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Chat With MLBTR's Steve Adams: 5/13/20
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Steve Adams
3:48
I don't. They probably won't get as large of deals as they were hoping -- but if they're offered considerable contracts next winter it seems likelier they'll just take the guaranteed money there. Realmuto, in particular, would be going back out looking for a huge payday as a catcher heading into his age-31 season. There's a chance he'd cash in more, but we don't KNOW the market will be healthier, and his position is one where he's particularly prone to injury.
Mitch Haniger
3:50
So will I be ready to start the season assuming it goes off as current discussions say it will?
Steve Adams
3:51
The M's haven't provided an update on him in awhile, but I'd temper my expectations based on recent trajectory. It's a shame that such a fluke injury is really cutting into Haniger's prime. He's such an obviously talented player and really looked like a budding, under-the-radar star in Seattle for a bit.
Braves Fan
3:53
Would Nick Markakis be the best DH candidate in Atlanta this season?
Steve Adams
3:54
He'd get some time there, yeah. I imagine they'd rotate guys through the spot. Markakis, Adam Duvall, whichever of Riley/Camargo isn't in the field on a given day, etc. Could give Freddie the occasional breather.
Tom
3:54
Who do the cardinals use for their dh? They traded away Jose Martinez.
Steve Adams
3:56
They traded Martinez away in part because they felt Rangel Ravelo could be a similar player at a more affordable rate (not that Martinez was expensive himself). They also have a glut of outfield options, with Tyler O'Neill, Lane Thomas and Dylan Carlson all hoping to play some LF. And putting Matt Carpenter there could give Tommy Edman some more time in the field/in the lineup.

I'd imagine a rotation involving Carp, Ravelo and O'Neill as the primary use -- as opposed to just one dedicated player there.
Mark
3:56
How would the qualifying offer work this year with an half season of baseball played?
Steve Adams
3:57
To my knowledge there's no determination of that yet. I do wonder if they'd adjust it; it's hard to imagine many clubs making the offer (outside of the top-top guys like Betts and JTR) after so much lost revenue.
DCSF
3:57
Does an addition of a DH for the National league make the Giants signing Puig more likely?
Steve Adams
3:58
Certainly doesn't hurt it. He should land somewhere now, although I'm still hoping he goes to the KBO just because the marketing around him and his insane bat flips would be pure entertainment gold.
Cubs Talk
3:59
When will we hear the season is on or off ?...days ?...weeks ?
Steve Adams
4:00
Weeks. Even if the MLBPA and the League agree to a deal this week, it will still be entirely contingent on the pandemic (i.e. government regulations, recommendations from public health experts, etc.)

They could agree to terms tomorrow and then have to tear the whole thing up in a month's time if cases/deaths are spiking at particularly high rates.
Jon
4:01
Would the trade deadline be pushed back in an 82 game scenario that begins in late June/early July?
Steve Adams
4:02
Yeah, I can't imagine they'd start on July 4 and then tell teams "Ok, trade deadline is in 27 days!"
Ortegananda
4:02
Draft will be around June 10...who are the Giants looking to draft.?.I hope a pitcher
Steve Adams
4:02
MLB clubs don't draft for need. The kids in the draft are at minimum two years away -- much longer in many cases.
4:03
They'll take whoever they think is the best on the board at that time, regardless of position.
Jim C
4:03
What do you see the Pirates doing with Josh Bell. I assume a trade is coming when he’s close to being a free agent.
Steve Adams
4:03
He's controlled through 2022, so he's not THAT close. But he's a Boras client who'll want max dollars and is already earning a pretty decent salary ($4.8MM) -- plus he had a huge over-slot bonus in the draft.
4:04
I think he'll eventually be traded.
Rangers29
4:04
May you say the pros and cons of the Rangers signing Betts, and whether or not you think it will happen?
Steve Adams
4:06
The pros are that they add one of the best players on the planet and receive the benefit of several prime seasons from him. I don't think the cons of signing Betts outweigh the pros for virtually any team, so if the Rangers want to pony up and win the bidding war, I'd praise them for it.

They have tons of long-term flexibility, too. Had they actually received a full season of boosted revenue from the new park, I'd have really put them squarely in the mix. I don't think that's going to be as true now, and I wouldn't put them as any kind of favorite. The Dodgers have the pockets to really muscle out the market for him even with revenue losses in 2020.
Bartolo Colon
4:06
I am too young to retire... right?
Steve Adams
4:07
I've said it before and I'll say it again: BARTOLO 4EVER.
Average Fan
4:07
Could you see a team with very responsible balance sheets year to year (ala the Cardinals) who wouldn’t normally shop at the top of the free agent market be able to now that some of the big boys might be out of the bidding on elite talent? Or do you think they will stick with the usual trend after an economic downturn and reduce payroll along with the rest of the league? It seems the next couple free agent markets could be a good chance to get an elite talent at a slightly discounted price.
Steve Adams
4:08
I don't agree with the premise that the Cardinals don't shop at the top of the market. They pursued David Price, Jason Heyward and Max Scherzer. They signed Dexter Fowler to a five-year deal and paid market price for Goldschmidt  last spring to preemptively keep him from free agency (whoops).
4:10
The next couple winters could be opportunities to get elite talent at a discounted rate, sure, and I expect that the Cardinals will pursue the players they deem to be the best value/fit, as they have in the past.

Just because they didn't win those auctions doesn't mean they weren't shopping there. They offered Heyward more money than the Cubs as I recall (albeit without the opt outs)
Rox in my Socks
4:11
Given the shortened season, are teams like the Rockies better off playing younger guys (Hilliard, McMahon and Hampson) knowing that players like Murphy and Desmond are coming off the books at years end?
Steve Adams
4:12
Desmond is signed through 2021 -- he's not a FA yet.

I'd still be playing the younger guys, though. That team isn't going to contend and they might as well see what they have.

(They don't view it that way, of course, and I don't expect that to be how they operate ... just offering my two cents on their situation)
Goldschmidt
4:12
Signing Goldy before FA. Whoops? He wasn't bad.
Steve Adams
4:13
He wasn't *bad*, no. He was nowhere near his prior self, though, and he wasn't getting $130MM this winter or close to it after that 2019 showing.
Yelich
4:14
Why doesn't Lorenzo get enough love???
Steve Adams
4:15
Players who give so much of their value via speed/defense never do. He was also not great at the plate last year, which doesn't help.

But Cain has always been a bit on the underrated side -- at least as far as fans and pundits giving him his due as a high-end all-around player. Clearly he wasn't totally underrated among MLB front offices though... he did get $80MM in free agency
braves fan
4:16
do you think freddy will be a braves lifer
Steve Adams
4:16
I expect so, yeah
4:17
Alright -- I'm going to wrap this up for the week. I'm on Twitter @Adams_Steve if you'd like to ask any other questions. Thanks for chatting everyone! Enjoy the rest of your week, and stay safe.
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