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Mark P
6:05
The Weekend Chat is back, as things were too busy to run a chat last week due to all of the pre-deadline news and rumors.  (And, I went to a Comedy Bang Bang Show last Sunday.)  But now, fire away with the questions!
Sdadam
6:06
Do the padres have the best bullpen?
Mark P
6:06
Cleveland holds that crown for their season-long work, but the Padres' big deadline push could put them in the running
Phil
6:07
Do you think the Astros could (maybe next season) try to move Yordan to 1B? Last time he played 1B was 2019 in AAA so maybe he's uncomfortable with the position, but if it were to work he could get a few more innings than in LF
Mark P
6:09
There's some logic to it, as Alvarez isn't a good defensive outfielder and he'll still get a lot of DH time anyways.  Given his injury history, the Astros seem to found a nice balance here that keeps Alvarez healthy and on the field, so perhaps they don't want to shake things up quite too much by having him learn (or re-learn) another position.  

Plus, first base is a relatively easy position to address if and when Houston brings in another player this winter
Dorn
6:09
Can the White Sox break the record?! Is there any hope?
Mark P
6:10
If you're talking about either the 1962 Mets' 120-loss record or the 1963' Phillies record of 23 straight losses.....the answer to both is yes
Phillies
6:10
If you were a Phillies fan how concerned would you be on a level of 1-10
Mark P
6:11
Still maybe a 3, 4 tops.  Still so much talent on that roster, and even the best teams have down stretches over the course of a long season.
Jay
6:14
Much has been said about the Red Sox's wealth of LH batters. With this and his inability to play defense in mind, how far-fetched would it be for the Red Sox to cut their losses on Masataka Yoshida this coming offseason?
Mark P
6:15
Given that Red Sox ownership has been a bit cost-conscious in recent years, I can't imagine they'd eat $54MM (Yoshida's salary through 2025-27) entirely.  While it might be possible they end up releasing him at some point, it's likelier the Sox give him a bit more time to figure things out.  Or, perhaps Craig Breslow figures out a bad contract swap.
Hmmm
6:16
Do you think Blake Snell will decline his option and if so how many years would you expect him to get on the next contract?
Mark P
6:18
At this rate Snell is looking like a sure bet to decline his option.  I would've said the exact opposite thing just a month ago, which speaks to how amazing he has been in his last five starts.

Granted there's still a lot of season left, and Snell could get hurt or have a dip in form.  But he looks to be in frontline ace form and then some, even if his brutal first half of the season will still weigh on other teams' minds when considering a long-term pact.
6:19
One scenario that might come into play is a new deal with the Giants.  Not an extension, since Snell and Scott Boras would want to test the market, but the Giants by this point have a good read on Snell's health.
Chad
6:20
On top of the Harper, Turner, Nola, Wheeler contracts, can you see a path for the Phillies to make a run at Juan Soto? Or would that require his old Nationals pals to talk him into signing there at a steep discount?
Mark P
6:21
As much as the Phillies haven't hesitated to spend, they've already committed so much in future payroll that also paying Soto a record contract seems like a bridge too far.  That said, only a few teams will have the ability to match Soto's asking price, and Philadelphia is one of those teams.

Also, steep discount for a Boras client??
Mr. Chicago
6:22
Why didn't the Sox get more for Fedde?
Mark P
6:24
That trade left me scratching my head a little, since it seemed like the Cardinals got a lot for giving up very little, and the Dodger and ChiSox roughly broke even.

Landing a former top prospect like Vargas isn't nothing, and a three-prospect package overall is pretty solid for two guys brought on as surefire deadline trade chips just this past offseason.  Fedde drew plenty of interest, but I think most teams ultimately saw him as a mid-to-back of the rotation guy.
Guest
6:25
Great job on the Deadline coverage!
Jays Fan
6:25
Thank you for the trade deadline coverage. Has the MLBTR recovered and caught their breath?
Mark P
6:26
Thanks!  Deadline day is naturally the biggest day of the year here at MLBTR, and all of us were on the site and writing like mad to try and keep up with every bit of news and speculation.
Tiger Fan
6:27
Since our WL record is basically meaningless anymore and I’m just watching the rookies try and grow, I’ve been peeking ahead to the FA market, especially arms. Any chance Buehler could actually leave LA? Not necessarily for Detroit, just a surprise to even think about it given how his career started
Mark P
6:28
My guess is that Buehler opts for a one-year pillow contract, with the idea that a healthy and productive 2025 will then set him up for a big multi-year contract in the 2025-26 offseason.  

Signing that deal with LA makes sense given their long-term familiarity
BabyYoda
6:29
Was last year a "Goldilocks" season for my Rangers where everything came together just right to win their first WS?  This year it seems like everything is against them - their offense is poor, pitching and lineup injuries, and their SP is terrible.  Luckily they are only 5 games back in the AL West for now... but it seems like it's too late
Mark P
6:31
Flags fly forever, right?  You don't need to be the best team all season, but just the best team in October.  Given the Rangers' history, coalescing all of the team's good fortune into a single season is more than worth it, in the view of the fanbase
Mlbfan
6:31
Are the Orioles gonna regret trading Connor norby?
Mark P
6:32
Trading both Norby and Stowers for Rogers was the most surprising trade of the deadline for me, since one of those prospects alone would've constituted a nice return for Miami.  Two seems like a steal, considering how Rogers has been so shaky since his big rookie year.
Soto
6:33
Percentage chance he stays with the Yankees? On one hand, they’re much worse off without him. On the other, so much money tied to Cole, Stanton, Judge….
Mark P
6:34
Similar to the Phillies' answer earlier, the Yankees are on the short list of teams that can actually afford Soto.  And pairing him with Judge as a modern-day Ruth and Gehrig has basically double-handedly kept this team in contention.

I'd say there's a 60% chance Soto is back in the pinstripes next year
DTownWarrior97
6:35
Are you of the same opinion as most of us Tigers fans, that GM Harris didn't get nearly enough for the best rental arm on the market (Flaherty)?
Mark P
6:36
Apparently the market was diluted by concerns over Flaherty's back.  Or, more specifically, concerns over the Yankees' concerns about Flaherty's back
MLBTR fan
6:36
Do you think Jays can compete next year?
Blue Jays fan
6:36
Thoughts on the Jays’ trade deadline? Should they have tried players signed for next year too?
Mark P
6:39
These questions kind of go hand in hand, as I think the Jays should've heavily considered or pulled the trigger on some bigger trades.  

2025 has always been viewed as the turning point year for the Jays since Guerrero and Bichette are free agents after next season, so I can understand the front office wanting to fully see things out with those signature stars before really considering a rebuild.  

However, a case can strongly be made that the window is already closed, Bichette is damaged goods, and the core of veterans and youngsters that was supposed to augment Vlad/Bichette has already broken down.
6:40
The X factor is also whether or not Ross Atkins is still the GM next season.  It would be pretty ironic if Atkins goes all in a last-stand type of season a decade after Alex Anthopoulos did the same
André René Roussimoff
6:41
I'm surprised the Astros couldn't bring in a competent first baseman at the deadline. Seems like it should be easy!
Mark P
6:42
"Easy" is relative, especially when the Astros had to address more pressing needs with pitching. It's possible they could try to pick up a veteran part-timer on the waiver wire, if teams start DFA'ing guys just to see if another team will claim away from salary
Brett Stargell
6:42
Whose chances would you rather buy stock in for the next three years ... Kansas City or Pittsburgh?
Mark P
6:42
What team will be better over the next three seasons?
Pirates (55.4% | 314 votes)
 
Royals (44.6% | 253 votes)
 
Total Votes: 567
6:43
Even with Skenes drawing the headlines, I think KC is my pick here.  Witt is a superstar, and the Royals have shown more of an ability to aggressively seek out talent and spend a bit more
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