How Did Winter Trades Turn Out

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1. This Year Trade Deadline : Trade Kike for anything you can get !! Maybe Barnes but leave him as a backup and let Will Smith play. Also Edwin Rios looks good , i know Beaty has been good but i think Rios has much more power potential and could be a Muncy type and could play 1B instead of Joc. Beaty seems like a good bench platoon bat maybe good trade piece.

2. Cody and Alex are 1st and 2nd in all of baseball in DRS, Verdugo is 15th in all of baseball in BA (.311) 8th in the NL. He is 1st in baseball in AB per Strikeout (9.3) 9th in NL WAR (3.0) 8th in Defensive WAR (1.1)

   I remember when writers and bloggers wrote that Verdugo couldn’t handle CF at the big league level…

   1. I was one who said that Alex could not play CF and that was based upon actual observation of him in 2018 and 2017. I watched a number of games on MiLB.TV and, while he ran good routes, he was below average in speed. Then, over the Winter, he worked with Gil Reyes. I don’t know what they did, but Alex is now above average in speed. He’s not a burner, but he is visibly faster. I have said that he should stay in CF and let AJ play left.

3. If the FO can use Keekay in a trade this summer, please do it. Every AB it seems he swings for the fences and if he could shorten up a bit and think oppo it just might improve his offensive game. Once Seager gets back, CT3 becomes the everyday 2B moving Muncy to 1B.

   Joc will play LF in a platoon role but moving forward Joc should never play 1B again and Keekay is a late-inning defensive replacement and a PH only. He was awarded the 2B job out of ST and squandered that gig with his woeful offensive season so far. Joe Davis said yesterday on the national broadcast that Keekay had the worst offensive production of all players in the NL.

   1. No, Joe said he had the worst BA in the NL. His other power stats are not bad.

   2. The Dodgers are not trading Kike. Sell low? No way. Kike bleeds Dodger Blue!

      RVS and Company are working with him.

      1. So did AJ Ellis and he was traded. Whatever is best for the team AF will do and that might include a trade of Keekay.

      2. If Belli gets into about 15 games where he can not hit, there will be some who ask to change him, it’s crazy that they want to change all those who are not doing well for a while.

4. Good write up AC. To trade or not to trade, always a tough question. I too would feel more comfortable going into the playoffs with one or two lock down relievers. But, as we learned with Machado and Darvish, acquiring the best player available doesn’t always guarantee a WS ring. On the surface, it would have seemed that obtaining Goldschmidt was a stroke of genius for the Cardinals. Hasn’t quite worked out that way. Perhaps it will.

   Rethinking these and other trades it seems that unloading large contracts and stockpiling top prospects is a better recipe for success. I would find it hard to believe that any Dodger fan would exchange Verdugo for Puig or Beaty, Garlick and Rios for Kemp today. Nor would we trade Josiah Gray straight up for Alex Wood.

   Baseball is a funny game, but I love it!!!

5. The Rangers have just released Josh Fields from their AAA team, where he had a 6.57 ERA.
   This is our big chance to re-sign him, same as we did with Rosscup.
   Then, maybe we could trade him to the Astros for Yordan Alvarez. 🙂

   1. Josh pitched well for the Blue!

6. Great recap of the offseason trades AC. Kinda like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get. On the flip side, there’s been some great trades that worked out well for the team acquiring big time players. Manny Ramirez comes to mind. And how about the D-Backs getting Schilling?

   The “problem” will be that the Dodger fans will not have a consensus opinion on the trade, and most voices will be against the trade(s). – I don’t believe this is a problem at all. Mainly for two reasons. 1) AF has a good track record, he knows what he’s doing. 2) Most voices are coming from people who don’t have a track record at all and don’t know what the hell they’re doing.

   AF brought in some crappy relievers last year, but they used their best pieces to acquire Machado, without him we likely don’t make the playoffs. I can give him a break on that. Now, that his biggest need is a starter, I don’t expect him to be rummaging through the bargain bin again. I think K-Bear is his biggest chip and he knows that K-Bear’s value is off the charts. He’s not going to trade him for a reliever with an expiring contract. Vazquez, does NOT fit that description and neither does Hand. We don’t need both K-Bear and Smith and Smith is ready now.

