High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - We Didn't Want Juan Soto Anyway

Episode Date: December 10, 2024

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to Juan Soto signing with the Mets and the Phillies making their first move off the offseason, signing Jordan Romano to a one-year deal. 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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This is the High Hopes Podcast. On the Odyssey app and sports radio 94 WIP. Crowd was singing high ho. Smiling through a broken nose. Oh, high ho, high ho. I feel a little less alone. Yo, it is another edition of the I Am Spock guest sponsor. I feel a little less alone Yoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo It's fine. It's not we said it in every power like the mentor. We're gonna sign him and then they did and 765 million like I like what the

Is it hard for you to grasp? I almost cursed. I just almost said I said what the mmm like what the mmm? I know you listen. I know you're what are we doing here? Show? Hey, Otani? Pitches and hits and got 700 I get it least he's got pitches. What are we doing? What is happening right now? It's price of doing business, kiddo. Price of doing business. The price is high, pal. The price is high.

How you doing? I'm all right. I mean. Yeah, I didn't expect, I really, really, once it became possible, I was like, please go to Boston. I wanted the Red Sox so bad. It was the only thing that would have been so funny. Both New York teams, it would have been like,

I was like, all right, there is like a win in this scenario. It's in Boston, out of sight, out of mind. Dude, it was such a- And instead. So I, he was brutal last off season. Boris, that was a master class. I mean, an absolute- He got $765 million for an outfielder.

Like, what a god well god he got the red socks even spent money in forever to seven or a million they offer seven or million then the Yankees finally were like what are we doing here the Yankees are like all right what how did this happen but I can't believe the things miss high as they did I know I see if the Red Sox weren't in they probably wouldn't have no so exactly a hundred percent I just him getting the Red Sox to believe hey you got a shot here. I know.

If you get Big Poppy on the phone and you get like, there's a chance that we'll get Juan Soto. Honestly, credit to John Middleton for just not taking the bait at any point. That's basically what Debrowski said yesterday. Debrowski, to his, like, I don't have the exact quote, but paraphrasing, he said, we had a feeling where this was going

and we weren't gonna participate in it. So yeah, I mean, obviously I a feeling where this was going. And we didn't, we weren't going to participate in it. So yeah, I mean, obviously I'm bummed that he's, that he's a Met would have liked to be, have been a Red Sox much, much more. It just now, especially because with the Met, it's like, if it had been another team, it's like, all right, well, they're cooked forever. Like that, they're going to spend that. Then they're going to achieve with the Met. It's like, oh, he's just going to keep spending.

It doesn't even feel like that's where I'm more. Yeah, exactly. That's what this is just the start. That's, that's, that's where it's like, oh, he's just gonna keep spending. It doesn't even feel like you get. That's where I'm more, yeah, exactly. This is just the start. That's where I'm like, oh. Yeah, turns out Uncle Stevie might not be a fraud. But the other thing, we'll get back to the baseball in one second, and this is not to make you feel bad.

It's probably the wrong term. Oh, good, yeah. But you're gonna be like almost 60 when that contract's over. I thought about it. Oh thanks. I'm gonna be 40. Oh, Walker's gonna be driving. Yeah dude, I thought about it.

Trust me, he's always gonna be drinking, all right? When that contract's done, he's always gonna be going to a bar to get a drink. Yeah dude, I thought about it. And you're gonna be celebrating. I'm gonna be walking with my Walker, I'm gonna be trying to get my in there. I know, I know.

So, and what I'm more worried about now is how they add on because my biggest fear now, I know this is gonna sound insane, but I promise I think it makes sense. You can be the judge of it. I can't wait. I can live with them getting Wansoto, but then if they get like crochet on top of that

and they get, I'm just kidding. But if they, not kidding. But if they get like crochet and then they keep, that's my bigger concern. And Juan Soto is a great, great player. That's a lot of money for one player. Like again, I'll spend anyone else's money, I get it. But if you said to me as a baseball fan,

like do you really truly, unless Steve Cohen's your owner, cause that's a whole different story, but do you really want your baseball team to give someone $765 million? I would say no, I wouldn't. It's a lot. I just don't know how you, if you're not Steve Cohen, again, Steve Cohen is excluded from this discussion, but if you're not Steve Cohen and you care about luxury taxes, which all owners do sadly, like I wish no one did, but they do, like, it's just bad, it's not good

business. No, no. And I just- No deferred money, by the way. I know. And the thing that I just can't stand, we obviously want the affiliates to spend money, right? I mean, it's, we're not billionaires, we'll likely, I mean, if any of our listeners are billionaires,

I'll send you my Venmo. Yeah, hey, hook us up. I mean, all the free content, we never, we don't charge you a thing for this podcast, alright? Just saying, alright? We ask you to go drink Miller Lite, yeah, that's tough. Like, alright, you know, hook your boys up, just saying. Exactly, but I just, I can't take this whole, well, they're the Phillies, they're afraid to spend.

