I keep hearing that it’s not the Dodgers, and I am also convinced that most fans would not be happy unless there was a first-team All-Star in every position. Early in the season, just about everyone was saying to get rid of Alex Vesia and Michael Grove. Well, how did that work out? Eat that crow, Baby! Many of you wanted to get rid of Evan Phillips, who had his first bad outing in a blowout game yesterday. Now, it’s “Rag on Teoscar Time” as it is being said that he cannot hit RHP. Well, he is not going to platoon because that would be stupid!
It’s true he mashes LHP – he has a career .889 OPS against them, but he also has a.770 OPS against RHP. Yet, some have argued that Outman’s .665 OPS against LHP was pretty good last year! If the All-Star Game were held tomorrow (as bad of a slump as Teo has been in), he would be in the outfield. Every day, you guys bitch about something. Man, you must be miserable humans. Do your wives beat you? Life is too short for me to walk about in misery all the time. But I digress.
What makes a championship team… say, like the Rangers of 2023? The Braves and the Dodgers scored more runs, hit more home runs, had a higher OPS, had a much better ERA, had a dramatically better bullpen ERA, and won more games, but got bounced in the first round of the playoffs. The World Champion Rangers sit at 30-32 right now, while the Dodgers are 39-25. This time last year, the Rangers were 40-21 and looked great… maybe Championship Caliber. Then they stumbled at the end of the season, losing four of their last six games, including the last game, which would have clinched their division. They lost that game 1-0 after only getting four hits, and two were by rookie Evan Carter, who was called up in September and played a big role in their championship.
World Series Bullpen Hero Josh Sborz had a 5.50 ERA, and during the season, the team blew as many saves as they recorded! How does a Championship team look? The Phillies also finished 90-72 with a bullpen that blew 26 of 71 saves. Do you think the Dodgers strike out too much? They were 20th in MLB last year. The Phillies were #8. The Rangers were #14. What does a Championship Caliber Team look like? I am going to politely suggest that if you think you know in early June, you should be institutionalized. Have you ever watched the game of baseball? It’s a marathon… not a sprint. It’s a game of streaks and adjustments, and the way you start out or even what you are in mid-season does not define you. If you think otherwise, if the mortician gave you an enema, they could bury you in a shoebox! You have no clue.
I have clamored to get rid of CT3, but even he is redeemable. It’s a long season, and one little tweak can change everything. Walker has not looked great.. or good at times, but sometimes it is just changing your grip or changing where you stand on the rubber.
Yesterday, The Athletic gave their opinion on the Dodgers All-Stars (not including the pitchers) and it was as follows:
Starting SS:
Mookie Betts, Dodgers (starter)
(3.5 WAR, 8 HR, 42 R, 9 SB, 164 OPS+)
Betts has made the transition to shortstop look easy, although he’s said how hard it really is. He leads the NL in bWAR and can beat you in every way possible — with his glove, arm, speed, base running, hitting for average or power. In fact, I’m not sure there is anything he can’t beat everyone in, from bowling to golf to pool to video games.
Starting DH:
Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers (starter)
(3.1 WAR, 14 HR, 38 RBI, 14 SB, 179 OPS+)
Ohtani has a chance to be the first designated hitter to ever win an MVP Award as he’s batting .321/.390/.590 with 41 runs scored, 14 homers and 38 RBIs while swiping 14 bases in 15 attempts. He leads the NL with 138 total bases.
Betts and Ohtani were the only starters, but here are the three others on the team:
Freddie Freeman, Dodgers
(2.1 WAR, 7 HR, 35 RBI, 150 OPS+)
Freeman leads all NL first basemen with a .401 on-base percentage. He is a plus defender, for my money the most consistent first baseman in the game, and plays every day. (He leads all first basemen in games played this season.)
