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Mark P
8:35
Since teams are always looking for starting pitching, yes.  But owed $54MM through 2026, coming off only an okay year, and coming off an injury to start this season, the Phillies would very likely be eating some of that money to facilitate a trade.

I made this point last week about the Philly rotation, but as deep as they seem on paper, it doesn't take long for holes to emerge in even the most solid of rotation.  In the unlikely event that Walker did get traded, what do the Phils do then if there's an injury or two, or if Turnbull comes back to earth, etc.?
8:36
It'll be interesting to see how the Phillies manage things, and honestly, moving to a semi-six man rotation to keep everyone fresh might not be a bad idea for a team whose pitchers have thrown a lot of extra postseason innings in 2022-23
Freedom Belle
8:38
Could you see Cleveland going after a healthy Eloy.  I get it that’s very unlikely, but the you can get out of the contract if you have too.  The 2 club options could be a great bonus if he flips the script.
Mark P
8:38
"A healthy" Eloy is the key word there.  Doesn't seem like a fit in my view, for multiple reasons beyond just Jimenez's health.
Guest
8:39
Is it fair to call the Pablo Lopez trade a slam dunk for the Twins? Even with Arraez’s good year last year pitching is at such a premium right now
Mark P
8:40
It was absolutely a great deal for the Twins, and even a good deal for the Marlins too since Arraez helped him make the postseason.
Disgusted Sox Fan
8:41
I proposed to my girlfriend of 16 years over the winter, under one stipulation.  The White Sox have to go to the playoffs, before we wed.  What are the chances I am still single in 2035?
Mark P
8:41
If you're engaged, you're not "single."  So that alone in a logical issue within this question that admittedly made me laugh out loud.
MoonBeamMcSwine
8:43
The AL Central has three solid players.. can they maintain.. who falls off first and most?
Mark P
8:44
Hey, the division has way more than just three solid players!

Amusing typo aside, I see the Royals as the most likely of the KC/Cleveland/Detroit trio to fall off.  It's also way too early to write off the Twins, who can turn things around once they start getting healthy.
John
8:45
Who’s winning the cup? Let’s go Caps!
Mark P
8:45
Florida over Colorado is my pick for the final
Mike
8:46
The Jays have a lot of holes in their lineup. They knew what they were getting with IKF. They seem afraid of calling up O Martinez who’s killing it in AAa
Mark P
8:48
Martinez was still a work in progress at the plate, so I can understand the Blue Jays' logic in giving him some more seasoning at Triple-A.  He has cut back on his strikeouts, which is perhaps the stat I'm most interested in amidst the many impressive numbers he's posted at Buffalo so far this season.

The IKF signing still doesn't make a lot of sense to me, and that's even after a few weeks of Kiner-Falefa hitting decently well.
Red sox
8:50
With all thier injuries and limited space on the 40 man any chance marcelo mayer gets put on the fast track?
Mark P
8:50
They're not going to rush a prized prospect and threaten his long-term development.
Sterling Archer
8:51
If the Cards continue to stay on the fringes or even drop out of the race, odds they deal Helsley?
Mark P
8:53
Helsley is only under team control through 2025, so sure, he'd certainly be someone the Cardinals would think about moving if they became deadline sellers.  

If it came to that, I wonder just how aggressive St. Louis would be in making trades and perhaps even cleaning house to some extent.  If the "one rough season" turned into a season and a half with no turn-around in sight, Cardinals ownership might be more open to major changes.
Mike
8:54
Does Toronto try to extend Vladdy this off season or risk going to open free agency the year after? They have to be scared of his inability to hit the fastball the last couple years
Mark P
8:58
Guerrero isn't playing at a high enough level to merit a big extension.  He is a first base-only player who has a solid but unspectacular 125 wRC+ since Opening Day 2022, and think about how many first basemen in the last several years with even better numbers have gotten non-tendered or ignored in free agency.
Buford T. Justice
9:00
is there a difference making in the rotation the Guards could target?
Mark P
9:01
It's not really in the Guardians' makeup to trade for a starting pitcher, but their hand might be forced if their current arms don't get on track or (for once) they can't bring up someone effective from Triple-A.

Payroll is also an issue, since even if the Guards are in contention, they don't be picking up a pitcher who has a good deal or remaining salary
Kurt the Hurt
9:02
Which team is your most improved so far ? Which team is your biggest disappointed ?
Guest
9:02
What teams have drastically changed your expectation this year???
Mark P
9:03
Obvious "it's still April" message applies here.  I guess Houston has to be most disappointing by record alone, even if I do think the Astros will turn it around and be fine.  The Astros also aren't much more disappointing than the Rangers or Mariners, whose own struggles have kept Houston from falling too far back.
9:05
To be frank, there haven't been any real shockers for me this season.  Check back in with this question in a month or so, and if the Guardians are still playing .727 baseball, that's my answer
Zac
9:05
Mets spend at the deadline if they're in it despite the (dead) money already on hand?
Mark P
9:06
Maybe not a massive splurge, but sure, I can definitely see the Mets buying  if they're in the race.  Steve Cohen has made it clear that he wants to win, and that he wasn't giving up hope on competing in 2024 even despite the change in spending approach.
Jim
9:06
Can you please answer a question about the A's that isn't about the move?
Mark P
9:06
Sure!
Walton Dilcox
9:06
Would the A’s trade Mason Miller?
Mark P
9:07
Nope
NL Central
9:07
What factors lead you to believe the Reds will make the playoffs   this season (as opposed to other teams in the division)?
Mark P
9:09
I picked Chicago to win the division and the Reds to be a wild card, and my choice was based on an educated guess that enough of Cincy's young stars would keep improving.
Jim
9:10
Low blow, Mark P. I was this close to subscribing...
Mark P
9:11
To provide a peek behind the curtain, I don't receive a ton of Athletics questions that aren't about the move, or whether they'll stay in Oakland, or end up somewhere other than Vegas/Oakland/Sacramento entirely.

And the other questions I do get tend to be along the lines of "could my favorite team trade our worst player and this ok prospect for Blackburn?"
Tim
9:11
from this point forward, what happens to Austin Hays?
Mark P
9:13
If enough hasn't already gone wrong for Hays so far, he's got a minor calf injury to worry about.  I could see the Orioles perhaps putting him on the 10-day IL just to be safe, and also basically allowing for a reset of his season.

This could also conveniently give Cowser the clear everyday job, and creates a non-zero chance that Hays would be Wally Pipp'ed out of a job when he's healthy.
Jim P
9:14
Booing Aaron Judge?
Mark P
9:15
Never let it be said that the Bronx fans have a lot of patience
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