JotCast | MLBTR Chat with Steve Adams 6-14-16

MLBTR Chat with Steve Adams 6-14-16

Steve Adams

3:58

This is a chat. Let's discuss baseball. And other joyous topics of my choosing. I'm the host, after all.

Jack Conness

3:59

Hey Steve. When will Alex Bregman finally get the call?

Steve Adams

4:00

Truthfully, I'd have thought he'd be up by now. I don't see any real reason for him to be toiling in the minors while the Astros have plenty of means of inserting him into the MLB lineup. I'd just move Valbuena over to first and put Bregman at third, but maybe they want to get him some time in AAA? I have a hard time believing he doesn't make the 25-man roster immediately better at this point.

Dan

4:00

Are you excited for the expansion into hockey?

Steve Adams

4:01

I'm excited that our business is growing and that our fans that have long been hoping for an NHL site are seeing that come into reality. As for me, I'm not a huge hockey fan. (I think that makes me a bad Minnesotan, right?) I follow the Wild and enjoy hockey but certainly don't follow it obsessively like I do baseball

Trade Fiend

4:02

When do you think teams will start firing their trade cannons? Seems like everything's happening a little quicker this season.

Steve Adams

4:03

There are a few teams that are more resigned to selling a bit early on, but generally speaking I don't think things will escalate much beyond their current pace until early July. Late July will be a frenzied time, as always, and there will be tons of teams making the "buy or sell" call late in the month. Tigers didn't even decide to sell until about four days before the trade deadline last year, and they made two mammoth moves plus dealt one of the better relievers that was traded in Soria.

Kent

4:03

Was the Cal Quantrill pick a good risk to take, or was there someone else available at no.8 the Padres should've taken?

Steve Adams

4:05

The pick wasn't solely about getting Quantrill, though the Padres are probably happy to have a potential Top 3 or so pick about five spots late. I'd imagine they're going to save money on Quantrill which will help them pile up guys like Lawson and Thompson, which works for me considering the state of their farm. Adding a bunch of upside guys who had some slides due to injury is a nice method for them to take, from my vantage point.

Ian

4:05

Hi! When and where do you see Gurriel signing? And when do

Steve Adams

4:07

Where would be a total guess -- I don't think anyone has a good feel for that just a day after he was declared a free agent. I can rattle of 15-25 teams that will have varying degrees of interest, but there's no handicapping likelihood here.

Timeline-wise, I think he'll sign more quickly than a lot of Cuban FAs. He's a known commodity, and a signing team is going to want him in its lineup sooner rather than later, and he'll need a month or so in the minors to get up to speed most likely, so acting quick would be beneficial toward that end. Signing by the end of the month seems like a reasonable guess here ... teams have already seen him plenty

Josh

4:07

Is Austin Meadows untouchable?

Steve Adams

4:08

I doubt it. The Pirates' outfield is pretty set for the long term, so he's effectively blocked. He'd have to net them a controllable asset in the rotation or something, however, because he's too big a piece for the Bucs to move for a rental or something.

Your Name

4:08

Is Adam Duvall the next JD Martinez?

Steve Adams

4:09

He walks at one third of Martinez's clip and strikes out 10 percent more often. I've made my Adam Duvall feelings pretty clear -- I think he's a bench guy riding an unsustainable HR/FB rate that is bound to regress. Being a bench piece isn't a bad thing, but I wouldn't want a .280 OBP in my lineup on a day to day basis

Chi Sox

4:10

With Giolito pitching better at AA now, do you think a promotion to MLB is in the works this season or is a AAA promotion with a 2017 rotation slot a more likely scenario?

Steve Adams

4:11

There would need to be a spot open in the big league rotation, and everyone there looks pretty strong right now. Roark's turnaround this season has been awesome. Pitch selection hasn't changed a ton but his K rate, ground-ball rate and swinging-strike rate are all way up. With him throwing this well, I don't see an immediate opening for Giolito even if he's pitching better.

