JotCast | Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 7/25/23

Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 7/25/23

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Steve Adams

1:32

(more like $132MM once you include the remainder of Rendon's 2023 salary, actually)

Mike

1:32

Will the Twins make any moves - bullpen? How about a right handed bat?

Steve Adams

1:35

I'd expect them to add in both spots. Lots of decent RH bats out there. Pham, Cron, Grichuk, Canha, Lane Thomas, to name a few. Ditto relievers... Twins tend not to go too hard on high-profile relievers, but Chris Stratton, Jordan Hicks, Keynan Middleton, Brooks Raley, David Robertson ... plenty of solid options out there.

Fake Bunt

1:35

Do the Mariners play the role of silent sellers? Teoscar, Sewald, Pollock, and Marco seem like players to move for a few options with years remaining on contracts.... realistic?

Steve Adams

1:37

Pollock has no trade value. He's a DFA/release candidate. Gonzales has been out since May and isn't going to net them any real return either.

They could trade Teoscar, but I don't think the return's going to be good. Sewald's controlled cheaply through '24. Mariners could look to move him if they get a big offer, citing general relief pitcher volatility, but I'd bet on him staying rather than him going.

Ben

1:37

Last year there was some buzz about a Tarik Skubal trade before he got hurt. Think that could be a possibility this year? The Rangers were mentioned as a team last year that could make that move, think they fit?

Steve Adams

1:39

I'm sure the Rangers and about 10 other teams would be all ears if Skubal were really out there, but this isn't necessarily peak value with him just coming off the IL. Plus, he has three seasons of control remaining and the Tigers want to be good within that window.

Yeah, some teams will inquire and the Tigers will probably exchange some names, but my expectation would be an asking price other teams deem prohibitive.

Nick Krall

1:39

Two questions: Who is the most likely add I make at the deadline? What sort of return would a package of Lyon Richardson, Austin Hendricks, and Jose Barrero bring?

Steve Adams

1:40

Hendrick's value is pretty much dried up. He's a 22-year-old with a 73 wRC+ in High-A.

Barrero has had multiple MLB looks and still hasn't revised the lack of approach many scouts were wary of. He's hitting well in AAA but doing so with a .380 BABIP and a 31-32% strikeout rate.

Richardson has some value, sure, but I don't think that trio's going to net Cincinnati a major rotation upgrade.

HappyFunBall

1:42

re:Rendon. Also, adding Rendon's contract (or even part of it) to an Ohtani deal is going to obliterate any notion of real prospect talent coming back to LAA. No way do the Halos sell Ohtani for nothing more than payroll relief.

Steve Adams

1:42

Yeah I was implying that in my reply but should've said it more clearly. Even if a team were inexplicably willing to pay $130MMish for two months of Ohtani -- and let's be real, none of them would be -- said trade partner isn't giving up a shred of prospect value in addition to taking on that money.

Letsmakeadeal

1:43

Pham and Nieto for Florial.....who says no?

Steve Adams

1:44

It the Mets wanted Florial they could've claimed him on waivers a few months ago. He's hitting well in AAA, but it's the same strikeout-heavy profile he had when he hit well in 2022.

Hllywdjff392

1:44

Woo and Clase for India who says no?

Steve Adams

1:44

Not doing that if I'm the Mariners

No Brainer

1:44

I know you think the Angels will not trade Ohtani. But if the Angels don't trade Ohtani they will have missed a great chance to improve and set their team up for years of success. Do you not agree?

Steve Adams

1:46

Of course I agree with that. I've said as much, though perhaps not directly enough. Yes, if they're out of the race they should just swallow their pride and take the long-term value, but I think they're too bent on the idea of pushing into the postseason and then trying to entice Ohtani to stay. And it's also a mammoth PR hit to move him, which shouldn't matter, but is inevitably part of the calculus

Oiseau Rouge

1:46

Logan Gilbert for Nolan Gorman. Who says no?

