JotCast | Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 11/26/24

Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 11/26/24

Steve Adams

2:09

Most of those don't even qualify as rumors. They're just MLBN personalities speculating on what they think makes sense, which is fine. We do that here sometimes as well but try to be more explicit in emphasizing it's speculative and not something that's rumored or actively being discussed. But I think people tend to see it on MLBN and think there's more to it. Almost all of those guys are just talking about things they think make sense. It's a talking point, not a report that the two parties are discussing anything.

Harold Reynolds this morning was saying the Yankees should trade for Cody Bellinger and send Gleyber Torres back to Chicago, lol. Robert Flores had to tell him "Uhhh.. Torres is a free agent," which was pretty funny (though not in the way MLBN would like it to be). Flores then said the Cubs should ask for Jasson Dominguez. Which is outrageously unrealistic.

So... yeah. Take a lot of MLBN trade scenarios with a grain of salt. They're usually not a "rumor" but rather one person's opinion.

Preller

2:10

I am going to make a trade no one sees coming, I always do. Welcome to the Padres... Sandy Alcantara.

Steve Adams

2:10

I'm sure lots of teams would like to get their hands on Sandy. Marlins president Peter Bendix did say he expects Alcantara to be his Opening Day starter though, and team execs don't often go on record with a statement like that and then change their approach.

Alex Anthopoulos

2:11

I can't make up my mind if these recent moves to save money are towards to a) Being aggressive in free agency or B) Reset the CBT line?

Steve Adams

2:12

The largest deals Alex Anthopoulos has ever given to a free agent since taking over the Braves' front office:

1) Marcell Ozuna (four years, $65MM)
2) Will Smith (three years, $40MM)
3) Reynaldo Lopez (three years, $30MM)
4) Josh Donaldson (one year, $23MM)

They already have like $218MMish in luxury obligations. They'd be a third-time payor in 2025.

I do not expect them to make a big free agent move.

White Sox Fan

2:13

Vaughn for Alek Thomas, who says no? Seems like a good change of scenery trade that helps both teams

Steve Adams

2:13

I thought the White Sox should've non-tendered Vaughn. I would not give Alek Thomas for him and don't think that's an even trade in a 1-for-1 swap

2:14

Vaughn has more than 2200 plate appearances in the majors and has been a consistently league-average bat with poor defense and baserunning.

Jeff

2:14

ASSUMING Jays strike out on Soto and internally realize they have slim chance of resigning Vlad Jr., is 5 years of Michael Busch OR 6 years of (Canadian) Owen Caissie enough to pry him away?

Steve Adams

2:16

Objectively, yes, that should be enough to pry Vlad away -- if the Jays were going to make him available. But the Jays are going for it next year, perhaps in no small part due to the fact that their GM and president are under pressure from ownership to win or else perhaps be on the chopping block. Kicking off a rebuild right now isn't something Shapiro and Atkins are going to pursue.

Also, while I think it's fair to say one of those two but not both -- I think either would have to be the headliner of a multi-player return for Vlad. Doesn't necessarily need to be one of those two and then Matt Shaw or anything, but I don't think it'd be just a 1-for-1 swap either.

Kenny Johnson

2:17

Do you think Soto will accept a deal before Christmas?

Steve Adams

2:17

YYeah

Sam

2:18

What's your predicted landing spot for Max Kepler? Weird to imagine him not in a Twins uniform anymore.

Steve Adams

2:18

Braves or Pirates?

Jeff

2:19

How many questions in the queue about Soto today?

Steve Adams

2:19

A lot? There's over 1000 people in here right now though so it's a lot of questions in general

HaSeong, HyeSeong, HoSeong

2:19

Do you think Sugano would be willing to pitch in Sacramento next year?

Steve Adams

2:20

He's 35, I imagine he'd rather sign with a team that has higher postseason aspirations.

FreddieMeetGibby

2:20

Here's a question about Juan Soto...just kidding. But now that I have your attention Steve, likelihood Adames signs with Dodgers?

Steve Adams

2:23

"Freddie, meet Gibby!" was a fun call.

The Dodgers, for all their big payrolls, haven't really spent wildly in free agency until last year with Ohtani and Yamamoto. Prior to that, the only contracts longer than four years given out by Friedman were Kenley Jansen at 5/80 (which was reportedly influenced heavily by ownership) and Freddie Freeman at 6 and 162 (with plenty of deferrals).

I don't think signing Adames is really their style, especially if they're moving Betts back to the infield. I can see it, of course, because they have the money if they really just love the specific player. But their overall spending patterns under Friedman prevent me from buying into the notion that they're the favorite.

Ang T

2:23

Poll Question: Pete Alonso resigns with Mets or no?

Steve Adams

2:24

Will Pete Alonso re-sign with the Mets

Yes

Wilson

2:25

Arenado and Helsley for Mariner's Harry Ford, Tai Peete, and Michael Morales. Who says no?

Steve Adams

2:25

I don't think the Mariners would take on $40MMish in 2025 salary (and close to $70MM overall) while also surrendering Ford

Derek Falvey

2:26

Do I have a Correa signing-esque move up my sleeve again this winter? Or is it really going to be a golf-until-Spring Training kind of winter for my team?

Steve Adams

2:26

If the Twins make any kind of surprise move, it'd be a trade and not a free-agent signing. Well, at least not a notable free agent deal

Mr. Dover

2:27

I feel like the market on Alonso has been crickets level quiet thus far, is he not garnering any attention from clubs? Or is the assumption he re-ups with the Mets, or is he viewed as another "back-up" plan after the Soto chip falls?

Steve Adams

2:28

Quiet on lots of the upper-echelon bats. I expect that'll largely continue while Soto remains out there.

Adam Steves

2:28

Do you think MLB Trade Rumors will ever go the way of the Athletic and go full subscription based?

Steve Adams

2:28

Daniel

2:29

Is fried a good fit for the orioles or is Burnes better?

Steve Adams

2:29

Burnes is younger, knows the org well and wouldn't cost the draft pick hit that Fried would

BlueJaysFan

2:30

Would you consider Corbin Burnes still an elite number 1 on most teams?

Steve Adams

2:31

Not the 2024 version of him, no. He's still really good, but he's a guy who feels like he's going to get paid more on his body of work to date, even though his recent performance has been more good than dominant.

mark

2:31

Can you tell what the market is for Luis Robert? Say for instance, he is traded to a team with a good farm system, like the Cubs or Red Sox...what type of prospect(s) would he get in return?

Steve Adams

2:33

I just don't think he's going to get traded this winter. The White Sox don't want to sell low when there's so much potential long-term value there, and teams don't want to pay for a potentially damaged asset. There's more upside to letting him show he's healthy. Even if that means they end up moving him for some salary relief and mediocre prospects in July, I think the upside in terms of what you could get after 1-2 healthy months makes it worth hanging onto him. What they'd be offered right now wouldn't move the needle.

Jim

2:34

How much of Taijuan Walker's 36 million do you think the Phillies would have to eat to get rid of him?

Steve Adams

2:35

$30MM+? I'm not sure Walker gets more than $5-6MM on a one-year deal right now if he's a free agent.

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