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Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 12/13/21
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Steve Adams
2:05
I expect he'll be given every opportunity to do so. He doesn't have a large body of work in either AA or AAA, but he destroyed both in the ~180 PAs he had at each level last year. And Texas is pretty obviously getting aggressive to field the best team they can sooner than later.

Totally possible he struggles in camp and they go with IKF, Solak or someone else (maybe another FA signing) to begin the season, but when Jung comes to camp, I don't think it'll just be a token invite.
Mr Red
2:06
Any thoughts on Joey Votto finally waiving his no trade privileges to join a true contender and finally having a chance at a championship before his skills fully erode? I hate to see him leave the Reds but I would love to see him win a championship that will not happen in Cincinnati any time soon.
Steve Adams
2:06
He's said in the past he has no desire to do that. I don't know if another quasi-rebuild or step back -- whatever you want to call it -- will change his thinking, but  I don't see any reason to expect it unless he says otherwise.
CoalDigger
2:07
With the Rockies in transition and not full rebuild mode, do they go spend crazy for a star or try to use offset veterans to pass the time with the farm far from good development?
Steve Adams
2:09
If their focus was going to be on building up the farm system, they'd have made a qualifying offer to Jon Gray and traded Trevor Story. (Really, they'd have just traded Gray/Story/Bard)

Those moves could've been made even if the Rockies planned to try to compete in 2022. Hell, the 2022 Rockies would've been better for it.

I can't for the life of me understand what's going on there, but I expect them to sign an infielder and/or outfielder, try to trade for a starting pitcher and perhaps look to add to the bullpen.

Their owner seems hell-bent on the idea that this group can win. Kudos to them for trying – I wish more teams would operate like this, honestly – but I can't really see it.
Brodie Jr.
2:10
Do you see Bryant as an option for the Mets or should they focus on another starter?
Steve Adams
2:11
Yeah, I think he's still an option there even with what they've already added. I don't think they're the likeliest fit, and I do think another starter should be a bigger priority, but they could always sign KB and then trade from the big league roster to get some rotation help.
Fever Pitch Guy
2:12
Who is the odd man out in Boston? You figure Sale & Eovaldi are locks. Then you have Hill, Paxton, Wacha, Houck, and Pivetta?
Steve Adams
2:13
Paxton won't be ready till midseason anyhow, so early in the year you're looking at Sale, Eovaldi, Hill, Wacha and probably whichever of Houck/Pivetta shows better in camp. As the year rolls along, there will be plenty of injuries up and down the rotation. They'll need more than those seven starters, really -- especially given injury concerns around most of them. Even the "locks" aren't really locks for a full season. Sale's first full year back from TJ. Eovaldi has a lengthy injury history, including two TJs himself.
diLo 44
2:14
System glitch.  Everyone is blaming Braves for not signing Freeman yet. The problem is Liberty Media being too cheap to commit the funds.  They need to sell the team to someone that cares about the product on the field and less about the bottom line/money. More money will come to them if Liberty makes the investment in Freddie.
Steve Adams
2:15
Yeah, it could very well be Freeman's demands not lining up with ownership's budget restrictions, and since they're owned by a corporate entity, you can't really appeal to the emotional owner like you can with most teams. Honestly, we don't know the full picture so it's best not to speculate. I continue to think Freeman will end up back in Atlanta, though I'll concede I feel a bit less strongly about it than I did when free agency commenced.
Hits Like Rays
2:16
The Rays obviously used a strategy last year to sign tons of minor league pitchers to build depth and then cycle them back and forth between Tampa Bay and the minor leagues.  Will the lockout push other teams to focus their energy on doing the same?  If so, how will that affect the Rays' strategy and ability to sign such players?
Steve Adams
2:16
I don't think that strategy was unique to Tampa Bay. Tons of teams have done this in recent years, with the Dodgers and Giants prominent among the waiver/DFA shuttle tactic.

Post-lockout rush might bring about a few more minor league deals, though, sure.
Catfish
2:18
I keep hearing the interest the Giants have in re-signing Bryant is not high. But with all the money the Giants could spend, why wouldn't they? Sure the commitment would probably be at least 6 years. but he's a quality ball player, not just a great bat like Castellanos. With only one more year of Longoria, Bryant could move to 3B in 2023. Thanks Steve.
Steve Adams
2:22
Concern about how he'll age, a philosophical resistance to five- and six-year contracts -- there are lots of reasons not to. And in Bryant's case, it's defensible. He's a very good player, but if you wanted to argue that his reputation is inflated by his first few seasons in the league, it's increasingly hard to refute. He's been about 24% better than an average hitter over the past four seasons (by wRC+), he'll turn 30 in January, and he's not a great defender anywhere.

