Pending Big Name Trades???

There has been no big player transactions and it is a holiday weekend, so pickings for material are pretty slim.  However, as long as the Dodgers are mentioned in some big-name transactions, I will continue to think that something could happen.  At the very least it allows for a lot of conjecture and good writing material.  We all have our favorite Dodgers who we do not want to see moved to another team.  So, no matter what move is made there are going to be those that will agree with the transaction as well as many who will not agree.

 

Last week I proposed a trade for Giancarlo Stanton.  Other than Dodgerrick just summarily dismissing the idea (which I might have as well), there were some interesting takes.  I got the impression that most do not want Stanton but do want Harper, which baffles me. I would rather have the RH bat and superior defense over Bryce Harper.  When all is said and done, the dollars will be commensurate.  However, it was simply an exercise to show how it might be done if everyone was agreeable to even make a deal.  That being said, neither Giancarlo Stanton or Bryce Harper will be wearing Dodger Blue next season. And I am  NOT  on board for either.

 

As an unlikely as my Giancarlo trade scenario was, there have been some truly CRAZY trade proposals coming out.  They will certainly generate much discussion, but how realistic they are is another story.  Anthony Castrovince at MLB.com had 5 real doozies.  He readily acknowledges that none will occur, but that in his opinion they all made sense.  https://www.mlb.com/news/mlbs-5-blockbuster-trades-that-make-sense/c-301037694.

 

“Names” that have been mentioned by many pundits in relation to the Dodgers are, JT Realmuto, Corey Kluber, Yan Gomes, Edwin Diaz, Jean Segura, and Noah Syndergaard.  Other than Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, the only other FA names that I have seen even remotely connected to LAD have been DJ LeMahieu, Kelvin Herrera and Jeurys Familia.  All make sense, but probably only one would be signed (if any). One can make an argument for any of the three and one can make an argument against all three.  It only matters what Andrew & Co. think.

 

For Syndergaard, Bums pointed to one pundit’s proposal as to what it may take to get Syndergaard. Per Brook Smith, Dodgers Nation…“Muncy, Alexander, Ferguson, and then some to even consider a conversation over Syndergaard. Perhaps a few prospects come into play. The Mets are in need of catching and the Dodgers have a few backstops in their system that will be ready in a few years. Experts have high praise for Diego Cartaya (#11 Prospect) and he could certainly entice New York. They might also consider putting Dennis Santana (#6 prospect) and/or Mitchell White (#7 prospect) into a package.”  https://www.dodgersnation.com/noah-syndergaard-could-become-available-but-is-he-needed-bs0193/2018/11/22/

 

The only reason that the Dodgers are considered a trade partner with NYM is because LAD has players at the ML level that can help NYM in 2019.  The Pads are the clear favorite to get Syndergaard if he is moved.  While they have a tremendous farm system, far and away the best in MLB, maybe (BIG MAYBE) three of them will be ready to start the season in ML…Luis Urias, Francisco Mejia, and Cal Quantrill.  The Mets and Brodie Van Wagenen truly believe the Mets can be contenders in 2019, but they are going to need a catcher, 1B, and bullpen help.  Maybe the Pads can package Francisco Mejia, Wil Myers, Kirby Yates and prospects for Syndergaard.  That makes more sense to me than what the Dodgers would be willing to spend.

 

That is a no for Syndergaard.

 

The Indians are another team that needs ML players.  They are willing to move Kluber and Gomes if it can get them the OF and relief help.  Leodys Martin and Bradley Zimmer are both LH and are scheduled to start in the OF, so Joc is a non-starter in this discussion.  Unless the Dodgers are willing to give up Yasiel Puig, Kluber is not coming to the Dodgers.  With one year remaining on the contracts of Yonder Alonso, Edwin Encarnacion, and Jason Kipnis, I can see where Max Muncy would be of some significant interest to the Tribe.  I think one of Puig/Muncy, and Wood, Farmer and a pitching or OF prospect for Kluber and Gomes gets a discussion going. I think Tito can turn Wood into an Andrew Miller type reliever.  He did it with Miller when they were both with the Red Sox.

