I felt Freddie Freeman would get in the vicinity of $200 Million so when I heard $162 million for 6 years, I was shocked. $27 Million a year for the NL MVP… and yet Corey Seager got $325 Million? I’ll take it! Even at his advanced age, I will take Freddie Freeman for half of what Corey Seager got paid!
Look at this lineup – just for fun, I am going to put the player’s best season stats beside their name:
- Mookie Betts – RF (129 R, 47 2B, 32 HR, .346 BA, 1.078 OPS)
- Freddie Freeman – 1B (113 R, 34 2B, 38 HR, 121 RBI, .295 BA, .938 OPS)
- Trea Turner – SS (107 R, 34 2B, 28 HR, .328 BA, .911 OPS)
- Max Muncy – 2B (35 HR, 391 OB%, .973 OPS)
- Will Smith – C (25 HR, .365 OB%, .860 OPS – he had over .900 OPS his first two years)
- Cody Bellinger – CF (121 R, 47 HR, 115 RBI, 95 BB, .305 BA, 1.035 OPS)
- Justin Turner – 3B/DH (21 HR, ,322 BA, ,945 OPS) – He has hit 27 HR 3 times)
- Edwin Rios – 3B/DH (He has just 174 ABs, but hit 31 HR in 2019 at AAA)
- AJ Pollock – LF (27 2B, 21 HR, .297 BA, .892 OPS)
Bench: Barnes, Beaty, Outman, Alberto, Lux, Taylor (Outman may not make it)
It could be argued that everyone in the above lineup has 30 Home Run Power Ability. Now, I know that all 9 will not hit 30 HR, but the Dodger record for most players with 30 HR is four. That was back in 1977, when Steve Garvey, Reggie Smith, Ron Cey, and Dusty Baker all hit at least 30. Could the Dodger break that with five in 2022… shoot, six is possible. Of course, a lot has to go right, but it could happen.
Mookie and Cody are allegedly healthy and so is Edwin Rios. 3B is Edwin’s job to lose. JT could play there a lot, but Edwin will get the opportunity to play against RHP. He has worked extremely hard to deserve this opportunity. I am rooting for him. P.S. Don’t look over your shoulder, Miguel Vargas is lurking.
Financial Impact
MLB Trade Rumors summed up what we currently know:
The exact financial structure of Freeman’s deal isn’t yet known, but contracts’ average annual values are used for luxury tax purposes anyhow. Adding $27MM to that mark pushes the 2022 CBT tab north of $277MM, in the estimation of Jason Martinez of Roster Resource. Because they exceeded the CBT last season, the Dodgers will be subject to escalating fees as a second-time payor. They’ll be taxed at a 30% rate for every dollar spent between $230MM and $250MM, a 42% clip on overages between $250MM and $270MM, a 75% rate on overages between $270MM and $290MM and a 90% tax on all expenditures north of $290MM.
In addition to the financial cost, the Dodgers will take on some non-monetary penalties for signing a player who had rejected a qualifying offer. Because they paid the luxury tax last year, they’ll lose their second-highest and fifth-highest picks in the upcoming draft and be stripped of $1MM in international signing bonus space. The Braves, as a team that neither received revenue sharing nor paid the luxury tax, will receive a compensatory pick after Competitive Balance Round B in the upcoming draft. Those selections typically fall in the 70-75 overall range.
I guess when your farm system is rated #1, you can afford to lose a couple of picks. I would not look for another significant free-agent signing, but there could be a trade or two. They don’t have to happen now. They could happen at the Trade Deadline. Patience Grasshoppers. The 800-pound gorilla is still in the room (Trevor Bauer)… and maybe the Dodgers know something we don’t… and I am not even suggesting what!
For the record, I did not think this would happen, but I am glad to be wrong. I hope Freddie can age like Justin.
Player Profile: Hanser Alberto
Hanser is not a minor leaguer, but he is the only “Hanser” to play in the Major Leagues. He is not a newcomer to MLB but he is a newcomer to the Dodgers, so here is his profile story. Hanser Joel Alberto Peña was born on October 17, 1992, in the Dominican Republic. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles, and Kansas City Royals. Alberto signed as an international free agent with the Texas Rangers in November 2009, receiving a $75,000 signing bonus. He is listed at 5′ 11″ and 215 pounds. Between 2015 and 2018, he bounced around the Rangers organization, getting 182 ABs but missing the 2017 season with a shoulder injury.
In November 2018, he was selected off waivers from the Rangers by the New York Yankees. In January 2019, the Orioles selected him off waivers from the NY Yankees. A month later, the Giants selected him off waivers from the O’s, and then a few days later, the Orioles took him back. 2019 was his best and only full season, where he had 550 ABs, hitting .305, with a .329 OB%. He also put up a 3.5 WAR for Baltimore that year. He had 219 ABs in 2020 and hit .283 and followed that up with .270 in 2021.
