A Little of Everything and not Much of Anything

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1. Trade trivia answer: Luke Raley & Devin Smeltzer.
   *
   What’s the question?

   1. Who did the Dodgers trade for Bull Dozier?

      1. Too fast. We also sent Logan Forsythe.

   2. Who was traded for Brian Dozier?

      1. Well done. Do you have an opinion on Jose Martinez? I was just researching him and he looks like a very talented hitter.

         1. DH. Don’t let him near a baseball glove.

2. As a fan, some of my memorable (good or bad) trades have been the LoDuca deal (seen on the scroll on a communal TV at the Bissell House in Pasadena), the Tudor/Guerrero swap, goddamn Konerko for Shaw that Lasorda bungled ten ways as GM, the famous Alfredo Griffin World Series precursor, and Jim Thome WTF.

3. Two trades that come to mind for me for two very different reasons occurred on the same day 5 years apart.
   .
   11-28-67 – One of my worst nightmares. Most who have read me know that I am a huge relief pitching fan, and Ron Perranoski was always near and dear to me. I was a junior in high school, and after another losing football season my year got worse when the Dodgers traded Perranoski, John Roseboro, and Bob Miller to the Twins for Mudcat Grant and Zoilo Versailles. Versailles went on to hit below the Mendoza Line even before good Mario made it famous. Grant was okay in relief, but Perranoski went on to have one good and two exceptional years with the Twins.
   .
   11-28-72 – The Dodgers acquired from Anaheim the only Angel that I liked, Andy Messersmith, with Ken McMullen for Frank Robinson, Bill Singer, Billy Grabarkewitz, Bobby Valentine, and Mike Strahler. Messersmith is more widely known as the father of free agency, even though Curt Flood was really the force behind the movement. I was such a fan of Andy Messersmith that I named my first son after him. Messersmith was dating a dear friend of ours and we met him for dinner at the Red Onion in Newport Beach. When I told him we named our son after him, he looks at me and says, “You do know my name is John Alexander?” I said of course, why do you think his middle name is John. That wasn’t the reason, but we all laughed anyway.
   .
   Those are two trades that I will remember forever, or until I don’t.

   1. I used to love talking to Ron at spring training… mostly Vero Beach… even though he hated the Dodgers. He had a lot of good stories… most of which cannot be repeated.

      1. Fairly or Perranoski?

         1. Perrinowski

            1. I’ve probably mentioned this before, but Ron P. would come in to the nightclub I bar tended at in Woodland Hills after home night games and have a scotch (or two) to chill out. A friendly, quiet man.

      2. Why did Perranoski hate the Dodgers?

   2. Way back of course were trades that brought Pee Wee Reese to the Dodgers and in another trade garnered Preacher Roe s and Billy Cox.
      .
      I expect the most heart breaking trade away was setting Mike Piazza adrift.

4. AC, if you are reading this…
   When your son was under contract with an MLB team, was he at the mercy of doing whatever was asked of him during the off-season, i.e., “We want you to be at the stadium on January 6th to take batting practice in front of our new coaching staff.” Also, would they have paid for his airfare from, say, LA to Boston and back?

   1. He was always told when to report, but the complex was always open anytime any of the players wanted to show up. He would always show up around Feb 1. It was hard for him since he lived on the west coast and played on the east coast. He was not given any travel money to go back to ST. The club took care of travel from ST to where ever he was going to play. He would fly to Florida and we would ship his car. He would end up caravaning with teammates who lived out west coming home. He put a lot of miles on his 4-Runner.

