Talkin' Baseball (MLB Podcast) - Tatsuya Imai Signs 3-Year Deal With The Astros!

Episode Date: January 2, 2026

Use our code for 10% off your next SeatGeek order*: https://seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/TALK... Sponsored by SeatGeek. *Restrictions apply. Max $20 discountCoach Trev and Talkin' Jake break down everything about Tatsuya Imai heading to the Houston Astros! 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. Happy New Year. Tatsuya in my as a Houston Astros. Cold stoves out. Welcome to the new year, babe. Let's talk ball. Kodi Senga. Max Muncie of the A's.

Hard ground out. Hard ground out. Look at that A's lineup. Hello. And welcome to 2026. What? The simulation is. broken and you know if you're going to be in a broken sim you might as well be with coach trevor ploof

out on the west coast i am jake story alley out on the east coast rob saraco is producing live from a submarine we think um we're dealing with some some interesting technology so we said screw it let's do it live and trev we didn't have to even do this for the people but we needed to i was sitting at home drinking a cortado which i learned what that was last night it's essentially She just espresso with some milk, okay? Nothing too fancy. And yeah, we see the Tattooier, my deal. And we say, you know what?

It's been a while since we've been on the sticks. Let's get together. Let's party. Let's talk about it. I get to see your new apartment. This is all good, man. I'm excited to talk about you, though. I saw your video on Instagram.

I almost commented, do you ever shut up? But then I stopped myself because it's a new year. I'm going to be nice. That's huge. All year long. The MI video? You're just going to be rude on that. I don't know.

I was like right away. I was like, do you ever shut up? And I deleted it. Leave that energy in 25, pal. Happy New Year, everyone. Glad to be back. We were hoping to kind of be back sooner. But man, it has been all quiet on the Western front.

And that's why we head out east. That was kind of nice, right? Although we're not because of my signs with Houston. But yeah, I guess we should do that because that's the actual news. And then we can just do the current status because there's, I don't know, dude. there's so much that has to happen. Like we're, as, you know, January 20, 26 is here. Soon it's going to be February.

We're going to be looking at spring training. And so many dudes have to sign that, uh, it's a weird off season, bro. I have, I always get such a weird feeling when the calendar flips because I'm enjoying myself being around family. You know, we work hard during the season. So the off season is like a welcome, you know, retreat for us. But as soon as the calendar flips, I feel like spring training is here already. essentially. TPPs are coming up

and then it's back to the grind so I'm actually feeling a little uneasy today about everything but at the same time I love it pop I'm a sicko I'm a sicko for also and honestly this is such a fun landing spot for Tetsuia Mai like I love when the Astros are involved it felt like they were never involved at all last year you know their postseason streak gone

ALCS never it's gone but I feel like this one pitching signing plus a healthy Yordon and some other stuff. I think it brings them back into the fold, which I think is great for baseball. Yeah, I want to do all of it because, man, when you bring up that Houston roster resource page, it's kind of like, what is this?

There's a lot of good, but it's also, it feels like a trade or a big move away, and maybe that's coming, maybe it's not. but what did happen is Tatsuya I'mai. I think his posting window ended tomorrow, so they get it done at the deadline. And the details we have, it's three years with opt-outs each year. And I think it's around $18 million a year with some potential escalators if he stays the three years. If you have more than that, I guess chime in.

That's what I'm currently dealing with. I'm looking at John Heyman saying he can earn up to $3 million per year. by reaching 100 innings. Okay. So yeah. That's done. So I think it'll end up being that that'll be so another nine on top. So 63.

