PHNX Arizona Diamondbacks Podcast - Should D-backs Go ALL IN To Bring Tarik Skubal Home to Arizona?

Episode Date: November 25, 2025

The Diamondbacks haven’t had a true ace on the mount since Randy Johnson ruled the desert. But this offseason, they could risk it all to bring Tarik Skubal home to Arizona. What would it take for ev...en one season of Skubal, and could the D-backs even swing a deal that looks to become the biggest pitching extension in MLB history? We also dive into Tatsuya Imai hating the Dodgers as much as we do and Sonny Gray being traded to the Red Sox. Plus, we break down the D-backs’ arbitration-eligible players and why the process is still as baffling as ever.JOIN THE SUPPORTERS CLUB ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/yc6km2r4An ALLCITY Network ProductionSUBSCRIBE to our YouTube: https://bit.ly/phnx_youtubeALL THINGS PHNX: http://linktr.ee/phnxsportsMERCH https://store.allcitynetwork.com/collections/phnx-lockerALLCITY Network, Inc. aka PHNX and PHNX Sports is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by the City of PhoenixPHNX 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-thermostatsBranded 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 visithttps://husbandandwifelawteam.com/?utm_source=allcity-padcasts&utm_medium=digital-phx&utm_campaign=allcityShowNotesChicken 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/phnxWhen 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See 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 What would it take for the Arizona Diamondbacks to bring Terrick Scouble home? The entire town of Kingman? He can have it. We're going to talk about the cost of bringing Scuba back to Arizona and more. We're also going to talk about which arbitration eligible players for the Diamondbacks we think might be a problem. We're going to do this in 30 seconds. Don't you go anywhere. And welcome in to another edition of the PHNX Diamondbacks show, live from Studio K, presented by our friends at Circle K.
Starting point is 00:00:41 It is I, your mayor, P. HNX, occasionally known as Derek Montia. Thrilled to have you guys here. Happy Tuesday to you all. Happy, you know, Thanksgiving week. I know we all get some time off this week. Get to spend time with loved ones. I am here with my loved one, the one, the only Damon Dog on the ones on Tuesday. Oh, sweet.
Starting point is 00:01:00 Oh, it's, it's, he really is the jelly to my eating butter. It's a wholesome time around here. It is. We're very thankful for a lot of things in life, including having one Jesse Freeman on the show in studio. live on tomorrow's episode. The boys will ride again. But of course, until then, we are here talking about this show. And this show is brought to you by our friends at GameTime.
Starting point is 00:01:20 Go download that GameTime app right now. Use that code of PHNX when you sign up. Create yourself an account. You will get $20 off your first purchase. Terms do apply, but those last minute ticket deals already get things pretty low for you. So make sure to check out game time if you want to go out there and attend an event. Damon, we have new phrases, apparently that we have to add to my band list on yesterday's show I excessively used the phrase
Starting point is 00:01:47 quite frankly, I believe too much, to a drunken point. I've been saying in terms of on the Wildcatch show like I'm like trying to like spread a disease yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. It's just it's just something that has to be uttered in every phrase. It's hard. Sometimes you get in these habits and people don't realize like it's difficult not to say those things all the time. Right. I am but one jackass. Let's not forget that. Who has to sit here and this is true. Gas bag on for an hour every day. As someone that knows Derek personally, this is very true.
Starting point is 00:02:22 Oh, 100%. So I thank you for being here. I thank you for listening to us. And of course, I thank you for tolerating my excessive use of the phrase, quite frankly. Also, remember that English is my second language. So any attacks on the way I use that phrase or pronounce the word milk are considered a hate crime. But look inward. I'm just saying we've got to establish the rules of engagement here. Great to see you guys here. Thank you guys so much for being here. Some big news this morning.
Starting point is 00:02:49 The Red Sox have acquired Sunny Gray veteran pitcher from the Cardinals. They have traded a couple of prospects away to get Sunny Gray and cash considerations back from the Cardinals. The Cardinals receive prospects left-handed pitcher Brandon Clark and right-handed pitcher Brian Fitz. The Cardinals also paid $20. $20 million to cover, help cover Gray salary, according to report. So again, this is still a developing story, but Sonny Gray did have a no trade clause,
Starting point is 00:03:20 which he waived to help make this deal happen. And he is currently under a three-year $75 million contract. The deal was reworked. Gray will now earn about $31 million in 2026 with a mutual option buyout structure for 2027, which sounds like most likely he will be with a mutual option a free agent come 2027, right? But overall here, the Red Sox get better. They were already a team in search of some pitching. They had a reliable front end starter for their rotation. Somebody who,
Starting point is 00:03:52 quite frankly, considering that it was two pitching prospects, I wouldn't have minded the Diamondbacks going out and acquiring. However, again, he still is owed $31 million in 2026. So considering Sunny Gray for a member of the DeBAC's pitching staff, that amount right there as far as the reworked contract is concerned is far too much for them to pay one player honestly to pay somebody like Sonny Gray. He's 36 years old, so decline in injury is obviously possible. And just over, you know, overall in 2025, he didn't have great numbers. He went 14 and 8 with a 4.28 ERA. He did have 201 strikeouts. He had 38 walks in 180 and two-thirds pitch. So he was great there on the walk rate. His strikeout to walk rate is among the best in Major League Baseball,
Starting point is 00:04:42 and he is a previous three-time All-Star and previous Saly-Young finalist. It just seems like, again, if the Diamondbacks were to go after a pitcher like Gray, I think that this is the exact kind of situation I'm talking about where the results from last year wouldn't be necessarily what the debacks are looking for. It's more of the body of work. However, we as fans, we as people that watch this team and enjoy this team. Route for this team. We hope to bring in somebody that can can produce a little bit better than that, especially if you're making a trade in order to acquire him. Now, the Red Sox, they have assets and they are kind of, they have their mindset on, you know, defeating the Toronto Blue Jays within their own division and becoming, you know, a playoff team here. So it's understandable to bring in somebody like Sunny Gray, who is a proven starter with a track record that, again, can just kind of bring in, uh, quite a bit of strength your rotation can be a difference maker in the playoffs. Overall, you know, just a reliable front end starter, like I said earlier.
Starting point is 00:05:46 So interesting, though, the moves signal, does signal that the Boston Red Sox are making an attempt at least to be competitive right out of the gate, to contend immediately. And it seems kind of like a, I don't want to say an all-in move, but I'm sure we'll see the Boston Red Sox continue to make moves this off season, continue to add to their rock. and bring in some of these names. That impacts the diamondbacks just based on the competitive nature of things, right? I mean, the debacks have a lot going on here. And if you're trying to objectively look at a team that you're deciding on going to,
Starting point is 00:06:21 you might think of Arizona over going to Boston, Massachusetts, right? But again, the Red Sox, if they are very active here. I think these days for sure, right? Like, that might have sounded crazy 20 years ago. But I think baseball players, have proven that they like to live in Arizona. They do like to live here. I mean, most of them do have houses here, even though they don't even play for the Diamondbacks, right?
