AJ Preller discussed the 2024 trade deadline moves.
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00:00How are you?
00:05It's good to see you.
00:10Okay, sounds good.
00:12AJ, it seems like the focus coming into this trade deadline was adding innings
00:15and strengthening the staff in every way that you could.
00:18You got starters, you got back-end relievers,
00:20looked like a long reliever as well.
00:21How satisfied are you with what you were able to accomplish
00:23heading into this deadline?
00:25Yeah, I think we feel, again, like I said,
00:27I think being able to add to the pitching staff
00:29and being able to improve the pen,
00:32you know, get some reinforcement to the rotation as well.
00:35And we looked also at the outfield depth component also.
00:38So I think for us to hit on a few of those areas of needs
00:41with players that we really liked as a group, I think we're excited.
00:45Did it kind of play out as anticipated,
00:47or was it because it was such a strong seller's market
00:49you had to make some adjustments along the way?
00:51How did that play out?
00:52Yeah, no, again, I think we were prepared.
00:54I think we had a pretty good feel of the teams that were going to move
00:57and the players that were going to be on the move.
01:00You know, in terms of like every deadline's a little bit different
01:03in terms of like the pace and how it works.
01:05For us it was a pretty consistent flow of conversation
01:08over the last really week or so,
01:10and it felt like it was going to be a pretty active deadline, and it was.
01:14What did you think of the market in general,
01:16especially the prices for starting pitching,
01:18and how did you weigh out that
01:20versus paying a pretty good price for a reliever?
01:22Yeah, we explored it, obviously.
01:24I mean, I think we looked at it
01:26and kind of like had the two areas kind of neck and neck
01:29and just looking at what was available.
01:31I think we felt like, though, again, like the more relief options
01:35and from an impact standpoint we felt like there were some guys
01:39that could really, really impact our bullpen.
01:42You know, I think, again, like we looked also at Musgrove's situation,
01:46his ability to hopefully come back here at some point in time and help us,
01:51and obviously weighed out the cost from a return standpoint
01:53of both starting pitchers and relievers
01:55and ultimately ended up feeling like maybe a little bit more strength
01:59on the relief side, some more options, some more impact.
02:01We went that route, but we explored both starters and relievers.
02:04How did the prices in this market compare to anything you've seen in a deadline?
02:08I don't know.
02:09I think obviously my guess is just hearing a lot of people are talking about,
02:14hey, heavy prices for players here at the deadline.
02:20Every deadline, like I said, is a little bit different.
02:24I didn't quite feel that way.
02:25I thought in general, I thought that in terms of returns,
02:31there weren't too many that I felt like were shocking
02:33or anything from that standpoint.
02:35I felt like it was kind of in areas that we thought were pretty fair, honestly.
02:40AJ, what was the purpose in your mind?
02:43What was the thought in adding those two back-end guys?
02:45What does that do for you?
02:48I think a lot of ways you can go about building championship teams
02:51and rosters and pitching staffs.
02:54I think for us, especially the postseason, you get additional rounds, less days.
03:01You just need to have – I think it's a little bit less right now
03:05where you can get two or three starters and ride those guys
03:09and two or three pen guys.
03:10You need a really deep 13-man staff, a lot of different ways to do it.
03:15But I think what we've seen when we've been in the postseason
03:18the last few years, and obviously historically,
03:19you just need some guys that can get out some big-time hitters.
03:22If that's as a starter for seven innings, that's extremely valuable.
03:26But we saw it a few years ago with Suarez
03:29and Hader getting huge outs throughout the first couple of rounds
03:32of the playoffs for us.
03:33The more guys that can go get elite hitters in the postseason,
03:36the more options Mike and Ruben and the group have.
03:39We felt good about it.
03:41Again, I think there's a lot of different ways to build a staff,
03:44but just having a group that hopefully shortens the game, we looked at it.
03:50We've seen some teams win championships that way.
03:52Hopefully that's a real strength for us in the next couple of months.
03:55Some GMs hold on to their prospects and others don't.
03:59I just wonder, where is your prospect list now?
04:04How do you view your farm system?
04:06I think honestly a part of us being able to have these conversations
04:09just continues to be the players that we're able to select, develop.
04:13Honestly, I think the depth of the system.
04:16Honestly, I think we felt like we have some guys,
04:19some pitching in our system, some guys that have taken some steps this year.
