High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Reacting To The Yankees Series And Building Our Perfect Trade Deadlines

Episode Date: July 27, 2025

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the Phillies taking two out of three games from the Yankees in the Bronx before turning their attention to this Thursday's MLB trade Deadline. Presented by Miller Lite To purchase Ring The Bell by Jack Fritz and Kevin Reavy go to RingTheBellBook.com 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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High Hopes! On the Odyssey app and sports radio 94 WIP. The crowd was singing High Hopes! Smiling through a broken nose. Oh, High Hopes! High Hopes! Oh Feel a little less alone Another Edition of the ios podcast weird that the Phillies Yankees series two or three, take it, we have Brian Barber over the weekend,

check that part out if you missed it. By the way, sponsor Brian Miller Lite, official partner of Philadelphia Phillies, tastes like Miller time Philadelphia, celebrate responsibly. But we will talk about the Yankees Phillies series obviously, but it's rare that a two or three up in New York takes a back seat in a podcast, but it's perfect deadline time, or three up in New York takes a back seat in a podcast,

but it's perfect deadline time, buddy. What will do that? Yank? What will react to the series first lead up to deadline? But you know, I think the key reason that most people are here is, you know, it's, it's, I want to call it an annual tradition, but that doesn't carry enough to heft, you know, the importance, the way people look forward to it. Like it's like an annual, I don't know, celebration or something, but it's the perfect deadline. We made it. Yeah. And no trades like anywhere practically, like Josh Nailer, the biggest guy moved. I mean, Ryan McMahon, like it's usually by the time we do this,

there's moves out there, there's stuff happening. There's a big move or two a week or whatever out. It's all brewing, buddy. Oh yeah. So, so a couple of things, first off, very much looking forward to the perfect deadline podcast, of course. But as we go further and further into doing these, the more and more I realize they're probably never going to listen to it and they're never going to do anything that we want them to do at all.

We haven't yet. Not yet. I don't think one of my moves or your moves have been used, frankly. I mean, how many times? Like Harrison Bader, I didn't feel like the need to put him in. Every single one. He's in every single one. Like, honestly, it's obnoxious at this point.

I wanted to just exclude Rob Reff-Snyder because I know that it's not going to happen, but I can't. You can't quit perfection. And like I just, one of these days, maybe we'll take some of our suggestions. Regardless, regardless, other quick thought, the Yankees trade for Ryan McMahon shows how cooked that franchise is. Oh, what a weak sauce move, dude. What a we- I know he had that nice play on, uh, what was it yesterday?

Trey. Well, he had a trade today. We saw us move dude. What are we I know you had that nice play on it was yesterday. I would try to Train to the diving one was yesterday. Yeah, but he's a Like what a lame lame Well, and you know what it is. It's like, oh well, we value watch try and make man be the I you know World Series MVP or something, but you know, no one remember. We said that. Watch what he brings defensively. Ah, I don't need, I don't need my big market teams worried about defense. That's not why you're here. Yeah, they should have got a Eugenio Suarez and on another note about the Yankees. Tell you what, I know judging to play, I wasn't impressed with the Yankees really at all.

I mean, I thought the Phillies pretty much outplayed. I mean, if realer pitch looks like normal today, they sweep them, you know, done, over, easy. Yeah, like that's, I think the ALs generally pretty weak. Like the fact, I mean, the Tigers are free-falling, but the fact that they were like the number one team in the AL for a while was shocking. I actually think the Red Sox are better than the Yankees.

Yeah, I mean, the Blue Jays clearly are. I mean think the Red Sox are better than the Yankees. In watching- I mean, the Blue Jays clearly are. I mean, how funny is it that like, if you had to ask who the scariest team in the AL is, somehow we might be back to being the Asterisks somehow. Always. Like, I'd say, what the hell? It's like times a flat circle.

Yeah, nothing. They are a ridiculous franchise. So it was good to see another. Now I don't think AutoCamp, I don't want him to qualify as a random third baseman of Phillies past. I want I want AutoCamp to be around for a while. But on the I guess it wasn't the anniversary. But for the first time since 2015 would be in the Mike Alfranco series. They took a series up in New York and AutoCamp it's too

today. I hope he's not some random trivia question 10 years from now. Yeah. Well, it's especially funny because he did it in the loss, which is hilarious. It's also funny because I hung out with my brother last night and he was like not super in on auto camp. I was trying to explain to him why auto camp is a winning ball player and the whole situation of that. If you were not being counted on quite as much as they need him to that he would be someone you'd be like so excited to have as a guy who helps the team win but it was just funny

that he hit the two numbers today it was like perfect after a long auto chem commo last night it was an auto chem auto camp is a uh it's like a just trust me bro yeah yeah Yeah, yeah, exactly. It works. It works. Trust me. I think there's I think there's a winning ballplayer there for sure. Yeah, definitely. Definitely want him up at the plate in a big spot instead of a ball coming his way defensively in a big spot. I mean, you didn't see the diving play today. I mean, now he's like, yeah, yeah, I know. Today was his day.

I mean, yeah, it was a shame. And of course, poetic that he was the guy that's right. Got it. Of course It's like I tell you what I tell you what he's got a strong stash. I mean, uh, oh, it's phenomenal Yeah, especially because it's not like the classic one. It's kind of a little shorter and tighter, but it works for him Uh, look at the family today. We also should mention, you know, Hi Hopes fan or at least, you know, kind of Hi Hopes fan, Nick Kurtz for home runs. How about that? Like it's the Hi Hopes bump, you know? Yeah. So first off, I've already nicknamed him, I've already nicknamed him Himtome. I was the one who's never been called Himtome before. It's pretty good. I don't know.

But I, and, and I'll lay the groundwork now. It's July 27th, 2025 in six years, in six years. Yeah. Harps contract will be, you know, before his extension, of course, will be winding down and Kurtz will be the next one that they're, they're going to bring in. He's going to be the next face of the franchise.

