November 4, 2025 • 34 mins
Welcome to Riverfront Territory! The Athletic's C. Trent Rosecrans and Reds all-time saves leader Danny Graves host. Hear about their working relationship turned friendship and what makes someone a "good clubhouse guy." (Top of show)
(11:21) The hosts look ahead to free agency. The Reds need to identify their core for '26.
(26:36) Cincinnati needs to rebuild their bullpen.
(28:45) Off-season key dates.
Riverfront Territory is your home for Cincinnati Reds analysis and insights year-round! Enjoy multiple episodes each week. Subscribe to Riverfront Territory YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts. Part of the Foul Territory Network.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
Well look at this. Welcome to Riverfront Territory. We are
new podcast. I am C. Trent Rosecrans. I'm a senior
writer at the Athletic covering the Reds in Major League Baseball.
And then with me joining me as always, I mean
as always since this is the first episode, so he's
(00:26):
gotten one hundred we've got one hundred percent participation so far.
And here in episode one, mister Danny Graves, do I
need to do an introduction for Danny Graves? Maybe? Maybe?
Speaker 2 (00:39):
No?
Speaker 1 (00:39):
No, yes, Let's see all Reds Hall of Famer, Remember
the Reds Hall of Fame, which you see right there Danny,
like you know, he's trying to be humble, but then
he has a Hall of Fame plaque of his picture
of himself behind him and the Reds all time leader
and Staves uh current commentator of baseball all over the place,
(01:02):
including ACC Baseball. Where else are you? Danny? You work
harder now than you did when you were a player.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
That is true, but I only work for a few
months as a player. It was a lot of months
in this job. I do work hard. I'm all over
the place, but it's just for a few months out
of the year. So it's great, Okay, cool, Well, this
is Red leg Territory.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
This is a new podcast. We will be doing well
in the off season twice a week and then in
the regular season three times a week, and it starts today.
We'll be here. We're hopefully doing Tuesdays and Fridays that
this will come to you. So yeah, it should be
pretty exciting. And I'm super glad to do it with
(01:51):
Danny because Danny is a guy that I've known since
well I came to Cincinnati in two thousand and four
and was then the Reds closer. And you know, I
think I said this to somebody else too, not too recently.
Like you'll see guys in the media now, like former
players who were just jerks to the media and now
(02:15):
they're like part of us, and it's like, come on, man,
that's not earned. But then there are guys who earned it.
Danny is one of those guys. And you know, correct
me if from Ron, but like Danny, you've always been Danny,
Like there's no there are a lot of guys who
are different. When those lights come on and they are
in front of the cameras and and and and we
(02:38):
all we're not gonna name anybody, because that's how you know,
that's not what we're here for.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
That takes too long anyways, really long time.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
But like Danny, you've always been so upfront and real,
Like I remember when you were struggling, you didn't hide that,
and I think that's really it's hard to do in
that position, but it's something you always did do.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Yes, And here's the thing, Like, obviously my parents did
a great job. I felt like raising me, and as
you mentioned, I'm still working on my humility with this
thing and behind me. But other than that, like, yeah,
you know, we had a job to do on the field,
but you guys had a job to do when we
were coming off the field. And if I can talk
(03:28):
to you when things are going great, why can't I
talk to you when things aren't going so great, Because
you guys still have a job to do, just as
we had a job to do. And I always felt
like the media was there to make me look the
best that I could, even on the bad days. You know,
even on the bad days when you guys would come
(03:49):
and talk to me, you guys weren't trying to hammer me.
You weren't trying to like say, why did you suck today.
You just wanted to know so you could have something
for your store. And you see so many guys that
just and I get it, trust me, the anger, the
frustration when you don't do well, and you might be
the reason for, you know, the walk off loss. You
(04:15):
can't run and hide and just think that it's gonna
be okay, Well, they'll have something else to write about. No,
you need to face the facts. You need to talk
to these guys. You need to talk to the people
who are trying to do their job to make your
job easier. And you know, there's so many people that
just don't don't feel that way. You can get angry,
(04:37):
but at least sit there and talk to somebody.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
And I think this is part of something that's like
when you talk about you hear all the time if
this guy was a good teammate. And I think that's
a big part of it, because if Danny Graves blows
a save, that's gonna be our story. And if Danny
Graves is hiding, I then have to go to Jason
LaRue or whoever and say, hey, why did Danny suck?
(05:01):
And they were waiting and like the thing that I
don't think people understand is like after a game, we
don't want to be in the clubhouse any more than
you want to be in the clubhouse because we have
a deadline. We want to get going. So like a guy, like,
the best thing a guy can do is just be there.
And I've been so lucky in my career since I've
been here in Cincinnati that I've had guys like you.
(05:25):
I could go David Weather's Todd Coffee, you know, uh,
shoot this last year, Emilio Pagan, so many of the
of these guys. And I'm saying relievers just because you were,
but like you know, those veteran relievers, they will be there.
I could. I never had to search for Emilio Pagan. Yeah,
(05:49):
and like the really good ones, like it might be
easier to find them when they lose and when they
did badly poorly.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Yeah, then afterwards, Well listen, if I if I sucked,
I want to tell somebody why I sucked. I don't
want to just sit there and hold on to it,
you know. And I'm it's not because I want to
make excuses, but I want to tell people, well, this
is what happened, and this is why I was not
good tonight. But other people don't want to say that.
They just want to hide and you know, just I
(06:22):
guess not be accountable for their actions.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
And then it goes both ways too, right, Like for me,
I have to like I'm not saying Danny Graves sucks
or Danny Graves did this because he's just like morally
worse than the other guy who hit the home run
off of them. No, like it's because it's baseball. It's hard,
(06:46):
and you know, like like I saw, Oh my god,
I will go on this, We'll go. I saw someone
you know, you saw poor Jeff Hoffman. Did you see this? Yeah,
Jeff hoff Man, former Red another one of those like
just a quality guy that I've dealt with as far
as our interactions, but just he was always there, always accountable, whatever.
(07:11):
And he said afterwards, yes, the other day, it's like
I cost everyone in here a World Series ring. It
feels pretty and then and then a word that we
won't use, and like that's a very like reasonable, understandable thing.
And of course he feels that way, but like it's
not like he did it because he didn't want to win.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
Right, right, in reality, he gave up the home run,
but the rest of the team had plenty of opportunities
to score runs. They had the rest of the team
had plenty of opportunities to keep guys from scoring runs.
