High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - State of the Phillies Offseason: Sorta Need The Polar Bear?

Episode Date: December 14, 2024

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz break down what Dave Dombrowski and the rest of the front office could do to help this team win in 2025, including signing a big name away from their division rival. Presented by Miller Lite. 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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another edition of the high hopes podcast sponsored by miller official partner of the Philadelphia Phillies tastes like Miller time Philadelphia celebrate responsibly at least the Phillies are partnering with someone because they're certainly not partnering with all these awesome players who are available to go get Kyle freaking Tucker actually gets traded and it's just like oh he's going to the Cubs it's like nothing else. I was like was even a discussion Freaking crochet gone. So do we talked about gone? How you doing, man, I'm recording on a Saturday, how are you buddy? They things are great No, no, they're not. No, they're not at all. Actually. I totally disagree with you. Things are not great. So

we had it we had to call an emergency state of the Phillies because I listen, this is good. There's gonna be a lot of emotions on this podcast. I'm going to start off with with with the fan guy, Jack, before I had nauseate you with with reality ish, Jack, which can't wait for that. I'm equally sad today. I'm equally as disappointed in reality, Jack, as I am. All of our listeners are going to be. So I want to start with Fan Jack because I am just beyond frustrated that we are sitting here or watching other teams get better.

We're seeing the Cubs who aren't really in a World Series window at all go get Kyle Tucker. And on the Kyle Tucker trade specifically, I probably wouldn't have put Aiden Miller in the deal. I just wouldn't. I know that- For a one year rental, I can, I agree with you on that. And I think, and-

What is that? I don't know the Cubs prospect well enough. Is it Aiden Miller level prospect they gave up? So for me, he's not as good as Aiden Miller, but he's better than Justin Crawford. And I think that's the difference is that they don't have someone in between Justin Crawford and Aiden Miller that they can deal in a deal like Kyle Tucker. And from everything I've heard, he's going to go to market. He's going to test for agent market, and then he's open to everyone. I would be shocked if he is going to sign a contract extension with the Cubs.

If he does, furious, furious. But on its surface, I'm not giving up Ada Miller for one year of Kyle Tucker. So, and on Crochet, that was a huge package as well. It's just, we continue to sit here and we're watching other teams get better and we're watching the Phillies Seemingly to sit on their hands and I don't know what the plan is. I don't know

Where they go from here and from the outside looking in it just looks like they're scrambling. It looks like they didn't There were some things that happened this offseason heading into the offseason that maybe if it broke their way they would have gotten done but right now they look like they're scrambling because I don't know what the clear move is to go out and improve the baseball team. We're gonna get crochet. I think crochet was their plan number one. It didn't play out again. I can't blame them for not giving up painter or Miller in that deal particularly both of them obviously in that deal like I Get it. I wasn't gung-ho to do that. So I understand that and and to your point I agree I'm not giving a enough in a Kyle Tucker deal If I know the Kyle Tucker's not signing here and to your point, I agree. I'm not giving Aiden up in a Kyle Tucker deal. If I know that Kyle Tucker is not signing here. And to your point, that's exactly what it seems like. Kyle Tucker, all the messaging from his camp is,

hey, he's not signing with whoever trades for him. Like ain't happening. And look, after one, so there's got 765. Like Kyle Tucker's not gonna be at that, but like if I'm Kyle Tucker, guess what? I'm going to free agency too. Like I just saw bidding work up to 765 million. Like, of course I would. So like, I'm with you in that I don't in each specific move, like the, the, the big three that we could say we, we like the three guys we had hoped they were in

on coming into the off season in Soto crochet Tucker who got moved. The fact that like in each individual one, like I don't blame them for not paying 770 million to get one Soto, like I'm okay with that. I hate, I it's a bummed, but I get it. I'm okay that they didn't give up what they had to give up to go crochet bummed about it, but I get it. Same thing with Kyle Tucker, but to your point, like even though I'm okay with each individual move,

like now we're sitting at a point where it's like It feels like it's gonna be the same freaking team as last year, man Like it feels like it's gonna be some fringe moves It's gonna be maybe another pulpit move and some sort of bat type guy for the outfield or something and and we're looking at At a rerack the exact same thing It's a Maryfield type off season is what it feels like we're heading towards now. Maybe there's one slightly bigger move than that.