Yeah. Yeah. That was the number I saw. But here's the thing. Like you alluded to earlier on. Like if this guy goes out and balls the first season, I mean, he can opt out instead of getting 21 a year, can probably get 26, 27 a year. Well, that's and that's the other thing.

with this is it's... Oh, no. I've decided I'm going to continue six, seven, but I'm just going to use it for every number that's side by side. Like when someone's like, yeah, I don't know, I had four or five beers. Just do the hand thing. Like I think we can continue

that tastefully as a society. Yes, Trev. Please don't. Okay. Interesting. So when I saw the first tweet that was the second highest AAV for a Japanese pitcher, I was like, damn, because Yamamoto's the guy. and that's the biggest pitching contract we've ever seen,

that I was like, okay, we're talking big boy stuff here. I was a little surprised to see that 18 with the escalators, because as far as starting pitching money goes, it's not crazy? Like, I remember, you know, some of the banged up pitchers when they were hitting free agency were getting around that $20 million, $15 million. So it is interesting, and I feel like sometimes we go corny, like win, win, good for the player, good for the team, team. I love this. This kind of feels like this. It feels like Houston's taking very little risk

for a guy that has, you know, the numbers he put up over there and supposedly the stuff, like the off speed stuff is supposed to be there. The fastball velo-wise is supposed to be in the ballpark. That sits 95 that I don't know. If you don't like the shape, we could change that in one practice. So, and I mean, first time through the league seeing anyone that throws a funky breaking ball and a different pitching style. Nobody hits them. So like for Houston, this feels like the biggest win.

And my, like we just said, these player opt-out deals that are becoming more and more popular. If he hits it right in three seasons, he's going to get a crazy payday. Yeah, this is one of those deals, and we say this a lot too, like your team could have done this deal.

Like literally any team could have done this deal. It's not a ton of exposure because it's a shorter contract. Again, you mentioned the AAVs not, outrageous, especially for a guy that has the potential. So the reward, the risk reward, I think, is highly favorable to Houston. There's no doubt about it. And I understand the opt-out's great for him, too.

But if you look at this from a organizational standpoint, every team needs a starting pitching. Houston definitely needed it. So was their pitch just better than everybody else's? Because I have to imagine, Jake, that there were other teams willing to hand out this contract, this money these years. I believe, right? There's no way that Houston was top dollar here.

Is it, is it, is it the Texas thing, no state taxes? Is it, you know, he came out and said, I don't want to pitch for the Dodgers. And I'll tell you what, biggest rivalry for the Dodgers right now? Like, I get the giants are still there and I know the poddres are lurking, but like the Astros, when they come into town, that's the largest booze you're going to get in L.A. was that a factor I'm I'm very very

and Houston is very international which I don't think a lot of people know didn't you live in Houston or you were Dallas No I lived in Dallas yes Houston is like an international spot so like does that have something to do with it? I'm very curious and I don't know

if we'll ever get the reasoning like hey this is exactly why I picked we'll probably get some sort of cliche you know I believe in the organization they sold me you know that they're going to be competitive this year which honestly can be true. I talked about it earlier.

They didn't have Yoron Alvarez last year in their line. Right. Christian Walker had a down year. Like he could get better. Like there's a lot of things too like. So you bring this guy and, you know, probably going to slot in in the two spot

because Hunter Brown's so damn good. But you have now, you know, maybe possibly a two-headed dragon at the top of the rotation. They're going to have to figure out kind of the back end. What's that look for? The two dragons scene in Starsky and Hutch. Is that Starsky and Hutch?

Yeah, I mean, it's just, it's an all-time, it's an all-time movie scene. Like Lord of the Rings universe, but. Right. No, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's an amazing scene. So that's why I, I flinch when you said two dragons, okay? I know, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. That's on me.

I was ripping right there. You were great. Here's the thing. Okay, look, last year the offense wasn't great, streaky. Issoc Paredes had a great year last year. Jerry Pena had a great year last year. Altuvae, I would say, a down year offensively. What's he going to bring to the mix?

You know, they haven't been left field for a little bit. That's, I don't... Crazy. Crazy. Yordon comes back. Christian Walker has a better year. Janard Dia is still doing a thing. They have potential on the offensive side.

They have a great back end of the bullpen. And now you add the top of the line starter, potentially. And I think you're just right back in the mix of everything. I think you have a chance easily. I mean, what, they missed the playoffs by half a game last year? Ooh. Didn't they lose the tiebreaker? My crazy. Memory check here. Houston finished with 87 wins. They were three back of them. Detroit got in with 87. Yes, that's right. That whole like everyone just limping down the stretch. Wow.