Starting point is 00:06:44 Like, that's something we're finding out more. Well, they have the spring training homes that they have and it's consistency for them, right? Like, they don't have to move for somewhere two, three months out of the year. They can stay there year round. 100%. So, yeah, I mean, it's nice weather. When you have money and you can live in Paradise Valley, it's hard to beat that. You're not wrong about that.
Starting point is 00:07:01 Also, you have the fact that, like, a lot of the training facilities, forget spring training, but a lot of guys work out here. A lot of guys for a lot of different sports work out here in Arizona. So there is that benefit, right? But again, it's also the Boston Red Sox. It is a beloved historical franchise that many players and their families grew up rooting for. They grew up wanting to be a part of. And that can have as big of an impact on a player as, you know,
Starting point is 00:07:30 as how nice it is to live somewhere or how convenient the options are for them as they lived in Arizona. It's just something that I really feel like the Diamondbacks are going to have to lean on heavily specifically this offseason and, you know, go out there and try their best to get guys that or compete with these teams for free agents, right? Because, again, this is just a small indication of the Boston Red Sox and what they're doing. But it does feel like they are going to be one of those teams that are going to be in on a lot of top free agents. And pitching would definitely be one of their needs and something that they will be. competing with the Diamondbacks four. But one guy, there's one guy that might be a difference maker.
Starting point is 00:08:11 There is one guy who might be the guy to change the Diamondbacks pitching situation. And it might be a guy who hates the Los Angeles Dodgers as much as we do. We are talking about Tatsuya Amai. Damon brought up these incredible comments yesterday for sure. And it was amazing to me at the time to hear that. them. However, now, again, we get a chance to kind of analyze what Tetsuya Amaya said about as far as where he would like to play, what he would like to do in Major League Baseball, and what he would like to accomplish. According to Amaya himself, he doesn't want to play for the Los Angeles
Starting point is 00:08:54 Dodgers. I'm going to go through all of the facts here and all of the reasons why Tatsuya Amaya is destined to be an Arizona Diamondback. Facts only. Facts only. Hashtag Facts only. Despite the Dodgers being loaded with heroes, loaded with stars, loaded with Japanese stars. Amai said outright that he has no interest in joining them. Instead, he wants to compete against them. Well, boy, do I have an opportunity for you to compete against them 14 times a year during the regular season, my guy?
Starting point is 00:09:32 he said in fact he wants to take them down Damon he wants to take them down and I said it would mean more to him to beat a super team like the Dodgers than to join them. Winning a championship by going through a roster full of elite Japanese players is what motivates him. I know it's what gets me up in the morning. I know it's the reason why I keep going.
Starting point is 00:09:57 I have nothing on the horizon besides the opportunity to watch the Diamondbacks beat the Dodgers. That is what I live for. But more importantly, when it comes to him coming here to the Arizona Diamondbacks, we talked about how the D-backs, quite frankly, I said it. I said it. There it is.
Starting point is 00:10:16 I said it. The D-backs don't have not only much of an established history of having Japanese players on this team, only two in team history, but they have no Japanese players on the team right now. And, you know, quite frankly, I can't stop saying it, Damon. They are a team that will. I'm going to start.
Starting point is 00:10:38 I'm going to get like a spray bottle and sport you from the producer chair whenever you say the naughty words. All right. But he, they are a team that's like, again, that we are a city that that doesn't have the rich Asian culture that some cities do, especially cities on the West Coast. Seattle, California. They just have not only a culture, but they have a, established culture, you know, of, you know, again, Asian, Asian population, Asian, you know, neighborhoods and such, like just something that in general, if you were coming from a different country, it would make you feel a little bit more comfortable. I am Puerto Rican. I do come
Starting point is 00:11:18 from this country, believe it or not, for those of you that might not grasp how that situation works. But I will say that, like, there is something very warming to my heart about going into, you know, a Puerto Rican neighborhood like my father lived in Syracuse, New York, or, or seeing it represented in something as, as, as, as, like, a video game when they did an entire Puerto Rican neighborhood in the Spider-Man game for Miles Morales, right? So those things can mean a lot to a person, right? However, it would appear that Tetsuya Maya does not care about that. In fact, he explained that having another Japanese teammate might make things too easy because he could lean on them for help with the language, culture, and daily life. He wants to avoid that. He wants to challenge himself.
Starting point is 00:12:07 He wants a, quote, survival environment. I have never loved a person more without meeting them than I feel about Tetsuya Amai. It goes beyond admiration. I'm starting to adore this. man, and I think that he is a true competitor, I think that there should be more players, quite. I stopped myself that time. More players that should have, spray with spray ball, that should have this attitude. There should be more players that want to come in,
Starting point is 00:12:38 and they want to beat Shohei Otani, not join him. Again, it is an admiration thing from these guys. Many of them are guys that grew up in the baseball system in Japan, and did idolize Shohei Otani, his journey, what he's done in Major League Baseball, how he has become one of the best players on the planet. So it is understandable when the opportunity comes up to join him, that that would be something fun to consider. I also think it's equally as fun to have this kind of attitude towards the situation and want
Starting point is 00:13:09 to beat Shohei Otani, want to come to the United States, find yourself immersed in the culture, and, you know, again, as he says, he wants to be somewhere, he has to figure things out on his own. He believes adapting to a new culture without a built-in support system will help him grow as a player and as a person. Not only is he incredible, but he seems very mature and he seems like his head is in the right place. More of us should look to challenge ourselves and more of us should look to try to grow as a person and what we do and not necessarily let things be comfortable. I am a person who never thought I would be sitting here in front of a camera hosting a show in my entire life. And every day is very challenging and scary for me. That's my existence that I live in, right?
Starting point is 00:14:00 So I can appreciate where he's coming from. I can also appreciate him wanting to face Shohei Otani. He wants to pitch against Shohei Otani. He said he wants to see how his fastball plays against one of the best hitters on Earth. Fire me up, Damon. Have you ever been more excited about... a player than this. Even if he doesn't come to the Arizona
Starting point is 00:14:22 Diamondbacks, I feel like I want to root for this man in every way, as long as he stays out of the National League West altogether if he doesn't come to our team. Yeah, I think who was it up here? Someone said exactly that. Yeah, Katie Mays said that even if he doesn't come here, we have to support him because he's anti-Dodgers.
Starting point is 00:14:41 It would be the most valuable thing in his life. I mean, listen, this is the verbal. meme encapsulation of he just like me. I'm sitting on my couch. I'm pointing at my TV and I'm saying he's just like me. We both hate the Dodgers. Me and Tatsuya Amai, one of my favorite baseball players in the league at this point. In the history of baseball, quite frankly.
