JotCast | Trade Rumors Front Office Chat

Trade Rumors Front Office Chat

Steve Adams

2:00

Greetings all! Thanks for joining. I'm going to give my whiny cats some lunch so I don't have to listen to them meow throughout the chat, haha. I'll get rolling in one minute.

2:02

There we go

Monsieur Moncada

2:02

Does Miguel Rojas have any trade value (assuming he returns from the IL before too long)? He has a 132 wRC+ in 2020-2021, has become a solid defensive shortstop, and offers multi-positional flexibility.

Steve Adams

2:04

There are multiple teams who'd love to get their hands on Rojas. He's a plus defender, as you said, and while I don't fully by the 130ish wRC+, I think he's at worst an average hitter.

That said, he's also the clubhouse leader of that team and a player the Marlins probably value more highly than other clubs. Trading him would be tough both from a PR standpoint and clubhouse standpoint. We see guys like this moved sometimes still -- Trey Mancini could well fall into that category next month -- but if I were to wager a guess right now, it'd be that Rojas stays put.

All-Star voting

2:04

Have you voted yet? If you did, who did you vote for?

Steve Adams

2:06

I don't get too into All-Star voting. I'll fill out a ballot and submit it a handful of times, but the uproar over players getting in undeservedly or players getting snubbed is over-the-top to me. Maybe it's having to be on social media, baseball Twitter, specifically, for years and being beaten over the head with annual All-Star outrage. I don't know. I used to care more.

Class of 2021

2:06

Any inspiring words for the middle school, high school, and college grads?

Steve Adams

2:09

I don't know how inspirational I am, ha, but I'll say this: the only reason I'm sitting here chatting right now is because near the end of my senior year of college (2008), I found MLB Trade Rumors and began obsessively following the Johan Santana trade saga here (I'm a Minnesota native).

With about a week left, as I was about to graduate with an English Lit/Writing degree -- I didn't like the journalism track I was on earlier in school and pivoted a bit -- I saw a job posting at MLBTR. I assumed a 22-year-old who still didn't have a college degree (but would in a few days) probably wasn't who Tim was looking to hire, but I had a couple friends urge me to apply anyway.

Tim was torn between me and one other applicant, hired us both as part-timers. The other guy dropped out after a couple weeks.

2:10

Apply for jobs. Take your shot. Reach out to people with teams, agencies, wherever you aspire to work. Take your shot. The worst that can happen is you'll get a polite rejection. Maybe they'll put you in touch with someone who can help, even if they don't have a fit.

2:11

Don't be afraid to hear someone tell you no. Applying for a part-time, Sunday-afternoon shift here as a 22-year-old changed my life. I worked the corporate world for 5 years, hated it, and was fortunate enough to be able to move to this full-time once an opportunity presented itself.

Feury

2:11

Would the A's move Matt Olson or Matt Chapman to the Brewers for a package based around Keston Hiura? Say Hiura, Mario Feliciano, and Patrick Weigel, plus a PTBNL?

Steve Adams

2:12

I can't see the A's moving either player when they're in first place and vying for a division title. Eventually, the arb prices on both corner Matts are going to price them out of Oakland, but I fully expect that to be an offseason scenario.

2:14

If the A's were in last place and buried, it might be another story.

I wouldn't be surprised if there are some rumors of teams trying to pry them away between now and July 30, but I think they stay. I would expect there to be more traction on it this winter, as both are due raises on already decent salaries. Olson is making 5M, Chapman 6.5M. Both are controlled through 2023.

Jesse

2:14

What are the chances Steve Cohen would (he obviously should) be willing to go over the CBT to prop up the Mets injury ravaged roster? Do you think the Mets could offer a lighter prospect package for John Means and agree to take on the Chris Davis contract?

Steve Adams

2:14

I don't think the Orioles would use Means as a, uh, means... of shedding the Davis contract.

