available...

I've said it before and I've said it again, Boston's bullpen problems are being a little overstated.  Even if they have a middle-of-the-pack kind of pen, that's more than fine given the rest of their roster.  I'm sure they'll revisit adding more relief help around the trade deadline, if not sooner
Charlie Hustle
9:18
So excited for the new season. Now on to the question, are they going to keep doing extension for young players still under "Club Control"?
Mark P
9:21
I wonder if we'll see more Eloy Jimenez/Scott Kingery type "pre-career" extensions as a nod to the service-time controversy, though it really does vary some prospect to prospect.  Obviously some players would love to lock in generational wealth before they ever play a game, and I can't blame them for that....you never know if a player will be an Evan Longoria or if he'll be a Jon Singleton.
Mozeliak
9:22
Am I nervous enough about Andrew Miller’s spring performance to go out and bring in some more bullpen help? I know I had a bad experience last year but Craig Kimbrel is different...
Mark P
9:22
After what happened with Greg Holland last year, I'd be shocked if the Cardinals signed another reliever who didn't have the benefit of a Spring Training.
NL East
9:23
So many extensions in such a short window.  Is this because of the weird off-season this year?
Mark P
9:24
Undoubtedly.  Players have to be concerned that the big free agent paydays are drying up, so they'll lock in a big extension now (and in many cases, still getting premium prices).  

I also can't help but think that many players want to get their money in now before a possible work stoppage after the 2021 season
Billington
9:24
KC is a lock for Leon now, agree?
Mark P
9:25
They might look, but they already have Maldonado at less money, and Maldonado and Leon are very similar players
Astros fan
9:25
Verlander gets paid by the Astros, does Gerrit Cole?
Mark P
9:26
My guess is no.  Cole is a Boras client and thus is probably more likely to test the market.  The JV extension might very well have been Houston's way of guarding against Cole's departure.
9:27
An extension at this point seems quite unlikely, though there are definitely a few high-profile instances of Boras clients taking extensions rather than automatically going to free agency.  Could the Astros re-sign Cole once he hits the open market?  Maaaaaybe, though that doesn't seem like their style
Dudlee
9:27
Over/Under 85 wins for my Mets.
Mark P
9:28
It's a tough division, but I'd put the Mets closer to 90 wins than 80
Brandon
9:28
Why is it so hard for a team to let go of a player like felix Hernandez when he doesn't produce and not buy Into the program
Mark P
9:29
Felix is one of the biggest names franchise history, and that's a lot of salary to eat.  It isn't quite as simple as releasing him and just moving on.  Could a release happen at some point this season?  Not impossible, but for now, Seattle doesn't really have much to lose by seeing if Felix has anything left in the tank as a fifth starter
Joe
9:31
Wouldn’t the Indians be wise to just cash in all their chips now (Kluber, Bauer, Lindor, JRam) and just build for a new contender with all the under 21 talent they have in 2021/2022?
Mark P
9:32
Those are four pretty big chips, all still controlled for at least two more years at relatively-to-very team-friendly prices.  With the AL Central being as weak as it is, it's way too early for Cleveland to pivot to a rebuild
Guest
9:32
Is Urias the obvious choice to get kicked out of the dodgers rotation when others return, or can he change his fate with a couple good outings
Mark P
9:34
I feel like LA's rotation is so fluid that any pitcher can seize an opportunity, since someone else is seemingly always injured.  Results don't always guarantee a rotation job (just ask Ross Stripling) but Urias will have a shot to prove he can stick
Super GM
9:35
Which managers and GMs are on the hot seat this year if things don't go right?
Mark P
9:35
Check this post from December: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/12/managers-top-front-office-execu...

Some of these situations are a lot more pressurized than others, and of course some of the managers/GMs cited have signed extensions in the meantime.
Robby
9:36
What’s your gut say on Kimbrel?
Mark P
9:37
At this point, I'd say Milwaukee.  Brewers are aggressively going for it.  Just a guess on my part, though
Billington
9:37
Mark extend yourself for 10 years and you'll be asking for?
Mark P
9:38
Trout's a pretty good comp, but I'll give Tim a break and settle for just Manny Machado's contract.
Padsquad
9:39
Why are so many people harping on the Padres for possibly starting Tatis in AAA? The kid is coming off a season ending injury that saw him play only half a season of AA. This isnt a matter of service control.
Mark P
9:40
Agreed, this is a case where I think some more minor league seasoning is justifiable.  That said, I fully expect Tatis to tear things up in Triple-A and make it very hard on the Padres to keep him in the minors by midseason or so
Cardinals
9:40
Why do the Cardinals keep playing Dex Fowler as a starter in the outfielder?
Mark P
9:40
It's a mighty big contract to just stick on the bench.
Unfortunate Mets Fan
9:41
How much of a PR problem will it be for the Mets if they don't extend Jacob deGrom before the deadline? Do you think the PR fallout factors in to their decision?
Mark P
9:44
JDG is still under control through 2020, so it's not like they can't continue talks next offseason.

But I must say, it's a very Mets-ish situation to have this big winter full of solid roster upgrades, yet now all anyone can talk about is deGrom.
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