WEBVTT 1 00:00:21.399 --> 00:00:24.559 Hello, and welcome to Batflips and Nerds, the Baseball podcast 2 00:00:24.640 --> 00:00:27.480 with a British twist. I am your host this evening, 3 00:00:27.519 --> 00:00:30.399 Ben Carter. We're back after a little hiatus. Not for 4 00:00:30.440 --> 00:00:32.240 the first time I'm sacking hiatus, but yeah, Happy new 5 00:00:32.280 --> 00:00:34.560 Year to everyone belatedly. I hope you're all doing well 6 00:00:34.560 --> 00:00:37.039 out there, joining me to discuss some of the off 7 00:00:37.079 --> 00:00:40.520 season fun. I've got two of our real baseball savants 8 00:00:40.520 --> 00:00:43.439 in the building, starting with Ron Rivera wearing an Orioles 9 00:00:43.439 --> 00:00:43.840 hat tonight. 10 00:00:43.840 --> 00:00:46.960 How are you, Rob, Yeah, I'm feeling great because I 11 00:00:46.960 --> 00:00:48.799 have an Oriol's hat is really orange. And you know what, 12 00:00:49.200 --> 00:00:51.000 as much as I'm not particularly fond of the Orioles, 13 00:00:51.039 --> 00:00:53.320 I've got to say when it comes to hat swag, 14 00:00:53.719 --> 00:00:56.079 I do think the Orioles are for like standard hat, 15 00:00:56.119 --> 00:00:58.759 this is probably probably one of the real best out there. 16 00:00:58.799 --> 00:00:59.880 I really like the Orioles hat. 17 00:01:00.719 --> 00:01:03.920 Yeah, they've got some good match, haven't they. Also joining 18 00:01:04.000 --> 00:01:05.519 us the seven. You may have just heard him there 19 00:01:05.560 --> 00:01:07.159 and putting on the hat for a team I can't 20 00:01:07.239 --> 00:01:09.680 quite identify yet. It's Darius Austin. He's given up on 21 00:01:09.719 --> 00:01:11.159 the hat. How are you, Darious? 22 00:01:11.879 --> 00:01:12.280 I'm good? 23 00:01:12.319 --> 00:01:15.280 Thank you? Yeah, it has been a while. It's been 24 00:01:15.359 --> 00:01:18.959 I guess since what the first weekend of November. Yeah, 25 00:01:19.400 --> 00:01:23.480 that whole world, serious thing that happened back on the pod, 26 00:01:23.599 --> 00:01:27.159 and we've got quite a lot to talk about, we do. 27 00:01:27.319 --> 00:01:28.920 Yeah, last time we spoke, we were both a little 28 00:01:28.959 --> 00:01:32.079 bit delirious having watched one of the most insane games 29 00:01:32.120 --> 00:01:35.519 and series I can remember seeing. And yeah, at at 30 00:01:35.560 --> 00:01:37.120 the very same time, a lot has happened, and almost 31 00:01:37.159 --> 00:01:40.079 nothing has happened since then, such as the baseball season. 32 00:01:40.120 --> 00:01:41.879 Have you've got I personally have not been following it 33 00:01:41.920 --> 00:01:44.239 that closely, other than seeing the occasional you know, Jeff 34 00:01:44.239 --> 00:01:46.760 Pass and botm and things like that. Have you guys 35 00:01:47.120 --> 00:01:50.799 been staying very connected to every minor transaction or are 36 00:01:50.840 --> 00:01:53.640 you taking Have you been taking time off from baseball news? Rob? 37 00:01:55.120 --> 00:01:58.799 No, No, every minor transaction. I know where every Rule 38 00:01:58.879 --> 00:02:03.519 five has gone. I've been following the exploits of everyone 39 00:02:03.599 --> 00:02:06.920 defade from the Rockies. I am totally zoned in on 40 00:02:07.000 --> 00:02:11.199 the minor transactions. God only knows about the big ones, 41 00:02:11.199 --> 00:02:13.280 because I'm not sure some of the some of the 42 00:02:13.319 --> 00:02:14.960 teams know what they're doing with the big ones either, 43 00:02:15.039 --> 00:02:17.240 But the minor ones I am there. 44 00:02:17.120 --> 00:02:19.759 For well, I think you maybe are teasing a pot 45 00:02:19.840 --> 00:02:21.199 we're going to be doing at some point in the 46 00:02:21.240 --> 00:02:23.680 next maybe a month or two, where we're going to 47 00:02:23.719 --> 00:02:25.719 look at some of the under the radar signings, shall 48 00:02:25.719 --> 00:02:28.080 we say, that have taken place over the off season. 