2:15

Cohen was willing to break the CBT for Bauer, though, so he would 100% do it this summer if an opportunity presented itself

Ludwiglyle

2:15

So, I’m justifiably concerned about the Braves. Ozuna is, at best, tarnished. My guess is that he’s not back this year. Don’t the Braves have to make 1-2 big moves to contend? If you are AA, who or what do you pursue?

Steve Adams

2:20

If the evidence against Ozuna is as damning as it appears to be from court filings -- an officer purportedly saw him pinning his wife against a wall and choking her -- I'd say he's well beyond "tarnished." The Braves (and every other team) may just be done with him entirely, contract or not. I'll let things play out and see what developments come with the case, but it sounds abhorrent, and at the very least it's fair to say his future is in jeopardy at the moment.

With Ozuna out of the picture, Soroka done for the year and other injuries/poor performances around the roster, I do think the Braves are going to need to make some moves to remain in contention. I'd like to see them pursue a stopgap outfielder and another starter. Nick Castellanos, if the Reds move him, is probably the best OF bat on the market and is a short-term pickup whose cost won't be as prohibitive as his performance would indicate because he's likely to opt out at season's end.

The Reds were also quite motivated to cut salary this winter.

2:22

Rotation offers plenty of options. Kyle Gibson, Matthew Boyd and German Marquez are all going to be available if AA wants someone controlled beyond this year. Rentals will include Jon Gray, Dylan Bundy, Andrew Heaney, Michael Pineda, Tyler Anderson ... I think Gibson offers the best blend of performance and a potentially reasonable cost of acquisition among the year-plus of control guys. Pineda is the safest bet of rentals, to me, while Bundy/Heaney have more upside but less certainty.

Erik Neander

2:23

Who would I need to give up to snag Gunnar Henderson from the O’s and would it be worth it? What about Tanner Scott?

Steve Adams

2:26

There's just no reason for a rebuilding team like the O's to trade Henderson unless they've completely lost faith in him as the 3B (or, less likely, the SS) of the future. (There's no indication they have)

I think Scott's control issues will limit his value somewhat, but he'll be available and shouldn't cost elite prospects to acquire. That 18% walk rate is ghastly, though.

Oh, and Erik Neander would be the Rays' GM, for those who don't keep up with every team's top baseball ops names.

Philly A's

2:27

Who can the A's pick up in order to get further in October? Veteran pitcher? Bigger bat?

Steve Adams

2:30

I like them as a fit for Pittsburgh's Adam Frazier. I question Lowrie's ability to remain healthy all year, and the bat has waned after a hot start. Frazier gives them a quality defender and above-average bat.

If they're really looking for thump, they're one of the AL contenders who'd make the most sense for Nelson Cruz. Hard to see the Yankees or Red Sox going there with Stanton and JDM, respectively (plus luxury tax concerns). Twins might be reluctant to trade him to the White Sox, and they have Yermin Mercedes (though his bat has cooled considerably). Astros are right up against the luxury tax, too. A's, Rays and Jays though .... could work.

A's

2:30

Your thoughts on the stadium relocation drama? Seems like Fisher is making this incredibly, and I mean incredibly, hard for the city of Oakland. Especially after Kawakami's article last month really shed some light on ownership via The Athletic

Steve Adams

2:33

It all just feels so orchestrated. Even before multiple reports indicated that Manfred had long told them he was there to put pressure on the city, that's what this felt like: MLB and the A's using Vegas, Portland (and eventually other locales) to get what they want.

I think Alex Coffey at The Athletic -- I could be wrong, but think it was her -- had a great piece on some of the demands that the team had included in its Howard Terminal proposal. The A's are touting how much they'd privately be investing in the construction, but the subsidies they'd be receiving for the surrounding real estate developments in this proposal were rather staggering.

I personally roll my eyes every time a team tries to hold a city hostage with the threat of relocation.

Alfonse

2:33

Kelenic for Mize OR Skubal. Who says no?

