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Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 12/13/21
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Steve Adams
1:25
Greetings all! Doing my Tuesday chat a day early, as we're lining up a couple more chats hosted by recent big leaguers -- similar to last week's chat with Christian Colon -- and we're tentatively expecting one tomorrow.

Let's talk baseball and pretend we live in a universe where it still exists in the U.S. and Canada.
Preller
1:26
Am I set for 2022?
Steve Adams
1:26
Set in terms of the Padres' roster? No, there'll be plenty more moves/tinkering for San Diego once transactions resume. Set in terms of job security? They extended him through 2026 prior to the 2021 season, so yes.
Tyler
1:27
What should the Royals do to take the next step to be a contender?
Steve Adams
1:29
At this point it's more about the immediate development of their upper-level top prospects than anything else. Nick Pratto and Bobby Witt Jr. are both going to see considerable MLB time in 2022. They need one of Singer/Lynch/Kowar/Bubic to step up as something more than a 4th or 5th starter -- ideally a couple of them. Depending on how their DH situation plays out, perhaps there'll be an avenue for M.J. Melendez to work into a catcher/DH rotation with Sal Perez.

I expect most of the Royals' additions to be in the bullpen, though if they could move Minor's salary and sign a better veteran option for the rotation, that'd be a plus.
1:30
Hell, even if they can't move it, signing a reasonable mid-range SP would still be prudent.
Goose Island Goose
1:30
Will Eddie Rosario end up in RF in White Sox park in ‘22?
Steve Adams
1:32
I think they should be aiming higher than that. Rosario's glove has declined in recent years, and he's basically been an average hitter over the past three seasons (103 wRC+). He went unclaimed on a waivers a year ago, signed with Cleveland for less than his projected arb salary, and then was dumped while on the IL in a deadline deal that was purely about Cleveland shedding the rest of his salary.
1:33
Rosario was awesome with the Braves, of course, but torrid hot streaks are sort of the norm for him, and they're typically balanced out by lengthy stretches of huge struggles, with the end result being around average production. I don't know that he's a marked upgrade over just running Sheets and Vaughn out there and hoping they develop into more potent hitters than Rosario's anemic OBP skills allow him to be.
Mariners
1:33
If not Bryant then whom? Seams like this spending spree was small.
Steve Adams
1:35
I think you look at things like the offseason is half over. I've had a couple agents tell me they're treating this winter like there are two offseasons, and some teams are doing the same.

Seattle's addition of Ray came at a pretty reasonable price, and they still have plenty of bats to choose among. Bryant, Story, Suzuki... some decent arms out there as well. And you know, as a Mariner fan, that Jerry Dipoto has another trade or two in him. They like Matt Chapman (who doesn't?) and some A's starters. They'll talk to the Reds about their starters. They'll talk to teams about guys we don't even think of as trade candidates.

I don't think Seattle's offseason is close to over.
NeedingAdvice
1:36
How can I break into the baseball analyst field?
Steve Adams
1:39
Learn SQL, Python, R, etc. if you haven't already. Familiarize yourself with various methods of statistical modeling. Be willing to apply to jobs in basically any market. We occasionally post some job opportunities here at MLBTR. There are also lots posted on FanGraphs -- including a few today. Find means of contacting people who work with those clubs directly, or send your resume to their generic careers dept for future consideration.

Basically, study job postings to know the skills teams will be coveting, and be aggressive and open in your search for opportunities. The worst thing that'll happen is someone ignores your email or politely tells you no, but hey, maybe they keep you in mind for the future or connect you with someone else.
1:40
We polled a bunch of different GMs and AGMs on this a few times in the past, most recently last year. Here's some advice from Ross Atkins, James Click, Mike Elias, Dayton Moore and others:
Bye Bye Balboni
1:40
Do GMs still talk trade with each other during lock out? Can they talk to free agency with agents? I’m guessing no.
Steve Adams
1:43
Talks are supposed to be prohibited, and those that take place documented for league review, I believe. I'm not sure how MLB can truly enforce that. I mean, teams are obviously still talking to some extent -- otherwise we wouldn't see minor league free agents signing minor league deals. We wouldn't have seen the couple little "traded for cash considerations" deals we've had.

