MLBTR Chats

Nido

• Could Nido have earned a one year MLB contract rather than sign with the Tigers for triple A?  Seems like a good player

Mark P

• Nido is a career backup at best.  He clearly seems ok with his situation in Detroit even if it’s being the third man on the depth chart.  Taking an early contract now and giving himself peace of mind over the offseason might also be preferable to having to grind out months of waiting and seeing before finally landing another minors deal months later

IMissHelton

• Do the Rockies keep dragging their feet through the offseason? Most other teams have hired their GM/manager tandem for the future while the Rox are still “mulling their options”

Mark P

• Remember, this is seemingly the first time Dick Monfort has ever had a real GM search, after just promoting from within for the other two hires of his ownership tenure.  Makes sense that it might take a bit longer than usual, though given how much the new GM will have to do with overhauling the Rockies, every offseason day is critical.

Wisconsin O’s

• Any chance the O’s sign a big rh bat > Bo B? Please please say yes.

Mark P

• Bichette isn’t a fit on a team already loaded in the infield, and I don’t expect the Orioles to spend at the highest ends of the free agent market.  But, they should be adding some kind of righty balance to the lineup.

Mike B

• Since the trade deadline, I have had this idea of the Phillies trading Nick Castellanos (plus a mid-level prospect) to the Pirates for Bryan Reynolds (the advanced metrics seem to suggest Reynolds down season was just some bad luck, as he was still in line with his career numbers for Barrel Rate, XBA, XSLG, and XWOBA – among others). Essentially, I am banking on Pittsburgh wanting to be as cheap as possible (not a bad bet with that ownership group) and saving them $50ish million in the long term. Can you please just tell me I’m crazy so I can stop considering this as a possibility?

Mark P

• While I don’t doubt that the Pirates might deal Reynolds under the right circumstance, this particular move doesn’t make any sense for them.  Pittsburgh should be trying to add hitting, not take on a limited player like Castellanos who seems to be on the downswing.

Chaim Bloom

• Where do you see me trading donovan to?

Mark P

• I covered all things Donovan in a “looking for a trade match” post earlier this week.  Long story short, he is a reasonable fit on at least half the league, so it’s hard to pick a particular top suitor out of a very large field at this point

  https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/looking-for-a-match-in-a-brenda…

Padres

• If they hire Puljols will Niebla leave?

Mark P

• Only Niebla would know the answer to this question, though he is under contract for 2026.  I doubt that the Padres would want to lose him as pitching coach, and one would imagine Pujols/Hundley/whoever would also want to keep Niebla in the fold.

  I noted this in a post the other day, but it kind of works against Niebla’s candidacy that the Padres might just prefer him as the pitching coach.  Since if he’s elevated to manager, then the team suddenly has another big hole to fill on the coaching staff.

• Now, being manager obviously doesn’t mean that Niebla can’t still speak with the pitchers or give advice.  But the Padres might prefer the “if it ain’t broke…” approach

B Han

• Seems like one of the most logical trades this offseason will be Castellanos for Arenado, with maybe a few minor prospects switching teams. Your thoughts?

Mark P

• While Arenado would be more helpful to the Phillies than Castellanos, the 2026 version of Nolan Arenado doesn’t seem to be too likely of a boost for a team with World Series aspirations.

Natitude

• What are your thoughts on the Nationals going so young in their hires for the front office and head coach?

Mark P

• It made me feel old, haha

  Washington’s clearly looking for some fresh perspectives, perhaps with the idea that Rizzo/Martinez were too old-school in their approaches.  Time will tell if the changes work out, since Toboni has a lot to do to get the Nats on track.

Mike Maddux

• Do you know any extra details on why he chose an organization like the Angels? This team is in total dysfunction so I’m curious why he would leave a situation like Texas that doesn’t seem to have any dysfunction.

Mark P

• Your guess is as good as mine.  It’s strange to think that Maddux might immediately have more job security than Kurt Suzuki in Anaheim, given Suzuki’s unusual one-year contract.

deGrom

• Do the Rangers try to move deGrom this winter? How much of the contract would they have to eat? Who might bite?

Mark P

• DeGrom is owed $38MM in 2026 and $37MM in 2027, plus there’s a club option for 2028 on a value TBD.  That works out to a $37.5MM tax number for DeGrom, since remember that a traded contract has a tax value based on the AAV remaining on the deal (not the original total value of the deal).
• That’s a high enough tax figure to scare some teams off, to say nothing of DeGrom’s injury history and age.  The counter, of course, is that DeGrom is still a frontline ace if healthy, so it’ll be interesting to see how negotiations could work out or if Texas would be willing to eat anything of the contract.

  There’s also deGrom’s no-trade clause, so this might be a moot point entirely if he doesn’t want to leave Arlington.  The Rangers are trying to both balance the budget and still win in 2026, so while there’s some payroll logic in trading deGrom and selling high, it does leave another hole in their rotation

Im a Werewolf Baby

• Progressive field benefits lefties, but Cleveland’s system is ALL lefties. How have they not balanced out their system? Delauter, Bazzana, Ralphy, Manzardo, Bo, Kwan, Valera, Ingle, etc. Half your games are away and you can’t beat elite lefties in the playoffs with a lineup of all lefties. Has this been a systemic failure of hitting development/approach?

Mark P

• Teams draft for best talent available, without much or any regard to handedness.  In theory, the Guardians can always trade from this list or obtain a RHH elsewhere to get more balance in the big league lineup

Masataka

• Where am I opening day ‘26?

Mark P

• Boston.  More seemingly “untradable” contracts than Yoshida’s have been moved over the years, but barring a total salary dump, why would a team make a move to acquire him?

Chris

• Do the Dbacks sign one or two starters this offseason.  Thoughts on who?

Mark P

• Arizona’s got enough invested in its rotation that someone like Merrill Kelly might be about as high as they’re willing to go in rotation spending.  Acquiring another SP via trade is also a possibility.

Cactusflair

• Do you see the Cardinals potentially non-tendering Lars Nootbaar after his recent double heel surgery

Mark P

• Nope.  Nootbaar is a trade asset either this winter or at the 2026 deadline once he gets healthy, so the Cards won’t cut him loose for nothing.

The Hamm’s Bear

• Do you think the Giants will try to move Jung-Hoo Lee for Pitching? Say of the Joe Ryan variety?

Mark P

• Obtaining Lee doesn’t seem to fit with what the Twins are trying to do (i.e. cut payroll and rebuild).  But, if the Giants are willing to dig deep into their prospect depth chart, Ryan is a possibility, except clubs with better farm systems will have an edge in bidding wars

Cool Names Matter

• I don’t understand Boston signing Schwarber. You’d be paying his and Yoshida’s contract for him to DH. I think they need to be pot-committed to Yoshida at this point – for better or worse.

Mark P

• $36MM remains on Yoshida’s contract.  That’s not a ton of money for a wealthy team like the Red Sox to just eat in releasing him, since it’s very clear he’s the odd man out of the roster mix.

  The questions about how Schwarber ideally fits into Boston’s roster are mitigated by the fact that a) it’s Kyle Schwarber, and b) his power absolutely makes the Sox a better team

Jason

• Who makes more sense at 3B than Suarez for the  Red Sox if Bregman leaves?

Mark P

• Marcelo Mayer, assuming Story remains as the SS and the Sox don’t go with Mayer at 2B
• This isn’t to say that the Sox might not consider someone like Suarez, but finding a regular lineup spot for Mayer is a priority

paul engle

• although the dodgers may win the world series bats like mookie betts max muncy and soeewhat tommie edmond do the dodgers make a run for a really good quality outfielder

Mark P

• OF definitely seems like an offseason priority in Los Angeles.  Can’t rule out a pursuit of a big fish like Tucker, or maybe even something bold like exploring Teoscar Hernandez trades

Mariners

• What percentage chance do you see us resigning naylor?

Mark P

• In a nod to Jerry Dipoto, about 54%
• (While that answer was tongue in cheek, it might actually be true.  Seattle loves Naylor and wants to keep him, but he’ll get lots of attention from other teams around the league, so it could be about a coin flip.)

Addition not subtraction

• The Tigers should be looking to add a #2 SP not trade away an Ace SP for the ‘26 & ‘27 seasons.

