My grandkids enjoy playing “Where’s Waldo” That is until they don’t. You see, while you think it would be easy finding a nerdy-looking bespeckled man, dressed in a bold red and white striped shirt, wearing a red and white beany, the artist has made a career out of crafting immense visual puzzles, complete with mammoth oceans of people, spiraling buildings, and mythical beasts that make spotting the elusive Waldo an exercise in patience and frustration, even for the most eagle‑eyed fans. This how I’m beginning to feel about the trade with the Redsux. Where is Mookie????
This past week there has been so much written about the on, off, on-again, off-again trade, non-trade between the Dodgers, RedSux and Twins, much of it well articulated on this blog, that I’m hesitant to throw my two cents in, but, oh well, I had to write about something, so for spits and giggles, I thought why not. I haven’t commented much this week, but I have been very impressed with the various different takes posted by many of you. I’m proud and pleased to be a part of this community.
• Last week I wrote that I wouldn’t mind at all if my post is replaced by one, announcing the happy news that the Dodgers acquired Mookie Betts in a straight-up trade for Dylan Floro. Little did I know that I would only miss by a couple of days. On Monday, lo and behold, Dodger fans got the bold move we have been waiting for all winter: Mookie Betts was being traded to the Dodgers. And we got to keep Dylan Floro!!! The price, Alex Verdugo and Kenta Maeda(who actually went to the Twins for somebody named Gatorade, I think, who was then flipped to the Redsux). The Dodgers also agreed to take on David Price and his bloated salary. Okay, that seemed pricey, but then I learned that the Redsux agreed to pay half of Price’s salary. Well wow! As usual with an AF trade, I’m pretty certain nobody saw that coming. Certainly not in that precise form.
• From a fan’s perspective, it was especially sad to see Verdugo and Maeda leave. However, from a purely baseball perspective, all I could find myself saying was: “We just got Mookie “freaking” Betts!” Double wow!! Talk about bold, this was it.
• And wait there was more. Later that night there were reports that the Dodgers had traded Joc, Chicken Strip and Andy “My Back” Pages (I needed a Dylan song reference today) for Luis Rengifo and others yet to be determined. Once again, I found myself saying “Wow!” Initially, I was not enamored with this move. Don’t get me wrong, it made good baseball sense in light of the other trade. However, Ross Stripling is currently one of my favorite Dodgers, and I feel the same about the Dodgers trading him as I did when the Dodgers traded Trevor Oaks to the Royals. It stings to see those you truly like to go to another team. But, as I did with Don Demeter, I knew I would get over it in time. I also spent some time looking at Rengifo’s stats and found that at comparable ages, statistically, he was better than Kike and CT3. Last year, his stats were not that far off from Kike’s and he’s 5 years younger. Okay, the trade was sounding a little better. Still, for me, this trade depended on the other players we were going to receive from the Angels. I began holding out hope that maybe Jeremiah Jackson and Chris Rodriguez would be the 2 additional prospects.
• Tuesday was a wonderful day, basking in the joy of what our lineup would look like come opening day. The day was spent waiting for the official announcement on both trades. We would soon find Mookie and all would be well.
• Wednesday, still looking for Mookie. On this day we learn more about the trade with the Angels. Still a mystery as to who the Dodgers would get but, it seemed that Pederson, Stripling and Pages were definitely headed the other way.
• On Thursday the search for Mookie became more frustrating. We still hadn’t found him and there were rumblings of problems with Gatorade’s medical records. In light of the fan backlash, the RedSux thought “oopsey, we’ve sort of changed our mind.” Apparently, it came as a surprise to the RedSux management and all of their analytical department that Gatorade might only be a relief pitcher, a very good one mind you, but still only a relief pitcher. It also came as a shock to them, that this information was readily available on-line and known to the average baseball fan. It appears that while they working so very diligently on advancing their form of “Codebreaker”, the Redsux forgot how to use Google search. They also learned, it seems, that Mookie Betts is a very good baseball player, and their fans were unhappy to see him go. In a momentary lapse of common sense, the Redsux fans also forgot how to use Google and felt as if though all they were getting in return for Betts was chicken feed. For the Redsux fans who get lost and read this blog for enlightenment, let me tell you, Verdugo is not chicken feed! He’s a very, very good player, whom you are fortunate to receive in return for a one-year rental and immense salary relief. You would not be able to draft a comparable player with the draft pick you will receive for losing Betts to free agency. On top of that, you might also have received your future closer. Mookie was getting harder to find, but alas, we did have a momentary diversion over the announcement that Mad Max signed a multi-year deal. That was cause for another “wow!” Of course Joc also had his arbitration hearing, which seemed odd under the circumstances (more on that below), but it paled in importance in light of everything else going on. Things were shaping up, but we’re still looking for Mookie. Where is he?
• On Friday, came the announcement that CT3 had signed a 2-year deal. That was nice. Good to have him in the fold for a couple of years. That was good news, but the search for Mookie had become more frustrating. The Redsux were reported to have asked for more compensation from the Dodgers and Twins or anyone else, for that matter, who was willing to donate to the GoFundMe page the Redsux had established to help their billionaire owner with his financial woes. This obviously upset the Dodgers and Twins(and millions of fans). Not only was this deal in jeopardy, this development also threw a kink into the deal with the Angels. Everything and everyone was on hold. The trucks were leaving Los Angeles for Glendale with all of the Dodgers equipment, but Verdugo, Stripling, Pederson, Betts, Price, Brusdar Graterol, Luis Rengifo and others had no idea where they were headed. Also, Arte Moreno, Tony Clark and Scott Boas were reported to be mad about the situation for differing reasons. There was no word on whether Rob Manfred was mad or not.
• Then came Saturday (when the first draft of this article was written). Twitter and MLB Rumors were buzzing all day long: the trade is on, the trade is off, the Twins are out, the Twins are in. This literally made me want to do the hokey pokey and shake it all about. Despite the fact that it was Shabbat, the Jewish Sabbath, which started a few minutes before sunset on Friday evening and continued until Saturday evening and most of those involved are Jewish, and not likely to be doing any work, the reports persisted, all day long that we could be hearing something definitive ay any moment. But alas, there was no word, and we’re still looking for Mookie.
