High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Just Get Us To The Trade Deadline!

Episode Date: July 27, 2026

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the Phillies salvaging a weekend series against the Yankees and take a look at what the team's biggest needs will be at next week's MLB Trade Deadline. Presented by Miller Lite.To purchase Ring The Bell by Jack Fritz and Kevin Reavy go to RingTheBellBook.com

Miller Light, the official beer partner of your Philadelphia Phillies, is proud to serve as presenting sponsor of WIP's High Hopes Pod. So whether you're listening to the game, catching off on the latest High Hopes pod or at the ballpark. Remember, it tastes like Miller time, Phillies fans. Celebrate responsibly. This is the High Hopes podcast. Hi. On the Odyssey app and Sports Radio 94, WIP.

The crowd is singing high hope. I feel a little less warm. Another edition of the Ohio's podcast, sponsored by Miller Light, official partner of the Philadelphia Phillies. Taste like Miller Time, Philadelphia, celebrate responsibly. Jack, well, I know this city for this weekend was buzzing with billboards and excitement about a certain star player coming to play in Philadelphia. You couldn't care less, I'm guessing.

You were just locked in on the Phil's debacle. Last night, we win last night. but a tough weekend for a tough tough stretch after the all-star games so how you how you feel them are you feeling lebron juice or are you just like mired right now yeah i mean i felt it for a day and like yeah of course it was it was one of the coolest things ever happened and they did steal the bit you know it happened in the middle of my drive to work so hilarious Every piece of news happens at 1136 or 606. The Jalen Brown trade was 606. Hazer Sazardo was 606. Schwaber was 11 in the morning.

All these other, Brad Keller, 11 in the morning, LeBron James, 11 in the morning. It's unbelievable. Like, why don't you, like, I know it's drive time. But like, I don't know. We're trying to, we're trying to do our jobs at the same time. So if they could just be a little bit more courteous. Yes, a little bit more courteous. Yeah.

and Walker went down on the old ballpark together on Saturday to try to save the season. Look at that. It didn't work out Saturday, huh? No, no, it didn't. It didn't. And I tell you what, they really feel like they're playing out of the string until they make the trade. It feels like the Thompson thing.

It's like they're just waiting for something to happen. It's like, guys, can we not do this, please? You're playing the Dodgers and the Yankees. Like, at home, at home. It's not time to be like, ah, wake me up on August 3rd. Uh-uh, what are we doing? What are we doing? Ultimately, they're going to be okay. But my goodness, like every single night, here's a wart, there's a wart. Trade for this. Don't trade for that. What prospects are on the table? I have no freaking idea. Do you have, like, this has got to be the toughest deadline for Dave Dombrowski and Preston and Co. And John Middleton, of course, because they have a lot of, of holes. They don't have the deepest farm system. Who do they trade? Who do they not trade? Is this team

worth investing in? Keeping the window open. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. It's going to be a really, really fascinating next week leading up to the trade deadline. Yeah. Yeah, we've been kind of waiting for this since they got back into the season, you know, since we realized it wasn't going to be a miserable summer where they were going to be 10 games under and it was over. Once they got back into it, we knew they were going to compete. And we've talked about so much the way the season shaped out with the American League being a mess and the NL just dominating and all these teams in the National League competing and so few actual sellers, so few teams out of it, because like you can make the playoffs with the sub 500 record in the American League right now, it seems like. So it's like that added to the

fact that you talked about where we knew coming into the year was a tough situation because we knew the club wasn't perfect. It was going to have flaws. And you made the great point. It's like they don't have this wealth of guys to trade away without completely decimating the farm system and the Middleton thing where I don't want to go through that decade again, how important that's been to him. But to your point, you said, I mean, this is a group that if not now, never. You know, like this is it. Like, if you're going to invest in this specific group, like, this is the deadline to do it. So, like, I don't even know what to do. I really don't. Part of me says, just freaking go for it with this group, if we're going to like, part of it now just, just try.

But another part of me goes back to that decade and says, man, really? Are we for like a half a season of someone? Are we going to do that? I am, I am so torn, man. I can only imagine being Dumbowski and Mattingly and all those guys and having the pressure of these decisions on you. It's a, it's a tough spot. Well, and on top of this, you already have a high payroll.

How much more can they really add to the payroll? Yeah, I mean, that's, that's got to be factored in. as well. Now, I'm sure the All-Star game being here has been good for the funds. You know, I'm sure that there are some extra maybe laying around. Can they get some of this like LeBron money? He's going to talk about all that the influx to the city. It's going to be hundreds of millions of dollars it's going to mean to the city. How about we get a little Phillies, you know? Come on, Bronny. We got brotherly love, you know. Title Town USA, but real quick, just to that idea, the idea, if this team can make it

run, I mean, like late October, mid the late October has a chance to be one of the great sports in the history of the city. So like, let's go, Phil's. And when there's no baseball next year, at least we're going to have a LeBron de carries. You got to factor that in it as well. Yeah, that was a really sad sentence, but yes. Well, I don't know if you've been following,

but it certainly doesn't seem like it's not looking good. No, I'm not super optimistic right now. Yeah. No, no, no. So, yeah, it's going to be, it's going to be really, really, really interesting. I am already, because I kind of get the, feeling that they're ready to to go all in. I do like as we get closer and closer to the trade deadline,

I believe more that they're going to make a bunch of moves. Really? Yeah. He said it, but we know that like, you know, he said he was, Ben Brown was untouchable and whatever it was like,

Oh, Hoppe's untouchable. We know the GMC stuff, but it does. And look, the reports are, you know, every year Dave's going to go all in,

but you believe this he's going to this year. That's your feeling you're getting. Yeah. I don't know if there's going to be a, I don't know if there's going to be like a Duran trade. There might not be the trade out there is the point. You know what I mean? That they, that they want, you know? But I think that they are prepared in positions to really push the chips in and go for it.

