High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - The 2026 Phillies Perfect Offseason Pod

Episode Date: November 20, 2025

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz reveal their perfect offseason plans for the Philadelphia Phillies that could turn the team back into World Series contenders for the 2026 season and beyond. 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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Join now for your chance to redeem some serious prizes. Play Chumba Casino today. No purchase necessary VGW Group void war prohibited by law 21 plus TNCs apply. Ready to level up? Chumba Casino is your playbook to fun. It's free to play with no purchase necessary. Enjoy hundreds of online social games like blackjack, slots, and solitaire. Anytime, anywhere, with fresh releases every week,

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by Miller, light official partner of the Philadelphia Phillies. Tastes like Miller time. Philadelphia celebrating fritz it's officially the off season perfect off season time but it is we are we are off seasoned up josh nailer five-year deal and and that's that's it that's all we got going right oh and i'm sorry the taylor ward trade finally taylor grayson rodriguez how about yeah what a fall fall from grace grace and boom grayson bam uh you could have written the headline headlight headline today only you're an orio's pod that would be our title and we'd be locked in already uh how you doing pal dude i'm so excited to do this podcast i i know i

wrote i wrote i wrote my perfect off season two weeks ago and you know last night i was like ah maybe i'll come up with something else just to make sure i have a a second feel for it and i just i'm really happy with my my one perfect off season now wow this is unlike you yeah you've got anywhere from three to six off seasons for us so here's what i want to do this year here's to this year. Multiple pods or something. Well, no, no, because the brain power might not be there. I just want to talk about there's so many interesting ways that they could go to the

off season. So I always think that once a pop, maybe at the end of pod part of the take bag, we'll talk about one of these kind of trade targets or free agent targets because there's a lot out there. Like, dude, I didn't even sign bullpen guy. I traded for all my bullpen guys I want to sign every single bullpen piece there is as often

they're all awesome there are some good ones but there's some ugly ones too buddy there are Tyler Rogers is a free agent Sean Armstrong's a free agent like there's a Robert Swares bring him home let him let him 55 years old man

I know it was shocking it was it was the going through and it is funny just to agree with what you said like literally the very top of my perfect off season i just wrote because i figure we should kind of talk about it all philosophically go for it with older core pause here reset year turn the page like it like i could see any of these things being a viable path and i i think i think we all know that they're most likely to do some version of like they're not i don't think they're just going to

like turn the page i think that's probably off the table but i you know i do think that you could make a viable, logical, rational argument for any of those things, like any of those directions, philosophically speaking, if Dave Dombrowski said, I'm doing this because I think you can make a rational argument for any of those things, Jack, which, which makes it both fascinating and also like really hard, man, like this is, you're like, oh, perfect Dossies and it was perfect. My experience was perfect. I came up with a perfect one in no time. I hated it. It was the hardest this exercise has ever been.

Like we've done this, what, like six years, seven years or whatever? Like, this was by far my hardest. Like, I didn't know what to do. I was like, should I reshine these guys? Should I not? I'm going to resign. Wait, maybe I'm not. Like, I'm all over the place.

I don't even have like, no, I'm asking you. What prospects are my guys going to cost? Like, I'm, this is honestly. And I texted you about it. This was like, it was like not a root canal because I'm talking about Philly's season but it was like it was much more difficult and less like fun than it normally is because I'm like man like the Phillies have a lot of hard decisions to make with a lot of possible repercussions and a lot of different director well and they admit it tough too because I don't know

what take I want to have or take I should have because I like both ways I like I like I like the idea of going for it because obviously we want to win a world series but there's a big part of me that wants them to be conscious of the next five years. I don't want them, I guess my point is I want them to have a lot of bites at the apple. I don't want to push all my

chips in. And I'm looking up four years from now and I've got a million old players and they stink. I don't want that. Now, it would lead to a higher traffic, which is always enticement. And we could reset the books. Come on, man.

Who doesn't love a good little book reset? But, like, I almost, I almost want them to prioritize keeping the window open rather than pushing all the chips in and slamming it shut. But at the same time, when I was building my perfect off season, I couldn't do it. Like, I could. I could, I had the, this is the exact same experience. Like, I feel like I tried to serve both masters with my perfect offseason. I feel like I'm committing to some guys into their late 30s. And I'm trying to get by with some guys on some shorter term things with some,

you know, kind of take some shots in the next couple of years while Aden really gets ready, while Crawford turns into the player we hope he can be while Painter settles in and then kind of hope that you can kind of restock with the next group and you draft well and Dante Noreen. But I'm also trading guys. And you're going to have to tell you I'm trading because like, that's the frustrating thing, Jack,

is especially if we're resigning some guys, like trades are really the only way. to reshape this roster. And that's the thing I can't do. And I didn't do with my perfect office. He's like, I can't, I can't have it look exactly the same while there aren't that many different types of things that they can do. So like, let's just dive in, man.

Well, I, real quick, I do think the more and more that I'm going about it and working through the perfect office season, I keep looking at the free agents, right? And I keep saying, do I really want to give Breggen five years? Same. Same. Dude, so same. So I actually, I think they're going to be more active in the trade market. I think there's more, there's more of a chance of a big trade this year than they signed Schwerber Plus, like Schwerber and Alonzo, Schwerber and whoever else to another big money free agents.

I think it's more likely that it comes in a, in another trade than it comes in two big free agent signings. So I have five trades about season. I have, I have no external. free agent signings. I have six. I have a backup move if JT won't resign. All right. I'm going to dive in because yours is that, you know, save the best for last.

You're the cleanup hitter. Like mine's, you know, all over the place. Let's roll. First and foremost, and this is the single most important thing to me by Nick Castianos. I don't care how much of your money I have to eat. Like, it's not the most important thing for this team, but like I just have to say goodbye, Nick. I think we can accept that Nick Cassiast is gone. all right do you have a team for him or you just see it ends in him being cut

whoever will take him dude like I if I can pay 15 of the 20 million and whatever you know like anything I could do to get the way someone should pick up if the Phillies are willing so I traded him for 10 I had a meeting 10 million dollars and my reasoning was Max Kepler got 10 million dollars last year and I know that Cassie you're not wrong so So I know people are like, well, the $15 million, team will maybe take them for one year, $5 million. And I get it, but also one year $5 million,

a team should take a chance. And I'm giving the, there's not that many right-handed hitting outfielders out there. I know he's not a good one, but it's not like there's a million out that teams can choose from. So I don't know. I just think that I don't think he's going to get outright released. I do think that someone will trade for him.

