Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: WVUAfm Tuscaloosa and welcome back to Student section MLB. I'm your host, Luke Torrey, joined by.
[00:00:14] Speaker B: Tyler Harrison and Luke Anderson.
[00:00:16] Speaker A: And today we have a lot to cover as full teams have finally reported to spring training and games are starting later this week.
First off, I want to start off with a pretty big topic, and today is trending on Twitter. Raphael Devers, Red Sox star player he essentially just ripped the front office apart, talking about how everybody else in the AL east didn't make any moves or everybody else in AL east got so much better and the Red Sox made no moves. He was quoted, he made some pointed comments, speaking with a reporter on Tuesday at spring training, saying he'd like to see more from the new chief baseball officer, Craig Breslow. He said, quote, everybody in this organization wants to win, but Red Sox leadership needs to make an adjustment to help us players be in a better position to win, Devers said to another reporter, everybody knows what we need. You know what we need and they know what we need. There's just some things I can't say out loud, but everybody that knows our organization and knows the game knows what we need.
The latter appeared to be a reference to the team's starting pitching as its rotation, currently on track to look like Brian Bellow, Lucas Giolito, Nick Pavetta, Cutter Crawford and Tanner Hook, none of whom had an era below four last season. So I mean, it is just absurd.
It's just kind of crazy. Like right when you're reporting to camp, your first press conference of the new year, you're just ripping into your mean. It's kind of crazy to me.
[00:01:59] Speaker C: Well, when you're in a position like the Boston Red Sox, you're expecting to sign people to maybe push for the playoffs or maybe push for a title in the next few.
I mean, if I was Devers, yeah, I'm expecting to report to training camp and see some new additions, see some familiar faces and some unfamiliar faces, and I see the exact same team that I saw last year and everybody else in my division has gotten better.
[00:02:23] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:02:24] Speaker C: So you just kind of have to live with that. And yeah, obviously there are some things he can't say due to possible fines or very bad repercussions from management. But the only upside to their starting pitcher is Brayen Bayo, who I think had, whether it was September or August.
[00:02:46] Speaker A: The only major addition they made this offseason was Lucas Giolito, who is a fly ball pitcher in Fenway park. That's not something that's going to help your rotation. I mean, Dever said. My point of view is they're thinking more in the future, Devers said. Last year when we had an opportunity to do something and to be in the race, nothing happened. I thought back to that. Of course they were thinking in the future, when those opportunities come along, we need to be more aggressive and try to embrace those opportunities. I see where he's coming from. They did have an opportunity to make a move at the break and be in the race for a wild card, but they didn't make any move. And then ultimately they came in last place in the AL east. But yeah, you're in a division with pretty much five competitors or four competitors on the u. The Bay Rays are always there. The Blue Jays are going to be dangerous. The Orioles are really good now and then the Yankees are always there for the most part. And you go and see teams like the Yankees making big additions like Juan Soto, Alex Verdugo and potentially we're going to get to this later. But another big move on the way soon, which is most likely going to be Blake's now. But we'll talk about that in a little bit. But teams are making big moves, especially in your division, and you do nothing. I see where he's coming from, but I just think there's better ways to go about it. Voice your opinion to the front office, don't voice it right when you get to camp, to all the reporters and to the public, if you have a problem with that, I think you address that privately. It's not really a good look, in my opinion.
[00:04:21] Speaker B: Yeah, I mean, I understand his frustration, definitely. On a team like the Red Sox. I think Devers has got to be one of the best Red Sox in, I don't know, the past five years. I mean, he's one heck of a player on a team that can compete. I mean, last year they showed some fight, even with how strict the competition in their division was. I mean, last year the ale said 2100 win teams and a third playoff team in the Blue Jays, and the Yankees finished above 500, too.
And I mean, they had young guys like Tristan Casas and Masataki Oshida, both really good players.
I understand that their rotation isn't the best and the one move they made is for Giolito. Like you said, Luke, he doesn't really fit the ballpark. And not only that, but I don't think he's very good.
I think there were many better pitchers available on the market and that's who they ended up getting and they traded away Chris Sale. So you trade away one of your best pitchers even though he was always injured, and you get another pitcher who isn't even going to fill those shoes quite well. So you still have the issues in the rotation and yeah, you haven't gotten any better on a team that could compete for a last wild card spot in the american league. They have the potential to do that if they made the moves. So I understand one of the best players on the team being frustrated that the team doesn't want to tend to compete around him. And I don't know if this is signs that I don't know what year of his contract he's in, but I don't know if this is a warning that he might get traded. I think that I had the Red Sox being pretty decent going into this season if they had a good season, but they have had one of the worst offseasons of the offseason out of any team. So I really think they might not be very good playing a bunch of games against all four teams of their division that will be good this year.
I think maybe this is a sign that if he's unhappy and if the team is struggling, maybe he gets traded towards the middle of the season. But I do agree that maybe the first day reporting back, speaking out against your team might not be the best way of handling it unless you really do want to get traded.
[00:06:35] Speaker C: Yeah. His contract ends in 2034.
[00:06:37] Speaker A: Yeah. I mean, I'd be upset.
I'd be upset, too.
But next up, I wanted to talk about Aaron Judge had made some comments as he reported that his toe will require maintenance for the rest of his career. Obviously last season, very unlucky injury. He's going for a fly ball, makes an incredible play, and his foot bangs into the only part of Dodger Stadium that does not have padding and he missed 42 games.
