High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Phillies Shake Up Front Office/The Perfect Offseason 3.0

Episode Date: November 12, 2024

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to Preston Mattingly's promotion and the latest rumors surrounding the Phillies and Juan Soto. Later, Jack unveils his third perfect offseason. Presented by Miller Lite. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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in the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. This is the High Hopes Podcast. On the Odyssey app and sports radio 94 WIP. The crowd was singing hi ho, smiling through a broken nose. Oh, hi ho, hi ho. I feel a little less alone. Yo, it is another edition of the host podcast sponsor by Miller Light official partner of Philadelphia Billy's tastes like Miller time Philadelphia celebrate responsibly Fritzie.

What up bro? How you doing? I'm doing good, man. What up bro? Yeah. That's good. I know I'm good. This is good.

This is fun. This is everything's great. Everything's great. There's lots to talk about. I'm excited in our world. Yeah. I know. We would not be able to do this in the on the on the radio for sure. No. But on this podcast, we are here to get into the nitty gritty

of what is going on with the Phillies. And. Sure, seems like they're not going to get the guy that we all want. You know, maybe we're. Let's start with that, because I was going to start with the biggest news of the week. Obviously, what we care about most important thing happening. Our guy, Preston Mattingly, the general manager of the Philadelphia Phillies. No big deal like friend of the pod.

You know, no big. I guess just it's what we do. But we'll get to that small thing. Yeah, we'll get that. We've got to deal with the Soto issue. So all right. So I guess it started with John Middleton a few days ago saying, hey, yeah, we're not getting him is in case everyone's wondering. Yeah, they're using us. We're a stalking horse. And it's like, all right, you know, I don't take what is said in public

by these people right now, whether it was the owners that, you know, I take it with a large grain of salt. Sure. Is a stocking horse the horse next to the main horse? What is the stocking horse? The stocking horse is the idea of like your it's like a fake horse that you're looking it's like that Troy thing like a the same idea, right? No, the stocking horse is the horse that leads the horse like to the gate That's what I was so no, I was thinking your horse that is not the real horse It's like a fake horse you think of the Tro real horse. It's like a fake horse. You think of the Trojan horse? That's a Trojan horse. Yes.

Yeah. I knew what it meant in context. No, the song horse is the one that's next to the horse. But I don't really care about what it really is. What he's saying is that they're being used and that they're not. I'm just asking what it really is. I guess it's the horse next to the real horse. Yeah, like when they're lining them up before the race.

See, there you go. Horse racing. I had no idea. Not a big horse the race. Ah, look at that. See, there you go. Horse racing guy. I had no idea. Not a big horse racing guy. No, no, no. But yeah, so. There you go. But again, I'm trying to figure out.

I bet you we educate a lot of people. I bet you a lot of people listening had no idea what the story is. I didn't. But I just, I'm trying to figure out what that means in the context of my show. Well, in the context, I don't know why it's, that doesn't make a ton of sense for,

like, Stalking Horse is basically, he's saying like, hey, we're not really in this. They're using us to raise the price. They're saying we're going to be involved. We're like a fake suitor is what he basically is saying they're using us essentially. But I don't get it. I don't understand stalking horse in terms of I'm sorry to be caught up on the stalking horse. Yeah, not surprised. Not at all. But there's gotta be a

different. This is like the powder like saving the powder. Yeah, they do use old-timey. Yeah, dude I mean, come on always like the stocking horse. Yeah, I mean there's listen who am I to question how someone does? Okay, but it feels a false pretext concealing someone's real intentions, which is kind of what I've been saying But I don't understand the stocking horse's job is to just keep the horse alive. Okay. It there's, it's a screen that traditionally made in the shape of a horse behind which a hunter can stay concealed. That's another thing, apparently. Okay. A horse sort of figure like a horse behind which a hunter stocks games.

So it seems like that makes more sense. Way more sense. And the horse that's next to the main. Tucker was wrong. Well, no, but a stalking horse is what he said. I don't know if it is or not. It looks like it's the hunting thing. Something used to mask a purpose. Hmm. Either way. Now it makes sense that if it's the mask, the main, yeah, Tucker's definitely wrong. Well, that's Tucker seems heartbroken over this. The term saw yours originally derived from the practice of hunting. Ah! So it's a hunting term.

Alright. It's the thing that they, like the blind type thing, they stand behind. You're a big hunter? Oh yeah. You know, in the woods, you're the big blind guy? Outside of like, with my car, you know, not purposefully. You hunt deer with your car? Somewhere. I'm saying not purposefully with my car.

Ask me how many animals I've killed in my life. The answer is zero. That's where I'm trying to go. Yeah. Saying other than like I hit a deer when I was younger. No, what you said was, what you said was. Oh my god, hunting, man. It is actually funny.

I did call my first car the deer killer because I hit two deer like within a, it was a 1974 Mercury Cougar. Your first car was a 1970 car. I don't know how cars ran before 1995. This car, it lasted for eight months and they died. But shocking. Yeah.

