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MLBTR Chat With Mark Polishuk
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Mark P
7:56
The Sunday night chat is moved to Saturday night this week, so let's get to some questions!
Betsy Devos
7:56
Is there going to be another MLBTR free agency prediction contest? If so, when should I look for it
Mark P
7:57
You still have around 51 hours to submit your picks!  Contest entries are open now!
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/11/enter-the-mlbtr-free-agent-pred...
Phil
7:57
Do you think the Phillies to let Miguel Franco play one more year why their top prospect Bohm it's a little more experience in the minors
Mark P
7:58
Bohm will indeed get more minor league seasoning, but I suspect it'll be Kingery at 3B.  Franco is likely on his way out of Philly, maybe even as a non-tender ($6.7MM projected arbitration salary)
Ed McWilliams
7:58
Is there any names on the official mlbtr prediction list that you personally disagree with
Mark P
8:00
No major disagreements.  Steve, Jeff, Connor, and Tim all put a lot of thought and analysis into every prediction, so there's a reasonable case to made for every player to land on the predicted team.
That said, my own ballot in the free agent picking contest will be somewhat different.  Come on, all 50 guys signing with the Orioles!
Ryan
8:01
EVERYONE is linking Bumgarner to the Braves.  Are you buying it?
Steve
8:01
Is there a marriage that makes more sense from every standpoint than the Braves and Bumgarner?  Maybe Cole and the Yankees, but Cole probably wants to play on the west coast
Mark P
8:02
I can certainly see Bumgarner suiting up in Atlanta next year.  It's another case where geography seems like a factor (Bumgarner is from nearby North Carolina), the Braves have a need for pitching, they're willing to spend enough to afford MadBum's not-small but also not-enormous salary demands....lots to like about the match
DG
8:03
why would the Phillies get Donaldson multiyear when they have Bohm coming up?
Mark P
8:04
The Phillies want to win now, and as promising as Bohm is, having Josh Donaldson on your team is a much bigger boost for 2020 success.  If JD signed, the Phils could also then turn Bohm into a trade chip for pitching
Dan
8:04
Ketel marte available?
Mark P
8:04
I highly doubt it.  The D'Backs see him as a cornerstone player
Fredbird
8:05
Odds Ozuna rejects QO from Cards.  If so will the Cards use that money to sign a free agent?
Mark P
8:06
Reports from earlier today suggested Ozuna would turn down the QO, so by this point, it'd be a surprise if he accepted after all.

Cards will actively look into other free agents, though I'm not sure I'd count on any huge signings, given how many contracts are already on their books
Daniel
8:06
Any guys available for trade that we don’t know about yet? Shane Bieber?
Mark P
8:07
I'd be shocked if Cleveland traded Bieber.  Five years of team control left, and he's already shown front-of-the-rotation potential.
Bob G
8:07
Do you think it's time to trade Carlos Correra for some more pitching and maybe a #1 catcher?
Mark P
8:08
Correa has said in the past that he is more likely to test free agency than he is to sign an extension, so if the Astros did see one of their key players as somewhat expendable in a trade, it'd probably be him.
8:09
Correa's injury history limits his trade value somewhat, and teams will be wary of the fact that he probably won't sign an extension with them either (he is controlled through 2021).  But he'd certainly get a lot of trade attention if the Astros shopped him, especially in a thin shortstop market
Baseball Pickers
8:10
How many wins does Rick Hahn need in 2020 to keep his job?
Mark P
8:11
I think only an outright disaster of a year (i.e. 95-100 losses) would get Hahn fired.  If the White Sox don't at least get to the .500 mark in 2020, however, I could definitely see 2021 as Hahn's final chance to get the team on track
D Williams
8:12
When was the first FA signed last year?
Mark P
8:12
Off the top of my head I think it was Adam Wainwright, who either signed shortly after the FA period opened or perhaps re-signed with St. Louis while the Cards will had exclusive negotiating rights to him
long ball
8:13
How do you expect this off season to play out? Similar to the past 2 with regards to long waits for top free agents or do we see some of these top free agents sign earlier?
Mark P
8:14
It'll be interesting to see how the market as a whole adjusts to the last two offseasons.  You have to imagine agents and players now know that the winter of 2017-18 wasn't a fluke, and the "new normal" is teams being willing to wait out free agents
I could see some guys taking deals earlier, and some aggressive teams might now see earlier offers as the new market inefficiency.  Look at the Nationals last winter, moving quickly to get Patrick Corbin signed before the end of November
Devin M
8:16
Do you think Andrew Benintendi will be traded to cut some payroll for the Sox?  Would the Cards make sense?
Mark P
8:17
He'd be a very good fit on the Cards in particular, though Benintendi makes sense for a lot of clubs.  I think the Red Sox will explore all options in shopping Jackie Bradley before they think about dealing Benintendi, however
Slingin Stearns
8:17
Hypothetical: Brewers trade Corbin Burnes, Corey Ray, Aaron Ashby, and Payton Henry to the Rays for Yarbrough, Wendle, and Diaz. Who says no?
Mark P
8:17
Tampa Bay
John Middleton
8:18
Am I in play for Lindor or Bryant trade if their available? Or is my focus on the FA market?
Mark P
8:19
(John Middleton is the Phillies' owner, btw)

I'm sure the Phils will be in on everyone notable, free agent or trade candidate.  Not sure if they're willing to unload prospects again for Lindor or Bryan after already moving some good youngsters for Realmuto last winter
Phllies 64
8:20
Do you think that Gabe Kapler will be the manager of the Giants? He seemed to be a terrible manager for the Phillies.
Mark P
8:20
"Terrible" is a bit of a stretch.  Kapler didn't exactly distinguish himself in Philly, but he would hardly be the first manager to have much better results in his second job.
8:21
In regards to the Giants, it seems like Kapler is at least a finalist for the position, as per the most recent reports: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/11/nl-notes-carpenter-giants-mets....
Matt E
8:22
More likely that the Reds sign (or re-sign) Didi or Grandal?
Mark P
8:23
My guess is Didi would be more likely since fewer teams are in true need of shortstop help this offseason, whereas there are several clubs (including some contenders) that could sorely use a catcher
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