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Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 7/11/23
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Steve Adams
8:35
Happy All-Star break, all! Tuesday chats are back after last week's hiatus due to the holiday. We'll get underway at 1pm CT, but feel free to ask questions in advance. Looking forward to it!
1:01
Greetings! Let's get  underway
Joshua
1:01
What type of return could the Nats get for Lane Thomas? With 2.5 years left of control, and the way he is playing, could he bring back a top 75-100 type player as a headliner in a deal? There is A LOT of teams that he would make sense for.
Steve Adams
1:02
I generally agree there are a lot of teams he'd make sense for, but a lot of the offense is coming from a .380 BABIP he won't sustain. The quality of contact isn't elite. And he's a corner-first OF who's demolishing LHP but close to average against RHP.

I like Thomas a lot as a player, to be clear, but I don't know that he brings back some kind of system-altering haul in a trade. A lot of clubs would look at him more as a role player than the everyday guy he's been in D.C.
Brad Hand’s Foot
1:03
Are the Padres just dead in the water? Do they trade Snell and Hader to make the lost season worth something, or can they actually make the playoffs?
Steve Adams
1:06
I don't think they're dead in the water, and it's clear based on ownership's recent comments that they don't, either. They're six back in the Wild Card race and won five of their final six games heading into the break.

They've disappointed, sure, but they're hardly buried, and given the level of investment in this team, I don't see them tearing down or trading Snell, Hader, etc.

If they lose 8 in a row coming out of the break, that can change things, but as it stands right now, no I don't expect them to blow it up
Brewers
1:06
What approach do the Brewers take at the deadline? I would love for them to push their chips in the table and try and get a huge upgrade like Luis Robert Jr. Being realistic though, they will probably stick with their recent strategy of small acquisitions.
Steve Adams
1:09
I don't think Robert's likely for the Brewers or anyone else. The White Sox would need the moon and then some to trade him.

Milwaukee is a game out in the NLC and 7 over .500. They need held against LHP. Rotation is banged up and underperforming in some spots. I think they'll be less willing to deal major components from the current roster (e.g. Burnes) after last year's Hader trade blew up the clubhouse to some extent, and besides that, they're right in the race.

Smaller-scale, value-oriented moves that don't necessarily grab headlines won't excite fans but could be plenty to push them to a division crown.
I Know You Are Tired of This Question
1:09
Apologies first!  But, what type of player package will it take from the Dodgers to land Sho at the deadline?
Steve Adams
1:10
Weekly PSA: I do not think the Angels are trading Ohtani. Period.
Lake Erie
1:10
I'm of the opinion Cleveland need to trade Bieber this summer for some offense. Realistically, who matches up well as a trade partner?
Steve Adams
1:11
Dodgers, Cardinals, Rangers, D-backs, Reds all come to mind
krall yall
1:12
Reds are 50 and 41 now. Would have to go at least 40w and 31 losses to win 90 games this year. They have a relatively easy September schedule. Do they win 90 games after losing 100 last year?
Steve Adams
1:13
They can, but they'll need to add some pitching. The fact that they've been able to do what they've done with basically no recent rotation contributions outside of Abbott is incredible, but Abbott/Weaver/Lively/Ashcraft/Williamson isn't going to get it done, and Greene/Lodolo are out into August.
give me free agency
1:13
Isn't Max Fried's recent injury profile going to adversely affect the term of his free agent contract after next season ?
Steve Adams
1:14
Depends how healthy he is over the next 15 months. But, even then... teams take huge gambles on high-end pitching all the time. The Rangers guaranteed deGrom $185MM. The Yankees guaranteed Rodon $162MM. Neither has worked out, but teams will still take the risk for elite pitching. Fried's injury history isn't nearly as concerning as either Rodon or deGrom.
John
1:15
What is Coby Mayo’s value? Is he too much to give up for Giolito?
Steve Adams
1:16
I tend to think the O's would balk at giving up a prospect of that caliber for a rental when they're still just emerging from the rebuild, but that's probably the type of name the White Sox would be looking for as part of a package.
Guest
1:16
Do you think Vladdy will have a monster second half of the season?
Steve Adams
1:16
My bet will always be on Vlad raking
SteveZ
1:17
Are there any odds that the Royals could unload Singer, Melendez, Witt Jr?
Steve Adams
1:17
Doubt it on Singer and no way on Melendez or Witt
Jrmomo1000
1:17
Arenado talking again will he get traded
Steve Adams
1:18
He has a full no-trade clause and said after the quote that's making the rounds that he wants to stay in STL and that's why he opted in. I'll be stunned if he's traded, and I consider the whole thing a non-story.
HUVIE33
1:19
Think Seattle would move Tom Murphy, playing well and free agent after the season. Not a lot of catcher options out there.
Steve Adams
1:21
I can kind of see the argument for a similar Kendall Graveman situation... trade a couple months of someone if they can get simultaneously get some controllable longer-term help. That said, the Graveman thing kind of blew up on them, and Murphy's a big part of that clubhouse from what I understand. I lean against it happening.
Rookies & Cream
1:21
Is Bednar to Texas a realistic possibility? What kind of package would the Pirates need in return?
Steve Adams
1:21
I don't think Bednar is a plausible trade candidate
Jill
1:22
If Cleveland trades Bieber who fills the spot in the rotation?
Steve Adams
1:24
They'd still have Aaron Civale, Gavin Williams, Logan Allen, Tanner Bibee, Peyton Battenfield, Zach Plesac (if he's not traded) all in house -- and it's possible they'd get a lesser-caliber arm along with whatever bat headlines the deal.

