Kyle Tucker Sweepstakes, Skubal Trade Buzz, Bichette Updates | Insider Notebook with Jon Heyman

What is discussed, and when

1. 0:00 – 5:00: Dodgers, Eric Bellinger, Kyle Tucker, Lori Bregman
2. 5:00 – 10:00: Lori Bregman, Ranger Suarez, Eric Bellinger, Scooble
3. 10:00 – 15:00: Dodgers, Scooble, Eric Bellinger
4. 15:00 – 20:00: Dodgers, Eric Bellinger, Lori Bregman
5. 20:00 – 25:00: Dodgers, Ranger Suarez
6. 25:00 – 30:00: Eric Bellinger, Dodgers, Kyle Tucker, Lori Bregman

Notable quotes from "Kyle Tucker Sweepstakes, Skubal Trade Buzz, Bichette Updates | Insider Notebook with Jon Heyman"

• All right, we just had a deal, R. We're going to talk about Ranger Suarez in a little while. Ranger Suarez to the Red Sox, but we're going to start with Kyle Tucker, the number one free agent. And what is going on with him right now? We.

  about Ranger Suarez · at 0:08

• Down and make sure to get them all. But certainly the other two teams appear to be the Jays and the Dodgers. I don't think anyone else is going to get him. I hear the Yankees are on the periphery.

  about Dodgers · at 1:02

• We thought Bregman to Boston looked likely. Didn't come to fruition. Tucker to the Dodgers. Short deal. Hype.

  about Lori Bregman · at 2:40

• Bregman. Scooball and Peralt to the latest. right now, everybody thinks that Scooble's going to cost a ton. And he should cost a ton. He is the best pitcher in baseball.…

  about Scooble · at 9:23

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

• Eric Bellinger — Person · 11 mentions · first at 1:36
  At $50 million. All right. what's next for the Red Sox? I'm going to get to that in a little while. Bellinger and the Yankees, we're going to get to that in a while. what's the…
• Lori Bregman — Person · 7 mentions · first at 2:40
• Ranger Suarez — Person · 5 mentions · first at 0:10
• Kyle Tucker — Person · 3 mentions · first at 0:14
  Going to talk about Ranger Suarez in a little while. Ranger Suarez to the Red Sox, but we're going to start with Kyle Tucker, the number one free agent. And what is going on…
• Scooble — Person · 3 mentions · first at 9:28
• Bo Bichette — Person · 3 mentions
• Framber Valdez — Person · 3 mentions

Companies & orgs

• Dodgers — Company · 11 mentions · first at 1:06
• Mets — Company · 5 mentions
• Cubs — Company · 4 mentions

Full transcript with timestamps

0:08 All right, we just had a deal, R. We're going to talk about Ranger Suarez in a little while. Ranger Suarez to the Red Sox, but we're going to start with Kyle Tucker, the number one free agent. And what is going on with him right now? We know the Mets have made a $50 million a year offer. Don't know how many years exactly other than it's a short-term offer. Probably three years, maybe four years. I assume that's shortterm. Anything beyond that would not counted short term. So Mets are obviously giving it a go. I've suggested maybe not the best fit for the Mets. Great player.

0:41 Absolutely. I mean, one of five guys with a four plus war over the last five years. Um, you know, so obviously he's a great player, but they already have a left-handed hitting right fielder who is making $50 million. So, it'll be the only team who's spending a hundred million on one team. All right, I'm going to take some uh chats uh and that in a second. I'm going to write them down and make sure to get them all. But certainly the other two teams appear to be the Jays and the Dodgers. I don't think anyone else is going to get him. I hear the Yankees are on the periphery.