 

Kluber and/or Gomes – Maybe – There is a path if either team wants to make it happen.  There are a lot of potential moving pieces.

 

The next two M’s that could be on the move are Jean Segura and Edwin Diaz.  The M’s have a p poor farm system and a bloated ML payroll with a couple of non-movable contracts in Felix Hernandez and Kyle Seager. I see no way that Andrew will expend the personnel capital to obtain Edwin Diaz.  He is not going to go in that direction for a reliever when he believes he has multiple other options.  The M’s can use OF help, 1B/DH help, and prospects.  If the Dodgers are going to get Segura, CT3 would probably be included as a Segura replacement.  With Cano going to 1B and or DH, maybe there is a place for Edwin Rios.  Or maybe Gordon goes back to CF and Cano stays at 2B and Max Muncy is considered for 1B/DH.  The M’s have one catcher on the 40 man so maybe Kyle Farmer and Connor Wong would be of interest.  Would CT3, Edwin Rios, Kyle Farmer, and Brock Stewart be enough Jean Segura?  I would let the experts balance it out.  One other sticking point is that Segura has a full no trade clause.  He just may want to stay in Seattle.  One additional consideration is that Segura has 4 years remaining on his contract.  What will happen to Lux?  It is a consideration.

 

Jean Segura – Maybe – There is a path if either team wants to make it happen.  I am not sure that either do.  I would label this as highly doubtful.

Edwin Diaz – I do not see the Dodgers making a significant trade of multiple prospects for a reliever.

 

 

JT Realmuto is the most discussed player on the move in the baseball blogosphere.  Naturally the Dodgers are considered interested (as are the Astros and Braves and Angels and Mets).  The Fish need to make a homerun trade to make up for the swing and misses on Stanton, Yelich, and Ozuna.  The other teams may not be so willing to comply with what Miami wants.  That is usually when Andrew backs off.  I do not see why the Marlins are reluctant to trade JT within the NL East since they are not going to be legit contenders until well after JT becomes a FA.  I can see why they would trade with the Braves and their top pitching prospects.  If the Braves want Realmuto, I think they will get him.  I think the Braves can address RF with Michael Brantley who they are strongly considered as the front runner.  Realmuto and Brantley make the Braves a legit NL pennant contender.  Right now I am not sure which of Keibert Ruiz or Will Smith is the most likely prospect, but at least one of them is going to be on the roster in 2020.  Do you really want to give up one of the catching prospects for two years of Realmuto, when maybe all the Dodgers need is a catcher for one year?

 

JT Realmuto – Highly unlikely, but not due to not trying.

 

I know many are reluctant to make trade proposals.  I am not opposed to it no matter how lopsided they may be.  I am not advocating that LAD do any of the above.  They are just possible trades that may or may not be fair (depending as to who you ask).  I know the Dodgers could have given the Pirates a better package than what the Astros did for Gerrit Cole, and for the package that the Brewers gave to Miami for Christian Yelich.  Based on who was included, there is no doubt that I would have overpaid.  I do not know who the agreed to players were in the much-discussed 2016 deadline trade for Chris Sale, but the insistence on Julio Urias would not have stopped me.  That is way too often described as the reason that Chris Sale is not a Dodger.  True or not, who really knows? Sometimes trades work out, many times they do not.  But unless Andrew & Co. is willing to make trades that absolutely will be questioned and criticized, the 2019 team will not improve, while a half dozen other NL teams will.  I have my list of untouchables, that would undoubtedly differ from everyone else’s list (other than Clayton Kershaw who is untouchable because of 10 & 5 rights) .

 

Of those mentioned above, the only significant trade that I can see the Dodgers making is one for Kluber and Gomes.  If they cannot get Kluber, they will pass on Gomes.  They can find a less expensive catcher in Maldonado for one year.

