I admit that I jumped to conclusions when I heard that the Dodgers had signed Shohei Ohtani for $700 Million. I thought that was insane. It turned out that I had Myopia! In case you don’t know the meaning of myopia, here it is:
“lack of imagination, foresight, or intellectual insight.”
— Dictionary
Yep, I had no clue what his contract would be. No clue! It turns out that I lacked Vision, Foresight, and Intellectual Insight. The Ohtani signing by the Dodgers was a once-in-a-lifetime thing, and I never saw it coming. I was playing checkers and the Dodgers were playing 3D Chess. Don’t fall into the same trap I did.
The trade for Tyler Glasnow and Manuel Margot could be a stroke of genius. That is if Glasnow can stay healthy. That has always been the issue with him, but maybe… just maybe, it’s time for the worm to turn. If Glasnow can make 25 starts in 2024, he may very well win the Cy Young Award. No, he’s not an LHP like Blake Snell, but he has much better control… and much better stuff, for that matter now, if he can just stay healthy.
Dodger fans are losing their minds because Manual Margot is part of this deal. The fact of the matter is that Margot will make $10 Million in 2024, and the Rays are sending the Dodgers $4 Million, so his cost is but $6 Million. OK, I am going to tell you what I told you a couple of years ago: James Outman is a 4th or 5th outfielder! He is very good against RHP, but sucks against lefties. I was willing to give him another season to prove otherwise, but evidently, Andrew Friedman was not.
I think Manual Margot, who is a very good (if not elite) centerfielder, but he is not elite in the power department, is a great platoon partner to James Outman. He is a flawed player… as is James Outman. Outman is not nearly as good defensively (he is improving) as Margot, but they make a great LH/RH platoon.
James Outman hit 24 HR last year – Just one was against a LHP. His OPS against RHP was .857 – that is damn good. It was .664 against LHP – he sucked!
Manual Margot, in his career (back to 2016) has a .760 OPS against LHP and a .41 OB%. That’s 100 points higher than Outman! Margot sucks against RHO – his OPS is the same as Outman’s against LHP. MLBTR said this about Margot:
“Margot hits from the right side and should fit in nicely then. He has generally been a subpar hitter overall but does well with the platoon advantage. He’s hit .281/.341/.420 against lefties in his career for a 109 wRC+ compared to an 82 wRC+ and .244/.294/.370 line against righties.
He’s generally been a strong defender in his career. The grades for his glovework slipped a bit in 2023 but he was coming off a 2022 that he mostly missed due to a significant strain of the patellar tendon in his right knee. The Dodgers will likely be hoping that he’s able to post better results now that he’s further removed from that injury, but if he’s due for a part-time role, it won’t be devastating if that doesn’t come to fruition.“
–– MLB Trade Rumors
This is a great platoon, with both players being flawed, but together, they could be close to elite. What’s not to like about that? Come on, man!
Now, they need to find a platoon partner in RF for Jason Heyward. Chris Taylor could fill that role, but now that the Dodgers have Margot, Kike Hernandez may be the odd man out. CT3 will be the “Swiss Army Knife” and play all over the diamond. Is Andy Pages ready for that? I doubt it, but you never know. Someone asked yesterday about Busch and Vargas. Maybe they are platooning in LF, or maybe one gets traded.
If the Dodgers sign Yamamoto – they are done… well, not quite! I do not expect Gavin Lux to be the starting SS. Even if the Dodgers do not trade for Burnes, they might trade Lux and Rojas, along with a prospect for Adames! Then, they are done!
It appears that the Dodgers will platoon in CF and RF, and I do not get why fans would be upset with that. Of course, this is all contingent upon Tyler Glasnow (an LA Native) signing an extension, and one would have to believe that the Dodgers are pretty confident he will. What is also apparent to me is that Dave Roberts has to lead this 2024 version of the Dodgers to a championship. Nothing else is acceptable at this juncture – fair or not!
The LA Times Bill Plaschke has it nailed today. The moron gets it right now and then:
One of those questions was about whether the signing puts more pressure on the Dodgers to win now.
— Bill Plaschke – The LA Times
“It certainly does,” Roberts said. “Us three sitting up here, Mark [Walter] and our staff and our fans, this is what we dream of, to have the highest of expectations.”
