High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - The High Hopes Perfect Phillies Trade Deadline

Episode Date: July 29, 2023

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz detail their perfect scenarios for the Phillies ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline. 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

All-star closer, Kenley Jansen, we have a question. What's the best podcast of all time? Baseball Isn't Boring, baby. I'm Rob Bradford, and every single day I'm sitting down with the biggest names to show you this great game is the greatest game. It's my podcast. It's my passion. It's a cause I started more than two years ago and is now the most prolific national daily baseball pod there is.

Another fact, so jump aboard the B.I.B. Express. Follow and listen to Baseball Isn't Boring, presented by Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. All right. Perfect deadline time. Okay. Do you want to go first?

I feel like I should go first because, you know, you've saved the best for last. It's like, you know, clean up hitter, the whole thing. And I changed it up on you. And let's all be honest. Every single person listening knows that you put, like, the whole thing and i and i changed it i changed it up on you and let's all be honest every single person listening knows that you put like probably like 10 times the amount of effort into your trade deadline is you sat there painstakingly going through the names going through the things this

and that mine was much simpler than that it's it was tough one soto is the freaking trade deadline trade for freaking Juan Soto. Like, what are we doing here, dude? What are we doing here? You have a chance to get an all-time. Yeah, I have other moves. But, like, in all honesty, I don't think it's going to happen. But, like, my perfect deadline, what I want them to do,

I want them to trade for Juan Soto. Like, I actually want that. It's my number one thing I want them to do. I'm trading Painter. I'm trading whatever else it takes. Like, I'm really willing to empty some of the farm system here. I believe in the development. I believe in the drafting. We'll get guys back.

I need World Series titles, man. This window is here. You just talked about it. This roster is the most expensive roster in the history of the franchise. We have five $20 million guys in the starting $20 million plus guys in the lineup. We're all in this window here. Everyone's here right now at the right age for the lot of money. And it's like, it's freaking go time.

We were in the world series last year. Like, I just feel like, I feel like it would be a mistake. And look, I'm, I think they're going to do some on the, like you talked about, I think it's gonna be more like last year than a mammoth deadline type thing and i have a trade another i have a more realistic trade in addition to this i want both to happen to a little more depth but like i sat here and i looked at it and i thought about the opportunities i thought about the moves that can be made and i'm just i kept coming back to him like like this is the move that wins your world series trading for juan soto wins your world series and it gives you a chance to bring in one of the great young hitters

in the history of the sport ever, ever in the history of baseball. This guy is on his way to being an inner circle Hall of Famer. He has had a better start to his career than Bryce Harper, which is crazy because Bryce had one of the great starts in the history of baseball too. The more I think about it, and it's been since I did that show, that morning show, whatever, a week and a half ago,

every day since, I keep thinking it just compounds more and more. It's like, why not? Why not go get Juan Soto? That is my first move of my perfect deadline. I'm empty in the vault and I'm trading for Juan Soto. I don't think it's going to happen,

but this is my perfect deadline and I want Juan Soto. Right. So full disclosure, same. Like I was, it's also like, like if they could, I would a hundred percent.

So yeah, my perfect deadline is trying to be realistic slash perfect deadline. I get it. And then, and, but like, yeah, I would,

I think that we overthink the Juan so i don't think too much like not only is it for the rest of this year it's also all next year you know and he talks about wanting to come back east he doesn't like being on the west coast he like obviously it's it's it's not this like getting him back here and with all of his guys i think the chance that you'd be buying low on juan soto that's the thing that's so crazy about it is that you'd be buying low on a guy that is he's not even having a bad year it's just like he's average the best hitter on the phillies by a mile right now you have a chance to get back to like a 300 450 35 home run juan soto in this ballpark with all of his guys with kevin long i mean with and with a lineup it it's stupid. Like, you want to talk about a bad leadoff? Screw it.

