August 1, 2025 • 11 mins
Following the conclusion of the legal tampering period around the MLB with the trade deadline now behind us, teams now roll into the second half of the season drastically improved than they were before the All-Star break and the deadline. Evaluating where teams in both leagues now stand following the end of the deadline, MLB Network's Robert Flores shares some things to be mindful of following the Stros' newest additions and who to be on the lookout for as a sneaky competitor looking ahead to the postseason.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Honestly with a big sportsman, you know.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
But I'm like, sounds just like a dog, sounds just
like he does on TV in a movie.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
It's pretty cool.
Speaker 3 (00:06):
It me and you here, Yeah, we cano Okay, you
can ask, okay, this's going He's a very busy man,
so you don't want to keep him waiting very long.
He is a Robert Flores MLB Network and a interesting
venue today for MLB Central, the show that he's part
of with d Row, Laurence Shahati and the crew for
MLB Network. Robert Flores joins us flow appreciate it, buddy.
(00:31):
So you're watching yesterday, you guys were doing the show
all those things. As the trade deadline's going along, I mean,
what are your thoughts as you know, you're you're waiting
for the Korea trade, You're waiting for all these other deals.
What are your thoughts as it's all playing.
Speaker 4 (00:46):
Out, we're gonna get either Dylan Sees or Sandy Alcantra.
I did not think that the Korean duel was going
to happen because I just thought it was super complicated,
And turns out money the Twins would would give and
send over to the astros. But that. I'll be damned
they pull.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
It off, Robert, and pull it off at a at
a price that's right, good, gracious to be able to
get him. And just just from your visuals you watch
every single day, how much baseball? What do we expect
to see from Korea? Offensively?
Speaker 4 (01:22):
Yeah, that's the thing. John is like. It's interesting, right
because you know he's had some tough luck kicking injuries, right,
and he'll be the first to tell you, Hey, I
just wasn't able to perform at my best. But look,
you know, and I don't think it should be understated
what it's like to come back to a place that
you're familiar with, where you've had success. And I think
(01:43):
that's going to do wonders for Carlos, and I think
it's going to do wonders for the rest of that clubhouse.
Whether or not Carlos is going to look like he
did in you know, when he left, you know, in
twenty twenty three, I don't know, but I think he
can help them, and I think he can help them
a lot again.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
Robert Florz Mob Network Houston guy joined us here on
the Sean Salisbury Show, and I mean, you know, with
that deal, a lot of you know, what's gone unnoticed
here is being able to pick up the left handed
bat and Jesus Sanchez and then also to utility player
in ramon Arias for some that might not know a
(02:21):
ton about those guys.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
What are the Astros adding well?
Speaker 4 (02:25):
For Jesu Sanchez, I mean, this guy has some prodigious
pop from the left hand side, but it's it's hasn't
been as consistent as he would like or what the
Marlins would like. But I feel pretty confident that the
Astros have the kind of organization where oftentimes guys will
get into their into their building, into their clubhouse, and
(02:46):
they become better. I think that that is that is
the hope, because you don't know what Jordan Alvarez is
going to look like if and when he comes back,
So they need some left handed hitting and they need
said left handed hitting power. Ramon Udias is a guy
that mostly third base, but I was looking at his
(03:07):
numbers and his stat line, he's played a little bit
of second base, so you're covered there. He is an
excellent defender and he can come up to the big
hit every now and then, so I think is the
type of the he's a winning player. It's an under
the radar move. Jesus Sanchez for me could be that
X factor.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
All right, take me back to the All Star break, Robert,
your thoughts on was this a World Series team in
your mind? Then as they sit, injuries, the whole thing,
and now your narrative, well are you are you different?
Is there a major shift in the way you feel
or is it pretty much the same?
Speaker 4 (03:45):
Well, at the All Star Break, I did not think
that they were they were a World Series team because
of all the injuries, like you mentioned. However, you then
add some of those players back into the pole, that's huge.
I think we just have to see what the injured
starters look like once they come back. I want to
(04:07):
know what Arra getting looks like. What is mccullor going
to give you, What is Christian how the air going
to look look like? And what's he goingsey give me?
So I think the potentially there's that word to get
Potentially this is a team capable of a beach none.
