High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Any Interest in Alex Cobb and is Getting Christian Yelich a Smart Move for the Phillies?

Episode Date: January 4, 2018

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz are back to talk about the Phillies offseason and being named the leaders in the clubhouse for Alex Cobb. Would it really be smart to give up a third round pick for him? They also debate Christian Yelich and Jon Marks comes out of hibernation for a 5 minute segment since he's too big time for us now. All that and more on this episode of High Hopes! See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information. 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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I'm your host, James Seltzer. With me, the man, the myth, the legend, also the new nighttime producer at WIP for the Joe Giglio Show, Mr. Jack Fritz. Jack, moving up in the world, buddy. Well, moving up, but still a producer. So am I, so that's fair Producer of that and still technically the producer of this I guess We have to pass it by Marks

Everything has to be cleared by Marks But I'm still the Suedo producer slash third Mike sometimes Yeah we can go it's pseudo suedo Whatever you want to say It's pseudo we'll go pseudo Yeah it's spelled suedo But actually it's pseudo how about that look at that a little grammar lesson to start the show off as i know you are definitely uh uh more than a producer less than

a host how about that also getting eight hours of sleep now look at that yeah no joke i've never seen jack fritz as bouncy as he is today he came in just bouncing off the wall he's like i actually got sleep last night all right i think the real reason Jack was bouncy is because he knew we were talking to the Phillies today. A lot to get into. Coming up, we'll get into a little bit of an outfield preview as we continue our preview slash reviews of the offseason heading into 2018. First, though, let's start off, Jack, with kind of the most recent news. The last pod we did ending 2017 got into some of the moves the Phillies have made already. The Los Santana move, the trading of Freddie Gallis.

You love calling him Los. Of course. How could you not? He's Los. Los Santana. Los Santana. I love it. And then, of course, the Galvis trade and the moves in the bullpen.

and the moves in the bullpen, getting to a former potential star that didn't happen, that the Phillies brought in for a second shot a little bit later. Like a fourth shot. Yeah, right? Or fifth or seventh or whatever you want to call it. But let's start out with, and we'll get into a few trade hypothetical potential scenarios in a minute, but I guess the biggest news of the day, not a ton of Phillies news out right now, but ESPN coming out and saying that the Phillies, the leader in the clubhouse, to go out and sign Alex Cobb. First and foremost, they would lose a third-round pick.

We've talked a little bit about that. Because they gave up a second and fifth for Carlos Santana. Exactly. And, I mean, you assume Cobb probably in the neighborhood of $12 million to $15 million a year, I would guess, in terms of the contract, somewhere in that range. It feels like four years, $60 million. Something like that. Yeah, I think $12 million. I think that's exactly right.

A, how do you feel about that type of number if it is? And B, what do you think about Cobb in general as an addition to this stuff? I think Cobb helps a lot. I like Alex Cobb a lot. I loved him a couple years ago when he was on the raise. The problem is I don't trust his arm. And I think as he gets older, I think he's only going to age very well at all. He's the guy that relies a lot on his curveball, and it's a great curveball.

Also a great changeup as well. Pitching-wise, love everything about Al Scott. But the injury stuff combined with the money, combined with the draft pick, I think is something that's interesting. And I was actually just out to lunch with John, and we were talking about this a little bit the reason why i'm kind of intrigued at the possibility of giving up a draft pick for another pitcher another player another high priced free agent is because i think it would it would force the phillies to uh to actually spend over

slot dollars in the first round pick i agree the last three years they've gone under slot first round pick and then they've gone over slot first round pick, and then they've gone over slot second round pick, trying to get a steal that has fallen into the second round. And I wonder if they sign a guy like Cobb, don't have a second and third round pick, that they would go over slot in the first round and get an actually good impact player. I think they drafted good players in the recent drafts. But with Moniak, they could have gotten Nick Sensel. Yeah, or Jason Groom.

I think that was kind of what happened there. I think a lot of people thought they should have taken Groom or A.J. Puck or one of those guys. Those guys cost more to sign. It's a great point, Jack. And it's one of those things that you don't think about a lot when you're looking at the draft and who they should take and stuff. But it is a real factor. It's the weirdest thing ever? It's the weirdest thing ever.

