Latest / Sports Avenue Twisted Podcast / Episode 52 Part I feat. Hagen Snell - Padres going nuclear, other winners at the MLB Trade Deadline, AL East and NL East improving

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Episode 52 Part I feat. Hagen Snell - Padres going nuclear, other winners at the MLB Trade Deadline, AL East and NL East improving · Sports Avenue Twisted Podcast

0:26
Welcome to another edition of the Sports Ave.
0:28
Twisted podcast. We have a guest in here today
0:31
that we're going to have a post trade deadline round table
0:35
special. Hagen Snell, welcome to the
0:37
show. Just let the world know what you
0:40
do and everything else. Yeah, thank you for having me
0:43
guys on. I'm I'm excited to be here.
0:45
Those who don't know me, I'm a senior staff writer and the Co
0:49
host for the podcast over at the Skippers View.
0:50
So I've been doing that since right around since the season
0:53
started, so right around that time.
0:54
So still pretty new to the industry here, but I'm loving
0:57
it. So I'm happy to be here.
1:00
Well, thanks for joining us, man.
1:01
It's been, you know, it's been an interesting trade deadline to
1:05
to say the least, and a lot of deals going down, a lot of
1:08
sellers so, and everybody's just willing to, you know, give up
1:12
whatever it takes to win. So our team's included.
1:16
So, you know, we're at the thick of it.
1:17
So it's, it's, it's awesome to have you on.
1:20
We can talk baseball and, and get into what what went on
1:24
yesterday. So thank you.
1:26
Thank you for having me. I'm excited to talk Ball.
1:28
Obviously we were talking a little before about how big this
1:31
trade deadline was, just how many.
1:33
There was all these top 100 guys traded.
1:34
I don't think last year there was even any top 100 prospects
1:37
traded. So it was a very fun and
1:39
exciting deadline, A lot of deals that came out of nowhere.
1:42
Absolutely. Let's get this thing started.
1:44
So the first topic I want to talk about, I think there were
1:48
probably the biggest trade deadline winners in this trade
1:52
deadline. And it was the San Diego Padres.
1:54
And man, not only they went big, they went nuclear.
1:59
And insanely enough, they made two blockbuster deals.
2:05
That was unthinkable. And we always thought every
2:08
year, Mason Miller, when is he going to get traded?
2:11
When is he going to get traded? And it got to a point like there
2:14
was so much smoke and I don't know if you guys saw this.
2:17
And when the moment Dallas Braden's posted a cryptic tweet
2:21
about what went down, that was the feeling that Mason Miller
2:25
was going to get traded because you saw the reports out there
2:28
what Mark Kotze said that he has a pitcher last year and it was
2:32
not injury related. So that was very telling about
2:35
what was going on. And sure, they did Wednesday
2:38
morning. And insanely enough, they went
2:40
even bigger doing another deal with Baltimore Gang O'hearn and
2:44
Loriano. And yes, they did give up a lot
2:46
of assets in in the farm. But man, Hagen, start with you.
2:51
So what were your initial thoughts when you saw the Padre
2:54
the way they're operating? But talk about the Miller trade
2:57
first before you go on go for any further.
3:01
I mean, this is it really surprised me.
3:03
I didn't see Mason Miller getting moved.
3:05
I think it was the same as last last trade deadline where a lot
3:08
of the smoke was around it, where it sounded like he was
3:10
going to be one of the big names moved.
3:11
But I honestly didn't see it happening.
3:13
And then it did happen. And I'm like wondering what the
3:15
return is going to be. And it's Luis de Vries who's the
3:18
top top 3 prospect in all baseball court will be pipeline.
3:21
So that was crazy, especially for a guy who's only a closer
3:24
right now. I agree.
3:25
You can you can stretch him back out to a starting pitcher, which
3:27
is probably the idea to do with him.
3:29
But I love it. I love Jay Preller, he he loves
3:32
madness. He he's going to trade any
3:34
prospects really. He knows his farm system well
3:37
and you know, he does this every single trade deadline.
3:39
He gives up these crazy prospects and everyone kind of
3:41
wonders, what are you doing, man?
3:42
You're going to have no farm after this.
3:44
And then in a year or two later, he just has a great farm again.
3:46
He's able to do the same exact thing.
3:48
So I loved him being aggressive, especially when you saw how
3:51
close they were last. I thought they would be
3:53
daughters and yes, won the World Series.
3:56
I felt about them and the Ross didn't even change that much
3:59
honestly going from then to now. I mean the Dodgers did a little
4:01
better and he saw last year that AJ Peller loves his Super Bowl
4:05
pens and that's exactly what he made.
4:07
I mean this is the best bullpen I've seen and maybe my time
4:10
being a baseball fan for just he honestly put 4 innings for a
4:13
starter now in the playoffs that it just locked down after that
4:16
it's it's absolutely insane bullpen.
4:20
Yeah, You know, and then they go and they they not only added
4:24
Mason Miller in that deal, but they got a pretty good starter
4:28
and JP Sears, who's going to help that team.
4:31
Everybody thought too, when that deal went down that that Suarez
4:38
and and Cease were goners. And they tried to move Cease to
4:42
their credit, but I think the prices were just too high for
4:45
teams. I know they engage with the with
4:48
the Houston Astros, they tried to try to move him there and
4:51
they seem like the team that they've engaged with the most on
4:56
him. But ultimately that deal didn't
4:58
get done. But I love what the Padres did.
5:02
They they went all out trading a guy like Devries is just unreal.
5:09
I'm with you, though. I didn't see, honestly, I I
5:12
thought that Mason Miller was just going to be talked about
5:15
getting moved. I didn't think he'd actually get
5:17
moved, but we saw it move. We saw him move in the end.
5:21
And, and man, man, I mean, and then you see the, the, what the
5:27
Padres did and, and the, and the Dodgers really didn't counter
5:31
that much. So to me, the Padres got a lot
5:35
better and the Dodgers didn't. So it's going to be interesting
5:39
to see that division play out in the long run.
5:44
You know, you know, you know, The thing is that do you think
5:50
the San Francisco Giants waved a white flag at the moment Mason
5:54
Miller got traded because not only they had the best bullpen
5:58
in baseball, but they just found another way to just made it into
6:02
a super bullpen. And The thing is that there was
6:05
reports about Robert Suarez and Dylan sees were reportedly on
6:11
the move, but that did not happen.
6:12
So they didn't really lose anyone on the main roster,
6:16
right? And except for Freddie for mean,
6:19
I think right, I think they added Freddie for me.
6:21
They try to call it and burg it right.
6:23
That's right. So to the Royals, right.
6:25
So it's it's like, you know what, I think they saw an
6:31
opportunity of what the NL is and throughout baseball, a
6:37
variety of range of things that not only they have their bullpen
6:42
is so bulletproof. It's just their offense improved
6:47
too, and that was their issue. And they need a protection,
6:50
right? You saw their their games and
6:52
matchups now, man, like you put two guys in the lineup, it just
6:57
lengthens. Like they got protection.
6:59
And Ryan O'hearn's been helping a hell of a year.
7:01
He's going to get a contract in the offseason wherever he ends
7:04
up going. But Liliano, I did not see that
7:08
coming. The guy has control after this
7:10
year. It's like, how did you get that?