 

This article has 41 Comments

  1. Love the Post AC. It covered most of the conjecture without leaving you exposed to being unrealistic.
    .
    Freidman, I think, said he is more likely to sign a free agent next off-season. I think he wants to have patience with Kemp’s and Hill’s contracts and just let them expire. He may not be a huge fan of platoons but Kemp and Pederson define platoon with the younger and more mobile bat/fielder lefty bat getting 70% of play and the older tiring player getting 30% of play to match up to MLB’s righty dominant pitching.
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    I still think Puig and Wood will be traded to make payroll room, make room for Verdugo, and make room for someone else in the rotation such as Urias later in the season or for Syndergaard or Kluber.

  2. If the Dodgers were to trade for Kluber or Syndergaard, would they try to trade Hill for Chad Green? I don’t think the Dodgers would do well against Hill if the Dodgers and Yankees faced each other in a WS though.

  3. The other day on MLB.Radio, they talked openly about Jean Segura and that he may not be a good teammate. Kind of a surly young Kemp. That could wreck a clubhouse… or a change of scenery could be the cure. You never know…

    Cleveland wants to cut some payroll, so I can’t see Wood AND Puig going there, because Wood and Puig maker a little more than Gomes and Kluber. What I do think would work is if the Dodgers took back Kipnis. Wood and Puig will make around $21 million, while Gomes and Kluber make $20.5 million. Kipnis makes $14.7 million plus a $2.5 million buyout. The Indians would still ask for May, but Might Settle for White or Grove… plus a lower level prospect. Kipnis is capable of a big season, but he’s another Lefty. Friedman probably would not do that!

    1. They need the 2018 Muncy for 1st base or 2nd base depending on what they do with Cano. They would like to dump Mike Leake’s contract so if the Dodgers can find a third team that would want him, maybe a deal could be had for Muncy and Maeda, for Leak and Diaz. I think Maeda would be happy in Seattle.

  4. When all is said and done on this off season I have a strong suspicion Friedman will find a taker for the Hill or Kemp contracts (one remaining year with some cash going in the deal) to give them more flexibility. I think they roll with CT3 and Hernandez at 2B/SS until Seager is fully healthy but still think we’ll see either Joc, Puig and Wood, or maybe all three in a different uniform next year.

    Muncy is bound to regress….sell high and let Bellinger settle in at 1B for the next 10 years. I’m all in on the Stanton or Harper sweepstakes. Just say no to Machado.

  5. AC, I’m curious as to who your Dodgers untouchables are? Right now, I would definitely not trade Urias, Bueller, Kershaw, Seager, Bellinger from the MLB roster. Ruiz and Lux in the minors. Unlike Mark, I would be reluctant to trade Puig, but I can’t say he’s untouchable. He just isn’t my first choice in EVERY trade like Mark. Unlike Mark, I can see that Puig has had past success hitting lefties and think that last year was an outlier that can be fixed, perhaps with a different hitting coach. If the Indians are insisting on a RH OF, I don’t see us trading our only RH OF. Because why would the Indians be reluctant to have an all left handed OH, but the Dodgers would be willing to have an all left handed OH? That doesn’t make much sense. And don’t say because Kemp, because he barely played at the end of the year.

    1. Like your untouchables and I also would like to keep Puig. I would include Muncy as untouchable but if he or Puig are moved there has to be a very tasty return. Those are the 2 guys every team will ask for IMO plus Verdugo, Ruiz and May.

      1. I have no untouchables! Every player could be in play as far as I am concerned!

        … for the right deal!

    2. You know, I actually like Puig, even though I have tried to traded him every year. The first time I tried was right after his rookie season, for Stanton.

      Over the past two years, he has lost his ability to hit lefties while improving against RHP. He could get that back, but I wonder what will happen with Turner Ward gone?

      My main worry is his body type. He will be 28 in a couple of weeks and I see injury problems. I also think he may have the most trade value, but I would not be upset if they keep him. I just want to see Verdugo play everyday and RF is his best position. Yasiel’s defense has slipped the past two years as well. Pederson and Kemp are a perfect platoon in LF.

