1 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:24,119 Speaker 1: Welcome on it all to the Hammer Territory Podcast. My 2 00:00:24,200 --> 00:00:26,680 Speaker 1: name is Shaan Coleman. Hope wherever you are and wherever 3 00:00:26,800 --> 00:00:30,400 Speaker 1: you are listening, you are having a great week so far, 4 00:00:30,720 --> 00:00:33,920 Speaker 1: just a few more weeks until Christmas. Kind of crazy, 5 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:36,640 Speaker 1: the holiday season is here, but of course in the 6 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:39,160 Speaker 1: baseball world, that means the peak of the off season 7 00:00:39,520 --> 00:00:41,600 Speaker 1: is here. Right in the midst of it. The two 8 00:00:41,760 --> 00:00:45,960 Speaker 1: thy twenty six Winter Meetings action certainly picked up today. 9 00:00:46,040 --> 00:00:48,800 Speaker 1: We'll discuss that a little bit more in the episode. 10 00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:50,680 Speaker 1: But of course, with this is being a Braves podcast, 11 00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:54,080 Speaker 1: we want to focus on what in particular at the 12 00:00:54,080 --> 00:00:57,680 Speaker 1: Winter Meetings is impacting the Braves. Of course is always 13 00:00:57,680 --> 00:00:59,680 Speaker 1: with me my podcast partner, one of the best when 14 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:02,480 Speaker 1: it comes to breaking down the Braves, Stephen Otober and 15 00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:05,520 Speaker 1: Steven let's go right into it, of course with it 16 00:01:05,560 --> 00:01:08,360 Speaker 1: me and Tuesday, the middle day of the Winter Meetings. 17 00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:11,360 Speaker 1: Yet kind of hoped that more actual news would come 18 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:13,920 Speaker 1: down the pipe for the Braves, but that has not 19 00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:17,760 Speaker 1: been the case so far. But another aspect of this 20 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:20,280 Speaker 1: Winter Meetings that has not been there, you know, really 21 00:01:20,319 --> 00:01:22,800 Speaker 1: before for the Braves over the past, you know, in 22 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:25,440 Speaker 1: the era of the Baseball Lottery is the fact they 23 00:01:25,440 --> 00:01:28,319 Speaker 1: were a part of the lottery today. Entering today, the 24 00:01:28,319 --> 00:01:31,360 Speaker 1: Braves had the sixth best odds for the number one pick. 25 00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:33,720 Speaker 1: I believe it was a forty five percent chance for 26 00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:36,560 Speaker 1: a top six pick. I want to say that was correct, 27 00:01:36,600 --> 00:01:39,679 Speaker 1: maybe in top four. But regardless the many had hoped 28 00:01:39,680 --> 00:01:41,560 Speaker 1: going into this lottery, the Braves would have had some 29 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:43,560 Speaker 1: luck on their end. Maybe it would be a bit 30 00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:46,080 Speaker 1: of a payoff for all of the stuff that we've 31 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:49,040 Speaker 1: suffered through over the past eighteen months. And lo and behold, 32 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:52,480 Speaker 1: we got the worst pick that we possibly can get. 33 00:01:52,640 --> 00:01:56,000 Speaker 1: The Braves will pick number nine in the twenty twenty 34 00:01:56,000 --> 00:02:00,240 Speaker 1: six MLB draft. And while hey, after a struggle of 35 00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:03,320 Speaker 1: from two thousand and five, that's not necessarily a bad thing, 36 00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:05,480 Speaker 1: but it certainly is not as good as man Hey 37 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:08,520 Speaker 1: had hoped coming from this twenty twenty six it will 38 00:02:08,520 --> 00:02:09,280 Speaker 1: be draft lottery. 39 00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:15,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, just kind of one last giant wet fart of 40 00:02:15,440 --> 00:02:18,200 Speaker 2: twenty twenty five, right right before we get to the end. 41 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:20,520 Speaker 2: What's up, buddy, It's good to be on with you. 42 00:02:20,520 --> 00:02:22,560 Speaker 2: It's been a minute since I've been on. We obviously 43 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:26,680 Speaker 2: did the you did the show with Robert Murray last week, 44 00:02:26,919 --> 00:02:29,040 Speaker 2: and I just was I was hoping to try to 45 00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:31,760 Speaker 2: get on that show. We just had scheduling issues come up. 46 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:34,320 Speaker 2: But yeah, it's good to be on with you again. 47 00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:39,720 Speaker 2: It was perfectly fitting that the one kind of bright 48 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:41,880 Speaker 2: light that could have come from the twenty twenty five 49 00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:46,360 Speaker 2: season was this lottery you know selection that happened today 50 00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:48,680 Speaker 2: and the Braves having this chance at a top four, 51 00:02:49,360 --> 00:02:51,960 Speaker 2: top three maybe even you know, it was a slim chance, 52 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:54,640 Speaker 2: but even maybe the number one overall pick, and it 53 00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:58,760 Speaker 2: in terms of like realistic outcomes, it actually went as 54 00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:01,800 Speaker 2: bad as bad as it could. Like the ninth pick was, 55 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:06,160 Speaker 2: for all intents and purposes, the bottom for the Braves 56 00:03:06,160 --> 00:03:09,200 Speaker 2: in terms of like outcomes, Like it couldn't get worse 57 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:12,040 Speaker 2: than that. Really, I think technically they could have been 58 00:03:12,040 --> 00:03:16,680 Speaker 2: in at ten, but it was even more remote than that. 59 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:19,600 Speaker 2: It was like in terms of realistic outcomes, like nine 60 00:03:19,720 --> 00:03:21,760 Speaker 2: was as bad as it was gonna get. And so 61 00:03:21,919 --> 00:03:25,640 Speaker 2: of course they're picking nine. So yeah, just one more 62 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:30,360 Speaker 2: you know, just one more nice parting gift for the 63 00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:33,519 Speaker 2: year twenty twenty five. And here's hoping twenty twenty six 64 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:37,440 Speaker 2: brings a little more joy than this past calendar year did. 65 00:03:38,880 --> 00:03:41,040 Speaker 1: But let's also put this into a bit of perspective. 66 00:03:41,080 --> 00:03:43,600 Speaker 1: First off, the fact that the Braves are going to 67 00:03:43,640 --> 00:03:45,560 Speaker 1: be picking in a bit worse spot than they had 68 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:48,960 Speaker 1: anticipated or had been projected to that makes it even 69 00:03:49,080 --> 00:03:50,880 Speaker 1: more valuable the fact that they were able to get 70 00:03:50,880 --> 00:03:53,360 Speaker 1: the number twenty six pick over all of the draft. 71 00:03:53,440 --> 00:03:55,960 Speaker 1: By the way, they'll be picking there, they'll be picking 72 00:03:55,960 --> 00:03:58,120 Speaker 1: for the second time right before the Bets'll be picking 73 00:03:58,160 --> 00:04:00,880 Speaker 1: for the first time. In the twenty they will be draft. 74 00:04:00,920 --> 00:04:02,960 Speaker 1: So that's a nice little way of looking at things. 75 00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:05,120 Speaker 1: But the thing that I'll say is this is that 76 00:04:05,160 --> 00:04:09,480 Speaker 1: with the draft pick now known, not that that was 77 00:04:09,480 --> 00:04:14,080 Speaker 1: ever really going to be that big of a hurdle 78 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:18,599 Speaker 1: or that necessary of a known entity for Alexanthopolis to 79 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:20,880 Speaker 1: make moves, it's good to have it in the rearview mirror. 