      1. Thanks.

5. There were some interesting comments from Doc at his presser yesterday. He initially states that the Dodgers have four starters,; Kershaw, Buehler, Hill, and Ryu. Then when asked about the 5th he talks about Kenta, Stripling and Urias. Who he did not include (initially) was Wood. I think that just screams that Wood will absolutely be traded. He later discussed Wood’s mechanics and what changes he may or may not make. He really just said, whatever Alex wants to do is okay. In other words, ask his next manager.
   .
   He also said that Kenta is a starter. So he really has five starters and none are named Stripling or Urias. Doc reiterated what has been widely discussed that Urias will be on an innings limit. They do not know what that limit is right now. “We got to figure out how to go about ramping him up for the season but ultimately we see Julio as a major league starter.”
   .
   Roberts believes Stripling’s injury issues caught up with him late last year but he also said “he is going to get opportunities to build on the innings pitched.”
   .
   He also said that 2B will probably be filled internally. Kike’ was first mentioned, then CT3, and then Muncy. He did indicate that Muncy was going to get his ABs and some would be at 2nd. He “trusts” Muncy at 2B, but not full time. Let the platooning begin. For those looking for DJLM or Jed Lowrie, it does not look promising.

   1. It seems like a lot of misdirection going on from the Dodgers. It’s hard to get a bead on what’s going to go down. I saw a quote that loosely translates to “Friedman is up to something, but no one knows what that is”.
      –
      Julio is going to be treated very carefully at the start of the season…at AAA. In a perfect world, this will allow them to cap his innings and establish value for someone in the 5th spot to be traded at the deadline. That is, until someone gets injured and he’s forced to come to the big club. It’s so enticing to see Kersh, Julio and Bueller in the same rotation.
      –
      It’s hard to believe that Muncy is the plan at second when the team seams to value defense. Roberts also said that he wants Muncy and Bellinger to be full time players as apposed to platooning them. It makes more sense to me that Muncy plays 1B and Belli plays CF. But, we all know how that’s gonna work out. It makes sense that 2B is a 3 way tryout between Muncy, CT3 and Kike. They all hit better than most second basemen around the league. Kike and Taylor can both be plus defensive second baseman. Kike made some great plays last year. I can’t recall Muncy making any great plays, but his bat certainly plays great.
      –
      I’m surprised that teams aren’t knocking on the door for Wood. I think he’s better than Nova, less innings but better stats across the board and 4 years younger.
      –
      Hill could be a deadline deal for another team. They figured out how to keep his blisters in check, and Roberts seems to hate him in the post season.
      –
      Wednesday already? It sure looks like Harper and Machado will go home without a contract. There are sill a lot of relievers and catchers available. What’s the over / under on the Dodgers going home empty handed?
      –
      Could Mark be right? CT3 and Kike in the same lineup? Which one plays OF and which one plays 2B? To me, Kike would play second and CT3 plays OF. I guess that depends on if the Dodgers land an outfielder after trading away 2, 3, 4 of them?

      1. I don’t see Hill being traded in a deadline deal. His greatest value to the Dodgers is in the post season rotation. His negative is his $16M salary.
         –
         The reason to move him is salary relief. By July 31 they have paid about 60% of that already. If he is moved, I would expect it to be this winter. No reason to pay almost $10M to eat early season innings.

6. Realmuto’s situation from Heyman:

   Mets not going to trade Thor, may focus on the more defensive catcher.
   Dodgers in a stalemate because Marlins insist on Bellinger.

7. From Dodger News: Chase Utley will assume a front office position with the Dodgers. That’s the best news yet out of the winter meetings.

8. The Athletic has a great article on the Dodger Hitting Guru Triumvirate, Robert Van Scoyoc (RVS), Brant Brown, and Aaron Bates. I would agree with Mark that the hiring of RVS will either be a home run or a monumental strike out. I will give Friedman credit. He does see an area that is ripe for change, and he does not hesitate. He doesn’t just dip his toe into change, he goes all in. Some poignant excerpts:
   .
   He pointed to the industry-wide increase in strikeouts — some 35 percent since his first year on the job — as evidence that change is necessary.
   .
   “Let’s think about this differently,” he said. “Let’s ask different questions. Let’s be open-minded to ways we can possibly combat that. I think between those three guys, their perspectives, their experiences, their abilities to relate and connect to players, plus how their skill sets complement each other, I just think it has a chance to be a really dynamic hitting environment.”
   .
   The attempts to engender that environment are underway. While the Dodgers front office spends the week at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, Cody Bellinger will visit Dodger Stadium this week to meet with the club’s new hitting coaches. “He’s very hungry to continue to improve,” Friedman said. “He’s in a great frame of mind going into this offseason to make some adjustments here and there, just like all young players do — to keep the strengths that are in place and continue to build on some of the challenges.”
   .
   “We’re still scratching the surface of what we’re going to try to do and how we want to approach the hitting department next year,” Friedman said. “I think that will evolve more the rest of this month into January, and we’ll hopefully try to have more clarity of thought going into February. Exactly how we’re going to do it is just a vision on a whiteboard right now.”
   .
   As a Dodgers consultant in 2017, he (RVS) also worked extensively with infield prospect Gavin Lux.
   .
   I cannot be an advocate for change in the roster, if I cannot accept a change in the approach to hitting. I will remove all negative thoughts about a coach who reportedly hit a solid .100 as a HS Senior, but now is revered as a hitting guru by more than just JDM. If hitters like Gavin Lux and maybe Cody Bellinger are open to change, who am I to tell them who to see or more importantly, not to see. Go RVS…Go Blue!!