Mark P

• Skubal is only controlled through 2026 but I agree with you.  Having a first-rate ace is such a rarity that the Tigers should be viewing 2026 as an all-in type of season.  Trading Skubal would ruin a lot of the momentum this team has built over the last two seasons.

Cubs fan

• the Cubs should have some payroll flexibility.  Do you see them making a big move.  If so, pitching or hitting?

Guest

• Just asking about general activity for the Cubs, what players/type of players do you think they will target this offseason?

Mark P

• I see Chicago spending relatively big on a starting pitcher or a notable position player, and then swinging a trade to obtain whichever of the SP/notable position player they don’t sign.

  The Cubs seem to be working under self-imposed payroll restrictions that keep them from shopping in the upper tier of free agency. But, the team has been willing to open the wallet to a certain extent on particular player.  Given their past deals with Suzuki and Imanaga, I wonder if any of Imai/Okamoto/Murakami would be on Chicago’s radar, and if so, does that make Shaw an expendable trade chip.

Tim

• What’s your thoughts on teams hiring managers with little to no coaching experience? Seems like a trend the past couple of seasons.

Mark P

• Track records as a manager/coach aren’t absolutely necessities to being a manager.  Frankly, getting some fresh faces and fresh ideas into the dugout is a better idea in some cases than hiring some retread skipper.

  To use someone like Vogt as an example, he was already a player who was “a coach on the field” for most of his career anyway, so it made for an easy transition.  That’s the gold standard teams are trying to achieve with these less-experienced hires.  Whereas the Giants and hiring Vitello is a step beyond that, since Vitello (as accomplished as he is in college) has never been involved in an MLB clubhouse before

Marlin fan

• What do you see is doing this offseason? Are we going to actually add or still subtract

Mark P

• The Marlins will be looking to build on what they have, though I’d be surprised if they were particularly aggressive on the trade front (and shocked if they spent notable money in free agency).

  Bendix and ownership are more apt to look at the -89 run differential than they are at the 79 wins.

JDB

• Would a trade centered around W Abreu for Issac Paredes work? Play Paredes at 1B and resign Bregman?

Mark P

• Not a true 1-for-1 deal, but yeah, Abreu-for-Paredes in some kind of package makes some sense for both teams.

Foxy

• Yankee fans seem down on Volpe, but he played through a torn labrum, which seems to be an obvious culprit for his down year.   Do you see him having a bounce back year?  Do you think he will be traded?  I don’t get why many teams insist on playing their injured players instead of just putting them on the DL.

Mark P

• The problem with viewing Volpe as a bounce-back candidate is that what exactly is he bouncing back towards?  His 2025 hitting numbers were about the same as his previous career numbers when healthy.  Obviously it’s fair to assume better health will get his defense back on track, but Volpe has yet to show much of anything at the plate over three years in the majors.

  As I’ve written before, I don’t see the Yankees cutting bait on Volpe entirely.  But, his absence at the start of 2026 opens the door for the team to start thinking about alternatives, whether that’s seeing what Caballero can do or just keeping Volpe/Caballero as pure placeholders until George Lombard is ready

Brian

• Do you really believe Schwarber can get 5yrs on FA market?

Mark P

• His numbers were so good this year and he is such a beloved figure around the game that five years seems plausible.  The Phillies will go above and beyond to try and keep him, so if the rest of the market is only willing to go as high as four years, the Phils will likely stretch to five

Twinkies & choclate milk

• What’s for lunch?

Mark P

• I made the rookie mistake of starting this chat before getting lunch made, so my stomach is rumbling.

Giants Fan

• As a Giants fan I understand starting and relief pitching is a high priority. Do you think the Giants would go after a Bo Bichetter or Kyle Tucker to improve the lineup? Thanks!

Mark P

• Sure, I totally expect SF to at least check in on those two, as they’ve explored so many other big-name free agents in recent years.  Whether they can seal the deal with either remains to be seen — in Bichette’s case in particular, the Giants would only be offering him the 2B job.

Ms fan

• Will there be any payroll flexibility or is this going to just be another cheap offseason?

Mark P

• Dipoto recently said that the starting payoll for 2026 will be around $166MM, so that gives Seattle around $34MM to spend this winter, plus potentially more at the deadline if the M’s are contending as expected.

  Now, to be clear, Dipoto didn’t mention any specific numbers — I’m extrapolating based on his broad comments about spending at the same level as in 2025.  Given how ownership gave Dipoto less than expected in offseason payroll space a couple of years ago, we shouldn’t be assuming that $34MM-ish in spending capacity is in any ways a done deal.  But, you would think that after a successful season and a long playoff run that brought some extra revenues in, ownership is more open to spending to keep the gravy train rolling.

  https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/mariners-aiming-for-roughly-166…

Jim

• Anything you can say about the A’s?

Mark P

• They’ve done a nice job of rebuilding their lineup, but a lot of work needs to be done on the pitching side.  Those efforts will be trickier given their ballpark situation for the next two years.

Astros fan

• Chances the astros sign cease?

Mark P

• Doubt this happens

Bravos

• What should the Braves be looking at to upgrade and get back to contention?

Mark P

• The middle infield, bullpen, and at least one more starting pitcher.  It would also help immensely if Riley and/or Harris started hitting more consistently again.

DC Fan

• Why do people keep arguing for the Nationals to trade Gore and Abrams?  Do they want to rebuild perpetually?

Mark P

• Gore is controlled through 2027, and Abrams through 2028.  The logic is that since it doesn’t seem like the Nationals will be in contention within the next 2-3 years, the club is better served in the long run by trading one or both of these players now in order to restock the system.

Fans

• What percentage of fans rooting for Blue Jays? Not counting Dodger or Blue Jay fans.

Mark P

• My perception is that baseball fans in general are rooting for Toronto, whether due to the novelty or just because they’re tired of the Dodgers

Guest

• Are the Dodgers likely to seriously pursue Kyle Tucker or are they going to be wary of the potential financial consequences of what may come from the probable 2027 lockout?

Mark P

• The Dodgers will cross that bridge when they come to it, in terms of what a new CBA may or may not change about baseball’s business.

Scott in Mongolia

• Lots of teams are “prioritizing pitching”, but who honestly do you think might sign one of the top FA starters?

Mark P

• The Giants, Red Sox, Blue Jays, and Mets all come to mind immediately.

Mariners

• What chance is Randy, Luis and JP all back this year?

Mark P

• While one can never rule out a bold Mariners trade, my guess is that all three are still in Seattle on Opening Day.  My perception is that the M’s feel they’re already really close, and want to reinforce their core group rather than trade someone away from it to address another need.

Okamoto

• So I am replacing Pete Alonzo on the Mets most likely then?

Mark P

• “Most likely” is a reach.  But, the Mets have a history of pursuing and landing top Japanese players, and as noted earlier, I think Alonso won’t be back in 2026

Sean D

• Do you believe the Twins will trade both Ryan and Lopez this offseason?

Mark P

• More inclined to say one is dealt, but not both.

Mets

• The Mets need a lot of pieces. Is next year realistic or too many holes to fill in one offseason?

Mark P

• As we’ve seen with the Blue Jays and countless other examples, teams can turn things around in pretty quick fashion as long as they have some real talent already in place.  The Mets certainly have their share of starpower, so a return to contention in 2026 is absolutely possible (or even plausible)
• lol, I meant to write the word “likely” there, not “plausible.”

A Coors on the Rox

• will Colorado hire a GM before free agency begins? Seems like their GM will be at another disadvantage by not being in place but I guess they’ll be rebuilding no matter what

Mark P

• The new GM/PBO will first be focused on hiring a new manager, but you’re right….I don’t think courting free agents is going to be high on Colorado’s list of offseason plans

RaymondReddington

• Verlander reuniting with the tigers, good idea?

Mark P

• Sure!

Dana Brown

• Could you see the Astros trading Christian Walker for a SP…then turning around & signing Pete Alonso for 1B? Heyman has linked Houston to Polar Pete.

Mark P

• The problem is, Walker is owed $40MM over the next two seasons and is coming off a rough year at both the plate and in the field. He’s not the easiest player in the world to trade.

  In this scenario where the Astros trade Walker and then sign Alonso, there’s a complication in that you’d need to find a 1B-needy team that is also not willing to go for Alonso, or Naylor, or Okamoto, or Murakami, etc.

That Baseball Fan

• Please tell us who you think will win tonight and why.