And it's the way Major League Baseball is. I mean, you see it all the time. But it's kind of how the Astros have been taking advantage of the draft for years. Doing that and looking at second round picks, third round picks, paying over slot. I think that's a really interesting point that if they don't have those picks, they might allot that money in the first round. I'm totally

down giving up a third round pick for Alex Cobb. I'm with you on the arm as well. The fact that he throws a lot of curve balls is what worries you. Coming off the Tommy John surgery, came back about halfway through last year looked solid you know looked kind of what you would expect from a tommy john returnee you know the control a little off but the velocity all that back i think with you know the extra time the extra off season to get back to where he was i feel good about cobb kind of returning to that guy he was before but like you said he had injury

issues prior to the tommy john he's never been someone who's going to go out and who has yet going out and giving you 200 innings in a year and you feel good about it so i think that's a real worry especially with the money it would cost having said that it's not that much money they have some money to spend they can afford it and i do think that if they look into him and the medicals and all that, and they feel good about it, I think Alex Cobb, healthy, is absolutely worth that money. I think that too, but I think I'd rather have Lance Lynn. Really? Oh, see, I'd rather have Cobb.

I just think there's more upside there. I think Lance Lynn will be, I know he hasn't been the most durable guy, but I think... He's built durably. He looks durable. He's definitely built durably. It's the beard that throws me off.

It's the big beard. It's a strong beard, though. I think his mechanics age well. I's definitely built durable. It's the beard that throws me off. It's the big beard. It's a strong beard, though. I think his mechanics age well. I think they're easy. I think you're right about that. I think they're simple mechanics. Very simple. They're not...

He doesn't rely on a curveball like we talked about with Cobb, so I would almost rather allot the money to Lance Lynn than else. Because you feel better about his ability to maintain health. I mean, these guys... Here's the thing. The Phillies aren't going to compete next year. They might make a wild card, maybe.

Yeah, we've talked about this. I think they could hover around 500, maybe win a few extra and compete for that spot, but I agree with you. I don't think they're going into the season saying, hey, there's a playoff year.

Yeah, but you need to have arms ready for two years from now, three years from now, when they're actually competing for the top. So I like Alex Cobb and Lance Lennon. It's tough because I want

them to go all in and try to win this year, but in the end, that's just me being a fan. Gotta take a step back for a second and be like, hey, the goal is not to win next year. The goal is to win three years from now, basically. And I don't think if you're having a 33-year-old Alex Cobb or a 33-year-old Lance Lennon, I don't know their ages

off the top of my head, and you're paying them on the last year. They're not that old. You mean by that time? By that point. It's just like, what are they going to be at that point. I don't know their age off the top of my head. And you're paying them on the last year. They're not that old. You mean by that time. By that point. By that point. It's just like, what are they going to be at that point? I don't know what they're... They're not going to be the same guys they are now. And they probably won't age very well.

So I think it's more of a... If it was two years or three years from now, no problem doing these kind of deals. It's just right now, it feels a bit rushed. Yeah, I feel you on that. I do... Look, I think with a guy like Cobb, I think you're playing on that upside. You're hoping... And he is a little younger I think he's in his late 20s off the top of my head

you know, 27, 28, somewhere in that range maybe slightly older than that, but I know what you're saying, I do think that the upside of Cobb, he doesn't have a ton of miles on him career-wise. That's because he's been hurt. Right, but I mean, in general still not a ton of miles, he's been hurt on and off but, look, I think that

you can't just go into the season with Aaron Nola. They're going to have to sign people. They're going to have to do something. They don't have guys in-house to be able to fill out a pitching staff, or at least a major league capable pitching staff. I would rather give four years 80 to Arrieta if it gets to that point, or three years 80 to Arrieta. Spend the extra more.

See, I don't know if I would. Arrieta's been durable, obviously. But he's definitely older than those two guys. See, I don't know if I would. Arrieta's been durable, obviously, but he's definitely older than those two guys. And certainly, we've seen the beginnings of that kind of wear and tear and catching up with him a little bit. He's had struggles or times of struggle because of that. And also, he's pitched a lot of innings the last couple of years. So that worries me.

I do know what you mean, though, in a sense of if you're talking about same years and an extra $20 million to make a deal happen, I think Arrieta's probably worth an extra $20 million to those guys. I think Arrieta gets more money than that, though, ultimately. Yeah, I mean, I would be surprised if he signs for anything less than $100 million. I agree. Because I would think a win-now team would take a chance. Yeah. Like a team like the Yankees, Cubs bring him back.

