You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 5/14/24
powered byJotCast
Steve Adams
8:30
Good morning all! Sorry for the abrupt schedule change last week! We're back at the usual day and timeslot. Feel free to start sending in questions anytime, and we'll get through as many as we can from 1-2pm CT
1:01
From "good morning" to "good afternoon"! Let's get going
Esteury
1:02
Have any Oakland beat reporters specifically asked the A's why they're not playing last year's stolen base king, Esteury Ruiz, instead of nullity like Lawrence Butler?
Steve Adams
1:04
I think fans in general feel like Ruiz is a better player than MLB teams do. Butler makes hard contact at elite levels and draws tons of walks. It hasn't shown up in his stats yet, but I'd be way more interested in giving him playing time than someone who makes contact at bottom-of-the-barrel levels of impact with a 5% walk rate and career .300 OBP.

Tim Dierkes talked about this in his mailbag last week:
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/05/mlb-mailbag-go-arraez-mariners-...
Vaughn Grissom
1:04
With one-quarter of the season gone, there seem to be a huge number of players hitting around the Mendoza Line, Vaughn Grissom among them. Did pitching take that much of a quantum leap in the off-season, or is there hope for guys like Grissom (in specific).

Speaking of which, when will Ramon Laureano get released? How does a player go from being a solid contributor from oages 23 to 26, to being washed up from ages 27 to 29?
Steve Adams
1:06
Grissom has 33 plate appearances this season. I would place quite literally zero importance on his batting average. The league hit .240/.312/.386 in March/April this year and .247/.321/.405 in March/April last year.

So, it's fair to say offense is down some, sure, but perhaps not to the extent you'd expect.

Re: Laureano, he's had a PED suspension and a bunch of injuries. It's fair to assume he's not the same guy he was in his early 20s.
Rj
1:06
Why does Baltimore keep calling up young talented OF just to sit the bench
Steve Adams
1:07
I really don't understand their handling of Kjerstad in that regard, but he's the only clear case of it. McKenna and Stowers aren't in the same tier of player (or potential player)
JasonKendall
1:07
ROWDY TELLEZ?!?
Steve Adams
1:08
Didn't really get the signing in the offseason and can't imagine they stick with him too much longer.
TRUE TO THE BLUE
1:09
Is there any hope for the Mariners?
Steve Adams
1:09
I get angst from plenty of fan bases, but the Mariners in particular seem to have this market cornered for reasons that I don't understand. They're in first place with an elite pitching staff. Yeah, the offense isn't great ... but they're in first place before Julio, Cal, Polanco, Garver, etc. have even truly gotten going (though Garver is picking things up).

Of course there is.
kc
1:10
Think there will be an innings cap on Skenes?
Steve Adams
1:10
Yeah, Cherington and Shelton were both talking this weekend about how they're going to  manage his workload. We'll have something on the Pirates' staff and their efforts to do so up on the site not too long after this chat.
One second -- need to take a quick phone call
1:15
Sorry! Back
John
1:15
% chance Mason Miller is dealt this summer
Steve Adams
1:16
I'd be surprised but it's certainly possible. Teams are going to be salivating and we know the A's aren't even trying right now. Not like they can alienate the fan base any more than they already have, either. If someone makes a comical offer, I can see it, even though I think most clubs will balk at the ask.