So with, even with like a new yord on, they just barely missed the playoffs. I'm fully This could be another team to take advantage of when it comes to our TVP over-unders. I'm curious to see what their number comes out is, but I'll be hitting the over on it, I'm pretty sure. And like we say with every team still, because there are big free agents out there. And I think because there's still big free agents out there, I feel like the trade market hasn't gone. So, like, Trev, we might have to like work coming up, which, again, sometimes that's our specialty. Sometimes it's not.

Been a couple nice weeks, like if we're being real. I missed it, dude. Too many kids have running around this damn house. Hey, let's be honest. There's a reason we hopped on the mics. It's fucking, oh, a little cursed. It's New Year's Day. You, me and Bob in the group chat, we're like, fire me up.

Didn't hear from Dalt, is he probably riding it out right now? He's probably out one of these college football playoff games or something. Yeah. I mean, it's us versus Oregon and Texas Tech right now. Who's going to win? Us. It's us. It's us.

I guess I want to close off the Amai loop just because, because the Houston part of this is really fun. Like, Karea is back in Houston. I forgot that just happened last year. I know. Like, that's real,

like the amount of right-handed hitters they have that are really good. I'll say this. They have more better right-handed hitters than the other team. Make that a graphic, socials team. Get off your butts. New Year's is done. But,

A, they don't have like lefties outside of one of the best lefty hitters ever. And now the rotation is, is just super interesting. But Amai, and I, again, sometimes we forget because we're sowing the weeds. If you don't know, like, Amai was the dude last year. He hit a 192 ERA, more strikeouts than innings pitch the last couple seasons. He's 27 years old.

He turns 28 to May. So that's where the formula here is really interesting because I don't know. He was, he kind of has the profile. I guess, honestly, second to Yamamoto coming up. over, and that's what the money Aav-wise would tell you. But with the years involved, the contract stuff is interesting, Trev, because did every other team offer this? Or did he go to Houston because they offered the opt-outs? Like, was he getting four or five-year offers from teams at a similar number, but without the opt-outs? Because

how did this happen? And, you know, I like to quote one of my favorite poets. You know, more poetry in 2026. Joe's McFly. He posted. posted on social media and he said, doing a selfie video, he goes, if you're wondering why the Yankees haven't done this, that's a good thing to be wondering. Because the price for a starting pitcher that, again, like, the risk of a lot of these pitchers coming over seems to be a lot lower than it used to be that from what we've seen from a my. And then the interesting thing is, how do we still view Houston? because Trev, that was kind of wild what you just did. Like, they had the injury bug last year and they missed the playoffs by a day? Like, how differently would we be speaking about Houston that now, like, if they brought in a Mai two years ago,

we would be like, he would be in our Sa Young draft. I just looked up the population of Japanese people in Houston. Okay. Not a lot. 3,000. Okay. I was wondering, you know. Sure.

Scott Boris is his agent, I believe. I think I'm right on that. So I wonder, I just, I would love to be behind the scenes. What was the decision? Like, what made him go there? I'm not saying it's a bad decision whatsoever. In fact, I certainly like it. But, you know, when you are a free agent, you have options, usually.

I'm assuming he did as well. And then you have to make a decision. Why? I want to know like the real why here. It's kind of fascinating to me. And that is going to be the fun kind of follow-up part of this is everything leaking out. Because I think the Cubs were rumored. You know, again, every team needs starting pitching.

And we always, you know, business guys, although did you see what happened to my silver stock? Silver's going nuts. No, dude. Oh, it went down? The other way. Yes. Disaster. Like the last day of the year, it went down?

Yes. Literally, yes. I know. I know. So we are reeling. And that's going to be, I guess that's going to be the interesting part. Did anyone get just turned down? Like, did teams offer more money?