• Now it’s Sunday and I’m doing an edit to my original article. Still no Mookie. Maybe, as has been reported, the Dodgers and Twins will complete their portion of the trade. But then again, maybe not. However, just as I start to complete this paragraph, I read that we have found Mookie!!! Subject of course, to the review of the medical records. My head is spinning and have to go back to my Bob Dylan reference above, and I quote from that song: “Lies that life is black and white spoke from my skull, I dreamed, romantic facts of musketeers foundationed deep, somehow . . . . Good and bad, I define these terms quite clear, no doubt, somehow ah, but I was so much older then, I’m younger than that now.” I’ve never fully understood what that song means (nor any Dylan song for that matter), but it seems like an adequate description of how my mind feels about all this right about now.
• To try and get my mind around this situation in a non-sports context, I ultimately came up with the following scenario:
“ Good morning Jim, we want to thank you for your 10 years of faithful service here at Google. You’ve been an absolutely great employee. That said, we’ve decided to trade you to Apple for 2 of their younger employees. They don’t get paid as much as you, and they can provide us with some versatility that you can’t quite provide us. You know how it is, no matter how much you try, your just not a right-brain thinker and we need a little more of that here at Google. By the way, this employee swap is contingent on another employee exchange we’ve worked out with Amazon for two of their upper-level management employees. One of whom will replace you and the other who provides us with some much-needed depth and versatility elsewhere. Unfortunately, that employee exchange has hit a little snag. It appears that one of the employees we are shipping to them, despite his excellent work performance, has some issues with his academic records. Apparently, they aren’t as strong as Amazon would like them to be. It seems Amazon envisioned him working in a different capacity than he’s presently working in and, as a result, they’re unsure if he can handle the different role. Not to worry though, we’re working the kinks out of that deal. However, there remains a teeny-weeny chance that the employee swap with Amazon won’t go through. If that happens, well, then you’ll just continue with your job here. That wouldn’t be a problem, would it? We’ll keep you posted on whether or not the exchange goes through, and let you know where you’ll be working as soon as we can. In the meantime, go on home and enjoy some time with the wife and kids. Maybe you can work out where to send the kids to school, and what you’re going to do for housing. Oh, and by the way, I also just found out that we don’t have to pay you as much as you wanted to be paid. Bummer for you isn’t it? When, or if, this swap goes through, you’ll work for the lesser salary, either with Apple or with us. Hey, I hope you have a good weekend.”
• No matter how you analyze or slice and dice this system, and how this has all played out this past week, the system stinks! It matters not, that these employees are “playing a game” for a living. Nor does it matter that Joc, or whomever else we pick, should be happy because he’s being paid $7.75 million. When there are fewer major league baseball players than brain surgeons and the baseball industry makes as much money as it does, I believe the players should be compensated accordingly. The shelf life of the average MLB player is very short. According to a new study by a University of Colorado at Boulder research team: The average career of a Major League Baseball player is 5.6 years. The study also revealed that one in five position players will have only a single‑year career and that at every point of a player’s career, the player’s chance of ending his career is at least 11 percent.
• In addition to looking for Mookie, I can’t help but wonder, where has Rob Manfred been? His office has been strangely silent throughout this week. Oh wait a minute, I found him. He’s having cocktails with John Henry and Jim Crane. It seems weird, but they are all laughing uncontrollably. Wonder why that is? I think I heard him say: “P. T. Barnum was right, there’s a sucker born every minute.”
• I was happy to read that the Dodgers settled with Max Muncy and CT3. In my opinion that was wise for all parties. It’s good to know that they will be with the Dodgers for the next few years.
• As to the arbitration hearing between Joc Pederson and who knows whom, all I can say it was doomed from the start. From a lawyer’s perspective, it made absolutely no sense to hold the arbitration hearing before it was determined for whom he was going to play. I would have done exactly as was done by his representatives and the Player’s Union and move for a short continuance of the hearing. According to the collective‑bargaining agreement a hearing “may be postponed by the arbitration panel upon the application of either the Player or Club based upon a showing of substantial cause.” Apparently this request was opposed by MLB. According to Ken Rosenthal, “MLB’s position on Pederson, backed by the arbitration panel, was that the hearing could proceed because the player had not yet been traded officially, and might never be. The league also was confident that the Dodgers would win their case against Pederson and perhaps feared establishing a precedent for delays would embolden other players to seek ways out of hearings in the future.” There is a lot troubling to me about that statement, not the least of which is that “The league also was confident that the Dodgers would win their case against Pederson.” If that was true, where in the world did they obtain that confidence? I wonder if MLB is holding back on announcing the Redsux punishment until this fiasco is resolved? Just a thought.
• In today’s Athletic, Pedro Moura wrote this in his mailbag: “Joc Pederson, whose trade to the Angels is also pending, revealed last year that in past seasons he had complained to Dave Roberts about not playing every day.” “I’ve played their game,” Pederson said. “I’ve done that, where I’m in his office, asking, ‘Can I play versus lefties? Let me play.’ And then I’m not even successful against righties because I’m f____d up in the head. I’m losing, and who looks bad? I look bad.”
Joc seems to be a popular player with his teammates and some fans (me included, although it is painful to watch him being interviewed by Alanna Rizzo). I suspect, however, that his desire to be a full-time player probably affected his interest in signing a multi-year deal with the Dodgers. Therefore, he became a prime candidate to be traded. There would be a risk in holding on to him. Perhaps he would have had another year like last year. If he did you could make him a qualifying offer when goes into free agency. On the other hand, should his performance take a step backward, he would walk and the Dodgers would get nothing in return.
• Jim Bowden speculated that the “Dodgers should trade Maeda to Twins for Graterol and keep him for their own bullpen.” They should then “trade Verdugo, Gonsolin and Downs for Betts, Price and cash.” The “Dodgers should then complete trade with Angels.” My initial response was “No Jim, that’s not what the Dodgers should do. The Redsux should keep their word and complete the deal.” Turns out he was close to being right. I’m glad we keep Gonsolin and May, but sad to see Downs added. Maeda for Graterol might not be that bad. Though it would depend on a thorough review of his medical records (see what I did there?).