1:11 When I'm told some teams on the periphery, that means they are not getting him. So, Yankees are a long shot. Certainly should be the Jays who've been in there for two months. Dodgers are always lurking uh around the hoop as they say, looking for a rebound. Might get them. Obviously, it worked with Diaz and the Mets, who we said were at $50 million. All right. Uh what's next for the Red Sox? I'm going to get to that in a little while. Bellinger and the Yankees, we're going to get to that in a while. Uh what's the news on Kyle Tucker and the Mets? I'm going to say this. I I think it's possible that a deal could go down sometime this week on Kyle Tucker. Certainly, if a $50 million offer is out there, either he's got to take that offer or find something better and quick, uh, that's a pretty good offer. So, I mean, obviously, it would help the Mets immensely. The fans are very excited about it. I just think it's

2:03 kind of a repeat of what they have. Wouldn't they have been better with just Alonzo and Diaz at 51 million a year instead of Tucker for 50? Obviously, he's a great player. Obviously, it helps the Mets. And we're going to talk about teams trying to avoid disaster. The Mets might make an appearance there. All right, very good. Uh, thank you very much for the nice compliment. I appreciate that, Dawn. Uh, Yankee Yankees going to feel like getting anyone. Yeah, eventually they will, whether it's Bellinger or somebody else.

2:32 And I will say this, and we're going to get to Suarez in a second. Uh, Bette to the Phillies. I mean, that's the one that looks likely, but you never know. We thought Bregman to Boston looked likely. Didn't come to fruition. Uh, Tucker to the Dodgers. Short deal. Hype. Look, a guy is not going to turn down the Dodgers easily. If the Dodgers are in there at a competitive offer, not we can't be surprised if he picks LA. We really can't. I feel at this moment, if I were going to pick an order, I'm going to say Mets because I know they've got a $50 million a year offer out there. I'll say Dodgers next, although they seem to be in on Bellinger, too. May take a rebound over there with Bellinger. So, uh, and then I would say Jay's third. I mean, the only reason I'm saying Jay's third, even they got the long-term deal.

3:14 It's been going on two months. If he really wanted to go to the Jays, wouldn't he have done it? I just supposition. I don't know. Giants and her. I saw that report from Jeff Passen. Absolute possibility. I think the Cubs will probably stick with her. They're going to hear from their players. Nobody wants her to go. If you're a Chicago Cub player, I got a text from a Cubs player. You can't trade him. He's the lifeblood of the team. So, I I think that it's not that likely he's going to get traded, but he might. From to the Mets, question mark. Well, they're really going to throw blow through the budget if they get frumber, too. Uh, we shall see about that. Right now, we don't know what's going to happen with Framber. Uh, we really don't. Uh, he's an outstanding pitcher. Their comp was Max Freed. I get it. Looking at the stats, they're very very close. I I don't blame them at all.

3:59 Right now, he doesn't have a job. I I you know, that's that's obvious. Uh, Socks out on Bette after Suarez. I I think it's unlikely at this point. I I think that they will uh probably get another infielder, probably a right-handed bat. Could be by trade. Um, we'll see. I'm going to get into all the Red Sox stuff in a second after I wrap up Tucker. So, my order right now with Tucker would be uh Mets, Dodgers, Jays. Uh, and I'm going to say field. It's 100 to1 for the field. Next week, if he signs with somebody else, come back to me and tell me the 10 to1 shot came in.

4:33 It's possible. If Scubble and the Tigers, all right. Uh, yeah. I mean, you know, if that goes to a hearing, that is real shame. And I don't know how he's going to handle it if he doesn't win that. Obviously, it's a big gap. 19 million versus 32 million. It's a big gap. I I hope they settle somewhere in the middle. I I mean, he certainly should be above David Price. I I don't think there's any question. 1975 and Price had one Sai Young. Scuba has two. And that was nine years ago. Since then, we've had all sorts of signings for pitchers that are very, very high, right? I mean, we've had Wheeler, we've had Sherzer, we've had uh Verlander uh and Cole and so many others. And look, Clayton Kershaw signed uh in his fifth year, a 7-year deal at 30 million a year, over 30 million a year. So, I I don't know. I mean, anything can happen in arbitration. Uh 32 million is high, but boy, 19 million is low. All right.

