With Hyun-jin Ryu accepting the Dodgers qualifying offer, the Dodgers are now able to field an all LH Rotation:
- Kershaw
- Hill
- Urias
- Ryu
- Wood
Of course, they would have to leave Buehler and Maeda out of the rotation in order to do that. Not only that, but the Dodgers have some prospects who could possibly slot into the rotation as soon as 2019. Everyone has an opinion as to who goes where, but I think the rotation will be as follows:
- Kershaw
- Buehler
- Urias
- Ryu
- Hill
Wood and Maeda are both likely trade pieces. This is especially true since the Dodgers have a few starting pitcher prospects who may be ready as soon as next season. I think the following pitchers could make their mark in LA next season. I’ll list them from least likley to most likely:
- Mitchell White (RHP) is a bit of an enigma. Some days his stuff is devestating and others… not so much. Last year, his progress stalled as he had mechanical issues early, but seemed to smooth out as the year progressed. 2019 will be a very important year in his development. If things progress, he could arrive in 2020.
- Dustin May (RHP) is the only pitcher in this bunch that I am sure will remain a starter, but he’s at least another year away. He’s 21 years-old and developing nicely. He has 4 pitches, but all need to be refined and there ishuge projectability. He’s likely a #3 in my opinion. Most likely we see him in 2021.
- Michael Grove (RHP) was drafted with the 68th pick of the 2018 MLB Draft. In June of 2017, he had Tommy John Surgery and missed all of 2018. He had a 93-96 mph fastball and a hard-biting slider, with above-average control. The (soon to be) 22 year-old 6′ 3″ 200 pound was righthander was assigned to the Dodgers Arizona Rookie League team in June, but saw no official action last year. It has been reported he is working on a changeup. If he can command a changeup, he is a solid #4… but it’s not that simple. However, Grove has tremendous upside and is likely another year away… at least as a reliever. His control is the thing – it’s very good.
- Caleb Ferguson (LHP) gave us a preview last year, and like Michael Grove, he needs another pitch. I don’t see it happening anytime soon, and he should be a lockdown reliever. Everyone can’t start. I would have him on the team in 2019 as a bullpen piece.
- Dennis Santana (RHP) is, pure and simple: a sinkerballer. His fastball hits 97 and his changeup is a work in progress. His pitches have tremendous late meovement, but he has an awkward arm angle that leads me to believe he will be better suited to the bullpen, but he’s still on a starters path. Unless he developes another pitch, he’s a fantastic Reliever. He will likely start as a starter at OKC next year, but he has already had a cup of coffee. 2020!
- Tony Gonsolin (RHP) was on a bulllpen track, but has 4 very good pitches – a fastball that can hit 100 MPH, a hammer curveball, a splitter and a slider. There’s no question that he can be a lockdown reliever, but he’s also a potential #3… maybe a #2. I am very high on this guy. He could be ready early in 2019. I would not be shocked to see him in the rotation is 2019.
Those are the starters who could possibly see action for the Dodgers in 2019, although I have said most are unlikely. There are a couple of relievers I am high on and whom I think could work out of the LA bullpen in 2019, namely Marshall Kasowski (RHP), and Jordan Sheffield (RHP).
It is not outside the realm of probability that some of the potential starters could be traded, especially Alex Wood, Ross Stripling, Kenta Maeda and (gulp) Rich Hill, whom I love (New York Yankees?). I am sure the Dodgers have interest in Kluber and even Greinke (send Kemp to the D-Bags in a dual salary dump). That’s a long-shot… a very long shot. If the Dodgers took Greinke, they could do so by dumping Kemp on the D-Bags. They might be able to do that with a minimal expendature of players, since Arizona is likley in FULL REBUILD (AGAIN). I’m not saying I would do it, but it’s worth thinking about.
