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Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 11/18/25
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Kyle Crockett
10:59
The Reds WILL sign a big bat this off season
Steve Adams
11:00
Sign or acquire, I agree. Almost picked them to sign Pete Alonso. I think he's totally viable
Guest
11:00
Pittsburgh in the running for Naylor and Schwarber?! Could Alonso be in their sights?
Steve Adams
11:00
I think Alonso's going to cost less than Schwarber
11:01
I also imagine the Pirates probably prefer left-handed power, since PNC Park is where righty power goes to die. Ben Cherington has even referenced this in the past. Doesn't completely eliminate the possibility of going for a righty power bat like Alonso, Eugenio Suarez, etc. -- but I think lefties generally make a bit more sense.
Dan
11:01
Mountcastle: does anyone trade for him as maybe the biggest change-of-scenery guy available, or is this a clear non-tender case?
Steve Adams
11:02
I think he's non-tendered. At his best, he's been like a 1.5 to 2 WAR guy. And he's coming off a terrible, injury-ruined season now.
11:03
The Rays couldn't find someone who wanted to commit $11MM to Pete Fairbanks on day one of the offseason. Teams are pretty reluctant to commit early dollars to fringe roster guys like this. I think most feel they probably have a league minimum bat who can be at least reasonably projected to be within striking distance of Mountcastle's production in  2026.
Skip Skip Schumaker
11:03
Luis Arraez to Texas 3 years 50 million get it done?? Perfect leadoff in Texas.
Steve Adams
11:04
I wouldn't go anywhere near that contract if I were a team, but yeah, that'd get it done from Arraez's standpoint
jd
11:04
what would senga actually return in a trade. $15M per year is 5th starter money, not sure why Mets would just give him away
Steve Adams
11:05
It's better than fifth starter money, and the Mets are paying a 110% tax because of the luxury obligations there, so he's costing them more like $31.5MM per year. They clearly lost faith in him down the stretch.

I don't think he's teeming with surplus value or anything, but if they could clear the contract and add even a middle-tier prospect, they might just prefer to be done and open the roster/rotation spot (and payroll space) for other more certain pursuits.
International Players 2025
11:06
Who gets the most money in what order? Any surprise team get any signings?
Steve Adams
11:06
Our Top 50 list is based on earning power/expected contracts:
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/11/2025-26-top-50-mlb-free-agents-...
11:08
If the Pirates are serious about going after Naylor/Schwarber, then I don't see any huge reason they couldn't pursue a Murakami or Okamoto. They don't really have much of a foothold in NPB, but every team has to take a first step in that regard at some point (and they've spent more modestly on KBO talent in the past)
jd
11:09
how is $15M better than 5th starter money (for a playoff team) . He makes less money than montas
Steve Adams
11:11
That terrible Montas contract shouldn't be a barometer -- and the Mets paid him hoping he'd be more than a No. 5. Michael Lorenzen, Colin Rea, Kyle Gibson, Lance Lynn and plenty more have all signed at $10MM or less on playoff hopefuls in recent years.

Plus it's not 1/15. It's two years and $28MM remaining. Even contending clubs aren't giving out 2/28 to someone they hope is their fifth starter.
Baseball fan
11:11
Who are the 3 most likely to accept the QO?
Steve Adams
11:13
Gleyber and Imanaga are the only ones for me who really feel like they should even consider it (though as I referenced earlier, I think Imanaga can do decently on a three-year deal ... it's just a question of if he considers something like 42-45 over three preferable to 22 over one. Some guys will, some guys won't).

I can see why some would think Grisham or Woodruff should accept, but I think they should both reject without too much fretting.
Richard
11:14
Morning, could the Ms still be in play for Murakami? Do you see him sticking at 3rd?
Steve Adams
11:14
I'd be surprised. Could still go after him if they just want him and Naylor to share 1B/DH long-term though.
Big Bob
11:14
The Reds trade for Ward or Greene?
Steve Adams
11:15
Is this trade FOR Riley Greene? If so, no, I can't see Greene being available.
I also can't see them trading Hunter Greene.

