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Speaker 1: I've come one and all to the Hembry Territory Podcast.

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Speaker 1: My name is Sean Coleman. Hope, wherever you are and

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Speaker 1: wherever you are listening, you are having a great weekend.

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Speaker 1: You're having a great start to your holiday season. And

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Speaker 1: you know what, there's one thing that America deserves when

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Speaker 1: it comes to the twenty twenty five holiday season, and

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Speaker 1: that is the latest edition of the Coleman and Coleman

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Speaker 1: Law Firm Show. Sean Coleman here with Scott Coleman to

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Speaker 1: cover the latest, not much in terms of latest, but

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Speaker 1: to cover the latest when it comes to the Atlanta Braves. Scott,

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Speaker 1: Happy holidays to you and your families. You're always a pleasure,

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Speaker 1: one of the best when it comes to talking Braves.

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Speaker 1: Pleasure to do one of these with you again, Hey.

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Speaker 2: Sean, it is always a privilege to bring together the

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Speaker 2: Coleman Coleman Law Firm. And you're right, man, I mean,

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Speaker 2: the last maybe seventy two hours or so for the

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Speaker 2: Braves have been relatively quiet, but we've also had a

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Speaker 2: flurry of activity through the first month and a half

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Speaker 2: of the offseason. A couple of big time signings and

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Speaker 2: a trade for Atlanta and we'll see. Man, it feels

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Speaker 2: like maybe this upcoming week, not just for the Braves

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Speaker 2: but across all of Major League Baseball is going to

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Speaker 2: continue to be a busy one before things then quiet

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Speaker 2: down usually around Christmas and New Year's before ramping up

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Speaker 2: again in January.

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Speaker 1: Yeah. Absolutely, and you know that that definitely is the case.

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Speaker 1: You know, the Braves have been one of the more

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Speaker 1: active teams out there. But I think this kind of

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Speaker 1: you know, is a nice segue right into the theme

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Speaker 1: of our show today, a Sunday mailbag show. Many on

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Speaker 1: social media were kind enough to, you know, throw some

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Speaker 1: questions out there for us, and you know, many of

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Speaker 1: the you know, similar questions we're asked, and we're going

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Speaker 1: to cover a variety of different topics. But I think

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Speaker 1: that that's a nice segue into things. You know. You

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Speaker 1: and Steven Tolbert obviously did a wonderful job breaking down

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Speaker 1: the side of like Kastremsky as well as Robert Sworez.

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Speaker 1: So the Braves had done a lot of their heavy

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Speaker 1: lifting through free agency so far atting Iglesia's War as

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Speaker 1: as well as Yastremsky. They've taken care of some needs.

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Speaker 1: They've taken care of helping the bullpen out, getting some depth,

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Speaker 1: so on and so forth. But to me, the one

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Speaker 1: thing that remains is they've made a lot of significant moves,

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Speaker 1: but it still feels like a major move is out

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Speaker 1: there because they have two big spots they really need

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Speaker 1: to address, shortstop and starting pitching, especially depathies when it

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Speaker 1: comes to the starting pitching side of things, and Scott,

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Speaker 1: shortstop was a big focus of what a lot of

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Speaker 1: people were asking us about when it comes to these

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Speaker 1: mailbag questions. I know we've talked a lot about the

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Speaker 1: shortstop position, so let's position it first with this Scott.

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Speaker 1: As of today, we've heard so many names that are

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Speaker 1: out there, some names that are available in free agents,

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Speaker 1: some names that are available in trade. For right now,

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Speaker 1: to what level and what avenue do you feel the

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Speaker 1: Braves are It makes the most sense for the Braves

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Speaker 1: to really you apply their focus to address the shortstop position.

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Speaker 2: Great question, and a big thank you to everybody who

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Speaker 2: sent in questions. We got a ton of them and

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Speaker 2: we're going to do our best to cover as much

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Speaker 2: ground tonight.

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Speaker 3: As we can.

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Speaker 2: But if I guess, and it is Sunday, December fourteenth, Monday,

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Speaker 2: December fifteenth, when folks are going to be listening, my

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Speaker 2: guess is that they will ultimately come to a reunion

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Speaker 2: with Hassan Kim. I think Kim is probably the cleanest,

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Speaker 2: most straightforward way to improve the position in twenty twenty six,

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Speaker 2: maybe twenty twenty seven. But the fact is, Hassan Kim

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Speaker 2: is a Scott Boris client, and Boris clients, things can

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Speaker 2: go sideways.

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Speaker 3: It can drag out.

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Speaker 2: I don't know, and I think that's why we saw

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Speaker 2: the Mauricio Dubon trade so early in the offseason, on

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Speaker 2: the chance that it's going to drag out until February

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Speaker 2: or even early March. You feel like with Dubon you

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Speaker 2: at least have something of a shortstop in hand. But

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Speaker 2: my guest today would be Hassan Kim.

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Speaker 1: I think Asaan Kim, to your point, is the cleanest,

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Speaker 1: you know, I don't necessarily know of most certain as

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Speaker 1: the way of doing it, but probably also not as

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Speaker 1: much risk as other potential, you know, moves that are

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Speaker 1: out there. You know, you kind of know what you're

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Speaker 1: getting with Hassan Kim. Again, it's not a star. It's

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Speaker 1: probably league average in a lot of waves, but when

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Speaker 1: you've had the lowest production offensive lise at shortstop and

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Speaker 1: you're projected to be that way once again. League averages

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Speaker 1: is a significant upgrade. So I think that I could

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Speaker 1: definitely see that working out. But of course, you know,

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Speaker 1: many of our mailbag questions are going to focus on,

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Speaker 1: you know, the top end sort of things, and you know,

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Speaker 1: we've heard some rumblings about Corey Seeger. We've heard we

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Speaker 1: loose tie ins with the Braves potentially going after Bobu

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Speaker 1: shit I do. I will say this, if there was

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Speaker 1: a time for the Braves to make a major move,

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Speaker 1: if there was a time for Alex and Thopolis to

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Speaker 1: kind of go against how he's operated in the past

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Speaker 1: and be willing neither to pay a high price and

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Speaker 1: free agency or pay a high prospect price to take

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Speaker 1: on salary to get a major impact player right now,

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Speaker 1: with the shortstop position being as big of a need

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Speaker 1: as it is the offense needing a clear difference maker still,

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Speaker 1: in my opinion, and under performance over the past couple

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Speaker 1: of years, now would be the time. Find it highly unlikely,

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Speaker 1: but I do feel that that there's any time now

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Speaker 1: for Alex and Thoppolis to make that type of move.

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Speaker 1: Now is the time to do it.

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Speaker 2: So let's talk about Bobachhett just for a couple of minutes.

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Speaker 2: We've mentioned Bo's name on the show over the last

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Speaker 2: month and a half, and look, man, there is zero

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Speaker 2: question about Bobashett the hitter. Like for a middle infielder,

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Speaker 2: this dude is probably top five, top ten in baseball.

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Speaker 3: Really since the day.

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Speaker 2: That Bishet came up, he has been a really, really

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Speaker 2: good hitter. He was hurt throughout basically the entirety of

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Speaker 2: twenty twenty four, but he was awesome. I mean, he

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Speaker 2: was as good as he's really ever been this past season.

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Speaker 2: Of course, was the shortstop for most of the year

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Speaker 2: with Toronto before coming down with an injury at the

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Speaker 2: very end. The concern with Bishett is his defense, and

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Speaker 2: we have mentioned it on the show. If you look

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Speaker 2: at things like outs above average, which is an advanced

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Speaker 2: defensive metric, Bishett is arguably the worst middle infielder defensively

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Speaker 2: in baseball. And that's a challenge. And that's an obstacle

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Speaker 2: because Alexandopolis has always prided himself on a good defensive shortstop,

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Speaker 2: whether it was Danzy Sponson or even Orlando Arcia or

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Speaker 2: Nick Allen, who couldn't hit my fastball, but they could

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Speaker 2: really pick it and play some good.

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Speaker 3: Defense at short.

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Speaker 2: So I would be surprised if it's Bobaschett. I would

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Speaker 2: hope the Braves are at least going to feel that

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Speaker 2: out and have a conversation. I'm also pretty concerned if Bobachett,

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Speaker 2: who's only twenty seven years old, so he's younger than

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Speaker 2: most free agents. But it feels like, and if you

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Speaker 2: look at some of the contract projections out there, that

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Speaker 2: he's going to get a seven, maybe even eight year deal.

