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[SPEAKER_01]: The just baseball show is live.

[SPEAKER_01]: Jack McMullen, arm latent.

[SPEAKER_01]: Thank you so much for joining us wherever you listen to your podcast, whether that's Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

[SPEAKER_01]: Thanks for joining us on YouTube and thank you for joining us on Sports Grid.

[SPEAKER_01]: Before we say see you for the holiday season, we're gonna have a jam packed week and it's gonna start with breaking down all of the transactions that have come down the wire over the last four or five days.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm not gonna go six, seven days, four, five days, I'd say.

[SPEAKER_01]: And then also on our docket, I know Ryan Finkelstein wants to utilize the New York Mets so far, but also maybe lay the groundwork for what's to come, that'll be later in the week.

[SPEAKER_01]: And then we'll get into our playing GM series as well.

[SPEAKER_01]: But excited to talk about free agency really coming to a head as of late.

[SPEAKER_01]: It feels like things are starting to not finalize, but like really pick up steam in Major League Baseball right now.

[SPEAKER_04]: Well, between the big leegers that we have getting signed, and then we also have some of these Japanese posting deadlines creeping up a little bit with more economy and am I.

[SPEAKER_04]: It feels like we're pushing towards, yeah, that peak here, that I think we're going to have some of the, the bigger shoes to drop, but I think also just having some of those big names, like Schwarber and Alonza come off the market.

[SPEAKER_04]: We're starting to see that domino effect a little bit.

[SPEAKER_04]: And I'm interested to see, like, is a mind going to be that, like, what's the next pitching domino that kind of sets off a few other moves?

[SPEAKER_04]: We have these exciting medium-sized moves in the background, and then I think the part that's been fascinating to me, Jack, I don't know about you is, is been the trades mixed in a little bit, even whether it was in the winter meeting or also which we're going to talk about today and, you know, in this episode with, with another surprising trade, [SPEAKER_04]: Those usually, I feel like kind of creeping a little bit, and this is totally anecdotal, but creeping a little bit closer to the season once you figure out or what you are or aren't going to do free agency-wise, but it seems like some teams that are still active on the free agent market are also being proactive on the trade market, which I actually think is smart from a leverage standpoint as you're probably talking to a lot of different Boris clients or whoever else it might be.

[SPEAKER_01]: We talk a lot about, and we have over the course of this off season, by the way, this show, as always, is presented by the great folks at BETMGM, the Sports Book Born in Vegas.

[SPEAKER_01]: We talk a lot about this off season, how the trademark it could be, almost more valuable than a free agent market.

[SPEAKER_01]: And a free agent market is great because you don't need to give up prospect capital.

[SPEAKER_01]: But what you may give up is draft capital.

[SPEAKER_01]: If you're signing a top of the line free agent, right, you're going to lose that compact, [SPEAKER_01]: It's a factor that works against a lot of guys like Zach Galen.

[SPEAKER_01]: He might be sitting out here for so long because teams are hesitant to give up that draft pick that compact [SPEAKER_01]: I like the trademark at this year because it seems like that is the known that is in a sea of unknown right now with the collective bargaining agreement coming to an end at the end of 26.

[SPEAKER_01]: You're looking at all of this and saying what are the known commodities that we have going into 2027 and the only thing that is known I think is the six year service clock.

[SPEAKER_01]: You've got guys that are not going to hit free agency any earlier.

[SPEAKER_01]: But what you don't know is, are there going to be certain monetary restrictions in place that make $30 million in 2027 look ludicrous?

[SPEAKER_01]: You have no idea, which is why the trade market makes a heck of a lot more sense because why would you commit to a two year $60 million deal for somebody when 30 could be amazing an amazing overpay in 27?

[SPEAKER_01]: That is the known, as where is that sounds?

[SPEAKER_01]: The trade market is the known.

[SPEAKER_04]: And that's what I think you're seeing some of these middle market teams, especially like the Royals, right, pursuing that.

[SPEAKER_04]: So that's where it's fun to me.

[SPEAKER_04]: And then also tips off a little bit of some of these teams don't care about the unknown because they're going to be less affected by the unknown because the wide range of how the CBA could impact things doesn't really matter as much of them, but for the middle market teams and the small market teams.

[SPEAKER_04]: it does matter.

[SPEAKER_04]: So that's a really fascinating wrinkle in the whole thing as well.

[SPEAKER_04]: And I think all of these factors have given us a pretty entertaining and steady stream of I think moves this off season and we still have so much more to go.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yes, and one thing that is quickly materializing pivoting to the free agent market is where we want to start the reliever market is starting to come to a head and a lot of dominoes are falling where they need to fall a lot of people are being placed where they need to be placed and I want to talk about three deals in particular.

[SPEAKER_01]: The three year 45 million dollar deal that Robert Swara's got the Atlanta Braves will start with that and then I want to get to the three-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays that Tyler Rogers got the summer year and then the one-year contract for Major League Baseball's active saves later in Ken Lee Jance and he's headed to Detroit.

[SPEAKER_01]: I want to start with Robert Swara's because this was an interesting one.

[SPEAKER_01]: And as I sat here and tried to dissect the reliever market, I saw the quarterback market in college football just blow up, right?

[SPEAKER_01]: Dylan Rial is hitting the portal.

[SPEAKER_01]: The kid's source be at Cincinnati's hitting the portal.

[SPEAKER_01]: DJ Lagway at Florida is hitting the portal.

[SPEAKER_01]: Here's the thing.

[SPEAKER_01]: All of those guys are looking for the same exact thing.

[SPEAKER_01]: They're looking for a massive payday, but they are also looking for assurances that they are the starting quarterback of their program.

[SPEAKER_01]: Right?

[SPEAKER_01]: They are going to greener pastures, but the only non-starter is you can't be a backup.

[SPEAKER_01]: And Robert Swara has fascinated me because you feel like if a closer hits the market in free agency, [SPEAKER_01]: They just want assurances that they get the ball in the ninth inning.

[SPEAKER_01]: Robert Swear has got three for 45 minutes anything, but he's going to be the setup guy for the Atlanta Bricks.

[SPEAKER_01]: Why would he say yes to this?

[SPEAKER_01]: Was it a dollars-and-sense decision?

[SPEAKER_01]: Or do you feel like this guy just wanted to be in a good operation in a good city in Atlanta feels like a solid organization and he's totally fine throwing the eighth inning while race sell handles the night?

[SPEAKER_04]: I think both with the the third piece here and I think the important piece being that maybe Suarez feels good or they had a discussion that he'll be the closer in 27 or in 28 potentially as well, right?

[SPEAKER_04]: So that because I'm interested, like riso aguacius, he ended up turning in a fantastic year, but you know, 35 years old, I imagine [SPEAKER_04]: The Braves are looking at him as probably just the guy for next year.

[SPEAKER_04]: And then, you know, moving past that, like Swara's could be the guy that with a, with a good season slots right back up into that, you know, clothes are rolling, then they'll bring in a setup guy or somebody else.

[SPEAKER_04]: I think this was by the Braves saying, hey, we just want to put our best foot forward here, you know, with with two fantastic.

[SPEAKER_04]: I'm just still going to probably pick up some save opportunities here.

[SPEAKER_04]: Don't get us wrong, but yours two and three, you're going to be our guy.