As I continue to say weekly, I'm going to keep putting Brady Singer-for-Taylor Ward out there until it becomes reality, ha. Works well for both clubs.
who's on 1st
11:15
Arozarena's arb # really suprised me. with Sea's overcrowded OF, would a Randy for Alex B work for both teams. I know some are down on Bohm but he does provide some reasonable production at 3B. and will be cheaper than randy.
Steve Adams
11:16
I can see Seattle listening on Arozarena, but he's way better than Bohm. No chance I move Randy for him. Bohm is borderline to even be tendered a contract, for me.
Ken
11:16
could or would A’s make Soderstrom available? If yes, they could get a haul of young pitching
Steve Adams
11:18
They absolutely could get a big haul of quality young pitching. I'm of the mindset that Soderstrom is too good and they should be trying to extend him to build around him, Kurtz, Butler, Wilson, Langeliers and Rooker. That lineup is awesome.

Getting pitchers to go to Sutter Health is going to be hard, but I'd be looking at trading from the farm or overpaying Severino style before trading Soderstrom.

My colleague Anthony Franco thinks they should be listening on Soderstrom, for what it's worth. (He also thinks Soderstrom is great -- just feels similarly to you, perhaps, that he's a movable chip to bring in the type of arms the A's badly need)
Kodai Senga
11:19
When I first signed with the Mets in 2023, it was widely reported that I had an opt-out after year 3 (2025). What happened to that, and even though I was a mess the second half of 2025, wouldn't it still make sense for me to opt-out if I had the option? $14 million a year is cheap for someone with my potential, even though I'm an enigma wrapped up in a riddle.
Steve Adams
11:19
The opt-out was conditional on him pitching a combined 400 innings in his first three seasons. Losing all of 2024 and a big portion of 2025 wiped that out. He only has 285 career IP in the majors.
Joshua
11:19
Sodertstrom for MacKenzie Gore and Luis Garcia....who says no (and if it is a no, is this at least close?). Thanks.
Steve Adams
11:20
I don't think it's close, no. Garcia is another non-tender candidate, and Gore has less control than Soderstrom. It doesn't work for the A's. (Obviously, for the Nats, they'd be all over this)
AL Central Casting
11:20
What level of prospect or MLB-ready player could the Twins reasonably expect in a Joe Ryan trade? They could use a C or 1B - would Soderstrom be a good target? Could they get Rushing or Eldridge? Henry Ford?
Steve Adams
11:22
I think any of Bryce Eldridge, Tyler Soderstrom, Dalton Rushing or Harry Ford could/should be in play as a possible headliner if they're going to move Ryan.

The Twins are pretty deep in corner OF prospects, particularly left-handed ones (Walker Jenkins, Emmanuel Rodriguez, Hendry Mendez), so maybe Soderstrom's not the best fit from a pure roster standpoint. Could play him at 1B, of course, but he was so good in left field last year.

Generally though, yes, I think it'd take a headliner like that, plus at least one other top prospect.
Austin Hays
11:23
Who is my next team and what is my next contract like?
Steve Adams
11:27
I'd expect him signing another one-year deal in the $5-6MM range -- though I guess something like the 2/13 the Royals gave Hunter Renfroe a few years back wouldn't totally stun me.

He'll go to a team that's not viewing him as a starter. Hays just increasingly feels like he's going to be a Randal Grichuk type -- sign a string of one-year deals around $4-7MM per season, depending on the quality of his prior platform. Guards, Giants, Royals, Pirates, Rox all really struggled against LHP last year. Any team with a LHH corner feels like a viable fit.

Even Austin Hays himself can't accurately tell you who his next team is right now. Nor could the GM/president of the team that'll eventually sign him
Gob Bleuth
11:27
Expecting the Jays to spend significantly more than last year after the deep, profitable playoff run?
Steve Adams
11:28
I think the Jays will be one of the most active, biggest-spending teams of the offseason, yes
Chris
11:28
What are the chances the Braves resign Kim or sign Bichette for SS?
Steve Adams
11:28
Kim feels totally plausible. Bichette would shock me, if only because the Jays just haven't gone anywhere near that financial stratosphere in something like 8 years under Anthopoulos.
11:29
Not on a free agent, anyway
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