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MLBTR Chat With Mark Polishuk
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Mark P
9:04
Good morning!  We're running the Sunday chat roughly 12 hours earlier than usual today, since I'm on the morning shift this week.  Let's see what kind of questions we have here amongst the early bird crowd
DG
9:04
wait what I just woke up
Mark P
9:04
This is not a dream!
Robbie Ray
9:05
Bronx Bound??
Mark P
9:06
I could see the Yankees asking about Ray, no doubt.  I do wonder if the D'Backs would give Ray up now when they could just qualifying offer him after the season (if all goes well)
Cashman
9:06
Luis Castillo for Andujar and Adams?
Mark P
9:07
No way do the Reds do that
Cubs
9:07
Would Villar be a good fit for us? Merrifield is gonna be pricey and the Orioles want to get rid of Villars contract. Maybe a swap of Russell for Villar?
Mark P
9:08
We've got Villar projected for $10.4MM in salary via arbitration, which is a bit steep for a Cubs team that is still keeping an eye on the luxury tax number.  Moving Russell would be a step in the right direction, but the Cubs can just non-tender him (which I highly expect they'll do)
9:09
And the O's would want more than just Russell for Villar, assuming they want Russell at all given his off-the-field baggage and declining performance
Anthony Santander
9:09
Can I push 30 home runs this year?
Mark P
9:10
If they're using the same baseball as in 2019, heck, I think I might hit at least 20 homers next year and I'm not even a player
Rbase
9:11
An afternoon baseball chat for us europeans? Nice!
Is there any truth to the Didi-to-philly rumours? What would happen with segura?
Mark P
9:12
The Phils/Didi rumor, if you missed it: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/11/phillies-showing-interest-in-di...

Too early to say if this is strong interest or just due diligence on Philly's part.  Don't forget, last offseason they "checked in" or "looking into" (whatever terminology you want to use) on basically everyone available.  If Didi was signed, moving Segura to second or third would seem like the logical play, unless they were to deal him to a shortstop-needy team who missed out on Didi
Roger
9:13
Should the Astros trade for Jonathan Gray?
Mark P
9:15
Gray is a player I'd be intrigued to see in a non-Coors Field environment, and given Houston's track record at improving pitchers, he could really blossom there.  Astros might prefer to take a low-cost vet on the chances that they could revive him, however, since the Rockies will want a lot for Gray
Angels
9:15
Any talk of Moustakas to the Angels and learns first base as well
Mark P
9:16
Moose makes sense on a lot of teams, including the Angels.  It's odd that he drew so little interest in each of the last two offseasons, but maybe he'll finally get a multi-year deal now
W-Sox Fan
9:16
Thoughts about the white Sox moves thus far?
Mark P
9:17
So far so good.  Grandal is one of the very best catchers in the game, and an ideal candidate to work with Chicago's young pitchers.
Diamondbacks
9:17
Why isn't our lack of spending talked about more often? There have been two or three seasons in the last decade where they were arguably one piece away from the playoffs-- It's getting incredibly frustrating as a fan
Mark P
9:18
I mean, they did give Greinke that enormous contract.  And they have been willing to sign players to extensions, so it's not like they're not spending whatsoever.
Matt
9:18
Could the Reds consider shopping Luis Castillo to fill their other holes? Maybe a package surrounding Lux from the Dodgers? Maybe the basis on a Torres-Castillo swap if the Yankees go after Lindor/Story or re-sign Didi? I mean Bauer-Gray is still better than the rest of the division.
Mark P
9:20
Lot of Luis Castillo questions today for some reason, which is odd since i see no reason Cincy would want to deal him.  Given how Bauer pitched for them last year, the Reds certainly can't be comfortable counting on him as a clear ace
Tony 2 bags
9:20
Are the Angels in on Strasburg? He was seen in LA yesterday.
Cinderella Champs
9:21
Are the Nats getting nervous about Strasburg? It was “supposed” to be a quick resolution...
Mark P
9:22
Strasburg is from SoCal, so it's no surprise he's in the area during the offseason.

Scott Boras clients rarely sign "quickly," since Boras likes to survey the market.  That said, it is still pretty early in the offseason calendar.  If Strasburg re-signs by the winter meetings, that'd still count as an early signing in my books
Dipoto
9:22
Am I really going to be quiet and not make moves?
Mark P
9:23
(Jerry Dipoto = Mariners GM)

I would bet he'll make a couple of trades, but perhaps nothing of the blockbuster variety, and perhaps not nearly as many of the roster-churn types of deals he's made in the last few years.
Joe
9:24
Reds will make a huge trade for Lindor, Story, or Betts- fact or fiction?
Mark P
9:25
I think they'll ask about such a trade, so maybe technically fact?  But if they don't pull it off, I guess that makes it fiction.  

There, that's a fine hedge!
White Sox Brass
9:25
What player should I be looking at to sign next that will help in the rebuild on the Southside?
Mark P
9:25
Has to be pitching.  Early rumors have the White Sox as one of the many teams in on Zack Wheeler
Rhett
9:26
If planning to sign players with QO’s, is it better to get them all in one year (lowering the draft cost for each) or spread their signing over multiple years (keeping you from killing one draft)?
Mark P
9:27
I guess it depends on every team's individual situation, but I could see some clubs approaching it like the old international free agent signing system, where a team could go way over the spending limits to splurge on basically three years' worth of talent at once, and then accept a two-year penalty.
9:29
By that same token, a team could decide to more or less write off a draft year by signing maybe three QO guys, if they had the money and the motivation.  That said, I could realistically only see a team going this if it had one extra pick (maybe a QO guy of their own signing elsewhere) coming back, or they trade for a Comp Balance Round pick or something.  Teams put such value on draft picks that it's hard to imagine someone more or less punting on rounds 2-6
Kelly Grubers wing man
9:29
Is Jesse Winker on the trade block? He seems like more of future 1B/DH type who can play the odd game in the OF. Something that doesn’t fit Cincy too well.
Mark P
9:31
Winker has also struggled badly against LH pitching, though it is still early in his career.  But you're right, he doesn't seem like an ideal fit for the Reds in particular, or maybe any NL team.  Wouldn't surprise me if he's being quietly shopped, though I do like his overall hitting potential
Chris
9:31
Thank god for twitter or id have no idea when any of the MLBTR chats are. is there any plan to get you guys on a schedule or do you prefer to keep us guessing?
Mark P
9:32
It's hard to keep on a completely strict schedule since news could be breaking, or some of us trade shifts, etc.  We do try to chat in regular time slots as often as possible, though circumstances can often interfere
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