So but that's him being accountable for his particular performance
(07:54):
and that's all you want.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Mm hmm. So it's just one of those things and
I think it's uh, but it takes it. Uh just
kind of like that. The one thing about baseball I
love is that we get time to know the people
we cover. We have so much time. I would joke
with Tucker Barnhart sometimes that I would talk to him
(08:16):
more in a day than than my wife during the season,
and it was true because like with the catchers, I'm
I love catchers, and I always go to catchers because
you know, like they know everything.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Yeah, yeah, you.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
Should good ones. But like the thing is is like,
so I would do that, and that might explain why
my wife is my ex wife now. But you know
me too, this profession is bad for relationships. So yeah. So,
but but it's one of those things where I get
to know guys and then you then later on get
(08:54):
a chance to know guys even more. Like when we
went to Mexico and yeah, and I hung out a
lot it was It was really it was really you know, fun,
and and we kind of talked about things without having
to deal with you know, anybody caring what happened to
a game or anything. We were just two guys in
(09:17):
a situation that we really were, you know, kind of bonding.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
So yeah, well, because in the clubhouse, you're not as
as vulnerable as you should be as a human being
when you're with amongst friends, and and in reality we're
friends with the media, and now I'm part of the media.
Media should be friends with the players. But off the field,
like you were talking about, I know you, I could be.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
Tired players, but like I can be friendly and kind
and understanding.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
That's what I mean. Yeah, that's what I mean. Like,
I don't think there should be any animosity, Like if
you wrote something bad about me, I'm not going to
hold that against you and say, oh my gosh, this
this this guy does not like me.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
Well all, And then for me, the thing is is, like,
is what I wrote correct? If it's incorrect, I want
I want more than you to correct it because that
is my job and I don't always get it right,
just like you don't always throw the right pitch right.
But we have to be open to hearing the sides.
If I wasn't right and I wrote something that was incorrect,
(10:25):
you know, yeah, but like that's what it is. I'm
gonna write that, you know, Barry Bonds hit a home
run off Danny Graves, not like, oh man, Danny Graves
sucks because he gave up a home run to Barry Bonds. Yeah, yeah,
there would be a lot of people if that happened.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
But it's just about accountability and at bottom line, whichever
side of the fence that you're on, with the player
or media, both sides have to be accountable for what
they do.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
Yeah, and just because you're on different sides doesn't mean
you can't meet a defense.
Speaker 2 (10:55):
Right.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
Absolutely. I've been lucky in my career for the for
the most part, the rents of Hans such great clubhouses,
great leaders, yeh self, like I go to back to Weathers,
I go, you know, like this past year, Emilio Pagan
and Nick Martinez are just a plus.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
That's I've heard that like over and over and over again.
I've never met either one of those guys, but that's
the first thing anybody says about those two.
Speaker 1 (11:21):
Yeah, Well, that can actually kind of transition into it
because both are free agents. Now we've started the off season.
Once the once the World Series ends, free agency begins.
There are five days where teams can or players can
only negotiate with their teams that they were with. So
(11:43):
there's five days exclusivity for the Reds for five guys
Miguel Andohr, Zach Lettel, Nick Martinez, Laide Miley, and Emilio Pagan.
You know, it's it's interesting. I was kind of thinking
about this, Danny. How do you you've been in that
situation when when your free agency is coming up or
(12:06):
anything like that, How nervous are you? I guess it
depends on how you did the year before. If you're
if you're a Pagan and you're like second in the
National League in saves, it's pretty exciting. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
Well, I think for me it was a little different
because of the love that I had for Cincinnati and
wanting to be there. Yes, I wanted to play on
winning teams. I wanted to be have a chance to
go to playoffs every single year. But I loved the organization,
I loved the city, and I loved being there, so
(12:40):
I always wanted to get something done with Cincinnati. Even
trade deadline coming, there was chances for me to go
to other teams and close for other teams or set
up for other teams that ended up going to the
World Series and or even winning the World Series. But
trade deadline I always I remember, please don't trade me,
(13:01):
Please don't trade me. Like you know, it was just
one of those things I had, that that special bond
there in Cincinnati. So for guys that are free agents
now with with the Reds, these aren't guys that grew
up in the in the organization, right, So these are
guys that you know, Nick was there for a couple
of years, Amelio. These are guys that have been there
(13:24):
for a short period of time. Do they love the
city and the organization like I did. Do they want
to stay? Will they take pay cuts, will they take
a shorter deal, hometown discount, whatever it is, or do
they want to go up and you know, go somewhere
else and see if the grass is greener. I always
wanted to stay in Cincinnati, So that that was the
stressful part for me, like was I going to stay
(13:47):
or was I going to go?
Speaker 1 (13:49):
Well, and then of course, you know a lot of
it's not.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
Up to you exactly exactly.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
I mean free agency is is a little different because,
as I like to say, free agents aren't free and
they have agency. And yeah, so there is a lot
of there's so many different variables when you're doing this
that it's it's hard to like, I never fault anybody
(14:15):
for their free agency decisions or anything like that, because
you have a limited time as a player. Yeah, and
you know, like once you stop playing that money stops.
You have to then find other ways. And yeah, it
can be a lot of money, but you know it's
not always it's not always easy.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
Well, you can make it as much money as you
want as a player. We just mentioned earlier that it's
hard to have relationships as a player. You know, there's
you like to spend that new money is good money,
so you end up spending more than you need. And
the next thing, you know, however much you made throughout
your career, when it's actually over, because you know everything
(15:00):
is going to be over, But when it's actually over,
it's like, now what I'm going to do? What can
I do now too? You know, bring in some income
and it's yeah, and like you said, I'm not mad
at anybody who takes a free agent deal and goes
somewhere where more money is offered. Hey, take what you
can get too.
Speaker 1 (15:19):
Yeah, I mean, I've done it right, and I think
people forget about that too. It's like, you know, am
I going to be loyal to the Cincinnati inquire or whatever?
Well they have to be loyal to me too, and exactly,
and that's that's part of it. And so it is
really interesting. But I know both of those guys really,
you know, the five free agents, two guys Miguel and
(15:40):
du harn Zacutel were at the added to the trade deadline.
Both good players did really well for the Reds. Really
interesting good trades. Wade Miley's probably going to retire. We
had some some elbow issues all that. Yeah, and you know, again,
(16:03):
that's never fun an end of a career. But Wade's
a guy who I think is prepared for that and
understands that and kind of got to feel it through
everything he went to And it's up to him whether
he wants to keep going or not. And if he
wants to, there's no doubt in my mind that somebody
(16:26):
will be like, okay, cool and give him a minor
league deal and he can earn it. But at that age. Yeah,
that's especially coming off of what he has come off of.
It's you know, I expected.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
Yeah, it's tough. Like guys like Wade who have been
around for so long and pitch for so long. You
want to go out on your own terms. You don't
want other things to tell you it's time to quit. Uh.
But at the end of the day, if your body
says it's time to quit, you have to. You have
to listen to it. So hopefully, I mean for his sake,
if he wants to play, Yeah, that minor league deal
(16:58):
opportunity would come somewhere, maybe back here with the Reds,
who knows. But yeah, yeah, I mean the guys is great.
It's great to have around, yeah yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:12):
And knowledge Like the thing with Wade, I mean, and
you know this, and you were like this too, but
like there's so many guys who just pictures who know things,
you know, and like they'll be like, oh, I've played
around with this, the grip, this crip or whatever. You know.
