[SPEAKER_00]: The gis-based ball show is presented by Badmgm.

[SPEAKER_00]: If you haven't signed up for Badmgm yet, use bonus code gis-based ball and you will get up to a $1,500 first bet offer on your first wager with Badmgm.

[SPEAKER_00]: Here's how it works.

[SPEAKER_00]: Step 1.

[SPEAKER_00]: Download the Badmgm app and sign up using bonus code.

[SPEAKER_00]: Just Baseball, deposit at least $10 in place your first wager on any game.

[SPEAKER_00]: Step 3, you'll receive up to $1,500 in bonus bets if your bet loses.

[SPEAKER_00]: Just make sure to use bonus code, just Baseball when you sign up.

[SPEAKER_00]: First bet offer for new customers only, subject to eligibility requirements, rewards are nonwithdrawable bonus bets that expire in seven days.

[SPEAKER_00]: In partnership with Kansas Crossing casino and hotel, US promotional offers not available in North Carolina, New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico, gambling problem called 1-800-Gambler, available in the United States.

[SPEAKER_00]: Call 877-8-HopenY or TextHopenY to 467-369 in New York.

[SPEAKER_00]: Call 1-800 next step in Arizona, 1-800-3275050 in Massachusetts, 1-800 bets off in Iowa, 1-800-980-2303 in Puerto Rico, or visit 1-800-Gambler.net that's www.1-800-Gambler.net in West Virginia.

[SPEAKER_00]: Don't forget, if you haven't signed up for BetMGM yet, use bonus code, just baseball, and get your $1500.

[SPEAKER_03]: Shit, shit, shit, shit!

[SPEAKER_01]: Another bonus, just baseball show for you.

[SPEAKER_01]: Happy Thanksgiving, heck, I might schedule this to go out on Thanksgiving morning.

[SPEAKER_01]: So before you enjoy your lions and your cowboys, those are the two guaranteed football teams that we get, everything's giving.

[SPEAKER_01]: Before you enjoy your lions and your cowboys, [SPEAKER_01]: Get four more free agent previews.

[SPEAKER_01]: We're gonna do a Ranger Suarez, Eugenio Suarez, Michael King, Edwin Diaz, today.

[SPEAKER_01]: Jack, you're following Ryan Finklestein.

[SPEAKER_01]: I appreciate you doing this.

[SPEAKER_01]: Do you prefer the back and forth nature of Peter moderating these where it's like, you know what, I actually think you're wrong.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm gonna do this or would you say, you know what?

[SPEAKER_01]: Like, let me get my thoughts out and then we'll move on to the next guy.

[SPEAKER_02]: I like both, you know, it's fun for Peter to quibble over the A.V.

[SPEAKER_02]: That's usually the big problem and it's more just, I'm giving people way too much money, but as we'll get into today, I think the top of the market gets paid, but once we start getting a little bit further down, I think the contrast got a little more reasonable, but I think Peter, [SPEAKER_02]: didn't quite agree with Shorber getting 32 and sees getting over 30 so it was a fun back and for people to check it out.

[SPEAKER_01]: I don't have the exact quote but Theo Epstein said something like if you're reasonable you'll finish third.

[SPEAKER_01]: That could have been Andrew Friedman but that it's kind of the idea around this where you you [SPEAKER_01]: offered the reasonable deal and then all of a sudden another team offers the unreasonable deal and you don't get that player because they of course accepted the unreasonable one.

[SPEAKER_01]: So you got to be a little frisky, which I can wholeheartedly appreciate.

[SPEAKER_01]: But we're doing Ranger Suarez again, Gino Suarez, Michael King Edwin Diaz.

[SPEAKER_01]: This is moving into the nine through 13 range of just baseball's free agent rankings.

[SPEAKER_01]: And of course, that is linked in our episode description.

[SPEAKER_01]: Let's start this off with a free agent profile and prediction for Ranger Suarez.

[SPEAKER_01]: Ranger Suarez, obviously, the longtime Philadelphia Philly at this point, Ranger put up yet another great season in a Philadelphia Philly's uniform.

[SPEAKER_01]: He has been overshadowed at different points in his Philly career by different arms.

[SPEAKER_01]: At first, it was Aaron Nola and then it was Aaron Nola and Zach Wheeler.

[SPEAKER_01]: And then it was Zach Wheeler.

[SPEAKER_01]: And now it's this cat Christopher Sanchez, who is the national excite young runner up at Ranger Suarez, what he has done over the course of his career has just been insanely consistent.

[SPEAKER_01]: 762 innings at a Philly's uniform, since he debuted in 2018, he's got a 3.38 ERA.

[SPEAKER_01]: His last four seasons.

[SPEAKER_01]: In 2022, 29 starts at a three, six, five ERA.

[SPEAKER_01]: In 2023, 22 starts at a four, one, eight.

[SPEAKER_01]: In 2024, his all-star campaign, 27 starts at a three, four, six ERA.

[SPEAKER_01]: And this year, 157 innings, 26 starts at a 3.20 ERA.

[SPEAKER_01]: It's not overwhelmingly sexy.

[SPEAKER_01]: The stuff plus models are not going to love him, but man is this guy consistently really good.

[SPEAKER_02]: He is consistently really good.

[SPEAKER_02]: One thing though that I think is interesting about Ranger Suarez is while the numbers are there consistently, he is also a very interesting variation because there's a couple things that I think work for him and against him.

[SPEAKER_02]: On one hand, there's the playoff pedigree.

[SPEAKER_02]: There's the fact that [SPEAKER_02]: overall is going to give you good season, but also there's the streakiness that is in there with Ranger Suarez.

[SPEAKER_02]: It's also a season, remember we were talking psi on the first half and then he kind of fell off and it was an interesting second half for Ranger that year.

[SPEAKER_02]: So I think there's a little bit of that that might went into his fantasy and also you're not getting [SPEAKER_02]: the absolute workhorse either.

[SPEAKER_02]: So those are the few knocks that I would put on Ranger that to me kept him back a little bit from my contract prediction compared to some of the other names we already talked about in the Framber and Dylan Seas.

[SPEAKER_01]: So a couple of things that jump out about what you just laid out.

[SPEAKER_01]: Number one, he's not the workhorse.

[SPEAKER_01]: I wholeheartedly agree with you.

[SPEAKER_01]: The numbers would indicate that everybody would wholeheartedly agree with you.

[SPEAKER_01]: This guy just logged a career best 157 and a third innings in 2025.

[SPEAKER_01]: that is two innings better than is a 155 and a third that he posted in 2022.

[SPEAKER_01]: Now he missed some time with an injury in 23 so he was limited to 125 innings.

[SPEAKER_01]: But of his last three full full workloads, 25 or more starts, 155 innings, 150 innings, 157 innings.

[SPEAKER_01]: So I ask you, is it his limitations, or is it fully limiting him?

[SPEAKER_01]: heart of me skews the second way.

[SPEAKER_01]: Obviously, if this guy was posting 32 times, he would get to 170, 180 innings.

[SPEAKER_01]: He hasn't been doing that.

[SPEAKER_01]: So, I guess injuries would seem to dictate that, but I guess they're kind of nagging issues.

[SPEAKER_01]: To me, those numbers in the macro seem to indicate that like Philly was very content not getting 200 innings out of him.

