Hour 1: Sauce Extended

Summary

Podcast Summary: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 1: Sauce Extended

Release Date: July 15, 2025

Introduction

In the inaugural episode of "Sauce Extended," hosts Don LaGreca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg delve into a variety of pressing topics spanning sports, urban infrastructure, and personal anecdotes. This episode, aired on ESPN New York, offers listeners an engaging blend of insightful discussions, expert analysis, and entertaining banter.

---

1. Urban Infrastructure and Recent Weather Events (00:00 – 06:35)

The episode opens with a candid conversation about the impact of recent heavy rainfall in New York City and surrounding areas. Don LaGreca shares his harrowing experience navigating flooded streets and traffic jams, highlighting the city's struggling infrastructure.

• Don LaGreca (00:22): "The rise of the three-point shot can be partially traced to an eccentric Kansas genius named Martin Manley, whose story didn't turn out quite the way he imagined."

• Peter Rosenberg (02:08): "It’s just crazy. So hopefully everybody’s okay. But, you know, people's basements are flooded. People, roads are closed."

The hosts discuss the inadequacies of New York’s aging infrastructure, emphasizing the challenges posed by intense, slow-moving storms that outpace the city's capacity to manage sudden water influxes.

• Albert Hahn (06:35): "Because now that infrastructure is breaking down. Yeah. And the city's just too busy and there's just too many people to just shut it down."

---

2. New York Jets: Contracts and Team Strategy (07:12 – 20:07)

A significant portion of the episode focuses on recent developments within the New York Jets organization, specifically contract extensions for key players Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner. The hosts analyze the implications of these deals on the team's future and salary cap management.

• Peter Rosenberg (07:32): "Yesterday they signed Garrett Wilson to an extension and now today it is Sauce Gardner. So we weren’t sure if they were going to give Sauce Gardner the money or if they were going to have him do a prove-it year."

• Don LaGreca (08:00): "The Jets aren’t winning this year. You wouldn’t think why pay someone when you don’t have to."

They debate the merits and risks associated with the contracts, considering factors such as player performance consistency, potential injuries, and the strategic direction of the team under new management. The conversation extends to Breece Hall's situation, discussing whether he should be placed on a "prove-it" year given his potential and injury history.

• Don LaGreca (09:43): "But the best part of the Jets are having the former rookie, offensive rookie of the year and defensive rookie of the year being long-term Jets."

---

3. Listener Interactions and Caller Opinions (20:07 – 37:44)

Listeners call in to express their views on the Jets' recent contract decisions. Caller Bobby voices his support for the extensions while expressing some reservations about the guarantees in Sauce Gardner’s deal.

• Bobby (29:00): "Yeah, man. Today’s a good day for us Jets fans... We’re happy that we’re extending Garrett and Sauce."

The hosts engage in a lively debate about the financial aspects of the contracts, clarifying details about the guaranteed portions and how they affect the team's salary cap flexibility. They also discuss the importance of developing young talent and how these contracts play into the broader strategy of building a competitive team.

• Don LaGreca (21:07): "But if you’re in a rebuild and they are new coach, new general manager... you want to be able to give your fans something to look forward to."

---

4. Hockey Memorabilia and Nostalgia (26:00 – 29:00)

Shifting gears, the conversation takes a nostalgic turn as Don and Peter discuss a shipment of hockey memorabilia received from Sal Butteruso. They reminisce about the 2003-2004 New Jersey Devils, highlighting memorable players and moments from the era.

• Don LaGreca (26:06): "He sent me the team picture for the 0304 New Jersey Devils, which was their 25th anniversary."

• Peter Rosenberg (27:04): "He sent me full of hockey. Well, you see the late Pat Burns as head coach."

This segment adds a personal touch to the podcast, showcasing the hosts' deep-rooted connections to New York sports history and offering listeners a glimpse into cherished memories from the hockey world.

---

5. Tampa Bay Rays and Major League Baseball Challenges (38:00 – 47:09)

In the latter half of the episode, Don, Antony, and Peter pivot to discuss the Tampa Bay Rays' precarious position in Major League Baseball. They analyze the Rays' struggles to secure a suitable stadium and the potential implications for the franchise's future.

• Peter Rosenberg (38:07): "The Rays are a game and a half out of the last wild cards by the American League. They’re behind the Mariners by a game and a half. That’s it."

• Don LaGreca (44:13): "They’re trying to raise half a billion dollars right now to finance just to finance the stadium in Vegas."

The hosts debate the feasibility of the Rays making the playoffs given their current standing and the logistical nightmares of playing in temporary or inadequate stadiums. They also touch upon broader MLB issues, such as franchise valuations and the challenges of relocating teams.

• Peter Rosenberg (42:30): "They’re trying to raise half a billion dollars right now to finance just to finance the stadium in Vegas. Right."

• Don LaGreca (45:14): "They have to get a new building... They can't go back to Oakland."

This discussion highlights the intersection of sports performance, financial management, and urban planning, providing listeners with a comprehensive overview of the complexities facing a modern MLB franchise.

---

6. Closing Remarks and Light-Hearted Banter (47:09 – End)

The episode concludes with some light-hearted moments and banter between the hosts, reflecting on past experiences and sharing humorous anecdotes. Don LaGreca mentions a quirky incident involving singing "Salt and Pepper," leading to laughter and a relaxed end to the episode.

• Don LaGreca (38:24): "What happened is, as I was after I ate my salad for lunch... Somebody left some salt and pepper chips."

• Peter Rosenberg (38:38): "Did you see this? So the Rays are a game and a half out... [laughs]"

The hosts express camaraderie and tease each other, leaving listeners with a sense of connection and anticipation for future episodes.

---

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Don LaGreca (02:20): "We just don’t have the infrastructure to have 2 inches of rain in a half hour."

• Peter Rosenberg (05:04): "Because, you know, that was a line we used to take when we were uptown."

• Don LaGreca (07:18): "I have to be [the offensive leader]."

• Bobby (29:00): "Today’s a good day for us Jets fans and it’s good for Jet Nation."

• Peter Rosenberg (33:12): "They’re trying to get a quarterback."

• Don LaGreca (45:46): "Baseball has to get involved. Baseball has to get to Vegas."