Mark P

• As a Blue Jays fan, I’m in a weird Schrodinger’s Cat scenario at the moment — today will either be the greatest or worst-ever day of my baseball fandom, with no in-between.  This month of playoff baseball has left me watching tonight’s games with frayed nerves….but I think the Jays will pull it off.
• And on that note, it’s time to wrap the chat.  Hope everyone enjoys Game 7, and there’s a lot to look forward to in a very busy upcoming week on MLBTR as the offseason gets underway.
• 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:

  https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/membership?ref=chat-11-01-25

Doug

• Should the Mets be engaging the Rays in trade talks this offseason? The Rays can offer short-term bullpen help (Fairbanks), as well as offense at 2B (Lowe) and/or 1B (Yandy Diaz) that wouldn’t require Stearns to go long-term on any of those players (and likely not impact the top of the farm system prospects). What would be a framework of a potential deal between the Mets and Rays?

Mark P

• The Rays tend to want at least one MLB-ready player in such a notable trade, so they’d ask for one of the Mets’ young starters.  This might not necessarily work for a NYM team that needs rotation depth anyway, but to your point, Tampa combining two of their trade chips into a single deal might be intriguing on this front.

Guest

• What routes do you see the Red Sox taking? I feel there are a million different ways they could go. I feel signing Tucker then trading both Duran and Abreu in two different trades for pitching is the way to go.

Mark P

• This seems a touch complicated when the Sox could just trade one OF for a pitcher, and then perhaps sign another arm.  Tucker probably won’t be on Boston’s radar when the Sox already have so much in the outfield pipeline.

C-Daddy

• Stress level out of 10 with your beloved Blue Jays in the playoffs.

Mark P

• Oh man, I’ve been a borderline nervous wreck all October, lol.  Playoff baseball is both the best and kinda the worst!

  My stress level is somewhat mitigated by my amazement that the Blue Jays actually won the pennant and are battling it out in the WS.  Obviously it would be disappointing to get this close and then fall short, but this whole season has been such an unexpected joy that it’s all gravy at this point.

Mark

• Do you think that Mike Trout is going to be traded?

Mark P

• No

Chaim Bloom

• Who should I go after in free agency, but also remain in rebuild territory?

Mark P

• The Cardinals’ free agent targets will probably be veterans on one-year deals, with the idea being that St. Louis could then potentially flip them at the deadline.  They don’t want to block any of their young players to any great extent, but signing a starting pitcher to eat innings and act as an experienced leader for the kids makes sense, especially if Gray is moved

Allen

• Seattle needs a bat for 2B/3B and are said to be shopping Castillo. Who are the top targets? Might they pay some salary?

Mark P

• The M’s might still be open to moving Castillo to free up some payroll space, yet don’t forget that Colt Emerson will be making his MLB next year.  It’s probably safe to pencil him in at 2B or 3B, leaving the Mariners looking at just the other position.  It could be as simply as re-signing Polanco, if they think he’ll be able to return to regular second base action

Guest

• A lot of Giants fans want them to pursue Skubal in light of trade rumors that he’ll be made available. But I say wait til he’s FA and take a run at him then, otherwise you spend all your trade capital on someone who will walk at the end of 2026 cause he’s a Boras guy and Boras discourages extensions.

Mark P

• This makes sense, though having Skubal on the roster for a year and (in theory) winning him over with the organizational atmosphere and the Giants’ intent to win will help them in a bidding war next winter.  Not that Skubal would necessarily be taking a hometown discount or anything, maybe he’d be more open to staying in a known environment if the money is pretty equal all around

Ang T

• IF Harper made available for trade by PHI, which teams would be the top suitors?

Dave Dombrowski

• What CF could I get for Bryce Harper on the trade market after my idiotic comments about him after the season?

Mark P

• “Idiotic” is the wrong word.  I’ll bet Dombrowski wishes he’d phrased his answer differently in that press conference, but Dombrowski said nothing incorrect about Harper’s 2025 season.  I can also understand why a competitive guy like Harper would be upset by the comments, plus the fact that Dombrowski didn’t mention the obvious caveat that Harper was dealing with a wrist problem for a decent chunk of the year.

  This seems like much ado about nothing, ultimately, in part because Harper has a no-trade clause and doesn’t want to go anywhere.  If Dombrowsk was playing 4-D chess and Harper now has extra motivation to have another MVP-level season, everyone wins.

Ghost

• What would a reasonable offseason look like for the White Sox to try to progress towards respectability?

Mark P

• Getting a good return in a Luis Robert trade. Picking up a couple of other veterans that turn into good deadline trade chips.  If the White Sox were ever willing to spend money, I’d suggest taking on a bad contract or two in order to try and obtain some better prospects from teams.

Natitude Dude

• Alec Bohm to the Nats to play 1B/3B? Thoughts.

Mark P

• Bohm is a free agent next winter, so I don’t think he’s much of a fit on a Nationals team that likely isn’t trying to win in 2026.

Rays Days

• If there is a 2027 work stoppage or lockout
  Would it behoove the rays to just pick up Lowe’s and  Diaz’s options for next year and then wait and see what 2027 brings

Mark P

• Lowe has a club option for 2026, whereas Diaz is under contract next year (with a club option for 2027).

  Sure, it’s possible the Rays might just stand pat with both guys.  Fairbanks is the most obvious trade candidate of the three, so he’s the only one I’d be truly surprised to see still in a Rays uniform on Opening Day.  The Rays might want to keep Lowe and Yandy around to help a lineup that needs more pop anyway.

Tennessee fan

• Does the Vitello hiring make the Giants a more desirable destination seeing that Vitello’s recruiting skills have reportedly been outstanding?

Mark P

• This is an interesting aspect of Vitello’s hiring that I haven’t seen addressed in much depth.  The Giants’ issues in luring (most) top free agents to San Francisco have been well-documented, yet keep in mind, there’s a world of difference between talking a top high schooler or college player into coming to Tennessee and talking a top free agent into signing with your team.
• Ultimately it’ll come down to what the Giants are offering financially, of course, but if they’re offering comparable money, maybe a great pitch from Vitello could be a tie-breaker in some cases.

John Stanton

• Everyone in Seattle loves Naylor. Should I just give him want he wants to stay and play for us or is this just the Naylor charm talking and my money could be better spent elsewhere?

Mark P

• If Naylor doesn’t re-sign, the Mariners will need a first baseman anyway.  So why not go all-in (to some extent) to bring back a known quantity who has already proven that he can hit in Seattle?

Trip

• Where do you see Freddy Peralta next year?

Mark P

• On Opening Day, Freddy Peralta will be playing for….

  ---

  The Brewers (27.7% | 102 votes)

  Another team (72.2% | 265 votes)

  ---

  Total Votes: 367
• I totally see the logic in trading Peralta, but I’d lean more towards him staying put.  The fact that Peralta is making just $8MM is such a big help to the Brewers’ budget and their rotation that it would be a really huge offer to get Arnold to pull the trigger on a deal.

Drew

• Who are you hearing will be the Padres next manager?

Mark P

• Based just on speculation, my guess is Ryan Flaherty.  A known quantity in SD, and he was apparently Preller’s preferred choice in the last managerial search before he was overruled by upper management.

White Sox Fan

• What would Tyler Soderstrom cost in a trade? Sox need some power bats. I also can see Rhys Hoskins as a good fit on a 1 yesr deal

Mark P

• Signing Hoskins is a far, far likelier scenario than the A’s dealing away a controllable talent like Soderstrom.  The LF experiment with Soderstrom worked out far better than expected, so the A’s suddenly have no logjam between him, Rooker, and Kurtz

Dodger Fan

• Do you think the Dodgers will go out and get some OF help this offseason or give one of their young minor league studs a chance to come up and play LF?

Mark P

• You can’t rule LA out on a big signing like Tucker just because they’re one of the few teams in that spending tier.  But, I can see the Dodgers being a bit cagier and looking to add an outfielder who is controlled just for 2026.  Perhaps a Conforto-esque free agent on a one-year deal, except obviously with the hope that this player produces way more than Conforto did

Gussie Busch

• Where do the Cards start? Fire sale and see what’s left? Not sure the fan base will give it 3 years. The past two generations of fans have never experienced this.

Mark P

• You’re selling the STL fans short, since there have been tons of questions/comments in these chats alone over the last few years from Cardinals supporters wanting to blow things up.  A rebuild is at least a direction, rather than the team spending 2024-25 largely treading water.