Oh no, that's nonsense. They have the second highest payroll in baseball right now. It has nothing to do with that. And they're gonna find, they're gonna spend spend. Oh no, that's nonsense. They have the second highest payroll in baseball right now. Yeah, it's nonsense. It has nothing to do with that. That was, that was nonsense. And they're gonna find, they're gonna spend money somewhere else. They're gonna pay someone, they're gonna do, yeah. Nonsense.

John Middleton has proven, he has put his money where his mouth is, there is a difference between spending money and getting ridiculous, which is what just happened. Like, that's, again, like I thought that I would be really upset, like I'm upset that Juan Soto is a Met. I'm not at all upset that the Phillies didn't pay him $765 million.

Like zero. Like I don't blame them zero. Like at all for it. So the one thing that, that has hit me more than anything, it's double Bryce's plus 105 double Bryce's contract plus 105 million. It's, hold on, it's double Bryce's contract plus Nick Castellanos' contract plus five million. Like what is that?

Who would you rather have? That's crazy. I know I'd probably, you know, that's a separate discussion. But like how great, I guess no, that's a fair, I'd rather have two Bryce Harpers and two Castellanos, exactly. Correct, correct. Like how crazy is that?

I know, yeah, it's hard to find, and I mean it opens the door for the first billion dollar athlete. Oh, we're getting there. I mean, I was about to say poor Joey, but like how crazy is it that someone, like who's worth more than Joey? Like what are we doing here? I know, I know.

So, but the one thing that definitely did hit me too is that I think that this has changed the calibration for the Phillies going forward. And what I mean by that is gone are the days, listen, we'll see what happens when the price contract's done, when Trey contract and they have the ability to add another big time over $300 million contract, right? By that time over a billion dollar contract.

Exactly, dude, exactly. It's unbelievable. But it just changed from the standpoint of there are other people that cannot spend you and you have to be great at the other things. It's how the small market teams are gonna have to obviously do their thing. But now with the Mets being like this,

do you want to top of- Dodgers and the Mets, yeah. Dodgers, I mean, essentially the Mets turning the East Coast Dodgers here a little bit. I mean, they- Well, yeah, they will. Yeah, they're gonna keep going, yeah. Dodgers, I mean, essentially the Mets are turning the East Coast Dodgers here a little bit. I mean, they- Oh, yeah, they will. Yeah, because they're gonna keep going. I mean, it's Stearns and Friedman, that's the whole thing.

And it looks exactly the same. Wait till Frankie Montaz has like a three, five year, wait till Clay Holmes is like, wow, what a smart move. Like I just, I dread it, I dread it. But the Phillies have to be so good and smart in trades I mean trade also they do have when they do sign contracts. They have to hit like yeah, you know, yeah Yeah, you can't you can't have a Taiwan. You can't have a Taiwan

Yeah, you can't have a Taiwan and and even he's been fine. But Cassie, honestly, you know, there's yeah You can't give a hundred million dollars to a guy who's not gonna be anywhere close to that level of blood or yeah I'm paying players for their past. Yeah, exactly. But coming, but getting down to it, I mean, they have to, they have to, and they're doing a good job with it. Which Alex Bregman, by the way, you know. I know, I know, I know. But they have to do the little things so well now.

Not that they're a small market team. The margin for error is decreased. And the farm system is getting better, but they have to keep churning out talent. You have to make sure that every year you're walking out of the draft with some kind of player that can project to be a starter at minimum, that you can either use in trades to help facilitate the Major League roster or bring up and possibly be a star. Because I think if they bring up a guy, they're going to have no problem paying their own

guy. I just think when it comes down to the future of we'll go pay for whoever. Those, those days feel a little bit of the best moves you can have now. Like honestly, with the way this is shaking out. And I do think that I don't think that just because Soto got 765 that next off season, there's another and another, I think it is 26 years old. Like Kyle Tucker will get 400. Kyle Tucker's going to have a bunch of money.

And by the way, go trade for Kyle Tucker. I don't know. Just a thought. Yeah. I want Kyle Tucker bad. I just wonder about the money. No, the philosophy. Well, that's the point.

And I do think that, which is the point I'm making, is that I think the best thing that you can have in baseball now with what the Dodgers and Yankees do here, if you're not them, are to have Kyle Tucker for those first seven years. You know, to have Kyle Tucker until he hits Friedenstein, or to have him and buy out his Arby's and get a little extra work. But it's these guys to sign, to the point you just made, to sign guys for what's about to happen, rather than what has happened.

And that's gonna be what the Phillies have to shift their kinda, and that's why guys like Aiden Miller and Boehner are so important, because you need those guys to become stars and you pay them a little ahead of time and keep them here for a decade and then let them go somewhere you know depending on how plays out let them go somewhere else for the 700 million dollar contract and you you know that that's the the idea at least

yeah I mean and not say they're a small market team because they're not and they don't operate like the Dodgers so you know they're not the Mets or the Dodgers. It's like, there's a difference now. There's big market teams, and then there's the Mets and the Dodgers. Like it's like they've leveled up. I agree, I agree. So it's really gonna be interesting.

