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Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 2/21/23
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Chief
11:39
Not convinced the Royals are on the right track. How far do you think they are from making the playoffs?
Steve Adams
11:41
A ways, honestly. The entirety of their recent rebuild was predicated on drafting and developing college pitching, and to this point it just hasn't worked out. Singer had what looks like a breakout in 2022, and I still think Daniel Lynch can get there, but the group of Kowar, Bubic, Lacy, Heasley and others just hasn't really come along as the team expected.
April in the D
11:41
Who has a higher WAR this season, Vierling or Maton?
Steve Adams
11:42
I'll take Vierling. He can really hit lefties and is a strong defender -- nice floor there even if he doesn't get everyday reps due to some limitations against righties.
Bailey Ober
11:43
Should the Twins dangle my name in trade talks this spring, rather than start me in AAA?
Steve Adams
11:44
I don't think the return would be massive, necessarily, and the the depth is nice to have. I expect they'll hold onto him.
Joe
11:44
Do you see the reds trading Jonathan India for an outfield prospect. Reds have glut of I fielders coming up but little outfield help. Clear the way for Marte, McClain, Steer and Stephenson for infield with Deals Cruz in center field
Steve Adams
11:46
Not in the near future, no. India's stock is down a bit after he took a step back in 2022, and there's no reason to sell low on him. Eventually, something will have to give with all the infield prospects they have, but some of those guys could move to the outfield themselves. Some will get hurt/regress. Some could be traded in the type of deal you're suggesting involving India.

In general, I don't think the Reds are in a position to give up on much controllable young talent -- particularly not to sell low on it -- to address short-term roster needs.
PATigersFan
11:46
A year ago, “experts” pegged the Tigers as a team on the rise, possibly even making the playoffs.  NO ONE saw the train wreck coming. This means a) almost everyone was dead wrong, or b) everything that could go wrong, did.  If the answer is b), why was there almost no effort this season to get better?  This year, they are planning a train wreck.
Steve Adams
11:49
I was never in the "Tigers will make the playoffs" camp, but I obviously thought they'd be better. It was something of a perfect storm of injuries (Mize, Skubal, Manning), surprisingly poor performance (Torkelson, Schoop, Candelario), and unforeseeable other setbacks (E-Rod leaving for personal reasons).

It's pretty common that when a new regime takes over a front office, they'll spend a year evaluating the system before making sweeping changes. There are always exceptions (Jerry Dipoto didn't waste much time when he took over the Mariners), but in general, there's always one pretty conservative year to evaluate what's on hand.

Again, the Tigers weren't a few big free-agent additions from righting this ship -- particularly when some of last year's injuries (Mize, most notably) are going to miss time in 2023 as well.
Matt
11:49
Surprised Naquin had to settle for a minor league deal?
Steve Adams
11:50
Not shocked. Heading into the offseason, I'd have pegged him as a one-year deal guy with a reasonably low base and some incentives. By the time we reach this point of the offseason and guys of that ilk are still unsigned, minor league deals become more and more likely.
Curious
11:51
Do you think the Giants have a chance of making the playoffs?
Steve Adams
11:53
I like their rotation and bullpen. Lineup has plenty of question marks, but if they hit big on Conforto/Haniger and get another big performance out of Joc, it's not out of the question. I wouldn't pick them for a postseason berth, personally, but they're at least a viable Wild Card candidate.
Thanks Steve
11:54
Is Votto a first ballot HoFer?
Steve Adams
11:54
Currently there are 32 players in MLB history who have gotten on base at a higher clip than Joey Votto
Guest
11:55
Does Yuli Gurriel make sense for Cleveland? He could be a cheap vet bat to sit at the end of the bench (a la Jason Giambi) and occasionally platoon with Naylor? To me that's a better option than running with 2 utility players in Arias and Freeman, who both need playing time.
Steve Adams
11:55
I think it's a sensible enough fit, but I can also understand the front office's vantage point if they'd prefer those at-bats go to their glut of young infielders.
Dipoto
11:56
Do you think the Mariners can make it past the Astros with the roster they have now or do they need to go did big at the trade deadline to get past them?
Steve Adams
11:56
Still picking Houston in the division but Mariners should still be a playoff club
MostlyToasty1
11:57
Would Drew Rucinski really lose a rotation spot if he has a poor Spring Training? I don't see anywhere suggesting he's guaranteed a spot at this point. Not expecting him to win a Cy Young or anything, but his cheap one year deal would seem like it was made specifically so they can flip him to an SP-needy team at some point in-season.
Steve Adams
11:58
Salary-wise, it's not as if he's compensated so well (even by Oakland standards) that he can't be pushed from the rotation. That said, he was signed to be a starter and I'd expect him to be in that role to begin the year, barring something catastrophic this spring. (Or barring injury, of course)
Angels Fan
11:59
Did the Mike Minor signing move the Angels needle any?  I was glad that they addressed the bullpen as I still feel like that is their biggest area of need.
Steve Adams
11:59
I assume this means Matt Moore?
12:00
It deepened the 'pen in a meaningful way. I thought Moore was going to get a two-year deal as one of the better lefties available; I liked the deal for them.
2B
12:00
Now that Andrus signed with the White Sox, who's still looking for a 2B? (Might call the Cubs about Madrigal/McKinstry)
Steve Adams
12:01
I don't think Andrus' availability was hindering anyone inquiring about the Cubs' options. Plus, Donovan Solano and Jose Iglesias (among others) are still unsigned in free agency.
12:02
Alright I've got to wrap up for the week. Thanks, as always, for chatting -- and sorry for all the questions I can't get to in these. I'm on Twitter @Adams_Steve if you're so inclined and always happy to take more questions there.

You can also consider signing up for our Trade Rumors Front Office subscription package, which (among other things) grants you access to a weekly subscriber-only chat, and your odds of getting a question answered in those arenas is obviously much higher. Subscribers also get ad-free viewing, weekly email articles from Anthony and myself, exclusive fantasy baseball advice from Brad Johnson, autograph giveaways and more. It starts at $2.99/month, and you can read more or sign up here:

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/membership?ref=chat-2-21-23

Have a great week, everyone!
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