1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:01,640 Speaker 1: When it comes to the deadline, when it comes to 2 00:00:01,639 --> 00:00:06,080 Speaker 1: free agency, things will happen that you don't expect. Things 3 00:00:06,080 --> 00:00:11,160 Speaker 1: will happen that kind of come out of nowhere. Welcome 4 00:00:11,160 --> 00:00:14,080 Speaker 1: everyone to the Thursday edition of Fair Territory. We are 5 00:00:14,200 --> 00:00:16,760 Speaker 1: live and we are joined today by the great Scott 6 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:20,079 Speaker 1: Braun Scott, as always, even though it's November, we have 7 00:00:20,200 --> 00:00:23,480 Speaker 1: plenty to talk about, from free agency, to the awards 8 00:00:23,560 --> 00:00:27,560 Speaker 1: races to a little Roki Sasaki controversy. So I'll ask 9 00:00:27,640 --> 00:00:29,120 Speaker 1: you where do you want to begin? 10 00:00:29,720 --> 00:00:30,600 Speaker 2: Ooh, you know what. 11 00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:32,840 Speaker 3: I want to begin with someone that deserves to get 12 00:00:32,880 --> 00:00:35,200 Speaker 3: his deal done a little bit sooner this time around. 13 00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:44,159 Speaker 3: So let's hit the lead on Blake Snell. Ken, What 14 00:00:44,159 --> 00:00:45,720 Speaker 3: do you have for us on Blake? Because obviously you 15 00:00:45,800 --> 00:00:47,839 Speaker 3: signed way too late last year and I'm sure he 16 00:00:47,880 --> 00:00:49,519 Speaker 3: was bothered by it, and also just pleasure to be 17 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:51,160 Speaker 3: on here with you. You know, I love doing this show, 18 00:00:51,159 --> 00:00:53,440 Speaker 3: probably more than you know. But anyway, what's the word 19 00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:56,360 Speaker 3: from your notes column in the Athletic Right I wrote. 20 00:00:56,200 --> 00:00:58,960 Speaker 1: This morning that Snell has met with the Boston Red 21 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:02,320 Speaker 1: Sox and the Los Angele Dodgers recently, and it's possible 22 00:01:02,400 --> 00:01:04,520 Speaker 1: he has met with other teams as well, or will 23 00:01:04,560 --> 00:01:07,440 Speaker 1: meet with other teams as well. The Orioles are among 24 00:01:07,480 --> 00:01:10,720 Speaker 1: the clubs that have shown interest. And what is intriguing 25 00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:13,440 Speaker 1: to me about this is that, as you mentioned Scott 26 00:01:13,520 --> 00:01:16,880 Speaker 1: last season or last offseason, he did not sign until 27 00:01:16,920 --> 00:01:20,440 Speaker 1: March nineteenth. Clearly that didn't work out the way he wanted. 28 00:01:20,440 --> 00:01:22,760 Speaker 1: He got off to another slow start after signing that 29 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:26,319 Speaker 1: two year, sixty two million dollar deal, finished great again, 30 00:01:26,840 --> 00:01:29,880 Speaker 1: ops out, and now seems to be trying to push 31 00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:32,399 Speaker 1: the pace a little bit. Now the market is what 32 00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:36,880 Speaker 1: the market is, but Snell is clearly an attractive guy 33 00:01:37,080 --> 00:01:40,240 Speaker 1: among the big three pitchers that are available, Corbyn Burns 34 00:01:40,240 --> 00:01:43,479 Speaker 1: and Max Freed being the other two attractive because not 35 00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:46,319 Speaker 1: only his performance, but also because he was ineligible to 36 00:01:46,360 --> 00:01:49,280 Speaker 1: receive a qualifying offer, so there's no draft pick attached. 37 00:01:49,360 --> 00:01:52,240 Speaker 1: Unlike with Burns and Freed, you just go get Blake 38 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:55,160 Speaker 1: Snell and you go from there. The one thing that 39 00:01:55,240 --> 00:01:58,280 Speaker 1: is fascinating to me about this too, Scott is Boston. 40 00:01:58,840 --> 00:02:00,880 Speaker 1: Now we know Boston's been an on one Soto, but 41 00:02:00,920 --> 00:02:03,880 Speaker 1: their greater need is a top of the rotation starter, 42 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:06,560 Speaker 1: preferably a left hander, since they don't have any left 43 00:02:06,560 --> 00:02:11,679 Speaker 1: handed starters. And Snell is a guy who with his personality, 44 00:02:11,720 --> 00:02:14,200 Speaker 1: he's kind of a different guy. I wouldn't think he 45 00:02:14,240 --> 00:02:16,720 Speaker 1: would want to play in Boston, But two people I 46 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:19,880 Speaker 1: spoke with who had worked with him previously said yesterday 47 00:02:19,919 --> 00:02:22,399 Speaker 1: to me that no, no, no, no. He just wants to win, 48 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:24,919 Speaker 1: and he wants to get paid, and he's comfortable in 49 00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:28,160 Speaker 1: any environment. So it's going to be really interesting to 50 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 1: see a where he signs, of course, and b how 51 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:32,640 Speaker 1: quickly he gets this done. 52 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:36,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, you hear that with Snell sometimes, and even with 53 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:38,960 Speaker 3: Max Freight, another lefty. He's from California and I no, 54 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:43,600 Speaker 3: Snell's from the Washington state area, Pacific Northwest. But do 55 00:02:43,639 --> 00:02:46,480 Speaker 3: you think either of those cases will lead them to 56 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:50,120 Speaker 3: being more inclined to sign with the California team, or Hey, 57 00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:52,120 Speaker 3: this is my one shot to hit it big and 58 00:02:52,200 --> 00:02:54,800 Speaker 3: I'm going to essentially take the largest offer as long 59 00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:57,240 Speaker 3: as it's to a legit ball club. And let's be real, 60 00:02:57,320 --> 00:02:59,240 Speaker 3: I mean, the real bottom feeders of the league aren't 61 00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:01,079 Speaker 3: going after these players anyway. 