Mets Make Exciting Hire, Ty France & Tarik Skubal Pursuits | Straight Outta Flushing

How we doing everybody? It's Tyler Ward aka Wardy again and that is my guy Dexter Henry and our latest episode here straight out of Flushing on the New York Post Sports YouTube channel or wherever you get your podcasts. We have to deep dive all the latest in Mets land as there's a lot happening in the text right now between new hires for this coaching staff, an exciting one that transpired today that we're going to deep dive as well as more on the latest with Tarik Skubal and what the Mets are looking for in adding to their lineup. So Before we get into all these topics today, one, how are you doing today, my friend? And two, what topic are you most looking forward to getting into? I'm good, man. I can't believe we're already here in November. And I'll tell you what, because people know, if you know this about me, cold weather is coming. I'm happy that we're still enjoying some beautiful fall weather here in November. It's high 73 today. It's gorgeous. I'm loving it, because we don't know how long it's going to last. So I am absolutely loving it. Um... In terms of what, you asked me what topic I'm most interested in talking about today, I'd probably be interested in what we'll probably hit towards the end of this episode, which is talking about Tarik Skubal and where the Mets are and how their approach might be different than even we saw from Juan Soto a couple years ago, because they're in such a different place. We're going to get into that more, so I'm excited to talk about that. Oh, likewise. I mean, Skubal is going to be a constant for better or for worse. We're now up until the lockout a month from now. So nonetheless, if you guys love it or hate it, it's going to continue to happen. No different than when we talked about Soto, another key player pursuits in previous off seasons. But with that being said, Dex, let's hop right into this because we've been talking about the Mets coaching staff, right? And while the Mets are still looking to add a heading director that we're going to wrap our conversation on the coaching staff on here in a couple of minutes, let's start with their latest hire. This is an exciting one, at least to myself and to many who have since reacted to the news. Initially broken from friend here, that being Will Salmon of The Athletic, stating the following that the New York Mets are hiring former MLB catcher A.J. Ellis to their major league coaching staff as strategy coordinator. And Ellis, the former catcher, adds more major league playing experience to the staff in a significant way. First and foremost, what was your immediate reaction to the hire, Dex? And secondly, what would you maybe like to know more about him in case you don't know at this point in time? Yeah, so my immediate reaction to the hire, and it's with a lot of hires in these pieces, I'm always intrigued to see how these pieces are going to fit. But what we're seeing a lot, and I'm sure we're going to dive into this, Wardy, is you're seeing a lot of the hires that the Mets are doing to reshape their coaching staff in the front office, right? It is going to be. Based on connections, because guys, that's how everything works in this world. It is always about connections, who you know, people you're familiar with, people that you trust. So when you look at AJ Ellis and the fact that he has worked in the San Diego Padres organization, that he's got a tie to Andy Green. How does that then work out here? And Andy Green, when you're talking about somebody who's going to lead strategy, you want somebody that you're comfortable strategizing with, talking with, understands the mind, understands how you work, how they work. So I do find that interesting. What I will say sometimes too, and Wardy, I'm intrigued how you think about this too. Comfortability is good, but as we talked about, too, when we talked about David Stearns before Falvey came into the front office, right, it's do you also still need people to push you, right, as well, too? And if that's going to happen with the collaborative approach, with the comfortability, I think that could be a good thing. Here's the other thing, too. You know, the fact that A.J. Ellis, a former catcher, and many people know him from his time with the Dodgers, It's an interesting thing, too. We've always heard the thing about how catchers can translate sometimes well to good managers because of how they see the game. They have to work with people. They have to work with pitchers. They have to handle coaching staffs. That I find interesting. You're getting another guy here who has worked at the major league level, has had to work with different personalities, different pitchers. So when it comes to strategy, I don't think it's always as much as this is how we're going to play. This is how we're going to approach the game. It's also understanding guys in the clubhouse, what they need, what is going to push them, who they work well with. All those things matter. So if A.J. Ellis is on the same page as Andy Green. I think this could be a dope hire. Now, we don't know any of this until we start playing the games and we see the strategy actually unfold. But I like how the Mets are thinking of going with getting, not just to be comfortable, because I don't want to just land solely on that word, guys that people in the front office and coaching staff are comfortable with, but understanding that having