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Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 10/16/24
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Steve Adams
3:44
I don't consider it ridiculous, and I consider eliminating the anti-tanking lottery measure as just rewarding Reinsdorf for being a terrible, bad-faith owner (and emboldening others to act similarly)
Rays of hope
3:45
Where can TB find a catcher?
Steve Adams
3:46
I don't think any of Danny Jansen, Kyle Higashioka or Carson Kelly will be out of their price range. They could take on part of Christian Vazquez's deal from the Twins. Hell, they have so much money already off the books (and likely more coming with Diaz, Brandon Lowe and Pete Fairbanks among their trade candidates) that they could pony up and take on a decent chunk of Willson Contreras' contract from the Cardinals. There'll be options out there.
Borbin Curnes
3:46
Is Sasaki coming stateside? Will it be a Yamamoto like bidding war?
Steve Adams
3:48
It can't be a Yamamoto-esque bidding war. He's still young enough that he qualifies as an "amateur" rather than a "professional" under MLB's international free agent rules. Coming over now (or at any point before the 2026-27 offseason) would require him to be subject to international bonus pools. That'd limit him to a minor league deal with a signing bonus under $10MM.

He might still come anyway. Ohtani did that, and it certainly worked out for him in the long run.
3:49
The GM of Sasaki's current team, the Chiba Lotte Marines, said recently he'll continue to talk things over with Sasaki's camp, but no decision has been reached.
White Sox Fan
3:49
Can we actually be worse than 121 loses especially if we trade Crochet?
Steve Adams
3:50
I suppose it's possible, but they're going to sign SOME free agents this offseason, and you'd hope to see some growth and contributions from what is already a much-improved farm system. I can't imagine they lose more games in '25 than they did in '24.
Brandon Inge
3:50
Possibly Bregman to the Motor City with a 6 Year Contract and Goldsmith on a one year with Option for second year?
Obviously need corner help with a degree of power. Neither will knock the fences down at Comerica but would be a definite upgrade.
Steve Adams
3:52
"6 year contract" isn't specific enough... 6/120, Bregman's not taking that. 6/190, hey, print him a jersey. But I do think a 6-year or 7-year deal is where he's trending, and there's an obvious fit in Detroit even ignoring the connection to AJ Hinch. Goldschmidt -- eh. Sure he fits, but you're kind of just taking an expensive roll of the dice to hope he has something left in the tank. I don't know that I'd find that much more appealing than just giving Torkelson another go and signing a cheaper first baseman as insurance.
Brent
3:52
Will the way Crochet and his agent handled his workload this season and the demands they put out there hurt his trade value?
Steve Adams
3:53
No, I don't expect it to
Reed Detmers
3:54
Do the Angels package me in a trade for an upgrade in the starting rotation? Or a third baseman?
Steve Adams
3:54
I can see Detmers moving, sure, though others on the staff disagree only because it'd be selling so low. It's a valid point. I don't think Detmers on his own is getting the Angels a meaningful upgrade in the rotation or at third base.
Moose
3:55
I may have missed the announcement, but when did the Offseason Outlook series become a paid feature? That was one of my favorite things to read to get me through to next year (especially after such an inept Phillies playoff showing). Kind of a bummer.
Steve Adams
3:58
Just this offseason. We've had the subscription service running since 2020 now, and I think this is the first time we've ever taken something that's been a free feature and put it behind the paywall (well, this and our Agency Database, but that was used more by industry people than readers anyhow).

It wasn't a decision made lightly. However, each of those posts requires a large amount of work -- enough that the standard amount of traffic we get from them is really not something that's necessarily justified. Tim did make an announcement and explain the rationale at greater length here:

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/10/offseason-outlook-articles-now-...

I get that it's frustrating for many readers, and I apologize for that. I hope you'll consider subscribing, but I get it if you don't. We all have to have thresholds in an increasingly subscription-based media and entertainment climate.
El Jeffe
3:58
Cashman has historically ponied up for closers. Doesn't it seem likely that Yankees sign Tanner Scott or Jeff Hoffman?
Steve Adams
4:00
I can see Scott, yeah. The Yankees also prefer heavy ground-ball rates and plus velocity, which describe Scott but not Hoffman.

I think they'll spend on the bullpen, but it doesn't necessarily need to be one of those two and doesn't necessarily need to be on someone who'll step into the ninth inning. Could give Luke Weaver that chance next year. The breakout season he had this year is incredible, relative to where he's been in recent seasons.
bruce
4:00
where is Max Kepler's likely landing spot?  Will Minnesota try to keep him?
Steve Adams
4:02
I fully expect him to sign elsewhere. There's any number of teams that could use him (Jays, Guards, Phillies, etc.) I don't think there's a good way to pick any kind of favorite, but he'll be affordable which will create a fair number of possibilities. I can't see him getting more than, say, two years and $18MM -- and it could well end up a one-year deal.
Benjamin
4:03
Do you think the Reds or Pirates have a better near-term future?
Steve Adams
4:04
I think you could argue in either direction. Cincinnati has more promising hitting prospects; the Pirates have a more promising young rotation with more arms coming. I think Pittsburgh's pitching has a chance to be special and would bank on them in a vacuum, but even though the Reds aren't aggressive spenders, they'll spend more than the Bucs will to supplement the core they have.

It's a fair toss-up.
Brighter near-term future?
Reds (51.5% | 51 votes)
 
Pirates (48.5% | 48 votes)
 
Total Votes: 99
Hutch
4:05
Can the Sox pull off the reunited pitching staff of Fried, Flaherty, and Giolito?
Steve Adams
4:06
Nothing in the way the Red Sox have operated in recent years gives me any confidence they'll spend near the necessary levels to sign one of Fried or Flaherty -- let alone both.
BlueJayMatt
4:07
Does Tyler O'Neil get a QO? Does he accept it if offered?
Steve Adams
4:07
I'd be very surprised if he got one, and if I were him, I'd accept it if offered.
Brewers
4:07
Chances Devin williams is traded and who may land him
Steve Adams
4:07
I think he'll be traded. No way to pick a favorite for where he goes. Orioles, Phillies, Mets, Yankees, Padres, Dodgers -- pick your favorite contender. They'll all be in on him.
Gunnar
4:09
Yoshida plus a prospect plus cash for Montgomery.  Sox or D'Backs say no?
Steve Adams
4:10
"a prospect" is too generic, but broadly speaking, I would ask why the D-backs want another LHH outfielder when they already have Corbin Carroll, Alek Thomas and Jake McCarthy, plus the righty-hitting Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
4:11
I don't see the Sox finding a taker for Yoshida, coming off surgery, unless they eat like 75% of the deal and just take nothing in return
4:12
Alrighty, I've got to call it this week. I'm on X @Adams_Steve if you have more questions.

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Thanks everyone, and enjoy your week!
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