But there's still so many question marks because there's still
so many players that.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
Are out and Robert, you know, normally at this time
of year, as we start to head now in the
final fifty games. They went from a marathon to the
eight hundred meter and we're almost to the sprint, right,
the four by one hundred. Well with this and the
Astros and these moves and getting healthy, maybe I'm wrong,
Maybe we get this every year. But there's like a
bunch of teams in the American League that you say
(04:48):
Toronto can win it. Well, the Rangers got great pitching
and they can rake. And then look what Seattle's done
to get power. And oh there's Detroit with their great
pitching staff and they upgraded yesterday. So my point is,
if you're the sixth team in the American League or
the fifth team, you got a legitimate run. So this
is wide open where there are some big powerhouses in
the National League. Hell, team five can win the World
(05:09):
Series or get there. In the American League. Correct, no doubt.
Speaker 4 (05:13):
This is a year. I would say this is a
year where maybe seven to ten, maybe even a little
bit more could win the whole team. As you said,
the Bluegates could win it, The Dodgers certainly could win it,
the Padres, the Philly, the Mets, the Rangers could win it.
All the Mariners could win.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
It, and they all upgraded Robert, Right, all those teams
you just mentioned got better yesterday.
Speaker 4 (05:38):
Yes they did. The Astros did get better as well,
And what are they going to look like once they're
injured players come back. We know that Isak is not
coming back this year. Is Jordan coming back this year?
And if so, what's he gonna look like? What Barragedtti
gonna give the accurate? What Kriston Javier gonna get the actuate.
(05:59):
So there's a lot of still up in the air
with Houston, but you're right there is it's a it's
wide open. I would say the National League is wide open,
but it's tougher and the American League is really wide
open any one of the there's a handful of teams
of the AL that could have win it all again.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
Every single morning you see him on MLB Central with
the crew. They're over at MLB Network. He's Robert Flores
and he joins us here on the Shawn Salisbury Show. Robert,
I mean, you know, talking about the Rangers, I know
that you were high on them coming into the season.
The Mariners too. They both, as we've pointed out, they
both upgraded. Do you think that they added enough to
be able to put a scare into the Astros to
(06:39):
believe that maybe they could overtake them.
Speaker 4 (06:42):
Oh yeah, definitely. The Mariners on paper are significantly better offensives.
Their lineup is deeps. I mean, you add Flare and
you add Jock Layler, that line us becomes very interesting,
very powerful, and very goat the Texas rangeering. I had
them any the division before the season because I love
(07:03):
their pitching. Their problem has been offensively, I mean, set
aside for re Seeger, it's been a real struggle for
the main view a Goldie s Garcia, Marcus Simiti. But
you're starting to see those guys in particularly turning around
a little bit. So yes, I believe what's the lead
for the Assenals right now in that is the Division
(07:24):
five games. Sorry, I was traveling all there.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Four and a half because Seattle won last night a half.
Speaker 4 (07:29):
Four and a half is nothing, Guys, if you're the astroge,
you'd rather be up four and a half than Jack
four and a half. Sure, but really they are. I mean,
this thing there's still a long way to go, and
this thing is far from being decided.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
In the wy Robert, let me step out. Fred and
Dana Brown did a hell of a job yesterday because
he didn't mortgage the future to make a desperate move
for this year. Yet they got three good players, as
you had mentioned, and they still got all these top prospects.
Let me move forward to next year, just for the
hell of it. Your thoughts today on what you've seen
from fromber this year and the body of work. Would
(08:03):
you pay him and keep him here next year as
a free agent?
Speaker 4 (08:06):
Yeah? Last time? Well? Am I using my money or
am I using Jim Creen? Well?
Speaker 2 (08:11):
You know what, give me both. Give me what you
think mister Crane will do. And if you had the money,
what would you do?
Speaker 4 (08:17):
If I had the money, I would pay him. I
feel pretty confident in saying Jim Crane and the Astros
are not going to pay bromber Valdez. Romber Valdez will
be a free agent and he will go pitch for
another team. What kind of success he will have, I
don't know, Mia guess is he'll be very good. You
can look at Max Freed's contract. What the Yankees gate
(08:39):
Max Freed? I believe that's two hundred and eighteen million,
And you can ask yourself as Jim, has Jim Crane
ever given a player two hundred and eighteen million.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
I think you've answered the question.
Speaker 4 (08:51):
Ye so, And look, I want to preface this by
saying things change all the time in negotiations. Let bridge it.