• I have mixed feelings. In my heart of hearts, I thought the Dodgers should tell the Redsux to pound sand and let them live out the year with Mookie and Price. But then again, he is still Mookie “freaking” Betts and now, he’s our Mookie “Freaking” Betts. Welcome to the Dodgers, I’m glad we found you!!!!
• I wrapped my initial version of this article, with an adjusted version of “Cry Me a River” (Joe Cocker version of course!). I still think it’s appropriate, but can include the Redsux fans.
Now, you say that you want more in the trade
After giving me your word
I want you to cry (Cry me a river)
I want you to cry (Cry me a river)
Over me (Cry me a river)
I want you to cry (Cry me a river)
Over me (Cry me a river)
Oh yeah (Cry me a river)
Well, I cried a river over you
Now, you say that you’re sorry
Oh, for being so untrue
I want you to cry (Cry me a river)
Cry for me (Cry me a river)
Oh(Cry me a river)
I want you to leave (Cry me a river)
Want you to cry (Cry me a river)
You drove me, nearly drove me out of my head,
All the work I did to make it work for you
Remember, I remember all that you said
How you told me that this deal was tough for you
and now you’ve decided to renege on what you said
Come on, Bloom and Redsux fans (Cry me a river)
Want you to cry(Cry me a river)
Put down your head in shame and
won’t you cry me a river (Cry me a river)
Cry me a river
Cry me a river
Cause I cried a river over you
Bobby.
Just to respond to your question regarding the Angels org.
As of this evening. They are done. I don’t think they have any intention of coming back to the Dodgers re: Joc
Staff have been told to prepare fo ST. From the top.
That is that.
Do you know which side pulled the plug?
TheAthletic has it. I alluded to this in my brief reply below.
The Angels pulled the plug. Moreno.
Reports are that is was Arte Moreno. But I’m not so sure. All I know is that Angels staff have been told not to expect any deal with the Dodgers. Angels have much more roster uncertainty than the Dodgers. I think it may have been the Dodgers who pulled the plug after the Angels put down an ultimatum. But that’s just speculation on may part.
But it would make sense. Leaving the Joc trade just hanging out there for a week this close to spring training was ridiculous. Not the Dodger’s fault. But ridiculous none the less.
Yes it was Moreno and the Angels, as they go tired of waiting for something that was the Red Sox doing by basically ‘crying fowl’ after an original trade involving the Twins as well held things up and the Angels knew that the Joc trade was contingent on what took place with the original 3 way deal. Now that the Red Sox and Dodgers got things done, it appears the Angels pulled out of a deal but to be honest in a way I am glad because the Dodgers were getting no where NEAR equal value in return from them.
I think this had been reported
Thing is Mookie’s not gonna be the one that makes a difference it will be the Dodger pitching and I will be willing to bet Verdugo will put up 95% of Mookie Betts‘s numbers in 2020 And when I’m talking about dodger pitching I mean Kershaw and the bullpen
For one thing Verdugo will get a chance to start every day but it’s got to be a bit tough on him knowing he is in a sense replacing Betts.
The thing is anyone dealing with the Dodgers about Joc knows they’re at 42 players now and have to move 2 players or give White and Sborz (or someone like them) their DFA notice.
~
What’s strange is that there’s been two different versions of why the Angels deal died. One being Arte was pissed which is stupid because the deal helped them tremendously I thought. At least if those reports were close to accurate. The conflicting report was after the second version of the Mookie deal. It said the Dodgers no longer deemed it necessary to trade with Anaheim. Bob Nightengale is now saying it was the Angels who bailed on the deal. So Arte was indeed PO’d or they tried to extort the Dodgers for more since they were forced to wait and the Dodgers said forget it.
Very entertaining post 2D2
Again, the Dodgers were not getting really anything in return for that Joc/Stripling proposed deal. It’s too bad for the Angels because at the very least Joc would have given them a needed LHB with power to compliment all their RHB.
What happened to Ross Stripling anybody know?
Stripling as of now anyway will report to Dodger’s ST unless another deal is done, as far as I know.
The Dodgers should trade for the Tribe’s Jordan Luplow. His splits would pare up with Pederson perfectly. It would be one hell of a platoon.
Do it.
Seems to me the angels couldn’t afford to let chicken strip get away
Cry me A River and The Letter by Joe–Two of my favorite Videos
I heard that the Dodgers backed out of the deal to trade Pederson.
They are going to have to clear two roster spots soon. Look for a trade of Sborz and Garlick.
I don’t see any way that Joc Pederson remains with the Dodgers. Whether he goes to the Angels in a restructured deal, or the Indians, Cardinals, Mariners, A’s, White Sox, etc., I thlnk Joc’s days as a Dodger are measured in days, if not hours. Tyler White is the guy who should be traded, or more likely DFA. No remaining minor league options, was a member of the 2017 and 2018 Astros with a OPS ~ .875 (2019 it drops to .650 for Houston). Garlick has 2 more minor league options — dump White, not Garlick.
I agree SoCal, Tyler White but not Garlick. It is definitely time to move Pederson.
I also agree here with you and SoCal on this issue. Dump White and maybe Rocky Gale as well.
Rocky is not on the 40 man. He signed a MiLB contract with a ST invite.
My guy in the Angles has no clue who did what. But it’s clear the team is no longer expecting any deal with the Dodgers.
Their roster isn’t nearly as set as the Dodgers. For them, ST will be highly competitive for quite a few roster spots. I think that might have played a roll in their impatience. Having a deal linger this close to ST is highly disruptive.
Thx 2D2. Great review. It was quite a week last week! But more work to be done! Let’s put a package together and go after a top lefty reliever
Ken Rosenthal reports Angel owner Artie Moreno grew impatient and pulled out of the deal. He was apparently angry over the delay.
Then the Dodgers completed the two trades in a different form and no longer needed or wanted to make the deal with the Angels.
Puzzling.
So Mark, why do you think the Dodgers walked away?
Did Dodger ownership decide to move on because of what Moreno said and his complaint about Andrew Friedman and the front office?
Now Moreno is no doubt really pissed because Ross Stripling was happy the proposed deal fell through, saying he didn’t want to go to the Angels. Ouch.