Starting point is 00:15:03 He's up there. We just talked about him coming to the Diamondbacks, what it would take, how unlikely it is. But many of the points we made, many of the things that would be essentially a knock against him coming here would make you think that he's not coming here are things that he verbalized that he wants to experience. So I don't know. I'm starting to drink the Kool-Aid a little bit maybe. I'm starting to believe that maybe there's a chance. If you wanted to come to a team that competes against the Dodgers and has no Japanese stars and is going to immerse you in a survival environment, sir, let me welcome you to the I-17 freeway in Phoenix, Arizona. There is no place that is more of a survival environment than driving on the roads here in Arizona. So
Starting point is 00:15:47 I just love his ultra-competitive mindset. He's not chasing around comfort. He's not chasing around idolizing other players or fame. He is chasing around the prospect of him becoming an elite player, of him being the guy that beats Shoay Otani. And more importantly, he is basically saying that he wants the hardest road possible in front of him. That's admirable. I don't know if many, forget players coming over,
Starting point is 00:16:17 from a different country. I don't even know if many players here in Major League Baseball have this kind of mindset, right? He doesn't want to be seen as writing the coattails of other Japanese stars, and his comments clearly paint that beating Los Angeles is a personal goal for Hives. So I just don't see a reason why. Emily says Padres could swipe him up before the debacks get him. If we're being completely honest,
Starting point is 00:16:44 many of the teams that have the money to get him, and many of the teams you would think of have a Japanese players so that might disqualify them. I mean, I'm just, or again, even, I mean, I don't know. I don't know if Japanese is specific because there are many Korean players as well. We talked about that with the Giants and such, though.
Starting point is 00:17:02 I don't know if any of this actually impacts. Yeah, that last one, I really wonder if that has really any impact on what is actually going to choose. Because it feels like he's just talking about the Dodgers. Like, even though he's saying he wants to. wants to come to a team without any Japanese players. Many teams in baseball don't have a robust Japanese lineup. We're talking about most teams don't have a Japanese player. And if they do, it's probably a limited amount.
Starting point is 00:17:29 There aren't that many Japanese players in Major League Baseball, right? So, again, I don't know if having one other guy on the team disqualifies a team or if even having a guy of Asian heritage from another country, like, that's not Japan, would impact things. Yeah, I agree. I mean, I definitely think that, you know, maybe that's a little bit of a leverage play from the agent to be like, hey, everybody get involved in the bidding process. He wants to be on a team that doesn't have any Asian presence currently. You know what I mean?
Starting point is 00:17:58 So it just kind of, you know, makes it so it's not the usual suspects of the Padres, the Mariners, the Giants and the Dodgers as the only teams that are bidding for a guy. That's just what I was thinking because it kind of feels like a little Roki Sasaki-ish with how like his agent was talking. He wants to go to a small market team. Signs with the Dodgers. Yeah. It's like it's a leverage play. It could very much be lip service. It could very much be like, hey, I'm just trying to take a stand.
Starting point is 00:18:24 But oops, I landed with the Dodgers anyway. I don't think he wants to be on the Dodgers with how outright against the Dodgers he seems. But I don't, I do wonder if like he really cares about being the only Japanese. Right, right, right. Like he looks at the roster and is like, no, who the hell is that guy? Nope. Nope. Nope.
Starting point is 00:18:41 No. No. No, I said no, Jab, like I doubt that that's the case, right? But you got to love the attitude and you got to love the opportunity here. It feels like it's wide open for a team like the Diamondbacks that specifically fit this criteria that he's laid out to go out there and make a significant run at getting him. Right. I think if he wants to beat the Dodgers, I think that one way to go about doing that would be to play the Dodgers game. See how much into a deferral he's into.
Starting point is 00:19:10 see how much we can structure the payments, especially in the first two seasons, so that the Diamondbacks can't afford him, but he can still get the payday he's seeking. He's a young guy. He still has a lot of career ahead of him, so I don't mind, you know, essentially signing a 27-year-old to a long-term contract like this. In fact, I kind of love it. I would love to see the Diamondbacks extend Ryan Nelson right now at this point. So I think that they should focus as, Mike Hazen has said on younger pitching and younger players that can be with the team
Starting point is 00:19:45 long-term and develop rather than necessarily being, you know, the signing guys to one-year deals and signing older veteran players. That is very suitable when it comes to the James McCann signing, but as far as, you know, some of their other options, that might be the reason why Paul Goldschmidt, for instance, isn't a great fit over at first base or other guys that might be at that point in their career looking for a one-year deal that could fill the needs that the diamondbacks have in 2026. But again, Tetsuya Mai, we love you. We have a place for you.
Starting point is 00:20:19 I will take you to undertow and get you some Kokito. We'll have ourselves a great winter before you make the deal official. But we are going to take a quick break. On the other side of this break, we are going to get around to discussing bringing Terik Scoobel home to Arizona and what it will take. and if the Diamondbacks could even extend him, should he come here. We're going to talk about all that on the other side of this break. Don't you go anywhere?
Starting point is 00:20:45 You're watching the PHA next Diamondback show. Well, it is the season for $80 million in prizes over at Arizona Lottery. Right now you can play holiday tickets from Arizona Lottery for a chance to fill your stocking with cash. Or if you are a very giving person, perhaps you can give to a loved one, give to friends, give to coworkers, and maybe make them much richer. That is what the scratchers are made for. These holiday scratchers are incredible. There are six festive holiday scratchers to choose from, including cash countdown,
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Starting point is 00:22:18 loans, credit cards, investment options, and so much more. Plus, when you open a free checking account online, you can get $200 in bonuses. Get started by visiting desertfinancial.com slash 200. Well, Damon, we've talked about him. We've coveted him. We have offered to, I think, give him our cars, I believe, was what we offered at one point. We'll give him anything he wants, but we are big fans of Terrick Scouble, and we would love to see the Arizona Diamondbacks bring Terrick Scubal back home to Arizona. Scuba will be a free agent at the end of 2026, and that is the reason why the Tigers and Terrick Scuba have become the talk of Major League Baseball as far as a trade occurring. Usually you do not see a player who has won back-to-back Sy Young's being this much of the discussion as far as a trade is concerned.
Starting point is 00:23:14 Typically, an organization is going to lock a generational player like this down and not let any other organization have access to him. But the tigers undoubtedly aware of the caliber of pitcher that they currently possess in Scoobel attempted to make a contract extension, offer to Scuba, which he deemed. non-competitive. I guess you could say Scott Boris Moore deemed that it was non-competitive. But nonetheless, it was not even close. That's where reports
Starting point is 00:23:48 started coming out that the two sides couldn't be further away on a deal. Now, the ownership group, as our guy Noah will tell you, is also the same family that owns Little Caesars. A very lucrative budget brand
Starting point is 00:24:03 pizza place that is soon going fully automated from reports I saw. Like you won't go in and I don't go talk to a person right now at Little Caesars. I just go in and punch a code into like a locker and my pizza and it's magically there. And that's going to be the experience going forward, it would appear. So I don't think that the family that owns that particular franchise is short on money or has the ability not to pay a general generational player like Terik Scooball. I feel like that plays in very much to these negotiations.