5:28 What's the next move for Philly? Well, we're going to talk about Bochet. We're going to talk all about that in a little while. Uh if Con wants Tucker, yeah, I get it. Con's got the advantage. And it does feel like Con is the guy driving that bus. I think that is fair to say. Uh Mets and Bellinger look like somebody said I think that's not too likely. I really don't see that. And we're going to get into the Yankee pursuits and I'll talk about all that's gone with Bellinger at that point. All right. Uh the Cubs get an outfielder. Would not rule that out. All right. Let's go on the and I'm going to get a little in the Cubs right now because I'm talking about the Red Sox. All right. The Red Sox signed the big deal of today at least 130 million. Five years for Ranger Suarez. Outstanding pitcher. Not a ton of innings, so there's less mileage on him. That could be a plus. It's a double-edged sword. He's been a very,

6:11 very good pitcher for the Phillies. Never felt like he was going back there. They their pitching is not their issue right now. They're looking at the Jet and some others. And Ranger Suarez, the thing about him is he an outstanding pitcher in October, right? 148 RA in October. Third best this decade behind Marian Rivera and Steven Strawber. Third best. That's pretty good. That's a nice play there by Ranger Suarez for those watching. Uh but an excellent deal for the Red Sox. They added Sunny Gay earlier. Uh they have uh obviously an ace in Crochet. They they had Oedo from the Pirates. They've picked up three starters. Uh and right now that is a good way to have spent the money. Uh that was going to go to Bregman. I think they were surprised they didn't get Bregman. They offered 165. It was a little more deferred than the Cubs offer of 175. So it was a little bit lower offer. more more deferred at least a

7:05 longer weight. Also, they didn't give a full no trade. So, they still thought they'd get Bregman. They see him as the uh leader in the clubhouse and it was a blow not to get him, but they bounced back quickly. They pivoted, as they say, and Ranger Suarez gives the Red Sox a top five certainly rotation in baseball. I don't think they're done. They could certainly live with Romy Gonzalez and Marcelo Meyer as their infielders. I think they're going to look at a right-handed bat. Certainly, they'd look at her. There's a potential match there, right? The Cubs have extra outfielders.

7:34 They could trade an outfielder potentially for her. The only reason the Cubs are thinking about this is that right now, well, they've got an extra infielder, right? Because Shaw has been displaced by Bregman might go to second. But I think the the players want her to stay. And I think eventually they'll probably listen to the players, but they are going to listen to other teams too. The Giants name is out there. There are probably several teams interested in her. Maybe the Mariners. Certainly the Red Sox would be interested in her and they do prefer a righty bat. So they could look at Alec Bone from Philly potentially that could make sense particularly if Philly gets a Bette auo Suarez is still out there on the market.

8:15 Bette for the Red Sox. I I think that's unlikely at this point. They spent 130 million on Suarez. Uh they've added Sunny Gray. Not going to pay the full 35 million there, but they've added some money there. So, uh, I'm not I don't think Bette is that likely, but they've got other potential candidates there. Uh, Bregman, it's a surprise to everybody that he didn't end up going back, but he got a better offer from the Cubs. Good for the Cubs. They offered 120 last year. This year, it's 175 deferrals. Not heavy deferrals, but some deferrals. Got the full no trade. He looks excited. He's already in the Blackhawk uniform. Very, very big uh week for the uh for the Cubs and the Bears and all of Chicago. Uh, Pirates and Aueno Suarez shot there. Suarez, I think the Mariners make the most sense for Aueno Suarez. Still, uh, the Pirates, I've heard a little bit of that. I don't think it's that likely.

9:05 And there we go. Any possibility Gino goes back to Seattle? I think you got it right on the head right there. We got to give you credit there. I think that is uh the probable answer there. Um, all right. Uh, let's get on to the next category. We've got covered Tucker. We've covered Suarez. We've covered Bregman. Scooball and Peralt to the latest. I mean, right now, everybody thinks that Scooble's going to cost a ton. And he should cost a ton. He is the best pitcher in baseball. Whether they gave him a $19 million offer or not, he's the best. I There's no way around it. Look at that. 101. I think he was thrown 101 at the end of a game uh at some point last year. Just incredible.

