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Chat With MLBTR's Steve Adams: 5/13/20
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Steve Adams
3:13
Greetings all -- there's a loose proposal in place for a return to play and a likely DH in the NL in 2020. That seems like a lot more to talk about than we've had in recent weeks, at least. Let's chat for awhile.
Barrelman
3:14
If no DH in 2020, do you envision that just becoming permanent once there is a normal season again?
Steve Adams
3:15
I assume you mean "If NL DH" -- and I do think it's pretty much inevitable. A large number of players have been in favor of it for awhile; it creates more jobs for hitters, reduces some injury risk for pitchers, etc.

I always expected it to be a point of focus in the next wave of collective bargaining, and it'd be a little strange to have it in 2020, get rid of it for '21, then bring it back to the table in CBA talks.
3:16
One way or another, it seems like it'll be implemented in the not-too-distant future.
Houston Ashtrays
3:16
With at least half the season gone, have we dodged the boo birds?
Steve Adams
3:17
I don't know when we'll get fans back in the stands, but whenever it happens, I don't think they're going to let the Astros off the hooks.
3:18
If a free-agent-to-be like George Springer spends most of this year playing in front of empty parks and then signs with a new team, maybe he'll dodge some of that heat.
PHI fan in TEX
3:18
The Phillies were supposed to play in Texas this season, will this year’s original schedule take place in 2021, or will they skip over this year and wait a few years before the Phillies and Rangers play again?
Steve Adams
3:19
I wouldn't assume that any schedule that was drawn up with normal circumstances in mind will carry over to 2021. We'll still be feeling some degree of effect from all this next year too, most likely.
Angel Fan
3:20
Albert has said after this contract is up he still may want to play. Who would sign him?
Steve Adams
3:21
Guess the Cards could look to bring him back for a one-year, DH farewell tour (assuming the DH is in the NL at that point). But Pujols is the slowest runner in the league, has no defensive value at this point and has been a below-average hitter three straight years. I can't imagine much outside interest in the 2021-22 offseason unless he has an unexpected renaissance at the plate.
Rockies Fan
3:22
Will the rockies sigh Daniel Murphy again
Steve Adams
3:22
They've gotten zero ROI on that signing and have younger options in house. I don't see why they would.
Draft
3:23
On MLBtrade rumors they did articles about who the Yankees and Red Sox should protect during expansion draft.  Is MLB planning on expanding soon?
Steve Adams
3:26
They will at some point. I doubt it's going to happen under the next CBA, but Rob Manfred has spoken about it often and clearly has interest in it eventually.

The posts we're doing now are something of a fun exercise. There's not a lot going on right now, so creating protected lists to debate and then eventually running a mock expansion draft at least creates a fun alternate world while we await real baseball. We view it as an alternative to some of the simulated seasons you see a lot of other sites running.
Mikey
3:26
Who benefits the most from the DH?  A guy like Jesse Winker?
Steve Adams
3:28
Mets could use the DH spot to get Cespedes and Cano in the lineup while hoping to keep both healthier.

Winker, yeah, to an extent. He's been pushed back a bit by the signings of Akiyama and Castellanos. But the Reds would also likely give Aristides Aquino some DH time, and they could put Votto at DH occasionally while sliding someone else (Moustakas?) to 1B.

The Reds have a lot of depth on offense, so the addition of a DH spot would be a welcome sight for them. Same with a club like the Dodgers.
Tomahawk
3:28
What holes do the rays have for being legit ws contenders?
Steve Adams
3:29
They took the Astros to the limit in 2019 and are healthier now. I'd call them legitimate contenders as it is. That pitching staff, in particular, is impressive.
MoKo
3:30
Hello, Thanks for the “protect vs expansion” series, it’s awesome, ready to do all teams in the next few days! I was wondering how would some “unemployed” guys will do in KBO, specially Bartolo and Joey Bats! MVP/Cy level? Above average? Non factors? Thanks
Steve Adams
3:32
Glad to hear it! We think it'll be fun.

