High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Why the Phillies Shouldn't Be Counted Out in a Nolan Arenado Trade

Episode Date: January 3, 2020

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz are back as the Nolan Arenado rumors are swirling. The guys talk about the luxury tax, Arenado and Bryant and, of course, Robert Stock.  See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information. 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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You can enjoy free beer, wine, and premium snacks in economy class. Now extended to flights within Canada and the U.S. Cheers to taking off this summer. More details at AirCanada.com. This is the High Hopes Podcast. High Hopes. It's a bunch of baseball nerds talking about the Philadelphia Phillies on Radio.com and Sports Radio 94 WIP.

Yo! It is another edition of the High Hopes Podcast. Jack and I were actually just debating whether there were High Hopes anymore, but there are. They're fine. We're here whether there were high hopes anymore, but there are. They're fine. We're here. Are the hopes high, Jack? Yeah.

Hopes are always high. For you, they're always high. No, I don't like... Jackie Optimistic is always in a good mood. I mean, should I get this out of the way now or should I save this until our preview of the season podcast? Why don't we just dive right in?

The Phillies are going to win the wild card. That's what I think, too. Honestly, I think just on the strength of Girardi and the staff and enough time. We both think the Nationals take a step back. They won the World Series. They're losing some guys. I think they take a step back.

I think the Phillies are just good enough. I'm with you. That's where I'm at right now. Like, I feel like they're going to be a wildcard team, but I could easily see them being third or fourth in the division. Like, it wouldn't shock me. Well, the division's great. I mean, the division's great, and then the Marlins get Corey Dickerson,

which, like— I mean, that knocks us back, obviously. I mean, Corey Dickerson does have the higher— Yeah, and how about the Mets getting Delon Matances? Yeah, I mean, like, I'm fine with it. I'm fine with the Mets having Delon Matances. I'm not scared of the Mets or anything. It's just another guy.

Like, they're not going over the luxury tax unless they're trading for Brian or whatever, or Aaron Otto. We'll talk about it. But, like, come on, man. Like, come on. How is that where we are? We're heading into the season right now. And granted, we're not heading into the season.

But we are on the precipice of heading into the season, pitchers and catchers not that far away, with Vincent Velasquez as a potential starter again. Yep. No bullpen. For the fourth year in a row? Yes, nobody. Like, oh, let's hope Robert Stock turns into an elite reliever. I did that on purpose.

I knew that would get you. Don't start. Don't start. I'm a little frustrated. You saved my Robert Sox, though. But, like, all right. Honestly, so I was on a walk yesterday. Yesterday I was on a walk.

Okay. By yourself or with Jill? With Jill. And this is where I always. You love to walk. You guys are walkers. Yeah. I'm in great shape.

You guys are walkers. Yeah. I'm in great shape. And, you know, I was like, we're really about to do Vince Velasquez again. I know. Like, are you kidding me? We're doing Vinny. Seriously?

Like, Vinny could pitch well, and I would still hate watching Vince Velasquez. I never want to watch that guy pitch again. I was honestly, in my head, starting to emotionally get upset of having to watch Vince Velasquez again. Yeah. Like, it's going— A three-hour, five-inning outing. It's going to be great. Yeah.

It's going to be great. That said, they're going to win the wild card. Or they're going to beat the second wild card. Whatever. They're making the playoffs this year. I do think that the Girardi thing is going to be legit. I think it matters. That is the number one thing I am most excited about with this team right now

is the difference that that guy and his staff are going to make. It's the number one thing. Yeah. The 05 and 06 Tigers, the 05 Tigers stunk. The 06 Tigers didn't have much talent anyway, but they won 95 games. They went from 71 to 95 wins. They had Maglio Ordonez. Jeremy Bonderman was their ace. Jeremy Bonderman.

Justin Verlander was on that team. Definitely Jeremy Bonderman on some fantasy teams. For sure. I mean, there's just so much precedent from going from a team that underachieved to getting a real manager like Jim Leland was back in the day. Yeah, sure.

And just taking a leap. And whether or not they're going to win the World Series, whether or not they're going to make an impactful run, all I'm saying is that they're going to make the playoffs. And it's just going to be a way more fun brand of baseball this summer in System Bank Park. I'm already excited. I can tell. I can tell. The hopes are high with you. No, they're good. They're always high.

I want the Phillies to do more. Obviously, I want the Phillies to do more. Because I think that there's... I don't think they have a choice. I think they open their window, and I think that they realistically have a four-year window here. A four- or five-year window here. And they're on the verge of wasting it as a strong thing if we're saying

we think they're going to make the playoffs, and granted, we're still a few months away, but they're on the they're on the verge of like wasting it as a strong thing if we're saying we think they're gonna make the playoffs and granted we're still a few months away but they're kind of wasting it like they're not going all in for this window right well yeah they're not wasting it but they're not doing everything they can to build a team around bryce harper yeah and that's that's the thing that is two things that are frustrating me a lot right now is their lack of you know seem like they want to get another guy to put with Bryce. And like, is Klintak going to just be here forever? Because he's not acting like a GM. Who's in trouble.