Absolutely. Even the Astros. Yeah. Just take a shot. If you're going to lose Keuchel next year, which it seems like they might, why not bring in Arrieta and put Verlander in the top rotation? No, it makes a ton of sense. I'm with you.

I think Arrieta is certainly a possibility. I think any free agent pitcher is a possibility for this Phillies team right now. Except Darvish. And obviously moving into the future. Yes, except Darvish. I don't think. They're not going to put the money that it will take to get Darvish. I don't think Darvish wants to play here that much to begin with either. So I don't think it's a perfect match.

But regardless, for the most part, I think from Arrieta down, I think I could see them making a move on anybody. But I do think the Cobb-Lynn range of guys is where you will see and they will sign one of those type of guys, no matter what, is my call. Do you think they're going to sign

one of those guys at some point this offseason? This offseason I'm talking about. Interesting. I think so. Look, again, you go back to the fact that it's Aaron Nolan who? Starting your season out. I think the more likely outcome is trade for a guy. Well, let's get into that because that is the other possibility. And I do think, see, that's the thing is I think that I'm approaching it from the standpoint of there are two pitchers at least out there

who are not on the Phillies right now, who will be a part of this starting rotation by the time the season starts. So I could see them both signing a Cobb or a Lynn and still going out and making a deal. Let's talk about some of these deals. We got into it a little bit last time, kind of ranking the control of starters. If you want to check that out, it's on the High Hopes podcast feed. We talked about Chris Archer.

We talked about Marcus Stromanoman michael fulmer and gary cole especially and kind of what it might take to get those guys how we would rank them ultimately we both came down with it going archer fulmer stroman cole for us based on the pitchers themselves the contracts all that type of stuff age i think we both still feel that way let's talk about what it would take to get those guys, and then we're going to loop Christian Yelich in the conversation as well, which is also obviously a trade hypothetical. It's been on the table since last season.

But let's start with these four pitchers. What do you think hypothetically it takes to go get, let's say, an Archer or Fulmer who would probably cost the most to that group? I don't think it's going to cost 6-0. I don't think it's going to cost 6-0. It could be 6-0 and a lower level prospect if you want to of that group. I don't think it's going to cost Sixto. I don't think it's going to cost Sixto. It could be Sixto and a lower level prospect, if you want to go that way. I don't think they want to go that way.

I'm with you. I think that if I had to bet my life on it, I would bet my life that Sixto is not getting traded. Me too. And I think they'd much rather put together a package of the young pitchers that they have right now. The Colomes, those types of guys. I'm good with moving Colomes.

Me too. My eyes are on the Medina, Suarez, Jojo Romero. Medina, yeah, Romero, those are real pieces. They are. They are, definitely. Medina's up to fourth in their process. Wow, he's up that high already? He's really underrated prospect-wise.

And the thing with Medina is he's, I think, a little bit more projectable. The thing with Medina is he's, you know, I think a little bit more projectable. The thing with Sixto is he's just better. And he's just, you know, the ups, the ceiling for Sixto is through the roof. Whereas I think Medina has a high ceiling, but I think Medina is more of a sure thing. So I think there's something in that, too. I feel so confident in this Phillies scouting department now to where that even if they moved on from, moved some of these guys, I just feel like they've gotten so good at scouting the the dominican the latin american countries which was

key of course it's key we talked about it the moment they put that institution there we're like yes do it matt yeah and i just think i think they i think they've gotten so good at that that even if they moved on from from the one of those young pitchers i think there's an influx of talent coming in from the Dominican, from the Latin American countries, that they'd be able to fill that hole. So I would, people are so covenant to not move these guys.

Really, I'm pretty good with moving anyone but Sixto and Kingery. I don't want to move any of the almost major league ready guys and Sixto. Yeah. That's about where I'm at. I feel the same way. And I would be more willing to listen. I mean, look,

if it's a deal for Manny Machado and he's signing a contract, you can have Scott Kingery, that type of thing or whatever, but I'm with you for these types of deals. Look, if it's Kingery and some other lower-level prospects to make a Chris Archer deal happen, I'm probably going to pull the trigger on that ultimately, but I understand why people wouldn't. And like you said said i ultimately don't

think it will cost that much i think that guys like medina and suarez and romero plus a moniak or a hazley or someone like that can get a deal done for one of these guys i think that's the direction you're looking i think that the organization itself is kind of the same mind as you i think they believe in their ability to scout the dominican we've seen kind of the results already and i think your point is is fair you know my issue and i'm all in on six though i was not as quickly all in as you were because 18 years old pitching prospect i've seen it happen a billion times and also doesn't work out but the thing is six though i mean there's too much evidence too much you know all you need to do is watch the kid and be like all right right, I get it.

