November 6, 2024 • 10 mins
The Athletic's Astros beat writer Chandler Rome joins The A-Team, live from the Major League Baseball general managers meetings in San Antonio. He talks about what he got from talking to both Astros GM Dana Brown and Bregman's agent Scott Boras. Rome also talks about what a potential signing of Bregman could mean to the future of Kyle Tucker and others in an Astros uniform. Plus, Rome mentions what a potential last dance with Justin Verlander could look like.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
As promised. Let's bring him in. Chandler, Rome of the
Athletic joining us live from the MLB Winter Meetings GM
Meetings in San Antonio. Chandler, First and foremost, how did
they come to San Antonio? And secondly, how much do
you love going to the riverwalk there?
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Do you want the honest story of how they got Antonio?
Speaker 1 (00:19):
I kind of do.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
So.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Last year they were in Arizona, and they were supposed
to be back in Arizona and this year. But this
story came out last year in the GM meetings. All
of them got sick because of a food born illness.
Like a lot of the attendees left early because they
all got sick. And basically we put two and two
(00:42):
together and the conjectures. Basically they backed out of the
contract because they didn't want to have everyone get sick again,
and on short notice, we ended up in lovely San Antonio.
I hadn't been here in like ten or fifteen years.
I probably won't come back. It's not a dump, but
it's not fun.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Rockets playing the Spurs tonight, by the way on Sports
Talk seven ninety and Space City Home Network. They'll be
in Houston, which is not a dump. But yeah, let's
get to the meat of the of the matter. And
Alex Bregman, I've asked you this on the air, I've
asked you this off the air. Do you feel any
differently one way or the other having talked to Dana Brown,
having talked to Scott Boris and that whole situation, because
(01:23):
you know, to hear the Astros and Dana Brown say it,
it's priorities one through ten this offseason.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Yeah, I mean they have to say that, like Dana
has to say that, and as I kind of wad yesterday,
you heard this with Correa, you heard this with Springer,
like you heard like, oh, that's our priority. We wanted
to be resigned. I do think that just having talked
to Dana as much as I have, just in his
public comments and how he is like he never he
(01:51):
won't lie, and I don't think he's lying here, and
that they think they have a serious shot of getting
this done. But I think what Scott Borris said today
kind of rings true that the Astros are aware, and
I think I'm using his direct quote that the Ashers
are aware this is a very healthy market for Bregman.
The translation to that is they're gonna have to pay up,
Like this is not going to be a situation where
(02:14):
the market falls apart, and he just kind of goes
back to Houston because it's the easiest thing. Like I
think there are a lot of interested teams. The fact
that you know, I had written this in September, but
it got real kind of circulated today that he is
willing to play second base, He's willing to move off
of third and that increases how many teams are available,
how many teams could court him. And then you know,
(02:35):
you look at there's a couple of things that make
the Astras pursued a little more interesting. And they had
no one behind him to come and take third base.
I mean, I don't mean to pile on Shae Wickham,
but I mean you saw what happened after Alex Bregman's
last regular season game, and then it made park when
Shae wickhamb got in there. I mean, that was a
bad game for him. But it's just not He's not
(02:57):
the future. Zach Zendo's talked about a ton yesterday. They
view him as you know, first base left field future.
Bryce Matthews had a pretty awful stint and triple as
in last year, and a lot of scouts don't really
view him as a third basement of view him maybe
more as a centerfield or second baseman. And then the
free agent market behind Bregman at third base is non existent.
(03:21):
I mean, you're looking if Bregman goes elsewhere, you're looking
at Geo or Schella. You're looking at just kind of
guys that don't move the needle a ton, which is
why I found it very interesting yesterday that when Dana
was asked, you know, as you guys are planning contingencies,
like if Bregman signs elsewhere, he basically said, we haven't
planned for that, like we're not planning for him to
(03:43):
sign elsewhere. That At first I thought that was misguided,
just to not have the plans out, but I think
it does speak to the fact that they really think
they have a shot here and they think that they're
going to be able to get him.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
Well, two things I need to ask after those comments.