Now, like we, like, I think there are some untouchables and we'll, we'll get to it. I do have my, my tears of process. Oh, I saw your tweet, buddy. Trust me. I'm prepared for your tears. Good, good. man, I tell you what, I love putting out positive prospects up. I know, well, it's so funny because it drives people crazy.

Well, it's just funny to you because it is so consistent with you where like my entire feed is people talking about LeBron and then I'll get a Fritz prospect tweet just like in the middle of it. And it's any big thing that's happening. It's just so consistent, your tweets will power through no matter what's happening around. Listen, you got to stay consistent. If there's one thing, you are. I made, I did tweet like seven times about LeBron.

So like I, you got that. I couldn't stop thinking about LeBron for about 12 hours. It's unbelievable. It's crazy. It's so crazy. It's a six. I like, I'm,

it's still surreal. Yeah. And you know what? And it's, it's time, like, I mean, come on.

Seriously, right? Like, you know, you want to be closer to Bronon, braun, don't you? I mean, I know you're kind of in L.A.

for a long time there. But it's, it's anaheim. It's not the same thing. I mean, it's, it's, there's a movement of stars to Philadelphia. Wait to McDavid, the flyer. You have McDavid. I love it.

There's, there's a whole, there's a whole thing happening in the city. It'd be a shame if you, if you waste it. Well, I don't know, man. He's wasted it more. He might be a different guy. I just think he is, clearly. I mean, again, especially be one thing just to be out there to not win and to see other people win, but then the guy who you're like the star with there,

it's like the two biggest stars of baseball in this. losing team leaves and wins two straight titles. Wouldn't you think that he'd be like, I want to do what Otani did? It's so crazy to me. I know. So we will see. We'll see.

The one thing that I do want to nip in the butt a little bit because I'm getting real sick and tired of it. Just people are such babies. There are a lot of people are like, you should sell, sell the deadline. No, we're not selling at the deadline. That's not selling. You're not walking into the clubhouse of Wheeler

and Lazzardo and Harper and Sanchez and Turner and Schwabick, you know what we're going to do in the middle of all this. We're just going to sell off some pieces. Get ready to trade to run. Like it's like a thing you can say, but it's dumb. There's just like they're not going to do it. There's no point to doing it. They're in playoff contention.

They're going through a tough period right now. I think the one silver lining of how they're playing right now is, is Schwerber, Harper, and Marsh are horrible currently. I mean, Harper, dude, Harper has 28 strikeouts in the last 20 games. Dude, his OPS is down to 840. I know. He's OPS in the last 20 games is in the fives. Marsh is, March is back 287 all of a sudden.

And his OPS is under 800. Yeah. Marsh in the last month has like a 420 something OPS. And Schwerber has three home runs in July and has a hit one since July 18th. And then before that was just the two back-to-back Reds home runs. And one of them was like in a blowout. So whatever. Like those guys are going.

I mean, this is Harper's worst stretch as a Philly. Is it really? Yeah. And hopefully this is not, we're not looking back and saying, did they mess it up by playing in the home or being a part of the home run derby? But of course, that will be brought up. They also had to do it. So that would suck.

But. But like you have those three who have been your steady horses for the offense for a majority of the season having collectively a bad month, that's going to sink an offense that is already pretty top heavy. So unless you think that this is going to be the rest of the year for these guys. And Marsh, I mean, it seems like Maddenly has kind of given up on the idea of him playing every day against left end of pitching. It was good to see him get the hit off of what Tim Hill last night. but at least with those two Schwerber and Harper, I'm not going to sit here and believe that they are going to be this for the rest of the season.

I mean, Schwerber Hot Street is going to come. Harper's going to heat back up at some point. It was good to seem at least ripped that double last night. That was good to see, but he's clearly in between pitches and just out of sorts a little bit. So for as annoying as his homestead has been, as annoying as this offense has been, like when those three are struggling, I'm not surprised the office is struggling. I just don't think that that's going to last forever. Yeah, I agree with that.

And we taught, look, we know, we've said it in a zillion times. Like, if, especially those two guys, if Schwerber and Harper aren't hitting, they have no chance. You know, it is, you would do the whole, like, the big guys have to hit, but so do the other guys. Yes, it's all true. But Schwerber and Harper are so incredibly important with the way this is played out that if they don't hit, they really do have no chance. So, look, I'm with you. I think that's it. And again, like, they were the second best team in baseball until, you.

you know, recently with the Manningley, I, you know, since Manningley came on board, you know, I didn't expect them to just run to the playoffs, you know, the 40 games over the rest of the C-50, you know, I mean, like that was, at some point, they're going to have a lull. It hasn't been that long a lull. Like, I'm not freaking out over it, but it just highlights the way that club is built

and the fact that those guys have to hit and that there are real holes on this roster that to really, I mean, look, we know baseball and you get hot in the playoffs, not, but to really feel like you have a real chance to win the World Series, like they need to make some moves. Yeah, one million percent. And they know that. So, like, again, I, the part of me is wondering if they're just like playing out

the string waiting for the moves. And then it's like, okay, here we go. That's annoying. But that's what they're playing. I mean, every night they play, it's, it's mostly an uninspiring effort besides, you know, yesterday. That was, that was good to see. And that was because they had lost two the way they did.

if they, you know, you're like, they didn't show up yesterday. You're really, you know. Well, the first two games at the Yankees series, we're just, embarrassing.

