January 9, 2026 • 20 mins
Chicago White Sox Director of Player Personnel Gene Watson joins the show to break down the latest free agent signings and explain some of the biggest moves of the MLB offseason thus far. What do free agent pitchers look for in evaluating their next moves? Which bats might draw the most interest from contenders on the open market? When might we see the Astros make decisions on which key free agents to bring back?
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
It's the craig Way Show with the voice of the
Texas mog Horns and Hall of Fame broadcasting Craig Way.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
And if it's early January, it means it's time to
talk baseball, right, That's the way it goes, Hey, in
the off season, getting ready. We're just about a month
away from pitchers and catchers and teams reporting there, and
so to update this, we want to get an update
on a couple of things. We always check in with
our good friend and MLB insider Geene Watson, who joins
(00:43):
us now from the Chicago White Sox front office. G know,
the happy new Year to you and glad to have
you with us this morning. And just to put anything
aside for anybody, goes, well, there's not anything happening right now,
right because teams you know, aren't reporting yet for spring training.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
It's all quiet, right. That's not exactly the case.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Is it. It's really not. You know, I felt like
coming out of the holidays and happy new Year to everybody,
and thanks for having me. It's been a little bit
more active this winter than most first weeks of January,
and I think the international market has had a lot
to do with that. Players coming over from Japan. The
(01:22):
free agent class is a little bit unique this year.
Everybody's waiting on Alex Bragman and Cody Bellinger and to
see where they're going to land. And until those things happen,
you know, teams are kind of just assessing things, and
everybody in baseball is looking for pitching right now. So
it's it's been a little crazier than most first weeks
of January.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Well, you brought up pitching, Let's let me let me
get you to start with that. Any surprise in the
fact that Terrek Skuball, who's if not the best, he's
as bad as good as anybody in the game in
terms of starting pitching, that this thing is going to
go to arbitration because they are I've never heard this
number for over thirteen million dollars apart in how each
(02:05):
side is viewing how a contract would work.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
It really is. But I think when you look at
his platform numbers, I think that he's got a very
good case to ask for the money he's asking for.
And then when you look at some of the contracts
at clubs have given out to pictures that are way
less talented than Schooble, I think that that his camp
(02:30):
has a very good case. I'm the Tigers, I'm sure
did their due diligence in the numbers and the platform
or where they thought he should be. So you know,
there was a lot of teams that were pretty surprised
that they didn't move him. But when you look at
the division and how you know, they're kind of the
class of the division right now. How do you say
(02:50):
to the media and your fan base that you're going
to move this guy, even if it is for mass
impact multiplication. I think that I don't know that you're
ever going to find a better arm and Trek Scoob,
well maybe Garrett Crochet, but they're in win mode right now,
so it's a unique situation and that they're going to
be a very good team next year.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Yeah, yeah, I find it.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
It must be really difficult, and you know this working
in the front office. It must be a difficult thing
for front office people who are looking at the payroll
and all this sort of stuff to say, he's as
good as there is out there, but can we actually
get to that particular number? And I guess that's where
arbitration kind of comes in there. But it makes for
(03:34):
some really tough decisions and some tough calls for front
office people when it comes to that kind of money,
did it?
Speaker 1 (03:40):
It really does, because you don't know what to do
with the rest of your off season budgetarily, especially going
into a year where the CBA is going to expire,
you don't really know what to do budgetarily, And you know,
the days of it being personal between the club and
the players, those days are kind of gone. The players
understand that it's a bit. They know that the front
(04:01):
offices care about him. They you know, they nurture these
players all the way up through the minor leagues, and
they have great relationships and great conversations. This is just
the tricky business side of the game. But I don't
think it gets personal. I think both sides understand, you know,
the feeling behind the numbers.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
Last month when we visited during winter meetings, I was
talking about and asking you about the abundance, and I
just rattled off a whole bunch of free agents, but
largely pitchers, and and that's where we were going with this.
And I want to get your thoughts on some guys
who are still out there, who teams obviously are taking
(04:40):
a close look at and the pluses and minuses or whatever.
Let me start with Chris Bassett, because here's a guy
who proved what he can do obviously in Toronto.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
He is going to be thirty seven this year.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
He's you know, doesn't blow up the radar gun like
he's done before, but he's been really good, very consistent,
and he been pretty durable as well.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
About your thoughts on Bassett, yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
You know, it's really it's really two categories. You've got.