One is I I don't even know if it's a
question is probably more rhetorical. I can't imagine a team
thinking the best scenario for adding Bregmann is to take
the best fielding third basement in the game and move
him to second so their lesser fielding third baseman can
stay there versus finding somebody else to place second, so
(04:16):
we can utilize the fact that he's the best in
the business at what he does down there. My question
is you and the Athletic have a really I think
interesting article Tim Britton on the projections and the salaries
and where we think things might be. And I know
there's guesswork involved, but with a likely robust market, and
clearly there's some dominoes that maybe you need to fall first,
(04:39):
especially even in the Boris camp with one Soto, etc.
What range do you think is realistic that other teams
might be willing to go into because there are a
bunch of other teams that are less afraid of longer
terms and maybe less afraid of higher dollars. Maybe not
higher AAV, but higher dollars versus the Astros. And I
know that question was asked of them about how willing
(05:00):
might the Astros be from moving away. What's been a
clear plan of limitation on years, limitation on dollars. What
what do you think the market the numbers are that
other teams would be willing to offer.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
Bregman, Yeah, I don't want to give everything away, so
because everyone should subscribe to The Athletic is a great publication.
But Tim Britain his contract projections, he's usually dead on.
He had Alex Bregman at seven year, nine million dollars.
You know, Scott Morris tends to go to the higher end.
Like I doubt that's going to be the starting point.
(05:36):
I think that, you know, maybe something that starts with
the two in front of it is where they're going
to start, and then who knows negotiating and and things
like that. The second base thing. You know, I think
if Bregman had his brothers, he'd played third base. I mean,
it's obviously what he's really good at. But also, you know,
I think the other thing, and I wrote this after
the World Series the Astros, Like, I think Bregman wants
(06:01):
to win. And I know that sounds cliche and every
free agent says this, but like Bregman cares a lot
more about winning, I think than money and years. Look,
money and years are going to matter. He wants the
contract obviously, as he should, He's earned us right to
it a free agency, but I don't think he wants
to go somewhere and tether himself to a situation where
(06:24):
within one or two years you look at it and
the thing isn't ruined, and to rebuild and tear down,
saying that's where the Astros are at. But I had
a little bit of stelling to him as to what
they're going to do to keep this window open because
they have one of the worst farm systems in baseball.
They've got Kyle Tucker and from Erveldez that are going
(06:46):
to be free agents after next year. And then something
that Dana Brown said yesterday that if I was Kyle
Tucker's representative, I would have read it and got very upset.
You know. He said, we're probably not in the market
of doing multiple seven year deals, multiple eight year deals. Well,
if you get Bregman one of those, then I guess
that means you're already sizing off that you're not going
(07:07):
to sign Kyle Tucker. So I think there's a lot
in play here, you know, I think, just on its face,
looking at seven for nine, if that is the like,
just using Tim's projection, you know, I think that is
a thing that the Astros would do. I think that's
reasonable for them. I mean, they offered Carlos Perea, you know,
(07:28):
five for one sixty in his exclusive negotiating period. Obviously
this one's a little bit. This is more, but they've
they've been willing to go that route. But you know,
Jim Crane's gonna have to go longer than six years.
He's going to have to go guarantee an amount of
money he never has before. And I think that's the
biggest thing here. Can Dana Brown convince Jim Crane that
(07:49):
that's the right thing to do or is it the
right thing to do? Do? They have other plans up
their sleeve to keep this thing open, So there's a
lot of kind of unknowns, but I think, you know,
they've made no mistake that he is their biggest priority.