We're just atrocious. And. Especially good, by the way, the Yankees team has been one of the worst offensive teams in the sport for like a month or whatever, too, you know, it's like.

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. I mean, losing a game one nothing. Yep. And losing a game 3-1, it was good to see them blow up yesterday. But the one thing that they got to write the ship on, because I think the offense will,

will figure itself out. I mean, they're not world leaders but they're not this bad and you feel good about the starting staff certainly uh besides the five spot um and bullpen a bit of work of progress the thing that's frustrating to me and the thing that they got to figure out and i think it's on magnally but obviously it's on the players but you know when madonly first got here or first took over for Thompson. It's like there's a really big reemphasis on little things, fundamentals, playing baseball the right way. And that's slipped for the last month. And I obviously will,

we'll focus in on Trey defensively. I mean, we have to. Just it just. It's unbelievable. I mean, it's, look, he's had problems with this the entire time he's been here. You know, it's that the offense has been the real struggle, but he has gone through these stretches. Last year was pretty good defensively, but the rest of his time here has been, you know, mediocre to bad. It looks like he's forgotten how to play the position at times. I mean, some of this stuff,

I mean, the, the amount of routine balls that he is booting is, like, you get to the point where you start to worry that there's, that gets a mental thing, that it's a yips type of thing, you know?

Well, it's just that it's that every one that every simple one right at him, he seems to overthink and, and mess up. It's the ones where I can just be athletic. Yes, totally. Jack,

that he's fine. I still, at the end, like, enough's enough. I mean, hand in the center field glove or left field glove

at the exit meetings after the year. It's beyond time. I mean, not even just the, not even just the booted balls in the infield. I don't know if they're ever going to turn a routine double play again.

It's, it's unbelievable. You're right. Dude, just, oh my, like, we watched, we were so blessed to watch

Otley and, Otley and Robles for as long as we did. And even like, even like Caesar and Galvis. And like, the team couldn't hit, but at least like that we had that, you know? I,

yeah, Seizar and I would, I would die, frankly. That's what I'm saying. It's not even, it's not even Stott's fault. I mean, it's, it's, it's, it's true. It's a, it's a noodle arm. It's not, ah, I can't wait to watch someone who knows that

of Blazsche's up again. I just can't wait. I can't wait. The bat's coming around. He's been really fine. Uh, his OPS over 1100 since the All-Star break. So he is, he's breaking out from that, from that standpoint.

and they need his bat. We know, like, he's not here for his defense. He's here for his bat. But my goodness, the defense of shortstop is just horrendous. But even, like, them miss playing that ball on Saturday, Bomm and JT, like, just go grab the freaking ball, Alec. I just, we've dissected the base running mistakes of last week over at nauseam. I mean, that's just.

I mean, Jagget, we haven't talked on this pod since we went to the Dodgers game together. But, I mean, arguably the worst ending to a game. of this run, which is a creak, I mean, other than Kirkry because it's a playoff game. Like, what, what the hell was that?

I mean, and to your point, that's the kind of stuff that wasn't happening for two and a half months, you know? No, uh, there's Jankowski in 2022.

Coach Travis Jankowski was a big one. Yes. Who could forget that. But it's just that, that little stuff is going to come back and bite you in, in October. And it's, it's frustrating when you see like the Dodgers deal,

do the little things. And, you know, I actually the Yankees, affiliates are pretty much the same team. Like, they have their stars. They have great fishing staff. They've a really good bullpen. And then like,

now defensively, they're probably better. A Volpe is like a disaster at shorts up, but like Lombard's probably going to be up anyway soon. So that'll rectify that situation. But yeah, that's been the thing. They're not playing crisp baseball. And in order for them to win a World Series,

they have to figure that stuff out. No matter what trades you make, but there needs to be a, a little bit more locked in this for this team to really get where they want to go. And that's been disappointing. And Maddenly's done a little too much of, I don't know, like him and in Hall in postgame and not making everything seem like a big deal to where it does feel like Thompson, where I want you to get back to that's not good.

I want to hear like, that's not good enough. We'll clean that up. I want to hear that more rather than like, ah, I understood what he was thinking there. And he knows he knows he can't make that. It's like, I don't want to hear that he knows. I want a little bit more stern from Don Mattingly. Dude, billion percent with you. And you point in the Dodgers.

I mean, we saw it in the playoffs last year with the wheel play, obviously. And the fact that it's so much more frustrating because, like, the Dodgers actually could afford to have a few mistakes. When you have all that talent, all those guys, like, you can actually get by not always playing the Chris was fan of baseball. And yet they still play Chris baseball. Like, this Philly team can't. They are not as talented as the Dodgers. Like they, to beat it the team like the Dodgers in a series, like they're going to have to make these little plays.

They're going to have to do these things that give them those little bit of advantages because there is a deficit in talent. So it's super important. Yeah. So I don't know what they can do with the trade deadline to fix that issue. But we would very much like that to be rectified as soon as possible. Yeah. I'm totally with you.

All right, let's get to some of this stuff from the Yankee series. Quickly before I do, though, I want everyone to get out their calendars on their phone. however they plan things, whatever you need to do to make sure that you do not forget this date. I will never forget the date because it is my wedding anniversary. Nice. My 15th wedding anniversary this year on August 13th. And you can hang out with us. We're going to be at Las Scala's Fire in Northeast Philadelphia on Roosevelt Boulevard.

We're going to be there on August 13th for the Field of Dreams game. Baseball movie trivia instead of Phillies trivia for the night. How about that? You're going to come up with some good ones. I'll be fun. We're going to be hanging out. It's going to be so much fun. And obviously, like,

such a unique experience to actually get to watch your team in the field of dreams game. It should be so cool. So coming out, Las Gala's fire in Northeast Philly, August 13th. We'll tell you more about it coming up. But definitely save the date. We can't wait to see you.

