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Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 7/2/24
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Steve Adams
8:16
Four weeks until the trade deadline! When did that sneak up on us? I'll host another chat at the usual time, 1pm CT, but feel free to send in questions ahead of time if you prefer! Looking forward to it!
12:54
Hello all! Let's get things started
Jordan Walker
12:55
Have I been forgotten about?
Steve Adams
12:57
I wouldn't say he's been forgotten about -- certainly not by the team but also not by the industry at large. But Walker really struggled prior to his Triple-A demotion, and he's not hitting in Memphis either: .250/.304/.395 (78 wRC+).

He's still only 22, but he's proven to be a sub-par outfielder with the glove and is blocked at third base, so right now he's a bat-first defensive liability in the OF corners -- and one who's not hitting.

Age is on his side, but the stock is down a good bit at the moment.
Fishy
12:57
The Marlins look like an obvious seller.  Would they really move Jazz Chisholm?
Steve Adams
12:58
I think they absolutely would and very likely will move Chisholm. He's controlled two more years beyond the current one. He's playing well. He's not going to be a part of the next winning team there, barring an extension, and there's not much about the current operating status of the Marlins that creates any optimism about signing a notable player long-term.

I don't think it's a guarantee Chisholm is moved. They'll need to get an offer to their liking. But as far as "would" they move him if presented with something compelling? 100%.
Dipoto
12:58
Does nico really make any sense?
Cubs sellers
12:58
I've heard plenty of rumors about the cubs  being sellers. Some fans want a full-fledged sell off, which imo would take them 10 steps back. I read a report from JP Morsi. He said that Nico Hoerner could be traded to Seattle. He has a full NTC. Do you think this could really happen? Especially so soon after signing an extension.
Steve Adams
1:02
I got a bunch of questions about this so I went and looked for the Morosi "report" in question. Morosi never links the two parties or says talks have taken place/will take place. He talked about who he thinks the Cubs could listen on if they did sell, and then noted "a team like the Mariners" could use help at second base. It's speculation, not any kind of reporting that anything involving Seattle/Chicago is happening.

I'm sure the Mariners would have some interest in Hoerner (who, by the way, does not have a full NTC to my knowledge). He's a good player. But that doesn't mean anything substantive has occurred here.
Restore the Roar!
1:02
what can the Detroit Tigers expect to get back in a Jack Flaherty Trade?
Steve Adams
1:04
I think they should be able to get one strong 50-FV prospect (e.g. someone on the back half or so of a top-100 list) and another secondary piece or two. They're not pulling an Ethan Salas or Samuel Basallo or some top-10ish name like that, but Flaherty has significant trade value as the best rental starter likely to be on the market at the moment.
Adam
1:05
Do you think the Twins need to add anywhere? Or just expect the pieces in place to perform?
Steve Adams
1:07
I'd be surprised if they don't add anywhere at all. There's room to get better. The lineup is clicking right now, but deepening the bullpen, adding some rotation depth, getting another bench bat all make some sense. And if they want to swing big and try for a playoff-caliber starter, that'd make sense as well, though the supply will be short and with their offseason payroll concerns, I doubt they'll be active on that front.
Bucs Win Maybe
1:07
Do I have a terrible memory or is this year's trade deadline different than previous year's in that there's almost no sellers and this almost inevitably means that the winners of the trade deadline will likely be the bigger market teams who can offer more in a deal? Have previous year's been this lopsided, too (I know the playoff expansion is pretty recent so maybe there are too few years to consider, in which case do you think this will be the case in years to come as well?)
Steve Adams
1:08
We had similar, albeit not quite as widespread, parity/mediocrity last year as well. It's also worth emphasizing that just because there aren't as many clearly defined sellers now, does not mean that'll be the case at the deadline.

