JotCast | Chat With MLBTR's Steve Adams: 12/3/19

Chat With MLBTR's Steve Adams: 12/3/19

Steve Adams

3:03

Actual offseason activity! Well -- some, anyway. Plenty of non-tenders, signings, trades and rumors to discuss, though, so let us chat about all that is on our collective minds.

Charlie

3:04

Was Culberson being non-tendered a shrewd move by the Braves?

Steve Adams

3:05

He was a strict pinch-hitter/defensive replacement last year projected to earn almost $2MM, and he OBP'ed like .290 in 2019. He's not exactly irreplaceable -- popular as he was in Atlanta.

(Which is funny, because for the first two months of the 2018 season I had Braves fans lamenting what a waste of space Culberson was in every chat I hosted)

reds fan

3:05

as a reds fan, how excited should i be for moustakas?

Steve Adams

3:06

I'd be excited that he'll make the lineup better in 2020 and hit some long dingers. I would not be excited about paying him $16MM annually through his age-34 season, but good for Moustakas -- the market has bizarrely undervalued him for awhile now.

Dipoto

3:07

Do I take a chance on Gausman/Sanchez/walker?

Steve Adams

3:08

(Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto)

Well Sanchez (assuming you mean Aaron) won't even be ready to pitch in the beginning of 2020 after shoulder surgery. Gausman or a second shot on Taijuan Walker make some sense though, sure.

Indians fan

3:08

Why Leon over Plawecki when Leon is a little more pricey and has one less year of team control? Seems a little odd.

Steve Adams

3:09

I really don't understand the thinking. I think Plawecki is every bit as good, if not better, and as you said was cheaper/younger.

IcemanBT

3:09

so wheeler has a reported offer on the table, any idea which has submitted it?

Steve Adams

3:09

It'd be on the site if I did!

Cubs

3:09

Should we go after Shaw as a low risk 2B option?

Steve Adams

3:10

I don't know why you'd sign Shaw to play out of position when there are like 10 actual second basemen on the market who could be had affordably.

Mackers

3:10

With the Angels letting go of Kevan Smith, who do you see them actively pursuing in the free agent market/trade market?

Steve Adams

3:11

I've always liked them as a fit for Jason Castro -- get a lefty bat in that lineup, good framer, won't be overly expensive (2/12?)

Faz

3:11

How do the cardinals move fowler?

Steve Adams

3:11

They don't. He has a full no-trade clause and no one's going to have interest in that contract.

Dan

3:12

With Moustakas landing in Cincy, does that presumably take them out of the running for Didi?

Steve Adams

3:13

I don't see why it should. They can just move Galvis to the bench, which is arguably where he's better suited anyway

3:14

what are your thoughts about Rhys Hoskins? was his swoon in the second half a blip or a sign of real concern? a year ago, he looked like a top 25 player in dynasty

Steve Adams

3:14

I believe in the bat and think he'll be fine in the long run.

Jerry

3:14

What realistic moves do you see the Angels making this off-season?

Steve Adams

3:15

I picked them to sign Cole, think they'll add a catcher (Jason Castro, as I just noted, makes sense) and that they'll add a second starter of a lower caliber. A durable guy like Porcello or Roark would be a fit given all the injuries they've had.

Tempe2DHall

3:16

AJ preller's last gasp? Your take on the Profar acquisition?

Steve Adams

3:17

I understand the questions surrounding Allen's abilities behind the plate, but he's consistently hit at every level and has had 70 grades thrown on his power dating back to the draft I believe. Trading him for one year of a rebound candidate who was going to be non-tendered didn't make sense to me.

Juiced Ball

3:17

Do you think the Jays have a shot at Wheeler?

Steve Adams

3:18

I don't; they'd have to outbid the field by a landslide to get a premier free agent to go to a team that isn't going to contend in 2020. The young core is appealing, but you're asking him to move out of the country to play on a team that just lost 95 games. Maybe they go crazy and offer six years, but I think they're the least plausible name among the teams linked to him thus far.

Brewers Fan

3:19

Please tell me that the Brewers aren’t throwing in the towel!! We went from being quite competitive to potential basement dwellers overnight...I am worried

Steve Adams

3:21

The Brewers have like $80MM on the books for next season and were never going to re-sign Grandal. The overreaction to Moose and the non-tenders is -- well, I guess it's just that: an overreaction.

They have money to spend and will make some adds -- probably late in the offseason, as they did with Yas and Moose in the first place.

I'll take Milwaukee's side of that Padres swap, by the way

Drew

3:22

Matt Carpenter for Lorenzo Cain? Saves MIL some cash and opens up 3B for Tommy Edman. Could then play Cain LF to make up for his loss of foot speed?

Steve Adams

3:23

That only saves them $12MM, and Cain is a better player with a higher floor due to his glove in center.

J Villar

3:23

Should I expect to be in Miami long and am I a starting shortstop there? Should I plan to pack my bags in July?

Steve Adams

3:25

He's not their starting shortstop. Mike Hill was just talking to reporters on a conference call about moving Villar all over the diamond, so seems like they'll bounce him around.

Good on the Marlins for actually picking up a player who'll make them better in 2020, by the way. The Orioles should take way more crap than they did for making such a blatant cost-cutting move that was plainly designed to lose more games in 2020. I'd be pretty pissed off if I were an O's fan.

3:25

Will Mikael Franco or Ceasar Hernandez get a starting job anywhere?

Steve Adams

3:26

I can see Hernandez starting several places, sure -- but at a lower rate than his projected salary. Franco ... maybe a rebuilding club will sign him and roll the dice at third, but I have a hard time seeing him being handed an everyday role.

Padres Money

3:26

Padres trade Myers plus cash and a prospect for Hader and Braun?

Steve Adams

3:27

You're not getting Josh Hader AND shedding Wil Myers (unless that unnamed prospect is MacKenzie Gore I guess)

Domingo Santana

3:27

Will SF sign me to a minor league deal?

Steve Adams

3:27

I have a hard time seeing too many NL clubs excited about that glove in the OF -- even on a part-time basis.