Guess who will bear the weight of those increased expectations? Yeah, the guy who spent the afternoon in the shadows.
But it’s clear that the Ohtani signing puts Roberts under the microscope like never before.
The Dodgers have to win a championship sooner than later, with this new increased heat subtly coming from their new virtual co-owner. Ohtani won’t ever do anything to get a manager fired, but he can certainly withhold his support if the Dodgers aren’t winning titles. He went through three managers in six years in Anaheim, and he’s not backing another first-round collapse.
The way he heard the Dodgers, their last 10 years have been a first-round collapse.
“When I had the meeting with them, the ownership group, they said when they look back at the last 10 years, even though they’ve been to the playoffs every single year, won a World Series ring, they consider that a failure,” Ohtani explained through his interpreter. “When I heard that, I knew they were all about winning.”
Does that mean there are people in the organization who look at Roberts’ eight seasons as a failure? Because that’s just crazy. He’s had his postseason missteps, certainly, but lately those have been a result of the front office’s failure to provide adequate pitching, and his consistent summers have constantly put them in a position to win.
Many Dodgers fans think of Roberts as a dugout Brandon Staley. Those fans need to think again.
The Dodgers have won at least 100 games in five of his eight seasons, his .630 winning percentage is the best in baseball history among managers with at least 1,000 games, and he has three World Series appearances and one World Series championship.
With his endless energy and eternal optimism, Roberts is slowly becoming the new Tommy Lasorda, and he should increasingly play a bigger role in the Dodgers’ family portrait.
Despite the two recent first-round collapses, Roberts is coming off his best managerial season yet — he won a division with half the team in bandages — and he’s the perfect person to guide this now volatile machine through the usual messes.
Ohtani has never experienced the major-league madness that can overtake a Dodgers clubhouse located loudly in the middle of an entertainment capital. He’ll soon learn that he’ll not only want Roberts on that wall, he’ll need him on that wall.
Roberts’ specialty is in muting that madness, having led the team through the distractions of Yasiel Puig, the demons of COVID, and the departures of stars such as Corey Seager and veterans such as Justin Turner.”
The only thing that is acceptable in 2024 is a World Series Championship – anything less and Dave Roberts will be the fall guy! True or not…
So once again you display selective hearing when it comes to Roberts. If ownership considers the last ten years a failure it is despite your data on Roberts brillance. If the Dodgers dont win it all this year Roberts should go. Perhaps the team needs a different voice as my beloved Bums did when they hired Smokey Alston.
Not sure when it was recorded but you tube has a great documentary called Brooklyn Dodgers Ghosts of Flatbush
Duke Oisk Labine etc. are interviewed. i think you would like it Mark if you have not seen it.
Despite differing opinions one thing i appreciate about this site is we all love the Dodgers.
I dont mind the trade because both Glasnow & Margot are just more realized versions of the players we traded.
Pepiot’s stock had fallen considerably before he came back briefly and wowed us. Maybe that was a showcase as he never pitched in the postseason.
Deluca was never that highly regarded as a prospect and he was caught in the middle as not quite starter material but not suited for a bench role.
Glasnow brings upside and pedigree. Margot experience and potential. We still have Sheehan, Stone, Knack, Frasso & Ryan as future starters next year and Hurt, Grove for the pen. Maybe we try Hurt starting again.
It’s a risk but I think it was worth it. Now to see the contract extension.
Contract extension is said to be four years, 110 million. 27 million AAV. I don’t like the fact that Glasnow is so injury prone. 110 mil for a guy who has never pitched more than 120 innings in his career? And he has only pitched 100 plus twice. Overpay in my mind. He is not an ace. Margot is 29 years old. Way past having potential. He is what he is a slap hitter with zero power. Career OPS under .700. OPS + is 91. Sorry this slug does not impress me one bit and other than his experience, he is not an upgrade.
love glasnow in dodger blue! don’t expect him to pitch past the 6th though the majority of thy regular season. i believe they will handle him carefully . if they have a 3-5 run lead after 5 , he will get pulled. i have always loved his stuff! isn’t amazing the pitchers the pirates have sent to other teams? cole, musgrove, glasnow. and i’m forgetting somebody. what a super rotation! Mark you never know. Could AF put outman in a package for Robert? that would be expensive! outman, busch, and cartaya, plus a mid level pitching prospect . would thst tempt the Sox? don’t want yarbrough in the starting rotation, unless they sign Clayton and have him down the stretch healthy! Kershaw ain’t done! every body have a great weekend! sure is looking like a BLUE christmas!