   This is going to be an extremely interesting trade deadline. Could Joc be dealt? Rios, Beaty, Garlick? Any of the 10 crappy relievers on the 40 man?

   Like each year, Friedman has stated that he’s looking for impact type players. He has delivered with Machado, Darvish*, Hill and Reddick. I can’t wait to see what he comes up with this year.

   I’m also interested to see what effect we see from the removal of the waiver deadline. I would think more teams will be selling early effectively making less buyers in the process. However, there will be less total assets available at the same time since some teams won’t be able to bail out late and dump a couple of big contracts in the process.

   The wild card races are pretty bunched up at the halfway point in the season. How many of these teams really think they have a chance to win the Wild Card game and make it into a post-season series? The financial incentive is great to do so.

   1. Here’s why the Dodgers will not trade Ruiz:

      Look no further than Austin Barnes.

      In Austin’s Rookie Year he hit .289 with a .408 OB%. Then, the league adjusted (like it always does) and in Austin’s last 428 Plate Appearances he has not been able to adjust back. He is hitting .205 since then.

      Cody Bellinger and CT3 saw the same thing. It took Cody a year to adjust and it took CT3 about a year and a half.

      Will Smith looks great NOW, but the league WILL adjust and will Will adjust back. We don’t know.

      Keibert Ruiz has exceptional bat-to-ball skills. The Dodgers are working with him to improve his launch angle this year which ultimately should pay off, but it’s a process.

      Alex Verdugo had a 11.4% strikeout rate in the minors. Kaybear is at 10%! Kaybear is very much like Alex, except he’s a switch-hitter. The Dodgers won’t trade him, unless Cartaya breaks out to AA.

      People doubted Alex and then they said he didn’t have enough power. I said he had 25+ HR potential. In his Rookie season, he’s on track for 20 HR and we have seen him unleash a 460 ft. Shot!

      Kaybear is of the same ilk!

      1. I agree, plus in this day and age you need two catchers. You will not get by with one for long. I just figure after the all star break they might bring Smith back. Another problem for Smith is they don’t play this long of a season in the minors. AF has been good on timing so it may be a September call up so Smith won’t be exposed. In the end it doesn’t matter who you have if they are not playing well at the right time. If we trade we need somebody like the production we got from Manny. On another note Maeda always seems to get the Throwaway lineup.

   2. 59inarow

      You said we don’t need both K-Bear and Smith.

      Having 2 catchers who can produce offensively is HUGE. Any team would love to have that.

      1. I agree that having 2 catchers who can produce offensively is HUGE. But, if given the choice, I would RATHER have a lock down bullpen with 2 guys that can close. If you can get that closer without giving up that second offensive catcher, so much the better. I’d also rather trade Ruiz than May, Gonsolin or Lux since we already have Smith.

         Back to catcher. If you have 1 good offensive catcher, who is also Gold Glover caliber he’s gonna catch 110-120 games a year, conservatively speaking. That leaves 40-50 for the other guy.

         So, I would rather have Filipe Vazquez for 70 games a year for the next 4 years, than K-Bear for 40-50 games two years from now.

         1. But…. Vasquez could turn into Jim Johnson.

            We don’t know…

         2. If Smith or Ruiz can play another position they can be used more than just catching for as you said 40-50 games.

            It is a huge benefit to have both catchers producing offensively. Normally a team has a huge hole in the lineup at catcher, it’s a big advantage to not have that huge hole.

            I’m no expert on prospects, but from what I read both Smith and Ruiz are going to be good.

7. Andrew Friedman will make the trade or trades he and the other Dodger personal feel is the best they can do based on what they have to give up to get what they want Those decisions will be based on many things but none will be based on what the fans think. I have my ideas on who the Dodgers need and who I would give up to acquire those players but as a fan I have the faith Friedman will do everything he can to make the present team better and that is all I ask.

8. “Edwin Diaz’s latest meltdown Thursday, in which he gave up five runs on two homers to the Phillies in the bottom of the ninth, dealt the Mets a 6-3 loss at Citizens Bank Park. It was the closer’s fourth blown save in his last eight chances after blowing just four in 61 chances all of last season with the Mariners.”
   https://nypost.com/2019/06/28/edwin-diaz-trade-to-mets-looking-worse-by-the-day/

   Let’s bail the Mets out and take Diaz off their hands.