Steve Adams

2:34

Mariners hang onto Kelenic, even with the slow start. I think the Tigers would do it -- certainly for Skubal. Mize would be closer.

2021>2020

2:34

What's your take on the coming crackdown on foreign substances? Will it affect pitcher performance? Will it make it more dangerous to be a hitter?

Steve Adams

2:38

The dearth of offense in the league has reached a critical mass, in my view. Yes, some of it is the launch-angle approach. I think a significant portion of it has to be MLB's efforts to deaden the ball proving to be something of an overcorrection as well. But it's clear that a massive number of pitchers are using some tacky substances to improve grip and enhance spin, and there's tangible evidence that it's advantageous in a significant way.

There's going to be huge pushback when guys start getting hit with fines and/or suspensions. You'll see justifications like "it's safer for the hitters since it helps control," but I think most hitters would prefer to be a little more uncomfortable in the box if it meant shaving 300-400 RPMs off the four-seamers they're facing.

Matt

2:38

Do the White Sox go with what they've got as far as outfielders are concerned? Hopefully Luis Robert and Eloy Jimenez come back in mid-August, but what are their options if they want to add?

Steve Adams

2:42

They should have the payroll to add basically anyone they want. I don't think they can bank on either Eloy or Robert coming back. Have to treat it like both are wild cards and consider it a bonus to get either for the final month or so (plus the playoffs).

Starling Marte is a pretty straightforward option who I do expect to be available. David Peralta, Trey Mancini, Kole Calhoun and probably Mitch Haniger are all options with one and a half years of control left. Problem with a Mancini, though, is that they're setting themselves up for a 2022 outfield with him and Eloy in the corners, which ... woof. That defense would be brutal.

I like the Starling Marte fit a lot there, however. Could just grab Michael A. Taylor from the Royals if they don't mind dealing in the division and would prefer a glove-first CF type.

Zack

2:42

It seems like everyone the Phils put in CF can't produce much at all. Will we see Travis Jankowski out there or perhaps another FA? Odubel Herrera is not the answer. It feels like the entire division is underperforming as well. When do you expect the Braves/Mets or even the Marlins to break out of the pack and pull ahead? Could the Phillies end up sellers at the trade deadline?

Steve Adams

2:44

The Mets are so beaten up that there's no way to feel certain they can just right the ship. Braves, too, albeit to a lesser extent.

I think the division is going to remain within reasonable reach for all five clubs, so it'll be tough for any of them to truly declare themselves sellers.

That's especially true of the Phillies, though. John Middleton didn't hire Dave Dombrowski to come in and engineer a rebuild. Unless they're like 10 games under .500 and completely buried in the division, I expect they'll be trying to improve the roster.

BamaBob

2:45

Thank you for the great chats! Jeff Gordon of the St. Louis Post Dispatch in a chat yesterday listed the immediate needs of the Cardinals as A) Starter B) LH reliever C) RH reliever D) LHH outfielder E) Utility player. I f you were Mo/Girsch what players would you be trying to acquire to fill these 5 needs?

Steve Adams

2:48

I'd agree that rotation help is probably their top need with Flaherty now sidelined and Mikolas not contributing. Wainwright and Kim are both free agents this winter, too, and I doubt they're going to exercise Carlos Martinez's option. As such, they should be looking at guys controlled into 2022 and beyond.

Kyle Gibson, German Marquez, Matthew Boyd, Spencer Turnbull ... if they want to go bigger they could try for John Means.

2:50

The rest of the pieces, I'm not sure I'd put them in any specific order. Ought to be plenty of good lefties out there. Paul Fry in Baltimore, Tony Watson in Anaheim, Sam Howard in Pittsburgh, Joely Rodriguez in Texas, Caleb Thielbar and mayyybe Taylor Rogers in Minnesota.

CBA

2:50

What do you think of a "late bloomer clause" for the players that reach the majors at a later pointe in life say 28 where they go straight to arbitration? Or a total of 4 years of control at 2/2 with 2 years of pre-arb or some combination?

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