Talkin' Baseball (MLB Podcast) - Best Landing Spots for Japanese Free Agents!

Episode Date: December 17, 2025

Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use promo code JMBASEBALLGet a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at https://indeed.com/talkin.Whether you’re just wanting to test an idea out, or you’re getting serious about launching your own brand, it’s never been easier to get started on https://shopify.com/talkin.Head to https://www.factormeals.com/talkin50off to save 50% off your first box! Coach Trev and Talkin’ Jake discuss the what the market is for the Japanese stars who have been posted, if Tarik Skubal is actually going to be traded, Mets signing Luke Weaver, other Free agent signings and more! 0:00 Intro3:45 Jake’s tweet about Peralta and Skubal7:40 Japanese posting rules9:40 Munetaka Murakami21:55 Mason Miller getting traded?26:10Tatsuya Imai29:33 Tarik Skubal getting traded?32:20 If you’re Skubal how do you stay in Dtroit?36:11 Mets signing Luke Weaver40:00 Kazuma Okamoto42:11 Ha-Seong Kim signs with Braves48:55 Maikel Garcia extension58:11 Bregman - Diamondbacks rumor1:07:45 Relief pitchers signing 2/$22M Gambling problem? Call one eight hundredGambler. In New York, call eight seven seven eight HOPENY or textHOPENY (four six seven three six nine). In Connecticut, Help is available for problem gambling. Call eight eight eight seven eight nine seven seven seven seven or visit ccpg dot org. Please playresponsibly. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (Kansas). Pass-thru of per wager tax may apply in Illinois. Twenty-one plus age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction. Void in Ontario. Restrictions apply. Bet must win to receive Bonus Bets which expire in 7 days. Minimum odds required. For additional terms and responsible gaming resources, see D K N G dot co slash audio. Limited time offer.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hello and welcome to talking baseball. You know we're international. We got a couple big international signings that are going to do. Breggie rumors. Ha, song, Kim, to Atlanta. Let's talk ball. Brad Keller to the Phillies. Adrian Houser, Signor Pukes to the Giants.

Orion Kirkring. Tina Martinez. Look at some of those RBI totals out of Constantino Martinez. And we used to care about that. Hello and welcome to Talking Baseball, present you by Seeky Code Talkin'10. I am at Talking Jake. That is at Trevor Plouf.

Rob Chiraco, Bobby Golfs is here. Don't Feeley, adding information live as the Brad Keller News has broken baseball. Also probably have one other question for you, Treve. I don't know if you saw me and Jim kind of got the work on the internet last night. Yeah, you did. Yeah, we did. Usually I come to your defense, but I don't think I could. It was good to be back.

It was good to feel. I'll tell you that. How you doing, big guy? I love one like all these accounts. Like, just, they just want to pile on. It's like, relax, guys. You know how much baseball we talk? Like, literally.

Twist the knife. Thousands of hours. Go for it. Although it was a bad take. I'll say it right now. Bad take. I get the $8 million. People, organizations don't care about money.

They just want you to believe they do. How are you? I got two things I want to get off my chest. Please. Number one. Dan Duquette, you're a loser. Hello. I put that out of my

You did. You did. I want to reiterate that right now. It was a good tweet by you. It was a good tweet. Yeah. Out on him, huge loser.

Number two, I thought, well, you know, I'm always trying to be part of Cici's crew. Yes. It's just never going to happen. Like, literally.

Yes. I try all the time. I thought it was pretty good. They had some golf tournament. He was a part of. I think it was a Jeter's Foundation's tournament? I'd have to.

to double check. I just saw he was at, I thought you were going to talk. They did that Bahamas home run thing. I just want to hang with C.C. Yeah, me too. So just shout out C, C, C, you're the best. But the jaw rule and then some other actors T shots, almost killing people. Do you see that? Oh, yes. I did see the jaw rule.

I mean, my nightmare slash, it's like hilarious to see it. Oh, my gosh. I mean, that's a golf swing. You can't be entering this event. Him and the other guy that did it took like 50 practice swings. That's the problem.

Yeah, you start getting in your head. Just get up there and whack that thing. Yeah. I mean, they're just going nuts over it. So funny. Jarl rule. Then the other guy, I don't know who's, I don't know his name, but he did it almost worse than Jarl rule. Bob can find that throughout the show. That'd be great.

That's all I got. How are you doing, Jake? You look great today. Your skin looks nice and your hair looks good. Wow. It's going to be a good up. Yeah, showered, mixed it up. No, I don't know. We're embracing winter a little bit. You know, from Thanksgiving to Florida, like I'm embracing the cold.

I like dressed properly today. I saw an old work friend. Shut up, Ben Wilson, back in my management trainee days. Tough salary. It's going to be honest. It bonded us. And that's why it was good to see him. And yeah, I don't know.

Let's circle up on Peralta Scuba later because I took my licks on it. It's a conversation. And that's what this is. What do you want to say? When we stop having the conversation, that's when the problem starts. I think it just trade package, one year of scubel for $22 million a year. Freddie Peralta making $8 million a year. So you have a $14 million gap.

And it's what teams would trade more for. That, yeah, I think we're just, I think people are underestimating who Freddie Peralta is like Freddie Peralta finished fifth in the Si young. He threw more innings than scubel last year. Did you know? Look that up today. They're like, I don't know. For a 270 RA of Freddie Peralta

and saving your team 14 million to maybe go get Okamoto. Go get Kyle Tucker. Like, I just think it's a conversation. I get where everyone's coming from. But a lot of times the internet just goes, Scobo Peralto, you serious? They're like, I like the people that actually talk. about it in there.

It's a conversation. It's a short conversation. All of them are for me. Scoob's just, he's just so much better than everybody. So, I mean, I disagree with your take. I'm fine to talk about it. Right. I just prospect capital.

I mean, it's part of the reason that I think a scuba trade isn't going to get done. What you could have said was I'd rather my team do this than that. I think a lot of times and I'm gonna I'll call out our social team right now Nice When you just That's what they need

They sometimes do I gotta text Tjacks Like hey Tjacks And you help me out They're also the best Arguably the best social media team in the world So we can start there Nobody

Nobody nobody Nobody is above Nobody Yeah nobody Nobody's above like you know Being told hey you can be better Right Speaking in Absolutes on the internet

Like it's just bad. Right. Right. It doesn't work. Okay. That, yeah, I just... Hey, also, nobody really cares, Jake. They just were, like, wanted to get on you because we're the best in the business.

We're the best. It's a good time to pull the teeth out. And it was just, like, right when MLB rumors, kind of everything has gone quiet in baseball. They like that if you were someone on the internet looking for baseball, and I get it. And I get it. But it's also part of the reason that I don't think a scoble trade is going to get done. Because I don't think teams are going to be willing to pay for the aura of scoobel. All right, I'm back on, you know.

I was just going to let you die out there on the internet streets. But I think what I'll say to is like all these like other creators out there. Like, do you need me to start going through your stuff and what you say? I won't do it because I don't have time for that. But like I keep egging me on. Oh, here we go. I don't, I think what I've planned as my follow up tweet to this, is when the offseason's over and being like,

you know, you could have, you could have Scoobel and Jorge Polanco for $42 million or whatever their money comes out to, or you could have Freddie Peralta and Kyle Tucker or whoever's contract comes out there. There's a conversation with how you allocate money. I know you and I don't like that conversation

because, again, your team can pay whatever. There's no salary cap. Just a reminder, Miami in every other sport is like a hot spot. Like players want to go there. There's so many, Miami, there will be a day when that franchise is fun. Yeah. We're heading down there, Trev. We haven't really talked about that yet.

