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Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 3/28/23
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Steve Adams
1:33
Team Noot
jamoche1
1:34
We keep hearing about the plethora of quality infielders in the Guardians' farm system that could be involved in trades. So far, none of them have been traded, and now the Guards have extended Gimenez and are talking extension with Rosario. When does the logjam burst?
Steve Adams
1:36
I'm more skeptical of them getting something done with Rosario. I feel like the plan here is Gimenez at SS long term, and one of the kids (Rocchio, Freeman, Arias, Tena, whoever) taking 2B. Gimenez should probably be playing SS over Rosario right now.

A Rosario extension would have to be pretty much market-value, and I don't see Cleveland doing that.

It's still a lot of middle infield talent for really only one spot, though. If they're looking for upgrades this summer, that'll come into play. Hell, even if everything goes catastrophically wrong for them it'll probably still come into play, because then they'd likely be looking to trade Rosario to open up a spot for a younger option
Twins former fan
1:37
What are the twins thinking letting Coloumbe go for nothing? And continuing to let Pagan have a spot. They have virtually no lefties and pagan is triggity trash
Steve Adams
1:39
I wouldn't say they have no lefties. Caleb Thielbar and Jovani Moran are both very good. Moran in particular was lights out down the stretch last year.

Coulombe has felt like a guy who deserves more of a chance to me for awhile now, but part of signing him was giving him the clause that let him leave if another club was willing to put him on the 40.

I don't get the Pagan fixation and was surprised they tendered him, but the Twins clearly believe in the raw stuff. For a team that's notoriously risk-averse in free agency with relievers (and pitching in general), it still feels weird. Maybe he'll have a great year and everyone will be surprised, but if he struggles again it's a pretty bad look that they stuck with him over so many alternative options.
Concerned Pale Hose
1:39
Why is everyone down on the White Sox? Everywhere i look, I see them finishing 3rd behind the Twins and Guardians.
Steve Adams
1:40
The White Sox' 26-man roster looks good, but they have some of the worst depth of any playoff hopeful in the game. If they can go on a 2022 Cleveland-esque run of good health, they'll be in good shape, but they have a lot of players with recent injury histories and not a lot behind them.
Base Thief
1:42
100 steals this year by anyone?
Steve Adams
1:43
I don't think the changes will lead to that type of extreme, but if you want a dark horse, Esteury Ruiz stole 86 between the minors and big leagues last year without the bigger bases and pickoff limits. I don't know that he'll get on enough to make that feasible, and he'll be against better pitchers and defensive catchers, but he could be fun to watch from a SB vantage point.
That Baseball Fan
1:44
I'm more bullish on the Pirates making the playoffs than what I'm seeing out there. Where are you at on them?
Steve Adams
1:44
2024 at the earliest, for me, and that's assuming pretty good fortune in terms of prospect health/development.
Burnes
1:45
Who is trading for me? What will my contract extension look like?
Steve Adams
1:46
I don't think he's signing an extension with the Brewers or anyone else. He's supremely confident, one of the five best pitchers in baseball, is two years from the open market and just hired Scott Boras.

As for a trade, I think it's likelier next offseason. I expect the Brewers to compete for the NL Central even after a pretty measured offseason.
MLB changes
1:49
Which change do you see having the biggest impact this season--shift restrictions, pitch/hit clocks, or bigger bases?
Steve Adams
1:50
Clocks are going to meaningfully speed up the game. I don't think the larger bases are going to lead to a bunch of guys stealing 80+, nor do I think a wide swath of pull hitters are suddenly going to add 50 points to their average or anything.
KH
1:50
Surprised huira was unclaimed?
Steve Adams
1:51
Touched on this already -- in short, not really. But I've had a lot of people ask this recently (assuming recent joiners), so figured I'd answer again. Scroll up for more.
Dean
1:51
how good can James outman be for the dodgers, he’s impressed this spring. has he won the starting CF job?
Steve Adams
1:54
Wary of the hit tool, especially against lefties, but the power/speed/defense are all there. I think it's a lot of strikeouts, and a best-case scenario might be a low-ish average with good defense and power. He'll probably walk enough to post a decent OBP even if he's hitting .220-.230.

If he can make any gains in terms of strikeouts or even just keep the rate around the 25% he posted in AAA last year, there's a lot to like.
Alex
1:54
What will the Brewers do about Burnes since he will be a FA after this season? Think he gets traded and what does that look like?
Steve Adams
1:55
He's not a free agent after this season. He's controlled through 2024.
Yoshida
1:55
One forecast I saw has Yoshida batting .300...was he worth the $1 as my UT/DH, or should I start looking?
Steve Adams
1:55
Yoshida for a buck in fantasy seems fine, regardless of format.
BhamBrave
1:56
Does Hoerner have more value as a 2B, or as a SS trade chip?
Steve Adams
1:57
He's more valuable at shortstop than at 2B, but the Cubs aren't playing him at SS and they're not trading him either. They love him. He'll be their regular 2B for several years and can still be a good player in that role -- just not quite as valuable if he were a good defensive SS with the same offensive output.

He'll probably still get SOME games at short. Dansby could get hurt, will need occasional breathers, etc.
Stix
1:57
How does Cleveland’s rotation look with McKenzie injured?
Steve Adams
1:58
They announced just before this chat started that Hunter Gaddis will step into the rotation and Xzavion Curry will be in the bullpen. We'll have that on the site this afternoon.
So Bieber, Quantrill, Civale, Plesac, Gaddis
(Not in that order... I think Gaddis is starting game two or three just because of how they line up coming out of spring training)
Chris
1:59
What’s up with these situations with Voit and León where they opt-out or get released and then sign again with the same team?
Steve Adams
2:00
They happen every year. In Voit's case, he re-signed on a new Major League deal, probably with a different salary and different language than the non-guaranteed deal he was on previously. The new deal also has a club option, which is a notable change.

Similar thing with Leon... original contract had the opt-out late in spring. He took it, surveyed interest, decided to stay where he was at. New deal with Texas might have some salary adjustments, new opt-out dates worked in, etc.

It's pretty common for guys to opt out/get released and then just re-sign with their current team.
How many times did the Yankees DFA Ryan Weber, let him explore FA, then re-sign him last year? Five?
Blooper
2:02
can you see marcel ozuna being traded after having a good spring training?
Steve Adams
2:03
I don't think 17 spring games is going to change much. There's no trade value there.
Pache
2:03
Should the A's have just kept him on as a backup OF?
Steve Adams
2:05
I'd have just kept him and played him and Ruiz both regularly -- Pache in CF and Ruiz in LF. I get that they want to reward Capel and Rooker, but they both have options remaining.

Maybe they gathered from poking around the league that they can still get something decent for Pache and didn't want to risk him further tanking his value. I'm not sure. It's weird. They handled the whole situation so strangely. From the moment he was acquired, this felt foreseeable. He only had one option year remaining and hadn't hit in AAA or the minors. So he needed to learn to hit in one year or this was the outcome.
2:06
The A's surely felt like Langeliers was the primary piece in the Olson trade, and rightfully so, but Pache was a notable piece of that return and just felt like he needed so much development still in such a short period.
Guardians
2:07
Seek trade for starting pitcher ?
Steve Adams
2:07
Cleveland churns out quality starters seemingly at will. I don't see a big need for them to trade for one. I can't even think of the last time they traded for an established, veteran starting pitcher.
ooklah the mok
2:08
By Harper return time, who will see more DH time for the Phils Castellanos or Schwarber?
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