Dodgers Territory - Kyle Tucker Decision Soon? Welcome Back Kershaw ...Sorta

Episode Date: January 15, 2026

Alanna Rizzo, Katie Woo, and Clint Pasillas dive into the latest news and rumors involving the Los Angeles Dodgers! (1:00) First, Clayton Kershaw announced his return to pitching as he joins Team USA ahead of the 2026 World Baseball Classic. The hosts react to the news. (3:30) The baseball world is wrapped up in Kyle Tucker watch 2026. Will today be the day he signs? The latest on Tucker and where the Dodgers might be in the mix. Plus, do the Dodgers need Tucker and how much is too much? (14:30) Alanna, Clint, and Katie take a deeper dive into the state of the NL West. Check out DT merch at dodgersterritoryshop.comSupport Guidry's Guardian at guidrysguardian.orgFind Clint on YouTube at youtube.com/@alldodgers Subscribe to Dodgers Territory on YouTubeRate and review our podcast on Apple and SpotifySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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I don't feel that the Dodgers need anything. And that's something that has also been brought up in the chat. It's not about need. It's about want. And also, by the way, we can. And welcome to a brand new live episode of Dodgers Territory on this Thursday, January 15th. We are your host. I am Alana Rizzo. That is Katie Wu, also of the athletic and Clint Paseas. We're with you for the next 30, 35 minutes.

Great to have you guys with us. Please rate us five stars. Like and subscribe to Dodgers territory. Our next goal is 15,000 subs. We'd appreciate it very much on YouTube or anywhere that you get your podcasts. All right, guys, a lot to talk about. It seems like Kyle Tucker Decision Day. But Katie, we will start with you when it comes to the biggest news, in my opinion, because we're a Dodgers show. And that is Clayton Kirshah. One final hurrah, it is announced earlier today that he will in fact be on Team USA for the World of Baseball Classic. His story is not finished yet.

I love this for Kirsch. I'd like to get your take on it. One last ride for number 22 and a very fitting way, I think for his Hall of Fame career to end talking to Annie McCullough, our friend here at The Athletic, did a little interview with him this morning about his excitement, how he thought maybe, you know, wasn't really on his radar to pitch again. That's kind of what happens when you retire.

But when Team USA manager Mark DeRosa said, hey, we have a spot for you, not to coach, but to play. What do you think? I mean, I think this is just so cool for curse. He didn't get to play in 20, 23 for insurance reasons, always wanted to be on Team USA. And here's a perk when you retire. No insurance policy needed. So that's a stacked team USA roster.

We can get into the logistics. I don't think he's going to be in the rotation. I think he's there for emergencies only, but certainly a feel good story to start the day. Yeah, Riz, it's a breaking case of emergency. I think 22 is there to be the vibes guy. And you know, Alana, covering him so many years in that clubhouse. He's good on the vibes.

He's good on the vibes. This is an opportunity for Kirste to be able to do everything he wasn't allowed to do or couldn't do when he was playing, right? I mean, the whole insurance situation in 2003, but he doesn't have to worry about, hey, am I going to be the opening day starter? Am I going to start game number two? Where are we at in terms of the schedule and all of the things?

So I love this for him. I love this for Team USA. This was funny though. Bill Plunkett, front of the show, also does a great job covering the Dodgers for the Orange County Register. Clayton Kershaw on MLB Network earlier today on potentially facing Shohei Otani in a USA-Japan WBC showdown, much like it was last time, right? I think something will have gone terribly wrong.

If I have to pitch against Team Japan in the finals or something, I think we've got plenty of guys to get that guy out, not me. So Kirsch knows his role, right? I mean, it's awesome to have him participate in this. So good for you, Kirsch. We're trying to get him on the show. I asked him to come on on Monday. He said the kids are out of school.

