March 4, 2024 • 41 mins
Timestamps:
0:00 Zack Wheeler Signs Phillies Extension
8:15 Giants Sign Matt Chapman
17:05 Snell & Monty Predictions
22:15 Jeff Passan's Potential Breakout List: Cole Ragans
24:40 Jackson Merrill
26:55 Tyler Glasnow
28:50 James Wood
31:50 AJ Puk & DL Hall
33:50 Chase DeLauter
36:15 Cole Irvin
38:15 Cristopher Sanchez
38:40 Owen Caissie
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello and welcome Awaken Jake myself in BBD Spirit Week
(00:04):
at John Boy Media as we have our Ball and
Play tournament this week BBD two time champ back to back. Uh,
that'll be exciting for us. The content will be released
in months, but explains our outfits for those watching on
the YouTube and a quick thanks to everyone. You guys
have been tuning in a lot. Those tearless videos have
(00:24):
been killing it. I guess I should think jolly or something,
but no way. Matt Chapman has signed with the San
Francisco Giants. We could talk about that, uh a chunk
of it because we haven't here yet. We just did
talk in baseball where we did that and the Zach
Wheeler extension, so we could touch on that. I mean,
I'll even I'll check that box first. Pretty sick for
(00:47):
Philly fans. The numbers shouldn't be too scary because it's
it's three years forty MILLI year forty on the bel
so he's right under because Ver and Suzer were like
forty two to three, but he's forty two.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
Okay, he's forty two. It's the they break the extension aav.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Record, hey and when? Because it first got announced that
Zach Wheeler signing extension with Phillies. So all the Baseball
Baseball belly boys in the office were looking at each
other with Okay, what is it? What is it? Zach
Wheeler's thirty three? He turns thirty four and may so
(01:30):
if you're extending that into his free agency. Although we've
just seen some old men pitchers get paid good amount
of money, and Suzer on those that age the only
two contracts with a higher aav than him. Uh that, yeah,
I don't. The number I first jumped to was five.
Maybe that was a day dreamy five, but that's because
(01:52):
I thought they were going to stretch out the money
a little more if they did not. Uh, And you
just have to wonder what the player wants. I mean,
does Wheeler I want to retire by thirty seven? Is
he going to be a sures er that we're probably
gonna watch him pitch till he's forty blank? I mean
when him and Verlander, they've got a good game of
(02:13):
chicken going right now, how does that end? I hope
it doesn't. I hope they one of them gets to
fifty start Clemens in it. Just pitch mid season? Why not?
Philly fans, you're on cloud nine. I mean, maybe one
of the best off seasons with not a ton happening.
They re signed Nola, they lock up Wheeler, their whole
(02:37):
offense has been signed to contracts. Or you're Bryson Stotton Bohm,
so you're along for the ride. The Phillies are lined
up to do it again. It's crazy that all of
us are, we kind of said on Talking Baseball if
they do a Snell because supposedly they were gonna sign
not supposedly they were in the running for Yamamoto. They're
(02:58):
a team that goes and gets free agents. If they
signed Snell, they're a super team. But Christopher Sanchez, who
supposedly has that fifth spot locked down. You may hear
him in the second part of the episode, Jeff Passing
friend just texted, whoops, he came out a list ten
(03:21):
player scouts are buzzing about this spring, and so we
can call him out if we think it's wrong or right.
And he did send me one silly text response, so
we'll get there in a second. Wheels up. Congrats Phillies.
It's one of the best free agents starting pitching contracts ever.
And like my guy trev was driving home when Zack
(03:44):
Wheeler hit free agency. I mean, it's funny in hindsight
seeing the picture he's become and the Zach Wheeler. We
know he was hidden a little bit in that Mets rotation,
and he had an injury history, like he didn't pitch
in twenty fifteen or twenty sixteen. Uh, and then twenty
(04:06):
seventeen he only had seventeen starts, So he has a
really nice twenty eighteen. Uh. The stats are good three
three one ERA, one hundred and eighty two innings, one
hundred and seventy nine strikeouts, and then his free agent
year with the Mets one hundred and ninety five innings,
one hundred and ninety five strikeouts. The FIP was a
(04:26):
little worse, uh, in the RS three nine to six.
So this was a guy in his Mets career. He
was a career three seven seven, a little less than
a strikeout per inning, with some injury history that I
don't know. That's kind of how he was labeled a
little bit three seven seven. I mean, like, what's Monty's
(04:51):
Jordan Montgomery's still a free agent. He's a career three
six eight, And i've personally I've been a little tough
on Monty at times talking about his high end potential. Uh,
that that's Zach Wheeler was in that boat. Maybe a
little more talented, but a little more injury prone.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Overall viewpoint is about about the same, I suppose.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
And uh he turned that into the was was his
original contract five for one twenty.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Twenty twenty something eighteen? I think is wow?
Speaker 1 (05:27):
Is the original five for one eighteen six per year?
He's now going to get more than that in three years.
So that's that's how good they did with that contract.
John gave me a little guff and I was I
was poking at the ends, just trying to think of
loose holes in it. Uh, you know, turning thirty four,
he technically had his worst season as a Philly which
(05:48):
is still a really incredible season. And yeah, I mean
he did tick up a little bit in Philadelphia, Like
his era has been three oh six. There the FIP
numbers every year, just love him. He finished second in
the cy Young the strikeout numbers have gone up, so
you don't always expect that, and I'm not sure what
(06:08):
that is. I'm sure comment below if you know, like
did his did he tick up? Even more. Was he
just getting reps? He doesn't give up home runs. That's
really impressive that ballpark. He doesn't. Yeah, and he doesn't.
You know, pitching wise, he doesn't necessarily come off that
way because a lot of aggressive heaters. But he's uh,
he's been one of the best pitchers in baseball. It's
(06:31):
a great time to be a Phillies fan. It looks
like it's gonna continue a little longer, as we just
added a Phillies fan to the office, Shelfy video Games
sports guy Wearhouse. Uh So, expect to see a lot
more of him. Maybe we'll even get him on here
at some point.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
We'll see I've got.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
The over one point five appearances for she be careful,
Shelfy Man. Really good playoff resume at this point, you're, uh,
the Phillies look prime to get back, and man are
they kind of the kings of the wild Card expansion era?
Like basically they're going to be in the playoffs, but
they almost I don't want to say they have no
(07:09):
expectations to win the division. Last year they didn't. We
were kind of like Braves and Mets. One went one didn't.
It would be fun if the Phillies do try to
like take.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
That division if they they heavy where they're actually like
them and the Birds pushing each other.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
I remember them having a brutal start to the season
last year too. Wasn't a twelve game roadie or something.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Yeah, last year is a bad start. It felt like
the first like six weeks it was a lot of
like the catchup, caught up, and then they're getting a hole.
Someone gets hurt. They catch up and four against their
first two months of the year, and they then they
really went the rest of the way. Would really it
ended up pretty much exactly where they should have been
on the hole if they could get the hot start.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
So they were ninety wins last year. Yeah, I think
so those Marlins people forget God blessed, Let's get a
hot Let's get a hot phil Start, Trey Turner, Schwarber.
They don't have to do WBC. I'm in on that.
Uh So that was the Wheeler extension that I was
(08:17):
going to cover quickly slash barely cover and talked a
little bit about it the bigger one. Maddie Chapman signs
one of the original Boris for before JD. Martinez got
subbed in. He gets signed to a similar opt out, well,
the exact opt out structure as the Cody Bellinger contract
(08:38):
opt outs every year. It's an opt out fest with
and with a mutual option on the end, which doubtful
that that'll get tapped into. But Matt Chapman to the
San Francisco Giants opt outs every year around twenty mili
a year. When you start doing signing bonus opt out
(09:00):
all of that, it'll be interesting to see. Well, hey,
this is one of the teams speculated. It happens. The
Matt Chapman side of it, he got rumored for more
money in the past. I'm pretty sure five for one
hundred to Toronto had been a thing. Hey, I will
say this, and maybe this is just dumb American stuff,
(09:22):
but I don't know. Toronto is like living in a
different country. Like when you grow up it's a six city,
but you grow up playing Major League Baseball. I don't know.
