PODCAST · sports
Most Valuable Agent with Matt Hannaford
by Matt Hannaford
Welcome to Most Valuable Agent – the podcast that gives baseball players, prospects, and fans an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to succeed in professional baseball.Hosted by Matt Hannaford, a Major League Baseball agent with years of experience in contract negotiations and player representation, this channel is a must-watch for:• Athletes looking to advance their careers• Parents supporting young players• Baseball fans who want a deeper understanding of the game beyond the fieldWhat You'll Learn:• MLB Contracts & Draft Insights – How players get signed, negotiate contracts, and maximize opportunities• The Business of Baseball – Arbitration, free agency, and how teams evaluate talent• Expert Interviews & Analysis – Conversations with players, scouts, and insiders• MLB News & Market Trends – Breaking down trades, signings, and player negotiations👉 Subscribe now for exclusive insights from one of baseball's top agents! New episodes weekly.You can watch the fu
Episodes
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Is Your Son Burned Out on Baseball—or Does He Need a Break?
Your son used to live and breathe baseball. Now he seems exhausted, disconnected, or less excited about playing. Does he need a break, or is he losing his love for the game? In this episode, Matt answers a question from a baseball dad facing that exact situation and explains why the answer starts...
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What Year-Round Throwing Is Doing to Your Son's Arm (MLB Agent)
Your son's travel program has him throwing basically year-round, and every headline about a teenager needing Tommy John surgery makes you flinch. An MLB agent explains how much throwing is too much and how to push back without being "that parent." What you'll learn Why arm surgery at 13 or 14 is...
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Why the Coach's Kid Plays Over Yours (An MLB Agent Explains)
You are paying real money for travel ball, the coach's son gets the prime spot, and you are left wondering if the whole thing is rigged. Before you pull your son off the team, an MLB agent breaks down how to tell favoritism from a development gap. What you'll learn How to tell real favoritism…
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The Line In An MLB's Scouting Manual Most Parents Never See
An MLB team's internal scouting manual is blunt about it: if two players have similar physical ability, the organization says it will go with the player it believes has better makeup. In certain situations, it may even prefer a player with less physical talent because of how strong that player's...
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The One Question That Tells You If Summer Baseball Was Worth The Money
You spent the money. You drove all over the country. Now school starts, the credit card bill lands, and you still don't know if any of it was worth it. This episode gives you a way to answer that. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN Matt Hannaford has been an agent for Major League Baseball players for going on 25...
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How to Avoid Wasting Money on the Wrong Travel Baseball Program
If you're deciding between a big-name travel baseball program where your son may not play and another program where he'll get more reps, the name on the jersey shouldn't make the decision for you. In this episode, I answer three questions from travel baseball parents trying to make smarter...
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What 25 Years As An Agent Taught Me About Travel Baseball
Everybody around you says the same thing: get your kid into travel baseball now, or he falls behind forever. Matt Hannaford spent 25 years as an agent, and his answer starts with one question most parents never ask. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN Travel baseball is a tool, not a verdict. It can be expensive…
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Stop Looking for the "Best" Travel Baseball Team. Find the Right One.
Every travel baseball program can tell you why it's a good program. That doesn't mean it's the right program for your son. One of the biggest mistakes families make when choosing a team is starting with the program: Who are the coaches? Where do they play? How many college commitments do they…
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Before You Talk to Your Son's Coach, Watch This
Most parents judge a coach by the small part of the process they can see: the lineup, playing time, positions, and in-game decisions. But that is rarely the whole story. Before you talk to your son's coach, you need to understand what the coach may be evaluating behind the scenes—and how the way...
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Travel Baseball Is a Tool, But Only If You Know How to Use It
A sports agent of 25 years explains why the travel baseball cost that scares you might be the wrong thing to worry about. If your son is good enough, the industry is built to find him. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN Matt Hannaford answers three real questions from parents about the money, time, and doubt that...
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What You Say After the Game Is Hurting Your Son
Who is actually developing your son—and are the adults around him helping or hurting? In this episode, veteran MLB agent Matt Hannaford, who has more than 25 years of experience in the baseball business, answers three real questions from baseball parents: Should you hold your son back a grade to...
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MLB Wants to End the High School Draft. What It Means for Your Son
MLB just proposed ending the high school draft, and before you panic, you should understand what is being negotiated. MLB agent Matt Hannaford breaks down the proposal to eliminate high school draft eligibility, cut the draft from 20 to 12 rounds, and slash signing bonuses, and he explains why he...