A rotation of Kershaw, Buehler, Greinke, Ryu and Urias would be outstanding. The team would add about $14 million to the payroll in 2019 (minus Kemp) and then two more years at $35 million per. It’s a lot to pay, but with three Aces, how can you go wrong? Maybe they can get that Ring the second time around.
P.S. How fast Brock Stewart has fallen…
Photo Credit: Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers
Our pitching looks strong for the next 10 years. I have said before we should develop relief pitchers in the minor leagues. If they have two good pitches, let them pitch out of the bull pen. Let Ferguson and Santana pitch out of the bull pen. This allows them to get to the majors a little sooner. Let them work on a third pitch while pitching from the bull pen. If they develop a good third pitch, then move them into the starting rotation.
The pitching outlook is loaded. I would not bring back Greinke. We need to keep money off the books for Arrenado so he can take over for Turner, who slides over to first base for his last season. With Gonsolin and May so close, Urias, Bueller and Kershaw, Greinke is a square peg for a round hole. I think Santana is the real deal. A nasty upper 90’s sinker don’t grow on trees. Caleb might be well suited as a reliever, a Britton / Miller type. Urias is going to be held back a little, so Maeda and his affordable contract is going to stay put for another year. Wood is obvious trade bait. I think Kersh will be better than he was last year, so the rotation is absolutely stacked. Just need to get some more consistent bats. Seager will help immensely. It will be interesting to see how we shed 40 man slots for the upcoming rule 5 draft.
How about the Dodgers trade Alex Wood and Yasiel Puig for a nice (cheap) package of relievers? Would Turner Ward like some more kisses?
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Iglesis and ____________________?
How about we give Dozier another chance. I read he was playing with a deep bone bruise and up until this year he was the #2 2nd baseman behind Altuve for the previous 3-4 years.
Richie – I totally agree with your take.
I’d sign Dozier.
Concur. Barring injuries I expect opening day rotation to be Kershaw, Buehler, Ryu, Hill, Maeda. Stripling, if not traded likely first up for rotation. I haven’t looked at the schedule yet, but many times a 4 man rotation with occasional spot starts is good for the first month or so.
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I expect Wood to be traded. Last year before free agency. That would free up $$ and I don’t see him in the Dodgers long term plans.
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Urias will probably start the season in extended spring training to limit his innings. OKC with short starts would also be an option. I don’t want to see him start in the bull pen but if past history is any guide, who knows what they will do . . .
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I don’t see a place for Greinke in the rotation but if is a chance for a OF salary dump, I would make it work. There is a log jam in the OF. At least 2 on the current roster need to be traded. Kemp and Puig would make sense from a salary standpoint as both in last year of contract and I suspect not in Dodgers long term plans. Pederson would also shed salary. He is currently a 4th OF
Saw this quote from Dave Roberts about Urias.
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“I don’t see him (Urias) in this role (bullpen) for 2019,” Roberts said.
“I think that he’s a starting pitcher. And so our goal is to build him up as a starter, to help us on this club at some point next year.”
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Sounds like extended ST or OKC initially for Urias is the plan
The Yankees benefit from lefty pitchers more than most teams due to their famous short right field porch. That porch also makes lefty hitters attractive to them as well. The Yankees want pitching. It would seem the Yankees would be interested in Hill and Wood. Together they will make $16M and $9M respectively for a total of $25M in 2019.
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That helps the Yankees for one year so with the cost and limited duration of help, the Dodgers won’t get much in return, or would they? Throw in Taylor and the Yankees have a fill in for their injured Didi Gregorius. Could the Dodgers get the Yankees #3 prospect Jonathan Loaisiga? What else might be needed?
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Could the Dodgers then trade Puig and Jonathan Loaisiga for a relief pitcher along the lines of Edwin Díaz of Seattle? Moving Puig could save the Dodgers another $16M for 2019.
I still like moving Puig to Miami as part of a package for Realmuto. Puig, White, Loaisiga, Barnes, and Grove for Realmuto. If the Dodgers sign Harper then Verdugo could be added to the package for Realmuto. Hopefully the DH comes to the NL if the Dodgers sign Harper. I’d rather sign Machado.