How much do you guys think that I don't know the severity of the maintenance that's going to require for the rest of his career. If he's just going to have to tape it up before every game, I don't know what it is. But I mean, that kind of raises a little bit of concern as a Yankee fan that that's going to require maintenance. The toe is important. That's an important.
[00:07:33] Speaker B: It is.
[00:07:33] Speaker A: It's very important. The big toe is very important.
[00:07:37] Speaker C: Would he be playing center field?
[00:07:39] Speaker A: He is starting the year in center field.
[00:07:41] Speaker C: Okay, then that's where the issue lies. Especially because that greatly reduces your range.
[00:07:47] Speaker A: Exactly.
[00:07:48] Speaker C: I wouldn't consider him up there in the top percentile for speed.
[00:07:52] Speaker A: But he does move a little bit. I mean, yeah, big strides. He's not slow. No, but I don't think it's going to be major, major. But I think down the line it might affect him towards the tail end of his career. But I think right now it's not really the biggest of our worries. But I wanted to talk about another thing judge said. Judge was quoted, let me pull up his quote right now.
He basically was saying that there's definitely another move coming. He pretty much implied that.
I'm trying to find the actual quote.
Basically, he said he is fully expected or he would not be surprised if the Yankees were to make another move, like if something were to be in the works. And he also was grinning ear to ear while saying that. So I feel like he might know something that we don't.
Yeah. Here's his quote. I definitely feel like there might be another move on the way, but you never know.
And the Yankees have been in talks with Blake Snell over the past few days on a short term deal. Maybe two to three years, could even be a one year deal. But for one thing I want to say is I'm the most pessimistic person in the world when it comes to talking about the Yankees. I expect nothing from what I've seen. They just continue to disappoint me. So I am very pessimistic when it comes to the Yankees. For some reason this season, I feel very optimistic and I have a good feeling. This is the first time the Yankees lineup has looked this balanced in a very long time.
I'm going to try to pull it up right now, but I mean, from the top of my head, I believe it was DJ one, Soto two.
Let me say full names because I'm not talking DJ Lemayhu one, Juan Soto two, Aaron Judge three, Anthony Rizzo, four, Gleyber Torres five, Alex Verdugo, six, John Carlos Santon 7th, Trevino and Wells 8th and then 9th would be Volpe. I mean, that is righty, lefty, righty, lefty, righty, lefty, righty, Lefty. Basically the entire way through. This is the most balanced lineup. And we finally have some hitters in the outfield, lefties who will do stuff other than just hitting home runs. And you got two of the best four hitters in baseball in your top two, in your top three. I mean, Juan Soto and Aaron Judge are undoubtedly two of the top five hitters in baseball with Acunya Trout and.
[00:11:04] Speaker C: Mean, I think that could be the five.
[00:11:06] Speaker A: I think that's definitely the five I.
[00:11:08] Speaker C: Was trying to see about Freddie Freeman.
[00:11:09] Speaker A: I mean, I would take Soto over Freeman, honestly, like, no bias. I think Soto is going to have an incredible year. I do think he's not going to resign during the season because Boris clients never do that.
He'll definitely test free agency. But the Yankees, they actually look exciting this year. Obviously, it all depends on staying healthy. That's number one factor. But this is the first time I've felt optimistic about the Yankees in a very long time.
Moving on to the other side of New York, the Mets. The Mets Kodai Sanga was shut down with arm fatigue.
Mean, I'm going to ask you, what do you think your thoughts are on that? I mean, obviously it's not a good sign. Like pitchers just reported your thoughts on.
[00:12:04] Speaker B: I mean, I think that's very bad. I don't know exactly what he was doing in the season or over the winter. Like maybe if he was trying to work out something or maybe, I don't know, work on his control or something like that. Just do something in the winter season to prep for the spring training. But yeah, I mean, the first day back and he already has arm fatigue. It means he had to have been doing something over the winter, which could be a good sign. But him being shut down is a terrible sign. I mean, him being shut down right now doesn't mean that he is hurt just yet. But I don't know how long he's going to have to be sitting out of spring training, which is obviously just bad because then he can't get in reps and he can't pitch. So I don't know if he'll be ready for if he can play opening day, if he'll be prepared because he'll be missing maybe a decent amount of spring training. I don't know if they have like a timeline of when he'll be back, but I mean, one of the only good pitchers that the Mets have right now is now hurting. So it's a bad sign for going into the season, but it's nothing super major yet. So I'm certain he'll be back at some point during spring training, but still a grave sign. So hopefully he comes back.
[00:13:21] Speaker C: I think it'd be much worse if it was at the very end of spring training if he got shut down with it. But yeah, I mean, first two days, not a good sign, but still reason to be optimistic about it. He's a very good pitcher.
[00:13:32] Speaker A: And the Mets also said this was just a small note Brendan Nemo will be playing left field and Bader will be in center.
Do you like that? Would you rather them flips?
Do you have any opinions on mean.
[00:13:46] Speaker B: Once the Mets signed Harrison Bader, that was pretty much the initial thought. Bader's even still maybe not the best at the plate, but he's still one of the best defensive center fielders that the game has right now. So this just makes sense. Nimo is still solid defender, but also he started out in left field anyway, so he'll be fine going back there. And then they have Marte at right field, who's fine defensively as well. I mean, right field, you don't need the greatest defense there, but I mean, they have some pretty good range out in the outfield. Nimo should be fine and left, and Bader should still be great in center. So, I mean, I think they'll have a solid defensive I.
