JotCast | MLBTR Live Chat

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Mark P

7:46

After a brief hiatus, the weekend chat returns! Let's dig into some questions....

Padres Fan

7:48

What do the padres do about their offensive woes?

Mark P

7:49

Not much to be done aside from just wait for guys to snap out of their funks. Myers and Grisham are both off to particularly slow starts, Abrams hasn't looked good in his first taste against MLB pitching, and this is still a lineup that looks like it's really missing Tatis

Since 86

7:49

How bout them Mets? Did they dodge a bullet with Conforto?

Mark P

7:50

Seems like it, though in the butterfly-effect world where Conforto accepts the qualifying offer, maybe his offseason routine is a bit different and his shoulder doesn't get hurt.

Ian

7:50

Any news on Brett Gardner?

Mark P

7:51

Nothing new. Presumably he's still working out, waiting for a team to make an acceptable offer.

Farhan

7:52

Juan Soto would look great in a Giants uniform. What would I have to give up to get him?

Mark P

7:53

The Giants have three prospects in the MLB Pipeline top 100, so....all of them, plus at least one or two big-league ready types. I may even be underestimating what it would take to pry Soto away from D.C., though the Giants and their payroll flexibility could make things interesting if they also offered to (for instance) take Corbin off the Nats' books

Perry

7:54

Where can I find a productive SS?

Mark P

7:54

(Perry Minasian = Angels GM)

Kyle Farmer isn't off to a great start, but since the Reds might already be out of it, pretty much anyone on Cincy's roster seems open to a trade

Joe

7:55

If the A’s move to Las Vegas, does the Bay Area move up in importance of adding a new team? The media market of the San Francisco Giants will be bigger than any other team. They would also include San Jose/Sacramento/Fresno/Oakland and those are big markets. Thoughts?

Mark P

7:57

The problem is that Giants have territorial rights over the entire Bay Area except for Oakland, and I suspect Oakland would also fall under the Giants' "jurisdiction" if/when the A's left town.

That was the reason the A's didn't move to San Jose or Fremont a few years back, since the Giants were (oddly, in my view) allowed to invoke their territorial rights

7:58

In short, if the Athletics left, the Giants would aggressively try to block any other team (expansion or a moved club) from coming to the Bay Area

Matt

7:59

With the White Sox struggling, how much is TLR to blame? Seems like he is catching a lot of heat in the local media

Mark P

7:59

The Sox are missing so many key players that La Russa can't be held to blame for all of the team's struggles.

Guest

8:00

Daniel Espino is killing it in Akron, Chances of the Guardians using him if they are in the playoff Hunt.

Mark P

8:01

Espino has only three Double-A games under his belt, albeit dominant games. A promotion to Triple-A seems likely within a month or two, and if he keeps it up at the higher level, he might force the Guardians' hands.

Braves Fan

8:01

I still love Eddie but he is killing us. And Dansby and Duvall are doing much either.

Mark P

8:02

If only the Braves had a superstar about to come back from the injured list....

.....hey wait!

Ang T

8:02

What would you project Conforto’s next contract to look like now after his shoulder injury?

Mark P

8:04

We can't rule out Scott Boras negotiating some unique contract with opt-outs (both player and team), vesting options, etc. But overall, Conforto is likely to get a base of one guaranteed year, worth maybe as much as $10MM in salary.

Conforto was good enough prior to 2021 that I think multiple teams would be willing to take such a flier.

Barney Coolio

8:05

Is there any chance the Cardinals would release Yadier Molina?

Mark P

8:05

Nope

Seiya suzuki

8:06

You buying it, or will pitchers adjust?

Mark P

8:07

Some regression is inevitable, and we'll see how Suzuki can adjust to the adjustments. But, there was a reason he was so highly touted by multiple teams

White Sox

8:08

Is our season done?

Mark P

8:08

The season isn't even three weeks old! For all of Chicago's problems, they are only 1.5 games out of first place

Guest

8:09

I know it’s early but will the Jays be forced to upgrade their rotation with Ryu and Kikuchi off to rough starts? Thanks.

Mark P

8:10

Given Ryu's injury history, I'd be surprised if the Jays front office didn't already have some feelers out about getting some pitching depth. But, just about every team has been vocal about how many arms will be needed to get through the season (let alone contend), so Toronto will face tall asking prices now, and probably until the deadline

Jerry Jones

8:11

Any chance Conforto still signs with a team this year??2 year deal?

Mark P

8:13

This is a possibility, sort of how pitchers undergoing Tommy John surgery sign multi-year deals with a minimum salary baked into that first year. One would suspect teams will want to wait to see how Conforto has recovered from his surgery before making any kind of commitment

Mr 3000

8:15

Now that I got my 3000th hit, do you see any other active player joining the club?

Mark P

8:16

Machado and Altuve seems like decent possibilities. Beyond them, any of the young stars (Acuna, Soto, Vlad Jr.) who have already put up big resumes might have an outside shot, though it's way too early in their careers to make such a prediction

Charlie

8:17

Buxton… wow. I have never seen a player quite like him. Who would be your best comparison. I am thinking Bo Jackson.

Mark P

8:18

This sounds like sacrilege, but a healthy Buxton over 162 games could put up a vintage Willie Mays-esque season.

His ceiling is that high

Ramon Laureano

8:19

Where am I playing in September and what kind of return will I bring back?

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