      I am not a Puig Hater.

      1. I know you’re absolutely in love with Verdugo, but he has some warts. He’s a center fielder who is quite fast enough. He’s a right fielder with not nearly enough pop. He needs to get stronger before you open a corner for him. I would trade him straight up for Puig in a walk year. I certainly wouldn’t create a spot for him by trading Puig unless it’s a haul.

  6. Per MLB Trade Rumors, Jacob Scavuzzo has signed a minor league deal with San Diego.

    I would love to see the Dodgers make a deal that had the prospect of putting them over the top. I would love to see a high end reliever, or a co-ace, or an impact hitter to improve the Dodgers immediately. The problem is that this would either cost a lot of $$ or a lot in prospects. You could say, for example, that signing JD Martinez put the Sox over the top last year, that trading for Verlander did the job for Houston in ’17, that signing Jon Lester did it for thet Cubs in 2016. The Braintrust just hasn’t operated that way since they have run the team, and I would be surprised to see it happen this off-season.

    Historically, they have play through to the trade deadline and then have made moves to shore up the team’s weaknesses. They usually trade for guys on expiring contracts so they don’t take on long-term payroll. I expect more of the same in 2019.

    1. Good take-there are things I would like to see them do and moves that would improve the team but if past is prologue it just does not fit their MO.

      A lock down setup guy with closing experience; a true Ace; a short term catcher, figure out 2B; clear out the OF logjam. And yet they could have a full fledged audition for 2B and C from within, let the platoons continue in the OF and 1B; do setup by committee and roll with the starters they have. They do make deadline deals every year and are big favorites to take the West again.

      One problem every year is slow starts with the team not getting the starters ramped up. Is that Doc or Freidman or both? Who will be this years breakout candidates? I liked Beaty last spring, he is a lot like Muncy. Is it Verdugo? Or Urias? Or Kasowski or Ruiz? I think Smith could handle the defensive side right now at C. I hope for a couple of big moves but the salaries have to line up and that makes it unlikely.

      Lastly, very nice post AC, you give lots of food for thought!

    2. JD Martinez is a classic case of how a good deal is made. The Red Sox were in on JD, but not the Dodgers because the NL had no DH and Martinez has to DH “most” of the time for two reasons: (1) Horrid defender; and (2) Injury concerns.

      Martinez was asking $200 million, but the Red Sox waited him out and got him for $110 million. It should be noted that the Red Sox did not lose a draft pick on him as well. This was a perfect storm. Friedman would sign a player like Martinez in a heartbeat for $110 million.

      Lester was a great pickup, but the Cubs could owe him $75 million the next three years and two bad contacts killed them last year (Heyward and Darvish). The whiffed on 66% of contracts to Lester, Darvish and Heyward. The big, deals usually kill you… and I am betting that Lester’s last 3 years at age 35, 36 and 37 could look pretty bad too. He is no longer the workhorse he was… and is experiencing some injuries.

      Verlander was a great deal, and when it looked like he might be done, he kicked it into overdrive, but Friedman could not have traded for him and stayed under the luxury tax.., which I have been saying for years. I actually thought they would try and get under it in 2017, but they did not. They will not go over it again,

      The Braintrust has not had the salary space to do big deals, which is why they have played around the periphery. “The Trade” and Big Deals to Kemp, Ethier and Kershaw by the previous FO hamstrung them. Kemp comes off the books after this season, but signing a big deal to Harper or Machado is stone-cold crazy.

      Also, Dodger fans have a very slanted view of what Friedman has actually done. When the Yankees traded for Paxton, a number of Dodgers fans across the blogosphere said: “How come the Yankees can do that when the Dodgers can’t?” However, I guarantee that if Friedman had signed Paxton, those same fans would have` said “Typical Friedman, trading for injury-prone pitchers.

      I think Friedman is trying to make an impact move, but it has to be within the financial framework. The Yankees are likely to stay under the Luxury Tax too.

