Yeah, Follow Them Over the Cliff – That’s the Ticket!

This article has 217 Comments

1. I have mixed feelings about the Nick Punto deal. I was driving back from Morro Bay, listening to MLB radio when Jim Bowden broke the news. It kept filtering out over the next 90 minutes with Adrian Gonzales the first name that dropped, Josh Beckett the second then Carl Crawford. Then finally Punto and the players going back. It put a stamp on the end of the Frank McCourt era.

   All that being said, I wouldn’t have done it, too many bad contracts and not enough money coming back from Boston. Ned Colletti tried to help them get a better deal, but the new ownership just wanted a deal that made a statement, they weren’t concerned about the particulars.

   The deal bailed Boston out, specifically the Beckett and Crawford contracts. It also made Dodger fans feel better. What the new ownership really wanted was Gonzo and as they looked around there were no first baseman available through free agency, trade or the minor league system. I would have stayed with James Loney.

   Taking on bad money seemed to be the Dodger approach to get what they wanted, the latest the Homer Bailey contract. Hopefully, that’s over, because bad international signings and those kind of deals have weighed down the team.

   According to Alana Rizzo, AF has 12 potential deals in the works, including free agents and the Dodgers are in on all major free agents.

   It would seem that Gerrit Cole has sailed away and it seems like a Yankee/Angel battle. They are still in on Anthony Rendon, but Ken Rosenthal said the Dodgers aren’t focused on him because Friedman has multiple things in play.

   So, at this point, the Dodgers may not walk away with any of the top three and that will generate another Bill Plaschke column and no doubt a lot of angst among fans.

   Maybe the Dodgers end up with Rendon, the right hand bat, but I’m really okay if they bring back Ryu and add to the bullpen. Friedman said he’s pursuing another closer type so that would help. Cole could be a difference maker, but that contract could end up as a massive anchor.

   Not sure who pointed this out the other day, but the contracts are going up faster than the tax threshold so at some point this could make life miserable for a team trying to stay competitive over the long haul.

   In the future, the Dodgers will need to spend big money to retain their key players like Cody Bellinger, Cory Seager and Walker Buehler, just as they did to keep Clayton Kershaw. Even Scott Boras said that he expects Bellinger to be a Dodger for a long time.

   At that stage, I think you will see the Dodgers write the big contracts because they can and they won’t be anchored down with a lot other bad free agent contracts.

   One funny thing, when Colletti was asked about the Stephen Strasburg deal, if he would have done, “Uh, no.” He laughed. I wouldn’t have either.

   1. SB, where did you see the info about Alanna Rizzo and AF’s 12 potential deals? Just wondering.

      1. Adam, Access Sportsnet Dodgers TV channel. She interviewed Friedman. The show runs twice a week in the off-season, nightly during the winter meetings and regular season. She also interviewed Stan Kasten and Ken Rosenthal last night. Commentary by former GM Ned Colletti, former players like Orel Hershiser and Jerry Hairston, and various media types who cover the Dodgers.

         1. Thanks.

2. In general, I agree with what you are writing. Going into the off-season, I had no clue what Drew Pomeranz or Zach Wheeler would sign for. I like both players. They are not elite, but they could be difference makers on the right team. IMO both the Padres and Phillies are flawed teams with flawed ownership/GMs. They overpaid for both players.

   The Lerner family caught lightening in a bottle last year. Good for them. But that does not mean that they are a model for a sports team finance that everyone should emulate. Signing Stephen Strasburg for 7 years $245MM smells more like Scott Boras going directly to Ted Lerner (not Mark Lerner) to get the deal done. There is no way that any team was going to approach that level of a contract. So spending money just to spend money is now the right approach because gas is no longer 10 cents a gallon? There is still a fair market value that should dictate pricing. It does in every successful business model. $245MM for 7 years for a 31 year old pitcher, with a history of injuries, and two above average seasons is not prudent. I would say it was more irresponsible than prudent.

   I give the credit for the success of the Nationals more to Mike Rizzo than to the largess of the Lerner family. It was as interim GM, when Rizzo drafted Stephen Strasburg in 2009. Then as a permanent GM, Rizzo followed the Strasburg draft with Bryce Harper in 2010, which was followed by Anthony Rendon in 2011. It was Rizzo who engineered the three team trade that brought Trea Turner and Joe Ross to Washington for Steven Souza and Travis Ott. It was Mike Rizzo that signed Max Scherzer, the one overpriced FA pitcher that has more than earned his contract. There have been far more Jordan Zimmerman’s than Max Scherzer’s; yes the same Jordan Zimmerman that Rizzo did not overpay when he became a FA. Rizzo signed a pair of Dominican OF in 2013 (Victor Robles) and 2015 (Juan Soto). It was Rizzo, after a disappointing 2016 season traded Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez, and Dane Dunning for Adam Eaton who had injury filled 2017 and 2018 seasons, but was gold in 2019 WS when most needed. In the long term that may not turn out to be a great trade, but for 2019 I think Rizzo will take it.

   In 1974, I bought my first house in Reseda, CA for $25,000. I have no idea what that house would be appraised for today, but it is fair to say that the fair market value is worth several hundred thousand dollars. But I would not pay $1MM for the house because some other moron would. That is lunacy. Stephen Strasburg is not worth 32 WAR for the next 7 years. But maybe he is to the Washington Nationals for what he did in 2019. Clayton Kershaw is not worth $31MM a year any longer, except as a Dodger. So some of that has to be taken into consideration.

   I do not know what Andrew Friedman is going to do. There was a report that I read (I do not remember where), that said he is working on 10-12 different acquisitions. Obviously not all will come to fruition, and maybe none of them will. But I believe that AF is going to do what he believes is best for LAD for 2020 and beyond.

   Where I do not agree with AF and possibly Mark, is that I do believe that AF has to do something to shake this team up. There is something missing, and IMO to stay stagnant is not the right approach. 2020 should be an exciting year for the Dodgers with the AS Game coming to LA for the first time in 30 years, and only the 2nd time at Dodger Stadium. AF and the owners should go all out to make it a memorable year for the Dodgers. If that is an overpay for Anthony Rendon (not an obscene overpay), then that should be considered. If that means trading from a surplus of pitching prospects to improve the 2020 team with a trade, then that should be considered.

   Yes, NYY will overspend irrationally and irresponsibly to sign Gerrit Cole. But as I wrote yesterday, I would not be fearful going into a 7 game series with Buehler, Kershaw, Urias, May, Maeda, Stripling, and Gonsolin against Cole, Severino, Tanaka, Paxton, Happ, German. Plus I believe with every fiber of my being that AF will do whatever he can to slot a pitcher between Buehler and Kershaw. Plus, I fervently believe that an angry and embarrassed Kershaw will be a CY candidate in 2020.

   1. If the situation were the same next year and Soto and Rendon were at-bat, I would not hesitate to put Clayton in. He’s stubborn, but not dumb. Soto and Rendon knew a first-pitch strike was coming. Learning a change up or a 12-6 curve in the dirt stops all that boogie-woogie.
      

      1. That is where you and I disagree. I am not against Kershaw being a reliever, but he did his job against Eaton. If i am Doc, I say “Thank you very much. Now we are going to turn it over to Maeda against Rendon, Kolarek against Soto, and May against Kendrick, and close it down with KJ”.

         1. You and every other Dodger fan AC.

            Except one.

            1. I’m OK with that!

               You all have a right to be wrong!

      2. Kershaw was in the bullpen too long. He was anxious to come in and Roberts stayed with Buehler one more inning after Kershaw was warm and ready. I think Kershaw warmed up too soon and should have been told exactly which inning he would begin and he should not have come in mid-inning. He wants to throw his first pitch when he starts at 7:10 and not at 7:11.

         Rendon hit a good pitch that was low and away. Give him credit.

   2. I like everything you said AC, but I have serious doubts CK will return in 2020 and be a CY candidate. I really admire MT’s confidence that CK will use the most recent post season failure as motivation to learn a new pitch and be a dominant pitcher once again, but if it was that easy why wouldn’t he have already learned that new pitch from past failures?

      I absolutely love CK so I don’t want any readers to be thinking I’m ready to see him jettisoned off the roster, but with 158 1/3 post season innings under his belt he has a 4.33 ERA I’m curious why we think he’ll use the most recent post season failure as motivation when previous failures didn’t seem to serve as motivation (or at least change his post season fortunes).

      The Matt Carpenter and Matt Adams HR’s, game 5 of the 2017 WS, the game-tying HR to a Brewers pitcher and then the back-to-back HR’s to Rendon and Soto are just a few examples off the top of my head that come to mind. I think the record is pretty clear that CK is great, but his best years are in the rear view mirror.

      As I stated I love CK, he will retire a Dodger hopefully, he’ll be a first ballot Hall of Famer, he’ll proudly wear a Dodger hat on his Hall of Fame plaque, but I cannot expect his most recent post season failure to suddenly equal CY success with a diminishing FB, age and previous injury history.

   3. Very nice article AC, and I really do agree with you that the Dodgers must shake the team up or expect the same results in 2020. I do disagree with you on Kershaw, he may be angry and embarrassed but I see the same pitcher in 2020 that we saw in 2019. If I am wrong, great, let´s see what happens.

   4. AC,

      Fair market value=whatever the buyer will pay for something. Or, it could be said, whatever the seller can get for something. It is not really arbitrary. In baseball, there is precedent, but precedent doesn’t necessarily take the value of player X to be fixed. When you have a contract like Machado’s or Harper’s, which really doesn’t reflect them being the best players in baseball, it will nonetheless have an effect on future contracts. We can’t go back to yesteryear. 10 cent gas is no longer possible. If you are a good baseball player and have a good negotiator on your side, you are going to strike it rich. Of course, some teams will pay more than others. To call anything a dope fiend move, that would have to stipulate that player X is not very good and should never be paid like player Y. To say Strasburg had two above average years is not factual. Maybe you should have a look at his record, again. Plus, you saw him stymie our team, big time this past season. This is a damned good pitcher who is one of the best in the business. Did Kershaw deserve his contract with all the injuries he’s suffered?