Because you were hitting deer. Purposefully I lived in, you know, out in Doylestown area and I'm driving these roads at night. So the, and, and both deer got obliterated by the car. The car was, you're not exactly a, you exactly a bit of a lead foot. I was six, 17 years old, 16 years old. Like, that doesn't mean you'll have a lead foot. I don't I just I just wanted to be

known. You said you target and kill many deer with. Yeah, I go out hunting. And by the way, by the way, that's when I hear hunting. I think of the car. By the way, let's go. By the way, in my new I do it in my mini now. If you Yeah, you have a mini Cooper, the deer would kill you. I do not call my car now the deer killer. That is that's an old term that is not used anymore. So on Soto, I wouldn't be. No, but well, it sucks about the I mean, it's not surprising. So by the way, the other part of this, Jeff pass in tweeting out just a little bit ago today that, uh, the list of teams that I guess are in on are going to get a meeting, the Toronto blue days have the first being this way, Boston red Sox,

next then the New York Mets and the New York Yankees once sweep once. So sweep, say CDM. So I don't know. I don't think that means affiliates won't get a meeting if they want one, especially because border said he's taking all the meetings, but like you'd like to be on that list, right? You know, to start, it just feels like they're being a little passive with it. And they're just saying if not passing, they're not being Jeff Bass and they're being passive from the standpoint of, yeah, if we're in it, like, if it breaks our way. All right. So here's the question. It like, is this real? Like, are they being are they a sleeping giant? Are they just being like, back? Like, that's the whole plan? Or is this this is real? Is this like job? Are they putting it out there? Like, hey, listen, like, are they letting the fan base know? Is this their way of kind of soft launching, so to speak, that they're not going to sign one Soto and they're

putting that out there. What do you read this? I think it's a hundred percent soft landing. I did soft launch soft landing from the hard truth. Come on. Pull that together. So yeah, that's what I, that's what I kind of read it all as they're not getting a meeting with them.

Middleton talks on Friday about how they lost like 200 million during covid and like they they don't want to yeah. They're you're really mixing messages with that one. You can't give this stuff last week and then come out and be like, oh, you know, Honey, but like I just he I think that they are they're not feeling very optimistic that he wants to leave New York certainly seems that way and I think they're trying to just Give the fan base is probably not gonna happen. So again now Heyman did say there was some mystery teams that are out there lurking

Do you think that work or is just like text him what to tweet like says? Hey john put this out verbatim or do you think John actually thinks about it himself a little bit? Oh, I think it's mostly verbatim. I think it's for a bit for sure Yeah, but I just want to check but I I don't I think again like if it breaks their way They would be they would sign motivate I get it But I don't think they're very motivated at the moment because they don't think it's gonna bring they don't think it's gonna happen I don't want to get people's hopes up because here's the problem. If you get everyone's hopes up, you don't get them.

Yeah, I agree. Then the reactions much harsher than we probably are not going to get this guy. Anyway, the thing that sucks is all of it seeing that the Blue Jays are getting the first big meeting. The hell like it now the Blue Jays now they tried for a tiny last year. They were in it. If ever remembers they were the team that everyone's like he's flying to Toronto to sign remember that whole Fiasco yeah, yeah, so they are motivated I forget that whole story. It was like I think Morosi got all Morosi got in there

Yeah, whatever, but then there was the Aaron John that we all remember with our son John John amen exactly arson judge Aaron there where he's going the Giants so like you know these guys are not a Thank God Bryce signed and he wasn't trying to go elsewhere But yeah, I just seen the blue J's get in the first meeting They seem to be more aggressive about going and getting one so don't that teams in a different place than the Phillies are the Phillies are the team that they still believe is has the core of a team that can win a World Series, but I Think that they don't want to get the fan base's hopes up so that when they probably don't get one Soto, there's a big backlash of of people believe that they're going to get one Soto, which thanks because one Soto is awesome. Yeah, so I, I never expected them to get one Soto. I've you know, I, I put the percentage like 10% and that was probably even a little high.

Sure. But I never really believed it. And as I've said, like I wouldn't blame John Middleton if he didn't want to give out a six, $700 million contract or 500 or whatever it's going to be to want Soto. Like he paid $300 million for Trey Turner. He paid 330 for Harper. He's got a hundred whatever to cast. He's got like, I'm not going to buy one 40 million for Wheeler. No, I'm saying overall, like these big contracts he's given out.

Like, I don't blame him if I would not. I would not blame John Middleton in any way, shape or form if he doesn't give it out. But I will also say this sucks like this sucks. Like it just sucks. Sure. And it's just. I guess I've kind of gotten to the point where I don't think it's going to happen. I start reconciling with it because it's it was probably never going to happen. No one's better at you than just saying, you know what?

It's not gonna happen. I'm gonna fully get by in this other day. You want to know I didn't really want but I'm it You want to know what I said to myself James? You can win the World Series of that one. It's true. Yeah a team just did it a team But now they did sign show a time my big my big overall I guess message but but concern is, I think we talked about this last year, I think baseball is in a very interesting spot where all the big market teams are starting to spend a lot of money and again it feels like an arms race

again and the Mets weren't supposed to compete last year. Now they have a hundred plus million dollars coming off the books. They're going to play as they want so the the Yankees are always in the Dodgers. They might get Sasaki might No, I actually don't think they are really actually really don't I think he's gonna be a Padre or Mariner I guess yeah, he's going like they're one of like he they've got the advantage of the West Coast thing And they have the Japanese play this way The Phillies a better shot of getting one soda. I totally did that which is a shit. I mean look Saki I think is the best pitcher on the planet. Wow.

So I was going to say clearly the best Japanese pitchers ever come over. He thinks I think he's unbelievable. I would, I would wrap. I would not rather not sign, but the point is you thought about it. Like it entered your head as like a, is there even a possibility? The fact that you're well, so Yam Yamamoto got 330 now Saki is subject to International signing pool money so he can't sign for that kind of deal because he didn't secure six years of service time and in Japan I guess so

No international draft smart why have an international draft so they so I guess if you if he posts before December 2nd The affiliates gonna offer him $42,000. Wow. Because that's all they have in this year's bonus pool. Now after December 2nd, they're going to offer him $6 million. So come on, come on down. So why wouldn't you just wait until after December 2nd? Because I'm guessing most teams have some of their international draft money.