Glasnow does have some decent stuff. But he is injury prone. 110 mil for that? Not down with this at all. Robert Jr. is not getting traded. Although almost everyone else on the Sox is available. They would much rather move Jiminez.
I think you wrong again Mark. Margot is going to platoon with heyward…. they are going to give outman every chance to figure things out against lefties. I’m not even sure Margot will be a Dodger come opening day. From everything I’ve heard they didn’t even want him but the Rays insisted.
Say it with me Mark.
Lux is going to be the shortstop. Gavin Lux is going to be the shortstop. Forget Adames. Lux is cheaper and controllable. He can flat out hit. His defensive skills can get the job done. Pitching is still the focus, not a shortstop.
The Dodgers still need another starting pitcher. Will it be Yamamoto? The way the stars are aligning, the Dodgers may just outbid the rest of the field. As Harold Reynolds said yesterday, the Dodgers are rising above the rest. It’s no longer the Yankees with the financial clout to rule baseball, but it’s the Blue Machine flexing its financial clout. But doing it in a way that allows a great deal of flexibity.
And the Dodgers are moving fast. They are shaking up the baseball world. It’s an absolutely incredible time to be a Dodger fan. They needed to excite their fan base and they’ve done that. Wow!
Dave Roberts is a very good manager. Why people whine about him is beyond me. Makes no sense. He manages a complex group of personalities and egos, gets them working together. Not an easy task. Considering all the injuries to the pitching staff this past season, it’s hard to believe the Dodgers won 100 games. But they did. That’s a compliment to the entire organization and the philosophy they operate under. Most teams would have fallen apart.
If they get Yamamoto, that’s probably a wrap, but if not, some still think Burnes will be traded. That would cost a lot of prospects. I’d rather see them just sign Yamamoto. I think Walker Buehler bounces back and becomes the competitor he was before the surgery.
Hey, I like Bill Plaschke. He writes stuff to stir discussion and he does that well.
AF is not done yet; not by a long shot.
And I too like Roberts. The job he did with all the injuries to the pitching staff last year was masterful. 100 wins with virtually no healthy top line starters should have won him Manager of the Year; in a landslide. Perspective: in 20 seasons as Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda won 2 World Series, 4 National League pennants, and 8 division titles. In just 8 seasons as Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has won 1 World Series, 3 National League pennants, and 7 division titles. 20/2/4 to 8/1/7! Everybody loves Lasorda, but many here don’t care for Roberts. I for one think Roberts is great for this team. Players have to take responsibility for past failures, too.
How about LUX in LF and Rojas as the starting SS?
Id welcome that. Rojas can flat pick it at SS.
If not traded don’t you have to give Busch a shot in LF and see if his bat plays in the bigs the way it did in the minors. And you put Mookie in right against lefties and Vargas at 2nd. He deserves another injury free shot. So basically you’re platooning Heyward and Vargas. And platoon Margot with either Outman or Busch if after a couple of months they don’t hit lefties. So next year it’s time for Lux, Outman, Vargas and Busch to show what they got!
Dodgers, Tyler Glasnow Finalizing Extension
By Steve Adams | December 15, 2023 at 10:00am CDT
10:00am: The extension will guarantee Glasnow four years and $110MM in new money, reports ESPN’s Jeff Passan, bringing his total contract to five years and $135MM from 2024-28. The contract does not contain any deferred money. The contract also contains a sixth-year club option at $30MM, and if that’s declined, Glasnow can pick up a $20MM player option.
For luxury tax purposes, the $20MM player option should be considered guaranteed money, which would make this an effective six-year, $155MM deal. That’d come with a $25.833MM luxury hit, which represents a slight increase over the $25MM at which they’d have previously been taxed on Glasnow’s existing one-year commitment.
Cassidy, I just can’t get excited about the outfielders you just mentioned. Scrubs and fill-ins. Except for Mook when he’s in right. It’s one of the worst outfields in the League. Championship quality? No. It’s not even mediocre. And Vargas? His hands are so bad he could be Dr No.
