Robert Murray’s Season Preview: Surprise teams, Decision-makers feeling the heat, Extension szn

00:00:09
Speaker 1: He's ready for the season.

00:00:10
Speaker 2: Fans side and NFT inside of Robert Murray joining us right now on FT. Happy Opening Day to you, Robert, and let's first continue the conversation on Pete car Armstrong. What do you think of the extension and the lack of options in the extension?

00:00:26
Speaker 3: Yeah, well, first of all, happy opening to day.

00:00:28
Speaker 4: Boys. It's good to be here.

00:00:29
Speaker 3: It was a long offseason, but we made it one piece somehow. But the Pete car Armstrong deal that did not catch me, I don't think anybody else around the league, by surprise. We saw a ton of buzz about it last year, and I didn't really get the indication that last year like it was a serious possibility. But this offseason it was a real priority for them. They saw the impact that he ended up having in Chicago in that outfield, and they saw the ability with the bat, and they believe he can be even better and it was a big priority for them. And it was very unique deal in the fact that it did not contain any club options. It's super rare, but it just underscores their belief here in Pete Kerr Armstrong and Hiss just his upside because he's he's a high floor guy, but his upside is just tremendous. So I thought it made a ton of sense for Pete Armstrong to do that because it's also it secures him one hundred plus million dollar contract right now, but it also allows him to test free agency when he's thirty or thirty one, which is the same age as as when Aaron Judge was a free agent, when Marcus Sammye was a free agent, some of these other guys. So he's got another bite at the apple when it comes to getting a mega deal in free agency. And if he continues at the arc that he's on now and what the Cubs believe he can be, it's going to be just as a very lucrative contract whenever that eventually comes. But there is a couple of different ways the Cubs could have gone about this thing here. They could have done a deal quite like something like this, something along the lines of like a Corbyn Carroll kind of deal, or even if they wanted to keep him in Chicago for the remainder of his career, and if that was something that they were able to agree to, possibly like a Fernando Tatist junior or something along those lines kind of contract, but they settled on this six years for one hundred and fifteen million. I love the move for both sides, and it also feels good talking about the Cubs here too as a team that's that's spending, because in previous off seasons we've really gotten on them for not spending and the Ricketts family for not investing serious dollars into this Cubs team. But they went out and got out Alex Bregman, they got Edward Cabrera, they get this deal done. They've also gotten a bunch of other deals done.

00:02:37
Speaker 4: In free agency.

00:02:38
Speaker 3: It feels good when you're talking about the Chicago Cubs mentioning them as like a serious spender, which.

00:02:44
Speaker 4: It's how it should be, and it's.

00:02:46
Speaker 3: Why I think they're the favorite in that division as of this point, because of.

00:02:49
Speaker 4: The rarity of the fact that there's no options and the fact that that Christopher Sanchez just did kind of like a rare thing too, where they extended some of his contract through the option years that they had. Is this signifying that teams are looking that way because of the fact that the new CBA might X nay some of those option years if something happens with the new CBA, because now two teams have done odd things within the last week, and then we can look ahead to the other extensions that are possible.

00:03:21
Speaker 3: No, it's it's totally possible that could end up being the case here. And although that being said, like the Phillies doing that with Christopher Sanchez, that was a very unique case in the fact that they had a player signed to a super team friendly deal and they end up ripping up that contract and giving him one hundred plus million bucks like that was extremely rare. And between the Phillies doing that and also getting Hazelsizarto, I think they deserve a ton of credit there. The Cubs doing this with Pee car Armstrong, Like, yeah, it definitely sets a different precedent here for sure, And I do wonder in talking to people around the league if that could end up becoming a new trend, because even before the terms ended up leaking yesterday, I had somebody mentioned that he would be bet the house that it would end up including a club option, which I hope he didn't end up betting the house because then he'd be out of a house, which I mean that would not be very good. But yeah, no, it could definitely be a new trend. But again, I love the deal here for the Cubs. I think it makes a ton of sense. And plus another part of this too is they really didn't have They don't have a ton of players at least position players signed long term on that roster. So now you have Alex Bregman, you have Pete kro Armstrong, yeah, Matt Shaw, you have some others in there. So that also gives them some long term certainty as as far as offense goes.