And I hope they can just eat like $10 million of it. Yeah. No, I, I'm with you. That would be great. Either way, they have to get rid of him. He can't be on the team next year. 100%.

All right. Now to the point where like we both agreed, I really went into this. And even on the radio, when we first kind of on the morning show did like, you know, where you out with the Phillies show after the off season, I was kind of like,

you know, reset guys. Like I can't give all these guys money. Like let him walk. Let Aiden play. Let Crawford play like all the stuff. And as I said, down to do this, Jack. I just, it's not feasible in the situation they're in. Like, the pitching's

too good. They have Bryce Harper. They have Turner. Like, you've got at least attempt to take a shot with the group while also, in my opinion, I'm going to try and serve both masters. So I'm resigning Schwerver. Five years, whatever it is, 170, 180, hopefully, you know, but, but I feel like I've talked before that I do think he ages well. I don't think the power goes away. He's improved is a hitter over you know from 29 to 32 he's improved you know so i i don't love it uh it's that you know i'm going to have schwerber and harper and turner like 36 and 37 and 38 whatever is what it is yeah it is saying swerver it is what it is and you know what it's fun and i like having them on the Phillies but it is what it is i couldn't get away from it that's my big signing

I'm signing for a word. The JT thing, like, I think they have to bring him back. Like, I don't. Get it out of the way. Yep. But I'm signing him, I guess, three years. Like, I don't know. It sucks.

Well, it was good passing yesterday said that he doesn't think he's going to get a three-year deal. Thank God. JT for two, I'm ecstatic. Like, I'm like fine with it. I'm fine with it. If it doesn't work out, you know, there's the Rushman move. I kind of like Jeffers a little bit in Minnesota. I know, yeah.

I like Jeffers a little bit. And he signed, I think, through 2026 or arbitration through 2026. So, like, as like a stopgap guy, if the JT thing doesn't work out, if he gets three years somewhere in the Phillies can't match it. Like, I'd be fine with trying to trade for Jeffers. Like cheap, I like him. So I like Jeffers. I have almost no interest in Natalie Rushman.

Rushman, I just think, yeah, it's just what will he cost? He's going to cost a lot. Yeah. That's why I thought Jeffers made more sense. He's still a pedigree guy. People still believe him because he was one, one. And he was really good for a while there and kind of turned to an overrated player. He's so funny.

He's Matt Weeders. And Matt Wheeler's same, same thing. It's the number one prospect, all that stuff. Now the one thing, same freaking team. I don't think they're going to trade them because everyone's talking about Basalo or the kid that they paid and he's awesome. It's just he's probably a DH. I don't think he can catch. So I'm not sure Adley's as available as as people are making out because they think this kid can catch.

I think he's more of a DH. Yeah. And again, like I would trade for Jeffers a backup plan. And he'll be cheaper both cost and, you know, trade costs. cost and actual cost um all right here's where i get a little weird i do have so here um the bow how long did this take you today how long did it take way too much time nice i like i went through so many different like lists of potential trade canades i was like teams and all this stuff all right so and and look i got a couple names i don't think you'll expect but one is one here's

the thing with boom so boom is like kind of my my pivot point with whether i sign another guy or not I'm willing to just let him write out the contract. I don't love Alec Bohm. I don't know that you're going to get something better than him. I'm not paying Bregman, obviously, as I've talked about. Like, if you Hainio Suarez would take a two-year deal, I'd sign him. I don't know that's going to happen. He's 34, but I would sign Suarez for a two-year deal if I could trade

bone for a middle reliever. I would maybe sign Kiki to a couple of year deal to play third. He's a free agent. Those are two guys that interest me as like older-tier guys to kind of go for it for a couple years with this core as guys who I could trust, maybe in some big spots and whatever. So I like those two. If not, I'm riding out with Bome. I'm not, my perfect off season is Suarez will sign for two years.

I don't think that happens. But that's my perfect move. And I trade Bome for a middle reliever. I don't know what I can get for a mid-a-contract year. I think you can get a middle reliever for Bome. I think they were trying to get too much. I think the big thing that I'm doing here, because I've got Aiden coming along in a year or two. You know, so, and I'm not trading Aiden.

So that third base shortstop thing, whether it's Turner, third, short, third, Aden, whatever they kind of do. I'm leaving that open there. And obviously stock coming up second. We're figuring that out. I don't have to worry about that quite yet. So the outfield is really where I'm making my changes,

making my moves. I've already gotten rid of Cassiano's. I'm just sticking Crawford and Martian Center and I'm letting him figure it out. Like I don't know that Crawford is a center fielder, but for me, he kind of needs to be because I need power in the corner, outfield spots the way I want to build my team for the next couple years.

I'm trading for two guys who are Arb through 2026. One is a name that we talked about a lot and it makes a lot. Both are names we talked about a lot. One, I think people don't think will get traded, but I think

there's a really good chance you could get him. But the first, that's the obvious one. He's probably getting it traded 26 years old. For some reason, I thought he was way older. A couple more years of Arb. I'll take a shot. on Joe Adele he's a pretty good right fielder like a solid right fielder plays a you know good right field he at what 30 home runs last year 30 something home runs last year I don't know that he's an

everyday lockdown guy but he's going to give me some pop he's going to play good right field I think he's like a better version of castianos out there 37 home runs last year by 37 and I think he can get a pretty cheap like for comparative to what he is I don't think he's going to be super expensive. That's where I would lean on you with the prospects. And then I think this will cost a little bit more. He's also armed through 2026, a little bit older. And you wouldn't think that he's an obvious trade target, but the Mariners just re-signed Josh Naler. Jerry DePoto has already talked about how high their payroll is. They've already got the Munoz thing that they have to pay. I'm prying Randy a Roserano way. There it is. Finally, we're finally bringing that guy

here. I mean, I just, I need guys who I can trust in a playoff spot. I'm bringing in two right hand at bats, which is something we've sorely needed. All of a sudden, my outfield goes from one of the worst hitting in baseball to a guy with some pop and put in some potential, a guy we know we can trust in the playoffs and a Marsh Crawford thing where I hope Crawford wins it. I don't know that Crawford's red. Crawford's still really young. Like that's the thing like, what's he, 22, Jack, 23 next season, something like that? 22, yeah. Right.

