Jonathan Papelbon on Red Sox fallout w/Bregman, Pivot to Bo Bichette?

00:00:09
Speaker 1: Jonathan Papplebon coming in from the top rope of perfect intro music for you to tell us what we need to know about Alex Bregman not returning to the Boston Red Sox pop set the scene.

00:00:22
Speaker 2: Well, I think you guys explained it pretty much. The no Trade claws to me was the final factor and decision maker in this.

00:00:31
Speaker 3: And you know, I don't know how y'all feel, but I feel like I did in college when I walked into a bar and there's this hot shit there and you waited to go up and talk to her, and then somebody else came in, swooped in and talked to her.

00:00:47
Speaker 2: Now she's gone, she left the bar with him. So that's how I feel right now. But it's you know, the Red Sox to me are a big market team in and out, and you you are not going to win, especially today with the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays in your division. First of all without being able or prepared to pay. I mean, the market speaks for itself nowadays. If you're not prepared to go one seventy to two fifty to three fifty, I don't care amount of years you got to be able to pay, and they're just not doing that right now. And now the latest thing I've heard is they're gonna get creative with the offseason. And I've heard this before. You know, let's get creative. Let's start signing more groundball guys. You're gonna platoon like eating and somebody else at second. Meer rookie who got hurt all last year's probably gonna look at playing third. And that doesn't cut it for me.

00:01:51
Speaker 1: Can we just clarify one thing with his analogy?

00:01:53
Speaker 4: Did you like it?

00:01:54
Speaker 1: I just felt like there was one slice missing from it for Paps. So it's like you went on an amazing date, right because you already have a relationship for him with this girl. Then you see her at the bar and you kind of like either ignore her or go up to her and say something weird or not inappropriate, but like you offer her like to I don't know, not hang out at the moment, like we'll hang out again another time.

00:02:15
Speaker 4: And then she first of all, and I also want to say this for Pap. He went to college in Mississippi State. I've been to Mississippi State. There aren't a lot of ton of girls there that Pap should be talking to anyways. Wow, So I'm just gonna throw that out there. Maybe he got lost and he ended up in a field with some other cows or some sheets or something that he got confused with. But let's just let's just throw that out there first. And by the way, you weren't old enough to drink when you're in college, pap. So that's also another thing that we're not going to talk about.

00:02:42
Speaker 2: That true story, a true story, you know. But here's the thing when it all boils down to it, you know, like this dude, right as soon as he came to the Red Sox and talk about Bregman, right as soon as.

00:02:57
Speaker 5: He came through, he was anointed as a captain, leader, another coach on the bench, all these things.

00:03:09
Speaker 2: I'm sitting here thinking, we're gonna wrap this up by Christmas, and this is gonna be a Christmas present for Red Sox Nation. Not only did they stumble their feet, the disappointment is now set in. And now what are you gonna do but to me? You know, I did forty five more than half of the away our home games with Nessen last year, and the asses were in the seats still, and you're gonna have to see, like, a, are are we gonna be prepared for the fans to revolt on us or not? Because I've heard a lot of bad things from the fans so far.

00:03:48
Speaker 6: Yeah, but they didn't revolt when they weren't signing guys other years. And then they signed Bregman last year and the asses were in their seats, So that's to me, have they made that move to put the asses back in the seats, because really, this team flounder minus Garrett Crochet, this team floundered around five hundred. Is Roman Anthony gonna be the guy who's taking this team to the next level. Is Trevor Story gonna continue like he had to jump back up last year? Is your MVP candidate Sedan Rafaela gonna like carry this team because they've downgraded their offense right now without making this sign.