Teoscar Hernández, Dodgers
(1.3 WAR, 12 HR, 38 RBI, 124 OPS+)
Hernández was one of the most underrated free-agent signings of the offseason, as the Dodgers scooped him up with a one-year, $23.5 million deal. He leads all NL right fielders in doubles, home runs and RBIs.
Will Smith, Dodgers
(1.8 WAR, 9 HR, 37 RBI, 145 OPS+)
Smith is slashing .296/.363/.515 and leads all NL catchers with 16 doubles and nine home runs. He leads the majors in caught stealing rate (44 percent) and ranks in the 77th percentile in pop time.”
There are also several pitchers who are worthy of All-Star Status, so when I hear that this team is not Championship Caliber, I pay it no mind because my eyes tell me otherwise. It’s a long season, and a lot can happen. CT3 is not hitting, but Rojas, at 35, is benefiting from the rest of not starting every day. Will Pages keep it up? He slumped and adjusted. I think he will. Outman will be back and hopefully duplicate what he did last year or maybe even improve. Vargas has done nothing wrong and will be fine in LF. He is pressing in what little time he has been given, and his patience at the plate and working counts gives him a .868 OPS in a very short sample.
Now, it is on to the Yankees – this should be interesting! Personally, it is my belief that the Dodgers are much better than either the Yankees or the Phillies, and just like I predicted, Arizona would finish below .500, I am predicting that the Dodgers are a better team than either the Phillies or Yankees. The only thing that worries me is that Dave Dombrowski will gut the farm for Mason Miller. AF will bid that up… however!
I think this team is where they need to be, and all I can say is that there will be bumps in the road, but I am enjoying the ride. You should too… it’s a choice! BTW: A Championship Caliber Team is the one who wins it all… and if we could predict what will happen, we would be billionaires and take all that Vegas Sports Book Money. I don’t bet and there is a reason why!
There’s a chance we may not see Juan Soto this weekend:
Soto (forearm) will undergo imaging Friday after experiencing forearm soreness during Thursday’s game against the Twins, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.
Soto didn’t return to Thursday’s game after a lengthy rain delay. The move was framed as a precautionary measure by manager Aaron Boone, though he also disclosed that Soto has been bothered by forearm discomfort for the past week. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Yankees be cautious with Soto in the short term, though the team has not announced any official plans.
Friday schedule
2:05 p.m. PT: Tulsa (Orlando Ortiz-Mayr & Kendall Williams) at Amarillo (Dillon Larsen & Yilber Diaz)
4:05 p.m.: Great Lakes (Christian Romero) vs. Cedar Rapids (lJeremy Lee)
5:05 p.m.: Oklahoma City (Bobby Miller) vs. Round Rock (Owen White)
6:30 p.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (TBA) vs. Visalia (Denny Larrondo)
Low-A: Right-hander Payton Martin was promoted to Great Lakes. The 20-year-old had a 4.82 ERA with 22 strikeouts and 17 walks in 18⅔ innings for Rancho Cucamonga, including allowing one run in four innings on Tuesday.
Quite possibly just a fluke however the two teams that made the World Series last year were ranked number one and number two in the fewest errors allowed during the entire season. I’ve watched a number of games this year where a simple error early or midway through the inning has turned into a huge run that shouldn’t been if the error did not occur. As much as Home runs and offense are important having critical defense can certainly win a number of games. Reason why I’m hoping Outman turns it around and gets back into the lineup because his defense in the field is superior.
Dodgers are ranked 9th presently, oddly the exact spot they ended the year in 23. That’s not bad but it’s a statistic that I’m watching throughout the season and hoping as it progresses the Dodgers are able to shore up that a little better and reduce the number of errors during the games.
Yankees were near the bottom last year and have really turned it around as they are 10th overall in fewest allowed so fay this year.
Couldnt have said it better myself.
There is a reason I always come to this blog. Well done.
Enjoy this weekend series. If we sweep or get swept, it doesnt mean a doggone thing come October so just enjoy it…
There will be a LOT of blue in the stands this weekend.