You've got the ages that are gonna pitch games one, two,
and three of a five game playoff series, and then
you've got the depth and volume guys, and and Bassett
would certainly qualify as one of those depth volume guys.
And the last thing you want to do as a
club is dole out a big contract and be left
(05:28):
with be holding the bag on a big contract on
a on an over player that's not going to perform
up to their their usual performance. So I think teams
always measure these types of guys versus what they have
in their system and what they may believe they can
get out of the less experienced players, versus doling out
(05:49):
a big contract for players like that. But he's certainly
a rotation solidifier. Uh, he's gonna end up somewhere and
you know where he is in his career. He's gonna
want to pitch for a He's gonna want to go
to a team where he knows he's got a chance
to win. And so that's certainly probably slowing the process down.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
Okay, And given the fact also I know it might
even be talking apples to oranges, but we are talking
about the same team here with Toronto. When they sign
Kazuma Kamoto to a four year, sixty million dollar deal,
he's a third baseman. But that all goes into balancing
what your payroll is going to be all about, doesn't it.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
That's exactly right. And then you you know what really
plays into it is you know how much of the
guy was impactful in the clubhouse and the twenty sixth man,
like what kind of difference maker was he? Was he neutral?
Was he negative? Was he a positive? But whenever you're
building your roster from the top down and they dole
out a contract like that for the third basement, it
(06:48):
certainly impacts that the decisions you can make beyond that.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
As as long as we're talking about as I mentioned,
a Kamoda, I want I want to get your thoughts.
First of all, congratulation to your organization for signing the
netcome or a me a third baseman there. Uh, the
the Astros signed pitcher Tatsua Amai as well. And how
much does not just show a Otani, but the other
(07:14):
Japanese imports and Korean imports, the the Asian influx, the
Pacific rim influx in the Major League Baseball over the
last two or three years. How much has that affected
the very active off season in looking to the Far
East to add to rosters that we've already seen to
this point.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Well, number one, this is the Otani effect. And what
you know when you're sitting over there and you're playing
in the leagues in Korea and Japan, and you're watching
games over here, and you see the impact that Otani
has had not only on his his life, his family's life,
his career, but that pride that the Japanese letters takes
(07:57):
in coming over the major leagues and impacting the major leagues.
This is really the first class of players of really
like envious. I want to go over and be a
part of it. Not that they're the players that Tony
that thought honey is but but they want to do
the same thing. They want to take the same pride
to show the world that Japanese cut players can play
(08:19):
at the highest level. And we're certainly excited about americamun
and what he's going to do for our lineup and
and and what it's already done in the city from
a buzz from a fan base and media standpoint, and
Amaya in Houston, I mean, what a great sign and
a perfect fit to tap into an entirely different fan base.
He's one of the most talented pitchers to come out
(08:41):
of Japan in a very long time. And and and
in a in a vehicle to try to acquire talent
from a different vehicle pool, a perfect sign for the
Houston Astros.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
Talking off season baseball with Gen Watson, our MLB insider,
I'm taking down a little bit slightly different path here,
and that is the aisle if you're shopping for future
Hall of famers Justin Verlander and Max Schurzer.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
Now.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Verlander turns forty three next month. Churzer turns forty two.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
In July.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
Verlander signed with the Giants a one year deal last
year fifteen million. Schure'ser fifteen and a half million chures
are showed. He still has some stuff left in with
what he did. I mean when we last saw him
there he was in Game seven. He allowed just one
run in four and a third. Obviously wound up getting
no decision on the deal. How about your thoughts on it,
Is there significant interest to pay that kind of money
(09:36):
or in the neighborhood of that for guys like Verlander
and Schurser Right.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
Now, I think it's gonna be slow played only because
these guys are not going to teams that don't have
a chance to win. So now you're talking about fit
and how many teams that are first division clubs that
think they're going to win next year need a starter,
So that that's number one. Number two is you got
(10:00):
look out and say, okay, let's look at teams like Seattle.
Let's look at teams like Miami. And you already saw
Edward Cabrera get traded by the Marlins, and let's see
what the acquisition costs, maybe in more controllable, younger, higher
upside over the long term than what these guys might
(10:20):
cost some free agents. So you're it's a real balancing act.