I disagree. You have to give the youngsters a shot. If it isn’t happening by the deadline then you get an OF bat. Busch and Vargas bats could be special. Don’t know if you don’t give them a shot. A lot of Dodger officials think so.
I agree with “sbuffalo” on Lux – however, I must state that my opinion is based on absolutely no evidence or even deep thought (moronic or otherwise)!
I mainly just like the idea of another hitter in the lineup that doesn’t just frustrate (other words can be used) you with the strikeouts.
Then you add in the hitting abilities, which I really felt were just coming to fruition before the injuries near the end of the 21 season really lowered his stats that at a glance do not paint a full picture of his ceiling.
If it is really needed they can replace him in the latter innings for defensive reasons.
If he is traded I worry he will become another Paul Konerko with the other team for what is a 1-yr rental with somebody who will “frustrate” us with the strikeout.
Good advice not to jump to conclusions, especially when agents are controlling the narrative. Nightengale admits that 95% of his rumors come from agents and they spin the facts to make themselves look good. That is why the Ohtani contract was leaked as $700 million, instead of $460 million.
But I don’t understand why Mark won’t admit he was wrong about Outman. I also did not think he was a starting caliber CF before last season given his age, his milb career, and his amateur career. But Outman proved on the field last year that he was a starting OF at least for one year. He had an OPS of 790, OPS+ of 112, and fWAR of 4.4 last year. Sure, his performance may decline or it may improve, but he certainly played like a starting OF in 2023.
Mark rightfully points to his splits in 2023 and his OPS of 665 against LHP and how Margot is a big upgrade against LHP. But in 2023, Margot ironically had the same OPS of 665 against LHP! I don’t have a problem resting Outman against some LHP, but Margot will probably platoon more with Heyward than Outman.
My belief is that the Dodgers were forced to take Margot in order to get Glasnow. And if reports of the Glasnow extension are true, the extra $6 to $8 million pay to Margot is a drop in the bucket compared to the $165 million extension vie to Glasnow.
11:03am: The option year is actually 2028, not 2029, tweets Feinsand. That means Glasnow will be guaranteed $90MM from 2025-27, with the possibility of earning $120MM over the new portion of the contract (if the Dodgers pick up their club option) or $110MM through 2028. Between the $110MM in new money the $25MM Glasnow was already set to earn, it’s a $135MM contract that comes with a $27MM luxury hit.
i’m not thrilled with the outfield! but defensively it’s pretty good. it’s the offense that worries me! now the left side of the infield? that’s a whole new story! shortstop and 3rd could be very weak on a daily basis. i know Max works hard but he’s middle of the pack 3rd baseman. Lux? we don’t know. Rojas? great glove, but the bat isn’t what you want on a team that is being called a super team! i don’t buy that description at all . Atlanta is better top to bottom as we message among ourselves. there is no denying that. add Luis Robert to that lineup and then we can start the conversation! infield is pretty much a wash. outfield as it stands, Atlanta is better. the pitching isn’t completed yet. so no need to compare to the Braves. but if yhe Dodgers add another quality pitcher , advantage LA. there still is work to do! i said earlier this week the outfield for me is not elite. addy margot doesn’t change that . a heyward, margot platoon works. so either go hard after Robert for center field, or a left fielder. like chris taylor a lot, but again, he is not an everyday player. TOO much wiff! and another year of watching barnes swing and miss or stand there and taking 3rd strikes! i don’t see the same defense or game calling others do . i know i know, pitchers love him . don’t get it, but that’s just me.
All the focus should be on starting pitching. We should have enough bats. Just give Busch a LF glove.
Dodgers must be REALLY optimistic about Glasnows durability looking at this extension.
IMHO a huge gamble given his medical history.
Margot is not an upgrade to what we already had on the roster, including deLuca. Overall I do not like that trade very much. Looks like hit and hope to me.
Lets hope they can get Yamamoto too.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I agree with Johnny above. Let’s just give Busch a LF glove and see. Geez we tried Joc at first base. AND while we fiddle around with platoons in the outfield what we really need is a LHSP. I’m hopeful AF will get to that. He’s not done.
