JotCast | Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 7/22/25

Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 7/22/25

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Steve Adams

1:25

I'd be surprised, but they showed in 2021 (Jose Berrios) that if the bidding gets high enough they'll bite the bullet.

Guest

1:25

Do you see the royals trading seth lugo? If so, what's the return?

Steve Adams

1:28

I think they'll eventually get there, and the return will be something fans consider lackluster because of the downside associated with Lugo's player option. We almost never see opt-out/player option guys traded, so it'll be an interesting litmus test.

The only one who's been moved recently was Scherzer, and he agreed in advance to exercise his player option. That got the Mets Luisangel Acuna, though they also had to pay down a huge portion of Scherzer's contract.

Carrie Halas

1:28

Hear me out... phillies go after Eugenio Suarez. Bohm goes to 1b upon return, Harper to Of. Lineup fix accomplished, if just for the stretch drive.

Steve Adams

1:29

I'm fine with all of this, but I don't run the Phillies and Dave Dombrowksi said within the past six weeks or so that he doesn't want to move Bryce back to the outfield.

Zach

1:29

What would a hypothetical return for Bryan Reynolds look like?

Steve Adams

1:29

I don't think Reynolds has positive trade value.

Trader Phil

1:30

If you're the Dodgers, which move are you making: Duran/Ryan from Minnesota or Bednar/Keller from Pittsburgh?

Steve Adams

1:31

The asking price on the former would be overwhelmingly larger than the latter. I don't think the Twins will move both Ryan and Duran (and find it pretty unlikely they ultimately move either, though if someone goes wild with a Duran offer, I would understand their temptation)

Luis Mey, Luis Mey not

1:31

What’s the most ideal offensive target for the Redlegs.

Steve Adams

1:32

Most ideal? Suarez probably, but that's true for most clubs looking for offense. Geno is on another planet this year.

Framber Valdez

1:32

Am I an Astro next season?

Steve Adams

1:33

I'd be surprised. Owner Jim Crane has shown little to no willingness to push to the levels that'll be necessary to re-sign Valdez, and the few (two) times he has, it's been for hitters (Altuve, the failed Bregman offer)

Broken Bat

1:33

Would the Cubs offer Shaw 1-1 for Suarez?

Steve Adams

1:33

I don't think so, no.

Still an A

1:34

Do the A's get more in return for Jeffery Springs then what they gave up?

Steve Adams

1:34

Doubt it

Call for relief

1:34

Teams are saying they "will listen" to offers for not only some of the top closers in baseball, but closers with several years of team-friendly options. Do you believe any will actually be traded, and if so, do you believe trading top relievers with multi-year, team-friendly contracts is a fluke or is it a trend you expect to see in future years.

Steve Adams

1:36

I don't know if David Bednar falls into this category since he only has one year of control remaining beyond 2025, but I'd be extremely surprised if he's not moved.

On Jhoan Duran, Emmanuel Clase, Felix Bautista, etc. -- I don't think any of them are individually "likely" to go, but there's a real chance (25% or so?) that one of them goes, sure. Clase feels the likeliest to me, just given Cleveland's payroll and the presence of Cade Smith

Ben Cherrington

1:39

Who is a bat that Toronto could send me for Mitch?

Steve Adams

1:39

Alan Roden and then some?

Bronxie the Turtle

1:39

Miguel Andujar or Gio Urshela would be good pickups for the Yankees. Maybe IKF too. An Andujar-Severino package?

Steve Adams

1:39

The Yankees acquiring Andujar and finally playing him at third base would amuse me, so I support this. I doubt they want any part of that Sevvy contract, though.

Matthew S

1:40

Is there any chance the Mariners are looking to add a bullpen arm or are they not going to likely make a move for any type of pitcher

Steve Adams

1:40

They are looking at bullpen arms, yes.

Natitude

1:41

Is it realistic to hope for a Top 100 prospect in return for any of the Nats players available at the trade deadline? Bell, Soroka, Lowe, Finnegan?

Steve Adams

1:41

No, I don't think any of those guys have that type of value.

Phillies Phan

1:41

The Marsh/Rojas experiment is a mess. Why havent they brought up Crawford yet?

Steve Adams

1:42

Matt Gelb at The Athletic and Scott Lauber at the Philly Inquirer both had comments from Dombrowski on this last night -- basically that they want Crawford to be up for good when he's promoted, and they don't want to call him up only to find a deal for an OF four days from now and push Crawford right back down to AAA

wkkortas

1:42

I keep reading speculation as to how Ke'Bryan Hayes' trade market is "heating up", but given the amount remaining on his deal vis-a-vis his offensive performance and his health concerns, how strong is the demand for his services?

Steve Adams

1:44

I'm sure the Pirates would love to move Hayes. "Heating up" seems like charitable framing from anyone who's saying that. Cubs, Yankees, etc. surely have looked into it out of due diligence, but I'm sure most of those talks involve the Pirates eating a huge portion of the contract and little return heading their way.

Mullinorg!

1:44

If you're Ross Atkins, are Nimmala and Yesavage in play as trade chips? Contending years don't always come around, but on the other hand it's not like this trade deadline has many "must have" players

Steve Adams

1:44

Yeah, everyone in the Jays' system should be on the table right now.

Angels deadline

1:44

Halos need to be sellers, who makes final decision Arte or Perry? I hope they are smart and add to the young core they have.

Steve Adams

1:45

Arte makes the call, and Arte doesn't like to sell.

M’s Fan

1:45

What would it take to get Dominguez and Soto from the Orioles? Mostly salary relief or a significant prospect?

Steve Adams

1:46

Neither is being paid so well that they're salary dump candidates. Both should command a decent prospect or two individually. Getting both in the same trade probably requires a return of some note.

Josh bell

1:46

Am I getting traded to a contender

Steve Adams

1:47

He's quietly been hitting pretty well since May. No one's going to give up much for him, but yeah, there's a good chance he moves.

Cassie comes to bat

1:47

No way the Cubs trade Cassie if they don’t plan on signing Tucker, correct???

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