But the biggest thing about it is do we have
the fit? I mean, the Dodgers are loaded and starting
pitching not really a fit. So as you begin to
go around the first division clubs, you got to find
that fit. And then you've got to find out if
they're not venturing into the trade market to try to
get younger, cheaper, more controllable impact alarms. Okay, so it'll
(10:43):
take a little time. It'll be a little later, but
it'll take some time.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
Let me ask you about a couple other guys who
are out there that are pitchers and who would be
available out there. And among those guys a guy you
know pretty well, Lucas Giolito, and of course he was
banged up down the stretch of the season and couldn't
perform in the postseason.
Speaker 3 (11:04):
And Nick Martinez. There's a couple of guys right.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
There, fierce competitors, with great stuff. They take immense amount
of pride in their bodies of you know, Lucas with
the injuries, it was really unfortunate. But these are the
types of guys that you monitor throughout the season. You know,
I've got scouts in facilities all over the country today
(11:27):
looking at free agent pitching and just making sure, you
know the health is good, how's the ball coming out
of the hand. Where are they at mentally in their career?
And you just try to find out to make sure
they're fit. But these two guys are certainly two of
the more talented guys that have a chance to come
back in twenty twenty six and really swing the needle
for your club because they have a chance to be
(11:48):
better in twenty six than they were in twenty five.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
I'm always impressed by guys who can produce in the
front half of a season, be traded and then really
be a weapon, or even guys who we are okay
in the first half and then they get dealt with
the trade deadline and they really crank it up in
high gear. Harrison Bader comes to mind with what he
did with the Phillies, and he's a guy out there.
(12:13):
And then a guy like Luis Ries, who when I
watch him hit, I think he's as pure a hitter
as you will see not only in the National League,
but probably in all of baseball.
Speaker 3 (12:23):
And both of those guys are out there right now.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
Yeah, And you know what's interesting is you never know
how a player is going to respond to a trade.
They're either going to be super excited about the opportunity
to go in and impact a team, or they're going
to say to themselves, what did I do wrong that
the other team didn't want me? And it's a real
psychology to it, and we lived it last year and
(12:49):
with Miguel Vargas who came from the Dodgers, best team
in baseball, surrounded by the best players, to one of
the worst teams in baseball, not a lot of protection,
And there's a psychology to that, but it speaks to
the players makeup and their their mental state, the grind
that they have. Luisa Rise, I mean, if pre analytics,
the Luisa Luisa Rise is like Tony Wynn, It's like
(13:10):
Rod Carew, It's like but because there's not a lot
of exit velocity in his in his contact rates and
and those things, people not there's not a lot of versatility. Defensively,
people try to tear down the player, but truly he's
gonna give you one of the best hat bats in
the game of baseball. And Harrison Vader premium position player,
(13:30):
elite defender I call killer makeup. You know, he's a
guy that can impact the team in a lot of
ways and and they're both gonna end up in really
good situations soon.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
Two other guys interested you get your thoughts on this,
Two other guys long in the two veterans guys who
produced Hero out their careers, one of whom finished fourth
in the n L m VV poting a year ago.
That's Marcelosuna. And then the other is Paul Goldsmith, who
we know very well. Obviously there the former great Texas
state Bob Catoy, who's been.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
Outstanding as well.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
Those two guys, even though the production numbers went down
in twenty twenty five, is there a market for him
one hundred percent?
Speaker 1 (14:11):
With those Zuna, you're you know, you're looking at taking
him out of a lineup where he had a lot
of impact, and you're probably looking at him being more
of a protection bat in the sixth hole.
Speaker 3 (14:22):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
Maybe a lot more dh at bats than at bat
you know, put innings in the field. Uh. But this
is a guy that you can add and really LinkedIn
out your lineup, and you know he's going to be
impactful and you put any kind of protection around him,
and he's got a chance to do a lot of damages.
And Paul Goldsmith, I would I would term the position
player of Shrzurn Verlander. He's not gonna want to play
(14:45):
for a team that doesn't have a chance to win
a world championship. These guys are on the backsides of
their career. They don't want to go into rebuilds or
build situations. They want to go and win. So again,
with Paul, it's gonna come down to fit for him,
and this could be a little bit later because teams
may take an injury in spring training that creates a
situation where he has a little more more value to them.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
I want to get your thoughts you You kind of
made a reference to it earlier, but I am kind
of curious if there is updates or what the situation
is with guys like Cody Bellinger, Kyle Tucker, Fromer Valdez,
Alex Bregman, obviously those guys and your thoughts on you
(15:28):
know what the process is like right now, not only
for those guys and the representatives, but for the teams
as they flesh out what they can afford, what they need,
and what they have to surrender to get a guy
like that.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
Well, I was wrong about Kyle Schwarber. I thought Kyle
Sharber was going to be with a surprise team, and
he ended up being back with the Phillies, which speaks
to how much he means to them. With these guys,
I think they're all kind of in the same market.
