JotCast | MLBTR Chat with Steve Adams 3-15-16

Prev Page View Full Chat Next Page

Steve Adams

3:43

Not a lock, but with Reyes' situation unclear and now Descalso out a few weeks with a fractured hand, it seems very likely that he's getting the Opening Day nod.

Bork

3:44

Machado gets injured and Alvarez takes over at 3B. Worst defense in baseball?

Steve Adams

3:44

If Machado gets hurt, have to imagine they'd put Flaherty at 3B everyday or move Schoop over there (Flaherty to 2B) rather than give Pedro regular looks on the field.

Brandon

3:45

What do you make of the Phillies performance during ST. Do you see this as "just Sprint training" or is this indicative of a team who is beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel or a bit of both?

Steve Adams

3:45

The answer to this type of question is always, "It's Spring Training. Don't read into it."

Ari

3:46

What are your thoughts on Andrew Cashner? Do you think he has a higher ceiling than people expect?

Steve Adams

3:47

"Ceiling" is maybe a strange word to use for a guy with 5+ years of MLB service under his belt, but I do think he's better than his bottom-line numbers appeared last season. If the Padres weren't getting any kind of strong offer for him this winter, I think hanging onto him makes plenty of sense. He's not that expensive and it's really easy (for me anyway) to envision him outperforming his 2015 production pretty handily in the first half and developing into a trade chip or QO candidate.

joe

3:48

why did the twins get ride of a future great defensive out field of rosario buxton and hicks

Steve Adams

3:48

They can still have a fine one with Rosario, Buxton and Kepler, and they had nothing in terms of MLB-ready help behind the dish.

Dave

3:49

Do see the Royals trading Danny Duffy for a 2b or a RF?

Steve Adams

3:50

Nah. There were plenty of free-agent options out there if they really wanted to obtain either of those. I'd actually be curious to see Duffy as a two-pitch guy in the bullpen. Fastball would play up to the mid/upper 90s... could place more emphasis on the curve and less on the change, which has been his worst pitch anyway.

George

3:50

Why doesn't mauer go back to catcher ?

Steve Adams

3:51

Because he's suffered through countless concussions, the most recent of which is still causing lingering effects that hamper his day-to-day life two years later. At a certain point, a player's well-being and quality of life trump ideal roster construction. He'll never get back there again.

The Duke

3:52

Will the Reds be smart enough to have Peraza playing SS everyday in AAA until Cozart is hurt, traded, or gets pulled for performance?

Steve Adams

3:54

I'd play him every day in the minors as opposed to a utility role in the Majors, but the Reds seem to think they're going to be quasi-competitive this year, hence targeting upper-level minor league guys in the first place. I can see him making the team, which isn't ideal unless he's playing almost every day by bouncing around between the OF, SS and 2B. Even then, I'd rather see him try to get back to an everyday SS... but it's been two years or so since he's been that.

jpl

3:54

Would Tejada be an improvement over Giavotella at 2B for the Angels?

Steve Adams

3:54

He'd be a better glove there.

Johnny

3:55

Thoughts on the Reds "retooling" rather than rebuilding? Are they gunna audition guys this year and use all the extra payroll to get some big additions for next season (presumably by trade since they typically shy away from FA signings)

Steve Adams

3:56

That's the only really logical conclusion I can think of, but I still hate that idea. There's so much uncertainty around the roster that trying to just put a bandaid on some of the issues they have and go for it again in 2017 doesn't make any real sense to me. Maybe they're right on Schebler and some other guys that the industry is currently dinging, and they'll end up looking smart, but they seem more than a year away from contention to me -- especially in that division.

Lou

3:56

Can you do a survey for AL Central champs?

Steve Adams

3:57

I don't see why not, sure.

Who will win the AL Central?

Royals (37% | 61 votes)

Tigers (22.4% | 37 votes)

White Sox (18.2% | 30 votes)

Twins (7.3% | 12 votes)

Indians (15.2% | 25 votes)

Total Votes: 165

Dan M

3:57

In your opinion does Stroman trend up or down in 2016?

Steve Adams

3:58

I'm a big Stroman fan, and as long as the knee is healthy would expect a pretty strong season out of him. Not the sub-2.00 ERA he tossed up in 30 or so innings last year, of course, but something in the low 3.00s over 180 innings doesn't seem unreasonable.

Carlos Quentin Tarantino

3:58

Jose Berrios over/under 175 IP in the bigs this year?

Steve Adams

3:58

I'll take the under.

Logan

3:59

Projected Raisiel Iglesias IP/K/ERA line?

Steve Adams

4:00

180, 180, 3.45? Personally, I'm bullish on him and expect better, but when I'm drafting him in fantasy leagues I'm dreaming loftier things. What I put is probably a bit more realistic. He could post an ERA well south of 3.50 and still win like 7 games though given his team.

connor

4:01

do you see domingo santana and rymer liriano both getting playing time in milwaukee?

Steve Adams

4:01

Santana for sure, and I think with Liriano out of options, it makes sense that he'd start the year in center field.

Moose

4:01

With LaRoche likely retiring, any chance a trade of Howard to the Sox happens?

Steve Adams

4:02

If the Phils eat all but a couple million, sure, but as I said earlier, I don't know that they feel compelled to run out and replace Adam LaRoche. He was kind of a lost roster spot for them, and they can just slide Melky to DH or use it for Eaton early in the year as his shoulder gets up to full strength.

Rob

4:02

How far out at the deadline would the Jays have to be to deal JB/EE

Steve Adams

4:03

I think the season would have to be clearly lost. Like 8-10 games back with multiple clubs to climb over in the Wild Card and the division. I don't see that happening, but if it does, they'll have arguably the top two trade chips on the market.

derek

4:04

Does aj reed win the first base job over singleton? Or is he going down to triple A since the astros don't bring up their top prospects without reaching AAA

Steve Adams

4:04

If he goes down, I imagine it'd be more about service time than making sure he plays at every stop along the way in the minors. Could see a case for Tyler White winning the gig though, if they don't consider him a future regular and look at him as more likely to be a bench piece.

Tim lincecum

4:05

Do I start the year on a team ?

Steve Adams

4:05

At this point, no way. Showcase isn't even until late March, and even if he signs right away, he'd have missed all of spring. Best case scenario would be Lincecum getting into games by May, but that might even be aggressive the way his showcases keep getting pushed further back.

Jerry

4:06

Why are so many people predicting the Mariners in last? It seems to me that their lineup is too good, along with their bullpen being very strong

Steve Adams

4:07

2015 performance has a lot to do with it, plus the division should be fairly competitive. I can see Seattle contending, though. I like a lot of what Dipoto did, though I don't get his love for Wade Miley.

Connecting…