   1. This is why it’s scary to contemplate giving up one or two of our very best prospects for Vazquez. Although he has a longer track record than Diaz, nothing says he couldn’t have a Diaz-like meltdown while Ruiz or whomever are tearing up the league (a la Yordan Alvarez).
      That’s why part of me would rather give up less and try for Smith from the Giants.
      Whatever AF decides, I think he’ll do something and then he can sit back while we all scream if it goes badly.

      1. Yordan Alvarez last 7 games is hardly tearing up the league… .259/.310/.667. Plus, he’s a DH and we don’t have one of those in the NL.

         Yordan has had 1 good week and 1 bad week so far. Let’s pump the breaks a little on Yordan “No Glove” Alvarez.

9. Don’t forget Freese. He has been a great addition both on and off the field. Big game player. Great pick up by AF. I really believe the Dodgers are one 2nd closer away from a great shot at aWS title. Heavy favs to win NL title with a Smith or Vazquez pickup. Think about who you want facing that Yankee lineup late in WS games. If Hill comes back himself and can start then I’m comfortable with Urias, Baez and Jansen. I still think Kelly has the stuff to contribute but a Smith or Vazquez gives us a very good pen. Hill is not a reliever. He has historically struggled in first innings. Like Freese Hill is a big game pitcher and I’m all for him as our 4th starter. Make it happen AF. This is our best shot!

   1. Actually, Rich Hill has had some success as a reliever before he reinvented himself as a starter with the Red Sox and A’s. I wouldn’t mind seeing Rich Hill as a loogy with that curveball. His splits are very good against lefty hitters. Plus, we won’t have to endure Doc inevitably taking him out too early in post season games.

      I really think Urias is an Ace in waiting. He needs to start starting again to get back in the swing of things. I know people think he’s gonna be a Hader or Miller for us. But, I don’t think they will pitch him often enough for that to happen because they know long term he’s a top of the rotation piece and they don’t want to risk injury.

      1. He might be an ace, but not this year as long as the Dodger BP is in the shape that it is in.

10. Might the Dodgers have 3 lefty hitters with 40+ home runs this year.

11. Interesting info AC on trades. I know this a Dodger blog but I need to respond about Jerry Dipoto of the Mariners. You mentioned how the M’s are attempting to rebuild (Dipoto calls it “re-imagining”) by trading veterans for prospects. What you failed to mention is the amount of cash that was thrown in to depart with the vets, a habit of Dipoto’s. To unload Cano’s bloated salary they threw in Diaz, the best closer in the game last year AND 20 million to cover salary. They did, as you mentioned get prospects. That’s a pretty expensive deal especially if Diaz gets it going. As part of that deal the Mariners got Jay Bruce who they unloaded later to the Phillies for an older A+ infielder AND the M’s tossed in 18 million. Recently the M’s shipped Edwin Encarnacion to the Yankees for a prospect Seattle had previously traded TO the Yankees for a player that the M’s released AND the M’s are picking up half of Encarnacion’s salary of 15 million. To get Encarnacion last winter they shipped off Carlos Santana AND 6 million to Cleveland. I don’t know if they paid to deal other vets like Paxton, Zunino and others you mentioned. That’s about 50 million to get a couple MLB guys (Gersten Bautista on IL and Arodys Viscaino) but mostly prospects. If you throw in Felix Hernandez’s (currently on the IL, who they should have traded 3 years ago when he had value) salary of 28 million, that’s 78 million in cash that the M’s could have used elsewhere. I find it interesting that GM’s make trades that not only gives up veteran players for prospects buy millions of dollars to cover salary. An expensive way to do business and those prospects better turn out. Sorry for the chat about the M’s, but AC but you brought it up. Keep up the good posts.