9. My first Dodger disappointment came in 1961, when as a 10 year old I learned that Don Demeter was traded to the Phillies for the immortal Turk Farrell . Couldn’t understand why anyone would want to be rid of Don Demeter.
   Thanks for the journey down memory lane , DC! Nice diversion from wondering about who is going to be traded for whom. It’s a slow winter meeting, perhaps reflecting a new financial paradigm in MLB or perhaps indicating collusion.(Just kidding).

10. My coworker is wearing a Cody Bellinger jersey today. I told him, “Thank you,” and that I didn’t do fantasy sports but if I did I would buy CB this season. He had the unbelievable rookie campaign in which he won ROY unanimously then nearly took home a ring as well. Last year he struggle all year but his defensive versatility and speed opened some eyes as to what kind of athlete he really is. Some say he is the fastest player on the team and I have seen a 65 slapped on his run tool. He could easily steal 30 bases if called upon.
    *
    This year he is likely to be the starting CF, as Muncy was our best hitter last year and seems only to be able to play 1B on a regular basis. Roberts just squashed the Muncy-to-2B chatter and my idea of putting him in LF doesn’t seem to have attracted any followers. It’s probably we will continue to see the late-game maneuvering of players so that CB ends up at 1B to end games while CT3 or Keekay patrol CF. That mitigates some disappointment over not seeing him in his natural habitat in the infield.
    *
    I’m as high on Bellinger as any hitter not named Turner next year. Seager I will give some time to ease back into the flow. If Bellinger truly is already working on his swing, we could see him at his best this year. He will still strike out, but maybe with some increased contact (especially with two strikes) he could utilize his speed better in order to maximize his offensive output.

    1. Tyler, I think your Muncy to LF is going as well as Bums suggestion for Puig to go to 3B.

       1. I once got into an argument with a little old lady at Dodger Stadium when a ground ball went right through Pedro Guerrero’s legs while he was “playing” 3B. I stood up and booed or whatever (probably booing the manager more than the player) and she said, “He’s trying his best.”
          *
          He was not trying his best. He sucked at 3B. Big time.

11. I read this somewhere so only repeating and not suggesting because it is even farther out than anything I might humor myself with. Here goes: Kemp, Hill, Puig, Wood to Cincinnati. I don’t remember who the Dodgers were going to get back.
    .
    Other rumors are Baily and prospects coming to LA for Puig and Baily would be used as a reliever if kept by the Dodgers. He apparently still has velocity. Even with Baily coming back to the Dodgers the Dodgers would have a big salary dump and room would be made in the rotation and outfield. The Reds are willing to spend money this year and would be better able to use those 4 Dodgers in 2019 given that Baily is basically unusable.
    .
    Rotation: Kershaw, Buehler, Ryu, Maeda, Stripling with depth coming from May, Stewart, Gonsolin, White, Urias.
    .
    Sign Robertson as a FA to bolster the bullpen.
    .
    Mark has now sided with me regarding Kluber and his age and wear and tear resulting from his success and resultant accumulation of innings. Don’t need Kluber. Don’t need Realmuto at the price Marlins have put on his head. Keeps Smith and Ruiz on deck.