But to your point, it feels like they crochet was gonna be their move and they were gonna move around that as their big piece move. They got outbid and now they don't really know what to do. Sounds like you're dreaming of a Whit Christmas. Oh buddy. How long were you, a wit Christmas. Oh, buddy. How long were you? Yeah, no, no, no. Well, I almost said Merryfield Christmas, but that didn't flow as

well. So now wait, Christmas is much better. It's, it's, thank you. It's very good. Thank you. Thank you for I'm sure everyone really wanted that and needed that. And the other thing on top of what you just said is they clearly, clearly overvalue Alec Baum. It's as simple as that. They I think they are for some and this is not to this is not to dump on Alec Baum. I think Alec Baum is a good player. I

don't think he's a great player. I think he's a good player. He's a solid to good baseball player. But if they and I don't know if's a great player. I think he's a good, he's a solid to good baseball player. But if they, and I don't know if the deal was true, but I think they think he should be worth George Kirby or, or Logan Gilbert. And that's insane. That's like the craziest thing I've ever heard. That's like, that's like the Eagles saying, yeah, Jalen hurts is worth Pat Mahomes. Sure

Like it's it's a crazy who could think that well and and even the and again I don't think the trade package was real the one that that Jim Bowden threw out. It better not be if they offered Bo man Castellanos as a centerpiece package for Kyle Tucker like honestly, like that's the kind of thing like that, like would be told at like winter meetings for years to come, like GMs would get together and be like, Hey, remember that time Dombo did that? What the hell was he thinking? Moron. You know, like what are we doing here? What are we doing? Are we a professional organization or not?

Well, I just would love to know how fast the Astros said no. I just, like, Oh my God. I do think they, like they, they probably couldn't get the words out of their mouth. Like they, Dumbrazi was like, all right, here's what I'm thinking. And by the time he was finished talking, there was a dial tone. Like there was no, they didn't hear that, he just was gone.

Shocked, I'm shocked that wasn't enough to bring Kyle Zucker to Philadelphia. Oh my God. I am floored. But yeah. But to your point that, like I hope that that's not true because to your point, especially combined with missing out on the crochet trade, it shows a misunderstanding of

the market. And that could be a real issue, like a mis, you know, diagnosis of what the market was going to be for these guys. So yeah, and we sit here on December 14th and I listen, I, we can put all the disclaimers out there we want you can, oh, it's a long off season and you know, there's plenty of time to make moves and and yada yada yada. But what the two things that infuriate me and obviously, you know, on this podcast, we are mostly well, I'm me more than you 100%. Prospect talkers, I love prospects. It's too hard.

Yeah, I think they're phenomenal. But at the same time, and like we have said many times, Yeah, they're annoying now. you have to have confidence in the people that are developing the prospects that you'll be able to continue to find top talent. And I think they've gone so far, and this is just my read of it, but I feel as think they've gone so far and this is just my read of it but I feel as if

they've gone so far with trying to overcorrect for what happened from 2012 to 2019 that they're missing what is right in front of them and what's right in front of them is a bunch of players that are in the middle or exiting their prime and in Real Muto's and in short words case who I mean I would not be surprised if they extended both of them at some point you know I could totally see JT coming back there's there's no doubt about it it's not where it's really uniform 37 year old JT out there hobbling out by in the play would great yeah so I think that they're going so far from the standpoint of we don't want to leave the cupboard bare like we did from 2012 to 2018. We're not going to trade any of our top-ish kind of guys.

And what ultimately sunk that team is that kind of stuff. But they also did not keep piling on prospect-wise. They did not have good draft structure. They did not keep piling on prospect wise, they did not have good draft structure, they did not have good player development, they were so far behind the times on that kind of stuff. It's almost like they're just afraid to pull the trigger. Now at the same time, the reality is, James, and this is part of the reality side of my brain, is that I think they're a year, a year and a half, two years away from having a surplus there to where you're not gutting the system or

you don't have enough. I think they have a lot of interesting guys right now, but I don't think that on the bottom half of the top 10, they've popped enough to be intriguing for other teams. So I think they're building that. I just, it seems to me like right now in watching the other trades to get done that they don't have the kind of needle moving prospects or even interesting prospects to get some of these deals done and they don't want to move Aiden. I don't think they want to move Justin Crawford and Aiden and Andy Painter and your painter is on touch.

