MLBTR Chat Transcript

Mark P

• Beads, bees, stew preparation, and maybe even some baseball discussion….we’ve got it all here in the latest edition of the Weekend Chat!

ChrisMC88

• What should the mets prioritize more at this point, pitching or offense.. both need attention.. or even maybe look deeper into their hitting coaches.

Mark P

• Things have looked rough in general for the Mets over the last couple of weeks, but their rotation is still the bigger need than their lineup.  I expect the front office to pursue help in both areas, but it seems like the patchwork that has been the Mets’ rotation is simply starting to fray

Brian

• Do u think Crawford(Phillies prospect) has better change to play for Phillies or be traded by deadline this year???

Mark P

• Seems like a better chance that he’ll stick with the Phillies, since they need OF help already.

John

• Is there a world there the orioles don’t sell?

Mark P

• Because baseball is baseball, the O’s could turn around and win 11 of their next 13 games and nobody would bat an eye.

  That being said, it would take an extreme hot stretch like that in July to get the O’s fully back into the playoff picture.  Feels like they just dug themselves into too big a hole too early.

Orbit

• With Yordan and Melton coming back, do the Astros really need Mullins ? There isn’t must to trade with and Crane is so hesitant to go over the tax luxury.

Mark P

• Melton is still an unproven commodity, and one can argue that Houston is still too righty-centric even with both Alvarez and Melton.  A veteran left-handed hitter like Mullins could help, even if Mullins’ own bat has been ice cold for two months now.

Ken

• Is Severino’s vocal criticism of the Sutter Health Field 1) part of a ploy to get traded to a contender (now that he has an above market contract), 2) a veteran giving voice to criticisms that younger, less established players also have about playing there, or 3) just an indication of how much it sucks to play there?

Mark P

• I think all of the above.  You make a good point that Severino is probably speaking for a number of teammates, many of whom have less security and tenure in the sport.  As MLBTR’s Nick Deeds noted today, Severino is a difficult trade candidate due to his contract, his opt-out clause after 2026, and how his numbers aren’t entirely tied to his home/away splits

Theo

• If you were the GM of the Blue Jays, what would you do at the deadline?

Mark P

• Add pitching, first and foremost.  At least a solid innings-eater type starter to solidify the back of the rotation, and it wouldn’t hurt to check in on any possible frontline types that may or may not be available. The heavily worked bullpen could also use a new arm or two.

Mikey Mousel

• Bees?

Mark P

• Beads?!

ANM

• Clase to Philly for Abel,Miller and or Crawford… Who says no?

Mark P

• Clase is a terrific closer under long-term control via his contract, but I don’t think I see the Phillies parting with that level of prospect for him.

MKE

• What are the Brewers going to do with the excess of starting pitching? With proven big league arms like Peralta, Woodruff, Cortes, Quintana and young talent like Priester, Miz, Patrick, and Gasser there seems to a log jam. Easy bet is Gasser stays in the minors when he returns and a 6-man rotation is in play. Anyone on the move?

Mark P

• Easy answer is that every pitching surplus is quickly diminished by injuries.  The Brewers will wait until late July to determine whether or not everyone is healthy before they decide to move a starter or not.

  Someone like Quintana might be a decent bet to be moved, as he was probably someone that might not have really been on the radar anyway if it wasn’t for some of their health concerns in camp.

Braves

• Seems like the Braves aren’t that far back. They likely pass the Mets, but can they leap frog enough other teams to be buyers?

Mark P

• The Braves are about to get passed by the Marlins in the standings, so I’d pump the brakes on them making a run at contending.

  As much as Anthopoulos wants to compete and won’t sell until he absolutely has to, Atlanta is another team that needs a major hot streak in July to get back into the “realistic buyer” conversation

Garrett

• Best baseball card you own?

Mark P

• Sadly (and foolishly?), many of my old baseball cards were sold away at a garage sale years ago.

