1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:01,640 Speaker 1: If you go on to social media. 2 00:00:01,720 --> 00:00:04,560 Speaker 2: It feels like Marquis should be at the airport when 3 00:00:04,559 --> 00:00:07,080 Speaker 2: he gets off the plane and then like the Cubs 4 00:00:07,080 --> 00:00:09,000 Speaker 2: just going to hand him a lifetime contract. 5 00:00:12,760 --> 00:00:17,800 Speaker 3: Welcome into Northside Territory. Foul Territory Networks Cubs podcast, I'm Sad, 6 00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:20,880 Speaker 3: I'm Sharma with my partner Patrick Mooney, where your Cubs 7 00:00:20,920 --> 00:00:24,560 Speaker 3: beat writers over at the Athletic Patrick. The winter meetings 8 00:00:24,600 --> 00:00:28,200 Speaker 3: have wrapped up. What was that four nights of little 9 00:00:28,240 --> 00:00:30,160 Speaker 3: sleep but a lot of rumors? 10 00:00:31,280 --> 00:00:31,640 Speaker 1: It was? 11 00:00:31,720 --> 00:00:34,519 Speaker 3: It was I don't know if you could say there 12 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:37,360 Speaker 3: was a lot of movement as far as the Cubs went. 13 00:00:37,400 --> 00:00:42,080 Speaker 3: They're just there. Weren't like nothing went official during those 14 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:48,440 Speaker 3: days there. But to suggest the tenor hasn't changed would 15 00:00:48,440 --> 00:00:51,920 Speaker 3: be a mistake, I think right, like no doubt. Yeah, 16 00:00:52,200 --> 00:00:56,400 Speaker 3: very different feeling from a week ago about things around 17 00:00:56,440 --> 00:00:59,760 Speaker 3: the Cubs. Juan So has signed and has expected at 18 00:00:59,840 --> 00:01:04,520 Speaker 3: least least the talk has heated up, and right now 19 00:01:04,840 --> 00:01:08,880 Speaker 3: it feels like we're in weight mode right Like Kyle Tucker, 20 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:12,080 Speaker 3: They're not just rumors. There's real stuff going on. Teams 21 00:01:12,080 --> 00:01:16,319 Speaker 3: are talking, the Cubs are not just one or two 22 00:01:16,360 --> 00:01:19,679 Speaker 3: people talking about it. It's they are. It sounds like 23 00:01:19,840 --> 00:01:23,319 Speaker 3: the leader for Kyle Tucker. Kyle Tucker is getting traded. 24 00:01:24,160 --> 00:01:26,880 Speaker 3: A lot of people have already said it's the Cubs. 25 00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:29,840 Speaker 3: The Yankees are in on it. Our colleague Ken Rosenthal 26 00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:33,039 Speaker 3: wrote about how the Yankees should step up their price. 27 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:36,440 Speaker 3: Will they would the Astros want to trade Kyle Tucker 28 00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:40,600 Speaker 3: to a team that is often there, you know, the 29 00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:45,200 Speaker 3: competition to get into the World Series. I think that's 30 00:01:45,240 --> 00:01:50,120 Speaker 3: a valid point to bring up. But I do wonder 31 00:01:50,240 --> 00:01:52,880 Speaker 3: is this getting to a point where Cubs fans have 32 00:01:53,040 --> 00:01:57,600 Speaker 3: their hopes so high that if it doesn't happen, there's 33 00:01:57,640 --> 00:01:59,840 Speaker 3: going to be you know, duf Con. What is it 34 00:01:59,880 --> 00:02:02,920 Speaker 3: is at higher deaf Con five? It's the worst thing 35 00:02:03,080 --> 00:02:05,080 Speaker 3: deaf Con five Twitter meltdowns. 36 00:02:05,640 --> 00:02:06,080 Speaker 1: I think. 37 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:10,240 Speaker 2: You allude to this before we started recording, like Defcon 38 00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:15,200 Speaker 2: Jake Peavy, right, I love to like the history lesson 39 00:02:15,240 --> 00:02:18,160 Speaker 2: here of where is Kyle Tucker gonna be? What are 40 00:02:18,200 --> 00:02:19,320 Speaker 2: some of those other names. 41 00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:22,639 Speaker 4: When you think back on like Cubs pursuits the perfect. 42 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:26,640 Speaker 3: Guy and just right, like I think of Jake Peev 43 00:02:26,760 --> 00:02:29,200 Speaker 3: and I think of Brian Roberts, Like those guys were 44 00:02:29,240 --> 00:02:32,280 Speaker 3: supposed to Rappie Elfer call is another name that pops 45 00:02:32,360 --> 00:02:36,440 Speaker 3: up in my mind. We didn't have Twitter back then, 46 00:02:36,520 --> 00:02:39,160 Speaker 3: if I'm yeah, no, there was no Twitter, but back 47 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:43,840 Speaker 3: in those days so like, I remember following it on 48 00:02:44,120 --> 00:02:49,040 Speaker 3: message boards of all things, searching for rumors, waiting for 49 00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:53,720 Speaker 3: the next radio update or notes column in the Tribune 50 00:02:53,840 --> 00:02:56,239 Speaker 3: or whatever it may be, to try and get any 51 00:02:56,400 --> 00:02:58,840 Speaker 3: semblance of an idea of what's going on. Now. It's 52 00:02:58,919 --> 00:03:04,880 Speaker 3: minute to minute, right, people are like, uh, dissecting every 53 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:09,440 Speaker 3: tweet that comes out, parsing every word what does it mean? 54 00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:14,280 Speaker 3: Oftentimes I would I would say that not a lot 55 00:03:14,320 --> 00:03:18,600 Speaker 3: of thought is going through the tweeters that the people 56 00:03:18,680 --> 00:03:21,120 Speaker 3: sending out the tweet Like maybe when they write a 57 00:03:21,240 --> 00:03:24,120 Speaker 3: story there's more nuance to it, but I'd be careful 58 00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:27,440 Speaker 3: parsing every word of a tweet. Cubs fans and that 59 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:31,960 Speaker 3: all that said, Yes, if this doesn't happen for the Cubs, well, 60 00:03:32,360 --> 00:03:34,880 Speaker 3: I think we've gotten to that point where where it's 61 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:37,920 Speaker 3: they won't be able to accept it. They