00:04:27
Speaker 2: There's no question about that craftz. But to me, it's it's, you know, the Red Sox in order to compete in this division now you know? And and and the last thing I heard was is the Phillies we're talking to Bischett. So I'm sitting here thinking, at least we're gonna go after Baschett, But that that doesn't look like it's gonna happen either. So you're relying on Sadan having an MVP type season, which I think he can have. You're relying on on role players a second, role players that third, and possibly you know, at first base if Cossa's does come back, I don't know, because Treres is probably gonna play ninety five percent of the time, but what are you gonna do with him as well? So there's so many question marks up in the air that some things have got to be figured out. And you know, to me, it's it's not looking good right now because they just crept into the playoffs last year with a wild card and ended up getting their butts beat by the New York Yankees. So I don't know how much longer you can accept that if I'm the Boston Red Sox front office.

00:05:37
Speaker 6: All Right, It's funny you said front office was the last thing you said, because you said, when they brought Bregman in, this is a dude. There was a coach on the field. Does this non signing? Yes, they offered them one hundred and sixty five million dollars. Yes, it's a lot of money, but they didn't get the job. Done. Does this non signing signify a more of a disconnect between the front office and the field than there was before?

00:06:01
Speaker 2: I think it, well crap, Yes, yes and no, I think it continues that there is a disconnect because the fans in the front office with the Boston Red Sox right now are so disconnected. I mean, you know my buddy that I do on destructive views with Carabas, he's about to commit suicide. But like the thing is though, is is there a disconnect between Ac Jason VerTech and some of these guys that are on staff with the front off. That's my big concern right now, like is there a disconnect there at all? Because to me, I'm coaching this team, I need these guys. I'm trying to stress how important a guy like Bregman is in my clubhouse. And the last thing I want to say.

00:06:54
Speaker 7: Too is is the Red Sox having this no tree claws we don't do that rule is a bunch of bs.

00:07:05
Speaker 2: Okay, that's all bs. First of all, they did it with Pedroia when I was there, and they did it with I think Chrissale and maybe one other guy, So that that's bs. You gotta throw that out the window and so to me, if that was the final straw, then they missed big, big, big big with Bregman.

00:07:29
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00:08:30
Speaker 4: No, they didn't as big, But also why would bring them want to no trade? When they traded Mooki, they traded Sale, and they traded Devers in the last few years. So if I'm him and I'm going there, I want to know trade because they have a history of trading these guys later on. So that is a big deal to players, having that security and having that whole thing. So I agree with you, Pat, But what I want to know is where do they go next? Like you kind of hit on it, But do they do they go out and find somebody else? So they go after a Boba shit?

00:08:55
Speaker 6: Right?

00:08:56
Speaker 4: Are they comfortable with Meyer? And they comfortable with Christian? Kre got about Christian Campbell? Don't even talk about him. They signed him to like a sixty million dollars deal last year and he was at triple A most of the year, So what do they do with him? Right? So they have options, but are they good enough to help them with what Alex pregman up brought not only on the field, but from what everyone says he brought off the field. When you add Wilson Katrous, you had Sonny Gray. You add some other guys here and there, but they haven't really improved the infield. And if their run prevention run prevention, Alex Pregmant is great at run prevention at third base.

00:09:30
Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, you nailed it. So for my for me being a picture AJ and I'm a big believer in run prevention obviously, But to me is who are those guys gonna be? I mean, Meyer is unproven in the infield, and your right now got him probably slided in at third base. Then you got Eton and Campbell, who both are completely unproven at second base and at shortstop. This Trevor story at him age come back and still be capable of having an MVP type season and carrying a team you bring in Contreras. Now, Contreras to me, is gonna have to go out if they don't do anything else, is gonna have to go out and have a big poppy forty and forty five and hit three twenty. I mean, and that's not gonna happen. So to me, the moves have got to be made. But like I said earlier, y'all, the front office has got to be prepared to spend I don't understand their motives behind not wanting to spend money right now, because everyone else, especially Toronto and New York, who are in your division or spending money.

00:10:44
Speaker 6: Where are they at? Where are they at in the division right now? You've just said Toronto and New York. Well, New York hasn't spent money yet, but you assume they will. But yeah, where do you have the Red Sox are they Are they a third place team right now? Or do you like the Oriols enough to make the Red Sox a fourth place team?

00:11:01
Speaker 2: I think the Orioles are gonna bounce back, So to me, it's gonna be between fighting between Tampa Bay in the Red Sox for the last place in the division. That's what I where I see him right now. But you know, the thing that the whole thing of this is that when you when you're a front office right and I'm not in the front office, but you've got just like the players are, seeing what's happening with other players. Aj you said this earlier, you think that the Bregnant deal is gonna affect the Bellinger deal and so on and so on, but that there's no difference in the front office right these deals affect. How now, who are you gonna go after? What are you gonna do next? Uh? And to me, they've got to get in on the Bobashett deal. I don't know if y'all know this, but here's a little funk fact from Bobashett. His dad played there, right, His dad met his mom in Boston, he was born in Boston and all that mess. So every time he goes to Well Austin, somehow he just rakes. Check out his numbers. I checked him out like two weeks ago, but they're off the charts. And so to me, if you got a player you know that could play in Fienway Park, he's one of them.

00:12:14
Speaker 4: True? What about a what about a trade for Ronado? Like what about Nolan Arnado? Or what about Gino Suarez on a short term one year with an opt out kind of thing? Same thing they tried with Bregman, Right, what about those are some bigger named third basemen. Arnado's defensive, yes, to slipped, his offensive slipped a little bit, but he's still a decent player. Suarez is he'll hit you some homers. He'll strike out of Temby. He's gonna hit you homers. He's a good vibes guy. So what about one of those two possibly coming in and taking over there?

00:12:44
Speaker 2: Yeah, I tell you what, AJ, out of all those people, I do like those moves. You gotta start getting creative and thinking, okay, can we slip in some one two year deals with this guy or that guy? But to me, that guy would have to be Nolan Arnado, like he's got to be on the radar. If he's not, they're mistaken again. And the reason why I say that is because this clubhouse, and I've been around these guys a lot. They need leadership man, and no one is one of those guys who will step right in just like a Bregman and lead a team. He's gonna be the same guy day in and day out, and he's gonna be someone that threw out the course of this season. They can lean on if he stays healthy. And that's everybody. But yeah, they're gonna have to get creative in some ways. They're another a J.

00:13:38
Speaker 4: Who's the star?

00:13:39
Speaker 2: Now?

00:13:39
Speaker 6: So who steps up and is the star? Because that's where the maturation of Marcella Meyer, the maturation of Roman Anthony, the fact that you were hoping Tristan Cossas would take the next steps. Watching Bregman. Who's the star for them to watch? Is story that guy?

00:13:59
Speaker 4: Story?

00:14:00
Speaker 2: Not that guy. I'm sorry, it's it's not story to me. And the pitching side of it is obviously Garrett Crochet. He's the guy that everybody's gonna show up to and watch. But on the other side, the position side of the field, to me, they've already anointed him as the star and he's gonna have to continue to fill big, huge shoes of being the star. And that's Roman Anthony, right. So this kid is that You're You're.

00:14:27
Speaker 8: Relying on a twenty two year old kid to go out infan Way Park night in and night out and be the next David Ortiz or the next you know, star amongst stars, and they've already anointed him as that. So if he fails right out the gate, it's gonna be, oh crap.

00:14:50
Speaker 2: What do we do now? So there's a lot of pressure on that kid to be a star. And do I think he can do it? Yes, I think he's got a good head on his shoulders and he can be a star for the Red Sox and you know, be that guy or that dude. But it's only time will.

00:15:06
Speaker 4: Tell all right, pap, let's move on. Do they have enough pitching right now? I know you said they're gonna be battling with the Rays. Crochet had an unbelievable year. They went out and get Sunny Gray. They're relying on some of their younger guys, Bao and some of these guys to to kind of take that next step and become what they need. They brought back Chapman in the back end of the bullpen, but they're counting on guys again to have great years that a lot of people outside of Fenway have never heard of. Do they have enough pitching or do they need to go out and still get another pitcher because they did lose gi Alito. He's a free agent. So do they have enough pitching right now? Forget the offensive side of it. Do they have enough pitching? Because everyone says pitching wins championships, And when the Red Sox were winning, they had Pedro and they had Wake and they had you in the back end and Keith Folk and all these guys in the back end that were really good. So do they have enough pitching right now to compete in this division? Forget the offense?

00:15:55
Speaker 2: Well, A j I don't think they do. You know, I don't think you can have really have enough pitching, especially in Fenway Park. But you know, here here's some keys to the situation with the pullpen. Though. You got Chapman coming back, who is defines life is and I've watched his off season workout videos again this offseason just because I'm so intrigued by this man. But he's gonna be back doing the same things in my opinion, And you got his setup man in Whitlock established already, who both had phenomenal seasons last year, both All Star type seasons. Now you're gonna need some guys to step up again. You know, you's good. There's probably not gonna be at Bernardino again, and you know he was really good for him. But the starting pitching to me, all relies on one guy, and that's Brian BeO, not Garrett Crochet. Okay, Brian Beyo has got to come and start pitching like a number one or two, not a three or four, and start being able to not only pitch that way, but AJ and Krats be able to beat other teams number ones in twos. When you have that guy, that's your second and third starting staff rotator and going out and winning games against other guys ones and twos. That's when you can creep up into standings. So he if he can do that, then they'll be all right. But still that we have not We have yet to see Brian Beyo do that, so that's that's unproven.

00:17:31
Speaker 6: Talking about pitching, are you okay with the moves and not getting pregnant? If they trade for a Freddie Peralta and you you can launch this team back into the first or second in the division or at least a playoff team. If they would get a Freddie p, a true number one to go behind your Ace and Crochet.

00:17:51
Speaker 2: Yes, I would kratz yes, because now you have the pitching staff to take up for the lack of what your lineup is doing right now in all three phase of the game, hitting, pitching, the defense. When all those line up, yeah, you go on ten twelve run streaks of winning. But you know when when you have a guy like Freddie p going and a Garrett Crochet going and you can somehow some way get into the playoffs, then boom, you're set right. You got that one two punch, especially when it's you know, uh, four game, five game, series, and it's not a seven game series. You know, you can beat them in three or four games, so that would be huge in my opinion.

00:18:45
Speaker 1: I just want to circle back to the top of why we're all chatting right now. So the Red Sox badly wanted someone they already had a taste.

00:18:54
Speaker 4: I told you they came up short like this, but they didn't. They wouldn't budge because the Red maybe PAP or the Red Sox front office in ownership John Henry, overconfident in what they do and what they offered. Because from what I was told, they made an early offer to Bregman didn't budge. They went back and said, look, we have a higher offer than what you're offering us. Alex kind of wants to come back. Then the no trade all that stuff happened, and then the Red Sox were like, we don't believe you. And then Bregman was like, hey, I'm gonna go with another team. And then all of a sudden they're like, oh, here's our best, real best offer five one sixty five with a ton of deferrals out you know, twenty thirty years. Do we think maybe the Red Sox were just too overconfident that Alex Bregman's market wasn't gonna get there, and they were just gonna get him back.

00:19:38
Speaker 2: I think he nailed it on the head. AJ. But let me tell you something. I don't know if y'all had Scott Boris as an agent or not. But when Scott Boris comes back and he tells you I got five for one seventy five, or I got seven for two fifty or I got nine for three point fifty, you believe him. Okay, you believe him, and then you go about your business accordingly to what he says. So you know them saying, oh, come on, man, that's child's play to me. And secondly, when you realize that, okay, this no trade clause is that important to him, then you come up off of that too, like there's no questions ask And I don't know about y'all, but Bragnance to the point of his life where he wants stability, and there's no question about it, like he wants He's got his wife, kids, and you know, he's at that point where he wants to be settled. And I think that played a huge factor in this whole situation.

00:20:43
Speaker 1: Incredible, truly incredible. Well, Pap thank you for joining us therapy session or whatever it is. Actually, I would say most importantly, your boy and our friend, Jared Crabs does need a hug right now. He's kidding, He's okay, he's going to be fine. We're we're not making light of, you know, the situation that Pat mentioned earlier, but he definitely.

00:21:06
Speaker 2: Is that that they did this after the whole winter Fest deal. I don't know if y'all know about that.

00:21:19
Speaker 1: Ben way Fest ended, and then how long after that did this happened? Hours hours later? It happened if you really want to you.

00:21:30
Speaker 4: Know what I think this weekend is Cububs nailed it. I'll be trade for Edward Cabrera. They get Alex pregnant. Get how many more tickets they sold a Cubs convention? Probably a lot.

00:21:44
Speaker 2: Enough to make.

00:21:46
Speaker 1: Uh yeah, Cubs Convention is Friday through Sunday. This weekend.

00:21:50
Speaker 4: Nailed it? Yeah, Wow, pap incredible.

00:21:55
Speaker 1: Hey, Red Sox organization should consider themselves lucky if that happened twenty four hours earlier.

00:22:01
Speaker 4: Oh man, could you imagine what more?

00:22:04
Speaker 2: All the story more, all the story boys from that hot Chicks in the bar?

00:22:09
Speaker 4: You go get her, man, Yep, don't wait or they're in the field path for you. They're in the field. You see that one. You gotta go get him. Yeah, love, be pat. We'll talk to you soon. Dude.

00:22:22
Speaker 1: Thanks for swinging by.

00:22:23
Speaker 2: I gotta see you.

00:22:25
Speaker 4: Appreciate you. Hey.

00:22:28
Speaker 1: Monster Territory does more therapy session action with Robbie Hyde, part of the FT Network. Robbie was at Fenway Fest before the volcano erupted, so more from him. I'm sure he'll be very active this week. And of course we have Northside Territory too. If you want to hear them all, bask in the glory of signing Alex pregnant. The futures bet we're looking at is regular season home run lead Iron Judge is the leader at the pack at plus three fifty. Show Hey o Tani plus four hundred and if you believe in Kyle Schwarber winning this race, throw down one hundred to win eight hundred Judge.

00:23:18
Speaker 4: Three until Judge purves me wrong.

00:23:19
Speaker 2: I'm going with Judge, okay.

00:23:21
Speaker 4: I mean Schwarber had a unbelievable year and didn't even get it done.

00:23:24
Speaker 6: True Kratz plus and it's plus three fifty.

00:23:30
Speaker 4: I mean to me, if it's not.

00:23:34
Speaker 6: If it's not Judge at plus three fifty, like you have to look at like I love I love Nick Kurtz at one thousand plus one thousand, ten to one, but I just don't think Shoe Hay's gonna be there. Pete Alonzo at plus twelve hundred. I really like that, maybe even more than I like the Nick Kurtz. But I just think I think Judge is plus three fifty. I like that number. I dump, where's dumper?

00:24:03
Speaker 2: Dumper?

00:24:05
Speaker 6: Yeah, he's a plus nine hundred.

00:24:07
Speaker 2: Okay, Judge tough to lead the league.

00:24:11
Speaker 6: He showed that last year. Tough to lead the league. It took everything falling right for him to lead the league. K Kirts is a good pick, though.

00:24:20
Speaker 2: Yep.

00:24:21
Speaker 4: Full season in that ball and he's kind of in the weeds and in Sacramento by a ballpark. Nobody really talks about him. Ball flies, ball flies there for Judge. If he doesn't get hurt, I'll still take Judge same.

00:24:33
Speaker 1: That's the to me. It's almost like the only thing that can hold him back, right, is he going to miss any time? If he's not, he's probably going to take the home run title.

00:24:42
Speaker 6: All right.

00:24:42
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