I Am Down With Keeping Lux.. But, Mookie is the SS!

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1. UGH! I hate your observation about Teo…..and I think you may be right.

   Do you suspect it will be more dollars per year or more years in total they will offer him? Or will it be both? Based on his stated preference to return I’m guessing he’d be willing to take a bit of a haircut on one or the other but if it’s many millions or both then I understand. Damn!

   PS: Mookie is already 32 but athletically I put NOTHING past his ability to rise to the challenge.

2. I am not giving up on Teo coming back until he signs elsewhere. Take Rushing and Taylor out of Marks lineup and drop Teoscar back in to his spot behind Freddy and we are ready to Run It Back!

3. Mark often says: “progress is not linear” and he is absolutely right, not all players stand out in their first year, for the vast majority it happens little by little, having said that, Andy Pagés will have the bat of Teoscar, in the coming seasons, but with a much superior defense, in LF or RF, and with that great cannon arm he has, Andy will be a better player.
   Go to BR and compare their first full season, practically, Andy is Teo but with a better defense.
   In 2018, at 25 years old, Teo had his first full season but already had a little more than 250 AB of MLB experience.
   In 2024, at 23 years of age, without any MLB experience, Pagés had his first almost complete season and the statistics are very similar.

4. So you’re back to dissing Outman, I see. Just got to scratch that itch?
   For some reason Outman doesn’t merit mention in your projected lineups, even though just a sophomore jinx removed from a rookie season in which he finished third NL ROY voting with a .790 OPS, a .353 OBP and 23 HRs–all while playing a quality centerfield. Those numbers are far more impressive than what Chris Taylor and Andy Pages have done in the last couple of seasons. Rushing too, since he’s only played in the minors.
   Yes, Outman had a rough ’24–though he played well and finished strong after being sent down to OKC.
   But didn’t somebody once preach that progress is not linear? And isn’t the sophomore jinx so common in baseball that it inspired the term “sophomore jinx”?
   I can understand why, based on last season’s performances, you see promise in Pages. He showed flashes, especially against lefties. But his ’24 offensive performance wasn’t nearly as good as Outman’s in ’23.
   And did anyone think Pages played a stellar CF?
   It’s more puzzling that you look so favorably on Rushing as an OF. He’s never had a single AB in the majors and is a catcher by trade who only started playing some LF last season. Great if he succeeds–but no real track record as an outfielder.
   Funny, but not long ago you were saying that Outman was still part of the Dodgers outfield plans for ’25.
   Was this an oversight?
   Or do you secretly know that Outman is “the player to be named later” in a deal that remains a closely guarded secret…
   Outman for Miguelito, perhaps?

   1. Most of your takes lately have been really good and I find myself agreeing with many. But getting personal is a big…..yawn. Go back to bed.
      Book em

   2. I apologize if James Outman is your son or a relative, but he will never be more than a 4th or 5th outfielder. He will never, and I repeat NEVER hit LHP. Andy had a .917 OPS against LHP while having a .647 OPS against RHP. Here’s the difference. Pages has 10 HR against same side pitchers in 98 AB’s and Outman has 1 HR is 173 ABs against same side pitchers. Pages is RH. Comforto is LH – That is a perfect platoon. Comforto hits RHP. Pages hammers LHP.

      James is not out of the picture in 2025, but he will be 28 years old. Last year was a really bad year for him. Pitcherrs discovered a hole the size of the Grand Canyon in his swing. Pitchers found that Miguel Vargas cannot hit high cheese. I am not sure either player can fix their swings. So, no… with Comforto, I no longer have Outman in the mix. He could surprise and make the team. I happen to like the guy. I love his style of play. I just call it the way I see it.

      You can contine to respond like you are a 13-year-old who had their lunch money stolen… or not!

      1. If AF is truly going with Betts at short and this is not lip service to improve Lux’s trade value. It tells me there is not much confidence in Outman. They prefer to go with Lux and Edman over Outman. Outman didn’t make any of the post season rosters. Maybe if Teoscar is not signed and Rushing doesn’t impress in spring training Outman might break camp as a platoon option.