I've talked to Sam a little bit. I'm getting my ducks in a row. Liv's coming with me. Okay. Okay. Maybe we paint the town red. Anyways, as I just teed up for you guys, we're in that part of the offseason.

Although I think the next thing coming up that needs to be discussed are some of the Japanese players because we still have the posting rules and the deadlines that, you know, for whatever goes on with these other free agents, like Belly Tucker, Breggie, we'll talk about him in a little bit.

These guys could go till whenever. It could go to spring training. Not for Amai, who his post date is January 2nd. So we'll see, and they're starting to become more smoke on that. We're getting tweets from reporters that it's down to a couple of the big boy teams, which checks out from everything we've heard about, Amai.

Murakami, who his posting date is coming up even sooner than that, I think, is it next week the 22nd? Yes. So, like, and this was a guy who a couple years ago was the B's knees. He broke the home run record over there. He was put in MLB, the show, World Baseball Classic. And his kind of rumors have been interesting to, quiet to now there's a little bit of smoke that will let our international scout coach trev

run but it's all brought to you by indeed because indeed is what you need uh hiring isn't just about finding someone willing to take the job that doesn't work people you need the right person with the right background who can move your business forward if you want candidates who match what you're looking for indeed and their sponsored jobs you're struggling to even get your post seen give your job the best chance to be seen with Indeed's sponsored jobs. They help you stand out, hire quality candidates

who can drive the results you need. Spend more time interviewing candidates who check all your boxes, less stressed, less time, more results like that. And you'll get a $75 sponsored job credit to help your job the premium status it deserves at indeed.com slash talking. Indeed.com slash talking right now,

support our show by saying we sent you, Indeed.com slash talking. Terms and conditions apply hiring. Do it the right way with Indeed. dude. Coach Treff, international Trev, you were just over there. I was just over there. Yep. A lot of show hay over there. No doubt about it.

I think we should start with Murakami since the posting did is ending soon. Is it ending soon, right? Yeah. I have no problem with that. That's how you, I don't know. Okay. Here's a thing. You know, the rumors are saying that Beshet and Bregman are holding up his market. It's interesting. There is some concern like the

overall feeling is hey maybe this guy swings and misses a little bit too much maybe he can't hit V-low which to that I say that's not fair to him it truly isn't okay couple things going on here number one guys can make adjustments okay

and coming up like going playing through pro ball you go A ball you go double A triple A to the big leagues every single year it gets harder until you get to the big leagues and it's the most But like you have to make adjustments. And a lot of, a lot of that's either it's approach, it's mental, a lot of its swing mechanics.

So like this guy clearly has power, has hand eye, okay? He wouldn't be a professional baseball player if he didn't have that. And like I'll just throw this in. Like I guarantee he has the work ethic to do it. That's just what we've seen coming from Japanese baseball players. I think that's a fair assumption there. So yeah, he might come over. And maybe he has these, you know, rates over in the MPB.

And he might come over in spring training and struggle a little bit right away. But like the willingness to make adjustments, I guarantee is there. We saw Shohei Otani make adjustments. He used to have a big leg lift and then what do they do? He did a toe tap. A guy that we're going to talk about later in the show did that before this year. Like, adjustments can be made. So if you see this guy as a fit onto your team and maybe you're just like sick of dealing with, you know,

the back and forth between Bichette's camp and Bregman's camp. And you're like, hey, I like the power. I think, you know, he's probably going to cost less than those two guys. Like, maybe this is a fit for our team. I would be less concerned about those issues. Number one, like, you have to believe in your coaches. But you also believe, if you believe in the player at all to be able to make adjustments, I think he can do it.

Like, it just, it is that way. I used to struggle right away. at every single level that I went to. Because, again, it just was better. But I knew, like, hey, I'm also really good. Like, I'll figure it out and just give me some time to get adjusted to that level of play. And I will. And I think the same thing can be said about, you know, especially the guys that are coming

over and actually being posted, the guys that have had success over in Japan coming over, like, they probably need a little bit of time. Some don't. But, like, it's okay to, like, who comes up and is just the best. best player ever. Like, it's very difficult to do that. You need time to adjust. It's the freaking show. So, like, I, I hear all the issues. I understand that. I get why the market is held up because of Bichette and Bregman, but if you're, if you're in, if this guy fits your team, I wouldn't be afraid of some of the things I've been hearing, if that makes sense. Yeah, so the,

the big stat that came out, this is his WBC. It's a swing, dude. WBC, banker off of Merrill Kelly. Congrats Diamondbacks. We'll talk about them later. Yeah, and like, A, like they won that tournament. Not that that's everything, but I'm looking at the guys that have come over in recent years. Well, okay, I should, I'll keep the pitchers out of it because they've been pretty great.

And by the way, that's some of the guys he's been facing. Junghuli, we saw him be a very solid baseball player this year. He got started and everyone kind of wondered if he was going to be a superstar. Landed in a fine spot. Yoshida can hit. I'll tell you that much. Yoshita can hit. He's been a part of that team.

Sayas Suzuki. It is interesting. One of the recent, more recent misses, and this goes back five years ago, Yoshis Susugo, I remember watching some of his high. before he came over to the raise. He wasn't as hyped. Wasn't as hyped as Murakami is. And like, I don't know, if you go to Otani after that,

remember there was scouting reports. Otani wasn't going to hit. Like, they compared him to a high school hitter. That it's one of the beautiful things about this sport still is that there is an unknown that I like what you said. You're banking on a person that could be so good at his age in this level has a certain level of talent and commitment and ability that if you do have the right people,

coaching staff players around him, you'd have to think there's something in there. And he turns 26 in February. So this is where things are going to get really interesting. And I think that's the bizarre part of the process right now is that if he was a little more of a lock, we're talking eight-year contract, we're talking nine-year contract,

and maybe that is what's going to leak out, a team really wants to place the bet. But because there's this weird middle area, and the big stat that's going around is that I think last year against fastball's 93 miles per hour or faster, he batted 0.95.

So that's kind of unfortunately the standard right now that it does feel boomer bust is getting thrown out a lot. It feels like there's something in there and it's just, is it going to be a big market team?

that believes in this guy to be next, or is it going to be one of the smaller medium market teams that maybe this is the big bet they place? I'm curious what the offers even are right now. Right. 26-year-old guy, 263 plate appearances. He had 24 bombs last year. Yeah.

Okay. Yeah. I like that. Like, the power is a real thing, and the power doesn't just grow on trees. You can't just find guys to just have power. It's also very hard to develop power. you know, guys can get more powerful

within their own regard, but a guy that has this type of homer potential doesn't come up very often. Swing and miss stuff, tough against VLO, I understand that, but I'd want to know, like, okay, so I guess now we're getting into it.