62 00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:04,840 Speaker 1: My guess is the preference for both Snell and Freed 63 00:03:04,919 --> 00:03:07,320 Speaker 1: would be to remain on the West Coast. That's where 64 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:10,440 Speaker 1: they're from, that's where probably their most comfortable. But at 65 00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:13,560 Speaker 1: the same time, free agency is a rare opportunity for 66 00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:15,480 Speaker 1: players and they have to max out. They have to 67 00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:17,720 Speaker 1: do whatever is best for them and their families and 68 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:22,040 Speaker 1: their futures going forward. So if the best offer is 69 00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:25,000 Speaker 1: from Boston or Baltimore, or the Yankees or the Mets, 70 00:03:25,600 --> 00:03:27,560 Speaker 1: I would expect that those guys are going to go 71 00:03:27,560 --> 00:03:31,600 Speaker 1: to those places. Now, if it's close or something along 72 00:03:31,680 --> 00:03:34,400 Speaker 1: those lines, perhaps they make a different decision. We haven't 73 00:03:34,440 --> 00:03:37,680 Speaker 1: mentioned taxes in this, but California state taxes sometimes play 74 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:40,880 Speaker 1: a role in this. Obviously, Massachusetts has high state taxes 75 00:03:40,920 --> 00:03:44,520 Speaker 1: as well. We'll see how this goes. But one thing 76 00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:47,160 Speaker 1: that has become clear here, and Sam Kennedy had some 77 00:03:47,480 --> 00:03:49,560 Speaker 1: quotes in the Boston Globe this morning. He is the 78 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:52,240 Speaker 1: president of the Red Sox. The Red Sox are serious. 79 00:03:52,520 --> 00:03:55,720 Speaker 1: They are not messing around. They are intent on spending 80 00:03:55,760 --> 00:03:59,000 Speaker 1: money and becoming the kind of force that they were 81 00:03:59,680 --> 00:04:03,520 Speaker 1: in I don't know the twosands two tens, they have 82 00:04:03,680 --> 00:04:04,960 Speaker 1: not been a team of late. 83 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:08,200 Speaker 3: Lastly, do you feel like this is going to be 84 00:04:08,240 --> 00:04:10,680 Speaker 3: a better market this year in general? Because I mean, 85 00:04:10,760 --> 00:04:14,000 Speaker 3: players could be blamed. Agents could be blamed for signing late, 86 00:04:14,280 --> 00:04:16,760 Speaker 3: but also the market can be blamed. So do you 87 00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:20,120 Speaker 3: feel like at the moment there are more teams involved. 88 00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:23,400 Speaker 3: I know we're talking a lot about Boston and Baltimore. 89 00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:25,800 Speaker 3: Maybe we'll do a little bit more this offseason, but 90 00:04:25,839 --> 00:04:28,800 Speaker 3: even at Washington at Detroit, those were teams that were 91 00:04:28,839 --> 00:04:30,760 Speaker 3: not involved on big free agents last year. 92 00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:32,000 Speaker 4: Right. 93 00:04:32,080 --> 00:04:34,640 Speaker 1: It's an interesting question, Scott, and I'm not sure the answer. 94 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:38,400 Speaker 1: Last year, the TV thing with certain clubs, the regional 95 00:04:38,440 --> 00:04:43,400 Speaker 1: TV uncertainty certainly affected a number of teams. That is 96 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:46,360 Speaker 1: a factor again this year, although there is a little 97 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:49,360 Speaker 1: bit more certainty than there was. The money is lower though. 98 00:04:49,960 --> 00:04:53,080 Speaker 1: The other aspect of last year with the Boris clients, 99 00:04:53,080 --> 00:04:55,200 Speaker 1: the Boris four as we call them, they were all 100 00:04:55,240 --> 00:04:57,680 Speaker 1: flawed and you can make the case Blake Snell is 101 00:04:57,720 --> 00:04:59,919 Speaker 1: flawed and Corbyn Browns has his flaws. I don't know 102 00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:03,880 Speaker 1: if Won Soto has any flaws, but it's a strong 103 00:05:03,960 --> 00:05:06,919 Speaker 1: class that he has here. Bregman Alonso are also in 104 00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:10,119 Speaker 1: that class. And when you have players like Max Fried 105 00:05:10,200 --> 00:05:13,279 Speaker 1: and Anthony Santander, there is a pretty healthy group of 106 00:05:13,360 --> 00:05:16,800 Speaker 1: players out there. Taeoscar Hernandez another one, and of course 107 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:20,400 Speaker 1: Rookie Sasaki, who we will get to. So I do 108 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:23,720 Speaker 1: expect the market to be robust at the top. I 109 00:05:23,760 --> 00:05:27,560 Speaker 1: also expect that some of the middle tier players are 110 00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:31,360 Speaker 1: not going to get maybe what they exactly desire. And 111 00:05:31,400 --> 00:05:33,000 Speaker 1: that's been the case for a number of years now. 112 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:35,720 Speaker 1: That's the way the system has worked, and I would 113 00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:38,479 Speaker 1: imagine with the top relievers as well, it's going to 114 00:05:38,480 --> 00:05:40,680 Speaker 1: be the same thing. They'll get paid, some of the 115 00:05:40,720 --> 00:05:43,840 Speaker 1: middle guys might not get what they would maybe imagine. 116 00:05:44,680 --> 00:05:46,760 Speaker 3: And Rookie Soazaki is going to get nothing in the 117 00:05:46,880 --> 00:05:50,279 Speaker 3: grand scheme of what he is worth two MLB teams. 118 00:05:50,279 --> 00:05:52,360 Speaker 3: But let's get right into him right now. You mentioned him, 119 00:05:52,400 --> 00:05:54,800 Speaker 3: and I think he's the most curious case this offseason. 120 00:05:55,000 --> 00:05:58,400 Speaker 3: I only think that recently. Can Initially, when he announces 121 00:05:58,440 --> 00:06:01,520 Speaker 3: that he's going to get posts and play in Major 122 00:06:01,600 --> 00:06:03,960 Speaker 3: League Baseball, everyone just was lining him up with the 123 00:06:03,960 --> 00:06:06,400 Speaker 3: Dodgers and his agent. 124 00:06:07,240 --> 00:06:08,240 Speaker 2: He's part of Wasserman. 125 00:06:08,560 --> 00:06:12,480 Speaker 3: Joe Wolfe actually was quoted by Evandrelick, your colleague at 126 00:06:12,480 --> 00:06:13,040 Speaker 3: the Athletic. 127 00:06:13,120 --> 00:06:16,159 Speaker 2: You want me to read the quote, go ahead, okay, 128 00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:16,720 Speaker 2: let's do it. 129 00:06:16,760 --> 00:06:19,120 Speaker 3: So while a bunch of executives who should know me 130 00:06:19,200 --> 00:06:21,200 Speaker 3: better and do a lot of business with me, insult 131 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:24,320 Speaker 3: my integrity by insinuating that I would be a part 132 00:06:24,360 --> 00:06:28,279 Speaker 3: of some type of nefarious agreement. In reality, this is 133 00:06:28,480 --> 00:06:31,920 Speaker 3: just poor sportsmanship and essentially ken what I'm reading is 134 00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:34,840 Speaker 3: he said, I see the report out there saying it's 135 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:36,919 Speaker 3: a done dealer, or we even have something beforehand with 136 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:39,839 Speaker 3: the Dodgers, which is not legal according to Major League Baseball. 