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Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 2/11/25
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Steve Adams
1:20
I tend to link to it every year around this time because it still holds true and explains with on-record quotes from several (now-former, we're talking 10 years ago) GMs and AGMs explaining why teams will haggle over negligible sums
1:21
Also, I can't believe that was a decade ago. I'm old.
Varsho
1:21
Do you think I will do any catching this year. I'm pretty good.
Steve Adams
1:22
He's one of the five best defensive outfielders in baseball and hasn't caught an inning since 2022. I think he'll just stay in center field
JimO
1:22
Do you see any chance of David Bednar reclaiming his closer role with Pitt?
Steve Adams
1:23
I expect him to get every chance to do so early in the season, yeah. We'll see how he looks this spring, I suppose. Last year seems like more of a command/mechanics/confidence thing than any loss of stuff. Actually had career-best velo by a slight margin.
Bomber fan
1:24
if Bregman signs with Toronto, do you think they would then trade Clement to a team in need of a third baseman like NYY
Steve Adams
1:24
No I think they'd just use Clement in a utility role, which is where he's best suited anyhow (for me at least)
Kimbrel
1:25
So what’s happening with me. Am I retired or what?
Steve Adams
1:26
He hasn't announced anything one way or another. If he wants to keep going, I imagine someone would give him a low base and plenty of incentives, but he's not getting his customary eight-figure annual salary coming off the 2024 season.
Still an A
1:26
How many more years does Kenley Jansen pitch? Only wants to close games. Rivera went into his 40s. Does Jansen have a shot at top 3 in saves?
Steve Adams
1:27
He could get to top-3 this year. He needs 31 to tie Lee Smith.
Wheeler Deeler
1:27
Is it possible that Taijuan Walker gets DFA'd before opening day.  Do the Phillies have any realistic options other than that?
Steve Adams
1:28
Put him in the 'pen and hope he rediscovers something? No one's taking the contract, and I doubt anyone would take on even a semi-meaningful portion of it.
Douggy 18
1:28
Henry Davis, Thomas Harrington, Michael Burrows and Lonnie White for Robert’s Jr.  who says no?
Steve Adams
1:29
Pittsburgh, both because that's too much to give for the current version of Robert and also because I have a hard time fathoming Bob Nutting authorizing the acquisition of a $15MM outfielder whose value is inherently tied to a pair of $20MM club options that are a bargain for most clubs but represent like 25% of the Pirates' payroll.
rangers
1:29
do the rangers go with jung or smith at third?
Steve Adams
1:29
Jung, as long as he's healthy
1:30
Least-surprising free agent news of the offseason: Dodgers beat reporting that Clayton Kershaw's in camp for a physical and that a deal is expected to be announced sooner than later.
1:31
Also the Angels just claimed RHP Michael Petersen from the Jays and DFA'ed Kelvin Caceres, per the team
Guest
1:31
Other than Bregman, do you think the Tigers are in the market for anyone else? Possibly another lefty in the Pen?
Steve Adams
1:31
I don't think it's need to be a lefty, specifically, but just another reliever would be good. Bringing back Andrew Chafin for like the third time would work though.
Bob Burda
1:32
I was feeling sorta good about the A's playoff chances until reading your outstanding article summarizing their SP options. The cupboard looks pretty bare after the top three. Any chance they could get Cease for a Soderstrom/Brown/Bido package? Fills some holes for the Padres while saying them around $10 mil.
Steve Adams
1:32
That's way light for Cease, but I like the A's to sign one of the remaining FAs. Heaney, Pivetta, Gibson, Quintana ... still some decent arms out there.
Re: Nats
1:33
Are the Nats gonna trade one of these back-end starters? Really don't understand spending whatever money they had in free agency to add Williams, Soroka, and Ogasawara to the optionable starting pitching depth they already had
Steve Adams
1:36
Gore, Irvin, Parker and Herz all wore down to varying extents late last year. Josiah Gray is out because of Tommy John surgery. There's no telling what to expect from Cade Cavalli at this point.

Washington's depth beyond the top guys they had wasn't great. The fact that Parker, Herz, Irvin are all optionable, as you referenced, is key. Soroka's an upside play and possible trade candidate. Williams didn't cost much.

I'd have liked to see them target a more concrete upgrade, but the Nats clearly either think they're either at least one more year out or ownership didn't give them the financial latitude to spend that aggressively. (Maybe both)
David Festa
1:38
How many MLB innings do you reckon I'm good for this year?
Steve Adams
1:38
100-ish? More if they trade Paddack.
moneyman
1:39
who, other than rendon, are the worst contracts in mlb right now?
Steve Adams
1:41
Bryant, Baez, Yoshida, Taijuan Walker all come to mind. I don't think people associate Jake Cronenworth and Xander Bogaerts with being THAT level of bad, but I'd have them up there. Both are still useful players, but the contracts are only a fraction of what they'd get on the open market right now and they're both signed way long term
Also, holy crap, my cat just walked by my office window outside
I need to go get her, haha
1:43
Well, not sure what the odds of an identical grey tabby walking right by my window are, haha, but Donut was sleeping soundly on the couch upstairs so false alarm. Back to the chat! Haha
Snoopy
1:44
Who starts in the orioles outfield? O’Neill, Mullins, Cowser, Kjerstad, O’Hearn, Laureano, and Carlson are all technically big league starter capable. Any trade candidates?
Steve Adams
1:48
Seems like part of the appeal with Carlson was the multiple minor league options remaining, so I expect he'll be AAA depth unless there's an injury. Otherwise it'll be a lot of platoon-based mixing and matching. TON, Mullins and Cowser seem like they'll get the bulk of time. O'Hearn will be more 1B/DH. Kjerstad and Laureano will mix in depending on opponents' handedness.

I also just can't get past the personal -- and entirely speculative, to be 100% clear -- feeling that Kjerstad could be traded at some point. He's almost 26. He has almost a year of service. The O's haven't given him a full-time look and keep signing outfielders to push him down the depth chart.

I know freak injuries have played a part in his lack of opportunity to this point, and I know the O's love them some depth, but it just feels like he keeps getting roadblocks put in front of him that wouldn't be there with another team. And if they're staunchly against moving Mayo, Basallo, then Kjerstad becomes their best chip to get a bigger SP.
Yankees fan in New Hampshire
1:49
Does Marcus Stroman get traded or do they keep him as an insurance policy in case someone gets hurt
Steve Adams
1:49
Think he's moved this month or next
Michael Andolini
1:50
Alex Bregman signs for over or under $100M?
Steve Adams
1:51
I'll take the over and assume that somehow, some way -- probably with creative multi-year options/opt-outs -- he gets his long-term deal and another bite at free agency
Jose Iglesias
1:51
Do I sign a minor league deal? I had a 3 war season and Mets did not bring me back why?
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