1 00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:03,520 Speaker 1: This is the Bloomberg Business of Sports show. We explored 2 00:00:03,520 --> 00:00:05,600 Speaker 1: the big money issues in the world of sports. Michael 3 00:00:05,600 --> 00:00:10,360 Speaker 1: barn Scarlett and I'm in sauce. However, swung on Therekoes, 4 00:00:10,720 --> 00:00:13,920 Speaker 1: keep up. That is high that us far ht us 5 00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:21,040 Speaker 1: come number sixty two to set the new American League records. 6 00:00:22,239 --> 00:00:26,720 Speaker 1: Aaron Judge hits a sixty second. All the Yankees out 7 00:00:26,720 --> 00:00:30,160 Speaker 1: of the dugout to greet him. That's right, Aaron Judge 8 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:34,240 Speaker 1: is resigning with the Yankees a nine year, three hundred 9 00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:40,040 Speaker 1: sixty million dollar contract. Damien Sassaur, that's only a pitt 10 00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:43,199 Speaker 1: as to what he makes. Man, my goodness, that's all right. 11 00:00:43,240 --> 00:00:46,400 Speaker 1: We're gonna talk about the resigning of Aaron Judge with 12 00:00:46,520 --> 00:00:49,560 Speaker 1: the Yankees, a big old fat, nine year, three sixty 13 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:52,479 Speaker 1: million all the contract. That's straight ahead on the Bloomberg 14 00:00:52,479 --> 00:00:56,120 Speaker 1: Business of Sports. But first, there is a big story 15 00:00:56,320 --> 00:00:59,680 Speaker 1: and it has been going on for nine plus months. 16 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:04,679 Speaker 1: Brittney Grinder w n B. A star is free from 17 00:01:04,760 --> 00:01:09,120 Speaker 1: a Russian jail, back in American custody, and it was 18 00:01:09,160 --> 00:01:12,240 Speaker 1: announced by President Biden. This is a day we've worked 19 00:01:12,240 --> 00:01:15,240 Speaker 1: towards for a long time. We never stopped pushing for 20 00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:19,080 Speaker 1: her release. It took painstaking, the intense negotiations, and I 21 00:01:19,120 --> 00:01:22,480 Speaker 1: want to thank all the hard working public servants across 22 00:01:22,520 --> 00:01:26,720 Speaker 1: my administration who worked tirelessly to secure her release. Now. 23 00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:30,959 Speaker 1: President Biden made that announcement with a longside Vice President 24 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:36,360 Speaker 1: Kamala Harris and Grinder's wife, Cherrell, when she talked about 25 00:01:36,360 --> 00:01:39,200 Speaker 1: her wife coming home. So over the last nine month, 26 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:43,440 Speaker 1: y all have been um so privy to one of 27 00:01:43,480 --> 00:01:45,960 Speaker 1: the darkest moments of my life. And so today I'm 28 00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:50,080 Speaker 1: just standing here UM, overwhelmed with the emotions. But the 29 00:01:50,120 --> 00:01:52,040 Speaker 1: most important emotion that I have right now is just 30 00:01:52,160 --> 00:01:57,120 Speaker 1: sincere gratitude UM for President Biden and his entire administration. 31 00:01:57,440 --> 00:02:02,280 Speaker 1: President Biden always said that the nalty that Britney Grinder 32 00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:08,720 Speaker 1: got was unjust. She got caught with cannabis oil as 33 00:02:08,760 --> 00:02:13,640 Speaker 1: she was leaving at the Moscow Airport scarlet and she 34 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:18,560 Speaker 1: got a nine years sentence, and at one point she 35 00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:21,720 Speaker 1: was in the Russian penal Colemy. We know the Biden 36 00:02:21,720 --> 00:02:24,280 Speaker 1: administration has been working on some kind of prisoner swap 37 00:02:24,360 --> 00:02:28,840 Speaker 1: for Grinder, as well as for Paul Wheeling, a former 38 00:02:28,880 --> 00:02:32,639 Speaker 1: marine who's also imprisoned in Russia. The US claims unjustly. 