1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:01,880 Speaker 1: That I think there's too much smoke out there for 2 00:00:01,920 --> 00:00:05,080 Speaker 1: this not to be a serious thing, and it's becoming 3 00:00:05,120 --> 00:00:07,600 Speaker 1: more and more likely that Kyle Tucker will not be 4 00:00:07,640 --> 00:00:13,760 Speaker 1: an astro. Twenty twenty five. What's up, everybody. This is 5 00:00:13,840 --> 00:00:17,400 Speaker 1: Chandler Rome. Welcome to the inaugural the first debut episode 6 00:00:17,480 --> 00:00:20,640 Speaker 1: of Crush City Territory, part of the Foul Territory Network. 7 00:00:21,280 --> 00:00:23,960 Speaker 1: We're coming to I am coming to you from Scenic 8 00:00:24,079 --> 00:00:29,280 Speaker 1: Lovely Dallas, Texas. My co host Tyler Stafford. Tyler Stafford 9 00:00:29,320 --> 00:00:33,680 Speaker 1: once formerly known as Jeff blogwell many on astros Twitter, 10 00:00:33,760 --> 00:00:38,240 Speaker 1: but has now grown up and Tyler, I'm going to 11 00:00:38,320 --> 00:00:39,800 Speaker 1: go out on a limb and say the people that 12 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:43,400 Speaker 1: are watching this may know who I am. I've covered 13 00:00:43,440 --> 00:00:47,680 Speaker 1: the Astros for the past seven seasons six at six 14 00:00:47,760 --> 00:00:49,520 Speaker 1: at the Houston Chronicle, and this will be my third 15 00:00:49,520 --> 00:00:54,160 Speaker 1: at the Athletic. Coming up, Tyler, tell everyone why you 16 00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:57,360 Speaker 1: agreed to sit alongside me for thirty minutes and talk 17 00:00:57,400 --> 00:00:59,360 Speaker 1: about the Astros on a semi regular basis. 18 00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:02,400 Speaker 2: Chandler and I go way back. First off, I want 19 00:01:02,400 --> 00:01:06,200 Speaker 2: to just say our first episode, we went first names only, 20 00:01:06,319 --> 00:01:08,720 Speaker 2: and I came in with my last name and then 21 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:11,920 Speaker 2: felt guilt and I changed it to just my first name. 22 00:01:12,319 --> 00:01:14,920 Speaker 2: And now we start this and you've added your last name. 23 00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:18,200 Speaker 2: I need you to set one and I will join you. 24 00:01:18,600 --> 00:01:22,280 Speaker 2: But I'm not going to lead the name setting here, 25 00:01:22,360 --> 00:01:26,000 Speaker 2: so so pick a lane here. But yeah, Chandler and 26 00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:28,440 Speaker 2: I have known each other for a long time. We 27 00:01:28,440 --> 00:01:34,039 Speaker 2: were both sports editors at our college newspapers and have 28 00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:36,600 Speaker 2: stayed in touch for a while. And obviously I'm still 29 00:01:36,600 --> 00:01:39,280 Speaker 2: down here in the Houston area and have been covering 30 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:43,600 Speaker 2: and following the Astros most of my life now. So yeah, 31 00:01:43,680 --> 00:01:47,199 Speaker 2: excited to hop on with you and pick your brain 32 00:01:47,240 --> 00:01:50,680 Speaker 2: about what in the world is going on with the Astros. 33 00:01:51,120 --> 00:01:52,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think this will be fun. This will be 34 00:01:53,560 --> 00:01:55,360 Speaker 1: I think we're going to play off each other pretty well. 35 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:58,680 Speaker 1: I think we come at this from a very different viewpoint. 36 00:01:58,720 --> 00:02:00,640 Speaker 1: I think you've worked in media a little bit, but 37 00:02:00,680 --> 00:02:04,640 Speaker 1: you also are an Astros fan. You grew up around Houston. 38 00:02:05,440 --> 00:02:08,000 Speaker 1: You have followed this team far longer than I have, 39 00:02:08,160 --> 00:02:10,600 Speaker 1: and you've been there through the ups and the downs 40 00:02:10,639 --> 00:02:13,120 Speaker 1: and a lot of ups recently. You know, I started 41 00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:15,680 Speaker 1: covering this team in twenty eighteen, so I don't know 42 00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:19,240 Speaker 1: anything but them being really, really good. You probably remember 43 00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:26,160 Speaker 1: Matt Domingo's and Carlos kan and yeah. 44 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:29,040 Speaker 2: Those are my guys right there. Yeah, I mean twenty thirteen, 45 00:02:29,160 --> 00:02:33,600 Speaker 2: I was in College Station for school and you could 46 00:02:33,639 --> 00:02:36,640 Speaker 2: only get the Rangers on the cable package there. So 47 00:02:36,720 --> 00:02:39,680 Speaker 2: I had to figure out what a VPN was. I 48 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:45,160 Speaker 2: purchased one, then had MLB TV. I watched every out 49 00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:49,839 Speaker 2: of the twenty thirteen Astro season, watched every single out 50 00:02:49,919 --> 00:02:53,280 Speaker 2: of that paid. I paid money for that. So I've 51 00:02:53,320 --> 00:02:54,760 Speaker 2: put in my dues for sure. 52 00:02:55,120 --> 00:02:57,520 Speaker 1: And this is why you're still in therapy today. 53 00:02:57,680 --> 00:03:00,000 Speaker 2: Absolutely one of many reasons. 54 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:03,800 Speaker 1: And this is going to be in the offseason. This 55 00:03:03,880 --> 00:03:05,799 Speaker 1: is probably going to be a twice a week thing. 56 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:07,840 Speaker 1: But when the regular season gets going, guys, we'll be 57 00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:12,160 Speaker 1: with you three days a week talking anything and everything Astros. 58 00:03:12,240 --> 00:03:15,760 Speaker 1: And right now I think the Astros may be at 59 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:19,800 Speaker 1: the center of the baseball universe. They're accustomed to being there, 60 00:03:20,320 --> 00:03:23,080 Speaker 1: obviously from being in the playoffs the last eight years, 61 00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:25,200 Speaker 1: going to the ALCS seven of the last eight years. 62 00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:27,600 Speaker 1: But now for a little bit of a different reason. 