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MLBTR Chat With Mark Polishuk
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Mark P
9:03
Hi there!  Free agency is in full swing, let's talk some baseball!
Mark
9:03
Do you anticipate the Royals keeping Salvador Perez?
Mark P
9:04
I do.  KC sticks with its veteran guys, especially the stars of the 2014-15 teams, unless they have no other choice.  Besides, Perez doesn't have much trade value after missing an entire season.
Sid
9:04
How shocked were you the braves paid for a reliever and a reliever with a QO attached at that?
Mark P
9:05
Not overly shocked, since 3/$40MM seemed pretty reasonable for Smith.  The Braves also might get a pick back if Donaldson signs elsewhere, so it won't hurt their draft plans too much
Phil
9:05
You think the Phillies are going to go over the luxury tax
Mark P
9:07
Just wrote about that tonight in the post about the Realmuto extension talks.

Apparently, Phillies ownership is only willing to pay the tax as a final push for a title.  So the Phillies won't surpass it this winter, though they might be willing to do so if they're in contention at the deadline and want to add a game-changer of a player in a trade.
Cod
9:07
Miguel Andújar for Kyle Schwarber. Fair trade? Or who says no?
Mark P
9:08
Cubs say no.  I feel like Yankees fans in general are overrating Andujar's trade value.  As good as he was in 2018, don't forget that he missed almost all of 2019.
Matt
9:08
Julio Teheran or Alex Wood: Who’s the better sign?
Mark P
9:09
Hmm, interesting duo.  Teheran is more of a durable innings-eater at this point, whereas Wood has more upside but has health issues.  

I'd personally roll with Wood just on upside, though I can understand a team wanting to take a safer bet
Who's the better sign?
Julio Teheran (50.9% | 583 votes)
 
Alex Wood (49.1% | 562 votes)
 
Total Votes: 1,145
Jerrod
9:10
Anthony Rendon to the Pirates!
Mark P
9:11
There's about as much chance of this happening as there is of Anthony Rendon inventing a time machine, taking up football, and signing with the short-lived Shreveport Pirates of the CFL
Cards in 20
9:11
Dallas or Hamels in STL
Mark P
9:13
Both seems like they'd be good fits.  Keuchel in particular might be very valuable with that great infield defense scooping up all his grounders.  After re-signing Wainwright, however, that makes it Waino/Flaherty/Mikolas/Hudson as the top four, with Carlos Martinez getting another shot at starting in Spring Training.  Not sure if STL would prioritize a notable starter like Keuchel or Hamels beyond other needs
Revival
9:13
Where do veterans like Ryan Zimmerman and Alex Gordon reach in free agency?
Mark P
9:14
I suspect they'll respectively end up back with Washington and KC
Steve
9:14
over/under 1.5 "big name" free agents sign by December 12
Mark P
9:14
You mean more than Smith, Abreu, Odorizzi already?  Hmm....I'll take the over, just because I can hedge forever on what constitutes a "big name."
Alan
9:15
As a Mets fan, I'm nervous about all the players that are out of position.  Would it be wise to sell high on JD Davis and Dominic Smith, in order to get a true CF and some controllable arms
Mark P
9:16
Wouldn't be a bad idea.  Smith in particular doesn't have anywhere to play, since he isn't really an outfielder and Alonso has him blocked at first base.
Erik Neander
9:17
Should I make a deal for Willson Contreras?
Mark P
9:18
(Erik Neander = Rays GM)

Given how the Rays have been trying to find an answer at catcher for years, I'd be surprised if Tampa hadn't already been in touch with the Cubs (or any team that might have catching depth on offer).  The Rays do have enough young and MLB-ready talent to get Chicago's attention in an offer, but the Cubs would obviously want a lot for Contreras
In fact, knowing how creative the Rays are, I wonder if they might target Caratini instead
RANDY
9:19
How much of a factor will the threshold tax play a role in the Yankees  attaining an ace
Mark P
9:20
The Yankees already went over the tax in 2019, so they'll pay an added repeater penalty for exceeding it again in 2020
9:21
In theory, staying anywhere short of the max penalty ($248MM) should be more than acceptable for a team with NYY's deep pockets, but they seem to be considering the tax as a deterrent.
Tim
9:21
If the cardinals trade for Millie Betts, do you think if he was offered Goldschmidt money to stay, would he?
Mark P
9:22
Betts isn't likely to sign an extension with anyone, he has been adamant about wanting to test free agency.  And he will be looking for probably twice Goldschmidt's contract
Ben Cherington
9:22
Am I going to blow the team up and go into full rebuild?
Mark P
9:23
(Ben Cherington = newly-hired Pirates GM)

My guess is yes, given past reports about Cherington's preferred landing spot for another GM job.  He reportedly wanted a team that he could build up from nothing, and if this is still true, that hints at a rebuild for the Bucs
9:24
Now, this said, the Pirates aren't bereft of young talent, so a complete and total rebuild might not be necessary.  The likes of Marte, Bell, Archer could be traded, but I'd guess someone like Reynolds would be retained
SouthJerseySteve
9:25
Relievers are so unpredictable from year to year. Doesnt it make more sense to cast a wide net on low risk/low guarantee guys like Clippard, Romo & Holland and bounceback guys like Morrow, Bach & Rosenthal hoping to catch lightning  in a bottle instead of spending millions on a guy like Will Smith?
Mark P
9:26
In theory, though if none of those "low-risk" bounce-back types don't bounce back (which is a distinct possibility), then fans are asking why a team didn't spend some real money on a proper star reliever
Fred Bird
9:27
Do the Cards still have hopes to sign Ozuna now that he turned down the Qualifying Offer? Or are they ready to move on?
Mark P
9:27
I think they've been pretty ready to move on for months now
Hamels
9:28
The second-tier Cole on this FA market - where does he sign, and for how much/how long??? Think Cubs re-up on one-year deal?
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