Generally, I think they'd be able to withstand it, though I'm down on Bieber as a whole this year and expect many teams feel similarly with the velo, swinging-strike rate, K%, etc. all down.
Farhan
1:24
Does Joey Bart get me a rental like Stroman or Giolito?
Steve Adams
1:25
Not by himself, no.
rocco rox
1:26
at the very LEAST the rockies should get something for Cron, Grichuk, Hand & possibly Suter. i dont buy the "there were no good offers for STory & Gray" so a better one is letting them just walk away. Same with Estevez-how stupid is not to get SOMETHING
Steve Adams
1:27
I agree and say it every year -- they're not aggressive enough in trading off the players they have, even for small-scale returns. And it's part of the reason the system lacks depth and the team struggles every year. It's commendable to want to field a big league caliber team and keep major league talent for the "integrity of the game" as GM Bill Schmidt says, but some of these non-trades have set them back.
Reds
1:27
Seeing how most trades don't happen until right up to the deadline. Can't we just act like Greene & Lodolo are the two biggest acquisitions in early August?
Steve Adams
1:29
You're assuming both are healthy in early August and that both remain healthy. It seems like mid-August is a likelier timetable from what I've seen -- correct me if I'm wrong -- and both have had some injury troubles in the past already. Sitting back and waiting on that pair to return doesn't sufficiently address the SP need, at least not in my eyes.
Cards Fan
1:29
Cards sell at the deadline?  Who would they make available?
Steve Adams
1:31
Any/all of Jordan Montgomery, Jordan Hicks, Jack Flaherty, Chris Stratton, Paul DeJong and Tyler O'Neill could realistically be out there. Montgomery is an easy QO/reject situation if they don't trade him, so they could conceivably hang onto him if the offers suck, but given the demand for pitching and lack of supply, I expect there'll be a good enough offer to outpace the value of the comp pick.
Fungo Stick
1:32
It's time for CES to be called up
Steve Adams
1:34
I imagine he'll be up as soon as there's an injury in the infield/DH rotation. They're not going to call him up unless he has everyday ABs waiting for him. Elly at third, McLain at SS, India 2B, Votto/Steer at 1B/DH. They can get Steer some corner OF time, too, but Benson and Fraley are also playing well.

I get the eagerness, but it's a good problem for the Reds to have right now.
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