PHNX Arizona Diamondbacks Podcast - 5 Scary-Good Free Agent Pitchers the D-backs Should Cast a Spell On

Episode Date: October 31, 2025

JOIN THE SUPPORTERS CLUB ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/yc6km2r4 As the Blue Jays gear up to turn Halloween into a nightmare for the Dodgers in Game 6 of the World Series, we’re already looking ahead t...o the next big thing: MLB Free Agency. We break down the key post-season dates the D-backs need to mark on their calendars and highlight five scary-good free agent pitchers who could help jumpstart 2026. And because no Halloween is complete without a little sugar-fueled debate, we’re ranking (and arguing over) our top five favorite Halloween candies! An ALLCITY Network Production SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube: https://bit.ly/phnx_youtube ALL THINGS PHNX: http://linktr.ee/phnxsports MERCH https://store.allcitynetwork.com/collections/phnx-locker ALLCITY Network, Inc. aka PHNX and PHNX Sports is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by the City of Phoenix PHNX Events: Get your tickets to PHNX events and takeovers here: https://gophnx.com/events/ ALLCITY — including us here at PHNX — is teaming up with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America for an exciting three-year partnership. To learn more, visit https://www.bbbs.org/allcity/ APS: Find instant rebates, discounts and special offers on smart thermostats, energy-efficient appliances and more at https://marketplace.aps.com/default/heating-cooling/smart-thermostats Branded Bills: Use code BBPHNX at https://www.brandedbills.com/ for 15% off your first order! Husband & Wife Law Team: If you’ve had a serious injury, Call The Husband & Wife Law Team first at 602-783-8841 or visit https://husbandandwifelawteam.com/?utm_source=allcity-padcasts&utm_medium=digital-phx&utm_campaign=allcityShowNotes Crown Royal: Visit crownroyal.com/PurpleBagProject to learn more! Chicken N’ Pickle: Family friendly fun awaits! Visit chickennpickle.com to plan your visit today! Access Auto Insurance Agency of Arizona, LLC (Access Auto) is a renowned agency offering personal and commercial auto insurance options to Arizona residents. If you’re on the hunt for a new policy, call Access Auto today at 1-480-400-0546 or get a free insurance quote by visiting our website www.access-insurance.com. Visit https://www.macu.com/accounts/checking/mystyle-checking?cid=ea-PHNX-AZ-mystyleAugust2025-checking to learn more about their MyStyle Checking Accounts! bet365: https://www.bet365.com/hub/en-us/app-hero-banner-1?utm_source=affiliate&utm_campaign=usapp&utm_medium=affiliate&affiliate=365_03485317 Use the code PHNX365 to sign up, deposit $10 and bet $5 to get $150 in bonus bets! Disclaimer: Must be 21+ and physically located in AZ. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-NEXT-STEP, text NEXTSTEP to 53342 or visit https://problemgambling.az.gov/ Gametime: Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code PHNX for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Shady Rays: Head to https://shadyrays.com and use code: PHNX for 35% off polarized sunglasses. Try for yourself the shades rated 5 stars by over 300,000 people. Circle K: Join Inner Circle for free by downloading the Circle K app today! Head to https://www.circlek.com/store-locator to find Circle Ks near you! Monarch: Use Monarch to get control of your overall finances with 50% off your first year at https://www.monarchmoney.com/phnx When you shop through links in the description, we may earn affiliate commissions. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. #dbacks #diamondbacks #arizonadiamondbacks #mlb #zacgallen #corbincarroll #ketelmarte #mlbtheshow #mlbtraderumors #tradedeadline #traderumors #allstargame Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Starting point is 00:00:00 We're staying in to give out candy tonight and watch the Blue Jays make Halloween a nightmare for the Dodgers in game six. Also, we got five scary good options for the Diamondbacks as far as free agent pitching is concerned. And we just can't wait for this World Series to be over so that that free agent season can begin. All of this in 30 seconds, don't you go anywhere. Happy Halloween to you all. It is another edition of the PHNX-Dbacks podcast, Love! from Studio K, presented by our friends at Circle K. It is I, Derek Montia, occasionally known as a bottle of three amigos tequila.
Starting point is 00:00:55 And of course, what would a bottle of tequila be without his perfectly paired lime? It is the one, the only large intimate Kevin Thomas, aka the lime to my tequila. thrilled to have you guys here for another edition of the PHNX DVax podcast. Of course, this show is brought to you by our friends at Bet365. And game time, make sure to use that code of PHNX 365. When you sign up over there, get yourself some bonus bets for following a few easy steps over at game time. Use our code of PHNX. You'll get $20 off your first ticket purchase on those already low last minute ticket deals.
Starting point is 00:01:32 Great to have you guys here. Happy Halloween. Thrilled to be joined by our friends. And of course, also thrilled for today. I love today. Today is one of my favorite days of the year. I will be wearing five to six costumes throughout the day. This is just costume number two.
Starting point is 00:01:50 So we got a lot of things going on around here. But thrilled to be joined by Kevin Thomas, aka Large Intimate, once again. Groundhog Mama wants to know if I'm an empty bottle or a full bottle of tequila. Right now I'm a full bottle, Karen. But tonight, I will definitely be emptied out. These two costumes are very, I mean, they're good for our personalities, right?
Starting point is 00:02:11 Like, I am a bottle of tequila. I am a good time. Like, you might regret it. You might regret hanging out with me. You might make bad decisions when you hang out with me, but we're going to have a good time. And meanwhile, Kevin is just good on everything. Kevin makes everything better. A little sprinkle of Kevin on your tacos makes them better.
Starting point is 00:02:29 A little sprinkle on chicken. I mean, a little lime on everything, right? Look at him. He's being so coy. he's being so shy and that's only because this man has a lot of work to do today with one Damon dog abandoning us to go watch football in Colorado. What's that about?
Starting point is 00:02:43 Limes don't speak. Limes work. Okay. Well, do the work. Do the work. All right. Well, we're still going to get your opinion on candy later in the episode and that's going to be probably the most important debate we've ever had in our entire lives. But tonight is Halloween and it is also
Starting point is 00:02:59 Game 6 of the World Series. I for sure cannot express enough. Again, I cannot express enough how much I hate this. I hate Halloween when we had an off day on Thursday being tainted here by me having to like watch this game where the Blue Jays could
Starting point is 00:03:15 potentially put away the Dodgers. Like, there's no way I'm not watching this game. But as a father of a 14 year old, I don't know how many of these Halloween's I have left where she's going to participate. There's a good chance that this may be one of last two, maybe last trick or treating year ever. I don't know. She goes with her
Starting point is 00:03:31 friend. I'm not already, I'm already not included, but still I like to be around when that stuff goes on. And of course, the Blue Jays do have a three-two lead here over the Dodgers, meaning they are just one game away from clinching that first title that they have sought for nearly
Starting point is 00:03:47 over 30 years, right? That was the last time they won a World Series. The Dodgers facing elimination tonight. It's win or go home for the Dodgers. And of course, they have the best potential option on the mound for them. There's nobody, I think, that they would rather have on
Starting point is 00:04:03 mound in a game where their backs are against the wall, then Yoshinombo Yamamoto. He has been dominant to say the least this postseason. He has been Randy Johnson-esque. And he continues to look very, very good. If he can somehow find a way to be that complete game ace, once again for the Dodgers, we will in fact be seeing a game seven on Saturday.
