1 00:00:06,519 --> 00:00:07,520 Speaker 1: What's up, everybody? 2 00:00:07,520 --> 00:00:11,319 Speaker 2: Happy New Year and welcome to an emergency episode of 3 00:00:11,400 --> 00:00:13,880 Speaker 2: Krush Shitty Territory. 'm channel the Room, joined by Tyler 4 00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:17,200 Speaker 2: Stafford and Tyler. I'm not sure if it's a harbinger 5 00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:20,400 Speaker 2: of good or bad to come that our first episode 6 00:00:20,440 --> 00:00:24,560 Speaker 2: of twenty twenty six is an emergency pod. But here 7 00:00:24,600 --> 00:00:29,080 Speaker 2: we are after the Astros made I don't think it's 8 00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:34,360 Speaker 2: hyperbolic to call this a pretty stunning signing on Thursday, 9 00:00:34,479 --> 00:00:36,600 Speaker 2: and signing's not even the right word. They have agreed 10 00:00:36,640 --> 00:00:40,960 Speaker 2: to terms on a three year deal with Japanese right 11 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:45,199 Speaker 2: handed free agent pitcher Tatsuya Emi. The deal is a 12 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:48,600 Speaker 2: little bit complicated, and we'll get into all the machinations 13 00:00:48,600 --> 00:00:51,040 Speaker 2: of some incentives, how much money he can make. 14 00:00:51,040 --> 00:00:52,600 Speaker 1: Where this leaves the Astros. We'll get into that in 15 00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:53,080 Speaker 1: a little bit. 16 00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:56,760 Speaker 2: But Tyler, first of all, you know, I consider myself 17 00:00:56,880 --> 00:00:59,520 Speaker 2: somewhat decent at this job. I kind of have a 18 00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:03,080 Speaker 2: pulse of what's going on. I kind of tend to, 19 00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:06,840 Speaker 2: you know, be able to tell you guys things. You know, 20 00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:09,640 Speaker 2: if you listen to me, I guess, if you listen 21 00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:11,320 Speaker 2: to me hard enough and you listen to like kind 22 00:01:11,319 --> 00:01:13,960 Speaker 2: of read them between the lines, you kind of understand 23 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:15,720 Speaker 2: that I'm trying to tell you the story without telling 24 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:19,640 Speaker 2: you the story. This one I had no clue about. 25 00:01:19,680 --> 00:01:22,240 Speaker 2: And I think this one shocked a lot of people 26 00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:23,200 Speaker 2: in the industry. 27 00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:24,480 Speaker 1: It shocked, you know. 28 00:01:24,680 --> 00:01:27,360 Speaker 2: I talked to some astros officials today that were a 29 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:28,960 Speaker 2: little bit you know, they said, oh, we had been 30 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:30,640 Speaker 2: talking about it a little bit, but they did not 31 00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:34,480 Speaker 2: know it had progressed to this magnitude. This is This 32 00:01:34,560 --> 00:01:36,760 Speaker 2: is a stunner, a stunner on New Year's Day for 33 00:01:36,800 --> 00:01:37,400 Speaker 2: the Astros. 34 00:01:37,720 --> 00:01:40,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, just when you thought the fireworks were over right, 35 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:44,399 Speaker 3: I mean, they come in here and then of course 36 00:01:45,080 --> 00:01:47,280 Speaker 3: Chandler over here. Oh, they're not going to sign a 37 00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:50,520 Speaker 3: free agent. This man has no idea what he's talking about. Clearly, 38 00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:55,040 Speaker 3: everybody unsubscribe like the video before you do, but don't 39 00:01:55,040 --> 00:01:58,240 Speaker 3: listen to Chandler. He clearly has no clue what's going on. 40 00:01:58,360 --> 00:01:58,440 Speaker 1: No. 41 00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:01,240 Speaker 3: I mean, this is awesome, It's a great sign. I 42 00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:04,520 Speaker 3: hope we do ten emergency podcasts of the Astro signing 43 00:02:05,240 --> 00:02:10,800 Speaker 3: a big name free agents. This is very exciting, really 44 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:17,000 Speaker 3: really good picture. I'm sure you've seen the the story 45 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:20,320 Speaker 3: of you know, when when he was posted. Of course, 46 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:24,440 Speaker 3: the first thought is Japanese superstar, you know, is now 47 00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:27,519 Speaker 3: a free agent or is able to sign an MLB, 48 00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:30,239 Speaker 3: He's going to go to the Dodgers. And I saw 49 00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:33,160 Speaker 3: the the story of him saying like, no, I don't 50 00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:34,600 Speaker 3: want to go to the Dodgers. I want to beat 51 00:02:34,639 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 3: the Dodgers. He came to the right place, uh, to 52 00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:40,280 Speaker 3: to the team that knows how to beat the Dodgers. 53 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:42,920 Speaker 3: Very very exciting. 54 00:02:42,520 --> 00:02:46,880 Speaker 2: News that that uh, that remark you're referencing. He made 55 00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:49,720 Speaker 2: that on a on I believe it was a podcast 56 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:52,280 Speaker 2: in Japan. Alongside Dice came out Susaka. 57 00:02:52,600 --> 00:02:54,320 Speaker 3: I cast, let's get him on. 58 00:02:54,520 --> 00:02:56,839 Speaker 2: Let's get him on the former Red Sox picture. Dice 59 00:02:56,880 --> 00:03:00,600 Speaker 2: came out Susaka. He uh, he had had on his 60 00:03:00,720 --> 00:03:06,720 Speaker 2: podcast and among the things he said that were interesting, obviously, 61 00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:07,640 Speaker 2: he said the thing about. 62 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:09,119 Speaker 1: The Dodgers, like who wants to beat the Dodgers? 63 00:03:09,160 --> 00:03:13,320 Speaker 2: Like he did not have like a real big It 64 00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:15,600 Speaker 2: wasn't a prerequisite for him that he go to a 65 00:03:15,639 --> 00:03:19,920 Speaker 2: team with a Japanese presence on it already. But I 66 00:03:19,919 --> 00:03:22,800 Speaker 2: thought this was interesting to hear him say this. And 67 00:03:22,840 --> 00:03:25,720 Speaker 2: this is from his podcast interview with Dice Ki Matsusaka. 68 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:28,800 Speaker 2: He said, if there were if there were another Japanese 69 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:31,000 Speaker 2: player on the same team, I could just ask them 70 00:03:31,040 --> 00:03:34,320 Speaker 2: about anything, right, But that's actually not what I'm looking for. 71 00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:35,120 Speaker 1: In a way. 72 00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:38,840 Speaker 2: I want to experience that sense of survival when I 73 00:03:38,880 --> 00:03:41,720 Speaker 2: come face to face with cultural differences. I want to 74 00:03:41,760 --> 00:03:44,480 Speaker 2: see how I can overcome them on my own. That's 75 00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:46,000 Speaker 2: part of what I'm excited about. 76 00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:47,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's the rules. 77 00:03:47,840 --> 00:03:51,480 Speaker 2: That's an awesome perspective to have. That's an awesome way 78 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:55,600 Speaker 2: to go about things. Certainly not you know, he's not 79 00:03:55,720 --> 00:03:58,040 Speaker 2: taking the easy way out, so to speak, of just 80 00:03:58,080 --> 00:04:00,360 Speaker 2: going on a team where he can blend in with, 81 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:03,720 Speaker 2: you know, other people in his culture, other people that 82 00:04:03,800 --> 00:04:04,960 Speaker 2: kind of know what he's going through. 