[SPEAKER_04]: And if I'm offered more money, [SPEAKER_04]: on a team that, and I don't know what other offers he had, but let's assume that, or some of the best offers he's got, on a team that has a really good chance to still be very good next year to team that I think plenty of players still want to play for in the Atlanta Braves, and you have that opportunity to potentially be the guy for them, you know, in 27 and 28.

[SPEAKER_04]: I think it's a no-brainer for Swara's and I do wonder how important it is to some of these guys to pitch the night.

[SPEAKER_04]: I feel like even some guys that have seen hell bent on it in the past seem to be a little bit more understanding that [SPEAKER_04]: The committee thing is just to become more and more calm and especially in the post season.

[SPEAKER_01]: First should drop on that trend with Liam Hendrix.

[SPEAKER_01]: When Liam Hendrix came over to Chicago, he was very content throwing whenever they needed.

[SPEAKER_01]: And Craig Kimberl was going to get the ninth inning.

[SPEAKER_01]: And it actually worked out better for Liam Hendrix.

[SPEAKER_01]: He parlated into more money than Craig Kimberl got who was held in on throwing the ninth inning.

[SPEAKER_01]: But you look around.

[SPEAKER_01]: I found it funny with Swara's, because Robert Swara is through the Mason Miller edition and the development of Jeremiah Estrada and the development of Adrian Moreholne was still the guy that was throwing the night dinner for San Diego.

[SPEAKER_01]: So he survived the by committee roster and still came out as the closer.

[SPEAKER_01]: So that made me think, okay, this guy needs to throw the night [SPEAKER_01]: not all 35-year-olds are created equal, right?

[SPEAKER_01]: No, he's on a two-year deal.

[SPEAKER_01]: Robert Swara has turned 35 before opening day hits, but it feels like this guy's still a spring chicken for some reason compared to Raisel.

[SPEAKER_04]: I know, that's the funny part, too, is like, they are similar in age, but I think when you look at the stuff and actually think the way these guys have thrown the last few years, I think there's a little bit more confidence and Swara's game ageing a little bit better, but remember, Swara's a unique story, [SPEAKER_04]: He wasn't even really pitching for a bit.

[SPEAKER_04]: So the miles on his arm are not even close.

[SPEAKER_04]: If I remember correctly, wasn't he the guy that was working like in construction and got talked back into like actually playing baseball and then got signed out of international league, I like he's definitely got far less on the arm.

[SPEAKER_04]: And I think the brave shield pretty good about the way his game, you know, I think will age.

[SPEAKER_04]: And then with the glaciers, yeah, I think looking at it from this year, this is the best one, two punch they can have.

[SPEAKER_04]: But I think they probably look at the glaciers and say, I don't know.

[SPEAKER_04]: If it's going to be that great after this year, that's why you go in on the one year.

[SPEAKER_04]: And I think Swara is going to be their guy for the next several years.

[SPEAKER_04]: And I think it really sets them up nicely now when you look at the back of that bullpen.

[SPEAKER_04]: And that's been a big part of the brave success.

[SPEAKER_04]: There's successful seasons whether it's high profile guys or guys that emerge.

[SPEAKER_04]: And we're like, oh, wow, where did it come from?

[SPEAKER_04]: their bullpen was a huge component of their success.

[SPEAKER_04]: And I felt like that was part of the issue of several issues last year.

[SPEAKER_04]: I feel like you can really look at the back end of the ball game now here and going into the seventh and eighth inning and feel pretty good about where things are out, especially with the way Eglaci has finished the year.

[SPEAKER_04]: Because he looked fantastic down the stretch.

[SPEAKER_01]: 100%.

[SPEAKER_01]: And you think about the bounce back that Atlanta could have.

[SPEAKER_01]: It stems from pitching.

[SPEAKER_01]: It stems from the rotation and the bullpen.

[SPEAKER_01]: A couple of the reliever signings when we come back.

[SPEAKER_01]: Just baseball show, Jack McMullen, or I'm late and we've just talked about Robert Suarez.

[SPEAKER_01]: It's three year 45 million dollar contract with the Atlanta Braves, Robert Suarez is going to be the set-up guy at least at the beginning to rise selling glaciers.

[SPEAKER_01]: And wrapping up the point that I was gonna make.

[SPEAKER_01]: Atlanta, if you were to pick a bounce back team in Major League Baseball, I think your two answers are pretty clear cut.

[SPEAKER_01]: Atlanta in the National League Baltimore in the American League Baltimore because of what they've done so far this off season right in King Peter Lanzo and bringing in a couple of other guys that are going to be serious numbers trading for Taylor Ward, but Atlanta, it stems from their starting rotation getting healthier.

[SPEAKER_01]: by selling back them adding Robert Suarez and then knowing that that line up can't be worse and can't be more unhealthy.

[SPEAKER_01]: So really exciting to see what's to come there.

[SPEAKER_01]: But I do want to get to the other winner of the offseason to this point.

[SPEAKER_01]: The Toronto Blue Jays and the Blue Jays are filling out what seemed to be a weak point for them at points in their world series run that finished a game short.

[SPEAKER_01]: They go and get Tyler Rogers, the submariner who is in his mid-30s, signed a 3-year 37-million-dollar contract with the Toronto Blue Chase.

[SPEAKER_01]: This guy's fastball sits 84 miles an hour.

[SPEAKER_01]: It does not matter because this guy is the Chad Bradford and Moneyball [SPEAKER_01]: Iron Man that Major League Baseball needs.

[SPEAKER_01]: And in a game that is fixated on velocity and spin and vert, this guy bucks every single trend that there is in Major League Baseball.

[SPEAKER_01]: And oh, by the way, he threw pretty much every game last year and had an ERA right around two.

[SPEAKER_01]: this guy, I think led major league baseball to appearances last year.

[SPEAKER_01]: So they get someone that is durable and they get someone to match with Jeff Hoffman and Louis Varlin.

[SPEAKER_01]: This was a heck of an ad to Toronto's bullpen.

[SPEAKER_04]: Oh, I love it.

[SPEAKER_04]: And also just balances things out, man.

[SPEAKER_04]: It was an adventure while sharing it's still is kind of set up to be an adventure from a command perspective, right?

[SPEAKER_04]: Jimmy Garcia walks a lot of guys, you know, Brendan Little walked as many as anybody.

[SPEAKER_04]: It made [SPEAKER_04]: majorly baseball last year.

[SPEAKER_04]: You look at even Hoffman at points like the command could be frustrating.

[SPEAKER_04]: I think that's why the Louis Varlan acquisition was great.

[SPEAKER_04]: But just to be able to add another guy, I mean, when they had strategy to Minga's in the fold last year too, that's one of the higher qualified walk rates.

[SPEAKER_04]: Oh, so just a strike thrower, right?

[SPEAKER_04]: A guy that you can bring in and get ground balls.

[SPEAKER_04]: And they're going to miss bats with these other guys that they have.

[SPEAKER_04]: I think it's a perfect, [SPEAKER_04]: equalizer in this bullpen and no I continue to applaud the the blue jays who you know I want I was I've been waiting to figure like to see when fans are going to start to complain about the blue jays spending too much now too because they're they're getting up there now and start to pluck every you know big time for age and it doesn't look like they're done and then even filling in between with these reliever arms.