Whose seat is hot. Which, to be fair, credit to Matt Klintak for not acting like his job is, we assume it is. And maybe it's not. I mean, that's why he's acting that way but well phillies have traditionally kept guys around forever i look assuming that he is on the hot seat and that they need to make the playoffs this year for him to keep his job which i think is a somewhat fair assumption at least in a logical sense then look i don't want him going out and

making bad moves for the future just because he thinks he's going to get fired if he doesn't. So I do appreciate that he's not going out and doing everything he can. I also think, and again, I can't wait for this guy to be gone, but to be fair to Matt Klintak, I think that it's above his head in certain spots. I mean, clearly, they're not going over the luxury tax, and I'm telling you that's not a Matt Klintak choice. So you can't blame Klintak for that. That's John No. H. Middleton. Right.

John. Two things. Not John. John. Two things. I still think they go over it if they have an ability to get a Chris Bryant, Aaron Otto, a legit difference maker. I don't think Middleton's that.

I don't think he's that. I agree. I think that's fair. Or at least I'm willing to suspend my disbelief there a little bit. And I'm growing more and more annoyedief there a little bit and I'm growing more and more annoyed by the electric tax thing by the day but until he doesn't go over until it's like

until it hurts them from getting another star in here for Bryce which is what they promised Bryce when he signed here that we're going to they signed that contract to get another star to pair with you but they're not getting another star to pair with them I mean we don't mean it as a star but he's not like no we're talking about no one arenado or chris bryan or whatever yes correct or it was my trap yeah and the other thing that would have been good yeah

would have helped and the other frustrating thing for me is like i get the middleton thing and i i guess frustrating that's not going to luxury tax but if i'm him and i see that matt clintag has spent 200 million dollars of my money and there's two major holes in the starting rotation and there's two major holes in the bullpen. And it's like, do I really want to just let this guy continue to spend my money? Look, I'm with you. Then why is he here? Why is Matt Klintak here?

Because he gave him an extension. If Middleton, but these are all bad decisions. So you make one bad decision, so let's make another on top of it and another on top of it and another on top of it. You either trust Matt Klintak to run your team or you don't i don't think he does and yet matt klintak's here running the team that's crazy if they never business if they never signed arietta they have like a 30 like 30 million dollars whoops whoopsie god it's just the worst yeah jason can't wait to see that guy pitching him Jason Bavin Arrieta yeah I think I might

prefer Bavin no he's here less um but yeah that's that's the frustrating thing is that like there's just so many little frustrating things to go along with like my main frustration is that I don't think they're good enough to win a world series unless they make like really really bold drastic moves yeah in season you know yes. There is still a path. And they need to develop talent. I know it's easy to say that. It's just so hard to execute, and they've been so meh at executing it. They need to find some international talent.

They're not going to be drafting at the top of the drafts. It's a weird time to be a Phillies fan because the team on paper is good, pretty good. Solid. Good enough. Like we said, they can make the wild card. They have a good manager. They have Bryce Harper.

They have Aaron Nola. They have a team that you are excited to watch every night. Especially when we're comparing it to the last eight years prior, seven years prior to Phillies baseball. There are reasons for excitement, which there weren't before. But what's frustrating is when I see a team like the White Sox, where they have all these young dudes. All of them. Luis Robert, he had

a huge contract today. Eloy Jimenez, Nick Madrigal, Yon Mankata. 23 or 24, already a star in the Major League level. Michael Kopech on the way. They just got guys. Lucas Giolito. And now they're adding to that young core with Peru veterans. Veteran players.

And it's like that's how this was supposed to go. Should have been that. Right. And now we have good young players in Hoskins and Kingery and Nola and whatnot. Howard, Boehm. A couple guys. But the high impactful guys are not here that you could bring in with a Bryce Harper. So now you've got to basically, Bryce Harper has to get back to 2015 Bryce Harper.

J.C. Romito cannot be cold for the first half of the season. He needs to come out on fire. McCutcheon has to stay healthy. Spencer Howard has to come up and make a difference. I mean, these are things that have to happen. They're not making any sort of run assuming they don't add to this rotation, which right now feels like, unless

we're talking about bringing a Vargas bag or someone crappy like that, they're not adding the rotation. Spencer Howard has to come up and has to be good. He has to. That's it. Well, it made him untouchable. Good. Fine. But again, you need him up. You need him up

You need him to make a difference But that's the thing I'm just annoyed But that's why I'm pretty positive on this team Yes, you've got Spencer Howard up But it's the organizational depth that we're talking about here That bothers me too The idea that you don't

Like the bullpen You should have guys you can stick in there And say, alright, we've got these young arms Let's go that route They don't even have that Last year they're in first place for a lot of season best bullpen and and well people forget that they had the fourth lowest second half bullpen of your reign the bigs but um mike moran signed you no not anymore no no jared he was oh no no inside no none of these none of these guys are signed of the fourth lowest second half

bullpen of your reign the bigs how could they not have jobs but like the team was good last year when McCutcheon was playing now you get McCutcheon back I think Segura is going to be I just think that so many guys had down seasons last year and they were still pretty good that it's going to recheck itself look I don't think there's any flaws in this logic I think you're right

I again I do think they're making the playoffs too right now it's January 2nd. We're getting a little ahead of ourselves. Don't care. I know. I know you don't. New Year's just happened.