I’m guessing Joc Pederson is on the trading block, particularly after his complaints about playing time (playing their game) came out. If they were to keep him, playing time isn’t going to improve and the outfield is still overcrowded. The bottom line is keeping Pederson makes absolutely no sense. They just signed both Chris Taylor and Kiki Hernandez.
I really liked Joc, but yes his interviews were painful to watch. He’s got to feel more than a little angry about all this. Time to move on.
My $.02 – The Dodgers may have reconsidered including OF prospect Andy Pages in the deal with Angels after including Jeter Downs, and Connor Wong in the Boston trade. I read yesterday that the Dodgers may be including another prospect to the Twins — whether that player might be Pages, or another player, the Dodgers may be reluctant to further deplete its prospect depth.
I was surprised that Jeter Downs was thus a part of that deal with Boston, as I didn’t think Dodgers wanted to move any of those prospects they felt were close to being top of the depth charts. But I do understand that Dodgers most likely prefer to have to be responsible for only half of that remaining $ 96 million 3 year deal left with Price instead of having to foot more of the bill.
I can’t believe that Moreno walked away from trading for Joc, Ross, and Pages. What’s the difference that the trade was delayed a few days. He was getting some outstanding talent at a bargain price. AF has patience and completes his objective. Moreno has no patience and misses out on players that would help his team be right in the race for the AL West. That’s why the Angels are the Angels. Poor judgement on the owner’s part.
I’m happy with the trades the Dodgers made. Sure we had to pay more to get Betts and Price. But, Downs and Wong were probably not going to play for the Dodgers. And, we still have Gonsolin. I would not have been happy to lose him. And, I’m glad we ended up with Graterol. This was an option that was being overlooked initially. I think with the proper coaching he can learn to improve his delivery and take some of the stress off his arm. Apparently, he throws with a whipping action which is not good for the arm in the long run. We’ll see. If we can turn him into a closer in a couple of years that would be huge.
Now, what happens with Joc and Stripling? Should be another week of anxiety for both. I to will not miss Joc’s disturbing and uncomfortable interviews with Alana. Something has to happen being we’re two over the roster limit.
I’m reading here and many other sites that the Mookie trade is finally a done deal. There is still nothing mentioned on MLB.com. This seems odd.
I don’t think MLB has officially approved the deal, so it is officially unofficially complete. Boston sending ~ $48M to Dodgers could give MLB pause on approving the deal.
Thanks SoCal. I was actually looking at the MLB.com Dodgers home page. I see they did have a story on the main MLB.com site.
Hello hodges54, my guess is the deal will become official sometime this week, as I don’t think teams want any more delays in this process.
There must always be a balance between financial and sports, an LF with Joc and Taylor, Joc and Kike is the best for the team that combo is far superior to having Pollock as the owner of the LF.
A combo of Joc and CT3 or Joc and Kike in LF could give us a performance of 5 + WAR with 40 + HR, 100 + RBI and a good defense.
Joc wants to trade strictly for financial reasons, sacrificing sports and that is not correct, if they get a 3 WAR player with 36 HR and an adequate defense for 7.7 million then trade Joc.
The strange man is not Joc, the strange man is Pollock but
nobody wants it, for something it will be.
I like the cryptic tone of this post.
And I’m Betty Crocker! 😉
Does anyone know if the Dodgers get a draft pick if Mookie does not resign with us ?
If they give him the QO, yes. And they will.
I also think he will sign with the Dodgers dor $370 Million/10 Years.
My understanding yes.
I don’t think we’ll officially make this trade until we get rid of 2 guys first to clear up room on the 40 man roster. I’d assume we were at 40 before this deal. Betts and Price make it 42. Maeda leaving makes it 41. Gratterol coming makes it 42 again.
Goodbye Tyler White and someone else if we don’t deal Joc/Strip.
And yes, if Arte is mad for some stupid reason he’s an idiot. His team is that much better with Joc and Strip.
Just some quick comments on some current events and yesterday’s article by AC, which was quite good.
It was provocative, and there may be some truth to it, but it’s highly speculative, and to suggest hard collusion based purely on speculation is a little … I don’t know that irresponsible is the right word, but certainly gutsy.
Personally I don’t think it’s correct. If history teaches us anything it’s that multiple shady people can never keep secrets, and what amounts to a secret agreement among multiple shady people – a conspiracy really – will eventually blow up and become exposed. John Henry can’t even agree to a trade without reneging 24 hours later and screwing over three separate teams and leaving multiple players in limbo. Do you think he’s going to agree to a secret deal involving a hard cap … in perpetuity?
The Occam’s Razor explanation is that teams are learning. They are seeing what Friedman is doing as a model and want to emulate it. What Friedman is doing with the Dodgers is actually changing baseball – for the better. This is the reason Henry hired Bloom. “Go do what that guy is doing!” Teams are realizing that the World Series or Bust approach to building a team is not the only way to construct a team, nor the best. A GM can build a sustainable model of success through redirecting resources to player development and creating financial flexibility through fiscal discipline by adhering the Competitve Balance Tax system.
I don’t even know what you’d need a secret agreement. The system itself is designed to create fiscal discipline though imposed scarcity and a punitive tax. The system wasn’t agreed upon to be flouted with impunity. There are harsh penalties for repeat offenders, and even if the penalties for the first year after a reset aren’t as onerous, it’s still in a club’s best interest to plan for the future by not starting the clock unless really necessary.
What Friedman has done has shown how to look at team management with a long term vision. Other teams surprisingly didn’t do that. Theo Epstein was a genius for developing a home grown or young core with a couple of smart signings. Now the Cubs are middling and he has Kris Bryant, as close a franchise player as they have, on the trading block. He got himself in a hole with some no-so-savvy expensive FA signings. It’s the same scenario with Betts.
Even if there is a secret agreement, I think it’s actually good for baseball. If, say, some Bloomberg, instead of buying political office, decided to burn money without regard to the CBT to buy a championship, that would totally distort the salary market. Small market teams would be at even more of a disadvantage, and the World Series would become a farce.
The Friedman Way, and to some extent also, the Moneyball – Beane Way, make for a more creative, healthy, sustainable and more interesting game.
