1 00:00:24,239 --> 00:00:28,160 Speaker 1: Hello everyone, and welcome back to the Hammer Territory podcast. 2 00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:31,480 Speaker 1: I'm Scott Coleman and I am joined once again by 3 00:00:31,520 --> 00:00:35,120 Speaker 1: Steven Tolbert. Because Steven, we have not even twenty four 4 00:00:35,120 --> 00:00:40,040 Speaker 1: hours later another emergency edition of the podcast. Today, the 5 00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:44,360 Speaker 1: Atlanta Braves have signed All star closer Robert Suarez to 6 00:00:44,440 --> 00:00:48,479 Speaker 1: a three year deal. Your immediate reactions on what has been, 7 00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:50,960 Speaker 1: in terms of dollars, the biggest move of the offseason 8 00:00:51,320 --> 00:00:54,240 Speaker 1: for the Braves. What's up, buddy, We're here again. 9 00:00:54,880 --> 00:00:57,639 Speaker 2: We mentioned it last night multiple times that you know 10 00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:02,080 Speaker 2: they needed to keep going, and boom, next day they 11 00:01:02,160 --> 00:01:05,680 Speaker 2: kept going. Robert Suarez one of the biggest closers on 12 00:01:05,720 --> 00:01:08,560 Speaker 2: the market. There was kind of this big five of Diaz, 13 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:13,440 Speaker 2: Devin Williams, Suarez, Iglacias, and Peter Fairbanks. Braid's got two 14 00:01:13,440 --> 00:01:16,720 Speaker 2: of them. So it's a big deal. The Braves needed 15 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:20,520 Speaker 2: relief help. We've talked about that all off season. They've 16 00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:22,520 Speaker 2: got two of the very best relievers on the market. 17 00:01:22,520 --> 00:01:24,440 Speaker 2: I mean, that's just the nuts and bolts of it. 18 00:01:24,440 --> 00:01:26,600 Speaker 2: We're going to get into the money and the rolls, 19 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:31,800 Speaker 2: but just thirty thousand feet looking down there was pretty 20 00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:34,160 Speaker 2: much four or five really good relievers on the market 21 00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:37,120 Speaker 2: that we're going to be premium in terms of being paid, 22 00:01:37,319 --> 00:01:41,000 Speaker 2: and the Braves got two of them, so you know 23 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:43,200 Speaker 2: there's some nuance that we're going to get into, but 24 00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:46,240 Speaker 2: you can't really argue with them. And that's just that's 25 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:49,160 Speaker 2: that's massive for the twenty twenty sixteen. 26 00:01:49,720 --> 00:01:53,200 Speaker 1: Big time addition to this bullpen. And let's go over 27 00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:57,160 Speaker 1: the contract first. So three years and forty five million 28 00:01:57,200 --> 00:02:00,520 Speaker 1: dollars for Suarez, which is right in line with most 29 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:04,200 Speaker 1: of the projections from trade rumors and fangrafts and ESPN 30 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:07,560 Speaker 1: that forty five million dollars will be split up thirteen 31 00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:11,080 Speaker 1: million dollars in twenty twenty six and then sixteen million 32 00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:14,520 Speaker 1: dollars in twenty twenty seven and twenty twenty eight. So 33 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:18,120 Speaker 1: Braves are going three million dollars lighter for this upcoming season, 34 00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:20,600 Speaker 1: which is interesting, and we're going to talk about what 35 00:02:20,680 --> 00:02:22,840 Speaker 1: might be coming and why the Braves might have wanted 36 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:27,320 Speaker 1: to save a few million this upcoming year. And Suarez 37 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:30,080 Speaker 1: will turn thirty five years old in March, so not 38 00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:33,120 Speaker 1: a young man. He has had a fascinating path. He 39 00:02:33,240 --> 00:02:37,880 Speaker 1: pitched professionally in Japan actually from twenty eighteen to twenty 40 00:02:37,880 --> 00:02:41,040 Speaker 1: twenty one, and then signed a pretty healthy contract with 41 00:02:41,080 --> 00:02:44,400 Speaker 1: the San Diego Padres and has been a fantastic closer 42 00:02:44,440 --> 00:02:46,440 Speaker 1: for the last couple of years out in San Diego. 43 00:02:46,800 --> 00:02:48,919 Speaker 1: One of the very best. I believe he led baseball 44 00:02:48,960 --> 00:02:53,240 Speaker 1: and saves the last two seasons. So Suarez, this guy 45 00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:55,919 Speaker 1: is battle tested. The Braves, as you said a moment ago, 46 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:59,160 Speaker 1: now have two just tried and true veterans in the 47 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:02,000 Speaker 1: eighth and ninth and eight and uh, I guess, uh, 48 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:04,359 Speaker 1: we'll go right into who Suarez is. I mean, he's 49 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:07,320 Speaker 1: an interesting pitcher because Steven he only really throws a 50 00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:10,760 Speaker 1: fastball and a change up and then a sinker, which 51 00:03:10,800 --> 00:03:12,240 Speaker 1: is kind of like a mix of the two. But 52 00:03:12,639 --> 00:03:15,120 Speaker 1: he is not a typical power reliever in the way 53 00:03:15,160 --> 00:03:17,200 Speaker 1: you see with big time wipeout sliders. 54 00:03:17,960 --> 00:03:21,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, he is a I mean, he has pure gas. 55 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:25,799 Speaker 2: I think he was ninety nine percent maybe ninety eighth 56 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:29,480 Speaker 2: percentile in velocity. He averages he averages ninety nine miles 57 00:03:29,480 --> 00:03:31,680 Speaker 2: an hour on his fastball. I mean, the dude lives 58 00:03:32,200 --> 00:03:35,240 Speaker 2: in the hundreds. The Braves got, you know, one of 59 00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:38,200 Speaker 2: the hardest throwers in baseball, and like you said, he's not. 60 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:40,840 Speaker 2: The off speed stuff is not where he lives. The 61 00:03:40,920 --> 00:03:43,440 Speaker 2: change up he does throw, but he I mean, he 62 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:48,000 Speaker 2: relies on this thing's coming at one hundred, do what 63 00:03:48,080 --> 00:03:50,760 Speaker 2: you can with it, and so you know, everyon's a while, 64 00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:54,360 Speaker 2: he'll get hit decently hard. But when you throw that hard, man, 65 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:56,320 Speaker 2: it's just tough to do anything with It's got good movement. 66 00:03:56,320 --> 00:03:57,880 Speaker 2: Like you said, he does have a sinker to add 67 00:03:57,920 --> 00:03:59,800 Speaker 2: a little bit of a wrinkle. But yeah, he's not 68 00:03:59,840 --> 00:04:02,000 Speaker 2: the basketball slider guy that we're used to seeing, you know, 69 00:04:02,040 --> 00:04:05,000 Speaker 2: the Kimberls or you know, even Iglesias. I know Aglesias 70 00:04:05,040 --> 00:04:08,280 Speaker 2: has the change up as well. So he is a 71 00:04:08,320 --> 00:04:11,800 Speaker 2: fascinating guy. Is a unique but he's making he's made 72 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:15,240 Speaker 2: it work. I mean, he's been one of the best 73 00:04:15,240 --> 00:04:18,080 Speaker 2: relievers in baseball for five years and everybody knows what's 74 00:04:18,080 --> 00:04:21,800 Speaker 2: coming and they still can't hit it. So and there's 75 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:26,039 Speaker 2: really been no signs of slowing down. Like you know, 76 00:04:26,120 --> 00:04:28,279 Speaker 2: like last year he averaged right at ninety nine miles 77 00:04:28,279 --> 00:04:30,720 Speaker 2: an hour for his fastball, like it's still even at 78 00:04:30,760 --> 00:04:34,320 Speaker 2: thirty five. Because he did have such a unique path 79 00:04:34,360 --> 00:04:36,800 Speaker 2: to the majors, he doesn't quite have the same mileage 80 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:39,480 Speaker 2: on his arm that a lot of thirty five year 81 00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:42,280 Speaker 2: olds would at least, you know, in terms of major 82 00:04:42,360 --> 00:04:45,280 Speaker 2: league getings thrown. So there's probably still quite a bit 83 00:04:45,279 --> 00:04:47,200 Speaker 2: of gas in the tank. Obviously, the Braves feel like 84 00:04:47,240 --> 00:04:48,960 Speaker 2: there's quite a bit of gas in the today's game. 85 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:51,240 Speaker 2: A three year contract and not a cheap amount of 86 00:04:51,279 --> 00:04:53,760 Speaker 2: money either, So but yeah, this is one of the 87 00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:57,800 Speaker 2: best pitchers, one of the best relievers in baseball. I 88 00:04:57,800 --> 00:04:59,480 Speaker 2: I don't know, I'm curious is I'm curious to know 89 00:04:59,520 --> 00:05:01,640 Speaker 2: what you think. I did not think the Braves would 90 00:05:01,680 --> 00:05:04,719 Speaker 2: go get two of these guys. I thought there was 91 00:05:04,720 --> 00:05:07,120 Speaker 2: a I knew they would get one, and I just 92 00:05:07,160 --> 00:05:09,239 Speaker 2: always assumed it was a Glaciers Once they signed to Glaciers, 93 00:05:09,320 --> 00:05:11,360 Speaker 2: I was not expecting another one of the kind of 94 00:05:11,400 --> 00:05:13,479 Speaker 2: the Big five to come off the board to the Braves. 