He has 17 HR in 1228 plate appearances, so he is not a power guy. He has gap power and learned early on that you do not get off the Island by walking. You have to hit your way off. He has not walked much in the past, but I am sure the Dodgers will try and get him to be more selective. He is 29 years old and may or may not take to that. What you do need to know is that this guy absolutely rakes against LHP! For his career, he has a .333 BA against them to go with a .354 OB% and .815 OPS.
He knows that he is coming to the Dodgers as a role player. A lot of you shrugged when the Dodgers signed him. I think you might be munching on some crow very soon. Many of you thought that Albert Pujols was good against LHP. The truth is: Alberto is even better… about 40 points better (.294 to .333). This is exactly the type of bench player the Dodgers need. The Dodgers struggled to find consistent bench production last year. That’s why the Dodgers signed a guy who doesn’t have big power, but can get you that hit to continue the inning.
Last year with the Royals, Hanser played second base, third base, shortstop, and also DH. Between the four, he had the most appearances at third base (49). Alberto profiles as a high contact hitter that rarely strikes out. Among hitters with at least 250 plate appearances, Alberto had the fourth-lowest strikeout rate in the majors (10.2%). Oddly enough he doesn’t walk either – he had the worst walk rate (1.6%).
I think we are going to love this guy! Bloom where you are planted, Hanser.
More Dodger News
- David Price wants to be in the mix to start: MLB.com I’m from Missouri, David – You have to show me!
- Dodgers Minor Leagie Coaching Staffs: The full list is right there!
- Dustin May expects to return from Tommy John surgery at some point the final third of the 2022 regular season. He is back to throwing and full workouts and is targeting early next month to get off a mound for the first time since the elbow injury that ended his season last May.
- Caleb Ferguson and Tommy Kahnle, who are also recovering from Tommy John surgery, are both expected to throw bullpen sessions this week.
- I believed that the Dodgers would re-sugn Jimmy Nelson – he may not pitch this year, but the Dodgers have stood with him and he has stood with the Dodgers.
Darius Rucker
My wife is taking me to see Darius Rucker tomorrow night. We both love his current stuff as well as back when he was Hootie and the Blowfish.
You lose Corey Seager, sign Freddie Freeman and the the Dodgers are better team today, Better defense in the infield. and more versatility with the DH to rest guys.. Plus Freddie plays every day and Corey had a history of injuries, some not his fault. Never thought Atlanta would let him go, but Liberty is a stock trading company that owns the Braves and every dollar counts as a return to stockholders. Ecstatic that he is a Dodger. Welcome aboard!!
WOW! I have been a Dodger fan since 1958 and I can’t think of another year that I have been more excited to see “Dodger Baseball.” And, with the rule changes coming in 2023, I look forward to many more years of enjoying my favorite sport and favorite team….Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
You never know Gavin lux may have a break through year which will make us even better
Would be nice but where does he play so he can get regular at bats?
Lots of ABs.
LOTS.
I want him to be the regular second baseman, Muncy to DH, Justin staying at third.
Rios backs up Justin at third.
Taylor backs up Lux at second.
Muncy gets 80% of his at bats at DH.
LF, DH, 3B, 2B, RF, Bench
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! I’m so glad the Dodgers pulled the trigger on this deal. Freddie is one of best pure hitters in baseball. I think batting average is not as valued these days as it should be. Constant contact keeps the line moving. He’s huge in the postseason and with RISP. Welcome home Freddie! I’ll see ya on the peninsula! This is the best lineup in baseball. I can’t wait to see how many records they’ll break as a unit this year.
Well, AF did it again. This is the best team he’s assembled so far. A team full of veterans, mostly in their prime years. The top of the lineup is stacked with some of the best hitters in baseball. The bottom of the lineup looks like the 4-6 hitters on most other teams. Is there another team with so many former Cy Young and MVP winners? I almost feel sorry for opposing pitchers. Hopefully we can have some health on our side.
Even I am excited and am coming out of retirement to say so!
Glad to see you back. Hope to see you around more often.
Good to see you back, Jeff.
Number 5 is available for Freddie. Corey was kind enough to abandon it. This signing makes me forget about Corey.
This years line up to start the season is intimidating. What’s even more impressive is the leadership that Betts and Freeman will provide. Talent is one thing but having a team with “good guys” is critical to winning championships.
It’s time for Dodger Baseball…………….
WE not ME.
Thats what they need to buy into, keep the line moving….
