WEBVTT - Reds Hot Stove League -- 1/7/26 0:00:00.600 --> 0:00:03.800 This is the Budweiser reds Hotstove League. 0:00:03.920 --> 0:00:06.319 The res surround the radio. 0:00:07.520 --> 0:00:11.399 The Hotstove League is brought to you by Jtmfood Group. 0:00:11.640 --> 0:00:16.960 Let's create great dishes together. JTM MSA Design, the region's 0:00:17.040 --> 0:00:20.760 leader in sports education and civic design and the official 0:00:20.880 --> 0:00:25.560 architect of the Reds Tom's Watchbar. All the sports, all 0:00:25.600 --> 0:00:29.280 the time. Bet MGM Now you're betting with the King 0:00:29.360 --> 0:00:34.520 of sportsbooks. Download the bet MGM app today. 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Visit RLC dot com and make 0:00:55.240 --> 0:00:58.440 RNL Carriers your global transportation provider. 0:00:58.800 --> 0:00:59.760 Deep to center. 0:00:59.600 --> 0:01:03.280 Field, going back at the wall leaves it is long gone. 0:01:03.680 --> 0:01:09.880 Belli Dala Cruz, the red Z on the Rady. 0:01:11.480 --> 0:01:13.840 Now the reds Hot Stove League. 0:01:14.360 --> 0:01:16.000 And Hello and Happy New Year. 0:01:16.080 --> 0:01:19.040 This is the Budweiser reds Hot Stove League, presented by 0:01:19.160 --> 0:01:23.840 UDF Live at the BEDMGM Sportsbook inside Tom's Watchbar at 0:01:23.840 --> 0:01:27.360 the Banks your regular hosts, Tommy Thrall and Jim Day 0:01:27.360 --> 0:01:30.040 are off for the next two shows. Filling in, I'm 0:01:30.080 --> 0:01:32.640 Mark Sheldon, the senior beat reporter that covers the Reds 0:01:32.680 --> 0:01:35.600 for MLB dot com, and I'm joined by Mike Petralia, 0:01:35.640 --> 0:01:39.200 who covers the Reds, Bengals and Bearcats for cnscinc dot com, 0:01:39.240 --> 0:01:41.199 so be sure to also check him out over there. 0:01:41.560 --> 0:01:43.839 We've got some great guests lined up for tonight's show. 0:01:44.480 --> 0:01:46.560 We're starting off with Rick Wallace from the Reds Hall 0:01:46.600 --> 0:01:50.720 of Fame, followed by MLB dot com national reporter Mark Fineshand, 0:01:50.760 --> 0:01:52.680 who will fill us in on the hot stove action 0:01:52.800 --> 0:01:55.720 with the Reds and around the league. That will cover 0:01:55.800 --> 0:01:58.400 our first half hour. In the second half hour, we 0:01:58.440 --> 0:02:02.280 will talk with new Reds outfield JJ Bleday. He signed 0:02:02.280 --> 0:02:05.040 a one year, one point four million dollar contract on 0:02:05.080 --> 0:02:09.120 December twenty seventh. Mike, can you believe that we're about 0:02:09.120 --> 0:02:11.760 a month away from Reds pictures and catchers reporting to camp? 0:02:11.840 --> 0:02:14.320 Can you believe spring training is almost upon us? 0:02:14.440 --> 0:02:18.000 It's incredible, Mark, and I certainly think there's an era 0:02:18.040 --> 0:02:22.000 of expectation for a Reds country this year, given how 0:02:22.120 --> 0:02:25.680 last year ended. Even though it was disappointing at Dodger Stadium, 0:02:25.720 --> 0:02:30.360 losing those two games to the eventual repeat World Series champions. 0:02:30.720 --> 0:02:33.959 I think a lot of people have expectations that Terry 0:02:34.000 --> 0:02:37.040 Francona in year number two, is going to have a 0:02:37.240 --> 0:02:40.560 much better grasp on what he has on this roster 0:02:40.960 --> 0:02:43.640 and the roles they're going to play, going into spring training, 0:02:43.720 --> 0:02:47.040 going into pictures and catchers reporting, and of course going 0:02:47.040 --> 0:02:50.000 into the regular season. That's what I'm curious to say. 0:02:50.040 --> 0:02:53.520 I'm curious to see how this roster makeup is going 0:02:53.600 --> 0:02:56.840 to be handled differently by Terry Francona and his coaching 0:02:56.880 --> 0:02:58.840 staff and how the players respond well. 0:02:58.880 --> 0:03:01.239 Speaking of the roster taking shape, but there's still some 0:03:01.360 --> 0:03:03.160 work to be done to build off of an eighty 0:03:03.200 --> 0:03:04.320 three one season, isn't there? 