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Artwork for Most Valuable Agent

Most Valuable Agent with Matt Hannaford

Matt Hannaford
Baseball
Travel Baseball
Major League Baseball
Player Development
Youth Sports
College Baseball
Scouting
MLB Draft
Youth Baseball
NIL
Coaching
Mental Health
Player Evaluation
Draft
Professional Baseball
Mental Conditioning
MLB
Transfer Portal
Development
Athlete Development

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 • Par... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes117Founded2 years ago
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Latest Episodes

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... more

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 m... more

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... more

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 p... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Danny Espinosa
Former MLB player, youth coach/owner of OC Crush
OC Crush
Episode: Danny Espinosa: How a big leaguer would develop your kid
Mike Liguori
Former media professional and guest on the show
Episode: How You Act in the Stands Affects Your Son's Draft Stock (An MLB Agent Explains)
Johan Martinez Killian
High-performance coach
Independent coach (NBA/NHL/MLB/NCAA)
Episode: Almost Every MLB Player I Work With Has the Same Wound — And It's Their Dad
Will Lawler
Deputy Athletic Director for Legal Affairs and Player Management at University of Georgia
University of Georgia
Episode: Your Son Is Being Recruited? A Deputy AD Explains How College Baseball NIL Really Works
Zach Cole
Professional Baseball Player for the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
Episode: How Setbacks Shape Champions: The Untold Side of Making It to the Big Leagues
Dr. Nicole Levina
Neuroscientist with a PhD from Princeton University, and a professor of neuroscience at Mount Sinai and at Princeton.
Episode: The Dream That Predicted My World Series Win - MLB's Brian Wilson
Johan Martinez Kalilian
Ontological coach
Episode: The Ultimate Travel Baseball Guide (Part 2): The Hidden Truth of Travel Baseball
TJ Bruce
Head Baseball Coach at Long Beach State and former player at the same institution
Long Beach State
Episode: College Baseball Coaches: How to Develop Men, Not Just Athletes
Derek Norris
Former Major League Catcher and All-Star
Episode: From Travel Ball to Pro Ball: Former All-Star on What Parents Need to Know

Host

Matt Hannaford
Host of Most Valuable Agent; experienced MLB agent with focus on contracts, player representation, and development pathways.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 76 ratings
  • Great Advice

    This podcast has opened my eyes to world of travel ball. It has made me think of stuff that never would have crossed my mind. Thanks for all the great advice.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TJ505Abq
    United States8 months ago
  • Needed!

    This is a very informative podcast. The topics are always interesting. I especially like the ones with the travel ball orgs as it helps me with questions I have for my 14 yr old. Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mattm1012
    United Statesa year ago
  • Kurt Suzuki is the man!

    Great episode

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Favorite news app by far
    United Statesa year ago
  • Game on

    As a baseball enthusiast I appreciate the insights that Matt provides on the business of baseball that not many don’t people see.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PGrenney
    United States2 years ago
  • True Advocacy

    Really great insight you are not able to find elsewhere, these are the topics we need to hear that we often don’t have the opportunity to! Thanks for leading the conversation and bringing the value the way you do Matt.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sean-OBrien
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Hosts mix expert insight with real-world parenting scenarios, making complex topics approachable.
Strong emphasis on development over exposure, resonating with parents and players.
Adaptable, practical guidance for families navigating travel baseball and the draft process.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#142
United States/Sports/Baseball
Apple Podcasts
#231
Canada/Sports/Baseball
Apple Podcasts
#8
Saudi Arabia/Sports/Baseball
Apple Podcasts
#61
Denmark/Sports/Baseball
Apple Podcasts
#123
New Zealand/Sports/Baseball

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Travel Baseball Is a Tool, But Only If You Know How to Use It
Q: Priya wonders if her own skepticism about travel ball is coloring her son's experience.
Priya is encouraged to have an open conversation with her son to understand what he enjoys and what frustrates him, and to align expectations with reality while avoiding letting ego drive decisions.
Travel Baseball Is a Tool, But Only If You Know How to Use It
Q: Marcus asks how to distinguish demanding schedules from a real sign to walk away.
The host suggests identifying what exactly is too demanding (travel, time, or physical stress), then adjusting the plan rather than quitting, such as reducing events to maintain balance and development.
Travel Baseball Is a Tool, But Only If You Know How to Use It
Q: Danielle asks how to tell if an expensive travel ball option is worth it or a trap.
Matt explains that the cost should be weighed against clear goals and resources, and emphasizes using travel baseball as a development tool with a well-defined purpose, plus involving the player in the decision to ensure alignment.
Travel Baseball Can Cost You More Than Money
Q: Tom asks whether travel ball develops his son or is just a status symbol, and why some look down on rec leagues.
Acknowledges that rec leagues can be part of a development path but for meaningful progression, exposure should come after solid development and competition; the episode encourages focusing on long-term goals, balancing status perceptions with real growth, and testing against stronger competition when appropriate.
Travel Baseball Can Cost You More Than Money
Q: Jim asks if paying $3,000 for a season is paying to develop starters or buying a roster spot that may not be worth it.
Emphasis on pre-signup conversations with coaches about development plans, evidence of past players who improved, checking player commitment and family involvement, and having a plan year by year rather than assuming the program will automatically deliver results.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Most Valuable Agent

What is Most Valuable Agent about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A career-focused baseball podcast that centers on the business side of the sport, player development, and the realities of youth to pro pathways. Episodes frequently cover coaching philosophies, parental involvement, travel ball dynamics, college NIL, draft and contract insights, and strategies for balancing development with exposure. The show stands out for practical, battle-tested guidance from experienced agents and insiders, plus candid Q&A sessions with parents, players, and industry veterans. It likely appeals to families navigating youth baseball, players aiming for pro opportunities, and professionals in the baseball ecosystem who want a deeper understanding of how scouting, contracts, and development intersect with everyday decisio... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Most Valuable Agent?

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1. The Pure Athlete Podcast
2. Youth Inc. with Greg Olsen
3. The Hockey Think Tank Podcast
4. Mike Drop
5. Patrick Jones Baseball

How many episodes of Most Valuable Agent are there?

Most Valuable Agent launched 2 years ago and published 117 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Most Valuable Agent?

Recent guests on Most Valuable Agent include:

1. Danny Espinosa
2. Mike Liguori
3. Johan Martinez Killian
4. Will Lawler
5. Zach Cole
6. Dr. Nicole Levina
7. Johan Martinez Kalilian
8. TJ Bruce

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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