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Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 8/8/23
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Steve Adams
1:44
I don't think they signed him to the extension with the intent of trading him
Marty
1:45
Is there such a thing as a team being too much in love with their prospects it makes them gun shy?
Steve Adams
1:45
I would describe the majority of MLB teams this way, ha
Tom the Raptor
1:45
what  kind of contract would the Jays offer Kikuchi to return ??   Thanks.
Steve Adams
1:45
He's already signed through 2024
Bob Prince
1:46
When will we see the #1 overall pick Paul Skenes in the starting rotation for the Pirates?
Steve Adams
1:46
Summer of 2024?
Blue Man Group
1:47
More disappointing deadline: Brewers or Reds?
Steve Adams
1:49
Getting Canha and Santana was fine, if underwhelming. The Reds just didn't do much of anything, though I think Sam Moll could prove to be a fine pickup.

I just don't see how Cincinnati didn't add a starter. Heading into the deadline, "Reds will get a starter" was one of the most obvious-seeming developments. That lineup is so fun, but they need rotation help even if Greene and Lodolo come back and pitch well.
Nobody
1:49
Will Detroit ever come out of the rebuilding phase and actually be competitive/relevant?
Steve Adams
1:50
Of course, but turning over the front office pushes the timeline back. Scott Harris and anyone he brings in are going to evaluate players differently than his predecessors did, and it's going to bring about further shuffling
Bob
1:51
Are the Dodgers going to sign Hyun-Suk Jang out of Korea? and how close to major league ready is he?
Steve Adams
1:52
I saw Daniel Kim's report on it and have little reason to doubt him. Jang is 19 years old with no professional experience though. He's nowhere close to MLB-ready.
Large Marge
1:52
What is realistic SP return if the Reds do trade India this offseason?
Steve Adams
1:56
I think Reds fans in general hold India in a higher regard, at least based on proposals I've seen in recent chats. I've been asked about India for Skubal, for Bryce Miller, for Jesus Luzardo and several more ... I don't think India's getting that type of arm in return.

The market just tends to value controllable starting pitching far, far more than a second baseman who's into his arbitration years. I think you'd need to look down the line at someone less established than those names.
John
1:56
Why are more orioles fans not outraged at the lack of moves they did? Do they not see the lunatic John Angelos is?
Steve Adams
1:58
I think there's a lot of trust in the core that's in place, and they're also in first place, so winning buys plenty of good will. If the O's stumble down the stretch or get bounced from the playoffs early because their pitching gets torched, there will likely be some backlash.

I'm glad they added Flaherty in the end, but 2023 Flaherty isn't 2018-19 Flaherty. They should've gotten someone better, in my opinion, but maybe they have some ideas about how to get him back into peak form. His debut certainly wasn't disappointing.
Connor⚾️
1:58
for some reason I expect many trades in offseason? Do u?⚾️
Steve Adams
1:59
I expect a lot of trade activity just because the market for position players is so awful
Bryce
2:00
Have you heard of any concern regarding Harper’s power numbers?
Steve Adams
2:02
Not worried about it -- he rushed back as quickly as he could from a major elbow surgery. He's drawing tons of walks, strikeouts aren't crazy, exit velocity and hard-hit numbers are excellent. He's hitting the ball on the ground way too much -- career high 48.5% -- but I expect he'll be back to the Harper of old by next season, if not later this year.
Jeff
2:02
Are the Dodgers still favored to sign Ohtani this off-season?
Steve Adams
2:04
I don't really think they're "favored." It's all speculation at this point. Ohtani supposedly has a West Coast preference, though he's never openly said as much. The Dodgers have tons of money, of course. It's an obvious on-paper fit, and they'll be heavily in the mix. But anyone calling Team X a "favorite" for Free Agent Y right now is just blowing smoke. (Unless you're saying like... the Dodgers are the favorite to sign Kershaw, or something like that)
John
2:05
You get to choose one player other than Ohtani to build your team around for the next five years (ignore current contract). Who'd you pick?
Steve Adams
2:06
Oof. Torn between Corbin Carroll, Ronald Acuna and Adley Rutschman? They're all so good. Caroll the youngest, Acuna having the biggest/best season, and excellent two-way catchers are just so hard to come by
For Love of the Game
2:07
What do you think was going on in E-Rod's head when he declined to waive his no-trade clause?  His agent mentioned that he loved living in Detroit, but he decamped to Florida last summer during a family crisis.
Steve Adams
2:09
I don't know what was going on in his head and it's silly to try to make up an answer. He pitched well enough in Boston to land a five-year deal with an opt out and no-trade clause. He exercised one of those rights that he earned. I don't think it's anyone's place to fault him for that or wish him ill because of it. I don't know how much time his family spends in Detroit. I don't know the specifics of his marital issues. I don't know what's going on in his head.

I know he's a human being who earned the right to say "I don't want to be traded to one of these teams" if such a trade was presented, and he exercised that right. That's good enough for me.
Garry Fraser
2:10
What are the Red Sox doing? Do they even a plan for this season or even next season they seem to be going nowhere fast and seem content to be a so-so team. Any ideas?
Steve Adams
2:14
The Red Sox are one of the teams I'm most often confounded by, if I'm being honest. Some of it works out, but I don't understand the direction they're going with the pitching staff, the catching corps and this overreliance/obsession with finding talent on the margins. Signing Rob Refsnyder to an extension in early June when he was already arb-eligible, just to get a control over a free-agent year via club option?

It's puzzling to me to see a team with this type of resources trotting out a bench of Pablo Reyes, Refsnyder, Reese McGuire, etc.

I did like their Luis Urias pickup, for what it's worth.
Bomber
2:14
Do you think Steve Cohen has learned you can't buy a championship?
Steve Adams
2:14
I think you can 100% buy a championship. His most recent effort to do so just didn't pan out.
2:17
Alright I've got to wrap up for the week. I'm on Twitter @Adams_Steve and Threads @stephenjadams, though I still haven't used the new one much yet. Sorry for all the questions I couldn't get to, as always.

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Thanks everyone!
Ha, probably want the link in there
Have a good week!
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