    1. I understand if we are targeting the Reds because they have a prospect we like or can flip in a separate trade; BUT, if we are just doing the deal to save money, why did we tender contracts to Wood & Puig to begin with?

12. Kluber was pretty damn good last year, 3rd in Cy Young voting. Yes, he as miles, but he also has club options. I think a lot of risk is mitigated with those options and his contract is cheap compared to his performance. It’s hard to judge his value because of all those innings. I know, I know, exception and not the rule and all, but he can also be the exception to the rule. I would trade Verdugo or Puig for him, but not Belli.

13. I have it in pretty good authority that:
    1. Turner Ward could have stayed in LA but Robert VS was coming anyway and Wards role would change
    2. Cincy agreed to pay Ward what he would get in playoff money if the Reds don’t go as far.
    3. Kasten wants Friedman to sign Harper.

    1. 4. Puig to CIN rumors are largely driven by the Ward connection. He is the Puig Whisperer after all 🙂

    2. I think Kasten gives his okay depending on how much salary Andrew & Co. can divest. It probably went something like… if you can get rid of at least $25MM go get him. If Kasten is giving his okay on Harper all of this discussion on shedding payroll for whatever reason makes sense. Spending on a name for marketing purposes (and of course baseball) is not something new to Kasten. I am sure he was the one behind the Punto trade to get excitement back in LA after the McCourt debacle. They will still try to stay under the CBT threshold, but this at least opens the door to maybe $210MM. That would add $800K to a contract.
       .
       Currently under CBT Threshold – $25MM
       Puig – $11.3MM
       Wood – $9.0MM
       Kemp – $20MM (some portion of it)
       Joc – $4.3MM
       Hill – $16MM (but not going anywhere unless Kluber is coming)
       .
       There is room there to make it happen. If that is what they want to do, and stay financially responsible (for 5 years of Harper anyway). They might even be able to get a catcher (not named Realmuto).

       1. They can also cut Fields to save a little money too.

    3. Hope Andrew has enough spine to just say no.

14. I read a salary dump trade on another site last night. Kemp to the Dbacks for Tomas. Kemp is 21m for 1 year Tomas is 36m for 2 years. Because Tomas is not on the 40 man his salary doesn’t count against the CBT.

    I’m kind of excited to see what the new hitting coach can do. If he can get half out of everyone that he did with Lux the offense could be a monster.

    A definite no for Realmuto if the price is Bellinger. If Kasten gets Harper then going with Barnes and a stopgap like Maldonado or Lucroy is do able.

    How about Tulo for second base and

    1. Rumor (there is that word again) is that he could be headed to SFG. Tulo is exactly the kind of player Zaidi looks at. Tulo was born and raised in the Bay Area. He would be going home. I think that rumor has legs.

       1. Tulo, Samardzija, Harper, Longoria, Machado have all spent considerable time
          on my over-rated list.

          Nice ballplayers. Just not near what they have been paid –
          and this with the usual 20/20 foresight:-).

15. The trade for Martinez is Will Smith, but the Dodgers have to make sure they get another catcher before trading Smith.

    1. I assumed it was the Giants’ Will Smith. Like Cingrani, he is a LH reliever.

       1. No, the Cards traded away their catcher of the future to AZ for Goldy.

          1. I don’t want to trade Will Smith. He might be the 3B of the future. or 2B. or C.

          2. The Cards actually have a better catcher of the future who allowed them to move on from Carson Kelly. Andrew Knizer is probably a tad closer to MLB than Smith is. I do not see how a Smith for Martinez trade works for either team. But then again most everything that is being “guessed” at (or made up) don’t make sense either.

16. Any chance we are trying for Jose Martinez from STL to send to FLA instead of Bellinger for Realmuto?

    1. No

    2. I have to believe any talk of Martinez is about a piece in a 3 or 4 team trade. Now the Reds are in on Realmuto? Do they have the prospects to get him? Would he be any happier there? Is that a good move for Cinci with 3 teams still clearly better than them even if they’re trying to get better? To me Freidman is trying to put together some mult-team deal that may or may not come to fruition.