And again, like, you guys know, I'm a major league baseball guy. I don't really follow any of the other leagues. What's the average mile per hour in Japan compared to major league baseball? I'm sure it's lower. Belt on it.

adults on it right now. But again, I just feel like it's why some of the arguments of like, hey, Mickey Mantle would, you know, he, he only saw this and like he wouldn't be able to play. Like, well, if Mickey Mantle grew up today and faced all the same guys throughout his whole career, he'd probably be pretty good.

Like that's, that's kind of that argument. Let's let this guy see some, be on a consistent basis like this. The adjustments can be there. Rob. In 2022, the average was 90.4. MLBs was 91.7. Now, but it's also saying that guys are throwing a lot harder now. It is.

That's got to be like a 96 or 4. Daltz found something. Daltz found something. For Japan, it's closer to the higher 91, lower 92 range, where MLB is closer to the 94 range this year. Well, it's a i'm super interested in the contract and how it looks because yeah me too nine year deal is crazy to me right like don't give out nine year deal so i think i'm out on that

well look at i i guess here's what i'm saying yamamoto who is a pitcher and people had concerns about his body but his performance in age um there weren't question marks that he got like one of the biggest pitching contracts ever murkami with these questions it'll i'm interested to see if a team maybe throws one of those out there, just to see if he'll bite and take their chance. Or if you're Murakami and teams want to throw you the two or three-year deal, hey, if you're that guy, well, then you'll hit free agency again in two or three years at age 28.

Coach Trev, you're his agent. What are you telling Murakami? Well, sign with the Dodgers. No, no, no. I just started thinking about a team like my go-to team that always needs first base help that maybe will take advantage

of a situation I mean you know who I'm talking about Are you saying Milwaukee? Yes. You always do this. I'm just saying where do they look if other teams are balking and they're waiting for Bregman and Boba

Shet and they're like hey well like do you want to go back to MPB or do you want to play in the big leagues because we're a pretty good team you'd fit right into our lineup. We're looking for power. We're going to be in the playoffs. Like, come on, man.

I just don't know what he, like, if they threw a three-year 75. I don't know if Milwaukee would do that. I'm just saying, is that enough to get this? I just don't know. Is there any reports on any offers? I don't have that. So Milwaukee's going to spitball in here. Milwaukee's going to pay Andrew Vaughn $7 million to be.

that you're all-star starter at first base next year. Like, that's where they're, like, we don't... Put this guy in, too. I know. I like that your brain always jumps there, and it's very nice. I'm just saying there's certain teams that try to take advantage of situations.

I had something else, too. I forgot now. Okay. Yeah, where to go. Yeah. I... This guy doesn't want to go back to play in Japan. Right, and that's what, you know,

Kenny Rosenthal was reporting on it, because there was so many, like, lack of rumors that people were like, is he just maybe going to deuce back and we'll see you later? I don't think so. I think we're going to see a team come out of the woodwork. Like, I think if it was one of the big boys, we would have already kind of had a little bit of rumor mill that Dalt before the show throughout the pirates,

if that's their big move, that's so risky that I can't even, my stomach can't deal. with that. But yeah, some of these middle markets, I guess the Brewers, the Cincinnati Reds, like we're waiting. Like, if you can have this guy come, who has star potential? Like, hey, what if his leg kick, now he can hit 96? You might have a guy that can hit 40 homers who's an international superstar.

Like, I think the business and baseball bet is there that I think one of these teams' front offices that think they have it. This is their bet they can place that can change. Hey, when they go to negotiate their next contract and they're winning at a 500 clip, but they can tell the owner, hey, by the way, I sign this guy who sells a million jerseys a year. Not not that. Podreys are a team.

Like, they're looking to move money around. I know they're trying to like decrease payroll. So if they can make some sort of trade, I mean, they're talking about crazy trades right now. Chris Rose was saying they're talking. they're trying to trade Mason Miller to the, I'm like, what?

So again, this is like a time of year where we're just throwing crap out there. But clearly he fits a lot of teams. I'd be willing to bet on the upside. You got to take chances in this league. What are we doing? Yeah,

and I guess that's the, oh, one of the, I guess my final note on Murakami is like, the on base percentage numbers are there. He's gotten on base at a 395. clip up until age 25. He did not get any base hits because I'm looking at this.

He's got 24 homers and 263 plate appearances. He hit 286. That doesn't leave a lot of room for other hits. Not a lot of doubles, but he does have hits that I think it's like home runner single. I'd have to get into the scouting report a little more there. I don't think like the mechanics are egregious either. So like maybe that's a bad thing.

Because if he had this massive leg cake, like, oh, hey, we can clean that up really easily. But, like, he already has a kind of a compact, direct to the ball, not a ton of excess movement swing. Now, can you bring the toe down earlier and kind of do the tap thing? Sure. Get that swing. Are you about the show a swing?

Let me see that. Go back. Do you start that over. I can coach that. Okay. It's up there. It's late. That's fine.

When the timing's right, he could clean that up. Like if we're really, really concerned about VLO, like there, you can, we can do some different things with that. And yeah, I don't, I guess, Treve, correct me if this is a weird thought process that, okay, Rob, can you play that again? Because the pitcher's last name is, oh, no. I mean, yeah, oh, H&O. One of my favorite, I went a marketing major college, Central Connecticut State University,

add go there, become a blue devil today. In one of my marketing classes, one of the best marketing stories ever is the Chevy Nova, which they were like, oh, this is going to be a great car in Spain. In Spain, Nova means doesn't go. So it flopped. Pretty crazy. They made a car for Spain and didn't think to like translate it into Spanish. They did all sorts of case studies in which city will this car work best in?

and which people, which consumers will be drawn to it. They just forgot the name. Interesting. Why blue devils? Like, who's like the first guy? Like, you know what? Ooh, interesting. Devils like it, but hey, let's go.

Blue devil. Wow. Trevor. Fantastic. Is it? Yes. Weird. Like, was Red Devil 2 on it?

I don't know. You know? And devil. And Devil, by the way, just like that as your moniker. What up, Duke? I wouldn't start there. What up, CCSU? Yeah, I'm with you.

Whoa, this show does get spiritual a lot. Murakami, let's see. Again, we are going to find out this news soon. So let's predict. I think we've kind of come to a conclusion that we're thinking it's one of these teams that offered Swarber a contract that didn't get him. Ooh. Like is that, that's what you're saying, Pirates, Reds, I'm saying brewers have a chance they don't. They're not going to add $25 million. But maybe it doesn't cost that much. We don't know. I don't know, man. Like I, again, we're in the quiet part of the off season that, you know, people are just taking, taken whatever seriously. I don't know. Like, I have no idea if this is going to be a three-year contract or a 70. your contract.

I have no year 60. That's 15 a year. You think he signs for that? If there's nothing else on the table. Dude, we like the people don't know. That, yeah. It's going to be an interesting, do the Mets need a first baseman?

D.H. They're like, it can go so many different directions that I'm fascinated to see. And even the B reporters, they're kind of flying blind on this one. Let's do a my real quick, because unfortunately, I mean, there's a little bit of news, though the reporters are on it that apparently his teams are getting reduced and reduced,

the Yankees, the Cubs, and the Phillies. And yeah, he's got some of those quotes out there, not the Dodgers, which my God, if they drop that, watch out on the internet that day. I guess I don't really know what the update here is, but whatever thoughts you may have, Coach? Not a lot of updates. They're saying he has deals, people ready to pay him

between $150 and $200 million. What I will say about pitchers is you could expect their stuff to translate and you can really put, you can see the picture better than you can see it with hitters. Like, hey, this guy throws this. This is what his fastball looks like. Here's the shape.