95 00:05:13,720 --> 00:05:16,600 Speaker 2: But yeah, yeah, the Brave. I mean, Alex has always 96 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:19,279 Speaker 2: spent money on bullpen, always spent money on bullpen, always 97 00:05:19,279 --> 00:05:21,320 Speaker 2: spent money on bullpen. We could debate that at a 98 00:05:21,400 --> 00:05:23,880 Speaker 2: later date, but he went out and got basically the 99 00:05:23,920 --> 00:05:26,480 Speaker 2: next best releader on the market after Diaz and Devin 100 00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:30,040 Speaker 2: Williams signed, and now the Braves have maybe the best 101 00:05:30,040 --> 00:05:32,200 Speaker 2: one two punch and eighth the ninth inning in baseball. 102 00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:35,479 Speaker 1: You know, it's funny, Steven. At the onset of the 103 00:05:35,520 --> 00:05:38,440 Speaker 1: off season, if you told me what closure were the 104 00:05:38,440 --> 00:05:41,760 Speaker 1: Braves going to sign, I might have actually said Robert Suarez, 105 00:05:42,320 --> 00:05:45,360 Speaker 1: because we have heard for two off seasons now, both 106 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:48,560 Speaker 1: publicly and behind the scenes, that the Braves have really 107 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:51,520 Speaker 1: liked Suarez for a long time. They tried to go 108 00:05:51,600 --> 00:05:54,479 Speaker 1: and trade for him last winter kind of at the 109 00:05:54,560 --> 00:05:57,120 Speaker 1: very end of the off season there was Suarez and 110 00:05:57,240 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 1: Dylan C's and Michael King were maybe available, and of 111 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:03,680 Speaker 1: course all three ended up sticking around. But because the 112 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:06,200 Speaker 1: Braves have like Swarz for so long, it does not 113 00:06:06,320 --> 00:06:08,440 Speaker 1: shock me that they have signed him to this three 114 00:06:08,560 --> 00:06:11,960 Speaker 1: year deal. I think where I'm legitimately surprised is that 115 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:15,560 Speaker 1: they have invested now nine or twenty nine million dollars 116 00:06:15,640 --> 00:06:19,719 Speaker 1: next season to have both A Galacias and Swarez in 117 00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:24,040 Speaker 1: the eighth and ninth innings. And interestingly enough, right after 118 00:06:24,080 --> 00:06:28,760 Speaker 1: the signing, multiple national and local reporters Mark Bowman, David O'Brien, 119 00:06:28,880 --> 00:06:33,000 Speaker 1: Ken Rosenthal all reported that the belief is that Rycella 120 00:06:33,080 --> 00:06:36,120 Speaker 1: Galacias is going to remain the closer in the ninth innings, 121 00:06:36,680 --> 00:06:40,840 Speaker 1: and that Robert Swarez is going to pitch the eighth innings. Now, 122 00:06:40,880 --> 00:06:44,560 Speaker 1: of course, that can change circumstances happen. It is hardly 123 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:47,159 Speaker 1: a problem because two guys you feel comfortable with in 124 00:06:47,160 --> 00:06:49,359 Speaker 1: the ninth inning is a good thing to have. But 125 00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:51,440 Speaker 1: I mean, was that a surprise to you when that 126 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:53,640 Speaker 1: came down? Not really? 127 00:06:53,680 --> 00:06:55,760 Speaker 2: I mean, obviously Surez has to be okay with it, 128 00:06:56,040 --> 00:06:57,960 Speaker 2: you know, I'm sure they talked about it. But at 129 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:00,480 Speaker 2: his age, like this is probably his last big contracts, 130 00:07:00,600 --> 00:07:02,400 Speaker 2: I'm guessing he doesn't really. You know, if you're like 131 00:07:02,440 --> 00:07:04,840 Speaker 2: twenty seven and you're still trying to get three or 132 00:07:04,880 --> 00:07:07,000 Speaker 2: four really nice contracts, you probably want to stay the 133 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:10,400 Speaker 2: closer because teams just pay more for closers. When you're 134 00:07:10,400 --> 00:07:13,480 Speaker 2: thirty five and this is probably your last big deal, 135 00:07:13,920 --> 00:07:15,400 Speaker 2: you're like, I don't care. As long as you're gonna 136 00:07:15,400 --> 00:07:17,720 Speaker 2: pay me, I'll pitch wherever you want. It's also like, 137 00:07:18,360 --> 00:07:20,480 Speaker 2: you know, Glecius has always been beloved by the Brace 138 00:07:20,520 --> 00:07:24,280 Speaker 2: because of his willingness to take the ball any any inning, anytime, anywhere. 139 00:07:24,280 --> 00:07:26,400 Speaker 2: He doesn't care. He doesn't have an ego. The fact 140 00:07:26,440 --> 00:07:29,720 Speaker 2: that Suarez is just okay with this also pretty good indication. 141 00:07:30,640 --> 00:07:32,240 Speaker 2: He's just like, yeah, give me the ball, I don't care. 142 00:07:32,240 --> 00:07:35,000 Speaker 2: I'll pitch whenever. And like you said, it's gonna be 143 00:07:35,080 --> 00:07:40,120 Speaker 2: performance based. I mean, Iglesias lost the closer job briefly 144 00:07:40,200 --> 00:07:43,640 Speaker 2: last year when he was struggling so bad. If Suarez 145 00:07:43,720 --> 00:07:45,880 Speaker 2: is just lights out in the eighth inning and Theglesias 146 00:07:45,960 --> 00:07:48,240 Speaker 2: is having trouble in the ninth, I guarantee you they'll 147 00:07:48,360 --> 00:07:51,080 Speaker 2: they won't hesitate to switch it around. It's it's just 148 00:07:51,160 --> 00:07:52,520 Speaker 2: it's a good problem to have me. You just have 149 00:07:53,320 --> 00:07:56,800 Speaker 2: so much experience that it can go either way. So 150 00:07:56,880 --> 00:07:58,840 Speaker 2: now I wasn't surprised, I will tell you. 151 00:07:59,560 --> 00:07:59,640 Speaker 1: So. 152 00:07:59,720 --> 00:08:03,160 Speaker 2: The other day we got a note that after Edwin 153 00:08:03,200 --> 00:08:06,520 Speaker 2: Diaz had signed with the Dodgers, there was a report 154 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:09,040 Speaker 2: that the Braves were heavily involved in Edwin Diaz. I 155 00:08:09,040 --> 00:08:12,200 Speaker 2: don't know if you saw that, and you never know 156 00:08:12,240 --> 00:08:13,480 Speaker 2: what to make of though, Like you never know if 157 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:16,240 Speaker 2: those are real, if that's if that's just somebody guessing. 158 00:08:17,240 --> 00:08:19,760 Speaker 2: I think this is I think this is proof the 159 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:22,440 Speaker 2: Braves were heavily in on Edwin Diaz as well. They 160 00:08:22,840 --> 00:08:27,840 Speaker 2: they were very clearly highly aggressive in the high leverage 161 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:31,240 Speaker 2: reliever market. And I would actually love to know how 162 00:08:31,280 --> 00:08:33,320 Speaker 2: close the Braves got. When I saw that our pur 163 00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:35,800 Speaker 2: I was like, well, they probably probably wouldn't even really close. 164 00:08:35,840 --> 00:08:37,800 Speaker 2: I bet it was pretty close. I bet the Braves were. 165 00:08:38,240 --> 00:08:40,679 Speaker 2: I think they I think they probably had I think 166 00:08:40,720 --> 00:08:42,400 Speaker 2: they knew they wanted to get a Glaciers back, and 167 00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:43,959 Speaker 2: then they probably said, we want to get one of 168 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:47,480 Speaker 2: either Diaz or or Suarez, and so I think it's 169 00:08:47,520 --> 00:08:50,040 Speaker 2: confirmation the Braves were, they were in that market, and 170 00:08:50,080 --> 00:08:52,240 Speaker 2: they were obviously in the sUAS market. They just signed him. 171 00:08:52,240 --> 00:08:56,199 Speaker 2: So yeah, Alex, Alex clearly indicated back a bullpen was 172 00:08:56,240 --> 00:08:58,559 Speaker 2: gonna be a key for him this offseason, and he 173 00:08:58,600 --> 00:09:00,679 Speaker 2: went on got two of the best guys. 174 00:09:01,240 --> 00:09:05,080 Speaker 1: And obviously Glacias was only a one year deal, but 175 00:09:05,240 --> 00:09:08,760 Speaker 1: Suarez is three. So who knows what the next twelve 176 00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:11,200 Speaker 1: months are going to hold. But you could always make 177 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:14,160 Speaker 1: swar As your closer in twenty twenty seven, if we 178 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:16,640 Speaker 1: play baseball in twenty twenty seven and twenty twenty eight, 179 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:20,160 Speaker 1: and if Iglesias is awesome again, you can bring him 180 00:09:20,200 --> 00:09:22,320 Speaker 1: back and do like the Charlie Morton one year at 181 00:09:22,360 --> 00:09:25,240 Speaker 1: a time thing because he's a veteran, and that's I mean, 182 00:09:25,600 --> 00:09:27,680 Speaker 1: you said it off the top, and I'll emphasize it. 183 00:09:27,960 --> 00:09:30,679 Speaker 1: If there is one area on the roster that Alex 184 00:09:30,720 --> 00:09:34,680 Speaker 1: and Thoppless, for better or worse, is never afraid to 185 00:09:34,720 --> 00:09:38,520 Speaker 1: spend on, it's bullpens. His entire time, he has had 186 00:09:38,559 --> 00:09:41,079 Speaker 1: at least one expensive arm out there in the ninth inning, 187 00:09:41,360 --> 00:09:43,800 Speaker 1: if not two or three or four. It's not an 188 00:09:43,840 --> 00:09:46,760 Speaker 1: area he is shied away from when building out his teams. 