63 00:03:27,639 --> 00:03:30,440 Speaker 1: They came to the Winter meetings here in Dallas on Monday, 64 00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:33,720 Speaker 1: and we didn't really know a ton about this team's direction, 65 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:36,760 Speaker 1: kind of what they were going to do, how they 66 00:03:36,760 --> 00:03:39,640 Speaker 1: were going to confront this crossroads that we have known 67 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:42,960 Speaker 1: that this team was on this winter, and we got 68 00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:47,600 Speaker 1: a lot of answers across really really eye opening seventy 69 00:03:47,640 --> 00:03:51,520 Speaker 1: two hours in Dallas where Dana Brown on Monday night, 70 00:03:51,600 --> 00:03:54,760 Speaker 1: the first night that he spoke to reporters, he dropped 71 00:03:54,760 --> 00:03:57,240 Speaker 1: the bomb that the Astros are willing to listen to 72 00:03:57,320 --> 00:04:01,840 Speaker 1: anybody on their roster in trade talks. That includes Kyle 73 00:04:01,880 --> 00:04:06,000 Speaker 1: Tucker and from Bervaldez, two guys that are entering their 74 00:04:06,040 --> 00:04:09,200 Speaker 1: final year of team control. They are going to go 75 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:13,480 Speaker 1: through the arbitration process one last time. Both are projected 76 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:15,880 Speaker 1: to make around fifteen million dollars. But this is a 77 00:04:15,920 --> 00:04:20,080 Speaker 1: team with a bloated payroll, a lot of needs, and 78 00:04:20,200 --> 00:04:23,200 Speaker 1: nothing in the farm system. So you know, right now, 79 00:04:23,279 --> 00:04:27,039 Speaker 1: the Astros probably hold right now like they hold the 80 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:31,720 Speaker 1: two biggest prizes in baseball with Kyle Tucker and from 81 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:34,039 Speaker 1: ber Valdez. Kyle Tucker, if he is traded, will be 82 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:37,800 Speaker 1: the best player that is acquired by any team this 83 00:04:37,920 --> 00:04:42,400 Speaker 1: winter not named Juan Soto and from ber Valdez. You know, 84 00:04:42,520 --> 00:04:46,280 Speaker 1: Garrett Crochet went to the Red Sox today, but Frombervaldez 85 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:51,400 Speaker 1: is a far more accomplished pitcher starter than Garrett Crochet, 86 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:53,080 Speaker 1: so he could be the best starter traded if the 87 00:04:53,120 --> 00:04:56,120 Speaker 1: Astros entertained that. I guess Tyler, as you're seeing this 88 00:04:56,240 --> 00:05:00,480 Speaker 1: come out of Dallas, what was your reaction to We've 89 00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:03,599 Speaker 1: talked privately that we kind of thought this could be 90 00:05:03,640 --> 00:05:06,920 Speaker 1: a direction they go, But to see them actually say it, 91 00:05:07,080 --> 00:05:09,599 Speaker 1: what did you think of the way this is transpired? 92 00:05:10,440 --> 00:05:13,400 Speaker 2: You know, one interesting thing, like you said, we kind 93 00:05:13,400 --> 00:05:15,400 Speaker 2: of talked about it a couple of days ago, that 94 00:05:15,480 --> 00:05:18,640 Speaker 2: there were some rumors out there. But one thing I 95 00:05:18,640 --> 00:05:22,920 Speaker 2: think you correctly said was the Ashes need to pick 96 00:05:22,960 --> 00:05:27,440 Speaker 2: a plan and go with it and start communicating it. 97 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:29,680 Speaker 2: One so that other teams are aware and they can, 98 00:05:30,040 --> 00:05:32,680 Speaker 2: you know, feel the best things possible. But two to 99 00:05:32,720 --> 00:05:37,920 Speaker 2: start explaining it to Vans right of you know, if 100 00:05:38,000 --> 00:05:40,800 Speaker 2: you if you wake up and it's spring training and 101 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:44,520 Speaker 2: Tucker is suddenly on the trading block, I think that's 102 00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:47,919 Speaker 2: a lot harder to stomach for fans. But if you 103 00:05:47,960 --> 00:05:49,599 Speaker 2: look at the signings, I mean, if you look at 104 00:05:49,640 --> 00:05:52,000 Speaker 2: what Wan Soto just got, if you look at what 105 00:05:52,279 --> 00:05:55,800 Speaker 2: Max Freed just got right. I mean, was it seven 106 00:05:56,279 --> 00:06:00,799 Speaker 2: two hundred and eighteen or something for Freed? I mean again, 107 00:06:01,920 --> 00:06:05,880 Speaker 2: very good pitcher fromber is better, right, I mean, is 108 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:10,120 Speaker 2: a more accomplished, more durable starter. And so if you're 109 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:13,880 Speaker 2: thinking teams are willing to give up that money, they're 110 00:06:13,920 --> 00:06:16,919 Speaker 2: also going to be willing to give up that, you know, 111 00:06:17,240 --> 00:06:20,640 Speaker 2: prospect capital. And so coming out of it, I think 112 00:06:20,880 --> 00:06:23,520 Speaker 2: the kind of rumors that are there make a lot 113 00:06:23,560 --> 00:06:27,760 Speaker 2: of sense for the Astros where it's not it's not 114 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:30,919 Speaker 2: the old way of doing things where you trade your 115 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:37,040 Speaker 2: you know, blue chip All Star starter for four or 116 00:06:37,040 --> 00:06:40,760 Speaker 2: five lottery tickets that are nineteen year olds with high ceilings. 117 00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:43,680 Speaker 2: The guys that the Astros are looking for are by 118 00:06:43,760 --> 00:06:47,680 Speaker 2: and large major league ready. They're they're here to pivot 119 00:06:47,880 --> 00:06:52,520 Speaker 2: and not necessarily rebuild. I guess it's more of a retooling. 