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Chat With MLBTR's Steve Adams: 9/24/19
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Steve Adams
3:35
Final chat of the regular season! Postseason looms, and the offseason is in sight. Let us discuss at great length.
Huh??
3:37
Orioles? Tigers? No claim on Kean Wong?
Steve Adams
3:39
Yeah I thought the Tigers would be a logical team to grab Wong, but a third of the league passed on him before he got to the Angels, so it's not like they were alone in their assessment. And Wong was Rule 5 eligible last winter and didn't get picked, so probably shouldn't be stunned that he got a ways down the waiver pecking order.
Cards Fan
3:39
Did the Royals not learn anything from watching the Cardinals the last few years?
Steve Adams
3:41
I assume this is in reference to reports that Mike Matheny is a strong candidate to be their next manager. I don't think we can harp on the Royals unless they actually pull the trigger on that move, and Jeffrey Flanagan from MLB.com already threw some cold water on those initial reports.

If the Royals DO name Matheny manager ... I'll be at somewhat of a loss. He shouldn't be managing anywhere.
Charles
3:42
Should Arraez be AL ROY?
Steve Adams
3:42
Yordan Alvarez has been better across the board, except for a few points in batting average. He should win the award.
Manager watch
3:43
Who else has been shown the door by this time next week?
Steve Adams
3:46
I think Maddon's done in Chicago. Clint Hurdle is the other one that immediately jumps to mind. I don't think Callaway is fully safe. I'd have said Gabe Kapler before Matt Klentak's recent comments on him, though ownership could certainly call for a change even if the GM doesn't want to.
Scoops McClatchy
3:46
So, how much does Kyle Lewis' SSS destruction of MLB pitching can we take into account when assessing his value.  Can he be at least a league average player and perhaps more?  His AA was really sub-par.  How does he look to you?
Steve Adams
3:49
His time in Double-A wasn't sub-par. All of the Double-A leagues were extremely pitcher-friendly this season, including the Texas League. Lewis' strikeout rate was a concern, but he drew his walks, stayed mostly healthy.

.263/.342/.398 doesn't look particularly great, but it was nine percent better than the league-average rate of production. I think he can be a useful corner outfielder with above-average power but some average/OBP questions due to the lofty strikeout rate.
Marlins man
3:50
Were you surprised Mattingly agreed to an extension? I didn't think he'd wait around during this rebuild
Steve Adams
3:51
There's only 30 MLB managing gigs. If you want to manage in the Majors, it's tough to be too picky. Mattingly seemed like he wanted to continue managing whether it was in Miami or elsewhere, so no -- not surprised he took the deal. A little surprised the Marlins made the offer, since it seemed like they might want to appoint their own guy.
Doug
3:51
With Tommy Edman staking his claim as an everyday player not only defensively but offensively, would it be plausible to put a package together including Carpenter for a starting pitcher in the offseason?
Steve Adams
3:52
No one's going near Carpenter at $19MM per year when he's about to turn 35 and has had this type of downturn at the plate. And the Cards certainly aren't getting a useful starting pitcher back by trading him away.
Twins fan
3:53
Regarding the Same Dyson trade, is there any recourse against the Giants if there's evidence they hid an injury? What could those penalties be?
Steve Adams
3:57
Last time something like that happened was when the Marlins realized that the Padres had withheld medical info about Colin Rea. Rea was traded back to the Padres for one of the prospects who'd been involved in the original 7-player deal. Some guy named Luis Castillo. They traded him again in the winter. To the Reds. For Dan Straily. Oops?

Digression aside, I would think the Twins would recoup some of the prospect capital they surrendered or be entitled to some other type of compensation, while the Giants would be fined and punished in other fashion, too. A.J. Preller was suspended by MLB after that Marlins/Padres fiasco.