12. Oh my, Bellinger is on first. Never say never, or always.

    1. Joc at 1B is done and dusted.

13. Yankees beat the Red Sox again today. There was 50 runs scored in the 2 game set and we thought Coors was bad.

14. More homework to get ready for Dodgers in London:

15. Alexander’s last appearance was June 5. He still isn’t throwing yet. He really must be injured, I’m suprised.

16. Speaking of Alexander. Rosscup, doing his best Alexander impression gives up the lead when asked to throw to 2 lefties. Doc burned again by taking Maeda out too early and going to the lefty on lefty matchup. And of course, right after Maeda strikes out the last guy he faces.

    We really do need a couple of lefties in the pen. Bye, bye Ruiz!

    1. I fully expect Rosscup to be given his walking papers today.

    2. Maeda was done… but I would have brought in Urias.

       1. Yeah, 88 pitches in the 5th inning is a lot, especially for that dude. But, I would not bring in Urias in the middle of an inning. He’s a starter impersonating a reliever with 3-4 days off between appearances.

          At the All-Star break, there will be 70 games remaining. If you divide 50 / 5 you get 14 games per starter. At 7 innings per game, you get 98 Innings pitched. Julio currently has 50 innings pitched after this game. It’s almost time to convert him back to a starting pitcher.

          Julio is freaking dirty even at Coors. I can’t wait until he’s back in the rotation. It’s hard to believe he’s still two years younger than Bueller.

17. Rosscup = scrap heap or should we start a thread that says Honey is working with him and he’s about to turn the corner and suddenly develop into a quality BP piece? You can put lipstick on a pig but she’s till a pig. The Dodger BP sucks right now.

    1. He’s a pig!

       1. Without lipstick!

18. From what I’ve read the Blue Jays are looking for outfielders and starting pitching.
    Rios, Garlick, Stripling, and any 1 pitcher on this prospect list #6 or below for Ken Giles? Too much for Giles?
    http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2019?list=la

    1. Way too much. What is wrong with people.

       1. OK subtract Stripling. I’d like the Dodgers to keep Stripling for starting pitching insurance anyways.

          1. Still way to much! That’s arguably more than they traded for Machado!

19. When Hershiser said he was in favor of an electronic strike zone he must have been reading my mind, because it’s exactly what I was thinking at the time. In fact, I’ve got a feeling I wasn’t the only one thinking that.

    Seems to me that umpires are becoming increasingly inaccurate with strike calls. I suspect that an electronic strike zone might prove beneficial to hitters, as it would make the calls of balls and strikes more predictable.

    1. You will see the offense go up as a result because hitters won’t have to adjust to a different strike zone each day.

       I’m all for it. Home plate umps rob us all the time.

       1. i don’t think that’s correct.

          Our catchers are generally, almost uniformly, the better framers.

          1. Framing won’t matter with an electronic strike zone. That’s the point.

20. Muncy should be in the All-Star game as a second baseman, or as a first baseman. Of the 6 players on the team ahead of him at those positions, only one of them has a higher WAR and only 1 of them has less ABs. What a rip off!

21. Good win today! I think Roberts pulled maeda at the right time but Rosscup didn’t do his job. However, I believe Rosscup pitched 3 straight games so the results are not surprising. Yimi just can’t keep from giving up that homer. He should only be used as mop up or a last resort. Our defense in this series was really bad. Not just the errors but plays that should have been made. This kills your pitchers by adding stress and pitches. I would say a split here and now was good. Moving forward I would come back after the break with stripling, urias, kershaw, maeda, and buehler in that order. I would skip ryu a start and then put him back in for kershaw to skip a start, then I would skip buehler a start to give starters a break.

22. Meanwhile in Nashville – Gavin Lux led off the game with his 1st AAA HR. He got his third double in his second AB. Zach Reks singed him home. Lux – 2 AB – 2 R – 2 H – 2 RBI. – 2 innings. In his 3 games – 6 for 9, plus 2 walks. He has been on base 8 out of his 11 PA. He will obviously cool way down, but his confidence has to be sky high knowing he can compete at an elite level (so far) in AAA.

    Dustin May is making his AAA debut on the hill.

    5-1 OKC after 2.