He's gonna be the Jim Thome of 2003. That's what's gonna be all over again. It's beautiful. He is a wonderful player. What it would be his 19 home runs. Oh, he's been insane. He's been insane. Four tickets in a draft last year.

Not yet. It's truly unbelievable. Wouldn't that be something, Jack? We'll talk about some prospects potentially in the perfect deadline. Uh, all right. Let, let a couple of things from the weekend. Now obviously we'll get to the main course of the pod coming up. And again, if you missed it, we did a one-off pub with Brian Barber.

Usually we'll like put it in with the main pub, but, uh, we did a pop Brian Barber talking about the draft, all the pigs. It was, it was awesome. He gave us a ton of time. He's the best. So definitely check that out, uh, after this, if you haven't. But Fritzy, the weekend, I think like, look, obviously the bats overall, just the bats coming to play and you know, obviously Bryce still looking awesome and locked in is the

biggest thing. But I want to start with, I think coming in, you know, like Ranger has kind of been over the last few starts I think coming in, you know, like Ranger has kind of been over the last few starts, the biggest question mark, you know, of the things that we thought we could count on prior. Um, you know, they get the win. I wouldn't say he was amazing, but you know, got the job done, uh, Ranger before we get to kind of that, the bats and all that. Yeah.

So Ranger kind of is just looking a lot like the guy that started that Mets series last year now He was better yesterday than that's like that MET series was truly just Walking the tightrope. I mean it is what it is what I give him credit like he he grind walk Yeah, he walked it but but he's been it's been a lot more grind his way through some of these outings then then Excellinglling and you know dominating which I think is natural you know he pitched to a pretty ridiculous level for a little bit there I think the good part is like I was worried about his body breaking down I was worried about you know

super velo dips I don't really see that much yesterday and I love the body language was much better his last start he just looked, and I just didn't, it looked like it was affecting him, and I'm not used to seeing Rangers' orators get affected by anything. And I will say, Yankees fans gotta be sick about left-handed pitchers making cool-ass plays in their stadium.

I know, right? I know. The one-handed catch tag of first base in the Harper play was awesome. So yeah, listen, you take that from Ranger against the Yankees in New York in that stadium. It's not, it's more encouraging than not, but certainly recently, it's been a lot more

of grinding his way through it early in the game was, looked like he was fighting himself. Maybe it's just, you know, a little mechanical adjustment. Wheeler, I thought, I mean, Wheeler was, I haven't seen him miss by that much. He was so off, dude. And he's been kind of off. He hit two or three guys today, right?

Yeah, on sweepers. Yeah, yeah. It was really out of character. It was like he was hitting left-handed hitters in the left thigh. So it was a really weird Wheeler start to now his era I guess heading into the game at Yankee Stadium was 7.2. So and also maybe our Carlos Rodone come out to Brewster and throw them off a little bit. Yeah, throw them off a little bit. So I but but both of those guys I thought really were fighting themselves.

And Ranger's been fighting himself, Wheeler's been fighting himself. I think that he, Wheeler is a simple mechanical adjustment away from being right back to being Zach Wheeler. You know, I don't know what the mechanical adjustment is, but like, that's what it looks like to me that they'll figure it out in a bullpen session and it'll be fine.

No one's super concerned on that no one's concerned although the Negadelfia mindset is well, he threw the complete game And he hasn't been there because he hasn't been the same guy since and then I started worrying about chris and but we don't need To go that far. But yeah ranger fighting himself more like walking a tightrope wheeler I've never seen a miss with that kind of fastball command and credit to him. I mean, he did go five and two thirds.

He probably could have gotten out of that inning before he death stared Rob Thompson for bringing in Tanner Banks against two consecutive lefties. Um, but yeah, I think those are the two big and then Taiwan, whatever you, you take the time. Yeah, absolutely. Give me almost six, three runs. I'll take that every single time. And I looked at bullpen to credit

We're do you know has has been you know better. Yeah, you know, we've had some blowups for the most part I mean, you don't we're not talking about counting on these guys in huge bots But you know they date for the weekend at least solid it really it really came down to the bats You know really blowing up I mean 12 runs and nine runs of back to back games felt like I was watching a completely different team than I've watched last month. Turner crushing it all over the play and slapping all over the field. Harper hitting bombs, Schwab bombs, Castellanos hit bombs.

How about Jacob Tyler? I mean, he's been. And by the way, that play made today, I mean, that was I know it's one of those like you'll see these plays on Twitter where it's like, everyone's like, Oh, with all these plays and like a lot of them are great. And some of them are like, are chill. There's only a few where you're like, all right, this was truly warranted the insanity that people made about it.

Like it's that type of play that was mean. That's unbelievable to see someone be able to, to athletically make that happen. But at 35, yeah, it's, it's Denzel Clark, Acuna and that play so far. Yeah, yeah. I agree with you. I agree. And I'd probably still go with Acuna if I had to pick one. But yeah. But, but look, we're going to talk deadline. And I think adding a bat is going to be a theme of our deadlines. But um, yeah, no, where do you as as we sit on the Eve, you know, look, this'll we if they don't make it if they wait till the very deadline, we will probably do a pod before it but like we might not they might make a trade before then like theoretically heading into the deadline if it's your last chance on I have to just address the offense after a solid weekend, you know, a good weekend for the most part. What's the jackpot? I think I was driving around maybe yesterday or this morning and I was thinking the worst thing that they can do is put the, like, I was actually now, I was driving around and I was thinking, I'm going to go to the gym and I'm going to go to the gym and I'm going to go to the gym and I'm going to go to the gym and I'm going to go to the gym and I'm

going to go to the gym and I'm going to go to the gym and I'm going to go to the gym maybe yesterday or this morning. And I was thinking the worst thing that they can do is put the, like, I was actually now having to sit through it, not the same story. Totally different story. But I was like, eh, wouldn't hate a nice, like, three run effort, two run effort of more futility on this Sunday, would like it to come back down to earth. I don't need them much like what happened

before the trade deadline last year. I don't need them convincing themselves that we have, you know, Tyler Phillips is the number four starter, number five starter. Just make it obvious. That is all that I want. And obviously you want wins as well. But I wanted them to make it obvious,

make it overwhelming that they need another bat to add this lineup in. I would hope that a hot week does not change how they feel heading into the trade. Max Kepler got two hits. That was disgusting. He needs to not do that. Don't do that. He's had a good week. Get ready to learn national. I know you want to be down there, I'm sure. Or you want to be somewhere you're going to play all the time. Get ready to learn Korean as far as I'm concerned. Go overseas. It's time. Yeah. What else would I mean by that? Teach. You can become a Korean teacher. Yes. But I just yeah, it was it was good to see you need Turner, Harper and Shorbert to be right. Ever. Even JT. It's everything.

