Mark P
- The Weekend Chat has returned! We’ll take a minute to get some questions construct up, after which get into it…
Guards ball
- Do you assume the guardians have a legit shot to nonetheless when the Al central contemplating the recent begin we’re on because the all star break?
Mark P
- Detroit’s lead is down to 6 video games over Cleveland, which remains to be fairly substantial. It might take a combo of the Guards each staying scorching, and the Tigers persevering with their so-so play over the past month for the Guardians to have a authentic likelihood.
It might be fairly ironic if, a 12 months after their huge late-season surge, the Tigers had been caught by one other workforce occurring a shock late run
Rangers Fan
- I’ve seen conflicting stories on the Rangers CBT scenario after the commerce deadline additions. The native beat writers are appearing as if the Rangers will definitively finish the season over the CBT threshold. However different sources, like Spotrac and Cot’s, make it appear to be the Rangers can and can find yourself under the CBT threshold. Clearly, bonuses and incentives complicate issues, however in the event you take the incentives which are “very probably” to hit, it seems the Rangers will keep beneath with just a little room for added bonuses. Do you have got any readability on this?
Mark P
- A workforce’s last luxurious tax quantity isn’t formally identified till the league releases numbers in December. Websites like Cot’s, Spotrac, RosterResource, and so forth. do an awesome job in offering projections and estimates, however they’re the primary to inform you that they’re working with incomplete info. Many different elements like roster bonuses or different bills are identified typically solely to the groups themselves, and people the x-factor numbers audited by the league at 12 months’s finish
- My guess proper now could be that Texas is simply barely beneath the road, given how Cot’s/RR/Spotrac all have them just below the $241MM tax line.
Jeff
- Who wins the AL West, Astros or Mariners?
Mark P
-
Who wins the AL West?
Astros (43.2% | 272 votes)
Mariners (51.6% | 325 votes)
Rangers (5.0% | 32 votes)
Whole Votes: 629
- I expanded your query so as to add the Rangers, since they’re actually nonetheless within the image at this juncture.
Armchair GM
- With the addition of Catlos Correa, the place does Isaac Paredes play if he had been to come back again earlier than the playoffs? Is Paredes commerce bait within the offseason?
Mark P
- Paredes could be used at 1B or DH, relying on Alvarez’s standing. You possibly can perhaps see him at 2B if Altuve then performs left subject. Evidently, Houston would discover a method to get Paredes in there.
Visitor
- Is Boston legit, or is that this one other fluke begin to the 2nd half?
Mark P
- They’re positively legit. Now that the pitching has began to come back round, the Sox don’t have many weaknesses
Don
- Watching each Tiger recreation it’s straightforward to see how and why they’ve been inconsistent recently. Mark I’m questioning how a non fan sees it from the surface trying in. Thanks
Mark P
- To not press the panic button an excessive amount of for Detroit followers, however there are some similarities proper now between the 2024 Orioles and the 2025 Tigers — a workforce that had mainly every part go proper for 3 months, after which actuality began to sink in.
There’s nonetheless loads of time for the Tigers to stabilize issues. As talked about earlier, their six-game lead remains to be substantial. (In case you requested Tigers followers earlier than the season if they’d’ve been pleased with a six-game division lead on August 9, that might’ve been a unanimous sure.)
- I discover it arduous to consider, for one, that Riley Greene’s hunch will final the remainder of the 12 months
Chris
- I do know The Athletic talked about it, do you assume its doable the Yanks minimize their losses with Williams as soon as some aid guys come off the IL?
Yankeeman
- Is Devin Williams actually a September launch candidate
Mark P
- Like I stated in that Yankees notes publish, the truth that that is even floated as semi-realistic chance is wild, contemplating Williams’ popularity. I’d say it’s nonetheless unlikely on condition that it was just some weeks in the past that Williams appeared like his previous self heading into the All-Star break.