7:13
And The thing is that they can mix and match wherever they want
7:16
to play these guys, right? So not only they improved, I
7:20
think they levelled up. I think they made a massive
7:22
statement in baseball is like, we're here and not only we're
7:26
here, we're going for, for the for the World Series.
7:28
That man, I don't know if I can see a see a team like the Padres
7:34
be in that situation. And I, if I were the Dodgers, I
7:39
would be a tad bit worried. And look, I know that they did a
7:41
lot of work in the offseason and stuff, but at the end of day,
7:45
the Padres did they just went nuclear, like I said, like they
7:50
just went on the point, like it just they just made a twisted
7:55
turn in events and it shook up the IT shook up the leak.
7:59
That's what happened, right? So.
8:02
I mean, I think it's the best way to put it did shake up the
8:04
league too. And I mean, I think I do want to
8:06
highlight the Ramon Loriano part of the deal too, because I feel
8:10
like the deal everyone talks about the O'harn move, which was
8:12
huge for them because they needed that that DH production.
8:15
They've been one of the worst teams for DH standpoint all of
8:17
this year. And they also needed that corner
8:19
outfield bad too, to go along with Tatis and Marilyn there.
8:22
And Ramon Moriano has been, you could argue he's the best bat
8:25
that was dealt in this deadline besides Gino Suarez.
8:29
That's how good he's been this year.
8:30
I mean, he has 2.3 F four this year in 80 in 82 games.
8:34
I mean, that's a four that's pacing for A4 win season for
8:36
Ramon Moriano, who I think most people thought he was going to
8:39
be at the league here pretty soon, if you would say that
8:41
before this year. Yeah, absolutely.
8:45
Because like, if you look at the the way it's stacked up now,
8:49
like now Tati's office, the number should improve.
8:53
Machado has been playing well as of late.
8:55
And their problem was a catcher tandem.
8:57
That's why they had to DFA Maldonado, which is
8:59
understandable because he's an older guy now.
9:01
And I think, I think Maldonado has run its course throughout
9:05
baseball. So for me, it is a formidable
9:07
backup and I think they're comfortable with him with Elias
9:11
Diaz being the everyday catcher moving forward.
9:14
He's been playing a little bit better as well as well as and
9:17
they've been playing really well lately.
9:18
So motivation at this point, let me ask you the guys this.
9:23
So not only they added JP Sears, they added Cortez, right?
9:27
And if you look at their rotation right now, like how
9:31
does it stand? Like you look at Darvish, you
9:33
got Sees, you got Sears, you got Pavetta, you got Vasquez, and
9:39
then you got Cortez, right? I think I'm missing one more
9:42
arm. But I mean, they're, they're
9:44
pretty set up with their rotation, wouldn't you think?
9:50
I would for sure agree with that.
9:51
I mean, I think that was the issue they had to was those
9:53
depth pieces and that's why I'm glad they made that Nestor
9:57
Cortez deal at the end because they had to deal Burger who's
9:59
gotten a few starts for him this year.
10:01
And then Kolek, obviously, who hasn't been great.
10:03
But I mean, that's still a depth option.
10:05
Nice guy to have out there. But getting the Sears was it was
10:08
a great part in that addition to have just give me a four or five
10:10
starter I can at least rely on not have to implode for me out
10:13
there and also get Nestor Cortez too as a depth move to go along
10:16
with sees Vasquez, Pavetta and Darvis.
10:18
I mean, we saw Darvis his last time out.
10:20
I know overall this season he hasn't been great, but he was
10:23
phenomenal. He was back to the old Darvish
10:24
his last start. So this rotation actually pretty
10:27
solid like I this is and even too we talked about had the
10:30
bullpen already. You don't need these guys go 6-7
10:33
innings for you in the playoffs. If you just give them four to
10:34
five innings especially. I mean, you could trust Darvish
10:37
and Pavetta and Cease and they got 1-2 and three in your
10:39
series. Very.
10:40
You could be very happy with that.
10:43
Absolutely. I mean, it just provides the the
10:47
level, especially you've come to playoff matchups, like as long
10:50
as you get 3 guys or four guys if you want to, they, they can
10:53
mix a match in any way possible with any team right now in
10:56
baseball. Like their lineup is stacked.
10:58
Like I said now, like if if Tortis can get going and I think
11:04
he's going to and, and Meryl as well.
11:06
I know he's been injured throughout the most part.
11:08
If those two guys start waking up and watch out, they're going
11:12
to be a big problem the rest of the way.
11:13
So. Well, let me ask you guys this
11:18
question. We just talked about the biggest
11:23
winner of the deadline, you could say, but what about some
11:26
other buyers that were at this trade deadline?
11:29
And, and let's talk about who, who do you think were some other
11:33
winners, would you say and some of the surprise deals that went
11:37
down that you kind of didn't expect to go down?
11:43
I mean, obviously being a Mets fan, I might have a little bias
11:45
here, but I, I would say the Mets were a big winner this
11:48
deadline. I mean, you, you create a
11:50
bullpen that's been very shaky this year for them, especially
11:52
when like an AJ mentor went down for it early and a lot of guys
11:54
were getting overtaxed. You had a Ryan Helsley to be
11:57
your 8th inning guy. You had a Tyler Rogers who's
11:59
been phenomenal and gives you a different angle that nobody is
12:02
even going to come close to saying.
12:04
And then you also get Gregory Soto when they needed a
12:06
left-handed pitcher in the left-handed pitching market was
12:09
very thin. It wasn't like there was any
12:10
great options out there. So you really fortified that
12:12
bullpen, made the top three to four bullpen and all the
12:15
baseball. And then you also upgrade in
12:17
center field too with Cedric Mullins.
12:18
I mean, Tyron Taylor's been a phenomenal, one of the best
12:20
defensive center fielders in baseball this year.
12:22
But you get a guy in Cedric Mullins who can provide more
12:25
offensively, especially with an offense that's been inconsistent
12:29
to say the least. I agree with you with the Mets.
12:33
I think Philadelphians were also winners.
12:36
But the Astros reuniting with Carlos Correa, man that that
12:44
that was I think ownership move. And also, I think, you know, Jim
12:49
Crane bring him back. I mean, like, I mean, God give
12:52
credit to the Astros getting the bats they want.
12:54
They're getting Jesus Sanchez was a low key pickup.
12:56
You know, the important part that trade, those trades is that
13:00
they didn't really had to give up much capital in that deal
13:02
besides Ryan Gusto, I believe, right, right.
13:04
He's going to be a good pitcher for the Marlins for sure, right
13:07
in that Jesus Sanchez deal. But other than that, like
13:10
Seattle went to go get 2 bats. They were, they went all in and
13:15
good for them because they haven't been to the World Series
13:19
in the history of that franchise.
13:21
And you know, Dakota went bold there too, right?
13:23
So, and, and like you said, with the Mets being the buys, I think
13:29
Philadelphia was a winner too, as well.
13:31
So getting Joanne Duran probably was the best available closer in
13:35
this year's trade. Well, maybe Mason Miller, but
13:37
he'd probably be #2 but getting Bader A surety, I think.
13:42
I think the whole Luis Roberts would come down to the Mets and
13:45
the and the Phillies. But the the asking price was too
13:48
rich, right? And you know, Chris gets need to
13:51
get it together with with the Roberts situation.
13:53
You need to be realistic. And I think they see still, they
13:57
think that there's so much value in them.
13:58
But you know, other executives don't see it that way, right?