Obviously I’m happy with Betts. I’m not all that broken up about letting go of Verdugo. He’s a great contact hitter, surprisingly good arm, good energy. I don’t think the power will ever come. I also read somewhere, maybe here, that both management and players were becoming disillusioned with his apparent chronic issues with work ethic and immaturity, which has been a problem all the way back to the days before he was drafted. To me he’s Puig Light. That, and there is still a story circulating about him being present during that sexual assault of a minor a couple of years ago. The Dodgers place a high priority on high character players, and they’ve probably learned from years of trying to reform Puig that fundamental character doesn’t change. Best to ship him out now.
I’m hopeful that Price will get past the cyst issue and pitch well at Dodger Stadium. Realistically, though, he’s a replacement for Rich Hill at this stage of his career – a solid 4th starter. The Dodgers gave up a lot of starting pitching that hasn’t been replaced unless Urias pitches as well as Ryu or May becomes this year’s ROY. The Dodgers need a real #2. They’ll probably be shopping at the deadline. I don’t know for who.
Not sure what the Dodgers should do with Joc. They’re in kind of a bind now. If he was disgruntled before, he’s going go be really unhappy now, especially if it goes back to the same platoon with Pollock, who also doesn’t want to platoon. In a perfect world with no egos and agendas, Joc against righties and Pollock or Kike against lefties is actually an All Star player. One of Pollock or Joc has to go, and Pollock’s numbers during the second half when he was healthy were good … but he completely disappeared during the playoffs. Joc has had big moments during the playoffs. Tough decisions.
Excellent analysis.
Pollock’s numbers were decent in meaningless games. The division was over. It was a huge step backward from Verdugo to Pollock. Pollock flat out choked against WAshington. Joc should be the LF. I don’t care if he doesn’t like to be platooned. I bet he played about 150 games. Show up to spring training and hit lefties then.
Watch Moreno try to “get revenge” by making an immense offer to Betts after this season.
Reflecting on all of this, it probably seems obvious to say that the most important question is whether we can sign Betts long term. The trade is only successful if one or both of these things happen: 1)We win the title this year, or 2) We make a long-term deal with Betts. If neither, then our gambit failed, in that we are stuck with Price, we lost Verdugo and Downs. It was worth the effort to do this, but I hope that the Dodgers did so with the attitude that they are going to go all out to sign Betts. Of course ,it almost always comes down to money. Betts wanted 12 years, $420 million from Boston. He won’t get that, but it only takes one very rich owner, like Moreno, or the ones in Philadelphia or Texas, or even the Yankees, to outbid us.
I will try to just enjoy this upcoming season and not worry too much about such things. I agree with those who say that our starting pitching is worrisome. We are counting on an injured Price (some baseball people say that he would only fetch $12 million for a year or $18 million for two years as a free agent? That is not good!), a relatively untried Urias, and then someone else, an injured and recently ineffective Wood or Nelson, or the rookies May. or Gonsolin. And I’m not all that confident of Kershaw. If we face the Yankees, it will possibly be, 1. Buehler vs. Cole; 2. Kershaw vs. Severino; 3. Price or Urias vs. Tanaka or Paxton; 4 Urias or Price vs. Germain or Paxton or Tanaka. This does not look too promising, even with Betts. And of course the Yankees have a much better bullpen, it would seem. So we need to add more, and I am not confident that we are going to land a top pitcher at the deadline, that is hard to do.
I am glad that the Dodgers stepped up and took a chance, and added a great player, and worked hard to get it done despite the classlessness of the Red Sox. I hope that we do not stop at this point, however.
I know it is fashionable to discount the Dodgers pitching, but that same sentiment does not go to the Yankees?
1. Luis Severino – out all last year with an inflamed rotator cuff and subsequent lat strain.
2. James Paxton – underwent a “microscopic lumbar discectomy with removal of a peridiscal cyst and will be out 3-4 months this year.
3. Masahiro Tanaka – Too many reports indicating that his arm is barely hanging on. He was removed from games late in the season last year for “precaution” because he threw too many innings.
4. Domingo German – Out until at least June 5 due to domestic violence.
5. Gerrit Cole – Career ERA against the Dodgers in 40.2 IP – 5.53. Career WHIP – 1.402; less than a K per inning for a big strikeout pitcher.
6. J. A. Happ – The only LHSP other than Paxton – Career against LAD – 0-3 with a 2.74 ERA in 23 IP and a 1.652 WHIP. 21K/10BB.
I like the Dodgers LH bats against the RHP for NYY.
You also discount the relievers without seeing what they can do this year. Relievers are volatile from year to year. Why cannot Treinen recover this year? He certainly says he is ready for a big year. Can we at least see what Driveline has done for KJ and his cutter before we discount him? Regardless, he is still considered one of the best closers in the game. Can we at least see what Graterol can bring as a late inning reliever? By most observers, his slider is considered unhittable if he can gain command. He is all of 21. Let’s at least see what the Dodgers development team can do to help get that command. Who else will be going to the pen? Gonsolin/Santana/Wood/Nelson/Strip. May will start either in LA or OKC. Do we know who might be available at the trade deadline? Can we at least get through ST before we conclude that the bullpen is not good.
Discount the Dodgers pitching? Sure, but make sure to look at the other teams in the same manner. LAD has been at or near the top for the last several years in pitching metrics, but maybe this year is the year they falter. I am guessing not, but it is possible.
AC, I will agree that if Treinen can return to his earlier form, and if Graterol can stay healthy, our bullpen is much improved from last year, and that is a big deal. And yes, the Yankees have some ifs in their starting pitching, too. They do have Cole, who looked like the best pitcher in baseball last year, and Severino should be back. But we’l see. We’ll miss Ryu. Our lineup will be better. We need a reliable closer, maybe it could be Treinen. I still think back to how Jansen pitched two innings in a five-game playoff, one was with the Dodgers ahead by seven runs, and one was with us down by five runs, and the series lost. Hardly something to make us think that he can be our closer all season, but maybe he will bounce back, as it has happened with relievers. We start the season without a reliable closer, though.
I will agree that we do start the season without a reliable closer.
The Angels would be a much better team with Rios, Floro, and Alexander and the Dodgers probably would like to have Luis Rengifo.
The Dodgers probably still would like to cut payroll. Pollock is a $12M AAV player. But who wants him that badly? Maybe he can learn to play first base.
