JotCast | MLBTR Live Chat with Steve Adams -- 8/23/16

MLBTR Live Chat with Steve Adams -- 8/23/16

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Mike

3:37

Thanks for the chats, always look forward to them.

What do you make of Kyle Hendricks this year?
Should the Cubs be worried about their bullpen?

Steve Adams

3:39

He has a lot of things going in his favor, and I wouldn't ever expect him to repeat these types of BABIP/strand rate outliers in the future, but he's been way way better than I ever expected him to be in his rookie year.

When he was a rookie and striking out 5.5 per nine with a sub-90 heater and tons of luck with regards to home runs, he didn't look all that exciting.

BRO-chi-minh

3:40

Matz also has a shoulder to worry about

Steve Adams

3:40

Minor strain/inflammation isn't something that terrifies me right now. Though you're right that any arm injury is concerning for someone who already has TJ in their past, and Matz has had durability question marks forever.

Hingle McCringleberry

3:41

Does J.A. Happ stand a chance in the Cy Young race?

Steve Adams

3:41

He'd be in better shape if he got the ERA under 3.00, but it's a weak class and lots of old-school voters still love to see gaudy won-loss records.

Abe

3:42

Best rule 5 draft pick this year?

Steve Adams

3:43

Joe Biagini still has a sub-2.00 ERA in the Blue Jays' bullpen. Some people would say Joey Rickard but I'm not much of a fan there.

Baltimore Chop

3:43

OK, If the O's can't extend Machado this off season they have to consider trading him. Right? Can't let him walk for a QO. What would that return look like?

Steve Adams

3:44

I don't agree whatsoever that they have to trade him. Even if they can't extend him, they're a team trying to win in the present, and trading their best player and a perennial MVP candidate doesn't seem to work toward that end.

Ricky

3:45

Does $17/yr for 4 yrs, get Desmond and/or lucroy extended? Do Rangers go that high?

Steve Adams

3:46

I think Desmond beats that on the open market. Lucroy and his agents probably ask for Martin/McCann money -- at least that's where I'd look in an extension.

Arte

3:46

The Angels have the worst farm system. Isn't that on DiPoto?

Steve Adams

3:48

Things like the Pujols signing and Hamilton signing -- both Moreno deals -- that cost the Angels first-round picks didn't help them any, and trading away Newcomb/Ellis this offseason wasn't him. Tony Reagins before him didn't do the farm many favors, either.

Some of it's on Jerry, of course, but it can't solely be placed on his shoulders.

Concerned Redleg

3:48

What's your opinion on the current state of the Reds rebuild?

Steve Adams

3:49

I hated the Chapman trade for them and liked the prospects the Dodgers got more than the ones the Reds got in the three-team Frazier deal. But, I thought they did well to get Herrera for Bruce, and there are TONS of interesting arms in their system, plus a possible fast-mover at third base in Nick Senzel. They're doing OK.

Hingle McCringleberry

3:49

Would you consider giving Zach Britton a Cy Young vote if you had one?

Steve Adams

3:52

I wouldn't, and I say that as someone who thinks Britton is an absolute monster. There's no getting over the innings discrepancy, as far as I'm concerned. There should be a separate honor for relievers, as Jayson Stark has campaigned for at ESPN, but 70 innings -- even brilliant innings in high-leverage situations -- aren't going to carry as much weight for me as 210-230 IP from a top-shelf starter.

Quaid

3:52

Since they have Mallex Smith, should ATL trade Inciarte for a starting pitcher this offseason? Maybe a centerpiece for Sale or Archer?

Steve Adams

3:53

Inciarte wasn't even the centerpiece in the Dbacks trade -- he wouldn't be a centerpiece for either of those pitchers. And I think he's better than Smith, who hasn't been all that impressive since debuting.

Tony

3:54

Mookie for MVP??

Steve Adams

3:55

There's no reason he shouldn't be in the mix, but I'd probably still give it to Trout if the season ended today. As great as Mookie has been Trout's OBP is some 70 points higher.

Justin Morneau

3:55

Will I be playing Major League Baseball this time next year?

Steve Adams

3:56

Hitting well enough right now -- no reason to think he won't get 1B/DH interest this winter.

Guest

3:57

Is Zunino's production sustainable?

Steve Adams

3:58

Well, he's not going to slug .700 with a .400 ISO, but his improved strikeout/walk/contact rates are encouraging, and the power/defense has always been there.

Rob S

3:58

Teams can get a good look at Tebow by sticking their head up a butcher's ***, but wouldn't you rather take his word for it?

Steve Adams

3:58

Posted just for the Tommy Boy reference.

NYTT

3:59

If Weiters rejects a QO this year, after he received and accepted one last year, would the team signed him still have to give up a draft pick?

Steve Adams

4:00

A team would have to surrender a pick, yeah. But I can't see the O's making a QO this time around so it's kind of a moot point.

B Beane

4:00

Reddick back to the A's this winter?

Steve Adams

4:00

If the A's were only willing to go three years on an extension, I don't see why they'd up their offer this winter. He can find at least four years on the open market, and that seems to eliminate Oakland from the mix.

Jose Altuve

4:01

I know I'm easily over looked but how I am not ahead of Mookie in the MVP discussion?

Steve Adams

4:02

You are. I didn't mean to imply Mookie was second to Trout, I was just saying Mookie will get votes but I'd give it to Trout. Trout and Altuve are pretty neck and neck, and their September performances (plus those of Betts, Donaldson, Machado) will weigh heavily on who ultimately wins the award. There isn't a runaway favorite right now.

Rob

4:03

Trout over Altuve? Really?

Steve Adams

4:04

Trout's hitting .308/.426/.544 -- if you want to give it to Altuve over him, I wouldn't fight you on it, but to act like it's not even close is silly

Patrick

4:05

Think with Bautista being injured he's played himself into the Jays price range for next year? EE looks to be out, even with the recent allegations... JUST PLEASE NOT TO BOSTON

Steve Adams

4:07

Yeah -- he needed a typically dominant Bautista season to get over $100MM this winter and he's obviously fallen well shy of that. I could see him trying for the Cespedes model -- three high-priced years with a one-year opt-out, but I even 3/75 seems like a lot with his current season, so it'd be a smaller-scale version if they went that route.

Agreed that EE is all but gone, and the Sox do make lots of sense as a landing spot.

4:09

Ok, I have to wrap this up for the week. Jason's chatting tomorrow I believe, and Jeff will chat on Thursday. Enjoy the rest of your week -- thanks everyone!

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