It changes. But as we sit right now, from Bert,
I feel confident in saying fromber Valdez will not be
at usman astro here.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
Again. Robert Flora is quite a bit left. And Roberts
got the right idea too.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
If it's somebody else's, you know, who knows, But if
it's yours, yeah, but who of the teams? And and
maybe it is just a team that that did you
look at yesterday and say what are you doing?
Speaker 1 (09:29):
Man?
Speaker 3 (09:30):
Like?
Speaker 1 (09:30):
Are you guys going for this or not?
Speaker 2 (09:34):
Uh?
Speaker 4 (09:35):
I kind of feel like a Cubs maybe I would.
I thought that they would have been a little bit
more aggressive, especially in the starting pitching market. I thought
Sandy aldoncra in addition to being a great fit for
the Aros, I thought he would have been a great fit.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
But just where they're at in the he's got the player.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
Like.
Speaker 4 (09:58):
The price was going to be two reasons. One, he's
a former young win. He gets he's got a very
favorable contract until he's a free agent. So maybe the
price of Toolster was too high, But I thought the
Cubs for me, could have done, could have done a
little bit more.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Robert, we know you got to go. You got about
thirty seconds. But answer this as quick as you can,
because you're involved in this stuff when it comes to
the collective bargaining a couple of years. Wait, are they
going to get a salary cap? Or are we looking
at a work stoppage?
Speaker 4 (10:35):
Those are those are questions well above my pay grade.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
But what ten million a year?
Speaker 4 (10:41):
You are?
Speaker 1 (10:41):
You already make it ten million year? Brother? How could
that be above your pay grade?
Speaker 4 (10:45):
Hey, hey, I'll settle for one.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
There you go one.
Speaker 4 (10:48):
But but I will say this, Uh, there's very smart
people on both sides that are working hard to try
to figure it out. The game is in a great place.
Attendance is up right up, Streaming numbers are up. There's
so many exciting players. We just detailed and talked about
maybe ten to thirteen teams right now that could win
(11:10):
the World Series. So I'm sure that both sides recognize
all that the game has going for it, all the
industry has going for it, and they're going to do
their best and try to avoid all of that.
Speaker 3 (11:22):
Well, Roflow, Now you got to get going man, because
you guys are there at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
But appreciate your time this morning and we'll be watching
great stuff brother, enjoy.
Speaker 4 (11:31):
Thank you, Thank you very much. Guys, have a great weekend.
Speaker 1 (11:34):
There you go, Robert Flores
Honestly with a big sportsman, you know.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
But I'm like, sounds just like a dog, sounds just
like he does on TV in a movie.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
It's pretty cool.
Speaker 3 (00:06):
It me and you here, Yeah, we cano Okay, you
can ask, okay, this's going He's a very busy man,
so you don't want to keep him waiting very long.
He is a Robert Flores MLB Network and a interesting
venue today for MLB Central, the show that he's part
of with d Row, Laurence Shahati and the crew for
MLB Network. Robert Flores joins us flow appreciate it, buddy.
(00:31):
So you're watching yesterday, you guys were doing the show
all those things. As the trade deadline's going along, I mean,
what are your thoughts as you know, you're you're waiting
for the Korea trade, You're waiting for all these other deals.
What are your thoughts as it's all playing.
Speaker 4 (00:46):
Out, we're gonna get either Dylan Sees or Sandy Alcantra.
I did not think that the Korean duel was going
to happen because I just thought it was super complicated,
And turns out money the Twins would would give and
send over to the astros. But that. I'll be damned
they pull.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
It off, Robert, and pull it off at a at
a price that's right, good, gracious to be able to
get him. And just just from your visuals you watch
every single day, how much baseball? What do we expect
to see from Korea? Offensively?
Speaker 4 (01:22):
Yeah, that's the thing. John is like. It's interesting, right
because you know he's had some tough luck kicking injuries, right,
and he'll be the first to tell you, Hey, I
just wasn't able to perform at my best. But look,
you know, and I don't think it should be understated
what it's like to come back to a place that
you're familiar with, where you've had success. And I think
(01:43):
that's going to do wonders for Carlos, and I think
it's going to do wonders for the rest of that clubhouse.
Whether or not Carlos is going to look like he
did in you know, when he left, you know, in
twenty twenty three, I don't know, but I think he
can help them, and I think he can help them
a lot again.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
Robert Florz Mob Network Houston guy joined us here on
the Sean Salisbury Show, and I mean, you know, with
that deal, a lot of you know, what's gone unnoticed
here is being able to pick up the left handed
bat and Jesus Sanchez and then also to utility player
in ramon Arias for some that might not know a
(02:21):
ton about those guys.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
What are the Astros adding well?
