JotCast | Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 5/12/26

Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 5/12/26

Connecting

This chat is available to members only. Please log in to participate.

Steve Adams

1:55

I'd be surprised if a Pena trade wasn't something they'd at least be open to this winter, and if they're not contending in 2026 anyhow, why not jumpstart the process?

Bednar

1:55

Bednar seems really shaky as the closer. Will the Yanks stick with him or go after someone else?

Steve Adams

1:55

We got a question like this for the podcast this week. I just don't really agree. I suppose he's had a couple wobbly outings recently, but he's been given 147 save/hold chances over the past decade and converted 89% of them. He misses bats, limits walks, piles up grounders. I think recency bias is impacting this point of view. Bednar is really good.

Brewerfan

1:56

When will the Brewers do something about the left side of the IF? You think Pratt will be up soon?

Steve Adams

1:58

He's not hitting whatsoever in AAA. .205/.338/.308 overall.

If you want to cherry-pick, he's at .264/.412/.472 over his past 53 PAs, but that was all tied up in a brief flurry that has since died down. He's back to .125/.282/.219 over his past eight games/32 PAs.

2:01

I expect infield help to be a point of focus this summer, but they'll hang around in the interim even with the current cast of light hitters. Rengifo's been pretty unlucky, so maybe he can get going at 3B at least. Shortstop looks rough.

Jett Williams has been on a pretty consistent tear for a few weeks in AAA while playing almost exclusively 3B, too, so perhaps that's the next move coming down the pipe if the current group can't turn things around.

Aaron Ashby

2:01

Over/under 17.5 wins?

Steve Adams

2:01

40-game winner

Ashby's weird season is awesome, haha. I love baseball randomness.

radhippo

2:02

Is this the year the Angels finally sell their players??

Steve Adams

2:02

Should be! Doubt it will be.

Posey

2:02

a report came out this week, i’d like of load all my big contracts. does any of them have any value? devers, lee, adames, chapman? seems like im stuck, especially with the no trade clauses for adames and chappy.

Steve Adams

2:03

I don't think that was a report so much as Bob Nightengale stating the obvious. The Giants have three (four, if you count Jung Hoo Lee) huge contracts owed to players who are colossally underperforming. Any GM/president of bb ops in that spot would want to unload them, but understandably, no team is touching any of those deals.

Nate Rambis

2:03

In regard to you statement "I picked DeLauter and Griffin pre-season and am now henceforth bound to those for all eternity" Wouldn't it just be this season and not all of eternity?

Steve Adams

2:03

Don't come at me with your well thought-out logic!

2:04

Chase DeLauter will be Rookie of the Year in 2049, and I'll hear no argument to the contrary!

Steve Adams Defense

2:04

It would be your 2026 ROY pick for all eternity!

Steve Adams

2:04

Now we're talking

Adam Christenson

2:05

What are the chances Skubal gets dealt before the deadline?

Steve Adams

2:05

0.00000000001%

Joey Jojo Jr. Shabadoo

2:05

Pearl Jam's Ten or Nirvana's Nevermind?

Steve Adams

2:05

Soundgarden's Superunknown

Tim L

2:05

Given the Giants have a logjam that’s literally leading to their best offensive prospect in decades being a pinch hitter, Arraez getting dealt has to be the play to open up Eldridge ABs and keeping Schmitt in the lineup, yes? Is the problem that no other team sees Arraez’s profile as worth trading for? Even if the Giants eat money to get a decent prospect in return?

Steve Adams

2:07

The Giants can't trade Arraez without his consent prior to June 15. That's true of all players who sign major league free agent deals.

I don't really get what the Giants are doing with Eldridge. If you don't have everyday ABs for him, don't have him on the major league roster. You're doing no favors to a kid who's already been struggling to make contact even in AAA. Play him or option him.

One Hit Wonder

2:08

What happened to Nelson Velazquez? He was the Cardinals spring training darling? Now he's hitting a buck 88 in AAA !

Steve Adams

2:10

Spring Training stats are meaningless unless they're accompanied by some kind of tangible change in skill set/approach. Velazquez had a hot spring despite a really ugly 72% contact rate. He's just back to being who he is and who he's been. Plenty of power -- even a decent idea of the strike zone. He doesn't chase much.

But he also has probably a 35 hit tool (on the 20-80 scale), which isn't going to cut it. He misses in the zone so much.

Re: bad contracts

2:11

If SF told the league “You can have any of these four guys for your worst prospect,” you’re saying there wouldn’t be ANY takers? Come on.

Steve Adams

2:12

Don't even need to offer a prospect. I don't think anyone would claim any of those contracts off waivers, no.

Love the music questions

2:12

I'll take Facelift (AIC) over al of them

Steve Adams

2:13

Almost went Alice in Chains over Soundgarden, but Superunknown was the first album I bought as a kid ($5 from my friend's older brother!) so it has a soft spot. Facelift is great though. Jar of Flies too. Layne Staley is timeless.

whats in a name

2:13

Odds Paredes is moved this summer?

Steve Adams

2:13

Pretty high

Melchez

2:14

The Tigers spent like crazy this winter and seem to be worse... what happened?

Steve Adams

2:15

Skubal, Mize, Verlander, Olson, Gleyber, Kerry, Baez, Meadows, Vest all on the IL is not conducive to success.

The Dartman

2:15

how can no one be mentioning The Screaming Trees! They were miles ahead of the rest of the Seattle sound

Steve Adams

2:15

LOVE Screaming Trees. Nearly Lost You is an all-timer

Twins Territory

2:16

In June of 2024, I thought Royce Lewis would be a 300M contract at free agency if he could stay healthy. Now I feel that he will be optioned to AAA St. Paul by June 2026. What are the chances we see Kaelen Culpepper within the next month?

Steve Adams

2:17

If he'd stayed healthy, he might have been! Multiple ACL tears and a bunch of other lower-body injuries leading to missed time have really taken their toll.

Culpepper has cooled down a bit, but I still expect him up early this summer, yeah

No Guns here

2:17

Whats happened to Gunnar this year? Its a pretty rough ratios from him. [.263/.411 OBP/SLG as of 05/12/26]

Steve Adams

2:17

I picked him to win AL MVP, so it is very clearly my fault. I'm sorry.

Connecting…

Your Name:

Your current subscriptions

None

E-mail Address	Chat Owner	Status	Remove

Enter your email address to be notified when Steve Adams hosts a chat