      1. Excellent points! Who would have thought that the Yankees and Dodgers, poster children for payroll excess the last decade would find fiscal responsibility and stay under the luxury tax? Agents like Boras must be screaming in frustration as there are few teams with the money or inclination to get into bidding wars.

    3. Rick, I think we could see a JDM or Lester deal next year when $75MM comes off the books for Kemp, Ryu, Hill, Puig, Wood, Freese. One of Arenado or Rendon for sure, and maybe Strasburg if he opts out. But I agree with you, large contracts have never been a strategy for Andrew & Co.
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      Friedman has been reluctant to make a trade for a game changer unless it was for a rental which dilutes the return in prospects, or if the contract is too large to assume and stay within certain parameters. I truly believe the Dodgers could have traded for Verlander had they been willing to stay over the luxury tax last year. I think in their minds they could accomplish getting under the CBT threshold without a Verlander contract. And as I believe we are going to see this year, they did not just want to get under the CBT threshold for 2018 just to reset the tax, but wanted to be under going forward. NYY, Boston, and maybe Philly and Washington will not be limited by the CBT threshold if it means winning. Verlander would have meant winning in 2017, and that is when FAZ should have gone for it. Instead FAZ went with the less expensive Darvish. Now everybody else that was rebuilding is catching up (or caught up) and will be in a position to spend to get them over the top while the Dodgers look for inexpensive 1 year catchers and mediocre bullpen pitchers hoping that one catches fire.
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      I think the Dodgers can get Kluber if they are willing to part with Puig. They can make everything else work as far as who else to include, but Cleveland is not going to trade Kluber without getting a Puig type RH OF bat in return. I think they can get Diaz if they are willing to give up prospects. Who and how many? I really have a tendency to propose too much (or over value the Dodgers prospects) compared to what teams are getting for stars. I know the Dodgers could have done a lot better for Gerrit Cole. I have no idea if they even checked in on him. But IMO Houston stole Cole. The Cardinals stole Ozuna, and the Brewers stole Yelich. FAZ could have included prospects who were better than those traded, but chose not to. For someone like Christian Yelich why not overpay if you have to? With the number of years at a more than reasonable cost of his contract, that is exactly who you overpay for. I am not saying that Yelich would have been a MVP with LAD. Maybe he gets platooned as well. We will never know. because they didn’t offer enough.

      1. I think Friedman knew in 2016, that Guggs and Company wanted to get out from under the Luxury Tax by 17 or 18. I think he pushed it as far as he could. He went over it in 17, but 18 was a “HARD STOP” no matter what they say.

        … and I still say that the best way to lose your a$$ is to sign a bullpen guy for big bux.

