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Speaker 1: Oh to the Hammer Territory Podcast. My name is Sean Coleman.

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Speaker 1: It's always a pleasure to be with you, and it's

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Speaker 1: especially a pleasure to be with my podcast partner, Steven Tolbert.

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Speaker 1: It's going to be a very fun episode here on

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Speaker 1: this edition of the Hammer Territory Podcast, part of the

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Speaker 1: Foul Territory family of podcasts. We are going to get

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Speaker 1: into some pretty notable names in free agency that the

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Speaker 1: Braves could target when it comes to position players, when

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Speaker 1: it comes to hitters, and I think that there are

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Speaker 1: going to be plenty of intriguing options that are going

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Speaker 1: to be out there for us to discuss. Steven, always

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Speaker 1: a pleasure to be with you. Ready to dive in

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Speaker 1: to this really exciting topic. How's everything going for you

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Speaker 1: on this holiday week?

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Speaker 2: Yeah? What's up? Shown It's always good to be on

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Speaker 2: with you, man. Yeah, Thanksgiving week. You know, we should

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Speaker 2: start getting some action. Quite honestly, I'm I'm surprised the

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Speaker 2: Braves haven't added. Obviously, they've made it. They've had a

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Speaker 2: They've made a lot of news so far, but most

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Speaker 2: of the most of it has been clearing money and subtracting.

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Speaker 2: I'm a little surprised they haven't added. Alex is usually

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Speaker 2: pretty aggresive in November, but it can still happen. You know,

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Speaker 2: baseball offices are still open technically for probably another couple

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Speaker 2: of days before they shut down for the holiday. But

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Speaker 2: but yeah, we've got some interesting names tonight. And if

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Speaker 2: you look at Alex's history, you know, trades versus free

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Speaker 2: agents typically prefers free agents just because obviously it's just

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Speaker 2: money you're giving up versus money and prospects. So that

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Speaker 2: does make sense, and you know, when you're looking at targets,

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Speaker 2: it's probably you know, it's probably more beneficial to go

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Speaker 2: over the free agent guys first than the trade guys,

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Speaker 2: just because it is easier. It's just easier to hand

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Speaker 2: out money versus handing out prospects. So yeah, we've got

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Speaker 2: some interesting names to go over tonight as to some

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Speaker 2: guys that could maybe be added to help this lineup.

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Speaker 1: Absolutely, and to your point, the Braves have been pretty

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Speaker 1: busy so far this offseason, but it's been more about

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Speaker 1: what they've been doing to clear payroll than it is

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Speaker 1: adding potential pieces, which is a start contrast from last year,

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Speaker 1: when the Braves seem more than willing to add on

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Speaker 1: money and fellow a member of Foul Territory, the great

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Speaker 1: Ken Rosenthal wrote about that for The Athletic Today also

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Speaker 1: discussed it on his show Fair Territory as well. You

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Speaker 1: know what to make of the Braves dealing so far

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Speaker 1: when it comes to this offseason, They clearly are looking

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Speaker 1: to save money wherever they can, and some may see

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Speaker 1: it as potentially cutting payroll, which if you want to

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Speaker 1: call it that, that's perfectly fine. Kin Rosenthal talked about it,

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Speaker 1: you know, he mentioned that perhaps the Braves may be

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Speaker 1: looking to miss the luxury tax this year after going

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Speaker 1: into it for two straight seasons. I think that that

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Speaker 1: has some logic to it. But I think in addition

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Speaker 1: to that, the other thing that stands out to me, Stephen,

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Speaker 1: is that one of the reasons why the Braves have

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Speaker 1: made some surprising moves to save money is because if

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Speaker 1: you compare where they are now with their off season

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Speaker 1: plans versus six weeks ago, two big things stand out.

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Speaker 1: Six weeks ago, the thought was that Spencer Strider and

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Speaker 1: Ronald Acunya Junior could be there at the start of

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Speaker 1: the season for the Braves. Now they're not. Six weeks ago.

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Speaker 1: Rice of Iglesias and who and Joejimenez were a strength

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Speaker 1: of this team. They were expected to be back as

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Speaker 1: the back bullpen. Joe himantentually is going to miss the

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Speaker 1: entire season. I get the idea of the lugs, you know,

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Speaker 1: being a reason why the Braves could be cutting payroll.

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Speaker 1: But I also think a big reason for this is

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Speaker 1: because the Braves now have more important needs to feel

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Speaker 1: than they thought that they had, and they have even

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Speaker 1: more needs in terms of quantity than they thought that

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Speaker 1: they had. I think that may be a contributing reason

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Speaker 1: as well as to why this Braves team is cutting

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Speaker 1: payroll in the anticipation they're going to have to make

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Speaker 1: many moves this all season.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, and I do think that's more. I think that's

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Speaker 2: more of the reason, quite honestly. You know, if you

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Speaker 2: just look at the numbers, you just look at the

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Speaker 2: Braves payroll right now, they're at about one hundred and

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Speaker 2: eighty million on guaranteed contracts. You know, once you add

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Speaker 2: in the pre arbitration and the arbitration guys, it jumps

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Speaker 2: up to about one hundred and ninety five million, one

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Speaker 2: to two hundred depending on how many pre ar guys

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Speaker 2: are on the team. Then you add in the player benefits,

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Speaker 2: it's always about seventeen million. I mean, you know, luxury

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Speaker 2: tax wise, the Braves are at about two hundred and

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Speaker 2: fifteen two hundred and seventeen million dollars depending on what

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Speaker 2: you look at. And the first tier of the luxury

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Speaker 2: tax is two forty one for twenty twenty five. So

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Speaker 2: you know, that means the Braves have about twenty five

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Speaker 2: million dollars to spend before they get to that first

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Speaker 2: luxury tax threshold, again depending on which one you look at.

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Speaker 2: And that's not a lot of money considering all the

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Speaker 2: things that Braves need to do. The Braves need a starter.

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Speaker 2: They probably need a pretty decent starter. They you know,

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Speaker 2: it's not just like a fifth starter. They probably need

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Speaker 2: a guy that's closer to a two, maybe a three.

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Speaker 2: You know, we talked about, you know, the Nathanivaldies of

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Speaker 2: the world, who were gonna command probably twenty million dollars

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Speaker 2: a year. And if you've only got twenty five million

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Speaker 2: to spend, then you know, that's pretty much your off season.

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Speaker 2: You're just gonna go bargain shopping the rest of the way.

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Speaker 2: And again I've said it before, I don't think the

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Speaker 2: Braves are doing that. I just I don't think getting

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Speaker 2: under the luxury tax is the primary goal here. I

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Speaker 2: think what you said is most important is that the

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Speaker 2: Braves just have needs, and they have needs at a

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Speaker 2: level that they weren't quite expecting. They don't they didn't.

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Speaker 2: They knew they were gonna have to go get bullpen,

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Speaker 2: but they probably weren't expecting to have to go get

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Speaker 2: a high leverage reliever that's probably gonna cost quite a

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Speaker 2: bit more. They knew they were gonna have to get

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Speaker 2: an outfielder, but they probably weren't expecting on having to

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Speaker 2: get such a high quality outfielder because of the year

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Speaker 2: Jared Kelnikat and because we know Acunya is not gonna

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Speaker 2: be around on opening day, might not be around for

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Speaker 2: you know, the first half, you know, the first quarter

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Speaker 2: of the season, and so now they need a really

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Speaker 2: good outfielder. You know, it's not just the needs, but

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Speaker 2: the quality of needs that they have and the amount

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Speaker 2: of money they're going to have to spend. I'm sure

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Speaker 2: they did not want to decline Travis Darnaut's option. They

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Speaker 2: love Travis Darnaut. They I mean, you listen to snit

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Speaker 2: talk about Travis darn No, it's like he's talk about

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Speaker 2: talk about a family member. But you know, needs popped

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Speaker 2: up and you gotta do what you gotta do. And

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Speaker 2: I really think it's more about that they just have

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Speaker 2: they have needs and they have money they're having to

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Speaker 2: spend that they weren't exactly expecting to have to spend,

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Speaker 2: and so they had to clear money first to do it.

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Speaker 2: And I think that's what this is. I don't I

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Speaker 2: said it on the last year. I don't think they're

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Speaker 2: I don't think they're lower and payroll. I don't think

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Speaker 2: they're just saving money just to save money. I think

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Speaker 2: all of all of these moves are onto something, which

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Speaker 2: is the next part of the off season where we

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Speaker 2: see how they build it back up, and that's you know,

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Speaker 2: those are the moves that we're waiting on. Yeah.