I think like taxes get a little weirder, and I
think you're either about it or you're not. I'm not
saying that factored into Matt Chapman's decision, But.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Locking up in Toronto is just a different ass. It's
just a little bit different as much, a little bit different,
not in like that, not in the same way that like,
you know, one of these cities that people will don't like,
like Toronto.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
Is awesome, young Jake story, Ellie. If I got an
off a job offer in Boston.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
This is outside of s sports.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
If I got a job offer in Boston or Toronto,
that just feels a lot different. Just feels a lot different. Anyways.
And Matt Chapman sneaky had one of his worst offensive seasons.
I know, he had one hundred ops plus in twenty
(10:20):
twenty one. Okay, so it was better than that, but
it's two forty three point thirty seven to fifty five
ops one o eight ops plus. It's a little cooked
by a massive april and the rest of the way
was a six fifty nine ops. He still wins the
gold Glove. Some of the savant numbers are beautiful. And
I hope he runs into the right coach for him,
(10:44):
because yeah, I mean exit v low barrel percentage, he's
one hundredth percentile like special. Think about all the freaks
around this league, think of all the freaks around Major
League Baseball, and Matt Chapman hard hit wise, can go
toe to toe with pretty much anyone. Fielding wise, can
(11:05):
go toe to toe with pretty much anyone. The problem
is a little bit how much hitting are you going
to get out of him? In Toronto, which is notoriously
a hitter's park. I know that that team hasn't been
super balanced right he left he wise in the past
couple of years, and his homer numbers are down last year,
but his doubles our way up, So I know that's
(11:27):
not the perfect replacement. But you know, his slugging ended
up in what's been Matt Chapman's realm. I early on
this free agency and I don't know where I stand
on it now. I thought Matt Chapman I pegged him
as he could have, like a Simion Marcus Simeon, like
(11:50):
if he does this right and maybe he runs into
the right coaches or there's a swing adjustment. He's a
work ethic guy. Trevor Pluf loves him. Trevor Pluff, I
remember he said when Matt Chapman first joined the team,
took his job. He basically said he instantly as a
twenty three year old, twenty four year old was like
(12:12):
a leader, and not as a vocal thing. I think
just like the presence and he kind of I don't
want to say no bullshit, but a little bit. We
got to meet him briefly at the spring training house.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
Nice basic games, just kinda yeah, just kind of one
of those guys. Yeah, just like locked in in Anti
very much like a locker room stabilizer.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
The opposite of whatever me and Joe's bring to a
locker room. That's what Matt Chapman brings four and a
half war last year. It'll be interesting to see San Francisco,
not normally known as a hitters park. What will he
tap into there if he wins the Gold Glove again,
(12:57):
that could be huge things for our guy, Logan Web
Maybe sprinkle little Logan Web Cy Young votes. Maybe I'll
do that.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
I'm interested in that.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
We got our talking baseball off the Sprinkle up coming up.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
Yeah, we've got a couple drafts coming up next week.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
I think we're gonna get some innings that. Yeah, I
don't know. I hope he runs into something. If he
puts up a twenty what he did in twenty nineteen,
twenty eighteen, Uh, he could still hit free agency and
get another bag, a different bag, a slightly more probably
(13:32):
long term bag Giants fans decent couple weeks you were
wondering what was gonna happen with your off season. They
bring in so Lair, which not necessarily a lock for anything,
but did have a massive last season.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
The fit it feels right, whether or not you're specifically
juiced about it.
Speaker 1 (13:52):
Easily the scariest hitter on that team easily. You bring
Matt Chapman, who probably has an argument for a second
scariest hitter on that team while being a Platinum Glove
All World third baseman. Uh So, in the past couple
of weeks. Uh they've added a lot to that lineup.
I think they're gonna really maul lefties, Matt Chapman, Mall's lefties.
(14:16):
They have a whole bench lineup that they can go
alrighties on, you promise, I mean, or just never as
many lefties as righties that that then they have to
bank on Jung, Hulie, Lamont, Wade and Foord. Oh yeahs,
I don't know. We just did the Giants TPP. I
liked them more than I thought. I just talked about
(14:39):
them adding players. It's more so I'm kind of out
on the Padres, it's they just lost a lot coming
off of an eighty two win year. The Giants sneaky.
I mean, Jung Hulie is one hundred million dollars signing,
(14:59):
so Lair, Matt Chapman. I mean those are three significant
pieces to the lineup. And then it's Jordan Hicks, which
let's see what that looks like in the rotation. Worst case,
you might have a lights out reliever at the end
of the year, which they traded for Robbie Ray. So
(15:19):
I don't know if this Giants team can hang around,
which they typically have a standard of a little bit,
I don't know. I think we might have to pay
attention to these Giants in the second half of the year.
And I don't know if I believed in that last year.
And if there's something that I do think they can
tap into. I think they can tap into pitching a
(15:42):
little bit. So if they can tap into their pitching
and get enough from the lineup, go look at Tom
Murphy's splits. I have Tom Murphy can hit a little
bit from the catcher position, and yet Giants fans they
also they had to give up the compens tory pick
for Matt Chapman. So if he does have one big
(16:03):
year and he bails and nothing, I guess comes from it.
San Francisco Giants baseball, like this.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
Looks like a rookie and isn't that it doesn't come together.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
This year if they have a five hundred season, which
for the Giants, Oh, Dodger Snakes look decent, Padres ain't dead,
Rockies are and Matt Chapman has a five six war season,
like he's gone and you can't qualify him. I don't know.
It could also be some interesting trade deadline stuff. Imagine
(16:35):
if Matt Chapman's having a monster first half and the
Giants are out of it, I don't know, something to watch. Uh,
Matt Chapman, he gets enough of a bag. He definitely
wants to hit free agency a little better. And I
don't know, part of me just thinks it's gonna happen.
(16:56):
Let's see. Uh that's kind of what's going on in
spring training baseball wise. Snell and Montgomery still no real
route rumors, say reasons. Still no real rumors on Snell
and Monty. Uh, I guess my off the cuff and
(17:16):
maybe this is super obnoxious. Monty for me is still
it's it's Red Sox or Rangers. I think it's Red Sox.
I think he's perfect for Fenway. I think he's perfect
for that team. They need innings. Monty can give you innings.
He's pitched there before. He probably he kind of has
(17:39):
a red beard that I could see that working Joyed
and Montgomery. You know, the the whole conversation between Snell
and Monty is like, Manty, you kind of know his baseline,
you're gonna get innings, and he actually started to peak
past what people thought he could. So maybe there's more
in there, but you get a pretty reliable that's what
(18:00):
the Socks need. In the worst way, I would say
it's Red Sox. If Snell signs with the Yankees, I
think I think the Red Sox front office is feeling
feeling it a little bit. Their fan base is smart
enough that they've been like, hey, guys, this team ain't it?
And other teams in the division look really good right now.
(18:22):
Orioles look like they're just getting started. The Yanks have
retooled in a fantastic way. The Blue Jays have one
of my favorite pitching staffs in baseball, with guys you
know at the top of the lineup. The Red Sox
having no hope this year is kind of crazy. By
the way, Mookie Bets just plays for the Dodgers. That
still looms over a lot of Boston fans heads. If
(18:43):
Snell to the Yankees happens. Monty to the Red Sox
is a lock in my head, but Snell to the
Yankees is nothing near a lock. I again, I do
get some rumors and I feel, I don't know, sometimes
it's not worth tweeting them because some of the kids
run too hot in the Twitter streets these days. You know,
(19:04):
I've heard they're still at the table and talking. I've
heard rumors the Yankees are low balling on money, but
they want the years, which if you're Snell, why would
you do that? The Yankees there's a Coppick tied to Snell,
so I don't think they would do like the Matt
Chapman type contract. Maybe an opt after the second, second
(19:27):
or third year with the complex.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
The Yankees seem like a team that's like, well, we
would need at least two years of you to make
that worth it, which and doesn't seem like an uncrossable bridge.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
Okay, maybe maybe the answer lies back with those San
Francisco Giants. So you know, Judge Correa, you know the
Giants became a joke for a little bit. Man, if
they were to add if they were Tad Snell with
Logan Webb, if Kyle Harrison or Hicks clicks, would you
believe in Robbie Ray comes back, Cobb comes back. I
(20:01):
don't know. I still don't know the Snell destination and
I don't I feel like he's having a bad time
now because he's kinda it feels like he's made it
and I don't want to go to the bad teams.