MN

• Is there a reason Luis Garcia (Nats Version) isn’t more discussed as a trade candidate?

Mark P

• Under arb control through 2027, and the Nats certainly hope they’re contending again during Garcia’s time with the team. I don’t think they’d hang up the phone if someone called with an intriguing enough offer, but the Nats are going to try moving several other shorter-term veteran types before exploring trades for players like Garcia

Sandy

• Are the Marlins… good?

Mark P

• They’re on a heck of a run right now, though I’d hesitate to say they’re going to be this year’s surprise team or anything.  But, wins are wins, even though the Fish have taken advantage of a couple of teams (SF, Arizona) who are struggling right now
• In short, if you think Miami will suddenly be deadline buyers or anything, I’d calm down.  But if you’re a Marlins fan, seeing the team play some good ball has to be nice, especially with some of this young talent seemingly emerging

Bert

• with the large amount owed to Alcantara and his awful stats, Hoyer should be fired if he gives up anything good for him right?

Mark P

• Alcantara was starting to look like his old self before he struggled against the D’Backs the other day.  At this point there’s probably a better chance Alcantara is moved in the offseason than at the deadline, but I wouldn’t be shocked at a short-term move

Kyle

• Breslow still saying the Sox will be buyers at the deadline; just posturing or are they still looking to add pieces for this year?

Mark P

• He’s not going to throw in the towel in late June.  But, here’s yet another team that now looks like they need a big winning streak sooner than later, since the club has looked pretty lost since the Devers trade

Mike elias

• Mullins for Spencer Arrighetti who says no

Mark P

• Such a deal would be about the future for Baltimore, so the fact that Arrighetti is currently on the IL might not be a big obstacle?  But, a broken thumb on a throwing hand isn’t nothing for a pitcher, so the O’s (who are notoriously finicky about pitching health) would want a deep dive into the medicals before making such a swap

Framber Valdez

• POLL: Do I get traded by the deadline?

Mark P

• If you’re an Astros team in first place, why trade a guy having a great season and who has a long playoff track record for you?  Houston has been willing to let plenty of impending free agents just walk in the past, since the team is trying to win.

Tarik Skubal

• Wow, I am pitching pretty well right now, no? It’s pretty impressive how I still have time to check out the MLBTR chat while pitching!

Mark P

• You posted that just as the perfect game was broken up, so jinx!

Bucs

• What’s you favorite Dave Parker memory?

Mark P

• Most of Parker’s career was before my time, but I was a young Blue Jays fan when the team picked up the Cobra in September 1991.  He hit well during his brief time in Toronto and helped the Jays win the AL East, even if he was ineligible for the playoffs due to his late acquisition date.

  I think I vaguely recall my reaction being “great, Dave Parker!….who’s that?” and my dad filling me in about the Cobra’s storied history.  RIP to a great player, and it’s a shame he didn’t make it to the actual induction ceremony next month.

Brewer Fan

• My question is on Quinn Priester and also the Brewers pitching system. They have the reputation of getting the most put of pitchers but it can’t happen this quickly right? So by extension,  since his results are already pretty good,, is Priester’s ceiling higher than we thought once he has a full offseason in the system?

Mark P

• Priester isn’t far removed from being a first-rounder and a top-100 prospect, so it’s not like he’s some guy the Brewers found off the scrap heap.  The upside is certainly still there, and it should be noted that if Priester’s ceiling is “only” what it is now, that still makes for a serviceable starter over the long term

Dalton Rushing

• What sort of return could the Dodgers get for me if they strictly wanna swap me for pitching?

Mark P

• Teams will undoubtedly be calling about Rushing, and Will Smith’s long-term contract probably means LA will be open to hearing offers.  That would put the Dodgers in need of a veteran backup catcher type, but those are readily available.

  Offering Rushing would open the doors to a lot of potential arms on the market for the Dodgers, and he’s a sought-after enough commodity that I don’t think LA moves him for just a rental.