137 00:06:40,120 --> 00:06:41,680 Speaker 2: And between that and some. 138 00:06:41,600 --> 00:06:44,480 Speaker 3: Other people coming out recently thinking that the Dodgers aren't 139 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:46,360 Speaker 3: a done deal, I think when his agent says that, 140 00:06:46,400 --> 00:06:48,279 Speaker 3: I'm actually thinking he might not time with the Dodgers. 141 00:06:48,279 --> 00:06:50,320 Speaker 2: What about you, I'm. 142 00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:54,599 Speaker 1: Still not sure. And this whole story emanated yesterday from 143 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:57,560 Speaker 1: a news conference that Rob Manford held in New York, 144 00:06:57,720 --> 00:07:01,320 Speaker 1: and he was asked by reporter about the suspicions by 145 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:05,080 Speaker 1: certain executives that the Dodgers have a handshake agreement, some 146 00:07:05,200 --> 00:07:09,039 Speaker 1: kind of done deal, and Manfred essentially said, I've heard 147 00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:12,200 Speaker 1: those suspicions. I know they're out there, but we don't 148 00:07:12,200 --> 00:07:14,640 Speaker 1: have any proof of that yet, and we have ways 149 00:07:14,640 --> 00:07:17,800 Speaker 1: of looking into that. Then Evan Drelik from The Athletic 150 00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:21,679 Speaker 1: called Joel Wolf to ask about those suspicions, and Joel 151 00:07:21,720 --> 00:07:26,160 Speaker 1: gave the quote that you just read. I think, actually, Scott, 152 00:07:26,520 --> 00:07:29,880 Speaker 1: that if Sasaki signs with the Dodgers, the fact that 153 00:07:29,960 --> 00:07:33,080 Speaker 1: this is all out in the open now is probably 154 00:07:33,160 --> 00:07:35,840 Speaker 1: better because the discussion is taking place now instead of 155 00:07:35,880 --> 00:07:38,520 Speaker 1: after the fact when people might say, oh, well, it 156 00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:41,000 Speaker 1: was a done deal all along. I don't know that 157 00:07:41,040 --> 00:07:43,080 Speaker 1: it's a done deal. I don't imagine that it is. 158 00:07:43,520 --> 00:07:46,800 Speaker 1: And Roki Sasaki will have his choice of all thirty teams. 159 00:07:47,480 --> 00:07:50,600 Speaker 1: The money is going to be ranging from something like 160 00:07:50,680 --> 00:07:52,960 Speaker 1: five million to seven and a half million, and the 161 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:58,800 Speaker 1: Dodgers in the next International bonus Pool arrangement have the 162 00:07:58,920 --> 00:08:01,880 Speaker 1: lower end of money available, the five million dollar end. 163 00:08:02,240 --> 00:08:05,760 Speaker 1: So I don't know where he's going. But the fact 164 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:08,520 Speaker 1: that this all kind of came out in advance of it, 165 00:08:09,080 --> 00:08:11,280 Speaker 1: to me, that opens it up still for the Dodgers, 166 00:08:11,320 --> 00:08:13,920 Speaker 1: because I think it's all out there now. And at 167 00:08:13,920 --> 00:08:16,760 Speaker 1: this point, if he signs with the Dodgers, okay, this 168 00:08:16,840 --> 00:08:20,560 Speaker 1: has all been discussed. If he doesn't, great, some other 169 00:08:20,600 --> 00:08:23,720 Speaker 1: team gets him and we have another star in another city. 170 00:08:24,080 --> 00:08:26,240 Speaker 1: I'm not sure where it's going. The Dodgers have done 171 00:08:26,240 --> 00:08:27,960 Speaker 1: a lot of work on this guy. So of other teams, 172 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:31,040 Speaker 1: the Padres are among them. So it's going to be 173 00:08:31,080 --> 00:08:34,520 Speaker 1: really interesting because here's a situation where every team has 174 00:08:34,600 --> 00:08:37,600 Speaker 1: a shot. Every team can pay this guy. This is 175 00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:40,920 Speaker 1: not a situation where Cleveland or Tampa Bay cannot afford him. 176 00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:44,320 Speaker 1: And if the reports are true that he values an 177 00:08:44,440 --> 00:08:47,960 Speaker 1: organization that is strong un pitching development, Cleveland and Tampa 178 00:08:47,960 --> 00:08:51,360 Speaker 1: Bay seemingly would be pretty attractive places for him. So 179 00:08:51,960 --> 00:08:53,640 Speaker 1: we'll see how it goes. But that was quite an 180 00:08:53,720 --> 00:08:58,480 Speaker 1: interesting flare up yesterday between Manfred and the agent, all 181 00:08:58,559 --> 00:08:59,960 Speaker 1: the parties involved. 182 00:09:00,760 --> 00:09:03,840 Speaker 3: So I'm trying to put myself in the shoes of 183 00:09:03,880 --> 00:09:07,520 Speaker 3: representation here, ken. The only thought I go is, okay, 184 00:09:07,720 --> 00:09:10,000 Speaker 3: if I do want to dispute you know, this crap 185 00:09:10,040 --> 00:09:12,440 Speaker 3: that's being thrown out there saying that I'm not doing 186 00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:17,440 Speaker 3: a loyal job right and an ethical job, would I 187 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:19,240 Speaker 3: go out there and be like, hey, why would I 188 00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:21,320 Speaker 3: do this? And then what if in a few weeks, 189 00:09:21,360 --> 00:09:24,679 Speaker 3: you know, in January, he Roki Sazaki signs with the Dodgers. 190 00:09:24,720 --> 00:09:27,040 Speaker 3: The public perception is still going to say, hey, you 191 00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:29,600 Speaker 3: came out, you said this was the case that you 192 00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:33,120 Speaker 3: were doing everything properly and you still signed with the Dodgers. 193 00:09:33,160 --> 00:09:35,080 Speaker 3: You know, like most of the public is not going 194 00:09:35,120 --> 00:09:37,079 Speaker 3: to read into this situation like everyone else. 195 00:09:37,120 --> 00:09:39,920 Speaker 2: So that's the only thing. I'm like, why say anything yet? 196 00:09:40,240 --> 00:09:41,760 Speaker 3: And I know Joel does a real nice job, but 197 00:09:41,800 --> 00:09:45,640 Speaker 3: why say anything yet if Roki does end up signing 198 00:09:45,640 --> 00:09:47,480 Speaker 3: with the Dodgers, because then people aren't going to believe 199 00:09:47,559 --> 00:09:48,800 Speaker 3: that that actually happened. 