Pirates reportedly offer Schwarber contract, more rumors on eve of Winter Meetings | Phillies Talk

Pirates reportedly offer Schwarber contract, more rumors on eve of Winter Meetings | Phillies Talk

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And two, it’s the news that the Pirates, yes, the Pittsburgh Pirates have offered Kyle Schubber a 4year deal, most likely exceeding $100 million. I would assume it was, but just your initial takeway, isn’t it? That’s so cute. The Pirates. Seriously. Oh jeez. Was that like a uh hey, we’ll let you be the first ones to say you made me an offer. Good for you guys. Thank you. I don’t I don’t like you and I were in separate rooms and I came walking around the corner. We looked at each other and laughed. Yep. That’s exactly what happened. That’s all that’s all that needs to be said, I think. Yeah. So, yeah, according to Rosenthal made a free agent, uh made a deal for Kouch were a four-year deal. According to people briefed on discussions, the offer most certainly is for more than $100 million. The Pirates still remain a long shot to sign Kilbert who most likely is landing spot still remains with the Philadelphia Phillies as you’ll hear in the podcast. We dive into that. We have Tim Kelly joining us as well. But the Pirates, man, and and maybe they are spenders this year because the lockout is looming. It’s just not for college. That that’s one of those, you know, you go and you look at a BMW for the first time, you say, “Ah, let’s kick the tires and make him an offer, you know, and they go, “That’s cute. Thanks a lot.” You know, come back when you’re serious. Yeah. That’s how I feel. I I I just don’t think that the Pirates are really in play here. I I don’t I don’t think so either. I think the Reds and obviously the Red Sox who are mentioned in the article as well, but I also don’t see the Pirates making this sort of big time spending move. And I don’t know if Kyle Schubber wants to go to Pittsburgh. I think going into his age 34 season, he wants to win another World Series. Yeah, I think so. So, are the Pirates that team? I mean, you have Paul SK other than that. And for how long do you have him? Bingo. And in the article, it mentions that they’ve only offered one contract over $100 million. It’s to Brian Reynolds. So, we’ll see what the Pirates do. But hey, it’s news. It’s cute. It’s cute. It’s cute. Not of the episode. You are listening and or watching to the Philly stock podcast presented by team Toyota. I am Spark Kercher and I’m honored to be John joined by Bob Cooney. Bob, we are here. The winter meetings are here. We are feet boots on the ground. Yeah, we better get some umbrellas up in the air too. Dude, it we got here and all we said we’re like we just need some sun. We got away from cold and crappy Philadelphia right now. the weatherwise and we got down here and immediately it was just rain. Pouring. Pouring. Humid. Yeah. But pouring. Yeah. I don’t think the 30°ree Philadelphiaians are crying for us right now. Not even a little bit. Not even a little bit. But it’s good to be here in Orlando. And to be honest, right here where we are in the Signia Hotel. It is popping already. There is there’s a buzz to be felt already. MLB Network’s got their whole setup. Everyone else from around the country, from around the world is here setting up. So looking forward to it. And it could be a busy week. Last time Sean and I talked, we said that there was a report that it was going to be an extravaganza of signings. Now we sit down here at 7:45 on Sunday and there’s quiet as a mouse. But I don’t think it’s going to be like that to you. I don’t know. I don’t know because it was funny. You and I were driving in the Uber over here and both of us are are, you know, doing some research and stuff and I read a full story that said it’s probably going to be a real quiet week. So, who knows? It’s going to be somewhere in between. It could be a domino effect as you very well know. something may happen tomorrow that you say maybe it’s shorter and something happens tomorrow and then people say okay he’s gone so boom boom boom boom right but you never know in these types of situations I mean how many times have you know you you you you join in to watch a winter meeting and and you don’t think anything and boom or you do think something it’s like crickets so it’ll be interesting we’ll see what happens it will be it’s going to be an intriguing week and uh we actually have a great interview with on Pison’s Tim Kelly coming up here in the middle of the show he was great on his insights but before we get to that I need your three things and obviously the the big one is number one but give me three things to look out for if you’re a Phillies fan on what could happen this week for the Phillies and they’re they’re kind well the first two I think are obvious right Spence I mean you you got Kyle Schwarber uh and JT real Muto I would say I don’t know 80% of the Philly fan base probably thinks they’re both going to be back um you’re going to pay big money for them I mean Schwarber it’s funny you and I were talking about this also somebody put out there oh four years $und00 million for Schubert. No, that’s not even close. You and I threw out numbers. Yeah, we were similar. 