Brewer Fan
- Not anquestiin however I simply wish to say, the workforce with the very best file proper now has a beginning outfield of Issac Collins, Blake Perkins, and Sal Frelick.. this workforce is totally wild.
Mark P
- Credit score to these outfielders for all taking part in properly, and to the Brewers group typically for (as soon as once more) determining a method to stay contenders.
Redsfan
Mark P
- The Reds have a gap right here with the Mets struggling and the Cubs to some extent simply treading water over the previous couple of weeks. Cincinnati’s commerce deadline strikes had been fairly attention-grabbing, and I feel the workforce nonetheless had it in them to make a run down the stretch
Visitor
- ought to Luis Robert Jr. preserve his luggage packed within the off season? If not, do the Sox signal a giant bat to pair with Robert and who may that bat be?
Mark P
- Chicago’s actually not going to make a giant signing since they’re nonetheless within the depths of the rebuild. It will likely be fascinating to observe the Robert commerce talks this winter and see what sort of deal (if any) can get finalized. Even selecting up that membership choice is an attention-grabbing threat for the Sox, because it they find yourself having to eat cash to finish a deal, it’ll look fairly unusual.
Al Pacino
Mark P
Detroit
- I’m speaking constructing a dynastic workforce, not making an attempt to eek in by promoting the highest prospects.
- First place precipitated the GM to drop the workforce constructing plan? They had been a rebuilding workforce and had pending Free Brokers, an choose out participant and blocked prospects not more likely to make the Detroit roster.
Mark P
- These had been two completely different feedback by the identical poster, for the file.
Scott Harris made statements one thing alongside these traces post-deadline, saying that different groups had been making such huge asks for Detroit’s high prospects that Harris didn’t wish to blow up the long run simply to make a run in 2025. That’s all logical and, as I’ve famous up to now, having a deep farm system can typically made commerce talks troublesome, since each different membership will naturally intention excessive at first for simply the highest minor leaguers.
I do assume digging a bit deeper into the prospect pile, nonetheless, may’ve been a shot within the arm for a flagging Tigers workforce. Acquiring a participant with a number of years of management, for example, may’ve been value the price of gifting away somebody within the high 10 prospects (if clearly not Clark, McGonigle, and so forth.)
Prellers Demise Want
- What was your favourite deadline transfer?
Mark P
- I actually favored the Phillies getting Duran. They paid a giant price, however having a star nearer instantly solves a giant roster drawback.
Blue Jays
- If the jays make the playoffs, what’s their beginning rotation seem like?
Mark P
- Best name might be simply Gausman, Berrios, Bassitt, with Scherzer because the fourth. Lauer most likely deserves a begin however he may also be extra simply shifted down into bullpen responsibility. Bieber (and Manoah) are x-factors as properly, however we’ll cross that bridge as soon as we see both in motion.
Braves Fan
- Nice job with the deadline protection!
Mark P
- Thanks! As you may anticipate, deadline day is definitely MLBTR’s busiest day of the 12 months, so the entire workers was on name to cowl the tons of breaking tales all day lengthy.
JN
- What does the Dodgers playoff rotation seem like with everybody wholesome? Would Kershaw doubtlessly be unnoticed? Have a tough time trusting Sasaki with no postseason expertise
Mark P
- Large if, however IF everyone seems to be wholesome, Kershaw will nonetheless get begins. It’s doable you might see a Kershaw/Ohtani hybrid “starter” in a piggyback capability relying on the place Ohtani is at health-wise come October.
Ranger Hazard
- Mistake by the phils not buying and selling me?
Mark P
Paint(er) by numbers
- I get that I’m good, however I’ve already had tj. Shouldn’t the phils have traded an unproven amount in me for a identified amount in Kwan? Would have solved speedy and long run OF questions.
