Steve Adams' NL Central comments

mikechamp · Post by **mikechamp** » March 17 26, 5:07 pm

These comments came from a chat with MLB Trade Rumors' writer Steve Adams that occurred on March 17. (If you like him, you can find him on Twitter @Adams_Steve and Bluesky @adams-steve.bsky.social.)

A lot more questions this week, but no bonus Q&As. Enjoy!

The link to the entire chat can be found here: https://live.jotcast.com/chat/chat-with ... 24136.html
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Have you updated your percentage in regards to Konnor Griffin going north with the Pirates?

Steve Adams
I don't fully recall what I said last time I was asked, but it's become more likely to me as camp has gone along and at this point I am expecting it.
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News on Seyia?

Steve Adams
Cubs haven't divulged the MRI results yet. When they do, we'll have it up quickly.
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If Wetherholt and Griffin do make their MLB debut on Opening Day, how much pressure is their for Bazzana and Condon to make their debuts in 26?

Steve Adams
The Rockies and Guardians aren't going to rush Condon or Bazzana to the majors before they think either is ready just because others from the top end of the 2024 draft are already in the majors.

Fwiw, I'd be borderline shocked at this point if the Cardinals send Wetherholt down. Griffin feels likelier than not to me. Bazzana would've been defensible, and I bet the Guardians don't wait too terribly long. Condon just isn't as far along or ready as the other three, and the Rockies have zero incentive to rush him when they're going to lose 100 games anyhow.
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A solid bounce back year for Matt McLain in 2026! Looking very good in Spring Training. What other young Reds do you anticipate having a solid 2026?

Steve Adams
He looks outstanding this spring. I don't care about the .500 average really; we're talking all of 43 plate appearances. I do care more about the greater number of walks than strikeouts, the sky-high Statcast numbers (93.6 mph EV, 58% hard-hit) ... still a tiny sample, of course, but those things are harder to fake. His chase rate off the plate is way down, contact in the zone way up.

McLain looked great as a rookie before he ruined his shoulder. I wouldn't expect some kind of MVP-level season out of him or anything, but he seems healthy now -- and if he's healthy, I expect him to hit.

Terry Francona already said he's going to bat McLain second this year, so it sure seems like the Reds are convinced he's back to 100%. Hard not to be with how he's played. Really encouraging spring for Cincinnati fans.
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Nelson Velasquez making opening day roster?

Steve Adams
Cardinals beat seems to think so. Not hard to see why with how he's hit and their oft-stated goal of adding a RHH outfielder (which they never did beyond minor league signings like this)
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Who do you think will have the worst rotation in the league this year? I'm thinking Cardinals or White Sox.

Steve Adams
Nats, Rockies and Angels are all worse than those two, for me.
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Is Moises Ballesteros still eligible for rookie status this season?

Steve Adams
Yup.
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If Suzuki is going to be out and Tauchman opts out, should the Cubs bring him back?

Steve Adams
I imagine he could find a spot with more opportunity than a couple weeks at Wrigley while Suzuki mends. If it's a longer-term issue, then it'd make a little more sense, but they could just give Kevin Alcantara a look as well in that scenario.
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With the Ferguson injury and the way he’s playing, could Hagen Danner get a spot on the Reds bullpen at least temporarily?

Steve Adams
Sure. He's looked good, had a nice spring, has been an intriguing guy in the past when healthy. He's out of minor league options though, so there's no real "temporary" spot in the 'pen. If they add him, they need to keep him there -- even when Ferguson is healthy -- or else designate him for assignment.
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Should the Pirates try to pick up Vientos to play 3B for them? I know his defense is questionable over there but I can't give up his potential with the bat. Probably could get him for a prospect, too, since the Mets have a 40-man crunch if they want to add Tauchman. What do you think?

Steve Adams
I'd be fine with that fit, but I'm more bearish on Vientos than you and would really dislike that park fit for any power-over-hit RH slugger. At the very least, he's a little less pull-heavy than the average RHH, I suppose.
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What would a prospect package need to look like from Pittsburgh to get Dana Brown off his "Big League Lefty Outfielder" Paredes price?

Steve Adams
The Astros are trying to win right now and might not have Jeremy Pena on Opening Day as it is. They're not trading Paredes for prospects. (And, as I said re: Vientos, that park would be tough for any RH slugger -- but Paredes more than any RH slugger in MLB. He's the most pull-happy RH home run hitter in the sport probably.)
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Do you think there’s a chance we’ll see Paul Skenes and Aaron Judge on the same team?

Steve Adams
It's called Team USA!
But sure, Yankees will probably be in the Skenes chase when he hits FA in a few years, and Judge will still be signed then.
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Can Shaw fight his way back into an everyday role with the Cubs?

Steve Adams
Who's he going to outplay on the current roster to get there? I expect him to be a pretty frequently used utility guy (400+ PAs), but barring an injury, he's not going to be out there every single day. Next year, much likelier.
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Skenes/Keller/Chandler/Ashcraft/Jones (When healthy, Pirates rotation upside as good as any team in the NL?)

Steve Adams
I wouldn't quite stack them up against a fully healthy Dodgers rotation, but yeah they're up there.
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Who do you think will get a QO and decline? Obviously Skubal, but who else?

Steve Adams
Oh this is so far ahead of time, but I like the question so give me a minute to run through the FA list haha
(Which can be seen here: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/08/ ... gents.html)

I scanned pretty quickly so decent chance I missed someone, but:

Jazz Chisholm
Ian Happ
Daulton Varsho
Seiya Suzuki
Shane Bieber
Kris Bubic
Jack Flaherty
Casey Mize
Brady Singer
Tarik Skubal
Bryan Abreu
David Bednar
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Who has bigger years: Mitchell or Collins? Mears or Zerpa?

Steve Adams
Collins, Zerpa
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Skenes seems like he wants to hit FA like Skubal is going to. Would an extension giving him the salaries as Skubal (plus an extra 1M each season) with a say 35M-ish guarantee for one free agent season work for both sides? Skeener gets to set SP precedents, a big guarantee and still can become a FA at 29. The club gets an extra year of control on one of the best SP in a while.

Steve Adams
Skenes is never signing an extension that buys out one free agent season.
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What do you think Singer's next contract looks like?

Steve Adams
Pivetta-ish? $13-15MM per season over three to four years? Obviously depends on how he looks this year, of course.
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QO predictions: Maybe Nico Hoerner? Brandon Lowe, Randy Arozerana, Taylor Ward possible if they perform well.

Steve Adams
Hoerner for sure
Lowe -- teams don't pay 2B only players and he'll be 32 going on 33. Ward doesn't get on base enough; teams are generally wary of low-OBP corner sluggers.

Randy perhaps, yeah.
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i highly doubt Singer and Abreu get the QO. What makes you think they do?

Steve Adams
Singer is a rock-solid 3-WAR SP who'll be going into his age-30 season.

Abreu might be one of the 10 best relievers in MLB and is also going into age 30. He's less likely than the others (as is Bednar), which is only natural for a reliever, but if he repeats 2025? Easy QO for me.
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Again with the Mitchell hate!

Steve Adams
I neither know nor hate Garrett Mitchell. But I am generally wary of any player who strikes out in one-third of his plate appearances holding down a consistent MLB spot.
Mitchell is also hurt constantly.
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