JotCast | Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 11/11/25

Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 11/11/25

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Steve Adams

1:10

Horton would've been perfectly deserving, but focusing only on his final 12 starts also ignores a good-not-great 10 starts to begin his career.

Drake Baldwin was in the majors all year (Horton wasn't) and was 25% better than average at the plate as a catcher -- a position where the standard player is about 10% worse than average.

I wouldn't begrudge anyone preferring Horton over Baldwin, but there wasn't a cavernous gulf between them at all.

I'd also have voted for Baldwin, in full transparency. Sorry! (If Horton had been up on Opening Day and pitched like that in the majors all season, it'd be another story)

Mitch

1:11

Dodgers could pretty easily trade for a Kwan loke player rather sign Tucker. I think that hype is there just because they are the Dodgers. They need to clean up 40 man space and have a ton of depth at the same positions in the minors

Steve Adams

1:12

I'm sure they'll look into both. Kwan would cost quite a bit in a trade, and I'd take Tucker over him in a heartbeat. But sure, if the Dodgers feel Tucker's asking price is prohibitive, Steven Kwan is a nice alternative.

1:12

over/under 2.5 years for OHearn?

Steve Adams

1:13

We predicted two but were at three years for a long while. I don't think three is out of the question, but my very fake and not at all off-the-cuff odds would be like 70% two years and 30% three years.

Action M's

1:13

Josh Naylor aside . I'm of the opinion the Mariners are in need of bullpen arms. Options, they could turn to in that area?

Steve Adams

1:15

The Mariners haven't spent much on bullpen arms under Jerry Dipoto -- in part because they're so good at finding quality contributors on the scrap heap. (Hey there, Gabe Speier)

I don't expect them to spend heavily on the 'pen. Guess they could re-sign Caleb Ferguson, but they already have Munoz, Brash, Speier, Bazardo, Vargas ... it's a strong group as is, and I'm curious to see what Hancock would do over a full year in the 'pen.

Cards

1:16

Ive always thought teams should be more open to trading within their divisions. For example if the Cubs wanted Donovan, who cares the cards aren’t going to be good anytime soon and if you can get good prospects back it’s a win for both teams.

Steve Adams

1:17

I don't have a ton of insight other than to say I generally agree with this. Lots of clubs caught up in optics. I get that you don't want to strengthen a division rival for years to come, but I still feel it's a bit of a blind spot for a lot of clubs.

Donovan

1:17

Do you think Brendan Donovan could hold down SS for the Braves? He and Gray would make amazing pickups and fill 2 huge needs for them.

Steve Adams

1:19

I've wondered whether the Braves might consider this. I kind of like it as an out-of-the-box option for one year, given the lack of alternative options. It's a leap of faith in a guy who hasn't played there much, but there's just not a ton out there and I think Donovan is probably athletic enough to make it work short-term if you give him an offseason and spring training to prepare. Worst case, he's well below average and you move him into a utility role and plug Nick Allen's glove back in there.

Doghouse Riley

1:20

Have the Giants absolutely ruled out signing a FA pitcher like Suarez?

Steve Adams

1:23

Ranger or Robert? I assume you mean Ranger.

Greg Johnson downplaying the idea of a long-term deal doesn't mean they won't ultimately sign a pitcher for multiple years, or even to a semi-long-term pact. The Giants were putting out signals to their beat last year that they might not go wild with spending or anything, and then they signed Adames and traded for Devers.

In the wake of Johnson's comments, I don't expect them to go long-term on a FA SP, but if something they deem the right opportunity presents itself, I'm sure they'll consider it.

Johnson making the comments he did feels different than, say, White Sox GM Chris Getz pretty strongly indicating last week that he doesn't want to sign free agents for more than a year.

John Travolta

1:23

What type of contract do you think Cedric Mullins will fetch?

Steve Adams

1:25

I tried to push for Mullins on a two-year deal to get him to the back end of the list, but most of the rest of the staff was pretty set on him as a one-year guy in the $10-12MM range. He was awful after April, and the 30-30, 6-WAR season from 2021 feels like a clear outlier at this point.

I like him to do a bit better than that, but whatever he signs, I don't expect it to go beyond two years and don't think it'll have an especially high AAV.

1:25

Let’s say the Pirates flip Burrows and Keller for bats, also freeing up capital for a few years on Keller’s deal. Opening day rotation starts Skenes-Chandler-Ashcraft-Oviedo. Do you add a 5th starter (classic Cherington soft-tossing lefty) or give Hunter Barco a shot?

