JotCast | Chat With MLBTR's Steve Adams: 6/12/18

Chat With MLBTR's Steve Adams: 6/12/18

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Steve Adams

3:17

Valencia in particular is hitting well and could be a nice bench bat to mash left-handed pitching for a contender.

Braves Fan

3:18

Preston Tucker for Keon Broxton who hangs up?

Steve Adams

3:18

Broxton can play center field, and the Brewers have plenty of corner-only bats who have far more offensive ability than Tucker.

Tucker is a DFA candidate more than a trade candidate. He's just not very good.

Bill

3:18

Is Wade Leblanc still in the M's rotation in August? Is Felix???

Steve Adams

3:20

I can't predict Felix's health, but I'll guess Leblanc is back in a long relief role by then in favor of an upgrade. To his credit, he's been really good so far, and his secondary metrics support some degree of success. But I have a hard time believing he's suddenly a serviceable rotation piece as he approaches 34 years of age, after years of evidence to the contrary.

3:21

If he is, though, good for him. Wade was on our podcast a few years ago and gave a great interview. Seems like a genuinely good dude:

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/11/mlbtr-podcast-with-lefty-wade-l...

Ca$hman

3:21

Are Manaea and Jose Berrios untouchable? Can I get either without giving up Torres?

Steve Adams

3:22

I guess you have to go with a "never say never" approach re: any A's player and Billy Beane, but I would be shocked if Oakland moved him. I cannot in any fashion fathom the Twins parting with Berrios.

David

3:23

Name some under the radar relievers that the Indians might target at the deadline.

Steve Adams

3:24

Keone Kela, Mychal Givens, Kirby Yates (though they've been there in the past), Craig Stammen are all plausible targets in my mind. As noted with some of the O's guys before, though, Givens might not be made available by the O's (even though he absolutely should be)

Jeremy

3:24

Who will be the Astros closer going into September?

Steve Adams

3:26

I don't know that they'll have one labeled. They're pretty content to mix and match late in games based on matchups -- specifically on pitch-specific weaknesses in addition to matchups based on handedness. I'd imagine that any of Giles, Rondon, Peacock, Devenski and Harris could be getting outs in the ninth inning, and they'll probably acquire a reliever as well. (Brad Hand would be real nice there, given the lack of a decent lefty option outside of Sipp, who has been anything but consistent on a year-to-year basis)

That’s it, Fort Pitt

3:27

What kind of contract does Andrew Mccutcheon get in offseason?

Steve Adams

3:29

Probably a disappointing one. Him and Adam Jones are the kind of guys that seem like they'll head into the market with lofty expectations based on their name value but wind up finding nowhere near the demand they anticipated. He's a corner-only bat who's hitting for good-not-great power. I'm sure AT&T could be suppressing him to an extent, but it's not like PNC was ever favorable to right-handed hitters with that power alley in left-center. He'll also be 32 next season. If he tops Josh Reddick's 4/52, I'll be surprised, and I'd bet on something closer to Bruce's 3/39.

3:30

All of that, of course, is based on his current outlook. If he hits 20-25 bombs between now and season's end without sacrificing OBP, then sure, that'll change.

Steve Adams Jr.

3:31

Manny Machado for Victor Robles? I mean talk about going for it MACHADO AND HARPER?????? Obviously Trea Turner would move to center.

Steve Adams

3:32

Can't imagine the Nats giving up Robles for Machado, no.

Chacin

3:32

I'm not looking like too bad a signing am I?

Steve Adams

3:33

I dug the Jhoulys signing for Milwaukee at the time, and he's been pretty solid for them, yeah. Little surprised that the grounders have kind of gone away, so it'd be nice to see him make some gains in that department, but he's generally lived up to that deal pretty nicely so far.

Rox

3:33

Considering Blackmon's negative defensive value, was it a bad idea to sign his extension? Especially with Arenado's free agency looking?

Steve Adams

3:37

I'm not really sure what's caused Blackmon's defensive ratings to completely collapse, but it's a bit concerning, sure. That said, it's still a sample of 500 innings, which isn't that much, so maybe he can turn things around. If not, move him to left or right and enjoy the bat.

I don't know that he really impacts Arenado that much. The Rox only have 5 contracts on the books in 2020 and two in 2021. They can afford Arenado from a long-term perspective... just depends on where ownership's comfort level is. If they're comfortable paying one guy $300MM+, they've got a chance.

Andrew

3:37

The advanced metrics say that Machado is a bad defensive shortstop. Does this affect his trade value?

Steve Adams

3:39

They don't necessarily say he's bad, they say he hasn't played well there this season. There's a difference, because I think any team would reasonably expect a bit of a transition period. He certainly has the arm for it, and you'd expect things like instincts, range, footwork, etc. to take a bit of time to come back after years away from the position.

That's one of those situations where I'd imagine getting first-hand looks at him leading up to the deadline will be more important. I haven't watched him much myself (nor am I a scout), but I have to imagine that he's more comfortable there now than he was early in the year.

Besides, a team trading for him may very well just tell him, "Hey we know you want to play SS, but we need a 3B, so that's where you're going."

Poll

3:39

Who signs first? Hanley or AGonz?

Steve Adams

3:39

Sure

Who signs first?

Hanley Ramirez (82.9% | 247 votes)

Adrian Gonzalez (17.1% | 51 votes)

Total Votes: 298

Bill

3:40

If Francisco Liriano comes back healthy and pitches good, could the Tigers get more than the blue jays did at the last trade deadline?

Steve Adams

3:40

The Jays got so much for Liriano because they paid the entirety of his deal and also took on the remainder of Nori Aoki's contract. And I still thought it was a huge steal for them to get Teoscar at the time. No way the Tigers get that much for him

Madbum

3:41

What do you see from me so far? Who's coming to trade for me?

Steve Adams

3:41

I don't know why so many people assume the Giants are going to trade Bumgarner. I don't think it's even on their minds.

Reds man

3:41

Harvey is horrible. Can the reds get anything for him in a trade.

Steve Adams

3:41

Doubt it.

Franmil Reyes

3:41

Am I for real?

Steve Adams

3:42

That's a weird question to ask of a guy with a .250 OBP and a 40% K rate

Power is real, sure, but he doesn't look like a regular player right now.

Twins Guy

3:42

Where is Brian Dozier playing August 1?

Steve Adams

3:43

AL Central is so terrible that I imagine he's playing where he is right now as the Twins try to sneak into the postseason. I doubt it takes more than 85 wins to take that division, and they should be better with a healthy Buxton, with Polanco back, Sano in better form, etc.

Horace Clarke

3:43

Is Zach Britton ( if healthy) moved by the trading deadline?

Steve Adams

3:43

If healthy, yep

AHHRox

3:44

Can you think of any better "dodged a bullet" moment for a team this offseason than Holland turning down the Rockies offer?

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