04:23I know maybe by the publications and the rankings,
04:29three of the players that we traded, Robbie Snelling, Adam Mazer,
04:32and Dylan Lesko.
04:34We think highly of that group.
04:36I expect those guys to pitch in the big leagues and do really good things.
04:38We also, though, are super excited about a group right behind those guys
04:43that are pushing those guys.
04:45In some ways, I think for us when we talked about our system and our depth,
04:49that was a strength for us, honestly.
04:51It was looking at the pitching side of things
04:53and where we're at from that standpoint.
04:55Again, some really healthy conversation amongst our evaluators
04:58and our coaching staff over the last few weeks and months
05:01about this guy or that guy.
05:03It may not be the mainstream guy that may be out there
05:06in terms of in the rankings.
05:07We've got some guys that we feel pretty good about.
05:09Again, same thing in the big leagues.
05:11You look up and whether it's Matt Waldron this year going up
05:14and pitching well or Randy Vasquez.
05:16Pitching comes from a lot of different ways, and we feel like in the system
05:19we've got some guys that have taken real steps
05:20and are going to contribute here.
05:22I think that enabled us to at least have conversations
05:24on some of our quote-unquote top-ranked guys, et cetera.
05:29Just to follow up on Kevin's question,
05:31a lot of people in your position across the game
05:34talk about we need to be sustainable, we want to win every year,
05:38and as a result we don't like to trade guys who are considered top prospects.
05:43Obviously, that's never been something that's held you back.
05:46I wonder why not.
05:49I mean, I think obviously different ways to look at value.
05:52I think every decision we make, it's not like we're constantly talking,
05:56you know, Eric Katsenda, Eric Grubner, obviously Peter in the past.
06:01I mean, it's constantly looking at the current year
06:03and then blending that with what we look at over a three-
06:06and five-year period.
06:07And you never want to just like, hey, we're going all-in
06:09for this one-year period.
06:11I heard that in 20 and 22, I believe, when we made some moves.
06:15There's been deadlines we've been very active.
06:17There's been deadlines we haven't been that active
06:19because we just didn't meet the values that we put on certain players.
06:22But I think in those years you look up and a year or two later
06:25you still have a very competitive team and a really good farm system
06:28and players that are coming up, good young players that we feel good about.
06:31So it comes down to like if you have a scouting group
06:35that gives us the ability to make those decisions
06:37and then it's not like a philosophy, hey, we're going to trade our prospects
06:40or anything like that.
06:41It's just like, again, some of this is moment in time.
06:44Some of this is a team that we believe in
06:46and we think there's some value out there.
06:48And we also know that we have other good players in the system
06:50and they can't all play on the field at the same time.
06:52So that's all part of our decision-making process.
06:55AJ, what is the state of your rotation now
06:58and how do Perez and Hoeing fit into that?
07:01Does Hoeing fit in as a starter?
07:03And just kind of evaluate why those guys
07:06and maybe why not one of the top-tier guy that was –
07:09Yeah, if you want, come to –
07:11we're going to go sit down with Shilty and Ruben and kind of figure that out
07:13exactly what we do here for the next 24, 48 hours with those guys.
07:17Is that an invitation?
07:18Always, AJ, come on down.
07:20Not you, Kevin, but AJ's good.
07:23But, yeah, I think, again, I think we explored pretty heavy
07:30the starter market as well.
07:32And ultimately, every beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
07:35Different teams have different asks.
07:37We were open to the reliever market, which some teams are,
07:40some teams aren't probably.
07:42I think you kind of get into an area where maybe certain teams,
07:46they want to pay for the starter versus the reliever.
07:49I think for us, we went down both paths pretty open-minded
07:53from both standpoint here over the last few weeks.
07:56And we just didn't have those deals that we felt like from a starting standpoint
07:59lined up for us.
08:01So we pivoted and went down some guys that we feel really good about,
08:05with Tanner and Jason on the relief side.
08:08Making it through the deadline with those top two prospect guys, Leo and Ethan,
08:12what is – I mean, how do you react to that?
08:15How do you feel about that, having those guys still there?
08:17And, obviously, you were linked to some of the bigger names
08:19on the starting market.
08:21Was it ever a consideration that those two guys might be involved in something?
08:24Yeah, we'll check in on – obviously, if there's players that are of impact,
08:29we want to be involved, at least check in and see where it stands.