[SPEAKER_04]: I love the idea that a team that made a lot of money and play off revenue, and this is sometimes where the corporation owned teams can be a little bit more encouraging at times, just pros and cons in both ways, but I think they see the money, they see the revenue and they say, let's reinvest back into the product here, and I'm glad they're doing it.

[SPEAKER_04]: And this isn't just spending to spend though.

[SPEAKER_04]: This isn't just the hangover, we almost won, how do we compensate.

[SPEAKER_04]: I think this was a great fit for that bullpin.

[SPEAKER_04]: Give in the volatility that you have with many of these [SPEAKER_01]: It is funny, because you see a couple of different ways that corporation baseball teams are run where you have Toronto putting money back into the product when they see positives come through.

[SPEAKER_01]: Atlanta was all about employee retention, right?

[SPEAKER_01]: Were they CD-exciting, you know, fun new employee, and they make sure to retain, and they just go to it.

[SPEAKER_01]: It is.

[SPEAKER_01]: It's quite too much, almost too much though.

[SPEAKER_04]: But if you're going to build a fan base and sustain a fan base, that's going to help.

[SPEAKER_01]: That's the way to do it, but they really weren't spending much in free agents in before this go around.

[SPEAKER_01]: And they signed Mike Estrebsky, who we're going to talk about a little bit later on in the show.

[SPEAKER_01]: They signed Robert Suarez.

[SPEAKER_01]: Why would Atlanta start doing this right now?

[SPEAKER_01]: Does it make any sense to you or not really?

[SPEAKER_04]: What to start spending and free agency like getting a set up guy on a three year deal and is getting 15 a year I think there's a couple things I think and I'm curious what you think here too having you know you got to watch this team up goes in personal plenty this past season but.

[SPEAKER_04]: things needed to get shaken up a little bit.

[SPEAKER_04]: I think that's clear.

[SPEAKER_04]: And like you have the core of the guys that that, you know, are not going anywhere because of the aforementioned prearb deals that we talked about, but I just think that they're needed to be some, I think they try to get a little too cost efficient and effective with it going into last year and I think it bit them in the butt.

[SPEAKER_04]: And I think it even fans what we're frustrated because they didn't put themselves in a position to have a parachute in case things went wrong right everything went right no they didn't have these litany of injuries and all these things they'd brave to probably right back in the playoffs, but they didn't really bolster their situation much at all in case guys do go down.

[SPEAKER_04]: And we have had several braves nightmare scenarios over the last couple years with injuries.

[SPEAKER_04]: So to just bolster things up, I think is is huge and you don't have to give out a hundred plus million dollars.

[SPEAKER_04]: We were begging them to sign, you know, a Hassan Kim last year.

[SPEAKER_04]: And then acquiring him anyways and giving him a little audition, I thought they'd bring him back.

[SPEAKER_04]: Then, up not doing that.

[SPEAKER_04]: And making, you know, a savvy move for Dubon.

[SPEAKER_04]: But I just think being able to even spend a little bit here and there in free agency is something that they didn't really do last year and and I think helps in a big way this year.

[SPEAKER_01]: and still time to bring Hassan Kim back, but I'm with you.

[SPEAKER_01]: They need a little bit of an identity switch up.

[SPEAKER_01]: It's much like what New York is doing.

[SPEAKER_01]: And you made the point last week when we were talking about the Metz, seeing Alonzo walk and seeing Diaz walk and trading Nemo, you made the point if they decided to run it back with an identical cast of characters, what happened to them last year?

[SPEAKER_01]: You know, it's not like they were dealt all of these crushing injuries for the most part, everybody was still on the field, but they didn't make it to the dance in October.

[SPEAKER_01]: You have to make it to the dance.

[SPEAKER_01]: And Atlanta probably looked at their roster and said, we feel really good about what's coming back.

[SPEAKER_01]: We feel really good about a fully healthy roster.

[SPEAKER_01]: But how can we optimize our team identity?

[SPEAKER_01]: How can we shore up some loose holes?

[SPEAKER_01]: How can we put the flex seal on the bottom of the boat?

[SPEAKER_01]: So we float down the river?

[SPEAKER_01]: and Robert Suarez is putting the flex seal on the boat.

[SPEAKER_01]: Mike, you're stremsky is putting the flex seal on the boat.

[SPEAKER_04]: 100% and I think you just, we talk about identity for them.

[SPEAKER_04]: 21st and reliever ERI and I know there's better stats than that, but just, you know, off the cuff for a quick thing.

[SPEAKER_04]: It's valid.

[SPEAKER_04]: That's not what the braves.

[SPEAKER_04]: are right that they're generally going to be in the better portion of the league when it comes to, you know, reliever e alright.

[SPEAKER_04]: And then when you look at the offense for the brave to be the braves, they need my care to hit.

[SPEAKER_04]: They need Ronald Acony Jr to help be healthy and hit.

[SPEAKER_04]: They need their guys to be their guys.

[SPEAKER_04]: But.

[SPEAKER_04]: It takes a little bit of pressure off of those guys needing to click, they need Austin Riley to hit.

[SPEAKER_04]: To click on all cylinders, when you bring in some complimentary pieces that aren't gaping holes, like as unsexy as Mike Yoskramsky is, Jared Kownick was a lot more of a difficult option to roll out there so consistently.

[SPEAKER_04]: Sometimes the 105WRC plus is all you need, and I feel like the brave's that's exactly what they needed.

[SPEAKER_01]: This is such a volatile game and it is a sport that is built on failure and you have guys in the corner outfield spots for them over the last couple of years that have failed a lot.

[SPEAKER_01]: Mikey Stremski does not succeed with flying colors.

[SPEAKER_01]: He does not thrive in major league baseball.

[SPEAKER_01]: He's not a perennial old star candidate.

[SPEAKER_01]: But what he does do is survive and plays above average major league baseball, which is exactly what you need in sports.

[SPEAKER_01]: We've got one more big time reliever that I want to talk about on the other side of this.

[SPEAKER_01]: He makes one of the better teams than the American League, a little bit more interesting.

[SPEAKER_01]: That's coming up.

[SPEAKER_01]: Also, I want to talk about a guy reuniting with his former team next.

[SPEAKER_01]: Jack, Arum, just baseball show.

[SPEAKER_01]: We just talked about Robert Swara's son and he's three-year deal with the Braves, Tyler Rogers soning his three-year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays and the Brave Identity.

[SPEAKER_01]: I want to pivot to the Detroit Tigers now because they got major league baseball's active saves later, locked up.

[SPEAKER_01]: They signed Kennelly Jansson to a one-year deal that's north at $10 million.

[SPEAKER_01]: Kenley Jansen is a guy that seems like he's going to pitch until somebody takes the baseball out of his hand and says, thank you very much heck of a career.

[SPEAKER_01]: We may see you in Cooper's town in the next couple of years.

[SPEAKER_01]: Kennelly Jansen is not built the same way that a role this Chapman is, where Chapman is still a top five to 10 reliever and major league baseball at his age.

[SPEAKER_01]: Kennelly Jansen is somewhat that is going to get the ninth.