Never have. I mean, look, you're on the draft, all right? So you're even way ahead of opening day. I know. I can't wait to hear. Just wait to hear this Robert Stock. I'm really excited about it. It's really the only reason we're doing the podcast, to give you the platform to talk about Robert Stock.

But it's just frustrating because, like you said, this is a team that is close, and they're not, like, comparatively. I mean, they are a team that has the skeleton of a team that could win the World Series, but they're not doing what it takes to put them over the top, and that's the frustrating part. And I don't think, like, Hoskins is not going to be. Like, there's so many people that are just like, Hoskins is bad.

No, no, Hoskins is not bad. No, he'll be many people that are just like, Hoskins is bad. No, Hoskins is not bad. He'll be fine. They'll be a better baseball team than they were last year, just for Girardi alone, but also, and look, not to minimize it, I mean, adding Zach Wheeler makes you much better. Theoretically, should make you much better. I mean, these moves are not, you know, I mean, Didi, that makes you a better team.

And it makes your infield defense better. Yes, and Didi helps in a lot of ways, like we talked about, on and off the field. But it's frustrating because, again, it just feels like half measures when, again, I know they shouldn't be in this situation. Why is Matt Klintak here? But they still could have spent another $30 or $40 million. I'm not even talking about going crazy. We're talking about going into the tiniest part of the luxury decks. We're talking about literal peanuts for John Middleton to pay this.

And I know you start your clock and all that, but you got money coming off next year. I mean, you have options. All you need to spend as far as $34 million, get a starter or two in here, a bullpen piece or two, and you can roll. Or at least be in a situation where at the trade deadline, you could add one or two pieces and actually be a World Series team. where at the trade deadline you could add one or two pieces and actually be a World Series team. Now you've got to add those pieces at the trade deadline

just to be a solid team. And we'll see if we're – the trade deadline logic is just insane. It's so faulty. It's asinine. It's what they did last year. We're going to wait and see where we're at, and then we're going to, oh, we're not good enough. Let's not go in.

That's not the way you run a baseball team. The idea that they're not going to make themselves better in the offseason so that the trade deadline maybe then will go over. Maybe. And who knows what the prices of guys will be, what type of market it will be. It could be a total seller's market. And then you're in a situation where you're trying to get a guy and he costs way more than he would have if you had traded for him now as well.

I mean, there's so many things that this could go wrong. That's just insane. Oh, what if you're bad? What if you're bad? And then on top of that, just the idea of having the guy for like 80 extra games. What are we talking about here? 90 extra games, whatever, 95 extra games, whatever it is.

I mean. It is asinine. It is like one of the worst. Every time I read it, I'm like, are you guys kidding me? You're going to just go into the season, not be as good as you possibly can, and then the trade deadline. And then we'll see what happens, Jack. Yeah, maybe we'll go over it.

Let's see what happens. I love that. I love that in a baseball team. It's just a logical, pragmatic way to run your team. I'm impressed. All right, well, let's talk about it again. We both agree that, or at least I hope and believe, you definitely think that Chris Bryant, we've talked to death,

but the Chris Bryant or Nolan Arenado has been a name that there was kind of rumblings about before. Maybe, you know. Now it seems like, which is effing crazy to me, they signed this guy last offseason to this contract and now they're already ready to move on from him. Well, and then did they not realize that with the opt-out thing that he might opt out?

Of course. Like, what are we doing here? Which also, again, now they're in a situation where if you are going to trade him, you can get so much less for him because he's got that opt-out after the year. It's just a crazy situation the Rockies have put themselves in. I mean, talk about two insane situations is that and then the

Red Sox hope that they can put David Price with Mookie Betts in hopes to get a prospect back for Mookie Betts? Are you kidding me? Are you kidding? Dave Dombrowski is so freaking bad at this. Ran him into the ground.

Poor Haim has to go there and try and clean up the mess. Yeah. He will. Maybe Haim will get fired and we can hire him. Wouldn't that be great? He's going to clean up the mess. They're going to be great. Four years from now, we're going to be like, wow, look at the Red Sox again.

The Dodgers are a joke. The Dodgers are an absolute joke of an organization. I like that tape coming out. That was out of nowhere. Out of nowhere. They are 22nd in payroll. They never make a big move. They haven't built to this core.

Andrew Friedman doing Andrew Friedman things? Andrew Friedman is Danny Ainge. That's what he is. He's like Billy Bean. Doesn't make the big move. Billy Bean every once in a while makes the big move. You are the Los Angeles freaking Dodgers. Go in for once.

