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Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 2/19/25
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Bigger Impact 2025?
1:23
Mike Trout or Jacob deGrom?
Steve Adams
1:24
Which oft-injured future HOFer makes a bigger impact in 2025?
Mike Trout (65.2% | 554 votes)
 
Jacob deGrom (34.8% | 296 votes)
 
Total Votes: 850
I suppose deGrom might not quite get to the hall if his injuries persist. So maybe poor wording, but oh well. Too late now!
Brooks Raley
1:25
Any chance I have a handshake deal in place with somebody and am just waiting for a roster spot to open up?
Steve Adams
1:25
Every team has the 60-day IL available now. I think he's probably not in a huge rush since he's not really a first-half option anyhow.
Devers
1:26
Am I a Debbie Downer?
Steve Adams
1:28
I'm probably in the minority, but I have zero problem with Devers saying, "Nope, I play third base." Ditto Marcus Stroman saying "I'm a starter."

I don't think either came across as disrespectful. You can prefer the team-oriented approach -- "wherever they need me" -- but you also want guys to be prideful of the positions they play and confident that they can always continue improving.

In the end, I expect it'll be Devers at 3B, Story at SS, Bregman at 2B, Casas at 1B ... if Roman Anthony or Kristian Campbell doesn't make the Opening Day roster and waits for an injury -- or if Campbell makes it and starts in the OF -- I don't think that depth is bad.
Scuffy Mcgee
1:28
Devie Downer*
Steve Adams
1:28
Zing
Paul Dewgong
1:29
Cardinals picked 7th in 2024 and got the 5th pick due to the lottery this year... does that mean they're ineligible to pick in the top 10 in 2026? Seems like they have less of an incentive to tank than your saying (RE: offseason, helsley) under this CBA
Steve Adams
1:30
I'm not saying it with regard to the draft or tanking, I'm saying their roster isn't improved over last year's disappointing team. It's actively worse. And there's immense risk for any pitcher -- Helsley or Erick Fedde in this case -- to get injured and completely tank his value before he walks as a free agent.

I agree wholeheartedly with the piece Anthony Franco wrote recently for MLBTR calling their offseason a half measure. It might not even be a half measure. Is a tenth-measure a thing?
Brewers
1:31
Should we/will we move Hoskins this offseason still?
Steve Adams
1:32
They'd have loved to have traded Hoskins by now. Finding a taker when he's owed $22MM and didn't hit at all from June onward isn't an easy task.
Bobby Bonilla Day
1:32
As a Pirates fan, please give me something to look forward to on offense this season.
Steve Adams
1:33
Uh... Bryan Reynolds is still pretty good? There's not much to get excited about, haha.

I think Nick Yorke will hit some?
Cris E
1:34
So how about the Dodgers pitching staff? Talk about a traffic management problem.  How many guys start more than 20 games? How many start more than 5?  Will anyone reach 25? They put this together in anticipation of a slate of injuries, but what if everyone stays healthy? An embarrassment of riches, so the nightmare scenarios are kind of entertaining.
Steve Adams
1:37
I think they're just planning/hoping for Snell, Yamamoto and Glasnow to pitch 25 to 32 each, and then get what they can from everyone else. Sasaki's workload will be monitored. Ohtani, too, coming off the UCL surgery. May's never pitched 60 innings in a MLB season. Gonsolin hasn't pitched since 2023. Kershaw's on the 60-day IL to start the season.

It's really about getting through the regular season with enough arms/enough depth to keep the playoff SPs healthy for October. Each of Gonsolin (well, until he gets 20 more days of service), Miller, Knack, Wrobleski, Casparius can be optioned.
Seattle Sadness
1:37
I can not fathom this elite of a pitching staff and the front office not pulling the trigger on an upgrade offensively.  Please tell me their not just waiting to see if they can be good and trade for a 35 year old replacement player come July.  Is there any hope or are we stuck waiting on Ford, Young, Emerson etc.?
Steve Adams
1:39
I'm sure the front office would've loved to have added another bat. They had next to no financial support from ownership. It's easy to say they should've traded for a bat, but there weren't many prominent bats that changed hands this offseason (and the most prominent one, Kyle Tucker, was never going to a division rival).

Most teams looking at trading MLB-ready infielders this winter were looking for MLB-ready SP help. Heck, even getting Spencer Horwitz cost the Pirates Luis Ortiz. The frustration for M's fans is plenty justified, but I'd be angrier at ownership than baseball operations.
Ivylander
1:39
Has the O's moment for getting an ace at the top of the rotation passed?
Steve Adams
1:39
For now, yeah, unless they want to blow the Padres away for Cease.
Sally Cap
1:40
Do you think with the Dodgers deferring all this money over the last few seasons, that deferring contracts will be the new norm.
Steve Adams
1:41
Deferred contracts haven't been unusual for quite some time. They've been "the norm" for a good while. Not to the extent of Ohtani, of course, but the idea that this is a new phenomenon isn't accurate. The Nats put deferrals in like every free agent deal they did for a decade at one point. They're still paying Scherzer through 2028.
Sandy
1:42
Is there any chance I stay in Miami or is it close to 100% I'm traded by the deadline?
Steve Adams
1:42
If he's healthy, he'll be traded.
Oderus
1:42
Why is David Robertson still available. Dude is consistent as they come
Steve Adams
1:43
There's any number of reasons he might still be unsigned. He's about to turn 40. He's presumably being selective about where he lands. He reps himself -- hit him on Twitter and ask him what the deal is, haha
Tom
1:44
Everyone talks about Taijuan Walker pitching this spring as an audition for another team, but if he looks even competent could you see the Phillies retaining him and trading Ranger Suarez instead?
Steve Adams
1:45
Trading Suarez made more sense earlier in the offseason when they could've used him to get some needed OF help and reallocated the money to the bullpen. I don't think there's great logic to moving Suarez at this point. Just keep him, and if he pitches up to his standard, make him the QO.
Ryan S.
1:46
Keep expecting to see Verdugo signs 1 year deal with KC.... they're banking on Melendez new swing to much IMO. How about a trade for Kjersted
Steve Adams
1:46
Doubt the O's move Kjerstad unless they're getting a starter who can pitch at/near the top of their rotation.

Agree that the Royals are way, way too infatuated with Melendez in general, though.
Baseballisthebest
1:47
Glasnow has never made 25-32 starts.  Why would the Dodgers plan on that?
Steve Adams
1:47
Broader point was just they're hoping those guys take the ball as often as possible and all stay healthy for October. They have about a dozen viable rotation options and will be getting other interesting arms like Sheehan back at some point this year.
Mike Elias
1:48
Will I be criticized without mercy if the Orioles miss the playoffs?
Steve Adams
1:48
It already feels pretty fair to criticize. I find their rotation dealings this winter wholly underwhelming and am not a huge fan of the O'Neill signing.
Bucs 1B
1:49
Canha or Rizzo to replace Horwitz?
Steve Adams
1:50
I imagine they'll just go in-house since Horwitz won't be out super long-term (knock on wood). Between the two, Canha makes more sense due to his OF ability (and probably a lower price tag in general)
Mariners fan
1:50
Why haven't we traded Mitch Garver yet? He's a bad contract for us right now. What kind of return could we get for him?
Steve Adams
1:50
You answered your own question! He's a bad contract for everyone. There's no return for him. You either take back another bad deal or just dump whatever portion of the $12MM he's owed onto the team willing to cover the largest portion of that sum (which would be quite small)
Sharks Lurking
1:51
With Arizona extending Perdomo, could Arizona be convinced to send Lawlar with Montgomery for a real return in addition to salary relief now?
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