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MLBTR Chat With Mark Polishuk
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Mark P
3:47
Hi everyone, we're doing this week's Sunday chat in the afternoon rather than the evening.  My night will be spent, in super-cool fashion, watching the Oscars.
Friar faithful
3:48
Do the padres have chance to sign Bryce Harper?
Mark P
3:49
I love that SD is being aggressive and even discussing the possibility.  Adding Harper would create an even bigger logjam in their outfield....or, maybe not, since their current outfield options are all unproven, to some extent.  (Except Myers, in theory.)
John
3:50
If the phillies sign harper, does that rule them out for trout after 2020?
Mark P
3:51
Nope.  Phillies only have $63MM on the books beyond 2020, so they will absolutely explore signing Trout if he's available.
Noam
3:52
Mark, what do you think of the Mariners as a dark horse for a WC?  The lineup seems more balanced than last year's...
Mark P
3:53
It would be wild if THIS was the Mariners team that broke the postseason drought, but I'd be pretty surprised.
Brian, BTV
3:53
Hot take alert: Torres starting SS for NYY this year....true or false?
Mark P
3:54
The Yankees can't count on Tulowitzki to stay healthy, so I'd imagine Torres gets some significant time at shortstop before Didi returns.  (Or maybe even afterwards.)
Jeff Bridich
3:55
Do I need to make additional moves to win our first NL west title?
Mark P
3:57
I like what Colorado has done this winter, adding Murphy gives that lineup a nice boost.  I'm a believer in Tapia, and would be more keen on giving him OF at-bats than Ian Desmond at this point.  

That said, I'm surprised the Rox didn't add anything at catcher.  I'd say the pitching staff as well, though I'm wary about adding any starter to Coors Field.  The Rockies seem to be on a good roll with homegrown arms, so maybe I'll leave it up to them.
Jeff S
3:57
Are the Blue Jays playing their cards right by NOT investing in somebody like Harper right now, or should they strike while they have the chance? Harper & Vlad Jr would make a very formidable duo...
Mark P
3:59
The Jays want to be absolutely sure of what they have in Vlad Jr. before making a big splash like a Harper signing.  Toronto also has a lot of uncertainty with their pitching staff right now, and it's harder to attract someone like Harper on a "wait-two-years basis" in the AL East.
Michael Scott
3:59
Am I crazy to believe that the Twins could absolutely take the division from the Indians if Sano, Buxton, & Berrios have good years?
Mark P
4:00
Stranger things have happened.  The Twins need quite a bit to go right to overtake Cleveland, though I'm not sure the Tribe really did anything to truly improve themselves either
Mike
4:01
Why wouldn't the Cards go all in on Machado or Harper? They were willing to give Stanton a $300M deal, swung and missed, and now want to sit on the same money that could help them win the Central.
Mark P
4:02
St. Louis has a good chunk of money earmarked to try and extend Goldschmidt, and they've made enough big expenditures over the years on signings and extensions that it's hard to really call them cheap or anything.
Robert
4:03
How can the White Sox justify not being all in on Bryce Harper?  He fits perfectly and they have virtually no payroll commitments.  Am I missing something?
Mark P
4:05
There are justifiable reasons to prefer Machado to Harper, so it could be that the White Sox were only willing to make the big splash for one particular player.
Farhan
4:05
Who are the likely candidates to replace Hall of Famer Bruce Bochy?
Mark P
4:07
Meulens and Wotus are long-time Giants coaches who have been often mentioned as possible managers-in-waiting.  Beyond them, however, the Giants might want to go with the trend of hiring a younger manager, maybe from outside the org.
David Bell, if you recall, was another "manager of the future" time in the Giants organization before he went to the Reds
Eppler
4:07
As painful as it would be: Could I package Pujols with Trout to position the Angels to rebuild on the fly and return to contention in a short time frame? Moreno isn’t fielding a contender around Trout so why waste his remaining control?
Mark P
4:09
(A reference to Angels GM Billy Eppler)

Pujols and Trout both have no-trade clauses, first of all.  And the Angels would argue that they're not trying to field a contender, though they haven't been able to avoid the injury bug
Allen
4:09
Do you believe that Harper has had multiple 300+ offers?
Mark P
4:10
I do.  At this late stage in the offseason, I fully believe a lot of teams have made under-the-radar pitches to try and land Harper.
Nate from 618
4:11
Will Kimbrel suffer the same fate as Greg Holland and struggle in 2019 with a lesser ST experience?
Mark P
4:11
I don't think Kimbrel will have to wait until Opening Day to sign, though players are definitely wary about missing too much spring training prep time.
AngelsinTheTroutfield
4:12
Bauer's "one year contracts" rep make him a more likely trade candidate in 2019-2020?
Mark P
4:13
In a way, it kind of fits for Cleveland, who likely wouldn't have the payroll to sign him to a long-term deal anyways.  They'll enjoy his services for the next two years and likely bid adieu after that.  

Tribe could re-explore the idea of dealing Kluber or Bauer next season, though obviously a lot depends on what happens in 2019
Eric
4:14
Are the Brewers still looking or are they done with FA?
Mark P
4:14
No team is ever truly "done" looking, though I think a lot of the heavy lifting is complete.  I can't totally rule them out on Keuchel, though I would deem it unlikely
Moonarc
4:14
Does Stroman has any chance of landing on a contender by end of spring training? Or by trade deadline?
Mark P
4:15
Probably not by the end of ST.  Don't forget, Stroman had a pretty rough 2018, so teams likely aren't willing to give the Jays much in a trade.  If Stroman has a nice first half, however, he'll be a big deadline trade chip
Sf giants
4:15
Hey. What is happening in the bay with Harper or anything else. They couldn’t even give Harper of Marwin Gonzalez a decent offer. What the heck.
Mark P
4:16
Harper seemed like a longshot given all the other big contracts already on board.  Marwin, however, always felt to me like a great fit for the Giants.  He gives them a corner outfielder immediately, plus cover at 2B or 3B if Panik or Longoria struggle.
Ross
4:17
Do you think the A’s will get one more SP?
Mark P
4:18
I think so, not a big name, but one more decent low-cost veteran type
gabe
4:19
what's the likelihood of a degrom extension by the end of spring?
Mark P
4:20
It's early, but I'd say probably 60% leaning towards no.  Then again, we're kind of in uncharted waters with the weird dynamic of deGrom's former agent now running the Mets
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