Top 50 Free Agents chat with Steve Adams and Darragh McDonald
powered byJotCast
Prev Page View Full Chat
This chat is available to members only. Please log in to participate.
Grey Fox Fan
2:37
Instead of signing a FA 2nd baseman (Arraez or Chisholm), wouldn't a trade with the Giants for Casey Schmitt make more sense for say Montero who can start or be a swingman in the BP and has 4 more years of control. (he was actually very good in a starting role).  Lee or Anderson can handle 2nd and Schmitt strengthens the left side defense.  Then Harris can sign a SP in FA as he is more comfortable doing.
Steve Adams
2:38
Just putting these out here to say I think both of these scenarios make some sense.
Darragh McDonald
2:39
I guess the O's could do this but they have needs elsewhere. I imagine they'd go a bit cheap behind the plate since they're already fairly committed to Basallo, even if he does lean more to the DH end of things over time.
Steve Adams
2:40
Yeah, I agree they'd need to be intent on trading some of the existing MLB help for pitching if they made a surprise run at Jeffers. But I don't hate the fit -- though I'd like it a little more if they weren't already locked into Alonso at 1B, since Jeffers might be there himself in a couple years.
Will
2:41
Do you guys see the trade market going bananas since there are so few quality FA?
Steve Adams
2:42
I think most modern front offices tend to prefer the trade market in general. It feels like we've seen a lot more swaps of big leaguers in recent years than we might have a decade ago.
Darragh McDonald
2:42
We talked about this a bit on the podcast as well. There are arguments in both directions. In theory, sure, the weak FA class could lead to more trades. But at the same time, there are very few rebuilding clubs.
Steve Adams
2:43
MOAR PODCAST PLUGS
Darragh McDonald
2:43
It's also tougher to trade Player X and then say "Well, we can then replace him by signing Player Y in free agency."
WadeBoggsWildRide
2:43
Howe about Lowe to the Dodgers?
Steve Adams
2:44
Sure. I don't think it's a necessity or anything -- lineup's already stacked. But it's not going to hurt to add a 30-homer 2B, and the contract we (and most others) are predicting is right in the classic Dodgers wheelhouse
Skubal
2:44
Y'all went a lot higher in AAV over the 9 year estimate than I expected. 8 years at 43 mil would have beaten out Yamamoto's deal. What was that debate like?
Steve Adams
2:44
Say it with me! PODCAST PLUG!

But yes, this came up a lot on the most recent pod
2:45
I think Skubal's the best free agent pitcher since Gerrit Cole. Minus the elbow issue this year, he's a near-perfect free agent. Three straight years of dominant, Cy Young caliber performance. Came back from the elbow as good as ever.
Darragh McDonald
2:45
Yes, we did discuss this at length on the pod. But basically, when Boras has the top free agent, he tends to go after the top AAV and also length. We figured Skubal could get something over 43.33, the current record for a non-Ohtani pitcher, on a long-term deal.
2:46
As for the length, Cole got nine years and Max Fried got eight. Skubal is one year older than Cole was but one year younger than Fried.
Steve Adams
2:46
I was debating whether to give him the AAV record or the all-time guarantee record, and eventually I recalled doing this same song and dance with Cole, and he just wound up getting both. We had similar thoughts -- AAV or length? -- with Juan Soto. He got them both.

For the right caliber of free agent, which Skubal very much is, I think you can just have your cake and eat it too.
Darragh McDonald
2:46
Eight or nine were both justifiable. I think we tipped to nine because he's just so clearly the best guy this winter and there will be a bidding war like there was with Soto.
Steve Adams
2:47
I also don't think "beat Yamamoto" is really a goal. I think that's all but a foregone conclusion. So the question isn't "can you inch past Yamamoto" -- it's more "can you top Max/Verlander's AAV and/or can you be the first $400MM pitcher?"

We all pretty comfortably felt yes
2:49
Alright folks -- I think we're going to wrap up here. We're coming up on two hours. Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us and for geeking out to nerdy Top 50 stuff with us. This exercise is a monster every year -- genuinely takes well over a month of prep, planning, debate, writing, etc. -- but it's a fun one and the aftermath of hashing it out with readers is always great.
party 2
Really appreciate the thoughtful questions and even the at times spirited pushback. It makes for fun conversation, and we are total sickos who never grow tired of this insanity haha
laughing 1 tongue 1 trophy 1 cool 1
Darragh McDonald
2:49
Yes, thanks, everyone! It's nice to know that all the work is being read and debated and all that.
party 2
2:50
We will definitely be wrong on a lot of it! Haha. But that's the fun!
Steve Adams
2:50
A few quick plugs at the end -- beyond the podcast!
Darragh McDonald
2:50
As the saying goes, that's why they play the games.
Steve Adams
2:51
We revamped our app within the last year or two. If you don't have it, it's an easy way to access the site, set up notifications for your favorite teams/players, etc. -- Can even tie it in with our NFL, NBA and NHL sites:

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/app/?utm_source=mlbtr&utm_medium=sideba...
2:53
And if you're feeling extra lovey toward MLBTR, you can check out our Front Office subscription, which gets you ad-free viewing however you view the site, exclusive weekly articles from the team, access to our suite of nerdy baseball tools (Contract Tracker, Payroll Tracker, Agency Database, GM Tracker), in-season fantasy advice and a whole lot more. It comes with a moneyback guarantee. I know everything is subscription based these days and this is an annoying plug, but hey, we're a business.
Thank you all for supporting MLBTR however you choose to do so! Looking forward to a fun offseason ... before it shuts down :(

And then a fun return! Hopefully they can keep the lockout under 99 days this time around, ha.
Enjoy your week everyone! Thanks again!
Cool Mama Bell
2:54
There's a podcast?? wink
Darragh McDonald
2:54
smirk
Connecting…