         1. BANG!

      2. You don’t even have Outman as a 4th or 5th outfielder here, Mark.
         You have him as a nonentity.
         And yes, it’s been your pattern. Even while Outman was en route to third place finish in ROY voting in ’23, you were dismissive of his ability. It was quite a contrast to how you heap praise on your boy Miguelito. Like an addled Aesop, you likened Vargas to a “hare” and Outman to a “tortoise.”
         Last season, Outman’s struggles sent him to back to the farm. He’s a streaky hitter who had a terrible start.
         But at OKC, Outman bounced back with this slash line over 319 ABs: 279/390/543. That’s an OPS of .933, which included 17 HRs. He also stole 11 bases and was caught once. (Meanwhile, Outman and his wife are said to have welcomed the birth of his first child. Congrats to them.)
         Let’s compare Outman’s ’24 numbers to Rushing’s.
         In ’24, over 420 ABs, Rushing had a slashline of 271/384/512, for an OPS of .896. That’s really good, but not quite as good as that alleged tortoise, Rushing hit 26 HRs–nice!–but only stole 2 bases in 5 attempts.
         But let’s remember that question is who should factor into the Dodgers’ OF plans.
         Outman proved in ’23 that he’s a quality centerfielder. Yes, he could be a fine 4th or 5th outfielder too. Rushing is a catcher and part-time first baseman who has about one month of experience in LF. Nobody would ask him to play CF.
         When you diss Outman, Mark, sometimes I think you are just trolling me. But it seems like some sort of odd fixation.

         1. Something else about Outman…
            The astute Jeff Dominique, honcho of the fine LA Dodger Chronicles blog, noticed that Outman slumped last August–and came on strong in September. One theory: Outman was preoccupied and nervous awaiting the birth of his daughter. But mazel tov! Then the “dad strength” kicked in.
            Outman’s August slashline: 103/280/303, for an OPS of .588 over a measly 39 ABs. (Not sure if he missed games for paternity duties.)
            His September production: 360/429/693 for an OPS of 1.122. And that was over 75 ABs, so a much larger sample.
            Outman has always been streaky, but it’s fun–and perhaps meaningul–to attribute the power surge to fatherhood.
            Rushing, meanwhile, saw his output dip after he started playing LF, with his OPS tumbling about 300 points.
            So should where should Outman and Rushing be placed on the OF pecking order?
            I have a solution. Package them both with Lux and ??? to the White Sox for Luis Robert Jr. and a lottery ticket.
            Robert, who is only a year older than Soto, would take over CF, providing superior defense along with Teoscar-like power. Edman could shift to 2B, where he won a gold glove a few seasons back. Robert could be flanked by some combination of Conforto, Pages, Taylor and Kike, who would be re-signed to take Lux’s spot.
            Or maybe offer the ChiSox a choice between Pages and Outman. I’d prefer Outman because he’s a better defender, a better baserunner and his lefty bat is more useful. Pages hammered lefties and is more suited to a platoon role.

            1. Duke

               This is the first day I’ve looked at Dodgers websites in 2 months and you know who is talking smack about Outman, meanwhile his boy Miguel Vargas is truly one of the worst baseball players in MLB.

               Does he do this everyday?

      3. Have to agree with Mark on this one. It’s painful to watch outman swing at a slider from a lefty and miss it by a foot. Conforto dulls the bill and rather than get Teo, I would rather get Santander, a switchie . He was a DH for B-more but played an average outfield. Two switch hitting OFs would give Roberts incredible flexibility against LH or RH pitchers, plus Edmons could give Mookie a day off and the same with Santander resting Ohtani.
         Thanks for listening.

5. Why not Mookie in RF, Rojas at SS, Edman in CF? Let Rojas bat 8th or 9th, with his D that is fine.

   I dont like the idea of Mookie at SS, he said it himself it weighed on him the entire season when he was there. Said he couldnt sleep. Its a damn tough position….

   Doesnt makes sense to me….something is up…..leverage for a trade?

   1. Mookie has the offseason to prepare and all of Spring training to get mentally prepared to play shortstop. Also Rojas is going to work with him. Never underestimate the pure talent that Mookie possesses to be successful at anything he does.

      1. I dont doubt Mookie, just dont think its the best option for the team.

         Something is up, trade for Arrenado and move Muncy to 2B?

      2. I think Mookie will play a year … maybe two at SS and then mover to 2B until he retires.

         He has won a GG in RF. I think he wants to win one at SS and then also at 2B.

         1. Im sure he does.

            But he also wants to win 5-6 WS titles….

