You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 2/22/22
powered byJotCast
Steve Adams
2:02
It's 2/22/22... Happy Twos-day! (I am so sorry.)
2:03
Let's talk baseball and continue hoping we soon have a CBA to celebrate
Minors Contract
2:04
Silly question, but why don't teams sign the 'second tier' free agents to a minor league contract stipulating that 'when they get to the majors' they'll make $X - wouldn't that be a loophole?
Steve Adams
2:05
It's not allowed. The only players capable of signing right now are minor league free agents -- player who weren't on a 40-man roster at the end of the year or players who became a free agent after clearing outright waivers and electing free agency.
2:06
The league also wouldn't allow a deal that was pretty clearly a circumvention of a Major League contract, anyhow. Like, if the D-backs' deal with Dan Straily were a two-year minor league deal with a $16MM base upon being added to the big league roster, or something to that end. (I don't know the terms of Straily's deal but imagine it's a low-ish base, one year deal with plenty of incentives ... I do expect him to make the roster, but just using him as an example here)
Matt
2:07
If Braves let Freeman go what is right trade package for Olson a Georgia boy? Waters, Pache, Contreras and Muller for Olson and Kemp?
Steve Adams
2:07
The stock on Waters and Pache is way down.
2:08
Not saying they couldn't be a part of the deal, but they're probably not headlining it together. Looking more at Harris or Langeliers and then plenty of talent thereafter. Teams are increasingly reluctant to part with Top 50 and Top 25 types of prospects, but I do think the A's have a chance to get someone of that caliber in return for Olson, and I don't think they'd look favorably on a collection of prospects whose value has been trending in the wrong direction.
ChiSoxFan33
2:09
So I know that nothing official can happen until the lockout ends, but can GMs make handshake trade agreements and then just announce them as soon as the lockout is over?
Steve Adams
2:11
I don't really see how MLB can fully prevent this from happening. I'm sure there'd be penalties if it was ever proven, but even if teams are wary of leaving traces of conversations via email, text message, etc., what's to stop Jerry Dipoto from grabbing a beer with Billy Beane at some point when they just happen to be in the same town or something like that? I'd be surprised if some talks hadn't been going on, and it's also worth noting of course that there were extensive trade talks on plenty of deals that didn't get finished in the days and hours leading up to the lockout.
2:12
For what it's worth, agents haven't been given any guidance or restrictions on what they can and can't do this winter. So there's nothing stopping an agent calling a team to talk about a minor league deal, and then saying "Hey I know you probably can't talk about this guy, but.............." and bringing up a big league free agent.
2:13
That team exec might stop them, of course, or maybe just listen without saying anything. But to your overall point, yeah, I think it's unlikely that all 30 GMs/presidents have just sat back and followed MLB's law to the letter.
Kirk
2:14
The year is 2023 and with the trade deadline approaching Juan Soto hasn't re-signed. Does Washington go the route of Trea Turner (trade with 1+ years left) or Bryce Harper (wait and risk losing in free agency)?
Steve Adams
2:17
It's entirely dependent on the context of Washington's performance. I don't think the Nats are going to be down and out for too long. I'm not expecting much in 2022, but I believe they have some good young pieces in Keibert Ruiz, Josiah Gray and Luis Garcia. I always wondered why the Cardinals didn't give Lane Thomas a real chance, and he'll get one now in D.C. Plus, they have tons of money to spend next winter if they do see some positive strides from the controllable players.

I think the Turner trade and the 2021 fire sale in general was something of a perfect storm for the Nats. Bleak farm, declining control over many of their best players. Thin farm. It made sense when all those things coalesced, but the Nats (and GM Mike Rizzo) typically aren't big sellers.
I'd expect Soto to remain in place, unless all of the young guys have busted and the future is just completely bleak.
Not A.A.
2:17
How quickly will Alex anthopolous go from loved to loathed if he lets Freeman walk?
Steve Adams
2:18
He'll draw a ton of hate, I'm sure, but I'd look more at Liberty Media than at Anthopoulos on that decision. I'm sure AA would love to have Freeman stick around, regardless of the price, and I doubt he wants to be remembered as the GM who let the 2022 equivalent of Chipper Jones walk as a free agent.
just thinkin
2:19
if machado stays healthy does he have a shot at the hall?
Steve Adams
2:20
If Machado stays mostly healthy for another 4-5 years I would imagine he'll get in. He's already halfway to 500 home runs. Five-time All Star, Platinum Glove winner, 45 career WAR already.
El Lobo
2:20
Steve: Good Afternoon. Mullins to the Fish, for Meyer,Cabrera, and Bleday. Doable??
Steve Adams
2:21
It would be hard for the O's to turn that down but also probably hard for the Marlins to offer it, good as Mullins was in '21.
Appa Yip Yip
2:22
If you took BP in front of scouts would you be able to achieve a 20 power grade?
Steve Adams
2:23
I didn't even have home run power in my slow-pitch softball leagues post-college, so no. No I would not, haha. As a former track and cross country runner -- I sucked at baseball but I could run! -- maybe I'd have drawn a respectable speed grade at my peak!
SLH16
2:23
Will we see a ridiculous amount of transactions as soon as the lockout is over?
Steve Adams
2:23
I fully expect this to be the case, yes. Like, an unprecedented deluge by MLB standards.
Ro
2:24
For teams who miss out on freeman/olson/Rizzo, are voit and bell worth trading for?
Steve Adams
2:26
/ don't know how many more teams there are than that who are even looking legitimate 1B help, though I suppose adding in the DH possibility in the NL helps.

To your point, of course they are, depending on the asking price. I'm not giving up too much for Bell, who's projected to earn $10MM in 2022 and is a free agent next winter. And while I'm a Luke Voit believer, the injuries in 2021 can't just be ignored.

I like a healthy Voit as a rebound candidate, though, and Bell shook off a terrible April to hit .279/.364/.501 the rest of the season.
Old School Baseball
2:27
i would rather have more players like David Fletcher, than Joey Gallo. I like players who put the ball in play, over guys who strike out more than reach base safely. Steve am I crazy, feeling this way?
Steve Adams
2:28
I'm sure most fans feel that way, but there's a reason Fletcher took a five-year, $26MM contract while Gallo is going to earn $21MM for his three arbitration seasons even with a poor 2021 showing. Home runs get paid, and if you're a big league player, you want the most earning power possible. Why wouldn't you? Home runs and OBP get hitters paid, strikeouts get pitchers paid.
AA
2:30
Pache, Contreras, Shewmake for Bryan Reynolds…who says no??
Steve Adams
2:31
Pache, Waters and Contreras are the latest relatively fallen Braves prospects their fans are anxious to trade, I see. Last year it was Kyle Wright, Touki Toussaint, Bryse Wilson, etc.

If you want Reynolds, Mullins, Olson, etc. -- whichever premium trade target you're looking for... the guys who you're now OK trading because their stock has gone the wrong direction generally isn't a great place to start.
727
2:33
Could KK for Voit be the rare in division trade that makes sense for both teams?
Steve Adams
2:33
Voit's the kind of bat-first player the Rays tend to trade away once their arb price gets into the range he's currently approaching (and certainly where he'd be next year). I think Kiermaier will be traded, but I don't think they'd swap him for Voit.
The Cheaters
2:34
As you indicated It is doubtful that all owners are following the law to the letter. So when the deadline is over and a few hours later some deals are struck wouldn't that be a possible red flag in that respect?
Steve Adams
2:36
Not necessarily. As I said, GMs were talking to agents and other GMs for days/weeks leading up to the deadline. It's perfectly plausible that some of those trade talks got 90-95% toward the finish line, and the two sides quickly rekindled talks. It's also possible that a good reliever -- let's say Andrew Chafin, just arbitrarily -- doesn't want to risk being lost in the deluge of deals and tells his agent he'll jump at the first two-year offer that's out there rather than risk "settling" (relative term, I know, haha) for a year and $3MM or so in a couple weeks once camp is underway.
OttoBTeaching
2:37
How often, do you think, do prospects' stock go from "high" to "low"? What does that say about a team's scouting, drafting or coaching? I am thinking primarily of Waters and Pache, though there have been others.
Steve Adams
2:38
Prospect rankings and evaluations change so frequently. The obsession with prospect lists makes sense -- yay! lists! rankings! -- but they're not really rooted in reality. These rankings that are already out right now would change just a couple weeks into the season. Scouts will get a look at so-and-so's new slider, the added 20 pounds of muscle and subsequent gains in exit velo/bat speed (hello Randy Arozarena) and have new reports.
2:40
Drew Waters hit .240/.329/.381 with a 31% strikeout rate in Triple-A last year. He was a Top 100 prospect 2-3 years ago, but things change -- and a lot more quickly than that in some cases. It's not a knock on Waters. It happens to guys every year. Hopefully Waters recalibrates and adjusts.
Jorge78
2:40
Steve, as the strike drags on I get more disinterested and depressed.  Am I normal?
Steve Adams
2:41
It's a lockout, not a strike, but yeah, I think a lot of MLB fans are in your boat.
Load More Messages
Connecting…