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Mark P
9:03
In terms of Cooperstown, that'll be a fascinating debate.  I lean towards him not getting in on a writers' ballot, but maybe a veterans committee down the road will have a different opinion?
Paul D
9:05
Who is the most likely selection for the Mariners manager position. I'm hoping that after picking guys without managerial experience, that they choose someone who won't be learning on the job. Thanks.
Mark P
9:06
Probably indeed someone with past experience. Jason Kanzler is apparently a candidate, but that could be a case where the M's ultimately have him in mind for some kind of staff job besides the manager's role.
Jed
9:06
Chances the cubs run out Shaw and Ramirez in the corner OF spots?
Mark P
9:07
Non-zero, but it's a lot more likely that Chicago fills one of those spots with a proven veteran outfielder.
MLB man
9:08
If you were running the Reds, would you retool or rebuild?  I don't see a path to contention next season.
Mark P
9:09
As long as Elly is around, I would try to win.  Admittedly, the Reds are in a tough spot since I don't love a lot of their roster, so they might just have more holes than can be fixed in a single offseason.
9:10
The move for this winter might be to see some shorter-term help to improve the team for 2027, and then with an eye towards a bigger push in 2028 when Greene is back (and presumably effective)
9:11
Elly is controlled through 2029, so this timeline still gives the Reds a chance to capitalize on his presence
CHISOX FAN
9:13
I know we rarely spend big, but any chance we go after a Freddy Peralta?
Mark P
9:15
Peralta's great results with the Rays have rebuilt a lot of his value, even if suitors won't entirely forget that rough stretch in New York.  In all likelihood, this takes him out of Chicago's price range, given how little the Sox traditionally spend in free agency.

Coming off their surprise finish, I don't see the White Sox going on a real spending spree....but a targeted spend on one big target (likely a starting pitcher) would make a lot of sense.
Andrew Friedman
9:15
Others have speculated that Uncle Steve will outspend me for Skubal. Doesn't it make most sense for me to outbid everyone for Skubal and trade away from my starting pitching surplus (we only care about having 3 aces in October) to take care of all the other spots that can be improved?
Mark P
9:17
I hesitate to call the Dodgers' rotation depth a real "surplus" given all of the injury questions.  I guess in theory one injury question could be removed if one of Glasnow or Snell was dealt, but the bottom line is that L.A. has generally needed all the pitchers they can get just in order to get through a season.
Tony C
9:17
Are you selling your pumpkin stock this year or riding this wave out?
Mark P
9:18
This pumpkin investment has given me money to burn!...or singe, anyway.

I figure they'll peak around January!
Jason
9:18
Do you think Casey Mize can get a similar structure to Michael King with a lighter AAV? Clearly was pitching hurt the 2nd half and is only 29.
Mark P
9:19
This seems very plausible.  A shorter-term deal with opt-outs allows Mize to get back onto the market as early as next offseason, theoretically after a better platform year
Angels in the outfield
9:20
Chances Trout walks in and says, "Trade me to a contender and restock your roster."?
Mark P
9:20
Very low.  If Trout hadn't demanded a trade after all this time, he's probably not changing course now that there's some more promise for the future
Zach
9:22
CY said the Rangers have to get younger, but what does he exactly mean by that? I dont really see a position that can get younger besides pitching. With deGrom and Evoldi, and especially with the next up being Gore, Lieter, and Rocker, I dont see at least both being traded.
Mark P
9:24
Parting ways with Pederson and Burger creates room for at least somewhat younger players (Foscue) at first base. And, it opens up the DH spot for Nimmo, Seager, etc. to get some partial rest days, allowing for more athleticism in the field.
9:25
I'm not the first to write this, but others have observed that the Rangers should adopt more of a station-to-station, contact-heavy style that plays more with their ballpark.  We've gotten enough evidence by this point that Globe Life Field is more of a pitcher-friendly venue, so building around power doesn't seem as feasible
Roster Building
9:26
This postseason to me has proven that of the 4 main roster areas (starters, bullpen, hitting, defense) that, at least in October but really it might be in the regular season too, starting pitching is almost a distant 4th most important, maybe defense is close. Brewers have basically 2 starters who have been meh, Dodgers starters should have carried and didn't, Rasmussen was great right up until he wasn't and that was basically the ball game. Have any thoughts on this idea?
Mark P
9:28
This comes a year after the Dodgers got great pitching from all four starters through the NL side of the playoffs, and then Yamamoto was the difference-maker in the World Series.

These postseason series are such small samples and in such pressurized situations that there isn't any one real "more important" category.  The criteria and situations change every year.  Maybe next fall the World Series is won by a team that leads the league in homers, and the narrative is "you need those big power bats for quick-strike offense in October."
Joan d'Flyball
9:29
What do think the market for Arraez lands on for his price? Are teams buying that the defense is viable or was it just a temporary jump playing for the Padres? Who might be in on him? Boston?
Mark P
9:30
He'll get a multi-year contract this time, though three years still be a slight reach.  I'd be more comfortable predicting two guaranteed years with a vesting option on a third.
9:31
Arraez's agents can feasibly say that their client can be a viable big league second baseman, in addition to what he brings in terms of batting average and contact hitting.  Whether that translates to a much larger AAV, who knows, but he'll at least earn himself more security
Astros
9:32
Out of the 3 moves below which you do if you were the Astros new GM?
A. Trade Walker and eat 7m of deal and have Paredes play 1st
B. Squeeze the most value out of Pena in a trade and build Correa back into play short
C. Ride with the infield situation and focus on upgrading the outfield
Mark P
9:34
If someone is willing to cover $13MM of Walker's salary, I take that deal in a heartbeat
If not, I go with C, just because i don't have much faith in the infield surplus all staying healthy
JAWS the stat shark
9:35
Does Scherzer play one more year? Do you think Kershaw Verlander and Max all get in on 1st ballot?
Mark P
9:35
They will all sail in on the first ballot

I can see another team giving Scherzer one more deal if he wants to keep pitching.  But, that final game in Toronto really did have the feel of a send-off.
Johnny B Good
9:37
If Teoscar Hernandez was traded, who pays the deferrals (2030-2039)? Is it assumed team-x trading for him has to pay or are the Dodgers still stuck with the deferred payments? Or perhaps would that be part of the negotiations between the two teams?
Mark P
9:39
The deferrals break down as $7.5MM of Hernandez's salary from 2025, $8MM of his 2026 salary, and $8MM of his 2027 salary.  My assumption would be that a team trading for Hernandez would cover just the 2027 deferrals, unless some deal is worked out as part of the trade
Tom G.
9:40
Are the D-Backs and Twins a match where Lawlar goes north? ARI needs SP, LH bats, DH.
Mark P
9:41
Not for Lawlar, but I can see Arizona making a play for Larnach or Wallner.
Cam Schlittler and Ben Rice
9:42
What are the chances either of us get an extension this offseason?
Mark P
9:42
The Yankees almost never do contract extensions, as a club policy.  So chances are very slim.
Scott Harris
9:44
Is Justin Martinez a realistic trade option for me?
Mark P
9:45
I don't think he's high on Arizona's list of trade candidates.  The Snakes would be selling low since Martinez is coming off a TJ procedure, and his contract makes him a real bargain if he can get back to his pre-surgery form.  If Martinez has that kind of bounce-back coming, the Diamondbacks would prefer it comes with them, not in Detroit
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