4160, maybe 51 180 some, you know, somewhere around there. I think they will. I think Dave Dumbrossski will say, “Look, it has to happen.” John Middleton, I think they’ll agree you got to bring him back. Um, they don’t have any pop after him. They have no And and not that you’re replacing 56 home runs with somebody else saying you hit 56, but look at it. I I I don’t know if if if Bryce Harper’s hitting 30, you know, he might be a 25 to 30 guy now. I don’t know if you’re going to have Alec Bowman. If you do, I don’t know if he’s a 20 home run guy. I mean, you look around it. Is Crawford going to be playing the outfield? Well, he’s a singles hitter. You just don’t have Pop. So, it’s going to be interesting once that happens. Real Mutoo, I’m convinced, is coming back. I I don’t think you have anything else, but you’re throwing down a 35-year-old catcher and he’s out and he’s in great shape. And for the people that don’t know it, I mean, after every game, he goes back and lifts weights after every game. And he is in incredible shape. But, you know, that’s a lot to ask from a guy. And you’re not dhinging them. I mean, you’re So, it’s going to be it’s going to be real interesting what happens. And and as we’ve talked about, Ranger Suarez probably not. Yeah. Probably not even in the mix. It’s going to be tough the for the Phillies to bring back Kyle. And if you’re a listener, you know Sean Kane said that it was 5% for Ranger Suarez to return. I gave it a little bit more than that just because I think the bond that Ranger Suarez has with the Phillies organization, they think very highly of him. I think Ranger thinks obviously very highly of the Phillies, but then it comes down to do the Phillies need Ranger more or does Ranger need the Phillies more? And that’s really what it comes down to. I could see him signing this week and maybe being up. We saw Dylan CE go to the Blue Jays for seven years, 22 million. Insane. Yeah. I don’t think Ranger’s going to get that much. No, but I don’t know if anybody’s going to get that. Exactly. But since CE is kind of the first domino to fall, do you think Ranger has an opportunity to get signed this week? Um, sure. Opportunity. Absolutely. You know, there’s a couple things I think about the Ranger Suarez thing. Like it’s kind of like casually he’s going away, right? We’re all saying, “Oh, he’s probably not going to be back. Goodbye.” And everybody in Philly loves him and all that. Last year and and we know Rangers injury history. I wish he would have come in last year in phenomenal shape, you know, and nothing against Ranger Scars, but we’ve all seen him around like out of uniform in the locker room, you know, it’s and pitchers aren’t generally in phenomenal shape. They play once every 5 days, whatever. But I just wish because of the injury history, like when he came in last season, it was like, “Oh, look at him. It’s a contract year. Look at him. He took care of, you know, so you didn’t see that. But um the velocity’s down. There’s maybe some old age stuff creeping in, battling old injuries like you mentioned. Yeah. So, he’s probably going to go away quietly and it’s kind of a shame, but I think he could have avoided it maybe a little more. I think so. We saw Christopher Sanchez come in over the last really three seasons and bulk up to become a Sai Young pitcher. That’s a great point. We didn’t really see Ranger kind of commit to that, but maybe that’s just his demeanor. We’ve seen him kind of be that calm, cool, collective guy on the mound. Maybe that’s just his demeanor. Who knows? And it could be and he’s had a wonderful career with it. Do the injuries lead to something like that. I don’t know. But you know, we’ve all been around athletes all our lives. Like, you know, when a guy’s getting to a certain point, they try to that point from coming. I’m not saying Rangers lazy or didn’t do that. But there wasn’t stuff that I noticed. It was like, oo, look at him contract here. Oh, he came in at 185 pounds, not the 210. You know, something like that. Yeah, exactly. Um, and now, and just to pivot real quick, the trade market, who knows what’s going to happen. I feel like everyone’s kind of getting feelers. This is the week to get feelers, but when it comes to a guy like Nick Castanos, everyone has been saying there’s a more probable chance that he’s not on this team than there is in 26. Funny article came out today. I guess he was on MLB Hot Sto on Friday morning. He kind of came out and said, “Really, it doesn’t really matter where I end up. Who whatever is going to happen is going to happen.” But then he was asked about maybe playing a different position like first base. Do you think that’s kind of an indication that teams are talking to Nick as he’s kind of come out and said like, “Yeah, I can play first base. I can play anywhere.” Is that kind of the indication of like, “Hey, there’s trade talks happening.” Or is Yeah. Or is it a case where uh oh, does anybody want me? I got to let them know I can play first. Good athlete. And he does put in the work. You know, we saw it. He’s he’s out there every day practicing his art. He and he said it well in that interview. He goes, “Do I get to every ball?” No, I don’t get to the balls that other people, but the ones I get to, I catch. Some big catches in the playoffs. People shove it off and go, “Yeah, how many balls do you really get to?” But I I think it’s smart on him saying like, “I’ll do anything anybody wants to be out there.” Um he kind of it appeared to me that he kind of ostracized