1 00:00:05,640 --> 00:00:09,200 Speaker 1: It is the first inside scoop with Ken Rosenthal of 2 00:00:09,240 --> 00:00:12,040 Speaker 1: the off season on FT Ken, very good to see 3 00:00:12,039 --> 00:00:14,960 Speaker 1: you rested back from the World Series. We can get 4 00:00:14,960 --> 00:00:16,840 Speaker 1: to a couple World Series questions on the back end. 5 00:00:16,880 --> 00:00:19,480 Speaker 1: I do want to start with off season freshness, and 6 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:22,239 Speaker 1: we didn't get to Shane Bieber yet. So your thoughts 7 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:25,920 Speaker 1: on Bieber returning to the Blue Jays for sixteen million dollars. 8 00:00:25,920 --> 00:00:27,400 Speaker 1: You just covered him in the World Series. 9 00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:31,120 Speaker 2: I was surprised. People with the Blue Jays were surprised, 10 00:00:31,240 --> 00:00:34,520 Speaker 2: people in the industry were surprised, and you just don't 11 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:37,519 Speaker 2: see this kind of decision very often. He could have 12 00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:40,879 Speaker 2: declined the option, taken a four million dollar buyout, so 13 00:00:40,920 --> 00:00:44,479 Speaker 2: he's at four million dollars ahead, and then in free agency, 14 00:00:44,560 --> 00:00:47,640 Speaker 2: I would think three fifty something like that, three years, 15 00:00:47,680 --> 00:00:51,479 Speaker 2: fifty million, maybe even more. But for whatever reason, he 16 00:00:51,560 --> 00:00:53,640 Speaker 2: wants to be in Toronto one more year now. Maybe 17 00:00:53,680 --> 00:00:56,320 Speaker 2: the rehab is part of this. Maybe he feels that 18 00:00:57,040 --> 00:00:59,600 Speaker 2: they treated me really well, He's comfortable with their medical staff. 19 00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:02,400 Speaker 2: He's still only eighteen months removed from Tommy John surgery. 20 00:01:03,160 --> 00:01:06,320 Speaker 2: And my initial thought also was, well, okay, perhaps an 21 00:01:06,360 --> 00:01:09,280 Speaker 2: extension is coming. But my understanding is that there is 22 00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:12,000 Speaker 2: no extension as part of this. It really hasn't even 23 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:14,920 Speaker 2: been discussed. It has not been a motivator for him 24 00:01:15,240 --> 00:01:19,800 Speaker 2: in making this decision. So it's curious. I don't exactly 25 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:23,720 Speaker 2: know what Shane Bieber was thinking. Obviously he liked it there. 26 00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:26,400 Speaker 2: We know that all people like it there. It seems 27 00:01:26,440 --> 00:01:29,720 Speaker 2: like all players and even their wives and girlfriends based 28 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:32,120 Speaker 2: on what we've heard the last few days. But he 29 00:01:32,160 --> 00:01:35,560 Speaker 2: still could have leveraged that into one or two more years. Guys, 30 00:01:35,640 --> 00:01:38,160 Speaker 2: let's do it, and at least to this point, he 31 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:38,840 Speaker 2: hasn't done that. 32 00:01:40,160 --> 00:01:41,840 Speaker 3: Ken. This is your time to shine. If you ever 33 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:43,720 Speaker 3: had a time to shine, now is your time, Ken. 34 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:46,080 Speaker 3: So it's time to step up your game and remember 35 00:01:46,080 --> 00:01:50,560 Speaker 3: who you are. Okay, Okay, thank you, Okay, Well, the 36 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:52,320 Speaker 3: book behind you. That's why you have the book behind 37 00:01:52,320 --> 00:01:54,200 Speaker 3: you that remind you every time you look back there, 38 00:01:54,240 --> 00:01:57,000 Speaker 3: remember who you are. Ken. Here's my question. 39 00:01:57,120 --> 00:01:59,560 Speaker 2: Pedrial Gomez, by the way, the late Pagri. 40 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:02,360 Speaker 3: And I love big one of that. I'm not making 41 00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:06,480 Speaker 3: fun of that at all. I love Pedro. Now my 42 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:08,760 Speaker 3: question is Shane Bieber ops in Is there any of 43 00:02:08,760 --> 00:02:12,360 Speaker 3: these that are more surprising? For surprising Trevor story two 44 00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:16,000 Speaker 3: years fifty five right, Jack Flaherty one year twenty That 45 00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:18,919 Speaker 3: seemed like a no brainer kind of with the qualifying 46 00:02:18,919 --> 00:02:21,320 Speaker 3: offer thing and what he went through last year. But 47 00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:23,239 Speaker 3: any of the opt outs, I mean, Shoda was the 48 00:02:23,240 --> 00:02:25,040 Speaker 3: biggest one that was like, wait, they didn't get this 49 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:27,880 Speaker 3: done with Shoda. But the other one, it almost tho 50 00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:31,359 Speaker 3: seems like chalk, right, Like it's chalk, and like these 51 00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:33,520 Speaker 3: are pretty easy to predict going to the offseason. 