1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:04,680 Speaker 1: Hi. Please visit our brand new Patreon at patreon dot 2 00:00:04,720 --> 00:00:09,360 Speaker 1: com slash Dodger Blue Dream and contribute. I funded the 3 00:00:09,400 --> 00:00:13,360 Speaker 1: production of the first season of this show entirely by myself, 4 00:00:13,520 --> 00:00:17,480 Speaker 1: more than fifty episodes. But to continue Dodger Blue Dream, 5 00:00:17,720 --> 00:00:20,239 Speaker 1: I need your help. I have a goal to make 6 00:00:20,280 --> 00:00:25,080 Speaker 1: it to fifty paid subscribers on Patreon by Thanksgiving Again. 7 00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:30,200 Speaker 1: That's Patreon dot com slash Dodger Blue Dream. Thank you 8 00:00:30,280 --> 00:00:44,760 Speaker 1: so much. Bitch time for Dodger base Every baseball season 9 00:00:45,120 --> 00:00:49,680 Speaker 1: ends in tragedy, every season, even the one where the 10 00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:54,040 Speaker 1: Dodgers win the World Series, because we know this group 11 00:00:54,080 --> 00:00:58,800 Speaker 1: of guys, our beloved boys in Blue, can't all stay together. 12 00:00:59,560 --> 00:01:04,120 Speaker 1: Free agency is a sad fact of every single off season, 13 00:01:04,560 --> 00:01:08,080 Speaker 1: and it will break your heart. The list of Dodger 14 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:11,640 Speaker 1: players from the twenty twenty four World Series winning team 15 00:01:11,959 --> 00:01:15,920 Speaker 1: that are not under contract for twenty twenty five is 16 00:01:16,040 --> 00:01:20,960 Speaker 1: filled with favorites. There's Walker Buehler, but Tane, the right 17 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:24,360 Speaker 1: handed stud who struggled his way back after his second 18 00:01:24,440 --> 00:01:28,000 Speaker 1: Tommy John surgery and became a key piece of our 19 00:01:28,120 --> 00:01:32,240 Speaker 1: deep postseason run and even dramatically appeared on the mound 20 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:34,680 Speaker 1: for the bottom of the ninth inning in Game five 21 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:38,319 Speaker 1: to log the final three outs of the season to 22 00:01:38,480 --> 00:01:42,160 Speaker 1: win the World Series. Next on the list of Dodger 23 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:46,560 Speaker 1: free agents Jack Flaherty, the trade deadline pickup and Burbank 24 00:01:46,680 --> 00:01:49,600 Speaker 1: native who did so much to help the Dodgers get 25 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:52,040 Speaker 1: to the postseason during the second half of the year 26 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:55,800 Speaker 1: and who could forget Jack's Arawan smoothie twenty one dollars 27 00:01:55,840 --> 00:02:00,080 Speaker 1: of coconut collagen laced bliss. The next name on the 28 00:01:59,840 --> 00:02:06,360 Speaker 1: list is Enrique Kei k Hernandez, our own personal mister October. 29 00:02:06,560 --> 00:02:10,320 Speaker 1: Key K just changed his Instagram profile pick from a 30 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:13,320 Speaker 1: headshot of him with a Dodgers cap on do one 31 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:16,760 Speaker 1: with him wearing a cap with a question mark instead 32 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:21,680 Speaker 1: of a logo. Then there is fan favorite Mariachi Joe Kelly, 33 00:02:21,960 --> 00:02:27,399 Speaker 1: the flamethrowing wild man, trash talker, Blake Trinan, our nastiest 34 00:02:27,480 --> 00:02:30,880 Speaker 1: and most dominant pitcher all the way through the World Series. 35 00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:34,520 Speaker 1: He's a free agent too. I'll give you two more names, 36 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:40,600 Speaker 1: and they are Doozi's Clayton Kershaw, our beloved first ballot 37 00:02:40,639 --> 00:02:45,760 Speaker 1: Hall of Famer goat, and Tayo taoscar Hernandez, the wide, 38 00:02:45,760 --> 00:02:50,560 Speaker 1: smiling and big, slugging, clutch left fielder. None of these 39 00:02:50,560 --> 00:02:54,040 Speaker 1: guys has a contract for twenty twenty five to play 40 00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:56,639 Speaker 1: on the Dodgers, and we wish that we could keep 41 00:02:56,680 --> 00:02:59,880 Speaker 1: them all, but that is just not how it works. 42 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:07,400 Speaker 1: Welcome to Dodger Blue Dream, a documentary about the baseball 43 00:03:07,480 --> 00:03:11,840 Speaker 1: season and off season, made as the season and off 44 00:03:11,919 --> 00:03:16,120 Speaker 1: season unfold. I'm Richard Parks the Third and I'm a 45 00:03:16,120 --> 00:03:21,760 Speaker 1: free agent too, and it ain't easy. Today's episode Hot 46 00:03:21,800 --> 00:03:30,120 Speaker 1: Stove for those of you who are totally new to 47 00:03:30,200 --> 00:03:33,280 Speaker 1: the idea of free agency and the off season. An 48 00:03:33,320 --> 00:03:39,120 Speaker 1: extremely brief primmer. Every major league team has a forty 49 00:03:39,160 --> 00:03:43,240 Speaker 1: man roster. This includes twenty six players on the active 50 00:03:43,320 --> 00:03:46,440 Speaker 1: roster the big league team, plus players in the minor 51 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:49,320 Speaker 1: leagues or on the injured list. Of those twenty six, 52 00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:51,960 Speaker 1: there is a limit of thirteen who can be pitchers. 