Starting point is 00:24:32 And then this past month, Scoubles' 26 free agencies is there. It's looming, and the price tag gets higher as he wins his second consecutive. Cy Young Award. The Tigers at that point reportedly made another offer to Scoobel. But again, the two sides were not close. The apparent negotiations gulf between Scoobel and the Tigers has now opened the door to a trade. Scouble is one of the best pitchers in baseball. There's no doubt about it.
Starting point is 00:25:05 He had an ERA last year of 2.21. He had a FIP of 2.45. The league average for a FIP, once again, just to make you understand how good that truly is, is 4.00. An elite FIP is like three, and Scoobel's FIP was 2.45. Again, and his ERA, 2.21, meaning that there was
Starting point is 00:25:31 very little room for difference between what his actual earned run average was and what is fielding independent pitching was right so this is again showing that he is legitimately one of the best in baseball at controlling outcomes of the game controlling strikeouts controlling walks controlling home runs allowed he had a hundred ninety five in a third innings pitch last year he had a ridiculous whip of zero point eight nine one he had a 7.30 strikeout to walk rate. Believe that led baseball. That's insane.
Starting point is 00:26:07 And then a 6.5 baseball war. Which also led baseball, I believe, among pitchers. It's crazy. I mean, the stuff plus is 119. That's elite. His F war and his B war, both in the six range, which those usually disagree with each other. He had a whiff rate of 32.5%. I mean, it's just crazy.
Starting point is 00:26:30 It's nuts. His average exit velocity was 86.1 miles per hour. His average exit velocity was 86.1 miles per hour. Quite good. He was quite good in 2025. And his career numbers have been outstanding as well. Overall, Sago has been consistent throughout his entire career. Like we said, winning two consecutive Siams.
Starting point is 00:26:55 His pedigree is there. There's no reason why any team. including the Detroit Tigers would ever let a player like this go. And yet that appears to be the case. When will they let him go? That's the big question. Now, the Tigers are in a position, much like the Diamondbacks were, with Zach Gallen, where they knew he was going to walk at the end of the year.
Starting point is 00:27:17 Hell, we knew Zach Gallen was going to walk at the end of 2023. We knew Zach Gallen was going to be a free agent at 2020, the offseason of 2025. And he was going to move on most likely to another team, right? but that didn't cause the Diamondbacks to trade him before the season. They definitely took a look at how things went and would have much, I think would have liked to trade Gallen at the deadline. As we reported, as others have reported, the interest level in trading gallon was very low. The return to the Diamondbacks was very low. So they decided to just keep him for the remainder of the year and get the qualifying offer that, or hopefully the draft pick tied to
Starting point is 00:27:59 the compensatory pick situation with the qualifying offer and him turning it down. Right. But Terrick Scuba on the Debex, we have a history, man. We have a history. He was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 29th round of the 2017 MLB draft, but the team and Scuba did not agree on a deal. And then he gets drafted by the Detroit Tigers. He is originally from right here in Kingman, Arizona.
Starting point is 00:28:27 And I know that it's not a very big place. We have talked in the past about the rituals of Kingman, Arizona. And we actually have one of our, a new friend here, our guy, high boy, four by four, talking about living in Kingman. So we need help. He's also a Tigers fan has been since the 70s, apparently. So what a combination of worlds here. Well, I got to say, that's got to be wild, being a person that lives in Kingman, Arizona, who is a fan of the Tigers and having the player that the one big name. that's ever come out of Kingman, Arizona to go to the team that you root for.
Starting point is 00:29:04 So congratulations on that. I will also say, I hope we do break your heart and I hope we do steal them back. Can I offer you high boy four by four, though, the opportunity to be like part of essentially his kingdom, right, Terrick Scoobel's kingdom, because we're willing to offer him the entire city of Kingman in order for him to come here. Now, I know that most people might be like, why would he want that? Well, first of all, doesn't every boy dream of growing up and becoming the king of the town that they grew up in? So I think right there, let's start with that being a feather in his cap.
Starting point is 00:29:43 However, Terik Scouple, do you love museums and history? Because there's plenty of that in Kingman, Arizona. We have the historic Route 66 Museum as well as the Mojave Museum of History and Arts. plus, plus the Kingman Railroad Museum where you can go see different train layouts for viewing. Historic downtown Kingman offers some small businesses and such, including antique stores. I know you love antiquing. Plus, let's talk about the outdoor activities. You're not getting this in Detroit.
Starting point is 00:30:19 You're not getting Hulipai Mountain Park. You're not getting alpacas of the southwest. You can go visit an alpaca for. farm, forget visiting it. Terrick, you own an alpaca farm now and you own an entire group of alpacas. They spit,
Starting point is 00:30:37 so be careful. Also, Keepers of the Wild Nature Park and Grand Canyon West all could be yours if you just agree to return to Arizona and lead us to victory, lead us to the promised land here. I think that, again,
Starting point is 00:30:53 there's many things that the Diamondbacks actually could offer the Detroit Tigers, but it really comes down to what would it take, what those packages look like, and would you, as a fan, want to give up as much as it would take for the Tigers to consider trading Terrick Scoopal here, right? Mind you, he's a free agent at the end of 2026,
Starting point is 00:31:14 so this is a one-year deal. We were talking no guarantee that Terrick Scoopal will sign an extension. So reports, as far as the Arizona Diamondbacks are concerned, immediately suggests that it would take right off top one of Jordan Lawler or Drew Jones to be a part of a package to get him. Now, this is mortgaging a significant portion of the Diamondbacks future. It just depends on how you view that. It depends on if you see Jordan Lawler is still being a top prospect and a player who's
Starting point is 00:31:43 going to make it in Major League Baseball. Or if you see that he struggled, then he might be mediocre at best, right? Same thing with Drew Jones. We know about his struggles. We know he's really come on strong as a defender and has started to put things together at the plate. However, you know, giving up a former top 10 elite athlete is, is a lot, right? I mean, giving up, giving up either one of these guys feels like a lot, but that's not all it's going to take. What if I told you a package is going to include Jordan Lawler, Brandon Fott, and Yumen Lin.
Starting point is 00:32:18 Now, initially, I feel like most of us would consider that and say yes, right? Yes. Or a package of like, let's say, prospects, Drew Jones, Tommy Troy, Cole Drake. Yes. Right. What about a mixed bag? Jordan Lawler, Mitch Bratt, Gino Gruber. Yes.
Starting point is 00:32:38 Okay. Now, you're only getting him for one year, Damon. I know. Not only are you getting him for one year. I know, I know. But here's the problem. I feel like I'm playing a video game, Derek. No, I know.
