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Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 4/14/26
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Guest
1:40
How much of a difference maker can Chandler Simpson be on his speed alone? This past weekend against the Yankees was like, wow.
Steve Adams
1:42
The speed is great but that's kind of it. He doesn't walk, has zero power and is probably limited to left field. That's not to say he can't be useful. It's like Luis Arraez levels of contact with an actual second tool to join the package -- maybe a third if he can keep playing a plus LF. But the 20-grade power and lack of a premium defensive position cap him as more of a uniquely exciting regular than a true star.
Aaron
1:42
If McMahon doesn't start to hit soon can you see them making rumored trade going around of Gil for Shaw
Steve Adams
1:44
I hadn't seen this "rumor" so I searched for it before the chat. It's really just one speculative "hey this makes sense to me" from a prominent Yankees blogger. There's no real rumor there, and I'd rather have Luis Gil than Matt Shaw personally, although I'm probably more down on both players than most.
Roddy Z
1:44
I know it’s early, but are the Astros cooked? Their pitching depth was suspect heading into the season, and now their top three starters are on the IL, their  closer is on the IL, and the backup closer looks like he needs to be on the IL. On the position side, their All-Star SS is injured, their starting CF is on the shelf, and there is no OF depth. Any hope for Astros fans?
Steve Adams
1:46
This is another topic Darragh and I discussed at pretty fair length on the podcast episode dropping tomorrow morning, so look out for that.

Broad terms, I don't think they're cooked or anything yet, no, but they're also in danger of digging a hole too deep to escape. If this losing streak extends another 3-4 games, you're looking at a team that's 8-9 games under .500 with nearly an entire rotation, an elite closer and an elite shortstop on the injured list. Crawling out of that hole would be difficult even for a full-strength team.

The immediate challenge is to stop the bleeding, but that's also hard to do with so many injuries and with Abreu (and Steven Okert) struggling.
1:47
So, no, I don't think Houston's season is over or anything, but they're rapidly approaching 2025 Atlanta/Baltimore levels where it's May 1 and they've already dug such a big hole that it just can't be escaped by the time critical decisions are due at the trade deadline.
Brian
1:48
Will Cleveland receive draft picks if Chase and Parker stay on the big league team all year?
Steve Adams
1:49
No, they'd need one to win Rookie of the Year or finish top-3 in MVP/Cy Young. But either player could net a draft pick with a top-3 MVP/Cy finish before hitting arbitration, so it's not exclusive to 2026 alone.
Blue
1:49
If Tigers keep struggling and decide to trade him this season, which team makes most sense?
Steve Adams
1:49
I assume this is referring to Skubal
1:50
I can't see any scenario where the Tigers trade Skubal. They'd need to be like 10 games out of a postseason berth come deadline season, and in that division, there's just no way they're going to be that buried.
baseball fan
1:50
Team that has been playing beyond expectations?  Pittsburgh, Minnesota?
Steve Adams
1:50
Both? Haha
1:51
Pirates' offense has been far better than I expected. In general, I thought expectations were too high for the group. I still think that's true, but Oneil Cruz is an MVP-level talent in the batter's box (not so much on the defensive side, yeesh), so if this is the beginning of a true breakout, then hell yeah they're going to be exciting.

