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Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 6/3/25
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Steve Adams
8:33
Good morning! We'll get going at 1pm CT, but feel free to send in questions ahead of time.
1:00
Greetings! Let's get rolling
Bendix
1:01
Should Kyle Stowers, Jesus Sanchez, Sandy, Ryan Weathers, Dane Myers, Otto Lopez and Xavier Edwards all pack a suitcase in case they get shipped around the country?
Steve Adams
1:04
Stowers and Edwards are controlled four more years beyond the current season and could be regulars in Miami, or reasonably close to it. I'm admittedly more bearish on the chances of both than most, but I imagine they'll both get a chance to prove they have some staying power.

Weathers is tough to move with 3 seasons of club control remaining beyond the current year. Someone has to pitch for them in 2026 and beyond, and right now it's looking like Weathers, Max Meyer, Eury Perez (assuming he finishes his rehab without setbacks) and a bunch of shrug emojis.

Myers and Lopez feel like bench guys with a good amount of club control left.

Sandy, sure, but only if he starts pitching well. I can't see them selling low on him, but even 4-5 good starts would be enough to pique the interest of other teams.
1:05
Pirates reinstated Nick Gonzales from the IL. Nick Solak outrighted.
Team announced.
Buff
1:05
If the Corbin Burnes injury turns out to be serious and the Dbacks don’t get back in the race, what are the chances that they trade Eugenio Suarez?
Steve Adams
1:07
If Burnes needs surgery or a monthslong absence, the chances improve pretty significantly of Arizona selling. Zac Gallen's already struggling. E-Rod has pitched poorly. Pfaadt is struggling considerably with homers.

I don't think the D-backs are anywhere close to calling it a season, but Darragh and I discussed their situation on the podcast episode this morning that'll be published tomorrow.

There's enough core talent there that you don't rebuild, but they could trade Suarez, Gallen, Josh Naylor, Merrill Kelly, Shelby Miller and Jalen Beeks -- all rentals -- to add some prospects, trim more money from the books and set up to reload this winter.
1:09
They'll have all of those rentals plus the $22.5MM dead money hit to Jordan Montgomery off the books. Plenty of room too add some pieces alongside Corbin Carroll, Geraldo Perdomo, Ketel Marte and perhaps Jordan Lawlar (who'd slide right into an everyday 3B role if Suarez is traded)
I an see Suarez moving even if the D-backs are kind of on the periphery of the Wild Card race.
Lamonte Wade Jr
1:09
I’ve had my bags packed for a while, but I’m still getting playing time.  What gives?
Steve Adams
1:11
I guess you could charitably say he's still walking a ton? Wade has had some bad luck on balls in play, but that's not the sole reason for his decline. Feels like his days are probably waning. Have to think it'll be Bryce Eldridge time sooner than later
Hunter brown
1:11
Is he the real deal?
Steve Adams
1:11
Ace
Rockies fan
1:12
Steve, do you see the Rockies being major sellers at the deadline? The team has already made a plethora of moves this year releasing a lot of veterans; I feel like Gabriel Hughes, Ryan Ritter,Zac Veen, and a lot of the guys at AAA are knocking loudly and it just seems like now could be the season where they trade Kyle Freeland, German Marquez, Ryan McMahon, Antonio Senzatela, Austin Gomber, Jacob Stallings for more prospect depth.
Steve Adams
1:14
I don't think the guys you listed have much value. Marquez could build up some value if he keeps pitching well. He's been better of late. Freeland is earning $16MM this year and next. His underlying numbers are better than the 5.70 ERA, but he's not going to fetch a real return with that salary and those run-prevention numbers. Senzatela is making $12MM yearly through 2026 and hasn't shown anything to interest another club. Gomber's been out all year with a shoulder issue. Stallings feels like a DFA/release candidate; he's hitting .148/.225/.185.
1:16
Ryan McMahon could potentially garner some interest, but his stock is down after a rough calendar year and owner Dick Monfort has reportedly been personally reluctant to let the front office field real trade interest.

Jake Bird would probably get some interest, and maybe Thairo Estrada can string 6-7 good weeks together and build some value, but the Rockies don't have much to sell unless Ryan Feltner comes back healthy and they make a very un-Rockies-like decision to listen on him. He has three years of club control remaining and is a totally viable fourth starter
Astros fan
1:17
Good afternoon, what would a Hunter Brown extension look like? What would it cost to resign Framber Valdez?
Steve Adams
1:20
I don't see how Brown comes in under $100MM at this point. You look at guys like Gallen and Cease landing $5-6MM in their first seasons of arbitration. Brown has a case for more. His three arb years (which begin in 2026) probably cost $30-35MM. If he's signing an extension you probably need to buy out three free agent years at a big rate to make it worthwhile for him. He's a $30MM+ pitcher, but perhaps given the gap between now and free agency, you could price those more in the $27-30MM range than $30MM+.He'd be completely justified to ask for four free-agent years at a premium rate, plus his three arb seasons, bringing the price closer to 150 though. We haven't seen a lot of extensions for pitcher in this bucket, historically speaking. Logan Webb is close, but his 5/90 deal feels old now and Brown would command a much larger sum.
1:22
Valdez is 32, which makes it hard to get five years in free agency, but he'll have a chance at it. If not that, four years at a premium $30MMish AAV seems plausible. He's one of the most underrated pitchers in MLB.