[00:14:27] Speaker A: Did you guys talk last week about the Phillies signing with Merrifield?
[00:14:31] Speaker C: No, because it didn't happen. It happened Thursday.
[00:14:34] Speaker A: Okay, so it happened day after Whitmerfield signed to the Phillies. That's kind of big for need. The one thing that team needed was a utility guy. Big hit wit and two hit whit, whatever they call.
He could play second. He could play short, he could play third. He could play left, he could play right. I mean, that is a like, he'll play three days a week probably for them, and he'll be bouncing around 3rd, 2nd left.
I think that's a great pickup for them. The Phillies lack depth and utility guys along with pitching, but they kind of address that in the offseason. I think that's a big pickup for them for sure.
[00:15:13] Speaker C: I think it's something that could, and I know we talked about this last week, Luke, that when it comes to standings into the year, I think a whit Merrifield signing could be because I don't know how often he's going to come in and hit the walk off home run. I don't know how he's going to be batting 330. I don't think that's going to happen. But little wins here and there, little things that he does, it's all going to add up. I think that's probably what's going to push the Phillies over when it comes to wild card raise, getting maybe the fifth seed instead of the 7th seed or something like that.
[00:15:46] Speaker B: Yeah. I mean, it's not even entirely what he contributes on the field. It's what he contributes to the fact that he's on the field not even what he's contributing there. But the fact that the guys who need rest will be getting rest. I mean, they had, all their guys were 162 game sort of guys. I mean, their infield was the same every game with Stott and Bohem and Trey Turner. I mean, those guys played every game. And their outfield, those guys played every game. And they don't have the greatest defensive outfield. I mean, they had Castellanos playing in.
[00:16:17] Speaker C: The outfield, actually had his best defensive season of his career.
[00:16:20] Speaker B: That's true.
[00:16:21] Speaker C: I'll give him that.
[00:16:23] Speaker B: And in the playoffs, they had the rookie Rojas, I think, in center, and he had the sub 100 batting average in the playoffs.
[00:16:31] Speaker A: Very good defensively.
[00:16:32] Speaker B: So he is very good defensively. Very good defensively. If he does start, I mean, assuming he will get better offensively, so they would try to start him. But then if he's still not progressing offensively, then Merritt Field could come in a pinch hit situation or he could play some defense there. Or just like I said, give the star guys in the infield some time to rest and then they'll be better in less games that they play instead of being tired maybe in that fourth game of a long ten game stretch or something like that.
[00:17:03] Speaker A: All right, now I want wanted to talk. We got a few more minutes before the Houston Astros.
Bregman is entering the final year of his deal.
Do you guys think they resign him? Chances are, in my opinion, I don't think they will because they want to extend Kyle Tucker and I mean, I.
[00:17:27] Speaker C: Think if it comes to those three guys, Framber Valdez, Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman, you have to go in with Kyle Tucker and Bregman, especially since he resigned.
Oh, goodness. Goodness. I said the wrong name. No, Bregman would be the one left.
[00:17:43] Speaker A: That's what, that's what again, I mean, they have just been so successful for so long and he's been a main part of that. I feel like he could also take a hometown discount.
Not massive, because he's still worth a decent amount of money, I would say. I mean, he's still top five third baseman in the league.
[00:18:02] Speaker B: Yeah, I mean, the three of those guys are going to be a lot of money together.
[00:18:07] Speaker A: Just resigned Altuve for a pretty Hefty. And you signed Josh Hader and Jordan Alvarez too, right? Did he get an extension yet or is he probably.
[00:18:17] Speaker B: I think he needs one.
[00:18:18] Speaker C: He's due for a.
[00:18:19] Speaker B: And they're not letting him.
[00:18:22] Speaker A: Absolutely not.
[00:18:23] Speaker C: I think he's on track right now to be a better hitter than Alex.
[00:18:27] Speaker A: Bregman is going to be a Seattle Mariner next year.
[00:18:31] Speaker B: I could see that. Yeah. Third base is a position that they need.
[00:18:34] Speaker C: I was about to say in their third baseman, aohe and Suarez, he's getting old.
[00:18:38] Speaker A: Kind of.
[00:18:39] Speaker B: I mean, Matt Shapman has not signed yet.
[00:18:41] Speaker A: That's true. That's a great point.
[00:18:43] Speaker C: I've completely forgot about the Mariners would be crazy.
[00:18:47] Speaker B: Yeah. I don't know what's happening with him because that has been quiet.
[00:18:50] Speaker C: Quiet as happening with any of the.
[00:18:52] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:18:52] Speaker C: I mean, I say good for you.
[00:18:53] Speaker A: Games start this week. Literally spring training games start this week. Like what sign?
[00:18:58] Speaker B: I don't know what he's sign with a team.
[00:19:00] Speaker C: They have to fix that at some point. I think they have to fix be there should not be predictions being posted by MLB saying, oh, where's the biggest free agent going to sign a month from opening day?
[00:19:12] Speaker B: Yeah, at this point. I mean, come on, you have to get adjusted to the locker room by now. I mean, these guys have to think about signing somewhere. I don't know if it's the players holding out. I mean there have to be teams making offers on Matt Chapman. So I don't know if he's holding out. I don't know what he would be holding out mean.
[00:19:29] Speaker A: I would like to think so.
[00:19:31] Speaker C: And I don't know Matt Chapman as a person. He had the best first month of the MLB I've seen. But he hit a downward slope.