But that same thought process applies to my willingness to trade the other guys, if you know what I mean. First off, no one's quicker to talk themselves into players than me. So, of course, I was all over 6-0. No, I, like, if I'm looking at, we might as well throw Jelich into this thing as well. Yeah. Because, I mean, he seems like a guy that they've been targeting for years. So Yelich and one of the controllable starters. Like if you're if you're going to trade for Christian Yelich you're going to have to put

an either Hazel or Moniak into that deal. A million percent. Because like I mean their peak is supposedly going to be Christian Yelich. Plus if you have a surplus. Supposedly hopefully Christian Yelich is the boy at least with Moniak. You're like hope he be Christian Jelic. Plus, if you have a surplus of young outfielders. Supposedly, hopefully, Christian Jelic is the boy. At least with Moniak, you're like, hope he's Christian Jelic. And again, Jelic is what, 22 years old? I mean, he's a kid until 23 max.

Wait, Jelic? Yeah, he's young, 23. Is he that old? All right. Well, either way, he's young. He's young. And also under contract for a while, a good contract with that team. I thought he was younger.

He might be 25 now that you're saying it. That sounds right. Regardless, he's a younger player. The point is you're not trading a process. 26. 26? When did he get old? That's what I'm saying.

When did Chris Archer get 29? I think there's a conspiracy theory. Time's happening way too fast. Chris Archer's not 29. Yeah, Yelich, that was obviously too young for Yelich, but I didn't think he was 26. 23, 24 sounded right. Regardless, under contract, a good contract, team-friendly contract,

and a ton of upside there. He's already proven to be a really good Major League Baseball player. Is he better than Abdul-Harrar? Yeah, I think he's better. Look, I think if nothing else, his ceiling is higher at the age that he's at. He hasn't hit his kind of 27-year-old peak physical athletic time yet. But I do think that you make a good point there in the sense that, and I know you and I don't as much as a lot of people,

but I think in this city we vastly underrate the baseball player that Odabull Herrera is. Of course we do. He is a terrific baseball player. And when you look at the contract, it's like he's got to get them for $6.5 million. I mean, that's one of the best contracts in baseball, and no one ever talks about it because of the bat flips and all that. And people think he's a bad defender. It's crazy to me.

Dude, Adubo Herrera is a better defender at his position than Freddy Galvez. Of course he is. I would lean that way, too. I think they're comparable. All the advanced metrics back it up. He's a great, great outfielder. A terrific outfielder. He does everything you want from a player.

And the contract is insane. It is. And listen, he doesn't get to balls because they're so inconceivable that anyone can get to the balls. So people think, oh, wait, isn't that good a range? No, his range is so insane that it makes it look like, wow, why didn't he catch that ball? It's because he wasn't supposed to be near the ball. Yeah. No, I'm with you.

And vastly underrated there. So here's the question, though. Because it does kind of make you step back and think, if they do do a Yelich trade, you almost think Herrera would almost have to be part of it, right? I mean, are you going to have an outfield where two-thirds of your outfield you're going to get 15 homers from? I mean, that's tough to do these days. 20 homers?

I mean, Yelich isn't a power guy. Herrera's not a power guy. Not that you have to have power guys out there. Well, Hoskins is going to be an outfield now. Obviously. Well, Hoskins would be. If you had an outfield of Yelich in right, Odebo in center, and Hoskins in left, you're still deficient from a power perspective even with Hoskins there, comparatively.

Sure, but like... Such good enough hitters it doesn't matter. But are the Red Sox have a power outfield? No, they really don't. So I think it could be comparable to Betts. I think in total production, it probably could. I mean, each of those guys, like a 20-homer guy. Homers also don't, like, you can get homers from anywhere. I mean, Freddie Galvis had 20 homers a couple years ago.