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Speaker 2: It seems like the Blue Jays, who of course know

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Speaker 2: Bashett and have a lot of money to spend, are

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Speaker 2: also still interested in a reunion. So my guess is

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Speaker 2: that when Bashett signs, it's not going to be with

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Speaker 2: the Braves, and it'll be for a high amount of

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Speaker 2: dollars and years where I just don't think we'll come

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Speaker 2: on and do a show and go. Man, where was

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Speaker 2: Alex on this deal? This seemed really reasonable.

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Speaker 1: I definitely think that he's going to get two hundred

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Speaker 1: plus me in. I mean, Robert Murray came on the

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Speaker 1: show a couple of weeks ago and legitimately I'm paraphrasing this,

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Speaker 1: but legitimately straightforward said he feels that Bobashett could land

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Speaker 1: more money than people may project, and that may have

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Speaker 1: changed over time. But I agree with you. The one

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Speaker 1: thing that Alex does value at the shortstop position is defense.

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Speaker 1: And here's another angle to look at this. You've got

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Speaker 1: Austin Riley who's still owed one hundred and fifty plus million.

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Speaker 1: You've got Ronald Acunya Junior who signed long term, who

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Speaker 1: you obviously want to keep around for the entirety of

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Speaker 1: his career. If you give Boba Schett two hundred plus

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Speaker 1: me and to go with those guys, then you've got

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Speaker 1: ronald'kunya Junior, Austin Riley as well as Boba Schett, who

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Speaker 1: have massive money that is owed to them well into

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Speaker 1: their thirties. And each one of them probably is going

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Speaker 1: to become at least somewhat of a liability wherever they

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Speaker 1: are on the diamond defensively, and that's going to be

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Speaker 1: a hard thing to overcome, no matter how much offense

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Speaker 1: they can provide. So I just I don't know if

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Speaker 1: Alex and Thopless is going to go that route. Now,

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Speaker 1: Corey Seger, we could talk about him as well. That

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Speaker 1: could be an angle that they look at potentially. But

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Speaker 1: again I agree with you, it just it does not

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Speaker 1: seem likely because it would just go kind of against

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Speaker 1: how alex Is operated throughout his time with the Braves.

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Speaker 2: And you know, one interesting thought with Bashett is, Okay,

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Speaker 2: maybe he's not a shortstop over the course of the

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Speaker 2: seven years on his contract, but you could probably play

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Speaker 2: Bashett at shortstop for a year or two and see

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Speaker 2: how it goes, and then if and when Ozzie Alby's

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Speaker 2: is no longer on the team, you could move Bashette

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Speaker 2: to second base for the final four or five years

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Speaker 2: of his deal. But you're right, Sean, I mean, this

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Speaker 2: team already has some pretty big financial commitments to Riley.

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Speaker 2: Matt Olsen has also owed a large amount of money

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Speaker 2: at first base as well. And you mentioned to Kunya,

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Speaker 2: as long as the Braves want to keep him, and god,

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Speaker 2: let's hope so Akunya is probably gonna get a three

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Speaker 2: hundred million dollar contract one day, assuming his knees hold up.

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Speaker 2: So for that reason, I don't think koshet is necessarily likely,

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Speaker 2: but I wouldn't say it's a zero percent. And then

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Speaker 2: on Corey Seger. I mean, I love Corey Seeger. He's

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Speaker 2: such a talented ballplayer. I have PTSD from when he

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Speaker 2: single handedly beat the Braves in the NLCS. Was that

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Speaker 2: twenty twenty, I think in the bubble year where he

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Speaker 2: just he had like a two thousand ops in that

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Speaker 2: NLCS against Atlanta. He does have injury concerns though, and

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Speaker 2: because he has six years and one hundred and eighty

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Speaker 2: nine million dollars left on that contract in Texas, I

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Speaker 2: just don't think the Rangers are gonna fully punt. If

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Speaker 2: the Braves had some expendable, young, major league ready players

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Speaker 2: ready to trade, then maybe, But I just don't see

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Speaker 2: it either. You know, I would love Seeger. If Segar

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Speaker 2: comes on, man, we will do we will do a

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Speaker 2: four man podcast talking about how excited we are about it.

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Speaker 2: I just I will believe it when I see it

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Speaker 2: if Texas actually trades.

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Speaker 1: It, absolutely. But in wrapping up, you know, the shortstop

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Speaker 1: side of things, because again I know we've talked about

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Speaker 1: it kind of, you know, at length, but it's because

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Speaker 1: it's such a big need and one of the reasons

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Speaker 1: why also that Alex Nthopolis has focused on it as

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Speaker 1: a need is because you know, when you look at

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Speaker 1: the Braves middle infield situation, it's been pretty if there's

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Speaker 1: the offense overall has underperformed. But a big reason why

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Speaker 1: is because again up the middle, the Braves have just

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Speaker 1: had months and months of near league worst offensive production,

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Speaker 1: and that a law, of course, you know, goes along

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Speaker 1: with Ozzy Albi's who's dealt with injuries. He's dealt with

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Speaker 1: having to try to come back from those risk injuries

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Speaker 1: that has kind of sapped his overall offensive potential. Got

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Speaker 1: a couple of questions even you know, asking, you know,

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Speaker 1: is Ozzy Albi's an everyday player now? I think if healthy,

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Speaker 1: that absolutely is the case. But I also don't blame

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Speaker 1: the Braves for kind of, you know, needing to have

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Speaker 1: a bigger insurance plan in the case that's not what's

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Speaker 1: in place for Ozzy Albi's. That's why they have Mauricio Dubon.

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Speaker 1: So if Albi's, you know, were to come into the

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Speaker 1: year still recovering from injury, Debond may need to play

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Speaker 1: more second base, which makes shortstop even bigger of a need.

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Speaker 1: That is one theme that came at these mailbag questions

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Speaker 1: that I definitely think is you know, we're mentioning, you know,

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Speaker 1: the middle infield as a whole is something that the

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Speaker 1: Braves need to continue getting certainty in.

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Speaker 2: It really really sucks that Ozzie broke his wrist again

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Speaker 2: or broke his hand or whatever little bone it was

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Speaker 2: that he broke towards the end of the season, because

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Speaker 2: we saw there was really no power early in the year,

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Speaker 2: but then Ozzie was terrific in the second half and

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Speaker 2: was really hitting the ball, hitting for power, doing the

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Speaker 2: things that make Ozzie Albys such a successful baseball player

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Speaker 2: for the entirety of his career. And then he has

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Speaker 2: another hand injury. And for a player who really has

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Speaker 2: to get home on power because he's never been on

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Speaker 2: base guy, he's he has a decent batting average, but

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Speaker 2: Ozzi Alby's hits for power in order to get there offensively.

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Speaker 2: It really stunk that he hurt himself and basically a

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Speaker 2: meaningless game towards the end of the season. And you're right, man, like,

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Speaker 2: if Ozzie comes back and he just doesn't have any power,

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Speaker 2: if Mauricio Dubon is playing shortstop every day, you don't

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Speaker 2: really have an option at that point. I mean, I'm

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Speaker 2: sure the Braves will have somebody in Gwinette who could

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Speaker 2: play second base if Ozzi Alby's just isn't right. But

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Speaker 2: that's also why I think adding a shortstop is so important.

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Speaker 2: It would free up Mauricio Dubon, who would be a

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Speaker 2: totally fine second baseman, would be an elite glove there.

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Speaker 2: And truthfully, I mean, if you simmed it out a

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Speaker 2: thousand times sean with Ozzi Alby's at second base in

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Speaker 2: twenty twenty six and Mauricio Dubon at second base in

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Speaker 2: twenty twenty six, I would take Ozzy Alby's, But I

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Speaker 2: also don't think it's like an absolute no brainer. I mean,

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Speaker 2: Mauricio Dubon would be totally fine at second base, and

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Speaker 2: I mean, frankly, the Braves might need him at some

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Speaker 2: point to fill in if Ozzy just doesn't have the

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Speaker 2: pop that he used to have have.

