JotCast | Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 8/20/24

Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 8/20/24

Steve Adams

1:02

Greetings all!

Let's get underway

Matt

1:02

Do you have any opinions on the supposed rule change of min 6 innings pitched for starters?

Steve Adams

1:04

Darragh and I recorded the MLBTR Podcast this morning and talked at length about it. That episode will drop tomorrow morning. In general, I'm not a fan of the concept and think it runs counter to some other league initiatives, but I'm also very mindful of the fact that it's a concept in its nascent stages that will change over the years as it's tested -- IF it's even tested -- in the Atlantic/Frontier Leagues, then in the low minors, etc. as we see it in practice and as players, coaches, etc. weigh in on its merits and pitfalls.

It's not like it'd be something that's coming in 2025 anyhow, and I'm not going to fret much over a concept that probably looks little like what the final set of changes might be in like ... 2030 when it's finally implemented (if it ever is at all.... there've been plenty of rule changes kicked around that never see the light of day)

Braves

1:05

What’s hurt the Braves more? The injuries or Olson not hitting well. I know it’s easy to say injuries but if Olson hits better we win more games with or without the injuries.

Steve Adams

1:05

The injuries hurt them more. Olson's only one player. But Olson being basically a league-average hitter a season after launching 54 homers is still brutal

El Chupacabra

1:05

Yo, Steve-O! Look at KC, do you believe in the Royals yet?

Steve Adams

1:08

They're way better than I thought they'd be, though it's come largely due to the best players on their top-heavy roster all staying healthy and all having enormous seasons. (Bobby Witt Jr. is right there with Judge for AL MVP front-runner).

I still don't love the bullpen, but the trade for Erceg was one of my favorite moves by any team at the deadline (unless you're looking from the A's vantage point, in which case, it's the opposite. ... sorry A's fans)

Chris

1:08

do you think the Jays trade Vladdy this offseason?

Steve Adams

1:08

Nope -- I don't think it'll even be something they consider much.

John

1:08

Do you ever see the MLB condensing the playoffs? Seems like once you add, you can’t take away

Steve Adams

1:09

I don't. They expanded them because more playoffs = more money for the league. But the path to the playoffs will get a little tougher when they eventually add another couple teams. Though I don't think that's happening until the 2030s.

Adam

1:09

It’s getting late in August…are there any more notable players that might pass through waivers? Or is Amed Rosario going to be the biggest name changing teams this month?

Steve Adams

1:09

Yeah I think we'll see a handful in the next 10 days or so. This is another topic Darragh and I discussed at length on the forthcoming episode of the podcast tomorrow.

Rox

1:10

Does the Rockies’ handling of Diaz prove that they have no real plan when it comes to their future?

Steve Adams

1:12

In isolation, no. He's a fine-not-great catcher who'd had some calf injuries while playing on a not-insignificant salary. Teams rarely trade for starting catchers at the deadline. It's totally feasible to me that they just weren't offered anything of consequence. He went unclaimed on waivers, after all, so it's not like anyone was even willing to just take the contract.

When coupled with the organization's history and track record though, yeah, it's a bad look. I don't know why they weren't more open to trading him last summer or in the offseason. Maybe interest was tepid, but look at the catching situations some teams carried into the season.

Hector Neris

1:12

Where do I end up? Was my contract the reason I fell all the way through waivers?

Steve Adams

1:13

Yeah, if he were playing on a one-year, $2MM deal or something like that, he wouldn't have cleared. But by that same token, the Cubs probably wouldn't have cut him then, either. Releasing him is largely about avoiding a situation where that vesting player option is even remotely obtainable.

Tiger Tom

1:14

Riley, Carpenter and Tork aren't enough power-wise for the Tigers. Who do they go after in the off-season?

Steve Adams

1:15

More podcast topics from tomorrow! I think they'll have just as large a focus on starting pitching (if not larger) as on bats, but I'd like to see them look in the outfield as well. They're not going to sign Soto, but the market will have Santander, Teoscar, Conforto and others -- to say nothing of the trade market.

Ryan Zimmerman’s Stan Account

1:16

Nats have to be active in the trade market this offseason, right? House, Hassell, Crews, Baker, potentially Made, Morales… just so many guys who will need roster spots soon. Will they move some for pitching this offseason? Say, like Crotchet?

Steve Adams

1:17

I don't think they'd aggressively target Crochet unless they were confident they could extend him (which he's open to, but I assume the price is also quite steep and he's looking at Tyler Glasnow as an example of a marquee pitcher who got paid despite minimal innings track record).

To give up a huge portion of the farm for two years of a pitcher as the first win-now move coming out of a rebuild just doesn't line up for me.

White Sox

1:17

Who do you think is most likely to be the White Sox' new manager next year? Schumaker is the name I read the most, with his ties to TLR. Is he the likely frontrunner?

Steve Adams

1:18

There's no "most likely" candidate right now. Schumaker's name is out there the most because he's going to be in-demand for any managerial vacancy there is. The Sox are going to interview 30-some people in all likelihood.

Medic Mike

1:18

If Neris meets the games played in or games closed requirements do the Cubs have to pay the 9 million for next year?

Steve Adams

1:18

The option's moot now that he's been released

1:19

That was part of the contract to which he's no longer bound. He'll sign a new contract with the team. The vesting clause is dead now that he's been released.

TheMan3

1:19

any chance that the Pirates dfa players like Taylor in favor of promoting Billy Cook at some point soon?

Steve Adams

1:19

Yeah, or I could see Taylor picked up on waivers late this month since he's a plus defender and runner who could be an affordable bench grab for a contender.

Ken

1:20

Given that John Fisher has to spend some of the revenue sharing money on players' salaries, what would an extension for Brent Rooker look like? He's really emerged as a top power hitter in the league, but is still 3 years away from free agency (at age 33) and has no defensive value. Something like 4-years/$60M?

Steve Adams

1:23

A four-year deal buying out his final three arb years and one free agent year makes sense if he's traded, but I don't see the A's committing like that right now. I also think the $60MM term there might be a bit steep. Even if you pretty aggressively price Rooker's arb seasons to get to $35-37MM or so -- which would require him maintaining his status as an elite slugger -- you're still pricing that FA1 year at $23-25MM. And I think the team putting forth the offer would be a little reluctant to guarantee him that much in arb. Usually if you're buying out the arb years, you're getting a little bit of a break. But something in the $50MM range isn't wild to me. Maybe they'd just prefer to go 5-6 years and max out, though, rather than hit FA as a 33-year-old bat-first corner guy. Also fair.

Brandon Lowe

1:23

Tampa has already pretty much purged the roster from high salaries, but with the great farm, do they pick up my option for 2025?

Steve Adams

1:23

I think Lowe's either traded before the option is picked up, or the option is picked up and he's traded at some point in the offseason.

Sandy

1:23

The Marlins told they they arent trading me this offseason. What are the chances i stay long term compared to being traded either next summer or next offseason?

Steve Adams

1:24

If he comes back healthy in 2025 I think he'll be gone before the deadline -- perhaps well ahead of it, if a team is willing to make an early offer like the Padres did for Arraez.

Wav(i)e(rs) and wa(i)ve(rs)

1:24

Neris slipped by, would Smyly and/or Hendricks go unclaimed? Sounds like Cubs are just over the luxury tax amd could use the break

Steve Adams

1:24

Neither of those guys would be claimed.

Diaz

1:25

So if Hector Neris signs with another team and meets the vesting conditions who pays him ?

Steve Adams

1:25

No one. The vesting option is dead. It's a nonfactor now.