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Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 4/29/25
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Steve Adams
1:45
Will the 2025 Rockies lose even more games than the 2024 White Sox?
Yes (56.4% | 172 votes)
 
No (43.6% | 133 votes)
 
Total Votes: 305
SF
1:46
How worries should the Giants be about Willy Adames?
Steve Adams
1:49
Adames was a good to great hitter for more than 2700 plate appearances prior to signing in San Francisco. He's had a rough start in about one-twenty-seventh of that time.

His strikeout rate isn't up -- it's actually down a bit, as is his swinging-strike rate. He's making more contact on balls over the plate. The quality of his contact (exit velo, launch angle, hard-hit rate) is all generally in line with last year.

Lots of people are going to have shaky Aprils that end up a distant memory. That's my expectation for Adames based on how his season has gone so far.
Spud
1:50
I know you can never have too much pitching, but when Woody, Ashby, Hall, Civale, and Cortez return, it seems like the Brewers would be wise to trade for some starting caliber help on the left side of the infield. Thoughts?
Steve Adams
1:54
I just wouldn't assume they'll all make it back healthy AND that everyone currently in the rotation will stay healthy. Based on how heavily the Brewers had to scramble to get some rotation help early on, I don't think they're in a position to trade it away now.

Durbin has been fine for now. Ortiz's struggle at the plate has been pretty steep, but he's another one who isn't showing worrying deterioration in his contact rate, strikeout rate, etc. His start is uglier than someone like Adames, who I just finished discussing, but I don't buy that he'll be this bad of a hitter over the long haul.
AC
1:54
If the Braves continue to falter, do they get creative and move Albies, Riley, or some other moderately sized contract?
Steve Adams
1:58
The Braves are 8-2 over their last 10. They have two more against a (so-far)  historically bad Rockies team followed by three against the Dodgers (in ATL) and then 10 against the Reds, Pirates and Nats.

I don't think they're going to keep struggling like they did in the first week.

Even if they're out of playoff contention, they're not going to move Riley, who is certainly not a "moderately sized" contract at 10 years. He's signed through 2032. Also would be shocked if they moved Albies.

If Atlanta was truly out of contention come July, they'd probably listen on Verdugo, Iglesias, maybe Pierce Johnson and Aaron Bummer. But not the core guys.
John
2:00
How much of Adames success had to do with Milwaukee's home park?
Steve Adams
2:00
Adames, 2021-24...

At home: .232/.314/.463 (112 wRC+)
On road: .250/.323/.441 (109 wRC+)

So... not a lot.
Ryan
2:01
If Brendan Donovan has a stat line of .315/.380/.490 come July 15th, what would his trade value be? 2.5yrs of ARB control left making 2.85M this year. Could they squeeze a FV 60 and a FV 50 players out of him?
Steve Adams
2:03
There are typically like 8 to 12 prospects in all of baseball who can be called 60-grade. The Cardinals are not getting one of them for Brendan Donovan -- good a player as he is. Certainly not a 60 and a 50.

I could buy a team parting with one 50-grade guy for Donovan, plus some other pieces. Getting two would be a stretch but not completely impossible.

But a 60 prospect basically means someone who's in the MLB-wide top 10, and that's not happening.
Joff Smoth
2:04
How much is a typical player involved in the details of a free agent negotiation, and how much is usually left to the agent?
Steve Adams
2:05
Completely depends on the player. Some guys want to be involved in every detail, others just want to sit back and let their representation handle 95% of it.
Guardians selected Vince Velasquez to the big league roster. Bieber to the 60-day
2:08
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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Thanks everyone, and have a good week!
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