I went to Wade one day and I was like
because I helped coach a high school baseball team, and
I was like, hey, I got this kid and he
(17:32):
needs to do something with a change up, but his
hands aren't big enough to do this. What do you do?
And Wade was like, oh, this, this, this and this,
and I was like, kind of videotape this and like
he's like, yeah, sure, And so I sent to a
kid this like videotape of Wade Miley saying okay, well
this is what you can do. And it's just like
it's amazing. He's like, just I learn about baseball every
(17:55):
time I talked to Wade, and I love those kind
of guys.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
Yeah, And he does it so nonchalantly too, right, Like
it's not it's not this big production. It's like, hey,
why don't you just grab it like this? I could
totally see him telling you to do that.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
So all right, so those three guys are you know,
I could see andw Har coming back or them doing
that or you know, can.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
I admit something real quick? When you mentioned and Harr,
that was such a sneaky, quiet deal. I don't even
remember when I realized. I'm like, Miguel and Harr, when
did they get this guy? And I had to go
back and check, like when did they trade for him?
That was so quiet, it was it was in the
last hour of before the deadline.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
Yeah, that it came together. And I remember being like
I was talking with somebody's like you guys doing anything else,
and they're like, yeah, we got one. I was like, oh,
just kind of minor, like no, we think it's going
to be pretty good. And and I mean, you know,
the thing with him was he was hurt. You know
that the legs kind of went out for a little bit.
But man, when he came over, he was supposed to
(18:55):
come over to mash lefties and he mashed lefties righties.
It was impressive, guys anything, Yeah, but staying healthy is
it's tough in a baseball Yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
Yeah, but yeah, I just wanted to say that was
that was sneaky.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
I mean, and then the Littel move was really good
because then you used Nick Martinez, how you were able
to use him and so yeah, So those two guys,
it's funny, like we're gonna probably, I guess we've got
a lot of to talk about, so we're not gonna
do as much as everything because we're twenty minutes in
right now. But like, those two guys are really interesting.
(19:34):
I think both have said to me they would love
to be back they love the organization, they love the town,
they love their teammates.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
But are you referring Nick and Amelia, You're you're talking
about both.
Speaker 1 (19:47):
Both of us. That's like they are the guys who
are just like, we loved it here. We loved everybody here,
you know. And I'll always remember when I think of
Nick Martinez, I think of the end of last year
when he when he had to let's see, oh yeah,
(20:08):
it was like the last day of the CUB series
or the first day of the CUB series, the third
to last game, and he throws a complete game. And
so I'm sitting there waiting to talk to him, and
I talked to like Nicolodolo and Andrew Abbott and we're
just shooting the shit and and so we're just talking
(20:28):
in there, like, oh man, we just watch Nick every day.
That's all we do is we watch him because he
shows us how you prepare, how you go about today.
And you know, I mean, I'm sure there were guys
like that for you that like, Okay, this guy And
it's never it doesn't always have to be like the
(20:48):
greatest player, but it's just like someone that on the
inside you see, oh my god, this guy knows what
he's doing and he's getting the most out of what
he does. I should do what he's doing and take notes.
Who was that Scott?
Speaker 2 (21:00):
Scott Sullivan, Like he wasn't a closer, but he could have.
He could have closed through side arm and was like
eighty five to to ninety if that, but his ball
like it was impossible to hit. I remember Jeff Bagwell
talking to he was talking to both of us and
he's like, I am afraid to death to face you.
(21:23):
I hate facing you. And I'm thinking, gosh, I got
better stuff than Sully. Doesn't you're afraid to face him.
I didn't say that, but that's of course what I'm thinking.
But yeah, Sully, like he had that that it factor
when he was on the mound, like stuff didn't matter.
He was gonna use whatever stuff he had that day,
and he was going to get you out. He was
gonna make sure that he was going to get you out.
(21:45):
And it was just a He was probably one of
my best friends throughout my time in Cincinnati. We played
a long time together. I cried, like physically cried when
he got traded. But he was the one that people
didn't see how hard he worked like when when it
wasn't game time. I mean, this guy did everything he
(22:07):
had to do to be ready to pitch every single day,
and of course you know he pitched just about every
single day. So yeah, he was that guy for me,
and I think for Nick, for these young starting pitchers,
even the relief pitchers, to watch what he does. I
mean that you can't teach that dude like you you
see somebody right there in front of you working as
(22:29):
hard as they're working and playing as long as as
he played, why wouldn't you try to mimic that?
Speaker 1 (22:35):
And the other thing with Nick is, and I've said
this a lot that every every player who's kind of
that in between, right like are you a fifth starter
or you a long guy, or you a whatever whatever
it is, every one of them says, oh, I'll just
you know, I'm just happy to be here. I'll do
what I ever I can to help the team. Mm hm.
(22:57):
Usually that's just lip service. Yeah, he meant it and
he showed it right. But the thing with Nick is
he said I would rather start would just say that,
but I understand everything, And so that gives you the
ability to go back to that Zach Ltel trade. But
not only do you have a guy that is willing
(23:19):
to do it or says he's willing to do it,
he will do it and has done it and done
it well. The other part is, like, you know, that
probably cost Nick Martinez money. He said, you know, he
made twenty one million this year, so he did, he
did all right, but going into free agency, he's not
going to get anything near that, and because he wasn't
a starter and he's kind of that in between. But
(23:41):
that's a oh man, it's just so valuable to have.
I think, I I don't know, I'm trying to remember
if I put him as my MVP, and because we
had did our votes, I think I had him as
the MVP and uh Pegan as our Pitcher of the
Year for my votes, just because I think you do
so many different things like what Martinez was able to do,
(24:05):
allowed so much of the flexibility and so much of
what they were able to do. And it's just is uncommon.
Speaker 2 (24:12):
How how many other pitchers that make twenty one million
dollars will say, Okay, I'll go to the bullpen if
you need if you need me to in an free
agent right because most of them, regardless of age, will say,
or their agents will convince them, now, you can't do that.
That's going to crush you in free agency. But obviously
(24:33):
Nick's that kind of guy says, I don't care about that.
We got a chance to win right now. If I
do this, then let's do it. And you know, yes,
twenty one million is a lot. He's still going to
make a decent amount, but it crushed him for sure
overall in free agency for starting pitchers.
Speaker 1 (24:50):
So we'll see where he goes.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
And I think both hopefully it doesn't go anywhere.
Speaker 1 (24:54):
Yeah, yeah, I mean, but both of those guys I
think are guys that you kind of look at, but
it comes down to Budra and you know all the
sliding scales. So yeah, I don't know that. I can't
see you know, those five days that you have the
exclusive like that usually doesn't doesn't happen because you need
(25:15):
to go see what what the market is. You know,
the Reds may say, hey, we want to give you,
I don't know, two years fifteen million. Well, if somebody
else is out there with two twenty five, you're not
going to leave that on the table. And also Nick
Nick's agent is not one to leave stuff on the table.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
I can only imagine who that is. Yeah, well, I mean,
at the.