Like, it's, we, I think far too often we think practically. We don't think, and we don't dream. And just dreaming of how good the Phillies would be with Juan Soto. And I'm not worried about the loser vibes. I think there's something off with that Padres team. I agree. And I think if he comes here, I think you get a better version of him. And he's a year and a half away from free agency.

He has a chance to get a $500 million contract. You think he's going to screw that up by totally not giving his all the next year and a half? I disagree with that. So I'm with you. I would love Juan Soto. Like, I love Andrew Painter. I'm a prospect hugger. You know that.

But, like, it's a pitching prospect. And it's already, Artie's unfortunately having to get Tommy John. And I just, I can't bank on pitching prospects. I just, it's tough. I love him. But it's, you have to do it for a guy like, again, a 24 year old. It's like already won a world series and the best player in the team.

Like we're talking about it. It's just, it just, and again, it's a fit. They need a left fielder. Like just at all. Like you, you're replacing Jake cave in the lineup with one Soto. I mean, think about that. Taking Jake cave, taking him out of the lineup, defensive superstar, I'll be it, and you're putting Juan Soto in that lineup.

I mean, it's just like, and again, I'm trying to win multiple World Series, and you get him in your building, you have a chance to sign him long-term. It creates so many avenues, so many opportunities for this team for the next few years and just moving forward. And to your point, pitching prospects are such a crapshoot.

I know exactly what Juan Soto is. I know i'm getting at least a year and a half of one of the besters in baseball with the ceiling being he could be the best in baseball for a year you know like it just i i am i'm all in on the one so i'm and i agree with you i don't think it's going to happen but i'm all in um all right so i have a more realistic trade that i would make with it and this is one that i think they could type of trade that could work with or without Juan Soto. And look, my other realistically, if I'm not getting Soto, I am still going in on a guy like Bellinger. Like I am all about adding right now. Like I am fine giving up prospects for help now.

I think this team is good enough. I think when you look around the rest of baseball, you know, other than the Braves who we beat last year in the playoffs, like there is no team that I look at and say, like, they're way better than the Phillies. Like the Braves are better. Like the Braves are better baseball team, the Phillies. It is inarguable right now, but like in a playoff series, are they that much better? I don't think so. Like we just saw it last year. The pitching can match up. Like the bats obviously are great there, but the Phillies have bats too. And if our five get hot, like they match up well. So like,

I just think like there's an open opportunity here and this team has shown that they can do it. This team shown they can get there and like enough already. I've won one title in my lifetime with this team. Like let's go. So I'm all frigging in. So if I can't get soda, I'm trading for Belanger.

I know it's a rental, but like I'm going all out to upgrade that left field position because I feel like the way this team is and we talked about like yeah could they use another starter sure but like I like Christopher Sanchez I feel all right with him as my five I would like some depth there potentially but like I don't I'm not trading for anyone who's going to take one of those playoff starts like I'm not giving up enough to get one of those guys in this seller's market so with with that being the case, like I'd upgrade the offense. That's where you've been struggling anyway. So I would trade for Belgium.

And then my other trade, I have one more and then I'll let it get to you. And I know it's like, look, Adam Duvall, like we talked about, it's like probably going to be Adam Duvall, but I wanted to find a move. Cause I agree with you. I think if I'm looking for a bullpen upgrade, I'm looking for a lefty who can get lefties out. Right? Like, I think that that is the biggest hole, especially with the alvarado up in the air like i'm not if i'm trading for one so do i know i don't have a

lot of pieces left to kind of go and add a a alex lang as a righty you know you want it like a left but like a big time reliever guy so i'm going to the rockies and i'm uh i'm getting a brent you don't like this hitter but the the Duke can hit left-handed pitching. He's had a good year. I'm trading for Brent Suter and Randall Gritch. Oh, my God, dude. Like, no. I'm sorry.

Suter's been good this year. Heading into the end of his year, a 33-year-old come in, get some lefties out. You hate Gritching. You never like Gritching. No, no, no, no, no. I think Brent Suter's my least favorite player in baseball. Really? He out. You hate gritching. You never like gritching. No, no, no, no, no. I think Brent Suter is my least favorite player in baseball. Really?