14:00
You don't overpay for that. So I think, like you said, those
14:03
guys are buyers. I mean, the Jays upgraded, the
14:06
Yankees upgraded. I will.
14:08
We'll get to those teams soon. But I mean overall, if you look
14:11
at it that way, I think, I think those are the teams you could
14:14
that we mentioned or probably the winners at this point and.
14:17
I want to circle back real quick just on the on the Mariners,
14:19
too, because I think they have to be 1 of the biggest winners
14:22
of this deadline. I mean, you get Gino Suarez, the
14:24
prize bat of this deadline to play third base for you, a
14:27
position where you've had little to no offensive production for
14:30
him this year. You also had Josh Taylor.
14:33
So you secure your corners down there.
14:34
Two of the best bats on the market.
14:36
And the big thing too is I think everyone expected them to deal
14:38
from whatever the six or seven top 100 prospects they have.
14:42
They don't have to give up too much capital compared to what
14:44
they have. They still kept all of their
14:45
dudes in that system, which I thought that was great by Jerry
14:48
to pull to go do that. I would have liked them to see
14:50
to get maybe like A5 starter or another relief arm.
14:54
But he can't be mad at all. If you get Gino Suarez and Josh
14:56
Taylor. If you would have told me they
14:57
were going to do that the beginning of the deadline, I
14:59
probably would have said they were the biggest winner.
15:05
I think when it comes to the winners and all the teams you
15:09
mentioned are definitely right up there, but I'm gonna, I'm
15:13
gonna sneakily put what it's not.
15:18
It's not really a team, but it's a collective.
15:21
It's the collection of of two teams, the Yankees and the Blue
15:25
Jays. I think they accomplished what
15:29
they needed to accomplish. The Yankees bullpen was weak at
15:33
the back end. They got three guys, 3 bona fide
15:36
flamethrowers at the back end of their bullpen, which really
15:39
helps. They got a third baseman that
15:41
can actually play third base in a in Ryan McMahon.
15:47
They got they got a pretty good player, having a pretty good
15:51
season and Ahmed Rosario which I thought was a reasonable deal
15:55
and I think will help that team coming off the bench.
15:59
And then you go to Toronto. They started the day off
16:02
yesterday by acquiring 2 time Cy Young Award winner, former Cy
16:07
Young Award winner in Shane Bieber, which which I thought
16:12
was a great deal. We gave up quite a bit but in
16:17
the end it was a great deal and then nothing.
16:21
Crickets for the most of the day and then when the deadline hit,
16:24
they acquired Louis Varland five years control after this season.
16:30
Flamethrower from Minnesota, a guy that nobody thought would
16:34
get traded. One of the surprise guys that I
16:36
thought that that really shocked me at the end seeing him get
16:40
trade because at first I saw Griffin Jacks go to go to the
16:45
race and I'm like, Oh no, Oh no, what's going on here?
16:50
Like, like is Toronto not going to do nothing like I was?
16:54
You know, I I'm not going to lie, I was a little bit pissed
16:56
off. And then I see that we got Louis
16:59
Varland and Thai France, which Thai France will definitely give
17:03
an experienced bat off the bench.
17:04
So I think when it comes down to a Toronto, it didn't need to
17:08
accomplish a lot, but they accomplished everything that
17:11
they set out to accomplish. So in my eyes, I consider them a
17:15
winner along with the Yankees. I think they for sure have to be
17:20
a winner in there. And I think that Shane Bieber
17:22
deal too kind of got a little overshadowed just because it
17:24
came around the same time as that Mason Miller deal.
17:26
So I feel like there wasn't that much time to really talk about
17:29
it that much before before the Mason Miller deal happened and
17:32
everyone was going to talk about that anyways.
17:34
I mean, even too Louis Varlin, I love how you talk about like the
17:36
control you have or this is not even just you're getting a
17:37
rental here, you're getting a guy who can help you for
17:39
following years too, and even Thai friends.
17:42
It's just a good depth piece to add to that team there, which I
17:45
think it's it's a great move. I mean, if I was a Blue Jays
17:47
fan, I wouldn't be mad about this deadline at all.
17:49
I mean, this shows that the front office believed in this
17:52
team, which is I honestly surprised me to this point.
17:55
I I called them to be sellers two months ago and I thought it
17:58
would have been stupid for them to buy.
18:00
But then obviously they went on that crazy run, have one of the
18:02
best records, all majorly base and they're leading the AL East,
18:05
I believe. Yeah, Yeah.
18:07
So that would lead to me for the next question.
18:09
Since we already deep into this, let's let's dive down a little
18:12
bit on the AL East a little bit here.
18:14
And this is a thing like the Yankees improved and I think
18:18
that they did a good job on improving their team
18:21
defensively. Surprise deal for me was with
18:25
Caballero trading within the division, right?
18:28
And it's interesting, they said there's a significant player to
18:31
be named later. It could be from this year's
18:32
draft, right? It could be traded, could be
18:36
official by next year, right The trade.
18:37
So and the Jays, like you said, like they got Sir Anthony
18:41
Dominguez in that deal in another in division deal, they
18:46
had to give up Jerome Watts Brown, who's probably their 10th
18:49
best prospect at that time. But I mean, deals are deals.
18:52
So how do you look at the AL ES now?
18:54
Do you think it's a two team race now or do you still think
18:57
there's still some ways to raise and Red Sox can still compete in
19:01
this division? I mean, I don't know if I can
19:05
see the Rays really competing in this division.
19:07
I view them more as you're competing for the wild card.
19:10
I can see the Red Sox still competing for this division.
19:12
I I don't feel great about it. I mean, I was someone who was
19:15
very high on them. I thought they were going to win
19:17
the American League. They're my favorite going into
19:19
the year. But I think it's you have to go
19:21
Blue Jays, Yankees. And I would put those the one A1
19:23
and 1B. And then I put Red Sox at 2:00
19:25
because I think the Red Sox still have a shot.
19:27
They've been playing great ball recently.
19:29
But I just was a little turned off by the by the trade
19:31
deadline. I don't, I don't think Craig
19:33
Breslow even did that much to improve the team.
19:35
I know Dustin May, I mean, he's a good starter, yeah, but that
19:37
wasn't enough to really put you up there with with the Yankee
19:40
and Blue Jays, in my opinion. Yeah, they added, I think they
19:46
added Steven Mass was the the night before.
19:49
I think they added him around this like really late, I think
19:53
around the same time that the, that the Mariners acquired
19:56
Suarez. So which I thought was a great
19:59
deal at the time. But I'm with you.
20:01
I thought that the that the Red Sox would have believed in their
20:05
team a little bit more with the way they played because they
20:08
were playing really, really well heading up to the deadline.
20:11
I think at one point they won 9 or 10 games in a row and they
20:16
they went on a little bit of a a really, really strong run there.
20:21
Leading into the deadline and, and I thought that they would
20:23
have done more. So they were kind of
20:26
disappointing in that regard. I don't know if it was just the
20:29
prices were too high and they weren't willing to do it.