53 00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:55,640 Speaker 1: Shohei Otani can pitch any time, but he's counted as 54 00:03:55,640 --> 00:03:59,240 Speaker 1: a position player. In terms of finances, generally speaking, being 55 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:02,320 Speaker 1: a big market team, money really isn't a constraint for 56 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:05,520 Speaker 1: the Dodgers, and there are no salary caps in baseball. 57 00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:09,360 Speaker 1: There are various tax thresholds to help even the playing 58 00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:13,240 Speaker 1: field for smaller market teams. The Dodgers blue past all 59 00:04:13,240 --> 00:04:16,360 Speaker 1: four tax thresholds last year and ended up having one 60 00:04:16,400 --> 00:04:19,880 Speaker 1: of the highest payrolls in baseball. In terms of the players, 61 00:04:19,920 --> 00:04:22,800 Speaker 1: they tend to be motivated by the same things a 62 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:25,359 Speaker 1: chance to compete for a championship and play on a 63 00:04:25,360 --> 00:04:28,560 Speaker 1: good team, but also making the most money over the 64 00:04:28,640 --> 00:04:31,800 Speaker 1: highest number of years. And there can be other factors too, 65 00:04:31,960 --> 00:04:35,360 Speaker 1: like a desire to work with a certain organization's coaching staff. 66 00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:37,960 Speaker 1: And the current players on a team can also have 67 00:04:38,080 --> 00:04:41,800 Speaker 1: influence on what moves are made, especially the more prominent players, 68 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:44,760 Speaker 1: the superstars that a team has already entered into a 69 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:48,000 Speaker 1: long term commitment with. And for sure, the market tends 70 00:04:48,040 --> 00:04:51,200 Speaker 1: to fluctuate from year to year depending on which players 71 00:04:51,200 --> 00:04:54,480 Speaker 1: are free agents, how many are available at any given position. 72 00:04:54,960 --> 00:04:57,719 Speaker 1: It is an art, not a science, which is why 73 00:04:57,760 --> 00:05:04,880 Speaker 1: we have the hot stove. According to MLB dot Com, 74 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:08,760 Speaker 1: in the early days of baseball, hot stove season referred 75 00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:13,560 Speaker 1: to an actual baseball season hot stove leagues, in which 76 00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:17,160 Speaker 1: MLB players would stay in shape by playing baseball in 77 00:05:17,240 --> 00:05:22,240 Speaker 1: their hometowns while staying warm with actual hot stoves. The 78 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:26,360 Speaker 1: term soon expanded to become a kind of predecessor to 79 00:05:26,440 --> 00:05:29,840 Speaker 1: the water cooler. On a cold day, fans would gather 80 00:05:29,960 --> 00:05:35,080 Speaker 1: around the hot stove to discuss their favorite team. End quote, 81 00:05:35,320 --> 00:05:39,159 Speaker 1: and so in contemporary parlance, the hot stove is a 82 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:45,560 Speaker 1: euphemism for trade talk, speculation, chitchat. The fact is nobody 83 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:48,960 Speaker 1: knows what's going to happen until it happens. But you know, 84 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:53,039 Speaker 1: we are starved for baseball. So while you wait for 85 00:05:53,080 --> 00:05:55,840 Speaker 1: the socalgas guy to come over and turn your pilot 86 00:05:55,920 --> 00:05:59,600 Speaker 1: light back on, let's gather around the proverbial hot stove 87 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:03,040 Speaker 1: and talk about what moves the Dodgers might be making. 88 00:06:04,279 --> 00:06:07,599 Speaker 1: It's not just about the players we might lose, it's 89 00:06:07,600 --> 00:06:15,160 Speaker 1: about the ones we might gain. While I could go 90 00:06:15,240 --> 00:06:20,760 Speaker 1: on and on about all of the aforementioned Dodgers free agents, 91 00:06:21,279 --> 00:06:26,400 Speaker 1: here at DBDHQ, we focus. We home in like a 92 00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:31,200 Speaker 1: picture with precision command. And speaking of pictures, one of 93 00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:34,599 Speaker 1: those will be the focus of the first part of 94 00:06:34,640 --> 00:06:39,159 Speaker 1: this episode. A young guy from Japan I dearly hope 95 00:06:39,320 --> 00:06:43,000 Speaker 1: that the Dodgers can land this offseason, by the name 96 00:06:43,480 --> 00:06:48,320 Speaker 1: of Roki Sasaki. And then after that we'll segue to 97 00:06:48,440 --> 00:06:52,040 Speaker 1: talk about a position player we've all become quite accustomed 98 00:06:52,080 --> 00:06:55,680 Speaker 1: to who I hope gets re signed and stays on 99 00:06:55,720 --> 00:07:00,479 Speaker 1: this team. His name is Tioscar Hernandez. Both of these 100 00:07:00,520 --> 00:07:04,359 Speaker 1: potentialities have ramifications for what else the team might do 101 00:07:04,480 --> 00:07:07,960 Speaker 1: this offseason and how the Dodgers twenty twenty five roster 102 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:12,360 Speaker 1: will be constructed. So that's what's in today, but let 103 00:07:12,360 --> 00:07:19,880 Speaker 1: me write my way into it. Picture the Alamo, San Antonio, Texas. 