      If you live in the past, the Hot Stove will always seem crazy. When you are Guggs, what the heck is $300M? It’s not your money! This is the way things are. I sympathize with you about the big contracts, but it doesn’t make AF seem like a hero as Mark believes. Some business men run very tight ships with no fat being spent. Others are lavish. It may or may not mean a WS but this is also show business and the Dodgers are in the town that loves to show itself off.

      1. I guess your definition of above average and mine are different. Strasburg has exactly 2 years with 200 or more IP, and exactly 1 year with an ERA < 3.00. He was exceptional (historically so) in the 2019 playoffs, but a 3.32 ERA for the year is not elite. And what he has done justifies at $245MM deal because one owner was willing to pay that amount? Here is fair market value for an elite pitcher. 2 tine CY winner Jacob deGrom - 6 years in MLB, 3 times > 200 IP, 4 times ERA < 3.00; career ERA 2.62 (Strasburg's is above 3.00), and he signed for 5 years $137MM. Strasburg's highest CY vote was #3 two years ago. #5 this year behind deGrom and LAD's very own Ryu who will not get close to 7 years or $245MM. I guess you believe that Strasburg is a significantly better pitcher than Jacob deGrom. We disagree. They are the same age (okay deGrom is one month older). And I am guessing that every baseball executive in MLB would take deGrom over Strasburg. I do not agree that market value is what one team will pay for a player. That by definition is team value. What other team would pay Strasburg that contract? Many thought that Strasburg should not have opted out, but thought that he could get a couple more years at about the same rate. The highest contract prediction I read was MLBTR with 6 years at $180MM. AF would never say, but I would think that AF would have gone to $200MM. Give Scott Boras credit. He did it again. He got the Nationals to overpay for Strasburg and reset the 2019 FA market for his clients.

         1. I am not debating who I think is better or more valuable to a club. Strasburg is a pitcher with a very high level of results over the years. His record speaks volumes compared to many other pitchers. Because a pitcher signs a contract for more money than another very good pitcher, doesn’t necessarily mean that one is better than another. It is simply what Club X will pay for pitcher X and this can and does change from year to year. No one is twisting anyone’s arm to sign players. The only thing that is certain in these cases is the intention of the signing team. It guarantees nothing, as in the Harper signing. But it speaks volumes about a team trying to compete at the top level. There is no meaningful dialogue that anyone can have regarding value in the world of sports.

3. Update above…

4. I view the meetings with the mindset of Low Expectations= No Disappointments. If a good deal does pop up and surprise me, all the better.

5. This article makes more sense than anything else I’ve read. Come on into the office, we’ll create a position for you!

   1. I don’t play well with others…. 😉

6. From a business and culture standpoint, I still understand the Punto trade. Gonzalez was needed, not just to better the team, but to re-energize the Latino fan base. That worked.

   The Dodgers “overpaid” for Zack Greinke. At the time it seemed like “crazy money”, yet it worked out well. I would do that deal again. Though I would not have paid him what the Diamondbacks did. Why? Probably because of his age.

   Would I overpay for Cole. Probably. We just need to define “crazy money” versus “wise money.” Unfortunately, we generally can’t adequately make that determination until after the risk has been taken.

   I still stand wit AC – let’s go BOLD!

   1. I’m all for BOLD…

      Just not STUPID!

      😉

      1. Where am I stupid? I would not pay $325MM for Gerrit Cole. I would not have paid $245MM for Strasburg. I would not have paid $34MM for Drew Pomeranz. I would not have paid $64MM for Moustakas. I would not have paid $118MM for Wheeler. I would not pay $100MM for Castellanos. Would you? There is a limit in years and dollars that I would pay for Ryu. There is a limit in years and dollars that I would pay for Donaldson. There is a limit in years and dollars that I would pay for Rendon. But make no mistake, I would agree with an overpay for any of them, just not obscene.

         Where you and I will disagree is that I would trade any of our prospects for the right deal. If Tampa Bay was willing to trade Blake Snell or Tyler Glasnow, I would trade Dustin May. If I could extend Frankie Lindor at a reasonable price (not realistic anymore), I would trade Gavin Lux. I would trade Keibert Ruiz for the right deal. I am not talking a rental, but at least three years of control for a game changer.

         If the Dodgers stand pat, then they will win the NL West and lose along the way, waiting for Dustin May, Julio Urias, Tony Gonsolin, and Jo Jo Gray to become more developed in 2021. Because that will be the new point to year as they will have $80MM available to say they could sign Mookie Betts, but never really be in on it. The change does not have to be earth changing, but Kirk Gibson kick ass type players are needed for this team. And that player(s) is/are going to cost. I trust AF knows the difference between going BOLD and being stupid.

         1. I didn’t say YOU were stupid!

   2. But AC just criticized the Nats for going BOLD!

      1. That was not BOLD. That was stupid.

         1. That is your personal opinion which counts for very little in the scheme of things.

7. AC and 2demeter, what is your idea of bold and stupid money for Cole or Rendon?

   1. Cole is already past stupid money. I would go 7 years/$250MM for Rendon. It is borderline stupid, but does not cross that line for me. Texas may be willing to blow past that, and that would be stupid money.

      1. Which team did you say you were the GM or owner of? What a silly game.

   2. That’s a good question. I have to hedge my bets and say I don’t truly know because I don’t have all the decision making information available to me. On the outside looking in, for Cole, I would say perhaps $280 may be bold, but over $300 is stupid. I would agree with AC on Rendon, however, with him I would also need to keep an eye on what Bellinger, Seager and others are going to cost in the years ahead. If you paid Cole and Rendon that much money, my rough estimate is that they would have to produce 30-35 WAR over the life of the contract to consider it successful. Certainly doable for both players. Stan Kasten is on the record stating that giving long term contracts to pitchers is a fools errand. Maybe Cole is that pitcher that can change Kasten’s mind, though I doubt it. I think, as AC put it, this has gone beyond stupid money. At this point, I would rather ride out what we have or perhaps take a chance on Kluber or Michael Boyd and some bullpen pieces.

      I also agree with AC that should the right trade scenario present itself, I would not be opposed to trading Lux for Shane Bieber or Jack Flaherty, for example.

      I know that the information available to the Dodgers front office is far greater than any that I have at my disposal. I trust that they will use that information wisely. I believe that they love to win and want to win a WS as much, if not more, than any fan. They just want to get there profitably, so they can keep going back for more and more.

8. I did not like the Punto trade but if Boston is hell bent to reduce payroll and move a pitcher like Price, there is opportunity to repeat the Punto trade to get Betts.The disaster of a trade that freed money for Boston in a Price and Betts trade would be for Boston to use that savings to sign Betts as a free agent one year later. Maybe it will be the Yankees that make the Punto trade this time.

   DodgerMom, lol to your coal vs Cole in your Christmas stocking.

   1. Thank you Bumsrap. Glad you read it.

9. The quote from AF about having 10-12 scenarios he was working on came from an interview he did at the meetings. Obviously they won’t all come to fruition but he could have some interesting stuff up his sleeve and I’m thinking more trade related than free agent related.
   Saw Craig Counsell interviewed yesterday and he was asked about Hader. He gave the expected answer about how great he is and how he hopes to have him for many more years but there was something about the way he said it that made me feel Hader is very much in play. He would come at a great cost, but I’m wondering if that isn’t one of the potential deals Friedman was referring to. Andrew said as of now Kenley is the closer but that he needs to get him some help. Hader probably wouldn’t be the official closer if we got him. One can always dream.

   1. I would LOVE to have Hader on the Dodgers team, but I’m scared of trades because I don’t know which Dodgers will get traded.

      Is it possible to add a significant amount of cash to a trade to lessen the players traded for example to the Brewers for Hader?

      With all these insane money contracts I’d just like the Dodgers to fix the bullpen, it would be the cheapest route to take. Sign Harris, trade for Giles 1 year contract (shouldn’t cost much in players), and only if the right deal can be made trade for Hader.

      I predict Yankees get Cole and Angels get Rendon.

      1. Although the Brewers certainly aren’t flush with money, extra cash in a deal for Hader won’t likely do it for them. They’re going to want a bunch of very good players/prospects.
         They could certainly use Maeda for their rotation and I’m sure they would be happy to have Ruiz who is only about a year away. Not sure if they would be interested in one year of Joc or Kike. Maybe Downs would be of interest and add Santana or White. Somehow I don’t even think what I just listed would be enough but I would do that deal if they would.

10. Wow the highlight of my morning was meeting up with Sherman and Peabody in the Way-Back Machine and revisiting that John Baldry song. I had long forgotten that song and John Baldry.
    Speaking of trips down memory lane, we are just a couple of weeks away from the 44th anniversary of Dodger pitcher Andy Messersmith and Expo Dave McNally winning their arbitration hearing and opening the door for free agency in MLB. Catfish Hunter went from a $100,000 a year guy to $3.75 million in one year. For years after I though that the escalation of spending couldn’t continue. But I’ve been wrong every year. With the caps on spending without paying luxury tax and the history of teams saddled with boat anchor deals (Pujols, Felix Hernandez, Cano) you would think that these long term deals would stop which than brings crys of collusion.
    I’m all in for the Dodgers to play in this upper tier market until deals like Strasberg’s set the market price. As mentioned here, $245 million and 7 years for a 32 year old pitcher with a history is unbelievable. His mechanics have always been questioned since he was a young, sheltered pitcher. Without over explaining it, his arm is late in his delivery causing arm stress. After his major arm injury he was encouraged to change his mechanics and he refused reporting that this was how he pitched and he would continue until it was over, So far, that hasn’t happened….yet. I can’t help but envision a 39 year old Steven Strasberg, 35 million a year, not being a boat anchor of the Queen Mary. I’d love to be in on Cole for a lot of money but not for the years it might require. Deals that take players, especially pitchers into their late 30’s just don’t make sense in the long run.
    Let the fanbase bitch AF, but stick to what is sensible.

