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Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 5/20/25
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GABP
1:41
Kjerstad for Chase Petty? fill a need for both orgs
Steve Adams
1:44
In general, I like the idea of that sort of challenge trade. Petty has had less time in the majors though, so I think the Reds would be more reluctant. Kjerstad is 26 and still hasn't hit in the big leagues... not sure Petty is enough of a project/change-of-scenery guy to line up there, but conceptually, I get the thinking and wouldn't mind seeing the O's trade Kjerstad for a former top prospect arm or the Reds trading Petty for a plug-and-play bat who hasn't gotten a true full-time opportunity with his current team.
Yankee fan
1:44
Do you think we will win Sandy sweepstakes?
Steve Adams
1:45
With the way Alcantara is pitching right now, I'm not even 100% sold that he'll be traded at all. If he does go, the Yankees seemed to be pretty clearly up against their budget in the offseason, which makes Alcantara's $17MM salary (and the 110% tax they'll pay on him) a tougher fit.
1:46
I'm sure they have some in-season funds set to the side, but they have needs elsewhere on the roster, too.
who's on 1st
1:47
Bubic- lighting in a bottle/flash in a pan/unicorn season/catching a rainbow...
Steve Adams
1:48
Kris Bubic: Legitimately good starting pitcher (and the second-best SP on the Royals behind Cole Ragans).
Rangers Fan
1:48
With Texas up against the luxury tax (assuming they don't want to surpass it) could you see Texas selling Jon Gray to a SP-needy playoff contender (Mets, Yankees, Cubs, etc.) to clear money and go after a reliever or OF bat?
Steve Adams
1:50
Sure. They looked at trading Gray in the offseason. There's tons of injury risk in the current rotation (and any rotation including Jacob deGrom and/or Tyler Mahle), but they have some starters on the mend (Bradford, Rocker) and surely wouldn't mind the extra financial breathing room
M’s fan
1:50
Can you give me an idea of who the Ms might target for a deadline bat/ Solano replacement?
Steve Adams
1:51
I wrote the other week that they should have Tyler Locklear up like, now, to see if he can be that bat. If not him, 1B targets (or just offensive upgrade targets) like Rhys Hoskins, Ryan O'Hearn, Nathaniel Lowe all make sense. Yandy Diaz or Brandon Lowe, too.
Carrie Halas
1:52
Shouldn't the Phillies be on the phone to David Robertson, and would he take the chunk of Alvarado's salary that they've pocketed?
Steve Adams
Jack Suwinski
1:53
Why am I still in the minors - is Tommy Pham with his .183 batting average; 0 home runs still a better option ?
Steve Adams
1:53
I don't know that Suwinski is the answer there, but he's hitting well in AAA and to your point, he's not going to be worse than what Pham has provided, so yeah -- I'd make that switch, too.
Billington
1:53
Is this speedster Chandler Simpson legit or just a nice rookie story?  If playing a full season can he possibly lead in SB, heck might even do it this season.  Tell me otherwise?
Steve Adams
1:54
The only players in MLB with a faster sprint speed are Bobby Witt Jr. (No. 1) and Byron Buxton (No. 2). I can easily buy Simpson leading the majors in steals. As you said, even though he didn't break camp with the team, I wouldn't be completely shocked if he did it in 2025.
1:55
He's already at 11 in only 26 games. and Luis Robert's leading the majors but probably isn't someone you'd count on to stay healthy for 150+.
Bless You
1:55
Zach Eflin for a couple Padres mid tier prospects?
Steve Adams
1:55
Zach Eflin to [insert any contender seeking rotation help] for a couple of mid-tier prospects works, yes.
Jordan Hicks?
1:56
With all the young starters in Sacramento, is Hicks trade bait?
Steve Adams
1:57
I don't think he has sufficient value to be called "trade bait" right now, but if he's back to 2023 form for the next couple months, I could see it. Then again, if he's back to 2023 form and the Giants are contending, they'd probably just keep him and have him pitching high-leverage spots
Shoeless Joe
1:57
Elias thinks he has a 50/50 shot at using the comp pick to get a Westburg or Norby.  So will he really trade Mullins?
Steve Adams
1:58
Could trade Mullins for more near-term help -- they're going to be trying to win in 2026 -- and also avoid the risk of an August/September injury that tanks the QO likelihood.
Dwight Evans
1:58
Seriously now, can Boston go ahead and bring up Mayer and/or Anthony already???
Steve Adams
2:01
Mayer is a great prospect and all, but it's not like he's decimating AAA pitching or anything. He's been about 9-10% better than average there and has cooled down a bit after a hot start.

Roman Anthony should be in the majors yesterday, in my opinion. Probably means playing someone out of position at 1B, but to get that bat in the lineup, man, I'd make it work.
Angels
2:01
What's the best thing about our team?
Steve Adams
2:01
Zach Neto and Jose Soriano are good!
Baltimore rentals
2:03
I think it’s time for Baltimore to consider moving rentals & short timers in trades and start a mini rebuild focused on ‘28 because I don’t believe they will be contending in ‘25 or ‘26 and ‘27 is looking like a lock out. This wave of young talent just hasn’t produced the way they’ve hoped for (Coby Mayo, Heston Kjerstad, Jackson Holliday…) so it’s time to get something in return for; Ryan O'Hearn, Cedric Mullins, Ramon Laureano, Zach Eflin, Ramon Urias & Keegan Akin.
Steve Adams
2:04
Yeah, I'd have all of ROH, Mullins, Laureano, Eflin, Urias and Akin out there ... pretty much now -- and be open to an early trade. Mountcastle, Dominguez, Soto as well. Sugano can't be traded without his consent until June 15 (nor can Laureano, for that matter -- both signed as free agents), but I'd have him out there as early as possible, too.
White Sox
2:05
Will the Sox ever cave and just trade Luis Robert for the value he's at or will they continue to hold off? They won't pick up his option, correct?
Steve Adams
2:07
He's hitting .213/.279/.359 with a 32% strikeout rate over his past 144 games. I don't think it's a given that he has much trade value at all right now. What's the harm in holding him to see if he gets on track? They risk the 35 FV lotto ticket they'd get by trading him this week?

I was very on board with an early trade of Robert even back in spring training when he was swinging well. Now ... I just don't know that they'd get anything of note. I'd hold onto him, too.
Jacob Wilson
2:07
Am I winning ROY right now
Steve Adams
2:08
Him or Shane Smith, but I think Wilson is much likelier to keep producing at a high level than Smith, who's never pitched more than the 94 innings he tossed last year in a single season.
AC
2:09
If Boston falls out of it, would Chapman and Bregman to Seattle make sense?
Steve Adams
2:10
Red Sox aren't going to be able to trade Bregman with that contract. I say it all the time, but opt-out guys are near impossible to trade. He's either going to go to a new team, rake for two months, and test free agency again ... or he's going to go get hurt/struggle offensively, and decide to stay for another two years and $80MM. It's so hard for any team to make a deadline trade for a player with an opt-out decision looming -- especially one of that magnitude.
2:11
More broadly, the M's had like $15MM total to spend all offseason. They probably have some extra resources for in-season upgrades, but probably not THAT much extra.
Ben Fried Rice
2:12
Am I cooked or do you still have faith in me?
Steve Adams
2:13
It's been less than three weeks of struggling, and even in this little slump he's hitting the ever-loving crap out of the ball with lower-than-average strikeout and chase rates.

Ben Rice is good.
2:16
Alright, I've got to wrap this up. I'm on X @Adams_Steve and Bluesky @adams-steve.bsky.social for more questions (or for insults, if that's your jam).

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Thanks everyone, and have a good week!
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