104 00:07:19,400 --> 00:07:22,880 Speaker 2: Welcome back time for front office insights and as promised, 105 00:07:22,880 --> 00:07:25,240 Speaker 2: Brandon Gomes are the Dodgers taking a little time with 106 00:07:25,360 --> 00:07:27,920 Speaker 2: us from the GM meetings in San Antonio this morning. 107 00:07:28,640 --> 00:07:31,560 Speaker 1: Brandon, thanks you for the time. The first major event 108 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:36,320 Speaker 1: of the baseball off season, the General Managers Meeting. 109 00:07:36,080 --> 00:07:38,880 Speaker 3: Is our goal every single year is to win a championship. 110 00:07:38,880 --> 00:07:43,680 Speaker 1: And the message from Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes rang like 111 00:07:43,720 --> 00:07:47,600 Speaker 1: a bell. This here team is going to get better. 112 00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:50,480 Speaker 3: The goal is now to go out and put together 113 00:07:50,520 --> 00:07:54,920 Speaker 3: another championship caliber team. So even having just won it, 114 00:07:54,920 --> 00:07:57,560 Speaker 3: that's our goal. No matter what happens each year, our 115 00:07:57,560 --> 00:07:59,000 Speaker 3: hope is to be there again next. 116 00:07:58,840 --> 00:08:05,920 Speaker 1: Year, and job one is shoring up the starting pitching. 117 00:08:06,720 --> 00:08:10,720 Speaker 1: In twenty twenty four, the Dodgers' rotation suffered a historic 118 00:08:10,880 --> 00:08:14,840 Speaker 1: amount of injuries. We can't be relying on the dogies 119 00:08:14,880 --> 00:08:17,960 Speaker 1: out in the bullpen to carry every fourth game like 120 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:22,120 Speaker 1: they did this past October. It's possible that the Dodgers 121 00:08:22,160 --> 00:08:26,240 Speaker 1: could bring back both Walker Bueller and Jack Flaherty on 122 00:08:26,360 --> 00:08:30,160 Speaker 1: free agent contracts, and nothing's been ruled out, but the 123 00:08:30,240 --> 00:08:34,640 Speaker 1: Dodgers are also thinking wider than that. The starting pitching 124 00:08:34,679 --> 00:08:39,920 Speaker 1: market this offseason includes Snell, Zilla, Blake Snell, Max Freed, 125 00:08:40,320 --> 00:08:44,680 Speaker 1: an LA native and former Harvard Westlake High School teammate 126 00:08:44,800 --> 00:08:49,040 Speaker 1: of Jack Flaherty's, who was spotted by the paparazzi partying 127 00:08:49,080 --> 00:08:53,080 Speaker 1: with the Dodgers amid their post World Series win, Gallivanting, 128 00:08:53,400 --> 00:08:58,120 Speaker 1: and Corbin Burns. Obviously, we can never have enough pitching, 129 00:08:58,400 --> 00:09:03,240 Speaker 1: as we've learned, Go said, so pitching will be a priority. 130 00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:08,000 Speaker 1: The expected Dodgers' rotation for twenty twenty five is already 131 00:09:08,080 --> 00:09:14,359 Speaker 1: looking pretty good. Tyler Glass now, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shohei Otani. 132 00:09:14,840 --> 00:09:19,480 Speaker 1: He's a pitcher, a great one. Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May 133 00:09:19,920 --> 00:09:24,360 Speaker 1: and probably returning sometime mid season next year. Clayton Kershaw, 134 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:27,240 Speaker 1: though he has not been signed, has announced that he'll 135 00:09:27,280 --> 00:09:31,680 Speaker 1: be back hopefully that Clayton's a Dodger full life. But 136 00:09:31,800 --> 00:09:36,120 Speaker 1: the addition of one more top tier starter would provide 137 00:09:36,160 --> 00:09:39,560 Speaker 1: insurance and basically mean that the Dodgers would have the 138 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:43,760 Speaker 1: best starting pitching rotation in baseball. And just a couple 139 00:09:43,840 --> 00:09:47,320 Speaker 1: of days ago, one more pitcher came on the market. 140 00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:49,679 Speaker 1: All the guys I talked to bet have played there 141 00:09:49,720 --> 00:09:52,400 Speaker 1: says he's actually better than Yamamoto. I think he's a 142 00:09:52,400 --> 00:09:54,760 Speaker 1: better pitcher than Yamamoto, especially if he flashes anything like 143 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:57,720 Speaker 1: you flashed in the WBC in twenty twenty three. We've 144 00:09:57,760 --> 00:10:03,600 Speaker 1: been hearing about this kid for years. M one o two. 145 00:10:04,960 --> 00:10:08,839 Speaker 1: He hits triple digits on the gun with regularity, and 146 00:10:08,960 --> 00:10:12,679 Speaker 1: he hails from the land of the Rising Sun. His 147 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:16,960 Speaker 1: name is Roki Sasaki. Japan is Roki Sasaki, and for 148 00:10:16,960 --> 00:10:19,360 Speaker 1: those that don't know too much about him, he's the 149 00:10:19,400 --> 00:10:22,840 Speaker 1: youngest pitcher to ever throw a perfect game in Japan 