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Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 3/10/26
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Steve Adams
8:31
Good morning! We'll get going around 1pm CT, give or take a couple minutes. Feel free to submit questions ahead of time, as always.
Astros71
1:01
Jake Meyers is staying, right?
Steve Adams
1:02
At this point that's my assumption, yeah. The Astros are already short in the outfield. I guess in theory they could try to swap him out for a less-proven LHH center field option, but I don't know that such a scenario is really out there. Feel like he's more or less locked in there by now.
Littell
1:02
Why did I sign with the nationals? I could have gone anywhere else!
Steve Adams
1:04
If it were true that he could have gone "anywhere else" for that same money or more, he probably would have. The market for Littell clearly wasn't anywhere near what he and his camp set out hoping to find early in the season. I'm sure there are more competitive clubs that would've given him $7MM back in November/December. Probably a fair bit more than that on a one-year deal. But Littell was surely seeking two- and likely three-year deals at that point and wasn't going to be open to something like 1/12 at that time, even if it was on the table.
1:05
Littell has pitched a bunch of innings the past two seasons, but he's a low-90s guy with his velo and had one of the lowest strikeout rates in the majors last year.

I think he was worth more than this and definitely like it for the Nationals, but I'm not entirely surprised that the market just didn't show up for him
MarioSoto
1:05
Honest thoughts on the Reds?
Steve Adams
1:07
Had one of the five best rotations in baseball prior to the Greene news. That drops them down a ways (though obviously there's a lot of upside if it gets someone like Lowder into the rotation).

I don't love the bullpen. Their fixation on dedicating a significant portion of their limited payroll to one of the most homer-prone relievers in baseball and having him close games in their bandbox park is weird, but Emilio Pagan posted decent numbers last year (with the help of a few game-saving home run robberies).

Offense should be improved with Geno there, possible full seasons of Stewart, Stephenson, Friedl ... better health from Elly
1:08
I think they're probably behind Chicago and Milwaukee for me in the NL Central, but not by so much that a few breakouts for the Reds and/or a key injury or two elsewhere can't make it a tight race. They should be in Wild Card contention at least.
Big Time
1:08
Other than Giolito, what other free agents are out there that you are surprised don’t have a contract in hand right now?
Steve Adams
1:09
Michael Kopech is probably the biggest one. Danny Coulombe, to a lesser extent.
Jesus Luzardo
1:09
Thoughts on my new deal?
Steve Adams
1:11
I'd have pegged him for something like Carlos Rodon money (6/156) in free agency (with an outside chance at seven years, depending how his 2026 goes), so getting him for five years seems like a nice win for the Phillies. But at the same time, Luzardo has had plenty of injuries throughout his career, and he was offered a pretty hearty nine-figure deal that spares him all the uncertainty surrounding the labor staredown and everything ... I get it.
Preller
1:11
Who can I still get for the rotation? Am I really banking on Walker Buhler and Randy Vasquez?
Steve Adams
1:13
I think it's more so banking on a combination of Vasquez, German Marquez, JP Sears, Griffin Canning, Buehler, Marco Gonzales and Triston McKenzie. Doesn't seem like there's much left, money-wise, so I wouldn't expect much else in the way of a big acquisition
Lars GoodbaarAs
1:13
As an Angel fan who doesn’t care about winning, wouldn’t Michael Kopech be a good cheap investment?
Steve Adams
1:13
He'd be a good low-cost investment for pretty much whatever team signs him at this point.
Batman
1:14
Absolute joke demoting Spencer Jones and living with Grisham off a career year in CF. Not sure what Jones has to do to get a potentially 40 HR bat in the lineup. Yankee fans got screwed!!
Steve Adams
1:15
Jones struck out in 37% of his AAA plate appearances last year and hit .210/.281/.375 with a 42.5% strikeout rate from Aug. 1 onward (46 games, 176 plate appearances)
1:16
He had a nice spring in 22 PAs (and homered in his first game after being sent to minor league camp). I don't think it's egregious at all to pass on just handing him the CF job.

If you put both on the big league roster and committed to giving each of them 600 plate appearances, I'd bet on Grisham having the more productive season right now.
Loveable losers
1:17
With Austin hurt and assuming Ballesteros and Shaw make the team. Who do you think gets the Cubs last 2 bench spots?
Steve Adams
1:17
I'll go Chas McCormick and (assuming he returns this week from the minor elbow issue) Jonathon Long
Long time first time
1:18
Why do you think Luzardo over Suarez?
Steve Adams
1:18
Younger, throws harder, misses more bats. That's what teams pay for.
Broken Bat
1:18
Lile is struggling with Nats in ST. Seemingly after thought. What do see his role to be? 4th outfielder?
Steve Adams
1:20
I think he'll hit plenty but have minimal to no defensive value. He's a Jesse Winker type for me (albeit with fewer walks and more base hits) ... defensively limited LF/DH who can make some money beating up righties
Cash3w
1:20
I get going for Wentz/Elder as the Braves' #5 starter, but given the Wentz injury, and if another one happens, does Elder become their #4? AA, the bat signal is shining in the dark of night. Go get a basic starter or push Ritchie!
Steve Adams
1:21
I didn't even understand passing on Littell/Giolito for Wentz/Elder/Suarez/Ritchie. They should be signing Giolito, or at the very least trying to get Corbin or Anderson on a NRI (though no guarantee a late-30s veteran like that will be OK with an NRI)
Outta Box
1:22
Volpe and S.Jones for Elly. Who says no?
Steve Adams
1:22
Reds without any real hesitation
Mister Met
1:23
Soto, Ewing, and Benge for years to come but will it start this year?  Though with Soto, Benge, Taylor, and Tauchman, is there room for Ewing on the Mets roster without injury?
Steve Adams
1:24
Ewing is 20 and only has a handful of games above A-ball. I don't think he's a major factor this season -- maybe he's on the August/September radar with a big few months.
1:25
Benge will get his chance early in 2026, if not Opening Day. I'd try to find a way to get Tauchman on the roster, personally, but I clearly like him more than the market. I thought he should've been tendered a contract and at the very least signed to a big league deal in free agency
Philly Fanatic
1:25
Bohm + low level guy lottery pick for Ashby, who says no?
Steve Adams
1:25
Brewers
1:26
They don't have space for Bohm's $10MM+ salary, even if they ship Ashby back the other way, and I'm not even convinced Bohm is markedly better than Luis Rengifo anyhow.
Zach
1:27
Do you think 4 teams from the AL East will make the postseason?
Steve Adams
1:27
I haven't formally made my picks yet, but I imagine it'll be three from the AL East
Loperfido time?
1:28
Does Joey get his chance at full time at bats in Houston?   I think they gave up a lot to get him.
Steve Adams
1:29
The fact that they acquired him and have minimal competition for him but still continue to pursue other LHH OFs pretty strongly indicates that's not Plan A. But they're not a lock to come away with that LHH OF, so there's a chance Loperfido gets semi-regular at-bats early on, sure.
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