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Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 11/12/24
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Steve Adams
2:01
I'd like to see him cut down on the strikeouts and specifically make more contact within the strike zone. He was also pretty bad against righties but like, the best hitter on the planet against lefties, ha. So there are some elements I'd like to see smoothed out, but in general I think he did enough to get a good runway to show he can be an above-average bat with solid LF defense.

Even if he's just an average hitter against righties, that'd be enough for me to buy him as a regular since the glove is fine and he was the freaking Terminator against lefties.
2:02
(Seriously, .370/.439/.750 ... he won't repeat that, but good grief man)
AJ
2:02
Will Jake Cronenworth learn how to his a baseball?
Steve Adams
2:03
Cronenworth is a perfectly fine player. Anthony Franco and I were chatting about him last night and Anthony quipped something to the effect of "Yeah, such a weird one. Cronenworth is actually pretty good but the Padres just decided to make him an albatross for no reason."

Hard to disagree. Like the player. Hate the contract.
Giants Fan
2:04
Does my question just not make sense or is it quite literally getting overshadowed by your thousands of other questions? Seriously I've been asking it like every chat and it never gets looked at. I am genuinely curious lol but whatever I guess.
Steve Adams
2:04
I'm not sure which or how many questions you've asked. We've had over 1000 people in and out of the chat today. I'm just picking from the top of the queue as they roll in (and trying to mix in some of the questions folks asked early)
Yark
2:05
Willi Castro a good fit for Pittsburgh? Helps switch hitter to help them vs RHP and can play SS
Steve Adams
2:06
Castro's a good fit anywhere, including with the Twins. I don't think they're so strapped for cash they need to move him, but teams will probably make offers and I assume the Twins will be open to it if someone presents a compelling offer.
Ryan Red-leg
2:06
Initially, I thought the Reds wouldn't sirens much this off-season.  However, I have changed my mind. They are clearly waiting to win right now, with the hiring of Francona.  Also, I don't think they would've given Martinez the QO (knowing that there was a good chance he'd take it) if they weren't planning on upping their payroll.  They have had payrolls up to 130 mil when "going for it".  I thin this week be one of those years. Any thoughts?
Steve Adams
2:07
Generally agree -- I think they'll spend some this winter and thought so before the Martinez QO. That only reinforced it.
Blue
2:07
If Sasaki signs this offseason, he will be under team control for 6 years?
Steve Adams
2:07
Yes
Dbacks
2:07
D-Backs trade Montgomery to the O's with cash for Mountcastle. Does this work?
Steve Adams
2:07
Not for the Orioles.
Varitek
2:08
With all due respect, you're politely insane taking Soto over Burnes/Bregman/Alonso. Soto already is a poor defender, will slow down with age, and he can't maintain that bat speed over a 12 year contract.
Steve Adams
2:10
Burnes/Bregman/Alonso are already slowing down/declining, and you'll get six years of Soto before he even reaches the age they're currently at.

The whole "he's a bad defender" narrative doesn't matter. He's one of the 2-3 best hitters on the planet, and it's not like he's a Jorge Soler-level butcher out there right now who needs to be DH'ed immediately. He just put up an 8 WAR season where he was 80% better than average at the plate. He had the literal most productive season in MLB history for a 19-year-old.

He's been elite from day one. Soto is as dependable and bankable a hitter as there is in the sport. If he can play a passable corner OF for his mid/late 20s, move to 1B around 31 and then DH from ages 33-39 or whatever, I'll happily take that.
Curious A's Fan
2:11
If AZ trades Montgomery would they prefer to pay down his contract enough to get an interesting piece back or would they rather move as much of the money as possible and take back org fill?
Steve Adams
2:12
I don't think they'd get that interesting of a piece back even if they ate the entire $22.5MM (which they're not going to do anyway).
CK
2:12
Is Greinke retiring? Or is he still hoping to come back? Teach that guy to throw a knuckleball and he’s probably got another half dozen seasons…
Steve Adams
2:13
He hasn't said as much but didn't play in 2024 and wasn't great in 2023. I'd be surprised if he came back, but I'd also love it. Greinke forever.
Scott
2:13
If you are Luis Severino you have to be at least tempted by the QO right?
Steve Adams
2:13
I think he'll reject it but I can at least see the case for him taking it, yeah.
White Sox Fan
2:14
Sleeper team for Soto??? Hahahaha
Steve Adams
2:14
Hey they have the payroll space
Angels
2:14
The A's have the payroll space for Soto as well, doesn't mean he's gonna end up signing there...
Steve Adams
2:14
Yes my reply was sarcastic haha
Garrett
2:15
Lets say that Mike Rizzo is told he can add up to $50M AAV this offseason. What players would you target?
Steve Adams
2:15
I'd offer Juan Soto 13 years and $650MM.
Or 14/700. Whatever.
Still an Angel fan
2:16
Three quick questions.  Could the Angels get a prospect like Cam Collier for Taylor Ward? How about a swap of Jo Adell for Max Meyer? And could they get anything for Tyler Anderson.  God help us.
Steve Adams
2:16
I hate to say "no" to all of the above, but......
2:17
I mean, they could get some kind of fungible prospect for Anderson, but at $13MM he's not really a bargain. That's the upper end of what he could expect in free agency right now
Armchair GM
2:17
The Astros have the worst farm system in the majors.  The Astros have exceeded the luxury cap. Tucker is a FA in 2026, and Crane will not pay what he could command: 8 years/$320M territory.  Therefore, shouldn’t the Astros trade him? Surely they could get  a pretty big haul for Tucker?  What say you?
Steve Adams
2:18
Sure but they could also just try to win with him, which is where I expect they'll go. Maybe frustrating to let good players walk for just picks in return, but as a fan you also have to appreciate having an owner/front office that's going for it every season.
2:19
Well, you don't have to. Enjoy the game how you want, ha
2:21
Alrighty, I've got to call it this week. I'm on X @Adams_Steve if you have more questions and just joined BlueSky @Adams-Steve where I have no idea what I'm doing, so please help me out because I am frightened by new technology.

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Thanks everyone, and enjoy your week!
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