You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 2/4/25
powered byJotCast
Prev Page View Full Chat Next Page
Steve Adams
1:33
There's no need to "ignore" it and no need to take a weird, aggro tone about it, ha. There was a miscommunication with our Hoops team about cross-promotion on MLBTR. It led them to post something that we probably shouldn't have. It stayed up all night because it was published in the early hours of the morning. That's not throwing Rory or anyone there under the bus. It's just what happened, from my understanding. (I'm not really certain of the exact details, as I was visiting family out of state when it happened.)
1:34
In a perfect world, yeah, we wouldn't have had it posted on MLBTR. We did. We're not likely to do so again and will communicate better next time.
Fans
1:34
How did failure to vote for a near-unanimous hall-of-famer suddenly become a war crime to some fans?
Steve Adams
1:35
It's the internet in 2025. Most people don't log on unless they're angry in the first place, it seems.
1:36
Should Ichiro have been unanimous? Sure. So should lots of prior players who weren't. He's also in the hall, and convincingly so with no question about his candidacy. I'd rather focus on that than trying to out the one voter who left him off.
Generally, yes, I think ballots should be public. Is it worth the level of angst this has generated? Not for me.
Hoops fan
1:36
i wasn’t aware of hoopsrumors before that post, and have since visited it a few times. Suspect you gained more hoops followers than you lost MLBTR because of it. Haters always gonna hate though
Steve Adams
1:37
Cuts both ways. I'm sure we have some people who angrily decided they're done with MLBTR. That's their right. In general, I'm a pretty even-keel person whose mentality is "Huh, that post isn't for me. I'll scroll to the next one." But if you're someone who paid to subscribe to MLBTR, for instance, and you consider that an ad -- a very justifiable stance -- I understand the frustration.
1:38
Also, we have football (Pro Football Rumors) and hockey (Pro Hockey Rumors) sites -- check 'em out!
Free agency
1:38
Why would a team sign a player such as Alonso if he has a one-year opt-out. Would giving up a pick be a lot for potentially just one year of service?
Steve Adams
1:41
Using a quick look at our Contract Tracker, I count 10 one-year deals for free agents who've rejected QOs, plus at least six more who signed multi-year deals with opt-outs after year one.

Wouldn't really be all that uncommon of a development. I'd rather have the guaranteed year of the player I think can help me win now, in most cases. (Not all)
Posey
1:41
Do I make anymore off-season additions this off-season or am I done? Any rumors?
Steve Adams
1:42
He's like five days removed from saying he thinks the roster "feels pretty set." That seems like a mistake to me, which I wrote about at length last week and discussed with Darragh on the podcast episode that'll drop tomorrow.
Champdo
1:43
Does that fact the Tigers haven’t announced the Flaherty signing mean they’re working on a trade to clear up roster space?
Steve Adams
1:44
No, it hasn't been that long since he even agreed to terms. They could line up a small trade, of course, but it's just as likely that he's traveling, taking his physical, etc. It's been less than 48 hours since the agreement was reache.
Sen
1:44
Do you expect the Tigers to pivot away from Bregman? For all Boras’ posturing and leveraging of “interest” from teams, it’s difficult to find a better on-paper fit than Detroit.
Steve Adams
1:45
Tigers and Blue Jays are both good on-paper fits. Based on Scott Harris' history in Detroit and the general tenor of Giants moves when he was GM there under Farhan Zaidi, I would imagine the Tigers don't love the idea of going 6+ years on a contract.
Fans
1:45
With Hill just being signed, is this the last move the Yankees make, otherwise what else could we see
Steve Adams
1:45
No, they'll add an infielder at some point, and I still expect them to trade Stroman
Baseball Fan
1:45
Bregman needs to get over himself and sign somewhere!
Steve Adams
1:47
I see a lot of this mentality on social media. My rebuttal is ... why? It's a career- and life-altering decision for him and his family. It makes zero difference to me if he signs on Feb. 17 or on Nov. 17. He's earned the right to test the market to its fullest and find a situation that works best for him and those close to him.

I've never minded that MLB free agency is drawn out, even before leaving my prior job to join MLBTR full time. I like having interesting things to track throughout December, January, February, etc.
Any chance?
1:47
Javy Baez for Taijuan Walker? Might help both teams if each player resets?
Steve Adams
1:48
Baez is signed for an extra year and owed twice as much money. No reason for the Phillies to do it.
Angels
1:48
Any chance at Sonny Gray?
Steve Adams
1:49
He reportedly told the Cards early in the offseason he wasn't interested in waiving his no-trade clause, and he chose to sign in St. Louis in part due to the geographic preference of being closer to his Tennessee residence, so I don't think Anaheim would be on the table even if he were open to a trade.
Mr. Arenado
1:49
if I get to spring training, I’m sticking around at least until the deadline right?
Steve Adams
1:50
I don't think it's that black-and-white. A team could lose its starting 3B to an ACL tear on March 10 or something and call up the Cards with new/renewed interest in working something out.
Bob
1:50
Do you think the Mets hard line with Pete Alonso is driven by the fact that they really have their eye on Vlad Guerrero next year (an extension with Blue Jays seems unlikely) and signing Pete that would likely kill that possibility?
Steve Adams
1:51
No, I think they're just generally uninterested in going long-term on an all-power slugger with poor defensive/baserunning skills and middling OBP abilities. Most front offices operate that way. If Alonso had maintained his 2019-22 production through 2023-24, it wouldn't be an issue, but with the power already creeping down and him basically marketing his early 30s seasons, it's a tough sell.
Tim
1:52
What is Emerson Hancock s role in Seattle?
Steve Adams
1:52
Sixth starter who'll be up and down depending on the health of the big five in the rotation
Desertdawg
1:54
Heard that the D"backs and Yankees were talking about a Suarez deal about a week ago, heard that the D'Backs were going to get a major league pitcher and a mid-level prospect. Any truth to this?
Steve Adams
1:55
Are you referencing this?
https://www.newsweek.com/sports/mlb/new-york-yankees-could-trade-this-...

It's just an opinion on what a trade might look like from one writer there (and, for what it's worth, not a trade I think the D-backs would/should really consider)
Christopher
1:55
How underrated is Tanner Houck. I feel like he gets no love. Does he build on his All-Star season? Extension? 5/70?
Steve Adams
2:00
I was going to say that seems a little light, but the comps in that service class would be like Cristian Javier (5/64) and Logan Webb (5/90) -- though Webb's deal is a couple years old and the market has moved forward. It would depend on if that five-year term is replacing his current $3.95MM salary. You're probably looking at something like $21-25MM for the three arb years if Houck stays healthy. At that point, 70MM would mean paying about $55MM for two free agent seasons, which seems steep.

If you're tacking five years and $70MM on top of his current 1/3.95 deal, that seems more feasible. You'd maybe be looking at $20MM or so for the remaining two arb years, and those three FA seasons costing $50MM seems more reasonable -- maybe a bit light. Could push that to something like $54-55MM so he's making in the $18MM range per free agent season.
Jill
2:00
Is Cleveland done making moves?
Steve Adams
2:00
Added Vince Velasquez on a minor league deal like 90 seconds ago!
Pirates
2:01
Is a Suwinski/Cook RF platoon the plan or will we go and get someone?
Steve Adams
2:01
Still think they'll bring someone in, but as I said, I don't expect a super exciting move. Alex Verdugo type.
Jesus Sanchez
2:01
Am I traded at the deadline or next offseason?
Connecting…