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Travel Baseball Can Cost You More Than Money
Travel baseball can cost you tens of thousands of dollars, and the real bill is bigger than the checks you are writing. Here is what you are actually paying for. MLB agent Matt Hannaford adds up the real cost of travel baseball so you can stop overpaying and start spending on what actually…
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Is a Travel Team Really Necessary?
You think the $45,000 travel team is buying your kid a shot at the next level. A former pro hockey player explains why that promise is youth sports' biggest lie. Every youth-sports parent gets sold the same promise: pay for the elite travel team, the tournament, the showcase, the year-round…
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The Hidden Negotiation Behind Your MLB Signing Bonus
If you are a baseball parent waiting on the MLB Draft, the wait is the hard part — and rushing it is the mistake. MLB agent Matt Hannaford breaks down what actually happens in the months and weeks before draft day, so you know what to do when a team starts testing your number. Most families think…
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Danny Espinosa: How a big leaguer would develop your kid
A former MLB player who coaches travel baseball says winning tournaments is quietly stunting your kid. Subscribe for the insider playbook. Most travel baseball parents measure a weekend by the scoreboard. Danny Espinosa measures it differently. A former MLB infielder, Long Beach State Dirt Bag…
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How You Act in the Stands Affects Your Son's Draft Stock (An MLB Agent Explains)
You think MLB scouts are evaluating your son. They are. But they are evaluating you just as carefully — and what they see in you can move your son's draft stock up or down by hundreds of thousands of dollars. MLB agent Matt Hannaford sits down with Mike Liguori to break down what scouts actually...
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The Car Ride Home Is Killing Your Son's Game (An MLB Agent Explains)
What you say to your son on the car ride home after a bad game can either build him up or push him out of the sport. MLB agent Matt Hannaford gives you the framework to get it right. In this solo Q&A episode, Matt answers three of the most-asked questions from parents and players: If you have a…
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Why Your Son Doesn't Want to Practice Anymore (An MLB Agent's Honest Answer)
You think you know what's wrong with your son's swing — but an MLB agent says you're solving the wrong problem. MLB agent Matt Hannaford answers three questions baseball parents keep sending in: how to tell if your son is losing his love for the game, whether you should coach his swing at home…
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Stop Paying for Exposure — Your 11-Year-Old Doesn't Need It
You're probably spending too much on travel baseball for the wrong reasons — and the people telling you it's necessary are the ones who benefit when you do. MLB agent Matt Hannaford answers three listener questions that hit the same nerve every travel ball parent shares: how much is too much…
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The Goal Isn't To Be the Best 8-Year-Old — It's To Be the Best 18-Year-Old
Kevin Gergel played at Georgia Tech, became an All-American catcher at Kennesaw State, was drafted by the Seattle Mariners — and saw his pro career end almost before it really began. So when his son Kellan was four years old and starting T-ball, Kevin and his wife Teal created their philosophy…
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Almost Every MLB Player I Work With Has the Same Wound — And It's Their Dad
Almost every pro baseball player Matt Hannaford represents has the same wound — and it traces back to their relationship with their dad. In this live event, MLB agent Matt Hannaford and high performance coach Jo Martinez Killian sit down with parents and young athletes to walk through the pattern...
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Why 50 Travel Ball Games + 50 Practices Beats 100 Games
Your son may play 80 games in a single summer, but he can't tell you what he worked on at practice last week. Sound familiar? Today's guest is Justin Cryer, former professional player, Ole Miss Rebel, former Houston Astros area scout, and now Director of Sports Marketing at Marucci. Justin joined...
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No D1 Offers? What You're Really Getting Wrong About D1 Recruiting
Struggling to get recruited for D1 baseball? Subscribe and watch — an MLB agent with 26 years of experience answers the recruiting questions every family is asking. You throw 87 mph. You've been to showcases. You've sent 50 emails. And still — nothing from D1 programs. Sound familiar? In this Q&A...
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Travel Baseball: How Many Games Is Too Many for Your Son? | MVA Podcast
Is your son playing too many travel baseball games? MLB agent Matt Hannaford answers real questions from travel ball parents about burnout, choosing the right program, and when exposure actually matters. Subscribe for insider advice every week. In this Q&A episode, Matt is joined by producer Mike...
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Your 10-Year-Old Doesn't Need Year-Round Baseball (An MLB Agent Explains Why)
Should your son play baseball year round? MLB agent Matt Hannaford breaks down why scouts and college coaches actually WANT to see multi-sport athletes — and why the pressure to specialize at 10-12 years old is doing more harm than good. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN ✓ Why MLB scouts and college recruiting...
