High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Our Perfect Offseason

Episode Date: November 13, 2019

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz are back laying out their perfect offseason's.  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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Yo, it is another edition of the High Hopes Podcast. Folks, let me tell you, it is an edition of the High Hopes Podcast that Jack Fritz has been way too intense about my man was so excited to do his perfect off season he made two different perfect off season i don't even need to give one because jack's gonna give two i made two all right so let me just take you through i'm gonna take you through my saturday so i'm sitting there your saturday well it wasn't my whole, but it was the first thing I did. I'll say that.

You know, we had breakfast, and then I sat down in front of my computer, opened up a Google Doc, and said, Jack's perfect Dotsies. And I made my first trade, which I'm just going to get it out there right now. I'm going to get the first tease out there. I'm going to break all spoilers. First trade was for Austin Adams, getting the important

things out of the way. Which, honestly, I love. I'm all for Austin Adams. I mean, that sounds great. Bring me Austin Adams. So, yeah. So, I made my first move. What are you giving the Mariners for Austin Adams? Jalen Ortiz.

Okay. I would do that trade in a second. It's top 10 prospect. I mean, you got to give top 10 prospect for trending up reliever, I would say. Yeah. Because I looked at the Presley deal. I don't think he's as say yeah um because i looked at the presley deal and the press i don't think he's as good as ryan presley but yeah um the presley deal yeah right the presley deal was a top 10 guy and then a top 20 or top like under 20 guy so i just tried to

base it off of that um but yeah i and then i so i we went on a walk saturday and i was we were trying to i was trying to focus on the the walk or the hike or whatever and I just could not stop thinking about what I'm going to do and then I laid out my whole perfect off season. I sent in some people sent out some feelers to see what they thought and I came to the realization like

I need at least another I need a second perfect off season. So I made two perfect off seasons and I made a realistic off season and and I made a realistic offseason. And we'll do the realistic offseason in a different podcast. That'll be our next pod. We'll go through what we actually think

is going to happen. But we're just going to get wild today, Jack. Yeah, because listen, the GM meetings are going on right now. Yes. And while I am waiting on Baited Breath, the first Philly's Rumor, I'm just dying for it.

I wake up every day and check Twitter. I just sit on Twitter for the whole day, just waiting for the first Philly's rumor. I'm getting yelled at on the afternoon show about me tweeting about baseball during the show. It's like, this is the brand. Get on board or get off the board. This is what I bring to the show. Do you want this or not? Do you want this?

It's a real question that's being asked on the afternoon show. So I might be able to have a job soon. But as long as I have a perfect off season, it's i really care about i know you care way more about this perfect off i know it's just because i just love like there's few things in sports that i love more than team building and there's nothing in sports i love more than the phillies so if so fact though nice good use of so fact this is what i do all the time i I love it. All right. Well, let's just dive in. We're just going right into it. Yeah.

Do you got anything else you want to get into before we dive in? I mean, isn't that the whole point of this podcast? No, but I am. I mean, this podcast will be labeled perfect off season or something to that effect. Something to that effect. So should I break down my first perfect off season? Yeah. Well, I think we should go you, then me, then you again.

Okay. Mine is much simpler, I'm guessing, than yours. Yes. I'm guessing you put a lot more... Mine is simple because I feel like it should be simple, but go ahead. I don't live in simplicity. I know you don't. I have to make the interesting most.

Alright, so, should we go move by move or just lay out the whole thing? No, move by move, obviously. Come on. Oh, awesome. Okay, cool. Let's spread this out then. Yeah, we got to go each move. All right, my first move is I'm trading Jalen Ortiz for Austin Adams. Austin Adams. We already knew that one.

If you don't know Austin Adams, I suggest going into a baseball savant wormhole that I went to this all weekend. I was on baseball savant, I would say, for three hours on Saturday and Sunday, both days. Just, just looking at spin rates. I was getting all worked up about spin rates. I just,

there's nothing that gets me going quite like a spin rate. How is Jill still married to you? She's fine. She's okay. Maybe she thinks I'm crazy, but it's whatever. Austin Adams is a

Seattle Mariners reliever. They got him for nothing when the Nationals DFA'd him for some reason. But he just has wipeout stuff. He struck out Bregman once and that was enough for me to say, meet that guy on my team. He's like 15, over 15 strikeouts for nine. Yeah, some ridiculous

stuff. He figured out the walks and settled that down. His slider is disgusting. So Jalen Ortiz, I think he's good. He's fine. I don't know if he's ever going to make the big leagues. But I think if you're the team like the Mariners and you, he could be a DH one day. Sure.

Theoretically. Um, it's a worthy upside gamble for a 29 year old relief. 100%. If they can get something for Austin Adams, it's smart of them to do that. Yes. That way you're,

you move. No, no, no, no, no. We're going to go through your whole first perfect off season. Okay.

And then, okay. Does that make sense? Um, okay. We're going to go through your whole first perfect offseason. Okay. And then. Okay. Does that make sense? Okay. Then I'm signing Chris Martin for two years and 14 million. He will make an appearance on mine. You did years and dollars? Yes.

Yeah. You put way too much thought into this. I love it. Chris Martin, two years, 14 million. You think that's enough to get Chris Martin? Yes. That's what they laid out on LB Trade Rumors. Okay.

Because I was thinking like two for 18 or whatever. Yeah, whatever. Okay. So the reason why I'm all in on Chris Martin. And he is potentially on my list as well. There's going to be so much crossover between our lists, so it is what it is. Throws hard, doesn't walk anyone.