[SPEAKER_01]: So, if a team size of him says [SPEAKER_01]: I don't know if I'm calling their bluff on that.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_02]: It's an interesting one.

[SPEAKER_02]: So to me, I think it actually makes sense for this one to jump right into the contract prediction, because I'm pretty sure you and RM, whoever you did this show with when you were breaking on the free agent pictures, did not like my five for one, ten prediction.

[SPEAKER_02]: And so I wanted to kind of start there and how I came up with that, and to me, it's a matter of if I'm given Ranger Suarez five years.

[SPEAKER_02]: I don't know, is he a 25 to 30 million dollar picture?

[SPEAKER_02]: And I guess I stopped short of that, where I think, sure, if he gets a three year deal, I think he could get the upper end A, V, but I think he gets the long term years.

[SPEAKER_02]: I just don't know if he does get that high end dollar amount.

[SPEAKER_02]: I don't know if the market views him as a frontline starter or like a great number three.

[SPEAKER_02]: And I think that's that's kind of the question and you're trying to evaluate how much you're going to pay.

[SPEAKER_02]: And just as far as obviously the market will dictate a lot, but there is a qualified offer attached.

[SPEAKER_02]: So there's this just I stop short at him getting 25 million plus for the five plus years.

[SPEAKER_02]: But I also could absolutely be wrong.

[SPEAKER_02]: And if Carlos or Don got what he got and we're talking over 25 million.

[SPEAKER_02]: I don't know if his was six years so it could be there just for a down was coming off the season where he was one of the best pitches in baseball I think Ranger is more a top what 30 to 50 pitcher in baseball.

[SPEAKER_02]: It's he's really good But I don't know if he's front line.

[SPEAKER_02]: I guess that's maybe my hold on [SPEAKER_01]: So I understand where you're coming from.

[SPEAKER_01]: It was Peter and I doing the picture for you.

[SPEAKER_01]: They seem to have a lot of sense.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, he's a heck of a lot of sense.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think what my reservations were, were that [SPEAKER_01]: looking at Ranger Suarez looking at the body of work and looking at just how good the pitchability lefties were in 2025.

[SPEAKER_01]: What makes you think that he is a high level three and not a high level two?

[SPEAKER_01]: I guess I look at Ranger Suarez and I see a high level two and I think that's where you push into that next level of earning that next echelon where you could push to a hundred and thirty million dollars is supposed to one tap.

[SPEAKER_01]: Now I can appreciate a nine [SPEAKER_01]: him nine figures.

[SPEAKER_01]: I just wonder, is there a team out there that has got seen enough to say, we think you can start game two of a postseason series.

[SPEAKER_01]: And if our ace gets hurt, we think you can start game one of a postseason series.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think there are plenty of teams that do think that way.

[SPEAKER_01]: The question is, are they in the financial pool?

[SPEAKER_01]: where they can spend nine figures on a picture that hasn't eclipsed 160 in X.

[SPEAKER_01]: It's, you're walking the tight rope with him, which is different than Dylan C.

So you know it's gonna give you 32 starts a year and it's gonna strike out a bunch of guys and could flirt with a no hitter.

[SPEAKER_01]: It's a heck of a lot different than Framberwald S.

[SPEAKER_01]: But we're going to talk about Michael King a little bit later on in this.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think it's similar to Michael King where there is just that lingering question.

[SPEAKER_01]: And King is health related.

[SPEAKER_01]: But Ranger is, I guess, availability and workload related, is there anything about his on-field performance that would indicate to you that he may not get nine figures?

[SPEAKER_01]: Because for me, I think it's no.

[SPEAKER_02]: So not nine figures, you know, I think to me what I would say about what we've seen on the field that would hold his market back a little bit as again, those pockets in an individual seasons where he hasn't been as good and just wondering if there could be a fall off.

[SPEAKER_02]: And so that's where I think he might not get, again, the upwards of 25 plus million.

[SPEAKER_02]: But I think based on the body of work, this guy should get a five year deal and it's got to start in the $20 million.

[SPEAKER_02]: So right there, I think it's almost a lock that he sees a nine figure deal.

[SPEAKER_02]: Unless he's just really bullish on betting on himself and he believes he's a 25 to 30 million dog picture.

[SPEAKER_02]: And then it's a shorter term, but I really think this is the time for Ranger to get that long-term security.

[SPEAKER_02]: And I feel like his market is pretty open.

[SPEAKER_02]: Like I think there's a lot of the mid-tier teams that maybe aren't going to even try on season framer that say, you know what Ranger Suarez is the guy that we want that can be that high at number two and start a playoff game.

[SPEAKER_02]: If you love Ranger Suarez, I do think that that does fit the type of team and the type of role that he'd be looking at again.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm not asking the just baseball free agent rankings.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm asking Ryan Figlstein.

[SPEAKER_01]: Who do you sleep better with in your rotation?

[SPEAKER_01]: Ranger Swar as or Dillencies.

[SPEAKER_01]: doing.

[SPEAKER_01]: Well, oh, that's interesting.

[UNKNOWN]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_02]: So I think that I talked myself in disease, one of them about to spend this much money because I think I, it just kind of depends on the team and what you need.

[SPEAKER_02]: I think if you're looking to have that, that new age, if you're really looking for that difference maker and you've won a gamble on upside, it sees, but I guess I can see, I think where you're coming with the question where, yeah, maybe you feel a little bit safer just now.

[SPEAKER_02]: And you know what, I'm going to pay, you know, [SPEAKER_02]: $8 to $10 million less a year.

[SPEAKER_02]: And Ranger is just going to be a solid mid threes here right pitcher over the life of the deal.

[SPEAKER_02]: I think I can kind of see where to come with it.

[SPEAKER_02]: So it just depends on if you want the upside or the floor.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_01]: And I think I like the floor.

[SPEAKER_01]: I like the safety.

[SPEAKER_01]: We're going to get to the team fits in a moment, but I do want to give you a couple of notable numbers about Ranger Suarez that thank you alluded to in his career before they all start break.

[SPEAKER_01]: He's got a 2.92 ERA in his career after the all start break.

[SPEAKER_01]: He's got a 3.68 ERA.

[SPEAKER_01]: But something that some teams may pay for is the postseason sample and this guy in eight postseason starts and three appearances out of the bullpen has logged 42 and two third zittings of 1.48 ERA baseball.

[SPEAKER_01]: So there is that postseason price tag that comes with Ranger Suarez.

[SPEAKER_01]: I noticed that you have a lot of teams in your predicted suitors for Ranger Suarez that are trying to get over that recent postseason hump.

[SPEAKER_01]: You don't have the Dodgers.

[SPEAKER_01]: You don't have the Yankees who are high level spenders.

[SPEAKER_01]: But you've got risky teams, you know, reunion with the fillies is possible.

[SPEAKER_01]: the Houston Astros who were trying to get back to that dynastic approach that they had over the course of the late 2010s early 2020s you've got the Toronto Blue Jays who are trying to push over the hump the Atlanta Braves who were trying to get back there the Boston Red Sox who were trying to get back there but you feel like you identified the best fit and it's none of those teams.

[SPEAKER_02]: So I love the idea of Ranger Swara is going to Detroit and be in the number two to school.