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Speaker 1: And let's not forget if you go out and get

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Speaker 1: like a hass On Kim, for instance, if Ozzie were

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Speaker 1: to not be available, you could always play Hassan Kim

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Speaker 1: at second and then play Dubond at shortstop, and that

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Speaker 1: would be able to maximize your defense. So you know,

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Speaker 1: the Braves definitely need to find you know, what they can.

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Speaker 1: You know, another fun question that many asked us, if

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Speaker 1: we were to say today, who are starting shortstop would be?

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Speaker 1: I know that Hassong Kim is the fun answer underrated

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Speaker 1: answer to me, I really like the Ezekiel Tovar of

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Speaker 1: the Colorado Rockies. I know that offensively he's not shown

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Speaker 1: a lot, but power projection wise, there's a lot of

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Speaker 1: those projection systems that kind of like him. Plus the

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Speaker 1: defense has been there in the past. I think that

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Speaker 1: he could be an option as well. So the Braves

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Speaker 1: could go a lot of different waves. But I think

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Speaker 1: that a spotlight needs to remain on just how important

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Speaker 1: it is for the Braves to continue to explore those

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Speaker 1: ways to really find some certainty if it could be

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Speaker 1: a long term option at the shortstop position. But that's

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Speaker 1: not the only need, and that wasn't the only focus

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Speaker 1: of our mailbag questions. We're going to get into another

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Speaker 1: So Scott, of course you know the braves again have

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Speaker 1: done some heavy lifting so far compared to other teams

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Speaker 1: this offseason. But another theme of our mailback questions that

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Speaker 1: we got multiple versions of was what would the Braves

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Speaker 1: next move look like for this team? You know, again,

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Speaker 1: you know, they've made some moves. They've shored up the bullpen.

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Speaker 1: You know, they've added to utility man, they've added to

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Speaker 1: the outfield depth. Those were kind of the secondary needs

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Speaker 1: shortstop and starting pitching depth remain, you know, the main

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Speaker 1: needs of this team, and I think naturally, starting pitching

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Speaker 1: is probably going to be the best way to go

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Speaker 1: for a couple of reasons. Number One, Merrill Kelly today

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Speaker 1: someone who made sense for the Braves. You know, he

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Speaker 1: signed a two year, forty million dollars deal with Arizona.

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Speaker 1: And we're starting to see the starting pitching market, you know,

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Speaker 1: Michael King maybe close to signing. We're starting to see

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Speaker 1: the starting pitching market start to move as well. There

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Speaker 1: are plenty of options out there that aren't necessarily top

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Speaker 1: of the rotation but are reliable depth. And with the

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Speaker 1: fact that the Braves have gotten some quality production from

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Speaker 1: their staff when they're healthy, but them being healthy has

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Speaker 1: been so infrequent that type of depth signing for this

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Speaker 1: Braves team really makes sense as the next move because

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Speaker 1: on the shortstop front of things, likely is going to

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Speaker 1: take time to really figure out what option makes the

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Speaker 1: most sense.

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Speaker 2: You know, we've said for six weeks on the show,

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Speaker 2: now how much we want the Braves to add a

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Speaker 2: starting picture of some kind. It was a bummer to

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Speaker 2: see Merril Kelly go back to Arizona because he was

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Speaker 2: somebody who I thought made sense for Atlanta. Again, not

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Speaker 2: an ace, but somebody who could eat innings. And you know,

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Speaker 2: I was going through the top fifty free agency list

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Speaker 2: today and there are quite a few starting pitchers who

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Speaker 2: might make sense to the Braves, so let's quickly go

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Speaker 2: through them. There's kind of a big four at the top,

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Speaker 2: Framber Valdez, Ranger Suarez, Michael King, Zach Gallon. Then there

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Speaker 2: are two guys who are maybe starters or maybe relievers,

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Speaker 2: kind of in that middle tier. Be interesting to know

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Speaker 2: if the Braves are interested in Brad Keller or Nick Martinez.

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Speaker 3: Both of those guys would be in.

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Speaker 2: A similar mold to Grant Holmes Ronaldo Lopez. You could

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Speaker 2: probably figure out what you wanted to do with them

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Speaker 2: come spring training. You also have a couple of guys

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Speaker 2: towards the bottom of the top fifty list, and again

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Speaker 2: these would be kind of bottom barrel options. Zach Lttel,

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Speaker 2: Tyler Malley like, those guys are not going to get

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Speaker 2: a big reaction from anybody, but you can probably pencil

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Speaker 2: them in for one hundred and fifty innings next year

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Speaker 2: of very boring for Era. And we've seen that, we

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Speaker 2: feel good about the pitching staff depth. And then it's like,

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Speaker 2: oh my god, Carlos Carrasco is starting tomorrow, or pick

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Speaker 2: one of the dozen or so just awful starters who

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Speaker 2: pitched over this past season. And then there's the AARP club.

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Speaker 2: Justin Verlander is still around apparently wants to still pitch.

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Speaker 2: Same for Max Scherzer. I have no interest in those types,

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Speaker 2: but I'm sure somebody will give them a decent contract.

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Speaker 2: So all of that is to say, Sean, I really

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Speaker 2: hope the Braves out a starter. The free agent market

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Speaker 2: has kind of shrunk a little bit. And the one

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Speaker 2: name I didn't mention here who I think is maybe

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Speaker 2: the most probable or possible would be Chris Bassett, and

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Speaker 2: held his name off for a reason because Chris Bassett

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Speaker 2: is a veteran He's very durable. He pitched really well

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Speaker 2: for Toronto this past season, also pitched out of the

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Speaker 2: bullpen in the playoffs. Bassett feels like somebody if he

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Speaker 2: gets a reasonable contract that it could be the Braves.

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Speaker 2: It could be a one year deal, it could be

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Speaker 2: a two year deal, it could be a one year

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Speaker 2: plus the club option. But to me, if the Braves

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Speaker 2: go the free agent route, my guess, if I had

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Speaker 2: to put cold hard cash on it would be Chris

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Speaker 2: Bassett is probably the front runner in the clubhouse for me.

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Speaker 1: Yeah, and I think it makes sense, you know. He

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Speaker 1: and that's the other thing that's kind of in there

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Speaker 1: as well. He pitched and pitched pretty well in the

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Speaker 1: Blue Jay's World Series run, Like, I think he did

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Speaker 1: his job, and he also pitched out of the bullpen,

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Speaker 1: so he showed some versatility there as well. So I'm

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Speaker 1: getting that type of guy who you know, is reliable,

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Speaker 1: you know, is durable, but also it's got that playoff experience.

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Speaker 1: I think it makes sense, you know. Steven mentioned on

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Speaker 1: y'all's excellent coverage of Robert Sorez. You know, the Braves,

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Speaker 1: you know, have consistently shown a preference when it comes

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Speaker 1: to adding arms that they highly value, arms that have

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Speaker 1: strong strikeout to walk ratios, and I kind of looked

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Speaker 1: at that of the available, you know, options that are

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Speaker 1: out there, I don't think the Braves are going to

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Speaker 1: go to the trade route, like I don't think that

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Speaker 1: it makes a lot of sense for the Braves to

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Speaker 1: try to go after a top tier pitcher all that much.

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Speaker 1: But some names that are out there that that kind

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Speaker 1: of you know, stand out because of how well they

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Speaker 1: do and strikeout versus walk Ratio. Zach Eflin is another name.

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Speaker 1: He's got a bit of injury concern so he may

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Speaker 1: not necessarily be the most sensible for the Braves, but

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Speaker 1: it was rumored that Alex and Thoplas had had interest

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Speaker 1: in him in the past. It was because of his

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Speaker 1: strong strikeout to walk Ratio. Lttel is certainly someone that

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Speaker 1: could make sense as well, and you never know, the

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Speaker 1: Braves also could look at a route of going after

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Speaker 1: pictures that they have had interest in the past or

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Speaker 1: that has been connected through their staff in the past.

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Speaker 1: Luis Severino, Nathan Valdi, Nick Pavetta, names like that could

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Speaker 1: make sense on the trade market for the Braze. Again,

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Speaker 1: I don't necessarily know if they're wanting to pay that

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Speaker 1: prospect price. But I think it makes sense and veteran, durable,

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Speaker 1: some playoff experience, and good control. There are plenty of

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Speaker 1: options out there that could make sense for the Braves

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Speaker 1: to go after, and I think that's the type of

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Speaker 1: target that's there and that's needed for this team.