20:32
I do think that they were in on Joe Ryan near the end, but I
20:39
don't think that they were willing to give up what it took
20:43
to get them. And I think the price was just
20:46
that stupid when it came to to what it would take to get him
20:52
out of Minnesota. I think this is what I think
20:58
here, and the Red Sox deserve a lot of scrutiny these last
21:02
couple years, in my opinion. Last year, they had the
21:05
opportunity to improve. They didn't do enough of that,
21:08
missed the playoffs. They're going through the same
21:11
thing. And you know, The thing is that
21:13
when you trade a guy like Rafael Devers in the, you know, in the
21:18
middle of the season, I thought that would be an offseason
21:21
movement And what the the relationships must be so
21:25
damaged. The fact that they had to trade
21:27
them at the end of the day. And I understand that at the
21:29
end, but I mean, at the same time, it's business.
21:31
These we're all professionals here.
21:32
They're all professors. Sorry, but I agree.
21:35
I think it's the Yankees, Jays, the Rays are always a, you know,
21:39
the mysterious team. They they make some funny
21:41
trades. Sometimes it's like like, are
21:43
they doing just for the sakes of doing what they're doing?
21:45
Is that what they do? Like, you know, trading for
21:48
Griffin Jackson, trading away Taj Bradley is like something
21:53
that's like, huh, it's like Taj Bradley still has four years of
21:57
control after here. And they do I mean, he's a
21:59
starting pitcher. He's a capable starting pitcher.
22:01
And Griffin Jacks has two years. Like that's not a raised way of
22:05
doing deals. And that's the that's the thing.
22:07
And I remember when Rob blew a gasket about Griffin Jacks being
22:11
traded to the Rays. And then it was like we got
22:14
Bartlett, who has five years of control, right?
22:17
And a lot of Twins fans were more upset about the Farland
22:22
deal more than they get Jack's deal because one, he's pre art
22:26
for two more years so why are they doing that type of a deal
22:31
when. When they're trading and you're
22:34
getting, you're getting Taj Bradley in return, so.
22:38
Right, right, right. That's I still think he's a
22:41
really good pitcher. Right, right.
22:42
Just but what I'm saying with Farlin, he has more control than
22:45
any other reliever in that in that bullpen like Joanne Duran
22:49
made sense. I get that Griffin Jacks, I get
22:53
that. But with that deal with the
22:54
raids is the raise. I I just don't understand that.
22:57
And then, you know, Farlin could, it's such a big pick up
23:01
for the Jays. Like they could, they have
23:03
leverage with them, right? And they're rotating.
23:05
Their bullpen is pretty set up. As for the Yankees, you know,
23:09
the thing about Duvall, and this is my question here, it's like
23:13
the San Francisco Giants traded them away and there must be a
23:16
reason why. And I get it.
23:17
The Yankees love to fix. They like to fix guys.
23:20
And it made sense in every way. They had to improve their
23:23
bullpen. Like they got two guys in the
23:25
NLS in that deal, right? And Jake Birds another one.
23:29
And I'm intrigued to see what that bullpen is now is right and
23:33
their defense as well. And they did improve without
23:35
question. So that's important.
23:38
What do you think about Bednar is either closer now of this
23:42
team or do you think it's Duvall?
23:45
I don't know if I would say Bednar is the closer, but I
23:48
guess the easy way to put I guess would be to say they have
23:51
multiple guys who can close. I mean, you can have Duvall
23:53
close for you can have Bednar do it for you.
23:56
I mean, then you also have Devin Williams and Luke Weaver who
23:58
have already been doing it before.
23:59
So I think I like that aspect of their bullpen where it's not,
24:02
you don't have to label a true closer.
24:05
I think if you're just going to go off pure, just who's the best
24:07
overall pitcher, I think I'd probably say Devin Williams, not
24:09
just who's having the best year, but I think I'd like David
24:12
Bednar is like a 7th inning type of guy.
24:15
I like Luke Weaver is a 7th, 8th inning type of guy.
24:18
But I mean, even too, it just depends on, obviously not all
24:20
them are available every single day, but you can play the
24:22
matchups on what you like. If you think our David Bettenar
24:25
matches up against this team's 1-2 and three best and they're
24:28
coming up in the 8th inning, we put them in there that spot and
24:30
vice versa with those guys. So I like the flexibility they
24:32
have because honestly, you go pick one of the four guys in
24:35
that bullpen and you could feel pretty confident about getting a
24:37
save. Yeah, I think, I think that for
24:41
them they have leverage like the Jays too, they have leverage if
24:44
if let's just say Hoffman has off day.
24:45
They got they got a few guys that could do this.
24:47
The both teams are set up pretty well with the bullpen, so that
24:51
that's going to be a Yankee Jays WAR for sure.
24:53
So I think I'm I'm intrigued. But what I know that the Jays
24:57
have the season series with them.
24:58
So that's the advantage the Jays have.
25:00
And Shane Bieber is the wild card out of all the all this
25:04
right. And I think was Shane Bieber.
25:07
He's a he's a long term play too, right, because 1 you know,
25:11
they've done a deal like this similar to barrios few years
25:15
ago, if you recall, and trading trading a guy like that makes
25:19
sense when I'm because Bass it's a free agent after this year.
25:22
Sure, there's a free agent after this year.
25:24
There's no certainty of like what they're going to fill with
25:26
Manoa. We don't know if he's going to
25:28
be back this year. So there have to be some sort of
25:31
certainty and the and the Jays have done deals like this that
25:34
they believe that, you know, the these type of players are long
25:37
to fits too, right. So Shay Bieber is the wild card.
25:40
I they felt like the way the market was going and the
25:43
starting pitching market was insane, like not enough teams
25:46
did went after starting pitcher. I felt the Yankees needed a
25:49
starting pitcher, right as you saw today that Strowman got
25:52
released, right. What do you?
25:53
What are you guys thoughts about that?
25:55
That was a a winger, No? I mean, it didn't surprise me
26:00
that much, honestly, just because I know they need the
26:02
starting pitching and stuff. But it just seemed like since
26:05
spring training that relationship had been a little a
26:07
little salvage. And I know it's when I believe
26:09
it was 150 innings, yet he had a bonus to get there.
26:12
So he was going to start creeping up around that pretty
26:14
soon too. So I kind of always expected
26:16
from the preseason that they would get rid of him before the
26:19
150 innings. I don't think they expected him
26:20
to even throw nearly that much. Obviously they've had a lot of
26:23
injuries on that front. So I don't think the Stroma move
26:26
surprised me. And like you said to where the
26:27
Yankees, they needed this because that's I thought they
26:29
were going to go out and get one for sure.
26:31
I mean, we didn't see that many starters moved or at least high
26:35
octane starters if you want to put it that way.
26:37
But I think the Yankees looked at that and they said this price
26:40
for starting pitching is way too high right now.
26:41
We, we don't have a crazy farm system to work with here.
26:44
We have to get smart with these guys.
26:45
So I think they said the best way, instead of having to go get
26:48
a starting pitcher, why don't we make it that we only need a
26:50
starting pitcher? Give us 5 innings and we can
26:52
lock down the rest of the game after that and let's go get some
26:54
shavers. Yeah, that's, that's what I
26:57
think ultimately happened with them.
26:59
Everybody apparently was asking for their for their I think with
27:04
Spencer Jones in a deal and they didn't want to part with them.
27:07
I think John Heyman put it like, you know, the only way that they
27:11
part with them is if they, if it was for Paul Skeens and he isn't
27:14
getting traded. So, so yeah, they didn't want to
27:17
part with him, understandably so.
27:20
The prices were just too high. Like you said, not many starting
27:25
pitches were moved. I think for that reason alone
27:29
with the with the with the Yankees releasing Stroman, it
27:33
didn't surprise me at all. He just hasn't been good, man.
