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Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 5/6/25
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Mike
1:25
Yankees trade coming or someone getting a promotion 40 man roster is at 39 now?
Steve Adams
1:27
I imagine the move was more just about Carrasco's leash running out than about opening a 40-man spot. Could always make a waiver claim or select another non-roster starter to the 40-man when Cookie's turn is up next (Jake Woodford and Brandon Leibrandt have both pitched decently), but I don't see the Carrasco DFA as a precursor to something super notable.
Dan
1:28
One team's hot start that you aren't buying? And one team's cold start that will turnaround?
Steve Adams
1:31
I don't know if it's fair to say that I'm "not buying" the Royals as a contending team. If they stay healthy like they did in 2024, then they very much are. But they're about the most top-heavy team in the majors. One Bobby Witt injury or a couple rotation injuries and they're in really bleak shape suddenly. The lineup is just bad outside of Witt, especially with Salvy struggling, and the rotation would look sketchy in a hurry if they lost 1-2 of Ragans, Lugo or Bubic.

Obviously any team looks worse if you subtract one or two of its top three starters, but the Royals' depth isn't amazing. (Nice debut from Noah Cameron though!)
1:32
Rays, Jays and Twins are all teams I think can have pretty notable turnarounds from their current sub-.500 records.
Kyle
1:33
The Athletics could really use someone who can play a legitimate CF, and the Red Sox have an overabundance over outfielders, do they line up for a Rafaela trade?  And what kind of trade value does he have given his outstanding defense but less than stellar bat?
Steve Adams
1:36
I've gotten people in yesterday's subscriber chat, on social media and in the comments talking about A's/Red Sox trade scenarios since the Red Sox have Rafaela and ostensibly need a 1B, which the A's have two of.

For me, as I said earlier, the Casas injury just more firmly opens the door to put Devers at DH and bring Roman Anthony to the majors. And if I'm the A's, I'm not fretting over having three 1B/DH types in Rooker, Soderstrom and Kurtz, because all three have the ability to be genuinely plus offensive contributors. Soderstrom's probably a negative in LF, but he was a negative at 1B, too, and the bat more than justifies it.
Guest
1:36
Any chance Kurtz sees time in the OF?
Steve Adams
1:37
He's listed at 6'5", 240 pounds ... he's a deceptively good runner in terms of where Statcast has measured his sprint speed early on, but Rooker has experience in the OF and GM David Forst already said Soderstrom's going to get some looks there. Seems like Kurtz in the OF isn't a big consideration.
joe
1:38
Javier Baez is hitting about as well as he ever has while playing above-average centerfield. Does he suddenly have trade value? (Not that the Tigers are likely inclined to deal anyone from the present roster).
Steve Adams
1:39
Baez was hitting .258/.300/.303 ten days ago. He's batting .429/.467/.893 over his past 30 plate appearances. That's a breath of fresh air for the Tigers and their fans, but no one is going near him based on 30 plate appearances. The trade value is still nonexistent.
Joshua
1:39
With many team seemingly needing OFers (Seattle, KC, Athletics, etc), wouldn't Alex Call of the Nats make a lot of sense to try and trade for. He shouldn't take a ton prospect wise to pry away from the Nats, and he could be a raise the floor type player for some of these teams. Thoughts.
Steve Adams
1:42
Call has outrageous numbers dating back to last year: .344/.435/.488 with as many walks as strikeouts (13.5% apiece). But -- and that's a big one -- it's a sample of 190 PAs, and he's done it with little to no power and a .388 average on balls in play. That huge BABIP comes in spite of bottom-of-the-scale marks in exit velo and hard-hit rate. He's hitting .304 on grounders (league average is .240) and .813 on liners (league average around .690). I don't see the offense continuing, and I doubt many teams are buying the numbers either.
1:44
I'm not saying he has no role on a big league club, but if you're an OF-needy team looking at sacrificing future talent for outfield help, you probably want someone who you feel confident will be able to produce at an above-average rate for you, and Call crashing back down to something like league-average (or even slightly worse) offense seems pretty plausible to me.
Adam Stevens
1:44
Which closers do you see being traded in the next couple of months?
Steve Adams
1:46
Ryan Helsley and Kyle Finnegan are the two most prominent ones. Does Calvin Faucher count if he's leading the Marlins with two saves? ha
Nick Krall
1:46
Rece Hinds has been smoking it in Triple-A, even if it is momentarily, everytime so far this year we've called up or reinstated someone they light it up for a few games, do we take the chance for a 5 game spark or more again or keep letting him build himself up.
Steve Adams
1:49
Hinds has huge power, good speed and a terrible approach/hit tool. He's down to a 30% strikeout rate in AAA this year, and that's an improvement. I don't think he's a long-term answer for the Reds, but considering the outfield is currently Gavin Lux/TJ Friedl/Jake Fraley/Santiago Espinal/Blake Dunn -- I don't think there's huge harm in giving him a look. I just generally have a hard time buying most guys who strike out at a 30% clip or worse in the majors as legitimate big league hitters.
Dave
1:49
Who says no: Mackenzie Gore for Jasson Dominguez? Yankees get a Cole replacement with a couple additional years of control. Nats get some much-needed power with LOTS of control left, even if he hasn’t lived up to expectations so far.
Steve Adams
1:49
I'm not making that move if I'm the Nats.
1:51
Then again, I've been on the Gore bandwagon since he finally got his first full look following the Soto trade, and he looks outstanding this year in particular.

