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Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 2/7/23
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Steve Adams
8:13
Happy Tuesday folks. I'll be back at 1pm to start taking questions, but feel free to submit in advance. Looking forward to it, as always!
12:47
Let's get this started a bit early!
Guest
12:48
Is it possible that Aaron Hicks had a down year last year because he was recovering from the wrist tendon surgery? I recall several big leaguers (Mark Tex, etc) saying it took them over a year to get back to normal. Can he go back to being a 110 WRC+ hitter??
Steve Adams
12:49
I don't know that I'd count on it the same way the Yankees clearly are, but yeah I don't think it's crazy to suggest he could get back to that level. Even if he can get back to roughly average offense, he can be a decent enough player when healthy. It's just that last caveat that obviously looms large.
Jill
12:49
Is Cleveland done adding to their roster?
Steve Adams
12:49
In terms of big league deals, I would imagine so, but they brought Phillip Diehl on on a minor league deal/non-roster invite earlier today and I wouldn't be surprised if any team picks up a few more NRI guys
Chris Young
12:50
Any chance we can re-sign Matt Moore? Or is he calling it quits?
Steve Adams
12:51
(Chris Young = Rangers GM)
No indication he's calling it quits. I'm sure Moore's looking for a nice two-year deal after the 2022 he enjoyed, and justifiably so. I think if that were going to happen in Texas, it'd have happened by now, but perhaps they can work something out if he backs down his ask a bit.
Generally, though, I expect him to land elsewhere.
TJ
12:52
The Chad Green signing was great for the Jays, but he won't be available until later in the season.  Why aren't the Jays signing more established relievers now when it only costs money and a roster spot instead of overpaying with prospects for worse options at the deadline?  The Pen let them down catastrophically in the playoffs - they can't start the season without fixing it.
Steve Adams
12:54
Agree with them or disagree, it seems they don't want to give up on either Trevor Richards or Mitch White, both of whom are out of minor league options. The rest of their bullpen -- Romano, Swanson, Bass, Yimi, Mayza, Cimber -- can't be optioned or has no reason to be. Signing another reliever would push one of White/Richards out the door, and the Jays are clearly still believers
John
12:54
Are the White Sox making a huge mistake trusting rookies at 2B and RF and (likely) a committee comprising at least one rookie at 5th starter to back up Martin? Seems curious for a team that fancies itself in the middle of a contention window. "That's a bold strategy, Cotton. Let's see how it works out for them."
Steve Adams
12:56
In a word: yes.

I wrote about this at length for our email subscribers a couple weeks back. I'm assuming ownership has basically said they're at budget, because otherwise they should've signed Michael Wacha by now. Even letting Josh Harrison sign with the Phils for $2MM was questionable, given what they have at second base.

It's not just RF/2B/SP. The White Sox are lacking in depth at a number of positions, and  they'll need pretty impeccable health to avoid some seriously ugly stretches.

Their on-paper starting lineup/rotation is enough to compete with or even top any other division rival, but their depth is behind the Guardians and Twins.
Braves fan
12:57
Hi Steve-the Pirates are said to want pitching back in a Brian Reynolds trade.  What do you suspect we would we have needed to add to  Kyle Muller, Royber Salinas, Justin Yeager, Freddy Tarnok to get a deal done?  Also, don’t you feel we would be a better team with Reynolds and Contreras than Murphy and out current LF options?
Steve Adams
12:59
I don't think the package you have listed is even in the ballpark for Reynolds, honestly. They may want high-end pitching, but the Braves are lacking in that, so I have to think things would've started with Vaughn Grissom, then add multiple arms on top of that. Not like Pittsburgh's set at second base by any stretch.