And everything I've heard and been indicated to me is
that they are making a pretty serious pursuit.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
What is Justin Verlander at this point in his career
and what are the chances that they come to an
agreement in that area based on the fact that I
would assume if he comes back to the Astros for
whatever role that would be, it would be an extremely
much lower price tag.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
Well, yeah, I mean he's not going to make I
mean his last contract, he's making forty three million dollars
a year. He's not going to be making forty three
million dollars in this contract. As long as Jim Crane's involved,
you never rule out the Astras of Justin Berlander. Jim
Crane and Justin Berland are very cus. Jim Crane basically
himself had a hand in his last contract with the
(08:52):
Astros and orchestrating the trade in the nets. So as
long as as Jim has some say, then I'll never
rule it out. I don't see fit personally, like, I
don't know that he's kind of what they need, you know,
I think they do need a starter. I think they
need kind of a stabilizing innings eater, kind of a
betteran guy. And you know, if this was last year,
(09:13):
the year before, I would say that Verlander could be
that guy. But you know, with the injuries and with
kind of how his season ended last year, you do
kind of wonder if he's on the tail end of
his career. I don't know. I would never doubt him.
He's he's defied time, he's defied age, he's defied logic.
You know, I I'd probably put it on the outside
looking in at the Astros come to agreement with him.
(09:35):
But again when Jim, if Jim is involved, then you
can never rule it out.
Speaker 3 (09:40):
Real quickly here if you could, I know it's a
little difficult, especially at this point of the off season.
Is there a name or two or three on the
lower end salary wise that you think might make some sense,
that are free agents that the Astros could be interested in.
And again we are just about up to get up
against a Chandler.
Speaker 2 (09:56):
I mean, I think it all depends on what Bredman does.
Like if they if they resigned Redman, then I don't
think they're going to go first basement. But if they
need a first basement on the lower end, you look
at Paul Goldschmith, I mean obviously Houston native. He's a
guy that's been talked about a ton of these meetings
just from other agents and executives and say, oh, that's
that's a perfect fit the You know, Houston Native grew
up an Astros fan. I brought up Rizzo to you
(10:17):
guys the last time I was in studio. I know
Wex didn't like that at a ton, but Rizzo, I
mean left handed bat And look, Dana Brown did say
yesterday they're looking for another left handed bat, someone that's patient,
someone that sees pitches, someone that is different than what
they have on the ross. Now Anthony Rizzo fits that
all to a t. So those are just two names,
but again it really a lot of it is going
(10:40):
to depend on what Bregman does. I think that's going
to alter the entire kind of direction of their offseason.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
Good stuff from Chandler Rome Live from San Antonio at
the GM meetings. We appreciate as always, Chandler. We'll talk
to you again very soon. I'm sure, all right, Thanks Gass,
As promised. Let's bring him in. Chandler, Rome of the
Athletic joining us live from the MLB Winter Meetings GM
Meetings in San Antonio. Chandler, First and foremost, how did
they come to San Antonio? And secondly, how much do
you love going to the riverwalk there?
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Do you want the honest story of how they got Antonio?
Speaker 1 (00:19):
I kind of do.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
So.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Last year they were in Arizona, and they were supposed
to be back in Arizona and this year. But this
story came out last year in the GM meetings. All
of them got sick because of a food born illness.
Like a lot of the attendees left early because they
all got sick. And basically we put two and two
(00:42):
together and the conjectures. Basically they backed out of the
contract because they didn't want to have everyone get sick again,
and on short notice, we ended up in lovely San Antonio.
I hadn't been here in like ten or fifteen years.
I probably won't come back. It's not a dump, but
it's not fun.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Rockets playing the Spurs tonight, by the way on Sports
Talk seven ninety and Space City Home Network. They'll be
in Houston, which is not a dump. But yeah, let's
get to the meat of the of the matter. And
Alex Bregman, I've asked you this on the air, I've
asked you this off the air. Do you feel any
differently one way or the other having talked to Dana Brown,
having talked to Scott Boris and that whole situation, because
(01:23):
you know, to hear the Astros and Dana Brown say it,
it's priorities one through ten this offseason.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Yeah, I mean they have to say that, like Dana
has to say that, and as I kind of wad yesterday,
you heard this with Correa, you heard this with Springer,
like you heard like, oh, that's our priority. We wanted
to be resigned. I do think that just having talked
to Dana as much as I have, just in his
public comments and how he is like he never he
(01:51):
won't lie, and I don't think he's lying here, and
that they think they have a serious shot of getting
this done. But I think what Scott Borris said today
kind of rings true that the Astros are aware, and
I think I'm using his direct quote that the Ashers
are aware this is a very healthy market for Bregman.