9:44 AJ Hinch has done a nice job with him. He doesn't throw over 110 pitches a game. uh a left-hander, outstanding personality, definitely a winner. Uh I I think that is an excellent excellent pitcher. And you know, I just I just don't see them trading him. Some people do. I I don't know. I mean, to me, Detroit made the playoffs the last two years with him, winning twothirds of his starts. They were only half the starts of the other pitchers. So, I don't see him turn Peralta. I think he's likely to get traded. I do believe that Peraltto will probably be traded. 8 million is all he makes. That's not ownorous. They can certainly afford that. The issue is can they sign him long term. He's asked for an extension going back two years and he asked he's asked for one consistently and Milwaukee is not able to do it or does you know it's a small market. He's a number one pitcher. He's probably a 25 or $30 million a year

10:39 pitcher. Milwaukee they don't extend guys. they end up trading them. They traded Burns. Uh they will likely trade Peralta. The teams I've heard are the Yankees, the Mets, the Giants, the Dodgers, and the Braves. I'm sure there are others. I'm sure they're a small market. He only makes 8 million. Uh any team could use him. He would be an enormous benefit to any team. That said, nobody's going to sign him right away. might be a little bit of benefit if you think you can sign him as a as a free agent to have him for a year and show him how great things are wherever he goes. But it's not that huge a benefit that I I think the the benefit is having a pitcher who's probably a $60 million pitcher for one year, even if they're only going to pay him either 19 or $32 million. So anyway, uh Astros and Red Sox, is that a trade you you're thinking of? I don't know. Uh the the Red Sox do have extra pitching. I I

11:33 think the Astros getting EI. I think they're probably okay on the pitching front. Uh I do feel like the Red Sox do have um an extra outfielder they could trade potentially. And they have they have significant pitching uh if they can trade uh for an infielder. I guess maybe you're referring to Pedes. I I think that that's not a bad thought. I'll write that down. I like that. Uh Pretty would fit Fenway. pull hitter, deep pull hitter, uh, Green Monster, uh, that could work. So, um, I still think Boston will probably trade for righty bat, and I, like I said, I think Horner's probably staying. Boom's a possibility.

12:09 Pareed, that doesn't make sense. I wish I talked to you earlier. Uh, that was a good one. All right, let's go. Uh, did the Yankees get Ryan de Weathers for Depp so they can trade their farm uh, for an elite starting pitcher? Um, no. I don't I don't know that that's the case. The Yankees are in on Peralta. They've traded uh four guys to get Weathers, but they'll have to trade more uh guys. Uh beyond those four to get scoo whether it be Scooble, Peralta, Gore, and I know they have been talking about Peralta and Gore. When the Yankees called about Scubble, it sounded to them like it was going to cost half their team. Probably Rice and many other young players who are really good. Maybe Dominguez, who wasn't great last year, but still has potential. uh you know, he's the best pitcher in the game. It's a difficult choice for Detroit. You know, you're damned if you do, damned if you don't.

13:00 Uh look, uh Boston traded bets with a year to go, it was a disaster. Uh the Angels held on to Otani with a year to go. That was a disaster. So, it's a tough choice that Detroit makes, but I kind of think the fact that they made the playoffs the last two years and have another playoff team, I kind of think they probably hold on to Scooble. And I don't blame them if they do and just take the draft choice at the end because they're they're a threat. They're a good team. They have a good They've made a good bullpen. Their pitching is above average. I like their young players.

13:29 They've got a lot of good young prospects. I mean, if they do trade him and get more great prospects, they may set themselves up for the future. But, uh, at this point, I'm going to say not that likely they trade him. We're all to the opposite. I think he probably is dread. Pirates to anything else. I think the Pirates are going to add some offense, more offense. Whether it's Suarez or somebody else, I think that they probably will. Will Bobet land with the Yankees? I, you know, I'm going to bet on Philly at this moment. Not too much, though. I mean, you know, he's got several teams potentially out there. I don't think it's going to be Boston now.

