Cabin Fever Causes Insanity

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1. That must be a very rosy computer screen filter.

   Why the Dodgers are being so seemingly Petty in arb is beyond me and quite unseemly, but most will settle before the court I’m sure.

   It’s easy to save powder when you continually miss your targets with your first shot and don’t adjust or acquire new ones.

   Friedman is very smart, really really good, but it doesn’t mean this if-season had been disappointing and without accomplishment.

   1. Correct me if I am wrong, but AF rarely goes to arbitration.

      From MLB.TradeRumors:

      Much of what general managers do involves negotiation, but a handful of general managers use a strategy involving arbitration-eligible players that brings an early end to the customary give-and-take. As Tim Dierkes of MLBTR detailed in January, five teams take a stance known as “file to go” or “file and trial” with players who are up for arbitration. Four more clubs dabble in the practice of ending negotiations with players and their agents once the MLB-imposed deadline for the two sides to exchange figures arrives. That forces an arbitration hearing, and that’s a venue in which Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman, a file-to-go proponent, has never lost.“

      There are a lot of reasons behind the policy, but the aspect that is most beneficial is that it keeps the discussions leading up to the deadline reasonable and grounded in the overarching point of the process,” he said. “At its heart, the process is meant to pay players fairly for what they’ve accomplished. No more, no less. When both sides are held to numbers that they’ve been artificially forced to swap, it adds a level of gamesmanship to the process that distracts from the real purpose of the whole exercise. Our goal is always to get to a fair settlement that rewards the player for what he’s done. Adding this extra layer only complicates that.”

      That’s his policy – I have not thought about it enough to determine it’s validity.

      1. I’m not nearly smart enough to even understand what that policy/strategy is. Lots of words there, I just can’t grasp them.

      2. this is the first time since Friedman was hired by Dodgers that they are going to arbitration. But I don’t think his “file and trial” policy applies to negotiating multi-year contracts before arbitration. Negotiating extensions for Muncy, Pederson, and Taylor would be terrific — perhaps even Baez. Even if Dodgers should trade Baez, or Pederson, or Taylor, a reasonable multi-year extension makes them more valuable as trade chips.

         1. Excellent point, Socalbum!
            If AF is not going to use payroll for new free agents or trades, then he should work on retaining existing valuable players in multi-year deals. Muncy should be a priority given his performance, his flexibility and the fact he has only been paid the MLB minimum to date. It would seem to be mutually beneficial for Muncy to receive a 3-4 year deal which gives him a guarantee through arbitration and the dodgers get a discount to full arb value with an option year. Muncy could probably secure a contract like Peralta around $25 million for 3 years which sets him up for life and gives the dodgers some cost certainty.

   2. I know that we have a lot to be grateful for in our Dodgers! Huge accolades in their accomplishments, and in keeping the Ginats in the rear view (misspelled on purpose). And I know that I’m chewing yesterday’s hay, BUT, Justin Verlander instead of Yu effing Darvish, the anti-ace, and there’s a pretty good chance that we’d have, maybe, two World Series titles. I’d really love to know who pulled that set of strings. If a guy who makes pancakes for a living could see it then why not Friedman?

2. MT, in agreement with this article until you got to Mookie Betts. The Dodgers will be players right up until they are not. Then, Betts will go back to Boston or elsewhere although the Dodgers tried hard but are not going to spend stupid money. They only have so much committed beyond 2021 but they got to have a roster. They will try to sign bellinger, buehler, etc but Mookie Betts will not be in their crosshairs for real.

3. One of the reasons I love this site is that Mark always makes me laugh and at the same time
   focuses in on the true issues at hand. It’s SADD that others fail to realize how much fun it is to keep abreast of the Dodger’s this way. Keep it up Mark, I’m a big fan.
   Ira

4. So now we have syndrome. We seem to be a nation of syndromes.

   After reading today’s letters to the LA Times Sports, most people aren’t buying what Stan Kasten’s selling. One writer probably nailed it when he wrote that “Dodgers fans in general do not hate him (Kasten) they detest him.”