I'm with you. I know your system's amazing. I know all that. We see it. It works. Holy crap, guys. You can get Francisco Lindor. You can get M crap, guys. You can get Francisco Lindor. You can get Mookie Betts.

You can get another lefty. These are guys who, like we talked about it with Harper, it's rare you get guys at that age. And granted, they'd have to sign these guys to long-term contracts. But again, you're the freaking Dodgers. You can sign these guys. You don't get guys like that with the opportunity to have them on your team for the next decade at that age. That is so freaking valuable. They are 22nd in payroll.

I didn't know that. That's crazy. It's embarrassing. Yeah, as we rip Middleton. For as smart as they are as an organization, I'm jealous, obviously. I would be frustrated if we have— You know what they do with 22nd. If you told Matt Klintak he had to be 22nd in payroll, we'd be the 60-win baseball team.

Well, it's a joke. It's a joke. So, all right. So, Arenado, how real do you think it is? Like, is this something Phillies fans should be like, wow, could we get Nolan Arenado? Is this a real thing? Yeah.

I mean, I think the Phillies are going to be involved in. They're not going to be involved in any of these types of discussions. I agree. So, I think they would be in on Arenado. I think Howard last year was like, oh, you know, I could see that they want to go out there. Well, Howard talked about them wanting to sign him. He signed the extension last offseason but would have been a free agent at the end of this year. Howard had talked about them wanting in on him.

So I want to clarify the Dodgers thing. They ranked 24th in payroll commitments for 2022. Okay. So it's a couple years away. They're not there right now. Yeah, it didn't sound right to me. I was like, wow, that's really low. In a couple years.

The point is they have flexibility in the future. They should be messing with that is what you're saying. Exactly. So the Arenado thing. So I think they'll be in on any superstar to try to come in and pair with Bryce Harper. And I just think people are overreacting to how much they think

Arenado's going to cost in a trade. Well, the opt-out thing really decreases what they can get. I mean, he could opt out after next season. It's a one-year deal, and theoretically, you could be trading massive assets for a guy for a year. It's like a rental. Theoretically. Okay, so two years, but still a rental.

Yeah, he's a rental. And I remember when he signed his contract, I think the stuff came out that was like, he'll opt back in if he feels like he can win a World Series. So you have to show that if you're trading for Nolan Arenado. Which you would assume if the Phillies are in the situation they're in with the core they have. And he sees Bryce, he sees JT.

He's not going to not think that they're in. So the trouble for the for the rockies is that they have to find a a team with prospects or prospects that are good enough to trade away nolan freaking arenado right and then they have to find a team that is willing to take the gamble on two years and you know maybe the phillies are that team which i think they could be sure i mean they're a team that's possible hopefully they get bold well they took i mean for all intents and purposes, took a gamble on the Remudo trade.

Well, which they still need to sign to an extension. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. Let's make sure we get there first. But that's my point. But still, whether or not they sign him, it's a gamble. That's the point. And then a team has to be willing to pay him

what Nolan Arenado was making, which is over $30 million a year. So there's only a couple teams that can really do it. Like the Dodgers can do it, but they... I guess the Rockies don't want to trade them within their division, which is always – That's the most recent thing we heard. Which is crazy.

Just get the best prospects. Get the best trade you can get. Get the best trade you can get. I've always thought that was great. I will trade you to my biggest rival if you're going to give me back the best package. I don't think the Yankees are going to be in because I don't think they can do it. Just get Jared Cole. Yeah.

$24 million. They're still paying Stanton. They have to pay Judge. I think that, yeah. And I think, like you said, I mean, they like Urshela. They've got guys. They've got a lot of depth that they can kind of filter in and out. They don't need Nolan Aaron.

No. But I think the Yankees, especially now that they've shown that they can be the Yankees again from that perspective, the money spending perspective, I think they always have to be included in these types of discussions. Sure. Red Sox, no. Well, obviously. Unless they can get off David Price.

We're going to trade Mookie Betts and David Price. Then we're going to go, yeah. Well, they don't have the prospects anyway. And also they have Raphael Devers, so it's not really a deal. Right. The Cubs, if they trade Bryant. Maybe, you never know.

That would be really weird. If they traded Bryant to trade for Aaron Nott. It would be a strange move. Well, they could use the prospects to get back for Bryant. Right, but they're shedding salary. That's the idea. Yeah would be a strange move. Well, they could use the prospects to get back for Bryant. Right, but they're shedding salary. That's the idea. Yeah. Okay.

Agreed. I think the Cardinals will be involved in Arenado for some reason. They could be. Angels? No, well, they just paid Rendon. Oh, Rendon, duh, of course. Same position. And Padres Machado, no.