Plenty of not “good guys” won the World Series. Kirk Gibson, Don Drysdale, Pete Rose, Mike Schmidt, Lenny Dykstra, Keith Hernandez, Darryl Strawberry, Jose Canseco, Dizzy Dean, Carlos Correa, Ardolis Chapman, Roger Clemens, Ty Cobb.
But it’s more fun to root for the good guys! And then there’s always Bauer if you need a “bad guy”.
Best line-up Jeff Passan has seen since he began covering baseball.
The Dodgers are beyond loaded, now all they need is health and the pitching to hold up.
Funny how people view things these days. Advanced age, 32. Looks like a player who will hold up well.
So, the Dodgers lose Corey Seager and come out ahead. The luck of the Irish, I guess. The Dodgers the clear favorites to win the World Series.
Are the Dodgers done? Maybe not. Not sure. They may pursue additIonal pitching, may depend on the status of Trevor Bauer. I’m guessing a decision has been made. Reasonable to expect an announcement any day.
Yes, it would be nice if David Price stepped up.
Maybe they should name a bridge after the Dodgers.
Great move AF. Excited as heck to see this line-up grind every game. Heaney, Gonsolin and Price need to grab the #5 SP spot (assuming the first four are Walker, Julio, CK and TB). Hoping Ferguson, Kahnle, Hudson, Bickford, Vesia, Gonzales, Brusdar and Treinen are lights out.
What about Jansen. It sure seems like he’s waiting around for the Dodgers to make some kind of decent offer that he could accept. I’d love to have him back. Got to hand it to Dodger ownership. They are all in financially. Thank you Mr Walter! How about another 15 for Kenley!Im calling a huge comeback year from VGon!
Things are nicely falling into place. Now some resolution on Bauer would be nice. Oh yeah, and “boat-anchor” David Price. Without Bauer, I don’t love the depth of starters but again, I think we will see Bauer and get some mileage out of Pepiot, Miller and May this season. I’ll stand by my reluctance to shop for a rental starter and look to give those innings to pitchers on the roster currently, unless a deal falls in AF’s lap.
There are 3 outcomes with a prospect in an organization, baring injury. One, you get an opportunity and run with it. It might not be quick or linear but given a chance, you seize it. Two, you never get a legit shot. You may be buried behind a better player or 2. They don’t seem to like you and you hope to get out of the organization. And finally, they get a legit shot and don’t nail down the spot. And you run out of chances. I think in this day and age, with all of the information and eyes on players, there are more opportunities.
So let me toss out a complete hypothetical, now that we signed Freddie with Muncy moving to 2nd and assuming he’s healthy. If the Dodgers lock up Trea Turner to an extension and with CT3 doing his thing, Gavin Lux may have gone from untouchable prospect (along with K-Bear) to trade bait. It happens quickly. Lux had a look at 2nd, didn’t run with it and may find himself in a totally different situation with Freeman signing. The window can be short and baseball moves quickly.
The only way the Dodgers can lock up Trea Turner is to give him “market value” which is $325+ Million. Otherwise, why would he sign?
I think you may be surprised, he has been traded twice, wants to win, is a warm weather guy, likes the crowd size and energy in LA. He might go for a shorter duration higher aav number that is less risk for the team. A high aav long term contract or two can blow a team up. Mookie is great but his contract is a huge risk. They don’t want another.
I can’t believe so many people still feel Bauer will be pitching for us this year. I’d bet my left nut he never wears a Dodgers uniform again.
In that case I hope you still have your right one.
My left nut is nearly of no value, but I wouldn’t put it up on any bet like that. Either one doesn’t have all that much of a future even anyways. No body parts on the line till life parts. tic-tic-tic.
Precisely my thinking re Freeman being a better value than Seager. Much better, really. Especially since Freddie has been one of the games most durable players in recent years, while Seager has so much trouble staying on the field.
And yes, Trea Turner will field SS better too.
And Freddie’s durability suggests that he could produce well into his late 30s. Pujols was damaged goods when Arte Moreno paid too much for him. Joey Votto just had a fine season despite his age. And why is my brain blanking on the thumper still crushing the ball at 41???
Some projections have Freeman batting 2nd, between Mookie and Trea, for a right-left-right start, with Muncy batting cleanup. That seems right, since Freddie batted 2nd for the Braves, and his OBA last year was up around .390.
Any word yet on a new SP?
Well just reported that Roberts told Rich Eigen that he doesn’t expect Bauer to pitch for Dodgers in near future if ever!
This is our surprised face
Media totally spun that comment. Not at all what he said….
Full disclosure: I never have and probably never will watch the Rich Eisen show.
