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Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 1/24/23
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Steve Adams
1:35
I'd start with just making him a reliever and seeing how it goes.
But you're also assuming the cause of Archer's injuries is sheer workload and that fewer innings will lead to him staying healthy and effective -- which is a leap.
1:37
Relievers have to get up, start warming, and sit down multiple times per game. They need to pitch consecutive days at least, and be able to go three in a row on occasion -- particularly pure one-inning closers in that regard.

Archer has a meticulous routine and the Twins, for instance, went through a lot of hoops to try to maximize his readiness and keep him on routine this past season. It didn't really pay off.

Also, Archer just might not want to be a one-inning reliever. There are lots of factors here.
Micheal A Taylor
1:37
Why didnt SF trade for me? Seemed like a perfect fit with their desire to make the defense hugely better. I can't hit water if I feel out of a boat, but I can pick it CF
Steve Adams
1:38
Given that MAT was acquired for a pair of relief prospects with shaky command, I think it's fair for a lot of fans to ask "Why didn't [my team] acquire Taylor?"
1:39
I'd much rather have seen the Marlins keep Rojas and acquire MAT, for instance, than trade Lopez for Arraez and then shuffle the entire defense. Or, just acquire Arraez and MAT, keep Rojas, and go Taylor CF, Rojas SS, Arraez 1B, Cooper DH.

Taylor's awesome in center, flat-out. The Royals probably really love Cruz and/or Sisk, but there's a lot of risk there and I thought several teams could've matched that offer. Shrug.
Adam Stevens
1:39
If Jack flaherty performs well this year, do you see the cards extending him or trading him?
Steve Adams
1:39
I just see him becoming a free agent at the end of the season and probably signing elsewhere.
The Final Boss
1:40
You have to think industry census is that MAT's bat just isn't viable as a starting outfielder.
Steve Adams
1:41
I'm sure lots of teams think that, but with the glove, it doesn't need to be particularly good. He hit .254/.313/.357 last season, which is plenty fine for someone who can run and defend like that.
pauly
1:42
is barlow the next KC domino to fall?
Steve Adams
1:43
Mondesi and MAT were free agents at season's end. Barlow isn't a free agent until after the 2024 season.

Not saying they won't entertain offers, but they could just wait until the deadline and demand/offers will both improve.
Brady
1:43
Will there ever be a ProFootball chat?
Steve Adams
1:43
Our guys at PFR have done them in the past. I'm not sure what the discussion surrounding chats over there is these days, but I can ask and get back to you next week.
Caldwegw
1:44
With the ban on the shifts do you see more bunting or is the focus going to continue on HR at the expense of BA?
Steve Adams
1:45
Guys are still going to be throwing 100mph heaters and 90+ mph sliders. Bunting isn't as easy as when pitchers didn't throw this hard, and its efficacy isn't as agreed upon as it once was.

If we didn't see guys bunting to beat shifts, I doubt it's going to make a big comeback now that some of the most exaggerated occurrences will be wiped out
Joe
1:45
What was the last MLB/MiLB game you went to?
Steve Adams
1:46
I live in St Paul so it's pretty easy for me to get to a Twins game or Twins' AAA game. Think the final one I did this past year was Saints/Storm Chasers? Sometime late in the summer. Saints' stadium (CHS Field) is very nice and always a good time.
Eddy
1:46
Who says no? Daniel Bard for Dodgers minor leaguer Carlos Duran.
Steve Adams
1:46
If the Rockies wanted to trade Bard, they'd have done it at the deadline. They extended him for $19MM instead.
Daniel
1:48
Do you think there will be fewer free agents in coming years due to these long contracts?
Steve Adams
1:48
Opposite. I think there will generally be larger classes because even mid-level and third-tier free agents are regularly getting opt-out clauses now.
And a lot of teams prefer short-term deals outside the very top of the market.
Kenny
1:49
Did Mo just give up or get tired . On big move for Cards then crickets ….
Steve Adams
1:50
I'm surprised the Cardinals haven't done more, but there's still several good relievers out there, and I think the Cards really make a lot of sense as a trade partner for any team with a starter they're willing to listen on. As I wrote last week, they have a surplus at basically every position:

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/01/cardinals-trade-rumors-deep-far...
Red Sox Rebuild
1:51
I see the Red Sox rotation by July being: Sale, Kluber, Whitlock, Bello, and Houch or Mata. Do you agree? Sale maybe traded for prospects if he having a good season and Sox under .500
Steve Adams
1:53
I'd have Pivetta in there over Mata but generally agree that's feasible. I personally don't think Sale's traded for prospects, as I don't think he can fetch a huge haul with the contract and injury risk. A summer swap isn't impossible, though, so I won't dismiss it out of hand or anything.
Andrew Chafin
1:53
Am I holding out for a Rafael Montero-esque deal? I feel like I'm at least as good and a split-neutral lefty
Steve Adams
1:54
I don't think he has any shot at Montero money (though I thought the Astros were pretty nutty to go to that length on Montero, much as I've liked his past season of work).

I don't see any reason Chafin should have to take less than Aaron Loup's 2/17, though, and Chafin was one of the few relievers I thought had a plausible chance at three years earlier in the winter. I don't think that's there anymore, but a nice two-year deal seems like a price someone should pay.
1:56
Lots of people asking about the domestic violence investigation surrounding Mike Clevinger. That news just broke while I'm chatting, and I haven't had a chance to look at anything more than the headline, so I don't have much to comment on it right now -- but wanted to address it given the volume. I'll take a look after I wrap up here, of course.
stan hack
1:56
Who will get playing time at 3rd for the Cubs this season?
Steve Adams
1:57
Wisdom, Morel and (to a lesser extent) McKinstry
G man
1:57
Do the Mets still shopping Carrasco?
Steve Adams
1:58
I don't think it was ever a situation where they were shopping him with the intent of taking the best offer and parting ways. It's always been "If you want him and have a compelling offer, we'll listen."

That's likely still the case.
STEVE
1:59
Do you think the padres are a real fit for ohtani next year or just running the price up for others
Steve Adams
2:00
A.J. Preller chases pretty much every top-level free agent. They'll be legitimately in on Ohtani and willing to do some weird, unexpected/unconventional things to try to make it work.
Ca$h Money
2:00
I can't seriously play Hicks in LF, can I?
Steve Adams
2:02
I mean, he clearly CAN ... it seems like that's the likely direction at this point. Whether that's wise is another story, ha.

I tend to think Hicks is slightly better than a lot of fans give him credit for, but I understand the frustration with his health and persistently low batting averages -- and I do think the Yankees should've pursued an upgrade.

At the very least, he'll give the Yankees good defense and draw plenty of walks. Not an exciting profile, and one I'd have looked to improve upon, but at this juncture there aren't a ton of alternatives.
2:03
They could trade for Kepler, sure, but doing so probably costs you an MLB reliever, and Kepler isn't likely to hit for a much higher average, and he'll walk less. I think it's odd that the Yankees are cutting themselves off at the Cohen tax line, if that's indeed true.
Larry
2:03
Boston is $6-7m under the Cap?   You would think after losing all their star players it would be a lot more.
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