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MLBTR Chat With Mark Polishuk
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Mark P
7:33
The Rangers have done a nice job finding these veterans with something left in the tank.  They'll be able to flip at least one of them, and quite possibly all three at the deadline.
Joshua
7:34
Mike Rizzo (Nats) calls Cleveland and offers Adam Eaton for Triston McKenzie and Oscar Mercado.......how would you handle this offer (say yes, flat out say no and hang up, or offer a counter and what would the counter be)? Thanks, and with all the questions that ask Player X for Player Y....who says "no" I'd like to see what a you believe fair counter offer could be. Just my two cents.
Mark P
7:36
If I'm Mike Chernoff, I don't say no immediately, but I have an immediate followup question asking about how much of Eaton's contract will be covered by the Nationals.  

Even then, not sure if I give it the green light if I'm Cleveland.  Dealing a promising young pitcher is such a big risk for the Tribe.
7:37
Especially with Kluber and Bauer both probably likely to be elsewhere by 2021 (if not sooner)
Hensley Meulens
7:37
Do I get the SF managing job next year?
Mark P
7:38
He's been a "manager in waiting" for a while, though those types don't always get the job when a new president of baseball operations takes over
Guest
7:40
How about the job Rocco Baldelli is doing with the Twins? I've been following him since he hit switch him homer's against us in 13
Mark P
7:41
The Molitor firing raised some eyebrows, but the move is looking like the right move now
Stros
7:41
What is the astros biggest need before the deadline and who do you think they’ll go after?
Mark P
7:42
Starting pitching seems like the top (only?) need.  They'll look at both rental players or at longer-term arms if they're available for the right price
John mozeliak
7:42
Am I on the hot seat if we fail to make the playoffs again this year?
Mark P
7:44
Mozeliak is the Cardinals' president of baseball ops, by the way

We haven't heard a ton of speculation (outside of the fanbase, of course) about an upper management change in STL, so I wouldn't call it likely.
That said, there's a lot of season left.  If the Cardinals miss the playoffs because they totally fall apart, that could lead to come significant changes.  If they just miss out in a tough division, Mozeliak probably sticks around
Mike Rizzo
7:45
Should I go after Brad Hand if Cleveland makes him available?
Mark P
7:47
(Rizzo being the Nats' GM)

I enjoy how in this very same chat, we've had questions about the Nationals in sell mode trading to Cleveland, and now a question about the Tribe in sell mode dealing to Washington.  And technically, any of these moves could happen without either team going into a rebuild!
Anyway, if Hand is made available, half the teams in baseball are going to be after him.  Do the Nats have the prospects to win a bidding war, and do they feel that it's worth it to give up those prospects to throw even more resources at the pen?
Yordan Alvarez
7:48
How long til I get the call up? I've heard that I'm a polarizing prospect for some scouts. Why is that? I demolish baseballs.
Mark P
7:50
He has limited defensive value and baserunning ability.  Some scouts see him as a DH-only guy, others as a first baseman of the future.

Beyond those downsides, however, the guy can really hit.  For as much as modern baseball values versatility and lineup flexibility, having a guy who can just rake is never a bad thing.
Jeff
7:50
Why do people say the Giants are in rebuilding mode?  They haven't added a single player to the major league roster or farm system that has a reasonable chance of becoming part of the next championship core.
Mark P
7:51
The Giants are in kind of a holding pattern --- not ready (or able) to fully tear things down, yet also not ready to commit even more money and resources since their roster may simply have too many flaws to fix.
7:52
I think most have unofficially put the Giants into the "rebuild" zone since it seems like it's just a matter of time
Ian Happ
7:53
Do you see myself or Schwarber being dealt for bullpen help, perhaps cost controlled bullpen help?
Mark P
7:53
Happ or Schwarber, their struggles notwithstanding, are a big ask for a team offering relief pitching.
The Mariners
7:56
Remember when they were playoff bound like 2 weeks ago....thanks for explaining they had no chance to the casual fans.
Mark P
7:57
As much as we talk about small sample sizes, some of them end up being for real.  Last season it was "hey, the A's are on a nice run, but wait and see.....ok, they're still winning, but reality will soon.....oh wow, the A's are legit."

So I don't blame fans for getting excited when their team is on a roll, or when a player is suddenly hitting like Babe Ruth.  That's what makes baseball fun!
GOT
7:58
Who will be sitting on the Iron Throne after tonight?
Mark P
7:58
Hot Pie!
Rays
8:00
Sign Kemp as a Veteran presence/ DH? This young team could use this right now.  Also Kimbrel in June?
Mark P
8:01
Kemp isn't a bad fit in Tampa, but I think the Rays prefer having the DH spot mostly open for guys to rotate through
Chris
8:02
What regression to the mean happens in Cincy first, the awful hitting or stellar pitching?
Mark P
8:03
The hitting seems a lot more likely to pick up.  I can't imagine Joey Votto, for instance, is going to hit this poorly all season.
Jeff
8:04
I'm interested in the phenomena of the AAAA player.  One would think that players with the talent to dominate AAA would at least be able to hold their own in the majors.  What makes the jump so insurmountable for some players? How much is mental?
Mark P
8:07
The mental hurdle is a notable one, no doubt. I'm not the first to point this out, but one big difference between Triple-A and the big leagues that many people overlook is that in the majors, winning is the top expectation.  Obviously you're trying to win in Triple-A, but development is the name of the game, ultimately --- in the big leagues, it's a competitive grind every night.
8:08
But the simpler reason is just that it's extremely hard to play Major League Baseball.  Even being able to "hold your own" is an enormous challenge because the talent level is so high.
AZ....
8:08
Why did the D-Backs bring in Swihart?  He hasn’t done anything
Mark P
8:09
Can't hurt to bring a former top prospect in to see if he just needs a change of scenery.  Don't forget, Mike Hazen and a good chunk of his front office were in Boston when Swihart was originally drafted.
Trevor Bauer
8:09
Where am I playing in August?
Mark P
8:10
My guess is still Cleveland.  It's still early, and the Tribe is just 4.5 games back of Minnesota at this moment.  Too early to assume the Cleve will be sellers
AJ
8:12
White Sox a player for Keuchel when they don’t have to give up draft pick? 3/50?
Mark P
8:13
I'd be surprised seeing Keuchel get a guaranteed multi-year offer at all, let alone one in the three years/$50MM ballpark.  And the White Sox won't be the team making that offer.
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