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Speaker 1: And the other thing to take away from Ken Rosendal's piece,

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Speaker 1: which was really in depth, you know, he gave a

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Speaker 1: lot of good you know thought into you know, what

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Speaker 1: to make of the Braves off season so far, because

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Speaker 1: it has been a bit different from what we've seen

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Speaker 1: the Braves do in recent off seasons. But the other

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Speaker 1: thing that stands out to me is that he mentioned

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Speaker 1: that the Braves are going to look to be aggressive

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Speaker 1: in the starting pitching market and potentially aggressive in the

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Speaker 1: relief pitching market. But that stands out to me to

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Speaker 1: say is this is that for the second straight off season,

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Speaker 1: the Braves really do feel that they are going to

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Speaker 1: have to add a significant arm. So if you're talking

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Speaker 1: about them potentially having thirty million right now to work

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Speaker 1: with that they want to stay under the luxury tax

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Speaker 1: and they've got those three big you need to add

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Speaker 1: significant start. He had a significant pin arm, and you

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Speaker 1: add a outfielder. The thing that stands out to me

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Speaker 1: is is that if they're going to be aggressive in

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Speaker 1: the starting pitch market, that's where the majority of their

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Speaker 1: money's going to go, like an Anthany Valdi or something

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Speaker 1: like that, which means that they're either going to try

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Speaker 1: to do go bargain hunting or do a BILO candidate

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Speaker 1: when it comes to a reliever or an outfielder before

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Speaker 1: we get into these hitters. I kind of want to

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Speaker 1: set that president. That's the thought that I had. What

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Speaker 1: are your thoughts, Steve? It it seems like that if

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Speaker 1: there's going to be a significant move, it once again

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Speaker 1: may be an arm by going to get a veteran

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Speaker 1: starter in the free agent market.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, if you were handicapping this, I mean, I yeah,

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Speaker 2: I would say it's most likely the Braves spend the

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Speaker 2: most of their you know, the highest portion of their

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Speaker 2: payroll left on a starting pitcher. I think that's probably

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Speaker 2: how I would handicap it. At the moment. I think

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Speaker 2: there's a better chance they go give Nathan Avaldi twenty

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Speaker 2: million dollars a year than any of these outfielders twenty

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Speaker 2: million dollars a year. I think there's a better chance

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Speaker 2: they go give you know, pick your kind of two

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Speaker 2: number three starter quite a fifteen to twenty million dollars

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Speaker 2: a year. Then you know Willie adamaz twenty five million

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Speaker 2: dollars a year. So yeah, if you're handicapping now, and

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Speaker 2: we're going to go over these hitters, because the Braves

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Speaker 2: do need an outfielder that's on the de eyeable. But

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Speaker 2: if you're asking me right now, where are they going

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Speaker 2: to spend the most of their money, you know, for

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Speaker 2: the winter, I think it's gonna be on a starting pitcher,

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Speaker 2: and then they're gonna have to spend another chunk of

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Speaker 2: money on a relief pitcher, unless they trade for somebody

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Speaker 2: who doesn't make a ton of money, which is always possible.

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Speaker 2: There are names out there, you know. We talked about

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Speaker 2: that with the Baal or Hellsley, guys who you know,

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Speaker 2: will cost you prospects but don't make a ton of money,

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Speaker 2: and maybe that's the way you squeeze something in. But

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Speaker 2: but yeah, I would agree with that where we sit now,

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Speaker 2: and pitching is just more expensive quite honestly, top top

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Speaker 2: end pitching is more expensive than pitching is the most

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Speaker 2: expensive thing in baseball. So when you need a number

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Speaker 2: two starter in free agency, you're gonna pay a lot

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Speaker 2: to do it. And it's just the nature of yours.

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Speaker 2: You know, Nathan Valdi is gonna cost you twenty million

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Speaker 2: dollars a year. That's just the going rate. So yeah,

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Speaker 2: I agree with that. I think I think it's most

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Speaker 2: likely they spend big on a pitcher versus a hitter.

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Speaker 2: But they are gonna add hitters, at least one hitter,

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Speaker 2: maybe multiple hitters, And that's obviously that's what we're doing tonight.

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Speaker 2: We're gonna talk about some hitters.

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Speaker 1: So let's jump right into it. So the Braves, we

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Speaker 1: know that they likely we know that the shortstop position

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Speaker 1: and left field, the Braves need to add some type

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Speaker 1: of upgrade offensively. When it comes to one of those

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Speaker 1: two positions, it's much easier to add an outfielder than

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Speaker 1: it is a shortstop who fits that description. The Braves

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Speaker 1: need a left headed hitting outfielder. They would probably probably

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Speaker 1: prefer someone who's got a decent to good approach at

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Speaker 1: the plate, a pretty good on base percentage guy, doesn't

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Speaker 1: strike out a lot, can hit for some power. Now

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Speaker 1: those just those boxes that I'm asking to check. That's

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Speaker 1: going to cost some money. I don't think that the

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Speaker 1: Braves are not in the market for one. So too,

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Speaker 1: so we'll throw him in. Tescalar Hernandez. He's going likely

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Speaker 1: back to the Dodgers. He's probably going to be too pricey.

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Speaker 1: We'll throw him out. But let's start. Let's start with

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Speaker 1: some of these higher tier names, though, because the Braves

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Speaker 1: could surprise people. You know, alex and Thoppless has surprised

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Speaker 1: at times, and he's willing to potentially go you know,

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Speaker 1: if there is something that he's been able to be

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Speaker 1: open to doing short term contracts with twenty plus million

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Speaker 1: average annual value, he may be looking to do that,

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Speaker 1: and I don't necessarily know if these first few names

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Speaker 1: are going to talk about fit that bial. They may

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Speaker 1: require a bit longer contract, but they're at least interesting

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Speaker 1: to discuss. And of course what I'm talking about, you're

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Speaker 1: more talking about the level to start out with an

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Speaker 1: Anthony Santander, says Santandier, maybe a Tyler O'Neill. I think

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Speaker 1: that's kind of the second level of outfielder. Steven, what

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Speaker 1: are your thoughts The thing that stands out to me power,

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Speaker 1: power potential when it comes to those two hitters, and

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Speaker 1: of course we know the Braves. That's a very very

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Speaker 1: intriguing aspect for any hitter that they look to add.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, Santander is definitely, you know, in that

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Speaker 2: next tier of hitters. If you take Sodo out, you know,

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Speaker 2: Soto's and a tier by himself of course, and the

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Speaker 2: Bridge are not going to be on one Sodo, you know,

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Speaker 2: But then that next tier of hitters is probably ti

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Speaker 2: Oscar Hernandez, Anthony Santander, and Tyler O'Neill. It's probably that group.

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Speaker 2: And I agree with you ti Oscars everything I've read,

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Speaker 2: he's going back to La. He loved La obviously, they

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Speaker 2: just won a World Series and I think they're gonna

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Speaker 2: make him a priority and he was a big part

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Speaker 2: of that team. So I think Santander is the first

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Speaker 2: guy if you if you kind of rake them by

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Speaker 2: best to worst, I think the Santander is the first

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Speaker 2: guy you get to where the Braves could realistically sign him.

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Speaker 2: And he's very interesting, right. He's a switch hitter. Again,

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Speaker 2: it helps the Braves who need more balance in their

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Speaker 2: lineup to have a guy who can hit lefty and

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Speaker 2: you know hit lefty well, you know, he's a switch

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Speaker 2: hitter that does not have big splits. He hits both

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Speaker 2: left handers and right handers very well. If you look

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Speaker 2: at the last three seasons with Baltimore, he just he

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Speaker 2: just gone. He's gone nuclear the last three years. Got

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Speaker 2: like a one to twenty five or one thirty WRT

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Speaker 2: plus over his last three seasons with Baltimore. One hundred

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Speaker 2: and five home runs over three years. Obviously you can

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Speaker 2: do the math. It's about thirty five home runs a year.

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Speaker 2: He hit forty four last year. He's not a great defender, right,

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Speaker 2: If you're going to do a knock on him, he's

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Speaker 2: not a great defender. You know he's gonna be a

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Speaker 2: left field type for you for sure. But you know

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Speaker 2: Azuna is gonna be gone in a year probably, I

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Speaker 2: mean I would, I would guess. I don't think they're

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Speaker 2: going to resign Azuna. So if he has to play

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Speaker 2: left field for a year and then switches to that

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Speaker 2: DH roll, it's not the end of the world.

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Speaker 1: Excellent point.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, And he's a but he's a masher. I mean,

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Speaker 2: he's just a middle of the order masher. And he's

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Speaker 2: a difference maker, right, he checks a lot of boxes.

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Speaker 2: And again he's he's a switch hitter. So it helps

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Speaker 2: you on that side. Now, if you look at the money,

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Speaker 2: you know, if you look at like MLB trade rumors,

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Speaker 2: the two I look at our MLB trade rooms at Fancrafts,

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Speaker 2: those are the two that have done it for the longest.

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Speaker 2: Is kind of the two that I trust the most.

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Speaker 2: But if you look at those two services, both of

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Speaker 2: them have contend they're at four years in eighty million,

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Speaker 2: so twenty million a year. That's right at the level

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Speaker 2: that the Braves keep their best players at, and that

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Speaker 2: would obviously fit right in now, that would be the

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Speaker 2: biggest free agent contract that Alex and Thoppolis has ever

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Speaker 2: handed out. To date, the biggest contract he's ever handed

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Speaker 2: out is the four years and sixty four million that

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Speaker 2: he gave Marcelo Zuno, and obviously this would be bigger

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Speaker 2: than that, so that's notable. We got to say that

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Speaker 2: he doesn't typically hand out contracts this big and it

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Speaker 2: would cost him. You know, I think that I think

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Speaker 2: that number is probably pretty right. I think that's gonna

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Speaker 2: end up being very close to what son Tyn Derek gets.

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Speaker 2: But that guy just checks a lot of boxes and

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Speaker 2: he's a force in the middle of the plate both

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Speaker 2: sides of the plate. Can hit lefting and can hit

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Speaker 2: lefty pitching, can hit righty pitching. You know, tons of power,

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Speaker 2: and you can move him over to DH once the

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Speaker 2: the outfiteld defense slips enough, so you know, out of

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Speaker 2: that second tier, that's probably the most interesting guy to me.