Speaker 3 (15:53):
You know.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
It's the Red Sox, it's the Cubs, it's teams that
are trying to win a world championship. And these are
the kinds of deals that get really meticulous at the end.
It's it's more, you know, the incentives and the bonuses
a part of the contract. It's the little things that
separate one team from the other that are that are
big deals to the players. These players have worked their
(16:14):
entire careers to get to this point in their career
where they could have some leverage and some saying where
they go. And it's not only about their contract and
what they can bring out of it, but they want
to hear a vision. They want to hear a plan
as to Okay, I sign with you guys, well, what's
the plan for twenty seven? What's the plan for twenty eight?
Talk to me about our minor league system. So there's
(16:36):
a lot of detail that goes into these contracts for
these types of players, and the agents do such a
great job of making sure that everything is aligned. That
they don't want to be in a situation where we
sign this deal, we get into it two years down
the road and my players not protected and they're in
a really bad situation. So that's really what it is.
(16:57):
Is more detail and organization for the end in divisional
player plan the incentives of the contract, but then sell
me the vision on what this team's going to look
like three and four years down the road.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
I want to ask you one other thing, and this
isn't about players and not necessarily about front offices, but
it's really intriguing, and I know that you've at least.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
Kept tabs on it.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
Yesterday it was announced that nine more Major League teams
have ended their deals with the main Street Sports Group. Now,
this was the group that was the Diamond Sports Group
that was that's, of course, the subsidiary of Sinclair Broadcasting.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
This is the group that.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
Managed all of these regional networks that had to undergo
bankruptcy and as a result, several teams went their own way,
including the Rangers, along with the Diamondbacks, the Padres, the Guardians,
the Rockies, the Twins, the Mariners. The Nationals are expected
to be part of that this year, and now the Braves, Reds, Tigers, Royals, Angels, Marlins, Brewers,
(17:59):
Cardinals and are all terminating their original deals with Main Street.
The extrapolated thought on all of this geno is the
fact that you may see Rob Manford talking about trying
to get everybody under one window down the road. Now,
obviously that's not gonna sit well with teams like the Yankees,
(18:19):
the Dodgers, even your ball club, the White Sox and Cubs,
who have really good, lucrative television contracts. But the larger picture,
a lot of folks say this is going to affect
more the divide between the haves and the have nots
of if these teams are all all going under the
MLB arm where they're not getting near as much money
(18:40):
even as they were getting in their regional sports network
deals before the bankruptcy happened.
Speaker 3 (18:45):
How about your thoughts on that.
Speaker 1 (18:48):
Well, it's unfortunate because it really it straps you, like
with what you want to do right now with your team,
because you've lost all that revenue. And I've talked to
a couple of teams that are subject to that, the
money they thought they were going to have in free
agency they no longer have because of this. I do
feel like we're getting to a point in the media
(19:10):
age where it does kind of be it kind of
needs to be universal, even I know, you know, I
think the Dodgers TV deals like nine billion. I know
everybody's TV deals are different. Some are more lucrative than others.
The Yankees obviously have one of the bigger ones. But
we have to create some type of balance when it
comes to revenue sharing with media rights. And you know,
(19:33):
our game has really suffered on a national level in
some ways with this. And so I know that every
team is different based on their market and what the
situation is, but it can't be where some teams can
operate and some teams can't based on their local media rights.
There's got to be some give and take with that,
(19:53):
and I think that Rob Manford has that on his
play right now.