Logjam

• Mark I loved your article today about Yoshida. The obvious question is how will they work it with Anthony/Duran/Abreu/Rafaela when none of them can DH against RHP since Yoshida will be doing that?

Mark P

• The Sox can be judicious in giving people some off-days, since there’s no clearcut way to manage it.  Rafaela could conceivably be used at 2B but that’s not an idea use of an outstanding defensive center fielder

Fox Mulder

• Pepsi or Coke, Mark?

Mark P

• My power rankings go…
  • Pepsi and Coke tied
  • Diet Pepsi (which I’m drinking right this moment)
  • Coke Zero
  • (small gap)
  • Pepsi Zero
  • (Grand Canyon-sized gap)
  • Diet Coke

CardsRPathetic

• what type of return can the Cardinals expect to receive in a trade of Thomas Saggese, who is blocked by other young midfielders

Mark P

• He’s an intriguing enough trade chip that I doubt St. Louis would trade him for less than a big return, i.e. a player who is controlled beyond 2025.  My guess is that the Cards will shop Gorman first (notwithstanding now Gorman has been red hot over the last few weeks)

Michael Gillis

• If the Braves want to compete, a huge change is needed in the core. Who goes?

Mark P

• Albies had a huge 2023 season, but that was his only good year in the last four.  This season has been particularly rough, as Albies has barely been a replacement-level player.

  He is controlled for two $7MM club options beyond this season, so at that price, it’s easy to see the Braves retaining him to bet on a turn-around.  But, perhaps in a way because second base is a relatively easier position to address, I could see AA decide to trade Albies before the option deadline to get some other team deal with his struggles.

Angels Fan

• If Ethan Holliday is not picked #1 by the Nationals do you see the Angels taking him or are they looking at a college bat that can be brought up to the majors by next season?

Mark P

• That would seem to fit the Angels’ fast-tracking M.O. They could also opt for a college pitcher like Arnold or Anderson

Pop Fisher

• The Natural or The Sandlot?

Mark P

• Sandlot all day.  This might be an even hotter take than my Coke/Pepsi rankings, but I don’t think the Natural is a good movie.

Friars

• Padres, meet your new left fielder, Seth Brown, am I right?

Mark P

• He isn’t much of a defender, and his bat hasn’t done much in a few years.  I could see SD taking a flier on Brown since they’re so thin for left field options, but there would seem to be better candidates out there

Josh Bell

• Tell it to me straight… am I getting traded or DFA’d before the deadline?

Mark P

• I think he’ll be dealt, if even for a minimal return.  The legend of Josh Bell’s sudden turn-arounds will make some team interested in making Washington an offer

Reggie

• Was there ever a good explanation why the Jays didn’t sign Yarborough at the end of spring training when it was clear that their rotation is on the older side and Scherzer can’t be counted upon…ie the Jays were always clearly going to need depth starters at some point.

Mark P

• Shi Davidi explored this a couple of months ago, as apparently the Jays wanted Yarbrough to sign an advanced consent clause, thus giving the team the ability to keep up on the active roster for up to 45 days without guaranteeing his full salary.

  https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/as-blue-jays-search-for-fifth-sta…

• I absolutely agree that this was a big mistake for the Jays, as Yarbrough was just what the rotation needed as a depth arm.  The error became evident almost immediately when Scherzer got hurt in his first start.

Krall’s Self Doubt

• Does the Jeimer Candelario release show that the reds are willing to make a big move at the deadline or is it just a cap cut for open space

Mark P

• The Reds don’t save any money for the early release, as they’ll be eating the rest of Jeimer’s contract.  (Minus the minimum salary that will be covered by whatever teams signs him next.)

SF

• On the rotation, I know it was said that we have depth for days. But with the Devers trade, Harrison and Hicks were given up, along with the slow down of Birdsong and approaching career innings for Roupp, it seems to be a thin rotation. A starter at the deadline? Who though would Posey target? Hopefully not a rental, I wouldn’t think he would.