Or was it all in the same ballpark? Like, I don't want to start throwing the C word out there to start the new year. But remember that day when there was three pitchers that all signed for $11 million? Like, was am I getting the same contract offer from four teams? and he did go to the state with no income tax or the opt-outs. I'm very interested to see the follow-up process because that could be a very interesting. If he has a 2-5 ERA at mid-season and you're like, wait, anyone could have got this cat? Especially, and maybe this isn't fair, but like the first time through with Tatsuya and I,

like, hey, maybe he takes a couple, you know, we always hear the baseball is a little different. Or even Yamamoto, his first start, which was overseas, ironically, that was bad. Everything else was amazing. So, like, I, dude, I'm a Mnaga was supposed to be like, I don't know if he's going to be a four, four, five starter. He's shoved for a year and a half. So, like, I'm, and I, I mean, I guess let me know if I'm wrong. But am I feels more highly touted than Imanaga, at least. Yeah.

I think the, the age of strikeout numbers, everything like that. The ball is larger, just a little bit bigger in the States, not tackified. in America So, you know, the Arsenal is fastball, slider, two best pitches. Those a change-up and a splitter as well. I think that affects the splitter, maybe more than anything, I'd assume. You know, maybe we'll have to ask our guy Trevor May about that he's been on some internet battles as of late. Geez.

I love him on the internet. He's great. We'll do a T2 day. I like him, yeah, me too. But again, you know, we pointed this out a ton. A guy, a pitcher coming over is so much easier to project than a hitter. Because you have all the metrics. You have all the data.

Pitch shape. Okay. Like, this is going to work. He has the Velo to get it done. All these teams that needed pitching, we talked about who, like, the Mets being involved with, like, the Reds, trying to get some of their pitching, like, where the Mets not involved in this, the Padres need starting pitching. Where the Padres not involved.

involved in this. This guy feels like he could have been a giant to me. Like, were they not involved in this? So, um, yeah, I don't know if we'll ever get that answer, coach. And I don't necessarily think we need it because I think Houston's a great fit for him. And it got me fired up when he's signed there. Um, but I'm still intrigued. I, we'll, we'll get some leakings because I do like, I think front offices when they're in the battle, they almost like it as like, tell the media to tell our fans like, hey, we were there. We even had the highest offer, but we didn't get them. You mentioned those San Francisco Giants.

Tyler Maylee? You always get mad when I say Molly. I think it's Mallee. That might be a really... That's what his baseball reference page says. I'm going to go check that again right now. Might be a really nice signing for them, but I'm sorry. Amai's got the sex appeal.

It's Mallee. Nobody ever says that, by the way. Nobody says that. Because I think one year they did. like a Molly thing, but I don't know. You always say Papa Molly, I'm sweating. That's not... Yeah, that was back in my show days.

I've been out of the game there a little bit. Shout out Rez. Let's talk Houston, man, because that is where I think things get really fun because you started laying it out, and I started leaking into it. Pena, Altova, Correa, Paredes, Christian Walker, Yiner Diaz.

those are six guys that I feel like if you saw them at the All-Star game, you're like, yeah, okay, that guy can do that. And then where Houston's always, Yordon and the injuries last year, even when he did play, it wasn't exactly his level. I mean, in 800 OPS. For me, I just think we can get as analytical as we want about baseball, but there's a purity in that the sport was played for hundreds of years that some things need to ring true. Dude, you need lefties or switch hitters. Like, with how many bullpen arms are out there with, I don't care if you're a split-proof hitter.

Like, if you're a righty that comes out of the bullpen and you're better against righties, you still feel better in that matchup or like the pitchability from hitter to hitter. I do get nervous with some of these guys as age. I hate to be age guy, but I, you know, baseball is a long, grindy season with Walker, Altuva, Correa's injury history a little bit. That being said, this is a team you don't want to see on the other side of the field. I need to see

one more arm in the rotation. And I'd love to see a left ear switch hitting bat to break up this lineup. Can Hesu Sanchez take a step forward? Like, great bat speed, the peripherals are never really there, kind of a chase

guy, hasn't really put it together for, well, maybe one year. Like, you know, you have that there. I don't know, man. I look at the names and I say this can be maybe not a top tier offense.

But shit, maybe Yordon could make it that. Just him by himself. He's that good. He's a top three hitter in the game when he's healthy. So, like, you know, I think we had to remember that. He just wasn't there last year. And when he was there, he was

banged up. So a fully healthy Yordan changes everything. I love me some Carlos Correa. Third baseman, Carlos Correa. Right? I don't know what he's got left. You know, I saw him have really good days, and then I saw him have some really bad days in Minnesota.