49 00:02:28.080 --> 00:02:29.400 But I think today we're going to focus a bit 50 00:02:29.400 --> 00:02:31.240 more on some of those bigger names. And it feels 51 00:02:31.280 --> 00:02:34.080 like some of those dominoes actually have fallen in the 52 00:02:34.159 --> 00:02:36.520 last few days. It was obviously quiet period. Maybe that's 53 00:02:36.560 --> 00:02:38.319 you know, Christmas and New Year related, but now it 54 00:02:38.360 --> 00:02:40.120 feels like some of the bigger names that had been 55 00:02:40.159 --> 00:02:43.280 waiting are starting to sign on the dotted line. Darius, 56 00:02:43.319 --> 00:02:44.879 have you been Have you been keeping a close on everything? 57 00:02:44.919 --> 00:02:47.960 I feel like usually you're pretty on the button with these. 58 00:02:47.840 --> 00:02:52.719 Things I have. I am somewhat you know, contractually obliged 59 00:02:52.719 --> 00:02:56.319 to do so any more perspectives, certainly for two of 60 00:02:56.319 --> 00:03:00.439 the divisions, I have to pay attention to the minor transactions. 61 00:03:00.479 --> 00:03:03.599 Time to plug the baseball prospective Daniel available to purchase now, 62 00:03:04.159 --> 00:03:06.000 we'll be out very soon in the next few weeks. 63 00:03:06.280 --> 00:03:08.280 Lots of great work and they're doing that. But yes, 64 00:03:08.360 --> 00:03:12.199 I have been following the dullest of dull transactions, just 65 00:03:12.240 --> 00:03:15.599 because we have to. So, yeah, I know everything that's 66 00:03:15.599 --> 00:03:20.520 happened that I don't know everything that's happened enough, but 67 00:03:20.599 --> 00:03:24.840 only the minor ones. More than a million, then it's 68 00:03:24.879 --> 00:03:25.400 it's nothing. 69 00:03:27.919 --> 00:03:29.199 Rob does it for the love of the game. There's 70 00:03:29.199 --> 00:03:31.280 nothing in his backflips contracts about having to know anything 71 00:03:31.280 --> 00:03:34.080 about baseball. So this is just pure and I show 72 00:03:34.120 --> 00:03:34.840 that regularly. 73 00:03:38.639 --> 00:03:38.800 Right. 74 00:03:38.840 --> 00:03:40.639 Well, yeah, I think we're going to start off talking 75 00:03:40.680 --> 00:03:43.439 through some of the big obviously some transactions. We have 76 00:03:43.479 --> 00:03:45.759 had a little bit of sort of breaking news transaction 77 00:03:45.800 --> 00:03:48.199 wise as we started to record, which is always exciting 78 00:03:48.479 --> 00:03:51.719 usually happens as we finished recordings and started it was 79 00:03:51.759 --> 00:03:53.520 to start the pod this time. So I think we're 80 00:03:53.520 --> 00:03:56.240 going to maybe do a quick draft of our favorite 81 00:03:57.080 --> 00:03:59.719 moves so far this off season free agent signings. I'm 82 00:03:59.759 --> 00:04:01.560 going to you, guys, take this in whatever way you want. 83 00:04:01.599 --> 00:04:03.680 You can either just draft the players that you are 84 00:04:03.680 --> 00:04:06.759 most excited to see wearing new launching next season, or 85 00:04:06.800 --> 00:04:09.680 you can draft the contract that you like the most 86 00:04:09.800 --> 00:04:11.280 or the fit that you like the most. We haven't 87 00:04:11.319 --> 00:04:15.159 really put any rules in place of how this draft's 88 00:04:15.159 --> 00:04:18.240 gonna work, but We've got a good list of sort 89 00:04:18.279 --> 00:04:20.959 of five ten different names here of yeah, fairly major 90 00:04:21.000 --> 00:04:24.519 guys who've now signed new contracts. I'll maybe let you 91 00:04:24.600 --> 00:04:26.000 kick us off, Rob, seeing as you've been keeping a 92 00:04:26.040 --> 00:04:26.759 cloth sign all. 93 00:04:26.680 --> 00:04:30.279 The moves, all the moves, the little ones, all the moves. 94 00:04:30.920 --> 00:04:35.800 Which of the bigger moves Michael Tolia accepted are you 95 00:04:36.000 --> 00:04:39.079 most jazzed about after the winter we've had so far. 96 00:04:40.360 --> 00:04:42.040 It's a hard way to think about it. So do 97 00:04:42.079 --> 00:04:44.560 I do I go with jazz because it's an interesting move, 98 00:04:44.639 --> 00:04:47.279 or do I go with jazz because it's you know, 99 00:04:47.480 --> 00:04:49.439 it's a good move for a team or something. You know, 100 00:04:49.439 --> 00:04:53.360 because some of these are big moves that make absolutely 101 00:04:53.399 --> 00:04:57.639 no sense whatsoever to nice in my mind, and others are, yeah, 102 00:04:57.639 --> 00:04:59.160 you can see where they're going. I'll start with a 103 00:04:59.199 --> 00:05:01.040 traditional one then, So I think the first one that 104 00:05:01.079 --> 00:05:02.639 really said seems to make sense to me that I 105 00:05:02.680 --> 00:05:06.439 think is a really good move. They win. It's Wilson 106 00:05:06.439 --> 00:05:09.480 contrals to the Red Sox. I think that's a bang on, 107 00:05:09.680 --> 00:05:13.040 spot on fit for a team that's just had disaster 108 00:05:13.120 --> 00:05:15.720 written all over first base for the last few years. 