JotCast | Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 1/27/26

Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 1/27/26

Steve Adams

8:18

Good morning! We'll get going at 1pm CT today, but feel free to submit questions ahead of time.

1:01

Good afternoon and happy Tuesday -- let's get going

Not my job to win a World Series

1:01

Peralta return higher than the Burnes return? Any moves left for the Brewers this offseason?

Steve Adams

1:03

They're pretty comparable returns -- two top prospects on the back-end of most top-100 lists. I think the prospects themselves here are a bit more interesting than the Hall/Ortiz combo they got from Burnes, but they also got a Competitive Balance draft pick for Burnes, which has plenty of value itself.

I imagine the Brewers will still look into some low-cost bullpen/bench additions as guys who are lingering on the market bring their demands down and accept lesser deals just to get into camp somewhere.

Pedro4eva

1:03

Do you see the Red Sox making a move for Suarez at 3rd? If not do they just give it to Meyer?

Steve Adams

1:03

No, I think if there's an addition at this point it feels much likelier to be a second baseman. Mayer at third base feels like it could be the plan at this point.

Guest

1:03

David Peterson for Jeremiah Estrada. Who says no?

Steve Adams

1:04

I like David Peterson, but I'm not giving up four years of Estrada for one of Peterson if I'm the Padres.

Brewer Fan

1:04

Jett Williams and Josh Knoth for CJ Abrams. Who says no?

Steve Adams

1:04

Washington, pretty easily.

Guest

1:04

Who do you think will play first base for the Padres ?

Steve Adams

1:06

As things stand, Jake Cronenworth. But they could move Crone back to 2B and bounce Song around the diamond a bit if they wind up signing someone like Hoskins, Ozuna, etc. on the cheap. Gavin Sheets can spend time at 1B or DH. Cronenworth can play 1B or 2B. Seems like they'll get Song looks in the infield and outfield alike. So ... plenty of opportunity to add a cheap bat if they find a deal to their liking.

Sf giants

1:06

Are we still engaged with Brendan Donovan after signing Bader?

Steve Adams

1:07

No reason that adding Bader at a reasonable rate would take them out of the running for Donovan. If anything, Bader made the team better, which gives them more of an impetus to punt some future value to get their hands on Donovan.

Mike Elias

1:07

Mountcastle and a low level prospect for JoJo

Steve Adams

1:09

I don't think that does much for the Cardinals. Mountcastle is a buy-low veteran who can be kept through 2027 via a club option. There's no real long-term value there unless he bounces back and becomes a trade chip himself this summer, but acquiring him runs the risk of him continuing to struggle while also cutting into the playing time of someone like Alec Burleson. He's also more expensive than Romero.

If/when the Cardinals move Romero, I expect it'll just be for a prospect or two.

Leo

1:09

Feel like Semien would be better at 3B than Bichette, right?

Steve Adams

1:10

He might be, but you've got an elite defensive middle infield tandem right now. Bichette's not going to be a lock to be a good 2B, either. I'm with the Mets that I'd rather only play one guy "out of position" and maintain the awesome up-the-middle glovework.

docgreedo

1:10

What can Korey Lee bring back for a catcher hungry team (like the Rays)?

Steve Adams

1:12

He's 27, out of minor league options, hasn't hit in the majors and didn't hit in AAA last year. I don't think there's a ton of trade value there. He'd probably get claimed off waivers... maybe someone tosses the White Sox a nominal PTBNL or unranked, low-level minor leaguer in return, but he just feels like someone who's being squeezed off the 40-man to me -- not a genuine trade chip.

PIVOT!

1:13

Seattle should pivot to a CJ Abrams or Nico Hoerner or Matt Shaw and avoid Brendan Donovan... If possible... The value seems FAR better for what they'd seemingly be giving up.