Starting point is 00:32:48 I know. But here's the true problem with it is how competitive are the Diamondbacks going to be in 2026. That's that's why I am saying that this doesn't make sense and it doesn't really make the Diamondbacks like a contender for a World Series championship. The only way you mortgage this much is if that's what the result is. If you feel like you have all of the other pieces in place, but the one thing you're missing is elite starting pitcher and ace at the top of your staff, then this deal make sense that completes your team and you can go out in 2026 feeling confident that that team is going to not only win during the regular season but make the playoffs and contend for a title
Starting point is 00:33:32 this is this is all far too much for you doing it for a rental that simply might make this team good once every five days but still not elite still not a contender right and then you still have to sign them to an extension in order to make the trade make sense right yeah to be fair when i'm saying yes part of that is like when I'm saying that I'm assuming that if we're making that trade that we're interested in and bringing him back and that that is going to be the entire goal of the organization. Right. Right. Exactly. Which is so unrealistic. It is. It almost just bears like not even talking about it. Because we're almost as bad at that as the tigers are. Now given I will applaud the Diamondbacks. I will applaud my case and I will applaud Ken Kendrick, the front office ownership. They have extended our
Starting point is 00:34:16 young players that are stars. They have jumped all over that opportunity. And to be honest, they have almost been able to see the future. You know, when you look at what Corbyn Carroll did after he signed the contract extension, when you look at what Geraldo Perdomo did after he signed his contract extension, like they strike at the right time. They're able to save themselves some money while still showing these players how committed they are to paying them and giving them years of security. And I think that's the difference maker is.
Starting point is 00:34:48 Most of these players, most help. All of us, right? What do we all want in life? We would all love job security. It's one of the things that keeps us up at night. It's one of the things that drives us at times is the fear of losing our jobs. And unfortunately, in some cases, especially with this guy right here, you've got to keep me fearful of losing my job or I'll just get complacent. And I'll use the same phrase like I did on yesterday's episode over and over and over again.
Starting point is 00:35:15 So got to keep me on my toes. But again, the Diamondbacks here, they would have to sign them to extension. and this extension will honestly be the level of extension that could wreck most franchises. It's a commitment level as far as money, concern that's going to exceed potentially any deal given to a pitcher in MLB history. He could become baseball's first $400 million pitcher. It doesn't feel like the Diamondbacks are going to get into that arena. It doesn't feel like they even can.
Starting point is 00:35:44 And it doesn't feel like most teams can, right? It feels like that already limits it down to the two, New York teams, the Dodgers, maybe a team like the Giants or the Padres, a few other, you know, a few other teams that spend a lot of money in baseball. Most don't want to commit to that kind of money for one guy. And historically, you know, it's shown that if you do and that doesn't work out in the way you think it's going to, it could be crippling to your franchise. And we've talked about this time and time again.
Starting point is 00:36:22 The Diamondbacks just don't have that kind of ability to spend and not have it be crippling to the franchise if it doesn't work out. Those other teams can. Jeff Passon reports that the Yankees are one of the few teams that could land back-to-back-back-Sy Young winner, Terrick Scoobble here in a trade, because not only do they have the pitchers
Starting point is 00:36:40 that the Detroit Tigers are interested in receiving in return, but it will most likely result in the Yankees being able to extend him. However, I don't know if you saw that video, but a guy could try to get Terrick Scoobled to sign a Yankees hat, and he was like, get that crap away from me. And that's the kind of energy that I need in my life. Once again, much like Tetsuya Amai, I need that kind of energy in my life. And I need more people, quite frankly, like Devin Booker and the Phoenix Sons, who were making a sincere effort, as we showed on this show already, with shoes, came over, he gave Terrick Scoobel
Starting point is 00:37:20 a pair of shoes, he's trying to do the recruiting part all himself, but he's not getting very much help here from the Diamondbacks, and it's understandable why. As much as we all want to get excited about it, as much as we all want to start screaming on IG about like, this does mean Terrick Scoobble is coming to the debacks. It's not necessarily, you know,
Starting point is 00:37:42 the smartest thing for this franchise. And, you know, but still, but still when it comes to what you know it comes to the sons like the sons are trying to do everything for the valley again you know what damon i don't care show it again i want to see here we got video here of devon booker giving shoes to terrick scubel
Starting point is 00:38:01 i believe at portland trailblazers versus the suns game doing his part they could have had some PA or somebody from the team come over and bring it devon booker understood the assignment devon booker understood the assignment he comes over he brings in not one but two pairs of new book twos. He's even just like showing him off details and stuff. And he's like, you know, there's more where that came from.
Starting point is 00:38:31 There's more. My guy. Back in A. Z. My guy, there is an entire closet waiting for you back in Arizona. Back in state 48. That's right. That is right. So will it happen?
Starting point is 00:38:42 Most likely not. Will we love to see it happen? Yes. Because the Diamondbacks haven't had a guy like this on the mound since Randy Johnson was here. And we know how much of a game changer that. man was. But you can't forget that the Diamondbacks also put a very robust, well-rounded team around Randy Johnson. And you could argue at this point that there are far too many things they need to fix other than one starting pitcher for them to go all in on one guy. So we're going to
Starting point is 00:39:12 keep admiring him. We're going to keep our fingers crossed that this deal somehow gets done. But we are cautiously pessimistic that we'll see Terrick Scouble in a DeVax uniform. form anytime soon. We're going to take a quick break on the other side of this break. We're going to discuss the terrible, terrible, terrible thing that is known as arbitration in Major League Baseball and talk about which Diamondbacks we could see go through that process here. Don't you go anywhere. You're watching the PHNXD Back Show. We love our friends at Pure Edibles, and that's because Pure Edibles always keeps us in a great mood. Whether you're looking for a mood elevating gummy or if you're looking to just get a great night's sleep, you can look to pure
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Starting point is 00:42:43 located in Arizona. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem wants help, call 180 on your next step, text next step to 53342 or visit problemgambling.az.gov. Damon, before we go on, if the trade for scubel was straight up for Cattelmarte, wow. And I'll give you the caveat of this. The Diamondbacks would be able to sign an extension. It would be lucrative. It would be devastating to our franchise financially.
Starting point is 00:43:14 Yeah, it might cap us for a long time. It's not going to be a team-friendly contract like Catell-Marte is. currently under through 2030. It's going to be one that hurts. Hurts bad. Hurts as bad as me having to replace the main line in my home when the game of the watered stuff there. But would you do it? Would you pull the trigger on that? I mean, that's certainly a tough conversation. The aspect of the Tariq Scouble thing is like, the reason I was saying yes, over and over and over again, Derek, when it came to the value of the trades that you were saying is because obviously those players are nowhere near Tariq Scouble's value to a team, right?
Starting point is 00:43:49 But at the same time, that's not inherently what the entire, you know, cons of it is. You know, it takes away a lot of what you can pay the rest of your roster. So the extension hampering you is a really difficult thing to kind of get past and decide that you want to like not only give up basically every valuable prospect in the farm system that the tigers want, but also, you know, sign him to the biggest extension of starting pitcher has ever gotten. Man, that's tough. Would you rather do that?
Starting point is 00:44:24 Or would you rather do, say, the Reds came calling? I saw a mock trade. And we got Matt McLean at second base in Hunter Green. See, that fills the need for Cattell Marte with a pretty decent player. Like, that's not just a prospect that could make it in Major League Baseball. Yeah, he's a good second base. Hunter Green's one of the best pitchers in baseball. And they're both cheap for now.
Starting point is 00:44:46 And they're both young. Yeah. So like I don't know if that's a, if that would be a better option. If we're discussing like idealistic scenarios, I'm not even sure the Reds are offering that. No, no, for sure.
