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Is Yoshinobu Yamamoto Worth $325 Million? Dodgers Get Richer, Juan Soto Trade, Hall of Fame Ballot (Feat. Barry Bloom)

Hours after Japanese sensation Yoshinobu Yamamoto agreed to terms on a 12-year, $325 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, longtime national baseball writer Barry Bloom visits the Jack Vita Show to break it all down!
Yamamoto, age-25, posted a sub-1.70 ERA in Japan in each of the last three seasons. He is a three-time MVP and three-time pitching Triple Crown winner.
The Dodgers are pairing Yamamoto with newly-acquired, two-time American League MVP Shohei Ohtani. Nine months ago, the duo won the World Baseball Classic as members of the Japanese National Team. Now, they will try to make a run at a World Series title, as teammates once again. In less than two weeks, the Dodgers committed over $1 billion to just two players. Barry and Jack discuss the Dodgers' aggressive offseason and assess the potential risks and rewards attached to both free agent signings, in addition to the acquisition and corresponding extension of Tyler Glasnow.
Will the Dodgers run away with the National League in 2024, and win their first championship in a full, 162-game season since 1989? Will the Dodgers win a handful of titles in the coming years? How much pressure will the club be under in the upcoming season, coming off their big offseason moves?
The San Francisco Giants continue to struggle to land big-time free agents, striking out on Ohtani and Yamamoto. The club did however agree to a six-year, $118 million deal with Korean star Jung Hoo Lee. Elsewhere in the National League West, the San Diego Padres are slashing payroll, dealing Juan Soto, and bidding farewell to free agents Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, Blake Snell and Josh Hader. Meanwhile, the Arizona Diamondbacks are building on to their young core which reached the World Series in 2023, re-signing Lourdes Gurriel Jr., trading for Eugenio Suarez and agreeing to a four-year, $80 million deal with Eduardo Rodriguez. The club has also been linked to free agents JD Martinez and Justin Turner. Barry and Jack cover all things NL West (except for the Colorado Rockies)!
Barry analyzes the Soto trade from both the Padres' and the New York Yankees' perspectives. He discusses where Soto, Trent Grisham and Alex Verdugo will fit into the Yankees' lineup in 2024. Barry and Jack comment on other free agent signings from around the league, including the moves that the Kansas City Royals have made.
Later, Barry shares about his career and his Hall of Fame ballot. Barry used all ten of his votes this year, voting for Adrian Beltre, Todd Helton, Joe Mauer, Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez, Andy Pettitte, Gary Sheffield, Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley and Billy Wagner. Barry makes a compelling argument for both Wagner and Pettitte. Wagner is in his ninth year on the ballot and is gaining momentum. Last year, he received 68.1% of the vote. Pettitte, in his sixth year, has been entirely overlooked. He received just 17.0% last year.
Now 72 years-old, Barry is entering his 49th season as a Major League Baseball writer. He was the San Diego Padres beat writer for the San Diego Tribune from 1982 to 1998, and has since written for Bloomberg News, MLB.com, Forbes and SportBusiness. He currently is a senior writer at Sportico.
You can follow Barry on Twitter (@Boomskie) and check out his work at Sportico!

Why Shohei Ohtani Signed with the Dodgers: Full Contract, Free Agency Breakdown; Tyler Glasnow Trade

Last week, two-time American League MVP Shohei Ohtani left the baseball world stunned, when he took to Instagram to announce that he was departing from the Los Angeles Angels in free agency and signing a record-setting, ten-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Rhett Bollinger has covered the Los Angeles Angels for MLB.com for the past five seasons. He had a front row seat for the ascension of Shohei Ohtani. Rhett returns to the Jack Vita Show to break down Ohtani's free agency, his decision to join the Dodgers, and how his contract will play out.
Ohtani's ten-year, $700 million deal is unprecedented both in its monetary value, and also in its structure. Ohtani will receive $2 million annually from 2024 through 2033. Between 2034 and 2043, Ohtani will collect $68 million annually from the Dodgers. This structure will allow the Dodgers to spend more money on surrounding Ohtani with talent over the next decade, while staying under the luxury tax threshold. Ohtani will make around $40 or $50 million per year in endorsement deals alone. If Ohtani is no longer living in California when he begins receiving his $68 million annual salary, he could potentially save a lot of money, by not having to pay California's 12.3% state income tax rate.
Rhett and Jack explain how Ohtani's contract works and how it benefits the Dodgers. They also discuss the impact of Ohtani's move. Was Rhett surprised that Ohtani broke the news himself? Will the $700 million be money well-spent for Los Angeles? What happens next for the Angels? How big of a loss is this for the Halos, and how do they replace him? Will the Angels be active this offseason?
Later, Rhett and Jack discuss the Dodgers' latest move: acquiring Tyler Glasnow and Manuel Margot from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for right-handed pitcher Ryan Pepiot and outfield prospect Jonny Deluca. Glasnow was entering the final year of his contract. Upon being traded, he signed a five-year, $135 million contract extension to stay put in LA for the foreseeable future. Rhett and Jack break down the trade, and the latest happenings from the MLB offseason. Find out why Jack likes what the Kansas City Royals are doing.
You can follow Rhett on Twitter (@RhettBollinger) and follow his work at MLB.com and Angels.com.