Darragh and I talked for a bit about unheralded players who don't get the attention they deserve on the podcast ep we recorded this morning. Gore and Kris Bubic were the two pitchers I mentioned
(Again, podcast drops tomorrow morning -- check it out! I'll stop the shameless plugs and get back to the chat now)
Max
1:51
Where do the A's hide the smoke and mirrors or are they for real?
Steve Adams
1:52
The A's can hit! And they have a few decent arms. Need some more pitching, but I liked them as a sleeper club coming into the season and think they can hang around in the Wild Card mix for awhile. Getting some more good work out of Gunnar Hoglund would be huge for them. Nice debut.
ChiSox 2032 or bust
1:53
How about Andrew Vaughn to the Red Sox? He needs a fresh start and the White Sox need him gone.
Steve Adams
1:54
I don't see why the Red Sox would think he's an upgrade.
Duck
1:54
More likely to swim in the big pool first, Chandler or Lawlar ?
Steve Adams
1:54
Which top prospect gets called up first?
Pirates RHP Bubba Chandler (59.2% | 103 votes)
 
D-backs INF Jordan Lawlar (40.8% | 71 votes)
 
Total Votes: 174
1:55
Wow, Mariners claimed Leody
1:56
I did not think a team would pick him up, given the salary -- certainly not a Mariners club that had such obvious payroll constraints over the winter
Guess all their injuries and the nice start prompted ownership to spend a bit more. Don't love him to upgrade the offense, but at a certain point when you're trotting out your fifth- or sixth-best RF option because everyone's hurt, you take the upgrade that's available.
1:57
That's via a team announcement, by the way. Well, at least from the Rangers. Mariners haven't yet formally announced it, but that'll be coming soon.
And they just did. Luis F. Castillo (not the All-Star, veteran Luis Castillo who's locked into their rotation) was DFA
Leody Claimed
1:58
I thought he’d get claimed, inexpensive
Steve Adams
2:00
$4.75MM isn't that "inexpensive" in-season, when most teams have minimal room wiggle room with their payroll. The vast majority of players on any salary of note make it through waivers after Opening Day.

He's also hitting .231/.285/.350 since 2024. Rangers have to be pleased they're off the hook for the remaining money (about $3.73MM)
Cory
2:00
If when the Twins do decide to sell before the deadline here, what could you see that looking like?
Steve Adams
2:03
Harrison Bader, Chris Paddack, Danny Coulombe, Ty France, Willi Castro all on the block. Listen on but don't aggressively shop Jhoan Duran.

If they were to move a Duran, Bailey Ober, Ryan Jeffers, etc. (someone with multiple years of control left), I imagine it'd be due to a team ponying up a borderline overpay offer -- likely something including some controllable, generally MLB-ready young hitters
Unclemike1526
2:03
What do you think the chances are that the Cubs can re sign Tucker? I still say zero. I have never heard him say once that he would be happy to stay. Thanks
Steve Adams
2:04
I've never thought they'll do it. The Ricketts haven't gone beyond Jason Heyward's $184MM, and they haven't even bothered with legitimate pursuits of Juan Soto, Bryce Harper, etc. in free agency. I just can't see that ownership group shelling out $500MMish for Tucker
In the Cards
2:04
Everyone says the Cardinals are going to trade Ryan Helsley, but I'm not sure I see an obvious replacement. Who do you think may become the closer if Helsley is traded
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