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Mark P
10:57
Earlier this week, Morton signed a one-year extension worth $20MM, and the Braves have another $20MM club option on him for 2023.

Wainwright made only $8MM this year, so it would be a big jump.  But given how well he has pitched not just this year but really since the start of the 2020 season, he has definitely earned a healthy raise, if perhaps not to the $20MM neighborhood.  I could see Wainwright taking less of a guarantee but with some incentives baked in, so the Cards might have a bit more payroll to spend on other upgrades
Billy Bob
10:58
Walk up song
Mark P
10:58
As per my standard "whatever I'm listening to on my random shuffle at this very moment," my walkup song is Heartbreaker by the Rolling Stones
Guest
10:58
Is there a reason for so many injuries this year?
Mark P
10:59
A big surge in injuries was inevitable coming off an abbreviated 2020 season.
Dan
10:59
Why aren't coaches, other than managers, in HOF? Shouldn't someone like Dave Duncan deserve to get enshrined?
Mark P
11:01
Several baseball writers have suggested that the HOF have some kind of "baseball lifer" category to recognize great coaches, scouts, etc.  I think this would be a tremendous idea.
Barry
11:01
If the Reds fail to make the playoffs, and with Bell in his final contract year, do you see them switching managers?
Mark P
11:02
Technically, Bell is only in his last guaranteed year, though the Reds could still pick up a club option for 2022.

But I agree that Cincinnati could be a prime candidate for a managerial change if they fall short of the playoffs.
Guest
11:02
How do u not even include Jonathan India in your rookie of the year comments? Dude should run away with it.
Mark P
11:03
I was specifying just the AL Rookie of the Year candidates.  India should indeed be the heavy NL favorite.
11:06
Pardon the delay, had to get to a post on the main site
Hats for Bats
11:06
Blue Jays are scary right now if they can make it into the playoffs.    Do they have the prices to get to the World Series?
Mark P
11:07
"If" is the key word there, since it'll still take a lot for the Jays to beat three of the Yankees, Red Sox, Mariners, and A's for a wild card spot.  

Plus, if the Jays did win the wild card game, they'd then have to face Tampa, who has owned the Jays for years.
Halos
11:09
What does a Rasiel Iglesias contract look like? Who are the other top relievers on the market?
Mark P
11:11
I like Lorenzen's potential upside, but Iglesias seems to pretty clearly be the best free agent reliever available this winter.  He's entering his age-32 season but with such a consistent track record, he'll get at least three years.  Iglesias will also look to top at least $16MM per year in average annual value
Bill
11:13
Is Patrick Wisdom, Cubs 3rd baseman next year
Mark P
11:13
He has pretty sharply cooled off since his hot start in Chicago, so I'll say no.
Stros Fan Since 94
11:13
Don’t be an Astro hater… Luis Garcia is the ROY.
Mark P
11:13
Oops, I definitely should've mentioned Luis Garcia in my list of AL ROY contenders.  My mistake.
BB fan
11:15
What happens to Conforto? He's hitting better. Great OF'er. I can't see the Mets offering a QO. Who and where do you predict he ends up?
Mark P
11:19
Conforto is a really interesting QO case, since I think even despite his hot month, he'd still take the QO if the Mets issue one.  But, as you said, it's an open question as to whether the Mets would issue the offer.

This is just speculation on my part, but maybe the Nationals?  Scott Boras and the Lerners have a longstanding business relationship, Conforto might like playing against his old team in the NL East, and the Nats have been open to one-year deals.  (Since I think Conforto will take a one-year deal to rebuild his value, a la Marcus Semien last winter.)
Conforto would have to move to left field to accommodate Juan Soto, but that wouldn't be a big switch
Blue
11:20
Which of the Cubs high-profile trade deadline sell-off (Bryant, Rizzo, Baez) is most likely to re-sign with the team in the off-season, and which would be the best re-sign?
Mark P
11:21
Baez, Rizzo, Bryant, in that order.  But, I think it's a moot point since none of them are going to re-sign.  My view is that Chicago is going to make a clean break and get decidedly younger, and might not even start really spending until the 2022-23 offseason.
Fighting words
11:22
"since it'll still take a lot for the Jays to beat three of the Yankees, Red Sox, Mariners, and A's for a wild card spot." Sounds like you stopped following the Jays late August ;)
Mark P
11:23
Ha, as a Jays fan myself, I'm merely being realistic about their chances.  It took this major hot streak (and slumps from Boston, New York, and Oakland) just to get them back into the race, so there's a lot of work to be done.
Baseball fan
11:23
Is anyone runnind away with the NLEast? Seems all 3 top teams dont know how to win regularly
Mark P
11:24
I think Atlanta will ultimately win, since they have fewer overt weak spots than the Mets or Phillies.  But you're right, it's not like the Braves are exactly breaking away and taking advantage of their rivals' struggles
Bass Bawler
11:25
What does a Lorenzen contract look like?  Will he sign as a starter or a reliever -- I believe he wants to start?
Mark P
11:27
He wanted to start and the Reds were stretching him out in Spring Training before his injury problems arose.  

I can see a team taking that same approach in free agency.  They'll give him an opportunity to start in 2022, but with the bullpen as the fallback option.  With this in mind, I could see Lorenzen's reps looking for something of an incentive-heavy contract, with clauses built in to address his salary depending on what his usage ends up being.
Rasiel Iglesias QO
11:28
Based on a 3/48 contract, would the Angels do a QO for Iglesias?
Mark P
11:28
Iglesias seems like a very good QO candidate, for sure
Verlander
11:30
JV free agent at season's end, hasn't had a real season of baseball since 2019. What's the contract probability for a guy like this, are there any comps? Historically great career, excellent season before TJ, but up there in age. My gut says he won't be amenable to a one-year "make good" contract due to his body of work and age, but I don't see a lot of teams wanting to make a multi-year deal for anyone that advanced in age coming off a major surgery.
Mark P
11:32
I can't think of a comp off the top of my head, but I actually do think at least one team will give Verlander two guaranteed years.  He'll definitely garner tons of interest on one-year offers, so someone will have to go to (at least) two years to make the signing.
MadMax
11:33
Scherzer has been INSANE with the Dodgers since the trade, ERA+ near 400 and an ERA near 1. CC Sabathia 2.0 after his trade to the Brewers all those years ago. Does he parlay this into a multiyear deal elsewhere, or do you think he's happy enough in this winning LA environment to resign here?
Mark P
11:34
I would certainly think there's mutual interest between the two sides, given how well Scherzer has taken to L.A.  The Dodgers have obviously shown they're willing to pay top dollar to retain the guys they want to retain, so giving Scherzer a hefty multi-year deal is definitely in their wheelhouse.
Walleye Wade
11:35
Will the Twins FINALLY go get starting rotation help that isn't bottom dollar reclimation projects this winter?? They will almost have to put Ober and Ryan into the rotation.......Pineda resign I believe will happen....But that still leaves 2 spots plus at least one more that need to be addressed....Only in a fantasy world can one think the rotation needs only 5 starter with all the injuries ( more like 8 really)..
Mark P
11:37
I agree and disagree at the same time.  The Twins definitely need a lot of rotation help, but to that point, they're more likely to fill that need by signing multiple second- or third-tier arms rather than splurge on a top-tier ace.  

Ideally, the Twins would take a page from the Giants' book and at least one or two of those lower-priced signings would end up being major bargains.
BrewCrew
11:40
Burnes/Hader combined no-no was incredible, ninth of the season. Wild thoughts on how many the final tally is for this year? Lots grouped together in the beginning of the year, but anything can happen...
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