Steve Adams

1:46

I'm not moving Gilbert there, either.

ZeroSTL

1:47

Are Flaherty &r Montgomery each worth an almost-ready for the Majors pitcher?

Steve Adams

1:48

Montgomery is worth more than Flaherty

RandomGuy

1:48

Lets assume a deal between The Orioles and Angels takes place with the Orioles getting Ohtani. Is there a deal there without Holliday going the other way ?

Steve Adams

1:50

Sure, Baltimore's system is stacked and they're deep in MLB-ready position players. They could refuse to include Holliday and the return could still be construed as more than a "volume based" package. No one's going to mock the Angels if they "only" get like ... Colten Cowser, Jordan Westburg, DL Hall and a middle-tier prospect or two for a couple months of a rental. Or at least they shouldn't.

Not saying the O's would do that, of course, but especially with a system as deep a theirs, there are almost always going to be ways to avoid including one specific prospect.

1:50

ENOUGH with the rumors, let the trades begin!

Steve Adams

1:51

Sorry, I'll stop personally holding things up!

Tom Emanski

1:51

The Cubs seem damned if they do, damned if they don't. Big picture, selling seems smarter than buying, but with a bad division and a rabid fanbse that wants results that might be hard. But I mean there's no scenario where this team can win enough to be a true threat right? What should the Cubs do?

Steve Adams

1:53

I personally don't think they're a viable postseason contender and think they're better off moving short-term pieces and reloading for the 2024 season, but I get the reluctance after they made a clear push to compete this season.

I'd be open to moving Stroman, Smyly, Hendricks, Bellinger and other short-term pieces.

Miller Huggins

1:53

Joey Bart make sense for my Bombers.

Steve Adams

1:54

He makes sense as a change-of-scenery guy, for sure. Going to the Bronx of all places and trying to break out there seems like a tough task.

GlasHalfFull

1:54

Could Tyler Glasnow be a PTBNL in a predeadline trade, such that the Rays could keep him for the remainder of the season and then move him after the playoffs for his final expensive (for the rays) contract year?

Steve Adams

1:55

Nope. PTBNL can't be on the big league roster.

Mr. KC

1:56

What are you thoughts on Michael Massey? Showing some power as of late and good glove. Is he a long-term fixture?

Steve Adams

1:57

It's a really fly-ball heavy approach for a guy who really only has average power. I don't love the player overall, but if he were a stopgap starter at second base for a couple years I wouldn't be shocked or anything.

jamoche1

1:57

Sitting four games out after last night and forced to rely on a rookie laden rotation, do you think the Guards are ready to write this year off?

Steve Adams

1:59

I don't think they need to write off the year entirely. They could try to compete even if they move Civale for some kind of package that includes outfield help, for instance. Then turn around and acquire a boring rental SP if they want to replace those innings. They also have a well-documented glut of middle infielders to peddle, and Amed Rosario's been hitting well enough over the past couple months to perhaps drum up some trade interest.

I expect they'll make some forward-looking moves that leave the window open for a surprising second-half run

O's and Bohs

2:02

Any chance Baltimore trades Mountcastle? Understood it's selling low but not sure there's a need for two 1Bs on the roster (plus Santander and Urias have both played first this year, and Mayo and Kjerstad both seems like they can play there in a year or two). Would he bring back anything useful for this season?

Steve Adams

2:05

I don't see how they could be staunchly against it. He's not helping them lately and they have the depth to move things around at 1B/DH. If they could get shorter-term but clear pitching help, I think you have to be open to it.

That said, I know he missed a month with an injury, but Mountcastle has one multi-hit game over his past 105 PAs. It's not great. He's chasing something like 44% of pitches off the plate in that stretch.

Twins

2:05

Does Jenkins get signed?

Steve Adams

2:05

Yeah he'll sign

Johnny U

2:05

Has Wil Myers signed anywhere?

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