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Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 1/28/25
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Steve Adams
7:56
Good morning! We'll get this chat going at 1pm CT, but as always, feel free to send in some questions in advance.
1:01
Hello! Let's get underway
Greg
1:01
Pablo Lopez for Cade Horton, who says no?
Steve Adams
1:02
Twins. Pablo might not be Corbin Burnes in terms of dominance, but the K-BB% profile is better and Burnes commanded two prospects at that level for one year. Lopez is signed for three.
Affordably so, no less
Rod gaspar
1:02
I’m thinking 5 to 10 million more over the 3 years  70 mil offer would allow Pete to save face and return to Mets. There’s a big hole in that lineup without him as far as hanging with the elite nl teams. What do you think?  Thanks
Steve Adams
1:03
I don't think $75-80MM gets it done necessarily, but I don't think it'd necessarily need to be that much more. I'd guess somewhere in the 85-90 range for three years, but who knows... based on Cohen's comments, maybe Pete was still seeking 100 over three. (That's just me speculating, to be clear)
Cards
1:03
Is Saggese our starting 2nd baseman?
Steve Adams
1:04
I doubt the Cardinals themselves even have an answer to that right now. It'll depend on a lot of things. Do they find an Arenado trade? That opens 3B exclusively for Gorman, who otherwise might be back getting some reps at 2B. Is everyone healthy? If an outfielder goes down, Donovan moves to LF probably, creating more run for Saggese at 2B. If not, it's hard not to think Donovan will get the bulk there. There are a ton of moving parts and I don't think there's any firm answer to that right now, but I'd bet against Saggese as the Opening Day 2B as things currently stand.
Astros fan
1:04
Do you think Palanco could be a fit with the Astros as a reserve possibily left field. Does Dezenzo have a shot as a backup infielder and outfielder? Thank you
Steve Adams
1:05
Polanco has been exclusively an infielder and has had knee/ankle injuries -- including knee surgery just this offseason. I don't see much/any OF time in his near future.
Trade Philosopher
1:05
Would SD trade Cronenworth to Seattle? What would a return package look like?
Steve Adams
1:06
The Padres would probably love to. They'd need to eat a significant amount of that contract, though. It's way more than he'd get in free agency right now -- probably by a magnitude of $50-60MM.
waivers
1:07
With no options left, do you think Ian Anderson would get through waivers or be claimed if, after a so so spring training,  the Braves tried to DFA him ?
Steve Adams
1:08
Anderson, somewhat incredibly, isn't even arb-eligible yet. A team would claim him as long as he's healthy. There's four years of club control there and you're talking a former No. 3 pick who posted a 3.25 ERA in 30 starts from 2020-21. That's a long time and some major injuries ago, but still
Dana Brown
1:08
How big of a disaster would Altuve be in LF?
Steve Adams
1:10
He's already a bad second baseman, and Houston's LF is smaller than most. I don't think it'd be the disaster many Astros fans paint it to be (or, at least, I don't think it'd be much worse than having him play bottom-of-the-scale defense at 2B, given the heavy GB nature of a lot of their pitching staff ... Framber, Hunter Brown
MagicOriole
1:10
Why did the Orioles sign Dylan Carlson? Too cheap to turn down?
Steve Adams
1:11
He hits lefties (2024 excluded), has options remaining and can play all three outfield spots
Doug
1:11
What if Mets offered Alonso 90 million for 3 years  with option to Mets to opted out after year 1 and 2. Would Alonso have confidence to accept?
Steve Adams
1:12
That's not really a three-year, $90MM deal. It's a one-year, $30MM deal with two club options. The team "opting out" is just a club option.

If Alonso signs a one-year deal, it's not going to have any club options.
Koja
1:12
Will the Pittsburgh Pirates sign or trade for a meaningful RF or 1B?
Steve Adams
1:13
I don't love Spencer Horwitz, but it seems clear they view him as a "meaningful" 1B and will give him the lion's share of time there.

I expect they'll add someone for RF but don't think it's going to be anyone particularly exciting.
WAGNER
1:13
Could Wagner make the move to 3rd base with Andres and Bichette taking up 2B and SS?
Steve Adams
1:17
Sure, but I'm skeptical that Wagner ultimately hits enough to be a regular. Or I guess I should say "provides enough overall offensive value." He makes tons of contact and walked a lot in the upper minors, but the power is pretty minimal and he doesn't run well.
I see him more as a contact/OBP-oriented utility guy who bounces around the field and backs up at several positions, which isn't a bad thing.
Red Sox fan
1:17
I hope the Sox have been shopping Duran, abreau and Casas for pitching.  Do you think a big move is coming?
Steve Adams
1:19
The eagerness Red Sox fans have to shop Duran coming off a legitimate MVP-caliber season with four remaining seasons of club control never ceases to amaze me. I wouldn't be shopping him or Casas.

I doubt the Red Sox are done entirely, but if Garrett Crochet was the biggest move of their offseason to help the rotation, it's hard to complain about that. Crochet is a monster.
Rox
1:19
Should the Rockies offer Brenton Doyle a similar deal to that of Tovar? Buying out his arbitration years?
Steve Adams
1:21
If the Rockies can get Doyle to sign away his arb years and a couple free agent seasons like Tovar did, all at a reasonable rate, yeah sign me up. I'm not sure there was a player in all of baseball in 2024 who changed my opinion of them more than Brenton Doyle. Maybe Jarren Duran? But I already liked Duran a fair bit heading into '24... Doyle, I didn't think was even a viable big league regular (excellence with the glove notwithstanding)
Seattle_54percenters
1:22
are the poverty Mariners going to make ANY moves to address DH, 2B, 3B???
Steve Adams
1:23
I'm sure they'd love to, but the free agent market is largely picked over and there aren't a ton of teams looking to trade MLB-ready players their way. I'm surprised by the lack of activity too, but I think they'll eventually find a trade for a young 2B/3B
Mainz Athletics
1:23
Has the much hyped spending spree of the A's died down? Ist the one big FA signing enough to avoid the grieveance?
Steve Adams
1:25
They've added about $45MM to their payroll via free agency/trade (Severino, Springs, Leclerc, Urshela, McFarland) and another $12MM to their luxury-tax ledger with the Rooker extension. Their CBT number is up to about $106MM.

The cynic in me says if they needed to get to 105, they're probably done, haha. But GM David Forst has said he'd like to add another starter, and there's plenty of room for more bullpen additions.
Crone Zone
1:25
Do you see any team taking on Cronenworth's contract in order to trade for Cease, King, or Arraez?
Steve Adams
1:25
None of those players are lugging around $50MM+ of surplus value, no.
Kim
1:26
What’s going on with Ha Seong Kim? Heard basically nothing on him all offseason after the Giants signed Adames. Are teams that concerned with the medical?
Steve Adams
1:27
He had shoulder surgery and is out for a TBD period of time to begin the season. I thought it was far stranger that people were talking up as a multi-year deal guy early in the winter than it is that things have gone quiet on him.

To me, he's a straight one-year deal or maybe two with an opt-out, depending on his rehab timeline.
Trade rumor
1:27
Taylor Ward for Alec Bohm won't go anyway. Why does this persist? Rendon is the Angels 3rd baseman and Ward is better than any OF the Angels have other than Trout.
Steve Adams
1:29
I haven't seen anywhere credibly reporting on this. I assume you're just talking about speculation from fan blogs? They're two comparably valuable players with the same level of club control and comparable salaries. Rendon is always hurt and can't be relied on at 3B. The Phillies could use another OF.

I get the thinking, but I've seen nothing to suggest that's anything more than a theoretical idea/talking point.
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