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Stop Coaching Your Son From the Stands (Do This Instead) | MLB Agent Advice
Your son's baseball coach doesn't see what you see — so how do you help without making things worse? Matt Hannaford, an MLB Agent, answers real parents' questions about the #1 mistake baseball moms and dads make. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN ✓ Why your son listens to coaches but tunes YOU out — and how to…
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"Stop Making It About Yourself" — What Every Baseball Parent Needs to Hear
How should parents act at baseball games? MLB agent Matt Hannaford shares the honest truth about what your game-day behavior is doing to your son — and his recruiting future. If you've ever felt the urge to yell coaching advice from the stands or voice your frustration about the lineup, this...
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MLB Agent Q&A: Off-Season Work Ethic, Playing Time & Contract Negotiation Secrets
An MLB agent answers real questions from baseball families across the country. Your son's off-season work ethic, his playing time battles, navigating tough coach conversations — these are the issues that keep baseball parents up at night. In this special Q&A episode of The Most Valuable Agent...
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Your Son Is Being Recruited? A Deputy AD Explains How College Baseball NIL Really Works
Is your son being recruited for college baseball? This is the NIL conversation his future depends on. Subscribe for weekly college baseball insights. If you're a parent trying to decode scholarship offers, revenue sharing, outside deals, and cap space — or your son is deciding between the portal...
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Your Signing Bonus Means NOTHING to MLB Teams — Here's What Actually Matters
MLB draft or college baseball? If your son is a high school player facing this decision, don't wait until draft day to figure it out. Subscribe for weekly baseball career advice. In this episode, 25-year MLB agent Matt Hannaford breaks down exactly how families should navigate the NIL, college...
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The Arm Injury Crisis: How to Counter Rising Arm Injuries with Proven Mechanics
75% of top-drafted pitchers never make it to the big leagues. If your son is a pitcher, this episode could change everything about how you approach his development. Subscribe for weekly baseball career insights. Former first-round pick Justin Orenduff had the GM of the Dodgers watching him pitch…
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Raising a Ballplayer in a Big-League Home
Most baseball families believe the path to success is more reps, more pressure, more seriousness — but former World Series champion and MLB manager Kurt Suzuki sees it differently. In this special episode of The Most Valuable Agent, MLB agent Matt Hannaford sits down with Kurt Suzuki and his...
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Don't Let an Injury Ruin Their Financial Future
Most baseball families think "insurance" only becomes relevant after a player signs a pro contract — but the truth is, disability insurance is already shaping decisions in high school recruiting, NIL negotiations, and college roster building. In this episode of The Most Valuable Agent, MLB agent...
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Why Most Pro Athletes Go Broke - Avoid This Wealth Management Mistake
Most families enter youth and travel baseball thinking the goal is exposure, scholarships, or "getting paid" someday — but the financial reality of the game starts long before a player signs a pro contract. And when money finally shows up (NIL, draft bonuses, big-league paychecks), it often hits...
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The Biggest Gamble of Austin Riley's Career.
Most parents want the roadmap — the blueprint that turns a young athlete into a confident, motivated, successful player. But very few families truly understand what the journey demands emotionally, mentally, relationally, and financially. In this episode of The Most Valuable Agent, Matt sits down...
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Stop Being the Fixer - How to Truly Empower Your Son's Baseball Career
Most dads step into their son's baseball journey believing they need to fix, protect, analyze, and carry the weight of every result. It comes from love — but it often creates the exact pressure, resentment, and distance they're trying to avoid. In this solo episode of The Most Valuable Agent, MLB...
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What I See as a College Softball Coach and the Dad of the #1 Prospect in Baseball
Most parents want the roadmap — the blueprint that turns a young athlete into a confident, motivated, successful player. But very few people have lived all sides of the journey. In this episode of The Most Valuable Agent, Matt sits down with someone who has: Kevin Griffin — • Head Softball Coach…
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The Truth About Baseball Development (According To MLB Scouts)
Most travel ball parents focus on the wrong things — more reps, more tournaments, more lessons, more mechanics, more "fixes." But in this episode of The Most Valuable Agent, MLB agent Matt Hannaford brings together two of baseball's most respected insiders to reveal what actually develops a…
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3 Steps To Fix the Parent-Player Relationship In Youth Baseball
Every parent watching their son strike out in the bottom of the ninth has felt that surge of frustration — not because of the strikeout itself, but because of the unspoken expectations they carry. Expectations about effort. About performance. About gratitude. About results. But here's the…
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Choosing The RIGHT Travel Baseball Team - What You Need To Consider
Every travel team promises "elite competition," "national exposure," and "top-tier development." But when you're the parent making decisions, the real questions are much simpler — and far more important: What actually serves my son's long-term future? What protects our family's time, budget, and...