[SPEAKER_01]: It can be a very stressful night thinning at points, but Kennelly Jansen is going to get the eighth or the ninth or the seventh for Detroit.

[SPEAKER_01]: They sign Kyle Finning in as well.

[SPEAKER_01]: Detroit started to fill out that bullpen a little bit, [SPEAKER_01]: What does that anchor do in the midst of bullpen chaos for AJ Hinch?

[SPEAKER_04]: Yeah, and we always talk about how hard it is to analyze really yours, right?

[SPEAKER_04]: Because you're working on a small sample size already.

[SPEAKER_04]: It's a fraction of the sample size that you're looking at with the starter.

[SPEAKER_04]: And then a lot of times, some of the more enduring quality is like it's talked about with the glaciers.

[SPEAKER_04]: It's like, oh, well, do you see the way he finished the year?

[SPEAKER_04]: And it's like, OK, well, now I'm dealing with a small sample within a small sample.

[SPEAKER_04]: That said, when a guy toasts the rubber 36 times, which is like the final 36 times.

[SPEAKER_04]: that Ken Lee Jansson told the rubber after he gave up two earned runs at Baltimore on June 15th.

[SPEAKER_04]: From that point forward, he had a 1.02 ERA.

[SPEAKER_04]: He struck out 27% of batters and walked 7% of batters for the angels, and held opponents to a 1-18 batting average.

[SPEAKER_04]: Something clicked there for Ken Lee who was you know how to adjust a little bit over the years as a stuff doesn't stuff the same way that it did But he's still canly with with I think a a unique look with that cutter and the sinker that will mix in a little bit off of that But I think what really stood out to me is he started to up it like a slider usage a little bit just to take I think hitter is off of that cadence and all of a sudden you saw a lot more success and I mean again small sample of a small sample but [SPEAKER_04]: He didn't give up a hit in his final 10 appearances of the season.

[SPEAKER_04]: And I just, I struggled to think that that could be like luck there.

[SPEAKER_04]: I think clearly, Ken Lee found something, whether it was from a command perspective, changing his usage, his location, whatever it may be.

[SPEAKER_04]: I'm not going to pretend that I dug that deep into it.

[SPEAKER_04]: But I think he's a plus addition to this tiger's bull pinwear.

[SPEAKER_04]: You know, Ken Lee reminds me a little bit of like when I was playing like fantasy football and in high school.

[SPEAKER_04]: I would never want to draft Larry Fitzgerald because I'd always think that he was too old.

[SPEAKER_04]: I knew that the one year I take him, he's gonna stink and I tell myself that and then he'd be a great flex guy for you and always be like damn I should have just taken where he's so consistent but I couldn't do it at that point but if I thought he was too old the year before I'm not going to do it again the next year.

[SPEAKER_04]: I'm not going to count this guy out.

[SPEAKER_04]: What would he be on the top of my priority list?

[SPEAKER_04]: No, but neither was Larry Fitz and Larry Fitz helped some of my classmates and some of my friends when fantasy championships are not me.

[SPEAKER_04]: So I will say, I think he clearly is an asset to them.

[SPEAKER_04]: And I think the Tigers are buying into the way that he finished that season.

[SPEAKER_01]: and those five years of Larry Fitts made him one of the greatest white receivers of all time.

[SPEAKER_01]: Right, him not being the spring chick and he was yet still outperforming father time, that made him a Hall of Famer.

[SPEAKER_01]: And I'm just curious if Cannelly Jantson does make it.

[SPEAKER_01]: And I'm not gonna ask you as Cannelly Jantson a Hall of Famer.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm gonna ask you this.

[SPEAKER_01]: is that Kenley Jansen Cutter close to entering the pantheon of reliever pitches all time.

[SPEAKER_01]: And we talk about Mariano Rivera's Cutter that's probably the best singular pitch in the history of Major League Baseball.

[SPEAKER_01]: Billy Wagner's Fastball from the left side, Trevor Hoffman's changeup, a role as Chapman's Fastball.

[SPEAKER_01]: After that, I don't really know the arsenal of Lee Smith.

[SPEAKER_01]: I don't really remember, you know, if I'm not mistaken, maybe, but like [SPEAKER_01]: Can Lee's cutter has to be close to that conversation?

[SPEAKER_04]: No, ah, yeah.

[SPEAKER_04]: Because I think what is the final touch on like a pitch like that, right?

[SPEAKER_04]: Like the specific pitch that you call back to is when they can throw at 80% of the time at 38 years old and still get guys out.

[SPEAKER_04]: And that's exactly what Ken Lee's doing.

[SPEAKER_04]: That's what Mary Hano did, right?

[SPEAKER_04]: And I think that's what makes this an iconic pitch without a doubt.

[SPEAKER_04]: It's like as the velocity drops as he gets sold or as he really looks like he physically doesn't look like anything like the guy that was a catcher or switch it in catcher at one point.

[SPEAKER_04]: And you know, an $80 million reliever.

[SPEAKER_04]: He's still able to get you out and I think that puts that pitch, which by the way, opponent hit 164 against last year into, you know, one of the best reliever pitchers of all time.

[SPEAKER_04]: And I think this a big reason why Ken Lee wants to keep playing is he wants those 500 saves, and I mean, he's going to have a good chance to get there.

[SPEAKER_04]: He needs 24 more.

[SPEAKER_04]: That'll be pretty cool.

[SPEAKER_04]: I know what, what is it forever to have 500 saves?

[SPEAKER_01]: I think so.

[SPEAKER_04]: I mean, that'll be pretty sweet.

[SPEAKER_04]: And I think he gets in, right?

[SPEAKER_04]: I mean, that's the other conversation, but I think he should be.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think he should be as well.

[SPEAKER_01]: We've got about 30 seconds left in this segment.

[SPEAKER_01]: There's not a fifth thing to analyze here, because there was two.

[SPEAKER_04]: It was two.

[SPEAKER_04]: I had interrupt you to say that, because that's bad.

[SPEAKER_04]: Two, but they both have 600.

[SPEAKER_04]: And then no one has 500.

[SPEAKER_01]: And it's Mario and Houghton?

[SPEAKER_01]: Yep.

[SPEAKER_01]: Mariano and Trevor Hoffman how about that real quick we got about 15 seconds here there's no new fit to analyze two year 40 million dollar contract for Merrill Kelly to go back to Arizona quick five second thought they needed the Ennings that is a huge get for them to just bridge that and they still have more work to do all right we're going to talk about the most fun team over the last week in a moment [SPEAKER_01]: Just baseball show rolls on as always.

[SPEAKER_01]: It is presented by that MGM.

[SPEAKER_01]: Jack McMullen and I'm leaving.

[SPEAKER_01]: I want to talk about the most fun team over the last couple of days in Major League Baseball.

[SPEAKER_01]: And that is the Kansas City Royals.

[SPEAKER_01]: And if this feels like two years ago, [SPEAKER_01]: I know it does.

[SPEAKER_01]: I agree with you.

[SPEAKER_01]: Kansas City snuck into the, oh, they're going for this thing, conversation a couple of years ago.

[SPEAKER_01]: And here, it feels like they're optimizing what they have and they're moving on the trade market and they signed it intriguing enough outfield bad.

[SPEAKER_01]: And they retain one of their young stars.

