1 00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:08,680 Speaker 1: Welcome into Northside Territory Foul Territory Networks Cubs podcast. I'm 2 00:00:08,680 --> 00:00:11,360 Speaker 1: Sahadev Sharma with my partner Patrick Mooney. We are your 3 00:00:11,440 --> 00:00:15,440 Speaker 1: Cubs beat writers over at the Athletic Patrick some late 4 00:00:15,480 --> 00:00:18,680 Speaker 1: week recording due to me being sick all week. So 5 00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:22,639 Speaker 1: bear with me, listeners if I or if I lose 6 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:27,520 Speaker 1: my train at the nearly fully recovered, but hit me 7 00:00:27,560 --> 00:00:29,000 Speaker 1: in the middle of the week. I think all that 8 00:00:29,120 --> 00:00:32,080 Speaker 1: lack of sleep and then holiday parties, all that stuff 9 00:00:32,120 --> 00:00:37,040 Speaker 1: caught up to me and then getting hit with some 10 00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:39,040 Speaker 1: rough U with a rough flu here. 11 00:00:39,040 --> 00:00:41,600 Speaker 2: But I'm all good now and and ready to record. 12 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:44,280 Speaker 3: We gotta we gotta put you on some sort of 13 00:00:44,320 --> 00:00:48,000 Speaker 3: like load management program. We can't have you, you know, 14 00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:51,040 Speaker 3: work in the lobbies at the winter meetings all hours 15 00:00:51,040 --> 00:00:54,400 Speaker 3: of the night and then hit hitting the holiday party 16 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:57,639 Speaker 3: circuit really hard. You know, right, You're not, Yeah, you're 17 00:00:57,680 --> 00:00:59,680 Speaker 3: not as young as you once were. 18 00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:01,000 Speaker 2: You know, No, I am not. 19 00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:06,840 Speaker 1: I think it caught up to me, all right, So 20 00:01:07,480 --> 00:01:09,920 Speaker 1: let's get let's get to the news here, and the 21 00:01:09,959 --> 00:01:14,040 Speaker 1: news recently broke. I'm losing track of days, so I 22 00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:16,760 Speaker 1: believe this broke Thursday night? Is that when the Michael 23 00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:20,880 Speaker 1: King News broke Michael King to the Padres. The Cubs 24 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:25,520 Speaker 1: were interested in King early on. I don't think they 25 00:01:25,560 --> 00:01:27,759 Speaker 1: ever got deep in the weeds with him. I think 26 00:01:27,959 --> 00:01:31,240 Speaker 1: you and I believed early on they would. It never 27 00:01:31,319 --> 00:01:34,279 Speaker 1: seemed like things got too crazy there with the Cubs 28 00:01:34,280 --> 00:01:38,480 Speaker 1: and Michael King ultimately signs what I believe is a 29 00:01:38,480 --> 00:01:42,280 Speaker 1: three year, seventy five million dollar deal with opt outs 30 00:01:42,319 --> 00:01:45,039 Speaker 1: after each year. Kind of complicated with the money if 31 00:01:45,080 --> 00:01:46,760 Speaker 1: you want to break it down year by year, but 32 00:01:46,920 --> 00:01:51,280 Speaker 1: that's that's the general breakdown of it. And you know, 33 00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:54,520 Speaker 1: good deal for Michael King, good deal for the Padres. 34 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:57,000 Speaker 1: I think I don't think that's the type of deal 35 00:01:57,040 --> 00:02:00,640 Speaker 1: the Cubs could make work with Michael King, based on 36 00:02:00,680 --> 00:02:02,800 Speaker 1: the fact that they had to give up a draft 37 00:02:02,800 --> 00:02:07,800 Speaker 1: pick in international money to sign him. Type of picture 38 00:02:07,840 --> 00:02:11,720 Speaker 1: I think the Cubs could use, but just not the 39 00:02:11,720 --> 00:02:13,320 Speaker 1: type of deal that makes sense for them. 40 00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:18,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, we confirmed early on in the process, so the 41 00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:22,399 Speaker 3: Cubs had interested in Michael King. We explained why. It's 42 00:02:22,440 --> 00:02:25,399 Speaker 3: a lot of the same attributes that led them towards 43 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:30,560 Speaker 3: Showday Managa, Matthew Boyd, Jamison ty Own. I mean, this 44 00:02:30,600 --> 00:02:38,959 Speaker 3: is an area where they've been really effective at. But yeah, 45 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:42,680 Speaker 3: when you look look back at how the Cubs have 46 