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Mark P
9:07
This has been a debate for a few years now about roster construction, and how every team's desire to have versatile bench depth might be good from a club perspective but not for the players themselves.  
For a guy who's more of a borderline big leaguer, learning multiple positions is a good way to get a job on a roster.  But if you're a player who is
Oops, posted too soon
9:09
If you're a player who is an MLB-caliber player but, due to a position crunch, you're asked to suddenly learn a new position or two, that's an awful lot more on your plate.  Capably playing one position is hard enough, let alone being able to capably play three or four of them.  And, if a player is doing this while also adjusting to hitting, the cumulative effect could be a player who's more of a "jack of all trades, master of none" when he might've more productive just staying in one position
Nightman
9:10
How much might Anderson’s uninspiring underlying metrics put a damper on his trade value? He frequently pitches at least into the 7th only allowing a couple runs but has walked too many batters while missing few bats
Mark P
9:10
This is likely true.  Fans see the 2.48 ERA and get all excited, but front offices will note that there's a lot more blue than red on his Statcast page
Kurt the Hurt
9:13
How did you like the game and the field at Rickwood Park
Mark P
9:14
It was a great event, if bittersweet due to Willie Mays' passing.  MLB should absolutely do more events at smaller or more historic venues around the US to highlight the history of the sport.
Cards
9:14
Do you think the Cards will make a push for Kikuchi or Bassitt at the deadline?
Mark P
9:15
Kikuchi is the cleaner fit on paper since he's a rental, though since the Cardinals have so many pending free agent starters already, obtaining Bassitt (who is under contract through 2025) is also a logical fit
Bucs Fan
9:17
Is there any real chance that the Pirates could get Bleday or Chisholm?
Mark P
9:20
Jazz isn't a player I see going by the deadline, since he's playing well but still short of a star level.  The Marlins might wait until the winter to move him, betting that Chisholm will stay healthy and perform well over a full 2024 season, thus making him more attractive to trade suitors in the offseason.

Bleday is controlled through 2028, so the A's may not be in a rush to him immediately unless they think they're selling high.  But don't forget, Bleday is a former top draft pick, and this breakout is what the A's were counting on or hoping for when they picked him up from Miami
So Bleday is the likelier of the two to be moved but may not by a huge margin.  And, the Pirates or any other team would make make Oakland a significant offer to swing a deal.
Next year nats
9:21
With the call up of crewes to triple a and wood almost ready do the nats spend next offseason?
Mark P
9:23
Yeah, I can see the Nats spending bigger (if not necessarily spending "big") this offseason.  The team's overall steady performance and more of a younger guys playing well is also a factor moreso than necessarily Wood and Crews.