BUT, to Matt’s point, the show’s own Twitter handle said this:
A previous tweet from our account characterizing Dave Roberts not expecting Trevor Bauer soon or “if ever again” has been deleted. It was an inaccurate portrayal of Roberts’ comments in an appearance on today’s show, which can be heard in its entirety here. We regret the error.
https://twitter.com/RichEisenShow/status/1504564708786913305
Also:
MLB and the MLBPA have agreed to extend Trevor Bauer’s administrative leave through April 16, according to a league source.
I went back and listened to it. See my response below.
The media simply suck!
The media is fine, and that comment is easy and silly.
Celebrate the media, well the US media, it’s glorious and great.
The media did nothing, the show itself mischaracterized what Roberts said.
I guess I am old-fashioned.
The media used to report the facts…
Now they make their own.
IT IS NOT THE MEDIA!
It was Rich Eisen’s social media intern.
Paint with a big enough brush and you’ll get paint on everyone.
P.S. Yes, I’m speculating it was an intern. It could be the producer or coordinator or whatever.
Whether this was a social media intern or not, or whether they issued a correction/retraction (only after getting eviscerated on social media by people who actually listened to the interview), things like this are all too common, and untruths are allowed to make their way through the media with regularity, especially if there are politics involved.
Whether you agree or not, there is a political backdrop/ideological backdrop to the Trevor Bauer case.
The media is “glorious and great?” What?! That sounds a lot like a “Our Dear Leader” proclamation you’d hear in North Korea.
Love this line:
Whether you agree or not, there is a political backdrop/ideological backdrop to the Trevor Bauer case.
WTF does that mean? And what in the world does it have to do with a tweet mischaracterizing a sentiment from a sports show?!???!?!?!?
And, our media is great. It’s glorious. It’s the envy of the world.
Not sure you’d say that about anything in North Korea except maybe the commercial real estate potential?
“WTF does that mean? And what in the world does it have to do with a tweet mischaracterizing a sentiment from a sports show?!???!?!?!?”
In the interest of “elevating the dialog” can I make some amendments to your statement here? So, instead of “WTF,” which is just an abbreviation for “what the fuck,” which I think you’d agree is unnecessarily course for our elevated dialog, how about this?
“Although it sounds insightful and intriguing, I’m not quite sure of your meaning here, dodgerpatch. Would you care to elaborate?”
The journalistic standards and integrity that used to be associated with American media, and that made it respected worldwide has rapidly eroded. We both know who Bari Weiss is, so I presume you know why she left the NYT. That is but one data point in a pattern.
The 1997 Dodgers also featured four 30 HR guys, Piazza, Karros, Mondesi, and Todd Zeile. Welcome to LA Freddie. May your success here be as rewarding as in Atlanta.
Nice details on Hanser Alberto!
The way he hits lefties could lead to a platoon with Lux at 2B, with Muncy moving to DH. And yes, Rios and JT could also platoon at 3rd. This would leave Taylor as the everyday UT guy.
Beatty, McKinstry and maybe Outman could battle for the last spot.
I’d love to see what Rios can do with more of a chance, but I could see him packaged in a deal for an SP.
If Belli and Mookie get back to their level I want them at the top of the lineup behind Trea Turner I want those three to run, to be a nuisance, a nightmare on the bases, the Dodgers have to incorporate base stealing into their game and It will be an even more fun team to watch, if Lux or CT3 are the ninth batter then it will be four in a row.
Freeman has very “nice” numbers: AVG, HR, BB, OBP, OPS but he should have more RBI with those numbers, I wonder if he only has RBI with HR, I liked what AGon did, he brought RBI anyway.
With those Freeman stats I expect 100+ RBI and I’ll put him behind Trea, Belli and Betts to bring them home.
A player who will benefit from the DH will be Will Smith, he with a little over 400 AB had 25 HR and 70+RBI, repeating that workload as a Catcher but adding 100-120 AB as a DH could reach 30 HR and more of 90 RBI.
lineup:
SS TT
CF Bellinger (reborn)
RF Betts (the team’s best situational hitter)
1B Freeman (hit all those balls with people on base and convert them to RBI, the first three will be constantly on base)
C Will Smith
D. H. Muncy
L. F. Pollock
3B Turner/Ríos
2B Lux (his approach to the offense in September when he blew up is correct: put the ball in play, use the whole park, steal bases, add surprise bunt to his game, take advantage of his speed)
It was exciting to see the news about Freeman signing. It makes me look forward to the season much more than I would have, as up until then we were sort of losers in the winter market. Now we have a great lineup, very versatile, and exciting to watch. Credit to the owners for making this happen, and not letting Freeman go somewhere else, while having to mix and match.
