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Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 1/23/24
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Up or Down This Lane
2:11
Do you sense that there is a regression in Lane Thomas' output for 2024 or do you think he is on a career upswing?
Steve Adams
2:13
He hits lefties well and is pretty ordinary against righties. I don't think he'll keep up the .370ish BABIP he had against lefties last year, but I could also see him being a bit better against righties. In general, I expect something of a step back but don't think he'll completely crater or anything.
Guest
2:15
Where will Pete Alonso play in 2025?
Steve Adams
2:15
I assume he'll just stay in Queens, because if/when he gets to free agency, Steve Cohen's attitude will be along the lines of "Ok, go see what the market has to bear and then I'll match it," ha
Nile
2:16
Why did Detroit sign Flaherty for $14 million? Seems like an overpay unless Chris Fetter can figure something out.
Steve Adams
2:18
It's one year and the Tigers' payroll is squeaky clean. The price on it shouldn't really matter. Doesn't matter to the fans if it's $9MM or $14MM.

Flaherty is way younger than the average free agent pitcher (28 all of next year) and isn't that far removed from being one of the best young pitchers in the NL. It's a perfectly reasonable deal in my view.
Brad Hand’s Foot and Mouth
2:18
Are Pedro Avila and Waldron filling out SD’s starting rotation?
Steve Adams
2:20
As someone with two kids in daycare who recently had hand foot & mouth disease take over his home, your chosen username horrifies me, ha.

No, I think they'll add at least one more arm, and even if they don't, it won't just be "Avila and Waldron are our guys." They'd cycle through those two, Randy Vasquez, Jhony Brito, etc. etc in the final few spots.
Yariel Serious
2:20
I think Rodriguez was a brilliant signing for the Jays.  If Manoah returns to form the Jays have a brilliant five man rotation with Rodriguez serving as a 7th/8th inning power arm.  If Manoah falters again Rodriguez would be the first viable option to be stretched out for the rotation, what say you?
Steve Adams
2:22
Plenty of risk given that he didn't pitch in 2023 and hasn't faced MLB hitters to this point, but it's "only" $8MM/year for a team with pretty substantial spending capacity, so it seems fine to me. Even if he completely flames out, it's no different than signing, say, Michael Wacha for two years and watching him get hurt. I just don't think there are many colossal mistakes in that price range for teams with this type of payroll capacity.
Mohamed
2:22
Vientos and Alvarez 30+ HR’s ?
Steve Adams
2:22
Combined? Sure. Each? Nah
2:24
Alright, I've got to wrap up. I'm on Twitter / X @Adams_Steve for more questions, etc.

Sorry for all the questions I couldn't get to, as always. You can consider signing up for our Trade Rumors Front Office subscription, which grants access to a weekly subscriber-only chat where your chances are obviously quite a bit higher. You'll also get weekly email analysis pieces from Anthony and me in your inbox, ad-free viewing, access to MLBTR's Contract Tracker and Agency Database, and more. It starts at $2.99/month. You can learn more and sign up here:
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/membership?ref=chat-1-23-24

Thanks everyone! Have a good week.
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