So, like, the Rangers, the Rangers need a third baseman. They're going to a- I mean, the Braves and Nationals Braves and Nationals yeah that's what's scary but are the Braves going to commit

that kind of I don't know it's a great question so that's where I keep coming back to with both Brian and Arenado is that like people are talking about

oh my god they have to give up boom Howard bang bang all this stuff it's like no

they are signed through next next to they're both signed through 2021 the grievance whatever he's not going gonna win the grievance no he's not and you have to factor in you have to factor in you have to pay them the prospects and like it's just not gonna cost that much like it's not gonna cost that much to get an old aeronauta what do you think bone plus

bone plus like i i would do that right now of course you you do. Bye, buddy. But I just think that people are just undervalued. I realistically believe that Alec Boehm is one of the three most valuable assets on the market this offseason. Like, Robles, I would rather have Alec Boehm than Victor Robles. I don't think they'd put Carter Keeboom in a deal. And then I would rather have Boehm than Robles, so Boehm ahead of him. Gavin Lux is the major. I mean, Pash or Pashy. Yeah, Pashy. I would rather have Christian Pash. He's Bowman ahead of him. Gavin Lux is the major. I mean, Pash, or Pashy. Yeah, Pashy, I would rather have Christian Pash.

He's going to be a stud. And then they have all those pitchers, which is like maybe. If the Braves want to take on the money, they can put together the best package. That's notwithstanding. The Braves can do whatever they want if they just feel like they can pay them. But of the teams that are going to be able to pay them and have a legit prospect, I think the Phillies are always going to be right up there with the top teams because I think they can pay them, and I think they have an impact prospect that's close.

They have one legit prospect. And they're not going to move Howard. They have one piece. Well, Kingery has an unbelievable contract. That's true. With his contract, I mean, if they want, and he's versatile and obviously important to them, but, yeah, look, if you're trading for Aronado, I mean, Kingery's right now contract i mean if they want and he's versatile and obviously important to them but yeah look if you're trading for aronado i mean kingery's right now they're starting their basement right for

all intents and purposes so so so i will never think that this team is not going to try to make one of those moves until like he is traded somewhere else right the rangers to me are the biggest concern because i think that they have a new ballpark they have that incentive they have some pieces they could trade. And they have money. They have the money. They've made these big contracts. They've been trying to get someone in there, yeah. They ran on Rendon.

They've been in on Donaldson. They've been in all these guys. The usual market powers just aren't there. The Nationals will be motivated to do it because they think they have a World Series window right now and screw the future. I still, if I had to bet, would bet that Donaldson ends up as a National. I think it's going to be a break. You think so a National. I think it's going to be a Brave. You think so?

Yeah. I think it's going to be a Brave. Well, I mean, I'd rather he go to the Braves because I'm more worried about the Braves trading for Arenado than the Nationals. Yes. The Nationals really don't have the pieces. I mean, Robles would be the beast. And I mean, Victor Robles.

I mean, he's good. He's good. He's a gold club, Galliver Center. Yeah. He's a nice player. A really nice player. I hate him. Why? Because he's a National? How manyiver Center field. Yeah, he's a nice player. A really nice player. I hate him. Why?

Because he's a national? How many big hits has that guy had against us? He did. Well, everyone gets big hits against the Phillies. It's true. Well said. Literally, everyone gets big hits against the Phillies. Freeman, Rendon, Robles.

You're right. You're right. Jeff McNeil. Freaking Jeff McNeil. I'm not ready for Jeff McNeil in my life again. That guy haunts me. I hate Jeff McNeil. I'm not ready for Jeff McNeil in my life again. That guy haunts me. I hate Jeff McNeil. If I have to watch Jeff and Brandon Nimmo running around like an idiot,

gawky Brandon McNeil. God, the NL East is going to be amazing. The NL East is going to be the best division in baseball. It's going to be amazing. So, like, the Angels being out is massive. They can't pay him. They assign Rendon. I just think there's not really that suitor unless the Dodgers

are in. I think the Braves and Nationals should be in. I think the Yankees are pretty much out. I think the Red Sox, Cubs are both out. The White Sox, I guess they should be hanging around, but they spent a lot of money this offseason. Houston, no. There's very few teams that can

pull this off. Look, it's an interesting way of looking at it. I like that way of kind of flipping it around and looking at all the teams that theoretically could do it instead of just the package the Phillies would put out there. And that makes a lot of sense to me. It really, I think, obviously comes down to how willing the Phillies, again, how willing the Phillies are to go over the luxury tax, which we believe for that type of guy they would.

Do you honestly think they wouldn't do it for a stud? I just said I do think they would, but I need to see it at this point. I need to see it, but I do think they would. It comes down to how much the Rockies value Bowman and what other guys are going to be involved in a potential package coming from somewhere else, whether the Dodgers are willing to part with Lux, whatever it is. And again, it could be a situation where the Rockies just overvalue it and think like, this is Nolan Arenado.

We're not giving him up for Alec Baum and some mediocre-type guys. That's a possibility too. But maybe they should look at his road splits and be like, well, is he sure? Are we sure he's that good? Yeah, he is. No, I know. I'm sure.