39 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:35,640 Speaker 1: Of course, Moscow claims differently, they were not able to 40 00:02:35,680 --> 00:02:39,399 Speaker 1: get a two for one prisoner swap when the negotiations 41 00:02:39,440 --> 00:02:43,800 Speaker 1: came up and Russia was willing to entertain offers for 42 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:45,920 Speaker 1: the release of Victor A. Bout and Damian. You had 43 00:02:45,919 --> 00:02:48,040 Speaker 1: talked before about Victor Bout being known as the Merchant 44 00:02:48,040 --> 00:02:50,760 Speaker 1: of Death. He is someone that Vladimir Putin considered a 45 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:54,160 Speaker 1: priority to free. Absolutely now and congressional Republicans are coming 46 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:56,480 Speaker 1: down on the Biden administration because of the scarlet I 47 00:02:56,480 --> 00:03:00,240 Speaker 1: mean you hear, you know, Illinois Republican Adam Kissinger mean 48 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:03,880 Speaker 1: basically tweeting out, you know, basically an arms dealer. Is 49 00:03:03,880 --> 00:03:06,280 Speaker 1: that really worth not one, but two innocent people. I 50 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:08,280 Speaker 1: mean a lot of people are thinking that Paul Walen 51 00:03:08,360 --> 00:03:10,560 Speaker 1: got left out of this deal. But nevertheless, we have 52 00:03:10,680 --> 00:03:14,600 Speaker 1: to be absolutely thrilled to get Britney Grinder back. Um, 53 00:03:14,639 --> 00:03:17,520 Speaker 1: it's been a long time coming. I mean, look, you know, 54 00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:19,960 Speaker 1: I mean according to Biden, you know, it was Brittney 55 00:03:19,960 --> 00:03:21,920 Speaker 1: Grinder or no one. So you do what you gotta do. 56 00:03:22,040 --> 00:03:23,720 Speaker 1: You get her back. And if it means Victor about, 57 00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:26,560 Speaker 1: it means Victor about. Yeah. This is this is a 58 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:31,880 Speaker 1: big deal, especially if you're with the Mercury Phoenix Mercury. Uh. 59 00:03:31,919 --> 00:03:35,440 Speaker 1: This is something where you get a player back who 60 00:03:35,720 --> 00:03:39,600 Speaker 1: was a key player. Uh. And I'm sure the team 61 00:03:39,880 --> 00:03:43,640 Speaker 1: is delighted to have Brittney Grinder back. So I'm in 62 00:03:43,720 --> 00:03:46,840 Speaker 1: Britney Grinners family obviously they are also happy about it. 63 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:50,160 Speaker 1: Paul Whelan, We're hoping that you get home soon. Also, 64 00:03:51,080 --> 00:03:53,840 Speaker 1: let's go back now to Aaron Judge resigning with the 65 00:03:53,920 --> 00:03:57,880 Speaker 1: Yankees a nine year, sixty million dollar contract. We go 66 00:03:57,960 --> 00:04:00,880 Speaker 1: to the man who broke the story on Judge. MLB insider, 67 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:04,240 Speaker 1: John Morosi. John, welcome back to the Bloomberg Business Sport. 68 00:04:04,360 --> 00:04:07,280 Speaker 1: Thank you so much. It's been a great week for baseball. 69 00:04:07,320 --> 00:04:10,280 Speaker 1: I'm still trying to, i think, recover from all this 70 00:04:10,440 --> 00:04:13,120 Speaker 1: amazing news. It's just it's been great, great to have 71 00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:16,159 Speaker 1: the meetings back in person again, and and just a 72 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:19,640 Speaker 1: wonderful week for the sport over overall. Holy moly, mighty 73 00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:23,080 Speaker 1: money money, money, money, money, money money. We're gonna start 74 00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:28,280 Speaker 1: with Aaron Judge three D sixty million dollar contract, nine years. 