So I think that's a little bit overrated. I just think, I just generally think we overrate like like who the player Nick Williams is like for like people like afraid to move on. Christian Yelich would be an instant upgrade and be here for a long time. Oh, it's no question. He'd be here for he'd be here for at least the next. He's just entering into his prime. So like he would obviously upgrade this outfield and make us better next year and would help us as we build towards championship roster. upgrade this outfield and make us better next year and would help us as we build towards a championship roster and i don't think like i just don't see nick williams ever being as good

as as christian yelich or aaron alter i like aaron alter but i guess the i guess the question more is like do you really need another outfielder well i mean i think that's been the question right that was the question with with moving hoskins out there to begin with especially when you have moniak and hazaisley coming up, I think one of them would have to be in the deal regardless. Absolutely. I think if you make a deal like that, it's not just one of them,

but you've got to have either Williams or Altair in it, or maybe both. I mean, you probably don't give up both in that deal. The point is, maybe one's in a deal for a pitcher, one's in a deal for Yelich, something like that. They could strip this whole thing down. They could strip it down and get Yelich and one of the controllable starters.

Absolutely, they could. They have the assets. That's the point. They have a top six farm system plus major league ready assets. If you're going this route, especially once you've already stuck Hoskins in the left field for the next three years, which is happening, you kind of got some room to maneuver

with those guys and too many guys so I certainly think moves are coming. It's just a question of which ones. Let's look at it. If you had to choose one or the other, and I could absolutely see the making both happen. They do have the assets to make both happen. And I think they'd be interested in making both happen. Oh, look at this.

Johnny Marks walking in in the middle of a break. Put the mic there, buddy. I don't even know what you're talking about, but I'm sure it's involving the Phillies. It is. We're talking Eagles, but that's fine. No, we're not talking Eagles. I don't even know what you're talking about, but I'm sure it's involving the Phillies. We're talking Eagles, but that's fine. No, we're not talking Eagles. Yelich or a control over starter? If you had to choose, the Phillies can either trade for Christian

Yelich or they can trade for a Chris Archer or a Michael Fulmer, Garrett Cole, Marcus Stroman type guy. What do you want? I'll try to give you a longer answer than the question just to kind of even it out, but it's a very simple and short answer, which is hell no. I don't want Yelich.

I don't want him. Their prospects in the minors are outfielders. Yelich is a good player. Is he really that good? I'd rather have a controllable starter. I would rather have a controller. I don't even think it's close for me. It's more important and this is really not just I'd rather have the starter. It's an indictment. I don't want Yelich.

For everybody that wants to go out there and make trades, probably Jack or whoever else, I don't want him. So I didn't want Mike Stanton. I don't want Yelich. And I hope they don't do it. Thank you for calling Mike Stanton Mike Stanton because I do that too. I can't get on the Giancarlo bandwagon. I just can't do it.

Giancarlo. I just like the three more hours of radio in your voice's horse. Yeah. It's going to be a long day for you. I have three hours and 20 more minutes of radio. My voice was shot before I came in here. So it's always, how's your voice today? It's feeling better, but now I have to talk for four hours.

So I'm good at the end of the... And yet he still took the time to use some of that voice to come in here. And the last time I was on the podcast, it was snowing and I was in the car via Skype. Oh, yes. Good point. So it's snowing today. It's what we do. It snows you're on the pot. I love it. Alright, well I'm going to do

one next week so I have a lot to say about the Phillies. Can't wait for that. Go back to you talking about war or what were you talking about right when I came in? Yelich. You and Jack on opposite sides of this one. Alright, there you go Jack. Alright, have a good show

Johnny. That's good stuff. That voice is going to be, Jack. All right, have a good show, Johnny. That's good stuff. That voice is going to be hurting for the next few hours. That is a tough spot. Another question for you. Yes. Are you good? Which do you rather see?

Rather see go get Yelich and then sign a Cobb or just go get Archer? That's a great hypothetical because I do think that that and we both disagree with Mark's we would both take Christian Yelich very happily I think he's a great baseball player and I would be very happy to have him here what's his thing against war I don't know I don't get it like look war is not a perfect stat there's no question about it but it's not FIP FIP is a perfect but here's the thing like there's come up with something better like if you want to rip war give me a better way to judge a player's full value find a better way for me and I'll use it but right now there's no better way out there

than war to really gain a full representation of what a baseball player is you can't just look at batting stats that's all we've ever had right I mean you have to incorporate all the other stuff um outside of his hate for war his hate for yellage more surprising not a yellage fan there and i get that the concept of too many outfielders and all that but um you know i think he is right in the concept that it's clearly a controllable starter over yellage just because that is what this team needs significantly more but i think that's a really interesting point if they can still get a guy like cob and and go get Jelich, or just the controllable starter,

I think it depends for me. If you're telling me it's Garrett Cole, I think I'd take Cobb and Jelich. But if it's one of the other three, especially if it's Fulmer or Archer, the years I'm going to have those guys, I'm going to take those guys. Yeah, I think I agree with you.