The statement by Roberts about Bauer surprises me, as I do not understand how someone who was never charged with a crime is somehow treated as if he were convicted of one. We are unlikely to get much for Bauer, so we are short-handed in terms of starting pitching, if we have to depend on Price, Heaney or Gonsolin. But hopefully we can come up with something, though almost all of the starting pitching has been taken, and I wonder why we didn’t do something earlier if we did not intend to keep Bauer.
At this point, I will just enjoy the Freeman acquisition, and the great lineup we will have, assuming most of the players stay healthy. I was thinking that I might like to see a lineup of Trea Turner, Betts, Freeman, Muncy, Justin Turner, Smith, Bellinger, Lux, in that order. It will likely be the best Dodgers lineup since they came to Los Angeles.
Did you forget Pollock?
That’s right, we have nine hitters in the lineup now, not easy to get used to. I don’t like the DH, but at least we have a lineup which is deeper than anyone’s, if they stay healthy.
I would not be surprised to see T Turner traded for a pitcher. Last year of his contract and I don’t Ty he get the extension from the Dodgers he is looking for.
Well, I know VERY little, but I’d say (to quote Dean Wormer) there’s Zero point zero chance of that, Scott L.
I have always thought #5 should be the Dodgers first baseman. It finally happened.
Bauer is payroll/CBT poison.
I agree with those that want speed at top and bottom of lineup.
Trea
Bellinger
Betts
Freeman
Smith
Muncy
Justin
Lux
Taylor
If I recall correctly Corey Seager didn’t get resigned and wasn’t traded. Where did that get us?
Not a where, nor an us, but…
The Dodgers received 21 WAR.
I think that there are two chances of Trea Turner getting traded:
1. Slim; and
2. None!
It will be much harder to win a championship without him… and if the Dodgers want him, they will re-sign him next year.
A good to great season from Lux this year might make Trea expendable once he becomes a free agent.
We will receive a draft pick in this year’s amateur draft for Seager and the Dodgers were never paying Seager $325 million for ten years based on his injury history. Trea Turner will lead us to a World Championship this year.
Won’t the Seager pick come with next year’s draft?
I could research this, so thanks in advance for an answer.
I believe it comes in this year’s draft.
PRESS RELEASE
DODGERS SIGN JIMMY NELSON
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher Jimmy Nelson for the 2022 season with a club option for 2023.
Nelson, 32, appeared in 28 games for the Dodgers last season, going 1-2 with a 1.86 ERA (6 ER/29.0 IP) and 44 strikeouts. He was placed on the injured list on August 4, 2021, with right elbow inflammation and missed the rest of the season after having season-ending Tommy John surgery. The Florida native has been with the Dodgers since 2020 and he has completed parts of seven seasons in the Major Leagues. In his MLB career, he is 34-48 with a 4.12 ERA (303 ER/662.1 IP) and 622 strikeouts.
He began his career with the Milwaukee Brewers after being drafted in the second round of the 2010 First Year Player Draft out of the University of Alabama. In six seasons with the Brewers, he went 33-46 with a 4.22 ERA (297 ER/633.1 IP) and 578 strikeouts. He finished ninth in the Cy Young voting in 2017 after going 12-6 with a 3.49 ERA (68 ER/175.1 IP) and 199 strikeouts in 28 starts.
He won’t pitch this season.
Nice version of a great song. I am partial to the version by the ” Old Crow Medicine Show” See the cast of Duck Dynasty is in that video. Old Sy driving the first pickup. As for the Dodgers, there will have to be a roster move to add Freddie. Matters not who it is. Bauer, only way he does not pitch for LA again is if he is suspended for the season or released and I don’t see management eating 40 mil plus. Signing not official yet until he has his physical. Just a formality at this point. I really hate to disappoint those who keep talking about May coming back. When he does, it will be out of the pen. No way he is going to be ready to start games unless it is as an opener this season. The guy is not even throwing off of a mound yet. I think if AF is going to bolster the rotation, it will be with a trade. No way Turner gets traded. Lux is not nearly the offensive or defensive player he is and he is the second option after Taylor at SS. Another thing to consider is that MLB is considering increasing the roster at least at the beginning of the season, but there will only be 13 pitchers allowed on the roster. Villar signs with the Cubs.
Here’s another great version of a great song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPmnrivfJWk
Thank you Old Bear I so much enjoy your posts. They are very informative and correct 99.9% of the time.
Thank you, I really appreciate that.
Rich Eisen says Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told him on his show “he plans to not have Trevor Bauer for the foreseeable future, if ever again.”
Why is the league still silent on this?
Yeah, what gives on this deal from Manfred? He needs to get off the pot with our $40 million dollars. This is Bull Puckie.