109 00:05:16.120 --> 00:05:20.079 I think he's a decent first first basement, which nobody 110 00:05:20.120 --> 00:05:22.399 saw coming because of course traditionally a catcher, but decent 111 00:05:22.439 --> 00:05:25.759 first basement as part of what has been terrible in 112 00:05:25.800 --> 00:05:28.600 field for the Red Sox. So there's already an increase 113 00:05:28.639 --> 00:05:32.560 there his profile for hitting. I think he's gonna be 114 00:05:32.680 --> 00:05:38.600 absolutely phenomenal against the city pinball wall at Fenway, and 115 00:05:39.160 --> 00:05:40.839 there's a chance for cast has to come back a 116 00:05:40.839 --> 00:05:44.160 bit more slowly. You know, he's not not been durable. 117 00:05:44.160 --> 00:05:47.160 He's he's a he's had a horrible injury. It's gonna 118 00:05:47.160 --> 00:05:48.720 take some time to get back from that. And I 119 00:05:48.720 --> 00:05:51.680 think you've got a natural platoon there and you've got 120 00:05:51.720 --> 00:05:54.759 someone who can play d H gives cass has a 121 00:05:54.800 --> 00:05:56.680 chance to go and get some rehab time in the 122 00:05:56.720 --> 00:05:58.519 minor leagues if he needs to as well. It shouldn't 123 00:05:58.560 --> 00:06:01.839 do with with with training. But yeah, I just it 124 00:06:01.959 --> 00:06:04.399 just really really fits. He's he himself has had a 125 00:06:04.480 --> 00:06:08.519 terrible time the Cardinals. You know recently that it's it's 126 00:06:08.560 --> 00:06:12.519 been bad for him, between eating tape and getting kicked 127 00:06:12.519 --> 00:06:15.240 out of being a catcher. It's not been a lovely 128 00:06:15.240 --> 00:06:16.959 fit for him there over at the Cardinals. But it's 129 00:06:16.959 --> 00:06:19.519 supposed to be a big move for them the sort 130 00:06:19.560 --> 00:06:21.319 of the beginning of them pushing back towards something it 131 00:06:21.319 --> 00:06:24.399 really matters, and it hasn't happened. So I think Wilson 132 00:06:24.399 --> 00:06:27.240 Contreras is a star of the game that we need 133 00:06:27.240 --> 00:06:28.879 to see a bit more in a team that's going 134 00:06:28.959 --> 00:06:30.199 to be doing well, and I think this this is 135 00:06:30.240 --> 00:06:33.720 the place for him, spot on move and I think 136 00:06:33.720 --> 00:06:36.879 he's gonna look good in the in the Red Sox. 137 00:06:37.560 --> 00:06:39.839 Yeah, I like that one. As you say, I think 138 00:06:39.959 --> 00:06:42.959 Cassas obviously has struggled so much with injury, and there's 139 00:06:43.000 --> 00:06:45.639 the I guess theoretical quite a nice patune between the 140 00:06:45.639 --> 00:06:47.959 two of those guys. There one who can mash right, 141 00:06:48.000 --> 00:06:49.480 he's one who can mash left. Is it when they're 142 00:06:49.480 --> 00:06:51.879 both fit? So yeah, that's that's a nice move for 143 00:06:51.879 --> 00:06:53.439 the Red Sox. I know that maybe some of their 144 00:06:53.480 --> 00:06:55.800 fans have been a bit upset about missing out on 145 00:06:55.800 --> 00:06:57.240 one of the other guys who signed somewhere, but I 146 00:06:57.279 --> 00:07:00.759 think that's a sneaky good addition to their lineup when 147 00:07:00.879 --> 00:07:03.720 Contreras is clicking Darius, which moved did you like the 148 00:07:03.759 --> 00:07:04.759 most so far this winter? 