83 00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:06,000 Speaker 1: He's going to. 84 00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:09,720 Speaker 2: A place in the Astros where he will be the 85 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:15,080 Speaker 2: only Asian presence on the teams. This is the astros 86 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:19,960 Speaker 2: first Japanese free agent signing since kas Matsui in two 87 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:22,440 Speaker 2: thousand and eight, and that was not Kasmatsui did not 88 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:25,960 Speaker 2: come from MPP. You know, Kasmatsui was already a big 89 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:28,560 Speaker 2: leaguer they had just they signed him. Now, obviously the 90 00:04:28,560 --> 00:04:31,160 Speaker 2: Astros have had Nori Aoki on their team. They had 91 00:04:31,200 --> 00:04:34,919 Speaker 2: Yusa Kakuchi on their team, but those were those were trades, 92 00:04:35,040 --> 00:04:36,680 Speaker 2: those were guys that they just kind of brought in 93 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:39,920 Speaker 2: for a little bit tylan in a in a more 94 00:04:39,960 --> 00:04:44,000 Speaker 2: macro sense like this makes the Astros, you know, players 95 00:04:44,040 --> 00:04:47,440 Speaker 2: now in the Japanese market, in a kind of a 96 00:04:47,440 --> 00:04:50,560 Speaker 2: burgeoning free agent market in Japan where you're seeing more 97 00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:55,120 Speaker 2: and more guys come over and post, and you're seeing 98 00:04:55,200 --> 00:04:58,359 Speaker 2: that it's you know, we've even seen this this off season. 99 00:04:58,400 --> 00:05:00,640 Speaker 2: Maria Kami went to the White Sox. It is not 100 00:05:00,839 --> 00:05:02,839 Speaker 2: it's no longer just they're going to post and go 101 00:05:02,880 --> 00:05:05,880 Speaker 2: to the Dodgers. There's other teams trying to get in 102 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:09,320 Speaker 2: on the on that windfall, and you know, you have 103 00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:12,000 Speaker 2: to credit what Otani has done. You have to credit 104 00:05:12,080 --> 00:05:14,480 Speaker 2: in large part a little bit Yamamoto what he has 105 00:05:14,520 --> 00:05:16,760 Speaker 2: been able to do and kind of show that these 106 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:20,440 Speaker 2: guys can come over and these guys can succeed in MLB. 107 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:23,680 Speaker 2: And I think from a macro sense, this puts the 108 00:05:23,720 --> 00:05:26,760 Speaker 2: Astros they are now they can now call themselves like 109 00:05:26,920 --> 00:05:31,360 Speaker 2: legitimate players in Japanese free agency and in MPB, which 110 00:05:31,400 --> 00:05:32,720 Speaker 2: is which is a pretty cool thing for them. 111 00:05:33,240 --> 00:05:36,480 Speaker 3: Yeah, maybe he has a dyike in air conditioner and 112 00:05:36,520 --> 00:05:40,679 Speaker 3: he's just you know, he was excited about that. Uh yeah, 113 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:46,360 Speaker 3: I mean it's it's huge news, like you said, very 114 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:49,920 Speaker 3: very exciting, and you're right it it does kind of 115 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:53,760 Speaker 3: open up. Uh. You know, the Astros have done obviously 116 00:05:54,960 --> 00:05:58,479 Speaker 3: a huge amount of success in the you know, kind 117 00:05:58,480 --> 00:06:02,039 Speaker 3: of Latin American caribbe in you know, that that side 118 00:06:02,080 --> 00:06:07,200 Speaker 3: of the world. But yeah, this opens up a whole 119 00:06:07,240 --> 00:06:10,400 Speaker 3: other part, not just for the astrosk but for MLB 120 00:06:10,520 --> 00:06:15,760 Speaker 3: in general. I think objectively it is good that Japanese 121 00:06:15,800 --> 00:06:20,119 Speaker 3: players are able to come over and sign with any 122 00:06:20,160 --> 00:06:22,800 Speaker 3: team and not feel like they are limited to a 123 00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:25,719 Speaker 3: handful of options. You mentioned a few, you know, pitchers 124 00:06:25,760 --> 00:06:29,320 Speaker 3: who are a little bit more current. I think this 125 00:06:29,400 --> 00:06:32,600 Speaker 3: is a very similar situation of you Darvish coming over 126 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:36,919 Speaker 3: to Texas, you know, ten fifteen years ago now where 127 00:06:38,040 --> 00:06:41,480 Speaker 3: just a you know, a superstar over there, but coming 128 00:06:41,520 --> 00:06:44,160 Speaker 3: to Texas and coming to a place that didn't really 129 00:06:44,200 --> 00:06:50,560 Speaker 3: have any any real Japanese connection. Yeah, that quote of 130 00:06:50,640 --> 00:06:53,120 Speaker 3: him saying like, yeah, I want to experience kind of 131 00:06:53,160 --> 00:06:58,240 Speaker 3: the the cultural shock. I know that this is a 132 00:06:58,279 --> 00:06:59,840 Speaker 3: different part of Asia, and I know it as a 133 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:04,880 Speaker 3: very different scenario. But I feel like he and Ryan 134 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:09,600 Speaker 3: Weiss will get along really well too, because they both 135 00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:11,920 Speaker 3: went over and you know, went to a place that 136 00:07:12,280 --> 00:07:16,040 Speaker 3: didn't have a lot of cultural ties. And Ryan obviously 137 00:07:16,040 --> 00:07:17,760 Speaker 3: really enjoyed it. When we had him on the pod, 138 00:07:17,800 --> 00:07:20,840 Speaker 3: he said he was, you know, excited to go back 139 00:07:20,920 --> 00:07:26,000 Speaker 3: and yeah, this is this is great, And boy is 140 00:07:26,080 --> 00:07:31,080 Speaker 3: it not exactly what the Astros team needs for this season. 141 00:07:31,160 --> 00:07:35,080 Speaker 3: A for real number two starter, a guy that can 142 00:07:35,840 --> 00:07:40,760 Speaker 3: pitch a lot innings well and that you can count on. 143 00:07:40,800 --> 00:07:42,560 Speaker 3: I mean, it's it's a perfect signing. 144 00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:47,640 Speaker 2: Let's let's break it down from a couple of different angles. 145 00:07:47,640 --> 00:07:48,920 Speaker 2: And before we do that, I'm going to ask you 146 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:52,560 Speaker 2: again please like the YouTube video guys, it really will 147 00:07:52,560 --> 00:07:54,080 Speaker 2: help us out. That can be one of your New 148 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:56,840 Speaker 2: Year's resolutions if you are if you are a frequent 149 00:07:56,920 --> 00:08:00,560 Speaker 2: watcher of this podcast on YouTube and you don't, just 150 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:03,600 Speaker 2: all you got to do, like look right below the screen. 151 00:08:03,640 --> 00:08:05,120 Speaker 2: All you gotta do is hit the thumbs up. It 152 00:08:05,160 --> 00:08:07,960 Speaker 2: takes two seconds. It takes two seconds. All we're asking 153 00:08:07,960 --> 00:08:10,800 Speaker 2: you to do. We're not asking you to put out 154 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:13,000 Speaker 2: there that you're listening. We're not asking you to tweet 155 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:15,280 Speaker 2: it share. Just asking for a like like the YouTube 156 00:08:15,320 --> 00:08:19,680 Speaker 2: video really helps us out, helps the algorithm helps makes 157 00:08:19,680 --> 00:08:22,200 Speaker 2: our bosses happy, and it allows us to keep doing this. 158 00:08:22,240 --> 00:08:22,880 Speaker 1: So that's cool. 159 00:08:24,600 --> 00:08:28,040 Speaker 2: Now, let's kind of talk about how this happened, and 160 00:08:28,560 --> 00:08:31,360 Speaker 2: a lot of this is a little bit of reading 161 00:08:31,360 --> 00:08:33,600 Speaker 2: between the lines. A lot of this is talking to 162 00:08:33,640 --> 00:08:35,960 Speaker 2: some people today that have been involved in this process. 163 00:08:37,160 --> 00:08:41,640 Speaker 2: Let's start out by acknowledging that the Athletics Tim Britton, 164 00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:45,439 Speaker 2: who does a very very good job of projecting contracts. 165 00:08:45,559 --> 00:08:49,520 Speaker 2: He takes comps from other guys that have done similar 166 00:08:49,600 --> 00:08:52,840 Speaker 2: things in the league. He comps free agents to other guys, 167 00:08:52,880 --> 00:08:56,480 Speaker 2: and he comes up with free agent contract projections before 168 00:08:56,480 --> 00:08:57,080 Speaker 2: every season. 