Bob Nightengale on the Timeline of Shohei Ohtani’s Free Agency Decision, Cody Bellinger’s Future, MLB Trade Rumors, Free Agent News

Longtime USA Today national baseball writer and top news-breaker Bob Nightengale returns to the Jack Vita Show to discuss the freshest MLB free agent and trade rumors, to go with the latest offseason news, leading up to next week's MLB winter meetings in Nashville.
 
Bob provides an inside look at Shohei Ohtani's free agent market. Bob lists the five teams that are making a serious push for Ohtani. Will Ohtani sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers or San Francisco Giants? Or will Ohtani re-sign with the Angels? Ohtani's camp has kept a tight lid on all of his contract negotiations. Bob discusses what is important to Ohtani as the two-time MVP enters free agency. Bob also notes why Ohtani may take a pass on the opportunity to pitch at Wrigley Field.
 
If the Cubs are unable to add Ohtani, how will they improve their roster this winter, in hopes of returning to the postseason for the first time in a 162-game season since 2018? What are the chances of the Cubs re-signing Cody Bellinger, and how is Bellinger's free agent market shaping up? Might Bellinger be joining the New York Yankees or San Francisco Giants? Will the Yankees instead trade for Juan Soto?
 
Bob explains how this winter's trade market appears to be more robust than the trade markets of winters past, as Tyler Glasnow, Shane Bieber, Dylan Cease, Corbin Burnes, Juan Soto, Alex Bregman and Pete Alonso's names have all appeared recently in trade rumors. Which of these players will be dealt, and which ones will remain with their respective teams? Bob and Jack break it all down.
 
Bob and Jack also discuss potential undervalued free agents that could be nice adds on short-term contracts. Bob provides a look at the free agent markets for Blake Snell, Marcus Stroman, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Matt Chapman and many others. All this, and much more along the way!
 
You can follow Bob on Twitter (@BNightengale) and check out his work at USA Today.

Survivor Historians Jay Fischer, Mario Lanza Break Down the MLB Playoff Race

Cohosts of the Survivor Historians Podcast, Jay Fischer and Mario Lanza, return to the Jack Vita Show to discuss the Los Angeles Dodgers, Seattle Mariners and a tight MLB playoff chase in both the National and American League, with less than two weeks remaining in the regular season.
 
Having grown up in Southern California, Jay is a lifelong Dodgers fan. The Dodgers recently clinched another National League West division title, their tenth over the last eleven years. Los Angeles will likely have the no. 2 seed in the NL Playoffs, which will include a bye from the NL Wild Card Series. Jay assesses the Dodgers' chances of returning to the World Series. What might the Dodgers' pitching rotation look like in the postseason?
 
Jay, Mario and Jack put the Milwaukee Brewers under the microscope. The Brew Crew is close to winning its third NL Central division title over the past six years. The club has only missed the playoffs once during that stretch. Milwaukee has long flown under the radar, but the Brewers have been one of the most consistently successful teams in the sport, without a large payroll, and without ever really "rebuilding". Will the Brewers be a dangerous dark horse team, come October?
 
Mario is our resident Seattle sports guy. He visited the show three weeks ago, when the Mariners were in first place. In the time since, Scott Servais' club has cooled off, and is fighting for a playoff spot. Mario discusses what has gone wrong for Seattle in recent weeks, George Kirby's recent comments that caused a stir in the media, and how he projects the team will finish out the regular season.
Fittingly, the Dodgers and Mariners played each other over the weekend, as did Jay's Detroit Lions and Mario's Seattle Seahawks. Along the way Jay, Mario and Jack discuss Shohei Ohtani's future, SpongeBob SquarePants, frozen custard, the city of Milwaukee, Reuben sandwiches, and much more!
 
You can subscribe to the The Survivor Historians Podcast on Apple Podcasts and follow Mario (@MarioJLanza) and Jay (@Jay_Fischer) on Twitter.