75 00:04:28,320 --> 00:04:31,680 Speaker 1: But more importantly for Yankees fans, he is going to 76 00:04:31,839 --> 00:04:34,960 Speaker 1: stay in the pin stripes. John, he is he is, 77 00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:37,400 Speaker 1: and I think that this is when when you look 78 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:41,479 Speaker 1: at it and see how Aaron and his representatives really 79 00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:44,679 Speaker 1: proceeded throughout this tire process, I think this was probably 80 00:04:44,720 --> 00:04:47,880 Speaker 1: their overall desired outcome. He said during the course of 81 00:04:47,880 --> 00:04:50,599 Speaker 1: the year, I want to stay Yankee, but I also 82 00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:53,640 Speaker 1: believe that the interest in the in the the Giants 83 00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:56,080 Speaker 1: was so strong and so sincere that he had to 84 00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:58,799 Speaker 1: really given some thought and and and consider the genuine 85 00:04:58,839 --> 00:05:03,360 Speaker 1: possibility of leaving and and taking on a different challenge 86 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:07,279 Speaker 1: in San Francisco. So he did a great job, I think, overall, 87 00:05:07,360 --> 00:05:11,680 Speaker 1: of really considering the different opportunities that he had. But 88 00:05:11,880 --> 00:05:14,760 Speaker 1: the way the Yankees stepped up and closed the gap 89 00:05:15,160 --> 00:05:18,440 Speaker 1: in the final twenty four hours and and made the appeal, 90 00:05:18,720 --> 00:05:22,240 Speaker 1: the report that hal Steinbrenner was actually in Italy and 91 00:05:22,360 --> 00:05:25,479 Speaker 1: uh and wanted to to make that big final sales pitch, 92 00:05:25,520 --> 00:05:27,640 Speaker 1: and Aaron Boone had called him on the night when 93 00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:30,080 Speaker 1: he made this decision. So I just think the Yankees 94 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:33,040 Speaker 1: put out the full core press and obviously to have 95 00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:36,880 Speaker 1: a contract that set the record for the highest ever 96 00:05:37,520 --> 00:05:40,800 Speaker 1: of any position player in the game's history is just 97 00:05:40,839 --> 00:05:45,160 Speaker 1: an extraordinary result. And I think it's befitting someone who said, 98 00:05:45,160 --> 00:05:48,080 Speaker 1: of course the American League single season home run record 99 00:05:48,400 --> 00:05:50,520 Speaker 1: just a couple of months ago, and the raining American 100 00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:54,400 Speaker 1: League MVP as well. I find it fascinating that he 101 00:05:55,400 --> 00:05:57,960 Speaker 1: flirted with the California teams first long as he did. 102 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:00,240 Speaker 1: I mean, which makes sense given that he is from 103 00:06:00,279 --> 00:06:03,719 Speaker 1: Sacramento originally and there's a lot of sentimental reasons for 104 00:06:03,800 --> 00:06:07,400 Speaker 1: him to return to California. My question here now, JP, 105 00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:12,359 Speaker 1: is Aaron Judge was moved by the Yankees offer and 106 00:06:12,400 --> 00:06:15,200 Speaker 1: he will stay with the team. Is he going to 107 00:06:15,240 --> 00:06:17,600 Speaker 1: be the next captain? Do you think that's part of 108 00:06:17,640 --> 00:06:20,640 Speaker 1: the deal. Yes, I do, and I think he will 109 00:06:20,680 --> 00:06:24,120 Speaker 1: be um That to me was a crucial part of 110 00:06:24,240 --> 00:06:28,560 Speaker 1: the conversation and what his legacy will be. I think 111 00:06:28,720 --> 00:06:30,919 Speaker 1: for as many reasons that this was crucial for the 112 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:35,680 Speaker 1: Yankees lost her, it was also just as important for 113 00:06:35,720 --> 00:06:39,719 Speaker 1: their identity as a team and and for for Aaron 114 00:06:39,760 --> 00:06:43,159 Speaker 1: to have the opportunity now to take his place among 115 00:06:43,240 --> 00:06:46,560 Speaker 1: the very unique and select group of people who are 116 00:06:47,040 --> 00:06:49,800 Speaker 1: captains of the New York Yankees. This this is a 117 00:06:49,920 --> 00:06:52,719 Speaker 1: very unique sport, and that it's not like hockey, there's 118 00:06:52,720 --> 00:06:55,800 Speaker 1: not a captain on every team. This is a very 119 00:06:55,880 --> 00:06:59,520 Speaker 1: unique honorspisode upon players when they have really achieved at 120 00:06:59,520 --> 00:07:02,159 Speaker 1: a high level and and and taken I think a 121 00:07:02,200 --> 00:07:04,919 Speaker 1: degree of ownership of the culture of the team that 122 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:07,040 Speaker 1: they're playing for. And Aaron Judge is someone who was 123 00:07:07,120 --> 00:07:11,480 Speaker 1: drafted by the Yankees, grew up in that organization. Actually 124 00:07:11,760 --> 00:07:15,320 Speaker 1: for all of his California connections, and they're all legitimate. Um. 125 00:07:15,400 --> 00:07:17,720 Speaker 1: He actually now makes his home in Florida, close to 126 00:07:17,720 --> 00:07:20,200 Speaker 1: the Yankees spring training location. So I think that was 127 00:07:20,800 --> 00:07:24,440 Speaker 1: a very special and important detail there where the Yankees 128 00:07:24,480 --> 00:07:27,560 Speaker 1: have become his home. He was drafted out of Fresno 129 00:07:27,640 --> 00:07:30,240 Speaker 1: State in the first round. The scouting director who picked 130 00:07:30,280 --> 00:07:34,440 Speaker 1: him is still there. There's that continuity and and understanding 131 00:07:34,480 --> 00:07:36,960 Speaker 1: of his place now in Yankee history. And this is 132 00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:39,920 Speaker 1: not and certainly for me, I grew up in Michigan, 133 00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:43,760 Speaker 1: and I have sort of the midwesterner's view of of 134 00:07:43,760 --> 00:07:46,960 Speaker 1: of the industry written large. There are some franchises that 135 00:07:46,960 --> 00:07:50,280 Speaker 1: are simply special, and the Yankees obviously our foremost on 136 00:07:50,360 --> 00:07:53,400 Speaker 1: that list. The history is different, the uniform is different, 137 00:07:53,960 --> 00:07:56,480 Speaker 1: what it means every day is different. And and when 138 00:07:56,560 --> 00:07:59,200 Speaker 1: you have someone in the in the sport who has 139 00:07:59,240 --> 00:08:02,880 Speaker 1: achieved great things for that franchise. It really is in 140 00:08:02,920 --> 00:08:06,280 Speaker 1: some ways that the exact inverse to what Albert Boules 141 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:09,240 Speaker 1: went through with the Cardinals. He he did not sign 142 00:08:09,440 --> 00:08:11,559 Speaker 1: the deal with St. Louis to stay there. He left, 143 00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:14,040 Speaker 1: He signed with the Angels, and I would expect that 144 00:08:14,080 --> 00:08:17,720 Speaker 1: in in an honest moment, he'd probably tell you that 145 00:08:17,720 --> 00:08:20,240 Speaker 1: that it was important for him to get back to 146 00:08:20,320 --> 00:08:23,240 Speaker 1: the team that was always his home and the St. 147 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:25,720 Speaker 1: Louis Cardinals. And so for for the way that that 148 00:08:25,760 --> 00:08:29,400 Speaker 1: Aaron has done this, he perhaps learned a bit from 149 00:08:29,520 --> 00:08:32,600 Speaker 1: what Albert had had gone through and seeing that that 150 00:08:32,640 --> 00:08:35,439 Speaker 1: Albert's career never felt fully complete until he returned to 151 00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:38,760 Speaker 1: the Cardinals. So perhaps from Aaron's perspective, the way to 152 00:08:38,840 --> 00:08:42,480 Speaker 1: avoid those difficulties that that Albert went through is to 153 00:08:42,559 --> 00:08:44,800 Speaker 1: never leave in the first place. And that's exactly what 154 00:08:44,840 --> 00:08:46,760 Speaker 1: he's done. T