won't this 62 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:42,760 Speaker 3: will not go well. Uh they The expectation for Cubs 63 00:03:42,800 --> 00:03:45,400 Speaker 3: fans has already become the Kyle Tucker will be on 64 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:49,280 Speaker 3: the on this team come opening to so I don't. 65 00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:52,160 Speaker 3: I don't love that for Cubs fans because it's like 66 00:03:52,760 --> 00:03:55,640 Speaker 3: these things are like someone texted me, they ask like, 67 00:03:56,280 --> 00:03:58,280 Speaker 3: is this gonna happen? This is a friend who's a fan, 68 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:00,520 Speaker 3: is this gonna happen? And I said, listen, And I 69 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:02,880 Speaker 3: think Jed kind of said this too. And I've said 70 00:04:02,920 --> 00:04:05,560 Speaker 3: this for I don't know how long, basically since I've 71 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:08,400 Speaker 3: covered the game. It's just talking to people. So many 72 00:04:08,520 --> 00:04:12,120 Speaker 3: trades come and go right, so many things get talked about, 73 00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:15,360 Speaker 3: and which is also why we're very hesitant to put 74 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:17,919 Speaker 3: out rumors until we feel very you. 75 00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:20,280 Speaker 1: Know, strongly about it exactly. 76 00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:23,120 Speaker 3: These things come and go, like trades are really hard 77 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:25,360 Speaker 3: to pull off. When someone asked me like do you 78 00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:28,200 Speaker 3: think the Cubs can trade for this guy, I'll almost 79 00:04:28,240 --> 00:04:31,160 Speaker 3: always say like, yeah, can they sure? I would bet 80 00:04:31,200 --> 00:04:33,440 Speaker 3: against it. I would always bet against the trade being 81 00:04:33,520 --> 00:04:36,960 Speaker 3: finished until it's finished, or you get that rumor it's like, hey, 82 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:39,080 Speaker 3: this is going to happen. We just need to cross 83 00:04:39,120 --> 00:04:41,119 Speaker 3: the eye, I mean across the t's not the eyes 84 00:04:41,520 --> 00:04:45,400 Speaker 3: type situation, which which we'll sometimes hear every now and then, right, 85 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:49,480 Speaker 3: and a lot of times we'll hear that, like it's 86 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:53,960 Speaker 3: like waiting on Carson Kelly type thing. We have a 87 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:57,960 Speaker 3: feeling that that's going to get done. It's just it's like, Okay, 88 00:04:58,560 --> 00:05:01,080 Speaker 3: what when's the official announcement type thing. We're not there 89 00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:04,039 Speaker 3: yet with Kyle Tucker. So I would not just assume 90 00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:08,280 Speaker 3: it's done, but the feelings it's like it has it 91 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:11,720 Speaker 3: has reached a feeling of inevitability, which can often lead 92 00:05:11,839 --> 00:05:14,680 Speaker 3: disappointment when it doesn't get rid, if it doesn't get 93 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:15,200 Speaker 3: wrapped up. 94 00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:19,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, And in reading Ken's column in The Athletic, he 95 00:05:20,080 --> 00:05:23,760 Speaker 2: mentioned Jim Crane, the owner of the Astros, who was 96 00:05:23,839 --> 00:05:28,640 Speaker 2: the guy who spiked that Wilson Contreras trade to Euston. Ultimately, 97 00:05:28,680 --> 00:05:32,240 Speaker 2: I don't think he did it unilaterally, but the Austras 98 00:05:32,279 --> 00:05:34,839 Speaker 2: are a little bit of a different organization. The Cubs 99 00:05:34,880 --> 00:05:43,040 Speaker 2: are pretty deliberate, cautious organization. So yeah, look, we've I 100 00:05:43,120 --> 00:05:46,080 Speaker 2: feel like we've covered a lot of this ground here. 101 00:05:46,240 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 2: I mean, we're gonna have to think of like those 102 00:05:48,120 --> 00:05:51,440 Speaker 2: next sorts of stories if it does go down, and 103 00:05:51,520 --> 00:05:55,599 Speaker 2: I feel like we've we've kind of touched on many 104 00:05:55,720 --> 00:05:57,400 Speaker 2: of those subjects. 105 00:05:57,440 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 1: But no doubt, Like if you go on to social media. 106 00:06:00,360 --> 00:06:04,000 Speaker 2: It feels like, you know, Marquee should be at the 107 00:06:04,080 --> 00:06:06,760 Speaker 2: airport when he gets off the plane, and then like, 108 00:06:06,839 --> 00:06:09,160 Speaker 2: are the comes just gonna hand him a lifetime contract 109 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:12,000 Speaker 2: as soon as he walks into the office building over. 110 00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:13,040 Speaker 1: There on our Waveland. 111 00:06:13,120 --> 00:06:18,520 Speaker 4: I don't think it's going to be like that, you know, 112 00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:20,000 Speaker 4: from what we had heard. 113 00:06:20,040 --> 00:06:22,320 Speaker 2: It's not gonna be some if it does happen, it's 114 00:06:22,320 --> 00:06:24,280 Speaker 2: not gonna be some sort of like short window to 115 00:06:25,040 --> 00:06:30,120 Speaker 2: you know, talk about the extension and so uh yeah, 116 00:06:30,520 --> 00:06:33,520 Speaker 2: you know, I feel wind up recording this, then I 117 00:06:33,520 --> 00:06:37,400 Speaker 2: have to record another one, uh, you know, fairly soon thereafter. 