13:59 Certainly could be Toronto, could be the Dodgers. Uh, those are most of the teams. I think Seattle maybe. They haven't really dived in on that one yet. That's probably a little bit rich for their taste, but um I kind of think Philly, we're going to get to Bobit. Bellinger update, please. We're going to get into that on Yankee Pursuits. Do you think the Orioles break the bank for another big I mean at this point former Valdez doesn't have a job? Uh we know that he's connected to the Orioles and the Mets. They both met with him at the GM meetings. Uh I do think that um it's there's a decent chance that he ends up with either Baltimore or the Mets, but there are several other teams that he could help as well. One thing I will mention is the Yankees did check in on uh both Suarez and on Valdez fairly recently. So u does that mean the Yankees are getting from Valdez? I don't think so because that was before they

14:48 made the trade for Ryan Weathers. They've kind of bolt up their rotation now, added the depth, and that was the more likely scenario for them anyway to to get that depth piece. They did check in on on Fra Valdez, but not of big value because I just don't see them uh going there. Fra Valdez, I do believe, is a great pitcher. They've been great in the postseason. I know he's a ground ball pitcher, but he gets outs and his record is very similar to Max Freed. So, Max Freed did all right. Uh, John Haymon Yankees agreed. Very funny. Uh, no billion dollar contract for me. Zack Zack Allen Yankees. You know what? Zack Allen's an East Coast guy from New Jersey. Uh, I don't know about the Yankees. I The Mets need pitching. I think the Mets might be more likely for Zack Allen. Could he go back to the Dbacks? That's a possibility as well.

15:34 He's got that QO, so maybe the Dbacks make sense for Zack Gallon. All right, let's get into Bo Bashette now. I love I mean the guy hit over three the only player in the major leagues who hit over 300 on change ups and splits that's one on breaking balls that's curves and sliders and on fast balls over 300 on all three he was the only one 311 overall now obviously Judge hit a little bit higher but 311 these days that's that's probably like a 340 that 311's the new 340 I think uh he's an outstanding hitter he met with Philly everybody says it went very well he's got the connection there with Mattingly Uh certainly the ballpark fits him. The roster is excellent. Um and he lives in St. Pete, so that's pretty close to Clearwater. I'm sure in his mind that's got to be, if not his top choice, one of his top choices. I mean, he's got to love the Phillies. That is a first class organization. I do believe uh that there

16:30 is a possibility. Now, things are going to have to move move for that to happen. They've got moving parts and things will have to happen, right? I mean, Alec Bow is being paid $10.2 a million dollars. They'll have to find a taker for him. I think it can be done. I think that's about what he's worth. I think he's worth that or even more. So, uh, that's one thing that would have to happen. I don't think Castanos is related. They're not going to get much for him, unfortunately. People look at him as a DH right now. Not a big value there.

16:59 Although, I take a flyer on him. I'm not sure why nobody has yet. The other thing is, would they have to go for a lesser catcher than JT Ramudo? They're in a stare down there. They've offered Real Mudo uh three-year deal. Obviously, it's not enough at this point for him. Is it 12 million? Are they at 15 million a year? I'm not sure, but certainly they are a part on the dollars. I don't think he's looking at more than three years, but they've offered three. So, they're not, you know, they're giving it a shot. Uh but if he doesn't take it, there aren't a lot of catchers out there on the market. There's Keratini's out there. There's Gary Sanchez. There's, you know, there's a handful of catchers, but none as good as JT Ral Mudo. Does that mean they can they can't sign Real Mudo and Bashette? That I'm not sure of.

17:41 I certainly if they don't sign Rio Mudo, that enhances their chances to sign Bob Bashette who just got married and as I reported in the New York Post at his wedding, he was getting texts from Philly personnel. So, there is some level of excitement there with the Phillies and Bashette. Somebody says Dodger News. Yeah, Bashette's one of the teams, one of the players uh potentially the Dodgers are looking at, but they check in on everybody. So, uh certainly could be Dodgers, could be Yankees, could be his old Jay's team, but you know, we're talking a lot about Bowen Philly for a reason. They had a meeting, it went well. There a lot of connections there. Makes a lot of sense. Uh Roman Anthony underutilized as a well, they want to keep him healthy. Uh they got a ton of outfielders. He'll do some daging. Nothing wrong with that. Um, so anyway, Bobette, I think Philly is looking pretty good. Wouldn't guarantee

18:31 it. I I would say that it does make sense if they can trade Bow and probably if they don't bring back a Real Mod. All right, let's talk a little bit Yankee Pursuits. Uh, category number five, and that is Bellinger. Uh, that's the obvious one. We all know at this point they've offered five and about $155 million that they were willing they're willing to go up on that. They're going to do no deferreds. I think they'll do not just one but probably two opt outs. Uh you know and I think the question is can they work within this framework? Uh they don't want to go beyond five years.