I’ve accepted the fact that Joc might not be a Dodger but one way or another he winds up a Dodger and winds up getting 500+ PAs. Toles and Verdugo were going to make Joc gone but against odds, Joc survived. Don’t count him out as a Dodger for 2020. His teammates like him and Turner and Kershaw will lead the welcome. Joc and Kersh seem to get along quite well but then so did AJ Ellis.
We still have some bullets left in the chamber for the deadline and Kasten promised us we could go over the CBT! He would never go back on his word would he?
I’m liking the Betts trade for one year for Verdugo. Considering Downs came over in the deal we sent Woods out and now he’s back that looks like a wash. Wong was way down the depth chart for catchers in the minors. And the prospect coming as well is pretty versatile aaa guy who hit 300. And Price looks like he can fill the roll Hill had for the last few years. Yes, I’m liking this very much.
I think it says a lot that AF was prepared to do something that he hasn’t done before – give up his former no 1 prospect (Verdugo), considering he had a decent/good first season, injures aside, and the length of Control there was left.
All the former no 1 former Prospects are still with us. Corey, Joc, Cody, Walker, Julio and Gav. Alex is the only one he had been prepared to move.
Is it attitude, maturity or chemistry?(sorry Chad if you’re still reading here)
Has AF learned from the mistake of not trading Puig while he had some decent value?
There are similarities between the two.
Very unlike AF – he likes to develop a Home Grown nucleus in his 26.
Or maybe he doesn’t think Alex’s back is gonna end well?
Anyway, looking forward to seeing Mookie & Gatorade in Dodger Blue.
After having a long talk with my buddy in the Angels system (who disappointingly didn’t have any real scuttlebutt to share); I can’t help but be very happy to be a Dodger fan.
This week sucked. I hate Boston. I hope the owner losing his gonads in a skiing accident. But the weekend ended well. I can more than live with what we gave up for what we got. Assuming we have at least a legit shot of signing Betts.
Most of what I discussed with my friend was what a mess the Angels are.
The Good:
They have Trout. A team literally can’t say anything better in a single sentence.
They won the Rendon sweepstakes.
Ohtani is one of the most exciting players the sport has seen in years. (and he’s really cheap).
Jo Adell will be a star. Likely be playing RF sometime this year.
That is pretty much it.
The bad:
Pujols contract is a boat anchor. He’s barely a replacement level player, but they are forced to play him everyday. A pregnant manatee can beat him in a race to first.
Very few high ceiling arms in the system. None ready now.
An injury plagued rotation. When healthy, it’s mediocre.. at best.
The worst:
The team has mismanaged player development, for years. Rushed too many players through the system too fast. No consistent approach. Too many prospects played most of the season in AAA last year. Most of them are blocked on the MLB level. They have depth where they don’t need it and are completely thin where they do. The attractive players they do have in AAA haven’t drawn much trade interest because nobody trusts any of the numbers from AAA (that juiced ball stuff). They move players from level to level for no other reason than they are so lacking in depth at certain positions, they have no choice but to move bench players in A ball to AAA for a couple weeks because of injuries.
They are a shit show.
Taking a giant step back, and forgetting about how lame this week was, the Dodgers just keep getting better. Player development is not only organized, consistent and loaded with depth at every position.. it’s highly successful at churning out solid MLB players. We get to stress about who will be playing any given position. Will it be Max Muncy, Chris Taylor or Kike Hernandez? The Angels would kill to have that problem.
We don’t have 4 guys competing for the starting RF job in ST. The Angels do. And the best known among the 4 is named Brian Goodwin. Ya. THAT Brian Goodwin. The one nobody has ever heard of. Before just now. Admit it. You have no idea who that is. But he’s the favorite now to win the starting spot in RF in Anaheim. Ya, Angels fans are thrilled.
Dodgers are going into ST like beasts. And we still have a loaded system full of trade chips if we need help before the trade deadline. I’ll worry about Betts extension later. Right now, after talking Angels system for an hour or two last night.. I’m just a guy in a Dodger hat with a shit eating grin counting the minutes to first ST pitch.
The fans who scream the loudest about Friedman (or maybe I should say screamed – past tense) didn’t consider how much work he’s done in the past five years to build a solid foundation for the organization in all aspects of the game, from drafting to player development to nutrition, etc.
He went to work from the ground up. He didn’t come into the house and build his fancy man cave on the second floor while ignoring a foundation that was so bad the whole house would collapse. That’s how some franchises have done it and they are now paying the price while we have a rich farm system that enables us to do whatever maneuvers are necessary to strengthen the team.
Exactly. And we are really really deep at every position. One of my few criticisms of AF was a lack of focus on bullpen depth. The last draft loaded us with college age bullpen arms. I really see no glaring weakness throughout the system. Loosing Downs and Wong really didn’t even made a dent in that. We still have Lux, Vargas, Amaya, Mann and Esteves as infield depth over the next couple years. And we are deeper at high end catcher talent than any organization in baseball. Even after trading Wong.
I’ve never seen a Dodger org more loaded with talent and flexibility. If a front end starter becomes available near the deadline, we are still the team best position to make a deal if it was necessary. It’s kind of incredible what AF has done.
Yeah, I’m surprised Trout signed that extension with the Angels. He has to know he’ll never win there.
Trout may be a Philadelphia kid. But he is loyal. And humble. At least a player like Tony Gwynn got two shots to play in the WS. Never won. But he got a couple shots. If the Angels waste a player of his caliber, it will be unforgivable. But he is the kind of player that will live and die for his team. They don’t deserve him. Especially after talking to people in the organization. The frustration is massive. And it’s growing against Arte Moreno. It’s top down, always.
I take interest because not only do I have several friends in the org. My son, and several friends, know a lot of the players. In the minors and on the MLB roster. Not big names. But we talk to them. This dynamic has really become Lakers/Clippers like. Angels owner is the problem. They need a change. I hope they get one. Trout, among many others, deserves it.
