JotCast | Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 3/3/26

Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 3/3/26

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GruberChops

1:34

Kuzuma Okamoto ends up with a higher WAR this season then Bo. You taking the over or under.

Steve Adams

1:34

Comfortably taking Bo

MKE Fan

1:34

Why is everyone picking Milwaukee to finish 3rd or 4th in the Central? Have people not learned over the last 10 years?!

Steve Adams

1:35

I would say because no, they have not learned. I have Milwaukee second in the NLC right now and my consistent caveat has been that they'll make me feel stupid for it.

Farhan's kid sister

1:35

With Gavin Stone maybe not ready by Opening Day, any chance the Dodgers decide to sign Giolito or Littell? Yeah, I get the fact that they have an embarrassing wealth of arms to pick from on their 40 man roster but this is the Dodgers we are talking about. Seems possible that they could say, "hey we have money, why not sign another starter for insurance?"

Steve Adams

1:36

I don't think they'd consider either enough of an upgrade over the in-house arms.

Sue Shi

1:36

Where do you see Zack Littell landing? Simply amazed he is still available with his track record.

Steve Adams

1:39

I'm not all that surprised. He only has 2+ seasons as a starter. He sits 90-92 mph with his heater in a velocity-obsessed MLB climate and has well below-average strikeout and swinging-strike rates. He's a fourth/fifth starter, which teams are never going to break the bank for. If he went out looking for three-plus years, I can see why teams backed off.

If I have to guess, at this point, I would pick the Braves and Twins to sign Littell and Giolito (flip a coin as to which lands where). But one injury somewhere else can always change that. (Or one PED suspension; five hours ago, I would not have picked Atlanta to sign one of them since I assumed their budget was largely maxed out)

Mr. Keeper

1:39

Who has the better fantasy season between R. Laureano and J. Marsee?

Steve Adams

1:39

I'll take Marsee

Detroit Fanatic

1:39

Will Torkelson hit 40rs this year?

Steve Adams

1:40

And I will take the under on that

Don’t call me Frankie

1:40

Lindor: hall of famer in your eyes?

Steve Adams

1:40

Easily, yes.

1:41

Steven Kwan 2.Yandy Diaz 3.Jose Ramirez 4.Junior Caminero 5.Nick Kurtz......I know hindsight is 20/20 but if not for a couple bone headed moves by the FO, this could be the best top 5 line up in MLB as opposed to the 28th worst offensive in baseball.

Steve Adams

1:45

You can Monday Morning QB anyone's lineup like this.

We can't assume Yandy Diaz and Junior Caminero would be the same hitters in Cleveland that they are in Tampa Bay, working with a player development staff that clearly seems to do a better job with hitters than they do in Cleveland.

This also gives them no credit for taking Kwan in the fifth round. They could've taken James Outman (who went a round later) or any of the dozens of guys who never reached the majors after they selected Kwan.

Kurtz vs. Bazzana is too early to judge, and while I'm certainly taking Kurtz if given the opportunity right now, there are scenarios where they end up being close or Bazzana even ends up more valuable

Besides, it's not as though everyone thought Kurtz was the slam-dunk best option there and they bucked consensus by going Bazzana.

1:46

Any fan of any team can drive themselves crazy by going back through drafts and wondering what could've been if they'd just made the "right" choice in hindsight.

Guest

1:46

E. Suarez finally crosses the 50 Homer Run mark. You taking the over/under/exact?

Steve Adams

1:46

I'd take the under on 40, let alone 50. No disrespect to him, but he's only topped 40 twice and will turn 35 next July

Colson Montgomery

1:47

35+ HR's and 200K's possible?

Steve Adams

1:47

Yes to both. Strikeouts probably likelier than the homers though, ha

Kyle

1:47

The Brewers trading away their best pitcher from a season ago with the best record in baseball, are they trying NOT to win the division this year?? Your thoughts

Steve Adams

1:50

It's just how they always operate. They also traded a pair of All-Star closers while contending (Hader, Williams) and another former ace off the back of a winning season (Burnes). The Brewers are good every year despite having no money from ownership precisely because they avoid getting sentimental and hanging onto guys to run out their contention window.

When it comes to a team like Milwaukee, I get the idea of biting the bullet and trading Peralta. Ownership was probably never going to pay market value to keep him.

It's different (for me anyway) when it's a Skubal situation or the Jazz Chisholm one someone asked about earlier. The Yankees can easily pay Jazz if they want to keep him and can add another high-end 2B if he walks.

Tigers are a bit different since Skubal's price will be SO huge, but they have basically no long-term money on the books and have run payroll up to the 200 range in the past, so I don't think they should be treated with the same "well they'll never pay him" approach

Rangers13

1:51

Would E Duran be enough for Jo Jo Romero?

Steve Adams

1:51

Not with the way he's hit (or rather, hasn't hit) for the past two seasons.

Tyler O'Neil

1:51

Do I keep my opening day homer streak alive?

Steve Adams

1:52

My favorite and most nonsensical streak in sports. I certainly hope so, though I can't in good conscience say it's a good bet to say he will, haha.

Guest

1:52

Who will be the best player going forward: Bobby Witt Jr. or Ella De La Cruz?

Steve Adams

1:52

Love Elly but easy BWJ here for me.

Kurtz on 1st

1:53

Who’s closing for my squad?

Steve Adams

1:54

Doubt they have a set guy early on. Feels like it'll be a committee until someone separates.

JeffyM82

1:54

Eloy Jimenez has been tearing it up in spring training. Any chance he makes the Jays? Can they option him to AAA without having to pass him through waivers?

Steve Adams

1:54

It's 18 PAs. I wouldn't get too excited just yet. He cannot be optioned if they select him to the 40-man, no.

Mariners fan

1:55

if Colt continues to impress, Cole holds onto second…. Does Donovan become ultimate utility?

Steve Adams

1:57

Yeah, he'd probably just play more OF than INF in that spot, with occasional appearances at 3B/2B/DH. He could be a backup for Naylor at 1B, too, and even Crawford at SS. He has over 100 big league innings at both positions. Doubt they'd want him there long term, but if Naylor needs to go to the 10-day IL or something, they could go with Donovan (even though it'd probably be Raley first)

StuckIn LF

1:57

Hi thanks for the chat. Question: is Mark Vientos odd man out in Queens? Doesn’t have a place on the diamond and his development would be capped as a part time DH. Would the Mets be better off trading him? And does he have much value?

Steve Adams

1:59

Trade wouldn't surprise me, but there are enough possible ABs to grab that I don't think it's a lock or anything. Baty still really only has a few months as a productive MLB regular. Polanco has a long injury history and is just now learning 1B.

They could probably find a way to make it all work, but if someone's offering up a good reliever with options who can deepen the 'pen, I'd consider it.

Mozman

1:59

Cards fan can be happy about what?

Steve Adams

1:59

JJ Wetherholt?

Chaim

1:59

Is Lars Nootbaar a legit trade candidate for the Cards? Considering he’s getting a bit older & could help the rebuild if he’s moved.

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