52 00:02:34,360 --> 00:02:37,160 Speaker 2: I would agree, Aj and even Shoda to me was 53 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:39,679 Speaker 2: kind of an obvious one. The Cubs were not going 54 00:02:39,680 --> 00:02:41,800 Speaker 2: to do three years fifty seven and a half million. 55 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:43,640 Speaker 2: That's the option they would have had to have picked up. 56 00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:45,240 Speaker 2: I think it was fifty seven and a half in 57 00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:48,640 Speaker 2: that range. And then at that point, Shoda gets the 58 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:52,280 Speaker 2: right to decline his option in that deal, and he 59 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:54,720 Speaker 2: knows that he could do better with a qualifying offer, 60 00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:56,560 Speaker 2: which I assume he's going to get from the Cubs 61 00:02:56,600 --> 00:03:00,040 Speaker 2: one year twenty two point zero five million. To me, 62 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:02,839 Speaker 2: this is kind of check bate by the Cubs two Shoda, 63 00:03:02,919 --> 00:03:07,280 Speaker 2: because if he gets the qualifying offer, then he is 64 00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:10,080 Speaker 2: saddled with that in free agency. It's always more difficult 65 00:03:10,120 --> 00:03:13,200 Speaker 2: with the qualifying offer than without, and maybe it's best 66 00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:15,079 Speaker 2: for him just to come back on a one year 67 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:19,040 Speaker 2: deal twenty two point zero five million, and then the 68 00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:22,079 Speaker 2: Cubs are happy because they'd always rather have a player 69 00:03:22,120 --> 00:03:24,200 Speaker 2: on a one year deal than a three year deal 70 00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:27,560 Speaker 2: when that player had some questions about him this season. 71 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:31,760 Speaker 2: So none of those that you mentioned were surprised Trevor's 72 00:03:31,720 --> 00:03:34,079 Speaker 2: story on the open market. Could he have done better 73 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:37,880 Speaker 2: than fifty five million in total guarantee, maybe, but he 74 00:03:37,920 --> 00:03:40,760 Speaker 2: certainly wasn't going to do better in average annual value. 75 00:03:40,920 --> 00:03:43,920 Speaker 2: And with regard to Jack Flaherty, as you mentioned, AJ, 76 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:46,839 Speaker 2: he had a really difficult free agency last year. Now 77 00:03:46,880 --> 00:03:49,720 Speaker 2: he would have had the qualifying offer on him this year, okay, 78 00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:53,920 Speaker 2: But if I'm him, I understand why he did that. 79 00:03:54,080 --> 00:03:56,800 Speaker 2: I think it drives players crazy to a certain degree, 80 00:03:57,120 --> 00:04:00,680 Speaker 2: certain players when they linger on the market and endless 81 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:02,880 Speaker 2: and it goes into February and they still don't know 82 00:04:02,920 --> 00:04:05,360 Speaker 2: what they're doing. This way, he knows what he's doing. 83 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:07,800 Speaker 2: It's on him. He's on a one year deal. If 84 00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:09,680 Speaker 2: he has a good year, go back in the market. 85 00:04:09,960 --> 00:04:11,560 Speaker 2: And if he doesn't have a good year, while he's 86 00:04:11,560 --> 00:04:14,280 Speaker 2: back in the market anyway, but he kind of is 87 00:04:14,320 --> 00:04:16,000 Speaker 2: in control of this situation. 88 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:18,800 Speaker 3: During these decisions. I know you're not an agent and 89 00:04:18,839 --> 00:04:22,719 Speaker 3: you've never been a free agent, but you have inside info. 90 00:04:23,080 --> 00:04:27,640 Speaker 3: Is there some tampering in the sense of very mild tampering? 