Agree, we need Realmuto, and Puig’s time to blossom has passed
Puig was the 12th best hitter against righties last season and unlike most of our hitters performed in the playoffs last season. Mattingly and Puig isn’t happening. Joc and Mattingly might. Marlins would get more team control and have to take on less money.
We have been advised by some (who will remain nameless) that Friedman is not going to announce to the world that they will be attempting to fix the team’s strikeout problem in general, and CT3 specifically, but we are to believe that they do have an unspoken plan. But when the team does state through a Bill Shaikin “leak” that the Dodgers are planning on staying under the luxury tax threshold for the next four seasons, we should not believe that.
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I do applaud FAZ for keeping the Dodgers not only competitive but in two WS, all while trying to rebuild their farm system thru spending. But now that the minor league system is as good as it can be with where they were drafting, the investors (Todd Boehly and his minions) want to shut down the spigot and to stay under the competitive balance tax threshold. If they do not win, oh well. They will still have near 4MM in reported attendance because the team will be competitive, especially in a weak NL West. To them what is more important, a WS championship or a better ROI?
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I have to believe that two owners in particular are not in on this strategy, Magic and Billie Jean King. Magic learned from Jerry Buss that money will not stop him from bringing championship flags to the Forum (now Staples Center). The Lakers are under true salary caps and were able to sign Lebron, and are in position to get another max contract next year. With Magic, you know they will. Magic also knows that it does take other complimentary pieces to make a champion (or at least a playoff team) and got Tyson Chandler. The Lakers are not going to win the NBA championship this year, but they should make the playoffs and will be even closer next year.
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Billie Jean may be wealthy, but she is a competitive champion, something Todd Boehly and his investor minions know nothing about. They are consumed by ROI and other financial metrics. They know nothing about WAR, OBP, BABIP, OPS+, ERA+, exit velocity, etc. Don’t get me wrong, I want to make as much as I can on my 401 (K) and IRA accounts, but I am not invested in sports franchises where winning has to take precedence over profit. I have to believe that Billie Jean believes this as well.
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By announcing their plan publicly, they are sending a message that they’re taking the keys out of the ignition of the gravy train, and other teams might be able to take advantage of that. However, Andrew addressed any level of competition concerns in a recent presser, saying,
“… there’s no question that we have plenty of resources to win a World Series next year. There’s no question about that. The talent on hand, and the flexibility to do that, is definitely there.”
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Are we to ignore that statement? All of that preamble to say that the Dodgers are telling anyone that will listen that they will not be signing Bryce Harper. There will also be no Zach Greinke. There will be no Corey Kluber because the team cannot (or will not) afford to take on a Jason Kipnis contract. The Dodgers right now stand about $17MM – $18MM below the CBT threshold. If they keep Maeda, that number will be reduced by $3MM to $5MM. They are going to need at least 1 catcher, and that will cost $2MM to $3.5MM. They are going to need to keep some in reserve for the trade deadline. Why the trade deadline? Because they should be atop of a very weak NL West Division. Maybe Josh Reddick or Curtis Granderson will be available again, or John Axford, or Zac Rosscup, or Ryan Madson. There will be no Manny Machado available.
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With no Harper, the Dodgers will be keeping their highest paid OF not named Matt Kemp. Yasiel Puig and his estimated $11.3MM arbitration contract will start the season in RF. There will be some unheralded trades of surplus pitchers and OF’s. Which ones? Who knows right now. Brock Stewart is obviously on his way out as a Dodger. There is no way he can stay on the 25 man all season, and with his zero options, he will either be traded or non-tendered next week. He should end up in Tampa Bay or KC or Toronto. I have to believe that Alex Wood will be dealt. There are multiple teams that will be glad to have him, but the return will not be as good as it might have been last year. One complaint that I do have with the current Dodgers FO, is that they have a tendency to hold on to players well after their high point in value.