---

Conclusion

In "Sauce Extended," Don, Hahn, and Rosenberg deliver a multifaceted episode that balances serious analysis with personal stories and humor. From dissecting the New York Jets' strategic moves to reminiscing about classic hockey moments and grappling with major league baseball's infrastructural challenges, the hosts provide a comprehensive and engaging listening experience. Their ability to navigate diverse topics with expertise and camaraderie makes this episode a compelling start to the series.

Transcript

[Don LaGreca]

You've seen the headlines, heard the debates.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Some say the three point ball has.

[Don LaGreca]

Created a monotonous rhythm to the game. Has the three pointer ruined basketball? And how did we get here? The rise of the three point shot can be partially traced to an eccentric Kansas genius named Martin Manley, whose story didn't turn out quite the way he imagined.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I decided I wanted to have one of the most organized goodbyes in history, and I think I will be successful.

[Don LaGreca]

30 for 30 podcast presents a brand new original series, Chasing basketball heaven, available July 22. Wherever you get your podcasts.

[Anthony Pusick]

Don.

[Don LaGreca]

I had never seen holes like that before.

[Bobby]

Han.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm not comfortable touching it. I'm not. No.

[Anthony Pusick]

And Rosenberg.

[Don LaGreca]

I'm not breastfeeding. No, But I.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's too bad.

[Don LaGreca]

This is in North Dakota.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This is New York.

[Anthony Pusick]

This is Don, Han and Rosenberg.

[Don LaGreca]

The best threesome I've ever heard on.

[Anthony Pusick]

880 ESPN and the ESPN New York app.

[Don LaGreca]

3 o' clock in the big city. Don on Rosenberg with you until 7 o'. Clock. Home Run Derby last night. We got the all star game coming up later on tonight. All of it right here on 880 ESPN. How are you, buddy?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Good. Yeah, I'm good. Good. We got some jets news.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, we got jets news. We'll get into the Home run Derby.

[Peter Rosenberg]

How's. How was the commute last night for you?

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, dear God.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You talk about, you know, pairing up animals. We. It's the one train. Those videos from the one train. Thank God you and I went in separate directions when we got out of the building last night. Right, right. And as we opened the door, we both said the same thing. Holy bleep. Right? And so you go your way. You had to run like one block down to get to your car. I had to run across the street to get to the subway. And it's all I was thinking in the subway was like, I'm already drenched. And then you see the water teeming down in the subway, and it just makes it even more. No, it was harrowing, I guess. And it's just. Escape from New York last night. Yeah, a lot of people, it was. It was rough.

[Don LaGreca]

Luckily, my car was right out front, but, you know, the. The 50 yards I had to run. I was still drenched, but flew out of the city because there was not many cars on the road. But just being cautious because it was like, really coming down.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don LaGreca]

Get through the Holland Tunnel, go through Jersey City. It starts to slow down a little bit. I'm like, okay, get on the turnpike. And then it stopped like there was. Cars were hardly moving. I'm like, all right. Cause sometimes the flood waters go and it's a little backed up here. And then I'm just not moving, not moving. I take a look at my phone. It says it's gonna take me an hour and 21 minutes to get home. Which isn't bad because from where I was, it should take 40. I'm like, all right, maybe it takes double the time or whatever. Just not moving. I call my wife. She says it's terrible here where I live. I've been in that neighborhood for 19 years. There were streets that were closed that I never remember ever being closed because of flooding. And so I'm trying to map out where I'm gonna go. So I put in Google, all right, what's the fastest way to get home? And it'll. At this point, it's 8 o' clock now it's after 8.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wow.

[Don LaGreca]

And it's telling me I can get home in 59 minutes if I take the exit, which is, I think 13A for 278. And I'm looking at the map, it has me leaving the state, going through Staten island, but then back over the outer Bridge to 440, which becomes 287. So for me to bypass what ended up happening, I good thing I did it because they end up closing the turnpike for a time, so I would have been stuck. So if I had went past that exit, God knows when I would have gotten to the next possible exit. And it was slow.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So you went Gothel's.

[Don LaGreca]

To the outer bridge. And even on 440, there were portions of 440 that were closed where I'd have to get off. I was like going through a mall to get back on the 440. Like, it was just crazy. And unfortunately, we heard that there was a. The two people that died in South Plainfield because they were in a car. The car got taken from water.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, man.

[Don LaGreca]

No. Because we just don't have the infrastructure to have 2 inches of rain in a half hour. There were some places that just got pounded. And so what happens is that you've got infrastructure that's over 100 years old, and now it fills up and then the water just gets crazy, and then eventually it calms itself down. Because I guess the problem with these storms, they're very slow moving. Usually a thunderstorm comes in, bang, 15, 20 minutes. It's in, it's out. But when you get that much rain and it just. It's staying on top of a certain Area for like an hour.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

It's. It's just crazy. So hopefully everybody's okay. But, you know, people's basements are flooded. People, roads are closed. Just again, you're watching the news and there's again, people on boats.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. And you see the cars abandoned. But. But the video in. On the one train.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because, you know, that was a line we used to take when we were uptown. And that one video where the water is at the window of the car, you know, the subway car. It's like, in this. In the station, like, I'm looking at that and I'm thinking, all right, well, congestion pricing, this is going to fix all this, right? All the. All the revenue from congesting from the congestion toll, that's going to fix all this, Right?

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Fully confident. Fully confident. This is not gonna, like, five, ten years from now, all this will be a joke. We'll laugh about the days that the subway used to flood. Right. But that's what it's for. Right?

[Don LaGreca]

But I heard a story. Our pinhead suit, John Winthrop, told us that the reasons that in Lower Manhattan the trains are nicer is because some of the trains up in, like, midtown are skinnier because the till, they didn't make the tunnels big enough. So some of the newer subways, they were able to make them wider. The trains bring in new trains. They're bigger, they're more spacious, clean. Because, yeah, we're working from back in, like, the 1860s. Water mains are breaking that again. They probably were talking to each other. How long is this water main gonna last? Oh, we'll be dead by the time this thing breaks. They die. Their fathers die. They actually got it wrong. It lasted longer, but none of the people that made it care anymore, because they're in heaven looking down, laughing at us.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Pretty much.