149 00:07:06.199 --> 00:07:09.720 I'm going for tatsu Imai to the Astros. I think 150 00:07:09.759 --> 00:07:12.399 We've seen maybe certainly two and perhaps all three of 151 00:07:12.439 --> 00:07:17.519 the MPV converts get less money than we expected. But 152 00:07:17.639 --> 00:07:19.959 I think Ima I was considered to be a pretty 153 00:07:20.040 --> 00:07:24.720 high upside starting pitcher. We've certainly seen guys in recent 154 00:07:24.759 --> 00:07:28.519 years come over shot Managa being the most recent, I guess, 155 00:07:28.560 --> 00:07:31.040 and have pretty big success. I think I can at 156 00:07:31.120 --> 00:07:34.360 least be in that category of picture. So I love 157 00:07:34.439 --> 00:07:36.040 to deal for the Astros. They needed a bit of 158 00:07:36.160 --> 00:07:39.360 rotation help with Valdez leaving, there's some questions at the 159 00:07:39.360 --> 00:07:41.920 back end, so to have him to join Hunter Brown 160 00:07:42.399 --> 00:07:44.480 at the top there, I think is really good for them, 161 00:07:44.959 --> 00:07:48.680 and they're obviously looking to overturn what was pretty disappointing 162 00:07:48.720 --> 00:07:50.920 season for them, actually not making the playoffs for the 163 00:07:50.959 --> 00:07:53.680 first time in forever. So yeah, I really loved that move, 164 00:07:53.680 --> 00:07:55.879 and I would just generally quite excited to see how 165 00:07:55.879 --> 00:07:57.279 it gets on in MLB as well. 166 00:07:58.800 --> 00:08:01.079 Yeah. I won't pretend to know much about im. I 167 00:08:01.079 --> 00:08:03.519 am not a big MPB watcher, but I know that 168 00:08:04.519 --> 00:08:06.920 he seems to be on that sort of middle tier. Maybe. Yeah, 169 00:08:06.959 --> 00:08:09.800 the comparison new Makers is apt, certainly not on the 170 00:08:09.879 --> 00:08:11.720 level of some of the bigger names that have come 171 00:08:11.759 --> 00:08:15.480 over the last couple of years, Yamamotos and whatnot. But 172 00:08:15.560 --> 00:08:18.000 I think he, yeah, seems to be on that slightly 173 00:08:18.000 --> 00:08:19.480 tier below and it seems like a good deal on 174 00:08:19.519 --> 00:08:22.319 paper at that value. Is it one of those where 175 00:08:22.319 --> 00:08:24.279 he's got opt outs after every year, where in theory 176 00:08:24.319 --> 00:08:25.879 it could be a one year deal if he dominates 177 00:08:25.920 --> 00:08:26.319 this year. 178 00:08:27.000 --> 00:08:30.000 I think it's the the Bregman from last season. 179 00:08:30.079 --> 00:08:31.040 Yeah. Yeah. 180 00:08:31.160 --> 00:08:34.320 If he does well, he'll stopped out immediately pretty much. 181 00:08:34.360 --> 00:08:35.840 Yeah, So it's something that's moved for him because, like 182 00:08:35.879 --> 00:08:38.039 you say, if he does turn out to be unbelievable, 183 00:08:38.039 --> 00:08:39.919 then he can cash him more next year. And for 184 00:08:39.960 --> 00:08:42.799 the Astros, it's a pretty low risk at that amount 185 00:08:42.840 --> 00:08:45.080 of time and that amount of money option to fill 186 00:08:45.120 --> 00:08:47.480 out their rotation. And it's always exciting getting guys over 187 00:08:47.519 --> 00:08:49.639 here who we've just have never seen play, who you know, 188 00:08:49.840 --> 00:08:51.399 have done well over in Japan and just see how 189 00:08:51.399 --> 00:08:53.960 they adapt to to the major So that'll be an 190 00:08:53.960 --> 00:08:55.559 interesting one to keep an eye on. Rob Any strong 191 00:08:55.600 --> 00:08:57.600 thoughts on on am I an excitement around him. 192 00:08:59.559 --> 00:09:03.679 Not specially him. I think it's it's more talk on 193 00:09:03.679 --> 00:09:06.879 on what we know about the Japanese players. I again 194 00:09:07.000 --> 00:09:08.679 don't pretend to know an awful lot about him. But 195 00:09:08.720 --> 00:09:12.279 what I've been hearing elsewhere is that there's such a 196 00:09:12.320 --> 00:09:16.080 picture friendly situation in the NPB at the moment that 197 00:09:16.720 --> 00:09:19.399 we really don't kind of know how good these guys 198 00:09:19.399 --> 00:09:22.519 are going to be compared to to m IBB because 199 00:09:22.519 --> 00:09:25.159 it's it's it's all a bit skewed. So I think 200 00:09:25.440 --> 00:09:27.159 these three guys are going to be a bit of 201 00:09:27.200 --> 00:09:31.679 a litmus test this year and then and then next year. 202 00:09:31.759 --> 00:09:34.840 In theory is when if they if they're good, I 203 00:09:34.919 --> 00:09:36.759 