Most Valuable Agent with Matt Hannaford
Welcome to Most Valuable Agent – the podcast that gives baseball players, prospects, and fans an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to succeed in professional baseball. Hosted by Matt Hannaford, a Major League Baseball agent with years of experience in contract negotiations and player representation, this channel is a must-watch for: • Athletes looking to advance their careers • Parents supporting young players • Baseball fans who want a deeper understanding of the game beyond the field What You’ll Learn: • MLB Contracts & Draft Insights – How players get signed, negotiate contracts, and maximize opportunities • The Business of Baseball – Arbitration, free agency, and how teams evaluate talent • Expert Interviews & Analysis – Conversations with players, scouts, and insiders • MLB News & Market Trends – Breaking down trades, signings, and player negotiations 👉 Subscribe now for exclusive insights from one of baseball’s top agents! New episodes weekly. You can watch the full episodes on The Most Valuable Agent Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@mostvaluableagent
Episodes
What do MLB scouts really look for in players and families? In this episode, Matt Hannaford unpacks one of the most honest scouting director talks ever shared with Perfect Game All-American families.
From multi-sport athletes to classroom behavior, in-home visits, and the critical factor of signability, this episode dives into the real conversations scouts have behind the scenes. Matt Hannaford brings an advisor’s per...
In this episode Matt sits down with Brock Bennett, Recruiting Coordinator at the University of Georgia, to talk about the realities of SEC recruiting, what makes a “Bulldog” player, how families can best navigate the recruiting process, and why honesty and communication are crucial.
Brock shares insights from his playing days at Alabama, his time in professional baseball, and his current role at Georgia—he...
In this episode Matt sits down with Johan Martinez-Khalilian to explore a powerful and often overlooked dynamic in youth and professional sports: the role of fathers (and parents) in shaping athletes’ journeys.
Through raw stories, personal reflection, and lessons learned from working with elite athletes, this conversation dives into how parents can either empower or unintentionally hold back their childre...
In this episode, Matt sits down with Jon Paino, longtime coach, teacher, and one of the architects behind CBA Baseball. From starting the program in honor of pioneer Mike Spears, to shaping a culture that develops players on and off the field, Jon shares the lessons that have helped CBA produce 1,400+ college commitments, 185 draft picks, and 23 MLB players (and counting).
💡 This conversation dives deep i...
What does it really take to make it in the big leagues and stay there? In this emotional and eye-opening episode, LA Dodgers pitcher and World Series Champion Anthony Banda shares his raw, unfiltered journey through baseball’s toughest trials. Subscribe now for more powerful sports stories and lessons!
What You’ll Learn:
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The truth about li...
Discover the truth about player development with Michael Garciaparra: former first-round pick, pro scout for the St. Louis Cardinals, and founder of GBG, a college and pro development powerhouse. Subscribe now!
What You’ll Learn:
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How MLB scouting has changed over the last 20 years
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Parents and players, STOP stressing about the travel baseball grind! In this powerful episode, Matt sits down with four insiders: Craig Holman, Andy Burress, Jeff Petty, and Matthew Maniscalco to reveal what really matters when chasing college scholarships and pro dreams. Subscribe now for real talk on youth baseball development and exposure!
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Struggling to make sense of travel ball, recruiting, and what actually matters? This episode is your guide. Subscribe for weekly real-talk.
What You’ll Learn:
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How to evaluate costly academies and private coaching
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What scouts and college coaches truly care about
In this episode of Most Valuable Agent, Matt Hannaford sits down with former pro player and Excel Baseball co-founder Matthew Maniscalso to talk all things youth baseball. From how to choose a travel baseball organization to smart college recruiting tips for travel baseball families, this is the honest conversation every sports parent needs.
They go deep on how to evaluate a travel baseball coach, how to ...
Ever wonder what scouts actually think during the MLB Draft Combine? Former MLB scout Trevor Haley reveals insider perspectives that could change how families, players, and advisors approach the draft. If you're navigating the world of amateur baseball, this episode is a must-listen. Subscribe now and prepare smarter!
What You’ll Learn:
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Wh...
Have you ever faced that crossroads—losing your competitive edge but gaining a higher calling in the game you love? In this episode, Jeff Petty shares how an average college player found purpose as a coach and built one of the nation’s top travel baseball programs.
What You’ll Learn
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How to shift from playing to coaching with purpose
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Ever wonder how baseball players get their own trading cards? What makes a rookie card valuable—or even collectible at all?
In this episode, Matt sits down with Kevin Eger, VP of Athlete Partnerships at Fanatics Collectibles (Topps), to pull back the curtain on the trading card industry. Subscribe and explore the business behind the cardboard!
What You’ll Learn:
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Mauricio Dubón’s Underdog Journey to the Big Leagues
They said he was too small. Too quiet. From a country that "doesn’t play baseball." Mauricio Dubón was never supposed to make it. But he did — and he didn’t just make it. He became a World Series champion.
In this episode of Most Valuable Agent, MLB agent Matt Hannaford sits down with Houston Astros utility star Mauricio Dubón to uncover the...
The dream isn’t just to be seen—it’s to be ready.
In this can’t-miss episode, agent Matt Hannaford sits down with Kris Gross, Scouting Director for the New York Mets, to reveal what really goes on behind the scenes of the MLB Draft.
You’ll get an unfiltered look at how scouts evaluate talent, why some prospects never make it, and what separates the good from the great. From coachability and cu...
Unlock pro-level baseball insights with Zack Scott—ex-Red Sox GM—on draft prep, development, and mastering the mental game. Subscribe now!
What really goes on inside the mind of an MLB GM?
Former Red Sox and Mets executive Zack Scott takes us deep into the front office to reveal how data, mindset, and real-world player development decisions shape big-league rosters. From how prospects are evaluated to wha...
Ever wondered what it really takes to catch the eye of a Major League Baseball scout? In this powerhouse episode of the Most Valuable Agent podcast, host Matt sits down with Gus Quattlebaum, VP of Scouting Development & Integration for the Boston Red Sox, and Johan Martinez-Khalilian, elite coach to athletes and artists.
Together, they reveal how pro teams evaluate talent—from advanced data and video revie...
What if the most important part of the game... can’t be measured?
In this powerful episode of Most Valuable Agent, Matt Hannaford sits down with elite mindset coach Johan Martinez-Khalilian to explore the spiritual side of sports—the “invisible game” that every athlete must confront.
From flow state and fear-based thinking to identity, surrender, and purpose, Johan reveals the deeper truths be...
What makes a high school baseball program truly elite? In this episode of Most Valuable Agent, we sit down with Brandon Oliver—former Yankees coach and co-founder of FUTURES—to unpack what separates good from great in today’s ultra-competitive baseball world.
From his experience at Corona High School to building FUTURES into a national model, Brandon reveals how data, mindset, physicality, and aligned coac...
What does it really take to go from high school standout to pro baseball?
In this episode of the Most Valuable Agent Podcast, former MLB player and Align Sports advisor Dylan Manwaring joins us to share the raw truths of navigating the path from youth baseball to the big leagues.
Dylan opens up about growing up with a major leaguer father (Matt Manwaring), standing out in a small town, and how...
In this premiere Travel Team Spotlight episode of The Most Valuable Agent podcast, we sit down with Andy Burress—former Reds draft pick and founder of Five Star National, one of the most successful and expansive travel baseball programs in the country.
From his playing days to building a 50+ location organization (spanning the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, and Australia), Andy opens up about the realities of ...
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