[SPEAKER_01]: The three moves that I want to dissect here are [SPEAKER_01]: them trading on Hill Serpa for Isaac Collins, who is a rookie that you're candidate in the national league and Nick Meyers and intriguing enough for lever, and oh, by the way, extending my Kelgar Sea of their young exciting third basement on a five-year deal with a club option for sixth year.

[SPEAKER_01]: Where do you want to start here?

[SPEAKER_01]: Do you want to start with my Kelgar Sea or would you prefer Lane Thomas?

[SPEAKER_04]: Yeah, let's start there or I love what the roles are doing and we we talk about the Diamond [SPEAKER_04]: I think they're a great example of how mid-market teams can and should operate.

[SPEAKER_04]: And I think the royals have started to put themselves in that conversation as well.

[SPEAKER_04]: You get a superstar.

[SPEAKER_04]: You'll lock him up.

[SPEAKER_04]: I know that it's not always the same situation because if Bobby's represented by Scott Boris, it's not the team's fault, right?

[SPEAKER_04]: Like it's just not going to happen.

[SPEAKER_04]: But you have a superstar, you'll lock him up.

[SPEAKER_04]: You have an emergent breakout player [SPEAKER_04]: You spend some money in free agency.

[SPEAKER_04]: You don't fully sell at the deadline, even when, you know, armchair GMs like us are saying, nah, they got no chance to get back into this thing.

[SPEAKER_04]: They still, they soft buy, right?

[SPEAKER_04]: And, and they make some savvy moves.

[SPEAKER_04]: I feel like this is how a team shop, right?

[SPEAKER_04]: And they're in on other free agents.

[SPEAKER_04]: And they're still spending money.

[SPEAKER_04]: And they're aggressive with their prospects.

[SPEAKER_04]: They don't care about Jack Kaggle Owens clock.

[SPEAKER_04]: But they still are operating efficiently.

[SPEAKER_04]: And they're still being careful.

[SPEAKER_04]: And they're not going to be reckless.

[SPEAKER_04]: And I think that's, [SPEAKER_04]: a great balance of the two things, right?

[SPEAKER_04]: It doesn't have to be raised or dodgers.

[SPEAKER_04]: It doesn't need to be so extreme.

[SPEAKER_04]: And to circle back to the point, [SPEAKER_04]: Royals fans can now just sit here and say we've got the left side of our infield walked up for so long and that's as good of a left side of the infield is is you're going to have a major league baseball and that's a really good starting point for a franchise and for a fan base to hold on to a hundred percent and we knew what their deficiency was offensively.

[SPEAKER_01]: Second base, it's easier to find guys to plug and play.

[SPEAKER_01]: India was super underwhelming.

[SPEAKER_01]: Massey was underwhelming.

[SPEAKER_01]: You can fix second base.

[SPEAKER_01]: That fix could be somewhere else.

[SPEAKER_01]: It could also be in the state of Missouri.

[SPEAKER_01]: They could go get rented out of and keep him in Missouri.

[SPEAKER_01]: Is Missouri a commonwealth?

[SPEAKER_01]: I think it might be a state commonwealth regardless.

[SPEAKER_01]: Keep him in Missouri.

[SPEAKER_01]: Seems like Brenda Donovan likes it there.

[SPEAKER_01]: Short stop Bobby Whitt.

[SPEAKER_01]: Third base, my Calgarcia to your point.

[SPEAKER_01]: One of the better left sides in all a major league baseball.

[SPEAKER_01]: catching.

[SPEAKER_01]: It seems like you have your long-term answer in Carter Jensen.

[SPEAKER_01]: You also have your captain in Salvador Perez there.

[SPEAKER_01]: So that pretty much handles DH as well.

[SPEAKER_01]: You've got Cags that can cycle into DH.

[SPEAKER_01]: You have to figure out the outfit.

[SPEAKER_01]: You just have to.

[SPEAKER_01]: And maybe Cags can play right long-term.

[SPEAKER_01]: But they also acquire Isaac Collins and they sign Lane Thomas.

[SPEAKER_01]: I want to start with Lane because that's a quicker conversation.

[SPEAKER_01]: Lane Thomas, who is hampered by injury this year in Cleveland, didn't really play much whatsoever.

[SPEAKER_01]: Lane Thomas signs a one year deal with the Kansas City Royals.

[SPEAKER_01]: This is a perfect low-cost bounceback option for them.

[SPEAKER_04]: And I, and this is what, like, every, again, middle market team should be doing.

[SPEAKER_04]: And it was small market teams should be doing, right?

[SPEAKER_04]: And I'm sure others did, and Thomas took an opportunity to sign here, bounce back opportunity with a team that could also make the playoffs.

[SPEAKER_04]: Like, it's, it's a perfect scenario for him, right?

[SPEAKER_04]: And, you know, I think it's a good insurance policy in case things don't fall into place the way that they maybe want via the trade market or other free agent options.

[SPEAKER_04]: And I know some people might look at the numbers and be like, oh, what's he going to do?

[SPEAKER_04]: he said some really brutal and unlucky injuries, you know, this was Thomas was a guy that was, you know, I think we were really excited about him was a key acquisition right for the Guardians to help kind of make a push a couple of years ago and at 30 years old, I still think he has plenty of time and he's going to be 30 for most of the season to get things right.

[SPEAKER_04]: It was a wrist issue which is always going to affect you, a heel issue that's always going to affect you as a header and out fielder.

[SPEAKER_04]: And I [SPEAKER_04]: I love the fit as a right-handed bat that at worst like should be able to short-platoon help you and it's not like it's extremely expensive It was it was a last year for him last year.

[SPEAKER_04]: I'm really interested to see how that they handle the india macie situation there too [SPEAKER_04]: I thought India was a non-tender candidate at eight million dollars.

[SPEAKER_04]: After what did I hear it doesn't provide you much value with the glove.

[SPEAKER_04]: Clearly, they don't want to give up on him just yet.

[SPEAKER_04]: 669 OPS, a Kaufman would have probably with no defensive value would have been hit for me, probably.

[SPEAKER_04]: But that's what I'm just, I'm curious, like, clearly they were fine to take that eight million on.

[SPEAKER_04]: So I don't think they're pinching pennies too much here, but that's where, like, there's a lot that you still need to sort out here and like, who's gonna play a way or who's gonna de-age?

[SPEAKER_04]: Like, if you've got Cags in the Outfield in India at second, like, you're really compromising such a good left side with like a pretty bad right side.

[SPEAKER_04]: And I think that'll be interesting to see how they go about that.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm curious to see what they do with India as well.

[SPEAKER_01]: I was with you on the non-tender thing, but the more I thought about it, the more I came around to the idea that JJ Piccolo, who's their lead decision maker on the baseball operations side, I think he's the president of baseball operations, could be the GM.

[SPEAKER_01]: Those titles are pretty much the one in the same right now.

[SPEAKER_01]: It doesn't matter that they all make decisions on the baseball upside.

[SPEAKER_01]: I feel like trying to put my JJ pick a low hat on, he saw a 10% chance that that $8 million Jonathan India price tag was movable.

[SPEAKER_01]: And if you have a 10% chance, [SPEAKER_01]: It's worth trying because then at least you get a prospect and you're not letting him go for nothing.