It is no surprise to me that fans would love for Freidman to trade for some big-name stars. I have seen many suggest players like Witt, Robert Jr., Tucker, Bichette. They think the Dodgers should move Mookie Betts back to RF, even though it has been stated several times that Mookie likes being on the infield. He feels it is better for him in the long run and he feels closer to the game. What most fans forget is that the other team has to be willing and want to trade the player you are talking about. Now, the White Sox are pretty amiable to moving everyone on their roster. But that would the cost be? A player like Robert Jr, with at least 2 1/2 years of control, would not come cheap. But he is also injury prone. And he is just off of the IL and has only played in 10 games this season. He is hitting .200 with 3 homers and 5 driven in. How much would AF be willing to give up for an injury prone player? I do not think an awful lot. Plus, there are several teams besides the Dodgers with outfield problems, one being the Braves. Bobby Witt? KC is second in their division with a 3.5 game lead in the wild card race. Witt is their most bankable star. The kid is having a great year on a contending team. no way they trade him. Toronto’s GM says trading Bichette or Guererro makes no sense for his team. GM speak for maybe, but you have to believe that the price for one of those guys would be very high. Guererro has turned it on lately and is almost at .300. Bichette is below .240 and has not shown much power. His fielding has been adequate, but not spectacular. He only has 3 less errors than Mookie. As for Kyle Tucker, he is an excellent fielder, he is a career 272 hitter, and his OPS is over .900 right now. He would be a great addition……..BUT> He has 2.5 years of control left; his career post season stats are not great. He hit under .200 in last year’s World Series and has a .239 avg with an OPS below .800 in World Series play. He would cost a lot of talent. Finally, there is this, If the Dodgers had stars at every position with high dollar deals, how many home-grown players would get a chance? I have seen more than one fan on this site complaining that the Dodgers do not have enough home grown kids on the roster. Signing or trading for the stars would mean less Andy Pages and James Outman, or Vargas.
Best thing for the team would be if Mookie returns to RF. At least for the stretch run and playoffs. Let him play in the infield until September and then move him back to RF. If the division is locked up early you can give him some extra rest before the playoffs if need to be. We need help in the OF and there will not be many available .
Put Rojas at ss and keep Lux at 2b. That is a great middle infield defense and if Rojas continues hitting like he is that is probably the best solution for the team.
Betts, rf
Othani , dh
Freddie, 1b
Smith, c
Teo, lf
MM, 3b
Pages, cf
Lux, 2b
Rojas, ss
That is a very good lineup. Bench could be Barnes, Outman, Kike, Heyward. Good mix between LH-RH hitters.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good point. Mookie has really helped the team by playing SS, but I question whether his defense will hold up throughout the season and playoffs. Someone noted that his Defensive runs saved was good. It looks like his DRS is 10th among SS at +2 runs. However, using outs above average he is 30th rated among 35 SS at -5 outs above average. I think both the fielding measures have flaws, but my view is Mookie is an average to slightly below average defensive SS right now. And this is still amazing for a great RF who hasn’t played SS in a decade!
Betts is not going to move back to the outfield. Fergetaboutit! He is happy where he is. He might move over to second if they did get a SS, but he is not going back to the outfield. He likes being in the infield and closer to the action, and he also feels it is better for him health wise.
All of these rosters have professional players. There will be highs and lows during the season and in the playoffs. Any player on a team can be up at any point in time. The playoffs are a different animal with more intensity and less need for depth. Most teams can’t churn the roster through the course of the year like the Dodgers. So the Dodgers have the talent and resources to win the division. The Phillies and Yankees are playing great due to great pitching and timely hitting plus I think the Phillies have a fiercely competitive group.
In the playoffs great pitching is paramount. If pitchers do their job as Arizona did last year they can advance. LA had no pitching and Arizona did. I hate to say it but the Giants with Bumgardner? Proved what can happen with one hot pitcher. The Dodgers have done it with Koufax and Hershiser.