189 00:09:47,160 --> 00:09:50,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, and you mentioned the structure of the contract where 190 00:09:50,720 --> 00:09:56,120 Speaker 2: they're paying thirteen million this year and sixteen million next year. 191 00:09:58,320 --> 00:09:59,800 Speaker 2: One thing to keep in mind, of course, is that 192 00:10:00,240 --> 00:10:03,920 Speaker 2: Aaron Bummer and Joe Jimenez both make nine million dollars 193 00:10:03,920 --> 00:10:06,280 Speaker 2: this year, but both come off the books next year. 194 00:10:06,320 --> 00:10:09,880 Speaker 2: So I actually I did think at one point this offseason, 195 00:10:10,240 --> 00:10:12,880 Speaker 2: after the Iglesias signing, I thought if they sign another one, 196 00:10:13,360 --> 00:10:15,320 Speaker 2: I would not be surprised at all if they backload 197 00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:18,840 Speaker 2: the deal because it gets them through the Bummer and Jimenez. 198 00:10:19,600 --> 00:10:21,800 Speaker 2: You know, we could also have a whole Joe Jimenez 199 00:10:21,840 --> 00:10:23,839 Speaker 2: conversation attached to this. I think this is a pretty 200 00:10:23,840 --> 00:10:26,280 Speaker 2: clear indication we don't. We can do that at another show. 201 00:10:26,559 --> 00:10:30,040 Speaker 2: But obviously they're not confident, they're not confident in that knee, 202 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:33,040 Speaker 2: and they still all nine million bucks. So it wasn't 203 00:10:33,080 --> 00:10:37,079 Speaker 2: surprising to me that they've backloaded this Suarez deal, and 204 00:10:37,120 --> 00:10:39,679 Speaker 2: it makes sense with what they've got currently in the bullpen. 205 00:10:40,520 --> 00:10:43,000 Speaker 1: And it's not hard to see why the Braves like Suarez. 206 00:10:43,240 --> 00:10:44,839 Speaker 2: Yeah, and the last. 207 00:10:44,600 --> 00:10:48,280 Speaker 1: Two seasons with the Padres as their closer, one hundred 208 00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:52,240 Speaker 1: and thirty five appearances, a two point eighty seven ERA, 209 00:10:52,920 --> 00:10:56,920 Speaker 1: a three point one seven FIP, about a twenty six 210 00:10:57,000 --> 00:11:02,959 Speaker 1: percent strikeout rate and a six percent so strikes out 211 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:06,240 Speaker 1: a lot of guys. Maybe not elite in that regard, 212 00:11:06,280 --> 00:11:09,320 Speaker 1: but Suarez strikes out a lot and doesn't issue free passes. 213 00:11:09,400 --> 00:11:12,080 Speaker 1: And if there is one thing, not just us, but 214 00:11:12,200 --> 00:11:15,600 Speaker 1: managers in baseball, front office, execs, fans, you name it. 215 00:11:15,840 --> 00:11:18,920 Speaker 1: If you're relievering, you walk people, there is no faster 216 00:11:19,000 --> 00:11:20,960 Speaker 1: way to fall out of favor and get into trouble. 217 00:11:21,240 --> 00:11:23,439 Speaker 1: And that's something really throughout his entire time with the Padre, 218 00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:25,880 Speaker 1: Suarez has done a really good job of is not 219 00:11:26,080 --> 00:11:27,920 Speaker 1: issuing free passes to first base. 220 00:11:29,080 --> 00:11:32,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, and the Braves have always valued strike out to 221 00:11:32,480 --> 00:11:35,920 Speaker 2: walk ratio. You know they love the four to one, 222 00:11:36,640 --> 00:11:39,120 Speaker 2: five to one strike out to walk ratio. I remember 223 00:11:39,160 --> 00:11:41,600 Speaker 2: when they traded for Joejamenez, like he was like number 224 00:11:41,920 --> 00:11:43,800 Speaker 2: three or four in the majors the year before. And 225 00:11:43,840 --> 00:11:46,520 Speaker 2: strike out to walk ratio. It's just a metric they 226 00:11:46,520 --> 00:11:49,839 Speaker 2: care about a lot, and it's very predictive. It's a 227 00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:52,760 Speaker 2: really strong if you're somebody who likes to get into 228 00:11:52,760 --> 00:11:55,360 Speaker 2: the numbers, that's a number you should really get into 229 00:11:55,400 --> 00:11:57,800 Speaker 2: more for pitchers is strike out to walk ratio. It's 230 00:11:57,880 --> 00:12:01,280 Speaker 2: very predictive of success. Teams love it, the Braves adore it. 231 00:12:01,679 --> 00:12:04,760 Speaker 2: So it's not a surprise anyone after Suarez struck out 232 00:12:04,760 --> 00:12:07,120 Speaker 2: almost ten per nine, like you just said, doesn't walk 233 00:12:07,200 --> 00:12:11,120 Speaker 2: barely walks anybody. So yeah, that it was even more clear. 234 00:12:11,800 --> 00:12:13,400 Speaker 2: On top of the fact that we've heard, we've heard 235 00:12:13,440 --> 00:12:15,480 Speaker 2: Swarrez's name for a couple of years link to the Braves. 236 00:12:15,760 --> 00:12:17,839 Speaker 2: He just has a metric that the Braves are really 237 00:12:17,840 --> 00:12:18,400 Speaker 2: really high on. 238 00:12:19,640 --> 00:12:21,960 Speaker 1: Well on credit to you, Steven. When we did our 239 00:12:22,120 --> 00:12:26,320 Speaker 1: Mike Yastremsky Emergency podcast twenty four hours ago, you said 240 00:12:26,360 --> 00:12:29,680 Speaker 1: Suarez's name, I think multiple times on the show as 241 00:12:30,400 --> 00:12:32,720 Speaker 1: kind of our big takeaway from that show, and please 242 00:12:32,760 --> 00:12:35,400 Speaker 1: go back and listen to the Yastremsky Emergency Show if 243 00:12:35,440 --> 00:12:38,000 Speaker 1: you didn't already. Was as long as this is not 244 00:12:38,160 --> 00:12:40,720 Speaker 1: like the final move of the offseason or the final 245 00:12:40,760 --> 00:12:43,319 Speaker 1: move of significance. We were cool with it because we 246 00:12:43,400 --> 00:12:45,800 Speaker 1: understood what the Braves are going for. But that had 247 00:12:45,840 --> 00:12:49,000 Speaker 1: to be just another piece of a bigger puzzle. And 248 00:12:50,360 --> 00:12:52,080 Speaker 1: I don't want to say that adding a thirty five 249 00:12:52,120 --> 00:12:54,560 Speaker 1: year old closer is a guarantee and you can plan 250 00:12:54,640 --> 00:12:57,840 Speaker 1: out the Braves World Series parade tomorrow. But he, I mean, 251 00:12:57,920 --> 00:13:00,120 Speaker 1: Swarz is an impact reliever. I mean, I know, Oh, 252 00:13:00,440 --> 00:13:02,800 Speaker 1: we'll do our quick bit the year over year relievers. 253 00:13:02,800 --> 00:13:05,400 Speaker 1: They're volatile, they have good years, they have bad years. 254 00:13:05,640 --> 00:13:07,440 Speaker 1: They can change, they can fall off, they can come 255 00:13:07,480 --> 00:13:10,080 Speaker 1: out of nowhere to be really good. But this guy 256 00:13:10,120 --> 00:13:11,760 Speaker 1: is about as tried and true as it gets the 257 00:13:11,800 --> 00:13:14,040 Speaker 1: last couple of years with San Diego, and I fully 258 00:13:14,040 --> 00:13:15,880 Speaker 1: get why the Braves did this, and I like the 259 00:13:15,920 --> 00:13:16,679 Speaker 1: signing for sure. 260 00:13:17,840 --> 00:13:21,120 Speaker 2: Yeah listen, I didn't say sure is his name? Last night, 261 00:13:21,280 --> 00:13:23,720 Speaker 2: just ran like we have heard the smoke for a while, 262 00:13:24,160 --> 00:13:26,920 Speaker 2: and you know it's funny that people always say, well, 263 00:13:26,920 --> 00:13:28,760 Speaker 2: if you hear the name in a rumor meal, that 264 00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:31,360 Speaker 2: means it's not happening. Because the Braves never leaks stuff. 265 00:13:31,760 --> 00:13:33,920 Speaker 2: It's just not true, like stuff gets leaked out, like 266 00:13:34,360 --> 00:13:36,600 Speaker 2: you can only control so much of what gets leaked 267 00:13:36,640 --> 00:13:39,680 Speaker 2: out because other teams are involved, other agents are involved, 268 00:13:39,760 --> 00:13:43,000 Speaker 2: the entire other side is involved. The agent can leak 269 00:13:43,000 --> 00:13:45,000 Speaker 2: anything anytime we want. It's not Alex has control over 270 00:13:45,040 --> 00:13:48,520 Speaker 2: what agents do. So Brave stuff leaks out all the time. 271 00:13:48,640 --> 00:13:50,520 Speaker 2: You know, we need to give Robert Murray credit because 272 00:13:50,520 --> 00:13:54,400 Speaker 2: Mark Robert Murray broke the Yustrimsky signing. I think Passing 273 00:13:54,480 --> 00:13:57,480 Speaker 2: had this signing, and Mark Finsen had the rumor about 274 00:13:57,720 --> 00:14:01,080 Speaker 2: the Braves and swars like two days ago. So stuff 275 00:14:01,080 --> 00:14:03,040 Speaker 2: gets out. It's not just like every time the Braves 276 00:14:03,080 --> 00:14:05,680 Speaker 2: do something, you know, no one has ever even heard 277 00:14:05,720 --> 00:14:08,240 Speaker 2: of or thought about it or talked about it. It's 278 00:14:08,280 --> 00:14:11,800 Speaker 2: not actually true. They are tight lipt, but not so crazy. 