[SPEAKER_02]: You have a chance to win big this year and then if you lose school, not that Ranger is your prototypical ace, but in Detroit, if you want a stable arm to sort of build around that next version of Tiger's Base, but if you move on from school, I think Ranger makes a lot of sense.

[SPEAKER_02]: I just think that this is a team that [SPEAKER_02]: might not shop at the very top of the market although Peter is convinced they're going to get Dylan sees, but I think Ranger Suarez maybe fits their price bucket a little bit better and is exactly the type of one that they can be looking at saying we want to get over the top in October.

[SPEAKER_02]: Let's get a guy that's been there before a reasonable contract that we can build around five year deal for Ranger going to the Tigers.

[SPEAKER_02]: I think it makes a lot of sense.

[SPEAKER_01]: Okay.

[SPEAKER_01]: Five for one ten to the Detroit Tigers.

[SPEAKER_01]: Can you give me a pitch on another team in this clump that makes sense.

[SPEAKER_01]: Philly's Astro's Brave's Blue Jays Red Sox.

[SPEAKER_02]: I think all of them make sense to a certain extent.

[SPEAKER_02]: I think the Philly's we added on there just because you never know.

[SPEAKER_02]: I kind of doubt that they do it.

[SPEAKER_02]: It feels like they replace Ranger early when they trade it for Hazard's Oslo's Ardo.

[SPEAKER_02]: The braze aren't interesting one for sure because I think they're in the market for a starting pitcher who knows if they are at the top of the market, so I think they make a lot of sense and they have so many questions in that rotation right now.

[SPEAKER_02]: I think Ranger would be such a nice safety blanket, but just plug into the middle.

[SPEAKER_02]: You hope that sale is healthy.

[SPEAKER_02]: You hope that striters better.

[SPEAKER_02]: You are hoping for a continued progression with Schwalembach.

[SPEAKER_02]: But to just have Ranger Suarez as a guy you slide into that three spot, who could climb up those rankings of a couple guys aren't healthy, and if everything breaks right, if he ends up being your four good rotation is that good, all the better, I think the braids are really interesting fit here.

[SPEAKER_01]: Cool.

[SPEAKER_01]: That was your free agent profile in prediction for Ranger Suarez.

[SPEAKER_01]: Free agent profile and prediction from Michael King.

[SPEAKER_01]: Michael King was a San Diego Padre and a darn good one after being part of the Juan Soto deal and probably the headliner of the Juan Soto return that got him to the Yankees for his walk year.

[SPEAKER_01]: Michael King is 30 years old, and this former 12th round pick at a Boston College has blossomed into a very good starting pitcher.

[SPEAKER_01]: This guy made 34 appearances out of the Yankee bullpen in 22 at a 2.29 ERA.

[SPEAKER_01]: He was looking like a legit setup guy.

[SPEAKER_01]: So what happens next?

[SPEAKER_01]: The swing man, Michael King.

[SPEAKER_01]: He threw over 100 innings in 2023 in his final year in New York.

[SPEAKER_01]: And in 49 appearances, nine of which starts.

[SPEAKER_01]: He also saved six games.

[SPEAKER_01]: He had a 275 ERA and he punched out 11 hitters per 9 in those 105 innings.

[SPEAKER_01]: He punches out over 200 guys in his first year with say the ego, he finishes seventh in national exciteong voting.

[SPEAKER_01]: And in 30 starts, he threw 174 innings at a 2.95 ERA.

[SPEAKER_01]: In 2025, he was limited with injury, but in injury, hammered Michael King was still an effective Michael King.

[SPEAKER_01]: 15 starts, 73 innings.

[SPEAKER_01]: He threw a complete game shot out and he had a 3.44 ERA.

[SPEAKER_01]: The injury looms, but this guy over the last four years has not given you a single doubt that he can be a frontline starting pitcher, and that comes with the unique arsenal and setup of him.

[SPEAKER_01]: He's a big guy, and he is as horizontally inclined as any pitcher in Major League Baseball.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, you know, Michael King, I think if he hits free agency after 24, we're talking about a no doubt nine figure contract, a guy that would be at the top of this market even if he had had that a repeat even of 2024 and 2024 and 2025, he had done that.

[SPEAKER_02]: For two years as a starting pitcher, I think there's almost no reservations about Michael King as a free agent.

[SPEAKER_02]: The injury stuff is a question for sure, and so I do wonder if that limits his market as far as how many years he gets, but if you're looking for impact starters, a guy that could be your game one starter and a playoff series, I think Michael King clearly has that upside and he's going to be a fly that some team is really excited to take a chance on.

[SPEAKER_01]: not to constantly throw shots at Dylan C's because I'm not, I'm not trying to do that.

[SPEAKER_01]: But if King repeated, I feel like it's a consensus that Michael King is the better free agent pitcher than Dylan C's.

[SPEAKER_01]: No, it feels like he would be consensus one to your point if he repeated what he didn't 24.

[SPEAKER_02]: 100%.

[SPEAKER_02]: And that's what teams are going to bid on.

[SPEAKER_02]: I'm very curious if teams sort of throw out 2025 and aren't worried about the injury stuff at all.

[SPEAKER_02]: But I think just a lack of track record overall is why Dylan sees stands out so much more because he's just 32 starts.

[SPEAKER_02]: He's going to strike out 200 the ERA who knows if it's going to be in the fours or the twos, but he has that upside to be in the twos.

[SPEAKER_02]: And that's what teams are going to pay and give in that long term deal.

[SPEAKER_02]: with Michael King.

[SPEAKER_02]: There's that uncertainty, but again, the upside is undeniable.

[SPEAKER_02]: And I think there's going to be some teams that aren't even looking at seas and could just really kick the tires on Michael King because they really buy into the fact that if that, this guy's healthy, you almost know what you're going to get.

[SPEAKER_02]: It feels like if Michael King is on the mountain healthy, you're talking [SPEAKER_02]: could be even better, ton of strikeouts and even a ton of innings too, you know, if he's right, he's the type of guy that can go deep in the games too.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, Michael King, by the way, in 2024 when he was arguably a top 10 pitcher in baseball, he had four pitches in a positive run value, including that change up, which was one of the best in baseball.

[SPEAKER_01]: It was also one of the best in baseball when he was on the mound in 2025.

[SPEAKER_01]: He threw just 260 of him and he accumulated [SPEAKER_01]: Michael King, again, it's change up working arm side, it's sweeper working love side, and he gets as much horizontal separation as anybody in baseball.

[SPEAKER_01]: But it is a tight rope act when you think about what he could be, what he was before the injury, and what he could be after the injury, if things don't go well.

[SPEAKER_01]: I assume that you have a pretty high average annual value, not over the course of six or seven years, what do you have?

[SPEAKER_02]: So I went with three years, 66 million.

[SPEAKER_02]: And it's funny that in our Ranger Suarez prediction, you compare these two.

[SPEAKER_02]: I have the A, V, at the exact same amount.

[SPEAKER_02]: Now, I think that there's a good chance that Michael King would make more than that in the 20, 26 season with that opt-out.

[SPEAKER_02]: So I think it's a pillow contract.

[SPEAKER_02]: He might make 25 million or 26 million in that first year.

[SPEAKER_02]: And then he gets a couple years of security on the back end of the deal if he does have to opt-in and potentially keep going out.