[Don LaGreca]

Because now that infrastructure is breaking down. Yeah. And listen, the city's just too busy and there's just too many people to just shut it down. I guess Covid could have been our chance. When we were working from home, I was just saying, hey, let's fix it. But, you know, we were in such a rush to get everybody back, because again, with nobody in the city, nobody's able to make any money.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You missed it. Of course. We were told we're not going to need this anymore because now that we have working remotely, no one's going to be in these offices, these abandoned offices in Midtown.

[Don LaGreca]

No, we're back, baby.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's ever going to go back. We're back again. And guess what?

[Don LaGreca]

I Don't know what commercial they run during the Met games. You know our bounce back, we're bouncing back.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay.

[Don LaGreca]

Slow. Well, the slow roller up the middle. But it'll get. It'll touch grass at some point. Well, and we'll move forward.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Speaking of touching grass, Giants rookies showed up. Some of the camps opening up. I guess we have two teams that are playing in the hall of Fame. It's the Lions. And I'm missing the other team that.

[Don LaGreca]

Dave Rothenberg.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, it could be the Chargers. Right. So we have football starting and the jets are getting right to business. Yesterday they signed Garrett Wilson to an extension and now today it is Sauce Gardner. So we weren't sure if they were going to give Sauce Gardner the money or if they were going to have him do a prove it year. But pretty clear that they also want to get him locked up. Although his deal is that the guarantees aren't that heavy.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, the way it's a four year contract with $121 million, 60 of it is guaranteed. So half the contracts guaranteed so you can get out of it stays a jet through 2030. This on the heels of Garrett Wilson getting his contract, which is a massive contract as well. Yeah, there's good and bad in it. I'm going to tell you why. My initial reaction is why because I talked about it yesterday is you don't have to pay him not coming off. He had the great rookie year. He was the rookie of the year, offensive rookie, defensive rookie of the year. And the last two years have been great, but not what it was. And you know the jets aren't winning this year. You wouldn't think why pay someone when you don't have to. The risk is he has a monster year and then you're going to have to pay him more. But there's also a chance he can get hurt. There's a chance he'll have another season that is not as good as it should be and then maybe you get him a lot less. That was my initial reaction and thinking about it, I said, well, listen, because you're in a rebuild and they are new coach, new general manager, you know, you just traded for a new quarterback who's still young enough to almost be treated like a draft pick, that you want to be able to give your fans something to look forward to and keep your draft picks. Even though it was a different regime, still, the best part of the jets are having the former rookie, offensive rookie of the year and defensive rookie of the year being long term Jets. Why take the chance and possibly losing them. And they could be the building blocks on either side of the ball. So there's pros and cons in it. But I guess at the end of the day, why wouldn't the fans be happy that the two faces of their franchise in this transition are going to be here for the foreseeable future?

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's the idea. Now the last name that I'm wondering about is Breece hall.

[Don LaGreca]

Right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's also up after this season. He's probably going to be the guy because you were speculating yesterday about maybe, you know, only Garrett's going to get paid. All right, so it's Garrett and Sauce. But Breeze hall has to know because he was the second round pick. So for him you got Braylon Allen. They love Isaiah Davis too. So you've got a, you have a running back room that is loaded with talent that they believe young talent too. And so Breece hall who has, he's had like, you know, moments where you see there's something special with him, but you don't have to pay him.

[Don LaGreca]

You don't.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And that's like, how awkward is that going to be? You put him on a prove it year where at the end of the season you have to decide whether or not he has done enough to prove it. But if you're going three headed monster at running back, how's he really going to put up any kind of numbers that are going to justify the type of money that he probably believes he should be making as a running back in the NFL? He talent wise, he's very good. He had the injury that really set him back. I just don't know what the plan will be for him. And I'm curious to see what it's going to be about how big of a role he's going to play in the offense because it does feel like they want to run more and they want to be more of an athletic offense. So he's that, you know, because those are the three guys, those three came up together, right? Those are the three guys you really, if you're a Jets fan, when they, when they were rookies, you fell in love with them. They all had moments and two of them got the extensions. What happens with Breeze hall, you also.

[Don LaGreca]

Have to, and again, not having the cap numbers in front of me. But you got to dial it down at some point because one of the reasons you're able to do this is because you're not paying your quarterback anything.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, 20 million, right?

[Don LaGreca]

Right. $20 million. It's not 40, 50 is again, it's not nothing, but it's not a lot.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right?

[Don LaGreca]

But I will tell you this. He signed a two year contract. If it works out with Justin fields, he's only 26 years old. You're going to this off the next offseason, next summer, you might have to address Justin Fields. What if Fields ends up playing well and you say, you know what, I think he's our quarterback of the future. Well then guess what, you're not going to have him in his walk year. Then you're going to want to extend him and you want to make sure there's money to do that and then fill all the other holes that you have. So it's a nice problem to have that you've got these guys under contract but at some point somebody's got the odd man out. And the fact I don't want to have this old song and dance again, but he's a running back, they have other options at running back. They're going to want to run the football. All right, why not have him run for a supper this year and then you can address it at the end of the year, see what it looks like. You can't be handing out long term, tons of guaranteed money. No. If your quarterback experiment works and I'm sure they picked up Justin Fields in the hopes that this 26 year old can maybe be their savior, you parted ways with Aaron Rodgers, you're moving on to Justin Fields. Well, it's only a two year contract. If he ends up balling out this year, he's going to, he's going to. He's not going to be paid, he's not going to be paid $20 million beyond 20, 26. So you're going to have to make sure you got money for him too and all the other things that you're going to need when this team's ready to turn the corner. But I think it's a good day for Jet fans because in a year where there's probably not going to be a lot of winning, you wouldn't think you kept your draft pick, you kept your stars and they're here.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So the Fields contract was very, when you think about it was smart because the cap hit this year is like minimal for a quarterback. It's like 8 million right. Next year it's 23. So they back, you know, like they probably know like if it works out then we're still a bargain.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, if it doesn't, it's a bargain. But on top of that is, is that it could be a Jumping off point for giving an extension.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don LaGreca]

Again, he would have to have a pretty amazing year for that to happen. But that's the hope, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

I'm so fascinated by him because how often do you get a player like this young? Because it could be a Baker Mayfield situation. Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, I mean, you're hoping for that.

[Don LaGreca]

That, hey, maybe he's just a late bloomer. He was in a bad situation in Chicago. We can work with him. He's only 26. It's almost. Really. How old are you when you're drafted? 24. He's not that much older than somebody you could have drafted this year and brought in. Right. Just a couple of years older. He doesn't have a ton of mileage on him.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No.