   Why? Because the games are blacked out for many and they’re collecting billions from us. Another fan said that Kasten comes off as arrogant. Another complained about having to fork over $20 to park to the carpetbagger from Boston. Yah, that really irritates me too.

   Then Kasten pointed out in his interview that the Dodgers are very successful as a business operation, something he probably should have left out since it was going to run in the sports section, not the business section.

   So Mark, does this anger, which has been lingering for some time, feed into your new syndrome? Based on the letters and other similar comments made by fans, isn’t this more likely the cause for this outrage, kinda like toxins leaking into the water supply. Pretty soon it taints the water.

   Many Dodgers fans would admit having a love/hate relationship with the team. But this seems to be more and may help explain why seven division titles and a 106 win season are more or less spit on. Maybe the Dodgers need to actually deal with the real problem instead of treating the symptoms. But Kasten refused to discuss that. I get why. They’re making billions and they’re not giving even a portion back to solve the issue. When Stan refuses the discuss the issue, it comes off as not caring and further angers fans.

   I have Spectrum so I have access to the Dodgers, but if I didn’t I would detest Kasten and ownership, too, no matter how many free agents they signed or titles they won. Dodgers had better hope that streaming helps resolve the issue.

   Okay, I’m not certain why you are so concerned over contracts to Pollock or Kelly. Hey, they’re on the field and contributing.

   Want to talk wasted money? How about all the millions dumped into international signings?

   Alex Guerrero (four years, $28 mil), Yasiel Sierra (six years, $30 mil), Erisbel Arruebarrena (five years, 25 mil), Hector Olivera (six years, 62 mil/traded to the Braves to get Wood), Yadier Alvarez ($15 mil). Approximately $160 million. After those debacles, the Dodgers did a high colonic on their international staff and not a minute too soon.

   Joe Kelly $25 million and Pollock, $55 million (plus a player option). I still like those signings. $20 million per year is a mere drop in the Dodgers payroll bucket and certainly won’t hinder them from pursuing any elite free agent, if they choose to do that.

   1. Those international signings were a Huge Blunder by Friedman. He learned from it.

      I am not a Kasten fan either, but he really doesn’t make the baseball decisions. I think if AF wants to do something, Stan will let him.

      Kasten does understand the business of baseball… if not the nuances of LA Fans.

      The problem is the Dodgers have not won it all since 1988 and the way they won it was so unlikely that Cinderella seems like a reality show. AF is only responsible for the past 5 years, but he gets the blame for 32 years of failure… not just 5!

      1. After the disastrous Guerrero, Arruebarrena, Sierra, Olivera, Alvarez signings I believe the Dodgers cleaned house of its Latin America scouting department, including head of scouting Engel. First three were under the Colletti watch.

      2. I think AF did learn and has made adjustments to their international philosophy. All those sunk cost signings had one thing in common and I think that is one of the prime reasons character, work ethic and similar intangibles have become such a priority for player development. None of those signings failed because the players weren’t immensely talented. AF came to to Dodgers he was given something he never had in Tampa. A huge international signing budget. That $15 million they paid Yadier came along with a 100% penalty. He cost us $30m. Having seen him pitch, there was no question the guy has a generational level arm. But you can’t fix uncoachable.

         What I see now is the opposite. They will take a player with flaws if they believe the player has what it takes to put in the work to get better. That doesn’t always work out either. Jeren Kendall comes to mind. He’s an awesome kid. Can’t recognize pitches for his life. But I’ll take a shot at a Kendall, good makeup and work ethic over a Yadier Alvarez. All the talent, none of the intangibles.

         It was an expensive lesson. But AD did learn and adjust quite quickly. It’s noticeable.

   2. Of and by itself, I do not believe anyone would give a rip about Pollock or Kelly had they went above their comfort zone for one of Lester, Scherzer, Greinke, Cole, Strasburg. It is clear that AF is big-game hunting, but he never bags the big one and then settles for Kazmir, McCarthy, Anderson, Pollock, Kelly. Could they have won a WS with one of those first five? Who knows, but I would have liked their odds much better.