Here's where his off speed pitches are, Velo, spin, arm angle, everything, you have all that information, and then you're like, okay, does that play in the big leagues? Oh, okay, it plays in the big leagues. It's easier, I think, for teams to get behind pitchers coming over than hitters. So he is going to have the interest. Do I have this right that they says the fastball looks like Joe Ryan?

You know, Sarah said that? Yeah, that's, you know, I know on this program, that's those are big words i i like the attitude i mean i like everything about the quotes everything about this guy he seems to be very very marketable do that pitch again robb the stuff is filthy philly has just seemed like so fun so fun that that pitch will work in the show i don't know where that was going looks like that guy's fighting show me some more wind of not a ton of funk he's just kind of coming at you. It's like a Walker Bueller type of situation. Oh, okay, I see what you're saying. Instead of bringing it up and out a little more, he kind of keeps it in, but yeah.

It's funny, it's weird to say that. I mean, it's more of an American delivery than I think we're used to from Japanese pitchers, which is another beautiful part of our sport is like, there are like regional ways to do things. It's like awesome. That looks more like Walker Bueller. It'd be cool if it was more regional, like if you saw it and you're like, oh, it must be from Iowa, huh? That'd be cool from the south Let's work on that Well there's like California

Like you know It's flat bill D bags Oh I was one of them We were one of them Yeah Yeah the flat bill

And my little Peckerhead did not work Oh I know And then like the guys From like You know Oh the hat The hair in front of the hat

Yeah What's up with like Like why Hey guys don't do that Yeah Where is that That's like Georgia Isn't it

The South maybe Feels it Feels it. God. I barely look bad right now. That's a my. Yeah, I mean, he's going to get one of the biggest contracts this offseason. And he's starting to get linked to the big teams that that's, again, no salary cap.

But I know the Yankees being linked to this, like they have been operating on a budget of sorts below kind of that Cohen tax. Yeah, if they go for him, does that change their belly? Like, a lot of people still think Tucker, even though my, scouting ability on the Yankees as an organization. I don't think they're in on Kyle Tucker at all. But they are going to get a starting pitcher. It's just, is it of a mice quality? Now, I also think some of these teams are waiting for, like,

scoble to be traded, which is interesting. I have a segue into scoves just a little bit real quick. You know, your guy that you think is less valuable than Peralta. But if your scobs and, your free agency lands upon a potential work stoppage. Does that not make you inclined to signing an extension with a team that you get traded to if you feel good there? Wouldn't you want to lock in the dough? Because I'm not saying this is going to happen.

But there is, you know, there's a chance that there's a work stoppage. There's a chance that that things look completely different as far as money goes. after the offseason of 2026. Maybe teams really tighten up their spending. Do you want to take that chance? You're on top of the world right now. You went to Seattle University. Nobody wanted you.

And now all of a sudden you're back-to-back-side young guy. I would, if I'm him, I say, Scott, I know, I know your M.O. I get it, man. I think this is a different type of situation here, different timeline. if I like where I go I truly think he is going to get traded if I like where I go let's explore that extension

let's see if we can get to where I want to get to wouldn't you do that because you could take a insurance policy out that's health related that's not CBA related Treve I have some thoughts and I'm going to bring you and me back to a moment in time but it's brought to us by Shopify

Shopify this This bidness John Boy Media was built with Shopify Day one, how the heck do we do any of this? We wanted to get in the merch game online. Shopify was where we wanted to be or they were the best option at the time.

They still are. We're still there. We just relaunched our merch store on Shopify with our new slash line site. It's a dream. We brought the ideas. They brought the execution. So make sure you go check out

our new slash line site holidays. Shopify sidekick. Shopify, Magic and the sweet of AI tools are a game changer. You get the info you need. The analytics people, you know that's what we're about to help your company build up. So if you want to be like us, go check out Shopify.

Start your trial today. Click the link, Shopify.com slash talking. If you're ready to leave the amateurs and head over to the big leagues. Coach Trev, let me bring you back to a moment in time. It's you. It's me. It's the hotel bar. It's that bartender that you've built up a pretty decent rapport with

when we do our warehouse battles in Jersey City. And we said, if you're Vladdy, what does the number have to be to sign on the line? And I think you and I were like, I think around $400 or $500 million to not hit free agency. He ended up a couple weeks later signing for five. If you're scoble, what does that number have to be to do that?

Because that sounds all nice and good, but is he going to beat the biggest pitcher contract ever? right? Does he care? That's where I start to think. Yes, he cares. No, I don't think he cares. I think his agent cares.

Right. Coach. Who represents him. But has a fiduciary duty to present all, that's a nice word. To present every single proposal. So I don't know, man. I'm not telling school to do this. This is not financial advice.

but if it was me and someone throws a four in front of that number, I feel pretty good about where I'm at. I feel pretty good about that. I guess it... Give me, give me some opt-outs. Obviously, I'm going to get a no-trade, all these things. You're going to have the leverage to do that. So I'm just saying it's...

I've started to believe the team that trades for him has a real shot of signing him before. the honesty. That's all, that's kind of like where my head is at. It wasn't, I wouldn't have said that, but I started to think about the uncertainty of it all. It was interesting in, in the replies

of those conversations, the people that were actually having conversations and not, you guys are with MLB and have these kind of opinions? That people were like, an interesting side to the Peralta part of it is also could you get an extension done with him? He hasn't necessarily cleaned up yet.

I mean, again, baseball money. He's making eight, million this year. That's the whole thing. They're like, you know, could you get the pre-extension done and do the trade? And does that make you feel better instead of having the one year? And I guess you can apply that to Scoobel too. I guess for me, that just gets, for all the fears you just talked about, CBA and whatever. Like Freddie Peralta, if you can get that contract done, whatever that looks like, Scoobel, I just think, Trev, from the player's side, which you know that's where I come from,

scoble can break the biggest pitching contract ever and I feel like that's if it's not that then I don't think he can sign it which that's the biggest contract ever it's Yamamoto right um no did someone is it technically cold I think it's kohl or yamamoto depending how you measure it we're not saying AAV because verlander got or shurser got 41 or 43 or something like that right yes so we're talking total dollars. Total dollars. Dalt's turning the screen. Yamamoto 12 for 325,

Kohl, 9 for 324. Okay, great. I mean, so he doesn't even need a 4 to break it. What are we doing here, that, coach? Okay, that's what I'm saying. I'm just saying. Then if it's 325 or up, yeah, sign it. Coach, I'm using my big brain. Okay.

Did you say we don't give financial advice on this show? Because we do. Just talking. Silver. This is what the show is called, talking ball. Are we changed the name talking ball? Maybe you get into any sport.

I don't think we are. Just let that marinate a little bit, okay? That's all I'm saying. Awesome. According to Joel Sherman, the Mets are working toward trying to finalize a deal with free agent reliever Luke Weaver. The deal will be two years for $22 million pending physical.

Yeah, that's what the Mets do. Weird. Is that? That's what the Mets do. Is it like, do they think that's like a little jab to the yanks every time they do that? I think it's like, wait, you're willing to play here? No, I don't know. It's probably easy for the players because they don't have to like move.