            Mark for April 1st, get the “home run seats” Well worth the price…..

         2. That timeline makes sense.
            Perhaps a year or two at SS, then move over to 2B. Perhaps Freeland will be ready.
            But I don’t see him winning a Gold Glove at SS.
            Which is OK.
            Because he could win another MVP.

6. Let’s sign Tanner Scott now that he is available on the free agent market with no qualifying offer. He would definitely fortify our bullpen and help shorten the game with our other quality relievers.

7. no way taylor and rushing come close to matching Teo’s production in left field! i agree with you Mark 90% of the time, but i don’t see that combo manning left field. as for outman? i agree. with the conforto signing, no room in the inn! as for mookie playing shortstop? i’d rather he play second base, but that’s just me. Not saying he can’t, just wish he would settle in at 2nd. Come on AF! you would have gone 600 million on soto! get teo back!

8. Teo or Walker B.?

   Id take WB….

   1. I’d take both, but Teo should be the priority.
      Dodgers have a lot of pitching depth, but the OF seems a bit thin now.
      I want Kike back too. But unless there’s a trade or two, there might not be room on the roster.

9. I’m sure AF knows what he is doing. I mean, he just won a World Series. If he puts Mookie at short, so be it. Mookie is a baller. He will get the job done without question. Remember, the lineup and roster in April and May and June……….means nothing as the Dodgers without question will make the playoffs and roll into October. He’s putting all his players in a position to succeed. And remember the views and opinions in this comment are the sole intellectual property of the owner.
   Book em

   1. Plenty of time for changes before opening day.

10. How is moving to SS going to be easier on Bett’s body? That’s the main reason I’ve heard/read for the change. I would think SS is the second most demanding position to play after catcher.

    1. You’re right. Short is demanding. But Mookie isn’t moving there to save his body. He’s moving there because it’s best for his team. To have an MVP be able to seamlessly change positions and provide elite defense is unheard of.
       My opinion on the toughest defensive positions.
       1 pitcher
       2 catcher
       3 1st
       4 center
       5 short
       6 2nd
       7 3rd
       8 right
       9 left
       This is solely the views of Dano
       Book em

       1. It depends on your definition of ‘defense’. If you mean fielding your position, I wouldn’t put pitcher at #1. He can go an entire game without a fielding chance. Also would move 1st base down. Would go Catcher-Shortstop-center. Second and left at the bottom. That’s where they always stuck me as a kid.
          Views of David

       2. Well… I’d say SS, CF and 3B are more difficult than first base.
          First base really doesn’t require the athletic ability of SS or CF. Quickness matters, but speed really doesn’t.
          And a first baseman rarely has to make a meaningful throw.
          Steve Garvey became an excellent first baseman in part because he had such an inaccurate arm. He’s about 7 inches shorter than Freddie, but he fielded the position well.

          1. I would include catcher. I played 1B and outfield because I’m lefthanded. The only thing I felt was difficult about any of those positions was backhanding batted balls at first but I agree that running in the outfield could wear a person out if there are a lot of hits in a game or inning.

    2. More hits to RF. More running to such hits in RF. Longer throws from RF.

11. Mookie is an amazing athlete, but not a top tier MLB shortstop. I don’t think he passed the eye test last season and so it was not a surprise that he move to RF when things got serious. That said, agree that Lux in not the SS. Lux ultimately needs a fresh start with another team.

    I don’t like a potential line-up with Muncy/Pages/Taylor in a row. To me, that represents a sizable hole that pitchers can exploit.

    Unless we add a SS, I am guessing we’ll see a regular season similar to last year in which several will play at SS (Rojas, Mookie, Edmund) and second base too (Lux, Mookie, Taylor) and even at third (Muncy, Taylor, Kike), especially if Freddie requires more days offs due for his ankle and rib injury to fully heal.

    Friedman is playing the long game keeping players fresh and engaged over a long season. The Dodgers can add a piece at the deadline if necessary.

    The only x-factor would be adding Nolan Arenado to play third. He doesn’t make the Dodgers younger, but allows better usage of Muncy against RHP’s.