Speaker 4 (02:25):
For Jesu Sanchez, I mean, this guy has some prodigious
pop from the left hand side, but it's it's hasn't
been as consistent as he would like or what the
Marlins would like. But I feel pretty confident that the
Astros have the kind of organization where oftentimes guys will
get into their into their building, into their clubhouse, and
(02:46):
they become better. I think that that is that is
the hope, because you don't know what Jordan Alvarez is
going to look like if and when he comes back,
So they need some left handed hitting and they need
said left handed hitting power. Ramon Udias is a guy
that mostly third base, but I was looking at his
(03:07):
numbers and his stat line, he's played a little bit
of second base, so you're covered there. He is an
excellent defender and he can come up to the big
hit every now and then, so I think is the
type of the he's a winning player. It's an under
the radar move. Jesus Sanchez for me could be that
X factor.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
All right, take me back to the All Star break, Robert,
your thoughts on was this a World Series team in
your mind? Then as they sit, injuries, the whole thing,
and now your narrative, well are you are you different?
Is there a major shift in the way you feel
or is it pretty much the same?
Speaker 4 (03:45):
Well, at the All Star Break, I did not think
that they were they were a World Series team because
of all the injuries, like you mentioned. However, you then
add some of those players back into the pole, that's huge.
I think we just have to see what the injured
starters look like once they come back. I want to
(04:07):
know what Arra getting looks like. What is mccullor going
to give you, What is Christian how the air going
to look look like? And what's he goingsey give me?
So I think the potentially there's that word to get
Potentially this is a team capable of a beach none.
But there's still so many question marks because there's still
so many players that.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
Are out and Robert, you know, normally at this time
of year, as we start to head now in the
final fifty games. They went from a marathon to the
eight hundred meter and we're almost to the sprint, right,
the four by one hundred. Well with this and the
Astros and these moves and getting healthy, maybe I'm wrong,
Maybe we get this every year. But there's like a
bunch of teams in the American League that you say
(04:48):
Toronto can win it. Well, the Rangers got great pitching
and they can rake. And then look what Seattle's done
to get power. And oh there's Detroit with their great
pitching staff and they upgraded yesterday. So my point is,
if you're the sixth team in the American League or
the fifth team, you got a legitimate run. So this
is wide open where there are some big powerhouses in
the National League. Hell, team five can win the World
(05:09):
Series or get there. In the American League. Correct, no doubt.
Speaker 4 (05:13):
This is a year. I would say this is a
year where maybe seven to ten, maybe even a little
bit more could win the whole team. As you said,
the Bluegates could win it, The Dodgers certainly could win it,
the Padres, the Philly, the Mets, the Rangers could win it.
All the Mariners could win.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
It, and they all upgraded Robert, Right, all those teams
you just mentioned got better yesterday.
Speaker 4 (05:38):
Yes they did. The Astros did get better as well,
And what are they going to look like once they're
injured players come back. We know that Isak is not
coming back this year. Is Jordan coming back this year?
And if so, what's he gonna look like? What Barragedtti
gonna give the accurate? What Kriston Javier gonna get the actuate.
(05:59):
So there's a lot of still up in the air
with Houston, but you're right there is it's a it's
wide open. I would say the National League is wide open,
but it's tougher and the American League is really wide
open any one of the there's a handful of teams
of the AL that could have win it all again.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
Every single morning you see him on MLB Central with
the crew. They're over at MLB Network. He's Robert Flores
and he joins us here on the Shawn Salisbury Show. Robert,
I mean, you know, talking about the Rangers, I know
that you were high on them coming into the season.
The Mariners too. They both, as we've pointed out, they
both upgraded. Do you think that they added enough to
be able to put a scare into the Astros to
(06:39):
believe that maybe they could overtake them.
Speaker 4 (06:42):
Oh yeah, definitely. The Mariners on paper are significantly better offensives.
