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Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 12/15/22
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Steve Adams
1:36
They're comparable players, yeah. I tend to think Hernandez is better, and the health/age piece is certainly important.

Dipoto has said since day one in Seattle that he's pretty averse to the type of mega-deal signings we've seen this winter. I think he'll eventually add another outfielder, but a full season of Teoscar and Kolten Wong would be an upgrade to the lineup, even if those were the only two moves of note.
Red Sox DFA'ed Jeter Downs to make room for Masataka Yoshida
Christopher
1:37
Adam Frazier was an All-Star 2B in 2021. With a down year and probably a low price tag, doesn't he seem like someone the Red Sox should add for 2B/OF with Story moving to SS?
Steve Adams
1:37
He'd be sensible, sure. Could put him on the White Sox, Orioles, Tigers .... lots of teams. He won't be costly, and he's a decent enough bounce-back candidate.
Pete
1:38
Hamels wants to return.  Is KC a fit?
Steve Adams
1:39
I'm sure he'd prefer to sign with a team that could give him a chance at the postseason, but I guess the appeal of signing with a non-contender is that you're guaranteed innings and the ability to pitch yourself into a trade chip.

For the Royals... they've said their main goal with offseason additions is getting guys who can reliably take the ball and give them innings. Hamels isn't that right now.
Walleye Wade
1:39
Taylor Rodgers may as well come back to MN right?   They Cannot be thinking Pagan is their closer??????
Steve Adams
1:40
The only free-agent reliever the Twins have given a multi-year deal to in the past 15-20 years is Addison Reed.
The Twins will use Duran and Lopez at the back of the game. I still think there's a decent chance Pagan is traded for a marginal return
Zero
1:41
I know it's nit likely but is there much of a chance that the Cardinals upgrade at SS? Paul DeJong has looked awful the last two seasons.
Steve Adams
1:41
Paul DeJong isn't going to be their shortstop. Tommy Edman is.
Frustrated in St. Lousi
1:42
Do you see the Cardinals as being done this offf season? No pitching help, left handed bat or DH.
Steve Adams
1:43
It's mid-December and there's 100-something free agents still unsigned, plus dozens of trades yet to come. There's no reason to think they're done, and they got off to a good start by signing Contreras at a totally reasonable price. I'd be pleased, not frustrated. I never expected the Cardinals to make a splash at shortstop, even when the Dansby rumors first popped up.

I get that Cardinals fans are sick of DeJong, but at this point he's just a guy who'll come to camp and vie for a bench job. If he doesn't hit, I'd imagine they'll just DFA him.
Deven-Paul
1:44
Thanks for the chat! Completely aware the Pirates aren’t going to spend much this off-season but shouldn’t there be a little more of a push for some Veteran guys to help support this extremely young and fluid roster?
Steve Adams
1:45
They've signed Carlos Santana, Vince Velasquez, Jarlin Garcia... will probably add a catcher. I thought they might have more of an appetite to make a bigger move and went out on a limb with Benintendi to Pittsburgh in my picks on our Top 50 list, but that seems like it was probably too aggressive now.
Guest
1:45
Would the Rockies consider trading one of their starters and what would it cost?
Steve Adams
1:45
They're trying to improve their rotation, so I doubt it.
Michael Fulmer
1:46
What kind of contract do you see me landing? Can I land a multi year deal?
Steve Adams
1:46
I can see something like 2/12, sure.
Andrew Benintendi
1:46
I would look pretty good in Seattle, right? Veteran presence, help train and mentor the young guys, help balance out the RH/LH a little bit, give the Mariners some assurances in case Jarred Kelenic isn't actually ready yet
Steve Adams
1:47
If the Mariners sign Benintendi, it's going to be on a multi-year deal. He's more than "insurance" for Kelenic at that point, though I guess with Teoscar as a one-year rental, there's still the chance for Kelenic to hit his way into a role in 2024.