He has five kids, four of which I think are in some sort of grade. So we'll try to get him on the show next week. All right. So that being that, today is Kyle Tucker decision day probably. So let's get to rumor has it. Katie, for all intents and purposes, it seems like most folks thought that this was going happen yesterday. Now they have changed their mind to thinking most of the decisions are going to happen today. Mike Puma of the New York coach saying that it was going to happen last night. Now it's

probably going to happen today. There's three big players in this, Katie, as you know, it is the Los Angeles Dodgers, it is the New York Mets, it is the Toronto Blue Jays. What are you hearing? What are you feeling about where Kyle Tucker lands? Yeah, welcome to baseball free agency in the year of 2026. We just kind of weight pins and needles. And it's funny how the Kyle Tucker situation is shaped up. Mike Puma's been all over between a fantastic job for the New York Post. And then you see on the flip side, Alex Bregman signs with the Cubs in the middle of a very, very exciting Bears Packers game on Saturday night with seemingly no warning. So I don't really think that anything has changed here in terms of we're just waiting for Kyle Tucker to make a decision. The Mets had reportedly

offered him a three to four year contract, $50 million AAB. That is a lot of money. And I know we're talking about three teams that don't really seem to have problems spending money with the Mets, the Dodgers and the Blue Jays having historical spending this winter. It to me goes down to obviously, where does Kyle Tucker want to play? That's why players get to free agency. And if his deals and his market is down to these shorter term AAV deals that we kind of predicted was going to happen during the winter meetings, then it's about what the best fit is. Alana, do you think New York is the best fit for this guy? I don't. And the reason why, and I'm going to read something to you really quick, and this is from a source. It's anonymous, but it is from a source. Somebody with very good information, knowledge, as far as that is concerned. He doesn't love baseball. He's fine with the guys, but the absolute worst sound bite of all time.

Personality of Warning Tracker. I don't think New York is a place that Kyle Tucker will enjoy being we all know how difficult of a market media the media market new york is we all know how difficult it is when you're not performing there and i just don't see kyle tucker wanting to deal with that type of pressure he's a guy that just goes to work and goes home i'm not saying he's as bad as anthony randone by any stretch of the imagination but i don't see this guy being a guy that loves baseball and loves the pressure that's going to come with playing in new york uh you know as if I could see it coming down to the Dodgers or the Toronto Blue Jays, I truly think it's a better fit for him in Toronto. I personally, not that anybody asked, but I'm going to tell you anyway,

I don't necessarily need Kyle Tucker, okay? I know the Dodgers need an outfield, but I don't know, or an outfielder rather. I don't necessarily think a $50 million AAV is, I don't need, I don't think you need to pay Kyle Tucker that, even if it's for two or three years. Now, Toronto is willing to go for 10 years. New York apparently is willing to. New York is the only team that threw it out there in terms of amount, right? Toronto's haven't put an amount out there. The Dodgers haven't put an amount out there.

So who knows if it's even true, number one. Number two, it's like, I just, I don't know. I don't see it. So again, Katie or Clint, let's go with you. You know, all three of these teams in the mix are behemoth, right? Nobody would be surprised because all three of those teams spend money. We know the Mets do. We know the Dodgers do.

And Toronto all of a sudden wants to be a player. not going to surprise anybody regardless of where he goes. Where do you think he lands? Yeah, I really feel like Toronto seems to make the most sense at this point. If they're willing to offer the years, that kind of security. I would imagine Kyle Tucker really, really would appreciate something like that. I don't think he wants to go through free agency once again in just a couple of years, whether it's as a Dodger in a short-term deal or whether it's a MET as a short-term deal.

He makes a lot of sense. They need an outfielder out there. We've heard the reports that they would love to try to get it. out from under that Anthony Santander contract. They have a little bit of money tied up in some weird areas that they would love to allocate to Kyle Tucker. But we can never count out the Dodgers as players on anybody, especially when it comes to a short-term deal.

And of course, we know this past, after the Dodgers go out there, win a world series, they also trimmed about $85, $87 million from their payroll with Clayton Kershaw retiring, everybody's favorite Michael Conforto walking away, getting out from under the Chris Taylor contract. Kirby Yates coming off the books. They have some money available. They've allocated some, of course, to Edwin Diaz, but they've got about, what, $50, $60 million to play with if they want to match what they lost or what they trimmed

in payroll and pay about the same, you know, for that luxury tax threshold exceeding it and the penalties and all that. I'll tell you what, you add a player for $50 million. You end up paying around, what, $160, $100. $170 million in a luxury tax penalty. I don't know. I feel like a good price to buy a World Series that the Dodgers are out here buying World Series.

That's another conversation we could have. The Dodgers can get it done. But to your question, Rose, Toronto seems to make the most sense for. First of all, the Dodgers don't buy World Series. The Dodgers buy good players that gives them an opportunity to get into the postseason. You cannot buy a World Series championship. You can buy a birth into the postseason. Okay.