Yeah, and it's a great question. And again, I think there's a really good chance that they sign Cobb and they go out and make a trade for a controllable starter, I think I agree with you. Yeah, and it's a great question. And again, I think there's a really good chance that they sign Cobb and they go out and make a trade for a controllable starter, and they could still do that. Again, this team, I think that Klintag is willing to make moves if moves are there to be made and if it's the right move to make. It could happen.

And there's whispers that Middleton's getting a little bit tired of the waiting thing, so maybe they just jumpstart this whole thing. Wow, already? Jumpstart. I mean, he's the guy who went into the clubhouse after 09 and said, I want my effing trophy back, as we all know. And it's this year will be 10 years since the championship team. Good point.

It's 10 years. That's the ultimate sports radio. Would you take the one and then have 10 years of mediocrity after? That's what it is, right? Or would you take the chance at a multiple? And we're now in the decade of mediocrity. Yeah. Obviously, on the decade, I think, what, like six years of mediocrity after or would you take the chance at a multiple and we're in the we're now in the decade of mediocrity obviously not a decade

I think what like six years of mediocrity seven years of mediocrity yeah because obviously went to the World Series in 09 in the playoffs until 11

so you know we're heading on our next season will be the beginning of the seventh potential season without play of baseball the Phillies right now

are Andy Dufresne in Shawshank Redemption they are right in the middle of the the pile of without playing baseball. The Phillies right now are Andy Dufresne in Shawshank Redemption. They are right in the middle of the... The pile of you-know-what in the water. Yeah, gotcha. They're on their way out. The excrement, let's say. That's a good word.

They're on their way out. We're very close to getting Andy Dufresne throughout. And maybe Andy starts sprinting here and we bring in Yelich and Archer and then compete for a wild card next year. I don't know. I wouldn't rule it out. I really wouldn't. I wouldn't either.

Again, I think they're motivated. I think that Klintak has shown a propensity to be able to make deals when needed and to find partners to make deals and also to have a pretty good feel for what he has to work with. And look, again, they're stacked in terms of assets. This team has the assets to really do whatever they want to do in terms of if the moves are out that we made.

Like, you can't trade for Manny Machado if he's not getting traded. But of the deals that are out there to make, the Phillies really could, you know, conceivably be involved in any one of them. They have the capital to do it. They have the money to do it. And they have Cesar. And I think Cesar is being underrated in a lot of trade evaluations because I think he being as good as he is. All right, that's a good question.

Real quick, before we get out of here, and real quick, we also give a shout out to Seventh Timer, new Philly signing. But that's in a second. But real quick, I think that's a fun kind of hypothetical there you're you're kind of hitting on with the concept of cesar we've talked about altair we've talked about herrera we've talked about williams williams of these guys of the guys who and let's say for now there are four outfield starters penciled in you know hoskins plus the other three guys of those outfielders Cesar whoever's on the team all those guys who is the least likely in your opinion to be a Philly

opening day 2018 I would say please God Nick Williams I would agree I think Williams is like if I look what does Nick Williams bring you his projections year are 288 with a 325 OBP. Yeah, no, here's the thing. I didn't like Nick Williams as a prospect that much. No. But I were more impressed with him in his half a season than I expected to be. So was I. He was better than I expected him to be. But he also started trending back towards the player he was.

Which is always going to happen. These guys come up, pitchers get a book on them. It happens every time. Like, that's what we saw with Hoskins. Hoskins, you know, owned baseball for a month and a half, and then he tailed off a little bit. It's going to happen. Ebbs and flows.

It's the sport. But... I think he still has some... Basically, my reasoning is that I think he still has some value, and I don't think... I personally think Altair's better than him, but I don't think Altair has the same kind of market value that Nick Williams does.

