JotCast | MLBTR Live Chat

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Mark P

4:32

Good afternoon all! Hope everyone is safe and sound. What better way to wile away the time indoors than with some baseball chat?

Noah

4:33

Is Austin Martin the best hitter in next years draft class?

Mark P

4:33

Torkelson was right up there on the position player side as well

Kenny

4:34

Will we have baseball this Summer I hope we do

Mark P

4:35

I hope you're right. Absolute best-case scenario is a return to play in July in empty stadiums.

Guest

4:35

Who finishes 3rd place in the AL East Toronto or Boston?

Mark P

4:36

I still favored Boston, they have some more sure things (Bogaerts, JDM, Devers) in their lineup than the Blue Jays

Adam

4:36

What are the odds that after this year Rusney Castillo finally gets another shot somewhere now that his contract will be up?

Mark P

4:37

I wouldn't be surprised if another team gives him a minor league deal

4:37

Pierce Johnson contract going to be a steal?

Mark P

4:38

Even if it doesn't work out, $5MM over two years isn't a major expenditure for the Padres. But there's definitely some very interesting upside there based on his performance in Japan last season

Dodger Dan

4:38

If this season is cancelled entirely, do you think Andrew Friedman will pay Mookie Betts whatever he wants in order to avoid the optics of having give up Alex Verdugo et al for nothing?

Mark P

4:40

It seemed like the Dodgers were willing to spend big anyway, so I'm not sure a cancelled season necessarily changes that plan. Unless, there's enough lost revenue (even for a team like L.A.) that it makes such a contract unfeasible, or perhaps Betts would lower his asking price depending on where things are financially in baseball and in the world come the next offseason

4:41

Also, re: "avoid the optics." I said this last week, but it bears repeating...this is a such an unforeseen situation that it would be very unfair to blame Friedman if Betts did leave without ever suiting up in Dodger Blue

4:42

Who wins a World Series first, the Tigers, Padres or White Sox?

Mark P

4:42

Poll time!

Who wins a World Series first?

Tigers (5.6% | 35 votes)

White Sox (58.4% | 363 votes)

Padres (36% | 224 votes)

Total Votes: 622

Alex

4:43

Which of the Braves young arms is most likely to be traded? (Wilson, Wright, Muller, Davidson, Toussant, Newcomb)

Mark P

4:45

I'd say Wright is probably the most untouchable of that group, but Atlanta likely isn't in any real rush to move any of them. Can never have too much pitching, after all.

Lovable losers

4:46

Of the teams who haven't won a WS yet, which is closest and which doesn't have a hope in you know where?

Mark P

4:47

The Mariners, Rangers, Rockies, Padres, Rays, and Brewers are the only teams left without a Series victory, now that Washington got a ring last season. Of that group, Tampa Bay absolutely seems like the best choice to win in 2020 or in the near future

Bob

4:48

Do you see some sort of compensation for teams who signed or traded for free agents to be? It doesn’t seem right that a team like LA has to pay Betts and Price having them never play for them.

Mark P

4:49

Price is under contract through the 2022 season, so he isn't leaving anytime soon.

For players like Betts, I could perhaps see a situation where MLB awards an extra draft pick to a team that loses an uninjured free agent who was never able to play for them due to the pandemic

Angels Fan

4:50

Do you think Mike Scioscia will ever manage again? I’ve heard he’d like to, but I don’t think he was even interviewed this offseason despite several managerial vacancies.

Mark P

4:51

In general, teams are trending towards younger (and perhaps first-time) managers who aren't far removed from their playing days. This isn't to say that Scioscia couldn't get another job, especially not after we've seen veteran skippers like Girardi, Baker, and Maddon get new gigs this offseason

Sandlot Kid

4:51

Since the owners and MLBPA were able to work out a crisis over a few weeks, can this be a positive sign to a new CBA before 2021 or near the end of 2021 season?

Mark P

4:52

Actually, one theory I've heard which makes sense is that if things aren't back to some semblance of normal by the end of the year, the league and MLBPA could agree to a one-year extension of the current CBA just to buy everyone more time and wait for things to stabilize

4:53

It would save either side from committing to another 4-5 year arrangement in a very uncertain financial climate

Angels Fan

4:53

Is Matt Harvey opposed to pitching in relief? Seems like a logical step given his struggles.

Mark P

4:53

I'd say at this point, he should be open to any possible role

Justin Turner

4:54

What do you think of my extra innings suggestion? HR derby for the win!!!

Mark P

4:55

I'm hesitant to adopt any change that drastically alters the game itself. I stand by my own proposal (the league is free to ask me about it any day now!) that if a game is tied after 10 innings, it should just go in the books as a tie

4:56

For this season, that is. I'm not advocating an end to extra innings whatsoever

John

4:57

If there is no all star game, would LA get to host next year and everything gets moved up a year?

Mark P

4:57

2021's game has already been promised to Atlanta, though 2022-25 are open. (2026 is in Philly.) To make things smoother, I could see L.A. just being given the 2022 game.

John

4:58

Is josh Hamilton a hall of famer?

Mark P

4:58

Not in my view, no

Ryan

4:59

Current contract status aside, who would you rather have at short, Torres or Baez?

Mark P

4:59

Baez, due to the big defensive edge.