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Speaker 2: I don't know how you feel, Sean. I don't know

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Speaker 2: if you're a son Tan Derek guy, if you prefer

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Speaker 2: a guy like Tyler Neil. But looking at both of them,

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Speaker 2: you know, Tyler o'nil is obviously a right handed pitcher.

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Speaker 2: He's also not a great defender. He doesn't it's not

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Speaker 2: the same level of hitter to me. To me, Toler

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Speaker 2: and Neil is more of a lefty masher. If you

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Speaker 2: look at his career, he's got pretty big career splits. Obviously,

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Speaker 2: he's right handed, so he's gonna hit left handed pitch

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Speaker 2: it better, but he hits left handed pitching substantially better

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Speaker 2: than his right He's he's pretty much been a career

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Speaker 2: average hitter as a as a against right handed pitching

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Speaker 2: for his career. So it's a much bigger platoon guy.

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Speaker 2: He doesn't help you against right handed pitching nearly as

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Speaker 2: much as Santander does. So, you know, if you're looking

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Speaker 2: at that next tier of guys, I think Santander is

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Speaker 2: the easy choice. Twenty million a year, I think is

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Speaker 2: very doable. It's a reasonable contract for a guy who's

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Speaker 2: gonna sit in the middle of your order. Yeah, out

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Speaker 2: of that next tier below Soto, that's probably the first

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Speaker 2: guy on my list.

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Speaker 1: I like Santander and I like Tyler O'Neal both. Tyler O'Neal,

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Speaker 1: you know, being you know here in in in the

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Speaker 1: mid South, you know, having you know, being a little

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Speaker 1: bit closer to the Carbals. He was so tantalizing when

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Speaker 1: he was when he was on, he was injured a lot.

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Speaker 1: Now I know that there must sub been some you know,

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Speaker 1: disnect when it comes to him and for instance, the

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Speaker 1: Cardinals organization. But the thing that I'll say is is

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Speaker 1: that I'm Tyler and Neill has always been intrigued. But

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Speaker 1: here's my first thought when it comes to Santander as

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Speaker 1: well as Tyler O'Neill, I don't want to pay them

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Speaker 1: three plus million dollars, three plus years and twenty plus

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Speaker 1: million dollars when I feel that there are other hitters

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Speaker 1: you can come and bring in on short term contracts.

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Speaker 1: I still believe in the Brave's ability to get more

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Speaker 1: out of hitters here than they had in other places.

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Speaker 1: I would rather go a bit cheaper and maximize a

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Speaker 1: hitter's ability, especially a left handed hitting outfielder, than pay

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Speaker 1: premium price for a player like an O'Neal with his

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Speaker 1: injury history and with his inconsistencies, or an Anthony Santander

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Speaker 1: who may just be a DH after next year. So

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Speaker 1: I think both the very intriguing names, I just don't

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Speaker 1: know if they're the best value, which brings me to

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Speaker 1: my nextier and the most exciting one in my opinion,

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Speaker 1: Alex sith we need left handed hitting. Ken Rosenthal mentioned

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Speaker 1: that we like power, we like familiarity. One of these names, Alexanthopolis,

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Speaker 1: is already traded for. He knew him in La, he

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Speaker 1: brought him into Atlanta. We know how big of an

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Speaker 1: impact this player made on and off the field when

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Speaker 1: he was here. Of course, I'm talking about Jock Peterson,

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Speaker 1: but John Peterson also has more familiarity than just and

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Speaker 1: thoughtless in the Braves organization now, because remember we hired

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Speaker 1: two executives. We hired two former front office front office

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Speaker 1: staff from the San Francisco Giants and brought them into Atlanta,

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Speaker 1: so they have familiarity with John Peterson. But another very

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Speaker 1: intriguing name and someone who I've always loved hitting at

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Speaker 1: the plate when he's on, is Michael Conforto. So when

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Speaker 1: I'm talking about guys you can bring in, when I'm

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Speaker 1: talking about guys who could play left field, left handed

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Speaker 1: hitting back, left handed hitters who could probably do better

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Speaker 1: here than they have another places, and to have the

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Speaker 1: familiar with in multiple ways, Michael Knforto and Jock Peterson

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Speaker 1: probably a bit shorter term contracts, probably around fifteen million

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Speaker 1: or less, per year. Those to me potentially offer the

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Speaker 1: best values to fit the needs that the Braves had.

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Speaker 1: That's the tier I'm shopping on. Steven.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, Conforto is a guy that I've been trying to

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Speaker 2: get the Braves to sign for like three years. One

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Speaker 2: of my favorite players, quite honestly, always undervalue. You know,

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Speaker 2: he's got like a three fifty career on base percentage.

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Speaker 2: He's just a really high played, disciplined guy. You know,

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Speaker 2: he's always underperformed his expecting numbers, in part because he's

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Speaker 2: been you know, he's been in San Francisco the last

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Speaker 2: I think last year, of course, and that's one of

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Speaker 2: the best pitchers parks in the world, and certainly one

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Speaker 2: of the worst hitters, and especially if you're a left

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Speaker 2: handed hitter, it's it's miserable place to hit. And you know,

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Speaker 2: Conforto is just he's a high quality hitter. The guy

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Speaker 2: I kind of compare Conforto to a little bit, although

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Speaker 2: he is better defensively. Offensively, Conforto reminds me a lot

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Speaker 2: of Scharber. He's a guy that is such a good

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Speaker 2: hitter and such a and so good at plate discipline

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Speaker 2: that he could actually bat lead off for you. He

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Speaker 2: takes so many walks. He has great command of the zone,

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Speaker 2: but he also has serious, serious power. He just reminds

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Speaker 2: me a lot of Shorber. And he's a better defender

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Speaker 2: than Shorber. He's younger than Shorber. He could still play left.

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Speaker 2: He's not a great defender by any means. I don't

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Speaker 2: I'm not gonna say that he's I would say he's

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Speaker 2: average to below average. But again, you've got that DH

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Speaker 2: spot opening up after twenty twenty five, most likely with

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Speaker 2: Azuna leaving. He didn't have a huge year last year

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Speaker 2: with San Francisco, but again his his expected numbers were

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Speaker 2: much higher than his actual numbers. And he's you know,

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Speaker 2: that's arguably the worst hitters park in baseball is that

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Speaker 2: park in San Francisco. So you get him in truest

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Speaker 2: like you know, where left hander and hitters can really eat.

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Speaker 2: Michael Conforto just solves a lot of problems for you.

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Speaker 2: He solves the top of your lineup. You could bat

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Speaker 2: him leadoff, you really could. You know, when Acuna is

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Speaker 2: not there, you could bat him leadoff. He's that good.

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Speaker 2: He's he's got that much plate discipline. Again, he's got

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Speaker 2: like a three fifty career on based percentage. If you

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Speaker 2: look at the contract, the contract is very appealing. Vangrafts

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Speaker 2: has him at a one year twelve million dollar prediction.

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Speaker 2: MLB Trade Rumors has him at a two year eighteen

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Speaker 2: million dollar prediction. I think is right. Again, that's very appealing.

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Speaker 2: You know, it saves money, especially if you're gonna have

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Speaker 2: to go big with the starter, like like we both

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Speaker 2: think they're gonna do. You know, if you can get

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Speaker 2: Conforto for one year twelve or two year eighteen, that's

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Speaker 2: a ton of value. And again, I think he's a

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Speaker 2: guy that could sit at the top of your order,

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Speaker 2: could even sit in the middle of your order if

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Speaker 2: Acuna is there. Just checks a lot of boxes. You know.

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Speaker 2: The problem with Jock is that he hasn't played defense.

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Speaker 2: You know, it's it's gonna be another Jorge Solaier situation.

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Speaker 2: He DHD exclusively last year with Arizona. I love Jock,

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Speaker 2: of course, we all love jo and he had a

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Speaker 2: monster year. He had a monster year for Arizona. He

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Speaker 2: had like Marcelo Zuna level offensive year for Arizona last year.

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Speaker 2: I'm not sure how many people know that, but uh,

426
00:21:10,640 --> 00:21:13,800
Speaker 2: but where do you play him becomes a serious question.

427
00:21:14,400 --> 00:21:16,960
Speaker 2: And if you're going to have another DH on the lineup,

428
00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:18,439
Speaker 2: then you know people are gonna say, why didn't you

429
00:21:18,480 --> 00:21:22,720
Speaker 2: just keep Solaire. So I do love Jock. I just

430
00:21:22,760 --> 00:21:24,600
Speaker 2: I don't know where you play him. Conforto you can

431
00:21:24,640 --> 00:21:26,560
Speaker 2: play and left, and you can even probably play in

432
00:21:26,640 --> 00:21:29,200
Speaker 2: right field considering how small right field is in Truest Park,

433
00:21:31,040 --> 00:21:33,160
Speaker 2: and and then he wouldn't kill you. He's much better

434
00:21:33,160 --> 00:21:34,720
Speaker 2: than Solaire in right field. I can tell you that.

435
00:21:35,560 --> 00:21:38,760
Speaker 2: So yeah, my favorite guy on this list by far,

436
00:21:39,040 --> 00:21:41,080
Speaker 2: and he's been my favorite guy for probably two or

437
00:21:41,080 --> 00:21:42,920
Speaker 2: three years now, is Michael Conforto. That's the guy I

438
00:21:43,000 --> 00:21:45,439
Speaker 2: want the Braves to sign. That's the guy that I

439
00:21:45,440 --> 00:21:47,159
Speaker 2: think can help the Braves at the top of the order.