Yeah. It's and you're right. You can count on like the rum we've gotten from JT. Like you can't count on that. What you hope to be able to count on is something, you know, that's below that, but still much more consistent than the JT we saw in the playoffs last year, the second half of last year, a large portion of the early part of this year. Like the JT we saw in the playoffs last year for the second half of last year, a large portion of the early part of this year. Like the JT.

Let him bat seventh. Yeah. So, but it's heartening, but it's also with JT, you know, I don't know that you can count on it in, you know, in October yet, but those top three, like to the end of the day and a trade, but the top three, it's just's just they they can't falter like they they have the world on their shoulders and like it is what it is so it yeah like maybe not intended to be built but it's the way it's built yeah and and overall like it was a really positive weekend from them now today was a step back I think over 12 for 12 today. But you just don't get too concerned when they have a down game.

They've played so well this year. Well, and they've been awesome, especially lately. I mean, Turner turned it up this weekend and had a little down thing. But I mean, Harper has been white. Schorber has been insane in July. So they've really been, you're not worried about it. No, June Schorber, it might be done,

but July Schwabert seems like he's picking right back up. I mean, nine home runs in the month, him, him, I now understand why Aaron Judge has as many home runs as he does. Like Schwabert in that ballpark would be a problem as well. I mean, he really would. Oh my God, it's insane. Like the first camp Humber day, it was like, and it was just

gone. I was like, what was like a fly ball it looked like it's so crazy. By the way, can we mention that that by he had won an MVP by the time he made his major debut and Bryce Harper still younger than an Aaron judge saw someone point that out this weekend. I think it's important to remember that it is pretty ridiculous. But yeah, well, and it's so funny. I understand. I was it's important to remember that. It is pretty ridiculous, but. Yeah, it is. Well, and it's so funny. I understand, I was getting mad at Yankees fans

because I felt like every pop fly, they were like, oh, oh, oh. Mm-hmm, yeah, they were like. I would also probably do that too, because who knows? I mean, you're doing Carlos Stan's swing, it's not really gonna hit the pop fly. I think I'd probably react the same way, but.

You're right, no, you're right, you're right. It was good to see Schwaber make that stadium look incredibly small for a couple of days. And again, like I just, the Yankees have what, the fourth best record in the America? I just. Third. I think they're out of the race.

So I think they're third in that division. Don't say it. And I was, last year when the Yankees came down here and they just bludgeoned the Phillies. I mean, they smoked them. Austin Hayes did hit a home run. If you remember that, he took it down a lot. Oh, who couldn't remember that, buddy? But I remember I remember leaving the Yankee series last year saying, we got a problem.

I mean, we just have a problem. The Phillies cannot, they can't compete with that team. leaving the Yankee series last year saying, we got a problem. I mean, we just have a problem. Like the, the Phillies cannot, they can't compete with that team. And I think what was so encouraging about this weekend is I actually thought the Phillies took it to the Yankees. And I think that, you know, they didn't look like they were overwhelmed. You know, they, they looked ready to kind of meet the moment. They, I thought they met the moment this week, you know, the red sock series. The last game was incredibly annoying, but they also jumped out to a great start in that game.

You know, they're matching up against some of the quote unquote titans in the AL. And I think that they're really meeting that. And it was much more encouraging rather than last year where it felt like a dumpster fire heading against the Yankees and, you know, they're just playing good baseball. They just continue to play good baseball. That's why you can't get too down if they lose two or three in a series because they have for the most part bounced back

and played good baseball. No frills delivers. Get groceries delivered to your door from No Frills with PC Express. Shop online and get $15 in PC optimum points on your first five orders. Shop now at nofrills.ca. I'm Kristen Press and I'm Tobin Heath.

We're World Cup winners, Olympians, and the hosts of the Recap Show. Every week we sit down with the icons, disruptors, and game changers on the field and beyond it to talk victories, heartbreaks, and everything in between. We've built a space where athletes, change makers, and people creating the future of women's sports can show up and show off as their full unapologetic selves. Follow and listen to the Recap Show wherever you get your podcasts. Yeah, I totally agree.

And what happens the next few days is going to be way more important. So let's get to it real quick before you just forget Brandon Marsh. Like look where you're going. So, so maybe call a ladder. We've had a couple instances now, but like that was just so avoidable. I'm are so deep, like close to the infield. And anyway, uh, let's get to what people really care about. Let's talk about the perfect off season. All right, Fritzy. So trade deadline, excuse me. Perfect trade. Excuse me.

Excuse me. My fault. I think I might have written. That's what I mean. Cause we've got these things. All right. So here's the deal. Um, you know, whenever we come into these, I always say, you know, I'm that the, the opener, you're the, the main attraction. I'm the appetizer. You're sure. Sure. Sure. I'm very happy with that.

I'm fine with that. I, I, this is, this is like a Fritz special. This is where you thrive. And that's why you're going to probably have like three of them and whatnot. I came into this very gung ho and I, I spent a lot of time to am like, I'm going to like be fritzy and I'm going to come up with multiple and all that stuff. And I'll, I'll go through a lot of the names later and all, but maybe I'll wait until you're done.