Speaker 1 (25:42):
End of the day, but Nick, what's best for Nick?
Speaker 2 (25:46):
And so it's Nick, right, And like I'm sure I
would imagine Boris told Nick, this is going to hurt
you in free agency if you go to the bullpit.
So hopefully you know, Nick says I I have him
to give me advice, but at the end of the day,
it's my decision, right. But yeah, these five days, I
(26:07):
think it would be smart for Nick and Emilio and
all the free agents to really just wait and see
what's out there. Unless, you know, if Nick says I
want to stay here no matter what, I'm not going
anywhere whatever they offer me. If they give me a
three year deal, I'm staying. I don't care what the
money is. But other than that, yeah, you should test
the market and see what it is. Doesn't mean you're
(26:29):
going to hold out for a long time. But I
do think they need both these guys back.
Speaker 1 (26:35):
They really did. It's you know, because the biggest thing
is going to be rebuilding this bullpen, and that's not
an easy task.
Speaker 2 (26:43):
And if you have somebody at the back end, Yeah,
if you have somebody back end, already. It makes it
a lot easier to build the rest of the bullpen, right.
Speaker 1 (26:52):
And yeah, I mean right now, it's like, okay, there's
Tony Santian who pitched in what eighty games this year?
Could you imagine pitching in eighty games?
Speaker 2 (27:02):
Seventy five was the most? That's that's a lot of pitch,
that's a lot. Yeah, these days probably, Yeah, I had
one hundred and eleven I think one hundred and ten,
one hundred and something.
Speaker 1 (27:16):
Yeah, as a relievers.
Speaker 2 (27:18):
Yeah, that was in ninety nine. Yeah, yeah, it was
lasted man. That yep, last century. No, that's okay, but
pitching in eighty games in this day and age is
probably unheard of, right, Like, not many guys do that anymore.
Speaker 1 (27:36):
I think Rogers the one that wasn't with the Reds
was eighty one. Eighty one, Yeah, so exactly half and
and Tony, Tony certainly wanted more.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
You know, those last couple of games, eighty games, seventy
three innings for Tony.
Speaker 1 (27:54):
That's that's a that's a load.
Speaker 2 (27:57):
Man, And in two four four that's pretty good. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (28:02):
Yeah, so yeah, uh that's gonna be a big thing. Geez,
are times flying by? And you know we're not gonna
do it, but just kind of set this up and
we'll get into a lot more of this on on
on Friday, but you know, these five days and Friday
will this will be over. But like they can negotiate
(28:24):
with those guys and start trading. And they've already actually
made one trade today. Yeah, Ryan, Uh shoot Vallade Valaid
Valaid Sorry, oh man. I usually have to write these
names and not have to worry about how they're said.
Speaker 2 (28:41):
But we'll come to my world.
Speaker 1 (28:46):
I was traded to the Rays for cash considerations. This
is a guy who was probably gonna be non tendered anyway. Yeah.
And and so there's that, uh, and that's freeing up
roster space because you do have to free up roster
space if you bring anybody in. Also Rule five protection,
which is nitty gritty, and we'll get into those a
(29:06):
little bit later, but those are kind of our next
things in our next dates are that options guys have
to You have Austin Hayes, a twelve million dollar mutual
option and a one million dollar buyout. I would expect
that to be the buyout. Scott Barlow six and a
half million club option, one million buyout also expect that
(29:27):
to buy out brent souter three million club option two
hundred and fifty thousand dollars buyout, and I can see
all of those being bought out and the Reds declining
their side, and then maybe some like.
Speaker 2 (29:45):
Trying to bring it back.
Speaker 1 (29:45):
So yeah, only Austin has the mutual suitor and Barlow
both have club options. I can see them both like
being like, hey, we're going to decline this, give you
this kind of money now, and we would love to
have you back at a different price. And so yeah,
that's very possible with both those guys. Nice and then
(30:10):
that's gonna be a little different because it's a mutual.
Speaker 2 (30:15):
Right, So do you think he has opportunities elsewhere?
Speaker 1 (30:20):
You know, I could see him activating it like much
like Amelia Pagan did last year, because that's that's that's
a bit of money. And Emilio was hurt most of
twenty twenty four, and I know he was really not
happy with this twenty twenty four and then came back
and really you know at the time when he when
(30:43):
he picked up the option, you're like, oh man, that's
gonna be a little bit more than we want. But
he delivered and you got more than you got your
money's worth from.
Speaker 2 (30:53):
Him, right well, with Hay picking it up, yeah, I
mean because he played in one hundred and three games,
so I mean he almost has to. You almost think
that he would say, yes, I'll pick this up and
try to get better next year. That's when the money
will come.
Speaker 1 (31:12):
Mm hmmm. So we shall see. I mean I can
see that. So, uh, that is our next little thing.
Speaker 2 (31:20):
And this is exciting.
Speaker 1 (31:22):
Yeah, this is a lot, and it's kind of confusing,
and we'll try to walk you through it and maybe
do a better time next time. But this is our
first one.
Speaker 2 (31:29):
Yeah, we had to like welcome everybody and we had
to like this. That was the introduction. Yeah, we had
to let them get to get to know us.
Speaker 1 (31:39):
So and how how we will banter because we do this,
we actually do this anyway. Yeah, that's what the beauty
of it is is doing with this with Danny. It
was just so fantastic and so I'm super excited to
do it and I think we're going to have a
heck of a heck of a good time.
Speaker 2 (31:58):
Yes, we are for sure.
Speaker 1 (32:00):
This would be great. Well, yeah, so we will. If
you liked this or if you at least saw some
potential in this. We'll be back on Friday, and we'll
be back twice a week in the off season and
then three times a week during the season. So it
(32:21):
should be a lot of fun and I'm looking forward
to it. Danny, thanks for thanks for being here, and
thanks for doing this.
Speaker 2 (32:27):
Hey man, I want to talk to you as much
as I can, so this is great. We just have
to do it in front of a camera. Now.
Speaker 1 (32:37):
Means that must mean your kid's getting a little bit
older and he's like less talking about dad.
Speaker 2 (32:42):
Not cool. I'm not cool to dad, right, yeah, not
cool to the kids.
Speaker 1 (32:45):
So anymore, Well you're cool to me, Danny.
Speaker 2 (32:50):
Thanks, That's why I like talking to you.
Speaker 1 (32:53):
Perfect all right, brother, thanks for joining us here at
the NFL Territory or Riverfront Territory, which is fun. I
love your I love your shirt, isn't it today? Yeah,
had up with names and certain things are copyright written,
and so we kind of went with Riverfront just because, well,
the Bullpark is still on the river, still on the Riverfront.
(33:15):
You probably have some great memories of that place. Yes,
love the Riverfront and and that that stadium which I
actually never went to a game there, so I've never
been there.
Speaker 2 (33:27):
It's it's special, man, I don't know people. A lot
of people said it is crappy and terrible, but I
loved I loved that place, so.