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:47,240 Speaker 3: responded to these sorts of deals, they do not like 47 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:50,560 Speaker 3: the one year opt out when you're paying a qualifying 48 00:02:50,639 --> 00:02:52,440 Speaker 3: offer guy and giving up the draft pick in the 49 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:56,720 Speaker 3: international pool. Like I'm assuming that would have been a 50 00:02:56,840 --> 00:02:59,960 Speaker 3: major sticking point for them. But we had already heard, 51 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:04,280 Speaker 3: like kind of leading into the winter meetings that Cubs 52 00:03:04,280 --> 00:03:10,280 Speaker 3: are interested, but not putting on the full court press. 53 00:03:10,680 --> 00:03:15,520 Speaker 3: Just recently in recent days, I had heard that it 54 00:03:15,600 --> 00:03:18,320 Speaker 3: was yeah, interest early on, but this sense that they 55 00:03:18,320 --> 00:03:22,680 Speaker 3: weren't going to be all that competitive in the end. 56 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:26,919 Speaker 3: There also reports out there that you know, he's an 57 00:03:26,919 --> 00:03:30,000 Speaker 3: East Coast guy and may prefer that you know, he 58 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:32,639 Speaker 3: spend a lot of time in New England growing up, 59 00:03:32,720 --> 00:03:36,800 Speaker 3: in college, high school, he had pitched in New York already, 60 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:40,160 Speaker 3: and then I don't know. This is kind of like 61 00:03:40,200 --> 00:03:44,000 Speaker 3: a handy guide for listeners and readers, Like the Padres 62 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:47,080 Speaker 3: are doing something it's almost the exact opposite of what 63 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:47,840 Speaker 3: the Cubs. 64 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:48,640 Speaker 2: Are wanting to do. 65 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:52,160 Speaker 3: Like I'm reading our buddies Ken roses All and Dennis 66 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:57,680 Speaker 3: Lynn of just like twelve millions signing bonus five million 67 00:03:58,360 --> 00:04:01,600 Speaker 3: salary for twenty twenty six, twenty eight million dollars player 68 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:05,680 Speaker 3: option for twenty seven, or five million buyout, thirty million 69 00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:10,040 Speaker 3: player option for twenty twenty eight. Like it's a little 70 00:04:10,040 --> 00:04:11,920 Speaker 3: different for the Padres if you know they were the 71 00:04:11,920 --> 00:04:14,200 Speaker 3: ones who made the qualifying offer. Maybe it's a little 72 00:04:14,200 --> 00:04:19,000 Speaker 3: different in terms of the draft pick calculus. But you know, 73 00:04:19,160 --> 00:04:22,039 Speaker 3: the Cubs didn't want to give Alex Bregman a one 74 00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:26,039 Speaker 3: year an opt out after year one, among many other 75 00:04:26,080 --> 00:04:28,719 Speaker 3: issues to getting that deal across the finish line in 76 00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:32,440 Speaker 3: spring training. And yeah, very good deal for Michael King. 77 00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:36,680 Speaker 3: I mean he you know, in reading the story on 78 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:38,840 Speaker 3: the Athletic the new story, it's like this guy who 79 00:04:39,360 --> 00:04:46,720 Speaker 3: had two separate injury issues, made only fifteen starts, does 80 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:49,200 Speaker 3: not have a super long track record as a major 81 00:04:49,279 --> 00:04:52,279 Speaker 3: league starting pitcher. And to get seventy five million dollars 82 00:04:52,320 --> 00:04:57,400 Speaker 3: guaranteed and multiple opt outs in case he does finish 83 00:04:57,760 --> 00:05:00,839 Speaker 3: in the Cy Young War voting, again, good for him. 84 00:05:01,680 --> 00:05:05,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, there's it was always like an upside play and 85 00:05:05,560 --> 00:05:08,560 Speaker 1: a belief that you could keep him healthy. 86 00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:11,200 Speaker 2: Right. I think the Cubs were competent. 