11. All these posters talking about sensible. Why do you care what is sensible when it is not your money and the owners in most cases, if not all, can afford to pay through the nose for players. The fans come, the TV deals are struck, the advertisers get on board, and everyone is happy. Cheap Charlies get no love from me. Lebron was not cheap. 35 years old! What are you all talking about? None of you are in the position to do anything about how the teams are run, who they select, and what goes on in anyone’s mind. None of you know what AF is really thinking or how much control he has at all. Should the Dodgers really be afraid of the dope fiend move? Maybe AF really is afraid and he gets cold feet.

12. Everyone thought the Wheeler deal was over the top. Stras said “Hold my beer!”.

    I didn’t think the Wheeler deal was crazy, I just thought that payroll was rising after seeing the Smith and Pomeranz deals. The Stras deal was freaking crazy, easy pass on that one.

    Now that Stras got his deal, someone is holding Cole’s beer. He will exceed Stras in AAV, Length of Contract and total value. I’m not sure I would want to give Stras’ contract to Cole. We missed out on Wheeler, but his wife says he’s an East Coast guy, so we were never really in it to begin with.

    Rendon is the guy I really want and he opens up options for trades. But, I still maintain we can still do well to “Settle” for Ryu and Donaldson and trade for some of AC’s relief targets. As far as the 10-12 impact targets that AF is looking into, he’s obviously playing 3D chess and everyone else is playing checkers, because most can’t even begin to speculate on a list of targets that long. He’s a creative thinker, so we’ll all be surprised if he comes up with one of those. Or, he’s FOS and we’ll have what we have now, plus some new gimmick pieces like the lefty that throws a big fastball, but has no command much less control.

    High hopes in October turn to bitter truths in December. What a sad off-season so far.

    I’m in meetings all day for a couple of days in an out of town, work event, so I don’t have as much time to argue with everyone, so enjoy!

13. It’s really pretty simple: A very rich person or rich people buy a baseball team. What are their goals? They love the ego aspects, being important, getting coverage. They love the idea of competing for titles with other people in their economic stratum. They love the franchise they bought, its history, and really want to bring titles to the fans of that city. For different owners, different motives apply. That’s just the nature of big-time professional sports now. It is immensely expensive to buy into, but there is a lot of money to be made, and a lot of prestige to be won.

    A fandom is at the mercy of the owners. The owners’ goals may not dovetail with those of the fans, though the former will always advertise that they do., for the sake of public relations. I don’t have the slightest interest in the personal lifestyles of Walter, Kasten or Friedman, how much money they make or have. Just like they have no interest in any of our finances. I want them to commit to building the best possible teams, within what are obviously some financial limits, but less limits than many other franchises have. I don’t thrill to them saving money, or making record profits. I don’t own one share of the Dodgers, and I don’t worry about their luxury tax. If you want to own a franchise in Los Angeles, whether you are the billionaire Kronke who owns the Rams, or the billionaire Ballmer who owns the Clippers, you have to be prepared to spend big, and look like you are doing everything you reasonably can to win championships.

    The idea that there are all these other franchises being stupid by bidding for the top free agents, while our Dodgers owners are prudent and frugal, is vastly irritating to me. I don’t think Cashman is stupid, and I believe that he presided over five world titles in New York. Why is he then going all out for Cole while we are once again apparently out of the bidding? Why is Arte Moreno bidding high? He is not a great owner, but he does have the one World Series championship, and he did pay enormously for Mike Trout, the best player in the game, and for Otani, as well as Pujols and now maybe Cole. We have not paid enormously for anybody, since the moves to acquire the Red Sox players, and then Greinke, which Stan Kasten essentially admitted were necessities to secure the TV deal with Time Warner. So obviously going big in this way is not what we do under this ownership, just like Kasten never did but once at Atlanta.

    The one thing we may get that other franchises may not, is consistency in being a contender. Less boom and bust. That leads to the oft-asked question as to whether a fan would rather have his/her team win three titles i ten years and not be very good in the other seven (the Giants), or win no titles in ten years, but win a lot of divisions and make the playoffs (the Dodgers). The Dodgers ownership clearly prefers the second one, because that insures the most profits each year. The Dodgers’ goal is to be competitive, make the playoffs a lot, and maybe one year things will break exactly right, and we will win our one title, as Kasten did in his fifteen or so years in Atlanta. The Yankees’ goal is to build up rosters, try to get the best players for every position, win several of the bidding wars, and then win a bunch of titles in a ten-year period, as i their glory days, and then the Steinbrenner/Torre era, where they got five, while we got none.

    If we never go all out for a top free agent, we lose one of the key avenues to winning titles. You can do it without going that route, but that requires great drafts and brilliant trades. We don’t make the latter, so we are left with the drafting part as our only legitimate ticket to a title. The main problem with that, is that unless your drafting has been absolutely superb, the other teams will supplement their rosters with ta proven star free agent or two, while you are counting on development of players. Put another way, would you want to count on Bellinger and Muncy and Seager and Pederson hitting Cole in the World Series; and would you expect Buehler, Ryu, Urias, May,, and crucially, “our closer,” Jansen, and the rest of our usual Dodgers bullpen,, to get the likes of Judge, Stanton, LeMahieu, Torres out enough times? That, or its equivalent, is what the Dodgers have to face each year in their supposed quest to win a title. When you don’t win one title in 31 years with various owners, it is not coincidence or bad luck, there is a reason for it.

    1. Assuming facts, not in evidence!

       Speculative and not probative to the instant case.

       Most of Cashman’s titles came when George was spending a lot more money than other owners. This was before corporate ownership and the Yankees could be two All-Stars deep at each position.

       In 2000, the Yankees payroll was at $107 Million. In 2005, it jumped to $208 Million and has been in that vicinity ever since.

       The Dodgers were at $90 Million in 2000 and dropped to $83 Million in 2005. Since AF took over, the Dodgers payroll has been the highest in baseball… even more than the Yankees who are in second place.

       Houston got 3 Aces and didn’t win last year! So having Aces is no guarantee either.

       Do you want evidence that money doesn’t buy Championships? Then look no further than the TOP 2 Spending Teams the Past 5 years and neither has won a World Series!

       I rest my case!

       1. A very cogent and forceful argument! But I never suggested that just spending money is any guarantee of winning a title, though it can certainly help. The team which finally won this year had one of the most expensive free agents of the last decade. The team which they beat in the World Series had Verlander, who was almost like a free agent when the Astros agreed to pick up the next year of his large contract, and then they extended him for more years. And they picked up Greinke’s contract, at least a large part of it, as well. Those were the finalists. Also in the “Final Four” were the Yankees, who spent a lot for Stanton, and are now willing to spent a lot more for Cole. The team which won the year before, the Red Sox, had all sorts of expensive free agents. Maybe that will burn them going forward, but they did win the title.

          No, just spending aimlessly will not get it done. But some of the free agents on the market are very good players; and if the Dodgers will not get any of them, other teams will, to our detriment. We seem to be ceding a major part of putting together a title team, to a few other franchises. Wait until the free agent market is not so great, and we are sitting there with a team which needs to make major additions, and we cannot do it. Having one or two players on the roster who are stars locked up with long-term deals, can be a great advantage. Kershaw’s career is almost over. Jansen’s is, too. We don’t know how good Ryu might be in two years. Are we just going to count on our farm system? We need at least a top two of star pitchers, and we do not have them. Let;s say that Cole has six great years left, or even five. Would you rather be the Yankees which presumably will have him, plus any other free agents that they think they need, or the Dodgers, who are apparently only going to go after second-tier FA pitchers for the next five seasons, and just rely on their draftees? All the extra money the Dodgers might have will not get them much if most of the top pitchers, like Cole and Strasburg, are already locked up for the long term.

14. Last year the Players Union complained about the slow free agent signings and suggested collusion. We have a new Agreement coming and maybe owners want to be in the best position to own public / customer / fan support. Maybe the early and large signings are part of the owners strategy for getting a new Agreement instead of a strike.

    1. Maybe it’s because Boras has so many free agents this year, he can’t get everyone signed if he drags his feet too long.

15. Cole may be getting stupid money but he’s the only real ace coming to the free agent market in next 3-4 years. And I say he would bring at least 2 titles during his contract to either Yanks or Dodgers whoever signs him. And it won’t be the Dodgers. Would he be worth 2 titles to you saying the Dodgers go 0-7 next 7 years without him?

    1. Your premise is that the Dodgers cannot win the WS without Gerrit Cole. I would prefer to have Cole, but it does not guarantee a WS Championship, any more than did it for Houston. So I would dismiss that premise. Most here (including me) thought that after Greinke was traded to Houston they were going to waltz to the Championship. Even with Cole, Verlander, and Greinke it did not happen. The Astros offense was also exceptional. The difference was Stephen Strasburg pulled a MadBum in the WS. It happens. But there is no way that I would take the Nationals over the Astros as a team. They were better in a 7 game series in October 2019.

16. Most of the trades I toss out are not ones I would actually make. Typically I prefer to stay with what we have unless the only reason to watch the Dodgers was in hopes Isturiz and Cora might might make a great play for otherwise the team was boring.