0:03:04.480 --> 0:03:04.960 There is? 0:03:05.040 --> 0:03:08.480 And obviously there was some disappointment that the Reds couldn't 0:03:08.840 --> 0:03:11.400 seal the deal on Kyle Schworber and bring him back home. 0:03:11.960 --> 0:03:16.600 But the Reds know that in professional sports, and obviously 0:03:16.639 --> 0:03:19.960 in Major League Baseball, the world keeps spinning and you 0:03:20.080 --> 0:03:23.000 have to keep up. And that's what JJ Bleday was 0:03:23.000 --> 0:03:25.680 all about, That's what Dane Myers was all about. Okay, 0:03:25.720 --> 0:03:28.679 we didn't get the player perhaps we wanted in free agency. 0:03:29.200 --> 0:03:32.480 Let's see what we can do to compensate for that. 0:03:32.680 --> 0:03:35.160 And maybe it's not the star player, but maybe it's 0:03:35.200 --> 0:03:38.600 more depth, maybe it's better defense. Certainly, I think JJ 0:03:38.720 --> 0:03:42.560 Bleday and Dane Myers can bring that to the outfield. 0:03:42.880 --> 0:03:46.520 So that's what I think Nick Crawl and his staff 0:03:46.560 --> 0:03:50.040 have really been charged with is trying to provide as 0:03:50.120 --> 0:03:53.080 much depth on the roster as the budget will allow. 0:03:53.240 --> 0:03:55.560 And I think, you know, so far, I like what 0:03:55.600 --> 0:03:57.960 they've done in the bullpen, the pieces they've added there. 0:03:58.360 --> 0:04:00.720 And we still have a month to go before Pictures 0:04:00.720 --> 0:04:01.880 and Captures report. 0:04:01.840 --> 0:04:04.280 Definitely, and we will dive into more about the roster 0:04:04.400 --> 0:04:07.000 and potential moves in our next segment. But first we 0:04:07.120 --> 0:04:09.760 have Rick Walls, who has been the executive director of 0:04:09.800 --> 0:04:11.960 the Reds Hall of Fame since two thousand and seven. 0:04:12.440 --> 0:04:14.440 And now, Rick, I'd have to imagine that one of 0:04:14.440 --> 0:04:16.960 the best tasks of your job is to notify someone 0:04:16.960 --> 0:04:18.760 when they are elected to the Reds Hall of Fame. 0:04:19.040 --> 0:04:21.200 What was it like to make those phone calls informing 0:04:21.200 --> 0:04:24.560 Brandon Phillips, Aaron Harang, Reggie Sanders, and Loupanella about their 0:04:24.600 --> 0:04:25.280 new statuses. 0:04:25.360 --> 0:04:28.359 Yeah, that's one of the great benefits or perks of 0:04:28.400 --> 0:04:32.040 the job is making that phone call, you know, talking 0:04:32.080 --> 0:04:32.560 to Brandon. 0:04:32.600 --> 0:04:34.880 You know, you get a sense of how appreciative they 0:04:34.920 --> 0:04:35.359 are of this. 0:04:35.520 --> 0:04:37.919 You know, making that phone call, you're trying to be 0:04:38.080 --> 0:04:40.120 secretive and why you're calling them at this point, and 0:04:40.480 --> 0:04:42.640 you think they might know. Brandon knwe was on the ballot. 0:04:43.080 --> 0:04:44.800 Aaron Harang knew he was on the ballot. So why 0:04:44.839 --> 0:04:46.440 am I calling from the Hall of Fame and setting 0:04:46.440 --> 0:04:49.480 this up? And I'm organizing with our board president Howard Kaplan, 0:04:49.520 --> 0:04:51.919 who who made these calls with us. And it was 0:04:51.960 --> 0:04:53.960 just such a joy to be able to talk to them, 0:04:54.400 --> 0:04:57.760 kind of hear their emotion and just explain to what 0:04:57.800 --> 0:05:00.520 this means to them. And I think the longer they 0:05:00.560 --> 0:05:02.800 go through this process, they've all been to ceremonies in 0:05:02.839 --> 0:05:05.320 the past, they see how we treat Red's history. They 0:05:05.360 --> 0:05:07.240 know the Hall of Fame and the Reds do it 0:05:07.279 --> 0:05:09.960 better than anyone else. So it's going to be not 0:05:10.120 --> 0:05:12.880 just the honor they receive April twenty fourth through twenty six, 0:05:13.000 --> 0:05:15.080 but really the way we treat them the rest of 0:05:15.080 --> 0:05:17.880 their lives and beyond that we're about preserving that legacy, 0:05:18.080 --> 0:05:20.119 the Red's history, and that's what the museum is all about. 