Marky Mark

• Whats on the Playlist tonight?

Mark P

• Dolores O’Riordan’s cover of “Go Your Own Way”

bmcferren

• Are the Cubs willing to take on salary to trade Ian Happ? Is Happ willing to waive his no trade clause to play left field in hometown of Pittsburgh?

Mark P

• Happ is making $18MM, and he is coming off a very solid year.  The Cubs probably don’t feel they should have to take on money in any trade, plus Happ probably won’t be too keen on waiving his no-trade protection.  And, if he is, it’s hard to see him leaving a contender to join the woeful Bucs (hometown pride notwithstanding)

Miguel Andujar

• Does it make sense for me to come back to the Yankees to help Judge win a championship?

Mark P

• Andujar is one of the free agents I see as a great low-key add for a lot of teams.  Not sure he’s an ideal fit for the Yankees specifically unless they kept him in LF full-time, not to mention any bad blood that might exist between the two sides

A. A.

• Texas needs to shed salary, but needs a catcher. We need a shortstop. How conceivable is a deal built around Sean Murphy and Corey Seager

Mark P

• With like $140MM of a gap in salaries between the two, this doesn’t seem very realistic.  Seager is terrific when he’s healthy, but teams would be very wary about his ability to stay off the IL over the course of his contract.  Perhaps especially if you’re a Braves team that was crushed by injuries last year, this doesn’t seem like a fit.

Sharon Peters

• clayton kershaw starting a World Series game yes or no?

Mark P

• Kershaw isn’t better right now than any of Yamamoto, Glasnow, Ohtani, or Snell, so no.

Moreno-gels

• is there any hope for the Angels to add any talent this offseason??  Or just another year of losing records and wasting Mike Trout?

Mark P

• Not to be pessimistic before the Angels’ offseason has really gotten underway, but I find it hard to see that team competing in 2026.  We’ve already gotten the weirdness of the managerial search and Suzuki getting just a one-year contract, so things are already off to a strange start for the team.

Reds Hopeful

• Brady Singer for Wilyer Abreu as the two main pieces make sense for both teams?  I like Abreu in Cincy better than what it would take to get Duran. Seems like a better candidate to hit 30 HRs too.

Mark P

• Singer is a free agent next winter, so the Red Sox would want a more controllable pitcher if they’re giving up Abreu

silent george

• is schwelenbach expected back full go by spring training? any long term worries with that injury or just a fluke thing?

Mark P

• Schwellenbach was getting ready to start throwing again even before the 2025 season was over, so he should be ready to roll for the start of spring camp

PCM2013

• How much does Boston want to move off Masataka Yoshida (if at all)? Would they consider a Yoshida-Taijuan Walker bad contract swap? Feels like a move to the other team’s stadium could help both players – Fenway helping Walker’s flyball stay in the yard, and CPB helping Yoshida’s power numbers.

Mark P

• Yoshida is owed $36MM over the next two seasons, and Walker is owed $18MM for 2026.  So there’s a financial gap right there, plus Walker posted decent numbers in 2025 and showed that he could again operate as a competent Major League starter.

  Yoshida, meanwhile, missed most of the season due to injury and didn’t hit well when he returned to action.  For the Phillies in particular, adding Yoshida to a lineup that hopes to have Schwarber back at DH isn’t a fit whatsoever.

Bob

• Do the Marlins make playoffs? with there young core

Mark P

• It’s optimistic to view Miami as a playoff team right now, but it can’t be ruled out given how much progress they made in 2025.  A few canny moves this winter might well put the Fish right into the playoff picture.

LAD

• Can you see a scenario in which LAD sits out the offseason?  They’ve got a stable of top100 OF talent and talk of pursuit of an OF on a long term deal.  A ton of SPs rehabbing in the minors and a pen that needs a remake.

Mark P

• You said it yourself, the bullpen needs enough work that the Dodgers won’t be sitting anything out.  But in general, obviously LA is in a lot better overall shape than most teams, so I wouldn’t expect a ton of blockbuster moves.  (One blockbuster move, however? Sure.)

Chief

• It appears the Royals are going to count on Caglianone to take a big role in 2026. Your thoughts?

Mark P

• As a top prospect, KC isn’t going to give up on him this soon, naturally.  Some more time at Triple-A seems like it might help to get Caglianone’s confidence back a bit, and adding another outfielder or two lessens the pressure on Caglianone to be good immediately.

Bader

• Phillies will top any offer I get in FA right? They need my exact skill set

Mark P

• As well as Bader performed in Philly, two months of production isn’t too likely to overwhelm his previous few years of subpar hitting.  The Phils surely have some interest in bringing him back, but not at any price

Phillies guy

• Bohm and Castellanos to angels for Ward and Soler   Who says no

Mark P

• This exact deal seems like the Phillies benefit a lot more than the Halos, so it needs some tweaking.

Core

• Do you see a scenario where the Pirates trade Joey Bart? He had a bad year and he can’t field. Henry Davis at every day sounds better plus Rafael Flores and maybe a Shawn Ross. Tell me your thoughts? What do they do if they trade Bart.
  1. Call up Shawn Ross.
  2. Henry Davis Everyday and flores backup.
  3. or Sign a free Agent and let Spring decide

Mark P

• What’s up with the Pirates and all their catchers with two first names?  Henry Davis, Joey Bart, Shawn Ross, Omar Alfonzo, Rafael Flores….well, maybe not that last one, but come on, surely there’s someone in the world with “Flores” as a first name

  Anyway, onto the actual question!  I agree that Bart might be moved, as giving Davis another big dose of playing time seems like a more important big-picture decision.

Ang T

• Do the TB Rays stay in St. Pete, move to Tampa Proper, or a different location in the future?

Mark P

• From what I understand of Tampa/St. Pete geography, it seems like having a ballpark in actual Tampa is the much more preferable location for all parties.  It’s just that it seems very difficult to find available land in an area that checks every box the team is looking for, not to mention the finances involved in actually getting the stadium built.

Guest

• Two Braves notes: 1. Despite how much people like to speculate on a Murphy trade, the Braves have been perfectly fine playing two starter-level catchers alongside each other before. 2. Re: Bowman’s report for Lehmann, while I’m not opposed to him, worth noting that his wording was “his candidacy has seemingly strengthened over the past couple weeks”, and that may be just really mean he thinks Lehmann has a better argument simply because of the Dodgers’ World Series run. At the very least, that part seemed more speculative than other parts apparently backed up by sources.

Mark P

• Anthopoulos has known Lehmann dating back to their days together in LA, so that seems like more of a factor than the Dodgers having another deep playoff run.  Bowman indeed didn’t state that Lehmann was any kind of favorite or even that he was necessarily a top candidate, but it does seem like Lehmann is indeed a candidate.  This is basically all we’ve got to go on given how the Braves are keeping such a tight lid on things.

  As to your point about the catching situation, it’s also worth noting that Murphy’s trade value isn’t exactly at a high point right now.  If Baldwin continues to hit well and avoids a sophomore slump, Atlanta might look to move Murphy next offseason, but doing so now both leaves the club a bit thin at catcher and it’s a bit of a sell-low on Murphy.

Tony Rendon

• Do you think the Angels have any expectations for me in 2026?

Mark P

• If Rendon didn’t have a no-trade clause, he’s actually someone I’d suggest in “bad contract swap” scenarios involving the Angels.  Even if the Halos were taking on more money overall, getting something back in the form of a player that is guaranteed to actually play in 2026 is more preferable to the team than keeping Rendon around
• One drawback is that Rendon is both owed $38MM in 2026 and that would also be his luxury tax number, which is a bigger hit for teams trying to limit their tax bill

Kevin in Pa

• Do starting pitchers like Quintana and Jordan Montgomery make sense for the Cards rotation this season or will they target lesser starters? Thanks

Mark P

• Both make some sense, though Montgomery is recovering from Tommy John surgery and won’t be back until closer to midseason

Card Fan 60+ years

• I remember B Gibson pitching a no-hitter, Torre batting .363, Whitey ball in the eighties. Pujols departing was a major blow, but nothing was like being told we would not compete in 2025. Being told we are losers does not sit in the midwest and I would rather find something else to do than watch.

