JotCast | MLBTR Chat with Steve Adams 5-24-16

MLBTR Chat with Steve Adams 5-24-16

Steve Adams

3:42

Greetings! I'll get underway in one minute -- start asking away

Aaron

3:43

With the rash of injuries could Markakis be dealt soon?

Steve Adams

3:45

I don't think Atlanta would really hesitate to sell, but as I've said before I don't think there's a huge market for his services. He has a good OBP, and scouts like his glove better than defensive metrics (at least that was the case a couple years ago when he was a free agent), but he has no power to speak of. It Atlanta eats half the remaining money they can probably get someone to take him, sure, but I wouldn't respect anything great back for him even if they eat the whole contract.

Lil Boat

3:45

Saw an article yesterday saying the Rockies should capitalize on career years, acquire a pitched, and "go for it". Do you agree?

Steve Adams

3:47

If they can acquire some kind of quasi-useful but overpaid pitcher for nothing more than money, sure they can give it a whirl. Rolling the dice on Matt Garza for a couple million bucks or something. But I don't see any reason to expect that Mark Reynolds is going to keep maintaining a .450 BABIP, and I don't think they're one arm away from being a legitimate threat in the NL West, either.

Ben

3:47

Twins need a bullpin. Any moves made soon

Steve Adams

3:48

Twins need a lot of things. I can't imagine it's long before they call up J.T. Chargois, given his video game numbers in the minors and his 100 mph fastball. So there's at least one exciting arm on the horizon

Colavito

3:48

Your thoughts on why the Tigers chose to sign Upton instead of Cespedes this past off season? Would Cespedes have signed with Detroit for what they ended up giving to Upton?

Steve Adams

3:49

Upton is two years younger and had a considerably more consistent track record in terms of both durability and overall performance. No way of knowing if he'd have taken the Upton contract, though I lean toward yes. I know he wanted to stay in NYC, but $60MM extra guaranteed is, well ... $60MM is a ton of money.

Stenzy

3:50

Most realistic trade targets for Giants at deadline? LF, SP, or closer the biggest priority?

Steve Adams

3:52

They need rotation help above all else, as there's not much in the upper levels of the minors right now, whereas they do have some potentially useful corner outfield bats there. Cain has looked better but doesn't strike me as someone they can bank on, and Peavy is a disaster right now. Rich Hill, Andrew Cashner, Doug Fister ... anyone on a one-year deal (or hitting free agency next season) with an underperforming team makes sense. Giants' farm isn't great, but they can pull a rental guy from somewhere.

3:53

Couple weeks ago I'd have said Ricky Nolasco, but he's torching whatever modest trade candidacy he might've otherwise had as of late.

New GM

3:53

If you were given the opportunity to be the GM of any baseball team, which would you choose and why? Which would you prefer the least?

Steve Adams

3:55

Dodgers, Cubs, Braves, Phillies? LAD, CHC and PHI are all huge markets with giant payrolls, ownership support, strong farm systems... Braves have a new stadium coming and an outstanding farm. Orioles, Angels, Padres come to mind as teams that are in considerably rougher long-term shape.

Robert

3:55

Any chances should the Phillies still be in the playoff hunt at the trade deadline they do something crazy and trade for somebody like Jay Bruce, Ryan Braun, or Matt Kemp? And if yes, who do you think would be their best target to trade for?

Steve Adams

3:56

Anyone trading for Kemp would be nuts. He's sporting a .234 OBP (not average) and is a huge liability in the outfield. Bruce makes the most sense of the bunch just because the cost of acquisition wouldn't be all that high, and if he bombs, they're not saddled with a huge albatross contract.

Frank Wren

3:56

Miss me yet Atlanta?

Steve Adams

3:57

Well, they're largely in this mess because of his decisions to sign BJ Upton, Chris Johnson, etc. -- so probably not all that much. The Braves stink, but they were never going to be good this season, and the upper levels of their farm are still stocked.

Matt Klentak

3:57

How does my trade of Giles look now?

Steve Adams

3:58

I loved it at the time and it looks better now, even though Velasquez's stats are still being somewhat skewed by his two ridiculous gems to open the season.

Crizno

3:58

Best F.A signing for 2016 so far? Worst?

Steve Adams

3:59

Have a hard time not giving it to Rich Hill. I still can't wrap my head around the Greinke signing -- even if came out of the gates throwing well I'd still have that as a strong candidate.

Dean

4:00

So you listed teams with big payrolls and ownership support and also teams with good farm systems. Boston has both but you didn't list them. Any specific reason?

Steve Adams

4:01

Nah, Boston would be in there, too. Just rattling things off quickly.

Chris

4:01

Who gets moved first...Melvin Upton Jr or Drew Pomeranz? And what kind of talent could either (or both) garner?

Steve Adams

4:02

Melvin won't really bring a ton back, I wouldn't imagine, but at least they could now move him without having to pay down a huge portion of the contract. Pomeranz they have through 2018, so I'd imagine they'll just hang onto him. Padres haven't given any inclination of a full fire sale in the past.

Melvin Emanuel Sr.

4:02

Which of my two sons has you more surprised at this point in the season?

Steve Adams

4:02

Justin's awfulness is more of a surprise than Melvin's goodness. (Strongly worded answer, I know.)

T-Bird

4:03

Any reason to be concerned about Rosenthal's lack of control?

Steve Adams

4:05

I'd be more troubled by it if it came with a huge dip in velocity or something, which it hasn't. His control has never been off-the-charts good (5.4 BB/9 in 2014), and we're looking at a sample of 15 innings thus far. Infrequent use may contribute to it, to some extent. Long story short: I don't think he's going to keep walking 7 per nine this season.

Sarah

4:05

Do the Pirates call up both Glasnow and Taillon when the Super Two passes or do they try to get by with just calling one of them up?

Steve Adams

4:07

Probably just one, initially, barring further injuries in the rotation. I have no idea how many innings Taillon can handle this season, but it seems like it'd be easier to manage that in the Minors, so Glasnow makes more sense to me. Or, Taillon up in the big league 'pen would work as well. The Pittsburgh bullpen hasn't exactly been dominant.

mets

4:07

Freeman to the Mets? What would it take besides Coppy's right arm?

Steve Adams

4:07

I can't envision it happening in any scenario.

Carlos Beltran

4:08

Why would anybody trade anything meaningful for me?

Steve Adams

4:09

.274/.299/.522 and nine homers isn't a bad start to the season. I wouldn't want him in right field, but for a club looking for a part-time outfielder with some DH at-bats, sure, you could do worse. I don't think the Yankees would expect any kind of meaningful return -- it'd be more a means of opening up more at-bats for someone like Hicks with the hope that more regular reps improve his production

badgerstate67

4:09

Any Brewers who may be traded this year?

Steve Adams

4:11

Lots. Carter, Lucroy, Braun, Peralta, Hill, Boyer, Torres, Capuano ..., won't necessarily get much for all of them but it's easy to see any of them being moved. Well, maybe not "easy" to see them finding a match for Braun due to the huge contract and what would be a fairly steep asking price because he's hitting so well, but I'm sure they'll try.

Chris

4:11

Most likely Mets 1b acquisition: Loney or Mauer?

Steve Adams

4:11

Mauer has a full no-trade clause and is owed $23MM per season -- no way that's happening

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