  7. In yesterday’s thread, 59inarow stated “Seems like a lot more than the Yankees paid for Paxton” in a discussion as to what it may take to get Kluber. That is the point some of us are trying to make. I liken it to the Verlander vs Darvish the year before. Verlander and Kluber are probably HOF pitchers while Darvish and Paxton are good but not elite. Verlander and Kluber are game changers and they will cost more in $$$ and/or prospects. Even with Paxton, NYY gave up their #1 prospect in Justus Sheffield. Why? Because Paxton will help them win this year. They already have Severino as their Ace and Tanaka as their #2 who they will gladly drop to #3 when NYY acquires another top pitcher (Kluber/Corbin/Keuchel). That acquisition will make NYY the clear favorite for next year, and they will get one of those pitchers. If it means going above the CBT threshold to sign Corbin or Keuchel, oh well. If they must give up additional prospects for Kluber, oh well.
    .
    I agree with Mark that Guggs wanted the team to be under the luxury tax no matter what for 2018, which is why it cost them Verlander in 2017. And it probably cost them a WS championship Getting under the CBT threshold is more important than a WS Championship? That is why I think there is more to the Dodgers finances than people think. I tend to think that MLB looked at their balance sheet and said that their debt was too high to continue to go over the threshold and “strongly advised” them to get under. The tax for 2018 & 2019 would not be onerous because they were never going to go for Harper or Machado or Corbin or Keuchel or Donaldson in 2019 anyway. They did the salary swap with the Braves for Kemp already knowing that Kemp would preclude them for signing anyone of significance in 2019. If the Dodgers were not concerned with the CBT threshold, they would never have made the trade last year, and they would be in much better position for a FA splash this year. Yes, there would have been a 50% tax on the excess, but if a team with an estimated value of $3B+ cannot afford the additional $10MM to $20MM in tax then there is a financial problem. John Henry doesn’t have that concern. But the swap got them under for 2018 and no doubt 2019. That is why Andrew said they will be in on FA, but maybe it will be next year. There is no maybe about it, the Dodgers will not go over the CBT this year, while NYY and Boston will continue to spend $$$ or prospects to get to the top.
    .
    Since 1996, NYY (5) and Boston (4) has won 9 of the 23 WS played. I think they like winning and are not afraid to spend now to get it.
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    My heavens people are afraid to trade CT3 or Kike’. How do you expect to compete with the NYY, Boston, Houston, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Chicago, Milwaukee or St. Louis if CT3 and Kike’ or even Muncy are your untouchables? I would have 3 untouchables at the ML level, and that is Seager, JT, and Buehler. That is it. Kershaw is untouchable because of 10 & 5 rights. If it takes Puig to make Cleveland give up Kluber, then I am all in. If I were the GM in 2016, Urias would be a ChiSox and Sale would be a Dodger. If Segura were not a mini early Kemp, why wouldn’t you include CT3 or Lux to get 4 years of one of the best bat to ball players in the game today. If it costs CT3 or Kike’ to get Diaz, so what? What was the problem last year? It wasn’t that we did not have enough .250/.260 hitting utility players, it was in large part because we did not have another top late inning reliever. If I could move Muncy to the AL for an impact player, where do I sign? Max had a fantastic season, and I was the one who wrote about him last winter as a potential keeper when most had never even heard of him. But I do not expect him to hit 35 HRs this year, and I do not see his value being any higher than it is right now to an AL team. What would NYY give up for Muncy and his LH bat at 1B. Ruiz is not untouchable if they can turn him into a JT Realmuto. How long are the Dodgers going to hold on to DJ Peters and Jeren Kendall before their value diminishes as has Brock Stewart’s.
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    I am all for financial restraint. But it wasn’t Friedman that got them into the financial abyss that they find themselves in. Friedman was hired to get them out of it, keep them competitive, and then stay under the CBT threshold, which I am sure that the ownership group are looking at as a salary cap. I will repeat that I am not in favor at all for Harper/Machado/Stanton. But I cannot understand why $15MM in 2019, with options of $15MM in 2020 and $16MM in 2021 would be a factor for Corey Kluber, even if they end up at $210MM and over the threshold. Rich Hill, and Hyun-jin Ryu will make more this year, and neither one of them is comparable to Corey Kluber. I want to win in 2019, because it is only going get harder in 2020. The balance of power and the vast number of elite teams will be in the NL. Boston and NYY will continue to improve because they will refuse to let $$$ or prospect stop them. But teams like Houston and Cleveland will be starting to go down, the Angels are going to lose Trout after 2020. Maybe Texas will step up with their new stadium, but what other AL franchise will excel in 2020?

    1. Lemme talk you off the edge AC. Segura is no mini Kemp considering Kemp has 9 seasons with more home runs than Segura’s best year. Lux has a good chance of being better than Segura, and he is only a year a way, maybe less. Kluber will no way in hell be a Hall of Famer.
      .
      Looking back, Sale for Urias would have no doubt got us a championship because we wouldn’t have traded for Darvish, maybe. Maybe they still trade for Darvish and he takes Wood’s spot and still sucked. But, hindsight is 20 20. 2 top 10 pitchers, a good major league pitcher and another prospect is a lot to pay for a 32 YO that just sucked in the post season the last two years (my comment was on Mark’s proposal). Puig and Muncy is insane for Kluber, Wood, and Farmer is almost equally insane for Gomes. The Astros did not have an ace, so it made sense that they sent 3 of their top 10 prospects for Verlander. But, you want to give up more for an inferior pitcher. Remember that Kluber didn’t even have a good season until he was 28. Wood turns 28 next year.