[SPEAKER_02]: is at the level in this market where he might even be able to get an op that after each year of a three year deal and it really is favoring him to be able to enter free agency after a better platform year.

[SPEAKER_02]: I don't know if he's going to get the five year deal if there's a team that's willing to sort of throw out any concerns and give him that five six year deal, especially when again we're talking about all of these top starting pictures.

[SPEAKER_02]: Having that qualifying offer attached, it's just that extra barrier of entry that might slow a team from going all the way in, but I think he's going to make a lot of money in 2026, and I think he's going to have a contract that's going to allow him to hit free and see again next year, hopefully out there a better season, and then we can be talking about a completely different marker from Michael King of Year from now.

[SPEAKER_01]: So the two guys that jump out to me on an identical contract, Sunny Gray and Nathanie of Aldi both signed three year 75 million dollar deals.

[SPEAKER_01]: Sunny Gray did it because he was on the mound a lot and he was a spin machine in Minnesota, St.

Louis, local, they saw it and they go and acquire him.

[SPEAKER_01]: Evolve these an interesting one.

[SPEAKER_01]: King is a heck of a lot younger.

[SPEAKER_01]: Nathanie Evaldi is the most notable success story among the two Tommy John guys to this point.

[SPEAKER_01]: And Nathanie Evaldi after two for 34 with Texas got three for 75 going in the last year.

[SPEAKER_01]: Now, he missed some time with injury, but in 130, he didn't see how to sub to ERA.

[SPEAKER_01]: Nathanie Evaldi is making, I think it was 21 in 2025, 29,126, and then it goes back down to like 22,027.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm not saying you guarantee Michael King three years, but I love where you're heads at where it's three years in total and there's a player option there.

[SPEAKER_01]: I would honestly looking at Michael King.

[SPEAKER_01]: Go hire AAV wise.

[SPEAKER_01]: you have it identical with Ranger.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm with you, he could push to 25.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm saying heck, Michael King could push to 27 or 28 in terms of an average annual value.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think what you could do is a two-year deal at 28 per year and then have a club option at 30 or a player option at 25.

[SPEAKER_01]: There are a couple of different ways that you can go about that.

[SPEAKER_01]: Are you like, what would make you buck at that?

[SPEAKER_02]: So it doesn't, I'll be honest, I, that was sort of the range for me.

[SPEAKER_02]: It was, I, I thought, are at high end three for 75.

[SPEAKER_02]: And then the reason why I ended up dropping it down to the 66.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yes, part of it was kind of lining him, A, V, wise with Ranger.

[SPEAKER_02]: But also again, it was, what is the value of an opt out?

[SPEAKER_02]: And so I think if Michael King signs a straight three year deal, I think you probably could get a little bit more to me.

[SPEAKER_02]: It's a matter of, [SPEAKER_02]: Having that opt out baked in, maybe you have to take a little bit of a haircut on the total deal, but again, I still think and you know, it's something that I even remember if I wrote it in my full breakdown, but the first year of the deal that I'm envisioning in my mind is probably north of $25 million, and I think it is really incentivizing King to have a great year hit the market without the QO next year.

[SPEAKER_02]: But again, I would not be surprised at all if there was a team that said, screw it, we'll give you the opt-out and we'll give you three for 75.

[SPEAKER_02]: Because like you said, there's president in place.

[SPEAKER_02]: Even Sean and I last year that referrals made it actually, I think more in line and think it ended up being closer to 22 million dollars in present day value.

[SPEAKER_02]: But he got three for 75 with deferred cash.

[SPEAKER_02]: So it's not crazy at all to think that Michael King might get 75 million over three years with the opt-out stone place.

[SPEAKER_01]: Now, what does, what is the pipe dream of a possible one plus one deal?

[SPEAKER_01]: Do you think Michael King would be interested in signing a one plus one?

[SPEAKER_02]: I think it's possible for sure, you know, and not to sort of spoil a future prediction, but on that gallon, I did have a OnePlus one, and I think part of it was his agent.

[SPEAKER_02]: I just think that Scott Boris is going to take the Dillon Seas teams and say, hey, is that gallons just as good?

[SPEAKER_02]: Where's my seven year deal, and I could seem kind of overplaying his hand there?

[SPEAKER_02]: With Michael King, [SPEAKER_02]: I, I don't believe he's represented by Boris.

[SPEAKER_02]: I think it's no kind.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_02]: So I think a OnePlus one still makes sense.

[SPEAKER_02]: And you know, two year point from before, I think if it's a OnePlus one, you're looking at even a higher AV, you know, it might even just be a 30 million dollars year one, year two option at 25.

[SPEAKER_02]: And [SPEAKER_02]: You kind of roll from there.

[SPEAKER_02]: So I can see that as well.

[SPEAKER_02]: The less years you have to commit the higher the A V is going to be naturally.

[SPEAKER_02]: And so I wouldn't be surprised if you decide, you know what?

[SPEAKER_02]: I'm going to take the highest amount of money I can make in 2026 because last year was a fluke.

[SPEAKER_02]: I'm going to be healthy.

[SPEAKER_02]: I'm going to strike out 220.

[SPEAKER_02]: I'm going to go into the market next year.

[SPEAKER_02]: And I'm going to get the 30 million a year over five years, which he absolutely could have [SPEAKER_01]: That's what intrigues me most about King where this guy seems like he should have the confidence to go out there and say, you know what, I'm healthy, I'm going to shove, I'm going to go get my bag next year.

[SPEAKER_01]: He won't take the depleted or I guess bargain version of his long-term deal.

[SPEAKER_01]: He wants one year to prove it.

[SPEAKER_01]: He's got confidence in himself.

[SPEAKER_01]: He proves it.

[SPEAKER_01]: Then all of a sudden we're talking about him again next year and this guy's signing a six-year deal.

[SPEAKER_01]: You've got some interesting possible fits here, San Diego, a reunion.

[SPEAKER_01]: We'll see how tight the cash is for them.

[SPEAKER_01]: Toronto, the Yankees, the Orials.

[SPEAKER_01]: Who do you feel like is the best fit for Michael King?

[SPEAKER_02]: So there's a couple of interesting ones.

[SPEAKER_02]: The podgers, again, we would like to include the former teams in our landing spots articles because you never know.

[SPEAKER_02]: You can't rule things out.

[SPEAKER_02]: And depending on if Michael King's market never materializes, maybe the podgers can get in, I agree.

[SPEAKER_02]: It feels a little unlikely that they're gonna spend the level that it would take to get King back.

[SPEAKER_02]: The few that interest me the most, [SPEAKER_02]: I think if he did go to Baltimore, that would be an amazing fit for the world, and I would hope that they would try to spend like that because to me, that's a guy that you can say, you know what, he's going to be our ace.

[SPEAKER_02]: We're going to buy into it, and they could really get a picture that changes them in a huge way this upcoming season.

[SPEAKER_02]: My prediction was the Boston Red Sox.

[SPEAKER_02]: I think the red socks need a two.

[SPEAKER_02]: Michael King can be that two behind crochet, and that one two punch would be dynamic for the red socks.

[SPEAKER_02]: So I like the red socks as a really nice fit for them, but any of those teams that are contenders could use a Michael King.

[SPEAKER_01]: how much do you value him being from there?

