High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Our Perfect Trade Deadline

Episode Date: July 30, 2021

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to a thrilling come-from-behind Phillies walkoff win over the Nats. Then the guys detail their perfect trade deadline and much more. 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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Hot Cloud Storage on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. This is the high hopes podcast. It's a bunch of baseball nerds talking about the Phillies on radio.com and sports radio, 94 WIP. It is another edition of the High Elves Podcast, Jack. What? I would like to personally thank Brad Miller for not making this a death march of a podcast.

I was like dreading the pod. I'm never dreading this particular pod pod but dreading talking about this baseball team i was not excited to hear you try and make me be happy after they somehow like they're only four and a half out or whatever crap you were gonna say thank you brad miller what a win first time they come back from a seven run deficit since 2010 jack oh and brad's now i don't know if it's 100 right right, but I did see it somewhere. But it was the first time in Philly's franchise history that they've hit a walk-off grand slam from behind in extra innings in franchise history.

That's a lot of words. It's a lot of words, but apparently that's what it is. So I don't know. I mean, listen. Do you feel like, real quick, real quick. Do you feel like with everything now? I think we talked about like with like, I mean, now he's hurt and really just an opener, but with like every Jacob to Grom stat, it was like, Jacob to Grom is the first pitcher

since 1993 to do this, this, this, and that. It's like, I feel like every situation in baseball now there's a stat. Oh yeah. Well, it's crazy. So, so honestly, Jamesames i'm just gonna let me just kind of just go through my emotions today sure i can't wait to hear your so here's here's my emotions today okay i wake up i start i feel like there should be like a um a psa before this like warning to people like going through a day of jack Fritz. Woke up, got out of bed, dragged a comb across my head.

Across my head. Is that one of the songs that you were singing to your daughter, by the way, before while you were putting her to bed? No, oh yes, I told you to ask. No, no, much more in the Hush Little Baby. Oh, okay. Right.

I guess like, have they updated those songs yet? Like they haven't updated since our childhood? No, no. So the videos, like the YouTube stuff, they've got their own made-up songs to the same tunes. Right, like that stupid Baby Shark or whatever. Well, that's a phenomenon. No, it's not.

It's a phenomenon. It's the only reason Nationals won the World Series. So no, it's not. So anyway, yeah, same stuff hush little baby sing a little uh baby beluga sometimes is a classic baby last night we were yeah baby beluga so so good so no one no one's listening to this podcast besides me and you right no they better not be i mean right we didn't start recording yeah it's just us talking i didn't right i didn't get to record so so sometimes so yeah so a day in the

life of jack fritz but today the day in the life no but hold on this this is just us talking this not be recorded no one no one's listening besides us so jill jill sometimes calls me a baby beluga because she thinks that i have like she thinks like she thinks i'm because i have the gut and everything so like i have the gut and you're like a white whale yeah and like she'll start calling she'll start singing baby beluga so that's the only reason why i know the song baby beluga you don't have to qualify it's okay buddy you're baby beluga stan you're raffi stan it's okay that's exactly right so uh no one else is listening to this podcast so that was that was no one yeah that's good so anyway it better not be a day in the life

of jack fritz because bum bum bum bum i woke up today and boy was i feeling hopeful i was yeah i think i saw a tweet from you that was like today's could be a great day yep one of those yep all about positivity today so i went on a run like i usually do uh and i beat i got i ran a 745 mile so i got under eight minutes which was a good goal for me. And I was just in a good mood. I was very happy. I was excited. Even though I feel like I'm never going to leave this station. I've been here since 945.

So it's been a long day. It's been a long day for you. I woke up thinking about winning two and John Gray and Daniel Bard being in a Phillies uniform by the end of the day. Sitting here, a little hectic pregame. There was some stuff going on that I was worried about, but we got the game on the air, so everything was fine. Game goes on the air.

Yeah, you weren't the only one, by the way. Forgetting just the game getting on the air, I think a lot of us were worried that these games were not going to happen today. Yeah, well, yeah, yeah. Some would say that these teams need not going to happen today. Yeah, well, yeah, yeah. Some would say that these teams need some shots in the arm. But, yeah, so the games go off. It's Wheeler-Scherzer. I am so mad at A.J. Preller for not doing the trade before the game.

So I had to deal with the Scherzer one last time. It wasn't even before the end of the second game. It's like, really? Yeah, yeah. Just an absolute, absolute joke. But so obviously we're going to the game. It's a freaking disaster. It felt like a loss within the second inning.

I was like, oh, they got no shot. And just their general effort just pissed me off. It was like, come on. You're trying to prove to the front office that you're deserving of being a team that they can trust and buy on. And they came out flat, and they came out like a team that was embarrassing. And I was embarrassed

to be a Phillies fan. I was down. I was out. Didn't want to watch. But, obviously, had to watch Game 2. Game 2 starts off horrible. Chris Sanchez can't make through the first inning of the game without being rocked. Brogdon comes in and gets rocked. And all I'm thinking about is I want to go home. I want to go home. I want to go home. I want to go home.

And then they start scraping and clawing their way back into the game. And I just had this weird feeling they were gonna win. They made it Even with two outs in the seventh, you're still feeling it there well no

because it was we know who was at the plate at that point and i'd um and i was not trusting the arinola walk i mean what is going on here i mean biggest i mean biggest walk by a philly's pitcher in team set in team history i don't oh no question yeah i can't think of another example and like man the only person that is off the hook for for me this podcast is bryce harper for for leaving that game he was gonna be i was furious furious for most of the game um but thank god brad miller came through everything's fine bye bye bye bye um i mean like i wish that i could say oh coming back from seven nothing winning on a walk off grand slam this will drive them this is the launching point they needed we haven't said that all year we've been waiting for the moment oh man what we've been waiting for i mean where were you

when brad miller saved the season and, where were you when Brad Miller saved the season and Andrew McCutcheon saved the season and Luke Williams saved the season and so on and so forth, right? I don't know, James. Where were you? Because I was there for all of them and I lived and died. Dude, today was such a microcosm of just this Phillies team and just baseball in general, like this sport can just make you feel so bad.

