Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 4/27/26
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Steve Adams
12:54
Good afternoon! We'll get going at the top of the hour, but feel free to start sending in questions right now if you're so inclined.
1:05
Sorry about that! Phone call. Let's begin
Guards
1:05
Did the guards miss their chance to capatalize on Kwan's value in a trade?
Steve Adams
1:07
I don't know if it's fair to say they missed their chance. They made the playoffs in each of the past two seasons, and Kwan had a big hand in that.

His trade value is at its all-time low point right now, with him controlled only one more year beyond the current season and out to a terrible start. But if they'd traded Kwan ahead of the 2025 season, for instance, they might not have made the playoffs at all. They only squeaked in by one game.

So, sure, the window has passed to get max value. But the trade-off is playoff appearances in each of the past two seasons. I'd take that.
Don Don Don
1:07
Is it inevitable that Alex Cora is the Phillies manager in 2027
Steve Adams
1:08
Inevitable? No. Possible, sure. They reportedly offered him the job before moving onto Mattingly. There's clearly interest. Dombrowski previously had Cora as his manager in Boston, obviously.
RoxTalks
1:08
Could the Phillies look to offload some (not all) of their pricey veterans at the deadline as a pseudo reload? Obviously they probably wouldn't get any notable prospects, but at least getting rid of some of their payroll constraints.
Steve Adams
1:11
I don't think that's happening. If they don't turn this season around, they'll surely listen on rentals and maybe even guys signed/controlled through 2027.

But they have Schwarber, Turner and Harper signed into the 2030s. They just extended Luzardo and Sanchez. Justin Crawford and Andrew Painter are up and contributing (well ... the latter has been pretty inconsistent in his small sample). Aidan Miller's probably not far off.

There's too much money tied up long term and too many notable young pieces reaching the roster in the short term. If anything, they'd kind of walk the line on a middle ground.
LazerRamón
1:11
What kind of contract do you see for Ramón Laureano and do you see him resigning or trying out FA again?
Steve Adams
1:13
Our Contract Tracker is pretty good for drumming up comps based on players' position, age, etc.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/contracttracker

Laureano's going to be 32 in year one of a FA contract, which will cap the length at three years, probably. He probably falls in line somewhere with the $42MM for Profar/Haniger -- maybe up to the $50MM received by Tyler O'Neill.

So I'll hedge and say something like 3/45, assuming his production holds.
Ingle
1:14
Travis up now, I can’t be long after I get back from the injury list. Cleveland bar for catchers hitting is so low, Ingle will look like Johnny bench back there
Steve Adams
1:15
The Guardians don't seem to care if their catchers hit or not. They keep re-signing Austin Hedges, after all, and he might be the worst hitter in baseball.

Ingle also went on the injured list a few days ago with a hip issue. I wouldn't expect a call-up to be imminent, even though I'd probably already have had him on the roster over Naylor/Hedges.
The Skipper
1:15
It's not safe being a manager.
Steve Adams
1:15
Pretty much every manager takes the job knowing it's going to end with their firing
Billy
1:16
What do the Royals need to do to get back in the playoff hunt?
Steve Adams
1:20
I just don't see that happening with this group. I didn't pick them to make the playoffs before the season started, and now they're in an 11-17 hole. I suppose the entire AL Central is weak enough that maybe they could get there, but the bullpen has been so bad and the lineup remains so top-heavy. This wasn't a team that could afford a step back offensively from any of its top bats, but Vinnie and Sal Perez have been terrible thus far, while Witt and Garcia have had lesser seasons.

I think Pasquantino will be fine eventually, but I also think some of the guys who are currently hitting (e.g. Kyle Isbel) are due for a huge crash that'll offset some of that.