He's been getting guys out, dude. I cannot. He is a dork. He is an absolute dork. I loathe Brent Suter, which means they're 100% great. But you will admit, at least for some reason, this year, whatever he's doing, it's working. And he can get lefties out. He's good for the Brewers the last couple of years. But the point is he's fine.

And I think he is cheap. He is a 33-year-old heading into free agency. He won't cost you much. And I've always liked Gritchick. I think Gritchick's a nice fourth outfielder bat, and he can start for teams. But I think you bring in a Gritchick. I think they need a right-handed bat that you can trust to either get some starts for you.

If, if Harper's DH and given whoever day off or whatever, or to like, you know, like I can't have Josh Harrison coming up in a, in a big spot in a playoff game. If I need to hit from a right-handed hitter, you know?

So, so I think, but so does my thing. And if not, it's Bellinger, but then I'm, I'm, I'm getting a lefty and a right-handed bat in a package somewhere,

and that's an example of one that I would be fine with. That's fine. And listen, Suter makes sense. I was trying to be realistic with that one. I went one Soto, and then I tried to come up with a very realistic deal. I know. And Kricic, I've never liked Kricic. I know you haven't.

No, this is how I knew. We've talked about it before. I know. He't no we've we've this is how i knew we've talked about it before like i know i know he's bad he is batting i really like him i've always he's one of those we're total opposites i've always liked him i always pick him up for stints and fantasy i always like trust him against left-handed pitching like i've been a gritchy guy so he's been good this year he's been good um. I'm kind of – I'm not really – first of all, I don't think they trade Bellinger. I'm also not knocking down the door and trade for Cody Bellinger

just because he's another lefty. That was the problem with it. That's why the lefty thing of it did not. And Soto is too, obviously. Yeah, but he's won Soto. I was not as excited. That's why I led with Soto, and Bellinger was kind of like my I will trade for Bellinger if I can's won Soto. I was not as excited. That's why I left with Soto and Bellinger was kind of like my,

I will trade for Bellinger if I can't get Soto, just to say how important I think it is to really add someone impactful. But I agree with you. It's like Soto by a mile from me. Part of the value of Bellinger for me a week and a half ago was that he could play first. And now I just, Bryce is the first baseman, man. I love watching Bryce at first. Now,

it's the greatest. Bellinger would be fun. He's had a great year. He's smoking lefties. But I'm not super in on trading what I think it's probably going to take to get him. He is a rental as opposed to Soto's a year and a half.

Unfortunately, Gritchick and Soter make sense. Good job. trading what I think it's probably going to take to get him. He is a rent as opposed to Soto's a year and a half. And unfortunately, Gritchick and Soto and Souter makes sense. So good job. Thank you. All you, buddy. I can't stand it. I can tell immediately.

I was like, the moment I said the name rent Souter, your face was just like, well, because he's the one player. I don't want them. Like there's one player. Do not trade for it.

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All right, so I have about 100 targets for you that I have to, I just have to talk about them. I'm sorry. Yeah, just go deep, buddy, go deep. So here is my perfect deadline. Now, this gets thrown a wrench because I'm with you. So my big targets are Soto. I would take Soto.

And I would still trade for Dylan Cease. I would do what it takes. You get two more years of him after this year. I think that you get him out of the dumb White Sox way of doing things, and you get him with a smart organization when it comes to pitching. I think you have a chance to get a possible Cy Young candidate in Dylan Seas. So I think you're buying low on him. And as someone that has owned him in fantasy, yes, he's killing my team.

So those are my big moves. Now, the first move here is what I want them to do, and then I have a jack trade for you, okay? Can't wait, buddy. So my first trade is I'm trading Bailey Falter, Carlos de la Cruz, and Connor Brogdon. I think this is enough, might need more, to the Seattle Mariners for Teoscar Hernandez.