169 00:08:57,120 --> 00:08:58,199 Speaker 1: He's There have. 170 00:08:58,160 --> 00:09:01,440 Speaker 2: Been many where he has been dead on in years, 171 00:09:01,520 --> 00:09:03,560 Speaker 2: dead on in money. He's been a little bit off 172 00:09:03,760 --> 00:09:06,520 Speaker 2: in some money, but most of the time he's pretty 173 00:09:06,520 --> 00:09:11,160 Speaker 2: close to reliable. He projected EMI to get eight years 174 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:14,040 Speaker 2: and one hundred and ninety million dollars, and that was 175 00:09:14,160 --> 00:09:16,280 Speaker 2: not He was not alone in that. There were there 176 00:09:16,280 --> 00:09:18,080 Speaker 2: were a lot of people, a lot of you know, 177 00:09:18,240 --> 00:09:22,679 Speaker 2: projections that had em I getting a long term deal, 178 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:25,760 Speaker 2: and Tyler, you and I both know that the Astros 179 00:09:25,760 --> 00:09:27,880 Speaker 2: are never going to do that. They are never going 180 00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:32,160 Speaker 2: to give, certainly a pitcher, They're never probably never going 181 00:09:32,200 --> 00:09:34,480 Speaker 2: to give a free agent eight or nine or ten 182 00:09:34,559 --> 00:09:36,280 Speaker 2: years as long as Jim Crane's the owner. 183 00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:38,520 Speaker 1: They just don't believe in that. They don't believe in 184 00:09:38,520 --> 00:09:39,080 Speaker 1: that kind of deal. 185 00:09:40,320 --> 00:09:44,640 Speaker 2: My understanding is that im I did have longer offers 186 00:09:44,720 --> 00:09:48,840 Speaker 2: on the table. That there were long I don't know 187 00:09:48,880 --> 00:09:50,640 Speaker 2: that they were eight years in length. 188 00:09:50,440 --> 00:09:50,960 Speaker 1: But they were. 189 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:55,440 Speaker 2: There were longer offers on the table with smaller average 190 00:09:55,440 --> 00:09:56,720 Speaker 2: annual values yearly. 191 00:09:57,559 --> 00:09:58,480 Speaker 1: But it became. 192 00:09:58,320 --> 00:10:02,319 Speaker 2: Clear that he was isn't going to get that sort 193 00:10:02,360 --> 00:10:05,079 Speaker 2: of contract, the one that Tim projected him for, the 194 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:09,880 Speaker 2: one that a lot of other insiders and analysts projected 195 00:10:09,880 --> 00:10:12,320 Speaker 2: Emi to get. So what do you do when you 196 00:10:12,320 --> 00:10:16,679 Speaker 2: don't get that. Well, they constructed this deal to where 197 00:10:16,760 --> 00:10:20,160 Speaker 2: it is essentially a pillow contract. And I don't know 198 00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:23,560 Speaker 2: what a pillow contract is. It's kind of one of 199 00:10:23,600 --> 00:10:26,480 Speaker 2: those contracts that allows a guy to get right back 200 00:10:26,520 --> 00:10:30,000 Speaker 2: into free agency. So this deal, it's a three year 201 00:10:30,040 --> 00:10:32,680 Speaker 2: deal with opt outs after each season. So think of 202 00:10:32,720 --> 00:10:35,600 Speaker 2: it like the Alex Bregman deal with the Red Sox 203 00:10:35,720 --> 00:10:36,240 Speaker 2: last year. 204 00:10:37,440 --> 00:10:39,480 Speaker 1: It is a total bet. 205 00:10:39,240 --> 00:10:42,160 Speaker 2: On Emi, it is if he goes out there and 206 00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:45,679 Speaker 2: he pitches like a number two or a number one starter, 207 00:10:45,800 --> 00:10:49,680 Speaker 2: you know what, he can opt out after this season, 208 00:10:50,280 --> 00:10:52,560 Speaker 2: go back into a free agent market next year. That 209 00:10:52,760 --> 00:10:56,120 Speaker 2: should be pretty aggressive because yes, there is a looming lockout, 210 00:10:56,280 --> 00:10:58,840 Speaker 2: but or what we think will be a looming lockout 211 00:10:58,920 --> 00:11:02,640 Speaker 2: once the CBA expires. But if you remember back to 212 00:11:02,720 --> 00:11:05,600 Speaker 2: when the CBA expired in twenty twenty two and there 213 00:11:05,640 --> 00:11:08,160 Speaker 2: was a lockout like that was when all the money 214 00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:11,120 Speaker 2: was changing hands. That was when you know, Seger got 215 00:11:11,120 --> 00:11:13,040 Speaker 2: his big deal. That was when Trey Turner got his 216 00:11:13,040 --> 00:11:15,400 Speaker 2: big deal. I think that was when Korea got both 217 00:11:15,440 --> 00:11:18,560 Speaker 2: of his three hundred million dollars you like. So suffice 218 00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:21,200 Speaker 2: to say, there will be there is precedent that there 219 00:11:21,240 --> 00:11:25,640 Speaker 2: will be aggression after before and after a lockout. So 220 00:11:26,600 --> 00:11:29,560 Speaker 2: it really kind of fell into the ASTROS lap that 221 00:11:30,120 --> 00:11:33,240 Speaker 2: this is the exact sort of contract that Jim Crane 222 00:11:33,320 --> 00:11:34,199 Speaker 2: is okay doing. 223 00:11:34,800 --> 00:11:36,440 Speaker 1: It's the short term. 224 00:11:36,840 --> 00:11:39,960 Speaker 2: It's a high ish aav So as of now, for 225 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:45,480 Speaker 2: the ASTROS luxury tax purposes, Tatsuya EMI's average annual value 226 00:11:45,559 --> 00:11:46,800 Speaker 2: is eighteen million. 227 00:11:46,520 --> 00:11:47,320 Speaker 1: Dollars per year. 228 00:11:47,960 --> 00:11:53,440 Speaker 2: Now he has million dollar incentives that are in each 229 00:11:53,520 --> 00:11:57,400 Speaker 2: year that for eighty ninety and one hundred innings pitched, 230 00:11:57,440 --> 00:12:00,960 Speaker 2: he gets a million more dollars, so could max out 231 00:12:00,960 --> 00:12:04,000 Speaker 2: at twenty one million dollars a year. That's why you know. 232 00:12:04,320 --> 00:12:08,280 Speaker 2: If things happen to where Tatsuya Emi stays for the 233 00:12:08,280 --> 00:12:11,319 Speaker 2: life of this contract and pitches at least one hundred 234 00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:13,480 Speaker 2: innings in each of the three years of this contract, 235 00:12:13,520 --> 00:12:14,400 Speaker 2: he can max out. 236 00:12:14,280 --> 00:12:15,839 Speaker 1: At sixty three million dollars. 237 00:12:16,400 --> 00:12:20,760 Speaker 2: Now he has Scott Boris as his representative, I would 238 00:12:20,840 --> 00:12:23,880 Speaker 2: imagine that they are going to seek a more a 239 00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:28,679 Speaker 2: longer term, more lucrative deal if Emi does what I 240 00:12:28,720 --> 00:12:31,040 Speaker 2: think Scott expects him to do, if Emi does what 241 00:12:31,080 --> 00:12:32,920 Speaker 2: the Astros expect him to do, which is come here 242 00:12:32,960 --> 00:12:36,080 Speaker 2: and pitch well. Just come here and establish yourself and 243 00:12:36,160 --> 00:12:40,320 Speaker 2: assert yourself as a high end number two, number three starter, 244 00:12:41,000 --> 00:12:43,840 Speaker 2: and pitch well enough to where if you opt out, 245 00:12:44,160 --> 00:12:45,719 Speaker 2: you can go get the sort of pay day that 246 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:48,559 Speaker 2: the Astros won't give you, and the Astros will benefit 247 00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:49,359 Speaker 2: from having. 248 00:12:49,080 --> 00:12:49,679 Speaker 1: You for a year. 249 00:12:49,800 --> 00:12:52,960 Speaker 2: But Tyler, there is some some wonder and some thought, 250 00:12:53,160 --> 00:12:56,040 Speaker 2: and I think the way his market played out only 251 00:12:56,080 --> 00:13:01,120 Speaker 2: accentuates it that he's maybe not the sure saying that 252 00:13:01,480 --> 00:13:06,000 Speaker 2: Yamamoto was that people thought Roki Sasaki will be There 253 00:13:06,000 --> 00:13:09,240 Speaker 2: are some questions here, but still the upside I think 254 00:13:09,320 --> 00:13:11,400 Speaker 2: was too much for the Astros to turn down, especially 255 00:13:11,400 --> 00:13:12,800 Speaker 2: when it landed in their lap like this. 256 00:13:13,280 --> 00:13:17,720 Speaker 3: Yeah, of course there's there's questions, but I mean it 257 00:13:17,760 --> 00:13:20,080 Speaker 3: makes a ton of sense for him too, because like 258 00:13:20,120 --> 00:13:23,600 Speaker 3: you said, I, if he's good after a year, somebody 259 00:13:23,679 --> 00:13:26,600 Speaker 3: is gonna give him the contract that he you know, 260 00:13:27,080 --> 00:13:31,000 Speaker 3: was projected for this offseason. And also, look, the Ashros 261 00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:35,440 Speaker 3: are in year by year when now mode, they're not in. 262 00:13:36,400 --> 00:13:39,520 Speaker 3: Let's sign a guy for eight years mode right now. 263 00:13:40,160 --> 00:13:43,280 Speaker 3: If he's great next season and he walks, do they 264 00:13:43,280 --> 00:13:46,920 Speaker 3: get a qualifying offer? Does that? Does that work if 265 00:13:46,960 --> 00:13:48,920 Speaker 3: you opt out of a contract. I don't know how 266 00:13:48,960 --> 00:13:50,920 Speaker 3: that works. I'd like this, I do. 267 00:13:51,120 --> 00:13:53,480 Speaker 2: I don't know that he'd be qualifying off for eligible. 268 00:13:53,520 --> 00:13:54,960 Speaker 2: I do not have that in front of me. I 269 00:13:54,960 --> 00:13:56,960 Speaker 2: need to look that up. I will, I will. I 270 00:13:56,960 --> 00:13:59,000 Speaker 2: will work that into whatever I write soon. But I 271 00:13:59,040 --> 00:14:05,079 Speaker 2: will say this, because they signed Emi, it prevented them from, 272 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:07,160 Speaker 2: you know, if they were looking in the free agent market. 