WEBVTT

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<v Speaker 1>God, I'm swinging.

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<v Speaker 2>That's hello, fans of the world champion LA Dodgers's.

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<v Speaker 3>The world, Sir Flive.

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<v Speaker 2>This is a special off season edition of Dodger Talk.

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<v Speaker 1>There's a dynasty to be had here.

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<v Speaker 2>Taking you behind the scenes with Dodger insider David Basse

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<v Speaker 2>living out their dream to be a part of the

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<v Speaker 2>show called eight six six not eighty seven two five

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<v Speaker 2>seven and follow the show wherever you get your podcasts.

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<v Speaker 2>Now here's your host, David Basse.

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<v Speaker 1>Welcome to Dodger Talk. It is a special podcast edition

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<v Speaker 1>of Dodger Talk. Because we haven't had a show on

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<v Speaker 1>A five to seventy LA Sports the last few weeks

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<v Speaker 1>because of a lot of Clipper basketball, UCLA basketball, Monday

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<v Speaker 1>Thursday night football. So I decided it was so much

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<v Speaker 1>going on this week and so many, so many great

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<v Speaker 1>interviews and information that is still coming out on the

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<v Speaker 1>hot stove, I had to go the iHeartRadio podcast route.

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<v Speaker 1>And that is the luxury of being here at iHeartRadio,

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<v Speaker 1>the leading podcast distributor. We can do this Dodger talkstyle

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<v Speaker 1>podcast edition. I can tell you this. The next time

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<v Speaker 1>we will be on AM five seventy LA Sports will

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<v Speaker 1>be on Saturday, February first, fan Fest at Dodger Stadium

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<v Speaker 1>taking place. We will be live right here on AM

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<v Speaker 1>five seventy LA Sports from eleven to three, So plan

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<v Speaker 1>on that maybe twelve to three. Somewhere in that window,

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<v Speaker 1>we are going to be live twelve to three. How

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<v Speaker 1>about that. I am making that decision right now, twelve

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<v Speaker 1>to three, February first, at Dodgerfanfest. You can get more

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<v Speaker 1>information at Dodgers dot com. You can see it on

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<v Speaker 1>their social media pages. But you will be able to

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<v Speaker 1>hear from all the players, from Mookie Beds to Freddie

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<v Speaker 1>Freeman to Sneil Zilla to Teoscar Hernandez from FanFest, and

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<v Speaker 1>you won't have to wait that long to hear from

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<v Speaker 1>some of the principles from this week's press conferences. I

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<v Speaker 1>want to say thank you, a special thank you to

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<v Speaker 1>Petro some Money for playing my full conversation with Andrew

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<v Speaker 1>Friedman after the Suzaki press conference. We did not have

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<v Speaker 1>a Dodger talk, but Petro some Money who they did

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<v Speaker 1>something not a lot of afternoon drive talk show hosts

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<v Speaker 1>would do. Any any talk show host would do, and

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<v Speaker 1>that would be unselfish enough to play somebody else's interview,

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<v Speaker 1>and I just want to say thank you to them

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<v Speaker 1>for airing that Andrew Friedman interview, but you will hear

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<v Speaker 1>it again right here on this Dodger Talk podcast. Also,

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<v Speaker 1>as we are recording this today, it is Thursday, and

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<v Speaker 1>I just got back from the Tanner Scott press conference.

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<v Speaker 1>So coming up in our next segment in about fifteen minutes,

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<v Speaker 1>you will hear from Tanner Scott and Brandon Gomes. I

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<v Speaker 1>had exclusive one on one interviews with them. Later in

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<v Speaker 1>the show, you'll hear that conversation with Andrew Friedman, and

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<v Speaker 1>also you'll hear from Roki Sazaki's agent, Joel Woolf, who

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<v Speaker 1>also represents, among others, Nolan Arenado. We'll get to that

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<v Speaker 1>in just a moment. But I just don't believe the

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<v Speaker 1>Dodgers are done. We are already hearing reports about Kirby Yates.

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<v Speaker 1>It's not official yet because the Dodgers' forty manter roster

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<v Speaker 1>is full as we record this on Thursday afternoons, So

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<v Speaker 1>that's the reason why they haven't made it official. They

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<v Speaker 1>have to find a corresponding roster move, and there's been

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<v Speaker 1>reports the Dodgers are shopping high priced reliever Ryan Brasier.

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<v Speaker 1>There's other ways to open up forty man roster spot.

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<v Speaker 1>They could possibly designate for assignment a guy like Hunter Fiducca,

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<v Speaker 1>because there's always a third catcher that you can find,

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<v Speaker 1>because there isn't any stud catcher at Oklahoma City this year.

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<v Speaker 1>But I love Hunter Fiducca. But if you do need

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<v Speaker 1>a forty man roster spot for Kirby Yates, that's a

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<v Speaker 1>route to go if you're not able to make a trade.

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<v Speaker 1>And what else are the Dodgers going to do?

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<v Speaker 4>Well?

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<v Speaker 1>They still got to bring back Keike Hernandez, and they

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<v Speaker 1>still got to find a way to make some roster

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<v Speaker 1>maneuvers to make that happen. And they also have to

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<v Speaker 1>bring back in the fold future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw.

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<v Speaker 1>Now that's a formality. I've gotten phone calls from a

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<v Speaker 1>couple of his former teammates asking me, are the Dodgers

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<v Speaker 1>really going to sign Kershaw? They seem to have a

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<v Speaker 1>lot of pitching, and I keep telling even these players, yes,

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<v Speaker 1>they are signing Clayton kersher job. But the facts are

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<v Speaker 1>he had two surgeries on his left leg back in December.

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<v Speaker 1>He cleaned up something in his left knee, and then

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<v Speaker 1>we all know the biggest reason for him not pitching

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<v Speaker 1>after coming back from shoulder surgery was his left foot.

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<v Speaker 1>Now that's a weight bearing extremity. I would imagine that's

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<v Speaker 1>a little bit tough for him to get over the

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<v Speaker 1>hump as far as an injury goes. But I fully

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<v Speaker 1>expect him to be back with the Dodgers this year.

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<v Speaker 1>I fully expect him to start the season on the

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<v Speaker 1>injured list, So he's going to be on the sixty

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<v Speaker 1>day IL, and once pitchers and catchers start reporting, you

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<v Speaker 1>can start putting guys on the sixty day IL to

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<v Speaker 1>open up forty man roster spots. And that's what's going

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<v Speaker 1>to happen. Now. Remember last year, the Dodgers did not

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<v Speaker 1>sign key Y Hernandez until well after Cactus League games

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<v Speaker 1>had started. You know, with guys like Alex Bregman and

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<v Speaker 1>Pete Alonzo still out there, I feel like the Dodgers

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<v Speaker 1>are pretty safe. The Dodgers won KEYK back. KEYK wants

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<v Speaker 1>to be back here, so it's just a matter of

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<v Speaker 1>them having honest conversations and the Dodgers finding a way

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<v Speaker 1>to maneuver their roster. Now, I know a lot of

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<v Speaker 1>you think the most obvious way to do that is

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<v Speaker 1>by getting rid of Chris Taylor. Easier said than done.

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<v Speaker 1>Chris Taylor is on the last year of that four year,

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<v Speaker 1>sixty million dollar contract. He's owed about fourteen to fifteen

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<v Speaker 1>million dollars. He's coming off a down season, even though

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<v Speaker 1>his second half was better than his first half last year.

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<v Speaker 1>Not a lot of takers for Chris Taylor at that

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<v Speaker 1>price tag, considering not many teams have even signed a

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<v Speaker 1>major league player this offseason. And that's another point I

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<v Speaker 1>wanted to make here because we haven't been on the

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<v Speaker 1>air for the last couple of weeks. The Dodgers are

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<v Speaker 1>the defending World's champions, and they're as aggressive as if

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<v Speaker 1>they haven't won the World Series in fifty years. There

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<v Speaker 1>are teams out there that are complaining talking behind the Dodgers,

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<v Speaker 1>back going anonymous rogue saying the Dodgers have are doing

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<v Speaker 1>something unfair. It's not fair to the game, it's bad

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<v Speaker 1>for the game. Really, Tanner Scott came to the Dodgers

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<v Speaker 1>because they paid him. You're telling me other teams couldn't

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<v Speaker 1>pay him or outbid the Dodgers if they really wanted him.

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<v Speaker 1>Taoscar Hernandez was out there, Michael Confordo was out there.

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<v Speaker 1>These teams chose not to top the Dodgers offer. There

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<v Speaker 1>are teams, literal teams, including the San Diego Padres, who

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<v Speaker 1>have not signed a player this free agent offseason to

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<v Speaker 1>a major league contract. Now. I know the Padres are

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<v Speaker 1>going through some issues with their ownership after the great

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<v Speaker 1>Peter Seidler passed away, but the fact remains they haven't

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<v Speaker 1>signed a major league free agent. Have the Pittsburgh Pirates.

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<v Speaker 1>I mean, there are a lot of teams out there,

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<v Speaker 1>and for as many teams that are over the luxury tax,

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<v Speaker 1>there's even more teams that haven't spent at least one

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<v Speaker 1>hundred and fifty million dollars on their payroll totally right now,

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<v Speaker 1>there's teams out there that don't even have a total

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<v Speaker 1>payroll of one hundred and fifty million dollars. So I

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<v Speaker 1>don't want to hear the whining, the crying, the East

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<v Speaker 1>Coast mad Dog saying this is bad for the game.