Cause I don't want to like spoil names. If you're going to go, why not? But as I kept doing this and all this, I kept coming back to the fact that like, and we've talked about it for two months. It feels like that it's the rare year where they just have such clear needs. Now you could add other spots, you could do other things, but like we have said for months, hey, they need an outfielder in it or a bat who can hit, then you can move someone out there. And they need a relief pitcher, preferably a closer, but just somebody can come in and be an arm.

Like it's so clear to me. And I kept doing this and I kept trying to come up with other things. And I just came back to like, I have two trades and they're simple and it's perfect. And if they make these trades, I think they have a really, really good chance to win the World Series. And they're kind of obvious. It's kind of like that, you know, my big like cliches are cliches for reasons a lot of times, like they're true in a lot of cases, or at least there's truth to them. In this case, it was like, yeah, the truth is it's very obvious what they need. And it's very obvious who or a couple of who's out there who fit exactly what they need for the likely price that they want to pay or campaign. Now let's remember going into the deadline last year, not one top 100 prospect was treated. I don't think that's going to happen this year, obviously, but just remember, like the market might not be, hopefully it's not as bad as you hear heading in, there's all kinds of smoke and all that. But here's what I'm doing. And it's obvious. And I

don't care. It's perfect. I have an it's perfect in terms of if they want to win the World Series. It's perfect. And it's two simple moves. And I have the second one, I have a couple names, I'm hoping for You're here to check me. Luckily, when you do your moves, I don't check you with the prospects. You can just run wild. You need to tell me if this is fair or not. All right.

Okay. Great. All right. My first trade, my biggest trade. I'm trading for you. And you know, so far as I mean, it just, it makes all the freaking sense in the world, I don't care that it's only half of your left. I'm I'm committing to this group right now to win. I like, I know it's a rental. That's okay. He has been unbelievable since the, the all star break last year, essentially like his second half of last year. he talked to, I read a thing about from his coach, one of his coaches, he was talking about like he's a different hitter now after last year and like the numbers like when you look at, yes I've got

the numbers in front of me here, OPS first half last year, 668, second half 942. He had a 341 OBP in the second half, 302 in the first, a 602 slugging as opposed to 366 in the first half, 302 in the first, a 602 slugging as opposed to 366 in the first half, uh, 20 homers as opposed to 10. He, uh, changes approach and just is a completely different hitter. And obviously it's carried into this year has been awesome. And the whole time, and that's why, like, you even got me thinking, do I want Byron Buxton, who by the way is hurt again, you know, just saying, getting imaging, getting imaging, shocker. And I was like, I don't want Byron Buxton. He's always hurt. I've owned him in fantasy too many times to say, I want them on the Felix. Like I just don't. But I wanted a right-handed power bat. Like I went through, you know, the guys we've talked about, talked about the brand and Quan, all those guys and look, if they trade for Stephen

Quan, I'll be thrilled. He will help the bill. He's awesome. But like this team has such a clear need. It's a right-handed power bat. Like it's so obvious staring us in the face. And there's one dude on the market right now. Who's that? He's the perfect that and yes, he's only got half a year left. But you know what that should make him slightly cheaper than if he had a year left certainly actually significantly cheaper via your left. So I'm trained for Suarez tell me if this is enough taking into account that he only has

half a year left. Is this enough for you any Suarez? Okay. Um, is this enough for you? Any of Suarez, Justin Crawford, Mick Able, Gabriel Rinconis and Keaton Anthony, is that enough? Uh, I can, I can take out Anthony and put in like, uh, a cha se. I don't particularly want to, but I could, if you think that that's the package over the top. But I think that Crawford able I mean,

Crawford's the top 100 prospect evil is, you know, and I think that that I look, I don't know it for sure gets done. But I think it's somewhere in that range that is like the headline of the type of package that goes for Swarovski with half a year left. Yeah, so I agree. And yeah, I just Yeah, Keaton, I have no idea what Keith and Keith and Anthony's value. I don't either. That's why I was you know, me, I'm just, Keaton and I have no idea what Keith and he and Anthony's value I don't either that's why I was you know me

I'm just trying to like kind of mix and match at the same time though. He's 23 raking a triple-a He should have been drafted but because I think there was some gambling probe into Iowa or something he went on we went on drafted the Phillies crushed the undrafted market auto camp Keaton Anthony like He's strictly a first baseman. And he's super, super unathletic. But if you squint, if you squint when you watch Keaton Anthony, you see JD Martinez.

Oh, buddy. Like any, Leigh Blumer JD Martinez too. Yeah, he was in his late 20s before he kind of blossomed. JD Martinez played the outfield, real. Yeah, for real. By that. Yeah, for for a little while there. Yeah. Yeah. So you think that's fair? You think that's I think it's pretty close. Okay. And I'm willing to sweeten it and do what I need you. Alright, so that's my first trade. I'm getting you in as

far as any I filled my biggest need and now I've got got very, as I said, given given my perfect deadline, I'm very curious what the second so and I have, I have, I'm gutting the depth in the system, I talked about, and I've tried to keep the top guys, which you'll see that I do here at the end, but I'm willing to, I spent more for Suarez, I will have early picture, but I'm still willing to put some stuff in here. Ideally, I don't know what, but I'm still willing to put some stuff in here. Ideally, I don't know what the difference in price is going to be between I have three

guys that I'm targeting with this trade and they are Ryan Halsley, David Bednar and Griffin Jacks. Uh, Jacks has the most control left. He's also the oldest. He's not a closer. Pednar is like a year after this, I believe kind of righted the ship is a good, but has also, you know, had struggles and all that only you're left after this. Hell's the free agent in the year.

So I don't know how these the best where it helps. He's the best and it's reverse order. So it's like that they all kind of line up where I don't know. Like it almost feels like they could all be similar in value. I don't really know. I want hells. I think Jack's gets the most. I think I want to take a shot on Jack's. I want healthy the most I think Jax gets the most. I think I want a team to take a shot on Jax.