118 00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:40,240 Speaker 2: That's just kind of the nature of these things. I 119 00:06:40,320 --> 00:06:44,440 Speaker 2: thought Jed was interesting saying, you know too, whenever some 120 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:48,600 Speaker 2: information's out there on any sort of deal about any team, 121 00:06:48,640 --> 00:06:51,240 Speaker 2: he's always curious, like what's the agenda? Like why is 122 00:06:51,320 --> 00:06:55,600 Speaker 2: that out there now? And there are lots of football 123 00:06:55,640 --> 00:06:59,240 Speaker 2: analogies of being on the you know, two yard line, 124 00:06:59,440 --> 00:07:01,240 Speaker 2: you know, being in the red zone. 125 00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:05,480 Speaker 4: Still got to kick the extra kick. Yeah, just like 126 00:07:06,839 --> 00:07:08,480 Speaker 4: like it definitely towards. 127 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:10,400 Speaker 2: The you know, middle of the week, there gets into 128 00:07:10,480 --> 00:07:13,720 Speaker 2: the you know, football metaphors, which knows which shows you 129 00:07:13,760 --> 00:07:16,200 Speaker 2: you know we need need something concrete. 130 00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:17,880 Speaker 1: Here, right right. 131 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:21,320 Speaker 3: Uh, So we'll see if this gets done. I I 132 00:07:21,640 --> 00:07:24,400 Speaker 3: think you're right on the extension stuff. Don't get your 133 00:07:24,440 --> 00:07:28,600 Speaker 3: hopes up on that, but do do get excited. Like 134 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:32,000 Speaker 3: I said this the last episode, I'm gonna say it again, like, 135 00:07:32,080 --> 00:07:34,640 Speaker 3: don't overthink this. Yeah, Cam Smith would be a heavy 136 00:07:34,680 --> 00:07:36,840 Speaker 3: price e sec paratus. Yeah, I know they just created 137 00:07:36,920 --> 00:07:39,960 Speaker 3: for him. H Kyle Tucker is a difference maker. There's 138 00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:41,400 Speaker 3: a very few players like that. 139 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:41,720 Speaker 5: I know. 140 00:07:41,840 --> 00:07:44,160 Speaker 3: There's only one year left on the deal. You gotta 141 00:07:44,200 --> 00:07:47,400 Speaker 3: take risks. You gotta try and make your move when 142 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:50,120 Speaker 3: you have the opportunity. See if he falls in love 143 00:07:50,200 --> 00:07:54,000 Speaker 3: with Wrigley an extension, Hey, it may be very unlikely. 144 00:07:54,080 --> 00:07:56,320 Speaker 3: That doesn't mean you make the you don't make the deal. 145 00:07:56,560 --> 00:07:59,000 Speaker 3: See if he falls in love with the place, and 146 00:07:59,280 --> 00:08:01,280 Speaker 3: maybe you're compared. They've been trying to sign him in 147 00:08:01,320 --> 00:08:03,680 Speaker 3: free agency. Maybe you try. Maybe you can get him 148 00:08:03,680 --> 00:08:06,240 Speaker 3: early in free agency. I don't know. I'm just throwing like, 149 00:08:06,600 --> 00:08:08,720 Speaker 3: you don't you don't do this out of like you 150 00:08:08,880 --> 00:08:12,440 Speaker 3: cannot live in fear, especially at this point in in 151 00:08:14,120 --> 00:08:16,480 Speaker 3: in the cycle of contention, Like it's time to start 152 00:08:16,520 --> 00:08:18,800 Speaker 3: being a little bit more aggressive and taking these types 153 00:08:18,840 --> 00:08:21,800 Speaker 3: of risks. If you go walks, oh, well, you got 154 00:08:21,920 --> 00:08:22,880 Speaker 3: to have a pivot plan. 155 00:08:23,120 --> 00:08:26,280 Speaker 2: Then you get a draft pick, a nice draft pick, 156 00:08:26,440 --> 00:08:29,600 Speaker 2: and clearly the Cubs have build up some value with 157 00:08:29,680 --> 00:08:32,480 Speaker 2: these recent picks. If Cam Smith is a guy who's 158 00:08:32,720 --> 00:08:37,199 Speaker 2: you know, being h or is being talked about here 159 00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:42,959 Speaker 2: like that's you know confirmed, But if he is at 160 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:46,680 Speaker 2: that status where he can be that type of guy, 161 00:08:46,760 --> 00:08:48,880 Speaker 2: you just got to go back out there and you 162 00:08:49,360 --> 00:08:51,640 Speaker 2: keep scouting and find find another one, you know like 163 00:08:51,720 --> 00:08:54,800 Speaker 2: that there that had been an issue as we've detailed 164 00:08:55,640 --> 00:08:58,960 Speaker 2: for a while now of just the post twenty sixteen 165 00:08:59,080 --> 00:09:04,640 Speaker 2: like backfilling that group and having assets and having trade 166 00:09:04,720 --> 00:09:07,520 Speaker 2: chips and having flexibility like this is this is all 167 00:09:07,559 --> 00:09:07,960 Speaker 2: part of it. 168 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:09,480 Speaker 1: Right right right. 169 00:09:09,520 --> 00:09:11,679 Speaker 3: We've talked about that. We've talked about that with a 170 00:09:11,720 --> 00:09:14,360 Speaker 3: lot of different people over this week around the game. 171 00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:17,040 Speaker 3: It's a big difference that they've seen with the Cubs, 172 00:09:17,160 --> 00:09:20,160 Speaker 3: like they're in these talks because five six years ago 173 00:09:20,200 --> 00:09:22,079 Speaker 3: they couldn't be in these talks because they didn't have 174 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:25,040 Speaker 3: the depth. It was like the top top guys like 175 00:09:25,120 --> 00:09:27,280 Speaker 3: which they got to get like Kintana and then that's it. 176 00:09:27,679 --> 00:09:31,160 Speaker 3: There's nothing else to move. They didn't have those players, 177 00:09:33,160 --> 00:09:37,040 Speaker 3: all right, Patrick, you you wrote something for this morning 178 00:09:38,120 --> 00:09:43,839 Speaker 3: on Justin Steele the possibility or just the idea of 179 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:48,160 Speaker 3: extending him, And I think that's interesting. I think it's 180 00:09:48,200 --> 00:09:52,480 Speaker 3: a worthwhile discussion. I'm just curious, like you're like, why 181 00:09:52,480 --> 00:09:55,880 Speaker 3: don't you kind of go over the points for that 182 00:09:57,040 --> 00:09:58,160 Speaker 3: that thought process there? 