They have until tomorrow.
All, I can say is be careful what you read in the media. They are very good at twisting words at just the right time (innocently) wink, wink!
I listened to the podcast and Dave Roberts did not say anything close to that. Start listening to the Podcast at 23.40. He was trying to put words in Dave’s mouth.
If Rich tweeted that, he is damn liar!
Nice day at CamelBack Ranch. Caught an inter squad game with live pitching. Some regulars got some AB’s with Outman and McKinstry batting each 1/2 inning. Lots of reps and looks at non-roster guys; Raley, Pages, Neuse, Hoese and Busch. Catman look so-so, Bruihl so-so, Phillips struggled to throw strikes and White looked great. The highlight was seeing Kaleb Ferguson back out there. He was rusty and up but the ball came out of his hand great. Free and easy with some pop. I told him so as he was exiting and he said his arm feels great.
McKinstry made a fan for life as he exited with few folks around. He stopped for pictures and autographs with a few people still around. The players had green Dodger hats on and McKinstry asked the young gal if she wanted his green hat. He signed it and she was on cloud 9. I love to see the players talking and being fan-friendly.
I called out to AF as he walked by – thanks for signing Freeman and he nodded and had a big smile on his face.
First game tomorrow.
I thought Neuse went back to the A’s.
He was claimed off waivers by the A’s yesterday.
My bad on the Neuse sighting. I must be seeing things.
Bauer’s administrative leave extended through April 16. I’m really irritated. If CK isn’t ready to go, the rotation could be Bueller, Urias, Gonsolin, Heaney and Price. What happens if/when Gonsolin can’t answer the bell?
Mitch White, Andre Jackson???
But a very good question. Who will be on pitching roster? I think the uncertainty re Bauer–and the new rules that will make it harder to yoyo pitchers up and down from OKC– argues for another proven starter like Castillo or Manaea or ??
Friedman said that he had the go ahead from ownership to acquire an impact talent and that was the reason they opened up the checkbook to get Freddie.
He makes the bench better by relegating Taylor, Lux, Muncy, Pollock or Justin Turner to the bench or for off days or to DH.
Assuming Pollock starts in LF, Freeman at 1B, Turner at 3B and Muncy at 2B then Lux and Taylor are on the bench, but obviously they are interchangeable parts.
Bench of Taylor, Lux, Barnes, Alberto and Beaty sends “light tower power” guy Rios to OKC. A 5 man bench means a 13 man pitching staff, and Rios has less positional flexibility or value than the others do. (One of the bench guys will of course DH). I suppose they can go with a 6 man bench and a 12 man staff but they haven’t been doing that often lately.
This means a rotation of Buehler, Urias, Kershaw with the other 2 spots up for grabs. Bauer is one if he plays for LA next year, but this is not close to being a certainty. Posters should quit conflating the lack of criminal prosecution with MLB’s discipline system. They are totally unrelated! Furthermore, the Dodgers could choose not to let him play/cut/trade him regardless of what MLB chooses to do.
A rotation with 2 of Gonsolin, Price, Heaney, White and Jackson in it is not a strength. My Giants fan friends (seemingly an oxymoron) think that this is a potential weakness for the Dodgers and it’s not hard to understand why. Last season down the stretch the Dodgers had a 3 man rotation of Buehler, Urias and Scherzer with Kershaw out and now Scherzer is a Met. This has to be viewed as a potential weakness and I would have preferred for Friedman to acquire a pitcher who is more of a sure thing than Heaney for the rotation than buy Freddie Freeman. Freeman is great but I think they need pitching.
Or it puts a guy like Rios in a trade for a pitcher…
I posted this a few minutes ago:
All, I can say is be careful what you read in the media. They are very good at twisting words at just the right time (innocently) wink, wink!
I listened to the podcast and Dave Roberts did not say anything close to that. Start listening to the Podcast at 23.40. He was trying to put words in Dave’s mouth.
If Rich tweeted that, he is damn liar!
P.S. The tweet has been deleted!
This tweet was put up in its place:
“A previous tweet from our account characterizing Dave Roberts not expecting Trevor Bauer soon or “if ever again” has been deleted. It was an inaccurate portrayal of Roberts’ comments in an appearance on today’s show, which can be heard in its entirety here. We regret the error.”
Gotta give ’em credit for the mea culpa.
Let’s trade Bauer to the Reds for Castillo. Offer to pay 90 % of his salary this season and 50% the next year only if he chooses to exercise his option. We have to pay him any and way we avoid having a cancer in the dugout. Castillo’s salary for the two seasons would not equal half of Bauer’s last season, possibly. Just a thought, Could even include Lux if necessary.