It's so worthless and feel like you're wasting your time. And then they do that. And it makes it like, I feel like, I feel like a dumb and dumber where, where, where, um,

uh, Lloyd goes out and buys the, the whatever, the cart thing. He comes back, and they go, just when I thought you couldn't be any dumber, you go out and do something like this. And totally redeem yourself.

That's this Phil's baseball team, baby. I just, you know, I'm so glad. You know, 51 and 51, even Steven. All they do is stay 500. That's all they do. That's all they do. They found a way to do it yet again in the most dramatic fashion. Can they go make the trades to put this team right there?

Yeah, they're nothing if not consistent, right? All right, let's get into it. Let's do it. Let's do it. That's why we're here, Jack, because we were going to be here even if they didn't come back from a seven run deficit. Thank God they did. Now, let's let's get into it.

We're doing a trade deadline. What were you saying? Nothing. I just want to make sure we're doing it. I'm sure we're doing it. Perfect trade deadline. All right. I'll give you mine first.

Nothing. Wow. I'm just kidding. I'm just kidding. You know, it's funny. You know, it's funny you know what's funny is let's just say if they had not won that second game that was my plan come on and say jack nothing how about this can we do a a wheeler to the giants for luciano type package that's

where my head was at before the comeback yeah yeah um and i'm with you too because like i was sitting here i was sitting here and second game was going on the bills are down seven nothing and uh and i'm just like really are do i do i really want to buy here and i and am i letting the brad miller grand slam cloud my judgment of this baseball team i am i think mean, here's the thing. If they lost game two and they – because what are they, four out or are they three and a half out? Let me check while you're talking. I'll look.

Whatever. If they lose that second game, I think they're five out heading into tomorrow. And it's just like – Yeah, so I would guess four. Yep. Oh, no, they're three and a half out. Right. So they would have been four – or I guess four and a half.

I'm not sure how that works. Well, they had to make up two today. So they lost. Yeah, no, so they're four back heading into game two. If they lost game two and they were down seven nothing, it would have been four and a half. And now they're three and a half. Right, right, right. So they're four and a half out heading into tomorrow.

Like, it's just so hard to sell the front office. Like, go in, go in, go in. Like, you're two games under 500 and you got to really go in because you look at them and you're saying to yourself they're clearly not good enough and listen you and i both for as for as happy and positive and whatever we are like i know both of us also know the sport well enough to know the phillies clearly aren't good enough to really like win the whole thing or especially when like Padres are trading for Max Scherzer and the Yankees are adding Rizzo and

Gallo and this and that. Yeah, I'm with you. We know the Phillies aren't good enough and we get that. It's just like for me it comes down to this. It would be another half a season that just doesn't matter. It's not even a half a season. It's another 60 games that doesn't

matter. And they're three and a half games out. We haven't had Phillies play off baseball in a decade if they don't make it this year. But what they could do is have a chance at a five-game series where you have one of the best pitchers in the sport. And the NL Cy Young, you know, in the mix. You have him going at least in one of those games. You have Bryce who is, Bryce is having a weird season because you look at the counting stats and they're good.

I mean, he's, he's. Well, and the, the, the percentages are good too. Like the slugging, the OBP, like they're good. Yeah, he's a 300, 400, 500 guy right now. No, I know. And he's running too. He's stealing bases. Yeah, but it's just, it's just weird because there's also. The power, the guy right now. No, I know. And he's running, too. He's stealing bases. Yeah, but it's just weird because there's also...

Because of the power. The lack of the power, no RBI. Right, because it does feel... Not that... It feels empty in a way. Obviously, the counting stats are good, but there's been something missing, I feel like, with him. But nonetheless, you would think that if he can keep those numbers up,

you have Bryce hitting there. Reese is having his best season, I think, as a pro. McCutcheon's been unbelievable. Gene Secord's having an all-star type season. If they make the playoffs, anything can happen. It's just to punt at a deadline again where you're 3.5 out and you're 500 just wouldn't sit well with me. I don't know how far they want

to go in or any of that stuff. They're obviously flawed. They're obviously not an amazing baseball team and selling pieces. Sure. Like they could get some prospects back that might help them in the future. I'm just talking as a Phillies fan and as someone that watches this team night in and night out like you do and a lot of our listeners do, making the playoffs to me is very important. There's no way a top five payroll in the sport that has its talent that they do while inconsistent as they are or deathly consistent as they are, there's no reason for them to go a freaking decade without making the playoffs. So I hope that they make a significant

move tomorrow and try to go for it. I will be happy. I will be happy if they do that. I understand it would probably be smarter to sell some pieces because even if they make the playoffs, they're probably going to lose. But I just, I can't be there

right now. I can't be there right now. I need a shot at the playoffs. I need a shot. Because if they don't, they're going to get drowned out by the Eagles. No one's going to be talking about the Phillies. The ballpark's going to continue to be empty as it goes down here. So it would be, I need them to go in tomorrow. I need them to go in tomorrow.

It's Dave Dombrowski time. Let's do it. Okay. I agree with a lot of what you said. The playoffs matter. I think that when you have made the playoffs in a decade, when you're a franchise like the Phillies with the lack of playoff appearances you have

in your 130 years of existenceoff like frankly playoff appearances you have in your you know 130 years of existence or whatever it is i mean it's it's less than ideal you know and anytime you get the opportunity to make the playoffs it matters and particularly with like you said the kind of apathy that's grown in this fan base obviously not not us not the high hopes not the disease fans i was pretty apathetic in the second round. The park is empty, man. The park is empty. And that that's a sign of apathy as much as, as most things are. So I think it does matter. And I think it matters for the players on the team to the thing you've talked about many times, like they've committed to these guys. You know, you have to show these guys that you are committed to them. Like how do you expect

them to fight for the rest of the season? If you're not going to help them, them i i get that i get all that stuff and i do think that it does matter from a culture perspective winning matters it matters to get to the playoffs it matters to have that experience and all that so like i do think all that matters i want them to compete but i'm definitely not going all in on this team like i just can't like how many times like they had an opportunity to prove it to us time and time and time again, and particularly after the All-Star break, where we're like, all right, most important three weeks of the season, two and a half weeks, all NL East games, whatever, and they're sitting here the same freaking team.