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<v Speaker 1>If it's so bad for the game, outbid the Dodgers

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<v Speaker 1>pay these guys more. Trust me, they would sign with you,

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<v Speaker 1>all things being equal. Yeah, they're probably choosing the Dodgers.

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<v Speaker 1>But if you're giving Tanner Scott eighty or ninety million dollars,

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<v Speaker 1>he's probably going to sign with you. Now, Kirby Yates,

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<v Speaker 1>the Rangers really wanted him, and the Dodgers swoop them.

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<v Speaker 1>So the Dodgers have signed two of the top three

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<v Speaker 1>free agent relievers. That leaves Dodgers all time saves leader

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<v Speaker 1>Kenley Jansen out there, as well as Carlos Estevez. So

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<v Speaker 1>the Dodgers have taken two of the three, two of

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<v Speaker 1>the top four if you include Estevez. So that should

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<v Speaker 1>bode well for their markets and shame on them if

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<v Speaker 1>they don't get top dollar because other teams need relievers

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<v Speaker 1>of that caliber. So I'm not feeling sorry for anybody.

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<v Speaker 1>Now I mentioned Joel Wolf from Wasserman Agency. He represents

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<v Speaker 1>not only Roki Sazaki, he not only represents Yoshi Yamamoto,

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<v Speaker 1>he also represents Tyler Glass. Now he also represents Keike Hernandez,

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<v Speaker 1>and he also represents Nolan Aeronato. Now, I know I

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<v Speaker 1>dismiss just talk about Nolan Aernado and the Dodgers, but

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<v Speaker 1>at this point, I'm not sure if you caught this.

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<v Speaker 1>I guess the Cardinals had their FanFest or rally of

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<v Speaker 1>some sorts in Saint Louis this past weekend, and can

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<v Speaker 1>you believe the Cardinals GM John moze Loock was on

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<v Speaker 1>the record as saying that it's priority number one. Quote,

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<v Speaker 1>it's a top priority to trade Nolan Aernado before opening day.

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<v Speaker 1>That is unheard of, especially in this day and age.

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<v Speaker 1>Mozae Lock told reporters in Saint Louis, quote, I think

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<v Speaker 1>a trade is still a flip of a coin, but

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<v Speaker 1>I know it's a top priority for the organization and myself,

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<v Speaker 1>so I'll be laser focused on it until it's not Unquote.

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<v Speaker 1>You have a g basically saying Nolan Aernado, we don't

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<v Speaker 1>want you around. And I gotta tell you the feeling

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<v Speaker 1>is probably mutual from Nolan Aernado's standpoint, after what I

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<v Speaker 1>heard his agent say at the winter meetings. So there

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<v Speaker 1>is a huge split in Saint Louis. There are bad

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<v Speaker 1>feelings right now between Nolan Aeronado and the Saint Louis Cardinals.

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<v Speaker 1>We are just two weeks away from pitchers and catchers reporting,

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<v Speaker 1>and the Cardinals have been very open publicly. Nolan Aernado's

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<v Speaker 1>camp has been very open publicly that they don't want

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<v Speaker 1>to stay together anymore, and Aeronado is owed seventy four

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<v Speaker 1>ish million dollars over the course of the next three years.

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<v Speaker 1>Here's the catch. The third and final year, he has

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<v Speaker 1>only owed fifteen million dollars. Why haven't the Cardinals traded

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<v Speaker 1>Nolan Aernado to anybody else? He's still there. As the

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<v Speaker 1>days get closer to spring training, the leverage is less

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<v Speaker 1>for the Saint Louis Cardinals. Here's another part of the

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<v Speaker 1>Nolan Aeronado equation. Not a lot of people realize this,

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<v Speaker 1>or it's been underreported, but I've been told that the Rockies,

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<v Speaker 1>as part of the trade to Saint Louis, pay ten

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<v Speaker 1>million dollars of Nolan Aeronado's salary every year. Here's the catch.

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<v Speaker 1>If the Cardinals trade Nolan Aeronado, the Rockies are off

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<v Speaker 1>the hook of paying ten million dollars annually the remainder

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<v Speaker 1>of these three years. So the Cardinals would have to

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<v Speaker 1>take on I would assume more money. And I would

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<v Speaker 1>assume right now, since they haven't been able to trade Aeronado,

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<v Speaker 1>that they have not been willing to take on more

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<v Speaker 1>money than what other teams are asking whether it's the

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<v Speaker 1>red Sox, the Dodger, any team that they're talking to

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<v Speaker 1>to this point. I'm sure the Cardinals have. I've been

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<v Speaker 1>very stubborn, but they better back off of that because

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<v Speaker 1>the league is not viewing it the same way they

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<v Speaker 1>are viewing it. And I'll tell you this from the

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<v Speaker 1>Nolan Aeronado side. I know people close to Nolan. They

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<v Speaker 1>have told me this offseason he has taken a no

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<v Speaker 1>day's off approach and he is determined to prove the

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<v Speaker 1>Cardinals wrong and anybody else out there that thinks he's washed.

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<v Speaker 1>All I'm saying is I have no inside information about

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<v Speaker 1>the Dodgers even talking to the Cardinals back in December,

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<v Speaker 1>I dismissed this completely, but he still hasn't been traded.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm starting to change my tune a little bit, just

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<v Speaker 1>changing it. And I can't believe the Cardinals GM is

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<v Speaker 1>on the record as saying top priority number one is

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<v Speaker 1>to trade Nolan Aernado. I can't. I just that's unheard of.

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<v Speaker 1>Can you imagine Andrew Friedman saying that about any of

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<v Speaker 1>his players? Number one, the culture would not be that

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<v Speaker 1>bad where it would come to that point, But number two,

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<v Speaker 1>I would never never even imagine Andrew Frieman coming close

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<v Speaker 1>to say what John Mozelok said about one of his players,

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<v Speaker 1>one of his superstar players. Incredible. Speaking of Andrew Friedman,

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<v Speaker 1>we'll hear from him coming up later in the show.

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<v Speaker 1>Had an exclusive one on one interview with him after

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<v Speaker 1>the Sasaki press conference. But coming up next, you'll hear

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<v Speaker 1>from the newest Dodger reliever, Tanner Scott right here on

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<v Speaker 1>the exclusive Dodger Talk podcast week. Addition, we have no

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<v Speaker 1>shows until February first. That's why I'm here with you

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<v Speaker 1>podcast style on AM five seventy LA Sports and the

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<v Speaker 1>iHeartRadio app. Thanks for sticking with us on this Dodger

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<v Speaker 1>Talk podcast exclusive right here on the iHeartRadio app. We

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<v Speaker 1>do not have a show this week. We did not

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<v Speaker 1>have a show last week, so I decided why not

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<v Speaker 1>let's do this and keep you keep you updated on

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<v Speaker 1>all the hot stove and share the conversations I've had

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<v Speaker 1>with a lot of the newest Dodgers and with Andrew

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<v Speaker 1>Friedman and Brandon Gomes. You'll hear from Andrew coming up

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<v Speaker 1>in our next segment. But today was the Tanner Scott

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<v Speaker 1>introductory press conference, and he will wear number sixty six. Yeah,

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<v Speaker 1>that's sixty six last worn by I think ya cel Puig.

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<v Speaker 1>I mean, when I think sixty six and the Dodgers,

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<v Speaker 1>that's who I think of, ya cel Puig. But I

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<v Speaker 1>have a feeling Tanner Scott is going to make us

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<v Speaker 1>think of sixty six. With Tanner Scott closing out games,

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<v Speaker 1>and with the Dodgers signing Tanner Scott to a four year,

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<v Speaker 1>seventy two million dollar contract, it just makes me believe

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<v Speaker 1>that Tanner Scott has bought all into the fact that

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<v Speaker 1>he will not be the ninth inning closer twenty four

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<v Speaker 1>to seven. Yes, he's going to get a lot of

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<v Speaker 1>operation tunities in the ninth inning, but there are very

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<v Speaker 1>good chances you are going to see Tanner Scott in

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<v Speaker 1>the eighth inning, in the seventh inning, facing the group

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<v Speaker 1>of hitters the Dodgers feel are super dangerous and they

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<v Speaker 1>need Tanner Scott to put out the fires. Also, I

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<v Speaker 1>wonder if Sho Heo Tani sent Tanner Scott or Andrew

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<v Speaker 1>Freeman to thank you, because if there is an Otani stopper,

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<v Speaker 1>Tanner Scott would be that guy. Tanner Scott has shut

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<v Speaker 1>down show Hao Tani in their matchups. Ten played appearances,

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<v Speaker 1>ten times they faced each other, and Otani is just

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<v Speaker 1>one for nine. Tanner Scott has made Otani at bats

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<v Speaker 1>very uncomfortable. And it is huge that the Dodgers signed

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<v Speaker 1>Tanner Scott. But it's also even bigger in some ways

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<v Speaker 1>if the Dodgers did face off against the Mets again

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<v Speaker 1>in the postseason, that Otani would not have to see

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<v Speaker 1>Tanner Scott late in the game. Here he is the

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<v Speaker 1>newest Dodger reliever. He had that big shape to that

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<v Speaker 1>bald head. The beard was looking good. And here's our

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<v Speaker 1>conversation with the newest Dodger reliever, Tanner Scott. All right,

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<v Speaker 1>here we go. Three two man sixty six was a

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<v Speaker 1>pretty popular number in LA. And you're gonna see it

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<v Speaker 1>a lot when the Dodgers have a lead and they're

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<v Speaker 1>trying to slam the door on opponents. That's because Tanner Scott,

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<v Speaker 1>the most coveted reliever this free agent offseason, is wearing

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<v Speaker 1>a Dodger uniform. Welcome to LA, and I know the

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<v Speaker 1>Dodgers are really excited about that.