0:05:20.200 --> 0:05:23.760 And Rick, I think it's fascinating that in Aaron Harang, 0:05:24.600 --> 0:05:28.120 Brandon Phillips, Reggie Sanders and Loupanella, you have four distinct 0:05:28.120 --> 0:05:32.359 personalities and it must be something that I'm sure you 0:05:32.440 --> 0:05:35.520 take into consideration when you make for initial contact with them. 0:05:35.720 --> 0:05:38.280 How are they going to respond? And must be one 0:05:38.279 --> 0:05:40.880 of the joys of your job knowing that each one 0:05:40.920 --> 0:05:46.200 of these players and manager have an opportunity to enter 0:05:46.279 --> 0:05:49.479 into a very highly regarded place in the organization. 0:05:49.720 --> 0:05:51.000 I love that you're still right on I mean the 0:05:51.040 --> 0:05:51.839 different personalities. 0:05:51.880 --> 0:05:53.360 I mean when I call Loopenel and I've talked to 0:05:53.400 --> 0:05:55.479 Loo many times over the years, he's been back. Same 0:05:55.560 --> 0:05:58.000 with you know, with Aaron Harang, who is a fantasy 0:05:58.000 --> 0:06:00.600 camp coach for us even this year next week, so 0:06:00.600 --> 0:06:02.520 we've seen him a lot. And then of course Reggie 0:06:02.560 --> 0:06:04.320 Sanders has also been a camp coach, and I've seen 0:06:04.320 --> 0:06:06.200 them on social media. I see how they interact with 0:06:06.240 --> 0:06:08.560 the fans. I know how it's going to go down, 0:06:08.720 --> 0:06:11.040 and it was exactly like I thought it was. They 0:06:11.040 --> 0:06:13.160 were so happy about it and that's just a testament 0:06:13.200 --> 0:06:15.479 to you know, their attachment to the Reds and the 0:06:15.520 --> 0:06:18.680 organization and the history and understanding that lou Pannelli said 0:06:18.720 --> 0:06:20.919 is the best Christmas present I could ever have. And 0:06:21.279 --> 0:06:23.640 his wife was crying and it was just a really 0:06:23.640 --> 0:06:25.800 neat moment. And that's kind of what you expect when 0:06:25.839 --> 0:06:28.640 you hear you're being inducted into a Hall of Fame, you. 0:06:28.560 --> 0:06:30.760 Know, Rick, during that the Hall of Fame weekend, like 0:06:30.760 --> 0:06:32.919 you said, April twenty fourth or the twenty six, what 0:06:33.000 --> 0:06:35.800 can fans expect to see when they come to the 0:06:35.839 --> 0:06:36.920 ballpark during that weekend. 0:06:37.120 --> 0:06:39.200 Well, that's a super strong class. As we talked about. 0:06:39.200 --> 0:06:42.200 We've got a manager, outfielder, an infielder, and a pitcher, right, 0:06:42.240 --> 0:06:44.599 so these are people that everyone's really aware of. But 0:06:44.640 --> 0:06:46.760 we also bring back all the former Hall of famers, 0:06:46.800 --> 0:06:49.120 so if you were wearing a Red jacket, you'll remember. 0:06:49.240 --> 0:06:51.640 You and a guest are invited back to great activities 0:06:51.800 --> 0:06:52.680 at the Hall. 0:06:52.760 --> 0:06:53.839 Special receptions. 