They have to have a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the eighth in an extra inning game just to be at 500 right now. So, like, I can't go all in on this team. If I'm Dave Dombrowski, I'm being smart. I am looking at this situation saying, you know what, I'm going to add, but I'm going to add minimally comparative to what a lot of people want. I'm just not doing it. I'm not trading for Craig Kimbrough. I'm not trading for Chris Bryant. Like unless the price on those guys for some reason is a lot less than, than what the current market has been

said that is out there. I can't do it. I can't go all in on this team. Jack, they're not good. They're average. They're a mediocre team. How much more baseball do we need to see to see them be more than that? Like that. And look with some help, they can maybe win the division. And I do think that matters. That's awesome. I'm in on on it but this team has not proven to me that they deserve me to like really truly go all in so i'm playing it a little safer if i'm dombrowski like i can't go all in on this team i mean i can't how could you what makes you think they're gonna all of a sudden just start rattling off wins they can't win more than five games in a row i know and i get it and i know i'm not like well we'll see my perfect offseason but like oh god depending on depending on what you view is all in you know um okay so

but like but like yeah i mean listen dude i'm not saying to like trade mcable i'm not i'm not trading mcable i'm not trading like McCable. I'm not trading McCable. I'm not trading like those guys. Well, I'm not trading Alec Baum, if that's a good barometer. I'll trade Spencer Howard just because I'm out on Spencer Howard. I don't think he's very good. I think he's a reliever long term. Like, I've seen enough from him this season, particularly from a, you know, not just the talent, but the mentality from Spencer Howard

that if they want to trade Spencer Howard and if you can get something legitimate for him, if there are teams that look at him as the top 100 prospect he was prior to this season and has been for a long time and not the guy who can't get into the third inning and keep his velocity up this season, then I would trade Spencer Howard in a second. I would trade guys like that, but I'm not giving up Boehm.

I'm not giving up any of my low miners guys who are high level stuff. And you know, I'm, I'm probably not giving a price and stop personally like that. That's kind of where I'm at. Yeah. And listen, I,

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I, I, I, I, I, I, I, It's another just dipping your toes in the water. What am I supposed to do? I don't know. Let's go all in with this group. Disappointing group.

They're 500. Wow. They're 500. Jack, and I know, you're in the division, so you take advantage of it. If they were in any other division in baseball, we're not even having this conversation. But so what? They're in this division. I know.

I know. But we're talking about them as definitive sellers in any other division in baseball. They're like eight out, nine out in any other division in baseball. Like, yes, take advantage of that. I get that. But just because you're three and a half back, you're not even in first place, you can't go all in, especially when you think about the fact that the Mets are going to be making trades. They're going to be adding to

their team. It's not like they're just not going to get any better. Yeah, but they're aces out, Lindor's on the IL. I mean, seriously. I'm just being serious. Listen, you can decide if I'm going all in. I'm not trading the farm for everything. I'm not. I'm not going all in because I don't, again, I'm a prospect hugger.

That's like my, I hate giving up prospects. So, um, I mean, that's, that's where I'm at, but also I'm not like the Tyler Anderson move, like pissed me off. I was like, really? That's, that's our, that's our big move is, is Tyler freaking Anderson. I mean, like it just, it does nothing for me. He's, he's a fine backend guy, but I want more. I want is Tyler freaking Anderson. I mean, like, it does nothing for me. He's a fine back-end guy, but I want more than Tyler Anderson. I will not be happy if they make another Tyler Anderson-type move tomorrow.

Okay? Well, I want, like, two of those moves. Two? I want, like, go get two of those type of guys. And they come here and they get blown up. And we're in good shape. They come here and get this troll. The pitchers that I'm going for are better than Tyler Anderson, but not way better than Tyler.

Oh, God. Definitely better. You're definitely better. Let's get to it. Let's do it. Let's dive in. All right. I want to I want to hear yours first because I can yell at you.

Yeah, because mine's simple. Mine is not. You know, whenever we do these things, you know, you it generally is you going like way, way deep and telling me what prospects you're trading and all that. Yeah, that's true. I don't know. But I'm trading for two guys. And then I'm adding two pitchers and a reliever.

And that's my perfect trade deadline. I'm trading the twins for Ken and Maeda. The guy's a good pitcher. Oh, I love that. And he's certainly better than Tyler Anderson. I think that's – like Ken and Maeda will be gotten at a relatively fair price i would say i would say maybe just slightly more than what you had to give up for tyler anderson especially if you just say all right we'll take on the rest of that contract and he's a good pitcher i mean tyler i mean kenna made is like you know in terms of

right now abilities like not much worse than zach afflin like he's a solid four for you if you get ken to maeda well if you Well, if you get the... This year's Kenta Maeda, I think, has just been off. Well, no, but not like the last month and a half. He was off, and he's been really good. He's turned it around. Trust me, I just picked him up in Fantasies. That's why I know.

I picked him up a couple weeks ago. He's been dealing for me. He looks good now. Maeda's turned it around. I agree. If this were a month ago, I would have been a lot more leery of it, but he's been pretty good. I'll try and pull up the numbers of exactly what he's done. But I like Maeda's turned it around. I agree. If this were a month ago, I would have been a lot more leery of it, but he's been pretty good. I'll try and pull up the numbers of exactly what he's done.

But I like Maeda, and also Maeda's pitched in big games before. I don't know. I just feel like that's a dude I can put out on the mound in a spot where I need to win, and he's not going to implode. And he's certainly light years better than Vinny and Matt Moore. So trade number one, I'm trading a

similar-ish package for Tyler Anderson. Probably a little more for Kenta Maeda. All right. Well, real quick, Kenta Maeda's last five starts with a 2-1-5 VRA with a 176 OBP. Thank you. See? I told you. I told you.