Mark P

• I don’t doubt that many Cards fans share your opinion, given the lower attendance numbers this season.  But, if the Cards actually had gone ahead with more of a proper rebuild last winter, at least you could’ve said “ok, this stinks, but at least I can see that they’re trying to get better.”

  Having a 2025 campaign that was basically a year of stasis made little sense to me, and probably added to the discord amongst the St. Louis fanbase

John

• Who is the best option for the Royals to trade for to shore up their outfield needs this offseason? Or do they go the free agent route?

Mark P

• Since the Royals have a need in both LF and 2B, Brendan Donovan might be the best fit since he can play either position (or toggle between the two)

Bosox Fan 1

• Will the Red Sox show an  interest in J. T. Realmuto?

Mark P

• Narvez’s bat cooled off a lot as the season went on, but the Sox seem fine enough with him as their 1a catcher that any pursuit of Realmuto wouldn’t be a top priority

liptowi

• Do you pull the plug on Volpe if he has a meh spring training and just go with Caballero or O. Cabrera until the trade deadline  (with Lombard in the wings for 2027)?

Mark P

• Caballero did enough in his short time in the Bronx that the Yankees might want to give him a real look as their shortstop (at least) until Volpe is healthy.
• Going out to get another veteran SS this winter is probably less likely due to Caballero’s presence.  And, due to the fact that the Yankees themselves haven’t given up on Volpe (even if it feels like 95% of Yankee fans have)

Sneaky

• is the reason not many questions are about Cleveland because Cleveland is not going to do much beyond signing Hedges as C2 ? It sure seems when all the hype is pumping that they have several “extra” prospects that could fetch some help

Mark P

• The Guardians almost surely won’t be making any big signings, and it’s trickier to try and predict which trades they “might” make. There aren’t any obvious trade candidates on the roster (ala Naylor last year) going into this offseason, since chances are Kwan won’t be shopped until either the deadline or next offseason.

Rick

• I’m thinking the Dodgers may go for Murakami for 3rd/1st base as Muncy & Freeman are getting close  to end of their contracts. What do you think? Thanks

Mark P

• This would suggest the Dodgers would use Murakami as a LF for at least one season, since Muncy’s club option is very likely to be exercised. Can’t be ruled out, but it feels like the Dodgers probably wouldn’t be mentioned as a Murakami suitor if it wasn’t for their long history with landing Japanese talent

Chopper to Chipper

• Bees?

Mark P

• Beads?!
• And with the catchphrase now achieved, we can call it a wrap on the chat. Thanks to everyone for all the questions, and it’s wild to think that this might be the last Weekend Chat of the 2025 season.  Enjoy the World Series this week, and let’s hope my nerves can handle it.
• 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:

  https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/membership?ref=chat-10-26-25

Craig Breslow

• can you see me making a package deal with the Cardinals for Gray, Contreras and Wynn

Mark P

• Cardinals aren’t going to move all their trade chips in one deal, and moving Winn doesn’t seem likely at all.

Cal

• Is Cal Raleigh the MVP?    Only 6 players have hit 60 homers.  And I am a catcher with a platinum glove. Who play 159 games

Mark P

• He’d be my pick, if I had a vote.  Judge’s numbers are overall better, but the degree of difficulty for a catcher hitting 60 home runs in that home ballpark is wild

Ryan

• What bats do the Pirates sign or trade for this offseason?

Mark P

• Spencer Horwitz-type players, in all likelihood.  This isn’t necessarily a bad thing since Horwitz had a good year, and obtaining controllable young hitters is something the Pirates should absolutely be doing.Of course, what they also “should” be doing is being willing to spend more on hitting.  Until they do so, however, I’ll continue to assume they’ll keep looking for cost-effective bats rather than more proven talent

Arte Moreno

• Could you see Bo Bichette shifting to 3B or 2B this off-season?

Mark P

• Bichette’s arm isn’t great, so 2B seems to be the more likelier option if he is open to a position change.From both a financial and common-sense standpoint, it would make sense for Bichette to move off shortstop.  Being willing to play 2B opens the door for more potential suitors, plus it solves concerns about his glovework at short.

TameImp

• After a really rough postseason  – what is Luke Weaver looking at in FA? Less than what Holmes got last year?

Mark P

• Holmes isn’t an ideal comp since he signed as a starting pitcher.  Weaver said in September that he is open to considering a move back to rotation work, though it depends how many teams share a belief that he can return to his early-career starting form.Chances are Weaver remains a reliever, and still lands a multi-year deal.  A one-year “prove it” sort of pact is possible, and Weaver might even prefer such a contract since it would allow him to re-enter the market next winter on the heels of a better platform year

Freddy

• Any chance that Buxton changes his stance on his no trade clause?

Mark P

• Only Buxton knows this for sure, and he was adamant even after the deadline fire sale that he wants to remain in Minnesota.

o-birds

• Is Albert Pujols an actual candidate to manage the O’s? l just don’t see it and what are our chances of signing Valdez or Gallen?

Mark P

• He’s supposed to interview for the job, so I assume Pujols isn’t being called in just to talk about his three-homer game in the 2011 Series.Valdez/Gallen would represent a new frontier for the O’s in terms of free agent spending.  Even before the Mike Elias era, the Angelos ownership was famously wary of committing big money to pitchers.  The catch here is that I wonder how much Gallen will earn in the wake of his so-so 2025 numbers, and if that could drop him into Baltimore’s price rang
• range

Mark

• Do you think The Pirates will make Jared Jones and/or Oviedo available this off season? When is Jones expected to be ready and what do you think it would cost the Red Sox to trade for either of these pitchers?

Mark P

• Jones is expected back by May, as he underwent a brace surgery rather than a Tommy John surgery.  He could conceivably return before then, to boot.While everything seems okay with his recovery to date, there’s still enough rehab to come that I can see teams shying away from a pitcher coming off major UCL surgery.  Or at least, Jones might draw less attention than some of the other arms Pittsburgh has on offer.

  Oviedo only logged 40 1/3 innings in his own comeback year, as he was sidelined by a lat injury in the wake of his Tommy John rehab.  I’m not sure he was viewed as a prime trade chip even before all these injury woes, so his value is pretty low at the moment

• As it relates to the Red Sox, Boston is probably going to be aiming higher with their pitching search

Guest

• I was thinking after the regular season that Judge was the MVP, but Raleigh is seriously carrying the Mariners throughout the postseason. Will this sway any voters?

Mark P

• Awards voting is done after the regular season, before the playoffs begin.

Starting Pitchers

• Who has more value relative to expected prospect cost in a trade? Peralta or Skubal?

Mark P

• Peralta will earn $8MM next year, and Skubal will cost roughly $17.8MM (as per Matt Swartz’s arb projection).  Even with that big gap in price tag, Skubal should net a bit more in a trade return because he is arguably the best pitcher in baseball.  Peralta is a very good pitcher in his own right, but maybe more of an ideal No. 2 starter on a contender

Robbie Baseball

• Honest question, how is George Springer not a candidate for the MLBPA Comeback Player of the Year award?

Mark P

• The award usually goes to players returning from injury, not players coming back from a bad season.  DeGrom has to be the top choice for the AL honors.

Guest

• what is you take on ontani thowing 6 shut out innings ant hitting 3 home runs been a 55 year old baseball fan and thats simpiy amazing

Mark P

• You can’t make this stuff up.  Ohtani is delivering iconic performances on a regular basis, and even he outdid himself last night.  Maybe literally the best game anyone has ever played, and in a playoff game to boot.

Trade

• Jose Soriano for Brett Baty who says no?

Mark P

• Not sure either side would see that as a total fit.  The Mets obviously need starting pitching, but Soriano is maybe too grounder-dependent for what they’re looking for

Kevin in Pa

• Bloom mentioned the Cards would be in the market for pitching. Does this mean Quintana or more like Cease? Thanks

Mark P

• The Cards are in rebuild mode, so Cease doesn’t fit.  Veteran innings-eaters like Quintana are more likely, but the priority will be giving rotation spots to the younger arms

Brian S

• Do you think Bubic and Isbel could have value as a trade package for an upgrade in CF for the Royals. If so, who’s a team needing SP who could trade a young CF with offensive potential?