The next 2-3 weeks are going to define the entire season for a few teams. The Mets weren't looking like a sure seller this time last year, and they wound up trading both Scherzer and Verlander.
Lucas
1:09
Between Carrasco, Allen, and the now optioned McKenzie, Cleveland is really lacking another viable starter for the playoffs (which is ironic, lol). Do you think they’ll add a starter?
Steve Adams
1:11
Yeah I think they'll be involved in that market. This isn't super sexy, but when I was trying to find someone I thought would be a good fit for a Jose Quintana swap -- assuming the Mets are indeed mulling dealing from the rotation to fill other needs -- something like Quintana/Scott Barlow (add a few pieces on either end to help balance things out) seems like a decent framework. Expensive reliever for expensive back-end starter. Both might help the other team more than the current roster.
That's just a speculative scenario from me, to be clear. But there's sense to it in my mind.
PhilsPhan
1:12
Bellinger to the Phillies lines up great, right?  What can the Phillies realistically offer - assuming it will take 2 good prospects and maybe something else?
Steve Adams
1:12
With two opt-outs, I don't think Bellinger is going to be a coveted trade commodity for anyone. Anthony explored this in depth yesterday:
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/07/the-risk-reward-of-acquiring-pl...
Jameson Taillon
1:13
Of all the cubs that are on the trading block would you say Jamo is the most likely candidate to be traded? It would be a salary dumb.
Steve Adams
1:14
I can see the Cubs wanting to get out from under the final two seasons of that contract, yeah. I don't think there'd be much of a return, given the contract. And not sure the Cubs want to open themselves to the optics of needing to just salary-dump an effective starter. They only have $126MM going toward the '25 CBT at the moment. Dumping Taillon is a rough look
Ryan
1:15
Thoughts on Jackson Merrill? He may wind up being the best Jackson out of the big 3.
Steve Adams
1:16
He's really good! I wish he'd walk more, and there's probably a bit too much swinging (chasing, in particular) going on for him to sustain this level of production. But he's also super young, and that could come with time. He's sitting on a 4.5% walk rate, so I don't know that I'd ever expect it to be plus, but if he can get it even close to league-average, there's just so much to like there. Good long-term piece for the Friars.
Aoe3
1:17
Tim Anderson has fallen mightly the past 2-3 seasons
Steve Adams
1:17
Understatement
Juan Soto (aka Two Knitfinger)
1:17
Is Aiden Miller a headliner piece in a trade for a controllable top tier player (ie. Robert, Crochet) or would teams need someone more high profile (ie Painter)?
Steve Adams
1:18
Miller's a fine headliner for a high-end, controllable piece like that. The gap between him and Painter isn't huge, and I'd wager there's at least a few teams that prefer Miller and consider him safer than a pitching prospect (albeit a very good one) who's still recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Question would be one of what the remainder of the package looks like. I don't think Miller alone is getting either of them, nor is Miller + a bunch of filler prospects.
Baseball fan
1:18
Do you think the Jays may sell off anyone beyond this year of team control? Maybe sell high on IKF (barring MRI results) or Bassit?
Steve Adams
1:20
Yeah, I think if the Jays don't turn things around that's a very real possibility. Kiner-Falefa would fit a lot of clubs with the versatile glove and improved offense he's shown this season (even if some of the uptick with the bat is due for regression). Bassitt would be one of the better arms on the market, which might make the Jays reluctant, but I feel like there'd be enough of a market to make them ponder it.
Pat Rockett
1:20
Eddie Rosario has got to be an Atlanta Brave once he passes through waivers right?
Steve Adams
1:21
I know the Braves picked him up once when he was struggling and got a magical run from him, but that stretch in  Atlanta is the only time Rosairo's been an above-average hitter since 2020 or so. I just don't think there's much to like in the bat, but the Braves need OF help/depth, so sticking him in Gwinnett (if he's amenable) for a few weeks to see how he looks ... sure. Someone's going to do it.
TigerFan
1:21
Are the tigers gonna trade Skubal?
Steve Adams
1:21
I'd be pretty stunned.
Guest
1:23
Ben Rice has looked really good for the first 10 days or so.  Nice swing and good plate discipline… Yankees broadcasters building him up. Is there a chance he can be the Yankees first baseman for the next few years or is that just my rose colored glasses thinking?
Steve Adams
1:24
There's a definite chance, yeah. He's really boosted his stock since being a 12th-round pick in '21. He's hit well at basically every level, has good plate discipline, average power. I don't think he's ever going to be a star, but he could have a real role on the Yankees, yes.
DJ is Done
1:24
Rengifo to the Yankees makes too much sense, right?
Steve Adams
1:25
Rengifo to a lot of reams makes sense. The Yankees are one of them, sure. But Dodgers, Royals, Red Sox, Mariners, etc. all do as well
A. Friedman
1:25
Which SP would be better fit for Dodgers, Crochet or Flaherty?
Steve Adams
1:28
They're just too different to really compare directly. Flaherty's a rental with half his $14MM salary still owed. The Dodgers would need to pay a 110% tax on that. So you're talking around $14MM or so to rent him for a few months then kiss him goodbye in free agency. They've done that before (Darvish), but not when they've been this deep into the CBT.

Crochet is the opposite. At $800K, the fact that his salary barely moves the CBT needle for the Dodgers is a big plus. But who knows how many bullets he has left this season? The Dodgers might wind up using him in the 'pen for the 2024 postseason. Long-term, adding him to the rotation alongside Glasnow and Yamamoto is tantalizing. But they'd be paying "controllable starter" prices for a pitcher who might not be a huge factor for them in October, which is really when they need to be focused. They're already extreme favorites in the division.
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