Mark P
- Two questions sort of fold into one right here, as Painter will most likely be stepping proper into the rotation spot left open when Suarez (probably) departs in free company. The Phillies as an alternative opted to maneuver Abel to handle one other want in bringing Duran in to shut.
marlins
- Cody B would look good for us in RF, low strike outs good d some pop, all we’d like is offense
Mark P
- I’m going out on a limb by saying that the Marlins gained’t be signing Cody Bellinger this winter. Or anybody to any sort of dear, longer-term contract. Miami’s rebuild has proven some actually good progress nevertheless it’ll be a very long time (if ever) that the group strikes into that sort of a participant acquisition section.
Brett
- Are the Braves nearer to contending or a rebuild?
Mark P
- There’s nonetheless a lot expertise on the roster that I really feel 2025 may simply be a Murphy’s Regulation season. Having mainly the complete rotation get harm is sufficient to crush any workforce, however the greater long-term problem is perhaps that so lots of the hitters didn’t produce.
With more healthy pitching, Acuna, Olson, the Baldwin/Murphy combo, and Riley, that’s a superb core proper there. No less than one in all Harris/Profar/Albies must rebound, and I really feel it’s doable Atlanta may commerce Albies this winter to improve at 2B.
Cashman
- I do know Devin Williams has been terrible, particularly lately. He does have an awesome monitor file, any likelihood he will get a qualifying supply within the offseason? Does he settle for it?
Mark P
- Williams would completely settle for a qualifying supply, however the Yankees simply as completely aren’t going to supply one given his struggles
Fats Man
- For Duran, i personally would have most popular Ford and Sloan or Cijntje over Tait and Abel, just because the Twins would have a extra close to prepared catcher and will commerce Jeffers within the low season. What say you?
Mark P
- That additionally would’ve been a reasonably good commerce bundle, besides we don’t know if the Mariners truly had that supply on the desk.
Lars
- Are the Cardinals a greater workforce with out Arenado?
Mark P
- Since Arenado isn’t providing a lot at this level past good protection, most likely sure.
Is it Soccer Season?
- What is going to it take for the Reds to actually purchase a participant that helps them offensively this winter/offseason? And when will the media start calling out their possession/entrance workplace?
Mark P
- For my part, the Cincinnati beat writers have been a lot essential of the workforce’s strikes, or lack thereof.
The Reds have some huge cash coming off the books this winter, so even with arb raises reducing into that determine to some extent, there’s room for the workforce to make at the very least one dear addition. If such a transfer is made, it merely must be for a productive participant (i.e. not the Jeimer Candelario signing), given the workforce’s price range limitations. Including one correct full-time outfielder relatively than counting on the platoons would even be a great way to solidify issues.
Mark
- Do you assume Trevor Story will choose out on the finish of the season given his efficiency this season?
Mark P
- Story is getting into his age-33 season, and could be leaving a assured $55MM on the desk by opting out of the final two seasons on his deal. I discover it arduous to consider he’d cross on that cash coming off a season by which he’d stayed wholesome, however nonetheless solely has barely above-average offense
- It appears far likelier that Story stays in his contract and sticks round to play for a Crimson Sox workforce that appears like they’re getting into a promising period
A’s tanked 2025 buying and selling Erceg
- Why don’t the Oakland A’s go away a superb bullpen in place with out tinkering with it? Do you assume the A’s would have gone 1–20 this 12 months, if that they had not traded Lucas Erceg to the Royals? (Will Klein is already gone, like Joe Boyle; in current trades, plainly the A’s have acquired numerous gamers who’re quickly gone from the franchise: out of choices, and so forth.? I don’t know the appropriate time period for it, however this appears to be a current phenomenon.) Commerce Mason Miller and JP Sears to the Padres for 4 this 12 months; you’re playing that Leo de Vries seems to be one thing greater than Yoan Moncada, and also you’re playing which you can commerce one reliever after one or two good years for an additional minor league prospect or two who throws 100mph. What’s your faculty of thought on buying and selling relievers having good years with years of workforce management for minor league starters? It looks as if the A’s haven’t introduced up starters like Hudson Mulder Zito in a very long time…
Mark P
- Aid pitching is inherently unreliable. I don’t blame the A’s for promoting excessive on Miller and even Erceg, particularly when one other workforce is prepared to supply a blue-chipper like DeVries
Skenes
- As a diehard Pirates fan (I’ll take your pity please), is it improper for me to wish to commerce Skenes now? I need him in Pittsburgh ceaselessly however the actuality is that isn’t going to occur and I don’t wish to see his profession ruined by the inept group. Plus the haul again is the very best wager to land 3 future main league bats within the lineup.