      AF spent $25MM for three years of Kelly ($8.33MM AAV), and $10MM for Blake Treinen this year. That is $18.33 MM this year for two questionable late inning relievers. That may in fact turn out to be a very positive transaction, but might it have been more prudent to sign Will Smith for $13.33MM AAV, and move Kelly for a lottery ticket? Or even keep Kelly. It is not like the $13.33MM AAV was going to hurt the Dodgers.

      I have no objection with zero negotiation through the press. But do not come out and advertise that you are going all out to try to sign one of the elite three, but come up short…on all three. I understand why they came up short, and I do not fault the front office. But it was AF, Doc, Kasten who set the bar soooooo high and then did not perform. I agree with AF not to sign marginal players just to say LAD did something. 4 years of Josh Donaldson is not going to make the Dodgers better.

      Castellanos/Ozuna/Puig are not better than who the Dodgers have, that they should offer multi-year offers just to get another RH bat in the lineup. They made the decision to go with Pollock last year, and they believed it was the right decision. So see what he can do his 2nd year. Concentrate on pitching, the one true difference maker.

      Now Kasten is doubling down that he believes the Dodgers will go past the CBT threshold. Just how does he plan on doing that? Unless the Dodgers make the trade for Betts before the season, it becomes near mathematically impossible for the team to spend $37MM through the end of the year with trade deadline trades. Of course they could do it with a run of average players with high AAV just to say they did something to get closer to the CBT threshold. As I previously wrote, Kasten, doth protest too much, methinks.

      Stan, if you want to help, put your business man big boy pants on and go put some pressure on the Times Warner to make the Dodger games more accessible. I do not want to hear how an owners group that was able to put together a $2.1B deal to buy the team and then structure an $8.35B TV deal cannot come up with any leverage to make it happen. How about you make all 162 games available on free TV until Times Warner (Charter) negotiates in earnest with local cable and satellite providers. You do not go 6 years and continue to throw your hands in the air and say there is nothing you can do. Of course there is, even if it hurts SportsNet LA in the short run.

      1. It’s interesting that the Dodgers Paid 10 million for Treinen when for 3.3 million more they could have had Smith. What it tells me is that the Dodgers didn’t want the long term contract. It also suggests that they believe they will have in house options at a lot cheaper price a year from now and beyond.

   3. $55 million to Pollack, are you kidding me? What a joke!!!! It’s OK because he’s on the field contributing and the Dodgers can afford it? What Dodgers team were you watching? Pollack and Kelly contributed very little and were a complete disappointment for the Dodgers! Definitely not worth the exorbitant contracts that they were given!

      1. I actually think Kelly pitched well the second half. His control got better, and his stuff is nasty. I’m not sure if he was ailing late in the season but he did not pitch enough down the stretch. He got fewer innings as other relievers were trying out for the playoff roster. Doc misused him than and in the playoffs. Despite all this talk of moves not made and criticism of AF, we are still stuck with Doc who overmanages and makes poor decisions as he did with Kelly.

5. Love the line the only thing they’ve run is their mouth! Don’t know why Betts would be a slam dunk going back to Boston if they are intent on getting under the cap. No one is taking Price or Bradley off their hands and Betts is gonna get 35+ mil. Who else besides us is positioned to take on that salary next year. And if Boston is out of it by deadline what do,you think it would take to get him?

   1. Steve Cohen and the Mets?
      The Rangers?
      The Braves?

      1. Agreed, Steve Cohen will go all out to make the Mets a contender and be in direct competition with NYY for talent. And Steinbrenner is not concerned with $$$ and will not just let NYM take Betts without a fight; and a fight they intend to win. And Mookie is younger than Judge (not by much, but he is younger).

         While on surface most would not think the Rangers would be a player, they have $18.571 MM for Shin-Soo Choo, $9.0MM for Prince Fielder (this is last year), $8.33MM for Mike Minor, and $4.0MM for Jesse Chavez all coming off the books this year. And if Kluber is done as some have suggested, then they have $16MM (net of $1MM buyout) that will also be coming off the books. I think Mookie would look good in that new ballpark.

         The Braves lose Hamels and Melancon after this year. That would definitely put them in play for Mookie. Plus Atlanta was probably his team growing up in Overton, TN.

         Good choices. I think LAD, LAA, Boston, NYY, and SF will also be in on the Mookie auction. I think Mookie is more of a mercenary and will go where the money is best, and the Dodgers should have a chance. Whether they pony up, we have another year to find that out.

         1. Yankees? No.
            Angels? Doubtful.
            Boston. Of course, but could be tough.

   2. If Mookie signs for $35MM AAV as a FA, that is all of $8MM more than he is getting this year. An $8MM AAV increase will not be hard to swallow. Losing JBJ and his $11MM will get that done. JBJ will be a FA. Barnes and his $3MM will be a FA. I know Dustin Pedroia wants to give it one more try this year, but if he is unable to go, there is nothing stopping Dustin from retiring and having Boston sign him to a consulting/development FO position at the same salary he walked away from by retiring. That is another $13.75MM. The additional $8MM will not be a deterrent. They just need to be creative. They can do it, and the cash is not onerous for that team.

6. Well, Mark, honesty, I don’t dislike Kasten or ownership and I think Andrew Friedman is the smartest GM/Baseball Operations guy in baseball. But I do understand the anger. I get Kasten, I read the book years ago, but I’m not sure he’s the best person to discuss what the Dodgers are doing in terms of the actual team etc. His first interview at the Winter Meetings was a disaster, his other three were actually okay. But sometimes he gets defensive, best to avoid that, answer the TV question with honesty (we had no idea that Direct TV wasn’t going to carry us, we feel terrible about some our fans not being able to watch the games, we’re hoping that streaming may offer a solution etc. Also, Never mix business with what takes place on the field unless asked that specific question.

   Kasten is at his best talking about stadium improvements and creating a better fan experience. I really have no issues with Dodger ownership. They’ve spent money and been incredibly successful. Okay, maybe the McCourt parking lot fiasco.

   If I was Kasten, I might poke fun at Plaschke, noting that at one time or another he has told his readers that the Dodgers should trade Seager, Urias, Bellinger and Buehler, pretty much the foundation of the team, in pursuit of a World Series Championship. Trade those prospects to acquire the difference maker, Cole Hamels, Jon Lester or another veteran.

   As far as giving credit, I think Ned Colletti did a great job keeping the Dodgers afloat during the McCourt era and winning some division titles and he deserves way more credit than he receives.

   I thought his recent comment about searching for change in the seats to cover payroll
   was hilarious.

7. Joc – Submitted $9.5MM to arbitration – LAD submitted $7.75MM
   CT3 – $5.8MM to $5.25MM
   Max – $4.675MM to $4.0MM
   Baez – $4.0MM to $3.5MM

   Joc is $1.75MM different than LAD offer, which is more than the other three combined. I am guessing that LAD sees Joc as a valuable platoon player, and Joc sees himself as more of a regular and not platoon. That will be the one I will be interested in. I think CT3, Max, and Baez get resolved amicably and timely. The Dodgers offered more for CT3 and Baez than what MLBTR (Matt Swartz) predicted, while MLBTR predicted $4.6MM for Max. Swartz is uncanny with how his predictive model is as accurate as it is.

8. Question….How does a player hit so well in the minors, both right and left handed pitching, and become a top prospect and promoted to the big club and not be able to hit from both sides? Of course I am talking about Joc Pederson, one of my very favorites. I realize pitching is harder to hit in the majors but wondered how that happened. Did he get enough opportunity to hit lefties when he first came up or was he not a good hitter against lhp in the minors? Just asking.

   1. I think it’s pitching experience. Guys in AAA throw gas. And they can spin a curve. But command isn’t close to the big league level. A kid like Joc can feast on mistakes in AAA. Those mistakes are far less common in the MLB level. MLB hitters won’t last long unless they can hit mistakes and good pitches. And AAA pitchers don’t have the scouting department at their disposal like big league pitchers. They focus in on a hitters weakness and relentlessly pound at it. Some players, like Bellinger, are able to overcome and adjust after pitchers have spotted your weakness. Others struggle, like Joc, to overcome those issues.

      At least that’s my take.

      1. I would agree with that assessment on hitting from both lefty and righty pitchers. I also think that clubs give up on players too soon. It’s sort of a self fulfilling prophecy. Management decides a guy can’t hit same side pitchers based on a limited sample size or because he’s being platooned right off. Than they don’t face them. If you don’t face em, you can’t hit em. Bellinger did make adjustments once he was given the opportunity. He couldn’t earlier because he had limited at bats against lefties. I personally hate Doc’s loaded lefty or loaded righty lineups. Guys are not given a chance to be everyday players and face same side pitchers. Joc an exception. He can’t hit lefties no matter what.

9. Thank you Jayne.

10. There could be another signing, but I truly believe AF is done right now. If they had gotten Cole, then Maeda and a hitter like Pederson could have been moved for relief help, but with Cole and Rendon going elsewhere, it was a “trickle-down” effect to almost nothing. Maybe they were in “misdirection mode” all along. Maybe Cole was the only target and AF and Doc were just “selling” the illusion they would be busy. Maybe? Maybe not? No way to know for sure, but if you aren’t going to be Trader Jack, then what better way to affect the market than a few clouds of smoke and mirrors?

    Is the team better than this time last year? We don’t know. If the rotation falters, then AF has the pieces to make a deadline deal. I’m betting that he doesn’t.

    1. In 2020, I think you will see why Julio Urias was untouchable as a trade piece in the past.
    2. Striker Buehler!!! Nuff Said!
    3. Clayton – I think he will be the same or maybe better than last year (especially with Driveline).
    4. Maeda – See above
    5. May – Workhorse
    6. Chicken Strip – Capable of an All-Star Half
    7. Gonzo – If injuries occur, he is at the ready.
    8. Gray – He’s able to pitch in the majors right now.

    A lot of Dodger fans are bitching right about now, but if the Dodgers reel off an 8-2 start, all will be forgiven!

    1. They jumped out to an 8-2 start last year and then proceeded to get swept by St. Louis (4) and lose the next 2 to the Brewers. Nothing will be forgiven until they win the 4th game of the WS. Most do not worry too much about the regular season. Are they good enough to win the final game?

       1. Yes, I think they are good enough to win the final game.

          The only questions is “Will they?”

       2. ….”Is the team better than this time last year? We don’t know.”
          As I remember this time last year many were worrying about the health of Ryu as opposed to saying he would have the year he wound up having. Agree, we don’t know.

11. Interesting poll by MLB Pipeline. They surveyed GM ‘s, scouting directors, and baseball exec experts on a variety of questions. Reading into the survey, the Rays 18 year old SS wunderkind, Wander Franco, is headed to the HOF. There were a few Dodgers listed.

    Best Hit Tool and best hitting prospect – Gavin Lux #2 behind Franco.

    No Dodger pitcher prospect was voted to have the best fastball or best secondary pitch or best pitchability. MacKenzie Gore certainly appears to be the best pitching prospect, and he should make an appearance with the Pads sometime this year. I think both Gore and Casey Mize will be special.

    No Dodger prospect was voted best defensively, but Gavin Lux did tie for 3rd for best Baseball IQ.

    The Dodgers did have two prospects who received votes for the pitching prospect that could be the best future closer. Dustin May ties for 3rd, with Josiah Gray also receiving votes.

    Gavin Lux was voted to be the prospect who will have the biggest contribution on their team this season.

    Keibert Ruiz did receive votes for most overrated player, No Dodger received any votes for most underrated player.

    Here is the total poll results from MLB Pipeline:

    https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/prospect-and-farm-system-survey

    1. If you go by the poll, Gavin Lux should be ROY.

    2. While I have repeatedly favored Smith over Ruiz I have also said a few times to trade high on Muncy.

       Based on defensive ratings that have been recently released the death of Turner’s defense has been greatly exaggerated.

       Every time it seems likely Joc will be traded Toles, Pollock, Verdugo, etc gets injured. Now until Verdugo shows his back will last all year or the Dodgers trade for Betts, Springer, Bryant, Haniger etc it apperas Joc will be a Dodger again. No, Casty won’t be a Dodger.

    3. Gore is the real deal. I’ve watched most of the top SD prospects as they have come through the CA league. I’m still upset that Tatis Jr skipped high A and went directly to AA. Never got to see him.

       But SD is the Dodgers near term threat, I believe, from 2021 on. Like the Dodgers, they have the top tier prospects and a plethora of system depth. Their best prospects overshadow the second tier, which would be first tier in the vast majority of organizations.

       Gore was the best pitcher I’ve seen in the CA league since Julio Urias. Julio was 17, which was crazy at the time. But having watched them both, it wasn’t even fair. Men among boys.

       I fully expect Gore to be the bane of our existence in a couple years. In the CA league he had a .70 WHIP and 12.5 Ks per 9. In a hitter friendly league, that was insane. He might as well have been pitching against my sons 12u team.

       Padres will be our nemesis for quite a few years to come.

12. It probably should be a sigh of relief that AF did not land any free agents. The ones we have landed such as kazmir, McCarthy, pollock, well you know all the names plus the international disasters would get many people fired. Fortunately, he has done much better in the trade market and reducing payroll by landing Grandal, Taylor, wood, hill, kike, Barnes, freese,machado,while fleecing Cincy with Downs and Gray. He has also been stellar in keeping the prospects and the right prospects save Alvarez. Right up there with his real expertise is the blue light specials like muncy and morrow. His biggest contribution from a fan standpoint has been the buildup of the farm system. Our farm system has become one of the best in spite of our consistently low draft position. While continuing to win more games and division titles he has endeared himself to ownership by increasing profits and getting under the cbt. Player development is also an area of noticeable improvement.

    So moving forward I think we will continue to hear the Dodgers are in on all the big fish without hooking any. They will drive up the cost in the market without spending. They will be wiser in the international market while seeking to maximize the prospect pool. They will invest in cutting edge analytics and player development tools. They will look under every knook and cranny for hidden treasures. They will look for every oft injured, cheap, reclamation project with high upside. They will continue to build depth throughout the system. Finally, we will win more more divisions but will that bring us the elusive World Series. Time will tell.

    1. Let’s not forget that the Anderson, Kazmir, McCarthy, et al, were necessitated because of the Crawfish, Gonzalez contracts. These are different times and they were prepared to pay Cole $300 Million… not $50 million like some of the others.

       The Red Sox will not be in on Betts unless that do a Harry Houdini imitation. The Yankees won’t. Maybe the Angels, but Betts will likely want to play with a winner and I don’t think the Angels will be that. Mookie will get $350 Million and there aren’t many teams in a position to do that.

       These are different times. Betts is a different animal.

13. The Dodgers don’t need to participate in this crazy free agent period. I agree with the article. This topic has done nothing but stir up speculation and disappointment amongst the regular fans. We don’t need to spend money that can go towards other areas in the organization.

14. Most Dodgers fans would like to see the very wealthy ownership making a big commitment to winning titles, as many titles as any other franchise. Why not? The have assets in location, stadium, name recognition, and even money, that most cannot match. Yet I do not them going all-out for titles. I see them comfortably raking in money by being very careful about payroll. I do not deny the general success, but winning a five-team division is not some immense achievement which is guaranteed to satisfy the fans. I do realize that as long as the Dodgers draw very close to 4 million fans, the ownership figures they can’t draw any more, so why spend more? That is how they look at things, I think.

    It’s just the way it is for them. I think that most of us expected some major changes this offseason, an infusion of new talent, maybe at least one superstar. But nothing. They got a formerly very good relief pitcher who had a bad season, signing him for one year, so that if he bounces back, he will leave for somewhere where he can get a long-term deal. We signed a starter who had an awful season last year, but no risk. This sort of reminds me of those guys who avoid long-term relationships, always tell women they do not want any strings. The Dodgers absolutely abhor long-term deals. Worse than that, when they inevitably miss out on, or shrink from, a big star, they then inevitably look around the bargain bin, which usually ends up being a poor investment, plus it is rather embarrassing to act like a mid-market franchise when you are in the second largest city and media market in the country.

    It looks like essentially the same team as last year. Where was all that turnover Roberts expected? Where is the “missing something” that Friedman said we needed? Too much money? No one good wanted to come here? There are some big money people in ownership now,, and they will take the risks that the Dodgers do not. And some of these teams actually have talented young players, just like we do. Each year, someone wins a title, and now there are at least 15 franchises which have won at least one in the last 30 years, but not the Dodgers. So it is really not surprising or untoward that the Dodgers fans are not happy about things. The owners keep acting as if they should be thrilled, and should keep being patient. A person who was 32 when the Dodgers last won a title, is 63 now. 50 then, 81 now. Stay the course, Kasten says, that is, if he cares at all. We won two playoff games last year.

    1. Let’s look at the past 10 years:

       The Dodgers are second in total payroll over the past 10 years and the Yankees are #1 and yet… neither have won the World Series.

       So, the Dodgers have spent the money… right behind the Yankees and STILL neither one has a World Series to their name in the past 10 years.

       Explain why spending more money guarantees a World Series. Is the 11th time a charm?

       1. Agree Mark, the Dodgers have spent money and at the same time haven’t added future payroll especially long term payroll that by definition would go to players past their prime and some cases, well past their prime.

          If the Dodgers trade bunches of prospects for one or two year rentals they won’t be able to fill out a lineup with winners without adding long term contracts. I guess I can wait for Betts to become a free agent and hope there is either money to extend their own players or have players like Downs, Lux, May, Gonsolin, Gray, Vargas, Hoese, Peters, Urias plus lucky finds like Muncy ready to step in.

    2. I get so tired of this argument. Dodgers are cheap bastards who only care about ringing the register.

       “Who cares if we won 7 divisions in a row, we haven’t won the WS”

       Last I checked you have to make the playoffs to win the World Series. We’ve had a better shot every year, over that period of time, than any other team. The playoffs are a crap shoot. Luck plays a massive role. The Nats lost Bryce Harper last season, added zero big name free agents and won the whole thing. But that seems to be ignored. The Astros won in 2017 after completely tanking and being noncompetitive for YEARS and it still took cheating for them to get over the hump.

       We haven’t endured a 115 loss season. The Dodgers are highly competitive every year. Year after year.

       The fact that we haven’t won since 1988 is spread among FOUR different team owners and countless GMs. What AD has done is remarkable. We didn’t tank, yet we’ve won the division every year on his watch, we’ve been to two of the last three WS and we have a minor league system that is the envy of baseball.

       What a bunch of greedy bastards that don’t care about winning.

       If winning a WS is freaking hard. Ask the Cubs and the Redsox. How many HOF players came and went. How many fans were born and died never having seen them win? A couple generations. This organization has put the Dodgers in the best position to win. Not just one year, but every year. But their greedy and don’t care about winning.

       Some Dodger fans are really spoiled little brats. Daddy paid off the proctor for the SAT to get their dumb ass into USC and they’re pissed off it wasn’t Yale.

15. Cole wanted to be a Yankee. Strausberg wanted to finish his career where he started. Rendon didn’t want to be a Dodger. I wanted Clevinger. I don’t know what the Indians were asking for in return. What is AF suppose to do? A Lindor/Clevinger package would be nice. Again, we don’t know what the Indians wanted in return. Our time will come. I’m thankful I’m a Dodger fan and not a Baltimore Orioles fan.

    1. Preach it!

    2. Well said

16. https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/dodgerblue.com/mlb-free-agency-rumors-dodgers-interested-signing-danny-salazar-injuries/2020/01/11/amp/

17. Friedman and Kasten suck. They made zero effort to sign any impact players this offseason, and they’ve been running this team like a small market franchise since the day they arrived. Those two guys and their sabermetrics can go jump in the Pacific for all I care.

    1. Never Let The Truth Get in the Way of a Good Story

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