4:12

One option would be to include a current starter in a trade to fill another need while also trimming some payroll (i.e. Gio), but that's just pure speculation here.

Doug

4:12

After all these unsuccessful years and now a mid-season collapse in the midst of their window of competition, is there really a reason that Robin is still managing the Sox? Especially considering he often times seems overmatched and unprepared in regards to in-game situations. I mean, Rick Renteria is sitting right there as a solid replacement for a team that can't afford to throw away another season.

Steve Adams

4:14

Robin Ventura has replaced Fredi Gonzalez as the guy I get asked about being fired 80 times per chat only to reply that I don't think the change would make an enormous difference. By and large, the team is going to live and die by its players, and they're getting lackluster performances from a lot of guys that should be better right now. That's a bigger problem than Ventura, to me.

But, if the Sox miss the playoffs or are clearly out of this thing in August/September, yeah I can see Robin going.

Jonathan

4:14

Your thoughts on Danny Worth

Steve Adams

4:15

Lifelong minor leaguer with some versatility -- not a whole lot to get fired up about for Astros fans. Thought it was weird that they DFAed Minaya for him, but Houston knows Minaya best I suppose.

Sean

4:15

Best fit for Mets- Valencia, Myers, or Lucroy?

Steve Adams

4:15

Lucroy, though I don't think they'll necessarily pursue any of the three all that aggressively.

Anonymous

4:15

Thoughts on Ichiro?

Steve Adams

4:18

In reference to Rose's tirade today? I haven't listened to Rose's comments yet, but I don't really mind referring to Ichiro as the hit king. I don't have much doubt that skill-wise, he'd have been able to top Rose had he been in MLB since Day 1. I understand those who want to keep that title on Rose when it's all said and done, and that's fine with me. In other words: I just don't get too riled up about that sort of thing. They're both great hitters, and that's enough for me.

Bruce Bochy

4:18

I have a HUGE head and I am a GREAT manager!!!!!!

Steve Adams

4:18

Thanks for the input, Boch.

Trevor Plouffe

4:18

Landing spots for me? What kind of return does Minnesota get in a hypothetical swap?

Steve Adams

4:19

Not much right now -- no sense dealing him when he's rocking a .270 OBP. Hang onto him and hope he hits more. Even then, return isn't going to be franchise-altering. He's a solid piece but will probably be overpriced in arbitration this winter. He's kind of like a younger David Freese -- solid but not really great/exciting in any one area.

Guest

4:20

How is Addison Russell the leading All Star SS when Trevor Story's out hit him in every categorie? Is it time to get rid of the fan vote and have all player selected the same way pitchers are?

Steve Adams

4:21

Did you follow last year's All-Star voting? There were eight Royals leading the voting at this time. It'll probably change. The only change that needs to be made to the All-Star Game is the ridiculous stipulation that the game decides home-field advantage in the WS. Other than that, letting the fans pick who they want to see is fine with me. (I'd have Seager in over Story anyway, FWIW)

Jack C

4:21

I enjoyed the Tehran Articles, is that the sort of thing that MLBTR will be doing more of leading up to the deadline?

Steve Adams

4:22

Yeah -- we'll be doing a For/Against a roundtable thing weekly for the most part, even beyond the trade deadline.

Guest

4:22

Do u think Jeremy Jeffress is a potential trade candidate

Steve Adams

4:23

I do, but I think the Brewers will probably put a fairly steep asking price on him since he's cheap and effective. Can also see other teams being hesitant to meet that price because of his history, so it might be tough for something to get worked out there.

Josh

4:23

Tyson Ross for Joey Gallo or Jurickson Profar

Steve Adams

4:23

Tyson Ross hasn't thrown a pitch since April. He's not getting traded for anyone.

Gary

4:23

Other than Lucroy and Braun what other bats are out there for the Dodgers?

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