80 00:04:20,880 --> 00:04:22,479 Speaker 1: You know what you're dealing with. You know that you're 81 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:26,840 Speaker 1: going to have an increased ability to add talent to 82 00:04:26,920 --> 00:04:29,440 Speaker 1: the major to the minor league system compared to what 83 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:32,440 Speaker 1: you've been able to in years. So of course we 84 00:04:32,560 --> 00:04:35,599 Speaker 1: now point to, well, you know what are the Braves 85 00:04:35,839 --> 00:04:38,040 Speaker 1: looking at? You know what are we hearing? What is 86 00:04:38,080 --> 00:04:42,400 Speaker 1: being said? About Atlanta around the Winter meetings. And one 87 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:47,640 Speaker 1: thing that continues to kind of be not necessarily a surprise, 88 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:52,279 Speaker 1: but kind of really pointed out is Buster only talked 89 00:04:52,279 --> 00:04:54,520 Speaker 1: about it today. Robert Murray talked about it when I 90 00:04:54,560 --> 00:04:59,520 Speaker 1: talked with him last week. Some very very well known 91 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:04,359 Speaker 1: national sources who have the sources of knowing at least 92 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:06,960 Speaker 1: partly what the Braves are going to do, they keep 93 00:05:07,360 --> 00:05:11,440 Speaker 1: preaching pitching, and that seems to certainly be something that 94 00:05:11,440 --> 00:05:13,320 Speaker 1: could be next on the radar for the Braves. I 95 00:05:13,360 --> 00:05:16,880 Speaker 1: know we all want that impact bat. That could still happen, obviously, 96 00:05:17,360 --> 00:05:19,360 Speaker 1: but it certainly seems like that if there's going to 97 00:05:19,400 --> 00:05:21,000 Speaker 1: be a next move for the Bras, which of course 98 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:23,479 Speaker 1: we would hope would be at the Winter Meetings, pitching, 99 00:05:23,640 --> 00:05:26,200 Speaker 1: especially starting pitching, would be the focus. 100 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:33,279 Speaker 2: Yeah. So Buster did a podcast today and I can't 101 00:05:33,320 --> 00:05:36,520 Speaker 2: I don't remember the name of the host, or actually 102 00:05:36,560 --> 00:05:37,840 Speaker 2: I don't remember the name of the show he was 103 00:05:37,880 --> 00:05:39,000 Speaker 2: on either, but I think. 104 00:05:38,839 --> 00:05:40,880 Speaker 1: It was the Baseball Tonight podcast, wasn't. 105 00:05:40,640 --> 00:05:45,719 Speaker 2: It wasn't, I don't know. Yeah, yeah, And either way, 106 00:05:45,720 --> 00:05:49,000 Speaker 2: the host brought up the subject by saying, Hey, what 107 00:05:49,040 --> 00:05:52,159 Speaker 2: do you think about Corey Seeger to the Braves because 108 00:05:52,160 --> 00:05:54,440 Speaker 2: the Braves are you know, they've had a black hole 109 00:05:54,480 --> 00:05:58,000 Speaker 2: at shortstop for the last three years, and the Rangers, 110 00:05:58,240 --> 00:06:01,560 Speaker 2: I apparently want to you know, shed money and would 111 00:06:01,560 --> 00:06:04,560 Speaker 2: this makes sense? And Buster, in his response to that, 112 00:06:04,839 --> 00:06:09,360 Speaker 2: basically said, what I've heard and what other people I've 113 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:11,480 Speaker 2: talked to have heard, is that the Braves are all 114 00:06:11,480 --> 00:06:15,160 Speaker 2: in on pitching right now now. The Braves do need 115 00:06:15,160 --> 00:06:18,039 Speaker 2: pitching help. We've talked about it extensively. Brad and Scott 116 00:06:18,080 --> 00:06:20,400 Speaker 2: talked about it and have talked about it multiple times. 117 00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:23,680 Speaker 2: I think we all believe the Braves need another starter. 118 00:06:24,680 --> 00:06:28,360 Speaker 2: I know the list of names technically is enough, but 119 00:06:28,520 --> 00:06:32,120 Speaker 2: the Braves do not have enough starting pitching. I'm not 120 00:06:32,120 --> 00:06:33,440 Speaker 2: sure I would ever come on here and tell you 121 00:06:33,480 --> 00:06:35,960 Speaker 2: the Braves have enough starting pitching. But I can promise 122 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:37,359 Speaker 2: you I'm not going to come on here tonight and 123 00:06:37,440 --> 00:06:39,000 Speaker 2: tell you the Braves have enough starting pitching, because I 124 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:41,440 Speaker 2: don't think they do. The Braves need another starter. I 125 00:06:41,440 --> 00:06:44,120 Speaker 2: think the Braves need a couple more relievers. So I 126 00:06:44,160 --> 00:06:49,279 Speaker 2: certainly understand the logic that this team needs more pitching 127 00:06:49,320 --> 00:06:52,880 Speaker 2: and pitching should be a focus. I do feel like 128 00:06:54,680 --> 00:06:58,200 Speaker 2: I'm taking crazy pills at times, because it does feel 129 00:06:58,200 --> 00:07:00,840 Speaker 2: like everyone is just kind of sup under the rug, 130 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:04,000 Speaker 2: how bad the offense has been for two years in 131 00:07:04,080 --> 00:07:11,280 Speaker 2: a row. Like I I'll mention stuff on Twitter about hey, 132 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:13,800 Speaker 2: the Braves need another big bat, and the replies I 133 00:07:13,840 --> 00:07:16,520 Speaker 2: get are wild. I'll get some people that agree, but 134 00:07:16,520 --> 00:07:17,960 Speaker 2: I get a lot of people, oh no, no, no, 135 00:07:18,520 --> 00:07:20,880 Speaker 2: the lineup is fine. They got to get more pitching, 136 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:25,040 Speaker 2: and they do need pitching. But one, it doesn't have 137 00:07:25,080 --> 00:07:29,000 Speaker 2: to be in either or thing, like you're allowed to 138 00:07:29,040 --> 00:07:33,240 Speaker 2: actually fill more than one need in an offseason. I 139 00:07:33,280 --> 00:07:36,640 Speaker 2: know Alex, the way Alex has operated the last eighteen months, 140 00:07:36,640 --> 00:07:39,320 Speaker 2: it's like, well, maybe we'll get one big move. That's 141 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:41,480 Speaker 2: actually not in the rules anywhere you're allowed to just 142 00:07:41,600 --> 00:07:46,480 Speaker 2: address multiple needs at any point. Yes, the Braves need pitching, 143 00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:49,360 Speaker 2: but like when the pitching was one hundred percent healthy 144 00:07:49,440 --> 00:07:53,520 Speaker 2: last year from April through July, or you know end 145 00:07:53,520 --> 00:07:56,360 Speaker 2: of June, when the pitching was one hundred percent healthy 146 00:07:56,360 --> 00:07:59,640 Speaker 2: and pitching, well, they still weren't winning a game. There's 147 00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:01,720 Speaker 2: still at one point ten games under five hundred because 148 00:08:01,720 --> 00:08:05,840 Speaker 2: it couldn't score. So I think they need a big bat. 149 00:08:05,880 --> 00:08:08,560 Speaker 2: I I think not just a bat. I think they 150 00:08:08,560 --> 00:08:10,040 Speaker 2: need a big I think they need like a middle 151 00:08:10,040 --> 00:08:13,400 Speaker 2: of the older bat. Every time Alex talks like that 152 00:08:13,440 --> 00:08:15,640 Speaker 2: doesn't get brought up. I don't know why, but you know, 153 00:08:15,720 --> 00:08:19,000 Speaker 2: the focus has been pitching, pitching, pitching pitching, So I'm 154 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:22,760 Speaker 2: guessing that's the next thing we see is a starter 155 00:08:23,600 --> 00:08:27,560 Speaker 2: or a pretty high leverage reliever. There was some loose 156 00:08:27,600 --> 00:08:29,920 Speaker 2: reporting that the Braves might have been in on Edwin 157 00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:32,480 Speaker 2: Diaz before he signed with the Dodgers. I don't know 158 00:08:32,480 --> 00:08:34,000 Speaker 2: how much to make of that. I'm not gonna put 159 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:38,160 Speaker 2: a ton of stock in that, but it wouldn't stun 160 00:08:38,160 --> 00:08:40,680 Speaker 2: me if the Braves added another high impact reliever. I 161 00:08:40,679 --> 00:08:43,000 Speaker 2: think they need to, especially with this Joejmanez news that's 162 00:08:43,040 --> 00:08:46,240 Speaker 2: come out, and so yeah, I think the Braves probably 163 00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:47,680 Speaker 2: the next move is going to be a pitcher of 164 00:08:47,679 --> 00:08:50,679 Speaker 2: some regard. I just don't like how little I'm hearing 165 00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:54,200 Speaker 2: about adding an impact bat. 166 00:08:55,520 --> 00:08:58,240 Speaker 1: And that could be the whole playing, right, Yeah, that 167 00:08:58,280 --> 00:09:00,560 Speaker 1: could be the whole playing with Alex is is you 168 00:09:00,559 --> 00:09:02,960 Speaker 1: know playing? You know that. I don't know if dificult 169 00:09:03,040 --> 00:09:05,520 Speaker 1: devil's advocate there is the right word, but misdirection I 170 00:09:05,840 --> 00:09:08,200 Speaker 1: guess putting the focus so much on the pitching when 171 00:09:08,240 --> 00:09:10,640 Speaker 1: it comes to putting news out there that it gives 172 00:09:10,720 --> 00:09:14,120 Speaker 1: him a bit easier ability to keep things close to 173 00:09:14,160 --> 00:09:16,640 Speaker 1: the best kind of moving in the shadows to maybe 174 00:09:16,640 --> 00:09:19,559 Speaker 1: go after that big bat. And we're hearing some names 175 00:09:19,600 --> 00:09:21,800 Speaker 1: where we're seeing, you know, a lot of people alluding 176 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:23,720 Speaker 1: to the fact that, you know, ka Tell Marte trade 177 00:09:23,760 --> 00:09:26,440 Speaker 1: talks are going on, Corey Seeger trade talks are going on. 178 00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:28,560 Speaker 1: Of course, we've known, you know, Byron Bucks didn't name 179 00:09:28,600 --> 00:09:30,520 Speaker 1: being thrown of the air. I'm not saying the Braves 180 00:09:30,559 --> 00:09:34,160 Speaker 1: are necessarily going to be in on any of those guys. 181 00:09:34,200 --> 00:09:37,080 Speaker 1: The Padres have been in the midst of some particularly 182 00:09:37,320 --> 00:09:41,120 Speaker 1: potential big moves. I don't think that that's really I 183 00:09:41,120 --> 00:09:42,680 Speaker 1: don't think the Braves are necessarily going to go after 184 00:09:42,679 --> 00:09:45,720 Speaker 1: any of those guys. But I agree with you wholeheartedly. 