08:33So we're making decisions with full information.
08:36And I think that's how you make your better decisions.
08:39Yeah, we think very highly, just specifically, of Leo DeVries and Ethan
08:43that you mentioned, Salas.
08:45I think those are guys that are going to play here a long time.
08:48You're talking about a switch hitting shortstop that's opening a ton of eyes
08:51in the minor leagues right now.
08:53And then a left-hand hitting catcher that's only 18.
08:56And, again, a guy that we've had some really good ones here
08:59over the last few years with Tatis.
09:03And, obviously, Jackson, CJ, James Wood, some of those guys,
09:07they fit in with the top of the guys that we've had in the system.
09:10So you always listen.
09:12You always are willing to at least hear what other teams have to say.
09:15I think kind of the cool part of the deadline is we have our own evaluations
09:19of what we think.
09:20But just kind of hearing what the industry thought about those guys
09:24kind of confirmed what we thought in terms of just hearing
09:27how the teams evaluate them.
09:28But, ultimately, we're really happy that they're with us right now for sure.
09:35AJ, how did Tanner Scott come together?
09:37When did those talks pick up?
09:39And what do you think maybe got it over the hump for you?
09:43Yeah, I mean, I think, again, I think over the last couple weeks,
09:45you know, we knew that he was going to be moved.
09:47I mean, I don't think there was any secret there.
09:49I think he's obviously over the last two years he's taken some real steps
09:52as, like, one of the more dominant relievers in the game.
09:54Left-handed is a real factor too.
09:56You know, I mean, we're going to have some really good left-hand hitters
09:58that we're going to have to go through over the next couple of months
10:01to get in the playoffs and win in the playoffs.
10:05And, really, just looking at it from an impact standpoint,
10:07we have a guy that's, you know, similar to Robert Suarez.
10:09He'll pitch.
10:10He'll take the ball.
10:11He's done the one-plus.
10:12It gives us a chance with the left and right and the back of the pen
10:15and some really good setup guys to match up, really, at any point in time.
10:19So that was something that was on our radar.
10:21Definitely picked up over the last few days.
10:23I think as we kind of got more of the prices of the different pitchers,
10:25relievers, starters, et cetera.
10:28And, again, I think we put a really strong package in front of them.
10:31So I think one thing we have never been scared of is, like,
10:35we're going to trade players.
10:36And I think maybe it's, you know, I don't know, like,
10:39philosophically right or wrong.
10:41We're going to trade players that are going to show up in the big leagues,
10:43at least our organization is, that are going to do really good things.
10:45But if we get what we're looking to do and it works for us both, you know,
10:49this year and over the next three to five years, like, we're content with that.
10:53I think Billy Bean used to tell me that when I would talk trade with him.
10:56He would always tell me, you know, I've traded all-stars, MVPs,
10:59Cy Young winners, and 20 years later we've done a lot of winning
11:02and, you know, I'm still in this spot.
11:04So, you know, I think we take it like we're going to trade talented players.
11:07That's a compliment to our scouting group, honestly, and our development group.
11:10So I think the fact that we put a strong package in front of them,
11:14the fact that, you know, we stayed on it.
11:16We were open to, you know, intrigued by having somebody with his impact there.
11:20I think all those factors led to it.
11:22And, obviously, I think, too, like getting Brian Hoeing in there.
11:25You know, like, again, like doing it for, you know,
11:28a player that's, you know, an expiring contract.
11:30I think for us, like, having some carry forward value.
11:33We did that a few years ago with Matt Waldron.
11:35We've done that, you know, kind of in the Soto deal with Brito and Vasquez.
11:38And just having somebody that we feel like, you know,
11:40we can help and continue to grow and develop.
11:42That was definitely like a part of it here in the last 24 hours
11:45that put it over the top for us.
11:47And you've said before, particularly with Soto and Hayter,
11:50that you need high-end talent to win in October.
11:54How much does getting a Tanner Scott,
11:56maybe somebody who people on the outside might have thought
11:59you didn't have to have,
12:00how much does that fit into that mindset?
12:03Yeah, no, you know, like, you know,
12:06when teams that win the – that go into the playoffs, win in the playoffs,
12:10obviously, like, it's plus performers
12:12and guys that can do some pretty special feet, you know,
12:15and some special things on the field.