I wonder, it's gonna be interesting if the little teams really get pushed out here, which in baseball, I feel like- It's hard to do. Like in baseball, it's just there always going to be teams like the Rays and the Indians or guardians and these teams that, that are so smartly run and are so successful on the margins that they're going to be successful

and they might not win championships because of it, which I think is what we've seen. We've seen that these teams get to the playoffs a lot and it's really hard for them to break through and win it all. And that's going to continue to be what it is probably, but there's always going to be small market teams that are so smartly run that they're get to the playoffs a lot, and it's really hard for them to break through and win it all. And that's gonna continue to be what it is probably, but there's always gonna be small market teams that are so smartly-rounded

that they're gonna find ways to win in baseball. Yeah, yeah. It just, you have to get better at it. You have to almost be small market in the way that you- You have to think small market without being small. Yeah, with finding values in the market. Which is what we said forever. Like, that's not even new.

That's why the Neanderthal thing was our bit. It was why it was our whole bit. We're a race pod. Like that's why. I know, I know, I know. Turns out the Mets took that strategy. Yeah. And not us.

But it's a, the Phillies are in an interesting spot. And you know, they signed Jordan Romano yesterday. Which look, I like the signing. Like I- Well some are calling him the Soto Stopper. Is that true? It's me. Yeah, it's good. Hey, look, eight million for a guy who, you know,

what, three, four years ago was one of the best closers in the sport, like, I don't hate it. Wait, 35 saves in a three-year period. Yeah. No, 95 saves in a three-year period. Look, he was damn good for a while. The injuries last few years have hindered him. But, like, I thought that was a nice signing.

I didn't love, I don't know if you saw this though. About Jeff Hoffman, you see what I was saying? I don't love the way Passon phrased this in his tweet because we had talked about like Jeff Hoffman gone but like this was his tweet. He goes, closer Jordan Romano to the Philadelphia Phillies in an agreement on a free agent contract pending physicals, sort of said Romano 31,

non-tender by tomorrow, earlier this off season. And join a Phillies bullpen that lost Jeff Hoffman and Carlos Estevez to free agency. We did? We lost them already? But that's my point. It's just like a foregone conclusion. It's like, well, that sucks.

But they are in free agency. Lost to free agency? We could resign them. They're not gone yet. By the way, knock off the Estevez. Right, I know. But the point being, I didn't like to say this like what Jeff has been saying is Jeff Hoffman's not gonna be a filly like so that's yeah I didn't love that yeah I know don't tell me something I know wow yeah no but it's

weird phrasing they didn't lose him yet they're not gone yet but he is a free agent technically yes they lost him they lost him to free agents I guess so but that's just weird phrase you know that's right say it who might who might lose to another team you know all right and like you'll think about that I'm sure the next time that he's put together lock in bow I know what what

what sent a I guess cold shiver down my spine was the Browsky saying or maybe dropped on I don't know But they said no promises were made to Jordan Romano about if he's going to close or not. Just like there's no promises about Austin Hayes. Yeah, I know. Craig Kimbrell, no promises. No promises. So my, my fear is that Romano is view that is like their big move. That's the big move in the bullpen. That's my fear. I would really, really, really, really hope

that's not the case. If this is like the third bullpen move of the off season, it's like, sure, nice move. I love it as a bounce back. He was really good for a long time. I've been so confused as to how Jordan Romano has been good because his mechanics like make me, like they look like they hurt.

And I'm shocked it took this long for his arm to start hurting because all he does is put a bunch of torque on his arm. That's not great. No, no, no, we want to hear about it. Well like it's just I've watched him for a couple years and it's just oh he just tries to throw as hard as he can all the time. He does so hard. Used to be, he was 94 last year. Used to throw hard. He used to sit 97 to 99 with the hammer slider. So we'll see, we'll see. But it was, again, if he's your...

He's your big bullpen man. Ah, beside myself. I have gotten, and Dombrowski again, kind of making the, ah, you know, if we do, we do, if we don't, we don't, come in. Oh yeah, I love the key. Like I will say, and I know you have said you don't believe it's gonna happen,

and they can't, when you do's gonna happen and they can't, they can't clap, they can't, just bring them back. I am starting to think it is more possible that a re-racket type thing could be happening. I don't know, I'm starting to feel like we might not get a lot of, we might get a little boring action against this. Are you at all concerned about that?

Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Are you kidding me? You weren't even confident. Are you kidding me? Well, I, they can't, but they definitely can. They can. They might.

They definitely might. They sure. They might. They're sure thinking about it. Oh man. They saw the market for BOMB and were like, all right, well hold on. Oh yeah, we're not gonna give them away guys. Like oh.

Oh, I thought we were getting George Garry for this. What do you mean? George, can you imagine? What do you mean you're offering us the Matt Brash? Yeah, I mean for real though. I like Matt Brash, guys got stuff, but like you can't trade Ogg BOMB for Matt Brash.