Generally speaking, owner Jim Crane hasn't been keen on investments of this magnitude, though they did offer $160MM to Bregman, extend Altuve for $150MM and go to $115MM to buy out Yordan's arb years and three free agent years. Those are all position players though. Houston hasn't given more than McCullers' $85MM to a pitcher under Crane.
Well, to a starting pitcher. Josh Hader got 95 there
Patrice
1:23
What would be a reasonable return from San Diego for Jaren Duran?
Steve Adams
1:24
I think they'd have to include one of Leo De Vries or Ethan Salas. The rest of the farm is light, too. Generally, I feel like if the Red Sox got to the point where they were willing to trade Duran -- which I don't expect -- other teams would come in with larger offers. Boston's going to want more immediate MLB help at other parts of the roster if they're moving Duran, and they don't have the type of young pitching I'd imagine the Red Sox would be offered by other outfield-needy clubs looking to make a big splash.
John
1:25
Question about the draft. I know that draft choices can’t be traded (except competitive balance picks). But players drafted in this years draft can be traded in the offseason. Hypothetical situation- Cleveland wants Cedric Mullins. Orioles want back a pitching prospect and a third round pick. Obviously the Guardians can’t do that. However could the Guardians agree to a “player to be named later” and let the Orioles pick their 3rd round selection with the understanding he will be traded to the Orioles in the offseason. Similar to the NBA where draft night trades are common. Would Manfred allow it?
Steve Adams
1:25
No. A PTBNL must be eligible to be traded at the time the trade is agreed upon.
Mark
1:25
Good morning.  With the struggles that the Red Sox are having, is there any logic to potentially making Bregman available for trade?
Steve Adams
1:27
Even if the Red Sox end up selling, moving Bregman will be next to impossible. He's either going to keep raking down the stretch and take his opt-out, or he's going to be hurt/struggle and opt into the remaining two years and $40MM, at which point the acquiring team wouldn't want him.

On top of that, the Red Sox would be asking for real minor league talent to justify trading someone who's been their best player when healthy.

So an acquiring team has to give up a prospect (or prospects) of note while simultaneously while hoping for two good months of production but knowing the downside of two unwanted years at a $40MM AAV looms over everything.
Trading players with notable opt-outs is ... not eays.
or easy
1:28
Nats announced that Jorge Lopez cleared release waivers and is a free agent
So I guess c'mon down to the Dodgers, Jorge?

(Kidding. Kind of. Seems to be where most released relievers end up right now while L.A. tries to patch things over)
Padres getting old
1:29
The Duran talk is hype. Padres more reasonably can go after Sanchez, Ward, Andujar, Hays or Mullins. Yes?
Steve Adams
1:30
Yeah, I don't think Duran has all that much chance of being moved, as I said. Or if he does, it'll be for a return they have a hard time matching.

But I'm sure he's on their list of targets. The other guys you listed probably are as well, and they all feel far more attainable.
Guest
1:30
Dennis Santana--someone who teams see as a legitimate plus in the 8th/9th or someone whose ERA masks "meh" peripherals?
Steve Adams
1:32
Are the peripherals that bad? The raw K% is below-average, but he's pitching with good command, an average ground-ball rate and a huge 14.4% swinging-strike rate that portends more punchouts in the future.

He's looked ripe for a strikeout explosion all year with the whiffs he's generated, and that's starting to play out -- 10 of his past 21 opponents have fanned.

Genuine bullpen target for contending clubs.
Steve Sax
1:33
Would the Rangers trade Jacob deGrom if they are not in contention by the deadline?  What kind of return could they expect?  Thanks Steve.
Steve Adams
1:35
He has a full no-trade clause and will be owed $87.7MM through 2027 at the trade deadline. The teams that would be most willing to absorb that kind of salary are the ones that are already in the top luxury bracket, meaning he'd cost double that to take on.

I don't consider him a particularly viable trade candidate unless the Orioles or Tigers or some lower payroll club that has previously demonstrated a willingness to ramp payroll up well beyond current levels makes a big offer. Even then, he'd have to approve it.

I don't think it's happening, but I'm sure there will be rumors surrounding him if the Rangers don't turn things around.
On a related note...
Guest
1:36
The Rangers are nowhere close to contending for a World Series. If one of a combination of Degrom,  Eovaldi or Mahle becomes available...which one is traded and what can it bring back?
Steve Adams
1:37
It's Mahle, clearly and easily. The deGrom contract and NTC is a huge roadblock. Eovaldi is in year one of a three-year deal, currently is hurt, and is a clear favorite of president of baseball ops Chris Young.

Mahle is a free agent at season's end whose ERA has a lot of smoke-and-mirrors happening, but he's still an affordable mid-rotation veteran who'd generate a lot of interest.
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