27:36
I mean, there's they probably have better options going
27:40
forward to use that him. I mean, will Warren's having a
27:43
better season. You know, Rodon's having a good
27:46
year. Like they got other guys that
27:48
could fill in. I I get it with the injury to
27:51
Clark Schmidt, but that what's the same Cam Shetler, I think
27:55
his name is, or Schletler. Schletler, like he's been, you
27:59
know, he's an interesting arm. So, you know, and like you said
28:03
in the playoffs, you just shorten games, you know, and,
28:06
and ultimately you don't need a guy to go 7 innings.
28:10
You know, you can go 5 innings and then just let the bullpen
28:13
get to work. So, you know, I, I don't, I
28:17
think what they I think it's a two team race in that division
28:19
between the Blue Jays and the Yankees.
28:21
And we'll ultimately see what happens.
28:23
But let's go to the other east division in in Indiana E Let's
28:29
talk about the Phillies and the Mets, your Mets actually about
28:32
some of the big moves that they made.
28:36
Go ahead. You have the floor man.
28:38
Just tell us what you liked about the deals that those two
28:41
teams made. You know, I think I like that
28:44
both teams filled their clear needs, which I think they showed
28:48
up to make themselves prime for a postseason run.
28:51
And what I like to, and I thought it was interesting is we
28:53
saw the Phillies go out there, get you under on 1015.
28:57
Minutes later the Mets get Ryan Helmsley.
28:59
It was the Mets were reacting to what the Phillies were doing.
29:01
It was saying, all right, we have our deal ready in place.
29:03
Whenever you strike, we're going to strike.
29:04
We saw the Harrison Bader deal in the morning yesterday of the
29:07
Phillies. Phillies go get their center
29:08
fielder, the Mets will get their center fielder, etcetera.
29:10
Mullins after that and the Mets also got Gregory Soto ahead of
29:13
them too. It was I liked how the Mets were
29:16
matching what the Phillips were doing.
29:17
So I think if you just went from a roster aspect and you just
29:19
looked at these two teams, it's hard to pick.
29:22
Even me, I, I don't know how who I would pick to win this
29:24
division because I as obviously I'm a Mets fan and I believe in
29:28
this team. But Philadelphia is really damn
29:31
good too. I mean, this team is built for
29:32
the postseason. I've always said it.
29:34
And so I think it's just David Stearns for the Mets was just
29:37
looking at the Phillies and he said if they improved, we have
29:39
to match them. We have to be one step with them
29:41
because we're so similar and we can't let them get a slight edge
29:43
on us. Well, you know, The thing is
29:48
like, it seems like it's like 1 counter to another counter.
29:53
Like, like you said, Tyler, Tyler Rogers, he's a submarine
29:57
pitcher. He's a hard pitcher to deal
29:59
with, right? And, and the Mets bullpen is
30:03
strong. It's strong.
30:05
I think it's better than Philadelphia.
30:07
I just think it all comes down to the pitching match.
30:10
I do think the rotation is a bit better for Philadelphia.
30:12
I felt like the Mets could have used another starting pitcher.
30:15
Was there any reason why they didn't?
30:16
Is was it the market was too steep?
30:18
Is that the reason? Because the market because there
30:20
was only a handful of starting pitchers that was traded, right?
30:23
I believe like, like, did you want, did you want anyone from
30:26
the Mets as a starting pitcher you wanted to acquire, you
30:29
thought made sense? Hagen.
30:32
I mean, going into this deadline, I kind of wanted A5
30:35
starter, but I was not going to be mad if they didn't get one
30:39
because I just think you are. You obviously have Sean and I,
30:41
David Peterson, Kodai Sanga, who are those top three that I feel
30:44
confident in the playoffs? I don't think there was any
30:46
pitchers. The way I think is there wasn't
30:48
that many pitchers on this market that would have started a
30:50
playoff game for you. And what the Mets really needed
30:52
was just an innings eater that's just going to give you a four
30:55
year, right? Just give you 5 innings and then
30:58
hand it off with a bullpen. So I wasn't mad about they
31:00
didn't get a starter because you still have your top prospects in
31:02
Brandon's Bro and Nolan McLean that you can bring up.
31:04
We're both absolutely shopping right now in AAA.
31:07
So it's exciting times for that to get a prospect coming up
31:10
here, probably here pretty soon. Yeah, because The thing is like,
31:14
it all comes down to matchups of, you know, it's just, it just
31:19
comes down to like, who faces who, right?
31:22
Like as it stands right now, like, and I think where
31:26
Philadelphia stands, like you got the Wheeler, I think NOLA is
31:29
Noah coming back this year. That's a bigger question because
31:31
nobody's heard from from NOLA about what's going on, right?
31:35
So it's it's. Interesting, coming back here
31:38
pretty soon. OK, OK.
31:41
So that's important for them too, right.
31:42
So, and The thing is like it comes down to like execution and
31:47
play and matchups. And I think the break, the met
31:51
set up better than the Phillies when it comes to pitcher because
31:54
I felt like the Phillies need to go get one more reliever and and
31:58
I I they do have some guys but draw under and is a big pick up
32:01
for them. They needed that surefire
32:02
closure and they got 1 sure, but I think you have to get there,
32:05
right? You got to eat up innings to get
32:06
to where it needs to get to, right?
32:08
So that's important. But the bats for both of them, I
32:11
mean, it's intriguing to see what how they play out, right?
32:16
So you, because the bats got 2 bats, the Phillies got a bat.
32:19
So it's interesting to see how that goes.
32:23
Like where do you think Cedric Mullins would fit in this line?
32:26
He'll be in the bottom of the order, man, Because man, when
32:28
Cedric Mullins played against the Jays, man, he killed like he
32:32
robbed 2 game. Well, he robbed the game
32:34
technically, but damn, like Mullins is defensively so great
32:38
man. Like you guys got a good pick up
32:40
on it, man. Does that indicate that series
32:44
done for the year basically? Or is he like, are they going to
32:48
platoon him? I think this does indicate that
32:51
he's going to be done for the year because I honestly, there
32:52
hasn't been any reports that I've seen at least in the last
32:55
month and a half about Siri and he does have that extra your
32:57
team control. So I think they would probably
32:59
just keep him on the IL for the rest of the year because he so
33:01
you don't have the DFA him or Tyrone Taylor who are valuable
33:04
players, at least not with the bat.
33:05
But defensively, guys, you want your team and for the Cedric
33:08
Mullins and where he's going to slide in offensively, I would
33:11
say bottom line up, maybe even 9 if you want to put him there.
33:14
And one thing I like about him too, which is very interesting
33:17
is he's actually crushing left-handed pitching, but he's
33:20
really struggling against right-handed pitching.
33:22
So I think he's going to be maybe a little more platoon
33:24
dependent than you would expect not and still have Tyrone Taylor
33:28
get a couple starts per week. So I mean, this year he's
33:30
hitting 298 against left-handed pitching.
33:32
Against right-handed pitch, he's only hitting 204.
33:38
If you look at a matchup between the Phillies and the Mets, the
33:41
way they're set up, so the Phillies who, who scares you the
33:45
most in that in that staff, I. Think you have to say Wheeler.
33:51
I mean, he's one of the two or three best pitchers on the
33:55
planet. So it's got to be Wheeler.