The translation to that is they're gonna have to pay up,
Like this is not going to be a situation where
(02:14):
the market falls apart, and he just kind of goes
back to Houston because it's the easiest thing. Like I
think there are a lot of interested teams. The fact
that you know, I had written this in September, but
it got real kind of circulated today that he is
willing to play second base, He's willing to move off
of third and that increases how many teams are available,
how many teams could court him. And then you know,
(02:35):
you look at there's a couple of things that make
the Astras pursued a little more interesting. And they had
no one behind him to come and take third base.
I mean, I don't mean to pile on Shae Wickham,
but I mean you saw what happened after Alex Bregman's
last regular season game, and then it made park when
Shae wickhamb got in there. I mean, that was a
bad game for him. But it's just not He's not
(02:57):
the future. Zach Zendo's talked about a ton yesterday. They
view him as you know, first base left field future.
Bryce Matthews had a pretty awful stint and triple as
in last year, and a lot of scouts don't really
view him as a third basement of view him maybe
more as a centerfield or second baseman. And then the
free agent market behind Bregman at third base is non existent.
(03:21):
I mean, you're looking if Bregman goes elsewhere, you're looking
at Geo or Schella. You're looking at just kind of
guys that don't move the needle a ton, which is
why I found it very interesting yesterday that when Dana
was asked, you know, as you guys are planning contingencies,
like if Bregman signs elsewhere, he basically said, we haven't
planned for that, like we're not planning for him to
(03:43):
sign elsewhere. That At first I thought that was misguided,
just to not have the plans out, but I think
it does speak to the fact that they really think
they have a shot here and they think that they're
going to be able to get him.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
Well, two things I need to ask after those comments.
One is I I don't even know if it's a
question is probably more rhetorical. I can't imagine a team
thinking the best scenario for adding Bregmann is to take
the best fielding third basement in the game and move
him to second so their lesser fielding third baseman can
stay there versus finding somebody else to place second, so
(04:16):
we can utilize the fact that he's the best in
the business at what he does down there. My question
is you and the Athletic have a really I think
interesting article Tim Britton on the projections and the salaries
and where we think things might be. And I know
there's guesswork involved, but with a likely robust market, and
clearly there's some dominoes that maybe you need to fall first,
(04:39):
especially even in the Boris camp with one Soto, etc.
What range do you think is realistic that other teams
might be willing to go into because there are a
bunch of other teams that are less afraid of longer
terms and maybe less afraid of higher dollars. Maybe not
higher AAV, but higher dollars versus the Astros. And I
know that question was asked of them about how willing
(05:00):
might the Astros be from moving away. What's been a
clear plan of limitation on years, limitation on dollars. What
what do you think the market the numbers are that
other teams would be willing to offer.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
Bregman, Yeah, I don't want to give everything away, so
because everyone should subscribe to The Athletic is a great publication.
But Tim Britain his contract projections, he's usually dead on.
He had Alex Bregman at seven year, nine million dollars.
You know, Scott Morris tends to go to the higher end.
Like I doubt that's going to be the starting point.
(05:36):
I think that, you know, maybe something that starts with
the two in front of it is where they're going
to start, and then who knows negotiating and and things
like that. The second base thing. You know, I think
if Bregman had his brothers, he'd played third base. I mean,
it's obviously what he's really good at. But also, you know,
I think the other thing, and I wrote this after
the World Series the Astros, Like, I think Bregman wants
(06:01):
to win. And I know that sounds cliche and every
free agent says this, but like Bregman cares a lot
more about winning, I think than money and years. Look,
money and years are going to matter. He wants the
contract obviously, as he should, He's earned us right to
it a free agency, but I don't think he wants
to go somewhere and tether himself to a situation where
(06:24):
within one or two years you look at it and
the thing isn't ruined, and to rebuild and tear down,
saying that's where the Astros are at. But I had
a little bit of stelling to him as to what
they're going to do to keep this window open because
they have one of the worst farm systems in baseball.