If I can have that in my bullpen, I'm taking that every single day of the week. Yes. And he's such a late bloomer that I don't think his arm is, like he has a crazy story. He's 33. Yeah, but so he was a, he's literally a late bloomer that I don't think his arm is... Like, he has a crazy story. He's 33. Yeah, but so he was a... He's literally bagging groceries.

I mean, he was the lead singer of Coldplay at one point. I know. I know. But he's also a UPS driver. He was a Coldplay lead singer. And he's like, one day he woke up. He's like, my shoulder doesn't hurt anymore. I'm going to go throw a baseball.

Ended up being 95 miles an hour. How about that? Yeah, and he doesn't hurt anymore. I'm going to go throw a baseball. Ended up being 95 miles an hour. How about that? Yeah. And he doesn't walk anyone. So that is beautiful. Then I'm signing Dylan Patances. I love Dylan Patances. Taking a shot.

One year, eight million. Taking a shot. Rebuild that value. Full disclosure, I saw him on MLB Trade Rumors. They laid out their values or whatnot. And had the Rays signing him for one year, eight million. And I decided I'm not going to let that happen. I'm not letting the Rays turn him into a superstar.

I want him to be a superstar. Like he's a year removed from being a top five reliever in the sport. Maybe the best reliever in the sport. No, but he was really good. Up there. He had stretches where you could argue he was the best reliever in the sport. Now, I did not pick one of these three. I just said.

I love that you start out with these middle reliever moves. All I care about. My first move was trading for Austin Adams. And then I'm signing one of Garrett Cole, Strasburg, or Wheeler. I don't know which one they're going to sign, but I would sign one of them. I know it's a cop-out, but what am I supposed to do? Do what I did on my list.

I said the Phillies signed Garrett Cole. This is my perfect offseason, Jack. I said from the beginning, get Garrett Cole. Go get Garrett Cole. Okay. Well, you can do that. I'll take all three. Well, Wheeler's not in the same class as those other two.

So you want to sign both guys? No, no. Just one of them. Okay. One of them. Remember, this is your perfect offseason. I mean, obviously within bounds of realism. Believe me.

Believe me. We're getting there. Okay. I'm signing Didi Gregorius. Sure. To a three-year contract worth $45 million. Sure. I'm signing Josh Donaldson to a three-year $60 million contract.

Yep. On my list. I am trading Jake Arrieta and Matt Veerling for the remainder of the Prince Fielder contract with the Texas Rangers. There's $9 million left on the Prince Fielder contract. That would mean the Rangers are basically playing one year $16 million for Jake Arrieta. Would they do that?

No. Really? I don't think so. For one year? Why? What do the Rangers need Jake Arrieta for? They need another arm. They're moving to a new stadium.

He's a big name. No. He stinks, but. Yeah, I don't think so. Really? Sure. You're attaching a top 10 prospect to it, though. Verling's a top 10 prospect in the Philly system?

Really? On one list I was looking for. In my made up list online. Sure. With the prospect in there, why not? Sure. One of your 16 million for Arrieta. I like that you're trading for contracts.

For the corpse of Fritz Fuehler? This is great. You really, you put so much more effort into this than I did. It's fantastic. I am trading Reese Hoskins, Damon Jones, and Vince Velasquez for Herman Marquez and Daniel Murphy. Okay. So Hoskins, excuse me again?

Hoskins, Damon Jones, and Vince Velasquez. Okay, so Damon Jones, that's your boy. I know. For Herman Marquez and Daniel Murphy, who has $12 million on his deal this year. But yeah, it's the corpse of Daniel Murphy you're taking. Well, he could be a good lefty back off the bench. He could still hit a little bit.

Yeah. I love Herman Marquez, so I'm in. Full disclosure, I don't think that gets Herman Marquez. I don't think you get. No, I don't think there's any chance they make that. No. Not any. I mean, Hoskins.

There's a chance. Hoskins has value. Real value. Listen, Herman Marquez had an ERA in the fours of two of the last three years. Okay? Now his road splits are insane. Yeah, and they paid him. They know. Well, he'squez had an ERA in the fours two of the last three years. Okay? Now his road splits are insane. Yeah. And they paid him. They know. Well, he's on the NOLA contract. Right. He's on the

NOLA contract. You got more than NOLA. I am... Wait for this one. Oh, man. I am trading Gene Segura and Zach Eflin for Johnny Cueto. You really went nuts here. This is great. Yeah. So Gene Segura and Eflin for Cueto. Seems like a lot for Cueto. Yeah. Cueto's You really went nuts here. This is great.

Gene Zagura and Eflin for Cueto. Seems like a lot for Cueto. Cueto's pretty much cooked, isn't he? He's 33. He's got some money left in the deal. I don't think he's cooked, though. I think he came back last year at the end of the year, finally healthy. Two good starts, two bad starts. But I just think that guy pitches well.

I think he ages well. He doesn't throw too hard. He has funky mechanics. I see him aging well. I would take a shot on big game Johnny Cueto. You've been hurt a lot the last couple years. I know. That's why I think they can even get him. Eflin's value is that low now. I don't know. This is a guy who they wouldn't trade for for Manny Machado.

That was a one year. I know. The rest of the year. I know. I'm just saying. I'm trading Derek Hall and the year. I know. I'm just saying. I'm trading Derek Hall and Nick Williams for Michael Givens. Sure. Sure. Yeah. Why not?