273 00:14:07,160 --> 00:14:09,960 Speaker 2: It prevented them from you know, if Zach Gallan would 274 00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:12,640 Speaker 2: fall in their lap. He's a qualifying offer guy, same 275 00:14:12,640 --> 00:14:15,280 Speaker 2: as Rangers sware Az, same as if they were resigned 276 00:14:15,320 --> 00:14:18,440 Speaker 2: from er. He does not have a qualifying offer attached 277 00:14:18,440 --> 00:14:20,680 Speaker 2: to him. So they did all of this while getting 278 00:14:20,720 --> 00:14:22,360 Speaker 2: to keep all of their draft picks as well, which 279 00:14:22,400 --> 00:14:24,640 Speaker 2: is something, which is something also be said. 280 00:14:25,280 --> 00:14:29,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, and I mean yeah, I mean twenty twenty twenty 281 00:14:29,280 --> 00:14:32,680 Speaker 3: one million dollars for you know a guy. Let's let's 282 00:14:32,720 --> 00:14:38,160 Speaker 3: run through his stats just from last season in Japan. 283 00:14:38,200 --> 00:14:41,320 Speaker 3: I mean he had a one ninety two ERA one 284 00:14:41,400 --> 00:14:45,920 Speaker 3: hundred and sixty three innings, a whip under point nine, 285 00:14:45,960 --> 00:14:50,120 Speaker 3: which is great, and I'm striking out about ten per nine. Again, 286 00:14:50,160 --> 00:14:53,400 Speaker 3: those are not going to translate one for one over 287 00:14:53,480 --> 00:14:58,080 Speaker 3: from Japan. But look, man, he throws ninety five plus. 288 00:14:58,320 --> 00:15:01,360 Speaker 3: He's got a great slider with a lot of glove 289 00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:05,400 Speaker 3: side run. He throws a change up like three different ways, 290 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:08,800 Speaker 3: which is fun. He's got like a vulcan group. He's 291 00:15:08,800 --> 00:15:11,920 Speaker 3: got a you know, a splitter grip that he does 292 00:15:12,840 --> 00:15:18,520 Speaker 3: a normal change up grip too. Yeah, it's it's it's great. 293 00:15:19,080 --> 00:15:20,440 Speaker 3: I'm very excited. 294 00:15:21,680 --> 00:15:24,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, I've I've never seen him. I mean, I've seen 295 00:15:24,520 --> 00:15:27,000 Speaker 2: all the videos that you guys have probably spent all 296 00:15:27,040 --> 00:15:30,640 Speaker 2: morning watching and looking at. I've seen those. I I 297 00:15:31,320 --> 00:15:33,840 Speaker 2: can't sit here with authority and try to tell you 298 00:15:34,280 --> 00:15:36,720 Speaker 2: kind of what makes him good, what doesn't make him good? 299 00:15:36,760 --> 00:15:39,000 Speaker 2: Like I've talked to a couple evaluators in the league 300 00:15:39,040 --> 00:15:42,120 Speaker 2: that seem to think they're they're a little bit divided. 301 00:15:42,480 --> 00:15:45,040 Speaker 2: And you know, in the story that that we wrote today, 302 00:15:45,680 --> 00:15:48,840 Speaker 2: you know, Cody Stavenhagen, friend of the pod in front 303 00:15:48,840 --> 00:15:51,360 Speaker 2: of the Foul Territory Network, co host of co host 304 00:15:51,440 --> 00:15:54,360 Speaker 2: of Tiger Territory, he talked to a couple of guys, 305 00:15:54,360 --> 00:15:56,360 Speaker 2: He talked to a couple of people, you know before 306 00:15:56,480 --> 00:15:58,840 Speaker 2: while EMI was coming over him while he was posting, 307 00:15:59,200 --> 00:16:02,200 Speaker 2: kind of talked to some evaluators about what scared them, 308 00:16:02,240 --> 00:16:04,800 Speaker 2: what they liked about him, and basically, you know, one 309 00:16:04,960 --> 00:16:08,880 Speaker 2: National League evaluator told him that, you know, it's good stuff. 310 00:16:09,000 --> 00:16:11,400 Speaker 2: It's a deep arsenal. He's got about six or seven 311 00:16:11,400 --> 00:16:15,440 Speaker 2: pitches he can use. But there is some thought that 312 00:16:15,560 --> 00:16:19,200 Speaker 2: maybe at best he's a number three or a number four. 313 00:16:20,280 --> 00:16:24,880 Speaker 2: You know, I think certainly this raises the ceiling. This 314 00:16:25,080 --> 00:16:28,480 Speaker 2: raises the ceiling and raises the floor for the Astros 315 00:16:28,480 --> 00:16:33,520 Speaker 2: twenty twenty six rotation. This is not you know, there's 316 00:16:33,600 --> 00:16:38,840 Speaker 2: always going to be some just in the transition is 317 00:16:38,880 --> 00:16:41,480 Speaker 2: never as seamless as some people make it seem like 318 00:16:41,960 --> 00:16:45,600 Speaker 2: Otani's a freak, like coming over and just doing what 319 00:16:45,680 --> 00:16:49,480 Speaker 2: he did immediately. It just doesn't happen often. There will 320 00:16:49,520 --> 00:16:51,560 Speaker 2: be you know, you saw it. I think with Code 321 00:16:51,560 --> 00:16:54,000 Speaker 2: I single with the Mets, there have been, you know, 322 00:16:54,200 --> 00:16:56,360 Speaker 2: some some growing. 323 00:16:56,040 --> 00:16:56,680 Speaker 1: Pains with him. 324 00:16:56,720 --> 00:16:58,800 Speaker 2: I expect there to be some growing pains with Emi. Heck, 325 00:16:58,840 --> 00:17:01,720 Speaker 2: there were some growing pains with you Oshanoba Yamamoto his 326 00:17:01,800 --> 00:17:04,359 Speaker 2: first year in Los Angeles. And that's something that I 327 00:17:04,400 --> 00:17:08,080 Speaker 2: think you come to kind of expect when guys come 328 00:17:08,119 --> 00:17:11,440 Speaker 2: over from from MPB. Like it's a different baseball. It's 329 00:17:11,440 --> 00:17:14,520 Speaker 2: a different you know, the talent level here is just different. 330 00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:18,920 Speaker 2: It's you know, MLB is better than NPB. Like they 331 00:17:18,960 --> 00:17:22,680 Speaker 2: have better talent, they have better hitters. It's just it's 332 00:17:22,720 --> 00:17:25,879 Speaker 2: just a better quality of leagues. So there will be 333 00:17:25,920 --> 00:17:29,000 Speaker 2: some adjustments, you know, I he had a one nine 334 00:17:29,040 --> 00:17:31,520 Speaker 2: to two E and the NPB last year, I would 335 00:17:31,560 --> 00:17:33,479 Speaker 2: not you know, look, I think the Astros would be 336 00:17:33,520 --> 00:17:35,640 Speaker 2: ecstatic if he comes over and has a one nine 337 00:17:35,640 --> 00:17:38,240 Speaker 2: to two in his first MLB season. You know, I 338 00:17:38,560 --> 00:17:41,199 Speaker 2: don't think that's going to be the case, but I 339 00:17:41,240 --> 00:17:44,679 Speaker 2: do think Tyler, what they have done is they've built 340 00:17:44,720 --> 00:17:47,440 Speaker 2: out and just by what they've done this winter by 341 00:17:47,440 --> 00:17:50,720 Speaker 2: adding Weiss and Pearson and Burrows and what they have 342 00:17:50,880 --> 00:17:54,040 Speaker 2: coming back, like, they have enough insurance and they have 343 00:17:54,200 --> 00:17:56,320 Speaker 2: enough depth to where you know. 344 00:17:56,720 --> 00:17:59,560 Speaker 1: They're not going to be counting on this guy to 345 00:17:59,720 --> 00:18:01,880 Speaker 1: have of a sub. 346 00:18:01,640 --> 00:18:05,159 Speaker 2: Three era from the beginning that they've if built in 347 00:18:05,240 --> 00:18:08,119 Speaker 2: and they've built up enough depth for this guy to 348 00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:10,000 Speaker 2: you know, he's gonna be making a lot of money 349 00:18:10,040 --> 00:18:12,280 Speaker 2: and he's gonna slot in in the middle of the rotation. 350 00:18:12,320 --> 00:18:14,080 Speaker 2: Don't get me wrong. They're not gonna baby him, I 351 00:18:14,119 --> 00:18:16,760 Speaker 2: don't think, but you know, if the first couple starts 352 00:18:16,760 --> 00:18:18,840 Speaker 2: don't go well, and if they've got to, you know, 353 00:18:18,880 --> 00:18:22,199 Speaker 2: make some adjustments with him, like they've got enough around him. 354 00:18:22,240 --> 00:18:27,200 Speaker 2: They've got they have given themselves enough depth and given 355 00:18:27,240 --> 00:18:30,520 Speaker 2: themselves enough insurance to where I don't think this guy 356 00:18:30,640 --> 00:18:32,040 Speaker 2: has to come in and feel the. 357 00:18:32,080 --> 00:18:34,400 Speaker 1: Entire weight of the franchise and weight of the team 358 00:18:34,440 --> 00:18:35,360 Speaker 1: on his shoulders. 359 00:18:35,680 --> 00:18:41,439 Speaker 3: Yeah, I wonder if some of the concern is just 360 00:18:41,680 --> 00:18:45,680 Speaker 3: height wise. I mean, he's listed at five eleven, so 361 00:18:45,800 --> 00:18:48,280 Speaker 3: you know, you wonder if maybe that's some of the 362 00:18:48,359 --> 00:18:50,800 Speaker 3: concern he does. He has kind of a weird arm 363 00:18:50,920 --> 00:18:56,560 Speaker 3: slot too, But look, I mean he's been successful in Japan. 