440
00:21:47,720 --> 00:21:50,719
Speaker 2: Big walk rate, you know, commands the zone, good power,

441
00:21:50,920 --> 00:21:54,879
Speaker 2: good on base percentage, low contract, you know, not not

442
00:21:54,920 --> 00:21:58,760
Speaker 2: a ton of commitment. Just makes a ton of sense.

443
00:21:58,800 --> 00:22:00,720
Speaker 2: I think he could be your version of Kyle Schwarber,

444
00:22:01,080 --> 00:22:03,040
Speaker 2: and I think the Braves desperately need that. It's clear

445
00:22:03,080 --> 00:22:05,280
Speaker 2: when Acuna's not in there, how much they struggle with

446
00:22:05,359 --> 00:22:07,600
Speaker 2: on base. We've talked about it at nausea and they

447
00:22:07,640 --> 00:22:10,199
Speaker 2: need more on bass, they need more play discipline, they

448
00:22:10,240 --> 00:22:13,920
Speaker 2: need more left ended hitting. Conforto checks all those boxes.

449
00:22:18,680 --> 00:22:20,440
Speaker 1: So take this with a grain of salt because I

450
00:22:20,720 --> 00:22:23,240
Speaker 1: don't put too much emphasis on this, but you know,

451
00:22:23,280 --> 00:22:26,040
Speaker 1: Baseball Reference Stephen has that it's always fun to look

452
00:22:26,040 --> 00:22:31,520
Speaker 1: at this. They have that similarity of batter metric or

453
00:22:31,520 --> 00:22:33,639
Speaker 1: whatever it is. I don't know all the details of it,

454
00:22:33,640 --> 00:22:35,320
Speaker 1: but it's always fun to see who these players are

455
00:22:35,359 --> 00:22:39,040
Speaker 1: most compared to the most. The second most comparable player

456
00:22:39,880 --> 00:22:42,119
Speaker 1: and he is in terms of his career ARC for

457
00:22:42,240 --> 00:22:47,119
Speaker 1: Michael Conforto is Jorge Celaire. The most comparable player for

458
00:22:47,240 --> 00:22:50,520
Speaker 1: jorgees Celaire in terms of his career ARC is Michael Conforto.

459
00:22:50,880 --> 00:22:53,720
Speaker 1: And John Peterson is listed on those lists for both

460
00:22:53,800 --> 00:22:56,040
Speaker 1: those players, and both those players are listed on the

461
00:22:56,080 --> 00:23:00,439
Speaker 1: list for John Peterson. You have very similar type of

462
00:23:00,480 --> 00:23:03,360
Speaker 1: skill sets. But here's the big key in my opinion,

463
00:23:04,680 --> 00:23:08,359
Speaker 1: you have left handed hitting approaches that can do damage

464
00:23:08,359 --> 00:23:10,399
Speaker 1: against right handed pitching. I think an underrated part of

465
00:23:10,400 --> 00:23:13,480
Speaker 1: poor Hee Silaire's overall game. He does very well against

466
00:23:13,520 --> 00:23:16,680
Speaker 1: right hand and pitching. I love por Haesilaira as the hitter.

467
00:23:16,760 --> 00:23:19,440
Speaker 1: You just couldn't manage it when it comes to the outfielder.

468
00:23:19,600 --> 00:23:22,080
Speaker 1: And that's why I think Michael Conforto, in my opinion,

469
00:23:22,240 --> 00:23:24,399
Speaker 1: if you could get him at two years, thirty million,

470
00:23:25,320 --> 00:23:27,879
Speaker 1: whatever it may be, maybe you could sign him for

471
00:23:28,119 --> 00:23:30,640
Speaker 1: ten million this year, twenty million you know in year two,

472
00:23:30,880 --> 00:23:32,119
Speaker 1: you know, and give him a little bit of the

473
00:23:32,440 --> 00:23:35,560
Speaker 1: pie that's left by Ozuna moving forward. Those are the

474
00:23:35,600 --> 00:23:37,760
Speaker 1: type of things that you could potentially do. If Michael

475
00:23:37,800 --> 00:23:40,040
Speaker 1: Conforto is a brave at the end of this offseason,

476
00:23:40,320 --> 00:23:42,640
Speaker 1: that alone, to me, has put us in a very

477
00:23:42,680 --> 00:23:45,199
Speaker 1: good position for this to be a successful offseason. I

478
00:23:45,240 --> 00:23:47,480
Speaker 1: agree with you, Stephen. I think that he would be

479
00:23:47,520 --> 00:23:52,320
Speaker 1: a great addition. If we could unlock his potential, it

480
00:23:52,359 --> 00:23:55,440
Speaker 1: could be a lot of fun. Which brings me to

481
00:23:55,480 --> 00:23:59,960
Speaker 1: my next tier of hitters, and I bring up these

482
00:24:00,040 --> 00:24:03,879
Speaker 1: hit potentially is bounced back candidates. These are more hitters

483
00:24:03,920 --> 00:24:08,159
Speaker 1: who I think over the past couple of years, probably

484
00:24:08,640 --> 00:24:10,880
Speaker 1: their names have been a bit better than their actual

485
00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:13,679
Speaker 1: values because a few years ago they had an intriguing

486
00:24:13,920 --> 00:24:15,320
Speaker 1: you know, a year or two and they've just not

487
00:24:15,400 --> 00:24:18,200
Speaker 1: been able to live up to it until then. One

488
00:24:18,280 --> 00:24:21,400
Speaker 1: is Alex Perdugo, who's a left handed hitter. I think

489
00:24:21,440 --> 00:24:25,520
Speaker 1: he's probably in recent years he's been more defense than

490
00:24:25,560 --> 00:24:28,120
Speaker 1: offense in turns of value, and even that has kind

491
00:24:28,119 --> 00:24:30,560
Speaker 1: of taken a step back. The way that his numbers

492
00:24:30,600 --> 00:24:33,480
Speaker 1: has regressed is not too encouraging. I put him kind

493
00:24:33,480 --> 00:24:35,719
Speaker 1: of on the back burner. But if there was another

494
00:24:35,840 --> 00:24:39,560
Speaker 1: outfielder who to me would be very very intriguing. If

495
00:24:39,560 --> 00:24:41,919
Speaker 1: you were to tell me this player is going to

496
00:24:41,960 --> 00:24:44,080
Speaker 1: be in Atlanta Brave by the end of the off season,

497
00:24:44,400 --> 00:24:47,320
Speaker 1: I would get very excited, very quickly. His name is

498
00:24:47,400 --> 00:24:52,080
Speaker 1: Max Kepler, former outfielder for the Minnesota Twins, someone who's

499
00:24:52,160 --> 00:24:55,119
Speaker 1: always had some very intriguing offensive potential. Kind of an

500
00:24:55,160 --> 00:25:00,040
Speaker 1: underperformer throughout his career, been down this past year. But

501
00:25:00,240 --> 00:25:03,280
Speaker 1: those level of guys, Steven, if for some reason we

502
00:25:03,359 --> 00:25:04,639
Speaker 1: just did not have the money to go get a

503
00:25:04,680 --> 00:25:07,720
Speaker 1: come forward to her Peterson, that level probably makes sense

504
00:25:07,760 --> 00:25:10,240
Speaker 1: for the Braves to shop at his will, your thoughts

505
00:25:10,320 --> 00:25:12,280
Speaker 1: or anybody else you want to add to that level

506
00:25:12,400 --> 00:25:15,160
Speaker 1: a potential bounce back candidates that the Braves could once

507
00:25:15,200 --> 00:25:16,320
Speaker 1: again work their magic with.

508
00:25:17,920 --> 00:25:20,879
Speaker 2: Yeah, Kepler is definitely that guy. Like Kepler is definitely

509
00:25:20,920 --> 00:25:27,280
Speaker 2: the bi Low work with him. He had a down

510
00:25:27,320 --> 00:25:29,800
Speaker 2: year in twenty four, but you know the year before

511
00:25:29,800 --> 00:25:33,959
Speaker 2: that he was very good. Kepler's been around forever. You know,

512
00:25:34,080 --> 00:25:36,560
Speaker 2: we were talking before the show, but in my mind,

513
00:25:36,680 --> 00:25:39,600
Speaker 2: you know, Max Kepler is like twenty seven, but that

514
00:25:39,640 --> 00:25:42,320
Speaker 2: guy debuted in like twenty fifteen. Max Kepler is like

515
00:25:42,359 --> 00:25:45,760
Speaker 2: thirty two years old at this point, and so you

516
00:25:45,760 --> 00:25:47,240
Speaker 2: know that's part of it. But he's going to be

517
00:25:47,320 --> 00:25:50,639
Speaker 2: very cheap. He's a really good defender, especially somebody on

518
00:25:50,640 --> 00:25:53,280
Speaker 2: the wrong side of thirty. You know, outfould defenses is

519
00:25:53,359 --> 00:25:56,200
Speaker 2: usually a young man's game. Normally, when you get past thirty,

520
00:25:56,240 --> 00:25:59,000
Speaker 2: your defense just falls off the mountain. But he's a

521
00:25:59,080 --> 00:26:01,600
Speaker 2: very good defender. He does hit right handed pitching well

522
00:26:01,640 --> 00:26:04,560
Speaker 2: for his career. He's not terrible against left he's either

523
00:26:04,600 --> 00:26:06,760
Speaker 2: actually he's been a pretty solid hitter all the way around.