I want Hellsley the most. I'm willing to give up again. I'm going for two. I'm going for it this year. I am like all in on this year. I don't know if this is too much or enough. You would be better at telling me. Dante Norris, the headline of my trade. I'm trading my side. And then what else would I need? I had Jean Cabrera there as a potential add in Burkhalter, I thought, as a potential guy. That type of package for Halsey or Bednar. That's my other one. I'll say for Halsey.

And I'm just going all in if it's for Bednar and I give up. No worries. So I get that extra year. I'm good with that, too. I get that. But I'm I'm like the more I thought about this, the more I looked at this. And in obviously, I'm keeping painter, tight, Escobar and our guy Aiden. And I feel really good about those four is as like a core four that we talked about it. I've Crawford was there like, but you got to give up something. I feel good about doing that and replenishing and our guy Brian replenishing and, uh, you know, the, the depth certainly. And I've filled two unbelievably massive holes on this team. And now I've like,

I really feel like I can go in the world series. So I feel great about this and I'm all that's where I'm at. Like my official deadline stands at last time. You know, I am all in on this. Matt, like my official deadline stands and last time, you know, I am all in on this. Yeah. And I think that, I think that's the big message that has to be sent to the Phillies this week is I know it can hurt. I know it can hurt giving up prospects and we love prospects, uh, with prospect huggers and I, we know the value of no one, no one loves them more than Jack. I mean, we just talked to Brian Barber for 45 minutes exactly what other pot is doing that exactly yeah like legitimately care a lot it matters totally agree but you only have this opportunity so often and with the way they've played they

continue to show you you're starting to get a resurgence out of JT yet Schwab is in a last year of a deal like I deal, like I am surprised I didn't expect to get that this year. I was so ready for this deadline to try to sell people on just do the Austin Hayes trade and do the Estelle Vest trade. Don't give up on any of the guys and let this core ride it out and just say, hey, thank you for all you've done for us, but it's time for us to think about the future.

I can't do it. I just, I cannot do it. It's, if you trust your baseball people and you have to be okay with giving them one last ride, give them one last ride to see if they can get it done. Because while you've spent a lot of money and while you've traded some prospect, you haven't done the wind at the back of their sails all in

and with one clear, we've given you everything you need, go get it done. And the thing that I trust the most about this team and something that I do believe in, if you make some big moves, I think, I think middle, if I was Middleton, I walked down to Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwab, and I say, I got you studs. Totally. Go get it done. Go get it done. And I think, I think those two specifically would really about that. They are not all I just think that it would almost be like again, a wind at their sales type moment of look what I got for you. It's gonna cost me money. It costs us prospects. It might have cost us our

future. Go get the trophy. Yep. Go get the trophy. I love that. And John, you could do that with my deadline. Suarez, Helsley, we're bringing in two proven studs that are two biggest needs. Yeah, they're going to be gone at the end of the year, I mean, most likely. But you know what? They're going to leave with rings. That's what you tell them.

All right, that's my deadline. Fritz, the floor is yours. Great. It's the first trade. Is Dylan Campbell. Mm. Johan Rojas. People are going to be mad about that.

You think they're going to be all right letting Johan leave and Jean Cabrera to the White Sox for Louise Robert. Is it enough? Is it enough? I think it seems like his value has gone up in the last week because maybe teams finally looked at his baseball reference and saw what he's done against left-handed pitching. Now he also has to look at the overall stats. Yeah.

And now... People have been tweeting at you, haven't they? Why would we want this guy? Look at his numbers. He stinks. Now maybe the injury is keep it down. So I think... So Dylan Campbell, I think, is actually a team that like small market teams

would be interested in because he can legitimately stick in centerfield and hits the ball hard. So it's just like a shot in the dark. Johan Rojas, whatever. Like I don't it's more, I didn't want to keep putting them on my roster, but maybe the white socks would take him. I think we're all happy to get rid of him. No worries.

And then Jean Cabrera like is a major league caliber arm. I just think he's a four or five. And I don't think he has like reliever upside. So it's like not a lot, but it's also a pretty decent amount at the same time. And he's a rental probably for the rest of the year because he has a $20 million option. So it's not like the the White white stocks can be super judicious about where they send Louise Robert. So he's essentially a rental. That's like a rental price for his hit or miss and injury prone as he has been. But yes, I am bringing Louise Robert home and we are taking a shot on Louise Robert. I would have been devastated if you didn't. I would have been such a

disappointment. But also for that price, I would do it. I think he'll probably cost more than that. But I would I would do it for that. I mean, that's the right price in my mind to take a shot on a talent like that. And a guy like that. So, um, and also look, I like, it might not cost more because you know what? The white socks are dumb. It's always smart to deal with dumb teams. It just is.

Hey, no, the only problem with that is I do believe that gets really over values his guys. And that's why it seems like no deals really get done. But right, regardless, my second trade and Oh, before I get like too far into this. Oh, good. Yes. I felt like my first debt, my first perfect deadline was so good that like, I just wrote names after that of who I would also take. Love this. Love this. I didn't want to. You meant to do more and you're like no no no no no it's like it's like guy DaVinci finishes

the Mona Lisa and it's like wait I wanted to add something. No I can't look at it. It's perfect. Why would I add something? Yeah I get it. It's good. Because I kept going through it was like do I really want to have to add the same trade I just made? Because I'm just gonna I just want to keep making the same trade over and over again. Good work. Bye. Yeah, it's good work. I appreciate it. It's gonna it just means I'm gonna cherish that this deadline that much more as you do it knowing that it's the perfect

that the children are weeping it's's like what a perfect, perfect deadline. People are celebrating the streets. Yes. My second trade is Alec Bohm. Oh, you're trading now the fan favorites right now. Yeah. Alec Bohm, Mick Able and Arun Escobar. Whoa, hold up. Hold up. Just for those who maybe don't always tune in to the Are Escobar was on Jax You know, he's like David and browse here. Ben Brown is untouchable. Logan obviously touchable a rune Escobar wasn't touchable for you So I'm intrigued to see God To the diamond backs for a Hania Suarez and and

