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Chat With MLBTR's Steve Adams: 5/25/18
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Advanced Stats
2:22
I recently started caring about wOBA and xwOBA. How do you feel about them?
Steve Adams
2:23
Wouldn't reference them on the site with fair regularity if I didn't think they had some merit. But like any metric, they need to be contextualized and viewed as one piece of a puzzle rather than the basis for any singular, definitive declaration about a player. There are so many stats and so many numbers out there, and the best way to make a good assessment is to use as much data as you can.
DM KC GM
2:24
If I go into full fire sale mode is there more of a market for Whit, Sal or Herrera?
Steve Adams
2:24
Herrera will have the most widespread appeal since he's a rental and every contender needs bullpen help every trade season.

I don't think there's any way, even when (not if) the Royals start selling, that they'll trade Perez
MIA
2:25
what would the marlins receive realistically if someone like Jarlin Garcia would be made available?
Steve Adams
2:26
I don't think he's a viable starting option, so he'd be priced like a decent but not overpowering lefty reliever. I think you'd be disappointed by how other teams would view him. He doesn't really miss bats, have good control or induce grounders. He's succeeded wholly on good fortune thus far.
Bartolo Colon
2:26
Am I going to get to play for a contender this year?
Steve Adams
2:27
No reason for the Rangers to hold onto him outside of just soaking up innings for them, but he's 45 ... I'd imagine he prefers to have a chance to win, and the Rangers will honor that desire.
Kershaw
2:27
Do I opt out of my contract? Do I stay a Dodger even if I do?
Steve Adams
2:29
Yes to the opt out, and no one has any real way of knowing the latter half right now. The Dodgers haven't really beat the market to sign a free agent -- they technically didn't even offer Kenley the most money. They re-signed Turner, but his market was minimal in a way that won't be true for Kershaw.

This'll be an interesting litmus test of sorts for the Friedman-run Dodgers. Do they view him as the exception to their previous operational tendencies and break the bank to retain him? Or do they assign him a value, and if his market surpasses that point, allow him to sign elsewhere and look for ways to make up the lost production?

This is a total guess from me, but I don't think they'll have the "we need to re-sign him at any cost" mentality and would eventually let him walk.
Anthony
2:29
Would you shop Mazara if you were JD? Think they do that this summer?
Steve Adams
2:30
I think he's still developing as a hitter so his value isn't at its peak. I wouldn't shop him and don't think they will do so.
ATL
2:30
Bandy an option for the Nats as they take their sweet time to find a catcher?
Steve Adams
2:30
As I mentioned with regard to the Twins, are they really going to view him as an upgrade?
Lizardking
2:30
What teams, do you think, would be interested in Scooter Gennett?
Steve Adams
2:31
Mariners are the first one that jumps out to me.
Corky Jones
2:31
Where have all the baseball nicknames gone? Lefty, Babe, Dutch....
Steve Adams
2:32
It feels appropriate that this question was submitted right as I took a question on Ryan Joseph Gennett
aka "Scooter"
But I agree -- give me more weird names
OT
2:32
Caps or Golden Knights?
Steve Adams
2:33
I know little about the NHL and only kind of follow the Minnesota Wild (sad face emoji), so I don't have much of an opinion there. Jeff Todd's pulling for the Caps, and I like Jeff, so uh... go Caps?
Rally Monkey
2:33
Who won the Simmons/Newcomb swap?
Steve Adams
2:34
Simmons has already been worth like 10+ wins for the Angels. I like Newcomb, and I don't think it's close right now when I say I'd take the Angels' side of that deal.
Kevin
2:34
What is your opinion of Fernando Romero?  Is he the real deal?
Steve Adams
2:36
"Real deal," "legit," etc. are all way too vague of terms.

He's a talented pitcher with significant durability issues that I think can pitch near the front of Minnesota's rotation if he can stay healthy. But, given his track record of injuries in the minors, I don't know how confident I feel that he can actually do that.

If his arm holds up, I can buy him as a low-3.00s ERA guy with a good strikeout rate, lots of grounders, tons of velocity and probably too many walks to pitch deep into games with regularity. That's a good asset, but of course he isn't going to sustain an ERA south of or anywhere near 2.00.
Hanley
2:37
I can't play 2b, right?
Steve Adams
2:37
He can't even play 1B all that well.
Gloves Off
2:37
Who wins in a fist fight between you and Jeff?
Steve Adams
2:37
I am 100 percent, beyond a shadow of a doubt confident
2:38
That Jeff would mop the floor with me
Like, brutally kick my ass.
Haha
Moose
2:38
Alfaro's outlook appearing a bit better? His tools are making some noise lately
Steve Adams
2:39
He's getting a lot of attention for his throwing arm, but that's nothing new. I don't think I ever saw less than a 70 (on the 20-80 scale) in a scouting report on him.

He still isn't making any contact, and the 40% K rate will have to come down if he's going to sustain any real success at the plate in the Majors.
Jaxon
2:39
Has Bird been activated? I saw a report he was no longer on the Scranton roster. Thanks.
Steve Adams
2:40
No announcement, but it's expected that he'll be activated this weekend. Jason noted as much in last night's Roster Roundup:
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/05/mlb-daily-roster-roundup-braun-...
Rocco Rox
2:40
what upgrades do you see the Rockies making?
Steve Adams
2:43
The Rockies seem like they make decisions by somehow reading my mind and then asking, "Ok, now what's the polar opposite of what he thinks we should do?" I've given up trying to guess, ha.

I think they should push Desmond to a utility role, give McMahon everyday ABs at first for a month, and if he doesn't hit, go out on the market and get a Duda type rental for the remainder of the season, at the very least.

But I thought they should've been after those types this offseason, too, and I thought they could use a veteran SP. Instead they brought back CarGo to a beyond crowded OF mix and spent $100MM+ on relievers. Shrug.
Jon
2:43
What do the Twins do with their sudden abundance of starting pitchers? With Santana coming back, Trevor May near a return as well, and Gonsalves looking ready at AAA who ends up in the rotation?
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