of course see a wave of this and they're all 204 00:09:36.799 --> 00:09:39.919 going to get paid if they're okay and not so 205 00:09:39.960 --> 00:09:41.639 good this year, I think it might sort of set 206 00:09:41.679 --> 00:09:42.960 it all back a little a couple of years. But 207 00:09:43.600 --> 00:09:46.240 so so it's a really interesting one to see what 208 00:09:46.240 --> 00:09:48.000 what's going to happen for future years because I think 209 00:09:48.039 --> 00:09:49.200 this is this is, as I said, a bit of 210 00:09:49.240 --> 00:09:50.240 a litmus test. 211 00:09:50.559 --> 00:09:53.200 Yeah, I'll actually keep it on a similar note and 212 00:09:53.279 --> 00:09:56.799 I'll put Moon Attacker Murakami down as my pick. I 213 00:09:56.799 --> 00:09:58.399 hope I'm getting his name right there, but he obviously 214 00:09:58.399 --> 00:10:01.799 another guy is coming over from who maybe surprisingly signed 215 00:10:01.799 --> 00:10:04.559 a deal with the White Sox of all teams for yeah, 216 00:10:04.600 --> 00:10:08.799 two year, thirty four million dollar contract, which again feels 217 00:10:08.799 --> 00:10:10.840 pretty low risk for the White Sox. I think I 218 00:10:10.840 --> 00:10:12.840 don't know whether the projections have Morecami down as with 219 00:10:12.879 --> 00:10:15.840 that feels probably lower than what we anticipated for him. 220 00:10:15.879 --> 00:10:18.559 I know he is He's a big fella, isn't he 221 00:10:18.600 --> 00:10:21.000 And he's not old he's twenty five, but he's probably 222 00:10:21.000 --> 00:10:23.559 limited to playing first. But I know there's a ton 223 00:10:23.600 --> 00:10:25.799 of power in that bat, but also maybe the concerns 224 00:10:25.840 --> 00:10:29.240 that he could just strike out too much to even 225 00:10:29.320 --> 00:10:31.600 be able to pass as in every day regular so 226 00:10:31.639 --> 00:10:33.960 I guess at least with that investment for the White Sox, 227 00:10:34.000 --> 00:10:35.960 who are a team certainly in need of taking home 228 00:10:36.039 --> 00:10:39.799 run swings mesaphorically and literally, it feels like a nice 229 00:10:39.799 --> 00:10:41.960 match for them. You know, he's been a record setter 230 00:10:42.519 --> 00:10:44.120 over in Japan. I think there'll be a lot of 231 00:10:44.159 --> 00:10:46.679 excitement around him, which is something again that White Soxs 232 00:10:46.679 --> 00:10:48.799 have been missing for a few years now. So I 233 00:10:48.840 --> 00:10:50.840 think that feels like a really exciting deal or something 234 00:10:50.840 --> 00:10:53.320 that White Sox fan should be amped for. And we 235 00:10:53.480 --> 00:10:55.919 have seen hitters from MPB I think take a bit 236 00:10:55.960 --> 00:10:58.360 more time to adjust in the past, just because maybe, 237 00:10:58.360 --> 00:11:00.759 as you say, Rob that league is so different in 238 00:11:00.840 --> 00:11:03.039 terms of the way pictures dominate that sometimes they just 239 00:11:03.159 --> 00:11:06.600 is that period of having to adjust to the majors. 240 00:11:06.879 --> 00:11:08.840 But we've also seen guys really succeed. You've come over, 241 00:11:08.879 --> 00:11:10.960 says as you obviously for the Cubs, and plenty of 242 00:11:10.960 --> 00:11:13.440 others who have been able to make it work. And 243 00:11:13.440 --> 00:11:15.000 I'll be interested to see if he can yet have 244 00:11:15.039 --> 00:11:16.519 a great couple of years for the White Sox. And 245 00:11:16.519 --> 00:11:18.240 then again he'll be young enough to maybe sign up 246 00:11:18.240 --> 00:11:20.440 a third extension if all goes well, but knowing the 247 00:11:20.440 --> 00:11:22.279 White Sox, he'll probably be out of the lead by 248 00:11:22.320 --> 00:11:25.519 August and unable to hold down a job. But yeah, 249 00:11:25.519 --> 00:11:27.159 I don't know if you guys know more about Murakami 250 00:11:27.279 --> 00:11:29.159 or have anything that you wanted to add. 251 00:11:29.840 --> 00:11:34.360 Yeah, an interesting one, just because I feel like this 252 00:11:34.559 --> 00:11:37.039 was a little bit telegraphed. Certain the projections are very high. 253 00:11:37.039 --> 00:11:39.080 I think trade rooms said