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<v Speaker 5>Thank you, thank you. I'm I'm glad to be here

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<v Speaker 5>and it's gonna be a fun year.

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<v Speaker 1>What did it mean to you to hear Brandon Gome

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<v Speaker 1>say that the Dodgers had tried a few different times

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<v Speaker 1>to acquire you, but we're unsuccessful until now.

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<v Speaker 5>I mean, it's always a good feeling that a team

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<v Speaker 5>wants you. And then obviously this offseason went how it went,

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<v Speaker 5>And I mean, I'm really glad to be here.

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<v Speaker 1>Hey, I told you I wasn't just hyping you up.

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<v Speaker 1>Back in the day when Kobe was playing, Ruben Patterson

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<v Speaker 1>and other guys would be the self proclaimed Kobe stoppers.

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<v Speaker 1>But it's well known in Major League Baseball that Tanner

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<v Speaker 1>Scott was an Otani stopper. What does it make it?

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<v Speaker 1>How do you feel here in that when people say

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<v Speaker 1>the Dodgers wanted Tanner Scott because Otani was tired of

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<v Speaker 1>facing you.

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<v Speaker 5>No, no, no, no, I was tired of facing him.

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<v Speaker 5>I mean, he's a he's a very special player, and uh,

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<v Speaker 5>I can't you can't say I'm a Tani stopper. I

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<v Speaker 5>had to face him so much and he's he's got

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<v Speaker 5>a hit off me. So I mean, I'm glad to

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<v Speaker 5>be his teammate. So yeah, I don't have to I

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<v Speaker 5>don't have to face the one two three punch. And

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<v Speaker 5>I'm really I'm really happy about that.

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<v Speaker 1>What's it like to be on this side of things?

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<v Speaker 1>The Dodgers, even though winning the World Series aggressive in

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<v Speaker 1>signing you, Blake Snell, and Michael Confordo not to mention

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<v Speaker 1>bringing back ta Oscar, extending Tommy Edmund, they just don't

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<v Speaker 1>seem to ever stop.

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<v Speaker 5>Yeah, it's great. I mean they keep adding people and

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<v Speaker 5>it's it's gonna be an exciting year and I'm ready

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<v Speaker 5>for it.

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<v Speaker 1>What's it like to be part of this bullpen?

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<v Speaker 5>Right?

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<v Speaker 1>Because it's a team within a team.

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<v Speaker 5>Yeah, it's I always call it a small family inside

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<v Speaker 5>of a larger family, Like you always have your closer

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<v Speaker 5>siblings and then you have your family. So the Bullpen's

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<v Speaker 5>definitely definitely its own like family inside of a big family.

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<v Speaker 5>So I'm ready ready to be a part of it.

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<v Speaker 1>I was exchanging text with Evan Phillips, You're good buddy

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<v Speaker 1>from Baltimore when the news came out that the Dodgers

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<v Speaker 1>had officially signed you. How much did he play into

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<v Speaker 1>just being a resource on how the Dodgers do things?

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<v Speaker 5>I think I think my wife reached out to his

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<v Speaker 5>wife quite often just just to get a feel out

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<v Speaker 5>how the family was and I mean everyone, you never

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<v Speaker 5>hear anything bad about how they treat the players, the families,

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<v Speaker 5>and I mean that's a huge, huge selling point. I mean,

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<v Speaker 5>you always want your family to be safe and well

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<v Speaker 5>taken care of, so you don't have to worry about

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<v Speaker 5>anything and you only have to worry about inside those lines.

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<v Speaker 5>So he definitely helped. He definitely helped comfort. They definitely

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<v Speaker 5>helped comfort my wife and in our our decision. And

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<v Speaker 5>because i mean we were from Florida, so yeah, going

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<v Speaker 5>from I call it one and into the world the

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<v Speaker 5>other end, but yeah, it was it was awesome to

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<v Speaker 5>have someone that we were in their wedding to help

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<v Speaker 5>us talk about our decision. So it was cool.

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<v Speaker 1>He told me, you played this very close to the vest,

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<v Speaker 1>very quiet. You didn't let him know anything that was

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<v Speaker 1>going on. Was that true?

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<v Speaker 5>It was true. I did text him. I was like, wow,

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<v Speaker 5>you guys signed you guys signed rookie and he goes

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<v Speaker 5>Scott to the Dodger. I'm like, I'm like, Evan, Evan,

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<v Speaker 5>I'm not telling you anything. My lips are sealed. And

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<v Speaker 5>then obviously once the news came out, he was like,

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<v Speaker 5>it's happening. So he's he's awesome.

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<v Speaker 1>Was the free agent process everything you thought it would be,

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<v Speaker 1>because obviously a lot of teams wanted you.

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<v Speaker 5>Yeah, I mean I never knew what to expect in

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<v Speaker 5>free agency, and I'm glad. I'm glad it went how

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<v Speaker 5>it did.

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<v Speaker 1>Evan also told me you both named your son's BO.

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<v Speaker 1>He spells it a different way than your BO. So

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<v Speaker 1>did he steal the name? Or did Tanner Scott steal

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<v Speaker 1>the name? Are you guys it's that close where every

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<v Speaker 1>child you have from here on out will have the

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<v Speaker 1>identical name but spelled differently.

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<v Speaker 5>No, No, we did not steal, steal, steal each other's name.

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<v Speaker 5>It is they. They they they found, they found the

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<v Speaker 5>liking the boat, and so did we. I mean they did.

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<v Speaker 5>There's his e AU and ours is b O, and

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<v Speaker 5>so ours is like my like a family name, So

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<v Speaker 5>it was it was an easy decision for us.

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<v Speaker 1>He also told me, you're upset that he bailed on

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<v Speaker 1>being your throwing partner this offseason.

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<v Speaker 5>Yeah, it made me probably maybe not talk to him

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<v Speaker 5>about free agency process just because he left me and

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<v Speaker 5>we were like ten minutes from each other, so now

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<v Speaker 5>we're we're a couple of hours or flight away. So

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<v Speaker 5>I hold a grudge against him in that way.

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<v Speaker 1>Tanner, awesome to have you here. It'll be great to

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<v Speaker 1>see you when Evan Phillips had that brotherhood.

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<v Speaker 5>Definitely, we'll definitely be throwing partners. If if he says no,

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<v Speaker 5>I'm forcing it, I'm forcing it. So yeah, it's gonna

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<v Speaker 5>be fun.

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<v Speaker 1>Awesome. Thanks a lot for the time, congratulations, and look

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<v Speaker 1>forward to seeing you at fan Fest a week from

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<v Speaker 1>Saturday and also spring training. Hey, breaking news, fan Fest

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<v Speaker 1>is February first.

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<v Speaker 5>Tanner did not know that until my wife told me yesterday.

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<v Speaker 5>And I'm ready for it. I'm ready to meet everyone.

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<v Speaker 5>I'm ready to meet everyone, and it's gonna be fun.

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<v Speaker 1>Just to make sure they introduce you last, right, you're

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<v Speaker 1>the closer. You gotta close a baby.

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<v Speaker 5>Oh. I just I throw whenever the phone rings, I

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<v Speaker 5>throw whenever the phone rings. I just want to win.

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<v Speaker 1>Speaking of that, before I let you go, how much

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<v Speaker 1>was that a discussion between you and the Dodgers as

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<v Speaker 1>far as groupings of hitters and not so much being

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<v Speaker 1>the ninth inning guy.

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<v Speaker 5>I mean, I mean, right from the get go, I

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<v Speaker 5>just told him I want to win. I mean, your

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<v Speaker 5>whole goal in playing the sport is you want to

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<v Speaker 5>win a World Series and whatever it takes, whatever it takes, awesome,

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<v Speaker 5>think about it.

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<v Speaker 1>I like that you should get a tattoo, whatever it takes.

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<v Speaker 5>No, No, I think I'm done with tattoos. I think

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<v Speaker 5>I'm done. I think I'm done.

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<v Speaker 1>Thanks a lot for the time, and look forward to

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<v Speaker 1>talking to you during the year.

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<v Speaker 5>Thank you. It was great meeting you.

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<v Speaker 1>I didn't blow it, did I No, No, not at all,

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<v Speaker 1>not at all. All right, first impressions me and everything.

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<v Speaker 1>I lived another day with Tanner Scott, a very intimidating man,

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<v Speaker 1>especially when he's on that mound. All right there he

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<v Speaker 1>is Tanner Scott. And yes, him and Evan Phillips bff

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<v Speaker 1>from their days in the Orioles organization. Evan was texting

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<v Speaker 1>me the day that Tanner Scott signed with the Dodgers

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<v Speaker 1>how excited he was. And I'm sure Tanner picked his

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<v Speaker 1>brain over the years about the culture with the Dodgers.