So if he does, I don't know. A Sad Snell
shows up at Angels camp with an extra year on
his deal, that doesn't feel like the solution right now,
(20:22):
especially the way Belly and Chappie did their contracts. But
we don't know. Both of those pictures, Monty and Snell
still out there, have to record to camp soon if
they want to be on time.
Speaker 2 (20:35):
Yeah, I was looking into it a little bit that
that Lancelyn year he did start the year on time,
wasn't stretched out or good right first month right like you?
But ye a cob Arietta signed late and both of
them they signed like March tenth to fifteenth, range of
(20:56):
good exact dates. Bear with me, people, but uh, but yeah,
they did start the year on time then, so but
it is really this week that like, after this it
becomes very dicey.
Speaker 1 (21:11):
Yeah, I mean opening days of twenty eighth, real opening
days of twenty eighth. I mean you could get your.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
Yeah, even everyone, even if they're gonna be the fifth starter.
Speaker 1 (21:21):
If he signed this wise and he's in healthy enough shape,
you get your two winning spring training start three four,
and then you're giving five on opening day. That used
to be the Yankees plan.
Speaker 2 (21:32):
Anyways, even the last you know, since then twenty eighteen,
enough has changed it. Like I think guys shall be
even a little more stretched out now than six years ago.
But forever long it's been but just a little.
Speaker 1 (21:47):
Bit, we'll find out. We'll find out the next step there.
One of my buddies just sent me an inappropriate video.
That's all you can label it. It's someone doing something
with a pottery wheel.
Speaker 2 (22:04):
I'll let you.
Speaker 1 (22:06):
Figure out the blanks if you live on the internet. Space,
thank you for sending me that. Jeff Passing friend he
came out with the ten player scouts are buzzing about Hello,
ten standouts who have impressed evaluators in the early days
(22:29):
of spring. No, it's funny. This guy had a huge
year last year for whatever reason. I I just didn't
know he was like this because you just assumed it
wasn't in the trade. Cole Reagan's of the Kansas City
(22:50):
Royals starts off the article and passing has a squout
scout scout quote a quote. He's a left handed de
gram oh Reagan's first start this spring. His fastball average
ninety nine point two. Cole Reagan's shack me, I was
(23:13):
not familiar with your game. Uh. I know it worked
out for the Texas Rangers, although Chapman wasn't as pivotal
as they thought he might be. Uh, but he hit
one oh one twenty inches of vertical break. Not a
single starter in the MLB last season hit one oh
one with that sort of okay, Cole Reagan's had a
(23:38):
really nice year last year. The Royals added to their staff.
I don't know. It's tough to believe in what's going
on in Kansas City, but boy, would I love for
that city to have a fun summer. Ninety six innings
last year, eighty nine or excuse me, ninety six innings
last year, one hundred and thirteen strikeouts. Uh, for Cole Reagan.
(24:02):
So you know you probably heard his name.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
I did.
Speaker 1 (24:06):
I Ian deeb sit on talking baseball. I didn't know
Cole got down like that.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
I knew he was like good and like a future
building block, didn't you know? De gram is a name
and doesn't get thrown around a lot lefty.
Speaker 1 (24:22):
Yeah six, Okay, see, I'm now I'm all sorts of
jazzed up for Cole Reagan's this season. Uh. This other
one is a name I stumbled into when we were
doing team profile and projections because it's a team I'm
down on. But this team has a top prospect who's
(24:43):
a lefty that they desperately need. Uh, and it's Jackson
Merrill of the San Diego Padres. He's listed twelfth on
Kyler McDaniel's top one hundred list. He's listed as a
shortstop outfielder like a lot of them are. And yeah,
I don't know. I guess for me, looking at the Padres,
(25:05):
who they were gonna shed. They were gonna shed a
lot of salary this year. They traded one Soto, but
I don't know. The Padres still had this like, hey,
you know the San die Like honestly, earlier this offseason,
I was like, I might buy some Tatis stock. I
think Tatis full year back. He played good defense last year.
(25:25):
He's one of the most talented baseball players ever. Like,
I would not be shocked if Tatis just bounces back,
takes the MVP. Let's put the steroid stuff behind us Boom,
And maybe he does do that. The problem is there's
not a ton of help. It's Xander who just got moved,
Hassan Kim, who had an incredible year last year. Will
(25:47):
he replicate that? Still? You know, his ops doesn't get
to the crazy, you know, contributing area that you need
it to carry a team. Cronin Wort. They're hoping for
a bounce back. They lost Gary Sanchez. Why did I
start with Gary? They lost Juan Soto, generational Gary who
was a huge feeling for them, and then they lost
(26:09):
so much pitching Lugo Waka and before you get there,
Cy young Winner, Blake Snell. They did not fill in
those gaps that obviously they had their owner pass and
they had to change how they were operating for a
little bit here they would still and they're probably gonna
(26:29):
sign a veteran outfielder. But this Jackson Merrill kid, if
he's a lefty and he's as talented as they're talking about,
and I think San Diego is not afraid to go.
Don't be surprised if you see him this year. I
don't After that Cole Reagan scout and report, I'm buying
his stock. I'm gonna hold off on Jackson Merrill for
a little bit. Speaking of guys stocks, the next player
(26:53):
is Tyler Glass. Now you know I'm a little too
close to the situation here wedding partner at Cole Tucker's
wedding whoops. And you know I liked him even before
h I've been waiting for the full season a click.
I think Passing was quoted saying when he has his
(27:15):
full season that clicks, he'll probably win the Cy Young
His stuff is stupid, And I know the Rays are
a pitching factory, but so are the Dodgers, So new
division for him, which bodes better for the pitcher than
the hitter. If the if the Dodgers have any different
pitching tricks up their sleeve, cool, And I don't know
like this is always something you could spin or not spend,
(27:38):
like contract year, Let's see what he does. Uh, he
got the extension, so I don't know it if he
doesn't need that pressure, which I don't know. Tyler's a
pretty chill cat. Just he met up with Peter moylan
this weekend. Ad that I don't know. I'm just gonna
stop because i've I've I've thought glad Us now is
(28:00):
who he is before he truly is who he is,
and he might be who he is this year. Translate that.
James Wood, your Washington Nationals big boy. Big boys are
kind of the future. I think I think judges changing
the game. It's a sport where as long as you
can hit or do anything on the field, you'll still
(28:21):
get a chance. But James Woods who he was in
the Sherzer deal, right.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
I believe he was the Soto deal.
Speaker 1 (28:31):
Oh okay, I think you're right. I think you're right.
Speaker 2 (28:36):
I think he was the one that they were that
they were like, this is like the prospect in this deal.
The obviously Gore is was it will be ready frontline
pitcher potentially, Abrams was MLB ready shortstop high high ceilings
on those guys and so yeah, Solon Wood, I think
are the two that were like, these are the prospects
(28:57):
they got.
Speaker 1 (28:58):
Man, this is a funny one in hindsight because it
was two and a half years of Soto at the time. Yes,
so is Soto and Josh Bell. People forget for cj. Abrams,
who's blossoming into one of the better young shortstops in
the league, contributing in a big way. He had a
(29:18):
three and a half war season last year. Trending upwards
twenty three years.
Speaker 2 (29:23):
Old, fielding, contact, running.
Speaker 1 (29:25):
Looking good. Eighteen homers can run.
Speaker 2 (29:28):
Into if you take that next step.
Speaker 1 (29:30):
Skinny Mackenzie gore one hundred and thirty six innings last year,
one hundred and fifty one strikeouts, twenty seven games of
four to four to two era young lefty going forward.
I think people don't think he had the high end
he used to. But that's a player. Robert hassel Man, handsome,
(29:50):
he was the eighth overall pick. He's doing okay in
the minor leagues. He's not setting the world on fire.