279 00:14:12,080 --> 00:14:15,720 Speaker 2: And the last point I'll make is, so the Braves 280 00:14:15,720 --> 00:14:20,080 Speaker 2: have signed thirty four year old Robert Suarez, They've signed 281 00:14:20,120 --> 00:14:23,440 Speaker 2: thirty five year old Mike Yastrimpsky, and they've signed thirty 282 00:14:23,480 --> 00:14:28,680 Speaker 2: six year old Russ Sale Glacias. I think for forty 283 00:14:28,720 --> 00:14:32,080 Speaker 2: five plus twenty three plus sixteen, that's like seventy something 284 00:14:32,200 --> 00:14:34,520 Speaker 2: million bucks they've given to a thirty four to thirty 285 00:14:34,520 --> 00:14:36,400 Speaker 2: five and thirty six year old. We need to say 286 00:14:36,440 --> 00:14:39,080 Speaker 2: out loud into a microphone, like there is risk here, 287 00:14:39,560 --> 00:14:43,880 Speaker 2: Like the Braves are banking on some conservative aging curves 288 00:14:44,480 --> 00:14:47,560 Speaker 2: where especially with Suarez on a three year deal, and 289 00:14:47,600 --> 00:14:51,120 Speaker 2: like you just said to volatility of relievers, there's risk, 290 00:14:51,360 --> 00:14:53,840 Speaker 2: Like this is not a risk free deal, you know, 291 00:14:53,920 --> 00:14:56,280 Speaker 2: obviously Glaciers is a one year deal. Y Stripsky is 292 00:14:56,280 --> 00:14:59,200 Speaker 2: a very low av with this deal, like it could 293 00:14:59,280 --> 00:15:01,120 Speaker 2: hurt if something was wrong with is in the next 294 00:15:01,480 --> 00:15:04,600 Speaker 2: six months, Like it get hurt. So there's risk here. 295 00:15:04,760 --> 00:15:07,040 Speaker 2: I don't want to just ignore the downside completely because 296 00:15:07,040 --> 00:15:10,200 Speaker 2: we like the signing and the Braves have gone very 297 00:15:10,360 --> 00:15:12,520 Speaker 2: you know, the Braves are quietly becoming a much older 298 00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:16,200 Speaker 2: team with these three guys and the money they're you know, 299 00:15:16,240 --> 00:15:18,600 Speaker 2: the money they're paying him, So there's not like there's 300 00:15:18,640 --> 00:15:20,840 Speaker 2: no risk involved. But overall, I do like this signing. 301 00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:24,480 Speaker 1: So we're gonna take a quick break to hear a 302 00:15:24,520 --> 00:15:27,480 Speaker 1: word from our partners on the podcast. But when we 303 00:15:27,520 --> 00:15:29,880 Speaker 1: come back, we're going to talk about what this bullpen 304 00:15:29,920 --> 00:15:33,200 Speaker 1: looks like with Suarez and Iglesias in the mix. We're 305 00:15:33,240 --> 00:15:35,160 Speaker 1: also going to now talk a little bit more as 306 00:15:35,160 --> 00:15:38,160 Speaker 1: well about what else the Braves could do this offseason 307 00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:40,760 Speaker 1: after a very busy last couple of weeks. But first 308 00:15:40,840 --> 00:15:47,400 Speaker 1: quick word from our partners, right, Stephen, Let's talk about 309 00:15:47,440 --> 00:15:50,080 Speaker 1: this bullpen now. It was an area we knew the 310 00:15:50,080 --> 00:15:52,320 Speaker 1: Braves needed to address, and they have addressed it with 311 00:15:52,360 --> 00:15:56,920 Speaker 1: two big dollar signings so far. So currently we have, 312 00:15:57,200 --> 00:15:59,080 Speaker 1: if the reports are correct, you have ere I sell 313 00:15:59,080 --> 00:16:03,280 Speaker 1: Igalacias in for the ninth inning. You have Robert Swarez 314 00:16:03,640 --> 00:16:05,880 Speaker 1: for the eighth inning. More times than not, he could 315 00:16:05,880 --> 00:16:08,720 Speaker 1: probably throw a seventh if he was facing some tough rieties. 316 00:16:08,800 --> 00:16:12,880 Speaker 1: But Iglesias and Suarez is too. Dylan Lee, assuming healthy, 317 00:16:13,600 --> 00:16:16,480 Speaker 1: awesome from the left side, probably your best lefty reliever 318 00:16:16,840 --> 00:16:20,200 Speaker 1: at the moment. You have Aaron Bummer under contract for 319 00:16:20,280 --> 00:16:23,640 Speaker 1: nine million dollars. Probably not as zero percent chance the 320 00:16:23,640 --> 00:16:25,960 Speaker 1: Braves could move on from Bummer in the coming weeks, 321 00:16:25,960 --> 00:16:28,200 Speaker 1: But if Bummer is healthy and he did have the 322 00:16:28,240 --> 00:16:31,440 Speaker 1: shoulder scare at the end of the season, you would 323 00:16:31,440 --> 00:16:34,000 Speaker 1: imagine that bummer will be out there, hopefully a healthier 324 00:16:34,040 --> 00:16:37,680 Speaker 1: bounce back season. The Braves gave two and a quarter 325 00:16:37,800 --> 00:16:40,960 Speaker 1: million dollars to Joel Piomps a couple of weeks ago. 326 00:16:41,240 --> 00:16:44,200 Speaker 1: Piomps was once really good with the Brewers, was terrible 327 00:16:44,280 --> 00:16:46,960 Speaker 1: last season, where the Brewers defade him and the Braves 328 00:16:46,960 --> 00:16:49,480 Speaker 1: picked him up. Clearly, the Braves are banking on him 329 00:16:49,480 --> 00:16:52,000 Speaker 1: being able to bounce back. I think Piomps will be 330 00:16:52,040 --> 00:16:54,200 Speaker 1: in that group, although for two million dollars, if he 331 00:16:54,280 --> 00:16:56,800 Speaker 1: just looks god awful in the spring or even a 332 00:16:56,840 --> 00:16:58,880 Speaker 1: couple of weeks into the season, you could always move on. 333 00:17:00,040 --> 00:17:02,600 Speaker 1: And then I think those five, if healthy and on 334 00:17:02,640 --> 00:17:05,439 Speaker 1: the roster, are probably on the team. The massive question 335 00:17:05,560 --> 00:17:09,080 Speaker 1: now is Joe Jimenez and his surgically repaired me, his 336 00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:13,199 Speaker 1: twice surgically repaired me, which the Braves have been pretty 337 00:17:13,800 --> 00:17:16,199 Speaker 1: wishy washy on. If they feel like they're gonna have 338 00:17:16,240 --> 00:17:18,720 Speaker 1: Jimenez back, and then there's a handful of others who 339 00:17:18,720 --> 00:17:20,960 Speaker 1: are gonna likely round out the back end of the bullpen. 340 00:17:21,680 --> 00:17:24,320 Speaker 1: Do you think the Braves are done spending in the bullpen? 341 00:17:24,840 --> 00:17:27,160 Speaker 1: Do you do you think they're gonna go and sign 342 00:17:27,440 --> 00:17:30,439 Speaker 1: another like legitimate reliever here. Do you think they're gonna 343 00:17:30,720 --> 00:17:33,320 Speaker 1: pick up a half dozen veterans on cheap deals and 344 00:17:33,359 --> 00:17:35,280 Speaker 1: hope that one or two of them stick. Knowing you 345 00:17:35,359 --> 00:17:37,800 Speaker 1: have now some stability at the back end, where are 346 00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:39,160 Speaker 1: you at with this bullpen right now? 347 00:17:41,720 --> 00:17:47,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's a great question. So obviously Iglesias and Suarez 348 00:17:47,320 --> 00:17:49,560 Speaker 2: are in, I think obvious, Dylan Lee, Aaron Bummer in 349 00:17:49,600 --> 00:17:51,400 Speaker 2: as long as they're on the team. Like you said, 350 00:17:51,440 --> 00:17:53,520 Speaker 2: Bummer is no guarantee. I would not be surprised at 351 00:17:53,520 --> 00:17:55,919 Speaker 2: all if they try to move off that ten million bucks. 352 00:17:59,200 --> 00:18:02,480 Speaker 2: The wild cards are Ronaldo Lopez and Grant Holmes because 353 00:18:02,680 --> 00:18:04,400 Speaker 2: if you feel like either one of those is going 354 00:18:04,440 --> 00:18:07,199 Speaker 2: to be a reliever for you this year, and I 355 00:18:07,280 --> 00:18:10,080 Speaker 2: really think one of them should be specifically Ronaldo, Like 356 00:18:10,119 --> 00:18:13,320 Speaker 2: I think if you if you put Iglesias, Suarez and 357 00:18:13,359 --> 00:18:16,720 Speaker 2: Ronaldo Lopez as you're eight, seventh, eighth, and ninth inny guys, 358 00:18:16,720 --> 00:18:18,720 Speaker 2: Because remember when Lopez pitches out of the bullpen, he 359 00:18:18,720 --> 00:18:20,760 Speaker 2: throws like one hundred and two miles an hour. So 360 00:18:20,880 --> 00:18:23,920 Speaker 2: you have Lopez, Suarez and Iglesias finishing games for you, 361 00:18:24,359 --> 00:18:26,119 Speaker 2: and you have the pitching depth, you have the starting 362 00:18:26,160 --> 00:18:28,480 Speaker 2: depth at least right now, and especially if you go 363 00:18:28,520 --> 00:18:32,399 Speaker 2: out a starter because of the emergence of Huston Waldrop. Now, 364 00:18:32,440 --> 00:18:34,280 Speaker 2: some of that is tied to the health of Grant Holmes, 365 00:18:34,520 --> 00:18:37,080 Speaker 2: some of it is tied to the health of Ronaldo Lopez. 366 00:18:38,280 --> 00:18:41,600 Speaker 2: So those are the wild cards right then on top 367 00:18:41,640 --> 00:18:43,639 Speaker 2: of that, you have to remember guys like Joy Wentz 368 00:18:43,720 --> 00:18:46,480 Speaker 2: and Bryce Elder have zero minor league options, So those 369 00:18:46,480 --> 00:18:48,800 Speaker 2: guys cannot go to the miners after spring training. They're 370 00:18:48,840 --> 00:18:52,600 Speaker 2: either in the rotation, they're in the bullpen, they're on 371 00:18:52,640 --> 00:18:55,240 Speaker 2: the IL, or they're DF eight. Those are the options. 372 00:18:55,480 --> 00:18:57,960 Speaker 2: So I'm guessing Joy Wentz is going to be in 373 00:18:58,000 --> 00:18:59,640 Speaker 2: the bullpen, that's my gut. Now he's got a pitch, 374 00:18:59,680 --> 00:19:01,159 Speaker 2: well could be you know, if he comes in the 375 00:19:01,160 --> 00:19:03,680 Speaker 2: spring training pieces like Crab, he could be dfad. Same 376 00:19:03,720 --> 00:19:06,320 Speaker 2: with Elder. But just remember the guys that don't have 377 00:19:06,359 --> 00:19:09,679 Speaker 2: options matter in this conversation as well. And then, like 378 00:19:09,720 --> 00:19:12,560 Speaker 2: you said, Joejamenz, like I imagine if you had Ronald 379 00:19:12,640 --> 00:19:14,560 Speaker 2: Lopez and Joejimenez and he had all four of these 380 00:19:14,560 --> 00:19:18,840 Speaker 2: guys at the end, Dasball Hernandez is still technically out 381 00:19:18,880 --> 00:19:22,320 Speaker 2: there as a you know, he's got to figure out 382 00:19:22,320 --> 00:19:25,399 Speaker 2: where the hell the ball's going. He rarely knows. But 383 00:19:25,680 --> 00:19:27,560 Speaker 2: there's a lot of name. I would be stunned if 384 00:19:27,560 --> 00:19:30,239 Speaker 2: they kept spending at this point. That's a lot. They 385 00:19:30,240 --> 00:19:32,879 Speaker 2: have a lot of money tied to the like a 386 00:19:32,880 --> 00:19:35,040 Speaker 2: ton of money, probably too much money tied to the bullpen, 387 00:19:35,080 --> 00:19:37,680 Speaker 2: if we're being blatantly honest. But we're not going to 388 00:19:37,720 --> 00:19:40,760 Speaker 2: complain about spending right now because fans were mad as 389 00:19:40,760 --> 00:19:44,199 Speaker 2: hell yesterday because they weren't spending. Now they're spending. Do 390 00:19:44,280 --> 00:19:46,840 Speaker 2: I love the allocation of bullpen relative to the other spots? 