November 18, 2024 • 14 mins
Our resident MLB insider and the director of player personnel with the Chicago White Sox, Gene Watson, joins the show to discuss the MLB offseason and his predictions for the 2024 MLB Awards that will be announced this week.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Our MLB insider, Geene Watson from the Chicago White Sox
front Officusly, are you a big hockey fan?
Speaker 2 (00:06):
By the way, Gene, you know what.
Speaker 3 (00:08):
I love to go to hockey live.
Speaker 4 (00:09):
It is so fast and they're truly the most gifted
athletes in my opinion, but it's it's kind of hard
to get to for me.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
I'll go to a.
Speaker 4 (00:18):
Few games in Arizona during spring training and that's about it.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
I hear now that you're in the employee of a
team in the Windy City. I was just in your
town yesterday that uh that a Blackhawks game is not
to be missed.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
I hear it's an event.
Speaker 4 (00:34):
That's what I've been told, and we actually have access
to that. And I'm going to be in Chicago in
a couple of weeks and I'm going to try to
make that happen. I've heard it's it's truly something, especially
the national anthem.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Yes, absolutely all right.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
I wanted to I wanted to have you pop on
and uh I wanted to uh to discuss a couple
of things with you. Since this is officially now called
MLB Awards Week in November being an awards season in baseball.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
It's always been like that.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
And so far we've gotten the Gold Glove Awards, the
Silver Sluggers, the All MLB Team, and more than any
of that surprise you, by the way, those who got
their awards for Silver Slugger or those who didn't or
Gold Gloves or those who didn't and the All MLB Team,
did any of that surprise you.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
Well.
Speaker 4 (01:23):
One that's really a great story is Cal Rawley out
in Seattle, because this is a guy that's really turned
himself into a great, great player. I mean, coming up,
he always had the physical size and strength, but there
was a lot of things that he had to do
to improve his game, and he is really he's a
development testimony. And he winning the Platinum Award at the
(01:46):
catcher's position, you know, one of the elite positions in baseball, catcher, shortstop,
center field. To find a well above average defender like
they did in him and his power. It's fun to
watch these kids go through the minor leagues and you
see what they are at the very beginning, and then
you see all the accolades that they reach at the
major league level.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
It's really fun to watch. And he was one, for
one that was fun for me this week.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
No doubt about it.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
Okay, all right, let me let me jump to the awards,
because then I want to ask you about some free agency.
But let's let's talk about the awards today.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Is going to be the Jackie Robinson.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Rookie of the Year Award that's going to be announced
today and the National League Rookie of the Award. Uh
Should there be a uh no doubt? Or is this
closer that you might think between the three finalists Paul
Skiings and the Pirates, Jackson Churio, the Brewers, and Jackson
(02:42):
Merrill of the Padres.
Speaker 4 (02:44):
Well, I think when you look at what Jackson Merrill
meant to that ball Clubjaction Cheerio and Paul Skings certainly
incredible talents, but what what Jackson Merrill did for the
San Diego Padres And a lot of people don't know
that on the inside, for a young talented player like
he is in that clubhouse with all the contracts and
(03:08):
all the money and all the accolades at that clubhouse
had Jackson Merrill was the leader of the clubhouse and
that's very unique situation. I think you saw it in
San Diego this year with Jackson I think you saw
it in Kansas City this year with Bobby Wood Junior.
And so for me, Jackson Merrill, inasmuch as those other
two players had tremendous rookie season, Jackson Merrill would be
(03:30):
the winner for.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
Me, all right. American League Rookie of the Year.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
Austin Wells of the Yankees, Luise Heel the pitcher for
the Yankees, or it's a sentimental choice for me, Colton Calcer,
the Baltimore Orioles, the Sam Houston bear Cat, Gotta Chip.
How about your thoughts in the al Jackie Robinson Rookie
of the Year world.