[SPEAKER_01]: I bet there's a team out there that is willing to give you an intriguing prospect at the lower levels if you eat three of the eight that he has to.

[SPEAKER_01]: That's true.

[SPEAKER_04]: That's a good point.

[SPEAKER_04]: And again, great.

[SPEAKER_04]: Instead of just saying, oh, let's get this off the books now.

[SPEAKER_04]: All right, let's take on this liability, but it's going to be better for us long term here potentially.

[SPEAKER_04]: And heck, if you go into the season with him and he's more of a platoon, robbing around, but he's playing pretty well, you could easily go dump him somewhere else.

[SPEAKER_04]: We're at when a team is trying to make up for an injury or whatever it may be.

[SPEAKER_04]: But they've got more irons in the fire here.

[SPEAKER_04]: They have different options.

[SPEAKER_04]: And I think some of these situations may also just be answered in spring training.

[SPEAKER_04]: How does Carter Genshin look?

[SPEAKER_04]: How does Kags look in the outfield if they decide to do that if he's looking a little bit better out there Maybe that opens up some things or he looks terrible on you say okay, well, he's got to be at the DH spot So like there's a lot of different wrinkles there that I think they're still trying to figure out But at least they've created some insurance policies in case you know It doesn't all go exactly the way that they think and I love the way that they've set themselves up for even now If you just go into the season extra, I still think there's more work to do [SPEAKER_04]: they've definitely improved their team in a couple key areas, which, you know, to do that already on December 15th, while clearly still being active and ready to do more, put some in a really good spot.

[SPEAKER_01]: and I love the trade they made man.

[SPEAKER_01]: I love it.

[SPEAKER_01]: Isaac Collins goes from Milwaukee to Kansas City along with Nick Mears for on-hell Serpa.

[SPEAKER_01]: So Mears are a lever that has looked better than Serpa for the majority of the last two years.

[SPEAKER_01]: Mears goes from Milwaukee along with Collins to Kansas City and Serpa goes from Kansas City to Milwaukee.

[SPEAKER_01]: I guarantee the Brewers look at Serpa and say this is the guy that we can optimize it on lock.

[SPEAKER_01]: He throws really, really hard.

[SPEAKER_01]: He's got some nasty stuff.

[SPEAKER_01]: I get it.

[SPEAKER_01]: But I want to stick on the Collins fit in Kansas City because this is a fun fun yet.

[SPEAKER_01]: It took until his age 27 season for him to stick in the major leagues.

[SPEAKER_01]: It took him till he was 26 years old for him to get his big league shot.

[SPEAKER_01]: But Isaac Collins last year was a two and a half more player with a WRC plus over 120.

[SPEAKER_01]: This guy had real rookie the year buzz around him until Drake Baldwin kind of pulled away at the end of the year and Kate Horton solidified his candidacy.

[SPEAKER_01]: Isaac Collins in that outfield was one of the sneakiest but best gets that Kansas City could have possibly had.

[SPEAKER_04]: Yeah, I mean, it's fun.

[SPEAKER_04]: And I think some people might be like, whoa, why would the brewers do that?

[SPEAKER_04]: It's, I think the brewers are looking at a guy that they feel like they're selling high on.

[SPEAKER_01]: And I think a lot of people forget about the presence of Garrett Mitchell.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think that name is forgotten about a lot.

[SPEAKER_01]: That guy's a really good player when he's on the table.

[SPEAKER_04]: And if you look at underlying data, [SPEAKER_04]: any team, I think is going to take the Garrett Mitchell shot.

[SPEAKER_04]: I think from like, if you have a healthy Mitchell upside perspective, like it's crazy to quality contact and some of the defensive things that Mitchell can bring to the table.

[SPEAKER_04]: But Collins, like the floor is high, right?

[SPEAKER_04]: Because the swing decisions are so good.

[SPEAKER_04]: The bat's a ball was quality.

[SPEAKER_04]: He's a switch hitter and he's a good defender.

[SPEAKER_04]: I so even if you bake in regression to where he's a 95 WRC plus guy, [SPEAKER_04]: My gosh, I think the royals might be in the playoffs if they had a couple 95 WRC plus guys playing good defense and corners.

[SPEAKER_04]: So I think that is what the brewers were looking at saying we're going to sell high a little bit here and the royals and look, we know that he's probably not going to be as good as he was last year, but he still brings a skill set that we sorely needed with years of control and he's going to be a good piece for us.

[SPEAKER_04]: So I really do like to fit.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I like to fit a lot too, and we're gonna continue talking about other out filters in a moment on the Gis baseball show.

[SPEAKER_01]: Just baseball show rolls on, we were just talking about Isaac Collins.

[SPEAKER_01]: It was traded from Milwaukee to Kansas City, Isaac Collins.

[SPEAKER_01]: The fit is fun and all they need them to be is the six hitting left filter where the seven hitting left filter and you've got a really solid front two thirds of the lineup there in Kansas City.

[SPEAKER_01]: I do want to talk about a couple of other corner out filters that sign deals.

[SPEAKER_01]: One of them came through on Monday.

[SPEAKER_01]: who is a one-year $10 million deal for Adolees Garcia with the Philadelphia Phillies.

[SPEAKER_01]: Adolees Garcia, who is non-tendered by the Texas Rangers.

[SPEAKER_01]: Adolees was, I think, a top-10 corner outfielder in Major League Baseball at the end of the 2023 MLBC season.

[SPEAKER_01]: This guy had what 40 homers, who's flirting with 40 at least, and he was a gold glove candidate in right field.

[SPEAKER_01]: He pretty much put up a five win season with 39 homers, 107 driven in and a 128 WRC plus.

[SPEAKER_01]: After that, immediate downhill slope.

[SPEAKER_01]: He was a negative war player in 154 games in 2024.

[SPEAKER_01]: He went from one of the better right field defenders in Major League Baseball to one of the worst right field defenders in Major League Baseball.

[SPEAKER_01]: And this year, he decided to stop walking.

[SPEAKER_01]: what happened to Adolis Garcia and why does 10 million make sense for Philly to throw his way?

[SPEAKER_01]: I don't know if it does.

[SPEAKER_04]: That's the big question.

[SPEAKER_04]: Garcia had not improved defensively significantly this year like he got back to where he, you know, has been in the past.

[SPEAKER_04]: He was negative 12 out to above average.

[SPEAKER_04]: And I'll cut him some slack.

[SPEAKER_04]: You know, he had the knee injury.

[SPEAKER_04]: I wonder if that had affected him in 24.

[SPEAKER_04]: And then this past year, he, you know, was one out above average gave you some value with the arm and, you know, so from a percentile standpoint that it's actually put some in the 72nd percentile, right.

[SPEAKER_04]: So.

[SPEAKER_04]: He gave you a decent defense.

[SPEAKER_04]: If he hadn't done that, I'd be like, why are you just replacing Nick Castellanos with a little bit sexier of a Nick Castellanos?

[SPEAKER_04]: And I still think there's some, some of that to this move here.

[SPEAKER_04]: And that's where I, I don't know how to feel about it.

[SPEAKER_04]: That said, I liked him as a bounce back candidate for a team like the Reds or team like, you know, some of the Royals.

[SPEAKER_04]: So if the Phillies really believe he's going to bounce back, [SPEAKER_04]: It's a good shot to take.