Offensively Mookie Betts gives u a good ab most every time. Right now Ohtani swinging wildly at everything, Freddie looking better but a lot of k and rolling over. Smith not as good as Mookie but close. The rest , well as I said they are professional so they have an upside but will it be then. In the playoffs when needed the most I can c Ohtani, Muncy, lux, teo,pages, taylor, Kiki, kkkkkk but mb it will be their time. But, as Mark has said our lineup stacks up favorably with any. I just think we are going to need a bat or 2 that can put it in play. I also thing the pitching staff is going to rebel against Vargas in left.
That HR robbery by Outman is damn impressive.
How soon will we see him back in LA?
Or will he be dealt?
Certainly seems like AF will be making a few moves in that quest for a championship, because the Dodgers don’t seem to be there yet.
Right now, with the season about 40% done, the Yankees lead the majors in both team ERA and OPS. The Dodgers are second in OPS and 5th in ERA, while the Phillies are second in ERA and fifth in OPS. The Orioles are 3rd in both ERA and OPS.
But who knows which team will finish strong?
Looking over the Dodgers’ offensive stats, a couple of things jumped out: The Dodgers could field a lineup with every player at a .790 OPS or better. To be fair, one is Vargas with his small sample. Replace him with Pages and the lineup has everybody above .727. (This assumes that Max returns.)
Notably, Mookie has 42 walks against 28 Ks, which is remarkable for an 11-year veteran who has never finished a season with more BBs than Ks. His .411 OBP (so far) is second to his phenomenal MVP year of 2018, when his OBP was .438..
Not bad for a guy who had been slumping before the latest game
Anyone know if we HAVE to watch on Apple TV tonight.
I know Sporstnet LA will have a broadcast but they may just be for Local.
I dont have Apple TV and I did the free trial last year….UGH
I believe the game is only on Apple TV.
Biggest game of the year in MLB and its on Apple TV which maybe 10% of the people get.
Unbelievable….
Total b*******
I’m waiting for my wife to get home, she doesn’t know it yet but she’s going to get a free trial on Apple TV I reckon
I saw the game is on Apple TV, spectrum sportsnet and yes network
Apple + tonight, Fox tomorrow and ESPN Sunday.
The five rumored outfielders that the Dodgers are looking at are like this.
1. Tyler Oneal. Red Sox
2. Jessie Winkler Nationals
3. Bryan Dela Cruz Marlins
4. Brett Rooker As
5. Kyle Tucker Astros
That was on the Dodger podcast one reason those team look to be out of playoff race and these player are either freeagent next season or up to signing new deals.
From that list I would take Kyle Tucker and he would basically be like a Shawn Green was a guy that plays every day has some pop and a good player. Plus he’s playing for a contract extension so trade some of these minor league guys for him and let Taylor get rid of him and keke better start hitting or let him go to. Because right now Rojas is the best guy to use for pinch hitting.
Which podcast?
Are all these players rentals?
Tucker would definitely be my top choice of these players, but I think the Astros are only a few games out of a wild card. He’d be very expensive long terms.
A couple of advantages to Roberts: He’s a top-flight centerfielder, and he’s under contract for another 3.5 seasons at an AAV below what the Dodgers are paying Teoscar. (For this season an OF with Robert in CF, Teoscar in LF, and a Heyward/Pages platoon in RF would be strong.0
A little surprised that Lane Thomas and Taylor Ward aren’t on this list.
