JotCast | Chat With MLBTR's Steve Adams: 12/4/18

Chat With MLBTR's Steve Adams: 12/4/18

Steve Adams

3:13

Greetings! Last chat before the Winter Meetings (well, my last chat at least). Lots to discuss with the Mariners going wild over the past couple weeks.

Jamesess

3:14

Why did the M’s throw in Pazos to the Phillies? That seems like an extreme overpayment. Segura had a reasonable contract and was worth trading for alone. Nicasio or Pazos maybe but both?

Steve Adams

3:16

I don't really get why they threw Pazos in, either, but you can't act like Nicasio and Pazos are comparable assets. Adding Nicasio shed another $9MM for the Mariners, so his inclusion weighed down what they could expect in return.

I assume that Dipoto & Co. are higher on JP Crawford than most of us, and to be fair, he's not far removed from being among the game's most premium prospects. That said, yeah, I think Segura+Nicasio for Crawford+Santana would've been more reasonable on its surface, but perhaps the Phillies disagreed.

At present, I like the deal for the Phils, even if Crawford does break out in 2019. (In which case, it'd end up just looking like a good all-around move for both clubs)

Reid

3:17

Are the Cardinals a legit dark horse candidate for Harper?

Steve Adams

3:18

I really just can't see them shelling out that type of cash. I realize they made the highest bid on Heyward and tried to acquire most of Stanton's deal, but Harper's contract should just surpass both of those sums so drastically. I do feel like the Cardinals have become increasingly reactionary in recent years, so maybe they'll just go for broke -- but it'd surprise me.

Graham

3:18

Premier thoughts on cano trade? I like it from the mets side more than most people have been...

Steve Adams

3:20

I think paid an exorbitant price and absorbed far too much of Cano's contract in order to acquire too volatile an asset in Diaz. I don't like it for the Mets much at all.

Obviously, the Mariners could've done better for Diaz by just shipping him out alone, and from that vantage point, I don't love watering down the return on your best or second-best trade chip. But if you're asking for a gut reaction as to which side I prefer right off the bat, the Mariners easily right now.

RoxTalks

3:20

Could the Rox target Starling Marte from the pirates?

Steve Adams

3:21

I don't think the Pirates are especially motivated to move Marte, whom they can control at a prety affordable rate for another three seasons.

Reds front office

3:21

What starters should we be focusing on?

Steve Adams

3:24

I've said since before the offseason began -- the best thing they can probably do, if they're serious about adding significant pieces to their rotation, is to trade for starters. I don't think any premium free agent is going to be interested in signing there, given Cincinnati's recent losing records and their hitter-friendly park.

For me, a one-year guy like Sonny Gray doesn't make that much sense, which leaves them to focus on pitchers with multiple years of control. Indians starters, Syndergaard (though Van Wagenen downplayed his availability pretty significantly today), etc.

SammyLGM

3:24

Can we finally kill the Syndergaard rumors now?

Steve Adams

3:24

I doubt they'll die entirely, but BVW's comments should throw plenty of cold water on them, yeah

Dipoto

3:25

Do I try to flip either of Jay Bruce or Carlos Santana?

Steve Adams

3:25

Bruce said on a conference call yesterday that he was told he'll be a Mariner in 2019. Seattle's "re-imagining" is weird, but an outfield of Bruce-Mallex-Haniger can actually be a pretty decent alignment, at least.

Ben

3:26

Can we all agree that no matter what Harper gets is probably going to be an overpay?

Steve Adams

3:27

You can replace "Harper" with the name of any top free agent in any given offseason. Free agency is an auction; by definition, the best names are going to go to the teams who pay more than what they're worth. It's the cost of doing business.

Ryan

3:27

Is it fair to say for Corbin that it’s between the most money (Phillies) and playing for his childhood team (Yankees)?

Steve Adams

3:29

I would say you can *infer* something like that based on recent reporting, though I wouldn't exclude the Nationals from that trio. I also don't think it's accurate that those are the only three teams in earnest pursuit of him, which is sort of how reporting surrounding him has depicted the market. Maybe he just strongly prefers the East Coast and relative proximity to Syracuse (where his family lives), but I have to imagine there are Midwest and West Coast teams making competitive bids.

I do think he'll sign within the next week or so.

Jimmy Fritz

3:29

How close is the Goldshmidt deal to being done?

Steve Adams

3:31

I don't understand why this is a huge story today. From what I can gather, Jon Morosi reported the exact same thing that Derrick Goold did 10 days ago -- the two sides have talked. The D-backs have talked to a lot of teams about Goldy.

Jon

3:31

Do you think kimbrel gets 6 years ?

Steve Adams

3:31

I do not. I think he'll struggle to get five and is likelier to sign four at a premium, possibly record-setting AAV (for a reliever), given his age and "down" season in 2018. (Down for him -- otherworldly for almost any other reliever)

Jamesess

3:32

Of Swarzak, Bruce and Santana, Who makes it to Spring Training as a Mariner? Or do you think they hope is that they can be traded in season?

Steve Adams

3:32

I'd assume Swarzak is the likeliest to be flipped again.

Ben

3:32

Braves make a big bang?

Steve Adams

3:33

They already signed Josh Donaldson -- I wouldn't call that a small bang.

If you're asking about Bryce Harper, then no, I don't think he goes there.

Jackson

3:33

Why would the Angels non tender Parker? He’s been really good the past two years

Steve Adams

3:34

I was legitimately surprised and do not have a good answer at present. He's a really interesting addition to the relief market and would've been plenty reasonable at his projected price tag.

Ben

3:34

How realistic would it be for dodgers to trade for Kyle seager and move Turner to second base and end all this garbage platooning

Steve Adams

3:35

I don't really see how that'd make them any better. It'd be easier to just acquire one of the many, many good second basemen available in free agency or trade.

And the Dodgers aren't going to stop platooning. Fans can complain about it all they want, but their process of platooning, limiting the starter's trips through the order, using the 10-day DL as a roster fluctuation mechanism to keep everyone fresh, etc. is a large reason they've appeared in consecutive World Series.

PORTLAND

3:36

Do the Mariners plan to use Santana at 1B or DH?

Steve Adams

3:37

He was a Gold Glove finalist two years ago and has generally strong defensive ratings across the past three seasons combined.

Neil Huntington

3:37

What is my next move? Trade Cervelli and Nova?

Steve Adams

3:39

Both are reasonable trade targets, yeah. I was pretty stunned to see how many commenters here at MLBTR thought Cervelli was some kind of dead-weight contract. He'd be a bargain for most clubs and should fetch a decent return. He'd be a nice stopgap in L.A. while they wait on Ruiz and/or Smith. Any of the Rockies, Red Sox, Astros, Twins or Brewers (among others) would make sense to me, too.

HMMMMMMM

Jon Morosi
@jonmorosi
Sources: Patrick Corbin signing is imminent. He will receive a 6-year contract, as @BNightengale first indicated this morning. @MLB @MLBNetwork

3:40

So I guess we'll know on Corbin soon.

Who will sign Patrick Corbin?

Yankees (32.2% | 359 votes)

Phillies (22.8% | 255 votes)

Nationals (23.2% | 259 votes)

MYSTERY TEAM Y'ALL!!!! (21.8% | 243 votes)

Total Votes: 1,116

Mitch Haniger

3:40

Atlanta needs me.

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