  8. Love your ideas AC! I’m all in on anything that would bring us Kluber and Gomes. That just seems to logical of a fit for both teams.

    Here’s my Saturday morning trade idea: From Pittsburgh to LA: Cervelli, Marte, Kela and Taillon; from LA to Pittsburgh: Wood, Puig, Will Smith, Kendall, Alvarez and Uceta. May need to add some other pieces, but could work.
    .
    Sorry to see Scavusso go. He seemed the type, if given the opportunity, could have some major league success. With the players in front of him, however, it was never going to happen in LA. Underscores how difficult minor league life can be and how difficult it it is to become a major league player.

  9. It takes something good to get something good. At some point, don’t you have to just go for it? Make whatever deals that you think you need to get the team to the next level?

    The Dodgers traded Frank Howard away to get Claude Osteen when they knew they needed another top starting pitcher to win. The Dodgers traded 5 guys to get Dusty Baker when they needed a RH power bat to play OF. Sometimes these deals work and sometimes they don’t but at some point don’t you have to go for it?

    1. Six degrees of separation! Osteen was later used to obtain Jimmy (the Toy Cannon) Wynn, who, after 2 years with the Dodgers was part of the trade that brought Dusty Baker to the Dodgers. Quite the ultimate haul for Frank Howard (the Stanton of his day!).

    1. This team’s biggest weakness this last year, was not being able to get hits, when runners were in scoring position.

      And these exact same bunch of players are not going to come back next year, and suddenly hit, in these situations.

      And that is why an OPS in it self, is not always the best way to measure a player’s production.

      Taylor and Kike might have had better OPS’s last year, but they have not produced like this, consistently.

      And although Taylor has a little better numbers in these situations then Kike, Taylor’s numbers are not that good.

      In fact, Taylor struck out almost 31 percent of the time last year, when runners were in scoring position.

      Joc is another player that didn’t do well in these situations either.

      And he still has not managed to hit 250 for a season after 4 years, so I don’t see him coming back and hitting in these situations, next year.

      He has never managed to have two decent seasons in a row.

      1. Hope Andrew has interviewed you for the vacant GM job MJ.
        You probably see things too clearly for their liking though.

        1. Watford

          I just got tired last year, watching hitter after hitter, coming up in these situations, and not delivering.

          That is part of the reason we lost those series against terrible teams.

      2. Dodgers need to find a way to do better WRISP without losing a strength. Maybe look for a new stat like
        (Age) times (K) divided by PA

  10. Another trade I put together in my imagination (with out any consideration of whether the finances work) is as follows: From White Sox to the Dodgers: Omar Narvaez, Nick Jones and Lucas Giolito. From Dodgers to the White Sox: Kenta Maeda, Puig, Will Smith, Kendall, Sopko and Alvarez.

    1. Giving up way too much for way too many questions. Nate Jones is a quality reliever who cannot stay healthy, so he is a potential Dodger. His fastball sits in the upper 90’s, and if (BIG IF) he stays healthy he could be a late inning high leverage reliever. He could be the proverbial bridge to Jansen.
      .
      Lucas Giolito is an absolute mess. Former 1st round draft pick for the Nats and traded to the ChiSox in the Adam Eaton deal. It looked like with his arm slot change in August that he might be returning to what 2017 seemed to showcase. But his September was his worst month in a very bad year for Lucas. He is a serious reclamation project and I would not give up any significant player for him. He is young enough (24) to consider for a reclamation project.
      .
      Omar Narvaez (27) is a good stick very questionable defensive catcher. He is ranked 113 out of 117 as a pitch framer. He had 12 passed balls with 44 wild pitches, and 24% CS percentage. He had a DRS of -13. I am not going to block Smith or Ruiz for Omar.
      .
      I might take a chance on Jones and Giolito but not for anyone except maybe Sopko that you listed. Kendall and Alvarez are huge risks, but their upside is better than Jones and Giolito (as he is now). If Honey thinks he can get Giolito to make an adjustment maybe you try one question (Alvarez) for another question (Giolito). Two mid tier prospects for Jones who is an injury waiting to happen, but worth that modicum of return. No on Narvaez. I would rather have Barnes and Farmer and keep Smith and Ruiz getting ready at OKC.