183 00:09:58,880 --> 00:10:05,120 Speaker 1: Well, essentially, this is not a right now thing. They're 184 00:10:05,200 --> 00:10:08,839 Speaker 1: not engaged at this point. Typically how this goes. 185 00:10:09,280 --> 00:10:12,239 Speaker 2: You know, a player in the arbitration system in January, 186 00:10:12,760 --> 00:10:16,760 Speaker 2: you kind of lock in the salary for the upcoming season, 187 00:10:17,520 --> 00:10:21,199 Speaker 2: or you go to an arbitration trial, which you know 188 00:10:21,400 --> 00:10:24,280 Speaker 2: rarely happens, you know with the Cubs or with most teams. 189 00:10:24,320 --> 00:10:26,120 Speaker 2: At this point, it's kind of a file and trial 190 00:10:26,920 --> 00:10:30,840 Speaker 2: policy across the league. But essentially that is you see 191 00:10:30,880 --> 00:10:33,000 Speaker 2: all these pitching deals. I mean, Matthew Boyd gets almost 192 00:10:33,040 --> 00:10:35,559 Speaker 2: thirty million guaranteed a couple of months after he was 193 00:10:35,840 --> 00:10:39,600 Speaker 2: struggled to get major league offers. Max Freed just signed 194 00:10:39,600 --> 00:10:43,640 Speaker 2: the biggest deal ever for a left handed pitcher. And 195 00:10:43,800 --> 00:10:45,839 Speaker 2: if you look at Steel and Freed over the last 196 00:10:45,880 --> 00:10:49,680 Speaker 2: couple of years, they're pretty similar. Now, timing is everything 197 00:10:49,760 --> 00:10:52,880 Speaker 2: for a free agent and steel is not there yet. 198 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:57,400 Speaker 2: But I think this is something that's going to make 199 00:10:57,480 --> 00:11:00,560 Speaker 2: sense for both sides to at least six. And our 200 00:11:00,640 --> 00:11:03,560 Speaker 2: colleague Tim Britton at the Athletic, who is really an 201 00:11:03,760 --> 00:11:10,160 Speaker 2: expert at kind of projecting free agent contracts extension structures. 202 00:11:11,160 --> 00:11:14,000 Speaker 2: He really helped out a ton with this, and you 203 00:11:14,040 --> 00:11:16,440 Speaker 2: can kind of see his work in the Athletics. 204 00:11:16,520 --> 00:11:17,720 Speaker 1: It's interesting. 205 00:11:18,960 --> 00:11:22,880 Speaker 2: He uses other relevant comps for pictures and it's kind 206 00:11:22,880 --> 00:11:27,559 Speaker 2: of the idea of buying out the arbitration years what 207 00:11:27,720 --> 00:11:30,760 Speaker 2: he's expected to make and then you know, tacking on 208 00:11:30,880 --> 00:11:31,960 Speaker 2: a couple of free agent years. 209 00:11:32,000 --> 00:11:35,480 Speaker 1: And so where Tim kind of wound up at was. 210 00:11:37,280 --> 00:11:40,640 Speaker 4: A five year deal for about seventy four million. 211 00:11:42,520 --> 00:11:45,840 Speaker 2: Potentially adding one more year will make it a six 212 00:11:45,960 --> 00:11:49,360 Speaker 2: year deal for ninety six million dollars. 213 00:11:49,600 --> 00:11:50,800 Speaker 1: What do you think, satif? 214 00:11:52,559 --> 00:11:57,000 Speaker 3: Okay, so five years seventy five that's yeah, So that 215 00:11:57,320 --> 00:12:01,040 Speaker 3: knocks out the three ar bears you're saying in texton two. Yeah, 216 00:12:02,240 --> 00:12:09,280 Speaker 3: and essentially that's in aav of fifteen. That's like, right, 217 00:12:09,480 --> 00:12:10,320 Speaker 3: did I do that math? 218 00:12:10,440 --> 00:12:10,560 Speaker 5: Right? 219 00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:10,920 Speaker 1: Yeah? 220 00:12:11,240 --> 00:12:16,199 Speaker 3: I did? Like I think that that for me when 221 00:12:16,240 --> 00:12:19,360 Speaker 3: you when you put it that way, you're adding two years, 222 00:12:19,440 --> 00:12:21,360 Speaker 3: it would be I believe his age thirty two to 223 00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:24,600 Speaker 3: thirty three seasons would be the two years. I think 224 00:12:24,679 --> 00:12:27,960 Speaker 3: that would be the preferable deal if I'm in the Cubs, 225 00:12:28,640 --> 00:12:33,600 Speaker 3: see right. I also think you said it, he's later 226 00:12:33,720 --> 00:12:36,160 Speaker 3: in cre agency, right. The Cubs have a like in 227 00:12:36,200 --> 00:12:39,679 Speaker 3: a lot of these situations, the player has ninety percent 228 00:12:39,720 --> 00:12:42,439 Speaker 3: of the leverage. I feel like, right, if you put 229 00:12:42,559 --> 00:12:47,160 Speaker 3: up like Steel doesn't have like this disastrous injury history, Yes, 230 00:12:47,200 --> 00:12:49,400 Speaker 3: he has injuries in the past, and he's he's missed 231 00:12:49,440 --> 00:12:52,599 Speaker 3: some starts in some of these years, right, and like it, 232 00:12:53,240 --> 00:12:56,040 Speaker 3: I'm trying to think like this year it was the 233 00:12:56,120 --> 00:13:01,520 Speaker 3: fluky hamstring, right, that that that's not like a oh, 234 00:13:01,640 --> 00:13:07,320 Speaker 3: no red flag thing. Right, the the you know, popping 235 00:13:07,400 --> 00:13:10,120 Speaker 3: up of the elbow fore arm stuff, that that's a 236 00:13:10,240 --> 00:13:13,480 Speaker 3: slight red flag. But when everything comes out clean, you're 237 00:13:13,520 --> 00:13:17,440 Speaker 3: not seeing anything on imaging for me, and I am 238 00:13:17,480 --> 00:13:21,319 Speaker 3: an optimist, so I understand that, Like you just have 239 00:13:21,440 --> 00:13:23,720 Speaker 3: to be concerned all the time about any picture, right, 240 00:13:24,000 --> 00:13:27,319 Speaker 3: whether they have an injury history or not. Frankly, but 241 00:13:27,679 --> 00:13:30,320 Speaker 3: if they're they're they're taking risks on guys like Matthew 242 00:13:30,360 --> 00:13:32,800 Speaker 3: Boyd and paying him almost fifteen million a year for 243 00:13:32,920 --> 00:13:36,599 Speaker 3: two years. Like, yes, it would be the money that 244 00:13:36,760 --> 00:13:38,800 Speaker 3: in those in the age thirty two and thirty three, 245 00:13:38,880 --> 00:13:41,319 Speaker 3: like the actual money spent would be different. But I'm 246 00:13:41,360 --> 00:13:43,840 Speaker 3: looking at it in luxury tax purposes, because that's all 247 00:13:43,960 --> 00:13:45,880 Speaker 3: I think you should really look at it as as 248 00:13:45,960 --> 00:13:49,520 Speaker 3: far as an org goes that. It's not like Tom 249 00:13:49,600 --> 00:13:52,719 Speaker 3: Rarikints will suddenly go broke in whatever that would be 250 00:13:52,840 --> 00:13:57,880 Speaker 3: twenty twenty eight. So so I think I think when 251 00:13:57,920 --> 00:13:59,800 Speaker 3: you talk about it in that sense, it makes a 252 00:13:59,840 --> 00:14:02,880 Speaker 3: lot of it makes some sense. It's like who you like, 253 00:14:03,360 --> 00:14:05,600 Speaker 3: you want a veteran at the front of your rotation hopefully. 