       1. The rumor is that the Reds may be willing to move catcher Tucker Barnhart and OF Taylor Trammell (Reds #2 prospect). I do not know if that is all that is moving, but those are the two that have been floated.

          1. AC: Could it be part of s 3 team trade between Reds, Marlins and us?

             1. Anything involving Andrew Friedman is possible. I can understand why the Reds would want an upgrade at catcher, but I would not want Tucker Barnhart. He is one of the poorest defensive catchers with extremely poor framing stats who does not hit well enough to make up for his defensive deficiencies. So whoever ends up with Barnhart is not going to get much value.
                .
                I heard from a couple of pundits that the Fish are continually asking for Nick Senzel. And the Reds response has been…What part of NO do you not understand?

17. So, if we’re out on Cervelli, does that mean Stripling is being used in another trade or are we close on another catcher?
    *
    So far, “We need a catcher” is about as close to a consensus view on our off-season plan as we can get. Second would probably be that we have an outfield surplus/logjam that needs attending to. Third would be we are always looking for relief help.
    *
    Feels like Kluber & Realmuto are holding up the market a bit. I don’t expect Harper or Machado to sign any time soon so it’s foolish to look to them to get the action going. Haven’t heard about Grienke in a while; maybe he’s the next big piece to go.
    *
    Since there’s nada happening at the moment, here are a few teams I think are looking to shake things up, aside from the usual suspects of Mariners, Braves, Blue Jays, & Mets:

    1. Giants–Boy do they need a lot. And they have a new GM. We’ve heard Bumgarner’s name often, as well as Brandon Belt. Longoria’s contract is a disaster [challenge trade for Kyle Seager anyone?] and a soft rebuild looks likely. Don’t see them in on Harper but they could be plotting a major move.
    2. Padres–Staying in the division, they sure seem like they want to be this year’s Braves: arriving perhaps a year before planned. They need pitching and pitching is available. Curious to see what they do.
    3. White Sox–Everybody’s mystery team for Harper which means they are no longer a mystery. MLBN did a piece on their payroll commitments in 2020 and I think it was $6 mil! They are close to starting over and use a franchise cornerstone to go with Moncada & Kopech. We will hear lots of Harper-to-CWS talk.
    4. Rays–Heard they could pair Morton with Snell atop the rotation, maybe sign Nelson Cruz. They were the best team that missed the playoffs last year. They have to push some chips in.
    5. Cardinals–What’s the point of adding an MVP candidate for one year if you’re not going to continue adding? They have a good opportunity to sneak past the stagnant Cubs if they are aggressive and swift. Wouldn’t be shocked to see them somehow land Kluber.

18. Dave Roberts on asking Dodgers hitters to adjust vs shifts: “It should be important enough to get on base to be able to manipulate the bat and hit the ball the other way or to lay a bunt down. So I will say as far as offensively, philosophically, for us, this year, …we’re going to get better at that. When you see one player on the left side of the infield and you’re down a run, we’re going to challenge our guys to find a way to hit it over there. … It’s going to be a priority for us to get better at that.”

    1. common sense the last few years to all of us.

       1. Right on. I know it is difficult to hit an inside pitch the opposite way but some guys can do that. I have seen Cody do it. And, the scorned bunt might just regain some its much deserved stature. Just makes so much sense. The best hitters in the world should be able to adjust to the shift and not have to have it legislated out. I would be OK with a rule banning it but would might sooner see players beat it with bunts and weak little hits. After all, when standing at the plate their sole goal is to get to first base. If it was anything more there wouldn’t be a first base.

       2. Hey Bobby, have the Dodgers given you a “With Harper” and “Without Harper” pricing comparison for your season tickets yet?

          1. Yes. It was back in August with a “sign up now for 2019 and get 2018 pricing (with a payment plan) or wait and test your luck on how high the 2019 prices get!” offer. I decided to go the cheap safe route and thus signed up early.

             I do wonder if new pricing is already out or not for those that didn’t sign up early, or will be joining the season ticket family for the first time in 2019.