  11. Mark what about your confidence in the dh coming to the national league? At one point you were pretty adamant about this was going to happen. Manfred sure isn’t buying in. I don’t know why people are talking about getting rid of Muncy, ct3, kike etc. they are not going to get rid of these cheap assets unless they can take advantage of someone. The dodgers claim to be in on all these high priced free agents but only to drive the price up. If I could get it done I would get kluber unless he is damaged goods which the brass would know. Otherwise they are going to try to get the guy before he is the guy. If arenado is available next year the dodgers could make a run. Barring any big splashes this year the dodgers should be in very good financial shape just in time for Friedman to re-up. There will be no big financial splashes, Friedman will tell them how much money he has saved them and they will ink him to another deal. The deal will be with the understanding no going over the luxury tax first priority and winning second.

  12. The Dodgers could get Stanton and Gomes and Kluber, but the lineup would look dramatically different…. maybe that’s a good thing. It would involve trading the following players:

    Pederson – $4.3 Million
    Puig – $11.3 Million
    Barnes –
    Wood – $9.0 Million
    Hill – $16 Million
    Maeda – $8 Million (approx)

    That’s about $46 million off the books.

    If the Yanks want to trade Stanton, they have to take Hill and his Salary AND Max Muncy AND pay $20 Million of Stanton’s salary in 2019.

    As I said earlier, the Dodgers trade Puig, Wood, Barnes and White for Gomes, Kipnis and Kluber.

    Next, I would trade Maeda, Pederson and Kasowski to Seattle for Diaz. There may be an adjustment of players here… Floro, etc.

    Lineup:
    1. Verdugo RF
    2. Turner 3B
    3. Seager SS
    4. Stanton LF
    5. Bellinger 1B
    6. Kipnis/Hernandez 2B
    7. Taylor CF
    8. Gomes C

    Bench: Rios/Beaty/Farmer, Smith, Kemp, Toles

    Starting Pitchers:
    1. Kershaw
    2. Kluber
    3. Buehler
    4. Ryu
    5. Stripling/Urias

    Bullpen:
    1. Fields
    2. Baez
    3. Cingrani
    4. Garcia
    5. Alexander
    6. Ferguson
    7. Diaz
    8. Jansen

    1. Theoretically it might fit, but realistically there is no way Andrew Friedman makes those changes and drains his depth. What you have described is how Dombrowski might make things happen. DD is star player driven and tomorrow be damned, while Friedman is depth and player value driven. Jeff Luhnow drafted well made some strategic FA acquisitions to turn things around, and then acquired stars. Unfortunately, the Astros ran into more stars with the BoSox. If you are asking Andrew to drain his depth, you are asking him to change his stripes. Good luck with that change. And I sincerely mean good luck.

  13. I don’t think the brain trust would reduce our starting depth that much. However, I don’t think we would miss most of those guys. How about Russell Martin for Kemp? Don’t know if we would want him or not.

      1. Yeah Martin has been bad but the money would work and it would reduce an outfielder for us. I don’t know what it would do to the aav. I agree that I wouldn’t want him but some might. I might be wrong but it looked like kemp gained back a lot of the weight he lost which might be why his playing time was reduced. I would give Puig for kluber and not think twice about it. Unless Puig wants to extend for a couple of years at a reasonable rate this will be in his last year in la.

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