Yeah. so I think I think everything you said is true and But it leaves them in a really precarious awkward Like we're as we've said, you know something else we talked to you know Million times is there smack dab in the middle of a window with a bunch of guys who are as you mentioned Either in their primer on the backside or exiting soon likely maybe some have their prime. So you know when you combine that with a group of minor leaguers where you're you know you've got some high end guys you're excited about but you don't have that middle tier you don't

have the depth yet from which to trade like, it's almost like they're trying to serve two masters. And ultimately, they're not going to make either one happy. You know what I mean? Yeah, yeah, no, I agree. Because that and I've heard this I've heard this take and I'm sure that Tim Broski will throw this out. If again, I think they're gonna make a move at some point. It's just it's just not I think they'll do something. It's just not gonna be, you know, we're not,

it's not gonna be the off season we had hoped it was gonna be, the transformative off season, you know? Yeah, so I think that, yeah, I just, the one take that I've heard thrown out there is, listen, this is still a 90 plus win ball club, even if they don't make a move. And while I don't like totally disagree. I also don't know how good they're going to be next year.

I mean, dude, I feel the same way. They were 95 once they were 90, 89. Like it's not like they've like been like the Dodgers every year. You know what I mean? And also they were a, a, a, a, a below 90 win club pace wise for more than half the season last year. They were a 500 ball club from June 10th on. I mean, that's a, that's a pretty big. It's more than half the season last year. They were a 500 block love from June 10th on. I mean, that's a pretty big.

It's more than half the season. And you look at the team last year, pretty healthy. I mean, like overall, it wasn't like they had devastating. Ranger, you know, had the injury and that was pretty much it on the starting staff. You know, the other guys were healthy all year long. The bullpen for the most part was healthy all year long. Alvarado had that little thing, but you're right. And the bats, I mean, Harper was dealing with something, J.C. something, but Harper still was in the lineup all year for

the first time. I mean, like, you know, other than his MVP year, and even then he was out for that three weeks when he got hit in the face or whatever, but they had the knee surgery on J.T. and train this six weeks with the hamstring. Mr. Six, but you're right for the most part. And they certainly went into the playoffs fully loaded and healthy. Yeah. So they, they, they got dealt a pretty good hand last year. And I just, you look at them and I think we can expect, is Wheeler going to pitch to a two, five again? I don't think he's going to pitch to a three, five, but I think it'll be somewhere in the middle. Nola somewhere between three and three five Chris Sanchez, can he do it again? I hope so. I think so. Three five

ish I think fair for him. Rangers in a contract year, which is really interesting, you know, so he's pitching for a big deal if he's here. If he's here. I think he's one of them. Yeah, at this point, it wouldn't be shocked to see them trade Ranger. And Andrew Painter, I think the people he's not gonna be the fifth starter. I mean, he's not going to be the fifth starter. I mean, he's going to throw between 70 and 110 innings.

I mean, that's, that's the realistic outlook. And you got to make them count. So, and Taiwan's still here by the way. So I've heard, I've heard the, well, we're still a good club and I, I think they're fine. I don't think that they are. I know the World Series odds are, are a little much for me, but I just, I don't know how truly I think they're good at a lot of areas. I don't know what they're great at. Well, and I totally agree with that, especially, and look, you can't just play the game of stacking them up against competition, but especially when you look at the Dodgers, I mean, you do have to, to, that is the big bad sitting at the top of the conference and the top of the league that you have to be. And they were already better than you last year and they got better

and show is pitching this year. And then the Mets obviously got Soto. And I don't think any of us think they're done making moves this off season. And they already were better than you last year at the end of the day. So, you know, I'm right there with you and like people like it's a foregone conclusion, especially after three straight years of making runs, like it starts to catch up with teams and we've definitely seen teams take a step back or whatever. And I'm not saying I expect that. I just think the competition level is pretty high, especially in the division. I mean, the Braves and the Mets are both going to be good.