Tucker was just placed on the IL. O’Neill only signed a one-year deal with the Red Sox, same with Winker of the Nationals. One year deal, 2,000,000. He is hitting .255 with 6 homers. De La Cruz is usually a DH and is not a very good outfielder. Robert actually can become a free agent after the 26 season. He has a 20-million-dollar team option which the team getting him could deny if they wanted. He actually has the same deal for 26 with a 2-million-dollar buyout. My problem with Robert Jr. is his injury history. He has only played more than 100 games once. He has already been injured this season. He is hitting just .200 this season. And the price for his services is going to be astronomical. Hard pass, to much chance he gets hurt again, and then where are you. Rooker would be ok, he has a lot of power, most do not want him because of how much he strikes out. Ward is already getting interest from teams around the league, but the chance Moreno trades anyone to the Dodgers is pretty slim. Lane Thomas also just came off of the IL, and he is having as bad a season as Robert Jr. Tucker is the only guy lighting up the scoreboard. Then it would be Rooker, De La Cruz, O’Neill, Ward, Winker. Just because some Dodger podcast says the Dodgers are looking at these players, doesn’t make it true. They would have little knowledge of which players AF or Gomes are looking at since the Dodgers always keep their strategy’s for acquiring players very secret.
No we don’t need an all star at every position! But if max were healthy, we could put an all star in every position except 2nd . Saw a proposal this morning, Pages and River Ryan for Robert. I would do Vargas, Ryan, and a lesser prospect, but hang on to Pages! …. Wouldn’t be surprised to see Walker go on the IL again. Not quite ready for 6-7 innings yet. …..Every body feels bad for Chris Taylor, i do too!! He’s not fixable!!! Even a hit here or there would not change that!! It’s decision time !!! Either voluntarily go down, or give him his release and just pay the guy!! Lipcius time!! So no Soto tonight? Oh well we all have injuries to deal with!! He’s having a career year for sure, But!! Sign that big deal and see how he performs then! He’s very good! But he was part of that Padre disfunctional group too! Seems as if it’s not as bad in San diego now. Just saying!
Not sure how you figure “not as bad in SD now” but the Padres finished last season 2 games over .500. As of today they’re 2 games under .500.
Soto was not the problem.
He was a huge part of the problem, not the central problem, but a big part of it. Why do you think Melvin left to join the Giants? He couldn’t handle that bunch.
Don’t understand the love for Robert’s. Currently he’s hitting.200 small sample. He has one really good year other than that he’s average at best. I’d offered mid level prospect. He brings nothing that we don’t already have on the team. Look forward to responses.
Because he was ranked as the 23rd best player in baseball in 2024 rankings. He’s young and controllable. I’d love to have him!
Then you are not looking past what he did last year. He is injury prone and has already been injured this season. I guarantee you at this point of 2024 he is not even in the top 100. His last 5 games, he is 3-20 with 8 Ks, 1 homer and 1 driven in. He has been in the league four full seasons and has averaged less than 100 games a year. 56,68,98.145.10. He would cost the Dodgers a ton of prospects. The only enticing thing about him is his potential. But the potential for injury is huge. You trade for that guy, he goes down, and you are screwed.
Lack of intensity won’t be an issue next three nights. Lets see how we measure up!
It’ll be fun and all but don’t get to high if we win the series, or too low if we lose….
an outfield of teo in left, robert in ce, and pages in right? with heyward giving those guys a day off ? all day long!!! Like Belushi said, Who’s with me?
Check his injury history. He has already been on the shelf this year, and just came back. Hitting right at the Mendoza line with no pop. Kike has a better BA than he does at this point, and the same number of homers, 3, with more RBIs, 8-5. He would cost you at least two top 10 prospects and maybe two more mid-tier. No thanks. You guys are not reading the stat sheet or his history.
His stats this year are pretty meaningless. Small sample. Career stats more relevant.
The big question is whether he’s truly injury-prone or not. I assume the Dodgers perform due diligence with trade targets.
As it happens, I’m watching highlights now–and Robert just homered to straightaway center. His stats have improved!
No question he’s a huge talent, and no question that his contract should be appealing.
Also on the highlights: Tyler O’Neill leaving game with a gimpy leg.