Speaker 3 (19:56):
I agree.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
All right, Hey, Geno, I appreciate the time. The best
wishes to you and Melanie. Hope things go well and
we'll check back in with you when we get ready
for the start of spring training. Hey, we're a month
away from you getting out to Arizona right month.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
Away, and we got the WBC. I'll actually be in
Houston for ten days doing that and it's going to
be a fun twenty twenty six. Can't wait to see it.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
Thank you, Gina, appreciate it. Okay, thank care by That
is Gene.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
Watson from the Chicago White Sox front office. Great off
season baseball conversation with Gina. We have more coming up
here on Sports Radio AM thirteen under the Zone in
the
It's the craig Way Show with the voice of the
Texas mog Horns and Hall of Fame broadcasting Craig Way.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
And if it's early January, it means it's time to
talk baseball, right, That's the way it goes, Hey, in
the off season, getting ready. We're just about a month
away from pitchers and catchers and teams reporting there, and
so to update this, we want to get an update
on a couple of things. We always check in with
our good friend and MLB insider Geene Watson, who joins
(00:43):
us now from the Chicago White Sox front office. G know,
the happy new Year to you and glad to have
you with us this morning. And just to put anything
aside for anybody, goes, well, there's not anything happening right now,
right because teams you know, aren't reporting yet for spring training.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
It's all quiet, right. That's not exactly the case.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Is it. It's really not. You know, I felt like
coming out of the holidays and happy new Year to everybody,
and thanks for having me. It's been a little bit
more active this winter than most first weeks of January,
and I think the international market has had a lot
to do with that. Players coming over from Japan. The
(01:22):
free agent class is a little bit unique this year.
Everybody's waiting on Alex Bragman and Cody Bellinger and to
see where they're going to land. And until those things happen,
you know, teams are kind of just assessing things, and
everybody in baseball is looking for pitching right now. So
it's it's been a little crazier than most first weeks
of January.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Well, you brought up pitching, Let's let me let me
get you to start with that. Any surprise in the
fact that Terrek Skuball, who's if not the best, he's
as bad as good as anybody in the game in
terms of starting pitching, that this thing is going to
go to arbitration because they are I've never heard this
number for over thirteen million dollars apart in how each
(02:05):
side is viewing how a contract would work.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
It really is. But I think when you look at
his platform numbers, I think that he's got a very
good case to ask for the money he's asking for.
And then when you look at some of the contracts
at clubs have given out to pictures that are way
less talented than Schooble, I think that that his camp
(02:30):
has a very good case. I'm the Tigers, I'm sure
did their due diligence in the numbers and the platform
or where they thought he should be. So you know,
there was a lot of teams that were pretty surprised
that they didn't move him. But when you look at
the division and how you know, they're kind of the
class of the division right now. How do you say
(02:50):
to the media and your fan base that you're going
to move this guy, even if it is for mass
impact multiplication. I think that I don't know that you're
ever going to find a better arm and Trek Scoob,
well maybe Garrett Crochet, but they're in win mode right now,
so it's a unique situation and that they're going to
be a very good team next year.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Yeah, yeah, I find it.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
It must be really difficult, and you know this working
in the front office. It must be a difficult thing
for front office people who are looking at the payroll
and all this sort of stuff to say, he's as
good as there is out there, but can we actually
get to that particular number? And I guess that's where
arbitration kind of comes in there. But it makes for
(03:34):
some really tough decisions and some tough calls for front
office people when it comes to that kind of money,
did it?
Speaker 1 (03:40):
It really does, because you don't know what to do
with the rest of your off season budgetarily, especially going
into a year where the CBA is going to expire,
you don't really know what to do budgetarily, And you know,
the days of it being personal between the club and
the players, those days are kind of gone. The players
understand that it's a bit. They know that the front
(04:01):
offices care about him. They you know, they nurture these
players all the way up through the minor leagues, and
they have great relationships and great conversations. This is just
the tricky business side of the game. But I don't
think it gets personal. I think both sides understand, you know,
the feeling behind the numbers.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
Last month when we visited during winter meetings, I was
talking about and asking you about the abundance, and I
just rattled off a whole bunch of free agents, but
largely pitchers, and and that's where we were going with this.
And I want to get your thoughts on some guys
who are still out there, who teams obviously are taking
(04:40):
a close look at and the pluses and minuses or whatever.
Let me start with Chris Bassett, because here's a guy
who proved what he can do obviously in Toronto.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
He is going to be thirty seven this year.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
He's you know, doesn't blow up the radar gun like
he's done before, but he's been really good, very consistent,
and he been pretty durable as well.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
About your thoughts on Bassett, yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
You know, it's really it's really two categories. You've got.
You've got the ages that are gonna pitch games one, two,
and three of a five game playoff series, and then
you've got the depth and volume guys, and and Bassett
would certainly qualify as one of those depth volume guys.