00:04:36
Speaker 2: Robert anything else that you would expect to potentially break in the next twenty four to forty eight hours on the extension front, and if not, I still wanted to get your take on Connor Griffin getting an extension offer over one hundred million dollars. I think the burning question is if he took it, is he in the major leagues. I've never heard of something like that going down in a player not getting a big league opportunity. Some fans pointed out Christian Campbell, Yet he got a chance in the bigs and then he wasn't hitting, so they sent him down. So if you get big money, they're not like, oh cool, you're making millions of dollars.

00:05:13
Speaker 1: We'll see in the minor leagues.

00:05:15
Speaker 3: No, for sure, and it's always possible we could have something break here between now and in first pitch either I mean tomorrow. I mean, I don't think anything's gonna be coming today as far as the Giants or the Yankees go. I could be wrong, but I do remember a few years ago it was Opening Day and I knew Key Brian Hayes was getting extended.

00:05:34
Speaker 4: It was.

00:05:34
Speaker 3: It was one of the most crazy things ever. It was like an hour before first pitch, and I dropped his story and Hayes ends up going to bat, and I believe he ends up getting hit by a pitch and he leaves the game with an injury, and he hadn't completed his physically yet. I believe it was. It was one of the craziest things I've ever encountered. So it's always possible we have something coming here as far as extension goes, and I do think a Connor Griffin extension remains possible. I don't think it's gonna en up happening between now and first pitch tomorrow, but it's something that the Pirates and Griffin have had a lot of conversations about.

00:06:06
Speaker 4: We saw Ben.

00:06:07
Speaker 3: Cherrington say the other day that he wants to be in Pittsburgh and that the organization would like to keep him in Pittsburgh, but they don't need to extend him like right this very second, because by all indications he's not going to be on the opening day roster. He didn't necessarily like blow everyone away with his numbers in spring training. But that being said, they are very confident he's going end up being a long term asset for that team. You talk to people around the team, they talk about his poise, how even when he struggles, he's still the same guy every day, and you talk about the tools in his body is he's unbelievable. Only nineteen, he's barely played above double A. They can be patient here. They send him down to the minors, they can allow him to get that development. But I do think an extension remains a possibility, And if they end up getting that done, that would just be the chair on top of the like the last twelve months for the Pirates. You get Griffin extended. If that does get done, you bring in Brandon Lao, Ryan o'heur and Marcelo Zuna. You have that pitching staff there too. We've We've joked about it on the show before. They're my Pittsburgh Pirates for my belief in them. Yeah, I got ahead of it, so you didn't have to mention as NBAJ, But it's I really like the direction of that team, and if they get that deal done, then that the upside for that team long term just goes even higher.

00:07:30
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00:08:31
Speaker 4: How about Freddy Peralta, because they traded some significant pieces for Freddy p to come in and be the number one that they thought they would have in some short term deals and they haven't been able to do it. Is it the mets sphere of that long term pitching contract or is it Freddie Pea's betting on bet ability to bet on himself because it's his free agent year. Yeah.