Mark P
- It’s an unlucky state of affairs that followers are so resigned to having a generational expertise on their workforce appear to be an inevitable departure. I ponder what number of Pirates followers share this poster’s view, within the sense that the Bucs may as properly promote excessive on him now relatively than delaying the inevitable.
Armchair GM
- What sort of extensions ($ and years) would the Astros have to supply Hunter Brown and Jeremy Pena within the offseason, to maintain them in Houston past their arbitration years?
Mark P
Rippin dingers
- Why isn’t Lawlar taking part in on a regular basis within the bigs?
Mark P
- He’s been recovering from a hamstring pressure. As soon as wholesome, he’ll actually get referred to as again to the Diamondbacks.
Baseball fan
- Jays seem like contenders however Brendon Little has been unhealthy lately and Fluharty/Bruihl aren’t leverage guys. Do you assume Little bounces again and the way will jays pen fare going ahead?
Mark P
- Dominguez and Varland had been good additions, however I might’ve favored to have seen Toronto get yet one more reliever into the combo. You talked about a number of of the inexperienced or unproven names the Blue Jays have been counting on for a lot of the 12 months, and the doorways could already be coming off a few these relievers.
- Relying on the state of the rotation, it appears doable the Jays may do one thing like transfer Manoah and even Lauer into the bullpen in September so as to add depth and high quality.
Charlesco
- When will Skubal be a free agent? Ought to they’ve gone all in?
Mark P
- He’s set to hit free company following the 2026 season.
- Skubal is one other Boras consumer, so with an extension unlikely, I might’ve seen this example as one more reason the Tigers may’ve or ought to’ve pushed tougher to win now
who’s on 1st
- Altho Altuve has been a workforce participant by transferring off 2b, give the man some respect by leaving him at 2b- with all his accomplishments over time.
Mark P
- The opposite issue behind the place change was that Altuve has been a subpar defender (within the view of most metrics) at second base for a while now. He hasn’t carried out a lot better as a left fielder both, leaving the Astros in a little bit of a quandary about the place precisely to play him going ahead.
Ken
- What would a Nick Kurtz extension seem like?
Mark P
- Since Kurtz is proscribed to first base, he most likely couldn’t command one thing fairly within the Anthony/Carroll tier of extensions for gamers with lower than a 12 months of service time. However, asking for at the very least a $10MM common annual worth looks as if absolutely the ground.
Barney Coolio
- Will anybody ever steal 500 bases once more?
Mark P
- At this charge, Josh Naylor will probably be there earlier than the season is out.
Phillies
- The Phillies have managed to make it by one other 12 months with only one main pitching damage, and that wasn’t even an arm damage! How have they managed to remain so (comparatively) wholesome whereas the remainder of the league seemingly has to cycle by 10 starters simply to get by a season?
Mark P
- Feels such as you’re tempting destiny simply by asking this query! A part of it’s simply pure luck, half could be owed to the Phillies investing in the appropriate pitchers, and credit score must be given to the workforce’s medical and coaching workers for his or her half in conserving these guys wholesome.
taylor ward
- would the reds commerce hector rodriguez for ward this offseason?
Mark P
- Ward is the sort of on a regular basis participant that might be a pleasant slot in Cincy, besides I’m unsure Rodriguez could be the best commerce piece. H-Rod himself might be a part of the reply within the Reds’ outfield as early as subsequent season.