364 00:18:56,640 --> 00:19:02,280 Speaker 3: It's again you're right, it is not MLB, but MPB 365 00:19:02,480 --> 00:19:05,080 Speaker 3: is the second best league in the world, you know, 366 00:19:05,119 --> 00:19:10,840 Speaker 3: It's it's not like he's playing nobody's So yeah, and 367 00:19:10,920 --> 00:19:13,840 Speaker 3: the contract is perfect because, like you said, maybe the 368 00:19:13,920 --> 00:19:16,560 Speaker 3: first year is a little rough, and so maybe he 369 00:19:16,560 --> 00:19:18,720 Speaker 3: doesn't opt out after the first year, but maybe he 370 00:19:18,800 --> 00:19:22,800 Speaker 3: catches fire in the second year and then opts out 371 00:19:22,840 --> 00:19:26,159 Speaker 3: after that, and I'm sure the Astros would again be 372 00:19:26,240 --> 00:19:30,760 Speaker 3: more than happy with that. You know, opt outs are 373 00:19:30,760 --> 00:19:35,320 Speaker 3: funny because you know, you don't want somebody to opt out, 374 00:19:35,320 --> 00:19:37,720 Speaker 3: But at the same time, if they had a season 375 00:19:37,800 --> 00:19:40,560 Speaker 3: good enough to opt out, you probably had a pretty 376 00:19:40,560 --> 00:19:44,280 Speaker 3: good season on your team and you'll take it. So 377 00:19:44,480 --> 00:19:46,359 Speaker 3: I mean, I think it makes a ton of sense 378 00:19:46,440 --> 00:19:48,159 Speaker 3: for both sides. 379 00:19:48,680 --> 00:19:51,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, Like, as you said, like the Astros right now 380 00:19:51,080 --> 00:19:53,199 Speaker 2: are not they can't be thinking like they should be, 381 00:19:53,280 --> 00:19:55,720 Speaker 2: but they can't be thinking about twenty twenty seven and 382 00:19:55,760 --> 00:19:58,679 Speaker 2: twenty twenty eight, like they want to win this season, 383 00:19:58,880 --> 00:20:01,639 Speaker 2: like they've got a priority this season, having the twenty 384 00:20:01,680 --> 00:20:05,359 Speaker 2: twenty six Astros ready to win and put themselves in 385 00:20:05,400 --> 00:20:08,840 Speaker 2: a position to be be ready to win. And I 386 00:20:08,880 --> 00:20:13,760 Speaker 2: think this helps in that endeavor greatly. You know, we 387 00:20:13,840 --> 00:20:15,760 Speaker 2: talked about and one thing that's kind of been bouncing 388 00:20:15,760 --> 00:20:17,919 Speaker 2: in my head, and we talked about how the Ashers 389 00:20:17,960 --> 00:20:21,440 Speaker 2: have not had a footprint in the Japanese market in 390 00:20:21,520 --> 00:20:25,360 Speaker 2: a long time. You know, they did acquire Usseka Kuci 391 00:20:25,880 --> 00:20:29,840 Speaker 2: in twenty twenty three, and look, Yusaka Kuchi's left handed. 392 00:20:30,080 --> 00:20:32,800 Speaker 1: Emi is right handed. They're not. 393 00:20:33,200 --> 00:20:36,119 Speaker 2: They have some similar characteristics in their arsenal. You know, 394 00:20:36,200 --> 00:20:38,840 Speaker 2: you say is about six foot six foot one, you know, 395 00:20:38,920 --> 00:20:43,080 Speaker 2: Emi is about five ten, five eleven. They've got some 396 00:20:43,240 --> 00:20:45,199 Speaker 2: of the same pitch mix and they've got some of 397 00:20:45,200 --> 00:20:47,760 Speaker 2: the same stuff. But to say that they are the 398 00:20:47,840 --> 00:20:49,840 Speaker 2: exact same pitcher as disingenuous. 399 00:20:50,000 --> 00:20:52,040 Speaker 1: But it has had me thinking. 400 00:20:52,040 --> 00:20:56,040 Speaker 2: You know, yuse Ka Kuci is represented by Scott Morris, 401 00:20:56,160 --> 00:21:00,479 Speaker 2: just as Tatsuya Emai is. I talked to Scott Boris 402 00:21:01,480 --> 00:21:03,800 Speaker 2: during that two months when we were in Anaheim, when 403 00:21:03,920 --> 00:21:05,920 Speaker 2: Kakuchi made a start in Anaheim, and I talked to 404 00:21:05,960 --> 00:21:10,200 Speaker 2: Scott about kind of what the Ashers had done with Kokuchi, 405 00:21:10,280 --> 00:21:12,199 Speaker 2: and he was I mean I wrote about it at 406 00:21:12,240 --> 00:21:14,919 Speaker 2: the Athletic like. He was very impressed and impressed him 407 00:21:14,960 --> 00:21:17,200 Speaker 2: kind of the plan they had for him that making 408 00:21:17,240 --> 00:21:20,120 Speaker 2: him comfortable and we all saw what Kokuchi was able 409 00:21:20,119 --> 00:21:23,040 Speaker 2: to do down the stretch. He parlayed that into a 410 00:21:23,080 --> 00:21:27,240 Speaker 2: big payday with the Angels. So while they maybe haven't 411 00:21:27,280 --> 00:21:32,600 Speaker 2: had the footprint from an MPB perspective of signing those guys, 412 00:21:32,600 --> 00:21:34,080 Speaker 2: of being legitimate. 413 00:21:33,600 --> 00:21:36,840 Speaker 1: Contenders for those guys, Scott Boris got an. 414 00:21:36,880 --> 00:21:39,960 Speaker 2: Up close and personal look at what the Astros pitching 415 00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:45,600 Speaker 2: development infrastructure can do with a Japanese pitcher that has 416 00:21:45,720 --> 00:21:50,639 Speaker 2: at least some of the same profile as Emi. I 417 00:21:50,720 --> 00:21:53,240 Speaker 2: wonder how much that played into this, just the fact 418 00:21:53,240 --> 00:21:57,640 Speaker 2: that the Ashers have had success in tinkering and allowing 419 00:21:57,720 --> 00:22:00,760 Speaker 2: him to come in and talk about transosicians like you 420 00:22:00,920 --> 00:22:02,800 Speaker 2: say's transition into. 421 00:22:02,880 --> 00:22:04,520 Speaker 1: The Houston Clubhouse was seamless. 422 00:22:04,680 --> 00:22:08,240 Speaker 2: I mean, didn't know anyone, they didn't have any Japanese players, 423 00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:12,320 Speaker 2: kind of came in very blind and they welcomed him 424 00:22:12,320 --> 00:22:15,359 Speaker 2: with open arms. The pitching coaches and the analytic team 425 00:22:15,440 --> 00:22:17,760 Speaker 2: was able to distill some stuff down for him, and 426 00:22:17,760 --> 00:22:19,480 Speaker 2: he was able to have one of the greatest runs 427 00:22:19,520 --> 00:22:22,320 Speaker 2: of his career. Look, at the end of the day, 428 00:22:22,359 --> 00:22:25,080 Speaker 2: this all comes down to money. At ninety nine percent 429 00:22:25,119 --> 00:22:28,040 Speaker 2: of the time, these negotiations come down to money. They 430 00:22:28,040 --> 00:22:30,080 Speaker 2: come down to who has the best offer. They come 431 00:22:30,119 --> 00:22:34,040 Speaker 2: down to all that stuff. But don't discount Kakuchi's two 432 00:22:34,080 --> 00:22:38,199 Speaker 2: months here that I think that left a resonating presence 433 00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:40,600 Speaker 2: with Scott Morris. I think it left a resonating presence 434 00:22:40,600 --> 00:22:42,720 Speaker 2: with a lot of you know, people in the industry 435 00:22:42,760 --> 00:22:46,280 Speaker 2: that we've known for a long time. At the Astros 436 00:22:46,280 --> 00:22:51,400 Speaker 2: do a very good job of identifying, developing and helping pitchers. 437 00:22:52,000 --> 00:22:54,359 Speaker 2: I think that put it on a bigger stage, a 438 00:22:54,359 --> 00:22:57,280 Speaker 2: bigger platform, And I wonder how much maybe that had 439 00:22:57,320 --> 00:22:59,760 Speaker 2: at least something that could be a feather in the 440 00:22:59,800 --> 00:23:01,800 Speaker 2: apps Astro's cap when it got down to this and 441 00:23:01,840 --> 00:23:03,480 Speaker 2: they realized that this could be a possibility. 442 00:23:03,840 --> 00:23:06,720 Speaker 3: Yeah. And I think I also saw that the Astro 443 00:23:06,840 --> 00:23:09,719 Speaker 3: scouted him like out of high school too, that they've 444 00:23:09,800 --> 00:23:14,639 Speaker 3: had some sort of relationship, right, Is that is that correct? 445 00:23:15,920 --> 00:23:16,720 Speaker 3: I believe emi? 446 00:23:16,880 --> 00:23:17,000 Speaker 1: Right. 447 00:23:17,040 --> 00:23:18,480 Speaker 3: I think I saw somewhere they. 448 00:23:18,480 --> 00:23:20,800 Speaker 2: Did scout the scout a Kakuchi when he was coming 449 00:23:20,800 --> 00:23:23,280 Speaker 2: over as well. I wouldn't be Yeah, I wouldn't be 450 00:23:23,280 --> 00:23:25,879 Speaker 2: surprised if they scouted Emi as well. 451 00:23:26,359 --> 00:23:26,640 Speaker 1: The one. 452 00:23:26,680 --> 00:23:28,320 Speaker 2: The other thing I will say is that the Astros 453 00:23:28,359 --> 00:23:31,240 Speaker 2: have And the only reason I know this is because 454 00:23:31,840 --> 00:23:35,600 Speaker 2: I literally get emails those LinkedIn sponsored emails, because I 455 00:23:35,680 --> 00:23:38,359 Speaker 2: followed some of the people on I followed some of 456 00:23:38,359 --> 00:23:40,919 Speaker 2: the Astro's front office members on LinkedIn, just as you 457 00:23:40,960 --> 00:23:44,240 Speaker 2: know you would normally do. They are posting for like 458 00:23:44,640 --> 00:23:48,720 Speaker 2: Asian Pacific Room, like Scouts, so this is not just 459 00:23:48,840 --> 00:23:52,520 Speaker 2: a one off thing, like they are trying to get 460 00:23:52,520 --> 00:23:56,560 Speaker 2: a deeper footprint in that market. And I think, you know, 461 00:23:56,720 --> 00:24:00,520 Speaker 2: I think Kakuchi helped. I think, you know, I think 462 00:24:00,600 --> 00:24:03,560 Speaker 2: seeing them seeing what he can do and what that 463 00:24:03,760 --> 00:24:06,280 Speaker 2: was like having him for two months, kind of the 464 00:24:06,320 --> 00:24:08,960 Speaker 2: exposure that got. And then I know we joked about 465 00:24:08,960 --> 00:24:11,600 Speaker 2: it at the beginning, but I can't separate myself