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Mark P

8:00

In a world of chief baseball officers, president of baseball operations, and GMs, I really wish Harris had insisted on "Top Tiger" as his official title.

Anyway, I tend to think it'll be more of a water-treading, evaluation year in Detroit. It'll give time for Harris and company to make whatever changes he feels are necessary, and to see where the Tigers really are with everyone healthy. Given how aggressive they were last winter, I can't entirely rule out one longer-term addition as a way of saying that they aren't stepping back entirely

Connor

8:01

Is Hosmer on the Red Sox at the end of the year?

Mark P

8:01

Do you mean the end of 2022, or the end of the 2023 season? Since I doubt he'll still be on the roster by Opening Day

FranktheTank

8:02

Does Ohtani's possible presence in next year free agency effect certain teams spending this years.

Mark P

8:02

The teams with the financial means to pursue Ohtani probably don't care a ton about surpassing the luxury tax, so there probably isn't much maneuvering going on.

Marky Mark

8:03

Why does Elias seem so reluctant to sign a big FA to announce that the rebuild is over? Too cheap or does he feel like they aren't ready to win yet? God knows they have the payroll room.

Mark P

8:05

Again, the offseason is only two weeks old. And Elias has said outright that the O's have turned the corner to "win-now" mode, so they're certainly going to make some moves. Naturally, it usually isn't great for negotiating purposes for a GM to openly say we've got a ton to spend and we're eager to hand it out

Judge in red

8:06

Any chance the Cards get in the conversation for Judge?

Mark P

8:06

Highly unlikely. It would require a commitment far far beyond what the Cardinals have been willing to spend in free agency

Perry minasian

8:08

Does Arte Moreno let me get payroll close to the luxury tax this year?

Mark P

8:08

To be fair, the Angels have been relatively close to the tax threshold in the past, they just haven't gone over it (since 2004 or something)

Brian

8:09

Hi Mark, what is Winkers and Whites trade value right now?

Mark P

8:10

Not great. Some teams would have interest in Winker as a change of scenery candidate, and some teams might feel the same about White. But, the Mariners definitely would be selling low on either guy

Go Cubes Go

8:11

I've read a wide range of opinions on the Cubs 2023 season, but I think they still have so many roster holes. Right now they have one middle infielder, two outfielders, less than half a rotation, then a stable of part time/complimentary type guys. How close do you think they can realistically get to competing in a weak NL central?

Mark P

8:12

You said it yourself....it's a weak division. I might be a little higher on the Cubs' current roster than you are, but with a few good acquisitions, I can see Chicago right in the mix

Kathy

8:13

will the White Sox be a contender next season or will they be in rebuilding mode again?

Mark P

8:13

They'll be trying to contend

Too much talent on the roster to blow things up now

Bob

8:14

Aaron Hicks and Josh Donaldson to the Nationals for Patrick Corbin. Who says no?

Mark P

8:15

Not much point to this for the Nats

Tex Rangers

8:15

Likelihood of Texas getting one of Verlander, DeGrom, or Rodon?

Mark P

8:16

I picked them for Rodon, and given how much Texas needs pitching and is willing to pay for it, seems like they'll land one of the very top arms

8:17

Verlander is more in win-now mode, however, and the same might be true of deGrom

Phillies

8:19

Why do people think trading Hoskins and shifting Bohm to first is some big upgrade? Bohm is also a defensive liability (though likely a small upgrade at first) but is a contact only guy at the plate—I don’t see how a 90-100 wRC+ first baseman with defensive liabilities (and no real plan to relace

Mark P

8:20

It's not necessarily a big upgrade, but presumably the Phillies think Bohm has room to grow as a hitter. Hoskins is a free agent after 2023 and, if he isn't an extension candidate, might be a logical trade piece to address other needs

The Goat

8:20

Are you surprised Rizzo signed before Judge?

Mark P

8:21

Nope. Seemed like Rizzo was always pretty eager to stay in New York, and the two sides were able to get a deal done quick

8:22

Thoughts on Bellinger in Philly playing CF?

Mark P

8:22

Marsh seems to have solved the Phillies' CF problem

Bill Berry

8:23

Time for the Yankees to turn the middle infield over to the kids?

Mark P

8:23

At least one of the MI positions, sure. I was a little surprised Kiner-Falefa was retained

Roster building

8:24

Nimmo to the Jays sounds like a shortsigthed move. Won't they be in the same bind as they are with Springer in a year or 2? A deal with the Diamondbacks seems better. Thoughts? And what does it take to pry one of their young CFers?

Mark P

8:24

As a Jays fan, Nimmo's injury history gives me pause. A catcher-for-outfielder swap with the D'Backs seems like it would indeed be a more interesting fit for both parties

Anti-Mets?

8:25

Seems like y’all answer a disproportionately low number of Mets questions. What gives? Do Mets fan annoy you or just ask basic questions?

Mark P

8:25

Really? I feel like I answer a lot of Mets questions

Moobie

8:26

Do you think the Guardians are a fit for Dominic Smith? Him being left handed is not a need for them but considering the price tags of other available first basemen he may fit into their price range.

Mark P

8:27

Smith seems like the type of player the Guardians would look at, and given their past trade talks with the Mets, I'd be surprised if they hadn't scouted him in the past.

Finding a 1B-only type might not be ideal for them since Josh Naylor is also there, however

Corncob TV

8:27

"They told me that at a dinner"

Mark P

8:28

Well, now the queue has lots of "I Think You Should Leave" quotes. I've created a monster.

Nathan

8:29

Somewhere in the multiverse... the A's decide to double their payroll to $100 million for 2023. Who do they sign?

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