And for all of the impatient critics who went off AF last year for the lack of moves in the “Transition Year”, you can see where that got us. The salaries that came off the books and no over pays for temporary fixes, has led to signing Ohtani and hopefully others like Yamamoto. AF was smart to stick to his guns and suck it up for a year while still winning 100 games.
“Now, they need to find a platoon partner in RF for Jason Heyward. Chris Taylor could fill that role” Not in my lineup. CT3 has serious reverse splits hitting .210 last year and .193 in 2022 v LHP.
We have one too many utility guys. We hang onto a declining CT3 because we are overpaying him. I’d move him in a heartbeat but who wants his $15 million contract. He slides under everyone’s roster radar with his 37% strikeout rate.
So we’re looking at platoons in Right, Left and now Center?
Did you see what the opposition did last post season with Doc’s super predictable platoons? Just sandwich in a new opposite arm pitcher in the 4th for a short stint and the back to the original arm side guy. Doc turns over the whole line up. And that didn’t match up in the late innings.
Aren’t there outfielders without big splits?
I’m just not a fan of platoons in 3 or 4 positions.
Agree 100%. Too many platoons for Roberts to handle.
Still need that big RH bat .
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yep, totally concur on too many platoons
Margot was injured last year, but if he comes close to his “average year” I will be ecstatic!
No matter what anyone says, Outman is not good against LHP –
Against RHP, he averages a HR every 16 ABs. .847 OPS
,
Against LHP, he averages a HR every 130 ABs. .665 OPS
He is Miguel Rojas against LHP.
Actually, he is a fit version of Joc Pederson with better defensive skills.
Outman’s OBP against lefties was over .350, with a BA of about .250. No power, but .350 will play.
He’s a singles hitter but he’s still hitting and getting on base. Perhaps he should bat 6th against lefties and 9th against righties
The other day, Mark said Outman has 30+ HR potential. How will he improve if he is platooned?
The Dodgers and Brewers line up so well for a blockbuster that it almost seems inevitable. With the uncertainty in LF, Mark’s mega-blockbuster–Burnes, Adames and Yelich–is looking better and better….
LAD needs that trade scenario to happen.
Sub Max for Lux and put Adames at 3rd.
Lux was a highly touted prospect, but was relegated to 2base/OF due Seager’s and Turner’s presence at the time. His career has been derailed due to injuries but Dodger brass was high on this young man before being shutdown due to injury.
While I have my concerns regarding his ability to play SS, mostly due to his wild throws, players develop/mature. The Dodgers owe it to themselves to see what they have in Lux. Especially if player development folks and coaches are in favor of him manning the position.
Gavin has shown flashes with the bat. Turner wasn’t winning any gold gloves with his play at SS. Besides, the addition of Shohei has completely changed the make up of this lineup. We simply cannot afford all-stars at a every position. We need play cheaper prospects like Lux to offset larger contracts.
In terms of Margot, Glasnow alone is worth more than the two prospects we traded for him. Taking on Margot’s contract was a necessary evil to limit the impact on our farm system. If anyone is shocked by the two prospects we traded, I can’t imagine what we would be hearing if it was a cheaper and more talented Arozarena than Margot who was in the mix.
For those who find it critical to have a LHP in the rotation:
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/12/jesus-luzardo-drawing-trade-interest.html
This is part of Rosenthal’s post-Glasnow analysis of the market for pitching:
It’s ($$$$)
https://theathletic.com/5139906/2023/12/15/starting-pitcher-market-rosenthal/
Bowden also writes to this point, but he’s not been interesting nor accurate for me of late.
The “Jesus Lizard”!
His AVG is decent against LHP, just not the HR power (yet).
Not the black hole you make it out to be, and 800K in CF is bargain. Dodgers are going
to need to be able to have inexpensive players where they can.
No team can afford expensive all star type talent at every position. Good point!
I am disappointed to lose DelLuca,, I think he could be a star, with speed, excellent defensive skills, and I think he will hit. TB must think that, too, and they are usually right in heir projections. We will see. I don’t like the trade much, for that reason, but it is obviously hard to find top pitching, so this what we went for. Without Yamamoto, though, our staff is insufficient,, in my opinion. Our lineup is obviously great at the top, not too impressive after, say, the fifth spot. We have a number of “ifs,” for a team which is actually now the betting favorite to win the title. Of course, a lot of money has been lost by bettors who keep making the Dodgers the favorite or second favorite in the Futures odds.