120 00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:56,760 Speaker 2: I don't know what the official lexicon is from the 121 00:06:56,800 --> 00:06:59,200 Speaker 2: Astro side, but you know, I think it does make 122 00:06:59,240 --> 00:07:01,799 Speaker 2: a lot of sense. If you've got one year left 123 00:07:01,839 --> 00:07:05,240 Speaker 2: and Tucker is gonna get five hundred million dollars and 124 00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:07,440 Speaker 2: if you're not going to pay him, you got to 125 00:07:07,480 --> 00:07:10,960 Speaker 2: get somebody back. Now who can who can help the 126 00:07:10,960 --> 00:07:13,200 Speaker 2: team out, while you still have Jordone, while you still 127 00:07:13,240 --> 00:07:17,200 Speaker 2: have al Tuvey, you know, in uh in their primes. 128 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:19,720 Speaker 1: And the interesting thing is, you know, the Astros have 129 00:07:19,800 --> 00:07:22,960 Speaker 1: had the same situation like they had. They didn't trade 130 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:25,840 Speaker 1: Alex Bregman last winter when they knew that they were 131 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:28,120 Speaker 1: probably not going to be able to retain him in 132 00:07:28,200 --> 00:07:30,040 Speaker 1: his price range. He's still out there and we'll talk 133 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:32,920 Speaker 1: about him later. But they've did the same thing with 134 00:07:32,960 --> 00:07:35,120 Speaker 1: Carlos Korea. They could have traded him before he went 135 00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:38,080 Speaker 1: to free agency. Same thing with George Springer and Garrett Cole. 136 00:07:39,440 --> 00:07:44,120 Speaker 1: The parting with that philosophy is twofold in my opinion. 137 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:47,000 Speaker 1: You know, one, they don't have the farm system that 138 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:49,000 Speaker 1: they just do not have the farm system that they 139 00:07:49,040 --> 00:07:53,080 Speaker 1: once had. There isn't much coming to be that next 140 00:07:53,240 --> 00:07:57,160 Speaker 1: Astro's corps, and they have got to find a little 141 00:07:57,280 --> 00:07:59,200 Speaker 1: young They've got to go younger. They've got to get 142 00:07:59,240 --> 00:08:01,600 Speaker 1: some guys that are under team control for a while 143 00:08:02,200 --> 00:08:05,240 Speaker 1: and that will be here that they can surround Alvarez 144 00:08:05,320 --> 00:08:08,240 Speaker 1: and Jose al Tuve and Hunter Brown and Yainer Diez 145 00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:11,720 Speaker 1: and Jeremy Pana. They've got to surround this core with 146 00:08:11,720 --> 00:08:16,080 Speaker 1: with some some more some younger, little more athletic talent, 147 00:08:16,480 --> 00:08:18,440 Speaker 1: and then the other thing. You know, this is a 148 00:08:18,480 --> 00:08:21,920 Speaker 1: money thing. You know. They've they've crossed the luxury tax 149 00:08:21,960 --> 00:08:24,920 Speaker 1: for the first time in Jim Crane's ownership tenure last winter. 150 00:08:26,720 --> 00:08:30,400 Speaker 1: Approximations right now have them about ten to twelve million 151 00:08:30,480 --> 00:08:35,840 Speaker 1: dollars under set the first luxury tax threshold. Now I've 152 00:08:35,880 --> 00:08:38,520 Speaker 1: been told that that they are planning as if they 153 00:08:38,559 --> 00:08:40,880 Speaker 1: are not going to cross the competitive balance tax, and 154 00:08:40,880 --> 00:08:43,880 Speaker 1: they're not. They don't want to do that, and there's 155 00:08:43,920 --> 00:08:45,440 Speaker 1: only a couple of ways that they can do this. 156 00:08:46,400 --> 00:08:49,280 Speaker 1: Joseo Brady's Money's on the books. Rafael Montero's money is 157 00:08:49,320 --> 00:08:52,000 Speaker 1: on the books. Christian Xavier, who probably won't pitch for 158 00:08:52,040 --> 00:08:53,559 Speaker 1: this team this year, his money's on the book. Like 159 00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:57,400 Speaker 1: you can't do anything with that. You can look for 160 00:08:58,000 --> 00:09:02,160 Speaker 1: players that can help you, you know, bridge a little 161 00:09:02,160 --> 00:09:04,199 Speaker 1: bit and have a balance. They are going to balance 162 00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:06,960 Speaker 1: the present and the future this year. And let me 163 00:09:07,080 --> 00:09:10,560 Speaker 1: let me be completely clear here, the Astros plan to 164 00:09:10,559 --> 00:09:13,199 Speaker 1: contend in twenty twenty five. This is not a situation 165 00:09:13,320 --> 00:09:17,160 Speaker 1: where this is a rebuild. Dana Brown, and this is Look, 166 00:09:17,200 --> 00:09:20,440 Speaker 1: this is when I knew that this was serious. We 167 00:09:20,440 --> 00:09:23,840 Speaker 1: were in Dana Brown's suite on Monday night and he 168 00:09:23,920 --> 00:09:26,720 Speaker 1: had already said that they were open to listening on anybody, 169 00:09:27,240 --> 00:09:30,040 Speaker 1: and as he was discussing it, he was reiterating this 170 00:09:30,120 --> 00:09:32,560 Speaker 1: thought that they planned to contend in twenty twenty five. 171 00:09:32,600 --> 00:09:35,160 Speaker 1: He don't want to tear the team down. And I 172 00:09:35,200 --> 00:09:37,520 Speaker 1: asked Dana Brown, I said, do you believe that you 173 00:09:37,600 --> 00:09:41,560 Speaker 1: guys can win the American League West without either Tucker 174 00:09:41,640 --> 00:09:44,240 Speaker 1: or Valdez? I said, one of them, without either Tucker 175 00:09:44,360 --> 00:09:47,360 Speaker 1: or Valdez, And he said yes he did. And when 176 00:09:47,360 --> 00:09:49,400 Speaker 1: he said that, that was all I needed to hear 177 00:09:49,520 --> 00:09:52,520 Speaker 1: that this team thinks because it is playing in a 178 00:09:52,520 --> 00:09:56,320 Speaker 1: bad division and because of the players that they still have, 179 00:09:56,440 --> 00:09:58,920 Speaker 1: the players that they're not going to listen on jose 180 00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:04,439 Speaker 1: L Tuvey, Alvarez, Brian A. Braw, Josh Hater, Jiner Diaz, 181 00:10:04,520 --> 00:10:08,720 Speaker 1: Jeremy Pania, like there is enough here that they will 182 00:10:08,760 --> 00:10:12,360 Speaker 1: be able to It may not look pretty, it may 183 00:10:12,400 --> 00:10:14,600 Speaker 1: not be easy. They may not win one hundred games, 184 00:10:14,640 --> 00:10:16,440 Speaker 1: they may not win ninety games, but this is a 185 00:10:16,480 --> 00:10:20,640 Speaker 1: team that still even if they trade either Tucker or Valdez. 