How good? I don't know, but they're both going to be good. Like this is not something where the Phillies come in and kind of have this guaranteed playoff spot that's just like theirs. Like that's the way people talk about it. People are like, well, they'll make the playoffs. Then anything can happen. It's like what? And then and then outside of just this regular season season 90 win thing we're talking about, like,

fine, let's say they do do that. Let's say the the Jodi cameras of the world are like, they're so great team, they won 95 games, they got a good chance. And when fine, when they get to the playoffs, if it's still the same structure of the group that we saw last year, then what faith Why should we possibly think that they're going to get to the playoffs and all of a sudden change how they go about their business? So it's like, yes, the regular season part of it. But then even if they do get to the playoffs, like maybe sure, that's a plan. Maybe things will change, you know,

they have not changed the lineup as it currently stands since game seven of the D back series. Wow. That's a great point. Wow. I mean, they haven't, it's the same lineup. It's essentially the same line since game seven of the D back series. And I don't know if you heard James, but they're going to have tougher

conversations with them about using the whole field. So you have to factor that in. Oh, we're fine. And good call. Yeah. Everything's, everything's good. Everything's cool. The other thing that's that is is hampering them as we can. By the way, real quick, speaking of the conversations and them like just putting stuff out there, you called like, what was it like 10 minutes after we're done the pod Rob Thompson comes out and does that we love Alec. He's not going anywhere. We he's the man that was like 10 minutes after he finished a bomb.

We're like, someone has to go out and say something that. Why would they? We were never. I mean, he's a good player. He's a good player. We're taking a lot of calls on Alec Bohm. We're not actively shopping Alec Bohm. Yes. Yes. As we play, as we play semantics here about the Alec Bohm trademark. AKA we haven't received what we would like for Alec Bohm.

So wow. He's got the valuables we thought guys, we're keeping him I guess. Yeah, yeah. So, but and as we continue to kind of, you know, ramble our way through this thing, the other thing that is 100% affecting them that was not a factor last year is that Wheeler's number jumped from 25 million to 43 million. I mean, this is the first year of the Wheeler extension. So that's $16 million of new money that you have to factor into the to all the the tax kind of thing that's essentially adding a new player, James. I mean, well, yeah, no one off the books. Like, it's not like they shaming, I guess, Whit Maryfield's money off the books,

you know, like, they didn't like they said, that's the non-tenant. Oh, how close are we? How close are we to bringing back Austin Hayes, by the way? You know, can't you just feel it in your bones? Hey, I had a kidney issue last year. I want to prove myself. We believe in this guy at the deadline. He's healthy. He's healthy now.

We believe in Austin Hayes. We think he can go out there and be a difference maker for this ball club. This is not the time. On a Saturday morning that I made you record. Yeah, I know. I know. I have to go to work in like 35 minutes so yeah not what I needed yeah you can feel that in your bones all right I mean this offseason has just been it's just been brutal and off of what happened last year and what happened off the Dimeback series. Basically, so just racking this thing. They sat out 23, 23 off season. They they sat out 24 deadline. And so far outside of Jordan Romano, who in classic me

fashion has really got the end. You're fully in good. Do you say you want to take a one year deal to reestablish his market? And I was in from the jump. You were the one who needed to get talked into it. I think it's a really nice move. He's got to be confident in that elbow. He said he's already throwing in the mid 90s.

Love to hear. Also, if you want to go through pitch profiles, him and Hoffman basically- Who doesn't want to go through pitch profiles? You know what I mean? Him and Hoffman's stuff is almost identical. So we got the better Jeff Hoffman. For way cheaper. Well done.

For way cheaper. And then when he's great, if he's great, they're not going to pay him. So awesome. We're going to have one year of Jordan Romano. But at least, dude, I don't know if I said this on the air. I don't know if I said this on the air, I don't know if I said this on the solo pot I did.

If they bring up Tanner Banks as a viable option one more time, I'm going to blow a gasket. He is a guy who should be relegated to the fifth and sixth inning when you need an out against a lefty. He is not a viable option late in baseball games. Let's, let's, let's knock that one out. We're, we're Josey Alvarado. We're hoping as a bounce back year, it's Alvarado.