Second of all, Katie Wu, let me ask. ask you this. If you're talking about a need, I don't feel that the Dodgers need anything. And that's something that has also been brought up in the chat. It's not about need. It's about want and also, by the way we can. What does this mean to you in terms of do the Dodgers want Kyle Tucker? So that automatically solves the outfield problem, if you will, if in fact Tommy Edmund is not ready to come back from ankle surgery. Let's just assume Kyle Tucker plays left field or let's assume that Tay Oscar decides that he's going to move to left field and Kyle Tucker plays in right field and you have an Andy Pahasas that stays in center or whatever. They don't need him.

Do they want him and do they want him badly enough? That's what it comes down to. And we've heard the Dodgers front office say this all off season. They don't feel like they're in a position where they need to do anything to complement the rest of their roster. And just because they don't need to doesn't mean that they won't because you said it alano they can they can do this if they want to it just depends on are they going to go and and meet the the met's with their reported a b there we already know they're not going to go to that extended deal they've been very adamant about that from the jump and that dates back to how they pursue the relief market as well it all really comes down to is this something that makes sense for them right now and if it's going to be 50 million

for Kyle Tucker, I'm not sure, like, don't get me wrong, dynamic player. He would absolutely change everything about the Dodgers offseason. And there's a reason why he's been so coveted for so long. But when you're looking at what the Dodgers really need, to me, especially if Tommy Edmund is not ready to go for opening day, they need like a strong center fielder. And this is not to say that Andy Paa has can't be it. But in my opinion, he profiles much better defensively in the corners. Now, you obviously can get away with him and see. center. It's fine. He's fine. But if you're the Dodgers, what do you really need there? Do you need a better outfield defensively? Or are you comfortable with just going out and getting the best possible

player and figuring out the rest? I mean, it's a fine strategy if you can get away with it financially. And as we know, the Dodgers can do that. So I think you're spot on, Alana, when you say it's about if they can and if they want to, they don't feel like they need to do anything with the rest of their roster right now. And that's just kind of the state of where the franchise is. Yeah, it's a beautiful position to be in. Let's say I'll add, yeah. We, Alana, we kind of entered this offseason, at least I did, with the opinion that they don't need to do a lot. Edwin Diaz did not see that signing coming.

I figured it would be somebody probably a rung or two lower to add as a middle reliever. Get out a closer, get the best closer in the market. Hell yeah, let's go from there. I think, you know, some of your work is done. They have enough talent in-house to be a very, very good, very, very competitive ballclose. and in the next segment, we are going to talk about the state of the National League West. Spoiler, it could be a pretty, you know, a cakewalk once again to another NOS crown for the Dodgers. To the point of being a need, Kyle Tucker is not a need.

They do need an outfielder. I agree, and we've also talked about this. If they're going to add anybody, it is a centerfielder or somebody who has that kind of ability. We've talked about Harrison Bader, who continues to be a fit. He'll cost a lot less money as well. I don't know. I'm just throwing it out there. maybe we lower the expectations.

Everybody wants a big signing, but let's lower the expectations a little bit. The thing is I don't. I don't need a big signing. I understand I'm not, yes, I am a fan, but I'm not, I understand what you're saying with our chat. Our chat wants a big signing. I get that as well, but 266, 22 home runs, 73 stakes, 50 million. I'm sorry.

Like that to me, and I understand that's just a, that's just a, I'm painting it with a very broad stroke of a brush there. I agree with Katie. He is a dynamic player. He's going to make your team better. He's not going to make it worse. But 50 million, I don't know. I just, again, not my money.

They have it. They can do it. I just, I just think that it's silly. I mean, yeah, short, short term deal, two year deal, whatever. I don't know. I just don't. This still comes back to Shohei and Juan Soto ruining baseball with these $700 million contracts.

Like, what are these absurd numbers we're asking for? And also, how do we get a cut of this? Listen, I don't ever fault a player for going to the, you know, going and ask for the moon. I'm fine with it. I'm fine with players, all players going to free agency. I'm glad that Shohei got 700. I'm glad that Soto got 765. I've said this a thousand times.

