In 2018, Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. hit .381 over 4 minor league levels with a .437 OB%. He hit 20 HR and 29 doubles to go with 37 walks and 38 strikeouts in 357 AB’s. His OPS for the year was 1.073. He was the 2018 Minor League Player of the Year.
In 2019, Gavin Lux hit .347 across two minor league levels with a .421 OB%. He hit 26 HR and had 25 doubles to go with 61 walks and he struck out 102 times in 524 AB’s. His OPS for the year was 1.028. Of course, he was the Minor League Player of the Year.
I am going down this path because both players had outstanding seasons in what is likely their last minor league season. Guerrero has more raw, jaw-dropping talent, but is allegedly not as disciplined and conditioning is a big issue. Vlad, Jr. burst upon the Major League Scene in 2019 and in 464 AB’s he hit .272 with a .339 OB%. He had 26 doubles and 15 HR. He has been anointed a “Budding Superstar.”
When Gavin Lux was drafted, I was not a fan. I thought that Lux was a wasted pick, as was Jeren Kendall the next year. While I still think Kendall is a bust, Lux matured into his man’s body, got stronger and worked hard. He has made himself into a player who is going to be very, very good… if not a budding superstar (the star part is to be determined).
I can see Gavin Lux putting up similar numbers to Vald, Jr.s Rookie Year. I think he would be a plus defender at 2B… no matter how much you fantasize about Corey Seager moving to 3B or getting traded, it makes ZERO sense is not happening on this planet. An infield of Turner, Seager, Lux, and Muncy could be one of the best in baseball.
Andrew Friedman is not going to trade the requisite prospects for Lindor or Betts. It’s not his M.O. and it’s stupid to boot. I could see him trading for a player like Miguel Andujar who has four more years of control. Andujar had Shoulder Surgery in 2019 and likely will come back slowly, but he is an offensive force. He could be the answer at 1B when Turner’s deal runs out. He is defensively challenged but is allegedly a willing learner and that makes a huge difference. Gio Urshela took his spot in 2019 and had a great year. The Yankees have plenty of bats but need starting pitching.
I would purpose Ross Stripling and Kenta Maeda be traded for Andujar. Maybe it takes another piece… whoever that is, but that is a trade I could see Andrew Friedman making. Where he plays in 2020 is problematic: 1B, 3B, LF? He would provide that big RH bat, however, at a very lost cost. It’s an idea worth exploring.
Now, all that’s left is sign Gerrit Cole and pick up a couple of arms. BTW, it appears that Toles and Alvarez will be left on the suspended list (you can do that for 2 years) so they do not count on the roster.
First n foremost, Happy B-day MT… But then again you were only a day older than the day before!!! Hope your family spoiled you…
LADT has been mellow and an a easy read the last couple weeks… If only we could stretch it out…
Like plastic bottles, syringes etc. that hit our beaches daily the trade Seager mantra just won’t go away…
As MT, the man, the myth, the legend stated “an infield of Turner, Seager, Lux, and Muncy could be one of the best in baseball”… Take it to the bank
The Toles story upsets me!!! I really liked what I saw in the kid…
Breakdown of Astros Cheating. Check it out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2XNW1qHN9w
Mark, you can’t say the AF won’t trade prospects for Betts and then say he will sign Cole. Can we stop with the “Friedman won’t” narratives? Just because he hasn’t done it, doesn’t mean he never will.
BTW – Where the hell is Friedman’s contract? Is he still too sick to sign on the dotted line?
I don’t know why, but the Dodgers are routinely very slow in making things official. Not only AF’s contract, they have yet to make an official announcement about Mark Prior as new pitching coach. Same thing happened last year with Roberts’ extension. I still think they need to have an official general manager. But that’s just me.
Count me among those who thinks that Lux is going to have a nice career.
Arrogant
Stupid
Thieves
Ruining
Our
Sport
Never say never! This feels like the offseason where AF will do something BIG. The move might be a dope fiend FA signing or it might be a blockbuster trade involving players that many view as untouchable.
Regarding this infield, I’m not as optimistic as Mark is. I think there are a lot of errors waiting to happen with this infield. I won’t mind this if their offense makes up for it as I think that it will still be potent and HR laden.
I also read that both Toles and Alvarez will remain on the restricted list giving the Dodgers 37 on the 40 man, room for 3 eligible Rule 5 draftees . The roster is supposed to be set by November 20. DJ Peters and Mitchell White are givens. I think the next logical roster addition would be Jordan Sheffield. Cristian Santana, Zach McKinstry, and Leo Crawford would be the next to be considered. After seeing a trimmed down 29 year old Tyler White, one has to believe that the RHH 1B seems to be the RH bat off the bench to try to replace David Freese. Kyle Garlick still has options, so he would appear to be safe also as a RH bat off the bench. There could be some roster moves in the next two days to perhaps create another couple of spots on the 40 man.