91 00:04:27,720 --> 00:04:30,400 Speaker 3: Maybe I'm not even using the right word, like, hey, 92 00:04:30,440 --> 00:04:33,080 Speaker 3: you know what if we take this opt out, what 93 00:04:33,120 --> 00:04:34,520 Speaker 3: does it look like for you? 94 00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:40,880 Speaker 2: I do expect and think that when agents are surveying 95 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:43,640 Speaker 2: the market, it's not necessarily tampering. But maybe they were 96 00:04:43,680 --> 00:04:45,400 Speaker 2: calling around the team and saying, hey, what do you 97 00:04:45,400 --> 00:04:47,280 Speaker 2: think of my guy? What would he get on the 98 00:04:47,320 --> 00:04:51,159 Speaker 2: open market? That's not tampering. That's perfectly within the rules 99 00:04:51,160 --> 00:04:55,040 Speaker 2: as far as I know. And yeah, that I would 100 00:04:55,120 --> 00:04:57,840 Speaker 2: expect happens to some degree or at least their feel 101 00:04:57,880 --> 00:05:01,360 Speaker 2: for the market talking to people. That is something that 102 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:06,159 Speaker 2: does take place. Now. With regard to teams tampering, my 103 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:08,640 Speaker 2: answer to that would be, I don't know that anything 104 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:11,760 Speaker 2: totally illegal goes on, but is contact made at times 105 00:05:11,760 --> 00:05:15,839 Speaker 2: between teams and players and agents. Come on, it's baseball. 106 00:05:15,920 --> 00:05:19,080 Speaker 2: People are always looking to get an edge. Something's going 107 00:05:19,120 --> 00:05:22,320 Speaker 2: on at all times, and I don't know the extent, Eric, 108 00:05:22,360 --> 00:05:25,000 Speaker 2: I couldn't tell you that. I've never actually witnessed it 109 00:05:25,120 --> 00:05:29,200 Speaker 2: or kind of experienced it as a reporter understanding what 110 00:05:29,279 --> 00:05:31,760 Speaker 2: might be going on out there. But do I think 111 00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:35,279 Speaker 2: it goes on? Yeah, I think it goes on all right. 112 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:38,760 Speaker 3: Well, again, you couldn't break a big story for us 113 00:05:38,800 --> 00:05:41,520 Speaker 3: of who was going to be the Braves manager until 114 00:05:41,520 --> 00:05:45,080 Speaker 3: a long time we had nothing. Alex Anthropolis didn't let 115 00:05:45,160 --> 00:05:48,200 Speaker 3: us know anything about it. What do you feel like 116 00:05:48,480 --> 00:05:52,239 Speaker 3: or what do you know? Took so long because obviously 117 00:05:52,240 --> 00:05:54,160 Speaker 3: it came out that Danny Lehman was probably going to 118 00:05:54,200 --> 00:05:56,359 Speaker 3: be there. Hey, he's still playing, he's still coaching in 119 00:05:56,360 --> 00:05:59,160 Speaker 3: the World Series. And it comes out that as Walt Weiss, 120 00:05:59,279 --> 00:06:01,440 Speaker 3: which on this show we felt like was a great 121 00:06:01,480 --> 00:06:03,640 Speaker 3: hire for the Brakes, I. 122 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:05,760 Speaker 2: Don't know it took so long to be perfectly honest. 123 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:10,960 Speaker 2: And as Walt Weiss said yesterday, Alexanthopolis their president baseball operations, 124 00:06:11,360 --> 00:06:13,840 Speaker 2: he likes to operate in the shadows. He likes it 125 00:06:13,880 --> 00:06:16,560 Speaker 2: when people don't know what he's thinking. And I actually 126 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:19,440 Speaker 2: said this on my show yesterday before the hiring was announced, 127 00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:23,320 Speaker 2: that when it came out that Danny Lehman was maybe 128 00:06:23,320 --> 00:06:25,440 Speaker 2: the front runner. This was reported by MLB dot com 129 00:06:25,480 --> 00:06:28,960 Speaker 2: and other outlets as well. I was immediately skeptical because 130 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:31,720 Speaker 2: with Anthopolis, I've come to learn that if you hear 131 00:06:31,760 --> 00:06:34,920 Speaker 2: a name and there's something going on and gets public, 132 00:06:35,600 --> 00:06:38,719 Speaker 2: that's usually not the guy. Now, what took so long? 133 00:06:38,760 --> 00:06:43,720 Speaker 2: I imagine from just an outside perspective, he was surveying 134 00:06:43,760 --> 00:06:46,719 Speaker 2: all of his options, probably Liman included, and in the 135 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:49,280 Speaker 2: end decided, you know what, I'll just stick with Walt Weiss. 136 00:06:49,279 --> 00:06:53,320 Speaker 2: But I don't know, and maybe I'm just speculating here. 137 00:06:53,720 --> 00:06:56,240 Speaker 2: Maybe ownership stepped in. Maybe there was a difference of 138 00:06:56,320 --> 00:07:00,000 Speaker 2: opinion in that front office with ownership, but within who knows. 