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Mark P
8:47
The Weekend Chat from a scheduling hiatus, as last Sunday night's draft and the unexpected Nationals front office clearance led to a pair of postponements in everyone's favorite discussion of beads, bees, and baseball.

But, on with the questions!
Squints
8:49
You're Matt Arnold, congrats! What are you going for at the deadline?
Mark P
8:50
I think my first priority is to figure out how to change this Freaky Friday scenario, but if that can't be fixed by July 31, I'd look to add lineup depth.  Even with Hoskins not out for too long, I'd consider bolstering first base anyway, or at least try to get a versatile player that can help all over the infield
I feel like "Willi Castro would be a great fit here" applies to like 20 teams, but he'd be a great fit in Milwaukee if the Twins decided to sell
Angels fan
8:51
Arte is going to buy again isn't he? The Angels are not a playoff team but I just know he will be delusional again and trade away prospects to make sure people keep coming to the stadium
Mark P
8:52
Right now the Angels are a game under .500 and four back of a wild card.  I agree with you that I doubt they're getting into the playoffs, but given how starved the Angels and their fans are for winning, I won't blame the club for trying to make some moves and stay competitive
Cashman
8:53
is Lagrange and schlittler untouchables along side Lombard?
Mark P
8:54
Lombard feels like the only prospect the Yankees absolutely wouldn't part with.
Mark
8:55
The Rangers trade deadline plans are?
Mark P
8:56
They might not entirely know themselves, given that they're a .500 team that might yet turn to selling.  Their needs are obvious --- Hitting with a capital H (particularly in the corner infield slots) and in the bullpen.
Guard
8:56
What would Emmanuel Clase or Cade Smith bring back in a trade
Mark P
8:57
Smith would bring back a ton.  But, even if Cleveland did move one, I'd expect it would be Clase due to salary, and because it's more of a fit for the Guardians to move Smith into the closer spot than to keep Clase and deal away his cheaper heir apparent.
8:58
Heyman's report downplayed the idea of a trade actually taking place, and I agree that the Guardians only move either pitcher if they get a huge offer.

Moving either while the team is in the race could have a Josh Hader effect on the clubhouse, too
Frank Burns
8:58
Any way the Cubs trade Caissie for anyone who is just a 2 month rental?
Mark P
8:59
Highly unlikely.  They have other prospects they can offer before putting Caissie up for grabs.  Chicago surely only moves Caissie (if at all) for a controllable asset.
Trader Jerry
9:00
If I go all out at the trade deadline, do I have any untouchable prospects or should I put all on the table and go all in?
Mark P
9:02
Emerson or Montes very likely aren't going anywhere.  I hesitate to call anyone entirely "untouchable" depending on what another team might offer in return, plus the M's are deep enough in prospects that they afford to perhaps lose one or two of them and still have a very good future system.
Mookie Betts
9:02
So glad I am the new Andrelton Simmons. No more hitting and slugging for me. Just defense.
Mark P
9:04
What a bizarre and unexpected turn of events for Betts.  As good as he has played at shortstop, I feel like the move for the Dodgers here is to perhaps just put him back in right field, or perhaps at second base?  As jarring as the change would be, it might get Betts' bat moving again.
Small Sample South Side
9:05
Gallen, Kelly, Suarez… what are the Diamondbacks’ priorities if they sell at the deadline? To me, they’ve got the most to gain as far as dealing rentals
Mark P
9:06
Adding starting pitching is the obvious one.  Bullpen help as well.

The key for the D'Backs is that they'll be prioritizing big league-ready help, since they want to get back into contention in 2026.
Guest
9:07
Yankees need to go all in with Judge in his prime at some point??
Mark P
9:07
A $288MM payroll doesn't count as "going all in"??
The Dodgers
9:08
Are they going to hope everyone comes back healthy or will they make a big trade? What player do you think they are targeting?
Mark P
9:10
LA's largest problem at the moment isn't even the injuries or the pitching.  It's Betts, Freeman, and (since his return to pitching) Ohtani all going cold at the same time.  Muncy being out also now highlights the surprising lack of production from the superstars.

Am I really concerned that the Dodgers will fall apart or something?  No, nor do I think it'll drastically change any deadline plans.
Taker55
9:11
Given the 4 starting OFs plus Stanton and then Jones ready, is it crazy to think the Yanks would deal Grisham or Dominguez for help elsewhere?
Mark P
9:13
I feel that might be playing with fire to consider Stanton truly OF-capable, or to count on Jones heavily in his first taste of big league action.  For instance, if you trade Grisham and then Bellinger gets hurt, you get the inopportune situation of Judge back in CF
Kevin
9:14
Why does MLB not allow draft picks to be traded? Might that change in a future CBA, and if so,  what would be the biggest effects?
Mark P
9:15
I agree that it would be a great idea, and the players seem for it, and Rob Manfred seemed at least open to it when asked a year ago.  While negotiating anything into a CBA is like pulling teeth, this seems like one of the relatively benign "who is actually hurt by this?" changes that all parties could find some common ground on
Ang T
9:17
How often do teams sign someone to say, a minor league contract, in anticipation they’ll need the depth after a big league player is traded?
Mark P
9:18
Teams are signing guys to minors contracts basically all the time, so it's usually not as clear-cut a sign as one might think.  Like, the "you can never have too much pitching" mantra always applies whenever a club adds a depth arm, for instance.
Walter
9:18
Phillies trade Ranger Suarez and Aiden Miller to the Red Sox for Jarren Duran. Who says no? Phils have plenty of SP and Red Sox have plenty of OF. Surplus for surplus.
Mark P
9:19
Philadelphia says no.  If they're moving Suarez and Miller in the same deal, they're going to want back way more than just Duran.

Also, why would a Phillies team trying to win now deal a pitcher who is a lock to start a playoff game for them?
Tom
9:20
Does the Bohm injury change the Phillies plans?
Mark P
9:21
They were probably looking for infield help already, so perhaps not?  But if Bohm's timeline ends up being over a month or something, I can definitely see them getting more aggressive in a pursuit of specifically a third baseman
The likelier move is that the Phillies could get a second baseman and rely on the in-house group to handle 3B, since there would be nowhere else to play Bohm when he returned
Chris
9:23
honest question, but how does Betts playing SS affect his hitting? Like how would moving back to the OF actually help him hit again?
Mark P
9:24
My theory is simply that it's a mental thing, in that Betts has been so focused on excelling at defense that it has caused his hitting to suffer.  We probably also shouldn't underrate that brutal illness Betts had back in March, which could very well have set him back a lot more than we realize
Ross Atkins
9:24
What to do with Adison Barger? Ideally he is my everyday third baseman but due to injuries in the outfield and my potent bat we keep penciling him into RF. Ernie Clement and now Wil Wagner are doing a capable job handling third base and we do have a plethora of left handed hitting OFers starting to show promise. So where should I play him or is he super trade bait?
Mark P
9:26
Barger might be just about the last guy Toronto trades right now.  His ability to play both 3B and corner OF is so valuable, not to mention his obvious hitting breakout.  Obviously teams will ask about Barger first before lowering expectations and getting around to Lukes, or maybe Loperfido, Clase, Wagner, etc., but Barger has played himself into being a building block
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