Now, love Teoscar. He has been bad this year. Yes. Has not been great. But, I think for the, the chance that they can get

a, a, like, my, the thing I care about the most, so he strikes out a ton, and he doesn't walk, and he chases,

which is the three things that, having not watched him every day, Jack is going to be very annoyed with if the trade for him but he's like 25th in the league in barrels this year he's been really good the last couple years oh he was awesome in toronto like he raked he already has 16 home runs he's not going to be a his defensive metrics aren't that bad so if I feel like if you can just play left field

or whatever, they want to switch him and Castellanos, I don't know. But I'm taking a shot on a guy who I think is a devalued asset that has a ton of right-handed pop, which I think they need more than anything right now. They are missing Reese Hoskins in the lineup. Shocking.

But they need to be able to replace that power somewhere at the deadline. And I'm taking a shot on Teoscar Hernandez. I like Grichik, but Grichik has five homers this year. So, like, especially in Colorado. So, I don't know what's going on there. But

the overall numbers don't look great. OBP is under 300. 16 home runs. They need right-handed pop. I'm taking a shot on like this year's version of solaire i i love it i you know i've been a tasker guy i owned him in fantasy last year and the year before um and even two years ago he was a freaking stud for me uh i love the task idea and i i think i like honestly i think that might even be like like it's certainly enough i think to get him.

I do. Well, and he's a free agent at the end of the year. And a couple of the other things. It might be too much is my point. Like, you might not even have to give up that much to get to ask him. That's fine. And the other thing I like, batting three, so he's batting, like, 240-something. But 317 with runners in scoring position.

He's got, like, an 846 OPS against lefties. And he's got a an 846 ops against lefties and he's doing he's got 750 ops on the road so also seems like a vibes guy too like i watched a lot of blue jays baseball a couple years ago because i had him and vlad on the same fantasy team for back-to-back years and like like they all like that team was fun those had fun. He seemed like someone who everyone liked. So, yeah, I'm all in on Tiasco. So, Tiasco. Now, the Jack trade. And a trade. Now, Tiasco is my target.

But I'm looking for another right-handed power bat that can play left field, even though his defensive numbers have been bad for some reason, even though he came up as a center fielder. I am taking a shot on doing the Brandon Marsh trade over again. And I'm trading the same package for T Oscar plus how you leave to the Los Angeles angels for Joe Adele. Wow. So,

okay. So Joe Adele was like a top two or three prospect in baseball. So last time I was at 2020, he was number six. Okay. So yeah, I knew he was up there. And it depends, I guess, what list you looked at. Like he was definitely like top three on some lists. So yeah, that's like a legit, but never, never, never put it together.

Yeah. Angels are dumb. See what the Phillies got out of Brandon Marsh. He has like a million home runs in AAA. He's hurt right now. But if you're looking for a chance on a mix of upside and right-handed power and a guy that can just play left field, taking a shot on Joe Adele and, like, spending the assets to go get it done.

That's my Jack. Like, that's the kind of guy you give to K-Long. It's like, all right, I got this. Exactly. Exactly. Like, this chance to get a Joee adele and turn him into like a stud here i i love the uh t oscar idea but you know me the the joe adele thing is right up my alley yeah um my second trade and this is vintage i'm trading simone muziati and a some lower level guy to the new york mets for my guy my favorite player in baseball luis guillerme and i am i have loved luis guillermet for a million years he's having a down year he's my favorite player on the mets and i am getting josh harrison out of here and i'm and he is out until

september so he wouldn't have him for a month i am getting luis guillermet here and he's going to be my utility guy for the next two years. Fine with it. Anything that gets Josh Harrison out the door, it's a great move. It's funny. I thought you were setting up for a – because I know you also hate Tommy Pham. It's funny, all these guys that I know you don't like that much. I thought you were setting up for a – I always loved him trade for Tommy Pham, who I don't like. So I would – full disclosure, I would trade for Tommy.

Yeah, he's been good. He's been really good. He's going to cost nothing. He has the 850 OPS. I think he's top 30 in barrels. He's top 30 in barrels and expected Woba. Again, he's a solid fielder out there. Yeah.