    1. Here’s a video of Yeiner Fernandez, one of the top catchers in the coming IFA class, who’s projected to sign with the Dodgers on July 2nd.

       link: https://www.instagram.com/p/BzUOSU_gKdT/?igshid=xybvnde7kxc5

       instagram.com/p/BzUOSU_gKdT/…

       1. I hear good things about him, but the video is a vacuum. There is nothing to compare it to.

       2. How many other positions does the kid play? I’d like to ultimately start a lineup with 9 catchers (Martin would be the pitcher, of course). It looks like we’re well on our way.

          1. He was a stud pitcher for Venezuela in the 2015 LL World Series.

       3. For what it is worth, MLB Pipeline does not consider Fernandez the top Venezuelan catcher. That status goes to Brayan Altuve.

          The Dodgers have two of the top 21 (Per MLB) IFA.

          Luis Rodriguez | Rank: 4
          Hometown: Lara, Venezuela
          Position: OF Age: 16 DOB: 9/16/2002 Bats: R Throws: R Height: 6’2″ Weight: 175 lb.

          Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Arm: 60 | Field: 60

          Rodriguez is the best overall player from Venezuela in the class of 2019. He’s a pure hitter and natural athlete with solid baseball instincts across the board. He is also known for his physically projectable body and easy actions on defense and at the plate.

          Rodriguez has sound approach in the batter’s box and has shown the ability to use all fields with consistent and hard contact. There’s a nice rhythm and balance to his swing and although he’s primarily a line drive hitter now, there have been flashes of power and it could increase as he develops. He has impressed scouts by performing well against pitchers throwing 93 mph to 95 mph during workouts and showcases.
          Rodriguez is a quality defender in center field now and he makes all of the plays, but it’s uncertain if that’s where he will stay because he’s not a plus runner. He developed his game in the youth leagues of Venezuela and has a high baseball IQ.

          Rodriguez is from Lara, Venezuela, and trains with Angel Valladares. The Dodgers are the favorite to sign him.

          Kristian Cardozo | Rank: 21
          Hometown: Maracay, Venezuela
          Position: RHP Age: 16 DOB: 11/10/2002 Bats: R Throws: R Height: 6’1″ Weight: 175 lb.

          Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curve: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 55 | Overall: 50

          First of all, Cardozo has the durable and athletic frame evaluators seek in starting pitcher prospects. He also features a lot more.

          The young right-hander has an easy, repeatable delivery paired with a loose and under-control arm action. He has shown the ability to throw strikes and his mix of three quality pitches stands out for a player his age.

          Cardozo’s fastball usually sits in the 90 mph range for multiple innings and he has been up to 92 mph with good command. More velocity could be on the way as he grows and his body develops. Cardozo’s curveball sits in the low 70s with depth and good tempo and his change hovers in the low 80s with some arm-side fade. Overall, his present pitch abilities and stuff combined with body projection has some scouts believing Cardozo has middle-of-the-rotation upside. He’s a competitor that also known for his good makeup. He’s confident on the mound.

          He is trained by Hector Evertz in the Dominican Republic. The Dodgers are the favorites to sign him.

          1. Rodriguez sounds very interesting. Seems like he could develop into something pretty special. Hope we actually sign him now that you’ve gotten me interested AC.

23. Just looked at the remaining schedule. Of the 9 games we have left with the Rockies, only 3 are at Coors, the last 3 days of July.

24. Don’t look now but the evil World Series rival of the Dodgers, the Yankees, are 1 game behind the Dodgers for the best record in baseball.

    Wouldn’t it be nice if the Dodgers beat the Yankees in the World Series this year? Paybacks are a b****.

    1. Vegas prediction from the getgo was Yankees-Dodgers WS this year.

25. Joc had a great game. Go Joc.

26. Right on! We got the split in the House Of Horrors, and now it’s on to normal baseball. Great rebound game from last couple of nights. Joc impressed the hell out of me , junking the all or nothing approach and getting KEY base hits through out the game today. As Mark always says, nothing to see here, let’s move on !!!

    1. Mark has been so wrong about Joc in just about every way. I guess everyone has their blind spots.

       1. And no missed plays at first base today.

          1. LOL

27. Pollock & Freese expected back before AS break.

    Good news.

28. Lux is taking no hostages…Where will he end up??? Should Seager start playing a little 2B after he gets back…
    I know it’s early, but he impresses me more than Verdugo did…

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