185 00:09:45,760 --> 00:09:48,840 Speaker 1: And I'm even taking a step further what Wise talked 186 00:09:48,920 --> 00:09:51,839 Speaker 1: with the media today, and he talked about the fact 187 00:09:51,840 --> 00:09:55,600 Speaker 1: that you know, he would like to get Drake Baldwin 188 00:09:56,040 --> 00:09:59,320 Speaker 1: more dh it bats. And don't get me wrong, Drake 189 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:04,600 Speaker 1: Baldwin in the lineup is perfectly fine, but going next year, 190 00:10:04,679 --> 00:10:08,199 Speaker 1: going into next year and being okay with one hundred 191 00:10:08,200 --> 00:10:11,760 Speaker 1: and twenty plus games of potentially Murphy and Baldwin in 192 00:10:11,840 --> 00:10:14,760 Speaker 1: the lineup together, or maybe one hundred plus games of 193 00:10:14,800 --> 00:10:17,199 Speaker 1: them like that, that's not gonna get the job done. 194 00:10:17,480 --> 00:10:20,920 Speaker 1: They they're very good hitters for the catching position. That 195 00:10:20,960 --> 00:10:23,319 Speaker 1: doesn't necessarily mean that both of them in the lineup 196 00:10:23,960 --> 00:10:26,480 Speaker 1: should be the best that you're going for to elevate 197 00:10:26,520 --> 00:10:28,280 Speaker 1: your offense, because it's likely not going to do it. 198 00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:31,240 Speaker 1: You need a bat at the level of a Byron 199 00:10:31,280 --> 00:10:35,079 Speaker 1: Buckson or those other names that I mentioned. So I 200 00:10:35,120 --> 00:10:36,719 Speaker 1: am not would not be surprised at all. As a 201 00:10:36,760 --> 00:10:38,920 Speaker 1: matter of fact, I'd be willing to bet that Alex 202 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:42,559 Speaker 1: and Topless has at least explored those type of opportunities, 203 00:10:42,760 --> 00:10:45,520 Speaker 1: and he's probably using the focus on pitching, which he 204 00:10:45,559 --> 00:10:48,200 Speaker 1: does have a focus on. He's probably using that kind 205 00:10:48,240 --> 00:10:51,600 Speaker 1: of as a cloak to cover what he's trying to do. 206 00:10:51,679 --> 00:10:53,400 Speaker 1: I'm not trying to, you know, sit here and suggest 207 00:10:53,440 --> 00:10:56,679 Speaker 1: all this conspiracy theory stuff. All I'm saying is that 208 00:10:56,720 --> 00:11:00,600 Speaker 1: even though we're hearing people say pitching, pitching, pitching is 209 00:11:00,600 --> 00:11:03,679 Speaker 1: the focus, I would imagine that also is a bit 210 00:11:03,679 --> 00:11:06,640 Speaker 1: of a front with Alex also exploring how we can 211 00:11:06,720 --> 00:11:09,600 Speaker 1: add that impact bat because he knows that this that 212 00:11:09,679 --> 00:11:12,840 Speaker 1: this team being at its best is having offense as 213 00:11:12,880 --> 00:11:13,560 Speaker 1: its identity. 214 00:11:15,679 --> 00:11:18,199 Speaker 2: Well, look, it's not like the team doesn't need pitching. 215 00:11:18,320 --> 00:11:20,000 Speaker 2: So I don't want to come on here and say 216 00:11:20,040 --> 00:11:23,120 Speaker 2: like they need to take their focus away from pitching 217 00:11:23,160 --> 00:11:25,800 Speaker 2: and add it to offense. I'm saying they need to 218 00:11:25,800 --> 00:11:29,400 Speaker 2: do both, and I'm I'm I'm very much hope. And 219 00:11:29,440 --> 00:11:32,480 Speaker 2: we hadn't even brought up shortstop yet, but like that's 220 00:11:32,559 --> 00:11:35,720 Speaker 2: just another kind of black hole. I know Mariso Dubon 221 00:11:35,880 --> 00:11:38,640 Speaker 2: is better than Nick Allen, but I mean, let's be honest. 222 00:11:38,640 --> 00:11:42,280 Speaker 2: On a on a championship level team, ideally, Mariso Dubon 223 00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:44,680 Speaker 2: is kind of your super utility player. He's not your 224 00:11:44,720 --> 00:11:50,040 Speaker 2: starting shortstop. So I do think they need to add starting, 225 00:11:50,440 --> 00:11:53,280 Speaker 2: starting pitching, and I think they need to add bullpen help. 226 00:11:56,160 --> 00:12:00,760 Speaker 2: If I had to rank them, boy, I think I 227 00:12:00,760 --> 00:12:02,880 Speaker 2: would put I would I honestly think I'd put a 228 00:12:03,640 --> 00:12:08,079 Speaker 2: middle of the older bad as one. I would put 229 00:12:08,200 --> 00:12:10,920 Speaker 2: rotation probably as a close second. I could probably be 230 00:12:10,960 --> 00:12:14,400 Speaker 2: talked into flipping those. But and I don't know that 231 00:12:14,440 --> 00:12:16,960 Speaker 2: the Braves are gonna go get so let's talk about 232 00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:21,199 Speaker 2: starting pitching for a second, since that's what Buster Only 233 00:12:21,240 --> 00:12:23,560 Speaker 2: was talking about today, that's what Robert Murray was talking 234 00:12:23,559 --> 00:12:25,880 Speaker 2: about with you last week. Let's talk about let's talk 235 00:12:25,880 --> 00:12:30,079 Speaker 2: about starting pitching for a second. So the team came 236 00:12:30,120 --> 00:12:34,520 Speaker 2: out and said Grant Holmes has been feeling better and 237 00:12:34,559 --> 00:12:38,080 Speaker 2: that Ronaldo Lopez has been feeling better, and that they 238 00:12:38,120 --> 00:12:41,200 Speaker 2: are treating both those guys. Specifically, Holmes is just healthy 239 00:12:41,240 --> 00:12:44,840 Speaker 2: pictures now. And you know, a lot of the reaction 240 00:12:45,200 --> 00:12:48,240 Speaker 2: was and because Alex and these comments came at the 241 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:50,680 Speaker 2: beginning of the winter meetings, when Alex did his opening 242 00:12:50,679 --> 00:12:54,400 Speaker 2: press conference, and a lot of the reaction was and 243 00:12:54,440 --> 00:12:57,800 Speaker 2: the context was that maybe they have cooled on adding 244 00:12:57,800 --> 00:13:00,360 Speaker 2: a starting pitcher, And so people started freaking out because 245 00:13:00,400 --> 00:13:03,840 Speaker 2: they're like, well, you know, how can you how in 246 00:13:03,880 --> 00:13:05,560 Speaker 2: the world do you know that Grant Holmes is healthy 247 00:13:05,600 --> 00:13:08,840 Speaker 2: on December eighth, when he's not even ramped. You know, 248 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:12,040 Speaker 2: there's no way to know if he's really healthy. And 249 00:13:12,040 --> 00:13:14,440 Speaker 2: people started freaking out. And I thought Brad made a 250 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:18,520 Speaker 2: good point on the show they did on Sunday. You 251 00:13:18,520 --> 00:13:21,880 Speaker 2: should not take anything Alex says publicly and anything more 252 00:13:21,880 --> 00:13:25,199 Speaker 2: than face value, because he's got no incentive to be 253 00:13:25,320 --> 00:13:29,680 Speaker 2: honest too. Even if he thought Grant Holmes was healthy, 254 00:13:29,760 --> 00:13:33,320 Speaker 2: he never said anything about him or Ronaldo Lopez actually 255 00:13:33,400 --> 00:13:36,079 Speaker 2: pitching in the rotation versus the bullpen. In fact, what 256 00:13:36,240 --> 00:13:39,560 Speaker 2: Wise today mentioned, you know, the option of pitching those 257 00:13:39,559 --> 00:13:44,600 Speaker 2: guys in the bullpen as something they're they're thinking about. 258 00:13:44,800 --> 00:13:46,839 Speaker 2: And so I do think they're going to add a starter. 259 00:13:47,600 --> 00:13:52,560 Speaker 2: Now once you get to the once you arrive at 260 00:13:52,600 --> 00:13:55,880 Speaker 2: the conclusion that they're going to add a starter, the 261 00:13:55,960 --> 00:13:57,880 Speaker 2: next question is what level of starter are they going 262 00:13:57,960 --> 00:14:03,240 Speaker 2: to add. After today's development of not getting a high 263 00:14:04,040 --> 00:14:06,760 Speaker 2: pick in the draft, as least not as high as 264 00:14:06,760 --> 00:14:10,240 Speaker 2: it could have been getting a ninth pick, I do 265 00:14:10,360 --> 00:14:14,240 Speaker 2: wonder about them signing a qualified free agent and giving 266 00:14:14,360 --> 00:14:18,880 Speaker 2: up that twenty sixth pick they could, and Alex said 267 00:14:18,880 --> 00:14:20,440 Speaker 2: that they would be willing to do it for the 268 00:14:20,480 --> 00:14:24,640 Speaker 2: right deal. But here's my thinking on that. One thing 269 00:14:24,680 --> 00:14:26,800 Speaker 2: Alex loves to do is he loves to take somebody's 270 00:14:26,840 --> 00:14:29,800 Speaker 2: market who's maybe didn't develop the way they wanted to 271 00:14:30,600 --> 00:14:32,320 Speaker 2: and sign him to a one year deal. 272 00:14:32,600 --> 00:14:32,760 Speaker 1: Right. 