That would make him. We're going to 21 now. Okay. So starting next season, let's say 22 season, that will make him one of the 10 youngest players in baseball, one of the 12 youngest, 15, whatever it is. Like, that's crazy young. Like, I don't know that I can hand crop a job. And I also don't know that I trust Brandon Marsh as a full-time guy. I know he had a really nice second half of the year, but still in the playoffs, we've seen the flaws.

Huh? So I feel pretty good with that. Crawford can play some left when needed, a rosary. that can potentially play center in a pinch if you need to. It's not ideal, but he has played center. Adele probably more likely to play center. Adele has played center and can. I just don't know who you put in right then in that situation.

I don't really. Can Crawford play right is really a question if he can? That gives me a lot more maneuverability. But from a bat perspective, I think you're just so much increase in the outfield. So that's, and again, I'm trading a lot of guys, but I feel like I'm not trading any of my top,

top guys for those guys. It's more than next level down. especially in Randy's case because he was he's okay last year he's okay he did it 27 home runs I've been intrigued by Randy because the there's a story about how right-handed hitters in Seattle just almost go to die because there's something with how the the batter's eye is angled to where they can't see it so I always like Tiosker is a good example of this where yeah yeah it's a great call actually yeah leaves there in Toronto yeah and it seems like it takes Julio half a season to figure out because he's the worst player in baseball for half a year.

And then he turns into a superstar for the second half. So I'm very, very, very intrigued by Randy. I almost wish they could do a boom Randy swap just because Randy's in the final year of a deal. And, you know, obviously they do want to shed payroll. So I'm, I'm interested in Randy. My thing with Adele, who I do really like, I just wonder if the Ward deal last night maybe made them want to keep Adele. and maybe they were choosing between the two. But, and I, I don't even know really what the value of O'Dell would look like in a trade

because he's been so eh for a long time, exploded last year with 37 home runs. But he's not, he still has flaws, but I mean, he's only 26. I was shocked to see that. It feels like he's been on so long, right? Dude, he's been in our lives for a long time. I thought he'd be 28 or something like that, you know. It probably starts with a run. I think it still starts with the room.

but and I was hoping so I was hoping I'd get away with like going up to the Arun level trading guys which I think for everything else I could so I you know I'd consider it I don't like trading a room but I think I consider especially because I don't know like if you keep Arun if you don't trade him as your future second baseman probably is the idea there so so I I don't know this but I think Arun's traded this offseason I think I think he's blocked. I think he's blocked. Whether it's thought, whether it's Aiden,

I think it's Turner moving over. If Aiden stays a short, like it just gives him more flexibility. You've got so much infield stuff going on there, you know? And they can maximize his value now, you know? So again, I think he's a good player, but it seems like he's pigeonholed as a second baseman.

I don't think he's a third baseman. And I think that they're, they're pretty good from that standpoint. So I think of all the guys this offseason, I think Arun, I think Arun is one that probably gets dealt as they look for an upgrade somewhere. All right.

And now I have my one other. I do have one signing for a reliever. I forgot. I'm taking a shot on a guy. And so there's another. I need to. So I'm potentially trading for Pete Fairbanks if I have the capital left. Well, he's a free agent.

I thought he was a one year deal with 11, a half million. No, they non-tendered him. Are they? They not really. They did not extend them. Yeah. I thought, oh, it was a club option.

they didn't take it. They didn't pick it up. All right. So I mean, so I would. Pat think he's only going to get, Patston thinks he's only going to get two year a deal. So I would sign Pete Fairbanks and I think he's awesome.

I love Pete Fairbanks. I would, the other guy that I was interested from a free agent perspective as like a, and I don't know what the market is because he's going to be 31 next season, but was one of the best in the sport until he went to New York. Like what's the, like I would take a shot on Devin Williams. Like maybe he's just,

We've seen so many guys go to New York for the Yankees and just kind of not work there and then leave and be good. I really like the idea. I don't know what you would cost because it's only one bad year, but it was also a really awful year and has had injury issues and all that. But I really like the idea of taking a shot on Devin, William. So that's my perfect awesome. Yeah, and I think it's imperative that they get, they have a real opportunity here to get a eighth inning guy to get the ball to Tehran. That's what I wanted. I want someone to hand the ball to DeRan.

I thought of it. That's what you said, Suarez before I thought about just, I bet it's expensive. and I didn't realize he was 35. Diaz, obviously, I mean, that'd be dope, but I just don't expect him. He's 32. He'll get a good size contract, I would think. So I was trying to think of the guys who, to your point with Fairbanks, a two-year deal. Devin Williams, I was assuming off the New York thing, maybe not a massive deal.

So those are the kind of guys I was thinking. Last 19 games, a lot of five earned runs and four of them or four of those earned runs were in one game for Devin Williams. Oh, all right. I like that. And in 18 innings, he struck up 34 guys in his last. So there are some signs of life late in the year for Devin Williams. And even if there were just off at one year in New York,

I would take a shot on that guy's profile and that guy's history. Well, and with just the importance of getting an eighth-ending guy, like another righty in here, I think is just massive. Even like Taylor Rogers, they didn't ever know a hit for their entire lives. It's unbelievable. Now, even Iglesias. Iglesias is not 100% cooked. I mean, he had like a 1.92 ERA second half of the year.

and stopped allowing home runs. So there's an opportunity. They're not going to go spend a lot of money on two free agents. They're going to probably try to re-sign Schwerber. If they don't resign Schwerver, they'll spend $150 million on a Bregman, or maybe that's where Alonzo gets in. That's my gut feeling.