I would love Kenta Maeda. Okay. We're off to a good start here. And he's owed only $6 million in the next two years. So I think that's great. Wow, it's that little? Yeah, it's only $3 million. He's only $3 million next year and $3 million in 2023.

What a good deal. And I think he's, I would be very happy if they did that trade. All right, so we're off to a good start. Honestly, I was expecting worse. Thank you. See, I set expectations low and then i go above them you really have palace is this the most proud i've been of you in a while i know that's what emily always says to do emily's always like you gotta set the expectations low then when you go back some you think we could get hansel robles thrown into the trade as well or Taylor Rodgers? I don't know how bad Rodgers' injury is, but I would obviously, if I want to give up a little more for Taylor Rodgers,

I would certainly consider doing that. And then I know this is a name that's gone around, but I actually like it, and I was not a fan of this guy at all coming into this season at all. But I've watched his last few starts. Again, I picked him up in fantasy, so there's a selfish reason for it. Really? But Merrill Kelly looks good this year.

And again, I was not a fan, but I've been impressed with the outings I've watched. He's been going like sixth, seventh inning every time I've seen him pitch. He's like six innings, two runs, seven innings, one run. Like those kind of starts for the last month or so. I don't love that one. It seems like with his name going around the market that he might be someone who might cost more than he should. I'm not overpaying for Merrill Kelly, but if the price for Merrill Kelly is fair,

I think if you bring in Maeda and Merrill Kelly, all of a sudden, that's five. You could go to war with five guys. So that's the crux of my trade deadline. And then I'm adding a reliever. Look, Joaquin Soria is the name I'll throw out there, but it could be any of those type of guys. You've mentioned Daniel Bard.

I'm sure we'll hear more about Daniel Bard when you get up. But like a Joaquin Soria guy. Ian Kennedy, I don't like as much as Soria, but Ian Kennedy. And not even as a closer. Yes, these guys are technically closers right now, even though they're on horrible teams and they don't really get that kind of use in those spots, or at least often. But they have closed games before they give you options at the back end of the bullpen, and both guys give you a righty option to pair with Suarez.

And you can kind of play those matchups a little bit later with two guys who can step in in kind of any spot there. So I'm coming out of this trade deadline with two starters and a reliever who can pitch the back end of games for me i feel pretty good about that and i'm not giving up the farm to do that yeah no i think i think you actually did a very good job and that was oh wow well that was that was more than i thought you were going to give me, to be honest with you. Oh, good. All right. Again, expectations low. You had me at Kenza Maeda. You really did.

Good. Thanks a lot. You had me at Maeda. Ear to ear right now, Jack. Yeah, no. Listen, honestly, that's perfect. And again, that's perfectly fine for me. If they do whatever there, if you can add another twins reliever.

I know Tyler Duffy's had a bad year, but i love that guy and i do too and it look robles again the robles rogers those guys have both saved games before i wouldn't you know i wouldn't want robles as my closer but those guys are good they can get outs that's they can that they can so um all right so i'm gonna do it it's it's event time now it's the main event it's showtime no one came here for my perfect trade deadline i disagree i think you did a good job now yeah i think i over delivered and i'm i'm happy with my performance but the the people came for your perfect yeah let's be honest i actually don't think mine's semi-sexy but it's not super sexy okay uh tell me first off

tell me if you think these make sense uh prospect wise and player wise okay i love that you did do i knew you would i love that you did the prospect oh come on man what do you i know i know i just i'm saying i appreciate it this is amateur hour um that's me good yes um all right i'm trading moniak and marsh on to the diamond hold on quick quick quick if if we're fake trading mickey moniak quick moment of silence for our favorite philly oh it would be it would be a sad day but i just you know they brought like honestly i'm just reading the tea leaves here like they brought him up they like oh double's been terrible for a month and they couldn't even give him a start. He's been breaking at AAA.

It just doesn't feel like he's really in their plans. You know what I mean? I do. It's a shame. I'm just reading the tea leaves here and just seeing if I can get value for him. All right, so the Diamondbacks. I'm trading Moniak and Marshawn to the Diamondbacks for Merrill Kelly. Oh, so I did not think you were a merrill kelly guy he doesn't

seem like you're a kind of pitcher yeah so i like him because he will give you at least five innings and he'll keep you in ball games and he is under contract until uh 2024 so you would have him for three years after this yeah that's huge that is and and that is something you know we try to uh and look who knows you know whether he's just blowing smoke or not but but reading into the dave dombrowski quotes from this past weekend when asked about the trade deadline talk about the trade deadline he did make it a point to say like we're not really looking for rentals here like we're looking for guys who we can maybe have for a few years so that would make sense from that perspective yeah and his his curveball is disgusting nasty dude

it's better this year than i've ever seen it like he again like fantasy but like i've watched like four merrill kelly starts in the last month plus and i've been really impressed yeah he's a very solid consistent starter that i could slot in at number five and feel pretty good about it so that's that's where I met with him. Now, here's my big move, okay? I am trading Spencer Howard, Casey Martin. Oh, you're my guy. You trade my guy. Yes. Jalen Ortiz, which would hurt a lot.

This is a big deal, whatever you're doing here. This is a big one. Jalen Ortiz, who has been unbelievable. He is my favorite player in the whole system at this point. So I just love him. And hitting absolute tank shots. If Twitter was around for the Ryan Howard minor league experience, I feel like that's what I'm watching right now with Jalen Ortiz,

but whatever. And Luis Garcia. But whatever. And Luis Garcia. Should we need to check in on Sal, make sure he's okay? We'll see. I hope Sal's fine. Two, the Baltimore Orioles for John

Means and Paul Fry. Whoa! Wow! Bang. So, what is Means under contract through? John Means, I don't know if he's hit arb yet, but I know he's at least controllable.

So you're doing this for that? So he has three more. It feels like a lot to give up for. I know Means is really good and has a nice future, and I love Fry. Fry's nasty. But it feels like you're giving up a little more than you need to. But it's three years arbitration. It's nasty. But it feels like you're giving up a little more than you need to. But it's three years of arbitration.