I will be very interested to see what punishment comes to the Red Sox for their sign stealing scandal. As you may recall, MLB came out with their anti-technology sign stealing dictum after the Red Sox and Apple Watch sign stealing scandal was uncovered. Not only did they disregard the MLB dictate of not using technology to steal signs, 2018 was a 2nd offense. It may turn out to be not as egregious as the Asterisks, but it was a 2nd offense in two years. Manfred has to make it hurt, right?
https://www.foxbusiness.com/sports/boston-red-sox-apple-watch-mlb-sign-stealing
Sox fans are anticipating lesser penalties.
They may be right. But I do not know why. It is a double offense. They were told after the Apple Watch incident to not do it again. And they did. Nothing MLB’s Rob Manfred makes a lot of sense to me.
I have not posted a comment on here for a while, not that it was missed, lol, but just want to say I think everything will work out well for the Dodgers no matter who goes where or who starts and who relieves. I will still miss Joc and Strip if they leave though. Go Blue.
Ps 2D2, you are the funniest attorney I have ever seen or heard. Your article was excellent.
It’s a good thing you praised him… otherwise, he’d have to sue you!
😉
Thank you DBM! You were missed!
Pete – hope everything is ok pal?
Long time no post
WOW
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/02/mlb-reportedly-planning-postseason-changes.html
Yes. Wow.
“The top overall team in each league would get a first-round bye, with the other teams playing 3-game series (all in one city) to advance”
“the top three non-bye playoff teams would select their first-round opponents”.
That is some XFL – Mark 1 level crazy right there.
Maybe home field advantage could be decided by a Fortnite game.
Wonder how they pick the city that all 3 games are played in. It would save traveling but make the long season even longer. What really is the reason for doing this. Is it for money or to be fair for other teams so they can compete? Thoughts?
Best record of the 2 teams playing will be home for all 3.
Thank you ayebatter.
I hear they’re planning to incorporate ping pong balls into post season play since it’s been so successful in the NBA draft.
If it’s an odd numbered ball ending in 1, 3 or 5 the American League West second wild card plays the National League East first wild card.
If it’s an even numbered ball ending in 6, 8 or 0 …………………………..oh never mind.
Ya. I really hope MLB doesn’t go this rout. Where will it end?
I can’t stand Manfred. They should be making the playoffs more like the regular season rather than deemphasizing the importance of the regular season.
Go to a 154 game schedule and add a round of playoffs. The TV money for playoffs could be shared with the teams that don’t make the playoffs.
Oh it’s gonna hurt. OK John Henry put out your wrists. Slap slap!
The most outstanding thing that the Dodgers’ front office has done since Friedman started running the show is to continuously produce good to great major league players from minor league prospects and other teams’ AAAA players.
The Dodgers had become pretty hit and miss about converting prospect straw into MLB player gold (sorry Rumplestiltskin). They did have a good stretch around 2007 when Kemp, Loney, Martin, Ethier (I know, from the A’s), Billingsly broke in, but mostly it had been more bad than good.
It’s not just the quality of the prospects now – it’s turning prospects into contributing big league players. Even fringe prospects like Matt Beaty and Edwin Rios contribute.
It’s been huge.
The only shortfall – name the last starting pitcher that the Dodgers developed that turned into a consistent rotation piece – I believe that it would have to be Clayton Kershaw, at least until Walker Buehler.
Will this be the year that the Dodgers’ rotation joins the position players and showcases young starters who are the real deal?
Yes it will be. Urias and May as starters and Gonsolin in the pen!
Jair Carmago -C going to Twins
He’s actually a pretty decent prospect. But like with middle infielders, we have a surplus at the catching position. Though losing Wong and Camargo thins the herd a bit.
Chatted with him a bit last year. Nice guy. He was playing some 3B too. He struggled the 2nd half of last year and fell behind the other catcher for the Loons.
DODGERS ACQUIRE RHP BRUSDAR GRATEROL FROM MINNESOTA
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers have acquired right-handed pitcher Brusdar Graterol, minor league outfielder Luke Raley and the 67th pick in the 2020 First Year Player draft from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for right-handed pitcher Kenta Maeda, minor league catcher Jaír Camargo and cash considerations.
Graterol, 21, joins the Dodgers after spending five years in the Twins’ organization. The right-hander went a combined 19-6 with a 2.48 ERA (59 ER/214.0 IP) in 51 minor league games (41 starts) for the Twins. The Venezuelan born pitcher made his Major League debut on September 1, 2019 after having his contract selected by the Twins on the same day. He went on to make 10 relief appearances for Minnesota, posting a 1-1 record with a 4.66 ERA (5 ER/9.2 IP) with 10 strikeouts against two walks. He enters the season ranked as the 83rd-best prospect in Major League Baseball according to MLB.com and was originally signed by the Minnesota Twins on August 29, 2014 as a non-drafted international free agent.
Raley, 25, joins the Dodger organization after spending the last season and a half in the Twins minor league system. The outfielder began his professional career with the Dodgers’ organization after being drafted in the seventh round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of Lake Erie College. He was a part of the July 31, 2018 trade that brought Brian Dozier to the Dodgers. Last season, he hit .302 (38-for-126) with seven homers and 21 RBI in 33 games for Triple-A Rochester. In parts of four seasons with the Twins and Dodgers, he has slashed .288/.361/.472 with 46 homers and 178 RBI. His contract was selected on November 20, 2019.
Maeda, 31, finished his fourth campaign with the Dodgers, going 10-8 record and a 4.04 ERA (69 ER/153.2 IP), limiting opponents to a .202 average while posting a 1.07 WHIP. The right-hander went a combined 47-35 with a 3.87 ERA (253 ER/589.0 IP) and 641 strikeouts against 178 walks in 137 games (103 starts) for the Dodgers. He was originally acquired as a free agent by the Los Angeles Dodgers on January 7, 2016.
Camargo, 20, played in 79 games for Single-A Great Lakes last year, batting .236 (67-for-284) with four homers and 41 RBI. He finished his fourth season in Dodgers organization after signing as an international free agent on July 10, 2015. In four seasons in the minor league system, he combined to slash .250/.300/.371 with 11 homers and 95 RBI.
DODGERS ACQUIRE 2018 MVP MOOKIE BETTS AND 2012 CY YOUNG WINNER DAVID PRICE
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired outfielder Mookie Betts, the 2018 American League Most Valuable Player, and left-handed pitcher David Price, the 2012 American League Cy Young Award winner, and cash considerations from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for outfielder Alex Verdugo, minor league infielder Jeter Downs and minor league catcher Connor Wong.