himself from teammates when the when the Jeff Pass story came out and he decided to comment on it. Um there was just little things looking around the locker room that it it seemed like, you know, some people didn’t like that. um you know so um his time I guess kind of played out here. Um we’ll see where he goes. I I if Castianos could have been that 280 and I always looked for that 60 mark um that that’s the addition of doubles and home runs from him whether it’s 25 and 35 whatever and he just seems to be going in the opposite direction with that stuff. That hit 260 last season just wasn’t the season that we expected from Nick Castanos. I think whatever happened in Miami with him and Rob Thompson, I think that kind of flushed its way out. Yeah. Flush good way to the nice way to put it. That’s right. But um it it will and best of luck to Nick. But if he does come back, who knows? We’ll see. But this week is really when I think some feelers will get tested out. Remember last season at the winter meetings in Dallas last season, he came out and said, you know, that’s when he represented himself and he said, “Hey, that’s great because Dave has to tell me what’s happening.” And we talked to Mr. Spring Training. He said during the winter meetings Dave called him and said, “Hey, we are not shapping you. You don’t have to worry about that.” Whatever whatever all those rumors were swirling, never happened. So, we’ll see what happens this week here down in Orlando. Going back to college, obviously, it’s the big talking points really all we’ve had the chance to talk about over the last few months. Um, you were in Cincinnati when they kind of rolled out the red carpet for you. What was that like there? one and two, are the Reds your biggest team to worry about? Sentimentally, probably. Sure. You know, and and a lot of people have said that who doesn’t want to go back to for the team that they rooted for? But I will say this, when the Phillies lost to the Dodgers in Los Angeles, that locker room was different to me, and I’ve been around sports a long time, as you know. I’ve been in a lot of locker rooms where it was the last game of the season, whether it was tremendous disappointment or just an end of a season. That was different. M I mean, of course, they were crushed losing to the Dodgers, but it was it reminded me of high school and college when seniors played their last game and realize, “Oh my god, it’s all over.” And I’ve been in those locker rooms many times. And I was one of those guys. But the the the endness of it really hits players. And that’s what I was feeling in there and from everyone from Schwarber, from real Muto. And I was like I was thinking in my head, wow, do they know more than we know? Do they know that this is it or the possibility of this is it? So fans certainly think so. Yeah. And okay, so say they they they bring back Schwarber, they bring back real Muto. Well, you’re going to get a lot of oh my god, they’re running it back again. I my thing is, and you and I have talked about this, you know, just among ourselves. I They bring back Schwarber. Great. I I’m saying to just to change things and and whatever, I’m getting somebody at the top of that order. You’re going to have Turner, you’re going to have Harper, somebody at that maybe two-hole, three-hole, whatever that just is a pain in the ass that gets on base all the time, that walks, that that gets base hits a lot. And then I would put Schwarber at four because I mean, if you honestly look at his number, that’s where he belongs. Even though the career’s been great and last season was great at number two, I would throw him at four and and try to get a a base hit guy even though we know Turner won the batting title. Just that kind of guy, and then go from there. And you threw in a name when we were talking about this. Who was that name? Heras. Yeah. Oh, yeah. That was like two years ago. I said it when I was Yeah. When I was on the radio, I was like, I I think this team needs a This is showing my age, a Pete Rose type from 1980. A guy that comes in and just gets on base and makes the Mike Schmidz and the Greg Luzinskis and the power guys better. I I just think a a base hitting two-hole, three hole hitter, whatever it is, cuz you’re going to have Turn Turner and Harper there. I just think that makes it so much. And then boom, there’s Schwarber at four. Bingo. And and we’re going to get Tim Kelly’s comments on this, but before we get to that interview, I’ll ask you the same question we asked Tim. Is there a name on the trademark? Because there really isn’t that many right-handed bats on the market. Yeah. But is there a name that could be that Pete Rose type of guy? Sean Kane mentioned on the last podcast obviously could tell Marte is that guy, but is is there a name out there that you would like to see? Yeah, Marte, if you could move him to another spot or like like you can’t move this to to short. No, I mean you can’t you can’t I mean are you going to overthink it and say well we’ll put Trey Turner at third and then deal Alec Bow and then you go you know Marte and Scott and Turner. I don’t know. Marte is the name that I would love to see in a Phillies uniform. But does he fit? I I don’t know. And what you’re going to have to give up is astronomical. Yeah. and what you give up probably I I would assume that would be one of them and then you know you’re gonna