JotCast | Chat With MLBTR's Steve Adams: 2/13/18

Chat With MLBTR's Steve Adams: 2/13/18

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Dayton Moore

3:40

Should I sign Logan Morrison?

Steve Adams

3:42

At a certain price point, if he's a good value sure. I don't think the Royals are in position to be paying too much for any free agents at this point (especially Hosmer), but if LoMo is sitting out there in the 2/20 range or even in the Yonder Alonso range, then sure go get him and try to market the value later.

I'm a big LoMo believer, personally, and I think some team is going to get a nice deal on him. Rockies would be a good fit. He's an upgrade in Boston. I think he'd be a good target for the Twins as a DH/1B timeshare with Mauer, even though pitching help is obviously a bigger need there.

acj

3:42

If the Cubs were to make one more surprise FA signing , who would you pick?

Steve Adams

3:43

I don't think they're going to, necessarily, but I imagine it'd be someone in the bullpen -- probably a guy like Holland whose market might have fallen out on him a bit. Easiest part of the roster to deepen, and they don't have too many other obvious areas of need.

Cookie Monster

3:44

When do they count your teams luxury tax spending? At the beginning of the year or after the year is over?

Steve Adams

3:44

Luxury tax is measured from December to December. So in theory, a team that enters the year over the tax could still dip back underneath it this summer (assuming that's what you're getting at)

Grant

3:44

>50% chance Arrieta stays in the NL Central?

Steve Adams

3:45

I wouldn't say that at all

David Stearns

3:45

Did my owner paint me in a corner, saying we have money to spend? And if so, why haven’t I signed Arrieta, Cobb, or Lynn?

Steve Adams

3:46

Just because the money is there to spend doesn't mean you HAVE to meet the asking price on one of three guys that seems to have outlandishly high demands. And there's still time for them to sign someone from that group, sign another starter, or make a meaningful trade. I'll be surprised if the Brewers don't add a rotation piece before Opening Dya

Hurdled

3:46

Any expectations for Musgrove in Pittsburgh? Him or Glasnow gotta end up good, right?

Steve Adams

3:47

I think Musgrove can either be a fine back-end starter (#4 type, if you're into numerical designations -- I am generally not a huge fan of them) or a quality bullpen piece for them

Dave Dombrowski

3:47

Do I sign Moustakas and shift Devers to first?

Steve Adams

3:48

The main appeal of Mitch Moreland is his glove at 1B. I doubt they're displacing him to play Rafael Devers at a spot where he doesn't have experience.

Clueless

3:48

Why do writers like you, most who can barely throw a ball 50 mph, spout off with nonsense about Zack Greinke being dogmeat? Dude pitches in a bandbox and had a 6 WAR season last year. Easily worth the contract.

Steve Adams

3:49

Yes. Saying someone isn't worth $86-126MM through his age-37 season is the same as calling someone "dogmeat."

And it is, clearly, a prerequisite for evaluating a player's ability to be able to have at one point matched that ability.

3:50

Do you often send angry emails to food critics saying, "LET'S SEE YOU COOK BETTER" or to book/movie reviewers saying "Oh yeah well you couldn't write it!"

Come on. What a weak argument.

steve

3:50

McHugh to Milwaukee for Hader?

Steve Adams

3:50

No way the Brewers give up Hader for McHugh

Rob

3:50

Kepler, Gordon, Gonsalves and AA pitcher for Archer. Who says NO.

Steve Adams

3:53

I don't know that that's enough for Archer, though I suppose it depends on your definition of "AA pitcher." The identity of that fourth player is going to be crucial; if it's an org arm or a bullpen prospect, then probably not. If it's Fernando Romero or something, then hey, maybe you have Tampa Bay's attention -- but that's a lot for the Twins to part with.

Archer feels to me like the type of guy who is going to require a pretty premium headliner to pry away. All of the guys you listed would assuredly have appeal to the Rays, but it feels like three guys who would be the second piece in this type of deal.

ryeandi

3:53

What happens with the JDM situation if the Sox or D-backs decide to head in a different direction?

Steve Adams

3:55

The D-backs don't really have a different direction to go, I don't think. They're not trying to upgrade the OF at all costs or anything; they're trying to re-sign one specific player. If JDM signs elsewhere, I'd imagine they just stand pat in the OF (In that sense, it's similar to the Royals and Hosmer)

If the Sox go in another direction, I think Martinez either ends up back in Arizona or with some surprise team on a Cespedes-style three-year deal with an opt-out after year one. And at that point, there are a hell of a lot of teams that would probably have interest.

3:56

Given the sheer volume of Chris Archer questions I'm getting, I feel it's prudent to make my weekly "I don't think he's going to get traded" statement. Ha.

G Dubya

3:57

Re: Archer. I would assume Rays don't want MLB ready talent, like Kepler. Otherwise, why trade Archer in the first place

Steve Adams

3:59

The Kepler inclusion was in direct reference to a report that the Rays love Kepler. If it's Kepler (or another guy with 4 years of control remaining) and three other controllable pieces near the MLB level, they may be fine with that.

Tampa Bay isn't exactly going into a full tear-down, and it's not insane to think they could move someone like Archer or Colome, get a big league-caliber replacement and still be somewhat competitive -- even though I don't have them pegged as any kind of division favorite in '18 thanks to Boston and New York

Dave

3:59

Can the Jays actually contend this year?

Steve Adams

4:00

If they can keep Sanchez, Happ, Stroman, Estrada and Donaldson healthy, I think there's a reasonable chance they're in a Wild Card mix. But that's a lot to hope for (and doesn't even get into the likelihood of Tulo/Travis injuries, which I feel you basically have to expect at this point)

(Though Diaz/Solarte is an infintely better depth setup than Darwin Barney and Ryan Goins)

I love Pizza

4:01

Any chance the Yankees sign Cobb for a 1 year deal?

Steve Adams

4:01

Can't see Cobb taking one year

Sammy

4:01

Are free agents holding a trading camp? Will they play exhibition games against colleges until signed?

Steve Adams

4:02

They are holding a Spring Training camp. I don't know for certain how they'll handle game settings; if there's enough of a turnout, they could organize games against each other, but we still don't know a lot of details on how the camp is going to play out.

The Second Spitter

4:02

Does Odorizzi make sense for the Mets? The Rays and Mets have matched up in the past, and Tampa has a clear opening for Dom Smith

Steve Adams

4:03

I do think that there's somewhat of a match there, though Alderson has generally spoken about preferring free agents and continues to maintain that the org likes Smith. (That seems less than clear -- and there's at least some degree of an internal divide on the matter)

Ross Atkins

4:04

Would Alex Cobb accept a contract similiar to JA Happs at this point in the off season? 3 years and 36 million

Steve Adams

4:04

He already (reportedly) turned down 3/42. I think there are several teams that'd give him 3/36, so I don't see that being a realistic stopping point for negotiations.

Lucroy

4:05

To the A's? On a 1 year 12 million "I still got it" deal?

Steve Adams

4:05

If I'm Oakland, I strongly consider doing that

Logan

4:06

Is there any chance Bryce Harper signs an extension with Washington before free agency?

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