We're gonna have to check back in with him. James
Wood six six two thirty four, Uh looks big. Had
twenty six home runs last year at High A and
(30:10):
Double A. He's been turning heads with some pimp homers
at spring training this year. Again, I think he's someone
you see later in the year for the Nationals because
this year, I don't want to say it's a lost year,
but nobody has the Nats making noise this year.
Speaker 2 (30:27):
It's a it's a lot of let's find out.
Speaker 1 (30:29):
It's the team with a big payroll when when they're right,
like capital their team that invests capital in the capitol
last year of Patrick Corbyn's contract. So you're right, this
is the I don't want to say the year before
the year, but they it's a find out season and
I think by the end of the year we find
out about James Wood.
Speaker 2 (30:49):
I wonder if there's just like after this year, we
will lock up one young player.
Speaker 1 (30:54):
Cool Abrams extension, James Wood called up.
Speaker 2 (30:58):
Oh Gray just seems like a rotation stabilizer. Nice guy,
we liked him, great guy. That could be. That could
be a fun narrative.
Speaker 1 (31:07):
James Wood, Dylan cruz Cade Cavalley, next year's Nats Natitude
in the streets, Jesse Winker, Joey Gallo. Yeah, this this
Nationals team is going to be the team they look
back in four years and be like, oh my god,
that was our opening day lineup.
Speaker 2 (31:29):
Oh oh, James Wood like played with.
Speaker 1 (31:31):
Gallo, huh Nixon Zell uh so again in on Wood
not necessarily for this year. I don't think the I
don't think the Nats are gonna rush anything. I don't
think there's a need. But uh j Puck, I don't know.
I thought I thought he was an interesting one on there.
(31:52):
Let's see, Puck came to camp with a new two
seamer and a split fingered fastball.
Speaker 2 (31:58):
They started him.
Speaker 1 (31:59):
No, he's still relieving. But I think it's just I
think what Passon is trying to get across is that
this guy might have another level. He's six foot seven,
he's gross, and I think we've been laughing at the
Marlins bullpen. How it's listed, but he had fifteen saves
last year, three nine to seven. I think they're I
(32:20):
think they're trying to get ready for him being like
one of the best relievers in baseball. Hey, let's see,
well the experience kick in. He was a top prospect.
He's been in the pen. God he is He's gross,
six seven, two forty eight. The Beard is kind of gnarmally. Sorry, AJ,
(32:44):
we're just opposites. DL Hall is on the list. Sure,
we've talked about him in that trade. The Brewers thought
they could tap into him, uh and maybe they can't.
They're saying he might have the best Oh no, okay,
there's another another future Milwaukee guy, Jacob Mizerowski. They're saying
might have the best raw stuff in the organization. Yeah,
(33:07):
the Brewers love del Hall. That's why they were willing
to move off Corbyn Burns. So you better believe in
what you're getting. I don't know yet, brewers believe.
Speaker 2 (33:16):
Sure. Usually the Brewers see something, they find something.
Speaker 1 (33:21):
They the Brewers have been good with that. I don't know.
Bouncing back, starting to relief. It just feels like different
worlds that I don't know. We'll find out soon. This
one was part of the reason. Well there's two, for
very separate reasons that I like this article. A name
that really hadn't been on my list, and I'm you know,
(33:44):
I'm usually pretty decently on top of the prospects. Chased
the latter, and this is the stuff that makes baseball fantastic.
He's an outfield prospect for your Cleveland guardians who will
be looking for offense anywhere they can get it. Uh.
(34:04):
The part that's fascinating to me. This guy was at
James Madison. He was going nuts eight twenty six, slugging
four thirty five batting average, broke his foot running the bases,
was looking like a potential one to one pick. Because
of the broken foot, he slides to sixteen first year
(34:29):
in Pro ball, three point fifty five, four seventeen, five
twenty eight. Cleveland has been looking for offense for so
long now that man their pitching really has a chance
(34:52):
to go this year. It's scary because the guardians can
be so not sexy. But if I just like, if
this guy had been one one, we probably would have
talked about Chase de Latter a lot. But because he's
slid in the draft because he broke his foot, we
(35:15):
have not, And I don't Cleveland in a way organizationally
deserves some credit. I guess offensively they don't traded away
Nolan Jones. Who's the other guardian that got away? Isn't
there another like Nolan Jones? Kind of a new one
player player X trying to get some more De Latter?
(35:38):
Do I like the name delatter. I think, I do think.
Speaker 2 (35:41):
So I'd like to see I'd like to see his look.
Speaker 1 (35:44):
Chase delatt uh career in the minor leagues. It's only wow.
They gave him a sampling at double A last year.
You might see him this year. Cleveland is going to
be looking for offense. Nine yes, at the minor league level.
Not a lot of games, not a lot of levels.
(36:04):
Let's see him. And the second name that made me
truly excited to bring this list to the table, and
it's the beauty of spring training. Maybe we will all
end up laughing Cole Irvin. So basically it's been all
kids up unto this point. Cole Irvin, thirty years old.
(36:27):
His velo's jumping last year, his so his average fastball
in nineteen was ninety miles per hour. Last year his
velo jumped to ninety two in the first outing of spring.
Irving was sitting ninety four this spring training outing and
(36:50):
he popped one heater at ninety five to nine. So,
I don't know what you do with that. Is there
more coming? Is he just full on the upswing? Is
there gonna be an injury talked about in a little bit.
I just thought it was funny of these names of
prospects and guys you would expect formerly soft toss and
(37:15):
Cole Irvin joining the Velo train the only lefties that
threw harder than the ninety four he was sitting at.
Or this was a bad sentence by passing. I'll call
him out on it. You tell me what this means, sweetee.
(37:37):
He popped one heater at ninety five point nine, the
hardest he's ever thrown in a game. Velocity isn't everything,
but among qualified lefty starters in twenty three, only Lizardo,
Framber Snell, and Kakuchi threw harder. So is that their
average fastball versus Irvin's top Huh?
Speaker 2 (37:57):
I think he's going mac Zilo there.
Speaker 1 (38:02):
I think so. I don't know either way, Cole Irvin,
that's not how you view him. I did like Christopher
Sanchez is on this list. For me, he's just been
the guy at the end of the Phillies rotation. Haven't
really cared, haven't needed to care. Apparently he's been wild,
but he's he's bringing it in a little bit. If
he does, he can be dangerous. And then another Cubs outfielder,
(38:26):
Owen Cassie Casey.
Speaker 2 (38:30):
Looked like a Casey to me.
Speaker 1 (38:32):
Man, They Pete Crow, Armstrong, Ben Brown, Owen Casey. Uh,
They've got a couple others. The Cuppies might be coming.
And maybe that's what everyone around baseball knows. Uh traded
traded for in the Padres to the you Darvish trade.
(38:56):
I don't know. The Cubs are just something to watch
in general because it feels like they may have a
new wave coming that could be really fun in Chicago
the next couple of years. Got to see it to
believe it. They passing just through five names at the
end of the list, Colt Keith Sure Jackson Kohar, who
was traded to the Mariners, and everyone kind of laughed.
(39:16):
They're saying he might be the new Mariners reclamation project.
It's thirty with your Yankees BBD touching one hundred in
the pen. Interested Bryce Miller, you've already heard about the
splitter pitch Ninja, which with some good contact with him.
(39:36):
And then Colton Kowser, Uh, you know, with the Orioles,
I think you could always pick a handful of guys nowadays. Kowser,
huge power, excellent eye. Okay, that's our scouting report on
him going forward. So out of all that, I think
what I'm taking away Colt Reagan's now familiar with your game,
(39:57):
and I think I'm chips all in the latter. Watch
out for that when it happens, because got Cleveland needs
some help. Um and Nick Birdie the best ever. I
guess I don't know. Wow, Uh, texted Jeff Passing. Um,
(40:19):
Jeff Passing, your I said, your comments on your own
ten Breakout Players article. He said, solid peace and formative,
informative the hymns for fantasy players. M So Jeff Passing
getting rowdy on this beautiful Monday afternoon. Now thought it
(40:40):
was Monday morning. Then there's another comment I won't read.
I hope you guys have been reading. You're waking Jake,
and you have been. Because there's no reading, you just
have to listen to it or you can watch too.