Good pitching beats good hitting. Looking at the Dodger staff, other than Buehler, who is coming off of TJ surgery, I see no one who fills me with joy. Miller is inexperienced, but very talented. In two or three years, he will be the ace, I totally believe that. I do not believe Glasnow is an ace. I think he is a very talented pitcher who has been injured too often. I am predicting, he is the first pitcher who will go down with an injury or some other ailment. I also predict this is one contract that is going to come back and bite AF in the ass. I would rather have seen the prospect capital used on Burnes. Or even Cease. Wacha and Flaherty are off of the market now. Flaherty signing with the Tigers and Wacha going to the Royals. Margot may have been injured, and he may hit lefties better than righties, but he has about as much power as Rojas, which means little. His defense is ok. Heyward is gold glove level defense and Outman is getting better. Mookie won’t be out there anymore. I am ok with that. but I also think they could have done a whole lot better than Maggot.
It seems fairly obvious to me that Margot was part of the deal, not because Andrew asked for him but because Tampa insisted on it. To them, saving 6 mil (10 mil salary minus the 4 they sent the Dodgers) means something.
Still to be decided, is who plays left field. It certainly won’t be CT3 on a daily basis, so we’re probably looking at Vargas and/or Busch or a trade or signing of a power bat. That probably won’t be decided until we know if we’ve got Yamamoto or have to try to trade for Cease or Burnes and that would almost definitely include Busch and/or Vargas.
I am tired of losing. I think Friedman is also tired of losing. One more starting pitcher and we are done. Yamamoto or Cease. Platoon Busch and Vargas in LF. Sending them back to the minors is not an option. Platoon Heyward and CT3.
Now, Roberts. He better go far in the playoffs or he is done.
In 2025 we get Ohtani, May and Gonsolin back. Stick that in your pipe and smoke it.
Scherzer had back surgery and will be out until at least July. Herniated disc.
Just read that Ohtani told Doc he is willing to play left field later in the season if his arm will allow it.
Jay – in the last 7 days Posters were shot down for suggesting such a thing.
Just sayin
Mark hasn’t put down the pipe he was smoking yesterday.
AF didn’t even want Margot. This was really a straight up trade of Glasnow for Pepiot, but the Rays insisted on dumping Margot on the Dodgers and wanted a younger equivalent of Margot with more potential and that was DeLuca. AF got fleeced in that part of the trade.
The Kike Hernandez infatuation he has is mind-boggling. Outman’s career is 1 year, so let’s look at Kike Hernandez’s stats against LHP last year and compare it to Outman’s 1 year career against LHP since Mark doesn’t want to give Outman more at bats against LHP. Kike Hernandez in 2023 .239/.304/.338/.642 is that an upgrade over Outman against LHP? The answer is clear and yet before AF got Margot, Mark was calling for AF to get Hernandez to platoon with Outman.
So now AF got Mark a shiny new object in Margot (does anyone want Margot?) that he is now advocating for to platoon with Outman just like Hernandez, all the while there’s Heyward that is a PROVEN platoon player. Let’s take a look at Margot’s slashline in 2023 against LHP and compare it to Outman’s 1 year career against LHP. Margot in 2023 .277/.293/.372/.665 Does that look like an upgrade over Outman against LHP? The answer is clear and hell, why not platoon the whole outfield while you’re at it Mark.
Before Mark says look at Hernandez and Margot’s career against LHP instead of just 2023. If you don’t give Outman more time against LHP, then you’re trigger happy with a small sample and should only compare 2023 numbers.
Hell, why don’t we replace all the homegrown position players with players outside of the organization. Mark wants to get rid of Lux for Adames (Why I don’t know) and at one time wanted to trade Outman for another player outside of the organization and would trade Outman in a heartbeat still. Look at who he wants to platoon with Outman, first Kike Hernandez and now his shiny new object Margot.
By the way Mark, who’s going to platoon with Adames against LHP? .227/.308/.404/.712 is Adames career stats against LHP. And yet you don’t like Outman’s career stats against LHP .252/.359/.305.664 that’s .025 BA better than Adames and .048 OPS worse than Adames and Adames has A LOT larger sample size than Outman does.