[Don LaGreca]

And there is a tremendous upside now, if you think he stinks. All right, well, the contract doesn't behoove you. Doesn't put you in a situation where you're going to have to regret it. It really was a great idea for Muji to do this.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. It was the right idea for where the jets are. Right. When you consider also his connection to Garrett, that. So you have a wide receiver, they have that personal connection. It's very similar. Let me see, Burrow and Chase.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You have that instant connection from playing in college together. Right.

[Don LaGreca]

So even though there was that connection, Chase wanted to get paid. Right. Remember?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. No, no.

[Don LaGreca]

Threatening, not play.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know how that guy's all business. But the idea was that you get guys that had the chemistry already built in and you see if it can work some magic. NFL level. The Eagles have the same thing. So that part is going to be intriguing to watch. But, I mean, if you think about it, Chicago had to move on from him because it was time to pay him. There was a new regime. Like, the whole idea was, yeah, let him go. You can't say he failed in Chicago. It was more like Chicago failed him and it was time to move on. Pittsburgh's the one place that makes me, like, gives me cause for pause because they needed a quarterback desperately. Now, I'd heard that they wanted to resign him and he said no to them. But he knew he had interest in the Jets. He had other places. And I think he just wanted to get out of Pittsburgh. But it is odd that they. They went away from him because of Russell Wilson and never went back to him.

[Don LaGreca]

Never went back to him. So that's the negative part.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And so you're wondering, like, was it him or was it Pittsburgh? But remember, he's the one. Pittsburgh did. I Remember Shefty saying that Pittsburgh did want to talk to Fields, and Fields was like, I'm all set. I'm going somewhere else.

[Don LaGreca]

I just think the timing was poor. Even though. What was they, 4 and 2 when he started?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, but they were waiting on Russell Wilson.

[Don LaGreca]

They're waiting on Wilson because they were a win now team, and they felt that Russell Wilson was better equipped to win for them than Justin Fields. Well, the jets are not a win now team, so they can work with him. We talk about it all the time with the Yankees and the Rangers of trying to win and groom young talent. Very difficult to do.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don LaGreca]

Steelers just couldn't. They couldn't deal with that. And Fields realized they're going to bring in Aaron Rodgers and I'm never going to get a chance to play. Let me go someplace where I can play. There's not going to be the pressure to win right away. I can grow, learn the system. It's really almost like a rookie year. It's a rare opportunity to get a restart this early in your career. It happens occasionally. It happened to Baker Mayfield. It wasn't that old.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sam Darnold.

[Don LaGreca]

Sam Darnold. Same thing is that I have a chance to reset now. If they get what Sam Darnold gave Minnesota last year, that'd be a home run for them.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Fantastic.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, but I don't think it'll be that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, I think Garrett's great, but those wide receivers in Minnesota did a lot for Sam Darnold.

[Don LaGreca]

And that's why I had no problem giving Wilson the contract yesterday. Because you want Justin Fields to work? Well, sauce is the difference.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Don't you want to align them all together as well?

[Don LaGreca]

But I want to make sure. And maybe that that's something that Breeze could take advantage of as well. I want to load this kid up with weapons. I want everybody to be happy. Kumbaya, all that. Although in a salary cap, you got to be careful. Sauce a little bit different. You didn't have to do it, but I felt like there was a little PR involved in it. Give the fans something, and I can build my defense. I'm sure Glenn's looking at. I want to be able to build a defense around Rex. Ryan had had Revis. Maybe I have sauce.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, and also you protect yourself by guaranteeing only half that deal. So you're not looking at it like, this is not somebody you're gonna be. This is not an albatross kind of contract. You're not stuck. Half of the deal is guaranteed. Only half 60. You can if it doesn't work out, there's ways out of this. So you're not really locked in, but at least you're giving him a commitment as well. And you're starting to say this is now our new leadership. Well, you, you saw the quotes yesterday from, from Garrett, from Breece, like what they were talking about when it comes to Justin Fields being around their age and how they all relate. And this does feel like a group of guys. That young core of that great draft that Joe Douglas had, that young core that was sort of the puppies that were being told what to do and led by others like C.J. mosley, like Aaron Rodgers, like some others. This is their team now, if you think about it, right. This is kind of their team now, especially on the offense. Who's the, who's the offensive leader? Who's the, who's the vet voice on that offense?

[Don LaGreca]

I have to be.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, it's them.

[Don LaGreca]

Wilson. And then it goes from there like.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This is, it's their. This is their team now. And so that, that does say a lot. That's why you pay these guys. And you're going to believe it. They're going to emerge and they're going to grow into roles where they are prominent and they're going to be the reason why this franchise heads towards winning.

[Don LaGreca]

And what it does is it bridges the old regime to the new regime in the sense of sauce and Garrett aren't the old regime's players. They're now the new regime's players because they got contracts. Right. So you carried them over the way and it didn't work out, but kind of way. Shane and dragged Jones with him. Yeah, that was, that was a Gettleman problem. And then when he gave Jones the contract, it became a Shane problem.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

Right. So. But, but it could work the other way, too.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't love that example, but it.

[Don LaGreca]

Could work the other way of, hey, I. This is the new regime and these are the people we want. And you know what those are. Say what you want about Joe Douglas. Those were good draft picks. Yeah, those are very good draft picks.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Most of the time his biggest issue was, you know, again, the Zach Wilson draft was terrible.

[Don LaGreca]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know, that was a terrible decision.

[Don LaGreca]

And that was a tough decision. 1-800-919-3776 we'll get to the baseball of it all. We've got talk about a Tuesday coming up at 430, ENN at 6, but let's get to your calls and let's talk to Bobby and belmar. You're on ESPN New York. What's up, man?

[Bobby]

I. Alan, it was 85. No guarantee for Source Garden. I think you said 60.

[Don LaGreca]

I'm looking at 60. Everywhere we saw 60.

[Bobby]

I 5. Allen from ESPN. Maybe it's a misprint.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay.

[Bobby]

Anyway, you know, a lot of money for a guy who had a horrible year last year, didn't give it his all, he couldn't tackle on his extension. He couldn't wait a year. I mean, you know, I don't.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, that's, that's what we were saying. We were saying this yesterday. Is that like, you know, could they wait? Could they make them wait? They certainly could have. There's a reason behind it. Yeah, what's.