Steve Adams

1:26

You're forgetting Jared Jones as a potential entrant in that rotation. He'll be more than a year removed from Tommy John surgery.

But I still think if they traded Keller and Burrows both, then yes, they'd add a cheap one-year SP in February or so.

Charlesco

1:26

Hello, can Murakami hit high speed pitches? I saw one stat but I do not believe is real.

Steve Adams

1:28

He's struggled greatly against fastballs north of 95 mph, but those are also quite rare in NPB, where the average heater is like 91 mph. Guys like Seiya Suzuki and Jung Hoo Lee also had some concerns about their ability to handle plus MLB velo, but they sorted it out as they became more accustomed to seeing it.

Talked to an NL scout recently who said he's more concerned with Murakami being able to adjust to better breaking stuff here than he is about his ability to adjust to fastballs, where he thinks Murakami will be fine after more exposure to said velo.

Mets fan

1:28

Make me believe diaz and alonso will come back. If they do what else do we need plus a top level starter?

Steve Adams

1:28

I don't believe Alonso will be back. Diaz, maybe if Steve Cohen just swoops in and acts aggressively early on, but we're already further into the offseason now than we were last time he re-signed with the Mets.

I didn't choose either to re-sign, but Diaz feels more plausible.

Jim

1:29

A's don't get a PPI pick because Nick Kurtz spent 3 weeks in AAA. What about in future years if he finishes top 3 in MVP voting; do the A's get a PPI pick then? Or are they out of luck because he debuted 3 weeks into the 2025 season?

Steve Adams

1:29

They'd get a pick in that MVP scenario.

1:30

If you are advising Alex Anthopoulos, do you urge him to make a big push to bring Raisel Iglesias back and, if so, what contract do you offer him in terms of years and money?

Steve Adams

1:30

I don't think Iglesias, specifically, is a must-have. Generally, just adding some quality arms in the back of the 'pen seems wise, though. I have Iglesias at 2/25

PaulF

1:31

Is Casas with Alonzo so far fetched? Gives two power bats , one from each side, and both can at least take field defensively. Current DH not so much. More outfield depth still a weapon if trade needed. And we still have money .

Steve Adams

1:31

If the Red Sox signed Alonso, I'd expect them to trade Casas, but sure you could make it work if you just dump Yoshida.

James

1:32

Will Rendon be released?

Steve Adams

1:32

Wouldn't surprise me.

Adell

1:32

Do the Angels keep Adell and believe the breakout or sell high based on last year to add multiple pieces

Steve Adams

1:33

I don't know that you're selling that high on Adell. He hit 36 homers, but he was terrible defensively and his OBP was under .300.

He's a useful player and I do think he could fetch them an arm to plug into the middle/back end of the rotation, but he's not going to fetch them a major haul -- at least not in my view. But hey, even a serviceable fourth starter with a few years of control would be big for the Angels, given their perennial need for pitching. And Adell's defensive grades would surely tick up if he weren't being forced to masquerade as a center fielder.

Johnny U

1:34

do you feel the Reds bring in a 1B/DH or an OF as their big bat, via trade or signing?

Steve Adams

1:34

I expect them to be open to it but think it could just as likely be in the OF -- or that they could (should) add one of each

PhilsPhansince1965

1:35

How much of the Tajuan Walker contract can we unload this winter if we take back a couple of nominal prospect types?

Steve Adams

1:36

I think you could dump half to 60% for no return. They're not going to get a good prospect even if they eat the whole thing, but if they absorb 75% or more, I suppose you could get the "nominal" prospect you're referencing here.

POBO Paul

1:37

Breslow says the Bosox are looking for a starting pitcher. Would they hve any intereat in Mackenzie Gore? What kind of return could we expect?

Steve Adams

1:37

I'm sure the Red Sox do have interest, and I've said before that last year's Crochet-to-Boston trade is a decent framework for what to expect re: Gore.

Adam

1:37

True or False. The Reds have a top 5 rotation in all of baseball

Steve Adams

1:38

Off the cuff, I think this is probably right. Greene-Abbott-Lodolo-Singer-Burns, with Petty/Lowder waiting in the wings. Tons of talent there.

AstrosFAN

1:38

Could Christian Walker go back to the Diamondbacks?

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