like-mindedness, right, while still being able to step outside the box at times can be good. And we'll see how it all shakes out. But listen, I'll say this. As we go into 2027, if there's a season, I think getting fresh new voices around some of the culture you already saw that was starting to build once Andy Green took over is a good thing. So I'm excited to see how these new voices, these new ideas all shape out. But I think more that I'd want to know to just answer the second part of your question, Wardy, is what is his strategy in particular in approaching, specifically in terms of hitting? Because we talked about run prevention. That was a big thing we went into last offseason. We heard from David Stearns, right? And run prevention. And, well, the Mets didn't necessarily value that when they went and got somebody like Jorge Polanco, but that's a whole other story. In terms of hitting approach, and I know that'll come to what we talk about with the eventual new hitting coach, I am very intrigued to see what the strategy is in terms of that, how they want to play, how they plan to adapt to other different teams, particularly in their own division. So, That's something I want to know more about from AJ Ellis. I know we probably won't find out more of that until we get close to the spring training, but it is something I'd be intrigued to learn. Yeah, there's a lot of things I'm excited to find more about when it comes to AJ Ellis, but my first knee-jerk reaction to this was, oh, okay, that's Clayton Kershaw's guy. That's actually kind of notable considering the fact that while he's not coming in as necessarily the Mets catching coach in a way that is the case currently with JPR and CBio, which I hope we see more out of next year. AJ, though, was a fantastic catcher during his time with the Dodgers and caught Kershaw more than any other catcher. I mean, over 800 innings we're talking here. And that span, Kershaw had a sub-2 ERA. So not only did we see Ellis do a fantastic job, one of the best southpaws that we've ever witnessed in recent years, but especially doing it in a big market like LA is notable. Then you add the fact of... Where's he coming from? The San Diego Padres, obviously, in which he was most recently a special assistant there. And going back to what we were talking about with relationships, we'll get into how Derek Falvey also falls in that category into our next topic here shortly, plenty. But especially here when we talk on Andy Green managing this same A.J. Ellis when he was, of course, manager there in San Diego all those years ago. Having those minds together again is exciting. And having this type of big league experience in your dugout, I just think is mightily important, okay? It's not that you need to have it, but it is certainly helpful in being relatable to players, especially guys that aren't far removed from the game, which is the case in Andy Green and A.J. Ellis. So they've always been a fixture around baseball in the sense of when they were a player, to obviously now working in front offices and coaching staffs. And for A.J., this is a big opportunity for him. And for the Mets, this is now another relatable mind added. And again, one can only hope that this will further benefit a guy like, say, I don't know, Francisco Alvarez. I also wonder if there's any prior connection between AJ and Luis Torrens just because Torrens did start his career in San Diego a number of years ago. But besides that, you know, this is this is a hire that I'm really looking forward to. There's a reason why there's such a high trend of catchers becoming really strong coaches at the major league level, either as a manager. Or, you know, and the surrounding staff. So I'm far from surprised to see the Mets make a hire this degree. I'm excited that they did. And I'm really intrigued to see what is now going to be next for them when we look at adding to their hitting department. Because as we know, Troy Snicker is not going anywhere. He's staying as hitting coach. However, it does appear that the Mets may want to hire someone above him in a hitting director role, which was initially the case with Jeff Albert before the Mets said, we're not going to renew you. And that spot for 2027, he may still stay in the organization, but he won't be back in that role. Since you and I last spoke, Dex, the Mets did interview Kevin Long, the former Mets hitting coach that was recently with the Phillies. But that did not go all that well because it became abundantly clear after interview that they were not necessarily going to be going in the same direction. So Kevin Long, the Mets just want to miss there for better or for worse. And then Mealy, who is the assistant hitting coach from the Cubs known for the great player development PCA soon to be, you know, going to be Mr. MVP when we talk about what he would have brought to the table that was enticing, but instead he leveraged that in his favor, got a pay raise by the Cubs and is staying put in Chicago after declining the Mets for interview. So as the Mets continue to look to add to this hitting department. What is your thoughts on their approach? And is there anyone out there that comes across your mind or a profile of an individual that sticks out? I really was intrigued in Mealy, although I thought that it was going to be a long shot to get him. You know, listen, interest is, you know, I always say it's about free agency, right? And news that comes out at these times and using