Their lineup is deeps. I mean, you add Flare and
you add Jock Layler, that line us becomes very interesting,
very powerful, and very goat the Texas rangeering. I had
them any the division before the season because I love
(07:03):
their pitching. Their problem has been offensively, I mean, set
aside for re Seeger, it's been a real struggle for
the main view a Goldie s Garcia, Marcus Simiti. But
you're starting to see those guys in particularly turning around
a little bit. So yes, I believe what's the lead
for the Assenals right now in that is the Division
(07:24):
five games. Sorry, I was traveling all there.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Four and a half because Seattle won last night a half.
Speaker 4 (07:29):
Four and a half is nothing, Guys, if you're the astroge,
you'd rather be up four and a half than Jack
four and a half. Sure, but really they are. I mean,
this thing there's still a long way to go, and
this thing is far from being decided.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
In the wy Robert, let me step out. Fred and
Dana Brown did a hell of a job yesterday because
he didn't mortgage the future to make a desperate move
for this year. Yet they got three good players, as
you had mentioned, and they still got all these top prospects.
Let me move forward to next year, just for the
hell of it. Your thoughts today on what you've seen
from fromber this year and the body of work. Would
(08:03):
you pay him and keep him here next year as
a free agent?
Speaker 4 (08:06):
Yeah? Last time? Well? Am I using my money or
am I using Jim Creen? Well?
Speaker 2 (08:11):
You know what, give me both. Give me what you
think mister Crane will do. And if you had the money,
what would you do?
Speaker 4 (08:17):
If I had the money, I would pay him. I
feel pretty confident in saying Jim Crane and the Astros
are not going to pay bromber Valdez. Romber Valdez will
be a free agent and he will go pitch for
another team. What kind of success he will have, I
don't know, Mia guess is he'll be very good. You
can look at Max Freed's contract. What the Yankees gate
(08:39):
Max Freed? I believe that's two hundred and eighteen million,
And you can ask yourself as Jim, has Jim Crane
ever given a player two hundred and eighteen million.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
I think you've answered the question.
Speaker 4 (08:51):
Ye so, And look, I want to preface this by
saying things change all the time in negotiations. Let bridge it.
It changes. But as we sit right now, from Bert,
I feel confident in saying fromber Valdez will not be
at usman astro here.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
Again. Robert Flora is quite a bit left. And Roberts
got the right idea too.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
If it's somebody else's, you know, who knows, But if
it's yours, yeah, but who of the teams? And and
maybe it is just a team that that did you
look at yesterday and say what are you doing?
Speaker 1 (09:29):
Man?
Speaker 3 (09:30):
Like?
Speaker 1 (09:30):
Are you guys going for this or not?
Speaker 2 (09:34):
Uh?
Speaker 4 (09:35):
I kind of feel like a Cubs maybe I would.
I thought that they would have been a little bit
more aggressive, especially in the starting pitching market. I thought
Sandy aldoncra in addition to being a great fit for
the Aros, I thought he would have been a great fit.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
But just where they're at in the he's got the player.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
Like.
Speaker 4 (09:58):
The price was going to be two reasons. One, he's
a former young win. He gets he's got a very
favorable contract until he's a free agent. So maybe the
price of Toolster was too high, But I thought the
Cubs for me, could have done, could have done a
little bit more.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Robert, we know you got to go. You got about
thirty seconds. But answer this as quick as you can,
because you're involved in this stuff when it comes to
the collective bargaining a couple of years. Wait, are they
going to get a salary cap? Or are we looking
at a work stoppage?
Speaker 4 (10:35):
Those are those are questions well above my pay grade.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
But what ten million a year?
Speaker 4 (10:41):
You are?
Speaker 1 (10:41):
You already make it ten million year? Brother? How could
that be above your pay grade?
Speaker 4 (10:45):
Hey, hey, I'll settle for one.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
There you go one.
Speaker 4 (10:48):
But but I will say this, Uh, there's very smart
people on both sides that are working hard to try
to figure it out. The game is in a great place.
Attendance is up right up, Streaming numbers are up. There's
so many exciting players. We just detailed and talked about
maybe ten to thirteen teams right now that could win
(11:10):
the World Series. So I'm sure that both sides recognize
all that the game has going for it, all the
industry has going for it, and they're going to do
their best and try to avoid all of that.
Speaker 3 (11:22):
Well, Roflow, Now you got to get going man, because
you guys are there at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
But appreciate your time this morning and we'll be watching
great stuff brother, enjoy.
Speaker 4 (11:31):
Thank you, Thank you very much. Guys, have a great weekend.
Speaker 1 (11:34):
There you go, Robert Flores
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