I too thought of Miguel Andujar as a possible RH bat. He is an intriguing bat to consider, In his one MLB year, he batted .297/.328/.527/.855. He hit 47 doubles, 27 HRs and 97 RBIs in 606 PA. He had a K rate of 16.01% IMO while he makes good consistent contact, Miguel just does not walk very much. Does that portend for lack of plate discipline? He has such a quality bat potential that he is very much worthy of a gamble even with his lack of a defensive position. But where does he play? He is not a good enough defensive 3B to move JT across to 1B and make Muncy the everyday 2B and Lux yet another utility player for another year. While NYY has thought about moving Miguel to 1B, Andujar’s only defensive position in professional baseball has been at 3B. There is no indication that he can play in a corner OF position. Another consideration will be how the labrum repair surgery will impact his ability to swing and throw. He is a gamble, and I am not sure that he is worth both Maeda and Strip. But I agree he is an option that AF should and probably will explore.
I think the Dodgers should add Zach McKinstry to the 40 man and protect him from the Rule 5 draft. There is no doubt in my mind that rebuilding teams like the Royals, Orioles, Marlins, etc. would take McKinstry considering his breakout 2019 season. Dodgers could always trade him prior to the draft in order to add another player. I would not trade Maeda, or Stripling for Andujar — a hitter without a defensive position in the NL. Yankees would likely get a better trade from another AL team. Dodgers might be willing to gamble on Andujar being a first baseman, or left fielder, if Yankees will take Ed Rios in return.
I like McKinstry, but he is a lesser version of CT3 and Kike’. Downs and Estevez are right behind.and Zach is 3 years older than Estevez and 3.5 years older than Downs. Zach is yet another LH hitter, of which they have an abundance of, and all considered better than Zach (Lux, Beaty, and Rios). To get on the 40 man, Zach would have to be considered a better roster solution than at least one of White/Peters/Sheffield, or the Dodgers would have to DFA one of their relief pitchers, presumably Floro, Chargois, or Kolarek. They could also DFA Tyler White, but I am guessing that AF would prefer White’s RH bat to Zach’s LH bat.
I understand and agree that Zach would be optioned to AAA, but who comes off the 40 man to keep him? He is a LH hitting utility player, the same as Matt Beaty and Edwin Rios.
One thing I am certain of, no matter what AF does, somebody is going to say he made a mistake.
Yes, being left handed hitter is a problem for McKinstry. But I would find room to add him (Chargois is a DFA, or non tender candidate if not traded) even if it were to only trade him for a low level prospect. I believe either Beaty or Rios will be traded, so McKinstry could be the utility guy at OKC. I am not high on Sheffield, and believe he could be traded before spring training. I also believe that Garlick has the edge on White for a bench role since he has 2 options remaining and White has none. Dodgers minor league infielders who hit RH: Santana, Estevez, Downs, Robinson, Amaya, Mann, Liput, Valera, Vargas, Heyer, Lao, Lewis, Hoese, and several others. It might be good to retain a LH hitting utility player.
I agree with you that many of those players can be traded or DFA’d or non tendered. But the potential Rule 5 draftees need to be protected by tomorrow 5PM PT. So those other transactions need to happen by then in order for more than 3 to be protected. It will be very interesting to see who gets protected. I will be fine with whoever they do protect.
I like your trade proposal for Andujar, Mark. But I have no idea of his physical status. I also agree that the Dodgers are not going to trade top prospects, unless it from an area of depth (lots of catchers in the system), but I think they really like Ruiz, so the return would need to be game changing. As to what Friedman will or won’t do, when it comes to making a major trade or free agent signing, ownership will be involved. When it comes to signing someone like Gerrit Cole, they will be very involved. Remember, ownership negotiated Clayton Kershaw’s contract and handled the final negotiations directly with Red Sox ownership for the Punto trade. No question, Friedman will be heavily involved, but such massive deals always involve owners.
I don’t see Maeda and Stripling going in the same deal since they basically fill the same roll. It’s a roll that Gonsolin could ultimately fill but I doubt AF is ready to just hand it to him before the season starts.
I’m fairly sure the Yanks would rather have Maeda than Stripling so maybe Maeda and Kike? That said, trading for a guy who is coming back from a shoulder problem is very risky. When you don’t even know where you would play Andujar that’s even more risky.