Starting point is 00:04:26 And again, that's, I don't feel like that's the worst thing for us baseball fans that just want this to be. this epic clash between these two teams. However, as we've advised most of you that are watching, you should be rooting against the Dodgers. So we don't necessarily want a game seven. We would love to see them put this thing away tonight.
Starting point is 00:04:45 Meanwhile, the Blue Jays will have Kevin Gossman on the mount for them. Strong veteran arm charged with helping keep his team from forcing that game seven and responsible for helping them clinch tonight. This is a rematch of game two. and of course Yoshinobi Yamamoto absolutely dominated in that last game. But if he's efficient and sharp tonight, the Dodgers absolutely have a shot. But if not, you really feel like if Yamamoto is human and he can only go out there and give the Dodgers six innings tonight, which seems to be the key. That seems to be the number everybody's looking at.
Starting point is 00:05:23 If they can find a way to drive up that pitch count and get them out of the game, Toronto can close in on that title. They have the momentum. They are at home and they have a chance to bring the championship north of the border for the first time in decades. And now you have a Dodgers team that is desperate. They're facing elimination and they, quite frankly, need their stars to step up. They need Mookie Betts, who quite frankly has been terrible this postseason to step up. They need to do whatever they can. The pressure is on them 100% tonight's game.
Starting point is 00:05:54 The Blue Jays, of course, have some good news in the return of George Springer, returning from that oblique injury. And meanwhile, you know, they also are looking like they're at 100% for the first time in a while. Toronto's Blue Jays got some breathing room thanks to their starters holding up. And that's kind of what the Dodgers need tonight. But the Rogers Center crowd will be electric. So good luck to the Dodgers because I feel like that stadium, those fans, the excitement, the costumes, the array of costumes that we're going to see tonight. Right. It's all got to give the Blue Jays a tangible edge, right?
Starting point is 00:06:32 Like, there's got to actually be like, I mean, I don't know. Are you coming to a World Series game on Halloween and costume? How can you not? I don't, Kevin, I know Limes don't speak, but are you wearing a costume to a sporting event of this magnitude? Or are you taking it as a fan too seriously and you need to show up in your Powder Blue Blue Jays uniform? As a fan? As a fan of the team, let's say. See, as a fan, as a person every day, I usually don't wear my Halloween costumes, right?
Starting point is 00:07:00 This is a Derek production right here. I did demand you wear this couple's costume with me 100%. So I think, I think if I were to go to a game, I'm probably just rocking up the normal way I would show up. However, I might throw on like a hat or like a little mask or something to just like kind of be, you know, festive. But if I was a player, I'm honestly for sure showing up in some sort of awesome costume. Oh, you're talking about like the walk-in shot? Yeah, why would you not? Yeah.
Starting point is 00:07:23 For most players, like most players in this game, I feel like you have enough financial money to like get like really creative with it. And it's not like a, it's not like a crazy thing to go out and get a fancy costume. Yeah. I want to see what Otani shows up in. Yeah, imagine if he showed up in a prison jumpsuit. That would be incredible. Does Vlad Guerrero show up as David Ortiz? Oh, Big Poppy.
Starting point is 00:07:43 Doing the like something like that. If he shows up as David Ortiz. Yeah. And then they beat the Dodgers tonight. He can do the funniest thing ever with the da. Doyers lose. Yeah, and he can wear it. And he can wear it.
Starting point is 00:07:56 And then show up on the post game. So if I'm a player, I'm absolutely wearing a costume. If I'm a fan, you're sitting in the seat for hours, potentially, potentially 18 innings. All right. So as you know, because I've showed you the pictures and I've discussed it with you, you and I being wrestling fans, my friends and I did go to Halloween Havoc dressed in costume. However, when the planning started, I immediately was like, I will be dude love. because I knew a dude love costume for those of you that have no idea what I'm talking about was essentially just a cut off shirt and a bandana around my head.
Starting point is 00:08:27 I knew that that was not going to be a difficult costume to wear. Meanwhile, my buddy that immediately jumped on mankind, I was like, good luck, sir, with your mask and your wig that you're going to have to wear all night and your button up,
Starting point is 00:08:39 you know, shirt with a sock stuffed in your pants. Good luck with all of that, right? functionality. And in fact, it was too much for him. He tapped out.
Starting point is 00:08:47 He tapped out before the end of the event. He couldn't wear the wig anymore. Also, at the Finley Toyota Center in Prescott Valley, they will not let you walk around with a mask on, which was hilarious for all the people that were dressed up specifically for a Halloween-related event. So that was double. I imagine that might be going on in the Rogers Center, too, due to security. Sorry, we can't let you wear your masks. Don't wear a mask. Come with a lightweight costume.
Starting point is 00:09:12 Maybe he dresses a bottle of tequila. I don't know. Might be a good idea. I'm learning that onesie costumes are like the way to go for the most part. costume as long, I mean. Like something you can slip on over your everyday, get down. Yeah, yeah. Maybe just as long as there's no footy
Starting point is 00:09:26 pajama part involved. True, once you get there, that's a lot to deal with. But the Blue Jays might have a lot to deal with tonight. If Otani is available to pitch and relief in game six, the Dodgers are preparing for that possibility. According to manager Dave Roberts, on Thursday,
Starting point is 00:09:42 he said, we'll kind of talk through whatever is the best. If we get to that point, we'll see, but he's not going to play the outfield tomorrow. I do know that. But if we do get to game seven, we'll have a good discussion about everything. So it sounds like Dave Roberts is reluctant to turn to Otani. And again, there's just too many variables, I think. They're especially for Shohei Otani. Like Otani is being asked, they are asking so much of him as a pitcher that's still being expected to start in this world series. So I do feel like asking him to also come out of the bullpen is a bit much. However, if they find themselves in a
Starting point is 00:10:17 predicament where, you know, this game is tied and goes long again like, like game three did. Then perhaps we see them go in that direction at some point or perhaps they just feel like if they have a lead late, they might turn out of a tawny. I just don't know. I feel like that might be a bad idea. I feel like that might be overmanaging. They just don't have the bullpen that they can rely on really right now. So I do feel like that is a reason why we might see that. Meanwhile, Dave Roberts is literally pulling out all the stops, Kevin. On Thursday, he raced utility men, Ha-Song Kim, from first base to third base,
Starting point is 00:10:52 at Rogers Center, and it did not go well for Dave Roberts, needless to say. He was given the pity start. He was given the freeze, like when the freeze gives the fan a head start, he was given the head start. And then as Dave Roberts was rounding second base, Kim was gaining on him he tripped and face planted
Starting point is 00:11:15 in the infield dirt just beyond the bag so he did not have any he did not have any damage to his face or his body afterwards even though he is an older gentleman he was able to bounce back and recover nicely from it and he had a good laugh
Starting point is 00:11:33 with his team about the mishap now here's the thing I am worried about Kevin I won't lie is this this worries me is Freddy Freeman said that when he spoke to Roberts after the tumble, he expressed gratitude for, you know, Dave Roberts kind of trying to pop the boys, right? Trying to alleviate some of this pressure that the Dodgers are feeling. They are facing elimination tonight.