7:05 PM ET
Dodgers (39-25)
Yankees (45-19)
SP Y. Yamamoto R
6-2 3.32 ERA
SP Cody Poteet R
2-0 2.45 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
SS Mookie Betts R
DH S. Ohtani L
1B F. Freeman L
C Will Smith R
LF T. Hernandez R
RF J. Heyward L
CF Andy Pages R
2B Gavin Lux L
3B E. Hernandez R
78° Wind 11 mph Out
NO Juan Soto in the Yankee lineup
On my annual quest to visit another MLB park I’m in NYC. Just got into Yankee Stadium and there a lot of Dodger fans here already.
This is my 20th MLB ballpark with last year being Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati.
Hope I can find my way to monument park and check out the plaques.
Go Dodgers !
Oh, that’s fantastic! Have a blast.
Everything I had read leading up to today showed today’s game on Sportsnet LA. Then I go to MLB and it’s on f****** Apple TV. Again! I hate this s***!
Apple TV buffers on my computer. Unwatchable, I hate it too. I’ll just watch a replay of the game on MLB.TV a few hrs after it ends.
So Apple has Kike mic’ed up. With a wired ear piece! He’s playing third with a wire hanging down his back. I haven’t a clue why the Dodgers would agree to that. And, this is on Apple TV! Apple!
Are they recording the game for replays on Betamax? Am I going to see a commercial for the new “all electric” Mr Coffee pitched by Joe D?
Can’t watch it either. Sounds like Kiké is having a great game.
While he was miked up, he made an error. Then after getting on base, he was picked off by the pitcher, nope, not a good day at the office at all.
Watching tonight’s game, I’m not sold on anyone hitting good in October.
Yamamoto looking like a $300 million man tonight. A lot of 97-98! Lux just missed making it 1-0.
What’s Ohtani looking like?
OVERRATED. His career BA at Yankee Stadium……….. 130 with 4 homers and 7 rbis
Do you think Caleb Ferguson hates the Dodgers? Geez. Overreact much?
Ferguson/gonzalez both get revenge. Not sayin much though.
And former Dodgers Dennis Santana also pitched
Several former Dodgers were in the game, Verdugo, Ferguson, Gonzalez, Santana and Jones. Jones was in the Dodgers minor league system in 22 and 23. And to all of them I say, SCOREBOARD BABY!!! You won your battle; we won the war!
Dodger offense is as bad in-person at Yankee Stadium as it has been the last several weeks. No clutch RISP.
Yamamoto was awesome
Credit the Yankees pitchers for that. Good pitching beats good hitting. Tonight, we had the better pitching, and got the clutch hit.
What’s Ohtani looking like? Like he’ll fit in perfectly with our pathetic October offense.
Playoff offense showed up. Runner on second nobody out lux strikes out. Just an example of our playoff offense. No clutch on this team.
Yamamoto was great!! It would be hard to pitch for this offense.
So what moron was saying that Teoscar should be platooned against righties? Besides me.
Guilty. U did it again
raising my hand sheepishly
I guess hugs r important lol. 3 x Dodgers Ferguson , Gonzalez, Santana win the battle but the Dodgers win the war!!
1. Apple TV worked perfectly for me; and
2. There is no Dumbass Vaccine.
My wife enjoyed her free 7-Day trial
If I want to watch the Dodgers-Rockies series from Denver, I have to get FUBO TV so I can get AT&T Sportsnet. Free trial is 7 days, but the service costs 80 bucks a month. No effing way I am paying that.
Maybe if CT3 is in the box with an 0-2 Roberts needs to go out put his arms around him and whisper in his ear. It sure has worked for Yolanda Ramirez
Seriously, I was very happy for Ramirez coming through in the clutch…. but I think it’s his sister who is named Yolanda.
I’m also happy for ex-Dodgers VGon, Ferguson and Santana. I want guys who are trade by the Dodgers to have success; that helps the Dodgers’ reputation.
Especially happy for Victor Gonzales. He had some important moments en route to 2020 championship. As I recall it, he had been struggling and thinking about giving up before his friend Julio Urias persuaded him to keep trying. A shame that Julio later screwed up so bad–but Victor could be headed to another World Series.