I'd be floored if you did not wait until after December 2nd. Unless... So some team is going to have no international draft money though, essentially is what it comes down to for the rest of the year. Yeah. It seems like such a flawed way to do it. Well, shocking, the Dodgers currently have the most international signing money. Why wouldn't they? Like 2 million, I think.

So he's obviously going to wait until after December 2nd. But yeah, it's just, you know, the Padres or Dodgers are probably gonna end up with Sasaki. If he goes to the Dodgers, they add, again, their IL pitching staff would have been the best, arguably the best pitching staff. Show A's pitching next year too! I know.

So it just, it's not cool. It really feels like there is a, all the big teams are starting to load up and create almost super teams. It's hard to create a super team in baseball, but to just, I think it's going to push the Phillies to make a big trade this off season. But that's why I've said all off season. I feel like it was more of a trade kind of year than it was a big free agent signing

time. So. I mean, they have to do something. I know we've talked about this, but like, it can't just be like, Oh, we're bringing in this left fielder who might, who might be better in Austin. He's, you know, like, and I'm, I'm starting to get concerned again. Like I got worried after John Middleton was like hard, just hard decisions. And we're going to have to have tough conversations and tell them to stop chasing.

And I was like, great, great. Love it. Great. And now I'm sitting back here and all this happening. And I'm like, we're going to like add a left fielder and then and then their basement. And then we're going to maybe make a trade. Here's what I need you to do. I need you to look me in the eyes. I need the audience to look me in the eyes.

OK, it's hard to do on the podcast but but try hard to imagine vision this yes If you're driving keep your eyes in the road. Yes, but also envision you're looking me in the eyes. Yes, like wow, they are Yeah, yeah, yeah, the eyes really are that blue. Yeah Blue eyes. Thank you quite blue. Thank you like an ocean have no fear Jack is here I've got I'm got trade. I'm definitely no I promise you I promise you In the perfect offseason that we will get to perfect offseason 3.0. I got a trade that I believe is the most realistic and Puts the Phillies had the best chance to win a title next year. OK, that's in the perfect offseason. OK, cool.

Coming up. They're going to make a trip like we got to do something easy, easy. I know you're not listening. You. I'm nervous right now. Oh, you're always. Yeah, I'm always nervous. I got a nice reprieve from the nerves from John last week. I think you had anger after the season.

So you know, yeah, anger and sadness, a big mix of that. And then that morning. Yeah, you know. And then now now just pure nerves where it's like, man, like on multiple. I'm nervous about obviously like, you know, winning the World Series and having a good team on. But also nervous about just the the vibe, not not for the guys in the locker room with us, the fan base, the podcast.

No, the pod. Our listeners are the best. But I'm saying like Phillies fans in general, like, of course, we've talked about this. I don't want it to be like like the Sixers, like people sports, but people hate this thing like Sixers fans hate their own team. Right. Like. And I'm not saying the Phillies are close to that yet, but like, if they don't make any moves and they rewreck it and they do it again, I'm

just nervous, Jack. I'm nervous. All right. I'm very nervous. I'm a listen. I know. And I feel like you're speaking for a lot of people. I feel like I am.

But I feel very confident. How, how do you feel so confident? Because you want to know why? Yeah, please. Our good buddy Preston. Well, that I agree. And if there's one guy, there's I in my head, he has written down every park of all season. He's like, hold on guys. I know we're in the middle of a big decision. Let me pull out my notes. Dave, I got an idea.

Notes are just, you know, sketches of the perfect off seasons. Jack's perfect off season. And then he just crosses out the name Jack and writes impressed. Well, that's what you're imagining is happening in your head. I just I need him to be aware that there is a reliever out there. He struck over 50 percent of his batters in September. There was a former All-Star. So Mike Soroka saving the season, is that what we've gotten to?

Mike Soroka saved the season. That's all right. Oh, honestly, like forget Juan Soto. Just go get Mike Soroka and we're winning the World's. That's that's that's your That's your message to fans. For a lot of people, I know they'd be excited about a Soto signing. For me, the idea of them signing Mike Soroka at this point is far exceeds the one Soto signing. But I feel like at this point, they're going to listen to it. I'd be like, we cannot sign Mike Soroka. We can't give him this ass.

Honestly, it'd be too annoying, guys. We can't do it. Yeah. Well, no. So I just, listen, it's so early. The only move has been what? Kyle Hendricks to the Angels with the horse. Is there a more Angels move in the history of baseball?

Classic. I guess like, Corey Solaire got traded to the Angels for Griffin Canning. By the way, Griffin Canning is going to be pitched to what? A 3-5 with the Braves? Oh,ning is going to pitch to what a three five with the with the Braves in Atlanta. If he stays healthy, he'll be a stud there. It is pretty unbelievable that their rotation of Anderson, Soroka and power

right just gives completely like none of them have made it. I mean, well, like Strider was a fifth round. I know that has turned into a it's great. Yeah. Anderson was what? The second pick in the draft. There was. Yeah, he was.

Kyle Wright was fourth. Wow. Fourth or fifth. Yeah. I freak. When were the Braves bad? Great question. I don't remember this.

This doesn't jog the old memory. I know. They've been good my entire life. Yeah, it's a great point actually. When they were really great. I know they must have had a couple of that. I'm guessing. There's no lottery.

It was straight to second worst record in baseball. Probably like a little like right before then that general little ring. Was the Braves were in first that year? No, Ian Anderson was like 16. So then I'm guessing in 15 they were pretty bad. Yeah, right when the affiliate. Yeah, we just were like it checked out the division. We're like, I'm not paying attention to this. Well, the Mets went to the World Series that year. So yeah, and then the National started their run. Yeah. So that's

one. There we go. We solved it. I don't remember. No, I don't remember. Like, oh, look at the Braves. They have 70 wins. Like, I don't remember that. They had to have a bottom three record in this. I mean, 65 with 50. I don't know. It was impossible. It was impossible. But I just it's so early.