Enough said.
The only thing I agree with, and that is correct, is the very last sentence!
I don’t get why people are upset with this trade. Glasnow has better stuff than Pepiot and Pepiot is not exactly some iron man throwing 200 innings a year. They both had oblique injuries last year Glasnow returned months earlier than Pepiot. The way the Dodgers use starters if Glasnow goes 130 innings a year he will be a success. All that really matters is can he start game one or two of the playoffs.
All the angst about Margot is much about nothing. He’s a platoon player this year and Pages is the right fielder in 2025. You hear everyone say wait until spring to judge the off season. It’s only December 15th. AF gave 2 controllable average players for a potential number one starter. I’ll trust the front office knows more about Glasnow’s health than we will ever know.
i would rather see dodgers trade for cease than sign japanese right hander. it’s going to be at least a 8 year deal. think one super long deal is enough . are the owners trying to give AF a coronary? Cease makes more sense to me. 2 years left on his contract. with ohtani back, miller , glasnow,a possible return of walker buehler, that’s nice. let’s not forget about sheehan and stone, and knack and gonsolin and dustin may all in 2025! a lot to be thankful for! still need a left fielder! i’m probably trading busch in a deal simply because too much left handed hitters . i hate to see him go because i think in the future he hits wayway better than Vargas.
Some trades make you feel all warm and fuzzy. Never got that feeling with this one. As soon as they mentioned Margot instead of Arozarena I lost all interest. Margot is no where near being a difference maker. I am not impressed with any player who has a career OPS below .700.
There was no way the Rays were going to trade Arozarena unless it would have been a HUGE overpay. Some writer or blogger was making that up.
You should not be impressed with a player who has a career OPS of under .700, BUT his OPS against LHP is .760 and he has a HR every 57 ABs – FACT: That is a whole lot better than Outman! With this platoon, you put each player in the best position to maximize their skills. Outman will get like 400 ABs and Margot will get about 200 ABs and Margot will put up close to .800 OPS and Outman will put up .900 OPS.
What’s not to like about that?
Guess work. Let me see that actually happen, let Margot do those kinds of things, and I will eat crow. No problem. but his track record says he won’t. I have no faith in him being that kind of player. I saw him in way too many games as a Padre. Not an upgrade. We can agree to disagree. To me, he is another bad trade piece.
I know the Rays were not going to include him, but they forced Margot on the Dodgers. I would rather have seen them send the prospects to Milwaukee for Burnes, who has been healthy his entire career. Glasnow is an injury waiting to happen.
There had been a lot of speculation that the Rays could deal Arozarena, and Randy himself stoked some when he posted a photo of himself with Shohei, both striking Randy’s famous pose.
The idea of Arozarena-to-the-Dodgers also made a lot of sense because “Who plays LF?” is the biggest question in the current lineup.
Right now, that could be Margot. At least when he’s not platooning with Heyward.
It’s pretty funny that Margot’s arrival has Mark resuming his campaign of dissing Outman, who proved himself more than capable in CF in his rookie season. Outman played in 151 games, one fewer than Mookie. Finished 3rd in ROY voting.
Solid on offense and defense. Handled adversity better than other rookies.
Outman’s future is bright–even if Mark wants to sit him against southpaws.
The “fourth outfielder” is probably Margot. He can cover each spot with quality defense. Taylor is the super UT guy under contract.
The Dodgers need to decide what to do with Busch and Vargas.
Glasnow’s salary is 27 million per year on average, AF could have gotten a true ace in Yamamoto for a few million per year more than Glasnow without trading Pepiot. Yes, Glasnow is not a true ace.
Can AF still get Yamamoto? That’s the question.
The Yamamoto bidding is in excess of $300 Million.- some think it will get to $400 Million. Also, many pundits still say the Dodgers are the favorites to land him.
True Ace? Not yet! He’s still 30 and has some filthy stuff, but since he has been injured a lot, he will always be injured? Right?
Maybe… Maybe not!
The Dodgers are taking a sizable gamble on “maybe not.”
They’d better be right, or else…..
Curious: is there any evidence that teams need at least one lefty starter or is it mostly “common knowledge?”
It is nice to have one.