It's three years until he hits arbitration. Oh, three years till he hits arbitration? So you've got him for like five, six... No, no, no. Three years until he's an unrestricted free agent. Okay. All right. So, yeah. I mean, that is a while. Yeah. It's a lot. It's a lot. But if you look at it, you know, kind of realistically, like Spencer Howard is what Casey Martin we like, but

you know, he's not hitting well in saying low a or whatever. Jalen Ortiz is the first time he'd look legit and forever and Luis Garcia. I don't know. So I'm getting a, I'm getting a high end too. I want to say in John means, and then I think Paul Fry is just disgusting and you'd have Paul Fry for three more years after this as well. Yeah, Paul Fry is nasty. Yes, he is nasty. Like, nasty. Now, so real quick, because I'm interested in this, because obviously I think a lot of people saw John Means

throw the no-hitter this year, which should have been a perfect game, can see how nasty the high-end stuff is. Yeah. But you just said a two. You think John Means long-term could be a two in this league? I think said a a two you think john means long term could could be a two in this league i think he's a two i don't i don't think he's an ace i think he's a two i i know he's not an ace i thought he might be a three that's really no i think i think well he's had his shoulder injuries a little bit here so he's kind of falling off a little bit but i

think you know i think he's in the two the two discussion yeah i don't i don't two three whatever he's it's the more he's not a one like that's not you're not trading for a one by trading for him but of course not you're that package is not of three years of control of a one like that's you know right agree yeah so solid two solid two with john means if two nine four you're on the air yeah yeah good yeah it's very good so not too bad that's my big move and then um i was not so so real quick what made you because they're similar moves what may is it the control that made you go for the means fry package over the bard gray package because i know you tweeted about the bard gray package yeah um it's it's control for me like

john because i mean gray is a free agent at the end of the year so right you tender him but and if i'm gonna trade if i'm gonna trade talent like spencer howard and the other guys i did in this deal i want control so i don't i got what i personally if i'm going to trade, if I'm going to trade talent like Spencer Howard and the other guys I did in this deal, I want control. So I don't, I got what I personally, if I'm the Browsey, I'm not trading bone or Spencer Howard for any rental. And I don't think they will either.

But I also want to get some high end talent that can help for this year and going forward. So that's why I was more interested in this package than the John Gray deal. I'm really in on this trade. I would do it. Again, I think you might be able to get away with out,

including one of those guys potentially. Um, I, again, I think you might be able to get away with out, including one of those guys potentially, but in reality, when you think of three years of means control three years after this year is the point. Yes. I mean, that's, that's good stuff right there.

That's good stuff. And that really fortifies your rotation. And you basically did the same thing. Conceptually. I did. We both feel like two starters and a reliever is, is the real what, like minimum what you need. I feel like two starters and a reliever is is the real what like minimum what you need i feel like i mean look they go one starter two relievers and try

and piece together and all that but i feel like if you're really going to improve this team they need to come out of this with a couple starters agreed agreed so um yeah i think starters are biggest thing obviously the injuries they're having right now and having to start christopher sanchez today, starters are definitely a big concern. But the bullpen obviously is the bullpen. To also fortify my bullpen, I'm trading a prospect who I know you've never heard of, DJ Stewart, who's having a really good year for Jersey Shore,

to the Pirates. And let's see if the Pirates actually take this trade. And Ben Charrington doesn't think he's some kind of warrior for stumping Dave Dombrowski. But I'm trading DJ Stewart for Chris Stratton. He has... Chris Stratton, I think, is in the

98th percentile in fastball and curveball spin, and I feel the Pirates always mess up with that kind of stuff. And his ERA is still in the high twos right now so uh he gives you like a middle relief option but a more high-end middle relief option for like a 20th 20 to 30th ranked prospect i love that and by the way i want to go back to the last trade and kate take casey martin out why and then put someone else in trust me uh i love oh you're oh no no

don't do that to me, Jack. Oh, man. Real quick, though, before we move on, one more thing about that trade. It seems like you really like that trade, by the way. I think it's a fascinating trade. I think it's well put together. Just to the lead piece of it and the point that I made about Howard, where are you at with Spencer?

Because I just kind of said I honestly am starting to think he's just going to be a reliever long term. Where are you at with Spencer because you know I just kind of said I I honestly am starting to think he's just going to be a reliever long term um where are you at with Spencer so um here's my thing I think he is probably a reliever but I also don't think he can be a reliever like I don't think he like he doesn't like coming into dirty innings and whatnot so I don't think he can handle that like maybe learn to handle it but I don't know um so I that. Like maybe he could learn to handle it, but I don't know. So I'm just frustrated with him. And it seems like he's very quick to make an excuse and doesn't seem like he, he battles down or grinds down and, and kind of, you know, steps up and like,

again, the other night, like disgusting and then terrible. And sure, he could be a reliever, but you know, I mean, it's going to be, it's going to be an inning or two here or there, and it can't be a dirty inning that he can come into

where if you have a guy with his stuff, I want him to come into dirty innings. So I'm just frustrated with him. I'm just frustrated with him, and sure, it could be one of those trades that come back to bite you, but it could also literally be Gavin Floyd. I mean, Gavin Floyd also had the most ridiculous stuff in the world,

just like Spencer Howard did, but he didn't put it together either. And this would be getting more, I would think, than they got for Gavin Floyd. So I'm just very, very frustrated with him. He's 25 now, and their plan was to send him down and stretch him out as a starter and all that stuff so that in his age 26 season, maybe he can finally get to over 100 innings. I think he crossed the 50-inning mark for the first time in his career this year. So it just seems like this is a chance to still maximize his value while he still has it.