Mark P

• Bubic is only controlled through 2026, and Isbel is a fantastic fielder who can’t hit.  I’m not sure that’s enough to land “a young CF with offensive potential” since those types of players are generally kept by their teams.Moving Bubic for a corner OF might be the smoother fit for Kansas City.  As much as the Royals need outfield help, Isbel’s glove is at least a big plus, so they’re probably fine staying with him as the primary center fielder as long as they get some pop for the corners.

Bats or Arms

• Bigger priority for Breslow: resign Bregman or find an actual #2 to slot behind Crochet?

Mark P

• Finding another quality pitcher.  If Bregman leaves, the Red Sox can arguably fill that 3B hole with Marcelo Mayer, even if that’s putting a lot of pressure on a youngster.

Dick Monfort

• What’s a realistic timeline for the Rockies to get back to contention? The whole organization is a dumpster fire. 5-7 years?

Mark P

• Depends on who the GM hire is, but that sounds about right.  In theory, a new GM/PBO will be given the freedom to overhaul basically everything about how the organization operates, which will take a lot of time.

Guest

• Not sure I’ve seen it mentioned anywhere, but if the Reds want more offense, maybe they could swing a trade for Benintendi with the White Sox eating much of the financial cost.  Obviously Benny hasn’t exactly been an offensive powerhouse the past few years, but if you look at expected homers by ballpark, the Reds’ ballpark should be one of the most beneficial ones for him, and LF/DH is enough of a question mark for them where the fit actually isn’t that bad.

Mark P

• I see your logic, but if the Reds are looking for a true upgrade, they can do a lot better than Benintendi

MLB Owners

• Saw an ESPN article before the NLCS saying it could impact CBA negotiations. You buy that? Seems like the cap crowd could make a pretty good case based on that blowout of a series. The Brewers just weren’t in the class of the Dodgers.

Mark P

• So, “blowout.”  Let me be clear, the Dodgers were definitely a lot better than the Brewers in that series and were the clear winners.  But, LA also scored only 15 runs over the four games, and only because they had an all-time performance from their rotation.And, if the Brewers get a big hit in the ninth in Game 1 and win, does everyone’s perceptions of the NLCS change if the Dodgers win in five games rather than a sweep?

  Right now MLB is having its cake and eating it too, in regards to the Dodgers and the upcoming CBA talks.  The Dodgers are a convenient boogeyman to present as an example why the league “must” have a salary cap, yet having a team like the Dodgers is an enormous boost to revenues across the board in terms of TV ratings, fan interest, merch, etc.

H-Town O’s

• Could you see the rangers trading Garcia for Mountcastle?

Mark P

• That’s an interesting concept of basically one non-tender for another.  Yet for either team, I feel like they’d want to explore the market to aim higher for their needs.

White Sox

• Are the White Sox going to loosen the purse strings and actually sign someone worthwhile? Or will it be another penny-ante off-season?

Mark P

• The Sox are still at least two more years away from contention.  In the bigger picture, they might not really start spending to the degree that fans expect until after Justin Ishbia fully buys the team

Kyle

• Arenado for Yoshida, who says no?

Mark P

• Yoshida has no value to a rebuilding team like St. Louis.

Brian

• Phillies would be wise to use money in other areas over giving Schwarber 5yrs at 30+AAV for a guy with 1 +tool. The OF needs work?  What do u think?

Mark P

• This does make logical sense, except Schwarber is such a premium bat and such a leader in that clubhouse that losing him would be a real blow to morale (in addition to the lineup).

Pat

• Do teams startthinking about lockout when offering new contracts?

Mark P

• The upcoming CBA talks and the likelihood of a lockout are definitely on teams’ minds.  It’ll also be on free agents’ minds when considering their options this winter.

Desiree

• What, if anything, would prompt the Pirates to make Paul Skeens available?

Mark P

• If Skenes demanded a trade, that might prompt some movement, but he doesn’t have much leverage to force the team to do anything.It is certainly possible another team calls Cherington this winter and says “look, I know Skenes isn’t available, but we’ll give you [absurd Godfather offer] for him.”  Skenes is as close to untouchable as anyone in baseball, but if the Pirates are realistic about their inability to retain him long-term, they should at least consider a deal if another team offers the absolute moon and stars

Tim

• Let’s get this one out of way, you’re going to get ask alot this offseason. Jo Adell finally gets traded this winter?

Mark P

• I’m not sure why the Angels would move Adell after he’s had the best season of his career.  The Angels’ outfield alignment is imperfect to say the least, yet trading Ward or even Soler in a salary dump seems more plausible than moving Adell

Arenado Fever?

• Why do so many people want Arenado on their favorite team?

Mark P

• Some fans are just that dissatisfied with their own third basemen that even the diminished version of Arenado seems like an upgrade.  Or, they think he’ll bounce back with a change of scenery.  Or, some fans might just not realize how much Arenado fell off in 2025.

Kyle

• If the Brewers do move Peralta what kind of return would they be looking for? A prospect package, or major league talent in an area of need?

Mark P

• I can see it looking pretty similar to the Burnes trade package.  Peralta doesn’t have quite the Cy Young ceiling of Burnes, but he’d be available at roughly half the cost.  At the very least, the Brewers would want one MLB-ready young player, and one slightly more longer-term prospect (or a CBR pick).

romorr

• “”look, I know Skenes isn’t available, but we’ll give you [absurd Godfather offer] for him” So Spencer Jones and Volpe should get the deal done, right? Maybe throw in Will Warren if the Pirates ask for more.

Mark P

• That would be the Godfather 3 of trade offers

Albert Pujols

• Can a manager also be a player ? Player/manager?

Mark P

• Player/managers used to be relatively common back in the day.  I think the most recent player/manager was Pete Rose with the Reds in the 1980’s, and, uh, that didn’t work out great for many reasons.That should be the next challenge for Ohtani, becoming a hitter/pitcher/manager if Dave Roberts were to retire.

Craig Breslow

• Did Masataka Yoshida do enough for me to trade him this off season?

Mark P

• An 88 wRC+ in 205 plate appearances, so nope

Baseball Fan

• Admittedly, I’m not a Tigers fan, so I hadn’t watched them this season until Skubal’s start the other night against the Mariners. Does the rumored contract extension numbers make sense for him or is that a steep overpay?

Mark P

• The Tigers’ initial extension offer seemed absurdly low, both in terms of money and the idea that Skubal would take such a relatively short-term deal.So yeah, Skubal and Boras aiming for a record-setting pitching contract is certainly within reason for them, given how well Skubal has performed.  Anything Detroit offers has to be $300MM, at least, since that’s where Boras wants to move the market.
• We’re cutting things a little short on the chat today since some pretty fascinating news on the Giants’ managerial search is breaking.  Thanks to everyone for all the questions!
• 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:https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/membership?ref=chat-10-18-25

Brady

• Who will be the Phillies opening day third baseman?

Mark P

• As noted earlier, I think they’ll non-tender Bohm.  Maybe they find a trade partner before the non-tender deadline, but after last winter, I think teams realize the Phillies are ready to move on from Bohm and will just wait until he’s cut.

  As for who might take over, 3B is a less difficult position to fill than catcher, but obviously losing Bohm opens up another hole in the lineup.  Bregman would be a mighty interesting possibility if he doesn’t work out an extension with Boston.  Arenado is probably a no-go due to his decline over the last couple of years.

• On the trade front, I feel I’ll be saying this about a lot of teams, but Brendan Donovan would be a very good fit in Philly

White Sox Fan

• Is there any value in picking up Luis Robert’s option and trying to trade him?

Mark P

• The White Sox are kind of damned if they do, damned if they don’t.  Exercise the option, and they’ll still have difficulty finding a trade.  Decline the option and Robert just walks for nothing, apart from some meaningless payroll savings

World Series Bound

• Chances of a MIL/SEA world series coming soon?

World Series

• Dream matchup of remaining teams? M’s Brewers would be wild given M’s have never been and Brewers have never won.

Mark P

• As a Blue Jays fan, I’m not exactly keen on the Mariners winning the pennant, haha

  But if the Jays had to lose, a Mariners/Brewers WS would indeed be a lot of fun. Off the top of my head, I think 1980 (Phillies/Royals) was the last time there was a World Series between two teams seeking their first ring?

Nancy’s Friend Sluggo

• I keep hearing people suggest the Tigers should trade Skubal this off-season so they don’t lose him for just a QO, but I think they absolutely should keep him and go for the World Series again in 2026. What do you think about the issue?

