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Mark P
8:27
Hard to say, since you'd think any number of names would be attracted to that job opening.  But, one would also suspect that the front office wouldn't have made that surprising firing without already having someone in mind as a replacement.
Guest
8:28
We know the Dodgers can afford to resign both Scherzer and Kershaw, but do you think they will and if not which one do you feel they will resign?
Mark P
8:29
I would lean towards them re-signing both.  Kershaw seems to me like a lifetime Dodger, and as I wrote earlier, there would surely seem to be enough mutual interest in a reunion with Scherzer.
Mike Rizzo's 2022
8:29
Who gets the most ABs at 3b for the Nats in 2022?
Mark P
8:30
I'll hedge and say a player not currently on their roster.  Not that Kieboom will be tossed aside, but I have to imagine the Nats are looking at a platoon partner at least
John
8:31
Give your 2026 World Series prediction so we can all crown you king when you are right in 5 years
Mark P
8:31
Hmmm.....Tigers over Giants, revenge for 2012
Train
8:32
I would love to see Matt Olsen on the brewers, what would it cost for them to get him?? I would think it would start around Ashby/Houser, thoughts??
Mark P
8:34
The Brewers don't have the deepest farm system in the world, so I'm not sure they'd have the chips to win a bidding war for Olson.  The A's would want wayyyy more of a centerpiece than just Ashby, for instance.
Guest
8:35
Your best guess for the next expansion year? Fingers crossed that Portland is getting a team in my lifetime.
Mark P
8:35
Maybe not expansion, if the Rays give up this Tampa/Montreal idea and just move
Greg
8:36
Who really gets the blame for the Phillies not making the playoffs in 10 years? How long will it take to rebuild their depleted farm system?
Mark P
8:38
Can't point the finger at just one person, which is the problem.  The Phillies' lack of a strong minor league pipeline has lasted for a while now.

It's a real problem for the team, since they not only have to get some young talent into the mix quickly, but they have to contend at the big league level at the same time.  They can't afford to take a year or two off to "reset" or "reimagine" or whatever the popular buzzword is to avoid saying rebuild
Scioscface
8:39
Would the Blue Jays be a playoff team if they played all their home games in Toronto?
Mark P
8:39
There is some evidence that playing in Dunedin and Buffalo threw off the Jays' opponents, but yeah, I tend to believe that a fully "Toronto" Blue Jays in 2021 are in the postseason
Cody
8:41
Could you please explain the thinking behind the "opener" strategy? I was surprised Knebel started for the Dodgers rather than Urias but clearly it worked. This seems to be a growing trend but what's the reasoning for doing so?
Mark P
8:42
The general idea behind the opener is to deploy a good reliever who matches up well with the opponent's 1-2-3 hitters (i.e. usually their best hitters).  The idea is that why save a key bullpen arm for later in the game when the other team can more easily adjust, when you can use that reliever right away when you know the situation.
8:43
Obviously using an opener can blow up quickly if that reliever is having an off-night, but for a team like Tampa who has an endless supply of hard-throwing relievers, the strategy has worked more often than not
Adam
8:44
Do you think Canha could prefer to take a pillow deal in Oakland vs elsewhere for familiarity after a down contract year?
Mark P
8:46
Canha is 33 in February, so he might prefer to lock in a multi-year deal now if he feels this is his best shot at such a contract.  And if he did take a one-year contract, it wouldn't be in Oakland, since the A's may not be willing to pay enough even for a pillow deal.
Braves20
8:47
A twist on an earlier question. The Braves, a division winner, win the NL and the Bosox, a wild card, wins the AL. Who get home field advantage?
Mark P
8:47
The World Series goes strictly by regular season record, so the Red Sox would have home-field advantage
Guest
8:48 
Do you see the Padres trading 
Frasier this off-season or going to the season overcrowded in the infeild?
Mark P
8:49
Frazier's trade value took a hit, and I'm not sure that infield will be so overcrowded if the NL gets the designated hitter and if Hosmer needs a platoon partner (or a replacement)
Doubleday
8:49
Besides the obvious 2B, where do you feel the White Sox need to improve the most to go further in the postseason?
Mark P
8:50
Cue the "you can never have enough pitching" cliche, and here it fits particularly well since Chicago's arms all seemed to collectively run out of gas by October.
Seagar/Correa/Bryant
8:52
How much does a strong playoff boost my FA market? Do teams even care?
Mark P
8:54
A track record of proven October success can only help a player's asking price.  I'm not sure if it's something a team would be willing to prioritize, per se, but if you have a choice between two relatively equal players and one of them is always great in the playoffs and the other is always bad in the playoffs....
Mr KLC
8:54
Could the Astros look to do a shorter term deal with someone like Semen since they have gone on record of avoiding big deals like Correa will command,  or do you think they will promote from within the organization?
Mark P
8:57
The Astros have shown they're willing to go to five years on a big contract, and I can see them stretching to six to land someone.

Pedro Leon and Jeremy Pena are knocking the door as shortstop prospects (though Leon will likely just remain an outfielder) but if the Astros want to keep the contention window open, they might prefer a proven guy like Semien right now.
That could also turn Leon and/or Pena into a trade chip, but I'd consider that unlikely.  Considering the draft pick penalties, the Astros probably want to hang onto all the top prospects they have, rather than further thin the system
8:58
Sorry for the delays, had to send a quick e-mail
The Godfather
8:59
Why is Padre ownership so committed to A.J Preller? I am watching the Braves/Dodgers game and wishing we still had Trea Turner and Max Fried in addition to Cal Quantrill and Ty France.
Mark P
9:00
In fairness, the Padres looked like a surefire playoff team as recently as four months ago.  They have so much talent that a quick rebound is definitely plausible, yet if they struggle again in 2022, you're going to hear a lot more questions about Preller's job security (despite his recent extension)
Tommy Pham
9:01
What kinda market am I looking at?
Mark P
9:02
I see a two-year deal at most, considering all his injuries and a pretty modest level of performance the last two seasons.
Guest
9:03
Cora and Hinch have largely moved on from the sign-stealing scandal, insofar as they both have quality jobs now; does Luhnow ever work in MLB again?
Mark P
9:03
I highly doubt it, given how Luhnow burned so many bridges on the way out
Angels
9:04
Any team willing to take Upton if angels eat 1/2 the contract? I don’t see much playing time coming his way and it’s not like he’s insurance in case of an injury given he’s played about 60 games in the last 3 years
Mark P
9:04
They could move him in some kind of "bad contract swap," but Upton's no-trade clause limits the Angels' options
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