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Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams 12/8/20
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Steve Adams
2:17
The virtual Winter Meetings are here, and they're already more active than a few of the in-person Winter Meetings I've been to, ha. Lots to discuss!
Dan C
2:17
White Sox making moves...still room to get a reliable DH and a closer?
Steve Adams
2:19
Absolutely, and I'd be surprised if they don't at least add a closer. I wrote about this in a piece that'll go out to our Trade Rumors Front Office subscribers today, but this is how GM Rick Hahn operates. When the Sox set their mind on a course, he aggressively makes things happen quickly. He owned the 2014 Winter Meetings as a buyer and the 2016 Winter Meetings as a seller. The Sox were highly aggressive in selling at the '17 deadline.

I expect them to make another move in the coming days. I'd wager they're interested in keeping Alex Colome and also that they'll be very involved in the Liam Hendriks market.
Alex O.
2:20
Do you think Bauer signs during the Winter Meetings? Would his signing help to spark more offseason acquisitions?
Steve Adams
2:20
I don't think we'll see the very top-of-the-market free agents sign for a bit yet
Sid
2:20
What is the current value of Kris Bryant? What can the cubs realistically ask for?
Steve Adams
2:21
It's not all that high. The return when he's traded, which I do expect to happen, will probably make Cubs fans say, "...That's it?"
Kochez
2:21
Is Eaton a good move for the White Sox?
Steve Adams
2:23
It's a fine price and getting the option year was nice. He should be better than Mazara of course. It's not my favorite route they could've gone to address the position, but it's sensible in that it allows them to play Eaton/Engel on the corners against lefties and get Eloy some time at DH. It also still leaves the door open to add an OF/DH bat to the mix, even though they love Andrew Vaughn and expect him/Abreu to eventually hold down 1B/DH.
JA
2:23
Thoughts on a Flaherty for Adell trade?
Steve Adams
2:23
Cardinals aren't making that move without the Angels adding a good bit more.
Harriet Tubman
2:24
Dane Dunning is back of the rotation starter with modest stuff.  Should have received more for Lance Lynn
Steve Adams
2:25
Counterpoint: Dane Dunning is an MLB-ready third/fourth starter with solid-average stuff across the board, and the Rangers were selling one year of Lynn.

I love Texas' return. And that's not a knock on the deal from the White Sox' vantage point, either.
Castor Troy
2:25
Is there still a chance the nl gets a dh?
Steve Adams
2:26
Yup. It's on the table until Manfred comes out and says "This isn't happening." Even then I wouldn't be surprised if they still change it at the eleventh hour. MLB and the PA agreed to expanded playoffs like 3 hours before the 2020 season started.
Baseball Guy
2:26
With the Orioles trading Jose Iglesias, who will be their startimg shortstop in 2021?
Steve Adams
2:26
Someone who isn't currently in the organization.
2:27
Likely whoever's market falls out and is left sitting without a chair. Could be Freddy Galvis or someone in that mold. Oddly, could end up being that Jonathan Villar is in that position.
joe
2:28
why non-tender Mazara just to sign eaton for $9M?
Steve Adams
2:29
They signed Eaton for $7MM and clearly believe in Eaton's ability to rebound after a down year more than they believe in Mazara's ability to finally put together after a half decade of underachieving
Mike
2:29
Couldn’t the Reds have gotten more for Iglesias?
Steve Adams
2:31
They treated the move like a pure salary dump. Ramirez was a non-tender candidate a week prior to the trade. I expect the cash that went to the Angels in that deal was minimal, and the Reds were happy to move Iglesias to whoever paid the largest portion of the freight.
Mets Fan
2:31
Should the mets try and sign tanaka or walker if they cant get bauer?
Steve Adams
2:32
I'd put any of Tanaka, Odorizzi or Sugano over Taijuan Walker, who doesn't excite me much.
TJ in KC
2:33
Thoughts on the Santana deal for KC?   If nothing, nice to see them giving some effort in putting a competitive team out there.
Steve Adams
2:35
Pretty much this. I don't think the Royals are going to be contenders because they added Minor, Santana and MAT, but good on them for actually trying. The "we can only win if we tank aggressively" act is tired and, frankly, a load of BS anyway. The Orioles have already been rebuilding for more than three years and they have no hope anywhere in sight.

It worked for the Astros and the Cubs when most teams weren't doing it, but those teams got lucky in a way to have such impactful talent at the top of the draft class, and the returns diminish inherently the more clubs rebuild.

The Reds did a fire sale and all but tanked for how many years, and now they're sitting here dealing guys away again after a one-and-done in the playoffs? I don't think this is necessarily the onset of another Reds rebuild, but man does it still suck for their fans to see moves like non-tendering Bradley and Casali and dumping Iglesias.
Impatient Jays fan
2:36
Lourdes only goes in a Lindor deal with an extension, right?
Steve Adams
2:37
Most teams don't actually make trades contingent on extension windows. The Sonny Gray trade a few years back was an extreme rarity.
Sad Phillies Fan
2:37
what do you think of a Phillies hendriks signing?
Steve Adams
2:37
Of course he fits there, but nothing the Phillies have done thus far indicates they're going to spend like that.
Kyle Schwarber
2:37
If Adam Eaton can get $7 M in a depressed market, then I will get $x M?
Steve Adams
2:39
I doubt he'll get much more, and he might even get less. Eaton had a rough defensive year this past season but I would imagine teams still believe in his ability to play a solid corner outfield more than they believe in Schwarber's.
Green
2:39
Is Bartolo Colon really making a comeback?
Steve Adams
2:40
He's been trying to for like 3 years. I doubt it happens, but maybe Steve Cohen will throw Mets fans a bone by signing him, letting him pitch a game and then retire as a Met.
Hank
2:40
So are the Rangers in full fire mode? Gallo?
Steve Adams
2:42
They're not going to tear the roster down to the studs, although that's partly because the contracts of Andrus and Odor are bad enough that doing so isn't possible.

Beyond Lindor, though, Lynn was about the most predictable trade candidate of the offseason. His trade doesn't tell us anything we didn't already know.

They'll listen to offers for Gallo, sure, but they'd be selling low on him and may not prefer to do so. He has multiple years of control remaining, so a Gallo trade isn't the foregone conclusion that the Lynn deal was.
Strike 3
2:42
Seeing what Eaton, May, Santana, etc. got it doesn’t seem to be below market. So will the bigger free agents see the same kind of deals?
Steve Adams
2:43
The early signees always do well. When February rolls around there will still be dozens of free agents unsigned, and those guys are going to be screwed.
JC
2:44
Contreras +1 for Snell
Steve Adams
2:44
Contreras has less team control than Snell. No way the Rays do that.
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