Starting point is 00:11:57 Their bull, their bullpen is not good, is not reliable. Their offense has been, quite frankly, terrible outside of guys named Freddie Freeman. And Freddie Freeman said in regards to what Dave Roberts did, that's what we needed. and that's scary. I feel like it's almost like a bad omen though. I mean, kind of a little bit. It is literally, like he fell on his face.
Starting point is 00:12:17 It's a metaphor for the franchise falling on their face after pulling out all the stops to once again win the World Series this year. So you can see it as that. Or, I mean, I don't know. I think you could also see it as like some levity is needed in these moments to relieve this, relieve this, right?
Starting point is 00:12:33 And I feel like when I heard Tori Lovalo, once again, relating this back to the Diamondbacks, talk about turning the expectations into a standard, my first thought was, that is far too serious. Like, you know what I mean? Like, it's like, it's almost like you're taking the idea of expectations
Starting point is 00:12:54 and making them even more, like bigger, like putting more weight on the team, being like, not only are these expectations, this is a standard we're expected to live up to from this point on. Like, that's a lot. You know what I mean? We do content around here.
Starting point is 00:13:09 Can you imagine if ESPO, came in after a banger episode and was like, this is the standard we expect you to set around here. We're like, crap, how am I going to get that many views on another episode? I don't even know how that happened, right? So again, like it feels like it's a lot to change instead of making fun, instead of just trying to like lighten the mood based on there being pressure and expectations, feel like it's a good move to do what Dave Roberts did and try to just have some fun with it. He knew that wasn't going to end well for him, but I doubt he,
Starting point is 00:13:40 expected it to end this poorly for him. Yeah. And to your point about like how you got to just play your style of baseball that got you to the dance in a lot of ways and not put too much pressure on yourself. Like it's like having a number one hit. Most artists never have a number one hit. Most teams, well, I shouldn't say most teams never win the whole thing. But like on average, only one team can win it every year. Sure. Right. So if you make it to there, make it to the World Series this past season, right? Expecting it to be the standard, I think like you said is a bit dramatic. You should be more like, well, we're going to get in the studio.
Starting point is 00:14:11 We're going to write the same. The song's the same way we've been writing them. And if people love the songs, people love the songs. But it's about like the process, right? And I think like, yeah, to your point, Dave Roberts adding some levity probably does help. A lot of players kind of take the weight off of the situation. That's such a good metaphor too, because the idea of like writing a song, you never know as an artist what's going to make you big. And then again, we as fans tend to say someone was a one-hit wonder and that their career was a disappointment. That artist probably views things completely differently depending on their
Starting point is 00:14:44 personality. But there's a good chance that that person views that as like, yeah, but damn it, I made it. Like, I made it. I might be a one hit wonder, but still my song was a top 40 hit. And I, you know, I toured over it and I got paid quite a bit of money over that one hit wonder. So I'm very thankful for it. Everything else in my career was essentially what it's been. but for some reason lightning struck on that one song and I gained some, you know, new fans, notoriety and a whole lot of money from it, right? The Diamondbacks, to a certain extent, we're never expecting it to make it to the World Series in 2023, right? So I do think that those expectations molding them into what should be a new standard for this team going forward was definitely not the tone.
Starting point is 00:15:28 I get what they were trying to do, though, right? They were trying to build on that success. And again, the Dodgers aren't a franchise right now that are built just to win that one world series and be content with it. They expect to win a lot of them. And they, like I said, they wanted to kind of rule over Major League Baseball for us all laughing at their Mickey Mouse ring and saying that that wasn't a legitimate championship. It felt like this franchise wanted to build a contender that was going to essentially make the rest of us hate them for a very long time. And here we are with a team from Toronto, some nice, nice boys who all love Putin and all can't wait to end the Dodgers season.
Starting point is 00:16:08 And again, we're all rooting for them because the Dodgers, as I've said before, have earned the right to be hated by all of us with how good they are. But that offense has not been very good. And meanwhile, the Blue Jays offense has been very good. A big piece of that offense is coming back to because according to reports, the Blue Jays are going to get a boost here. as George Springer will return for game six of the World Series tonight. They will have a slugger back, baby.
Starting point is 00:16:36 According to various reports, including Bob Nightingale of USA Today, John Schneider told media on Thursday evening that Springer has checked every box physically so far and is expected to rejoin the lineup for game six after being very close to starting in game five. And they did not need him in game five. And this has allowed Bo Bouchet to really heat up and kind of take on that role in his absence. And you just feel like with, Springer back in the lineup, this has to be, this has to be the end of the Dodgers season. It really doesn't. He has to be the guy that does it tonight. He has to return to the lineup
Starting point is 00:17:08 simply to be, he's got to go three for four with two dingers and end the whole, and, and their season because that's just so fitting based on his relationship with that franchise. In 81 playoff games, Springer, 81, 81, 81 playoff games. Can you imagine having a resume of playing an 80s? baseball playoff games. This man is slash 264, 342 with a 535 slug. That is like a, what is it, 897 OPS with 23 home runs
Starting point is 00:17:44 and 47 RBI. It's nuts. And it also includes four home runs that he's hit here for the Blue Jays alone. So huge, huge bat to have back in their lineup. And again, just a big, a big challenge here. for the Dodgers, can Yoshinobu Yamamoto be as excellent and flawless as he's been?
Starting point is 00:18:04 And especially where he sat down, what, those 20 retired batters in a row? Crazy. Crazy stuff. Or will the Blue Jays be, you know, get this boost from Springer being back in the lineup with his Apple watch on and come back and end the Dodgers season? Can't wait to watch it. And I will be figuring out how to both give out candy, get drunk and watch the World Series. Why don't you host like a neighborhood watch thing at your house? A neighborhood watch?
Starting point is 00:18:33 That sounds absolutely awful. Well, yeah, I mean like a neighborhood watch party. Like you have like you bring a TV outside, have some candy. I got a projector. Like families, like dads might want to be like, oh, let's stay a little. I'll share a little while while while here. I'll figure it out. That's always a good time.
Starting point is 00:18:47 You were talking about how dreadful giving out candy is. I have no children. I love giving out candy because of that exact reason. I have no children, Derek. We make a good time out of it though. Me and my wife let my daughter go off and do her thing. She's 14 years old. She doesn't want to be.