12:16So, yeah, I think that definitely when we sat down and evaluated, hey, you know,
12:20certain players that we'd have two years of control,
12:23certain players that are rentals that, you know, could start a game for us
12:26but maybe not quite the impact versus somebody that we feel like
12:29over the last two years has been as good as any late-inning reliever in the game.
12:34You know, so I think that was obviously a big part of what we thought about
12:37and why we ultimately made the deal.
12:39You typically do try to get guys that you have a few years of control on.
12:42With Tanner Scott, what was the conversation like there?
12:44Did you have any hesitancy about the fact that he's a free agent after the season?
12:48Yeah, no, it was definitely – it's always part of our consideration.
12:51I think the, you know, the rental player, I think, again,
12:54like it's – you've got to make sure that you're getting somebody
12:56that we feel like has a real chance to impact us.
12:58And then also, like I said, I mean, I think getting Brian Hoeing back in that deal
13:02where we have somebody that we think, you know, we're excited for Ruben
13:05and the group to kind of work with him over the next, you know,
13:08over the next few days, months and into the offseason.
13:10Like, I think somebody, you know, 27 years old I believe
13:13and he's filled different roles and we think he has some more ceiling and upside.
13:17So I think all of that was a factor.
13:19But we weren't going to do a short-term deal for somebody that we didn't think
13:21had like a chance to really impact the pennant race.
13:24Once we got in, could potentially be somebody that we could, you know,
13:27that we could take off with and go through some different teams if we need to.
13:30So, I think, you know, that along with the fact that we got Hoeing,
13:34I think that was – those were big factors for us.
13:37AJ, how much the fact that Estrada is already at his career high in appearances
13:42and more homes tied for his career high in appearances,
13:44how much did that factor in the decision to maybe pursue relief pitching here?
13:47Yeah, definitely part of it as well.
13:49I mean, we talked about it with the rotation, you know, because we obviously like –
13:52I think every team is searching for innings
13:54and searching for guys in the rotation that could pitch.
13:56And, you know, we understand that too.
13:58But, you know, we looked at there,
14:00we get more team Perez from a rotation standpoint that can help that out
14:03and take some of the guys that are kind of going into some different areas
14:05on the rotation side.
14:07But the same thing in the pennant, it was like the same conversation.
14:09More Hoeing and Estrada have been tremendous for us here this year.
14:12But just having some more options for Schilte, I think we've all seen it.
14:16Like there have been a few times here throughout the first half of the season
14:19where we get into that, you know, sixth, seventh inning.
14:22You know, you get into that like, you know, every day kind of –
14:26you don't want to get into a part where you're only going to three guys, you know,
14:29and in any spot, winning spot, or even, you know, we're up, you know, 5-1
14:34and we feel that pressure to go to those guys to hold on and get that win.
14:38I just want to be able to give Mike and the group like the opportunity to like,
14:41hey, we're going to give somebody a day or two down
14:43and we're not going to lose anything from a quality standpoint.
14:45And I think ultimately we made that decision that, you know,
14:47attacking it that way, it's going to be better for the group,
14:50it's going to be better for those guys kind of going through this first full season
14:53for them and hopefully that's a way that we win a lot of games here
14:56in the next couple of months.
14:57And then to follow up, you mentioned obviously acquiring Martin Perez.
14:59Did conversations ever get anywhere for say Jack Flaherty or Tyler Anderson
15:03or maybe one of the higher end starters?
15:05Yeah, we checked in on all of those guys.
15:08You know, I think, you know, at the end of the day,
15:12like I didn't feel like in the last 24 hours we were particularly close, you know,
15:16on that grouping.
15:19But it was a check in, it was conversation, it was back and forth,
15:21we were going through different players, et cetera.
15:23But, you know, again, I think over the last 48 hours this was, you know,
15:28we had different paths at the same time like you always do,
15:31but ultimately we kind of started looking like it was going to be more down this path
15:35and then, you know, finding some different starting pitching
15:38that we felt like could take the ball and, again,
15:40can do a good job for us in the last couple of months
15:42and we ended up lining up with the Pirates on Martin.
15:45I know you want to win every single season,
15:47but did you and this front office feel any extra pressure this year
15:50considering how last year unfolded and missing the playoffs?
15:53I think probably one of the bigger things is like the way that the team has played
15:56in the first half.
15:57Obviously there's been, you know, some ups and downs
16:00and some hot and cold stretches, et cetera.