Yeah. I mean, Scala's fire is like kind of blowing up a little bit. They just put one in left. Yeah, buddy. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So they're good.

The food is great. The Iowa game will be cool. The Iowa game will be cool. game will be so very very cool. A lot of cool. Is this heaven? Jack, is this heaven? No,

no. It's Iowa. Everyone says that. Oh, yeah, it's the field of dreams. And their jerseys look, uh, look really cool for it. So that would be awesome. They've played in a lot of really cool things. Yeah.

Yeah. This year alone, really. I mean, yeah, London, but just, I mean, just having the all-ser game, the number on Derby and the field of dreams game feels, feel special. Yeah. Yeah, that's good stuff. So looking forward to it. All right.

Let's get to the weekend. And then we'll move ahead to the, to minors and all the stuff. Yeah, come on, man. Oh, let's go. I mean, there's not too much. We hit on a lot of the stuff, but just any other takeaways from the weekend,

the lack of bats, you know, Sanchi was okay, but didn't look as great. They won the game, but like the bullpen, you know, continues to, outside of Bowling, Kirkland, and Duran really, like, be a real issue.

You know, Brian Keller, who's he? What's going on? Yeah, so, Sanchi. So it was It was funny listening to Joey Votto I thought Votto I thought he was so good And it was so funny

It was so funny because You know Croc would do his thing Whereas like I don't know why they're doing that Joe And Votto would be like well if you look at Christian's last global bats When he hits a ball

When he hits a ball The other side It's usually a squibber of the third baseline So probably just protecting against that If I had to guess and then it's like, oh, okay, you know. So it was just refreshing hearing someone that dump all over the game

and actually talk about it in a positive light. So I thought that was much appreciated from Joey Vito. Now, he was definitely a little bit tight, you could tell. And there's a little portion in the middle of the game where he was a little too talkative. There was also a portion when he thought about Sanchi after he allowed like two runs or something. And he goes, you know, Sanchez's been perfect tonight.

and I'm like, what, Joey? I mean, I understand he hasn't allowed like a ton of hard contact, but he's also walked three guys by that point and the command hasn't been there. So, yeah, Sanchez is in a really, ever since the scoreless streak, you keep waiting for him to find it again. And the thing that's really lost with him is his changeup.

Because, I mean, last night he threw his change up 28%. And he usually throws it about 40%. And he threw a slider more than, his change up, which I feel like we never see. So, you know, I wonder if there's a little bit of, I wonder if there's first off a fatigue factor. Like in the middle portion of the game, his velocity was like 93 to 94. Now, maybe that was sometimes they do that. I feel like to get him back in the strike zone and then ramp back up when he needs to.

You know, Lazzardo, I believe, does that as well. So maybe it's that. Maybe it's fatigue. I don't know. But the fact that he's throwing a slider now more than his changeup is, is, is, not the best. It's concerning. Yeah.

Because I mean, we all know with a change. I mean, the change up is what makes him special, you know? And I, I haven't seen the command on his fastball that we're used to him having. It feels like he can't, he can't dot the fastball on the inside corner against the right-handed hitters. It feels like when he tries to go in,

he, he almost hits him or throws it at their back heel a little bit. So the good part about Sanchez is that his stuff so good that it will, he can get their. six innings and still be very effective. It's just there, to be the Chris Sanchez that we've been accustomed to seeing, he's got to get that back. And he's had periods like this for the last two years where it doesn't look right or felt

right. And I mean, there's the time earlier this year where it didn't look right. And then he ripped off 50 straight scoreless. So it'll come back. I fully believe that. But that's kind of what I'm seeing right now from Sanji. And it's going to be a little bit of a. a little turbulence right now until he kind of finds the arm slot again and gets to feel back on

his change up. Yeah. And look, I think this just like we were talking about with Harper and Shore, we're struggling in Marsh. Like, it just highlights what we already know. This is a top heavy team that has stars who play at a high level and then,

and then guys who are not. And when those stars aren't functioning at the level that you need them to, the team suffers as a result. So like, it just highlights kind of the way the team's built. you know. Yeah. So,

yeah, so Sanchez, I think he's going to be fine. I think he's going to work his way through it. I thought Lazzardo was brilliant. Awesome, dude. It has been,

and it has been, you know, for a while now. Yeah, I mean, there were 111 in his starts in the last 12. ZRA was 2.01

and heading into that game. It seems like he's figured out some of the home issues he was happening. His ERA was like over six at home. And that's two straight, you know, pretty good starts or great starts

at CBP. So, yeah, I mean, Lizarra looks like he is leveled up and figured it out and, you know, makes one pitch to Goldschmidt, and that's it. That determines the entire game. So, yeah, I mean, those two are great. You need that. We're on the mound tonight. You feel great about those three. Whatever happened on Saturday, I mean, like, you know, they piecemeal it together a little bit.

They had a shot. You know, Keller, that's clearly a one-time. first time ever seeing him in the big leagues. I mean, he's going to get smoked if they keep him up here. But, I mean, there's just. How many Phillies fans you think didn't know that Brad Keller was hurt and just assumed it was Brad Keller? I probably.

Portia, yeah. A lot of them. I mean, I'm happy for him that he, you know, guys majorly debut. Yeah, sure. He's going to, he's going to get a ring and at the, when they win the pennant. Like Brian Keller. Oh, I like this is good work. Brian Keller is going to get a ring.