Carter Jensen looks awesome though!
Lefty Shellhammer
1:20
Devers is going to snap out of this horrendous start soon right?
Steve Adams
1:21
I'm just not convinced he's healthy. He had the disk injury in his lower back last summer and seemingly never did anything to have it corrected. Exit velo is way down. Contact rate, especially in the strike zone, is down. He's chasing a ton more. Bat speed's down noticeably from 2024.
Reds fan 14
1:22
As of right now who's your pick for ROY  in national League
Steve Adams
1:22
Coinflip between Nolan McLean and Sal Stewart
1:23
Probably slight lean toward Stewart, but it's pretty early and I doubt things will be so close (one way or another) by season's end.
Men Behaving Adley
1:24
Has Colton Cowser cemented his future as "Kevin Keirmeier Lite"? More power but less glove and never going to hit enough?
Steve Adams
1:26
I don't like the Kiermaier comp. KK was one of the best defensive CFs in recent memory. Cowser is at best adequate there but probably below-average and better suited in a corner. He's also consistently running strikeout rates north of 30%, which Kiermaier never did.

I think Kiermaier's just ... better? At least right now. I'm honestly not all that high on Cowser in general and am not convinced he's a regular.
Bobby Cox
1:26
I know you liked the Yaz signing but he can’t hit at all. Terrible especially bs LH. You think we are good with Dubon in LF once Kim comes back or do we get a bat. Dubon trade of the yr.
Steve Adams
1:30
I did not like the Yaz signing, haha. Perhaps thinking of Anthony Franco or Mark Polishuk? They gave Yaz probably 3x what I'd have paid him.

That said, Yastrzemski's hitting the ball decently hard with no results to show for it. He's a good defender in the OF corners. Dubon is making Esteury Ruiz levels of hard contact (i.e. poor) and skating by with a .333 average on balls in play (and the highest strikeout rate he's run since 2021).

I think their numbers are bound to begin trending closer to one another before long, and I'd probably pick Yaz if asked to choose who'll end up more productive on the season overall. (Still didn't really like the signing though, haha)
Pads Fan
1:30
I would love your thoughts on the Giolito signing?
Steve Adams
1:32
Surprised how light the commitment was. I'm sure he had larger offers -- or interest at larger numbers, if we're being technical -- earlier in the offseason. But even now, how do the Astros not beat that number? Or the Jays? Or any of the other teams in dire need of pitching?

I'm not huge on Giolito in general, but there's nothing to dislike about it from the Padres' vantage point.
Believ—Land
1:32
Do you think Bazzana is ready? I was kind of thinking he was just hitting his stride in AAA, and should remain there?
Steve Adams
1:32
I'd probably have had him on the Opening Day roster over Arias.
Sophia
1:32
Two managers down, 28 to go. Who gets the boot next?
Steve Adams
1:33
Hard not to watch Houston and Queens carefully in the next week
David
1:33
Why does there always seem such a desire to relegate Hyeseong Kim to the bench or minors when he's hitting .300, plays good defense, and is speedy?
Steve Adams
1:35
Kim does run and defend well, but the offense is tied up entirely in a .400 BABIP to this point in his career, which comes in spite of bottom-of-the-scale exit velos, hard-hit rates, etc.

I don't think he's an impact hitter, and I imagine that'll bear out before long over a larger sample. I doubt the Dodgers think he's an everyday bat either.
Cosmo Kramer
1:35
How about Trevor Story to the Braves... I think the Sox wouldn't ask for much of a return, just take the Salary or least 60% of it.
Steve Adams
1:35
I don't see why Atlanta would want to do that.
ultramod2
1:36
Seems like it would be pretty tough on Espada to can him when literally all his best pitchers are injured. But I guess baseball is a pretty tough business.
Steve Adams
1:37
Jim Crane basically shoved James Click out the door as GM after he won a World Series. He chose not to extend either Espada or GM Dana Brown prior to the season, even though both are entering the final year of their contract.
I don't think "yeah but everyone's hurt" is going to keep Espada safe if Crane gets frustrated and wants to make a change.
Bullpen Fever
1:37
Miller is unhittable.  Morejon is throwing 101.  How good is this Padres bullpen?
Steve Adams
1:38
The best in baseball. Said it before the season. Opinion hasn't changed.
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