Re: Bartolo and Bautista, it's been so long since we've seen them succeed against MLB opponents that it's tough to really say. I don't think either would be MVP-level and would think it'd be impressive to see either even as an average regular. (I do wonder if the lesser velocity there would allow Bautista to return to higher levels of performance... he's obviously kept himself in ridiculous shape)
3:33
I'm more curious to see how Yasiel Puig would do there. He's probably not interested, but an in-his-prime Puig could go over there and become a sensation most likely. KBO teams can only have three foreign-born players per roster, and they're all full right now ... but if Puig is unsigned midseason and one of those clubs cuts a struggling former MLB outfielder, that'd be tons of funn
Rangers29
3:33
Are the Mets the most well-off team due to the implementation of the dh in the N.L?
Steve Adams
3:35
We'll be going through all 15 NL clubs and looking at how each benefits. I don't know that we'll rank them, but at the end of the series perhaps we'll poll readers and allow them to debate the topic after we've looked at each a bit more closely.

Mets benefit, yes, but I might lean toward the Dodgers. They're so deep with above-average bats that they'll probably end up plugging another 115 wRC+ or something into that lineup. The Mets have no clue what they'll get from Cespedes in that spot after the amount of time he's missed.
Baseball
3:36
what do the pirates need to be contender in a couple of years, they have many young pieces such as Cole tucker, Newman, Josh bell, Colin Moran, Bryan Reynolds, Steven Brault, joe Musgrove, Trevor Williams, Jameson taillin, and O’Neil cruz
Steve Adams
3:38
I don't think a lot of those guys are going to be factors on their next contending club. Brault and Moran are borderline pieces as it is. Musgrove only has 2 years left beyond 2020. Same with Bell and Taillon.

I think they'll trade away some of those pieces to restock the farm. The good news is that if they trade some combination of Musgrove, Bell, Adam Frazier, Chris Archer, a healthy Gregory Polanco -- maybe Taillon once he's back -- that should provide a pretty big influx of talent
3:39
Paired with plenty of high picks, their farm could be in good shape sooner than later, and graduating some of those prospects to a lineup featuring Reynolds, Kevin Newman, O'Neil Cruz, Ke'Bryan Hayes could make it a relatively quick process under the new front office regime.
3:40
At least faster than the near half-decade rebuilds we're seeing in Detroit, Kansas City, Chicago (Sox), etc.
CHISOX FAN
3:40
As much as I want the game to return, I think the hazards are too great. What happens when players contract the virus?... IL, cancel the season?
Steve Adams
3:41
That's among the many topics they're negotiating right now. I'm still very curious to see how they'll handle a positive test -- especially since the closely packed clubhouses seem ripe for a potential outbreak that hits several players/coaches at once.
Guest
3:41
is ronald acuna overrated
Steve Adams
3:42
He's an absolute monster who'll rightly be one of the faces of the game for years to  come, so long as he stays healthy. Hey may not be Mike Trout -- no one is -- but he's already reached elite status in my mind
Cal
3:43
Any shot the players agree to the owners proposed deal?
Steve Adams
3:43
Not as is, no. There'll be substantial negotiation surrounding additional pay reductions.
Matt
3:44
Does anyone ever break Rib
Does anyone ever break Rivera’s all time saves record?
Steve Adams
3:44
(Had to publish the initial autocorrect typo ha)
3:45
Yes! People break ribs! Aaron Judge has a broken rib right now.

On Mo's record -- I have a hard time seeing it as teams move away from dedicated closers. Rivera was a durable freak whose consistency was unparalleled, and he also of course benefited from constantly being on stacked teams that afforded him continuous save opportunities
3:46
Kimbrel is the closest active pitcher, and he's 306 saves away
mollysdad
3:46
Do you see Betts/Realmuto taking one year contracts next year waiting until 2022 for the huge payday?
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