P. Before we go on and talk 155 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:49,400 Speaker 1: about trade Turner to Graham Verlander and all these other 156 00:08:49,440 --> 00:08:51,880 Speaker 1: contracts they're going around, I mean, you broke the news 157 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:55,320 Speaker 1: on Aaron Judge yesterday, December seven, a day that you 158 00:08:55,320 --> 00:08:57,400 Speaker 1: will remember being your wife's birthday. I wonder if you 159 00:08:57,440 --> 00:08:59,080 Speaker 1: could tell our audience and tell me a little bit 160 00:08:59,080 --> 00:09:01,080 Speaker 1: about what I to you had in bed first thing 161 00:09:01,080 --> 00:09:03,480 Speaker 1: in the morning, how you caught that tweet, and how 162 00:09:03,520 --> 00:09:07,959 Speaker 1: today we're not talking about John Hyman, we're talking about you. Well, 163 00:09:08,480 --> 00:09:11,599 Speaker 1: I appreciate it. And and I will say, as in 164 00:09:11,640 --> 00:09:13,400 Speaker 1: all things in my life, the credit goes to my 165 00:09:13,480 --> 00:09:17,600 Speaker 1: wife Alexis. Her birthday is December seven, and so I 166 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:20,280 Speaker 1: had to wake up early here in California to be 167 00:09:20,320 --> 00:09:23,079 Speaker 1: able to call her back in the eastern time zone 168 00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:25,800 Speaker 1: of Michigan to wish your happy birthday. And and I 169 00:09:25,880 --> 00:09:28,960 Speaker 1: just lucked out that when I woke up there was 170 00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:31,640 Speaker 1: a text there was some pretty good information that I said, Oh, 171 00:09:31,800 --> 00:09:33,840 Speaker 1: I'm glad I was not asleep when this when this 172 00:09:33,920 --> 00:09:36,839 Speaker 1: came in, so I was able to get to get 173 00:09:36,880 --> 00:09:40,240 Speaker 1: the news out there. But yes, I it's it's interesting 174 00:09:40,240 --> 00:09:44,280 Speaker 1: too because my wife is not really a sports person, 175 00:09:44,920 --> 00:09:48,199 Speaker 1: which probably helps us in many ways that I have to, uh, 176 00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:50,240 Speaker 1: you know, here in the morning game, where's Judge gonna sign? 177 00:09:50,360 --> 00:09:53,439 Speaker 1: Or you know, what's where's trade tour going? Um? So 178 00:09:54,280 --> 00:09:56,400 Speaker 1: is it? Actually I had to thank her and I said, 179 00:09:56,440 --> 00:09:58,840 Speaker 1: you know, thank you, Alexis for helping me break the 180 00:09:58,840 --> 00:10:02,040 Speaker 1: story because without your would have done it. And I'm 181 00:10:02,080 --> 00:10:04,160 Speaker 1: not again, I'm not even really sure that she fully 182 00:10:04,160 --> 00:10:07,520 Speaker 1: appreciates what a big deal this is and how much 183 00:10:07,520 --> 00:10:10,360 Speaker 1: it matters all of us. But I I conveyed by 184 00:10:10,440 --> 00:10:13,160 Speaker 1: gratitude to her along with the birthday wishes, and so 185 00:10:13,760 --> 00:10:15,920 Speaker 1: yesterday is going to be certainly a very memorable day 186 00:10:15,960 --> 00:10:18,840 Speaker 1: for our family on a number of different levels. But 187 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:25,120 Speaker 1: wait if you order now, there's more because shortstop Xander 188 00:10:25,160 --> 00:10:28,240 Speaker 1: Bogart's and the Padres agreed to an eleven year or 189 00:10:28,240 --> 00:10:32,680 Speaker 1: two hundred eighty million dollar contract. I guess my question 190 00:10:32,840 --> 00:10:36,000 Speaker 1: is how did the Patres come up with this money? Well, 191 00:10:36,200 --> 00:10:39,120 Speaker 1: it's an ownership decision, and I think that that is 192 00:10:39,200 --> 00:10:44,040 Speaker 1: where this this business is a really interesting one and 193 00:10:44,080 --> 00:10:46,760 Speaker 1: why I'm sure for you at Bloomberg it's a fun 194 00:10:46,800 --> 00:10:50,120 Speaker 1: one to really analyze and think about because unlike the 195 00:10:50,120 --> 00:10:53,480 Speaker 1: other three major sports, there's