That's going to be, that's going to be a good moment. but yeah, he can't, he can't last up here with that kind of stuff. He is such a, he's your, he is who they brought up every single time in like 2016. Oh my God. Like the 2016, 2015 to 2017-ish Phillies, it was just Brian Kellers. Every single time they brought someone up, it was that, you know, 92 to 93, nothing overpowering. Way too familiar. Yeah, oh, yeah, I've seen Brian.

It's been a while since we've seen a Brian Keller type, you know, take a mound for this baseball team. So, yeah, I mean, a disheartening series, the offense, but thankfully they put one together last night. And did you know. 12 losses in a row team you're facing nine. You hope that that's not going to go. I do wish the Marlins. I wish the Marlins could have clutched up in one.

Me too, dude. It feels so like they're going to lose two or three because it's the ones have lost 12 straight. Well, not only the Marlins have lost 12 straight, but the jumbo shrimp, the AAA team, has also lost 12 straight. No way, really? Yeah, yeah. I wonder if that's ever happened. I don't know.

I don't know. Last thing on the Yankee series. Yeah. And it's, it's a good development. You know, you feel good about where Turner's at. You need Marsh and Chorber and Harper to get going.

I'm not even dealing with Bome. Like, I hope. Can we always walk people before him? Maybe that was it. I just hope we have a new third base, but on August 4th. I saw that tweet too.

I just, I'm done with it. I'm done with it. Done with it. Done with it. I don't like, I don't need to. pretend anymore that I think he's all right.

I'm sick of it. He's also gone on the toilet, whatever. He, him talking after the game like, oh, I don't want people thinking I'm an easy eye. Oh, I know. It's like, dude, you're hitting 220 in July.

Like, can we, can we knock it off? You got one hit. Congratulations. It was a big hit. Much appreciated. But my goodness. Stott since July 1st.

Sorry, start since June 1st, pretty large sample size is 290-775 OPS. And the power. Yeah, it would kind of take it off. Pulling the ball a bit. But yeah, no, you're right.

But still, it's been better. Hey, if you go since May 1 and extrapolate over 162, he said you would have 18 home runs on the year. Oh, he had 18, 7.50s. And gold glove defense? Yeah. Yeah. So he's been like pretty good for a while. Like all of a sudden, he's, what, 252 with an OPS over 700?

Yeah, 715 or something like that, I think. Something like that. Even for how good Turner's been. He's, his OPS is still under 700. it. So, so yeah, I mean,

some signs of life on offense, they got to figure out. Brian De La Cruz has been like a nice little, was like five or seven or something. Five for eight or something. Like,

why do we have to do this a week before the track of time? Of course, right, I know. The biggest theory is a great week. And then they just like, oh,

well, BDLC is our guy. Yeah. You know. BDLC. I like that. That was good. DDLC.

The outfield is a, is a, I mean, Gabriel Roncona still being up here is. is crazy. insane to me. So, listen, I, I want him to be good eventually, but I also, he's not, he can't be playing. He's not ready.

Yeah, he's not ready. All right. Let's get to the take bag. But first, shout out to Eddington House. Today's show is sponsored by Miller Light and Eddington House in Ben Salem. Check it at Eddington House for every Phillies game and enjoy $3.50 dollar and $0.50,000 like drafts, watch the game on their massive 20 foot screen while 20 foot screen is huge, while fueling up on. fueling up on their legendary

jumbo wings, Miller lights for Phil's wins, celebrate responsibly. Shout out to you being a dad in the middle of the pod. This is great stuff. There we go. Hold on. That was good timing. That was perfect.

Yeah, you got it done. I had a certain amount of time where I was sitting there. Crushed it. Crushed it. Yeah, yeah. All right. What are we talking about now?

We're bagging, buddy. The floor is yours now. All right. What do you want first? No, I'll do all my other take back stuff and then. Yeah, mine's after. We always save the miners for the best for last year. Yeah, yeah.

We want everyone's wait. We want everyone to stay here and not leave, you know? The most important thing, yes, the most important thing. I guess I could have just talked about it when talking about over the weekend. But who cares? Is John the Bollinger's good now? I think so. I think he's just good.

I think he's just good now. What's his area is like two seven or something like that? Man, that's it. Of all the Dave trades, hold on. We're starting to heat up a little bit. Dude, strow me for this with five years of service? time left. Come on, man. I mean, this is... No, you're right. Like, actually, you know, if Bolin is a dude, like, turns into a dude for you

with the control, it could turn into a great trade. You're right. They might have found a, might have found an eighth inning guy, if not an eighth inning guy, a high level seventh inning guy. And that's, uh, that's an exciting development. And real quick, real quick, not to, to to your horn too much, but credit to you. When that trade happened, I think 99% of Phillies fans were like, Matt Strom's good. He's been good for us. They got mad at him and trade for no reason and they're getting some guy we never heard of. And you're in here like, I like, I like Jonathan Bowling. That guy's good.

Like you said it from the jump, so. Well, not to, not to take back the toot of my horn, but, but I was not familiar with Bowling Ball and Ball and Ball. And then we started, then we started digging into Bowling Ball and Ball and Ball and Ball and if we're going to be. Yeah. Very good. Very good. Bowling ball, fastball.

Anyway, you watch him and you're like, this guy's good. Yeah, listen, the fastball, the fastball played and it took a little while. I mean, he was, he was of the crew of, oh, here we go. Bolin's coming in, you know. Yeah. And that's the beauty of relievers is they, they can, uh, they can heat up and, and figure it out a little bit. We're doing perfect deadline on Thursday, I assume.

Sure. Yeah, that makes sense. Or, yeah, Thursday. Thursday. Sure. So, yeah. So yeah. I mean, with the idea, we do it like Monday next week, but like, why wait?

No, absolutely not. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. I'm with you. I'm with you. Uh-uh. Uh-uh. We got to do the third.