Mark P

• Skubal (who is a Scott Boras client) would require a gigantic extension offer to keep him off the free agent market.  The Tigers have plenty of open future payroll space, and if you’re going to go overboard to sign anyone, it might as well be for the best pitcher in the game.

  That being said, I doubt Skubal is still a Tiger in 2027.  There’s even a decent chance he isn’t a Tiger in 2026, if another team presents the front office with a knockout offer.  Despite their success over the last two years, it feels like the Tigers are kind of in a weird spot with their fanbase, and dealing Skubal away would undo a lot of the goodwill generated from back to back playoff appearances

Go Pads

• If the padres packaged Cronenworth and Estrada, what kind of return could they expect?

Mark P

• Even with Estrada added, I don’t think you’ll find many (or any) teams willing to take on Cronenworth’s contract.  Cronenworth isn’t even a bad player, but his deal is just that big an overpday.
• In this scenario, San Diego still has to eat money, or take on an unwelcome contract in return

Steve M

• begging Dolan to spend some money. Do you see any realistic players that can help our beleagured offense via free agency?

Mark P

• Acquiring a bat via trade seems more realistic for the Guardians than signing someone notable to a decent-sized FA contract

TC Bear

• How likely is Torii Hunter managing the Twins in 2026? Any other managerial candidates you like for MN?

Mark P

• There haven’t been any public rumblings about the Twins’ managerial search, so the team is keeping things pretty close to the vest.  Hunter may be on the radar, or the club may prefer someone more low-profile as the Twins go through what is likely a rebuild in all but name only

  It is possible one of the younger Pohlads may become manager in a Little Big League type of scenario, but probbbbbably unlikely

GoBias Industries

• Bees?

Mark P

• Beads?!

Yadi Molina

• Am I getting any consideration for one of the manager openings?  Should I get some consideration?

Mark P

• My assumption was that Molina was a bit of a manager-in-waiting in St. Louis, sort of the way that Pujols might’ve been in this same capacity in LA once he was ready and willing to take the job.

  But, the Cards seem content to stick with Marmol in the dugout.  There’s also the question of Bloom perhaps eventually wanting to hire his own manager once the rebuild is through, rather than feel obligated to pick a St. Louis legend

John

• When we look back on Paul Skenes’s career 15 years from now, will he have played in the postseason in a Pirates uniform?

Mark P

• In 15 years, we’ll be like “oh yeah, huh Skenes started with the Pirates, I remember that.”

  For comparison’s sake, it’s been only seven years since Gerrit Cole pitched for Pittsburgh but that feels like either a lifetime ago, or a “wait, Cole was a Pirate?” reaction

Trade

• Taylor Ward for Brady Singer who says no?

Mark P

• This seems like a very good need-for-need type of swap. Ward will be a bit more pricey (as per our arb projections), but that shouldn’t be an obstacle for a Reds team that badly needs offense

Dan S.

• Can the Orioles put together a package for a playoff-caliber starter centered around Coby Mayo, or did Mayo’s 2025 struggles tank his value to the point where they’re better off giving him a shot at the everyday 1B job next year?

Mark P

• Mountcastle is pretty likely to be non-tendered, so if Mayo is also dealt, that leaves 1B for either a new player or maybe Basallo.

  Mayo didn’t do great in his first extended taste of MLB action, but also didn’t do anything that raises serious questions about his overall value.  He’d still get a lot of attention if the O’s shopped him, even if they’re looking for at least a mid-rotation arm

King Tuck

• Do you think there’s any chance Tucker agrees to a short term deal? Like a “prove it deal”. Maybe similar to Bregman or Bellinger?

Mark P

• I have some doubts over Tucker getting $400MM, but also think he can do better than a shorter-term opt-out contract.

John

• do you think the Jays tender Eric Lauer for 2026?

Mark P

• Definitely. He’s a no-brainer to be retained.  With Bassitt and Scherzer both possibly leaving in free agency, Lauer might be penciled in for another starting role

Lou Brown

• Jays went worst to first this year, what team has the best chance to accomplish this in 2026?

Mark P

• Thought about making a poll out of this question, except Baltimore would likely win in a landslide.  Even if you have doubts about the O’s overall, their chances of a turn-around in 2026 seem a lot better than those of the White Sox, Angels, Nationals, Rockies, or Pirates.

Chris

• Who is starting alongside Judge in the Yanks OF on opening day?

Mark P

• Bellinger and Dominguez.  New York isn’t giving up on Dominguez this soon, and my guess is that the Yankees pony up to re-sign Bellinger to a big contract.

Richard

• Mariners need to bring Naylor back! Show him the money!!!! With almost 25 mil coming off the books with both Mitches (Haniger and Garver) leaving what are the odds they resign him?

Mark P

• Naylor has already become such a legend in Seattle that I can see the M’s go above and beyond their usual financial comfort zone to re-sign him.  Dipoto has already been vocal on the subject, and one would imagine ownership could be swayed as they see more and more extra dollars flow in from playoff revenue.

  Plenty of teams will be looking into Naylor’s market, and I can see him waiting for Alonso to leave the market in order to capitalize on some desperate teams.  This might leave the M’s in a waiting game since I don’t see them as bidders for Alonso.

Mark

• J. Duran for Caglione. Who says no?

Mark P

• The Red Sox are likelier to say no, in part because I think the Royals would say yes.  Remember, the Royals are sorely in need for OF help, and Jac might already be without a position on a team with Pasquantino/Perez eating up a lot of the 1B/DH time

Mike Tex

• Was it wise for the Cubs to announce Jed’s extension at the trade deadline?

Mark P

• It’s fair for Chicago fans to point out flaws in the team’s approach, but in the macro sense….the Cubs won 92 games, made the playoffs, won a WC series, and almost squeaked into the NLCS.
• Working out an extension and then just sitting on it for a few months doesn’t really change anything, unless you’re suggesting that the Cubs should’ve moved on from Hoyer entirely

Walter

• What right handed bats could Cleveland pursue in FA or trade? Thinking Hoskins or Willson Contreras.

Mark P

• Hoskins is likelier due to a lesser salary, since I have a hard time seeing the Guards absorbing most or all of Contreras’ deal.

hope in the desert

• what are the chances the diamondbacks get Masanori Murakami, do you think it would be a good fit

Mark P

• Murakami and Pavin Smith are both LHH, but that’s not necessarily a huge obstacle since Murakami could be a DH, or get some 3B/OF time if the Diamondbacks are okay with his glovework.  Arizona isn’t at the top of my list as natural Murakami candidates, but I can sorta see it

Tim

• You see the Angels going after Framber or Suarez?

Mark P

• I’ll repeat my usual line about the Angels and top free agents….barring a huge overpay, why would a star player with choices opt to join a team that hasn’t won anything in a full decade?

  Now, the Pujols aspect adds a wrinkle to this situation.  Maybe it’s slightly easier for the Halos to lure players if they’re excited by the idea of playing with a legend as manager.  But, I wouldn’t suddenly expect free agents to start bumping the Angels up their wishlist just if Pujols is in the dugout.

Carl

• Does the Paul Toboni era begin with a bang or a whimper this offseason? Presumably he didn’t leave a great job in Boston just to re-sign Josh Bell.

Mark P

• So far he’s focused on overhauling a lot of the team’s development staff, which isn’t unexpected given how the Nats have struggled to build their own pipeline
• Overall, the rebuild is still on in DC, so don’t expect any splashy moves

Micky Batt

• Randy Arozarena has one year left of club control for the M’s.   Do they just ride out next year with him and not sign him to a multi-year extension?

Mark P

• Leaning towards riding it out.  With their pitchers getting more expensive and the possibility of more money spent on Naylor or Polanco, Arozarena seems expendable
• Maybe kind of a sneaky trade candidate this winter, but it’s more likely he’s still in Seattle on Opening Day

Royce Lewis

• Do I end up somewhere else this off-season?

Mark P

• He’s still inexpensive, so the Twins are under no financial pressure to move him.  The Twins also surely don’t want to sell low, in case Lewis stays healthy and figures it out elsewhere

Everybody’s doin’ the fish?

• Are Marlins fans the happiest of the NLeast teams going into the offseason? What SHOULD do they do in the offseason to keep the riding the wave?…or maybe I should ask…what are they probably going to do?

Mark P

• Are Marlins fans the happiest of the NL east teams going into the offseason?

