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Chat With MLBTR's Steve Adams: 1/24/19
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Dave
5:43
Honestly Steve, I kind of feel like your preaching from a soapbox that has left all the horrific contracts of the past out of view. If I'm sitting on an Ellsbury/Pujols contract, am I a villain for not wanting to hand another one out?
Steve Adams
5:47
How detrimental is Ellsbury to the Yankees? They've been able to operate and add to the roster just fine even with -- and he was really only a true zero in 2018. Before that, he was just overpaid but still useful.

Those contracts are only albatrosses if ownership mandates them to be so. We have no idea what any club makes because they'll never open the books to the public, but MLB revenues topped $10 billion last season. I don't really buy that in an era of multi-billion dollar TV deals for teams, having a bad contract on the books is some kind of death knell.

That's a version of reality that owners have somehow convinced fans to believe -- and it's not one that I think lines up with actual reality. Owners have crushed the MLBPA in recent CBA talks, and they've somehow done so while simultaneously convincing fans that players are greedy, selfish and overpaid for wanting their salaries to rise even somewhat proportionately with league revenues.
It's an impressive bit of sleight of hand -- I just also happen to firmly think it's a bunch of garbage, and it's clearly going to lead to a labor stoppage, which sucks for everyone.
DarrinP
5:49
if there is a dark horse American rookie of the year candidate that could possibly beat out Vladdy Jr...who might that be in your estimation??
Steve Adams
5:49
I'm sure Eloy will be called up around the same time
Steve
5:49
Realmuto will be on ____ come opening day?
Steve Adams
5:49
I'd bet on the Dodgers
Free Agent Frank
5:50
Best guess on where lower tier outfield free agents like Adam Jones and Melky Cabrera end up?
Steve Adams
5:52
Jones said he wants to go to a winner and have regular playing time. I don't see that happening, so perhaps he'll sign with a fringe contender who can afford to give him semi-regular ABs. Maybe that's the Giants (not that I like their chances of contending in the NL West). I could see him signing in Cleveland if he's willing to sign cheap enough. Maybe the Bucs pick him up and plug him into RF, pushing Chisenhall to the bench.

Melky ... I don't think anyone has a good way to guess that. He's going to sign a minor league deal, which means it could basically be anywhere.
Steve
5:53
If Wheeler has a full season like his last...what  kind of contract do you envision he can land?  3yr/$54mil? Too high or too low?
Steve Adams
5:54
Think that's too low, given that he'll only be turning 30 at the end of May in his first FA year. If he repeated 2018, I'd peg him as a five-year guy and say he could push $100MM. Some people will say that's insane for a guy that has had trouble staying healthy, but we just saw Pat Corbin sign for 140MM and have 3-4 teams willing to bid $100MM+
Reds front office
5:55
Are we done? If not who are we looking at? Trade or Free agents?
Steve Adams
5:56
I think they'll still consider some free-agent and trade options in the outfield. They can't feel great about Schebler being their top CF option.
Don’t Mess with the Farhan
5:57
Who are some other bounceback candidates the Giants can target on cheap/short-term deals like Pomeranz?
Steve Adams
5:58
Pomeranz was one of my favorite bounceback guys out there. I don't think they'll do much more with the rotation, but the 'pen... they could sign a Nick Vincent type who was outrighted and maybe get some decent value. Drew Storen is coming back from Tommy John. Erik Goeddel had some interesting secondary numbers last season and has tons of control remaining.
jkoms
5:59
Do the Pirates have the worst infield in the majors? Possibly the worst infield of all time?
Steve Adams
6:00
Ha, I don't think it's the worst of all time. I actually like Adam Frazier and Josh Bell quite a bit -- especially if Bell can follow Cervelli's lead and start hitting the ball in the air rather than trying to be the second coming of Eric Hosmer, king of grounders.

Left side could definitely use some work, though.
Kevin
6:00
Do the Cardinals need to add another big bat to help sign Goldy long term?
Steve Adams
6:02
I don't think it's a matter of convincing him based on the team around him. Goldschmidt knows that Cardinals are committed to trying to win every year. They spend/trade aggressively most offseasons and are consistently a winning club. For him, it's probably just about getting max dollars after taking a hugely club-friendly deal once already. If they're OK giving him $30MM+ annually over 4-5 years, or damn close to it, I would imagine that'd speak louder than adding another good hitter.
Bruce Wayne
6:02
What moves do the A's still have to make to compete in thier division?
Steve Adams
6:03
They need some more starting pitching. I know they're going to "bullpen" HARD this season, but they need some bulk, quality innings.
Bobyt
6:03
Will the Dodgers give up Cody for rjt?
Steve Adams
6:03
Nope (assuming that was supposed to say JTR)
Mark
6:03
Who's next to sign Manny or Harper?
Steve Adams
6:03
I think Manny before Bryce
OL PERFESSER
6:04
Adam Jones CF in Cinn?
Steve Adams
6:04
Jones in CF is not pretty
Kiermaier's Piercing Green Eyes
6:04
What happens with Hanley?
Steve Adams
6:04
Minor league deal somewhere and tries to reestablish himself in camp
Dan
6:04
Are the Kansas City Royals even trying?
Steve Adams
6:05
Nope. But hey, neither are the Tigers, Orioles, Blue Jays, Rangers, Mariners, Padres, D-backs, Marlins or (kind of) the Giants, so you're not alone.
Tribe
6:06
What do the Indians have to give the Cardinals for Jose Martinez?
Steve Adams
6:07
Something that immediately upgrades the Cardinals' MLB roster in a meaningful way -- bullpen help, perhaps. But they're not worsening their team just to get a prospect
Shecky
6:07
Yes, but at least the Snakes are piling up draft picks...
Steve Adams
6:08
They do have a hell of a draft coming up
Revenge of the Nerds
6:09
Of the Royals, Tigers, Orioles, Blue Jays, Rangers, Mariners, Padres, D-backs, Marlins and Giants, who is the next to win a WS?
Steve Adams
6:09
Padres have the best farm and a GM who has shown he'll be bonkers aggressive at times in the past, so they'd get my vote.
Kevin
6:09
If the Cardinals are willing to give Goldy 30 mill a year, and I think they will.  Will does Jose Martinez fit in?  Why not take 2 good prospects for the long-term.
Steve Adams
6:10
Because they also want to win in 2019, and the division is stacked. Moving him for prospects worsens the team by a win or two probably, especially since he's going to be a key player for them against lefties.
Grant Long
6:10
Alex Kitinof to Jays for whom?  Stroman and pick.
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