But they're not going to do two of those guys. It's not going to be Schwerber for 150 and Bregman for 160. It's going to be one of those guys. So the one way they can get better as a team is going and trying to beef up this bullpen in a way so I really think that they're going to end up with one of those guys I don't know who it's going to be but one of those names Fairbanks

Iglesias Devin Williams I don't think they would do it but like Edwin as an eighth inning guy would be Yeah I mean can you imagine especially because he's Hellsley we've been John Beck Ellsley Edwin's one of the few guys who seems to be able to do the coming to a dirty inning sit out and come back up

like he's one of the few guys who seem and that that feels like that's an advantage because so few guys can do it And as we talked about, you know, and as it plagued us, like Edwin seems like one of those guys who can actually do that, which is unique. Now, the thing with Edwin is pitch a ton innings the last couple of years. And look, and he's going to get paid. He's still only 32. I think he's going to want to close.

He's going to want to close. Yeah. Oh, yeah. He's not coming here. It's a cool thought. I will say, though, to the bullpen thing. And it's something stuck in my mind since we talked to him. I did think that was an interesting answer from Preston when we had him on talking about making the bullpen longer and that that was something that they were focusing on.

Like it felt pointed, you know. Yeah, well, I need to even bring up my, my boy, Alex McFarland, Gabe Craig, all the guys. All the baby boys. Come on, man. Can't wait. I wait. What's good, y'all? It's Vaughn Miller, Super Bowl MVP, Sagmaster, and now your host of Free Rain.

This is where NFL meets Real Talk. Every week, I'm bringing you inside the game from locker room stories to league-wide headlongs. You want football IQ locker room insight and real content. conversations with the people shape in the league. Welcome to Free Range with Vaughn Miller, where nothing is off limits and every down counts. New episodes every Wednesday. Listen and follow Free Range with me, Von Miller, wherever you get your podcast. Speaking of Baby Boy, go ahead, baby boy.

All right. Let's do it. The main event, as they say. An interesting segue way. So I'm trading. You did call me the little dog in a text, which I was not psyched about, but I let it slide. Little dog. Okay.

I call you big dog. But, you know, you call me a little dog. I'm going to stop calling you big dog. That's a damn sure. Okay. So, I'm trading Bryson Stott. Ooh, ho. Nice start, buddy.

And let me get this out of the way. I love Bryson Stott. I think he's a valuable player. I'm just, I'm reshuffling things here a little bit. Not looking to get rid of Bryson Stott. I am just, there's a possibility for a different version of the Phillies. that's what I'm going for here. So I'm trading Bryce and Stott to the

Colorado Rockies for Brenton Doyle. Yeah, buddy. And I'm taking a shot on bounce back Doyle, bounce back Brenton. He was, and I know people are all in the baseball reference. They're like, oh, he sucked last year. I know he sucked. But, year before, first

off, he's arguably the best defense center fielder in baseball. He's phenomenal. He has been clocked 105 miles an hour from the outfield. I want that in my Plus, in 2024, he hit 25 home runs. I think last year, maybe the hype around the year before, he got a little ahead of himself. He had a bit of a resurgence in the second half of the year. The last two months, he had like 260 with a 7-something OPS.

In the month of August, he had over, I think he's at 361 in August. Signs of life from Brenton Doyle and new head of baseball ops, Paul D. Podesta. Uh-huh, yeah, buddy. Gets a second base in the hell is there. That works a good count, gets on base, could be a lead-off hitter. You know, maybe in Colorado, he's hitting the 300. Who knows? Who knows?

So it's an interesting swap, I think, for both teams, but the Phillies get a center field or is on control for the next couple of years. It's also one of the best in the sport. Defensively, that's not I mean getting to his offense, which he does have 25 home run power potential. He can be that guy, and he's a division two guy. So I will always take a shot on a division two guy. I love it.

I think the Rockies probably say no, but I think it's possible. I think it's within the realm of possibility. So it seems like they want to trade Brent and Doyle for a top 100 pitching prospect. Yeah. Which I don't want to trade Gage Wood for them. And I am trading. Look at you. Not even trading Gagewood yet.

You're just locked in. Well, I'm trading someone else because I'm trading Brandon Marsh. I'm trading Dante Norrie. and I'm trading Matthew Fisher Wow, you were really excited when they got Fisher A lot of talk with Preston after that thought about Matthew Fisher Can't stop thinking about that guy Seventh round right? The fact I know it was the seventh round

Just shows how much you're talking about Matthew I mean come on Yeah, well and I think he's gonna have a lot of value and I think that teams are gonna be interested in Matthew Fisher And I would like people to let me know how he's doing down in the breakout camps right now because he does mean a lot to me but he's got to get ready to learn St. Louis Cardinal, pal, because we are trading all of those guys to the St. Louis Cardinals for Brendan Donovan and Kyle Leahy, who I love out of their bullpen. And I think it's someone that it could possibly be a bridge to Duran. But the main piece, oh, we get for the eighth perfect off season in the row in a row.

I was just about to say it wouldn't be a perfect dog season if you weren't trading for Brendan Donovan. I'm getting Brennan Donovan here and he's playing second base. Bring me, Brandon. I don't care what his numbers were against lefties last year. I love him. I absolutely love. So I really like Brendan Donovan. I think he's a winning player.

I'm right there with you. Do you think you would cost that much? Because that is a healthy package. How good's Leahy? So this is a U area where I know because Norey feels like an ascending piece. Yeah. So it's obviously hefty, but it's not, it's not gauge. It's not Justin Crawford.

It's not Aiden Miller. It's not the guys, guys. You know what I mean? Right. It's not a ruin. I'm basically trading the extras for, for, and I, again, I think that in Norris should be good. I actually think the Cardinals would be a good landing spot for Dante Noree. And then Matthew Fisher.

He's all having, right? You know. Matthew Fisher is someone who's a projectable piece that I think would interest teams in a trade, but it's not Gage Wood. And I don't want to trade Gage Wood. So I'm trading Matthew Fisher. And, like, it, like, it'll, hurt for a second, but Brandon Donovan is going to be a Philly.