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<v Speaker 1>You know, the free agency did not just sneak up

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<v Speaker 1>on Tanner Scott, so I'm sure he was asking Evan

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<v Speaker 1>what it was like being with the Dodgers when they

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<v Speaker 1>were playing catch, and yes, it's playing catch, not having

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<v Speaker 1>a catch So just think about the Dodger bullpen right now.

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<v Speaker 1>Evan Phillips, Tanner Scott, Alex Vesia, Anthony Banda, Michael Kopek.

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<v Speaker 1>Whether or not he's ready for Opening Day still remains

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<v Speaker 1>to be seen. Blake trinin. So they are loaded in

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<v Speaker 1>this bullpen and Tanner Scott's going to be a huge

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<v Speaker 1>part of it, and also Kirby Yates on the horizon

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<v Speaker 1>as well. We'll wait until that's official. Speaking of the making,

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<v Speaker 1>and the guy that was a big part and making

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<v Speaker 1>the Tanner Scott deal happen for the Dodgers was Andrew

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<v Speaker 1>Freeman and also his GM Brandon Gomes. We had a

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<v Speaker 1>chance to catch up with Brandon after we spoke to

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<v Speaker 1>Tanner Scott. Hey, Brandon, you said during the press conference,

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<v Speaker 1>you guys tried multiple times in the past to acquire

416
00:24:22.759 --> 00:24:26.079
<v Speaker 1>Tanner Scott. How does it feel to finally land him

417
00:24:26.079 --> 00:24:27.440
<v Speaker 1>and have him in your uniform.

418
00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:30.839
<v Speaker 4>Yeah, we're we're really excited, I think, you know, especially

419
00:24:30.839 --> 00:24:32.960
<v Speaker 4>seeing it up closed last year towards the end, it's

420
00:24:33.039 --> 00:24:35.759
<v Speaker 4>just it's an at bat for our guys that just

421
00:24:35.839 --> 00:24:38.599
<v Speaker 4>is not not fun at all. And you know, his

422
00:24:38.680 --> 00:24:41.839
<v Speaker 4>ability to take the ball and post and you know,

423
00:24:42.079 --> 00:24:45.480
<v Speaker 4>do whatever the team needs was something that always stood

424
00:24:45.480 --> 00:24:47.680
<v Speaker 4>out to us. So, you know, the stuff in the

425
00:24:47.720 --> 00:24:50.359
<v Speaker 4>stats speak for itself, but the total package of the

426
00:24:50.359 --> 00:24:51.880
<v Speaker 4>player we're really excited about.

427
00:24:52.400 --> 00:24:54.759
<v Speaker 1>You've read to find the culture of just being part

428
00:24:54.799 --> 00:24:57.720
<v Speaker 1>of this bullpen not so much about inning roles or

429
00:24:57.799 --> 00:25:00.519
<v Speaker 1>being the closer. It's more about groupings of him. There's

430
00:25:00.759 --> 00:25:04.400
<v Speaker 1>how much of a discussion point was that to sign

431
00:25:04.519 --> 00:25:06.880
<v Speaker 1>Tanner and how how much did you need to buy

432
00:25:06.880 --> 00:25:08.799
<v Speaker 1>in from him to be able to make this happen.

433
00:25:08.880 --> 00:25:11.400
<v Speaker 4>Yeah, I mean it's simply we talked about and you know,

434
00:25:11.480 --> 00:25:13.359
<v Speaker 4>he's done it over his career. He's done a little

435
00:25:13.359 --> 00:25:16.599
<v Speaker 4>bit of everything, so you know, it really stood out

436
00:25:16.640 --> 00:25:19.839
<v Speaker 4>that he wants to win. And our anticipation, you know,

437
00:25:20.000 --> 00:25:22.200
<v Speaker 4>is that there's gonna be plenty of opportunities towards the

438
00:25:22.240 --> 00:25:26.160
<v Speaker 4>back end, but ultimately it'll be out doc you know,

439
00:25:26.519 --> 00:25:28.680
<v Speaker 4>doc uses our guys and what puts us in the

440
00:25:28.720 --> 00:25:32.759
<v Speaker 4>best position to win, and Tanner's open to do whatever,

441
00:25:32.799 --> 00:25:35.319
<v Speaker 4>but I'm sure there'll be plenty of save opportunities as well.

442
00:25:35.640 --> 00:25:38.319
<v Speaker 1>How many times did Andrew pull his hair out over

443
00:25:38.319 --> 00:25:41.720
<v Speaker 1>the course of trying to land Szaki and yourself trying to,

444
00:25:42.079 --> 00:25:43.839
<v Speaker 1>you know, close this deal with Tanner Scott.

445
00:25:43.920 --> 00:25:46.359
<v Speaker 4>Yeah, he's been really focused on trying to plug different

446
00:25:46.359 --> 00:25:49.319
<v Speaker 4>holes of the of the team, and you know, I

447
00:25:49.359 --> 00:25:52.240
<v Speaker 4>think he's in a better place. We're gonna start seeing

448
00:25:52.279 --> 00:25:55.319
<v Speaker 4>out how the hair comes growing in once the off

449
00:25:55.400 --> 00:25:56.240
<v Speaker 4>season's done.

450
00:25:56.400 --> 00:25:59.119
<v Speaker 1>I know how you guys play this, but do you

451
00:25:59.119 --> 00:26:01.920
<v Speaker 1>feel like there's more opportunities to add veteran arms to

452
00:26:01.960 --> 00:26:02.480
<v Speaker 1>the bullpen.

453
00:26:02.880 --> 00:26:05.640
<v Speaker 4>There's the potential for that, but we're really excited to

454
00:26:06.119 --> 00:26:09.440
<v Speaker 4>have Tanner, you know, officially part of the organization today.

455
00:26:09.759 --> 00:26:12.680
<v Speaker 1>Obviously, Tanner and his body work speaks for itself. But

456
00:26:13.119 --> 00:26:16.960
<v Speaker 1>how much of you guys going deeper than any other

457
00:26:17.039 --> 00:26:20.319
<v Speaker 1>team last year and relying on your bullpen as much

458
00:26:20.319 --> 00:26:23.000
<v Speaker 1>as you did. Was it a factor to bring in

459
00:26:23.039 --> 00:26:26.039
<v Speaker 1>fresh arms, not just Tanner, but whoever else you may add.

460
00:26:26.400 --> 00:26:28.680
<v Speaker 1>Was that a factor to the way you guys are

461
00:26:29.519 --> 00:26:30.799
<v Speaker 1>constructing this bullpen?

462
00:26:31.519 --> 00:26:31.680
<v Speaker 5>No?

463
00:26:31.759 --> 00:26:34.000
<v Speaker 4>Not, It wasn't anything that was front of mine. I mean,

464
00:26:34.039 --> 00:26:36.000
<v Speaker 4>I think a lot of it is about how do

465
00:26:36.039 --> 00:26:40.160
<v Speaker 4>we continue to reinforce an already talented group, And as

466
00:26:40.160 --> 00:26:42.240
<v Speaker 4>we've talked about a bunch like what can we do

467
00:26:42.359 --> 00:26:45.400
<v Speaker 4>to not be going to market and looking to buy

468
00:26:45.599 --> 00:26:49.519
<v Speaker 4>in July and just be as prepared with talent and

469
00:26:49.599 --> 00:26:52.920
<v Speaker 4>depth as we possibly can be coming into the season.

470
00:26:53.039 --> 00:26:57.000
<v Speaker 4>So you know, the obviously our bullpen took on a

471
00:26:57.039 --> 00:26:59.839
<v Speaker 4>heavy workload in the postseason, but you know the additions

472
00:26:59.839 --> 00:27:02.079
<v Speaker 4>are not solely because of that.

473
00:27:02.519 --> 00:27:05.680
<v Speaker 1>All right, Brandon, thanks a lot for your time. Hopefully

474
00:27:06.039 --> 00:27:08.880
<v Speaker 1>things continue to work when you guys transplant your way

475
00:27:08.920 --> 00:27:10.000
<v Speaker 1>to camel Back Ranch.

476
00:27:10.400 --> 00:27:11.640
<v Speaker 4>Thanks, Dave, appreciate it.

477
00:27:11.720 --> 00:27:15.279
<v Speaker 1>All right. There you go, Brandon Gomes, Dodgers GM, And

478
00:27:15.519 --> 00:27:19.480
<v Speaker 1>certainly I made it known yesterday on the Petros M

479
00:27:19.519 --> 00:27:23.160
<v Speaker 1>Money Show, Andrew Friedman sniffed out my third trip to Bosley.

480
00:27:23.640 --> 00:27:28.440
<v Speaker 1>So there were some pawns and some hitting comments there

481
00:27:28.480 --> 00:27:31.599
<v Speaker 1>as Friedman was lurking in the background as I was

482
00:27:31.599 --> 00:27:34.799
<v Speaker 1>talking to Brandon Gomes. Once Andrew sniffed it out, and

483
00:27:34.839 --> 00:27:37.440
<v Speaker 1>he always seems to. There were certain there are certain

484
00:27:37.480 --> 00:27:40.119
<v Speaker 1>guys on the Dodgers and around the Dodgers that always

485
00:27:40.119 --> 00:27:43.480
<v Speaker 1>seem to sniff out any little thing that's going on

486
00:27:43.559 --> 00:27:46.960
<v Speaker 1>with me. And Andrew sniffed it out, and I'm not ashamed.

