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Mark P
8:51
The reliever-heavy plan worked pretty well last October, but you're not wrong, I would feel more comfortable if the Rays had one surefire ace type on their staff going into the playoffs.

That said, if the Rays can do anything, it's adjust and adapt.  After learning that their strategy didn't totally pan out last year, I can see them adding some tweaks this time around.
Mark
8:52
CY told us that the rangers would spend in free agency.  Can we really spend enough to end the rebuild early?
Mark P
8:54
For context on GM Chris Young's comments...
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/08/rangers-rumors-active-free-agen...

To be clear, Young said the Rangers would spend more, not "spend a fortune" on a bunch of stars.  While there is some logic in thinking the Astros and/or Athletics might take a step backwards in 2022, the Rangers are far enough back of the pack that I'm not sure they think they can spend their way into a playoff berth
Adding some veterans on shortish-term contracts might be more realistic.  Maybe something akin to KC's last offseason.
Big Daddy
8:55
The AL MVP is Ohtani's to lose at this point. But C'mon we have to show Salvy some love!! His on a whole new level this year.
Mark P
8:55
Perez is having an incredible season.  Put it this way....there are two other questions in the queue right now asking "is Salvy Perez a Hall of Famer?", and i'm pretty torn about a response
8:56
This might be the kind of signature season that gets him over the top with HOF voters, plus he has the narrative of being a one-team guy, a WS champion, not to mention his great defense and leadership over the years
Dennis
8:57 
I think the Myles Straw trade  will go down as a win for Cleveland similar to the Kenny Lofton trade.  Agree?
Mark P
8:58
With all due respect to Straw, there is virtually no way he'll be the next Kenny Lofton, who is one of the more underrated players of the last 30 years.

But can Straw be a very good regular?  Definitely, so I agree that the trade was a shrewd one for the Clevelanders
Re: Nats
8:59
If the Nats make meaningful additions this winter, are they more likely to be arms or bats? They've scored surprisingly well in recent weeks
Mark P
9:00
They really need help on both fronts, so I don't think they'll necessarily target one area over another if they can help it.  The Nats have traditionally been more willing to heavily invest in pitching, so they might make a big splash on that front and then try to replicate their 2020-21 offseason strategy of signing veteran position players to one-year deals
West Coast Mets Fan
9:02
Can you explain to me why some people in Mets Nation don't like Nimmo. The guy hustles on every play. He has improved in the OF and been more aggressive at the plate while still being among the leaders in OBP.
Mark P
9:02
No idea.  Even if he "only" takes walks, well, he's doing so at roughly a .400 OBP clip.  I'll take that any day of the week.
Obviously Nimmo's biggest is just staying healthy.
Biggest issue, that is
In Cashman we trust
9:05
Torres looks like he needs to be moved off ss and isn't even hitting enough to makeup for it anymore so what do we do with him?
Mark P
9:06
Moving Torres to second base is the logical solution, with the cover of having LeMahieu move to the position full-time if Torres can't get back on track at the plate.
9:07
Stanton being able to play outfield again creates some maneuverability for the Yankees in finding playing time for everyone, but this winter, they might also be looking at third base given how Urshela has had a pretty tough go of it in 2021
PATigersFan
9:08
Do the Orioles bring Rutschman up early next year to put [butts] in the seats, or wait until the rebuild is further along,to not waste service time?
Mark P
9:09
He is already hitting well against Triple-A pitching, so I think he'll ultimately force the team's hand in an early-season callup.  Maybe even on the Opening Day roster, perhaps depending on if the service time rules are changed in the new CBA
Joe Don
9:10
Follow up to Mark’s Rangers question - so, do I understand that you think the team is too far from competing to go after a big-money FA this off-season? OR could you see value in signing an expensive star-level veteran to “be an influence” on the younger players’ development?
Mark P
9:11
Making a "Jayson Werth" type of signing could be an option, but in looking at the Rangers roster, I question whether they'll be ready to compete even by 2023.  There are a lot of question marks, which isn't surprising for a team that has close to the worst record in baseball.
Big Daddy
9:11
Many people want Theo Epstein to take a Job with the Mets. If I'm Steve Cohen I want Billy Beane. Think making him the highest paid executive and a 7.5% stake in the team's ownership gets Beane to Queens?
AL West
9:11
Billy Beane to the Mets?  Second time's a charm.
Mark P
9:14
Keep in mind that there has been speculation that Beane might not be long for baseball altogether, given his business dealings in the soccer world.  