    I don’t think the Dodgers are missing a Gibson type player. That team only won 88 games. Win 106 and there is no way for me to think they would have been better with a Gibson. Now, maybe after two WS losses and an early exit it could be harder for this team to push as hard four years in a row. Sooooooo…..

    Trade Seager and Muncy for Lindor and Kluber, sign Rendon, and trade Pollock and Baez for Diaz. That changes the team but fans lose two of their favorites. Maybe Lindor would be easier to extend than Seager. In any case, the Dodgers minor league system would still be intact and they stay under the penalty.

    1. Perhaps I am missing something about your proposed trade of Seager, and Muncy for Lindor and Kluber. In 2019 Max Muncy’s OPS+ = 134; Lindor = 114; Seager = 113. For two seasons of 2018, and 2019 Muncy’s OPS was 146 (8th overall in MLB); Lindor was 123. That is a 23 percentage point difference in two seasons — huge. From 2015 through 2017 Corey Seager’s OPS was 135, while Lindor was 116; a nineteen percentage point difference when both players were healthy. So you are giving up a tremendous amount of offense for better defense at shortstop, and a starting pitcher who may, or may not, be as effective as he was before 2019. Lindor has been quoted as looking forward to free agency after 2021. I am all for trading Pollock to any team that will take him, but after the Mets traded for Marisnick there are too many outfielders already on the roster.

       1. The defense would be better at second as well as Lux would play second instead of Muncy. Anything less than Seager and Muncy won’t get Lindor and Kluber for what that is worth.

          If Kluber can pitch 220 innings that would give May, Urias, Gonsolin another year where they would not be needed to pitch 200+ innings.

          If the Dodgers sign Rendon he will block Seager from playing third. Signing Rendon and adding Lindor makes up for Muncy’s and Seager’s bats and gives them two righty bats.

          1. For me, it makes more sense to sign Rendon and keep both Seager and Muncy. Lindor is projected to receive $9.6MM more than Seager in 2020 and statistically (OPS+ and WAR) for comparable years played they put up very similar numbers, even when you include defense. Keep Seager and use that $9.6MM for help in other areas. Keep Muncy who is one of the top offensive players in the game today (last 2 seasons). If you are worried about a spot for Lux, remember that he is an unproven prospect (albeit with loads of talent). If Lux is as good an athlete as the Dodgers have said, with tremendous speed, then move him to LF for 2020, then to second base in 2021 when Turner leaves (likely), and Muncy plays first. Trade Pederson, and hopefully Pollock. I like taking a chance on Kluber, but only at a reasonable price

             1. Pederson, Pollock, and Hernandez have salaries that could be used elsewhere but their ability is not that easy to replace.

                I used to be a Pollock fan and still have hopes for him but his playoff performance soured me on him quite a bit. Pederson has not come close to what I dreamed he might be when he was in the minors but I have been able to like him through thick and thin. Age 28 can be a breakout age. I like Hernandez but would not miss him.

                I like Seager and Muncy but to get Lindor and Kluber they might be what it takes. I am keeping Lux because he will be around and I have always worried about Seager re-signing. I think Seager will have a better 2020 than will Lindor but he too had problems with lefty pitching.

                I am fine with the team as is but if Friedman doesn’t sign Rendon or Cole then to change the team, talent will have to be given to get.

    2. Sounds good Bum but what about pitching??

       1. Kluber is better than nothing and I think between Buehler, Kershaw, Stripling, Maeda, May, Gonsolin, and Fergusson, the Dodgers will have enough plus innings to at least carry them through July when they can again think about adding pitching.

17. Have fun with this but I dont think they will get either one lol, they dont like to pay people for x amount of years, were stuck again I think

18. Bum I like the idea of adding two right-handed bats , but only if we can resign Lindor.

    1. Even if we can’t we would still have Lux and Downs for the middle defense.

19. https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/metro.co.uk/2019/12/10/roman-abramovich-rejects-offer-sell-chelsea-la-dodgers-co-owner-11589972/amp/

20. As far as Kershaw learning a change up, he talks about this on Stripling’s podcast (The Big Swing).

    He says that he has tried to learn it for years. Tries a few in every bullpen session and they just don’t work.

    He is NEVER going to learn a change up. That ship has sailed.

21. MLB Trade Rumors reports Scott Boras as saying that Rendon is going to get 7 years.

    1. Yes but word is out that he wants to retire at 34 or 35 and 7 years puts him past that. Ask for 7 years at $30M AAV and better position him for 5 or 6 years at $35M AAV.

22. I don’t see any free agents other than Ryu happening now for the Dodgers. The Nats really threw a big wrench in the free agent wheel with that ridiculous Strausburg contract. I agree with AC, if the Dodgers are still in on Rendon though, 7/250 should be max and that’s stretching it. Tops for me on Ryu would be 3/60.

23. Kevin Gausman – – SF Giants 1 year – Guaranteed $9MM with bonus incentives for starts.

24. Giants acquire Zach Cozart and his $12.67MM AAV along with 2019 1st round pick SS Will Wilson (15th overall) from NC State. Looks like LAA had to include Wilson to dump Cpzart salary.

    $21.67MM AAV for Cozart and Gausman who apparently wants to continue to start. Gausman not a whole lot less than his expected arbitration.

    Didi Gregorius – 1 year Philadelphia

    1. Wow! It cost the Angels their 4th rated prospect just for salary relief! My head is spinning with confusion right about now. Another shoe has to drop, right?

    2. Yankees now have one less lefty bat in a righty dominant lineup.

    3. That’s how teams should rebuild. Take a player owed a bunch of money off a team along with a nice prospect or two. The player most likely won’t help the tanking team, so it’s basically buying prospects.

25. Sure rooting for Angels over Yankees for Cole! Best scenario for Dodgers.

26. As we heard in the great Spinal Tap:

    It’s a very fine line between stupid and clever.

    1. Maybe a smaller one between stupid and cleaver.

27. “There’s a fine line between Saturday night and Sunday morning.”

    ~ Jimmy Buffett

28. From Gurnick:
    Roberts predicted the roster will turn over more this off-season than any since he’s been manager.

    1. Joc, your favorite player, might not be a Dodger next year. The last time I said that was when I admitted that Joc would probably lose his Dodger gig if they traded for Yelich but I still wanted Yelich anyway.

       1. Mazara going to White Sox most likely means Joc isn’t going there at least.

    2. What does that exactly mean….”the roster will turn over more this off-season”

       1. More changes in the personnel than usual.

          1. Thank you Rudy.

29. Did AZ make a dope fiend signing of Greinke or were they brilliant because they were able to trade him.

    If the Dodgers paid Cole $40M in 2020 and 2021 and $25M in years 2022 through 2029 that would be a 10 year $305M contract. He might well be worth $40M during the next two years given innings May, Gray, Urias, Gonsolin might pitch in those first two years. They could then trade him and get quite a bit in return and we would know if Buehler, May, Urias, Gray would be good enough without Cole.

30. Did AZ make a dope fiend signing of Greinke or were they brilliant because they were able to trade him.

    Look no further than their record!

    1. There is more to their record than what Greinke’s signing did alone.

       1. AZ will still be paying Greinke money for a while too.

31. David Vassegh on Dodger talk podcast tonight said the Dodgers are still in on Cole and the Dodgers are being aggressive when it comes to Cole. He says it’s coming down to the Dodgers and Yankees for Cole. He says the Angels are on the outside looking in when it comes to Cole. But he says the Angles are in on Rendon and so are the Dodgers and Rangers. He says he doesn’t buy the rumors about the Dodgers being in on Donaldson. He said nothing about Ryu.

    1. Yankees got Cole MLB trade rumors are reporting.

       Wake up everyone if you are asleep. Yankees got Cole.

       9 years 324 million.

       1. Hahaha bad deal

32. 9 years $324 at $36MM per year…

33. Rosenthal is reporting the Dodgers are going after…………………………………………………………wait for it……………………………………………………………….Madison Bumgarner.

    1. Ugh.

34. That is way too much money, I am glad the Dodgers didn’t sign him.

35. Don’t we already have one over the hill lefty! I’d rather have Dick Mountain than Assbitener!

36. Rosenthal said it cane down to Dodgers and Yankees for Cole.

    Yes it’s a dope fiend deal but damn it when will AF and the Dodger owners step up and acquire the most coveted player during any Hot Stove season?

    Now it’s rumored they will go after Madbum. I hope AF is working the trade market because I don’t see Madbum going to the Dodgers and truthfully I don’t want to see him in a Dodger uniform.

    1. Hal Steinbrenner, Andy Pettitte were key figures who helped sway Gerrit Cole

       https://nypost.com/2019/12/11/the-two-instrumental-yankees-figures-that-helped-sway-gerrit-cole/

37. I’m not mad that the Dodgers didn’t get Cole for that kind of money. Rendon was my first choice. I would be happy with Rendon and Ryu. Please don’t make me root for Bumgrabber. Kent was bad enough. It does irk me a bit that the Yankees bested the Dodgers though if they were going heavy after Cole. I don’t like losing to the Yankees at anything. I would have paid Cole for 9 years before Strasburg for 7. Grandal is supposedly recruiting Ryu to the Angels. I have to believe Bumgrabber wants to stay in the NL as much as he likes to hit so I can see it happening.

38. Pay Rendon! I’m tired of hearing about the Dodgers being in but not willing to pull the trigger. Rendon should have been MVP last season. He’s the RH bat they have coveted for some time now.

    1. I have no problem with the Dodgers acquiring Bumgarner. If he’s wearing Dodger Blue I’ll be rooting for him. Once he became a Dodger, I don’t believe that Dodger fans had a problem with rooting for ex-Giant Sal Maglie when he was traded to the Dodgers in the 1950’s.