0:06:54.279 --> 0:06:55.880 But what the fans get to do is, you know, 0:06:56.000 --> 0:06:57.680 they definitely want to be at the ballpark and around 0:06:57.680 --> 0:06:59.280 the Hall of Fame to meet these guys. They will 0:06:59.279 --> 0:07:01.920 be available for me and greets and photo ops. Saturday, 0:07:01.960 --> 0:07:04.120 the twenty fifth is when the induction takes place on 0:07:04.160 --> 0:07:05.839 the field. You go want to get here early, get 0:07:05.839 --> 0:07:08.560 your seat and be part of that. Sunday our induction gala, 0:07:08.600 --> 0:07:11.320 which is about a fourteen hundred person event. It probably 0:07:11.360 --> 0:07:13.920 will sell out this time at the Convention Center, which 0:07:14.000 --> 0:07:15.800 is really one of our big events, the fundraiser for 0:07:15.840 --> 0:07:18.400 the museum, but it gives everyone a chance to gather 0:07:18.480 --> 0:07:21.520 and celebrate history. The current team goes to that, all 0:07:21.520 --> 0:07:23.640 the former players, all the fans, and this is a 0:07:23.680 --> 0:07:25.400 great chance to just celebrate Red history. 0:07:26.600 --> 0:07:28.840 You know, Rick, One of the things that I'm biased, 0:07:28.880 --> 0:07:31.760 but I believe that that Hall of Fame right across 0:07:31.800 --> 0:07:35.680 the street is one of the singularly best hall of 0:07:35.720 --> 0:07:38.760 fames in all of team sports. I really do believe that. 0:07:38.840 --> 0:07:41.240 I've been around the you know, the country, you know, 0:07:41.280 --> 0:07:44.120 covered the Red Sox, and they certainly do their thing 0:07:44.160 --> 0:07:49.280 with Fenway Park. But what makes even as it's been 0:07:49.280 --> 0:07:51.680 around years and years, what makes the Hall of Fame 0:07:51.720 --> 0:07:53.280 here in Cincinnati so unique. 0:07:53.360 --> 0:07:55.240 I think it's the fans. I think it's we treat 0:07:55.240 --> 0:07:58.000 it as a palace for the fans. We understand how 0:07:58.040 --> 0:08:01.280 it connects with the community. We think baseball is synonymous 0:08:01.280 --> 0:08:03.040 with the history here in town and with the word 0:08:03.080 --> 0:08:06.560 Cincinnati and from once a Red, always a Red, always 0:08:06.640 --> 0:08:08.960 keeping that mantra in mind, and when we deal with 0:08:09.040 --> 0:08:12.320 former players, that's what kind of gives you the foundation 0:08:12.440 --> 0:08:15.120 and the fans and the appreciation for the history and 0:08:15.160 --> 0:08:17.760 those players and wanting to stay engaged with that. If 0:08:17.760 --> 0:08:20.880 we keep that as our foundation and collect and preserve 0:08:21.080 --> 0:08:23.960 and promote Red's history and think about generations from now 0:08:24.000 --> 0:08:26.040 how they'll look back on it, we'll be way ahead 0:08:26.080 --> 0:08:29.680 of everybody. And that's what the museum strives to do. Collect, preserve, 0:08:29.840 --> 0:08:31.040 and think about the future. 0:08:31.440 --> 0:08:33.920 And you have another big thing coming up this week 0:08:33.960 --> 0:08:37.080 on Saturday, Red's Fantasy Camp begins and you mentioned Aaron 0:08:37.080 --> 0:08:39.640 Harangues among the coaches that'll be there. You have twenty 0:08:39.640 --> 0:08:41.920 five former players turning out. What can you tell us 0:08:41.920 --> 0:08:42.760 about Fantasy Camp. 0:08:42.800 --> 0:08:45.480 Well, if you haven't been to Fantasy Camp, you need 0:08:45.480 --> 0:08:46.880 to put it on your bucket list. I really want 0:08:46.920 --> 0:08:48.640 to got to go. You know, we all have one 0:08:48.720 --> 0:08:51.320 hundred and forty four spots. It sells out within hours 0:08:51.400 --> 0:08:55.040 usually when we open it. It's a week long Baseball 0:08:55.120 --> 0:08:58.520 in Goode Arizona at the first class Red Spring Training Complex. 