Speaker 1 (33:37):
Yep, yep, alrighty well, thanks again, Danny, and thank you
to anybody who listened and watched, and we'll be back
later this week. Hopefully you will too and tell a
friend or rate and review. Oh man, they're gonna have
to give me all the things that you so I
shall do it. Thanks Danny, and all right everyone else,
Well look at this. Welcome to Riverfront Territory. We are
new podcast. I am C. Trent Rosecrans. I'm a senior
writer at the Athletic covering the Reds in Major League Baseball.
And then with me joining me as always, I mean
as always since this is the first episode, so he's
(00:26):
gotten one hundred we've got one hundred percent participation so far.
And here in episode one, mister Danny Graves, do I
need to do an introduction for Danny Graves? Maybe? Maybe?
Speaker 2 (00:39):
No?
Speaker 1 (00:39):
No, yes, Let's see all Reds Hall of Famer, Remember
the Reds Hall of Fame, which you see right there Danny,
like you know, he's trying to be humble, but then
he has a Hall of Fame plaque of his picture
of himself behind him and the Reds all time leader
and Staves uh current commentator of baseball all over the place,
(01:02):
including ACC Baseball. Where else are you? Danny? You work
harder now than you did when you were a player.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
That is true, but I only work for a few
months as a player. It was a lot of months
in this job. I do work hard. I'm all over
the place, but it's just for a few months out
of the year. So it's great, Okay, cool, Well, this
is Red leg Territory.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
This is a new podcast. We will be doing well
in the off season twice a week and then in
the regular season three times a week, and it starts today.
We'll be here. We're hopefully doing Tuesdays and Fridays that
this will come to you. So yeah, it should be
pretty exciting. And I'm super glad to do it with
(01:51):
Danny because Danny is a guy that I've known since
well I came to Cincinnati in two thousand and four
and was then the Reds closer. And you know, I
think I said this to somebody else too, not too recently.
Like you'll see guys in the media now, like former
players who were just jerks to the media and now
(02:15):
they're like part of us, and it's like, come on, man,
that's not earned. But then there are guys who earned it.
Danny is one of those guys. And you know, correct
me if from Ron, but like Danny, you've always been Danny,
Like there's no there are a lot of guys who
are different. When those lights come on and they are
in front of the cameras and and and and we
(02:38):
all we're not gonna name anybody, because that's how you know,
that's not what we're here for.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
That takes too long anyways, really long time.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
But like Danny, you've always been so upfront and real,
Like I remember when you were struggling, you didn't hide that,
and I think that's really it's hard to do in
that position, but it's something you always did do.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Yes, And here's the thing, Like, obviously my parents did
a great job. I felt like raising me, and as
you mentioned, I'm still working on my humility with this
thing and behind me. But other than that, like, yeah,
you know, we had a job to do on the field,
but you guys had a job to do when we
were coming off the field. And if I can talk
(03:28):
to you when things are going great, why can't I
talk to you when things aren't going so great, Because
you guys still have a job to do, just as
we had a job to do. And I always felt
like the media was there to make me look the
best that I could, even on the bad days. You know,
even on the bad days when you guys would come
(03:49):
and talk to me, you guys weren't trying to hammer me.
You weren't trying to like say, why did you suck today.
You just wanted to know so you could have something
for your store. And you see so many guys that
just and I get it, trust me, the anger, the
frustration when you don't do well, and you might be
the reason for, you know, the walk off loss. You
(04:15):
can't run and hide and just think that it's gonna
be okay, Well, they'll have something else to write about. No,
you need to face the facts. You need to talk
to these guys. You need to talk to the people
who are trying to do their job to make your
job easier. And you know, there's so many people that
just don't don't feel that way. You can get angry,
(04:37):
but at least sit there and talk to somebody.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
And I think this is part of something that's like
when you talk about you hear all the time if
this guy was a good teammate. And I think that's
a big part of it, because if Danny Graves blows
a save, that's gonna be our story. And if Danny
Graves is hiding, I then have to go to Jason
LaRue or whoever and say, hey, why did Danny suck?
(05:01):
And they were waiting and like the thing that I
don't think people understand is like after a game, we
don't want to be in the clubhouse any more than
you want to be in the clubhouse because we have
a deadline. We want to get going. So like a guy, like,
the best thing a guy can do is just be there.
And I've been so lucky in my career since I've
been here in Cincinnati that I've had guys like you.
(05:25):
I could go David Weather's Todd Coffee, you know, uh,
shoot this last year, Emilio Pagan, so many of the
of these guys. And I'm saying relievers just because you were,
but like you know, those veteran relievers, they will be there.
I could. I never had to search for Emilio Pagan. Yeah,
(05:49):
and like the really good ones, like it might be
easier to find them when they lose and when they
did badly poorly.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Yeah, then afterwards, Well listen, if I if I sucked,
I want to tell somebody why I sucked. I don't
want to just sit there and hold on to it,
you know. And I'm it's not because I want to
make excuses, but I want to tell people, well, this
is what happened, and this is why I was not
good tonight. But other people don't want to say that.
They just want to hide and you know, just I
(06:22):
guess not be accountable for their actions.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
And then it goes both ways too, right, Like for me,
I have to like I'm not saying Danny Graves sucks
or Danny Graves did this because he's just like morally
worse than the other guy who hit the home run
off of them. No, like it's because it's baseball. It's hard,
(06:46):
and you know, like like I saw, Oh my god,
I will go on this, We'll go. I saw someone
you know, you saw poor Jeff Hoffman. Did you see this? Yeah,
Jeff hoff Man, former Red another one of those like
just a quality guy that I've dealt with as far
as our interactions, but just he was always there, always accountable, whatever.
(07:11):
And he said afterwards, yes, the other day, it's like
I cost everyone in here a World Series ring. It
feels pretty and then and then a word that we
won't use, and like that's a very like reasonable, understandable thing.
And of course he feels that way, but like it's
not like he did it because he didn't want to win.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
Right, right, in reality, he gave up the home run,
but the rest of the team had plenty of opportunities
to score runs. They had the rest of the team
had plenty of opportunities to keep guys from scoring runs.
So but that's him being accountable for his particular performance
(07:54):
and that's all you want.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Mm hmm. So it's just one of those things and
I think it's uh, but it takes it. Uh just
kind of like that. The one thing about baseball I
love is that we get time to know the people
we cover. We have so much time. I would joke
with Tucker Barnhart sometimes that I would talk to him
(08:16):
more in a day than than my wife during the season,
and it was true because like with the catchers, I'm
I love catchers, and I always go to catchers because
you know, like they know everything.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Yeah, yeah, you.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
Should good ones. But like the thing is is like,
so I would do that, and that might explain why
my wife is my ex wife now. But you know
me too, this profession is bad for relationships. So yeah. So,
but but it's one of those things where I get
to know guys and then you then later on get
(08:54):
a chance to know guys even more. Like when we
went to Mexico and yeah, and I hung out a
lot it was It was really it was really you know, fun,
and and we kind of talked about things without having
to deal with you know, anybody caring what happened to
a game or anything. We were just two guys in
(09:17):
a situation that we really were, you know, kind of bonding.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
So yeah, well, because in the clubhouse, you're not as
as vulnerable as you should be as a human being
when you're with amongst friends, and and in reality we're
friends with the media, and now I'm part of the media.
Media should be friends with the players. But off the field,
like you were talking about, I know you, I could be.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
Tired players, but like I can be friendly and kind
and understanding.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
That's what I mean. Yeah, that's what I mean. Like,
I don't think there should be any animosity, Like if
you wrote something bad about me, I'm not going to
hold that against you and say, oh my gosh, this
this this guy does not like me.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
Well all, And then for me, the thing is is, like,
is what I wrote correct? If it's incorrect, I want
I want more than you to correct it because that
is my job and I don't always get it right,
just like you don't always throw the right pitch right.
But we have to be open to hearing the sides.
If I wasn't right and I wrote something that was incorrect,
(10:25):
you know, yeah, but like that's what it is. I'm
gonna write that, you know, Barry Bonds hit a home
run off Danny Graves, not like, oh man, Danny Graves
sucks because he gave up a home run to Barry Bonds. Yeah, yeah,
there would be a lot of people if that happened.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
But it's just about accountability and at bottom line, whichever
side of the fence that you're on, with the player
or media, both sides have to be accountable for what
they do.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
Yeah, and just because you're on different sides doesn't mean
you can't meet a defense.
Speaker 2 (10:55):
Right.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
Absolutely. I've been lucky in my career for the for
the most part, the rents of Hans such great clubhouses,
great leaders, yeh self, like I go to back to Weathers,
I go, you know, like this past year, Emilio Pagan
and Nick Martinez are just a plus.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
That's I've heard that like over and over and over again.
I've never met either one of those guys, but that's
the first thing anybody says about those two.
Speaker 1 (11:21):
Yeah, Well, that can actually kind of transition into it
because both are free agents. Now we've started the off season.
Once the once the World Series ends, free agency begins.
There are five days where teams can or players can
only negotiate with their teams that they were with. So
(11:43):
there's five days exclusivity for the Reds for five guys
Miguel Andohr, Zach Lettel, Nick Martinez, Laide Miley, and Emilio Pagan.
You know, it's it's interesting. I was kind of thinking
about this, Danny. How do you you've been in that
situation when when your free agency is coming up or
(12:06):
anything like that, How nervous are you? I guess it
depends on how you did the year before. If you're
if you're a Pagan and you're like second in the
National League in saves, it's pretty exciting. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
Well, I think for me it was a little different
because of the love that I had for Cincinnati and
wanting to be there. Yes, I wanted to play on
winning teams. I wanted to be have a chance to
go to playoffs every single year. But I loved the organization,
I loved the city, and I loved being there, so
(12:40):
I always wanted to get something done with Cincinnati. Even
trade deadline coming, there was chances for me to go
to other teams and close for other teams or set
up for other teams that ended up going to the
World Series and or even winning the World Series. But
trade deadline I always I remember, please don't trade me,
(13:01):
Please don't trade me. Like you know, it was just
one of those things I had, that that special bond
there in Cincinnati. So for guys that are free agents
now with with the Reds, these aren't guys that grew
up in the in the organization, right, So these are
guys that you know, Nick was there for a couple
of years, Amelio. These are guys that have been there
(13:24):
for a short period of time. Do they love the
city and the organization like I did. Do they want
to stay? Will they take pay cuts, will they take
a shorter deal, hometown discount, whatever it is, or do
they want to go up and you know, go somewhere
else and see if the grass is greener. I always
wanted to stay in Cincinnati, So that that was the
stressful part for me, like was I going to stay
(13:47):
or was I going to go?
Speaker 1 (13:49):
Well, and then of course, you know a lot of
it's not.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
Up to you exactly exactly.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
I mean free agency is is a little different because,
as I like to say, free agents aren't free and
they have agency. And yeah, so there is a lot
of there's so many different variables when you're doing this
that it's it's hard to like, I never fault anybody
(14:15):
for their free agency decisions or anything like that, because
you have a limited time as a player. Yeah, and
you know, like once you stop playing that money stops.
You have to then find other ways. And yeah, it
can be a lot of money, but you know it's
not always it's not always easy.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
Well, you can make it as much money as you
want as a player. We just mentioned earlier that it's
hard to have relationships as a player. You know, there's
you like to spend that new money is good money,
so you end up spending more than you need. And
the next thing, you know, however much you made throughout
your career, when it's actually over, because you know everything
(15:00):
is going to be over, But when it's actually over,
it's like, now what I'm going to do? What can
I do now too? You know, bring in some income
and it's yeah, and like you said, I'm not mad
at anybody who takes a free agent deal and goes
somewhere where more money is offered. Hey, take what you
can get too.
Speaker 1 (15:19):
Yeah, I mean, I've done it right, and I think
people forget about that too. It's like, you know, am
I going to be loyal to the Cincinnati inquire or whatever?
Well they have to be loyal to me too, and exactly,
and that's that's part of it. And so it is
really interesting. But I know both of those guys really,
you know, the five free agents, two guys Miguel and
(15:40):
du harn Zacutel were at the added to the trade deadline.
Both good players did really well for the Reds. Really
interesting good trades. Wade Miley's probably going to retire. We
had some some elbow issues all that. Yeah, and you know, again,
(16:03):
that's never fun an end of a career. But Wade's
a guy who I think is prepared for that and
understands that and kind of got to feel it through
everything he went to And it's up to him whether
he wants to keep going or not. And if he
wants to, there's no doubt in my mind that somebody
(16:26):
will be like, okay, cool and give him a minor
league deal and he can earn it. But at that age. Yeah,
that's especially coming off of what he has come off of.
It's you know, I expected.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
Yeah, it's tough. Like guys like Wade who have been
around for so long and pitch for so long. You
want to go out on your own terms. You don't
want other things to tell you it's time to quit. Uh.
But at the end of the day, if your body
says it's time to quit, you have to. You have
to listen to it. So hopefully, I mean for his sake,
if he wants to play, Yeah, that minor league deal
(16:58):
opportunity would come somewhere, maybe back here with the Reds,
who knows. But yeah, yeah, I mean the guys is great.
It's great to have around, yeah yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:12):
And knowledge Like the thing with Wade, I mean, and
you know this, and you were like this too, but
like there's so many guys who just pictures who know things,
you know, and like they'll be like, oh, I've played
around with this, the grip, this crip or whatever. You know.
I went to Wade one day and I was like
because I helped coach a high school baseball team, and
I was like, hey, I got this kid and he
(17:32):
needs to do something with a change up, but his
hands aren't big enough to do this. What do you do?
And Wade was like, oh, this, this, this and this,
and I was like, kind of videotape this and like
he's like, yeah, sure, And so I sent to a
kid this like videotape of Wade Miley saying okay, well
this is what you can do. And it's just like
it's amazing. He's like, just I learn about baseball every
(17:55):
time I talked to Wade, and I love those kind
of guys.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
Yeah, And he does it so nonchalantly too, right, Like
it's not it's not this big production. It's like, hey,
why don't you just grab it like this? I could
totally see him telling you to do that.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
So all right, so those three guys are you know,
I could see andw Har coming back or them doing
that or you know, can.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
I admit something real quick? When you mentioned and Harr,
that was such a sneaky, quiet deal. I don't even
remember when I realized. I'm like, Miguel and Harr, when
did they get this guy? And I had to go
back and check, like when did they trade for him?
That was so quiet, it was it was in the
last hour of before the deadline.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
Yeah, that it came together. And I remember being like
I was talking with somebody's like you guys doing anything else,
and they're like, yeah, we got one. I was like, oh,
just kind of minor, like no, we think it's going
to be pretty good. And and I mean, you know,
the thing with him was he was hurt. You know
that the legs kind of went out for a little bit.
But man, when he came over, he was supposed to
(18:55):
come over to mash lefties and he mashed lefties righties.
It was impressive, guys anything, Yeah, but staying healthy is
it's tough in a baseball Yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
Yeah, but yeah, I just wanted to say that was
that was sneaky.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
I mean, and then the Littel move was really good
because then you used Nick Martinez, how you were able
to use him and so yeah, So those two guys,
it's funny, like we're gonna probably, I guess we've got
a lot of to talk about, so we're not gonna
do as much as everything because we're twenty minutes in
right now. But like, those two guys are really interesting.
(19:34):
I think both have said to me they would love
to be back they love the organization, they love the town,
they love their teammates.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
But are you referring Nick and Amelia, You're you're talking
about both.
Speaker 1 (19:47):
Both of us. That's like they are the guys who
are just like, we loved it here. We loved everybody here,
you know. And I'll always remember when I think of
Nick Martinez, I think of the end of last year
when he when he had to let's see, oh yeah,
(20:08):
it was like the last day of the CUB series
or the first day of the CUB series, the third
to last game, and he throws a complete game. And
so I'm sitting there waiting to talk to him, and
I talked to like Nicolodolo and Andrew Abbott and we're
just shooting the shit and and so we're just talking
(20:28):
in there, like, oh man, we just watch Nick every day.
That's all we do is we watch him because he
shows us how you prepare, how you go about today.
And you know, I mean, I'm sure there were guys
like that for you that like, Okay, this guy And
it's never it doesn't always have to be like the
(20:48):
greatest player, but it's just like someone that on the
inside you see, oh my god, this guy knows what
he's doing and he's getting the most out of what
he does. I should do what he's doing and take notes.
Who was that Scott?
Speaker 2 (21:00):
Scott Sullivan, Like he wasn't a closer, but he could have.
He could have closed through side arm and was like
eighty five to to ninety if that, but his ball
like it was impossible to hit. I remember Jeff Bagwell
talking to he was talking to both of us and
he's like, I am afraid to death to face you.
(21:23):
I hate facing you. And I'm thinking, gosh, I got
better stuff than Sully. Doesn't you're afraid to face him.
I didn't say that, but that's of course what I'm thinking.
But yeah, Sully, like he had that that it factor
when he was on the mound, like stuff didn't matter.
He was gonna use whatever stuff he had that day,
and he was going to get you out. He was
gonna make sure that he was going to get you out.
(21:45):
And it was just a He was probably one of
my best friends throughout my time in Cincinnati. We played
a long time together. I cried, like physically cried when
he got traded. But he was the one that people
didn't see how hard he worked like when when it
wasn't game time. I mean, this guy did everything he
(22:07):
had to do to be ready to pitch every single day,
and of course you know he pitched just about every
single day. So yeah, he was that guy for me,
and I think for Nick, for these young starting pitchers,
even the relief pitchers, to watch what he does. I
mean that you can't teach that dude like you you
see somebody right there in front of you working as
(22:29):
hard as they're working and playing as long as as
he played, why wouldn't you try to mimic that?
Speaker 1 (22:35):
And the other thing with Nick is, and I've said
this a lot that every every player who's kind of
that in between, right like are you a fifth starter
or you a long guy, or you a whatever whatever
it is, every one of them says, oh, I'll just
you know, I'm just happy to be here. I'll do
what I ever I can to help the team. Mm hm.
(22:57):
Usually that's just lip service. Yeah, he meant it and
he showed it right. But the thing with Nick is
he said I would rather start would just say that,
but I understand everything, And so that gives you the
ability to go back to that Zach Ltel trade. But
not only do you have a guy that is willing
(23:19):
to do it or says he's willing to do it,
he will do it and has done it and done
it well. The other part is, like, you know, that
probably cost Nick Martinez money. He said, you know, he
made twenty one million this year, so he did, he
did all right, but going into free agency, he's not
going to get anything near that, and because he wasn't
a starter and he's kind of that in between. But
(23:41):
that's a oh man, it's just so valuable to have.
I think, I I don't know, I'm trying to remember
if I put him as my MVP, and because we
had did our votes, I think I had him as
the MVP and uh Pegan as our Pitcher of the
Year for my votes, just because I think you do
so many different things like what Martinez was able to do,
(24:05):
allowed so much of the flexibility and so much of
what they were able to do. And it's just is uncommon.
Speaker 2 (24:12):
How how many other pitchers that make twenty one million
dollars will say, Okay, I'll go to the bullpen if
you need if you need me to in an free
agent right because most of them, regardless of age, will say,
or their agents will convince them, now, you can't do that.
That's going to crush you in free agency. But obviously
(24:33):
Nick's that kind of guy says, I don't care about that.
We got a chance to win right now. If I
do this, then let's do it. And you know, yes,
twenty one million is a lot. He's still going to
make a decent amount, but it crushed him for sure
overall in free agency for starting pitchers.
Speaker 1 (24:50):
So we'll see where he goes.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
And I think both hopefully it doesn't go anywhere.
Speaker 1 (24:54):
Yeah, yeah, I mean, but both of those guys I
think are guys that you kind of look at, but
it comes down to Budra and you know all the
sliding scales. So yeah, I don't know that. I can't
see you know, those five days that you have the
exclusive like that usually doesn't doesn't happen because you need
(25:15):
to go see what what the market is. You know,
the Reds may say, hey, we want to give you,
I don't know, two years fifteen million. Well, if somebody
else is out there with two twenty five, you're not
going to leave that on the table. And also Nick
Nick's agent is not one to leave stuff on the table.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
I can only imagine who that is. Yeah, well, I mean,
at the.
Speaker 1 (25:42):
End of the day, but Nick, what's best for Nick?
Speaker 2 (25:46):
And so it's Nick, right, And like I'm sure I
would imagine Boris told Nick, this is going to hurt
you in free agency if you go to the bullpit.