Nobody stays there year round, though. A couple guys, Rizzo's kind of stayed involved in the city. He keeps showing up at Rangers games. That is correct. He did choose to retire. Oh, well, I don't know. Let's see. Let's see what this Pirates offseason develops into. But yeah, I mean, that's just the Met, Clay Holmes, Devin Williams, Luke Weaver. Cody Bellinger. Don't say Cody Bellinger. Don't say Cody Bellinger.

Cody Bellinger. Juan Soto? Who's Curtis Anderson? Dude, the Juan Soto deal is freaking insane. Yeah, it really is. People don't talk about the Juan Soto deal enough. They just think my show hayes deal, which is like an absolute steel, Juan Soto's $805 million deal. It's crazy. That's a lot of money. That's a lot of positive with no deferrals, right? Am I right about that? No need, pal. Um, yeah, no, that soda deal is pretty crazy. Is Steve Cohen in on the SpaceX IPO? I've been getting, I wish I was. I've been getting a lot of those Instagrams, like, look how good of an investor Kevin Durant is. Look how good of an investor Google is. It's like, yeah, you guys are right. They know what they're doing.

Dude, I'm telling you, like, I know some of these people that are in those circles. First of all, obviously, you have to have a lot of disposable income. You know, because, you know, you're doing startups and stuff like that. But once you're in, you're in and you can make so much money. So much money. my buddy knew Nause he knew Nause's manager and through Nause

because people want to be involved with him he got in on CoinBases like series whatever around they IPOed all of a sudden he's rich just because he knew somebody right he's smart guy obviously

I need to know more people yeah I mean I'm just going to type I'm just going to type Kevin Duran into my Instagram page to see if that thing comes up It was pretty crazy. I mean, it was impressive. And, like, shout out to KD. And I was like, how rich is Kevin Durant?

Also very good at basketball. So skinny. So skinny. Okay. Katie's investment. Track record is elite. Here we go, people. Offseason's here.

Ooh, a little music in the background. 3.30. What you need. What you need? I can hear it. 36X return in Wop. Okay? Huh?

Yeah. Robin Hood, 21X return in 2018. Bang, Bobby's on it. Acorns. We're investing in investing. This is all like fintech, dude.

DK, shout out. Where are we at? Can he do that? Coinbase. Postmates. Overtime, ad. Happy for Katie. Okay.

So we got the Luke Weaver breaking news. So Mets have their eighth and ninth inning, and it looks a lot like the Yankees, eighth and ninth inning from last year. One day, they'd be like, Trevor Plouffe, what an investment he made in John Boy Media back in 2019. Yeah. One day.

Jake Storelli's single silver stock, now that there's no more on the planet. We've run out. The aliens took it. Okay, we ended up in the deep end, people. Sometimes that happens on this show. If you like it, leave a comment. Okay, so we did that.

We did, let's do something real that happened. Okay. If you're okay with that. A shout out to Okamoto. He's the wild, even more of a wild card, a Japanese player. Some people are saying it's a safer bet because his contact ability is very impressive. Same amount as walks. His strikeouts, Trev.

We know you love that. Ageed up. He's 30 years old. So the age thing is, age formula is a little different for him. And position-wise, it's funky that people say he play the corner outfield and corner infield. That for us, it's so funny in baseball scouting that he could become one of the most valued pieces in baseball. If he can play the corners of both with a righty contact bat, or does he not have a position and he can't hit?

What is this sport? Excited to see where Okamoto lands. I want him to end up, if he signs on a good team, it's going to be like, like, ooh, this guy's going to be a fun piece. I like that. I want to go and reiterate how right-handed power bats are like not around anymore. Right. Or like at least available.

So like the whole thing before was like, get your kids. They got a bad lefty. I don't know, man. Lefties out there now. Interesting. Yeah. Too many lefties. Teddy ballgame is his first homer.

Let's go something that happened. A player signed for $20 million to play a premier position on what's supposed to be a premier team. Hassan Kim. Remember the San Diego, Southern California, chanting that throughout the stadium. He returns to the Braves after copping over there, opting out. The Braves kind of not being happy about it. One year, $20 million. Anthopolis, they're hoping that it turns into more of a long-term thing,

came over there, had a little bit of a hit streak, and then finished the season on a bad note, dealt with a ton of injuries, so he only played 48 games. Torne Labrum, which hitting-wise, that's really tough, and then jumping back on kind of the moving train of the season. And Trev, we kind of just talked about this, and I thought they might be a sneaky Beset team. Instead, they kind of get their glove first guy with an offensive potential

to keep the train going. Yeah, I think that he's a guy, yeah, exactly, past the baton type offensive player. I like, you know I love a Ha-son Kim. First and foremost, it's shortstop and maybe people have like gotten away from this. You got to be able to field the ball.

He can do that. I know the arm strength has kind of gone down, but I would chalk that up to obviously the injuries. Give him a full clean off season. Let's see where he comes back at. And you know what? Declines the $16 million player option. Gets four more from his team.

The interesting thing was the A is being in on that, which I thought what a great tandem that would have been. Like you move him over to second base. You got Jacob Wilson and him. Maybe Jacob Wilson ends up going to second base if that doesn't work out. So I like that for the A's. I like the move. Four years 48 probably wasn't going to get the job done when you have a $20 million offer in front of you.

So good for the Braves. I talked about them with Rosie. They're like going to be right back in contention in 2026. They have all the pieces. They've got a really nice back end of the bullpen now. They bought Bobby Swares over there with Rysel. A couple other guys there, two, they can get the job done. The starting rotation is going to be healthy for the first time.

That was a big thing last year, was they were dealing with a lot of guys coming back from injury or they got injured during the year. It would be really nice to get Spencer Strider kind of going back to where he needs to be. But if you just think last year offensively for some of these players was just a bad year and almost like a contagious type of bad year, then you can really believe in these 2026 Braves

because those guys do have track records and they have the defense, they have the pitching, they kind of have everything that you need. I don't know what the wind total is going to come out to when we do our TPPs. I think I'm crushing the over on the Braves. I think we're going to undervalue them based on what happened last year.

I really like this house on Kim Mub, but I like their team in general. Yeah, I'll tell you what, the Braves maybe have the case for, First team that could be completely done, and you'd be fine with it. And that's a little bit of what you're saying. A, we love a balanced lineup. And right now, go look at fan graphs.

Like, ProFar Switch, Olson left, Ronnie Wright, Baldwin left, Riley, right, Yaz left, Ozzie Albee's seventh switch hitting. I can get into that. Michael Harris, Deuce. And then Hassan Kim, man, that's with Sean Murphy on the bench. That's with Dubon on the bench is there. band-aid for anything. Like, the Braves could be done.

I think they'd like another starting pitcher just from the standpoint of, we're not far away from Sale having injury concerns. We're not far away from Strider having injury concerns. Rinaldo Lopez, that you'd like to see them get one more starting pitcher, but also if you rolled this team out there tomorrow. And yeah, it's going to be very interested. I know, I know we're not necessarily always a Vegas program,

but shout out to draft kings. how are they going to measure what was the favorite Atlanta Braves versus the returning Phillies who won 96, the Mets who fell apart down the stretch and let's see where the rest of their offseason lands that, and man, that Robert Suarez and the bullpen Braves having a nice offseason without over-extending them or doing the Bo Bichette-type move that I was kind of daydreaming

or Dylan Cese even. There's a video out there of Ronald Lacunae Jr. you're doing, what do you call that? Where they go, they just jump and touch the, as high as they can. Just like your vert test, like a vert test. Yeah. Bob, please find that. This is incredible, dude.