254 00:14:05,720 --> 00:14:07,920 Speaker 3: I mean the way they talk is like there's no 255 00:14:08,200 --> 00:14:12,040 Speaker 3: rebuilding going forward, it's contending every year. If that's real, 256 00:14:12,160 --> 00:14:15,000 Speaker 3: If you really believe you can do that, you need veterans, 257 00:14:15,040 --> 00:14:18,319 Speaker 3: you need young players. I think the question becomes, what 258 00:14:18,920 --> 00:14:21,160 Speaker 3: what do you believe? What what do you believe? 259 00:14:21,240 --> 00:14:22,280 Speaker 1: Jed Hoyer, Carter. 260 00:14:22,200 --> 00:14:25,400 Speaker 3: Hawkins, Craig Council, all these people that are intimately involved 261 00:14:25,840 --> 00:14:28,760 Speaker 3: in this process, and and no justin steel, what do 262 00:14:28,880 --> 00:14:31,920 Speaker 3: you believe? How do you believe he's hill age? How 263 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:36,680 Speaker 3: do you believe what what type of work ethic does 264 00:14:36,720 --> 00:14:38,760 Speaker 3: he have? What type of like what do you see 265 00:14:39,120 --> 00:14:41,640 Speaker 3: beyond the beyond the person? What do you see in 266 00:14:41,680 --> 00:14:44,000 Speaker 3: his stuff? Like that says like this age as well, 267 00:14:44,440 --> 00:14:47,160 Speaker 3: this type of picture is a type of picture we believe, 268 00:14:47,360 --> 00:14:51,000 Speaker 3: like early thirties, still good, still solid, and I kind 269 00:14:51,040 --> 00:14:53,240 Speaker 3: of see him as Yeah, yeah, he's probably one of 270 00:14:53,280 --> 00:14:55,960 Speaker 3: those guys that ages well. As far as stuff goes, 271 00:14:56,240 --> 00:14:59,240 Speaker 3: it gets down to injury, and what you see is 272 00:14:59,360 --> 00:15:02,080 Speaker 3: in the person. You know, there's no major red flags 273 00:15:02,120 --> 00:15:05,880 Speaker 3: with with steel in my opinion on any of that stuff. 274 00:15:06,240 --> 00:15:10,240 Speaker 3: You can quibble with anybody's like oh maybe this or 275 00:15:10,320 --> 00:15:14,400 Speaker 3: that about like the injury stuff. Sure, but I think 276 00:15:14,440 --> 00:15:17,000 Speaker 3: it's worth it when you're not like that's a that's 277 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:19,760 Speaker 3: an undermarket value as far as I'm concerned, Like he 278 00:15:19,840 --> 00:15:22,440 Speaker 3: hits an open market even at that age. I think 279 00:15:22,480 --> 00:15:25,240 Speaker 3: he gets more than that assuming help. 280 00:15:26,760 --> 00:15:33,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean it's it's fascinating, Like would steal want this? 281 00:15:34,120 --> 00:15:36,280 Speaker 1: I think he'd be interested for sure. 282 00:15:36,960 --> 00:15:39,080 Speaker 2: I think just because of his path, like you said, 283 00:15:39,200 --> 00:15:41,280 Speaker 2: is unique. I mean, being with the Cubs for a 284 00:15:41,440 --> 00:15:44,920 Speaker 2: decade and still having three more r beers to go 285 00:15:45,120 --> 00:15:48,840 Speaker 2: before reaching free agency, Like it's it's long and to 286 00:15:48,920 --> 00:15:52,640 Speaker 2: get that sort of security could be attractive. I mean, 287 00:15:52,680 --> 00:16:00,520 Speaker 2: if he did reach free agency, healthy think you'd obviously 288 00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:03,120 Speaker 2: get a lot more than that, right, like if you 289 00:16:03,160 --> 00:16:06,200 Speaker 2: can keep performing. I just think it's one of those 290 00:16:06,200 --> 00:16:10,440 Speaker 2: things where, like you know, pitchers get paid even though 291 00:16:10,480 --> 00:16:17,120 Speaker 2: they've been downgraded in terms of letting them just go 292 00:16:17,600 --> 00:16:19,400 Speaker 2: whatever three four times through the order. 293 00:16:19,560 --> 00:16:21,600 Speaker 1: They don't put up as many put up as much. 294 00:16:21,480 --> 00:16:27,800 Speaker 2: Innings, but like teams need these guys who can post up, 295 00:16:28,000 --> 00:16:29,920 Speaker 2: and so far Justin Steele. 296 00:16:31,480 --> 00:16:34,440 Speaker 1: Has been that guy. I think it would be. 297 00:16:35,920 --> 00:16:37,920 Speaker 2: I don't know, would it be a win for this 298 00:16:38,440 --> 00:16:41,800 Speaker 2: front office to kind of lock up another guy or 299 00:16:41,880 --> 00:16:43,440 Speaker 2: would it be another sort of like. 300 00:16:45,720 --> 00:16:48,200 Speaker 1: Don with Nico and Happ and some other. 301 00:16:48,160 --> 00:16:50,600 Speaker 2: Guys to where they are feeling a little bit of 302 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:54,120 Speaker 2: a crunch now not as much flexibility. 303 00:16:54,360 --> 00:16:56,640 Speaker 1: But I don't know. In the end, I think you 304 00:16:56,720 --> 00:16:58,240 Speaker 1: gotta I think both. 305 00:16:58,080 --> 00:16:59,920 Speaker 2: Sides it would be in their best interest to try 306 00:17:00,760 --> 00:17:06,159 Speaker 2: really hard and to see where those potential conversations would go, 307 00:17:06,640 --> 00:17:11,440 Speaker 2: because I mean, almost every deal for starting pitcher that's 308 00:17:11,480 --> 00:17:13,520 Speaker 2: come in, it's been like, oh wow, really, you know, 309 00:17:13,600 --> 00:17:18,920 Speaker 2: whether it's the as signing Severino. I mean, Valdi definitely 310 00:17:18,960 --> 00:17:21,720 Speaker 2: did not get the John Lackey, you know, two years 311 00:17:21,840 --> 00:17:25,000 Speaker 2: and whatever, seventeen it was like three for I think 312 00:17:25,160 --> 00:17:33,080 Speaker 2: seventy five Matte Mackey, Boyd example, you know, Max Freed, 313 00:17:33,760 --> 00:17:34,520 Speaker 2: very good pitcher. 