33:57
Christopher Santos also scares me.
33:58
He's been one of the best pitchers in all Major League
34:00
Baseball this year. I don't know.
34:03
It doesn't scare me that much, honestly.
34:05
I mean, the Mets hit him pretty well.
34:07
Honestly, I would say it's Wheeler and Sanchez are the two
34:10
that really I do not like my chances.
34:13
Again, especially when I don't know if I feel confident the
34:15
Mets will have a starter that is better than them going against
34:18
those two. Do you feel comfortable with
34:23
Manaya and Montez in the rotation or or anybody else?
34:28
Like who would you say you're comfortable?
34:30
Are you comfortable with Peterson in that rotation?
34:33
Because like it's like you're gonna you're gonna have to face
34:39
those matchups right at some point.
34:40
Like let's just say if it comes out, come down to the like, when
34:43
do you guys see the Mets again in a couple weeks, 3 weeks or?
34:48
I don't know. I think we see him in your end
34:50
of August or early, early September.
34:55
Oh, that's important, man. That's very, that's very
34:59
important about, about that series because it's going to
35:03
come down to who's going to have the season series, the bye
35:05
weeks. Because if you look at it right
35:08
now, there's what 6 teams are they competing now at this
35:12
point? I think we have a clarity of who
35:15
are the opponents are, right? So that's a that's a thing,
35:20
right? So I think it's important,
35:22
right? So.
35:24
And it's going to be even just important too, to win that
35:26
season series, especially when we've seen for pretty much the
35:29
entire year the Mets and Phillies just flip flop first
35:32
place. These teams go on runs and they
35:34
fill it back a week after that. And there's days where it just
35:36
floats back and forth every single day.
35:38
So it's going to be very important because you're going
35:40
to want that higher up seed and looks like you said to the
35:43
seeding too can play a big difference on on the what's
35:47
going to happen in your postseason because if the
35:49
Dodgers were at full strength, I don't think anyone wants to face
35:51
the Dodgers and you one of these teams going to faces.
35:54
I don't I don't know if the dodgers are like that man to be
35:57
honest. They're bullpens a problem.
35:59
Did you see the latest update was Kirby Yates is on the 50 day
36:02
I I would fear more with the Padres before the dodgers.
36:07
In my opinion, the Dodgers didn't like what what we're
36:10
going to get to the most question moves like what move
36:13
did the Dodgers do that move the needle this trade LED because I
36:16
didn't see. I mean, the Bronx Sport move I
36:19
really liked, but like you helped the bullpen a little bit
36:23
there. But like you said, there was
36:25
nothing that really moved the needle that much.
36:28
If anything, their farm system just got better, which is what
36:30
they want at the deadline. I think the way the Dodgers are
36:32
playing it, and I'm not saying this is the smart way to do it.
36:35
It's just they were looking at all our pictures on the IL
36:38
because it's ridiculous. You have an All Star staff on
36:40
the IL and the bullpen and in the rotation and I think they
36:43
said we're going to get these guys back and we're going to be
36:45
have them ready for the postseason.
36:47
And you have so many good arms. You don't have to rely on those
36:50
guys too much. Yeah.
36:53
The problem with the Dodgers is, though, when it comes down to
36:56
them, they got so many injuries and it seems like it's just
37:01
like, when do you want to back that up with some and bring in
37:04
some some reinforcements just in case something like that happens
37:08
down the road? Because you got Glass now, you
37:10
got Yamamoto, you got, you know, a lot of their bullpen guys.
37:16
I think. I think Tanner Scott's on the IL
37:18
right now, you know, like just it's just you just trade away.
37:24
Dustin May. It's just like, you know it to
37:27
me, adding Brock Stewart isn't enough.
37:31
If I had to put it in, in terms that like, you know, I think you
37:36
guys have the upper hand in that, you guys and the Phillies,
37:38
I think it's and the Padres, of course, I think it's going to be
37:41
between one of those three team, one of those three teams that
37:44
ends up taking the entire NL because like, I just love what
37:51
you guys did with the bullpen. You know, you pretty much
37:53
revamped that entire bullpen to the point where you know, it's a
37:58
super pen now. And that's what, you know, the
38:00
Phillies improved. They got Joanne Duran.
38:03
You know, I just think I think you guys have the the upper hand
38:06
over the Dodgers and I, I don't even think they win their own
38:09
division, man. I really don't.
38:11
So when it comes down to it, I would just, I would definitely
38:16
give you guys the upper hand because I don't think the
38:18
Dodgers did enough, man. I mean, I think it's fair to say
38:25
honestly, I think just because they didn't do enough and
38:28
obviously I take the aspect, but they're just going to take like
38:30
you're going to guys like Snell back, you're a guys like gone.
38:33
So and that you're going to get some of those guys back, but
38:36
then you also have to rely on them to get healthy because what
38:38
happens if they go down again? I mean, showing Otani, they're
38:41
pretty protecting or we saw him leave a start last.
38:44
His last start he left. I know it was the cramp seat
38:46
they said, but he's volatile. They have a lot of guys who are
38:48
volatile injury wise in this in this rotation and in this
38:51
bullpen and a couple injuries could really hurt them and set
38:54
them back and really get the Padres separate hand that
38:57
division and then also the Mets and Phillies too in the whole
38:59
National League. Yeah, because The thing is that
39:04
I think the Mets bullpen, the Padres bullpen drastically made
39:11
a seismic shift in the NL, in my opinion.
39:14
That's how I look at it. That's why it's such a big deal
39:17
to shorten your bull pay. It doesn't matter what you're,
39:20
but you need guys with innings eaters.
39:23
Dodgers have that problem. Their bullpen is not strong.
39:26
And The thing is that The thing is that I felt they were in on
39:30
certain guy. I thought they would go after
39:32
Basie Miller, but this is a reason why and I'll talk about
39:36
this later. I think they're saving for
39:37
something big and I'll mention it later.
39:39
But let's get on to the next question.
39:42
I think this was another headline and this is the
39:46
opposite. Opposite spectrum is the Twins.
39:49
The Twins were the biggest sellers in a long time.
39:55
They traded 40% of the roster. I said that the Twins would be
40:01
sellers and trade certain guys, but not like this.
40:04
No way. Like they're they're they're
40:07
about to lose a lot of games in these coming weeks.
40:10
And what were your thoughts about?
40:14
The twins doing what they did the unthinkable and be being,
40:19
you know, the ultimate sellers and, you know, just went adamant
40:25
about trading one guy to another to another.
40:28
Like what was your initial thoughts when they started doing
40:31
moves like that? I honestly was really shocked
40:35
because like you, like you said, I, I was with you where I
40:38
thought they were going to sell a few guys off.
40:40
Like I thought they were going to sell one of you on Duran and
40:42
Griffin Jacks that would keep the other, especially because
40:44
there was reports even before the deadline saying they want to
40:46
be competitive next year. They wanted to be competitive in
40:49
the future too. So I was like, all right, maybe
40:50
they'll sell off a guy like Willie Castro.
40:52
Maybe they'll sell off the guy like you on Duran, Danny
40:55
Cologne. Do you guys like that?
40:56
I did not think they would they would trade.
40:59
I mean, they had 17 guys on their active roster this morning
41:02
after, after the trade deadline. So I didn't think we're going to
41:05
trade that many. That was the big one to Korea.