200 00:09:49,440 --> 00:09:51,960 Speaker 1: Because I think the answer is to put this to 201 00:09:52,000 --> 00:09:55,880 Speaker 1: bed right now and to say out front, aggressively, listen, 202 00:09:56,160 --> 00:09:58,839 Speaker 1: we don't do that. That's not how we operate. And 203 00:09:58,960 --> 00:10:03,440 Speaker 1: if he chooses to dodge ultimately in January, obviously it's 204 00:10:03,440 --> 00:10:06,760 Speaker 1: almost two months away, but he could say at that time, listen, 205 00:10:06,800 --> 00:10:08,800 Speaker 1: we went through the process. This guy did what he did. 206 00:10:08,880 --> 00:10:10,920 Speaker 1: He chose the Dodgers. Maybe he wants to be with 207 00:10:10,960 --> 00:10:13,760 Speaker 1: Otani and Yamamoto. Maybe there are things about the Dodgers 208 00:10:13,800 --> 00:10:18,080 Speaker 1: development that he liked. Who knows, But in my mind, 209 00:10:18,679 --> 00:10:21,920 Speaker 1: I have a kind of a counterintuitive view of this. 210 00:10:22,679 --> 00:10:24,400 Speaker 1: It seems to me better to get it out in 211 00:10:24,440 --> 00:10:27,040 Speaker 1: the open now, as I said before, than to have 212 00:10:27,080 --> 00:10:29,640 Speaker 1: these suspicions linger. And then if he signs with the 213 00:10:29,679 --> 00:10:32,319 Speaker 1: Dodgers that it's a big if. Then you have all 214 00:10:32,360 --> 00:10:34,360 Speaker 1: of this surface, get it out of the way, now 215 00:10:34,559 --> 00:10:38,200 Speaker 1: address it, and then deal with it appropriately if it 216 00:10:38,320 --> 00:10:39,960 Speaker 1: is necessary when the time comes. 217 00:10:40,800 --> 00:10:43,000 Speaker 3: One thing I do know, Ken, this is going to 218 00:10:43,080 --> 00:10:45,520 Speaker 3: be a circus. It's going to be a tour. Every 219 00:10:45,520 --> 00:10:47,760 Speaker 3: team's going to be involved. And to me, if there's 220 00:10:47,800 --> 00:10:50,080 Speaker 3: anything to read on here, it's that they are going 221 00:10:50,120 --> 00:10:52,240 Speaker 3: to give every team a fair chance. Right, So he 222 00:10:52,640 --> 00:10:55,880 Speaker 3: might have himself a ton of meetings lined up. So 223 00:10:56,080 --> 00:10:58,079 Speaker 3: just like Sodo's doing his meetings this week, we might 224 00:10:58,080 --> 00:11:00,959 Speaker 3: have two weeks of meetings for Ki Sazaki to meet 225 00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:01,600 Speaker 3: with ball clubs. 226 00:11:01,640 --> 00:11:04,600 Speaker 1: And we don't make it look like graphical Scott was 227 00:11:04,600 --> 00:11:06,640 Speaker 1: gonna say, we don't know his geographical preferences, if he 228 00:11:06,720 --> 00:11:09,800 Speaker 1: has any. We don't know really much about this at all, 229 00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:12,920 Speaker 1: where it might be going. So it's going to be 230 00:11:12,920 --> 00:11:16,280 Speaker 1: an interesting process because again, so many teams, all teams 231 00:11:16,320 --> 00:11:17,319 Speaker 1: can really be involved. 232 00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:19,559 Speaker 2: Let's it awards quick. 233 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:22,800 Speaker 3: So MVP coming up this evening, we've seen say Young 234 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:25,360 Speaker 3: Rookie of the Year had a little more juice to it. Obviously, 235 00:11:25,400 --> 00:11:27,560 Speaker 3: say Young, we pretty much knew what was going to 236 00:11:27,600 --> 00:11:29,920 Speaker 3: happen and Manage of the Year before that, any thoughts 237 00:11:29,920 --> 00:11:32,320 Speaker 3: on what we've seen, and then thoughts on what's to 238 00:11:32,320 --> 00:11:35,360 Speaker 3: come here with the MVP, because again, it doesn't look 239 00:11:35,440 --> 00:11:37,200 Speaker 3: like it's going to be that thrilling in terms of 240 00:11:37,200 --> 00:11:38,560 Speaker 3: finding out who's going to win here. 241 00:11:39,200 --> 00:11:41,120 Speaker 1: No, as I said on foul Territory the other day, 242 00:11:41,120 --> 00:11:44,120 Speaker 1: Scott the Rookie of the Year winners sort of surprised 243 00:11:44,120 --> 00:11:46,560 Speaker 1: me a little bit. We're not going to be surprised 244 00:11:46,559 --> 00:11:49,200 Speaker 1: tonight with the MVP. The only question I have is 245 00:11:49,280 --> 00:11:54,080 Speaker 1: whether Shohio Tani or and or Aaron Judge will be unanimous, 246 00:11:54,160 --> 00:11:57,520 Speaker 1: and the expectation in my mind is that they'll have 247 00:11:57,640 --> 00:12:01,200 Speaker 1: overwhelming victories. I don't know about unanimous because at the 248 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:05,840 Speaker 1: same time, you can make a case for Francisco Lindor, 249 00:12:05,880 --> 00:12:08,160 Speaker 1: you can make a case for Bobby with Junior Bobby 250 00:12:08,160 --> 00:12:12,000 Speaker 1: Wick Junior, especially in my opinion, So if someone votes 251 00:12:12,080 --> 00:12:15,480 Speaker 1: for one of those two players, if they get multiple votes, 252 00:12:15,520 --> 00:12:18,559 Speaker 1: I don't think anyone should be offended. It's kind of 253 00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:22,280 Speaker 1: looking at two different kinds of players in different ways. 254 00:12:22,320 --> 00:12:24,839 Speaker 1: And Otani is a DH. So if you want to 255 00:12:24,840 --> 00:12:27,560 Speaker 1: make the case for the more all around player, that's Lindor, 256 00:12:28,240 --> 00:12:30,760 Speaker 1: in Judge's case, yes, he played center field, but he 257 00:12:30,800 --> 00:12:35,680 Speaker 1: didn't play it at as high a level as Bobby 258 00:12:35,679 --> 00:12:38,160 Speaker 1: Wick Junior played shortstop, and Bobby Wick Junior did some 259 00:12:38,200 --> 00:12:41,400 Speaker 1: remarkable things offensively as well. The Judge had one of 260 00:12:41,400 --> 00:12:45,960 Speaker 1: the all time great historic offensive seasons. So I'm not 261 00:12:46,080 --> 00:12:49,559 Speaker 1: saying I expect unanimity, but at the same time, I 262 00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:51,800 Speaker 1: would not be surprised if it was unanimous. I would 263 00:12:51,840 --> 00:12:53,640 Speaker 1: not be surprised if a couple of voters said, you 264 00:12:53,640 --> 00:12:56,160 Speaker 1: know what, I don't see it the way everyone else does. 265 00:12:56,240 --> 00:12:58,560 Speaker 1: I'm for wit Or, I'm for Lindor. And you know what, 266 00:12:59,280 --> 00:13:02,120 Speaker 1: if that happened, doesn't make those voters bad people. If 267 00:13:02,160 --> 00:13:05,160 Speaker 1: you're an O Tani guy or a Judge guy, that's 268 00:13:05,160 --> 00:13:07,120 Speaker 1: how the process is supposed to work. 269 00:13:08,120 --> 00:13:10,600 Speaker 3: In your prediction, which one do you think has a 270 00:13:10,640 --> 00:13:12,000 Speaker 3: better chance to be unanimous? 