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Mark P
1:17
Welcome to an afternoon edition of the Weekend Chat! We'll start with the questions in a minute...
Stl fans
1:18
the cardinals are looking for a short term answer at 3B and the orioles are looking for help at catcher. Wouldn’t a trade of a catcher for Coby Mayo make sense?
Mark P
1:20
Mayo doesn't even have two years of service time, so he's not really a "short term" answer.  That doesn't necessarily mean he wouldn't be on the Cardinals' radar for an acquisition, but it would mean the Orioles (if they're open to moving Mayo at all) would be upping their asking price, especially since Mayo's power was on display for the first time at the MLB level.
It should be noted, the O's are likely looking for more of a backup catcher type since Basallo is still their top choice.
Tom
1:21
Would 4 100 get arozarena to Philly?
Mark P
1:24
Arozarena is entering his age-32 season, but I think a four-year deal is reasonable given both his production and the fact that so few difference-making hitters are available in free agency this year.  A $25MM AAV also seems like feasible in this market.

Spending big on another free agent adds even more money to Philly's long-term books, but the team is clearly under pressure.  Signing Arozarena wouldn't be a final step since the Phils have multiple needs to address, and it also adds more swing-and-miss to the lineup
Guest
1:25
With the lockout looming won’t agents and players want to get their contracts signed before that occurs?
Mark P
1:26
The last lockout in 2021-22 saw some (but hardly all) big-name free agents ink their deals before the transactions freeze.  The same figures to be true this time around
Guardians of the Galaxy
1:26
Who do you think the rainout favors more? The Guardians or the Rays?
Mark P
1:27
Cleveland fans are terrified this is an extreme version of the Game 7 rain delay in 2016 that allowed the Cubs to refocus.
Johnny Tom
1:28
During a lockout, what happens to players rehabbing from surgeries? Can they not work with team training staff, or even coordinate with them at all?
Mark P
1:28
Nope.  Which means that the training/medical staff and any rehabbing players will have to work out their training plans well in advance of December 1, and just hope that everything goes smoothly until the lockout ends.
Steve Cohen
1:29
Freddie Peralta lost a lot of free agent money with the Mets this year. Has he recouped it with his performance for the Rays?
Mark P
1:30
Peralta seems like a good candidate for something like a three-year contract with multiple opt-outs.  Teams aren't just going to forget about his struggles in New York, so Peralta might want some flexibility in rebuilding his stock for another dip into free agency in 2027-28.
Just a one-year pillow deal probably isn't likely, as Peralta would surely prefer some extra level of security.
Joe M
1:32
Nick Martinez and the Rays have a mutual option for 2027.  Feels like Martinez declines and becomes a free agent.  At 36, can he get three years?
Mark P
1:34
Can't rule out a team stretching to a third year to seal the deal.  Two years feels much more likely, but maybe two guaranteed years with a vesting option is a good compromise.

For both Peralta and Martinez, btw, teams might be evaluating how much of their success is based on them, and how much is based on the Rays' pitching development team being magicians
Acuna
1:35
Am I on the move this season? Where makes the most sense for me and the braves
Mark P
1:36
The place that makes the most sense is in right field in Atlanta.  I covered this in the Braves outlook post the other day, noting that simply retaining Acuna is by far the likeliest outcome.  The Braves also have a need in LF, Acuna had solid numbers even in a relative down year for him, and maybe some increase in his DH days will keep him healthy and get him fully back on track.
Guest
1:37
If the Brewers win the world series, do you see Christian Yelich as a hall of famer? Or just high up in the hall of very good?
Mark P
1:38
Hall of Very Good.  Those two spectacular years did a lot for Yelich's legacy, and capturing a ring will cement him as a Milwaukee legend.  A fine career by any measure, but not a HOFer in my book.
Sonny Gray
1:38
My likeliest 2027 team?
Mark P
1:39
The Braves make a ton of sense given their SP needs and their geographical advantage to Gray's home.  A return to Boston isn't out of the question either.
Masyn
1:39
Should I be looking over my shoulder after this disaster of a season? Or am I relatively safe in St. Louis? Should I be shopped?
Mark P
1:40
Winn is such an excellent fielder that the Cardinals only "need" him to provide average-ish offense.
I want a contact hitted
1:41
Will Warren, Ryan McMahon and cash considerations for Josh Jung. What more do the Yankees need to do to complete that trade
Mark P
1:42
Add some hitting to the mix, since Texas is looking to add offense this winter.  For this very reason, there is basically zero chance Jung is getting dealt.
John
1:42
Do team protect all their typical Rule 5 eligible prospects, or do they take a risk with the borderline ones hoping the draft gets cancelled and they can then continue working with them?
Mark P
1:43
It makes for an interesting dilemma for teams, but I suspect they'll proceed more or less as usual with the R5 protections.
Bruce
1:43
Thoughts on if Seager and/or degrom get moved this offseason?
Mark P
1:46
Both have full no-trade protection, so they'd have to okay any move.  DeGrom vetoed going anywhere at last summer's trade deadline, but it's possible he might have a change of heart if he doesn't think the Rangers can be real contenders next year.

The same logic is true of Seager, but he's much trickier of a trade candidate.  Much bigger salary, and he didn't hit well in 2026 while dealing with multiple injuries.  Since it seems like some level of IL time is just baked into Seager's production, if he isn't producing while healthy, that only further lowers his trade value
Texas could try to get creative by taking on another team's unfavorable contract to try and make the money line up a bit more evenly in a Seager trade, but that adds another layer of difficulty
Brewers
1:48
Is this our year?
Mark P
1:49
Really feels that way, eh?

But, the same could be said for the Rays and Guardians as well.  As fun as it will be to see one of these teams win it all, there will be an equal amount of heartbreak on the other side.  Probably most of all in Cleveland, given their long drought.
Joey Joe Joe Joe
1:50
Best potential landing spot if the M's decide to trade Kirby this winter?
Mark P
1:53
Kirby still has plenty of trade value, so several teams will be (or could be) in on him even despite his so-so performance in 2026.  It's simplistic to just say "any team in need of pitching," but the Padres, Giants, Cubs, Reds, Mets, Braves, Orioles, Blue Jays, White Sox (maybe not after the Castillo deal), or Tigers could all work
1:54
Dunno if the Mariners would prefer to send him to an NL team over an AL rival, but Seattle probably would still a swing a move if an AL team make a particularly enticing offer
Jays fan
1:54
Do the jays consider moving Alejandro Kirk to upgrade in the outfielder?
Mark P
1:55
Kirk is one of the last guys the Jays would trade.  They could get a nice return in a trade, but it's a lot harder to fill a hole at catcher than it is to fill a hole in the outfield.
Baseballisthebest
1:56
Would Peralta be a good fit in San Diego? They are a team that often signs players to deals with multiple opt outs.
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