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Chat With MLBTR's Steve Adams: 5/8/18
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Steve Adams
3:40
I'd imagine they'll go with some kind of committee approach involving Oh, Tepera and maybe Clippard. If you're asking fantasy-wise, I'd hitch my cart to Oh over the other two. He has experience, has been good for them in 2018, and while Tepera's homer troubles early this season look fluky as hell, they might still dissuade Gibbons from handing him the ball in save situations.
Ron Burgandy
3:40
Is Eugenio Suarez an underrated star?
Steve Adams
3:41
I've been a big fan of Suarez since he debuted with the Tigers and expressed bewilderment that Detroit gave him up for a year of Alfredo Simon. He keeps getting better, and yeah, he's probably not recognized nationally to the extent that he should be. Tough to consider anyone *too* underappreciated when they just signed a 7-year extension though
Brent
3:41
Will Brady Anderson be the next GM in Baltimore?
Steve Adams
3:43
It seems that way based on things that've been reported by Ken Rosenthal, Roch Kubatko, Dan Connolly and others who are plugged into things in Baltimore. Though I don't know that it speaks well that he was apparently the lead on the signings of Cobb, Cashner and Tillman this winter. Tillman was a perfectly reasonable gamble at that price, but the Cashner deal and especially the Cobb deal looked like missteps the moment they were reported.
Rick Hahn
3:43
Did I make a mistake not dealing Avisail Garcia last season?
Steve Adams
3:44
I don't think he'd have gotten as much for him as White Sox fans would expect. Clubs just aren't giving up much for corner-outfield-only bats anymore -- especially ones like Avi that aren't especially gifted defenders.
Ms fan
3:44
An anemic farm system means we have nothing to offer for pitching. Is there a chance we consider trading controllable assets ie. Gamel, Healy, Vogelbach for some starting pitching?
Steve Adams
3:46
Healy and Vogelbach are in the same mold as Garcia, as mentioned above. They're limited to the low end of the defensive spectrum and aren't exactly premium defenders at first base. Healy was acquired for a reliever this offseason.

The farm is weak, but they still have some guys that would fetch them fourth and fifth starter types. Look what Jake Odorizzi went for this offseason. You don't need a Vlad Jr. or Juan Soto or Fernando Tatis to beef up the fifth spot in your rotation
Henry
3:46
What's the ceiling for Fernando Romero?
Steve Adams
3:48
I think the ceiling for him is a legitimate #1 starter, but the question with him is if he can remain healthy. He's had so many arm injuries in the minors already, and scouting reports on him have often suggested that he may ultimately land in the bullpen.

But in terms of pure ceiling, I'd say he has a higher ceiling than Berrios and than just about any pitching prospect in the Twins system. Top-of-the-rotation starter or shutdown closer potential with him if he's healthy.
Chris
3:48
Who is in worse shape? Reds or O's?
Steve Adams
3:49
The Reds at least have more depth in their farm and a nice base of young controllable players at or near the big leagues. The O's are in the spot the Reds were in three years ago when the Reds elected NOT to have a big sell-off and instead only traded Cueto and Leake.
Then watched Frazier, Chapman and others lose value before selling off way too late.
Brent
3:50
Do you think Baltimore will DFA Chris Davis?  Only way I can see them getting him off the roster
Steve Adams
3:51
Not this early into the contract. They're stuck with him to be sure, but they're going to try to fix him and salvage some value out of the deal, even if it's an obvious albatross (and was from day one). Duquette can't be blamed for that one, as just about every report out of Baltimore since it happened has indicated that it was driven largely by Peter Angelos.
Sarah
3:51
Who do you see the White Sox trading this year?
Steve Adams
3:53
Won't be as many trades as in years past, but I'd say any reliever is pretty much available -- Nate Jones, Luis Avilan, Joakim Soria -- and so are any of the veterans on the pitching staff. Shields, Santiago if they're throwing decently. They'll listen on Abreu and Avi Garcia again as well.
Billington
3:53
Is Andujar here to stay?  Also I see it hard for him to get regular at bats once Bird/Drury return.  Correct?
Steve Adams
3:55
I wouldn't say he's entrenched himself. He's sitting on a .290 OBP at the moment and has walked three times in 110 PAs. It's easy to see him falling into a slump with that poor of an approach, and it's also easy to see the Yankees saying that a 2% walk rate and a 40% chase rate on pitches outside the zone simply aren't going to cut it
Shawn
3:56
Red that one of the reasons Iglesias velocity was down was because he was throwing more 2 seamers. He also diddnt throw in the cold at the major league level last year.
Steve Adams
3:58
If he's throwing two-seamers/cutters/sinkers, they're not registering as such on Statcast, Pitch Info Solutions, etc. Everything shows he's just throwing his 4-seamer, and the velocity on it is down. The velocity on all of his pitches is down, in fact.