That's a disaster. Unless you have, I guess, Bregman in the fold, but. Even then, you're keeping him kind of like a. I know, I know, I know. I, yeah, no, yeah. Yeah, no, yeah, no, yeah, no, yeah. 100% worried about it, 100% worried about it. Good.

100%. And if they, ah, ah, just don't. But at the same time, at the same time, if they're getting squattah for Boam, what do I want them to do? Just like, do you see my point? I can see you started- I totally get it, I get it,

but it doesn't make me happy about it. I know it doesn't, but honestly, I'm not in the business of just giving Alec Boam away. It's awesome that Alec Boam is so valuable across baseball. At least they spent the last two and a half months. Tripping over the head to get him, it's great. Could one person maybe put out the leak that, hey. It's like always six-five and he can't hit home runs.

It sounds great. Let's take him. Can one person just leak out? Even if you don't believe it. Like, Alckbombs are a guy. Yeah. If Phillies don't know where this is coming from, Alckbombs is untouchable. Don't even call.

More likely they sign him to an extension than trade him. Don't even pick up the phone and think he's extending. He's available. Maybe they're telling the entire league He's available and benching in the very available bending of the bus season. Not the best strategy. I don't know It could be right. So No, things are bleak for sure. I just oh great because I don't again man, I I I think they're They're in the they're in the the weird middle ground of the tax or whatever where if they do go to the next one it does increase in their tax bill even more and

What's the player that you're gonna? Well? I know that's the problem. It's the pro like for Juan Soto It's like yeah, sure. We'll go into the tax. Like, yeah, no, duh. For like Alex Bregman, is it like, do I really want to pay like lose draft picks? And now I you know me, I am a firm believer in pay the bleepin tax. Like I don't like pay all the taxes,

like do what Steve Cohen does, like stop beat your your billionaires. You can all afford it. They can from a money perspective. The tax is is peanuts. Now, draft picks, international starting restrictions and stuff. That's a different story.

And that's where you can start to discuss it actually affecting your team. But from a monetary perspective, every single one of the Major League Baseball owners can afford to go into luxury taxes. Every single one of them, even like the Pittsburgh guy,

who's like the least rich ball of them or whatever, like even that guy can afford to pay the luxury tax. So like, crying poor ain't going to do it for me from that perspective. I just think that the I think the biggest thing they can do this year, and that's what I said when the off the offseason started was it felt like the offseason of a trade that there's gonna be some kind of trade out there I think that's more realistic than we're gonna pay 25 million dollars for some kind of some kind of piece now who the

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Accessories sold separately. The crochet stuff I find fascinating. So it looks like it's picked up. It looks like a trade could happen in the not too distant future. Everything with the crochet. And it looks like the fillies have faded a little bit. Except according to Bob Nightingale. Yeah, except according to old Bob.

Everyone else says they're not quite as high on the list. Bob's like, they're getting them. Yeah, and yeah, I think that's been out there with the whole, the fillies are fading in this thing. And for me, it doesn't pass my smell test because they've been in it for so long and they wanted them at the trade deadline. So it feels like the fillies kind of be like,

eh, so they kind of like no It feels like we're not as interested as everyone says we are it feels like the white socks To me it feels like the white socks kind of publicly Trying to put pressure on the Phillies up their offer or he's gonna be a man or he's gonna be a or he's going elsewhere Or maybe he's a Dodger. Maybe he's a Yankees apparently so Because it just it just doesn't add up to me of all of a sudden after months of being in on Garrett Crochet that I think the Phillies are the best offer for him right now. And I think that the White Sox think they can get more elsewhere.

But I wonder if it comes back to it that they just take the Phillies offer or the Phillies throw something else in there. That's what it feels like to me. It seems like public kind of negotiations say, well, send them to the Mets. Do you really want them to get crochet and soda in the same offseason? And then you don't do anything? And then you're stuck with a furious fan base? No, no, I don't want that. Yeah.

So that's kind of how it reads to me. Yeah. No, that's a good read. And that makes sense. Like Crawford and Bone was never going to get them. No. Yeah. Well, certainly not with all these other teams involved. It seems like one thing for the, you know, people who are not as sold on crochet, I do think all the big smart teams in baseball trying to trade for them is a sign that, you know, probably pretty good. Good. Although someone threw out some analytic the other day about him.

And I was like, what in the, what is that? It was like a con. I was like, what in the, what is that? It was like Acon. We gotta stop. Hey, throw hard, strike out people. Exactly. We don't need to do all this. We're going way too far. It definitely was not Acon, but it was something.

Well, don't worry, it'll be on the Citizens Bank scoreboard. Oh yeah, before and before. It's debuting on the new, the new stat. I'll debut on this. Before I can find. It's the, it's the, it's the very first place you want to look for new stats. Before I can find. The ones that are. Miles per hour. Yeah. You can find it at X. VORP or something. Oh, there's no bigger VOR warp guy. Big warper. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But that's, I just, I don't know. I think that the, it looks to me like that's public posturing to try to get the Phillies

to throw something else in there and make a godfather offer. Or maybe take Taiwan out of the deal. I don't know. Oh, yeah. Well, you gotta start finding some ways to shed some money. Good time. Come on, man.