I am signing Martin Maldonado to a one-year, one-and-a-half-million-dollar deal. That was the most active offseason in the history of any baseball team. I love it. Martin Maldonado, one-year, one-and-a-half-million. As a backup catcher. Now, here's the one that's gonna oh man gonna get it going a little bit okay i'm trading nick pivetta oh what nikki moniak what rafael marshall this is like your babies and odubel herrera to the pirates for james and tyon and kyle crick oh buddy james and tyon's missing all of 2020 i like i like the idea of for Jameson Taillon and Kyle Crick. Oh, buddy.

Jameson Taillon's missing all of 2020. I like the idea of going after Taillon. But the Phillies don't really have a path to getting a... Outside of Spencer Howard, they don't have another path to getting a top flight starter. Taillon's been good. He should be better. I think once they get him away from Ray Searidge, I think he would be much better than what he is.

I know. He just became a dinosaur very quickly. I know. And it hurt all the pitchers. So, I'm getting off of the Adubo Herrera contract. Which, sure. You think that they'll do that? Well, the Pirates are cheap. They're probably going to trade Marte this offseason. Here's the thing with the Pirates, though. Is it the best time for the Pirates

and their former closer to be trading for someone who's involved in domestic abuse yeah didn't factor in their pr did not check with the pr staff um they've got about all the bad publicity they can handle right now fine trade them to the race um um i love kyle craig i do like kyle craig that sounds i mean he's you've really rebuilt this bullpen the bullpen could be the strongest part of the team right now. Oh, dude, wait till I lay out the bullpen. All right, so my final...

In what? In perfect all-season number two? No, no, no. My final move is I'm signing Starling Castro to a one-year $4 million deal. Totally fine with that. What do you think? $4 million is enough to get Castro? I think it's more like one for eight or something like that, I would guess.

Okay. Sure. Yes. Okay. Sure. So it lays out that my eight-man infield every day would be Real Muto at catcher, Boehm at first base, Kingery at second,

Didi at shortstop, Donaldson at third, McCutcheon, Haseley, Harper, Bench of J. Bruce, Daniel Murphy, Martin Maldonado,

Sterling Castro, and my starting pitchers would be either one of Cole, Strauss, or Wheeler, Nola, Cueto, Marquez, Spencer Howard, bullpen of Hector Neris, Michael Givens, Austin Adams, Sir Anthony Dominguez, Chris Martin, Kyle Crick, Dylan Batanzas, Jose Alvarez, and Adam Morgan. Bang.

That's number one. You can give your first all season though. Yeah. I just have a list of names on mine. I appreciate the depth. You traded for a contract. Yeah. Open your eyes, Clint Duck.

That's great. I really love it. All right. My perfect, much simpler offseason. Boo. Number one, sign Garrett Cole. I've said it from the beginning. You asked me what?

Three months ago or two months ago, Anthony Rendon or Garrett Cole and I immediately said Garrett Cole. I want both. Obviously, they're both great but Garrett Cole, they need Garrett Cole. We've talked about it a ton. They need that guy. They need the guy you can count on to be your horse. The guy who can carry you. We've seen

how important it is. We would have seen how important it was if A.J. Hinch had actually elected to use him in Game 7. Right, so the Garrett Cole thing is interesting to me because, again, we talked about this last podcast. There is a case we made that Wheeler and

Hamels would provide more value maybe next season. Or Wheeler and Strasburg. Wheeler and Hamels would provide more value maybe next season, or Wheeler and Strasburg. Wheeler and Strasburg definitely would. Wheeler and someone else may equate. Wheeler and Hamels may equate Strasburg. But the point is not, I think what people get so messed up with and what I don't get messed up with and I don't think you get messed up with

is not about next season. I know we sound like a broken record. I do not. Obviously, I care about next season, I know we sound like a broken record. I do not. Obviously, I care about next season, but I care about windows. I care about having a core. I care about building for more than just one year. I do not care about next season, really.

I do, obviously, but you know what I mean. I'm signing Garrett Cole because he's going to be my ace for the next five years. I can build around him and Nola. I'm not signing Zach Wheeler and Cole Hamels for next year maybe being better. Maybe being an 85 win team next year versus a couple years from now being way

better because I have Garrett Cole leading my rotation and I have Harper, Real Muto, and whoever other trade you make. Yes. I like it. And look, if they don't make the playoffs next year, we can get rid of Matt Klintak. Yeah, but Haim's gone. I know.

Side note, cannot wait to see what Haim does. Is he going to see? I cannot believe. There's a reason why Dave Dombrowski got fired half a year after winning a World Series, because they cannot afford Mookie Betts. Imagine not being able to afford Mookie Betts. I would be having a meltdown in Boston. Imagine if this was here.

We would be rioting. Oh my God. I would, it would be crazy. No, it's Mookie Betts. I know. It's Mookie Betts. You can't afford Mookie Betts. Are you stupid?

And people are like, well, I'll bring Dave Dombrowski here. For what? To trade everything? Oh. Embarrassing mismanagement. You all right? I just can't believe it. I know.

I can tell. All right. Cole Hamels. I'm signing him too. Look at you, Mr. Nostalgia. We talked about it. It's a brilliant move. Mr. Nostalgia.

For both business and on the field. It's smart. It's good business. You're bringing back the Sean Jackson 2.0? I'm bringing back Cole Hamels. Cole's going to come home and he's going to play great. Yeah. No, I'm excited for Cole Hamels.