Shelby Miller I need I need Shelby Miller 1 one point eight to the RA this year. And I need another bullpen piece. So I'm trading all that's the difference between giving up Crawford and a rune in a package, essentially. We'll get the Crawford. We'll get there. So I am surprised how much I need a Eugenio Suarez,

who I have ripped in for being like just the emptiest 30 home runs I've ever seen. I need those empty 30 plus home runs. I, there's some- It was an empty 49 one time too, Jack. Let's not forget that one. I think that was the year. So when me and you drove up to the Hall of Fame for

how it is. And I remember the way back. It was probably the most nerdy baseball talk I've ever had in my life. It was disgusting. And I think we're talking about like the hitters I felt like I could not get out, which obviously is all of them. I remember talking I so remember that. Yep. And I'm pretty sure the two names were were out to the end. Like I I because I used to love them and then he got really strikeout prone and but what I keep thinking about is So there's a couple things one

I think Schwab are here to a bunch of empty home runs and now besides the postseason for the most part I thought he had so empty home runs still matter whatever His third base defense he used to be really good over there He is more just like he will stand there and make the play that's right at him He'll make that play in his sleep like he'll feel the ball throw the first base in his sleep Just no range. So I think that I actually think that now I put Bum in it because I am very ready to move on from Alec Bum and maybe they want another year of a third baseman, you know, but I don't, I think if they get swore is I think it's

most likely that Bum is still here. And then he's just a DH and I think Schwab plays left field. I, I think that's why sure we played left today. I think we played left today as a possible like, all right, is this gonna work if we go get a right away off the bat the prettiest catch we've seen, you know Yeah, it's beautiful like he'd done in the thousand thought fall on his butt and it's just gorgeous Yeah, so a ruin would hurt but my I think I think why I felt like I had to give up a lot for him is I just think the bidding war is gonna get there and I had to give up a lot for him is I just think the bidding war is gonna get there and

I'm so sick of I'm so sick of well the price is too high. Well, someone's paying the price I mean someone's paying the price every deadline for these for these players that could help you win So while I understand you don't want to give up everything at the same time Someone is willing to pay the price and the Dodgers and Yankees pay the price every single year and they're right there every deadline still giving up more prospects. So that's what I want the Phillies to operate like losing a rune would kill my soul, but I need 36 home runs from the right side. Yeah, look Robert in center field does cover a lot of ground. You would hope that would help with the worst corner outfielders in the league.

Dude, also also? Robert's nickname is La Pantera. I mean the Panther that's That's sick. That's one of the best nicknames in sports. I Need that So yeah, I I think that overall overall thoughts I think they can get swarming without putting bomb and then swore as the agent bombs is a third Harper at first and sorbors And left field and then they just rotated the H between and Baum to the third, Harper at first and Swarbrick in left field. And then they just rotated DH between Swarbrick and Swarbrick for the rest of the year.

So, um, we should, we shall say. All right. Next trade, Justin Crawford and Alex McFarlane. You really did get in the system. This is good work by you. I'm proud of you, buddy. Justin Crawford and Alex McFarlane to the Pittsburgh Pirates for David Bednar. So I think Bednar, I think they're interested in Justin Crawford. Bednar has not.

Awesome. He's been awesome. Dude, he hasn't allowed. He hasn't allowed a run since May 23rd. I think it's like 21 straight outings or something like that. I mean, it's been a while. It's been since May 23rd. So, he's under contract for another year. He comes out to renegade by sticks at CBP. I think that's a problem for everyone involved. It's a hefty price. It's a hefty price, but it's not as much as it would cost for Duran. It's not as much as it would cost

for Mason Miller. It's not as much as it would cost for Duran. It's not as much as it would cost for Mason Miller. It's not as much as it would cost for some of these other, Felix Bautista, even though he is injured. It's, again, a pretty big price, but I'm getting a guy who's been great this year. I feel like would, I think would love pitching in this environment. The Pirates, I think, want to do right by David Bednar,

and I think they would rather trade him in states so that he doesn't have to, like he's from, I think, want to do right by David Bednar. And I think they would rather trade him in states so that he doesn't have to, like, he's from, I guess, out there. So I don't think that, I think they want to do right by him as well. So I frankly would be surprised if Bednar, by Thursday at six o'clock, is not a Philly. I think, I think that-

Wow! What a declarative statement there. You are doing this podcast, putting it out there when I'm not always. We don't always do that. So it's good. I like that. Well done. All right. So if you're thinking already, how can I get more perfect? There's more you way I can't. I just can't believe there's more. I mean, you are you've traded like the 10 prospects out the door already.

I traded. I traded prospects out the door already. I'm treated I treated So able wasn't in one of those Abel's in it, but you know, whatever oh so no big deal Prospects mosh backs as I've always said Yeah, as a boy said I'm a final trade is the Faribus kid in Clearwater needs to capture and Griffin Barcoulter to the Red Sox for Rob Ruff-Snyder. There it is. Well done. Thank you. Thank you. So that would be a great trade, Avery, regardless of your deadline. That would be a really, really good trade for this team. Do your Rob Ruff-Snyder thing. Just go ahead. Again, for the go ahead again. OPS is over 900 plays the outfield as a left.

Like he just reps left-handed pitching. So it's pretty simple. I want I want a Marsh Refsnider left handed left field platoon for the rest of the year. Max Kepler is DFA and my lineup is Turner, Schwerber, Harper, Suarez, Castellanos, JT, Marsh slash Refsnider, Luis Roberts, Stott slash Gamp. I mean, that's so much better. It's so good. And the bullpen. And you have Bednar now.

And the bullpen is. Oh, and you have Miller too. God, that's so much better. You did a lot. You did a lot. I just had to add you guys. You did a lot. The bullpen is Bednar, Shelly Miller, Strom, Kirk, Merengue, David Robertson as the five.