[00:19:40] Speaker A: He turned or no, that's old news.
[00:19:44] Speaker C: If he played like he did in March, April of last year, all year he's an MVP candidate.
[00:19:52] Speaker B: I know I keep seeing his name tied to the Giants, but it's just kind of rumors and predict. It's more so predictions. It's not like any sort of actual news. It's just people see him fitting there, which I would agree with. But there's no news about him signing anywhere I'm seeing here.
[00:20:08] Speaker A: There's a lot of talk. They're concerned about his strikeouts.
[00:20:12] Speaker B: I would be too.
[00:20:15] Speaker A: His strikeout rate is severely high.
They're also concerned about that.
They say good teams aren't bidding due to projections, 16 teams are slated to win 81 games or more next season and 1234-5678 910, 1112. 13 of those 16 are set at third base.
So that kind of makes sense.
[00:20:46] Speaker C: So he wants to be on a team.
[00:20:48] Speaker A: That and the other three, the ones that could use an upgrade at third base are Seattle, the Giants, the Mariners and the Blue Jays. Who he was on last?
[00:20:55] Speaker B: Yeah, the Blue Jays.
[00:20:59] Speaker A: For him and Bellinger. I mean, that actually is a lot. That's pretty surprising. I never even looked into that. Just the fact that 16 teams are projected to go 81 and 81 or better, and 13 of them are set at third base, that's unlucky for him. I mean, we'll talk about this more after the break.
This has been the first segment of student section MLB. We will be right back.
Wvuafm Tuscaloosa, and welcome back to student section MLB. I'm your host, Luke Tori, with Tyler.
[00:21:53] Speaker C: Harrison and Luke Anderson.
[00:21:54] Speaker A: And we are back talking about Matt Chapman possible landing spots. So we talked about the 13 teams that are set at third base out of the 16 teams that are projected to go to do better than 81 wins. The teams that are set are the Braves, the Guardians, the Astros, the Orioles, the Rays, the Dodgers, the Phillies, the Yankees, the Twins, the Rangers, the Diamondbacks, the Mets and the Cardinals.
And then the three that could use an upgrade are the Giants, the Mariners and the Blue Jays. I think we rule out the Blue Jays because if he was resigning, I think he would have already resigned by now. So I think it's Giants or Mariners. And I think they, I think he ends up with the Mariners. I don't know when because like, I feel like if they were serious about it, they would have already had signed him.
So I don't know. There's still a decent amount of big name free agents available. Cody Bellinger, Matt Chapman, Blake Snell, who was offered under contract by the Yankees. Jordan Montgomery, JD Martinez, Tim Anderson, Michael Taylor, Tommy Fam, Gio, rochella, Hinge and Ryu. That's the top ten according to CBS Sports.
I mean, when do these guys start signing?
[00:23:14] Speaker C: Are we going to be going into the season with the top five trading.
[00:23:19] Speaker A: Game start this week and there are five potential all stars still available?
[00:23:25] Speaker C: Yes.
I don't like that. I don't like that.
Especially for us. I mean, as a baseball fan, you're like, okay, I just want to see them play when they play. But for us, we got to talk about it.
I want something to talk about.
[00:23:37] Speaker B: I can't go into, there's just no way that Cody Bellinger should go even one spring training game missed because he's not on a baseball team. And that goes for a bunch of those other guys, too. But I mean, Cody Bellinger should have been like MVP if it weren't for Acunya. I mean, he could have been MVP with the season he had. And I mean, I don't know what this, that's the thing. I understand Blake Snell. I'm not big on Blake Snell. He is old. He had control issues in the first half of the season, and I don't know where he's going to be this year. Matt Chapman, I understand what you were reading before, Luke, about his strikeouts and there being a concern there because he is a little older, too, I guess. But I see no reason why Bellinger shouldn't be even. I don't know what the issue is with signing into a long term deal. I mean, sure, you could be scared that he might go back to how he was towards the end of his tenure with the Dodgers, but with the season he had last season, I don't see what the hesitation is to sign him to five want. I don't know if he wants much more than that, if that's the issue, but he shouldn't be holding out this long if it's on him. And teams certainly shouldn't be holding out this long. I mean, there has to be at least one team who has made an offer, especially the Cubs have definitely made him an offer for Bellinger. Yeah. So I don't really know what he would be waiting for.
[00:24:59] Speaker C: I think the Cubs need to resign him to one year, see if last year was a fluke.
[00:25:04] Speaker B: Maybe that's what they offered him, and maybe he doesn't want that. But I don't know why other teams haven't even offered him at least like three years at the bare minimum. But maybe he doesn't even want that. I don't really know.
[00:25:16] Speaker C: How old is he? Is he still in his twenty s?
[00:25:18] Speaker B: I think he's 27, 28.
[00:25:20] Speaker A: I think he's 28.
This story came out five days ago. Says, what could Bellinger's market look like on a short term deal?
Basically, they are saying, try to just like it's very long.
Phillies, the Astros, and the Rangers and the Blue Jays.
[00:25:46] Speaker C: Goodness.
[00:25:47] Speaker A: Wait, no. I may have been wrong there.
[00:25:49] Speaker B: Bellinger on the Phillies would be.
[00:25:50] Speaker A: No, that's luxury. Taxpayers.
[00:25:52] Speaker C: Bellinger on the Phillies I would not accept even if I saw it happen.