Speaker 4 (03:48):
Well, I'm going to go with the Jersey Village product,
Colton Calser. And what a great testimony. And you know, Craig,
one of the things prior to nil that you could
find in the state of Texas was that that really
good high school football player that spent four years trying
to chase the state championship, that had some baseball ability
(04:08):
that would go to a mid major. When you look
at Paul Goldsmith at Texas State, Ryan O'Hearn at Sam Houston,
you look at Hunter Dozer what he did, uh and
and then and then also you know Colton Calser. These
guys were very good high school football players that went
to mid major colleges and turned into very good, UH
(04:28):
baseball players, and he'd certainly be what a talent he
is and and he would certainly be.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
The winner for me, you know. Uh.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
Looking at ESPN's take, they also said there should have
been a write in vote for Kate Smith at the Guardians.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
What do you think about him?
Speaker 4 (04:40):
No question, he was a big part of what they
did down the stretch. But I think what Calser did
was was really special.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
Okay, Next we jumped to National League Cy Young Award
winner the finalists, Uh Chris Sale of the Braves, Paul
Skeins of the Pirates, Zach Wheeler of the Phillies.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
Well, what Chris Sale did?
Speaker 4 (05:02):
I mean, it's incredible what he's been able to do,
you know, the injury history and just the will withal
to keep coming back and keep fighting to get back.
It's one thing to get healthy and be able to
go out on the mound and pitch. It's another thing
to get healthy and be able to go out on
the mound and pitch to the level that he pitched at.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
But when you look at this, I think Zach Wither.
Speaker 4 (05:25):
Zach Whler has been one of my favorite pitchers since
he was in the minor leagues with the San Francisco
Giants obviously traded over to the Mets and the Carlos
Beltron deal, and you know, he's just an incredible talent
with incredible stuff.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
I think you have.
Speaker 4 (05:40):
I think Skemes's days are coming, but I think Willer
would be the choice for me.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
All right.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
Next would be American League Cy Young, Terrek School of
the Tigers, Seth Lugo of the Royals, Emmanuel Plasse of
the Guardians.
Speaker 4 (05:56):
Well, what Eric Scubael did is it cannot be denied.
I mean, arguably the most dominant left hander, not only
in the American League, but in the game. And this
is a guy that was a tenth round pick out
of the University Seattle kind of burst onto the seam
in pro ball, got to the major league level. And
I remember specifically talking to aj Hinch a couple of
(06:16):
years ago where he had gone through four or five
really rough outings when even the Tigers begin to doubt
what his ability was going to end up being. And
you know, I talked to Aj about I got what
do you do with the guy like this, that this
talented that struggled the way they did, and they got
back into the biomechanics of his delivery, you know how
the arm swing was working off the rubber and and
(06:36):
really got him back to be right. And when you
put the type of competitor that he is and play
with it, I think it's undeniable that he was arguably
the best pitcher in baseball this year, certainly in the
American League.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
And won the Triple Crown Wins strike out say the era, Okay,
next National League MVP, Well, I'll just give you the
finalist show Francisco Lindor and Catel Marte.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (07:04):
I think we all know where it's going, and it's
going to be you know, I was so hoping that
they might throw him in for an inning off the mound.
It's going to be really interesting to see how that
dynamic all plays next year. With his offensive numbers and
now they've got to go back to managing the two
sides of the ball on the mound and offensively, I
don't think we can expect to see the numbers that
(07:27):
we saw this year, just because of what it does
to your body.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
Pitching on the mound. But one of the talents.
Speaker 4 (07:32):
That I mean, we're fortunate enough to watch this guy
play every day. I was fortunate enough to be with
him for a year and just an unbelievable player that
still has great years ahead of him.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
American League MVP, well, I'll just give you that. Actually,
it's a much closer ranks. I think Aaron Judge Bobby
with Junior and one.
Speaker 4 (07:50):
So yeah, And it's so unfortunate because Bobby Wood Junior
is the future, you know. I think everybody expects him
to hold this crown in years to come to do
what he did at such a young age in a
smaller market. I mean, he truthfully reshaped the city of
Kansas City. And when you got Pat Mahomes and Travis
(08:10):
Kelty and so many great things going on, Salvador Perez
on his ball club. Bobby has done a tremendous job.