It's Strom maybe goes on AJ Mincer. Wow. Bunch of lefties. Well, I mean, I would like, do you know who's in the division now? Do you know who's on the West Coast now? Yes, you are right. And I don't think, and shock. You know what the, you know what's in the division now? Do you know? Yes, you are right and I don't think and shock, you know what that you know what the problem is Might need some righties in that pen to Jack. We got we got we got Kirk. We're a mono and

That's it Still linked on probably probably on the being too expensive for us this offseason. So that's good. Dude, is that well, Jose Ruiz, you forgot Jose Ruiz. I do like I do like that was actually I hand up. I really do like Jose Ruiz. I doubt there. Yeah. My guy. If you could sign,

would you rather sign the left or another righty? I'd rather sign a good reliever. Oh, that's a big take by you. Someone good. Someone who's going to come in and get out. Well, I would love, I mean, would it kill them to sign Tanner Scott? They won't at this point. Yeah, he's going to be way out of their price range. Are you kidding me? They'll probably get like 60 million or something and they'll be like, whoa, how could you do that?

Well, and my point on the bullpen, my point on the bullpen is because I just, I swear James, I, and this is not to sound, I mean, it's going to sound like, it's going to sound like I'm being arrogant, but it's, it's really not hard to build a good bullpen. I, I refuse to believe. Yes. This is tell them, buddy. Just go off. Okay. If you're, if you're, and they have a, I think on the paper, on paper, they have a good bullpen right now.

And they did last year until the very end, like credit word, dude, they built a good, very nice. Yeah. No, the bullpen was, was, it's not about last year, but actually I felt this way, the deadline and annoyed me But if let's say you don't want to spend a prospect capital to go get a difference making bat Okay, I'll believe you at that. You don't want to spend a difference making Capital to go and get another top flight starter to make that a strength Go spend a little big bullpen arms do not cost that much.

Like Kittredge is gonna cost eight to 10 million around there. Just build a super pen then. I mean, my point with the Phillies right now is that I think they're good at a lot of areas, but they're not great at anything. And if you could, at this point, you might as well just go try to build as much of a super bullpen as you can

since you don't want to spend a lot of money on another starter or another, or they're going to get an outfielder. I don't know if it's going to be a trade or- Yeah, but they gotta get someone, yeah. But take a strength and make it a super strength. That's, you gotta find ways to be a difference maker in October. And if you don't want to spend it in other areas,

you might as well spend it in the area that's quote unquote the cheapest. Yeah, I totally agree with you. And also an area that at the end of the day, you know, you can win with. If you have the best bullpen in October that shows up in October, like that's a way to win. You know, that in and of itself is a way to win. So especially because starting pitching should be this team's strength again, we would hope we would think. With Uber Reserve, good things come to those who plan ahead. Family vacay? Reserve your ride as soon as you book your flights. To all the planners, now you can reserve your Uber ride up to 90 days in advance.

See Uber app for details. As a Fizz member, you can look forward to free data, big savings on plans, and having your unused data roll over to the following month, every month. At Fizz, you always get more for your money. Terms and conditions for our different programs and policies apply, details at fizz.ca. Come join me, Andrew Filippone. And me, Patrick Peterson, three time NFL off-road cornerback on First and Pod for premier NFL coverage

and conversations. Our motto on the podcast is every team every week, and we don't play favorites. Every episode, you get a glimpse of the entire National Football League with First and Pod. Follow and listen to first and pod on Mondays and Fridays on the free Odyssey app, or wherever you get your podcasts. All right, I got one more thing. And then if you have anything else, but you actually sent this to me and we have to bring it up. But this is from Mark Healy, I believe.

Yeah, just some serious stuff. And yeah, Mark tweeted out, her cubs like Pete Alonzo, which Scott Boris recently confirmed, Mariners also linked to Pete, but I think that's posturing. Brace yourselves. Also heard, Phillies are thinking about signing Pete,

which doesn't make sense. So good source, source worth mentioning. Don't you dare pump your fist? Uh, what? Like, I mean, we've talked about the possibility of Bryce go back to right field, which I do think like at the end of the day, if it were to win a world series, I do think Bryce would do it. I don't think this is what's going to happen, but your just overall thoughts

on the concept of Peter Lonzo to Philadelphia. Well, first, would you sign? Would you give Bryce's extension if it came with you have to move back to right field for two years or three years? Sure. Right. I mean, I'd say, Hey, we float ideas out, whatever it takes at this point, man, I'm trying to get a freaking ring. All right.