The road splits thing drives me crazy because, you know, I mean, like DJ LeMay, he just left and was the same exact player. MVP candidate in New York. Like Nolan Arenado. Literally an MVP candidate. Nolan Arenado would be amazing wherever he player. MVP candidate in New York. Like Nolan Aranato. Literally an MVP candidate. Nolan Aranato would be amazing wherever he goes. Yeah, he's awesome. And also the best defensive third baseman in the game,

or at least one of them. Yeah, I mean, he's won, what, seven straight? Yeah. He's just, honestly, dude, if they trade for Nolan Aranato, you're going to have to take me out of here on a stretcher. It will be the longest longest loudest yo that has ever happened in the history of the podcast get ready for that so it's we're trading for him just for that alone yeah so so jp morosi came out today and said that one source said that as many as a

half a dozen teams are in contact with the rockies regarding um arenado the braves rangers nationals are believed to be amongst that group so that that's only three of the six, whatever. But again, until the Braves show that they want to spend that kind of money, and I think Donaldson's going back there, so whatever. The Rangers make a lot of sense because of the new ballpark and they want to spend the money, all that. Right. The one thing they would-

They don't have prospects. Yeah. They have guys like Willie Calhoun, Nomura Mazar, stuff like that. Oh, Mazar's in Chicago. Oh, yeah, Mazar's. Duh, I forgot. But they have guys like that, like Willie Calhoun,

guys who are major league ready type guys who are not necessarily, or former prospects who were higher ranked before and kind of slid off a little bit. But I agree. They don't have that one guy. Well, Bum's probably better than anything. That's my point.

They don't have that one guy who's a go-to, lock-it-in type of guy. So it could come down to the NL East for Nolan, Aaron Otto, Chris Bryant. So what do you think is more likely? Hold on. Hold on. What if they do? What if we do this?

Braves get Donaldson. If the Nationals get Aaron Otto, it's like. Such a bummer. It kills my Chris Bryant love fest. Yeah. Rather have Aaron Otto. So would I. Yeah. Rather of Arenado. So would I. Yeah.

Just because, like, I think they're obviously, the defense, I just love watching third base. Me too. And Arenado's so good. So good. He's so smooth and makes the range he plays. And he has that intensity that I think him and Bryce and JT. Yeah. Well, again, just the fact that he talked about opting out based on whether they have a chance to win or not.

Like, that's someone who's like a competitor. You want to go and win. So what do you think is more likely? Bryant still? Yes. Well, because Bryant, because of the Boris thing and the funneling of players here, I still believe in that. And the curve body with Bryce Harper. There's a lot of reasons to believe in that.

And I think that of the two, Chris Bryant is more likely to get traded. Yes. Although it does seem like Arenado is trending. It seems like they're motivated, which is interesting. But I still, if I had to bet on one of the two to get traded, I would bet on Bryant. There's a realistic chance that the NL East is going to have Arenado, Bryant, and Donaldson next year. Buddy. Buddy!

Man, it's going to be fun. I know people like to see other teams fail in the division, and I totally get that. But there's a part of me that I didn't get to experience in 90s NFC East. So I was always jealous of people talking about how Giants, Cowboys, Redskins were real rivalries. And now we have that with the Marlins and Corey Dickerson. And the number one rival.

Corey Alfaro. Hate that guy now. He's not our rival. Yeah. I mean, hey, we might need to beat him a few times. Well, it's Jonathan PR. They brought a bunch of dudes, man.

Yeah, buddy. But no, it's going to be fun. I would die if they got Nolan Harrow. I don't think I'd be able to function. I wouldn't be able to function. Yeah. That would be you. That would be me. I would, for as excited as I was about Bryce. What just happened there was that. Yeah, I would be able to function. I wouldn't be able to function. Yeah. That would be you. That would be me.

I would, for as excited as I was about Bryce. What just happened there was that. Yeah, I would be just as excited. I would. I'd be more excited. I might be more excited because it's more unexpected. Like, we thought they were getting Bryce Harper for a year prior to it happening. So it's like, and granted, the way it happened made it a little more exciting because we

were like, oh God, is this, you know, we think it's going to happen. Is it actually going to happen? But, whether or not it would just be so unexpected i know it's being talked about now but it would be so out of nowhere there would be like holy yeah um all right we're 28 minutes in robert stock oh yeah so robert stock posted a so he posted everyone just been waiting 28 minutes for this so let him have it who wouldn't be excited about some robert stock talk um so he posted this picture the other day. I guess he's been working with a Rapsodo camera, which I'm so jealous.

I've never thrown to a Rapsodo camera, but I just want to know where my spins were. I mean, I'm sure you could make that happen. You know enough people now. I could. I mean, again, friend of the pod, Jason O'Chart. I'm guessing he's been around one of those before. Oh, yeah, for sure. I might make it happen.

Although I don't want to embarrass myself because I don't think I have that much spin. Oh, buddy. Where's confident Fritz at? If I find the Fritz cutter. Oh, buddy. Actually, I think my curveball has a lot of spin. Me and Pavetta. So Robert Stock posted this video

or a picture of him using a Rhapsody camera. His fastball was up to 97.4 miles an hour, which is like in the Phillies bullpen. Fastest by far. Is that allowed? No. No? Not allowed?