So they're intriguing. We talked about it, or at least I did. Like, I think we'll see what we got with, like, Javier. We'll see what we got with McCullors. We'll see, you know, like that's the back end of their rotation. I think the needs to get sorted out. Bullpen, I think can be really, can be great. And then this offense, like,

there's potential there. I agree with you left-handed hitting. A left-handed hitter would be great for them, but also, like, play to your park. I mean, it's a tiny park, dude. Like, down the lines, both sides, tiny. So, like, I get the matchups. I understand that, but I don't think this is as drastic

of a need as maybe other team, would be on a different team. It's, I get that part of it. I guess, you know, when we're talking about Hazu Sanchez as the second lefty in the lineup, I'd, you know, again, it doesn't, have to necessarily be the impact impact guy, but if I could slot someone fifth or six just

to break it up a little more, I don't know, something just inherently baseball-wise feels better about that. And then, yeah, when you look at the rotation right now, A, you have to, Framber is still a free agent. He hasn't been really linked to Houston, but who knows? Again, like, let's see what starts happening with some of these contracts, because we just saw what a my sign for, that if the big contracts aren't out there. Are we going to see a ton of opt-out? I don't know. We haven't seen a big contract in a little bit, but their current rotation sits as Hunter Brown, who broke out last year. Christian Javier, who only had eight starts last year with coming off of injury. Lance McCullors had 13 starts, and he's got an injury history at this point. Now, my slots in in Burroughs, who they got

in that Pittsburgh trade, who I, again, I liked as a sneaky. We're going to look back at that in a couple years and you're like how did they get him? I keep forgetting about that trade. Dude, it's literally, it feels like the pitcher version of William Contreras. It's like, wait, why were they even involved? Um, what, I mean, Cam Smith came and lit the world on fire for like a month, didn't he? And then he didn't. He's 22 years old. I know. That's another righty, by the way. Yeah, like, yeah, Zach Cole came up and played really well for them and he's a lefty. So no, there's a lot of stuff there. I guess when I just look at the rotation, I see Javier with eight starts last year.

McCuller with 13 tough ones. I know Erigetti's still around. Like he's currently listed in AAA. That, again, with every team, you'd love to see another starting pitcher. Maybe Houston still deserves credit there. They've got Blanco, Walter, and Wesniewski on Tommy John, which is just a reminder to everyone, what kind of pitching depth you need to get through a season. I don't know.

I can't have, if I'm Houston or if I'm a Houston fan, I can't. I can't have it land here. And that being said, not to be too greedy. Like, I just need one more thing. I need one more something in the lineup or one more starter. And I'm feeling pretty damn good. I mean, they haven't even, they've committed $18 million this off season. There's clearly more room to spend.

You got, you know, no Kyle Tucker anymore. You know, like there's room there. So Framber, whatever he was making, that's gone. So, like, I think there's room to go. And I agree with you. I think, yeah, you look for some sort of. sort of left-handed hitting, fine. You look for, I mean, another deal like this is,

if you put another guy in the rotation for $18 million, it's a no-brainer. Who's still out there? Besides the big dogs. Zat Gallin's still out there. Like, Zach Gowan's, I think they, offer them the same deal. Offer the same deal.

They probably already have. Not the same. Maybe more A-A-V, but give them the opt-downs, giving the whole thing. Yeah, I guess, okay, let's do a, let's do a little mini run down because this is also, I mean, a refresher for us at this point. Framber Ranger, Chris Bassett. Bassett, great.

I did this whole thing with Chris Rose about like what the Mets should do next. And that was my thing. It was like, hey, you got all these guys kind of like, not saying prove it for Zach Gallen, but like he's not coming out for a great year. So I think there's a discount there. Basset, I think, is undervalued. Definitely a guy that you could slot into the back in your rotation. So there are these guys that are available.