And sure, the Orioles take the risk because Spencer Howard is a chance to still maximize his value while he still has it and sure the orioles take the risk because take the risk because spencer howard is a year removed from being a top 25 prospect in the sport um and the phillies do it because we've seen him and he's frustrated yeah we know so to that point like when you did the trade like i was more upset about ortiz and casey martin being in it which is ridiculous but like that I'm just so down on how, you know, and like putting Ortiz hurt in that deal, but I would rather put him in there over, you know, some of the other prospects in the systems. And I think he's, and what he's doing right now is just stupid. It, but also this could be, this could realistically be selling high on, on Jalen Ortiz. So, um, I So I tend to think like it's not selling high

because I actually believe in him. I mean, what he's doing is just stupid and the changes look noticeable. But yeah, it's really interesting. It's really interesting watching him kind of progress. And I just I need I need him to get to Reading. I need him in Reading very bad to see what he would do to that ballpark. So, yeah, that's the trade. Yeah, so DJ Stewart for Chris Stratton. That's my other bullpen upgrade. Now, this one, I don't think he would come here. But if you're asking me for a right-handed hitter off the bench

with World Series pedigree that would bring a winning attitude to this locker room and what I think would highly enhance this locker room. There's only one player that came to mind that I think would be absolutely perfect, and he's on a selling team. Any guesses? Okay, so a veteran guy. He's a veteran. He won a World Series.

He's a right-handed hitter. He's a strict bench guy now. I guess he could play fair space if you wanted him to, but he's a great leader, great locker room guy, and he would be a guy that this team could gravitate towards. Ooh, okay. Let me think. I'm just going through the teams in my head of who's out of it.

They might have played him today. Oh, Ryan Zimmerman? I am bringing Ryan Zimmerman to Philadelphia. I'm doing it. I don't care. I don't care. You think he'd leave Washington, though? I don't think he'd leave Washington.

I don't either. But if they could get him, if they could get Ryan Zimmerman to say, they could get ryan zimmerman to say okay i'll come would you trade for ryan zimmerman sure i'm telling you man that guy's that guy would help this team a lot when it comes to leadership and all that and and and maybe maybe help out bryce too i don't know i just they definitely need leadership help we've it's been a a running theme for us all see i mean how many times have we talked it? How many times have we talked about the lack of leadership on this team? I'm with you.

I would have no – and again, I think Zimmerman, I think at this point in his career, is just not going to leave Washington. He just won a World Series. He'll finish it out there. But someone like that, someone who's been in big games before, someone who is that type of person, like from a personality perspective, a true leadership type of guy, I think would be a great move for this team. Yeah, I think it would be important.

There's probably another name out there that would fit this profile as well. But something like that. Something like that. They need a right-handed power option off the bench. I mean, that's what Dombrowski kind of did uh with getting steve pierce a couple years ago on that world series team obviously this team's not as good that's the disclaimer i get it but i do think adding a a veteran of that caliber that is on one of these teams and would come in here and kind of bolster the bench and help him out a little bit so

uh zimmerman is just an idea i don't think he will leave, but that's kind of where my head's at. Yeah, I love it. I love that kind of guy. We don't have the DH here, but Nelson Cruz, that type. I mean, obviously even more powerful, but that type of guy. I mean, Adam Duvall, not the leadership type of guy, but a power bat who could get traded. I just think with the season he's having,

he'll cost more than he'd want to trade. But I do think that, look, the Phillies clearly need a right-handed power bat off the bench. They do. I mean, look at the way this team is structured. They do not have that. Well, like, Knappi having to come up two nights ago and obviously hit the ball to the wall and almost went out. But him being their best pinch hitting option because they burned two guys earlier. Again, I don't think that's Girardi's fault i think that's just roster construction stuff um and even today having

to have nola bat is also roster construction stuff because because harper and and reese had to leave the game it's not his fault now shout out to aaron nola for having the biggest walk-in by a pitcher in phil's history but um i still can't believe they won that game i know what a win everything's fine i just wish this were the type of team. Like, I wish maybe it's this time, Jack. Maybe this is the time. I just wish one of these times this, you know, awesome, exciting win could carry over, man. I just wish one to be like, oh, that started to run the momentum.

It was all on their side, you know? Yeah. Yeah. And now when. Not how they roll, Jack. It's not. And the thing that could kill momentum is if Bryce and Reese miss time here. Bryce said after the game he thinks he's going to play tomorrow. Reese, I don't know. He has a groin.

He never knows groins. And Segura also got kind of banged up there reaching for first base, so hopefully he's fine. So, you know, whatever. Stay in the game, obviously. Got the walk, the intentional walk in the eighth and stuff, too. So obviously was in the game with that groin thing.

So that's good, at least. Right. But, yeah, look, they need to stay healthy. They don't have the depth to handle that kind of stuff, as we've talked about just so many times. And as we've seen play out, they don't have a lot of depth, especially organizational depth, once you get past the guys already on the roster right now.

Yeah. Yeah. Not great. Not great. And I'm finishing out my perfect offseason with one last move. Again, bringing a division guy here, but I don't care. I am trading Kendall Simmons and Kyle Glesinski to the Miami Marlins for Miguel Rojas.

So he can play shortstop or third base. You're just going for all the guys we hate. You're just like, huh, Ryan Zimmerman, hate that guy. Let's bring him here. Rojas, really hate that guy. Let's bring him here. Rojas, really hate that guy. Let's bring him here. Are we going to get Kurt Suzuki in anytime soon? Well, I also.

Is Ryan Braun still around? He actually is. He's a free agent. Talk about a right-handed pop off the bench. Get Brawny over here. What's Brawny up to? It's a great idea. I just want to make sure he's been taking steroids before he comes back. i want to make sure he's all juiced up and ready to roll yeah i need

the uh ryan braun that was hitting uh line drives 450 yeah yeah well i also i also hate hebrew hammer that's who i want i also hate juan soto and uh freddie freeman so maybe we could trade and trade for them god that's soto homer yesterday, the muscling it to the opposite. That was one where everyone in left field was basically like, oh, it's coming to us. And then it's like, oh, no, it's going over our heads. And it's going over our heads. And then all of a sudden, it's in the concourse.

It's like, who does that? What human being does that? He's unbelievable. Unbelievable. That was one of the more memorable home runs. I remember seeing it. Citizen Bank Park in a while. That was absurd. Since probably his last one that he had that extra inning.

