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MLBTR Chat With Mark Polishuk
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Angels fan
10:11
Do you see the Angels signing a catcher, even though Eppler says not looking for one.
Mark P
10:12
They were reportedly in on Grandal, but that could be a special case since he was so clearly the best catcher on the market.  So they weren't planning to add catching EXCEPT for a big upgrade like him (basically the same stance as the White Sox with McCann, really)
Joey Gallo
10:12
Will I hit 50 homeruns next season???
Mark P
10:13
If healthy, it isn't out of the question
Astros
10:13
What moves do you see the Astros doing this offseason?
Mark P
10:14
Starting pitching is their top priority, and they'll need some bullpen help.  But obviously their top priority now is waiting to see what kind of punishment MLB levies, since it's likely to significantly impact their future plans
Roger
10:15
If Not Gray, I would like to see Alex Wood in Houston. They need a lefty and a 3.43 lifetime ERA ain’t too shabby
Mark P
10:15
Wood is a good bounce-back candidate for a lot of teams, assuming he's healthy.  Houston would be a great fit
Brad C
10:17
Chatwood for Fowler straight up?  Cards could try and fix Chat, and Fowler can play left after the Cubs trade Schwarber somewhere.  And they can bat him leadoff again.
Mark P
10:17
The Cubs and Cardinals have made one trade together since 2002, so I doubt it
Spuds
10:19
So, if the Jays are saying they want to compete in 2021 why are they still looking trading Ken Giles and why aren't they going to consider going after Cole or Keuchel or another top-line starter. I feel the window to win is very small because once Vladdy, Bichette and Biggio are eligible for free agency they'll be gone. Rogers has the money but won't spend it.
Mark P
10:22
1. Giles is only controlled through 2020, so he isn't part of future plans
2. The Jays would need to hugely overpay Cole to get him to sign, since why would he join a team that isn't an immediate contender already
3. The "window" is at least six years for all of those guys, who only just debuted last season
4. It's incorrect to just assume extensions won't happen.  Don't forget, the Jays ran up some pretty big payrolls from 2016-18.  Ownership has shown it is willing to spend to prop up a winning team, now that they've seen how the Toronto market responds to success
Bookworm
10:23
Looking for a new book. What's your favorite book?
Mark P
10:23
Oof, I'm not sure I could narrow things down to a single favorite book.  My favorite author is probably Julian Barnes, if that helps.
Swizzle
10:24
Twins trade Luis Arraez to the Padres for Kirby Yates?
Mark P
10:24
No chance of that one, Yates is only signed through 2020
Shapo
10:26
Who ya got this morning - Canada or Spain?
Mark P
10:26
I'm Canadian, so go home country go!
Atlanta Braves
10:28
What kind of moves do you see AA pulling off?
Mark P
10:29
I like the fact that the Braves have been so quick to act, and they've already retained so many of the guys they wanted to keep (Markakis and company) while also taking two big RPs off the board in Smith and Martin.  You can't really count Anthopoulos out on any trade possibility, and the Braves have enough payroll room for one big splash, be it Donaldson or a pitcher
Dodgers
10:30
Is this the season the Dodgers finally go after the top free agents successfully under this regime?
Mark P
10:31
My suspicion is yes, they'll get one top guy this winter
SEMO
10:31
Would the owners and players ever agree to NHL style salary cap, with a minimum floor. It would seem like a benefit to players in multiple markets (Tampa, Miami, Oakland, etc)
Mark P
10:32
The players will never accept any kind of cap, especially not an NHL-style hard cap.  And more owners that you may think will oppose a salary floor, since they'll balk at the idea of being "forced" to spend money when they don't "have to"
Non tender protocol
10:32
Last year of contract... if a player is non tendered... does his salary free up space as far as luxury tax is concerned?
Mark P
10:32
Correct.  If a player is non-tendered, his deal comes off the books
Emiliano B
10:34
Any Chance The White Sox Make A Trade For Mookie Betts? I’m sure even with the one year left his value is gonna be high. Would a combo of Andrew Vaughn, Jonathan Striver and 2 lower lvl prospects be enough to make a happen?
Mark P
10:34
I don't see the White Sox making a big prospect trade for a player who's only going to be there for one year (most likely)
CJ
10:35
If the Phillies sign Gregorius, will they trade Segura or Hernandez?
Mark P
10:35
There's a better chance Hernandez is simply non-tendered
Mr
10:36
If the Indian trade Lindor, do you think they also move their you g pitching for a full rebuild?
Mark P
10:36
Nope, the young pitching is the lifeblood of that team.  Cleveland's ability to find and develop quality arms will keep them competitive even without Lindor, so there's no reason to slash and burn for a rebuild
mets
10:37
moose to mets 5/75?
Mark P
10:37
Nowhere near that amount of money.  Keep in mind that Moustakas couldn't even find a multi-year offer the last two offseasons....he's not going to find five years now
gocubsgo2020
10:38
why the fascination  with trading Chris Bryant?
Mark P
10:39
A lot of Cubs fans assume that he won't sign an extension with them since he's a Boras client, so they'll freely throw out ideas about dealing Bryant for some other star or for a package of elite prospects.  And fans of other teams love to think "hey, Kris Bryant is awesome, I'd love him to play here!" and throw out speculative trades of their own.
Jays 2020
10:40
Thoughts on Cherington and Ross hooking up on a deal with Cherington having a good grip on Jays prospects maybe Bell or Marte and Archer (buy low) for prospects
Mark P
10:40
It wouldn't shock me at all to see a Pirates/Jays trade, if perhaps not for any of those three guys.  You often see a new GM make a trade with his old front office due to sheer familiarity
Todd T
10:41
Do you see any possible swaps of bad contracts that the Rockies could make which would rid them of Ian Desmond or one of the triumvirate of over-priced relievers, while also helping the club?
Mark P
10:44
I could see one of the relievers getting moved in a lower-level type of "bad contract swap," but the thing about those deals is that teams tend to make them to fix bad fits on both sides.  Like, a player might be overpaid and a bad fit on one particular team but not a bad player overall.

The thing about Desmond is, he has actually been terrible over the last three years.  So it's hard for me to see another team seeing any possible upside after three disastrous seasons
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