about one hundred and eighty million, 254 00:11:39.559 --> 00:11:42.480 so the third really a long way off. I don't 255 00:11:42.519 --> 00:11:44.960 think others were quite as high, but it's still triple 256 00:11:44.960 --> 00:11:48.960 digit in the millions. But there was a lot of chatter, 257 00:11:49.159 --> 00:11:51.519 you know, in the run up to him being posted 258 00:11:51.559 --> 00:11:54.720 about how high the strike out rate had been in Japan, which, 259 00:11:54.759 --> 00:11:57.120 as you said earlier, has been a pre picture for 260 00:11:57.159 --> 00:11:59.000 aendly league lately, so maybe that has something to do 261 00:11:59.080 --> 00:12:01.639 with it. But he has really seen close to thirty 262 00:12:01.639 --> 00:12:04.399 percent rate each of the last three seasons. So if 263 00:12:04.559 --> 00:12:06.960 you're looking at him striking out thirty four thirty five 264 00:12:06.960 --> 00:12:09.799 percent the time in MLB, we are talking, you know, 265 00:12:09.879 --> 00:12:12.399 Joey Gallo and Joey Gallo had some good seasons, but 266 00:12:12.480 --> 00:12:14.799 Joey Gallo also had some you know, can you really 267 00:12:14.799 --> 00:12:17.279 play this guy seasons? And he was a much better 268 00:12:17.279 --> 00:12:20.519 defender than Mcamis. So I think that's why we've ended 269 00:12:20.559 --> 00:12:22.120 up here. I think it will be looked at that. 270 00:12:22.519 --> 00:12:24.559 I think there was a lot about him really struggling 271 00:12:24.600 --> 00:12:27.679 against high heat, which you don't see very much in Japan, 272 00:12:27.679 --> 00:12:29.559 but when pictures were throwing hard against him, he was 273 00:12:29.600 --> 00:12:32.440 really struggling. And it clearly seems like a lot of 274 00:12:32.440 --> 00:12:34.519 teams have said, you know what, we don't think this 275 00:12:34.600 --> 00:12:37.519 is going to play white socks in perfect place, you know, 276 00:12:37.600 --> 00:12:39.240 perfect team to take a flyer on him if it 277 00:12:39.279 --> 00:12:42.600 works out. Yeah, he's a young guy. He could easily 278 00:12:42.639 --> 00:12:44.519 mash forty fifty fingers in the big leagues when the 279 00:12:44.519 --> 00:12:47.000 power he's got, so it could be fantastic, or it 280 00:12:47.039 --> 00:12:49.200 could be, you know, a one eighty batting average in 281 00:12:49.519 --> 00:12:51.679 out of the league by August. 282 00:12:52.840 --> 00:12:54.960 It is a little surprising to me that it was 283 00:12:55.039 --> 00:12:57.480 the White Sox. I do. I mean, I had the 284 00:12:57.519 --> 00:13:00.159 same thoughts about Utani when it happened. But I do 285 00:13:00.240 --> 00:13:03.440 wonder if he got kidnapped at the airport and driven 286 00:13:03.480 --> 00:13:06.840 to the wrong stadium, because you know, I've been to O'Hare. 287 00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:08.879 It's big, it's a monster of an airport like, and 288 00:13:08.919 --> 00:13:11.039 it's very, very easy to go the wrong way. So 289 00:13:11.200 --> 00:13:15.159 you know, I imagine was he supposed to be at Wrigley? 290 00:13:15.240 --> 00:13:15.720 Who knows? 291 00:13:17.720 --> 00:13:19.519 Just sees the ivy going further away in the rear 292 00:13:19.559 --> 00:13:22.159 view mirror. Hang on, what isn't that? Well? Oh, hang 293 00:13:22.240 --> 00:13:26.480 on right, Let's do another round then rob back to you. 294 00:13:26.559 --> 00:13:29.240 Who's Who's another player that you liked the move for 295 00:13:29.360 --> 00:13:30.080 this this winter. 296 00:13:31.120 --> 00:13:32.960 We've got so many here that I want to talk about, 297 00:13:33.000 --> 00:13:34.720 but not many of them about actually being any good 298 00:13:34.720 --> 00:13:37.360 at anything. Let's give it a stupid one then, so 299 00:13:39.320 --> 00:13:42.559 and we'll go that Homer pick I liked the trade 300 00:13:43.039 --> 00:13:49.159 of between the Reggie's the Pirates and the Astros, which 301 00:13:49.240 --> 00:13:53.200 sent Brandon, Mason Montgomery and Jake Marriingham to the Pirates 302 00:13:53.759 --> 00:13:57.080 for a couple of prospects, and someone else somehow also 303 00:13:57.159 --> 00:14:00.200 the Astros got involved. And