Deadlines, what? Next. Wednesday or Tuesday? It's Monday. It's Monday. It's actually Monday. I thought it was the fourth. It's the third. I know. Some members of the radio station were trying to petition for us to move the trade deadline to Wednesday, but Major League Baseball did not agree to that.

So we're going to have our trade. We're at McGurksaw Monday. Oh. The trade deadline special. So, all right. So we're going to do the perfect deadline on Thursday. I think what I have to do for perfect deadline is perfect deadline and what I think is going to happen.

Oh, good. Can't wait. I agree with you. I agree, no, you should. I'm just doing perfect deadline.

We need more from you. Okay, great. But there are a couple of guys that I've been thinking about that I want to talk about that I think would be interesting. I think the picture

that I want to get the most is Clay Holmes. Okay. And I know. As a starter or reliever. That's why. But that's why. No,

you're right. You're right. Yeah. So he's coming back from the broken tibula or fibula. I don't know. It's a broken leg. Okay, I don't know where the fibula and the tibula is. Who cares?

Tibia, but yes. Whatever. Anyway, so Holmes won't break the bank. He has a player option for next year. So, like, he could opt in. It's only 13 million. So it's not crazy. You're not.

And it's going to be a shortened season. So it's pro rated. That's like almost, that's like nine million more than the bronze making. You know what I'm saying? I know. Dude, it's the best contract in the history.

It's unbelievable. It is. Absolutely. They're going to make like $300 million dollars. It's so crazy. I know. Yeah. So, so, it was with Holmes.

So he was really good actually starting this year before he got hurt on a comeback where he's pitching to like a 2.3-9. Has obviously been able to handle New York. He had 20 saves, 24, and 30 saves in consecutive seasons. So pitching in the back end of that Yankees bullpen. The only issue is a severe ground ball guy. And I don't know if you know this, but our defense sucks on the left side of the infield. So, well, Bum's fine, whatever.

But so, so the beauty of him is it could just be for the rest of the year. He could opt out. Who cares? But he is someone who has experienced both starting and relieving. He could start for the rest of the year. And then he could put him into the bullpen in October if he's not one of your, one of your guys. So that's my pitch for Clay Holmes. I'm not saying to go, you know, get the parade route ready.

But I do want to get out a Clay Holmes take before the, the perfect deadline podcast. I think it makes a ton of sense. To your point, you know, the starter reliever thing, it's kind of a way to kind of serve both masters or whatever.

I think it makes a ton of sense. I think the move. He's healthy. Assume he comes back and it's good, you know? Yeah, I mean,

it's a leg. It's not an arm, at least, you know. Power comes from the legs for pitchers, Jag, you're a pitcher.

Come on. It does. I got to see which leg it's on if it's a push off. If it's a big one, yeah. I guess if it's landing,

you feel better about it. Oh, I think you, Yeah, well, the only issue with landing is if you're a little hesitant to land. I don't know. We'll say. We'll say. I kind of feel a hater move in my gut.

Hater? Really? Yeah. That would be something. The Asherers are going to trade them. They don't want the money on the books next year. What's you got one more year after this? Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah, I think so. I think it was a three-year deal. I can feel a hater move in my bones, I think. I think I can feel a hater move. Can you imagine? Duran and Hater at the bag of the bullpen. That's something right there.

Now we're cooking with gas. You get a little crazy. You get a little crazy. You get parades as well. He plays Thursday. Come on, man. You get parades and hater in here. You ship bone out.

The package to acquire them would hurt my soul. Unbelievably so. But that'd be a pretty sick back end of the back end of the bullpen. And the last one is is Hoffman, who. Bring him home, you're saying? He struggled in Toronto. Has he gotten better?

Because he lost the closer role to Louis Varlane, obviously, and all that. Well, as most people would, Louis Varlane is nasty. Is the goat. Yeah. I mean, Jeff Hoffman did give up the worst run in their franchise's history and one of the worst in baseball history, too. And he's owed money through next year. Yeah. You should be able to get him relatively cheap.

You would think. But you look under the hood. 98% Island Chase. 98% on K percentage. Good. So there's still some good. Maybe getting back with Kauffam would do well for Jeff Offman. And he wouldn't have to be the closer here.

He would be. No, well, that's important. Seven, him and Boland, you know, seventh eighth and Kirk Green. He was weird here because he had some really big moments. I mean,

he was an all-star as a middle reliever, you know? No, I know. I'm just thinking about, I'm thinking about the postseason. Oh, yeah. He kind of really struggled for the most part. But he also had the big moment in, in Atlanta in what was that game one?

Yeah. He had some moments, but he also, he allowed a big sackfly or, no, I think Alarado allowed a sack fly in game seven of the dime back series, and he allowed a hit. But, yeah, he had one of those. And then obviously that series really struggled. Just dog bleep against the match.

But bring him home. Okay. As the U.S. men's national team takes center stage at a home world cup. Make sure you're listening to Call It What You Want. part of the CBS Sports Podcast Network, where you can join me. I'm Jimmy Conrad, alongside Charlie Davies,

Tony Miola, Marcella, Balboa, and Benny Fieldhover throughout this tournament for previews, instant reactions, and analysis of every U.S. match. Then all summer, we're back every Tuesday and Thursday covering all things

U.S. men's national team. Download and follow, call what you want, on Apple Podcast, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Did you know that was Trey's first trip all this season? No, was it really?

Yeah. Yeah, so that was surprising. That was surprising. And then last thing, I guess I couldn't go to the Barnar League minute, but I don't care. Spangler talked on Friday with Scott Boris. That was Friday. Yeah, it was the biggest. Boris is his agent?

