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MLBTR Chat With Mark Polishuk
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Mark P
9:07
His 2019 numbers are pretty similar to his numbers before 2018, so it could be that Markus....er, Mookie maybe just had a real outlier of a superstar year last season.  Just one of those magical, "everything comes together" type of years, the same of which could be said for the 2018 Red Sox as a whole.
9:08
it doesn't mean he can't get back to that level in the future, or even closer to that later this season.  But even this lesser version of Mookie Betts is still awfully good, if not Mike Trout-level great
Azelch9917
9:10
The cardinals need to do something about this offense. How available is Whit Merrifield? He can play either a corner outfield spot or replace Wong at second.
Mark P
9:11
He's only available for a very big package of prospects.  I'm sure the Cardinals would be interested in a player like Merrifield, but they'd have to give up a ton.
Lunar verLander
9:12
54 MPH fastball? Check out the guns on THIS guy.
Mark P
9:13
I haven't been clocked by a radar gun since 2005, so it's possible I've added some velo since then.  I could easily crack the 55mph barrier by this point.  EASILY.
Guest
9:15
Which contender is in the best shape prospect wise to make a deal? Thanks
Mark P
9:15
Braves, Yankees, and Padres are generally considered to have the deepest farm systems in baseball.  So in theory they have the most extra trade chips.....but the thing is, other teams also know this, so they're trying to gouge those teams for as many prospects as possible.
9:16
And if you're a rival team, why not make a big ask, just in case the other team is desperate to land that particular player or really does feel like they have prospects to burn?
Brass Muncy
9:16
Why aren't kids groomed to be closers? It's always failed starters turning into relievers.
Mark P
9:18
You see some pitchers specifically tailored to be closers in college, or early in their pro careers.  But generally, if a team has a pitcher with a big-league caliber arm, they want to explore all possibilities of seeing if that pitcher can make it as a starter before considering relief work.  Having a solid starter is such a valuable asset.
Bill The Cat
9:18
My favorite two teams are the Mariners and the Giants. How depressing is that?
Mark P
9:18
Three WS titles in the last decade is nothing to sneeze at
Richard S.
9:19
Boyd & Greene to LAD for Stripling, White, Rios, Ruiz, DJ Peters & Kendall?
Mark P
9:20
The Dodgers wouldn't give up nearly that much.
Don't forget, before this season, Greene had a shaky track record and Boyd hadn't done much of anything at the big league level.  Both are good trade chips and Boyd is controllable, but let's not go overboard
Michael
9:21
The Phillies have to acquire a starter before the break ends right? It’s gotta be a priority.
Mark P
9:21
I tend to agree, especially with this latest news about Arrieta.
Matt
9:21
Water gun to your head 🤣, what pitcher will the Yankees acquire at or before the deadline?
Mark P
9:22
It's been brutally humid for over a week, I'll take the water gun!

My hot take is that the Yankees will swerve everyone by acquiring another good reliever rather than a SP
Neal Huntington
9:24
When Gregory Polanco is healthy, I have 5 outfielders. If I'm serious about winning, having a gold glove caliber LF and CF seem in my best interest, and I'm obviously not trading Bryan Reynolds. Does a Aaron Sanchez for Gregory Polanco swap make sense?
Mark P
9:26
Polanco's injuries and tough season notwithstanding, the Bucs would get a lot more than just Aaron Sanchez back if they shopped Polanco around.  Sanchez has a lot more red flags than Polanco
Thad Levine
9:27
Ketchup or Mayo on fries?
Mark P
9:27
Ketchup all day long.  I hate mayo.
Self loathing baseball fan
9:28
I know you want nothing more than to keep answering the same Cubs question, but: I don't understand the notion that they lack the "prospect capital" to get Will Smith. Like, surely Hoerner+Amaya+Ademan would make it happen, but just doesn't sound palatable from the Cubs end. Am i just homer-adding the value of these prospects?
Mark P
9:29
You're right, it's not that the Cubs necessarily lack prospect depth.  It's just that they're definitely not going to deal what few top-level minor leaguers they do have for a relief pitcher, and maybe not for anyone (save an unexpected sweetheart of an offer).
Don't forget, the Cubs have dealt away a lot of their best prospects over the last few years.
Ruban Amaro
9:32
Do the Phillies regret their off-season trades?  JP Crawford is playing very well not the mention Alfaro and Sixto is healthy in the minors.
Mark P
9:32
Realistically, it'll take a few years before we can fully judge those trades, but I don't think the Phils have many regrets at this point.
9:33
It seemed like Crawford needed a change of scenery, plus the Phils needed to move Santana to open up 1B for Hoskins
Gotta Go
9:34
Chances Maddon replaced as skipper during the season? Chances he’s not with the team next spring?
Mark P
9:35
I don't think a managerial change is happening in-season since the Cubs (let's not forget) are in first place at the break.
But, if I had to guess, I'd say there's a new manager at Wrigley in 2020.
Buster
9:36
Any chance I get traded finally?
Mark P
9:37
I assume this refers to Buster Posey, and not, say, Buster Bluth from Arrested Development
9:38
Anyway, I don't think Posey is a trade candidate.  Beyond the face-of-the-franchise stuff, he's also got a no-trade clause, a big contract, and his production has drastically slowed down over the last couple of seasons.
Even if the Giants offered to eat a lot of the salary, not sure teams would want to take the plunge on a player who seems like he's in a decline
Matt
9:40
Should the Jays consider sending Vlad Jr. back down to the minors? He has been below average offensively, he is grounding out WAY too much(0 degree launch angle on fastballs), struggling against breaking balls(41% whiff rate/.173 BA against). I mean I don't think they will for marketing reasons, but his swing seems to be off and needs to be tinkered with.
Mark P
9:42
Beyond marketing reasons, I'm not sure the Jays see a need to demote Vlad when they probably feel like their MLB coaching staff can correct things.  Sending him to Triple-A so he can have a 1.100 OPS for a week or two wouldn't prove much

Some struggles were inevitable for any 20-year-old making his Major League debut, even one as hyped as Vlad Jr.
Yankee
9:43
Would you still have done the Chapman deal if you were the Cubs?
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