Steve Adams

1:15

I think Abrams is a great fit in Seattle, sure. Donovan would be, too. I feel like the asking price on Hoerner and/or Shaw would be prohibitive relative to the immediate need in Seattle. I mean, sure Hoerner would be a nice upgrade, but they'd need to deal from the MLB roster, negating some of the value they get back, and it wouldn't be cheap to add him regardless.

Someone -- Mariners, Pirates, Red Sox, Reds, Royals -- should give up some good talent to get Abrams though. I think there's another gear there, and he's still only 25 with three years of club control remaining.

Seriously

1:15

What's holding up the Framber signing? How many ways can a contract offer be tweaked? Could his camp be holding out for a surprise team to emerge? Seriously, what gives?

Steve Adams

1:16

There are top-tier free agents in this spot every offseason. Presumably, he went out hoping for something pretty long-term (six years, likely) while most clubs were starting in the 3-4 year range since he'll pitch this season at 32.

I don't really think it's abnormal that he's sitting unsigned in late January. We see a few of these guys every winter, and more often than not, they still wind up getting a nice deal.

Garrett

1:17

The Nats rotation was always going to be a bit of a question mark and that seems even larger now after the Gore trade. Should we expect them to supplement with a veteran arm on a 1-year deal?

Next NextGen Nats

1:17

Who will the Nats start on the mound on Opening Day?

Steve Adams

1:19

I would imagine their Opening Day starter is whichever veteran they throw a year and $5-10MM at in the next few weeks. They need at least one source of steady innings in there. Tyler Anderson, Tomoyuki Sugano, Jose Quintana, Martin Perez, etc. ... someone along those lines.

Mikolas if they really just want bulk innings (which would be defensible)

Emojis

1:20

Anyone else seeing emojis pop up on answers that you can click on? lol

Steve Adams

1:21

Haha yeah I left the little react/emote/emoji option on by accident. Have fun with it!

Robert deal

1:21

How would you grade the Luis Robert trade for both sides?

Steve Adams

1:23

I think the NY media is hyping the Robert move a lot more than I would, from the Mets' vantage point. Super talented guy, obviously, but it's a $40MM dice roll (including luxury tax) that he stays healthy and has a productive full season at the plate for the first time since 2023.

I don't think they gave up a ton, so whatever -- not a big Luisangel Acuña guy here -- but the deal has a pretty realistic chance to just be a bust for both parties, ha.

But the Mets have limitless funds, so I suppose given the choice, I'd rather have Robert than Acuña + Pauley ... it just would've been a ways down my list of options for the Mets to pursue.

Options

1:24

When does the annual "out of options" post come out?

Steve Adams

1:24

Haven't checked with Tim this year, but usually around the time pitchers and catchers report, I think?

Heath

1:25

Where do you see Goldy signing and when he goes to the HOF will it be as a Dback or a Cardinal?

Steve Adams

1:27

Back to Arizona makes a ton of sense. Could see any of the Padres, Reds, Angels trying to jump in on the cheap, but D-backs work nicely and probably have some extra motivation since it'll go over so well with the fans.

I imagine some fans will bristle at the cavalier assumption that Goldy is a HOFer, but I think he's got a pretty clear-cut case and imagine he goes in as a D-back (especially if he re-signs there this winter)

Framber

1:27

If the Orioles don't sign Framber, do you think they should pursue someone else to fill out the rotation?

Steve Adams

1:29

Yeah, I think they need another starter regardless. Rogers really only has a half-season with this type of performance and has had plenty of injuries. Bradish didn't pitch a full season in '25, coming back from TJS. Last year was Baz's first with 30 starts (also, tons of injuries). Kremer is a perfectly cromulent back-of-the-rotation guy. Eflin is a wild card. Not all that excited by any of Povich, Young, McDermott.

Getting another established arm would help the O's more than most contenders.

G. Mitchell

1:29

Over/under 100 games and 100 wRC+?

Steve Adams

1:30

Garrett Mitchell has barely played 100 games in the past three seasons combined. Easy under on games played for me, and I don't think he makes close to enough contact to confidently project him as even an average hitter.

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