But what Aaron Judge did, He got to take the
playoffs out of it. I think you have to look
at the body of work and I think this will
lean towards Aaron Judge a little bit overall.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Nationally Manager of the Year.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
I was little little disappointed that that that Dave Roberts
wasn't even a finalist for this with what he did
with all the injuries and have two bullpen games a
week all the way through and they win a world title.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
But he's not not a final finalists.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
Carlos Mendoz are the Mets, Pat Murphy, the Brewers, Mike
Shoulder of the Padres.
Speaker 4 (08:48):
Yeah, three great names, and you're you're exactly right, Dave Roberts.
Not to be even mentioned in the category is is
not right. I mean what you can say, well, they
had the highest payroll, they have the best players, but
to manage what he managed, and it's such a thin
line between winning and losing in October, and when you
look at that game where they were playing the Padres
(09:10):
and it's Dylan Cease versus a bullpen with the season
on the line, you can't ignore that and what he
was able to do, and that was the defining moment
of the whole season for the Dodgers, and they prevailed
and went onto the World Series, where nine times out
of ten that outcome is not going to work for you,
and it did for them, so he certainly needs to
(09:31):
be in consideration. Mike Shield did a tremendous job I
mean it's a Pat Murphy did a great job. But
what Carlosmandoza did in New York with that team and
where they were and all the pressure that was kind
of built around that team for the first half for
them to really come out of nowhere in the second
half and do what they did and make the push
(09:51):
that they pushed in the playoffs, I think he has
to be the favorite to win that award.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
Okay American League Manager of the Year Stephen vote to
the Guardians, Mac Guataro of the Royals and your pal
A J.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
Hints at the Tigers.
Speaker 4 (10:02):
Oh, well, you know how I feel about this, and
I love Matticq. I'll never forget. And I've probably told
you the story sitting at Wild Berry in Chicago on
a Friday morning and We're gonna play Detroit in a
three game series and me and A. J. Hinch are
having breakfast and I said to him, I said, you know,
the thing about this season is because the first real
(10:23):
big move for them was the manager of Miguel Cabrera
and getting him to retire and being able to move
on for that. And the second big move was being
able to sit Hobby Baiaz and getting all the young
kids up and getting Jackson job up in mid September,
and at the time, you know, we're talking about how
twenty twenty five will be such a great season because
they'll make two steps forward and they go on to
(10:45):
sweep us that weekend and go on an absolute tear
and make the run that they made to beat a
very difficult I mean, the seven time American League Championship
Series team, and the ash was to do what they did.
The sky is certainly the limit for this team. Next year,
the expectations will be very, very high for the Tigers,
and I look for a J.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
Hinch to win that award.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
Okay, all right, uh So with all of this going
into it and and all of these all of these awards,
it's it's a it's a pretty exciting time in terms
of those kinds of things. But the other thing I
wanted to ask you about was a free agency clock
sticking right now? What in tomorrow isn't it is the
(11:28):
day about accepting or or not accepting tendered offers from
teams who would then players with them would become free agents.
Those who are tendered offers if they don't if they
don't accept by tomorrow.
Speaker 4 (11:39):
Yeah, and tomorrow is actually my busiest day of the
year because when the ton when the non tender list
comes out, I literally have to go through every player,
how do they fit, what are the finances, start reaching
out to agents, start reaching out to scouts on makeup,
digging on the fit of the player, and it's really
unknown right now.
Speaker 3 (11:58):
There will be a few surprises.
Speaker 4 (12:00):
There will be some that aren't so big surprises, but
it's truly one of the most It's like it's like
the first Christmas Day, especially for a team like us
in a rebuild, to really try to find those change
of scenery guys, those guys that can come in and
compliment your twenty six man Roscar So tomorrow will be
an extremely busy day for the Chicago White Yeah.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
I start to say for you, it's it's different in
what your organization is trying to do in the rebuild.