Not to mention, like you talked about, like, is there a reunion with Framber possible? I don't think so. It doesn't seem that way to me, but you never know. Ranger fits in as your left-handed replacement for him. There are so many options left to go. And what are we going to say about the Houston Astros if they go sign one of those guys?

I feel like all aboard, right? Yeah, and I guess that's where I'm at. Like the way you stated at the start, like how close they ended up to being in the mix of things when it kind of didn't feel that way or it doesn't feel that way right now, knowing the injuries they went through Yordaun, Paredes, that, yeah, it feels like they could potentially be a move away. And I guess that's where I just start getting, I mean, as you look at the free agent pitching, because we said, you know, every team could say, still add a starter or two. You know, okay, you add, if JV wants to run it somewhere for a year, you know, you slot that in for what it is. Nick Martinez, all right, he could fire off a season for you.

Zach Lattell threw a ton of innings last year. Like, it starts getting, for the amount of teams that need pitching, you start running out of arms. Ted Tzu, you and I on baseball, or she's on trade rumors. They had a big free agent, you know, I'm looking at who's left, basically. they projected six years 150. So the market is, that's, that's, Trev, I think the other conversation we have to have besides me just yelling that we need more pitching,

great, good analysis there. Dude, free agencies officially hit a weird spot that, you know, between the rumors about, A, it feels like teams operate more worried about financial than the best, product on the field. Slash, okay, let's just do Belly and Tucker. I think teams think you can get 90 to 95% of Kyle Tucker and a given year out of Belly

while committing half the money. So I think teams are looking to flush that out, but Belly's reped by Scott Boris, who currently sounds like he's asking for the moon and good. That's the agent's job, right? Your guy, Scotty B., excuse me. That like, this whole free agency

you know, how much had we talked about, like, okay, is Bichette just a second baseman now? Does that affect his value? Like, the Kyle Tucker thing kind of being the lead dog when, let's just be honest. Like, it's what we've talked about this whole time. He's got this Abe Lincoln M.F. thing going on. Like, the stats and him doesn't necessarily scream 400M Mill, but everything else kind of does that with maybe also the CBA thing,

looming next year, this free agency has hit a full-blown, weird, not fun start from a fan perspective. Dylan Seas gets seven years to 10. So he's making 30 a year. So that's big. Dylan cleaned up. He's the winner of free agency. And that's the Blue Jays coming off of World Series.

You know, they have the ability to spend like that. So they go out and do it. They're not worried about the CBA. But then you got Murakami and you got a mine out, signing for a, a lot less than the projections route there. And you know what projections obviously can be wrong and it could just have totally missed the mark. But pretty much every single article that came out,

every single projection out there for free agency had them making more and for longer. So there's an interesting case there. I do believe the CBA is affecting free agency. Obviously, you know, teams are worried about TD contracts. They're worried about, you know, if there is going to be a work stop. Yeah.

So I, yeah, I mean, is it in a weird space? But maybe is it going to heat up any second, possibly? We just got a pretty big deal on New Year's Day. Yeah, and hey, again, maybe that will be the domino effect that this and it's where people talk. Freaking, freaking Bichette, Framber, Rangers. There's a lot of guys out there that can really, really help ball clubs right now. And that's where, hey, I think there's a discussion. Schwabre did great.

Piedelonzo did great. Scoobel is maybe holding up a lot of things too, the Tigers. Could tell Marte. And that's where, like, I don't know if... They had Murakami eight years 180. He signed two years 34. That's where... Who wrote this article?

I got to talk to you. No, come on. It's where we're going to look... Where we're going to look back in a couple years at this free agency and being like, ooh, that was kind of icky. or like the CBA is getting in the way of baseball decisions that if those guys are dudes like those are two of the biggest value contracts that we've seen in a recent free agency which I feel like I said that about Sanga after he happened like remember when Sanga came over

and it was like oh that's that's all right like with that contract he might not be good sang has had two nasty seasons so I don't know like I guess I think Murakami I think there's definitely a chance for more growing pains where I think Amai, like, he should in theory. Everyone has a chance for growing pains, though. That's the thing, dude. Come on. It's the freaking show. But I guess for a pitcher, like, am I, you know, we talked about the ball.