150 00:10:23,840 --> 00:10:27,319 Speaker 1: want to feel old. Sasaki was born after nine to 151 00:10:27,360 --> 00:10:30,920 Speaker 1: eleven in November of two thousand and one. But so 152 00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:35,320 Speaker 1: talented is this young, flame throwing right handed pitcher. He 153 00:10:35,400 --> 00:10:39,320 Speaker 1: has been christened with his own nickname, Rei Iwa No 154 00:10:39,840 --> 00:10:44,160 Speaker 1: Kaibutsu the Monster, and when he threw his perfect game 155 00:10:44,320 --> 00:10:47,920 Speaker 1: in April twenty twenty two, he also tied the NPB 156 00:10:48,160 --> 00:10:51,200 Speaker 1: record for strikeouts in a single game and set a 157 00:10:51,240 --> 00:10:55,400 Speaker 1: new record for consecutive strikeouts. He is very often compared 158 00:10:55,440 --> 00:11:00,160 Speaker 1: to his countryman shohe Otani. They're actually from the same area, 159 00:11:00,600 --> 00:11:02,880 Speaker 1: Ewade Prefecture. 160 00:11:03,960 --> 00:11:10,040 Speaker 2: All across northern Japan. They felt it a violent magnitude 161 00:11:10,200 --> 00:11:14,640 Speaker 2: nine point zero earthquake on March eleventh, twenty eleven. 162 00:11:15,840 --> 00:11:19,640 Speaker 1: Roki Sasaki was in third grade during the twenty eleven 163 00:11:19,800 --> 00:11:24,040 Speaker 1: Great East Japan earthquake, which resulted in a tsunami that 164 00:11:24,200 --> 00:11:28,160 Speaker 1: swept away his childhood home, a defining tragedy in his 165 00:11:28,240 --> 00:11:29,520 Speaker 1: young life. 166 00:11:29,280 --> 00:11:33,760 Speaker 2: As tsunami waves inundated their city, knocking buildings into rubble 167 00:11:33,880 --> 00:11:37,599 Speaker 2: and mixing into a kind of tsunami soup filled with vehicles, 168 00:11:37,679 --> 00:11:39,319 Speaker 2: building parts, and contents. 169 00:11:40,800 --> 00:11:45,480 Speaker 1: Roki's father and his grandparents died in the tsunamis, but he, 170 00:11:45,920 --> 00:11:48,400 Speaker 1: his two brothers, and his mother survived. 171 00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:53,840 Speaker 2: More than twenty eight thousand people are confirmed bid or missing. 172 00:11:56,800 --> 00:12:00,520 Speaker 1: The following year, the family moved, and the year after that, 173 00:12:00,880 --> 00:12:11,120 Speaker 1: young Roki started playing baseball. His fastball broke Otani's record 174 00:12:11,200 --> 00:12:14,800 Speaker 1: for velocity by a high school pitcher Shohey through ninety 175 00:12:14,880 --> 00:12:18,040 Speaker 1: nine in high school, Roki through one hundred and one 176 00:12:18,720 --> 00:12:21,600 Speaker 1: and so of course, in twenty nineteen, he was drafted 177 00:12:21,679 --> 00:12:24,960 Speaker 1: out of the first round and went pro twenty four 178 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:25,360 Speaker 1: year old. 179 00:12:25,360 --> 00:12:27,760 Speaker 4: He was the Yama model of the Orgs Buffalos in 180 00:12:27,880 --> 00:12:30,640 Speaker 4: twenty one year old Roki Sasaki of the Lotin Marines 181 00:12:30,880 --> 00:12:34,640 Speaker 4: are indisputably the two best pitchers in Japan right now. 182 00:12:35,280 --> 00:12:39,440 Speaker 1: In four seasons in Nipon Professional Baseball, Sasaki has a 183 00:12:39,480 --> 00:12:42,440 Speaker 1: record of twenty nine and fifteen with a two point 184 00:12:42,480 --> 00:12:45,720 Speaker 1: one zero ERA. He was an All Star in twenty 185 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:49,600 Speaker 1: twenty two and twenty twenty three, and his fastball keeps 186 00:12:49,640 --> 00:12:53,360 Speaker 1: getting faster. He tops out at one hundred and sixty 187 00:12:53,440 --> 00:12:56,880 Speaker 1: five kilometers per hour. That's between one hundred and two 188 00:12:57,000 --> 00:13:00,679 Speaker 1: and one hundred and three miles per hour dis ever 189 00:13:00,800 --> 00:13:04,400 Speaker 1: thrown by a Japanese player, tied with Shohei. 190 00:13:04,160 --> 00:13:07,640 Speaker 4: Stepan's Brokie Sasaki will be on full display today for 191 00:13:07,720 --> 00:13:08,360 Speaker 4: Team Japan. 192 00:13:08,520 --> 00:13:10,559 Speaker 1: The twenty one year old will attempt to land Japan 193 00:13:10,600 --> 00:13:13,600 Speaker 1: a He's just twenty three years old, but he made 194 00:13:13,600 --> 00:13:15,800 Speaker 1: a big impression on me when I watched him pitch 195 00:13:15,880 --> 00:13:19,480 Speaker 1: during the World Baseball Classic in twenty twenty three. Miami 196 00:13:20,200 --> 00:13:22,680 Speaker 1: is a fastball at a fundred at one miles hour, 197 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:26,520 Speaker 1: and he helped lead Team Japan to a championship that year, 198 00:13:26,720 --> 00:13:31,280 Speaker 1: along with his teammates Yama and Show Hey Hey. Stretch 199 00:13:31,360 --> 00:13:35,400 Speaker 1: him out, oh Tani strikes out trout and. 200 00:13:35,559 --> 00:13:38,600 Speaker 2: Japan squp on top of the baseball. 201 00:13:38,400 --> 00:13:43,440 Speaker 1: Or clips of the three Japanese pitchers paling around during 202 00:13:43,480 --> 00:13:46,840 Speaker 1: a bullpen session have been circulating online. Part of the 203 00:13:46,880 --> 00:13:49,839 Speaker 1: reason why, even though it was just announced that Roki 204 00:13:49,920 --> 00:13:53,199 Speaker 1: Sazaki would be coming to the US on Friday, there 205 00:13:53,280 --> 00:13:56,520 Speaker 1: is a lot of excitement in Dodgerland that he might 206 00:13:56,559 --> 00:13:57,160 Speaker 1: be coming to. 207 00:13:57,280 --> 00:14:00,000 Speaker 4: LA But could you imagine him in a Dodger uniform? 