Steve Adams' NL Central comments

[mikechamp]

These comments came from a chat with MLB Trade Rumors' writer Steve Adams that occurred on October 16. (If you like him, you can find him on Twitter @Adams_Steve.)

Same amount of questions as last week, but this time, you get 2 bonus Q&As: one about the biggest albatross contract and one about Gold Glove Awards. Enjoy!

The link to the entire chat can be found here: https://live.jotcast.com/chat/chat-with ... 19389.html
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What would it take land Sonny Gray and/or Fedde from St. Louis? Do the Angels match up? Would Gray block a trade?

Steve Adams
I doubt Gray would waive his NTC to go to the Angels. They're further from competing than the Cardinals, even if St. Louis goes into something of a rebuild.

I also don't think the Angels should be giving up any long-term, controllable talent to get one year of Erick Fedde.
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What becomes of Arenado? Few teams could take his contract on, and fewer he probably wants to play for.

Steve Adams
I don't think it's true that few teams could take it on. He has three years and $74MM left on his deal. The Rockies are on the hook for $15MM of that ($5MM annually). So basically 3/59 left on his contract. His contract is actually less onerous than Sonny Gray's extremely backloaded deal.

All of which is to say, if the Cardinals taking a step back is enough for Arenado to want out (or at least to approve a trade), then I think there's a good chance he's traded this winter.
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I’m sure the Rays want to shed Yandy's contract ($10 million + $12 million team option for 2026). How about replacing Goldy in St Louis, where there doesn’t seem to be a logical replacement now?

Steve Adams
I don't think the Cardinals are going to be trading young pieces for short-term veterans. They're looking to scale back payroll and create opportunities for younger players. Alec Burleson and/or Nolan Gorman will see plenty of 1B time next year.
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Could you see a trade between the Brewers and Phillies involved Devin Williams and an outfielder like Blake Perkins or Garrett Mitchell for Alec Bohm?

Steve Adams
I wouldn't give up Williams alone for Bohm, let alone Williams and an outfielder.

I am also not a big Alec Bohm guy in general. His April was awesome, but from May on he was the same guy as always... he can punish lefties, hold his own against righties, doesn't have huge power, etc.

He's not a bad player, but he's relatively limited in terms of what he excels at.
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With Christian Walker leaving and Paul Goldschmidt hitting free agency, do you think there is a chance Goldie goes back to the Diamondbacks?

Steve Adams
I think it's feasible, sure. They could just go super cheap and keep Pavin Smith there -- he hit well in a small sample this year -- but they should be open-minded about bringing in a 1B and Goldschmidt's not going to command more than one year.
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Do you think Santander would be in the Reds’ price range? If not, who?

Steve Adams
Yeah, I think any of Santander, Teoscar, Tyler O'Neill will be plausible for the Reds.
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With the lack of center fielders this off-season, I would think Bellinger would opt out. He can get way more than the 2/50 he has left on his contract.

Steve Adams
I disagree. The market hasn't reacted to supply and demand in that regard in quite some time. Bellinger has $50MM left on his deal, and if he forgoes the opt-out he's guaranteed another $30MM of that. The only way he should opt out right now is if he's not confident in his ability to have another strong season in Chicago and then handily trounce $20MM on next year's free agent market. Any deal he signs right now isn't going to pay him $30MM next year.

If he were a free agent right now, I wouldn't predict him to sign for much more than $60-80MM. I don't think he should opt out.
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Where can TB find a catcher?

Steve Adams
I don't think any of Danny Jansen, Kyle Higashioka or Carson Kelly will be out of their price range. They could take on part of Christian Vazquez's deal from the Twins. Hell, they have so much money already off the books (and likely more coming with Diaz, Brandon Lowe and Pete Fairbanks among their trade candidates) that they could pony up and take on a decent chunk of Willson Contreras' contract from the Cardinals. There'll be options out there.
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Possibly Bregman to the Motor City with a 6 Year Contract and Goldsmith on a one year with Option for second year?
Obviously need corner help with a degree of power. Neither will knock the fences down at Comerica but would be a definite upgrade.

Steve Adams
"6 year contract" isn't specific enough... 6/120, Bregman's not taking that. 6/190, hey, print him a jersey. But I do think a 6-year or 7-year deal is where he's trending, and there's an obvious fit in Detroit even ignoring the connection to AJ Hinch. Goldschmidt -- eh. Sure he fits, but you're kind of just taking an expensive roll of the dice to hope he has something left in the tank. I don't know that I'd find that much more appealing than just giving Torkelson another go and signing a cheaper first baseman as insurance.
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Do you think the Reds or Pirates have a better near-term future?

Steve Adams
I think you could argue in either direction. Cincinnati has more promising hitting prospects; the Pirates have a more promising young rotation with more arms coming. I think Pittsburgh's pitching has a chance to be special and would bank on them in a vacuum, but even though the Reds aren't aggressive spenders, they'll spend more than the Bucs will to supplement the core they have.

It's a fair toss-up.

Brighter near-term future?
Reds (51.5% | 51 votes)

Pirates (48.5% | 48 votes)

Total Votes: 99
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Chances Devin Williams is traded and who may land him?

Steve Adams
I think he'll be traded. No way to pick a favorite for where he goes. Orioles, Phillies, Mets, Yankees, Padres, Dodgers -- pick your favorite contender. They'll all be in on him.
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Biggest albatross contract in baseball? Baez? Rendon? Bryant? Other?

Steve Adams
Bryant is up there, but I'd probably give it to Xander Bogaerts, who just turned in below-average offense in the second season of an 11-year deal after he's already been moved off shortstop.

If the bat bounces back, he could be fine value-wise for the next few years, but I expect the end of that deal to be painful.
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How much of a joke is the GG awards with Soto being a finalist?

Steve Adams
Rafael Palmeiro won a Gold Glove in 1999 when he played 28 games at first base and spent the rest of the season at DH.

The Gold Glove has never exactly been a true benchmark of elite glovework.
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