He's going to come out and do his thing. They're like, I think Amai, as long as he's healthy, should be fine. Murakami, there's a, there's a huge gap of what that could look like. I agree. Yeah, we always say that the metrics are there for a pitcher. The data is there for a pitcher. They can cross-reference a little bit more. I understand that.

What else, Big Dog? I just, my head's kind of a spinning now. Like, I haven't looked at the free agent like Big Boar in 10 to 12 days, and there's still a lot of guys out there. And again, I mentioned scoves and Marte, like, kind of on the trade block. Hazen has said they're not going to, like, do that all off season. So I'm sure he's kind of like maybe fielding some final off. offers. And that, like, just simple stuff like that can be holding up a lot of different teams, you know.

A team that's after Catelle-Marty is probably not going to sign Alex Bregman right now or Bobauchette right now. Because, hey, we could do this. And that contract's a little bit more favorable. So it just takes one. It takes one little domino to fall. And then they all go. And hopefully we get that. Hopefully we get that.

I hate when it kind of runs into spring training. And not only for a fan base's sake, but if you're a player and you don't sign until late in the free agency, it stinks, man. You don't know where you're going to be. It becomes difficult to get housing in spring training. If I only got there once, coach. Sign early, guys.

Just sign early. Treve, I think they want to. I forget, I think it was your guy Gialito was on a podcast, and he was like, it's been quiet. Yeah, he's out there. And again, like, Gialito should be a free agency that I feel like teams should be excited for it. Houston Astro. He has the upside to give you an amazing season.

That, yeah, man, again, the C word, if you don't know, it's late enough in the episode. And our MLB overlords aren't tuning in collusion. That I don't know. I'm obviously not saying that's happening. Dude. What? I thought it was the other C word. Yeah.

Oh. Oh, that's for our British program. Yeah, that's for Peter Moyland. They just let that ride, huh? Yeah. Who cares? Should we not care? All right, then you just say one and we'll go.

Your tongue manipulates. That's it. Now we are talking. Yeah, hey, maybe a Mize one of the dominoes that as he's off the board, the pitching options get limited, that the trade market over. But you're right, dude, like what? again this is

that should be like a Dalton or Rob question because our brains sometimes get lost has what have the biggest trades been oh god you put me on the I know I know I mean well no the the the three team trade

Brandon Lau going to Pittsburgh and bringing over burrows that was a big one um what else happened let's see Wilson Contreras to the Red Sox Wilson Contreras to the Red Sox

Wilson and Treris to the Red Sox That one was completely out of my mind. Love that. I forgot about that. Right. Yeah, I mean, it's been a lot of scuba marty, Freddie Peralta, and there, you know, that hasn't happened. That was fun for you guys. Yeah.

Yeah, I don't want a big market people, but like the Yanks and Mets have to do a lot of work, right? You'd think that, I don't know. I guess I won't do that to people because there's still a lot of action that's got to go down that I, But I just wonder, is it going to, is it going to get ugly, man? Like we should be, like you said, normally around this time, we would be doing like getting, like, how many teams does it feel like we can look at their roster and we're like, let's go? Like, even with Houston, we were just like, you got more right? Like, I feel like we did this with Baltimore. Like Baltimore could run it out there tomorrow and feel really good about where they're at.

They've had a great off season. They've had a great off season. that I just I don't know how many other Obviously the Dodgers could roll that team out there At any point The Braves maybe I remember looking at their lineup And being like okay We're back on the over with the Braves

There's no doubt about that Shane Boz goes to the Orioles The Orioles is a trade Jeff McNeil went to the A's Those are some trades The A's have just such a fun lineup Zero pitching They really do

Um That yeah I guess this is a long ramble for a Where's Gino Suarez going? That was 50 tankers. Like, come on. Yeah, hopefully the dominoes start falling. Maybe we're going to have to be,

maybe we're going to have to start recording a lot of stuff, Coach Treff. If I get to see you. Are we doing New Year's resolutions? Oh, yeah. So maybe you can hold me accountable to this. Like I look pretty good right now. Like body wise. Like I'm fine.