       Now I just hope that the Dodgers are able to sign Rendon. It’s looking like there might be some significant bidding for him.

39. The Dodgers will not pay “stupid money” to any free agent. They are going after MadBum because he will be less expensive. I have no confidence that he is the MadBum of 3 years ago – ERA of 3.90 with an FIP of 3.90 last year so it wasn’t bad luck.

    Forget Rendon.

40. Just because he’s less expensive doesn’t mean he’s worth 100 mil. He’s a playoff number 3 at best. We need stars to get a championship. Mad Bum is no longer a star. Every championship Yankees win would have been ours if we had signed Cole.

    1. Hi Cassidy – sorry but have to disagree with you. By signing Cole for that period of time the NYY are essentially paying for 2/3 years of Elite production, (hopefully), followed by an inevitable drop off, to the point where they will be lucky to see him in a uniform for the end of that contract.
       It might seem like a good idea now, but that’s gonna restrict what they can do going forward. They already have that albatross Stanton contract.
       There are no guarantees they will win anything – and if they do it certainly won’t be down to Cole alone.
       I would be surprised if he ever pitches to the level he did in 19 again.

       I’m glad he’s off the table so we can move on.
       Like Brooklyn, I would have no problem to see Bumgarner in Dodger Blue, in fact I would welcome it. He is a winner.

       An off season of Rendon, Bumgarner and Ryu would be excellent IMO, and wouldn’t hold us back going forward.

       1. He’s 28 or 29 years old. They should get more than 2 or 3 years barring an injury. However, after 3-4 years they will be paying $36 million a year for a guy who is most likely throwing 120-140 innings.

    2. I’m willing to bet the Dodgers win more than the Yankees.

       You need to lose that conventional thinking. These are not your fathers Dodgers, but they are starting to look like Steinbrenner’s Yankees and that paradigm is dead!

41. I can’t get mad at the Dodgers for not paying that much for Cole. It may work out for the Yankees, but if it doesn’t, they now have about $60 million plus a year for two players. I am willing to bet that the Phillies will get more return on their investment in Harper. I thought that deal was crazy too.

42. Does the FO really know what they want? I sometimes wonder how so little changes in the Dodger strategy of acquiring talent. It SEEMS that they only want bargains. They let all the other aggressive FO’s sweep the top tier and then try to decide if there is anyone worth picking up. Kolarek? White? Negron? Look how far that got us. I’m not crying over spilt milk, but letting Greinke walk was a bad mistake. Now we want another top tier SP and there is no one left, but they knew that already as they were never going to get into the FA market at this level. They simply don’t do this! Okay. I accept this. It’s only the farm hands and some FA stragglers that they might go after, no one important, no difference maker, no star at any level. How dull! At least sign Ryu so we can have a decent rotation for 2020. Don’t let him walk away. Forget the Giant Bum!!!

    1. I know what I want and I don’t think Friedman has divergent interests. I am ecstatic that the Yankees signed Cole for 9 years/$324 Million. I think I told you that is what he would get. They are desperate to win now… but the problem is, that is no guarantee. It is a guarantee that they have two boat anchor contracts now and they will not be able to sign some of their young players. As Torryes and Judge become FA, look out! The contract will kill them later.

       Mad Bum is likely in Kershaw’s category: a #2 or #3. I am indifferent to it. Like Kershaw, he could reclaim some magic… or not! Houston had the two best Aces last year and did not win.

       They are not going to pay “stupid” money. Let others do it. I am all in on this plan. The FO knows what they really want. At $245 million, they would have been all in on Cole… not $324! I don’t see what so hard to understand. It’s perfectly clear to me. They won’t make dope-fiend moves.

       1. Spot on! But, I hope Ryu re-signs rather than Mad Bum coming to LA.

          1. But that’s not the difference make we need new blood the old wasnt working maybe Mad would change it up

             1. I prefer to keep Ryu than “maybe” Mad Bum would change it up. Bumgarner pitched in a more pitcher friendly home ball park than Ryu, but his stats were not nearly as good.

       2. Bumgarner has a smooth and easy pitching motion that could keep him going for another 3 years although not at the level of his prime. Can he play ping pong? Will he play ping pong.

43. I am impressed with the depth of knowledge that many of you have, and I respect the time and effort put into your comments. The bottom line for me is a world championship for the Dodgers – and I believe changes are in order or we will be looking at another NL West title followed by another heartbreak in the playoffs. Specifically, we must add an additional high impact starter and a dominant closer. The bats we have now are good enough, but pitching is what wins championships.

44. I know this is an unpopular opinion, but I’d be fine with MadBum. I think he’d bring an edge the team has lacked in recent years and would be embraced by the clubhouse (eventually). Lets hope the bidding on Rendon remains more reasonable than it was for Cole. I saw a report that LA was willing to go 8 years 290 for Cole, so they will spend, but have limits.

45. I wish we were desperate to win now. I bet every player in the Dodger clubhouse wishes Cole was a Dodger. Every championship the Yankees win could have been ours. We’ll see next October. Now we need stars to compete which The Bum is not.

    1. The Yankees needed Cole more than the Dodgers needed him.

46. Dodgers cant do shit to save there asses excuse my french, but they arent good at signing free agents at all looks like brendon will probably head back to Washington! Hate hoping and praying they do something but Friedman isnt good at signing the big time players!!! Tired of it, that’s why we wont win a title he wont get a difference maker

47. And please stop saying the Dodgers are good enough and they dont need anyone, because if that was the case they would have had a title the last 5 years!! There not good enough lol and winning the division means nothing

48. Are the Dodgers looking at MadBum as a pitcher or as their right hand bat?

    Some of us are concerned the Dodgers are lacking some fire. Sign MadBum and Puig. That should shake things up.

    AF said there looking at about a dozen players. Strasburg, Cole, Ryu, Hill are undoubtedly the first 4. Rendon makes 5. Gausman was on their radar. If so, that’s 6. Any guess about the other 6?

    1. Greinke tossed Puig’s luggage off the bus when he got tired waiting for him to get on board so what more might Bumgarner do that hasn’t already been done vis a vis Puig and Bumgarner.

49. Well I guess the Yankees need to win a WS more than the Dodgers do! Sorry but Cole isn’t going to fall apart at age 32. And o lot of smart baseball people feel the same. I predict he will pitch more along the lines of Scherzer and be really good for several years. Time will tell. But fight now the Yankees are a much better team than the Dodgers and heavy favorites for a WS. AF has a lot of work to do to get us near their level!

    1. True but hes not worth 324 mil, I dont, in my eyes Yankees lost this one what a stupid sign, to much money to these players I’m glad dodgers didnt sign him lol.

50. The Yankees wanted Cole, and they got him. Now they have the best team in baseball going into this season, and probably the next three, at least. That’s good enough for them now. The Dodgers will not win the championship in the next three seasons. After that, who knows? The salary metrics of baseball have changed. The Dodgers owners do not want to play the game. The Dodgers will make a deal or two, pick up a lower-tier FA, and be good next year, but they won’t win the title.

    There were very unusually two great pitchers up for free agency, and one went back to his team, and the Yankees signed the other one. The Dodgers, as usual, got neither; and the last big free agent they signed was five years ago, only to secure the TV deal. I wish that the Dodgers would stop pretending that they are “in” on big names, because they never get them. Maybe they don’t have enough money? Or maybe it is because money is all they really care about? Now all we’ve got left for the winter meetings is to watch the Dodgers try to make some cosmetic changes, to look like they did something major, when they did not. The Yankees will have a pitching staff of Cole, Severino, Paxton, Tanaka, Germain, plus the still strong bullpen. The Dodgers will probably have Buehler, Kershaw, Urias, May, Gonsolin. Possibly Ryu. Plus the same mediocre bullpen, with maybe one addition. Which team which you bet on to have the better season next year and going forward? The Dodgers owners wouldn’t bet on the Dodgers if they were forced to make that kind of bet. But they’re not.

    1. Astros had Verlander, Cole and Greinke, were stealing signs and still lost. Cole doesnt mean NYY will win the series….

       1. Exactly, the sky is not falling.

          1. It’s raining a little though.

    2. From what I’ve heard, the Dodger got very close to what the Yankees offered and were higher than the Angels. I would say that’s a pretty strong commitment. I think Cole decided he wanted to play for the Yanks and instructed Boras to make it happen.

       1. Hal Steinbrenner, Andy Pettitte were key figures who helped sway Gerrit Cole

          https://nypost.com/2019/12/11/the-two-instrumental-yankees-figures-that-helped-sway-gerrit-cole/

          Where was Kasten and Kershaw and Koufax?

    3. They just signed Treinen for the BP. This is an interesting move as Treinen was a mess last season but was superb the season before, 2018. $10M. Smart or just a gamble? I’m sure some of you will think it was a very shrewd move on the part of AF, who has so little luck with FA’s. I guess we’ll see. Or, maybe AF considers Oakland part of our farm as he has hired other players, like Hill, in the past. AF, a creature of habit and comfort?

       1. Per Andy McCullough and The Athletic, Across the past four seasons, Hill’s 3.00 ERA ranked sixth among the 115 pitchers who have thrown at least 400 innings — a mark bested only by Clayton Kershaw, Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander and Corey Kluber. His 10.64 strikeouts per nine innings rated ninth. Except Hill has only thrown 437 1/3 innings during that time period; he finished 100th in that category.

          Now he may not have pitched as many innings, but when he did pitch he was very effective. He rates a little better than “part of Oakland’s farm system”, wouldn’t you think?