314 00:17:37,080 --> 00:17:38,159 Speaker 1: I didn't think he'd get. 315 00:17:38,040 --> 00:17:41,040 Speaker 2: Like the biggest, you know, beat David Price and you know, 316 00:17:41,880 --> 00:17:43,840 Speaker 2: just kind of demolish what John. 317 00:17:43,680 --> 00:17:46,000 Speaker 1: Lester got roughly a decade ago. 318 00:17:46,359 --> 00:17:50,200 Speaker 4: So this is kind of where things are going. So 319 00:17:50,280 --> 00:17:52,720 Speaker 4: it's this is more of like something to monitor and 320 00:17:52,920 --> 00:17:56,359 Speaker 4: not like breaking news, but it's gonna pop up, no doubt. 321 00:17:57,160 --> 00:18:00,720 Speaker 3: Yeah, some other quick factors. I think that Evan, there's 322 00:18:02,280 --> 00:18:06,480 Speaker 3: like as far as reasons to sign a we don't know, 323 00:18:07,840 --> 00:18:11,760 Speaker 3: we don't know what Ben Brown, Jordan Wicks, Hayden Wisnezki. 324 00:18:12,080 --> 00:18:13,560 Speaker 3: It was kind of a I don't want to call 325 00:18:13,600 --> 00:18:15,959 Speaker 3: it a lost season for them, but it wasn't. They 326 00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:18,800 Speaker 3: didn't get enough information in twenty twenty four to feel 327 00:18:18,880 --> 00:18:22,159 Speaker 3: really good about their future, right asad you kind of 328 00:18:22,240 --> 00:18:25,600 Speaker 3: know what you have there to an extent, but but 329 00:18:25,720 --> 00:18:28,960 Speaker 3: there's it's not like this is they missed out this 330 00:18:29,080 --> 00:18:31,400 Speaker 3: season on really getting a ton of data on those 331 00:18:31,400 --> 00:18:35,200 Speaker 3: guys and feeling comfortable that, Okay, you know what we have. Yes, 332 00:18:35,280 --> 00:18:37,600 Speaker 3: we have all these arms, and we trust that that 333 00:18:38,040 --> 00:18:40,040 Speaker 3: one of them at least is going to turn into 334 00:18:40,119 --> 00:18:45,800 Speaker 3: a rotation stalwart. It Also, we don't know, like come March, 335 00:18:45,920 --> 00:18:47,720 Speaker 3: how many of those names I just mentioned will be 336 00:18:47,920 --> 00:18:50,440 Speaker 3: on the team. There are so many trade rumors involving 337 00:18:50,520 --> 00:18:53,399 Speaker 3: this team, Like does suddenly the urgency to like, you 338 00:18:53,440 --> 00:18:54,960 Speaker 3: know what, we got to lock them up? We don't 339 00:18:55,040 --> 00:18:58,639 Speaker 3: have the pitching depth, the young pitching death that we thought, 340 00:18:59,040 --> 00:19:01,679 Speaker 3: let's let's get a bet are in to lock this up. Uh, 341 00:19:01,960 --> 00:19:04,680 Speaker 3: some of the pitchers have been traded whatever. Right. And 342 00:19:04,760 --> 00:19:06,800 Speaker 3: then the third thing, which we don't need to get 343 00:19:06,840 --> 00:19:08,920 Speaker 3: into too far because I think we're going to be 344 00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:10,640 Speaker 3: talking about it a lot in a couple of years, 345 00:19:11,240 --> 00:19:14,200 Speaker 3: is something I talked to people about like all week. 346 00:19:14,280 --> 00:19:18,200 Speaker 3: It came up in every other conversation. Is there there's 347 00:19:18,240 --> 00:19:23,440 Speaker 3: a potential workstop that again coming after the twenty sixth season, Like, 348 00:19:23,880 --> 00:19:27,320 Speaker 3: that's a real thing that I think all sides probably consider. 349 00:19:27,400 --> 00:19:30,520 Speaker 3: I don't know how that impacts talks like this, right, 350 00:19:31,080 --> 00:19:35,199 Speaker 3: but there's that that's a reality. Uh. Some people were 351 00:19:35,200 --> 00:19:37,160 Speaker 3: a little bit more optimistic, but it won't take away 352 00:19:37,200 --> 00:19:41,359 Speaker 3: any games, but like inevitably, like there's going to be 353 00:19:41,480 --> 00:19:44,000 Speaker 3: a work stoppage in the offseason, which doesn't impact fans 354 00:19:44,040 --> 00:19:46,960 Speaker 3: as much, but still is is stressful and and and 355 00:19:47,520 --> 00:19:51,560 Speaker 3: like gives some uncertainty to what the future holds, and 356 00:19:51,760 --> 00:19:54,320 Speaker 3: and nobody likes to hear stuff like that, and and 357 00:19:54,720 --> 00:19:57,120 Speaker 3: you know, it's not the it's not the most fun 358 00:19:57,240 --> 00:19:59,600 Speaker 3: thing to talk about, but it is a reality that 359 00:19:59,680 --> 00:20:02,760 Speaker 3: that's coming up. And it feels feels sooner than than 360 00:20:02,800 --> 00:20:05,560 Speaker 3: I realized. When we started talking about it, I was like, oh, 361 00:20:05,680 --> 00:20:09,160 Speaker 3: man again, But that's that's yeah, that's very much there. 362 00:20:09,240 --> 00:20:12,320 Speaker 3: And one soda contract doesn't help things when when when 363 00:20:12,440 --> 00:20:15,560 Speaker 3: the lower bottom ten payroll teams see stuff like that, 364 00:20:15,720 --> 00:20:19,000 Speaker 3: that those owners only get more fired up about things. 365 00:20:19,080 --> 00:20:21,240 Speaker 3: So we don't need to dive into that. I just 366 00:20:21,320 --> 00:20:23,600 Speaker 3: wanted to mention, like that's another factor here. 367 00:20:25,440 --> 00:20:28,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm not I'm not ready to go there yet. Yeah, 368 00:20:29,520 --> 00:20:31,399 Speaker 2: but I did want to add to your point of 369 00:20:31,520 --> 00:20:34,639 Speaker 2: like kind of the pitching uncertainty. The Cubs will have 370 00:20:34,720 --> 00:20:39,760 Speaker 2: a decision on Shota in Minaga after this upcoming season. 371 00:20:40,720 --> 00:20:42,760 Speaker 2: I don't have all the numbers in front of me 372 00:20:43,080 --> 00:20:47,280 Speaker 2: We've written about it on the Athletic But essentially, like 373 00:20:47,359 --> 00:20:51,919 Speaker 2: if Shoda has a decent season and is healthy, uh, 374 00:20:52,400 --> 00:20:54,840 Speaker 2: at the end of it, the coups will basically have 375 00:20:54,960 --> 00:20:58,720 Speaker 2: to decide on you know, picking up says like a 376 00:20:58,840 --> 00:21:01,960 Speaker 2: three year option or then become. 377 00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:06,920 Speaker 3: Significant with a jump in money deal that he has 378 00:21:07,040 --> 00:21:07,440 Speaker 3: in place. 379 00:21:07,520 --> 00:21:10,520 Speaker 1: But he can become a he yes, he could. 