-- now. The box with the general manager of the Chicago Cubs should Wear -- thank you so much for being with us of course. I got to begin with this. You haven't signed a picture of this month and generous kind disappointed I mean what we can get get with the now isn't someone you got a gig can you Simon here in the month of January. There's no such thing as too much pitching yeah I think we're we're trying hard to prove that this winner you know we. We've got a ton of pitching I'm -- -- one year deals Philip baker and Feldman and -- multiyear deals my game when Jackson in -- -- That we felt like we had dearth of pitching -- certainly last year August and September that reared its head how we're we're we're just too thin. I'm not producing at the minor league level pitching wise so. I was important go out the aggressive for pitching on the free agent market and now we did that and there's not a recipe we're not far off follow forever. He's a free agent pitching is not an ideal place to find your rotation in your bullpen. Combo for now until the farm system that produces and that's how we're gonna have to attack the problems that but etc. like irritation in our bullpen going forward for this year. Think when you when you look at the way your bullpen structure now and this is kind of a lot of names out there guys who have closed before do you seed. Any any room for a guy like that when you. The last couple weeks of the of the offseason here do you feel pretty good with. What you have now I think we'll probably go forward with what we have now I think it's unlikely that -- guys -- they're young closer. Yeah of course if there's stuff bargain or and you know player that we. Felix is just incredible price we might Adam at this point but usually really good. We also there is a point -- which we were zero for four on the roster were taking a spot away from somebody. And we really do like where are our bullpen our rotation fit together now and who wanted to when Jackson more you. And Theo or Matt Garza. Well we've done now is more active on Twitter about it but how how. But I know we're we're excited now I think we we look at the beginning offseason looked it. -- you look at the market. Look at pitchers that for the right age how the right talent level. I'm not having drafting -- those guys that was a factor so we don't wanna give up graphics you know must actually affiliates Raikkonen do and that particular case and if it really well. Where do you stand on the World Baseball Classic because. If you're a baseball fan you love the competition if -- general manager who. Potentially could have his players in it I did see you walking this type of of what's great to be having this experience for our bench players but I also don't want them hurt especially pitchers. It's a tight -- for sure you know there is a great thing for the game globally. Makes you nervous when your guys out there on the mound and throwing really hard and in March. Tom I think it's a sacrifice well -- we have to make for the the good of the game and certainly. I'm growing baseball and I as a great thing im kind of the rising tide lifts all ships and you know some moments of discomfort and in March or -- worth of -- on the game globally. I'm they've done a lot of things -- time make sure that you guys to stay healthy the pitch limits and early spring training and stuff like that so. It is. A fine balance but it just one that's it there's aren't the real game at the end which is of continuing to grow the game known globally and we need to -- football's big gospels big. And actually -- in baseball the same line. There one player from the past and intravenously with the coast until one player from the passing just totally disagree upon and some person has clearly won that argument looking back. Yeah I'm. Yeah I'll be honest Adrian Gonzales is it really good example he was a guy -- in Boston. If he was always know obsessive Adrian you'd see them. As high school player would use. You know assistant GM in San Diego and and come up with for the Padres organization -- from -- so you don't want to play in high school. Thank you like Somalia through and Tom we talked a trade for a few times when he -- -- Texas is kind of blocked by Teixeira he was available in Texas and mean I kind of questions power all of that as a lot your dad and and the always wanted to go get -- -- I never arguing this is -- on this golf goes back to watching him at. -- -- high school in San Diego and and you is dead right and I'd I've benefited immensely from from having Adrian for a year and then. Yeah we had trading him to Tokyo but that was one he was he was dead right now is wrong and I remember having debates about it so he still trying to get it doesn't happen. My patented. -- -- No player in the clubhouse has a better candidate in the attitudes and Alfonso Soriano -- you guys -- -- with him. This weekend since he's still here is he going to be here I guess is such a complicated. Kind of formula we've had a lot communication -- him on the course a winner and mean no one was more different and his reputation and then -- you know -- think you -- man and I know the fans are frustrated with them and we know you wonder what you what we're walking into -- He was -- -- professional on the clubhouse how really has taken time Castro under his wing get under his wing and other young players his preparation is off the charts. And one of letting you know dozen players in baseball are in when -- thirty homers and RBIs so. And what we got our first year was was terrific and he knows how we feel about him so we've had communication -- over the course the winner. How will keep having that communication. You wanna win that is the priority that is the goal. That being said -- -- one loss is how much did you feel that how difficult was it for you personally. Because as a GM. Become -- how you alluded to it there's only so much you can do use but the players out there and had the losses are on your record. It's -- is difficult I mean there's no other way around you know I think we we knew as we sort of entered a phase were gonna try to build up our core and we know we're gonna. I'm focused more long term our decision making the short term -- you know there's going to be some some difficult days and difficult series. Not be lying to say that I'm really stoic about it you know it's something I. The trade I was sad. But there's there's some some hard games and I think that you want fans say go hard in an -- players they aren't immune. I assure you this is you know because all we do you know we got a job to to go to the next day it makes you forget about. The bad game you watch them before this is what we do and we take it. Really seriously were in this business because really competitive so -- someday in my career may -- be more stoic and I think the -- is quite as hard but. Is difficult and that's something you're always trying to train yourself about the jet thank you so much we appreciate your time any time.