And then in the case of some of the other
teams like the Yankees, were the Dodgers, or the Padres
or or or you know some of those other teams
where they're looking at cherry pick, then there's those big
names up there starting at the top. I guess with Soto,
but but but even to Oscar Hernandez. I mean, there's
(12:42):
there's some there's some pretty lofty names up there that
teams will be eyeing very carefully.
Speaker 2 (12:46):
Have an imagine, Yeah.
Speaker 4 (12:47):
Willia Domas, the Oscar Hernandez, Soto, Walker Mueller, Blake Snell
and a lot of teams are going to hold off
to see what happens with Sasaki because that's a two
point five million dollar investment and it's really a recruitment.
But you don't want to spend all your international money
right now. You want to try to hold out and
use those finances. I think he can make upwards of
(13:09):
seven point five million dollars a year after the agreement
in the posting. So there's some things that could slow
the market down this winter. I really thought that the
one Soto signing would really drag the winner out, but
my information is that they're being very aggressive with teams
and that he'd like to get a deal done sooner
than later. And once teams know where that falls, where
(13:32):
Walker Bueller falls, Willia Domas, Alex Bregman, Pete Alonzo. Once
you get the bigger names off the board, then teams
begin to work on those second tier players and then
after that they'll go, Okay, we fell short with the
top tier, second tier free agents. Now what can we
go get in trade that's going to make our team
(13:52):
better for twenty twenty five.
Speaker 1 (13:53):
He Gene Watson, our MLB inside from the Chicago White
Sox front office will follow all this carefully and check
him from time to time during the hot stove and
the Winter league stuff with Gino. I appreciate the time,
my friend, and we'll look forward to visiting again around
the corner. All right, guys, thanks so much, have a
great weekend YouTube. All right, that is Gene Watson, our
MLB insider. We're going to hear more from Logorn's head coach,
(14:15):
Steve Sarkisha coming up on Sports Radio AM thirteen Under
the Zone.
Our MLB insider, Geene Watson from the Chicago White Sox
front Officusly, are you a big hockey fan?
Speaker 2 (00:06):
By the way, Gene, you know what.
Speaker 3 (00:08):
I love to go to hockey live.
Speaker 4 (00:09):
It is so fast and they're truly the most gifted
athletes in my opinion, but it's it's kind of hard
to get to for me.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
I'll go to a.
Speaker 4 (00:18):
Few games in Arizona during spring training and that's about it.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
I hear now that you're in the employee of a
team in the Windy City. I was just in your
town yesterday that uh that a Blackhawks game is not
to be missed.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
I hear it's an event.
Speaker 4 (00:34):
That's what I've been told, and we actually have access
to that. And I'm going to be in Chicago in
a couple of weeks and I'm going to try to
make that happen. I've heard it's it's truly something, especially
the national anthem.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Yes, absolutely all right.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
I wanted to I wanted to have you pop on
and uh I wanted to uh to discuss a couple
of things with you. Since this is officially now called
MLB Awards Week in November being an awards season in baseball.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
It's always been like that.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
And so far we've gotten the Gold Glove Awards, the
Silver Sluggers, the All MLB Team, and more than any
of that surprise you, by the way, those who got
their awards for Silver Slugger or those who didn't or
Gold Gloves or those who didn't and the All MLB Team,
did any of that surprise you.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
Well.
Speaker 4 (01:23):
One that's really a great story is Cal Rawley out
in Seattle, because this is a guy that's really turned
himself into a great, great player. I mean, coming up,
he always had the physical size and strength, but there
was a lot of things that he had to do
to improve his game, and he is really he's a
development testimony. And he winning the Platinum Award at the
(01:46):
catcher's position, you know, one of the elite positions in baseball, catcher, shortstop,
center field. To find a well above average defender like
they did in him and his power. It's fun to
watch these kids go through the minor leagues and you
see what they are at the very beginning, and then
you see all the accolades that they reach at the
major league level.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
It's really fun to watch. And he was one, for
one that was fun for me this week.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
No doubt about it.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
Okay, all right, let me let me jump to the awards,
because then I want to ask you about some free agency.
But let's let's talk about the awards today.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Is going to be the Jackie Robinson.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Rookie of the Year Award that's going to be announced
today and the National League Rookie of the Award. Uh
Should there be a uh no doubt? Or is this
closer that you might think between the three finalists Paul
Skiings and the Pirates, Jackson Churio, the Brewers, and Jackson
(02:42):
Merrill of the Padres.
Speaker 4 (02:44):
Well, I think when you look at what Jackson Merrill
meant to that ball Clubjaction Cheerio and Paul Skings certainly
incredible talents, but what what Jackson Merrill did for the
San Diego Padres And a lot of people don't know
that on the inside, for a young talented player like
he is in that clubhouse with all the contracts and
(03:08):
all the money and all the accolades at that clubhouse
had Jackson Merrill was the leader of the clubhouse and
that's very unique situation. I think you saw it in
San Diego this year with Jackson I think you saw
it in Kansas City this year with Bobby Wood Junior.
And so for me, Jackson Merrill, inasmuch as those other
two players had tremendous rookie season, Jackson Merrill would be
(03:30):
the winner for.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
Me, all right. American League Rookie of the Year.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
Austin Wells of the Yankees, Luise Heel the pitcher for
the Yankees, or it's a sentimental choice for me, Colton Calcer,
the Baltimore Orioles, the Sam Houston bear Cat, Gotta Chip.
How about your thoughts in the al Jackie Robinson Rookie
of the Year world.
Speaker 4 (03:48):
Well, I'm going to go with the Jersey Village product,
Colton Calser. And what a great testimony. And you know, Craig,
one of the things prior to nil that you could
find in the state of Texas was that that really
good high school football player that spent four years trying
to chase the state championship, that had some baseball ability
(04:08):
that would go to a mid major. When you look
at Paul Goldsmith at Texas State, Ryan O'Hearn at Sam Houston,
you look at Hunter Dozer what he did, uh and
and then and then also you know Colton Calser. These
guys were very good high school football players that went
to mid major colleges and turned into very good, UH
(04:28):
baseball players, and he'd certainly be what a talent he
is and and he would certainly be.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
The winner for me, you know. Uh.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
Looking at ESPN's take, they also said there should have
been a write in vote for Kate Smith at the Guardians.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
What do you think about him?
Speaker 4 (04:40):
No question, he was a big part of what they
did down the stretch. But I think what Calser did
was was really special.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
Okay, Next we jumped to National League Cy Young Award
winner the finalists, Uh Chris Sale of the Braves, Paul
Skeins of the Pirates, Zach Wheeler of the Phillies.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
Well, what Chris Sale did?
Speaker 4 (05:02):
I mean, it's incredible what he's been able to do,
you know, the injury history and just the will withal
to keep coming back and keep fighting to get back.
It's one thing to get healthy and be able to
go out on the mound and pitch. It's another thing
to get healthy and be able to go out on
the mound and pitch to the level that he pitched at.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
But when you look at this, I think Zach Wither.
Speaker 4 (05:25):
Zach Whler has been one of my favorite pitchers since
he was in the minor leagues with the San Francisco
Giants obviously traded over to the Mets and the Carlos
Beltron deal, and you know, he's just an incredible talent
with incredible stuff.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
I think you have.
Speaker 4 (05:40):
I think Skemes's days are coming, but I think Willer
would be the choice for me.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
All right.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
Next would be American League Cy Young, Terrek School of
the Tigers, Seth Lugo of the Royals, Emmanuel Plasse of
the Guardians.
Speaker 4 (05:56):
Well, what Eric Scubael did is it cannot be denied.
I mean, arguably the most dominant left hander, not only
in the American League, but in the game. And this
is a guy that was a tenth round pick out
of the University Seattle kind of burst onto the seam
in pro ball, got to the major league level. And
I remember specifically talking to aj Hinch a couple of
(06:16):
years ago where he had gone through four or five
really rough outings when even the Tigers begin to doubt
what his ability was going to end up being. And
you know, I talked to Aj about I got what
do you do with the guy like this, that this
talented that struggled the way they did, and they got
back into the biomechanics of his delivery, you know how
the arm swing was working off the rubber and and
(06:36):
really got him back to be right. And when you
put the type of competitor that he is and play
with it, I think it's undeniable that he was arguably
the best pitcher in baseball this year, certainly in the
American League.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
And won the Triple Crown Wins strike out say the era, Okay,
next National League MVP, Well, I'll just give you the
finalist show Francisco Lindor and Catel Marte.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (07:04):
I think we all know where it's going, and it's
going to be you know, I was so hoping that
they might throw him in for an inning off the mound.
It's going to be really interesting to see how that
dynamic all plays next year. With his offensive numbers and
now they've got to go back to managing the two
sides of the ball on the mound and offensively, I
don't think we can expect to see the numbers that
(07:27):
we saw this year, just because of what it does
to your body.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
Pitching on the mound. But one of the talents.
Speaker 4 (07:32):
That I mean, we're fortunate enough to watch this guy
play every day. I was fortunate enough to be with
him for a year and just an unbelievable player that
still has great years ahead of him.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
American League MVP, well, I'll just give you that. Actually,
it's a much closer ranks. I think Aaron Judge Bobby
with Junior and one.
Speaker 4 (07:50):
So yeah, And it's so unfortunate because Bobby Wood Junior
is the future, you know. I think everybody expects him
to hold this crown in years to come to do
what he did at such a young age in a
smaller market. I mean, he truthfully reshaped the city of
Kansas City. And when you got Pat Mahomes and Travis
(08:10):
Kelty and so many great things going on, Salvador Perez
on his ball club. Bobby has done a tremendous job.
But what Aaron Judge did, He got to take the
playoffs out of it. I think you have to look
at the body of work and I think this will
lean towards Aaron Judge a little bit overall.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Nationally Manager of the Year.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
I was little little disappointed that that that Dave Roberts
wasn't even a finalist for this with what he did
with all the injuries and have two bullpen games a
week all the way through and they win a world title.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
But he's not not a final finalists.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
Carlos Mendoz are the Mets, Pat Murphy, the Brewers, Mike
Shoulder of the Padres.
Speaker 4 (08:48):
Yeah, three great names, and you're you're exactly right, Dave Roberts.
Not to be even mentioned in the category is is
not right. I mean what you can say, well, they
had the highest payroll, they have the best players, but
to manage what he managed, and it's such a thin
line between winning and losing in October, and when you
look at that game where they were playing the Padres
(09:10):
and it's Dylan Cease versus a bullpen with the season
on the line, you can't ignore that and what he
was able to do, and that was the defining moment
of the whole season for the Dodgers, and they prevailed
and went onto the World Series, where nine times out
of ten that outcome is not going to work for you,
and it did for them, so he certainly needs to
(09:31):
be in consideration. Mike Shield did a tremendous job I
mean it's a Pat Murphy did a great job. But
what Carlosmandoza did in New York with that team and
where they were and all the pressure that was kind
of built around that team for the first half for
them to really come out of nowhere in the second
half and do what they did and make the push
(09:51):
that they pushed in the playoffs, I think he has
to be the favorite to win that award.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
Okay American League Manager of the Year Stephen vote to
the Guardians, Mac Guataro of the Royals and your pal
A J.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
Hints at the Tigers.