Come on. I want to bounce back next year. Ah, buddy. No one's taking Taiwan. Like, I don't... No, no, no. Yeah. No, no.

And he's not going to bounce back next year. Can he be serviceable five? No, no. The motto for Taiwan Walker season next year? Serviceable five. Yeah, he's like a serviceable ten. I would say seven. You think that's the actual number?

I think more like eight, if we're being real about it. I think he could be your ace starter. I would feel okay with Tywin Walker as my ace starter. So what else you got? That's all I had. I didn't really have anything else. That's all you got? Jordan Romano?

Yeah, give the Fritz breakdown. You just kind of touched on it. Give us the Jordan. I don't really have anything else. That's all you got? Jordan Romano? Jordan, yeah. Give the Fritz breakdown. You just kind of touched on it. I don't know. Give us the Jordan. No, no. No, I was- All right, so we're done?

All right, he's Fritz from Salter. We'll see you later. No, he's, Jordan, again, Jordan Romano, I think is interesting. It's just, he had elbow problems last year. He's never had the cleanest mechanics. Elbow might be like, cooked, and I gave him $8 million. It's a pretty decent bounce back price

and it could work out really well for him. But if this comes without a Jeff Hoffman resigning or some other kind of interesting arms, and I just, I have a fear. And I think I speak for a lot of people out there that we're gonna get a spring training and it's like, well, Romano saved 95 games in three years prior to last year. You can hear Dombrovski answering the question. Well, we got Romano and he's, you know, he's really had a lot of success.

Yeah. I mean, 95 saves over a three year period, you know, and you just hear it. You can hear the guy saying it, you know? So again, I currently wake up every day waiting for an exciting rumor. And so far, not much. So clearly you have not talked yourself into Romano yet. No, it's just I have.

I'm trying to keep it in proper perspective. I'm not going to say he's going to save 35 plus games to be healthy next year. I just, I think it's a really interesting balance back. I would have paid him that. I think it's a smart move. I'm fine with it. His elbow might be cooked.

And he got non-tendered by the Blue Jays. So that was the part that I didn't love. It's like, non-tender is not great. They probably know something. Well, that was my worry. It's like they know his arm better than not great. They probably know something. Well, that was my worry. It's like they know his arm better than we do. Now, at the same time, I guess the Blue Jays could be blowing it up.

Look, he has to pass a physical to get his contract and stuff. Sure, but you could also, if you want to sign a guy, you can sign a guy. I know, but I think the physical would probably be an important one for the signing, if I'm the Phillies. I'd be like, all right, let's check you out first. I hear what you're saying. I'm only pulling out a different one for you.

What about, let's just say, there's a seven foot two center that had baby questionable knee injuries. That organization's a dumpster fire. You don't think I should compare Jordan Romano to the NBA extension? I wouldn't compare the Phillies to that. I'm just saying that you could pass physical if you wanna pass physical.

Oh, I see what you're, yeah, but that's a different story. Like they wanted MB to pass it. The Phillies are like, let's make sure this guy's arms okay before we give him anything. I would hope, please, Phillie. They are, they are. Yeah, I would hope. They are, so again.

Now the Blue Jays, if they had to give him a physical so he could sign with another team, that's a physical he wanted to pass. That's a different story. Yeah, so we'll see what you're up, but more is just leaning into my fear of this is it. All right. So where do we go from here? Well, where do we go from here is I think we just keep waiting for the trade.

But then it keeps coming down to, well, do we want to give up too much of the future? Are we going to trade some players for a Major League roster? Are we going to trade Ranger? Are we going to trade BOM? I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. and players for a major league roster. Are we gonna trade Ranger? Are we gonna trade Bum? Are we gonna make it? I don't know. I don't know, I don't know. But the one that I'm becoming more and more interested in

and the one that I really hope they pursue because I think he's really good is Suzuki from the Cubs. Yeah, and there have been reports that he's being made available, like the Cubs are looking to shed some salary, that guy's up, which of course, you know, you're in Chicago, you're- Small markets.

You know, why wouldn't you say, the way they, like, in the World Series, the way they dismantled the team, the whole thing like that, what a joke. Yeah, I think he's, and you saw the Phillies were in the mix, I guess, for Roki Sasaki, which I appreciate. Yeah, I'm happy they'reoki Sasaki, which I appreciate.

Yeah, I'm happy they're there. Sure, sure, we're at the table. We all know he's not gonna, well, who'd have thought they would be more in the mix for Sasaki than Soto? If I had told you that before the off season, I would have said absolutely not. But it's clear that they've been wanting to get into the market for a couple years now.