So what do you think about Miguel Rojas? Sure. I would take Miguel Rojas in a second. He's like right now, a thousand times the shortstop. Didi is that so sure he helped and he could play second base. He could play all over. He could play third. He gets hurt.

He could play third. I love Miguel. And you know what? Honestly, like that dude feels like a leader like when they made the playoffs last year like he fit he fit like that whole covet thing like i know he got it but like it felt like he kind of like led them through that and was like a that kind of guy so he also he also led them to like uh the i mean his reasoning was kind of dumb with the covet thing but yeah i don't remember the reasoning i just meant in terms of on the field that's not the reasoning he is the leader of that team they probably don't want to move him because he's a leader of that team but i just feel like

he would come here and he would help them a lot at second short third if they need it it'd be like a it's a better version of of uh i said Gleyber Torres, of Ronald Torres. And he honestly, he reminds me a lot of like prime, maybe post-prime Martin Prado, a guy that can. I like that. That hits and plays everywhere. Probably not quite. He's a better defender, less good at hitting than Prado.

Yes, 100%. Like Prado, if there was a couple years there, Prado was like a 300-hitter guy. Loved Martin Prado. Yeah, me too. Winning hitters than Prado. Yes, 100%. Like, Prado, if there was a couple years there, Prado was like a 300-hitter guy, you know? Loved Martin Prado. Yeah, me too. Winning player, Martin Prado. Yes, and that's what I feel about Miguel Ruiz. Like, I want more winning players.

I just need them. I really like the Camilo. I would trade for Miguel Ruiz right now. Yeah. Like, this second. I mean, he's like a better version around Torres. Yeah. Like, what Torres has been for this team, you know?

I feel like we laid out pretty good deadlines for it too. Like I'm actually, this is essentially cause like these are realistic moves and realistic deadlines where like we didn't trade bone. We didn't trade Mick. We didn't trade any of those young guys. We didn't trade stop. We didn't get rid of like the,

you didn't even trade Martian, right? He wasn't. No, I did. I traded, I traded him a Moniak for Merrill Kelly. Oh,

I forgot. He was part of the Merrill Kelly trade. Yeah. Which'm fine with i mean look march and i think if you're going to trade he's the prospect i'm most fine trading because you're so stocked there obviously for the next period of time um but um yeah i'm i'm in i'm excited do this dave dave make some moves you've got jack all it took was one pod to get me excited. Thank you. I know. Listen, let me just get this PSA out there.

Yes. This team is the worst, okay? Like, I get it. Like, they are so frustrating. And for, damn, the whole game today, I was like, who are we selling? Yep. But, like, it can be there it can be there if they just make some good moves here and like if they had two starters two just starters like just the starters even alone like think about if we haven't had to watch matt moore and velasquez

where this team could be oh yeah and think if they didn't blow 25 games yeah um real quick real quick um just real quick too on that point before we get off it too you know what like today is not the only time this team for all their faults and for the many times they do come out lifeless and that sucks they are pretty resilient like they have fought back in a lot of games particularly lately so it is starting to get that feel of a team where at least you don't feel like it's over you know once once you kind of get a deficit which is you know new yeah it's nice you would say it's nice um okay so uh just not perfect offseason uh but moves that i would also do tomorrow real quick i would i would

figure out a way to trade for for byron buxton if he's actually available like talk about having a plus defender in center field and how awesome that would be i know like he's one of those guys that he's healthy he's amazing but obviously he's never healthy uh but i would give up real stuff for like if i'm dealing spencer howard i'd be i would put him in a deal for buxton as well yeah i just i just, I can't, I can't trade for Byron Buxton, not based on what it seems like they want. Like, yeah, I'd trade Spencer Howard. I'd trade Spencer Howard for anything

that I would want back, like that I think is valuable at this point. But Buxton just can't stay on the field and he wants a huge contract. Like, that's a horrible combination for me. I can't do it. I get it. I love the talent.

I'm tantalized, but I'm not trading for Byron. We know, Byron Buxton gets to Philly, he's not going to play another game. I get it. I love the talent. I'm tantalized, but I'm not trading for Byron Bucks. We know. Byron Bucks against the Phillies, he's not going to play another game. I know, but he's so cool. I know. He's fun. He's a fun player to root for. Plus, you can watch all the YouTube

highlights of how good he was in Minnesota when he never plays with the Phillies. That's a win. Sounds like a win. Number one prospect in baseball once upon a time. So is Don Brown, who was at the game today, and that was the main reason they lost game one. Yeah, I think that sounds right.

I really got no argument with that. The twins are fascinating because if they wanted, they could take back the Donaldson contract and get some good players along with it. Donaldson's out like $21 million in the next few years, which is a lot. Insane. But they could get back. some good players along with like Donaldson's own, like 21 million the next few years, which is a lot insane, but they can get back,

you know, you know, uh, like if they want to get in the box and deal burritos probably isn't going to happen. Uh, I think he's going to get trade just not to the Phillies. Yeah, no,

I don't think they're going to do that. But, like Taylor Rogers, they want to do that. It's pretty wild how quickly the twins went from like contending team to just totally fire sailing. They should definitely fire Thad Levine and let us hire him. That's what I've been saying forever.

Let us hire him. This is good. I'm excited. The second thing, I would trade for John Gray and Daniel Bard. I just don't know what they would trade for those guys because they are both rentals, I'm pretty sure. But that would really help a lot.

Like John Gray. John Gray has kind of figured it out this year. Slider. His slider is generating 40% whiffs, James. I mean, come on. Cool, buddy. You know what's weird about all those guys from him to Marquez to Gomber to whoever? Like, you look at all their stats this year.

Like, every single one of them has been way better in colorado it's really weird look it up it's pretty strange i know i don't know why the same thing with marquez i don't know why yeah i said yeah and herman i said marquez like it's so weird i don't know why it's really strange yes so um yeah it's tomorrow could be really exciting we need to get this podcast out so d Dave can listen to it and digest it. Yes, yes. We're going to get it out right now. I am going to the Phillies game in Pittsburgh this weekend.

