{"podcast":{"title":"Most Valuable Agent with Matt Hannaford","slug":"most-valuable-agent-with-matt-hannaford-6966172","podcast_index_feed_id":6966172,"rss_url":"https://feeds.libsyn.com/538017/rss","website_url":"https://sites.libsyn.com/538017","image_url":"https://static.libsyn.com/p/assets/6/3/2/3/6323116aac6709c3d959afa2a1bf1c87/MVA_FINAL_COVER.png","author":"Matt Hannaford","episode_count":106,"summary":"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 field What 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 full episodes on The Most Valuable Agent Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@mostvaluableagent","last_synced_at":null,"page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/most-valuable-agent-with-matt-hannaford-6966172"},"episode":{"title":"Travel Baseball: How Many Games Is Too Many for Your Son? | MVA Podcast","slug":"travel-baseball-how-many-games-is-too-many-for-your-son-mva-podcast","published_at":"2026-04-08T14:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/most-valuable-agent-with-matt-hannaford-6966172/travel-baseball-how-many-games-is-too-many-for-your-son-mva-podcast","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/most-valuable-agent-with-matt-hannaford-6966172","url":"https://f19dff7d-cba9-4d19-b009-9fdbdd27ffc9.libsyn.com/travel-baseball-how-many-games-is-too-many-for-your-son-mva-podcast","audio_url":"https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/f19dff7d-cba9-4d19-b009-9fdbdd27ffc9/v1_064_Travel_Ball_MVA.mp3?dest-id=4634517","summary":"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 to tackle three questions submitted by travel baseball parents from across the country. If you have a son in travel ball, these are the conversations you need to hear before writing another check or signing up for another tournament. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN ✓ How to tell when your son's travel baseball schedule is doing more harm than good ✓ What to actually evaluate when choosing a travel ball program (hint: it's not the price tag) ✓ Why the best players in the country attend fewer events than you think ✓ What to do when your son's coach won't start him in big tournaments ✓ The real reason chasing exposure too early can backfire A dad from Texas asks about his 13-year-old son burning out after 70-plus games a year. Matt breaks down the research on youth baseball burnout, including a study showing how many players quit before they even reach high school. He explains why enjoyment is the foundation that everything else is built on, and shares a practical approach to scaling back without losing development momentum. A mom from Georgia wants to know if the most expensive travel ball team is the best option for her 14-year-old pitcher. Matt walks through how to evaluate a program based on its actual track record of player development, not marketing claims, and explains why investing in individual training may be smarter than paying $5,000 for a team that promises exposure. A dad from Florida asks whether to leave a program where his 15-year-old outfielder gets benched during big tou…","meta_description":"Is your son playing too many travel baseball games? MLB agent Matt Hannaford answers real questions from travel ball parents about burnout, choosing the r…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1313,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/most-valuable-agent-with-matt-hannaford-6966172/episodes/travel-baseball-how-many-games-is-too-many-for-your-son-mva-podcast/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/most-valuable-agent-with-matt-hannaford-6966172/travel-baseball-how-many-games-is-too-many-for-your-son-mva-podcast.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}