You have to get someone- You have to get someone in common to start it. And it can't just be, yeah. And the best way to do it is via trade. Cause they're not. Cause they don't choose you. They're not gonna choose us. So I just, and they've had trouble with this

and he's a really good player. Yeah, he's a good hitter. I mean, so you look at his numbers and say, well, I struck out 160 times last year. He is on savant in the 94th percentile on chase, right? Like he doesn't chase, he'll strike out, but he's generally working deep counts. Like he's generally patient up there. It's different to something like boom

and someone who's patient and can work strikes. And I was at boom swings early. So that's why, that's why it's, the strikeout numbers aren't, are not what they, what they, you know, are. So getting, I think Suzuki is a move that like would, would help them in multiple fronts. First, you're getting a 280 hitter with 25 plus

home run potential, they can play to right field. And, and you can probably move Gassiano's to left field and you have a hose in right. Doesn't move that well, but regardless, whatever. And then if you, if you're, if you hope to eventually, you know, get into the Japanese market, you have to have someone on your team that has influence. And he is that.

So I'm becoming really intrigued with him. The crochet thing, I don't think is dead. I know that a lot of stuff out there, fillers are out, fillers are out, fillers are out. It doesn't pass my smell test. It doesn't pass my smell test. So I think the next thing coming is, is some kind of trade. And do you still think, because we've talked about this and like can you bring it back on, do you still feel, like because you have felt super confident that Alec Bum is getting it traded. Do

you still feel super confident that Alec B to trade no yeah I mean we talked about this last pod though the idea of like dangling him out there the world telling everyone to take him we don't want him bench him in the game all that and then it's like oh Alec we love you come on back buddy like I don't know yeah certainly I certainly don't think he's mentally tough and he'll respond well I certainly don't think it's just on a contract extension. No, I think we can count on that. Winners and home cents bring you Save the Holidays, a race to slay the season, drama, romance, deals. A story that shows it's never too late to enjoy five star savings on new gifts arriving daily.

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All right, you got a take back? I mean, nothing crazy. Nothing crazy. Not much to get to, it's a short one. No, it is. Cole, Sharon. Especially because those might not know, so I was supposed to record a podcast with Elliot

before Jack ended up recording two because the first one got lost audio-wise. It was only 10 minutes though. No, it was 30. Who told you it was 10 minutes? We recorded 30 minutes of the pod. Oh really? Yes. Oh nice no, it's thirty who told you was ten minutes thirty. We record thirty minutes the pod Oh really? Tucker said ten. Yeah

That sucks. No Tucker said ten. Did he really? Yeah. No, maybe it's like 25 minutes It's definitely close to 30 because I was doing the reads. Okay, so Hamill's this looks like he's joining the broadcast. Which is great. I think he's gonna be very good on it yeah, well, I think he wants to be right he's a he's gonna be very good on it. Yeah. Well, I think he wants to be right. He's a he's a Good mentor guy too for for the road now like can't like Wheeler I was just good job with that and no one does I'm sure as well, you know They Chris Sanchez talked a lot about that last year

But I just remember with Hamels, you know, he got Max freed and you know helped him turn into the picture that he is It seems like a throwback to the, you know, how they moyer with him, with Cole. So just having him around the team, I think is a great. Well, you can tell, I mean, I saw him in London, you know, he was on the show with us and all that stuff. No big deal. No big deal. Yeah. Whatever.

It's what you do. My good friend, well, I told you, I asked him a question. He was looking in my eyes like so intensely. Like I was, I almost couldn't handle it. You know, I'm a look in the eyes guy. He was like answering the question He was looking in my eyes like so intensely. Like I was, I almost couldn't handle it. You know I'm a look in the eyes guy? Yeah. He was like answering the question and looking right in my eyes. He's so handsome and he's Cole Hamels.

And I'm sitting there. I'm like, I can't take this. You're like too much for me right now. So even that. But he, you could tell he really wanted to be involved. Like the way he talked, the way, like he, it felt like, all right, I'm done. I'm done playing. Like what am I going to do with my life?

Like I want to be a part of the Phillies. Like, I want to I want to be involved. You could hear it then. So I'm not surprised. I think it's a smart move. Yeah. And it's good to have him around for sure. I think he'll be good on the broadcast, too.

Like, he's a good talker. Yeah. Dick Allen, Hall of Famer. Finally. Honestly, finally. Like, my dad said he was his favorite baseball player when he was younger. Like, he was for a lot of Phillies fans Who were my dad's age or born either late 40s early 50s whatever and didn't see the Wiz kids or whatever like Dick Allen was

Like the first great player they ever saw in their lives Yeah, so he came up with 64 Schmidt came up and what 72 72 72 73 so I mean Dick Dick Allen was your hope for a lot of years there. And he got penalized because obviously the, he was just in an era of some of the all time greatest players of all. I mean, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Mantle,

some of the best, some of the best like Mount Rushmore-ish guys in the sport. So, and he's probably the fifth best player during that time, but still that's like an all time era of baseball, so. Yeah, and if his career were longer, he would have been in the Hall of Fame already. It was a short career, he didn't have the numbers

that a lot of people you'll want for the Hall of Fame. He was absolutely a Hall of Famer when he played. Yeah, and the way you said it is so right, it seems like you talked to anyone that was alive during that era. Their favorite player is always Dick Allen. Dick Allen, across the board, like it is so right. It seems like you talked to anyone that was alive during that era. Their favorite player is always Dick Allen. Across the board, like it's just all of them. It's always Dick Allen.