have to dip you’re going to have to dip in there. So, um, you know, the painter thing, how against they are of getting rid of him, that interests me. Yeah. Especially after, now I do agree with the Phillies organization and Dave Dumbrosski has said it. Last year was his first year back from Tommy John. The second year is the year when guys come back from Tommy John that you really see and say, “Oh, okay. They’re back.” So, this year is huge. Yep. If it’s not there, yeah, then you’re going to say, “Oh, they should have traded him when they had the chance.” But I understand what they’re thinking. And this is the We saw the velocity come back from Andrew Painter, but it’s really the command that he struggled with. And maybe that is that’s that first year coming back off Tommy John. We’ve seen many pitchers bingo have trouble with the command. The velocity is there, right? This year is a huge year for Andrew Painter and I’m really excited to see him maybe in April. Yeah. Uh, maybe. Yeah, maybe. Maybe. But, um, starting pitching is another thing. Do you go out and try to get another starting pitcher? you know, you’re probably going to lose Suarez. I mean, is it enough to have Painter be coming up and and what you have there? Because I I really do like their starting pitching and hopefully Zach Wheeler can come back. Any any staff that you can start with with Sanchez, Wheeler Sanchez and Lazardo because I think Lazard is going to be better this year even than he was last year. A career year, too. Yeah. And it it was really interesting to me, Spence, when we talked to him after games, he really thinks the games out, you know, he’s really on top and and it hurt him sometimes. you know, he would throw a walk here and there and it would it would throw him off for two or three hitters. He realizes that and he knows he has to work on that. So, I think you’re going to get an even better version of Lazardo this year. So, they’re their starting pitching is interesting to say the least because obviously you still have Aaron, you still have Taiwan Walker. Exactly. Yeah. Do you go and it was funny, we me and Sean on the last few pods, I threw out the name of Sandy Alcantara. Yeah. Yeah. Why not? Why not go out? Why not indeed? And that’s the thing. If you’re the Marlins, I’m sure you’re going to be looking for a lot, but maybe not as much as a Catel Marte. Maybe not as much as even like a Luis Robert Jr. that’s out there as well. Who knows? But the Phillies, can you imagine Sandy if you if you get him here, he’ll he’ll pick up more wins during the season because he always lost to the Phillies. That’s a great point. That’s a great point. And so I would love to see that, you know, and I’m I’m kind of I keep going back and forth in my head, Spence. I think there’s something there that they’re going to do and we’re going to go, “Oh, wow. There it is.” We’re like, you know, I really do. And I don’t know why because our focus I don’t know if it’s going to be this week, but our focus has so much been on the top two stories that we’ve talked about. I just I don’t know. I think Dave Derowski is going to do something makes us all go, oh, whether agree or disagree, oh yeah, even the signing of Max Kepler last season, another one that was kind of like, oh, okay. And it didn’t really work out in the beginning of the season and then it turned down a little bit towards the end of the season. It did. But there could be a move like that out with the Phillies there, especially during this week. All right, quick quick ad break and on the other side of the break, Tim Kelly joins us from on patteradisonson.com to discuss what could be an eventful week here at the winter meetings. Sean Kane, the holidays are right around the corner. Do you need some holiday gift inspiration? Who doesn’t? Absolutely. Well, escape the cold and catch the Phillies in Clear Water with NBC Sports Philadelphia and Philly Sports Trips. We’re teaming up to bring fans the most unforgettable Philly spring training experience yet. This trip includes Philly’s game tickets, beachfront accommodations, roundtrip travel, all inclusive tailgates, and much more. Plus, appearances from Larry Boa, Charlie Manuel, and NBC Sports Philadelphia’s own Ben Davis. Wow. Can you imagine Benny down there with the with the fellas? That’s a party. Charlie, Larry, and Ben down there. I mean, sign me up. What a It looks like an awesome trip. You and I will be down there. Book your trip today at philliesportsstrips.com. All right, Bob and I are now joined by Tim Kelly of An Patterson and Tim, we’re down here in the winter meetings down Orlando. Give me your sense of what’s going to happen here. Obviously Ky probably the first big domino to fall, but looking past that, is there anything on your radar right now that could surprise some Phillies fans? Well, there were a few reports uh re Friday, I believe it was, that Ranger Suarez could potentially be the next pitcher to come off the the board, which did surprise me. I thought he’d be somebody that lingers a little longer. Uh I don’t think Suarez in all likelihood is going to come back to the Phillies, but I I am interested to see where he goes, specifically if it’s the Mets, what kind of the the reaction would be because it would be a lot like when Jason Worth left for the Nationals, a situation where people get mad when you go to the division rival, but it doesn’t