Yeah. Cole Hamels. I am fine bringing back Cole Hamels. Okay. So we can agree on Cole Hamels. I was messing around. I'll bet he was in your second perfect offseason. You would be correct.

I figured. Yeah. He had to be on the list somewhere. Okay. So those are my two big pitcher signings. I bulk up my starting rotation. I'm counting on Spencer Howard to come up and be a part of that rotation. By the end of the season, if I have Cole, Nola, Howard, Hamels,

I feel like I can play with that. I feel like that's a real rotation that I can have a chance with. And then those top three guys obviously carry into the next year and you're feeling good. Okay. Bullpen. I'm signing Will Smith. Okay.

I need someone at the back end of this bullpen who I can trust to close out games. I know it's overrated and all that type of stuff, but Will Smith not only gives you a guy at the back end of the bullpen, but he's also someone you can be versatile with. We have a smart manager who can do smart things with that pen, we hope. And Will Smith, somebody who you could if you, he's good enough to be versatile with. We have a smart manager who can do smart things with that pen, we hope. And Will Smith, somebody you could if you – he's good enough to be a closer.

He's close, but he's also someone who would be willing to step in and face a left-handed batter if he needs to in the right situation, all that, especially postseason type stuff. So I like the idea of bringing Will Smith in. I think he's cheap for a closer. He's 31 years old. Love the idea of Will Smith getting a lefty in this bullpen. Yeah, here's the thing

with Will Smith and here's what I'm worried about is that um is that I don't know if a year after making the Robertson deal

if they're gonna wanna do it again it's a very fair point I just I'm not it's a really fair point I'm not sure they wanna do it again I would do it

I think Will Smith is better than David and he's younger than David Robinson was when they made that deal but I it makes sense. That's actually a very compelling point. I'm also signing Chris Martin, like you said.

I just think that's a no-brainer. Of Coldplay fame. Yes. I have to have Coldplay lead singer in my belt band. I just think he's been underrated in the market. Clearly. I guess it's because of the age and whatnot. Yeah, out of nowhere.

Yeah, but the strikeout to walk is crazy. He walked.5 guys last year per nine. .5! What is that? It's absurd. That is knowing exactly where you can put the baseball. I'm envious. I have no idea how you can possibly do that.

That's unbelievable. I want to steal your idea and sign Dillon Batances as well. Yeah, of course. It's just a no-brainer. Take a shot on that guy. And here's the thing, and here's why I and presumably you are so in on getting a bunch of bullpen guys because this is Joe Girardi's MO.

Look what he did with the Yankees. The Yankees, it was freaking Batances, Miller, Rivera for a little bit there, Chapman, like just loaded bullpens year after year after year and I think if they want to maximize Joe Girardi's ability here it starts with getting a dominant bullpen yeah and I agree and listen dude it's it's it's a year for Delmatanzas it's a no-brainer Delmatanzas makes so much sense and then I honestly think there could even be another guy out there is probably a valuable guy, whether it's someone like Daniel Hudson

or someone like that who you could sign to a one- or two-year deal, probably two-year deal. I don't think I'd touch Hudson. No, I'm just talking about that type of guy. I'm adding one more bullpen arm, someone like that. Or, you know what? I don't hate the Austin Adams type of trade. It's trading for someone who...

Oh, are we talking middle-of-the-leaver trades? Yeah, buddy. I have my eye on three guys. Austin Adams, Andrew Kittredge, and... Well, Kalkrek, of course. Sorry, four guys. Yeah. And Lucas Sims.

Lucas Sims. Lucas Sims is legit. He's in the 100th percentile in fastball spin and slider spin. Really? Yeah. That's pretty impressive. It's disgusting. It's like a better Pavetta.

You love spin. Oh, God. Oh, no. Is that it? No, I got pretty impressive. It's disgusting. It's like a better Pavetta. You love Sp- Oh, God. Oh, no. Is that it? No, I got one more. Okay, good. I'm trading for Francisco Lindor. Dang.

Let's go. We've talked about it. I want them to trade for Francisco Lindor just so Phillies fans, and people are not die-hard listeners. We know. You know your baseball and all that. So Phillies fans can understand why we keep talking about wanting Francisco Lindy or Lindor here so bad. He is again.

He's a culture changing type of guy. I mean, there's a reason the Indians keep winning. I mean, they and granted. Well, and there's a reason. There's a reason why when he came back last year, they went on that run. Dude, he makes a difference. Like he matters. He is one of the I think one of the potentially most biggest. I'm trying to he makes a difference. He matters. He is one of the potentially most

biggest... I'm trying to figure out how to phrase this. He matters as much as about anyone in baseball from that perspective. The players that matter in baseball. Judge, Trout. Judge, Trout. Harper matters. I was going to say Harper. Because he's

Bryce Harper. And Lindor. He's that guy. Ballinger doesn't really matter. Yelich doesn't really matter. Yelich matters, but he plays in the Brewers. I'm saying... Who would ever want to work for the Brewers? Francisco Lindor comes in and he's just like the center of everything.