[Don LaGreca]

I, if I. Bobby, you're not wrong. I mean, I get it from a PR standpoint, but if I were Moogie, I'd wait a year. I didn't have to do this, Wilson. I had to because I needed to get my quarterback better.

[Bobby]

Right?

[Don LaGreca]

But here he's the highest paid corner now, now again, it's not a ton of guaranteed money, only half of it's guaranteed.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Just me real quick. So hang on because I want to clarify something that you were saying because we've seen two different numbers now and they are so in Samini Story, Adam Schefter is who he's accrediting saying 85 million guaranteed. Right. Tom Palacero is saying it's 6. See, 60 sounded a lot better than 85.

[Don LaGreca]

85 does change the dynamic just a little bit. We'll try to get confirmation on that. But Bobby, you're not wrong. I can understand the apprehension, but I guess they just wanted. He's a personality. It's not going to be a great season. Let's lock him down. But I get your apprehension, especially if it's 85 guaranteed.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, let me, let me just, let me just do some math here because remember, this is an extension. So this year he was at cash totals 5.2, but he's got a cap hit of 10 million. So if, if you're, do you put, you put those numbers together, is that because that's. There's your, there's your difference.

[Don LaGreca]

Right? There is the 15 guarantee for this year.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. So if you're counting this year and.

[Don LaGreca]

Then the extra year, the four year contract extension. So 26, 27, 28, 29. Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Usually you rip up one. Right. Usually rip up the year and you read redo it or you do it off this year. Well, the NFL, that's where it is.

[Don LaGreca]

If you're doing it off this year. Well, then there's your 85. Yeah, I think the four years, $121 million. 60 of that is guaranteed.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Gotcha.

[Don LaGreca]

He's probably already working with 15 guaranteed now. So they're both right. He's got a contract that's got $85 million guaranteed money. But the contract extension has 60.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right. Okay. That's what it is. They gave him 60 more and that.

[Don LaGreca]

Was going to happen. Even if he played this year, he was going to have the 15 guaranteed. So then once he goes into next year and the contract kicks in, it'll be four years, $121 million. 60 guaranteed. Pays him 30.1 per year. Makes him the highest paid corner.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So Spotrek has all this stuff here. So yeah, the cat.

[Don LaGreca]

That has to be the answer.

[Peter Rosenberg]

120. And it said signed a four year 120 contract. 85. 453. 473 guaranteed. His average salary, by the way, is 30 million.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, that is very, very important. Yeah. I hate math, but it's important.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, no. Well, because, you know, figuring out what.

[Don LaGreca]

You feel, how you feel about the extension is 60. His contract is 85 because of, I guess the 15 million guarantee. Do the math this year. God, I hate math. And so does everybody. They should do away with it. I can't count or do matter. I'm also big on, you know, I'm gonna save it for talk about it Tuesday.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, really?

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah. Just popped into my head. But you know what?

[Peter Rosenberg]

You want to talk about it?

[Don LaGreca]

As much as I love the adrenaline rush of 30 seconds before we do it, not having it, I like the fact that an hour in we have it makes it fun. Less adrenaline, better radio. Although it was good radio last week, right? Cause was it last week or two weeks ago where Anthony completely saved us?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like we had eggs and they just sat down, said one thing you, and I flipped out and that was it.

[Don LaGreca]

That was it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That stinks. I have a better idea. Yeah?

[Rich Cimini]

This is an ad by BetterHelp. Workplace stress is now one of the top causes of declining mental health, with 61% of the global workforce experiencing higher than normal levels of stress. To battle stress, most of us can't wave goodbye to work. But we can start small with a focus on wellness. With over 30,000 therapists, BetterHelp is the world's largest online therapy platform, having served over 5 million people globally. And it works with an app store rating of 4.9 out of 5 based on over 1.7 million client reviews. It's convenient too. You can join a session with a therapist at the click of a button, helping you fit therapy into your busy life. Plus switch therapists at any time. As largest online therapy provider in the world, BetterHelp can provide access to mental health professionals with a diverse variety of expertise. Unwind from work with BetterHelp, our listeners get 10% off their first month at betterhelp.com timeout. That's better. Hp.com timeout.

[Anthony Pusick]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg Podcast.

[Rich Cimini]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Anthony Pusick]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.

[Don LaGreca]

Don Hanan Rosenberg with you at 7 o', clock. 1-800-919-3776. I want to thank, I want to thank Sal Butteruso who sent me a nice manila envelope full of hockey.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He sent me full of hockey.

[Don LaGreca]

He sent me the team picture for the 0304 New Jersey Devils, which was their 25th anniversary.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, wow.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, you see the late Pat Burns as head coach. Interesting. And then some, some hockey cards. See if you remember any of these individuals.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let me see. I love doing the Hawk.

[Don LaGreca]

Mark Johnson from Team usa. Of course, Mark, the New Jersey Devil. So this is from Miracle, the 1991 season. How about Ray Ferraro as a Whaler?

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's how I remember Ray Ferraro.

[Don LaGreca]

And then Chicken Parm from the team scoring leader card for Kirk Mueller. Captain Kirk, the bad Terjon. Sylvain Terjean.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He wasn't bad, was.

[Don LaGreca]

He wasn't his brother?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, he wasn't Pierre.

[Don LaGreca]

You mean he wasn't Pierre, but he was, he was a, he was good. He was a senator. He was a Whale. He was a Whaler, too.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I remember. He wasn't the original senator.

[Don LaGreca]

Yes, I believe he was. Expansion draft. He went from Hartford to New Jersey and then to Ottawa. Tommy Abilene.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sure.

[Don LaGreca]

Defenseman for the Devils.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

Remember Bob Brook?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Don LaGreca]

Bob Brook was a Ranger.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He was a Ranger. Right.

[Don LaGreca]

For a while in the mid-80s and then played one season for the Devils. And then Captain Kirk again. Another Captain Kirk about a Brendan Shanahan.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Kirk Mueller wouldn't wear the Fisherman.

[Don LaGreca]

He wouldn't.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, he remember they, they traded.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Traded Terjon, I think, for him. Right. Kirk Muller.