But I'm turning 40, June 15th. Middle, middle, guys. I just always remember that. My resolution, I totally live, I think I'm going to try to get some sort of a workout every single day. And obviously I can't, like, go to the gym every day. That just doesn't work with my schedule, especially during baseball season. But I think I'm going to set like some sort of minimum, like push up, squat,

something, something, you know, ab stuff and try to do it. Because I want to be, it seems so stupid and so cliche, which is fine. I want to look great when I turn 40. Right. It's just going to be a goal. Yeah. Is that okay? Is that okay? Yeah.

I feel like I'm like a pretty nice person. I'm a good husband, good father. So, you know, maybe I'll treat you a little bit better. Okay. Yeah. Our guy coach ballgame. Like, I think he just works out every day. And you know, L.L. Coach Ballgame.

Ladies love coach ball game. Yes, they do. And he's yoked. You know, okay, so here's a thing. Okay. This is why I got inspired, right? two guys so I'm looking at right now I got a little man crush on okay oh maybe three

you got three not you're not in it you're not in it Chris Hemsworth is doing that like limitless show I just I follow him on Instagram he took his shirt off he's Thor the guy that the big married is engaged to doolipa it's kind of a stud he's like this British actor he was in this really that I watch yeah saw him he yoked yeah okay yeah and then

There's this country singer that's going around. I forget his freaking name right now. Oh, it's, um, same name is, it's Riley Green. Same name. Oh. He's hitting homers at like all these parks when he goes on tour. He's always, he's jacked too. He wears these tight shirts with this big old, I just, I'm getting inspired.

Getting inspired. Okay. Yeah. Yeah, I don't know. Throw a couple dumbbells in the garage or something, like some push-ups, some curleys. Nice, nice. Um, I'm just trying to get off the phone. more.

Okay. That I guess that's going to be the overarching thing. That's tough for you and your job. Right. But it's also like if I'm with people, I'm not like an on-my-phone person. But if I'm hanging out with people that sometimes leads to drinking, so I'm also trying to limit that. Yeah, that's a good goal.

Know what someone threw out there that I was like, ooh, that's good. They were like, go see movies in theaters. And I was like, ooh, like, that's. I'm in on that, but there's got to be good movies. Yes, but I don't know. Like that, for me to be like, you know what? I am going to start reading. And it's like, okay, like let's see what happens there.

Like, you know. But to actually go to a movie and it's like, okay, you're watching a film. You're taking something in. You're not on your phone for like two hours, no questions. Like that is a very easy step to get to the end goal that I'm just trying to think of creative solutions to get there. I like the book thing I started reading our kids The Fellowship of the Ring

Like bedtime story It's very wordy obviously And you know it's long I think they enjoy it They might not They might just like me in their room reading No matter what it is Right

But I wanted to give a shout out to You know social media President whatever she is Taylor Jackson She read like 85 books this year Yeah Yeah No, she, she like, yeah, I don't know.

Like, and I'm never going to be there. She's speed reading? I think I want to start reading before I go to bed, but it's just a weird, like, I don't, should I be doing like self-help stuff? Should I be reading like boring Civil War stuff? Like, which route do you go? Yeah, I, I, for a while I was doing that before bed. It puts you right to sleep.

Like, right to sleep. Instead of, instead of being on your phone, which sucks. and actually keeps you awake, reading a book will put you right to sleep. I always went for some sort of like biography or some sort of like nonfiction, like, I don't know. That was better for me because if you get some of those better like stories,

that also can keep you up. You want to read the next chapter or all that stuff. I would go with like a bio. Yeah, or like how Rome was built or something like that. I got a couple good recommendations for you. Leave your book recommendations below. Let us know the next signing. What was that, coach?

What? I don't know. I looked like you had one. Happy new year. Happy new year. Hope everyone had a safe new year. Worst case, we're back Monday. And then we're back on the twice a week grind.

If any of the big boys sign, I mean, we're ready. Went live for a my. Yeah, is that? Was he like not on the tier for live? I mean, dude, you just, people were projecting him to get a hundred. Mille. I think I deserve one more than. Start that up right now.

Right now.