the rumors. Interest, you know, and coaches do this too. They're trying to drive the price up and he probably liked where he was in Chicago and, you know, what they're trying to build there. In the Windy City, and now he got himself a little bit of a pay raise. Kevin Long, you and I talked about this a bit ago. I wasn't against it. I would love to know more about how that went. Were they philosophically apart? Was it more financially that they were far apart? We don't even know. I don't want to say that because we don't even know if Kevin Long was offered a job. It just could have been in discussions. People can be on. Yeah, it could have just been a normal convo and then, you know, that was it. Yeah. So we don't know. I What I will say is I don't have a great deal of names out there don't in terms of what I'm thinking, what I've been thinking about. And it seems like, I don't know what the Mets will do. It doesn't seem like they'll promote somebody from within. I think this will be somebody externally. know. I think the key for me would be, I want to see a hitting coach that is going to really work with guys, particularly guys who have been struggling in this on the Mets lineup. And this is going to be the most notable person, I think for a lot of fans, is going to be Francisco Alvarez. Getting those strikeout rates down, taking quality at-bats, working pitchers, making them work, trying to get into the other team's bullpen as early as possible, which is always the goal, and that becomes the mindset for all the players. And also, with young players coming up or players in their second year, like a Carson Bench or A.J. Ewing, who the league is going to adjust to. Working when working with them through the hardships and allowing them to still have the patience that is going to be required. And I think fans should have patience with those guys, too, because pitchers are going to adjust to them. They're going to have to make adjustments back. And I think that's always the hardest thing for second year players in almost any sport, but particularly in baseball. So that's kind of what I'm looking for is somebody to come in and put their stamp. And I'm going to tie this back in to be in lockstep. With AJ Ellis and Andy Green, right? Everybody's got to be on the same page. So if you're, yes, go ahead. That just reminded me. Speaking of AJ, I want to make notes. I said this, I think, before we started. I have connections with people who are, you know, very connected in the Padres organization. And the universal thing I heard in reply to the news on them losing AJ Ellis is how much AJ Preller loves this guy. Okay, so. Whatever you want to make of that, go ahead. Did they say what they loved about him? They said that they loved his not only ability to relate with the players, but just in really how he's, the experience just rings true more than anything. They didn't go into great detail. They just said that, you know, he's someone that is really beloved around the organization. That's like Preller's right-hand man. That's one of his go-to guys. That's why he's been special assistant there. And he's someone that really, again, has that relatability that they understand why Andy Green. Hand-picked him as someone who coached him during their time in San Diego a number of years ago. Well, let me say this. I know somebody might hear you say that, Wardy, and say, oh, well, that's a bit vague, right? And that they just love him. Well, of course, yeah. But here's the thing. Being, everybody at work isn't always going to love you, but showing up to work and being liked is helpful in any job, right? Like people liking to work with you and not thinking you're a jerk matters here. So, and then, you know, I think the biggest thing I took out of what you said, and that's why I asked her why was. He's very, you know, players find him very relatable, right? He can connect with the players. It's relatable. I think that matters a lot. Again, I don't want to harp back on this too much, but I think a lot of times in sports, we focus very much on the X's and O's, the strategy. Ironically, this is what he's being hired to do, which is strategy for the Mets. But. The relationship stuff matters. The people stuff matters. So hearing that to me is encouraging that he's getting along with people. Players like him. They like working with him. I think that matters too. I think that's going to matter a ton for whoever the next hitting coach is, particularly the young players. You know, I've said this before in the show, hitting coaches is not something I get too crazy about. I think it matters more for young players than it does necessarily veterans on the team. But I think how the hitting coach You know, applies his strategy and philosophy with young players can mean a great deal. So I think the Mets, you know, have to get that right because I think the players I'm probably most worried about in terms of hitting and their approach to the plate are young players like Francisco Alvarez, who's looking to adjust and be more productive at the plate. And then also players like Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing, who will now see adjustments from pitchers in year two. Right. Yeah, no, I agree. And if these are going to be steps in the right direction, continuing with that young player development, that's a great sign for the Mets because they need to have this blend. They can't be too reliant on having, you know, an aging core. That's