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Mark P
9:44
With Riley's contract looking increasingly underwater, this deal doesn't make sense.

Moving Acuna is an intriguing idea if the Braves don't plan to extend him, but Acuna is still controlled through 2028 on two reasonable club options.  Atlanta doesn't need to make any kind of decision on him for a while.
OhioDodger
9:45
Will the Dodgers be active at the trade deadline?
Mark P
9:45
Certainly.  More smaller pieces rather than blockbuster adds, but the Dodgers can certainly at least check in on the big names to see if anything is possible
No Joy in Natsville
9:46
Stoked for Griffin getting the (well deserved) All-Star nod. But concerned that he's going to get moved at the deadline. An extension or even a QO are on the table for me, but I'm not writing the check. How much do you think it would/should take to take Foster away from us long-suffering Nats fans?
Mark P
9:48
Griffin is a very interesting trade chip.  By the numbers, he's a front-of-the-rotation type.  But, he's also a rental player without any real big league track record before 2026, so it's rival teams won't go overboard in calling the Nats with offers
9:51
The Nationals have basically nothing on the books long-term, so if they do keep Griffin, a qualifying offer is a logical move.  Either he accepts and they get another year of a good pitcher, or (more likely) Griffin rejects the QO in search of a longer-term deal, as he now accomplished something at the MLB level.

As noted earlier, the lockout will impact Griffin and Nats in such a decision.  So a longer-term extension also may not be out of the question, if the Nats front office has confidence in Griffin as legit, and the pitcher himself likes how things are going with the club.
Bobby Cox
9:52
How did Money Mike not make All Star Team? Any shot he gets called day of
Mark P
9:53
Harris is having a nice season, but he was the odd man out since other teams needed a rep and Atlanta is already well-represented
Redsy
9:55
Is Tyler Stephenson a Yankee by the deadline?
Mark P
9:56
His bat has really started to perk up over the last few weeks, and with the catching market being so thin, New York and any other catcher-needy team is surely taking notice. Especially if Minnesota remains in contention and Jeffers is suddenly not available.
resurgence
9:56
speaking of that resurgence in MLB's popularity over the last few years, what would you say have been the main contributors to that? is it just fatigue of the other major sports leagues? or what has MLB done right to regain popularity?
Mark P
9:57
I'd say the two chief factors are...

a) the pitch clock, as countless casual-fan friends have told me
b) Ohtani as a uniquely captivating superstar, and the Dodgers in general as a super-team commanding a lot of attention
Ebenezer_Batflip
9:58
Masataka is hitting the ball, who is the best trade partner for him and how many top 100 prospects can we get? /j but seriously who can we trade him to
Mark P
9:59
A 102 wRC+ isn't going to change any teams' minds about Yoshida.  The Red Sox can't move him unless they just eat virtually all of his salary, or trade him for another unwieldy contract.
Ross Atkins
10:00
What should I do with Hoffman?
Mark P
10:03
Looking at the advanced metrics, Hoffman is still an excellent high-leverage reliever who is having one of the most bizarrely unlucky seasons of any pitcher in recent memory.  This is why (to the consternation of many Toronto fans) the Jays keep using him as a set-up man, and to be fair, Hoffman has been sharper since being moved out of the closer role.
10:04
Could Hoffman be traded if the Jays move into seller mode?  I don't think it's unfathomable, since a lot of teams will (with some fairness) look at the Statcast numbers and wonder if he just needs a change of scenery.
Angels Fan
10:05
Will Moreno actually give Mo free rein (for the most part) or will Mo be forced to leave once he realizes his hands are tied and there’s no hope in Anaheim until Moreno is gone?
Mark P
10:08
The nature of Mozeliak's hiring is pretty confusing to me, so I hesitate to answer.  If you believe Mo, he didn't talk to Moreno or discuss any long-term or deadline plans until after he was hired, which seems wild.  

If Mozeliak is coming in just to be an interim GM, you'd think the team might have just promoted an assistant or something, rather than bring in an entirely new face with an established track record. So the fact that Mo was hired makes me think he'll stick on in some capacity as a longer-term voice....yet does that mean he has the gravitas to convince Moreno to launch a rebuild?
Astros fan
10:08
I realize that the Astros are within striking distance of the division lead, but everyone (including Astros fans) knows they are a flawed team.  Do you think they should sell at the trade deadline?
Mark P
10:09
Not unless they go something like 2-14 after the deadline or something.  "Everyone" in the AL is a flawed team, so the Astros may have as much of a chance as anyone
Max Fried
10:10
While seeing the horror show Washington has for a bullpen this weekend up close, I noticed the Nats have a decently hitting catcher in Ruiz.  Any chance the Yankees could pry him away for a package including a couple of middle relievers that can actually protect a lead?  Guys like Yarbrough, Blackburn, Hill, Yovanny (not Fernando) Cruz, or even Chivilli would all be a step up from what they are running out there.
Mark P
10:12
A red-hot stretch in May and June helped boost Ruiz's numbers quite a bit, but the metrics indicate that he isn't for real.  Ruiz's xwOBA of .274 is way below his .333 wOBA, for instance.

Washington would absolutely jump at the chance to get Ruiz's contract off the books, but I doubt the Yankees look in that direction. And if the Yankees want RP help, the Nats aren't exactly the first place to look.
10:14
We're over two hours now, so let's wrap things up.  As always, thanks for all the questions and comments!
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