I think you're absolutely right about that, because look, Williams, I mean, Altair, coming off a really nice season, but still has the couple seasons of struggles before and the injury and all that type of stuff, whereas Williams is a former, you know, not top prospect, but a legitimate prospect who came up and handled himself very well

in a half a season of Major League Ball. That's the type of guys that, if they like the guy to begin with, teams are going to be that much more willing to go out and make a move for. So I'm with you. I think it's Williams as well. But I think Cesar's close. I think there's a real, very, very legitimate chance that Cesar is not on this team come 2018. And they trade Cesar, and then they won't bring up Kingery until at least May 5th

because of the Chris Bryant thing and then you're looking at Jesmo Valentin as second baseman yeah they'll find a way to get by the super two day you're absolutely

they could always sign a Howie Kendrick type guy like someone like that like they did last offseason someone to just fill the space I would rather fill the space me too I would rather move

get what you can I think Cesar's value is at its peak right now and if you can move him now, with how cheap his contract is, it opens the door for Kingery, who I think ultimately is going to be a better player. I'm good with moving Cesar. I hope they move him by the end of the year. Not that I don't like Cesar.

It's just right now is the right time. Look, like you said, if you're looking at this team and looking into the future, not just this season, but moving forward, Cesar very unlikely a part of that with the position he plays and the guys that they have and all that. All right. Quickly, before we get out of here, your favorite, your guy, you still believe in new Philly

Will Meadowbrooks, Jack? No, but there was a time in 2012 when he came up. There's all the time for all of this. He was like, oh my God, I love Will Meadowbrooks. I owned him in fantasy way too many times. And then every single time after that when he was terrible, his name would pop up. I'd be like, oh, Will Middlebrooks.

He still got it. He had that one year where he was really good and he was an awesome prospect. And I saw some people online yesterday like, is he going to compete with Franco for the third base position? No. Will Middlebrooks stinks. Will Middlebrooks might not make the team. He had a 111 batting average. Probably won't make the team. Two years ago, he had a 1-11 batting average with a 2-13 OBP.

Like, the guy is garbage. That makes Freddie Galvis look like a good hitter. That's how bad that is. It makes Freddie Galvis look like Ted Williams. Yeah, it's insane. So don't get too excited about Will Middlebrooks. But shout out to Will Middlebrooks. Of course I've talked myself into it.

Yeah, you will. You're going to be all over. You're going to have a Middlebrooks's jersey by the start of the season. That's a lock. He should take Hoskins' number, honestly. He should be 17. Oh, I love it. So what's your prediction?

Marks is going to come with an episode next week. We'll be doing more pretty much one to two a week, depending on timing and stuff. Before we are back on again, is there any major Phillies moves or do you think this is more of a slow burn over the next month or so? I just think that they're waiting, everyone's waiting for the Arrieta signing and Darvish signing.

So if that happens, if they sign somewhere, I think something could happen very fast. I think the Phillies will move on. I agree. So listen, as soon as that happens, I expect to pick up. Until that happens, I don't know.

They're waiting for those dominoes to set the market. We saw it last year with Edwin. We've talked about this. Edwin Encarnacion waited, waited, waited, sets the market, and all those other hitters. I mean, there were power guys who didn't even have jobs by the start of the season. Yonder. Yonder.

It totally changed the market. So I do think you're right. I think it's Edwin and Darvish signing first. But I also don't know if that's the smartest idea because then the teams that missed out on those guys are probably going to enter in the Archer market and it could drive the price even higher.

It's a good point. Go make the deal if you've got the deal to make. Either way, we will be back. Mark's next week. Me and Fritz as well. And we will track the moves. And obviously if moves happen, we'll be here because we're ready for emergency pods at all times. All times. Literally all times. We kicked

Bartra out of the studio for this one. We literally did, so we gotta go, because he's gotta record with Brandon Lee Gatton. Check that out too, because BGN Radio, awesome as well. So, for John Marks, who came in for a second, for Jack Fritz killing it, shout out to the New Night Time producer at WIP. I am James Seltzer. Thank you for listening to another edition of the High Hopes Podcast.

All-star closer, Kenley Jansen, we have a question. What's the best podcast of all time? Baseball isn't boring, baby. I'm Rob Bradford, and every single day I'm sitting down with the biggest names to show you this great game is the greatest game. It's my podcast. It's my passion. It's a cause I started more than two years ago

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