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Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 1/3/23
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Steve Adams
1:41
I don't think teams care if someone hits .220, so long as they complement that with enough walks, HBP, etc. to get on base at a decent clip. Duvall hits .220 and walks at about a 6% clip. You're penciling in a .270-.280 OBP, and at 34, I don't think you can just bank on the plus defense continuing.
Teams, in general, don't care for the low-OBP skill set that much, which is why Duvall has kind of always been treated like a part-time guy
Perry M
1:42
Jo Adell for Trevor Rodgers. Who says no?
Steve Adams
1:42
Rogers was a ROY runner-up in 2021. Adell hasn't had that type of success in the Majors yet. I'd rather have Rogers by a pretty good margin right now
John
1:42
Better chance of a question answered in the pre-chat or doing it live? Or doesn’t matter?
Steve Adams
1:43
I try to take a bunch of the early ones and a bunch of real-time ones throughout. We get 1000+ people in these usually, so it's always kind of a crap shoot
Eric Hosmer
1:43
Can you explain why any team that signs me will only be on the hook for league minimum? I've read that several places and don't understand
Steve Adams
1:44
The Padres agreed to pay the remainder of Hosmer's salary (minus the league minimum) under the terms of the trade that sent him to Boston. They're not absolved of that commitment just because Boston chose to cut him loose.
Guest
1:44
What would Santander cost Atlanta? Would Ian Anderson be enough, too much or too little ?
Steve Adams
1:46
I'd trade two years of Santander for four of Anderson very quickly, and I imagine Baltimore would, too. Santander is another example of the type of high-slug, low-OBP offensive profile that fans typically like more than front offices.
O's announced that they've acquired Ryan O'Hearn from the Royals for cash
They DFA'ed RHP Chris Vallimont to open a roster spot.
Zack Greinke.
1:47
What are my top 2 landing spots, 'cause I ain't  done?
Steve Adams
1:48
Royals would surely take him back at their price. Twins and Tigers both made similar/better offers last winter, and he chose to go back home to KC. That was a different Tigers front office though... just based on how we know KC loves him (and vice versa) and how the Twins tried on him a year ago, I'll say those two spots -- though the second (MN) is pretty much just a dart throw
Hello, is anyone there?
1:48
Gavin Sheets for Vidal Brujan?
Steve Adams
1:49
I'm not giving up Brujan for Sheets, no
Jaxon
1:49
Would the Cards think about trading Flaherty if he gets off to a good start? Impending free agent who has given them every indication he is gone.
Steve Adams
1:50
If he gets  off to a good start and the Cardinals unexpectedly crater, I suppose, but there's no sense to capitalizing on a hot start (via trade) if the Cards contend, as expected.
I don't see a Yankee question here
1:51
Billy Mckinney and Willie Calhoun was the Yankees best they can do to fill left fielder slot. Id rather brett gardner at this point
Steve Adams
1:54
Plenty of time left in the offseason and plenty of options left for them to pursue. Max Kepler, Jurickson Profar, David Peralta, Jesse Winker, Anthony Santander, Ramon Laureano ... probably won't get a star to play there but can still get better.
Kole Calhoun
1:55
Is my baseball career over? And if so, where do I go to audition to be a new ranch hand on Paramount’s Yellowstone?
Steve Adams
1:56
Calhoun hit 49 homers from 2019-20. Been a rough couple years, but I don't see a reason why he couldn't get a minor league deal and camp invite somewhere if he wants to keep on going.
51st Ward Hoodlum
1:56
Considering the modest guarantee required of the Fish for two years of Jean Segura, is it fair to say that the White Sox might've whiffed on a low-risk opportunity to beef up second base for the near term (with concomitant necessary roster/payroll subtractions easily made) ––an All-Star he ain't, but more than adequate as an affordable upgrade at reasonable cost, no?
Steve Adams
1:58
I think the 2B-only skill set is another that front offices feel can be replaced in-house pretty cheaply. Segura, like Cesar Hernandez, Kolten Wong and others in years past, is a solid player but one with a limited ceiling that teams prefer not to pay a premium for. 2/17 is exactly what we picked for him heading into the winter, based on how the market has treated this type of player.

It seems reasonable, and he'll probably give the Marlins 2-ish WAR, but I don't think a lot of teams would share the generally favorable review of that deal I've seen many fans give it.
Blue Jays
1:59
Assuming KK is 4th OFer, who is the 3rd? Or is KK 3rd and 4th is a combo of Biggio and Merrifield?
Steve Adams
1:59
Kiermaier's going to play center field, not be a fourth OF.
2:00
Varhsho-Kiermaier-Springer should be the OF most days (at least when Kiermaier is healthy)
Freddie
2:00
Breanking News: MLB owners considering trading commissioner Manfred to Japanese leagues in exchange for NPB commissioner.
Steve Adams
2:01
Why would they? Manfred's job is to make money for the owners, and he's good at that. The idea that he's a steward of the game who's supposed to act in the interest of fans is misguided. The owners vote on whether to keep him as commissioner, and they cast those votes based on whether their bank accounts grow enough under his leadership.
Jesse
2:02
As good as the Mets offseason has been it still feels like they need another Lefty in the Pen. I was bummed to see Taylor Rogers come off of the board. Where do they turn now?
Steve Adams
2:02
I had Rogers as the best lefty available but Andrew Chafin is quite good and is still unsigned. Matt Moore. Zack Britton. There are options.
brad Hand is out there too, but he's more name value than actual production at this point.
Aaron
2:03
Should the Rangers try to sign Jurickson Profar, even if it were to require, let’s say, three years? I know Texas has a bad track record at player development, so to me it’s a tough call.
Steve Adams
2:05
There's not enough to like about Profar's skill set for me to want to go three years on him. Even at two years, he doesn't do anything for me. He's a roughly average hitter who'll draw some walks but has average-ish OBP skills, power and defense.

It's nice to have a guy who won't kill you with the bat or glove -- particularly one who puts the ball in play a fair amount. Is that worth going to three-plus years? I don't think so, particularly since the lack of strikeouts is somewhat offset by a penchant for popping up; his infield-fly rate is markedly higher than the league average
2:07
Overall, about 10% of fly-balls throughout the league are infield pop-ups. Profar over the past four years is at 14.9%. You can argue those are marginally better than strikeouts, because maybe someone will drop a pop-up, but that's a pretty thin argument. Guy pops up a ton.
Twins23
2:07
Lefties Moore and chafin fit in Minnesota? Yes?
Steve Adams
2:08
On paper, sure, but the Twins have given out one multi-year deal to a free agent reliever in the past 15-20 years.
2:09
Alright I've got to wrap up for the week. Thanks, as always, for chatting -- and sorry for all the questions I can't get to in these. I'm on Twitter @Adams_Steve if you're so inclined and always happy to take more questions there.

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https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/membership?ref=chat-1-3-23

Have a great week, everyone!
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