[SPEAKER_04]: And the difference is Castellanos, this stage, you're hoping that he's just in rhythm as a hitter and doesn't chase 50% of the time and has a hot stretch for you.

[SPEAKER_04]: Adolesce still hits the crap out of the ball.

[SPEAKER_04]: He still hits the ball as hard as I would say just about the top 10% of the league.

[SPEAKER_04]: So you're hoping that you can improve the angles, you can improve the swing decisions a little bit.

[SPEAKER_04]: the impact is there and the defense is not a gaping hole.

[SPEAKER_04]: So you can maybe see the 32-year-old here putting it back together, but a $10 million man, I don't know, I'd rather I've laying Thomas at five.

[SPEAKER_04]: As bad as it was for laying Thomas last year.

[SPEAKER_01]: It is funny because there are a couple of really good organizations that I think it's right gold with somebody and then immediately look for the next guy to do that.

[SPEAKER_01]: So the Dodgers a couple of years ago struck gold with Jason Hayward.

[SPEAKER_01]: on a one-year deal.

[SPEAKER_01]: They brought him back.

[SPEAKER_01]: He wasn't that good.

[SPEAKER_01]: But it was a great one-year deal OPS over 800.

[SPEAKER_01]: What do they do the next year?

[SPEAKER_01]: They go bring Tiasca Hernandez in on a one-year deal and they strike gold and they bring him back.

[SPEAKER_01]: So what do they do the next year?

[SPEAKER_01]: They bring Michael Conforto in and say, you know what?

[SPEAKER_01]: This is this year's version of Jason Hayward and Tiasca Hernandez.

[SPEAKER_01]: And Michael Conforto was unplayable.

[SPEAKER_01]: He wasn't on the World Series roster for the LA Dodgers.

[SPEAKER_01]: I feel like the fillies are starting to settle into this rhythm.

[SPEAKER_01]: They love what they saw from Max Kepler in 2024.

[SPEAKER_01]: Had Ert in 2025.

[SPEAKER_01]: Had the love it.

[SPEAKER_01]: One year, $10 million deal.

[SPEAKER_01]: So what do you think Dave Dumrowski did?

[SPEAKER_01]: found this year's Max Kepler the delies and they wanted to write.

[SPEAKER_04]: Yeah, so it does feel like a pattern play for the Yeah, no, it's a good point and and Nebraska was like, I think they're in the winter meetings was very like Candidate about how there's just been stretches in his life as a GM or just sometimes there's no lefties out there.

[SPEAKER_04]: Sometimes there's no righties out there and this year just felt like there was no righties.

[SPEAKER_04]: So that they [SPEAKER_04]: wanted their righty bat and and you know, here he is.

[SPEAKER_04]: Again, still hits the ball really hard.

[SPEAKER_04]: So maybe they're hoping that, you know, just change a scenery, you know, maybe there's something specifically that they think they can unlock with him and I can get him there.

[SPEAKER_04]: Um, I don't know because he's been really hard for me to figure out exactly what the issue is.

[SPEAKER_04]: I think it's just an aggressive approach that got exposed a little bit more as the league adjusted to him.

[SPEAKER_04]: So see if he can adjust back now after a couple years, uh, but I think a change of scenery, um, where he's a little bit more even insulated in that line up to, uh, I think could help and you know, probably a bit more hitter friendly ballpark.

[SPEAKER_04]: I'd imagine.

[SPEAKER_04]: I don't have the pork factors right in front of me, but it's still an interesting, interesting shot to take, but if they don't care about the money, then it's fine.

[SPEAKER_04]: I keep thinking, I haven't heard anything from the Philly, so maybe I'm projecting here, but I keep thinking, man, like, they've got to be up against it here a little bit, right?

[SPEAKER_04]: They've got to be up against it here a little bit.

[SPEAKER_01]: Maybe they're not up against anything.

[SPEAKER_01]: Have to.

[SPEAKER_01]: We'll talk about Mike has quick, but before that, I did see a note and I want a circle back to that trade.

[SPEAKER_01]: Again, that trade was Isaac Collins and Nick Meyers going from Milwaukee to Kansas City for on Hell, Serpa.

[SPEAKER_01]: And the immediate response from everybody, knowing how good Collins was and knowing how good it points Meyers was was [SPEAKER_01]: That's it.

[SPEAKER_01]: On Hill Serpa is the only return for Isaac Collins and Nick Mears.

[SPEAKER_01]: You've got to thought on Serpa.

[SPEAKER_01]: Why does that make sense that that's it for the return?

[SPEAKER_04]: I think it's a lazy analysis when like you don't understand a trade and but a smart organization does it.

[SPEAKER_04]: So you just jump on board, right?

[SPEAKER_04]: Like, I'm not just going to do that here, but Serpa.

[SPEAKER_04]: He was 25 years old still last year and the arsenal does scream like could be an interesting starting pitching option which it sounds like the brewers are going to try.

[SPEAKER_04]: 64% ground ball right from a left handed reliever and his fastball is sinker average 97 miles per hour.

[SPEAKER_04]: He has the curve ball for Seamer and he flashed a change a little bit too.

[SPEAKER_04]: I think he's an interesting player to work with to try to maybe add a cutter in there.

[SPEAKER_04]: Like, he clearly can spin the baseball a little bit too.

[SPEAKER_04]: And yeah, I'm just interested to see like what the brewers can do there to potentially unlock more.

[SPEAKER_04]: But when you're getting ground balls at that clip, [SPEAKER_04]: And you're not walking a ton of guys.

[SPEAKER_04]: I think this could be a fun project for the Brewers.

[SPEAKER_04]: And I think he's a guy that they're excited to potentially have he innings for them.

[SPEAKER_04]: But then on the Royal side, you get another arm and to the fold there in Nick Mears, who now they're just lengthening that bolt pin that now all of the sudden looks pretty decent.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yep, 60 seconds here.

[SPEAKER_01]: And this kind of starts our rapid fire free agent assessment.

[SPEAKER_01]: I want the 60 second assessment of Mike Yostromski's three-year deal with the Atlanta Braves.

[SPEAKER_01]: We talked about it a little bit when we were talking Robert Suarez, but where do you stand on Mike Yaz joining the Atlanta Braves?

[SPEAKER_04]: I just love the consistency that he brings to a team that has had anything but that the last couple years.

[SPEAKER_04]: I think that's the biggest part.

[SPEAKER_04]: And the braves have loved these.

[SPEAKER_04]: They're going to solid, left handed hitters that usually they acquire these guys at the deadline, right?

[SPEAKER_04]: But just to have this balance there with them, [SPEAKER_04]: you're going to have a full year of pro far now as well as a switch hitter.

[SPEAKER_04]: But I think he balances out the lineup.

[SPEAKER_04]: I think he gives them a well-rounded skill set that they haven't really had.

[SPEAKER_04]: And like I said, instead of rolling count it out there, you're rolling a vet that's been consistent.

[SPEAKER_04]: The only thing question I have is he's already 35 years old.

[SPEAKER_04]: So we'll see how the game ages.

[SPEAKER_04]: But I think he's just going to be this forever, it feels like.

[SPEAKER_01]: he debuted so late.

[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, he was close to 30 when he debuted.