0:08:59.040 --> 0:09:01.120 You get to be a pro week and we always 0:09:01.120 --> 0:09:02.680 tell people go on out there, have a great time. 0:09:02.720 --> 0:09:04.360 You get the uniform, you get to interact with all 0:09:04.360 --> 0:09:06.800 these coaches you just mentioned, I mean Aaron Harang, some 0:09:06.800 --> 0:09:09.200 new coaches this year that we brought out in Johnny Gohmes, 0:09:09.240 --> 0:09:11.600 Jason LaRue and Paul Yannish. But there's Hall of famers 0:09:11.600 --> 0:09:15.000 like Jim Maloney that out there out there also, Billy 0:09:15.040 --> 0:09:17.840 Hatcher is always there, Tom Hume, Ted Power, Joe Oliver, 0:09:17.960 --> 0:09:21.120 Eddie Talbins, run RUMs, names that all Reds fans know. 0:09:21.520 --> 0:09:23.920 But you get to go out. Ages thirty to eighty 0:09:23.920 --> 0:09:27.079 five are at this camp and it's such a special experience. 0:09:27.320 --> 0:09:29.520 Guys have been going to camp for twenty thirty years 0:09:29.720 --> 0:09:30.760 because they love it so much. 0:09:30.760 --> 0:09:32.120 You're building a great camaraderie there. 0:09:32.120 --> 0:09:34.240 It's a fundraiser for the museum, but just a great 0:09:34.360 --> 0:09:36.520 chance to kind of celebrate Red's history in a different way. 0:09:36.720 --> 0:09:39.040 I just think it's amazing that you have so many 0:09:39.040 --> 0:09:42.080 former players involved in the Fantasy camp, and I think 0:09:42.080 --> 0:09:45.880 that's a testament to how they respect what you're trying 0:09:45.880 --> 0:09:49.080 to pull off and how much joy they are trying, 0:09:49.600 --> 0:09:51.240 you guys are trying to bring to fans. 0:09:51.320 --> 0:09:53.400 I think with a player, there's a time in their 0:09:53.520 --> 0:09:56.280 history when they realize that, you know, they miss the game. 0:09:56.480 --> 0:09:58.199 I think leaving the game for a few years you 0:09:58.280 --> 0:10:00.200 let people kind of set for about five years and 0:10:00.480 --> 0:10:02.520 they realize, I still want to be connected to the game. 0:10:02.559 --> 0:10:04.360 And if you're a Red. And some of the players 0:10:04.400 --> 0:10:06.800 I mentioned that their coaches out there weren't a Red 0:10:07.040 --> 0:10:09.800 their entire career, but we like to think of them 0:10:09.840 --> 0:10:12.240 only as a Red, so they'll come out and show up. 0:10:12.800 --> 0:10:15.199 For instance, Reggie Sanders is a works for the Royals 0:10:15.280 --> 0:10:17.360 right now. He does two weeks of Fantasy Camp out there, 0:10:17.360 --> 0:10:19.760 but he still thinks of himself as a Red, you know. 0:10:19.840 --> 0:10:22.319 So we have that great event out there, and I'm 0:10:22.320 --> 0:10:24.080 just looking forward to going out there on Saturday for 0:10:24.120 --> 0:10:25.959 about six days. I'll come back for Reds Fest and 0:10:25.960 --> 0:10:27.640 a lot of our alumni will be there as well. 0:10:28.200 --> 0:10:28.360 Rick. 0:10:28.400 --> 0:10:30.520 We really appreciate you stopping over here. Thank you so 0:10:30.640 --> 0:10:33.280 much for coming in and telling us about Fantasy Camp 0:10:33.320 --> 0:10:35.280 and the Reds Hall of Fame and people can come out. 0:10:35.320 --> 0:10:37.400 You got a Redsmuseum dot org for all the info 0:10:37.440 --> 0:10:38.400 of everything we've talked about. 0:10:38.480 --> 0:10:40.440 All right, well, thank you very much to Rick Walls. 0:10:40.760 --> 0:10:42.920 We're gonna step aside for a little bit, and then 0:10:42.960 --> 0:10:45.320 when we come back, we're gonna talk to Mark Fineshand, 0:10:45.400 --> 0:10:47.960 a good friend of ours from MLB dot Com. And 0:10:48.040 --> 0:10:50.439 for now, you're listening to the Budweiser Red's Hot Stove 0:10:50.520 --> 0:10:56.200 League presented by UDF on the Reds Radio Network. Reds Fans, 0:10:56.720 --> 0:10:59.079 Now is the time to get your twenty twenty six 0:10:59.520 --> 0:11:02.000 season two tickets. Members sit in the same seat for 0:11:02.080 --> 0:11:04.400 every game with their friends and family, and enjoy a 0:11:04.440 --> 0:11:09.080 flexible ticket exchange program. Visit Reds dot com slash Membership 0:11:09.120 --> 0:11:12.360 for details. And