In general, I was surprised to see the Braves even get Murphy, as their farm is pretty depleted from years of prospect graduation, trades and picking near the back of the first round (because they're good every year). Plus the lingering effects of the Coppolella sanctions.
1:01
That they were able to get Murphy was a testament to the front office's creativity, but the A's have weird valuations of prospects and most pundits and people within the game I've asked don't seem to like the return they got for Murphy. I think acquiring Reynolds would've been harder, and I'm not convinced the Braves with Reynolds+Contreras are markedly better than the current iteration (especially if Reynolds indeed cost Grissom, as I would expect)
Sean Murphy is awesome. I'd just be happy you got him, ha. I don't think Reynolds is going anywhere before the season and maybe not at the deadline, either.
Adam
1:02
Can Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo be the best 1-2 punch in the NL Central this year?
Steve Adams
1:03
Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff is pretty tough to beat. I quite like Lodolo, though, and if Greene can improve his command within the zone, they're going to be an awesome pairing (health permitting, of course; they've both had some injuries already pop up)
Dana Brown
1:04
Of the remaining free agents, regardless of position, who do you think are the top three hitters?
Steve Adams
1:05
It's ugly. I would say Jurickson Profar, Yuli Gurriel and Luke Voit? And two of the three are looking for rebounds. It's bad.

I'm writing up a look at how there are still some interesting platoon bats left out there, though. Robbie Grossman can help a team seeking RH bats, Tyler Naquin for those seeking lefties. In general, though, woof.
Salvador Perez to the Astros?
1:06
Have you seen anything whatsoever that indicates the Astros and Royals are in discussions on a deal that would send Perez to the Astros. There is a guy I know who wants everyone to think that he has “inside sources” who have told him that such a deal is in the works.
Steve Adams
1:06
The Royals aren't trading Perez, and he'd have full veto power over any proposed deal anyway.
Hubs
1:06
Do halos need a SS or just go in house?
Steve Adams
1:07
Andrus would make them a better team, I think.
Jorge78
1:07
It has been over a week waiting for a Hunter Renfoe arb decision.  Is that unusual?  Thanks!
Steve Adams
1:08
Yeah it's odd. The initial AP report indicated that they'd withhold announcing the decision, though. Wondering if they don't want it to impact/be cited in any other of the looming hearings. Teoscar Hernandez is another 5+ (service) OF with a pending hearing.
Tom Kelly's blues
1:08
Chafin could lock down left side of Twins BP with Thielbar and Moran.
Steve Adams
1:09
Chafin could help lock down the left side of just about any team's bullpen. He's one of the best left-handed relievers in the game, for my money. But the Twins don't do multi-year deals for free agent relievers, and the one time they made an exception, the Addison Reed deal blew up in their face.

I think they should sign him though, sure. But that would be my response regarding just about any playoff hopeful and whether they should sign Chafin.
JimO
1:10
How do we see the Dodgers handling their closer situation this year?  Does Evan Phillips fit into the picture?
Steve Adams
1:10
It'll depend on Daniel Hudson's health and his return from that ACL tear. Same with Blake Treinen and the shoulder. I think Phillips will be in the mix for some saves though, yeah.
John
1:13
What's the difference between a big league invite and non-roster invite? Is it just that the latter isn't on the 40-man?
Steve Adams
1:13
Yup
Major League signees go on the 40-man roster. Minor league deals with non-roster invites head to spring training with the big leaguers and compete for a job on the 40-man
Not all minor league deals contain NRIs, either, though we rarely cover the ones that don't have an NRI
LiftoffFromHere
1:14
With the Orioles using 2023 to see what prospects are legitimate big leaguers, do you see them packaging prospects at the trade deadline in order land a controllable #1 or #2 starter or do they wait it out with the free agent pitchers next offseason? Outside of Ohtani, Urias and Nola there really isn't a legitimate ace in the group.
Steve Adams
1:15
Whatever top-end pitchers are available via trade are probably going to have minimal club control remaining. Sure, if things go horribly wrong in Cleveland or Milwaukee, there'll be rumors about Bieber, Burnes, Woodruff ... but for the O's to trade several high-end minor leaguers for 1.5 seasons of an arm of that caliber would be pretty antithetical to how they've operated over the course of the rebuild.
Neubs
1:15
How long is this game of chicken gonna go on with these relievers?
Steve Adams
1:16
At this point I just assume some of them are waiting to see if any spring injuries pop up early on
Lefty Grove
1:16
Seems like since several of the better relievers remain unsigned that possibly their asking price truly is a bit high? Dombrowski/Strahm set the market early perhaps?
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