          Blake Treinen is a gamble, just like EVERY PITCHER. Even Gerrit Cole is a gamble. AF has made his share of mistakes with FA signings, but certainly none as bad as Jacoby Ellsbury. Cashman has his share of bad FA signings.

51. Matt, you’re right. The best team doesn’t always win but I’d still rather have the best team especially when your team has the money to spend!

    1. I am not so sure the Yankees are the best team.

       Their pitchers are a year older. Tanaka’s arm is held on with duct tape and baling wire.

52. Winners of the Gerrit Cole Sweepstakes:
    1. Gerrit Cole
    2. Scott Boras
    3. LA Dodgers

    Losers of the Gerrit Cole Sweepstakes:
    1. NY Yankees
    2. Houston Astros
    3. Mid-Level Free Agents

    1. I’d put the Angels as winners more than the Dodgers

    2. We’ll see come next October! AF obviously thought Cole was worth 36 mil at least for next several years

53. I have no idea if Mad Bum would want to come to LA, but I suspect he would. I would do a 5 year/$100 mil deal knowing full well he might be a #2 or #3.

    I think his attitude would be very helpful in a clubhouse that could use some intensity.

    1. If we offer 5/100 MadBum won’t be wearing a Dodger uni. He’ll get more than that.

       1. Giving a guy with a 3.9 ERA and with his peripherals matching 5/$100 million would be a dope fiend move.

    2. Wow everybody here is losing their S***. Seriously Cole would have been nice, but at that cost no thanks. Give me Madbum, Rendon, and 1-2 BP arms and I am happy as a clam. We can then try to trade Kike, Joc, or Pollock and pick up a couple farm guys.

       All this over reaction to us not making dope fiend moves is insane. Take this to the bank in a couple years Yanks, Nats, Pads, and Phils will regret these dope fiend moves. For anyone who will not follow the Dodgers due to a lack of big name signings don’t let the door hit you on the way out.

       1. You’ve nailed it Dave.

          (Or are you Doc???)

54. I thought since the beginning of the offseason that our starting staff has a ton of potential with the emergence of Urias a May. The Yankees don’t have that. May and Urias may very well be a co-ace with Bueller. We just need an arm to chew up some innings so we don’t over use May and Ryu.

    When I saw the Stras contract, I knew Cole wasn’t gonna be anything close to realistic. That was a dumb ass contract pure and simple. It makes Greinke’s “albatross” look reasonable.

    I’m surprised about the MadBum rumors. I don’t see how he’s any better than Ryu. Ryu would be my choice. But, MadBum eclipsed 200 innings last year. No one on our staff did, which is a good reason why our bullpen under-performed.

    Rendon, Donaldson, Ryu and (urgh) MadBum. We still have some trade targets as well. I’m still not losing faith yet. I hope we have something to open for Christmas. If we lose Rendon to the Angles, I’m gonna lose it!

    1. Would you be OK if we lost Rendon to the Rangers? 🙂

       1. Better than the Angels, for sure. I live near Angels fans, I don’t know any Rangers fans.

55. Cole would have been nice.

    Rosenthal’s thesis is still thought-provoking, when does it stop paying to be smart and rationale?

    Rosenthals’ latest says it could be a Ryu/Rendon pursuit that the Dodgers undergo.

56. Bum what do you think the next Dodger move is??

    1. It would take a willing partner but they will continue to talk with Cleveland regarding Kindor and Kluber.

       I think they would jump at a 3 year contract for Bumgarner and might go as high as $90M.

       I don’t think they want to do more than 2 years for Ryu so they will wait to see if he will give them a chance to match a contract he has in his back pocket.

       I think they would overpay for Rendon if they could get him for 5 or less years and be outbid if they have to offer 6 or 7 years.

       I think if they don’t sign a free agent to big bucks they will be reluctant to trade Pederson, Pollock, and maybe Hernandez but if they do sign a big free agent or trade for an expensive player, they will make a big effort to trade at least 2 of those 3.

       I think they will go after Diaz but not Hader. If they passed on Chapman which they could have flipped for Torres as it turned out then I am not sure they would want to deal with Hader’s past youthful comments.

       They need a bridge to get to a rotation of Buehler, May, Urias, and Gray and Kershaw and Maeda might not be a strong enough bridge. They can use use Stripling and Fergusson to pitch 6 or 7 innings to give the regular rotation a rest twice a month at least.

       They can be a very good team when these players are regulars which can be as soon as 2022: Smith, Ruiz, Bellinger, Downs, Lux, Hoese, Verdugo, with Kindall (I never remember the spelling of his name) as a long shot.

    2. Nothing. I love the Dodger tean AND His playera. But I dont like the owners who just looking for Profit. They dont invest but the tikets increase every year. The funs AND the show doesn’t matter

57. Took a break from my busy job to take a look with winter meetings going on. As much as I hate the Yankees. They always strike and get what they want. The Dodgers strike out just like the batters in the post-season. It really is frustrating for the fanbase. Yankees play hardball, Dodgers are little leaguers. They never do what it takes. We have the all-star game at Dodgers stadium next year. Make a splash dammit. Do the Dodgers think they can beat Cole and the Yankees.

58. David, I’m with you all the way!!
    But alas your comment will go over like fart in church with these bat**** commenters.

59. If only there was a team called the Dbags for Madbum to play for.

60. Who would u all rather have Rendon or Arenado?

    1. Rendon is a better hitter and has come up big in clutch moments. Only costs money. His defense is nothing to sneeze at either. Arenado seems to let his emotions get the better of him at times. I’d prefer Rendon

61. Dodgers offered eight (8) years, 300mm.

    Like Grienke, it looks like the final extra year was a bridge too far

    1. Dodgers also had some deferrals.

62. The Rockies are listening to trade inquiries for third baseman Nolan Arenado

63. Rosenthal reporting the Dodgers are now pessimistic they can get Rendon. Maybe just GM speak, but if they indeed lose out on Rendon I must say the AF naysayers (me included sometimes) will grab their pitchforks. Maybe there is an Anderson, McCarthy, Kazmir, or Kelly clone we can acquire off the garbage heap.

    1. We just signed Treinen for $10M, norcal. This might fit your description of a signing off the garbage heap. A pretty expensive one and based on a good year in 2018.

64. Let’s say that the baseball press’ view of how the Yanks did with the Cole deal is different than our host’s:
    Ken Rosenthal says: “Well, the big winner of the Gerrit Cole sweepstakes is obvious.It’s Gerrit Cole!

    Winner: The Yankees
    Loser: The Dodgers
    Winner: Madison Bumgarner
    Winner: Scott Boras”

    Marc Carig says: “The addition of Cole changes the landscape. It directly weakens the Astros, Cole’s former team and the defending American League champions. It delivers a gut punch to the Dodgers and Angels, who viewed Cole as the perfect compliment to the best player in the world, Mike Trout. It stuns the Red Sox…”

    “Smart teams still pay the price for elite talent. The Yankees dared to make it rain when the time was right. The death star is fully operational, and now the rest of baseball is left to face the consequences.”

    Jason Stark’s point is that there is no high-end pitcher who will be available through free agency in the next 3 years and that Cole was the last chance to do something this impactful: “Aces like Gerrit Cole don’t sit on the shelves of the pitching supermarket any time you pull up your shopping cart, you know. So, with good reason, the Yankees viewed Cole as a unique, once-in-a-generation commodity in almost every way: Age, track record, ability to handle the demands of their laid-back little town, intelligence, injury history (or lack thereof), a hunger to be great. This was a man who had it all.

    But the other half of this equation was this: If they didn’t sign him, if they didn’t add that ninth year to their offer, if they’d found themselves sitting around next week, watching him smile for the cameras at his introductory press conference in L.A. or Anaheim, well… then what? Take a look at the list of starting pitchers in the next few years who will hit free agency in their 20s. See any Gerrit Cole clones on this list?

    2020-21
    Marcus Stroman (29)*
    Robbie Ray (29)

    2021-22
    Noah Syndergaard (29)
    Eduardo Rodriguez (29)

    2022-23
    José Berríos (28)

    (*-turns 30 in May 2021)

    Oh, if you bump the age limit up to 30, you could loop in Trevor Bauer next winter or someone like Mike Foltynewicz in two years. But let’s ask this again: Who on that list reminds you of the guy the Yankees signed Tuesday, in terms of stuff, performance and health history?”

    So Dave Roberts says this off-season will see lots of turnover and the addition of high-impact players. Pedro Moura reported: “Late Tuesday, Cole picked the Yankees and their record $324 million offer over the Dodgers and other willing suitors. His decision will ripple across the industry in the days and weeks to come. Hours earlier, Roberts confidently proclaimed the Dodgers would be more aggressive this offseason than in any other during his tenure. “I think,” the Dodgers’ manager said at the Winter Meetings, “this is probably the most turnover we’ll have from one season to the next.”

    Now, there is perhaps only one free agent remaining, Anthony Rendon, who clearly qualifies as such an aggressive addition. There are other talents, including Madison Bumgarner, who has become the team’s new focus, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. But Bumgarner would not represent a significant improvement over fellow free agent Hyun-Jin Ryu. No other free-agent starter, and hardly any relievers, would. If the Dodgers are to truly make a splash, it will be with Rendon, maybe his third-base peer Josh Donaldson, a trade, or bust.”

    But now, MLB Trade Rumors reports that the Dodgers won’t be signing Rendon either.
    https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/12/dodgers-pessimistic-of-chances-to-sign-anthony-rendon.html

    The best the Dodgers can do this off-season is to resign Ryu? That doesn’t sound like much in the way of change to me.

65. Rick I get where you’re coming from, but I find it hard to condone the Dodger’s paying these enormous sums for players, especially Pitchers.