Could Angels Trade Mike Trout? Texas Rangers’ Collapse; Cody Bellinger, Aaron Nola Price Estimates

Top news breaker and longtime USA Today national baseball writer Bob Nightengale returns to the Jack Vita Show to discuss the latest happenings from around the world of baseball.
 
Bob reported Sunday that the Los Angeles Angels are open to trading Mike Trout, if Trout tells the front office that he wants out. Bob explains and provides further information. Could the Angels possibly lose Trout and Shohei Ohtani this winter? Bob weighs in on the Angels' chances of re-signing Ohtani, and details what has gone wrong for the Halos since the trade deadline. Did Ohtani's torn UCL injury increase or decrease the Angels' chances of re-signing the 2021 AL MVP?
 
Bob also shares the latest on Cody Bellinger's looming free agency. A month and a half ago, he told the Jack Vita Show that there was "zero chance" the Cubs re-signed Bellinger. Has that changed in the time since we last spoke? What teams can we expect to be in play for Bellinger this winter, and what is the price tag going to look like for a Bellinger contract? Bob and Jack discuss Bellinger's incredible impact on the Cubs in 2023, along with the recent call-up of top outfield prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong. What will the Cubs' outfield look like moving into the future?
 
Bob and Jack whip the ball around the horn, breaking down the NL Wild Card race, the collapse of the Texas Rangers, why the Cleveland Guardians and San Diego Padres were such huge disappointments this season, Terry Francona and Craig Counsell's futures, a potential price tag on Aaron Nola's next contract, and much more!
 
You can follow Bob on Twitter (@BNightengale) and check out his latest story at USA Today, where he sat down with Mark McGwire and reflected on the 1998 home run chase.

Cody Bellinger for NL MVP? Orestes Destrade on Cubs’ Remarkable Run, Shohei Ohtani’s Future, Wander Franco

Longtime MLB analyst, broadcaster and insider Orestes Destrade returns to the Jack Vita Show, to weigh in on the Chicago Cubs' surprising and incredible run, the Tampa Bay Rays playing without Wander Franco, Shohei Ohtani's future, the best Japanese baseball players coming over to the United States to play in Major League Baseball, and more.
 
Orestes has contributed to the Jack Vita Show for three years now, and is always a welcomed guest. He was on-air talent at ESPN for five years, appearing on ESPN's award-winning baseball show, Baseball Tonight, and providing color commentary services for ESPN's broadcasts of the Little League World Series and World Baseball Classic. For the past 12 seasons, Orestes worked as a broadcaster, covering the Tampa Bay Rays for Fox Sports and Bally Sports. During that time, he co-hosted the Rays' pregame and postgame show, Rays Live. Orestes currently hosts a weekly sports radio program, called "The O Zone", in Florida markets.
 
Orestes played four Major League seasons and was a star in Japan. In 1990 he was named the Japan Series MVP, while playing for the Seibu Lions. He led the Pacific League in home runs three different times, and led the league twice in RBI. He received Best Nine Award honors three different times. Needless to say, Orestes is well-connected and in-tune with what's happening in Japanese baseball.
 
Over the past two years, Japanese stars Seiya Suzuki, Mastaka Yoshida and Kodai Senga have taken their talents over to America. What is Orestes' assessment of each player?
 
Orestes has a lot of thoughts on Shohei Ohtani's injury and future, including a potential dark horse team to keep an eye on during the Ohtani sweepstakes this winter. How will Ohtani's torn UCL impact his looming free agency and the dollar amount he will receive in his next contract? Will it better or worsen the chances that he re-signs with the Angels, or have little to no impact?
 
The Chicago Cubs have taken the league by storm. Entering play June 8, the Cubs were 26-36, ten games under .500 and 7.5 games back of a playoff spot. In the time since, the club is a remarkable 48-28, and now has a very good chance of making the playoffs for the first time in a full, 162-game season, since 2018. What has been the key to the Cubs' incredible turnaround? Is there a case to be made for Cody Bellinger to be the National League MVP?
 
Later on, Orestes and Jack throw the ball around the horn, and take a look at other news from around the league, including the Los Angeles Angels dumping a handful of players on waivers, the Cleveland Guardians being highly active at the waiver deadline, the Guardians' chances of catching the Minnesota Twins in the AL Central race, the latest on the Wander Franco saga, and much more!
 
Tune in to hear Orestes' weekly radio program, The O Zone!

Mario Lanza on the First-Place Seattle Mariners, Shohei Ohtani’s Injury, Texas Rangers’ Collapse

Writer, published author, creator of the Funny 115 and lifelong Seattle sports fan Mario Lanza returns to the Jack Vita Show at the perfect time: the Seattle Mariners are in sole possession of first place in the American League West!
 