I until they don't until they don't. I think they're going to make real moves this offseason. I just do. I think it's going to be harder to trade some of the now bone keys getting mentioned, Passon mentioned him in that article today. So, you know, that seems like that's something there, but they've also tried to trade Castellanos the last,

and nothing happened. And nothing happened. Now, BOM doesn't have the price tag and all that good stuff. So, I just think that they're gonna do something, and I don't need panic in the streets just yet. If we get out of the winter meetings and there's no real rumors and there's not any movement or my guy gets straight. You're saying I can panic in a little under a month then I can panic?

Yeah, but then it's the holidays. Okay. And everyone's gonna enjoy this move. After the holidays. Then meltdowns. I'm not mad right now. I know you're... I'm'm good, but if they don't I will be you are beside You're like you're not annoyingly positive, but whatever this step down from annoyingly positive more annoying Quick question for you and you know if the listeners want to chime in please yell at your phone. Yeah more annoying Jack This Jack right now. Yeah, or after the Phil's loss of the Mets in game three Oh, that's a good question. I think I think that I mean like it's no one wants to see a sad, buddy You know and angry no one wants to see is so angry. So yeah, I think this Jack is less annoying get most my anger out

Watching the football. Yeah, yeah Knowing Jack. Yeah Eagles Jack's pretty Yeah, yeah. And knowing that, you know, Eagles Jack's pretty annoying, I guess. That's fair. Yeah. Yeah. Eagles Jack's hot for a little bit. Eagles Jack is to go back in his shell. It's a roller coaster. Might be shaving his head. I heard. Yeah, I don't.

I don't really want to. I was there. I was at no bleep. Yeah, we know. Like you could just shave your head to be fine. You know, I got a thick mane. You do have a thick. What do you mean? I have a thick. I cut it short, but.

Yeah, but you could shave. You're close enough. Yeah, I've had the same hair since I've basically came out of the womb. You know, the womb. So, yeah, I just I don't know. I don't want to shave my head at all. I can tell. Yeah. Yeah. But you you did say you would.

Yeah, I don't even know if I said it. They made up that I said I would. Cause I always say, I put stupid. I always do. I'll quit. I'll quit the show. I'll shave my head. I'll do this. I'll name my next kid Juan. If they sign him on. Thank you. Thank you. I feel pretty confident. We're going to have a different name. Yeah. Would you really do? So yeah, but I would go by, but it would go by, I would name him like JJ. Right. Yeah. Like, but your real name's long. Yeah.

Do you think Joe would be okay with that? So when I said it on the air, she had no idea. And then when all the stuff started breaking about, oh wait, they raised like 500 million from the investors, which is interesting. Yep. So I was an investor. Just doesn't even care. He's just like, take my money. I don't need any credit. A true hero, wherever you are, anonymous investor. The third one. Well, we don't know how much you're my hero. You're my hero. But as it doesn't matter, it could be a dollar.

I would be like, hey, owner right here. OK, you see all that habit? Me. Yeah. Credit me. But with so when I started to look more kind of real, I was like, hey, I might have done this. And she was like, but you're not serious. I'm like, well, I could say it on the radio. But I was like, JJ is a fine name.

So we'll say JJ Fritz, JJ Fritz. Yeah, I don't know. Yeah. JT Fritz. OK. Now you're getting there. AJ Fritz. Yeah. Yeah. That's good't know. Yeah, JT Fritz. Okay. Now you're getting there. Hey J Fritz. Yeah. Yeah, that's good Yeah, yeah, either way. I feel pretty confident that that will not happen Why you good big initials thing, huh? You know, you want to name the kid initials? Well, I'm eating initials Oh right now. Yeah. No, no, we have we have our name picked out. Oh, it's picked. Oh

like 90% but I'm trending in the right direction. Okay, training the right Carson. No, no, don't make me start crying. We had in our mind. He's just so good in 17. You know, it was great. What a lot of poor kids named Carson around here. I know. What a moment, right? At least if you're like Chase or whatever, it's like that lasted.

It's like, oh, cool. Like these ones last. It's like, oh, you're oh, I'm named after Colman was. Oh, I freaking love. Go Emma. Oh, Carson. I'm named after Carson. It's like, oh. OK. Cool. Cool. Cool, man.

Not a lot of lot of husbands are pushing for Carson names and cool man. Cool man. Not the same. A lot of husbands are pushing for Carson names in 17. I think there's probably a lot of dogs named Carson. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Tucker named his dog Carson. Did you?

No. No. Kidding. My dog's name is ZD. I was joking. ZD? Yeah, like the noodle. ZD's a good dog name.

My dog's named after a sandwich. You named your dog after a sandwich. I did. Rub Yeah. Spelt like the sandwich. Not Ruben Frank? No, but he spelled the same way. Chad's Ruben Frank for spelling his name like the sandwich. Most Rubens don't. Yeah. Ruben Amaro does not. Does not.

Most Rubens are more like Ruben Amaro. Yeah. Yeah. This is good stuff. This is really good stuff. Yeah. We're breaking the sound. So I'll take it further.

We've actually been calling Rub Gary a lot the last year or so. I don't know. I don't know. Emily just likes to call him Gary. So and now Zoe calls him Gary. Gary. Gary. Just OK. Is it like the SpongeBob, Gary? No, like no Gary in general, just just because Gary's a silly name. Sorry. I'm working my way into the mode.