I really like it for 304 00:14:00.320 --> 00:14:02.840 the Pirates because there are some really good guys here 305 00:14:04.120 --> 00:14:06.720 and it almost feels like it's a bit of a 306 00:14:06.840 --> 00:14:08.919 bit of an undo of the the Chris Arch trade 307 00:14:08.960 --> 00:14:10.600 a few years ago, because that was a disaster for 308 00:14:10.720 --> 00:14:12.240 the Pirates to the Rays, and I think like this 309 00:14:12.320 --> 00:14:14.559 is going back the other way because I do not 310 00:14:14.840 --> 00:14:18.039 get this. Sure, the Rays want to trade on Loud 311 00:14:18.080 --> 00:14:21.320 before he before he hits free agency, but Mason Montgomery 312 00:14:21.440 --> 00:14:24.799 is an absolute flame throwing lefty who's just not quite 313 00:14:24.799 --> 00:14:29.080 got there yet, and Jake Mangham has has speed and 314 00:14:29.080 --> 00:14:32.600 and on base to spare like, like, there's some really 315 00:14:32.600 --> 00:14:36.080 interesting guys here, but they've just spaffed them away for 316 00:14:36.919 --> 00:14:40.000 some sure, some prospects, but you know who knows how 317 00:14:40.080 --> 00:14:42.159 good they are, and yes, it's the Rays, so these 318 00:14:42.159 --> 00:14:44.879 will probably turned out fantastic. But right now, this looks 319 00:14:44.879 --> 00:14:47.440 like the Pirates have done the damn good job and 320 00:14:47.440 --> 00:14:51.759 they're going to have a much better, better showing of it. Yeah, 321 00:14:51.799 --> 00:14:54.360 maybe maybe the Pirates aren't the place to fix Mason Montgomery. 322 00:14:54.360 --> 00:14:57.120 I don't know, and you know Brandon that will be 323 00:14:57.279 --> 00:15:00.600 just another interchangeable bloke in that in that in field. 324 00:15:00.600 --> 00:15:03.159 But I think it's a good move for them. Had 325 00:15:03.200 --> 00:15:05.919 a bad mood for the Raise. Maybe I'll be proven 326 00:15:05.960 --> 00:15:08.480 wrong in the long run, but there we go. I 327 00:15:08.559 --> 00:15:10.519 like that one. I like one for the Pirates. 328 00:15:10.759 --> 00:15:13.279 Yeah, I'm glad you weighed on that because I wouldn't 329 00:15:13.279 --> 00:15:14.759 have been able to give you quite as much detail 330 00:15:14.799 --> 00:15:16.240 on some of the guys on the on the rail side. 331 00:15:16.279 --> 00:15:18.799 But I think injecting a bit of talent and young 332 00:15:19.879 --> 00:15:22.840 players to the Pittsburgh one up, it's a good thing. 333 00:15:23.440 --> 00:15:25.240 They know they were sniffing around cultural with for a bit. 334 00:15:25.279 --> 00:15:27.399 Weren't they always claiming they were sniffing around cultural with 335 00:15:27.480 --> 00:15:29.480 for a bit, which never really felt like it had 336 00:15:29.519 --> 00:15:32.480 any legs. But yeah, that's a nice move. I think 337 00:15:32.480 --> 00:15:35.200 they also signed Ryano herndon't they, So it feels like 338 00:15:35.240 --> 00:15:37.480 they're trying to do things that make the team better, 339 00:15:37.480 --> 00:15:40.720 which isn't always given with with the Pirates. So so 340 00:15:40.840 --> 00:15:42.559 that's that's nice for them. And yeah the Rais, I 341 00:15:42.559 --> 00:15:45.320 mean you kind of assume there's always something that they 342 00:15:45.360 --> 00:15:47.200 know that we don't, but this one does seem a 343 00:15:47.200 --> 00:15:49.360 little puzzling. Yeah, Darius, if you see it the same. 344 00:15:49.240 --> 00:15:53.679 Way, Yeah, it definitely wasn't the normal reaction you have 345 00:15:53.840 --> 00:15:58.440 to a pirates trade, which is usually either they've just 346 00:15:58.480 --> 00:16:02.600 made a horrible mistake or he's dumping a load of money. 