391 00:19:46,920 --> 00:19:49,040 Speaker 2: Not really, but who cares at this point we'll debate 392 00:19:49,040 --> 00:19:51,080 Speaker 2: that at another time. They have a lot of names, 393 00:19:51,119 --> 00:19:53,280 Speaker 2: they have a lot of money. They have potentially the 394 00:19:53,280 --> 00:19:55,920 Speaker 2: best bullpen in baseball. I think they should put Ronaldo 395 00:19:56,600 --> 00:19:59,240 Speaker 2: as the seventh inning guy, like Grant Holmes and Hurstal 396 00:19:59,280 --> 00:20:01,639 Speaker 2: Waldrip and who where they signed as a starter, go 397 00:20:01,720 --> 00:20:04,040 Speaker 2: to the rotation. But there's a lot of ways they 398 00:20:04,040 --> 00:20:07,359 Speaker 2: could do it, and multiple of them could work because 399 00:20:07,359 --> 00:20:08,679 Speaker 2: there are there are there is quite a bit of 400 00:20:08,680 --> 00:20:12,240 Speaker 2: talent in this group at this point. Yeah, you know, you. 401 00:20:12,200 --> 00:20:15,320 Speaker 1: Also have like Dylan Dodd from the left side, Donald's 402 00:20:15,400 --> 00:20:19,280 Speaker 1: signing also a lot of options. Hayden Harris is someone 403 00:20:19,280 --> 00:20:22,760 Speaker 1: who has fans and uh got Harris was called up 404 00:20:22,760 --> 00:20:24,679 Speaker 1: for like one day and did he even get He 405 00:20:24,720 --> 00:20:26,920 Speaker 1: got into like one game, I think before the Braves 406 00:20:26,920 --> 00:20:30,119 Speaker 1: sent him down. Hayden Harris has fans, great numbers in 407 00:20:30,160 --> 00:20:33,760 Speaker 1: the minors. You mentioned Daze Bell Hernandez. I'm personally not 408 00:20:33,800 --> 00:20:35,880 Speaker 1: a big Day's Bell guy. I don't think it doesn't 409 00:20:35,880 --> 00:20:37,560 Speaker 1: know where it's going, It doesn't know what it's going. 410 00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:40,080 Speaker 1: The idea of Day's Bell is awesome. 411 00:20:40,400 --> 00:20:42,800 Speaker 2: Does one hundred Yeah, Day's. 412 00:20:42,520 --> 00:20:46,639 Speaker 1: Bell's ballcase is that he turns into Robert Swarez. He 413 00:20:46,760 --> 00:20:49,240 Speaker 1: just throws that ship out of the baseball every time 414 00:20:49,280 --> 00:20:51,280 Speaker 1: and says, here's one hundred miles an hour, try to 415 00:20:51,320 --> 00:20:54,040 Speaker 1: hit it and see what happens. But but when you're 416 00:20:54,040 --> 00:20:57,159 Speaker 1: not throwing strikes like Robert Swarez does, that's going to 417 00:20:57,240 --> 00:21:00,320 Speaker 1: be a problem. And then you know there's also kind 418 00:21:00,359 --> 00:21:02,000 Speaker 1: of in the wings waiting, you know, like a J. 419 00:21:02,119 --> 00:21:04,960 Speaker 1: Smith Schaver he had Tommy John surgery. But maybe at 420 00:21:04,960 --> 00:21:07,440 Speaker 1: some point in the summer you could put a J. 421 00:21:07,560 --> 00:21:10,080 Speaker 1: Smith schaover back in a bullpen roll to kind of 422 00:21:10,080 --> 00:21:11,040 Speaker 1: build him back up. 423 00:21:11,600 --> 00:21:12,200 Speaker 2: You have JR. 424 00:21:12,320 --> 00:21:14,680 Speaker 1: Ritchie in the minor leagues, and you you know who knows. 425 00:21:14,720 --> 00:21:17,760 Speaker 1: I mean if Hurst and Waldrip is kind of squeezed 426 00:21:17,800 --> 00:21:20,399 Speaker 1: out of the rotation, depending on what the Braves do 427 00:21:20,440 --> 00:21:22,879 Speaker 1: from here on now, maybe they have Waldrop in the 428 00:21:22,920 --> 00:21:24,920 Speaker 1: bullpen for a cup, like a month or two, to 429 00:21:25,080 --> 00:21:27,879 Speaker 1: keep his arm fresh, and then at some point you 430 00:21:27,920 --> 00:21:30,119 Speaker 1: send him to Gwenette and you then build him up 431 00:21:30,119 --> 00:21:31,960 Speaker 1: and then he becomes a starter. Maybe you don't want 432 00:21:32,000 --> 00:21:34,800 Speaker 1: Waldrop to throw two hundred innings in his first full 433 00:21:34,840 --> 00:21:37,160 Speaker 1: major league season. I guess what we're trying to say 434 00:21:37,200 --> 00:21:40,919 Speaker 1: here is there's some real depth here. Especially knowing that 435 00:21:40,960 --> 00:21:42,679 Speaker 1: you feel about as good as you can feel in 436 00:21:42,720 --> 00:21:47,199 Speaker 1: December about your eighth and ninth innings. That's kind of 437 00:21:47,200 --> 00:21:50,119 Speaker 1: mind ling too. Maybe they sign one more veteran to 438 00:21:50,320 --> 00:21:52,760 Speaker 1: like a one year, six or seven or eight million 439 00:21:52,800 --> 00:21:55,840 Speaker 1: dollar deal. I would hope that means they also have 440 00:21:55,920 --> 00:21:58,440 Speaker 1: money for a shortstop and a starter. But I kind 441 00:21:58,440 --> 00:22:01,480 Speaker 1: of think with a Glecias and Wars, they're pretty much 442 00:22:01,560 --> 00:22:05,200 Speaker 1: done with this bullpen. Yeah, and now they've also got 443 00:22:05,240 --> 00:22:10,720 Speaker 1: like what's his name, Botho Broke Holter Blake Brokehlter, the 444 00:22:10,720 --> 00:22:13,840 Speaker 1: guy that was gonna be potentially taking off in the 445 00:22:13,920 --> 00:22:14,800 Speaker 1: Rule five draft. 446 00:22:15,640 --> 00:22:17,600 Speaker 2: A lot of people see him as a reliever. I 447 00:22:17,600 --> 00:22:19,640 Speaker 2: actually thought he might get picked in the Rule five 448 00:22:19,680 --> 00:22:21,040 Speaker 2: and somebody would put him in a bullpen. 449 00:22:21,160 --> 00:22:21,320 Speaker 1: Roll. 450 00:22:21,359 --> 00:22:23,800 Speaker 2: That didn't happen. He's still in the team. Uh Laura 451 00:22:24,320 --> 00:22:26,960 Speaker 2: Uh who came up last year briefly. They got a 452 00:22:27,000 --> 00:22:30,840 Speaker 2: lot of names and a lot of money tied into 453 00:22:30,840 --> 00:22:33,679 Speaker 2: the bullpen. So yeah, I think they have the talent. 454 00:22:34,119 --> 00:22:37,159 Speaker 2: I love the fact that they have added premium velocity 455 00:22:37,400 --> 00:22:39,880 Speaker 2: to the to the bullpen, especially the back end, something 456 00:22:39,880 --> 00:22:41,480 Speaker 2: I really wanted them to add. I felt like they 457 00:22:41,480 --> 00:22:44,679 Speaker 2: were a bit behind. I think the Braves through the 458 00:22:44,680 --> 00:22:47,720 Speaker 2: fust amount one hundred prower pitches in baseball last year, 459 00:22:47,840 --> 00:22:50,600 Speaker 2: so I did want them to add in. Obviously, with 460 00:22:50,600 --> 00:22:54,560 Speaker 2: with Suarez, they've done that and more. But yeah, man, 461 00:22:54,760 --> 00:22:57,120 Speaker 2: I could sit here all day and dream on an 462 00:22:57,119 --> 00:23:00,359 Speaker 2: Iglesias Suarez, Ronaldo Lopez like seven, eight, and ninth. 463 00:23:01,560 --> 00:23:04,280 Speaker 1: They're all with Dylan Lee on the left side too. 464 00:23:04,480 --> 00:23:06,199 Speaker 1: I mean, and if Aaron Bummer can get back to 465 00:23:06,200 --> 00:23:08,000 Speaker 1: for him, I mean, this could be a sick bullpen. 466 00:23:08,160 --> 00:23:11,800 Speaker 2: Yeah. So there's a lot of ways you can go 467 00:23:11,840 --> 00:23:14,159 Speaker 2: Opson great Holmes too, if they want to limit his 468 00:23:14,160 --> 00:23:16,399 Speaker 2: innings because of the injury. I don't know if he 469 00:23:16,440 --> 00:23:18,360 Speaker 2: said his name already, but there's a lot of ways 470 00:23:18,400 --> 00:23:21,160 Speaker 2: that can go. I I I would say, whatever money 471 00:23:21,200 --> 00:23:23,480 Speaker 2: you have left, let's let's go find a shortstop, let's 472 00:23:23,480 --> 00:23:26,160 Speaker 2: go find a starter. Let's maybe hold off on spinning anymore. 473 00:23:26,160 --> 00:23:30,560 Speaker 2: On the bullpen. But the talent of this group, I mean, 474 00:23:30,560 --> 00:23:33,679 Speaker 2: it's you know, I think legitimately could be the best 475 00:23:33,720 --> 00:23:35,920 Speaker 2: bullpen in baseball. Now, it could, it could, it could 476 00:23:35,960 --> 00:23:39,080 Speaker 2: be average. This is how bullpens work. It's not like 477 00:23:39,119 --> 00:23:41,000 Speaker 2: a lineup or a rotation where you can really feel 478 00:23:41,000 --> 00:23:42,920 Speaker 2: good about it until you see it, until everybody gets 479 00:23:42,920 --> 00:23:46,199 Speaker 2: their healthy. But on talent, they have a chance to 480 00:23:46,280 --> 00:23:47,640 Speaker 2: be unbelievably good. 481 00:23:48,400 --> 00:23:50,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, it should be really fun to watch this summer. 482 00:23:51,200 --> 00:23:55,320 Speaker 1: We will see what the coming weeks and months hold. Stephen, 483 00:23:55,359 --> 00:23:57,399 Speaker 1: We're gonna take one more break, but when we come back, 484 00:23:57,600 --> 00:23:59,520 Speaker 1: we are going to talk about what is left for 485 00:23:59,560 --> 00:24:03,000 Speaker 1: alex Ands to do this offseason. There's still some pretty 486 00:24:03,000 --> 00:24:05,440 Speaker 1: big items to check off. Let's be greedy. Let's get 487 00:24:05,440 --> 00:24:08,280 Speaker 1: this team to be as competitive as it can realistically, 488 00:24:08,320 --> 00:24:14,040 Speaker 1: be first quick word from our partners. All right, Steven, 489 00:24:14,240 --> 00:24:16,399 Speaker 1: So we're about a month into the off season. The 490 00:24:16,440 --> 00:24:21,760 Speaker 1: bullpen has been heavily addressed, the shortstop position has may 491 00:24:21,880 --> 00:24:26,720 Speaker 1: been addressed with Mauricio Dupon, and the outfield and dhspot 492 00:24:26,720 --> 00:24:30,320 Speaker 1: has been pretty well addressed with Mike Kistremski. Again, Steven 493 00:24:30,359 --> 00:24:32,440 Speaker 1: and I talked about that signing for about thirty five 494 00:24:32,480 --> 00:24:35,840 Speaker 1: minutes on Wednesday. Go and check out that episode if 495 00:24:35,880 --> 00:24:38,879 Speaker 1: you want to listen it. But for my money, the 496 00:24:38,920 --> 00:24:44,359 Speaker 1: two big things starting rotation in shortstop. Yep, where are 497 00:24:44,440 --> 00:24:46,879 Speaker 1: you at with those two spots? Now that the Braves 498 00:24:46,880 --> 00:24:49,119 Speaker 1: have solidified kind of the other big pressing needs on 499 00:24:49,160 --> 00:24:49,840 Speaker 1: the roster. 