[Don LaGreca]

That was, he was on after Montreal, right? Yeah. Like later 90s.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And he, he, he like was, he didn't, almost didn't show up for a while. And a lot of it had to do with the fact that a, it was the Islanders that weren't very good. B. The, the uniform, they had made that change over to the whole fisherman thing. And while all the kids love it today, I let you all know it's a throw.

[Don LaGreca]

But it was not.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No one loved it back then.

[Don LaGreca]

No, it was not. Good people.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think it was. Darius Casperitis was told in the locker room, hey, next season we're going away from the fisherman logo. And he goes, good. We look like idiots. Like, direct quote.

[Don LaGreca]

That's funny. I. Two guys that were islanders that you forget, great players that were islanders that you forget were islanders.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Great players that were islanders, but you.

[Don LaGreca]

Forget they were Kurt Mueller's one. But the other, there's another great player that was an Islander for like a, like five minutes. Great. I'm not talking about Hextall after that, after.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So late 90s.

[Don LaGreca]

Late 90s or early 2000s?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Trevor Linden.

[Don LaGreca]

Trevor Linden, you forget that he was an island. Trevor Lynn's a great player.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. Very good, Very good.

[Don LaGreca]

Trevor London was the player taken after Mike Madonna. Madonna went 1. Trevor Linden went too.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

So thank you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Linden was a good guy. Class act, Trevor Linden. Oh, very class act.

[Don LaGreca]

Love, love Trevor Linden.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

1-800-919-3776. Let's go to David and Elizabeth. You're on ESPN New York. What's up?

[Bobby]

David Hollywood. Han. Donnie Pucks.

[Don LaGreca]

What's up, baby?

[Bobby]

Hey, before I started off, I want to say we love Linden.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We love Linden.

[Don LaGreca]

Yes, sir.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes, sir.

[Bobby]

Yeah, man. Today's a good day for us jets fans and it's good for Jet Nation. We're happy that we're extending Garrett and Saucer. I agree with you guys a little bit. Yeah. This should have been maybe a proven year for Sauce, but at the same time, it was all pro two seasons. And not for nothing, let's just say exactly what Don said, you know, happened. He has a dynamite season and now you have to pay him even more money.

[Don LaGreca]

I was also going to tell you.

[Bobby]

Guys about the guarantees, but you guys fixed that real quick before you guys let me go. I hope that this new regime can continue to do this and, you know, keep our in house talent, keep young talent on the team and, you know, we be productive. I hope that field also pans out as well.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The whole thing, you know what the whole thing is? Thanks for the call. The whole thing is not just keep the young guys, develop them. Right, Don, like that's. To me that, that's the part of the equation we often forget about, is you can bring in young talent. That young talent could at the very Beginning show you a spark and make you go, okay, there's something there. But what good is it if you don't have the ability to take the young talent and turn it into high level veteran talent? That's the secret sauce, right? No pun intended. But that's really what it's about. Not every organization can do that.

[Don LaGreca]

But the one thing I'll push back on as far as like, yeah, I guess there's the possibility he can ball out, be amazing. You have to give more. He's the highest paid corner now. Like, how much more do you think you would have to give him? Right. You've already set the market.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

So I guess a few million dollars more. But I would have played a wait and see. And then I would gladly pay you if you have an amazing and you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wouldn'T have been wrong.

[Don LaGreca]

I would gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today. There you go with sauce on it. Let's go to Moose in Jamaica. You're on ESPN New York.

[Bobby]

What's good, fellas? How are we good, buddy? So, yeah, I like to provide some neutral perspective and this is not actually being negative, this is surprisingly positive. On the contract extension, for example, you know how these organizations work, they have a analytics department that basically run algorithms based on previous seasons, what they come out in the draft or measurables and all this stuff, how they play. So you have the basic stats like receptions, receiving yards, pass defended, tackles, fumbles, interceptions. Right. And then you have the advanced metrics like press coverage, win rate, that goes for receivers and, and corners such as that. So according to the like the basic metrics that I mentioned, both players are like top 10 players at their position. But the advanced metrics or Garrett Wilson is like top 15, but that's because he really hasn't had a good quarterback to. Excuse me, it's the opposite for soft start nerds like top 15 because he plays in a defense where scheme is like cover two base and stuff. While Garrett Wilson, since he doesn't have a good quarterback, his advanced metrics, like the area in which he wins space, creates space for is like top five at his position. So they paid them accordingly. Now, going to the point that everybody's mentioning the importance of Joe Douglas drafting these players in a new regime, keeping them so that they can establish great veteran talent, so that if they do get a quarterback, I forget the coach's name or whatever, so. So that they can build some sustained winning and build off more drafts and more developing of talent so they can be a true winner. So this is good for the Jets. Now they just need to get a quarterback.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah. And, and, and part of the reason you give Wilson the money that you gave him is because you want Justin Fields to have a weapon, somebody that he knows, somebody that he's worked with before to make it work. Sauce, on the other hand, is interesting because if you're not going to be winning, if he hasn't had a great season last year, I'd like to wait and see. But you can hear from the fans reaction that they're happy that two of their stars are back. Yeah. So they're not thinking about cap. They're not thinking about loan. They're thinking, all right, Glenn's got some things to work with and two of our best players are going to stay here for the next half decade.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And it's actually not Breece Hall. Breeze Hall's. I was just going back and forth with Samini trying to get some of the details, and he made a good point. Hall probably is going to have to wait, but Vera Tucker, who's been a fantastic offensive lineman, they've used him in all different places in the offensive line. He's the guy actually, who's next. It's got to get paid. An offensive lineman, obviously, you know how important they are. So that's the next name to keep an eye on. What are they going to do with him?

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, for sure. And maybe we get. He's probably busy, but if Sabini's got a second.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, I'm trying to see because I'm going back and forth with him right.

[Don LaGreca]

Now, but I know he's getting him on later on the show, getting an article or something on there.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's definitely. Well, he's got. He's got a story.

[Don LaGreca]

Anthony's in a little bit of a way because kind of his job. He did it all, right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He did. No, he also. I suggested.

[Don LaGreca]

Was I in the room?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No.

[Don LaGreca]

Okay. Well, I don't feel bad about it then.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

It must have been why you were staring Alan down.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I said, Rich is a busy man. We don't want to bother him. Rich will do anything for us. Listen, I know these days as a. As the beat writer, like, let me get my work done then if I have time. Driving home, if he is. Actually he could even be working from home, something like this, then maybe I'll. I can call in. So. I didn't like bothering people. That's all. You know, when it's like information we easily get, which I'm getting right now as I'm texting.