We discussed on sports radio. I think so. I like my not ripping it, but I don't think years away. Yeah, I don't know. I say like I remember watching SpongeBob. Yeah, a little bit longer shows you guys watch. I don't think so. It's like 10 years away. Yeah, I don't think so. I remember watching SpongeBob as a kid. Yeah, a little bit longer. I remember watching these stupid shows that you guys watch. I hate everyone at the station that's over 40. Reign it in with the stupid shows that I watched, all right?

I don't know what shows you're persmirching, but I will not accept that. No, it's just like everything's like, oh my God, like remember Cheers. I know. Well, Cheers a little past my time. Yeah, but it's just. That's sick. You're just ripping the camera now. It's just fine.

I can fully buy. Can we just get, I want to get to Jack. Just finding fully but can we just get I want to get the Jack Bauer I want to get to I want to get a SpongeBob I want to get to these shows. I grew up I know I know I'm sick and tired of having to pretend that your shows growing up were so good. All right. Sick and tired of my show growing up. Yeah, there you go. Yeah. Yeah, there you go. Yeah. Yeah.

This is my biggest problem with this station is the pop culture. I know you it's been a long time crusade of yours. I still don't make fun of you enough for the fact you do a side topic every day. We don't. We don't. Uh-huh. Most days. Yeah.

Only during not during football season. Stumble around there. Every once in a while we break it out. Every once in a while. We'd be breaking out. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Every once in a while Yeah, you're sensitive about it. It's okay. You're a side topic show now. No, we're not Hate them. I don't have any fun doing that forever. You've hated them and always told me how much you hate them Now you're doing it stuff Come join me andrew filiponi and And me, Patrick Peterson, three-time NFL All-Fro Cornerback on First and Pod for premier NFL

coverage and conversations. Our motto on the podcast is every team, every week, and we don't play favorites. Every episode, you get a glimpse of the entire National Football League with First and Pod. Follow and listen to First and Pod on Mondays and Fridays on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. Suppressive Mattingly is the GM. All season. Yeah. John, it's our guy. Honestly, honestly, it's the best news of the off season by far. Well deserved. I think it's a smart move because I do think that he's the kind of guy who could have gotten plucked away. You never know what gets up

and down the road. But I think that he is been a rising star in the industry for a while now when they brought him over from San Diego with LA the whole thing like he has a really good resume. And I just think it was a sm I mean, we've obviously talked to him. He's our guy. But I just think it was a smart move by the organization to bump him. So if I had to read on it, I would say that they thought they were gonna lose him. That was my first thought, was like, someone's gonna steal him, you have to move him up. And I think that, I think that like, Fold, leaving baseball to go to more to the business side. That kind of screamed to me. They probably informed them, you're not going to take over for Dave

when when Dave's done. Dave hasn't till 2027 until he's until his contract runs out. And I think that what happened on Friday was setting up an exercise. I think so, too. I think it's a great way to put it. So they said they've tabbed Preston as the future GM and president of this team. And then, you know, we'll see what happens. We'll see what happens. So exciting. Well, yeah, as long as he's good. Well, he better be good. What if we have to rip him in a couple of years?

Hey, so we do here. Yeah. You know, fair and balanced. I know. That's what we do. I mean, I'm I can't help it. I got to be real. Yeah. But I will say I am I'm incredibly bullish on his potential as a general manager. And also like who better to spend the next few years learning right at his hip than David M. Browsky. I mean, one of the greats to ever do it like and again, also a guy who, you know, like the baseball is in his blood thing. I mean, Preston Manningly grew up in baseball stadiums, grew up around baseball teams, has spent his whole life in the game as a part of the game.

Like, I mean, that's a real advantage. I think he is he's really well set up. He's young, hungry, all that. Like I I'm really excited about this. I thought you were gonna say he's he's another couple years to listen to the pot and get more ideas sure of course I was gonna let you say that yeah yeah yeah so yeah he's I just I just think he's a stud and I think he's got a good mix of you know he's leading the

minor leagues right now so you have to he learned how lead that. And then I think he has the baseball IQ and everyone he talks to or hear talk about him from his time in San Diego, they identified in there as an early riser, someone who's gonna rise. And I think the game's getting back to being played and you don't have to be an analytics nerd to be the general manager anymore.

Yeah. And I think finding someone that is a good blend of that is, is going to be really, really important. So obviously, I have a president. I mean, we'll see if we can get them on the pod anymore. I mean, it might be too big time now. She's unbelievable. I mean, we are not the type of podcast that historically has

general managers on it or anything like that. Like we're the type of podcast that historically has general managers on it or anything like that. Like we're the type of podcast that has the director of player development or, you know, you know, those are the kind of guests that we get here, you know, so who am I going to make time? Who am I going to talk to minor league players, not major league players? That's how we do it. Who am I going to talk about auto camp with? I don't know. Do you even know who auto camp is? No, I know Matt Camp is AutoCamp. No, Tony Camp is I don't go ahead. Those are my two camps AutoCamp currently has like a 1200 LPS in the fall league and came out of nowhere last year. Is he a draft guy?

No, he was, they signed him as a minor league for agent, I believe. So are you implying that you've had conversations about AutoCamp with Preston already? No, I'm just saying that there's just so much. Is that with the implication there? there's just so much important things to break down the minor leagues that like Who am I gonna bring on this podcast talk about Brian? I mean, that's drafts. Yeah, you know sure you need a guy in the organism, you know above the draft We're this podcast is kind of like the minor league system and to have short your damn right work our way right up to the big leagues, right? Yeah So hopefully Brad we're not too he's not too big time for us. Yeah This podcast is kind of like the minor league system. And you're damn right about that. Work our way right up to the big leagues. Right, yeah.