And if Bryson right field helps me get a ring, which I think it probably will the way this team building off season is gone. Yeah, then yeah, yeah, I'm done. Again, would prefer Christian Walker. Let me just lay out that disclaimer. So for multiple reasons at the end of this podcast, I'm glad, listen, we had to bring this up. I waited until the back.

There's going to be multiple, because I have something else that I actually think is maybe more embarrassing later in the, of an idea that I have. And it's, it's possibly the most coping, like the most coping I've ever done in this podcast. Great. So we'll in this podcast. Great. So we'll get to that. Okay. While I very, very, very, very, very, very much do not like Peter Lanzo. Hey, I think I would take the folder. And I sort of need them. I sort of,

And I sort of need them. I sort of. No, no, no, everyone like these are right in a bat which does help dude for the whole hitter They need a movie right-handed. I mean the shore burn Harbor and you know, like, you know Can we can we get a right-handed stick in here? You bump everyone else down if you're gonna keep bomb anyway him. We have to watch him play every day, dude. Every day we have to do this stupid check swing thing and the little shimmy and the dumb, dumb, dumb face all the time. Come on, man.

You know, one of my things, and I have a lot of dumb things, and I don't think this is unique, but I like to harp on it. Sports are supposed to be fun, Jack. They're supposed to be fun. We choose to spend our time with these teams. We don't have to. Well, you and I do, it's our job, but most people don't like it.

It's a choice. It's a elective choice. Do you want to choose of your own volition to spend three hours a night with Pete Alonzo for six months? Because like even saying that sentence, I'm like cringing. Well, first off, games are about two and a half hours now. And and it would not be six months. It would probably be 12 months with a two year deal or one and one and an option. And so I would say it's going on. So the case for Alonzo while and explain why he would take a one year deal with

an option instead of just trying to get a big contract. Well, passing said the other day, there's no market for Pete Alonzo. Really? So so first off he would get to stick it to the Mets, which would be funny. Yeah. And hopefully he goes off and whatever. It seems like the A's the team that's most interested in them. I don't think he's going to be an A and by the way, poor Oakland, right? They moved.

They're like, Hey, Louie Severino, you're 67 million. Sure. And it's like, that's your choice. I mean, I like Sev, we, you know, fan, fan of him on this pod, multiple, uh, perfect off seasons he's been in, but like, you decide to give out your first huge contract in like decades and you're like, Oh, that's the guy. Here you go. Well, they're trying to get Manaya back.

And Manaya is like, well, I've been here before. I'm not going back to the A's. So I just just I need a real four hole hitter. I need another power hitting right handed bat. I think with Alonzo's market cratering, if I can sign him for a hit if I give him the resteeal where it's a year is an option for 30. So I mean, it'd probably be a little more but the idea of the reason it was two. Yeah, so.

Dude, it's, I know, I know, but it becomes obvious that you almost have to say yes. Right? Well, yeah, of course. Yeah, what am I gonna say? No to two for 40? Yeah, of course I'll say yes to that. Like, sure.

This blows. I hate, I hate this all season. Like why, why are you doing this, Tosvilles? Like what? How? We're down to begging for a lot. We're not even that I hate this all season. Like, why? Why are you doing this? That's really like what? How down we were even in the off season. It's not even 2025 yet. And we're sitting here begging for Pete Alonzo. Like that is tragic.

Oh, where I get Pete Alonzo. Yeah. Pete Alonzo emergency. I'm sick to my stomach as well. But at the end of the day, comes down, we gotta win a title somehow. And he, unfortunately so, would be a needle mover. He would be a needle mover. I would never watch, I would not watch the Home Run Derby.

Absolutely not. Would willfully sit it out. Yeah, my fandom would be on the fringe at that point. Like, I can't push it over. No. I was watching the video of him lifting weights in between sets the other day. That was infuriating. I hate it.

I hate it. I actively dislike it. Are we breaking out? Is he allowed to wear number 20? We are unretiring. I'm going to say no on that one. Yeah. You're good. Just did. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. All right. So did I, did I convince you on P?