You know, he's had knee problems. And this guy was, it's, it's wild. Yeah. He's a freak, dude. He's different. Yeah. He's entirely different. I want to say it was on his Instagram.

I don't know. Hassan Kim, have a year. Go get a crazy payday. because if you're a shortstop, my goodness. I mean, last year went almost as bad as it could for Hassan Kim. He opted out of, what was it, $17 million, and he got $20. 16, got $20. Teddy, take some ground balls, kid.

He's doing it. He wants to practice today after school. I know. I'm proud of them every day. Let's see. We've got a few. Well, we've got the big rumor and then a few more signings. Brad Keller and Luke Weaver.

live today. Give me the Mikel Garcia. Oh, you want the extension. Yeah, I want to just talk real quick about them, that's all. I got a chance to sit down and talk with them before a game. Nice. A little inside. Well, I'll tell you, this part is brought you by Factor. Michael Garcia, going to be a big factor on the left side of the infield for Kansas City. And Factor can be a huge part of your life. People, the real. I'll go off script a little bit. Two minutes.

ready to go. So if you are go, go, go, or you're trying to figure out a new lunch plan or you're trying to get your life a little more in order, factors where you want to go. They've become a big part of our office here. John Bino is big time in the factor game. Because if you're just busy and you need something,

it might be a factor day for me. They've got you covered. And they have all sorts of different kind of meals and whatever you're looking for. So go eat smart at factor meals.com slash talking 50 off. Use code talking 50 off to get 50% off your first box plus free breakfast for one year. That's code talking 50 off at factor meals.com 50% off your first box. Free breakfast for one year. Delicious ready to eat meals with Factor. Offer only valid for new Factor customers

with code and qualifying auto renewing subscription purchase. Tref, you and Mike L. Well, I mean, I'm just happy for the guy. Sure. You know, a guy that has a high floor, because of the things he can do on the basis, what he's been able to really turn into with the glove. He's phenomenal, won his first gold glove at third base. Wasn't sure, like, kind of like what position he was going to play. I believe he came up as a shortstop.

Then you got Bobby Witt coming over. You got Jonathan India coming over. Like, you know, there's a lot of uncertainty. You know, the bat wasn't there, 23, 24. There were some good things about it. Contact rate. these things were good. Power wasn't there.

OPS wasn't there. So it's hard to plug a guy in at third base if he's not given you kind of that, at least any sort of offensive profile. So I think he had a procedure done on his thumb in the off season. It was the first time he didn't play in the Winter League. So he got to spend time just kind of like beefing up, like getting strong. And he came back. So he's able to do that and then kind of like just work on the mechanics.

of his swing. So as me and Corey Provost, we were there in Kansas City, and he obviously had a great year last year. We wanted to talk to him about, like, kind of like what his mindset was. And he, you know, in spring training, there was talks about him making this adjustment,

and that happens to a lot of guys. I found this in the off season. Is it going to work? A lot of times it doesn't. But he basically got rid of like, not a huge leg lift, but he got rid of the leg lift, more of a toe tap. And he said, I just I felt like I was going towards the ball too much.

And so like the swing decisions aren't there. And if with the toe tap, what he's doing now, he can kind of like let the ball come to him. So he's behind the ball more. And with that ability, you can pull the ball the right way and you're going to inevitably slug a little bit more because of it. So a guy that, again, like last year just wasn't really great for him at all. like the glove, like the offensive metrics, like we're down as well.

In previous years, they were big. So healthy comes back, returns as a base dealer, as a defensive threat, but also a huge offensive jump. And so, like, he deserves every bit of this extension. Like, he's a stub. Like him and Bobbywood Jr. at shortstop and third base have an argument for one of the best tandems in all of the big leagues. They are so, so fun to watch.

I'm talking real deal defensive prowess. I do not hit the ball to the left side of the infield in Kansas City, plus the offense for him is now there. So just a cool story of a guy who was going through some things, I think, and then had a good offseason, put it into play, made a physical adjustment. That's what I was talking about with Murakami. Like, you can make adjustments and things can change for you. He did it, and it really panned out.

So shout up Michael Garcia. Like, that's a cool story. Yeah, and I mean, hey, man, if you're a person that watches your team every day, you watch Michael Garcia for two years beyond the struggle bus. Like, if you start doing hitters, they got that many at bats, he was the low man or close to the low man on the totem pole, for him to have that year last year. I mean, almost a six B-war season, but let's say that is who he is.

or who knows if there's more in there that I think one of the episodes you were out, I turned my head talking to brother Jeff Passon because he was like he's like Kansas City set up for years he's like when you have a player like Bobby Witt who you can bank on

giving you like seven war which is insane and then you start getting anything around that with where their pitching has been as a team that if you add Michael Garcia to that formula and it's going to be a big year for him like let's Let's be honest.

Like we've seen guys have a crazy year and then baseball bounce back or whatever it is. If this is him or this is kind of the version of him, with that on the left side of your infielder, big salvi, our guy, Pasquatch, the pitching staff, like the royals can become real and they can be real for five years or so, which baseball doesn't work like that, but also just the concept of when you watch our a royals game for the next half a decade, you should pretty much know who's on the left side of the infield, and that doesn't happen either. Yeah, and Pascontino will sign an extension there too. They'll shore up their almost entire infield there. He will. I mean, they want him to. Is it up to him? I don't know. Jake, with the inside information, you heard it here first.

I just, I'd just like to see him in, I don't know, a big city with a short porch. What? Oh, what, you want to, uh, why don't they trade him to the broo? You're disgusting, dude. He's Italian. You're disgusting. He likes barbecue. With the Michael Garcia, the adjustment makes sense

because he already has elites, like he doesn't chase. He has a great bat to ball. So really it's like swing decisions and then like the ability to stay through a ball and like, you know, kind of like have all the swings. And I was reading an article about him and his hitting coach is talking about like he's so flat through the zone okay so that's like

awesome because that means when you're flat through the zones you can through the zone you can allow the ball to travel deeper because if you're getting the barrel in behind you and staying through then you have this big window of where you can still get the barrel to the ball if you're beat you can shoot the ball to right field if you're right on time probably left center if you're a little out in front you can still drive it to left to keep it fair it's all about having that flat kind of good path through the zone. So we had that already. Now it's about like, instead of going like this with your shoulder and that kind of, you know, getting out where that can, that kind of will take you in and out of the zone quicker. If you're able to like let the ball travel

to you and your state a little bit more center, it allows that path to work. And that's kind of what we saw this year from him. So just, I think this is a steal of a deal. You know, and it's pre-arb. I think this was this first year of ARB, so they bought out two free agent years is essentially what this is. But I think at a great rate, you're going to get him for his entire prime at a locked, fixed rate. And I mean, good for the Royals and good for Mikel. Yeah, I think kind of some of the conversations we had before, whether it's Murakami or Okamoto, like if you're one of these other market teams, like, hey, they, Mikel Garcia, who watched himself play tough baseball for a couple years, had the season happen that he sees a chance to get secure

a bag for life. Like, this is life changing money. This is, you start investing like our guy, KD, you're good. And yeah, for the royals, they take their chance because if he's a stud, this turns into like a Jose Ramirez situation or Cattel Marte, like one of those contracts we're looking at like, wow, like the team did awesome there. this is one of the best contracts in the sport. They take a chance on it and why not?