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I will still be waiting to see whether Friedman keeps Joc or Verdugo. He cannot keep both. Power or bat to ball skills. I know Farhan preferred power, but does Andrew? While I do believe they can afford to sign a LeMahieu, after the Ryu acceptance of the QO, I no longer believe they will. I also do not believe that they will sign a Brian Dozier unless he is on a 1 year $6MM to $8MM contract. If I sound a bit pessimistic about improving the 2019 team so they can compete against the improving Braves, Phillies, Brewers and Cardinals who will spend, I keep going back to these words
“… there’s no question that we have plenty of resources to win a World Series next year. There’s no question about that. The talent on hand, and the flexibility to do that, is definitely there.”
By the way, the Red Sox are already over the CBT threshold, and there is no question in my mind that they will spend if they need to. The CBT threshold will not deter them or their investors. The Red Sox like to hold parades.
If all true, that’s a rather sad prospect isn’t it?
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My hope this is merely a smoke screen to allow the team to get stronger through innovative trades that bring some established players to fill the known needs of this team. But like you, I think this off-season may filled with more Zach Neal type acquisitions. I really hope that I’m wrong.
Hello, Nameless here…
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I think they will say they won’t spend and yet they will be “in” on every free agent. To me this is going to be very interesting , because I believe Friedman has shown the most restraint in the FA market and made it to the WS 2 years in a row (yes, it’s not enough). I think there were a lot of upset agents and FA this winter.
Hello nameless. I am not in on the Harper train, and I recognize that I am in the minority. I believe that pitching (starting & relief) and defense wins games. Good pitching will quiet good hitting. The Dodgers need to get more bat to ball skills, more situational hitting. Better hitting wRISP and RISP with 2 outs. Or starting new rallys with 2 outs. Better bat control. The Dodgers do not need Bryce Harper to achieve that. Whether that is new players or new philosophy, they will probably continue to come up short if they do not change.
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I do agree that they will check in on all FA, but there are very few that they will actually contemplate. I also agree that Freidman is not into high cost FA like Harper or Machado or Corbin or Donaldson or Keuchel. They need to look at possible Gerrit Cole and Christian Yelich type trades, two I really pushed for last year (as much as a fan can push). Will they check in on Jean Segura? How about Alex Colome? How about Jose Leclerc? Is there an RHH OF out there that will interest the Dodgers in a trade? They still need a catcher more than they need a LHH power hitting OF. Realmuto or Cervelli or Flowers in a trade? Or FA Ramos, Maldonado, Suzuki, Lucroy? Other short term 2B possibilities…old friend Miguel Rojas? Yes a potential non tender candidate.
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If I were in the front office, I would scour the rosters both major league and top minor leaguers to find a top CF leadoff candidate. A leadoff 2B would be good as well.
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I do not have a problem with how Friedman will initially construct a bullpen, but they need to be honest come trade deadline if their bullpen is not dominant, and go out and find that one or two missing relievers.
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They do not have to spend a lot to get what they need. They have the core of a championship team, they just need to finish the puzzle.
They had the core of a champ team when they got here.
And as much as some posters don’t want to ever acknowledge
this particular elephant in this particular room (his name is
Drunken Sailor:-), they could not finish the puzzle, for a
mere, cool, utterly undisciplined billion, give or take, out-
spending even their richest competitors in the quest for
a partially empty cup (the MLB Hessian Trophy).
Their farm system, for all that spending, for all the consequent
PR huffing and puffing about extraordinary “depth” at the big level
(Kike Hernandez, ladies and gents, batting #3 in the last game of this
season; an out-of-his-depth Yu Darvish for starting the last game of the
previous season), is, according to “experts”, still good but no longer
at the top, developing “nice” players, but still not a single everyday
regular for the unfinished puzzle, with their best picks possibly
still two years away.
I was a skeptic about the Baltimore delinquent when he was acquired;
I have many of the same misgivings about Harper.