16:02But, I mean, just the fact that, like, you know,
16:04we have a lot of guys playing really well, you know,
16:07in terms of, you know, like the depth of our lineup, our roster,
16:10having some guys having some really good seasons,
16:13the way we've kind of battled back in a lot of spots.
16:16You know, it wasn't like, you know, this last road trip.
16:18I think I said it the other day.
16:19It wasn't like, hey, we went seven and two versus five and four.
16:21Hey, we're in.
16:22Here we go.
16:23Like, we felt like we had a good team,
16:24but I think the way we've played, like the style of ball,
16:27seeing some guys have some really good years, I just think it was like, hey,
16:31like we feel like we have a team that can compete and win
16:33and I think that was more of it than looking at last year,
16:35a team we felt like should have gone to the playoffs and didn't.
16:38But I don't think it was like a reaction to that.
16:40I think it's more of like seeing how we're playing this year as a team,
16:42some of the good things we have going on
16:44and just wanting to supplement that team that we think can play, you know,
16:47deep into October.
16:48If you can on Tatis, I'm sorry.
16:52I think Mike said he hadn't been cleared for baseball activities.
16:55How optimistic are you guys that he will return during this regular season
16:59and be the Tatis that can really help carry a team?
17:01Yeah, I think so far, again, like I think it's kind of, you know,
17:03we get our week-to-week checkups with Tatis.
17:06You know, I know he's, and again, like I think, you know,
17:09like swinging the bat, playing catch,
17:11I think those things are good for him right now.
17:13I think it's just a matter of when he's going to be able to get on the field,
17:16start running, start progressing from that standpoint.
17:19We'll have more of an update here.
17:21You know, I get kind of an update every four or five days
17:23and like, you know, take it from there.
17:25But we expect him to be back, you know, and exactly when.
17:29That's kind of,
17:30we still got to get a little bit more information from our doctors.
17:32But every report I've gotten has been really positive, you know,
17:36and I think, you know,
17:37the next couple of days we'll have a little bit more information
17:39about when he can really start progressing.
17:40So we'll have more of a definitive timeframe on, you know,
17:42exactly when he comes back.
17:43But we're expecting him to be back for sure.
17:46Hi AJ.
17:47Ha Sung Kim has a little bit down year as offensively.
17:51Do you think that fact hurt his value as a trade chief?
17:55So why do you keep him,
17:57even though his contract going to be end after this season?
18:00Yeah, I mean, Ha Sung is a huge part of our team.
18:03You know, I mean, I think like, again, like he bring energy,
18:07the energy he brings every day.
18:09So you're going to win a championship.
18:10It starts with pitching and defense.
18:12And, you know,
18:13he's an elite defender in the middle part of the field.
18:15He's still like the at-back quality is good.
18:17He'll take a walk.
18:18He's got the ability to hit the ball out of the ballpark.
18:20And, you know, I think for us, like, you know, again, I don't,
18:23it was never really a conversation for us in terms of like, you know,
18:26talking about Ha Sung here at this deadline.
18:29I think he's a real part of what we're doing and our team.
18:33And I think if we're going to win it's with Ha Sung, you know,
18:35at shortstop and doing the things that he can do well.
18:38And I think, you know, again, Ha Sung, he works really hard.
18:42I would expect him to swing the bat really well here over the last couple,
18:45couple months and be a huge contributor for us.
18:48Joe has some pretty ambitious thoughts on when he can come back.
18:52What are your thoughts on when and then kind of how,
18:55like how much do you want him to be built up?
18:57Yeah, I think someone like Joe, Tatis, Peralta, you know,
19:01I think those guys, it's kind of a, you know, at this point, like I said,
19:05we're kind of going week to week and see where it's at.
19:07He made his first rehab outing today, Joe.
19:09It sounds like he came out of that really good in a good spot.
19:13So I think we'll huddle back up here again, you know, next 24,
19:1648 hours with Joe, with the medical team
19:18and kind of map out what his schedule looks like.
19:20But hopefully he's feeling great tomorrow and he can progress from there.
19:24You know, he threw around 35, 40 pitches today
19:26and now we just keep progressing it from there.
19:28And, you know, I think, you know,
19:31get to a spot where hopefully here in the next few weeks
19:33he can impact us at the big league level.
19:35All right, we're going to switch over to Spanish now.