Oh, really? PNC Park. How about it? Beautiful. But I won't be able to record a pod until Sunday or Monday, so that's less than ideal. I can always call you on the phone. Right.

Listen, hey, buddy. If they make a big trade, I'll call them. There you go. That's what I needed to hear. Thank you. Okay. Done. Done.

I'll do it from the bachelor party. You can do it. Yeah, you can do it from the Phish concert or wherever you're going. Yes. Bachelor party. I'm going to a Phillies game, pal. Phish is in a couple weeks. Definitely going to that too, though.

Oh, I'm so sorry. All right. Let's get it up. Any final thoughts here? I actually did have a crap ton of final thoughts that i've written now but i kind of hold on hold on let me see if there's anything in here that i need to oh do you want to read what i wrote down when they were losing what you texted me you mean no i went in my in my notes do you want to see what this is what i

wrote oh yeah i was like i don't think you texted me anything no this is what i wrote down this is what i wrote down when the phillies were losing okay uh i wrote down? Oh, yeah. I was like, I don't think you texted me anything. No, this is what I wrote down. This is what I wrote down when the Phillies were losing, okay? I wrote down Harper because I was furious. I wrote down, cannot wait to never watch Didi again, which I still feel. I kind of still hold true to that, yeah. Yeah, he is infuriating. Yeah, and just bad on both sides. I don't say this lightly, and I know that they're not going to do it,

but right now I'd rather just start Ronald Torres every day at short. Right, and Ronald Torres is not an everyday player. No, no, no, no, he's not. First of all, he's been a much better hitter, which is ridiculous, but just to have someone who I know is going to play shortstop, we're good. AJ Preller is dead to me that was what i had written down for one of these um and give kutch a chance to win elsewhere yeah shout out to kutch man yeah like just flames coming out of his head for the last two months it's been awesome. Yeah. Awesome.

I just had written down, this was a couple of days ago, I was thinking about this, like, I do trust Dave Dombrowski. Like, even if they don't make a big move tomorrow, I think that,

if they don't make a huge move tomorrow, like, I'm fine. I mean, I'm not, I'm not like furious. I'm just kind of fine with it because I get it. And I just trust that he kind of has this, like,

he doesn't come in here with preconceived notions about, you know, who's in the organization, who's not, about these players, about all this preconceived notions about, you know, who's in the organization, who's not about these players, about all this stuff. So I just, you know,

I, I feel good about him being here and not being a disaster. Yeah. A hundred percent. I mean, he's a, he's a pro if nothing else. And it's certainly been through a lot of trade deadlines has made a lot of great trades.

I mean, we forget he traded for Miguel Cabrera once upon a time to trade. He traded for Max Scherzer. I mean, this guy has made some, some big trades. I mean, we forget he traded for Miguel Cabrera once upon a time in Detroit. He traded for Max Scherzer. I mean, this guy has made some big-time trades in the past. And to your initial point, though, I will actually probably feel better about Dave Dombrowski if he doesn't make a crazy big move. So, yeah, I'm with you.

Right, so bringing in Dave Dombrowski and him being like, nah, I don't see it. Yeah, I don't think so, guys. Well, let's wait. Which would be fascinating. It really would. It would really flip it on its head. Yep.

And just final thing here is, just real quick on Nola a couple days ago, just, like, thank you. Use his legs and had good fastball command. I mean, crazy how that works, Aaron. So apparently a couple days before that start, he was in the bullpen and was really just peppering the down-and-away fastball to righties. And I think maybe found something there. So I feel good about Nola.

Obviously, we have to see this for more than one start. But, man, if they can get real real Aaron Nolan in the second half, they have Zach Wheeler, who was, again, good today. Giving up the home run to Jan Gomes was infuriating. Eflin apparently had a setback, which is not great. They need Nolan to be what Nolan's been these last couple years.

It was a good start in his last one. Yeah, and I would like to thank Girardi for it. Look, it was the smart thing to move Vinny. I'm guessing he did it in case the game got rained out he didn't want to start the game with vinny and not be able to use him and all that but as a result obviously they won the game thank you brad even if it didn't look like starting christopher sanchez made a lot of sense it all worked out in the end but i would like to thank gerardi for that move because now I get to see Nola on Saturday instead of who the hell knows who I would have seen. So, you know, Spencer Howard or whoever.

So pretty psyched about that. That's a big win. You're going to see John Means on Saturday. Hey, even better. I would love that. You know, very good. Give me John Means on Saturday. Give me Kent to my eight on Saturday, whatever it takes.

All right. And one more time. Saturday, whatever it takes. All right. And one more time. Thank you, Brad Miller. My dude. All right. My final thought. Jack, I know you've had a tough day. You worked really hard.

You know, you were there at like 10 in the morning and basically stayed there and you're still at the studio and it's been a long one. Yeah. And the emotions. And I know how important this trade deadline is to you. I know where you're at with the Phillies and how much you're, you know, you need positivity. You need a hope. You need people to do things for you. Don't do it.

I'm going to let it go today for you. Thank you. It's ending now. I appreciate it. I didn't forget about it, obviously, but you know what? Now I'm not going to say it might never come back. There's always that threat that if given the opportunity, it will come back. But I love you, buddy. I'm letting it go. Thank you. Also, shout out to everyone that came out to High Ops Night.

Oh, yes. Yes. Oh, my God. I'm so sorry. What a terrible job by us. Should have led the party. I know. It was awesome. We met so many great people and also saw a lot of great people had came to the Four Fingers.

You know, High Hope signed a couple weeks before. And then obviously so many new people coming out like it was like minus the 15 to three loss, which was less fun, like just an amazing night yeah it was and uh met a lot of great listeners um it was funny trying to differentiate like who listens to the podcast versus who won tickets on our show that was fun um so shouts all the listeners that came out uh hopefully it's not our last one of the season i i would like to do one more um but we'll see i don't know if we can do it or whatnot but um either way will not be a last high hopes event and uh yeah thanks everyone who came out and uh final thought here uh dave i hope you enjoyed the pot you know what to do he's for himself so we'll see you later