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Mark P
10:16
Welcome to this morning's chat!  This is our first chat in the era of Larry Walker (and Derek Jeter, in case you hadn't heard) as a Hall-of-Famer
Dick Williams
10:17
Do we have a good chance of signing Castellanos?
Mark P
10:18
(Dick Williams = Cincinnati's president of baseball operations)

Probably a decent chance, even if Castellanos isn't a great long-term fit on an NL team.  There isn't a super-deep market for Castellanos, as my MLBTR colleague Steve Adams recently pointed out: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/01/nicholas-castellanos-free-agent...
10:19
And, if Texas is really shying away from free agents (or, perhaps more accurately, doesn't want to meet Castellanos' salary demands), there's room for the Reds to swoop in
Reid E
10:19
What team is Arenado playing for on Opening Day?
Mark P
10:20
I'd still tend to say the Rockies, since I don't think other teams' offers are going to improve if they think Colorado is now under more pressure to make a trade
10:21
But man, what an odd situation.  For a mild-mannered guy like Arenado to so publicly call out his GM indicates that something's rotten in Denmark
Barrelman
10:21
Trade idea: Robbie Ray for David Fletcher. Angels make their rotation more credible, D-Backs get a starting infielder with 5 years of control.
Mark P
10:22
Hmm, this is an interesting one.  I'd suspect Arizona would want someone who is either a bit more of a proven MLB player or, on the flip side, a good prospect.  But Fletcher is a decent player who can contribute immediately for a D'Backs team that is obviously planning to compete in 2020
Jaysfan
10:23
Brock Holt to the Jays?
Mark P
10:23
He'd make a great addition to the Jays bench.  He'd bring more to the table than someone like Brandon Drury.
AA
10:24
What would Matt Chapman cost me?
Mark P
10:25
(AA = Alex Anthopoulos)

Oakland would want at least three of the Braves' top prospects, and at least one big league-ready player that would help the A's immediately.  In short, a gigantic asking price that I doubt Atlanta would meet
SwisherFan24
10:26
Would Brock Holt make sense as a utility player for the Yankees?
Mark P
10:27
Two Brock Holt questions early!  Holt makes a ton of sense for a lot of teams, with extra value to a Yankees team that could use more left-handed hitting
Eamon
10:27
Do you think the Phillies even have a chance to win the NL East?
Mark P
10:28
I wouldn't call them the favorites at this point, but it's not totally out of the question.  The Phillies had a lot of things go wrong last season, so with a bit more luck, they could certainly contend for at least a wild card
Nathan Thurm
10:28
Will Steve Cohen spend as much as Met fans think?
Mark P
10:30
First of all, as a huge SNL and SCTV fan, kudos on the incredible user name.

Secondly, you raise a strong point.  Mets fans are so happy to be free of the Wilpons that almost any ownership change would be welcome, but I wouldn't suddenly expect the Mets to start surpassing the luxury tax year after year
Pasquale
10:30
Is there any chance Pillar will be back on Giants roster before the opening day?
Mark P
10:31
As long as he remains on the market, there's a chance.  The Giants clearly enjoyed his clubhouse and on-field contribution, even if they didn't want to pay that inflated arbitration price
Hogan
10:32
who would you predict is the starting outfielders for the Mariners coming out of Spring Training now that Mitch Haniger will be unavailable?
Mark P
10:33
Kyle Lewis/Mallex Smith/Jake Fraley probably, though Dee Gordon has to get playing time somewhere, Braden Bishop will be in the mix, maybe Alen Hanson
Texas O
10:33
I don’t understand why lower tier teams don’t sign the remaining names on the board for below market contracts. Come July, trade them to continue to stock young talent. Can you tell me why teams tank rather than taking that approach?
Mark P
10:34
It takes two sides to agree to a contract, remember.  If you're Castellanos, why sign with a non-contender just to suffer through 3-4 more months of non-competitive baseball?  We all saw how losing weighed on him in Detroit.
Eric V
10:34
Which Free Agent Avisail Garcia or Steven Souza will have the biggest impact this year and why?
Mark P
10:35
I have to say Garcia just because we don't know what to expect from Souza after all the injuries
Guest
10:35
Will anyone challenge LA in the NL West?
Mark P
10:36
Realistically, no.  I really like what the Diamondbacks have done with their team, but I don't think it's enough to quite close the big gap between themselves and the Dodgers.  D'Backs should be in contention for a wild card, however
Ca$h
10:36
I have way too many starting pitchers with additional options at Triple A.  Why hold on to Haap?
Mark P
10:37
(Yankees GM Brian Cashman)

2019 notwithstanding, Happ has a better MLB track record than all of those younger guys
KeepTheFaith
10:37
Does giving up prospects and a "bad" Wil Myers contract in exchange for 1 yr of Moonie Betts really make sense for the Friars?
Mark P
10:39
If it isn't one of the real elite prospects like Gore or maybe Patino, I'd say absolutely.  Myers seems like a real albatross of a deal, especially since he doesn't really have a position in SD and doesn't provide anything more than average offense.

Getting him off the books for even one year of Betts is well worth it.  Plus, even if Betts doesn't re-sign, the Padres at least get a pick back via the qualifying offer to help make up for the lost prospect(s)
10:40
That being said, that Myers/Betts rumor was said to be unlikely at best, so I wouldn't get too excited about it.
Corey B
10:40
Bryant & Schwarber to Yanks for Torres and Andujar, who blinks?
Mark P
10:41
The Yankees don't consider this for a second.  Torres isn't going anywhere.
Drew
10:41
The Dodgers won't include Lux in a deal for Lindor, but what about for Matt Chapman? Several more years of control in Chapman.
Mark P
10:42
I probably brought this on myself by answering that one Chapman question earlier, but just to be clear, the A's have zero reason to trade Chapman.  He's under control for four years.  Not saying that he'll never be dealt, but doing so now makes no sense for the A's
Castellanos
10:43
Am I going to pull a 2016 Dexter Fowler with the Cubs (signed a one year deal on the hush during Spring Training and showed up to camp)
Mark P
10:43
The Cubs' payroll situation doesn't seem to allow for such a scenario, unless ownership is finally willing to spend more
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