from 466 00:24:11,640 --> 00:24:14,440 Speaker 2: like they re like diyke And bought the naming rights 467 00:24:14,440 --> 00:24:18,120 Speaker 2: to the ballpark in January or February, so that we're 468 00:24:18,119 --> 00:24:19,760 Speaker 2: coming up on about a year that dyke and has 469 00:24:19,800 --> 00:24:25,000 Speaker 2: brought bought the naming rights, And I think Jim Crane 470 00:24:25,040 --> 00:24:27,040 Speaker 2: on that day or in the days afterward, you know, 471 00:24:27,160 --> 00:24:31,159 Speaker 2: did make some mention of yeah, you know, now that 472 00:24:31,200 --> 00:24:33,399 Speaker 2: we have this, maybe we can be a bigger player 473 00:24:33,520 --> 00:24:36,840 Speaker 2: in that pool. And I'm not saying that the two 474 00:24:36,880 --> 00:24:39,080 Speaker 2: are a direct like one is a direct result of 475 00:24:39,119 --> 00:24:41,200 Speaker 2: the other. That I don't think they signed Emi because 476 00:24:42,040 --> 00:24:44,679 Speaker 2: they're now called dike In Park, But don't think that 477 00:24:44,720 --> 00:24:47,159 Speaker 2: doesn't have anything to do with it, because there were 478 00:24:47,240 --> 00:24:51,120 Speaker 2: multiple times this year where there were guests of Jim 479 00:24:51,160 --> 00:24:55,680 Speaker 2: Crane that were from the Japanese hub of dyke In. 480 00:24:55,760 --> 00:24:59,080 Speaker 2: Where dyke In is found and located is in Japan, 481 00:24:59,119 --> 00:25:02,400 Speaker 2: in Osaka, Japan, And there were many home stands where 482 00:25:02,440 --> 00:25:05,080 Speaker 2: on a couple of occasions, you know, Jim had a 483 00:25:05,160 --> 00:25:08,679 Speaker 2: Japanese contingent from Dyikan that was showing around, sat in 484 00:25:08,680 --> 00:25:11,000 Speaker 2: the suite with him at the games. So like, don't 485 00:25:11,040 --> 00:25:14,320 Speaker 2: discount that either that this that that certainly could have 486 00:25:14,440 --> 00:25:16,840 Speaker 2: at least been somewhat of a. 487 00:25:16,800 --> 00:25:17,359 Speaker 1: Factor in this. 488 00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:23,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, and I've covered a few Astros games when Otani 489 00:25:24,119 --> 00:25:26,480 Speaker 3: was with the Angels, and I'm sure you can speak 490 00:25:26,520 --> 00:25:31,919 Speaker 3: to this, but anytime Otani is playing somewhere, there is 491 00:25:32,000 --> 00:25:38,040 Speaker 3: a humongous Japanese media contingency, or at least you know, 492 00:25:38,240 --> 00:25:39,640 Speaker 3: in the first couple of years that he was here. 493 00:25:39,800 --> 00:25:42,040 Speaker 3: I'm sure it's still the same, but those first couple 494 00:25:42,080 --> 00:25:45,560 Speaker 3: of years when he came over, they were live broadcasting 495 00:25:45,720 --> 00:25:49,520 Speaker 3: all of his games back in Japan. And look that 496 00:25:49,760 --> 00:25:53,239 Speaker 3: the Angels were playing the Astros eighteen games a year, like, 497 00:25:53,760 --> 00:25:57,520 Speaker 3: and people in Japan saw the Astros just dominate for 498 00:25:58,080 --> 00:26:02,000 Speaker 3: years while Otani was the biggest thing in Japanese baseball, 499 00:26:02,520 --> 00:26:04,800 Speaker 3: so that that certainly could have something to do with 500 00:26:04,840 --> 00:26:08,920 Speaker 3: it as well as Okay, this team is obviously very good. Uh, 501 00:26:08,960 --> 00:26:12,080 Speaker 3: they've seen that a lot. Uh. Is he gonna be 502 00:26:12,160 --> 00:26:14,960 Speaker 3: on the World Baseball Classic team? Do you know? 503 00:26:15,240 --> 00:26:16,000 Speaker 1: I haven't looked. 504 00:26:16,760 --> 00:26:18,640 Speaker 3: I like to see his name, but I'm not I'm 505 00:26:18,680 --> 00:26:21,080 Speaker 3: not sure that they've fully announced their roster yet. 506 00:26:21,359 --> 00:26:24,280 Speaker 2: I mean, I think there will be a press conference 507 00:26:24,320 --> 00:26:26,800 Speaker 2: with Emi and within the next couple of days, so 508 00:26:26,840 --> 00:26:29,600 Speaker 2: I'd imagine he will be asked that when he meets 509 00:26:29,640 --> 00:26:32,600 Speaker 2: the media here in Houston. I do not know that 510 00:26:32,640 --> 00:26:35,480 Speaker 2: off the top of my head, but it would stand 511 00:26:35,520 --> 00:26:38,040 Speaker 2: the reason that if he wants to play, I don't 512 00:26:38,040 --> 00:26:42,040 Speaker 2: see why the Ashers would would say no. But yeah, 513 00:26:42,080 --> 00:26:46,200 Speaker 2: because because you know, Jim Crane dyk In Park is 514 00:26:46,240 --> 00:26:49,000 Speaker 2: hosting the WBC, like Jim Crane is a fan of 515 00:26:49,000 --> 00:26:51,240 Speaker 2: the WBC, Like I don't think the team is going 516 00:26:51,240 --> 00:26:53,040 Speaker 2: to stand in the way of any player that wants 517 00:26:53,080 --> 00:26:53,440 Speaker 2: to play. 518 00:26:54,040 --> 00:26:59,359 Speaker 3: Now, my my only concern is, with all of the 519 00:26:59,400 --> 00:27:02,280 Speaker 3: technology you talk from this year, are are we do 520 00:27:02,359 --> 00:27:05,120 Speaker 3: we know that he is real? His last name is 521 00:27:05,440 --> 00:27:10,320 Speaker 3: I'm a I. Uh So that's that's one concern that 522 00:27:10,400 --> 00:27:12,600 Speaker 3: I have that we haven't seen him in person. So 523 00:27:12,640 --> 00:27:15,720 Speaker 3: that's why I'm looking for the the WBC to make sure. 524 00:27:17,800 --> 00:27:20,000 Speaker 1: I don't even know how to follow that one up. 525 00:27:21,160 --> 00:27:23,280 Speaker 2: It is weirding me out though, that the Rockets coach 526 00:27:23,359 --> 00:27:29,000 Speaker 2: is Odoka and that guy is em I, So I'm 527 00:27:29,000 --> 00:27:30,960 Speaker 2: having to like separate those two in my head. I 528 00:27:31,000 --> 00:27:32,720 Speaker 2: did some radio this past week and we talked a 529 00:27:32,720 --> 00:27:34,960 Speaker 2: lot of Rockets and I kept saying May and so 530 00:27:35,000 --> 00:27:38,399 Speaker 2: I have to get em in my head now. I 531 00:27:38,600 --> 00:27:42,640 Speaker 2: was writing something that will probably go live tomorrow morning. 532 00:27:42,640 --> 00:27:42,920 Speaker 1: I don't know. 533 00:27:42,960 --> 00:27:45,280 Speaker 2: It's a holiday. No one's reading them, so who knows 534 00:27:45,280 --> 00:27:48,359 Speaker 2: one of the will go live? But if anything, Tyler, 535 00:27:48,400 --> 00:27:51,320 Speaker 2: this accentuates like there's gonna be some competition in spring training. 536 00:27:51,680 --> 00:27:52,440 Speaker 3: Mm hmm, like. 537 00:27:52,760 --> 00:27:55,119 Speaker 2: They've got I mean, this is a good problem to have, 538 00:27:55,160 --> 00:27:57,360 Speaker 2: don't get me wrong, but they've almost got too many starters. 539 00:27:58,760 --> 00:28:01,720 Speaker 2: You know, we we have talked that they will probably 540 00:28:01,760 --> 00:28:03,760 Speaker 2: have to run a six man rotation to start the year. 541 00:28:03,840 --> 00:28:06,920 Speaker 2: With twenty five games in twenty seven days, you start 542 00:28:07,000 --> 00:28:09,359 Speaker 2: to kind of fill it out. Now you've got four 543 00:28:09,400 --> 00:28:14,200 Speaker 2: spots just about guaranteed with Hunter Brown, tatsia Emi, Mike Burrows, 544 00:28:14,200 --> 00:28:18,480 Speaker 2: and Christian Hoavier, and then it's Ryan Weiss, Nate Pearson, 545 00:28:18,760 --> 00:28:23,960 Speaker 2: Lance McCullers, Spencer Arraghetti, aj blue Ball, Colton Gordon, Jason 546 00:28:24,000 --> 00:28:28,120 Speaker 2: Alexander all four two spots to open the season. Then 547 00:28:28,160 --> 00:28:31,199 Speaker 2: probably one spot you know, when they get into a 548 00:28:31,200 --> 00:28:33,320 Speaker 2: five man so look injuries always. 549 00:28:33,480 --> 00:28:35,920 Speaker 3: Can you imagine how good of a problem that would be. 550 00:28:36,000 --> 00:28:40,040 Speaker 3: It's a problem too many starters. I'd be so excited, Well, 551 00:28:40,040 --> 00:28:41,719 Speaker 3: what are we gonna do with all these guys? 552 00:28:41,960 --> 00:28:45,640 Speaker 2: Right, this is a good problem to have. First and foremost, 553 00:28:45,720 --> 00:28:47,280 Speaker 2: this is not a this is not an issue. This 554 00:28:47,360 --> 00:28:49,600 Speaker 2: is not something they have to go down. This is good. 555 00:28:49,680 --> 00:28:51,720 Speaker 2: If they can go they go to the spring training 556 00:28:51,760 --> 00:28:54,720 Speaker 2: with this, be fine. But it's going to underscore that 557 00:28:54,760 --> 00:28:56,840 Speaker 2: there's gonna be some tough conversations to have to be had. 558 00:28:57,480 --> 00:29:00,440 Speaker 2: Ryan Weiss was on this pod like a month ago 559 00:29:00,480 --> 00:29:03,600 Speaker 2: and pretty emphatically said, like, I ain't a reliever, Like 560 00:29:03,960 --> 00:29:07,760 Speaker 2: I'm a starter, and I took this to start, you know. 561 00:29:07,840 --> 00:29:10,200 Speaker 2: Nate Pearson said, one of the reasons that he signed 562 00:29:10,200 --> 00:29:12,560 Speaker 2: with the Astros is because they're going to let him start. 563 00:29:13,720 --> 00:29:19,280 Speaker 2: You have the Lance McCullers junior situation. M that's also there. 