00:08:56
Speaker 3: I do like they've had conversations. My impression is that it's probably unlikely as of this point, and I think that's what exactly you just said. There is spot on is he's he told I believe John Hayman of The New York Post that he wanted something around like seven or eight years, and Paralta is around thirty. I can't remember his exact age, but it's somewhere around thirty. And I don't see David Stearns or being in a hurry to give him like that seven or eight year contract. I'd imagine he'd prefers something more shorter term, and that to me would be a big obstacle if I'm Paralta, if I'm his camp, So I don't expect to Freddy Pearolta's extension to be done between now and opening day. I do think he'd be really smart to end up playing this thing out as long as he possibly can, because if he can end up using this season as a platform here in New York, and if he puts up similar numbers to what he did Milwaukee, or is somehow even better, he is going to be a very very rich man when it comes to free agency. Does he get two hundred million, I don't know, but he is set up to be the number two starting pitcher available at free agency next year, not name Derek Scoogle. So he's got everything in front of him right now. And if you can end up doing that in New York and also do that in the postseason as well. Yeah, the sky's the limit for his future earnings.

00:10:12
Speaker 2: All right, Robert, let's hit the season preview portion of the conversation. So there's two topics we want to hit. Decision makers under the most pressure heading into the season, and then some of your surprise teams. Let's start with the decision makers. Give us a name or two, and then we'll follow up.

00:10:25
Speaker 3: All right, sounds good to me. So let's start with Brian Cashman here. He is running back majority of the same team that he ended up having last year. I mean there's some differences there. Obviously they lost some relievers, but offensively, they retained Trent Grisham, which I think that was kind of a head scratcher, giving him the qualifying offer, and I kind of felt like it was a no brainer for him to accept it. And then they obviously brought back Cody Bellinger, which I thought was vital. I don't like they won, like we're on ninety plus games, I think ninety four games last year, so they gets still a very talented team here for sure, But how much better it is or how much better it can be this year, I don't necessarily know. So I think the pressure is gonna be on him to get this thing right. I also think that falls on Aaron Boone here as well, because some of the guys that they ended up acquiring last year at the deadline, a guy like Ryan McMahon, they're betting on him and some of these other guys to be more comfortable in New York to end up having that experience from playing last year allow them to hit their ground running this season. So I think both of those guys are going to be under the microscopt I feel like you always are if you're in New York. That just comes with the territory. And another one, I'll give you two more here. Craig Breslo is another one. And like me saying that does not mean that I think he's on the hot seat by any means. I think he's done a good job there. I think there's some things I don't agree with, but the way that he's built around the pitching staff. I struggle to find many pitching staffs better than what they have in Boston. But they were they were very serious about retaining Alex Bregman watched him go to the Cubs despite seeing his impact on the field, in the clubhouse. They were interested in Bobachett. They had very strong interest in bobashett I can confidently say that did not get him. They had interest in Kyle Schwarber, but they were nowhere close to anywhere close or they were nowhere close in the bidding for Shwarber there, and they end up getting Wilson Contreras. They got Isaiah Kiner Filefa, they got Caleb Durbin from the Brewers. So we'll see exactly how those guys end up covering for the loss of Bregman and not getting one of those big bombers by any means. But I think that's gonna be something that a lot of people are watching there in Boston. But again, their pitching staff is gonna be able to cover up a bunch. And the last one here is Ben Charrington. Because the way they've spent this offseason, They've went out and got Brandon Lowe, they got Ryan o her Marcelo Zuna addressed the bullpen there as well, added some other guys. Playoffs are now they should be the expectation here in Pittsburgh, considering just the overall state of that team. If they don't make the postseason, I think there might end up being some criticism there of Charrington, But that being said, I'm still a huge believer in what they've done this offseason. I think they've had one of the better off seasons of any team in baseball, and they're going to be better and I expect them to compete in that division and compete for a wildcard spot. So those are the three guys that I'm really watching here the most, and for varying reasons.

00:13:26
Speaker 5: Of course, Oh, Robert Bryan Cashmans never getting fired, so you don't have to worry unless still he resigns. You can take him off of this nothing's changing there. Craig Breslo is a pitching guy. He brought in great pitching. Their offense will be with their offenses, but I think they still make the postseason.

00:13:40
Speaker 4: That'll be enough to save him.