Ten percent?
Kelly Gruber
1:16
I see your ROWDY TELEZ and raise a DANIEL VOGELBACH?!?!
Spencer Horowitz
1:16
Do I have a future in Toronto?  I know I'm not hitting HR like a 1st Baseman but .333 AVG and a .456!!! OBP in AAA has got to be worth something right?  Should I at least have Daniel Vogelbach's roster spot?
Steve Adams
1:18
Lots of "how long does Vogelbach have" types of questions from Jays fans. Short answer would be that most teams don't cut guys based on 40 plate appearances, so I imagine he'll get another few weeks. But yeah, Horowitz has earned a look in this same role. Or they could've just re-signed Brandon Belt in the offseason... don't really get downgrading to Vogelbach unless the front office just wasn't given any financial latitude. Vogelbach's leash shouldn't be too long at this point, in my opinion.
Adam
1:18
What do the Twins do when Lewis gets healthy? Send down Miranda? DFA Farmer?
Steve Adams
1:21
There's no way they can send Miranda down with how he's hit thus far -- particularly against lefties. Injuries could solve the issue for them, as is often the case, but they love Farmer in the clubhouse, he's one of their shortstop options and he has some track record (plus a notable salary). I think Martin would just be optioned back for the time being. If both Buxton and Lewis return around the same time, they'll have to make some tougher decisions (e.g. possibly designating Farmer)
Cute Lady
1:21
Could an extension for CJ Abrams realistically exceed $100 million?
Steve Adams
1:21
Yup
Jimmy Racer
1:22
In your opinion is there a good chance the Cardinals can get back to their winning ways next year if they don't spend $225 million considering they will need another front line starter and a middle of the order bat? Or will they need to tank for the next 2 to 3 years to get some top draft picks? Thanks for the chat.
Steve Adams
1:24
I don't think they'll spend $225MM in free agency or tear things down. They'll move around the margins and make some medium-range/medium-term investments like they always do -- perhaps after a soft sell at the deadline, shipping out short-term veterans (e.g. Helsley, Goldschmidt, Lynn, Gibson).

The Cardinals probably need to overhaul more than that, but you're asking what I think will happen here, so that's my expectation.
seth
1:24
Elly: o/u 30 HR, 85 SB?
Steve Adams
1:24
I'll take the over on the homers and under on the steals
Steve Cohen
1:25
I think Mets should trade Jeff McNeil for a good reliever & let Acuna play second. Your thoughts?
Steve Adams
1:25
The Mets aren't going to get a "good" major league reliever for McNeil.
KC Pain
1:25
Jake Burger, how legit was that half with the Marlins?   Im looking at prior seasons and this seasons small sample and injury and a tad worried
Steve Adams
1:29
He's not going to keep up the .350-.360 average on balls in play that got him to his '23 Marlins production, and he's not going to continue to struggle like he has this year with the BABIP pendulum swinging in the other direction.

Burger's career numbers are basically what he is to me... a low- to league-average batting average with poor OBP skills, good pop and poor defense. He's a fine guy to have around when his cost is low, but I don't think he's someone teams are going to want to pay through his arb years as his salary escalates.

I'm typically a "yeah, trade your pitching prospects because they all break" guy, but my initial reaction to that trade was still "I wouldn't have given up Jake Eder here"
Sadaharu Oh
1:30
Do you believe Ohtani ever pitches again or does he focus on hitting full-time ? Is it worth the risk of losing him again for extended absence because of another injury incurred by pitching ?
Steve Adams
1:30
I don't see any reason why he wouldn't pitch again. He wants to do it. They're paying him to do it. It'd be weird if they just decided to scrap it.
Jake
1:31
Who is the most complete team in the AL central?
Steve Adams
1:35
Still think it's the Twins. The Guardians' pitching injuries are worrying. The Royals have three good hitters. The Tigers are getting there but need Torkelson and some other bats to step up. Bullpen has gotten it done so far, but the K-BB is a little concerning. The White Sox... well. Yeah.

I like Minnesota and Detroit the best of the five teams in that division and give a slight edge to MN, though the rotation depth is a concern and a couple SP injuries could change the calculus quick.
Dave
1:35
If the Orioles don’t feel like giving up a haul for Mason Miller, and with the cold war with the Nationals seemingly over, would a Heston Kjerstad/Kyle Finnegan trade be plausible?
Steve Adams
1:38
Said last week and will keep saying, Kyle Finnegan is not going to command a big return. He's walking 13% of his opponents, sitting on a BABIP barely over .100 and stranding 90% of his runners. That's a ticking timebomb. Hunter Harvey is better right now and has been for the past couple years.

I don't think flipping Kjerstad straight up for a reliever is going to happen regardless. (I mean, if the A's were willing to do Mason Miller-for-Kjerstad, sure maybe then ... but that's not realistic to me)
squinky
1:39
Ever since the trades of teoscar, gurriel and Moreno, the jays have been struggling offensively. I don't think Schneider is the problem.  Are Atkins And Shapiro on the hot seat?
Load More Messages
Connecting…