why they need to do what we see. Again, it seemed like the Brewers famously did this year, having such a beautiful blend of young uprising talent with some guys who have been there, you know, led by their captain and Christian Yelich, who's been there for just under a decade Having said that, though, to get on to our next and final topic, when we talk about connections and the importance behind them, obviously, you know, for better or for worse at times, right? Because David Stearns has connections, but it doesn't mean that those connections have necessarily led to success in either bringing players into the New York Mets or making certain hires at this point, right? However, one of those hires, that being in Derek Falvey, who is now working as, you know, special advisor here for David Stearns, his right-hand man in a lot of ways now with him, and he's going to be working hand-in-hand. We've seen Falvey's imprint already in the organization as the Mets made a recent scouting hire to their front office from a man who spent the previous 30 years or so there in the Twins organization, was part of it a month ago as the Twins are finally cleaning house for a change that they haven't in a long time. Mets pick him up because they know his familiarity with Falvey there. Falvey was praising him naturally. And the Mets also acquired a young right-hander. I'm blanking on the first name, but last name, Ole. We'll get his first name here in a second, who's been in the twins organization for a number of years and was developed under Derek Falvey's Minnesota twins. And the latest reporting now from Wolf Salmon here is the following that the New York Mets are not only seeking an external first base option for the 2027 season, but there is a clear preference for a right-handed bat. And when we talk of continued connection, let's connect Derek Falvey with Ty France from the 2025 season. And now AJ Ellis will tie France here in 2026. So what's your thoughts on all of that, my friend? And especially tie France as the potential most logical fit for the Mets to acquire for first base. So first thing, that player you were talking about, the pitcher that the Mets acquire, Pearson, Pearson, all. I mean, I couldn't remember the remember the name. So Pearson all. And you like the Mets trying to make these moves that guys, they could maybe find some value on. That is really good. As far as the potential of the Mets adding a right-handed bat, Well, hey, guys, you know what this means? You probably aren't going to have to see any more of Mark Bientos. And it is about time. And the Mets, we talked about it. They might want to go with a platoon situation. They may want to go with a guy who's got a right-handed bat. We have liked Ty France. I think he profiles well. You could have some concerns about him coming off of a career year. But because he's got the ties, obviously, to San Diego and now AJ Ellis there, you have somebody who knows him a little bit, somebody we just talked about who is good at working with players. He might know his mindset. He's a guy who Andy Green can ask. David Stearns can ask and say, hey. You had conversations with him. You worked with this guy in San Diego. Do you think he can handle the New York market? I know, Wardy, that's something you bring up a lot, which I know people might say, hey, Wardy says this a lot. I think it matters. We know it matters. Everybody can't play here. That's why I say it a lot, because it does matter. It does. For sure. No, no, no. I'm just saying, it's fine. I'm glad you say it, because you need to be repetitive on it, because I also want to be clear. It's not. An easy thing is I know you're not saying like, hey, there's this magic wand and you can just find a guy who can play in the New York market. No, it's not easy. If it was an exact science, everybody would just do it and the Mets would have had multiple championships and the best team ever, which, you know, Mets fans, I know you want. However, it's not that easy. But having somebody that you can talk to about the mentality, if Ty France does have the mentality to play here in Queens. I think that's dope. I think he fits the profile of what they want. I think that could help. Would you like a sexier name like Asato? Yes, but the Mets now reportedly that they're not going to be in pursuit of him in that way that we thought. We're not as aggressive currently. One can hope that that changes, but if our guy Will Sam is reporting it, there's a solid chance that that may stay true throughout. Right, it might not be as aggressive, and we all know, as I've said before, it's lying season, and all these different things are put out there. So you have to take it with a grain of salt to some degree. But yeah, no, I think it'd be fine. We talked about him a couple weeks ago when we did our show on first baseman. I think it would be a fine move. It'd be one I'd be fine with. Is it your solution at first base for the next six years, seven years? No, but I think it's a good stopgap move, especially when you're coming off a year in which you banked on Jorge Polanco and Mark Vientos. You can do worse here. And I think Ty France would be a good addition to this Mets ball club that needs a right-handed bat to play at first base. Yeah, especially when you look at the slim pickings of options right now in the free agent market, right? Think about it. It's not like Ty France has the QO attached to him. It's not like he's a guy that has lacked