And that is the ultimate goal here. So, Brennan Donovan is my new second baseman replacing Bryce and Stott. And I now have Brenton Doyle in center field. But we're not done yet, James. We're not done yet because I'm trading Orion Kirkering. Finally. Who I do think still does have value and maybe a bounce back to the world. I do too. Again, like it costs $800,000 this year.

Yeah, and the numbers say he was good. Yes, as long as he's not pitching in a big spot. You know, he put Pittsburgh, Kansas City, any of these places who aren't going to pitch playing a big game, you know, he should do great. Well, and hopefully, hopefully they burned the inherited runner scored stats. Again, again, him is that no one knows what they are. But I'm training Ryan Kirkering and another one of my favorites,

Kate Obermuller, the second round pick from last year, to the Chicago Cubs for, say, a Suzuki. I knew you're going to. This is like a play in the hits, buddy. You could have just rerun last year. I know. You really are. You could have.

You could have. So he's in the final year of his deal as well, much like. And they said that he's on the block, apparently. He's on the block. They get a good reliever for him. They get an interesting lefty prospects for him. And the Phillies get right-handed thump behind the big guys in the lineup. So if he's available, I don't like that felt close to maybe, like,

Maybe you have to give up more, but that feels about right for a one-year deal for Suzuki, who I just, I think he's awesome. I think he's awesome. So, and plus, the Phillies seem obsessed with getting a Japanese player. Yeah. So, and Suzuki is, is all that. So I'm, my outfield is now Doyle in center, Suzuki and right and Justin Crawford and left. Also, just to round it out and make this a perfect hits podcast. Yes, I'm signing Rob Rest Snyder for a one year. Dude, as soon as I saw him on the free agent list, I was like, I will bet my life did Jack sign him. Listen, part of this is being consistent and so far insanely consistent with my perfect off season.

It shouldn't surprise anyone. Well, he would make sense with Crawford. Of course. I mean, look, again, to the Crawford point, like, I don't think we can expect Crawford just come up and be like an everyday lockdown player. That's tough. Again, we'll love for it to happen. But I'll take a little bit of a chance with Rob Reff Snyder, who's

Ritz lefties for me. I really like your outfield. It's a fun outfield. Dude, Doyle and Center and CBP, there's not going to be a baseball that falls in. It's a really fun outfield. I like it. And Suzuki actually played the outfield last year again, which is good. He kind of went to being their DH, and he was back out there.

So that was good. I awesome signing Schwerber, 5150, you know. Dude, it kind of feels like someone's got to give him six, and I just don't want to do it. I mean, I don't want to do it. He's, I love Kyle Schorber, but six years for a 33-year-old DH is terrifying. And, you know, Passon said yesterday. Five years is terrifying, pal. I know.

Well, and Passon said yesterday that, I mean, it seems like it's already at five years and $30 million a year. Those are like the starting offers. What are we doing? What we're, again, heading into last year, there's no way he was ever going to do that. And he's not going to do what he did last year. He's just not. he's not going to have 56, 56 home runs again.

I don't know. So I'm doing it a bit begrudgingly. The interesting part about re-signing Schwabber now is it's going to get a golf clap reaction because everyone's going to look at the number and be like, I don't know. I guess so. I don't know. Yes, you got to give it. And again, to that point, I mean, we are really, I mean, the last few years, we really got

to win. We've really got to win because, again, I'm trying to serve masters and you go with a couple years young guys get up and you got to keep drafting and developing well which we believe in and all that but like man you're really like years is it I guess like 8 9 10 11 of Turner and years like 11 12 13 of Harper

and years you know 3 4 5 if you go 6 I know I know you got like 37 and 38 year olds just running around out there A lot hinges on Aiden and then Justin Crawford. Yeah, like they have to be freaking awesome. Because they're going to have to carry that weight, you know?

Yeah, yeah. So, so that I'm also resigning JT. I'm giving them two years 34 with a club option for the third year. Oh, buddy. Who doesn't love a good club option? So JT's back. JT. It feels like,

it feels like they just, I know he's the market and all. It just, it just feels like JT's going to be back. It just, I would be so. surprised if he's not. Yeah.

I'm trading out Bohm and Gabriel Roncones to the pirates for Carmen Lewinsky who had like a 2.15 E. Carmen Lanzinski

as a reliever laugh here. 2.15 ERA. I won him as a reliever. He can be a swing guy if they need a swing guy. But I'm trading bone plus an interesting prospect for a reliever with a good amount of control left and it's crazy because boom i i don't think he has really any value i was like my first was my first trade was you had to throw in rancona's with him i know and and and and boom and

like i was thinking about bone from matt brash there's no way they're trading matt brash for for home from one year so i want to get that brash was pitching in big moments for them in the playoffs like no chance what what do you think bum gets on the market next year um i don't know three 45. 350. Really? I know. I don't know. Yeah. Yeah. I know. I have no idea, but I'm very ready for it to be. So I'm ready for it to be over. I agree. They're just certain guys like him Cassie house. It's like I'm just, I've seen enough. You know. Sure. So so part of my purpose is and really is just reading the tea leaves and trying to predict where they're going to go. Like I think Bones gone. I, I think what we know Cassie's gone. I mean. Oh, Cassie's gone.

Debrowski's comments were very, very pointed. So, and then my final move is I'm trading Cassie and $10 million to the Marlins for Anthony Bender. So we really did keep everything really consistent here. I got Anthony Bender, one of my guys. I love Anthony Bender. I got Rob Raff Snyder. I got Suzuki. I got Brennan Donovan.