If Shohei's making 700, Bougainheim's making 2.4, or 2.8. So I don't care. That doesn't bother me. But let's just be smart about it. I think about clubhouse culture. I think about the fit with the team. I think about a lot of different things when it comes to this. And again, but it's going to come down to

who wants him badly enough. And we're honestly, like Katie said, where does he want to play? Where does he want to go? Does he want to go to New York? Does he want to deal with, you know, the whole situation with travel and Toronto and all of the things? I mean, we always say LA is a destination, but we'll see what happens in terms of that. There's still much more to come, guys, on Dodgers territory. But first, we want to ask you to please consider the show supporting the show and consider getting some sweet Dodgers territory swag.

Visit the Dodgers Territory shop. Pick yourself up a T-shirt. Clint's wearing it, a hoodie, a mug, a duffel, bag, whatever your heart desires look good for the new year while directly supporting us and the Fowel Territory Network. Go to Dodgers Territory Shop.com, scan the QR code, click the link in the description below, support the show in style. We thank you for your support. I'm John Green. You may know me as the author of The Fault and Our Stars, and now I guess also as the co-host of the away end, a brand new world soccer podcast. I'm Daniel Alarcon, a writer

and journalist, and John and I have known each other since we were kids. My first World Cup was Mexico 86. I was nine years old. I watched every game and I fell in love. On our new podcast, The Away End, we'll share with you the magic of international football, all leading up to the 2026 World Cup. For us, soccer, football, is a story we've shared for over 30 years since Daniel was the star player on our high school soccer team. Very debatable. And I was their most loyal and sometimes only fan. I love this game. I love its history, its hope, it's heartbreak, and above all, it's beauty. Together, we'll find out why, of all the unimportant things, football, soccer, is the most important.

Listen to The Away End with Daniel Auer Kohn and John Green on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Ever feel like you're being chased by the marriage police? Welcome to Boys and Girls, the podcast where dating isn't dating. Arranged Marriage is basically a reality show. except the contestants are strangers and your entire family is judging. You're sipping coffee with one maybe, grabbing dinner with another, and praying your karmic Ken or Barbie appears before your shelf life runs out.

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Well, break the news. Dodgers are pretty good. I would call them the top of the crop or cream of the crop, top of the pops there when you're talking about the NL West. But Katie and I, we spoke a little bit about this and our thought for the road on Monday. Obviously, the Cubs get better. Adding Alex Bregman competition makes the Dodgers better, as Dino Ebel told us, last offseason, Alana. I am unimpressed with the state of the National League West. Of course, the debacks make a move, Katie amongst those breaking the addition of Nolan Aeronado to Arizona. Are they a riser? Where are they at? here's kind of a look at their offseason so far.

You still have Zach Gallin out in free agency. You add Merrill Kelly back. He returns. Mike Soroka added as well. I think he's going to be in the mix of the rotation. But yeah, the big name there, Nolan Aronado. In my opinion, he is not Gino Suarez. Of course, they traded him last summer.

But I don't know. What's, Katie, what's kind of your gauge of what this Aronado edition does for Arizona? and where are they at in kind of the pecking order of the NL. West? So I'll preface this with an off-season prior. I have been a snakes hater. I've just never really been on board. The D-BACs train. I thought they were very 500-ish.

And now looking at the rest of the NL West, I see it could always be worse. And I actually think that the D-BACs have done a pretty nice job of this off-season, operating within their market size. Obviously, the downside and point in the NL West is that you're going to against the Dodgers and the division. So I don't think the debacks are looking to necessarily put together a division winning roster because I'm not sure if they can, but they can certainly put together a competitive

one within the National League. And that's what they're doing. I like bringing back Merrill Kelly, just always made sense for them to do that. Mike Soroka is some nice veteran pickup. And the Nolan Aronado trade is a high upside trade for Arizona because they're only paying $11 million to have him for the next two years. The St. Louis Cardinals are paying down 31,000. of the 42 remaining on that contract.

So talk about salary dump. If you are the Diamondbacks and you're looking to improve defensively, go out and get one of the best third basemen to ever play the game. They don't need Aronado to supply the offense. They have Corbyn Carole, they have Marte, they have Ferdomo to do that. They'll presumably get Gurriel Jr. back around June. If Nolan Aronado can play, all-star defense at third and drive in some runs hitting six or seven, that's exactly what they're paying him to do.