The uncertainty surrounding the potential move out of Oakland could create an opening for Beane to leave the Athletics, though it remains to be seen if he'd move to a new baseball club.  It's not like Beane hasn't been wooed by big offers in the past.
Derek
9:14
Do you expect the Nats to move on from Robles and sign a CF this offseason (or could Lane Thomas possibly take the starting role)?
Mark P
9:16
Going by the logic of "every hitter who leaves the Cardinals immediately gets better," Thomas will probably be an All-Star by this time next year.  I do think Robles is no longer considered a big part of the Nats' future plans, though since he's still inexpensive (only arb-eligible this winter), I can see the Nats keeping him for one more year
criticalthinker
9:18
Brandon Lowe, Wander Franco, Joey Wendle, Vidal Brujan, Taylor Walls...a couple have to go if your pitching rotation is McClanahan and 4 giant question marks, right?
Mark P
9:19
Well, we can assume Franco isn't going anywhere.  The way the Rays operate, Lowe probably became a trade candidate the moment he signed that extension, as inexpensive as it is.  But, of that group, Wendle or one of Walls/Brujan seem like the likeliest trade chips.
Aussie Giants Fan
9:20
G’day from Sydney, watching the Giants Dodgers game. Giants have quite a few pending FA this off-season, who can you see re-signing and who do you think they let walk?
Mark P
9:23
G'Day! The full list of Giants free agents: Bryant, Solano, Watson, Belt, Gausman, DeSclafani, Wood, and (if club options aren't picked up) Cueto, Flores, Alvarez, and Posey.  

I think Posey's option is exercised and the GIants will then look into a longer-term extension.  Of the rest of that group, however, I kind of wonder if maybe they could all go?  The Giants will certainly talk to all or most, and I expect at least Bryant and Gausman to get serious attention, but the Giants have done a great job of finding depth pieces and building from within.  They might be more open to finding the next Donovan Solano than re-signing the actual Solano, for instance
Mike
9:23
How much longer does Preller have? Are sexy moves and highly ranked farm systems enough to keep him around much longer? The excitement and expectations do put fans in the seats, even if they continue to fall short (abbreviated season playoff appearance aside). Maybe that’s getting the job done to ownership more than building consistent contenders.
Mark P
9:24
Preller signed an extension through the 2026 season, so he isn't going anywhere for a while.  He's definitely made his share of questionable moves, but the Padres are also in a better place now than when he first took the job.  

It isn't great, however, that the Giants have done more with a lot less in what was supposed to be the Padres' true breakout season.
Garrett Whitlock
9:26
Should Boston try to convert Garrett Whitlock to a starting pitcher next year?
Mark P
9:27
They'll probably try to stretch him out in Spring Training just out of due diligence, since he has so much potential.  But if that doesn't work out, it's not a bad fallback option if he is "only" a relief ace
Cubs
9:27
Who’s going to be the Cubs next GM?
Mark P
9:27
I mean, I guess I'll send in a resume, but I don't love my chances.
Mets/beane
9:29
Billy Beane would be insane to pass on that hypothetical 7%, that would currently be worth 171 million dollars. No chance any gm gets more than 1%
Mark P
9:30
That's the other thing, I also strongly doubt Cohen would be willing to give up seven percent of his team
Levi
9:30
I almost left today’s Brewers game early…
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