no salary capin baseball. So 196 00:10:53,679 --> 00:10:56,880 Speaker 1: for for a lot of other free agent pursuits in 197 00:10:56,960 --> 00:11:00,200 Speaker 1: different sports, there's only so much you can do. For 198 00:11:00,200 --> 00:11:02,600 Speaker 1: the all time great even for Tom Braid that there 199 00:11:02,640 --> 00:11:05,280 Speaker 1: there are, there's a finite amount of money into the cap, 200 00:11:05,360 --> 00:11:07,240 Speaker 1: and what you're able to do to construct the team 201 00:11:07,280 --> 00:11:11,840 Speaker 1: around those superstar players. It's different in baseball. If you 202 00:11:11,880 --> 00:11:15,160 Speaker 1: have a very motivated owner, which the Padres do, which 203 00:11:15,200 --> 00:11:18,800 Speaker 1: the Phillies do, which the Yankees do, you spend and 204 00:11:18,840 --> 00:11:21,320 Speaker 1: you win. You win the bidding. And I think it's 205 00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:25,839 Speaker 1: important to celebrate those those teams that are that are 206 00:11:25,840 --> 00:11:28,520 Speaker 1: doing that work and and really putting themselves out there 207 00:11:28,520 --> 00:11:30,880 Speaker 1: for their for their fans and their and their customers. 208 00:11:30,880 --> 00:11:33,199 Speaker 1: I think it's just it's a great uh. It is 209 00:11:33,240 --> 00:11:35,960 Speaker 1: a great story for the game, and it conveys that 210 00:11:36,040 --> 00:11:38,680 Speaker 1: the health of the industry. Remember it was a year 211 00:11:38,679 --> 00:11:40,679 Speaker 1: ago that when when you have me on as a 212 00:11:40,720 --> 00:11:42,640 Speaker 1: guest on the show, we were talking about a lockout 213 00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:46,040 Speaker 1: in the industry, had a stalemate. And now it's one 214 00:11:46,080 --> 00:11:48,600 Speaker 1: of the healthiest times we've ever seen for the game. 215 00:11:48,679 --> 00:11:51,960 Speaker 1: So I'm I'm really grateful, um just on behalf of 216 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:55,120 Speaker 1: all the fans that are able to see their teams 217 00:11:55,640 --> 00:11:58,640 Speaker 1: chasing these great players and spending and there's just there's 218 00:11:58,679 --> 00:12:02,080 Speaker 1: such excitement in the game right now. It's palpable and 219 00:12:02,120 --> 00:12:05,240 Speaker 1: it's just a wonderful contrast to where we were a 220 00:12:05,320 --> 00:12:07,560 Speaker 1: year ago. Let's just hope that the length of the 221 00:12:07,559 --> 00:12:10,079 Speaker 1: games get a bit shorter and more manageable. You had 222 00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:13,959 Speaker 1: mentioned motivated owners. There are few owners as motivated as one. 223 00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:17,840 Speaker 1: Steve Cohen and the New York Mets have signed um 224 00:12:17,920 --> 00:12:22,360 Speaker 1: Justin Verlander, the reigning Cy Young Champion UH to their 225 00:12:22,400 --> 00:12:27,800 Speaker 1: starting lineup and now he's reunited with Max both Tigers 226 00:12:27,880 --> 00:12:30,280 Speaker 1: back in the day. Okay, Michael Barr, Yes, all right, 227 00:12:30,600 --> 00:12:33,800 Speaker 1: both Tigers back in the day, but their Mets now. 228 00:12:34,520 --> 00:12:38,320 Speaker 1: So is this a game changing signing that will put 229 00:12:38,400 --> 00:12:41,559 Speaker 1: the Mets back on the trajectory to perhaps get into 230 00:12:41,600 --> 00:12:43,880 Speaker 1: the playoffs, not just get a wild card spot, but 231 00:12:43,960 --> 00:12:47,199 Speaker 1: and make it past the playoffs. I think it's very possible. 232 00:12:47,240 --> 00:12:49,199 Speaker 1: So that the Mets, to me, are are a club 233 00:12:49,280 --> 00:12:52,480 Speaker 1: that that they have their position player group is very 234 00:12:52,520 --> 00:12:55,680 Speaker 1: good that they may even want to add one more piece. 235 00:12:55,840 --> 00:12:58,600 Speaker 1: Maybe they'll have Brandonimo will come back, who they of 236 00:12:58,640 --> 00:13:01,200 Speaker 1: course right now, the free agent they've done, They've done 237 00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:03,760 Speaker 1: a very good job of keeping tabs on his marketplace. 