186 00:10:20,720 --> 00:10:24,079 Speaker 1: This is a team that still should contend in this division. 187 00:10:24,679 --> 00:10:28,120 Speaker 1: And you know, we're talking about we're talking about these trades, 188 00:10:28,160 --> 00:10:29,760 Speaker 1: and we're talking about who's on the block. And I 189 00:10:29,800 --> 00:10:33,440 Speaker 1: think the most momentum right now is with Kyle Tucker. 190 00:10:34,240 --> 00:10:38,680 Speaker 1: Two pretty desperate teams in pursuit of him, and that's 191 00:10:38,760 --> 00:10:42,800 Speaker 1: the New York Yankees and the Chicago Cubs. Ken Rosenthal 192 00:10:42,800 --> 00:10:45,360 Speaker 1: and I at The Athletic reported today that you know, 193 00:10:45,559 --> 00:10:48,200 Speaker 1: the asking what the Astros are asking for from the 194 00:10:48,240 --> 00:10:53,480 Speaker 1: Cubs includes Esach Paradis, It includes Seya Suzuki, It includes 195 00:10:53,600 --> 00:10:56,320 Speaker 1: Cam Smith, who is their number one, their first overall 196 00:10:56,400 --> 00:10:59,839 Speaker 1: draft pick last year. He's a he's an infielder. As 197 00:10:59,880 --> 00:11:02,719 Speaker 1: you said earlier, Tyler, Like, they're not trying to go 198 00:11:02,760 --> 00:11:05,160 Speaker 1: get some eighteen year olds that they're gonna send to 199 00:11:05,480 --> 00:11:08,280 Speaker 1: the DSL for three years and you'll never hear about them. 200 00:11:08,559 --> 00:11:11,120 Speaker 1: They are looking for guys in these trades that can 201 00:11:11,200 --> 00:11:13,640 Speaker 1: come up and that can be a part of the 202 00:11:13,679 --> 00:11:17,320 Speaker 1: twenty twenty five Astros from day one and help them contend. 203 00:11:17,840 --> 00:11:20,719 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean Cam Smith placed third base and hit 204 00:11:20,800 --> 00:11:23,640 Speaker 2: three point thirty across three levels of the miners and 205 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:26,400 Speaker 2: half a season after being a first round draft pick. 206 00:11:26,400 --> 00:11:29,520 Speaker 2: I mean, that guy is as close to ready as 207 00:11:30,040 --> 00:11:35,079 Speaker 2: anybody that Astros have obviously to replace Bregman. And one 208 00:11:35,120 --> 00:11:38,320 Speaker 2: thing I would mention too, with the kind of shift 209 00:11:38,360 --> 00:11:41,360 Speaker 2: in philosophy we talked about with the training, you know, 210 00:11:41,440 --> 00:11:43,360 Speaker 2: where they didn't do it with Korea, they didn't do 211 00:11:43,400 --> 00:11:47,439 Speaker 2: it with Bregman, I would think from an organizational standpoint, 212 00:11:48,400 --> 00:11:51,319 Speaker 2: those happened where they were either odds on or within 213 00:11:51,400 --> 00:11:54,920 Speaker 2: a rounding era or favorite of you know, the World 214 00:11:55,040 --> 00:11:59,520 Speaker 2: Series right going into those seasons, and while you know 215 00:11:59,520 --> 00:12:03,040 Speaker 2: they're still to have World Series odds because anybody who 216 00:12:03,040 --> 00:12:06,240 Speaker 2: makes the playoffs is live. We've seen that, you know, 217 00:12:06,320 --> 00:12:09,679 Speaker 2: over the course of baseball history, you know, keeping those 218 00:12:09,720 --> 00:12:13,920 Speaker 2: two guys and signing Bregman still doesn't make you the 219 00:12:13,920 --> 00:12:17,560 Speaker 2: World Series favorite, you know, probably not even the American 220 00:12:17,640 --> 00:12:21,560 Speaker 2: League favorite presumably. And so I think that's where you 221 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:23,920 Speaker 2: start to see some of the retooling is all right, 222 00:12:23,960 --> 00:12:27,600 Speaker 2: we don't want to go under being division favorites, But 223 00:12:27,720 --> 00:12:31,320 Speaker 2: is it really worth pushing all of our chips in 224 00:12:31,640 --> 00:12:35,720 Speaker 2: for the next year or two when you know it's 225 00:12:35,760 --> 00:12:39,400 Speaker 2: not even clear that that's going to make you the favorites? 226 00:12:39,480 --> 00:12:39,680 Speaker 1: Right? 227 00:12:40,520 --> 00:12:40,760 Speaker 2: Yeah? 228 00:12:40,800 --> 00:12:44,480 Speaker 1: And I think as I'm talking, as I've talked to 229 00:12:44,520 --> 00:12:48,240 Speaker 1: some people within the Astors organization, you start to ask, like, 230 00:12:48,679 --> 00:12:52,080 Speaker 1: if it's going to be Tucker or Valdez, who who 231 00:12:52,120 --> 00:12:55,080 Speaker 1: is the one you're picking? And it sounds crazy to say, 232 00:12:55,120 --> 00:12:57,719 Speaker 1: but Kyle Tucker keeps being that name that I think 233 00:12:57,760 --> 00:13:00,400 Speaker 1: they're more comfortable trading Kyle Tucker. In part it is 234 00:13:00,440 --> 00:13:03,920 Speaker 1: because Fromervel does is nothing if not durable. You can 235 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:05,840 Speaker 1: count on him for one hundred and eighty to two 236 00:13:05,960 --> 00:13:09,160 Speaker 1: hundred innings pretty much every season in an era of 237 00:13:09,200 --> 00:13:12,080 Speaker 1: baseball where that doesn't happen, and it's really hard to 238 00:13:12,120 --> 00:13:15,439 Speaker 1: replace that volume of innings. And I think that they 239 00:13:15,480 --> 00:13:19,240 Speaker 1: think that they can make the outfield work without Kyle Tucker. 240 00:13:19,320 --> 00:13:21,160 Speaker 1: And look, Kyle Tucker is the best player they have. 241 00:13:21,559 --> 00:13:23,920 Speaker 1: I know I have, with all due respect to Yard 242 00:13:23,960 --> 00:13:27,360 Speaker 1: and Alvarez, all due respect to Jose al Tuve, Kyle 243 00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:29,200 Speaker 1: Tucker is a five tool player. He's the best player 244 00:13:29,200 --> 00:13:32,400 Speaker 1: they have. And I do think that there is at 245 00:13:32,520 --> 00:13:36,080 Speaker 1: least some validity to this that he missed three months 246 00:13:36,160 --> 00:13:39,880 Speaker 1: last year, missed almost eighty games, and the Astros state afloat. 247 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:43,680 Speaker 1: It didn't creter their season. It didn't crater there. You know, look, 248 00:13:43,720 --> 00:13:46,280 Speaker 1: their outfield took a step back. It was not they 249 00:13:46,280 --> 00:13:48,800 Speaker 1: were not getting production from their outfield, but they still 250 00:13:48,840 --> 00:13:51,000 Speaker 1: managed to win. They had enough pitching, they had enough 251 00:13:51,040 --> 00:13:54,880 Speaker 1: things around that core, and they were able to still win. 252 00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:57,560 Speaker 1: So they have shown that they can win without Kyle Tucker. 