139 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:03,320 Speaker 2: But this is where they ended up. And to me, 140 00:07:03,920 --> 00:07:07,640 Speaker 2: Walt Weiss is one of these guys like Brandon Hyde, 141 00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:11,560 Speaker 2: like David Ross, who deserves another chance. Now is he 142 00:07:11,600 --> 00:07:13,680 Speaker 2: going to be a great manager? I have no idea, 143 00:07:13,760 --> 00:07:16,920 Speaker 2: But in all of his years managing the Rockies and 144 00:07:16,960 --> 00:07:18,960 Speaker 2: then being the bench coach for the Braves for what 145 00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:22,600 Speaker 2: eight years, now, should he be in a better position 146 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:26,040 Speaker 2: to succeed than he was before? Absolutely he should. So 147 00:07:26,600 --> 00:07:30,200 Speaker 2: we've seen a couple of hires here kind of off 148 00:07:30,240 --> 00:07:34,040 Speaker 2: the radar, right by Tello and Blake Terra in Washington. 149 00:07:34,920 --> 00:07:38,360 Speaker 2: I get it, and hey, those guys might really be successful. 150 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:41,240 Speaker 2: We don't know that. But to me, when you overlook 151 00:07:41,640 --> 00:07:43,960 Speaker 2: men who have done the job, who have proven they 152 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:46,720 Speaker 2: can do the job and do it pretty well, I 153 00:07:46,760 --> 00:07:48,080 Speaker 2: have a little bit of a problem with that. 154 00:07:50,040 --> 00:07:53,800 Speaker 3: Okay, that's fair. That's fair. Ken. We at the top 155 00:07:53,840 --> 00:07:56,080 Speaker 3: of the show, we had a discussion what was the 156 00:07:56,120 --> 00:07:58,640 Speaker 3: biggest thing in this offseason that we're going to be watching? 157 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:01,520 Speaker 3: And I said Detroit and Trek's Schooble. And we had 158 00:08:01,560 --> 00:08:04,000 Speaker 3: Jim Bowden on the other day and he said, yeah, absolutely, 159 00:08:04,160 --> 00:08:06,800 Speaker 3: the Tigers are going to trade Trek Scoogle. What are 160 00:08:06,840 --> 00:08:08,840 Speaker 3: you hearing and what are your thoughts on this? Because 161 00:08:09,080 --> 00:08:10,560 Speaker 3: he could get I mean, I don't know what he 162 00:08:10,560 --> 00:08:12,960 Speaker 3: could get, but I'm assuming he could get a nice package. 163 00:08:13,320 --> 00:08:15,800 Speaker 3: Coming off two times two Cy Young's in a row, 164 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:18,040 Speaker 3: one year away, get a full year of him, he's 165 00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:20,560 Speaker 3: been healthy. He could bring back a monster package for 166 00:08:20,640 --> 00:08:21,200 Speaker 3: the Tigers. 167 00:08:21,280 --> 00:08:23,320 Speaker 2: Let's go back to Corbyn Burns a couple of years ago. 168 00:08:23,360 --> 00:08:26,000 Speaker 2: Corbyn Burns was in the same situation that Schooble is 169 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:29,800 Speaker 2: in now entering his free agent ear the return for 170 00:08:29,880 --> 00:08:34,520 Speaker 2: Corbyn Burns was the shortstop, Joey Ortiz, the reliever, maybe 171 00:08:34,520 --> 00:08:37,120 Speaker 2: starter DL Hall, and a high draft pick. I think 172 00:08:37,120 --> 00:08:40,199 Speaker 2: it was the number thirty seven pick. Overall, that was 173 00:08:40,240 --> 00:08:42,760 Speaker 2: a good return for one year of Corbyn Burns. So 174 00:08:43,080 --> 00:08:45,240 Speaker 2: would school be better than that? Probably a little bit 175 00:08:45,240 --> 00:08:48,240 Speaker 2: better than that. Okay, if you're the Tigers, do you 176 00:08:48,240 --> 00:08:51,679 Speaker 2: want to take a step back and deal with that? 177 00:08:51,880 --> 00:08:54,160 Speaker 2: When you have schoobl for one more year and maybe 178 00:08:54,160 --> 00:08:56,920 Speaker 2: you can win by building around him in that one year, 179 00:08:57,080 --> 00:09:01,160 Speaker 2: understanding that an extension is extremely unlike he unlikely with 180 00:09:01,200 --> 00:09:04,480 Speaker 2: Scott Boris as his agent, and understanding that he's going 181 00:09:04,559 --> 00:09:06,839 Speaker 2: to walk for a draft pick. Do you do that 182 00:09:07,760 --> 00:09:10,760 Speaker 2: and take that road instead of the one where you're 183 00:09:10,800 --> 00:09:12,600 Speaker 2: making a trade and taking a step back. I just 184 00:09:12,640 --> 00:09:14,880 Speaker 2: talked with an executive this morning who made the point, 185 00:09:15,160 --> 00:09:18,440 Speaker 2: and a good one, that school has masked a lot 186 00:09:18,520 --> 00:09:21,200 Speaker 2: of the Tigers ills the last couple of years. Every 187 00:09:21,240 --> 00:09:24,439 Speaker 2: fifth day, they know they're getting a really competitive start 188 00:09:24,440 --> 00:09:28,520 Speaker 2: and probably winning. So if you trade him, you don't 189 00:09:28,520 --> 00:09:31,160 Speaker 2: have that anchor, you don't have that stability that he 190 00:09:31,240 --> 00:09:34,839 Speaker 2: gives you, and you're taking a step backwards. Do they 191 00:09:34,840 --> 00:09:36,960 Speaker 2: want to do that after making the playoffs two years 192 00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:39,680 Speaker 2: in a row. I don't know. My friend Joel Sherman 193 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:42,600 Speaker 2: the New York Post has written that they should keep 194 00:09:42,679 --> 00:09:47,080 Speaker 2: him for the reasons I just stated. At the same time, Man, 195 00:09:47,280 --> 00:09:49,600 Speaker 2: I would definitely dangle him. I would definitely see what's 196 00:09:49,640 --> 00:09:52,079 Speaker 2: out there, because you're not going to keep him long 197 00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:55,280 Speaker 2: term most likely, and who knows, maybe you get something 198 00:09:55,960 --> 00:09:59,680 Speaker 2: as appealing as what the Brewers ultimately got for Burns, 199 00:09:59,720 --> 00:10:02,880 Speaker 2: or even and better. The return for Bruns, in my mind, 200 00:10:03,040 --> 00:10:07,040 Speaker 2: was not bad, but we're talking a two timesy Young winner. 