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Mark P
5:01
They absolutely weren't going to play at a 94-win pace this year, so if ownership really had such an inflated view of the team's potential, it would theoretically mean some firings could happen if (when?) they "underachieved."
5:02
That said, Rockies ownership has always operated in something of an unusual fashion, so it's hard to say Bridich is really in win-or-else mode
Boggs
5:03
If there is no baseball this year, would all of the contracts roll over to next year?
Mark P
5:03
As per the agreement between the players and owners, players in the final year of their contracts who played X number of games in 2019 will still be eligible for free agency
5:04
Every other player on a guaranteed contract beyond 2020 is still under contract, but a year from that deal would just be wiped out.
Bill J
5:04
I like your projection of a July start date. How about this for a schedule.....120 games, 8 games per week, 1 off day and Wednesday/Saturday doubleheader’s over a 15 week time frame. 5 game division series; 5 game league championship series and a 7 game World Series in early November in Southern Cal at Dodger Stadium and Angel Stadium. What do you think?
Mark P
5:05
I don't think there's any way they squeeze 120 games into such a compressed time frame.  I think MLB would be overjoyed with even 81 games.
King Kelly
5:06
Your thoughts on a playoff lottery, similar to the NHL, where the bottom 8-ish teams draw numbers to see who drafts first?  Would it reduce mega-tanking?
Mark P
5:07
In theory, wouldn't that lead to even more tanking?  If a team is around the 10th-worst record in the game or so, wouldn't they be more prone to throw in the towel midseason to try and get into the bottom eight?

Also, your idea would somehow lead to the Edmonton Oilers with the top pick in the MLB draft.
Matt
5:09
In the event that baseball can only be played for about a month, have there been any thoughts of having some sort of March Madness type of tournament? Seed teams based on last year's record, don't call it the World Series,  but at least better than nothing,  maybe
Mark P
5:09
I'm not sure some teams would be cool with the idea of having a "season" that lasts, say, five games if they're out in the first round
Lt Data
5:09
Speaking of Girardi, what would he have to do in Philly for people to start talking about him as a potential HoF manager?
Mark P
5:10
Another World Series title would definitely get Girardi some Cooperstown buzz.  Not a long list of managers who have taken two different teams to championships.
Dennis S
5:12
Do you think Brendan McKay will make some starts this year and is he that good with the bat?
Mark P
5:13
Given how the Rays use their pitchers, I'd bet on McKay making a few starts, even if it's in a piggyback capacity.  Or, if not an actual "start," maybe he works as the bulk starter behind an opener.

With the bat, it seems like he's still something of a work in progress, though there's certainly potential there.
Dave
5:13
A number of players were optioned before the rosters were frozen and that triggers the use of their option year. What happens to their option if any of these players are recalled to fill out expanded rosters when play resumes if they never get returned to the minors.Similarly if there is no season.
Mark P
5:14
The league is already reasonably flexible about awarding an extra option year to players based on injury, so I can definitely see most/all option years be restored in the case of a canceled season
Tom Brady
5:15
Do I take the Bucs to the Super Bowl this year?
Mark P
5:15
No, because my beloved Green Bay Packers are obviously going to win the next Super Bowl.  Obviously!
King Kelly
5:16
Writers seem to frequently evaluate trades with hindsight.  The Halladay trade was terrible because Drabek flamed out, but the Dickey trade was great for the Mets because Thor didn't.  Are you a fan of the hindsight telescope, particularly when it is used to evaluate a manager's performance?
Mark P
5:18
If a GM makes a trade that looks good on paper but didn't work out for whatever reason, fair enough.  These things happen.  If a GM makes multiple trades that look good on paper but don't work out for whatever reason....then at a certain point you have to ask why "whatever reason" keeps happening.  If prospects aren't developing when they come to your farm system, for example, maybe that's the problem rather than the trade itself (and managing a proper farm system is also the GM's responsibility)
5:19
At the end of the day, managers and GMs can only be judged by their win-loss record.  There are extenuating circumstances in some cases, for certain, but ultimately if you're not winning anything after multiple seasons, there's an issue
DK
5:20
What’s the highest level of baseball that you played? What position did you play, and what was your strongest tool?
Mark P
5:21
House league baseball, whichever position I could do the least amount of damage at (usually right field), and baseball trivia knowledge.

Needless to say, I wasn't much of a player
Eppler
5:21
if the season is cancelled completely how can you see that affecting GMs, like myself, who were projected to be in the hot seat?
Mark P
5:22
I doubt we'd see many, or potentially even any, front office shakeups given the circumstances
Now, Arte Moreno decides he wants to move on to a new GM, Eppler would be out of contract so that is Moreno's prerogative
Ryan
5:23
With Judge's history of injuries do they hold off on a long term deal and go to arbitration for the next 2 seasons?
Mark P
5:24
I actually just wrote about the Yankees' recent extension history last week.  Self-promotional plug!  https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/03/the-yankees-brief-history-of-co...
5:25
The point of that post was to note that the Yankees generally don't pursue extensions, so expecting them to ink anyone to a long-term deal is maybe a bit of a stretch.  In Judge's case, there are definitely enough injury red flags that I could see the Yankees taking things year to year
Pat H
5:26
do you think the HoF cases for potential players from the 2017 astros will be tainted? (I.E Altuve, Springer, Verlander)
Mark P
5:28
The hitters moreso than the pitchers, since I doubt Verlander will get much/any real blowback from the scandal.

Someone like Bregman is still so early in his career that if he has a decade of star-level seasons throughout the 20's, people will think "oh, he was just great, he didn't 'need' the stolen signs."
5:29
And keep in mind, we're years away from any of these guys being gauged by HOF voters.  Time could erase a lot of the hard feelings over the scandal
Angels Fan
5:31
Contracts aside, Mike Trout or Juan Soto for the next 10 years?
Mark P
5:31
Contracts aside, Mike Trout or Juan Soto for the next 10 years?
Trout (66.2% | 190 votes)
 
Soto (33.8% | 97 votes)
 
Total Votes: 287
Gerrit Hamels
5:32
When players are traded to other teams or leave in free agency, do teams require that they sign NDAs to protect the teams' strategies and methods?
Mark P
5:32
Nope
Concerned White Sox Fan
5:33
If the MLB season happens this year, which are some teams that could be surprise contenders?
Mark P
5:34
I wrote this in last week's chat, but in a shortened season, virtually ANY team could be a contender.  All it would take is a hot stretch for a couple of weeks and boom, that could be a third of the schedule
Jeff
5:35
Is Francisco Lindor more or less likely to move in 2020 with this shutdown? I imagine the roster freeze being lifted will open some floodgates
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