I like Bryant a lot as a player, and I think he actually became underrated among a portion of the Cubs' fan base, but I don't think there's anything wrong with the Giants operating as though a six-year deal for him isn't a great play long-term. There are shorter-term options available, and future markets can present better long-term buys that may not be so easily possible if you sort of "settle" on making that play for Bryant right now.
Cody
2:22
What left handed hitter would be an option for the Cardinals to DH and play the field occasionally? Joc, Rosario, Schwarber, Seager, etc?
Steve Adams
2:22
I don't think any should be out of their price range, and Schwarber is the most appealing to me by a good margin.
Walter
2:23
Would Cleveland be a good landing spot for Rizzo? Or is Bradley  there future 1B??
Steve Adams
2:26
I don't think Bobby Bradley should be getting in the way of any 1B additions. The power is huge, but he's fanned in 36% of his plate appearances, doesn't walk nearly enough to offset that, and isn't a great defender. It's a perfectly good fit for Rizzo -- question is just one of whether the Guardians will actually commit that type of money. I don't love Rizzo, but it'd be a surprise to me if he didn't get at least two years and around $15M annually -- possibly three and a bit higher AAV. Been awhile since we've seen Cleveland spend much in free agency.
Just curious
2:27
How badly do workstoppages like this impact MLBTR web traffic?
Steve Adams
2:28
The Covid shutdown was pretty brutal, in terms of traffic. With this one, we had a pretty frenzied week leading up to the lockout since everyone knew it was coming. I don't have an exact answer, but as with any baseball web site or anything baseball-related, the lockout will sting.
sayonarachops
2:29
Are te Blue Jays still a WS contender if they just take a gamble on their fifth rotation spot like they did with Matz last season?
Steve Adams
2:31
It's still a deep lineup, even without Semien, and the top of the rotation is strong wiith Ryu/Gausman/Berrios. I'd be more focused on finding a taker for Grichuk and further deepening the lineup. I certainly don't mind the idea of adding another starter, of course, but the bottom of the order could go Grichuk-Biggio-Espinal-Jansen, and there's some obvious concern about how that quartet could pull its weight offensively.
Tom
2:32
Can the Phillies can any high price free agents with their cap close to the limit?
Steve Adams
2:33
1) We don't know what the luxury tax threshold will be.
2) They're about $29MM from the prior limit, which will go up.
3) They're the Phillies. They shouldn't need to adhere to the luxury tax barrier anyhow.
Playoffs
2:33
Fourteen teams is too many.  We saw how expanded playoffs killed the trade deadline in 2020.
Steve Adams
2:34
There was a lot more at play in 2020 than just the expanded playoff field. A lot of teams were understandably reluctant to surrender real prospects for what, in many cases, amounted to one month of games for a player. You could be looking at 4-5 starts from a starting pitcher. Trading 6-7 years of a prospect (or prospects, plural) was a dealbreaker for many teams who might've otherwise been more amenable to deal over a full slate of gams.
games.
Makemebelieve
2:34
Greene and Torkelson start in Detroit next season correct
Steve Adams
2:35
Highly doubt both start the year in the Majors. Do expect both to be up before too long.
Guest
2:35
Do you think Willson Contreras is more likely to be extended or traded?
Steve Adams
2:35
Trade seems likelier than giving him something like Grandal money after already signing Gomes.
Corey B
2:36
If given 500+ AB’s does Sheets come close to the .830 OPS he had last season?
Steve Adams
2:37
I'd take the under by a good margin. The White Sox only let Sheets face a lefty 19 times, so the production he posted was largely a function of being shielded from disadvantageous matchups. If you're giving him 500+ ABs (so, 550-600 PAs), he's facing lefties in there and the production drops.
Joe Mauer
2:39
In your opinion, am I a HOF'er?
Steve Adams
2:41
I think so. I understand the lack of longevity and the lackluster counting stats from all the years of injuries, but Mauer still had one of the greatest peaks you'll see from any catcher ever. Period. I think there are players overlooked by the Hall of Fame because they were great for too short a period, but when you're talking about someone who hit .327/.410/.473 in 4400 PAs, mostly as a catcher, from 2006-13 ... it's pretty remarkable.
Wrigley
2:41
If Rizzo signs for 2-3 years at approximately  $15M, it should be with Cubs. He belongs at Wrigley.
Steve Adams
2:42
Most Cubs fans would 100% agree. I think if (more likely when) Rizzo signs elsewhere, and when Cubs fans see the dollars, they'll be pissed off that it's not back with them. It's not going to be a giant contract.
2:43
Stroman signing has to give some hope they'll see Rizz as a similar value add on a three-ish year deal, though.

Or maybe some team just falls completely in love with his good-guy-leadership-intangibles and whatnot, and they sign him for a contract that just shatters all expectations. Just hard to see much excitement for him at 4+ years.
Kevin
2:43
Is Story’s contract going to be larger or smaller than Baez’ contract?
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