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Front Office Subscriber Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 3/24/25
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Steve Adams
3:53
The quality of the average reliever has gone up markedly in recent years, and teams generally mitigate at least some of the wear and tear by implementing a revolving door for the final few spots of the bullpen. It leads to a lot of in-season roster turnover for those final couple spots.

But generally, if limiting starters to two trips through the order empirically showed to be a moot point because the relievers getting the ball weren't any better, teams wouldn't do it. The approach is pervasive because it works. There are many reasons that strikeouts are up these days (although not at peak levels since the spidertac crackdown), batting averages are down, etc etc
Justin
3:53
Am I Crazy for thinking the Orioles might be a very mediocre team this year? Their pitching looks passable at best.
Steve Adams
3:55
No, I don't think you're crazy. It was an underwhelming offseason in terms of pitching acquisitions, and the farm isn't as deep as it once was. A few injuries of note in the lineup, and a lot of the shine will come off. I am really not a fan of their offseason moves as a whole.
Billy Morton
3:55
Did the Tigers do enough to fill the void for a right handed Bat? Was the Margot signing a good one for them?
Steve Adams
3:56
I would be surprised if Margot is still on the team once they're at full strength. I'd have liked to see them get a better RH bat, but seems like they put all their eggs in the Bregman basket. They'll contend either way though, in my view, so it's a need they can revisit when they're deadline buyers this summer.
Rangers13
3:56
What would the Ranger side of a trade for Alcantara from Marlins look like, when and if he becomes available?
Steve Adams
4:00
It will -- or should be -- steep enough that you hear it and say "Oh, never mind." A healthy Alcantara would be guaranteed two years and $34MM with an option for a third season. He's being paid like Frankie Montas, sans the opt-out. It's a raucous bargain and you're talking 2+ seasons of a legitimate No. 1 starter.

If I'm the Marlins, everyone from Sebastian Walcott to Kumar Rocker to Jack Leiter to Evan Carter/Wyatt Langford needs to be on the table. Obviously not all five of them, but at least one from that group with a pretty wide package of middle-of-the-system names supplementing the headliner.
Rob S.
4:00
What are TB's most likely plans in terms of usage between Aranda, Mead, LeDuca and Caballero? When do you think we will see Carson Williams?
Steve Adams
4:02
Aranda will (or should) see pretty regular time at DH, maybe mixing in some 1B or 2B depending on the healthy of Yandy and Brandon Lowe. Mead feels likelier to be in a reserve role, maybe a platoon of sorts with Aranda, but also backing up at 2B/3B. Caballero is going to play all over the diamond, outfield included. DeLuca is the favorite for CF work, though he didn't help himself out with a brutal spring
RAGBRAI
4:02
How does the catching position in ATL work out? If Baldwin is playing well when Murphy returns do they still send him down?
Steve Adams
4:04
Have said this in the past but since I keep getting asked it bears repeating: a healthy Murphy does not mean there's no playing time for Baldwin. Maybe that'd be the case in a traditional "starter gets 80-85% of the playing time" setup at catcher, but clubs increasingly are moving more toward an even split of playing time. If Baldwin hits, just split them 50-50 or 60-40.
Bo Bichette
4:04
Over/Under 300 million on my next contract?
Steve Adams
4:04
Under. Considerably.
Lefty
4:04
Should Giants cut bait with Flores and give VIllar a chance. Younger and many years of control, plus out of options.
Steve Adams
4:08
I'm not a Villar guy. Hasn't hit since that debut, when he posted a 21% HR/FB that I don't think he has the raw power to sustain (especially playing home games at Oracle). He's fanned in more than 26% of his AAA plate appearances and in nearly a third of his MLB plate appearances.

Flores was brutal last year but that was in part due to a knee injury. I'd still probably take him as the likelier of the two to produce. Giants could always carry both, but Villar feels like someone who'd clear waivers anyhow, so they could probably keep him even if they jettison him from the 40-man
Mlbfan
4:09
Will a (non-Ohtani) pitcher ever win the mvp again?
Steve Adams
4:11
Pitchers should win the MVP more often. I don't really subscribe to the "well he only pitches every five days" thought process that many voters seem to adopt. The starting pitcher directly impacts every single play when he's on the mound. That's not true of any other defender on the field other than the catcher, whose involvement is crucial, of course... but it still boils down to the pitcher's execution.

Zack Wheeler should've been the NL MVP in 2021.
The Ghost of Casey Stengle
4:12
You don't like the Mets, do you?
Steve Adams
4:15
I am entirely apathetic toward them. That's pretty much true of all teams at this point. There are some that confuse me (I rarely understand what the Rockies are doing). Some behave in a way I find irksome (why do the Astros, as a team policy, steadfastly refuse to provide anything but the vaguest of update on their injured players?)

But sit here and write about all 30 teams every day for 12+ years and they'll all just start to blend together.
4:16
The Mets are fine. I liked going to Citi Field better than Yankee Stadium when I lived in Manhattan. Does that help? Haha
Kirt
4:16
Does any team win 100 games this year?
Steve Adams
4:16
I'd probably only predict it for the Dodgers.
bobby C
4:17
What do you see Strider doing this season?
Steve Adams
4:17
Being one of the best pitchers on the planet so long as he's healthy
Hot Seat Manager
4:17
Are there any managers on the "Hot Seat" this year?
Steve Adams
4:20
There's no one super obvious. Bud Black seems like he's getting to the point where he's not sure how long he wants to keep managing, so I guess in that sense, you could say him ... but the Rockies are overly loyal.

If the Jays flop, I think everyone from baseball operations to the dugout staff has reason to be worried.

I guess if the Twins faceplant again, maybe Baldelli, but the front office loves him and that's another pretty loyal organization. We'll see if the sale gets done and brings about any changes though.
Pete
4:20
Have you heard any estimates on how long McClanahan is out?  And/or Gelof?
Steve Adams
4:22
Hamate (Gelof) is usually 4-8 weeks.
McClanahan said just today there's no immediate timetable. It's not a season-long thing, but he's never dealt with a nerve issue like this, and the medical staff isn't putting an estimate on how long it'll take the nerve irritation to subside... which it needs to before he can resume throwing.
The Ghost of Casey Stengle
4:23
Not really. You bad mouthed Mets pitching long before it had a chance to prove itself, you kept bad mouthing Alonzo, now Baty's not all that good. You don't like the Mets, it seems.
Steve Adams
4:23
I literally just said an hour ago that I think Baty will hit and that it's a mistake to call him a Quad-A player.
4:26
It is possible to think the Mets should've done more with their pitching staff and that Alonso was never going to get the long-term deal he sought at the dollars he sought ... and have that have nothing to do with my opinion or feelings toward a franchise itself.

I also think the Orioles underaddressed their pitching, the Mariners/Twins owners have colossally let their fans down, and that the Cardinals' lack of an offseason made no sense. I guess I "don't like" a lot of teams?
4:28
Alright. I've got to pick up my kiddos from daycare. I'm on X @Adams_Steve and Bluesky @adams-steve.bsky.social and always happy to answer more questions there.

Thanks for chatting, as always! I'll have a free chat on the site tomorrow. Anthony will have another subscriber chat Friday. Enjoy the rest of your week, and enjoy Opening Day!
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