    I think it’s time to trust our excellent system and let Urias, May and Gonsolin show us what they can do.
    The Cupboard May be bare for stellar FA Pitching for the next few years, but we have our own young studs coming through.

    We have enough to win the West, and importantly we have good chemistry from lots of players coming through the ranks together.
    We are a good team. If we sign Ryu we won’t be far off last year’s 106 wins.
    There is no need to panic.

    Keep the powder dry for the TD and for Mookie in 21.

    1. SPOT ON!

66. Dodgers are apparently pessimistic about Rendon. Gerrit Cole was the difference maker, but no way they should spend that kind of money on a pitcher. Fine with Justin Turner at third, Gavin Lux at second and Max Muncy at first. This is still a team that won 106 games and should have beat the Nationals in game five.

    Apparently the Dodgers were close on Cole, made a substantial offer, and were in it until the end.

    Reportedly the Dodgers are in serious negotiations with the Indians for Lindor, but the price is being reported as Dustin May and Lux. Can’t see the Dodgers making that deal, but who knows?

    MadBum and Ryu are still in the discussion and several other trades are on the table. But the Dodgers are still focused on elite level talent, according to reports. Wouldn’t be surprised if the Dodgers try to sign both Ryu and Bumgarner, plus focus on potential relievers.

    It would seem that this will be the day the Dodgers make a deal or two, but we’ll see. Dave Roberts keeps talking turnover and said the Dodgers are actively engaged on several fronts.

    1. I would love to keep May and Lux. If only Taylor, Muncy, Gonsolin would land Lindor and maybe Maeda, White, and maybe Downs for Kluber if Lindor agreed to extend.

67. Now that Cole and Strasburg are gone and Dodgers are pessimistic about Rendon, I’ve said this all along and I will say it again, shorten the games by fixing the bullpen with proven relievers.

    Ken Gurnick said the other day that Ruiz will probably be ready sometime this season, if true then we will probably have 2 good hitting catchers at some point in the season instead of Austin “almost an automatic out” Barnes.

    Plus my bold prediction that DJ Peters makes the team this season and therefore either directly or indirectly makes the bench better and the overall team better.

    And again I see upside in the outfield if Verdugo stays healthy. I see upside at SS if Seager starts hitting left handed pitching. I see upside at 2B with Lux for the same reason as Seager. I see upside in LF if Roberts does the right thing by platooning Pederson and Pollock.

    I’m for giving our young starting pitchers a chance, but the Dodgers need to purchase an insurance policy in the form of proven relievers to shorten the game.

68. Talk about the risk with Cole’s contract, nothing is a bigger gamble than a relief pitcher! Who do you want and what are you willing to give up? All Zi have to say is Diaz18 and Diaz19! Don’t think you’re going to see that with Cole

    1. Bare minimum 2 relievers. Sign free agent Will Harris for either the 7th or 8th inning depending on if the Dodgers want to go bold for a multiple year closer such as Hader or Lugo or if the Dodgers want to go after Bummer for the 8th inning. Trade for Ken Giles 1 year contract that won’t cost much in players in a trade for either the 8th or 9th inning depending on if the Dodgers want to get a third reliever.

       Priority #1 Will Harris.
       Priority #2 Ken Giles.
       Priority #3 only if the price is right Hader/Lugo/Bummer.
       Or if Friedman knows something I don’t as far as relievers are concerned and he probably does because I’m on the outside looking in so to speak.

69. I do have to say that I have been hearing some real stupid $hit!

    “The Yankees always get their man.” “The Yankees aren’t afraid to spend big. ” “The Yankees are smart.”

    Then I hear that “Friedman won’t spend and the Dodgers will never win the World Series with AF. After all, he hasn’t won one in his 5 years with the Dodgers.”

    Hey MORONS! If that’s true how come Cashman and the Yankees haven’t won the series in 10 YEARS?

    Come back to reality. This is just stupid!

    1. I think the Dodgers were all in at those prices because if you look at the upcoming free-agent classes there isn’t a true marquee pitcher coming to market.

       1. The Yankees were desperate. The Dodgers not so much.

          Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin, Julio Urias, and Jo Jo Gray are top-shelf prospects or are already MLB Ready.

          Stir in Buehler, Kershaw (the bum), Maeda (could get traded) and Chicken Strip and the Dodgers are in great shape.

          What do you think it would take to get Mike Clevinger from the Indians? Go back 3 years…

       2. AF believes in his developmental people, and right or wrong, he is going to rely on the development of Urias, May, Gonsolin, and Gray. They may be able to find other prospects with trades. He may still get Ryu, and will surely get bullpen help.

70. https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.forbes.com/sites/anthonywitrado/2019/12/11/dont-expect-anthony-rendon-or-madison-bumgarner-to-be-dodgers-plan-b/amp/

71. Mark I’ll bet you the Yankees win a WS before the Dodgers do! Like 2020!

    1. I’ll take that bet.

    2. I too will take that bet!

    3. Where’s Vegas Dodger to book all these bets?

    4. I’ll take it too…

       Novices!

72. I could see Freidman parting with Lux and May, who I love, to get Lindor, as long as they can lock him up for the next 5 years. Dude is a difference maker, loves the big stage, and doesn’t disappear in the play-offs. At this point, especially after Bellinger and Seager disappearing in the play offs I would do it. Lindor can be THAT GUY, someone who will step up when the game is in the balance. I am a total fan of non dope fiend moves, but this one isnt’ too far out there.

    1. I do not see them doing that at all. First, I don’t think Cleveland will trade him until the in season trade deadline. Second, it is my opinion, that May and Lux will have equal, if not greater value to the Dodgers than Lindor would.

       I would still take Kluber off Cleveland’s hands though. But not for a top 10 prospect.

73. Dodgers To Sign Blake Treinen. MLB trade rumors reporting.

    1. That is a start to rebuild an area of need. I do not suspect he will be the last. They have obviously reviewed all of his physicals, and are convinced whatever ailed him last year will not be an issue this year.

       1. Betances?

          1. I would like that.

    2. I Like this signing. Not particularly a Go Bold move, but a start to fix the bullpen

74. All this talk or should I say complaining about getting this player getting that player, look at it this way 106 wins . Sure we didn’t make it to the World Series but AF is for sure working on some play maker.

75. I’m ok with not getting Cole and am indifferent to Rendon, I wanted Strasburg . I like having a young team and seeing the rookies step up. The team does need some fire though, someone to give em a kick in the butt when needed. If AF thinks Donaldson or Mad Bum can supply this along with some WAR I would be on board with that.

76. Which Blake Treinen will the Dodgers have? The 2019 version with a 4.91 ERA and 5 blown saves in 21 attempts and a 1.61 WHIP, or the 2018 version with 0.78 ERA, a .81 WHIP and 5 BS in 43 chances? Remember, he was supposed to be Washington’s closer in 2017, got lit up with a 5.71 ERA and found himself in Oakland.

    This could be a great move or a disaster – probably a 50/50 chance.

77. I wonder if we tried to trade for Treinen before he was non-tendered. His estimated salary for 2020 (in arbitration) was around 8 mil. I imagine the A’s would have taken just about anything for him since they wound up getting absolutely nothing.
    So instead of giving them a warm body from Ogden, we waited until he was released and then paid an extra 2 mil.

78. Do we believe that the Dodgers actually offered $300 million for 8 years for Cole, when the bidding was actually still open? If indeed we do, then why would we not offer, say $30 million more for the next year, which is less than the $37.5 million a year we offered? We blinked at one more year?

    Ken Rosenthal says that the Yankees “bullied” the Dodgers. I do not know what he means exactly; maybe that they just kept raising their bid after the Dodgers raised theirs, akin to someone at an art auction who just keeps bidding it up. But the Dodgers are owned by what probably is a trillion dollar corporation. If the Dodgers really wanted Cole, they should have gotten him. There is some limit, obviously. But being willing to go to $300 million for eight years, and not willing to go to $330 for nine years, makes little sense to me. Cole is only 28, the extra year is not idiotic.

    As to the “Andy Pettite and Hal Streinbrenner” being instrumental in convincing Cole, don’t we have any famous former pitchers? Don’t we have any owners who can convince anyone of anything? Are we just bowing to the Yankees, admitting that if we go head to head with them for anyone they really want, we lose? This isn’t 1940. Are we afraid of the Yankees? Or are we just owned by people who don’t want it as much as they do? Some may think this is overdramatic, but at this point, I think that everyone in baseball realizes what the pecking order is, and what our ownership will not do. We got outbid for Verlander. We got outbid for Yelich, apparently. Outbid for Stanton. Outbid for Harper. Now outbid for Cole. Apparently about to be outbid for Rendon. There is always going to be at least one team which will go all out for a top player, and it is never the Dodgers, so we get none of them. There is no other way to see this. We will probably make a deal or two. Treinen might help. I would stay far away from head case Betances. But we are going to be shopping in the used and bargain racks, and that is apparently where we should stay, rather than pretend we are high-end shoppers.

    1. Get ready to be tagged as a moron, idiotic, or an alarmist. I think I’ve read all those characterizations on this blog from time-to-time, but you won’t hear it from me because I agree with you. I don’t think AF really was anywhere near the $300 million dollar range, but now has to sell that old and tired story to the beleaguered Dodger fans who wanted to see him go BIG!

       I think your last sentence is the most poignant….we are indeed pretending to be high-end shoppers, but it once again appears we are looking for the blue light special at K-Mart. Cole is a difference maker and in my estimation would have made the Dodger SP rotation unstoppable. He’s that good!

       Pitchers and catchers report in 61 days. Roberts said the Dodgers would be aggressive and fans could expect a lot more roster turnover than in years past. What’s the next move?