Thanks for subscribing and everything, and we will be back.
Jolly Olive put some guys in tears. Subscribe, Thank you,
(41:05):
We love you.
Speaker 2 (41:05):
Check out What's ba
Hello and welcome Awaken Jake myself in BBD Spirit Week
(00:04):
at John Boy Media as we have our Ball and
Play tournament this week BBD two time champ back to back. Uh,
that'll be exciting for us. The content will be released
in months, but explains our outfits for those watching on
the YouTube and a quick thanks to everyone. You guys
have been tuning in a lot. Those tearless videos have
(00:24):
been killing it. I guess I should think jolly or something,
but no way. Matt Chapman has signed with the San
Francisco Giants. We could talk about that, uh a chunk
of it because we haven't here yet. We just did
talk in baseball where we did that and the Zach
Wheeler extension, so we could touch on that. I mean,
I'll even I'll check that box first. Pretty sick for
(00:47):
Philly fans. The numbers shouldn't be too scary because it's
it's three years forty MILLI year forty on the bel
so he's right under because Ver and Suzer were like
forty two to three, but he's forty two.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
Okay, he's forty two. It's the they break the extension aav.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Record, hey and when? Because it first got announced that
Zach Wheeler signing extension with Phillies. So all the Baseball
Baseball belly boys in the office were looking at each
other with Okay, what is it? What is it? Zach
Wheeler's thirty three? He turns thirty four and may so
(01:30):
if you're extending that into his free agency. Although we've
just seen some old men pitchers get paid good amount
of money, and Suzer on those that age the only
two contracts with a higher aav than him. Uh that, yeah,
I don't. The number I first jumped to was five.
Maybe that was a day dreamy five, but that's because
(01:52):
I thought they were going to stretch out the money
a little more if they did not. Uh, And you
just have to wonder what the player wants. I mean,
does Wheeler I want to retire by thirty seven? Is
he going to be a sures er that we're probably
gonna watch him pitch till he's forty blank? I mean
when him and Verlander, they've got a good game of
(02:13):
chicken going right now, how does that end? I hope
it doesn't. I hope they one of them gets to
fifty start Clemens in it. Just pitch mid season? Why not?
Philly fans, you're on cloud nine. I mean, maybe one
of the best off seasons with not a ton happening.
They re signed Nola, they lock up Wheeler, their whole
(02:37):
offense has been signed to contracts. Or you're Bryson Stotton Bohm,
so you're along for the ride. The Phillies are lined
up to do it again. It's crazy that all of
us are, we kind of said on Talking Baseball if
they do a Snell because supposedly they were gonna sign
not supposedly they were in the running for Yamamoto. They're
(02:58):
a team that goes and gets free agents. If they
signed Snell, they're a super team. But Christopher Sanchez, who
supposedly has that fifth spot locked down. You may hear
him in the second part of the episode, Jeff Passing
friend just texted, whoops, he came out a list ten
(03:21):
player scouts are buzzing about this spring, and so we
can call him out if we think it's wrong or right.
And he did send me one silly text response, so
we'll get there in a second. Wheels up. Congrats Phillies.
It's one of the best free agents starting pitching contracts ever.
And like my guy trev was driving home when Zack
(03:44):
Wheeler hit free agency. I mean, it's funny in hindsight
seeing the picture he's become and the Zach Wheeler. We
know he was hidden a little bit in that Mets rotation,
and he had an injury history, like he didn't pitch
in twenty fifteen or twenty sixteen. Uh, and then twenty
(04:06):
seventeen he only had seventeen starts, So he has a
really nice twenty eighteen. Uh. The stats are good three
three one ERA, one hundred and eighty two innings, one
hundred and seventy nine strikeouts, and then his free agent
year with the Mets one hundred and ninety five innings,
one hundred and ninety five strikeouts. The FIP was a
(04:26):
little worse, uh, in the RS three nine to six.
So this was a guy in his Mets career. He
was a career three seven seven, a little less than
a strikeout per inning, with some injury history that I
don't know. That's kind of how he was labeled a
little bit three seven seven. I mean, like, what's Monty's
(04:51):
Jordan Montgomery's still a free agent. He's a career three
six eight, And i've personally I've been a little tough
on Monty at times talking about his high end potential. Uh,
that that's Zach Wheeler was in that boat. Maybe a
little more talented, but a little more injury prone.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Overall viewpoint is about about the same, I suppose.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
And uh he turned that into the was was his
original contract five for one twenty.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Twenty twenty something eighteen? I think is wow?
Speaker 1 (05:27):
Is the original five for one eighteen six per year?
He's now going to get more than that in three years.
So that's that's how good they did with that contract.
John gave me a little guff and I was I
was poking at the ends, just trying to think of
loose holes in it. Uh, you know, turning thirty four,
he technically had his worst season as a Philly which
(05:48):
is still a really incredible season. And yeah, I mean
he did tick up a little bit in Philadelphia, Like
his era has been three oh six. There the FIP
numbers every year, just love him. He finished second in
the cy Young the strikeout numbers have gone up, so
you don't always expect that, and I'm not sure what
(06:08):
that is. I'm sure comment below if you know, like
did his did he tick up? Even more. Was he
just getting reps? He doesn't give up home runs. That's
really impressive that ballpark. He doesn't. Yeah, and he doesn't.
You know, pitching wise, he doesn't necessarily come off that
way because a lot of aggressive heaters. But he's uh,
he's been one of the best pitchers in baseball. It's
(06:31):
a great time to be a Phillies fan. It looks
like it's gonna continue a little longer, as we just
added a Phillies fan to the office, Shelfy video Games
sports guy Wearhouse. Uh So, expect to see a lot
more of him. Maybe we'll even get him on here
at some point.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
We'll see I've got.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
The over one point five appearances for she be careful,
Shelfy Man. Really good playoff resume at this point, you're, uh,
the Phillies look prime to get back, and man are
they kind of the kings of the wild Card expansion era?
Like basically they're going to be in the playoffs, but
they almost I don't want to say they have no
(07:09):
expectations to win the division. Last year they didn't. We
were kind of like Braves and Mets. One went one didn't.
It would be fun if the Phillies do try to
like take.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
That division if they they heavy where they're actually like
them and the Birds pushing each other.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
I remember them having a brutal start to the season
last year too. Wasn't a twelve game roadie or something.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Yeah, last year is a bad start. It felt like
the first like six weeks it was a lot of
like the catchup, caught up, and then they're getting a hole.
Someone gets hurt. They catch up and four against their
first two months of the year, and they then they
really went the rest of the way. Would really it
ended up pretty much exactly where they should have been
on the hole if they could get the hot start.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
So they were ninety wins last year. Yeah, I think
so those Marlins people forget God blessed, Let's get a
hot Let's get a hot phil Start, Trey Turner, Schwarber.
They don't have to do WBC. I'm in on that.
Uh So that was the Wheeler extension that I was
(08:17):
going to cover quickly slash barely cover and talked a
little bit about it the bigger one. Maddie Chapman signs
one of the original Boris for before JD. Martinez got
subbed in. He gets signed to a similar opt out, well,
the exact opt out structure as the Cody Bellinger contract
(08:38):
opt outs every year. It's an opt out fest with
and with a mutual option on the end, which doubtful
that that'll get tapped into. But Matt Chapman to the
San Francisco Giants opt outs every year around twenty mili
a year. When you start doing signing bonus opt out
(09:00):
all of that, it'll be interesting to see. Well, hey,
this is one of the teams speculated. It happens. The
Matt Chapman side of it, he got rumored for more
money in the past. I'm pretty sure five for one
hundred to Toronto had been a thing. Hey, I will
say this, and maybe this is just dumb American stuff,
(09:22):
but I don't know. Toronto is like living in a
different country. Like when you grow up it's a six city,
but you grow up playing Major League Baseball. I don't know.
I think like taxes get a little weirder, and I
think you're either about it or you're not. I'm not
saying that factored into Matt Chapman's decision, But.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Locking up in Toronto is just a different ass. It's
just a little bit different as much, a little bit different,
not in like that, not in the same way that like,
you know, one of these cities that people will don't like,
like Toronto.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
Is awesome, young Jake story, Ellie. If I got an
off a job offer in Boston.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
This is outside of s sports.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
If I got a job offer in Boston or Toronto,
that just feels a lot different. Just feels a lot different. Anyways.