That dude just matters to everyone in that clubhouse. It's a souped up J-roll. Yeah. Yes. Yes. I love that. It's a souped up j-roll yeah yes yes i love that it's a souped up j-roll who's doesn't have a bit of an edge to him he's just all more pop yeah i mean he's unbelievable he's this city would love francisco lindor and again one of the best

defensive short stops in baseball dude he's 25 he's. He's made four All-Stars. Yes. He's that good. He's so good. I cannot stop thinking about trading for Francisco Lindor. Yeah. And who can, of the teams in baseball, who can trade for him and re-sign him? Well, that's the key to it. I mean, because there's no value to trading. I mean, there's value, obviously, but there's no real value to what you'd have to give up

if you're not going to re-sign him. So, it's the Yankees. Sure. It's the Dodgers.'s the Yankees. Sure. It's the Dodgers. Not the Red Sox. No. Not in the situation they're in. And they have Bogarts, too.

The bigger question is, will they re-sign Bogarts? Probably not the Cubs. In the situation they're in. Probably not the Cubs. No. The White Sox could. Probably. But they're the White Sox.

Yeah, they're not going to count them. Yeah. And also, I think the Indians, probably if they had a choice, wouldn't want to trade him in the division. That's true. Angels? Sure. Just because. They don't have the Indians probably if they had a choice wouldn't want to trade him in the division. That's true. Angels? Sure. They don't have the

prospects unless they put Joe Dell in it. No. There's just very few teams that can realistically make a Francisco Lindor trade. Unfortunately they're

the Yankees and the Dodgers. Yes. But what we've seen out of those teams is when have they ponied up to sign a big name guy? So if I was the Dodgers I would do it because what do you got to lose? If I'm the Yankees and the Dodgers. Yes. But what we've seen out of those teams is when have they ponied up to sign a big name guy? So if I was the Dodgers,

I would do it because what do you got to lose? If I'm the Yankees, I'm signing Cole before I'm trading for Francisco Lindor. But if you're the Dodgers, it's like a no brainer. Yeah.

I mean, you have to do it. But that's my point. That's what's so interesting about the Morosi tweet from the other day was that he mentioned Bryant, Betts, and Lindor as three guys

who could get traded in the soft season. He heard one... He said one will get traded. Which makes sense, but I came to the realization, who can realistically make those trades? The Phillies are one of three or four teams that can make every single

trade there because they have... Sure, they don't have the prospects. They don't have the prospects and everyone knows that, but they have the financial flexibility to where they would pay the premium for the prospects and then pay a guy on top. Yes, and again, I think Reece Hoskins is a real legitimate trade asset. Yes.

I mean, he is a guy who has proven that he can be an all-star level player at the major league level and is under control for a few more years. That's a really valuable asset and I think he's the centerpiece of that trade. So your trade was Hoskins, Howard. Stott.

Stott. Haseley. And Haseley. I'm doing that same trade, but I'm taking Howard out of it. Give up Connor Seabold. Sure. Is that enough? Or Medina.

Either one. It doesn't matter. Is that enough? Is that enough is my question. Because that's the trade I want to make. I mean, that would be my, I would love, I would love,

listen, I do not want to trade Spencer Howard. No. At all. I don't want to trade Reece Hoskins. I'm not saying like, we both said we didn't want to trade him, but this just makes so much sense. Here's what you have to realize

with a Francisco Lindor trade, like the one I laid out, was like, let's just look at it on the surface. You're giving up Reece Hoskins, but you're moving a better bat than Alec Boehm over to first base. Alec Boehm, I had woken up at 7.30 the last couple mornings, and I've caught the last

three innings of USA in the Premier 12 tournament. He's just so good. He's just so good. He's a 300 hitter with 30 home runs. That's what he's going to be. You're moving Boeum over to first base. You were trading Bryson Stott, who I love Bryson Stott. Yeah, obviously.

But you're moving him, who you don't need a shortstop anymore. Okay? Yeah, this is the long-term answer, shortstop. And then you're moving Adam Haisley, who I like Adam Haisley, but he was 680 OPS last year. I think he's going to be okay, but he's not holding up any deal for Francisco Lindor when I can put Kingery in center field if I need to. 100%.

And Spencer Howard is legit. He's a stud. You're giving up a stud. You're giving up 07 Carlos Carrasco. No, I mean 09 Carlos Carrasco when he got Cliff Lee. That's what you're giving up. You're giving up an actual stud in Spencer Howard. It would hurt. But it's going to hurt if you're trading

for a top five player in the sport. It's going to hurt. That's exactly right. I do not want to trade Spencer Howard. If I didn't have to trade Spencer Howard, I wouldn't. The question is, would you rather put Boehm in the deal and no Howard or no Howard and Hoskins

or just put Boehm in the deal? Right. I mean, that's a real Sophie's choice. I would rather trade Spencer Howard than Boehm. I agree with you in that one for one. I agree. But I do think that when you include Hoskins in the deal, I feel like, I just don't think it'll, look,

I agree with you that that's what it should take. I just don't know if it will take that. I don't know. Yeah, it's tough. Indians are smart. They have to trade him. But they don't have any leverage. I don't know. Yeah, it's tough. Indians are smart. They have to trade him. But they don't have any leverage. That's the problem.

The Indians have no leverage. Teams know that there is a 0% chance of them re-signing him. Their owner has said it out loud to reporters. He was like, enjoy him now because he's not coming back. They have no leverage from that perspective, which I do think matters to a certain degree. I think it also depends on what they're looking for back. The Indians are a team that is still contending, has contended, has the pieces to contend.