201 00:10:07,040 --> 00:10:09,199 Speaker 2: As you said, most likely we will win that award. 202 00:10:09,559 --> 00:10:12,880 Speaker 2: It's tough to trade that without getting a monster return back. 203 00:10:14,120 --> 00:10:17,360 Speaker 3: Right, What teams are lined up for that? What teams 204 00:10:17,400 --> 00:10:19,840 Speaker 3: are in a position? Obviously you never had an idea 205 00:10:19,880 --> 00:10:21,800 Speaker 3: if a J. Prowler is going to say, you know what, 206 00:10:21,840 --> 00:10:25,240 Speaker 3: we're giving you all thirty of our next prospects for 207 00:10:25,480 --> 00:10:28,679 Speaker 3: trek Skougel, But what teams are lined up for it 208 00:10:28,760 --> 00:10:31,040 Speaker 3: and in the position to say, you know what we're 209 00:10:31,040 --> 00:10:33,000 Speaker 3: willing to it's time to make a move like this 210 00:10:33,200 --> 00:10:34,520 Speaker 3: like the Red Sox did this year. 211 00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:38,280 Speaker 2: The Mets would be the obvious team they need starting pitching, 212 00:10:38,320 --> 00:10:41,600 Speaker 2: They have young starting pitching that they could include in 213 00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:45,040 Speaker 2: a trade. They are completely a team that would seem 214 00:10:45,080 --> 00:10:49,080 Speaker 2: to be obvious in this regard. You can look at 215 00:10:49,120 --> 00:10:52,320 Speaker 2: any team that is a big market team, or even 216 00:10:52,360 --> 00:10:55,040 Speaker 2: a team like the Orioles. Right, the Orioles took that 217 00:10:55,160 --> 00:10:58,559 Speaker 2: chance with Corbyn Buruns. They acquired him and it worked 218 00:10:58,559 --> 00:11:02,640 Speaker 2: that well. He was good for them. So I'm not 219 00:11:02,679 --> 00:11:04,640 Speaker 2: exactly sure which teams are lined up. The Mets do 220 00:11:04,760 --> 00:11:08,400 Speaker 2: stand out. I would basically say all the usual suspects 221 00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:09,600 Speaker 2: would be involved. 222 00:11:10,880 --> 00:11:13,080 Speaker 3: Ken how mad would the Tiger fans be if they'd 223 00:11:13,080 --> 00:11:15,720 Speaker 3: made this trade instead of signing And you know because 224 00:11:15,720 --> 00:11:20,320 Speaker 3: you hear about this, and listen, Corbyn Burns was Corbyn Burns. 225 00:11:20,320 --> 00:11:21,800 Speaker 3: But this is Terrek's school. Well, this is the guy 226 00:11:21,880 --> 00:11:25,760 Speaker 3: every fit day that loves being in Detroit when he pitches, 227 00:11:25,800 --> 00:11:28,480 Speaker 3: it's a different atmosphere and everything. How big of a 228 00:11:28,520 --> 00:11:30,719 Speaker 3: deal would this be for Tiger fans if they had 229 00:11:30,760 --> 00:11:31,480 Speaker 3: to make this move. 230 00:11:32,240 --> 00:11:34,160 Speaker 2: I would expect it would be a big deal. But 231 00:11:34,360 --> 00:11:37,679 Speaker 2: at the same time, when Boris is the agent and 232 00:11:37,720 --> 00:11:40,000 Speaker 2: we know that he prefers to take his clients to 233 00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:42,720 Speaker 2: the open market and Trek Scooble could be who knows 234 00:11:42,760 --> 00:11:46,319 Speaker 2: the first four hundred million dollar pitcher. You know, as 235 00:11:46,360 --> 00:11:48,880 Speaker 2: a Tiger fan, it's unlikely that you're going to sign 236 00:11:48,960 --> 00:11:51,880 Speaker 2: him long term. Maybe the Tigers do that. I don't know. 237 00:11:52,360 --> 00:11:55,360 Speaker 2: I don't think so. But you know as a fan 238 00:11:55,480 --> 00:11:58,120 Speaker 2: that that is the logical outcome, that he hits the 239 00:11:58,160 --> 00:12:01,199 Speaker 2: open market and then ultimately he signed with another team. 240 00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:04,680 Speaker 2: If you're a Tigers fan, maybe you're thinking, you know what, 241 00:12:05,640 --> 00:12:08,600 Speaker 2: let's get what we can right now. And while I 242 00:12:08,600 --> 00:12:10,880 Speaker 2: would prefer if I'm a Tigers fan to take a 243 00:12:10,880 --> 00:12:12,640 Speaker 2: shot at the World Series this year, we all know 244 00:12:12,679 --> 00:12:15,200 Speaker 2: how difficult it is to win a World Series, I 245 00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:17,240 Speaker 2: would understand that I would not like it as a 246 00:12:17,320 --> 00:12:19,040 Speaker 2: Tigers fan, just as I would not like it as 247 00:12:19,040 --> 00:12:21,800 Speaker 2: a Pirates