271 00:13:12,040 --> 00:13:12,560 Speaker 2: For me? 272 00:13:12,640 --> 00:13:16,679 Speaker 3: I think I think the National League because I think 273 00:13:16,760 --> 00:13:20,760 Speaker 3: there might be some people that take a stance on 274 00:13:20,840 --> 00:13:23,640 Speaker 3: the fact that they are uncomfortable with voting for a 275 00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:26,560 Speaker 3: DH when there is another really strong candidate who plays 276 00:13:26,559 --> 00:13:28,000 Speaker 3: a premium position, and. 277 00:13:27,920 --> 00:13:30,600 Speaker 2: I'm just like you, would I vote for Lendora? 278 00:13:30,600 --> 00:13:33,560 Speaker 3: Probably not, but would I understand and respect if someone 279 00:13:33,640 --> 00:13:35,439 Speaker 3: voted for him. Yes, it's not like one of those 280 00:13:35,520 --> 00:13:38,480 Speaker 3: crazy votes that come out there. Hey sawone on Manager 281 00:13:38,520 --> 00:13:41,080 Speaker 3: of the Year where Roco Baldelli got a stray third 282 00:13:41,080 --> 00:13:42,240 Speaker 3: place vote and I didn't like that. 283 00:13:42,280 --> 00:13:45,040 Speaker 2: But anyway, this one, to me is very understandable. 284 00:13:46,040 --> 00:13:48,400 Speaker 1: I agree, and I see it the same way. There 285 00:13:48,480 --> 00:13:50,880 Speaker 1: might be one of the thirty voters might be more 286 00:13:50,920 --> 00:13:53,600 Speaker 1: than one of the thirty voters who decides I'm not 287 00:13:53,640 --> 00:13:56,160 Speaker 1: comfortable with the DH. I'm sorry, I'm just not comfortable 288 00:13:56,160 --> 00:13:58,720 Speaker 1: with the DH winning this award. It has never happened. 289 00:13:59,080 --> 00:14:02,840 Speaker 1: No DH has ever one the MVP Award. No full 290 00:14:02,880 --> 00:14:05,440 Speaker 1: time DH guys who have done part time. Yes, but 291 00:14:06,400 --> 00:14:09,240 Speaker 1: that could be the one thing that prevents Otani from 292 00:14:09,280 --> 00:14:13,760 Speaker 1: being unanimous Judge, I would expect he's going to be 293 00:14:13,800 --> 00:14:16,520 Speaker 1: pretty close to the unanimous as greatest season as would 294 00:14:16,520 --> 00:14:19,880 Speaker 1: have and it was an MVP season in any other year. 295 00:14:20,520 --> 00:14:23,240 Speaker 1: It just seems to me what Judge did separate himself 296 00:14:23,400 --> 00:14:27,160 Speaker 1: in an offensive sense, and even though defensively he did 297 00:14:27,200 --> 00:14:30,240 Speaker 1: not rate particularly well, the fact that he played center 298 00:14:30,280 --> 00:14:33,120 Speaker 1: field was incredibly valuable to the Yankees because it enabled 299 00:14:33,200 --> 00:14:35,240 Speaker 1: Soda to be in right for do go and left, 300 00:14:35,560 --> 00:14:38,760 Speaker 1: and that was something the Yankees needed for this particular season. 301 00:14:39,360 --> 00:14:41,400 Speaker 3: Not that it's the be all, end all stat of course, 302 00:14:41,520 --> 00:14:44,960 Speaker 3: but Judge did even win on say fangrafts war above 303 00:14:45,240 --> 00:14:47,760 Speaker 3: Bobby wit Junior. So if Witt had finished above Judge, 304 00:14:47,760 --> 00:14:49,640 Speaker 3: I would have said, Okay, maybe someone will take a 305 00:14:49,680 --> 00:14:52,400 Speaker 3: stance on that front and say, hey, I'm very analytical. 306 00:14:52,480 --> 00:14:54,880 Speaker 3: This is what I go off of some numbers like 307 00:14:54,920 --> 00:14:58,000 Speaker 3: war and some defensive stats. But even him getting the answer, 308 00:14:58,080 --> 00:15:00,320 Speaker 3: I'm with you, So maybe National League isn't you know animus? 309 00:15:00,320 --> 00:15:11,040 Speaker 3: All right, let's hit grilling can right now, super chat time. First, Daniel, 310 00:15:11,080 --> 00:15:14,520 Speaker 3: thanks for chiming in and asking about prospect hoarding, which 311 00:15:14,520 --> 00:15:18,160 Speaker 3: has become a very popular topic recently on foul Territory. 312 00:15:18,160 --> 00:15:19,480 Speaker 3: I think you talked about it a little bit with 313 00:15:19,560 --> 00:15:22,320 Speaker 3: us yesterday. He said, why do teams like to hoard 314 00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:25,040 Speaker 3: prospects so much? I get that they can be great, 315 00:15:25,120 --> 00:15:27,440 Speaker 3: but you only have twenty six spots. Seems like a 316 00:15:27,480 --> 00:15:28,640 Speaker 3: basic numbers thing. 317 00:15:29,920 --> 00:15:34,200 Speaker 1: I agree, And teams do hoard prospects. They're terrified of 318 00:15:34,240 --> 00:15:38,080 Speaker 1: trading prospects and getting burned. They value prospects because they 319 00:15:38,160 --> 00:15:40,080 Speaker 1: earned the minimum salary for the first three years of 320 00:15:40,120 --> 00:15:44,040 Speaker 1: their career. But consider, for instance, the Red Sox go 321 00:15:44,200 --> 00:15:49,000 Speaker 1: back several years right Blake Swihart, Henry Owen, Jeter Downs 322 00:15:49,040 --> 00:15:51,200 Speaker 1: after they got him in the Mooki Bets trade. These 323 00:15:51,200 --> 00:15:53,280 Speaker 1: are just some of the prospects that they've had who 324 00:15:53,360 --> 00:15:56,760 Speaker 1: didn't really pan out, and these were ballyhooed guys. Now 325 00:15:56,880 --> 00:15:59,400 Speaker 1: the Red Sox now have this group of four prospects 326 00:15:59,440 --> 00:16:01,800 Speaker 1: that they are really high on. Will all of them 327 00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:06,840 Speaker 1: become stars? Probably not. And the idea that a forward 328 00:16:06,840 --> 00:16:10,240 Speaker 1: thinking team should have would be to identify which players 329 00:16:10,280 --> 00:16:14,520 Speaker 1: they feel will ultimately be major contributors for their club 330 00:16:14,600 --> 00:16:18,600 Speaker 1: and which ones are better off getting traded and getting 331 00:16:18,600 --> 00:16:20,960 Speaker 1: maximum value out of them that way in the return 332 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:24,760 Speaker 1: that you would receive. Teams are reluctant to do this. 333 00:16:24,960 --> 00:16:27,320 Speaker 1: They seem, in my mind, terrified to do it in 334 00:16:27,360 --> 00:16:31,040 Speaker 1: many cases. But the shrewd ones are going to part 335 00:16:31,080 --> 00:16:34,760 Speaker 1: with the players that might be overvalued in the industry 336 00:16:35,400 --> 00:16:38,680 Speaker 1: and who could obviously bring them something. The Dodgers, in 337 00:16:38,720 --> 00:16:41,360 Speaker 1: my opinion, have done a very good job over the 338 00:16:41,440 --> 00:16:45,560 Speaker 1: years of not trading prospects that are going to be 339 00:16:45,640 --> 00:16:48,080 Speaker 1: major contributors for them. If you go back through all 340 00:16:48,120 --> 00:16:50,480 Speaker 1: their trades. Sure they've lost some guys, and yes they 341 00:16:50,600 --> 00:16:54,160 Speaker 1: traded your Adan Alvarez for Josh Field. That's something that 342 00:16:54,280 --> 00:16:57,320 Speaker 1: kind of is aside. But in their deadline type deals 343 00:16:57,360 --> 00:17:00,600 Speaker 1: that kind of thing, they haven't gotten burned really, and 344 00:17:00,600 --> 00:17:02,800 Speaker 1: that's what a smart thing teams should be doing. 