I have liked the FO’s discipline when it comes to huge, “star” contracts.
Good strategy. I have rarely liked the tactics which follow.
Forgive me.
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Is this speculation or knowledge?
I don’t think having Greinke for the next 3 years at $35M per year will get the Dodgers the ring , the Dodgers don’t need Greinke who at this point is clearly not an Ace. The Dodgers need a center fielder, a second baseman not named Hernandez or Taylor, a catcher, some help in the bullpen, and playing Verdugo everyday in right or left field.
The Dodgers have the players to trade to get what they need. Let’s see what they do.
What he said
I cannot see the Dodgers trading Kemp (one year of $20 million AAV) for Greinke (3 years of $34+ million AAV).
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First off, I do not believe that Greinke is even worth the salary he’s currently getting. He’s still a very good pitcher, but nowhere near the pitcher who left the Dodgers after 2015. Being charged about $34 million/yr. towards the CBT would likely hamstring the Dodgers both this year and going forward, for a pitcher I no longer consider to be the difference maker he once was. It costs the Dodgers this year even with the offset of Kemp’s salary, and a whole lot more in the subsequent two years. The numbers simply do not add up to me, especially if the Dodgers want to add some payroll in other areas, via free agency or trades.
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And by the way, maybe Kemp is worth a lot more than we currently surmise. I have nothing to back this up, but I do wonder if maybe Kemp’s poor 2nd half wasn’t the result of him having lost too much weight too fast last offseason. Losing 40-50 pounds in a single offseason is an awful lot, and perhaps in the process Kemp became worn down in the 2nd half. Maybe spending this offseason in a strength training program will restore the stamina that he may have lost last season. Maybe he needs to regain a little of that weight back (in the form of muscle) to build a more sustainable stamina. I have nothing to back any of this up. It’s simply conjecture.
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If there’s quality pitching that can be acquired over the winter at reasonable cost, I’m all for it. But I’m also all for throwing the dice, and using the talent we have in-house. And whatever money is saved by staying in-house, makes all that much more available to acquire players like Harper, Machado, LeMahieu, etc. (obviously not all of them).
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And yes, I read that stuff about Dozier dealing with a bone bruise this past season. Still, with a player like LeMahieu available, I fail to see the need to roll the dice on Dozier bouncing back.
rchieF and Watford – I mentioned Dozier staying a week ago or so… He was never healthy and can do the job.
Maybe dude was right, sometimes my comments can be odoriferous!!!
Watford what do you think about my Irish vs the All Blacks!!
I’ll be burning a few candles on that..
Like last year, I think the market will be slow until Harper and/or Machado lands and Boras will string it out…
Sorry peterj, I never saw your post about Dozier but it makes if we can sign him for 1/8MM.
If not us some team will take a chance on him.
I am home watching my sick grandson and am catching up on my reading. This AM I came across an article in The Athletic titled, “Recently fired executive accuses Mariners front office of racism, discrimination.” It emanates from a terminated employee Ms. Lorena Martin, Director of High Performance. Dipoto was so impressed by Ms. Martin that he created this position for her.
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An excerpt from the article.
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“But after less than 12 months on the job, Martin was quietly fired by the Mariners in October. On Monday, she took to social media to accuse members of the front office, including Dipoto and manager Scott Servais, of making racist comments against Latin American players.
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“She later specified some of those allegations to The (Tacoma) News Tribune, claiming, among other things, that Dipoto referred to her as a “cocky Latina,” that McKay called Dominican players “just plain stupid” and that Servais said Latinos “aren’t bright enough” to be major-league catchers or managers. She also accused Dipoto of repeatedly punching a white board during an argument “to intimidate me.”
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“While the Mariners seemed to initially consider Martin’s addition a coup, multiple Lakers sources indicated some within the organization were relieved she found a position elsewhere despite having hired her barely a year earlier. Martin’s role was reduced in scope, and Lakers sources described her as difficult to work with, unable to accept criticism and eager to deflect blame.