It is clearly rare to make a significant postseason run without a left handed starting pitcher. I am guessing it is also rare to finish outside of the playoffs without a left handed starting pitcher. Are teams without left handed starters less likely to make the playoffs?
In the 2000s, three teams have made it to the world series without a left handed starter (each had one spot start in the season by a lefty). There have 18 such regular season teams with 0 or 1 left handed starts over the season in that time span. Making it through the season without anything more than a single spot start by a lefty is rare. It doesn’t appear to make it less likely that a team will advance to the world series (3 in 18 is better than 2 in 30),
Astros just announced that they are open to listening on trade offer’s regarding Framber Valdez.
They announced it how? Press release? Banner? Spokesperson on TV?
a few trash cans were banged (bunged?)
Applauding.
I have been wrong many times. I might be wrong this time. But as a fan, like all of you, I am entitled to think and believe what I want to. I believe this is a bad trade. From the many times I have seen him play, both in San Diego and with the Rays, he has not impressed me at all. Glasnow has an ERA in the post-season of 5.72. That is supposed to help them win a title? I think it is all wishful thinking. He was 0-2 against the Dodgers in the 2020 World Series. He gave up 10 earned runs in 9.1 innings. This is your boost for the rotation? And you are paying him 20 mil plus to be a five inning pitcher? He is a RH version of Snell with a little better control. I would rather ride the arms of kids, who are hungry to prove they belong, than the arm of an oft injured huge question mark and pay that guy 20 million plus. I think Deluca is going to out perform Margot.
100% in agreement with you Bear. EVERYTHING that you said.
Cancel the season.
Friedman is a dumbass.
It’s all over!
This is just stupid!
Just walk away – the 2024 season is a bust!
Bear and Eric have spoken.
No need to even play the season. It’s all over!
😉
Bearic hath spake!
Never said Freidman was a dumbass or that the season should be cancelled. That is an over-reaction on your part. What I said is that neither of these guys have proven to be better than average over the long haul. I don’t like the trade simply because I do not like the return. Only time will tell if I am right. If I am wrong, good for the Dodgers, Margot and Glasnow, they will have made me believe. But their track record says different. I just think Freidman could have done a lot better.
You are correct. You HAVE been wrong many times. And that gives me comfort.
Yes, and I admit it when I am. And it is my opinion this trade will turn out bad. That is my opinion. If I am proved wrong, great. It means the Dodgers made an astute move. But both players history says something else. Their history is what I look at. What they have done before. Glasnow has great stuff. But he is not durable. There are enough injury risks on this team as it stands. I just believe they could have used the resources better elsewhere. Margot is no difference maker. He is below average offensively. Just look at his career stats and that is obvious. I am glad you are comforted. But I stand by what I believe to be true. They are both going to have to make a believer out of me.
From Fabian Ardaya of the Athletic:
“It turns out that Ohtani had already been pitching the Dodgers’ next move, as sources told The Athletic that the two-way superstar sent Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Tyler Glasnow a video trying to woo him to Los Angeles.
In the video, Shohei Ohtani expressed that he wished he could share a rotation with Glasnow this season. Ohtani won’t pitch for the Dodgers in 2024 as he recovers from elbow surgery). “But,” the superstar said, “I want to hit some home runs for you.”
Good job, Shohei.
Glasnow’s injury history makes me nervous, and this deal could prove to be a mistake. Dodgers clearly still see ace potential in him. We’ll be able to compare the Glasnow and Pepiot for years to come.
we can only pray that the Glasnow deal pays off. i believe it will but history could show its ugly face again. Friedman isn’t a genius , nor is ownership. the Bauer thing didn’t work. probably no fault of AF. Bauer was,is a weird guy who was probably set up. like Mark says, nothing here, move on. the asking price for Cease and Burnes is getting higher daily . so AF , go get Cease now, PLEASE!
Dodgers should go hard after Yamamoto, Sasaki and Imanaga. Getting one of those three would go a long way.
Sasaki with the most upside and cheaper than the other two. Yamamoto the one closest to be an ace and Imanaga a LH , something the Dodgers lack at this moment.
Go Dodgers!!
Only one problem. Sasaki has not been posted and may not be until he is 25, which is 3 years away,
Deadline for Sasaki to get posted was yesterday. Is that news already confirmed he was not posted ?
If so concentrate on the other two guys.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!