524
00:26:07,040 --> 00:26:08,400
Speaker 2: But he just didn't have a great year in twenty

525
00:26:08,400 --> 00:26:12,159
Speaker 2: four and so you know that stinks for him in

526
00:26:12,240 --> 00:26:14,240
Speaker 2: terms of timing. Of course, as he's hitting the free

527
00:26:14,240 --> 00:26:16,560
Speaker 2: agent market. There was actually talked last year that the

528
00:26:16,600 --> 00:26:19,679
Speaker 2: Braves might trade for Max Kepler, just because you know,

529
00:26:19,760 --> 00:26:21,560
Speaker 2: before they did the Celtic move, we were kind of

530
00:26:21,560 --> 00:26:23,399
Speaker 2: in the same spot. Where they needed a left handed

531
00:26:23,680 --> 00:26:26,960
Speaker 2: left fielder. Obviously, Kepler had one year of team control

532
00:26:27,080 --> 00:26:29,920
Speaker 2: left with the Twins. That made a lot of sense

533
00:26:29,960 --> 00:26:31,720
Speaker 2: At the time. Kepler was coming off a much better

534
00:26:31,760 --> 00:26:34,880
Speaker 2: season in twenty twenty three, so it made more sense.

535
00:26:34,880 --> 00:26:36,520
Speaker 2: Obviously in twenty twenty four, he just didn't have a

536
00:26:36,520 --> 00:26:40,040
Speaker 2: great year. But you know, expected numbers are still decent

537
00:26:40,880 --> 00:26:44,320
Speaker 2: left handed. Again, there's a theme. I think the Braves

538
00:26:44,320 --> 00:26:46,520
Speaker 2: Desk would need a left handed another left handed hitter,

539
00:26:46,880 --> 00:26:51,680
Speaker 2: Santandrek and Ferto Kepler. I think any of them would help.

540
00:26:52,480 --> 00:26:55,320
Speaker 2: But Kepler's definitely your bi low. You know, if you

541
00:26:55,359 --> 00:26:58,679
Speaker 2: go big on a starter, you go big on a reliever.

542
00:26:58,760 --> 00:27:00,360
Speaker 2: You don't have a ton of money left. You want

543
00:27:00,359 --> 00:27:02,560
Speaker 2: to get some upside, but you don't want to spend

544
00:27:02,560 --> 00:27:05,320
Speaker 2: a lot of money. Kepler is gonna be one of those.

545
00:27:05,560 --> 00:27:08,560
Speaker 2: Kepler's not in the top fifty free agents on either side,

546
00:27:08,600 --> 00:27:11,040
Speaker 2: so he doesn't have a contract prediction. But my guess

547
00:27:11,400 --> 00:27:15,280
Speaker 2: is Kepler's gonna sign like a one five, one year,

548
00:27:15,359 --> 00:27:17,959
Speaker 2: five million dollar contract, one for you know, one year,

549
00:27:18,040 --> 00:27:21,000
Speaker 2: four million kind of something like Adam Devall signed last year.

550
00:27:22,359 --> 00:27:24,000
Speaker 2: You know, he's gonna have to wait in line, he's

551
00:27:24,040 --> 00:27:25,480
Speaker 2: gonna have to wait for all these other guys to

552
00:27:25,520 --> 00:27:28,920
Speaker 2: sign before anybody kind of comes calling. If it goes

553
00:27:28,960 --> 00:27:30,960
Speaker 2: really bad for him, it could be a minor league deal.

554
00:27:31,000 --> 00:27:32,919
Speaker 2: I don't see that. I think he's got more upside

555
00:27:32,960 --> 00:27:35,160
Speaker 2: than that. But it would be a very cheap move.

556
00:27:35,240 --> 00:27:38,240
Speaker 2: It would be very inexpensive. If you've got other stuff

557
00:27:38,240 --> 00:27:40,399
Speaker 2: you gotta do and you just don't have a lot

558
00:27:40,440 --> 00:27:42,719
Speaker 2: of money left, then that you could do worse than

559
00:27:42,760 --> 00:27:45,320
Speaker 2: Max Kepler. But yeah, out of that group, he's probably

560
00:27:45,320 --> 00:27:46,959
Speaker 2: the most interesting to me, just because he does have

561
00:27:47,040 --> 00:27:51,520
Speaker 2: track record, He's got some interesting profile stuff, batttball stuff,

562
00:27:51,800 --> 00:27:56,680
Speaker 2: expected numbers. So yeah, that's the that's the If you're

563
00:27:56,680 --> 00:28:01,119
Speaker 2: looking for the bargain bin with upside play, it's probably

564
00:28:01,160 --> 00:28:01,800
Speaker 2: Max Kepler.

565
00:28:04,119 --> 00:28:06,920
Speaker 1: So then let's stay in that bargain bin because I

566
00:28:07,240 --> 00:28:08,840
Speaker 1: do agree with you. Out of all these names, I'm

567
00:28:08,880 --> 00:28:11,240
Speaker 1: going to be honest with you, come fourto's one, Max

568
00:28:11,320 --> 00:28:14,680
Speaker 1: Kepler's too. Those are the guys that to me check

569
00:28:14,760 --> 00:28:16,880
Speaker 1: those boxes that also allow for you to go get

570
00:28:16,880 --> 00:28:19,880
Speaker 1: that significant arm that you're looking for. But let's say

571
00:28:19,880 --> 00:28:22,840
Speaker 1: the Braves just go completely a different route than we expect.

572
00:28:23,119 --> 00:28:26,800
Speaker 1: We continue to hear from multiple sources that the Braves

573
00:28:26,840 --> 00:28:30,480
Speaker 1: have some level of interest in shortstop Williadamas. Now, the

574
00:28:30,520 --> 00:28:34,160
Speaker 1: thing is that half of baseball rightfully so has interests

575
00:28:34,320 --> 00:28:36,639
Speaker 1: in Williadamas. Willy Damas is likely going to get a

576
00:28:36,720 --> 00:28:40,040
Speaker 1: Dansby Swanson level contract, if not a bit more. I

577
00:28:40,160 --> 00:28:43,640
Speaker 1: don't expect for the Braves to go get Willi Adamas,

578
00:28:43,920 --> 00:28:49,200
Speaker 1: but him. Hassan Kim, formerly of the Padres, is another

579
00:28:49,320 --> 00:28:52,240
Speaker 1: really fun name. Another guy who could be a bounced

580
00:28:52,240 --> 00:28:54,400
Speaker 1: back candidate. Another guy if we could bring in and

581
00:28:54,440 --> 00:28:56,920
Speaker 1: could have a successful year here, could we work out

582
00:28:56,920 --> 00:28:59,160
Speaker 1: an extension with him and keep him here long term?

583
00:28:59,360 --> 00:29:02,840
Speaker 1: That would be a lot of fun. Stephen. The intrigue

584
00:29:02,920 --> 00:29:07,600
Speaker 1: of potentially getting that level of shortstop talent is certainly

585
00:29:07,640 --> 00:29:10,960
Speaker 1: out there. Your thoughts on that probably not worth talking

586
00:29:11,000 --> 00:29:13,080
Speaker 1: about that much because I just I just don't see

587
00:29:13,080 --> 00:29:16,040
Speaker 1: it happening. But at the very least you could see

588
00:29:16,080 --> 00:29:18,560
Speaker 1: the logic behind the brain's going to do it if

589
00:29:18,560 --> 00:29:19,440
Speaker 1: they can find the right deal.

590
00:29:21,880 --> 00:29:25,640
Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean they need a shortstop. So just on

591
00:29:25,640 --> 00:29:27,880
Speaker 2: that alone, you would say, well, we got to talk

592
00:29:27,880 --> 00:29:30,440
Speaker 2: about shortstops because they need a short sum Orlendosia is

593
00:29:30,480 --> 00:29:34,560
Speaker 2: a bench piece. You know, he's paid like a bench piece.

594
00:29:34,680 --> 00:29:38,479
Speaker 2: He accepted a bench piece contract because that's what he is.

595
00:29:39,040 --> 00:29:44,200
Speaker 2: And you know, the entire argument for starting orlandoor Sia is, well,

596
00:29:44,280 --> 00:29:46,320
Speaker 2: let's just make the other eight hitters in the lineup

597
00:29:46,400 --> 00:29:49,640
Speaker 2: so good that you can bat him ninth and it's

598
00:29:49,640 --> 00:29:51,520
Speaker 2: not going to hurt you. Like, that's the best argument

599
00:29:51,600 --> 00:29:55,720
Speaker 2: for him is build up everybody else and then you

600
00:29:55,720 --> 00:29:58,760
Speaker 2: can live with him at at nine. That's not a

601
00:29:58,760 --> 00:30:02,400
Speaker 2: great argument, of course, for an individual player. Basically, you know,

602
00:30:02,640 --> 00:30:04,480
Speaker 2: he sucks so bad that we have to build up

603
00:30:04,520 --> 00:30:08,800
Speaker 2: the other eight guys to swallow it. So they need

604
00:30:08,800 --> 00:30:11,200
Speaker 2: a shortstop, and Willi Adamas is the best, you know,

605
00:30:11,280 --> 00:30:14,640
Speaker 2: probably the best outside of Sodo. Sodo is the best

606
00:30:14,680 --> 00:30:17,440
Speaker 2: hitter on the market, but after Soto, it's probably Williadamas

607
00:30:17,520 --> 00:30:20,800
Speaker 2: is probably gonna be get the second biggest position player

608
00:30:20,880 --> 00:30:24,360
Speaker 2: contract in this free agent market. He's very good. He's

609
00:30:24,400 --> 00:30:28,960
Speaker 2: an all star level shortstop. It's gonna be very expensive.