500 00:24:53,160 --> 00:24:57,520 Speaker 2: I put shortstop one. The Braves do have a lot 501 00:24:57,560 --> 00:25:00,680 Speaker 2: of depth and rotation, and especially now that they've added 502 00:25:00,720 --> 00:25:03,280 Speaker 2: at the back of the bullpen, because I thought there 503 00:25:03,280 --> 00:25:05,280 Speaker 2: was a world where maybe Holmes and Lopez would be 504 00:25:05,320 --> 00:25:08,439 Speaker 2: in the bullpen, but when you add Suarez, it's not 505 00:25:08,480 --> 00:25:11,160 Speaker 2: as big a need. Right, It's all connected, it's all 506 00:25:11,320 --> 00:25:13,159 Speaker 2: it's all in a you know, none of this is 507 00:25:13,160 --> 00:25:16,000 Speaker 2: in a vacuum. It's all connected. It's all in context. 508 00:25:16,200 --> 00:25:19,919 Speaker 2: So like a minute, like just a solid mid rotation 509 00:25:20,000 --> 00:25:23,439 Speaker 2: starter would make me feel amazing about the rotation, Like 510 00:25:23,480 --> 00:25:26,200 Speaker 2: the rotation is good, Like you read off the names. 511 00:25:26,560 --> 00:25:29,480 Speaker 2: The rotation is good. It's got upside, it's got enough 512 00:25:29,560 --> 00:25:32,160 Speaker 2: upside that you can dream on, and it's got enough 513 00:25:32,240 --> 00:25:35,040 Speaker 2: depth that you're okay. But one more name would be fantastic. 514 00:25:35,480 --> 00:25:39,040 Speaker 2: But damn, do I want to shortstop? I want a 515 00:25:39,040 --> 00:25:42,080 Speaker 2: real short stop. Listen, Marissa Debon is A is a 516 00:25:42,160 --> 00:25:45,480 Speaker 2: high quality major league player. You know, he's one of 517 00:25:45,480 --> 00:25:47,880 Speaker 2: the best. You know, he's in the top one percent 518 00:25:47,960 --> 00:25:50,520 Speaker 2: of baseball players in the world. But he's much better 519 00:25:50,520 --> 00:25:52,720 Speaker 2: as a bench piece. He just is. He's much better 520 00:25:52,760 --> 00:25:56,080 Speaker 2: as a bench piece. He is a He's a utility guy, 521 00:25:56,400 --> 00:26:00,679 Speaker 2: and your roster is so much better if he is 522 00:26:00,720 --> 00:26:03,720 Speaker 2: your utility guy and somebody else is You're starting shortstop. Now, 523 00:26:03,840 --> 00:26:06,399 Speaker 2: people are gonna say, what name? I don't know, I 524 00:26:06,440 --> 00:26:09,400 Speaker 2: don't listen. Kim is out there. Everybody knows about Kim. 525 00:26:09,400 --> 00:26:13,159 Speaker 2: There's trade targets, the Corey Seeger stuff. There's actually a 526 00:26:13,160 --> 00:26:16,200 Speaker 2: lot of smoke coming out about Corey Seger. Not necessarily, 527 00:26:16,600 --> 00:26:18,720 Speaker 2: I mean, somewhat connected to the Braves, but just in general. 528 00:26:19,080 --> 00:26:21,760 Speaker 2: The Rangers are apparently much more okay with trading him 529 00:26:21,760 --> 00:26:24,080 Speaker 2: than I maybe thought they would be. The Rangers might 530 00:26:24,080 --> 00:26:27,679 Speaker 2: be in a kind of a pivotal like, you know, 531 00:26:27,920 --> 00:26:29,639 Speaker 2: there might be at a crossroads where they're going in 532 00:26:29,680 --> 00:26:33,439 Speaker 2: a different direction. My god, could you could you a 533 00:26:33,480 --> 00:26:36,400 Speaker 2: Matt or not even I'm not even gonna say. If 534 00:26:36,400 --> 00:26:39,399 Speaker 2: they trade for Corey Seeger, this would be the greatest 535 00:26:39,400 --> 00:26:41,639 Speaker 2: off season of all time. But it's probably not gonna happen. 536 00:26:42,040 --> 00:26:43,920 Speaker 2: But so I don't know the name, I don't know 537 00:26:43,920 --> 00:26:46,560 Speaker 2: who it's gonna be, but I would love a real 538 00:26:46,600 --> 00:26:47,080 Speaker 2: short stuff. 539 00:26:48,600 --> 00:26:51,199 Speaker 1: I would too. And you know, the Seeger one is 540 00:26:51,240 --> 00:26:55,040 Speaker 1: fascinating because every day it feels a little bit more 541 00:26:55,160 --> 00:26:57,760 Speaker 1: like the Rangers might be willing to actually trade him 542 00:26:58,240 --> 00:27:01,080 Speaker 1: and the six years and a hunt eighty nine million 543 00:27:01,119 --> 00:27:04,960 Speaker 1: dollars left on his contract, But then you read about 544 00:27:05,000 --> 00:27:07,240 Speaker 1: it a little bit more like between the lines, and 545 00:27:07,320 --> 00:27:09,960 Speaker 1: it might be one of those situations where sure, the 546 00:27:10,040 --> 00:27:13,280 Speaker 1: Rangers will trade Corey Seger to the Braves, but they 547 00:27:13,280 --> 00:27:18,199 Speaker 1: want Drake Baldwin, or they want Spencer Schwallenbach or pick 548 00:27:18,920 --> 00:27:21,879 Speaker 1: and probably more than that too, which is maybe crazy 549 00:27:21,920 --> 00:27:23,879 Speaker 1: to say, But I mean, Corey Seger is not going 550 00:27:23,920 --> 00:27:25,600 Speaker 1: to be cheap guys. When he's on the field, this 551 00:27:25,640 --> 00:27:28,240 Speaker 1: guy is a top eight hitter in Major League Baseball. 552 00:27:29,440 --> 00:27:31,399 Speaker 1: That's fun to dream. And the fact that the Braves 553 00:27:31,400 --> 00:27:34,960 Speaker 1: have now made some real signings this offseason, I think 554 00:27:35,040 --> 00:27:38,800 Speaker 1: the temperature level of the fan base has it should 555 00:27:38,800 --> 00:27:42,400 Speaker 1: a better damn well cool down. And I guess last 556 00:27:42,440 --> 00:27:46,680 Speaker 1: offseason was miserable. I mean, you guys are frustrated. We're frustrated. 557 00:27:46,720 --> 00:27:48,679 Speaker 1: Try doing three to four podcasts a week where the 558 00:27:48,680 --> 00:27:51,919 Speaker 1: team made one signing the entire winter, which was, you know, 559 00:27:51,960 --> 00:27:54,440 Speaker 1: a good player in Jerkson Profar, but not a superstar 560 00:27:54,520 --> 00:27:58,280 Speaker 1: by any means. If they signed one Soto maybe, but yeah, 561 00:27:58,359 --> 00:28:01,600 Speaker 1: it's this I think is a really nice step in 562 00:28:01,640 --> 00:28:04,520 Speaker 1: the right direction. And if they can add a shortstop, 563 00:28:04,560 --> 00:28:08,080 Speaker 1: which is easier said than done, and add something to 564 00:28:08,119 --> 00:28:10,520 Speaker 1: the starting rotation, I feel like we're going to be 565 00:28:10,560 --> 00:28:12,000 Speaker 1: in a good place come opening day. 566 00:28:12,840 --> 00:28:15,560 Speaker 2: Are you where are you at with the picture or 567 00:28:15,640 --> 00:28:18,439 Speaker 2: like are you the starting picture? Like what level are 568 00:28:18,480 --> 00:28:20,760 Speaker 2: you think? Do you still want like a ranger Srez 569 00:28:21,080 --> 00:28:23,359 Speaker 2: Because the starting pitching market, I mean, the closer market 570 00:28:23,359 --> 00:28:27,040 Speaker 2: has moved insanely quickly. There's still some decent starters out there, 571 00:28:27,040 --> 00:28:30,119 Speaker 2: I think Sorez is probably the I guess sores and 572 00:28:30,200 --> 00:28:33,520 Speaker 2: Valdez Framber are probably the two best guys still out there. 573 00:28:34,080 --> 00:28:35,800 Speaker 2: What level are you at with the starter? 574 00:28:36,720 --> 00:28:39,200 Speaker 1: So what was really interesting to me the other day 575 00:28:39,400 --> 00:28:41,400 Speaker 1: is there was a report I think from Mark find 576 00:28:41,480 --> 00:28:47,240 Speaker 1: Stand at MLB dot com that Framber Valdez is market 577 00:28:47,720 --> 00:28:49,040 Speaker 1: has not really developed. 578 00:28:49,720 --> 00:28:51,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, and if that's. 579 00:28:50,960 --> 00:28:53,440 Speaker 1: The case, if I'm if I am the Braves, and 580 00:28:53,480 --> 00:28:56,800 Speaker 1: I am willing to give up the twenty sixth overall 581 00:28:56,800 --> 00:29:00,480 Speaker 1: pick and really invest in one of these big four 582 00:29:00,600 --> 00:29:05,280 Speaker 1: starting pitchers who are left Framber Valdez, Rangers, Warrez, Michael King, 583 00:29:05,680 --> 00:29:10,560 Speaker 1: and Zach Gallen. Yeah, I think when you factor everything in, 584 00:29:10,720 --> 00:29:12,719 Speaker 1: I think Framber Valdez is in a tier of his 585 00:29:12,800 --> 00:29:15,920 Speaker 1: own compared to the other three. If I'm gonna go 586 00:29:15,960 --> 00:29:18,720 Speaker 1: and commit five or six years to one of these starters, 587 00:29:18,720 --> 00:29:20,360 Speaker 1: which I think is what most of them are going 588 00:29:20,440 --> 00:29:23,480 Speaker 1: to get, I'm probably more on the Framber Valdez train 589 00:29:23,560 --> 00:29:26,040 Speaker 1: because I think he has the fewest questions about him, 590 00:29:26,560 --> 00:29:28,920 Speaker 1: and I would also be probably more comfortable giving up 591 00:29:28,920 --> 00:29:32,840 Speaker 1: the qualifying offer pick to add like a legitimate number one, 592 00:29:32,960 --> 00:29:37,440 Speaker 1: number two to your rotation, Like he's a stud. He 593 00:29:37,480 --> 00:29:40,080 Speaker 1: has been as consistent as it gets in Houston, whereas 594 00:29:40,320 --> 00:29:43,120 Speaker 1: Rangers Warrez. He doesn't throw hard. He's never thrown one 595 00:29:43,160 --> 00:29:46,840 Speaker 1: hundred and sixty innings in a season. Michael King has 596 00:29:46,880 --> 00:29:49,120 Speaker 1: had one great year, but other than that he's either 597 00:29:49,120 --> 00:29:51,840 Speaker 1: been in the bullpen or hasn't been healthy. And then 598 00:29:51,920 --> 00:29:54,120 Speaker 1: Zach Gallan. I'm just not willing to give up a 599 00:29:54,160 --> 00:29:56,640 Speaker 1: pick and big money for Gallant. I just don't think 600 00:29:56,640 --> 00:29:58,720 Speaker 1: he's great. If he ends up being awesome and he's 601 00:29:58,760 --> 00:30:00,600 Speaker 1: an All Star and a Cy Young win the next year, 602 00:30:00,640 --> 00:30:02,560 Speaker 1: then we'll, you know, I'll eat Crow on that one. 603 00:30:03,400 --> 00:30:05,640 Speaker 1: My guest, Stephen, is that they go and sign a 604 00:30:05,760 --> 00:30:12,480 Speaker 1: starting pitcher. But in that middle tier, your your Merrill 605 00:30:12,600 --> 00:30:16,880 Speaker 1: Kelly types, Chris Bassett. If the Braves feel like Brad 606 00:30:16,960 --> 00:30:19,600 Speaker 1: Keller can be made a starter who was a reliever 607 00:30:19,680 --> 00:30:21,400 Speaker 1: and a really good one the last couple of years, 608 00:30:21,400 --> 00:30:24,560 Speaker 1: whether he was a starter before. That kind of tier 609 00:30:24,680 --> 00:30:26,560 Speaker 1: to me is where my my guests would be if 610 00:30:26,560 --> 00:30:29,120 Speaker 1: I had to put money on it. But maybe maybe 611 00:30:29,160 --> 00:30:31,320 Speaker 1: Alex and Thoppolass has a lot of money to spend 612 00:30:31,360 --> 00:30:33,720 Speaker 1: and they're like, you know what, enough screwing around. We're 613 00:30:33,760 --> 00:30:35,760 Speaker 1: gonna go get one of these big name free agents 614 00:30:36,040 --> 00:30:38,680 Speaker 1: and draft pick. Be damned, We're just gonna go all 615 00:30:38,680 --> 00:30:41,520 Speaker 1: out for the next couple of years. That's probably not 616 00:30:41,640 --> 00:30:42,760 Speaker 1: a non zero chance. 