[SPEAKER_01]: I think you should value it a lot because he went to Bishop Hendricken and Rhode Island.

[SPEAKER_01]: He went to Boston College.

[SPEAKER_01]: This is a Northeast guy.

[SPEAKER_01]: For me, this really, that's a huge factor for me when you look at free agency.

[SPEAKER_01]: Is the guy from there?

[SPEAKER_01]: Is the guy from the vicinity?

[SPEAKER_01]: People were stunned at Chris Bryant signing with Colorado and I know this isn't an awesome example but like Chris Bryant from Vegas.

[SPEAKER_01]: Vegas to Denver is not that bad.

[SPEAKER_01]: Nathan of all these from Houston, he wanted to sign in Texas.

[SPEAKER_01]: Free agency is when you have the opportunity to pursue your personal interests.

[SPEAKER_01]: Obviously, money is going to be a universal personal interest.

[SPEAKER_01]: Everybody loves money.

[SPEAKER_01]: Everybody freaky loves money.

[SPEAKER_01]: People love winning as well.

[SPEAKER_01]: People also love being close to home.

[SPEAKER_01]: It is a recruiting tool.

[SPEAKER_01]: And I feel like that makes a lot of sense that you've got the New England kid going to the Boston Red Sox.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, that was another one of the things that's sort of tip the scales where sure there are free agents like Louis Severino that are just going to take top dollar amount and go wherever they can.

[SPEAKER_02]: But when you're going to have a market as healthy as thing Michael King is going to have, you can really pick your landing spot and what better lands by friend to go to a red socks team that I'm sure you probably grew up idolizing.

[SPEAKER_02]: You get to go pitch in Fenway and you get to go to a really exciting team.

[SPEAKER_02]: I just think that if the red socks are in, [SPEAKER_02]: I would think that they're pretty high up at Michael King's list.

[SPEAKER_01]: I love it.

[SPEAKER_01]: And you sound like a salty met fan bringing up Louis Severino here.

[SPEAKER_01]: That was your free agent profile and prediction for Michael King.

[SPEAKER_01]: Free Asian profile and prediction for former Met Closer Edwin Diaz.

[SPEAKER_01]: I feel weird saying former Met Closer Edwin Diaz because it feels like the perfect match.

[SPEAKER_01]: But Edwin Diaz has been a roller coaster with a heck of a lot more highs than the lows in recent years.

[SPEAKER_01]: 31-year-old Edwin Diaz is coming off of an $100 million deal that he's signed.

[SPEAKER_01]: Now Edwin Diaz could be pursuing another $100 million deal.

[SPEAKER_01]: I want to start in 2020, as weird as that sounds.

[SPEAKER_01]: It was the second year in New York.

[SPEAKER_01]: You know what, I'm going to start in 2019.

[SPEAKER_01]: First year in New York after the trade, where he got Saoyang votes, he was part of that Robinson Cano Deal, huge deal.

[SPEAKER_01]: All star season Seattle in 2018, he goes over to the Mets in 2019.

[SPEAKER_01]: In 66 appearances, he had a five six year array.

[SPEAKER_01]: He really struggled.

[SPEAKER_01]: 58 hits allowed in 58 innings of work.

[SPEAKER_01]: That is really not Edwin Diaz.

[SPEAKER_01]: Then the COVID short and 2020 season rolls around.

[SPEAKER_01]: You see Diaz again, 26 appearances, a 175 ERA.

[SPEAKER_01]: In 2021, he ran into some issues, 62 and 2, 3rds in a mid-3 ZRA, but in 2022, this guy was consensus best closer in baseball.

[SPEAKER_01]: 62 innings, save 32 games, had a 1.31 ERA, [SPEAKER_01]: allowed just three homers in 34 hits and 62 innings and he punched out 118 and walked 18.

[SPEAKER_01]: That's 17 strikeouts per night.

[SPEAKER_01]: Obviously, the celebration would seem put a recoater in the world baseball classic wiped out his 2023 and when Diaz came back in 24, he struggled.

[SPEAKER_01]: He lost the closer roll for a minute at a three, five ERA on the year.

[SPEAKER_01]: but he got right back to being Edwin Diaz in 2025.

[SPEAKER_01]: Save 28 games in 66 innings had a 1.63 ERA in with two punchouts shy of a hundred.

[SPEAKER_01]: Edwin Diaz is one of the best closers in Major League Baseball.

[SPEAKER_01]: How badly do you want him back in a Metz uniform?

[SPEAKER_01]: Let's start there.

[SPEAKER_02]: Well, a couple of notes, I want to have just based on the run down of his Metz career.

[SPEAKER_02]: Funny enough, 2019 he gets your place in the closer role by Seth Lugo.

[SPEAKER_02]: That's what happened back in 2019, and then I always like to mention, 2022.

[SPEAKER_02]: He struck out 51% of the batters he faced.

[SPEAKER_02]: More than half of the guys that stepped up to the play against that one, D.S.

[SPEAKER_02]: and 2022 were punched out.

[SPEAKER_02]: his high end is unbelievable.

[SPEAKER_02]: I think the question with that one day as it's just how many years.

[SPEAKER_02]: And if you talk to me 24 hours ago, I think I'd be more sure that I would need to come back to the meds.

[SPEAKER_02]: But we're recording this on the heels of Brennan Nimo getting traded.

[SPEAKER_02]: I don't think David is starting to get too sentimental about his decisions this off season.

[SPEAKER_02]: And I would not be surprised at all.

[SPEAKER_02]: If he said, [SPEAKER_02]: Evelyn wants five for a hundred.

[SPEAKER_02]: I can get my guy, Devon Williams back for four for 60.

[SPEAKER_02]: Let's let's do four for 60 for the younger reliever and get Devon Williams back.

[SPEAKER_02]: It's only a year difference in age, but I am very curious how this plays out as a Met's fan.

[SPEAKER_02]: Do I want to see Trump has played anywhere else?

[SPEAKER_02]: Of course not, but I am very curious how David's turn is used this, and [SPEAKER_02]: The reporting is, the years could be hanging up.

[SPEAKER_02]: If that one's five, the men's are more comfortable at three years, are they going to meet in the middle or are they going to end up getting that five year deal with another team?

[SPEAKER_01]: I love your point, AE.

[SPEAKER_01]: Brandon Nimble being gone, depletes any sentimental value that team may have.

[SPEAKER_01]: Like, oh, it would be hard to do Pete Alonzo.

[SPEAKER_01]: It would be hard to, you know, bring Pete Alonzo back, but it would be hard to see him in another uniform.

[SPEAKER_01]: It doesn't matter.

[SPEAKER_01]: If you trade Nimble, everybody is available.

[SPEAKER_01]: It which is really unfortunate.

[SPEAKER_01]: But Nimble was a guy that was drafted and developed by the New York Mets and everybody around that organization loved him and it was clearly a gut punch when they did trade branded Nimble.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm just wondering how much success matters and how much the success of the other free agent closers matters.

[SPEAKER_01]: Right Celiglaci is just re-signed with Atlanta one year $16 million.

[SPEAKER_01]: Right Cel was probably the second most successful closer available on this free agent market.

[SPEAKER_01]: Pete Fairbanks has been consistently good.

[SPEAKER_01]: But I'm looking at Ryan Hellsley.

[SPEAKER_01]: He has a bad sample of met baseball under his belt.