I think they trade for Tommy Pham. If I know this, I guarantee Tommy Pham's in Philly on Tuesday. This last trade, it's going to sound like an overpay. And I don't think it is, but it might be an overpay. Full disclosure. I am trading Johan Rojas, Howie Lee, if he's not in the Joe Adele trade, Rojas, Howie Lee, if he's not in the Joe Adele trade, Gene Cabrera, and a lower-level prospect to the Kansas City Royals for Carlos Hernandez and Brady Singer.

Now, Brady Singer has been asked this year, but he is an innings eater. The Royals are dumb. He had a 3-2-3 ERA last year um and it's a chance on that so it's not really about brady singer carlos hernandez i think with a non-dumb team is a top 10 reliever in baseball um and he's already been really good this year and i know that sounds like a lot but he is under control i believe for the next three seasons after this um and i just he throws 100 all the time you know so like him soto and alvarado would be fun at the back end i'm getting another a kind of weapon and someone that i think is a devalued asset a little bit um i know no one really knows

who he is and i know it would be a lot but if you're looking for another back-end option i just think the guy's a stud. And I think if you get him out of Kansas City and you get him here, then you get him turned into an animal for you. So I know Rojas is a lot. I know Lee is a lot. That's two top-ten prospects for a reliever and a bulk starter. But Brady Singer has two years after this.

And two years again. The Airpoint Singer last year was pretty good. So it's not – yeah. yeah so um that's my deadline i'm getting a right-handed power bat i'm getting a utility guy realistic of you you just came in like a like a grown adult you're not joking around you're not you know this is not the time and instead one soda you said Juan Soto. You're like, no, no, no. Let me tell you about these. I'm just going to get a left fielder here. I'm going to get a reliever here. It's going to be very on level.

And I expected this, but I also love Alec. I came in. I'm like, I'm trading for Juan Soto, whatever it takes. And you're like, I'm giving up this prospect, this prospect, this prospect, probably this one or this one. So, you know, you want to know the bad part? You want to know the bad part? You want to know the bad part? Is that I was sitting there putting this together, and obviously we're not really making these trades,

but I was like, man, it would hurt to put them in this trade. You know what I mean? Like, I was like, man, I don't know if I want to. This is a lot for Carlos Hernandez. Like, I want him, but, like, man, it's a lot. You've got to give him something to get something. You know what I mean? So yes, I took it very...

Literally, 10-45 last night, just painstaking. I really want to do this. I believe it. So the way I view it is I've got a right-handed power bat. I get to replace Josh Harrison. I get a starter that if they want to go six-man, at least he can take down innings. And I think I get a high, if they want to go six-man, at least he can take down innings. And I think I get a

high, high, high upside reliever. It reminds me of remember I wanted them to sign Carlos Estevez last year? Sure, of course. He's been closing for the Angels. He's been great. Who could forget my Carlos Estevez love? Dude, it was the trade deadline pod.

It was like one of your leads, I think, was Estevez. You brought him up out of nowhere. You're like, Ilos estes i was like okay yeah we're doing that again with carlos man's now i'm this i i just have to get all my i have to get all my targets out okay because he's like so just fire him off buddy so here's my problem with this is i'm gonna i have about 30 names here oh my goodness my goodness. Oh, jeez. And they're going to trade for no one of these guys. That's how it usually works. But here is everyone that I would be happy if the Phillies traded for, okay?

T. Oscar, Joe Adele, Adam Duvall, James Paxton, Nick Pavetta. Oh, my. He's been great. Bullpen superstar. Our foals, man. Our foals. Bring them home. Let them win World Series MVP for us.