Can’t do anything while he is on the suspended list.
And now that won’t happen until the season starts, as per Plunkett:
Before spring training started, Dave Roberts said he wasn’t ready to “close the door completely” on Trevor Bauer being in camp with the Dodgers at some point. MLB did that for him, extending Bauer’s administrative leave into the first month of the season.
Not only are the Dodgers paying an incredibly high salary to a pitcher who isn’t allowed to pitch, but they are also being taxed on that salary because it pushes them over, or higher over, the CBT.
I think the front office should petition MLB to at least not be taxed on the extra salary that they are being forced to pay. Although I know Bauer would most certainly rather be pitching, at least he’s being paid not to.
The Dodgers are being made to pay a much higher penalty here than the supposed offender.
You can start an online petition!
It’ll have the same effect.
I wonder if they’ve even brought it up to Manfred.
As my dad used to say, “Don’t ever be afraid to ask. If they say no, you’re in the same position you are now.”
We need that extra money to help with Trea’s extension.
But once one gets the first no, it becomes easier for the giver to give a second no and so on and on.
As of right now there are 42 players on the 40 man roster. Nelson will go on the 60 day IL as soon as they can put him there. Bauer is on admin leave. Who goes when they activate Freeman?
Dustin May
According to the times, Bauer’s suspension has been extended to 30 days.
Bauer is NOT SUSPENDED! He is on administrative lead. Huge difference.
Looks like we’re bringing back Danny Duffy. This could be an excellent signing if he can stay healthy.
Another smart move by AF for the second half of the season.
Just getting into my bed after 2 fantastic days at the Cheltenham Festival.
Was like I was in Ireland today with the amount of Irishness everywhere I’ve been.
What a great nation they are. They know how to have fun.
What a time to be a Dodger’s fan. We are very lucky.
I keep hearing that MLB can suspend Bauer regardless of whether he is charged or not. In most (if not all) of these cases, there are witnesses or a confession. Police records are generally sealed, but like in another egregious case, Roberto Ozuna, the charges were dropped in favor of a plea deal. BINGO! He admitted some sort of wrongdoing and thus the commissioner had the authority to suspend him… even without police records.
In Bauer’s case, there are no charges. There is no plea here. Bauer has admitted nothing. The evidence proves the woman had bruises and injuries, but the witness was deemed misleading, so she has already lost credibility. She has accused Bauer of things and here is Bauer’s response:
Now, it’s a free country and you are free to form your own opinion, but you can’t make up your own facts. This is a classic case of “he said, she said” and I have a feeling Trevor Bauer is going to go on the offense. Right about now, the best defense is a good offense. The commish has no basis to suspend him. Can he? He can if the evidence warrants. I do not believe for a second he can go against the evidence… and he has none. He is the commissioner, but he is not a czar or dictator, even though he might want to be.
Well…. Didn’t Bauer say she wanted “rough sex” and he provided it? That’s the old “she wanted it” defense–and it might be true! I’m not sure if she has made any public statements that might contradict Bauer. Even this is a case of consenting adults, it’s still possible to cross a poorly defined line into criminality.
The fact that the DA declined to charge a crime does not mean that nothing happened. While Bauer may consider it an exoneration, what it really means is the DA concluded there was insufficient evidence to prosecute–that the chances of a conviction were slim. .l
I’ve yet to hear anybody in the Dodger organization speak up in support of Bauer. Perhaps I’ve missed something, Has anyone vouched for his character? Imagine if Mookie or JT or just about any other player, and you’d probably hear people saying ” I’m really shocked” or “I can’t believe it” or “That’s not the Mookie we know.” But instead its been pretty much silence. No doubt that part of this was the advice from top brass, but I still think it speaks volumes. Before the incident, DR said stuff about how Bauer was “fitting in well” and the usual cliches. But I think the everyone from the bat boy to Kasten feels that Bauer let the team down–and I don’t think anyone was really shocked by it.
As I’ve said before, the best outcome for MLB, the Dodgers and Bauer himself could be for a fresh start somewhere else–mostly at the Dodgers’ expense. We don’t know what negotiations may be going on. Does Manfred have the power to say, “I’ll lift the suspension under these circumstances.” I don’t know. I also don’t know if the contracts and rules would enable Bauer to sue the MLB. But I sure don’t get the impression that the Dodgers are eager to have him back.
He is not suspended. He is on admin leave. MLB has not concluded it’s investigation. He can be suspended anytime Manfred wants. But mark my words, the MLBPA is going to fight any suspension, as will his legal team.