380 00:21:11,000 --> 00:21:13,520 Speaker 2: He could opt out if they don't pick up their 381 00:21:14,080 --> 00:21:18,119 Speaker 2: option and yeah, and so him opting out would be 382 00:21:18,119 --> 00:21:22,080 Speaker 2: a pretty obvious decision if he's healthy and isn't terrible 383 00:21:22,920 --> 00:21:24,280 Speaker 2: this upcoming year. 384 00:21:24,840 --> 00:21:26,760 Speaker 4: Of course it's got you know, both sides. They could 385 00:21:26,880 --> 00:21:29,800 Speaker 4: come to some sort of other agreement. 386 00:21:30,560 --> 00:21:33,760 Speaker 2: But like Shoto was locked in as this piece and 387 00:21:33,800 --> 00:21:36,679 Speaker 2: he was awesome as a rookie, but like very quickly, uh, 388 00:21:38,280 --> 00:21:39,879 Speaker 2: both sides are gonna have to figure out where they 389 00:21:39,920 --> 00:21:40,560 Speaker 2: want to go from there. 390 00:21:40,600 --> 00:21:40,919 Speaker 1: So if you. 391 00:21:43,080 --> 00:21:46,280 Speaker 2: Put in Steel as a piece, I mean ty Own's 392 00:21:46,320 --> 00:21:51,840 Speaker 2: halfway through his four year deal. You know, Aside is 393 00:21:52,240 --> 00:21:55,760 Speaker 2: a younger guy, and then it's that kind of wave 394 00:21:55,920 --> 00:22:00,440 Speaker 2: of question mark pictures who could be really good or 395 00:22:00,600 --> 00:22:02,040 Speaker 2: maybe won't hear much from them. 396 00:22:02,240 --> 00:22:09,359 Speaker 3: Ever again yep, no, absolutely and another picture that that 397 00:22:09,480 --> 00:22:11,399 Speaker 3: we're going to be talking about for about a month now, 398 00:22:11,440 --> 00:22:15,320 Speaker 3: if not a little bit longer. Roki Sasaki. The Cubs 399 00:22:15,359 --> 00:22:18,560 Speaker 3: are in on this, right. I mean, I think the 400 00:22:18,640 --> 00:22:24,680 Speaker 3: prohibited favorites are the Dodgers. You know, depending on who 401 00:22:24,720 --> 00:22:29,200 Speaker 3: you talk to, they're the heavy favorites. Others, you know, 402 00:22:29,400 --> 00:22:33,480 Speaker 3: say watch out for San Diego, But I guess don't 403 00:22:33,520 --> 00:22:35,160 Speaker 3: eliminate the Cubs just yet. 404 00:22:36,160 --> 00:22:38,520 Speaker 2: That's such a good good way to put it that 405 00:22:39,960 --> 00:22:43,320 Speaker 2: my understanding is the Cubs will be presented as a 406 00:22:44,800 --> 00:22:50,320 Speaker 2: viable destination and a serious team to consider. 407 00:22:50,520 --> 00:22:51,640 Speaker 1: I mean that doesn't. 408 00:22:52,880 --> 00:22:55,919 Speaker 2: I don't know how much that moves the needle ultimately, 409 00:22:56,520 --> 00:22:59,800 Speaker 2: but it was fascinating being in Dallas and talking to 410 00:23:00,880 --> 00:23:04,800 Speaker 2: different officials as well as our talented co workers at 411 00:23:04,840 --> 00:23:07,560 Speaker 2: the Athletic who hear things as well, and just kind 412 00:23:07,600 --> 00:23:09,600 Speaker 2: of comparing notes on this guy, Like is this all 413 00:23:10,720 --> 00:23:15,480 Speaker 2: an elaborate cover story for any side of the Dodgers 414 00:23:15,760 --> 00:23:20,879 Speaker 2: or are these very telling hints about what the player 415 00:23:21,200 --> 00:23:23,280 Speaker 2: ultimately may want. 416 00:23:24,240 --> 00:23:27,879 Speaker 5: Which may not be all of Dodger Stadium, which is 417 00:23:29,040 --> 00:23:33,639 Speaker 5: a lot. So like, is San Diego. 418 00:23:35,680 --> 00:23:40,960 Speaker 1: And kind of writing Shotgun with Darvish a more appealing option? 419 00:23:42,119 --> 00:23:46,040 Speaker 2: I think Joe Wolf the agent uses the phrase open ended, 420 00:23:46,080 --> 00:23:48,080 Speaker 2: and that is kind of my understanding as well. Like, 421 00:23:48,200 --> 00:23:50,840 Speaker 2: if he's planning to take a Christmas break back home 422 00:23:50,880 --> 00:23:55,960 Speaker 2: in Japan, they don't want to overload him with zooms. 423 00:23:56,080 --> 00:23:58,399 Speaker 2: They're going to want to space some things out. I know, 424 00:23:58,520 --> 00:24:01,159 Speaker 2: everyone wants to be like the these are the five teams, 425 00:24:01,600 --> 00:24:03,600 Speaker 2: and they are usually the same five teams over and 426 00:24:03,680 --> 00:24:07,159 Speaker 2: over again for elite Japanese players. But like, you know, 427 00:24:08,160 --> 00:24:14,560 Speaker 2: teams could enter the picture. You know, as much as 428 00:24:15,320 --> 00:24:19,320 Speaker 2: Sazaki's representatives know him, like, there's still a lot for. 429 00:24:19,440 --> 00:24:20,840 Speaker 1: Him to figure out too. 430 00:24:21,080 --> 00:24:24,040 Speaker 2: Like he's younger, he is more of a developmental pitcher 431 00:24:24,160 --> 00:24:30,520 Speaker 2: than Yamamoto was, and each player is different, you know, 432 00:24:30,680 --> 00:24:34,320 Speaker 2: we I like, I am guilty of this myself, of 433 00:24:34,480 --> 00:24:37,080 Speaker 2: kind of lumping all Japanese players as like the same 434 00:24:37,200 --> 00:24:40,720 Speaker 2: sort of entity. But he obviously has his own own 435 00:24:40,800 --> 00:24:47,680 Speaker 2: backstory here and has a lot to learn. Still, think 436 00:24:47,720 --> 00:24:51,080 Speaker 2: he winds up on the West Coast ultimately that would 437 00:24:51,080 --> 00:24:52,800 Speaker 2: probably be a good bet. But like you know, both 438 00:24:53,520 --> 00:24:57,480 Speaker 2: New York teams you know, figure to be factors in here, 439 00:24:57,480 --> 00:25:02,879 Speaker 2: are gonna wanna kind of tell their stories. But you know, 440 00:25:02,920 --> 00:25:05,800 Speaker 2: the Cubs are firmly in that group of teams that 441 00:25:08,640 --> 00:25:11,040 Speaker 2: Lee Japanese players have to consider, and there's a very 442 00:25:11,080 --> 00:25:14,840 Speaker 2: small group of agencies that kind of represent these players. 443 00:25:14,960 --> 00:25:21,080 Speaker 2: And uh, Wasserman in particular has a good working relationship 444 00:25:21,640 --> 00:25:24,159 Speaker 2: with the Cubs, And I think that. 445 00:25:24,640 --> 00:25:26,679 Speaker 1: That stuff does go a long way in this process. 