JotCast | Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 2/24/26

Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 2/24/26

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Steve Adams

1:14

Walker is the frontrunner by default. San Francisco's bullpen looks ... well, bad. I can't believe they did so little to address it.

Matt Mervis

1:15

Don't forget me at first base for the Nats!

Steve Adams

1:16

I don't think Mervis is ever going to make enough contact to be a steady presence on a big league roster.

1:16

Is Sale's contract going to age well?

Steve Adams

1:16

It's a one-year deal. Even if it doesn't age well, it's not a huge deal. I liked that arrangement for all sides.

Bob

1:16

Does the Chris Sale extension increase his trade value if the Braves find themselves out of contention again this year?

Steve Adams

1:17

Anthopoulos made clear last year he wasn't interested in selling when they were out of it in July. Sale said he wants to play the rest of his career in ATL. Anthopoulos said he wants him to finish it there.

Not everything is going to boil down to a trade. Unless Sale asks for one, I would be surprised if he suits up anywhere else.

Brook

1:18

Will the Yanks bring in a RH OF or live with Dominquez?

Steve Adams

1:18

I think they'll either sign one or use Caballero in the OF some. Dominguez should be playing every day, which means sending him to AAA -- not sitting him on the bench 4-5 times per week and getting him a stray start and pinch-hit appearance here or there.

Ayden

1:19

Do you think that the rays will end up trading Yandy Diaz?

Steve Adams

1:19

Nope

steve84084

1:19

Giolito and Littel. Possible interest by the Twins?

Steve Adams

1:20

I would be surprised if, after Tom Pohlad talked about how he wants to be aggressive and show the fans they're still trying to win (lol?), they don't have at least some interest.

Right now, I'd pick the Twins to sign one of them.

Though realistically, they could also just give Tyler Anderson or Patrick Corbin like $2MM, too, which would feel very on-brand for the Pohlads.

Jay

1:20

What's the chances of Charlie Condon breaking camp with the Rockies

Steve Adams

1:21

Almost none. He has 237 PAs above A-ball. He hit well but fanned at a 29% clip in Double-A. He doesn't need to be added to the 40-man roster (to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft) until after the 2027 season.

I could see a summer promotion if he's decimating AAA and the Edouard Juliens and TJ Rumfields of the world aren't doing much at 1B in Denver, but not Opening Day

Walter

1:21

Which injured riddled Guardians prospects will finally provide major league impact? Delauter? Valera? or Espino?

Steve Adams

1:22

DeLauter > Valera >>>>>> Espino, for me

That's in terms of likelihood. On a pure talent basis, Espino by all accounts sounds like a monster, but he's pitched like 17 innings since Opening Day 2022.

Frustrated Angels fan

1:23

Could the Angels sign one of the remaining FA starters? Not named Tyler Anderson

Steve Adams

1:23

They've made it pretty clear they're not interested in spending any real money this winter.

I guess they could sign Patrick Corbin for like ... $3MM?

Mutual option

1:23

When was the last time someone picked me up? Why does no one take me seriously? Why do people keep putting me in contracts just to turn me down?

Steve Adams

1:23

Aramis Ramirez and the Brewers in 2014

1:24

Mutual options are just accounting measures.

It's basically a fancy way to defer money. The Padres do this a lot, for instance. Cheap salary in year one, big buyout on a mutual option for the following season, which pushes the remainder of that salary to the following year's books.

Weird trade

1:25

Soler and a back end prospect for Yoshida with the Red Sox eating half of next year's salary?

Steve Adams

1:26

I don't see why the Angels would want to give up a prospect to take on more money for another overpaid DH (even with the Red Sox eating part of the Yoshida deal)

They're free of Soler next winter (or this season, if they cut him loose). Even if you think Yoshida is marginally better, he's a platoon DH who's poor in the field. I don't see any reason to lock that in a year early.

Hello Steve

1:27

as it stands where would you rank the reds pitching staff as of right now, or just the rotation if you prefer?

Steve Adams

1:27

I like the rotation much better than the bullpen. Rotation is probably top-five in the majors, for me.

Matt

1:27

If healthy, how will the Royals bullpen rank this year?

Steve Adams

1:29

Middle of the pack? Estevez is fine but less exciting than he was a few years. ago. Strahm is good. Big Erceg fan. Rest of the group is serviceable.

I don't think there's enough swing-and-miss in the group as a whole, and the final few spots don't inspire tons of confidence (Lange, Falter, etc)

Guest

1:30

what are the chances that Konnor Griffin is named the starting shortstop after spring training ends. He has hit 2 monster homers so far in today’s game against the Red Sox

Steve Adams

1:31

It'll be a good litmus test to see how serious they are about competing. Obviously it depends on how he performs this spring. In past seasons I'd have said zero chance. Now, if he has a monster spring and the Pirates want to show they're serious about trying to turn the corner, you've got to consider it.

There's no scientific way to put "odds" or "chances" on this sort of thing. I find it plausible but less than likely. 20-30%?

NRI players

1:31

Do they have to make the opening day roster or be released?

Steve Adams

1:33

No. A lot of them will just head to Triple-A. Depends somewhat on their service time; it's different for guys with 6+ years of service who finished the preceding season on a big league roster/injured list (aka Article XX(b) free agents). Those guys have uniform opt-out dates built into their minor league contracts

Wayne

1:33

It’s looking more and more like Houston is not trading Paredes before the season starts. What are your feelings on that whole situation? I think he’s insurance for when Correa gets injured.

Steve Adams

1:34

I think they can make it all work in general, but I understand the idea that they'd prefer to be allocating that $9MMish to a similarly productive lefty-hitting outfielder, so I expect that they'll keep exploring the market for options.

As you alluded to, one injury and the "logjam" doesn't look so ... log...jamm-y..........

Ms fan

1:34

What do you think of the Ms not being willing to include Cole Young in a deal for Ketel Marte?

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