JotCast | Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams 6/1/21

Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams 6/1/21

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MPA

2:57

What do the Giants do with Buster after this year?

Steve Adams

3:00

I have to think they'll at least try to keep him another year, even if Joey Bart performs well in AAA. It falls into the "good problem to have" bucket, of course.

This is only speculation, but it wouldn't be crazy if they at least considered making Bart a centerpiece in a trade for a controllable difference-maker in the rotation at some point. They still have Patrick Bailey behind him, and Bart was drafted by the prior regime. Bailey drafted by the current group.

Tribe

3:00

Joey Gallo or David Peralta make sense to give Jose Ramirez’s shoulders a break from carrying our putrid offense?

Steve Adams

3:01

Certainly. Mitch Haniger, too. He's the most affordable, salary-wise, which will matter to Indians ownership

Falvey

3:01

Could I get Martin and Woods from the Jay for Jose Berrios?

Steve Adams

3:01

I doubt it, and I doubt the Twins are moving Berrios even if they don't claw back into the race.

3:02

I know Jon Morosi called Berrios a "name to watch for the Blue Jays" awhile ago, but that was ... bizarre? I mean, Berrios would be a "name to watch" for any pitching-hungry team if the Twins were actually going to move him. But even with Minnesota's struggles this year, the bulk of their core is controlled into 2022 (beyond in most cases), and they have tons of payroll flexibility this winter to spend in a deep free-agent class.

John Mozeliak

3:03

I've been pretty reluctant to make any deadline additions in recent years. With the state of this Cardinal bullpen, is that changing this year?

Steve Adams

3:06

They *should* be willing to make some changes, but that doesn't mean they will. For whatever reason, it seems they prefer to deal in the offseason, but yeah they could probably use some help, particularly since there's about a 0% chance of Alex Reyes sustaining his current results.

He's walking nearly a quarter of his opponents.

The Bald Phoenix

3:07

How...extaordinarily uninteresting this "live chat"...is. Is this AOL or what?

Steve Adams

3:07

And yet you're reading. Lot going on over in your world, hmm?

Dayton Moore

3:08

Who do I call up first, Nick Pratto or Bobby Witt Jr ?

Steve Adams

3:09

Pratto is older and has more minor league time under his belt. Royals are more set on not calling Witt up until they're confident he'll stick. I'm sure they hope the same for Pratto, but he's not held in the same regard within the org as Witt. (Not a knock on Pratto)

I would think Pratto's up first.

bmcferren

3:10

Is Bryan Reynolds the big chip that the Pirates should cash in?

Steve Adams

3:10

He's probably their best asset to move, yeah. He also has four years of control beyond 2021, so I don't expect a move unless it's a pretty overwhelming return. Richard Rodriguez would be another quality, controllable piece who seems more likely to be moved.

Josh Donaldson

3:11

What is my current trade value?

Steve Adams

3:11

Nonexistent? The Twins were willing to pay more for him than anyone else in free agency. His performance hasn't moved that value forward.

Ash

3:11

care to explore explain how PTBNL work?

Steve Adams

3:12

Teams involved agree to wait up to six months to specify one or more players in a deal. PTBNL can't be on the 40-man roster. Generally, the two clubs agree on a list of players from which the acquiring team can choose. They take the coming months to weigh the options. If it's happening during the season, scouting reports and performance of the players on that list will obviously heavily dictate the outcome.

Ryan

3:13

How do you feel about the unwritten rules of the game. I can appreciate the contribution the old guys have brought to the game but honestly they come off pretty righteous at times.

Steve Adams

3:13

I find most "unwritten" rules tired and silly.

Tiger town

3:13

Does Detroit actually trade Boyd this year?

Steve Adams

3:13

I'll be shocked if he's not moved this summer, yes.

California Dreaming

3:14

If none of my questions make the cut, could you let me know they types of questions that would? Not sure what I'm doing differently. Thanks

Steve Adams

3:14

I'm not sure what you've asked so far. There are 654 people asking questions right now, and that's a pretty low number for this time of year. I'm just grabbing from the list and getting to the ones that I can.

3:14

No Angel love? I know its early, but it sure seems like Jared Walsh looks a lot like Freddie Freeman the sequel

Steve Adams

3:16

I'm buying most of Walsh's breakout, but Freeman was a three-time All-Star by this point in his career. I wouldn't compare the two just because they're both left-handed-hitting first basemen.

ericsf7

3:16

what is the market and asking price for Kris Bryant? do you see the Giants being a player for him either at the trade deadline of free agency? he would be a very valuable middle of the order bat once Posey/Longoria/etc leave

Steve Adams

3:17

If the Cubs are still vying for a share of the division lead, I doubt Bryant will be moved at all. He'll be seeking more than a quarter billion in free agency. Giants make as sensible suitor for him as anyone, but there's no way of knowing exactly what his winter market will look like and anyone who writes about how "Bryant to X team" is a perfect or natural fit is just speculating and framing it as something more.

Pumpsie Green

3:18

Clearly, the Jays should have taken on the Arenado and/or Darvish contracts instead of signing the most expensive FA on the market. Imagine where they'd be right now! Do you think those trades weren't offered to Toronto - maybe because of no-trade clauses - or did they reject those deals?

Steve Adams

3:20

I don't know whether they were discussed at length or not, but a large number of players have Toronto on their no-trade clauses. It's just a reality.

I also wouldn't judge the decision based on the first two months. Springer could come back this summer and carry the offense for two months and you'd have a different frame of mind entirely.

I get that we live in a hot-take world, but hot takes are generally short-sighted and rarely intelligent. I'm not judging the Springer deal two months of the way into a six-year term.

Chris

3:20

Most expensive free agent next winter is...

Steve Adams

3:20

I'd have said Corey Seager not too long ago, but Kris Bryant is on another planet in terms of his production right now

Jared

3:21

Taylor Trammell back up think he has figured it out since tearing up aaa? Or is he a quad a player

Steve Adams

3:22

Why would you label anyone a "Quad-A" player after 90 MLB plate appearances? Trammell could come back up, stink again, and jostle back-and-forth between Triple-A and MLB for two years before figuring it out. The rush to call people a "bust" is just patently bizarre.

I hope Trammell has it figured out, but even if he doesn't figure it out this year, there's plenty of time for him to do so in the future. He's 23.

3:22

If Carlos Rodon continues at this pace for the rest of the year, will he get the qualifying offer?

Steve Adams

3:22

If he keeps pitching like this, how could they not?

Cards fan

3:22

When do we get ptbnl from the Fowler trade ?

Steve Adams

3:23

They have up to six months to work out the details, so could be awhile yet. Neither club has tipped its hand to when that will be.

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