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Speaker 2: So let me ask you, Sean, because I know I

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Speaker 2: answered this or talked about this with Steven the other day.

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Speaker 2: But of the big four starting pitchers Framber Valdez, Rangers Warez,

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Speaker 2: Michael King assuming he doesn't sign by the time people

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Speaker 2: listen to the show, and Zach Gallen, all four have

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Speaker 2: qualifying offers attached, So it would cost Atlanta's first round pick.

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Speaker 2: I'm sorry the PPI the late first round pick picked

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Speaker 2: twenty six, but it's hard to deny with a straight

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Speaker 2: face that four of those, at varying levels would make

429
00:21:01,720 --> 00:21:04,320
Speaker 2: the Braves a much improved baseball team at least in

430
00:21:04,359 --> 00:21:06,120
Speaker 2: twenty six, twenty seven, twenty eight.

431
00:21:06,480 --> 00:21:07,280
Speaker 3: Where are you at?

432
00:21:07,440 --> 00:21:10,520
Speaker 2: Like, are you okay giving up the twenty sixth pick?

433
00:21:10,760 --> 00:21:11,520
Speaker 3: Would you rather not?

434
00:21:11,560 --> 00:21:13,680
Speaker 2: Would you rather hang on to it and then maybe

435
00:21:13,720 --> 00:21:16,440
Speaker 2: try to either sign a middle tier starter or make

436
00:21:16,480 --> 00:21:17,040
Speaker 2: a trade for.

437
00:21:17,040 --> 00:21:18,199
Speaker 3: One of them. Where are you at with that?

438
00:21:19,680 --> 00:21:21,760
Speaker 1: I wouldn't want to give up that twenty sixth pick.

439
00:21:21,880 --> 00:21:23,800
Speaker 1: And the reason why I say that is because I

440
00:21:23,880 --> 00:21:26,919
Speaker 1: don't necessarily know if it makes the most sense for

441
00:21:26,960 --> 00:21:29,560
Speaker 1: the Braves to go give seventy five to one hundred

442
00:21:29,560 --> 00:21:32,040
Speaker 1: plus million into a pitcher plus give up that high

443
00:21:32,080 --> 00:21:34,800
Speaker 1: pick in this draft. I would much rather than potentially

444
00:21:34,840 --> 00:21:36,760
Speaker 1: go like try to. I would much rather pay the

445
00:21:36,760 --> 00:21:38,960
Speaker 1: prospect price to go get a Nick Povetta or an

446
00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:42,439
Speaker 1: Nathany Avaldi and still maintain that pick that allows for

447
00:21:42,520 --> 00:21:44,119
Speaker 1: us to be able because then you have one of

448
00:21:44,160 --> 00:21:46,399
Speaker 1: those guys on a two to three year deal fifty

449
00:21:46,440 --> 00:21:48,840
Speaker 1: million or less that's owed to them, plus you still

450
00:21:48,840 --> 00:21:51,280
Speaker 1: have that pick in a draft to recoup what you've traded.

451
00:21:51,560 --> 00:21:55,280
Speaker 1: That's the route that I would go, personally, and that's

452
00:21:55,280 --> 00:21:57,480
Speaker 1: my thought if I were to choose any of those four.

453
00:21:57,880 --> 00:22:00,560
Speaker 1: I do like Zach Gallion, but I do feel that

454
00:22:00,640 --> 00:22:02,400
Speaker 1: he's had a bit of a drop off here recently.

455
00:22:02,680 --> 00:22:05,720
Speaker 1: I probably would go Ranger score is just because that

456
00:22:05,920 --> 00:22:08,600
Speaker 1: who the Braves are the most familiar with. I think

457
00:22:08,640 --> 00:22:11,680
Speaker 1: that he will age well based off his stuff and everything,

458
00:22:11,880 --> 00:22:14,920
Speaker 1: and I think that also he wouldn't necessarily break the bank,

459
00:22:15,000 --> 00:22:17,359
Speaker 1: you know, a five years somewhere in the low one hundreds.

460
00:22:17,480 --> 00:22:19,399
Speaker 1: I think that he would possibly make the most sense.

461
00:22:19,560 --> 00:22:21,800
Speaker 1: But if the Braves are really going, if the Braves

462
00:22:21,800 --> 00:22:24,159
Speaker 1: are going for like a number two type starter, I

463
00:22:24,160 --> 00:22:27,480
Speaker 1: would try to potentially trade for someone that's on the market,

464
00:22:27,680 --> 00:22:29,640
Speaker 1: then give up the pick, plus go out and spend

465
00:22:29,640 --> 00:22:31,200
Speaker 1: one hundred plus million in free agency.

466
00:22:32,359 --> 00:22:32,600
Speaker 3: You know.

467
00:22:32,880 --> 00:22:35,399
Speaker 2: The one pitcher's name who we have not mentioned, who

468
00:22:35,520 --> 00:22:37,560
Speaker 2: might be the best of both worlds where you would

469
00:22:37,600 --> 00:22:40,280
Speaker 2: not lose the qualifying offer draft pick and you would

470
00:22:40,280 --> 00:22:44,080
Speaker 2: not have to give up prospects in trade is Tatsuya Ami,

471
00:22:45,000 --> 00:22:50,040
Speaker 2: who has been posted is available. He's a fascinating pitcher.

472
00:22:50,080 --> 00:22:53,040
Speaker 2: He's very thin, like he's tiny. I think he's like

473
00:22:53,160 --> 00:22:56,159
Speaker 2: five ten, one hundred and sixty pounds, So that's not

474
00:22:56,320 --> 00:22:59,520
Speaker 2: what you generally see from starting pitchers in Major League Baseball.

475
00:22:59,840 --> 00:23:04,240
Speaker 2: But Ami has a deep repertoire of pitches, and he's younger,

476
00:23:04,320 --> 00:23:06,879
Speaker 2: and he's somebody if the Braves could convince him to

477
00:23:06,880 --> 00:23:09,720
Speaker 2: come to Atlanta. And of course, historically there's not been

478
00:23:09,760 --> 00:23:12,399
Speaker 2: a ton of Asian free agents who have come to

479
00:23:12,480 --> 00:23:15,560
Speaker 2: Atlanta over the years. But there's always a first or

480
00:23:15,640 --> 00:23:18,160
Speaker 2: the first in a long time, you know. I think

481
00:23:18,200 --> 00:23:21,159
Speaker 2: on paper, if the Braves feel like am I is

482
00:23:21,200 --> 00:23:24,200
Speaker 2: going to translate over to the majors and be it

483
00:23:24,280 --> 00:23:26,399
Speaker 2: worse the number three starter for what they're going to

484
00:23:26,480 --> 00:23:28,840
Speaker 2: have to pay, maybe a number four starter depending on

485
00:23:28,920 --> 00:23:31,840
Speaker 2: the contract he's going to get. Tetsuya Amai is also

486
00:23:31,880 --> 00:23:34,400
Speaker 2: someone who I would hope they've at least had conversations

487
00:23:34,400 --> 00:23:36,720
Speaker 2: about or maybe even reached out to see what his

488
00:23:36,800 --> 00:23:40,040
Speaker 2: interest level would be pitching in Atlanta.

489
00:23:40,160 --> 00:23:44,040
Speaker 1: That actually brings back to mind a very interesting question

490
00:23:44,080 --> 00:23:46,520
Speaker 1: that we got from a previous mailbag. Let's do this.