610
00:30:29,000 --> 00:30:32,560
Speaker 2: We're talking, you know, you're talking nine figure contract. You're

611
00:30:32,560 --> 00:30:35,760
Speaker 2: talking in the hundreds of millions. You're probably talking. My

612
00:30:35,880 --> 00:30:38,320
Speaker 2: guess is he signs very similar to Dansby. I think

613
00:30:38,360 --> 00:30:40,920
Speaker 2: He's actually a better value than Dansby, though, because Dansby's

614
00:30:41,000 --> 00:30:43,880
Speaker 2: value was so tied into defense, and defense does not

615
00:30:43,920 --> 00:30:47,400
Speaker 2: age well. Typically, Adamas is more of an offensive hitter.

616
00:30:47,760 --> 00:30:50,200
Speaker 2: I mean, I'm more of an offensive prospect. You know,

617
00:30:50,480 --> 00:30:53,960
Speaker 2: You're you're accounting on offense more with Adaminas, which means

618
00:30:54,000 --> 00:30:57,160
Speaker 2: you can trust it a little more. In my opinion,

619
00:30:57,400 --> 00:31:00,320
Speaker 2: I think he's probably gonna get like one eighty hundred

620
00:31:00,320 --> 00:31:02,920
Speaker 2: and eighty million, six years, seven years, something like that.

621
00:31:03,080 --> 00:31:05,840
Speaker 2: It's gonna be very, very expensive. It's gonna be twenty five,

622
00:31:05,920 --> 00:31:08,440
Speaker 2: twenty six, twenty seven million dollars a year most likely.

623
00:31:09,120 --> 00:31:10,880
Speaker 2: I just don't know if the Braves can stomach that

624
00:31:11,760 --> 00:31:17,280
Speaker 2: when starting pitching is such a big deal and such

625
00:31:17,280 --> 00:31:20,040
Speaker 2: a big need and so expensive on the free agent market. Now,

626
00:31:20,560 --> 00:31:22,800
Speaker 2: if they get lucky and they get some sort of trade,

627
00:31:24,120 --> 00:31:27,200
Speaker 2: you know, if they get somebody that's really good, that

628
00:31:27,240 --> 00:31:29,560
Speaker 2: doesn't make a lot of money, then that's something you

629
00:31:29,600 --> 00:31:32,160
Speaker 2: can do, right, Like, if you use that, Let's just

630
00:31:32,440 --> 00:31:34,840
Speaker 2: throw a crazy scenariout there. Let's say you use Drake Baldwin.

631
00:31:35,680 --> 00:31:38,040
Speaker 2: You know, let's say it's a you know, Garrett Crochet,

632
00:31:38,160 --> 00:31:41,560
Speaker 2: Drake Baldwin, trade of some sort, right where you get

633
00:31:41,560 --> 00:31:44,400
Speaker 2: a really good picture that doesn't make a lot of money. Right,

634
00:31:44,480 --> 00:31:47,640
Speaker 2: if you've solved that need without spending the money, then

635
00:31:47,680 --> 00:31:50,400
Speaker 2: you can probably shop in that aisle for shortstop because

636
00:31:51,640 --> 00:31:53,960
Speaker 2: you don't have to for pitcher. But if you're gonna

637
00:31:53,960 --> 00:31:57,400
Speaker 2: solve your starting pitching problem through free agency, I just

638
00:31:57,400 --> 00:31:58,560
Speaker 2: don't know if you can be in the Willia of

639
00:31:58,600 --> 00:32:04,840
Speaker 2: Damas market too. Maybe I'm wrong, but I would have

640
00:32:04,880 --> 00:32:08,600
Speaker 2: to see it to believe it, quite honestly, if they

641
00:32:08,640 --> 00:32:10,959
Speaker 2: didn't have such a big need at starter, if they

642
00:32:10,960 --> 00:32:15,480
Speaker 2: didn't have this Joe Jimenez injury, maybe maybe it can happen.

643
00:32:15,560 --> 00:32:18,480
Speaker 2: But with those being the reality, again, unless you're gonna

644
00:32:18,480 --> 00:32:20,680
Speaker 2: trade for a guy who's a really good starter doesn't

645
00:32:20,680 --> 00:32:23,400
Speaker 2: make a lot of money, I just don't buy it.

646
00:32:23,440 --> 00:32:26,640
Speaker 2: I don't buy it yet. And again, you're gonna be

647
00:32:26,640 --> 00:32:28,640
Speaker 2: competing with some very big team. I mean, the Dodgers

648
00:32:28,680 --> 00:32:31,760
Speaker 2: are interested with Domins, the Mets are interested, the Red

649
00:32:31,760 --> 00:32:35,520
Speaker 2: Sox are interested. Like these teams can write checks that

650
00:32:35,840 --> 00:32:40,239
Speaker 2: you probably can't, so you know that matters here. So

651
00:32:40,360 --> 00:32:43,040
Speaker 2: I would be very surprised if it happened. My guess

652
00:32:43,080 --> 00:32:44,720
Speaker 2: is if it did happen. It's because the Braves have

653
00:32:44,720 --> 00:32:47,880
Speaker 2: figured out starting pitcher somewhere else outside of the free

654
00:32:47,920 --> 00:32:52,640
Speaker 2: agent market and got a solution that way. But we'll see.

655
00:32:52,680 --> 00:32:54,160
Speaker 2: I could be wrong. I mean, they could sign a

656
00:32:54,240 --> 00:32:57,280
Speaker 2: Domas tomorrow for all I know. But my guess is

657
00:32:57,280 --> 00:33:02,600
Speaker 2: they're gonna go big on starter, go medium on left field,

658
00:33:03,360 --> 00:33:05,560
Speaker 2: and then try to trade for somebody who's a high

659
00:33:05,600 --> 00:33:07,360
Speaker 2: leverage reliever doesn't make a lot of money. Like, if

660
00:33:07,360 --> 00:33:09,120
Speaker 2: you ask me, Steven, how are they gonna allocate all

661
00:33:09,160 --> 00:33:11,680
Speaker 2: these resources? I then they're gonna go spend twenty million

662
00:33:11,680 --> 00:33:14,040
Speaker 2: plus on a starter like a Voldie. I thenk they're

663
00:33:14,040 --> 00:33:16,600
Speaker 2: gonna try to get a guy like Conforto for ten

664
00:33:16,640 --> 00:33:19,720
Speaker 2: million a year, twelve million a year, maybe fifteen, And

665
00:33:19,720 --> 00:33:21,360
Speaker 2: then I think they're gonna try to trade for a

666
00:33:21,400 --> 00:33:23,600
Speaker 2: reliever who doesn't make a ton of money, maybe like

667
00:33:23,680 --> 00:33:27,320
Speaker 2: six seven million, and allocate the resources that way. I

668
00:33:27,320 --> 00:33:29,400
Speaker 2: think there will probably still be above the luxury tax

669
00:33:29,400 --> 00:33:34,120
Speaker 2: but not into the second tier, and payroll will be

670
00:33:34,440 --> 00:33:37,160
Speaker 2: you know, around two hundred and forty million something like that.

671
00:33:37,360 --> 00:33:39,920
Speaker 2: But I could be dead wrong on all of that.

672
00:33:39,920 --> 00:33:43,719
Speaker 2: That's just my prediction. That's my guess. But you know

673
00:33:43,800 --> 00:33:45,800
Speaker 2: they're gonna get it. They're gonna add offense, They're gonna

674
00:33:45,800 --> 00:33:47,880
Speaker 2: add a hitter of some regard. I can promise you that.

675
00:33:48,720 --> 00:33:50,360
Speaker 2: Now we just gotta find out who it's gonna be.

676
00:33:52,320 --> 00:33:55,000
Speaker 1: So then let's in the as we wrap up this

677
00:33:55,120 --> 00:33:57,400
Speaker 1: edition of the Hammer Territory podcast, let's have a bit

678
00:33:57,440 --> 00:34:01,080
Speaker 1: of fun. Say they go the route of signing a

679
00:34:01,080 --> 00:34:03,280
Speaker 1: big shortstop. They just don't have a lot of money

680
00:34:03,400 --> 00:34:06,160
Speaker 1: to go get that type of outfielder. And that's what

681
00:34:06,520 --> 00:34:09,080
Speaker 1: Ken Rosendal kind of alluded to, you know, the braves

682
00:34:09,160 --> 00:34:11,799
Speaker 1: kind of waiting, you know, to see if they can

683
00:34:11,840 --> 00:34:14,600
Speaker 1: find a name that could be a bargain. There's a

684
00:34:14,640 --> 00:34:16,759
Speaker 1: couple of other left handed names out there that are

685
00:34:16,800 --> 00:34:21,080
Speaker 1: intriguing to me and Steven in general. I'll structure this

686
00:34:21,160 --> 00:34:23,879
Speaker 1: question as to who stands out to you as an

687
00:34:23,880 --> 00:34:27,680
Speaker 1: intriguing bargain basement type out filder one to me is

688
00:34:27,760 --> 00:34:31,919
Speaker 1: Jesse Winker. I continue to feel that Jesse Winker would

689
00:34:31,960 --> 00:34:34,040
Speaker 1: be a fun addition to this lineup. Now, there's a

690
00:34:34,040 --> 00:34:36,400
Speaker 1: couple of things. Jesse Winker is a statue out in

691
00:34:36,400 --> 00:34:40,239
Speaker 1: the outfield, and he also is not the most well

692
00:34:40,280 --> 00:34:43,040
Speaker 1: thought of globouse presence when it comes to baseball, and

693
00:34:43,080 --> 00:34:44,720
Speaker 1: I think the Braves, you know, are going to value

694
00:34:44,719 --> 00:34:47,480
Speaker 1: both of those things. Which brings me to a player

695
00:34:47,480 --> 00:34:50,440
Speaker 1: that we discussed at the trade deadline, an old friend

696
00:34:50,840 --> 00:34:53,719
Speaker 1: who if he came back to Atlanta I would be

697
00:34:53,760 --> 00:34:56,840
Speaker 1: more than happy to see happen if we made the

698
00:34:56,880 --> 00:35:00,239
Speaker 1: significant moves elsewhere. That is Jason Hayward. We had a

699
00:35:00,239 --> 00:35:02,439
Speaker 1: bit of a bounce back year last year as well.