487
00:27:47.319 --> 00:27:50.519
<v Speaker 1>I am a I am a proud Bosly member and

488
00:27:50.720 --> 00:27:54.279
<v Speaker 1>I'm going to look good this summer. So there you

489
00:27:54.400 --> 00:27:58.039
<v Speaker 1>go Bosley, go see my friend doctor Deutsch. All right,

490
00:27:58.160 --> 00:28:00.799
<v Speaker 1>we're gonna take our final time out on this Dodger

491
00:28:00.920 --> 00:28:05.400
<v Speaker 1>Talk exclusive podcast. When we continue, you'll hear from Roki

492
00:28:05.559 --> 00:28:10.279
<v Speaker 1>Sasaki's agent, Joel Wolf and also Andrew Friedman. Thanks for

493
00:28:10.319 --> 00:28:13.119
<v Speaker 1>sticking with us. We got that right around the corner.

494
00:28:19.160 --> 00:28:23.079
<v Speaker 1>David Vasse with you on Dodger Talk on this iHeartRadio

495
00:28:23.359 --> 00:28:26.880
<v Speaker 1>podcast exclusive. Since we don't have any shows the next

496
00:28:26.920 --> 00:28:29.519
<v Speaker 1>week or so, and we haven't had any shows in

497
00:28:29.599 --> 00:28:32.200
<v Speaker 1>the last week or so, I wanted to talk to

498
00:28:32.279 --> 00:28:35.440
<v Speaker 1>you reconnect as we get closer to petures and catchers

499
00:28:35.839 --> 00:28:38.720
<v Speaker 1>reporting to spring training. The Dodgers are going to hold

500
00:28:38.759 --> 00:28:43.039
<v Speaker 1>their annual FanFest at Dodgers Stadium. You can get tickets

501
00:28:43.119 --> 00:28:47.119
<v Speaker 1>at Dodgers dot com and things are happening quickly here.

502
00:28:47.519 --> 00:28:50.839
<v Speaker 1>After FanFest, the guys will be heading out to Camelback

503
00:28:50.920 --> 00:28:55.119
<v Speaker 1>Ranch in Glendale, Arizona. The Dodgers' first spring training game

504
00:28:55.279 --> 00:28:59.839
<v Speaker 1>is going to be on Thursday, February twentieth. You'll hear

505
00:28:59.880 --> 00:29:02.880
<v Speaker 1>it right here on a five to seventy LA Sports.

506
00:29:02.960 --> 00:29:06.319
<v Speaker 1>It's against the same team they will open the season

507
00:29:06.359 --> 00:29:10.720
<v Speaker 1>against in Tokyo, Japan. The Chicago Cubs. So the Cubs

508
00:29:10.720 --> 00:29:15.079
<v Speaker 1>Dodgers start the Cactus League on February twentieth. That'll be

509
00:29:15.640 --> 00:29:19.359
<v Speaker 1>at Camelback Ranch. And then the following day, on Friday,

510
00:29:19.400 --> 00:29:22.759
<v Speaker 1>the twenty first of February, the Dodgers and Cubs will

511
00:29:22.799 --> 00:29:26.559
<v Speaker 1>play at Sloan Park. So the Cactus League schedule will

512
00:29:26.599 --> 00:29:30.039
<v Speaker 1>start on February twentieth, and the Dodgers and Cubs will

513
00:29:30.039 --> 00:29:33.319
<v Speaker 1>face off to get the season started in Tokyo, Japan

514
00:29:33.880 --> 00:29:37.759
<v Speaker 1>on February or on March eighteenth and nineteenth. And it

515
00:29:37.839 --> 00:29:40.079
<v Speaker 1>is going to be wild being there, with the team

516
00:29:40.440 --> 00:29:44.720
<v Speaker 1>being there, with sho Hey Otani, Yamamoto, Roki Sazaki, but

517
00:29:44.880 --> 00:29:48.200
<v Speaker 1>especially Otani. It is going to be like traveling with

518
00:29:49.000 --> 00:29:53.480
<v Speaker 1>Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Lebron James, or the Beatles as

519
00:29:53.519 --> 00:29:56.039
<v Speaker 1>the kids used to say. It's going to be quite

520
00:29:56.039 --> 00:29:59.119
<v Speaker 1>an experience and I'm looking forward to it. Speaking of

521
00:29:59.240 --> 00:30:03.920
<v Speaker 1>Roki Sazai, this week, the Dodgers formally announced his signing,

522
00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:07.119
<v Speaker 1>and there's been a lot of talk obviously that the

523
00:30:07.200 --> 00:30:10.680
<v Speaker 1>Dodgers had this in the bag. There was really no

524
00:30:10.839 --> 00:30:14.839
<v Speaker 1>reason for teams to go through this process. But look,

525
00:30:15.319 --> 00:30:19.720
<v Speaker 1>Joel Wolf, Roki Sazaki's agent, and Sazaki himself, who, as

526
00:30:19.759 --> 00:30:23.279
<v Speaker 1>you heard at the press conference, is super respectful, is

527
00:30:23.319 --> 00:30:26.880
<v Speaker 1>not going to waste eight teams time just to go

528
00:30:26.960 --> 00:30:32.160
<v Speaker 1>through the motions. There was a real uncertainty from the

529
00:30:32.200 --> 00:30:36.279
<v Speaker 1>Dodgers on whether or not having Otani and Yamamoto was

530
00:30:36.359 --> 00:30:39.799
<v Speaker 1>going to work in their favor or not, and ultimately

531
00:30:41.039 --> 00:30:45.559
<v Speaker 1>he chose the Dodgers because of the obvious reasons. Number one, geography.

532
00:30:46.119 --> 00:30:49.279
<v Speaker 1>Number one, they are the defending World Series champions and

533
00:30:49.359 --> 00:30:54.680
<v Speaker 1>have been really good since twenty thirteen. Number Three, the

534
00:30:54.799 --> 00:31:00.480
<v Speaker 1>fact is the Dodgers have a great reputation of developing pitchers. Yeah, break,

535
00:31:00.680 --> 00:31:03.359
<v Speaker 1>but it's unfair just to put that on the Dodgers.

536
00:31:03.680 --> 00:31:09.039
<v Speaker 1>The Dodgers are really good at game planning, maximizing picture strengths.

537
00:31:09.079 --> 00:31:12.640
<v Speaker 1>Mark Pryor, Connor McGinnis and the Dodgers sports science team

538
00:31:12.680 --> 00:31:17.160
<v Speaker 1>has been excellent in that department, but specifically trying to

539
00:31:17.240 --> 00:31:20.960
<v Speaker 1>help a player a pitcher game plan is the biggest

540
00:31:21.000 --> 00:31:23.960
<v Speaker 1>thing I've heard from pitchers that have come through the

541
00:31:24.039 --> 00:31:28.759
<v Speaker 1>Dodgers organization, and also helping them with different pitches and

542
00:31:28.920 --> 00:31:33.160
<v Speaker 1>grips and things that can maximize already they're great arsenal.

543
00:31:33.279 --> 00:31:37.359
<v Speaker 1>So those were the reasons why Sazaki I'm sure picked

544
00:31:37.359 --> 00:31:41.240
<v Speaker 1>the Dodgers. And here's his agent, Joel Wolfe after the

545
00:31:41.240 --> 00:31:44.799
<v Speaker 1>press conference talking to myself and a few other reporters

546
00:31:44.839 --> 00:31:49.200
<v Speaker 1>about the whole process for Roki Sazaki.

547
00:31:48.759 --> 00:31:57.359
<v Speaker 6>The Padres and Blue Jays made tremendous pitches, presentations. They

548
00:31:57.440 --> 00:32:03.400
<v Speaker 6>left it on the field, and when they left Toronto,

549
00:32:05.680 --> 00:32:07.920
<v Speaker 6>I felt like he could easily go to Toronto. When

550
00:32:07.960 --> 00:32:10.920
<v Speaker 6>we left San Diego, I felt like he could easily

551
00:32:11.000 --> 00:32:15.640
<v Speaker 6>choose San Diego. And when he came here, I really

552
00:32:15.759 --> 00:32:19.799
<v Speaker 6>thought the entire process it was a coin flop. I

553
00:32:19.880 --> 00:32:24.200
<v Speaker 6>had no idea what he was going to say when

554
00:32:24.200 --> 00:32:27.160
<v Speaker 6>he ultimately said, okay, it's Dodgers.

555
00:32:29.119 --> 00:32:31.000
<v Speaker 1>Where did he fall on the spectrum. As far as

556
00:32:31.119 --> 00:32:34.640
<v Speaker 1>driving this whole process with some of the clients you've had,

557
00:32:34.839 --> 00:32:36.079
<v Speaker 1>you know in your experience, how.

558
00:32:36.079 --> 00:32:41.519
<v Speaker 6>Much I heard Roki drives the bus, Rokie directs traffic.

559
00:32:42.440 --> 00:32:46.759
<v Speaker 6>He tells us all what to do, definitely, and I

560
00:32:46.799 --> 00:32:48.920
<v Speaker 6>think you'll all learn that in the coming years.

561
00:32:49.400 --> 00:32:49.759
<v Speaker 4>Angel.

562
00:32:53.559 --> 00:32:57.039
<v Speaker 1>So there you have it, and Joel thought, I literally

563
00:32:57.119 --> 00:32:59.240
<v Speaker 1>meant Roki driving from team to team.

564
00:32:59.359 --> 00:32:59.440
<v Speaker 2>No.