Boris is his agent. Oh, I didn't know that. Okay. And Boris was sitting right there. It was right next one. I'm sure. It was the biggest signing in Philadelphia on Friday. I almost texted you when I saw like the videos and stuff.

And after the broad thing, I almost texted our thread with you and Tucker saying something along those lines like, Jack, clearly, why is everyone talking about this other signing when this is the biggest one? I knew you were going to go that way. Yeah. Well, it was good because there's a video that the Phillies player development team put out. And it was him greeting Barber. And Barber said something similar as well. He's like, oh, we're going to steal the headlines.

That's great. So much appreciated. But yes, Tyler Spangler signed. He talked. And it was interesting. Now, obviously, there's some agent speak here probably. It was funny. They asked about the back, and he spoke first about it.

And then, you know, Boris jumped in immediately. Not surprised. Yeah. I mean, the kid's 18 faced Philly Media for the first time. I don't blame him. He actually seemed pretty laid back and chill, though. He talks to a California surfer, not surprising, even though he's more of a North Cal guy. But he did say that he said it was a minor back thing.

Could have played through. But just to be cautious, we went this route. That's what you want to hear. He's like, I'm good to go. I'm going to get out of Clearwater, start playing, all that good stuff. So that was definitely a positive, I would say. Massive. I can't.

I, listen. I, the personal, I would never steal spikes, re-tweet Armageddon bit. Oh, yeah. But the personal vindication I'm going to feel as everyone in the, everyone in their mother, tweets me about the 29th ranked farm system because one publication, baseball America put out one thing about the farm system rankings. And now it's just, it's the Bible,

you know? So it's just fact that that they, it's a fact they had the 29th ranked farm system. The personal Armageddon I'm going to go on when Francisco Renteria is up here, when Gage is going to be an astro, when, when, when,

when, when, when, when, when, when, when, when, when, when, when, when, when, when, When Aiden's back is just fine and he's turning into David right before our eyes. And Tyler and Tyler Spangler is Corey Seeger 2.0. Just the, I hope everyone gets off their little jokes now.

Love this. Get your little jokes. Your little jokes. Because guess what? The 2030s are coming. All right. And that's when it's always been the Phillies decade, the 2030s. Tucker, clip that audio and save it so you can play it and when this happens.

Yeah. Speaking of Francis, go right to read. Do you see that video of him on? Oh, buddy. Went down, a ball down away, flicks it over the center field wall. The dude is special. 377, 377 with an OPS over 1,000 as a 17-year-old in the DSL. Untouchable.

Untouchable. All right. Tears? No, my only men. I got you. Got you. Yeah. Yeah.

I'm snorting over here. All right, go ahead. Kate Obermuller fired four no-hitting. Oh, yes. Bang. And he got promoted to Jersey Shore today. Congratulations to Kate Obermuller, who is going to be finally saving Jersey Shore,

who is horrendous this year. There's just no interesting people on offense. But Obermuller is coming up to join a rotation with Ramon Marquez, who I know is your boy in the third. My favorite. Love him. If you had to guess how many whiffs he generated in his start this week? How many whiffs do you think that Ramon Marquez started or had in five innings?

13. 24. No, what, really? 24. Really? That's actually really awesome. I'm just saying he might be the best pitching prospect in the system. Wow.

He is awesome. So he is at Georgia Shore now. The blue claws are heating up. Gage. Gage's first three innings were unbelievable. Unbelievable. Like, I was ready to fire off all the tweets. Bring them up, bring them up, bring them up.

You can't keep him down there. Fourth and fifth got a little steak. He looked pretty relievery to me on Saturday, where it's like if you wanted to make him a reliever for the rest of the year, I think he's an impact day one reliever. But if you want to develop him as a starter and have him come up and start, that's not happening this year. Because early, it was 97, just a wippy breaking ball in Harris,

in Harrisburg. And then by like the fourth or fifth, he started to tire out a little bit. And it was like 94, 95, started to hit around a lot, lot more. So he looked pretty reliever to me on Saturday, but the first three innings were generational. and if they wanted to make him a reliever for the rest of the year, there's a lot of potential there. But I think you're starting to see maybe the first year of pro ball,

being over 60 innings now. Sure. He only pitched 40 the last couple years at Arkansas. Might be starting to take a little bit of a wear and tear on old gaugie. I'm sure. And look, I think we'll see after the trade deadline. He'll either be gone or I think they'll try and do something with the opening, depending on what they trade for.

We will see. Brian Rickona. a big week, three home runs in his last two games, right on time for the trade deadline. I think they're probably going to trade them, but we'll see. We'll say. I think, I just think he's a good player. It reminds me of Brian Rokio for the, for the Guardians. Yeah, he's a good player. And then Painter. So, yeah. Painter, that was a very, very encouraging painter start. And what makes me feel a little bit different or more positive on Andrew is there

There's times in like the fourth and fifth where he runs on first and third and less than two outs, one out or no outs. And he didn't crack. He like, looks like he got a little angry. He started touching 99, which was, which was encouraging. Actually started like blowing the fastball by some guys, which was, which was awesome. Wow. So I think they may have found something with his fastball because the RPMs were up on it, like 200, like 200 RPMs more a little bit. So maybe starting to get some of the spin back.

the problem was it wasn't consistent like the home running loud to my former baby boy Tamar johnson he it was a 95 mile an hour fastball like cut at the end like more cut than when it usually has and i don't think it was on purpose and he blasted it um so i thought it was a very encouraging start from the fastball standpoint um he's changed he's gone away from that split change a little bit it's more like a vulcron change up um so that's that's certain certainly something to kind of look at. It looked at a pretty good command of it. And it was still like 90 miles an hour.