564 00:29:19,360 --> 00:29:21,320 Speaker 3: So I'm making eighteen million dollars. 565 00:29:21,600 --> 00:29:26,880 Speaker 2: Seventeen but also sorry, represented by Scott Bores. You've got 566 00:29:27,200 --> 00:29:31,360 Speaker 2: and you've got Spencer Araghetti, who I mean was excellent 567 00:29:31,560 --> 00:29:34,239 Speaker 2: the second half two years ago, but really hasn't you know. 568 00:29:35,160 --> 00:29:37,920 Speaker 2: So there's a lot of difficult conversations to be had. 569 00:29:37,960 --> 00:29:40,240 Speaker 3: Who cares that's a future problem. Well, we'll figure that 570 00:29:40,280 --> 00:29:42,360 Speaker 3: out later. I don't care. I'm excited that they have 571 00:29:42,440 --> 00:29:45,920 Speaker 3: this many pictures. Can you imagine two months ago saying 572 00:29:45,920 --> 00:29:47,320 Speaker 3: what are the Astros going to do with all this 573 00:29:47,440 --> 00:29:51,360 Speaker 3: starting pitching depth? I mean, this is a great problem 574 00:29:51,400 --> 00:29:53,760 Speaker 3: to have. Go get another one, keep doing it. 575 00:29:53,760 --> 00:29:53,880 Speaker 1: Well. 576 00:29:53,880 --> 00:29:55,400 Speaker 2: I was about to say, everyone can stop asking me 577 00:29:55,400 --> 00:29:59,680 Speaker 2: about Justin ber Leander. I would imagine this closes that door. 578 00:30:00,240 --> 00:30:02,240 Speaker 3: I don't know. Are they over the luxury tax? Now? 579 00:30:02,280 --> 00:30:04,960 Speaker 3: Who cares? Just go get it. We're getting to that, Okay. 580 00:30:06,000 --> 00:30:09,080 Speaker 2: The door for Justin Erliner to come to Houston was open. 581 00:30:09,240 --> 00:30:12,840 Speaker 2: It always is. I think it's closed a little bit 582 00:30:12,880 --> 00:30:15,880 Speaker 2: more now. But was the thing earlier in the in 583 00:30:15,920 --> 00:30:19,880 Speaker 2: the off season. Just warn't lined up money wise, as 584 00:30:19,920 --> 00:30:25,680 Speaker 2: I understand it. As I understand it, the official luxury 585 00:30:25,760 --> 00:30:30,400 Speaker 2: tax number for EMI's contract the AAV this year is 586 00:30:30,440 --> 00:30:36,000 Speaker 2: eighteen million dollars. Now, if you go to Cott's contracts, 587 00:30:37,200 --> 00:30:39,680 Speaker 2: I need. I'm doing this on the fly and seeing 588 00:30:39,720 --> 00:30:41,720 Speaker 2: if they have updated it yet. I do not believe 589 00:30:41,760 --> 00:30:44,440 Speaker 2: they have updated their their spreadsheet yet, which is actually good. 590 00:30:45,120 --> 00:30:49,920 Speaker 2: So before this agreement was put into place, according to 591 00:30:49,960 --> 00:30:53,200 Speaker 2: Kott's contracts, the Astros were about twenty two point two 592 00:30:53,280 --> 00:30:57,360 Speaker 2: million dollars under the first luxury tax. If the AV 593 00:30:57,560 --> 00:31:00,800 Speaker 2: hit is eighteen million dollars, as i'm that's what the 594 00:31:00,840 --> 00:31:05,920 Speaker 2: official luxury tax hit will be, they are still under. 595 00:31:07,480 --> 00:31:08,160 Speaker 1: Not by much. 596 00:31:08,680 --> 00:31:12,360 Speaker 2: They do want to get a backup catcher, which is 597 00:31:12,400 --> 00:31:16,920 Speaker 2: going to cost money. I would not be surprised if 598 00:31:17,280 --> 00:31:21,200 Speaker 2: there is another trade allah what they did with Ryan 599 00:31:21,240 --> 00:31:25,520 Speaker 2: Presley last year. You can kind of start to to 600 00:31:27,280 --> 00:31:30,280 Speaker 2: trace a little more parallel. Last year, right, they signed 601 00:31:30,360 --> 00:31:35,280 Speaker 2: Christian Walker and they got up near the luxury tax, 602 00:31:35,400 --> 00:31:38,520 Speaker 2: but they weren't all the way, they weren't over it yet, 603 00:31:38,640 --> 00:31:40,280 Speaker 2: and it was just like they still need to make 604 00:31:40,320 --> 00:31:42,600 Speaker 2: some rooms. So they shipped Ryan Presley. They found an 605 00:31:42,640 --> 00:31:46,360 Speaker 2: expendable high salary, shipped Ryan Presley, paid down some of it, 606 00:31:46,400 --> 00:31:50,000 Speaker 2: and he went to Chicot. Would not be surprised if 607 00:31:50,040 --> 00:31:53,479 Speaker 2: there is another trade of that ilk one that they find, 608 00:31:54,960 --> 00:31:59,480 Speaker 2: they find someone on a with a substantial ish salary 609 00:31:59,480 --> 00:32:03,240 Speaker 2: to get them a little further under the tax. We'll 610 00:32:03,280 --> 00:32:06,760 Speaker 2: continue to reiterate. You know, it would likely come from 611 00:32:06,800 --> 00:32:10,440 Speaker 2: the infield, likely come you know, one of Estak Paratus 612 00:32:10,640 --> 00:32:13,760 Speaker 2: or Christian Walker. You know, remember Ryan Presley had a 613 00:32:13,760 --> 00:32:16,840 Speaker 2: fourteen million dollar salary when they traded him last year. Now, 614 00:32:16,880 --> 00:32:19,800 Speaker 2: the Astros paid down I believe six million of it, 615 00:32:20,240 --> 00:32:23,200 Speaker 2: but they got eight million off their books. Everyone the 616 00:32:23,520 --> 00:32:27,480 Speaker 2: Jake Myers conversation, I know we had that all winter. 617 00:32:27,600 --> 00:32:30,160 Speaker 2: But he's only going to make about four million dollars 618 00:32:30,200 --> 00:32:30,880 Speaker 2: in arbitration. 619 00:32:31,120 --> 00:32:34,080 Speaker 3: Like I'm not here, Sanchez is making six right. 620 00:32:33,960 --> 00:32:37,760 Speaker 2: So maybe you look at a hay Sue Sanchez, also 621 00:32:37,800 --> 00:32:39,040 Speaker 2: represented by Scott Boris. 622 00:32:39,040 --> 00:32:41,360 Speaker 1: We've got so much Scott Boris over. 623 00:32:42,080 --> 00:32:44,520 Speaker 3: Time must be a big agent. I've never heard of 624 00:32:44,560 --> 00:32:46,840 Speaker 3: this man, is he? Is he a big deal? 625 00:32:47,120 --> 00:32:49,520 Speaker 1: He's kind of a big deal. I hope. 626 00:32:49,600 --> 00:32:52,320 Speaker 2: So he's gonna he will one hundred percent be at 627 00:32:52,320 --> 00:32:54,680 Speaker 2: this news conference whenever it is next week. 628 00:32:54,720 --> 00:32:57,160 Speaker 3: I can you tell him about my writing? Can you? 629 00:32:57,280 --> 00:32:58,800 Speaker 3: Can you ask him if I can get on that. 630 00:32:59,360 --> 00:33:00,600 Speaker 1: I'll slip your business card. 631 00:33:00,680 --> 00:33:02,880 Speaker 2: But also, like one of my favorite things about Scott 632 00:33:02,920 --> 00:33:07,360 Speaker 2: is that he color coats his suits and his blazers 633 00:33:07,400 --> 00:33:11,120 Speaker 2: to whatever the team he is going to sit on 634 00:33:11,160 --> 00:33:14,760 Speaker 2: the dais for Like, he wore like a beautiful green 635 00:33:14,920 --> 00:33:19,080 Speaker 2: blazer when the Mariners introduced somebody that he that he had, Like, 636 00:33:19,160 --> 00:33:21,360 Speaker 2: he'll he'll wear red if he goes to the Phillies 637 00:33:21,440 --> 00:33:23,600 Speaker 2: or something. I hope he shows up in like a 638 00:33:23,680 --> 00:33:24,920 Speaker 2: neon orange blazer. 639 00:33:25,040 --> 00:33:26,800 Speaker 3: I hope he shows up dressed like a orbit. 640 00:33:27,880 --> 00:33:29,960 Speaker 1: That would be great, that would be great. 641 00:33:30,880 --> 00:33:33,840 Speaker 3: Big old shoes, big green jacket, that'd be great. 642 00:33:34,360 --> 00:33:34,800 Speaker 1: Yeah. 643 00:33:34,840 --> 00:33:41,280 Speaker 2: But so trades his Sanchez obviously, now not that he 644 00:33:41,360 --> 00:33:43,840 Speaker 2: ever wasn't a trade candidate. But I think now you 645 00:33:43,880 --> 00:33:45,880 Speaker 2: start to look at him as that's gonna be about 646 00:33:45,880 --> 00:33:48,120 Speaker 2: a six seven million dollars that could help you get 647 00:33:48,200 --> 00:33:52,080 Speaker 2: under Yeah that, but you know they still have to, 648 00:33:52,160 --> 00:33:54,760 Speaker 2: you know, solve the infield logjam. You know, I do 649 00:33:55,160 --> 00:33:58,320 Speaker 2: still wonder, you know, just for practicality and for roster 650 00:33:58,400 --> 00:34:02,080 Speaker 2: purposes and keeping everyone happy and keeping everyone content, it 651 00:34:02,080 --> 00:34:08,120 Speaker 2: would seem that one of Walker or Paradus would be 652 00:34:08,520 --> 00:34:11,279 Speaker 2: the guy in terms of substantial amount of money you 653 00:34:11,320 --> 00:34:14,560 Speaker 2: can move a guy that two guys that are expendable. 654 00:34:14,960 --> 00:34:17,759 Speaker 2: Not I know you fans would not like if he 655 00:34:17,840 --> 00:34:21,120 Speaker 2: saw Paradis got traded. But there is no place for 656 00:34:21,239 --> 00:34:24,880 Speaker 2: him to play regularly on this current iteration of the roster. 657 00:34:25,000 --> 00:34:29,040 Speaker 1: So he's playing Winterable, right, Yeah. 658 00:34:29,920 --> 00:34:32,920 Speaker 3: What I didn't his leg fall off? Like, why is 659 00:34:32,920 --> 00:34:37,000 Speaker 3: he not sleeping in a cryo chamber somewhere? How's he 660 00:34:37,000 --> 00:34:38,840 Speaker 3: out just playing winter ball? I mean, I know he 661 00:34:38,920 --> 00:34:40,800 Speaker 3: came back for like two days at the end of 662 00:34:40,880 --> 00:34:44,640 Speaker 3: last season, but that guy just loves ball. He's out 663 00:34:44,640 --> 00:34:46,640 Speaker 3: there just playing playing winter ball. 664 00:34:47,080 --> 00:34:49,719 Speaker 1: He loves ball, does love ball. 665 00:34:50,000 --> 00:34:53,920 Speaker 3: But so yeah, Esac's making ten, Christian Walker's making twenty. 