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Giant Gonzales
9:16
If Boston is punting on the season and playing all the young guys to see what they have moving forward, is a Cora the best coach for the team? Lame duck status, as a Sox fan I can't think of any young player he's handled exceptionally well/developed, and is obviously eyeing a front office job. Is this just to take the bullet for a first time GM when they come in last place for the 3rd year in a row?
Mark P
9:18
Cora's deal is up after the season, and while I feel he'd still easily walk into another job (perhaps at a salary approaching the Counsell contract) if he and the Red Sox parted ways, Boston's ownership seems to love him.
9:19
It also seems quite possible Cora would eventually like to be leading the Red Sox front office himself someday, which could factor into other contract talks (or make things awkward for Breslow)
Tv deals
9:19
Does the tv deals for Minnesota mean that they extend their payroll?
Mark P
9:20
The Twins' new deal only runs through the 2024 season, so I can't see them signing off on any truly pricey moves until they sign more long-term broadcasting contract (with Bally, with the league, or with another RSN)
Long Season in STL
9:21
Of course Cards exit spring training "optimistic." Rotation once again is poised to be a dumpster fire, especially if Gray's hamstring injury lingers...What is a reasonable expectation for wins this year, and is it crazy to see this team finishing with 70-75 wins again? In what way are they on paper better than last year?
Mark P
9:23
The Cardinals might have the widest variance of any team in baseball.  If you told me they were going to win 91 games and get back to the playoffs, I'd believe it.....but I'd also believe a scenario there they win 71 games and struggle again.

If the result is closer to the latter, I think it'll inspire some real change in St. Louis, including front office and managerial changes.  Right now it feels like the Cards to some extent view 2023 as a fluke, but if injuries or under-performance hamper this team again, a much bigger shakeup might be coming
Guest
9:24
Yes, you did. Now who is OutKast?
Mark P
9:24
...this is today's "man, I feel old" moment
Jaysfan1979
9:24
Since the season already started in Korea would Montgomery now be ineligle for a qaulifying offer next offseason if he signed a one year deal today?
Mark P
9:25
I think for official purposes, "Opening Day" is still considered to start on Thursday, though you bring up an interesting technical point.  For Dodgers/Padres players, those two games count for service time purposes, but the week in between the Seoul games and the start of the rest of the season wouldn't.
Up in the Air
9:27
How much playing time will the O's give Cowser?  The O's optioned Cole Irvin when he struggled in April last year showing they have no longer have the patience for ineffectiveness/rookies.
Mark P
9:28
Cowser should at least get a steady run of at-bats against right-handed pitching
Bergeron Bowls
9:28
Why did the Cardinals extend Oli Marmol? I'm so confused.
Mark P
9:29
The extension surprised me too.  A one-year extension to keep Marmol from being a lame duck, sure...but an extension through 2026?
Ryan
9:29
Ohtani suspension coming possibly?
Mark P
9:31
Quite possibly, and even probably.  There could be some gray area since it doesn't appear that Mizuhara bet on baseball, but any kind of involvement with an illegal gambling operation is bound to draw some close examination.
Guest
9:32
Do you know why teams like the Athletics or the Orioles are called the A's and O's? Why not have the Braves the B's?
Mark P
9:32
Fun fact: they were actually known as the Boston Bees from 1936-40, before going back to the Braves name.

Or, as my ancestors called them, the Boston Beads
Brian
9:33
How does ss play out for the Guards this season
Mark P
9:35
Rocchio won the starting job (or at least the majority of starts) due to a nice spring performance, so the Guards will likely stick with that arrangement for the first month or so.  Arias and Freeman will get their share of at-bats and Tena or Cleveland's other umpteen middle infielders might also factor in at various points in the year.

The point is, the Guardians would badly love to see Rocchio (or anyone) step up and truly solidify this position.  Then they can look into more seriously trading from the surplus to address other needs.
Oddball Herrera
9:36
Am I the only one enjoying some gallows humor that (1) the Marlins who had “too many pitchers” and (2) the Reds who had “too many infielders” both now look thin at those positions?  You seldom really have too many anything
Mark P
9:37
Agreed.  Depth can vanish in pretty rapid fashion, which is why teams are traditionally hesitant to trade from positions of strength unless they absolutely have to, or unless a deal is too good to pass up
sermon27
9:37
Would Michael grove get traded by the dodgers?
Mark P
9:38
This is another case where a team has too many injury question marks to think hard about moving pitching right now
Mark S
9:39
See any performances during your trip that changed your view on a guy?
Mark P
9:40
I'm not going to go overboard about seeing single games in person, though I'm encouraged as a Jays fan that Varsho has been hitting really well this spring.

Also, I was in attendance to see Kyle Stowers' three-homer game, which was pretty cool.  And then they pulled him before his fourth plate appearance!
AA
9:41
How does Bryce Elder go from AS in 2023 to minors depth? Seems odd and wondering if Braves deal him. Especially with the depth they already have.
Mark P
9:42
Elder's great start last year was undermined by some shaky Statcast numbers, so it was probably just a matter of time before he regressed.  

This is another "can't have too much pitching" circumstance, as while the Braves might have enough arms on paper to make Elder seem expendable, keep in mind that they already had to deal with a lot of pitching injuries last year.  Plus, Chris Sale isn't exactly a picture of durability
Guest
9:43
How do you think Jackson Chourio will do for the Brew Crew this year?
Mark P
9:43
An impressive season that puts him in the conversation for NL Rookie of the Year
Tiger time
9:44
With Baez looking terrible the last two years and at ST and so much young talent coming up this spring wouldn’t it be better to cut ties now? We’re spending the money no matter what.  Offensive production can only improve with literally anyone else.
Mark P
9:45
Don't disagree that Baez might already be a sunk cost, though if you're Detroit, he at least fills a hole at shortstop.  By the same "they're spending the money no matter what" logic, why not keep Baez around for maybe one more year to see if he things finally start clicking for him?
Braves
9:46
How do midseason acquisitions get calculated into a teams luxury tax?
Mark P
9:47
The tax number is determined by the amount of money still owed on the deal at the time of the trade.  For instance, a backloaded contract will come at a higher tax number for the new team than the former team.
Tovar Extension
9:48
Finally Rockies make the news for the right reasons. Good signing? At least it was cheap
Mark P
9:49
I personally would've waited to see Tovar have some offensive success in the majors before locking him up, but I don't dislike the deal.  If Colorado had extended Tovar before he'd even debuted in the bigs, for instance, I would have no issue
Garth Marenghi
9:50
I'm Garth Marenghi. Author. Dreamweaver. Visionary. Plus actor.
Mark P
9:51
Kudos to my MLBTR colleague Darragh McDonald for telling me about "Garth Marenghi's Dark Place," a truly hilarious cult British comedy show that aired about 20 years ago
Lance
9:51
Monty more likely to the O's than before with ownership transtion finishing up? Or less likely becsause they need to pay for the rest of the team?
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