       1. I heard Boras say that the Dodgers were at 300 Million, so I guess you are wrong!

    2. Completely agree with you william. The dodgers dont seem to realize to get a ring you have to beat these great teams with great players. No trades will happen either because they never want to give up top prospects for talent. Dont want to spend for talent. So when bellinger is a free agent. They wont spend for him either.

       1. Totally disagree with Bellinger. AF is not shy about paying (overpaying) for Dodgers. It is still a few years off, but I believe that Belli will be a long-term Dodger like Clayton. Same with Buehler. I am not as confident with Seager, even though he is my favorite player.

79. For whatever it’s worth “Austin Barnes Drawing Trade Interest from Houston Astros” According to Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times and confirmed by Ken Rosenthal.

    Also:

    Angels in active talks on Rendon, sources tell The Athletic.

    1. Angels trying to get it done tonight. I am guessing they are far enough in the negotiations to do so.

80. I had to add a couple short comments:
    -So glad no Strasburg, no way he stays healthy. Same for Wheeler (good luck Phils!)
    -Cole would have helped but hurt us for years to come. We only needed one ace in 1988.
    -I am afraid no Rendon which is sad because we could have moved Lux to left and had a right handed bat.
    -Please don’t trade Lux and May for Lindor. Seager will be fine and we need both Lux and May.
    -Treinen is a pure gamble so no idea if that works.
    -Someone of the site said not to add someone unless they are better than what you have and RYU and BUM are not.
    -Just add Rendon, a couple relievers and let the young pitchers have a chance.

    1. Ryu isn’t better than Maeda? He was second in the Cy Young and led the league in ERA.

    2. Lux bats left, not right

       1. DR, I believe KP means Rendon for the needed RH bat.

81. Lakers get lebron. Yankees get cole. Dodgers get blake treinen. I wonder who has more titles. Cheap ass owners. Deferred payments. They sure dont mind raising ticket prices. Dodgers wont get over the hump.

    1. If you are young and don’t want to buy a World Championship with whatever it takes, you have no heart.

       If you are old and want to buy a World Championship with whatever it takes, you have no brains!

       It sucks to be either way!

       I heard this same crap when the Yankees traded for Stanton. THE EXACT SAME $HIT!

       Friedman has not won a World Series in 5 years with the Dodgers.

       Cashman has not won a World Series in 10 years with the Yankees.

       I guess that proves Cashman is smarter?

       I actually lose brain cells by reading some of this drivel.

       Yes, the Dodgers offered Cole $300 Million so shut up with the dumbass speculation.

82. I don’t understand why anyone would want the Dodgers to pay what Mookie would cost for only one year… I read where Boston was hoping JD Martinez would opt out to save them $60MM over the next 3 years. I think trying to trade for him would make more sense than trading for Mookie. And cheaper too. The strong right-handed hitter we need.

83. Dear Doom and Gloomers,

    The Dodgers can still sign Ryu, and he’s just as good as Cole! At a fraction the price and years.

    Also, consider that May, Gonsolin, Gray, and Urias have essentially the same MiLB stats as Cole.

    Which Cole are the Yankees getting? The Houston one or the Pittsburgh one? If it’s the Houston one was he PED enhanced as another Bruin, Trevor Bauer, has implied? If so, will he be able to PED in NY? Will he get caught and suspended?

    How many of these huge contracts work out? Not Pujols, A-Roid (both of them), Greinke, Cano, ManRam, Miggy Cabrera, Barry Zito, Pedroia, Ellsbury, Tulo, Mike Hampton, Denny Neagle, Kevin Brown, and Prince Fielder.

    They’re almost immediately regretted!!

    1. If you really believe that Ryu is as good as Cole, you haven’t been watching.

       Put it another way – will any team pay Ryu 9 years and $36MM/Year? The Dodgers offered Cole 8/$300MM allegedly – will they offer Ryu the same? Or even close?

       1. The career numbers are basically the same. Yes, the Cole in Houston was better, but the Cole in Pittsburgh was worse. Which one will NY get? Seriously doubt will have nine seasons with his 2019 stats. He’ll be an albatross just like Pujols is in Anaheim.

84. Angels got Rendon. Multiple sources.

85. Treinen was the highest upside reliever left on the market. Hopefully he’s healthy and good next year. No way he trades Lux and May for Lindor. That doesn’t make any sense especially after missing out on both of the top arms. We’re gonna need May. It looks like we’re getting outbid on Rendon by the Angels. If that’s the case, then that really sucks for us. But, I can’t blame Friedman for not being stupid.

    If everyone is going to throw money around like a marine in a strip club, I’m fine with AF showing restraint as long as he’s still improving the team, year over year. There’s a difference between being cheap and being stupid. Cole and Stras’ contracts are stupid. Hopefully he can still go bold with a trade for an impact bat.

    1. A voice of reason!

       Thank You!

86. Breaking: Dodgers suck multiple sources

87. … and those of you try and compare the Lakers with the Dodgers are simply ignorant.

    If you would like me to elaborate, I would be glad to. Baseball and Basketball free agency and trading could not be more different.

    Go ahead and ask!

88. So good, the dodgers didnt spend any money those cheap asses, so now we have to waste all our top prospects to get talent, um that makes sence

    1. Why spend just to spend? The Dodgers feel very comfortable going into the season with Buehler/Kershaw/Urias/May/Gonsolin/Maeda/Stripling. Cole is $324MM better than Buehler or Urias or May or Gonsolin? I do not think so. So these cheap asses, as you call them, spend more $$$ in their development than any other organization. Most baseball people believe the best way to build a sustainable contender is from within. That is what these cheap asses are doing. The Dodgers do not have to do anything to get to the playoffs. NYY and LAA and the Nationals did. I don’t think the Nationals have done enough, nor do I think the Angels have. No doubt, Cole makes them better, but they are not invincible.

       1. So tell me then has it gotten them a championship?? No, so guess there doi g something wrong

89. Or just maybe, our top prospects are enough to get the job done. It is possible you know

    1. Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

       1. Mark,

          How can I change my name in my Avatar, someone else has my name Adam and I have stop commenting due to that fact. Thx for this site, don’t always agree with you but it is the best out there.

          1. I would say to just open a new account.

             if you email me (mark@uswatersystems.com) I will delete your old account.

90. I think this is sad. The Dodgers supposedly made Cole top priority, but weren’t willing to truly go all of the way for him. Okay, I can live with that since the Dodgers said they were targeting the top 1%. Something else had to be coming then. Who’s more top 1% than Rendon. Rendon is a far better player than Harper and with Turner showing his age a bit, this was a good fit. The RH bat that Polock was supposed to be, but instead was a stiff. Lux could have played OF for a year. Hell, he could have went back to AAA for a month or until needed for all I care. On the surface, very disappointing. Sometimes moves like these can energize a dugout.
    ~
    However, what I find strange is that the Dodgers dropped out of Rendon before the Rangers did which makes me think they pivoted to a trade. Roberts predicted more turnover on this roster than in past years. So far, it’s Yimi out and Treinen in. Will Lindor or Arenado be next. I can see Lindor. I know they hoped they would have a shot at Nolan until Colorado signed him, but why give up the prospects for Nolan when you could just sign Rendon for almost the same exact deal. I’m putting JT back at 3rd before I give Donaldson a multi-year deal.

    1. I can’t even speculate.

    2. As you say, the advantage of signing a big free agent name, is that you don’t have to give up anyone. By essentially conceding that they won’t be top bidder on any of the few elite free agents, the Dodgers can only get high-level players by trading for them. The Yankees gave up not one single prospect or regular for Cole, same with the Angels and Rendon. Now the Dodgers are either going to have to give up very high-end prospects, or simply keep the roster they have and somehow hope that all of their young talent blossoms into Rendons and Coles, which of course rarely happens.

       If there were ever a time for the Dodgers to at least land one of the three elite free agents, it was this year. And they did not do it. Why not? A combination of things, i guess, and most predominantly, that when it ultimately comes down to it. the ownership hates to be saddled with long term commitments, no matter how good the player is. Plus, I think they overrate their own talent, so overpay for extending them. Whatever the reasons, this is who they are, and we’ve seen enough of it to make it clear. How the Dodgers let the Angels get Rendon, is almost more upsetting than losing Cole to the Yankees. The excuse for that is, “He just wanted to be a Yankee.” And Rendon just wanted to be an Angel? Stop insulting the fan base, Guggenheim Management Partners. You are a vast corporate entity which is making immense profits from the Dodgers name and history, and the most loyal fan base in all of sports, and you refuse to give it back, because profits are your bottom line every year, and you have no other incentives but those profits. Oh, you want to put out decent teams, because not doing it would cost you profits. But winning it all, giving the fans the excitement of looking forward to maybe a decade of greatness, like Yankees fans have now, that is not something that you care about. You have shown that you will never build a dynasty here, because you have had a lot of chances to do that, and have failed every time in will and commitment.

91. Let me say one thing:

    It’s far from over, but the Dodgers won 108 games last year. It doesn’t need to be blown up and I cannot see AF trading many prospects.

    Patience Grasshoppers!

    1. 106 games.

92. That’s just who we are under AF. Runner ups in the off season and the post season. I’m tired of the post season narrative that the post season is just a crap shoot. 0 for seven and counting says something different. Wonder who we’ll see celebrate at Dodger stadium next October?

    1. Clayton Kershaw

       1. BANG!

93. I wish!

94. Sorry everyone I’m just pissed maybe in a selfish way but I have a weird point, maybe the dodgers weren’t really in on anyone big but instead they caused the market to force the big dogs to pay way out of the market to kinda screw the teams hahaha I think they set this up! Sounds corny but do u kinda get the picture? They made other teams over pay and bid, now the teams have less money to spend for future contracts . I’m weird lmao

Comments are closed.