And Matt Chapman sneaky had one of his worst offensive seasons.
I know, he had one hundred ops plus in twenty
(10:20):
twenty one. Okay, so it was better than that, but
it's two forty three point thirty seven to fifty five
ops one o eight ops plus. It's a little cooked
by a massive april and the rest of the way
was a six fifty nine ops. He still wins the
gold Glove. Some of the savant numbers are beautiful. And
I hope he runs into the right coach for him,
(10:44):
because yeah, I mean exit v low barrel percentage, he's
one hundredth percentile like special. Think about all the freaks
around this league, think of all the freaks around Major
League Baseball, and Matt Chapman hard hit wise, can go
toe to toe with pretty much anyone. Fielding wise, can
(11:05):
go toe to toe with pretty much anyone. The problem
is a little bit how much hitting are you going
to get out of him? In Toronto, which is notoriously
a hitter's park. I know that that team hasn't been
super balanced right he left he wise in the past
couple of years, and his homer numbers are down last year,
but his doubles our way up, So I know that's
(11:27):
not the perfect replacement. But you know, his slugging ended
up in what's been Matt Chapman's realm. I early on
this free agency and I don't know where I stand
on it now. I thought Matt Chapman I pegged him
as he could have, like a Simion Marcus Simeon, like
(11:50):
if he does this right and maybe he runs into
the right coaches or there's a swing adjustment. He's a
work ethic guy. Trevor Pluf loves him. Trevor Pluff, I
remember he said when Matt Chapman first joined the team,
took his job. He basically said he instantly as a
twenty three year old, twenty four year old was like
(12:12):
a leader, and not as a vocal thing. I think
just like the presence and he kind of I don't
want to say no bullshit, but a little bit. We
got to meet him briefly at the spring training house.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
Nice basic games, just kinda yeah, just kind of one
of those guys. Yeah, just like locked in in Anti
very much like a locker room stabilizer.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
The opposite of whatever me and Joe's bring to a
locker room. That's what Matt Chapman brings four and a
half war last year. It'll be interesting to see San Francisco,
not normally known as a hitters park. What will he
tap into there if he wins the Gold Glove again,
(12:57):
that could be huge things for our guy, Logan Web
Maybe sprinkle little Logan Web Cy Young votes. Maybe I'll
do that.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
I'm interested in that.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
We got our talking baseball off the Sprinkle up coming up.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
Yeah, we've got a couple drafts coming up next week.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
I think we're gonna get some innings that. Yeah, I
don't know. I hope he runs into something. If he
puts up a twenty what he did in twenty nineteen,
twenty eighteen, Uh, he could still hit free agency and
get another bag, a different bag, a slightly more probably
(13:32):
long term bag Giants fans decent couple weeks you were
wondering what was gonna happen with your off season. They
bring in so Lair, which not necessarily a lock for anything,
but did have a massive last season.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
The fit it feels right, whether or not you're specifically
juiced about it.
Speaker 1 (13:52):
Easily the scariest hitter on that team easily. You bring
Matt Chapman, who probably has an argument for a second
scariest hitter on that team while being a Platinum Glove
All World third baseman. Uh So, in the past couple
of weeks. Uh they've added a lot to that lineup.
I think they're gonna really maul lefties, Matt Chapman, Mall's lefties.
(14:16):
They have a whole bench lineup that they can go
alrighties on, you promise, I mean, or just never as
many lefties as righties that that then they have to
bank on Jung, Hulie, Lamont, Wade and Foord. Oh yeahs,
I don't know. We just did the Giants TPP. I
liked them more than I thought. I just talked about
(14:39):
them adding players. It's more so I'm kind of out
on the Padres, it's they just lost a lot coming
off of an eighty two win year. The Giants sneaky.
I mean, Jung Hulie is one hundred million dollars signing,
(14:59):
so Lair, Matt Chapman. I mean those are three significant
pieces to the lineup. And then it's Jordan Hicks, which
let's see what that looks like in the rotation. Worst case,
you might have a lights out reliever at the end
of the year, which they traded for Robbie Ray. So
(15:19):
I don't know if this Giants team can hang around,
which they typically have a standard of a little bit,
I don't know. I think we might have to pay
attention to these Giants in the second half of the year.
And I don't know if I believed in that last year.
And if there's something that I do think they can
tap into. I think they can tap into pitching a
(15:42):
little bit. So if they can tap into their pitching
and get enough from the lineup, go look at Tom
Murphy's splits. I have Tom Murphy can hit a little
bit from the catcher position, and yet Giants fans they
also they had to give up the compens tory pick
for Matt Chapman. So if he does have one big
(16:03):
year and he bails and nothing, I guess comes from it.
San Francisco Giants baseball, like this.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
Looks like a rookie and isn't that it doesn't come together.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
This year if they have a five hundred season, which
for the Giants, Oh, Dodger Snakes look decent, Padres ain't dead,
Rockies are and Matt Chapman has a five six war season,
like he's gone and you can't qualify him. I don't know.
It could also be some interesting trade deadline stuff. Imagine
(16:35):
if Matt Chapman's having a monster first half and the
Giants are out of it, I don't know, something to watch. Uh,
Matt Chapman, he gets enough of a bag. He definitely
wants to hit free agency a little better. And I
don't know, part of me just thinks it's gonna happen.
(16:56):
Let's see. Uh that's kind of what's going on in
spring training baseball wise. Snell and Montgomery still no real
route rumors, say reasons. Still no real rumors on Snell
and Monty. Uh, I guess my off the cuff and
(17:16):
maybe this is super obnoxious. Monty for me is still
it's it's Red Sox or Rangers. I think it's Red Sox.
I think he's perfect for Fenway. I think he's perfect
for that team. They need innings. Monty can give you innings.
He's pitched there before. He probably he kind of has
(17:39):
a red beard that I could see that working Joyed
and Montgomery. You know, the the whole conversation between Snell
and Monty is like, Manty, you kind of know his baseline,
you're gonna get innings, and he actually started to peak
past what people thought he could. So maybe there's more
in there, but you get a pretty reliable that's what
(18:00):
the Socks need. In the worst way, I would say
it's Red Sox. If Snell signs with the Yankees, I
think I think the Red Sox front office is feeling
feeling it a little bit. Their fan base is smart
enough that they've been like, hey, guys, this team ain't it?
And other teams in the division look really good right now.
(18:22):
Orioles look like they're just getting started. The Yanks have
retooled in a fantastic way. The Blue Jays have one
of my favorite pitching staffs in baseball, with guys you
know at the top of the lineup. The Red Sox
having no hope this year is kind of crazy. By
the way, Mookie Bets just plays for the Dodgers. That
still looms over a lot of Boston fans heads. If
(18:43):
Snell to the Yankees happens. Monty to the Red Sox
is a lock in my head, but Snell to the
Yankees is nothing near a lock. I again, I do
get some rumors and I feel, I don't know, sometimes
it's not worth tweeting them because some of the kids
run too hot in the Twitter streets these days. You know,
(19:04):
I've heard they're still at the table and talking. I've
heard rumors the Yankees are low balling on money, but
they want the years, which if you're Snell, why would
you do that? The Yankees there's a Coppick tied to Snell,
so I don't think they would do like the Matt
Chapman type contract. Maybe an opt after the second, second
(19:27):
or third year with the complex.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
The Yankees seem like a team that's like, well, we
would need at least two years of you to make
that worth it, which and doesn't seem like an uncrossable bridge.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
Okay, maybe maybe the answer lies back with those San
Francisco Giants. So you know, Judge Correa, you know the
Giants became a joke for a little bit. Man, if
they were to add if they were Tad Snell with
Logan Webb, if Kyle Harrison or Hicks clicks, would you
believe in Robbie Ray comes back, Cobb comes back. I
(20:01):
don't know. I still don't know the Snell destination and
I don't I feel like he's having a bad time
now because he's kinda it feels like he's made it
and I don't want to go to the bad teams.