seem like the Phillies are making a huge effort to retain him. And if the Mets put together the best offer, it’s a team that can contend, I wouldn’t blame him. So beyond Schwarber, that’s kind of what I’m looking at this week. It’s funny you bring that up on the last pod. Sean Ken and I debated too. If Kyle Schwber ends up with the Mets and his first game back at Citizens Bank Park, is there going to be booze if Rangers swore it? Yeah, I think they’re probably I don’t know as much with Ranger because the Phillies aren’t making a huge effort to resign him. If the Phillies make like a really good offer to Kyle Schwber and the Mets beat it and Shoreber goes to the Mets, even if most people would probably just take the biggest offer, there will be people that hold that against him seeing him in a Mets uniform for sure. Do you think if Schwarber gets signed by somebody else and say it happens quickly, Tim, right? Beginning of this week, is there a push by the Phillies then maybe, hey, Ranger, come on, come and talk to us now. We have more money to play with. Do you think maybe that’s happens? I doubt it just because they they have five pitchers under contract and you have uh Andrew Painter who’s likely going to make his debut some point early in the season. And for as much as Ranger brings to the table, he is a bit of a risky long-term investment. If you’re talking five or six years, he’s been on the IIL three times in the last four years with a back injury. The velocity, even though he’s not a high velocity pitcher, has gone down relatively noticeably. So, I I think it becomes more how do you pivot? What is do you try and find another DH type or do you reallocate that money and go after Kyle Tucker or someone of that ilk? Can you imagine Kyle Tucker in I would like Well, yeah, I’d like to imagine that. I mean, you know, I I So, the probability, you know, we all talk Schwarber, we all talk real Mutoo. Probability that they’re back in your mind. I would say probably like 75% with Schwarber and with Real Mut, I’d say even higher than that. And I definitely think it can be like Schwarber to me. You almost need to bring back JT. I get that there’s so few catchers available, but this is somebody that’s going to be 35, had a 700 OPS last year. Some of the defensive numbers have gone down. I I would let that market play out a little bit more, but I I do anticipate that they’ll both be back when push comes to shove. It’s funny, Sean, our other co-host, also said 5% for Ranger returning, and my exact response to that was, “Damn.” um percentage of Ranger for you? Yeah. Returning? I would say about 5%. Like if he linger lingers on the market and it’s February and things maybe haven’t gone how the Phillies anticipated and his price is a little bit lower, then never say never. But I I just I kind of operated once they traded for Jesus Lazardo. That was kind of the Ranger replacement in my mind. So I I think the most likely scenario is Rangers on another team next year. And for the Philly sake, it would be much better if he’s on the Angels than if he’s on the Mets. Yeah, if Schwarber doesn’t come back to the Phillies, where’s your pop come from? That’s a great I I don’t know that there is a way to replace the 56 home runs. Now, he probably isn’t going to hit 56 home runs again next year. The natural way to me would be to sign Pete Alonzo. It’s just I I I have such a difficult time cuz that looks like what you wanted to say. Like Kyle Schwarber is has been a great Philly, but he’s been on other teams. So, if he went to the Mets, like it would take a little while to get used. Pete Alonzo has been a met. Like he feels like someone that should spend his whole career with the Mets and I think he has been underrated by the across the league. He didn’t get a great deal last off seasonason and there’s some murmurss early on this offseason that he may not. And I don’t really get it. He’s two years younger than Kyle Schwarber. He’s an elite power hitter. He has to be a DH at this point. So be it. That would be where I would pivot to if Schwber leaves. But it it definitely is a weird situation thinking about Pete Alonzo with the Phillies. Imagine that like standing ovation on opening day instead of the booze. It would be the standing ovation for Petonto. Something that we can’t really see. Now, right before we started too, I heard you talking kind of some chatter. What’s a team to look out for? I there’s an obvious answer, but a team that could swoop in and kind of make a run at Kyber in your opinion. Well, I definitely think it’s the Reds. And the the Reds are interesting because certainly teams like the Mets and Red Sox, they can make really really competitive offers, but the Phillies can come through and make it competitive enough or trump it even that Kyle Schwbert picks them. With the Reds, I just think it’s a I have skepticism that they would ultimately make the investment, but if they get close, it’s the team Kyle Shor grew up rooting for. And I get some of the stuff being put out now is to try and drive the price up probably from the Phillies, but there is something to be said for the team you envisioned yourself on as a kid, like getting the chance to play for them. And uh the Reds are like good enough that Kyle Schubbert could talk himself into I can have the best of both worlds here. So I think that’s the team that as much as they’re not