491
00:23:46,680 --> 00:23:48,680
Speaker 1: Let's let's take another break real quick, and I want

492
00:23:48,720 --> 00:23:50,720
Speaker 1: to come back and get your thoughts on that exact

493
00:23:50,960 --> 00:23:55,480
Speaker 1: avenue towards d roster construction AA and looking at those

494
00:23:55,520 --> 00:23:58,399
Speaker 1: foreign players, especially you know, the Asian players. More on

495
00:23:58,440 --> 00:24:02,440
Speaker 1: that in just a moment. So Scott, in a previous mailbag,

496
00:24:02,800 --> 00:24:05,439
Speaker 1: we had gotten a question and I'm paraphrasing here that

497
00:24:05,480 --> 00:24:07,879
Speaker 1: had kind of been summed up as you know, why

498
00:24:07,920 --> 00:24:10,800
Speaker 1: doesn't it seem as if the Braves really you know,

499
00:24:10,880 --> 00:24:14,920
Speaker 1: dabble in that market, dabble in the Japanese or the

500
00:24:14,960 --> 00:24:18,320
Speaker 1: foreign market, especially when it comes to Asian players like

501
00:24:18,440 --> 00:24:22,119
Speaker 1: other teams do. And I found it a very fascinating question,

502
00:24:22,400 --> 00:24:24,560
Speaker 1: and I feel like, you know, you can go into

503
00:24:24,880 --> 00:24:26,639
Speaker 1: we could probably do a whole podcast on this, but

504
00:24:26,680 --> 00:24:30,160
Speaker 1: I think it comes up into two key things. Number One,

505
00:24:30,600 --> 00:24:36,640
Speaker 1: you're talking about teams having to commit substantial financial resources

506
00:24:37,280 --> 00:24:40,480
Speaker 1: up front to these players, because these aren't players who

507
00:24:40,480 --> 00:24:42,600
Speaker 1: come with cheap years of control, light draft picks do.

508
00:24:43,000 --> 00:24:45,879
Speaker 1: You've got to sign them to major free agent deals.

509
00:24:46,040 --> 00:24:48,760
Speaker 1: And the other thing that's well known is that Alexanthopolis

510
00:24:49,320 --> 00:24:51,280
Speaker 1: looks at a lot of different things when it comes

511
00:24:51,280 --> 00:24:53,800
Speaker 1: to adding talent to the roster. How they fit in

512
00:24:53,840 --> 00:24:56,160
Speaker 1: the clubhouse, you know, opinions of you know, the type

513
00:24:56,200 --> 00:24:58,280
Speaker 1: of work ethic that they have, how he thinks they'll

514
00:24:58,320 --> 00:25:01,320
Speaker 1: project as they age, all that different stuff. It's probably

515
00:25:01,400 --> 00:25:03,560
Speaker 1: harder to do that when you don't have as much

516
00:25:03,560 --> 00:25:06,439
Speaker 1: information on these players who are not in you know,

517
00:25:06,480 --> 00:25:08,960
Speaker 1: the United States. Then you know there's players that you've

518
00:25:08,960 --> 00:25:10,639
Speaker 1: seen in the majors or you've seen growth of the

519
00:25:10,640 --> 00:25:13,000
Speaker 1: different systems in the US. I think the fact that

520
00:25:13,040 --> 00:25:16,480
Speaker 1: Alex doesn't typically go with significant financial commitments through the

521
00:25:16,480 --> 00:25:18,560
Speaker 1: free agent market and he probably doesn't know as much

522
00:25:18,560 --> 00:25:21,199
Speaker 1: about these players. Those are two reasons why he's not

523
00:25:21,240 --> 00:25:25,080
Speaker 1: really dabbled into that market. But when we talk about, hey, Alex,

524
00:25:25,119 --> 00:25:26,959
Speaker 1: it's probably time for you to do things differently than

525
00:25:26,960 --> 00:25:29,280
Speaker 1: you've done in the past. Ami would be the type

526
00:25:29,280 --> 00:25:31,080
Speaker 1: of addition that can make a lot of sense.

527
00:25:32,200 --> 00:25:33,080
Speaker 3: Oh absolutely.

528
00:25:33,200 --> 00:25:36,280
Speaker 2: And you know, of course, in free agency it's a

529
00:25:36,280 --> 00:25:38,760
Speaker 2: two way dance, right and we don't know am I.

530
00:25:38,840 --> 00:25:41,320
Speaker 2: He did come out and say publicly like, why would

531
00:25:41,320 --> 00:25:43,680
Speaker 2: I want to go play for the Dodgers. I want

532
00:25:43,680 --> 00:25:46,320
Speaker 2: to beat the Dodgers, which is such a great.

533
00:25:46,119 --> 00:25:50,040
Speaker 3: Mindset to have. I would be all for it. I

534
00:25:50,080 --> 00:25:50,520
Speaker 3: don't know.

535
00:25:50,600 --> 00:25:52,919
Speaker 2: I'm not going to pretend like I know what Tatsuya

536
00:25:53,000 --> 00:25:55,640
Speaker 2: Ami is looking for in where he wants to live,

537
00:25:55,760 --> 00:25:57,520
Speaker 2: what part of the country he wants to live in,

538
00:25:58,119 --> 00:26:00,480
Speaker 2: if he has other friends in Major League Bay who

539
00:26:00,520 --> 00:26:02,440
Speaker 2: he might want to go play with, who he knows

540
00:26:02,440 --> 00:26:05,159
Speaker 2: from his playing days. But you're right, like, there's not

541
00:26:05,320 --> 00:26:08,120
Speaker 2: the ability. So whenever Alex, I think what you're saying,

542
00:26:08,119 --> 00:26:10,600
Speaker 2: Sean is whenever Alex Ntopless.

543
00:26:10,200 --> 00:26:11,320
Speaker 3: Goes out and acquire someone.

544
00:26:11,800 --> 00:26:14,800
Speaker 2: It feels like in every press conference he talks about, Hey,

545
00:26:15,040 --> 00:26:18,000
Speaker 2: I talked to this guy's third grade teacher to ask

546
00:26:18,040 --> 00:26:20,119
Speaker 2: what kind of person Sean is, or I talk to

547
00:26:20,160 --> 00:26:22,520
Speaker 2: his teammates, or I talked to his former coach, and

548
00:26:22,560 --> 00:26:25,600
Speaker 2: that might be something Alex almost has like a prerequisite

549
00:26:25,760 --> 00:26:29,040
Speaker 2: before committing hundreds of millions of dollars in this case

550
00:26:29,080 --> 00:26:32,920
Speaker 2: to a player. But again, tatsuyam I, he checks a

551
00:26:32,960 --> 00:26:35,000
Speaker 2: lot of boxes. It would not cost the draft pick,

552
00:26:35,080 --> 00:26:37,600
Speaker 2: it would not cost prospects. It would cost money. They'd

553
00:26:37,640 --> 00:26:40,080
Speaker 2: also have to pay the posting fee in order to

554
00:26:40,119 --> 00:26:43,280
Speaker 2: sign him. But I think Ami has to sign within

555
00:26:43,400 --> 00:26:45,720
Speaker 2: like the next two weeks or so, because they only

556
00:26:45,760 --> 00:26:49,200
Speaker 2: get a certain amount of time once they are posted. Hey,

557
00:26:49,320 --> 00:26:51,480
Speaker 2: if the Braves want to take a chance and try

558
00:26:51,480 --> 00:26:54,680
Speaker 2: to build a pipeline, I would be all for it. Ultimately,

559
00:26:54,720 --> 00:26:56,400
Speaker 2: I don't think it's going to happen, but I would

560
00:26:56,400 --> 00:26:57,240
Speaker 2: happily be wrong.

561
00:26:58,160 --> 00:27:01,080
Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, you know, it's what we talk about, you know,

562
00:27:01,280 --> 00:27:03,520
Speaker 1: going the routes that we've not in the past to

563
00:27:03,600 --> 00:27:04,960
Speaker 1: try to get back to where we want to get

564
00:27:04,960 --> 00:27:07,440
Speaker 1: as a contender. That to me would be the type

565
00:27:07,440 --> 00:27:09,439
Speaker 1: of route to go that we've not really explored in

566
00:27:09,480 --> 00:27:12,680
Speaker 1: the past, but could pay huge dividends. In the presence

567
00:27:12,720 --> 00:27:15,719
Speaker 1: to realist really get us back to where we want

568
00:27:15,960 --> 00:27:18,840
Speaker 1: to go. A couple of other fun questions that I

569
00:27:18,840 --> 00:27:20,960
Speaker 1: think are worth exploring as well. Of course we talk

570
00:27:21,000 --> 00:27:23,320
Speaker 1: about all these moves, Scott. The one thing that you

571
00:27:23,359 --> 00:27:25,320
Speaker 1: need to have in place is to ruin your payroll

572
00:27:25,520 --> 00:27:27,680
Speaker 1: to get that done. A couple of questions that came

573
00:27:27,720 --> 00:27:30,399
Speaker 1: to us the Braves again, the one thing again that

574
00:27:30,440 --> 00:27:33,280
Speaker 1: we're excited about when it comes to this offseason. Nobody

575
00:27:33,320 --> 00:27:36,119
Speaker 1: can say the Braves aren't spending. They are spending and

576
00:27:36,119 --> 00:27:38,959
Speaker 1: they're taking care of needs that are there. There were

577
00:27:38,960 --> 00:27:41,399
Speaker 1: a lot of needs, they're addressing them and they're spending

578
00:27:41,520 --> 00:27:44,359
Speaker 1: money to do it. But kind of where is payroll

579
00:27:44,440 --> 00:27:48,080
Speaker 1: at we talk about shortstop, we talk about starting pitching, Scott,

580
00:27:48,119 --> 00:27:50,639
Speaker 1: do we feel that the resources are there to add

581
00:27:50,680 --> 00:27:53,520
Speaker 1: significant options on both ends? Is the money they would

582
00:27:53,520 --> 00:27:55,960
Speaker 1: support that? I feel that it is, but a bit

583
00:27:56,000 --> 00:27:57,720
Speaker 1: more detail I think would suffice.