565
00:33:00.240 --> 00:33:03.559
<v Speaker 1>I heard Roki Sazaki was very much in control of

566
00:33:03.599 --> 00:33:06.599
<v Speaker 1>this process, and I just wanted to get it on

567
00:33:06.640 --> 00:33:10.319
<v Speaker 1>the record from his agent about how in control he was,

568
00:33:10.839 --> 00:33:14.119
<v Speaker 1>And it just strikes me similar to a Lebron James

569
00:33:14.240 --> 00:33:17.599
<v Speaker 1>or a Kobe Bryant, how they have these visions of

570
00:33:17.680 --> 00:33:20.640
<v Speaker 1>their careers. And even Alex Rodriguez, I remember when he

571
00:33:20.720 --> 00:33:23.440
<v Speaker 1>was coming out of high school. These guys have their

572
00:33:23.640 --> 00:33:26.680
<v Speaker 1>visions of their career arc and they are going to

573
00:33:26.759 --> 00:33:31.680
<v Speaker 1>do everything possible to make it happen. And Roki Sazaki

574
00:33:31.839 --> 00:33:35.319
<v Speaker 1>has visions of being the greatest pitcher in Major League

575
00:33:35.319 --> 00:33:38.960
<v Speaker 1>Baseball during his time here in MLB, and a lot

576
00:33:38.960 --> 00:33:42.440
<v Speaker 1>of other teams believe, including the Dodgers, that he has

577
00:33:42.519 --> 00:33:45.680
<v Speaker 1>the potential to be a Cy Young Award winner two

578
00:33:45.839 --> 00:33:49.279
<v Speaker 1>three times over during the course of his career. But

579
00:33:49.400 --> 00:33:53.640
<v Speaker 1>make no mistake about it, this is a long term contract,

580
00:33:53.720 --> 00:33:56.559
<v Speaker 1>a long term play by the Dodgers. It's not just

581
00:33:56.599 --> 00:33:59.680
<v Speaker 1>about twenty twenty five. So if you're expecting to see

582
00:33:59.680 --> 00:34:03.599
<v Speaker 1>this pitch opening Day and go through all the season

583
00:34:03.640 --> 00:34:08.760
<v Speaker 1>and throw two hundred innings, you're completely mistaken. He's probably

584
00:34:08.800 --> 00:34:11.199
<v Speaker 1>only going to throw somewhere between one hundred and one

585
00:34:11.280 --> 00:34:14.840
<v Speaker 1>hundred and thirty innings in my estimation, So it would

586
00:34:14.920 --> 00:34:20.280
<v Speaker 1>be amazing to have Roki Sazaki and Yoshiyamamoto pitch those

587
00:34:20.280 --> 00:34:24.519
<v Speaker 1>two games in Tokyo, Japan, and that very well might happen,

588
00:34:25.000 --> 00:34:28.519
<v Speaker 1>but don't expect to see Roki Sazaki pitching on four

589
00:34:28.639 --> 00:34:32.519
<v Speaker 1>days rest and making thirty starts this year. He's twenty

590
00:34:32.519 --> 00:34:35.400
<v Speaker 1>three years old. He didn't throw a lot last year.

591
00:34:35.960 --> 00:34:41.760
<v Speaker 1>His fastball velocity was down, so he's an unfinished product,

592
00:34:41.800 --> 00:34:44.440
<v Speaker 1>as Joel Wolf said, and the Dodgers are going to

593
00:34:44.559 --> 00:34:47.760
<v Speaker 1>handle with care because he's twenty three years old and

594
00:34:47.800 --> 00:34:51.679
<v Speaker 1>they're not going to just push him and redline him.

595
00:34:51.840 --> 00:34:55.679
<v Speaker 1>They're going to treat him very carefully, and similar to Otani,

596
00:34:56.079 --> 00:34:59.960
<v Speaker 1>they want these two guys ready for October, not ready

597
00:35:00.119 --> 00:35:03.119
<v Speaker 1>for April. And the man that makes all these moves,

598
00:35:03.159 --> 00:35:06.239
<v Speaker 1>a man that obviously has built an amazing culture with

599
00:35:06.320 --> 00:35:12.039
<v Speaker 1>the Dodgers, unprecedented sustained success since he has taken over.

600
00:35:12.559 --> 00:35:15.840
<v Speaker 1>The one and only Andrew Freeman, who I believe is

601
00:35:15.920 --> 00:35:19.920
<v Speaker 1>destined to be an executive in Cooperstown one day, enshrined

602
00:35:19.920 --> 00:35:24.480
<v Speaker 1>in Cooperstown, one day, joined us moments after he introduced

603
00:35:24.840 --> 00:35:29.320
<v Speaker 1>Roki Sazaki. Andrew Freeman a big day, a big smile.

604
00:35:29.719 --> 00:35:32.199
<v Speaker 1>I know there's been a lot of sleepless nights for you.

605
00:35:32.239 --> 00:35:34.280
<v Speaker 1>Can you exhale now? Yeah?

606
00:35:34.280 --> 00:35:36.360
<v Speaker 7>I mean there were definitely a lot of knights upulling

607
00:35:36.360 --> 00:35:40.639
<v Speaker 7>our hair out and worried about, you know what kind

608
00:35:40.679 --> 00:35:42.880
<v Speaker 7>of decision he was going to make, and we felt

609
00:35:42.920 --> 00:35:46.920
<v Speaker 7>like we put our best foot forward. It was so

610
00:35:47.000 --> 00:35:51.679
<v Speaker 7>many different departments and people contributing to ensure that. But

611
00:35:51.800 --> 00:35:54.000
<v Speaker 7>obviously there are a lot of great teams out there.

612
00:35:54.519 --> 00:35:58.320
<v Speaker 7>And until I actually got the text from Showhy that

613
00:35:58.480 --> 00:36:01.320
<v Speaker 7>said we got him, who eat the agent to the punch?

614
00:36:02.840 --> 00:36:04.760
<v Speaker 7>But until that moment, we weren't sure.

615
00:36:05.280 --> 00:36:08.159
<v Speaker 1>When you got that text, did you believe it? Was

616
00:36:08.199 --> 00:36:10.639
<v Speaker 1>it similar to the feeling you had last year when

617
00:36:11.159 --> 00:36:13.599
<v Speaker 1>you got the news that Otani had chosen the Dodgers

618
00:36:13.599 --> 00:36:14.039
<v Speaker 1>as well.

619
00:36:14.599 --> 00:36:16.760
<v Speaker 7>Well, A knew show he wouldn't mess with me, just

620
00:36:16.800 --> 00:36:21.199
<v Speaker 7>not his personality. I had to like clear my eyes

621
00:36:21.239 --> 00:36:23.559
<v Speaker 7>and read it again because I didn't expect it to

622
00:36:23.599 --> 00:36:26.679
<v Speaker 7>come from Show Hey. But when I saw it, kind

623
00:36:26.719 --> 00:36:29.400
<v Speaker 7>of did a double take and then realized what he

624
00:36:29.519 --> 00:36:32.440
<v Speaker 7>was saying, and just pure excitement. We had a bunch

625
00:36:32.480 --> 00:36:35.480
<v Speaker 7>of guys around the office and everyone was just fired up.

626
00:36:35.880 --> 00:36:40.119
<v Speaker 1>We've heard so much about the courting process, about having

627
00:36:40.159 --> 00:36:43.880
<v Speaker 1>the dinners about Otani and Yamamoto having a dinner with him.

628
00:36:44.000 --> 00:36:47.719
<v Speaker 1>How much do you believe that comfort led to him

629
00:36:47.800 --> 00:36:48.840
<v Speaker 1>choosing the Dodgers.

630
00:36:49.440 --> 00:36:51.880
<v Speaker 7>Yeah, I mean I think you know, obviously his prior

631
00:36:51.960 --> 00:36:56.280
<v Speaker 7>relationship with Shohei and Yoshinobu definitely helps. They were able

632
00:36:56.320 --> 00:37:00.880
<v Speaker 7>to talk to him through this and not an salesman

633
00:37:01.079 --> 00:37:06.519
<v Speaker 7>type way, just be honest with their experiences and how

634
00:37:06.559 --> 00:37:09.039
<v Speaker 7>they think it would help Roki, which I think was

635
00:37:09.119 --> 00:37:12.960
<v Speaker 7>incredibly valuable. And then even beyond that, just the number

636
00:37:13.000 --> 00:37:15.800
<v Speaker 7>of guys we had either in person or send in

637
00:37:15.840 --> 00:37:20.519
<v Speaker 7>a video, and the video was guys saying how well

638
00:37:20.559 --> 00:37:24.280
<v Speaker 7>we take care of players, take care of players families,

639
00:37:24.800 --> 00:37:28.440
<v Speaker 7>and help make guys better. And it was almost to

640
00:37:28.519 --> 00:37:31.519
<v Speaker 7>a man, We didn't script it with anyone, and almost

641
00:37:31.519 --> 00:37:32.760
<v Speaker 7>to a man, that's how.

642
00:37:32.599 --> 00:37:33.960
<v Speaker 1>All the videos came back.