273 00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:35,680 Speaker 2: We've seen him do that a bunch, and so I thought, well, 274 00:14:35,680 --> 00:14:38,480 Speaker 2: maybe if Zach Gallon's market doesn't develop, Alex could go 275 00:14:38,520 --> 00:14:40,200 Speaker 2: sign him to a one year deal. Or maybe Michael 276 00:14:40,240 --> 00:14:43,880 Speaker 2: King's market doesn't develop and Alex goes and signs him 277 00:14:43,880 --> 00:14:45,880 Speaker 2: to a one year deal. The problem with that is 278 00:14:46,400 --> 00:14:49,080 Speaker 2: both of those guys have qualifying offers attached to their name. 279 00:14:49,480 --> 00:14:51,160 Speaker 2: So are you going to give up that draft pick 280 00:14:51,200 --> 00:14:55,600 Speaker 2: for a one year deal? That changes the equation? 281 00:14:56,000 --> 00:14:56,200 Speaker 1: Right? 282 00:14:56,280 --> 00:14:57,840 Speaker 2: I don't know that you would be willing to give 283 00:14:57,920 --> 00:15:00,080 Speaker 2: up the draft pick to sign Michael King to a 284 00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:02,440 Speaker 2: one year deal if his market didn't develop the way 285 00:15:02,560 --> 00:15:05,040 Speaker 2: that you wanted it to. So I think it kind 286 00:15:05,040 --> 00:15:08,520 Speaker 2: of takes a It takes a club out of Alex's bag, 287 00:15:09,960 --> 00:15:11,720 Speaker 2: And I don't know that they're gonna sign rangers for 288 00:15:11,840 --> 00:15:14,440 Speaker 2: AZ I have. I'm gonna have to see Alex sign 289 00:15:14,520 --> 00:15:16,320 Speaker 2: a picture at that at the very top of the 290 00:15:16,320 --> 00:15:18,920 Speaker 2: market before I believe he'll do it. I've just never 291 00:15:18,960 --> 00:15:22,040 Speaker 2: seen him do it. So then the question becomes what 292 00:15:22,120 --> 00:15:24,360 Speaker 2: kind of starting picture are they gonna add? And that's 293 00:15:24,360 --> 00:15:26,480 Speaker 2: where it gets real fascinating and I'm curious. I actually 294 00:15:26,520 --> 00:15:29,840 Speaker 2: want to get your opinion on this, Sean. Do you 295 00:15:29,920 --> 00:15:34,440 Speaker 2: think they're in like the Merrill Kelly, Chris Bassett is 296 00:15:34,120 --> 00:15:36,240 Speaker 2: that is that what we're thinking like the level they're 297 00:15:36,280 --> 00:15:36,880 Speaker 2: looking at. 298 00:15:40,560 --> 00:15:42,520 Speaker 1: That should be the level that they're looking at, in 299 00:15:42,520 --> 00:15:45,280 Speaker 1: my opinion, the Brad Keller level. You know, hey, they 300 00:15:45,680 --> 00:15:48,400 Speaker 1: to maybe go someone with upside who's stuff that they like, 301 00:15:48,520 --> 00:15:51,720 Speaker 1: Lucas Giolito, who who was very very good at the 302 00:15:51,880 --> 00:15:54,640 Speaker 1: end of last year. The point that I'm getting at 303 00:15:54,760 --> 00:15:56,120 Speaker 1: is is this and I kind of talked about it 304 00:15:56,160 --> 00:15:58,440 Speaker 1: with Robert Kelly last week and how quote what I 305 00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:02,640 Speaker 1: did a couple of weeks ago, the pitching staff needs depth, 306 00:16:03,040 --> 00:16:07,400 Speaker 1: the offense needs a difference maker, and I rank where 307 00:16:07,400 --> 00:16:10,880 Speaker 1: we need a difference maker over where we need depth. 308 00:16:11,200 --> 00:16:14,320 Speaker 1: And for that reason, that's why if you can go 309 00:16:14,400 --> 00:16:18,200 Speaker 1: and get a veteran starter who has durability, who has 310 00:16:18,280 --> 00:16:21,600 Speaker 1: thrown some of the postseason, which Keller, Kelly as well 311 00:16:21,640 --> 00:16:24,040 Speaker 1: as Bassett all had proven that they can do, I 312 00:16:24,160 --> 00:16:27,200 Speaker 1: think you would be just fine going to get that 313 00:16:27,400 --> 00:16:30,200 Speaker 1: type of starter. I know that the name may not 314 00:16:30,320 --> 00:16:33,560 Speaker 1: be as appealing as others, but I think that that 315 00:16:33,640 --> 00:16:37,000 Speaker 1: allows for you to address the depth needs or addresses 316 00:16:37,080 --> 00:16:40,240 Speaker 1: having another arm that you could feature more if you 317 00:16:40,280 --> 00:16:42,960 Speaker 1: were to run into an inevitable injury. I think that 318 00:16:43,080 --> 00:16:47,680 Speaker 1: level of addition certainly helps the pitching staff. Going to 319 00:16:47,680 --> 00:16:51,680 Speaker 1: get another you know, you know, notable reliever helps as well, 320 00:16:52,280 --> 00:16:54,840 Speaker 1: But offense has got to be the focus. And I'm 321 00:16:54,840 --> 00:16:57,800 Speaker 1: not talking about going to get Hasan Kim who if 322 00:16:57,840 --> 00:17:00,680 Speaker 1: they still want that spine, I'm not talking about that. 323 00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:04,240 Speaker 1: I am talking about, as we mentioned, someone that is 324 00:17:04,320 --> 00:17:10,159 Speaker 1: a difference maker, someone that gives you an added threat 325 00:17:10,480 --> 00:17:13,160 Speaker 1: to your lineup that you can put on the level 326 00:17:13,320 --> 00:17:15,840 Speaker 1: of a Matt Olsen as well as a Ronald Acuna junior. 327 00:17:16,040 --> 00:17:19,240 Speaker 1: Because again we're now to the point of two years. 328 00:17:20,600 --> 00:17:22,639 Speaker 1: When it comes to Austin Riley, when it comes to 329 00:17:22,640 --> 00:17:25,359 Speaker 1: Ozzie Alby's, when it comes to Michael Harris the second 330 00:17:25,720 --> 00:17:29,640 Speaker 1: who is the real version of these players. It's hard 331 00:17:29,680 --> 00:17:32,360 Speaker 1: to believe that their best days are already behind them 332 00:17:32,680 --> 00:17:35,560 Speaker 1: because they're entering their prime. But it also is not 333 00:17:35,600 --> 00:17:38,480 Speaker 1: out of the realm of reality. You got to get 334 00:17:38,480 --> 00:17:41,880 Speaker 1: a difference maker offensively. So that's why I think going 335 00:17:41,960 --> 00:17:44,159 Speaker 1: with that level of a basset of a Kelly, of 336 00:17:44,200 --> 00:17:46,760 Speaker 1: a Keller gives you the depth that you need for 337 00:17:46,840 --> 00:17:53,720 Speaker 1: your rotation, but also is a financially frugal enough move 338 00:17:54,080 --> 00:17:56,600 Speaker 1: to keep in terms of prospects and in terms of 339 00:17:56,800 --> 00:18:00,280 Speaker 1: finances overall, you've still got plenty enough resources. You go 340 00:18:00,280 --> 00:18:02,000 Speaker 1: get that offensive difference maker that you need. 341 00:18:04,480 --> 00:18:07,240 Speaker 2: Yeah. So a friend of the show Garov, was talking 342 00:18:07,240 --> 00:18:13,520 Speaker 2: about Brad Keller on Twitter today and not to be confused, 343 00:18:13,520 --> 00:18:15,240 Speaker 2: I've made this mistake because I'm gonna point it out. 344 00:18:15,240 --> 00:18:17,640 Speaker 2: Not to be confused with Mitch Keller, who is the 345 00:18:17,640 --> 00:18:20,840 Speaker 2: Pittsburgh Pirates starter who's under contract for I think three 346 00:18:20,960 --> 00:18:23,320 Speaker 2: or four. He signed a big extension with Pittsburgh. This 347 00:18:23,359 --> 00:18:26,200 Speaker 2: is Brad Keller, who's who pitched out of the Cubs 348 00:18:26,200 --> 00:18:29,520 Speaker 2: bullpen last year. He's been with the Royals i think 349 00:18:29,560 --> 00:18:34,240 Speaker 2: before the Cubs, and he's a guy that has a 350 00:18:34,280 --> 00:18:38,760 Speaker 2: profile very similar to maybe a Ronaldo Lopez. Maybe doesn't 351 00:18:38,800 --> 00:18:40,440 Speaker 2: throw as hard, but it's been out of the bullpen, 352 00:18:40,800 --> 00:18:44,720 Speaker 2: but has starting experience, had a really strong strikeout to 353 00:18:44,760 --> 00:18:47,200 Speaker 2: walk ratio last year, which is something that Braves really 354 00:18:47,359 --> 00:18:51,000 Speaker 2: like can be had for much less than you know, 355 00:18:51,080 --> 00:18:53,479 Speaker 2: one of these top end guys, and maybe more important 356 00:18:53,480 --> 00:18:55,440 Speaker 2: than all, it does not does not cost them the 357 00:18:56,080 --> 00:19:00,520 Speaker 2: draft pick to sign, and I do I would. 