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Mark P
8:01
We're just days away from the 2020 season, which seems incredible to believe after all that has happened.  Let's dive into some questions!
Which ends first?
8:02
Dodgers NL West titles run or Mariners playoff drought?
Mark P
8:03
In a short season, either could certainly come to an end as quickly as 2020.  So I guess technically I should say L.A., since there's a decent chance Arizona or SD (or even the Giants or Rockies) catch fire over 60 games.
Anyone
8:03
I have a feeling once puig is virus free the braves will sign him. Do you?
Mark P
8:05
It wouldn't surprise me if the Braves revisit Puig once he is healthy and cleared.  Then again, since it'll be a few weeks before Puig is both healthy and ramped up in any sort of training camp situation, Atlanta might have moved on with another internal or external OF option
Fan 532
8:05
If Nate Pearson isn't in the Blue Jays opening day rotation how long will it be until he is? He is more than ready and if the Blue Jays are serious about winning he should be on the team now.
Dark
8:05
Frontrunner for Jays 5th starter?
Mark P
8:05
My guess is Pearson will be the fifth starter, but not for roughly 10 days into the season so the Jays can lock up an extra year of service time
Brandon
8:06
Thoughts on Canada saying the Blue Jays can't play there?
Mark P
8:07
It was ultimately the right call for public safety.  It leaves the Jays in a tight spot so close to Opening Day, but public health is far more important than the needs of a baseball team.
13Morgs13
8:08
I know it’s only 60 games but my feeling is Bryce Harper is going to have a monster year and carry Phillies to the playoffs.
Mark P
8:09
I feel like he could add an MVP year on top of a World Series in 2020, and a significant chunk of fans would still say "pfft, only a shortened season.  11 more years!"
Zachary
8:09
Thoughts on Shun Yamaguchi? He struggled in the spring and he’s been struggling in summer camp
Mark P
8:10
Adjusting to the big leagues for the first time is hard enough in a normal season, let alone the stop-start nature of 2020.  Nothing is official until the games count, however.
Sparky
8:11
Any chance the Reds can bring back Bauer next season and sign a shortstop free agent?  Or will it end up being one or the other?
Mark P
8:13
Reds have $102MM on the books even before their arbitration cases (such as a big raise for Castillo), plus it now seems extremely unlikely that Castellanos would opt out.  So I'd be surprised to see Cincy make another big double-splurge in re-signing Bauer and a big shortstop.
Then again, it's hard to predict anything at this point given all the uncertainty surrounding the 2020-21 offseason market
Wally
8:15
So redsox will be under the penalty tax for 2021? Need starters any ideas
Mark P
8:15
Assuming the season lasts beyond August 31st, the Sox will indeed have their luxury tax penalty reset to zero: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/07/when-does-the-luxury-tax-reset....
8:17
Depends how big Boston wants to go, obviously, but there are some interesting free agent options available.  Stroman has had success in the AL East, Bauer is allegedly still looking for just a one-year commitment, Rich Hill could perhaps return to Boston.
8:18
But that's just free agents, and we haven't yet seen how Chaim Bloom will operate when it comes to making big-ticket signings.  He might prefer to add arms on the trade front, or pursue lower-level types
Tyler
8:18
Would you rather have Machado and his contract or Harper and his contract at this point?
Mark P
8:18
Whose contract would you rather have at this point?
Bryce Harper (58% | 285 votes)
 
Manny Machado (42% | 206 votes)
 
Total Votes: 491
Bogs
8:19
Heard on radio today that Toronto wants to play in a big league stadium instead of Buffalo/Dunedin. Wouldn't Nashville make perfect sense as a compromise?
Mark P
8:20
It makes some sense, though the Jays obviously have more organizational familiarity with Buffalo and Dunedin, whereas Nashville is an entirely new situation for them to arrange on the fly.
Brent
8:21
Can we start a Fred McGriff belongs in the HOF initiative?  Besides the guys who may/may not have cheated the game in some way, I can’t think of a more deserving guy who gets no love every year
Mark P
8:21
No arguments here. If I was in charge of the HOF (I assume that offer is coming eventually), McGriff would definitely be in
Quentin
8:22
Wrigley Field is empty while the Sox are playing the Cubs. This new normal is going to take some getting used to. How long will it take you to get used to seeing empty stadiums?
Mark P
8:23
I'm actually not sure it'll take that long.  I think all of us have watched baseball in mostly empty stadiums before, be it in games played after long rain delays, games stretched into an 18th inning, rescheduled makeup games, etc.
Gallo Wondering
8:24
Any early estimates on years and salary for Springer this off season?
Mark P
8:26
There's the "economic uncertainty" caveat, as well as maybe some lingering aftershocks from the Astros cheating scandal.

But I still think Springer will be one of the guys who won't be much affected by any market crunch.  He'll be entering his age-31 season but is still a very strong hitter and can still handle CF (even if the corners may be his eventual future).  I think a four-year deal will be his minimum.
Las Vegas over Nashville
8:27
Doesn't Las Vegas seem like it would do a better job of supporting an MLB team over Nashville? Plus the name the "Vegas Aces"  has a great ring to it for baseball.
Mark P
8:27
Excuse me!  Here at MLBTR, they're the Las Vegas Vipers, thank you very much!

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/06/mlb-mock-expansion-draft.html
Wanderer
8:27
I think the power stricken buccos  should make a play for Scott Schebler.  What would it take?
Mark P
8:28
Probably not a ton, unless the Reds have a higher asking price for a division rival (plus, there isn't exactly much love lost between the Reds and Pirates in particular)
Artie P
8:28
Who wins more games this year: Redsox or Whitesox
Mark P
8:29
I'd pick Chicago, since they'll have the easier schedule and Boston has a ton of pitching questions
Casual fan
8:29
why would MLB go forward with the “Field of Dreams” games this season if no spectators can attend? Doesn’t it make more sense to wait for 2021 to do that?
Mark P
8:30
I mean, there weren't a lot of fans in attendance during the movie but it was still a pretty fun experience.  Well, except for Timothy Busfield accidentally knocking his niece off the bleachers, but Doc Graham was there just in time!
8:31
(Just in time = after taking a couple of minutes to saunter across the diamond)
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