Mark P

• Black or Winn could be called up to cover innings, but agreed that a more proven SP option would be helpful.  It doesn’t need to be an ace or a “will start a playoff game” type — just a veteran who can eat some innings and provide some stability for the kids.

Eriepopcorn

• Is it safe to say after getting swept by the cards. The guards have gone from Maybe adding to 100% selling now

Mark P

• Guardians are still only two back of the last wild card slot, so it’s too soon to wave the white flag yet

Buster Posey

• Did I make to big of a move to fast considering where the roster is?

Mark P

• Picking up Devers is a long-term move beyond just what the Giants hope to accomplish in 2025.  I think Posey makes that deal 10 times out of 10, even if the Giants had been struggling

Adell

• Why is my turnaround not getting more attention?  And have the Adell trade Qs finally gone away?

Mark P

• It feels like the Angels are collectively flying under fans’ radars, though to be fair, I can understand the “I’ll believe it when I see it” sentiment given LAA’s recent history.

  Adell could be World Series MVP en route to leading the Halos to a title, and I’d still get “is this the right time to sell high on Jo for pitching?” questions

Billington

• Is Buxton finally the Buxton we all thought he was gonna be??!!

Mark P

• I think everyone is holding their breath and hoping that Buxton can finally stay healthy, but All-Star level performance was always his ceiling if he could stay on the field.

Starryl Drawberry

• Are there any expensive and underperforming pitchers out there that the Mets could cash in Starling Marte for? Marte doesn’t seem to have a place on the Mets, and they desperately need pitching right now.

Mark P

• As amusing as a Starling-for-Severino might be, I’m not sure Marte carries a lot of trade value.

Jorge

• The White Sox seem to have done well with two rule 5 pitchers, are they exploiting a new market inefficiency?

Mark P

• The Rule 5 has been around for a century in one form or another, so it’s not exactly a “new” inefficiency.  But if you’re a rebuilding team that is willing to give a young player plenty of time, why not take a flier or two on any interesting available prospects?

Blue

• With Sheehan seems to be ready in MLB, why did Dodgers send him back to minors? I am still confused.

Mark P

• I’m knocking on the biggest piece of wood I can find, but right now, the Dodgers’ rotation is….

  /looks upwards for any falling pianos
  /looks both ways before crossing a busy street

  ….reasonably healthy right now?  Wrobleski has been pitching well and has earned the right to keep getting some starts.  Sheehan will definitely get more looks as the season goes on, and as the staff undoubtedly is altered again by returns and other injuries

Frankensteve

• The Mariners haven’t traded elite prospects for rentals in the Dipoto era. With such a tight, if not mediocre, American League, could this be the year they make splashes and actually make a legitimate effort to get to the World Series (as difficult as that may be with the lack of available talent and number of hopeful teams looking for upgrades).

Mark P

• Moving Harry Ford seems like the most feasible “splash” move of an elite prospect possible, given that the M’s have already made the big commitment to Cal Raleigh.  I suggested last week that the Mariners could do worse than simply calling Ford up to help out with their DH needs, but dealing him for a more prominent proven bat is also plausible

H.Kim Dodgers

• Is hitting .400 not enough to be an everyday starter these days? The phones are gonna be ringing off the hook for me at the deadline. Hope I can get on a team where I’m an everyday player.

Mark P

• I don’t think Kim is at all regretting joining such a stacked team, and his time will come.  Now that Edman is getting back into OF duty, that could get get Pages into LF in Conforto’s place, and open up 2B for Kim more often.

Mayor

• Would you consider Alex Cobb a bust for the Tigers? If so to they trade at the deadline for another starter?

Mark P

• It’s June 29 and he hasn’t thrown in the majors yet, so yeah, unfortunately Cobb’s deal is looking like a big whiff at the moment.  The fact that he’s still dealing with hip inflammation isn’t great.