Barney Coolio
- Critically, will anybody ever steal 500 bases once more?
Mark P
- That was a critical reply! Who’re you to doubt the Mississauga Pace Demon?!
Precise response: solely 39 gamers in MLB historical past have ever reached the 500-steal plateau, so it’s not prefer it’s a typical milestone. I’d say that sure, somebody will get there once more ultimately, nevertheless it’ll take a particular sort of participant. Possibly a Chandler Simpson if he retains persistently hitting.
- Sorry for the delay there, had a quick web outage nevertheless it looks as if every part’s up and working once more
IM
- What do you make of the O’s amount over high quality strategy to the deadline?
Mark P
- There was solely a lot the Orioles had been going to get for rental gamers, so in that sense, the membership did properly in amassing numerous lottery tickets and extra for his or her numerous commerce chips.
CardinalRed
- Wouldn’t it make any sense for the Playing cards to signal DJ? Yankees are paying him by subsequent 12 months and he may assist JJ at 2B, plus the Arenado friendship. Arenado wants to remain within the StL and enter the HoF with a Playing cards cap
Mark P
- For a Cardinals workforce that’s prioritizing taking part in time for youthful expertise, signing LeMahieu wouldn’t make any sense
Starryl Drawberry
- Agree or disagree: Shopping for on the commerce deadline is a lure for many groups. Deadline trades often don’t transfer the needle a lot and usually tend to hurt than harm; for each Yoenis Cespedes that is available in and saves a season, there are 5 Pete Crow-Armstrongs.
Mark P
Curt Blefary
- The Scherzer/Kershaw match up, final evening, was solely the third time within the the final 35 years that two pitchers with 3,000+ strikeouts confronted each other. It occurred 20 occasions within the ’80’s! i discover this wonderful! The truth that beginning pitchers don’t go as deep in video games appears to be the largest cause for this phenomena. What, in your opinion, are some others?
Mark P
- The rationale it occurred so comparatively typically within the 80’s is as a result of Nolan Ryan was round to face everybody, however you’re proper, it’s a reasonably cool feat. It’s enjoyable that the Jays and Dodgers appeared to go a bit out of their approach to ensure issues lined up for Scherzer and Kershaw to face one another one (final?) time
Kelly Leak
- Are the O’s a cautionary story for all the great younger Groups on the market? This time final 12 months the O’s had been anticipated to dominate for the subsequent 10 seasons.
Mark P
- That is maybe one more reason why the Tigers may’ve or ought to’ve been extra aggressive on the deadline….
….and but, the Kyle Stowers commerce is maybe a counter-example of why buying and selling prospects doesn’t all the time work out. In equity, Rogers has appeared excellent for Baltimore this 12 months, in order that commerce now not appears as inexplicable because it did on the time.
Friar Devoted
- What’s your opinion on the concept the Padres could attempt to flip Mason Miller right into a starter subsequent 12 months?
Mark P
- I assume there’s no hurt in stretching him out for a glance in Spring Coaching, although Miller’s damage historical past makes me assume he’s simply higher off as a reliever
Jays Fan
- Is it improper that I refuse to provide Aikins any credit score for this 1st place Crew. It simply appears that my uncle Joe may have stumbled into a high quality Crew after 10 years and a $240 hundreds of thousands payroll.
Mark P
- In case your uncle Joe can develop 4 (occurring 5?) playoff groups in 10 years, the Nationals may need his contact data.
Oz
- What’s Alex Anthopoulos’ strategy this low season?
Mark P
- I ponder if the Braves may not be a comparatively quiet workforce, in the event that they’re chalking 2025 as much as extraordinarily unhealthy damage luck. AA will all the time make some strikes, however by way of true blockbusters, I’m unsure if any are on the horizon apart from maybe a reorg within the center infield.
Royals
- Do they make the postseason or miss out?
Mark P