584
00:27:58,720 --> 00:28:02,160
Speaker 2: Yeah, a great question from age about where Braves payroll

585
00:28:02,200 --> 00:28:04,400
Speaker 2: currently stands, and I will say we will not go

586
00:28:04,480 --> 00:28:11,000
Speaker 2: twenty minutes here on the complexities of payroll CBT versus cash.

587
00:28:10,440 --> 00:28:13,280
Speaker 1: There no PowerPoint presentation, no pictures.

588
00:28:12,960 --> 00:28:13,320
Speaker 2: No pen.

589
00:28:15,000 --> 00:28:16,080
Speaker 3: It is a messy system.

590
00:28:16,160 --> 00:28:18,320
Speaker 2: But the easiest way to say it, and the question

591
00:28:18,440 --> 00:28:21,600
Speaker 2: was about the Braves' is CBT payroll, which is the

592
00:28:21,680 --> 00:28:26,320
Speaker 2: luxury tax. Currently, the Braves are estimated or projected to

593
00:28:26,359 --> 00:28:30,080
Speaker 2: have a current CBT payroll of about two hundred and

594
00:28:30,119 --> 00:28:33,000
Speaker 2: thirty two million dollars, Okay, two hundred and.

595
00:28:33,000 --> 00:28:33,639
Speaker 3: Thirty two million.

596
00:28:34,400 --> 00:28:38,480
Speaker 2: The luxury tax for twenty twenty six is two hundred

597
00:28:38,560 --> 00:28:42,080
Speaker 2: and forty four million dollars, So currently the Braves are

598
00:28:42,160 --> 00:28:44,880
Speaker 2: under the tax still. Even though they've added these pictures

599
00:28:45,240 --> 00:28:48,440
Speaker 2: and Yastremski and dubon this offseason, the Braves are still

600
00:28:48,440 --> 00:28:52,040
Speaker 2: about twelve million dollars give or take below the luxury tax.

601
00:28:52,920 --> 00:28:56,760
Speaker 2: That being said, you would hope, and I'm going to

602
00:28:56,800 --> 00:28:59,320
Speaker 2: be really disappointed if this is it for the Braves offseason,

603
00:28:59,560 --> 00:29:01,760
Speaker 2: but you would hope that they are willing to go

604
00:29:01,800 --> 00:29:04,720
Speaker 2: into the luxury tax to add a starting pitcher and

605
00:29:04,920 --> 00:29:08,520
Speaker 2: or a shortstop and or one more middle relief arm

606
00:29:08,880 --> 00:29:09,560
Speaker 2: to really.

607
00:29:09,440 --> 00:29:11,640
Speaker 3: Round out this team.

608
00:29:11,960 --> 00:29:14,240
Speaker 2: I will say the first tier of luxury tax is

609
00:29:14,240 --> 00:29:16,880
Speaker 2: two hundred and forty four million, then the next tier

610
00:29:17,120 --> 00:29:20,600
Speaker 2: is twenty million dollars more so two sixty four, and

611
00:29:20,640 --> 00:29:23,640
Speaker 2: then the second tier going up to the third tier

612
00:29:23,680 --> 00:29:27,800
Speaker 2: is two hundred and eighty four million dollars. So if

613
00:29:27,840 --> 00:29:30,480
Speaker 2: the Braves and then the top tier of the luxury tax,

614
00:29:30,600 --> 00:29:33,280
Speaker 2: you lose draft, it starts impacting your draft picks. I

615
00:29:33,280 --> 00:29:34,880
Speaker 2: don't think the Braves are going to go above two

616
00:29:34,960 --> 00:29:37,959
Speaker 2: hundred and eighty four million dollars, but there is a

617
00:29:38,000 --> 00:29:41,920
Speaker 2: world where the Braves might still have forty million dollars

618
00:29:41,960 --> 00:29:45,840
Speaker 2: to spend thirty five forty forty five million. We also

619
00:29:45,880 --> 00:29:48,560
Speaker 2: know that Alexandopolis wants to hold back some money for

620
00:29:48,720 --> 00:29:51,560
Speaker 2: the trade deadline. Hopefully the team is much better and

621
00:29:51,600 --> 00:29:53,440
Speaker 2: he's gonna want some cash to go out and add

622
00:29:53,600 --> 00:29:56,880
Speaker 2: whatever he needs to add come July thirty first. But

623
00:29:57,040 --> 00:29:59,959
Speaker 2: the answer to answer the question about the CBT payroll,

624
00:30:00,120 --> 00:30:02,280
Speaker 2: the Braves are currently at two hundred and thirty two million,

625
00:30:02,320 --> 00:30:05,720
Speaker 2: give or take. The luxury tax begins at two forty four,

626
00:30:05,960 --> 00:30:08,840
Speaker 2: goes to sixty four. Penalties get a little bit worse

627
00:30:08,920 --> 00:30:11,360
Speaker 2: if you exceed two sixty four. It's really that two

628
00:30:11,440 --> 00:30:14,080
Speaker 2: hundred and eighty four million dollar figure where you get

629
00:30:14,160 --> 00:30:16,400
Speaker 2: hit the hardest. I don't think the Braves are gonna

630
00:30:16,440 --> 00:30:19,320
Speaker 2: go above that, but in a good world, Sean, like

631
00:30:19,360 --> 00:30:21,160
Speaker 2: you could tell me, if the Braves have forty million

632
00:30:21,240 --> 00:30:24,040
Speaker 2: to spend, they can absolutely go get a shortstop and

633
00:30:24,080 --> 00:30:26,960
Speaker 2: a starting pitcher and maybe even a reliever and have

634
00:30:27,120 --> 00:30:29,840
Speaker 2: us all really damn excited about Opening Day and the

635
00:30:29,840 --> 00:30:30,640
Speaker 2: Brave chances.

636
00:30:31,120 --> 00:30:33,400
Speaker 1: Yeah, if you've made the moves that you made so far,

637
00:30:33,400 --> 00:30:35,120
Speaker 1: if you've spent the money that you made so far,

638
00:30:35,400 --> 00:30:38,760
Speaker 1: it's definitely better than last offseason. But I agree with Scott,

639
00:30:38,880 --> 00:30:41,160
Speaker 1: it's going to be disappointing if we've made these moves

640
00:30:41,200 --> 00:30:44,800
Speaker 1: and yet we don't do something at least notable to significant,

641
00:30:44,800 --> 00:30:48,240
Speaker 1: at least on one of the starting pitching or shortstop fronts. Like, again,

642
00:30:48,600 --> 00:30:52,280
Speaker 1: we made all these moves, but offensive underperformance and starting

643
00:30:52,320 --> 00:30:55,560
Speaker 1: pitching depth, those two remain big questions for this team

644
00:30:55,600 --> 00:30:59,560
Speaker 1: moving forward. And you talk about keeping money into the season,

645
00:30:59,720 --> 00:31:02,720
Speaker 1: you know, I agree with you, adding money where we're weak,

646
00:31:02,760 --> 00:31:04,760
Speaker 1: adding money where we need to, you know, get better,

647
00:31:04,960 --> 00:31:07,000
Speaker 1: but also the potential to where you've got to go

648
00:31:07,040 --> 00:31:09,240
Speaker 1: get a player because you've got multiple players out with

649
00:31:09,280 --> 00:31:12,320
Speaker 1: significant injuries. That's also played a big part into things.