666 00:34:54,280 --> 00:34:58,880 Speaker 3: Christian Harvey is making twenty one. Lance mccullor is making seventeen. Uh, 667 00:34:59,040 --> 00:35:01,280 Speaker 3: you know, you you do have some bigger name guys, 668 00:35:01,280 --> 00:35:06,520 Speaker 3: but I think I mean clearly Hazu Sanchez is there's 669 00:35:06,600 --> 00:35:10,440 Speaker 3: no way the Astros start the season with with him 670 00:35:10,440 --> 00:35:13,640 Speaker 3: on the roster. With the way that they're constructed currently. 671 00:35:14,320 --> 00:35:20,319 Speaker 3: You got two left fielders already. You've got Zach Yeah, 672 00:35:20,360 --> 00:35:23,680 Speaker 3: you got al Tuvan jord On like that left field, 673 00:35:23,920 --> 00:35:24,200 Speaker 3: both of. 674 00:35:24,200 --> 00:35:26,680 Speaker 2: Whom, like the manager has literally said out loud, I 675 00:35:26,680 --> 00:35:28,520 Speaker 2: do not want either of them playing left field. 676 00:35:28,800 --> 00:35:34,360 Speaker 3: Well, too bad. That's that's where your roster is. Figure 677 00:35:34,360 --> 00:35:37,000 Speaker 3: that out later, but that's those are your left fielders. 678 00:35:38,320 --> 00:35:41,520 Speaker 3: You know, you you've got some some logjams there. I 679 00:35:41,840 --> 00:35:45,160 Speaker 3: don't I don't see a spot for Haze Sanchez, even 680 00:35:45,200 --> 00:35:50,200 Speaker 3: if he had, you know, performed a little bit better. Uh. 681 00:35:50,239 --> 00:35:53,000 Speaker 3: You know, I think that's one that you can look at. 682 00:35:53,440 --> 00:35:59,600 Speaker 3: You've got uh you know, like I've said, I know 683 00:35:59,640 --> 00:36:01,799 Speaker 3: they're not going to do this, but Brian A. Bray 684 00:36:01,840 --> 00:36:04,040 Speaker 3: you to me, makes a ton of sense as a 685 00:36:04,040 --> 00:36:07,080 Speaker 3: as a trade chip, just because this is the last 686 00:36:07,120 --> 00:36:10,879 Speaker 3: year of his contract. He's a huge Really, he's making 687 00:36:10,920 --> 00:36:14,399 Speaker 3: five million. You know, I could see a scenario where 688 00:36:14,440 --> 00:36:19,680 Speaker 3: you could include Brian A bray you with a salary 689 00:36:21,000 --> 00:36:24,200 Speaker 3: dump as well, because he's obviously way undervalued at five 690 00:36:24,239 --> 00:36:28,319 Speaker 3: million dollars. There's there's certainly ways to get value there too. 691 00:36:29,960 --> 00:36:33,040 Speaker 3: But man, what a what a rotation all of a sudden? 692 00:36:33,040 --> 00:36:34,480 Speaker 3: Where did this come from. 693 00:36:35,480 --> 00:36:38,080 Speaker 1: Jim Crane's wallet? Man, yeah, no money, all. 694 00:36:38,000 --> 00:36:38,840 Speaker 3: It takes his money. 695 00:36:38,880 --> 00:36:41,600 Speaker 1: This all takes easy, Yeah, just just money. 696 00:36:41,880 --> 00:36:44,160 Speaker 3: Just pay the good players. It's not that hard. 697 00:36:44,840 --> 00:36:49,600 Speaker 1: I'm going to reiterate again. Two things can be true. 698 00:36:50,280 --> 00:36:55,200 Speaker 2: Their rotation today is far better than it was at 699 00:36:55,239 --> 00:36:58,080 Speaker 2: any point in twenty twenty five, at any point towards 700 00:36:58,080 --> 00:37:00,800 Speaker 2: the end of twenty twenty five. Their rotation is better today. 701 00:37:02,200 --> 00:37:05,840 Speaker 2: But you know, there is no guarantee that Emi just 702 00:37:06,000 --> 00:37:10,840 Speaker 2: completely becomes this force of a number two. The reason 703 00:37:10,840 --> 00:37:13,760 Speaker 2: why he fell into the Astros lapse, the reason why 704 00:37:13,840 --> 00:37:17,279 Speaker 2: he was willing to take a deal like this is 705 00:37:17,320 --> 00:37:21,640 Speaker 2: because of the uncertainty. Is because of there was market uncertainty. 706 00:37:21,640 --> 00:37:23,960 Speaker 2: There was uncertainty within the sport as to how well 707 00:37:24,040 --> 00:37:27,880 Speaker 2: he will translate here. And this is a this qualifies 708 00:37:27,920 --> 00:37:30,040 Speaker 2: as a gamble by the Astros. But I think it's 709 00:37:30,040 --> 00:37:31,719 Speaker 2: as I think it's a sensible one. I think it's 710 00:37:31,760 --> 00:37:35,160 Speaker 2: a practical one. I think you're gambling on a guy 711 00:37:35,200 --> 00:37:40,200 Speaker 2: that has proven he can pitch at the highest level 712 00:37:41,440 --> 00:37:44,560 Speaker 2: we've talked about. MLB is a little bit. MLB is 713 00:37:44,560 --> 00:37:47,360 Speaker 2: a better league than MPB, but it's not. His stats 714 00:37:47,360 --> 00:37:50,120 Speaker 2: are nothing to slouch at. He has pitched, he has 715 00:37:50,160 --> 00:37:53,759 Speaker 2: been durable, he has been able to succeed at the 716 00:37:53,800 --> 00:37:57,600 Speaker 2: professional level. The Astros just have to hope that the 717 00:37:57,760 --> 00:38:02,279 Speaker 2: learning curve is not as steep for him as it 718 00:38:02,640 --> 00:38:04,720 Speaker 2: can be for some MPB guys. 719 00:38:04,880 --> 00:38:08,520 Speaker 3: I'd prefer you not to use all three words of 720 00:38:08,880 --> 00:38:13,080 Speaker 3: Japanese translate and gamble in the in the same sentence 721 00:38:13,080 --> 00:38:18,080 Speaker 3: when talking about a baseball player. Let's let's let's keep 722 00:38:18,120 --> 00:38:20,479 Speaker 3: that out of here. But yeah, I mean, of course 723 00:38:20,520 --> 00:38:23,560 Speaker 3: it's a gamble. I mean, but yeah, you're right. This 724 00:38:23,560 --> 00:38:26,200 Speaker 3: This makes a ton of sense for where the Astros 725 00:38:26,200 --> 00:38:27,960 Speaker 3: are at currently. It makes a ton of sense for 726 00:38:27,960 --> 00:38:32,319 Speaker 3: for e May as well. H My, Emi, you you 727 00:38:32,920 --> 00:38:34,680 Speaker 3: did this to me. I wouldn't have had that in 728 00:38:34,719 --> 00:38:37,320 Speaker 3: my head unless you did it. This is your fault. 729 00:38:37,480 --> 00:38:38,959 Speaker 3: I'm upset with you. Now. 730 00:38:40,600 --> 00:38:43,359 Speaker 2: Well, that's that's a perfect way to end the first 731 00:38:43,440 --> 00:38:46,760 Speaker 2: podcast of twenty twenty six, Tyler complaining that he's upset 732 00:38:46,800 --> 00:38:51,040 Speaker 2: with me. Well, this was uh, this was not how 733 00:38:51,040 --> 00:38:54,640 Speaker 2: I envisioned my New Year's Day going. But alas, this 734 00:38:54,760 --> 00:38:56,680 Speaker 2: is only a harbinger of great things to come for 735 00:38:56,719 --> 00:38:58,880 Speaker 2: the next three hundred and sixty four days. 736 00:38:59,360 --> 00:39:01,279 Speaker 1: Of this year, during which we. 737 00:39:01,280 --> 00:39:04,359 Speaker 2: Will be around to talk about the Ashers, talk about 738 00:39:04,360 --> 00:39:09,160 Speaker 2: Tatsuya Emi, and to talk about this revamped rotation, including 739 00:39:09,320 --> 00:39:14,840 Speaker 2: a special guest later this week to discuss that revamped rotation. 740 00:39:14,880 --> 00:39:16,600 Speaker 2: But until then, you can follow me on x at 741 00:39:16,640 --> 00:39:20,000 Speaker 2: Chandler Underscore Room. You can follow Tyler at Tyler C. Stafford. 742 00:39:20,000 --> 00:39:22,960 Speaker 2: As always, please rate and review us on Apple and Spotify. 743 00:39:23,280 --> 00:39:26,279 Speaker 2: Please subscribe to the YouTube channel, and as always, like 744 00:39:26,480 --> 00:39:29,440 Speaker 2: the video, when you subscribe to the YouTube channel, you 745 00:39:29,480 --> 00:39:32,839 Speaker 2: get notified anytime we go live or anytime we post 746 00:39:32,880 --> 00:39:34,400 Speaker 2: a new pot. We should have gone live today, I 747 00:39:34,440 --> 00:39:36,719 Speaker 2: should have been a today, could have been again. 748 00:39:36,760 --> 00:39:37,480 Speaker 1: It's New Year's Day. 749 00:39:37,480 --> 00:39:42,120 Speaker 2: Everybody's watching Texas Tech like play with themselves against Oregon. 750 00:39:42,200 --> 00:39:44,000 Speaker 2: It's not going well for them. Sorry for them, but 751 00:39:44,360 --> 00:39:46,120 Speaker 2: everyone's watching that. No one's listening to this, so we 752 00:39:46,120 --> 00:39:47,439 Speaker 2: could have done it. We could have done a live 753 00:39:47,480 --> 00:39:49,600 Speaker 2: see how it goes. But we'll do one of those soon. 754 00:39:49,640 --> 00:39:52,960 Speaker 2: At some point, maybe in the next week or so, 755 00:39:53,000 --> 00:39:56,080 Speaker 2: we'll do one, but until then we will talk to 756 00:39:56,080 --> 00:39:56,359 Speaker 2: you soon. 757 00:39:56,400 --> 00:39:57,560 Speaker 1: We appreciate you guys listening. 758 00:39:57,600 --> 00:40:00,319 Speaker 2: Hope everyone had a safe New Year's Eve and a 759 00:40:00,440 --> 00:40:02,680 Speaker 2: happy New Year's Day. To all of you, to a 760 00:40:03,640 --> 00:40:07,120 Speaker 2: prosperous and fruitful twenty twenty six. Thank you guys for listening. 761 00:40:07,600 --> 00:40:07,960 Speaker 1: Ami