208 00:14:00,160 --> 00:14:02,480 Speaker 4: I think a lot of fans already have imagined him 209 00:14:02,480 --> 00:14:04,600 Speaker 4: in a Dodger uniform suiting up next season. 210 00:14:04,600 --> 00:14:09,080 Speaker 1: Alongside shown and the Show Hey, similarities continue. Like Show Hey, 211 00:14:09,360 --> 00:14:13,480 Speaker 1: Sasaki has long expressed a desire to play in America, 212 00:14:13,840 --> 00:14:17,840 Speaker 1: and like Show Hey, he's so eager to come Stateside 213 00:14:17,920 --> 00:14:20,600 Speaker 1: that he's doing it at so young an age. The 214 00:14:20,640 --> 00:14:23,240 Speaker 1: regulations that are in place mean that he'll have to 215 00:14:23,280 --> 00:14:27,280 Speaker 1: sign a minor league deal, meaning he's basically leaving money 216 00:14:27,280 --> 00:14:29,640 Speaker 1: on the table because he just wants to come to 217 00:14:29,720 --> 00:14:33,600 Speaker 1: the States now and pitch, which means for the lucky 218 00:14:33,640 --> 00:14:38,640 Speaker 1: franchise that signs Sasaki, it's all upside, no risk, and 219 00:14:38,720 --> 00:14:42,720 Speaker 1: basically no investment in a top tier starter who's just 220 00:14:42,800 --> 00:14:45,960 Speaker 1: at the beginning of his career and the Dodgers are 221 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:49,960 Speaker 1: the heavy favorite. Top executives like Andrew Friedman have been 222 00:14:50,040 --> 00:14:53,840 Speaker 1: visiting Sasaki in Japan with regularity. Friedman was there to 223 00:14:53,840 --> 00:14:58,360 Speaker 1: see him pitch as recently as October, and Japanese starters 224 00:14:58,400 --> 00:15:01,560 Speaker 1: pitch every sixth day as opposed to every fifth day 225 00:15:01,640 --> 00:15:05,120 Speaker 1: like in the US. And their speculation with Yamamoto and 226 00:15:05,160 --> 00:15:08,640 Speaker 1: shoh coming back to the rotation that if we bag Sasaki, 227 00:15:08,760 --> 00:15:12,360 Speaker 1: the Dodgers would employ a Japanese schedule. If Sasaki wants 228 00:15:12,400 --> 00:15:15,040 Speaker 1: to win, the Dodgers just won a title. There are 229 00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:19,040 Speaker 1: obvious possible endorsement tie ins with Shohei and Yama. It 230 00:15:19,160 --> 00:15:26,160 Speaker 1: all just kind of makes sense. Sasaki wears Shohi's number seventeen, 231 00:15:26,480 --> 00:15:28,760 Speaker 1: so he'd have to give that up. And am I 232 00:15:28,840 --> 00:15:32,520 Speaker 1: getting ahead of myself? You betcha? That's kind of what 233 00:15:32,640 --> 00:15:37,840 Speaker 1: the hot stove is all about I will do my 234 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:41,680 Speaker 1: best to climb up from a minor league contract and 235 00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:45,800 Speaker 1: become the best player in the world, Sasaki said in 236 00:15:45,840 --> 00:15:52,200 Speaker 1: a statement translated by Yakiu Cosmopolitan. Regardless of what maybe 237 00:15:52,240 --> 00:15:55,880 Speaker 1: is being lost in translation, that's a bold message coming 238 00:15:55,880 --> 00:15:58,920 Speaker 1: from a twenty three year old from a deeply hierarchical 239 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:02,640 Speaker 1: society who could be joining a Dodgers team that includes 240 00:16:02,920 --> 00:16:07,640 Speaker 1: Sho Hee Otani. Anyway, it's not a foregone conclusion that 241 00:16:07,760 --> 00:16:11,760 Speaker 1: Roki Sasaki will be joining the Dodgers, but keep in 242 00:16:11,800 --> 00:16:15,480 Speaker 1: mind if he does, it wouldn't have a significant impact 243 00:16:15,720 --> 00:16:20,160 Speaker 1: on the budget for player salaries, which leads directly into 244 00:16:20,280 --> 00:16:23,800 Speaker 1: our discussion of a player we hope to retain on 245 00:16:23,880 --> 00:16:26,960 Speaker 1: the team, a man who played a huge part in 246 00:16:27,040 --> 00:16:30,640 Speaker 1: the Dodgers' twenty twenty four story, without whom it's hard 247 00:16:30,680 --> 00:16:33,080 Speaker 1: to imagine how this team could have made it all 248 00:16:33,120 --> 00:16:39,680 Speaker 1: the way. I speak, of course, of taoscar Hernandez Tao. 249 00:16:41,760 --> 00:16:47,600 Speaker 1: Do I say thank you? When Tao took the mic 250 00:16:47,840 --> 00:16:51,280 Speaker 1: in front of fans and on TV following the Dodgers 251 00:16:51,360 --> 00:16:55,800 Speaker 1: World Series parade on November one, tears filled his eyes 252 00:16:58,120 --> 00:17:01,920 Speaker 1: and the stadium gave him an ovation. Love was in 253 00:17:01,960 --> 00:17:04,200 Speaker 1: the air. Put this game. 254 00:17:05,040 --> 00:17:11,200 Speaker 4: I put this game to win, and the Dodgers gave 255 00:17:11,240 --> 00:17:15,040 Speaker 4: me the opportunity to come here so I can help 256 00:17:15,119 --> 00:17:21,520 Speaker 4: the ormanization, this city, this team, these people win a championship. 257 00:17:22,560 --> 00:17:25,680 Speaker 1: You that make this dream come through. 258 00:17:26,680 --> 00:17:30,200 Speaker 4: Thank you for making me a world champion. 259 00:17:32,840 --> 00:17:35,720 Speaker 2: Didn't Dodgers figure? 