Twins' start is hilarious and entertaining but seems entirely unsustainable.
Still an A
1:53
Picks for Rookies of the year?
Steve Adams
1:53
I picked DeLauter and Griffin prior to the season.
1:54
Full slate of pre-season picks (made just prior to Opening Day)
AL East: Blue Jays
AL Central: Tigers
AL West: Mariners
Wild Card: Orioles
Wild Card: Yankees
Wild Card: Red Sox
NL East: Phillies
NL Central: Cubs
NL West: Dodgers
Wild Card: Brewers
Wild Card: Mets
Wild Card: Reds
AL MVP: Gunnar Henderson
NL MVP: Shohei Ohtani
AL Cy Young: Tarik Skubal
NL Cy Young: Yoshinobu Yamamoto
AL ROY: Chase DeLauter
NL ROY: Konnor Griffin
World Series: Mariners over Dodgers
Guest
1:54
will sevy get traded this year
Steve Adams
1:55
Doubt it. Even if he's pitching well, the opt-out is such a poison pill. It doesn't make it impossible or anything, but it's so much downside for an opposing team to take on -- especially for someone who's more of a midrotation arm than a top-end guy at this point of his career.
Twin bill
1:55
Which of the Twins players do you see having value this summer?
Steve Adams
1:56
Joe Ryan and Ryan Jeffers are the main ones. Josh Bell, Taylor Rogers, Justin Topa, Trevor Larnach, Bailey Ober could all have modest value, but not a ton. Byron Buxton as well, but he has the no-trade clause and has said he wants to spend his whole career in MN, so I assume that won't happen.
Shaker Moseby
1:58
Thoughts on the Sosa trade for the Jays?   Seeing how he can't be optioned, do you think it says something about what they've seen from Fitzgerald, Kasevich, Jimenez et al?
Steve Adams
1:59
Sosa's a platoon-y bench guy. They didn't give up much. It feels like a placeholder move and I doubt he sticks all season on their roster unless the change of scenery brings about a notable overhaul in his approach at the plate.
Chris G
1:59
How long before I DFA Benintendi? 50% K rate and pretty marginal in the field.
Steve Adams
2:00
With two years left on the contract, I doubt anytime soon. Would be another story if the Sox envisioned contending this year.  I imagine they'll hope he catches fire and hits well enough to convince an OF-needy team to take a few million of the contract in July. I doubt they'll succeed in that regard, granted.
Dakota
2:00
My hot takes of hot takes... I don't think the Angels are an elite team, or even close to an elite team. But, with more paths to the postseason these days, I really don't think they're THAT far off. If they can flirt with .500 heading into the 2nd half, will they make a big move for an arm, or 10?
Steve Adams
2:01
I think they're closer to the worst team in the AL than even a Wild Card contender, and even if they hang around .500, the farm is so barren that they'd be hard pressed to add a notable arm -- let alone multiple arms.
Austin hedges
2:01
tell me why i shouldn't be the starting catcher for the guards?
Steve Adams
2:01
Neither Hedges nor Bo Naylor should be a starting catcher in the majors, but man alive does Cleveland love Hedgey
Reds fan
2:02
I'm not a Noelvi Marte fan, but it feels like Francona set him up to fail. Sporadic at-bats, platoon against LHP knowing that Marte hits RHP better. Is this the end of Marte or is he someone who needs to be traded to a new team?
Steve Adams
2:04
I do not understand Cincinnati's fixation on Will Benson. I'd have had Marte playing every day in right field. I still think he can be a solid corner outfielder, and the current big league group is shaky enough that he can hit his way back into another opportunity if he gets right.

I'm curious to see if Rece Hinds can maintain any of the small-sample contact/plate discipline gains he's made in AAA though. He's chasing less, making way more contact -- especially in the zone. It's not a lot of data to go off, but it's encouraging, and there's never really been any doubting the blend of raw power+speed ... it's just a matter of making enough contact/getting on base enough.
Mets coaching
2:05
Hefner and Chavez seemed to be deservingly canned after years of frustration, but so far the same exact issues keep plaguing the hitting and pitching; too many ground balls from guys like Baty, pitchers throwing uncompetitive pitches and giving up too many baserunners as a result (wasn't Willard's whole deal to throw in the zone more?); even the fielding seems to have regressed badly from a supposedly defensively superior team; were the wrong guys removed? Antwon Richardson was an obvious keep, but was Mendoza the problem here? Were the new hires smoke and mirrors?
Steve Adams
2:07
In general, I think fans expect coaching changes to bring about major shifts that aren't realistic. The days of one individual coach making such a strong impact -- a notion that was maybe always overstated -- are just so far gone. Every team has multiple hitting/pitching coaches. The players are also working with advance scouts, info from the analytics department, and dozens of other sources of input.

Coaching changes feel more symbolic and scapegoat-y than anything else. In some instances, sure a change is necessary, but I just don't think it has the impact many seem to place on it.
ATX Halo
2:08
Have you ever said anything not negative about the Angels?
Steve Adams
2:09
Zach Neto's great. Mike Trout has had one of the best careers ever. Shohei ruled there.

There's not a lot great to say about the roster overall, and ownership certainly doesn't merit praise either.

I have nothing against the Angels. They've just been really bad for a long time.
matt w
2:09
If Brandon Lowe continues to play well (not 5 RBIs a game well), what kind of contract is he looking at next year?
Steve Adams
2:10
It's still a 2B-only profile without much in the way of defensive chops, and he'll be 32 in July (turning 33 year one of the contract).

Something like Jorge Polanco's 2/40 would be my limit probably.
Guest
2:11
Is Taj Bradley's success so far this year sustainable?
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