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Mark P
6:17
It's week #2 of Lockout Chat!  Let's open the floor to questions about padlocks, gridlocks, deadlocks, John Locke, Sean Lock, the Loch Ness Monster, and (why not) some baseball
Billy Beane
6:17
Who I am going to hire to be my new manager?
Mark P
6:17
I'll stick with Mark Kotsay, who seems like the favorite at the moment.
mustachepete
6:18
If Texas is spending all this loot on players what was the point of dealing Gallo
Mark P
6:19
Getting some prospects, maybe getting rid of an inconsistent player, and (probably most of all) getting something of value in exchange for a player that didn't seem like a long-term fit in Texas
Extension talks between Gallo and the Rangers went nowhere, so the team apparently decided to just move on
Chris
6:19
What do you think about the idea that players become free agents after 6 years like normal or 29.5 years of age. However the trade off being it's only restricted free agency for players under 29.5 who become free agents. The owners win because they get to match a contract offer and the players win because they get less service time manipulation
Mark P
6:20
It depends on what "restricted" free agency means, since I suspect the MLBPA would balk at any type of restrictions on the process whatsoever.
6:21
In general, I'm not really a fan of age-based qualifiers for free agency.  If 29.5 years is the cutoff point, it means bonus years of control for a team over a special phenom like a Trout or a Soto
Bucco71
6:21
Will this be the year Carson Kelly puts it all together?
Mark P
6:21
It seemed like Kelly was well on the way to having that true breakout in 2021 before he got injured.  With a healthy year, I expect good things from him in 2022
Rich S
6:22
Dodgers trading for Bassitt & Olson ?
Mark P
6:23
Both at once?  The Dodgers could handle that kind of blockbuster, but it should be noted, the L.A. farm system (while still strong) has lost some key pieces between prospects being dealt or graduated to the big leagues.
Brett
6:24
why don’t both sides entertain a system like NBA where salaries are tied to how the league is doing?  The players are upset they haven’t got paid more as the owners make more money.  It’s an easy fix.  Complete revenue sharing, salary cap, salary floor.  As the owners make more, players make more.  Hardest part is agreeing on the % of the total pot each side gets.  Understand why some owners (Yankees, Dodgers, etc) don’t it.  Players should be asking for this.
Mark P
6:25
The players don't want any limitations on salary, and the owners don't want to reveal how much they're actually making in revenue (which would be a condition of such an NBA-style cap).
John Locke
6:25
Since you brought up Lost… Who was your favourite character?
Mark P
6:26
The real John Locke: You know, I was a legendary philosopher.  Not just a guy on a TV show.

Anyway, I was a big Desmond fan, but that show was pretty deep with good characters
Tiger Fan
6:27
Do we have a real need for another position player? Seems like the pen and back of rotation are bigger needs…
Mark P
6:27
Even with the assumption that Greene and Torkelson will be debuting in 2022, another veteran bat would help guard against either/both of those two struggling in their first looks at MLB pitching
That said, I do agree that Detroit's larger need is another arm or two
Bosox
6:28
What are we doing? Shouldn’t we be going for it financially after last seasons run?
Mark P
6:29
Bloom has shown he's adept at lower-cost additions, so I wouldn't get worried just yet.  And, it could be that the Red Sox are waiting to see exactly what the new luxury tax rules will be before deciding on whether or not to cross them
The Final Boss
6:29
I've read its unlikely the dispute costs actual games, but it also seems like both sides are using this as leverage. Am I wrong to be more worried about both sides stubbornness than most seem to be?
Mark P
6:31
It's reasonable to be worried, just because both sides seem pretty entrenched in their positions and the lack of talks until January is troubling.  Why let so much time elapse when some common ground on smaller issues could at least be found now?
Old guy
6:32
How’s the lockout lead to more players than usually signing overseas?
Mark P
6:33
It's possible, though keep in mind that the NPB and KBO seasons only recently ended, so there was naturally going to be a surge in overseas roster moves.  It's probably been roughly the same number as usual, it's just that it *seems* like more since....well, since they've been basically the only transactions we've been writing about for the last 11 days
Pete
6:33
Chances White Sox sign either Schwarber or Bryant?
Mark P
6:34
I'd lean towards doubtful.  Second base is their biggest need, and it doesn't seem like they'd do something like sign Bryant and move Moncada back to 2B
Baseball fan
6:35
How do you prevent tanking
Mark P
6:35
I'm a fan of the draft order being determined by regular season record, except with the non-playoff team with the most wins get the top pick
6:36
So for 2022, the Blue Jays would pick first, and the Orioles would pick 20th

And no, I'm not just promoting this idea since I'm a Toronto fan!
Brent
6:37
Bigger HOF snub- Dale Murphy or Fred Mcgriff?
Mark P
6:37
McGriff should definitely be in.  It's been a while since I've looked at Murphy's numbers, but I believe his prime was relatively short (six years or so?)
Reds fire sale
6:38
Winker to the Marlins for max mayer and maybe a lesser prospect. Castillo to angels for adell and detmers. Gray and suarez to Seattle for noelvi marte and an arm. Aim for 2024 when moustakas and votto come off the books. Buy what you need then. Smart or should the reds continue to cut payroll and pretend less talent will somehow win and delay their rebuild and lose all these guys anyway by 2024?
Mark P
6:39
Completely tanking the next two years is going to ruin attendance, especially since Cincy fans can rightly say "the last time you asked us to wait out a rebuild, you only 'went for it' for one year."
6:40
Obviously the pandemic ruined the Reds' plans, but a complete fire sale would be a shame
Blue Jays front office
6:40
Why haven’t we dealt a catcher? We seem to wait too long to make important deals don’t we??? Josh Donaldson I’m looking at you
Mark P
6:41
The Jays might be comfortable just keeping Jansen/Kirk as the starting combo until they know Moreno is for-sure ready.  McGwire probably doesn't have a ton of trade value, other than perhaps as part of a larger package
ThisLockoutSucks
6:42
Any chance Kris Bryant comes back to the Giants after lockout ends?
Mark P
6:42
It seemed like the Giants were ready to move on from Bryant, but if he's still on the market and a long-term deal isn't emerging, I can see SF jumping back in at a lower price
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