At any rate, yeah, Benintendi to Seattle is a decent fit, though I've assumed they'd want someone with some more power.
DodgersSvck
1:47
Seems to be a bit of a logjam in SF starting pitching.. Alex Cobb or DeSclafani on the move to pick up an OF? I love Varsho, probably as much as you do.. I'd love to get him in SF to play CF and backup catcher.. Luciano and Cobb able to get that trade done?
Steve Adams
1:49
A one-year veteran SP rental like Alex Cobb isn't going to be a meaningful part of a Varsho trade, no. I also don't see the same logjam as you. DeSclafani pitched 19 innings in 2022. Cobb and Wood have long injury histories. I think the Giants probably expect that most of their incumbent options are more likely to make 20-25 starts than 25-32, so they rather wisely added a pair of quality arms in Manaea and Stripling, both on deals that are quite reasonable.
I think Manaea will smash it there and get himself a nice contract next winter after he opts out.
Big deals
1:50
Is it possible some teams are holding off on a big signing because they are waiting for next year with Devers and Machado (if he opts out)
Steve Adams
1:52
Machado's going to opt out, barring something disastrous happening.

I don't know that any teams are strictly "waiting" on Devers/Machado, though. It's a pretty foolhardy strategy to just deliberately eschew upgrades in hopes of signing a player you don't even know will make it to free agency. Passing on Correa, Bogaerts, etc. -- only to see Devers sign an extension this spring, would be a catastrophically bad outcome.

That said... I also find it possible that, say, the Dodgers are taking this year to try to reset their luxury-tax penalties and plan to stay under the tax threshold. Ditto the Red Sox.
Thor's uncle
1:53
Trey Mancini to the Cubs makes a lot of sense.
Steve Adams
1:53
I would agree with this
Ron Santo’s ghost
1:53
So how do you grade out the Murphy trade?
Steve Adams
1:55
I think it's nonsensical to grade a trade so soon after it's happened. "Trade Grade" reaction columns and such are disingenuous.

I think the Brewers did a great job to get Contreras and a pair of  potentially useful relievers for Esteury Ruiz, for instance, even though I personally like Ruiz a bit more than a lot of people who are ripping the trade for the A's.

I don't think the A's got enough, at first glance, but that doesn't mean it'll bear out that way. It means the A's value their players they received differently than I do. I remember thinking they should've done better than "only" Marcus Semien and Chris Bassitt for Jeff Samardzija, which was a popular take in the wake of that trade.

Whoops.
Ross Atkins
1:55
it looks like all my catching trade partners have diminished to 0 Is there anyone else that needs a catcher
Steve Adams
1:57
I don't agree with that at all. Cubs, D-backs, Astros, Giants, Rays/Red Sox (if you're dealing within the division) all could use catching help.
Stick Michael
1:57
Are the Yankees morphing into the Wilpon-era Mets? Yikes
Steve Adams
1:57
They just gave Aaron Judge a $40MM AAV and are actively pursuing Carlos Rodon.
1:59
The Mets, under the Wilpons, never had a $160MM Opening Day payroll. The Yankees project at $250MM right now. That's not luxury ledger. ... that's actual cash payroll.

More concisely: No, I do not agree with that characterization at all.
Allen
1:59
in an unrealistic world, say the giants sign rodon… who goes to the pen?
Steve Adams
1:59
I do consider that unrealistic, but it's fun to play along! I don't think they'd move someone to the 'pen necessarily in that scenario; I think at that point, a trade of Cobb or Wood becomes more likely.
Dave
2:00
It seems notable that neither Oakland or Atlanta seem to have demanded Keston Hiura be part of their return. Does he have any major trade value left? Or will the Brewers end up trading him to the Nationals for a middle reliever in July?
Steve Adams
2:00
Hiura's value is down to the point that I wouldn't expect him to be a meaningful part of the return in a Murphy trade. He's an upside-based throw-in at this point, for me, and we're talking long-shot upside at that, given his lack of defensive value and persistent strikeout issues.
2:01
I do think he could be moved for a reliever or something this summer, sure.
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