[Don LaGreca]

I would Make a terrible producer because I'd be the same way. I don't want to bother him. He's probably having dinner.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like, come on.

[Don LaGreca]

Any but rich Samini. He's always been there for us. I almost feel uncomfortable talking jets for any length of time and not including him in the conversation. It's like we're talking about the jets behind his back.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right, so I'm asking him right now.

[Don LaGreca]

Really?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

You're gonna overstep your bounds.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm going. Don wants to know, therefore, now I'm not in on it. Do you see what's happening here?

[Don LaGreca]

I wasn't in the room when you suggested. Believe me, I'm gonna be the last person that suggests guests. But I'm like this. He's texting with Samini.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm trying to get.

[Don LaGreca]

Because better radio would be actually talking.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We had a caller who was disputing something about the.

[Don LaGreca]

We did a good job on our own. Two people that hate math figured it out.

[Peter Rosenberg]

How do you know I hate math? Because math hates me.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah. And that. And then you hate it in return. Right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

You didn't despise.

[Don LaGreca]

Listen, I. I've known you for a while. You're not. You weren't skipping the math class. You were cutting math class and made a calculator for a reason.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I was at Wolf Hill Road park shooting hoops. How did. How did it work out for me?

[Don LaGreca]

I don't know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Not good.

[Don LaGreca]

It's a good. No, that's a good question.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't know.

[Don LaGreca]

I don't worry because I don't think you were taking. You were shooting hoops, hoping to be a talk show.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, that's my point.

[Don LaGreca]

You weren't shooting hoops. Open to the Knicks for Newsday.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's kind of what I meant. At the same time, that's what you get kids for. Cutting.

[Don LaGreca]

But at the same time, it still worked out.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, I mean, whatever I was. I was literally. Because at St. Anthony's you. They had. We had uniform and penny loafers, and I would go in the penny loafers and just. I'd play ball. And lunchtime, there'd be, like, guys there, like grown ups, grown men shooting around, like, for during lunchtime. So I jump in with them, come back sweaty, and told my head. I was like, oh, I have a flu.

[Don LaGreca]

Wow.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, my God, the excuses I came up with. Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

See, I. I feel like it did work out for me because even though I did play ball, I. I wanted to do this when I was younger.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's nice.

[Don LaGreca]

You know, So I wanted to be. Oh, we lost. I was all excited to go to the caller. He died. He was on the beach, I guess.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The beach, I guess it's high tide. He's. He told me he's up in Bristol. He's got meetings going on, big NFL meetings happening in Bristol.

[Don LaGreca]

Savini.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, Bristol.

[Don LaGreca]

Is he blowing us off?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, no. He said I might have a break in a few. So I just told him, like, call when you can.

[Don LaGreca]

All right, let's do that. Hopefully we'll talk to Ritz Samini, much to Anthony Pusick chagrin.

[Anthony Pusick]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Rich Cimini]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Anthony Pusick]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.

[Peter Rosenberg]

In your head. How did this ear worm its way in to your brain? To the. I had never thought. Jacob and I were sitting there ready for the meeting, and Don comes in and he's doing this.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, I'm singing this. Not a fan, but it was in my head.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It doesn't matter. I looked at Jake, Jake looked at me, and we both were like, who had on the bingo card? Don legreca singing Salt and Pepper.

[Don LaGreca]

What happened is, as I was after I ate my salad for lunch, and I'm cleaning up on the kitchen table here in the studio, somebody left some salt and pepper chips. And then brown. She goes, oh, salt and pepper. And that's it. That's all it took.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And you just started doing, Ooh, baby, baby. Yeah, anything, whatever.

[Don LaGreca]

Bad song. It's not something to download, but it's fine.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's there anyway. I don't imagine. I would have never imagined seeing you singing it as you walked into your room again.

[Don LaGreca]

That's not on anybody's bingo card. Ever.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Did you. Did you see this? So the Rays are a game and a half out of the last wild cards by the American League. They're behind the Mariners. Game and a half. That's it. So they're kind of like hovering.

[Don LaGreca]

Remember I said by the Red Sox.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The whole division could technically make the playoffs. The American League East. So we know this season they're playing at Steinbrenner Field. Seats a little over 10,000 people. They had to, obviously, what happened to Tropicana Field? But now the prospect of could they make the playoffs, and if they do, would you play playoff games in a stadium, a minor league stadium that seats 10,000? Now, the joke, of course, is, well, they only draw 10,000 to drop the drop anyway. But we've seen playoff games at the drop. It does really well because people, people now care. But Rob Manfred had the option to say if they make the playoffs, they'll play in another stadium in Florida, most likely Miami, which you'd have nobody there, probably. This is so far from Tampa.

[Don LaGreca]

Depends on how you're playing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So do you think that having them just stay in Steinbrenner Field for how long they make the play? I mean, God forbid they make the World Series and you got 10,000 people. But is this is really the only option they have? And it seems like they're just sticking with this for this year.

[Don LaGreca]

I don't understand it because with just being 10,000 people out.

[Peter Rosenberg]

10,000, four, six.

[Don LaGreca]

So all right. For a playoff game, if they were home, I would think if the Rays were good in a playoff game, they would draw more than 10,000 people. I'm not saying they fill the building, they'd have 30, 35,000 people.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Cowbells.

[Don LaGreca]

Remember, you're sharing revenue, so there's a lot of money lost. Unless they're going to charge like a thousand dollars a ticket. But where it could be a problem is, well, who are they going to play? They could play the Yankees. They could play the Red Sox. So if you're playing in Miami, oh, my God. But if you're playing in Miami. See, this is why sometimes baseball is a little short sighted, at least with the information that we have here, is that if you play the Yankees, you play the Red Sox, you're filling, you're filling Miami. Right. You're going to sell that out. But think about Red Sox.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hang on a second. Tampa is out. That's the Yankee home. Right? And for the Red Sox, Fort Myers is their home. Also, Fort Myers is right down the freeway.

[Don LaGreca]

And those are teams that. So even if it's Miami, but Tampa.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Is even closer to Fort Myers.