358 00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:00,480 Speaker 1: Love to know. 359 00:19:00,480 --> 00:19:01,919 Speaker 2: I'd love to be a fly on the wall to 360 00:19:02,040 --> 00:19:07,480 Speaker 2: know how the results today at the draft lottery changes 361 00:19:07,520 --> 00:19:12,159 Speaker 2: their calculus and changes their strategy of what free agents 362 00:19:12,200 --> 00:19:15,080 Speaker 2: to go after. Alex said in his opening comments at 363 00:19:15,119 --> 00:19:19,040 Speaker 2: the Winter meetings that it wasn't the pick, wasn't going 364 00:19:19,119 --> 00:19:22,399 Speaker 2: to affect whether or not they signed somebody. It was 365 00:19:22,440 --> 00:19:23,919 Speaker 2: just all going to be about the deal. It's just 366 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:25,879 Speaker 2: kind of factored into the value of the deal. And 367 00:19:25,920 --> 00:19:28,720 Speaker 2: I get that logic, but I feel like it would 368 00:19:28,760 --> 00:19:30,560 Speaker 2: have been somewhat easier if you had like the fourth 369 00:19:30,560 --> 00:19:32,919 Speaker 2: overall pick, because you've already would have had a massive 370 00:19:32,960 --> 00:19:36,479 Speaker 2: bonus bowl even without that twenty six pick. So we'll see. 371 00:19:37,080 --> 00:19:40,200 Speaker 2: I do. I think I follow your logic, and I 372 00:19:40,280 --> 00:19:45,520 Speaker 2: think I agree with your logic that in the rotation 373 00:19:45,680 --> 00:19:48,679 Speaker 2: you need to search more for depth and in the 374 00:19:48,720 --> 00:19:51,879 Speaker 2: lineup you need to search more for impact, and therefore 375 00:19:52,800 --> 00:19:57,040 Speaker 2: the way you allocate resources should reflect those two things. 376 00:19:57,760 --> 00:19:59,879 Speaker 2: So yeah, I think that's where I am as well. 377 00:20:00,359 --> 00:20:03,720 Speaker 2: You know, it's gonna be a very name dependent of 378 00:20:03,800 --> 00:20:05,960 Speaker 2: who it is and what the contract is in terms 379 00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:08,239 Speaker 2: of whether or not I'll like it, but just on 380 00:20:08,280 --> 00:20:11,359 Speaker 2: a general strategy, I think I agree with that. I 381 00:20:11,359 --> 00:20:14,240 Speaker 2: think I agree with a Merrill Kelly, A Brad Keller 382 00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:17,560 Speaker 2: type and then going to get a real impact bat, 383 00:20:17,680 --> 00:20:19,520 Speaker 2: a middle of the older bat, somebody who you can 384 00:20:19,520 --> 00:20:22,320 Speaker 2: bat I mean legitimately, somebody you can bat like fourth 385 00:20:22,520 --> 00:20:24,520 Speaker 2: or fifth and feel fine with. That's the level of 386 00:20:24,560 --> 00:20:26,920 Speaker 2: hitter I want. I'm not I'm not talking about somebody 387 00:20:26,920 --> 00:20:30,159 Speaker 2: who bats eighth in the Braves opening day lineup. I'm 388 00:20:30,160 --> 00:20:33,359 Speaker 2: talking about somebody who, you know, think about somebody who 389 00:20:33,359 --> 00:20:36,240 Speaker 2: could replace Marcelo Zuna. I'm not saying somebody who's a 390 00:20:36,240 --> 00:20:38,920 Speaker 2: full time DH, because I don't want a full time DH. 391 00:20:38,960 --> 00:20:40,919 Speaker 2: I want somebody that can also play the field, but 392 00:20:41,000 --> 00:20:44,159 Speaker 2: the level of hitter that could comfortably hit behind Austin 393 00:20:44,200 --> 00:20:50,040 Speaker 2: Riley and you wouldn't blink at that notion, you know. 394 00:20:51,119 --> 00:20:53,680 Speaker 2: In terms of names, it's tough, but there's a few 395 00:20:53,680 --> 00:20:56,680 Speaker 2: out there, and there's obviously even more in trade. But yeah, 396 00:20:56,720 --> 00:20:59,000 Speaker 2: the Braves need to go get a big bat. 397 00:21:00,320 --> 00:21:02,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, And I think that the fact that the Braves 398 00:21:02,119 --> 00:21:04,920 Speaker 1: didn't get like a top five pick, it should make 399 00:21:05,000 --> 00:21:08,960 Speaker 1: them less willing to give up that twenty six pick 400 00:21:09,160 --> 00:21:12,040 Speaker 1: because you know, that's that's money that allows for you 401 00:21:12,119 --> 00:21:15,080 Speaker 1: to have to be able to, you know, make the 402 00:21:15,080 --> 00:21:17,840 Speaker 1: most of the twenty twenty six draft. To me, this 403 00:21:17,920 --> 00:21:20,040 Speaker 1: makes it even more important for them to be willing 404 00:21:20,080 --> 00:21:21,399 Speaker 1: to pay a little bit extra in a trade to 405 00:21:21,400 --> 00:21:23,040 Speaker 1: go get a guy that they want. You know, we 406 00:21:23,080 --> 00:21:25,840 Speaker 1: talk about, you know, a starting pitching addition. Now, these 407 00:21:25,840 --> 00:21:28,840 Speaker 1: options would be a little bit more expensive. But you 408 00:21:28,880 --> 00:21:31,680 Speaker 1: mentioned to Mitch Keller, what about Nathan Vivaldi If the 409 00:21:31,760 --> 00:21:33,639 Speaker 1: Rangers truly want to move off some more money, what 410 00:21:33,680 --> 00:21:36,160 Speaker 1: about Louis Severino who had some of his best years 411 00:21:36,160 --> 00:21:40,080 Speaker 1: with Jeremy Hefner in with New York. Those guys probably 412 00:21:40,080 --> 00:21:42,560 Speaker 1: don't cost that much in terms of prospect capital, because 413 00:21:42,560 --> 00:21:44,920 Speaker 1: I'm sure their current teams would like to move off 414 00:21:44,920 --> 00:21:47,960 Speaker 1: their off their financial commitments. So that could be another 415 00:21:48,040 --> 00:21:50,240 Speaker 1: route that the Braves could go, And the Braves could 416 00:21:50,280 --> 00:21:51,800 Speaker 1: be willing to pay a bit more in terms of 417 00:21:51,840 --> 00:21:53,560 Speaker 1: trade now that they know that they're going to get 418 00:21:53,560 --> 00:21:55,520 Speaker 1: the influx of talent from the twenty six draft. So 419 00:21:55,600 --> 00:21:58,080 Speaker 1: there's a lot of different directions that the Braves can 420 00:21:58,080 --> 00:22:00,800 Speaker 1: go pitching wise, and I think that they explore all 421 00:22:00,840 --> 00:22:03,600 Speaker 1: those directions and they should make multiple moves that make 422 00:22:03,680 --> 00:22:06,960 Speaker 1: sense to really continue to build the depth of the 423 00:22:07,040 --> 00:22:10,119 Speaker 1: rotation as well as the bullpen, but that should not 424 00:22:10,280 --> 00:22:13,000 Speaker 1: take precedent on where you need the true difference maker, 425 00:22:13,320 --> 00:22:18,160 Speaker 1: and that is the offense. But but this isn't all 426 00:22:18,200 --> 00:22:21,640 Speaker 1: the rumors that the Braves have been connected with. Another 427 00:22:21,920 --> 00:22:24,240 Speaker 1: that the Braves have been connected with is a couple 428 00:22:24,280 --> 00:22:26,679 Speaker 1: of shortstop names. We're going to look at that in 429 00:22:26,800 --> 00:22:31,920 Speaker 1: just a moment after this work. So Steven, let's talk 430 00:22:31,960 --> 00:22:34,439 Speaker 1: also about the fact that the Braves, you know, have 431 00:22:34,680 --> 00:22:38,840 Speaker 1: not put to rest their pursuit of an additional option 432 00:22:38,920 --> 00:22:42,359 Speaker 1: that can play shortstop if it made sense. Of course, 433 00:22:42,640 --> 00:22:46,359 Speaker 1: they did sign, they did trade from Russo Dubon. We 434 00:22:46,520 --> 00:22:50,120 Speaker 1: continue to hear that they have interest in Hassan Kim. 435 00:22:50,200 --> 00:22:52,160 Speaker 1: They like hass On Kim, and it seems that that 436 00:22:52,640 --> 00:22:55,760 Speaker 1: is reciprocated. But Scott Boris will seem to take his time. 437 00:22:56,119 --> 00:22:58,800 Speaker 1: Grant McCauley mentioned that it seemed like that, you know, 438 00:22:58,880 --> 00:23:01,560 Speaker 1: Scott Boris is really position Hastan and Kama to be 439 00:23:01,800 --> 00:23:04,720 Speaker 1: the best option of the available shortstops right now. But 440 00:23:04,760 --> 00:23:06,919 Speaker 1: there was another name that the Braids were connected to 441 00:23:07,160 --> 00:23:10,200 Speaker 1: when it came to the shortstop position. We mentioned him before, 442 00:23:10,480 --> 00:23:12,760 Speaker 1: But it seems like that there's a bit of interest there. 443 00:23:13,920 --> 00:23:16,160 Speaker 1: Even though it probably doesn't make sense with the boos 444 00:23:16,160 --> 00:23:16,880 Speaker 1: that they've already made. 445 00:23:18,359 --> 00:23:22,879 Speaker 2: Yeah, so there was a report today that the Braids 446 00:23:22,880 --> 00:23:28,440 Speaker 2: were really Castro. So if you remember, if fans who 447 00:23:28,600 --> 00:23:30,280 Speaker 2: have listened to the show for a couple of years, 448 00:23:31,440 --> 00:23:33,280 Speaker 2: we actually brought up with the Castro I think in 449 00:23:33,440 --> 00:23:36,600 Speaker 2: last year's I think it was last year, maybe the 450 00:23:36,680 --> 00:23:39,600 Speaker 2: year before, when we were talking about kind of under 451 00:23:39,600 --> 00:23:42,240 Speaker 2: the radar options to go get potentially who can play shortstop. 452 00:23:42,560 --> 00:23:44,919 Speaker 1: We've talked about three times. We talked about him at 453 00:23:44,920 --> 00:23:47,320 Speaker 1: the twenty four trade deadline, the twenty five trade deadline, 454 00:23:47,320 --> 00:23:50,360 Speaker 1: and we talked about him in our Utility episode back 455 00:23:50,400 --> 00:23:51,120 Speaker 1: a few weeks ago. 456 00:23:51,480 --> 00:23:55,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, and you know, he's been with the Twins and 457 00:23:55,240 --> 00:23:56,800 Speaker 2: then at the trade deadline he got traded to the 458 00:23:56,840 --> 00:24:00,000 Speaker 2: Cubs in this pass trade dowl line for twenty twenty. 