345 00:17:03,360 --> 00:17:03,600 Speaker 4: Yeah. 346 00:17:03,680 --> 00:17:05,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, they're picking the right guys to keep. 347 00:17:05,320 --> 00:17:07,399 Speaker 3: And also for me, i'd sometimes sum it up to 348 00:17:07,400 --> 00:17:09,880 Speaker 3: people and just say money obviously quality. You don't want 349 00:17:09,880 --> 00:17:12,119 Speaker 3: to lose your guys. But if you do have a superstar. 350 00:17:12,560 --> 00:17:15,280 Speaker 3: The Pirates have Paul Skins right now. Right, he costs 351 00:17:15,359 --> 00:17:17,400 Speaker 3: less than a million dollars a year. Right. I might 352 00:17:17,440 --> 00:17:20,000 Speaker 3: get some other bonuses that come with the new collective 353 00:17:20,000 --> 00:17:21,879 Speaker 3: Bartain agreement, but for the most part, these are the 354 00:17:21,920 --> 00:17:25,080 Speaker 3: best bargains in baseball, and there's nothing like a good 355 00:17:25,119 --> 00:17:27,600 Speaker 3: bargain for most teams and ownership groups. 356 00:17:27,760 --> 00:17:30,040 Speaker 2: And also in fairness, you need that to balance the books. 357 00:17:30,080 --> 00:17:32,880 Speaker 3: Not everybody can cost thirty million dollars a year, even 358 00:17:32,920 --> 00:17:35,320 Speaker 3: if you're a big market team. Let's get to Ryan here, 359 00:17:35,520 --> 00:17:37,600 Speaker 3: Ooh this is good Ken. I saw this in your 360 00:17:37,640 --> 00:17:40,680 Speaker 3: article and I was very curious about this. So Ryan 361 00:17:40,720 --> 00:17:45,200 Speaker 3: said Ken had a great article about it, included Cody Bounder. 362 00:17:45,240 --> 00:17:47,360 Speaker 3: He's talking about your notes, Colin, He said, I get why, 363 00:17:47,880 --> 00:17:50,280 Speaker 3: I fully get. I'm not sure I fully get. Sorry 364 00:17:50,280 --> 00:17:52,280 Speaker 3: why the Cubs would be eager to deal Cody Balinger. 365 00:17:52,280 --> 00:17:54,800 Speaker 3: I'd love to hear him expand on it. Right, Bollinger 366 00:17:54,880 --> 00:17:57,080 Speaker 3: opted back in, but the Cubs don't want. 367 00:17:56,920 --> 00:18:02,440 Speaker 1: To keep him. Well, the Cubs have an interesting team 368 00:18:03,160 --> 00:18:06,800 Speaker 1: right now with Bellinger. They have pretty much every position 369 00:18:06,880 --> 00:18:09,880 Speaker 1: set and they want to improve offensively, maybe do some things, 370 00:18:09,920 --> 00:18:13,359 Speaker 1: maybe shift some money around. And Bellinger is a guy 371 00:18:13,440 --> 00:18:16,359 Speaker 1: that I don't know that they expected to be back. 372 00:18:17,080 --> 00:18:20,439 Speaker 1: They probably expected him to opt out and be on 373 00:18:20,520 --> 00:18:23,760 Speaker 1: the market as perhaps the top left handed hitting alternative 374 00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:26,960 Speaker 1: in the outfield to Juan Soto. You've got Santander, who's 375 00:18:26,960 --> 00:18:29,320 Speaker 1: a switch hitter. You've got Taoscar Hernandez who is a 376 00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:32,879 Speaker 1: right handed hitter. But Bellinger, it seems maybe could have 377 00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:36,320 Speaker 1: beaten his remaining guarantee on the open market. He's getting 378 00:18:36,359 --> 00:18:41,119 Speaker 1: sixty over two, that's what he's guaranteed. So there are 379 00:18:41,160 --> 00:18:43,560 Speaker 1: Cubs in this particular case, if you go around the 380 00:18:43,600 --> 00:18:47,359 Speaker 1: diamond with them, they can maybe trade Bellinger and open 381 00:18:47,480 --> 00:18:50,959 Speaker 1: up some other things. Financially and from a roster standpoint, 382 00:18:51,280 --> 00:18:54,320 Speaker 1: the problem is, as this is what I wrote today, 383 00:18:54,600 --> 00:18:57,040 Speaker 1: he is owed by any team that takes him. He's 384 00:18:57,080 --> 00:19:00,680 Speaker 1: guaranteed thirty two and a half million half million dollars 385 00:19:00,720 --> 00:19:04,520 Speaker 1: salary this year, plus a five million dollar buyout if 386 00:19:04,560 --> 00:19:07,119 Speaker 1: he doesn't opt in next year. If he opts in, 387 00:19:07,200 --> 00:19:10,159 Speaker 1: it's twenty seven and a half million. Okay, most teams 388 00:19:10,200 --> 00:19:14,880 Speaker 1: don't mind big contracts for one year, but Bellinger could 389 00:19:14,920 --> 00:19:18,560 Speaker 1: be two and last year, as good as he was 390 00:19:18,600 --> 00:19:21,520 Speaker 1: in twenty three, he wasn't quite the same guy. 391 00:19:21,600 --> 00:19:21,719 Speaker 5: Now. 392 00:19:21,720 --> 00:19:25,159 Speaker 1: I know Wrigley Field depressed offense last year, certainly that 393 00:19:25,200 --> 00:19:27,480 Speaker 1: had something to do with it, but he was more 394 00:19:27,520 --> 00:19:31,719 Speaker 1: of an above average player than an elite player last season. 395 00:19:32,160 --> 00:19:35,199 Speaker 1: So the Cubs might want to do this, but the 396 00:19:35,200 --> 00:19:37,640 Speaker 1: point I made in the notes column was it's going 397 00:19:37,680 --> 00:19:40,000 Speaker 1: to be difficult for them to find a team to 398 00:19:40,040 --> 00:19:43,639 Speaker 1: take that money unless they're willing to take a marginal return, 399 00:19:43,720 --> 00:19:46,879 Speaker 1: either a bad contract back or lesser prospects. 400 00:19:47,480 --> 00:19:49,720 Speaker 3: And the other question, the follow up for another day, 401 00:19:49,840 --> 00:19:51,520 Speaker 3: is you know, why are the Cubs more in like 402 00:19:51,560 --> 00:19:54,160 Speaker 3: the ten range in their payroll in Major League Baseball 403 00:19:54,320 --> 00:19:56,440 Speaker 3: and not more in like the five range, right, Why 404 00:19:56,440 --> 00:19:59,240 Speaker 3: are the Rangers the Astros can even make case of 405 00:19:59,280 --> 00:20:01,760 Speaker 3: the Blue Jays, the Phillies. Why are they spending you know, 406 00:20:01,800 --> 00:20:03,679 Speaker 3: a decent chunk more than the Cubs right now, at 407 00:20:03,760 --> 00:20:05,240 Speaker 3: least from what I'm going off of, they were low 408 00:20:05,240 --> 00:20:08,560 Speaker 3: two hundreds. This should be a mid two hundred's payroll 409 00:20:08,680 --> 00:20:10,640 Speaker 3: at this time. We're twenty twenty four. This team makes 410 00:20:10,680 --> 00:20:11,240 Speaker 3: a ton of money. 411 00:20:11,320 --> 00:20:11,639 Speaker 2: Let's go. 412 00:20:11,800 --> 00:20:16,000 Speaker 1: That's two superstars, no argument, and that is something that 413 00:20:16,080 --> 00:20:19,639 Speaker 1: only the owner, Tom Ricketts can explain. And Scott, I 414 00:20:19,720 --> 00:20:21,960 Speaker 1: totally agree with you. This team does not operate the 415 00:20:21,960 --> 00:20:24,960 Speaker 1: way they should. Had that criticism of Boston last year. 416 00:20:25,119 --> 00:20:27,800 Speaker 1: Hey you're the Boston Red Stars. What are you doing? Cubs? 417 00:20:28,040 --> 00:20:28,960 Speaker 1: Same thing applies. 