Gotta draw the line somewhere. Yeah. Far more than I expected to actually. Sign Christian Walker. How about that? That's the... Way better idea. All in on that. Let's see that. Bring him home. Spike yesterday was like, Hey, Christian Walker is gonna well like a seven year deal. Christian Walker is a 33 year old.

Three year deal. Hopefully three sixties would probably Christian Walker do that in a second. Yeah. But bring me the polar bear. All right. Are we done? Do you have what's your last thing? Cause I got a lot. Oh my God. All right. Are we done? Do you have what's your last thing? I got a lot. Oh, my God. All right. Well, do it. Let's quickly. I'm I'm going to work.

Aren't you just aren't you just waiting for the for the aeronautical aeronautical notification at this point? Oh, it's a lock of all locks. Yeah, I bet on it. I can just feel it. I can just feel it coming. Is the the aeronautical trade? It's also I'm just feel it. I can just feel it coming. Is the the aeronaut trade. It's also I'm just saying if they're willing to pay down.

60 to 80 million dollars of his deal. I love that love that sneeze. If they're willing to trade down 60 or pay down 60 to 80 million dollars of his deal. It's not a bad time to trade for trout. Oh my God. paid out 60 to 80 million dollars of his deal. It's not a bad time to trade for trout. Oh my god. We're back. We're back. We are back. This is what we're doing here. Yeah. Well, hold on. You have to factor this in. You have to factor this in as well, James. When I tweeted the trout joke the other day, which apparently a lot of people thought was an official report, it was not. Sorry to let everyone down. George Lopez. Yes, that George Lopez liked the tweet I think the, I think the best thing left, if I was looking for a,

I think the best thing left was the Twitter. I think the best thing left was the Twitter. I think the best thing left was the Twitter. I think the best thing left was the Twitter. I think the best thing left was the Twitter. I think the best thing left was the Twitter. I think the best thing left was the Twitter. I think the best thing left was the Twitter.

I think the best thing left was the Twitter. I think the best thing left was the Twitter. I think the best thing left if I was looking for a I guess needle mover, but I don't know. Brendan Donovan Halsley trade is is probably the best thing left. He can play left field. I love him. I think he's a winning ballplayer. And then, and then Hellsley does give you another lockdown option to turn it into a legit super pen. Like Donovan's under contract for the next three years. I mean, Donovan, Hellsley, Cook, Nato, you know, I mean, it's right there. It's right there. It's right there. Yeah, it's right. Sure.

Sure. Sure. The biggest losses offseason was Iverson Castellano. I'm very upset about that. Yeah, I felt for you when he was. I hope the twins don't keep them. I need him back in the organization. Rule five so rarely stick with guys.

I mean, I feel like it's so rare that team actually keeps the rule five on the roster for the year, don't you? Wow, who could forget? Wow. Noah Song, I mean, we couldn't hang on to him and he was throwing 98. I mean, come on. Off the top of my head, the three most notable ones. Well, Yohan Santana, Shane Victorino, of course. Duble is a good one. There have been a few others. Do you remember 2016 Tyler Goodell?

Oh, yeah, I do remember that. He did throw out the guy that played to Cameron Rupp. Where would Philly's fandom be without that moment? Probably exactly where it is right now. No difference is my guess. Zero. So, all right, last thing on, and you know, I already admitted about Alonzo. I thought that was the most- The low point. The low point, right? Yeah. This might go even lower. Oh, God.

And it's full on coping. And it's full on coping. And it's full on. I can only do this on this podcast because if I put it on Twitter, it's like, this is doing nothing. This is not bringing the, this is not making the team any better. Dabrowski's cooked. Yada yada yada. I don't feel like dealing with it.