And everything across the board, whether it's the speed, his power trending up, the strikeouts going down, clears the board. Defensively, yes. What I like about this, too, because I was just about to say, like, do the Royals even want him to hit for more power?

Because then that kind of might take away from some range, if you put on some weights, maybe, like, the bags go down. But he did, like, kind of beef up a, little bit this year. But the sprint speed has never been elite. So that just means he's a good base runner. So I'm all in. Like put a few more pounds on and go for it. Yeah. Let's, you know, you went from 7 to 16. Let's go 16 to 21. Blackjack. Um, I'm glad you talked with him. That's nice. It was great. He was so cool, man. You know, sometimes you got to go do that because you hear

stuff and you just want to go talk to the guys before the games before you get on the broadcast, especially where the twins were at. We're like, we're not really talking a lot of twins. right now. Why not? Well, they blew up their entire team, Jake. Although we're back. Limited partners announced today, debt erased. The twins' debt is gone.

They still are, computers are still bullish on the twins, 80 wins. That's bullish, huh? You only need three more to get into the playoffs. So go sign someone. Sign Merkami. Let's see. Let's do this Bregman rumor. And then we could chip away those pitchers pretty quickly.

Oh, my God, a ghost. Bregman, we had our first real mystery team of the offseason, a real treat. And it was Dalton's Diamondbacks that he's been walking a little taller today. That Bregman and the D-backs get connected. The Diamondbacks are kind of in that bucket of medium to bigger market teams that we're wondering how they were going to treat their offseason. There's now Bregman rumors. they had the big move last year that they brought in Corbyn Burns,

and we found out that there was some Arizona and lifestyle stuff there, which supposedly part of Bregman is tied into that. That we, I don't know. It's going to be interesting to see if that starts becoming a thing within the Arizona Diamondbacks that, like, I don't know, even Merrill Kelly's signing. There are some glimpses of like, I think he kind of wants to stay in Arizona, a sun devil, maybe part of the org, that like, I don't, is this a part of Diamondbacks baseball now?

It should be. I mean, it's one of the, it's one of the advantages that they have. But that should also work in Florida, too, for being honest. Like, Tampa area, the raise, zero state income tax there. Like, that should really work to their advantage. It really hasn't yet. Arizona, same thing. I believe it's like a 4% state income tax,

which a lot of guys move there for the offseason. You know, and there's a lot of guys you can work out with there. It's a big group of guys that always live there, even if they don't play for the Diamondbacks. So like there's always guys to work out with. We're seeing right now Matt Chapman and Alex Grebin working out pretty much every day together, which is like gets me excited. Yeah, I mean, whoa.

Yeah. I told Matt Chavin, why aren't you playing third base? He goes, I will if they ask me. That's what our country needs. I will do it. He said, I think it might be Bregman. I said, your sex appeals off the charts compared to Bregman's. He said, you're right about that. You probably did say that.

I said those exact words. Did he reply that? Because that's not the Matt Chapman, I've gotten, but I don't know him as well as you. You don't know. I don't know. Okay. That's fine. He's probably, what is this weirdo?

No. He just said it. Thanks. Yeah. Yeah, look, I, I, I'm interested in this and Dalton has like some points because in my mind I'm like okay

if you sign Alex Bregman why would you trade Catea Tatea? If you're signing Alex Bregman you're like saying let's go like let's go get this shit let's go do it why would you get rid of Catel Marte because parts in parts out I don't know if you're winning right there like Intel Marte is a freaking boss

right now Dalton's point is what you get back for Cotel Marte plus Bregman okay but I just I still think, unless you're getting like, you know, some really top of the line starting pitching, I think Marte Bregman makes you a better team than... Obviously, but like I think it is interesting and it's the unknown that, okay, let's say this Breggman thing goes down, which, hey, this is a rumor mystery team.

We're here, people. We're an hour deep into this episode. I will give a shout out to our guy, Carabas, who, like, I think is really close to Breggman. He keeps saying, like, this is like more than just a rumor. out there. If this had happened before Corbyn Burns, we probably would have like, I don't, I don't want to say scoffed at it, but we would have been like, okay, like, yeah. He's got two kids now, doesn't he? Like, this is a thing. It's like, he's in Arizona. It's like

everything you said that, and, hey, the snakes went to the World Series in 23. There's still a lot of pieces there. I just, I do, I guess in my head, hey, it would be awesome if their owner, Ken Kendrick. Ken Kendrick? that's why I got tripped up on it because I mean, come on, simulation for, good simulation for Ken Kendrick. Sounds like a NASCAR driver.

Yes. Hey, if Ken's like, hey, we got money, let's go do it. Yeah, I mean, that infield is so much fun.

I do think in my head, if this is part of their plan, that it's Bregman in, Ketel out, we get a young pitcher and a young position player. And that who knows where they're from the Mets?

We keep saying the Mets, but they have so many infielders. That's not the Mets. That's where the Red Sox are really funny. Like they've been the number one linked team that... Who do they send over as a pitcher? Do you get a Marcelo Meyer and... Connolly Early. Connolly early.

Not Connolly late. And then Peyton O'Toole. Yeah. But again, now we're just making fake trades. But I don't know. I guess depending where the Ketel-Martay situation is actually at. The fact that in a way he's at peak value

is like the top dog second baseman, that extension did just start. They're like, if they're on a sour note, this is the time to like cut it off. Because you don't want... Ordo Perdomo could tell Marte, Alex Bregman.

I'm with you. Corby. Luis de Rize at first base. Just throwing everything else out. Murakami, first base. Cheapy. Cheapy. That was my, I think they were my first sneaky Murakami team.

I was like West Coast, what's a wild card team? What's up was Zach Gallen? Free agent. There was that first Cubs. Bob Nightingale said he signed and then pass and said, no, he didn't. Yeah, I know that. But like, what's up with it? I guess for me, seeing those.

Stylish son of a gun, Zat Gowan. Seeing those early cubby rumors makes me think he's going to, there's a team that looks at who Zach Gallin is and says we can find to this to Cy Young level, Zach Gallen again. I don't think Zach Gallin's too different from Jake Gerietta. And you know what Jake Garriette did for the Cubs. Yeah, well, he's outpitched,

I think if you compared their current careers, I think he's outpitched Arieta. Areeta took a little bit to blossom where Gallin's already... He was filthy with the Cubs, though. He was so gross. He was unbelievable. What year was that? I was 16?

Like when they went to, when they won it? There was somebody, yeah. There was somebody on a stretch this year that I remember tweeting out. I was like, this is one of the most, this might be the most dominant run of pitching we've seen. It was 15. He won the Salli Young. 177.

Yeah. He had a stretch there that was nuts. I forget what pitcher was going. 29 innings coach. There was a pitcher that was going nuts this year. Dahl thinks he has it. Hafton? Cade Horton.