To be clear: the Twins don't seem to have a case. There's no indication that Dyson ever spoke up about his discomfort to the Giants. That's understandable, too ... his team was red-hot at the time. It was during that 19-3 (give or take) blitz the Giants went on. He probably wanted to help as best he could, thought the discomfort was normal, and also probably wasn't expecting to be traded.
OhBrotherWhereArtHowe
3:57
Callaway "not fully safe" - he should be gone, out of the league, finito.
Steve Adams
3:58
I don't think he should be brought back, personally, but I think he has supporters in that org as well.
Kiyo
3:58
Is Betts a goner after this disappointing season in Boston?
Steve Adams
3:58
He'll be shopped around at the very least. I think there's a real chance he's traded this winter since he's made it clear that he's not signing an extension.
Adam Jones
3:59
Do I get an MLB contract next season?
Steve Adams
4:00
He's been about the same hitter he was in 2018. I think he'll get a big league deal -- particularly if he enters free agency and kind of accepts he's probably looking at a one-year deal with a modest base right off the bat.
He's not a great hitter or fielder anymore, but he has some power, has drawn a few more walks in 2019, still doesn't strike out much and is one of those universally respected clubhouse types that gets some bonus points for leadership
Jason
4:02
Who gets the better contract Anthony Rendon or Gerrit Cole? And to where?
Steve Adams
4:05
I think Cole will earn more, but I won't be surprised if Rendon tops him, either. I'd say I'm like 60-40 on Cole earning more. The demand will be greater and there really isn't a comparable alternative unless Strasburg opts out. With Rendon, you can turn to someone like Donaldson if you miss and get an elite 3B on a shorter deal that way.

Predicting these things is a crapshoot even in the early stages of the offseason -- doing so while everyone's still playing is even tougher. I like the Angels as an obvious fit who can afford him, but I think the competition for him will be robust.
stosh
4:06
What kind of return can Betts bring, knowing he is only a rental for one year earning around 25 million dollars?
Steve Adams
4:09
It'll be closer to $30MM than $25MM, but that's still a hilarious bargain for him. He might make $55MM on a one-year deal if he went into free agency and said he'd only take one year at a time (and he'd still be worth way more than that).

A team trading for Betts knows it's looking at a six- to ten-win player who'll almost immediately become one of the club's best performers. He should still command a substantial return -- immediate MLB-ready (pre-arbitration) help and/or at least one elite prospect.

Whoever acquires him knows they'll get a comp pick back a year later after offering a QO, too, which isn't necessarily a HUGE bonus but can't be completely overlooked either.
cubs fan
4:09
whos more at fault theo and co or the ownership?
Steve Adams
4:10
Does it have to be one or the other? Ownership put the financial handcuffs on them, but it was Epstein & Co. who paid up for Chatwood, Morrow and some other deals that look regrettable now.
Wkkortas
4:11
Do the Pirates clean house, or will it be tinkering around the edges (e.g, coaches and minor league managers gone)?
Steve Adams
4:11
I'll be shocked if Hurdle isn't booted. Less so if Huntington stays.
Rocco Rox
4:12
Should the Rockies tear down & rebuild?
Steve Adams
4:14
I generally find the "BURN IT DOWN" mentality to be overstated -- the Tigers and Orioles needed to; others that have opted to do it haven't been in as dire a position -- and I think that's true of the Rox as well. They have some nice pieces in place. I think they'd be a good candidate to do a soft reset -- trade some guys who are creeping up on free agency but are still a year or two away. Jon Gray, Trevor Story, Scott Oberg. You could get some quality young assets back, free up some cash, and still have a team centered around Arenado, Blackmon, Dahl, a hopefully healthy Brendan Rodgers, German Marquez, etc.
Joe
4:14
Would Grandal to the Reds make sense?
Steve Adams
4:15
Grandal to almost any hopeful contender makes sense. He's an upgrade over nearly any catcher in baseball.
JC
4:15
Madden an option for Mets?
Steve Adams
4:17
If you're an established MLB manager, do you really want to go anywhere near that circus? I know I just said there are only 30 gigs, so you can't be too choosy, but I have to believe the Mets' level of dysfunction would prevent someone as established as Maddon from jumping on board.
Citi field
4:17
What do Mets do with famila and Diaz for 2020?
Steve Adams
4:18
With Familia I think they just hope for a rebound. He's making $10MM a year which is going to torch him as a trade candidate.

Diaz's salary is going to explode because of arbitration, but he's still young, controlled another three seasons, throws 100 mph, etc. He's a change-of-scenery candidate for me, and I think they could salvage some value if they trade him in the winter.
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