Come on, man. You basically did mine on steroids. Yeah. But the thing is, is like, I know that sound. But I'm with you. Like, go in. Go in. Go in.

Go in. Go in. Go, you basically did mine on steroids. But the thing is, is like, I know that with you, like, go in, go in, go in. I don't think it's that much. I giving a proper would hurt a room would hurt able would hurt. I understand the implications of trading bone and whatnot. But like, I didn't trade painter. I didn't trade Aiden. I didn't trade tie. I didn't trade Paner, I didn't trade Aiden, I didn't trade Tyee, I didn't trade like the the the super super super. You didn't trade Nori.

Didn't trade Nori. Come on man. We're not we're not selling. He's still like in the sell low period. So I'll continue to buy Dante Nori stock. I got a hit today. I got hit by a bitch. We take that. And Aiden, I actually think Aiden is selling low right now. Aiden has been brutal since since June 1. It kills my soul. I hate checking the box score. I hate looking at the you know, I live and die with every single look at that, which is probably an unhealthy way to look at it. The official statement is that he's putting a lot of pressure on himself having it's the deadline because I don't think he really wants to get traded. And I think that it's wearing on him. So that's the official statement. He's fine. Everything's okay. Good statement. Good statement. Good

say I really like that. Thank you. Can I do like some other little things that I like? Yeah, sure. It's like a trade deadline take back kind of thing. Sorta, sorta. Because again, I don't know, we'll probably might not do it a podcast before the trade deadline So yeah, we it depends on what happens, you know, but Yeah. All right. So the first one is an actual trade and then everyone else is just names because you know, whatever But the first one is I'm trading pay trading painter Aidan Miller Bryson stock and and Nick Abel to the Diamondbacks for Catel Marte and The things I would do to get the catel martes

He's so awesome dude. He's so awesome. Yes, and he's under contract for like 15 million until painter and whatever Whatever. I don't like I Prospects prospects get me to tell my take them all take them all Whatever. Whatever. I don't like I prospect prospects. Get me could tell Martin take them all take them all. Whatever the Diamondbacks want for for Katel Marte, I'm pretty much willing to Walker Sutton. Maybe off limits. Maybe off limits. But it's close. I mean, if Mike, you had to think about it. You hesitated, you know, to adding a second baseman.

That's 30 some home runs with a 95. It seems like a good guy. I mean, I'm sure you take a good guy. Good guy. He ruined my life to two years ago. I don't love the tell Marte thing when that that prism. But yeah, yes, yes. But the official statement, whatever it takes, whatever it takes. And then some other names, I think, but yeah. Yes. Yes. I but the official statement whatever it takes whatever it takes And then some other names, I think a Kwan we've talked about a lot I I Don't know who's actually gonna get moved, but I wouldn't count on it

Yeah, I don't think so, but it doesn't seem like the ransom to get move the the Padres turned down Ethan Salas and Dylan ceasease for him, I believe. So that's a pretty hefty package for Jared Durant. It seems like something they're going to do this offseason. But Quan, and again, the case for both those guys, while they're not a perfect fit, right? Another lefty bat, Quan a corner outfielder, Durant a pretty good center fielder, but a great corner outfielder. They can't hit lefties.

The case is just what they do at the top of the lineup and then just likely letting everyone out and putting short behind Harper. It's again you want right-handed power 100% but you also want good players and Stephen Kwan and Jared Duran are are good players. So that's quick thought on that. From the twins, like Jax we talked about, he's been kind of down this year, but the stuff is- Yeah, he has. He's been, it was really a really bad start. He had a really bad April, and then he's kind of,

like had a really solid May, little bit worse June, and then he's been good again, so. Yeah, I mean, he should be the best reliever in baseball, but he has not been that. Duran's gonna cost a ton, but obviously we'd love to ran. The guy that I think is interesting on the twins is Brock Stewart, who I loved like two years ago and they got Tommy John. I remember that. Yeah, I loved Brock Stewart.

So maybe as a bit of a bounce back candidate, the Cardinals all of a sudden are barreling towards selling Brandon Donovan, but once again out there, let's go. He's like later in the Dodgers. Get ready to Donovan buddy the names out there. Let's go. He's like later. It's like him in Dodgers Bader I think you're like the two patron saints of the perfect deadline It's just a perfect golf season even and ref Snyder and ref Snyder Ref's a more recent one. He is but like Donovan and and Bader I feel like you're like, you know three or four years running each at least

So the reason why I got lazy and didn't put together a trade package for that for for for Donovan and Housley It's like I don't know what Brandon Donovan is gonna cost. I don't yeah It's like impossible to judge. I would trade bone I would trade stop as had my obviously like headline packages Like I you know, do I want him to play left field every day? Probably not but like to do the guy can do everything and play second short third base and the outfield he is he's valuable he's amazing he's he's what I it's what you hope campus is is Brent yeah exactly you're exactly right yeah

that's exactly right I would I would I would trade a lot for I know you would you can't be allowed in the room if they're talking about Donovan. You would walk in and be like, here's all I give up and they'd be like, really? Thank you. Okay, we'll take it. Yeah. We would have given you a hand for one of the three guys you mentioned, but sure, cool. It's Matthew Fisher on steroids.

I haven't stopped thinking about Matthew Fisher. Brendan Donovan is in the same class from the Rockies, from the Rockies, of course, would take Nick back, of course, and no doubt about it. I, of course. Yeah, it's of course. I'm happy he got to Colorado. That was good for him. He should probably stay in Colorado and get the big time, buddy. Yeah, at least a few more years and build it up. But Seth Halverson and Jake Bird.

Now, Jake Bird is the guy that Harper got into the shouting match with on the day the Sixers laid down in game seven against the Celtics. So maybe that wouldn't work. But Seth Halverson is like someone who I would just, he stinks like 100%, but his stuff is electric. That if you get him out of course where the stuff doesn't move as well he seems like he's available I would take a Seth

Halverson throws a hundred and like one miles like give me I'll take a bounce back shot on him from the Orioles sir Anthony would would love to bring sir Anthony would could have stopped after just would he's added a he's out of the split of this year, or maybe like he had in the past, but it's like way, way better pitch now. Andrew Kittredge, of course, I've wanted him for a decade. He's now on my deadline last year, I think. I'm with you. It's your good.