So hopefully he's not too big time for us. Yeah, well, it's just- I mean, I wouldn't blame him if he weren't. He should be, he should be. Yeah, I mean, better than this rinky dick thing. Yeah, exactly. But yet again, look, a lot of our guys are graduating. That's true.

Well, not to pat ourselves on the back or anything, but, you know, I for talent. I'm just saying, you know, it doesn't matter if it's on the field or not. We just talk. We're still here, though. Never leaving. Damn. That was that was cold. For a leave. I think that is a great job. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. He's a great, he's a great office. It's all I got. No, but I yeah, hopefully, hopefully, Preston will see if he comes to the pot. Fingers crossed. Yeah. But yeah, it's overall just a I think a really neat thing. And to your point, it's the kind of thing where I think when this type, these types of moves in general, when they've happened with the organization, you know, the kind of stuff that we pay attention to, oh, Brian Barber got hired.

You were talking about Brian Barber before he got hired, I guarantee you were the only person doing that. But I think because Dave Dombrovsky is so clearly in charge of the team and really, you know, is so out there as the face of the front office. I think that people with with Sam fold to I think people are like, Oh, sure, he's like Dombrovsky is number two, or whatever it is. But I think when you with Sam fold too, I think people are like, Oh sure. He's like them browskies number two or whatever it is. But I think when you think about it in the context of what you said, the fact that this is likely the guy who they are setting up to take over for Dave when he leaves,

like it's a much bigger deal than just like the, Oh, it's like an assistant. Jim is not like this. This is likely the guy who is going to be the steward of the franchise in a couple years. Twenty twenty eight bills. Oh, always the twenty twenty eight. Like that we've jumped ahead. Well, twenty twenty six is coming fast, man.

I know. It's pretty crazy. Almost twenty twenty five. I can't believe it's almost the twenty twenty six bills. That wouldn't felt so far away. I needed to bet. Dude, we're almost halfway through the Bryce contract. I know.

Wow. This is going to be what? This is going to be your seven. So this will be halfway through this year. We'll be halfway. I didn't think about that. Yes. Whoa. Yeah. That's a whoa. We're also halfway through the time one contract.

No, good. Which, which, which half of the contract has been better? Yeah. Two one five. Yeah. Yeah. So yeah, we're almost halfway through that contract like Yeah, two one five. Yeah. Yeah. So yeah, we'll do we're almost halfway through that contract like Trouty. Oh, yeah Stop seven years left At 37 million a year

Turner and bone for trot rendon turner and bone for trot Uh, all right Yeah, we had take back time. Well, we had a 3.0 time Uh, should I do 3.0? Sure. I do take back. Why do you take back then and Well, 3.0 time. Should I do 3.0? Should I do take back? Why do you take back then? And let's save the best for last. Yeah, for sure. You know, and also make Preston state of the end.

Exactly right. Exactly right. Because again, the perfect office and I have, I believe, is the most realistic and want to put them in the world. So thank you. I'm happy that you saved the most realistic and best one for your third perfect office. It makes sense. Good. So Justin Crawford is playing the Premier 12 games right now, which is very exciting.

Made a big catch yesterday. What are those? They are. It's a. Let me be the listener right now and say, what are the Premier 12 games? I don't really know, frankly, like they're just they're world games. They're Premier. They're world games without current big leaguers But there's some ex big leaguers Noah songs a picture on them, which is remember Noah song

Of course what a smart move that was. Yeah, see a red sock again. We need to give him back. Yeah Shrewd under the radar move But he's so he made a great play on centerfield yesterday. Love to see that I'm getting increasingly excited about Justin Crawford as a, but I'm going to trade my bird off season. Why did you lead with the, I don't know. Cause I don't know. I'm like his swing looks legitimately different, which is exciting. What a strange decision.

Because I have to hold on to eight in my trade. I get it. And I'm not trading painter. You could have just gone to the off season and made your trade instead of being like, Hey, I'm so excited about just, I am excited about it. By the way, guys. Yeah. I don't want to trade Justin Crawford, but I unfortunately in this situation strange decision

That's all he's gonna he looks good. He looks good and Lesson I still I still I'm pushing for envy on the opening day roster But we'll say the swing looks legitimately different. It looks like he is lifting the baseball more, which he has to do. There are people who don't want to lift the baseball more. I don't get why he grounds out a lot. And at the big league level, it's different than the minor league level. He has to lift the baseball. And then just final thing real quick.

I mean, the Sasaki thing probably not going to happen. Yes. That's playing its picture in the world, though. Yeah. Well, better than Zach Wheeler. Jack Fritz says Sasaki is better than Zach Wheeler. That's what its picture in the world, though. Yeah. Well, better than Zach Wheeler. Jack Fritz says Sasaki is better than Zach Wheeler. That's what he's one podcast. That's what he said. I'm just saying. Yeah. Yeah. The the guy I do the podcast was that I was out for a deep cut.

That guy also said that six years ago, it turns out, I knew that Nick Pavetta was a splitter away from being an extra. By the way, it was so funny. I think his passing someone wrote on ESPN today. I actually think is before passing came out but there's all that Pivetta and how he's gonna turn down the qualifying offer from the Red Sox and He said that some teams around the league View Nick Pivetta is having front-line star. Oh my god. I'm like on the league, view Nick Pavetta is having frontline star. Oh my God.

I'm like, how many, how many years we're going on? Like six years of this guy's got frontline stuff. He does. I mean, he does split her away. So someone talked to him. Look, he's he's made himself. He's going to get. Yeah.

Nick Pavetta has made himself some money. Good for him. Just I won. You know, that is a win for you's gonna get yeah, Nick. That is made himself some money good for him. Just I won Yo, that is a win for you. You should absolutely take Nick The guys are major league pitcher like you're talking about when he was like Make the team's I work by you. Thank you, but Like they have to be The more economy stuff is gonna be the bigger one He's he's the he's the he's coming in a couple of years.