And it's obviously a shame that he wasn't around. Yeah, that's the biggest shame. Only passed away a couple of years. I'm happy for his family. And I am happy for that segment of Phillies fans because I do think there is a lot of Phillies fans from a certain age who genuinely cared about Dick Allen making it in the Hall of Fame in a way that you don't about a lot of players.

And I'm just happy to see. I know there were a lot of movements to help him get in. I know a lot of fan done things and all that. So I just think and again, it sucks that he wasn't there for it. I know everything you hear mattered to him. But, you know, I. Better late than never. than never you know yeah his numbers are tired early by John Middleton John Milton could feel the the the month momentum coming he's one dude he's one vote short for it's like what two years two straight times around two

straight times crazy crazy crazy so good to see that gonna see him get in and then I want to give a special shout out to Bob Little. So Matt and Bob are Matt and Bob. And remember the name, right? Text you this. Yeah. And Matt, Matt and his dad were our were great listeners of the podcast. Bob was battling ALS and he unfortunately passed away, I guess, a couple of days ago.

And we saw them at playoff games. They came up. Yep, yep, yep. And I saw him at spring training a couple years ago. It was so high hopesy, those two. They would talk about the podcast. They would send the podcast to each other. And I think it really just emphasizes

how special of a community that we have built here. And we lost a big one. Every time I saw a Bob I was so happy to see him. And there- And Matt's love of his dad and how his dad played a role in him loving baseball. And like the pod was a way they connect. Yeah, like I'm getting emotional talking about it. I get like, you know, I lost my dad 20 years ago.

Like I, Matt, we're here for you, buddy. And it meant, to Jack's point, it meant so much to us for you guys to share that part of your relationship with us and what the pod meant to you guys. And Jack mentioned it, but like we always, I mean, I love talking to Jack, I love the Phillies. My favorite thing about this podcast is the community, is the listeners, is the people who really care about it.

Nothing's even close. Now, so that was a bummer to see. That was a bummer to see. I know, I've been fighting ALS for a couple years and yeah, unfortunately, unfortunately, you know, passed away. So just thinking of the little family and they are, they're special people. So that was a tough one. And yeah, that's all I got. Keep Bob in your thoughts. Keep Matt and his family in your thoughts. We love you, Bob. Matt, we're there for you, buddy. Look, I talk about this a lot. I've said this so many times or whatever. But I think part of the reason the pod is that way and it connects with people on a familial level is that baseball is that sport.

It's the generational sport. It is! It's the one my dad gave down to me. That, you know, Zoe, I was you love it. It's true. Zoe says go Phillies when we're watching the Eagles game. Like she doesn't say go Eagles. She says go Phillies. Like that's it. So it's like a girl. She gets it.

So I do think like, you know, it's it's meaningful from a from a. Ah, dude, I did listen. I I and this is going to be a struggle for me. I don't want to be too too. Your style. I don't want to. I don't want to be, too forward with walk, cause I want that, and walk and no. By the way, it's baby month, so.

Oh yeah, so I thought it was beginning of January. Yeah, but it's, I mean, we're under a month. Right, but January is the time. Well, we'll see, it could be this month. It could be this month. Who knows? It could be this month. Christmas baby, let's go! Yeah, so we'll see, we'll see. So we will figure it out with the pod and all that,

obviously, Jack. Uh, yeah. Let's be honest, if there's any one thing that Jack will do when he's off from paternity leave, it'll be record this podcast. I remember when Walker was born, I think I did a podcast like two days later. You did, yeah.

It was the, I sound dumb a lot. Yeah, that's what, I even told you, I was like, you don't have to do this, like take some time, buddy. I said it. Your real baby brain is a thing I even told you I was like you don't have to do this like take some time buddy I said you real baby brain is a thing I mean it is you said Antarctica was I did and I get so good ripped on it for years later And they'll be like baby, and they're like cool like all right whatever dude like I was an idiot I was so dumb in that moment. I

Had they let you operate vehicles. I do you leave Home doing here. I'm with you. I do. When you leave the hospital. They let you take the kid home. Like what are we doing here? I'm with you. I know, I know. But yeah, so yeah, the generational thing is what I think makes Phillies reading a lot and really investing in the 2008 to 11 Phillies recently. And I'm going to have to rank properly the most painful games of that era. Oh, I love this. This sounds like a pod right here. It might be in like January or February. Oh yeah. Like a late off season prior to the spring training. I'm in. So. So at about six AM this morning, I was watching game six of 2010. Cause you're a psycho.