Starting point is 00:44:56 But yeah, it just is from the aspect of being able to follow through with it and actually get him to be a member of this team, get those players to be a member of this team long term. It feels like it's far more. It's the path to that is easier, right? But also, you know, again, it's not going to be as devastating to the franchise and you'll be able to build around those guys
Starting point is 00:45:18 whereas scubel quite frankly seems to be doing it for the money it definitely feels like he does not care any longer about the winning or losing aspect of it or being part of a single franchise this is his payday he's earned it and he's going to get paid and he is going to get paid as much as he possibly can from another team and right now all the tigers can really do besides increasing their offer and making him an offer that he cannot refuse, they can get rid of him at some point and try to get some value out of him before essentially he walks at the end of the year, which you know he's going to do if you're the Tigers.
Starting point is 00:45:58 Yeah, I mean, I think that, you know, it's understandable that he's all about the money. It's going to be a lot of times in baseball, you work through this entire arbitration process and then you get to your spot where you can get paid and it's your one time that you can get a mega contract, right? Because these contracts are so long as well. Well, all of it's so long. The control that you are, the team has over a young player is so long.
Starting point is 00:46:20 This arbitration process, like you said, is terrible and awful. Like he's like, what is he, like 29 and he's getting his first opportunity to really like cash in here? You have to be a grown man with a family by the time you get paid in Major League Baseball. It's kind of insane, right? And then like you said, arbitration, this awful process for players with three or more years. but less than six years of Major League service time are eligible for salary arbitration if they do not already have a contract in place
Starting point is 00:46:50 for the upcoming season. The Diamondbacks have tendered contracts to eight arbitration eligible players. Those players are Kevin Ginkle, Jake McCarthy, Gabriel Moreno, Ryan Nelson, A.J. Puck, Pat, Pavan Smith, Alec Thomas, and Ryan Thompson. Damon, I've been away from baseball so long that I think for the last two days I have said Pavin instead of Pavin
Starting point is 00:47:12 when it comes to pay this name. I don't know what's wrong with me. But the Diamondbacks can avoid arbitration by coming to a contract agreement with these players. So they have tendered contracts to all eight of those players. The only players that they did not tender contracts to overall, as we discussed yesterday, was Tommy Henry, who we knew they were doing that because they DFA'd and Taylor Rashy, who apparently was non-tendered to make room for James McCann. So these players can agree and historically the diamond backs have been able to stay out of arbitration with players and so many people have asked us what the hell even is arbitration they hear about it they see the results if an arbitration eligible player and the team does not agree to a contract by a date in like mid-January
Starting point is 00:48:02 they both must put forth their salary figure for the 2026 season and then a hearing is scheduled for February. My favorite telling of this is when our guy Archie Bradley was on the show and Archie told us about his arbitration experience. Archie thought he was going to go to a courtroom, which is hysterical to look back on and think, but I can't lie. I'm not going to hang my guy out to die. I would have thought the same thing.
Starting point is 00:48:31 I also thought you went to a courtroom. Like I thought you would have wore a suit. Yeah. Yeah, right. No, instead you go to the Marriott. You go to a local hotel ballroom, kind of maybe a meeting room of some kind. And it's very like, slide the number across, slide the number across. But where it gets nasty is, of course, the actual arbitration process where a representative has to argue on the players behalf, all of the reasons why they deserve more money.
Starting point is 00:49:04 and then a representative from the team has to argue why that guy sucks and why he doesn't deserve anything. May I add the guy that they want on their team? They have to argue the guy that they want on why the guy they want on their team is worth less money than what he thinks he's worth. Correct. And not only do you have that, but you also have like them bringing up specific instances where you blew games and very specific outcomes. Well, dating back to May 17 against the Colorado Rockies, RG came in in the, bottom of the eighth inning. You gave up a two-run, home run,
Starting point is 00:49:38 a Charlie-old. It's crazy. It's a crazy process, right? And then if they, again, if they don't come to an agreement by the time of this hearing, a panel of arbitrators listens to each side's case and then selects one of the two salary figures as the player's salary for the upcoming season. It's an awful
Starting point is 00:49:56 process. And again, it's one of those things that at least, like Archie Bradley said, the Diamondbacks do certain things about it right, including being, you know, the front office. Mike Hazen shows up. He's there. He's not the guy arguing against you or saying terrible things about you.
Starting point is 00:50:12 They have a third party do that so that hopefully we can still be cool after all of this is done. It is a, I think it is, though. You know who would be great at that job? Who? Jesse. Oh, oh, my God. Because Jesse's so, he's so matter of fact. He would be so matter of fact, he's not trying to be disrespectful to you.
Starting point is 00:50:32 He's not. he's not like taking you out and he knows baseball to like such a high degree. He'd just sit there and he'd be like, well, I mean, I'm looking at your spin rates. They decreased over the entire course of the season. So it does put some of your long term availability into question and how long you can sustain this over the course of every season. He's going to find things that you did bad that you didn't even know you did bad. Exactly.
Starting point is 00:50:55 That's what I'm saying. And he wouldn't, again, he wouldn't be disrespectful about it at all. It would be just the most like, this is how it is. These are the facts. And this is why our number is this. Yeah. And honestly, I think the Diamondbacks need to hire him that man right now to do that. Oh, yeah.
Starting point is 00:51:12 No, I mean, I've been saying it for years. I've been saying that the Diamondbacks... I was worried about it. I was terrified every single time we did a show together that we were just moving one step closer to the Diamondbacks swooping in and stealing him away from me. Totally. We should ask him tomorrow on the show if he would do that job or not. Yeah, oh, yeah.
Starting point is 00:51:29 We know he would. Also, we should maybe put Jesse through arbitration ourselves. Like one of us could be arbitrate on his behalf. And the other people are some arbitrate against him. No, that's too mean. It's too mean of a process that nobody should have to go through, not even baseball players. I do think, though, it's kind of funny because I find myself doing that.
Starting point is 00:51:46 Like, well, poor baseball players. Like, these are guys that have been coached their entire career. They've been told what they suck at almost on a daily basis and what they need to get better. So I think that they are very mature about it and are able to hear this. You just think back, though, to the Corbin-Burn's situation, with Milwaukee and how quickly that deteriorated because of arbitration and because Corbyn Burns didn't understand why the Brewers didn't want to pay him and keep him there. And much like the
Starting point is 00:52:13 Terrick Scoobel situation, make him a brewer for life. That's what you felt like Corbin Burns was going to be. And, you know, how quickly he became expensive, how quickly he became some sort of, you know, nuisance to that franchise. And I don't think their relationship was ever the same after that arbitration process. Yeah, that was crazy. I forgot about that. It's what let him here essentially, like eventually. Because he's sitting there and he's like, what do you want me to do? I'm winning the Cy Young Award and then you're
Starting point is 00:52:40 arguing why I'm not worth money. It's crazy. It's crazy argument. But of the eight players that the Diamondbacks have up for arbitration, I'm fairly certain that they're all going to most likely get this contract agreement situation banged out before we get to that terrible, terrible process.