Hold on one sec. Sasaki's. Hold on. And nice. You can't go from saying this guy's the best pitcher on the. But more now he's a hitter. And then the other guy is this could be so much bigger. I mean, it's like you're saying while last year was was prep for Yamamoto, like they were never going to Yamamoto, but they're laying the groundwork. Sasaki, probably not.

I need them in the more economies. companies yes don't you think having a Japanese player prior to more coming with probably well let's get to the burger oh the first trade this is not the deep breath you take before you dive in like you're gonna do an all-in-one breath. You're like, all right, here we go The first move is not the move that's gonna put the Phillies in the World Series, but it gets them closer I'm trading a Rangers for us And Rafael Marchand sad but

And maybe if they have that someone else in the article the other day It said this team was looking for a controllable starter and a catcher. And Rangers not that controllable. Easy. Relax over there to the Chicago Cubs for size. Suzuki. I love really, I love in onsite. So is your new left fielder. So my new left fielder, they want to make them a full time DH.

I want to make them the left. How's that for, for protein building? He's got a rocket for an arm. But I think Suzuki, he's not going to be a 30 homerun guy, but a 20 homerun, I think he's going to hit for more average here, not going to strike out a lot. I don't think that's a crazy trade. You're not giving out a lot. I love and I just, you know, I don't think that's a crazy trade. I don't give up a lot. No, I think it's a very fair trade. And I think they would, they want to eat some of the money. Cubs so weird, like they, Cubs are so weird. They're the weirdest run organization saving money. And then also Bellinger make no sense to trade for parade days. And he like, they weren't even competing last year. Let's just thank Cody Bellinger for

going back to the Cubs. So the Phillies didn't even have an option to potentially sign him. That would have been the worst signing they could possibly have. It's there. No one looks more like a Philly, a current Philly than Cody Ballinger. Well, it's just they and everyone wants to marry off. It's so it's like if you watch the guy play, like he will swing at a ball that's in the next stadium.

It doesn't matter. Yeah. So I'm getting Suzuki. That's my that's my left fielder. OK. Or maybe right fielder, if you feel like he's a better on the gas, you know, which he does. So maybe you put those finally gets back to left field after all this.

How about that? All that. Making the team. It is well, the thing that he was signed to be their left fielder back then making the team better, they've been better. So my big trade and I'm keeping I'm keeping it.

Painter Miller out of this as best as I can, because I don't want to. So is the Justin Crawford see a trade? This is the Justin Crawford, Edward R. Taite, who's going to be awesome. He was a stud last year and Starland Gaba.

So this is a package. Yeah, yeah. You're giving up three prospects. I know. I know. It better be something good coming back to the Chicago White Sox. For sure. I'm I'm I. It better be something good coming back to the Chicago White Sox for Gary. I Can't let the Dodgers get everyone and it's like the nightingale says the other day the Dodgers and Philly is gonna be most aggressive. It feels like Dave Dabrowski sale trade. It just does it feels like the sale trade all over again

I would like to keep Miller and Painter out of that deal So i'm giving up three top five prospects for him and they're gonna have to sign to a contract extension Yeah, but what do you say to the people who say Garrett crochet has had one good year? Those people might be you know, I'll said one good year before they became a failure. No Zach Wheeler true, but Zach Wheeler was a Higher level prospecting girl. I think so wasn't he? I mean not like if Wheeler was a higher level prospect. I think so, wasn't he? I mean, not like Wheeler was.

Yes, probably a higher level. I mean, Wheeler was like you heard about Wheeler years before he came up. He was like a dude. I know. Well, so is crochet. I mean, crochet is the 14th pick in the draft. OK. And like all the underlying numbers suggest he's going to be. He could be arguing in on it. You're fully in on crochet.

Yeah. I think crochet. I mean, look, what I've seen, Fidji looks nasty, but it's like, you know, Wheeler and crochet is the best ones. He wants a bunch of baseball. I mean, there, and then you have Nolas over Sasaki and Otani. Really? Well, I'm now a motor and glass now or season or Tony or whatever we want to.

I mean, she said, uh, Sasaki and Musgrove and Darvish and Darvish needs it. Crochet Wheeler, crochet Wheeler. It is annoying that all these teams are just spending money and being good. It's like an apple. Well, we're right there. We were. We're right there. Now, we're right there. OK, so Wheeler crochet, Nola, Sanchez, Painter is pretty.

And that's your future rotation. You extend crochet. Wheeler has two years left and that's, you know, is there me 36, 37 by the way. And then you go, yeah, crochet for the rest. I just, he's nasty. He's nasty. He's nasty.

He's nasty. I like it. So, and then, because that's really the only way to build the team if you're not gonna be able to go get a big bat right now. But here's my my pushback is like you're kind of just moving pieces. Like in a sense, you're getting you're adding you're adding a left fielder and you're upgrading your starting rotation. Yeah. But like.

I don't think that's moving pieces. No, but it's not. You could say Ranger for crochet like crochet is better, but it's like a swap. You're swapping a left handed pitcher for a left hand pitcher, and then you're adding a left handhanded starter for a left-handed starter, and you're adding a left fielder. So it's like something, but like we're talking about like wholesale changes with this team. But it's not going to happen.

I just, I think, I think crochet is better than just envisioning him being a ranger swap. I mean, you're trying to... I know, I know, it just, it doesn't feel like you're, it... I don't feel like I've solved my problem of when we get to the playoffs. I feel like the team's going to. Well, what's the problem is, what's that move? There's there's just you want you want Soto. You want to trade for that would be a good move for Aeronauta.

