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Mark P
8:57
In terms of payroll?  Probably not.  Franco is making only $2MM next season, so in the event that he is suspended for some or all of the season, it wouldn't wipe a lot of money off the 2024 books.

As for a possible longer-term suspension, it's way too early to speculate
Guest
8:58
why can’t the Braves,other than 2021, hit in the playoffs?
Mark P
8:58
It's just been one game, to be fair.
Oz
8:59
It seems like getting time off for finishing as one of the top 2 seeds is a mixed blessing.  Teams gain much-needed rest but then invariably come out flat when they resume playing games.  Can you come up with a better playoff format that doesn’t penalize teams for excelling during the regular season?
Mark P
9:00
I don't think there's really a perfect answer.  Really, the idea of playoffs in general penalizes teams for excelling during the regular season, but there's no way to have any kind of balanced schedule that makes things "fair."  (And, obviously, there's no way in the world the league would ever not have a postseason.)
9:01
We should probably also anticipate some change to the playoff structure if/when expansion happens.
Al Kaline Battery
9:01
With the pending move of the As franchise, if changes aren't made in the way they operate, is there really any chance of the franchise succeeding with the fans of Las Vegas?
Mark P
9:03
From what I've read about the move from the perspective from Las Vegas, it doesn't sound like residents are exactly overjoyed about the A's coming to town.  So much about this move seems forced that it still feels like something about it might fall apart at the eleventh hour, as much as it's seemingly a done deal
Chief
9:03
Do the Royals extend BWJ?
Mark P
9:03
They might wait another year just to be SURE sure, but yeah, Witt is looking like he's living up to the hype.  Might behoove the Royals to just lock him up now.
9:04
Have I used the word "behoove" twice in this chat? Wow
Spud
9:05
The Brewers will need to find a 3rd baseman for 2024. Who has the depth to be a serious trade partner?
Mark P
9:07
The Brewers also came to mind as a possible Guardians trade partner.  No, not for Jose Ramirez, before Cleveland fans come at me with the torches and pitchforks.

But, maybe one of the Rocchio/Arias/Tera crew can play third base, with the Guards getting one of the Brewers' outfielders (Frelick? Taylor?) since they have to make room for Chourio anyway
9:08
It's an imperfect fit since the Brewers might first want to actually get Chourio up in the majors before moving away anyone else
Aaron
9:09
So-so star aside, any chance Texas can re-sign Jordan Montgomery?
Mark P
9:10
The Rangers aren't hesitant to spend, so sure, they've got to be contenders to bring Monty back
Evan Carter
9:10
Can I win Rookie of the Year in Back-to-Back seasons?!?! I didn’t exceed rookie eligibility!
Mark P
9:11
Ha, I don't think Carter has done enough to usurp Gunnar Henderson for this year's ROY.  But man alive, what a start to Carter's career.  Texas looks like they found a gem
Smacky
9:11
Starting to look like being the #1 or #2 seed is conducive to playoff success. Thoughts?
Mark P
9:11
Houston won the World Series as the #1 seed just last year
Bob
9:12
Who should the Tigers target?
Mark P
9:14
Hitting, and lots of it

To get some self-promotion in here, Anthony Franco and I had a chat on this week's MLBTR Podcast about how Detroit might be a sneaky under-the-radar team, since they're in better shape than some might think.  But their infield picture needs some help, as their next wave of infield prospects have defensive question marks and who knows what Baez can still deliver
Marky Mark
9:15
I know there was a rumor, since rebuffed, about The Cardinals trading from its surplus to the M's for Logan Gilbert. Any indication he's on the table, or any other of the M's stable of starting pitching?
Mark P
9:15
I feel like we're in for a rehash of last winter's "the Mariners have a pitching surplus!" storyline, complete with the similar ending of the M's not trading from that surplus since (as 2023 showed) a team can never have too much pitching
Willam Belli
9:17
Does the Rays’ dismal playoff attendance change your opinion any of building a new stadium in the same place (or even just keeping the team in Tampa)?   I’ve been there several times and the traffic/location narrative is vastly exaggerated.  I think the locals like the team but just don’t want to go watch them play.
Mark P
9:18
I vaguely recall reading somewhere that the Rays had some of the best local TV ratings of any team in the league, so it seems like there's local interest to be unlocked.
9:19
It could be that some of the same arguments leveled against the Giants recently (too many interchangeable players, not enough winning, etc.) could also go towards the Rays, except for the fact that Tampa makes the playoffs
DaveFord
9:19
Please weigh in with your thoughts on Berrios being pulled.
Mark P
9:20
I couldn't believe what I was seeing, and instantly thought the Jays were going to lose the game.

Ross Atkins wasn't wrong when he said that the offense was the reason they lost because zero runs is zero runs.  But it just seemed like overthinking to the nth degree.
Joshua C
9:23
Cleveland will take chourio off the brewers hands so we can have a pair of brothers in the team lol
Mark P
9:24
The "Super Chourio Brothers" marketing potential is gold, Jerry, gold!

btw, to put a bow on the Cleveland/Milwaukee trade possibilities, I also don't think the Brewers would move Chourio for anything.  Not even if the Guardians did offer one of the Bibee/Williams/Allen trio as part of a multi-player swap.  As fascinating as such a deal would be, Chourio seems as untouchable as any prospect in recent memory
ChiSoxFan33
9:25
Is Grifol really going to get another year? Or will this be like when Jerry’s other team the Bulls made a change in the FO and waited until the true offseason to fire Boylen?
Mark P
9:25
Given the mess that was Chicago's roster, it's hard to say if Grifol himself was exactly the problem.  (Though the reports of clubhouse discord didn't help.)
White Sox Fan
9:27
What would we have to give up to aquire India?
Mark P
9:29
The Sox and Reds would have a big price on both guys, but Cease for India/prospect might be an interesting scenario.

Pitching is the Reds' top need so they'd aim high in asking for Cease, and there aren't a lot of other great SP options available in Chicago.  Kopech isn't a sure thing, for instance.
India is a player so beloved in the clubhouse that the Reds would have to very sure about the player they're getting back in return
Hi
9:30
If a team has 5 good starters, like the Marlins did, why do you trade away from that? You can use all 5, you can never have too much pitching, and in that case, they then had to sign Cueto. Isn't is better to stick with what you have?
Mark P
9:32
There's obviously calculated risk involved in such a deal, and in Miami's case, their need for hitting was very dire, and is still a need overall.

The good news for the Fish and the Twins is that the Lopez/Arraez deal is looking like a nice win/win at the moment
The eternal Optimist
9:33
What's the ceiling for free agent spending in Pittsburgh this year? They don't have a lot committed, and Cherington has said he is committed to competing now.
Mark P
9:35
The Bucs have less than $18MM on the books for next year, so yeah, not a lot committed is an understatement.

It would be cool to see Pittsburgh suddenly make a big Jayson Werth-esque "we're ready" type of signing. I'll have to see it to believe it, and it naturally would represent a big departure for the franchise, but it would be quite a way to instantly spark interest
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