But if we are looking for a cheap outfielder ish, that would do that would do a good job, that would do a good job. I sort of need Randall Gritchick. I like Randall. I'm fine with it. That's that we're close to as low as Alonzo. I love Gritchick. I had Gritchick in a perfect off season and you were like, oh, Gritchick. But getting down to the point where crushes left handed pitching man, getting down to the point where I crush his left-handed pitching, man, getting down to the point where we're saying, or I'm saying I sort of need great chick as a year low, you're low, a cheap left, a cheap outfield. That was lower than bring me the polar bear polar bears, the polar bear,

random divisive, much more divisive. No, no, that's when driving people like looking up Rand Randall Gritchick right now. Well, so here's Here's not our listeners because we have some aren't baseball listeners But if this run WIP like no people be like who who's Randall Gritchick? So in September? He had over 400 with a 1400 OBS and seven home runs So if they're looking for a cheap ish option I just say Randall Gritchick is like up there and like guy have picked up and dropped them most in the history of fantasy like that guy has been on and off teams for his entire career. Do you want to know my favorite piece of Randall Gritchick trivia? Sure. He was picked the pick before Mike Trout to the same team. How about that? Yeah, the angels.

Yeah. And the second one I used on Mike Trout. Which one worked out better? One's still playing, I'm just saying. Tough to say. So one stays on the field. So well, Randall Gritchick might have a better year next year than Mike Trout, which is disappointing.

Probably will. Just last year. So that's where I'm at. I'm at the point where I'm begging for a Randall Gritchick signing. How's that? How's that for you? There's a, there's a podcast title somewhere in there. I know that by the way, the only way they're going to get a notable move is

they, if it is, if they find someone to take gas, Yannis or someone or, or Taiwan Walker, because that way there prospect, you mean? Yeah, because you mean just period to clear up space because they're not going to go over a certain number. They are at 290 right now, luxury tax wise and 301 is the next threshold, anything over 301. Every dollar spent over 301 is taxed at 110%. So it's just not the money is not the issue. It's the punitive damages other but like, yeah, come on.

We can afford it. And now again, I believe in us. Come on. We'll start a Go Funding. Come on. I mean, the billionaires can afford it. What's better than watching your team win? Winning money while you do it.

I'm Jim Costa and I cash the ticket. Mike Valetti and I give you the edge to make every game playable. College football, NFL, we're breaking it all down game by game. Your podcast feed is going to be filled and you're going to love it. You can click on the games you care about. We do it all with our analysis. We're finding games that other people aren't talking about. We're turning every Saturday and every Sunday in the days when you got a chance to win. Don't just sit on the sidelines, cash the ticket with us. Follow Cash the Ticket in the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. All right. You got anything else? No. Make a move. At least bring me Gritche.

Anything else to make us sad? Is there any other lower rung you would like to drop to? Oh, well. So did this make me a loser back in 2011? So in 2011, I was a senior in high school, heading into my senior year of in 2011, I was a senior in high school heading into my senior year of high school. I was remember that I asked the question but go ahead. Yeah, this is a horrible job. I mean, go ahead. Well, I wanted to end it on a semi positive is Jack a loser? Because I realized today that I'm a bit of a goofy, sappy dork when it comes to the Phillies. So realize that

you just realize that today just got there. I'm happy. It's good. So in 2011, when they trade for Hunter Pence and he scored the game winning run on the walk off by Raul Bonnius two days after getting traded here. And he's doing the post game press conference with Sarge. Sarge asked them, what were you thinking when you're rounding third base? And Hunter Pence said, good game, let's go eat. And for me, that

was my rallying cry my senior year. You just jump in on that. Yeah. Was it a cool move or an absolute loser move to make my senior year, senior yearbook quote, good game, let's go eat. Yeah, total loser. I don't think there's any question about that. Yeah. Come on. You've seen Hunter Pence, right? He seems like a nice guy. I ended up I was I turned very hard on Hunter Pence. I felt he could not he was addicted to grounding into double plays while he was here.

He was you're right. And then the second he went to San Francisco, to grounding in the double plays while he was here. He was, you're right. And then the second he went to San Francisco, I know when world series they traded for, uh, this is something I've known and at times I know. Just tell me Tommy, Joseph, Tommy, Joseph. All right. It's been real, buddy. It's far, far, far too real, some might say. All right, we'll be back this week. I don't know, maybe the Phillies will do something.

That'd be cool. Either way, we'll be back to lament and be sad, but maybe they do something. Maybe they surprise us and go out and get Randall Gritchick this week. Can you imagine? I would do an emergency podcast. Yeah, we'll do an emergency podcast. He's like, real good. Jake, like for random gritchick. All right. And I'll bring up his last 54 games. Can't wait. What a tease that is.

Until then, maybe emergency. But until then, he's for themselves.