[00:25:56] Speaker B: I mean, he had a 300 average this season. He had four wins above replacement. I mean, he can play the outfield, which is a prime position. He could play center.
[00:26:04] Speaker A: Oh, my gosh.
The Baltimore Orioles could get him very easily.
[00:26:10] Speaker B: Yeah. No, they could.
[00:26:12] Speaker A: Their outfield is Anthony Santander, who will play, Cedric Mullins, who will play, and Austin Hayes. Bellinger would be an upgrade to Austin Hayes.
[00:26:22] Speaker B: Yeah, Austin Hayes.
[00:26:22] Speaker A: Not a bad baseball player.
[00:26:24] Speaker C: They have Keeston Herestead in their spring training lineup. He plays outfield or I think he is a utility player.
[00:26:31] Speaker B: I mean, they just have two. They're super crowded with the young guys, and Bellinger can't really play first because they still have Mount Castle, and Mount Castle is pretty good. So it's just that they're such a crowded team and that they can rely on their farm guys that they probably shouldn't sign Bellinger.
[00:26:47] Speaker A: This is what this says. The ideal fit for Bellinger on a short term deal is a team that's not already a taxpayer or is minimally over the line. Cincinnati the Cubs have been considered something of a favorite to do to Bellinger's strong year, but as outlined, they make sense for both.
It doesn't make sense from a financial standpoint. So I don't know if he's going to be back on the Cubs, but the Angels, the Giants are potential suitors for him. And the Padres could add Ballinger without paying substantial taxes, but it would run counter to the team's cost cutting efforts. This.
So this, they're saying angels, Giants, Padres are potential spots for Bellinger.
[00:27:36] Speaker C: Who's the Padres first baseman right now?
[00:27:39] Speaker B: That's a good question.
[00:27:40] Speaker A: I think Cronenworth is playing 1st, second. I think it's Kim.
[00:27:46] Speaker B: Yeah, right.
[00:27:47] Speaker C: Oh, yeah. Okay. So Cronin worth the first kimmet.
[00:27:51] Speaker B: I think the issue there is, but like trying to. I'm pretty sure they're trying to press the reset button. I mean, you can't trade Soto and then sign Bellinger. Well, to a one year deal.
[00:28:04] Speaker A: Honestly, I think the Giants out and sign Bellinger. The Giants make sense.
[00:28:08] Speaker B: Well, where would he play there? Because they just signed Jungho park. Right.
[00:28:17] Speaker A: Financially, he could play corner outfield.
[00:28:21] Speaker C: He could play a right fielder in Jorge Solaire.
[00:28:23] Speaker B: Oh, yeah.
[00:28:24] Speaker A: But he could also dh.
[00:28:27] Speaker C: I mean, who's their DH?
[00:28:29] Speaker A: I'm not familiar.
[00:28:31] Speaker B: I don't mean Giants is not. I know that third base, they had JD Davis there, which Matt Chapman would be an upgrade over, even though JD Davis had a pretty surprisingly good season this past year. But I think there's definitely a place there that they could fit Bellinger. I don't know. A lot there in terms think, actually.
[00:28:51] Speaker A: Wait, the Padres are moving Xander Bogarts to second base.
[00:28:55] Speaker B: Where was he before?
[00:28:56] Speaker C: Where's Kim going?
[00:28:57] Speaker B: Shortstop? Yeah. Okay.
[00:28:58] Speaker A: I don't know. I'm going to click on this.
[00:29:00] Speaker B: Kim can play.
[00:29:01] Speaker A: Padres manager Mike Schultz told members of the media today that Xander Bogarts will be moving to shortstop from shortstop to second base with Dennis Lynn of the Athletic among those relaying the news.
Hassan. Kim will cross the bag in the other direction, take over the shortstop position.
[00:29:16] Speaker B: So they're just. Yeah, that makes sense.
[00:29:18] Speaker C: Kim is a better defender than Bo.
[00:29:19] Speaker B: He is a good defender. Okay.
[00:29:21] Speaker C: That makes sense.
I don't know his arm strength percentile.
[00:29:25] Speaker A: But it may be Kim.
[00:29:27] Speaker C: Would it be like putting Ozzy albies up short? You're getting good defense, but you're not.
[00:29:31] Speaker A: I don't think he has a great Padres. I mean, the Padres are good fit, too, but yeah, they're trying to cut.
[00:29:39] Speaker B: Out maybe if they really want to.
[00:29:41] Speaker A: They lost Soto and Grisham to the Yankees so he could take out.
[00:29:46] Speaker B: I mean, they definitely need help in the outfield now. And if they want to say, okay, let's try one more year before we fully blow things up, then that would be a good, pretty good fit for that one last year. But the thing is, I don't think Bellinger wants that one year deal. I think that might be why it's taken so long. Maybe there are a lot of teams offering him another one year deal and he says I should have proved myself already. Give me three plus four plus at least.
[00:30:13] Speaker A: Definitely asking for three.
[00:30:14] Speaker C: One rookie of the year. He won an MVP.
[00:30:16] Speaker A: He won an MVP. Yes.
[00:30:17] Speaker B: Yeah, he did.
[00:30:18] Speaker A: Do you know who he's represented by, who his agent is? Do either.
[00:30:20] Speaker B: You don't?
[00:30:21] Speaker A: I do not. Because if it's a Boris agent, I doesn't surprise me.
