JotCast | Chat With MLBTR's Steve Adams: 4/22/19

Steve Adams

3:15

Tim's out today (eye doctor's appt) so you Monday chatters are regrettably stuck with me again. I sincerely apologize. Y'all got shafted here. Tim will chat in my usual slot tomorrow.

Mets

3:16

Gio Gonzalez is a met by end of week

Steve Adams

3:17

I still think there are likelier fits for him than the team paying its current fifth SP $8MM. A team like the Brewers has some pretty easily identifiable innings for him, even before optioning Corbin Burnes. They were never going to get like 90 starts combined out of Burnes/Peralta/Woodruff (and man, has that trio underwhelmed more than I ever imagined it would)

Big Swole

3:17

Adam Duvall is now a trade chip, yes or no?

Steve Adams

3:18

Because he's hit well for 17 games in AAA? No one wants Adam Duvall right now -- at least not to the point where they'd give anything up to acquire him (or even take on the entirety of his salary)

Oldboy

3:18

How much $$$ does Gio want?

Steve Adams

3:19

His base salary on his Yankees deal was $3MM but also paid him $300K per start in the Majors. I can't imagine he's going to get anything more than something like $5MM guaranteed plus some incentives (and even that might be steep).

Cole

3:19

Jays call up a pitcher or sign gio

Steve Adams

3:20

There's no real reason for them to sign Gonzalez. He'd be a one-year rental in a season they're obviously not planning to contend; besides, he'll have contenders offering him jobs right now, so going to pitch for the Jays probably isn't his first choice either

Carlos

3:20

Does Gio get the $3M, or is it forfeited now that he’s released?

Steve Adams

3:20

IT IS GIO-MANIA IN HERE

3:21

That $3MM was his base salary in the Majors. They didn't add him to the Major League roster, so he won't receive that money

Jordan Hicks

3:21

I throw hard, don't I? Do I have a stranglehold on the Cardinals' closer position?

Steve Adams

3:21

I don't think anyone else is stepping up to threaten him for ninth-inning looks right now.

Big Dawg

3:22

Will Vlad be up before Mother’s Day?

Steve Adams

3:22

I'll be extremely surprised if he's not. I think sometime in the next week, though multiple reporters have shot own the report out of the DR that he'd be called up tomorrow.

Dazed and Confused

3:23

How was Ronald Acuna, Jr. not a top-ranked international signing back when he signed?

Steve Adams

3:23

He was 16 years old.

3:24

Projecting what a 16-year-old is going to grow into, how his tools are going to develop, etc. is damn near impossible. Michael Ynoa signed a record-setting bonus as an amateur.

Faithless Friar

3:24

Why do you think Luis Urias was striking out and failing to make contact so much?

Steve Adams

3:25

I wouldn't worry about anything that happened over a sample of 29 plate appearances.

Nor would I fret too much over trying to explain why something happened in such a small sample.

Stef

3:26

Which side of the Gerrit Cole trade would you rather be on? Pirates or Astros?

Steve Adams

3:28

The Astros got 2 fairly expensive years of an elite starter; the Pirates got five cheaper years of a good-but-not-as-good starter, plus some other pieces that can still help.

I don't think it needs to be one or the other; I said at the time I thought Pirates fans wildly overreacted to the deal by calling it terrible, and I still think it's a deal that'll largely work out for both sides. Five years of Musgrove is nice (although he's obviously not what he's been to this point in the year)

Aaron

3:28

Who would you rather have over the next 10 years? Ronald Acuna Jr or Vlad Jr?

Steve Adams

3:29

Not doubting Vlad Jr. or anything, but Acuna is already a star in the Majors and will always have more defensive value, even if Vlad ends up a better hitter. Give me Acuna.

Manny M

3:29

Damn, I was right about that Tatis dude, wasn't I?

Steve Adams

3:30

He is good at the whole "baseball" thing

Lets Go Tribe

3:30

Is Francona overrated? His bullpen usage is abysmal

Steve Adams

3:31

Not like he has much of a bullpen to work with after Indians ownership basically flipped fans the bird this offseason and banked on the rest of the division sucking enough to get them to the playoffs. I wouldn't blame Francona for any of the team's current relief woes.

Daniel G

3:32

Once Odubel Herrera comes off the IL, what do the Phillies do?

Steve Adams

3:33

I think eventually they just have to part ways with Altherr

Fat kid that loves cake

3:33

A trade that makes sense for both teams, Ian Happ for will Smith.. Do you think that would be a ideal move for both clubs? Giants get a young promising outfielder and the Cubs get a solid bullpen piece

Steve Adams

3:33

Smith is a free agent at season's end

Cannot imagine Cubs moving Happ for a rental

Tony 2bags

3:34

I get the whole... speedster in the 9th slot thing. But isn't it kind of a waste to put Robles batting 9th when he's productive as well as fast? Load the top 5 with your best producers!!! And bat Kendricks until Dozier starts batting his weight. Rant off

Steve Adams

3:35

Yeah, I'm a little perplexed as to why Robles is still hitting ninth. He's going to regress -- .395 BABIP, 31% K rate -- but not to the point where he's a zero with the bat or anything. I think he should be higher up, but maybe they just want to continue stashing him in what they've deemed to be a low-pressure spot for him as he continues adjusting to the Majors

3:36

So many Gio questions, ha... poll forthcoming

3:39

Where will "HOTTEST FREE AGENT IN ALL THE LAND" Gio Gonzalez sign?

Brewers (26.6% | 182 votes)

Mets (17.4% | 119 votes)

Angels (9.2% | 63 votes)

Cardinals (6.4% | 44 votes)

Twins (3.8% | 26 votes)

Athletics (10.2% | 70 votes)

Phillies (5.4% | 37 votes)

Padres (7.9% | 54 votes)

Braves (6.7% | 46 votes)

Red Sox (6.3% | 43 votes)

Total Votes: 684

(Poll only lets me input 10 choices, ha, sorry)

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