Betts, 27, joins the Dodgers after spending the last six seasons with Boston. In 794 games with Boston, he hit a combined .301 (965-for-3203) with 139 homers and 470 RBI, while being named an All-Star four straight years (2016-19) and winning four Gold Glove Awards (2016-19), three Silver Slugger Awards (‘16, 18-19) and the 2018 Most Valuable Player Award. In his MVP campaign, the Tennessee native hit .346 (180-for-520) with 32 homers and 80 RBI while leading the league in WAR (10.4) and coming in second in OPS (1.078). Last season, he hit .295 (176-for-597) with 29 homers and 80 RBI in 150 games while finishing first in the American League amongst right fielders in defensive runs saved (20). He finished fifth in the AL in OBP (.391) and 11th in OPS (.915) while leading AL right fielders with 10 outfield assists. He was originally drafted in the fifth round (173rd overall) of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft out of John Everton High School (TN).
Price, 34, joins the Dodgers after spending the last four seasons with the Red Sox. The 12-year MLB veteran went 7-5 with a 4.28 ERA (51 ER/107.1 IP) and 128 strikeouts in 22 starts for the Red Sox last season. Prior to joining the Red Sox as a free agent in 2016, Price posted a career best 20-5 record with a 2.56 ERA (60 ER/211.0 IP) and 205 strikeouts against 59 walks and winning the 2012 Cy Young Award. The 5x All-Star, Cy Young Award winner and Two-Time ERA Leader (2012, 2015) is a combined 150-80 with a 3.31 ERA (746 ER/2029.2 IP) and 1,981 strikeouts against 527 walks in 321 games (311 starts) in his 12-year career. He was originally the first overall pick of the 2007 First Year Player Draft out of Vanderbilt University.
Verdugo, 23, played in 106 games for the Dodgers last season, batting .294 (163-for-343) with 12 homers and 44 RBI. In parts of three seasons for the Dodgers, he hit a combined .282 (125-for-443) with 14 homers and 49 RBI. In six minor league seasons, he has posted a .309/.368/.444 slashline with 116 doubles, 12 triples, 41 homers, 271 RBI and 44 stolen bases in 591 minor league contests. He was originally drafted by the Dodgers in the second round of the 2014 First Year Player Draft out of Tucson’s Sahuero High School.
Downs, 21, split the season between Advanced-A Rancho Cucamonga and Double-A Tulsa last season, batting .276 (127-for-460) with 24 homers and 86 RBI in 119 games. The Florida native was selected to the California League All-Star game after batting .269 with 19 homers and 75 RBI for the Quakes. In three minor league seasons, he is a .267 hitter with 43 homers and 162 RBI. The infielder was originally acquired by the Dodgers on December 21, 2018 along with right-handed pitcher Josiah Gray in a trade with the Cincinnati Reds.
Wong, 23, finished his third season in the Dodger organization, splitting his 2019 campaign between Advanced-A Rancho Cucamonga and Double-A Tulsa. In 111 games last season, he slashed a combined .281/.336/.541 with career highs in doubles (24), triples (7), homers (24), RBI (82) and total bases (229). He was originally drafted by the Dodgers in the third round of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Houston.
Well at least we have some level of confidence it’s all done.
Some.
Never know. Connor may have a flare up of psoriasis. Jeter may have an undisclosed case of IBD after taco Tuesday tomorrow.
But I assume Boston ownership is good.
Dodgers waive white and garlick
That means they have a little extra time to move Joc and/or Strip if they intend to.
Stripling has already indicated he’ll be happy to be back but I can’t imagine Joc feels that way. I still think he’s traded by the end of the week (before he reports to Glendale).
Joc HAS to be traded or they get NOTHING for him.
Too many reasons Joc has to be traded. Including Joc. I can’t imagine he’s a happy camper right now.
I’d be surprised if he is a Dodger after Wednesday evening.
Hah. Great minds………………………….
I was just saying the same thing to my son although I was giving it until the end of the week.
Apparently you’re a much more impatient guy than I am.
Dodgers just designated Tyler White and Kyle Garlick!
I am a little surprised White was designated. Most of you aren’t, but there’s that sight and vision thing…
I know White made some serious positive changes. But that doesn’t surprise me.
Garlick. I liked. I thought he might get a chance. I have a feeling there will be some Joc news in the next few days.
Trades could still be worked out….
Could get interesting. White has no options remaining, so he has to remain on the 26 man for whatever team picks him up. That might be tough this close to ST. Would he accept an assignment to OKC or take FA?
Garlick has two options, so he is more likely to get picked up and/or be subject to a trade. If not picked up he will be assigned to OKC, but I see that as a longshot. I am hopeful that it can be worked out where the Dodgers keep him.
It looks like the first of potentially multiple lawsuits has hit the Astros sign stealing scheme. Mike Bolsinger has filed suit against the Astros using his dreadful August 4, 2017 outing in Houston as Exhibit A for being released and out of MLB.
Per MLBTR, “It’s that departure from the major-league ranks that forms the factual basis for Bolsinger’s long-shot litigation. His last MLB appearance came in a Blue Jays uniform. It turned out to be a brutal August 4, 2017 outing — the very same game in which the trashcan banging scheme reached its apparent zenith. Bolsinger ended up being dumped by the Jays the day after he was tuned up by the sign-stealing ’Stros.”
“There is little question that the terrible results sealed Bolsinger’s fate, though that hardly establishes his right to relief (or even to pursue the suit).”
It will be interesting to see how far this goes. The author presumes that much of the evidence into the scheme will be on display in discovery. How many of the players will be called. This could bust wide open.
While I sympathize with Bolsinger, and with out seeing what causes of action that are alleged, I think that will be a short lived lawsuit. Hard to envision any specific duty that the Astros owed him.
Joc as a Dodger in 2020. The news of my death is greatly exaggerated.
Stripling put a tweet up yesterday that he has since removed that he was happy to stay with the Dodgers and not go to the Angels. Who knows how Joc feels. If he’s allowed to compete for LF he will probably win the job.