fan at the ultimate time that they trade 248 00:12:21,840 --> 00:12:25,319 Speaker 2: Paul Skeans. But you're looking at what is the best 249 00:12:25,400 --> 00:12:28,120 Speaker 2: move for your franchise for this season and going forward, 250 00:12:28,600 --> 00:12:30,880 Speaker 2: And it's an interesting debate, guys. I'm not sure where 251 00:12:30,880 --> 00:12:33,920 Speaker 2: I stand on honestly, because I understand what Joel Sherby 252 00:12:33,960 --> 00:12:36,040 Speaker 2: was writing, they should keep him and try to win. 253 00:12:36,559 --> 00:12:39,720 Speaker 2: Definitely understand that, but I also see that what's the 254 00:12:39,800 --> 00:12:42,480 Speaker 2: endgame here a draft pick for Trek Schoogl when you 255 00:12:42,480 --> 00:12:45,000 Speaker 2: can get that much more. I don't know one other 256 00:12:45,040 --> 00:12:48,280 Speaker 2: element here that's worth mentioning. Let's say they keep him, 257 00:12:48,480 --> 00:12:50,600 Speaker 2: and let's say for some reason they're out of contention 258 00:12:50,840 --> 00:12:54,080 Speaker 2: in July. The return they would get in July is 259 00:12:54,120 --> 00:12:56,240 Speaker 2: probably not much different than they would get right now. 260 00:12:56,280 --> 00:12:59,920 Speaker 2: So there is that incentive to keep him as well. 261 00:13:00,360 --> 00:13:02,720 Speaker 3: Ken, you know what you just did. He just made 262 00:13:02,720 --> 00:13:04,440 Speaker 3: the argument that all the fans are saying for a 263 00:13:04,520 --> 00:13:07,360 Speaker 3: salary cap, Ken, because they're gonna say, why can't the 264 00:13:07,400 --> 00:13:09,880 Speaker 3: Tigers keep him? If we had a salary cap, the 265 00:13:09,920 --> 00:13:12,240 Speaker 3: Tigers could afford to keep them, which I disagree with. 266 00:13:12,559 --> 00:13:14,880 Speaker 3: But Ken, Rob Manford is online too, and he says, 267 00:13:14,920 --> 00:13:16,520 Speaker 3: thank you for making his argument for him. 268 00:13:17,880 --> 00:13:20,240 Speaker 2: I'm not making an argument for a salary cap. In fact, 269 00:13:20,960 --> 00:13:24,000 Speaker 2: if there were a salary cap, Trek school might decide 270 00:13:24,040 --> 00:13:25,960 Speaker 2: to become a free agent anyway. Who's to say that 271 00:13:26,080 --> 00:13:28,000 Speaker 2: he wouldn't want to test the open market and do 272 00:13:28,080 --> 00:13:30,520 Speaker 2: it that way. It's not a guarantee that Tigers would 273 00:13:30,600 --> 00:13:33,320 Speaker 2: keep him, just as it's not a guarantee that players 274 00:13:33,320 --> 00:13:36,080 Speaker 2: wouldn't want to play for the Dodgers under a salary 275 00:13:36,080 --> 00:13:40,040 Speaker 2: cap system, they still would. So I know this is 276 00:13:40,080 --> 00:13:43,600 Speaker 2: the conversation we're going to have for the next twelve months, unfortunately. 277 00:13:44,080 --> 00:13:47,520 Speaker 2: But at the same time, my position has been and 278 00:13:47,559 --> 00:13:50,440 Speaker 2: it will remain until I'm shown otherwise that there are 279 00:13:50,480 --> 00:13:54,520 Speaker 2: ways to improve this system without imposing a salary cap, 280 00:13:54,559 --> 00:13:56,720 Speaker 2: and those are the things that the owners should be 281 00:13:56,720 --> 00:13:58,600 Speaker 2: working on. And I'm going to add one more thing here. 282 00:13:59,320 --> 00:14:03,240 Speaker 2: We're coming off world series that got great ratings, not 283 00:14:03,280 --> 00:14:05,760 Speaker 2: just in the United States but around the world. We 284 00:14:05,840 --> 00:14:09,520 Speaker 2: have at this moment a little bit of momentum with 285 00:14:09,559 --> 00:14:11,680 Speaker 2: this sport, maybe even a lot of momentum with this sport, 286 00:14:11,720 --> 00:14:14,360 Speaker 2: and it's partly due to the rules changes that Banford 287 00:14:14,360 --> 00:14:16,839 Speaker 2: introduced a couple of years ago. He deserves credit for that. 288 00:14:17,640 --> 00:14:21,160 Speaker 2: Why would you want to mess with that right now? 289 00:14:21,880 --> 00:14:24,160 Speaker 2: Why would you go backwards? Why would you have a 290 00:14:24,200 --> 00:14:27,760 Speaker 2: season in twenty twenty seven that is in whole. I 291 00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:29,240 Speaker 2: don't know the answer to that. I don't know a 292 00:14:29,640 --> 00:14:34,280 Speaker 2: reasonable justification for that. And ultimately, the owners can play 293 00:14:34,280 --> 00:14:36,920 Speaker 2: their game and they can go and scream for a 294 00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:39,360 Speaker 2: salary cap. I'm not even sure they all agree with 295 00:14:39,400 --> 00:14:42,560 Speaker 2: each other on this. Particular issue. But they can do that, 296 00:14:42,680 --> 00:14:45,160 Speaker 2: and they can play it out. They will. They always 297 00:14:45,200 --> 00:14:48,080 Speaker 2: doing these things, But are they really going to compromise 298 00:14:48,120 --> 00:14:50,760 Speaker 2: the twenty twenty seven season. Good luck with that. 299 00:14:52,360 --> 00:14:55,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, and there are media contracts that'll be coming up 300 00:14:55,800 --> 00:14:59,400 Speaker 1: shortly after the lockout that they will impose to some degree. 301 00:14:59,440 --> 00:15:01,720 Speaker 1: Even if we don't miss games, there will at least 302 00:15:01,800 --> 00:15:03,880 Speaker 1: be some type of stoppage. I think we all agree 303 00:15:03,960 --> 00:15:06,360 Speaker 1: that they'll put the pressure on. One other point, I 304 00:15:06,400 --> 00:15:10,520 Speaker 1: wanted to make ken MLB would have super teams. I'm 305 00:15:10,520 --> 00:15:13,840 Speaker 1: thinking about the World Series just now and how much 306 00:15:13,960 --> 00:15:18,720 Speaker 1: jubilation we saw from Roki Sazaki, sho Heyo, Tani, Yoshinobu 307 00:15:18,760 --> 00:15:22,480 Speaker 1: Yamamoto together. You have to remember they're coming from Japan. 308 00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:25,520 Speaker 1: It's far away, they speak a different primary language. They've 309 00:15:25,560 --> 00:15:27,360 Speaker 1: really bonded and been able to spend a lot of 310 00:15:27,360 --> 00:15:32,080 Speaker 1: time together. I also do think that most marketing situations 311 00:15:32,120 --> 00:15:34,560 Speaker 1: and deals right now revolve around you playing with sho 312 00:15:34,680 --> 00:15:37,240 Speaker 1: hey being on Japan's team, which is the Dodgers. There 313 00:15:37,240 --> 00:15:39,680 Speaker 1: are a ton of Japanese free agents coming up over 314 00:15:39,720 --> 00:15:42,280 Speaker 1: the next few week years that are really talented. I 315 00:15:42,320 --> 00:15:45,400 Speaker 1: did some homework on some guys for this class, if 316 00:15:45,400 --> 00:15:47,040 Speaker 1: there was a salary cap, they would just all sign 317 00:15:47,080 --> 00:15:48,640 Speaker 1: with the Dodgers. They'd be like, cool, I'll take half 318 00:15:48,680 --> 00:15:50,760 Speaker 1: the money, maybe even less because I'll make it up 319 00:15:50,800 --> 00:15:53,840 Speaker 1: in sponsorship, because that is bigger right now than the 320 00:15:53,880 --> 00:15:56,680 Speaker 1: contracts for most of these guys. Shoe makes one hundred 321 00:15:56,760 --> 00:15:59,800 Speaker 1: off the field. I'm sure Yamamoto is making twenty. Whatever 322 00:15:59,800 --> 00:16:02,040 Speaker 1: the number is off the field, A large number from 323 00:16:02,120 --> 00:16:04,320 Speaker 1: Japan off the field. So just throwing that out there, 324 00:16:04,600 --> 00:16:07,520 Speaker 1: they would grab every Japanese player. If you think it's 325 00:16:07,560 --> 00:16:09,560 Speaker 1: unfair now that they're grabbing many of them, they would 326 00:16:09,560 --> 00:16:11,360 Speaker 1: get all of them. 327 00:16:11,760 --> 00:16:13,960 Speaker 2: Fans think of a salary cap as a magic bullet. 328 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:17,800 Speaker 2: Some fans think this way, and it's not. And the 329 00:16:17,800 --> 00:16:20,200 Speaker 2: other advantage of Dodgers would have And I wrote about 330 00:16:20,240 --> 00:16:22,600 Speaker 2: this after they won the World Series. They're really good 331 00:16:22,640 --> 00:16:25,080 Speaker 2: at player development, They're really good at drafting, They're really 332 00:16:25,080 --> 00:16:28,520 Speaker 2: good at every other way of player acquisition. They are 333 00:16:28,560 --> 00:16:31,800 Speaker 2: good at getting players on the margins and making them better. 334 00:16:32,480 --> 00:16:35,320 Speaker 2: None of that goes away with a cap. They're still 335 00:16:35,400 --> 00:16:38,560 Speaker 2: going to be really smart and really good. Now, would 336 00:16:38,560 --> 00:16:41,080 Speaker 2: a cap address some of the inequities, Yeah, of course 337 00:16:41,080 --> 00:16:44,480 Speaker 2: it would, But as I've said, there are other ways 338 00:16:44,560 --> 00:16:47,320 Speaker 2: to address those inequities, and it's never going to be perfect. 339 00:16:47,640 --> 00:16:51,320 Speaker 2: We all understand that baseball is not football. Baseball revenue 340 00:16:51,400 --> 00:16:54,480 Speaker 2: is based locally. Football revenue is based largely on the 341 00:16:54,520 --> 00:16:57,440 Speaker 2: national television contract. It's not on the attendance that you 342 00:16:57,440 --> 00:17:01,080 Speaker 2: get at your home games. So currently different. I don't 343 00:17:01,120 --> 00:17:03,680 Speaker 2: know that inherently different is bad. This sport has survived 344 00:17:03,840 --> 00:17:06,359 Speaker 2: just fine for all this time, and we've heard these 345 00:17:06,400 --> 00:17:09,160 Speaker 2: complaints over the years from fans. Hey, it's not fair 346 00:17:09,680 --> 00:17:12,720 Speaker 2: from a revenue standpoint and from a spending standpoint, I 347 00:17:12,720 --> 00:17:15,359 Speaker 2: can see what they're saying. But we've also seen teams 348 00:17:15,760 --> 00:17:19,919 Speaker 2: that have thrived in this environment from smaller markets just 349 00:17:20,040 --> 00:17:24,760 Speaker 2: this year, Milwaukee, Cleveland, any number of them. Again, don't 350 00:17:24,800 --> 00:17:27,080 Speaker 2: get me wrong here, I don't want people getting confused. 351 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:30,280 Speaker 2: I'm not saying those teams shouldn't have a better way 352 00:17:30,320 --> 00:17:33,679 Speaker 2: to compete. They should. What I'm saying is there are 353 00:17:33,760 --> 00:17:37,199 Speaker 2: enough smart people on both sides of this equation that 354 00:17:37,280 --> 00:17:40,480 Speaker 2: they should be able to figure out a system that 355 00:17:40,760 --> 00:17:45,520 Speaker 2: enhances the chances competitively of those small market teams without 356 00:17:45,560 --> 00:17:49,520 Speaker 2: a salary cap. Each shouldn't be impossible that's all I'm saying. 357 00:17:50,280 --> 00:17:53,280 Speaker 3: All right, Well, then leading into that, what team are 358 00:17:53,320 --> 00:17:55,600 Speaker 3: you most interested to follow this offseason? 359 00:17:56,520 --> 00:17:58,840 Speaker 2: Well, I'm always interested in all the mereric to be honest. 360 00:17:58,920 --> 00:18:03,320 Speaker 2: But Philadelphia is really interesting because we've heard Dave Dombrowski, 361 00:18:03,400 --> 00:18:08,439 Speaker 2: the president Baseball Operations, talk about his discontent with some 362 00:18:08,480 --> 00:18:10,680 Speaker 2: of the things that have gone on, and he didn't 363 00:18:10,760 --> 00:18:13,680 Speaker 2: change the manager. He talked about Bryce Harper needing to 364 00:18:13,720 --> 00:18:17,160 Speaker 2: be better. That caused the stir of course, and last 365 00:18:17,200 --> 00:18:19,320 Speaker 2: offseason when we thought they were gonna do some big things, 366 00:18:19,320 --> 00:18:22,480 Speaker 2: they really didn't. They're gonna lose Ranger Suarez as a 367 00:18:22,480 --> 00:18:25,960 Speaker 2: free agent most likely Schwarber and Real Mutto also are 368 00:18:25,960 --> 00:18:29,399 Speaker 2: free agents. Yet they need to refresh their team. So 369 00:18:29,480 --> 00:18:31,680 Speaker 2: while I expect them to sign Schwarber and maybe even 370 00:18:31,720 --> 00:18:36,000 Speaker 2: real Muto too, how do they get better? That's the question. 371 00:18:36,400 --> 00:18:38,560 Speaker 2: Do you trade Alec Bohm and sign a third baseman? 372 00:18:38,640 --> 00:18:41,720 Speaker 2: Can you take on another monster contract? I don't know 373 00:18:41,760 --> 00:18:44,560 Speaker 2: that you can. So they're a fascinating team to watch, 374 00:18:44,600 --> 00:18:47,000 Speaker 2: and really we could go through pretty much all the 375 00:18:47,040 --> 00:18:50,960 Speaker 2: teams and have the same kind of analysis and conversation. 376 00:18:51,520 --> 00:18:54,560 Speaker 2: It's always interesting to see how each team reacts look 377 00:18:54,600 --> 00:18:56,960 Speaker 2: at Toronto right now, what do they do? They've got 378 00:18:56,960 --> 00:19:01,080 Speaker 2: Bieber obviously under contract for next year, but sures are 379 00:19:01,119 --> 00:19:04,320 Speaker 2: ambasstt are free agents. Boba Shitt is a free agent. 380 00:19:04,480 --> 00:19:06,720 Speaker 2: How will they look next season? You can go one 381 00:19:06,720 --> 00:19:09,320 Speaker 2: through thirty, well maybe not one through thirty, but one 382 00:19:09,320 --> 00:19:13,680 Speaker 2: through twenty five or so and have pretty interesting talks and. 383 00:19:13,640 --> 00:19:16,119 Speaker 1: We will talk about all of these teams all off season. Also, 384 00:19:16,359 --> 00:19:21,479 Speaker 1: Fair Territory is live tomorrow. Alana is out. I am in. 385 00:19:21,920 --> 00:19:23,760 Speaker 1: I'm just pullint guarding and you know what I love 386 00:19:23,840 --> 00:19:26,080 Speaker 1: to do. I love fan questions. I know there were 387 00:19:26,080 --> 00:19:28,160 Speaker 1: a few we didn't get to just now. Please join 388 00:19:28,240 --> 00:19:30,720 Speaker 1: us tomorrow noon Eastern and we will rip through as 389 00:19:30,720 --> 00:19:34,000 Speaker 1: many fan questions as possible. If you're lucky, I will 390 00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:36,760 Speaker 1: sit in AJ seat instead of my seat over in 391 00:19:37,400 --> 00:19:39,960 Speaker 1: studio AJ. 392 00:19:40,920 --> 00:19:43,480 Speaker 3: Ken, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Ken. 393 00:19:44,119 --> 00:19:46,640 Speaker 1: Sorry, n I'm sorry. But I will see you tomorrow 394 00:19:46,720 --> 00:19:49,000 Speaker 1: and I look forward to it. We will take many questions. 395 00:19:49,040 --> 00:19:50,400 Speaker 1: See you then, Ken, Welcome back. 396 00:19:50,960 --> 00:19:53,120 Speaker 2: Sounds good guys, Thanks, thank you. 397 00:19:53,320 --> 00:19:57,399 Speaker 1: Fair Territory also had their new episode on Monday. Coming 398 00:19:57,440 --> 00:19:58,919 Speaker 1: off of the World Series. We didn't do a lot 399 00:19:58,960 --> 00:20:00,919 Speaker 1: of World Series recapping now because we did a lot 400 00:20:00,920 --> 00:20:03,320 Speaker 1: of that on FT the last few days. But if 401 00:20:03,320 --> 00:20:06,000 Speaker 1: you want more thoughts from Ken on his World series 402 00:20:06,040 --> 00:20:08,919 Speaker 1: experience covering the Dodgers and the Blue Jays, go for it. 403 00:20:09,240 --> 00:20:12,200 Speaker 1: Listen to that episode or check it out on YouTube.