41:07
That was one that made me really think like, OK, this is a real
41:10
fire. So going off here because
41:11
they're trading Carlos Correa. That's besides Byron Buxton.
41:14
That's that's your big guy on this team here.
41:16
I know he hasn't been healthy that much and during during the
41:19
duration of his contract, but that's your big guy.
41:21
And that made me think too, that this has to be an ownership
41:23
thing because there's trying to sell the team right now.
41:26
They haven't found a buyer yet, at least officially, and they
41:29
just got rid of Carlos Que. That's $100 million at least
41:31
that you're getting out of right there.
41:33
I guess you did have to eat the $30 million, but that's still a
41:35
lot of money got out of there. And it almost feels like they
41:38
was just wiping a clean slate. For a new ownership group to
41:41
come in and put their roots into this team is the way I view it.
41:46
Yeah, when it comes to them, it's it's really interesting
41:50
that they got rid of that many guys.
41:53
Like you said, when when Carlos Correa got traded, you're like,
41:56
you know, wow, you know, like, but I understand they wanted to
41:59
get rid of some of that money. And I think what they ate what,
42:02
33% of the contract or something like that.
42:06
I think it was. So, you know, and the Astros
42:09
were happy. They're like, yeah, we'll take
42:11
it. You could you want to eat some
42:12
of the money. OK, We'll we'll welcome him
42:14
back. You know, he's a leader,
42:16
everything else. So, you know, they trade him,
42:18
they trade Duran, they trade Griffin Jacks, they trade Willie
42:21
Castro, they trade Louis Varlen, they traded Harrison Bader.
42:28
You know, so it's like, you know, they just went nuts and
42:33
they got a lot of prospects back in return.
42:37
You know, I think, I think a lot, I saw a lot of fans were
42:40
upset about the Louis Varlen trade, though.
42:42
They didn't really understand giving a, giving away that much
42:45
control, especially when it looked like they were trying to
42:49
save some money. And like you said, it could be
42:51
due to the ownership, but we'll find that out in due time.
42:56
But it was shocking. It was kind of shocking to see
43:00
how far they went. But in that market, it wasn't
43:03
surprising, you know, because it was just, it was a seller's, it
43:07
was a pure seller's market. So it was really interesting and
43:11
I think they got a lot of talent back in return.
43:13
And in due time, we'll see if pans out or not.
43:19
I mean, The thing is that could they go and trade Joe Ryan in
43:25
the offseason? I could see that Pablo Lopez is
43:29
going to get traded too. So where does Byron Buxton stand
43:32
in all this? Because he said in the All Star
43:34
break, he has a full, full no trade clause and he said he's
43:39
not, he's not opting into that and he wants to be here.
43:43
But don't you think in his mind is like he's witness trading all
43:47
that and thinking that it does he really want to be part of his
43:50
team or does he want to pull a Jose Ramirez in a MM Trout type
43:54
of thing? I mean, that was a thought that
43:56
immediately came to my mind that I was thinking about is where he
43:58
said, hey, I want to be here the rest of my career.
44:00
I don't want to be anywhere else, but does that change when
44:04
your whole team just turns into it with looking like a rebuild
44:07
almost. Because obviously stuff some of
44:09
some big pieces here, but I don't know if anyone's going to
44:12
look and say the Twins are going ready to win a championship in
44:15
the next three to four years. Just the way this roster looks
44:18
right now. I'm not saying what happened,
44:19
but I am curious to see because I feel like he had to have been
44:23
at least not like that. I mean, you, you tell a team
44:25
that I want to be here with the rest of my career pull off, like
44:27
you said, the Mike Trout, the Jose Ramirez.
44:29
And if if your captain is saying that the dude who wants to be
44:32
there, one of the best players in the franchise's history is
44:34
saying that you think you would put a put a good team around
44:37
them. And obviously there's gonna be
44:38
ownership changes in that too. But I'm, I'm very curious to see
44:41
if in the offseason that that changes because I think he still
44:44
has a lot of value to him. But also too, he's also one of
44:47
those guys where I think he'd want to get a championship too.
44:50
I mean, he's only getting older. He's having a career year right
44:53
now too. So I'm very interested to see if
44:56
that does change or something comes out about that in the
44:58
offseason. Yeah, absolutely.
45:01
Because The thing is that I think they're in a customer
45:03
rebuild and and The thing is like, this is important for a
45:08
team, like because the White Sox did this and now they're in the
45:11
right direction, but they're trying to get rid of Roberts and
45:13
Benintendi, which they never did because they're so stuck with
45:16
those contracts. They're going to have to
45:17
reconvene. I think with the Twins, I think
45:20
they have better assets to trade now because if you look at Joe
45:25
Ryan, they could get an absolute haul in return, right?
45:27
So The thing is, like you look at a guy like Joe Joe Ryan,
45:32
Pablo Lopez, I think Christian Vasquez, I don't know if he's a
45:35
free agent after just this year, but they have some more assets
45:39
that could trade away and replenish the farm and regroup,
45:42
right, for the future, right? So, and if you look at it,
45:45
Detroit's probably going to be that team to beat for the time
45:47
being. Kansas City will compete, right?
45:49
So that division is still a little bit open right at this
45:52
point. So at this point it's like, OK,
45:55
you know, the, the, but the, and I think a lot has to do with
45:59
ownership too, because more importantly enough, like with
46:03
ownership, like I think they're trying to clear as much payroll
46:06
as they can. They have $425 million of debt
46:10
and the Poland's have been running that team since 1984.
46:13
So they got to clear as much money as they can.
46:15
And I think they're, they're trying to wait till they do that
46:19
and get new ownership to, to have a resolution and start from
46:22
scratch, right. So I think that's probably
46:24
what's important. Something similar to the White
46:26
Sox. So what do you think about some
46:32
of the sellers that did well at this trade deadline?
46:39
I don't know. I felt like I thought dime backs
46:41
did all right. I felt like, you know, you just
46:45
traded Gino Suarez. You you trade one of your blank
46:49
on his name right now, the starting pitcher.
46:51
Merrill Kelly. Yeah, Merrill Kelly.
46:53
You did that obviously trade off.
46:55
Josh Naylor. I thought you probably could
46:57
have gotten a little bit better returns on them, but you can't
47:00
be mad at all. I mean, you trade those guys who
47:01
are all pending phrase. You could have got nothing for
47:03
them. So I thought they did pretty
47:05
well. I mean, I think you have to give
47:07
credit to the ace two. You traded a closer for free
47:10
prospect and all the baseball and some other really good
47:12
prospects as well in there. I thought the Giants did pretty
47:15
well too, especially when they didn't.
47:18
They only pretty much traded their bullpen and and Mike
47:21
Dastremsky too. And I think you got a good
47:23
return on for most of those guys too.
47:24
I mean, I think those are I mean Drew Gilbert from the Mets
47:27
return. You can slide him in your
47:28
outfield right away. Jose Bhutto slides in your gold
47:31
pen right away. And this is a team too that I
47:32
think next year is going to be going for it.
47:34
I mean, they're not that far off of being a playoff team.
47:37
I think they just kind of looked around and said, I don't think
47:40
we're is good compared to these teams.
47:41
And I don't think it's really worth going for it, especially
47:43
when you're 6th game back from the wild card.
