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Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 11/9/21
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Steve Adams
4:12
I think the shortstop is the bigger need, just because of how much promising pitching they have in the system already.

That said, GM Al Avila did say they plan to add a proven starter this winter and that he sees that need as one of almost equal importance. I think there's a little GM-speak at play there -- don't want to fall all over yourself outwardly saying how badly you need a shortstop and give the Big Five that much more leverage -- but I expect the Tigers to add one of the shortstops and a mid-range arm of some note.
Someone
4:13
If you are the Braves, is Brandon Belt a real option?
Steve Adams
4:13
If I'm the Braves, my list of first base options consists of the following:

  1. Give Freddie Freeman whatever he wants.
  2. See No. 1.
  3. That's it. That's the list.
Phillies
4:14
Would you put it past me to sign Semien and figure out who plays where? Cause I wouldn't put it past me
Steve Adams
4:14
Semien/Phillies is perfectly plausible to me. I think they'll be trying to dump Didi Gregorius anyhow.
HB II
4:14
Is DH going  to join us in the NL in '22?
Steve Adams
4:15
That's my expectation.
Billlj
4:15
What do you see as the Rizzo Market?
Steve Adams
4:17
I actually just have a hard time seeing a lot of teams get excited about Rizzo. He wasn't *that* good this year, and his days as a 130-140 wRC+ guy feel like longer ago than they were.

Yankees would obviously like him back. Padres would go there if they move Hosmer. I think the Red Sox work, and there are some darker-horse teams that make sense -- but really only if his market kind of crumbles. Marlins, Twins, Brewers among them.

Giants could work if Belt leaves -- GM Scott Harris came from the Cubs org -- but I expect Belt to stay.
(Belt is another "could accept the QO" guy, to the prior question on the matter)
Mickey Mantle
4:18
Do Yanks non-tender Andujar and Frazier or find trade partners...they need to clear 40-man space.
Steve Adams
4:19
I think they're both definite candidates to be moved in smaller deals. I've had several questions asking about including them in return for Matt Olson, and not sure if those are completely serious, but I don't think either has anywhere near that level of value this winter. I wouldn't expect the return on either to be great.
4:20
Also, on the Olson front, since I think a fan of 29 teams has asked me if their team can trade for him...

Yes, I think just about any team *can* trade for Olson, but the best fit is a medium- or large-payroll club that can stomach the likelihood that he's a two-year rental who'll be in line for a mammoth free-agent payday 24 months from now.
Yankee Doodle
4:21
Any chance Sir Didi returns to The Bronx?
Steve Adams
4:21
They want to get better defensively at shortstop. That's not Didi.
Zepplin
4:21
If AA doesn't follow your Freeman plan, I nominate you for the new Braves GM.
Steve Adams
4:22
Feel like you'd change your tune the moment the Atlanta Journal-Constitution ran an article titled: "Woefully Underqualified New GM Locks Self in Office, Sobs in Corner"

But I appreciate the vote of confidence!
Dave
4:23
Are the A's about to do another teardown? I'd love to see Chapman in a Mets uni. Do the Mets have the pieces to deal?
Steve Adams
4:25
They never really do a full tear-down. They've never had more than three straight losing seasons under Beane and only have 8 in 24 years under him (including the first two, which I'm willing to give more of a pass on).

I think they'll move some combination of Chapman, Olson, Manaea, Bassitt and Montas this winter, yes, but they'll get a ton of MLB-ready pieces back.

Most likely, people will look at a lot of their trades and say "WHAT?!?!?! They didn't get any top 50 prospects back!??!" and then in like 3 years those guys will be the 2025 version of Marcus Semien and Chris Bassitt and we'll say, "OHHHH, ok."
I shouldn't say they haven't done a full tear-down -- rather that they don't do the "Trade everyone for 19-year-olds and we'll talk to you in five years" approach that's going on in Baltimore right now.
Willy C
4:27
Steve, Jed Hoyer calls you today and says, “I’m making it your decision to offer a long term deal to Contreras and build around him, or trade him this off-season”, what is your decision?
Steve Adams
4:28
First I tell Jed he's lost his mind.

Second, I say fine, trade him. There's not enough else on the roster right now to make Contreras the centerpiece, and his bat in 2020-21 isn't what it was for most of 2016-19. I don't think you structure a rebuild around a 30-year-old catcher whose bat could well be on the downswing.
Chris Young
4:29
Biggest Free Agent signing for my Rangers?
Steve Adams
4:30
I can see them signing just about anyone this winter -- one of the shortstops seems possible and a bit more likely than a marquee starting pitcher, though. Most of the shortstops are younger and looking to max out on their contracts, period. A lot of the starters are looking to sign with a contender AND get a nice guarantee.

Rangers will probably still sign some arms, but more in the third tier of free agency (which, this offseason, is like the second tier most offseasons)
Dipoto's Double
4:30
Will Noelvi Marte, Emerson Hancock, and Cade Marlowe get me Ketel Marte?
Steve Adams
4:31
Dipoto said at the GM Meetings this week that he doesn't see a scenario where he moves the top guys in his system -- Noelvi Martinez and Emerson Hancock both fit that description.
(But, yes, that package would get you Marte if offered, I believe)
kurt the hurt
4:31
will the tigers take off the inning limits on their young pitchers next season, Mize, Manning, and Skubal ?
Steve Adams
4:32
I don't think they'll be monitored as closely as in 2021 but I also don't think you'll see those guys just throw 230 innings next year.
Kaden
4:32
Why did MLBTR list the Cards as a suitor for so many of the top 10 free agents, but not predict them to sign any? Is this a lack of confidence in their front office, or a trend you see?
Steve Adams
4:34
More just  that they don't have a dire NEED at all of those positions. I also think with some free agents, geography (west coast desire) will play a role. And with others, while it's true they could sign Story and will be on him, I was at least personally skeptical of their willingness to dish out another big five-year deal (or six) with Goldy and Arenado on the books and what will be a clear desire to extend Jack Flaherty at some point.
Pham
4:34
I hit the 2nd longest HR this past year. Does anybody want me?
Steve Adams
4:34
Tommy Pham will have plenty of interest on one-year deals in the $6-8MM range, I'd think.
Braves fan
4:35
Would Dylan Bundy be a good bounce back candidate on a prove it deal?
Steve Adams
4:35
He would, somewhere, but I think Atlanta ought to be aiming higher fresh off a World Series.
Luc
4:36
Correa for 8yr/$260?
Steve Adams
4:36
Our top 50 went up just yesterday and predicted 10.320
Luc
4:36
Do you think Astros would move Bergman over to short and go for a third baseman instead since the market is crazy at SS?
Steve Adams
4:37
I've wondered that. I don't think it's crazy to think that they'd consider it.
CJL
4:38
Does Baez actually get a contract for over 3yrs?  Once his defence begins to slow, you have an overpaid 1B/DH that won’t hit his weight.
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