I mean, granted, Lindor is a huge part of that, but they've got Ramirez on a great contract. They've got, you know, some talent, obviously some really high-end pitching talent there under contract, guys like Bieber and whatnot. Clevenger is awesome. talent there under contract guys like bieber and whatnot clevenger is awesome so the question is are they more interested in in a elite and granted howard and bomb are a little different because they're so close to the majors but i'm talking when you include other packages from other teams and what it takes to get it done does a guy like hoskins appeal to them more than said prospect on whatever cheek so i think it comes down to, would the Dodgers put Gavin Lux on the table?

Yeah, that would certainly do it. Yeah, you could say that. Would the Yankees put Estevan Florio? I mean, even then, I don't know. Trade him back Clint Frazier. Yeah, there you go. Done. Because I don't think if... Trade him back Clinton Frazier. Yeah, there you go. Done. Because I don't think they would want to trade

for Corey Seager because Seager's going to get paid soon-ish. So they're just going to have to do the same thing. Yeah, they would move Seager to third base

if they were making the Lindor trade to Dodgers. Or, get real crazy, trade for Lindor and sign Rendon. Oh, and then just trade Seager

somewhere else? Yeah. All right, Flip Seager. But yeah, either way, we don't know what the other teams are going to offer. But the fact, the Phillies could be in it if they want to be in it. And I just, in my gut, I think they want to be in it. And in my opinion, they need to be in it. I agree.

They need another blue chip guy if they really seriously want to compete. They need Lindor, Bryant, or Mookie. My preference would be Lindor, Mookie, Bryant. And again, Mookie is a great player. Lindor is the best of those guys. He's the youngest of those guys, but also the best of those guys. He plays the most important position. He's the best defensive player of the group.

And maybe his ceiling isn't quite what Betts' is offensively, but it's not that far off Betts has a good year Okay year Great year Okay year Yeah Like he's very up and down

Lindor has been incredibly consistent his first four years Yeah So Yeah And the Bryant trade I don't know He's the one I want the least easily I mean it's not even that

Like I like Bryant But If we're talking about values that are anywhere close to the other two, I'm not trading that for Bryant. I'm trading it for Betts or Lindor. But if you're trading for Bryant, Boehm's going to be in the deal.

Yeah, and I don't want to do that. I mean, Boehm is basically, like, has the potential to be Bryant someday. Yeah, well... With a little less pop and a little higher average. And worse defense. Well, yeah, I mean little less pop and a little higher average. And worse defense. Well, yeah. I mean, if he's not playing third base.

Right. He's a similar Chris Bryant bat. Similar bat is what I should have said. Yes. I agree. But yeah, either way, well, here's the thing with Bryant is that Harper.

I mean, if Harper gets to play with Bryant and Romulo, I mean, Harper's in heaven. Harper's here. He's not going anywhere. He wants to win. I know. Bryce Harper wants to win. I know.

So let's help him win. But I do think they need one more blue chip guy. I agree. And I would prefer it's Linder. But look, if they make a nice move for Chris Bryan that I'm not super upset about what they give away, I would be happy to have Chris Bryan here. Real Muto and Harper are blue chippers. Hoskins is not.

He's a good player, not a blue chipper. Nola is on the verge of being a blue chipper, I would say. We would have said after 18 he was a blue chipper. After 19 you say, ah, he's close to a blue chipper. Close. I don't know if he's a definitive blue chipper. But one more because it's tough to win a championship without three blue chippers.

Okay. All right. It's time. all season yes number two so again first do you have a favorite of the two before i don't know i'll ask you what you like better because i honestly don't know um but whatever uh so first move of course trading jaylen matisse for ross and adams you couldn't had to be on both yeah well my first three moves are the same So I'm signing Chris Martin I'm signing Dylan Potanski Okay so that's locked in I'm signing I'm signing Chris Or Zach Wheeler

For five years A hundred million I think that'll get it done I don't know I don't know I think I'll get it close He's such a terrifying contract It's gonna be like

Five for 125 Yeah Or five for 115 Yeah I'm signing Mike Moustakis To a two-year, $24 million. Finally bringing Moose home!

Well, I might just keep Mike Alfranco because they're the same player. I'm trading Hoskins, Spencer Howard, Bryson Stott, Adam Haley

for Francis Gould and Doerr. Okay. I'm trading Gene Segura and Daniel De Los Santos for Johnny Cueto. I really love Johnny Cueto. You want Cueto here. I'm a bounce-back Cueto guy cueto guy i know oh he's like a

guy that i like that quite i'm really better i'm really just trying to get off of the segura contract right because i don't i don't want to pay him for the next three years fair yeah sounds like a disaster right um and then i'm just making the michael givens trade i'm signing marty malnato i'm making the same nick pivetta mckie moniac trade for for tyon and kyle crick and i'm signing sorry sarlan castro so it wasn't really different much at all except for the lindor part lindor moustakas and wheeler as my three london donaldson donaldson one of gary cole strasburg strasburg and is that it um and dd and dd okay so that's the differences dd well my my out my eight man infield would be real amido boom kingery lindor moose mccutchen kingery oops i have kingery in there twice so that would seem like it seemed like it would be a problem right

oh crap god the kicker you probably do it if there's one guy who can do it, it's probably Scott Kingery. Crap. Why did I do that? Because you were making two perfect off seasons

and you got carried away. I carried away Adam Aisley. Shoot. Maybe then I could just take out the maybe I'll take out the Cueto deal

and keep Segura. There you go. Okay Maybe I'll take out the Quado deal and keep Segura There you go Okay I'll take out the Quado deal In this one I'll take out the Quado deal And we're not getting bounce back Quado That's on you And I'm having Segura play second base That'll be a lot of fun

At least I'm playing third base That's been rumored And then my starting staff would be Wheeler, Nola, Hamels. Oh, I'm sorry, Hamels. Yeah, you mentioned that before. Yep. Hamels, Arrieta, and Eflin. Man.