So if he does, I don't know. A Sad Snell
shows up at Angels camp with an extra year on
his deal, that doesn't feel like the solution right now,
(20:22):
especially the way Belly and Chappie did their contracts. But
we don't know. Both of those pictures, Monty and Snell
still out there, have to record to camp soon if
they want to be on time.
Speaker 2 (20:35):
Yeah, I was looking into it a little bit that
that Lancelyn year he did start the year on time,
wasn't stretched out or good right first month right like you?
But ye a cob Arietta signed late and both of
them they signed like March tenth to fifteenth, range of
(20:56):
good exact dates. Bear with me, people, but uh, but yeah,
they did start the year on time then, so but
it is really this week that like, after this it
becomes very dicey.
Speaker 1 (21:11):
Yeah, I mean opening days of twenty eighth, real opening
days of twenty eighth. I mean you could get your.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
Yeah, even everyone, even if they're gonna be the fifth starter.
Speaker 1 (21:21):
If he signed this wise and he's in healthy enough shape,
you get your two winning spring training start three four,
and then you're giving five on opening day. That used
to be the Yankees plan.
Speaker 2 (21:32):
Anyways, even the last you know, since then twenty eighteen,
enough has changed it. Like I think guys shall be
even a little more stretched out now than six years ago.
But forever long it's been but just a little.
Speaker 1 (21:47):
Bit, we'll find out. We'll find out the next step there.
One of my buddies just sent me an inappropriate video.
That's all you can label it. It's someone doing something
with a pottery wheel.
Speaker 2 (22:04):
I'll let you.
Speaker 1 (22:06):
Figure out the blanks if you live on the internet. Space,
thank you for sending me that. Jeff Passing friend he
came out with the ten player scouts are buzzing about Hello,
ten standouts who have impressed evaluators in the early days
(22:29):
of spring. No, it's funny. This guy had a huge
year last year for whatever reason. I I just didn't
know he was like this because you just assumed it
wasn't in the trade. Cole Reagan's of the Kansas City
(22:50):
Royals starts off the article and passing has a squout
scout scout quote a quote. He's a left handed de
gram oh Reagan's first start this spring. His fastball average
ninety nine point two. Cole Reagan's shack me, I was
(23:13):
not familiar with your game. Uh. I know it worked
out for the Texas Rangers, although Chapman wasn't as pivotal
as they thought he might be. Uh, but he hit
one oh one twenty inches of vertical break. Not a
single starter in the MLB last season hit one oh
one with that sort of okay, Cole Reagan's had a
(23:38):
really nice year last year. The Royals added to their staff.
I don't know. It's tough to believe in what's going
on in Kansas City, but boy, would I love for
that city to have a fun summer. Ninety six innings
last year, eighty nine or excuse me, ninety six innings
last year, one hundred and thirteen strikeouts. Uh, for Cole Reagan.
(24:02):
So you know you probably heard his name.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
I did.
Speaker 1 (24:06):
I Ian deeb sit on talking baseball. I didn't know
Cole got down like that.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
I knew he was like good and like a future
building block, didn't you know? De gram is a name
and doesn't get thrown around a lot lefty.
Speaker 1 (24:22):
Yeah six, Okay, see, I'm now I'm all sorts of
jazzed up for Cole Reagan's this season. Uh. This other
one is a name I stumbled into when we were
doing team profile and projections because it's a team I'm
down on. But this team has a top prospect who's
(24:43):
a lefty that they desperately need. Uh, and it's Jackson
Merrill of the San Diego Padres. He's listed twelfth on
Kyler McDaniel's top one hundred list. He's listed as a
shortstop outfielder like a lot of them are. And yeah,
I don't know. I guess for me, looking at the Padres,
(25:05):
who they were gonna shed. They were gonna shed a
lot of salary this year. They traded one Soto, but
I don't know. The Padres still had this like, hey,
you know the San die Like honestly, earlier this offseason,
I was like, I might buy some Tatis stock. I
think Tatis full year back. He played good defense last year.
(25:25):
He's one of the most talented baseball players ever. Like,
I would not be shocked if Tatis just bounces back,
takes the MVP. Let's put the steroid stuff behind us Boom,
And maybe he does do that. The problem is there's
not a ton of help. It's Xander who just got moved,
Hassan Kim, who had an incredible year last year. Will
(25:47):
he replicate that? Still? You know, his ops doesn't get
to the crazy, you know, contributing area that you need
it to carry a team. Cronin Wort. They're hoping for
a bounce back. They lost Gary Sanchez. Why did I
start with Gary? They lost Juan Soto, generational Gary who
was a huge feeling for them, and then they lost
(26:09):
so much pitching Lugo Waka and before you get there,
Cy young Winner, Blake Snell. They did not fill in
those gaps that obviously they had their owner pass and
they had to change how they were operating for a
little bit here they would still and they're probably gonna
(26:29):
sign a veteran outfielder. But this Jackson Merrill kid, if
he's a lefty and he's as talented as they're talking about,
and I think San Diego is not afraid to go.
Don't be surprised if you see him this year. I
don't After that Cole Reagan scout and report, I'm buying
his stock. I'm gonna hold off on Jackson Merrill for
a little bit. Speaking of guys stocks, the next player
(26:53):
is Tyler Glass. Now you know I'm a little too
close to the situation here wedding partner at Cole Tucker's
wedding whoops. And you know I liked him even before
h I've been waiting for the full season a click.
I think Passing was quoted saying when he has his
(27:15):
full season that clicks, he'll probably win the Cy Young
His stuff is stupid, And I know the Rays are
a pitching factory, but so are the Dodgers, So new
division for him, which bodes better for the pitcher than
the hitter. If the if the Dodgers have any different
pitching tricks up their sleeve, cool, And I don't know
like this is always something you could spin or not spend,
(27:38):
like contract year, Let's see what he does. Uh, he
got the extension, so I don't know it if he
doesn't need that pressure, which I don't know. Tyler's a
pretty chill cat. Just he met up with Peter moylan
this weekend. Ad that I don't know. I'm just gonna
stop because i've I've I've thought glad Us now is
(28:00):
who he is before he truly is who he is,
and he might be who he is this year. Translate that.
James Wood, your Washington Nationals big boy. Big boys are
kind of the future. I think I think judges changing
the game. It's a sport where as long as you
can hit or do anything on the field, you'll still
(28:21):
get a chance. But James Woods who he was in
the Sherzer deal, right.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
I believe he was the Soto deal.
Speaker 1 (28:31):
Oh okay, I think you're right. I think you're right.
Speaker 2 (28:36):
I think he was the one that they were that
they were like, this is like the prospect in this deal.
The obviously Gore is was it will be ready frontline
pitcher potentially, Abrams was MLB ready shortstop high high ceilings
on those guys and so yeah, Solon Wood, I think
are the two that were like, these are the prospects
(28:57):
they got.
Speaker 1 (28:58):
Man, this is a funny one in hindsight because it
was two and a half years of Soto at the time. Yes,
so is Soto and Josh Bell. People forget for cj. Abrams,
who's blossoming into one of the better young shortstops in
the league, contributing in a big way. He had a
(29:18):
three and a half war season last year. Trending upwards
twenty three years.
Speaker 2 (29:23):
Old, fielding, contact, running.
Speaker 1 (29:25):
Looking good. Eighteen homers can run.
Speaker 2 (29:28):
Into if you take that next step.
Speaker 1 (29:30):
Skinny Mackenzie gore one hundred and thirty six innings last year,
one hundred and fifty one strikeouts, twenty seven games of
four to four to two era young lefty going forward.
I think people don't think he had the high end
he used to. But that's a player. Robert hassel Man, handsome,
(29:50):
he was the eighth overall pick. He's doing okay in
the minor leagues. He's not setting the world on fire.
We're gonna have to check back in with him. James
Wood six six two thirty four, Uh looks big. Had
twenty six home runs last year at High A and
(30:10):
Double A. He's been turning heads with some pimp homers
at spring training this year. Again, I think he's someone
you see later in the year for the Nationals because
this year, I don't want to say it's a lost year,
but nobody has the Nats making noise this year.
Speaker 2 (30:27):
It's a it's a lot of let's find out.