we are back with the Budweiser Reds 0:11:12.360 --> 0:11:15.559 Hot Stove League presented by UDF, live at the BEDMGM 0:11:15.640 --> 0:11:19.560 Sportsbook inside Tom's Watchbar at the Banks Mark Sheldon along 0:11:19.600 --> 0:11:22.400 with Mike Petralia. We're filling in for Tommy and Jim. 0:11:22.880 --> 0:11:26.120 As promised. Our next guest is someone who is plugged 0:11:26.160 --> 0:11:29.240 into the business of baseball, not just here, but around 0:11:29.480 --> 0:11:32.440 Major League Baseball. He is the national reporter for MLB 0:11:32.559 --> 0:11:35.360 dot Com and a feature news insider that often appears 0:11:35.360 --> 0:11:37.920 on MLB Network. Please Welcome via the phone from New 0:11:38.000 --> 0:11:42.160 Jersey my longtime friend and colleague Mark Finestand Mark, how 0:11:42.200 --> 0:11:42.800 you doing the night? 0:11:44.400 --> 0:11:44.760 Bags? 0:11:44.880 --> 0:11:48.160 And Sheldon two of my favorite boys, doing great? 0:11:48.400 --> 0:11:49.120 Hey, Mark. 0:11:49.240 --> 0:11:51.920 You know, as we've talked often during this offseason, the 0:11:51.960 --> 0:11:54.920 Reds have solidified their bullpen, They've added to the outfield 0:11:55.000 --> 0:11:57.920 so far this offseason, but it clearly feels like there's 0:11:58.000 --> 0:12:00.679 unfinished business because they don't have the off's a boost 0:12:00.760 --> 0:12:02.720 they still need. What do you think they can still 0:12:02.720 --> 0:12:04.240 do with the time left in the offseason. 0:12:06.120 --> 0:12:07.920 Well, you know, there are still some big bats out 0:12:07.960 --> 0:12:10.400 there that we've all been talking about for weeks and months, 0:12:10.440 --> 0:12:13.440 and you know, Bashett and Tucker and Bellinger. I don't 0:12:13.480 --> 0:12:16.760 see the Reds getting involved in those three players. You know, 0:12:16.880 --> 0:12:18.920 they took the big swing at Schwarburb and I think 0:12:18.960 --> 0:12:23.240 he was a unique situation just given his hometown roots, 0:12:23.280 --> 0:12:26.319 et cetera. But a guy that I think could fit 0:12:26.360 --> 0:12:28.319 in there nicely would be Hadeo Suarez. 0:12:28.360 --> 0:12:29.400 I always been there before. 0:12:29.920 --> 0:12:33.240 Forty nine home runs last year, big power bat isn't 0:12:33.240 --> 0:12:35.480 going to cost what some of those other big bats 0:12:35.520 --> 0:12:37.880 are going to cost. And you know, bangs to the 0:12:37.880 --> 0:12:41.240 buckwise in terms of adding power to a lineup. I 0:12:41.240 --> 0:12:43.360 think he's probably the best, the best option out there 0:12:43.440 --> 0:12:43.760 right now. 0:12:44.800 --> 0:12:47.839 Park It's tracks And by the way, it's great to 0:12:47.880 --> 0:12:51.360 be reunited with you after all of those years covering 0:12:51.400 --> 0:12:53.439 the Red Sox and Yankees that we did back in 0:12:53.480 --> 0:12:56.160 the early two thousands. So this is a trait for 0:12:56.240 --> 0:13:00.640 me personally. I wanted to ask you. Obviously, for agency 0:13:00.720 --> 0:13:03.320 is one way to add talent, but trades are another. 0:13:03.640 --> 0:13:06.600 And I'm wondering what you're hearing out there about the 0:13:06.640 --> 0:13:10.120 Reds being involved in talks with other teams to acquire 0:13:10.120 --> 0:13:13.040 a bat and perhaps this is also a way to like, 0:13:13.520 --> 0:13:16.640 you know, move some contracts that the Reds maybe don't 0:13:16.640 --> 0:13:18.120 want to keep on the payroll. 0:13:18.400 --> 0:13:20.880 I'm just curious what you're hearing in that regard. 0:13:22.400 --> 0:13:25.360 You know, most of the trade talk that's been out 0:13:25.400 --> 0:13:28.480 there this winter, for the most part, has been for pitching. 