643
00:37:34.280 --> 00:37:37.519
<v Speaker 7>So the reason we wanted to do that was for

644
00:37:37.679 --> 00:37:41.159
<v Speaker 7>Rokie as he's making this decision and he's thinking, Okay,

645
00:37:41.760 --> 00:37:43.880
<v Speaker 7>I like the Dodgers, I like what they're about. I

646
00:37:43.880 --> 00:37:46.519
<v Speaker 7>think they can help make me better. But I wonder

647
00:37:46.559 --> 00:37:48.880
<v Speaker 7>how it would be received in the clubhouse. I just

648
00:37:48.920 --> 00:37:53.559
<v Speaker 7>don't know that we had the vast majority of our roster,

649
00:37:53.679 --> 00:37:56.760
<v Speaker 7>either in person or on video, tell him how much

650
00:37:56.800 --> 00:37:58.199
<v Speaker 7>they want him to be their teammate.

651
00:37:58.760 --> 00:38:02.119
<v Speaker 1>What's this about the home assignment? How accurate is that

652
00:38:02.119 --> 00:38:04.920
<v Speaker 1>that he was asking the Dodgers and other teams how

653
00:38:04.960 --> 00:38:07.440
<v Speaker 1>he can get better, how he could get his fastball better?

654
00:38:07.719 --> 00:38:11.519
<v Speaker 1>And how comfortable were you sharing what your thoughts would be.

655
00:38:12.639 --> 00:38:17.719
<v Speaker 7>Yeah, there's a couple of things in that one. When

656
00:38:17.760 --> 00:38:22.760
<v Speaker 7>we got the question from Joel Wolf. At first it was,

657
00:38:22.800 --> 00:38:24.599
<v Speaker 7>oh my god, our meetings in four days. We have

658
00:38:24.679 --> 00:38:28.320
<v Speaker 7>to scramble and you know, put this together. The second

659
00:38:28.760 --> 00:38:32.400
<v Speaker 7>was I thought it was really smart. His velocity was down.

660
00:38:32.440 --> 00:38:35.360
<v Speaker 7>It was stuff that we had talked about, and for

661
00:38:35.519 --> 00:38:40.159
<v Speaker 7>him to solicit opinions from other teams coming in a

662
00:38:40.519 --> 00:38:43.480
<v Speaker 7>speaks to his curiosity and desire to be great, but

663
00:38:43.599 --> 00:38:48.079
<v Speaker 7>also gives him real insight into how an organization works together,

664
00:38:48.239 --> 00:38:50.679
<v Speaker 7>how they think through things, what kind of technology they

665
00:38:50.679 --> 00:38:54.039
<v Speaker 7>have access to, which we feel like is in our

666
00:38:54.039 --> 00:38:57.880
<v Speaker 7>sweet spot. So we were really excited about that opportunity.

667
00:38:57.960 --> 00:39:01.280
<v Speaker 7>And we're able to talk through from training room to

668
00:39:01.679 --> 00:39:05.639
<v Speaker 7>weight room to mound, from our pitching coaches to our

669
00:39:05.679 --> 00:39:09.440
<v Speaker 7>performance coaches to our training staff, how connected they are.

670
00:39:10.119 --> 00:39:13.199
<v Speaker 7>The reports that are generated after a start, because the

671
00:39:13.239 --> 00:39:16.119
<v Speaker 7>point was there were some changes in his delivery, and

672
00:39:16.280 --> 00:39:19.960
<v Speaker 7>our point was about how we're on things like that,

673
00:39:21.000 --> 00:39:24.960
<v Speaker 7>either end game or the next day after a start.

674
00:39:25.000 --> 00:39:28.920
<v Speaker 7>So we would never let something go that long without

675
00:39:28.960 --> 00:39:30.840
<v Speaker 7>addressing it, and so we were able to speak to

676
00:39:31.480 --> 00:39:35.159
<v Speaker 7>what we saw as the differences how we would proactively

677
00:39:35.280 --> 00:39:39.519
<v Speaker 7>go about addressing it. And again, I think just the

678
00:39:39.639 --> 00:39:43.960
<v Speaker 7>way everyone is so connected from our front office, performance

679
00:39:43.960 --> 00:39:47.760
<v Speaker 7>science group down into our clubhouse and the way everyone

680
00:39:47.840 --> 00:39:50.320
<v Speaker 7>works so well together really came through.

681
00:39:50.679 --> 00:39:53.760
<v Speaker 1>How do you manage a pitcher like him? He's so unique,

682
00:39:53.840 --> 00:39:56.760
<v Speaker 1>twenty three years old, you got a full one sixty

683
00:39:56.800 --> 00:39:59.760
<v Speaker 1>two season. We saw there's an adjustment period. How do

684
00:39:59.800 --> 00:40:02.320
<v Speaker 1>you what vision do you have as far as the

685
00:40:02.320 --> 00:40:03.880
<v Speaker 1>way you may deploy him?

686
00:40:04.679 --> 00:40:07.320
<v Speaker 7>Yeah, I mean for us, we need to be around

687
00:40:07.440 --> 00:40:10.199
<v Speaker 7>him more to have a better feel for that. We

688
00:40:10.239 --> 00:40:12.199
<v Speaker 7>don't have a great feel right now for how he

689
00:40:12.320 --> 00:40:18.159
<v Speaker 7>recovers and what is routine is between starts. It'll probably

690
00:40:18.199 --> 00:40:20.880
<v Speaker 7>be different here. He's still learning that, and so it's

691
00:40:20.920 --> 00:40:22.679
<v Speaker 7>one of those things that we're gonna partner with him

692
00:40:22.760 --> 00:40:25.480
<v Speaker 7>and we're gonna help him figure out what makes the

693
00:40:25.519 --> 00:40:28.039
<v Speaker 7>most sense. He's gonna have some great guys to look

694
00:40:28.079 --> 00:40:30.639
<v Speaker 7>around the clubhouse and pick their brain on it as well,

695
00:40:31.079 --> 00:40:34.719
<v Speaker 7>and we'll figure out that in between start routine, and

696
00:40:34.760 --> 00:40:37.199
<v Speaker 7>then we're gonna let him go, and then we'll figure

697
00:40:37.199 --> 00:40:40.360
<v Speaker 7>out as we get into the year how he's doing,

698
00:40:40.400 --> 00:40:46.320
<v Speaker 7>how he's maintaining his stuff. But this guy is incredibly talented,

699
00:40:48.039 --> 00:40:52.480
<v Speaker 7>but there's still real development left, and his desire is

700
00:40:52.559 --> 00:40:54.719
<v Speaker 7>to be the first Japanese pitcher to win a Sai

701
00:40:54.800 --> 00:40:59.360
<v Speaker 7>Young Award. He definitely has that ability. And you know,

702
00:40:59.480 --> 00:41:03.679
<v Speaker 7>between his ability, the curiosity, the work ethic, the determination,

703
00:41:04.199 --> 00:41:07.280
<v Speaker 7>and our staff, we think there's a chance for really

704
00:41:07.280 --> 00:41:08.519
<v Speaker 7>special things to happen.

705
00:41:08.920 --> 00:41:12.199
<v Speaker 1>How many man hours have you put in trying to

706
00:41:12.239 --> 00:41:15.519
<v Speaker 1>scout him be prepared for this moment? Andrew, this was

707
00:41:15.599 --> 00:41:18.039
<v Speaker 1>not a few weeks or a few months, This was

708
00:41:18.079 --> 00:41:19.760
<v Speaker 1>a few years.

709
00:41:19.840 --> 00:41:22.840
<v Speaker 7>Yeah, I don't know how to answer that, but I

710
00:41:22.880 --> 00:41:25.719
<v Speaker 7>know that Galen Carr it would have been cheaper had

711
00:41:25.719 --> 00:41:30.000
<v Speaker 7>he just gotten an apartment in Japan. You know, he

712
00:41:30.079 --> 00:41:33.239
<v Speaker 7>spent so much time over there just watching him and

713
00:41:33.519 --> 00:41:36.760
<v Speaker 7>obviously we couldn't have contact, but I think he could

714
00:41:36.800 --> 00:41:39.119
<v Speaker 7>feel our presence, he knew the teams that were there.

715
00:41:39.480 --> 00:41:40.679
<v Speaker 1>He knew that a vice.

716
00:41:40.480 --> 00:41:43.119
<v Speaker 7>President from the Dodgers I think was there, and it

717
00:41:43.199 --> 00:41:47.079
<v Speaker 7>was a sign of respect, but also our strong desire

718
00:41:48.280 --> 00:41:52.159
<v Speaker 7>to partner with him at some point and the potential

719
00:41:52.320 --> 00:41:54.760
<v Speaker 7>upside that comes with that. But there were a lot

720
00:41:54.800 --> 00:41:59.440
<v Speaker 7>of people, you know who Rokie's been on the radar

721
00:42:00.079 --> 00:42:04.039
<v Speaker 7>for years now, and then even just this process, just

722
00:42:04.079 --> 00:42:09.280
<v Speaker 7>a number of people who stepped up and contributed, from Sue,

723
00:42:09.360 --> 00:42:12.760
<v Speaker 7>Joe and Hunter helping us put together videos and anime,

724
00:42:14.360 --> 00:42:18.840
<v Speaker 7>you know, to obviously our QA group and our performance

725
00:42:18.880 --> 00:42:23.199
<v Speaker 7>science and our scouts and just the whole group, Tyrone

726
00:42:23.239 --> 00:42:27.199
<v Speaker 7>and Kristen in the kitchen to talk through that. Just

727
00:42:27.480 --> 00:42:31.679
<v Speaker 7>every different department had their fingerprints on this to ensure

728
00:42:31.679 --> 00:42:33.159
<v Speaker 7>that we were putting our best foot forward.