459 00:24:00,800 --> 00:24:02,800 Speaker 2: He had a miserable time with the Cubs. I have 460 00:24:02,920 --> 00:24:05,640 Speaker 2: no idea what happened when he got traded over Chicago. Listen, 461 00:24:05,640 --> 00:24:10,680 Speaker 2: Wrigleyfield is a like a very a very well established 462 00:24:10,680 --> 00:24:14,480 Speaker 2: pitchers park because of the way the wind plays, Pitchers 463 00:24:14,480 --> 00:24:19,080 Speaker 2: do fantastically well there, and maybe Cashro just didn't get 464 00:24:19,119 --> 00:24:20,919 Speaker 2: enough playing time. It just it went very poorly once 465 00:24:20,960 --> 00:24:22,480 Speaker 2: he got traded. I wouldn't put a lot of stock 466 00:24:22,520 --> 00:24:25,520 Speaker 2: in that he is a super utility guy. He plays 467 00:24:25,520 --> 00:24:27,480 Speaker 2: all over the field. I'm not gonna say he's a 468 00:24:27,520 --> 00:24:32,399 Speaker 2: great defender, but he is a solid enough defender. I 469 00:24:32,440 --> 00:24:34,520 Speaker 2: don't know that he could start every day at shortstop. 470 00:24:35,359 --> 00:24:37,719 Speaker 2: The thing that I don't really get about it is 471 00:24:37,760 --> 00:24:42,520 Speaker 2: that he's not really somebody you pair with the Mauricio Dubon. 472 00:24:43,359 --> 00:24:46,399 Speaker 2: He's kind of somebody you acquire instead of Mauricio Dubon 473 00:24:46,480 --> 00:24:49,399 Speaker 2: because neither guy. There's not like big platoon splits that 474 00:24:49,480 --> 00:24:52,880 Speaker 2: match up because Castro is a switch hitter, so he's 475 00:24:52,920 --> 00:24:55,200 Speaker 2: pretty even. I think he's got like a ninety four 476 00:24:55,320 --> 00:24:58,560 Speaker 2: WRC plus from the left side and a ninety six 477 00:24:58,720 --> 00:25:00,560 Speaker 2: w RC plus from the right side for his career. 478 00:25:00,680 --> 00:25:02,200 Speaker 2: So he's just kind of a straight up and down 479 00:25:02,720 --> 00:25:05,280 Speaker 2: kind of average hitter, which is valuable for a guy 480 00:25:05,320 --> 00:25:08,679 Speaker 2: who can play all over the field. But again with Debon, 481 00:25:10,200 --> 00:25:13,440 Speaker 2: I don't know why you would need two utility infielders. 482 00:25:13,480 --> 00:25:15,840 Speaker 2: I guess Debon could be your starter and Cashrow could 483 00:25:15,880 --> 00:25:18,920 Speaker 2: be your utility infielder. But again, if Debon's going to 484 00:25:18,960 --> 00:25:21,000 Speaker 2: be the starter, I really hope they're going I hope 485 00:25:21,000 --> 00:25:24,000 Speaker 2: they're aiming higher than Willie Castro in terms of the 486 00:25:24,040 --> 00:25:27,879 Speaker 2: added offense. So we'll see. It's just a report that 487 00:25:27,920 --> 00:25:31,080 Speaker 2: came out. It's the lowest level of report, just the 488 00:25:31,080 --> 00:25:33,760 Speaker 2: Braves had interest. That could very well mean the Braves 489 00:25:33,800 --> 00:25:37,160 Speaker 2: had interest before they traded for Maurcio Debon and since 490 00:25:37,200 --> 00:25:41,920 Speaker 2: then they don't have interest. That is the vagueness of 491 00:25:42,040 --> 00:25:45,440 Speaker 2: the have interest report is that there's no timeline attached 492 00:25:45,440 --> 00:25:48,200 Speaker 2: to it, so it could be completely irrelevant by now. 493 00:25:48,520 --> 00:25:51,480 Speaker 2: But it was, you know, sourced, it was a real report, 494 00:25:51,920 --> 00:25:54,080 Speaker 2: so we had to bring it up. There was also 495 00:25:54,119 --> 00:25:56,960 Speaker 2: some weird stuff on not weird stuff, but there was 496 00:25:56,960 --> 00:26:03,360 Speaker 2: also some smoke on Cjas of the Washington Nationals, who 497 00:26:03,400 --> 00:26:05,120 Speaker 2: is not a short stop. I know he plays shortstop, 498 00:26:05,160 --> 00:26:07,080 Speaker 2: He's not a short stop. He's probably gonna be an 499 00:26:07,080 --> 00:26:09,920 Speaker 2: outfielder at some point, maybe a third baseman. I think 500 00:26:09,960 --> 00:26:13,560 Speaker 2: he grated out as the worst or second worst shortstop 501 00:26:13,600 --> 00:26:17,600 Speaker 2: in baseball last year. You know, he's he's a really 502 00:26:17,640 --> 00:26:20,400 Speaker 2: talented hitter on a bad team. He's had some he's 503 00:26:20,440 --> 00:26:22,440 Speaker 2: had some immaturity issues. He had the thing with a 504 00:26:22,480 --> 00:26:25,640 Speaker 2: casino I don't know how much to put stock in that. Again, 505 00:26:25,680 --> 00:26:27,880 Speaker 2: when you're on a bad team, I think that kind 506 00:26:27,880 --> 00:26:30,480 Speaker 2: of stuff happens more. He is a really good hitter. 507 00:26:30,520 --> 00:26:33,080 Speaker 2: He's a fantastic hitter. If the Braves want to add 508 00:26:33,119 --> 00:26:35,960 Speaker 2: him as an outfielder and let him you know, d 509 00:26:36,160 --> 00:26:38,360 Speaker 2: H and outfield with those other guys, I'd be way 510 00:26:38,400 --> 00:26:42,280 Speaker 2: more interested than adding him as a shortstop. But yeah, 511 00:26:42,359 --> 00:26:44,439 Speaker 2: just some names that we've heard the last couple of days. 512 00:26:44,600 --> 00:26:46,800 Speaker 2: I don't think either guy makes much sense for the Braves, 513 00:26:46,840 --> 00:26:47,960 Speaker 2: but they're out there. 514 00:26:49,359 --> 00:26:53,680 Speaker 1: And of course there's there's I don't know if Elephant 515 00:26:53,760 --> 00:26:55,880 Speaker 1: is the Room, the pipe dream or whatever. Maybe there's 516 00:26:55,880 --> 00:26:59,720 Speaker 1: Corey Seeker. Right, we mentioned him earlier, and it seems 517 00:26:59,760 --> 00:27:02,080 Speaker 1: like the talks are going on. It seems like that 518 00:27:02,080 --> 00:27:04,560 Speaker 1: that over the past forty eight hours or so, the 519 00:27:04,960 --> 00:27:08,120 Speaker 1: reality of a Corey Seeger trade it has picked up 520 00:27:08,160 --> 00:27:08,480 Speaker 1: a bit. 521 00:27:08,560 --> 00:27:08,720 Speaker 2: Now. 522 00:27:08,760 --> 00:27:11,399 Speaker 1: There has been reports of teams that the Texas Rangers 523 00:27:11,400 --> 00:27:13,840 Speaker 1: have talked to about Corey Seeger. The Braves were not 524 00:27:13,880 --> 00:27:18,040 Speaker 1: listed among those, but in that Buster Only podcast, the 525 00:27:18,040 --> 00:27:20,480 Speaker 1: gentleman that was speaking with Buster oning, I think the 526 00:27:20,520 --> 00:27:23,119 Speaker 1: reason why he was mentioned in Corey Seeger is like 527 00:27:23,240 --> 00:27:27,080 Speaker 1: Byron Buxton, there's few places that make more sense than 528 00:27:27,119 --> 00:27:30,760 Speaker 1: the Brave for Corey Seeger than the Braves. It really 529 00:27:30,840 --> 00:27:32,720 Speaker 1: could make sense for the Braves to go get a 530 00:27:32,800 --> 00:27:35,840 Speaker 1: Coory Seeger. He still could play shortstop. He obviously is 531 00:27:35,880 --> 00:27:38,840 Speaker 1: one of the best bats in the major leagues. But 532 00:27:38,880 --> 00:27:42,080 Speaker 1: the thing that stands out is is that the financial commitment, 533 00:27:42,400 --> 00:27:44,240 Speaker 1: plus the fact that the Rangers are not just selling 534 00:27:44,320 --> 00:27:45,879 Speaker 1: him to get rid of his contract. They're wanting a 535 00:27:45,960 --> 00:27:49,400 Speaker 1: legitimate package back and you're probably not being beating other 536 00:27:49,480 --> 00:27:54,640 Speaker 1: packages other teams could offer Corey Seker just again as 537 00:27:54,840 --> 00:27:57,040 Speaker 1: awesome of a fit as he would be to fit 538 00:27:57,160 --> 00:27:59,840 Speaker 1: multiple needs, Like you probably can't think of a better 539 00:27:59,880 --> 00:28:03,639 Speaker 1: fit even above Byral Buxton, it just doesn't seem to 540 00:28:03,640 --> 00:28:04,280 Speaker 1: be a reality. 541 00:28:06,280 --> 00:28:10,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, Corey Seeger is the is the white whale of 542 00:28:10,320 --> 00:28:13,919 Speaker 2: this offseason, right, Like, if you acquire Corey Seeger, you 543 00:28:14,040 --> 00:28:17,080 Speaker 2: hit a grand slam. I mean, that's like the best 544 00:28:17,119 --> 00:28:21,280 Speaker 2: move of the offseason. That is, you know, he arguably 545 00:28:21,320 --> 00:28:25,000 Speaker 2: becomes Like you know, in the Braves lineup, you have 546 00:28:25,440 --> 00:28:28,280 Speaker 2: you have a very clear one. Two in Acuna and Olsen, 547 00:28:28,840 --> 00:28:32,360 Speaker 2: you had Corey Seeger. I'm not sure one and two 548 00:28:32,359 --> 00:28:34,760 Speaker 2: are Akunya and Olsen anymore. That's how good of a 549 00:28:34,840 --> 00:28:40,480 Speaker 2: hitter Corey Seeger is like Olsen becomes your third best, 550 00:28:40,720 --> 00:28:44,000 Speaker 2: like he he's the plants, one of those dudes. Like 551 00:28:44,080 --> 00:28:46,120 Speaker 2: that's the level you get to. And he can still 552 00:28:46,240 --> 00:28:51,040 Speaker 2: play shortstop really well. His shortstop defense is aged much 553 00:28:51,040 --> 00:28:54,480 Speaker 2: better than I thought it would. When the Rangers gave 554 00:28:54,520 --> 00:28:56,240 Speaker 2: out that contract, I thought, well, he's going to be 555 00:28:56,280 --> 00:28:59,160 Speaker 2: a third baseman any day now, and he just hasn't. 556 00:28:59,320 --> 00:29:02,800 Speaker 2: He's just played well short So yeah, that's the white whale. 557 00:29:03,040 --> 00:29:05,000 Speaker 2: I mean, my god, that would be the greatest. I mean, 558 00:29:05,440 --> 00:29:07,760 Speaker 2: I would come on here and cry if we can. 559 00:29:08,080 --> 00:29:11,800 Speaker 2: I've loved Cory Seger since he was I mean little legitimacy. 