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Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 8/20/24
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ancient expos fan
1:53
After some struggles to start, James Wood seems to have found his stride with the Nats.  Given his success, do you expect Dylan Crews to get the call in September?
Steve Adams
1:56
I think Crews' potential callup and Wood's performance are independent scenarios. Whether Wood went full Juan Soto in his debut or flopped like Mike Trout did in his first stint, I don't think it'd have had much bearing on Crews' outlook. It's not like the Nats can't make room for both. They're playing 30-year-old Alex Call in RF.

There's a decent chance Crews gets a look, though it'd help more if he were torching AAA pitching since his promotion there. .257/.333/.450 is about average in the International League. If you want to cherry-pick, he's been hot for his past 40-50 PAs, so maybe if he sustains the current heater it'll still get him to the majors in September. Regardless, I think he's an early 2025 regular -- if not on the Opening Day roster.
the eck
1:57
I'm in a 12 team pts league.  Of these relievers whom which 2 would be your preferences: LucasErceg, Ben Joyce, Justin Martinez, Russell Walker?
Steve Adams
1:57
Erceg and ... assuming that's supposed to be Ryan Walker, him.
Oriole fan
1:58
Orioles have brutal schedule next 2 weeks. I see strong possibility of missing playoffs without major help.. what do u think?
Steve Adams
2:00
Can't tell is this is sarcasm, but the O's have a 98% playoff chance per FanGraphs and PECOTA alike. They have a week against Houston and L.A. that's immediately followed by the Rockies and White Sox. They'd need to blow a 7-game lead in the Wild Card column and are only a half game back in the division.

They're making the playoffs.
Joe Jackson's Check Book
2:00
Is there any likelihood of a Jackson Merrill extension, and what do you think it would look like?
Steve Adams
2:03
Michael Harris II signed 8/72 at a similar juncture. Merrill might aim a bit higher since he'll be guaranteed the full year of service as a guy who made the Opening Day roster, whereas Harris wasn't guaranteed anything following a midseason debut. Him getting to one year of service would've been dependent on ROY voting (which he obviously wound up winning anyway, but he had no such assurance at the time).

Still think something in that $70-80MM, roughly Harris range would wokr.
work
BelliLaugh
2:03
Bellinger's bat has looked good since coming back from injury, and has made it back into the field as well.  He opts out, right?
Steve Adams
2:07
Really depends how he finishes, for me. Right now he's a 111 wRC+ guy -- 11% better than average at the plate, essentially -- whose defensive grades have slipped. He could probably beat the 2/50 he has left on the deal if he opts out, but I don't know if he'd be able to clear it by enough that he forgoes a one-year, $27.5MM deal with another opt-out opportunity. Maybe he could go out and get $70-90MM as a 29-year-old 115ish wRC+ center fielder with a dwindling glove.... but if he rebounds to 2023 form next season, he'd shatter that earning power.

Borderline case right now... I think he needs a big finish to opt out.
MB
2:07
If Delauter sizzles immediately at AAA for a few weeks, Cleveland will bring him up. Agree or disagree?
Steve Adams
2:08
They don't need to add him to the 40 until the 2025-26 offseason, and he's still barely played above A-ball. I don't think it's out of the question or anything, but I think he'd really need to rake. As with Crews, he'll be an early-2025 or even Opening Day option in all likelihood.
Tom Kelly's blues
2:09
Angels depth of young starters so bad that they're turning to Johnny Cueto? Nothing against Cueto, but this is how they prep for 2025?
Steve Adams
2:12
I was surprised by the report too, so much so that I reached out to a source myself to confirm that is indeed the way they're leaning. Both Reid Detmers and Sam Bachman would've been on regular rest. I thought maybe there were some service time shenanigans with Detmers, but no ... there's not enough time left on the season for him to get to three years. I guess calling him up now would position him as a Super Two, but if that's really the reason they're not doing it ... man, that is sad. Bachman's already hit one year of service this season, so it's not that for him.
Just all very weird, but ... it's the Angels. So.
But also, Johnny Cueto's fun, and this is now 17 straight seasons of MLB action for him. Keep on chugging along, Johnny.
Freidman
2:13
Im willing to send Landon Knack and Michael Grove to Cincinnati for SS McLain do you do that deal?
Steve Adams
2:13
For the Dodgers, sure. Not for the Reds
Paul
2:13
Nerris to 'Stros?
Steve Adams
2:14
Neris landing with any contender wouldn't surprise me -- be it Houston, L.A., NYY, NYM, MIN, KC, etc.

I guess maybe not the Guardians since their 'pen is already silly good.
wvpirate
2:15
The Pirates goals for the off season would be?
Steve Adams
2:18
Adding legitimate offensive help -- basically wherever they can fit it. You can count on Bryan Reynolds and Oneil Cruz to be generally good hitters, but beyond that, it's rebound candidates or guys with minimal track record. Adding a better outfielder than Bryan De La Cruz seems like a good place to start.

I don't think they'll spend big, but Pittsburgh has a good farm system and lots of controllable arms with only so many spots behind Skenes, Jones and Keller.

The Marlins are proof that even the deepest reservoirs of young pitching can dry up, but GM Ben Cherington should still be listening on their stock of young arms. Bubba Chandler, Thomas Harrington, Braxton Ashcraft, Luis Ortiz, Anthony Solometo, Mike Burrows, even Bailey Falter... they just have so many arms and really, really need a couple bats that can actually hit.
2:19
And I doubt they're going to spend to sign said bats in free agency.
2:20
Ok, I've got to wrap up. Thanks for participating, as always!

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2:21
I'll be pinch-hitting for Tim on the mailbag tomorrow!
Thanks for chatting everyone. We'll do another one on the site next week! Take care!
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