Well, Zach Wheeler's here now, so maybe. I always forget that Zach Wheeler's here. And then I get excited again. I'm excited. I think he's going to be, I legitimately think he's going to break out here. Of course you do. I know. Of course you do.

I know it's not shocking. I know. I've been doing a lot of work on fastballs up in the zone. I'll bet you have. know it's not shocking i know i've been doing a lot of work on fastballs up in the zone i'll bet you have um so he put out this video or picture and they his four seam spin rate was 2550 rpms which is rates per minute and that is 100 spin efficiency which is very good which is what you want so i looked up i i coincided this with his baseball savant numbers from the last like year or two because he didn't really pitch much in 2019 so i went back 2018 as well and his average four seam spin rate was like 2200 rpms oh wow so getting up but that much is a

pretty big development and we'll put him in the top 25 in four seams been right can you talk about exciting you are such a nerd talk about excited I was legitimately excited when I saw it. I know. He might be Craig Kimball. You, oh my God. The amount of time that you have and are able to put into these things is, it's amazing.

I was pretty drunk on New Year's and I was thinking a lot about the Phillies Well I know Cause I'm waiting in line to go see Dave Chappelle On New Year's Eve with my wife and my buddy And his wife and I get a text from Jack Going I got an idea for the pod And I'm like what are you doing?

It's 7 o'clock on New Year's Eve Why are you sitting around thinking about the podcast? I'm just hanging out Always thinking about the podcast I do love High Hop um yeah so like i think so i think that um like i want to do another lent thing that i don't know if i want to do lent again because it feels like you know been there done that been there done that so like i'm gonna try to lose weight in 2020 i say that every year but if i could tie it into like

going over the luxury tax what if they see like 180 pound fritz and like oh my god we should go to the luxury tax like he might not make it i'm trying to just post like pictures of me fasting i was going to do like fast for the luxury tax. People will die, Jack. People will die. I know. It's like I haven't honed the bit yet. Okay. Something's coming.

Yeah. I mean, I'm just going to, I don't know. Figure something out. I don't want to force everyone to do weight loss stuff. But like I might try to. It's a good time of year. I think a lot of people want to lose weight this time of year. Yeah.

It's like the number one New Year's resolution. It is. So, yeah. Excited about Robert's stock. I can tell. I can tell. All right. What else you got? got all right i got two things in the notebag um i want them to go after taiwan walker yeah you uh you tweeted about this you've talked about this to me i don't know like 10 times already lay it on me so pitch like 14 innings dude legit 14 innings in the last two

seasons which means you definitely won't get hurt for the Phillies. I did love him back in the day. Another guy I've owned multiple times on Fantasy D. I always believe in Tywon Walker. Yeah, me too. The stuff is there. The stuff is there, and I was looking at, so I was watching a little bit of stuff on Baseball Savant,

and I was just like, what does his fastball do up in the zone? And I looked at it, and in those 14 innings, he threw 19ball do up in the zone? And I looked at it. And in those 14 innings, he threw 19 fastballs up in the zone. Only one hit. How about that for stats? It's good. So he could. You might say a bit of a small sample size.

But yes, I like it. Someone say. Someone say. The smallest sample size. Yeah, possibly. I've made big. Two starts. I've made big claims off of Les.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, we know but but no but i in watching his fastball like it has giddy up right at the end where like it's just hard to square up over and over again with fastball and i went back so then i went back to 2017 and did it 2017 2018 2019 which again 2018 2019 were 14 innings total but he only allowed 19 hits in like 480 forcing fastballs up in the zone. I think that's what the number was.

So, if so facto. If so facto! If he throws it up in the zone. No, but like, what's the harm? I'm with you. That's the, look, sadly, since they're clearly

not going to go over the luxury tags for, you know, good pitchers, or at least, you know, guys you can count on, that's the type of moves they have to make. Those are the types of guys they should be looking for.

Low risk, high reward type of moves. But it does feel like I feel like a smart team is just going to overpay for them and just see what they can get. And it is weird that the Diamondbacks paid for all his rehab and then kind of just let him go. He's going to be a Diamondback I would guess. Go back. Yeah, it's just weird.

It is weird. I want to put the Diamondbacks and the Reds in my new classification of smart teams. Yeah. Diamondbacks are a smart team now. Ever since they got rid of Dave Stewart, they're smart. Oh, and the Reds, they're pitching factories insane. I'm so jealous. I'm so...

Well, it's not even Kyle Boddy. It's like Derek Johnson. Yeah. All right, what's the second thing in the note bag? I think Woba would be a really good band name. Chicks take the Woba. That's what I've heard. But just think about, like, all right, next, Woba.

Woba. Coming up next, Woba. That's a good band name. I think Woba is just a great acronym. I think it would be a really solid band name. Okay. Like, couldn't you see, you know, like- Oh, what are you doing?