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What Players REALLY Keep: The Shocking Truth About MLB Taxes & NIL Money
Most baseball parents think only about signing bonuses, NIL money, and the path to the pros — but this episode of The Most Valuable Agent with Matt Hannaford pulls you inside the real tax strategy, financial planning, and hidden money traps that shape a player's baseball career long before the…
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MLB GM Secrets: The Part They Don't Share with Fans
Most parents only see the rankings, the showcase stats, and the hype — but this episode of The Most Valuable Agent with Matt Hannaford pulls you inside the real world of MLB draft strategy, where decisions are made long before a player ever hears their name called. Former Minnesota Twins GM Thad...
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The Most Dangerous Part of the Agent Business
When families judge an agent, they usually see the polished surface—deals, clients, and big-name agencies. But this episode drags you beneath the waterline, where the real danger lies. In a story most baseball families never hear, you'll learn how a certified MLB agent secretly fed strategy and...
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How Setbacks Shape Champions: The Untold Side of Making It to the Big Leagues
From back-to-back strikeouts to a historic MLB debut, Houston Astros outfielder Zach Cole's story is a masterclass in resilience, identity, and unwavering belief. In this episode, he reveals how shifting from chasing approval to living with purpose helped him hit a home run on his very first…
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The Dream That Predicted My World Series Win - MLB's Brian Wilson
When the roar of the crowd fades, what remains? Former MLB All-Star closer Brian Wilson joins Matt to talk about life after baseball, mental health, and rediscovering purpose. Subscribe for weekly coaching on baseball mindset and youth development. In this deep, vulnerable conversation, Brian...
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The #1 Mistake Travel Ball Parents Make
Are you searching for the perfect travel team, coach, or showcase? The truth might hit harder than a 95mph fastball. Subscribe for weekly coaching on becoming your son's best baseball advocate. Many baseball parents fall into the same trap, believing that success lies somewhere out there: in the...
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The Real Game Behind the Game: Sports Agent Life, Marriage, and Fulfillment
What does it really take to succeed as a sports agent? Matt Hannaford shares his 25-year journey in this powerful behind-the-scenes episode. Subscribe for weekly coaching on how to build a career in sports From rookie to seasoned agent, from massive MLB deals to deeply personal wins—Matt opens up...
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The Ultimate Travel Baseball Guide (Part 2): The Hidden Truth of Travel Baseball
You'll hear from a father who raised a first-round draft pick after his son's battle with cancer, a Division I head coach redefining toughness and leadership, an MLB All-Star revealing the truth behind the pro grind, and a mindset expert helping parents protect their child's confidence and love…
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How Parents Can Make Smart Decisions in The Chaos of Travel Baseball
What if the real game-changer in travel baseball isn't your player's swing-but your decisions as a parent? In this solo episode, Matt breaks down what he refers to as The Precision Process, a behavioral-psychology-based framework designed to help travel baseball families make better, calmer, and...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Welcome to Most Valuable Agent – the podcast that gives baseball players, prospects, and fans an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to succeed in professional baseball.Hosted by Matt Hannaford, a Major League Baseball agent with years of experience in contract negotiations and player representation, this channel is a must-watch for:• Athletes looking to advance their careers• Parents supporting young players• Baseball fans who want a deeper understanding of the game beyond the fieldWhat You'll Learn:• MLB Contracts & Draft Insights – How players get signed, negotiate contracts, and maximize opportunities• The Business of Baseball – Arbitration, free agency, and how teams evaluate talent• Expert Interviews & Analysis – Conversations with players, scouts, and insiders• MLB News & Market Trends – Breaking down trades, signings, and player negotiations👉 Subscribe now for exclusive insights from one of baseball's top agents! New episodes weekly.You can watch the fu
HOSTED BY
Matt Hannaford
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Most Valuable Agent with Matt Hannaford have?
Most Valuable Agent with Matt Hannaford currently has 124 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Most Valuable Agent with Matt Hannaford about?
Welcome to Most Valuable Agent – the podcast that gives baseball players, prospects, and fans an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to succeed in professional baseball.Hosted by Matt Hannaford, a Major League Baseball agent with years of experience in contract negotiations and player...
How often does Most Valuable Agent with Matt Hannaford release new episodes?
Most Valuable Agent with Matt Hannaford publishes regularly with 124 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Most Valuable Agent with Matt Hannaford?
You can listen to Most Valuable Agent with Matt Hannaford on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Most Valuable Agent with Matt Hannaford?
Most Valuable Agent with Matt Hannaford is created and hosted by Matt Hannaford.
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