    1. In the second half of last year season, Lux hit over .300 with an OPS of 898. The first half was a bit rough but in Lux’s defense, he had sat out the entire season prior due to a devastating injury. Lux doesn’t need a fresh start. Lux had a yips problem early in the season last year but again got past that problem. The Dodgers are a better team with Lux at second base. We know that Lux had a rough post season but to put him out to pasture or to send him in a trade with a handful of top prospects for an injury prone center fielder or a pitcher without a long history (or more than one year) success as a starter, is ill advised at a minimum. If the Sox’s want to trade for Lux, in my unprofessional opinion should be a straight up trade, and if I were the Dodgers I wouldn’t make that trade. Same with the lefty handed pitcher the White Sox’s have that many of our posters are in love with. Just my thoughts.

       1. You may be right that Lux can excel as a Dodger, I hope he does. It just seems like the Dodgers have not handled his development in the best way. Lux hit .250 with 10 Hrs, but hit only .100 in the post season. As a fan, I feel like he carries an extra weight of expectation. I would only want Lux traded if it brought a left side infielder.

          1. I think the Dodgers have gone above and beyond in helping Lux develop:

             Early in his MLB career they stuck with him, then had to send him down and then called him back. Then he got injured but wanted to play SS when he came back. They let him – he couldn’t! They stayed with him last year when he was really bad and he rewarded them by getting hot after the All-Star Break.

             The Postseason average is just a small sample… too small to mean anything.

             I have suggested trading Lux, but if he can play 2B, then I am excited to keep him. He will be even betterthis year after another year removed from surgery. I can see him hitting .280+ with 20 Bombs.

12. My question is if you are resigning Kike, why is Taylor platooning in LF and not Kike? Maybe Mark is saving Kike for the playoffs. I also think with all the deferred money the Dodgers have out, They will be building more of a powerhouse team and you won’t see the hole in LF as Mark has listed above. It’s Go time in LA to repeat. You will see a power right handed bat in LF. If not Teo it will be someone else. Pages will be given a chance to play as a platoon in RF with Conforto. I see Rushing spending more time in AAA or maybe a packaged player for Roberts Jr or someone similar. Just my opinion It sounds like they are looking for a high leverage closer right now. Fun time of year

    1. I think Kike will play all over: 2B, 3B, 1B, CF, etc. But they have to sign him first.

13. For the most part I have no problem with the Dodgers trading almost anybody if they get a fair return. The Dodgers are dealing in a position of strength. They are the favorites to win the World Series (a lot of things must go well), when you are in the position of strength you act like it. We do not have to overpay with players or prospects for anyone. We must be cognizant that we must continue to look in the future so we continue to deal in the position of strength. This is what I love about our front office, they build for now and tomorrow. The Micheal Busch trade is a great example. Busch is a good player possibly a very good player. He had no place to play in the Dodgers organization so the Dodgers flipped him for a couple of great prospects. You don’t know how Ferris and Hope are going to turn out but I like the chances of it becoming a great trade possibly for the Cubs also. 4-Gens I’m not questioning your thought, to each their own, I just think we don’t overpay and teams need to come to us. We have strength in starting pitching (though a team can’t have to many) , teams are desperate for starting pitching, they should be overpaying us for a players such as Grove, Knack, or whoever the front office decided to trade.

14. I hear the Trashtos are dangling Kyle Tucker. I would love to have him for his walk year. But at what cost. How about DePaula, Outman and Caspirius. Just think Mark, with Outman gone, some folks just might have to move on from their obsession with James. What a great lineup that would be.
    Book em

    1. Per the trade value simulator:

       Kyle Tucker: 31.5

       Casparius 2.3
       Outman 14.4
       DePaula: 36.1

       So 31.5 for 52.8, probably an overpay.

       Ferris, Freeland, George and Crowell works out though.

15. Fried signs 8 year deal with Yankees for 218 million

    1. INSANE!

       1. When I saw that number, I thought it was a misprint.
          8 years of Fried who is 31 years old ….. ouch

16. Per Doug McKain:

    Andrew Friedman says that Roki Sasaki is a major priority for the Dodgers:

    “He is someone that obviously is a major priority for us and we’re going to do whatever we can, and know that there are a lot of other teams that are going to do the exact same thing.”

    Friedman went on to say Sasaki is capable of being the best pitcher in the world.

17. Hitting MLB pitching is hard. Even the great ones take time to get used to it after a major injury. Gavin Lux was no different , rough start last year, but his OBP the last 3 months was over .370. It seems logical that this is why Mookie is at SS and not 2nd base.