availability in recent years, which I think should be one of the most attractive things for the Mets to pursue this offseason. Literally, since Ty France's, let's go all the way back to 2021. It's been pretty much, what, five, six years straight of him playing at least 130 to 158 games. That's what you want, obviously. And the Mets haven't had stability there unless it's Pete Alonso. So getting that stability is key. I'm excited for them to get that stability. Hopefully, if they land someone like him. And yes, Ty has fluctuated in his power output over the years. You don't know if you're necessarily going to get more of a 15 home run guy or a 20 home run guy. But he's coming off of an exciting year with the Padres who had an awesome year throughout. I don't expect those offensive numbers to play up the same. I think that they're a little inflated, given the environment, given the beautiful culture there in San Diego half the year at Petco Park. It is so contrasting from being on the East Coast. It's so steady there is the main thing, and you know what to expect, Rez, especially on the East Coast. That isn't the case. I wonder how much that could factor in. But I also know that if there's one thing to get back into the doubt with Ty France and maybe handling the East Coast is that he had some very good early years with the Seattle Mariners, and that's one of the hardest places. places to play as a hitter, you know, not only because of the poor weather, but it's just not a ballpark that's been conducive to having consistent offensive success. You know Ty France batted .291 there and .274, you know, among his first couple seasons after initially starting his career as a San Diego Padres. So even if Ty's more in the range of a 10 to 20 percent above league average hitter next year instead, instead of being 40 percent and, you know, three and a half WAR. You're still getting a bat that brings stability that the Mets want to give some reps to Jared Yon would still be okay in that sense, as long as I think Ty France is more of your go-to option between the two. I don't love the idea of a platoon, but it's clear that that is a route the Mets may still go down because there aren't slam dunk first base fits in the free agent market unless. Sato becomes that, or if someone in the trade market really entices him that we aren't talking about at this point in time. But what I probably have to say to put a bow on this is that Ty France is a very strong defender. Back-to-back years where he's in the 90 plus percentile and out above average. That was a Gold Glove winner last year that we saw for the Toronto Blue Jays at the end of the year after beginning of the year that we saw with Derek Falvey's Twins. So We'll see what happens. But Ty France, I think, is more than a fine profile what the Mets could have as a shorter-term option after his phase next season. Yeah, I expect a short-term deal. I think the thing we'll look at is what's the price going to be. I, like you, would rather not have a platoon situation. It's not ideal. But I mean, to be fair, neither was what the Mets put out at first base last year. So, you know, right. And it's like, if we want at least certainty, he gives you a lot of certainty, you know, like him at his worst is still going to be greater certainty than many guys that we would be throwing out there because they're either not going to be healthy or they're not going to be hitting at all. You know what I mean? So, right. Or just the fact, Warnie, that. He knows how to play the position and he has reps there like that. I know he has that edge over Sato as much as that frustrates me. It's true. You know, Sato doesn't have first base reps really. So that's still a risk that you'd be investing. Sure. But there's a lot more upside with him. Yep. No doubt about it. Yeah. Yep. All right. Well, Dex, I know that we got to wrap here in a moment. But before we do, let's hit on this real quick regarding Tarek Scoble, because John Heyman here at The Post, as we know, did come out with a reporting recently, you know, stating not only his thoughts, but just, you know, the obvious regarding the Mets having a bit of an uphill battle, if you will, and pursuing Tarik Skubal because, A, Skubal's from Arizona. His family lives out there. It's more ideal for him, especially if he starts the spring training each of the next couple of years, even though there won't be that next year and say Arizona versus going all the way to Fort St. Lucy. He already has a taste of what it's like to be in the Dodgers organization. Why wouldn't you want more? So the Mets are really going to have to approach this in a way that's going to separate themselves and the rest to avoid this being a Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Kyle Tucker, Edwin Diaz, Trevor Bauer circumstance all over again, if you will. But the one thing that was interesting that you highlighted at the start of today's show is Heyman pretty much saying how the Mets are not viewing Tarik Skubal in the same view as Juan Soto when it comes to pursuit. So what is your takeaway from that? And how far do you believe the Mets will be willing to go to land the two-time Cy Young Award winner? Yeah, I found that interesting from my colleague, John. is reporting there in a column that he wrote because, look, the Mets are in a different place than they were two years ago. They're coming off of the 2024 OMG season, went to the NLCS, two wins away from the World