47:46
So I think they did the right thing and they sold and I think
47:47
they did a good job at it. I think, I think, I mean Arizona
47:55
did well, that's for sure. I think, I think the A's getting
47:59
Devries that that package was massive, man, for the athletics.
48:06
And I'm curious to see what that package like that organization
48:11
is built for, right? So you know what I mean?
48:14
Like it's it's like, it's like you look at that team and you
48:19
look at what they're built. They have a foundation.
48:22
I like what they're doing. And you know, they had the
48:24
opportunity to trade like that and they felt very comfortable
48:27
doing that deal, right? And they did it.
48:29
All right. So I think the aids in Arizona
48:32
Diamondbacks did well on that. And those trade deadlines.
48:35
I don't know what was the thing about Zach Gallon?
48:37
Like, probably the asking price was a lowball situation.
48:40
That's why they probably didn't trade them.
48:42
And they're going to let it ride and see where things go.
48:45
But I could see them resigning with Arizona on a new deal.
48:48
Yeah. Yeah.
48:49
See that? What do you guys think about
48:51
what Baltimore did? I actually, I like what
48:55
Baltimore did. I mean, obviously you traded the
48:58
way a Cedric Mullins who's once the team after that first month
49:01
of the season, I think we all thought they were going to be
49:03
sellers. Then you were looking at the
49:05
pieces who's going to be gone. You traded off Charlie Morgan.
49:07
It's good you traded away guy. You got a guy that's back for
49:10
him. Aaron and Loriano.
49:12
You traded away guys like that. You actually got a pretty solid
49:14
return for those guys. I mean you got 6 prospects in
49:16
return. We all know Mike Elias loves his
49:18
prospects. I think you got a decent return
49:21
for the Cedric Mullins. I mean, you also trade away
49:23
Andrew Kittredge, Ramon Urias. That's the one that surprised me
49:26
a little bit too. I mean, also Sir Anthony
49:28
Dominguez, I mean, you traded away a lot of guys that I think
49:32
obviously they're pending free agents and stuff like that.
49:33
A couple guys have another year of control.
49:35
But although they did a really good job too, you didn't trade
49:37
away anyone with a lot of team control.
49:39
That's part of this core, because the core here is still
49:41
pretty solid. I mean, they can still go out
49:43
there and be competitive and make a wild card or even when
49:46
they at least next year if they go make something big.
49:47
So I liked how they sold. I I think they did a pretty good
49:51
job at it too. Yeah, I, I like what they did.
49:56
I'll I can speak on the Sirg Anthony or Sir, Sir Anthony
50:00
Dominguez deal because I love Jeron Watts Brown.
50:03
I think they got a stud in him. So I, I, I mean, I love what
50:07
they got there. I mean, we got a picture for
50:09
this year that's going to help us in, in our, in our conquest
50:13
to to win the AL East. But I like what they did there.
50:16
I like the trade from Owens. You know, when they trade away
50:21
O'hearn and Loriano, they got something there.
50:25
You know, they did quite a bit. They did what they needed to do,
50:28
but they didn't sell everything off because like you said, they
50:30
could just they're A-Team that's going to bounce back next year.
50:34
You know, they're going to be right in the thick of it and
50:36
compete in that division. So there's no reason for them to
50:40
go all out and go fire sale. So no, I don't mind what they
50:45
did. Rocky, you have any thoughts on
50:47
that? I think they're, they're,
50:52
they're going to be scary if they can get it right, Right.
50:56
So and The thing is like, The thing is that you look at the
51:06
way that you look at the way they structure, they don't have
51:09
any contracts signed. Like this is my other question.
51:13
I heard reports about Gunnar Henderson potential being
51:16
available and perhaps Adly Rushman.
51:19
I want to know what the direction holds on what those
51:22
two are right. So, so at the end of the day,
51:28
you have to look at it this way. Baltimore can replenish as many
51:33
assets as they possibly can. But you got to make use of it
51:36
because my problem to me in Baltimore is this the last time
51:38
they went, went to the play, won a game in the playoffs was 2014.
51:42
That's how many years ago? That's eleven years ago.
51:45
And they're going to miss the playoffs unless they make some
51:47
sort of miraculous one. The last time they won the World
51:50
Series was 1983. That's a long, long time.
51:53
So and The thing is that they haven't invested on players like
51:58
they could replenish all these assets.
51:59
They could trade for what they could go get a Joe Ryan with the
52:03
assets they have. They could go get Mackenzie Gore
52:06
with the assets they have. They could go get Alcontro or
52:09
Cabrera, like they have the advantage to do it.
52:11
But Michael Lias can't be conservative about it.
52:15
I love what they were they're getting in return.
52:17
Absolutely. But my problem is you have to
52:20
take advantage of it. And you got to figure out what's
52:22
the score of this team moving forward.
52:24
That's my thing about Baltimore. Do you agree with that, Hagen?
52:27
And probably you look at it from different perspective because we
52:30
got a couple friends, a friend who's a Baltimore's fan and he
52:33
they thought that a lot of Orioles fans thought that they
52:36
were going to be in 1st place to win it.
52:38
I had them being a playoff team, but this I did not see so.
52:44
I agree with you. I think you have to figure out
52:46
who's in that corks. I mean, obviously the two main
52:49
guys just name value wise, Gunner Henderson, Natalie
52:52
Richman and Natalie Richman is the one that stands out to me.
52:54
And I know he's kind of the leader of that team.
52:56
And if you ask Orioles fans, they'll say when Adley goes, the
52:59
offense goes. But the issue is if you take the
53:02
start of 2024 season, that's 219 games Adley Richman has played.
53:07
He's a league average hitter and he's been a pretty league
53:09
average catcher too. Like it defensively, Adley
53:12
Rushman has not been anything more than an average baseball
53:14
player the last two years. And that you could probably say
53:17
that's a big reason why they have not been a great baseball
53:19
team for that long. That's the big one to me is what
53:23
is Adley Rutchman? Has he just going through a bad
53:25
stretch or is he going to be like Luis Robert Junior where he
53:28
has a couple of good years and then he's not what we really
53:32
thought he was? Well, The thing is, yeah, that's
53:36
true. Because The thing is like, I
53:40
like the positional player depth, great depth.
53:43
Like like the question, let me ask you guys this.
53:47
When I saw their draft, they drafted Kaden Bonine, Ike Irish,
53:52
Wahila Lloyd, who's a shortstop to me.
53:56
When I look at that, I was like, are they going to be part of
53:59
these guys plans like the way they drafted they they drafted
54:02
well too, or are they are they going to be assets?
54:07
Because we have to remember Gunner Henderson's represented
54:10
by Scott Boris. So there's an unlikelihood he's
54:12
going to sign an extended adly to me, I think has a better
54:16
chance. But they seem like that they
54:19
don't see eye to eye and they got Sam Basile who who could be
54:23
up because I think they're giving a bigger opportunity with
54:25
Kobe Mayo at first base right after trading Ureas, right.
54:29
So and they got Jackson, they got Gunner and they got Jordan
54:34
Westbrook. That's their their their infield
54:36
is pretty set. So that's why I'm just wondering
54:38
what what's their direction right where things hold right.
54:41
So I mean. It is going to be very clearly
54:42
what their direction is going to because they still have those
54:45
pieces. I mean, they still have, like
54:47
you said, the beginning. They go at a couple of things,
54:50
especially some starting pitching.
54:52
They could get very scary, especially when their guys are
54:54
healthy next year.