It was, I was getting re-remembered. I was getting reworked up about it. In the first inning, Jason Worth hit a ball that's in the summer, is four rows deep. And it fell to burl in left field. It would have been four nothing in the first. They had bases loaded that didn't come through. There was, dude, do you remember Tim Lintzkin pitching the eighth in that game after throwing

804 pitches in game two nights before? Did he really? He pitched the eighth. Baseball. Dude, the decision making back then, I know it wasn't that long ago. It was ridiculous. Like they. They let guys pitch forever. I keep watching the highlights. What a sport. And watching the highlights, I keep thinking, oh, well, he's done, right?

They're not gonna let him. He's like, 108 pitches, he's clearly done. It's like, wait, two more innings, okay. It wasn't even that long ago. And I say that, thinking about 2010 baseball, imagine the people that watched Robin Roberts. He threw 300 and some in. I know, I know. I say that thinking about 2010 baseball. Imagine the people that watch Robin Roberts. 300 and some in.

I know, I know. So it's just, it's so, it's so. It's so different. Dude, Charlie, Charlie and they won the series, who cared, it didn't matter. But in 08, he had coasted his DH. I know, yeah, backup catcher. Unbelievable, mediocre hitting backup catcher.

But it's, if one of your catcher gets hurt. Oh, that's the other thing. Yeah. That's crazy. What do we do? I don't think about that. Yeah, that's insane. You don't have another catcher.

Well, you just want to have a DH. You have to have the hit. The better you have to pinch it throughout the game whenever you have to do it. Sure. Yeah. That's hilarious. We're burning the DA. We're burning the backup.

That is really hilarious. But it was funny going through it all. That is wild. Actually, I didn't I can't believe it I'm so much like how game two is gonna get forgotten as as an all-time game, right? Dude how they pitching six innings on a pulled groin. Oh, I know he's in the Cardinals series No, no, this is in the Giants in the Giants. Yeah, I don't know giant series exactly in the Giants here. Yeah Doesn't get talked about it never does because we thought with a no hitter in the perfect game, which is fine. We should. Yeah. The guy pitched six innings in a pulled groin. What a king. So there'll be a

lot more of that going forward. So but yeah, there's a I'm gonna have to rank them because they are. Game six was especially brutal. I mean especially brutal. Well it's something to look forward to. Yeah, well listen. Raise everyone's spirits one day. Again, there's a sick part of me that has to feel it. Oh, I know. We all know. Everyone listen, talk to the community,

we form the whole community knows, all right? I need to feel it. Yeah. All right, we'll be back. Emergency pod watch. We are waiting. I will drop what I'm doing, we will record an emergency pod. If not, we'll be back. Emergency pod watch. We are waiting. I will drop what I'm doing. We will record an emergency pod.

If not, we'll be back next week. Well. Keep doing the boring pods. By the way, Vic Fangio opened up this press conference talking about Richie Allen. God, I love him. He is our white whale. We need to get Vic Fangio on this podcast.

We need Vic on. And we will talk zero football with him. Hold on. So. We won't even and we will talk zero football with you. We won't even mention the Eagles. So should we keep recording until, so Mark Feinzan said that the Angels appear to be close to trading an outfielder. The other reward is generating a lot of interest.

Could it be Trout to the Fills? Oh, probably not. I'm gonna tell, how mad is this gonna make people? Oh, people are gonna get livid. I love a good live pod tweet. Mike'm going to tell you, how mad is this going to make people? Oh, people are going to get livid. I love a good live pod tweet. Mike Trotter, the Phillies. It's going to be so bad. All right, well, listen, if that happens, we'll be back.

We're not going to wait for Mark Fiennes. You're not going to wait? No. Come on, man. It could be an hour. Taylor War could be a fill. Who else are they? Hold on.

Give me two more minutes, James. Oh, my god. Give me two more minutes. I need to see who their depth chart is. If there's anyone I can get, hold on. Joe Adele? Joe Adele? There you go. Man, I can feel this.

He's gonna be a Phil. Joey, you wanted Joe Adele. I did want Joe Adele. Yeah, wasn't he a perfect dog? Can we get something like that? Can we get Rendon? Oh. Okay, they have Kingery. What is it? Bowman? Yeah, wasn't he a perfect... Can we get... Can we get Rendon? Oh, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho.

Okay, they have Kingery. What is it? Bowman... Oh, no. Oh, no. Turner and Bowman for Trout and Rendon. Turner and Bowman for Trout and Rendon. Oh, you know who their center fielder is?

Mickey Mooney! Oh, bring him home! How funny would it be if they traded for Mick back? Mike Trout to the Phillies, wow, I see your tweet. All right, we're outta here. All right. If back? Mike Trout's in the Phillies while I see your tweet. Alright, we're out of here. Alright. If it is Mike Trout, we'll be back. Dude, we're getting Trouty.

The smile on Jack's face right now, it's going to be very disappointing when it's not Mike Trout. We're getting Trouty. Alright, we'll maybe be back very soon. Otherwise, we'll be back next week. He sprints himself. Welcome to Kidsplain, where kids explain how underfunded our schools are.

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