260 00:17:38,800 --> 00:17:41,840 Speaker 1: How can you not love this guy? 261 00:17:42,080 --> 00:17:45,440 Speaker 5: It wasn't hard to make decisions going to the Dodgers 262 00:17:45,440 --> 00:17:47,400 Speaker 5: because I've wanted to go to a team that can 263 00:17:47,400 --> 00:17:49,920 Speaker 5: compete and and be in the playoff. You know, hopefully 264 00:17:49,960 --> 00:17:53,360 Speaker 5: everything goes well and we can win. We can win 265 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:56,400 Speaker 5: everything this year and and see what happened next year. 266 00:17:56,680 --> 00:17:59,679 Speaker 1: It's hard to believe, but this was Tao's first season 267 00:17:59,800 --> 00:18:03,520 Speaker 1: with the Dodgers. He came to the team last offseason 268 00:18:03,920 --> 00:18:06,520 Speaker 1: when he was looking for a multi year deal, but 269 00:18:06,560 --> 00:18:09,520 Speaker 1: the market wasn't working out, so he ended up signing 270 00:18:09,560 --> 00:18:13,200 Speaker 1: a one year, twenty three point five million dollar deal 271 00:18:13,480 --> 00:18:16,479 Speaker 1: to play with the Dodgers for just one season. And 272 00:18:16,520 --> 00:18:19,160 Speaker 1: that might sound like a ton of money, because it is, 273 00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:22,240 Speaker 1: but it was just one year for a player at 274 00:18:22,280 --> 00:18:25,639 Speaker 1: thirty one years old who was just entering his peak 275 00:18:25,800 --> 00:18:30,520 Speaker 1: peak years, and it included eight point five million dollars 276 00:18:30,520 --> 00:18:34,159 Speaker 1: in deferred money, meaning he wouldn't get that portion of 277 00:18:34,200 --> 00:18:37,560 Speaker 1: his deal until later on, which meant that the Dodgers 278 00:18:37,600 --> 00:18:41,560 Speaker 1: had more cash to spend on other players. It's something 279 00:18:41,560 --> 00:18:43,800 Speaker 1: that helped the team, and Tao had one of the 280 00:18:43,840 --> 00:18:47,000 Speaker 1: best seasons of his career. In twenty twenty four. He 281 00:18:47,119 --> 00:18:50,120 Speaker 1: hit thirty three home runs, the most he's ever hit, 282 00:18:50,480 --> 00:18:52,639 Speaker 1: and not only was he in the All Star Game, 283 00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:55,280 Speaker 1: he won the home Run Derby, and he was a 284 00:18:55,320 --> 00:19:00,520 Speaker 1: clubhouse favorite, pling around with Shohy, tossing sunflowers, seeds on 285 00:19:00,560 --> 00:19:04,080 Speaker 1: whoever hit a home run, and that smile. He's such 286 00:19:04,119 --> 00:19:08,800 Speaker 1: a peaceful, joyous presence. And that's not all Tao. Like 287 00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:13,320 Speaker 1: he's clutch, Yes, he's clutch, Clutch. It seemed like every 288 00:19:13,359 --> 00:19:15,840 Speaker 1: time there was a big moment and Tao was at 289 00:19:15,880 --> 00:19:18,879 Speaker 1: the plate, he would come through. And this was true 290 00:19:18,880 --> 00:19:22,360 Speaker 1: not only during the regular season, but in the postseason. Two. 291 00:19:22,680 --> 00:19:25,359 Speaker 1: I saw him hit a Grand Slam home run against 292 00:19:25,400 --> 00:19:29,000 Speaker 1: the Padres in San Diego during the NLDS and when 293 00:19:29,040 --> 00:19:32,280 Speaker 1: the Yankees gave the Dodgers an opportunity in Game five 294 00:19:32,320 --> 00:19:35,560 Speaker 1: of the World Series by making some defensive errors with 295 00:19:35,680 --> 00:19:38,680 Speaker 1: Freddie Freeman. It was Tao who had the big hit 296 00:19:38,960 --> 00:19:41,520 Speaker 1: that capitalized on that opportunity. 297 00:19:40,960 --> 00:19:43,000 Speaker 2: The one two pitch to Taoscar Hernandez. 298 00:19:44,320 --> 00:19:46,480 Speaker 1: Yes in the air to left center field, Judge on 299 00:19:46,560 --> 00:19:51,840 Speaker 1: the run, dead script, that's head, that's end a score. 300 00:19:52,280 --> 00:19:55,720 Speaker 1: Frenny Freeman to the pint, and this game's got. 301 00:19:55,440 --> 00:19:56,680 Speaker 3: Turned up shut down. 302 00:19:57,400 --> 00:20:04,520 Speaker 1: W wow, Wow, he's clutch, clutch, thanks, and the Dangers 303 00:20:05,760 --> 00:20:09,280 Speaker 1: down five nothing. Cole was pitching great. What did you 304 00:20:09,280 --> 00:20:10,120 Speaker 1: guys tell your sex? 305 00:20:10,720 --> 00:20:13,200 Speaker 5: I mean, we just take advantage of every mistake that 306 00:20:13,280 --> 00:20:16,080 Speaker 5: they make and not any ah. We put some good 307 00:20:16,080 --> 00:20:18,240 Speaker 5: abbots together, we put the bulletplay. 308 00:20:18,560 --> 00:20:22,000 Speaker 1: We literally would not have won the World Series without 309 00:20:22,040 --> 00:20:26,399 Speaker 1: the contributions of Taoscar Hernandez, on top of his thirty 310 00:20:26,440 --> 00:20:31,080 Speaker 1: three regular season dingers, ninety nine RBIs and eight forty 311 00:20:31,080 --> 00:20:36,240 Speaker 1: eight ops, and his clubhouse leadership, his relationship was Shohy, 312 00:20:36,600 --> 00:20:39,680 Speaker 1: his mentorship of younger players like Andy pahees. 313 00:20:39,920 --> 00:20:42,760 Speaker 2: Seriously, now that you've won one, what is going through 314 00:20:42,760 --> 00:20:44,440 Speaker 2: your mind? 315 00:20:43,200 --> 00:20:47,040 Speaker 5: To a drink comes through obviously. 