[SPEAKER_01]: Devon Williams, I know the peripherals look a heck of a lot better, but he has a sample of bad baseball under his belt in 2025.

[SPEAKER_01]: Diaz is coming off of a fascinating year and a wildly successful year.

[SPEAKER_01]: So I guess how much does success in 25 matter in your pursuit?

[SPEAKER_01]: If I'm giving Devon Williams four years for 60, I honestly feel better at giving Edwin DS 40 more billion dollars in that.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, no, I hear you for sure, and it's more of me trying to think about how does David Stearns view it, and I don't know how much the success in New York matters, but I think that that is something that should factor in if you're running the New York meds, you have a guy that you know is going to be able to do the job and less a freak injury happens he has done the job.

[SPEAKER_02]: very well.

[SPEAKER_02]: Even if you look at the 2024 season, which was, I guess, you know, a relative down year, it was coming off not pitching for a year.

[SPEAKER_02]: There was rust that happened.

[SPEAKER_02]: And Edwin Diaz was used at, you know, men's like, the amount of innings that that guy pitched at the end of September through that playoff run was insane.

[SPEAKER_02]: Edwin Diaz was pitching two winnings, seemingly every day.

[SPEAKER_02]: and he comes off of that in terms of the season, not quite as dominant as 2022, but still a sub to ERA.

[SPEAKER_02]: He was unbelievable last year.

[SPEAKER_02]: So I think Edwin Diaz should return to the New York mats.

[SPEAKER_02]: I just don't know if the market for him might push him out, because I think there's a lot of teams that might say [SPEAKER_02]: Edwin Diaz is the 110 million dollars for Edwin Diaz who cares.

[SPEAKER_02]: I'm all in and I think the Metz aren't going to let Senate get in the way and I don't know if they're going to go to that level.

[SPEAKER_02]: I don't know if they give him five years.

[SPEAKER_02]: I think that's that's kind of the hang out.

[SPEAKER_01]: Let's play a game.

[SPEAKER_01]: How many relievers make over 90 million dollars right now?

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm excluding the guys from all this.

[SPEAKER_01]: I believe just Josh Hader.

[SPEAKER_01]: Just Hader.

[SPEAKER_01]: How many relievers make [SPEAKER_02]: Let me think.

[SPEAKER_02]: So Tanner Scott, I believe is what 18 for four.

[SPEAKER_02]: So that's just shy of it.

[SPEAKER_01]: You know, none.

[SPEAKER_01]: It's still just Hater.

[SPEAKER_01]: Tanner Scott is the only other guy over 70.

[SPEAKER_01]: It's $72 million.

[SPEAKER_01]: How many other pitch, how many other relievers make over $50 million?

[SPEAKER_01]: It's still probably not a mediator.

[SPEAKER_01]: Is there a zero?

[SPEAKER_01]: Zero.

[SPEAKER_01]: How many other relievers make over $40 million in total money?

[SPEAKER_01]: You can't tell me it's there again, is it?

[SPEAKER_01]: It's one other and it's Jordan Hicks who signed as a starting pitcher.

[SPEAKER_01]: And then the other relievers on over $30 million of guaranteed money.

[SPEAKER_01]: Jeff Hoffman, Robert Stevenson with the Angels, and Yary L.

Rodriguez who effectively signed as a starting pitcher.

[SPEAKER_01]: Those are the only relievers, there are six of them that are making over $30 million in total money.

[SPEAKER_01]: So we're swimming in a pool that is only swimming at this point by Josh Hader and Sword and Kata Tanner Scott.

[SPEAKER_01]: So you think years could be a hang up with the mats but you see four years and you see $80 million as well.

[SPEAKER_01]: He's still pretty much the second highest paid reliever in the game.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, so that's where I landed because I, again, I predicted them going back to the mats, no surprise.

[SPEAKER_02]: And so I felt like that was a continuation of his last deal.

[SPEAKER_02]: I don't think that they give him five more years coming off of, you know, opting out of year three of a five year deal.

[SPEAKER_02]: But I think four years is the middle ground of these two side strike.

[SPEAKER_02]: And I think the context that you provided on the rest of the market is really informative [SPEAKER_02]: I think that the gamble that the Mets are making right now is no other team is going to go to that length to sign up when DS.

[SPEAKER_02]: I think if there is a team that says, and when DS is their top priority screw at $110 million over five years, I think he's gone, but I think most teams are going to be maybe shooting in that three to four year range, just like the Mets, and that's where he's going to end up, I think, returning to the Mets, but it's a really competitive market friend when DS.

[SPEAKER_02]: And when you have this much interest in a free agent you really never know where it's going to go.

[SPEAKER_02]: That's why I think I almost, if I'm looking at Alonso Diaz, I think about who's more likely to come back.

[SPEAKER_02]: I'll lean more Pete Alonso's more likely to come back because I think that there's going to be less of a market of teams that are in on him.

[SPEAKER_02]: And I also think.

[SPEAKER_02]: As much as everyone talks about how hard it's to replace that with DS, it is still a reliever.

[SPEAKER_02]: And Pete Alonzo is still 40 home runs 100 RBS.

[SPEAKER_02]: I personally still think Alonzo's tougher to replace, and I think that the market might make more sense for Alonzo to come back where DS, there's just so much competition that I really don't know how this whole thing ends up.

[SPEAKER_01]: Alanzo would be tough to replace, I agree with you, but I also feel like there's a team that's more inclined to give Alanzo this stupid number that David Stearns feels like is not financially [SPEAKER_01]: is not saying enough to match.

[SPEAKER_01]: You know what I mean?

[SPEAKER_01]: Like, it feels like the Mets will have first writer refusal and it's almost restricted for agency for the bulk of them.

[SPEAKER_01]: But I feel like a team is more inclined to throw a stupid number at a lawn, so that a stupid number at Edwin Diaz.

[SPEAKER_01]: There's one team that could throw a stupid number at Edwin Diaz that isn't the New York Mets.

[SPEAKER_01]: And it is the...

[SPEAKER_01]: the Dodgers at the yes off of the flood of four years for 72 million dollars.

[SPEAKER_01]: They could say, you know, let's screw it.

[SPEAKER_01]: We have to give Edwin the as a hundred million dollars because we need to shore this thing up.

[SPEAKER_01]: Do you feel like the emergence of Rocky in his role in October?

[SPEAKER_01]: Could deter them from doing that?

[SPEAKER_01]: Or do you feel like this could turn into a bidding war between the Dodgers and the [SPEAKER_02]: I absolutely think it'd be a bidding war between the Dodgers and the Mets.

[SPEAKER_02]: I also want to, you know, I didn't even listen or notes because I guess we didn't include them in the article, but there's been a lot of connection to Edwin Diaz and the teams are far as the blue jays.

[SPEAKER_02]: So I think the two teams there were in the world series could both be in on Edwin Diaz.

[SPEAKER_02]: The Dodgers do make a ton of sense especially just because we know they're going to do big things in the offseason.

[SPEAKER_02]: They always do, but what else do they really need?

[SPEAKER_02]: feels like bullpen is their top priority and Edwin Diaz is the best on the market.

[SPEAKER_02]: So I absolutely, that's again where I get into why I think this could end up with him on a different team is I just think that I actually disagree.