  This gets my vote as “whoa….wait…” eye-opening comment of today’s chat session, lol.  I think this is actually correct, even with the caveat that Miami fans may have never been truly pleased with their team.

  As noted in past chats, I don’t think this year’s relative success will suddenly turn the Marlins into free-spenders or spin them directly towards wanting to contend.  They can get a bit more aggressive with the types of talents they seek out, but maybe moreso in trades than in free agency.

Kyle

• Is the fact that the DH is mostly used for either a proven masher or as a carousel for off days for position players that versatile bench options can fill in for preventing the rise of another Ohtani? At least in US baseball development? It feels a bit weird that another team hasn’t tried something with someone, bc even half of Ohtani as a hitter and pitcher is an all star

Mark P

• Ohtani’s emergence probably means that you’ll see a few more guys give it a real go as a two-way player.  But beyond the reasons you mentioned, the biggest obstacle against “another Ohtani” emerging is that is exceptionally hard to be both a big league-caliber hitter AND big league-caliber pitcher, let alone a star in both fields.  Ohtani is an utterly unique talent.

Joe E

• who should the Astros try and acquire?

Mark P

• The best team trainers and medical staff that money can buy

Sam Francisco

• Giants big spenders and traders?

Mark P

• I see the Giants being aggressive this winter.  They have holes to fill, and with a new manager coming in, Posey will want to further put the stamp on the roster being ’his’ team.

  Luring free agents to SF will continue to be a little tricky, and it’ll be interesting if Posey is more active on the trade front.  Maybe not quite to the huge extent of a Devers-type blockbuster, but if FAs aren’t biting for whatever reasons, the Giants could pursue the trade route again

Houston

• Do I win the AL West?

Mark P

• The Rangers may be cutting payroll, the Athletics’ pitching (and ballpark) is still a big issue, and the Angels are the Angels.  So overcoming the Mariners won’t be easy, but it wouldn’t be a shock to see the Astros rebound to another division title just because the rest of the West is pretty thin.

Slappy Slapster

• As commented earlier, Singer for Ward makes sense. Thoughts on Bubic for Ward?

Mark P

• Also a sensible move, though Bubic at a projected $6M makes him a valuable trade chip for players with a higher ceiling than Ward.

SKUBAL AND CROCHET

• Odds Boston tries to pry Skubal and uses Duran/Abreu + some prospects?

Mark P

• The Sox will absolutely at least check in on Skubal, and can offer enough in return to make Detroit think about it.  Skubal probably isn’t any likelier to sign an extension in Boston than he is in Motown, however, so the Sox will have to gauge how much they want to give up for what’ll very likely be a one-year rental

Skip

• Can Joe Ryan return a top 10 global prospect? What teams are most interested in him?

Mark P

• If the Red Sox did go big on a pitcher trade, Ryan is the likelier candidate than Skubal.  Actually, Pablo Lopez is the likeliest of all since the Twins would welcome saving some money, but sticking with Ryan, the two sides already had some talks at the deadline.

  Ryan is projected to make $5.8MM in 2026 and is arb-controlled through 2027.  That’s an inexpensive price for a frontline pitcher, so he’d fit into any team’s budget.

• With just two years of team control, however, that’s probably not enough to pry a top-10 prospect

Bernie Brewer

• Does Woodruff come back to the Brewers? Won’t his injury situation limit his opportunities elsewhere?

Mark P

• Woodruff looked so good in his limited outings this season that I think he’ll get plenty of attention in free agency.  Not necessarily on a long-term contract, however, which might keep the Brewers in play to some limited extent.  Woodruff is an interesting qualifying offer candidate, in fact, if the Brew Crew wanted to go that route

Ricky

• Would bichette accept playing 2B for the Jays

Mark P

• Bichette’s reps surely have a strategy in mind for explaining their client’s inconsistent-at-best defense, but the easier route would indeed be a willingness to change positions.  An elite shortstop makes more than an elite second baseman, but Bichette’s bat will get him paid anyway, and a position change might even help him if he becomes a plus at 2B.

  As I and many others have pointed out, the Andres Gimenez trade seemed like Toronto’s hedge against a Bichette departure.  So if Bichette was willing to go with 2B, a path can now emerge towards a reunion with the Jays.  I still feel that overall, Bichette will sign elsewhere.

Pumpsie

• Would Rice and Caballero be better next year than McMahon and Goldschmidt was last year? If so, where does McMahon go? Angels?

Mark P

• McMahon’s contract won’t be the easiest to trade.  The question the Yankees should be asking if Caballero over Volpe, not McMahon.

  Rice is pretty much looking like a lock to be the starting 1B (and occasional catcher) next year.  Goldschmidt will likely head elsewhere.

Guest

• Does Colt Emerson start next season with the M’s

Mark P

• If he has a big spring, I can see the Mariners putting him on the Opening Day roster and aiming for the PPI bonus.  Crawford is still the shortstop, but Emerson could be tabbed for a hole at 2B or 3B

Cubs

• Cubs have to re sign Tucker after what they gave up for him right ?

Mark P

• You’d think so, but all signs point to Tucker leaving

Oriole Orange turned Blue

• I don’t understand why teams let their players play through injuries rather than just letting them heal up?  It seems risky to let an already injured player possibly further aggravate the problem further.  Why not just put the injured player on the IL and let the back up play?   Austin Hays used to play injured for the Orioles and it drove me crazy! He’d have an All Star half season bookended by an injured other half.  The same with Colton Cowser now.  Broken finger and then broken ribs, but he plays through it with dismal results.  Kyle Tucker and Gleyber Torres the same thing.

Mark P

• It depends on the player and the injury in some cases.  Like the cliche goes, there’s a difference between playing “hurt” and “being injured,” since over the course of a six-month baseball season, pretty much everyone is varying degrees of banged up.

  You’re not wrong that in many cases, having an obviously struggling player on the field is doing more harm than good, even if a team has no ready-made backup option to use.

  But sometimes, a player is able to play through injury just fine, like Tucker over his first month after the hairline fracture.  Or in Torres’ case, if he gets sports hernia surgery in mid-July when it first arose, then he’s likely gone for the rest of the season.  That’s not a welcome outcome for a player like Torres who is chasing a free agent contract, plus the simple fact that he wanted to keep contributing to a Tigers team that was (at the time) flying high

Twins fan

• Does a trade based around Joe Ryan and Coby Mayo make sense for either team involved?

Mark P

• The Orioles should be burning up the Twins’ phone lines for Ryan or Lopez.

JeffyM

• Do Yesavage and Lauer just slide into the rotation for Scherzer and Bassitt next year, or do you think the Jays are active on a starting pitcher in FA or trade?

Mark P

• Next year’s rotation lines up as Gausman, Yesavage, Berrios, and Lauer, so there’s definitely a need for at least one and probably two more starting pitching additions.

Ebenezer_Batflip

• Any chances for the Reds to trade Hunter Greene for Jarren Duran + other players or prospects? Feels like those two teams are good potential trade partners with each having a surplus of what the other needs.

Mark P

• Greene has a higher ceiling for me than Duran, so if I’m the Reds, I see if I can talk Boston into another starter.

Hits Like Rays

• Your thoughts on the new Rays’ owners being able to really raise the player payroll if Tampa will not spend “one dollar” to help build a stadium?  Or are the Rays now more likely to just blackmail some other city and re-locate?

Mark P

• The new group’s desire to have a new ballpark ready for Opening Day 2029 seems wildly optimistic, so I don’t think Tampa fans should feel entirely safe yet about the Rays staying in the Tampa/St. Pete area

Mac

• You’re NHL Stanley cup finalists for 2025 -26

Mark P

• Continuing the long history of players finding immediate championship success as soon as they leave the Leafs, I’ll pick Mitch Marner’s Golden Knights to hoist the Cup by beating the Panthers in the finals

Jason C

• What do you see the Atl doing this offseason?

Mark P

• Lots of bullpen moves, a new shortstop, maybe a new second baseman as well, plus at least one starting pitcher.  Technically Atlanta could have a rotation surplus between a new arm and their current staff if everyone is healthy, but everyone won’t be healthy.
• That’s it for today’s chat.  Thanks for everyone’s questions, and I hope everyone enjoys Game 1 of the ALCS!  We’ll be back with more chatty goodness next weekend.
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