[00:30:27] Speaker C: Teams are concerned with how easily players may be able to fall off because look at like Chris Bryant, for example, and Javi Baez and Javier Baez. So teams are concerned about that.
[00:30:38] Speaker B: I mean, all those 2016.
[00:30:39] Speaker A: Yeah, he is a Boris client. Okay, that makes sense.
[00:30:42] Speaker B: The thing is, though, we ask him for three plus one team that you brought up, though, is the Angels. I think that if they think that they are going to be competitive this season, which I don't think so.
[00:30:52] Speaker A: And Trout's in the front office this year. I've read that he was like, go make another move.
[00:30:57] Speaker B: Trout has said that he wants to stay there and Trout does not want to get traded. He has a no trade clause, so he's going to deny any trade. I don't know why the Angels wouldn't give him a multi year deal.
[00:31:07] Speaker C: Anthony Rendone is not all in for.
[00:31:09] Speaker B: The team and Anthony Rendone for sure. I mean, maybe that's why they're scared, because they don't want to give out another deal. That is as horrendous as that Anthony Rendone deal.
[00:31:18] Speaker C: If he played more than 50 games.
[00:31:19] Speaker B: We maybe that was a great spring training interview when he said baseball is a job. It is not a priority. Listen, I understand it is a job. However, I understand about family first and your faith first. I understand that. But the way he said it, he made it sound like he does not care about baseball.
[00:31:38] Speaker C: He's got to put his words together better.
[00:31:41] Speaker B: There is a way to say that where it seems that you are still interested in the game of baseball and he is bad and he tried to fight a fan last year.
But the Angels should not be scared of signing free agents just because of that. That's a different topic. I think they should just buy his contract out and cut him. But do some sort of. The Angels could celebrate Anthony Rendone day, just like my Mets celebrate Bobby Bonilla day. Something like that. But I don't think he should be playing baseball anymore. I mean, that wouldn't help Bellinger's case because Bellinger can't play third base. But I think that the Angels should make some moves. I mean, they have Ron Washington. That's his, and he, he wants to be competitive. He said it the day he got there. He said, we're going to try and make the playoffs. They still have Mike Trout. Mike Trout can be playing baseball at the age of 60 and he would still be good.
But I don't know. They're missing a lot of pieces over there. But I think Bellinger would be a good start. I think if they start because they can sign Bellinger to a multi year deal and then plan towards being good towards the end of his contract and then maybe extend him later. But if they could tie him down now versus a one year deal, I know Boris's clients don't like signing. That is one thing, too. I heard that Pete Alonzo now is represented by Boris, too, or something like that, which scares me because there's a lot of Pete Alonzo being traded talks or Pete Alonzo not coming back to the Mets talks, which scares me as a Mets fan. But I mean, we heard a lot about it at last season's deadline and he did not end up getting traded.
[00:33:15] Speaker A: But did we ever talk about Craig Kimbrel signing with the Orioles?
[00:33:21] Speaker C: We mentioned it, but that's kind of big news.
[00:33:26] Speaker A: I don't know.
[00:33:28] Speaker B: He is good.
[00:33:29] Speaker A: He is still very good.
[00:33:30] Speaker B: Yeah, but I mean, they should have got Josh Hader, they should have got.
[00:33:34] Speaker C: Felix Bautista to injury. And now you're out for the year. It's looking like he's out for a significant part of the year.
[00:33:42] Speaker A: Yeah, that's big.
[00:33:43] Speaker B: That is big.
[00:33:43] Speaker A: I didn't know canoe who throws. Yes, but absurd amount of mphs.
[00:33:50] Speaker B: Craig Kimbrough is not in his prime anymore, but he is still an above average.
Yeah. It won't be the same as Bautista coming in for the 8th and 9th with canoe, but Craig Kimbrel can shut down the 8th inning and have, I'm assuming.
[00:34:07] Speaker C: Craig Kimbrough, he came in for the Philly, he was on the there. He brought his wingsuit in against the Diamondbacks and gave up tanks.
But then on another day he comes in and you can get two perfect innings out of.
[00:34:23] Speaker B: It's.
[00:34:24] Speaker C: You need some type of consistency.
[00:34:26] Speaker B: Yeah. I mean, that is the only part in the Orioles entire roster that you could say might be scary because now they have burns in their rotation, so their rotation is fine. They have one of the best lineups in baseball, and five years from now, they will have the best lineup in baseball.
[00:34:41] Speaker A: Yeah. The Baltimore Orioles are going to be the face of baseball for the next ten years.
[00:34:45] Speaker C: They are.
[00:34:46] Speaker A: I don't know.
[00:34:47] Speaker C: Well, no. Considering who just signed a ten year deal non December 11.
[00:34:52] Speaker A: It's a good point.
[00:34:53] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:34:53] Speaker C: There we go.
[00:34:54] Speaker A: They're going to be the kings of the AL for the next ten years.
[00:34:58] Speaker B: You don't have faith in your Yankees?
I think the Yankees are better this year.
[00:35:03] Speaker A: Yankees are.
[00:35:04] Speaker C: The Braves are the.
[00:35:05] Speaker A: There's a lot to be excited about as a Yankee fan. And speaking of, there's another thing I wanted to mention on the Yankees today. Gleyber Torres reported today and said he wants to be a Yankee for life. He's in a contract year. There is a world where the Yankees resign Gleber Torres and resign Juan Soto. You can resign Gleber Torres. If he wants to take a hometown discount, we could still give him a very decent deal, 15 to 17 mil aav, and still extend Soto. I think Soto's, like, no bias. I think after this season, Soto resigns a big deal with the Yankees. He just seems so at home and it looks great. I mean, it's really making me happy. Saw him in pinstripe pants. Oh, he looks wonderful in Pinstripe.