[SPEAKER_01]: And I would think with the bloodlines here, this is Carl's grandson, it Mike is stremsky that, you know, he would be there at 22 23 years old.

[SPEAKER_01]: I like having busy over just not the case more rapid fire when we come back on the just baseball show.

[SPEAKER_01]: Just baseball, show it wraps up here, Jack McMullen, Arm Layton, as always, the just baseball show was brought to you by BetMGM.

[SPEAKER_01]: I wanna finish our free agent rapid fire.

[SPEAKER_01]: We just talked about Mikey Stramsky, signing a three-year deal with the Atlanta Braves.

[SPEAKER_01]: Now, I wanna pivot to Dustin May, signing a one-year deal with St.

Louis.

[SPEAKER_01]: The money is unreported, but Dustin May is going to get a shot to bounce back with a team that is a in a clear cut rebuilding situation in the St.

Louis Cardinals.

[SPEAKER_01]: What do you think of the fit for former Dodger right-hand or Dustin May in St.

Louis?

[SPEAKER_04]: I love it.

[SPEAKER_04]: I hated the Red Sox trading for a rental [SPEAKER_04]: A team that I don't know if they're using the word rebuild, but you might as well call it a rebuild.

[SPEAKER_04]: Let's go on and say close right now.

[SPEAKER_04]: It's not fully torn down to the studs, but this is where, you know, this is an opportunity where I think I'm bloom.

[SPEAKER_04]: I think a little bit of they're starting to overhaul a little bit of the player development infrastructure, but they've done a pretty good job with arms.

[SPEAKER_04]: either this team ends up surprising like they still have plenty of talent to that's the thing.

[SPEAKER_04]: So at least you're you're also adding a player in that can help you put your best foot forward and maybe hang in the loudcard.

[SPEAKER_04]: But if the team isn't very good and you want to walk a little bit more out of May, it's a great friendship.

[SPEAKER_04]: As he was struggling last year, he still was able to get, you know, the James Tibbs back, you know, in a return there for the Dodgers.

[SPEAKER_04]: Imagine if he's [SPEAKER_04]: Impressed and just enticed by doesn't may how wouldn't you be six foot six can absolutely throw the crap out of the baseball when he's healthy with a heavy sinker and a nasty curve ball and has all these interesting components to him.

[SPEAKER_04]: If he's throwing wall, I promise a bunch of teams and their stuff plus bottles are going to be all over it.

[SPEAKER_04]: So great bounce back candidate and I think fits into you know where the cardinals are at right now.

[SPEAKER_01]: to your point.

[SPEAKER_01]: I don't care what the production looked like.

[SPEAKER_01]: Disguide passes the eye test with flying colors.

[SPEAKER_01]: And when he is around the strike zone and when he is hitting the perimeter of the strike zone, he is really fun to watch.

[SPEAKER_01]: And this is a low risk high reward play for St.

Louis and Worcke scenario.

[SPEAKER_01]: They move him at the deadline and they get something decent back for him.

[SPEAKER_01]: Christopher Morrell has a home.

[SPEAKER_01]: Morrell is non-tendered by the Tampa Bay raise.

[SPEAKER_01]: Reportedly, Christopher Morrell has agreed to a one-year $2 million deal with the Miami Marlins.

[SPEAKER_01]: The report is that Christopher Morrell will get a lot of reps at first base.

[SPEAKER_01]: We know about the arm slot and ball flight problems from third base.

[SPEAKER_01]: Outfield didn't work too too well.

[SPEAKER_01]: But this guy, man, when he starts running into baseballs, it can be a really fun month or two.

[SPEAKER_04]: And that's what I think the marlins are betting on here, right?

[SPEAKER_04]: And like, if this was the marlins of like three years ago, I'd be like, oh gosh, this is like the last stop from morale that maybe.

[SPEAKER_04]: But in this case, the way that the marlins have helped players like Eriburts or Hernandez and, and I mean, when we talk about like Marcy and and stowers that we've been made last year, I think really improving the swing decision department and and I think that is one of the most important components for morale going into this years.

[SPEAKER_04]: going to be destroying decisions and and I think just overall just cutting the whiff down a little bit as well, which is going to be a challenge, but I think something again that the Marlins have had some success with over the last year plus, like, high with guys getting up to the big, high with guys in the miners, getting up to the big leagues and succeeding, you know, even Griffin, Kona, being another example of that, like they've they've have proof and you know, of concept now with several different players.

[SPEAKER_04]: I think they're betting on that there.

[SPEAKER_04]: And we know like the rays and now the marlins and there's going to be a lot of overlap and probably philosophy there in differences and overlap, really pursue those EVs and when you get 90%ilex of a loss in morale was still a lead last year, 108 miles per hour is hard hit rate was 50% like this guy hits the living crap out in the ball.

[SPEAKER_04]: So if you're able to [SPEAKER_04]: Squeeze out a little bit more in the swing decision department.

[SPEAKER_04]: Maybe squeeze out a little bit more in the contact department.

[SPEAKER_04]: Morel gives you a lot more upside than probably any other $2 million or less free agent pick up was going to be for the Moans.

[SPEAKER_04]: I just hope that this isn't all that they do.

[SPEAKER_04]: And and that's that's where we'll find out, but I had 26 years old here.

[SPEAKER_04]: It's a fun.

[SPEAKER_04]: It's a fun shot to take.

[SPEAKER_01]: and folks coaching still works at the major league level, and it does feel like they they think they have a plan in place to help improve swing decisions and help a guy with play discipline is more l too far gone.

[SPEAKER_01]: I guess we'll see, but that is a clear cut avenue of his game that needs to improve.

[SPEAKER_01]: Got about a minute here.

[SPEAKER_01]: Josh Bell signs a one-year deal with the Minnesota twins with a mutual option for 27.

[SPEAKER_01]: I don't really have any on-field analysis here because the Minnesota twins are looking as lost is pretty much any organization in baseball.

[SPEAKER_01]: But Josh Bell is going to get to 10 years a major league service time this year and that's a huge one here.

[SPEAKER_01]: 7 teams and 7 years for Josh Bell.

[SPEAKER_04]: He was better than I thought last year down the stretch.

[SPEAKER_04]: I don't know why I remember it being worse, but I mean, the way he started was not very good, but Bell was, and this is what he seems to do every year, right, but he did it over or even a larger sample this past year.

[SPEAKER_04]: Final 90 games, he had a 800 OPS.

[SPEAKER_04]: I mean, and you go final 60 games, it was an 824 OPS.

[SPEAKER_04]: So, but twins, Koo, we don't wanna fully tear it down to the studs.

[SPEAKER_04]: I don't know what their plan is, [SPEAKER_04]: try to compete a little bit.

[SPEAKER_04]: Good, bring in a vet who can swing it a little bit at first basin.

[SPEAKER_04]: That was it in the crap out of the ball down the stretch final 60 games hard hit rate of 50% 11 homers and you got to switch hitter and a veteran there for some of these young guys.

[SPEAKER_04]: I like it.

[SPEAKER_04]: So, you know, I know the twins were still figuring out their budget, but quite way they figured out enough to add bell.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, folks, thank you so much for joining us, whether it was on Sports Grid on YouTube, on X, thank you for listening, whether it's on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

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