I'm going to see Woba tonight, man. Yeah. Crazy. Yeah, you're into those, you know, stoner bands. Yes, yes, yes. It sounds like a jam stoner band. I could see it. Woba.

Woba. I could see some Woba tonight. Yeah. It's a good band name. It's all right. You can't put the in front of it. It's got to just be Woba. Just Woba. I agree. No, no, of it It's gotta just be Woba Just Woba

I agree No no the It'd have to be Woba Yeah No one take that idea I like it Let's start a band

You play an instrument My voice isn't interesting Yeah we all know that Seven solos In middle school Yeah Drops of Jupiter Not as good

Drops of Jupiter I was sick Are you still You got a final thought Drops of Jupiter, not as good. No, it's in the drops of Jupiter. I was still. The final thought was it just the Wovo revelation? Yeah. Final thought. Hmm.

My final thought is that. I think the Nick Pivette complete game against the Reds was the moment of the season. Best moment of the Harvard Grand Slam, huh? Yeah. Okay. People get so mad about the Pivetta thing now, and it's like, listen, I liked Nick Pivetta, and I wish he developed a third pitch. But now people are like, oh, do you even know pitching?

I know pitching. I'm sorry I led you astray with Nicholas. Hey, at least you put yourself out there, buddy. I know. I appreciate that. I saw Vince Velasquez throwing a bullpen the other day, and I started getting upset. For the love of God, do not make me watch him again.

Make him a left fielder. Can we do that? Honestly, you know what the best idea is? Freaking trade him and save $4 million. Who's taking Vince Velasquez off your hands? I guarantee someone will take Vince Velasquez. Well, if the Phillies love him too much. Dude, they could free up $10 million if they trade Vince Velasquez.

$6 million to add $4 million to that? Close to $10. Maybe you could sign Dalma Dantas. Sign Will Harris, who's still available. How about that? Go get someone like that. Will Harris would be fun. I like Will Harris.

He's old. You know what he is? He's a guy who's pitched in big games out of a bullpen before. What a thought. You know what they're not going to do? What a crazy thought. Granted, Will Harris' last big game. Not great.

Yeah. You know what they're not going to do? What? Sign Will Harris because he's old, and they don't want to get another old pitcher who gets hurt, like Neshek, Robertson. They're not going to sign anyone who costs $7, $10 million. I mean, there was an article today that was like, yeah, they might be in the market for Smiley and Vargas. They're some of the best left.

They are. Fine. Yeah, it's awesome. Just sign Alex Wood or Tyrone Wood. Cliff Smiley, let's bring that back. That was awesome. Sign Alex Wood. I don't know if Alex Wood's good anymore.

I would take a shot on Alex Wood, sure. But that sucks that that's where we're at, Jack. Alex Wood or Vince Vlade. I mean, I'd take Alex Wood. But come on. He's only two years removed from like a 2.60 RA. A 15 and 1. Oh, and let me get this one last thing out.

Okay, get it out. If anyone tweets me, if anyone freaking tweets me one more time about how they should sign Felix Hernandez, I'm going to blow a gasket. He's done. Felix Hernandez is like Jay Ajayi cooked. Yeah, for sure. That's a good comp.

I like that comp. Dude, he did a 6.5 ERA last year. He's horrendous. He's done. He finished like 18 games. Hall of Famer? Um, no. So it's one of those where when you look at the numbers, you're like, eh, maybe not.

I don't think he is. But he felt like a Hall of Famer for a little while. He did. I would agree with you there. There was a time where you're like, maybe not. I don't think he is. He felt like a Hall of Famer for a little while. He did. I would agree with you there. There was a time where you're like, that dude's going to be a Hall of Famer. He's kind of like Chris Carpenter for me. He was better than Carpenter in his prime. Yeah, I would agree. But I understand what you're saying. He's just short for me. Just short.

I would agree. But man, I love Felix too. Look, Felix was the first of those to finally, the Cy Young Award has changed, and they're not looking at wins. They don't care. He was the first one of those. And I still think the biggest, my biggest, not regret, because it's not me personally,

but I wish I would have seen Felix in a playoff game. Ah, me too. The one guy I want to see pitch in a playoff game, Felix Hernandez. That's a good one. He never pitched. I know. And he's definitely notoff game. Yeah. Felix Hernandez. It's a good one. He never pitched. I know. And he's definitely not this year. No.

Or never again. Yeah. All right. Rate and review the podcast. It makes Shaq so happy. Yes. Like, really. He just sits there and refreshes it, hoping that-

A couple times a day. In between baseball savant sessions. Baseball savant sessions are my favorite. I love baseball savant. I know you do. I could spend hours on baseball savant. You do spend hours on baseball savant. Sometimes. Rate love baseball Savant. I know you do. I could spend hours on baseball Savant. You do spend hours on baseball. Sometimes.

Rate and review the pod. It means a lot. We'll be back next week. Happy New Year. Happy New Year. Happy New Year. We love you guys. All right,

you spread some salt. We'll see you later. 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

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