560 00:29:12,160 --> 00:29:13,280 Speaker 2: At one point. I think it was the number one 561 00:29:13,320 --> 00:29:15,640 Speaker 2: prospect in baseball when he was with the Dodgers. Is 562 00:29:15,680 --> 00:29:18,959 Speaker 2: my favorite prospect. It would be. It would be an 563 00:29:18,960 --> 00:29:21,880 Speaker 2: incredible get. I don't think it's gonna happen one. I 564 00:29:21,880 --> 00:29:23,840 Speaker 2: don't think Alex is gonna trade for that contract is 565 00:29:23,840 --> 00:29:26,520 Speaker 2: still a lot of money. He makes more money on 566 00:29:26,560 --> 00:29:28,800 Speaker 2: a per year basis than anybody on the team by 567 00:29:28,800 --> 00:29:31,800 Speaker 2: a wide margin. And Alex has not shown the willingness 568 00:29:31,840 --> 00:29:34,760 Speaker 2: to go up to that level. I think he lives 569 00:29:34,800 --> 00:29:38,200 Speaker 2: in Charlotte. I heard somebody say he lives in Charlotte 570 00:29:38,240 --> 00:29:43,760 Speaker 2: and he's he prefers the Southeast. I'm assuming his contract 571 00:29:43,840 --> 00:29:45,600 Speaker 2: came with a no trade clause. I actually don't know 572 00:29:45,640 --> 00:29:47,600 Speaker 2: that off the top of my head. But if you 573 00:29:47,640 --> 00:29:49,520 Speaker 2: do have a full note trade, then you obviously control 574 00:29:49,600 --> 00:29:52,760 Speaker 2: the whole process. It's very similar to bron Buckston. I'll 575 00:29:52,800 --> 00:29:54,720 Speaker 2: I'll double check that actually and see if he's got 576 00:29:54,720 --> 00:29:57,280 Speaker 2: a no trade because if he has a no trade, 577 00:29:57,280 --> 00:29:58,680 Speaker 2: then that actually makes things easier. 578 00:29:59,080 --> 00:30:01,520 Speaker 1: Was reported just a few weeks ago that the Braves 579 00:30:01,520 --> 00:30:02,800 Speaker 1: were on his no trade clause. 580 00:30:03,400 --> 00:30:06,200 Speaker 2: Oh that's right, Yeah, that's right. He has a limited 581 00:30:06,240 --> 00:30:09,400 Speaker 2: note trade with like ten teams. Yeah, and often often 582 00:30:09,440 --> 00:30:12,320 Speaker 2: what you do when you have that is you put 583 00:30:12,360 --> 00:30:13,480 Speaker 2: all the contenders. 584 00:30:13,880 --> 00:30:16,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, you put the most likely teams that likely. 585 00:30:16,560 --> 00:30:18,960 Speaker 2: Right, so you get some sort of compensation for it, right. 586 00:30:19,280 --> 00:30:21,080 Speaker 2: It's very rarely like I don't want to play for 587 00:30:21,120 --> 00:30:26,080 Speaker 2: that team. So yeah, I mean, obviously, that's the white Whale. 588 00:30:26,120 --> 00:30:28,560 Speaker 2: That's that's the home run, that's the Grand Slam, that's 589 00:30:28,600 --> 00:30:32,400 Speaker 2: the that is the biggest move of the offseason. For 590 00:30:32,440 --> 00:30:37,320 Speaker 2: any team basically, so I would not expect it at all. 591 00:30:37,480 --> 00:30:39,479 Speaker 2: I would be surprised if the ragis traded. If you're 592 00:30:39,480 --> 00:30:41,479 Speaker 2: gonna trade corys Seer, you might as well trade everybody, 593 00:30:41,480 --> 00:30:44,800 Speaker 2: because you're not winning anything without him. They've already traded 594 00:30:44,840 --> 00:30:47,240 Speaker 2: Simeon for they had that weird trade with the Mets. 595 00:30:47,440 --> 00:30:54,280 Speaker 2: It was Marcus Simeon for Brandon Nemo. I saw people 596 00:30:54,320 --> 00:30:56,960 Speaker 2: freaking out about that. I think Brandon Nemo is pretty overrated, 597 00:30:57,120 --> 00:30:59,840 Speaker 2: but and Marcus Simon is probably a little underrated at 598 00:30:59,840 --> 00:31:02,160 Speaker 2: this because you make so much money. I think the 599 00:31:02,200 --> 00:31:04,040 Speaker 2: Mets actually did pretty well in that trade. But yeah, 600 00:31:04,040 --> 00:31:06,920 Speaker 2: there I have no idea where the Rangers sit, like 601 00:31:06,960 --> 00:31:09,840 Speaker 2: in terms of, like are they trying to compete? The 602 00:31:09,960 --> 00:31:13,360 Speaker 2: Mariners are so good, their astros are good. Even the 603 00:31:13,400 --> 00:31:15,360 Speaker 2: A's have all these young players. Like, I don't know 604 00:31:15,400 --> 00:31:17,440 Speaker 2: where the Rangers sit in terms of like how they 605 00:31:17,440 --> 00:31:20,280 Speaker 2: think the Angels are terrible. But yeah, it'll be interesue 606 00:31:20,320 --> 00:31:21,920 Speaker 2: what happens with Cory Seger, and my guess is he 607 00:31:22,000 --> 00:31:25,440 Speaker 2: stays in Texas. But we'll see. 608 00:31:28,040 --> 00:31:30,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, and so it'll be interesting. But a couple of 609 00:31:30,440 --> 00:31:33,760 Speaker 1: takeaways again, if there was ever a time for Alex 610 00:31:33,840 --> 00:31:36,240 Speaker 1: and Thoppolis to be at least in the midst of 611 00:31:36,240 --> 00:31:39,040 Speaker 1: these conversations, for these big days, for these big names. 612 00:31:39,320 --> 00:31:41,800 Speaker 1: It's now, and it's for your offense. And the other 613 00:31:41,840 --> 00:31:44,280 Speaker 1: thing that I'll say is this is that I still 614 00:31:44,320 --> 00:31:47,160 Speaker 1: think that there remains a need to go get Hasan Kim. 615 00:31:47,400 --> 00:31:50,120 Speaker 1: If the price is right, if his market makes sense, 616 00:31:50,160 --> 00:31:52,920 Speaker 1: to go do it. But again, you should not allocate 617 00:31:52,960 --> 00:31:55,520 Speaker 1: money to Hasan Kim if it gets the way of 618 00:31:55,560 --> 00:31:58,160 Speaker 1: you having a realistic shot at a difference making back 619 00:31:58,240 --> 00:32:01,240 Speaker 1: like a Byron Buckson or Cory Seeger who have you. 620 00:32:02,000 --> 00:32:05,560 Speaker 1: Of course, acquiring that level of player is more unlikely 621 00:32:05,600 --> 00:32:07,920 Speaker 1: than likely, because there's ten to fifteen other teams who 622 00:32:07,960 --> 00:32:09,920 Speaker 1: had made just as much since as the Braves to 623 00:32:09,960 --> 00:32:13,480 Speaker 1: go get these guys. But if there was again ever 624 00:32:13,600 --> 00:32:16,760 Speaker 1: a time for an unexpected move to that level for 625 00:32:16,840 --> 00:32:20,200 Speaker 1: an offensive difference maker. In honor of John Cena, whose 626 00:32:20,320 --> 00:32:24,000 Speaker 1: last match is this week when it comes to his career, 627 00:32:24,520 --> 00:32:26,800 Speaker 1: the time is now. You didn't think I was gonna 628 00:32:26,800 --> 00:32:29,280 Speaker 1: throw that into there, digit Stephen at the time. The 629 00:32:29,360 --> 00:32:32,520 Speaker 1: time is now. The Braves need to make it happen. 630 00:32:32,760 --> 00:32:35,720 Speaker 1: I'm not saying it's going to happen tonight. Not saying 631 00:32:35,760 --> 00:32:38,240 Speaker 1: it's going to happen tomorrow, but at the very least, 632 00:32:38,320 --> 00:32:40,520 Speaker 1: my hope for this winter meetings at the Braves is 633 00:32:40,560 --> 00:32:43,280 Speaker 1: that they he laid the groundwork for that type of 634 00:32:43,320 --> 00:32:46,320 Speaker 1: move to come to fruition. If it's an actual reality. 635 00:32:48,160 --> 00:32:50,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, I agree with that. I've actually moved on from 636 00:32:50,840 --> 00:32:54,640 Speaker 2: Hassan Kim and my brain because I think I think 637 00:32:54,640 --> 00:32:56,640 Speaker 2: Boris is gonna drag it out as long as possible, 638 00:32:56,680 --> 00:32:58,640 Speaker 2: and Alex is not gonna have any interest in that. 639 00:32:59,320 --> 00:33:04,480 Speaker 2: But I'm fine with that. I actually prefer du Bond 640 00:33:04,560 --> 00:33:07,720 Speaker 2: starting at shortstop and a massive middle of the older 641 00:33:07,760 --> 00:33:12,640 Speaker 2: bat gets added, versus Kim gets signed and that's the 642 00:33:12,640 --> 00:33:16,960 Speaker 2: only offensive upgrade we make to the lineup, because I 643 00:33:17,280 --> 00:33:20,080 Speaker 2: have a fear that if they signed Kim, that's it 644 00:33:20,120 --> 00:33:22,560 Speaker 2: for the offense for the offseason. I just don't think 645 00:33:22,560 --> 00:33:25,920 Speaker 2: that's good enough. So I've actually moved on from Kim 646 00:33:25,960 --> 00:33:30,200 Speaker 2: in my brain, I do think they're gonna add a 647 00:33:30,200 --> 00:33:32,200 Speaker 2: starting picture of some regard. I do agree with you. 648 00:33:32,240 --> 00:33:33,760 Speaker 2: I think it's gonna be much more in the line 649 00:33:33,760 --> 00:33:37,640 Speaker 2: of a Brad Keller Meryl Kelly. I actually like Merrill Kelly. 650 00:33:37,640 --> 00:33:42,560 Speaker 2: I know, not Sean. You're Sean. Brad had mentioned that 651 00:33:43,080 --> 00:33:45,960 Speaker 2: he is a Meryl Kelly fan, and I actually agree 652 00:33:46,000 --> 00:33:48,160 Speaker 2: with that, and I think Merrill Kelly could start a 653 00:33:48,200 --> 00:33:50,280 Speaker 2: playoff game for you a lot of times for Alex. 654 00:33:50,400 --> 00:33:53,040 Speaker 2: That's the benchmark for a starter is is this guy 655 00:33:53,080 --> 00:33:55,120 Speaker 2: good enough to start a playoff game? And if he's not, 656 00:33:55,200 --> 00:34:00,000 Speaker 2: then why bother? And I get that logic to an extent, 657 00:34:00,520 --> 00:34:02,480 Speaker 2: But I like Merril Kelly, I do like Brad Keller. 