I mean, I think it's the most play that you've ever done, actually. Like, this is the most, if we could have just guessed like 10 names that you can put on there. probably would have gotten all the name this is without Adam Duvall this is without him which is shocking I'm still a free agent so he still is you're 37 now I don't know what he is so my lineup line up by the way it goes Turner Donovan

I'm putting Donovan in the tool but that's three straight lefties what yeah so this is not going to happen but Turner Donovan Harper Schwerber Suzuki Doyle JT. Kemp and Justin Kropp that's pretty dope that's I mean you got

some the first if Doyle bounces back in a real way it's a it's an insane lineup with the first five you feel pretty dang good about if whatever combination you want of Turner Donovan Harper Schwerber Suzuki it's pretty good it's pretty good and it's and other Suzuki all like Donovan and dole both elite defensive players as well yeah as we talk about with Doyle but Donovan also really good second baseman so I feel pretty good about it I feel pretty good about it. I feel pretty good about it. The stock won't probably won't happen. I like all the other trades.

I would love Brendan Donovan to get here. I didn't really sign a starter. There are interesting starters. I didn't either of us didn't. We both just were like, all right, roll them out. Yeah, like, Ladenski can do both if he wanted, but he's more interesting to me as a reliever. But like Wheeler, Sanchez, Lazzardo, Nola Painter Walker's fine. You feel good about that.

You need Taiwan now, unless you want to trade him, then sign someone for like $5 million. Okay, you can do that. And then a bullpen of Duran Leipzig, Leahy, Bender, Strom, Alvi, Banks. I take that. Now, what's interesting, they might be, I think there's a better chance than not that they trade Matt Strom, which is interesting. I mean. Yeah, because he's not that expensive with 7.5 mil.

Yeah, but the way they talked about him specifically. Oh, that was, yeah, I forgot about that. You're right. I mean, and it could have just been that they didn't, like him calling out Topper or the coaches like they did or whatever when you know I think he was just trying to get Kirkring's back who knows I think that you know whatever but it was they weren't happy you're right they were not happy now I don't know if it would extend to trading him but they weren't happy yeah I mean they might just they sounded done with it and that might not

have been in the first time that you don't talk like that you don't thought like that that's the first time that it happened where he's been annoying or a pain in the ass and I don't know I just the way that, I mean, Gell has been talking a lot about the idea of trading one of those guys. I think they love Alarado. I mean, Alvarado seems like a Philly. And Banks is great. Of course they do. Yeah. Listen, I still, I know

I'm still, I'm pro-Alvara. Okay, yeah, could have cost them to World Series, but sure, pro-Ovarado. Yeah, probably guy. Way to go, buddy. Good job. I was I thank you for potentially costing the World Series. Appreciate you. And that's not even the one where you gave up to Homer to Jordan. Well, yes. Yeah.

Leak and oil. Leaking oil by that point. So that's what I got. That's what I got. I actually don't. I'm really starting to, and it's pretty disgusting work by me, but I'm, I'm,

it's whatever. I'm liking the, I'm liking the idea of, of Kemp every day. I want to see what he's got. I want to see what he's got. I mean, I'm buying it to the injuries.

Where at third? You're saying third? Third, yeah. Third. Why, you left. I mean, there's probably,

but third makes sense. Yeah. All right. Let's, let's take back, but let's get into like the philosophical thing you were talking about at the beginning. just the other pathways that it could kind of go because I do think and it won't.

I don't think they reset in a meaningful way, but I do think there is a real, again, like I said at the top, a real logical argument to saying, all right, not signing Schwerber, not signing JT, movie, you know, obviously, we haven't even said Harrison Bader's name because it just doesn't seem like it is feasible and it makes sense. But yeah, very sad, it's a shame. I mean, honestly, has anyone had a better two months in Philly and not come back? I mean, it's, he will go down as an all-time two-month guy.

But, you know, it's, I think you make a real argument, like, kind of move on, when I did my perfect office season, the reason I veered back towards, you know, signing Schwerver and JT and kind of trying to bring in guys who are assigned for this year or a couple years and, you know, not commit too long term, but compete is because of the pitching staff, it just feels like when you have, especially Zach Wheeler potentially coming back and, you know, the last potential year of his career and all that stuff. And you have, you know, Sanchez and Lazzardo in the last year of the contract. And it just feels like it would be such a waste to not try and compete with that staff because it is so ready to win.

Yeah. But I do think there's a logical argument to saying, hey, you know, we've already got Turner and Harper locked in till 39 and whatever turns to be 41 when the contract ends or whatever, 40, something like that. I think 40. I think 40. Yeah. I mean, like, those last three years, potentially of each of those contracts, four years, who knows, maybe more, we don't know, could be ugly. There's a real argument to saying start over, kind of bring Miller up earlier than you might have, you know, bring Crawford up, let these guys take some hits, growing pains, take a year back, step back, and then kind of reset the deck and try and build, you know, not, but still like compete, you know. But they can kind of, they can kind of do both.

I mean, we both left third base and left field open. Well, you said, you said center field. I, but even then, I, I'm only bringing in a Rosarena for one year there in left field. So, you know, I mean, left field's open long term. It was more of just, I want a Rosarena for the year. And then you didn't trade Norrie. So, well, you probably have to trade Norrie.

I probably have to trade Norrie. That's why I was leaning on you. I didn't have the prospects. But Norrie, in my list, if I'm getting a rosarina and. Joe. Yeah, I'm probably going to have to get up Norrie in one of those. Yeah. But I think they're going to try to do both.

I think they're going to try to do both. I think they're going to have obviously an inflated top of the payroll with with Harper and Turner. And they don't have an influx of, of four, yes, but they don't have like an influx of all these young prospects coming through the pipeline. You know, it's, it's gauge will be up here. Hopefully, I mean, he could come up here this year. Who knows? Yeah, yeah. Painter's going to be here as long as things go well.

I mean, maybe they would get to the point where they would let. but you don't have to trade gauge wood because you need you need gauge wood for when Wheeler retires after 27 so to kind of I was more thinking would they let Lazardo walk just because gauge wood is coming but you have to re-sign

Lazardo and then gauge wood can still come along because Wheeler is done after that year so I really think they're going to try to do they're going to try to do both but I think that because they they kind of can they kind of can you know Nori maybe but they also could just trade Don de Nori

Arun, who knows if he's good enough to crack the roster in Stott's not making any money, he's playing second base at a really good level. So, yeah, and the way that Preston talked with us. Yeah, well, that's what Preston said. He said, why can't we do both? Preston said, we're going to try to do both. So going forward, hopefully in a couple years, you have

other pieces ready to go, but like Turner and Harper really are going to be their super, super long term commitments because, because Schwerver is only five years. Well, the thing, no, when you think about it with Hart, I mean, Harper's only a six years left. Yeah, so they're all right around. Maybe. So, yeah, Harper Turner will be the one that'll extend longer than that.

