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Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 2/3/26
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Steve Adams
1:26
I don't know if it'll be before pitchers and catchers report, but I expect them to add another arm at some point in the not-too-distant future. Might be early in camp, but whatever.
1:27
One feasible hold-up in the mid-tier rotation market could be Tarik Skubal's arb case.

Tigers are probably going to add another arm but have a $13MM gap between their submission and Skubal's. I imagine that impacts the quality of the arm they're going to target/sign.

If you're Giolito, Bassitt, Verlander, Littell, etc. and are still unsigned at this point, might as well wait to see how aggressive the Tigers feel they can be post-Skubal trial.

His trial is set for tomorrow, by the way.
Patrick
1:27
Should I be worried about the Tiger’s inaction? They’re almost surely losing all of Skubal, Mize, and Flaherty after 2026. Am I crazy or are the White Sox poised to overtake them by 2027-2028?
Steve Adams
1:29
Yes, I would be worried about their inertia. I think they had one of the most disappointing deadlines of any contender and have thus far had one of the most disappointing offseasons. They have one year of Skubal left and have shown zero urgency. I guess maybe "worried" isn't the correct word, but you're right to be frustrated.

That said, I wouldn't be fretting that they're destined to fall back to the AL Central cellar or anything. They have two of the game's top 10 prospects, several controllable arms, and some good core pieces still under club control (Greene, Tork, Dingler, Olson, Melton, etc. etc.)
1:30
Also wouldn't count on the White Sox emerging just yet. They had the best farm in baseball several years ago and were rebuilding again like three years later.

Rebuilds usually look great when all the prospects are getting the top-100 love and whatnot, but a lot of those guys are going to get hurt, fail to perform or just settle in as fine-but-not-star-caliber players.
Chet Lemon
1:31
How does Kevin Alcantara figure into the Cubs plans? I’d like to see him as the 4OF, but i feel like he needs regular playing time. Happ and Suzuki may be gone next year.
Steve Adams
1:33
I feel like he's a guy they could trade eventually. I'm not all that bullish on him, honestly. He's had two seasons in AAA and struck out at a 29% clip in both.

Power/speed combo is intriguing, but I wonder if he'll ever hit enough.

Not saying DFA him or anything, but he might just be more of a fourth outfielder in the long run.

If they don't trade him, then yeah, regular work in AAA to try to cut back on the chase and whiff rates would be good. He feels like a guy who'd strike out at like a 35% clip in MLB right now
Bigly Fish
1:34
Jakob Marsee...flash in the pan?
Steve Adams
1:35
Don't see any real reason to think so based on his rookie showing or his AAA work last year. I doubt he plays at the 6-WAR place he was sporting in 2025, haha, but even with some BABIP regression taking down his average and OBP, I still think he can be an average or slightly better hitter with enough glove to play center.
i have a question?
1:35
Michael Busch or Christian Walker seem like perfect trade targets for the padres to play 1B. What am I missing?
Steve Adams
1:36
The Cubs have no reason to trade Busch when they're trying to contend. He's one of their best hitters.

No team wants Christian Walker's contract, and I doubt the Astros want to eat $30MM of that $40MM to just get someone to take part of the deal.
Better to preserve the depth, hope he can build on last year's second-half improvements, etc.
Cards Fan
1:36
Any hope for Walker or Gorman?
Steve Adams
1:36
I'm pretty much out on both
Joe Pohlad
1:37
My brother Tom has no idea what he's doing, either, does he?
Steve Adams
1:39
Tom Pohlad lamenting "can we get off the payroll for a second" earlier this week is like the funniest thing a Pohlad has said in awhile.

Yes, let's drop the whole "payroll thing." Why are Twins fans so hung up on the fact that it's been slashed by $50MM over the past 24 months? And that the Twins are paying Carlos Correa $10MM per year to play elsewhere? And that the current $108MM payroll is closer to Metrodome levels of spending than Target Field spending?

Ok, Tom. Have it your way. Let's talk about your roster, which sure looks like it's going to have one of the worst bullpens in recent MLB memory, haha.
1:40
Twins are a trainwreck right now, but at least they're an entertaining one. (Albeit not in the way Tom Pohlad seems to believe they are)
Papi post
1:40
Red Sox question here. Does Romy Gonzales really have the potential to level up?
Steve Adams
1:40
Platoon guy for me, but a good one
JD
1:41
Are the Mariners done with moves? They seem to be an ideal location for Nick Martinez as they could use a swingman to strengthen their bullpen and pitching depth after the Logan Evans injury.
Steve Adams
1:41
Martinez might be pricier than they prefer, but yeah, I think adding at least a swingman if not just another veteran starter makes sense.
Reid
1:41
Thoughts on the Nationals taking a flyer on another arm for their rotation? Before the Gore trade there were a lot of question marks so it might make sense to grab a vet who can eat some innings.
Steve Adams
1:42
They have to add another arm. Someone has to pitch those innings. Doesn't need to be anyone great. Throw $4MM at Miles Mikolas.

Obviously, someone with a bit more upside would be nice,  but they need someone to pitch some innings.
1:43
Could add two guys too. Mikolas for innings and Buehler or Marquez or Canning if they want some more upside to try to spin into a deadline chip.
Mike
1:43
Thinking ahead should yanks trade Grisham to get value for him since prolly wont give long term deal
Steve Adams
1:43
Can't trade him til June 15 without his consent
HackySack
1:43
What would a contract for someone like Mike Tauchman or Jesse Winker look like? A couple of the few available LHH OF’s left
Steve Adams
1:44
I'd have said like $2-3M for Tauchman awhile back but he's inching closer to minor league deal territory the longer he stays out there. Winker's been a minor league deal guy for me all winter.
Bloom
1:45
Im still looking for a RHB via external means, Best targets via either FA or trades?
Steve Adams
1:45
Was writing about this when the chat started
Options at this point are limited, regardless of handedness. If a right-handed bat remains the goal, then any of Miguel Andujar, Austin Slater or old friends Randal Grichuk and Tommy Pham remain available. Trade options are tougher to nail down, particularly with so many names off the board already, but the Cardinals aren't likely to take on any notable veteran salaries (e.g. Nick Castellanos). Speculatively speaking, the Rays (Jonny DeLuca), Blue Jays (Jonatan Clase), Phillies (Johan Rojas) and Royals (Drew Waters) have some outfield options who have fallen down their depth charts this winter.
Valdez
1:45
What is the hold up?
Steve Adams
1:45
He would like more years than teams want to give him
White Sox Fan
1:45
W Abreu for Quero, is this a framework for a trade that fills each teams needs?
Steve Adams
1:46
I don't think Quero is a good enough defender to stick at catcher and wouldn't move Wilyer for him
TC Bear
1:46
If the season starts tomorrow, are the Twins a 100 loss team?
Steve Adams
1:46
I don't think they're that bad, but they're clearly sub-.500 by a decent margin.
philliesfever
1:47
With the uncertainty of Wheeler's return date and if Painter is not yet MLB ready. Do you think Dombrowski brings Buehler back on a one year deal?
Steve Adams
1:47
I think it'd be someone more stable than Buehler, but yeah, I could see the Phillies throwing $4-5MM at Quintana during camp or something.
BrewCrew
1:47
Does Milwaukee roll with the young guys on their starting staff or make a late addition (like they did last year) of a veteran arm?  Reunion with someone like Quintana or Montgomery?
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