19:06 Obviously 7 years was the ask at the beginning. Could they compromise at six? I'm not going to rule it out. It's possible. Or more likely I would say could they go up from the 31 million. I think they can and I think it makes sense. He did played superbly there. very fit Yankee stadium. I think he loved it there. He's only says he wants to play for a winner. So that said, I think his old Dodgers team is probably the other team that that makes sense. I mean, we know the Cubs checked in, but they've now signed Bregman. I don't think they're signing another big free agent. It could be Toronto if they don't get uh Tucker, if they don't get Bette potentially. Uh that could make sense for Bellinger. Giants had also checked in. Looks like a that looks like a shaky one to me. I I don't think that's that likely that this guy who's played with the Dodgers, the Cubs and the Yankees now goes to the Giants. Not that there's

19:56 anything wrong with it. Big market team. They look pretty good to me. But he was a Dodger. He wants to make sure he's on a winning team. I I do believe the Dodgers do have interest in him. I think Yankees and Belly get it done. Yeah, I think there's a decent chance of it. I'm not going to say I think they get it done, but I I think there is a decent chance of it. They've got some work to do. I don't think there's I think there's any question about that. uh a sleeper starting pitchers that might get traded. Well, we saw Bos was a kind of a sleeper, I think, but certainly Gore is not a name that's been out there a ton lately at least, but I could see him getting traded. Um yeah, I mean, we're focused right now on Peralta because he's a number one pitcher, top five Sai Young. I think he was fourth in the Sai Young. Uh and it does feel like Milwaukee uh is going to trade him. Uh I do think so. Uh and I know the fans are

20:44 on the Yankees. I get it. Uh, you know, they had a a team that won 94 games last year, but in the end didn't get it done like you the Yankee teams used to want to get it done, which is winning the World Series. Didn't happen. Skins to Yankees a chance. Not yet. No, that's not happening. They tried. They certainly tried. Skins isn't going anywhere. Right now, Pittsburgh's trying to build up their team and improve their team and impress him and maybe add a year so that he doesn't leave after six years and they make it after seven years. I think that's their goal. I don't know that that's going to happen.

21:15 Certainly, he's from California. There are some New York ties. His girlfriend looked for a home in Manhattan. But the main the thing that was really interesting about his girlfriend looking for a home in Manhattan is that the home she was looking for was the old Babe Ruth home up on the Upper West Side. I mean, if I'm the Yankees, and I think they did take it as a hit like, hey, maybe this guy likes the Yankees and wouldn't mind coming here. And certainly a lot of players do, but people around him think that, you know, he's he spends his time in the South. he went to LSU.

21:44 Um, the Dodgers, uh, excuse me, the Dodgers are themed, uh, that would be interest to him. I I don't think there's any question about that. What would skins cost anyone a ton? I mean, look, school with one year to go is going to cost a ton. Skins is going to bring cost the whole farm system. I mean, there's no no way around that. So, I'm glad you asked that skins question. Always makes it interesting. The Yankees have mostly done things around the edges so far. I don't think they're done yet. They didn't call on Suarez. They called on Frober Valdez. Uh so, you know, you never know what could possibly happen.

22:18 Red Sox bad. All right, let me go over that again. I I think a trade is probably more likely. I know they just signed a free agent that people say they're not good at free agency. See, they just got Ranger Suarez. I do think they are better at trades, and that's more likely for them. They're a little excess in the outfield, got an extra pitcher, and they could make a trade. Certainly, Bow is a possibility there. They have a lot of right-handed bat, right? So, Bow's a possibility. Her a possibility though I think Cubs will be ultimately be convinced by their players to keep him. Uh they could go for a free agent like Aueno Suarez or or Bashette potentially. And I'm glad that somebody brought up Houston Pedeser.