Series, the whole thing. Everybody was feeling good. And the Mets at that point were not, they were considered to be in the mix for Soto, but it was somewhat of a shock, excuse me, that the Mets won the Soto sweepstakes. They needed a player like Soto. I don't want to say that they didn't. I also feel like what's similar here is. They absolutely need an ace. There is no doubt about that. They absolutely need an ace. Here's the thing, folks, that you got to think about that is a factor for everyone here. This isn't just the Mets. It even factors into the Dodgers. What if there is a salary cap? You're now going to add another, what we expect, very high-salary player whose agent is also Scott Boras, who is all about getting the bag for his player, as he should. How does that factor in in how aggressive the Mets will be, where they will want to go? You can look at all these other teams. There's teams you can talk about, whether it's the Padres, whether it's the Angels that are looking to make a splash. You and I have talked about this earlier in the offseason. We'll I think the Mets know they really need an ace. It's going to, I wonder if this is, I would say it's lying season. see There's a little bit of smokescreen action you that's being put out here to say they maybe won't be as aggressive. I think they know they badly need an ace and this is their time. next Sure, Skubal's 30 years old, but the arm is what the arm is with him. time. What I think you're battling against more than the money, Wardy, here. This is the unknown. This is the thing we don't know. He's spent time already in the Dodgers organization. All accounts are that he likes it there. It is close to where he's from in Arizona. So in off days, he could take a short plane ride home. Right. How much of that will he value? I don't know. Do I think Tarik Skubal could pitch in the New York market? Yes, I do. Pitch in LA, that is pressure. There's a lot of things. I also want to caution Mets fans on one thing here. And you mentioned it. Just because they have lost out, air quotes, on Yamamoto, right? On Kyle Tucker. A move that I didn't care for last year, losing Edwin Diaz. Now, Tucker and Diaz didn't have great seasons for the Dodgers in the way they wanted. So you can't put that as the history of this is why David Stearns won't be able to land Skubal. I don't think it's fair to put that. But I do think that if the Mets, I wonder how the Mets are looking at the rest of the pitching market. And will they get to a point where they say, yo, we have to have him? Because if we're really serious about competing in 2027, you have to have him. Now, in my opinion, last thing I'm going to say here is, in my opinion, the Mets have to have him. You have some talented young pitchers in this rotation, which I'm sure we'll get further into. And you could tell me there's other ways you can go. You can go get Michael King. You know, you can do these other options that are a little bit low cost and spread it out. But I do think you need a bona fide ace who knows how to pitch as an ace, who knows how to pitch in a big market, and has done it. Go out and get Schubel. You're probably going to get into a bidding war. Are the Dodgers going to be as aggressive? You're the team that's trying to get to where the Dodgers are. I think it's very important that you are more aggressive here, right? I agree. Maybe this is early stuff to throw the Dodgers off, to maybe get Scott Boras to pick up the phone and say, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey. I need you all to pay my client a little bit more. Maybe that's it. I don't know. I think the Mets, this is, I don't want to say, Wardy, it's as important as Soto because I do think it's a different time. The Mets were coming off of good vibes. You're not, the vibes are not. Terrible with the Mets right now, considering how they finished 2026, but they're also not amazing. No pun intended. So you got it. You want to win in 2027, assuming there's baseball. You got to, you got to be serious and go get somebody like Schubel. That's, that's how I feel. We'll see how soon we'll know how serious they are because further reports will come out about money. That's what the money and where you're willing to go. We'll tell me how serious you are. For sure. And it does appear that Schubel will sign before the lockout as Scott Borges is going to be pushing very hard to do so. When we think of the teams that are in his markets, obviously the Mets and the Dodgers is the most obvious ones, according to Jeff Passan. Maria Castillo of ESPN is calling them the favorites already, saying it basically with confidence. Then you have the Angels, our team, to obviously watch. The Padres, Cubs can be in that mix lurking a bit. But for me, when I think about the Scooble sweepstakes And not just, you know. The importance in pursuing a talent like him. I also just think about the fact in, you know, how he impacts more than just what you're getting from a five to a seven WAR player where he and Juan Soto alone would be giving you anywhere from 10 to 12 wins combined each of the next, hopefully four to five years, at least. That's unbelievable. The type of output. So when we think about, oh, well, do we need to take every page out of the Dodgers playbook Why can't we take more pages out of the Brewers who David Stearns helped build? And that is factual. A lot of the players are stars for the Brewers right now. David Stearns either drafted or