650
00:31:12,360 --> 00:31:15,400
Speaker 1: So it's good to have all that money, Alexandopoliss is

651
00:31:15,400 --> 00:31:18,560
Speaker 1: not going to spend just to spend, but it's the

652
00:31:18,640 --> 00:31:20,880
Speaker 1: time to spend. All the factors are there that make

653
00:31:20,920 --> 00:31:24,480
Speaker 1: it make sense. Now, one last thing, and I asked

654
00:31:24,560 --> 00:31:26,320
Speaker 1: Robert Murray about this, and you know, we got a

655
00:31:26,320 --> 00:31:29,480
Speaker 1: couple of questions in the mailbag about this would impact

656
00:31:29,480 --> 00:31:33,320
Speaker 1: payroll when the Braves talk with these players about signing

657
00:31:33,400 --> 00:31:35,440
Speaker 1: extensions and when they commit to them and all that

658
00:31:35,480 --> 00:31:38,040
Speaker 1: different stuff. That's obviously the Braves wanting the players to

659
00:31:38,040 --> 00:31:42,320
Speaker 1: buy into Atlanta, right, but it's Atlanta buying into these players,

660
00:31:42,320 --> 00:31:44,600
Speaker 1: and you know when it comes to, you know, the

661
00:31:44,640 --> 00:31:48,160
Speaker 1: players signing these extensions. We know how Again, when going

662
00:31:48,200 --> 00:31:53,240
Speaker 1: back to how thoroughly Alexanthopolis vets players before he adds them,

663
00:31:53,640 --> 00:31:56,000
Speaker 1: he also has showing the tendency to be very loyal

664
00:31:56,080 --> 00:31:58,520
Speaker 1: to these players. But could it make sense for him

665
00:31:58,520 --> 00:32:00,800
Speaker 1: to move on from someone? What it makes sense for

666
00:32:01,320 --> 00:32:04,520
Speaker 1: him to potentially move someone if he wants to go

667
00:32:04,560 --> 00:32:07,840
Speaker 1: add another and that could impact payroll. Scott, what are

668
00:32:07,880 --> 00:32:10,160
Speaker 1: your thoughts on that? You know, again, Sean Murphy comes

669
00:32:10,200 --> 00:32:14,280
Speaker 1: to mind. You know, it's a thought that's out there,

670
00:32:14,960 --> 00:32:18,600
Speaker 1: but it's highly unlikely for several reasons. I think so.

671
00:32:18,760 --> 00:32:21,480
Speaker 2: Alex has said publicly before that, when the Braves sign

672
00:32:21,640 --> 00:32:25,760
Speaker 2: players to these long term extensions, that they view it

673
00:32:25,800 --> 00:32:27,880
Speaker 2: as a two way agreement that you're going to be

674
00:32:27,960 --> 00:32:31,440
Speaker 2: with the Braves for the foreseeable future. Yes, that being said,

675
00:32:31,640 --> 00:32:33,960
Speaker 2: and I take that as we're not going to trade

676
00:32:34,000 --> 00:32:37,360
Speaker 2: you in year one or two of your extension. But

677
00:32:37,480 --> 00:32:40,320
Speaker 2: that being said, like Sean Murphy, for example, got a

678
00:32:40,360 --> 00:32:44,280
Speaker 2: six year contract from the Braves. We're halfway home. So

679
00:32:44,440 --> 00:32:46,720
Speaker 2: if there's a deal to trade Sean Murphy, I mean

680
00:32:46,760 --> 00:32:49,440
Speaker 2: maybe Murph doesn't want to leave Atlanta, but you're halfway

681
00:32:49,480 --> 00:32:52,320
Speaker 2: through and you make fifteen million dollars a year, Like

682
00:32:52,400 --> 00:32:55,520
Speaker 2: to me, that's fine, Like that's all fair game. Or

683
00:32:55,600 --> 00:32:57,960
Speaker 2: you know, Spencer Strider signed his long term deal. I

684
00:32:58,000 --> 00:33:00,480
Speaker 2: think he's making twenty million dollars the next couple years.

685
00:33:00,920 --> 00:33:02,800
Speaker 2: If the Braves, I don't think it's likely, but if

686
00:33:02,800 --> 00:33:04,920
Speaker 2: there was a deal for Strider to be had in

687
00:33:05,240 --> 00:33:07,760
Speaker 2: a year's time, or who knows where the Braves will be,

688
00:33:08,040 --> 00:33:11,000
Speaker 2: Like I feel like that's all within the game, right,

689
00:33:11,160 --> 00:33:13,600
Speaker 2: Like I think what Alex says by that is we're

690
00:33:13,640 --> 00:33:15,280
Speaker 2: not going to trade you in year two of a

691
00:33:15,360 --> 00:33:19,200
Speaker 2: nine year contract. But I think, of course, like everything

692
00:33:19,240 --> 00:33:21,760
Speaker 2: has to be on the table at this point. If

693
00:33:22,760 --> 00:33:25,120
Speaker 2: these guys are all adults, they're all big boys, they're

694
00:33:25,120 --> 00:33:26,880
Speaker 2: paid a lot of money. If they get traded to

695
00:33:26,920 --> 00:33:29,200
Speaker 2: another city for the last couple of years of their contracts,

696
00:33:29,400 --> 00:33:31,760
Speaker 2: maybe they don't love it, but it's all part of

697
00:33:31,760 --> 00:33:32,240
Speaker 2: the equation.

698
00:33:33,600 --> 00:33:35,920
Speaker 1: The other thing that comes into that equation that again,

699
00:33:35,960 --> 00:33:38,120
Speaker 1: I think probably is the biggest reason why it's unlikely,

700
00:33:38,160 --> 00:33:41,440
Speaker 1: even more than you know, oless loyalty to these players.

701
00:33:42,480 --> 00:33:44,600
Speaker 1: You just don't have a lot of them right now

702
00:33:44,880 --> 00:33:48,280
Speaker 1: that are at high value for the Braves to trade,

703
00:33:48,360 --> 00:33:52,040
Speaker 1: right like, you know, we don't know where Sean Murphy's

704
00:33:52,080 --> 00:33:54,120
Speaker 1: going to be when it comes to he is you know,

705
00:33:54,200 --> 00:33:57,920
Speaker 1: readiness for opening Day. And you know, Alex Riley has

706
00:33:58,320 --> 00:34:05,000
Speaker 1: really underperformed Austin. I'm sorry about that. I'm thinking, WWE here,

707
00:34:05,240 --> 00:34:08,520
Speaker 1: Austin Riley my bad. Ozzy Albi's obviously he's got a

708
00:34:08,600 --> 00:34:13,480
Speaker 1: multi year contract. Underperformed, Michael Harris underperformed. That's the other

709
00:34:13,480 --> 00:34:15,960
Speaker 1: thing about this is that, you know, again we talk

710
00:34:16,000 --> 00:34:18,560
Speaker 1: about all these moves being added, the biggest component to

711
00:34:18,640 --> 00:34:21,239
Speaker 1: us getting back to being a contender offensively is the

712
00:34:21,239 --> 00:34:23,800
Speaker 1: players that we've got signed to long term extensions, getting

713
00:34:23,840 --> 00:34:27,240
Speaker 1: back to their normal seals. That's without saying. And because

714
00:34:27,239 --> 00:34:29,200
Speaker 1: of the fact that so many of them need to

715
00:34:29,200 --> 00:34:31,279
Speaker 1: get back there, that I think is the biggest factor

716
00:34:31,320 --> 00:34:33,040
Speaker 1: is to why it's unlikely any of them are moved,

717
00:34:33,160 --> 00:34:35,280
Speaker 1: is because Alex is not going to move these guys

718
00:34:35,520 --> 00:34:38,200
Speaker 1: and potentially have to add to them to move them.

719
00:34:38,239 --> 00:34:40,320
Speaker 1: That's the case with some of these players. It doesn't

720
00:34:40,320 --> 00:34:42,279
Speaker 1: make a lot of sense. I think it could in

721
00:34:42,320 --> 00:34:46,560
Speaker 1: the right deal, but I think it's unlikely. So yes

722
00:34:46,680 --> 00:34:49,480
Speaker 1: to the to the answer the question directly, I do

723
00:34:49,520 --> 00:34:51,880
Speaker 1: feel that there's definitely a factor there. Alex is loyal

724
00:34:51,880 --> 00:34:54,480
Speaker 1: to guys that he signs long term. But another big

725
00:34:54,520 --> 00:34:56,440
Speaker 1: factor and making it unlikely there to move off any

726
00:34:56,440 --> 00:34:58,840
Speaker 1: of those contracts now, is that just so few of

727
00:34:58,880 --> 00:35:02,080
Speaker 1: them makes sense because you want them to perform better

728
00:35:02,160 --> 00:35:04,600
Speaker 1: and if they do, they obviously help Atlanta likely than

729
00:35:04,640 --> 00:35:06,040
Speaker 1: in the trade package they get back.