Entering July 20, the Mariners were 47-48, 10 games back of the Texas Rangers for first place in the AL West. In a little over a month, the M's have not only caught up with the Rangers, but surpassed them in the division race. The race is far from, over though. With five weeks remaining in the regular season, the AL West is shaping up to be a three-team race, with the Houston Astros also in the mix. The Astros have won the division five of the last six years, and eliminated the Mariners from contention in the American League Division Series last October. Will the Mariners finally top the Astros, and win their first division title since 2001? Mario weighs in.
 
Mario and Jack also discuss the total collapse of the Rangers, who are now 33-37 since June 6. The Rangers entered June 7 with a 40-20 record. Shohei Ohtani suffered a torn UCL recently, which will likely require Tommy John surgery, and could spell the end of his pitching days. Mario and Jack react. Last week, Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf did the unthinkable: he fired somebody! Vice president Kenny Williams and general manager Rick Hahn were relieved of their duties, in the middle of an abysmal White Sox season. Jack shares why he was surprised by the move, and what it means for the organization going forward. In other news, the New York Yankees continue to struggle, Mario and Jack share their thoughts on the new rules and recent changes that have come to Major League Baseball, and Mario discusses his new project, "Mario Stories", in addition to his other work, covering Survivor, movies and Saturday Night Live.
 
Mario has written about CBS' hit reality competition show, Survivor, for over 20 years now. He has a website, The Funny 115, where he counts down the funniest moments in the show's history. He cohosts a Survivor podcast, The Survivor Historians, where he provides historical context to the show's early seasons. He has a book, When It Was Worth Playing For: My Experiences Writing About the TV Show "Survivor", available for purchase on Amazon.
 
In addition to covering Survivor, Mario has a movie podcast called Staff Picks, which Jack was a guest on earlier this year, discussing one of his favorite films, Moneyball.
 
Most recently, Mario has been working on a writing project called "Mario Stories", where he tells unforgettable stories from his childhood, including one in which his father put a bounty on an opposing player in a youth football game.
 
You can follow Mario on Twitter (@MarioJLanza).

Is Cole Hamels a Hall of Famer? Padres’ Playoff Chances, Best Minor League Stories with Tim Hagerty

Tim Hagerty has been the play-by-play voice for the El Paso Chihuahuas, the San Diego Padres' Triple-A affiliate team, since their inaugural season in 2014. He has been calling Triple-A games for the Padres since 2008. Tim visits the Jack Vita Show to discuss the Padres' struggles in 2023, the National League Wild Card race, the Hall of Fame candidacy of recently retired Cole Hamels (who signed a minor league contract with the Padres in February), his new book, what makes minor league baseball special, and the greatest minor league baseball stories, many of which very few people know about.
 
First things first, Jack welcomes Tim to the show to dissect the National League Wild Card race and discuss the chances of the Padres turning it around and sneaking into the playoffs in the final weeks of the season. At the time of recording, the Padres are 60-66, 5.5 games back of the third National League Wild Card, currently owned by the San Francisco Giants. The Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, Arizona Diamondbacks, San Francisco Giants, Cincinnati Reds, Miami Marlins and Padres are all in the hunt for the three NL Wild Cards.
 
Cole Hamels inked a minor league contract with the Padres in February. He had hoped to pitch at Triple-A El Paso, before returning to the big leagues this summer. Hamels was unable to complete his comeback attempt. Dealing with pain and undisclosed injuries, Hamels remained in Peoria, Arizona at the Padres' spring training complex, until he announced his retirement earlier this month. Hamels is a World Series MVP, a World Series champion and a four-time All-Star. Is he a Hall of Famer? Tim and Jack examine his Hall of Fame case and compare it to that of other pitchers from his era.
 
Later on, Tim shares some of the greatest stories from minor league baseball. How about the time that a player once got traded for a plate of beans? Or the time that a wild bull ran out onto the field? Wouldn't you like to hear about the 200-mile home run? Tim recently released a book, Tales from the Dugout: 1,001 Humorous, Inspirational and Wild Anecdotes from Minor League Baseball. Tim gives us a little taste of the crazy stories you can read about in his book, in a fun episode of the Jack Vita Show! You can purchase it on Amazon here.
 
Padres' playoff chances, NL Wild Card race (0:00 - 21:00)
Cole Hamels' retirement and Hall of Fame case (21:00 - 41:30)
Tim's broadcasting career, best minor league baseball stories (41:30 - END)
 
Purchase Tim's book, Tales from the Dugout: 1,001 Humorous, Inspirational and Wild Anecdotes from Minor League Baseball, on Amazon! You can find it here. You can also follow him on Twitter (@tdhagerty)!