22:58 That would make sense. I mean, right now you've got Marcelo Meyer, you've got Romy Gonzalez. Certainly Ro Marcelo Meyer is a big-time prospect. So, uh, I think they wouldn't mind putting him in there as a starter, Romy. They probably would prefer as a utility guy. So, I do think they will probably trade, uh, for a bat. And it'll be right-handed. Look, Brendan, uh, Donovan is out there, and what an outstanding outstanding player he is. Uh, but he is left-handed, so he may not be a fit for the Red Sox. I mean, Katie Woo reported the San Francisco and Seattle were the main teams on Brendan Donovan. Seems to be some legs there. They are looking at second base. So, I mean, they're looking at her, too, but like I said, I don't think her is going anywhere. So, Donovan to the Giants, you know, I think that's a possibility. I really do. Um, all right. Uh, what would Pedes cost? Uh, look, he was only one out of three

23:51 pieces for Tucker. Now, Tucker's obviously a big-time star. Uh, but, uh, you know, I think that Jiren Durant would be too much for him. I mean, they got outfielders who are young and really good and some of them are too much uh for them, but they do have excess pitching at this point. Uh would Johan Evto uh go for Pedes? I don't know. They've just got Oierto, but somebody of that ill potentially could. They've got an extra starter now, right? So, hey, we just uh dreamed up a trade. Who knows? I don't know if that's going to happen.

24:19 All right, let me go over to teams trying to avoid a disaster. All right, how long is David Sterns' contract? It's welltimed. 5-year deal. I don't know. Some people think it's 60 million. I don't know. I heard it was at least 10 million a year. Uh anyway, he's he is a very good executive, very smart guy. Uh you know, I'm really not sure what what's going on right now cuz I think Diaz, losing Diaz is a mistake. I mean, we clearly knew that he didn't really wasn't in love with having a righty slugger at first base who wasn't a great defender and he was never going to go five years. So, I don't think we should be shocked by that with the Alonzo loss.

24:57 But Diaz, that was not a good moment in uh in in Sterns's career. I mean, he when he traded her, that was rough uh for the Brewers. And in this case, they shouldn't have let Diaz get away. I get you don't want to give him five years. Can you give him four years? I don't know. Anyway, team starting to devoid disaster. I'm going to put the Mets first, right? And one way they're doing that is going for the big fish. And that's Kyle Tucker, the number one free agent who had a 143 OPS plus last year, $50 million a year they've offered. So, I mean, obviously, he's very talented.

25:29 He can play left field. He hasn't really done it in a big market. He was pretty good in Chicago. He had good stats, but it wasn't exactly what they wanted. They weren't trying, they aren't trying to bring him back. There was no clamoring to bring him back. Uh, he is an outstanding player. as I said, one of the five players with at least a four war over the past five years. And the other ones are all superstars. Ryan Ramirez, uh, Judge, Betts, and Sodto, and Tucker. Those are the five. He's an outstanding outstanding player. So, I get it. I just wonder why if you're going to spend $50 million, why not bring back Diaz and Alonzo or Diaz in something else? I don't know. But if they get Tucker, obviously that's the bat that can bat behind Sodto. uh sort of still going to walk close to 130 times no matter who's behind him. He did last year with Alonzo behind him and it was 127. Uh but certainly they need that

26:23 middle of the order bat and there aren't a ton out there and they don't seem like they're really in on Bellinger. So uh to me looks like Tucker could be the guy. That said, the Mets need pitching. Who's going to pitch for them? Obviously you got Mlan Peterson's pretty good. The other ones Maniah not bad. Um let me see here. forget. All right. All right. Somebody's saying the answers could come soon on Tucker. All right. Uh All right. Yeah. I mean, I I've heard from executives that they do expect uh something fairly soon with Tucker. As I said, I think earlier I think I said earlier it could be by the end of the week. So, uh that will be interesting to see what happens there. I still think they need pitching. We know they met with Fran Valdez. We know Peralta is out there. We know that Sterns has a relationship with Milwaukee. Uh potentially that could be something that they could work with. Um

27:16 I do think they need a starter. They certainly they would hope Manyak bounces back to the form of a year ago. Uh Sanga is another guy who's was really good two years ago. Uh they were trying to trade him at one point. Apparently the trades never really came to fruition. Didn't happen. Um anyway, that's my number one team trying to avoid disaster. And certainly Tucker could change uh the equation if they were able to sign Tucker. Tucker today possibly. I mean, I know there are people involved who expect it to happen fairly soon. As you see, Mike Puma from my New York Post says it could be very, very, very soon.

