You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Chat With MLBTR's Steve Adams: 1/8/20
powered byJotCast
Steve Adams
2:40
Back from the holidays and a week in Switzerland spent eating far too much cheese ... I return to commence my inaugural chat of 2020. Let us begin!
Matt
2:40
Do you think the Angels are close at all to getting a front-end starting pitcher?
Steve Adams
2:41
I don't think are many (any) clear-cut, front-line starters that are particularly available. I'd imagine that Angels fans are going to be underwhelmed by the rotation upgrades when all is said and done, even though the overall team heading into 2020 will be much improved.
Rick Hahn
2:41
I’ve said before that we may look for a platoon guy in RF with Mazara. Who could I go after? Puig?
Steve Adams
2:43
Puig isn't going to sign to be on the short end of a platoon, I don't think. But I agree that Mazara is best paired with a right-handed-hitting complement. I don't know that it'll be anyone particularly exciting ... could trade for any number of RHH fourth OF types or sign someone like Guillermo Heredia.
Zachary08
2:44
Think the Reds can persuade the Indians to trade Lindor?
Steve Adams
2:45
If they want to part with Senzel, a younger outfielder and then some ... perhaps. But I don't necessarily view a Lindor trade as likely, and Indians president of baseball ops Chris Antonetti just told reporters minutes ago that he's more confident than at any point this winter that Lindor will be Cleveland's Opening Day SS.
Doesn't rule out a trade, but it's not exactly a "no comment," either.
Donaldson Ducks
2:45
Do you think anyone meets Donaldson's $110 million amount?
Steve Adams
2:47
I don't. That seems like a case of his camp overplaying its hand. Look at the latest reports on him... Twins around $85MM. Braves "not close" to having the top offer. Nats have signed three infielders in three weeks. Who's going to suddenly jump to 110 to get this done?

I think he'll sign under $100MM and there'll be some narratives surrounding why he took less than his asking price. "Really wanted to stay in ATL," or "Really wanted to join the WS champs" or "Loved the Twins' young core and a weak AL Central pitching landscape," etc.
Nats
2:47
Chances we sign Donaldson?
Steve Adams
2:48
At this point I'd just put 30% on each of the Twins/Braves/Nats and throw a 10% "you never know" option out there for the ever-popular "mystery" team. (Maybe the Dodgers will get weird and offer him like 2/65 or something)
JNogle
2:49
Could the Dodgers bring back Alex Wood?
Steve Adams
2:49
Sure. Not like he's going to cost much and they never fret over having "too many" rotation options.
Cody
2:49
Could the Cardinals swing a trade for Arenado and still end up resigning Ozuna?
Steve Adams
2:50
I don't think they'll do either, and I certainly wouldn't hold my breath for both.
Bryant Ruling
2:51
When is the Bryant Ruling happening? I saw a story about Cubs trading for Nolan Arranado. Is this possible
Steve Adams
2:53
People have been waiting for the grievance result for weeks -- no one has a good sense of exactly when it'll come.

The Cubs/Arenado thing was laughable to me. Jeff Passan even said the Cubs intrigue the Rockies -- not that the Cubs would seriously move to work out a deal.

Cubs owner Tom Ricketts has plainly said he has no money to spend -- which, again, is an insulting joke and should piss off every Cubs fan on earth -- and the team has done nothing but sign bargain scraps for under $2MM for more than a calendar year.

Now they're trading for the remaining $234MM on Arenado's deal? Even if they move Bryant's salary, how does Ricketts suddenly find $200MM+ in the couch cushions?
2:54
I'll happily eat my words if I'm wrong, but I'd put Cubs/Arenado at somewhere between 0% and 0.1% in terms of likelihood.
JLR21
2:54
If the Braves whiff on Donaldson? Is there a possibility instead of trading for a Bryant/Arenado, could they possibly switch their focus to add a top of the rotation pitcher to pair with Soroka?
Steve Adams
2:55
Bryant is a perfectly logical fallback for the Braves if they miss on JD -- particularly since the Cubs would almost certainly be targeting controllable pitching, which Atlanta has in spades. I don't think they'd take on Arenado's money, and there aren't really any top-of-the-rotation arms that are readily available at this point.
Brad
2:55
Why is Ozuna commanding more attention and $, when by the numbers he and Puig are very similar?
Steve Adams
2:58
His best season is better and more recent than Puig's, he's been better in the field, has a pretty intriguing Statcast profile, and hasn't historically been the type of sideshow that Puig has (even if some of that reputation is perhaps overblown w/r/t Puig).

I generally feel that Ozuna is somewhat overrated -- we at MLBTR all agreed, hence our contract prediction being much lower than most other outlets -- but I can see why he's more appealing to clubs than Puig.
Price
2:58
If angels cover half of my salary can the trade happen?
Steve Adams
2:59
David Price wouldn't get 3/48 in free agency, so I think the Red Sox need to eat more than half the contract and/or take another bad contract back in return.

I do like the idea of a David Price / Wil Myers framework being explored between BOS and SD>
Jim
3:00
why hasn’t Edwin encarnarcion signing been announced? Did he fail a physical?
Steve Adams
3:00
I'd imagine it's just due to the holidays slowing things down. I haven't heard, seen or read anything to suggest he didn't (or wouldn't) pass a physical.
Ammo
3:01
What are your thoughts about the Mets adding Jonathan Lucroy as their back up catcher?
Steve Adams
3:02
He's been worse than replacement level for three straight seasons now. I wouldn't get excited about that nor would I hope for it. They might just be better off just sticking with Nido's glove and framing -- and that's saying something considering the extent of his inability to hit.
Joe Pirate
3:02
Pirate fan here.  Any idea what they are thinking?
Steve Adams
3:03
Shop Marte at peak value, scoop up some bargain free agents late in the winter when asking prices are down. Hope Archer rebuilds some value under a different approach/philosophy/coaching staff ... shop him at the deadline.
Karle
3:03
The Pirates have been extremely quiet this off season.  Why not trade Josh Bell for some nice prospects?
Steve Adams
3:04
Most contending clubs are pretty set at 1B/DH ... he has 3 years of control remaining, so moving him this summer when he has 2.5 left or even next winter when he has 2 full years left shouldn't lead to a wild drop-off in expected return -- particularly if waiting leads to increased demand for his services, as it should.
3:05
Injuries will have popped up throughout the league by then ... an unexpected team might be contending and more ready to make a move, etc.
Mr. Baseball
3:05
Do the Orioles trade Givens before the trade deadline?
Steve Adams
3:05
I think so, yes.
Assuming he's healthy
INXS
3:05
If Twins miss out on Donaldson would Evan Longoria be a viable trade option?
Steve Adams
3:05
I don't know that Evan Longoria definitively makes them a better team. They'd be better off looking into Kris Bryant.
Jim
3:06
no question, I just wanted to say it was nice to see you finally admit Chris archer is horrible
Load More Messages
Connecting…