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Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 1/21/25
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Steve Adams
8:21
Good morning, all! We'll get going slightly later than usual today, at 2pm CT. Feel free to submit questions in advance between now and then.
1:58
Hey there! Let's get underway
Kyle Finnegan
1:58
What does my market look like now that Tanner Scott has signed?
Steve Adams
1:59
I don't really view them as related. Finnegan was non-tendered because he was projected to earn $8-9MM. Presumably, the Nats tried to trade him first and came up empty on much of a return. Scott was the top free agent reliever -- someone we predicted for four years from the outset of free agency. He has little to no bearing on Finnegan
Ebbets Field
1:59
When teams receive "cash considerations" for trades what is the range of cash they receive?  I have never seen an actual amount mentioned, so would appreciate your knowledge on this.
Steve Adams
2:00
It can be/has been as little as one dollar. Generally speaking, you're not talking significant sums of money when you're flipping a DFA'ed guy for cash.
Omaha
2:00
Odds on the sale of the Twins happening by Opening Day?
Steve Adams
2:00
An agreement in place seems possible. Getting an agreement, having the new owners vetted and voted upon by the league's other 29 owners seems quite unlikely.
Blake
2:00
Royals still looking for a big bat to add to the lineup?  Things have gone quiet w/ them
Steve Adams
2:02
They'd still like to add a bat, sure, but I don't know that ownership is willing to spend to get there. Could always work the trade market, but I think the bulk of their heavy lifting has been done (Wacha re-signing, India trade, Lorenzen re-signing being the major items of note)
Jeff W
2:02
Are the Jays OK with a catcher tandem of Kirk and Heineman? How high on the priority list is backup C?
Steve Adams
2:03
They brough Ali Sanchez in as a non-roster invitee as well, not that that moves the needle much. I can see them adding a backup or Kirk, sure, but there are bigger items on their to-do list at the moment. Some waiver dealings or small spring trades could impact the backup catcher spot. And you'll always have veterans who are on NRI deals elsewhere opting out later in spring training as they're informed they won't make the club with their current teamm.
Pistol Pete
2:04
Is Alonso returning to Mets all but dead, and if so, where would be the ideal landing spot?
Steve Adams
2:04
Don't think it's dead, but if the Mets don't up their offer from the reported $68-70MM over three, I don't see it happening. That never felt like a legitimate offer.
International Signing $$
2:05
After the Blue Jays traded for international signing money and then promptly whiffed on Sasaki can the 2 million they acquired in singing bonus be carried forward into the next signing period since most of the top international prospects have already been locked up this time around?  Or is it a use it or lose proposition in this signing period?
Who's Fabio?
2:05
Hey Steve - the Straw deal backfired on the Jays obviously.  But spending 11m to buy prospects is not the worst move is it?  They just lost international pool money and a good draft pick for next year with Santander signing.
Steve Adams
2:05
Money doesn't roll over to the next period, no
2:06
Spending $11MM to buy prospects is totally reasonable -- if you're a team like the Marlins or White Sox. I don't think it's a good way for the Jays to operate as they're in win-now mode. Paying "expensive Bradley Zimmer" (hat tip to Andrew Stoeten) $11MM is a massive misstep
Relievers
2:06
With Scott and Yates off the board along with some others. Do you think the rest of the bullpen market will move fast now?
Steve Adams
2:07
More than Scott and (likely, but not yet officially) Yates being off the board, the simple fact that spring training is like three weeks away is going to spur some movement.
Off-season
2:07
Which team has surprised you the most with its passivity?
Steve Adams
2:08
Mariners? Even if you'd told me back on Nov. 1 that they were only going to have about $15MM of space to add to the payroll, I'd just have anticipated another trade whirlwind from Jerry Dipoto
Kirk
2:08
Am I the only one disgusted by the Deferred Money the Dodgers are throwing around? Where does this end? When does MLB step in and enforce the Luxury Tax parameters?
Steve Adams
2:08
Every team can defer money. They've been able to forever. The Jays deferred $35MM of Santander's contract
2:09
Max Scherzer's entire $35MM salary was deferred in 2019
The Reds deferred part of Bronson Arroyo's extension like 15 years ago
Alex Bregman
2:09
I will play for _______ next season?
Steve Adams
2:09
If I were guessing right now, I'd say Tigers. But I put the Jays on the Free Agent prediction contest so let's go Toronto
Erik
2:10
Do teams consider where they're picking in the draft (and bonus pool money) in regards to whether or not it's worth it to sign a QO free agent? For example, if you're a lottery team and your second highest pick is in the late 40s but you knew that next season it was going to be late 50s because of the rules. Does losing one sting more than the other or is that irrelevant?
Steve Adams
2:11
Depends on the free agent. For Nick Pivetta (no disrespect to him) that's probably a consideration. If you're making a serious run at Juan Soto, Max Fried, Corbin Burnes, etc. -- the pick is more of an afterthought.
Christopher
2:11
Does Helsley need to be included to move Arenado?
Steve Adams
2:11
No, but it's insane to me that they're not shopping Helsley regardless of Arenado's status.
Alonso
2:12
Do the Rays make any sense for Pete? Hometown guy can offer a short term deal with opt outs?
Steve Adams
2:14
I actually think yes, but with all the damage to the trop and the lesser stadium revenues in Tampa, I don't see them doing it.

I do think the longer Alonso sits there, the more chance there is of an unexpected team jumping in.

Really, it's silly that the Mariners at the very least haven't gotten involved. He's the RH corner infield bat they badly want and he's sitting there for the taking. Reds, Twins -- similar stories. Rays would be fun though.
2:15
I do want to see Jonathan Aranda get a real chance eventually, so signing Alonso would run counter to that. But you could move him around between a few different spots and plug him in at DH/1B more consistently if there are injuries elsewhere.
Kave Dingman
2:15
Bruce Sutter, a Hall of Fame baseball player, signed a deferred contract with the Atlanta Braves in 1984. The contract was for six years and $9.1 million, with 50% deferred and 13% interest. Sutter received $1.12 million per year for 30 years, and his final payment of $9.1 million was made in 2022, the year he died.
Steve Adams
2:15
Yeah for all the Bobby Bonilla talk, the Sutter contract was far wilder to me.
2:16
But, another good example.
Alan Porter
2:16
How do you see the Tigers dealing with Spencer Torkelson? With Keith moving to first, it appears Torkelson is gone. There’s definitely potential still there but after last season, I don’t know how much we can rely on that.
Steve Adams
2:18
I think an eventual trade is very plausible. Their president of baseball operations, Scott Harris, made sure to say he felt there's a role for Tork on the '25 club after moving Keith to first base, but that could very well be lip service. He also shot down the idea of Torkelson even tinkering in the OF or back at 3B.

Short-side platoon 1B-only sluggers aren't exactly en vogue -- just ask Pete Alonso -- but Torkelson's young enough that there should be teams who want to give him a look.
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