The Pomp And Joe Show
The Bechtold Breakdown - MLB's economic issues, players' sadness over Mike Tomlin
16 Jan 2026
Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
You know what that means, Donnie? It's time for a Bechtold Breakdown, which is a form of the Limitless Express, but perhaps a little bit higherfalutin. Yes. Go ahead, Limit.
It is definitely more higherfalutin. Thank you, Joe. Not int, falutin. Falutin?
Yeah.
It doesn't matter. Go ahead. Today's Bechtold Breakdown for this Friday. January 16th begins in Major League Baseball as we detour for a moment off of the Steelers head coaching talk because Donnie, Kyle Tucker signed a deal for what I had to look at like seven times is $60 million a year with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Wow. Kyle Tucker, $60 million? What?
So they are, the Dodgers are paying Kyle Tucker more than half the Pirates payroll for Which is right around $90 million right now.
I'm just glad the Dodgers decided to spend a little bit in free agency. Finally, huh? Yeah.
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Chapter 2: What are the implications of Kyle Tucker's $60 million contract with the Dodgers?
And there's a bunch of deferred money with this one too, right? $30 million. So they're pulling the deferred money card again. They yet again get the best free agent on the market. And I do know that there's somebody in the YouTube chat that has been clamoring for a little bit of baseball talk today, Limits. So you really brought some joy to one certain individual.
You got it, YouTube chat, because this is absolutely ridiculous what's going on.
The system in baseball, bring on that lockout, baby. Bring it on. Yeah, I mean, that's what all the arrows have to be.
heading to right I mean yeah and I know I know the Mets just signed Bichette and that's a big deal for them but it's just become the Dodgers invitational at this point Austin Austin joked about the the all-star format should be the all-stars of all the other teams against the Dodgers yeah my question is how much of an appetite does Major League Baseball do the owners really have to change that
Like, do all of them want to change that? Are they willing to? Like, is that the main problem? Here's why I asked Donnie. Revenues are soaring in baseball, okay? And everybody seems pretty happy. Even teams, the smaller market teams that benefit from payments from the bigger market teams. That's A. And then B, it's not like other teams are hamstrung.
Did you see the deal Bichette just signed the other day? You know what I mean? Just an hour ago. Right. Things seem to be pretty good right now in baseball. And I just wonder how much of an appetite there is. Like, is everybody just up in arms with the Dodgers? Or or is that just lip service? Is it really that bad?
I'm imagining a lot of other teams thinking, are we willing to shut this down for a year to get what we want, which I guess is a salary cap? I'm not so sure about that.
I'm also wondering if it's more on the other end.
Teams are probably fine with what the Dodgers do, what the big market teams do, and then they see what... We can't take the shot at the Pirates this year because they have actually made a couple of moves to make the team better, but what they've done in the past, what the Athletics have done, what the Marlins have done, they're barely spending anything. I think owners have more issue with that.
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Chapter 3: How does the current state of MLB economics affect smaller market teams?
This is the combined average annual value, according to DraftKings, for the top five and bottom five teams. Dodgers, 429 million. Blue Jays, 289. Phillies, 284. Mets, 262. Yankees, 254. The bottom. Guardian, 78. Rays, 76. Cardinals, 67. Nationals, 67. Marlins, 60 million. What are the Pirates at? They're not in this posting, but the Pirates right now are pacing at 90 million.
90 million?
Yeah. Based on projections from Ethan Warhan and others on Twitter.
Correct?
Correct, yeah. I think they're above by a couple of million. I don't know the exact numbers, but they are above what they were last year. Yeah, but it is similar.
Yeah.
All right. Next. All right. Next up. Danny Smith is interviewing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for their special teams coordinator job. Joe, should the next head coach make it a priority to keep Danny Smith? Or as Art said, is he free to explore other opportunities and should take another opportunity? Get the gum ready down in Florida.
I like Danny Smith. He's a character. I think for the most part, he's been a pretty good coach. But I think you can find other special teams coaches. I don't think this is a deal breaker of any kind here. Yeah, he should go down to Florida and work for Tampa. Be happy. Chew his gum. Put his special teams out there. Run a fake every once in a while. Block some kicks, Donnie.
It's a good retirement job. It's a good retirement area. He'll fit right in there because I know he's young at heart, but he is in his early 70s. I think he's 72 after the last, what, 13 years with the Steelers. The other thing is, if you're him... If they offer you a job, if you feel like there won't be a robust market for you, take the job.
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Chapter 4: What are the challenges faced by MLB owners regarding salary caps?
You're right about that.
One of them got hired, basically.
One of them got hired by the Cardinals, who they would then face in the Super Bowl, Ken Wisenhunt. And Russ Grimm, even according to Russ Grimm, he was going to be the head coach until the midnight hour. Here comes Mike Tomlin.
Great point. What has happened to this staff?
Very good point, Donnie.
I think Donnie gets the point of the day. And how it dissolved. We have to go limits if you have a guest next.
Yes, I have one quick one more for you, though, from the DeFabo story, because we didn't touch on it much yesterday. Joey Porter Jr. hyperventilating. Aaron Rodgers repeatedly saying, I'm sorry, as Mike Tomlin delivers the address to the team saying, guys, I just want...
I want you to hear this from me first I just met with Art Rooney and Omar I think it's best for the organization for me to step down I know you guys have read the story TJ Watts saying no no no no as Tomlin's announcing it what did you make of this story and with really good reporting by DeFabo and the fact that just the reaction of the players to Mike Tomlin deciding to walk away it seems like it was a funeral day Johnnie Smith said they gave him a standing ovation
Yeah, I mean, for some of them, he's the only coach for a lot of them, I guess the only coach he's ever known for Joey Porter Jr. He's like, you know, his uncle pretty much. You know what I mean? So I get it. I get that part of it, that people would be emotional. I don't think anybody ever doubted. that the vast majority of Tomlin's players love him.
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