[00:35:50] Speaker B: Listen, all I'll say is that at the end of the season, Starling Marte is in his contract year. If Juan Soto really feels at home in the Big Apple, he can go to Queens and play right field for the New York met.
[00:36:04] Speaker A: They're very different. The Bronx is very similar to the Dominican Republic, which he said, he said it feels like home. And if it feels like home, brother, then sign for ten more years.
[00:36:13] Speaker B: You could take the subway to city field every day and stay in the living. And you would want to do that.
[00:36:17] Speaker C: I don't get to say anything because my team's in the south and they.
[00:36:22] Speaker B: Do not need a right fielder.
[00:36:24] Speaker C: No, I mean, how so do defensively? You know what? No, not the greatest defense.
[00:36:33] Speaker A: Anyway, we got some more to talk about when we get back. We will be back shortly after this break.
Welcome back to student section MLB. I'm your host, Luke Tori, joined by.
[00:37:04] Speaker B: Tyler Harrison and Luke Anderson.
[00:37:06] Speaker A: And we are going to talk about the Braves. Yes, you can run this segment.
We got some more to talk about afterwards, but I know you're excited.
[00:37:16] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:37:16] Speaker A: So we'll start off with this.
Go ahead. What do you got?
[00:37:20] Speaker C: Mostly I'm excited. I'm still excited about Chris sale because I have so much faith that we're going to get him an injury free season. I am incredibly excited for that. And you can deny it all you want.
[00:37:32] Speaker A: I could see it happening. Honestly.
It's a rare sight to see someone go from so injury prone to just like having a good year. But for some reason I could see it. It was a sneaky move that not a lot of people thought was going to happen. And I think I could see it paying off.
[00:37:47] Speaker C: Oh yeah. Absolutely. But now we're talking about our ace. Yes, talk about my boy, Spencer Strider, who will lead the league in strikeouts this season.
He will have another go to strikeout pitch when he faces righties because when it comes to lefties, he throws the slider in. Usually eats him up, but for righties, no, he throws the change up because it has armside run. But when it comes to righties, he gets very predictable, as you can see by the playoffs the last two years and his era a little bit skyrocketing. Mean he's a strikeout leader but has a three seven era. Don't like that.
But from what I'm seeing from our spring training camp, he is possibly adding a curveball that for the first 42ft out of his hand, it aligns perfectly with what his fastball looks like and then drops off the face of the planet.
[00:38:48] Speaker A: Oh lord.
[00:38:50] Speaker C: And I know I said it. I know I said it before the season ended last year.
If he can get a fourth pitch, then not only will he continue to lead the league in strikeouts, but he will finally put himself inside young candidacy because he was a finalist this year, wasn't he?
[00:39:07] Speaker A: Yes, he definitely was.
[00:39:08] Speaker C: But he didn't win it, obviously, because, goodness, because Blake Snell was having an incredible season.
[00:39:16] Speaker A: Blake Snell stayed healthy, right?
[00:39:17] Speaker C: Blake Snell stayed healthy.
[00:39:19] Speaker A: That's literally all that guy.
[00:39:20] Speaker C: But Spencer Strider will finally. I think he finishes the season and this is with bias or without it. I think he finishes it with a two eight one era.
I think he finishes it with 242 strikeouts.
I think he breaks his own record because he broke the record for most strikeouts in a single season by a Brave.
He broke John Smoltz's record. I think he breaks his own record this season.
And I could see an 18 strikeout game for him last year against the Rockies.
[00:39:56] Speaker A: Yeah, he did. Was that in Colorado?
[00:39:58] Speaker C: No, it was in truest and I was there and it was amazing.
[00:40:03] Speaker A: Wow.
[00:40:05] Speaker C: But no, not a lot to say for the Braves. I want to see something out of Waltrup, out of Florida. I want to see maybe he gets called up, maybe has a start in truest. They could be awesome. I want to see great things out of Jared Kelnick. Oh yeah, I forgot about potential.
[00:40:22] Speaker A: His ceiling is very, very high.
[00:40:24] Speaker C: I would love to. He's so young and we develop players like nobody. Well, we develop players second to the Orioles.
[00:40:30] Speaker A: True.
[00:40:30] Speaker C: But I'm looking forward to this season. I want to see Acuna go 40 40 again. I want to see Albies be the best switch hitter in baseball. Austin Riley put himself in the NL MVP. Orlando RcA not talk crap about the Phillies and Olsen break his record again. I want Olsen to hit 60 home runs. I don't think he will. I want him to short porch. We got the chop house. I want to see so many people have a fly ball land on their stake during a game and Sean Murphy and Travis Darnon need to just keep being the greatest one two combo at.
But yeah, that's about all I have to say for the Braves with bias. Without it, I think we run the NL. The Dodgers have yet to prove themselves. We do stuff in the playoffs, or at least have when we got to play all 162 games and we did it without our reigning MVP. So I'm looking forward to the playoffs. I'm looking forward to this season. I think we win 107 games.
[00:41:27] Speaker A: It's a lot.
[00:41:28] Speaker C: I think we take the one by two games over the Dodgers.
Y'all can hold me on.