  Detroit’s rotation is still awfully strong even without Cobb, and Olson will be back within the week.  The Tigers probably will explore other needs before focusing too much on the rotation

John

• Hall of Fame question. Should Cooperstown change their policy and allow someone to be inducted both as a player and a manager? In basketball that is allowed ( Jerry West for example as a player and executive) . Joe Torre is in as a manager but he also had a 57.8 WAR as a player- more than Dave Parker for instance. Not saying Torre should be a HOF but he should be considered

Mark P

• I’m not sure you necessarily need two inductions for the same person, even if an individual has excelled both on and off the field.

  I am in favor of something like a “cumulative” vote, for a candidate who might not be quite over the line as just a player or just as a manager/executive, but the sum total of their career makes them worthy.  This was the argument for Gil Hodges for a while before the Era Committee just put him in as a player

Aaron Judge

• I can’t carry the team the whole year and now that I’m struggling we don’t look so good

Mark P

• The Yankees did score 12 runs today, but I see your point.  Judge having (again) one of the literal best seasons in the history of baseball has elevated this lineup to an incredible extent, and he had to (relatively) cool off at some point

Al Kaline Battery

• Riley Greene -does the world realize how good I am?

Mark P

• Looks like Greene will be getting some spotlight time come October, the way the Tigers are playing.  He still needs to cut back on the strikeouts, but everything else is aces

Michael Harris Sr

• When will the Braves send my son down to AAA to regain confidence and figure out the strike zone?

Mark P

• Harris wasn’t in the lineup for Atlanta’s last two games, which is in part a function of the Phillies’ left-handed starters, but Snitker said it was intended as a mental break.  Monday is also an off-day for the Braves, so the team is hoping Harris can reset himself after this mini-rest period.

Etc.

• Arizona won’t trade Eugenio Suarez unless they drop out of the race and he isn’t worth much more than salary relief, correct?

Mark P

• Salary relief?  Suarez would arguably be the best hitter available at the deadline if the D’Backs decided to sell.  Even as a rental, Arizona would get a nice return for him.

Noah Schultz to Cubs

• Matt Shaw, James Triantos, and a prospect for Noah Schultz and a pitcher?  Who says no?

Mark P

• The Cubs, since if they’re moving all that young talent, it will only be for premium established help

Bregman

• I think he will opt out from the 40m next year from Redsox. What contender might look at him for 3/100?? Tigers again??

Mark P

• Bregman isn’t opting out for another short-term, high-AAV contract.  He’ll be looking to cash in big, much closer to the $200MM that was at least his initial asking price last winter

Guest

• Bednar and Keller are we playing for Pittsburgh or Chicago in 2 weeks?

Mark P

• Pittsburgh. just because I think the Bucs wait until closer to the deadline before making any significant sells.

Dodgers POBO

• We want Framber and won’t take NO for answer!  Could Rushing do it straight up? If he helps us win another WS it would be worth it.

Mark P

• But to my earlier point, why would the Astros do this?  They’d be moving a SP who would be their #1 or #2 starter in a playoff series, thus putting Houston on the lookout for finding more pitching.

  While Valdez could leave for nothing in free agency after the year, “if he helps [Houston] win another WS, it would be worth it.”

Etc.

• Teams can sort of trade draft picks, right? Like SF just did for Devers. They just have to pick the guy and then wait how long? before he’s tradeable.

Mark P

• I believe teams cannot trade a player until at least six months after the draft.
• Time to wrap things up for the evening.  Thanks for all the questions in another spirited chat, and we’ll be back with more next weekend!
• If you’re interested in more baseball Q&A, one of the many benefits of our Trade Rumors Front Office subscription is the exclusive weekly live chats. The more limited field means you’re about 10 times more likely to get a question answered, as opposed to battling for space with hundreds of other questions in today’s chat. For more on our memberships, check out this link:

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