617 00:30:43,080 --> 00:30:47,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, it'd be alarious if they signed Chris Bassett. I 618 00:30:47,320 --> 00:30:50,800 Speaker 2: mean they start handing out AARP carts for this free 619 00:30:50,800 --> 00:30:57,000 Speaker 2: agent class. I agree, I the pick the draft pick. Also, 620 00:30:57,080 --> 00:30:58,880 Speaker 2: all four of those guys would cost a draft pick 621 00:30:58,960 --> 00:31:02,719 Speaker 2: because all of them arequalified free agents. To pick complicates things. 622 00:31:04,080 --> 00:31:05,960 Speaker 2: It's kind of one of those things where you if 623 00:31:06,000 --> 00:31:07,880 Speaker 2: you're gonna give up the pick, you would almost rather 624 00:31:07,960 --> 00:31:11,520 Speaker 2: be on a long term deal, Like you need some value. 625 00:31:12,080 --> 00:31:14,080 Speaker 2: You need the other side of the equation to have 626 00:31:14,200 --> 00:31:17,320 Speaker 2: some heft, have some value to it to make it, 627 00:31:17,360 --> 00:31:19,360 Speaker 2: you know, like giving up the pick for a one 628 00:31:19,400 --> 00:31:23,080 Speaker 2: year deal doesn't make any sense. So it is interesting. 629 00:31:23,120 --> 00:31:26,840 Speaker 2: I do think, you know, we've talked about Brad Keller 630 00:31:27,120 --> 00:31:29,840 Speaker 2: with the Cubs, who could be converted, could also be 631 00:31:29,880 --> 00:31:34,000 Speaker 2: a reliever, starter hybrid. I kind of love having those 632 00:31:34,040 --> 00:31:37,200 Speaker 2: on the roster because of the versatility. I could be 633 00:31:37,240 --> 00:31:39,480 Speaker 2: talked into a lot. I would just much rather have 634 00:31:39,520 --> 00:31:41,800 Speaker 2: a shortstop, if I'm being honest, But I don't know 635 00:31:41,840 --> 00:31:43,560 Speaker 2: there might just not be a one avail. I don't know. 636 00:31:43,640 --> 00:31:46,000 Speaker 2: I don't know what Kim's gonna get. I have not 637 00:31:46,080 --> 00:31:49,560 Speaker 2: heard a single peep about Kim's market other than Scott 638 00:31:49,600 --> 00:31:52,560 Speaker 2: Boris saying a lot of teams have called, which who 639 00:31:52,560 --> 00:31:54,640 Speaker 2: the hell knows what that means. It might it might 640 00:31:54,680 --> 00:31:56,880 Speaker 2: mean no teams have called for all we know so 641 00:31:57,520 --> 00:32:00,560 Speaker 2: but I think it's gonna take forever. So I would 642 00:32:00,560 --> 00:32:03,120 Speaker 2: love a shortstop. I would love this roster so much more. 643 00:32:03,160 --> 00:32:05,440 Speaker 2: Of Debond was the super utility like first go off 644 00:32:05,480 --> 00:32:09,920 Speaker 2: the bench. Maybe they are I guess there's a world 645 00:32:09,920 --> 00:32:12,120 Speaker 2: where they don't add a starter. Maybe they are super 646 00:32:12,280 --> 00:32:16,000 Speaker 2: confident in homes and Lopez. I do not recommend that. 647 00:32:16,040 --> 00:32:19,320 Speaker 2: I would really hope they would add a starter. We'll see, 648 00:32:19,400 --> 00:32:21,800 Speaker 2: but I would prefer I really want to starting. I 649 00:32:21,840 --> 00:32:24,160 Speaker 2: want to starting caliber shortstop, even if it's not Cory 650 00:32:24,240 --> 00:32:28,040 Speaker 2: Seeger Go find somebody in the trademarket, go you know, 651 00:32:28,080 --> 00:32:30,000 Speaker 2: maybe the maybe the Rockies will talk to you about 652 00:32:30,000 --> 00:32:32,040 Speaker 2: Tovar or something like. Go find try to go find 653 00:32:32,040 --> 00:32:34,400 Speaker 2: a short I would love to get this black hole 654 00:32:34,440 --> 00:32:36,320 Speaker 2: at Shortstop filled at some point. 655 00:32:37,280 --> 00:32:40,840 Speaker 1: Oh absolutely, I mean, it's been dark days since the 656 00:32:41,600 --> 00:32:44,000 Speaker 1: All Star Game when Orlando Orcia was an All Star 657 00:32:44,040 --> 00:32:46,280 Speaker 1: and ever since it has been just a never ending 658 00:32:46,280 --> 00:32:50,480 Speaker 1: decline at the position. You know, we the million dollar 659 00:32:50,600 --> 00:32:52,600 Speaker 1: question is we don't know how much money the Braves 660 00:32:52,600 --> 00:32:56,080 Speaker 1: have left to spend. Yeah, and if it's fifteen to 661 00:32:56,080 --> 00:32:58,760 Speaker 1: twenty million, and that's just a total guess, then maybe 662 00:32:58,960 --> 00:33:01,400 Speaker 1: Alex sits there and goes, you know what, we can 663 00:33:01,440 --> 00:33:03,560 Speaker 1: add one more player. Do we want it to be 664 00:33:03,960 --> 00:33:07,040 Speaker 1: Hasan Kim or do we want it to be Merrill Kelly, 665 00:33:07,200 --> 00:33:09,280 Speaker 1: because you're probably not getting one of the elite starting 666 00:33:09,320 --> 00:33:12,960 Speaker 1: pitchers for fifteen to twenty million dollars, or maybe they 667 00:33:13,000 --> 00:33:16,000 Speaker 1: have thirty to forty million dollars left to spend, and 668 00:33:16,040 --> 00:33:17,880 Speaker 1: it's okay, we can get one of each. We can 669 00:33:17,880 --> 00:33:20,680 Speaker 1: get a shortstop if the right one presents itself, and 670 00:33:20,760 --> 00:33:22,520 Speaker 1: we can go get a starting pitcher and try to 671 00:33:22,560 --> 00:33:24,720 Speaker 1: figure out the budget that way of who makes the 672 00:33:24,720 --> 00:33:27,960 Speaker 1: most sense in terms of highest impact per dollars spent. 673 00:33:28,640 --> 00:33:30,160 Speaker 1: And yeah, I mean I said it with Brad the 674 00:33:30,240 --> 00:33:34,440 Speaker 1: other day. I am not trying to give away this 675 00:33:34,560 --> 00:33:37,600 Speaker 1: extra draft pick. The Braves won with Drake Baldwin winning 676 00:33:37,680 --> 00:33:41,000 Speaker 1: Rookie of the Year, but if they do, if they 677 00:33:41,080 --> 00:33:42,880 Speaker 1: go out and sign a big time free agent, I 678 00:33:42,920 --> 00:33:45,520 Speaker 1: am not losing sleep over the twenty sixth pick in 679 00:33:45,560 --> 00:33:46,080 Speaker 1: the draft. 680 00:33:46,480 --> 00:33:47,520 Speaker 2: Go look, I look this. 681 00:33:47,560 --> 00:33:50,040 Speaker 1: Up historically, or I looked this up the other day 682 00:33:50,040 --> 00:33:53,200 Speaker 1: that historically the number twenty six player in the draft 683 00:33:53,480 --> 00:33:56,200 Speaker 1: over the last like twelve years, I think the best 684 00:33:56,200 --> 00:33:59,480 Speaker 1: player who was taken was Taylor Ward, who was like 685 00:34:00,080 --> 00:34:03,120 Speaker 1: a pretty decent outfielder, was with the Angels, just got 686 00:34:03,120 --> 00:34:06,360 Speaker 1: traded to Baltimore. But Taylor Ward, Guys, this is not 687 00:34:06,760 --> 00:34:08,759 Speaker 1: I mean, sure, maybe you find the next Aaron Judge 688 00:34:08,800 --> 00:34:10,839 Speaker 1: with the twenty sixth pick, or you find a guy 689 00:34:10,840 --> 00:34:14,000 Speaker 1: who never even makes the major leagues. Again, I'm not 690 00:34:14,040 --> 00:34:16,040 Speaker 1: looking to just give this pick away. I'm not giving 691 00:34:16,080 --> 00:34:18,880 Speaker 1: it away for a one year Zach Gallon deal. Yeah, 692 00:34:18,960 --> 00:34:21,480 Speaker 1: But I'm also it's it is a free pick. The 693 00:34:21,480 --> 00:34:23,719 Speaker 1: Braves kind of have. It is a joker card in 694 00:34:23,760 --> 00:34:25,359 Speaker 1: their hand, and they can figure out what they want 695 00:34:25,400 --> 00:34:25,560 Speaker 1: to do. 696 00:34:26,719 --> 00:34:29,480 Speaker 2: And they also have the trade market. They don't have 697 00:34:29,560 --> 00:34:33,160 Speaker 2: to sign a free agent to add as starter. We've 698 00:34:33,200 --> 00:34:35,920 Speaker 2: heard of plenty of starters who could potentially be traded. 