418 00:20:30,040 --> 00:20:33,000 Speaker 3: It was full throttle and it was for the Cubs 419 00:20:33,280 --> 00:20:35,280 Speaker 3: were in the fifth inning and they never finished the game. 420 00:20:35,320 --> 00:20:37,960 Speaker 3: In their offseason last year, here's Nathan. The Padres have 421 00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:39,879 Speaker 3: a hole in left field and a catcher. Does it 422 00:20:39,920 --> 00:20:43,160 Speaker 3: look like they're going to resign both Profar and Kyle Hagashioka. 423 00:20:44,200 --> 00:20:47,959 Speaker 1: They certainly want to from what I understand. Obviously, Profar, 424 00:20:48,040 --> 00:20:50,520 Speaker 1: coming with that big year, is going to want good money. 425 00:20:50,840 --> 00:20:52,760 Speaker 1: Remember last year, they signed him. I believe it was 426 00:20:52,760 --> 00:20:55,320 Speaker 1: two and a half million dollars. It was a total bargain. 427 00:20:55,359 --> 00:20:57,879 Speaker 1: They got him wait and he outplayed the contract. Actually 428 00:20:57,920 --> 00:21:00,040 Speaker 1: I think it was a million dollars. So whatever the 429 00:21:00,080 --> 00:21:02,320 Speaker 1: number was, he's going to want more than that this year, 430 00:21:02,320 --> 00:21:06,440 Speaker 1: and understandably so. He had a brilliant season. Higashioka is 431 00:21:06,440 --> 00:21:09,480 Speaker 1: a guy who succeeded there, who seemed to find his 432 00:21:09,800 --> 00:21:12,800 Speaker 1: swing at Petco Park, believe it or not, and I 433 00:21:12,800 --> 00:21:16,000 Speaker 1: would imagine they want him back as well. The Padres, though, 434 00:21:16,320 --> 00:21:20,000 Speaker 1: have other holes, other issues, and they're in a bit 435 00:21:20,040 --> 00:21:24,240 Speaker 1: of a financial bind. Not terrible, but they can't necessarily 436 00:21:24,280 --> 00:21:26,480 Speaker 1: do all the things that they might have done in 437 00:21:26,520 --> 00:21:26,960 Speaker 1: the past. 438 00:21:27,920 --> 00:21:29,720 Speaker 3: And by the way, you were right on both accounts. 439 00:21:29,720 --> 00:21:33,040 Speaker 3: It was one year, one million dollars, one and a 440 00:21:33,080 --> 00:21:36,400 Speaker 3: half million dollars of incentives, which I'm pretty sure he hit. 441 00:21:36,480 --> 00:21:38,480 Speaker 3: And just looking at the contract quick year based on 442 00:21:38,520 --> 00:21:41,280 Speaker 3: plate appearances, I mean he played the whole year, was 443 00:21:41,320 --> 00:21:43,439 Speaker 3: top ten on base percentage. I mean, he had a 444 00:21:43,480 --> 00:21:46,840 Speaker 3: brilliant season at the play career high twenty four homers. 445 00:21:46,520 --> 00:21:47,000 Speaker 2: The whole deal. 446 00:21:47,040 --> 00:21:48,760 Speaker 3: But he is going to cost a little bit more 447 00:21:48,800 --> 00:21:52,560 Speaker 3: than one million with a million and a half incentives 448 00:21:52,760 --> 00:21:55,000 Speaker 3: coming off what he did. But anyway, Ken, I gotta 449 00:21:55,000 --> 00:21:57,600 Speaker 3: get ready for Foul Territory. AJ's over here waving at me. 450 00:21:57,760 --> 00:22:01,080 Speaker 1: So this was fun, Scott, thank thanks for joining us. 451 00:22:01,119 --> 00:22:03,800 Speaker 2: We'll be right back right, Yes, we'll be right back 452 00:22:04,840 --> 00:22:05,400 Speaker 2: ft Fham. 453 00:22:05,680 --> 00:22:08,679 Speaker 6: The holidays are creeping up faster than your aunt's fruitcake recipe. 454 00:22:08,880 --> 00:22:11,199 Speaker 6: We've got something way better to share with you. If 455 00:22:11,240 --> 00:22:13,320 Speaker 6: you want to look sharp for all those festive gatherings. 456 00:22:13,680 --> 00:22:16,960 Speaker 6: Check out the latest masterpiece for Manscape, the Chairman Pro 457 00:22:17,080 --> 00:22:20,639 Speaker 6: Electric foil shaver. 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That's twenty percent off plus free shipping 474 00:23:11,200 --> 00:23:16,240 Speaker 4: with the code foul to zero at manscape dot com. 475 00:23:16,600 --> 00:23:27,119 Speaker 5: Dude, Dude, dude, that's right, dude, it's time for the 476 00:23:27,240 --> 00:23:28,119 Speaker 5: Dude of the Week. 477 00:23:28,440 --> 00:23:31,760 Speaker 1: And this week, to me, there's only one choice. It's 478 00:23:31,800 --> 00:23:36,040 Speaker 1: the guy who was named the Unanimous amer the Unanimous 479 00:23:36,080 --> 00:23:39,640 Speaker 1: American League Cy Young Award winner for twenty twenty four. 480 00:23:40,119 --> 00:23:43,480 Speaker 1: His name, of course, is Tarek Schougle. And not only 481 00:23:43,520 --> 00:23:46,520 Speaker 1: did he win the Cy Young in a unanimous fashion, 482 00:23:46,840 --> 00:23:49,320 Speaker 1: he did it on his birthday and he got a 483 00:23:49,359 --> 00:23:52,760 Speaker 1: pretty crazy gift for his birthday. As you see here 484 00:23:52,800 --> 00:23:56,359 Speaker 1: in this video. His wife surprised him with a new car. 485 00:23:56,720 --> 00:23:58,840 Speaker 1: So he gets the new car, he gets the Cy 486 00:23:58,920 --> 00:24:01,840 Speaker 1: Young Award. That's a pretty good day for the Dude 487 00:24:01,840 --> 00:24:05,160 Speaker 1: of the week. Tarrek Scooble, Congratulations, awesome year, and let's 488 00:24:05,200 --> 00:24:08,280 Speaker 1: mention Chris Sale as well. What a comeback, What an 489 00:24:08,320 --> 00:24:11,960 Speaker 1: amazing story he was all year long, very deserving of 490 00:24:12,000 --> 00:24:14,720 Speaker 1: the National League so young award. Zach Wheeler had a 491 00:24:14,720 --> 00:24:16,680 Speaker 1: great year as well, but Sale was just a cut 492 00:24:16,760 --> 00:24:20,440 Speaker 1: above and Sales one of the great competitors in the game, 493 00:24:20,480 --> 00:24:23,080 Speaker 1: one of the great competitors I've ever covered. And to 494 00:24:23,200 --> 00:24:26,640 Speaker 1: see him come through those injuries and all those tough, 495 00:24:26,720 --> 00:24:30,480 Speaker 1: difficult seasons in Boston and re establish himself in Atlanta 496 00:24:31,040 --> 00:24:32,560 Speaker 1: kind of code due to the week for me. But 497 00:24:32,640 --> 00:24:41,919 Speaker 1: Schooble number one due to the week. All right, Now, 498 00:24:42,520 --> 00:24:44,840 Speaker 1: the John Fisher Dork of the Week. Now, I don't 499 00:24:44,880 --> 00:24:48,639 Speaker 1: really have anyone in particular picked out this week, but 500 00:24:48,680 --> 00:24:52,359 Speaker 1: I want to go back to twenty sixteen shortly to 501 00:24:52,480 --> 00:24:55,240 Speaker 1: show you a quote from Rob Manfred on the oaklon 502 00:24:55,280 --> 00:24:57,520 Speaker 1: A situation and the reason I'm going to bring this up. 503 00:24:57,680 --> 00:25:00,160 Speaker 1: And I'm not making Manfred dork of the week, I'm 504 00:25:00,160 --> 00:25:03,440 Speaker 1: me wrong. But yesterday in his news conference, Manfred said 505 00:25:03,760 --> 00:25:06,320 Speaker 1: he was committed to the fans of Tampa Bay in 506 00:25:06,320 --> 00:25:09,080 Speaker 1: the sense that he believed that stadium deal can still 507 00:25:09,119 --> 00:25:12,800 Speaker 1: get done. All the reports out of Saint Petersburg indicated 508 00:25:13,320 --> 00:25:16,040 Speaker 1: that that deal is in trouble, and Manfred said that 509 00:25:16,119 --> 00:25:18,000 Speaker 1: you could see