Bringing back Pavetta would be the funniest thing in the world. All the time. Aaron Saval. He's got two years left after this year, but he's kind of turned it around. And the Guardians always have pitching, so maybe they'd consider moving him. It would probably cost a haul, but if you're looking for someone who's been pretty good that's turned it around and has found a cutter,

which his team's obsessed with, Aaron Saval is a name to look out for. I would be in on Eduardo Rodriguez. He's never healthy at this point, but he's been really good. Yeah, he's been breaking out in Detroit. Yeah, and Dave know Dave would love to bring one of his guys on.

Joe Kelly is an interesting one. I almost put him. He was one, but I went with a lefty reliever and I was trying to find one you hated, so I didn't want to go Joe Kelly. Well, Joe Kelly is the right-handed version of Brad Sutter. Exactly, yeah.

So Joe Kelly, I always kind of think he sucks, but he helped Dave on a World Series, so I can see them trading for him. Matt Duffy, who's been around forever. He's in the Royals now, but can play multiple positions, and I think is an upgrade over Josh Harrison.

As you can tell, I really want to upgrade the Josh Harrison spot on the team. I agree. I would trade for Tommy Pham. Louis Ghiorme, obviously. Garrett Stone, who killed us out of nowhere. I would definitely trade for him from the Nationals. I never heard of him.

I was like, who the hell is this guy hitting a grand slam right now? Stone something. Stone Garrett. That's it. His first name's Stone. Yeah. Yes, I messed it up um but he killed the killed the phillies and and a really good defensive left fielder regardless uh jordan

montgomery is interesting and he's got he's got to me the phillies have been linked to in a lot of these articles and it makes sense he's a lefty he's never hurt he's not super high upside but he's been pretty good this year and he's a free agent at the end of the year and 100% getting traded. So Jordan Montgomery is a name to look out for. You know me, Mitch Keller. I don't know what they're going to take. What do I, buddy? I don't know what they're going to take.

Apparently they're shopping him. I know, which is shocking. But I think if he, again, leaves a dumb team and comes to a smart team, you have a chance to get even more out of Mitch Keller. So I think it would probably cost Abel, honestly. And I'm not sure that they... He's got two years left in the position. Yeah, I know. Mitch is good. Yeah.

And he's an all-star. Colin Holderman is a pitcher on the Pirates. That's pretty good that I think no one really knows, but is a decent bullpen option. The interesting one is Blake Snell. Like, I know he's a free agent at the end of the year. I know he costs a ton. Man, if you get Blake Snell. I know he's a free agent at the end of the year. I know he costs a ton. Man, if you get Blake Snell in this rotation.

I mean, he's been one of the two or three best pitchers in baseball the last two months. He's been unbelievable. I think second in Cy Young odds right now. I mean, I'm not surprised. He's been phenomenal. So I'm curious to see if they would give up what it takes to get Blake Snell here because if they care about aces and starts.

So how about we just hater Snell and Soto. What would that package cost? If you give up your entire minor leagues, is that good at that? Yeah, probably. And you know, I don't know someone on the major league roster.

Fill the needs. I'm just saying, I think you kind of like solve all your problems pretty quickly. Yeah. Um, but Snell's, I wonder if they're going to do what it takes to get Snell. Uh, Justin Lawrence, the, the Rockies' super funky sidearm that throws 100 out of nowhere.

He's probably going to cost a ton in a trade, but I would 100% see if they could get him. Harold Castro has been around forever. He can play first, second, third, short if they want. So, again, just a Josh Harris replacement. second, third, short if they want. So, again, just a job share replacement. And the final one is Andy Abanez of the Tigers, who is, again, that ballpark is a horrible hitter's park.

I know. It's a horrible hitter's park. So, you know, if you get him out of there, because all of his underlying stats suggest that he could be better. But, again, no one crazy. Either way, Ken and I wait for the deadline. And come on, Dave. Bring us a stop. It's your time to shine, buddy.

Your time to shine. And look, those trades last year made a difference. Like Brandon Marsh made a difference in them getting in the World Series. David Robinson played a role in them getting in the World Series. So even Cinderguard, you know, was part of the team that got... Dude, how the hell did they trade Cinderguard for Ahmed Rosario? I know.