And then Ryan O'Hern is the one to watch there. If they want to laugh, but still, you know, he's a good nice like a winning player feels like he's had a huge year. So yeah, he has first and put Harper in the outfield of my outfield in a pinch, I believe, if you had. Yeah, it could stand in left field for I know her. So those mentioned names, Brandon Lowe actually is a sneaky idea with the Rays.

Are they probably going to trade him? He's been hurt all the time. But in the time, but he's going to place. Yeah. Yeah. I think he has 19 home runs on the year. And year after year he's, he's good. I would like, I actually think the raise or 18

that would be interested in like a stock type where, where is it? Is it, is it great defensive? Like I think teams like the Brewers raise, you know, these small market teams that really value defenses like their outlier trait. I think that that's where a stock trade now the Brewers won't because they have Bryce Terang. So it's regardless. But if they wanted to move start the like low at 20 at 20 plus home run power bat hitting second base, you could do worse. plus they have like a million arms if you

want to do like Pete Fairbanks and seems like they've kind of cooled off. Garrett Clevinger have been clever back. What a day to replace Alvarado. How poetic would that be? Beautiful. And then final one. The fact that they haven't been linked to Kenley Jansen is just the shock of the century. Such a Dabrowski guy. Like I wouldn't be shocked if Nebraska has a picture of Kenley Jansen up in his office

and just has for like 10 years. So how I envision it is that they're all in the war room. They're all sitting there. There are all the analysts, you know, the data guys are saying, don't say it, don't say it, don't say it. And then Nebraska, Nebraska standing at the top of the table or whatever. By the way, happy birthday, Dayton Brown. Yes. 69 years old.

Nice. Nice. And then in Nebraska is sitting at the top of the table, stands up and goes, what about Ken Lee Jensen? Yeah. Yeah. And they're like, of course. So then he's like, hold on guys, picks his phone and gets off two minutes later. He's like, I've just acquired Taylor award and Kenley Jansen. There's our voice.

Yeah, exactly. Exactly. So, so then, you know, he does when the analysts, you know, they, they, they shake their head and roll their eyes. He pulls up baseball reference and looks up the all time saves. Yeah, you at that. So Jansen, I'm just assuming we'll be available. You have no idea, but just waiting for the the notification at this point. If they want to actually be creative, read Detmers is been discussing as a lefty reliever, former starter, former starter, throw no hitter one time and then you know Ward and Adele Adele Adele might actually be playing too. Well, and it's only 26

Yeah, he's cooled down a tiny little bit lately compared to what he's doing before but still and I'll throw a dull as guard See in there too. He's been awful awful since he won the World Series MVP but I think he would cost very little because that and he has won a World Series MVP as a random, like if it costs nothing to take a shot on him, like change the scenery maybe, but look, I'm not paying the table for it, but just names out there at the end.

I don't have much interest in Garcy. Yeah, I get it. That was very clear from the way, the face you made when I said it. I just, I'm all right. Now maybe he's randy then let me know. Yeah, like randy I was that was just thinking about randy. I got really like the almost df8 or whatever And then all of a sudden it's like how it goes and he's like, yeah, randy stud. That would have been a good one. That was Again, I don't know. Yeah. Uh-huh

I don't want to do the thing. I don't because I I don't like doing this I don't like you know, cuz you've had some missus You know, I've had some missus but people to straight deadlines I wanted to Oscar two years ago and people like oh so Stinks and then I wanted Randy last year. Oh Thanks, this is a time people like hey, Louise Robert design. Come on down. Come on down. Louis drop. It's Robert.

Dude, I can't wait for Thursday. I need to be Thursday. Yes, it's going to be awesome. Oh, if anyone's around, like if you live in the area or whatever, we are going to be in McGurks in Fort Washington. Like all the shows that day. You guys are there too, right? The whole station, I believe, is at McGurks.

Yeah. I think I do. Is that my dirt? Yeah. I think I do. Last time I did like, did you do till 12? I think I'm doing the desk till 12. So yeah. So Jack and I'll be there coming noon and you can see both of us. But we'll be there. So we'll be fun.

Yeah. We definitely want to a pod before the deadline. Unless if they make a trade, we'll react. We'll do that. But like that. Yeah. But you're right. This is our last preview so I'm happy we got all out there. I do want to make sure that I Check the text message to see if we missed a trade during this which we did. We're good Yeah, I've been looking just to the only text I've been getting it from Emily. So great Yeah, well tennis tennis is Tuesday. So we'll see yes after our FDR Park, come check it out or don't. I don't think Jack really cares if people come on Tuesday.

Don't care. We'll see how it goes. We'll see how it goes. You're already up 2-1. So, you know, this is like, yeah, it's a must-win for him. It's not for you. So. Yeah. 100%. Because now sprinting's over. I am there to win. And that's not to say that I'm load managing heading into running like he threatened to do. But yeah, and I and I won't, I won't bring significant others into the conversation of our stupid radio. We don't have to do that. We can just love you, Joe. We love you. OK, David Bednar, Luis Robert and a U.S.

For us, get it done. Well, I think this bad and I yeah, Halsley Bednar either. We are fully in on U.S. Whereas we are we are buying the sticker price. We're like the hot new shiny item like we're in cause he's the shiny item right now it seems like and we're like, don't care, go get him cause he's perfect, it's perfect.

It's a perfect guy. All right. Get me empty 36 home runs. Yeah. Get us the next, you know, 30 this season. Just kidding. But a bunch and they won't be hollow. All right. We'll be back after the deadline or after a trade one way or the other. And please, Dave, please, man, just

one time, buddy. One time. All right. We'll talk to you guys later in the week. Until then, peace, Ritz and Seltzer.