700
00:35:02,600 --> 00:35:04,680
Speaker 1: Thoughts on those names, are any other names that you

701
00:35:04,719 --> 00:35:08,320
Speaker 1: feel stand out as being that quote unquote bargain bargain

702
00:35:08,400 --> 00:35:11,640
Speaker 1: if we went bargain shopping that level of outfielder that

703
00:35:11,680 --> 00:35:14,200
Speaker 1: you think could be a good value signing for the Braves.

704
00:35:15,880 --> 00:35:21,279
Speaker 2: Hayward's a good one, high high character, high high clubhouse guy,

705
00:35:21,840 --> 00:35:24,520
Speaker 2: still got some pop, can hit right handed, bitching, can

706
00:35:24,560 --> 00:35:27,799
Speaker 2: take walks. That's not a bad one. Outside of just

707
00:35:27,840 --> 00:35:30,399
Speaker 2: the nostalgia of it, I don't really care about that,

708
00:35:30,520 --> 00:35:34,200
Speaker 2: but just on the field, it doesn't make sense, you know.

709
00:35:34,800 --> 00:35:36,640
Speaker 2: Brian day La Cruz has always been a guy that

710
00:35:36,800 --> 00:35:41,640
Speaker 2: has some traits that Alex likes, hits the ball hard,

711
00:35:41,719 --> 00:35:44,719
Speaker 2: has good expected numbers. You know, did have a great

712
00:35:44,800 --> 00:35:46,919
Speaker 2: he got traded to the Pittsburgh midseason and just fell

713
00:35:46,920 --> 00:35:49,239
Speaker 2: off a mountain. I'm not sure what happened. I don't

714
00:35:49,239 --> 00:35:51,560
Speaker 2: know if he was hurt or what, but I mean,

715
00:35:51,600 --> 00:35:54,080
Speaker 2: he had just he had a miserable second half of

716
00:35:54,080 --> 00:35:58,279
Speaker 2: the year. That's gonna tank his value and so he's

717
00:35:58,360 --> 00:36:01,040
Speaker 2: going to be very cheap. But always a guy that

718
00:36:01,040 --> 00:36:04,879
Speaker 2: that we've liked. Dylan Carlson another guy that's a ton

719
00:36:04,920 --> 00:36:09,520
Speaker 2: of potential, a ton of pedigree, had some interesting years

720
00:36:09,560 --> 00:36:12,600
Speaker 2: with Saint Louis, got traded to Tampa again, fell off

721
00:36:12,600 --> 00:36:15,200
Speaker 2: a mountain. I'm not sure what happened in twenty four

722
00:36:15,239 --> 00:36:17,360
Speaker 2: to Dylan Carlson, but it's gonna you know it, obviously

723
00:36:17,960 --> 00:36:19,520
Speaker 2: it it's gonna end up costing him a lot of

724
00:36:19,560 --> 00:36:22,960
Speaker 2: money because he's gonna be very cheap on the free

725
00:36:22,960 --> 00:36:26,120
Speaker 2: agent market this winter. But that's another guy that I

726
00:36:26,120 --> 00:36:28,279
Speaker 2: wouldn't be stunned if they took a flyer on. There's

727
00:36:28,320 --> 00:36:31,480
Speaker 2: definitely some interesting names. I do want them to aim higher,

728
00:36:31,719 --> 00:36:35,480
Speaker 2: of course, to start with, but yeah, if you get

729
00:36:35,520 --> 00:36:37,279
Speaker 2: to that point where you need a guy like that,

730
00:36:37,280 --> 00:36:39,759
Speaker 2: that you could I mean, with these deals, all you're

731
00:36:39,760 --> 00:36:43,719
Speaker 2: looking for is a twinkle of upside. That's all your

732
00:36:43,960 --> 00:36:46,239
Speaker 2: your you know, it's a lottery ticket. You're just is

733
00:36:46,280 --> 00:36:48,239
Speaker 2: there anything I can bank on? Is there anything I

734
00:36:48,280 --> 00:36:51,360
Speaker 2: can wish on? Hope on? And all of these guys

735
00:36:51,360 --> 00:36:54,319
Speaker 2: have something that if you get it to click, have

736
00:36:54,440 --> 00:36:57,360
Speaker 2: some potential. You know, Kelnick is in that same boat.

737
00:36:57,400 --> 00:37:00,759
Speaker 2: I mean, Kelnick's got talent, he's got pedigree, got potential,

738
00:37:01,800 --> 00:37:04,000
Speaker 2: but he's just he's never been able to put together.

739
00:37:04,120 --> 00:37:05,920
Speaker 2: So you know, you've got a guy in your own

740
00:37:05,960 --> 00:37:08,960
Speaker 2: roster that probably fits that category two. But yeah, I

741
00:37:09,000 --> 00:37:11,520
Speaker 2: want them to aim higher. Of course I want Conforto.

742
00:37:11,880 --> 00:37:13,840
Speaker 2: I mean that's the guy I want. I've wanted Conforto

743
00:37:13,960 --> 00:37:17,839
Speaker 2: for three years now. I just think he could be there.

744
00:37:17,880 --> 00:37:20,759
Speaker 2: Kyle Schwarber and I have a I personally put a

745
00:37:20,800 --> 00:37:24,600
Speaker 2: ton of value and having more on base on the team.

746
00:37:24,960 --> 00:37:27,200
Speaker 2: I think they've I think they've sacrificed too much on

747
00:37:27,280 --> 00:37:30,799
Speaker 2: base for slugging, and last year when the Homers weren't there,

748
00:37:30,840 --> 00:37:33,919
Speaker 2: it was evident that they've sacrificed too much on base

749
00:37:33,960 --> 00:37:36,920
Speaker 2: for slugging, and I think they need to get back

750
00:37:36,960 --> 00:37:39,120
Speaker 2: to some on base and Confordo is just an on

751
00:37:39,160 --> 00:37:42,120
Speaker 2: base guy, and that's that's what I want. And he's

752
00:37:42,160 --> 00:37:44,239
Speaker 2: left handed, which is also what I want. So I

753
00:37:44,280 --> 00:37:47,440
Speaker 2: hope they get Conforto. If you know, if we're taking

754
00:37:47,440 --> 00:37:49,560
Speaker 2: in content, we don't care about contract, then give me

755
00:37:49,560 --> 00:37:52,120
Speaker 2: some time, Dare. But he's gonna make twenty plus million

756
00:37:52,120 --> 00:37:53,800
Speaker 2: a year and you still got to add a starter

757
00:37:53,880 --> 00:37:59,600
Speaker 2: or so if you add in contract expectations, I want Conforto.

758
00:38:00,120 --> 00:38:03,719
Speaker 2: I think he checks every box, and you know, I

759
00:38:03,719 --> 00:38:05,399
Speaker 2: think he I think he makes a ton of sense

760
00:38:05,400 --> 00:38:07,200
Speaker 2: for you because you can still do everything else on

761
00:38:07,280 --> 00:38:10,040
Speaker 2: your wish list. But we'll see what they do. It's

762
00:38:10,080 --> 00:38:12,680
Speaker 2: going to be interesting. Plenty of names out there and

763
00:38:13,040 --> 00:38:17,000
Speaker 2: none of them have signed, so every option is still

764
00:38:17,000 --> 00:38:21,080
Speaker 2: on the table, trade options we've talked about before. But yeah,

765
00:38:21,239 --> 00:38:23,200
Speaker 2: out of all the names we talked about tonight, Conforto

766
00:38:23,320 --> 00:38:24,279
Speaker 2: is definitely the guy I want.

767
00:38:25,840 --> 00:38:27,279
Speaker 1: So, Steven, I think I'm going to start a new

768
00:38:27,280 --> 00:38:30,719
Speaker 1: tradition with you, off season off season tradition only. I'm

769
00:38:30,719 --> 00:38:33,200
Speaker 1: going to end each of our episodes with a fun

770
00:38:33,440 --> 00:38:35,759
Speaker 1: question that I that I think that that that that

771
00:38:35,800 --> 00:38:39,200
Speaker 1: the masses will enjoy your answer on. So, Steven Tolbert,

772
00:38:39,239 --> 00:38:46,520
Speaker 1: you were on the clock, who has the prettiest yeah

773
00:38:47,160 --> 00:38:51,279
Speaker 1: of any left handed hitted left handed hitting outfielder that

774
00:38:51,360 --> 00:38:53,120
Speaker 1: has ever put on a Braves uniform.