446 00:25:26,720 --> 00:25:28,760 Speaker 2: It may not get you the player, but it gets 447 00:25:28,840 --> 00:25:31,280 Speaker 2: you kind of in the room or on the zoom, uh, 448 00:25:31,400 --> 00:25:32,280 Speaker 2: in the conversation with. 449 00:25:32,359 --> 00:25:37,000 Speaker 3: These guys, right, Yeah, And I think the Cubs seem 450 00:25:37,520 --> 00:25:41,040 Speaker 3: pretty good at this part, the pitching the player part, 451 00:25:41,320 --> 00:25:44,080 Speaker 3: you know, like they they've I feel like that's a 452 00:25:44,119 --> 00:25:47,560 Speaker 3: strength of theirs. Obviously they were able to lure show 453 00:25:47,680 --> 00:25:54,359 Speaker 3: to say, uh they I do say Saya still brings 454 00:25:54,480 --> 00:26:02,720 Speaker 3: up the weather so cold here, uh in a joking manner, 455 00:26:04,160 --> 00:26:04,960 Speaker 3: but but it's a. 456 00:26:05,280 --> 00:26:06,119 Speaker 1: I think that's funny. 457 00:26:06,359 --> 00:26:11,560 Speaker 3: They somehow finished second in in the in the show 458 00:26:11,600 --> 00:26:14,679 Speaker 3: hey race when when he first came and ended up 459 00:26:14,720 --> 00:26:17,760 Speaker 3: going to the Angels, supposedly they were second right, and 460 00:26:18,080 --> 00:26:21,320 Speaker 3: that like that was something where they had no I 461 00:26:21,400 --> 00:26:23,959 Speaker 3: think they like that was even a surprise that they 462 00:26:24,400 --> 00:26:28,199 Speaker 3: were that far up in the contenders. So they they 463 00:26:28,359 --> 00:26:31,640 Speaker 3: have a good Uh, they've done a really good job 464 00:26:32,960 --> 00:26:36,240 Speaker 3: establishing themselves as a destination for Japanese players. 465 00:26:36,520 --> 00:26:36,600 Speaker 5: Uh. 466 00:26:37,119 --> 00:26:41,520 Speaker 3: It's something that was a focus of Jed Hoyer's. He's 467 00:26:41,720 --> 00:26:46,159 Speaker 3: he's really emphasized that there's a lot of talent coming 468 00:26:46,560 --> 00:26:50,560 Speaker 3: stateside and and it's important to establish a base. It's 469 00:26:50,800 --> 00:26:54,920 Speaker 3: important to make these players feel comfortable, uh, to feel 470 00:26:54,960 --> 00:26:57,760 Speaker 3: at home as best as they can, because it can 471 00:26:57,880 --> 00:27:01,399 Speaker 3: really impact your team. And like, this is a global 472 00:27:01,480 --> 00:27:05,280 Speaker 3: sport now and you want to be able to get 473 00:27:05,359 --> 00:27:08,680 Speaker 3: talent from all wherever you can. And it was a 474 00:27:08,720 --> 00:27:11,520 Speaker 3: smart move to establish that as early as they could. Right, 475 00:27:11,600 --> 00:27:13,639 Speaker 3: they didn't have the built in advantage of being on 476 00:27:13,680 --> 00:27:16,000 Speaker 3: the West coast, and to be able to do that, 477 00:27:16,960 --> 00:27:19,240 Speaker 3: To do that in Chicago when you don't have a coast, 478 00:27:19,320 --> 00:27:25,760 Speaker 3: I think is important. I think that they've Lake Michigan. Yeah, yeah, 479 00:27:27,840 --> 00:27:30,600 Speaker 3: so we'll see where that goes. So I think it's 480 00:27:30,600 --> 00:27:32,680 Speaker 3: important to note that this isn't going to happen like 481 00:27:32,840 --> 00:27:37,360 Speaker 3: the official signing. He's not signing until after January fifteenth. Fifteenth, Yes, 482 00:27:37,440 --> 00:27:40,320 Speaker 3: fifteenth is the date, which means everybody's in on it, 483 00:27:40,440 --> 00:27:45,440 Speaker 3: like everybody's if a money resets on that date. Now, 484 00:27:45,880 --> 00:27:48,760 Speaker 3: there is the little weird wrinkle of like a lot 485 00:27:48,800 --> 00:27:54,879 Speaker 3: of that money has been promised, so we'll see. But 486 00:27:55,800 --> 00:27:58,359 Speaker 3: my assumption is, you know, these things have a way 487 00:27:58,400 --> 00:28:01,480 Speaker 3: of working themselves out. If you end up winning the 488 00:28:01,600 --> 00:28:04,440 Speaker 3: Rookie Sasaki Sweepstakes, you don't say I already promised it 489 00:28:04,520 --> 00:28:07,840 Speaker 3: to this fifteen year old and the Dominican Republic. That's 490 00:28:07,880 --> 00:28:13,440 Speaker 3: the whole other disaster. It's a issue there. But yeah, 491 00:28:13,680 --> 00:28:16,560 Speaker 3: so we'll see where this goes. I think Rookie is 492 00:28:17,080 --> 00:28:20,800 Speaker 3: a fascinating arm injuries aside, Like if he can get 493 00:28:20,920 --> 00:28:24,360 Speaker 3: healthy and in the right system and develop properly, that's 494 00:28:24,480 --> 00:28:27,119 Speaker 3: that's very exciting. That's going to be exciting for whichever 495 00:28:27,240 --> 00:28:31,800 Speaker 3: fan base he ends up playing for, all right, Patrick, 496 00:28:32,040 --> 00:28:35,480 Speaker 3: I think that's that's about it. We've we're going to 497 00:28:35,520 --> 00:28:38,520 Speaker 3: be on the alert here for the next twenty four 498 00:28:38,680 --> 00:28:42,520 Speaker 3: forty eight hours. I think, just behind the scenes for 499 00:28:42,640 --> 00:28:46,360 Speaker 3: the fans. Dansby Swanson signed when I was at a 500 00:28:46,400 --> 00:28:51,320 Speaker 3: holiday party. That holiday party is Saturday, And if I 501 00:28:51,600 --> 00:28:54,040 Speaker 3: have to do this again, Patrick, I'm not sure we'll 502 00:28:54,040 --> 00:28:56,160 Speaker 3: be able to do a live podcast, just so you know. 503 00:28:56,880 --> 00:29:00,560 Speaker 4: All right, I got, I got, I got, don't worry 504 00:29:00,560 --> 00:29:00,920 Speaker 4: about that. 505 00:29:03,000 --> 00:29:05,640 Speaker 3: Both if it happens, it better be in the in 506 00:29:05,720 --> 00:29:08,040 Speaker 3: the morning. Okay, that's what I say. 507 00:29:08,840 --> 00:29:12,840 Speaker 6: Well, I'm sure they're definitely looping in your social calendar, 508 00:29:14,000 --> 00:29:18,160 Speaker 6: the deliberations and you got to clear with the astros 509 00:29:18,240 --> 00:29:21,840 Speaker 6: owner and kind of your holiday part. 510 00:29:22,360 --> 00:29:23,240 Speaker 3: Yeah exactly. 511 00:29:23,520 --> 00:29:25,760 Speaker 1: Okay, please please help me out here. 512 00:29:27,040 --> 00:29:29,640 Speaker 3: Thanks so much for listening. Everyone, make sure to great 513 00:29:29,760 --> 00:29:32,840 Speaker 3: review and subscribe to Northside Territory. Please subscribe to The 514 00:29:32,920 --> 00:29:35,360 Speaker 3: Athletic for Patrick and I are on top of all 515 00:29:35,480 --> 00:29:38,959 Speaker 3: things comes this winter. And yeah, thank you so much 516 00:29:39,000 --> 00:29:41,440 Speaker 3: for listening and all this is Northside Territory.