They still need that Arizona still needs some bullpen and we'll see what they do about first base, maybe a Palm Goldschmidt reunion. But when we'll get to the rest of the division, they're the only ones besides the Dodgers really doing anything right now. And they don't, they're young, they're exciting, they have some good talent.

I think they'll be competitive, but no one's touching the Dodgers so far. No, there's no way. That's the thing. I mean, the Dodgers barring something catastrophic. I would imagine when the NL West again by a long shot. I mean, they do, the Diamondbacks, as you mentioned, Kay, they need some bullpen help.

They need another power bat. This rotation is meddling with the middle at best, with Corbyn Burns expected to miss a lot of the season. They're a minor threat to this team. They're a minor threat in the division. Honestly, though, like, there's really, let's look at the Padres. Because I think when you look at the rivalry, if you will, which has become one more recently, it's not the Giants anymore, right?

It's the Padres. but Clint, I don't think the Padres are going to be anywhere near where they need to be until this whole ownership mess gets sorted out. Yeah, Padres are in a weird spot. Of course, they're going to be the chief kind of contender, the chief competition in the NOS for the Los Angeles Dodgers. But doing some research on this, obviously they have had a weird offseason so far. It is not done.

But I see on the screen here, you got intrigue or declined because this is another club that is getting older. They need an infielder. They brought in a head coach, our manager, head coach, dumbass. They brought in a manager who, you know, it's kind of tough to imagine Craig Stamman commanding the respect of somebody like a Mani Machado who very much runs that clubhouse. But even so, the Padres are shockingly in a better position than what their offseason kind of leaves it to look like. they still got, not Merrill Kelly. Who's their center fielder again? I always mess up his.

Merrill something rather. Jackson Merrill. Jackson Merrill. You have Jackson Merrill as your young dude. Fernando Tatis is obviously still a pretty good baseball player, not quite the guy. He was pre-ringworm. Mani Machado is going to figure something out. He's had a full, healthy off-season.

Zander Bogart's is still pretty good at shortstop, even though he's getting paid a lot of money. It's an intriguing ball club. They like that that fair mean kid at catcher as well. They have some pitching. You still got a really, really good bullpen. I think they're going to be better than I would a day before looking at their roster have given them credit for. They are going to be the chief competition, like I said, for the Dodgers. They are always a threat. But this is a club. We're having this conversation a year from now. I don't know. I think it's going to be very, very different for them Padres. Like you said, Riz, the ownership needs to figure itself out.

Katie, I'm interested in your take, too, because you are coming from the NL Central. So it's like Clint and I, we know the NL West at nauseam, but I'm interested from an outside perspective now that you're in the West, but before in the Central. Like, how did you view the Padres in St. Louis? What do you think about this club? I always thought that they were much more talented than I saw. And I only saw them for about a week out of the season, because when you look at the names, especially. especially in the lineup, you're like, yeah, this team should rake. And it's always kind of struck me differently that they hadn't really been able to win when it matters.

And when you have guys like Mandy Machado, you know, one of the best are based on to play the game, you have Zander Bogartz, you have Jackson Merrill, Jake Cronomworth. These are all very good players. And they played the Dodgers tough or, you know, especially in that, what was it, 2024? I don't know, all the ears sound the same. that heard the other. But to the 20th, they got bounced by the Padres.

Right. Now, I think like until the Padres prove that they can win when it matters, they're always going to be number two to the Dodgers in this division. And that's just how it is. I'd say that even if I was covering them. I wonder, and I'm a little discouraged about the Padres, Alana, because I think you're

spot on about the ownership. You can only do as much as you can spending wise. And AJ Preller is like an evil genius scientist, weirdo. And all the things that he does, he finds ways to make insane deals. They still have a great bullpen, Mason Miller, Jason Adam coming back, but they haven't won when it matters. And until they do that, the Dodgers are always going to have the one-up in this division, this rivalry, pretty much any time you put them head to head. Clint, is there even a point to talk about the Giants?

I don't know what the Giants are doing. That is a weird organization. They bring in, what, a college manager to be there, manager. You lose Justin Verlander, Wilmer Flores, who for a while has been a heart and soul of that kind of infield there. You had some pitching help, but I don't know, this is a club that it's, what are we doing? San Francisco, what are you doing here? I would love for the Giants to be good to give the Dodgers, you know, a fight, to bring back that rivalry.

