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Mark P
8:31
In these parts, "WBC" stands for Weekend Baseball Chat.  Let's take some questions....
Mark Andrew
8:34
Do you see Jays trading Biggio if Merrifield is going to get most of 2B playing time?
Mark P
8:35
It might be less a function of Merrfield's playing time than Toronto's confidence in Lukes, Barger, and/or Lopez to provide bench depth.  Lukes and Barger especially since they (like Biggio) hit from the left side.
AG7
8:36
Do you think we'll see more, fewer or the same amount of start players in the next WBC?
Mark P
8:37
If anything, probably more.  Some stars probably sat out this year's WBC as a function of wanting to finally have a normal Spring Training for the first time in a few years.  Given how almost everyone who plays in the WBC seems to love the experience, I suspect it'll only draw more interest as the event re-establishes itself
Rich
8:37
Heston Kjerstad isn’t a highly rated prospect by most sources, yet he’s looked the part in the spring. Real or mirage?
Mark P
8:39
He was the #2 overall pick in the draft, and a top-100 prospect in MLB Pipeline's view.  So I kind of disagree with your premise that he isn't "highly rated."

Now, other outlets were a bit more circumspect in their ranking since Kjerstad has barely played due to injuries.  But since getting healthy, he definitely looks to be living up to the pre-draft hype, giving the Orioles yet another intriguing prospect
Braves Ss
8:39
So if Shoemake does win the SS job, does that mean Grissom ultimately becomes a utility player, or is the plan he eventually starts at 2B or SS?
Mark P
8:41
The Braves probably juggle at-bats between the two, so it'd be more of a platoon than one player definitively being the starter over the other.  But, there's also a good chance the Braves demote the "loser" of the battle, because Atlanta ultimately wants both guys playing everyday at some level
Harry Du Bois
8:42
Does the increase in free agent spending this past offseason have something to do with the free agent class next offseason looking comparatively weak?
Mark P
8:43
That's surely one factor, but the larger reason might simply be that (some) teams were more willing and eager to spend now that the CBA had been settled
Tigers Fan
8:43
Harris said he was going to earmark at bats for youngsters and frankly they're playing better than Schoop anyway. Why would the tigers hand Schoop a job when he doesn't earn it and it really wouldn't cost any more money to cut him?
Mark P
8:44
Since they're paying Schoop anyway, the Tigers might give him some time early in the season to see if he can bounce back at the plate, and possibly generate some trade value.
8:45
My guess is that the leash is pretty short, however, so if Schoop still isn't hitting, Detroit might part ways relatively quickly
Sad Nats fan
8:46
The Nationals chose Strasburg and Corbin over Harper, Turner, Scherzer and Soto.  Is there a worse screwup in sports history?
Mark P
8:47
Since the 2019 World Series falls within your window of moves there, then no, there have been far more egregious mistakes.  And obviously it's a little more complicated than the Nats making a straight-forward "choice" of two players over the others.
Yankees
8:48
If the Yankees were to trade IKF, who would be the most likely place and what would a package look like?
Mark P
8:50
Well, the Astros just suddenly got a need for infield help, as unusual as it would be to see Houston and New York combine on a trade.

IKF naturally has some pretty limited trade value, since other teams obviously see the flaws that limited him in New York last year.  The $6MM salary doesn't help, but it's worth noting that IKF was also a 1.3 fWAR player last year.  That's not nothing, so there might be a trade that could be made involving another team's unwanted player (perhaps someone else coming off a rough 2022)
Mr. Bloom
8:51
Any chance Eloy Jimenez is available at the deadline and if so what would he cost me?
Mark P
8:52
Even if the White Sox did fall out of the race and become sellers, a lot of players will be moved before Chicago considers moving Jimenez.  If he was dealt, that would seemingly signal that the ChiSox are really revamping their roster, which doesn't seem like a step they're ready to take
Guest
8:53
Do you think Zach Eflin has a breakout campaign? The Ray's must see something that they can unlock in him after that contract
Mark P
8:54
If Eflin is healthy, I think he'll have a very effective year.  By this point, I just assume that if the Rays acquire a player (and in this case were willing to pay significant money), they know something that can unlock some more potential
Speechful in Seattle
8:55
A lot of starting pitchers have gone down this spring. Yet, a credible #4 starter, Chris Flexen, is apparently ticketed for a buried-in-the-back-of-the-bullpen role for Seattle. Do you think the spate of injuries has intensified trade interest in Flexen? And if so, what kind of return could he command?
Mark P
8:57
I'm sure the M's have gotten tons of calls about Flexen, and by this point you're right, Jerry Dipoto might well have increased his asking price based on higher demand.

I've said this before in chats, but my feeling has been that Seattle will ultimately keep Flexen because of his value to their own rotation.  It's rare to keep a pitching staff as healthy as the 2022 Mariners, so if they're due an injury, they'll welcome having Flexen around
Drafty
8:58
Will you guys release a top draft prospects list?
Mark P
8:59
There are plenty of other outlets (i.e. Baseball America, MLB Pipeline, Fangraphs, Keith Law) who devote much more focus to the draft and provide actual direct prospect scouting than we do.
RAGBRAI
9:01
Assuming all are healthy and they are still in, where should the Brewers look to upgrade?
Mark P
9:01
Bullpen reinforcement, and another bat in the lineup.
James
9:02
Didn’t take very long for rodon to get hurt. With his injury history, why would the Yankees think this wouldn’t have eventually happened. Granted doubt they thought it would happen after one start
Mark P
9:03
In fairness, pretty much every player in baseball has some kind of injury history, plus even players who rarely get hurt can always fall victim to some random fluky injury or another
In Rodon's case, he's back throwing, so it appears as though he's avoided a worst-case scenario
Denis Menke
9:04
Who get the bulk of playing time at 2B for Houston?
Mark P
9:06
Probably Hensley, but even though the Astros are known for their faith in homegrown prospects, obviously they didn't expect to be using Hensley (or Dubon) in this kind of extended role any time soon.  

It will be interesting seeing how the Astros respond to Altuve's absence, since we don't have much track record on how Dana Brown will adjust to such a notable injury.
Waino
9:06
Am I a part of the hall of fame class in six years?
Mark P
9:07
Maybe not on the first ballot, but I suspect Wainwright will eventually be in Cooperstown.  In six years' time, the voters might have a new collective view on pitching stats, so Wainwright's numbers might stand out more
BR
9:08
Thoughts on Torkelson’s second season?  Was his first a view of what’s to come?
Mark P
9:09
He's had an okay spring, so that's at least something positive.  But Torkelson and basically every Tiger is hard to evaluate, given how unusual that entire 2022 season was for the organization.  As hard as it was to fathom that everyone could struggle at all once, it's also hard to believe that everyone will collectively bounce back with the fresh start of a new season.
I do think it's way too early to give up on a young player of Torkelson's pedigree, however.
Ramp
9:10
Back to the Flexen question, I understand wanting depth but the Mariners feel like a solid hitter away from true World Series contention. If they were to package Flexen and their tradeable 1st round Competitive Balance pick, could they add that piece and who may be a good trade target?
Mark P
9:10
That pick is itself so valuable that the Mariners could get a good hitter back in return without having to move Flexen.
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