    2. And what does Dave have to say about all the preceding years when
       they didn’t get better at that? It ain’t rocket science, Dave:-)!

19. I don’t know when it will happen and I believe nothing I hear, but pretty soon, they are gonna fall and then, it’s on:
    

    1. You mean Charlie Morton wasn’t that first domino?

       1. I am referring to the Dodgers dominos.

          1. You couldn’t find blue dominos?

          2. Now you are discounting Kevin Quackenbush and Adam McCreery?

             1. Eyes rolling

20. Gennett and Bailey for Kemp, Stewart and Wood match up financially for both teams. The Reds would get a quality pitcher, a young arm and a RH bat to platoon with Schebler. The Dodgers would get a second baseman to hold the spot for Lux and save a couple million off the luxury tax threshold.

21. Really like the Morton deal for Tampa Bay. I feel like we kinda started this thing with our three-year deal for Rich Hill. It’s a way to get a top-of-the-rotation [-ish] starter without spending $100 million. Just sign a guy in his mid-30’s to a short-term deal!

22. Bluto and DC – Great stuff on the lost art of bunting and hitting to the opposite field.
    Only problem is, have you guys been to see any HS baseball games???
    The last thing on their mind is bunting and/or choking up and going opp field…
    I say bring back wood bats to baseball at all levels…
    P.S. When we got the ‘Toy Cannon’ and Reggie Smith were some of my greatest afternoons at the Ravine… Reggie and his bad attitude pinned on him ended up a myth..Bean Town was a helluva place to play if you were a player of color..

23. D.C.-I golf and play bridge with a guy by the name of Ted Equals. He was a catcher. He played for Edmonton. He graduated from High School in 1956. He never made it to the majors. I play bridge with him tomorrow and I will ask more questions.

    1. I arrived in Edmonton in 1957 and attended Strathcona Composite High School. During my senior year in 1958 I attended Bonnie Doon Composite high School.

       If you get this note, tell Ted I was a staunch Winnipeg Blue Bomber football fan living in Edmonton and I survived. Actually, Johnny Bright from the football Eskimos was a teacher at Bonnie Doon High School.

24. OK, hold down the fort for a couple of hours while I am at this Pacers Bucs game. Victor is back!

25. The Reds picked up Tanner Roark for a soon to be 26 year old RHRP, Tanner Rainey. Rainey has a plus plus fastball that often touches 98-100, with a complimentary plus power slider and getting more swing and miss. He pitched well in AAA last year, and his “stuff” started working better when he worked to less batters. This could be another late inning reliever for the Nats. They must have a good feel for another FA starting pitcher to replace Roark, since they said they were not going to trade Roark unless they had another starter to replace him. Rainey was the #23 prospect for the Reds.
    .
    If anyone is expecting anything more in return for Alex Wood, they are not watching what is going on. Wood is three years younger than Roark, and Roark was projected to earn nearly $1MM more than Wood in arbitration. So Wood should bring back someone in the #10-#20 range of prospects, depending on the team and quality of farm system.

    1. Wondering whether we regret the ryu arb offer.

       1. Why?

          1. Because we are looking to dump salary and he makes $18m.

26. Joel Sherman tweeted current version of Reds deal being rumored is Kemp’s $20 million AAV for Bailey’s $17.5 million AAV plus Alex Wood for ?

    1. So the Reds are going to get a mid rotation type pitcher and a hitter that could kill it in Great American, and the Dodgers get to shed $11.5MM AAV payroll for 2019, but will pick up $5MM next year with Bailey’s option. Actual salary savings is about $1.175MM.
       .
       Kemp – Salary $21.750MM…….$20.0MM AAV
       Wood – Projected salary and AAV $9.0MM
       Bailey – Salary $23.0MM……$17.5MM AAV; Plus $5.0MM Option and AAV
       .
       That will put the Dodgers about $27MM below threshold.

       1. Sounds like Barnhart possibly to the Dodgers if the Reds can get Realmuto to round out the deal.

          1. If I’m doing this right. Barnhart has 3y/$9.75m left on his contract with a $500k buyout (or $7.5m club option) for 2022. I know nothing about him.