658 00:34:03,280 --> 00:34:05,920 Speaker 2: All of it should be in service of adding an 659 00:34:05,920 --> 00:34:09,719 Speaker 2: impact pat somewhere somewhere. It can be an outfielder, it 660 00:34:09,760 --> 00:34:11,840 Speaker 2: can be an infielder. I don't really want it to 661 00:34:11,920 --> 00:34:13,440 Speaker 2: be a full time DH, but a hell, if he's 662 00:34:13,480 --> 00:34:16,480 Speaker 2: a good enough hitter, I'll accept a full time DH. 663 00:34:16,560 --> 00:34:20,120 Speaker 2: I won't love it, but the offense needs help. And 664 00:34:20,719 --> 00:34:25,160 Speaker 2: my closing thoughts of this podcast are, please, can we 665 00:34:25,200 --> 00:34:29,520 Speaker 2: not just like, can we not whitewash the last two 666 00:34:29,600 --> 00:34:32,400 Speaker 2: years of what we've watched on the field where the 667 00:34:32,440 --> 00:34:35,400 Speaker 2: offense just wasn't good enough even when it was healthy. 668 00:34:35,480 --> 00:34:38,200 Speaker 2: It wasn't good enough even before the pitching all went 669 00:34:38,280 --> 00:34:41,399 Speaker 2: to hell last year. The problem, the reason, the why, 670 00:34:41,440 --> 00:34:43,920 Speaker 2: the Braves were they were ten plus games under five 671 00:34:44,000 --> 00:34:47,600 Speaker 2: hundred because it couldn't score. They couldn't score. And that's 672 00:34:47,600 --> 00:34:50,120 Speaker 2: when everybody healthy. That was with Akoona back and hitting 673 00:34:50,120 --> 00:34:53,880 Speaker 2: like Barry Bonds when he first came back, the Braves 674 00:34:53,880 --> 00:34:56,560 Speaker 2: still couldn't score any runs because the offense, I mean, 675 00:34:56,680 --> 00:35:01,200 Speaker 2: just disappeared. You need a bat, Get a bat, you 676 00:35:01,239 --> 00:35:02,839 Speaker 2: need it. You need help on the pitching side too, 677 00:35:02,840 --> 00:35:04,880 Speaker 2: You need a couple of relievers. I still think you 678 00:35:04,920 --> 00:35:09,960 Speaker 2: need a serviceable, dependable starter. But please go get a bat. 679 00:35:13,080 --> 00:35:17,040 Speaker 1: And and in honor of our uh Hammer Territory co 680 00:35:17,120 --> 00:35:21,080 Speaker 1: host Brad Rowland, Brad, Brad just likes these these close 681 00:35:21,120 --> 00:35:24,360 Speaker 1: to middle age, middle of the rotation arms, you know, 682 00:35:24,400 --> 00:35:26,200 Speaker 1: he he He loves Charlie Morton. 683 00:35:26,520 --> 00:35:28,440 Speaker 2: He loves somebody that's like his age. 684 00:35:28,680 --> 00:35:31,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, and I wouldn't be his age, to be honest 685 00:35:31,719 --> 00:35:35,640 Speaker 1: with you, I wouldn't be surprised if Brad has every 686 00:35:35,760 --> 00:35:39,799 Speaker 1: jersey that Jamie Moyer ever wore. With the fact that 687 00:35:39,880 --> 00:35:43,240 Speaker 1: you know, Jamie Moyer literally pitched to middle age. Brad's 688 00:35:43,280 --> 00:35:45,000 Speaker 1: biggest regret was probably you never pitched. 689 00:35:45,320 --> 00:35:48,200 Speaker 2: It's too bad that little handles like three one pitch 690 00:35:48,400 --> 00:35:51,120 Speaker 2: for the Brads, because I feel like Brad would have 691 00:35:51,120 --> 00:35:52,960 Speaker 2: been like a hardcore Cole Hands. 692 00:35:53,280 --> 00:35:55,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, I mean if they're thirty five plus 693 00:35:55,600 --> 00:35:57,480 Speaker 1: and they can handle their own on the mound, I mean, 694 00:35:57,520 --> 00:36:00,799 Speaker 1: there's no Brad Rowland will be at your. 695 00:36:00,760 --> 00:36:02,399 Speaker 2: Your number that's your number one fan. 696 00:36:03,040 --> 00:36:05,279 Speaker 1: He will be at your retirement start. He will be 697 00:36:05,760 --> 00:36:07,480 Speaker 1: at the final start of your career. Fit's in the 698 00:36:07,520 --> 00:36:11,759 Speaker 1: Braves uniform. Big thing though, is this the Braves have 699 00:36:11,920 --> 00:36:14,239 Speaker 1: plenty of moves that they still need to make. Not 700 00:36:14,280 --> 00:36:17,319 Speaker 1: necessarily saying that it'll be over the next twenty four 701 00:36:17,360 --> 00:36:20,439 Speaker 1: to forty eight hours. What I am saying is, don't 702 00:36:20,480 --> 00:36:23,200 Speaker 1: be surprising the forty eight to seventy two hours after 703 00:36:23,239 --> 00:36:26,200 Speaker 1: that if we do see something occur, because that's kind 704 00:36:26,200 --> 00:36:29,160 Speaker 1: of where Alex and Thoplss has made his moves. Laying 705 00:36:29,239 --> 00:36:32,279 Speaker 1: the groundwork and then bringing it to fruition after the 706 00:36:32,280 --> 00:36:34,560 Speaker 1: Winter Meetings has kind of been his hemo. We'll see 707 00:36:34,560 --> 00:36:37,040 Speaker 1: if it happens again this time around, Steven, any more 708 00:36:37,080 --> 00:36:38,840 Speaker 1: thoughts from you as we wrap up this edition of 709 00:36:38,880 --> 00:36:40,919 Speaker 1: the Hammer Territory Podcast. 710 00:36:41,520 --> 00:36:43,879 Speaker 2: No, Yeah, what Winter Meetings are going on right now? 711 00:36:44,000 --> 00:36:45,719 Speaker 2: I think the Rule five draft. 712 00:36:45,480 --> 00:36:50,959 Speaker 1: Is Thursday, on Thursday. Yeah, it's timpically Thursday, right, Maybe 713 00:36:50,960 --> 00:36:51,520 Speaker 1: it's here right. 714 00:36:51,640 --> 00:36:53,600 Speaker 2: The one over the last day of the meetings is 715 00:36:53,760 --> 00:36:56,440 Speaker 2: is the Rule five draft. If there's any new. Last year, 716 00:36:56,440 --> 00:36:59,080 Speaker 2: the Braves took two players in the Rule five draft. 717 00:36:59,440 --> 00:37:02,080 Speaker 2: They didn't up keeping either one of them, but it 718 00:37:02,160 --> 00:37:05,200 Speaker 2: is notable when they do, so if something happens, obviously 719 00:37:05,239 --> 00:37:07,920 Speaker 2: we'll cover it later on in the week. There is 720 00:37:08,000 --> 00:37:10,680 Speaker 2: a ton of rumblings and rumors going around right now. 721 00:37:11,040 --> 00:37:14,440 Speaker 2: The market actually started heating up today, like Kyle Scherber 722 00:37:14,480 --> 00:37:18,480 Speaker 2: signed with the Phillies, Edwin Diaz signed with the Dodgers. 723 00:37:19,360 --> 00:37:24,000 Speaker 2: There was some smaller stuff, the Pirates signed Soto, there 724 00:37:24,040 --> 00:37:26,759 Speaker 2: was little stuff, but we actually got some movement today, 725 00:37:26,760 --> 00:37:29,239 Speaker 2: which was nice to see. It's been a block of 726 00:37:29,280 --> 00:37:32,240 Speaker 2: ice for like two weeks now, so the stove started 727 00:37:32,280 --> 00:37:35,440 Speaker 2: heating up. There's a bunch of rumors flying. Obviously, if 728 00:37:35,480 --> 00:37:38,680 Speaker 2: anything breaks on the Braves that is of any significance 729 00:37:38,719 --> 00:37:42,600 Speaker 2: at all, you will see our beautiful faces on here 730 00:37:43,040 --> 00:37:46,200 Speaker 2: once again very soon. But obviously if that doesn't happen, 731 00:37:46,280 --> 00:37:48,440 Speaker 2: we'll probably be back sometime in the later in the 732 00:37:48,440 --> 00:37:51,520 Speaker 2: week to wrap up the winter meetings, and we appreciate 733 00:37:51,560 --> 00:37:52,480 Speaker 2: the support. 734 00:37:52,120 --> 00:37:56,359 Speaker 1: As always and what final note, The Braves did make 735 00:37:56,440 --> 00:38:00,720 Speaker 1: a signing at the Winter meetings reliever James I believe 736 00:38:00,800 --> 00:38:03,640 Speaker 1: is how you say his name. Formerly of the Cleveland 737 00:38:03,719 --> 00:38:06,799 Speaker 1: at the time, Indians of the Gardens obviously, but he 738 00:38:07,080 --> 00:38:10,719 Speaker 1: had shoulder injuries in twenty twenty four. Really hasn't found 739 00:38:10,719 --> 00:38:12,360 Speaker 1: a footing yet. He was with the White Sox for 740 00:38:12,360 --> 00:38:14,400 Speaker 1: half the year and twenty five in their minor league system, 741 00:38:14,560 --> 00:38:19,279 Speaker 1: but was released in June thirty six point six strikeout 742 00:38:19,360 --> 00:38:22,799 Speaker 1: rate in his career thirteen point five strikeouts per nine eight. 743 00:38:22,840 --> 00:38:26,759 Speaker 1: He's basically not saying that that anyone should expect him 744 00:38:26,760 --> 00:38:28,239 Speaker 1: to all of a sudden be a monumental part of 745 00:38:28,280 --> 00:38:31,080 Speaker 1: the bullpon, but if the Braves can recapture any of 746 00:38:31,120 --> 00:38:33,560 Speaker 1: the strikeout potential that he had back at the early 747 00:38:33,600 --> 00:38:36,319 Speaker 1: part of this decade, that could be a notable edition 748 00:38:36,719 --> 00:38:39,440 Speaker 1: based off what he shows in spring training. Find myself 749 00:38:39,480 --> 00:38:42,560 Speaker 1: at Stat's sec on Twitter, slash x, Steven Tolbert at 750 00:38:42,600 --> 00:38:46,480 Speaker 1: the Underscore Outliers Hammer Territory across all forms of social media, 751 00:38:46,680 --> 00:38:50,080 Speaker 1: part of the foul Territory family of podcasts. Until next time, 752 00:38:50,239 --> 00:38:52,920 Speaker 1: Go Braves, Hopefully We'll be back with you soon, but 753 00:38:53,080 --> 00:38:54,799 Speaker 1: if not, we're gonna have you covered no matter what. 754 00:38:55,120 --> 00:38:58,400 Speaker 1: Talk to you soon here on the Hammer Territory podcast 755 00:39:00,320 --> 00:39:01,800 Speaker 2: Step