a usual suspect would worry me the most if I’m the Phillies. We don’t know how much is going to play out this week obviously, but if you had to make your best guess of what minor leaguer is going to be starting for the Phillies next year, who would it be, Tim? Or or it could be nobody. Well, I think Justin Crawford. I It’s just whether that’s in center or left field. Um, Andrew Painter in some form in April. I don’t know if it’s the first time through the rotation, but I would say relatively early Andrew Painter is. And then you get into like the Phillies. Dave Dumbrossski spoke extremely highly of Otto Kemp in the year- end press conference. Was that just kind of bluffing in a way or do they really believe Otto Kemp could play third base every day if they trade Alec Bow? So th those are the guys I’m looking at. And then obviously not the beginning of the season, but who knows if Aiden Miller comes into play at some point next season. And Auto Kemp, it’s funny. We talk around the league and you hear it not really the best third baseman, but the way his production was, especially towards the end of the season last year, it’s hard to argue if you had auto camp as starting in left, starting at third. Yeah, I I felt like he in left field held his own even though third was his natural position. It was a struggle there. So, it was like what Alec Bone looked like when he came up. So, I get moving on from Bone potentially, but that would not be my solution at third base. But if he’s a if the outfield market doesn’t go how you want, you bring back Shore, you bring back Real Mudo and you have limited resources, I can see him as part of a platoon in the outfield somewhere. And I just think in general, I know people don’t love platoon, but it’s something you might have to wrap your head around. If Shorbber and Real Mudo are back, they’re going to have to make some sacrifices at other spots on the roster. So many people have talked about Harrison Bader and oh, you got to bring him back because of what he did when he was here, which was great. But one of the Phillies organization’s biggest phrase to him and we’ve been around it all year long all of us is back of the baseball card. What Harrison Bader did here in the few months that he was here that wasn’t the back of his baseball card. Delusional for people to expect that and and I don’t think he’s coming back. Any chance, do you think or he may fall to them? No, I think there’s a chance because some of the other teams that we like the Rangers traded for Brandon NMO. some of the other teams we thought maybe could be in on them. At the same time, like the Mets now need an outfielder. Everybody needs a I don’t remember a time in baseball where there’s so few quality right-handed hitters, especially in the outfield available. So, I I think there’s a chance he comes back. It it really speaks to how do the Phillies feel about Justin Crawford? Do they think he’s a center fielder or do they think he’s not? And what if they don’t sign him, where is the right-handed power or pop or any production coming from? Ralire is a free agent. Casianos almost certainly isn’t going to be back. You you don’t know what’s happening with Alec Boom. So, it was already too left-handed of a team. You’re going to have to have righties at at some spot in the the lineup. So, I I think there’s a chance. I I agree with you on the baseball card thing, but there’s just so few impact center fielders that he was always an excellent defender. Yeah. Um the thing I worry about with him though is how many I think he can play center field still really good, but does the body start to break down? We saw the hamstring injury. I thought he brought like an edge to the Phillies though when he got acquired. And the one thing that I’m kind of noticing this off seasonason, Casianos brought an edge. Maybe too much at times, but he brought an edge. Strong brought an edge. Like you’re talking about a lot of those guys potentially not being here next season. So, I’d be careful how many of them you don’t bring back. Uh Bader’s interesting to me though, for sure. Now, and you mentioned there there really isn’t for the first time, like you said, in a long time, at least as long as I can remember, there isn’t too many right-handed bats on the market. However, on the trade market, there is some there’s some names that have been thrown out there. Give me one trade that you would like to see the Phillies make that would improve them. Is Alec Bowman in that trade package? Heck, is Bryson Scott in that trade package? And prospects galore. I don’t know that there’s like Taylor Ward was the one that lots of people talked about. I I liked Joe Adele, but now that they traded Taylor Ward, they’re not going to trade Adele. So, I don’t know that there is a perfect one. Catel Marte would be great, but like and he’s a switch hitter, but uh the Phillies really don’t match up at all. The Diamondbacks are desperate for pitching and the Phillies, unless you’re trading Andrew Panner, which they’re have shown no inclination to do, I just don’t think they match up there. So, they they’re going to have to get creative and kind of find a guy that in many senses like what Schwarber was a few years ago where you paid him to be like a really good player and he ended up being great. Kind of find another guy like that. Yeah. What’s taken so long with hiring a bench