             1. He’s a local boy. Lives in Indy. He’s a good backup!

27. I’m sure none of us knew about this, nobody even remembered Mike Hampton, but one more example of how bad it can be and it ends up being such a long contract !!

    https://sports.yahoo.com/rockies-will-finally-stop-paying-pitcher-signed-2001-191503947.html

    1. I remember Mike Hampton. He was a good pitcher for Houston(NL) but not so much after he left Houston. I remember him more for his bat than his arm.

28. So, I come back two hours later. I did my job: I helped the Pacers give an old fashioned beat down to the Bucks. We led from tip to buzzer. But you guys can’t get anything done. What good are you?

    1. We appear to be working on adding the worst pitcher in baseball so there’s no real rush.

       1. Homer Bailey is Brandon Morrow… with an inflated price tag.

          1. That would be cool. I’ve always thought he looked like Christian Bale.

29. Barnhart: 10th round pick. Switch-hitter. 28 y.o. come opening day. Good defensive & game-calling rep. Big clubhouse compliments when contract signed. Career
    .254/.328./.369 with GG earned in 2017. Career high 10 HR last year and 54/96 bb/k after 42/68 in 2017. Numbers in minors in line with 476 game MLB career. Looks like a guy who gets the most out of his talent. More than qualified to be a back-up. More like a tandem partner.

30. Lance Lynn – 3 years $30MM- Texas
    .
    Charlie Morton – 2 years $30MM + 1 year option – Option vests at $15MM if on DL less than 30 days over 2 years; decreases to $10MM, $5MM, $3MM, and $1MM for increased days on DL – Rays
    .
    J A Happ – 2 years $34MM + 1 year option – Option is $17MM – Yankees
    .
    Justin Bour – 1 year $2.5MM – Angels

31. As reported by Dodgers.com:
    “• Friedman and manager Dave Roberts said they hope to cut the number of positions utilizing platoons.

    “The ideal configuration is one to two platoons,” said Friedman. “It keeps more guys active, with more clear-cut playing time. Then you have a bench that has versatility. We started with very few last year, then you have to read and react as the season goes along.””
    –
    Fewer platoons? Guys with more clear-cut ideas about playing time? Fancy that!

32. Joe Kelly on the way .

    –

    Wonder how the fans will take to him after the Hanley incident?

33. 3 years & $25m.

    –

    There’s the Bridge.

34. https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/joe-kelly-agrees-to-contract-with-dodgers/c-301816550

35. he Dodgers have been in touch with the Pirates about catcher Francisco Cervelli, MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick reports. Coming off a solid 2018 season, Cervelli has received trade interest from several teams. The 32-year-old is only under contract through 2019 (at $11.5MM in salary), so that type of short-term fit could appeal to a Dodgers team that has top catching prospects Keibert Ruiz and Will D. Smith getting closer to cracking the MLB roster. In addition to starters like Cervelli, Gurnick notes that L.A. is also looking at “fallback options” like veteran catcher Nick Hundley.
    The Dodgers have been heavily linked to the Reds in trade talks, and while Yasiel Puig has prominently featured in these rumors, the New York Post’s Joel Sherman (Twitter links) hears that Puig hasn’t been involved in one of the latest proposals. This version of a deal would see Matt Kemp and Alex Wood go to Cincinnati in exchange for Homer Bailey, which would shave roughly $13MM off of the Dodgers’ luxury tax payroll calculations since Kemp’s contract has a higher average annual value than Bailey’s deal. Given Bailey’s struggles and injury problems over the last few seasons, one would imagine L.A. might pursue something more substantial back (i.e. a prospect or two) rather than pure salary relief, though it’s worth noting that the Dodgers acquired Kemp last offseason in a deal that certainly appeared at the time to be simply a bad contract swap. Clearing some luxury tax room would likely also allow the Dodgers to make another big-ticket addition.

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    Seems like we are trying to sign a Vatcher for one year only.
    I suggested Hundley before. He is capable.

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