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Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 3/17/26
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Steve Adams
1:54
But yeah, whatever he signs for when he does come off the board certainly isn't representative of what the highest someone was willing to pay for him in December was.
Dr. Know
1:55
Can Shaw fight his way back into an everyday role with the Cubs?
Steve Adams
1:55
Who's he going to outplay on the current roster to get there? I expect him to be a pretty frequently used utility guy (400+ PAs), but barring an injury, he's not going to be out there every single day. Next year, much likelier.
Squinky
1:56
Is lazaro montes an untouchable prospect?
Steve Adams
1:56
Is there such a thing as a prospect Mariners president Jerry Dipoto firmly won't trade????
I would imagine if there is, it's Colt Emerson or Kade Anderson before it's Montes.
Clint Hurdle
1:57
Skenes/Keller/Chandler/Ashcraft/Jones (When healthy
Pirates rotation upside as good as any team in the NL?
Steve Adams
1:57
I wouldn't quite stack them up against a fully healthy Dodgers rotation, but yeah they're up there.
Arkansas
1:57
Steve, who'd you pick to win march madness?
Steve Adams
1:58
No one yet. I don't follow college sports at all -- baseball, a little bit, but not even ultra closely, as it's not something I'm paid to cover -- but I'll still haphazardly throw together a bracket and hope to luck into some money in one of my friend pools
QO Predictions
1:58
Who do you think will get a QO and decline? Obviously Skubal, but who else?
Steve Adams
1:59
Oh this is so far ahead of time, but I like the question so give me a minute to run through the FA list haha
(Which can be seen here! https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/08/2026-27-mlb-free-agents.html)
2:03
I scanned pretty quickly so decent chance I missed someone, but:

Jazz Chisholm
Ian Happ
Daulton Varsho
Seiya Suzuki
Shane Bieber
Kris Bubic
Jack Flaherty
Casey Mize
Brady Singer
Tarik Skubal
Bryan Abreu
David Bednar
Brewerfan
2:03
Who has a bigger years: Mitchell or Collins? Mears or Zerpa?
Steve Adams
2:03
Collins, Zerpa
Joe
2:04
So Luinder Avila has looked pretty good in the WBC. Royals 5th starter looked to be between Kolek, Bregert and Cameron, but all 3 of those have had pretty poor spring results. Did Avila cost himself a shot at starting the year in the rotation by leaving camp for the WBC? Or is the high pressure experience a boost to his development so it helps him in the long run?
Steve Adams
2:05
I don't think there's any real jeopardy for Noah Cameron's spot. 11 shaky spring innings aren't going to offset last year's 138 MLB frames
Power
2:05
Skenes seems like he wants to hit FA like Skubal is going to. Would an extension giving him the salaries as Skubal (plus an extra 1M each season) with a say 35M-ish guarantee for one free agent season work for both sides? Skeener gets to set SP precedents, a big guarantee and still can become a FA at 29. The club gets an extra year of control on one of the best SP in a while.
Steve Adams
2:06
Skenes is never signing an extension that buys out one free agent season
Hello stove
2:06
What do you think singers next contract looks like?
Steve Adams
2:07
Pivetta-ish? $13-15MM per season over three to four years? Obviously depends on how he looks this year, of course.
Fox Broadcast
2:07
Trevor Rogers for the QO. Never again to be confused with Tyler
Steve Adams
2:07
Told you I missed someone haha
QO Predictions Part 2
2:07
Maybe Nico Hoerner? Brandon Lowe, Randy Arozerana, Taylor Ward possible if they perform well
Steve Adams
2:08
Hoerner for sure
Lowe -- teams don't pay 2B only players and he'll be 32 going on 33. Ward doesn't get on base enough; teams are generally wary of low-OBP corner sluggers.

Randy perhaps, yeah.
QO
2:09
i highly doubt singer and abreu get the QO. What makes you think they do?
Steve Adams
2:10
Singer is a rock-solid 3-WAR SP who'll be going into his age-30 season.

Abreu might be one of the 10 best relievers in MLB and is also going into age 30. He's less likely than the others (as is Bednar), which is only natural for a reliever, but if he repeats 2025? Easy QO for me.
Brewer Fan
2:11
Again with the Mitchell hate!
Steve Adams
2:11
I neither know nor hate Garrett Mitchell. But I am generally wary of any player who strikes out in one-third of his plate appearances holding down a consistent MLB spot.
Mitchell is also hurt constantly.
Mickey Mouse
2:12
Realistic LH OF trade options for HOU? Mickey Moniak?
Steve Adams
2:13
Moniak is indeed a LHH OF, but I wouldn't give up anything of note for him. Not even sure he'll survive the season on a big league roster. The defense is really shaky, and I don't think he can repeat the offense with such a massive chase rate and suspect hit tool.
Rick
2:15
Is Jung a lost cause due to his prior injuries and missed time or can a healthy Jung be a productive 3B?
Steve Adams
2:15
Depends on your definition of productive, which is relative. I think he can be a steady regular, but I don't think he's a star or anything. Increasingly feels like a change-of-scenery guy to me, given the ups and downs -- and Chris Young's pointed comments about him last summer.
2:16
But, I said the same thing about Nolan Gorman and John Mozeliak, and the Cards held him
2-out walk
2:16
Flaherty for QO? I think only if he has a great season. last time on the market when he was 2 yrs younger he only got $17.5M
Steve Adams
2:17
Was more a vote of confidence from me that I think he can have a good, mid-3.00s ERA season with plenty of innings and a good K-BB profile
2:19
Alright I've got to call it for the week. I'm on X @Adams_Steve and Bluesky @adams-steve.bsky.social

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Have a good week, everyone!
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