So hopefully you know, Nick says I I have him
to give me advice, but at the end of the day,
it's my decision, right. But yeah, these five days, I
(26:07):
think it would be smart for Nick and Emilio and
all the free agents to really just wait and see
what's out there. Unless, you know, if Nick says I
want to stay here no matter what, I'm not going
anywhere whatever they offer me. If they give me a
three year deal, I'm staying. I don't care what the
money is. But other than that, yeah, you should test
the market and see what it is. Doesn't mean you're
(26:29):
going to hold out for a long time. But I
do think they need both these guys back.
Speaker 1 (26:35):
They really did. It's you know, because the biggest thing
is going to be rebuilding this bullpen, and that's not
an easy task.
Speaker 2 (26:43):
And if you have somebody at the back end, Yeah,
if you have somebody back end, already. It makes it
a lot easier to build the rest of the bullpen, right.
Speaker 1 (26:52):
And yeah, I mean right now, it's like, okay, there's
Tony Santian who pitched in what eighty games this year?
Could you imagine pitching in eighty games?
Speaker 2 (27:02):
Seventy five was the most? That's that's a lot of pitch,
that's a lot. Yeah, these days probably, Yeah, I had
one hundred and eleven I think one hundred and ten,
one hundred and something.
Speaker 1 (27:16):
Yeah, as a relievers.
Speaker 2 (27:18):
Yeah, that was in ninety nine. Yeah, yeah, it was
lasted man. That yep, last century. No, that's okay, but
pitching in eighty games in this day and age is
probably unheard of, right, Like, not many guys do that anymore.
Speaker 1 (27:36):
I think Rogers the one that wasn't with the Reds
was eighty one. Eighty one, Yeah, so exactly half and
and Tony, Tony certainly wanted more.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
You know, those last couple of games, eighty games, seventy
three innings for Tony.
Speaker 1 (27:54):
That's that's a that's a load.
Speaker 2 (27:57):
Man, And in two four four that's pretty good. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (28:02):
Yeah, so yeah, uh that's gonna be a big thing. Geez,
are times flying by? And you know we're not gonna
do it, but just kind of set this up and
we'll get into a lot more of this on on
on Friday, but you know, these five days and Friday
will this will be over. But like they can negotiate
(28:24):
with those guys and start trading. And they've already actually
made one trade today. Yeah, Ryan, Uh shoot Vallade Valaid
Valaid Sorry, oh man. I usually have to write these
names and not have to worry about how they're said.
Speaker 2 (28:41):
But we'll come to my world.
Speaker 1 (28:46):
I was traded to the Rays for cash considerations. This
is a guy who was probably gonna be non tendered anyway. Yeah.
And and so there's that, uh, and that's freeing up
roster space because you do have to free up roster
space if you bring anybody in. Also Rule five protection,
which is nitty gritty, and we'll get into those a
(29:06):
little bit later, but those are kind of our next
things in our next dates are that options guys have
to You have Austin Hayes, a twelve million dollar mutual
option and a one million dollar buyout. I would expect
that to be the buyout. Scott Barlow six and a
half million club option, one million buyout also expect that
(29:27):
to buy out brent souter three million club option two
hundred and fifty thousand dollars buyout, and I can see
all of those being bought out and the Reds declining
their side, and then maybe some like.
Speaker 2 (29:45):
Trying to bring it back.
Speaker 1 (29:45):
So yeah, only Austin has the mutual suitor and Barlow
both have club options. I can see them both like
being like, hey, we're going to decline this, give you
this kind of money now, and we would love to
have you back at a different price. And so yeah,
that's very possible with both those guys. Nice and then
(30:10):
that's gonna be a little different because it's a mutual.
Speaker 2 (30:15):
Right, So do you think he has opportunities elsewhere?
Speaker 1 (30:20):
You know, I could see him activating it like much
like Amelia Pagan did last year, because that's that's that's
a bit of money. And Emilio was hurt most of
twenty twenty four, and I know he was really not
happy with this twenty twenty four and then came back
and really you know at the time when he when
(30:43):
he picked up the option, you're like, oh man, that's
gonna be a little bit more than we want. But
he delivered and you got more than you got your
money's worth from.
Speaker 2 (30:53):
Him, right well, with Hay picking it up, yeah, I
mean because he played in one hundred and three games,
so I mean he almost has to. You almost think
that he would say, yes, I'll pick this up and
try to get better next year. That's when the money
will come.
Speaker 1 (31:12):
Mm hmmm. So we shall see. I mean I can
see that. So, uh, that is our next little thing.
Speaker 2 (31:20):
And this is exciting.
Speaker 1 (31:22):
Yeah, this is a lot, and it's kind of confusing,
and we'll try to walk you through it and maybe
do a better time next time. But this is our
first one.
Speaker 2 (31:29):
Yeah, we had to like welcome everybody and we had
to like this. That was the introduction. Yeah, we had
to let them get to get to know us.
Speaker 1 (31:39):
So and how how we will banter because we do this,
we actually do this anyway. Yeah, that's what the beauty
of it is is doing with this with Danny. It
was just so fantastic and so I'm super excited to
do it and I think we're going to have a
heck of a heck of a good time.
Speaker 2 (31:58):
Yes, we are for sure.
Speaker 1 (32:00):
This would be great. Well, yeah, so we will. If
you liked this or if you at least saw some
potential in this. We'll be back on Friday, and we'll
be back twice a week in the off season and
then three times a week during the season. So it
(32:21):
should be a lot of fun and I'm looking forward
to it. Danny, thanks for thanks for being here, and
thanks for doing this.
Speaker 2 (32:27):
Hey man, I want to talk to you as much
as I can, so this is great. We just have
to do it in front of a camera. Now.
Speaker 1 (32:37):
Means that must mean your kid's getting a little bit
older and he's like less talking about dad.
Speaker 2 (32:42):
Not cool. I'm not cool to dad, right, yeah, not
cool to the kids.
Speaker 1 (32:45):
So anymore, Well you're cool to me, Danny.
Speaker 2 (32:50):
Thanks, That's why I like talking to you.
Speaker 1 (32:53):
Perfect all right, brother, thanks for joining us here at
the NFL Territory or Riverfront Territory, which is fun. I
love your I love your shirt, isn't it today? Yeah,
had up with names and certain things are copyright written,
and so we kind of went with Riverfront just because, well,
the Bullpark is still on the river, still on the Riverfront.
(33:15):
You probably have some great memories of that place. Yes,
love the Riverfront and and that that stadium which I
actually never went to a game there, so I've never
been there.
Speaker 2 (33:27):
It's it's special, man, I don't know people. A lot
of people said it is crappy and terrible, but I
loved I loved that place, so.
Speaker 1 (33:37):
Yep, yep, alrighty well, thanks again, Danny, and thank you
to anybody who listened and watched, and we'll be back
later this week. Hopefully you will too and tell a
friend or rate and review. Oh man, they're gonna have
to give me all the things that you so I
shall do it. Thanks Danny, and all right everyone else,
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