87 00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:15,960 Speaker 1: We brought up Michael Soroka early on in this process 88 00:05:16,040 --> 00:05:19,440 Speaker 1: because look, I know, Michael Soroka didn't pitch well with 89 00:05:19,520 --> 00:05:23,839 Speaker 1: the Cubs. He didn't look great. But the process to 90 00:05:23,920 --> 00:05:28,200 Speaker 1: getting Michael Soroka healthy, they they were really happy with that. 91 00:05:28,880 --> 00:05:33,279 Speaker 1: They were they thought they they identified who this is 92 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:35,520 Speaker 1: who he is, this is the guy when you're at 93 00:05:35,520 --> 00:05:37,720 Speaker 1: your best, this is how you look, this is how 94 00:05:37,760 --> 00:05:40,920 Speaker 1: we get you healthy, throwing ninety five plus again, blah 95 00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:43,680 Speaker 1: blah blah. And they followed that and they got him there. 96 00:05:43,680 --> 00:05:46,480 Speaker 1: He was feeling good, he was throwing hard. He got 97 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:49,440 Speaker 1: a pretty solid deal for a guy that had a 98 00:05:49,480 --> 00:05:54,560 Speaker 1: pretty rough season of numbers wise, Soroka did. And and 99 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:58,480 Speaker 1: I think you know, they believed they could do something 100 00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:01,520 Speaker 1: similar with Michael King. Your best self, here's how we 101 00:06:01,600 --> 00:06:04,040 Speaker 1: get you, keep you healthy, here's how we get you 102 00:06:04,080 --> 00:06:07,760 Speaker 1: to being that best self. If they if they have 103 00:06:07,839 --> 00:06:10,760 Speaker 1: like kind of proof of concept with Soroka, I think 104 00:06:10,839 --> 00:06:13,479 Speaker 1: that's a that's something to cling to and and hope 105 00:06:13,520 --> 00:06:17,760 Speaker 1: you can apply in different ways to different players. Obviously 106 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:20,120 Speaker 1: it's not gonna it's not gonna happen with Michael King 107 00:06:20,160 --> 00:06:23,640 Speaker 1: in them, uh, but it was one little wrinkle that 108 00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:27,160 Speaker 1: I thought was interesting and I thought was valuable for 109 00:06:27,279 --> 00:06:29,800 Speaker 1: them to have this in their back pocket. We'll see 110 00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:31,440 Speaker 1: if they can apply it to others, if there are 111 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:34,320 Speaker 1: other pictures who have been hurt in the pastor or 112 00:06:34,360 --> 00:06:38,440 Speaker 1: whatever it may be, whoever they may acquire down the line. Uh, 113 00:06:38,839 --> 00:06:41,520 Speaker 1: it is a nice thing to have. Obviously, it wasn't 114 00:06:41,560 --> 00:06:45,560 Speaker 1: some devastating injury for Soroka. That's that's harder to do. 115 00:06:45,720 --> 00:06:49,400 Speaker 1: But if it's these nagging injuries that pop up, usually 116 00:06:49,440 --> 00:06:52,719 Speaker 1: delivery related, usually like the way you're throwing. If they 117 00:06:53,360 --> 00:06:56,120 Speaker 1: they're good enough now to kind of identify these things, 118 00:06:56,400 --> 00:06:58,400 Speaker 1: we'll see if it's something you can do over and 119 00:06:58,440 --> 00:07:00,599 Speaker 1: over again, If it's something you can replicate. 120 00:07:01,560 --> 00:07:03,920 Speaker 2: To do it once is impressive enough. 121 00:07:03,960 --> 00:07:06,080 Speaker 1: But like if you can keep doing this and get 122 00:07:06,160 --> 00:07:08,880 Speaker 1: a reputation for that, that's when it kind of takes off, right. 123 00:07:08,920 --> 00:07:14,280 Speaker 1: That's the Cubs built that reputation of kind of rehabbing 124 00:07:15,360 --> 00:07:19,320 Speaker 1: quality relief arms over the years, and that that was 125 00:07:19,720 --> 00:07:23,800 Speaker 1: that made them a semi destination for some of these 126 00:07:23,800 --> 00:07:27,280 Speaker 1: guys looking to come have a bounce back year and 127 00:07:27,320 --> 00:07:33,160 Speaker 1: go sign a bigger deal elsewhere. But you know, obviously 128 00:07:33,200 --> 00:07:35,960 Speaker 1: it's not going to happen with King, Why don't we 129 00:07:36,040 --> 00:07:38,520 Speaker 1: take a quick break, Patrick and then come back and 130 00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:42,000 Speaker 1: talk about some other options, and then just in general, 131 00:07:42,080 --> 00:07:43,760 Speaker 1: what the cubs have done so far. 132 00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:47,200 Speaker 4: For all the parents out there with teenagers like Krats, 133 00:07:47,320 --> 00:07:48,760 Speaker 4: we know life's a little crazy. 134 00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:53,080 Speaker 3: Yeah, cash App's here to not add to the craziness. 135 00:07:53,120 --> 00:07:54,480 Speaker 2: They're here to help, Yeah, Kratz. 