right there were committed to the fans 510 00:25:18,040 --> 00:25:21,240 Speaker 1: of Tampa Bay and willing to wait as area leaders 511 00:25:21,280 --> 00:25:24,479 Speaker 1: sort out the uncertainty regarding the new stadium. Part of this, 512 00:25:24,560 --> 00:25:27,720 Speaker 1: of course, is related to the hurricane fallout. Part of 513 00:25:27,760 --> 00:25:31,240 Speaker 1: this is a political question in the Tampa Bay area. 514 00:25:31,760 --> 00:25:33,840 Speaker 1: We'll see how it plays out. But let's go back 515 00:25:33,960 --> 00:25:36,280 Speaker 1: to what I was talking about in twenty sixteen in 516 00:25:36,280 --> 00:25:40,320 Speaker 1: this quote from Manfred on Oakland, I am committed to 517 00:25:40,400 --> 00:25:44,199 Speaker 1: Oakland as a Major League site. Now, granted that was 518 00:25:44,240 --> 00:25:47,720 Speaker 1: twenty sixteen. A lot transpired in the years that followed, 519 00:25:47,760 --> 00:25:50,240 Speaker 1: and Manfred at that point in sixteen could not have 520 00:25:50,280 --> 00:25:53,920 Speaker 1: anticipated that there were going to be so many entanglements, 521 00:25:53,960 --> 00:25:57,160 Speaker 1: so many difficulties in getting a deal done in Oakland. 522 00:25:57,720 --> 00:26:00,199 Speaker 1: At the same time, when a commissioner says what he 523 00:26:00,240 --> 00:26:02,960 Speaker 1: did in sixteen, and when he says what he did, 524 00:26:03,480 --> 00:26:06,159 Speaker 1: when he says what he said yesterday about the Tampa 525 00:26:06,160 --> 00:26:10,080 Speaker 1: Bay situation, it's kind of reminiscent of a general manager 526 00:26:10,080 --> 00:26:14,000 Speaker 1: who says, we're committed to our manager. Yeah, you're committed 527 00:26:14,040 --> 00:26:17,480 Speaker 1: to your manager until you fire him. So take these 528 00:26:17,520 --> 00:26:19,760 Speaker 1: words with a grain of salt. We'll see how it 529 00:26:19,800 --> 00:26:23,399 Speaker 1: all plays out in Tampa Bay. Obviously, the sport is 530 00:26:23,440 --> 00:26:26,240 Speaker 1: hopeful that it does work out. Manfred clearly is hopeful 531 00:26:26,280 --> 00:26:30,680 Speaker 1: of that. And we will see again whether the Rays 532 00:26:30,840 --> 00:26:33,280 Speaker 1: and the local government officials there in the city and 533 00:26:33,359 --> 00:26:36,040 Speaker 1: county can get this thing going. There's been a delay 534 00:26:36,040 --> 00:26:40,320 Speaker 1: in the bond vote. That's what's caused the seeming animosity 535 00:26:40,359 --> 00:26:43,800 Speaker 1: between the parties right now, and again, this all has 536 00:26:43,840 --> 00:26:46,159 Speaker 1: to play out all right. Actually, we're not going to 537 00:26:46,200 --> 00:26:48,159 Speaker 1: thank everyone just yet. I have some more thoughts on 538 00:26:48,240 --> 00:26:53,560 Speaker 1: free agency want Soda in particular. I said that I 539 00:26:53,640 --> 00:26:57,040 Speaker 1: believe the Mets are the most likely scenario for SODO, 540 00:26:57,600 --> 00:27:00,520 Speaker 1: but there are other teams involved, and we've talked about this. 541 00:27:00,920 --> 00:27:02,560 Speaker 1: The Dodgers, I think they just kind of put their 542 00:27:02,560 --> 00:27:04,800 Speaker 1: toe in the water. They're there to kind of jack 543 00:27:04,880 --> 00:27:07,679 Speaker 1: up the price the Red Sox. Again, going back to 544 00:27:07,680 --> 00:27:10,400 Speaker 1: Sam Kennedy's quotes in the Boston Globe this morning, they 545 00:27:10,440 --> 00:27:14,280 Speaker 1: seem serious about doing big things. Now. Whether SODO is 546 00:27:14,320 --> 00:27:16,280 Speaker 1: that big thing, or whether it's Blake Snell or one 547 00:27:16,280 --> 00:27:19,040 Speaker 1: of the other top starting pitchers, I don't know, but 548 00:27:19,119 --> 00:27:21,280 Speaker 1: I would expect that they will be in the mix. 549 00:27:21,359 --> 00:27:24,320 Speaker 1: I would expect Toronto, after making that major bid for 550 00:27:24,359 --> 00:27:27,520 Speaker 1: Shoho Tani last year, will also be in the mix. 551 00:27:27,840 --> 00:27:30,760 Speaker 1: And the Yankees. You saw hal Steinberner's quotes from yesterday, 552 00:27:31,359 --> 00:27:33,000 Speaker 1: they clearly want to be in this thing, and they 553 00:27:33,040 --> 00:27:36,320 Speaker 1: clearly want Juan Soto back. The question is, will hal 554 00:27:36,400 --> 00:27:39,600 Speaker 1: Steinberuner go to the lens that perhaps some other teams 555 00:27:39,640 --> 00:27:42,320 Speaker 1: are willing to go to in order to get this 556 00:27:42,400 --> 00:27:45,960 Speaker 1: deal done. I'm not sure the answer to that is yes. 557 00:27:46,880 --> 00:27:50,480 Speaker 1: If Steve Cohen, the Mets owner, wants Juan Soto, if 558 00:27:50,520 --> 00:27:53,360 Speaker 1: Steve Cohen is willing to pay for Juan Soto, then 559 00:27:53,400 --> 00:27:56,360 Speaker 1: really the game is over. He is going to outbid everyone, 560 00:27:56,440 --> 00:27:59,760 Speaker 1: at least in my estimation. But as I've told you 561 00:27:59,760 --> 00:28:03,080 Speaker 1: guys many times, I've said this repeatedly over the years, 562 00:28:03,480 --> 00:28:05,119 Speaker 1: when it comes to the deadline, when it comes to 563 00:28:05,160 --> 00:28:09,520 Speaker 1: free agency, things will happen that you don't expect. Things 564 00:28:09,560 --> 00:28:12,040 Speaker 1: will happen that kind of come out of nowhere. I 565 00:28:12,080 --> 00:28:14,000 Speaker 1: don't know that a team like the Detroit Tigers is 566 00:28:14,040 --> 00:28:15,960 Speaker 1: going to come out of nowhere to sign Juan Soto, 567 00:28:16,359 --> 00:28:19,000 Speaker 1: but we have seen surprises over the years, and the 568 00:28:19,040 --> 00:28:21,760 Speaker 1: Phillies are a team that I don't know can be 569 00:28:21,840 --> 00:28:25,200 Speaker 1: ruled out here. The Phillies have Kevin Long, wan Soto's 570 00:28:25,240 --> 00:28:28,000 Speaker 1: former hitting coach in Washington. They've got Bryce Harper and 571 00:28:28,040 --> 00:28:31,280 Speaker 1: Trey Turner, two of wan Soto's former teammates in Washington. 572 00:28:31,480 --> 00:28:33,639 Speaker 1: I've got a great team in a great city, in 573 00:28:33,680 --> 00:28:36,159 Speaker 1: a great ballpark. I don't know that the Phillies are 574 00:28:36,160 --> 00:28:38,920 Speaker 1: willing to go to the lens necessary to do Wan Soto. 575 00:28:38,960 --> 00:28:41,560 Speaker 1: They've got a lot of commitments on their books right now. 576 00:28:41,800 --> 00:28:45,640 Speaker 1: But at the same time, that's a team perhaps to watch. 577 00:28:46,120 --> 00:28:49,040 Speaker 1: I'm still betting on the Mets. They're a betting favorite, 578 00:28:49,120 --> 00:28:53,480 Speaker 1: but this could still go any number of ways, all right, 579 00:28:53,880 --> 00:28:55,720 Speaker 1: So I want to thank you everyone for watching, everyone 580 00:28:55,760 --> 00:28:57,680 Speaker 1: for their questions. Of course, I want to thank Scott 581 00:28:57,720 --> 00:29:01,360 Speaker 1: Braun for helping out today. Thanks for watching. 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