fwiw, Crews also hasn't exactly been tearing it up at Double-A or Triple-A.  Expecting him to be ready in the majors by 2025 is also perhaps optimistic --- same with Wood, frankly, given how it should never be a surprise if even the best prospects struggle in their rookie years
Joshua
9:24
The Nats are right in the thick of it for the wild card, but I think they need to do at least a soft sell, or be a seller+buyer. Jesse Winker and Dylan Floro as free agents to be should be dealt regardless in my opinion. However, could you see them trading a non Top 100, but solid prospect, like Robert Hassell from their OF prospect depth for a controllable young player that could help them during this wild card chase and in upcoming years?
Mark P
9:26
Speaking of "not exactly tearing it up at Double-A," here's Robert Hassell III.  Injuries have hurt his progress, but it has been three years of uninspiring minor league numbers for RH3 now.  Doesn't mean teams wouldn't be interested in Hassell as a trade chip or a change-of-scenery guy, but the Nationals might be selling low to a certain extent
Gates Brown
9:26
Wouldn't it make sense for the Tigers to open their wallets for Flaherty?  Their fans are getting antsy and wouldn't be too happy if they traded an ace-level SP for another prospect or two.  The Ilitches are among the richest owners in the MLB.  They can afford to splurge a little.  Wouldn't it behoove him to stay in Detroit, too?  It seems like their staff has helped fix him and pitching in that big ballpark in a weak division is pretty ideal.  What say you?
Mark P
9:27
Nothing would stop the Tigers from trading Flaherty at the deadline and then trying to re-sign him in the winter, though admittedly that scenario doesn't happen too often.
9:28
Given the Tigers' need for hitting, I think a lot of Detroit fans might change their tune on keeping Flaherty if trading him brought a good hitting prospect into the fold
André René Roussimoff
9:30
That was a pretty nifty weekend for the Astros. Do you think they are a legit playoff contender the rest of the way or will the many injuries still sink them early? Thanks, Mark.
Big Question
9:30
Are the Astros back?
Mark P
9:31
My "don't worry about the Astros, they'll figure it out" stance was getting a little dicey for a while there, but now it's back in full force!
9:32
Now, losing pitchers on a near-daily basis doesn't help, but they've been able to cobble things together thus far.  The Astros' biggest hope is that Verlander's neck problem is just a minor, 15-day minimum type of issue rather than anything that lingers
Wild Blockbuster
9:33
Would Detroit consider moving Skubal if the Os offered Holliday, McDermott & Bradfield?
Mark P
9:34
While I continue to think Detroit isn't trading Skubal anywhere for obvious logical reasons, if the Orioles did offer Holliday, the Tigers would at least think about it
Marky Mark
9:34
So what's on the Weekend Chat Playlist tonight?
Mark P
9:35
"I Wish You Well," by Tom Cochrane
Sellers
9:35
Cubs look like sellers at this point. The team is highly flawed. Who do they move?
Marky Mark
9:35
Will the Cubs be buyers, sellers or neutral? I say they might go out and get a reliever but will stay mainly "neutral" because so many teams are in the wild card plus Hoyer won't want to part with top prospects. What say you?
Bernie Franks
9:35
Do the Cubs buy or sell at the deadline? We need a lot of pieces to turn this mess around??
Mark P
9:37
The Cubs don't have a lot of obvious "pending free agent" trade chips, making it tricky for the front office if they're out of it at the deadline.  Moving Bellinger might become more realistic in that scenario, even if the return would be limited because a) Bellinger is a rental player for all intents and purposes, b) other teams would only offer trade packages with the idea that Bellinger would be a rental player, and c) Bellinger is only okay this season, as opposed to a star
brian
9:39
Hi Mark, the ms offense is a mess but how do they fix it? Please tell me they are not going to do something dumb like trade Cole Young, Colton Emerson, Farmelo, Ford or Felestin because they feel pressure to compete.
Mark P
9:40
i don't think moving any one of those guys in a big trade is "something dumb."  As you've noted, the Mariners have a decent amount of prospect depth, and have such a good rotation that their roster needs (a.k.a hitting) are very clear.
Mark
9:42
If Sasaki’s ominous arm injury requires TJ, would that torpedo any chance of coming to America this offseason? Or would a team still take a chance and sign him for 2026 and beyond?
Mark P
9:43
I don't think it would hurt his market all that much.  Sasaki is still so young and so talented that teams would overlook the TJ procedure (while obviously still getting all the medicals they could on him).  

It would basically be akin to how an elite college prospect getting a Tommy John procedure might hurt his draft stock, but only in terms of dropping him down further in the first round
Flipside
9:44
You mention that the Tigers are not likely interested in trading Skubal but would think about it if offered Holliday.  But would the O’s even consider trading Holliday.  I know he struggled when he was first up earlier this season, but have they soured on him enough to move him?
Mark P
9:45
To be clear, the Orioles would likely only move Holliday if a top-tier, controllable talent like Skubal came back in return.  Otherwise there's no chance Baltimore moves him.
Jays fan
9:45
You’re hired as the new Jays GM. Rebuild or retool?
Mark P
9:46
Blue Jays: We have parted ways with Ross Atkins
Toronto fans: Yes!  Who's the new GM!
Blue Jays: The guy who runs the Weekend Chat on MLB Trade Rumors.
Toronto fans: .....come back, Ross!  We didn't mean it!
9:47
Anyway, I'd lean towards a rebuild.  The Jays' problem isn't just the lack of talent on the MLB roster, it's the lack of depth in the farm system as well.  Guys like Horwitz, Barger, Schneider might be interesting to see develop, but it's not great that they're the system's top prospects
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