He opened the 2017 season with the Reds in April last year, so I don't think the cold weather thing works as an explanation.
Dennis
3:58
Fulmer is controlled 4.5 seasons!!
Steve Adams
3:59
This is correct! Not my previous 3.5 season comment. All the more reason not to rush a trade (while still being very open to moving him if a Godfather offer comes along)
Brent
4:00
Who is the nicest player you've gotten to meet?  The rudest?
Steve Adams
4:02
Pat Neshek followed me on Twitter and DMed me out of the blue to tell me he really liked something I wrote and that he loves MLBTR. Guess that's not meeting him in person, but I thought it was really cool of him. I haven't met tons and tons of players in person, but I haven't had an especially rude interaction with any of the ones I have. I thought Bradley Zimmer was really cool when I interviewed him before the draft.
Twin city duster
4:03
Looks like you were wrong about the twins. Absolute garbage
Steve Adams
4:04
They're finishing off their fifth win in a row as we speak and have spent most of the season without Byron Buxton or Miguel Sano. At this rate, being within striking distance of .500 looks like it'll keep you competitive in the AL Central dumpster fire.
Ricky Hahn
4:05
Is it smarter for me to go after Josh Donaldson next year as opposed to Machado?
Steve Adams
4:06
Machado's age aligns more with the general direction and timeline of the team. Donaldson could be on the downswing by the time Kopech, Eloy, etc. have all established themselves in the Majors.
John
4:07
What was your preseason World Series prediction? Is it the same as today?
Steve Adams
4:07
I don't think I went on record and made one in a chat, but with friends prior to the season I think I picked the Astros and Nats. I'm still good with those picks.
4:08
Oof. Brewers' prospect Mauricio Dubon tore his ACL and is out for the year -- that stings for Milwaukee. He could've conceivably debuted this summer and worked his way into a pretty prominent role
JK
4:08
Are you more surprised with the Phillies or Braves start?
Steve Adams
4:10
Braves. Lucking into amazing performances by guys like Flaherty, Tucker, Markakis, etc. to open the season has really fueled them, though. I know I didn't endear myself to Braves fans by saying I like the Phillies better in 2018 while liking the Braves better over the long haul, but that's still my belief
Tommy
4:10
Are there enough ABs for Matt Adams?
Steve Adams
4:11
Of course there are. He's a part-time bat who's proven he can't hit LHP. He's on a ridiculous hot streak right now, but we went through this exact scenario this time last year, with the Braves unfathomably moving Freeman to 3B to accommodate Adams -- only to see Adams turn back into a pumpkin.

He's not a bad hitter or anything, but this almost certainly isn't some kind of breakout where he's taking his game to a new level
Jon
4:12
Why doesn't Markakis ever get any love? He's never been a terrible player.
Steve Adams
4:13
He hasn't been an especially great player since he was 24 or 25 years old, either. He's a solid OBP-oriented bat with doubles power and a useful defense in right field ... it's just not an overwhelmingly exciting skill set.
Just Sauce
4:14
Markakis is low key on track for 3000 hits
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