I believe Bauer’s words completely in the above. There’d be too big of a chance that anything false by him would come back and bite all credibility from the smallest lie told as he had already been convicted by popular opinion. I hadn’t been a big Bauer fan but to me it sure seems like somebodies tried inventing a payday. Bauer’s mannerisms, at least to me, show the color of truth. Yes he was very reckless and got himself into this mess but blaming him beyond that is wrong. I think he already has suffered more than he had coming with this issue. Karma is manmade and often wrong. It can wrongly kill. The public were accusers of witches that went through trials that didn’t favor with whatever defense the accused gave. Are we still living in those times?
here is the list of MLB players suspended for domestic violence, courtesy of Wikipedia. MLB adopted its new DV policy in 2016;
Player Team Date Length Ref.
Wil Cordero Boston Red Sox July 4, 1997 8 games [8]
Aroldis Chapman New York Yankees March 1, 2016 30 games [7]
José Reyes Colorado Rockies May 13, 2016 51 games [9][10]
Héctor Olivera Atlanta Braves May 26, 2016 82 games [11]
Jeurys Familia New York Mets March 29, 2017 15 games [12]
Derek Norris Free agent September 1, 2017 Remainder of the season [13]
Steven Wright Boston Red Sox March 23, 2018 15 games [14]
José Torres San Diego Padres June 8, 2018 100 games [15]
Roberto Osuna Toronto Blue Jays June 22, 2018 75 games [16]
Addison Russell Chicago Cubs September 21, 2018 40 games [17]
Odúbel Herrera Philadelphia Phillies July 5, 2019 Remainder of the season (85 games) [18]
Julio Urías Los Angeles Dodgers August 17, 2019 20 games [19]
Domingo Germán New York Yankees January 2, 2020 81 games [20]
Sam Dyson Free Agent March 5, 2021 Season (162 games) [21]
How many of these guys were ever convicted of a crime?
None You do not have Ozuna listed on this list. He is still under suspension I believe.
I do not have time to look up every one of them but in mouse cases, it was either seen by witnesses or admitted to, or plead out. In Urias case, it was very sketchy, but there were witnesses who said he pushed her. She said he didn’t.
Addison Russel admitted it and got help. I’ll look them all up later. Maybe tomorrow. I have a busy day.
In Bauer’s case, he denies it, and says she did not have bruises when she left. In fact, she stayed the night.
I don’t anyone is really conflating the legal system with the MLB’s individual policies regarding player behavior. We understand the two are separate, and no one is saying the MLB should be bound by a legal judgement. People here are simply pointing out the ethical problems with continuing to deny Bauer the ability to fulfill his contract and earn a living based on an accusation that an authoritative investigative body has determined to be lacking in merit.
I picked one of the players above at random and looked a little further into the case. With Adubel Herrera, there is ample evidence that he did assault his girlfriend, but the legal case did not move forward because she declined to press charges or provide any testimony. Not so with Bauer. There was ample evidence that the encounter was consensual.
The MLB does have the authority to suspend players for violating its domestica abuse policy, but there has to be some limits or evidentiary standard or it simply becomes a kangaroo court. If Bauer feels he is wrongly accused does he have a grievance or have any ability to contest the judgement of the MLB?
So mlb.com is, of course, a kind of propaganda. It’s an independent news source in the way that Russia’s RT is “independent.” (And kudos to those Russian journalists who have decided to quit rather than spout the party line in recent weeks. At least one has reportedly been jailed.)
But mlb.com is just about major league baseball, not really a matter of grave importance. Still, I get the impression there are directives from on high to avoid a certain subject. Consider this passage in an article today:
It’s easy to forget, but there was a lot that didn’t go right for the Dodgers in 2021.
Remember what happened to the starting rotation: Dustin May got hurt, and so did Clayton Kershaw. Cole Hamels and Danny Duffy never showed up. Remember that Cody Bellinger played through multiple injuries and hit a miserable .165, and that Corey Seager broke his hand and missed half the year, and that Mookie Betts never seemed to get fully untracked due to a hip injury, and that the once-vaunted depth was stretched so thin that Stephen Souza Jr. and Billy McKinney were taking high-leverage plate appearances at important points.
Back to moi…. So, Hamels and Duffy get mentioned–but there is no mention of a certain suspension. Not even a passing reference.
Could it just be an oversight? Perhaps. But I think it’s a sign of how much MLB just minimize the matter and wish it matter would go away.
“All hail our great and most glorious Department of Information and Harmonious Thought. I denounce the cowardly running dogs who seek to bring up the unmentionable Trevor Bauer.”
Addendum: Bauer eventually gets mentioned, but buried deep in the article…. way below the non-factors who were Hamels and Duffy.
I think that missing your #3 starter who was an innings eater was a HUGE deal… probably just behind Bellinger’s injury.