I'm torn on which one I like better. I think I like, I mean, the second one has Lindor. That just makes me like it better. But I think the first one might be better. The first one's probably a better team, but it's Lindor and Harper. Yeah. So, yeah.

It's like the first team is better for next season because you'd have Didi, Donaldson, Boehm at first, Kingery, Haseley, Harper. It's better for next season, but yeah, the second one has Lindor. The second one has Lindor. Yeah.

It's got Lindor. Yeah. Wheeler, but Wheeler, Nolan, I know I'm nervous about, they're going to sign Zach Wheeler. Aren't they Jack?

Yeah. I, it feels like Wheeler. It feels like Wheeler Hamels. And if you're going off Stark's tweet today, it feels like a Wheeler Hamels off season. And it's not that I don't like Zach Wheeler. He's fine. It's just giving him a hundred. He's tweet today. It feels like a Wheeler-Hamill's offseason. And it's not that I don't like Zach Wheeler. He's fine.

I like him. He's very talented. Giving him $100-plus million is terrifying. It's like two seasons. Yeah. The second half of those seasons have been phenomenal. Feels like Wheeler. Feels like Wheeler.

Yeah. I don't think they're going to get... And the weird part of the Stark tweet today was like, oh, you know... Yeah, it was like, they're going to be in on a high-end starter, and then at the end of it, it said, they'll monitor Garrett Cole. It was like, so does he not count? It was like, they'll jump in if it falls into Arietta-like territory.

It's like, well. Yo, who's that? With Garrett Cole? Are you serious that it's going to wait it out, and then he's going to get a cheap deal? Are you serious? I would love to know who gave him that info. Yeah, we'll jump in on Garacle.

Probably Klondack. No, it was Andy. God, it's so brutal. Kills my soul. No, it feels like if I just said it right now, I think it's going to be Wheeler, Hamels, Didi, Bullpen, guys. And then you're riding with... Uninspiring.

It's okay. You're riding with Did It's uninspiring. It's okay. You're riding with Deedee at short, Segura at third, Kingery at second. It's uninspiring. If that's the case, let's just go get Anthony Rendon. Let's get real. Let's get Anthony Rendon. Let's screw it. If you're not going to sign, I would rather, if they're not going to

go get Garrett Cole, then go get Rendon. Get me a big guy. Get me a boss. Dude, I love Anthony Rendon. Get me a big guy. Get me a boss. Dude, I love Anthony Rendon. Get me a boss. There you go. Lindor's a boss. I agree. I want Lindor, obviously.

Add one more blue chipper. Think about that. Trade for Lindor. Sign Rendon. What? Let's go. Then what are you doing in two years when you get paid Lindor? I don't know.

Jack, it ain't my money. So we're going to have Real Muto Harper Lindor Rendon Lindor Rendon Or Lindor Rendon That's gonna be what 800 million dollars In four players

And Zach Wheeler 900 million in four players No I Well you know I just Signed Baumgartner for cheaper Wheeler I don't know

I don't know about Baumgartner here To be honest with you I don't know about any of it It's not gonna work That one Baumgartner No the Rendon idea I want it But They need pitching I don't know about Baumgartner here, to be honest with you. I don't know about any of it. It's not going to work, that one. Baumgartner?

No, the Rendon idea. I want it. But they need pitching. They need pitching. And everyone's telling me, like, oh, they need pitching. The Phillies know they need pitching. I know. What do you think? They saw Jason Vargas in the second half and said, we're good?

Drew Smiley in the second half? They're like, no, we're okay. It was nice that they declined the Vargas option. I was totally expecting them to bring him back. Oh, so was I. So was I. They declined the Vargas option. I was totally expecting them to bring him back.

Oh, so was I. So was I. But it just sucks because some of these moves that we laid out today make a lot of sense, and they're just not going to do it. They're not going to do it. Give me one bold move. Give me an interesting move. Give me the Cal Creek trade. Yeah.

Give me the Jameson tie. Get Jameson tie on. If you can do one thing this offseason, get Jameson tie on. Or sign Garrett Cole, but that too. Why sign Garrett Cole when you can do one thing this offseason, get Jameson Tyon. Or sign Garrett Cole, but that too. Why sign Garrett Cole when you can get Garrett Cole for cheaper?

Jameson Tyon was also a top two pick. And he was a pirate? How about that? Oh, same thing. Same thing. You know the Astros are going to trade

for Jameson Tyon? Yeah, they probably will. Trading for Tyon is something a smart team would do. If a thousand times, be a smart team. That's all I'm asking. It's not that hard. Well, they probably will. Trading for Tyon is something a smart team would do. Yeah. If a thousand times, be a smart team. That's all I'm asking.

It's not that hard. Well, you're listening, Matt. Yeah, we got in just in time. That's why I moved up the date to Tuesday so that you had all week to digest and take over the contract ideas and figure out just how you are going to trade for Jameson Tyon.

It shouldn't be this hard, Matt. It really shouldn't. I agree. You should be able to get Jameson Titan on the sausage. Yeah. For as much as we've talked about the important things like Rendon, Cole, Jameson Titan, it's only missing a year. I know.

