Mark Polishuk's NL Central comments
Posted: September 8 26, 11:09 am
These comments came from a chat with MLB Trade Rumors' Mark Polishuk that occurred on September 6.
A lot fewer questions than last week, so I included 2 bonus questions this time: one about expansion and one about qualifying offers. Enjoy the read!!
The link to the entire chat can be found here: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/09/ ... t-917.html
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More likely to have an impact down the stretch-Justin Steele or Shelby Miller?
Mark Polishuk
Interesting question. I lean towards Miller just because he’s more used to bullpen work, and because his injury layoff hasn’t been as long.
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Hey uhm… remember when Kyle Harrison was an ace? Or ace adjacent anyway? Is he just all the way broken?
Mark Polishuk
It’s worth noting that Harrison has been good in three of his six starts since returning from the IL, but yeah, the other three have been rough. The Brewers are considering moving him into some kind of shorter-start or even a relief role heading into October, to see if he can get back on track.
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All of a sudden the Reds can score runs. Is Hector Rodriguez the starting right fielder next year?
Mark Polishuk
He should get every opportunity to win the outright job in Spring Training.
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Who you like for NL Cy Young this year?
Mark Polishuk
Glad I don’t have a ballot, since I dunno where I’d lean between Misiorowski, Sanchez, and Sale. I’d need the next few weeks of season to provide a fuller answer. In terms of who I think will win, Miz might have the slight edge due to the extra hype and his gaudy velocity.
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Who might be on radar for a long term extension? Valdez? Ashcraft?
Mark Polishuk
Valdez no, Ashcraft yeah. Ashcraft is already controlled through 2031 so the Bucs might not see the need to pursue an extension just yet when he’s still such a bargain.
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Are the Cards at a place that they should make a play for a higher end FA starter? They have back-half rotation depth and a good top-half of the lineup. Or will they wait another year and give more young starters a chance (I.e. Doyle)?
Mark Polishuk
Similar to my answer about the Nationals earlier, I doubt the Cardinals view their overachieving 2026 season as being so far ahead of schedule that they’re ready to flip the switch to “let’s spend and contend.”
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Now that the Rays and A’s stadium situations have been resolved, how soon until we see expansion? Perhaps 2028 after the lockout?
Mark Polishuk
Among the many, many things to be covered in the new CBA, it’s likely some path to expansion will be addressed. It’ll take a while for the bids to be collected and awarded and then a couple of years before a team can be launched, so the expansion clubs might not arrive until something like 2032… which would be after the next CBA expires, assuming the two sides agree to another five-year pact.
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What does timing look like, re: QOs? Is it possible they’re put on hold this offseason and amended before being actioned?
Mark Polishuk
Teams have until five days after the World Series to issue a qualifying offer to any eligible free agent, and the player than has 12 days to decide whether or not to accept. The offseason calendar won’t be altered in advance of a lockout because technically, a lockout isn’t “guaranteed” to happen. (Even though we all know it’s happening.)
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A lot fewer questions than last week, so I included 2 bonus questions this time: one about expansion and one about qualifying offers. Enjoy the read!!
The link to the entire chat can be found here: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/09/ ... t-917.html
-----------------------------------------------------------------
More likely to have an impact down the stretch-Justin Steele or Shelby Miller?
Mark Polishuk
Interesting question. I lean towards Miller just because he’s more used to bullpen work, and because his injury layoff hasn’t been as long.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Hey uhm… remember when Kyle Harrison was an ace? Or ace adjacent anyway? Is he just all the way broken?
Mark Polishuk
It’s worth noting that Harrison has been good in three of his six starts since returning from the IL, but yeah, the other three have been rough. The Brewers are considering moving him into some kind of shorter-start or even a relief role heading into October, to see if he can get back on track.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
All of a sudden the Reds can score runs. Is Hector Rodriguez the starting right fielder next year?
Mark Polishuk
He should get every opportunity to win the outright job in Spring Training.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Who you like for NL Cy Young this year?
Mark Polishuk
Glad I don’t have a ballot, since I dunno where I’d lean between Misiorowski, Sanchez, and Sale. I’d need the next few weeks of season to provide a fuller answer. In terms of who I think will win, Miz might have the slight edge due to the extra hype and his gaudy velocity.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Who might be on radar for a long term extension? Valdez? Ashcraft?
Mark Polishuk
Valdez no, Ashcraft yeah. Ashcraft is already controlled through 2031 so the Bucs might not see the need to pursue an extension just yet when he’s still such a bargain.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Are the Cards at a place that they should make a play for a higher end FA starter? They have back-half rotation depth and a good top-half of the lineup. Or will they wait another year and give more young starters a chance (I.e. Doyle)?
Mark Polishuk
Similar to my answer about the Nationals earlier, I doubt the Cardinals view their overachieving 2026 season as being so far ahead of schedule that they’re ready to flip the switch to “let’s spend and contend.”
-----------------------------------------------------------------
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Now that the Rays and A’s stadium situations have been resolved, how soon until we see expansion? Perhaps 2028 after the lockout?
Mark Polishuk
Among the many, many things to be covered in the new CBA, it’s likely some path to expansion will be addressed. It’ll take a while for the bids to be collected and awarded and then a couple of years before a team can be launched, so the expansion clubs might not arrive until something like 2032… which would be after the next CBA expires, assuming the two sides agree to another five-year pact.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
What does timing look like, re: QOs? Is it possible they’re put on hold this offseason and amended before being actioned?
Mark Polishuk
Teams have until five days after the World Series to issue a qualifying offer to any eligible free agent, and the player than has 12 days to decide whether or not to accept. The offseason calendar won’t be altered in advance of a lockout because technically, a lockout isn’t “guaranteed” to happen. (Even though we all know it’s happening.)
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