316 00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:50,560 Speaker 1: But now that's all just a memory, and Tao's future 317 00:20:50,720 --> 00:20:55,160 Speaker 1: with this team is totally uncertain. Tao has been open 318 00:20:55,200 --> 00:20:58,480 Speaker 1: about his desire to stay on the Dodgers. He said 319 00:20:58,520 --> 00:21:01,800 Speaker 1: it in interviews throughout the regular season. I want to 320 00:21:01,840 --> 00:21:05,199 Speaker 1: stay here. That's up to them, et cetera, et cetera. 321 00:21:05,760 --> 00:21:08,639 Speaker 1: But this was always something Tao was doing in the media. 322 00:21:09,040 --> 00:21:12,840 Speaker 1: The Dodgers and Tao never discussed a contract extension during 323 00:21:12,880 --> 00:21:16,280 Speaker 1: the regular season, but the Dodgers have made an offer 324 00:21:16,320 --> 00:21:19,800 Speaker 1: at this point, a one year, twenty one point zero 325 00:21:19,960 --> 00:21:25,359 Speaker 1: five million dollar contract, known as a qualifying offer. A 326 00:21:25,480 --> 00:21:28,920 Speaker 1: qualifying offer is something that Major League teams can offer 327 00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:32,359 Speaker 1: free agents to stay with their organization for one more 328 00:21:32,440 --> 00:21:35,480 Speaker 1: year when they reach free agency, with a salary that 329 00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:38,240 Speaker 1: is determined by making an average of the one hundred 330 00:21:38,320 --> 00:21:43,000 Speaker 1: and twenty five highest paid players in MLB. If a 331 00:21:43,080 --> 00:21:46,320 Speaker 1: team gives a qualifying offer to a player who then 332 00:21:46,400 --> 00:21:50,680 Speaker 1: signs elsewhere, that team becomes eligible for a draft pick 333 00:21:50,840 --> 00:21:55,840 Speaker 1: compensation in the following year's draft. The qualifying offer system 334 00:21:55,960 --> 00:21:59,760 Speaker 1: has existed since twenty twelve to help protect teams from 335 00:22:00,119 --> 00:22:03,359 Speaker 1: using their best talent to bigger markets, and there is 336 00:22:03,400 --> 00:22:07,080 Speaker 1: no bigger market than Los Angeles. On top of that, 337 00:22:07,560 --> 00:22:11,639 Speaker 1: through twenty twenty three, only thirteen of the one hundred 338 00:22:11,680 --> 00:22:15,760 Speaker 1: and thirty one total players who received a qualifying offer 339 00:22:16,000 --> 00:22:20,560 Speaker 1: had ever accepted it. Twenty one point zero five million 340 00:22:20,640 --> 00:22:23,480 Speaker 1: dollars is a ton of money, but it would be 341 00:22:23,520 --> 00:22:26,679 Speaker 1: a pay cut for Tao after the best season of 342 00:22:26,760 --> 00:22:30,359 Speaker 1: his career on the biggest possible stage, when he helped 343 00:22:30,359 --> 00:22:34,639 Speaker 1: his team win the World Series. And we all know 344 00:22:34,800 --> 00:22:38,040 Speaker 1: that Tao is looking for a multi year deal, and 345 00:22:38,160 --> 00:22:42,960 Speaker 1: of course other teams are expressing their interest in our Tao. 346 00:22:43,880 --> 00:22:47,159 Speaker 1: It's basically a foregone conclusion that he'll turn down the 347 00:22:47,240 --> 00:22:51,360 Speaker 1: qualifying offer. But what are the chances that Tao stays 348 00:22:51,400 --> 00:22:55,080 Speaker 1: on this team. We've already gotten some clues early on 349 00:22:55,160 --> 00:23:00,880 Speaker 1: in the off season. During the annual General Manager meetings 350 00:23:01,080 --> 00:23:06,560 Speaker 1: in San Antonio, Texas last week, Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes 351 00:23:06,600 --> 00:23:09,720 Speaker 1: told the media that in order to bolster offense, the 352 00:23:09,760 --> 00:23:14,959 Speaker 1: team should focus on outfield and Mooki Betts is expected 353 00:23:15,000 --> 00:23:18,840 Speaker 1: to return to the infield for twenty twenty five. And 354 00:23:18,880 --> 00:23:22,640 Speaker 1: you'll remember from our episode Mooki's Best but the project 355 00:23:22,680 --> 00:23:25,840 Speaker 1: of Muki's twenty twenty four season was moving from right 356 00:23:25,880 --> 00:23:29,080 Speaker 1: field to shortstop, and that he spent much of his 357 00:23:29,200 --> 00:23:32,679 Speaker 1: minor league career at second base. And you know that 358 00:23:32,720 --> 00:23:36,000 Speaker 1: after Mooki got hurt last season in June that he 359 00:23:36,119 --> 00:23:39,400 Speaker 1: returned to the team to play right field, and there 360 00:23:39,480 --> 00:23:43,399 Speaker 1: was no specificity about which position in the infield Mookie 361 00:23:43,400 --> 00:23:46,600 Speaker 1: would be taking in twenty twenty five, but in any case, 362 00:23:46,760 --> 00:23:50,280 Speaker 1: it opens up a hole in the outfield in right field, 363 00:23:50,680 --> 00:23:54,919 Speaker 1: which with left field, is a position that Teoscar Hernandez 364 00:23:55,000 --> 00:23:58,959 Speaker 1: played for US in twenty twenty four. The internal options 365 00:23:59,200 --> 00:24:03,920 Speaker 1: currently under contract for the Dodgers for all outfield positions, 366 00:24:04,359 --> 00:24:08,080 Speaker 1: according to the Athletic are Andy Pajes, who played one 367 00:24:08,119 --> 00:24:11,080 Speaker 1: hundred and sixteen games in twenty twenty four as a rookie, 368 00:24:11,280 --> 00:24:14,679 Speaker 1: James Outman, who was our opening day center fielder for 369 00:24:14,720 --> 00:24:18,679 Speaker 1: the past two seasons but who struggled throughout twenty twenty 370 00:24:18,680 --> 00:24:21,480 Speaker 1: four and spent most of the season in the minors. 