238 00:13:04,240 --> 00:13:07,160 Speaker 1: So to me, the Mets have one of the most 239 00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:11,079 Speaker 1: aggressive owners in all of pro sports and Steve Cohen, 240 00:13:11,160 --> 00:13:14,880 Speaker 1: which I think the return to prominence for this franchise 241 00:13:14,960 --> 00:13:17,600 Speaker 1: that we saw this past season was was really great 242 00:13:17,640 --> 00:13:21,000 Speaker 1: for the game. The Mets need to be good, I 243 00:13:21,040 --> 00:13:23,200 Speaker 1: believe for the for the sport to be at its best, 244 00:13:23,280 --> 00:13:28,240 Speaker 1: and certainly they were that UMWO. So this is a 245 00:13:28,240 --> 00:13:32,120 Speaker 1: team that, after adding Max Scherzer and now Justin Berlander 246 00:13:32,160 --> 00:13:35,120 Speaker 1: in successive years, have shown that they are willing to 247 00:13:35,320 --> 00:13:39,360 Speaker 1: and are comfortable investing in players even when they're in 248 00:13:39,360 --> 00:13:42,199 Speaker 1: their late thirties and in Justine's case, early forties. It's 249 00:13:42,200 --> 00:13:45,719 Speaker 1: a remarkable um tribute to what Justin has done to 250 00:13:45,800 --> 00:13:48,120 Speaker 1: keep himself in, you know, lead shape, coming back from 251 00:13:48,120 --> 00:13:51,360 Speaker 1: Tommy John surgery winning the World Series with the Houston 252 00:13:51,360 --> 00:13:54,800 Speaker 1: Astros this year. So I think broadly speaking, the Mets 253 00:13:54,880 --> 00:13:57,960 Speaker 1: are not done. They know they have more work to 254 00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:01,200 Speaker 1: do and and they might even add one more starting pitcher. 255 00:14:01,320 --> 00:14:03,520 Speaker 1: So it's it's been a very very interesting market for 256 00:14:03,559 --> 00:14:06,240 Speaker 1: the for the Mats, and they know that right now 257 00:14:06,400 --> 00:14:09,720 Speaker 1: the standard um is within their own division. They have 258 00:14:09,800 --> 00:14:12,200 Speaker 1: to compete directly with the Phillies, who are the reigning 259 00:14:12,280 --> 00:14:14,760 Speaker 1: n L champs, and also the Braves, who were the 260 00:14:14,760 --> 00:14:17,440 Speaker 1: World Series champions one year ago. JP. I mean, if 261 00:14:17,440 --> 00:14:19,920 Speaker 1: the San Francisco Giants didn't like John Hayman before, how 262 00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:21,520 Speaker 1: much are they gonna like him. When he announced that 263 00:14:21,520 --> 00:14:23,600 Speaker 1: Carlos Rodon is coming to the New York Yankees. What 264 00:14:23,720 --> 00:14:25,960 Speaker 1: comes next for the Yankees here? I mean, are we 265 00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:28,360 Speaker 1: gonna work on pitching, are we looking into the outfield? 266 00:14:28,360 --> 00:14:30,200 Speaker 1: Are we going to get a closer? You know? What 267 00:14:30,280 --> 00:14:32,240 Speaker 1: comes next? Because I mean, you know, they fell short 268 00:14:32,360 --> 00:14:35,400 Speaker 1: obviously with Aaron Judge this year to the Astros just 269 00:14:35,440 --> 00:14:37,360 Speaker 1: back to break even? How do they get better? Well, 270 00:14:37,440 --> 00:14:39,880 Speaker 1: that's a really good point about how they are really 271 00:14:39,960 --> 00:14:43,040 Speaker 1: back to par now that they've got Aaron Judge back 272 00:14:43,040 --> 00:14:46,480 Speaker 1: in the fold. They need I believe, one more legit, 273 00:14:46,680 --> 00:14:49,760 Speaker 1: high end starting pitcher. I think Carlos Rodon could be 274 00:14:49,800 --> 00:14:53,400 Speaker 1: a Yankee. I think Rodon might also still be a Giant. 