[Don LaGreca]

But even if they played it in Guam, those are two teams that travel very well. Okay, so what I'm saying, so the rest. So the owners will be like, wait a minute, we share revenue. Why are we missing out on maybe having a building that has 40,000 people in it for a building that's gonna have 10,000 people?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I see what you're saying.

[Don LaGreca]

Now, the likelihood of them going to the World Series is almost zero. But think of the embarrassment if they're playing at Legends Field, George Steinbrenner Stadium. It's a World Series game. Now, the ticket prices would be through the roof. But how ridiculous would that look? It would be ridiculous, you know, but. But you can't rule out going to the playoffs is not an impossibility. So that would be a level.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What's the other. What's the other option?

[Don LaGreca]

If I don't understand why you wouldn't go to Miami, the Marlins aren't making the playoffs. You won't have any conflicts there. At least it's a building that has the potential to fill. Unless the less the Rays don't want to do it. I don't know. Or maybe the Marlins are saying, no, they're not playing in our building. I don't know. I don't know the logic. I'm sure there's. There's a reason for it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, regardless, like I said, it would take. It's going to take a miracle for them to get that far. But the point is, is that that's what they're doing right now. They are also being sold. So there's an agreement that. It's not signed yet, but there's an agreement in place to being sold to a new ownership group led by a real estate developer from down there. They're selling the franchise. This is a Major League baseball franchise. So I don't care that that's the raise. It doesn't matter. It's still a Major league baseball franchise. $1.7 billion.

[Don LaGreca]

What should it be when you don't have a place to play?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, they do. The Trop is being renovated.

[Don LaGreca]

It's being. But it's putting the roof back on. Not a great building.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No. They have to get a new building.

[Don LaGreca]

And I would think there's a fighting chance that whoever buys it might be in a position to eventually move it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don LaGreca]

Are they going to stay in Tampa? Are they guaranteed to stay down there? I know the television ratings are good. We hear that the building's convoluted. It's not, you know, it's too far and all that stuff.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, they've had a hard time.

[Don LaGreca]

They want to stay in that area, but they don't have a building and.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They can't get one. They had a deal in place, remember, that fell through.

[Don LaGreca]

So how much you pay?

[Peter Rosenberg]

And they're trying to find, like, they need one of the municipalities nearby around the Tampa area. Tampa, St. Pete area. Somebody has got to want to work with them to give them a building, and nobody seems to want it.

[Don LaGreca]

Right. So how much can you really charge for a team that's. That's a nomad right now? So they don't have the building, which isn't going to be ready for a while, and then it's Not a great building to begin with. It's not where you want it to be. So that's going to discount the franchise, isn't it? It's not a great team. Doesn't have much of a history. They're okay recently and they did go to a World Series a couple of times. But, you know, it's not a perennial winner. It's not a market that draws exceptionally well. I mean, how much would you. I know it's weird that there's a sports franchise that's worth, you know, not. Not even $2 billion. But if they're. But that would be it, right? A lot of these build. A lot of these teams sell because of the. They own the building or the rights to the building or the lease is good. There's just a lot of damage around that franchise, Alan. A lot of damage. The A's, that's a mess, too. How much would they sell for?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, I'm looking at. The A's are valued at 2 billion.

[Don LaGreca]

Would you pay $2 billion for the ACE?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, they don't have a bill.

[Don LaGreca]

They're going to be able to play. Where are they playing?

[Peter Rosenberg]

They don't have a Sacramento right now.

[Don LaGreca]

I'm saying they're not going to play in Sacramento. That's a minor league park.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They're trying to build a. They're trying to build that park in. In Vegas.

[Don LaGreca]

It doesn't look like it's anywhere close. They can't go back to Oakland.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Nope.

[Don LaGreca]

So you're looking at the possibility of relocating to, you know, the places that are rumored for. For expansion. They go to Charlotte, Nashville, if they want to keep them out west. Where they gonna go to Portland. Do they have a building for it?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes. Like, but it's. It's you. It. It's Major League Baseball. Like, it just feels like, how could it. Something. And I'm saying cheap. And it's all relative, right? Because it's still billion dollars. A billion dollars.

[Don LaGreca]

But you are buying. You. But listen, it's a toy, right? Because you want to play with the toy. But if you're buying it because you want it to be worth more down the road, think of the money you're gonna have to sink into the Rays or the A's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, they're trying to raise.

[Don LaGreca]

In order to make it work, they're.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Trying to raise a half a billion dollars right now to finance. Just to finance the stadium in Vegas. Right.

[Don LaGreca]

So that's something. Now, if I bought the A's, I'd have to take care of that, right? Or I'm. It now becomes my problem. I got no place for this team to play. Sacramento is not a long term answer. If I buy the Rays, I gotta find a place for them to play. Obviously, Steinbrenner fields no long term answer. So how much money am I going to have to sink into a new building or the headache of trying to find some place for this team to play?

[Peter Rosenberg]

And in the meantime, you're trying to get another national deal, right? The whole ESPN deal. So that's where valuations go up. It's not necessarily how valuable is your franchise, it's what piece. Remember, these are franchises that are taking revenue sharing. You're putting money in your pocket when the minute you. Minute you own that team, you're getting money because you know you're not a franchise that's going to make a lot of money. So you have that and the TV deals. That's why you're seeing the NFL. All those deals, all those teams skyrocket. The NBA as well. It's the TV deals that's what's making this interesting. And again, Rob Manfred, like this is under his watch.

[Don LaGreca]

Baseball's got to get involved. Baseball has to get to Vegas because the NHL and NFL have had success there. You know, the NBA is going to expand to Vegas and they've already got a building because they can play with the golden.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I know, but I don't think the NBA is expanding anytime soon. I got a theory on that for another day.

[Don LaGreca]

But they're hot to get back in Seattle, right? And Vegas, are they. The way it's working for hockey, the way it's working for hockey and football, baseball and basketball are going to want to get in on Vegas. They're going to want.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't deny that it's, you know.

[Don LaGreca]

And they got a team ready to do it. So what I'm saying is baseball, I think, has to step in and make sure that that building gets done.

[Peter Rosenberg]

If you're on Vegas, if you're on Manfred, that almost feels like a. Like a must have.

[Anthony Pusick]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't want to know how the sausage is made, but I just want to know it's good.

[Anthony Pusick]

Hear more of Don Allen and Peter Weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers.