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Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 4/15/25
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Steve Adams
1:42
Cardinals just announced that Cooper Hjerpe, one of their better pitching prospects, underwent Tommy John surgery and is out into 2026.
Framber Valdez
1:43
What does my market look like?
Steve Adams
1:44
I have Valdez as the second-best starter in free agency. We talked a lot about this on the podcast episode that'll be coming out tomorrow morning. I think he's capped at five years, but it could/should be at a pretty premium annual value given his consistency, velo, grounders, command ... the real only knock against him is his age. He'll be a free agent heading into his age-32 campaign.
PiratesFaithful
1:45
If we can hang a couple of games around .500 near the all star break is this a team to watch out for in the 2nd half?

Jones, Oviedo, Moreta, Horwitz, & Gonzales should all be back from injury and Chandler and Harrington are adding to the rotation before you know it. Maybe a revived David Bednar? Maybe we acquire an OF bat at the deadline?!

I smell potential, give me a reason to believe.
Steve Adams
1:48
I don't see any reason to think the Pirates would actually acquire a meaningful bat prior to the deadline. I've tried to give them the benefit of the doubt so many times in the past, especially with this core of young pitching coming, but they keep refusing to invest in the team. They haven't signed a free agent to a multi-year deal in a decade, and Aroldis Chapman is the only one-year deal worth more than $8MM they've given out. The one time they "went for it" at the deadline, they prioritized Chris Archer in large part because of his contract -- though, to be fair, I thought Archer had another gear of performance in him as well; maybe he did, but injuries suck.

I love the Pirates' young pitching, but they haven't developed hitters, haven't spent to augment the club and haven't done especially well in their returns on major trades. It's hard to believe they're going to turn things around at the moment.

This is a bleak outlook. I apologize, ha. I wish I had a more optimistic or excited tone.
I think their second-half pitching with Skenes, Jones, Keller, Chandler and Harrington could be special.
o-birds
1:48
I know it's early but did the Orioles hurt themselves by not signing top shelf starting pitching? Who cares if they offered CB 180 million they still didn't get him they needed to make a move in the pitching department and they only signed 3 and 4 rotation guys what's up with Elias?
Steve Adams
1:50
I've been saying for two years that the Orioles aren't doing enough with their rotation. Trading for Burnes last year was a great start. I thought they should've doubled down and added Cease.

I don't think Burnes was ever going to take a four-year offer in free agency. Heck, he basically said as much himself.

Elias seems obsessed with avoiding long-term clutter on the roster, but it's worked to Baltimore's detriment.
Jonah Bride
1:51
Why was I DFA? Back to the A's, or are the Yankees a better fit?
Steve Adams
1:54
Bride had two pretty good months last year and has looked lost at the plate in this year. It's 45 PAs, but even his breakout last year only came in like 270 PAs.

I'm modestly surprised, in that I think the Marlins have enough flotsam on the roster that they could've made room for Sanchez in another way, but Bride's contact rate is way down and we have 610 MLB plate appearances suggesting he's just not that great overall. He's also already 29, and he's out of minor league options.
Dan
1:54
When will the FA contest winners get finalized?
Steve Adams
1:55
They're finalized. I sent Tim a reminder to announce them this week.
Costco Angels
1:55
Give me one reason to believe in this Angels Team and one reason not to
Steve Adams
1:57
I wish I had something more exciting to offer you in terms of optimism. I think most of their big performers are crashing before too long. Jose Soriano is good, though, and Zach Neto's coming back soon and is super underrated!
Armchair GM
1:57
If the Astros are not in playoff contention nearing the trade deadline, do you see them putting Framber Valdez on the trade block? If they do, what do you think is the best they can get for him?
Steve Adams
1:58
If they're firmly out of it, he's a good enough pitcher that he should command a more valuable return than the draft pick they'd otherwise receive by going the QO route. A healthy Valdez should command a better return than the Tigers got for Flaherty last year. A 50-grade prospect headlining and another solid middle-of-the-system piece... something along those lines.
Arraez
1:59
2 hrs before may for the first time ever.  How big is his payday if he wins a 4th batting title with 12-15ish hrs?
Steve Adams
2:02
Not that big. The defensive value is minimal, his walk rate keeps dropping, and the 12 or 13 homers would be seen as a ceiling. Arraez is going to be hard to put a value on long-term, since he's so unique, but in general I would say I think teams are going to value him way less than most fans.

It is very hard to find a player with this little power who cashed in on a nice long-term deal. I guess Benintendi got 5/75?
Big apples and oranges
2:03
does Siri injury give Baty more runway? he is just about out of slack on his leash, or he should be.
Steve Adams
2:05
At this point I just hope Baty gets traded somewhere that can plug him in at 3B, let him play, and see if he hits. Siri's injury might buy him a little more time, yeah, but he's running out of rope in Queens. I think he can hit, but he's always being asked to do so while playing a new position and/or while looking over his shoulder because someone's coming back to claim his spot.

I just want to see someone trade for him and tell him "congrats, you're getting 500 PAs at 3B as long as you're healthy." I get why the Mets haven't, but I do feel like he's been put in some tough spots to try to succeed.
docgreedo
2:06
Pirates seem like a perfect fit for Roberts Jr, do they have enough on the farm to make the White Sox bite?
Steve Adams
2:08
They do, but I have a hard time believing they'd acquire a player making $15MM this year with consecutive $20MM club options. I was pushing the Pirates/Robert connection last year and the year prior, but after watching just a demonstrable, repeated refusal to spend any money, I just can't bring myself to consider the Pirates a realistic contender for someone earning that kind of money.
2:11
I've got to wrap this up for the week. I'm on X @Adams_Steve and on Bluesky @adams-steve.bsky.social.

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Enjoy your week, everyone!
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