275 00:14:53,400 --> 00:14:56,280 Speaker 1: He could be a Red Sock, he could be a Dodger. Uh. 276 00:14:56,320 --> 00:15:00,720 Speaker 1: There's no question in my mind that that Rodon benefited 277 00:15:00,800 --> 00:15:05,200 Speaker 1: greatly from the way that the Verlander and the ground 278 00:15:05,240 --> 00:15:09,600 Speaker 1: markets played out, especially the ground the gramas you know, uh, 279 00:15:10,240 --> 00:15:14,080 Speaker 1: is not an especially durable picture. And and the fact 280 00:15:14,160 --> 00:15:15,600 Speaker 1: that he was able to get a five year deal 281 00:15:15,640 --> 00:15:18,520 Speaker 1: from the Rangers at at an extremely high a v 282 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:24,560 Speaker 1: just conveys how how I think, just how intense the 283 00:15:24,640 --> 00:15:28,160 Speaker 1: need is for pitching across the industry, and Rhodon's agent, 284 00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:30,920 Speaker 1: who happens to be Scott Boris, is going to be 285 00:15:30,960 --> 00:15:33,080 Speaker 1: able to say, listen, if if the ground gets five 286 00:15:33,160 --> 00:15:35,680 Speaker 1: years and and you're paying him through age thirty nine, 287 00:15:36,080 --> 00:15:38,200 Speaker 1: you should pay my guy through age thirty nine as well. 288 00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:40,720 Speaker 1: And then all of a sudden, the contracts start to 289 00:15:40,720 --> 00:15:43,960 Speaker 1: add up, the A V becomes all the more appealing 290 00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:47,240 Speaker 1: from the player's perspective. So I think Rodan is in 291 00:15:47,240 --> 00:15:50,920 Speaker 1: a tremendous position, and I expect that a lot of 292 00:15:50,960 --> 00:15:56,200 Speaker 1: the large market team's Red Sox, Yankees, Giants, Dodgers, perhaps 293 00:15:56,200 --> 00:15:58,920 Speaker 1: even the Cubs are all involved there on Carls Rodan. 294 00:15:59,800 --> 00:16:02,440 Speaker 1: So Austin Verland, Max Scherzer, you can come back to 295 00:16:02,480 --> 00:16:06,880 Speaker 1: the Tigers. Please come back. I stopped drinking and gambling. 296 00:16:07,040 --> 00:16:12,920 Speaker 1: It's okay, baby, come back. I'll tell you that the 297 00:16:12,960 --> 00:16:16,640 Speaker 1: Tigers at some point in time, Michael, that they may 298 00:16:16,680 --> 00:16:19,600 Speaker 1: find a way to to get back into the conversation. 299 00:16:19,640 --> 00:16:22,880 Speaker 1: But my goodness, Uh, the anti right now to be 300 00:16:23,080 --> 00:16:26,560 Speaker 1: uh competitive in these free egent bidding processes and also 301 00:16:26,680 --> 00:16:29,920 Speaker 1: just to be a playoff team is so high right now, 302 00:16:30,240 --> 00:16:31,960 Speaker 1: uh that it may it may take a little while 303 00:16:32,040 --> 00:16:35,600 Speaker 1: before we see playoff baseball back in our beautiful hometown. Hey, 304 00:16:35,640 --> 00:16:40,840 Speaker 1: we gotta sell some more Domino's pizza. Y'all know what 305 00:16:40,880 --> 00:16:44,560 Speaker 1: I'm talking about. John Morosi is an MLB network reporter. 306 00:16:45,200 --> 00:16:48,960 Speaker 1: You can catch his work across the networks programming all 307 00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:52,240 Speaker 1: off season, including its daily morning show Hot Stove nine 308 00:16:52,240 --> 00:16:55,640 Speaker 1: a m. Eastern Time and Lord that Stove is Hot, 309 00:16:55,680 --> 00:16:59,920 Speaker 1: Hot Hot. Follow him at John Morosi. This has been 310 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:02,520 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Business of Sports, where we explore some of the 311 00:17:02,560 --> 00:17:04,480 Speaker 1: big money issues in the world of sports. On Michael 312 00:17:04,520 --> 00:17:06,760 Speaker 1: bar you can follow me on Twitter at Big Bar Sports. 313 00:17:07,040 --> 00:17:09,480 Speaker 1: I'm on Twitter at Scarlett Foo and I'm on Twitter 314 00:17:09,560 --> 00:17:11,800 Speaker 1: at the SATHS Hour. If you want to listen to 315 00:17:11,880 --> 00:17:15,040 Speaker 1: us in podcast form, you can listen to us every Monday, 316 00:17:15,160 --> 00:17:18,120 Speaker 1: Wednesday and Thursday and download the show wherever you get 317 00:17:18,119 --> 00:17:21,560 Speaker 1: your podcast. You have been listening to Bloomberg Business of 318 00:17:21,640 --> 00:17:24,159 Speaker 1: Sports on Bloomberg Radio around the world.