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“Mariners sources told The Athletic that some players weren’t comfortable around Martin in the team’s clubhouse – it should be noted that MLB clubhouses are not among the most open-minded of settings – and others were reticent to accept her input. Those complaints echo themes from Lakers sources, as well.
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“Late Monday, Martin told The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal that she possessed emails proving the Mariners breached her contract and that she knew Mariners staff willing to speak on her behalf. She has yet to produce those emails and/or staffers.”
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Here is what she wrote on her Instagram – “The Mariners organization has major issues. The things I have witnessed and heard first hand have left me shocked. How can their GM, Jerry Dipoto, Manager Scott Servais, and Director of Player Development, Andy McKay, speak about their players like this…
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“Calling LATINOS LAZY, DUMB, and STUPID, especially the Dominicans.
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“And then they wondered why they didn’t make it to the playoffs. Leadership is to blame, under Jerry Dipoto’s leadership no team has made it to the playoffs and they will continue to miss the playoffs with him in this position. Poor leadership. It’s come to the point where I have to speak out because they are firing innocent trainers for trying to do the right thing and because of their color/race.”
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My initial reaction is that I do not buy into her allegations of racism. If these were true, any employee with an ounce of integrity would leave immediately upon hearing racist remarks, and immediately report it. She chose not to, and “came forward” only after being relieved of her duties. After her short tenure with the Lakers, it seems that she is the epitome of the Peter Principle. She has reached her peak. And as unnamed Lakers personnel indicated, she is blaming others for her inabilities.
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She would not be the first to claim that Jerry Dipoto is not a good leader. He may not be. There is no crime in that, and it certainly is not racist driven to have that distinction of a failed leader. But it seems implausible to me in today’s environment if in fact Dipoto, Servais, or McKay displayed any traits at all approaching to what Ms. Martin has alleged, then it would not be much of a secret, and they would be terminated, and rightfully so. It should not take two occurrences of racist comments to terminate an employee, especially in a role that is dependent on Latino players.
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I also find it incredulous that Dipoto, Servais, and McKay are so stupid to make these racist remarks in front of Ms Martin, who herself is Latina.
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The Mariners have 32 players on their current roster, and 10 of them are Latino, with 4 Dominicans; Alex Colome, Juan Nicasio, Robinson Cano, and Jean Segura. For a FO that is supposedly racist towards Latinos, they certainly have their fair share (31.25%), and rely quite a bit on the Dominicans. I am not naïve enough to believe that an executive group cannot be racist if they do have Latino employees, I just do not believe that it is possible to run a MLB baseball organization and have those beliefs.
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If Dipoto wants to trade Colome and Segura to the Dodgers I would take that call in a heartbeat.
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The Athletic always has good thought provoking articles. Well worth the cost.
Dipoto should sue her.
Catcher = Realmuto and Smith
1st Base = Turner backed by Freeze
2nd Base = Locastro backed by Hernandez and then Lux by August
3rd Base = Machado backed by Freeze
SS = Seager backed by Hernandez
LF = Pederson and Kemp with Pederson getting about 70% of at bats
CF = Bellinger backed by Hernandez
RF = Verdugo backed by Kemp with Verdugo getting 70% of at bats
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Traded: Hill, Wood, Muncy, Taylor to Yanks for one of their top three prospects that would be flipped to Miami.
Traded: Puig, Yankees prospect, Barnes plus one or two from White, Grove, Alvarez for Realmuto.
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Kershaw, Buehler, Ryu, Urias, Stripling / Gonsolin
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Jansen, Ferguson, Santana, Alexander, Baez, ? and ?
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There is more than enough salary savings to add Machado even if his contract is front loaded to encourage him to take an opt out after 3 years. That would most likely let the Dodgers sign Machado to a long term contract but not really, assuming he would take the opt out.
You don’t think Mattingly would rather have Joc over Yasiel?
