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Mark P
9:09
After a one-week break for Father's Day, the weekend chat is back!  Let's dive into your questions...
Tommy
9:09
Oh Hi Mark
Mark P
9:10
/Football emoji
Hmm
9:10
Do you think the international draft will be agreed upon this year?
Mark P
9:11
At this late date, my guess is that MLB and the union might be sticking with the qualifying offer system for another year.  There haven't been really any updates on progress about int'l draft negotiations, though understandably, I can get why the league and MLBPA would want to keep labor talks about of the headlines
Rally Monkey
9:11
Do you think Ohtani stays in Anaheim? Can't imagine they can afford three $40M players and expect to have a competitive team around them
Mark P
9:13
Ohtani has already hinted that winning is his top priority, which seemed like a pretty clear message to Angels ownership.  I can see him walking after 2023 unless the Halos can get things turned around quickly.
Guest
9:14
Do the Phil’s pack it in and sell or do they try to add by the deadline?
Mark P
9:16
Optimistic view: getting Schwarber/Castellanos into rotating DH duty will help them at the plate, and getting even a glove-first outfield replacement helps the Phillies immensely from a defensive perspective.  With this needle threaded, the Phils get on a roll, add a couple of pieces at the deadline, and then Harper is able to return and lead the team into the playoffs.

Unfortunately, the deadline looms only on August 2, and the club will have to make some kind of buy-or-sell decision beforehand.
If they hit a losing skid, the decision may be somewhat easy.  If they're still on the fringe of the race, it'll be very difficult....really, we (and they) might not know their answer until they have a timeline on Harper
JaysFan
9:17
Do you think the Jays make a panic trade from their catching depth early or let it ride until closer until the deadline?
Halifax
9:17
With Ryu out and Kikuchi scuffling badly, the Jays will/should be looking for starting pitching. Do you think a trade will be for prospects, or have to deal from the Major League roster as well? Is Kirk a bigger trade chip now, or too good to trade?
Mark P
9:18
Kirk by this point is looking like one of the last players the Blue Jays should be trading.  If a catcher is dealt, Danny Jansen looks like the most obvious candidate....even with his big power surge since last year, he still doesn't have the upside of a Kirk or a Moreno
9:19
I don't think a "panic trade" is coming, but the rotation struggles are undoubtedly a major concern for the Jays.  A starter addition looks like a must, maybe even two
Ross
9:20
Greetings from New Zealand, can the A’s get a good package for Montas? Their off-season trades are not looking too good so far.
Mark P
9:20
In fairness, it'll be years before we can accurately gauge the results of the A's fire sale.  Beane and Forst have a strong enough track record that I suspect they'll get some quality back for Montas
Dayton Moore
9:21
What does Santana realistically draw for a return? Anything?
Mark P
9:22
After looking like just about the worst player in baseball over the first two months, Santana has quietly posted a .990 OPS in June.  This kind of resurgence might allow the Royals to get some kind of return back in a trade, maybe an okay-ish lottery ticket of a prospect and KC eats a good chunk of Santana's salary
Kim Ng
9:22
Which first baseman do you think I trade by July? Aguilar or Cooper?
Mark P
9:22
If one of them is dealt, Aguilar seems the far likelier of the two to go
gashouse gorilla
9:23
Welcome back and belated Happy Father's Day.  Being a Dad is intensely satisfying. The constant roster moves a dizzying. Does a player brought up from the Minors on a very short stop (like a COVID placement) earn a ML salary (prorated?).  How about a vet signed to a minor league contract..does he "earn" his year's salary for a short stint?
Mark P
9:24
Even one day on a Major League roster earns a player a day's worth of an MLB minimum salary, which isn't too shabby.

Most veterans on minors deals get a full guaranteed salary if they're added to the active roster for even a day, unless they were signed to a split contract.
Closing Time
9:25
Does Holmes stay as closer when Chapman returns?
Mark P
9:25
Yes.  Holmes has done nothing but inspire confidence, and the Yankees want to win.
Hits Like Rays
9:25
I think I'm starting to come around on trading Austin Meadows for Isaac Paredes.  What's your take???
Mark P
9:25
the Rays, win a trade??  Who saw that coming?!?!
Guards Fan 3.0
9:26
After getting swept by Boston, should guardians fans be concerned and lose hope or did they just run into a really hot team?
Mark P
9:27
I think the Sox are just on fire right now, not much Cleveland could do.  But the Guardians have gotten themselves in good position for this huge series coming up with Minnesota
Binky
9:27
In 2009 Trout was picked 25th overall meaning 24 others got picked before the best player in MLB. Even the Angels picked just before and picked Grichick. Was there something at the time that justified letting him go that late - signability, skills, cash ?
Mark P
9:29
There hadn't been a huge track record of success for high schoolers from New Jersey, so even though Trout was putting up big numbers, there were some questions about the quality of competition.  That was seemingly the main issue, though some teams ahead of the Angels did consider him quite heavily.
Michael H
9:29
What’s the likelihood that Bryan Reynolds gets traded at the trade deadline?
Mark P
9:30
If a team stepped up and met the Pirates' huge demands, Reynolds would be gone.  However, it doesn't seem like the Bucs will make a move for anything less than that, so my guess is that Reynolds stays put
Babe Truth
9:31
Who, in the next week, has the toughest schedule?
Mark P
9:32
I'm a Jays fan, so I'm a little biased in this regard.  But, Toronto's rotation seems to be falling apart just as they're heading into eight games in seven days against the Red Sox and Rays
Redsfan
9:33
Dominguez, Wells and Waldichuk for Castillo?
Mark P
9:33
The Reds would take that offer in a heartbeat, but there's no way the Yankees are giving up that much
Sox Farm Hand
9:34
The White Sox are truly awful. Getting injured players back will not help them. Who would be the top trade candidates to prepare for next season?
Mark P
9:36
I think the White Sox would wait until the very last minute before deciding on selling, since they're so committed to win-now mode.  But, if they really struggle in July, they may have no logical choice but to reload for 2023.

There aren't a ton of obvious trade candidates.  Abreu is a pending free agent but he's also a face of the franchise.  Probably at least one of the relievers would be shopped.
Justin Turner
9:37
What team am I on next year?
Mark P
9:38
Leaning towards Dodgers, but at a lower price tag. LA has a $16MM club option ($2MM buyout) on Turner for 2023, and right now I don't see them picking that option up.
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