Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 5/12/26
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Steve Adams
1:46
There we go
Knew they had an insanely long run with someone in their bench mix who was basically relegated to mascot duty (sorry Charlie, no offense intended -- just was one of the craziest stretches I can remember seeing for someone on a MLB roster who wasn't used whatsoever)
Snarfle
1:47
Which of the recent callups stirs your coffee the most?
Steve Adams
1:48
Didn't get a chance to watch Robby Snelling's debut, unfortunately, but I'll be watching his next one hopefully. Always fun to see position players come up, but I love good pitching and will go out of my way to see top-tier new arms when they arrive.
TC Bear
1:48
With the AL Central being super mediocre as usual, is there a world where the Twins actually buy at the deadline? Tom Pohlad made alot of statements in the off-season about being a "go big or go home" guy. Will he actually do something to prove it?
Steve Adams
1:51
He made those comments and then proceeded to do exactly nothing, even though there were several veterans of note who could've helped his predictably bad team. Closest I can see to them buying would be to target MLB-ready guys again, like they did last summer when they sold. I guess if they're loosely in it and can get an actual big league reliever for a struggling change-of-scenery candidate (e.g. Matt Wallner), maybe you try that?

But in general, I don't think they'll buy. I expect Joe Ryan's name to be all over the pages of MLBTR again this summer -- more so than last.
Joel
1:51
With the AL teams all jumbled together, do you foresee the trade deadline mainly being last minute deals?
Steve Adams
1:51
I'd have predicted mostly last-minute deals on day one of the season regardless.
1:52
Today's brand of front office doesn't make proactive moves. With a few notable exceptions (Posey, Dombrowski, Dipoto, Preller) they're all extraordinarily risk-averse and use every last second available before even making the most minor decisions.
John
1:53
Do you think Kade Anderson is starting games for the Mariners later this year? The guy is destroying the minors...
Steve Adams
1:53
I'd lean toward a 2026 debut, yeah
Joey Jojo Jr. Shabadoo
1:53
Who's on the trading block for the stros? I'm guessing rentals such as Okert, De los Santos, Bryan Abreu, and Christian Vasquez at the minimum if they're 7 or so games behind the WC/ALW come 7/31.
Steve Adams
1:53
Those guys, yes. Jeremy Pena. Christian Walker.
1:54
Astros fans will revolt at me mentioning Pena, but he's a free agent after 2027 and is a Boras-repped star who isn't signing an extension.

Last time they had a superstar who they knew they wouldn't extend, Kyle Tucker became a Cub.
1:55
I'd be surprised if a Pena trade wasn't something they'd at least be open to this winter, and if they're not contending in 2026 anyhow, why not jumpstart the process?
Bednar
1:55
Bednar seems really shaky as the closer. Will the Yanks stick with him or go after someone else?
Steve Adams
1:55
We got a question like this for the podcast this week. I just don't really agree. I suppose he's had a couple wobbly outings recently, but he's been given 147 save/hold chances over the past decade and converted 89% of them. He misses bats, limits walks, piles up grounders. I think recency bias is impacting this point of view. Bednar is really good.
Brewerfan
1:56
When will the Brewers do something about the left side of the IF? You think Pratt will be up soon?
Steve Adams
1:58
He's not hitting whatsoever in AAA. .205/.338/.308 overall.

If you want to cherry-pick, he's at .264/.412/.472 over his past 53 PAs, but that was all tied up in a brief flurry that has since died down. He's back to .125/.282/.219 over his past eight games/32 PAs.
2:01
I expect infield help to be a point of focus this summer, but they'll hang around in the interim even with the current cast of light hitters. Rengifo's been pretty unlucky, so maybe he can get going at 3B at least. Shortstop looks rough.

Jett Williams has been on a pretty consistent tear for a few weeks in AAA while playing almost exclusively 3B, too, so perhaps that's the next move coming down the pipe if the current group can't turn things around.
Aaron Ashby
2:01
Over/under 17.5 wins?
Steve Adams
2:01
40-game winner
Ashby's weird season is awesome, haha. I love baseball randomness.
radhippo
2:02
Is this the year the Angels finally sell their players??
Steve Adams
2:02
Should be! Doubt it will be.
Posey
2:02
a report came out this week, i’d like of load all my big contracts. does any of them have any value? devers, lee, adames, chapman? seems like im stuck, especially with the no trade clauses for adames and chappy.
Steve Adams
2:03
I don't think that was a report so much as Bob Nightengale stating the obvious. The Giants have three (four, if you count Jung Hoo Lee) huge contracts owed to players who are colossally underperforming. Any GM/president of bb ops in that spot would want to unload them, but understandably, no team is touching any of those deals.
Nate Rambis
2:03
In regard to you statement "I picked DeLauter and Griffin pre-season and am now henceforth bound to those for all eternity" Wouldn't it just be this season and not all of eternity?
Steve Adams
2:03
Don't come at me with your well thought-out logic!
2:04
Chase DeLauter will be Rookie of the Year in 2049, and I'll hear no argument to the contrary!
Steve Adams Defense
2:04
It would be your 2026 ROY pick for all eternity!
Steve Adams
2:04
Now we're talking
Adam Christenson
2:05
What are the chances Skubal gets dealt before the deadline?
Steve Adams
2:05
0.00000000001%
Joey Jojo Jr. Shabadoo
2:05
Pearl Jam's Ten or Nirvana's Nevermind?
Steve Adams
2:05
Soundgarden's Superunknown
Tim L
2:05
Given the Giants have a logjam that’s literally leading to their best offensive prospect in decades being a pinch hitter, Arraez getting dealt has to be the play to open up Eldridge ABs and keeping Schmitt in the lineup, yes? Is the problem that no other team sees Arraez’s profile as worth trading for? Even if the Giants eat money to get a decent prospect in return?
Steve Adams
2:07
The Giants can't trade Arraez without his consent prior to June 15. That's true of all players who sign major league free agent deals.

I don't really get what the Giants are doing with Eldridge. If you don't have everyday ABs for him, don't have him on the major league roster. You're doing no favors to a kid who's already been struggling to make contact even in AAA. Play him or option him.
One Hit Wonder
2:08
What happened to Nelson Velazquez? He was the Cardinals spring training darling? Now he's hitting a buck 88 in AAA !
Steve Adams
2:10
Spring Training stats are meaningless unless they're accompanied by some kind of tangible change in skill set/approach. Velazquez had a hot spring despite a really ugly 72% contact rate. He's just back to being who he is and who he's been. Plenty of power -- even a decent idea of the strike zone. He doesn't chase much.

But he also has probably a 35 hit tool (on the 20-80 scale), which isn't going to cut it. He misses in the zone so much.
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