JotCast | Chat With MLBTR's Steve Adams: 6/19/18

Steve Adams

3:06

Another hour discussing everything from stuff to things. Let's get underway

Justin

3:06

What's the market looking like for a player like Josh Harrison?

Steve Adams

3:08

He's a versatile, useful player but the contract isn't exactly teeming with excess value, and his primary position, second base, has had probably the greatest supply and least demand of any position throughout the game (outside of 1B/DH) in recent seasons.

Plenty of contenders would be interested, but I'd imagine most would either want some financial incentive to give up anything of real value or wouldn't be offering an especially exciting return.

Ross Atkins

3:09

Do I really trade Ryan Tepera? It seems like unless I get blown away by a slew of prospects, it doesn’t make sense...

Steve Adams

3:10

Why not? He's already 30, he's basically the same pitcher he was last season, and relievers are generally volatile. It's not like we're talking Josh Hader here. Tepera is an average or better reliever who's about to hit arbitration. I don't think he should be valued in the same manner you're suggesting.

Bryce

3:11

Who closes for the Royals?

Steve Adams

3:13

I truly don't even know how to hazard a guess at that, ha. It's an ugly group sans Herrera. Kevin McCarthy seems like the best bet initially just based on 2018 performance, but he's fairly hittable and doesn't really miss bats, and it's typically harder for that ground-ball skill-set to hold onto a ninth-inning gig long-term. It's not going to be a pretty bullpen.

Someone

3:13

Is Sheffield for Hamels realistic at all?

Steve Adams

3:13

I would rather just call up Sheffield and plug him into the rotation than trade him for Hamels

3:14

Hamels is more name value than anything else at this point.

Herrera

3:14

Is the Herrera trade a precursor to more "impact" June trades?

Steve Adams

3:14

It does seem like teams are being more aggressive in trade talks early this season. And the Royals, at least, are clearly willing to sell early if they find an offer to their liking.

Brandon

3:15

Pablo Sandoval has been decent of late. Does he have any trade value considering he is basically free?

Steve Adams

3:16

I don't think anyone's giving up anything of real value for Panda, even if he is hitting surprisingly well.

Nick

3:16

Does Britton net more than Herrera?

Steve Adams

3:17

That he's left-handed might help, but you're talking about a guy making $12MM ($4MM+ more than Herrera) who threw 37 so-so innings last season and has only just now been activated off the DL from a major surgery. And he's walked three in three innings so far while showing a fastball that's down more than 2 mph

3:18

Maybe he'll build up value between now and July 31, but as is the case with Hamels, he's more name value than anything else at present.

Eric

3:18

If the Giants fall further back in the division could they look at trading Brandon Belt?

Steve Adams

3:19

San Francisco just hasn't really shown any inclination toward selling off major pieces in recent years, and Belt in particular is having an incredible season at the plate.

Jeff J

3:20

Nick is having a great year for Atlanta any chance they resign him?

Steve Adams

3:22

Markakis had a 5-week power surge and has since hit like a slightly better version of the Markakis we've seen for years.

It's not really a knock on him -- he's been a solid hitter for awhile -- but he's been a slightly-above average bat since hitting seven homers in 4-5 weeks. If he'd maintained the power uptick, I'd buy more into the "whole new Markakis" narrative, but he looks like the same guy he's been for awhile now.

If anything, the most appealing part of his 2018 is his decrease in K's.

3:23

At any rate, I don't think the Braves will make a big push to re-sign him, no.

If he's one of those guys who's sitting there lingering in January next year because teams don't really pay for corner OFs much on the open market, though, maybe he'll end up back there on a relatively affordable deal

Go Dbacks

3:24

Could getting Jon Jay be one of the best under the radar acquisitions before the deadline?

Steve Adams

3:24

It was a nice pickup at a reasonable price point. I liked the Royals' signing of him this offseason, and there's not much reason to like the D-backs' acquisition of him any less.

There'll be better moves, but it was a nice, proactive add by Hazen & co.

Matt E

3:25

What do the Reds do with Bailey?

Steve Adams

3:25

Release him.

Once he's off the DL anyway

Ohtoni

3:25

Reports are he needs Tommy John but Angels are saying no. Wouldn't they want him to get it ASAP with how long recovery time is if he did?

Steve Adams

3:28

There's no reports saying he needs it. Pedro Gomez from ESPN and a few others have spoken to people who have told them "We think he's going to need it." That's not the same thing, as those people aren't being informed by Angels doctors, who've said time and time again "we're waiting for the 3-week diagnosis."

He may very well need it -- a lot of guys with Grade 2 sprains in the past have. But that's all that's informing "reports" that he'll need TJ. Frankly, if I had to guess, I'd bet he has it, but that's speculation and not something worth reporting on in the manner that ESPN did as far as I'm concerned.

As for the delay, I wrote more than a week ago that they might as well wait. If he's going to have TJ in early June or in late June, they probably don't let him pitch in 2019 either way.

Matt

3:28

Does Dipoto dangle Kyle Lewis?

Steve Adams

3:28

I doubt he shops him aggressively, but Jerry has shown he's pretty willing to deal just about any prospect

Mets fan

3:29

Is Mickey Callaway on the hot seat?

Steve Adams

3:29

Not in year one of a long-term deal

Dave

3:30

Did the Royals trade Herrera too soon? Seems like they could've gotten more in terms of a higher rated prospect

Steve Adams

3:31

Teams don't really care much about public prospect rankings. If they feel like Gutierrez or Perkins are better than the rankings indicate, then public perception shouldn't make a difference in the deal they take.

Zac

3:31

When does Casey Mize sign?

Steve Adams

3:31

Has to sign by July 6. No reason to expect he won't.

BASEBALL

3:32

What would a package for Syndergaard look like

Steve Adams

3:32

Take the two prospects that you, under no circumstances, would ever want your team to trade. Then, add 2-4 more good pieces to it and you might have a decent framework.

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