There are still negotiations that can take place. I don't know the extent to which front offices will try to circumvent the restrictions -- they're not going to comment on that sort of thing for obvious reasons -- but I imagine they're still finding ways to have what they determine to be productive talks.
Hank Greenberg's Distant Cousin
1:43
  • Are the Tigers going to go ooutside for a fifth starter or just stay in-house with someone like Tyler Alexander?
Steve Adams
1:45
They don't have enough depth right now. Another SP, if not two, is almost a necessity. Second one could be a veteran on a minor league deal or something, but with Boyd non-tendered and Turnbull out for 2022 due to TJS, they can't just roll with E-Rod, Skubal, Mize, Manning and Alexander/Wentz/Faedo (the latter of whom will be coming back from his own TJS)
Kim Ng
1:46
Chances we can sign one of castellanos, bryant, correa? If not who would be a good target?
Steve Adams
1:47
Marlins aren't spending that heavily on a free agent. I think they'll get another OF from the Eddie Rosario / Joc Pederson / Tommy Pham / Jorge Soler bucket.

As for who'd be a both good and semi-realistic target? Seiya Suzuki jumps out to me. I'd prefer him to any of the other four I listed.
Nelson Cruz
1:47
What's the market for me looking like?
Steve Adams
1:48
He'll wait until the DH in the NL has formally been announced. And I've said this jokingly in the past, but I also actually believe it... I just am expecting AJ Preller to immediately sign him in San Diego at that point. Preller has brought over something like a dozen of his former Rangers players at this point, and he was at least entertaining the idea of acquiring Cruz to play some 1B last July.
Bobby Baseball
1:48
If Freddy Freeman is looking for a six-year deal, can I assume that Anthony Rizzo is looking for at least a 5-year deal?
Steve Adams
1:49
I'll be surprised if Rizzo gets three, shocked if he gets more. I expect two years for Rizz. Freeman is just better across the board.
Dcsf
1:50
What SP would the Giants be targeting once the lockout ends?   Alex Cobb is not an adequate replacement for Kevin Gausman?
Steve Adams
1:54
I would imagine the Giants feel they can bring Cobb's performance closer to that of Gausman than most fans would expect. Farhan Zaidi (president of baseball ops), at least to this point, has had that same short-term-contract mentality the Dodgers exhibited during his time there (and continue to exhibit, for the most part).

I don't know that paying top-of-the-market money to keep Gausman was in the cards, although I will say I thought Gausman would get more money than he did. I thought a team with SF's payroll capacity would've matched 5/110.

Webb, Disco, Wood, Cobb is a fine start to the staff. If the Giants want a high-upside play available on a (relatively) shorter-term deal, Carlos Rodon is out there. Huge risk there, of course, but it was No. 1 stuff when healthy in 2021 -- and the history of arm troubles (including late 2021) has to cap the potential length of a deal. I would think three years max, personally.
Nationals Infield
1:54
I'm pretty crowded all of a sudden.
Steve Adams
1:56
I don't really agree. Urena, Franco and Gordon were all minor league deals, and I don't think any of the three can be expected to break camp with the team. Young in the minor league Rule 5 was a depth add who'll open in the minors. Lucius Fox was a waiver claim who could be cut the next time they make a big league signing.

They have a lot of options but little certainty.
1:57
Josh Bell and Cesar Hernandez have spots ... Alcides Escobar could start early or just move to a bench role right away, depending on how much or whether Luis Garca and Carter Kieboom hit. I suppose it's "crowded" in terms of volume but almost no one there should stand in the way of the Nats signing another veteran infielder if a good deal presents itself.
Baseball Fan
1:58
Will baseball ever be able to rebound after the lockout? Many fans will not return and the attendance at games will continue to decrease.
Steve Adams
1:59
Baseball shut down in Aug. 1994, canceled the World Series a month later, and fans were back within a couple of years. I don't think an offseason lockout is going to impact attendance to the extent you're implying.
If it lingers into the season and costs us some games, that's another story, perhaps, but I'm not there yet.
Ellis
2:00
What else do the Angels need to do this off-season? What happens if they miss the playoffs again after having added even more big money pieces?
Steve Adams
2:01
I'd still like to see them add another starter and a shortstop. Even if it's not one of Correa or Story, go get Paul DeJong. Ask the Royals about Adalberto Mondesi. Etc.
Kershaw
2:01
Any chance I sign anywhere but LA or Texas?
Steve Adams
2:02
There's of course a chance, sure, but he lives 10-15 mins from Globe Life and has spent his career in Chavez Ravine. I would say the overwhelming likelihood is it's one of those two places.
Joc Pederson
2:03
Sign me.  You'll win the World Series.
Steve Adams
2:03
If that were true there'd been a parade in Wrigleyville this year!
Rangers29
2:03
Can Josh Jung break camp with Texas?
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