Riz, I miss the Dodgers Giants rivalry, like being a real thing. It's been too long. I agree. I couldn't agree more. Tony Vitello, the new manager, obviously, had a tremendous amount of success with the Giants. All I really care about in terms of Vitello is, does that mean that Morgan Wallin is now a Giants fan? And if so, when they come to the Dodgers, like, is there a way that, like, you can hook a sister up with like, just that, just can I, can I meet him? That's all I care about when it comes to the Giants as far as Vitello is concerned.

But yeah, I don't know. I mean, you have to, if you have, I mean, I trust in Buster Posey. I think he's a very strong baseball minds. Obviously, catchers make great managers, and now he's the president of baseball ops. But when you have a young manager that's a college guy that's had success at the college level that basically could have run Knoxville, do you have to surround him with so many people that have been at the big league level before? I mean, does he have the support group around him, right? to be able to have success. And what is the,

what's the product on the field going to look like? They just don't have a ton of names out there that really, there's not anybody that really strikes fear in you as far as I'm concerned with the lineup. So it'll, you know, time will tell. Time will tell. Katie, we should also remind a lot of your family to maybe not watch this part of the show. The last thing I'll say about the Giants, could shock, could flop. What's, what's your assessment of San Francisco?

My thing with the Giants is they're just so boring. They're vanilla right now as currently constructed. And when is the last time the Giants have really had a superstar? Like, their most prominent players right now, Logan Webb, Matt Chapman, great players, great for the game, absolute competitors. And then who else? I was looking at the Giants 40 man this morning. And I saw just a bunch of names that don't pop out that the casual baseball fan is not going

to recognize. And that's not to say that they aren't good players or they can't be productive players. It's just when you play in a market like San Francisco, you expect to know the starting lineup. You expect to know these names. And I can't really say with a bunch of passion in my heart that I would know these names if I wasn't a baseball writer. And that to me is the bigger story for what's going on with San Francisco. And it's not for lack of effort. They tried to get Correa.

They tried to get judge. And ultimately, they just haven't been able to. And if you're going to play in the NL West, you have to have stars. So I think Buster Posey taking over in the front office was super cool. I loved it. It was clearly someone who cared so much about the franchise and the organization that he wanted to take it upon himself to make it better. Now I'm just kind of waiting for those moves to come to fruition because it's been a very disappointing offseason for a Giants team that just like the D-backs, just like the Cardinals, were right in it to sneak into that number six wildcard spot. You're really telling me the San Francisco Giants can't outbid the Cincinnati Reds.

who ended up sneaking in. To me, I just feel like the Giants have the market to do so much better. They have the fan base to do so much better. Give those fans or give, yeah, give those fans in San Francisco a star. They haven't had one in a while. Yeah, even somebody. I'm sorry. I'm just looking at their roster right now.

I mean, this is the San Francisco Giants when it comes to recognition. Willie Adomis, Matt Chapman, obviously Raphael Devers, Logan Webb. That's it. That's what you got. That's your team. What I was going to add to that is like, I kind of agree with the underlying assessment of, you know, Rafael Devers. It feels like he's a bigger name, a bigger headline, and just all of the drama that came out of Boston rather than him being like one of these superstar players in the game.

Like he is not one of the top 25 people you think of when you think of who are the faces of baseball. I don't think of Rafi Devers personally. Maybe that's just me. But him, you know, Chapman definitely. I think of Chapman. I view him a lot higher than a Devers than a Willie Adomis. But yeah, what are we doing in San Francisco? Figure it out.

That's all I got. Yeah, I don't know. I don't know about that. I think Devers is better than a lot of people think. And if you don't see, if you don't get to see. Very good baseball player for sure. On the daily, like I have here in Boston, like I think they did him dirty. The way that Boston handled that whole situation and it continues to backfire with the whole

Bregman thing, you get rid of Devers, you take to save 250 million or whatever it is. Oh, well, that's going to give you the money to extend Bregman. No, it's not because you did absolutely nothing, and now he's in Chicago. So good for you, Boston. I don't know what the hell they're doing either. And we're not even going to mention the Colorado Rockies because, honest of God, there's no point. Until the Rockies force their way into the conversation, we're not talking about it. Because they just, they don't deserve to be there.