acquired. That's an absolute fact. The point here, though, is that you need a blend if you're in this market that the Mets are, right? Because the Mets aren't as good as the Brewers when it comes to player development, nor are they as polished as an organization when it comes to fundamental play. Yes, they have Juan Soto as their front man, but they need a bit more of a supporting cast. Their rotation, for as exciting as it is, implementing Scooble would do monumental things for the McLeans, the Thordens, the Scots, the Tons, the Santuccis, and so on and so forth to the world. That would change everything about how not only the younger guys approach, but how they can really buy into, oh my God, the highest paid starter in baseball is my teammate, you know, and is the guy that I'm picking his brain on each and every day. It's like how Mets pitchers around DeGrom would line up Literally, it's like watching someone, you're looking at a lion in a zoo because it was just so jaw-dropping to look at. That's the kind of approach that'll happen if Scooble's here, but he has a type of, I think, extrovertedness where he's going to be light, he's going to be fun, but he's going to know how to lock in and throw those FUs on the mound. What I feel with Tarik Skubal, I think is so eerily similar, and maybe it's just because of the overlap. This is going to be the Max Scherzer situation 2.0, and here's why. Max Scherzer was traded from the Nationals to L.A. in the 2021 season, right? Along with Trey Turner. They have a playoff run. They fall short. Okay. Did the Dodgers need Scherzer? No. Do they want him back? Yes, absolutely. But Scherzer, as a Scott Boras client, was seeking a record-breaking contract. And what were we facing? A lockout that began in the start of December. The Mets, Steve Cohen, Scott Boras, they make record-breaking contract happen. Rest is history. Fast forward four years later. Same scenario, it'll be a record-breaking contract again for a talent that'll impact you far greater and far longer than Scherzer ever did in a Mets uniform. That's the difference. There's just, there's enough overlap here to suggest that the Mets don't land Skubal. It's not going to be for lack of effort, but it's going to be because he doesn't want to come here or truly that, you know, he gets swayed in a way that, like, I think if it's not the Dodgers in their winning ways, obviously. I do look at the Angels with a level of concern where they throw just an absurd amount of money and say, hey, you can stay close to home with your family and you're going to get beautiful weather and you're going to be part of the new face of this organization. That could be a buy-in for him in ways that maybe the Mets can't sell to the same degree, even though he'd be the face of their rotation. So a lot of questions still lie, regardless of the Mets being labeled as early favorites or not. Either way, every step of the way when it comes to school and these sweepstakes, we'll be covering it here. on the New York Post Sports YouTube channel for straight-out flushing for each and every one of you. So, Dexter, as always, great conversation, my friend, breaking down the latest in Mets land. Everybody, make sure to be on the lookout for our next episode that I'll be dropping sometime this Friday. We've got plenty more to get into then, including the Mets' continued pursuit of starters, not just named Tarik Skubal. So, Dex, before we get out of here, what are your closing thoughts, my friend? My closing thoughts, I want to piggyback on one thing you just said there. Sure. Because you made that Scherzer comp. Which is interesting. And obviously, you made the point that Tarik Skubal had a much different place in his career and you're signing him to a deal which can impact this team much longer term than Max Scherzer did. This is an important potential free agent signing for me with the Mets. Not because of what it can just do for the young players, but because of what it can do just for their standing of getting an ace, which they haven't done in a long time. This would be the most important Mets pitching free agent signing since they signed Johan Santana. You got to go back because that's the last like true dominant lefty. This Mets team has had. Yeah. Yeah. And, and he would be that guy and it would impact that rotation. Now I know people are going to tell me oh well the Mets didn't win with well, Johan Santana and all that stuff. Sure. But I think with this team of what they're trying to do and the blend of what you talked about with the young, the young players and the vets and bringing in free agent signings that have impact. I think there's many different ways to build a baseball team. Everybody doesn't have to do it like the Milwaukee Brewers. And I think the Mets have to have the balance of hitting on the right free agent signings. I do think Skubal's one of them. I do think Soto was one of them. And also bringing in some young talent. I think this would be a huge step towards the Mets to getting to where they want to be in 2027. Oh, I a hundred percent agree. And that's why we're going to continue to follow every step of the way, no matter how much you guys get sick or tired of the Derek Scoble sweepstakes over the next number of weeks. All right. So with that being said, everybody, that is the amazing Dexter Henry. I'm your guy, Tyler Ward. Be on lookout for more things. York Mets here on the New York Post Sports YouTube channel. Peace out. Peace.