Starting point is 00:18:59 with us on Halloween. We do have a family costume though. We're going as X-Men 97 tonight, so I'm pumped about that. But I don't know if she's as pumped. Who's going as who? I will be Cyclops. My wife will be Phoenix. She specifically wanted to do Phoenix. And then my daughter will be rogue. And again, my daughter loves to do obscure costumes. So it was a whole fight making her pick X-Men 97 rogue over X-Men Evolution Rogue, a cartoon. Nobody watched except me and my friend G-1. Anyway, we're going to take a quick break on the other side of this break. We are going to talk about how we are ready for this whole playoff thing to be over so that we can move on to free agency season.
Starting point is 00:19:38 We're going to talk about some key dates. The debacks need to have on their calendar as well as go over five affordable pitching free agents. At least, I believe they're affordable. Let's see if their agents can do their job. But we're going to do that on the other side of this break. Don't you go anywhere you're watching the PHA next time in Beck Show. Well, pure edibles is a candy company that I love, especially here on Halloween. Now, you don't want to share this with anybody but yourself.
Starting point is 00:20:06 But make sure to go pick yourself up some pure edibles this Halloween. It's a great time to check out the full array of candy that they have. And, of course, they do have an array of candy, not just gummies. They have hard candies, chews. They have their kicks, which are their version of Starburst and so much more. So make sure to check out the entire line of edibles that Pure Edibles has to offer, including, of course, their new collaboration right now. with Mother Road Brewery, one of my favorite breweries in this entire state up there in Flagstaff, Arizona.
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Starting point is 00:22:08 World Series to be over, because once the World Series comes and goes, that means that free agency season is here. And that is something that honestly is like kind of a horror movie a little bit here as the Diamondbacks fan, right? The anticipation is kind of killing me. I don't know what's going to happen. I fear for the worst, yet I hope for the best. You know, these modern day horror movies, the good guys don't always make it out of the horror movie.
Starting point is 00:22:37 You know that, right? And some of them they do. Some of them they do. Those parents from weapons, they're never going to be right ever again, though, those poor guys. But again, so. They're like weapons. Some people make it out, but they aren't unscathed by it. But I will say that I hope that this one ends pleasantly for the Diamondbacks.
Starting point is 00:22:55 And, of course, there are a lot of, you know, there are a lot of ways that this could turn into less of a horror movie and more of a happy ending for the Diamondbacks. But it all starts once the World Series ends. Of course, that means that the day after the World Series signals free agency, a signing period, but only players that are currently with their teams can sign. Players can sign with new teams on the fifth day after the World Series ends. So that means that teams can negotiate with their own departing free agents during the initial five-day window after the World Series ends.
Starting point is 00:23:31 And then the deadline to extend a qualifying offer to those players like Zach Gallen, who will receive a qualifying offer, will be within that five-day window before they become official free agents. So teams must decide whether to make a qualifying offer to any of their free agents no later than that five-day period after the end of the World Series. And of course, like I said, the only one among the debacks free agents expected to receive a qualifying offer is Zach Gallen. If Zach Gallen does accept that offer, then he will be with the Diamondbacks for one more year at a salary approximately around $22 million.
Starting point is 00:24:06 Now, based on SpotTrak's annual value estimate of Zach Gallen right now, he would essentially make less somewhere else. However, he can get that security of a multi-year deal versus just the one-year deal that the Diamondbacks can offer him with the qualifying offer. If he rejects that deal, as everyone expects him to do, then he immediately becomes a free agent. and if he signs somewhere else for above $50 million, then the Diamondbacks would receive that draft compensation, that compensatory pick falls in between rounds one and rounds two, and it's very important. It's very important.
Starting point is 00:24:39 Like, let's not underestimate how important that is. Like, Zach Gallen coming back to this team might very much be a needed thing for this team, right? We're talking constantly about their biggest problem with 2026 is pitching depth and the fact that they do not have enough starting pitchers to be. begin the season unless they turn to some of their minor league arms. So in this case, again, it is not a terrible thing if Zach Gallin accepts that qualifying offer and returns. It's also not a terrible thing if he rejects it and they get that compensatory pick, right? So then again, you also have at the end of those five days the period where players can opt out of their contracts.
Starting point is 00:25:17 You have the types of, I guess, contract opt-outs. You have the team option. You have the player option and then you have mutual option of course mutual option is meaningless it pretty much means that there there's no deal that's going to be done player option in this case is what like lordis gareil junior has and due to his injury there's a good chance that there's no way lordis is going to opt out of his deal and miss out on that money that he's going to get for basically missing the year and again there's no no way a team is going to pay him as much as the diamondbacks will pay him for 26 to be an injured person on their roster. So barring any kind of crazy thing, the Diamondbacks do have, you know, the opt-outs
Starting point is 00:26:03 to deal with. And again, Lourdes being the only one that they really would have to worry about. Teams must also reinstate their players on the 60-Day IL by the end of this period. And then, of course, there's that. That's kind of important because right now the Diamondbacks' 40-man roster is at 39. players currently, and they have nine guys on the 60 day IL. All of those pitchers that all have had Tommy John surgery are all on the 60 day IL. So they have some things to figure out.
Starting point is 00:26:36 They'll have to create eight spots on their 40-man roster, and that's also going to cause problems for them when the Rule 5 draft comes along. And that comes along around over on November 18th. But between the end of the season, that five-day free agent period, and going forward, you have the general manager's meetings in Las Vegas from November 10th through the 13th. And then you have the owners meeting in New York City as well. So this is all stuff that is looming after, you know, that free agency period. And the general managers meetings, of course, that is an important place for Mike Hazen to potentially get some work done on behalf of
Starting point is 00:27:13 this team with some trades. But they don't usually happen at the general manager meetings. Usually more moves happen at the winter meetings. General manager's meetings can be very valuable, though, for Mike Hazen to kind of kick those conversations off, start feeling out who is looking for what, and if there's a move that he could make to improve this team for 2026. Meanwhile, the owner's meetings has less to do with the rosters and more to do what's going to happen in 2027. There is a disaster on the horizon, and that is whatever the hell happens once that, you know, collective bargaining agreement ends in December of 2026. this may be some sort of indication when those meetings happen as to what we can expect to see in 2027.
Starting point is 00:27:58 If on the end of this month around Thanksgiving, the owners come out and we start hearing about a push for a salary cap in baseball as some of us want, but players don't. You can almost assure yourself that 2027 is going to be impacted, whether it's going to be the entire season or just a period of time. There will be a work stoppage in 2027 when those owners, if those owners come out of the meeting and start singing. the praises of a salary cap, which is likely. But moving ahead, of course, you also have the winter meetings there, and those are happening in Orlando, Florida. November 18th, you have the qualifying offer deadline that Zach Gallen has until November 18th to make his decision.
Starting point is 00:28:46 And then the deadline to add Rule 5 eligible players to the 40-man roster is on November 18th. And the Diamondbacks have a lot of young players that are potentially rule five eligible candidates, right? The big thing there is that any team that does take a player in the rule five draft has to have them on their roster for the entire season.
Starting point is 00:29:10 So that's where it gets a little bit more difficult, especially when you're talking about unproven prospects that don't have any major league time, haven't made their debut yet. Those are guys that, of course, are going to be you know, a little bit harder to, you know, predict. But as we've seen with someone like Tray you Savage here in the Blue Jays in the World Series, teams might not be so shy to pick up a young player.
Starting point is 00:29:36 And that includes guys that the Diamondbacks just got in their trade with the Texas Rangers like Cole Drake and Mitch Bratt. Both of those guys are Rule 5 draft eligible for another team to steal away. So really interesting to see what happens there, considering that the Diamondbacks don't really have the roster room at this point to maneuver all of this and protect everyone that they need to protect. But again, the winter meetings happen after that. Those are in December. And of course, those are, that's big. There's not only all of the talks about events and media events and everything like that, but that's also where the MLB draft lottery takes place on
Starting point is 00:30:14 December 9th. The debacks have a very small chance of gaining the first pick in the draft. In fact, they have a 1.51% chance of getting the first pick in the draft. So not a great chance. and then the Rule 5 draft itself takes place there on December 10th. So that's another date that we should be locked in for. But the Diamondbacks, again, they're financial. They have some room to maneuver here a little bit. But again, this is why the December winter meetings are going to be so important there for Mike Hazen to potentially make some moves.
Starting point is 00:30:51 We've talked about, you know, the budget that the Diamondbacks have. in 2026. And we're going to go into at least five free agent pitchers, I believe, could actually be not only pitchers that the Diamondbacks could afford, but guys that could help this team win. And guys that could, you know, they're not just going to patch the tire here. These are guys that are going to, potentially, if they're signed to a long-term deal, could help this team win for a number of years and could be a part of the starting rotation. But again, that's a big part of that is just getting through this 2026 season.
Starting point is 00:31:27 Once again, I will remind you of Ken Kendrick's comments. I believe these were on Arizona Sports 98.7, but Ken Kendrick said, we are in a good position to have a very, very credible commitment financially to next season. Will the number be the same? It probably won't be. But I think it'll be a handsome number that will allow us to have a very, very competitive team.
Starting point is 00:31:49 Why is it that when I think of a handsome number? I just think of like 14 dressed up with a top hat in the monocle. Like, that's, to me, a handsome number. I don't know. I think of the number is six and seven. God damn it. God damn it. Don't do that.
Starting point is 00:32:03 You know how much of that I get at home? Probably like six or seven, six, seven, juts a day. Anyway, the Diamondbacks estimated opening day payroll budget should be somewhere around $180 million. I think that's safe to say. It's hard to imagine it being less than $170 million, but, again, Ken Kendrick gave an unspecified amount. So if you're taking a look at what they spent last year, you're taking a look at this year, $180 million feels like a pretty safe amount.
Starting point is 00:32:34 Now that gives them more money than even we were speculating on. If you take a look at the total, that would give them. We were speculating on the Diamondbacks having $20 to $30 million. This would give them more around $30 to $40 million, probably more in the neighborhood of $35 to $37 million based on additional spending that they'll need to do. But the Diamondback's estimated commitment right now is roughly $143 million. So you can do the math there between that and $180 million and come up with where exactly, you know, they lie. And again, any signings that they do of free agent signings, any trades where they take on a bigger salary from a player that comes over, all of that would have to work in the confines of this amount of money.
Starting point is 00:33:19 And that's, again, not a lot of money when you're talking about, for instance, Zach Gaget. Allen accepting the qualifying offer. Should he do that? The Diamondbacks are instantly left with 15 million left to play with for 2026, essentially. So that just goes to show how quickly that money could be spent. And again, we're all predicting that Zach Gallen will opt out. However, we don't really know. And there's a good chance that once he starts seeing what his value is on the free agent market,
Starting point is 00:33:52 that he might just take. that he might just take that $22 million. And should Zach Gound do that, like I said in the past, it solves a problem for them as far as starting pitching is concerned, but it does leave them with a limited budget to maneuver from that point going forward. Right. It's hard to get another pitcher for $15 million as well as potentially an outfielder or whoever else you need.
Starting point is 00:34:15 That's where trades would come into being a key play here for this team this offseason. But I have a list here of five guys. that we're going to go over. We're going to talk about here. And these are guys that potentially could help this team quite a bit, maybe on shorter-term deals, but still could be the answer to what they're going to do in 2026. So we're going to do that on the other side of this break.
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Starting point is 00:36:20 hug your next step. Text next step to 533342 or visit problemgambling.az.gov. Well, free agency, like I said, we'll start before we know it. And these guys are going to start getting scooped up by teams. Hopefully the Arizona Diamondbacks are one of them. But, of course, make sure not to miss out no matter what time of year it is on getting yourself a pair of sunglasses because the future of this team could potentially be so bright. Right now, do not miss out on getting yourself a pair of shady rays. I just got
Starting point is 00:36:54 a new pair of shady rays sent out to me instantly. I talked about the other day. There was a little problem with one of my lenses. I didn't know what was going on with it. I thought maybe, Kevin, that there was some gook in my lens. Instead, it turned out that there was a little peel overall. So make sure to check out their amazing lost and broken replacement plan over there for shady rays. You can get yourself a new pair of sunglasses sent out to you instantly. And let me tell you, even if you'll lose them, they got your back long after you make your purchase. Shady Rays also offers some of the best lenses that you can find. Their polarized lenses are incredible. They also have these color rush lenses that make everything even more beautiful. So, and if you needed
Starting point is 00:37:35 some sunglasses for your costume, it's a good idea. Get yourself some Shady Rays as part of the costume and then just wear them all the time. It's a great. It's a great trick that I use every Halloween. So we've teamed up with Shady Rays to bring you an exclusive offer. Head to ShadyRays.com and use code PHNX for 35% off polarized sunglasses. Try for yourself the shades rated five stars by over 300,000 people. All right. Like I said, we are super excited for free agency to start, mostly because we have no idea at all what is going to happen here
Starting point is 00:38:06 once the Diamondbacks reach free agency. But again, pitching is the key. I don't think there's any doubt from anybody that's been watching this team, that pitching needs to improve. And I feel like Mike Hazen has made that abundantly clear that that is going to be their priority, right? So the big question here is, is it going to be better to sign one guy in that Zach Gowan range
Starting point is 00:38:28 that's going to cost you over $20 million, or could you potentially get a pair of arms in the, let's say, less than $15 million range? The biggest thing here is that the Diamondbacks have a lot of holes to fill, plus they also have the returning Corbyn Burns. Right? There's an interesting balance to the starting rotation that needs to be found because you don't want to necessarily invest a bunch of money right now when you don't have a lot of money to spend in a guy that what is maybe going to be moved to the bullpen or cause one of your other starting pitchers to be moved to the bullpen like an erot or a brandon fought.
Starting point is 00:39:06 It doesn't make a lot of sense and quite frankly, again, the diamondbacks can't really afford that luxury right now to have six starting pitchers and to move one. However, we've seen throughout the year, and this is one thing that will never, will never leave my mind is that Corbyn Burns, of all people, said before the season starts, started last year, that you never make it through a season with five starting pitchers, never. And that was at the time, the question was, because Diamondbacks had six, seven starting pitchers, it felt excessive and it felt like their depth was great. And that all went away really quickly with the injuries to Jordan Montgomery and Corbyn Burns. So again, now the Diamondbacks have to figure out how can they fill out their starting rotation while also, you know, having that flexibility to either send a guy down or move a guy to the bullpen. Once Corbyn Burns does move, you know, move back to the rotation here at the midpoint of the season. Now, there are several names that are going to be free agents during this offseason. and some that are right now pitching in big moments like Kevin Gousman.
Starting point is 00:40:15 And of course, you know, you saw Jack Flaherty have some high leverage pitching innings for the Detroit Tigers. These are all guys that are probably going to be far out of the Diamondbacks range. A lot of it is going to be based on the fact that they, you know, had themselves some pretty good postseason runs. And that value is only driven up by that. But Diamondbacks need to look at guys that may come at a lower annual, you know, average annual value. shorter term deals or just more risk and more vulnerability and that requires us to look at some guys that may not have had the strongest seasons or kind of you know fly under the radar a little bit that the the first name that we're looking at today as a free agent is Zach Liddell
Starting point is 00:40:59 Littell right is that's how I say it I pronounce it little and I know that's not at all he said but let Zach Lattel he had himself a really good season of 3.7 war this year he's 30 years old. He posted a 3.81 ERA and 32 starts with a 1.104 whip. He was traded by the Tampa Bay Rays at the deadline of the Cincinnati Reds and became part of that team. And quite frankly, he didn't have himself a better season once he moved over to the Cincinnati Reds. He posted a 4.39 ERA. He made 10 starts. He won two of them and he had a 1.069 whip. But Overall, with the Tampa Bay raise, had himself a good season. And again, he's just a guy that at his current age might be looking for a little bit longer term of a deal.
Starting point is 00:41:50 And that might be something that's right in the Diamondbacks range. His value isn't extremely high, but again, he did have himself a good season. 3.2 war overall puts him up there as one of the better pitchers in baseball, and that's across both the Tampa Bay Rays and the Reds. there, but he's a guy I like a lot. I mean, he just has a lot of versatility and still, I feel like, has a lot to give. However, he's kind of a journeyman at this point. He's played for a lot of teams in his career.
Starting point is 00:42:22 So I'm not sure if there's underlying metrics that that suggests otherwise, but I still think that he's posted some pretty good seasons, especially as a member of the Tampa Bay raise and, you know, just kind of really came on as a consistent pitcher. 32 starts this season 2. I believe second, most in his career. So the most that he's had in his career. Another guy, another Zach, Zach Eflin,
Starting point is 00:42:51 he's a guy that if you're taking a look at a pitcher that had a down season, very much had a down year in, you know, 2025. But he did post a 2.60 ERA for the Orioles in 2024. And that still makes him look like there is a lot, you know, there's a high ceiling there for him as a starting pitcher. But meanwhile, in 14 starts for Baltimore in 2025, he posted a 5.93 ERA. And if that doesn't scream a Diamondbacks pitcher,
Starting point is 00:43:22 I don't know what does. People might not love that. But again, that's part of the risk and reward portion that the Diamondbacks kind of have to deal with. At that point, posting that 5.93 ERA is the highest that he's had in his career since pretty much he was a rookie.
Starting point is 00:43:36 Back with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2016, 2017, he had 5.54 ERA 6.16, ERA, respectively in 2016 and 2017. But after that, he's been a solid four, sub four pitcher. And again, he did most of that with the Philadelphia Phillies. Had a couple of season there with the raise himself. And now has found himself there with the Baltimore. So I don't know, man.
Starting point is 00:44:04 I think that, again, one of the things that Diamondbacks are going to have to take a risk on, potentially is a guy that had a down season. I don't know if the Diamondbacks are the kind of team that can turn a pitcher around that had a rough season in 2025. But I do feel like that is one of the ways that they can get a discounted arm that might be looking for an opportunity to rebound. And the fit just might be good with this team that's desperate enough for a guy that they want to believe in. Right.
Starting point is 00:44:35 And sometimes this belief is the exception. experience that you have seeing a guy pitch or maybe even playing against. Maybe the word from guys on our team that might have played with him. Like this is where James McCann last year comes in to play. Because of Corbyn Burns' experience, he was able to suggest a guy like McCann. And it's hard to say that James McCann did not work out for this team as a midseason pickup. So perhaps there's some advice that can come internally from a Corbin-Burn. or from some of the other players that could suggest if a guy like Zach Eflin would be worth it.
Starting point is 00:45:14 He's 32. So again, he's still not an older pitcher. He doesn't feel like he's over the hill or like his career is done. But again, sometimes with pitchers, that's the risk that you have to take, right? Like you have to see a guy that comes off of a bad season like that and wonder if they can rebound and become, you know, their return to their former. Glory. Another guy that we would love to see come to this team and return to maybe some of his former glory from just a year ago is Michael Lorenzen. He is a guy the Kansas City Royals signed
Starting point is 00:45:51 and again or traded for, excuse me, my trade it for. And he is a guy that the, he just kind of has been quietly good in his career as a pitcher throughout baseball. So I think he is a guy that the Diamondbacks could potentially pick up that's not going to be a huge, move that, you know, that shocks the baseball world in the same way the Jordan Montgomery signing did or the Byrne signing did. But again, he is a guy that was very, very durable for
Starting point is 00:46:23 the Kansas City Royals. He made 26 starts last year. He did post a 4.64 ERA. But again, in seven starts or six starts back in 2024, he was pretty incredible over the entire season with the Rangers and the Royals. He posted a 3.5. 3.31 ERA. And again, just a consistent arm that the Diamondbacks could potentially get for cheaper
Starting point is 00:46:47 based on the fact that he had himself a little bit of a rough season in his final year there with the Kansas City Royals posting that, like I said, that 4.64 ERA. But he also led the league in wild pitches, by the way, and I don't love that. But again, what you got to look for is mistakes being made and guys having a season that wasn't their best year that kind of lowers that annual value. And Killarex says Lorenzen, this ain't five years ago. Let me tell you, though, the Diamondbacks aren't in a position any longer to go out and be getting the top arms on the market. So I do think that that is the reason why you have to be a little creative here with the free agents that are available and who might be able to come to this team.
Starting point is 00:47:31 Like, yeah, he's 34 years old. Another guy that's very old that I think that could turn things around for this Diamondbacks team. team is Tyler Anderson as well. Just a ground ball veteran. Just a guy, again, more of a short-term stop gap rather than any kind of long-term solution. He's 36 years old, but it's not going to cost you much. And it's definitely something that is what the Diamondbacks need to find. Is that low-cost option that can come in and just be viable for this team. Just give them some starts. Like, again, not going to put up the sexiest numbers in the world, but someone who could potentially help this team win. Killer Rex wants me to address his comments about Hazen getting fleeced
Starting point is 00:48:18 in the Varsho trade. And I just won't because it's stupid. And there's no reason to. Varshow, we love Varshow. He's having himself a great year. And the Blue Jays are lucky to have him. He's a huge part of that. But you also can't deny how good Gabby Moreno's numbers were the year the Diamondbacks got him and went to the World Series. And yeah, there's no way to go back and recon that. Sorry. I mean, I know you want to. And I know you specifically as a person and other fans want to like make everything into the worst for this team.
Starting point is 00:48:49 But I don't know. I think the Dalton Varshow trade might be one of those few instances where it helped both teams. But long term, you know, maybe it ends up. helping the Blue Jays more. I don't know. I still love Gabby Moreno, and I still believe in Gabby Moreno as being there, you know, full-time catcher back there.
Starting point is 00:49:09 And Dalton Versho wasn't going to be that. He was just going to be another outfielder for this team. However, I will say they do need another outfielder right now, especially with Lordus Guriel Jr. being out. But I can only imagine what kind of catastrophic injury would have happened to Dalton Barcho if he remained a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks franchise. That seems to be probably maybe one of the biggest keys in why these guys got injured,
Starting point is 00:49:33 not because of the pitching coach or because of the staff, just basically because we're cursed. We're cursed, killer X. I will say, though, again, as far as those starting pitching options are concerned, I know Tyler Anderson in his 1.6 war is not an exciting option at all. I mean, and again, there's other players because like Michael Lorenzen, he's on a mutual option, which means he's going to inevitably be a free agent. Lucas G. Alito, he's another guy who, again, on a mutual option.
Starting point is 00:50:08 But the Diamondbacks, again, have to be looking at these guys. I honestly, the more and more I talk myself into it, I know he's 36 years old. I know it's stupid. But the final guy that I have on my list is Patrick Corbyn. And again, that's just because I'm getting sentimental, apparently, in 2026. It feels like a lot of things are coming to an end. 2027 is going to be a wash. And then we might get an entirely new era of D-BAC's baseball in 2027 or beyond
Starting point is 00:50:37 2027. But for now, I'm all good with bringing back Paul Goldschmidt and I'm kind of okay with bringing back a 36-year-old Patrick Corbyn. Maybe on a short-term deal, but Corbyn was not terrible last year. and I again, I know it's crazy to have this many Corbyns on your team, but I want to lead the league in Corbyn's. I want to lead the league in Corbyn's. He had a not a good war at all for sure.
Starting point is 00:51:06 But again, he is a guy that overall could be still have something left in the tank and isn't going to cost very much. And everybody says no to Patrick Corbyn, but 4.40 ERA, not awful. not awful but compared to the rest of this team so I don't know but again just might be a viable option that's cheap when you are taking a look overall at the career numbers of some of these guys yeah I mean that's the career numbers aren't are better than what they did last season but I don't know man I feel like you can still perhaps count on a Patrick Corbyn and not going to cost you nearly as much money as some of the guys on the market most importantly the Diamondbacks need to be need people that or need pitchers that agree to a short-term deal. And that's that's really what they're looking for. They need a short-term pitcher that's a short-term deal, that's a stopgap, to just get them through this 2026 situation.
Starting point is 00:52:07 That's going to be hard to find if you're looking for both a quality pitcher that is inexpensive and, you know, wants to decide to a short-term deal. All of those things mean typically you're going to try to really bring on a bum if there's something that I hope killer X can appreciate saying that uh but yeah that's that that's part of this you're you're most likely not going to get a dylan cease of framber valdez we were talking about ranger swares i think even he is most likely out of the diamondbacks price range unless they somehow like structure the contract inward and give him a long-term deal right but you know outside of that there's some names that are on this free agent pitching list that
Starting point is 00:52:50 again, like really might help this team get through the early part of 2026 and could turn into a valuable piece, right? Like you might not think that about Chris Bassett, for instance. You might have thought he at 37 years old is washed, but he is giving the Toronto Blue Jays some amazing innings here in the postseason. Sure, it's out of the bullpen, but still, it's helping them win baseball games and he's a big part of what they're doing up there. So again, I know that these options, again, aren't going to be flashy options.
Starting point is 00:53:19 I'm never going to suggest that the, you know, Diamondbacks can go out there and pick up a Jack Flaherty or a Freddie Peralta. I still don't think anything like that is in their future, but I do think some of these other names could definitely help them get through this mess. That is the 2026 season. But, of course, we are going to go past all of this talk about pitchers that might disappoint us, might make you sad. And we are going to give you maybe something that are make you happy.
Starting point is 00:53:49 and that's going to be ranking Halloween candy. Kevin and I disagree about a lot of things around here, especially versatile foods, cereal, being one of them. And he hates cereal. I've never seen someone that ate cereal as much as Kevin. I don't hate cereal. It's just not my preference. Kevin, you hate cereal.
Starting point is 00:54:08 You hate cereal. But you also told me you hate candy. So I'm starting to learn a lot about you. But I wanted to give our rankings before we get out of here. of Halloween candy. Now, my rankings are, might surprise you. The only reason why I say that is because I adapt with time and as new candy has come out, I have, I don't stay stagnant and stale in my old ways, even though I'm an old person. I adapt my list. Now, Kevin, let's take a look at my top five Halloween candies. This is in order, by the way. And yes, there are two peanut butter candies on here,
Starting point is 00:54:46 because chocolate and peanut butter is a superior combination to most other candies you'll find out there. But number one on my list is absolutely nerds gummy clusters. If you are saying what the hell is a nerd gummy cluster, then you haven't lived. You haven't lived. Meanwhile, peanut butter M&Ms might be the best candy on the planet. So again, those almost are one A, one B for me. Twix, an all-time classic, along with my bottom three, Reese's peanut butter cups, and Milky Way. And again, this is because I found out recently that peanut butter M&Ms are, in fact, Arizona's favorite candy.
Starting point is 00:55:29 They are Arizona's favorite Halloween candy, which was surprised to me. Usually Arizona disappoints me, but Arizona coming with the heat made me excited. Kevin also ranked his top five Halloween candies. There were some debate about his top, too, but I will allow it. Do you want to finish talking about your list, though, real quick? Didn't I? I mean, I kind of ran through the bottom. Twix are great.
Starting point is 00:55:51 I miss peanut butter twicks, quite frankly. That was a thing that used to exist. But now we're just left with caramel twixt. And that's fine. It's fine. I'm not going to get mad about it. But Reese's peanut butter cups, all-time classic. More specifically, the pumpkins at Halloween time, better than cups.
Starting point is 00:56:06 Better than any other version of Reese's peanut butter cups you can give out. And then last but not least is one of my favorite candy bars of all time, Milky Way. So I do bees love a good Snickers. He says Snickers snub is questionable. I will say that. I can't disagree with that. However, I almost think of Snickers as like more of a protein bar. I do eat it when I'm hungry.