253 00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:01,200 Speaker 1: Doing that over a full season's haul is a little 254 00:14:01,200 --> 00:14:02,960 Speaker 1: bit different. And then I think also the thing that 255 00:14:03,360 --> 00:14:06,920 Speaker 1: really had to to show them that that something had 256 00:14:06,960 --> 00:14:10,000 Speaker 1: to be done when Wan Soto got seven hundred and 257 00:14:10,040 --> 00:14:13,080 Speaker 1: sixty five million dollars from the Mets. I am not 258 00:14:13,160 --> 00:14:16,760 Speaker 1: here saying Kyle Tucker is Wan Soda. Very very very 259 00:14:16,880 --> 00:14:20,520 Speaker 1: very very few people are Juan Soto. He's not a 260 00:14:20,640 --> 00:14:24,760 Speaker 1: generator one. I'd imagine there's I think there's a couple 261 00:14:24,800 --> 00:14:30,600 Speaker 1: other Wan Sodas in baseball somewhere, But Kyle Tucker is 262 00:14:30,640 --> 00:14:36,280 Speaker 1: as close to Sodo's numbers and production as anybody out there. 263 00:14:36,320 --> 00:14:41,080 Speaker 1: Since twenty twenty, only three major league outfielders have accumulated 264 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:45,760 Speaker 1: more wins above replacement than Kyle Tucker's Wan Soto Aaron 265 00:14:45,840 --> 00:14:48,560 Speaker 1: Judge and Mookie Bets and Mooki Bets play shortstop now, 266 00:14:48,640 --> 00:14:54,080 Speaker 1: so really two when Juan Soto got seven hundred and 267 00:14:54,120 --> 00:14:57,800 Speaker 1: sixty five million dollars. That set a market for Kyle 268 00:14:57,840 --> 00:15:01,560 Speaker 1: Tucker to where he is going to get upwards of 269 00:15:01,640 --> 00:15:05,000 Speaker 1: four hundred, four hundred and fifty million dollars. Because Aaron 270 00:15:05,080 --> 00:15:08,120 Speaker 1: Judge is a forty million dollar average annual value in 271 00:15:08,200 --> 00:15:12,040 Speaker 1: his contract, Wan Soto now has fifty one million dollars 272 00:15:12,200 --> 00:15:14,400 Speaker 1: average annual value in his contract. And like we said, 273 00:15:15,080 --> 00:15:19,400 Speaker 1: Kyle Tucker, I don't think he is on their level yet, 274 00:15:19,760 --> 00:15:23,200 Speaker 1: but the production's right there. Guys like he and his 275 00:15:23,360 --> 00:15:27,080 Speaker 1: representatives that Excel Sports Management are going to ask for 276 00:15:27,160 --> 00:15:29,600 Speaker 1: a forty million dollar AAV next winter when he's a 277 00:15:29,600 --> 00:15:33,760 Speaker 1: free agent at twenty nine years old. And we always 278 00:15:33,800 --> 00:15:36,680 Speaker 1: talk about the Ashers don't give big, long deals, They 279 00:15:36,960 --> 00:15:40,600 Speaker 1: sure as heck are not giving anyone a four hundred 280 00:15:40,600 --> 00:15:42,560 Speaker 1: and fifty five hundred million dollar deal. I think when 281 00:15:42,600 --> 00:15:45,400 Speaker 1: that Juan Soto contract came down and they saw what 282 00:15:45,520 --> 00:15:48,360 Speaker 1: Kyle Tucker is going to get in free agency, they 283 00:15:48,440 --> 00:15:50,600 Speaker 1: knew that. And they may have known in the past 284 00:15:50,600 --> 00:15:54,120 Speaker 1: that they weren't going to resign Korea or Springer or Coal, 285 00:15:54,240 --> 00:15:57,360 Speaker 1: but this one is just at a level that they 286 00:15:57,400 --> 00:16:00,280 Speaker 1: just will never reach. And I think at that point, 287 00:16:00,320 --> 00:16:03,280 Speaker 1: all this together, they made the decision that this is 288 00:16:03,320 --> 00:16:05,080 Speaker 1: probably the best course of action to take. 289 00:16:05,920 --> 00:16:08,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, and I think in the off season, you know, 290 00:16:08,600 --> 00:16:12,280 Speaker 2: regardless of you know, the the argument of Tucker about 291 00:16:12,280 --> 00:16:14,160 Speaker 2: as you know what they're going to do in the 292 00:16:14,200 --> 00:16:16,800 Speaker 2: off season, a position player is going to bring more 293 00:16:16,920 --> 00:16:19,560 Speaker 2: value because you can look at them as filling a 294 00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:22,680 Speaker 2: hole in your day to day lineup. It's a season, 295 00:16:23,080 --> 00:16:26,840 Speaker 2: you know, worth of production. Whereas at the trade deadline, 296 00:16:27,200 --> 00:16:31,120 Speaker 2: you know, teams that are contending that maybe have their 297 00:16:31,200 --> 00:16:35,320 Speaker 2: number two starter go down, that's when somebody like Fromber 298 00:16:35,480 --> 00:16:40,120 Speaker 2: is going to be you know, very valuable obviously probably 299 00:16:40,120 --> 00:16:42,280 Speaker 2: to the Astros, which is why they want to keep 300 00:16:42,400 --> 00:16:45,280 Speaker 2: him around at the moment. But I think if they 301 00:16:45,320 --> 00:16:48,520 Speaker 2: do trade him, if it it would make more sense 302 00:16:48,560 --> 00:16:51,000 Speaker 2: to do it, you know, kind of as as the 303 00:16:51,080 --> 00:16:53,920 Speaker 2: year moves on. But yeah, we'll see. It's it's been 304 00:16:53,920 --> 00:16:54,760 Speaker 2: a crazy. 305 00:16:55,920 --> 00:16:57,920 Speaker 1: A little bit here, and that's the other thing. They 306 00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:01,160 Speaker 1: have to do it now, cannot They can't. This is 307 00:17:01,240 --> 00:17:02,720 Speaker 1: not a thing where you play it out and wait 308 00:17:02,760 --> 00:17:05,040 Speaker 1: till the trade deadline, because you run the risk of 309 00:17:05,359 --> 00:17:07,280 Speaker 1: what we saw last year Kyle Tucker fouled a ball 310 00:17:07,280 --> 00:17:08,879 Speaker 1: off of his shin and was out for three months. 