Starting point is 00:52:58 Name them off one more time. We got Kevin Ginkle, Jake McCarthy, Gabriel Moreno, Ryan Nelson, AJ Puck, Pavin Smith, Alec Thomas, Ryan Thompson. Of those eight, who do you think might not come to terms? Oh, like before that arbitration hearing? Yeah, who do you think might actually go to arbitration? I could see Gabby because of his injuries, honestly. Okay. Like, I think that's one thing where it's like, because he's going to think that I'm a player that's worth more than that. And the Diamondback's probably agree, right? But at the same time, it's like, but you're unavailable. So. And your numbers from 2025 don't necessarily say that you're worth more, right? And you might have had a bigger contract the year before versus now. So I think that maybe that that leads to something that could potentially be a kind of a back and forth there. I don't expect any of this to get like too nasty.
Starting point is 00:53:50 No. And by the way, yeah, I don't think, I don't feel like this is a reflection on the player themselves. I don't think that this is probably even decided by the player. I feel like their agent and the management over that player probably have far more. of a say in whether they accept this agreement or Gorda arbitration or what the deal is. I would argue if I was any of these players, I would, if I was Ryan Nelson, I'd squeeze this organization for every dime. Yeah, that's another good one.
Starting point is 00:54:17 I would ring them out. And this is no offense to the Diamondbacks, but Ryan Nelson was so good for this team. And I guarantee you, for two years, he saved this year. The reason why they went on that run in the second half, a big part of it was because of Ryan Nelson's consistency in being. being one of the best players on this team, one of the best pitchers in this organization. So if there was anybody I feel like deserves more money than the Diamondbacks are offering to pay them in 2026.
Starting point is 00:54:43 It's Ryan Nelson. You know what's funny about you saying that is that I think I almost looked at it from like the fan standpoint of like who could we get a little bit cheaper, save some money here? Sure. And so my mind went to who underperformed based off of maybe what the high expectations would be. And then you just, you went the opposite. I wasn't thinking that at all. But you're right.
Starting point is 00:55:01 Like no one. Ryan Nelson was the sixth starter going into this season. He was potentially going to be the long relief. Seven-starter. Damon, he was the seventh starter before. He was maybe going to be the long relief guy. Yeah. And then he ends up just being the far and away ace of the entire team last year.
Starting point is 00:55:17 And he is written in Sharpie on the starting rotation next year. So it's like, okay. Yeah, if you're Ryan Nelson, I'm going in there and saying, how many less games you guys win without me the last two years? You know? I agree with you. I think that he should be fighting for more money probably than what the expectation would have been. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:55:37 Well, we have a little bit more to discuss here, and that's updates on our PHNX Fantasy Football League. First, speaking of, PHNX business, we got business to take care of. This is hate week, folks. This is hate week. Not only is it hate week, but just to kind of bleed into how things are going around here. Damon and Totry are also playing each other this week in our PHNX fantasy. football league. So it is double eight week for the ASU and U of A podcast.
Starting point is 00:56:04 And of course, that means that we're going to have ourselves a great time out on Mill Avenue for the Territorial Cup. Come join us, November 28th. We're going to be right there on Mill at Locopetron, the legendary Lockeletron, courtesy of our friends of Captain Morgan. You can join our Phr and X Sun Devils crew for a live post game
Starting point is 00:56:22 show out there at Local Patron on Mill Avenue following this year's Territorial Cup. Again, November 28th, about 30 minutes following the final whistle come join tootry Shane and Eric they will be hosting that live postgame show following the game witness your favorite sun devils podcast in person and party with us celebrate one way or another one group of fans is going to be upset one group of fans is going to be Derek did you know that they kick they kicked me out of that they said they they invited me and then they were like actually probably
Starting point is 00:56:51 don't go yeah yeah it's probably for the best it probably is damon has a lot of beefs in the streets yeah and most of those beasts are in tempi well that is true but listen I also like Like, I had those beefs for years. And I basically lived in Tempee for like the last two and a half years. And guess exactly how many people ever came up impressed me, Derek, this many. So all the tough guy talk in Tempe, I wonder where it is. I walk around and hang out. It's perfectly fine.
Starting point is 00:57:21 Damon has blood feuds with guys that he doesn't even know their first name. Real people are actually nice. That's what you need to come to understand. And I think you agree with this. That's very true. You experience this in your own right. Like the people that come up to you at Chase Fielder that ever want to talk. The sweetest people ever.
Starting point is 00:57:38 You are the nicest people in the world. Even people that, I mean, honestly, like, there are guys that come into this chat and relentlessly bag on this team and, and Tori LaVolo, our guy, Killer Rex. Scotty Mac. Scottie Mac is one of those guys. I met Scotty Mac in person. He is gorgeous. He is a gigantic mound of muscle, Damon. And he was the sweetest guy.
Starting point is 00:58:01 He looked like Johnny Damon on steroids. Oh, yeah, he looks like Johnny Damon if Johnny Damon was both bigger, more muscular, and had a better beard. Like that is Scotty Mac. And he was a delight in person. So, yeah, I mean, even people were talking about the jaw line, too. What's that? You were talking about the jaw line too? Oh, yeah.
Starting point is 00:58:19 Don't even get me started on how I answer me is. I could go on for hours, Damon. It's incredible. But you're right. You're right. Like, people in real life are actually nice folks. Absolutely. Absolutely. Absolutely. Sweetheart. And this rivalry is so much fun too. We're going to have a good time with it.
Starting point is 00:58:33 In general, again, it's all in good fun and it's supposed to be. And I just think that sometimes people take stuff too far. I think that you are a person that you like to give people a hard time. And I think you honestly do it because it's your favorite thing to do. I've never seen somebody enjoy it as much. But Damon, I mean, again, people get raw. They get crazy. And it's like everything in life. But we're not doing that. We're setting some ground rules. No attacks on mothers. We can attack school mascots. We can attack education levels, all of that kind of stuff. Let's leave everything else out of it. Let's have a great time. Most importantly, let's go out there and watch a territorial cup and hopefully walk away with the Sun Devils victory. Anyway, moving on.
Starting point is 00:59:13 Also, our diehard early access sale for our Black Friday sale is going on right now. If you are a diehard member, go get yourself some merch, get some merch for your family, your friends. You can save up to 90% off. It's crazy. Right now, this will operate. like a discount code. So that code will be automatically applied at checkout for all you diehard members. Make sure to sign in in order to get that discount. But you will not see the discounted
Starting point is 00:59:39 price until you're looking at your cart. Pick yourself up some merge. Get yourself something for your friends, your family. It's going to be a great, it's a great time. Great time to stock up now. Most importantly, get your holiday shopping done early. I've told you guys this time and time again. Do not spend the month of December stressing over buying people Christmas presents. First of all, over holiday presents in general are not that important unless you're a parent to small children. Then I can relate. But realize that in this life, especially when it comes to money, we're all struggling right now. So try to get yourself some good deals and try not to stress yourself out this holiday season. And most importantly, do that by getting your shopping done early.