Matingly might but Puig would be the better choice from a fan perspective. Hopefully Puig has changed enough for him to get along with Mattingly and Mattingly has relaxed enough to meet Puig half way. Maimi needs fans.
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2805678-1-impact-move-each-mlb-team-could-make-this-offseason#slide6
Interesting article. With respect to the NL West, it shows that even those that have more time and contacts just make up stuff like we do. I see no way for the DBacks to sign JA Happ or the Dodgers signing Bryce Harper.
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The Pads trading Kirby Yates seems unlikely in this off season. The Pads still need a closer, and they traded Hand because of Yates. They are more likely to hold onto Yates for at least one more year because they will need that closer when they believe they will become competitive in 2020.
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MadBum is a possible trade piece. He is the face of the Giants so it will not come without a lot of negative feedback. My guess is that with his decreasing velo, his return may not be what the Giants may want. Other than Kemp for Grandal, Zaidi was not good at trading fixtures in the Dodgers organization. I agree that MadBum should be a trade piece, but I just do not know how likely it is.
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But the one move that makes sense is the Rockies signing Marwin Gonzalez. Nobody knows if Garrett Hampson is the right fix, and Brendan Rogers is not going to be ready for 1/2 year. He may even be slated for 3B in 2020. Plus Gonzalez can help with the loss of CarGo and Parra in the OF. Gonzalez makes way too much sense for the Rockies.
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Now if all of these moves come to fruition, I will be the first to say what a brilliant sage Jacob Shafer is.
AC
I think both Mark and you, do a better job then most if not all, of these people.
But Mark is more the ultimate optimist, when it comes to the Dodgers, and the front office.
I agree with your suggestion, what will make this team better, too.
1 – The Dodgers have a pitching glut and a surplus of OF, especially LHH. In the past, the Braintrust has refused to trade from the surplus, noting that injuries happen and that the surplus may be pressed into service. That being said, they have to do something as they have too many bodies that play the same position and, if reports are to be credited, they will want to move some contract to save money since staying under the Cap is apparently important.
2 – The obvious (to me) rotation to start the season, if they make no changes is Kershaw, Buehler, Ryu, Hill and one of Stripling, Urias, Maeda and Wood. I agree that they are going to try to watch Urias’ innings so don’t expect to see him in the rotation at the beginning of the season. Between Wood and Maeda, Wood is anticipated to make $9MM in 2019 per MLB Trade Rumors and Maeda makes $3MM/year plus incentives so Maeda is cheaper. Wood also took a step backward after a stellar 2017. I agree with AC that Wood may be the pitcher to go. Stripling is cheap and is effective both as a starter and a reliever, so he stays.
3 – The OF also has too many guys. Verdugo has nothing more to learn in AAA. Puig is projected to make $11.3MM per MLBTR. Kemp’s contract is likely unmovable, so he stays; Puig would garner the Dodgers players or prospects, and Verdugo’s best position is probably RF. On the other side, Joc Pederson is projected to earn $4.3 MM in arbitration this year. Toles and Joc make one or the other of them redundant. I can see at this point one of them being moved.
4 – Given the glut of starting pitching, I doubt the Dodgers are interested in taking on the rest of Zach Greinke’s contract, especially in light of the recent revelation of the Dodgers intention to keep payroll below $185 MM in 2019. You can forget about any other high priced additions either (eg. Cory Kluber). In any event, the Dodgers’ starting pitching wasn’t really the problem last season. The bullpen was a real problem, but you won’t see the Braintrust throwing money around to fix that problem either. They don’t believe in spending money on relievers.
5 – There’s no way that Puig is going to be traded to the Marlins as long as Donny Ballgame is their manager – so just forget the Puig for Realmuto suggestions. Besides, the Fish have been all about dumping payroll so there’s no way they will trade for an $11 MM OF like Puig – they just traded away 3 All Star OF – remember?