311 00:17:09,240 --> 00:17:11,679 Speaker 1: His value has never been higher. You have two teams 312 00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:14,000 Speaker 1: that are desperate. And I'm not saying that the Cubs 313 00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:15,680 Speaker 1: and the Yankees are the only teams in on him, 314 00:17:16,320 --> 00:17:20,400 Speaker 1: but they are the most desperate. The Yankees obviously missed 315 00:17:20,440 --> 00:17:24,080 Speaker 1: out on Sodo. The Cubs need that kind of face, 316 00:17:24,240 --> 00:17:27,640 Speaker 1: that that transformative kind of superstar to come there. And look, 317 00:17:27,680 --> 00:17:29,520 Speaker 1: they may only get him for one year, because this 318 00:17:29,560 --> 00:17:31,760 Speaker 1: could be a one Sodo thing where he goes to 319 00:17:31,800 --> 00:17:34,840 Speaker 1: one of these teams for one year and goes into 320 00:17:34,840 --> 00:17:37,480 Speaker 1: the free agent market and let's see if one of 321 00:17:37,480 --> 00:17:39,199 Speaker 1: those teams would pay him four hundred and fifty five 322 00:17:39,240 --> 00:17:43,640 Speaker 1: hundred million dollars. We say all this, and nothing's been 323 00:17:43,640 --> 00:17:47,359 Speaker 1: done yet, nothing is close as of this hour. This 324 00:17:47,440 --> 00:17:50,080 Speaker 1: is not a situation where Kyle Tucker is getting traded today. 325 00:17:51,520 --> 00:17:54,400 Speaker 1: And who knows. Like, if the Astros don't get the 326 00:17:54,440 --> 00:17:57,800 Speaker 1: package that they want, then they could be perfectly content 327 00:17:57,840 --> 00:17:59,679 Speaker 1: with saying, hey, we've got we've got one of the 328 00:17:59,680 --> 00:18:01,760 Speaker 1: four US players in baseball. We're just going to take 329 00:18:01,800 --> 00:18:03,679 Speaker 1: him for the twenty twenty five season and hope we 330 00:18:03,720 --> 00:18:07,359 Speaker 1: win the World Series. But I think their intention you know, 331 00:18:07,760 --> 00:18:11,320 Speaker 1: at this point, with this much smoke around it, I 332 00:18:11,359 --> 00:18:13,920 Speaker 1: think it's just inevitable at this point. And I never 333 00:18:14,160 --> 00:18:16,800 Speaker 1: want to speak in absolutes, because this is a franchise 334 00:18:16,840 --> 00:18:19,360 Speaker 1: that can change its mind on a dime a little bit, 335 00:18:19,440 --> 00:18:21,719 Speaker 1: but this is one of those things that I think 336 00:18:21,760 --> 00:18:23,760 Speaker 1: there's too much smoke out there for this not to 337 00:18:23,840 --> 00:18:27,000 Speaker 1: be a serious thing. And it's becoming more and more 338 00:18:27,160 --> 00:18:29,920 Speaker 1: likely that Kyle Tucker will not be an Astro in 339 00:18:29,920 --> 00:18:32,680 Speaker 1: twenty twenty five, which is something that I don't think 340 00:18:32,720 --> 00:18:35,280 Speaker 1: either of us thought we'd be talking about a month 341 00:18:35,320 --> 00:18:39,800 Speaker 1: into the offseason. Something that we did presume we'd be 342 00:18:39,880 --> 00:18:43,000 Speaker 1: talking about is whether Alex Bregman will be an Astro 343 00:18:43,080 --> 00:18:46,560 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty five. And only only Kyle Tucker could 344 00:18:47,040 --> 00:18:50,040 Speaker 1: somehow make Alex Bregman's free agency a footnote at the 345 00:18:50,080 --> 00:18:54,159 Speaker 1: winter meetings. But you know, as of right now, Alex 346 00:18:54,160 --> 00:18:58,920 Speaker 1: Bregman has not been signed by anyone. The Astros continue 347 00:18:58,920 --> 00:19:02,440 Speaker 1: to be engaged with him and Scott Boris. The Yankees 348 00:19:02,680 --> 00:19:06,159 Speaker 1: have legitimate interests, the Red Sox have legitimate interests, The 349 00:19:06,280 --> 00:19:09,320 Speaker 1: Tigers are lurking as a possible team, and who knows 350 00:19:09,359 --> 00:19:11,640 Speaker 1: Scott Boris loves him a mystery team, so there could 351 00:19:11,680 --> 00:19:13,560 Speaker 1: be a mystery team in there that we don't know about. 352 00:19:13,600 --> 00:19:17,720 Speaker 1: But as you're kind of seeing Tyler some of these 353 00:19:18,680 --> 00:19:22,040 Speaker 1: reports coming out of Dallas, where are you at in 354 00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:25,439 Speaker 1: terms of your confidence level that the Astros will find 355 00:19:25,480 --> 00:19:27,080 Speaker 1: a way to get Alex Bregman back. 356 00:19:28,680 --> 00:19:33,399 Speaker 2: I think, coupled with the Kyle Tucker trade rumors, I 357 00:19:33,440 --> 00:19:38,040 Speaker 2: feel like it's almost zero that Bregman comes back because 358 00:19:38,320 --> 00:19:42,760 Speaker 2: when you're trading Tucker, you can target somebody like Cam Smith, right, 359 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:45,919 Speaker 2: or you know somebody who is major League ready at 360 00:19:45,960 --> 00:19:49,399 Speaker 2: the third base position and kind of killed two birds 361 00:19:49,400 --> 00:19:55,200 Speaker 2: with one stone, right, Because again, Bregman is a great player, 362 00:19:55,640 --> 00:19:58,760 Speaker 2: but he is not going to push the needle. You know, 363 00:19:59,520 --> 00:20:01,879 Speaker 2: it's not go to crush your season to not have Bragman. 364 00:20:02,040 --> 00:20:05,280 Speaker 2: It's not going to make you World Series favorites to 365 00:20:05,520 --> 00:20:07,960 Speaker 2: have Bragman. And when you're in that position and you're 366 00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:11,200 Speaker 2: needing financial flexibility, I think the Astros are going to 367 00:20:11,280 --> 00:20:14,960 Speaker 2: air on the side of let's get younger, controllable players, 368 00:20:15,520 --> 00:20:18,800 Speaker 2: try to kind of rearrange the chips on the board 369 00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:22,680 Speaker 2: so that you know they can make some moves next offseason. 370 00:20:24,560 --> 00:20:28,639 Speaker 2: But I remember tweeting last year in the in the 371 00:20:28,680 --> 00:20:31,720 Speaker 2: middle of the season that I had like a fever dream. 372 00:20:31,760 --> 00:20:35,160 Speaker 2: I woke up and I thought of Bregman in those 373 00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:39,680 Speaker 2: like cream Red Sox uniforms, like the Sunday Afternoon ones. 374 00:20:39,680 --> 00:20:42,679 Speaker 2: You know what I'm talking about. The city No, not 375 00:20:42,760 --> 00:20:44,919 Speaker 2: the city connects, just the you know, the nice like 376 00:20:45,040 --> 00:20:48,160 Speaker 2: white yeah bread. I guess it's not the always home one. 377 00:20:48,160 --> 00:20:51,680 Speaker 2: But anyway, I had this very specific dream of him 378 00:20:51,680 --> 00:20:55,680 Speaker 2: being on in that uniform at third base at Fenway, 379 00:20:55,760 --> 00:20:58,560 Speaker 2: with like a big flag draped on the Green Monster. 