It was still a good pitch. And I thought it's breaking pitches were really, really on all day long. So that was the second start of the week, which I thought was really interesting. You know, the fact that they pitched him Tuesday and brought him back on Sunday.

I mean, that's good. It's good. I mean, that's fast. That's kind of putting him to work a little bit. That's what he would do if you were pitching in the majors. I mean,

you'd have to be able to go on five days. Yeah. So that was a, good, good sign from him. And then just some guys that got brought up. So Kate is going to Jersey Shore. Marty Gare is going to Jersey Shore. Nathan Humphreys is going to Jersey Shore.

Juan Villaventio is going to Jersey Shore. He's still raking. His OPS is over 900 and he's sitting 300. So I can't wait to see what he does up at a Jersey Shore. Griffin Burke Holder is going up even though he's not ready. And a fair boost is going up as well. Their best catching prospect. Love it.

So that is that. All right. The tears. So you asked me to do this, I think, three podcasts to go. We got to it finally. We got to it finally. And the idea is, like, who would you be willing to trade? Who is untouchable?

Who is like I only trade if I'm getting a star and who is probably going. So that's what I try to do for you, James, and only is what I wanted. This is perfect. Thank you. I guarantee you our listeners are having to hear this. Just kidding. All right. So the untouchables.

It's Aiden and Francisco Renseria. I still have, it's Aiden mostly because it's. Because it would be a bad idea to trade him now. You're not going to get value and all that yet. It's just a cell low and I still believe in them. The only trading if you're getting a real needle mover, but I don't actually want to trade is Gage, Ramon Marquez, Juan Parra, Matthew Fisher,

Yomar Samudio, and Samuel Ortiz. Samuel Ortiz I moved down to guys I have values and trades that they might trade. He is not in that tier for me. But Gage, I don't want to move, but if he's a reliever and can help you get a package deal that can really help this team, I'd be okay with it, but not dying to trade.

Ramon's getting damn close to untouchable. I would move Gage before Ramon. Wow. That's cool. I love it. He's two years younger. Yeah. He has a best.

better chance, I think, to stick as a starter than damage. Juan Parr is this shortstop prospect that's probably valued as like a second round pick that is showing really good signs at the DSL, hit number 300. OPS, I think is in the 900s now, and he was always a bad to ball guy, but he's starting to lift the ball more. He's really, really

exciting. Matthew Fisher, we talked about him enough. He is 91 now. If he can get to 94-95, there's a real high ceiling for him. And then Yomar Samudio had a, like, like a really electric first start, then really tapered off and then picked it back up. But he's 99 with a hammer breaking ball that I will see, but I'm not looking to move him as of right now.

Guys that, like, so when people talk about the system, how they don't have stuff to trade, this is start where we get into the people that do have value that they could trade if they wanted to. So Obermueller, I don't really want to trade, but I think he would have values, a second round pick last year.

Cody Balker is showing really good strikeout numbers. And it's pitched really well at Jersey Shore. I think he would help on a trade. Brian Rincon, who he just talked about, I don't really want to move him, but I think that he would have values as a plus defender with a bat that started to really show some pop. Via Vincencio, he is, again, a shortstop prospect,

hidden over 300 that would have. I'm surprised he's not, like, getting more buzz. And maybe if he goes off at Jersey Shore, he will generate more buzz. Faribus, again, I think he's the catcher of the future, so I wouldn't be looking to move him. But catchers always have value in trades. Alex McFarland, same deal.

Of course, he came up, made one appearance, and then right back to Triple-A. So that was fun. And then these are guys who I think are going to get traded, and I think they would help them in trades, is Pond from Reading. He's been up to 100, but it's a really interesting reliever prospect.

Raylan Haradia has a 3% walk rate, I think, but he is sitting 282 with a lot of doubles. So he is strictly a, he's here to hit, you know? Yeah, bad to ball. That's a ball, plays a solid right field, got a good arm. And I think a team would take a shot on him for sure. And then Brad Bacheco, who I think is,

he's a little starter for the, for Clearwater. Throws like a bunch of different pitches. Kind of like he's always tinkering a little bit, but has a good fastball. Good feel for some spin. And I think that teams would be interested in him in a deal. And then Arun Escobar and Dante Nouri,

you're just selling too low at this point. So that was going to me, and I guess Pina, you would include in that too, right, the sell low thing? Yeah. I mean, I guess Painter's kind of been

Painter would be in the I'm only moving I'm getting a real needle mover. He's not in untouchable but I'm not looking to trade him and then a Rune just it seems like it's always a two year plan Such a shame too with Arun Because I mean a year ago he was on some lists you know Yeah I think he's just they might have

Pushed him a little bit too quickly to double A And it does seem like this is always a two year plan For him at double A this is not like a You should be here kind of thing and then norie's just been hurt and it seems like he's working his way back and you know he was hitting 300 for a large portion of the first month or whatever and then I think the injury happened he cratered him so um so that's it that is that is my fears good work by you it's my tears love it all right uh you got anything else before we get out of do I have anything else um

I don't like so because we got to go work on a perfect deadline I mean it's going to take at least four days, three days to get it together, you know. A lot of work. A lot of work we got to do for the next couple of days, figuring out what this team should do and what this team should not do. And they'll see, maybe they'll make a move before we even do it. Wouldn't that be something? All right. So we'll be back Thursday or if they make a move before them, but others are back Thursday with our perfect offseason. Remember, August 13th, Lascalas Fire on Roosevelt Boulevard in the Northeast coming out with us. We'll be back Thursday to preview the deadline. Perfect deadline. Let's go.

All right, we're getting close. All right. Until that, he's for some salsa.