27:54 Uh, all right. Not knowing which way Tucker leans. Bad sign. Oh, no. I don't. The Dodgers and the Jays don't know either as far as we know. Right. Uh, some I can't read. All right. All right. Uh what's the news on Bo? Uh well, right now we know he met with the Phillies and that's the most logical but certainly still out there. It could be the Jay's uh Yankees depending on what happens with Bellinger, their number one choice and the Dodgers. Uh what do the Yankees need to do to avoid it? Thank you very much. To avoid disaster. They're my number two to avoid disaster team. And I don't really think the Yankees are having a disastrous winter in any way, but I agree what the fans are saying and they're not happy with the fact that they're one big pursuit. We just bring the old gang back together. Now, they did win 94 games. They weren't particularly good in the playoffs. They gave up a run in inning to the Jays.

28:43 That didn't really work. That wasn't good at all. But I, you know, I think they made a mistake when they gave Gisham the qualifying offer. He's now up from 5 million to 22 million. Uh, in any case, it does give them a fallback if Bellinger does go somewhere else. If it becomes like a Bregman case, and it looks it's looking pretty good, but guess what? No, I'm going somewhere else. Uh, there's still good players out there. As I said, they've checked in on Framber. They checked in before the Red Sox Suarez on Suarez. They are looking around at pitching. Maybe they end up bulking up the pitching because we did say they are one of the five teams I did mention with Peralta. So, if they don't get Bellinger, maybe they'll do like the Red Sox and really go for that super rotation. Jonathan Mets looking at any starting pitching. Well, they better be.

29:25 Uh, absolutely. They've got to avoid disaster and they need starting pitching to avoid disaster. Will Sucker Tucker sign sucker? Will Tucker sign today? I'm not guaranteeing that, but I it does appear that there's a decent chance of that. Uh, and my number three team, I'm going to say the Reds. Uh, you know, as a small market team, I don't want to pick on the Reds. They did go for Schwarber, a hometown hero, who by the way is having a great week. A couple weeks with Indiana doing what they're doing. He was a great college player.

29:55 He's been a great pro. It was worth giving it a shot. They weren't going to be able to outbid the Phillies. Nobody was. They were always going to match the highest offer, which is what they did with the Orioles anyway. So, I mean, the Reds haven't done a ton. They recently added JJ Bedet. Uh they're adding uh Pierce Johnson, but you know, they're they're adding around the margins. They were a playoff team last year as we know, tying the Mets unbelievably. So, give them credit. They got a great manager and Terry Franco. And it does feel like the Reds need to do a little something more to avoid disaster. So, they're on my list as number three behind the New York team, two New York teams. But, we'll see. Maybe the Mets pull themselves out of their morass today, tomorrow, the next day. If they do get Tucker, just because I said it's not a perfect fit, doesn't mean he's not a huge get for the Mets. And it will be

30:42 interesting to see what does happen. Uh this is John Haymon signing off for Bleacher Report. I will be back at you next week.

Questions about this episode

What is discussed in "Kyle Tucker Sweepstakes, Skubal Trade Buzz, Bichette Updates | Insider Notebook with Jon Heyman"?

In order: 0:00 Dodgers, Eric Bellinger, Kyle Tucker, Lori Bregman; 5:00 Lori Bregman, Ranger Suarez, Eric Bellinger, Scooble; 10:00 Dodgers, Scooble, Eric Bellinger; 15:00 Dodgers, Eric Bellinger, Lori Bregman; 20:00 Dodgers, Ranger Suarez; 25:00 Eric Bellinger, Dodgers, Kyle Tucker, Lori Bregman.

What is mentioned in this Bleacher Report episode?

10 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including Dodgers, Eric Bellinger, Lori Bregman, Ranger Suarez, Mets, Cubs. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "Kyle Tucker Sweepstakes, Skubal Trade Buzz, Bichette Updates | Insider Notebook with Jon Heyman"?

The episode runs 31 min; the transcript is about 6,418 words in 45 timestamped sections.

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