699 00:34:36,160 --> 00:34:39,480 Speaker 2: Lit's send if the Rangers. If the Rangers are serious 700 00:34:39,480 --> 00:34:41,919 Speaker 2: about cutting money, like Nathan Ney Ivoldie is still out there, 701 00:34:41,920 --> 00:34:45,160 Speaker 2: Like there's names in the market where you don't have 702 00:34:45,160 --> 00:34:46,719 Speaker 2: to give up the pick at all, you'd have to 703 00:34:46,719 --> 00:34:50,239 Speaker 2: give up prospects probably, So it's all, it's all, it's 704 00:34:50,239 --> 00:34:53,400 Speaker 2: all an equation. And you mentioned Perols, So I do 705 00:34:53,480 --> 00:34:59,799 Speaker 2: want to mention the Braves after the so after the Yastremsky, 706 00:35:00,400 --> 00:35:04,560 Speaker 2: after the Suarez signing. The Braves already have more cash 707 00:35:04,600 --> 00:35:06,880 Speaker 2: payroll committed to the twenty twenty six team than they 708 00:35:06,880 --> 00:35:09,319 Speaker 2: did at any point in twenty twenty five. And we're 709 00:35:09,320 --> 00:35:12,320 Speaker 2: at what like December tenth or whatever today December eleventh, 710 00:35:12,719 --> 00:35:15,959 Speaker 2: So you know, they're at like two hundred and thirty 711 00:35:16,000 --> 00:35:18,640 Speaker 2: million right now in terms of cash payroll depending on 712 00:35:18,680 --> 00:35:21,279 Speaker 2: how many like league minimum guys that have on the 713 00:35:21,360 --> 00:35:25,600 Speaker 2: roster to fill off the roster. So they're they're getting 714 00:35:25,680 --> 00:35:29,520 Speaker 2: up there. Now, that's not that's not luxury payroll, that's 715 00:35:29,560 --> 00:35:32,120 Speaker 2: not AAVs, So that's a little more complicated. We'll probably 716 00:35:32,160 --> 00:35:34,239 Speaker 2: dedicate a show to that at some point, just just 717 00:35:34,640 --> 00:35:36,160 Speaker 2: because the Braves are kind of creeping up on the 718 00:35:36,200 --> 00:35:38,160 Speaker 2: luxury tax is the reason that we're probably gonna need 719 00:35:38,200 --> 00:35:41,800 Speaker 2: to talk about this at some point. But yeah, cash payrol, 720 00:35:41,800 --> 00:35:43,920 Speaker 2: they're already above where they were last year. So, like 721 00:35:43,960 --> 00:35:46,920 Speaker 2: you said, the thing we don't know. The thing we 722 00:35:46,960 --> 00:35:49,960 Speaker 2: can't know is how much they have to spend. And 723 00:35:50,520 --> 00:35:53,479 Speaker 2: you know, getting on here and talking about and trying 724 00:35:53,480 --> 00:35:55,799 Speaker 2: to judge these deals would be so much easier if 725 00:35:55,800 --> 00:36:00,440 Speaker 2: we knew, like you know, Mike Kyushimsky is eight percent 726 00:36:00,520 --> 00:36:02,840 Speaker 2: of the payroll, Like, if we had that number, it 727 00:36:02,840 --> 00:36:05,200 Speaker 2: would be so much easier. So we just don't. We 728 00:36:05,200 --> 00:36:07,080 Speaker 2: don't know how much they're gonna spend. So I have 729 00:36:07,120 --> 00:36:10,920 Speaker 2: no idea how much this Robert Schurez contract, how much 730 00:36:11,000 --> 00:36:14,200 Speaker 2: of the war chest that just took up. If I did, 731 00:36:14,280 --> 00:36:15,680 Speaker 2: we would have a bit, you know, we'd be able 732 00:36:15,680 --> 00:36:17,279 Speaker 2: to talk about it a little easier. So we just 733 00:36:17,280 --> 00:36:20,279 Speaker 2: have to guess. But right now they've spent more than 734 00:36:20,320 --> 00:36:23,360 Speaker 2: they did at any point last year, which that's already 735 00:36:23,400 --> 00:36:25,680 Speaker 2: a hell of him improven off last offseason or where 736 00:36:25,719 --> 00:36:27,920 Speaker 2: we had just set around and waited and waited and 737 00:36:27,920 --> 00:36:30,200 Speaker 2: waited and waited and waited. Yeah, one damn move. The 738 00:36:30,239 --> 00:36:33,200 Speaker 2: whole off season already substantially better than that. 739 00:36:33,560 --> 00:36:37,560 Speaker 1: Yep. And I would say this, and we we closed 740 00:36:37,600 --> 00:36:40,520 Speaker 1: the Mike Yashchremsky Emergency Show with this, and we'll close 741 00:36:40,520 --> 00:36:44,000 Speaker 1: out this show as well. Keep going, Braves, keep going, 742 00:36:44,120 --> 00:36:46,920 Speaker 1: Like the first month of the off season has been great. 743 00:36:47,400 --> 00:36:52,120 Speaker 1: Two lights out relievers, a really good hitting platoon outfielder, 744 00:36:52,520 --> 00:36:54,160 Speaker 1: and a gold Glove utility man. 745 00:36:55,120 --> 00:36:55,560 Speaker 2: Keep going. 746 00:36:55,600 --> 00:36:57,319 Speaker 1: I like all those moves in a bucket. I like 747 00:36:57,400 --> 00:37:01,400 Speaker 1: those moves. Yeah, but but keep going. Go go get 748 00:37:01,440 --> 00:37:05,719 Speaker 1: a ideally, go get a starting shortstop, and go get 749 00:37:05,920 --> 00:37:08,760 Speaker 1: some kind of starting pitcher. And if it's not Frambervellez 750 00:37:08,880 --> 00:37:11,440 Speaker 1: or Ranger Swarez, I'm not gonna come on here and 751 00:37:11,520 --> 00:37:13,800 Speaker 1: yell about it, because I get it, like the Braves 752 00:37:13,800 --> 00:37:17,400 Speaker 1: do not. Unfortunately, have just completely unlimited money, and giving 753 00:37:17,480 --> 00:37:20,760 Speaker 1: twenty five million dollars to starting pitchers for seven years 754 00:37:20,800 --> 00:37:23,240 Speaker 1: is kind of terrifying. But some kind of a starting 755 00:37:23,280 --> 00:37:26,040 Speaker 1: pitcher and some kind of a shortstop and this would 756 00:37:26,040 --> 00:37:27,719 Speaker 1: be like an a plus offseason for me. 757 00:37:27,800 --> 00:37:32,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, I would feel great at any level. Any anybody 758 00:37:32,680 --> 00:37:35,120 Speaker 2: that I can clearly say that is a starting shortstop, 759 00:37:35,560 --> 00:37:37,360 Speaker 2: I'm not gonna go through the names, but anybody I 760 00:37:37,360 --> 00:37:39,920 Speaker 2: could say that is a starting shortstop, I'd feel great about. 761 00:37:40,480 --> 00:37:44,520 Speaker 2: And yeah, starting just some sort of mid rotation, durable starter. 762 00:37:45,000 --> 00:37:48,000 Speaker 2: There's dozens of them out there, trademarket, frieedge market, any 763 00:37:48,040 --> 00:37:50,840 Speaker 2: of those guys. And yeah, this is already a fantastic 764 00:37:50,840 --> 00:37:54,920 Speaker 2: off season. So an exciting day for the Atlanta Braves. 765 00:37:55,440 --> 00:37:59,120 Speaker 1: Robert Swarez your new eighth inning man, maybe ninth inning 766 00:37:59,200 --> 00:38:02,240 Speaker 1: man for the next couple of seasons, on a contract 767 00:38:02,320 --> 00:38:04,320 Speaker 1: that was right in line with projections, with what a 768 00:38:04,360 --> 00:38:07,160 Speaker 1: lot of people thought. It was going to be an 769 00:38:07,200 --> 00:38:09,719 Speaker 1: exciting time for the Braves. And overall this has been 770 00:38:09,800 --> 00:38:13,239 Speaker 1: a much more enjoyable offseason. Not hard to do after 771 00:38:13,280 --> 00:38:16,320 Speaker 1: the misery we sat through last winter, but a really 772 00:38:16,440 --> 00:38:18,600 Speaker 1: enjoyable first month of the offseason, at least for me. 773 00:38:18,680 --> 00:38:21,560 Speaker 1: I think you feel the same, Stephen. And now let's 774 00:38:21,560 --> 00:38:24,600 Speaker 1: finish this thing off, like, finish the job, go all 775 00:38:24,640 --> 00:38:27,560 Speaker 1: the way, no half measures, go out at a short stop, 776 00:38:27,640 --> 00:38:30,680 Speaker 1: at a starting pitcher, maybe had one more reliever if 777 00:38:30,719 --> 00:38:33,160 Speaker 1: you have the funds to do it, and let's go, 778 00:38:33,239 --> 00:38:35,240 Speaker 1: man like, let's get back to the playoffs. The Braves 779 00:38:35,239 --> 00:38:39,960 Speaker 1: have won two e fing playoff games since they won 780 00:38:40,000 --> 00:38:40,720 Speaker 1: the World Series. 781 00:38:40,920 --> 00:38:42,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, let's go. 782 00:38:42,600 --> 00:38:45,319 Speaker 1: Let's get us winning where we want them to be. 783 00:38:45,560 --> 00:38:47,759 Speaker 2: This is your core, Like this is your core is 784 00:38:47,760 --> 00:38:51,080 Speaker 2: not getting younger like Olson is in his thirty almost 785 00:38:51,080 --> 00:38:54,200 Speaker 2: in his thirties, Acunya's twenty seven or twenty eight, Riley's 786 00:38:54,360 --> 00:38:58,080 Speaker 2: twenty seven or twenty eight, like this, fuck, you built 787 00:38:58,080 --> 00:39:02,520 Speaker 2: this core to win now, Go win now, Like there's 788 00:39:02,520 --> 00:39:04,680 Speaker 2: not a single prospect in the Brave system that is 789 00:39:04,800 --> 00:39:08,400 Speaker 2: untradable that you should be like afraid to move to 790 00:39:08,719 --> 00:39:11,560 Speaker 2: try to go you know, like the next three or 791 00:39:11,600 --> 00:39:14,120 Speaker 2: four years, you should be balls to the wall to 792 00:39:14,200 --> 00:39:16,239 Speaker 2: try to go win another World Series. This is what 793 00:39:16,880 --> 00:39:19,640 Speaker 2: you signed all these like team friendly contracts of this 794 00:39:19,800 --> 00:39:22,440 Speaker 2: core so you could do this, so you could just 795 00:39:22,480 --> 00:39:24,640 Speaker 2: go go for it for like a five year stretch. 796 00:39:25,040 --> 00:39:27,440 Speaker 2: We'll go for it. We got a five year stretch 797 00:39:27,800 --> 00:39:30,040 Speaker 2: where everybody on the team, all the important players are 798 00:39:30,080 --> 00:39:33,640 Speaker 2: still productive. Let's go, let's keep going. 799 00:39:35,239 --> 00:39:37,719 Speaker 1: Yes, indeed, so that is going to do it for 800 00:39:37,760 --> 00:39:42,000 Speaker 1: this emergency edition of the Hammer Territory Podcast. As always, 801 00:39:42,000 --> 00:39:44,360 Speaker 1: a big thank you to everybody for tuning in on 802 00:39:44,520 --> 00:39:48,279 Speaker 1: the audio podcast side as well as on YouTube, and 803 00:39:48,360 --> 00:39:50,200 Speaker 1: we'll do our plea. If you're new to the show, 804 00:39:50,280 --> 00:39:53,440 Speaker 1: please hit the subscribe button, follow the show, like the 805 00:39:53,480 --> 00:39:55,880 Speaker 1: show whatever it is you need to do so whenever 806 00:39:55,920 --> 00:39:58,439 Speaker 1: we do more shows in the weeks to come, they'll 807 00:39:58,440 --> 00:40:01,480 Speaker 1: be in your feeds. And for our longtime listeners and viewers, 808 00:40:01,480 --> 00:40:06,000 Speaker 1: thank you as always for stopping by. He is Stephen Tolbert. 809 00:40:06,040 --> 00:40:08,840 Speaker 1: You can follow Steven on X slash Twitter at b 810 00:40:09,000 --> 00:40:12,760 Speaker 1: Underscore Outliers. I'm Scott Coleman. You can follow me on 811 00:40:13,000 --> 00:40:16,120 Speaker 1: Twitter slash X at Scott Coleman fifty five. We'll be 812 00:40:16,160 --> 00:40:18,680 Speaker 1: back with plenty more content for the Atlanta Braves throughout 813 00:40:18,719 --> 00:40:21,799 Speaker 1: the offseason. Until then, we will see everybody next time.