[SPEAKER_02]: I think there's more teams that are going to throw a stupid bag at Edwin than Pete Alonzo.

[SPEAKER_02]: I always struggle [SPEAKER_02]: to find the clear cut pedal lines of land is spot that's not the meds.

[SPEAKER_02]: With that windy as he fits so many teams because who doesn't need a top end closer, just who's willing to pay for that top end closer?

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, the question is, is anybody willing a paper at top and closer because, again, the only relievers outside of NVIDIAs that are making over $30 million, are Josh Hader at 95, Tanner Scott at 72 total million dollars.

[SPEAKER_01]: Jordan Hicks at 44, Jeff Hoffman at 33, Robert Stevenson at 33, and Yario Rodriguez at 32.

[SPEAKER_01]: We'll see how it blossoms and what a bidding war looks like, but that was your free agent profile of prediction for Met Closer for now, Edwin Diaz.

[SPEAKER_01]: Free agent profile and prediction for A.U.

[SPEAKER_01]: Haneo Suarez.

[SPEAKER_01]: A.U.

[SPEAKER_01]: Haneo Suarez who was famously the best deadline acquisition ever in terms of home run total by the trade deadline.

[SPEAKER_01]: But what happened to A.U.

[SPEAKER_01]: Haneo Suarez after the trade deadline certainly tanked his value.

[SPEAKER_01]: 34-year-old from Venezuela, Gino Suarez is a two-time all-star, one of which was this past year.

[SPEAKER_01]: In 2022, this guy hit 236 with 31 homers.

[SPEAKER_01]: In 23 in Seattle, he hit 232 with 22 homers, he drove in 96.

[SPEAKER_01]: But then it goes to Arizona and it lights the world on fire.

[SPEAKER_01]: In 2024, it's just under 260, at an OPS, just under 790, and at 28 doubles, 30 bombs, and 111, driven in.

[SPEAKER_01]: And this year was sensational.

[SPEAKER_01]: In 824, OPS, this guy had 49 home runs.

[SPEAKER_01]: 36 of which came in 106 games before the trade deadline with Arizona.

[SPEAKER_01]: This guy had 36 pumps in a 87 driven in in 106 games.

[SPEAKER_01]: But in 53 games after the break, he hit just under 190, still had 13 homers, but at a 682 OPS.

[SPEAKER_01]: He needs to hit the ball out of the ballpark to be tremendously valuable.

[SPEAKER_01]: And he did, he had 49 homers for the second time in his career, he had 49 homers in 2019, with Cincinnati.

[SPEAKER_01]: Genoswar is a prodigious power threat, but if you're watching the Mariners ALCS run, you saw a lot of defensive gaps, and you saw a lot of punchouts, and you saw a lot of bats that weren't necessarily competitive.

[SPEAKER_01]: And you saw some big swings, [SPEAKER_01]: But over the course of 162, he could make you pull your hair out a little bit.

[SPEAKER_01]: How do you take in a Uhanio Suarez?

[SPEAKER_02]: It was a tough one to try to find landing spots for a Uhanio Suarez, trying to predict the contract.

[SPEAKER_02]: He is a complicated for agent for looking at the market for a right-handed power bat.

[SPEAKER_02]: He got pedolons though, you got a Uhanio Suarez.

[SPEAKER_02]: These are the top guys on the market if you're looking at those right- [SPEAKER_01]: And to your point, you've got a ton of unknown beyond that.

[SPEAKER_01]: So it's Alanzo, it's Suarez, obviously Schwarberg factors in, but it's a DH.

[SPEAKER_01]: If you're looking at corner infielders, you've got those, too.

[SPEAKER_01]: But then, like, you immediately fall to Muna Takamura Kami and Kazuma Okamoto, guys that you know nothing about.

[SPEAKER_01]: So these are the guys that you actually know stuff about.

[SPEAKER_02]: Exactly.

[SPEAKER_02]: And so it's interesting because the power production, I think it's going to be there.

[SPEAKER_02]: But 34 years old defensive decline, are you signing a DH or are you signing a third basement?

[SPEAKER_02]: And and I think you're probably going to find a team that is going to maybe expect him to play third base for at least the upcoming season, but maybe have a DH spot.

[SPEAKER_02]: That's a little more open so you always could move in there.

[SPEAKER_02]: It's just so hard to really [SPEAKER_02]: It was a home run away from a 50 home run season and yet our lasting memory is wasn't really that good after the trade and wasn't good until those last few monster swings in October, but he's a tough one to pack.

[SPEAKER_02]: I really struggle with this one.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I struggle too.

[SPEAKER_01]: And I don't know how I would feel if my favorite team signed it.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think I would be excited because he hit 49 homers, but I think it would really depend on which team is signing him.

[SPEAKER_01]: If the Tigers don't go and get Breggman.

[SPEAKER_01]: And if they pursue a Yohanio Suarez, I don't know how awesome I feel if I'm Detroit and I'm signing Suarez.

[SPEAKER_01]: It's a hard ballpark to hit a bunch of Homer's in and much like Anthony Santander if he's not hitting Homer's is there a men's value here and I just don't know We're gonna talk about the teams obviously in a moment, but when you were trying to peg What this guy could possibly make?

[SPEAKER_01]: How did you even go about it was the precedent was the regard that you looked at and said you know what you made this so I'm gonna go pay you that [SPEAKER_02]: Honestly, it wasn't even about precedent.

[SPEAKER_02]: It was just, it was such a puzzle.

[SPEAKER_02]: And the first part of it was like, how many years has it's got to get?

[SPEAKER_02]: Maybe 34 years old, coming off a monster season.

[SPEAKER_02]: He's gonna want years, but is any team really gonna go beyond three years?

[SPEAKER_02]: And that's ultimately where I land to where I just can't see a team saying, you know what, we're gonna take age 34, 35, 36, 37, 38.

[SPEAKER_02]: I think a three year deal made sense, and then it was all right.

[SPEAKER_02]: You could have told me, well, you know, based on the season he had, if he's a 50 home rent or 30 million dollars a year, but I just think there's no way that he gets that.

[SPEAKER_02]: So then it's a 25 million a year.

[SPEAKER_02]: And again, I'm just, I think if it's a one-year deal, let's just say it's a two-year deal.

[SPEAKER_02]: Could anyone know how to swear as get two for 50?

[SPEAKER_02]: Absolutely.

[SPEAKER_02]: Who knows?

[SPEAKER_02]: Maybe there's two for 60 out there for him, and I'm under valuing him.

[SPEAKER_02]: I landed on three years, 70 million, and that is an AV, a shade over 23 million per year.

[SPEAKER_02]: I felt like over 20 less than 25 felt right to me, and a three-year deal is ultimately what I landed on, but this was one that it took a lot of just back and forth in my head trying to figure out what made sense, and that's ultimately where I ended up.

[SPEAKER_01]: I don't even know who the good comp is.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm trying to find an equivalent comp.

[SPEAKER_01]: And like I initially went to Max Muncie because Muncie has had 35, 36 homer seasons and he's an okay defensive third baseman.

[SPEAKER_01]: And Muncie like, [SPEAKER_01]: He never signed the big deal.

[SPEAKER_01]: It was always three for 24 and then it was two for 20.

[SPEAKER_01]: And, you know, he's on another two for 24.