Trade Alex Wood, Kenta Maeda, Puig, Diego Cartaya, and Dennis Santana to Cleveland for Kluber and Brad Hand.
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Rotation:. Kluber, Kershaw, Buehler, Hill, Ryu, Stripling.
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Bullpen:. Jansen, Hand, Baez, Alexander, Ferguson, Koehler, Garcia, Floro.
Cleveland wants to cut payroll. Wood, Maeda and Puig will make more than Kluber and Hand. There’s no way they do that. They want all prospects or players with 4 to 5 years of control.
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They would take Cartya and Santana, but if you want Hand and Kluber, you are going to have to give up Verdugo, Ferguson and Lux too.
I was thinking Cleveland might do it since Puig and Wood come off the books after next year, but you’re probably right.
Not trading Hand. They acquired him because they knew Miller would be walking this year. I listened to their GM on the radio today. Cleveland has a big pitching prospect coming up, they can just slide everyone up a notch, and yes they may want to cut payroll a bit for sustainability but they have the luxury of a truly weak division to reset things and keep winning. I keep reading on here how weak the NL West is. The NL West was the toughest division in baseball in 2017 and last season they had 4 teams above .500 until SF threw in the towel. I think it would have appeared tougher had the Dodgers not underachieved most of the season for various reasons. I don expect it to be weaker next year because AZ will be weaker and so will SF unless Zaidi pulls of an unexpected miracle. SD is up and coming. The NL East has been the worst division in the NL for quite some time now.
While other divisions were playing with the .650 mark (with Boston
ending at .667, IIRC), and some with .600, the standard of excellence
in the NL west this season was never much above .550 (and my own take
about the Ds in April suggested that percentage for them). Neither the
Rocks nor D-backs could provide consistent, tough competition for
the Ds in August and September, pretty much par for the course the last
half-decade in the West.
The Ds had to go an extra day to beat the Rocks, who were no match
for the Brews. The NL west was just not all that this year. Without a
decimated start staff for the Brews, they may well have beaten the Ds.
I agree about the NL East, and the AL Central is about as bad of late,
except for the Indians.
My other trade idea is Puig, Joc, Urias, and Keibert Ruiz to Anaheim for Trout.
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Lineup: Verdugo, Trout, Seager, Turner, Bellinger, Kemp, Taylor/Like, Suzuki.
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Bench: Toles, Muncy, Freese, Barnes.
Trout is not going anywhere unless HE determines to leave via FA.
Rebuilding is being considered in Anaheim, just like Seattle.
Trout is an east coast man and a big family man. The Angels have nothing in the minors and aren’t jumping Houston anytime soon. He’s a goner in two years if they don’t deal him.
I don’t think I would touch Greinke. He looked like he was hanging on by a thread last year and getting by with smoke and mirrors. I know that there is quite a bit of deferred money in his contract. AZ always seems to get in trouble doing that. They are at a crossroads this year. It’s their last year with Goldy. Do they try to add enough to make one more run at it this year or start selling off a Goldy or Greinke? I think a lot of people see what I see in Greinke these days. AZ would have to eat A LOT of money to move him and they aren’t going to get what Goldy’s worth. They are in a tough spot. I picked them to finish 3rd last season and they did. Now they have to decide how to replace Pollak and Corbin for one year, go with what they’ve got, or sell. Everyone knew when they overpaid for Greinke they would wind up here and they have absolutely nothing to show for it.
Yosmani Tomas was a pretty bad contract too, they ate $46M when they cut him loose in April.
Tomas is actually on the AAA Reno Aces roster, my bad but is off the 40 man and the depth chart. He hit .262 in 355 AB’s with 14 HR’s, 65 RBI and 101 K’s and 11 BB’s for an OPS of .745. He is owed $15.5 M and $17M for the next 2 seasons. I agree on Greinke BTW, his best days are behind him.
The Run of Bad Cubans!!!:-) Not just the Dodgers…
Agreed.
That’s in agreement with Hawk about Zach.