136 00:07:54,520 --> 00:07:57,200 Speaker 4: Cash App is designed to meet teens aged thirteen to 137 00:07:57,240 --> 00:08:01,320 Speaker 4: seventeen where they are with intuitive educational tools available through 138 00:08:01,320 --> 00:08:04,440 Speaker 4: sponsorship by an eligible parent or guardian. 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The 154 00:08:50,559 --> 00:08:53,240 Speaker 1: Cubs have made it clear that pitching is their priority. 155 00:08:53,040 --> 00:08:55,280 Speaker 1: They need to go out and get a starting pitcher. 156 00:08:56,480 --> 00:08:59,760 Speaker 1: They're only you know, it's not like the cupboard is empty. 157 00:09:00,559 --> 00:09:00,679 Speaker 3: Uh. 158 00:09:01,480 --> 00:09:06,000 Speaker 1: Probably the two main names we'd focus on our Tatsuya. 159 00:09:05,440 --> 00:09:10,079 Speaker 2: Am I and and Zach Gallon. Uh. We don't know 160 00:09:10,120 --> 00:09:13,960 Speaker 2: what what type of picture am I will be in MLB. Uh. 161 00:09:14,320 --> 00:09:18,080 Speaker 2: Gallon's coming off a down season for him, but I. 162 00:09:18,120 --> 00:09:21,880 Speaker 1: Think both would be quality gets if you're if you're 163 00:09:21,920 --> 00:09:26,200 Speaker 1: the Cubs. Uh. There's also Ranger Suarez out there. I 164 00:09:26,240 --> 00:09:28,720 Speaker 1: don't think the Cubs are on him. They're looking for 165 00:09:28,760 --> 00:09:33,520 Speaker 1: more swing and miss. Uh. These are all uh Scott 166 00:09:33,559 --> 00:09:38,160 Speaker 1: Boris clients as well, So that kind of puts a 167 00:09:38,160 --> 00:09:40,679 Speaker 1: little snag in things. I guess or or you know, 168 00:09:41,559 --> 00:09:43,840 Speaker 1: Boris has to play his game as he tries to 169 00:09:44,559 --> 00:09:47,640 Speaker 1: as he tries to place find homes for his players. 170 00:09:48,280 --> 00:09:51,480 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think that's why you Michael King is a 171 00:09:51,559 --> 00:09:54,719 Speaker 3: nice picture with upside, but also comes with a lot 172 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:58,400 Speaker 3: of question marks And I don't I personally, don't think 173 00:09:58,400 --> 00:10:01,840 Speaker 3: there's huge separation amongst a lot of these pictures that 174 00:10:01,880 --> 00:10:06,319 Speaker 3: we've been talking about. Like obviously, you know Framber, who 175 00:10:06,320 --> 00:10:08,480 Speaker 3: we have not heard link to the Cubs, you know, 176 00:10:08,679 --> 00:10:13,480 Speaker 3: probably is the best resume. Obviously, Dylan Cees was kind 177 00:10:13,480 --> 00:10:18,120 Speaker 3: of exceptional in terms of his durability and his swinging stuff, 178 00:10:18,120 --> 00:10:21,720 Speaker 3: but you know, his track record is a little bit spotty, 179 00:10:21,880 --> 00:10:25,000 Speaker 3: you know here and there, and so this does not 180 00:10:25,160 --> 00:10:29,120 Speaker 3: feel like, you know, Alex Bregman third baseman was a 181 00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:32,439 Speaker 3: sort of like you know, very narrow specific fit for 182 00:10:32,480 --> 00:10:36,040 Speaker 3: the Cubs. There obviously are not a lot of third 183 00:10:36,040 --> 00:10:38,280 Speaker 3: basement out there. You can go back to when they 184 00:10:38,280 --> 00:10:42,760 Speaker 3: were on Matt Chapman as well, yet another Bors guy, 185 00:10:43,080 --> 00:10:49,079 Speaker 3: but there are still options, and you know M's posting 186 00:10:49,120 --> 00:10:55,000 Speaker 3: window closes January second. I don't know the exact sequencing 187 00:10:55,080 --> 00:11:00,400 Speaker 3: and strategy here, but if you're Zach Allen, maybe wait 188 00:11:00,679 --> 00:11:05,440 Speaker 3: until my signs. So there's a lot of crossover here, 189 00:11:05,440 --> 00:11:09,240 Speaker 3: and we've gotten some mixed signals on him. I like, 190 00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:14,920 Speaker 3: I know it's alluring. The Cubs have a good traffic 191 00:11:14,960 --> 00:11:17,439 Speaker 3: record in Japan. Japanese pictures have had a ton of 192 00:11:17,520 --> 00:11:22,640 Speaker 3: success coming over here. I just think there's sort of 193 00:11:22,840 --> 00:11:27,320 Speaker 3: some uncertainty, a lack of clarity around is this guy 194 00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:30,679 Speaker 3: more of like an ace or is he more of 195 00:11:30,720 --> 00:11:35,680 Speaker 3: a back of the rotation starter, And he's probably somewhere 196 00:11:35,720 --> 00:11:39,959 Speaker 3: in the middle, And like, how do you price that? 197 00:11:40,160 --> 00:11:45,120 Speaker 3: He's got age going for him, He's got VLO that 198 00:11:45,720 --> 00:11:50,280 Speaker 3: can touch the upper nineties. The Cubs have an infrastructure 199 00:11:50,280 --> 00:11:53,720 Speaker 3: and a support system to help Japanese players succeed. So 200 00:11:53,760 --> 00:11:56,959 Speaker 3: I get why they've been length, they've been involved. They 201 00:11:57,280 --> 00:12:02,200 Speaker 3: have certainly, you know, been in the conversation with Scott 202 00:12:02,240 --> 00:12:07,120 Speaker 3: Boris about a lot of different guys. I'm just curious, like, 203 00:12:08,480 --> 00:12:10,800 Speaker 3: how is his market going to develop in terms of 204 00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:15,720 Speaker 3: other suitors, and whether or not the Cubs feel like 205 00:12:15,960 --> 00:12:20,200 Speaker 3: fully committed and convicted here to make you know, what 206 00:12:20,960 --> 00:12:24,360 Speaker 3: could be rather large investment. And just one final point 207 00:12:24,400 --> 00:12:25,679 Speaker 3: then I'll hand it over to his side. I like, 208 00:12:26,840 --> 00:12:29,000 Speaker 3: there were these rumors that showed him Monaga when he 209 00:12:29,040 --> 00:12:31,600 Speaker 3: first came over from Japan wanted a hundred million dollars. 210 00:12:31,640 --> 00:12:35,880 Speaker 3: His camp denied that. They you know, they said they're 211 00:12:35,920 --> 00:12:38,560 Speaker 3: very open minded. They didn't know where that came from. 212 00:12:38,840 --> 00:12:41,679 Speaker 3: That could have just been a perception thing. Of like 213 00:12:41,760 --> 00:12:45,880 Speaker 3: how kind of hot that market has become of these 214 00:12:45,920 --> 00:12:48,840 Speaker 3: players coming over from Japan. But at that point the 215 00:12:48,880 --> 00:12:51,559 Speaker 3: Cubs didn't really think they'd be involved. That didn't really 216 00:12:51,600 --> 00:12:54,680 Speaker 3: line up with their priorities or their evaluation of the player. 217 00:12:54,720 --> 00:12:56,200 Speaker 3: And then all of a sudden it got closer towards 218 00:12:56,240 --> 00:13:00,440 Speaker 3: the end of the posting window and showed us hanging out, 219 00:13:00,600 --> 00:13:03,320 Speaker 3: you know, in Schomberg or wherever it was, and like 220 00:13:03,400 --> 00:13:07,840 Speaker 3: working out at Bo Jackson's Dome out bi O'Hare and 221 00:13:08,679 --> 00:13:11,840 Speaker 3: you know, going to you know, posing by the Michael 222 00:13:11,880 --> 00:13:14,680 Speaker 3: Jordan's statue, and I mean he went to a Hawks game. 223 00:13:15,520 --> 00:13:17,600 Speaker 3: I'd have to go check my notes. But the point is, 224 00:13:17,840 --> 00:13:19,240 Speaker 3: all of a sudden that sort of fell into their 225 00:13:19,280 --> 00:13:21,480 Speaker 3: laps in a way that maybe or on the winter 226 00:13:21,520 --> 00:13:23,840 Speaker 3: meetings didn't make sense. And we'll see kind of what 227 00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:27,400 Speaker 3: happens with the may here and whether or not they 228 00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:28,720 Speaker 3: line up in this case. 229 00:13:30,040 --> 00:13:34,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, and the questions on my are are legitimate. There's 230 00:13:34,960 --> 00:13:38,000 Speaker 1: people all across the game that are kind of wondering 231 00:13:38,040 --> 00:13:41,880 Speaker 1: what he will be. The fastball obviously has the velocity, 232 00:13:41,960 --> 00:13:44,920 Speaker 1: does it have the characteristics that work against major league hitters? 233 00:13:46,360 --> 00:13:50,760 Speaker 1: The breaking ball is incredibly unique, but it's not really 234 00:13:50,800 --> 00:13:54,280 Speaker 1: a normal slider. It's it almost moves like a change 235 00:13:54,320 --> 00:13:59,959 Speaker 1: up at times. And so does that really work against 236 00:14:00,679 --> 00:14:05,679 Speaker 1: certain hitters? You know, it's a it's just a arsenal 237 00:14:05,760 --> 00:14:10,480 Speaker 1: that they're not one hundred percent sure will justify the 238 00:14:10,520 --> 00:14:12,720 Speaker 1: price tag that, like you said, do we know for 239 00:14:12,840 --> 00:14:15,199 Speaker 1: certain this is what he's asking for. We don't know, 240 00:14:15,320 --> 00:14:17,440 Speaker 1: but that some of the numbers that have been thrown 241 00:14:17,480 --> 00:14:20,640 Speaker 1: out there, that makes him a little bit more uncomfortable going. 242 00:14:20,440 --> 00:14:21,240 Speaker 2: In that realm. 243 00:14:22,760 --> 00:14:26,480 Speaker 1: Obviously, if it's a if, if the price is lower, 244 00:14:26,640 --> 00:14:30,560 Speaker 1: then then suddenly, you know, team more teams are interested. 245 00:14:31,640 --> 00:14:34,520 Speaker 1: If the Cubs are are genuinely interested, my guess is 246 00:14:34,560 --> 00:14:37,400 Speaker 1: it would be at the at the not the you know, 247 00:14:37,440 --> 00:14:40,040 Speaker 1: one hundred and twenty, one hundred and fifty whatever that 248 00:14:40,040 --> 00:14:43,560 Speaker 1: that price tag may have been, the higher end of it. 249 00:14:43,560 --> 00:14:45,560 Speaker 1: It doesn't sound like the Cubs would be interested in that, 250 00:14:45,640 --> 00:14:47,880 Speaker 1: And you know, I think some of our listeners would 251 00:14:47,880 --> 00:14:51,120 Speaker 1: be like, of course the Cubs aren't interested at that level. Yeah, 252 00:14:51,160 --> 00:14:53,120 Speaker 1: that's a fair that's a fair way to look at it. 253 00:14:53,200 --> 00:14:58,880 Speaker 1: But they certainly need pitching, and I think they they 254 00:14:59,160 --> 00:15:02,240 Speaker 1: like him. It's the they like him, They may not 255 00:15:02,480 --> 00:15:05,840 Speaker 1: love him when when the price gets to a certain point. 256 00:15:06,400 --> 00:15:09,440 Speaker 1: You mentioned the infrastructure. The infrastructure is there for for 257 00:15:09,560 --> 00:15:13,120 Speaker 1: Japanese players in general. But it's also like, I think, 258 00:15:13,920 --> 00:15:17,640 Speaker 1: you know, what do they believe they can do with him? 259 00:15:17,800 --> 00:15:18,080 Speaker 2: What? 260 00:15:18,080 --> 00:15:20,720 Speaker 1: What can they tease out of him? What can they adjust? 261 00:15:21,040 --> 00:15:23,960 Speaker 1: What can what can make him more effective? State side? 262 00:15:24,280 --> 00:15:28,640 Speaker 1: I don't think we have super clear answers on that yet, 263 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:32,400 Speaker 1: but if they acquire him, I guess we'll find out. 264 00:15:33,840 --> 00:15:37,440 Speaker 2: And Gallon, of course, I think I oddly honest, I think. 265 00:15:37,280 --> 00:15:39,880 Speaker 1: Gallen would be a really good get, like a guy 266 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:43,320 Speaker 1: coming off a down year that has the upside of 267 00:15:43,360 --> 00:15:45,600 Speaker 1: like a two. Maybe he's pitched like an A's I 268 00:15:45,600 --> 00:15:50,320 Speaker 1: think he's gotten cy Young votes before multiple years. Yeah, 269 00:15:50,640 --> 00:15:54,440 Speaker 1: he's a really really quality pitcher when he's right. The 270 00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:57,000 Speaker 1: question is what do the Cubs believe? What do teams believe? 271 00:15:57,120 --> 00:16:00,480 Speaker 1: Is he on the downside? It was last year a blip? Uh? 272 00:16:01,480 --> 00:16:03,400 Speaker 1: What can they do to get him right? Those are 273 00:16:03,400 --> 00:16:06,640 Speaker 1: all the questions that you have about him. I like 274 00:16:06,760 --> 00:16:09,240 Speaker 1: Gallon and I think some people have have put him 275 00:16:09,280 --> 00:16:14,720 Speaker 1: in like a the consolation prize bracket of this uh, 276 00:16:15,280 --> 00:16:18,040 Speaker 1: of this free agency sweepstakes, whatever you want to call it. 277 00:16:18,680 --> 00:16:20,800 Speaker 1: I think he's better than some people are giving him 278 00:16:20,800 --> 00:16:24,360 Speaker 1: credit for. He's it's just a quality picture that's that's 279 00:16:24,520 --> 00:16:27,080 Speaker 1: done a lot of really good things over the years. 280 00:16:27,120 --> 00:16:31,920 Speaker 1: And to assume that last year is the start of 281 00:16:31,920 --> 00:16:34,360 Speaker 1: a downfall, I mean, that's what the Cubs front office, 282 00:16:34,360 --> 00:16:36,480 Speaker 1: that's their job figure that out. You know, that's on 283 00:16:36,560 --> 00:16:40,000 Speaker 1: them to figure out. But I don't think it's fair 284 00:16:40,080 --> 00:16:43,360 Speaker 1: to assume one hundred percent that this guy's like not 285 00:16:43,520 --> 00:16:45,080 Speaker 1: as good of a picture as he once was. 286 00:16:46,360 --> 00:16:50,240 Speaker 3: Yeah, when when we've written about Gallen and linked him 287 00:16:50,520 --> 00:16:54,760 Speaker 3: to the Cubs, again, looking at social media is never 288 00:16:54,800 --> 00:16:58,040 Speaker 3: a good idea. But the general reactions have sort of 289 00:16:58,080 --> 00:17:01,560 Speaker 3: been like, like you said, consolation prize or like kind 290 00:17:01,560 --> 00:17:07,600 Speaker 3: of you know, online eye rolls to it. And I 291 00:17:07,600 --> 00:17:10,120 Speaker 3: I get he wasn't He didn't have a great year 292 00:17:10,160 --> 00:17:12,760 Speaker 3: last year. He was not traded at the deadline, the 293 00:17:12,800 --> 00:17:17,199 Speaker 3: Cubs did not extend themselves for him then. But I 294 00:17:17,280 --> 00:17:21,520 Speaker 3: just have a hard time squaring this sort of again 295 00:17:22,600 --> 00:17:26,480 Speaker 3: perceptions of kind of what I'm seeing, you know, on 296 00:17:26,960 --> 00:17:30,000 Speaker 3: X is like like, oh my god, you have to 297 00:17:30,040 --> 00:17:32,800 Speaker 3: get a my like he's going to be amazing for 298 00:17:32,840 --> 00:17:36,240 Speaker 3: like the next ten years, and then that like Zach 299 00:17:36,280 --> 00:17:40,600 Speaker 3: Gallon is totally cooked and you know he's yeah, like that, 300 00:17:40,640 --> 00:17:45,520 Speaker 3: he's at best a backup plan. And I think both 301 00:17:45,560 --> 00:17:47,960 Speaker 3: those guys could be pretty good next year. I think 302 00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:52,400 Speaker 3: both guys could be disappointments next year. And you're factoring 303 00:17:52,440 --> 00:17:59,040 Speaker 3: in you know, posting fee versus draft pick qualifying offer penalties. 304 00:18:00,440 --> 00:18:02,520 Speaker 3: You know, I think you got to go out and 305 00:18:02,560 --> 00:18:09,480 Speaker 3: get one more starting pitcher who's accomplished, who has upside, 306 00:18:09,520 --> 00:18:12,200 Speaker 3: And I don't think it's unreasonable to think that Zach 307 00:18:12,400 --> 00:18:16,440 Speaker 3: Gallon could be better than Michael King next year, could 308 00:18:16,440 --> 00:18:20,440 Speaker 3: be an All Star caliber pitcher and could be had 309 00:18:20,480 --> 00:18:24,480 Speaker 3: at a deal that Zach Gallon would not have expected 310 00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:27,719 Speaker 3: when he was you know, getting cy Young War votes 311 00:18:27,880 --> 00:18:30,320 Speaker 3: year after year. I think it's maybe three of the 312 00:18:30,400 --> 00:18:35,000 Speaker 3: previous five seasons something like that, Like guy pitched in 313 00:18:35,040 --> 00:18:38,840 Speaker 3: the World Series. And my only thing with Maya is like, 314 00:18:40,520 --> 00:18:46,080 Speaker 3: this is a team that's built to compete, that wants 315 00:18:46,119 --> 00:18:50,359 Speaker 3: to win now. And what if my has kind of 316 00:18:51,600 --> 00:18:55,800 Speaker 3: a reverse show to meaning like his first year's kind 317 00:18:55,800 --> 00:18:57,560 Speaker 3: of what the end of show to second year was 318 00:18:57,600 --> 00:18:59,720 Speaker 3: like showed a sort of spoiled everyone by just like 319 00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:05,080 Speaker 3: the ground running yeah, you know, really was just fantastic. 320 00:19:06,000 --> 00:19:08,680 Speaker 3: But we saw Withsaya Suzuki out there have been kind 321 00:19:08,720 --> 00:19:13,439 Speaker 3: of some some growing pains here, some assimilation issues, like 322 00:19:14,720 --> 00:19:18,919 Speaker 3: and it's probably unfair to like, you know, uh, you know, 323 00:19:18,960 --> 00:19:21,800 Speaker 3: compare them to that extent, but I would have concerns 324 00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:27,040 Speaker 3: if is am I ready to sort of handle the 325 00:19:27,080 --> 00:19:30,520 Speaker 3: load of a frontline starter for a playoff contender. I 326 00:19:30,520 --> 00:19:32,520 Speaker 3: think he can get there. I think that's certainly what 327 00:19:32,560 --> 00:19:39,280 Speaker 3: the evaluation will be eventually. But getting a guy who 328 00:19:39,280 --> 00:19:42,199 Speaker 3: pitched in the World Series before, who has kind of 329 00:19:42,200 --> 00:19:46,399 Speaker 3: carried a rotation for long stretches, I don't think. I 330 00:19:46,440 --> 00:19:48,160 Speaker 3: don't think that's a consolation prize. 331 00:19:49,040 --> 00:19:49,440 Speaker 2: Yeah. 332 00:19:49,480 --> 00:19:55,040 Speaker 1: Absolutely, one small move that the Cubs did make Tyler 333 00:19:55,119 --> 00:19:58,560 Speaker 1: Austen name some of you may be familiar with former 334 00:19:58,680 --> 00:20:02,080 Speaker 1: top prospect I believe with the Yankees, played with a 335 00:20:02,119 --> 00:20:05,200 Speaker 1: few teams in the big leagues before heading over to Japan, 336 00:20:05,320 --> 00:20:10,040 Speaker 1: where he's had some really strong seasons. Right handed bat, 337 00:20:10,560 --> 00:20:15,760 Speaker 1: first base, DH filds a bench role. I think this 338 00:20:15,840 --> 00:20:20,040 Speaker 1: is a perfectly fine move in the sense that you know, 339 00:20:20,480 --> 00:20:24,480 Speaker 1: it's justin Turner without the leadership for a quarter of 340 00:20:24,520 --> 00:20:28,760 Speaker 1: the price, and we'll see if he produces. Even when 341 00:20:28,800 --> 00:20:31,280 Speaker 1: he was here, when when he was stateside, he was 342 00:20:32,000 --> 00:20:35,400 Speaker 1: he hit lefties well, and that's probably probably gonna get 343 00:20:35,440 --> 00:20:37,440 Speaker 1: Like he's not even gonna get as many at bats 344 00:20:37,480 --> 00:20:40,280 Speaker 1: as Justin Turner did against righty's, would be my guess, 345 00:20:41,040 --> 00:20:44,200 Speaker 1: like it's going to be a very limited role assuming 346 00:20:44,240 --> 00:20:47,640 Speaker 1: he's you know, on the team the full season where 347 00:20:47,680 --> 00:20:51,000 Speaker 1: he gets a lot of at bats against lefties. If 348 00:20:51,040 --> 00:20:53,880 Speaker 1: he produces, and and you know, I think it's worth 349 00:20:53,880 --> 00:20:54,440 Speaker 1: the gamble. 350 00:20:55,600 --> 00:20:55,919 Speaker 2: It's a. 351 00:20:57,480 --> 00:20:59,800 Speaker 1: It's a it's probably the type of thing that sets 352 00:20:59,800 --> 00:21:02,000 Speaker 1: off the fan base when they haven't made the big 353 00:21:02,040 --> 00:21:02,520 Speaker 1: move yet. 354 00:21:04,119 --> 00:21:06,760 Speaker 3: Yeah, the timing is pretty funny of like the whole 355 00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:10,399 Speaker 3: baseball world waiting on, you know, a bunch of Japanese 356 00:21:10,400 --> 00:21:14,439 Speaker 3: stars feel what they're doing, and the Cub's son, you know, 357 00:21:14,720 --> 00:21:17,879 Speaker 3: a role player who hasn't played in the majors since 358 00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:23,159 Speaker 3: the end of the twenty nineteen season, but always I 359 00:21:23,200 --> 00:21:26,200 Speaker 3: do think the Cubs are going to have a hard 360 00:21:26,240 --> 00:21:30,320 Speaker 3: time attracting some of these reserve players of like upgrade 361 00:21:30,359 --> 00:21:32,400 Speaker 3: the bench. I was like, well, they don't play their 362 00:21:32,400 --> 00:21:38,919 Speaker 3: bench players. Yeah, and they had to do right finding 363 00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:42,280 Speaker 3: right handed hitters right now is pretty difficult. If you 364 00:21:42,320 --> 00:21:43,760 Speaker 3: look at the market, there's not a lot of great 365 00:21:43,760 --> 00:21:49,160 Speaker 3: options out there. I think Jed used the term because 366 00:21:49,200 --> 00:21:55,040 Speaker 3: we're unsustainably healthy on the position player side last season, 367 00:21:55,760 --> 00:21:58,760 Speaker 3: so they need to do some stuff there. And look, 368 00:21:58,760 --> 00:22:02,119 Speaker 3: if this is a guy who maybe figured out a 369 00:22:02,119 --> 00:22:05,680 Speaker 3: couple of things over in Japan and is very happy 370 00:22:05,920 --> 00:22:09,240 Speaker 3: and willing to take on a limited, part time role 371 00:22:09,400 --> 00:22:15,479 Speaker 3: and who has a specific set of skills he played 372 00:22:15,480 --> 00:22:19,960 Speaker 3: for counsel before. To quote our buddy mar Gonzalez, Milwaukee 373 00:22:20,040 --> 00:22:22,679 Speaker 3: wasn't built in a day, and so they got another 374 00:22:24,920 --> 00:22:28,960 Speaker 3: former brewer to throw in there. Like, yeah, I think 375 00:22:29,000 --> 00:22:31,399 Speaker 3: the goal the idea here is like he doesn't play 376 00:22:31,480 --> 00:22:35,280 Speaker 3: that much, but when he does, he can fill that 377 00:22:36,000 --> 00:22:38,400 Speaker 3: specific role. Maybe he gets hot the way he did, 378 00:22:39,160 --> 00:22:41,600 Speaker 3: you know, for stretches with the Yankees. 379 00:22:43,320 --> 00:22:44,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, we'll see what he can do. 380 00:22:44,920 --> 00:22:47,320 Speaker 1: I you know, I don't think it's like anything to 381 00:22:47,600 --> 00:22:49,879 Speaker 1: get up in arms about. We'll see the company to 382 00:22:49,880 --> 00:22:52,000 Speaker 1: make a lot more moves, but I think it's a nice, 383 00:22:52,359 --> 00:22:54,600 Speaker 1: nice small edition. You make a good point that, like 384 00:22:54,840 --> 00:22:56,480 Speaker 1: it's kind of hard to fill out a bench when 385 00:22:56,520 --> 00:23:00,840 Speaker 1: you have guys that play every day, and don't say. 386 00:23:01,240 --> 00:23:04,240 Speaker 3: Playing once a week and having your nights off at Wrigley, 387 00:23:04,240 --> 00:23:07,320 Speaker 3: I mean, what like you not a whole lot of 388 00:23:07,760 --> 00:23:12,000 Speaker 3: opportunity at the moment, and they still have these young 389 00:23:12,040 --> 00:23:15,120 Speaker 3: guys that they want to break into so exactly. 390 00:23:15,320 --> 00:23:18,320 Speaker 1: So we'll see what Tyler Austin does, We'll see what 391 00:23:18,320 --> 00:23:21,719 Speaker 1: the Cubs do, what they're going to need to do more. Obviously, 392 00:23:22,640 --> 00:23:26,080 Speaker 1: that's it for this episode of Northside Territory. Make sure 393 00:23:26,080 --> 00:23:28,720 Speaker 1: to rate, review, subscribe, subscribe to the YouTube channel, and 394 00:23:28,760 --> 00:23:30,960 Speaker 1: subscribe to The Athletic where Patrick and Aaron top of 395 00:23:30,960 --> 00:23:34,040 Speaker 1: all things Cubs. Thanks so much for listening, everyone, take it. 396 00:24:02,359 --> 00:24:03,800 Speaker 3: They go lived