You've been talking about it nonstop. I stole the odds. I hear every day he walks into the studio, oh, dude, Jameson Titan. You want to be asking Matt Klintick about it? Yeah. Guess what? You would have finally done the city some good, James.

For the first time in your career. You got anything in your note bag over there? I do. Joe Dillon. Looks like he's going to be the next hitting coach. Really? That would presume. Well, it seemed like they were interested in Chili Davis, too.

Looks like he's going to the Mets. He's staying with the Mets. And it probably means that Dante Bichette didn't want to leave Tampa to come up to Philly and be a hitting coach. But it looks like they're training towards Joe Dillon. And, like, he's kind of O-chart-ish. He's not old school. Good.

But if you watch that Nationals team, I became envious of their bat-to-ball skills and not striking out. I think he brings some interesting new way stuff to the hitting side, which of course they have with John Maley, which is kind of scary. But I think with Joe Girardi there,

it should make that better than just being Gabe and whatnot. And also, Joe Dillon is coming from a Nationals organization, which is not exactly on the forefront of analytics. And they are more old school. So I'm in on Joe Dillon. I think it's interesting. I did not want Chili Davis. I didn't see the – Not a Chili fan?

I didn't get it. He came in for John Mayley, got fired after a year. I'm like, What are we doing? So let him go back to the Mets, whatever. So it looks like the Indians baseball president, Chris. And Anetti. And Anetti said, my expectation is Frankie will be the shortstop opening day next year. What else is he supposed to say?

He's trying to keep whatever leverage they can get. The owner said, enjoy expectation is Frankie will be the shortstop opening day next year. What else is he supposed to say? I don't know. He's trying to keep whatever leverage they can get. The owner said, enjoy him while you can. My expectation is, okay, good. So Joe Dillon looks like the guy. I'm very interested, and I think it's going to be a good move. All right, Joe Dillon. In on Joe Dillon. The High Hopes podcast is in on Joe Dillon.

Yeah, just give me one forward-thinking guy. You had me at Brian Price. I'm in on Brian Price. I'm in on Joe Dillon. Yeah, just give me one, give me one forward thinking guy. You know, like you had me at Brian Price. I'm in on Brian Price. I'm in on Mechanics Guy. I'm in on Old School. I'm in on Joe Girardi who's an old school guy.

Give me one advanced guy. Yeah, throw him a bone. Yeah, throw the kid a bone. Throw Jackie a bone. Yeah, I signed Brian Barber,

which is good. One more bone. Yeah. A lot of bones. You got any final thoughts? You love bones. My final thought was the Morosi tweet, but I have nothing else in my final thoughts except that next week I guess we'll do the off season that we think is going to happen.

What we think really will happen next week. Yeah, so don't get so mad at us having fun ideas. And then we'll probably take Thanksgiving week off. What are we doing here? We don't take time off. I know, we never do. I don't want time off. Well, maybe we won't. we don't take time off i know we never do i don't want time off oh maybe we won't i don't want time off ever i know you don't i just want to do this podcast i know i think about it a lot i know um oh and if we sign cole hamels if we sign cole hamels yes and we get up to i didn't run this bio at all. I thought of it the other day. I'm spurring on you now.

I love when you do that. Yeah. We are currently at 567 reviews. Well, we're at 543 five-star reviews. But 567 overall reviews. Just going to let people know I prefer the five stars.

Definitely prefer the five stars. Personally, it's something that I care about but you know when we get to 600 yes and if we sign so it's not far away if we sign

are we saying hold on 600 five stars or just 600 total I guess we'll do 600 total I would prefer if we got 600 five stars if you can make them five stars it would be

so it's only like please it's only 57 five star reviews from 600 it's only 43 overall reviews I you're intrigued to see where this is going by the way if we sign goal hamels okay and and when we get to 600 so the combination of these two things yes okay i will unleash my call hamels uh uh what do i call it oh you're you're lined up

video we'll get it on video. We'll put it out there. Let me tell you something. It's spot on. It is. You know how they have a bat flip guy? That's me for pitching. So if they sign Cole Hamels.

The batting stance guy. The batting stance guy. If they sign Cole Hamels and when we get the 600, five star reviews, I will do my Cole Hamels impersonation. All right. It is phenomenal.

Jack walks around the office saying, who's this? Who's this? And just does different lines. And sometimes I don't get it. It makes me disappointed. Well, sometimes it's really hard to tell. Because it's a lefty versus me being a righty. Jack is really bad at doing the lefty ones.

So he just does them righty. And I'm like, oh, I didn't realize it was Cliff Lee. It will be a righty Cole Hamels. Okay. So it's going to have to look really exactly like it't realize it was Cliff Lee. It will be a righty Cole Hamels. Okay. So it's going to have to look really exactly like it or else it might fall flat. Okay. 600.

Yeah. People have to, you know, and if they don't like Cole Hamels, well, then, you know. Yeah. Let's figure out something else. We'll figure it out. Yeah. I'll do a, I'll do a Austin Adams. Yes.

All right. Rate and review the podcast next week. The real off season's coming. Ugh. It's going to be so boring. It's going to be so much less fun than this one. All right, until then, he spreads himself. We'll see you later.

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 and is now the most prolific national daily baseball pod there is. Another fact. So jump aboard the BIB Express. Follow and listen to Baseball Isn't Boring, presented by Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts.