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00:03how we doing everybody it's Tyler Ward aka Wardy again and that is my guy Dexter Henry and our
00:09latest episode here straight out flushing on the New York Post Sports YouTube channel or wherever
00:13you get your podcast we have to deep dive all the latest in Mets land as there's a lot happening
00:18text right now between new hires to this coaching staff an exciting one that transpired today that
00:24we're going to deep dive as well as more on the latest with Tarek Skubal and what the Mets are
00:29looking for and adding to their lineup so before we get into all these topics today one how are you
00:34doing today my friend and two what topic are you most looking forward to getting into I'm good man
00:40I can't believe we're already here in November and I'll tell you what because people know if you
00:44know this about me cold weather is coming I'm happy that we're still enjoying some beautiful fall
00:48weather here in November it's high 73 today it's gorgeous I'm love Wardy I'm loving it loving it
00:55because we don't know how long it's going to last so I am absolutely loving it in terms of what
01:01you
01:02asked me what topic I'm most interested in talking about today I'd probably be interested in what we'll
01:08probably hit towards the end of this episode which is talking about Tarek Skubal and where the Mets
01:14are and how their approach might be different than even we saw from Juan Soto a couple years ago because
01:18they're in such a different place we're going to get into that more so I'm I'm excited to talk about
01:22that oh likewise I mean Skubal is going to be a constant uh for better for worse we're now up
01:27until the lockout a month from now so nonetheless if you guys love it or hate it it's going to
01:32continue to happen no different than when we talked about Soto another key player pursuits in uh previous
01:37off seasons but with that being said Dex let's hop right into this because we've been talking about
01:42the Mets coaching staff right and while the Mets are still looking to add a heading director that we're
01:47going to wrap our conversation the coaching staff on here in a couple minutes let's start with their
01:51latest hire and this is an exciting one at least to myself and to many who have since reacted to
01:57the news initially broken from friend here that being wolf salmon of the athletic state in the
02:01following that the New York Mets are hiring former MLB catcher AJ Ellis to their major league coaching
02:06staff as strategy coordinator and Ellis the former catcher adds more major league playing experience to
02:12the staff in a significant way so first and foremost what was your immediate reaction to the
02:18hire Dex and secondly what would you maybe like to know more about him in case you don't know at
02:23this point in time yeah so my immediate reaction to the hire and it's with a lot of hires in
02:28these
02:29pieces I'm always intrigued to see how these pieces are going to fit but what we're seeing a lot I'm
02:33sure
02:34we're going to dive into this Wardy is you're seeing a lot of the hires that the Mets are doing
02:38to
02:39reshape their coaching staff in the front office right it is going to be based on connections
02:44because guys that's how everything works in this world it is always about connections who you know
02:49people you're familiar with people that you trust so when you look at AJ Ellis and the fact that he
02:55has worked in the San Diego Padres organization that he's got a tie to Andy Green how does that then
03:02work out here and Andy Green when you're talking about somebody who's going to lead strategy you want
03:06somebody that you're comfortable strategizing with talking with understands the mind understands how you
03:11work how they work so I do find that interesting what I will say sometimes too and Wardy I'm intrigued
03:17how you think about this too comfortability is good but was we talked about too when we talked about
03:22David Stearns before Falvey came into the front office right it's do you also still need people to
03:29push you right as well too and if that's going to happen with the collaborative approach with the
03:34comfortability I think that could be a good thing here's the other thing too you know the fact that AJ
03:40Ellis a former catcher and many people know him from his time with the Dodgers is an interesting
03:45thing too we've always heard the thing about how catchers trans can translate sometimes well to good
03:49managers because of how they see the game they have to work with people they have to work with pitchers
03:53they have to handle coaching staffs that I find interesting you're getting another guy here who has
03:58worked at the major league level has had to work with different personalities different pitchers
04:02so when it comes to strategy I don't think it's always as much as this is how we're going to
04:07play
04:07this is how we're going to approach the game it's also understanding guys in the clubhouse what they
04:12need what is going to push them who they work well with all those things matter so if AJ Ellis
04:18is on
04:19the same page as Andy Green I think this could be a dope hire now we don't know in any
04:24of this until
04:25we start playing the games and we see the strategy actually unfold but I like how the Mets are thinking
04:30of going with getting not just to be comfortable because I don't want to just land solely on that word
04:36guys that people in the front office and coaching staff are comfortable with but understanding that
04:42having like-mindedness right while still being able to step outside the box at times can be good
04:47and we'll see how it all shakes out but I listen I'll say this as we go into 2027 if
04:54there's a season
04:55I think getting fresh new voices around some of the culture you already saw that was starting to build
05:02once Andy Green took over is a good thing so I'm excited to see how these new voices these new
05:08ideas
05:08all shape out but um I think more that I'd want to know to just answer the second part of
05:13your
05:14question Wardy is what is his strategy in particular in approaching in terms specifically in terms of
05:22hitting I'm I'm because we talked about run prevention that was a big thing we went into last
05:28offseason we heard David Stearns right and run prevention and well the Mets didn't necessarily
05:32value that when they went and got somebody like Jorge Polanco but that's a whole nother story
05:36in terms of hitting approach and I know that'll come to what we talk about with the eventual new
05:40hitting coach I am very intrigued to see what the strategy is in terms of that how they want to
05:46play
05:47how they plan to adapt to other different teams particularly in their own division so that's something I want
05:52to know more about from AJ Ellis I know we probably won't find out more of that until we get
05:56closer
05:56to the spring training but it is something I'd be intrigued to learn yeah there's a lot of things
06:01I'm excited to find more about when it comes to AJ Ellis but my first knee-jerk reaction this was
06:06oh
06:06okay that's Clayton Kershaw's guy um that's actually kind of notable considering the fact that while he's
06:12not coming in as necessarily the Mets catching coach in a way that is the case currently with JPR and
06:16CBO which I hope we see more out of next year AJ though was a fantastic catcher during his time
06:22with the
06:22Dodgers and caught Kershaw more than any other catcher I mean over 800 innings we're talking here
06:27and that span Kershaw had a sub two year Ray so not only did we see Ellis do a fantastic
06:33job one of
06:34the best southpaws that we've ever witnessed in recent years but especially doing it in a big market
06:39like LA is notable then you add the fact of where is he coming from the San Diego Padres obviously
06:44in
06:45which he was most recently a special assistant there and going back to what we were talking about with
06:49relationships we'll get into how Derek Falvey also falls in that category in our into our next topic
06:54here shortly plenty uh but especially here when we talk on Andy Green managing this same AJ Ellis when
07:00he was of course manager there in San Diego all those years ago um having those minds together again
07:06is exciting and having this type of big league experience in your dugout I just think is mightily
07:11important okay it's not that you need to have it but it is most certainly helpful in being relatable
07:16to players especially guys that aren't far removed from the game which is the case in Andy Green and
07:21AJ Ellis so they've always been a fixture around baseball in the sense of when they were a player
07:26to obviously now working in front offices and coaching staffs and for AJ this is a big opportunity
07:31for him and for the Mets this is now another relatable mind added and again one can only hope
07:37that this will further benefit a guy like say I don't know Francisco Alvarez I also wonder if there's
07:42any prior connection between AJ and Luis Teren just because Teren's did start his career in San Diego
07:47a number of years ago but besides that um you know this is this is a hire that I'm really
07:52looking
07:52forward to there's a reason why there's such a high trend of catchers becoming really strong coaches
07:58at the major league level either as a manager or you know in the surrounding staff so I'm far from
08:04surprised to see the Mets make a hire this degree I'm excited that they did and I'm really intrigued to
08:10see what is now going to be next for them when we look at adding to their heading department
08:15because as we know Troy Snicker is not going anywhere he is staying staying as heading coach
08:20however it does appear that the Mets may want to hire someone above him in the heading director role
08:25which was initially the case with Jeff Albert before the Mets said we're not going to renew you
08:29in that spot for 2027 he may still stay in the organization but he won't be back in that role
08:34since you and I last spoke Dex uh the Mets did interview Kevin Lawn the former Mets heading coach that
08:40was recently with the Phillies uh but that did not go all that well because it became abundantly
08:44clear after interview that they were not necessarily going to be going in the same direction so Kevin
08:49Lawn the Mets swan and missed there for better for worse and then Mailey who is the assistant
08:54heading coach from the Cubs known for the great player development of one PCA soon to be uh you know
09:00going to be Mr. MVP when we talk about what he would have brought to the table that was enticing
09:05but
09:05instead he leveraged that in his favor got a pay raise by the Cubs and is staying put in Chicago
09:11after declining the Mets for interview so as the Mets continue to look to add to this heading department
09:17what is your thoughts on their approach and is there anyone out there that comes across your mind or
09:22a profile of an individual that sticks out I really was intrigued in Mailey although I thought that
09:28it was going to be a long shot to get him you know I right listen interest is you know
09:33I always say
09:33it's about free agency right news that comes out at this time to news and the rumors interest you
09:38know and coaches do this too they're trying to drive the price up and he probably liked where he was
09:43in
09:43Chicago and you know what they're trying to build there uh in the Windy City and now he got himself
09:48a little bit of a pay raise Kevin Long you and I talked about this a bit ago I wasn't
09:53against it I
09:54would love to know more about how that went were they philosophically apart were it was it more
10:01more financially that they were far apart we don't even I don't want to say that because we don't
10:06even know if Kevin Long was offered the job it just could have been in discussions people can be on
10:10yeah it could have been a normal convo and then you know that was it yeah so so we don't
10:15know um
10:17what I will say is I don't have a great deal of names out there in terms of what I'm
10:23thinking
10:23what I've been thinking about um and it seems like I don't know what the Mets will do it doesn't
10:28seem
10:28like they'll promote somebody from within I think this will be somebody externally I think the key
10:33for me would be I want to see a hitting coach that is going to really work with guys particularly
10:42guys
10:42who have been struggling in this on the Mets lineup and this is going to be the most notable person
10:46I
10:46think for a lot of fans is going to be Francisco Alvarez you know getting that getting those strikeout
10:50rates down taking quality of bats working pitchers making them work trying to get into the other
10:58team's bullpen as early as possible which is always the goal and that become the mindset for all the
11:04players and also with young players coming up or players in their second year like a Carson Bench
11:09or AJ Ewing who the league is going to adjust to working when working with them through the
11:16hardships and allowing them to still have the patience that is going to be required and I think
11:21fans should have patience with those guys too um because pitchers are going to adjust to them
11:25and they're going to have to make adjustments back and I think that's always the hardest thing for
11:28second year players in almost any sport but particularly in baseball so that's kind of what I'm looking for
11:33is somebody to come in and put their stamp and I'm going to tie this back in to be in
11:38lockstep
11:39with AJ Ellis and Andy Green right everybody's got to be on the same page so oh if you're yes
11:46go ahead
11:46that just reminded me speaking of AJ I want to make notes I said this I think before we started
11:52um I have connections with people who are you know very connected in the Padres organization
11:57and the universal thing I heard and replied to the news on them losing AJ Ellis is how much AJ
12:04Preller loves this guy okay so whatever you want to make of that go ahead but did they say what
12:10they
12:10loved about him they said that they loved his not only ability to relate with the players but just
12:15didn't really how he's the experience just rings true more than anything they didn't go into great
12:20detail they just said that you know he's someone that is really beloved around the organization
12:24that's like Preller's right hand man that's one of his go-to guys that's why he's been
12:28special assistant there and he's someone that really again has that relatability that they
12:33understand why Andy Green handpicked him as someone who coached him during their time in San Diego a
12:39number of years ago well let me say this I I know somebody might hear you say that Wardy and
12:43say oh
12:44well that's a bit vague right and that they just love course yeah but here's the thing being everybody
12:51at work isn't always going to love you but showing up to work and being liked is helpful in any
12:58job
12:58right yeah like people liking to work with you and not thinking you're a jerk matters here so and
13:04then you know I think the biggest thing I took out what she said that's why I asked her why
13:07was
13:08he's very you know players find him very relatable right he can connect with the players it's relatable
13:12I think that matters a lot I again I don't want to harp back on this too much but I
13:16think a lot of times
13:17in sports we focus very much on the x's and o's the strategy ironically this is what he's being hired
13:22to
13:22to do which is strategy for the Mets but the relationship stuff matters the people stuff
13:28matters so hearing that to me is encouraging that he's getting along with people players like him
13:33they like working with him I think that matters too I think that's going to matter a ton for whoever
13:38the next hitting coach is particularly the young players you know I've said this before in the show
13:45hitting coaches is not something I get too crazy about I think it matters more for young players than
13:50it does necessarily veterans on the team but I think how the hitting coach you know applies his
13:56strategy and philosophy with young players can mean a great deal so I think the Mets you know have to
14:02get that right because I think the players I'm probably most worried about in terms of hitting
14:06and their approach to play are young players like a Francisco Alvarez who's looking to adjust and be
14:12more productive at the plate and then also players like Carson Benj and AJ Ewing who will now see
14:17adjustments from pitchers in a year two right yeah no I agree and if these are going to be
14:23steps in the right direction continuing with that young player development that's a great sign for
14:27the Mets because they need to have this blend they can't be too reliant on having you know an aging
14:31core
14:31that's why they need to do what we see again it seemed like the Brewers famously did this year
14:36having such a beautiful blend of young uprising talent with some guys who have been there you know led by
14:41their captain and Christian Yelich who's been there for just under a decade now so having said that
14:47though to get on to our next and final topic when we talk about connections and the importance behind
14:53them obviously you know for better for worse at times right because David Stearns has connections
14:58but doesn't mean that those connections have necessarily led to success in either bringing
15:02players into the New York Mets or making certain hires at this point right however one of those hires
15:07that being in Derek Falvey who's now working as you know special advisor here for David Stearns his
15:12right-hand man in a lot of ways now with him and he's going to be working hand in hand
15:15we've seen
15:16Falvey's imprint already in the organization as the Mets made a recent scouting hire to their front
15:21office from a man who spent the previous 30 years or so there in the twins organization was part of
15:27with a month ago as the twins are finally cleaning house for a change that they haven't in a long
15:31time
15:31Mets pick him up because they know his familiarity with Falvey there Falvey was praising him naturally
15:36and the Mets also acquired a young right-hander I'm blanking the first name but last name
15:42all that we saw over the past 48 hours we'll get his first name here in a second who's been
15:47in the
15:47twins organization for a number of years and was developed under Derek Falvey's Minnesota Twins and
15:52the latest reporting now from Wolf Salmon here is the following that the New York Mets are not only
15:57seeking an external first base option for the 2027 season but there is a clear preference for a
16:03right-handed bat and when we talk of continued connection let's connect Derek Falvey with Ty France
16:09from the 2025 season and now AJ Ellis will tie France here in 2026 so what's your thoughts on
16:16all that my friend um and especially Ty France as the potential most logical fit for the Mets to
16:23acquire for first base so first thing that player you were talking about the pitcher that the Mets
16:28acquired Pearson Pearson Oll I mean I knew it was he I couldn't remember the remember the name um so
16:33Pearson Oll and you you like the the Mets trying to make these moves that guys they could maybe find
16:38some value on that is really good as far as the potential of the Mets adding a right-handed bat
16:45well hey guys you know what this means you probably aren't gonna have to see any more of Mark Vientos
16:50and it is it's about time and the Mets we talked about it they might want to go with a
16:56platoon
16:56situation they may want to go uh with a guy who's got a right-handed bat we have liked Ty
17:01France um I think
17:03he profiles well you could have some concerns about him coming off of a career year but because
17:08he's got the ties obviously to San Diego and now AJ Ellis there you have somebody who knows him a
17:13little
17:13bit somebody we just talked about who is good at working with players he might know his mindset he's
17:18a guy who Andy Green can ask David Stearns can ask and say hey you had conversations with him you
17:26worked
17:26with this guy in San Diego do you think he could handle the New York market I know Wardy that's
17:31something you bring up a lot um which I know people might say hey Wardy says this a lot I
17:36think it
17:36matters we know it matters everybody can't play here that's why I say it a lot because it does matter
17:41yeah it does for sure no no I'm just saying it's fine I'm glad you say it because you need
17:46to be
17:46repetitive on it because I also want to be clear it's not an easy thing it's I know you're not
17:51saying
17:52like hey there's this magic wand and you can just find a guy who can play in the New York
17:55market no
17:56it's not easy if it was right exact science everybody would just do it and the Mets would
18:00have had multiple championships and the best team ever which you know Mets fans I know you want
18:04however it's not that easy but having somebody that you can talk to about the mentality if Ty France
18:11does have the mentality to play here in Queens I think that's dope I think he fits the profile of
18:16what
18:16they want um I think that could help would you like a sexier name like a Sato yes but the
18:23Mets
18:23now reportedly been that they're not going to be in pursuit of him in that way that we thought
18:28but I think not as not as aggressive yes currently one one can hope that that changes but if if
18:36our
18:37guy will Sam is reporting it there's a solid chance that that may stay true throw out so right it
18:42might
18:42not be as aggressive and we all know as I've said before it's lying season and you know all these
18:47different things are put out there so you have to take it with a grain of salt to some degree
18:51but um
18:52yeah no I I think it'd be fine we talked about him a couple weeks ago when we did our
18:56show on
18:56first baseman I think it would be a fine move it'd be one I'd be fine with um is it
19:01your solution at
19:02first base for the next six years seven years no but I think it's a good stopgap move especially when
19:09you're coming off a year in which you banked on Jorge Polanco and Mark Vientos you you can do worse
19:14here and I think Ty France would be a good addition to this Mets ball club that needs a right
19:19-handed
19:19bad to play at first base yeah especially when you look at the slim pickings of options right now
19:24in the Frazier market right think about it it's not like Ty France has the QO attached to him it's
19:28not
19:28like he's a guy that has lacked availability in recent years which I think should be one of the
19:33most attractive things for the Mets to pursue this offseason uh literally since Ty France is let's go
19:38all the way back to 2021 it's been uh pretty much what five six years straight of him playing at
19:44least
19:44130 to 158 games that's what you want obviously and the Mets haven't had stability there unless it's
19:52Pete Alonzo so getting that stability is key I'm excited for them to get that stability hopefully if
19:58they land someone like him and yes Ty has fluctuated in his power output over the years you don't know
20:03if you're necessarily going to get more of a 15 home run guy or a 20 home run guy but
20:07he's coming off
20:08of an exciting year with the Padres who had an awesome year throughout I don't expect those
20:13offensive numbers to play up the same I think that they're a little inflated given the environment
20:17given the beautiful culture there in San Diego half year at Petco Park it is so contrasting from
20:22being on the east coast that that just it's so steady there is the main thing and you know what
20:27to expect res especially in the east coast that isn't the case I wonder how much that could factor
20:31in but I also know that if there's one thing to get back to the doubt with Ty France and
20:35maybe
20:35handling the east coast is that he had some very good early years with the Seattle Mariners and that's
20:40one of the hardest play plays to play as a hitter you know not only because of the poor weather
20:45but
20:45it's just not a ballpark that's been conducive to having consistent offensive success you type
20:50France batted 291 there and 274 you know among his first couple seasons after initially starting his
20:56career as a San Diego Padres so even if Ty is more in the range of a 10 to 20
21:02percent above league
21:03average hitter next year instead instead of being 40 percent and you know three and a half war you're still
21:09getting a bat that brings stability that the Mets want to give some reps to Jared Young would still
21:14be okay in that sense as long as I think Ty France is more of your go-to option between
21:19the two I don't
21:20love the idea of a platoon but it's clear that that is a route the Mets may still go down
21:23because there
21:23aren't slam dunk first base fits in the Frasian market unless Sato becomes that or if someone in the
21:30trade market really entices them that we aren't talking about at this point in time but what I probably have
21:36to say to put a bow on this is that Ty France is a very strong defender back-to-back
21:41years where he's
21:42in the 90th plus percentile now it's above average and was a gold glove winner last year that we saw
21:46for the Toronto Blue Jays at the end of the year after beginning the year that we saw with Derek
21:50Falvey's twins so we'll see what happens but Ty France I think is more than a fine profile what the
21:58Mets could have as a shorter term option after a space next season yeah I expect a short-term deal
22:03I think
22:04the thing we'll look at is what's the price going to be I like you would rather not have a
22:09platoon
22:09situation it's not ideal but I mean neither to be fair neither was what the Mets put out of first
22:15base last year so you know right and it's like if we want at least certainty he gives you a
22:21lot of
22:21certainty you know like him at his worst is still going to be greater certainty than many guys that we
22:27would be throwing out there because they're either not going to be healthy or they're not going to be
22:31hitting at all you know what I mean so right or or just the fact wordy that he knows how
22:36to play
22:36the position and he has reps there like that I know he has that edge over Sato as much as
22:42that
22:42frustrates me it's true you know Sato doesn't have first base reps really so that's still a risk that
22:47you'd be investing sure but there's a lot more upside with him yep no doubt about it yeah yep all
22:53right well Dex I know that we got a wrap here in a moment but before we do uh let's
22:58hit on this real
22:59quick regarding Tarek Scoble because John Heyman here at the post as we know uh did come out with
23:04reporting recently uh you know stating not only his thoughts but just you know the obvious regarding
23:09the Mets having a bit of an uphill battle if you will and um pursuing Tarek Scoble because
23:15a Scoble's from Arizona his family lives out there it's more ideal for him especially if he starts
23:21the spring training each of the next couple years even though there won't be that next year
23:24in say Arizona versus going all the way to Port St. Lucie um he already has a taste of what
23:29it's
23:29like to be in the Dodgers organization why wouldn't he want more so the Mets are really going to have
23:34to approach this in a way that's going to separate themselves from the rest to avoid this being a
23:38Yoshinobu Yamamoto Kyle Tucker Edwin Diaz Trevor Bauer circumstance all over again if you will but the
23:45one thing that was interesting that you highlighted at the start of today's show is Heyman pretty much
23:51staying how the Mets are not viewing Tarek Scoble in the in the same view as Juan Soto when it
23:57comes
23:57to pursuit so what is your takeaway from that and how far do you believe the Mets will be willing
24:02to
24:02go to land the two-time Cy Young Award winner yeah I found that I found that interesting from our
24:07colleague John um is reporting there in the column that he wrote because look the Mets are in a different
24:12place than they were two years ago they're coming off of the 2024 OMG season went to the NLCS two
24:19wins
24:19away from the World Series the whole thing everybody was feeling good and the Mets at that
24:23point were not they were considered to be in the mix for Soto but it was somewhat of a shock
24:28shock excuse me that the Mets won the Soto sweepstakes um they needed a player like Soto I don't want
24:36to
24:36say that they didn't I also feel like what's similar here is they absolutely need an ace there is no
24:43doubt
24:44about that they absolutely need an ace here's the thing folks that you got to think about that is a
24:50factor for everyone here this isn't just the Mets it's even factors into the Dodgers what if there is a
24:55salary cap right you're now going to add another we what we expect very high salary player whose agent
25:02is also Scott Boris who is all about getting the bag for his player as he should um how does
25:08that factor
25:09in and how aggressive the Mets will be that where they will want to go you can look at all
25:13these
25:13other teams there's teams you can talk about whether it's the Padres whether it's the Angels that are
25:17looking to make a splash you and I've talked about this earlier in the offseason um I think the Mets
25:23know they really need an ace it's gonna I wonder if this is I always say it's lying seasons it's
25:29a
25:29little bit of smokescreen action that's being put out here to say they maybe won't be as aggressive I
25:34think they know they badly need an ace and this is their time sure Scoobles 30 years old but the
25:41arm
25:41is what the arm is with him what I think you're battling against more than the money warty here
25:47this is the unknown this is the thing we don't know he's spent time already in the Dodgers organization
25:53all accounts are that he likes it there it is close to where he's from in Arizona so he an
25:58off
25:58days he could take a short plane ride home right how much of that will he value I don't know
26:05do I
26:06think Tariq Scooble could Tariq Scooble could pitch into the in the New York market yes I do pitch in
26:11LA
26:11that is pressure there's a lot of things I also want to caution Mets fans on one thing here
26:16and you mentioned it just because they have lost out air quotes on Yamamoto right on Kyle Tucker
26:27then a move that I didn't care for last year losing Edwin Diaz now Tucker and Diaz didn't have
26:33great seasons for the Dodgers in the way they wanted so you can't put that as the history of
26:39this is why David Stearns won't be able to land Scooble I don't think it's fair to put that but
26:44I do
26:44think that if the Mets I wonder how the Mets are looking at the rest of the pitching market
26:52and will they get to a point where they say yo we have to have him because if we're really
26:58serious
26:59about competing in 2027 you have to have him now in my opinion last thing I'm gonna say here is
27:03in my opinion the Mets have to have you have some talented young pitchers in this rotation which I'm
27:09sure we'll get further into and you could tell me there's other ways you can go you can go get
27:13Michael King you know you can you can do these other options that are a little bit low cost and
27:18spread it out but I do think you need a bona fide ace knows how to pitch as an ace
27:22knows how to pitch
27:23in a big market and has done it go out and get Scooble you're probably gonna get into a bidding
27:28war
27:28are the Dodgers gonna be as aggressive you're the team that's trying to get to where the Dodgers are
27:35so I think it's very important that you are more aggressive here right maybe I agree maybe this is
27:41early stuff to throw the Dodgers off to maybe get Scott Boris to pick up the phone and say hey
27:46hey I need y'all to pay my client a little bit more maybe that's it I don't know I
27:53think the Mets
27:53this this is I don't want to say Wardy it's as important as Soto because I do think it's a
28:01different time the Mets were coming off of good vibes the you're not the vibes are not terrible
28:06with the Mets right now considering how they finished 2026 but they're also not amazing
28:10no pun intended so you gotta you want to win in 2027 assuming there's baseball you gotta you gotta
28:18be serious and go get somebody like Scooble that's that's how I feel we'll see how we'll know how
28:23serious they are because further reports will come out about money that's what the money and where
28:30you're willing to go will tell me how serious you are for sure and it does appear that Scooble
28:36will sign before the lockout as Scott Boris is gonna be pushing very hard to do so when we think
28:41of the teams that are in his markets obviously the Mets and the Dodgers is the most obvious ones
28:44according to Jeff Passan where he kissed you of ESPN is calling them the favorites favorites already
28:49I'm saying it you know basically with confidence and you have the Angels our team to obviously watch
28:55the Padres Cubs can be in that mix lurking a bit but for me when I think about the Scooble
29:00sweepstakes
29:01and not just you know the importance of pursuing a talent like him I also just think about the fact
29:06and you know how he impacts more than just what you're getting from a five to a seven war player
29:12where he and Juan Soto alone would be giving you anywhere from 10 to 12 wins combine each of the
29:19next hopefully four to five years at least hopefully that's unbelievable the type of output so when we
29:25think about oh well do we need to take every page on the Dodgers playbook or why can't we take
29:30more
29:30pages out of the Brewers who David Stearns helped build and that is factual a lot of the players
29:34are stars for the Brewers right now David Stearns either drafted or acquired that's an absolute fact
29:40the point here though is that you need a blend if you're in this market that the Mets are right
29:44because the Mets aren't as good as the Brewers when it comes to player development nor are they as
29:49posh as an organization when it comes to fundamental play yes they have Juan Soto as their front man but
29:54they need a bit more of a supporting cast and their rotation for as exciting as it is implementing
30:00Scooble would do monumental things for the McLeans the Thorntons the Scots the Tons the Santucci's and
30:07so on and so forth to the world that would change everything about how not only the younger guys
30:12approach but how they can really buy into oh my god the highest paid starter in baseball is my teammate
30:18you know and is the guy that I'm picking his brain on each and every day it's like how Mets
30:22pitchers
30:23around DeGrom would line up literally like it's like watching someone you're looking at a line in
30:29a zoo because it was just like so like jaw-dropping to look at like that's the kind of approach
30:35that'll
30:35happen if Scooble's here but he has a type of I think extrovertedness where he's going to be light
30:40he's going to be fun but he's going to know how to lock in and throw those FUs on the
30:44mound
30:44what I feel with Tarek Scooble I think is so eerily similar and maybe it's just because of the
30:49overlap this is going to be the Max Scherzer situation 2.0 and here's why Max Scherzer was
30:55traded from outlet pardon me from the Nationals to LA in the 2021 season right along with Trey Turner
31:00they have a playoff run they fall short okay did the Dodgers need Scherzer no do they want him back
31:07yes absolutely but Scherzer as a Scott Boris Klein was seeking a record-breaking contract and what were
31:13facing a lockout that began in the start of December the Mets Steve Cohen Scott Boris they
31:19make record-breaking contract happen rest is history fast forward four years later same scenario it'll
31:24be a record-breaking contract again for a talent that'll impact you far greater and far longer
31:29than Scherzer ever did in a Mets uniform that's the difference there's just there's enough overlap
31:34here to suggest that the Mets don't land Scooble it's not going to be for lack of effort but it's
31:39going
31:39to be because he doesn't want to come here or truly that you know he gets swayed in a way
31:43that
31:43like I think if it's not the Dodgers and they're winning ways obviously I do look at the Angels with
31:49a level of concern where they throw just an absurd amount of money and say hey you can stay close
31:53to
31:54home with your family and you're going to get beautiful weather and you're going to be part of
31:58the new face of this organization that could be a buy-in for him in ways that maybe the Mets
32:03can't sell
32:04to the same degree even though he'd be the face of their rotation so a lot of questions still lie
32:09regardless of the Mets being labeled as early favorites or not either way every step of the
32:13way when it comes to Scooble and these sweepstakes we'll be covering it here on the New York Post
32:16Sports YouTube channel for straight out flushing for each and every one of you so Dexter as always
32:21great conversation my friend breaking down the latest in Mets land everybody make sure to be on the
32:26lookout for our next episode that'll be dropping sometime this Friday we got plenty more to get into
32:30including the Mets continued pursuit of starters not just named Tarek Scooble so Dex before we get
32:36out of here what are your closing thoughts my friend my closing thoughts I want to piggyback on
32:40one thing you just said there sure because you made that Scherzer comp which is interesting and
32:45obviously you made you made the point that Tarek Scooble at a much different place in his career and
32:50you're signing him to a deal which can impact this team much longer term than Max Scherzer did this is
32:56an important potential free agent signing for me with the Mets not because of what it can just do
33:01for the young players because of what it can do just for their standing of getting an ace which they
33:05haven't done a long time this would be the most important Mets pitching free agent signing since
33:10they signed Johan Santana you got to go back because that's the last like true dominant lefty this
33:16team has had yeah yeah and and he would be that guy and it would impact that rotation now I
33:21know people
33:22going to tell me oh well the Mets didn't win well Johan Santana and all that stuff sure but I
33:27think
33:27with this team of what they're trying to do and the blend of what you talked about with the young
33:31the young players and the vets and bringing in free agent signings that have impact I think there's
33:35many different ways to build a baseball team everybody doesn't have to do it like the Milwaukee
33:39Brewers and I think the Mets have to have the balance of hitting on the right free agent signings
33:42I do think Scooble's one of them I do think Soto was one of them and also bringing some young
33:47talent I
33:48think this would be a huge step towards the Mets to getting to where they want to be in
33:522027 oh I 100% agree and that's why we're going to continue to follow every step of the way
33:57no matter how much you guys get sick or tired of the Tarek school sweepstakes over the next number
34:01of weeks all right so with that being said everybody that is the amazing Dexter Henry I'm your guy Tyler
34:07Ward be on the lookout for more things New York Mets here on the New York Post Sports YouTube channel
34:11peace out everybody peace
34:22peace out all right
34:23peace out all right
34:24peace out all right
34:25peace out all right
34:25peace out all right
34:25peace out all right