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Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 4/28/20
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Steve Adams
4:19
Greetings all -- I'll get underway in a minute or two but feel free to start asking questions now.
SFG01
4:22
Any truth to the Puig to the Giants rumors?
Steve Adams
4:23
Cuban journalist Francys Romero reported that the two were close to a deal earlier this week, but Henry Schulman with the SF Chronicle cited multiple sources in shooting that down.

Maybe the two sides have talked and expect to work out a deal once the roster freeze is lifted, but it doesn't sound like there's any kind of actual agreement right now.
Dodgers
4:24
Who has the best career, Gonsolin, May or Lux?
Steve Adams
4:24
I'll almost always take the position player in a group of high-end prospects (though Gonsolin isn't rated as highly as the other two). I'd go Lux, May, Gonsolin among them.
Question
4:25
Do you think Dansby Swanson should be considered a long-time fixture at SS for the Braves? I feel like they could definitely upgrade at the position
Steve Adams
4:27
It's fair at this point to say he hasn't met expectations, but he's still only 26. He's proven himself a capable or better defender at short and hit enough in 2019 to be a regular there. He might not be a star, but he's a solid option and not really a problem area.
4:28
Catcher and third base seem like longer-term needs right now. They have young talent that could change that, of course, but there are no guarantees with prospects (as Swanson's career to date has proven)
Barrelman
4:29
Puig to Korea?
Steve Adams
4:30
I thought about that with the Giants report; "what if it got twisted and he's actually signing with the Lotte Giants?!"

That would be awesome, but KBO teams cap foreign players at three per club, and all 10 of their teams have filled those spots right now.
Alex
4:30
Assuming there is a season in 2020, there could be drastically different rules being toyed with. Would the 2020 World Series winners go down in history with an asterisk?
Steve Adams
4:32
Some people will treat it with an asterisk just because of the shortened nature of the season. There will surely be some unique rules in place -- expanded rosters, perhaps a universal DH.

For the record, I don't think it should come with an asterisk. The World Series title goes to the team that won a tournament of the league's winningest clubs every year. That'd be the same case in 2020.
4:33
Plenty won't see it that way, and whoever wins will never hear the end of it from fans of their division rivals, but it's not like they're winning illegitimately. I'm fine putting an asterisk by the 2017 Astros. But by the 2020 [whoever]? Nah
Thurston
4:33
So if no games are played in 2020, would MLB players under contract get not a single dollar? Or does the contracted 2020 simply l
Steve Adams
4:33
They agreed to an advance of $170MM that is distributed among the players if no games are played. It'll amount to players being paid at something like three to four percent of their salary.
CataColombia
4:34
Marcus Semien should be really happy now there there is no followup to show last season was a fluke before entering free agency.
Steve Adams
4:34
You could easily flip that issue on its head and say he's upset because there's no opportunity to show 2019 wasn't a fluke. Teams would be far less wary if he doubled down on that performance in 2020.
WhiteSoxFan33
4:37
Will Carson Fulmer ever figure it out? I'd love for it to be for the Sox, but he's just one of those guys I wanna see succeed.
Steve Adams
4:38
He's had so many chances in that system that I find it hard to see him breaking through now; a change of scenery might do him some good. He's out of minor league options, too, so if he does struggle whenever play resumes, he probably doesn't get that long of a leash on a win-now team.
Start Date
4:38
June 15 sound good?
Steve Adams
4:39
Sounds great to me -- baseball returns on my birthday! But I don't think it's realistic. I think sometime in mid-July or August seems more plausible.
Max Pendargrass
4:39
Puig to Orioles on a one year deal?  They need an outfielder.
Steve Adams
4:40
The Orioles cut their best player from 2019 because he was going to make too much money and they're actively trying to lose games. I don't think signing Puig aligns with their current approach.
4:41
I realize they're reeling from the loss of Mancini, whose diagnosis is very frightening. (Nothing but positive wishes to him, his family, friends and fans.)

But based on the way the O's operated this winter, I don't think they're going to add a high-profile option in his stead.
Mr. Plow
4:43
Even if baseball returns. I still think games will be played in empty stadiums and there will be a lot of people to afraid to go to places with large crowds.
Steve Adams
4:44
Yeah -- it's almost impossible for me to envision fans at games this year, and the possibility of attendance being impacted in 2021 feels quite real.
Allen Adams
4:44
Poll:
Are Baseball Chats a waste of time?
Steve Adams
4:44
Probably, but hey, it's a nice way to waste time at least!
Money Money Money
4:46
What do you think the largest contract will be this offseason given the circumstances surrounding the 2020 season. Will players see a decrease in potential earnings and opt to take short term deals?
Steve Adams
4:47
There's no way to really know until we know how many games are played in 2020 and what the postseason looks like. Everything is dependent on what percentage of the previously expected revenue ownership secures, and even once we have a broad idea of that outlay, we can only speculate.

In a general sense -- yes, player salaries will be depressed this coming offseason as teams look to recoup lost dollars.
Tim
4:48
Heard a rumor, I'm sure there are lots of those out there, agents are telling pitchers to start throwing, ST in 2 weeks.
Steve Adams
4:49
I haven't spoken to a single agent who has said that and don't think that timeline is realistic
Chris
4:50
What would it take from the Cubs to acquire Oscar Mercado?
Steve Adams
4:52
A whole lot more than Cleveland gave up to get him. Realistically, the Indians have been cutting payroll while remaining competitive; dealing Mercado flies in the face of that. He's the exact type of player they need and the surest thing in perhaps still the team's greatest area of need. I can't see them parting ways with him, and the Cubs' relatively thin system isn't a great match with trying to overwhelm them for him.
Contracts
4:53
How are contracts being handled? More specifically, if a player just signed a 1-2 contract in the offseason and baseball didn’t resume this year or resumed midway will that player still have a full 1-2 year contract or at least a partial contract to fulfill?
Steve Adams
4:54
The players get service time and contracts proceed even if they're not paid in full. If you signed a player to a one-year deal this winter, he'd be a free agent again next winter. If he had two years remaining on his deal heading into 2020, he'd have one year remaining in 2021, etc.
King Kelly
4:54
Your favourite eligible player NOT in the hall of fame?
Steve Adams
4:55
I loved watching Fred McGriff hit as a kid in the 90s and think he should be in the Hall.
Baseball fan
4:57
I don’t want to see baseball with rule changes. No ties homerun derby or 7 inning games
Steve Adams
4:58
Change has been a constant throughout the history of baseball. It's always changing and will always continue to change.
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