And the last thing you want to do as a
club is dole out a big contract and be left
(05:28):
with be holding the bag on a big contract on
a on an over player that's not going to perform
up to their their usual performance. So I think teams
always measure these types of guys versus what they have
in their system and what they may believe they can
get out of the less experienced players, versus doling out
(05:49):
a big contract for players like that. But he's certainly
a rotation solidifier. Uh, he's gonna end up somewhere and
you know where he is in his career. He's gonna
want to pitch for a He's gonna want to go
to a team where he knows he's got a chance
to win. And so that's certainly probably slowing the process down.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
Okay, And given the fact also I know it might
even be talking apples to oranges, but we are talking
about the same team here with Toronto. When they sign
Kazuma Kamoto to a four year, sixty million dollar deal,
he's a third baseman. But that all goes into balancing
what your payroll is going to be all about, doesn't it.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
That's exactly right. And then you you know what really
plays into it is you know how much of the
guy was impactful in the clubhouse and the twenty sixth man,
like what kind of difference maker was he? Was he neutral?
Was he negative? Was he a positive? But whenever you're
building your roster from the top down and they dole
out a contract like that for the third basement, it
(06:48):
certainly impacts that the decisions you can make beyond that.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
As as long as we're talking about as I mentioned,
a Kamoda, I want I want to get your thoughts.
First of all, congratulation to your organization for signing the
netcome or a me a third baseman there. Uh, the
the Astros signed pitcher Tatsua Amai as well. And how
much does not just show a Otani, but the other
(07:14):
Japanese imports and Korean imports, the the Asian influx, the
Pacific rim influx in the Major League Baseball over the
last two or three years. How much has that affected
the very active off season in looking to the Far
East to add to rosters that we've already seen to
this point.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Well, number one, this is the Otani effect. And what
you know when you're sitting over there and you're playing
in the leagues in Korea and Japan, and you're watching
games over here, and you see the impact that Otani
has had not only on his his life, his family's life,
his career, but that pride that the Japanese letters takes
(07:57):
in coming over the major leagues and impacting the major leagues.
This is really the first class of players of really
like envious. I want to go over and be a
part of it. Not that they're the players that Tony
that thought honey is but but they want to do
the same thing. They want to take the same pride
to show the world that Japanese cut players can play
(08:19):
at the highest level. And we're certainly excited about americamun
and what he's going to do for our lineup and
and and what it's already done in the city from
a buzz from a fan base and media standpoint, and
Amaya in Houston, I mean, what a great sign and
a perfect fit to tap into an entirely different fan base.
He's one of the most talented pitchers to come out
(08:41):
of Japan in a very long time. And and and
in a in a vehicle to try to acquire talent
from a different vehicle pool, a perfect sign for the
Houston Astros.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
Talking off season baseball with Gen Watson, our MLB insider,
I'm taking down a little bit slightly different path here,
and that is the aisle if you're shopping for future
Hall of famers Justin Verlander and Max Schurzer.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
Now.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Verlander turns forty three next month. Churzer turns forty two.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
In July.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
Verlander signed with the Giants a one year deal last
year fifteen million. Schure'ser fifteen and a half million chures
are showed. He still has some stuff left in with
what he did. I mean when we last saw him
there he was in Game seven. He allowed just one
run in four and a third. Obviously wound up getting
no decision on the deal. How about your thoughts on it,
Is there significant interest to pay that kind of money
(09:36):
or in the neighborhood of that for guys like Verlander
and Schurser Right.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
Now, I think it's gonna be slow played only because
these guys are not going to teams that don't have
a chance to win. So now you're talking about fit
and how many teams that are first division clubs that
think they're going to win next year need a starter,
So that that's number one. Number two is you got
(10:00):
look out and say, okay, let's look at teams like Seattle.
Let's look at teams like Miami. And you already saw
Edward Cabrera get traded by the Marlins, and let's see
what the acquisition costs, maybe in more controllable, younger, higher
upside over the long term than what these guys might
(10:20):
cost some free agents. So you're it's a real balancing act.
