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Mark P
7:55
The Weekend Chat is back after a one-week hiatus! We'll get things rolling after a few questions pile up in the queue....
Ross Atkins
7:58
Should I trade Jeff Hoffman for either Andrew or Trevor? Right now, I think other Hoffmans might serve the Jays well.
Mark P
8:00
Dustin Hoffman is enough of a method actor that if you told him to "act like a relief pitcher," he could give you some solid innings out of the pen.

The Jays are in a tough spot with Hoffman.  As much as his underlying metrics are all still good, that doesn't mean much if he's still getting taken yard on a regular basis.  Toronto was more than open to moving Hoffman into a setup role in the offseason if they'd been able to obtain another closer, and I think the move might be to just do it now and install Varland for save situations
Travis Bazzana
8:01
I know you won’t answer me…just like Chris Antonetti…but when are the Guards going to realize that I should be in The Show?   I’m the 2B, Rocchio is the SS and Angel Ramirez should play everyday.   Isn’t it time to finally trade the glutton of Middle Infielders away for a true, everyday power bat in the OF?
Mark P
8:02
You won't have to wait long to see Bazzana in the majors, as he's maybe a month or so away from his MLB debut.  In terms of trades, why would a team trade an "everyday power bat" for one or two spare part middle infielders?
With Club Sauce?
8:03
If the Vegas A's are forced to change their name, what should they go with? Vultures? Valkyries? Victorfrankensteins? Trying to be semi-alliterative here. I also wanted to try a 'blue' based Arrested Development joke but was worried my question would get DQ'd so I'll just finish with: BEES???!?!
Mark P
8:04
"Vegas Vagabonds" fits for alliteration purposes, and the fact that this franchise has moved so often in its history.

But, I'm on record as preferring that they just remain the A's.  The name is the only connective thread over all of the cities over the team's 126 years
Pirates
8:05
Are we for real this time?
Mark P
8:06
While we're seen the Pirates collapse after hot starts before, this does legitimately seem like the best roster the Buccos have fielded in quite some time.  I'd say they're for real, but with the caveat that the entire NL Central currently has a winning record, so the Pirates haven't even done much to separate themselves from the pack.
Zach
8:07
Do you have any changed ROTY picks from the beginning of the year now nearly a month in?
Mark P
8:08
My ROY picks were Sal Stewart and Kazuma Okamoto, so a .500 record isn't bad
Rally Reds
8:08
Reds have to be encouraged with their pitching depth considering their ridiculous 10-0 record in close games, and Hunter and Lodolo yet to return, right?
Mark P
8:10
That kind of record in close games (Reds are 6-0 in one-run games specifically) is bound to regress, though there are always a couple of teams every year with absurdly slanted close-game records.  Maybe this is Cincinnati's year to get lucky, and you're right that it's particularly good that the Reds are banking these wins without arguably their two best arms
Espada/Brown
8:11
How much longer of a leash do Espada/Brown/Miller have? They are 8-15 now, losing 12 of their last fourteen games. I know Crane is really the problem, but when does he lose patience?
Mark P
8:11
In fairness to the Astros' staff, the team has been hammered by injuries.  Having a rash of firings when the team has 14 guys on the IL seems ill-advised.
Victor
8:12
I think the Rockies should be open for business withe a Vodnik to the Cubs or Phillies trade. Any thoughts?
Mark P
8:14
Presumably the Rockies would have a high asking price on Vodnik or anyone right now, hoping to take advantage of some desperate teams in April.  

If someone is willing to meet that price, more power to the Rox, but I doubt teams will be too eager to give up much for a reliever with such unimpressive secondary metrics
If Vodnik can get his strikeouts and walks in better form by the trade deadline, then a move is more realistic.
Hook line & sinker
8:15
Trout has us all believing, how about you?
Mark P
8:16
If Trout can stay healthy, no reason why he couldn't have another vintage year (or more) in the tank
Michael42371
8:16
What about the Mets?   What do they need to do?
Frank the Tank
8:16
Are the Mets incompetent? What’s next for this team?
Mets fan
8:16
What the hell is happening? Does anyone actually think at a true talent level is this bad?
Simply Amazin
8:16
Stearns must be shocked no?
Golfmets
8:17
Is it over or is there time to right the sinking ship?
Mark P
8:19
These are just some of the many "what is wrong with the Mets?!" questions in the queue.  Needless to say, it's been a nightmare of a start, and even getting Soto back can only solve so many problems.

Someone can check this out on Stathead, but I'm sure there have been teams who still made the playoffs in a season in where they had an 11-game losing streak.  But, that can't be a large number of clubs, and the Mets have dug themselves in such a deep hole that it'll already require a 2024-esque rebound to get on track.
8:20
Not that this is Carlos Mendoza's fault, but a managerial firing might be coming as a way to shake things up.

Perhaps the only answer is that it's a long season, and it's hard to believe that a roster with this many prominent names can continue to struggle for so long.
Simply Amazin
8:21
If Mets sellers at deadline, who goes?
Mark P
8:23
A 2023 type of deadline selloff has to be considered a possibility at this point.  RosterResource has their tax number at $371.2MM, so trading to the point that they can duck under the $244MM threshold to reset their tax status will take some heavy lifting, and probably more lifting than the Mets want to do since the club surely wants to contend in 2027.

Any of the impending free agents are obvious trade chips.  That includes Bichette given his player options, but naturally it remains to be seen how much value Bichette might have if he can't get his bat going.
john
8:25
Is the Nats offense for real?
Positively Half St.
8:25
Might the Nats rise to near mediocre this year? That would be fun.
Mark P
8:28
The offense is basically four guys --- Abrams, Wood, Tena, and Wiemer.  The last two seem very unsustainable, and CJA and Wood both tailed off after hot starts in 2025.

This isn't to say that the Nats can't beat expectations....in part because everyone's expectations were so low.  Even winning something like 74-75 games is a nice step up from last year, and a sign that the new coaching staff and front office are getting things on track.  Beyond the hitting, the larger issue might be trying to keep the patchwork pitching plan going for several months.
Aaron
8:29
Is the American League as a whole worse than usual this year? The Yankees had a terrible stretch, and are back to having the best record in the AL.
Mark P
8:30
Lot of parity so far in the AL, which is good news for the many (virtually every?) team off to a slow start
Ghost of Earl Weaver
8:31
IF, and this is a big IF, if Colby Mayo figures out and starts to hit like a MLB third baseman should, would the Ol’s consider putting Westburg at 2nd upon his return to take the pressure off his arm and peddle Holliday at the deadline for much needed help?
Mark P
8:31
Holliday is maybe the last guy the Orioles would consider trading.
Paul
8:32
After what the new padres owner set a record why won’t the owners agree to spend more
Mark P
8:33
The sale isn't finalized yet, and I don't think Feliciano has made any kind of public statement about the process or any of his plans as owner.

One would imagine that if you're spending $3.9 billion on a team, you're willing to keep spending in order to aid the winning the process.
Sabres
8:34
You rooting for the Sabres tonight!!?
Mark P
8:34
You bet.  The Buffalo fans are long overdue for some success, and it would be great seeing the Sabres follow up their dream season with a deep playoff run
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