Starting point is 00:56:29 And that's what I think of it as unless of Halloween candy. But it's more, it's a classic. It's a classic. I'm not going to kick it out of my bag. It's not getting thrown away. But Kevin, again, a man who doesn't love candy. got his here. I will say I don't hate
Starting point is 00:56:44 or I don't hate cereal but I am a big like candy hater. I just don't like it for the most part. You wanted to put cookies on your list. No, Tocry did. No,
Starting point is 00:56:53 no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, genuinely did not want to do that. Anthony Totry said that a cookie is a candy. It's crazy. I disagreed with him. I disagreed with him. But anyway, here is my top five.
Starting point is 00:57:06 Sour Patch Kids. The OG. Sour Patch kids are incredible. I'm not going to take it away. I do hate. that you went with two versions of Sour Patch Kids at the top of your list. I don't, I won't.
Starting point is 00:57:15 But that's my thing, though. I won't eat a lot of candy. Like, I won't eat them. So I think that this is like the only stuff I'll really eat, right? Sour Patch Kids, Sour Patch Watermelon, Fire. Pretzel M&M's incredible. Hershey's cookies and cream. I do like a Hershey's cookie.
Starting point is 00:57:28 A little bit rich for my taste, but like half a bar of that, very good. Kit Kat's making it on your list of sex. I just didn't have a fifth. I didn't have a fifth. I didn't have a fifth. I didn't have a fifth. And they were standing on the sideline and I was like, you know what, last pick.
Starting point is 00:57:41 Cat, get on my team. Yeah. You know what I mean? Stu is right. A hundred grand bar is an underrated candy. I love me some, I love me 100 grand bar for sure. Also, watch McCollets, but I don't think they really give those out in like small candy form anymore.
Starting point is 00:57:55 We did get provided a list that Leah wanted us to rank live on the show, Kevin. But the caveat here is that we have to blind rank it. So we do not know what the candies are that Leah gave us. And we have to rank them as top five. here as we go along. So Kevin, the first candy, I'm going to scroll down here a little bit to Leah's list.
Starting point is 00:58:18 First candy Snickers. I know this is hard for you because you hate most candies. But I do agree that Snickers is an all-time classic. However, I do feel like on this list there's going to be like another bangor.
Starting point is 00:58:34 There's going to be a legend on this list, yeah. So does Snickers belong at two then without seeing the other candy? Should we put it at two? Snickers is pretty iconic. I'll give it a two. Okay. I'm cool with that.
Starting point is 00:58:44 All right. I'm cool with that. All right. Snickers in two. Oh my God. Another iconic candy, a Hershey's bar. Leah just went with a straight up Hershey's bar. That might be one there.
Starting point is 00:58:58 That's a versatile candy. Because yeah, exactly. See, like I get my peanut butter fix with those, right? I could put it on a smore. I get like, yeah, you can put a peanut butter cup on a smore. I mean, we're talking about like the Kareem hook shot. of candies. Like this,
Starting point is 00:59:12 it's undefeatable. Yeah, no, you're right. That has to go one. Like, that's like the, that's like the,
Starting point is 00:59:17 like the, like the toy hall of fame. Yeah. You know what I mean? Yeah. Like a Hershey's bar could F around and go into Toy Hall of Fame. That's how versatile Hershey's bar is,
Starting point is 00:59:24 you know. All right. Number three, Twizzlers. We are a red vine house, first of all. Yeah. So Twizzlers go five.
Starting point is 00:59:34 I mean, licorician general is. If I could put them off the list, I would. Twislers taste like melted, plastic and terribleness. Liquorish in general is gross.
Starting point is 00:59:47 Yeah. I'll put that out there now. Yeah. This is, there's no doubt about it. Like, I feel solid about what we've done already so far.
Starting point is 00:59:54 Yeah, without seeing the last two candies. All right. Leah gave us regular ass M&Ms. She didn't add the, I added the ass part, but regular.
Starting point is 01:00:05 Four? Plain M&Ms. Four? Yeah. But, ooh, that's a tough one. Because if the last...
Starting point is 01:00:11 They're versatile, too. They're a classic. But I am taking any form of M&Ms. Your pretzel M&Ms go hard. Peanut butter M&Ms are the best. Peanut M&Ms. They're not what they used to be when I was a kid, but they're still good. But yeah, no.
Starting point is 01:00:24 What if the last one is like just clears M&M's and we feel silly? Is that possible here? Possible, but I don't know. I feel like she went with classics here. So I feel like we're just... Let's go M&M's a four. All right. Last but not least.
Starting point is 01:00:38 Starburst Damn it No That's exactly what I said What happened Starburst It should be four Number one
Starting point is 01:00:48 Oh what Starburst is the worst thing you ever eat In your life Derek Are you saying No We have never disagreed Are you serious?
Starting point is 01:00:58 Starburst Starbursts Starburst Derek Oh Kevin Derek Starburst So we got to put Starburst At five
Starting point is 01:01:06 We have no choice But well it's three Oh yeah, you're right, you're right, you're right. I just really, I really wanted to put it there. I feel like it's fitting, though. We completely disagree on this. We have agreed on everything up to this point. I just hate Starburst.
Starting point is 01:01:18 Well, see, that's what, so it pains you, right? I hate, like, that's why I was like... And I love them, so this is the only way for this to be fair is it needs to be split right down the middle, and it needs to be number three. That's it. You're right. It actually is a very good blind rankings.
Starting point is 01:01:31 Yeah, yeah. It's the worst, though. I'm proud of it. Star, it's exactly what I said what happened. I'm proud of me. We put Eminem's at first. and then all of a sudden the worst the worst on the list. Well, the second worst on the list
Starting point is 01:01:42 because licorice was literally on the list. But whatever. I'll accept it. That's a pretty good blind rankings. Hershey's Bar Snickers, Starburst, M&Ms, Twizzlers. Yeah? That's pretty acceptable. Yeah, I don't hate that.
Starting point is 01:01:53 I don't hate that. And I love that little witch logo we have. It's a shame that that witch is going to go. Maybe that can be our Etsy witch. Maybe one we need really to have a curse cast on this team. We got this little snake witch to help us out. But we thank you guys so much for helping us out. Thank you guys for being here today.
Starting point is 01:02:11 Hope you guys all go out there. Have a wonderful Halloween. Enjoy yourselves. Most importantly, be safe. And, you know, enjoy the wholesome nature of it as well. I'm not going to. You know me. It's debauchery for me all night long.
Starting point is 01:02:26 But I do appreciate you guys stopping by. Follow us on Twitter. I'm at Kapp underscore Kman with a K. Kevin is at Kev-O posts. Our show is at P.HNX underscore D-Backs. but as always all roads lead to at PHNX underscore sports on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. So we thank you guys again so much for your time. We will see you guys here back here on Monday,
Starting point is 01:02:47 and we will be talking about the winner of everything, the World Series winners. So maybe we'll even get you a little emergency podcast once the World Series has decided. Not tonight, though. I'm going to be in no-condition of podcast if it happens tonight. So we'll see. But again, we thank you guys so much for, supporting us. Thank you for your time. We'll see you on Monday at the very least, maybe earlier. But until then, have a very happy Halloween. Enjoy yourselves. Have a wonderful night. And remember,
Starting point is 01:03:15 Starbursts are the worst candy of all time.

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