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MLBTR Chat With Mark Polishuk
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Mark P
8:55
Hi everyone, welcome to the chat!  Just a scheduling note.....the Sunday chat will be moving to Saturday for each of the next two weekends
Cubs fan
8:55
How long will Rizzo be out... who plays first. Jim Adduci?
Mark P
8:56
No word yet on Rizzo's timeline
8:57
First base is relatively easy to fill in terms of finding guys to handle the position (though obviously not nearly at Rizzo's level of production).  Cubs can use Happ, Caratini, maybe Zobrist, or maybe they move Bryant over for a few games
Alex
8:58
So what does the future of the Phillies look like? Can they seriously challenge the Braves next year?
Mark P
9:00
The Phillies could have one of the more sneaky-transformative seasons of any team.  I'm not convinced that Kapler will be back next season, and there's at least a slim chance that there could be a change at GM (though I doubt it).

They obviously need a lot of pitching and bullpen help, and there are more than a couple problems areas around the diamond.  But don't forget, this is also a team that had a ton of bad injury luck --- getting even a bit more health in 2020 would go a long way
Angels Fan
9:00
Should the team rebuild?
Mark P
9:01
Not at all.  The Angels have the game's best player in Trout, one of its most intriguing players (Ohtani), a highly-rated upcoming star in Jo Adell, and two guys in Simmons and Upton who should be a lot better in 2020 if they can stay healthy
Too much talent and salary on board to rebuild now
Yosef G
9:02
Why would the diamondbacks want to move to Las Vegas?
Mark P
9:04
The D'Backs have been angling for major ballpark renovations and/or a new stadium altogether for some time now.  And why not, since Chase Field is an absolutely ancient 21 seasons old.  *rolls eyes*

It seems like the D'Backs are at least exploring their options if a deal can't be worked out to remain in Arizona, and Vegas is an exploding sports market (between the Golden Knights and the Raiders).  It makes logical sense that the Diamondbacks would look to Vegas, and the relative geographic proximity is also a plus
Carlos servin
9:05
Who do you have for ROY in each league ?
Mark P
9:05
Yordan Alvarez and Pete Alonso seem like the two clear choices
Rays
9:05
Who will the Rays starting 2B and SS be next year?
Mark P
9:06
Adames at shortstop, and one of Wendle or Brandon Lowe at second base.

In as much as the Rays have a set "starter," given how much they like to juggle their infield positions.
Sad Tigers Fan
9:08
Is Avila blowing this rebuild? He got nothing for Greene and Castellanos. He also failed to trade Boyd when his value was highest? How much longer do I have to endure terrible baseball in Motown?
Mark P
9:09
Greene and Castellanos had limited trade value, since rivals teams didn't buy Greene's level of performance and Castellanos was only a rental player.  So it's not a shock that the Tigers didn't extract much, especially since basically everyone not named Zack Greinke didn't draw a big return at this trade deadline
Chris s
9:11
Alot of outlets are saying Rendon to LA in the offseason... how plausable?
Mark P
9:12
Buster Olney discussed this earlier today, and it's worth noting that at this stage, every top contender has some level of interest in every top free agent.  Some more than others, obviously, and it isn't surprising that Rendon is getting a lot of attention in particular since he's such a great player.
9:13
The Dodgers generally haven't made big free agent splashes under Friedman, aside from re-signing their own guys.  But Rendon is obviously good enough to be an exception to that rule.
9:14
So in short, I'd say the chatter is definitely plausible, though LA will hardly be the only big market contender in the Rendon hunt
KAL
9:14
What do you think of Kyle Lewis? His first week has been phenomenal. He has to be the first player ever to hit home runs to break up back to back no hitters ever
Mark P
9:15
It's been a great start, and a nice story amidst an other rough season for the Mariners.  Don't forget, Lewis was the 11th overall pick for a reason, and he's still only 24.
Wade Davis
9:16
Do I get traded?
Mark P
9:17
Not unless the Rockies eat most or all of the remaining salary.  Davis' trade value is next to nil.
The Parrot
9:18
Would you pay the 20 mil option for Encarnacion or decline it and sign him to a Nelson Cruz type deal if you are the yankees?
Mark P
9:18
I'd suspect the Yankees will decline that option, if for no other reason than to give themselves more flexibility.  You're right, I could see them trying to re-sign EE but at a lower price, and there aren't a lot of other teams in need for a DH, which could help their chances
Boomstick
9:20
The Rangers have a glut of LH hitters and DH types. Who out of Mazara, Choo and Odor should they move and what should the expected return be?
Mark P
9:22
I'm not sure Odor has much value, given his rough season and his contract.  Choo is also worth a lot ($21MM) but he's only signed through 2020.  Mazara, meanwhile, still hasn't shown much of anything at the MLB level, though he has some value as a post-hype prospect.

If I'm GM Jon Daniels, I see if anyone bites on Mazara, despite the sell-low factor
Boo Jays
9:24
Grichuk might hit 30, but really, how long before the extension impacts the Jays long-term success plans?
Mark P
9:26
Grichuk and Gurriel are literally the only Blue Jays on guaranteed deals beyond 2020 (and they're even the only Jays on the books for next season besides Tulowitzki's remaining money).  Grichuk makes $13MM next season and then a little over $10MM in each of 2021-23, which isn't really an onerous amount to carry for a team who very recently had $160MM+ payrolls
Assuming ownership is still willing to go into the 150-160MM range when the Jays are "going for it," Grichuk's deal shouldn't be a burden.
Colossus of Trout
9:26
Would COL package Davis with one of their young arms (Gray) to help get rid of that contract?
Mark P
9:27
Not Gray specifically, since that would be a huge waste of a talented young pitcher to just deal him as a sweetener in a salary dump.  But maybe a prospect or two, sure, though Colorado's system isn't terribly deep.
ArthurR
9:27
Why do some teams place players out for the season on the IL and others do not?
Mark P
9:28
Some teams need an extra 40-man roster space, so they'll put the done-for-2019 player on the 60-day IL
Glen
9:29
Realistic chances Padres make move for top starter? Free agency or trade if they do? Expensive proposition either way but they need to do something. Can’t rely on Garret Richards and other internal options alone, can they?
Mark P
9:30
The Padres have spent over a year looking at seemingly every trade candidate of a pitcher available, but no dice.  At some point you'd think they have to make a move, eh?  As promising as their young arms look, having a proven veteran ace-type pitcher atop that young rotation would really help stabilize things
Jason
9:31
Are the Braves on par with the Dodgers, Yankees and Astros?
Mark P
9:32
I'd put them just a slight touch down from that top tier, but there's no shame in being the #4 team in baseball.  And it wouldn't surprise me at all if Atlanta got hot in October and won the World Series.
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