But the biggest thing about it is do we have
the fit? I mean, the Dodgers are loaded and starting
pitching not really a fit. So as you begin to
go around the first division clubs, you got to find
that fit. And then you've got to find out if
they're not venturing into the trade market to try to
get younger, cheaper, more controllable impact alarms. Okay, so it'll
(10:43):
take a little time. It'll be a little later, but
it'll take some time.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
Let me ask you about a couple other guys who
are out there that are pitchers and who would be
available out there. And among those guys a guy you
know pretty well, Lucas Giolito, and of course he was
banged up down the stretch of the season and couldn't
perform in the postseason.
Speaker 3 (11:04):
And Nick Martinez. There's a couple of guys right.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
There, fierce competitors, with great stuff. They take immense amount
of pride in their bodies of you know, Lucas with
the injuries, it was really unfortunate. But these are the
types of guys that you monitor throughout the season. You know,
I've got scouts in facilities all over the country today
(11:27):
looking at free agent pitching and just making sure, you
know the health is good, how's the ball coming out
of the hand. Where are they at mentally in their career?
And you just try to find out to make sure
they're fit. But these two guys are certainly two of
the more talented guys that have a chance to come
back in twenty twenty six and really swing the needle
for your club because they have a chance to be
(11:48):
better in twenty six than they were in twenty five.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
I'm always impressed by guys who can produce in the
front half of a season, be traded and then really
be a weapon, or even guys who we are okay
in the first half and then they get dealt with
the trade deadline and they really crank it up in
high gear. Harrison Bader comes to mind with what he
did with the Phillies, and he's a guy out there.
(12:13):
And then a guy like Luis Ries, who when I
watch him hit, I think he's as pure a hitter
as you will see not only in the National League,
but probably in all of baseball.
Speaker 3 (12:23):
And both of those guys are out there right now.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
Yeah, And you know what's interesting is you never know
how a player is going to respond to a trade.
They're either going to be super excited about the opportunity
to go in and impact a team, or they're going
to say to themselves, what did I do wrong that
the other team didn't want me? And it's a real
psychology to it, and we lived it last year and
(12:49):
with Miguel Vargas who came from the Dodgers, best team
in baseball, surrounded by the best players, to one of
the worst teams in baseball, not a lot of protection,
And there's a psychology to that, but it speaks to
the players makeup and their their mental state, the grind
that they have. Luisa Rise, I mean, if pre analytics,
the Luisa Luisa Rise is like Tony Wynn, It's like
(13:10):
Rod Carew, It's like but because there's not a lot
of exit velocity in his in his contact rates and
and those things, people not there's not a lot of versatility. Defensively,
people try to tear down the player, but truly he's
gonna give you one of the best hat bats in
the game of baseball. And Harrison Vader premium position player,
(13:30):
elite defender I call killer makeup. You know, he's a
guy that can impact the team in a lot of
ways and and they're both gonna end up in really
good situations soon.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
Two other guys interested you get your thoughts on this,
Two other guys long in the two veterans guys who
produced Hero out their careers, one of whom finished fourth
in the n L m VV poting a year ago.
That's Marcelosuna. And then the other is Paul Goldsmith, who
we know very well. Obviously there the former great Texas
state Bob Catoy, who's been.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
Outstanding as well.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
Those two guys, even though the production numbers went down
in twenty twenty five, is there a market for him
one hundred percent?
Speaker 1 (14:11):
With those Zuna, you're you know, you're looking at taking
him out of a lineup where he had a lot
of impact, and you're probably looking at him being more
of a protection bat in the sixth hole.
Speaker 3 (14:22):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
Maybe a lot more dh at bats than at bat
you know, put innings in the field. Uh. But this
is a guy that you can add and really LinkedIn
out your lineup, and you know he's going to be
impactful and you put any kind of protection around him,
and he's got a chance to do a lot of damages.
And Paul Goldsmith, I would I would term the position
player of Shrzurn Verlander. He's not gonna want to play
(14:45):
for a team that doesn't have a chance to win
a world championship. These guys are on the backsides of
their career. They don't want to go into rebuilds or
build situations. They want to go and win. So again,
with Paul, it's gonna come down to fit for him,
and this could be a little bit later because teams
may take an injury in spring training that creates a
situation where he has a little more more value to them.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
I want to get your thoughts you You kind of
made a reference to it earlier, but I am kind
of curious if there is updates or what the situation
is with guys like Cody Bellinger, Kyle Tucker, Fromer Valdez,
Alex Bregman, obviously those guys and your thoughts on you
(15:28):
know what the process is like right now, not only
for those guys and the representatives, but for the teams
as they flesh out what they can afford, what they need,
and what they have to surrender to get a guy
like that.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
Well, I was wrong about Kyle Schwarber. I thought Kyle
Sharber was going to be with a surprise team, and
he ended up being back with the Phillies, which speaks
to how much he means to them. With these guys,
I think they're all kind of in the same market.