They just don't deserve to be there. Who does deserve is the pup that I want to introduce you to. Clint Pesias, let's get to last lips. I'm John Green. You may know me as the author of The Fultonar Stars. And now, I guess, also is the co-host of The Away End. a brand new world soccer podcast. I'm Daniel Alarcon, a writer and journalist,

and John and I have known each other since we were kids. My first World Cup was Mexico 86. I was nine years old. I watched every game, and I fell in love. On our new podcast, The Away End, we'll share with you the magic of international football, all leading up to the 2026 World Cup. For us, soccer...

Football is a story we've shared for over 30 years since Daniel was the star player on our high school soccer team. Very debatable. And I was there. most loyal and sometimes only fan. I love this game. I love its history, its hope,

its heartbreak, and above all, it's beauty. Together, we'll find out why, of all the unimportant things, football, soccer, is the most important. Listen to the Away End

with Daniel Auer Kohn and John Green on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. All right, kids, let me introduce you to Charlie Bubba. This is a little bud

that is a Shih Tzu Poodle Mix. He's about to years old. He was found as a stray in Frient, California, very close to Fresno, California. That is where he is currently being fostered. He was just groomed. Look at him, look so dapper with his little handkerchief. He is scheduled to get neutered on January 20th, and he is available for adoption after he heals. So basically February 1st, he'll be ready to go to his forever home. He's great with other dogs. He's super good with people. He's about 17 pounds. He's just a little guy. So if you're interested, in adopting Charlie, please reach out to me on social or giddriesgarden.org.

All right, kids, as we close out the show, baseball thoughts for the road, and you'll get to know the Muncie family very well, Katie. Congratulations to Max and Kelly Muncie and their family for adding another little girl. So now Sophie has another sister. Macy Grace was born a couple of days ago. So congrats to the Muncie family. Now they have three kiddos. Three kids.

A lot of Muncie's there added to the Muncie crew. But yeah, congrats. We know Max, big friend of the Fowl Network, just one of the best people on the Dodgers, one of the best people in baseball. And like you said, I'm very much looking forward to Katie getting that opportunity to really get tight with Max Muncie because that's a guy who's a dude. If you're talking about somebody in that clubhouse, that is a guy who's absolutely a dude. So congrats to the Muncie crew.

Congrats to Max. Congrats to Kersh for getting. on WBC. Katie, I love having you here. And it's going to be Katie and, or it's going to be myself and Clint on Monday. Katie is off and then she joins us again on Thursday. Hopefully Clayton joins us on Thursday as well. Have a good rest of your week, guys. Happy weekend. We'll talk to you soon. Bye. I'm Daniel Alarcon. And this is my friend. It's much more famous than I am. I wouldn't go that far. But I'm John Green, co-host of the podcast The Away End with my old friend Daniel on our podcast, the away end, we'll share with you the magic of international football, all leading up to the

2026 World Cup. Together, we'll find out why, of all the unimportant things, football, soccer, is the most important. Listen to the away end with Daniel Auerkone and John Green on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Then she says, have you seen a photo of my son? And I'm like, who is this person? Welcome to the Boys and Girls podcast. Arranged Marriage is basically a reality show and you're auditioning for your soulmate. And who's judging? Only your entire family? I sacrificed myself

to this ancient tradition, hoping to find love the right way. And instead, I found chaos, comedy, and a lot of cringe. Listen to boys and girls on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Babes, what are you doing?

What? I'm just mowing the lawn. No, it's blazing hot and dry out here. Don't you remember? Smokey Bear says, Avoid using power equipment when it's windy or dry. Where'd you learn this? Oh, it's on... Smokeybear.com with many other wildfire prevention tips. Right. Thanks, honey, bear.

Because remember, only you can prevent wildfires. Brought to you by the USDA Forest Service, your state forester, and the Ad Council. I'm Anna Navarro, and on my new podcast, Bleep with Anna Navarro. I'm talking to the people closest to the biggest issues happening in your community and around the world. Because I know deep down inside right now,

we are all cursing and asking what the bleep is going on. Every week I'm breaking down the biggest issues happening in our communities and around the world. I'm talking to people like Julie K. Brown, who broke the explosive story on Jeffrey Epstein in 2018. The Justice Department through, we counted four presidential administrations, failed these victims. Listen to bleep with Anna Navarro on the high-house. Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.