729
00:42:33.280 --> 00:42:36.400
<v Speaker 1>That doesn't sound like and Andrew Friedman that thought he

730
00:42:36.440 --> 00:42:39.679
<v Speaker 1>had Roki Sazaki in the bag two years ago, three

731
00:42:39.760 --> 00:42:40.239
<v Speaker 1>years ago.

732
00:42:40.719 --> 00:42:45.039
<v Speaker 7>Yeah, you can ask my cardiologists. We definitely did not. Yeah,

733
00:42:45.119 --> 00:42:48.360
<v Speaker 7>I mean, there's gonna be noise. It's so ridiculous.

734
00:42:49.840 --> 00:42:50.039
<v Speaker 1>You know.

735
00:42:50.440 --> 00:42:54.519
<v Speaker 7>The funniest for me is people who said before the

736
00:42:54.559 --> 00:42:56.639
<v Speaker 7>process started, oh, he's going to go to the Dodgers,

737
00:42:56.960 --> 00:42:58.440
<v Speaker 7>and then he went to the Dodgers, and like.

738
00:42:58.400 --> 00:42:59.400
<v Speaker 1>See the fix is in.

739
00:43:00.000 --> 00:43:01.719
<v Speaker 7>It's like, no, the reason you thought he was going

740
00:43:01.760 --> 00:43:04.880
<v Speaker 7>to come to the Dodgers were pretty compelling reasons, and

741
00:43:04.920 --> 00:43:07.719
<v Speaker 7>he agreed and felt like we would be the best

742
00:43:07.719 --> 00:43:11.880
<v Speaker 7>place to partner with our city, our fans, our ability

743
00:43:11.880 --> 00:43:16.000
<v Speaker 7>to help make players better, friends, and familiar faces that

744
00:43:16.039 --> 00:43:21.280
<v Speaker 7>he already knows. There are so many reasons that we

745
00:43:21.360 --> 00:43:25.480
<v Speaker 7>felt like, and obviously we were biased that it made sense,

746
00:43:25.639 --> 00:43:27.760
<v Speaker 7>but we weren't sure how it was going to land.

747
00:43:27.800 --> 00:43:31.159
<v Speaker 7>With a twenty three year old and having Yoshinobu and

748
00:43:31.199 --> 00:43:34.960
<v Speaker 7>Shoh We're either going to be incredibly helpful or the

749
00:43:35.000 --> 00:43:37.320
<v Speaker 7>exact opposite, and we weren't sure which one.

750
00:43:37.559 --> 00:43:43.159
<v Speaker 1>Andrew, you've been the most aggressive GM Baseball Operations department

751
00:43:43.639 --> 00:43:46.840
<v Speaker 1>all off season along it feels like even though we're

752
00:43:46.880 --> 00:43:49.639
<v Speaker 1>just a few weeks away from pitchers and catchers reporting,

753
00:43:50.000 --> 00:43:52.360
<v Speaker 1>it still feels like the wheels are turning and you

754
00:43:52.440 --> 00:43:58.119
<v Speaker 1>still feel like you could make this roster just fit better. Yeah.

755
00:43:58.159 --> 00:44:01.440
<v Speaker 7>I mean we talk about this a lot. We can't

756
00:44:01.440 --> 00:44:04.599
<v Speaker 7>find the off switch. We're always looking for opportunities to

757
00:44:04.639 --> 00:44:07.960
<v Speaker 7>make this team better. Sometimes it doesn't line up and

758
00:44:08.000 --> 00:44:11.920
<v Speaker 7>work out, sometimes it does, but it will never stop

759
00:44:11.960 --> 00:44:15.119
<v Speaker 7>our effort and trying to figure out things that make

760
00:44:15.199 --> 00:44:16.559
<v Speaker 7>sense for us to make us better.

761
00:44:17.119 --> 00:44:20.559
<v Speaker 1>You clean up really nice for these press conferences. Man.

762
00:44:20.800 --> 00:44:22.639
<v Speaker 1>I wish I could have seen you two weeks ago

763
00:44:22.679 --> 00:44:24.559
<v Speaker 1>see what Andrew Freeman's life was like.

764
00:44:25.199 --> 00:44:27.760
<v Speaker 7>First of all, there are some pretty heavy bags under

765
00:44:27.760 --> 00:44:30.480
<v Speaker 7>my eyes. Second all, I gotta return this suit by six,

766
00:44:30.519 --> 00:44:31.440
<v Speaker 7>so we gotta get going.

767
00:44:32.400 --> 00:44:35.519
<v Speaker 1>Thanks a lot, and congratulations to not only you, but

768
00:44:35.599 --> 00:44:38.320
<v Speaker 1>your scuting department on the Pacific RIM because I know

769
00:44:38.840 --> 00:44:40.639
<v Speaker 1>you give them a lot of credit. You don't do

770
00:44:40.679 --> 00:44:44.400
<v Speaker 1>it all by yourself, So congratulations to the entire organization.

771
00:44:45.039 --> 00:44:45.400
<v Speaker 1>Thank you.

772
00:44:45.480 --> 00:44:49.639
<v Speaker 7>And that's what's most special. It's just how many different

773
00:44:49.679 --> 00:44:52.639
<v Speaker 7>people played a part in this. And I don't know,

774
00:44:52.719 --> 00:44:54.519
<v Speaker 7>but I feel like if you take out any one

775
00:44:54.559 --> 00:44:57.840
<v Speaker 7>of those pieces, it's like a Jenga or it just

776
00:44:57.880 --> 00:45:00.679
<v Speaker 7>falls down. So for us to all be and together

777
00:45:00.880 --> 00:45:04.159
<v Speaker 7>and do this together and get to this outcome is

778
00:45:04.199 --> 00:45:04.920
<v Speaker 7>really special.

779
00:45:05.199 --> 00:45:06.719
<v Speaker 1>Well, I'm glad you got a full head of Harry.

780
00:45:06.719 --> 00:45:08.559
<v Speaker 1>You didn't pull it all out. We'll see you in

781
00:45:08.599 --> 00:45:09.239
<v Speaker 1>spring training.

782
00:45:09.639 --> 00:45:10.199
<v Speaker 5>Thanks Dave.

783
00:45:10.559 --> 00:45:14.000
<v Speaker 1>Appreciate Andrew Freeman for that exclusive one on one interview

784
00:45:14.119 --> 00:45:18.239
<v Speaker 1>after the Rokie Sazaki press conference. It was a very

785
00:45:18.360 --> 00:45:21.079
<v Speaker 1>joyful day at Dodger Stadium, a lot of man hours,

786
00:45:21.079 --> 00:45:25.159
<v Speaker 1>not only Andrew but obviously his Pacific Rim scouting staff.

787
00:45:25.280 --> 00:45:30.239
<v Speaker 1>Very happy for all of them, so congratulations, and obviously

788
00:45:30.280 --> 00:45:33.079
<v Speaker 1>it just made a lot of sense for Rokie Sazaki

789
00:45:33.119 --> 00:45:36.039
<v Speaker 1>to be in LA. That'll do it for us. On

790
00:45:36.079 --> 00:45:40.280
<v Speaker 1>this exclusive podcast edition of Dodger Talk. We'll do this

791
00:45:40.360 --> 00:45:43.039
<v Speaker 1>again next Wednesday. How about that. I'll give you another

792
00:45:43.119 --> 00:45:47.320
<v Speaker 1>Dodger Talk next week leading up to FanFest on February first.

793
00:45:47.679 --> 00:45:51.159
<v Speaker 1>You can follow me on social media on x at

794
00:45:51.159 --> 00:45:56.400
<v Speaker 1>the Real Underscore DV and on Instagram at officially Vassa.

795
00:45:56.880 --> 00:45:59.440
<v Speaker 1>Thanks for joining us and spending time with us. Hope

796
00:45:59.480 --> 00:46:01.840
<v Speaker 1>you're safe and we will talk to you next week.

797
00:46:02.119 --> 00:46:02.639
<v Speaker 1>See us.

798
00:46:02.639 --> 00:46:13.079
<v Speaker 3>It's true time saving away, time saving not till then

799
00:46:13.119 --> 00:46:18.320
<v Speaker 3>tell youself and the season to turn the gel the

800
00:46:18.519 --> 00:46:25.000
<v Speaker 3>door by six seventh. They just darn it. I'm well,

801
00:46:25.320 --> 00:46:29.400
<v Speaker 3>just tell more'll make.

802
00:46:29.440 --> 00:46:37.079
<v Speaker 1>Me so silly, So just child, make it. You'll never

803
00:46:37.440 --> 00:46:38.760
<v Speaker 1>un stand me.

804
00:46:39.960 --> 00:46:42.599
<v Speaker 3>Let's just standing in my shoes.

805
00:46:43.639 --> 00:46:47.920
<v Speaker 1>You see nothing. I hate the sault, say.

806
00:46:47.880 --> 00:46:53.199
<v Speaker 3>The seven of the field, but the next was all

807
00:46:53.400 --> 00:47:00.199
<v Speaker 3>so fast, the lion able to see the deal's n

808
00:47:00.880 --> 00:47:07.599
<v Speaker 3>saving away the time I was like that away the

809
00:47:07.840 --> 00:47:08.639
<v Speaker 3>time I was

810
00:47:10.800 --> 00:47:11.199
<v Speaker 4>Mm hmm