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Mark P
10:28
If KC fell out of it and turned into sellers, Bubic is probably first out the door as an impending free agent.  Moving Lugo/Wacha (both signed through at least 2027) is the kind of trade that has to be done with an eye towards what the Royals expect to be doing next season, vis a vis contending. I could see the Royals moving Bubic and perhaps one of Lugo or Wacha, but not both
Zach (the other one)
10:32
The Cubs have an entire bullpen on the IL and have suffered significant long-term starting pitcher injuries of late (Justin Steele last year, Cade Horton this year).  Is this just typical bad pitcher health luck or is there something in their organization, whether that's personnel, coaching, training and development philosophies, facilities, etc., they should be looking at that could be fixable?
Mark P
10:33
It's surely a question the Cubs are asking themselves in the wake of all these injuries.  Teams routinely review and overhaul their medical and training procedures, but as you noted, sometimes it's just really bad luck.
Luxury Tax Evader
10:34
Do you see Ohtani beating the all time homer record
Mark P
10:35
Nope.  Ohtani has 285 homers by age 31, and in his ninth MLB season. While I hate to rule out anything incredible when it comes to Ohtani, he just doesn't have enough time.
John
10:35
Any reason to panic on the Alonso deal long term?
Mark P
10:36
A month in? Nope
Ham
10:36
Who is this person wearing a Pete Alonso suit in Baltimore and what happened to the real Pete Alonso?
Mark P
10:36
Hmm, I didn't consider the possibility that the Orioles Alonso is some kind of replicant.  Ok John, you can panic now.
Roman Anthony
10:39
Does he stay up or get sent down?
Mark P
10:41
Can't be ruled out, if just as a tune-up

In general, it will be interesting to see how the team's approach to lineup construction changes under a new manager.  Maybe you'll see the young guys given more priority for playing time.
Shohei you can't be serious
10:42
Reds in good shape considering their top two pitchers are out?
Mark P
10:43
Their top two pitchers are out, and nobody's hitting except Elly and Stewart, AND Pagan's been shaky.....Francona might be a miracle worker
BEEDS
10:43
Christian Walker heard all the trade rumors this offseason and took it personally, apparently. What does his next FA deal look like?
Mark P
10:45
He's signed through 2027, and he'll be entering the market in advance of his age-37 season.  As well as Walker is hitting now, far too soon to speculate on his next contract given his age and the more recent up-and-down nature of his play.

Broadly speaking for any first base-only player to want a multi-year at age 37, he'd need to be hitting like....well, like Walker is now
Ben Rice
10:45
Do I win MVP?
Mark P
10:46
Heck of a start for Rice, whose 222 wRC+ is second-highest in baseball (behind Alvarez at 223)
10:47
Tons of baseball to be played yet, of course, but it looks like he's legit.
Legit as a true everyday power bat, if likely not a guy in the 200 wRC+ range
Stevil
10:47
Let me try this again. Mariner fans have been excited about Colt Emerson's eventual promotion, but there isn't really room with everyone healthy and there's an argument that he would benefit from more AAA seasoning. So, what do you think? Are they more likely just letting things play out and not worrying about a target date? That seems most likely to me.
Mark P
10:48
With Emerson already locked up on a contract extension, the M's can afford to to give him all the time he needs at Triple-A.
Adam
10:49
Stearns destroyed the Mets. 2024 he got lucky with Manaea and Severino. Has ANY Stearns move after worked? Soto was all Cohen. When will the Mets clean house?
Mark P
10:52
Even after 2025's collapse, I didn't view Stearns as being in any kind of job trouble given how Cohen so fervently pursued him for years.  But if this 2026 campaign continues to be a dumpster fire, one has to wonder if Stearns might not be long for the front office.  

Firing Mendoza is the quick-fix move, but firing Stearns is the bigger-picture decision Cohen would have to make in regards to the Mets' long-term goals.  Does a new PBO still aim to win in 2027?  Does a new PBO try another "reset" like the Mets did in 2023, except with more of an eye towards a quiet rebuild?
Zach
10:53
Who is your game 7 WS starter current or past?
Mark P
10:53
As a Jays fan who may never get over Game 7, I should probably say Yamamoto.  But, I'll go with Bumgarner or Bob Gibson
Mark P's Son
10:54
Who do the Astros trade if they become sellers at deadline?
Mark P
10:56
Paredes, Walker, some of the relievers.  The truly long-term contracts on the books probably not barring a decision to entirely blow things up, and I doubt Houston is prepared to go in that direction.
Mickey
10:56
What do you make of Okamaoto so far? Do you think he'll be a solid contributor or more or less than that?
Mark P
10:58
Interesting, it seems like Okamoto's been kind of the player the scouts thought Murakami would be.....strikeout-prone with occasional power, has had trouble with higher velocity, etc.

Way too early to tell either way, of course, and I'd be taking the same cautious stance even if Okamoto had gotten off to a great start.
Nats Guy
11:00
Why is Miles Mikolas on our roster? We have to construct the whole bullpen around him with an opener and several arms after so he can go 3 or 4 innings.
Mark P
11:01
Sometimes the moves work out (Griffin), and sometime they don't (Mikolas).  He hasn't pitched well at all, and I'd be surprised if he's long for the rotation. With just a $2.25MM salary, Mikolas is a pitcher the Nationals can cut without much of a hit
11:03
We're just about at two hours now, so let's call it a night.  Thanks to everyone who participated or just followed along with the chat feed, and hey look at that, no managerial firings yet!
11:04
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