371 00:24:21,840 --> 00:24:25,640 Speaker 1: And Dalton Rushing, a prospect who you might have heard 372 00:24:25,680 --> 00:24:28,480 Speaker 1: of as a catcher who finished off the twenty twenty 373 00:24:28,520 --> 00:24:31,960 Speaker 1: four season in the minor leagues playing left field. That's it. 374 00:24:32,440 --> 00:24:36,040 Speaker 1: I guess this assumes that Chris Taylor CT three and 375 00:24:36,280 --> 00:24:39,600 Speaker 1: Tommy Edmond wouldn't be starting every day in the outfield, 376 00:24:39,800 --> 00:24:42,480 Speaker 1: although they can play there, and the same logic I 377 00:24:42,560 --> 00:24:46,240 Speaker 1: believe extends to keik, although Kei k is also not 378 00:24:46,440 --> 00:24:51,280 Speaker 1: under contract, all the more reason to re sign Tao. 379 00:24:52,320 --> 00:24:56,480 Speaker 1: Then there's the possibility that the Dodgers sign Juan Soto, 380 00:24:56,960 --> 00:25:00,359 Speaker 1: the twenty six year old sensation who spent the twenty 381 00:25:00,400 --> 00:25:03,639 Speaker 1: twenty four season with the New York Yankees, and before 382 00:25:03,680 --> 00:25:06,199 Speaker 1: that was on the Padres, and before that was on 383 00:25:06,280 --> 00:25:09,840 Speaker 1: the Nationals. The kid who shuffles in the box, whose 384 00:25:09,880 --> 00:25:13,439 Speaker 1: position is right field, who's looking for a contract of 385 00:25:13,560 --> 00:25:18,040 Speaker 1: five hundred, six hundred or seven hundred million dollars. The 386 00:25:18,119 --> 00:25:20,879 Speaker 1: Dodgers have been said to be speaking to Sodo, but 387 00:25:20,960 --> 00:25:23,879 Speaker 1: the New York teams, both the Yankees and the Mets, 388 00:25:24,080 --> 00:25:27,480 Speaker 1: are rumored to be the heavy favorites for Soto's contract. 389 00:25:28,400 --> 00:25:32,280 Speaker 1: Sources have told reporters at The Athletic that four other 390 00:25:32,480 --> 00:25:37,040 Speaker 1: Major League teams have expressed quote some level of interest 391 00:25:37,440 --> 00:25:41,919 Speaker 1: and had conversations with Tao, whose price tag for a 392 00:25:42,000 --> 00:25:46,240 Speaker 1: multi year deal would be not insignificant, but nowhere near 393 00:25:46,359 --> 00:25:49,440 Speaker 1: what Wan Soto is looking for. We're looking at over 394 00:25:49,520 --> 00:25:51,719 Speaker 1: eight figures, were looking at that. He's going to get 395 00:25:51,760 --> 00:25:52,200 Speaker 1: a good deal. 396 00:25:52,240 --> 00:25:53,600 Speaker 2: I know his age story two, but if you look 397 00:25:53,640 --> 00:25:55,320 Speaker 2: at him, his body he plays like he's younger. 398 00:25:55,480 --> 00:26:00,439 Speaker 1: That's real money, real money. Eight figures one two, the 399 00:26:00,640 --> 00:26:05,400 Speaker 1: Comma two, Commas whatever. All of these numbers are obscene. 400 00:26:05,840 --> 00:26:09,000 Speaker 1: Tao is not only a huge element of the heart 401 00:26:09,000 --> 00:26:12,160 Speaker 1: and soul of this team, his bat did so much 402 00:26:12,359 --> 00:26:15,960 Speaker 1: to bring home a world championship to Los Angeles in 403 00:26:16,040 --> 00:26:19,280 Speaker 1: twenty twenty four. Yeah, what can I do for you? 404 00:26:19,400 --> 00:26:20,960 Speaker 1: Rod You just tell me what can. 405 00:26:20,840 --> 00:26:21,919 Speaker 3: I do for you for you? 406 00:26:22,560 --> 00:26:26,080 Speaker 1: Show me the money, Jerry, show me the money. This 407 00:26:26,119 --> 00:26:28,679 Speaker 1: is kind of a weird time of year for baseball 408 00:26:28,840 --> 00:26:32,040 Speaker 1: when agents and owners step into the limelight for a 409 00:26:32,119 --> 00:26:36,239 Speaker 1: moment while the players nurse their postseason hangovers, rest up 410 00:26:36,280 --> 00:26:39,720 Speaker 1: poolside and cabo, or spend a precious few moments with 411 00:26:39,800 --> 00:26:44,439 Speaker 1: their children. But us baseball documentarians, well, we're huddled up 412 00:26:44,480 --> 00:26:49,160 Speaker 1: around the proverbial hot stove with our eyes on the prize. 413 00:26:50,760 --> 00:26:53,000 Speaker 1: We'll be sure to let you know what happens here 414 00:26:53,359 --> 00:26:58,800 Speaker 1: with Roki Sasaki and of course Tao. That's it for 415 00:26:58,880 --> 00:27:02,640 Speaker 1: this edition of Dodger Blue Dream. Thank you for listening. 416 00:27:04,800 --> 00:27:08,479 Speaker 1: Dodger Blue Dream is written and produced by me Richard Parks, 417 00:27:08,520 --> 00:27:12,040 Speaker 1: the Thid. This episode was story edited by Caitlin esh. 418 00:27:12,280 --> 00:27:17,040 Speaker 1: Original music in this episode by William Bryan Fritch, Jonathan Snipes, 419 00:27:17,280 --> 00:27:21,840 Speaker 1: the Blasting Company, and by Me. Special thanks to Elizabeth Parks, 420 00:27:21,920 --> 00:27:26,159 Speaker 1: Kibbie and Jordan Bass. You know, the Los Angeles Dodgers 421 00:27:26,320 --> 00:27:29,840 Speaker 1: have yet to not win a world series title during 422 00:27:29,880 --> 00:27:33,560 Speaker 1: the years that I've produced Dodger Blue Dream. Maybe it's 423 00:27:33,600 --> 00:27:37,280 Speaker 1: time we start talking about my contract. That's why we 424 00:27:37,320 --> 00:27:41,760 Speaker 1: set up a Patreon Patreon dot com slash Dodger Blue Dream. 425 00:27:42,080 --> 00:27:46,520 Speaker 1: My initial goal is fifty contributions and I need your help. 426 00:27:47,359 --> 00:27:48,560 Speaker 1: Thanks again for listening.