Speaker 4 (10:02):
Oh, well, you know how I feel about this, and
I love Matticq. I'll never forget. And I've probably told
you the story sitting at Wild Berry in Chicago on
a Friday morning and We're gonna play Detroit in a
three game series and me and A. J. Hinch are
having breakfast and I said to him, I said, you know,
the thing about this season is because the first real
(10:23):
big move for them was the manager of Miguel Cabrera
and getting him to retire and being able to move
on for that. And the second big move was being
able to sit Hobby Baiaz and getting all the young
kids up and getting Jackson job up in mid September,
and at the time, you know, we're talking about how
twenty twenty five will be such a great season because
they'll make two steps forward and they go on to
(10:45):
sweep us that weekend and go on an absolute tear
and make the run that they made to beat a
very difficult I mean, the seven time American League Championship
Series team, and the ash was to do what they did.
The sky is certainly the limit for this team. Next year,
the expectations will be very, very high for the Tigers,
and I look for a J.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
Hinch to win that award.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
Okay, all right, uh So with all of this going
into it and and all of these all of these awards,
it's it's a it's a pretty exciting time in terms
of those kinds of things. But the other thing I
wanted to ask you about was a free agency clock
sticking right now? What in tomorrow isn't it is the
(11:28):
day about accepting or or not accepting tendered offers from
teams who would then players with them would become free agents.
Those who are tendered offers if they don't if they
don't accept by tomorrow.
Speaker 4 (11:39):
Yeah, and tomorrow is actually my busiest day of the
year because when the ton when the non tender list
comes out, I literally have to go through every player,
how do they fit, what are the finances, start reaching
out to agents, start reaching out to scouts on makeup,
digging on the fit of the player, and it's really
unknown right now.
Speaker 3 (11:58):
There will be a few surprises.
Speaker 4 (12:00):
There will be some that aren't so big surprises, but
it's truly one of the most It's like it's like
the first Christmas Day, especially for a team like us
in a rebuild, to really try to find those change
of scenery guys, those guys that can come in and
compliment your twenty six man Roscar So tomorrow will be
an extremely busy day for the Chicago White Yeah.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
I start to say for you, it's it's different in
what your organization is trying to do in the rebuild.
And then in the case of some of the other
teams like the Yankees, were the Dodgers, or the Padres
or or or you know some of those other teams
where they're looking at cherry pick, then there's those big
names up there starting at the top. I guess with Soto,
but but but even to Oscar Hernandez. I mean, there's
(12:42):
there's some there's some pretty lofty names up there that
teams will be eyeing very carefully.
Speaker 2 (12:46):
Have an imagine, Yeah.
Speaker 4 (12:47):
Willia Domas, the Oscar Hernandez, Soto, Walker Mueller, Blake Snell
and a lot of teams are going to hold off
to see what happens with Sasaki because that's a two
point five million dollar investment and it's really a recruitment.
But you don't want to spend all your international money
right now. You want to try to hold out and
use those finances. I think he can make upwards of
(13:09):
seven point five million dollars a year after the agreement
in the posting. So there's some things that could slow
the market down this winter. I really thought that the
one Soto signing would really drag the winner out, but
my information is that they're being very aggressive with teams
and that he'd like to get a deal done sooner
than later. And once teams know where that falls, where
(13:32):
Walker Bueller falls, Willia Domas, Alex Bregman, Pete Alonzo. Once
you get the bigger names off the board, then teams
begin to work on those second tier players and then
after that they'll go, Okay, we fell short with the
top tier, second tier free agents. Now what can we
go get in trade that's going to make our team
(13:52):
better for twenty twenty five.
Speaker 1 (13:53):
He Gene Watson, our MLB inside from the Chicago White
Sox front office will follow all this carefully and check
him from time to time during the hot stove and
the Winter league stuff with Gino. I appreciate the time,
my friend, and we'll look forward to visiting again around
the corner. All right, guys, thanks so much, have a
great weekend YouTube. All right, that is Gene Watson, our
MLB insider. We're going to hear more from Logorn's head coach,
(14:15):
Steve Sarkisha coming up on Sports Radio AM thirteen Under
the Zone.
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.