Speaker 1 (30:29):
It's the team with a big payroll when when they're right,
like capital their team that invests capital in the capitol
last year of Patrick Corbyn's contract. So you're right, this
is the I don't want to say the year before
the year, but they it's a find out season and
I think by the end of the year we find
out about James Wood.
Speaker 2 (30:49):
I wonder if there's just like after this year, we
will lock up one young player.
Speaker 1 (30:54):
Cool Abrams extension, James Wood called up.
Speaker 2 (30:58):
Oh Gray just seems like a rotation stabilizer. Nice guy,
we liked him, great guy. That could be. That could
be a fun narrative.
Speaker 1 (31:07):
James Wood, Dylan cruz Cade Cavalley, next year's Nats Natitude
in the streets, Jesse Winker, Joey Gallo. Yeah, this this
Nationals team is going to be the team they look
back in four years and be like, oh my god,
that was our opening day lineup.
Speaker 2 (31:29):
Oh oh, James Wood like played with.
Speaker 1 (31:31):
Gallo, huh Nixon Zell uh so again in on Wood
not necessarily for this year. I don't think the I
don't think the Nats are gonna rush anything. I don't
think there's a need. But uh j Puck, I don't know.
I thought I thought he was an interesting one on there.
(31:52):
Let's see, Puck came to camp with a new two
seamer and a split fingered fastball.
Speaker 2 (31:58):
They started him.
Speaker 1 (31:59):
No, he's still relieving. But I think it's just I
think what Passon is trying to get across is that
this guy might have another level. He's six foot seven,
he's gross, and I think we've been laughing at the
Marlins bullpen. How it's listed, but he had fifteen saves
last year, three nine to seven. I think they're I
(32:20):
think they're trying to get ready for him being like
one of the best relievers in baseball. Hey, let's see,
well the experience kick in. He was a top prospect.
He's been in the pen. God he is He's gross,
six seven, two forty eight. The Beard is kind of gnarmally. Sorry, AJ,
(32:44):
we're just opposites. DL Hall is on the list. Sure,
we've talked about him in that trade. The Brewers thought
they could tap into him, uh and maybe they can't.
They're saying he might have the best Oh no, okay,
there's another another future Milwaukee guy, Jacob Mizerowski. They're saying
might have the best raw stuff in the organization. Yeah,
(33:07):
the Brewers love del Hall. That's why they were willing
to move off Corbyn Burns. So you better believe in
what you're getting. I don't know yet, brewers believe.
Speaker 2 (33:16):
Sure. Usually the Brewers see something, they find something.
Speaker 1 (33:21):
They the Brewers have been good with that. I don't know.
Bouncing back, starting to relief. It just feels like different
worlds that I don't know. We'll find out soon. This
one was part of the reason. Well there's two, for
very separate reasons that I like this article. A name
that really hadn't been on my list, and I'm you know,
(33:44):
I'm usually pretty decently on top of the prospects. Chased
the latter, and this is the stuff that makes baseball fantastic.
He's an outfield prospect for your Cleveland guardians who will
be looking for offense anywhere they can get it. Uh.
(34:04):
The part that's fascinating to me. This guy was at
James Madison. He was going nuts eight twenty six, slugging
four thirty five batting average, broke his foot running the bases,
was looking like a potential one to one pick. Because
of the broken foot, he slides to sixteen first year
(34:29):
in Pro ball, three point fifty five, four seventeen, five
twenty eight. Cleveland has been looking for offense for so
long now that man their pitching really has a chance
(34:52):
to go this year. It's scary because the guardians can
be so not sexy. But if I just like, if
this guy had been one one, we probably would have
talked about Chase de Latter a lot. But because he's
slid in the draft because he broke his foot, we
(35:15):
have not, And I don't Cleveland in a way organizationally
deserves some credit. I guess offensively they don't traded away
Nolan Jones. Who's the other guardian that got away? Isn't
there another like Nolan Jones? Kind of a new one
player player X trying to get some more De Latter?
(35:38):
Do I like the name delatter. I think, I do think.
Speaker 2 (35:41):
So I'd like to see I'd like to see his look.
Speaker 1 (35:44):
Chase delatt uh career in the minor leagues. It's only wow.
They gave him a sampling at double A last year.
You might see him this year. Cleveland is going to
be looking for offense. Nine yes, at the minor league level.
Not a lot of games, not a lot of levels.
(36:04):
Let's see him. And the second name that made me
truly excited to bring this list to the table, and
it's the beauty of spring training. Maybe we will all
end up laughing Cole Irvin. So basically it's been all
kids up unto this point. Cole Irvin, thirty years old.
(36:27):
His velo's jumping last year, his so his average fastball
in nineteen was ninety miles per hour. Last year his
velo jumped to ninety two in the first outing of spring.
Irving was sitting ninety four this spring training outing and
(36:50):
he popped one heater at ninety five to nine. So,
I don't know what you do with that. Is there
more coming? Is he just full on the upswing? Is
there gonna be an injury talked about in a little bit.
I just thought it was funny of these names of
prospects and guys you would expect formerly soft toss and
(37:15):
Cole Irvin joining the Velo train the only lefties that
threw harder than the ninety four he was sitting at.
Or this was a bad sentence by passing. I'll call
him out on it. You tell me what this means, sweetee.
(37:37):
He popped one heater at ninety five point nine, the
hardest he's ever thrown in a game. Velocity isn't everything,
but among qualified lefty starters in twenty three, only Lizardo,
Framber Snell, and Kakuchi threw harder. So is that their
average fastball versus Irvin's top Huh?
Speaker 2 (37:57):
I think he's going mac Zilo there.
Speaker 1 (38:02):
I think so. I don't know either way, Cole Irvin,
that's not how you view him. I did like Christopher
Sanchez is on this list. For me, he's just been
the guy at the end of the Phillies rotation. Haven't
really cared, haven't needed to care. Apparently he's been wild,
but he's he's bringing it in a little bit. If
he does, he can be dangerous. And then another Cubs outfielder,
(38:26):
Owen Cassie Casey.
Speaker 2 (38:30):
Looked like a Casey to me.
Speaker 1 (38:32):
Man, They Pete Crow, Armstrong, Ben Brown, Owen Casey. Uh,
They've got a couple others. The Cuppies might be coming.
And maybe that's what everyone around baseball knows. Uh traded
traded for in the Padres to the you Darvish trade.
(38:56):
I don't know. The Cubs are just something to watch
in general because it feels like they may have a
new wave coming that could be really fun in Chicago
the next couple of years. Got to see it to
believe it. They passing just through five names at the
end of the list, Colt Keith Sure Jackson Kohar, who
was traded to the Mariners, and everyone kind of laughed.
(39:16):
They're saying he might be the new Mariners reclamation project.
It's thirty with your Yankees BBD touching one hundred in
the pen. Interested Bryce Miller, you've already heard about the
splitter pitch Ninja, which with some good contact with him.
(39:36):
And then Colton Kowser, Uh, you know, with the Orioles,
I think you could always pick a handful of guys nowadays. Kowser,
huge power, excellent eye. Okay, that's our scouting report on
him going forward. So out of all that, I think
what I'm taking away Colt Reagan's now familiar with your game,
(39:57):
and I think I'm chips all in the latter. Watch
out for that when it happens, because got Cleveland needs
some help. Um and Nick Birdie the best ever. I
guess I don't know. Wow, Uh, texted Jeff Passing. Um,
(40:19):
Jeff Passing, your I said, your comments on your own
ten Breakout Players article. He said, solid peace and formative,
informative the hymns for fantasy players. M So Jeff Passing
getting rowdy on this beautiful Monday afternoon. Now thought it
(40:40):
was Monday morning. Then there's another comment I won't read.
I hope you guys have been reading. You're waking Jake,
and you have been. Because there's no reading, you just
have to listen to it or you can watch too.
Thanks for subscribing and everything, and we will be back.
Jolly Olive put some guys in tears. Subscribe, Thank you,
(41:05):
We love you.
Speaker 2 (41:05):
Check out What's ba
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations.
The Nikki Glaser Podcast
Every week comedian and infamous roaster Nikki Glaser provides a fun, fast-paced, and brutally honest look into current pop-culture and her own personal life.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.