380 00:20:59,240 --> 00:21:01,480 Speaker 2: And it was the most right that anything has ever 381 00:21:01,520 --> 00:21:04,280 Speaker 2: looked in my head. And so from that moment, I've 382 00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:06,520 Speaker 2: I've just decided that he was going to be on 383 00:21:06,560 --> 00:21:10,760 Speaker 2: the Red Sox. We'll see, but I'd love for you 384 00:21:10,760 --> 00:21:14,320 Speaker 2: if you could give us your best reading of Scott 385 00:21:14,359 --> 00:21:19,680 Speaker 2: Boris's line to you today about ABC's if you could, 386 00:21:19,800 --> 00:21:21,680 Speaker 2: if you give us that in your best impression, I 387 00:21:21,920 --> 00:21:22,840 Speaker 2: would appreciate it. 388 00:21:23,119 --> 00:21:26,600 Speaker 1: Well, it's hard to impersonate Scott because like he doesn't 389 00:21:26,600 --> 00:21:31,320 Speaker 1: have like a unique sounding voice. He just comes prepared 390 00:21:31,320 --> 00:21:32,320 Speaker 1: with these zingers. 391 00:21:32,720 --> 00:21:35,600 Speaker 2: Get it, give us the Shakespearean reading, then you do 392 00:21:35,640 --> 00:21:38,520 Speaker 2: whatever voice you want. But I need to hear the line. 393 00:21:38,720 --> 00:21:42,199 Speaker 1: So to set it up, Scott Boris was asked to 394 00:21:42,240 --> 00:21:47,240 Speaker 1: just assess Alex Bregman's market, and he went on to 395 00:21:47,320 --> 00:21:49,879 Speaker 1: talk about how they have They've had numerous meetings with 396 00:21:50,040 --> 00:21:54,359 Speaker 1: teams and owners and we all know what comes after 397 00:21:54,680 --> 00:22:00,440 Speaker 1: AB that is c a champion. M Alex Bregman is 398 00:22:00,480 --> 00:22:02,800 Speaker 1: a champion. Can't can't uh. 399 00:22:04,480 --> 00:22:06,680 Speaker 2: Himself or does he have people on staff that are. 400 00:22:07,160 --> 00:22:09,160 Speaker 1: I think he has a big enough corporation that he's 401 00:22:09,160 --> 00:22:11,399 Speaker 1: got some people on staff. I think he's got final say, 402 00:22:12,160 --> 00:22:14,320 Speaker 1: but I think he's got some people on staff that 403 00:22:14,359 --> 00:22:14,760 Speaker 1: helped him. 404 00:22:14,800 --> 00:22:17,040 Speaker 2: You think that you could get me in contact with 405 00:22:17,119 --> 00:22:19,919 Speaker 2: him and I could offer my services because I think 406 00:22:19,920 --> 00:22:22,640 Speaker 2: I could come up with one for every single free 407 00:22:22,680 --> 00:22:23,440 Speaker 2: agent he has. 408 00:22:23,760 --> 00:22:25,840 Speaker 1: Well, if you do that, then he's going to pay 409 00:22:25,880 --> 00:22:28,040 Speaker 1: you enough money that you're not going to do this podcasting. 410 00:22:28,480 --> 00:22:30,280 Speaker 2: Yeah I can't. 411 00:22:30,400 --> 00:22:35,320 Speaker 1: I can't lose my co host after the first So yeah, 412 00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:37,800 Speaker 1: I mean Alex Bregman is a champion. He's not wrong there. 413 00:22:37,920 --> 00:22:40,399 Speaker 1: The way the method in which he used to deliver 414 00:22:40,480 --> 00:22:45,680 Speaker 1: the the the praise was uh generated some eye rolls 415 00:22:46,080 --> 00:22:50,200 Speaker 1: around the room and around Twitter. But yeah, I think 416 00:22:50,240 --> 00:22:53,320 Speaker 1: Alex Bregman, you know, this is a situation where he 417 00:22:53,440 --> 00:22:56,200 Speaker 1: is seeking a deal that I don't think the Astros 418 00:22:56,320 --> 00:22:58,800 Speaker 1: want to to go much higher than the offer that 419 00:22:58,920 --> 00:23:01,000 Speaker 1: is out there for him, which is about six years, 420 00:23:01,040 --> 00:23:02,639 Speaker 1: one hundred and fifty six million dollars. 421 00:23:02,840 --> 00:23:07,080 Speaker 2: That's not a real offer. It's not no, no, that's 422 00:23:07,160 --> 00:23:07,960 Speaker 2: not a real offer. 423 00:23:07,960 --> 00:23:10,679 Speaker 1: But the Astros will appreciate me looking directly into the 424 00:23:10,720 --> 00:23:13,480 Speaker 1: camera and saying that the Astros offered Alex Bregman the 425 00:23:13,640 --> 00:23:17,960 Speaker 1: largest deal in franchise history. They will really appreciate me 426 00:23:18,040 --> 00:23:21,320 Speaker 1: saying the Astros offered Alex Bregman the largest deal in 427 00:23:21,440 --> 00:23:23,119 Speaker 1: free in franchise history. 428 00:23:23,320 --> 00:23:25,760 Speaker 2: That would like to go on record and say, I 429 00:23:25,880 --> 00:23:30,919 Speaker 2: will offer Alex Bregman seven years, two hundred and twenty 430 00:23:30,960 --> 00:23:35,680 Speaker 2: million dollars all deferred to play on my adult softball 431 00:23:35,920 --> 00:23:40,159 Speaker 2: league team. And that offer is valid until midnight. So 432 00:23:40,200 --> 00:23:41,679 Speaker 2: I've beaten the Astros offer. 433 00:23:41,960 --> 00:23:43,960 Speaker 1: I think he'd take it. I think I think he'd 434 00:23:43,960 --> 00:23:46,480 Speaker 1: really consider it if you think could bring Knox maybe 435 00:23:46,520 --> 00:23:47,240 Speaker 1: because Knox, like. 436 00:23:47,320 --> 00:23:50,520 Speaker 2: In fact, we play at the NASA Fields, which is 437 00:23:50,600 --> 00:23:55,120 Speaker 2: technically federal land. So the first time that we went 438 00:23:55,160 --> 00:23:57,919 Speaker 2: to our games, they were like, hey, just so you're aware, 439 00:23:58,240 --> 00:24:01,600 Speaker 2: any crime you commit at this softball league is a 440 00:24:01,680 --> 00:24:06,200 Speaker 2: federal crime. Like, don't yell at the umpires, don't get 441 00:24:06,240 --> 00:24:09,440 Speaker 2: into anything, because everything you do here is a felony. 442 00:24:10,000 --> 00:24:12,159 Speaker 2: Like all right, good to know. 443 00:24:12,760 --> 00:24:14,320 Speaker 1: I'm glad you avoided jail times. 444 00:24:14,400 --> 00:24:16,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, I did it. Made it. 445 00:24:16,160 --> 00:24:19,520 Speaker 1: That's great. The one thing that that we haven't really 446 00:24:19,520 --> 00:24:22,120 Speaker 1: touched on like that ties these things together. We did 447 00:24:22,160 --> 00:24:25,199 Speaker 1: talk about you know that in their conversations with the 448 00:24:25,200 --> 00:24:28,240 Speaker 1: Cubs about Kyle Tucker, the Ashers have asked for escoch Paradis. 449 00:24:29,080 --> 00:24:32,080 Speaker 1: Escock Paradus is someone that they coveted at the trade deadline. 