What is the secret to success for the Atlanta Braves? How happy is Salvador Perez in Kansas City? What are the best sales pitches for Shohei Ohtani?
SEATTLE — Before the players took the field at the All-Star Game here in the Pacific Northwest, they met with members of the media to talk about the first half of the season and what could come next as the MLB trade deadline approaches.
One player who has been part of the buzz around trades is veteran Kansas City Royals pitcher Salvador Perez. While Kansas City general manager JJ Picollo has said he has "no intention" of trading the 33-year-old backstop, Perez made it clear during media sessions on Monday that he is happy right where he is.
Salvador Perez likes what he sees with Kansas City Royals
"100 percent," when Perez was asked how happy he was to be a part of the Royals and the current direction of things, even with a mark of 26-65 at the All-Star break. With affirmation from the player and general manager, don't expect Perez to go anywhere when the trade deadline nears.
And what does Perez like about what is seeing in Kansas City?
"It's a young group. They have to learn how to play together and know how to play to win," Perez said of the direction the franchise is heading with Bobby Witt Jr., MJ Melendez and Vinnie Pasquantino all starting to make their mark. "It's going to take a little bit of time but I think we're close to being back in the playoffs."
Spencer Strider dishes on secret to success for Atlanta Braves
While Strider may have earned an All-Star Game bid, he won't see action in the Midsummer Classic because of his starting schedule with the Atlanta Braves. Still, Strider was there to meet the media and talk about what makes the Braves such a success. After all, Atlanta set a franchise record this season by earning eight All-Star bids to pace the National League in that category.
For Strider, he sees the key to success in Atlanta as the franchise allowing players to focus on their strengths rather than trying to change them into someone they aren't.
"We want guys to just be who they are and they (Braves management) are not afraid when they see a guy who's doing what he's good at well to call him up and give him an opportunity," Strider said. "The big leagues are just the next level, and I think that provides a motivation and freedom for players in the minors. I knew in '21 if I played well, I would continue to move up. And I'm sure that talking to other players in other organizations, they don't necessarily have that for whatever reason, so that sort of focus forces you to have a different focus in the organization. You know in the Braves organization if you play well, you're moving up."
Strider also said he sees a common thread among the Braves in 2023.
"That's the similarity between every player," Strider said. "We all love to play the game, we love to win and we have a good time of doing it."
Shohei Ohtani's free agency a hot topic at the All-Star Game
There's no question that the biggest star of the All-Stars on Monday was Shohei Ohtani. His presence at the media availability drew a swarm of reporters that dwarfed every other player.
While Ohtani was answering questions for reporters about his future (and making some interesting statements as well), there were plenty of questions being asked of other All-Stars on how they would lure Ohtani to their team.
Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar thought "fries on everything" might do the trick. San Diego Padres closer Josh Hader thought location might be enough, saying, "It's San Diego. I mean, do you really need much more than that? If you've ever been in San Diego, you know how beautiful it is. It's a fun team. We've got a lot of great guys for long term, so he's a guy that they probably want to lock up for a long-term deal as well, as long as they can find a billion dollars somewhere."
A billion dollars? Is that really how much it's going to take to land Ohtani? Possibly, but Salvador Perez threw out his own idea of what it would take to land Ohtani.
"$600 million," Perez said is what he'd set for Ohtani's salary. "He gets $300 million for hitting and $300 million for pitching. I feel like he's Babe Ruth right now."
Then Perez laughed.
"I may get in trouble for that, but that's what I think. And give him 10 years, too."
