You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
MLBTR Live Chat
powered byJotCast
Prev Page View Full Chat Next Page
Ken
10:02
Given the salary constraints from A's ownership, one of the worst farm systems in baseball, a rising Mariners team, a superior Astros team, an Angels team with more money to spend, do you think the A's go full rebuild next year or try one last time to win with this core?
Mark P
10:03
Unfortunately, 2021 might have been the "one last time" season.  Everything the A's have done in the last couple of decades indicates that they won't spend the money necessary on their big arbitration class, so some level of trimming will have to be made.  

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/09/athletics-trade-rumors-payroll-...
10:04
That said, the A's have also resisted doing a true teardown in the Billy Beane era.  I expect an attempt to rebuild on the fly, and if that doesn't work, another step in the rebuild direction might happen at the 2022 trade deadline or next winter
Game 163 Fan
10:04
Will the runner on 2nd extra innings rule carry over to the Postseason?
Mark P
10:04
Nope
Baseball fanatic
10:06
Does Baez sign with Angels to play for Maddon? How about Correa to Detroit for his old skipper?
Mark P
10:06
Familiarity with the manager is certainly a plus for any player, but I'm not sure if would be enough for Baez or Correa to turn down a larger offer from another team or something
Dipoto
10:07
Hmmm… Aside from Kris Bryant…  Given the history, and between his veteran presence… and the IronMan ability to play all 162 games a season -his above average defense, his career high HR and RBIs stats this past year… and the absolute  hunger to win… Is it sensible for me to just pick up Kyle Seager’s option?
Mark P
10:08
Seager's postgame comments were pretty telling today, as he noted that he hasn't spoken to Jerry Dipoto in years.  I think Seattle is definitely moving on.
Hulk Hogan
10:08
I know Mike Rizzo envisions a quick turn around, but this looks more like a 5 year project.  Getting a Stras and Harper back to back again doesn’t seem very likely.  What say you?
Mark P
10:09
Well, ya know something Mean Gene, the Nationals can....ahem, sorry.

Having Juan Soto on your roster makes you already ahead of the game for rebuilding purposes.  Not to say that the Nats and Rizzo don't have a lot of work to patch up that team, but I don't think it'll take five years before DC has another contender
Dalton Wilcox
10:10
What does Matt Olson get on the trade market?
Mark P
10:11
Quite a bit.  Two more years of control for a big power bat who can play quality defense, and Olson is only 27.  The A's can rightfully ask for a major haul in any trade negotiations.
Leo
10:11
Why do the Yankees pick 25th in the draft and the Red Sox 24th if the Red Sox finished ahead of them this year?
Mark P
10:12
The Red Sox finished "ahead" of the Yankees just in terms of a tiebreaker for determining who hosts the wild card game.

That doesn't apply to the draft order.  Like I said earlier, it goes by the previous year's record, so Boston gets the 24th pick since they were worse in 2020
Royals
10:12
Given Mondesi’s injury history, Lopez’s success and Witt Jr. rise, where does Mondi fit in?
Mark P
10:13
The Royals have already said that Mondesi might not be suited for a true everyday role, so bouncing him around the diamond as a super-util type might be interesting (and a good way keep him rested and healthy)
steve
10:14
Who runs the Mets, Beane or Theo?
Steve Cohen
10:14
Billy Beane or Theo Epstein. Who becomes my PBO?
Mark P
10:14
I lean towards neither.  Naturally the big names attract a lot of media buzz and Cohen obviously has interest in Beane/Epstein given their track records, but there hasn't been much or any evidence that either would even be interested in the Mets job
Chris
10:15
How many manager openings will there be?
Mark P
10:16
Two for sure with the Mets and Padres, I have to believe.

Beyond that, I'm not sure we'll see any more vacancies.  Maybe the Astros if Dusty retires, or if the team just decides to make a change.
Blue Jays
10:18
What does the ideal off-season look like for the Blue Jays?
Mark P
10:19
They add at least one more starting pitcher, and 2-3 new arms to the bullpen.  I think the Jays would love it if Semien stayed, and the team would then need to address third base in some way (or stand pat with a Biggio/Espinal platoon)
10:20
If you talk pie-in-the-sky ideal, the league decides it's weird to not have America's capital in the American League, so the Jays and Nationals switch divisions.  :)
RICO NOT CARTY
10:20
will cruz be back with tampa next year, or anywhere ?
Mark P
10:21
I doubt the Rays pay up to re-sign Cruz, but he'll certainly land somewhere.  A reunion in Seattle would be fun.
TBR guy
10:22
Jared Walsh for Shane Baz…who says no?
Mark P
10:22
The Rays, but this isn't a bad offer.
Dan
10:23
How frustrating can it be to be an A's fan. Beside the stadium issues, the team comes so close but won't spend an extra nickel to get to the next level
Mark P
10:24
I'll link to Steve Adams' piece about Oakland's arb class again, since Steve makes this same point: we're not talking a huge payroll expenditure here.  The A's can get everyone back into the fold, make some additions, and still barely crack the $100MM payroll threshold, but that is a bridge ownership simply doesn't seem willing to cross

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/09/athletics-trade-rumors-payroll-...
Joshua
10:25
Matt Chapman to the Nats for Carter Kieboom, Gerardo Carrillo, and Tim Cate? Who says no? Thanks.
Mark P
10:26
This one is interesting.  I think the A's might hold out for more from the Nats or another team, but Chapman's hitting numbers are an increasing concern, and i have to imagine Kieboom's stock has dropped to some extent
OUCH
10:28
How devastating is losing Muncy to the Dodgers hopes?
Mark P
10:28
It's pretty rough.  Muncy has been a rock in that lineup all season, and losing him at the last moment isn't a good sign
The North
10:28
How does one rationalize the insane run differential the Jays had, and no postseason?
Mark P
10:29
The Jays were in an incredibly tough division, their bullpen blew a lot of close games in the first 4-5 months, and they didn't have a real home game until July.
Guest
10:30
Could Rizzo try bring both Seagers to DC.
Mark P
10:31
That would be fun, though I don't know if the brothers would necessarily want to play together.  The Nats have a long history of acquiring Scott Boras clients, so that could be a leg up in trying to land Corey.
10:32
Mike Rizzo seemed to imply today, however, that pitching would be the offseason focus.  So if the Nats do spend big money, it could be on pitching rather than position players
Connecting…