Horton hears a who. And so all the Cubs fans were like, actually, we saw Arieta do this for another like three weeks. And it's like, wow. Jake Arieta played Faldi with him. He spoke zero words ever. So I just thought he was like a quiet guy. Yeah.

Did I get traded over to the Phillies? Basically, like, takes me under his wing because he's rich, rich. One of my favorite teammates I've ever had. and like talked a lot. Like the exact opposite of what I thought. So shout out Jake Gerietta. Great guy. Shout out to Jake Garietta, a great guy.

A great American. You would love him. You guys had a couple times, right? Oh. When's the last time you talked to him? Send the text. It's the holidays. I think I congratulate.

The last time I actually talked to him, like, like on the, like texted. I think I congratulated him because he took over like, I think Barstool's baseball show. Oh, I remember that. Yeah.

What's in his basement? I said, I think I said like, hey, if you like need any like help or like want to talk about it, like, oh, what's up? And he's like, thanks, man. I don't think he does it anymore though. What's in his basement? Oh, I told you.

I think I'm not making this up. It sounds like I'm making it up. He was in, he was into like shipwrecked spirit. You did tell me this. Like stuff that was like literally On the bottom of the ocean.

Does he drink it? I don't, I think so. He's also like into working out Like that's he, I think he has a gym in his basement. Yeah. I remember how ripped he was as a pitcher. I was like, does that work?

It worked. We've been putting a bunch of clips out of him because he's doing the home run derby X and Swilly's got an interview with him. but all-timer, man. Like, seriously, what a great guy. Trev, let's crank through a hair, Swilly and Arietta.

Let's crank through some of these final moves, a couple relievers, Howser. Talk a dolly? That was kind of live. It's all brought to you by Draft King's people. The holiday football season is here. That's one of the fun ones.

And with our friends at the Draft King's Sportsbook, the official sports betting partner of the NFL, you can turn game day into a payday. Wow. Draft Kings has your back with early exit. If one of your players goes down in the first half, you still get paid in cash. That's nice. And new customers bet just $5. If your bet wins, you'll get $200 in bonus bets instantly. Download the Draft King Sportsville Gap. Use code Jam Baseball. That's code jam baseball, bet five bucks and get $200 in bonus bets if your bet wins instantly. In partnership with Draft Kings, the crown is yours.

Gambling problem, call 1-800 gambler. In New York, call 8778-8-8-Hop-N-Y or text Hope-N-Y 467-369-369. In Connecticut, help is available for problem gambling called 888-7-7. Or visit ccpcpg. Please play responsibly. On behalf of Boodhill Casino-in Resort in Kansas, pass-through of per-wager tax may apply in Illinois. Twenty-one and over. Age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction, void in Ontario. Restrictions apply. Bet must win to receive bonus bets which expire in seven days. Minimum odds required. Four additional terms and responsible gaming resources, see DKM. G.com slash audio. Limited time offer. Okay, I guess Coach Strut, I think all of these contracts are the same. Adrian Houser, two for 22 with the Giants. Brad Keller, two for 22 with the Phillies. Luke Weaver happening live,

two for 22 with the Mets. Don't say the C word. Don't say that C word. I mean, it's pretty interesting. Not the British one either. Oh, here's what we think. pictures are worth. It's interesting.

That was a robot voice typing a computer. That was good. The acting was really good for those not on the YouTube. That was really good. Which one do you care the most about? All the same. Now you're just as bad as them. Yeah.

I guess... I like the back-end bullpen stuff of Brad Keller. Like, he had some really nice moments last. year. Like, he's kind of got the stuff. Adrian Howser, a great starter for the Brewers for a while. Like, kind of seems like a giant's starting pitcher right now. Like, kind of four or five guy, a little bit of innings type stuff. Okay, I dig that.

Luke Weaver is more your guy than mine. Yeah, I mean, if I'm Hauser, I wish I waited a couple days just because he threw 125 innings last year at a 3-3 clip. Again, I know you get paid for what you have upcoming, but he, innings matter to me, and he's at least stretched out and has that ability for a team. Just seems like a, you know, groundball guy. Perfect. San Francisco.

Bam. Nailed it. Bang. Maddie Chapman. Yeah. Willie, get it ready. Merkami over. No.

Devers. I think they're good. Yeah, I guess that's the only thing that stands out to me. Dude, when Luke Weaver was right is one of the more, he was like Jimmy's favorite player on the Yankees the past couple years because his pitching and sequencing was just so fun. He clearly ran out of steam, whether injury or other. Yeah, I mean, just fun. Weaver and Williams on the Mets, dial it up.

And then Brad Keller, hey, good for him on the breakout. And that Philly's bullpen. I mean, we've got Duran, we've got Keller, we've got Alvarado, we've got Strom, we've got Kerkering. That's... You know, it is, it's almost that, you know, hour, 10 minutes into this when we start doing team profiles coming up for spring training when it's like, hey, Royals, I like, I like the mix. And then you kind of look at the Phillies and you're like, damn, that's that team. Am I too in the Phillies? It's going to happen, people. I don't know. I just sent you something on IG that just.

Oh, boy. This is, this will not be going up on the program. But it's messed up, dude. It's messed up. I do not like it. God damn it. I, um, you know what? It will be shared. Because Trev,

it's not anything. It's not baseball related. It's not H related. It's, um, it's about the T-Rex. And if it just had a very different body type than we've expected. They're saying like, you know,

all the dinosaurs had feathers. And what if it just, it could have just been a, it just could have, it just could have, It just could have been a fat feathery creature. I will send it to Rob right now. So we can get...

I think a lot of the things we think we know, we don't know. Because, hey, it's late in the episode. We'll be real. And we've talked about it on the show a little bit. Like, sometimes if we see a new ball player that... Like, you wouldn't be as scared if you just saw that big feather fuck running around. With those little ass arms. You wouldn't be as scared.

I think I'd still be a little scared. But yeah, that's not... Is that me in the corner? I think we need to like let's let's we should backtrack on the feathers on dinosaur thing. I think it's ruined. You think it's a lot. You think it's hurting dinosaur branding. Yeah, maybe we don't need the truth about dinosaurs.

I think we kind of nailed it for a while. Like that's tough for T-Rex. I have one cool note. Big T-Rex not going to like that. This is, big T-Rex not going to know. I listen to Ryan Rissill a lot. Shout out. I think he's the best at it.

They do life advice at the end of their show. They get silly and it's a lot of just dude stuff, which I think, you know, that's Elaine We Landen a lot. And they went on a good rant that they were like, hey, you know, it's something that's kind of crazy. In different parts of the world, everywhere, everyone, places that never communicated thought dragons existed. And I was like, whoa, that's pretty crazy.

They got a ton of comments the next episode. and everyone was like, yeah, that's because everyone found dinosaur bones. And I was like, oh, that part makes sense. Yeah. So I don't know. Now get into the pyramid, Jit, because there's three different civilizations that had them. That will be next episode. Thank you, everyone that comes here for your financial and prehistoric research.

Also, dragons are freaking real, bro. And that's the other thing. So, okay, a lot to unpack. On this subject. Jake sucks. A blue devil, Treve, you're going to love this, was named after the courageous

French World War I soldiers Le Dieuble Blue in blue uniforms. Love that. Love that for the French. Your goddamn frogs. Great butter, blue devils. That's about it.

French roots. Apua.