0:13:29.320 --> 0:13:31.640 You know, we saw Edward Cabrera move to the clubs today, 0:13:32.640 --> 0:13:36.720 Kensey Gore, Ornnie Baralta, there are plenty of Sandy ol 0:13:36.760 --> 0:13:38.320 Contra is probably not going to get moved, but his 0:13:38.360 --> 0:13:38.920 name has been. 0:13:38.800 --> 0:13:39.400 Out there a lot. 0:13:40.600 --> 0:13:42.760 Obviously, the biggest fish out there. If you were to 0:13:42.800 --> 0:13:46.120 be traded Derek Scouble, But I haven't heard all that 0:13:46.280 --> 0:13:49.360 much about big bats that are that are out there 0:13:49.400 --> 0:13:52.120 to be had, So I'm not saying there aren't any, 0:13:52.200 --> 0:13:53.040 but none are coming to the. 0:13:53.080 --> 0:13:54.720 Top of mind at the moment. 0:13:54.920 --> 0:13:58.320 That would really fit the bill, you know, for the 0:13:58.360 --> 0:13:59.880 Reds and trying to boost their lineup. 0:14:01.040 --> 0:14:03.200 So it sounds like the Reds are pretty much rolling 0:14:03.200 --> 0:14:06.040 out the same lineup with the exception of Austin Hayes. 0:14:05.840 --> 0:14:07.640 Being out JJ Blane being in. 0:14:08.320 --> 0:14:10.280 Mark If this is what the Reds look like going 0:14:10.280 --> 0:14:12.440 into twenty twenty six more or less, do you feel 0:14:12.480 --> 0:14:14.959 like does the industry feel like they can still contend 0:14:15.000 --> 0:14:17.000 in the National League Central or for a National League 0:14:17.000 --> 0:14:17.440 Wild card? 0:14:19.000 --> 0:14:19.240 Well? 0:14:19.280 --> 0:14:20.960 I picked them to be in the playoffs last year, 0:14:20.960 --> 0:14:23.240 and I really liked their club. I think if you 0:14:23.320 --> 0:14:25.040 get a little more from a couple of the guys 0:14:25.080 --> 0:14:27.280 who are there, you know, if Ellie takes a step 0:14:27.320 --> 0:14:30.720 forward and comes to players that everybody believes he can be, 0:14:31.840 --> 0:14:34.960 you know, they get full healthy seasons from other other guys, 0:14:34.600 --> 0:14:37.320 and those guys sort of take a step. 0:14:37.120 --> 0:14:37.680 Forward as well. 0:14:37.760 --> 0:14:40.400 I think they have enough talent to compete. I mean, 0:14:40.440 --> 0:14:42.400 the pitcher staff is very good, but gone was a 0:14:42.400 --> 0:14:46.120 great return in the full pen. So I think, you know, 0:14:46.520 --> 0:14:49.760 the NL Central is not exactly overloaded with We're not 0:14:49.760 --> 0:14:52.200 talking about the Al East here with the Blue Jays 0:14:52.200 --> 0:14:55.840 and Red Sox and Yankee and Orioles raised. So you know, 0:14:55.880 --> 0:14:59.360 I think if the Brewers trade Peralta, that certainly, you know, 0:14:59.520 --> 0:15:02.840 gives a hit for them. You know, the Cubs they 0:15:03.080 --> 0:15:06.600 added Cabrera, they haven't added a bat to replace Tucker. 0:15:06.640 --> 0:15:08.320 I don't know that they're going to. I know they're 0:15:08.320 --> 0:15:11.160 still in on Brigman to some extent, But I think 0:15:11.240 --> 0:15:13.040 this is a winnable division. I don't think this is 0:15:13.080 --> 0:15:15.880 going to be a division that necessarily has a you know, 0:15:16.000 --> 0:15:17.480 ninety five ninety eight win team. 0:15:18.080 --> 0:15:19.360 So I do like. 0:15:19.360 --> 0:15:20.640 What the Reds you. 0:15:20.600 --> 0:15:23.000 Know, have going for them as a whole. 0:15:23.640 --> 0:15:25.880 And I'm a big believer in Tito and that was 0:15:25.920 --> 0:15:28.120 one of the reasons why I picked on to make 0:15:28.120 --> 0:15:31.880 the playoff last year. I think he has that team 0:15:32.040 --> 0:15:36.120 believing in itself and if you guys can, like I said, 0:15:36.200 --> 0:15:38.320 take a bit of a step forward, I think this 0:15:38.440 --> 0:15:41.040 is a team that could contend in a relatively you know, 0:15:41.120 --> 0:15:42.240 quiet division. 