But again, who knows? And the key is you need those guys to age, someone gracefully, obviously, especially as it goes longer. And to your point, you need, you need these guys, you need Miller to be really good. You need Crawford to be really good. And you need to keep kind of an influx of guys. And you need more, you need to, the trades we're talking about, like, I think the, the, I mean, the single best move

Dembrowski made last off season, by far was the Lazzardo trade. Like, that was a master stroke. That was one of the best moves he's made since he's been here. Maybe the best, arguably, like individual move. Like, that was a, uh, shore, we're signing. I was, so as I said it, that was what I thought of the shore signing for the price. But like,

those are a trade was such a home run of a trade. Like, and it wasn't one we had on our radar at all, you know, so we're going to need more of those. Like some more moves where Dave find some guys who are, you know under contract under arbitration for a few more years at you know fair prices who are in the the meat of prime of their career are going to be able to supplement some of the older guys they get older you know well and the net well they probably won't have to do it this year but just being able to sign not have the kepler romano just misses just those being zeros

and not helping out in the slightest or even like Taiwan I mean Taiwan obviously didn't Time was a big miss. Yeah, look, Castiano's was a massive miss. Massive miss. Like, he had moments, obviously, and all that. But when you think about five for 100, it was a miss. Yeah. Yeah.

So I can't wait for the off season. I could tell. You're all, you're all, I'm freaking anxiety ridden about it. Really? Well, just the whole process of it made me realize just how many tough decisions they have to make. You know, so and also I will say something that is nerve-wracking just in general. and it's part of the reason I think why Passon's already talking about

Chorber's market being where he is, but it's a weak free agent class out there. Like, we could not have picked a worse year for Schwerber to be a free agent at coming off the year he had just because it's like, there's not that many places for teams to spend money like that, you know,

so. Well, and all the big market teams kind of are in on them besides the Dodgers and Yankees. You know, it's, it's Red Sox, Blue Jays,

Cubs um Mets I mean they like that's that's not great but all the all the big guys are in on the guy that you want to resign and the pirates and the pirates yeah okay sure yeah totally

something tells me something tells me there was a MLBPA grievance coming toward the pirates and and Marlin yes they're going to spend the money what I thought uh yeah look and I mean when you think about I mean Chorber like Tucker Bregman, you know, there aren't that many guys on this market who are going to get as much money as Schwerber.

Yeah. And I don't think teams want to pay for older free agents. I just think that that game, and that's why I find Breggman's market fascinating. I would die for Bregman on a three-year deal. Oh, I just don't think it's, but I agree with you. Yeah. But also, he went into last off-season, yeah, exactly.

Thinking he was going to get a five-year, six-year deal. And then at the same year he's had, the last couple. of years you got hurt again and now he thinks it's all of a sudden there's going to be more market with with a year older so maybe maybe we can get Bragman on a short term deal with the maybe a higher age but finding someone to get pregnant would be awesome all right what else got in the bag well so I've been texting people this all day and I haven't texted you it because I wanted to bring it up on the podcast but speaking of Schwerber would you rather

sign Schwerver to five or six years at it's probably more than $30 million right now so maybe $32 and a half or God forbid even $35 million a year I was going to think of the other. Would you rather do that or would you rather just sign Kyle Tucker

for 10 years at $350 million? I thought about it. I thought about it. Because I would rather sign Tucker. He's four years younger and he's coming off a year rate in 993 OPS I know not last year the year before. Yeah.

And I think people, dude heading into the year i love kyle you know much i love kyle tucker i've long been a kyle tuckerman heading into the year there was talk of him getting like a 500 600 million another guy at 38 39 40s he's four years younger and and he helps carry you through the old theoretically and then he's the old guy for the next group and so on and so forth and he helps carry you through the end of the brice deal on the end of the the turn deal as long as he's great and last year it was not great but But, but Kyle Tucker, I believe, played through a lot of an injury last year that

derail the season, but he didn't want to show teams that he was hurt. So he just played through it. And it zapped his power. And he was not nearly the same player. Before he got hurt last year, he was the leading MVP guy. And I remember in 2024, he did a 9.93 OPS. I think we're sleeping a little bit on Kyle Tucker. I'm just saying, we're sleeping on Kyle.

I don't hate it. Five years, six years of. shore were at 35 million dollars a year or 10 years of cowt soccer i'll take the 10 years of i don't i don't disagree i think it's a really fair argument i like yeah any place any place right field and in a short fortune right field come on man come on come on i am it's going to be tough to beat out the dodgers for him but sure i don't think they're going to sign them so it seems like it seems like it seems like it seems like they're going to do what they try to do with with Bryce and give him

a higher AV for shorter years. So and I think he wants to I don't know. Apparently he's he wants to go somewhere that he feels like he can win and sign long term. So who knows? Who knows? What do you think?

What do you? I didn't have in my perfect office season. I wanted to have him in my perfect off season, but I know what the trade would be. I don't know if he's actually available. But Buxton. Buxton. No.

What do you mean? No. Oh, this gets hurt. Every single year, the guy gets hurt. Every year, every year, every year, he barely, he barely got hurt last year. You got barely got hurt. Yes, yes, the perfect time he got hurt. Yeah, I, I would, no, I don't want to.

Seltzer, Seltzer, 35 home runs, gold glove center field, 551 slugging percentage. Oh, three years, $45 million left in that deal. Three years, four, that might be Harrison Bader. You're not taking a shot on, you're not taking a shot on buyer bucks and you're fault. But apparently, it's a great contract. It's an unbelievable contract. Apparently, it might still cost Miller or Cropper or Miller or Painter.