18. Major League Baseball conducted its third annual draft lottery this afternoon at the Winter Meetings. The Nationals won the lottery and will pick first overall. They’ll be followed by the Angels and Mariners. Washington had just above a 10% chance of securing the top pick, the fourth-highest odds.

    Here’s the top 5:

    1. Nationals
    2. Angels
    3. Mariners
    4. Rockies
    5. Cardinals

    Per Ardaya:

    Andrew Friedman on Teoscar Hernández: “I know that he has talked about wanting to (re-sign), I know that we have talked about wanting him to…But it’s not everything. He and his family get to go through the interest and figure out what makes the most sense for them.”

    1. Translation: “We are offering three years and $65 Million.”

19. Tonight we had a business meeting with the Presidents of two suppliers we use. My wife and I arrvied in the Mustang Dark Horse and my son arrived in his F-350. Quite a contrast. This thing is a Beast… 0-60 in 3.7 seconds. The only thing faster is the Tesla!
    

    1. Nice car!

20. At your age, why a car that’s go 0- 60 in 3.7 seconds .asking for a friend.

    1. I am a drag racer at heart. No other way to say it.

    2. Is it true Teslas outperform that?

       1. They go from 0-60 in like 2.3 Secs.

          Actually the new Corvette is a little faster, but it costs twice as much.

          Ford also offers this: https://www.darkhorsetrackattack.com/

21. For Duke:

    You just don’t get it! I do not have a favorite player…. well may Alex Freeland. I follow the kids in the minors and watch them on MilB.TV. I even go to some Minor League Games. I also value good bat-to-ball skills. Mookie and Freddie have them, Ohtani and Max? Not so much. I followed Outman and Miguel Vargas through the system. I always believed that Vargas had an elite swing and I always felt that Outman would be a #4 or #5 outfielder because of his swing and miss and the fact he could not hit LHP.

    Well, the league found a flaw in Vargas swing: He cannot catch up to a high fastball. They also found a hole in Outman’s swing the size of the Bermuda Triangle. Outman has a shot at making the team… I just don’t see it. Vargas? I doubt that he can be salvaged. I never saw that high cheese problem in the minors. MLB will expose you!

22. It’s funny how I didn’t see this coming. I thought GM’s would shy away from long term deals for pitching. But with all the arms falling off they said we better lock up the great ones. As for the Tankees, they signed Fried for 80 years because Cashman got played by AF for Snell and he panicked. Doesn’t he realize AF is playing 3d chess while he is just playing…..well 3d chess. Andrew is just better.
    Book em

23. How many years until Lux hits free agency?
    And after that, will he be re-signed?
    Betts to SS for 1 or 2 more seasons, and then?
    Will he be moved to 2B?
    What will happen to Lux then?
    Where is gonna play Freeland?
    I don’t see any reason for Betts to play SS, for that it would be better to leave him at RF.
    But what do I know? The front office knows much more than me!

    1. Lux his Free Agency in 2027.

       Betts wants to move to the infield.

       I can see him at SS for 25 and 26 and then 2B in 27.

       Freeland should be ready by 26.

       Lux has two years to show what he can do.

       1. That’s just what I wanted to know, okay.

24. I’ve been an advocate to keep Lux. Lux has a chance to be very good, he has a chance of not being good at all. In my mind it’s hard to gage his worth. The Dodgers will have a lot better feel by this year trade deadline. I hope that Lux is producing. In this business you produce or find a different career, it’s a cold blooded business. Personally I like the idea of Betts playing short and Lux at second. It has a chance to make the Dodgers lineup longer if the Dodgers can score a power hitting outfielder like Teo. If they can’t make a trade or sign Teo the Dodgers are throwing the dice that one of the young players like Pages, Rushing or Outman will step up and be that player. Even if the Dodgers get one outfielder that still leaves two spots open unless we plug Edmund into CF full time or Taylor bounces back. It’s really a great time to be a Dodger fan because regardless of what they do, they will still be the best team in baseball. It’s good to deal when you are in power, you are not forced to make a rash or a hard gamble on any trade or free agent signing.

25. The Rule 5 Draft is over and the Dodgers did not lose anyone.

    The Red Sox are on the verge of acquiring Garrett Crochet.

    1. 4. Angels: LHP Garrett McDaniels (Dodgers)

    2. Deal is official.

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