730
00:35:07,120 --> 00:35:09,080
Speaker 2: Yeah, I know, it's you know, it's Twitter, it's the

731
00:35:09,120 --> 00:35:11,279
Speaker 2: off season. It's time to have discussions. But you know,

732
00:35:11,320 --> 00:35:13,640
Speaker 2: I see talk about, well, we could trade Michael Harris

733
00:35:13,680 --> 00:35:16,920
Speaker 2: as part of a big deal. Michael Harris's value has

734
00:35:17,000 --> 00:35:20,080
Speaker 2: quite literally never been lower in the entire Maybe that's

735
00:35:20,080 --> 00:35:20,399
Speaker 2: not true.

736
00:35:20,440 --> 00:35:21,839
Speaker 3: Maybe it was lower in the middle of the.

737
00:35:21,800 --> 00:35:24,319
Speaker 2: Season when he was the worst hitter in baseball, and

738
00:35:24,360 --> 00:35:26,480
Speaker 2: then he had the really great month and then kind

739
00:35:26,480 --> 00:35:28,120
Speaker 2: of ended the year on a not great note. But

740
00:35:28,360 --> 00:35:31,720
Speaker 2: you know, Michael Harris, his contract is is not great

741
00:35:31,800 --> 00:35:33,759
Speaker 2: at the moment. Same for Sean Murphy you mentioned, I

742
00:35:33,760 --> 00:35:37,239
Speaker 2: mean he had significant hip injury, he had surgery for it.

743
00:35:37,600 --> 00:35:39,279
Speaker 2: What do you You're not going to be able to

744
00:35:39,320 --> 00:35:41,960
Speaker 2: trade Sean Murphy right now because of all the medical questions,

745
00:35:42,000 --> 00:35:44,040
Speaker 2: and it just feels like you'd be selling low on

746
00:35:44,120 --> 00:35:46,800
Speaker 2: a lot of these guys who were even potentially tradeable.

747
00:35:47,040 --> 00:35:49,840
Speaker 2: Of course, you're not trading Olsen or Riley or Kunya.

748
00:35:50,800 --> 00:35:53,280
Speaker 2: You know, those guys are just absolutely set in stone.

749
00:35:53,520 --> 00:35:55,759
Speaker 2: But I do think over the next year or two,

750
00:35:55,800 --> 00:35:58,719
Speaker 2: as the Braves really evaluate their roster, of course you

751
00:35:58,800 --> 00:36:01,040
Speaker 2: have to think about basically everyone other than a couple

752
00:36:01,080 --> 00:36:03,840
Speaker 2: of players on the roster as tradable. You're not looking

753
00:36:03,840 --> 00:36:05,759
Speaker 2: to just give them away, but you have to be

754
00:36:05,800 --> 00:36:07,920
Speaker 2: flexible and trying to get the best deal done.

755
00:36:08,480 --> 00:36:11,080
Speaker 1: Absolutely, And you know, I think that dlex and Topolis

756
00:36:11,200 --> 00:36:13,719
Speaker 1: realizes that he knows that he's kind of at a

757
00:36:13,760 --> 00:36:17,000
Speaker 1: point to where listen, I'm investing in these guys. The

758
00:36:17,080 --> 00:36:19,040
Speaker 1: past couple of years, it's not worked to the level

759
00:36:19,040 --> 00:36:21,920
Speaker 1: that we need to. So you know, again outside the box.

760
00:36:21,960 --> 00:36:24,399
Speaker 1: How we've done things to this point has not gotten

761
00:36:24,480 --> 00:36:26,040
Speaker 1: us where we want to go. So we've got to

762
00:36:26,080 --> 00:36:28,960
Speaker 1: change some things up to get where we want to go. Scott,

763
00:36:28,960 --> 00:36:31,080
Speaker 1: anything else from you? Feel like we've covered a lot

764
00:36:31,160 --> 00:36:34,160
Speaker 1: of different segments, from a lot of different perspectives that

765
00:36:34,200 --> 00:36:36,120
Speaker 1: we have in the past. Anything else for you? Thank

766
00:36:36,120 --> 00:36:38,000
Speaker 1: you for all the questions, by the way, from everyone

767
00:36:38,280 --> 00:36:40,920
Speaker 1: that participated, but hey, I'll finally get to it, Scott,

768
00:36:40,960 --> 00:36:43,040
Speaker 1: anything else from you? As we wrapped this edition of

769
00:36:43,080 --> 00:36:44,760
Speaker 1: the Hammer Territory podcast.

770
00:36:45,440 --> 00:36:47,880
Speaker 2: No nothing really for me? I will echo Sean a

771
00:36:47,880 --> 00:36:50,280
Speaker 2: big thank you to the community. If we're always having questions,

772
00:36:50,320 --> 00:36:52,520
Speaker 2: we got a million of them. We'll try to get

773
00:36:52,560 --> 00:36:54,560
Speaker 2: to more of them. We are coming up on a

774
00:36:54,560 --> 00:36:58,040
Speaker 2: pretty quiet time in the off season calendar, as we said,

775
00:36:58,120 --> 00:37:00,640
Speaker 2: usually between Christmas and maybe the first week of the

776
00:37:00,640 --> 00:37:03,200
Speaker 2: new year, it's usually pretty quiet, and then you do

777
00:37:03,280 --> 00:37:06,320
Speaker 2: get a flurry of activity before everyone starts to report

778
00:37:06,360 --> 00:37:09,360
Speaker 2: and think about spring training in February. But as always

779
00:37:09,360 --> 00:37:11,080
Speaker 2: a big thanks to everybody for tuning in, and we

780
00:37:11,120 --> 00:37:14,120
Speaker 2: will have plenty of content this week, and who knows, Sean,

781
00:37:14,160 --> 00:37:16,239
Speaker 2: the way this offseason's going, maybe we'll get together in

782
00:37:16,280 --> 00:37:19,000
Speaker 2: a couple of days and do another emergency podcast because

783
00:37:19,000 --> 00:37:21,520
Speaker 2: the Braves have made another signing or trade.

784
00:37:21,840 --> 00:37:24,399
Speaker 1: Absolutely, we'll see what happens, you know, like you don't

785
00:37:24,440 --> 00:37:27,440
Speaker 1: necessarily you know, you know, with the I believe that

786
00:37:27,480 --> 00:37:30,160
Speaker 1: it will be towards the yeah, towards the new year.

787
00:37:30,320 --> 00:37:32,040
Speaker 1: But of course there's a couple of other story lights

788
00:37:32,080 --> 00:37:34,600
Speaker 1: to certainly watch out for. You've got an international Saidy

789
00:37:34,680 --> 00:37:37,279
Speaker 1: Day that's coming up. Edrew Jones's Hall of Faper suit

790
00:37:37,520 --> 00:37:39,920
Speaker 1: as well, that's coming up in the next several weeks.

791
00:37:40,000 --> 00:37:42,120
Speaker 1: So plenty of things to certainly talk about. We're going

792
00:37:42,200 --> 00:37:44,319
Speaker 1: to have you covered throughout the rest of the off

793
00:37:44,360 --> 00:37:47,520
Speaker 1: season Hammered Territory across all Forbes and social media far

794
00:37:47,600 --> 00:37:51,799
Speaker 1: the Foul Territory family of podcasts can't thank you enough

795
00:37:51,840 --> 00:37:54,200
Speaker 1: for joining us for Scott Coleman, Sean Coleman, Coleman and

796
00:37:54,200 --> 00:37:57,760
Speaker 1: Coleman Law Firm signing off until next time, Go Braids.

797
00:37:58,040 --> 00:38:00,560
Speaker 1: We'll talk to you again soon here on the Hammer

798
00:38:00,680 --> 00:38:02,960
Speaker 1: Territory podcast,