No chance. And I don't want to do that. Zero chance. No. I want to do it. If you can do it with like a ruin and get proffered. Come on, man. I don't know.

Start talking yourself into it. You can come here and get hurt. I know it. I know it. When you lay your, when you. lay your little head down on your pillow in about five minutes i can't wait i want you be thinking about beyond like six times there and this what you get at a six of a got by to get it yon's for me i want i want i want when you in your head hits the pillow i want you to be thinking about

three years 45 million dollars left on a on a center field that that hits 35 home runs a year that's what i want you thinking about three years that's uh what's that how many games is that that that's 324 plus 162 so that's 424 plus 62 so we're looking at 480 something games or whatever uh what's he going to play like in six three years yeah 400 162 162 12 yeah yeah yeah I know but it is uh I was it going to like 100 of them 80 7 out of 400 and you play 90 oh you're a bad guy. You're a bad guy. 95? You think he'll make

100? Triple dead? I bet I would set the over under at 119.5 all three of those years. And guess what? I only care about September in October. So that's as long as he's over that time. As long as those 120 games

or the 120 that are in the three yeah, that works. Thank you. Thank you. So we've talked a lot. I'm sorry, I'm in the fake bag area. So we've talked a lot about the Where else would you be?

No, I don't know. We've talked a lot about the work stoppage, right? Possibly coming out. You've got an expert on this pop with you, as you know. That's right. Well, I'm going to turn it back around on me as maybe a little good sign here. Can I throw out a little good sign? So that new media deal they signed with NBC.

Baseball on NBC, that goes back to your childhood. I don't remember that. Oh, buddy. Bob Costas. Love it. So you have baseball on NBC. see you have opening day in the field of dreams game on Netflix and the home run derby which we will 100% be at locked in locked in so that's going to be we actually will be at it

yeah you're right I know so that's going to be awesome it's going to be weird like actually having to hang around and do stuff all-star weekend all-star game usually it's like all right time to take off we're off for the week I know and I'm already thinking about so they move the draft date up to Saturday and the future game on Sunday and I'm already and I was like thinking to chill do I take the do we take vacation before or after and then I was like well I'm going to be in draft prep season before so it's got to be accurate but then but then we're heading straight into the trade that line so now we're thinking about all these and I kind of want to get an RV and drive halfway across the country so we got a lot of plans but here's the here's

the good news James is that all these media companies have signed up for the for for baseball right Netflix and but here's the good part yes pan it's only signed through 2028 so there's no way that it's a three-year deal for these contracts and they think that one of those years is just not going to happen because they're paying millions for for tv rights deals in these so there's no way they're signing up for a product that's just going to have a whole year off of it so that's my could today be it been a good sign for the labor-lawful lockout of 2027. Yeah, I don't, I don't know how those contracts work in terms of whether they still have to

pay if there are no games. Yeah, like, would they get month? Yeah. Yeah. You know what I mean? But I, look, I, I don't hate it. I'm with you. Let's look for any optimistic good signs that we can get.

So good sign. Thank you. Thank you. And I don't want to do. Oh, well, Alex McFarlane was draft was added to the 40-man roster as his banner as is Banner, as is a gross. Rinconis's last like 26 games

he had 296 with interesting stuff and I don't really want to talk about other free agents or other ideas because I want to start doing that in future podcasts because it could be a long offseason as it always is but we are officially in we are ready to do an emergency podcast

whenever they make a move type of season which is an exciting time and it's good to be back yeah we're ready whenever you know yeah even if i even if i have to stay up late i'll do it it's only seven it's only seven i know i meant if they signed someone late you know if they signed someone now i'd stay up to late and i was still you could wake me if they cite here's the thing i sleep with my ringer on because you know just in case if it's like nine o'clock at night and they signed tour where you can wait me i'll do it back i'm interesting i will hold you to that i know i know i would not say it to you unless i thought you would actually do it you might

wait me just for fun one night how low level of a signing could they make yeah no no don't don't abuse this yeah don't abuse this Tyler Rogers is that is that kidding is that kid is that can you that's that's a that's a first thing in the morning I think now if it's you know now yeah I think that's first thing in the morning okay well what if it's Brendan Donovan I'll get up for you hell yeah so now rolls are versed here who let's say that I'm already in bed and then you're Oh, like 3.30. Oh, I like this. Yeah. That's up to you. I mean, you would love to wake up for it.

You're kidding me? You're usually awake anyway. I text you and you're doing something with a kid or something. It's like, you're one of the few people who responds to me before 6 a.m. Yeah, well, these, like somewhat regularly. These two are the most dramatic sleepers of all time. I mean, it's, dude, Suddy will only sleep in our bed now. So, yeah, we went, we went through a long zone. right now, as you can tell, I'm actually in Zoe's room

because Zoe is taking over our basement. She's only seen in the basement now. Nice. Yeah. And Walker will fall asleep in his bed, but he's coming in. Whether it's two in the morning, whether it's four in the morning, he's coming in our room. At last night, it did it. It was a good step. But these two are just

they are the most dramatic sleepers that have been around, and they get it from their mom. Here's what, that's good work by you. That's good work. Luckily, Jill doesn't listen to the pot. I, here's it all say. you'll miss it like when they're not yeah when Walker comes in a bed I don't care

I don't care it's more Suddy how do you even know what bed you're in go to school I know I know that's more my point with Sutton and when he gets old enough and what's coming to our bed I don't it's great I don't I don't really mind it study though how are you're how are you making these kind of yeah I get it at 10 months old

how do you know that's yeah that's a yeah thank you Yeah, that's good work. All right. This is fun. Yeah. We are on emergency alert. We'll be around. We'll be ready.

More pods coming, obviously. It would be nice if the Phillies helped us out a little bit this offseason. Even if reporters helped us out a little bit. Some rumors, some news, some potential stuff. We'll take anything we can get to a pod about, right, Jack? That's always been our motto. That's all we want. All right.

We'll be back. People are already tweeting. me trying to keep up with all my trades, which I appreciate it. Yeah, this is great. This is, this is what you live for. Tweet him. He loves it. Until that, he's written himself.