00:13:42
Speaker 5: Ben Cherrington, for me, is the only one on this list that you know, he's been there, what almost ten years now, and they haven't even come close to making the postseason. He was finally given some leeway to spend money and so maybe he gets a little more post you know, a little more heat if they don't make the postseason. But still he wasn't given enough to that in the National League to cover up the deficiencies they're still going to have no matter how you know. Ryan Hurt, nice player, Brandon Lowe, nice player.

00:14:08
Speaker 4: Right.

00:14:09
Speaker 5: Paul's scheme's great, obviously, but they still don't have enough in my opinion, to compete in a tough National league. The one that caught my eyes was John Schneider. John Sneder went to the World Series last year. Why would John Schneider be under pressure? He just got a contract extension and he went to the World Series last year, and this team is supposed predicted to be good if they make the postseason and don't make a run to the World Series. He shouldn't be under pressure. He's done a nice job.

00:14:32
Speaker 3: I feel like, no, he's totally done a nice job. And I hope him or anyone who read that piece didn't interpret that as him being in the hot seat, especially after him getting an extension. But they were so close last season, like they were inches away from winning the World Series, and they're coming back this off or they're coming back this season. They obviously lost Bobaschet. They had some pretty key performances last year, especially from a guy like Ernie Clement, who really stepped up. They had a nice off season, getting some pitching, getting Dylan Cees as a headliner there. But when I say pressure, it's trying to extract as much as much as they did last year out of those guys and doing that again this year. So, like, I think he's very capable of doing that. I think he's going to do that. But I think a lot of eyeballs are going to be on the Blue Jays for doing that, because they are set up better than most teams to get back to the World Series, and I do believe they absolutely can. I absolutely love the Blue Jays. But yeah, and obviously the Blue Jays are very high on Schneider after extending him, extending Ross Atkins too. So again, it's not me putting pressure and saying that he's on the hot seat by any means. I just yeah, I think it's going to be a lot of people watching him and seeing if you can get the most out of the team. Once again, all.

00:15:48
Speaker 4: Right, I'm going to set an over under for you for the season. One and a half managers fired by September thirtieth, just because of how many Matt new managers came in and the teams that you know, expectation blah blah blah. One and a half managers fired over or under by the end of this.

00:16:04
Speaker 3: Season, I'll say, I'll say it over. There's always there's always different change that happens during the or after the season. I don't necessarily know what it could be like that being set like, okay, this is I'm not saying that he's going to get fired by any means, but I think a lot of people are gonna be watching a guy like Tony Battello there in San Francisco. He is obviously a first time manager here in San Francisco, well, a first time major league manager. I should say. He's got a very experienced coaching staff there in San Francisco. But going from the collegiate game to the to the major leagues is gonna be a huge adjustment for him. I think a lot of people are watching to see exactly how he does there. I think I think we'll end up being fine. Especially having a guy like Ron Washington. I think that makes that transition a whole lot easier for him. But Buster Posey was betting big on Tony Battello there and a lot of eyeballs are gonna be on that one for sure.

00:17:01
Speaker 2: Okay, Robert, let's go to surprise teams drop some for us.

00:17:04
Speaker 4: What do you have give me?

00:17:07
Speaker 3: I'm going with the A's. I'm not gonna go with the pirates here, but I'm going I'm going with the A's. I love what they've done offensively and building around that team, and they obviously were very aggressive and trying to extend different guys this offseason, Tyler sodor Strum, Jacob Wilson. They got those two deals done. They have been trying with some others obviously have not gotten them across the finish line here, Nick, Nick Kurtz would be if they could get that deal done, I think that'd be something they would be super excited about. I don't expect that to end up happening as of this point, And I've talked to people around the league, other agents who are not associated with this entire situation here, who said, if he waited on year to year and if you hit free agency at the trajectory that he's on right now, he could be looking at it like a Wan Soto type contract. Like That's how high people were across baseball are on Nick Kurtz. So I think between having him having or headlining your team and having some of these other young players there. Having Clark in the outfield patrolling the oftfield and catching basically everything out there is big. But do they have enough pitching to get through this entire season. I don't know, but I've been proven wrong before, but I think the A's finally have a really strong direction of the fact that they've committed to it and giving meaningful dollars to a lot of these players is a really good thing for them and also for baseball as well.

00:18:29
Speaker 4: Are the Reds considered a surprise team since they did make the playoffs next year? If somebody thinks they're going to make the playoffs even with Hunter Green out.

00:18:38
Speaker 3: I mean, I feel like a lot of people are underestimating them. So I would say maybe I would say, you know what, I'll go with.

00:18:43
Speaker 4: Yeah, I will.

00:18:44
Speaker 3: And I do like what the Reds have because they have that young Corey that they have. They brought back Gino Suarez, which I thought that was one of the best deals of the entire offseason. It came down to them and the Pirates got it for one year for fifteen million. I thought that was a super savvy move by that entire front office there and getting him back, and he wanted to be back in Cincinnati. It's a place is very comfortable in and they made a splash last year, and or they made a really nice run last year getting to the postseason. Having Frank ConA there managing, I think that really ends up raising the floor for them, and also just having another year under him is going to be a very good thing for them overall. So I am absolutely buying stock in the Reds. Despite Hunter Green being on the injured list. I think they are set up to be a pain in the butt for the NL Central but also just the National League. I think they have I think they're going to be one of the more fun teams this year to follow.

00:19:40
Speaker 2: You know what constitute surprise team AJ they made the playoffs.

00:19:44
Speaker 1: We did power rankings.

00:19:46
Speaker 2: Talking about another publication that put them at twenty two yesterday. So if you think they are the twenty second best team, Robert, you can watch it back later. If you missed it yesterday, it's a different spot. I wasn't fansided. You guys have it in better shape over there.

00:20:02
Speaker 5: Twenty two missing Green and Lodolo because Lodolo is hurt too now, so that's been a problem for him a lot in his career, So that hurts their chances a lot. And I know playoff chase is going to be close, so every game they miss is another chance to not make the postseason.

00:20:19
Speaker 1: They made it by what one game?

00:20:21
Speaker 5: They made it basically a tiebreaker last year with the rights and the Mets collapsed.

00:20:24
Speaker 2: Yep, okay, we shall see Robert good stuff. I We're super excited. We'll be talking plenty. Thank you for contributing to the Robert Report. AJ Baseball season is finally here, and there's nothing like listening to the sweet sounds of the game while you're at home enjoying some home cooking, whipping up a beautiful meal with Hello Fresh. And there are many, many, many recipes to choose from.

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00:21:41
Speaker 1: We love looking at wind totals, bet on jam futures.

00:21:43
Speaker 2: Can we do it? Can we do all of them? Can I run through it in like six minutes? Are you ready for the speed round? Okay, fine, let's do it NL West Dodgers one oh three and a half and it'll be aj go, he says, under and then crafts by him, and then I'll sighteen under Yankees over. Wait, wait, we're just bouncing around here. Okay, fine, we're bouncing around Yankees ninety point five. We're going from top Wins all the way to the bottom.

00:22:05
Speaker 6: Yankees ninety point five over over Mets ninety point five under under Mariners eighty nine point five over over Philly's eighty nine and a half.

00:22:19
Speaker 4: Over ninety over ninety two Cubs eighty eight and a half over bad division.

00:22:28
Speaker 2: Over Blue Jays eighty eight and a half over over Blue Jay Sorry, Red Sox eighty seven and.

00:22:38
Speaker 4: A half over eighty eight under five hundred team.

00:22:44
Speaker 2: I like when you say over eight like over hook Astros eighty six and a half under under and then they have the braids at eighty six under Orioles eighty five and a half.

00:22:57
Speaker 4: Five hundred team under under over five hundred but two games eighty.

00:23:03
Speaker 7: Four Tigers eighty five and a half over bad division over good picture was eighty four and a half over under.

00:23:15
Speaker 2: Rangers eighty three and a half over over Padres eighty three and a half over under Royals eighty two and a half under over Giants eighty point five.

00:23:32
Speaker 4: Eighty one over YEP five hundred.

00:23:34
Speaker 1: Over Red's eighty.

00:23:37
Speaker 4: And a half too beat up under over.

00:23:42
Speaker 1: Diamondbacks seventy nine point five even over crats.

00:23:49
Speaker 4: Okay, under I didn't hear it, sorry.

00:23:52
Speaker 1: Guardian seventy nine and a half.

00:23:57
Speaker 5: I'm gonna say under just because I don't think I think they finally catches up to them.

00:24:01
Speaker 4: Okay, YEP division is too good under.

00:24:07
Speaker 1: Pirates seventy eight point five under over.

00:24:11
Speaker 4: Not a pirates, Not a pirates guy. I'm not going to get to five hundred. You think t Bubba Chandler is an opportunity when the rookie of the year, if McLean falters it all?

00:24:21
Speaker 1: What about the Rays at seventy six point.

00:24:23
Speaker 4: Five under over seventy seven?

00:24:31
Speaker 1: I know what agent is gonna say for this one, seventy five over five.

00:24:35
Speaker 4: Yes, I'll just take the over on runs the whole year, but yeah, I'm gonna go over.

00:24:40
Speaker 1: They're not going to go over. May Minnesota seventy two and a half under.

00:24:45
Speaker 4: Maybe one of the easiest unders.

00:24:49
Speaker 1: Marlin's seventy two point five.

00:24:50
Speaker 4: Over seventy five to seventy eight yep, because they get to play in the Nationals over.

00:24:56
Speaker 2: Okay, last run here the big boys, the Angels seventy point five.

00:25:03
Speaker 4: Over seventy two under sixty seven. Just wanted to say it.

00:25:10
Speaker 2: The Cardinals sixty nine point five, Giggody crats, he went.

00:25:15
Speaker 4: Under under big Giggoity.

00:25:18
Speaker 2: White Sox sixty seven and a half over. I think that's an easy over.

00:25:21
Speaker 4: That's an easy over, right. I really like that over. I like that over Carlson Montgomery is gonna hit thirty Dingers.

00:25:29
Speaker 1: Nationals at sixty five point five.

00:25:31
Speaker 4: Under to lose one hundred So far under. I want to buy that down. It's so far under.

00:25:37
Speaker 3: M M.

00:25:38
Speaker 4: Yeah.

00:25:38
Speaker 2: Some of these are the fun ones in terms of where you should actually be placing the Rockies at fifty five point five.

00:25:46
Speaker 5: I'm gonna say over, just because I never want to see a team lose one hundred and seven games.

00:25:50
Speaker 1: I also believe the over on that one.

00:25:53
Speaker 4: It's so hard to lose one hundred and seven games. Yeah, And I'm gonna say they lose one hundred and six games, so I guess I'll go over.

00:26:05
Speaker 1: They signed some veteran pitchers that should help fill some innings.

00:26:09
Speaker 4: No, they have a new front office. They have it's just so hard. Seven games.

00:26:14
Speaker 1: My point is the extra so hard, Like especially.

00:26:17
Speaker 5: They play eighty one at Corps, they'll mixing some wins they shouldn't have gotten.

00:26:21
Speaker 1: They've picked at the top of the draft forever. There's going to be some.

00:26:25
Speaker 4: That hit Tobar is a good player, by the way.

00:26:29
Speaker 1: To bar Is, and I think that he got to play in some meaningful games.

00:26:32
Speaker 4: And you're like, Cat is a good player.

00:26:35
Speaker 1: Yes he is too, so all right, we did it. That was fun.

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00:27:02
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