347 00:16:03.440 --> 00:16:05.960 Those are usually the two types of pirates trade. If 348 00:16:05.960 --> 00:16:07.399 they had to happen to be spending any money on 349 00:16:07.440 --> 00:16:09.480 anybody in the first place, then they usually got rid 350 00:16:09.519 --> 00:16:12.960 of it pretty quick. So yeah, it's moderately encouraging. It's 351 00:16:12.960 --> 00:16:15.519 still very pirates codly, doesn't it. When I think Ryan 352 00:16:15.559 --> 00:16:18.120 o Hearn's their biggest free agent deal for about ten 353 00:16:18.200 --> 00:16:22.600 years or something, isn't he twenty nine million dollars? We're 354 00:16:23.039 --> 00:16:25.840 not quite there, but you know, it sounds like they 355 00:16:25.840 --> 00:16:28.600 were genuinely engaged or war. But it seems like maybe 356 00:16:28.639 --> 00:16:31.000 they're trying to surround Paul Skins with a team that 357 00:16:31.120 --> 00:16:34.720 could consimably hit a little bit, which would be nice 358 00:16:34.720 --> 00:16:39.159 for the poor guy. So yeah, I'm moderately encouraged by 359 00:16:39.159 --> 00:16:42.159 the Pirates attempts, and they certainly got some talent. I 360 00:16:42.200 --> 00:16:44.559 love watching Montgomery pitch when you know he knows where 361 00:16:44.559 --> 00:16:47.080 the ball is going. So yeah, I think it could 362 00:16:47.120 --> 00:16:48.279 be a pretty good treade for. 363 00:16:48.279 --> 00:16:52.440 Them, moderately encouraged, about as excited has anyone's ever been 364 00:16:52.480 --> 00:16:54.799 about the Pittsburgh Pirates. So that's that's a good start 365 00:16:54.799 --> 00:16:58.759 for them. Dish, go back to you, what's your next 366 00:16:58.960 --> 00:16:59.879 favorite transaction? 367 00:17:00.799 --> 00:17:04.240 Yeah, I think I'm actually going to go with the 368 00:17:04.279 --> 00:17:08.640 other the third MPB signing, Kazima Okamoto signing with the 369 00:17:08.640 --> 00:17:11.200 Blue Jays. Just in general, been really impressed with the 370 00:17:11.200 --> 00:17:13.200 way the Blue Jays have approached this offseason. You know, 371 00:17:13.240 --> 00:17:15.200 they're not sat there going well, we made it to 372 00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:17.920 the World Series, we'll just run it back. They've really 373 00:17:17.960 --> 00:17:20.960 gone out hard and look to upgrade their lineup, not 374 00:17:21.000 --> 00:17:23.640 just with the Kamoto, but they've also added Dylan Cease 375 00:17:23.680 --> 00:17:27.359 to the rotation. Obviously, but I like Okamota more than 376 00:17:27.440 --> 00:17:29.960 Murk Army. I think he seems like a more stable profile. 377 00:17:30.039 --> 00:17:32.799 He's got a bit more defensive versatility to him. He's 378 00:17:32.799 --> 00:17:35.039 going to hit for a much higher average and that 379 00:17:35.079 --> 00:17:39.000 lineup is looking pretty deadly to me. So yeah, excited 380 00:17:39.000 --> 00:17:41.319 to see him play. I think really excited to see 381 00:17:41.400 --> 00:17:43.680 Toronto this season. Because they were already a pretty great 382 00:17:43.680 --> 00:17:46.680 team last year and they've got better. So yeah, good 383 00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:47.160 move for them. 384 00:17:47.920 --> 00:17:49.880 Yeah yeah, I don't know a lot about him, but 385 00:17:49.880 --> 00:17:52.599 that feels like, yeah, a low risk move, exciting one, 386 00:17:52.599 --> 00:17:54.440 and like say, that lineup was already so good that 387 00:17:54.480 --> 00:17:55.880 if this is something that helps push them over the 388 00:17:56.000 --> 00:17:57.880 h they're going to certainly be a well series contendent 389 00:17:57.920 --> 00:18:02.359 once again this year, which will be fun. For my 390 00:18:02.400 --> 00:18:04.440 next one, I'll go with the obvious, I'll go I'll 391 00:18:04.440 --> 00:18:07.119 go with Alex Bregman, who signed last week with with 392 00:18:07.160 --> 00:18:09.359 the Chicago Cubs. I think, yeah, one of those big 393 00:18:09.359 --> 00:18:12.119 dominoes that we've waited a bit on to fall. Rob 394 00:18:12.160 --> 00:18:15.759 shaking his head at me, I look, no, I don't 395 00:18:15.839 --> 00:18:18.359 like it. I like Bregman as a player, and I look, 396 00:18:18.359 --> 00:18:21.039 it's a lot of money, and he probably isn't the 397 00:18:21.039 --> 00:18:23.039 player he was three or four years ago, and I 398 00:18:23.079 --> 00:18:26.400 think you can make the argument that his reputation has 399 00:18:26.440 --> 00:18:30.960 maybe always outstripped his actual production. But I think the 400 00:18:30.960 --> 00:18:32.920 clubs had to go out and do something. Having let 401 00:18:33.000 --> 00:18:36.880