You want to do an aeronauta? I don't know if that helps much either. Yeah, no, I get it. I get it. It's your best chance to upgrade one, like really upgrade one portion of your team, possibly upgrading it. Like in my point, yeah, I get it. I get it. You make a super rotation, basically. Yeah. No, I get it. Or that's trending in that way. No, I know. Look, it makes sense. Way too bound by Garret Grosje. I'm just letting you know. No, it's not even the crochet part. It's just like,

I feel like upgrading the starting rotation doesn't do enough for me. Like, you know what I mean? Like I like the reason they didn't lose cause it's starting rotation. The starting rotation was the one thing they didn't lose because of it lost cause the bullpen they lost cause of the outfield, they lost cause of the bats. Like, I like, I don't know. I know. But if again, if the goal is moving the needle closer of all the realistic moves out there, I feel like crochet is outside of Soto. Possibly the biggest move they can make besides the Saki. I get it. And it just doesn't.

I just I get it. And you're right. And it does make them better. It's just like going first. Like you want a big sexy back. Yes. My mind is not on a starting pitch. I'll get you you Tyler O'Neill. I love Tyler. I'll get you. I got you Suzuki He did I love him. He's okay. I like you're gonna love you. You're gonna like him when he's here. Yeah, okay All right, and think about more commie He's the future at their base

He's gonna be third baseman. It is gonna be a second and Trace will be in the second problem we'll see what about Bryson we'll see or Aiden's a sh- well whatever we'll figure it out just get him yeah that's all that matters that's all that matters okay and then I'm signing Mike Svarogka oh really Travis Darnow I feel like that's a shocking part of Travis Darnow. I know big reveal. And then I designed two relievers that I feel like I could just... I'm next next perfect golf season because we're gonna do this again. Yeah, like I said, if you don't one for every bot, I might be disappointed at this point. I'm gonna start doing things that I can just feel in my bones of what I think they're gonna do. Yeah, so you want you want Ryan Elsley you want Devin Williams? Let me tell you the closer they're gonna sign. Okay, Ken Lee Janssen Thank you. Yeah. I mean don't know that send a cold shiver down your side. See that. Yeah, I did

Yeah, she wasn't that he's been good every year like can't just go I would saves 35 games every year like Like no problem. Every single time. I would talk myself into Kenley Jansen. I would, for sure. For sure. And then they're going to a hundred percent sign Clay Holmes. Clay Holmes not in the closer role. It's still a good, I like him as a middle reliever. I agree. He's, he's got nasty stuff. I just can't have that guy as my clothes. That's why you're getting, not be the clothes. That's why you're getting Kenley Kimbrel.

You're getting Kenley Kimbrel. You think outside of the River Gov season, what do you think about the projected numbers on Hoffman? Yeah, and teams are looking at him as a starter. Again, Jeff, not to be your agent, but Jordan Hicks left to be a starter last year and did not work out. Yeah, I just think that when you're a super reliever, just be a super reliever. Yeah. So it feels like it's getting a little bit high. I'm not sure if Hoffman's going to be gone. As long as I just don't want it, I'm actually I would rather pay Jeff Hoffman his numbers that are being floated out there than his numbers that are being floated out there. It's I mean, close from I floated out there. It's not even close for me. I cannot believe some of those contract projects.

The Estevez numbers are insane. I don't want to get anything close to that. He is like average, man. I know. So again, I would pay off. That would be so bad. And I could see it. I mean, Dave created for him. Dave likes him. If they sign Estevez, even if it's like 20 million less than Hoffman, I'll be mad. 15 million less. What about Estevez and also tendering Austin A's and not on tendering them that move your needle? I'm not even responding. You want me to go on? Not even responding. Go back to care. Yeah, yes. I love the disrespect you had George crochet. It's not disrespect. It's Tucker was a disrespect towards crochet a little bit. Well, maybe a little alright

It's a it's a it's a now starting pitching thing again. I don't really know I need a bat I need someone's gonna come in here and give big hits for me when it freaking matters like I don't know what this term means But I think I'm using in the right. I like this Rounding out the stalking horse thing. This is a nice little flip around I think I'm using this in the right context, but Garrett crochet is a force multiplier Sure, thank you. Yeah He's a force multiplier wins for something or having a good baseball the team I think wins it makes sense for wins.

If Ruben Amaro was the GM of this team, Garrett Crochet is a Philly. Dude, if Ruben Amaro were the GM of this team, Juan Soto would be a Philly. Well, I don't know about all that. But Ruben would say, we're going, we're getting Juan Soto. We are not messing around because that's that's essentially building the 11th. Yeah, no, you're right. The problem is, is that the Padres have a dumb staff. The Dodgers have a dumb staff.

Yeah. There's a lot of really, really good pitching staff around baseball right now. There just is. There just is. And we got to go get Garrett Crochet. Because if not, he could be a Red Sox. He could be a Met.

He could be a Dodger. They have to make a big move this offseason. I think the most likely one is Garrett Crochet. OK. Good. Not a starting pitcher when we can't hit it's great. They can hit yeah, not not when I'm not the right time No, it wouldn't matter. Yeah, that's the solution. Just be better when it counts. Thanks, Dave. Thanks. You nailed that one. Hey Sometimes it's just baseball Don't tell John Middleton that all right. You got anything else? All right. Thank you to Tucker who did an amazing job on this podcast. Adequate. I think he does wonderful work and I would never besmirch him.

How about that? I didn't besmirch him. I'm going to send that to Rod. You should. You should. All right. We'll be back. Oh, maybe we'll definitely have a pot next week. Maybe trying to get some guest action happening. We'll see. We'll see. We'll see. All right. Until then.