0:15:42.160 --> 0:15:44.800 And that leads into My next question Mark, and that 0:15:45.000 --> 0:15:49.200 is year number two of Terry Francona in Cincinnati. He 0:15:49.240 --> 0:15:51.600 got the team to the playoffs in year number one. 0:15:52.160 --> 0:15:54.880 What does year number two look like? And do you 0:15:54.920 --> 0:15:58.640 think he makes a difference in terms of his familiarity 0:15:58.680 --> 0:15:58.920 with the. 0:15:59.000 --> 0:15:59.840 Roster this year? 0:16:01.480 --> 0:16:02.160 Oh, I'm sure. 0:16:02.200 --> 0:16:03.960 I mean the fact that he you know, knows the 0:16:04.000 --> 0:16:06.480 guys coming into this year, he'll have a better sense 0:16:06.520 --> 0:16:08.280 of what he has on that roster and how he 0:16:08.280 --> 0:16:11.960 can utilize He's player. You know, I think Sheldon will 0:16:12.280 --> 0:16:13.720 be the first one to back me. 0:16:13.720 --> 0:16:14.080 Up on this. 0:16:14.560 --> 0:16:16.920 There was a different feeling in Reds camp last year, 0:16:16.960 --> 0:16:19.000 and I know that's always one of those, you know, 0:16:19.200 --> 0:16:21.280 very popular spring training. 0:16:20.960 --> 0:16:21.760 Stories of Oats. 0:16:21.800 --> 0:16:24.520 He does bringing a new attitude, but just talking, I 0:16:24.560 --> 0:16:26.160 was in Reds camp a couple of days covering from 0:16:26.200 --> 0:16:30.480 Mark last year and just talking to guys who were 0:16:31.040 --> 0:16:33.560 had been there for a bit, and they just you 0:16:33.600 --> 0:16:36.840 could just sense a different confidence in that room of 0:16:37.000 --> 0:16:39.560 I think the one line somebody said to me was, 0:16:40.040 --> 0:16:42.800 you know, we all know what it takes to win, 0:16:42.840 --> 0:16:44.920 but t is actually giving us the blueprint of how 0:16:44.920 --> 0:16:47.480 to get there. And I think, you know the fact 0:16:47.520 --> 0:16:50.160 that they did take a step forward and have some 0:16:50.200 --> 0:16:53.120 success last year. I think that's only going to make 0:16:53.160 --> 0:16:55.160 them hungrier and that experience. 0:16:54.760 --> 0:16:56.880 Is going to help them in trying to get back 0:16:56.920 --> 0:16:57.480 there this year. 0:16:58.040 --> 0:16:59.840 Mark, we have about a minute left, but real quick 0:17:00.040 --> 0:17:02.920 on the lookoutside of Cincinnati and just nationally, with these 0:17:02.960 --> 0:17:06.000 free agents, you have Tucker, you have Bishett, Bregman, Bellinger. 0:17:06.240 --> 0:17:08.320 Who do you think the next domino to fall is? 0:17:10.359 --> 0:17:13.600 I would think Bregman is probably the favorite in that group, 0:17:13.720 --> 0:17:17.040 Tucker and Bellinger. Bellinger seems to be in a situation 0:17:17.080 --> 0:17:19.560 where he and the Yankees sort of want to reunite, 0:17:19.800 --> 0:17:21.720 but there's still a gap between them, and I think 0:17:21.760 --> 0:17:24.399 he's gonna wait until Tucker signs, because you know the 0:17:24.440 --> 0:17:26.280 teams that don't get Tucker. Let's say he goes to 0:17:26.320 --> 0:17:29.040 the Blue Jays, which is where you know, all signs 0:17:29.040 --> 0:17:30.879 are pointing that he's gonna wind up there, but it's 0:17:30.880 --> 0:17:31.960 certainly not a good deal. 0:17:32.640 --> 0:17:34.600 Then all of a sudden, the Met the Yankees. 0:17:34.200 --> 0:17:36.679 Could be at a biding war for Bellinger. So we 0:17:36.720 --> 0:17:38.760 saw that last year with Soto and the Met to 0:17:38.840 --> 0:17:43.480 merge victorious in that fitting war. Gregman's market isn't quite 0:17:43.640 --> 0:17:47.840 as big the red Box want him back Buster Only. 0:17:47.880 --> 0:17:51.760 Our friend at ESPN reported this week that they were 0:17:51.800 --> 0:17:54.479 prepared and willing to make him a pretty big offer. 0:17:55.200 --> 0:17:58.200