[00:41:36] Speaker A: Your squad is very talented and you have been together so you know how to play together and you have a couple of small additions that will make your team better. But you have guys that have been playing together for a while and they know about what they need.
[00:41:51] Speaker C: We have eight plus year deals, $17 million.
[00:41:53] Speaker A: I mean, your guys, they got a lot of chemistry on that field, and the Dodgers have a lot of new faces. They're going to have to learn how to compliment each other and learn how to play together. So, I mean, it's not that crazy of a take, but moving on, the MLB announced that there will potentially be two expansion teams coming in the next few years, and I wanted to talk to you guys about potential destinations. Obviously, Montreal is one. Obviously, we've heard Vegas, maybe Salt Lake.
[00:42:27] Speaker C: City, Utah, getting the athletics.
[00:42:30] Speaker A: Yeah, that's what I'm saying. But it would be one more on top of.
No, I'm incorrect. Sorry.
Yeah. So Vegas would be under the athletics. I think Montreal and Utah. Salt Lake City would be awesome.
[00:42:45] Speaker C: I saw Nashville.
[00:42:47] Speaker A: I saw Nashville would be really cool.
[00:42:48] Speaker C: Too, because I'm from Memphis, so that will give me a team to root for. I'm not going to switch to the Nashville whatever over the Braves, but it would give me more of an opportunity to go to games.
[00:43:01] Speaker A: Everybody loves baseball.
[00:43:02] Speaker C: One less hour of driving. Yeah, I'll take that.
[00:43:04] Speaker B: I think the Expos need to come back.
[00:43:06] Speaker A: The Expos, 100%.
[00:43:08] Speaker B: I would be only jumping for joy.
[00:43:09] Speaker C: If the only issue with that is they would have to transfer. They can't add another team and call them the Expos because then the history gets mixed up. You would need to move the national.
[00:43:19] Speaker B: Well, they've done that to Montreal. They did that in the NHL.
[00:43:23] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:43:23] Speaker B: The Winnipeg jets that exist today are not the same Winnipeg jets that existed in the 1990s. Those are the Arizona Coyotes.
So it is possible, although I would agree that I would not be a fan of that.
[00:43:36] Speaker C: No, I think they need to move the national. I think they should move the nationals back to Montreal, which, by the way, they're making a documentary on. I saw on why the Montreal Expos were disbanded. What, 2004?
[00:43:51] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:43:51] Speaker B: That's really cool, actually.
[00:43:53] Speaker C: I think they should move them back to Montreal, make everybody happier. Plus, it gives an entire country another team to root for instead of an entire country just being marked down as Blue Jays fans, then. Oh, imagine those series. Imagine the atmosphere in a canadian series.
[00:44:11] Speaker A: Montreal, it's time for them to make a comeback. But let me ask you something. If the nationals move back to Montreal, does a new team go into Washington?
[00:44:22] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:44:23] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:44:23] Speaker B: I feel like that's a lot of work, though, in terms of moving the team.
I think they would do what they did in the NHL and just put a team back in Montreal. I mean, I don't think you can have a team exist in Montreal and not call them the Expos. So I think you would have to make the Expos, but I think it's too much work for the players and the management and the franchise to upright move. Unless, I mean, they would be given years warning, obviously. But I don't know if it would be on board with the team that exists right now. I think they would just create a new Expos.
[00:44:57] Speaker A: And we got a few minutes left. I wanted to talk about what do we think about. Okay, so Manfred obviously said after this ten years up, he is done. Okay, that's going to be 2029, I believe.
[00:45:16] Speaker B: Yeah, 2029.
[00:45:18] Speaker A: Your guys thoughts on that?
I'm going to be honest, I'm not really the biggest fan of Manfred. I think what he did with the Astros situation was handled poorly, granting them immunity. I haven't looked at him the same since then and I think a lot of the decisions he's made have been questionable. He's made some good decisions too. I'm not going to discount that. But I'm not the biggest fan of Manfred and I'm excited for some change. What do you guys think?
[00:45:49] Speaker C: Most thing I'm excited for is changing this free agency, right?
[00:45:54] Speaker A: Very. Yes.
[00:45:56] Speaker C: I like the suspense. Maybe I like the suspense, but it's too much now.
[00:46:00] Speaker B: It's free training.
[00:46:02] Speaker A: Games start in two days or tomorrow. Thursday. They start tomorrow. Start tomorrow. I believe they start tomorrow.
[00:46:07] Speaker C: Okay.
[00:46:08] Speaker A: And there are top ten players. Five of the top ten players still available could potentially be all stars. And that's where we're at right now.
Still not signed to a team.
[00:46:18] Speaker B: Yeah, I mean, besides Otani free agency was headlined by these guys and some of them don't have a job going into spring training. It's ridiculousness. I think that needs to change and I don't think it will change under Manfred. So hopefully after 2029 it will. I don't have too many particularly strong issues with Manfred, but I am excited to see someone else take the reins and see what they can accomplish. So it will be nice to see.
[00:46:47] Speaker A: And that is going to do it for this week's segment of student section MLB. We'll be back next Wednesday and we'll be a lot of spring training games in. Maybe some more signings will be made.
[00:46:58] Speaker C: And we've tried to predict where people.
[00:47:01] Speaker A: Are going last four weeks and nobody has signed. So yeah, I mean, hopefully next week we have some more signings to talk about. But nonetheless, games start tomorrow. So we'll have a decent amount of talk about and we will see you next Wednesday. Good night.