450 00:24:32,480 --> 00:24:36,080 Speaker 1: They finished second to get his services. The Cubs ended 451 00:24:36,119 --> 00:24:38,520 Speaker 1: up trading for him. It did not work out well 452 00:24:38,600 --> 00:24:40,800 Speaker 1: the three months that he was there at Wrigley with 453 00:24:40,960 --> 00:24:43,119 Speaker 1: the Cubs, but it's such a small sample size, I 454 00:24:43,119 --> 00:24:45,359 Speaker 1: don't think you want to put much into that. But 455 00:24:45,840 --> 00:24:49,439 Speaker 1: he placed their base. So again, these are these that 456 00:24:49,600 --> 00:24:52,040 Speaker 1: what we're talking about with these Kyle, this Kyle Tucker 457 00:24:52,040 --> 00:24:56,000 Speaker 1: discussion is like the pieces they get back, like escoc 458 00:24:56,040 --> 00:24:59,520 Speaker 1: Paradus will be would be if all of these things 459 00:24:59,560 --> 00:25:02,040 Speaker 1: happen and Bregman signs elsewhere, and they do Trey Kyle 460 00:25:02,080 --> 00:25:05,360 Speaker 1: Tucker in the package includes ESOC Paradis, like Estoc Paradis 461 00:25:05,440 --> 00:25:08,080 Speaker 1: is your third basement, and the way he pulls the 462 00:25:08,119 --> 00:25:10,520 Speaker 1: ball and the way he is just a dead pole 463 00:25:10,560 --> 00:25:13,000 Speaker 1: hitter to left field. The Crawford boxes are made for him, 464 00:25:13,640 --> 00:25:16,439 Speaker 1: and you know that's a that is a path they 465 00:25:16,480 --> 00:25:20,040 Speaker 1: could go and they can go address first base or 466 00:25:20,040 --> 00:25:22,360 Speaker 1: do something like that. But again, these are not trades, 467 00:25:22,400 --> 00:25:25,800 Speaker 1: and these are not decisions meant to limit the team's 468 00:25:25,920 --> 00:25:29,840 Speaker 1: championship contention in twenty twenty five. It's just to set 469 00:25:29,880 --> 00:25:31,600 Speaker 1: them up a little bit more for the future. And 470 00:25:31,600 --> 00:25:34,119 Speaker 1: so even if Alex Bregman goes elsewhere, you know, I 471 00:25:34,160 --> 00:25:37,480 Speaker 1: think they can do things to get a major league 472 00:25:37,560 --> 00:25:40,719 Speaker 1: quality third basement in here because they don't have one 473 00:25:40,720 --> 00:25:42,520 Speaker 1: of those in the farm system right now, and the 474 00:25:42,560 --> 00:25:45,760 Speaker 1: fall off after Alex Bregman is drastic in the free 475 00:25:45,800 --> 00:25:49,480 Speaker 1: agent market. Yep, yeah, I mean I think it's it's 476 00:25:49,560 --> 00:25:53,920 Speaker 1: weird to almost be at peace with the idea of 477 00:25:54,640 --> 00:25:58,440 Speaker 1: Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman not being in the lineup. 478 00:25:58,480 --> 00:26:01,680 Speaker 1: But again, when you when you look in to where 479 00:26:01,680 --> 00:26:04,920 Speaker 1: the Astros are at, you. 480 00:26:04,840 --> 00:26:07,080 Speaker 2: Know, the division like you said, is weak. You just 481 00:26:07,119 --> 00:26:09,399 Speaker 2: got to get into the playoffs. And you also have 482 00:26:09,440 --> 00:26:12,520 Speaker 2: the flexibility to make moves throughout the year, right, I mean, 483 00:26:12,600 --> 00:26:15,600 Speaker 2: if you want to go out and get I mean, 484 00:26:15,640 --> 00:26:18,360 Speaker 2: we all know that there's gonna be some pitcher that's 485 00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:20,720 Speaker 2: going to have a career year next year and it's 486 00:26:20,720 --> 00:26:23,760 Speaker 2: going to get a big prospect Hall or you know, 487 00:26:24,000 --> 00:26:27,360 Speaker 2: somebody's gonna go off some reliever that no one's ever 488 00:26:27,400 --> 00:26:30,520 Speaker 2: heard of. And you know, the Astros have the flexibility 489 00:26:30,600 --> 00:26:35,000 Speaker 2: to add you know, where they need it, but they 490 00:26:35,000 --> 00:26:38,440 Speaker 2: don't have a lot of opportunities to retool the farm 491 00:26:38,480 --> 00:26:43,919 Speaker 2: system and they don't plan on having those opportunities if 492 00:26:43,920 --> 00:26:46,720 Speaker 2: they're going to be competitive, and so this is really 493 00:26:46,800 --> 00:26:47,800 Speaker 2: the only way to do it. 494 00:26:48,200 --> 00:26:50,320 Speaker 1: And you know what they will have next winter. They'll 495 00:26:50,320 --> 00:26:53,679 Speaker 1: have money because Josea Brave's salary will come off the books. 496 00:26:53,760 --> 00:26:57,640 Speaker 1: Raphael montera salary will come off the books. If Frombervel 497 00:26:57,680 --> 00:26:59,760 Speaker 1: doesn't Kyle Tucker are selling the team, both of them 498 00:26:59,760 --> 00:27:04,040 Speaker 1: will come off the books. They will have money. 499 00:27:04,040 --> 00:27:06,000 Speaker 2: We'll have a new sponsor money too. 500 00:27:06,320 --> 00:27:09,880 Speaker 1: Dyke in money. It'll be a great time. Maybe they'll 501 00:27:09,920 --> 00:27:12,280 Speaker 1: fix the air condition a minute may Park first, or 502 00:27:12,440 --> 00:27:14,720 Speaker 1: at dyke In Park. It's still minute May Park technically 503 00:27:14,720 --> 00:27:17,720 Speaker 1: because it's not January first yet, but they will have 504 00:27:18,359 --> 00:27:21,080 Speaker 1: money to spend next winter. Now, whether they spend it 505 00:27:21,200 --> 00:27:25,080 Speaker 1: is another matter, because this is not a franchise traditionally 506 00:27:25,640 --> 00:27:28,160 Speaker 1: that that does big and free agency. But you can 507 00:27:28,200 --> 00:27:31,800 Speaker 1: see a path. You can see the path, however difficult. 508 00:27:31,840 --> 00:27:34,240 Speaker 1: It may be right now to digest that Kyle Tucker 509 00:27:34,440 --> 00:27:37,280 Speaker 1: and Alex Bregman may not be on the twenty twenty 510 00:27:37,280 --> 00:27:40,800 Speaker 1: five Astros. However, I will be around the twenty twenty 511 00:27:40,800 --> 00:27:43,480 Speaker 1: five Astros. Tyler. You will be watching the twenty twenty 512 00:27:43,480 --> 00:27:47,600 Speaker 1: five Astros and we will discuss everything about whoever is 513 00:27:47,720 --> 00:27:50,879 Speaker 1: present and playing for the twenty twenty five Astros on 514 00:27:50,960 --> 00:27:54,480 Speaker 1: Crush City Territory. We're so excited about this venture, guys. 515 00:27:54,840 --> 00:27:57,280 Speaker 1: We hope that you enjoyed the debut podcast, and there 516 00:27:57,280 --> 00:28:01,040 Speaker 1: will be plenty more to come as the Ash shows continue. 517 00:28:01,240 --> 00:28:04,679 Speaker 1: One of the more fascinating winters they've had in recent memory.