775
00:38:53,400 --> 00:38:55,120
Speaker 2: Sorry you were breaking up. What was the question?

776
00:38:55,280 --> 00:38:58,000
Speaker 1: No, no, no issue at all. Of all the Braves

777
00:38:58,000 --> 00:39:01,640
Speaker 1: outfielders that have hit left handed franchise history, who has

778
00:39:01,680 --> 00:39:02,640
Speaker 1: the prettiest swing.

779
00:39:02,880 --> 00:39:07,520
Speaker 2: Oh, prettiest swing left handed outfielders that have pretty swings?

780
00:39:07,640 --> 00:39:11,879
Speaker 2: David Justice, David Justice. David Justice had a it wasn't

781
00:39:11,920 --> 00:39:14,440
Speaker 2: quite like Griffy, but it wasn't far away from Griffy.

782
00:39:14,480 --> 00:39:19,000
Speaker 2: It was a very sweepy, kind of upright swing. I

783
00:39:19,000 --> 00:39:23,440
Speaker 2: think David Justice would have to be one on my list.

784
00:39:23,680 --> 00:39:26,239
Speaker 2: Freddy had such an ugly swing quite honestly, it was

785
00:39:26,280 --> 00:39:28,080
Speaker 2: like a you know, he was always trying to hit

786
00:39:28,080 --> 00:39:29,160
Speaker 2: the ball to the.

787
00:39:31,200 --> 00:39:31,799
Speaker 1: Outfielder.

788
00:39:32,239 --> 00:39:35,640
Speaker 2: Oh, outfielder, I'm sorry outfielder. Okay, Well, then David Justice

789
00:39:36,960 --> 00:39:40,160
Speaker 2: obviously played right field. David Justice be one trying to

790
00:39:40,200 --> 00:39:41,920
Speaker 2: give you another name if I could think of one

791
00:39:41,960 --> 00:39:45,120
Speaker 2: real quick. Ryan Klusko had a really violent.

792
00:39:44,840 --> 00:39:49,879
Speaker 1: Swing before without the.

793
00:39:52,040 --> 00:39:54,280
Speaker 2: Let's go, I mean he was he was just a masher.

794
00:39:54,400 --> 00:39:56,680
Speaker 2: I mean, I don't think there was nothing about Clusco's

795
00:39:56,680 --> 00:39:58,400
Speaker 2: game that was pretty. It was just violent.

796
00:39:59,200 --> 00:40:01,759
Speaker 1: It was ever, if there was and I know that

797
00:40:01,800 --> 00:40:04,960
Speaker 1: Tom Glavin is recognized for his hockey background, but if

798
00:40:04,960 --> 00:40:07,799
Speaker 1: there was ever a left handed hitter that took a

799
00:40:07,880 --> 00:40:11,200
Speaker 1: hockey slapshot approach to hitting the baseball, it was Ryan

800
00:40:11,440 --> 00:40:13,839
Speaker 1: fricking Clusco. That was the answer I was looking for.

801
00:40:14,880 --> 00:40:18,120
Speaker 2: Do you know who HUDs? Everybody thinks the answer to

802
00:40:18,160 --> 00:40:20,759
Speaker 2: this is Griffy, But do you know who has the

803
00:40:20,760 --> 00:40:24,040
Speaker 2: prettiest left handed swing of any outfielder ever? In my opinion,

804
00:40:24,280 --> 00:40:28,840
Speaker 2: it's not. It's not Griffy, all right, Carlos Gonzalez of

805
00:40:28,920 --> 00:40:31,480
Speaker 2: the Car of the Rocky. Go look up. If you

806
00:40:31,480 --> 00:40:33,040
Speaker 2: don't know what I'm talking about, go look at Carlos

807
00:40:33,080 --> 00:40:36,560
Speaker 2: Gonzalez highlights with the Rockies and tell me that is

808
00:40:36,600 --> 00:40:38,799
Speaker 2: not the prettiest swing you've ever seen. It was like

809
00:40:38,840 --> 00:40:40,760
Speaker 2: the most It was just like butter.

810
00:40:41,120 --> 00:40:43,919
Speaker 1: Well so so it was kind of like Freddy's right,

811
00:40:44,200 --> 00:40:47,760
Speaker 1: like Carlos Gonzalez's swing, like the vertical, like the bat,

812
00:40:47,960 --> 00:40:51,320
Speaker 1: the sweeping of the bat in a vertical sense versus

813
00:40:51,360 --> 00:40:54,160
Speaker 1: you know, Grippy's was more sweeping through the zone. But

814
00:40:55,360 --> 00:40:59,600
Speaker 1: Carlos Gonzalez's ability to lift those low balls in Colorado

815
00:41:00,280 --> 00:41:02,919
Speaker 1: with you, Carlos Gonzalez has one of the prettiest wings

816
00:41:02,920 --> 00:41:05,520
Speaker 1: I've ever seen. He was if you want to and.

817
00:41:05,520 --> 00:41:07,160
Speaker 2: There's something about it. I don't know why, but there's

818
00:41:07,160 --> 00:41:09,120
Speaker 2: something about a left like left handed swings are just

819
00:41:09,160 --> 00:41:11,560
Speaker 2: better looking than I don't know why, but left handed

820
00:41:11,560 --> 00:41:13,480
Speaker 2: swings are just better looking than right handed swings.

821
00:41:13,920 --> 00:41:15,680
Speaker 1: If you want to talk about a player who when

822
00:41:15,719 --> 00:41:19,680
Speaker 1: he was on one so too like, he was at

823
00:41:19,680 --> 00:41:20,759
Speaker 1: a one so too level.

824
00:41:20,880 --> 00:41:23,279
Speaker 2: It was a superstar. Yeah, yeah, I don't know what

825
00:41:23,400 --> 00:41:25,440
Speaker 2: he he fell off a mountain quick. I don't know.

826
00:41:25,760 --> 00:41:27,839
Speaker 2: Playing in altitude as all sorts of They've done all

827
00:41:27,840 --> 00:41:30,640
Speaker 2: sorts of research about and everybody thinks playing it outitude

828
00:41:30,640 --> 00:41:32,520
Speaker 2: as an advantage, but there's been all sorts of research

829
00:41:32,560 --> 00:41:35,520
Speaker 2: about how much of a disadvantage you are anytime you're

830
00:41:35,560 --> 00:41:37,920
Speaker 2: on the road because of how drastic it it changes

831
00:41:37,960 --> 00:41:40,000
Speaker 2: your body. And I think these guys, I don't think

832
00:41:40,000 --> 00:41:43,120
Speaker 2: these guys age particularly well either. Nolan Arnatto is going

833
00:41:43,160 --> 00:41:47,840
Speaker 2: through that right now. But but yeah, Carlo Cargo was

834
00:41:48,600 --> 00:41:51,120
Speaker 2: my favorite swing of all time. I admittedly I wasn't

835
00:41:51,120 --> 00:41:54,760
Speaker 2: old enough to really appreciate Griffy, but for the guys,

836
00:41:54,800 --> 00:41:58,400
Speaker 2: I I was old enough to appreciate. Cargo had the

837
00:41:58,400 --> 00:41:59,600
Speaker 2: prettiest swing I've ever seen.

838
00:42:00,000 --> 00:42:01,799
Speaker 1: And if I if I remember correctly, I think he

839
00:42:01,880 --> 00:42:04,319
Speaker 1: became a Rocky because the A's traded.

840
00:42:04,040 --> 00:42:07,799
Speaker 2: Him Matt Matt Holliday and then he wind up.

841
00:42:07,760 --> 00:42:11,480
Speaker 1: Signing with Cardinals. So so yeah, so but hey, Hey,

842
00:42:11,560 --> 00:42:13,719
Speaker 1: that was a great move for the Rockies, not so

843
00:42:13,800 --> 00:42:15,759
Speaker 1: good for the A's and of course the Braids know

844
00:42:15,960 --> 00:42:18,120
Speaker 1: you know when the A's may not so good decision

845
00:42:18,120 --> 00:42:21,120
Speaker 1: when it comes to Hey. But the reason I asked

846
00:42:21,120 --> 00:42:23,239
Speaker 1: these questions, Steven, it always is a good way to

847
00:42:23,400 --> 00:42:27,200
Speaker 1: end these episodes because it leads to even more fun conversation. Steven,

848
00:42:27,200 --> 00:42:28,640
Speaker 1: do you have anything else for us as we wrap

849
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Speaker 1: up this edition on the Hammer Territory Podcast.

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Speaker 2: No, just happy thanks Giving to everybody. Of course, I

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Speaker 2: think we're going to do a show. I think they

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Speaker 2: have a show planned for Friday. I think it's Brad

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Speaker 2: Scott maybe doing.

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Speaker 1: A mill bag.

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Speaker 2: I'll be out of town. But obviously, if anything breaks,

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Speaker 2: we'll get some content out of some sort. You know,

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Speaker 2: I don't expect anything to break in the next couple

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Speaker 2: of days, but that's exactly when stuff breaks is when

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Speaker 2: you least expect it, especially with Alex, so whatever happens,

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Speaker 2: we'll be on top of it one way another. But

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Speaker 2: if we don't, obviously, everybody have a happy Thanksgiving.

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Speaker 1: Until next time, we'll talk to you again soon. For

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Speaker 1: Steven you can find him at be Underscore Outliers, myself

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Speaker 1: at Stat's Sac Until next time, go Braze, we'll talk

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Speaker 1: to you against