Speaker 3 (15:53):
You know.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
It's the Red Sox, it's the Cubs, it's teams that
are trying to win a world championship. And these are
the kinds of deals that get really meticulous at the end.
It's it's more, you know, the incentives and the bonuses
a part of the contract. It's the little things that
separate one team from the other that are that are
big deals to the players. These players have worked their
(16:14):
entire careers to get to this point in their career
where they could have some leverage and some saying where
they go. And it's not only about their contract and
what they can bring out of it, but they want
to hear a vision. They want to hear a plan
as to Okay, I sign with you guys, well, what's
the plan for twenty seven? What's the plan for twenty eight?
Talk to me about our minor league system. So there's
(16:36):
a lot of detail that goes into these contracts for
these types of players, and the agents do such a
great job of making sure that everything is aligned. That
they don't want to be in a situation where we
sign this deal, we get into it two years down
the road and my players not protected and they're in
a really bad situation. So that's really what it is.
(16:57):
Is more detail and organization for the end in divisional
player plan the incentives of the contract, but then sell
me the vision on what this team's going to look
like three and four years down the road.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
I want to ask you one other thing, and this
isn't about players and not necessarily about front offices, but
it's really intriguing, and I know that you've at least.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
Kept tabs on it.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
Yesterday it was announced that nine more Major League teams
have ended their deals with the main Street Sports Group. Now,
this was the group that was the Diamond Sports Group
that was that's, of course, the subsidiary of Sinclair Broadcasting.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
This is the group that.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
Managed all of these regional networks that had to undergo
bankruptcy and as a result, several teams went their own way,
including the Rangers, along with the Diamondbacks, the Padres, the Guardians,
the Rockies, the Twins, the Mariners. The Nationals are expected
to be part of that this year, and now the Braves, Reds, Tigers, Royals, Angels, Marlins, Brewers,
(17:59):
Cardinals and are all terminating their original deals with Main Street.
The extrapolated thought on all of this geno is the
fact that you may see Rob Manford talking about trying
to get everybody under one window down the road. Now,
obviously that's not gonna sit well with teams like the Yankees,
(18:19):
the Dodgers, even your ball club, the White Sox and Cubs,
who have really good, lucrative television contracts. But the larger picture,
a lot of folks say this is going to affect
more the divide between the haves and the have nots
of if these teams are all all going under the
MLB arm where they're not getting near as much money
(18:40):
even as they were getting in their regional sports network
deals before the bankruptcy happened.
Speaker 3 (18:45):
How about your thoughts on that.
Speaker 1 (18:48):
Well, it's unfortunate because it really it straps you, like
with what you want to do right now with your team,
because you've lost all that revenue. And I've talked to
a couple of teams that are subject to that, the
money they thought they were going to have in free
agency they no longer have because of this. I do
feel like we're getting to a point in the media
(19:10):
age where it does kind of be it kind of
needs to be universal, even I know, you know, I
think the Dodgers TV deals like nine billion. I know
everybody's TV deals are different. Some are more lucrative than others.
The Yankees obviously have one of the bigger ones. But
we have to create some type of balance when it
comes to revenue sharing with media rights. And you know,
(19:33):
our game has really suffered on a national level in
some ways with this. And so I know that every
team is different based on their market and what the
situation is, but it can't be where some teams can
operate and some teams can't based on their local media rights.
There's got to be some give and take with that,
(19:53):
and I think that Rob Manford has that on his
play right now.
Speaker 3 (19:56):
I agree.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
All right, Hey, Geno, I appreciate the time. The best
wishes to you and Melanie. Hope things go well and
we'll check back in with you when we get ready
for the start of spring training. Hey, we're a month
away from you getting out to Arizona right month.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
Away, and we got the WBC. I'll actually be in
Houston for ten days doing that and it's going to
be a fun twenty twenty six. Can't wait to see it.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
Thank you, Gina, appreciate it. Okay, thank care by That
is Gene.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
Watson from the Chicago White Sox front office. Great off
season baseball conversation with Gina. We have more coming up
here on Sports Radio AM thirteen under the Zone in
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