It’s a gift! We all complain about our offense, but look at the Braves. Ouch. Overall, offense is down in mlb. OPS is below .700. So it’s just not us, in fact our numbers look pretty good compared to most teams.
Is it “dead” ball? Is it pitching coaches getting the better of hitting coaches? Whatever it is, hopefully RVS and his staff have figured out why mlb batters are struggling more this year ..so the Dodgers’ can adjust and keep improving the offense as the season progresses.
I think a late pickup for the playoff run that the Dodgers could get on the cheap is Justin Turner. His job would be to pinch hit (Manny Mota). Turner is a professional hitter who skills has deminshed but he would know how to get the runner to third base or get the bat on the ball with a runner at third. He’s on a one year contract and I bet he would jump at the opportunity even in a limited but important role. I bet in late July if the Blue Jays are where they are currently, the dodgers could pick him up for a bag of baseballs.
One problem. There’s no longer a pitcher to pinch hit for. And I’d rather have JDM. Our frustrating offense is still second in hits, second in OPS and third in runs. But still think there’s more under the hood.
Hard pass John. He has nowhere to play. Ohtani is the everyday DH and Turner does not play 3rd base anymore. Most of his starts have been at 1st base or DH for Toronto. He is hitting .232 has a -2 WAR and is showing his age. He would be a wasted roster spot. And if you look back just two seasons ago, he was absolutely awful in the post-season, where he traditionally was very good. He adds nothing but aging legs to the roster.
From the Dodger’s Official Page:
LHP Clayton Kershaw (left shoulder surgery)
Expected return: Mid-to-late July
Kershaw took another significant step in the right direction on June 7, completing two simulated innings at Single-A Rancho Cucamonga. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Kershaw touched 90 mph during the session, another positive sign for the left-hander. The Dodgers still don’t have a timetable for Kershaw’s return, but the veteran ace has progressed quicker than expected after a complicated left shoulder surgery this offseason. (Last updated: June 7)
Which podcast?
Are all these players rentals?
Tucker would definitely be my top choice of these players, but I think the Astros are only a few games out of a wild card. He’d be very expensive long terms.
A couple of advantages to Roberts: He’s a top-flight centerfielder, and he’s under contract for another 3.5 seasons at an AAV below what the Dodgers are paying Teoscar. (For this season an OF with Robert in CF, Teoscar in LF, and a Heyward/Pages platoon in RF would be strong.0
A little surprised that Lane Thomas and Taylor Ward aren’t on this list.
Blue Jays DFAd Cavin Biggio, Craig’s kid.
Rojas is much better than Kike or Taylor at this point. Doc is managing his playing time, so he doesn’t run out of gas. Right now, he is the fifth best hitter on this team with a .287 average. Shohei and Betts are both at .312 and Smith and Freddie both at .291. His OPS+ is 124. He will never be a power hitter, but as long as he is around his career number of .258 with that defense, he is a valuable asset. Feyereisen is at AAA. His ERA is almost 8. He has given up 16 runs in 14.2 innings. His ERA in LA was 6. I believe there will be moves at the deadline, and they cannot carry both Taylor and Kike if they keep playing like they are. Taylor needs to be gone. Lipcius hit his 16th homer tonight to tie teammate Ryan Ward for the team lead. Cassidy, October is a long way off, what you are seeing now, won’t be what you see then.
Rojas also much better than Lux, who continues to underwhelm.
Think about that: the 35-year-old guy who was signed to back up Lux at SS is now the best-hitting UT guy on the team. Pretty sure the brass expected Lux, Taylor and Kike to outhit Rojas–but nope, the old guy is the most reliable player.
A new report suggests the Dodgers could go after Tommy Edman for UT. I think the Dodgers should seriously consider the Angels’ Luis Rengifo, who is having a career year. Edman’s a switch hitter and Rengifo bats lefty, which would help the mix.