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Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 11/18/25
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Steve Adams
11:29
Same goes for the top FA arms like Cease, Framber, etc.
Pete from LI
11:29
Can the Mets release Montas, who will not play in 2026. To clear a spot on 40 man roster?
Steve Adams
11:29
I don't see why they wouldn't.
Ang T
11:29
who is the next top 50 free agent domino to fall? I think Edwin Diaz to the Mets
Steve Adams
11:30
Unless Steve Cohen just decides he wants Diaz back at all costs, I don't think they're going to re-sign him at all. Paying $21-22MM per year for a reliever doesn't feel like something a David Stearns-led front office is going to be excited about.
11:31
Since I continue to get "How much do you think will [player] get in free agency" questions, I'll remind everyone that our contract predictions for 50 free agents were published less than a week ago:
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/11/2025-26-top-50-mlb-free-agents-...
Kenley
11:32
Do you see any way I return to the Dodgers?
Steve Adams
11:32
Feel like Kenley's goal is just going to be "who's going to give me the ninth inning and leave me there" -- which doesn't feel like a Dodgers thing to do.
11:34
He's 24 saves from 500, and if he can continue to be effective into his early 40s, it's not completely out of the question that he could eventually push for 600. I don't think that's likely, but he posted a 2.59 ERA in 2025 and is at 2.99 over his past six seasons right now. Who's to definitively say he can't still be a semi-productive reliever at ages 41 and 42, and make things interesting?

It'd be fun to see and isn't entirely outlandish anyway
Ken
11:35
Tyler O’Neill and a prospect for Mitch K? Wracking my brain for a MLB trade to match Mitch’s contract. Is this it?
Steve Adams
11:35
O'Neill has negative value. Keller does not. Including TON in the trade gets the O's further away from getting Keller.
FA Prediction Contest
11:36
when is this being released? did i miss it?
Steve Adams
11:37
The prediction contest went live awhile back. We promoted it regularly until it closed last Thursday:

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/11/enter-the-mlbtr-free-agent-pred...

Sorry! Hopefully you're back in there for next year's!
Goat
11:37
After learning about the Rangers shopping Adolis Garcia, who are some candidates to trade for him?
Steve Adams
11:39
That the Rangers will shop Garcia has been readily apparent for a couple months now. There's no way he's back next year. Highlighted him and Jonah Heim on our Top 40 trade candidate list 2-3 weeks back:
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/11/mlb-rumors-top-trade-candidates...

Giants, Tigers, Guardians, Royals, Reds, Marlins all jump to mind as easy fits, but Texas might also just non-tender him.
lincekid
11:41
if the Giants don't want to give out long deals to pitchers, or forfeit draft picks to the next tier of pitchers, and I don't want to rely on 40 year old pitchers, where does that leave them?
Steve Adams
11:42
Trading Bryce Eldridge? Signing Cody Ponce out of the KBO? ....Lucas Giolito?
Ballyhooed Plausiblilities
11:42
Could a player who is going to miss a full year of arbitration due to injury (tanner houck) be non-tendered and then sign a creative two year minor league deal with a major league option in the second year? Wondering due to the 40-man roster spot and CBT impacts
Steve Adams
11:43
Can't put a major league option on a minor league deal. If Houck is non-tendered, he'd probably just sign a one-year deal elsewhere. He only has 4+ years of service, so even on a one-year deal, his new team would control him through 2027 via arbitration.
Suarezes Prediction
11:43
I predicted all three going to the D-Backs. Too much?
Steve Adams
11:43
"It
Augh
11:44
"It's a bold strategy, Cotton. Let's see if it pays off for 'em"
JeDi Mind trick
11:44
Do you think a Skubal trade actually happens? What could you see the Ms giving up to get this over the finish line?
Steve Adams
11:45
As I've said and will continue to say, I'd put the odds of a Skubal trade at like 0.25%. (Not 25% -- one-quarter of one percent)

People will want to talk about it all offseason. It's going to generate clicks and social media engagement and views on MLB Network, so the narrative won't go away, but I think there is next to no chance he is traded.
KC Guy
11:46
Do the Royals roll out Massey again at second base, or do you see them upgrading the position over the winter?
Steve Adams
11:46
Upgrade
Royals
11:46
With this being the 40 man protection deadline, do you see any big names getting DFA in the next few hours?  Big is relative, but like Jonathon India, Adolis Garcia, etc.
Steve Adams
11:46
Yeah India and Garcia are clear non-tender candidates and could be DFA before then if the trade markets are dry and those teams want the 40-man spots for Rule 5 protections
Marc
11:47
With the deadline to tender a contract two days after the deadline to add players to the 40-man roster for the Rule 5 draft, why doesn't every team DFA planned non-tenders by today's deadline rather than waiting two days and not being able to fill those roster spots with spots with trades? This has been happening  more each year, but at least a dozen likely nontenders remain by the second deadline. Sure, there may be a handful who get traded or sign a deal before Friday, but far more end up just being nontendered with the roster spot left open.
Steve Adams
11:49
Some of those clubs are planning to fill those spots with free agents or trade acquisitions anyhow. If anyone has a prospect they're sure will be taken (or feel there's a decent chance will be taken), and minimal roster space beyond the non-tender candidates on the roster, then sure they'll DFA a Jonathan India, Adolis Garcia, Jonah Heim, etc.

If you're planning to add two big league starters, multiple relievers and an outfielder eventually anyhow, then it doesn't really matter. If anything, you don't want that 40-man spot occupied by someone you might have to DFA and lose via waivers anyhow; you run the risk that maybe he'd have gone unclaimed in the Rule 5 but another club just claims him post-DFA since they wouldn't be required to carry him on the active roster all year.
11:51
Alright, I've got  to wrap up for the week. I'm on X @Adams_Steve and Bluesky @adams-steve.bsky.social if you'd like to ask me more questions, mock my opinions and/or hurl insults my way.

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Thanks everyone!
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