Singing The Blue, at the end of yesterday’s post you replied to me with this: ” I don’t see any way you get Nola or Bieber for Seager. ” I don’t disagree but if I am going to trade Seager, those are the quality of players I would want.
OK Bums, I guess this means we both agree we shouldn’t trade Seager because the return wouldn’t be worth it. Although maybe the Indians don’t value Clevinger as highly as they do Bieber. I wouldn’t mind having him in our rotation.
Again, I am happy with an infield of Muncy, Lux, Turner, and Seager. If Turner is not extended then Bellinger could move to first in 2021 and maybe Muncy or Seager moves to third and — brace yourselves — Jeren Kendall to CF.
I very much hope we bring JT back after next year. Remember, there’s a very good chance that the NL will have the DH beginning in 2022 so we’re only talking about how to use his skills in 2021 and there is also that 26th roster spot beginning next year, so there should be a place for him on the roster going forward.
Muncy is not a very good third baseman and Seager has indicated he really doesn’t want to be a third baseman, at least at this stage of his career, so this is why I’m in favor of at least checking out Rendon and Donaldson. I don’t have a problem with the infield you mention, but would still rather have JT at third, Muncy at first and Seager at short if we’re going to go with those four guys.
Jeren Kendall – I braced myself as you suggested, but I fell over anyway. He’s going to be in his age 23 season next year. Last year he batted .219 for high A Rancho and his strike out percentage actually went up from the year before when he played with the same team. Strike outs have been his problem since day 1. Could he become a decent player some day, maybe, but if he’s our starting center fielder in 2021 we have a problem.
In light of introducing their new GM, it is being reported that Pirates’ brass don’t consider any of their players untouchable. This is likely to shake up the market. Guys like Josh Bell and Starling Marte represent options for teams looking to improve in the outfield or first base.
Miguel Andujar is defensively challenged and does not represent the prototypical talent this front office typically pursues. Much Nick Castellanos, I believe Andujar is going to be displaced at the hot corner.
I still believe Anthony Rendon should be our top priority. I am a Francisco Lindor fan but I do not believe the difference in production between Lindor and Seager justifies coughing up the prospects. Lindor has already indicated that he intends to test free agency. We can always pursue him after the 2021 season. On the other hand, Justin Turner is aging and has been spending more time in the IL. Seager and Muncy are potential replacements, but Rendon checks several boxes; middle of the order right handed productive hitter who is premier defender.
Anyone who says Lux shouldn’t be a full-time starter next year is an idiot.
Let me preface this by saying that I absolutely love Lux. He looks more athletic than just about anyone on any roster. Athletic is the key word. Jaren Kendall is athletic…
Here’s Lux’s slash line from last year…
.240 .305 .400 .705
What screams full-time starter in that line?
His minor league numbers are impressive is an understatement. I certainly wouldn’t want to block him. But, to me he needs to earn that spot in Spring Training and may need to compete with Kike and CT3 to do so.
I’ll take Lux, you can have Kendall.
Simone Biles is very athletic. I don’t want her playing centerfield for us either.
It will be interesting to see what Lux and others do against balls that will probably will less juiced next season. The AAA balls were juiced too. Thus, players who went to AAA and saw their numbers get better. Happy Birthday Mark
I totally agree. Lux has been a line drive, gap to gap guy in the past. Kinda like Seager. But, his numbers might look a little more “human”. I expect that he’ll still be very good, because he was compared to his peers who also benefited from a juiced ball.
This will be very interesting to about everyone.
A few AB’s at the end of season mean nothing.
Walker Buehler in his September callup: 7.71 ERA and 2.00 WHIP.
Using that same irrational thinking, Buehler had no chance.
By the same token, Will Smith looked like Babe Ruth. In July he hit .462 with a 1.621 OPS. That meant nothing.
Alex Verdugo hit .174 in his first September Callup. In his first season, he hit .294.
Mike Trout hit .220 in his first end of season call up.
Come on! That is weak! You can do better than that…
Well, it’s funny that you bring up Verdugo because that is exactly my point. Was Verdugo handed a job after his first callup? NO. Did he get handed the job after the second callup? NO. Did he finally earn his playing time during Spring last year? YES. Isn’t that pretty much exactly what I said? YES
Not so weak at all. Hell, most people agree that they go after a 3rd baseman and if they do, they move Muncy to 2nd. I’m not one of them. I wan’t Lux to win the 2nd base job. But, he’s gonna have to win it.