Starting point is 01:00:17 Get it done before December rolls around. Speaking of December, the fantasy football season is about to wrap up. We have two more weeks left in our season for our office fantasy league. And as far as my season is going, I had the biggest win of the year yesterday. I did. I beat Bo Brock by one single point solidifying that I am now eliminated from Waffle House contention, Damon. There is no chance mathematically for end zone, Amora. to go back to back Waffle Houses. To celebrate this, I visited a Waffle House, and I had an egg sandwich.
Starting point is 01:01:04 That's beautiful. That's how I commemorated it. Meanwhile, my playoff hopes might be dead. They're hanging, they're clinging on to life support. Damon, you and I, we're both on the outside looking in. You are in a much better position than myself at 6 and 6. You've come storming back. Meanwhile, the Jensers, aka A. A.A. A. A. A. A. A.
Starting point is 01:01:25 also on a very nice win streak, right? He was like two and five and then he went one seven in a row. Really would have been nice if maybe he lost some games as well. Yeah, it would have been great. It would have been great. Because my team is hot. You're right, Derek. I'm playing good ball right now, playing our best ball of the season.
Starting point is 01:01:39 No one wants to see this team in the playoffs. That's a fact. But absolutely. Like we, you know what? Noah right there in the two spot. Yeah. He plays Johnny next week. That's crazy.
Starting point is 01:01:49 That's big. I need Noah to come out on top in that one for me to make playoffs here, I think. Noah's squad is still the most confounding team in this league because he drafted like 75% Detroit Lions players and I thought that was going to be a hindrance to him. I thought it was a bad move. As any good fantasy football player knows, you should not put all of your eggs in one basket.
Starting point is 01:02:11 That team has a bad day. You're screwed as he did when he played you, Damon. But somehow, some way, he is sitting atop of the leaderboard right now just under Shane, tied with Shane at 9 and 3. Shane's team is really good. Look at how many points he has. Shane's team is crazy.
Starting point is 01:02:26 1732. Big year for Shane, especially after how bad his team was last year. But let's focus on what's really important. Thank you, Damon. Because it's actually, the top doesn't matter at all. Making playoffs actually doesn't really matter at all. And you know what? Definitely doesn't matter getting in like ninth, tenth place.
Starting point is 01:02:44 Oh, that doesn't matter at all. Nobody cares about that. That's exactly where I want to be, Damon. I want to be done playing fantasy football. football has ruined my life this year. Not only is my fantasy football team sucked, but my real team has sucked. But like Damon said, the most important thing there is that Max Simpson currently sits in last place. Absolutely.
Starting point is 01:03:06 There has never been anything more important to the history of PHNX than for Max Simpson to finish the season in last place and go to the Waffle House. It is a tradition. I proudly have my championship ring on right now, by the way. It is a tradition that the winner Loses the next season and goes to the Waffle House. And I'll be damned if we're going to break that tradition now. So we need to do whatever we can to root for the teams that Max faces. He has some very tough competitors,
Starting point is 01:03:38 including Shane, who's in first place ahead of them. I think that it's a wrap. I think it's a wrap. So we have two weeks left of the season? Two weeks left in the season. Okay. You know what? Like Beau Brock just needs to get a damn.
Starting point is 01:03:51 Yeah, we need Bo Brock to get his act together. I've been waiting on Bo to get one W to help himself out for, you know, I was tied with Bo. You know, I was tied with Bo. I mean, let's take a look at these standings again. Me and Bo were, I think, three weeks ago, both three and six. And you are now six and six and six, and Bo is three and nine. Yeah. And I've got myself out of the gutter.
Starting point is 01:04:12 Football, Rashy, shout out. Ball know her? Well, I mean, you would think as the Cardinals guy. You would think that he was the ball. This is the reason why I don't play fantasy baseball. I don't know. I can't be the baseball host that loses in a fantasy league. I just can't.
Starting point is 01:04:28 100%. I mean, look at that, look at those two teams right there. Just terrible, terrible seasons. Yeah. We are rooting for Bo, I will say. We'll make fun of Bo. Oh, we are McBride or die. A hundred percent.
Starting point is 01:04:40 We are all McBride or die. Actually, next week, I believe he takes on Saul, who's PHNX's finest there. He's currently on a seven game losing streak. Yeah, that's a big matchup for sure. But we just, essentially, we need. What we really need is Shane to just dogwalk Max. Yeah. And then put it up to at least one week.
Starting point is 01:04:57 And then no matter what happens with Bo this week, he can, you know, it's still all about Max. Let's get it, guys. Let's get it. Let's make sure we send Max to the Waffle House now, then, and forever. But it means everything. It means more than me. And I'll even take it a step further. And I'll peel back the curtain a little bit, Derek.
Starting point is 01:05:15 I know I've told you this story. But Max Simpson was in a spot. where he had Tray McBride on his team as his tight end. Yes, he's in last place with Tray McBride. And he had Dalton Schultz as his backup tight end. And I needed a tight end for the week. And I approached Max Simpson and I said, hey, you know, let's make a trade here. You need a QB.
Starting point is 01:05:38 Your QB situation isn't too good. I'll give you Baker Mayfield. You give me Dalton Schultz, maybe another small piece. And we call it a trade. It seems like a fair offer. Max then responds with Rishi Rice. and Chase Brown for Tess Johnson and Dalton Schultz. I told Max, lose my number, never talk to me again.
Starting point is 01:06:00 Now until forever. I'm an idiot to you. Now until forever. I'm a dumb idiot that doesn't know ball and you just wanted to just take advantage of me and you think that that's okay. Now until forever. Now until forever, I will never ever entertain a trade offer from you, ever approach you with a trade offer.
Starting point is 01:06:19 And in fact, I will consider potentially trading my best players to the team that is playing you. I know. So Max is 12th in waiver. I could drop my 10 best players. Yeah. And let someone else pick up. And everybody else could pick up all my 10 best players now that I'm out of Waffle House contention if I wanted to. I'm thinking about it.
Starting point is 01:06:39 I'm thinking about it too. We'll see what happens with the playoffs. Next week's a big week for both of us. But anyway, it is. Tomorrow's a big day for us here on this podcast because we will be joined by one, Thunderstake Jesse Friedman live in studio Can't wait to have that happen The boys are back together
Starting point is 01:06:55 So join us for that Until then make sure follow us on Twitter I'm at cap underscore Kman with the K Damon is at Damon dog with a D-A-WG at the end And we are all Damon's dogs You gotta do bark bark bark There it is bark bark our show is at PHNX underscore DVax but as always all roads lead to at
Starting point is 01:07:14 PHNX underscore sports on Twitter Instagram and Facebook We thank you guys so much much for your time. We love you. We appreciate you. We'll see you back here at noon tomorrow. Until then, have yourselves a wonderful evening and remember kids. Baseball is fun, but it's so much more fun when Tatsuya Amai hates the Dodgers as much as we do.

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