They've got Kyle Tucker and from Erveldez that are going
(06:46):
to be free agents after next year. And then something
that Dana Brown said yesterday that if I was Kyle
Tucker's representative, I would have read it and got very upset.
You know. He said, we're probably not in the market
of doing multiple seven year deals, multiple eight year deals. Well,
if you get Bregman one of those, then I guess
that means you're already sizing off that you're not going
(07:07):
to sign Kyle Tucker. So I think there's a lot
in play here, you know, I think, just on its face,
looking at seven for nine, if that is the like,
just using Tim's projection, you know, I think that is
a thing that the Astros would do. I think that's
reasonable for them. I mean, they offered Carlos Perea, you know,
(07:28):
five for one sixty in his exclusive negotiating period. Obviously
this one's a little bit. This is more, but they've
they've been willing to go that route. But you know,
Jim Crane's gonna have to go longer than six years.
He's going to have to go guarantee an amount of
money he never has before. And I think that's the
biggest thing here. Can Dana Brown convince Jim Crane that
(07:49):
that's the right thing to do or is it the
right thing to do? Do? They have other plans up
their sleeve to keep this thing open, So there's a
lot of kind of unknowns, but I think, you know,
they've made no mistake that he is their biggest priority.
And everything I've heard and been indicated to me is
that they are making a pretty serious pursuit.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
What is Justin Verlander at this point in his career
and what are the chances that they come to an
agreement in that area based on the fact that I
would assume if he comes back to the Astros for
whatever role that would be, it would be an extremely
much lower price tag.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
Well, yeah, I mean he's not going to make I
mean his last contract, he's making forty three million dollars
a year. He's not going to be making forty three
million dollars in this contract. As long as Jim Crane's involved,
you never rule out the Astras of Justin Berlander. Jim
Crane and Justin Berland are very cus. Jim Crane basically
himself had a hand in his last contract with the
(08:52):
Astros and orchestrating the trade in the nets. So as
long as as Jim has some say, then I'll never
rule it out. I don't see fit personally, like, I
don't know that he's kind of what they need, you know,
I think they do need a starter. I think they
need kind of a stabilizing innings eater, kind of a
betteran guy. And you know, if this was last year,
(09:13):
the year before, I would say that Verlander could be
that guy. But you know, with the injuries and with
kind of how his season ended last year, you do
kind of wonder if he's on the tail end of
his career. I don't know. I would never doubt him.
He's he's defied time, he's defied age, he's defied logic.
You know, I I'd probably put it on the outside
looking in at the Astros come to agreement with him.
(09:35):
But again when Jim, if Jim is involved, then you
can never rule it out.
Speaker 3 (09:40):
Real quickly here if you could, I know it's a
little difficult, especially at this point of the off season.
Is there a name or two or three on the
lower end salary wise that you think might make some sense,
that are free agents that the Astros could be interested in.
And again we are just about up to get up
against a Chandler.
Speaker 2 (09:56):
I mean, I think it all depends on what Bredman does.
Like if they if they resigned Redman, then I don't
think they're going to go first basement. But if they
need a first basement on the lower end, you look
at Paul Goldschmith, I mean obviously Houston native. He's a
guy that's been talked about a ton of these meetings
just from other agents and executives and say, oh, that's
that's a perfect fit the You know, Houston Native grew
up an Astros fan. I brought up Rizzo to you
(10:17):
guys the last time I was in studio. I know
Wex didn't like that at a ton, but Rizzo, I
mean left handed bat And look, Dana Brown did say
yesterday they're looking for another left handed bat, someone that's patient,
someone that sees pitches, someone that is different than what
they have on the ross. Now Anthony Rizzo fits that
all to a t. So those are just two names,
but again it really a lot of it is going
(10:40):
to depend on what Bregman does. I think that's going
to alter the entire kind of direction of their offseason.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
Good stuff from Chandler Rome Live from San Antonio at
the GM meetings. We appreciate as always, Chandler. We'll talk
to you again very soon. I'm sure, all right, Thanks Gass,
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