[SPEAKER_01]: They just accept that a club option at $10 million for Max Monsi.

[SPEAKER_01]: It's not the right time.

[SPEAKER_01]: The closest thing that I feel like we've gotten in recent free agency is probably Christian Walker, aged 34 through 36.

[SPEAKER_01]: He's making 20 million a year.

[SPEAKER_01]: It was a three year, $60 million deal.

[SPEAKER_01]: But Christian Walker is a gold glove first basement.

[SPEAKER_01]: There's a gold glove first basement equivalent to a below average defense of third basement.

[SPEAKER_01]: I have no idea.

[SPEAKER_01]: So it's it's a brain melter.

[SPEAKER_01]: I wish I could even mildly push back on three for 70 and say, Oh, no, I feel strongly that it should be more.

[SPEAKER_01]: I feel strongly that it should be less.

[SPEAKER_01]: I just have no idea how to actually feel about Tino Suarez.

[SPEAKER_01]: The thing that intrigues me more is the fits that you see, because I feel like there are going to be a lot of familiar faces on the fits could be the team he ended the year with in Seattle.

[SPEAKER_01]: Could be the team that he started the year with in Arizona.

[SPEAKER_01]: It could be the team that he really burst out of the scene with in Cincinnati.

[SPEAKER_01]: Who do you feel like are the suitors for Ayohenios faras?

[SPEAKER_02]: Those three teams stand out in our landing spots article.

[SPEAKER_02]: We also mentioned the red socks because maybe they're looking to get a big bat who can place some third base, but maybe more of their DHs, I think, to fit in Boston.

[SPEAKER_02]: The athletics was an interesting one that we included on this list, and I don't hate it, honestly.

[SPEAKER_01]: Can I say I love it because that offense is fun, you have a corner in field tandem of Kurtz and Gino who could combine for 80 to 90 homers in that minor league ballpark.

[SPEAKER_01]: And the environment like that is a band box in Sacramento when the ball is going to fly in the dry California air.

[SPEAKER_01]: So I love that you guys included that.

[SPEAKER_02]: And honestly, I think for a team with a young core, Juno coming in as the, the de facto leader too, like I think it makes a ton of sense.

[SPEAKER_02]: And he, like you mentioned that ballpark, it would be fun to watch him hit there.

[SPEAKER_02]: So that one definitely kind of stands out as a really fun one we included.

[SPEAKER_02]: I think he's going back to the Diamondbacks.

[SPEAKER_02]: That was my prediction.

[SPEAKER_02]: And the reason why I landed on that, I don't, I think if you remember how the deadline played out, they were very quick to jump on that first offer for Josh Nailer.

[SPEAKER_02]: There was some buzz that they were thinking about keeping Gino despite the fact that he was being billed as like this best bat to get moved at the deadline.

[SPEAKER_02]: They were still a little hesitant to move him.

[SPEAKER_02]: I think they love him.

[SPEAKER_02]: I think that they still, unless you're just so bought in on [SPEAKER_02]: You know, a verse to adding that.

[SPEAKER_02]: I just, I think that he's makes a lot of sense.

[SPEAKER_02]: He could be the third basement.

[SPEAKER_02]: He could be their DH and even if they move could tell Marte, it would make sense to bring Jeno back.

[SPEAKER_02]: That's just a big back to plug into the middle line up and why would he not want to return.

[SPEAKER_02]: So, [SPEAKER_02]: I think the Diamondbacks might get him back, but this was one where, again, it was just as much as I had contemplated the contract forever.

[SPEAKER_02]: It was so hard to land on, okay, this team absolutely would want Gino, they'd get better in every way.

[SPEAKER_02]: He's just a complicated free agent.

[SPEAKER_01]: really complicated free agent, allow me to run you through the possible opening day line up for the A's and see if I change your mind to, you know, whether that is the best fit.

[SPEAKER_01]: They've got a lot of pitching questions to answer in the starting rotation of the bullpen.

[SPEAKER_01]: I don't know how willing they are to spend on those guys, but they acquired springs and they paid Severino last off season.

[SPEAKER_01]: They could do it again and they could hang around in the reliever thing.

[SPEAKER_01]: I saw an article about Jose Leclerk earlier today.

[SPEAKER_01]: I didn't get an opportunity to read it, but apparently there's grievance of sorts on that $10 million deal for Jose Leclerk.

[SPEAKER_01]: But all of that aside, all of what happens on the mound aside, and that's half the team.

[SPEAKER_01]: You have to adjust that or address that.

[SPEAKER_01]: This could be the opening day lineup for the Sacramento ways.

[SPEAKER_01]: Shay Langelier's catching, Brent Rooker de Hing, Nick Kurtz at first, Max Monsi at second, the young Max Monsi, Jacob Wilson at short, Ayohenio Suarez at third, and the outfield could be Tyler Soterstrum in left, Denzel Clark in center, and Lawrence Butler in right.

[SPEAKER_01]: That's really fun.

[SPEAKER_01]: I love that.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, the A's would be, I think the most fun of these fits, and you know, when you lay it out like that, that's a team that it's almost like your league past teams for basketball.

[SPEAKER_02]: The A's are like the ultimate LB.tv team where I'd love to watch that line of go at, especially because you know that they're going to be chasing probably some runs that they give up on the other side of it too.

[SPEAKER_02]: So we saw some of that last year, but you know, which is add to it, it's a lot of fun [SPEAKER_02]: That's a tough one.

[SPEAKER_02]: As a team that still probably needs to keep on spending, and I think it's expected to spend a little bit.

[SPEAKER_02]: That's the guy that they should be all over.

[SPEAKER_01]: The other one that jumps out to me, and I don't know if they're willing to take on another large contract because they already acquired McMahon at the deadline, but could the Yankees be slightly interested in a Euhaniosuarez or is it not good enough defensive third base?

[SPEAKER_02]: I think it's not good enough defense at their base and you still have, I think, two or three more years of stand, not that you're three more years of stand.

[SPEAKER_01]: So then obviously, like, there are too many, there are too many puzzle pieces to actually complete the puzzle and have it not looked jumbled because McMahon would be making $19 million on your bench and that doesn't make any sense, I guess, but the Yankees should probably start to wait into the waters of not making financial sense that they actually want to win the world series.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I mean, I think [SPEAKER_02]: they could have traded for for genome at the deadline and they chose McMahon.

[SPEAKER_02]: I think they value infield defense, and that was a big priority for them to improve that.

[SPEAKER_02]: So I can't see it, but it undoubtedly would make their lineup more interesting if they had genome at third base.

[SPEAKER_02]: I think it's more likely that they try to bring back bellinger and just because it's a more flexible piece where all I'd stand went down cool.

[SPEAKER_02]: We got Ben Rice to DH, but [SPEAKER_02]: Look, Geno would fit the middle of any lineup, as far as the back goes, it's just what do teams think about the glove at this point?

[SPEAKER_02]: Because it's clear and nowhere near where it used to be, and it's theoretically only going to get worse over the life of this deal.

[SPEAKER_01]: So Ryan Finkelstein and our tremendous editorial team at just baseball.com has three years for $70 million in his return to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

[SPEAKER_01]: But again, this guy turns everybody's brain into mashed potatoes.

[SPEAKER_01]: That was your free agent profile and prediction for AU Haneo.