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Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 4/8/25
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Steve Adams
1:46
If he turned down like 5/80 beginning next year, yeah, I'd say he should've thought long and hard about that. If the Guards were thinking more like 5/55 starting in 2026... meh, take yourself to the market.
Kurt the Hurt
1:47
margot went on the IL for the Tigers today will they sign another outfielder or wait for Vierling to return ?
Steve Adams
1:48
They brought up Brewer Hicklen. I don't think there's an immediate plug-and-play outfield option they'd turn to in the short-term available in free agency. Could select Ben Gamel or Jahmai Jones or Akil Baddoo if they want to go a different route than Hicklen a few days from now.
Sad Reds Fan
1:50
Reds have to find more consistent hitting. Is the return of Hays and Stephenson enough or are they already sunk?
Steve Adams
1:54
The only teams I consider to be already sunk are the White Sox, Marlins (5-5 start notwithstanding) and Rockies -- none of whom were really trying to begin with.

If the Braves can't pull themselves out of this sooner than later, they'll have an almost impossible uphill battle digging out of a deficit this big in a division/league that difficult, but they're not there yet.

Cincinnati is three games under .500. Positive run differential. Multiple injuries of note.

I've gotten variations of this question about the Reds, Twins, Mariners, Astros and D-backs thus far. If a slump like this happened after a 9-4 start to a season, most fans wouldn't be panicking. I think they're all still broadly fine, even with the suboptimal starts.
The Show
1:54
What’s the outlook on Victor Robles?
Steve Adams
1:55
Mariners haven't announced the MRI results yet, so impossible to say. We'll update when the team has official word.
Friar faithful
1:55
If Arraez, Cease, King, and Suarez all leave at the end of the season, do you see another wild, Preller extravaganza of an offseason taking place due to the salary relief? (Not to mention Hosmer’s money FINALLY coming off the books.)
Steve Adams
1:57
Will get to the Padres question in a second, but the Mariners must've heard that prior question
They just announced that Robles suffered a dislocated shoulder. They think he'll avoid surgery
1:58
No surgery would mean a six-week recovery followed by another six weeks of rehab -- so around three months.
If he needs surgery along the way, then, it would stand to reason that his season would be in jeopardy
So ... not a great update, but not a worst-case scenario for M's fans.
Back to the Padres answer I was typing
2:00
I don't think so. That's not to say they won't spend at all, but we don't have evidence that ownership will continue spending at the same rate it did prior to Peter Seidler's untimely passing.

Moreover, though they're trimming some major salary, they'll also see big salary hikes for Nick Pivetta and Manny Machado that are built into their deals.

RosterResource has the Padres at about $166MM committed to 2026, and that's before arb raises for Jason Adam, Adrian Morejon and Bryan Hoeing (plus some borderline non-tender candidates like Sheets, Campusano, Connor Joe).

There's room for them to be more prominent players in free agency than they were this winter or last, but I wouldn't forecast multiple $20MM+ free agent signings or anything.
2:01
Agh, I missed in the Robles press release that there's also a "small fracture in the humeral head in his left shoulder"

Still a 12-week recovery, but important detail I glazed over while scanning it
atleastwetried
2:02
There was some local reporting a few days back that Mark Attanasio said the Brewers had a Boras client in for a workout recently. Assuming that was likely a pitcher, who might it have been?
Steve Adams
2:02
I didn't see that reporting -- granted, I've been on vacation for a week -- but my mind would go to Spencer Turnbull
Bloomy
2:03
How much longer can the Cards keep trotting Mikolas out there with “ reset “ options in Memphis?
Steve Adams
2:05
Mikolas was fine in his first start and shelled in his second. He was a fine innings eater in 2023 and showed similar skills in 2024 but was dinged by a rough strand rate that was way out of whack with his career line. I don't see a huge reason to think he can't give them another 160+ innings of 4.50ish ERA, which isn't great, but when the alternative is heavily leaning on arms who have minimal track record -- and prematurely thinning out your depth -- they're not going to just get rid of him.
Pale Hoes
2:07
Any chance we see Kyle Teel up before the all star break?  He hit well in the spring and I am positive he would be better behind the plate and at the plate, than Matt Thaiss
Steve Adams
2:07
He held his own as a 22-year-old in AAA last year and is out to a fine start there this year. Definite chance, yeah.
2:10
Ok, I've got to call it this week and give Darragh a hand with all the news that's been coming in. I'm on X @Adams_Steve and Bluesky @adams-steve.bsky.social if you have more questions.

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Have a great week!
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