coach? Do you think something was there with Mattingly and he just said wait a little bit? Yeah. I mean, if if I had to connect the dots, I mean, he’s about to find out imminently whether he’s going into the Hall of Fame or not. That might might have been his bigger priority. But yeah, I mean, I would think he’s the guy that they’re they’re waiting on. I it will be interesting when Rob and Dave Dumbrosski talk this week to kind of see where that’s at and figure out is there a kind of a date that they’ve given him? Like I guess you don’t really like the bench coach you don’t really need in place this. It doesn’t matter if you hire the bench coach now. Exactly. Right. As long as he’s in place by spring training. It’s not like Don Manningly is like new to the job. But if if he ultimately decides not to do it, then you need to find another possibility. So, uh I I would imagine that has to be coming to a head pretty soon. I feel like for many Phillies fans, that’s kind of been the one thing swept under the radar this offseason is the bench coach, which is a very important position for this team. and they’re looking for a former MLB manager. It sounds like especially when they came out in all honesty and said right away that this is what we’re going to do and that was what was that dumbass year end right and uh like okay I thought it was imminent like when we left there that day I thought it was imminent and then it’s just drug going drug and maybe it is the hall of fame thing I don’t know well and it’s like to a degree you had to wait for some managerial seats to fill up but that those are long since filled up and really the a lot of the last ones lingering you’re not talking about the same type of candidates that the Phillies would be looking at for bench coach. So, it it feels like they’re waiting on him probably. All right, last question. Tim, give me something besides Ky Schubber and JT Romeo and maybe even Rangers words. Give me something the Phillies do this week in your opinion. I mean, I I still think they need to add another starting pitcher of some kind. I don’t think it’s going to be a huge addition, but and I don’t know if it’ll come this week, but uh this is about the time they signed Joe Ross last year. Like, is there a move like that where you sign like a swing guy? Yeah. I’m decent. Um, yeah. Do do you sign a guy that can be a starter, can be a reliever, you give yourself a little flexibility if Painter’s not ready to begin the season in in the majors, that type of thing. So, I guess a lower radar move, but really it does seem like the world is revolving around Schwarber and Real Mudo right now. And I would imagine Schwberg gets done one way or another this week. and can’t seem it doesn’t seem like JT would be that far behind that. But until those two are settled, that’s kind of uh holding everything else up, I would think. Busy week. Busy week. Busy. It’s always good to have Tim around. Always always good to have Tim around. Check Tim Kelly’s work on onpatterisonson.com. Tim, thanks for your time. Thanks. Appreciate it. You’re the man. Welcome back to Phillies Talk presented by Team Toyota. Bob Kuni, Spencer Mercher here down said live. We’re not live. Thank goodness. Um down here at the winter meeting. Exactly. Exactly. A long day, man. I’m I’m pretty wiped, but uh look forward to these daily podcasts with me and Bob. Sean Keane will join us throughout the week as well. Uh hopefully there’s some news to report. I’m sure there will be. Now, we mentioned Kyber. You can’t say enough or you can’t really talk about him enough because really he is the first big domino that’s expected to fall. Yeah. But you still have guys like Cody Bellinger, Kyle Tucker, and a guy like Alex Bregman. Now, if the Phillies don’t end up with Kyle Schubbert, how fast and how hard do you think that this team would go after Alex Bregman? It would depend on Alex trade. Absolutely it would. But would you if you were in that front office? Bregman excites me a lot. Yeah, Alex Bregman excites me a lot. Uh Cody Bellinger I I I like an awful lot. And I’ll tell you what, I’m okay with Alec Bow at third base if that’s big. You’re Yeah. if you’re getting the pop and everything. Like to me, he’s improved tremendously as a third baseman, as a defensive third baseman. Yeah, he’s a 280 hitter, hopefully 280, 290. He did knock in 99 runs one year. Um maybe he’s an 80 85 RBI, like consistently RBI guy. I’m okay with that. If you build more pop around the lineup, uh I don’t know if you can do that. If if you if you can’t, man, a Bregman at third. Oh, love that. Love Cody Bellinger. Cody Bellinger in the outfield. Um that would be a really nice defensive outfield that you could put together if you’re not, you know, trading certain people away. Um yeah, Tucker. Tucker’s, you know, on a lot of the top of a lot of people’s list for a lot of money. Yeah. 300 plus million dollar contract looking for, you know, I used to work with people that always say, “What do we care? It’s not our money.” That’s a great point. But it affects everything else you do, obviously, you got to watch out for. So, uh I I don’t I hope some of that stuff falls this week. So, we have a chance to write about it, talk about it, and everything. All that. Yeah. Exactly. And we mentioned the trade targets and I asked him and really Catel Marte is the name out there. But a guy like Catel or