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Mark P
1:07
Saturday afternoon and it's time to chat!  Fire away with the questions.
Mario
1:08
The #1 Mets free agent target is.....
Mark P
1:09
According to the latest reports, it's either Bauer or Springer.
Not to say that Realmuto or LeMahieu aren't also in the mix.  The Mets have a lot of irons in the fire, needless to say
Spencer Howard
1:10
Do I start next year in the Rotation? I think I need more seasoning in AAA
Mark P
1:11
In theory yes, though that assumes there will be a semi-normal minor leagues next season.  I could see Howard starting the year in the minors or at an alternate training site, but I think the Phils have him ticketed to spend much of 2021 in the big league rotation
Pirates Fan
1:11
Will the pirates look to trade guys like Musgrove and Brault this week?
Mark P
1:12
Not necessarily this week unless the right offer comes along.  It does help the Pirates that the free agent pitching market is moving somewhat quickly, so starter-needy teams will be increasingly likely to explore trades
Guest
1:13
How do the Nats replace Rendon?
Mark P
1:15
Carter Kieboom wouldn't be the first quality big leaguer whose career got off to a rough start, so it's far to assume he can't develop into being a solid regular.  But, the Nationals have a lot of options for third base.  They can sign a part-time veteran to platoon with Kieboom, they can sign a second baseman and move Starlin Castro over to 3B, they can acquire a multi-position type to play anywhere and spell Kieboom, Castro, and other players all around the diamond
CJ
1:15
Will the Cubs make any sort of significant free agent move? Lester doesn’t count.
Mark P
1:16
It seems a little unlikely.  Unless they free up more salary through trades, it seems like the Cubs are again hamstrung by salary restraints
Nick Krall
1:17
Am I really trying to unload Sonny Gray, and if so why am I doing this?
Mark P
1:18
(Krall = Reds GM)

Because Gray has an eight-figure salary and the Reds are trying to cut costs.  I guarantee that Krall would prefer to explore just about any other payroll-trimming option than trading Gray, but his choices are somewhat limited
1:19
It doesn't help that the Reds have invested a lot of money in players who were only okay in 2020
Drew
1:19
How much traction to the Twins and starting shortstop chatter? Simmons would be a nice get to shore up the infield defense.
Mark P
1:20
It makes some logical sense.  Moving Polanco into a super-util role (as the new Marwin) clears up a lot of bench issues.  

But, I do wonder if it wouldn't be simpler to just sign a utility guy (Enrique Hernandez or someone) who is already used to that role
griff
1:21
would TB trade Snell to the Jays for Kirk, O.Martinez and Kloffenstein?
Mark P
1:21
I think Toronto would do that.  Tampa maybe, though I think they would want at least one player who is absolutely MLB-ready from day one.  Kirk showed a lot of promise in small amount of plate appearances, but I don't know if the Rays feel he can immediately be a regular catcher.
Rod
1:22
Thanks for the chat Mark. 2 questions, what percentage chance do you think the DH will be active in the NL? Do you see a Josh Hader trade happening?
Mark P
1:24
  1. Probably about a 60% chance leaning towards yes.  You'd think it would be higher due to general common sense (Ted and Robin salute) except getting the league and the players union to agree even on seemingly simple matters is very difficult.
  2. I lean about 60% in the no direction.  I wonder if the Brewers might look to trade Hader as a way of reducing payroll, maybe by attaching him to a bigger contract like Cain.
Luigi
1:25
What hole do the Phillies fill first?
Mark P
1:25
General manager, one would think
Morning Mist
1:26
If the Mets end up pulling the trigger on McCann and the Phillies decide they can't afford his services...where does Realmuto end up?
Mark P
1:27
Blue Jays, Angels, maybe the Padres, maybe the Nationals (though it doesn't seem like the Nats have a ton of spending capacity this offseason), maybe the Red Sox if they moved Vazquez.
Guest
1:28
Can you see the Rays trading KK to someone like the Astros who are in the CF market?
Mark P
1:30
It's a match on paper, especially given the familiarity between the two front offices via James Click.  It remains to be seen how much Houston has available to spend, of course, and if I'm the Astros, I probably prefer just signing a Jackie Bradley for only money rather than give players to Tampa for Kiermaier AND take a good chunk of Kiermaier's deal
Francisco Lindor
1:30
Am I getting traded this offseason?
Mark P
1:30
Yep
Wrigley
1:31
2 years from now, who of the world series champion Cubs is still on the team?
Mark P
1:32
Heyward, since I don't think that contract is being moved
1:33
The other interesting part of this exercise is noticing how few Cubs are actually still remaining from 2016.  It's down to Rizzo, Hendricks, Bryant, Baez, Contreras and Heyward by my count
Andrew
1:33
With all the Jays rumors about people coming in. Who's going out? Grichuk has to be the primary body they want to ship out.
Mark P
1:34
I tend to agree, though that's easier said than done given Grichuk's salary.  If the Jays are looking to acquire a player with an even bigger contract, moving Grichuk is a way of offsetting some of that salary
Gossip Girl
1:36
This off-season has been infuriatingly slow ...
Mark P
1:36
This one doesn't really feel all that slow, probably because everyone kind of expected a long-to-develop market anyway.  

The 2017-18 and 18-19 offseasons seemed way slower
Chicago Gus
1:37
Ketchup or no ketchup on a ballpark dog?
Mark P
1:37
Definitely ketchup, I'm a big ketchup fan
Houzer
1:37
Tigers should take all of their free agent dollars and go grab Theo Epstein
Mark P
1:39
That would be fun, Epstein just going around the league like a Johnny Appleseed of reviving classic franchises.

But, Detroit's Series drought only stretches to 1984.  Not even a half-century?  Child's play by Theo standards.
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