excuse me, Luis Robert Jr. who’s been in these trade talks for years now, it’s been almost three years of him being talked about in the winter meetings in the offseason at the trade deadline. Does that name excite you enough to really commit to it? Especially if you’re a Phillies fan or the Phillies brats. So I’m a little biased here and I’ll tell you why. We were in Milwaukee last year at the trade deadline and Robert’s name obviously was coming up swirling and he he he made like three lazy plays in the series didn’t run out something uh went half ass on a on a on a like a line drive or whatever and it was like h do you really want that in Philly? Philly doesn’t Philly doesn’t pay up, you know. They don’t play that way. No, they don’t fans. No. Do you think that’s a Chicago thing with not too many fans? Yeah. Yeah. Did I What did I say? I said Milwaukee. I meant Chicago. Same thing. Yeah. I I don’t I don’t know. But that that doesn’t fly. And you know, Dave Dumbowski and and and you know, those guys are fully aware of that. Um and they were there. They were all there. Matting Lee was there and Dumbrowski and they were sitting in a in a suite next to us and you watch that and you came out of that series going well he doesn’t go hard all the time and you wonder if that sticks in the back of their minds or not you know interesting it’s a name the bat would be awesome there’s your power especially from the right side but like you said I don’t think those lazy type plays which we’ve seen him do over the last few seasons would not fly here in Philadelphia come out I mean they heck they booed Max last season when he was really struggling and he was still playing well in the outfield at least. Yeah. Um, on the last podcast too, I mentioned I think this week if they really want if even if Kyle and JT don’t happen this week, I think a successful week would be obviously a big trade would be awesome. But I think if you go get a guy like Pete Fairbanks, if you go get a guy like Tyler Rogers, if you go get a guy like Robert SW or heck even Edwin Diaz, if you get somebody to be that setup man for Jan Ron next season and maybe beyond, that’s high up in my priority list. What about you? Diaz is an interesting name and and another one that if he comes to Philadelphia, is he getting that standing ovation or what are you doing bringing a Mets guy in here? Could be no horns. Imagine the trumpets mixed in the entrance right after that. Oh, no. I I think the trumpets Yeah, trumpets have to go away until welld deserved. But, um, you’re right. They did they do need a bridge now with the talk of Stum and is there something going on that, you know, there there might be a trade partner for him? Stum’s numbers, they were they were good. Um, I I never had as much confidence as Rob Thompson did in him. Like, he would come into games and I’d be like, but his numbers were way better than my thought process. So, and and where’s Kirking going to be? where’s he gonna be? And hopefully he blows that thing off. We all make stupid decisions in life and that’s just what it was in instance. Um he’s got nasty stuff, but he’s got to make sure he keeps on top. That’s another guy I’d love to see come in and go, “Whoa, look at him. He’s in really good shape.” And the arm’s really ready to go, you know? So, it’s make or break time for a lot of guys here. And and I agree with you, though. The bridge has to be built to get to Duron, especially if you do end up trading that strong. name have been has been brought up in trade talks recently. So is Brandon Marsh. We’ll see what happens whether this week or beyond. But say you do deal Matt Stum, hopefully you get something in return from that no matter where he goes. But also I think that does open the door for a guy like Pete Fairbank. I would love Pete Fairbanks coming off a great season with the Rays and we even mentioned he’s got some of the best sound bites in baseball, too. So it’ be always fun with the Philadelphia media. Well, hey, there’s day one. Day one in the books in the winter meetings here down in Orlando, Florida. Hopefully the weather weather a little bit nicer tomorrow. The weather the weather better. It’s been a long day. It’s been a long day. Um but hopefully the weather does improve. It doesn’t look too great for tomorrow. Um but hopefully the stove gets a little hotter here in the next 24 to 48 hours. So we have everything covered. If anything breaks, keep an eye out for us. We also have a one-on-one interview with Dave Dumbrosski tomorrow, Rob Thompson on Tuesday, and Preston Maddenley on Wednesday. that’ll be ingested into the podcast here so you can hear what they have to say. If not, check out everything on NBCports Philadelphia.com and on NBC Sports Philadelphia. Bob Cooney, thank you, brother. I appreciate you. Uh we will talk to you guys tomorrow hopefully with some breaking news. But other than that, enjoy your Sunday and uh we’ll talk to you then.

The Phillies Talk crew is down in Orlando at the MLB Winter Meetings! Bob Cooney and Spencer McKercher have the latest rumors and news from the night before the meetings begin. #Phillies

0:00 – Pirates reportedly offer Kyle Schwarber a contract
3:26 – Main priority for Phillies this week
18:40 – Tim Kelly from On Pattison joins the show
31:27 – Other moves that could happen at the Winter Meetings

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