When the Dodgers traded for and signed Mookie Betts to a contract extension through 2022 before the 2020 season, I lamented that this contract would age poorly. Well, Mookie is signed for Seven (count ’em, 7) more seasons, and 2025 was the worst season of Mookie’s career! However, I am not as doom-and-gloomy as I was in 2020. Here’s why: Yes, last season was the worst of Mookie’s career. He hit .258 with a .732 OPS to go with 20 HR. That is pretty poor for a right-fielder (which is what I thought he was), but it’s much better for a Gold Glove Shortstop!
Maybe Andrew Friedman knew that the only way this contract ages well is if Mookie is a shortstop and he is now a real one. Mookie’s career OPS is now .881. It was .900 before last season, which was the worst (offensively) of his career. I think the days of Mookie having a .900 or 1.000 OPS are over. He might put up an .800 OPS, and that is damn good for a shortstop. He likely should hit lower in the lineup. I think #6 is ideal. Will Smith can replace him at #2. Mookie is a ballplayer – a ballplayer who will be 34 next year. He is an Outstanding Athlete, and I think he will adjust and compensate, but I doubt that he will be a superstar again.
Some of you will call me a hater. STFU! I love Mookie. We all age, and Father Time is undefeated! I think Mookie will do things in the offseason to improve his performance, but the last couple of years of his contract may be ugly. I am not going to worry about it now. I want to think that Andrew Friedman had this all figured out: “We will move Mookie to SS and maximize his value as his bat ages.” Andrew is smart… but he’s no seer! However, luck is where preparation meets opportunity!
The Dodgers do not need anything close to an overhaul. After all, they are the World Champs (again). However, it would be prudent to get younger… a year and a position at a time. Most fans look at “what was” (last year). Andrew looks at “what could be.” So, this is your cue to say that he was really wrong about Conforto! Does that make you feel better? Do you feel like a big boy? Yes, he made a mistake with Conforto. He saw what could be… but it was never meant to be. Yeah, he’s not perfect… and neither are you… Or me!
Most fans look at Brendon Donovan as a “Utilityman.” I look at him as an above-average second baseman who could win a batting title. He puts the ball in play and doesn’t strike out. Maybe AF sees that too. What if you trade for Donovan (Ferris, Miller, Hope) and bat him leadoff?
- Donovan (L) 2B
- Smith (R) C
- Ohtani (L) DH – I hate him here
- Pages (R) RF
- Freeman (L) 1B
- Betts (R) SS
- Muncy (L) 3B
- Call/Rushing LF
- Duran (L) CF – Traded Sheehan, Freeland, and Teoscar, for him (They need a consistent DH – Teo would do well with the Green Monster)
Book ’em! That changes the entire complexion of the team. In 2027, Mike Sirota takes over in CF with Duran going to LF. In 2028, it’s time for DePaula and Quintero… maybe Morales!
Disclaimer: I am not saying I would do this – just brainstorming.
The Rotation and Bullpen Update
There are rumors that Glasnow could be traded – I doubt that. Gavin Stone is expected to be fully available in Spring Training after missing the entire 2025 season due to right shoulder surgery. He has completed his rehab and recently gave an update, stating he is ready to be “full-go” when training begins. His surgery, which he had in October 2024, was to repair a complete capsule tear and partial tears of the labrum and rotator cuff. The rotation should look like this:
- Snell
- Yamamoto
- Glasnow
- Ohtani
- Sasaki
- Stone
There will be a lot of competition in the bullpen with River Ryan, The Bazooka, and Kyle Hurt back.
Why is everyone so quick to trade Teo and Sheehan???
Lets run it back with this group for the 3 peat.
And why is Pages batting clean-up? 😉
Must be dope fiend Friday!
As a 23-year-old, Andy Pages burst on the scene and hit 13 HR with a .248 BA and a .712 OPS.
Last year, as a 24-year-old, he hit 27 HR while batting .272 with a .774 OPS.
As a 25-year-old next year, I expect more growth – put him at cleanup with Ohtani and Muncy around him and he might hit 40 big flies.
Some fans only remember that he did not do well in the playoffs.
That’s sight!
What he can become is “vision.”
Ah, I was just using sight 🙂
Call/Rushing leaves us with a weak-assed and unproven left field and a slowly degrading infield.
I don’t see this as an improvement other than moving Ohtani to third or fourth to drive in more guys and dumping Teo.
LA fans are more forgiving than most team support but if things don’t work out, even our faithful will start grumbling.
Better plan would be keep our prospects, play Rushing and.
Kim, see to what ST produces and if it doesn’t pan out, look for a trade or two before the deadline. We are stuck with an aging team but getting rid of our youth for a quick fix is not the answer for a powerhouse like the Dodgers.
Just saying be cautious before we give away the farm.
They would grumble if you hung them with a new rope.
Just because a player isn’t “proven” does not mean that they won’t be.
If that were true, no rookies would every play.
I do not advocate giving up the farm… just a couple ofc strategic moves.
Would you put Sirota in that deal for Donovan if the Cards insisted?
The notion about long-term contracts not “aging well” is part of the cost of doing business. The commitment to Mookie paid off not just in securing his services (en route to 3 rings so far) but as a beacon to other stars like Freddie and Shohei. Great trade and great contract.
The Dodgers wisely invest in character as well as talent.
If the Dodgers deal for Donovan, I still think Kim merits a Miguelito-like audition at 2B. We know Kim’s an elite fielder. We know he’s blazing fast. He can’t prove himself against ML pitching unless he gets the ABs. His BA in ’25, as a rookie, was a healthy .280. He just needs to cut down on Ks and get his on-base percentage up. Donovan can play LF–unless Teo is still around.
While I still want to see a big, risky swing for Buxton, I think either Duran or Abreu would benefit the team more than Donovan. Either would push Teo to LF.
But maybe Teo heads to Boston….
I love the both sides nature of this post!
It starts off lamenting playing Rushing, and then later on says we should play Rushing!
It says dodger fans are favorable, and then says they will grumble!
if Kim doesn’t work out, we can make trades. But don’t trade away the farm!
When the Dodgers signed Mookie, AF was asked about the contract length. He said they looked at how players his size aged and felt that they aged well.
Betts had a bad season. Is it the beginning of a trend or just an off year? Time will tell. Remember, George Springer had, I believe, two bad years before having a good season this past year. And Marks right, Bett’s numbers translate better at SS than RF.
Absolutely trade for Donovan. They can figure out what to do with Kike later. As far as Teo ? he helped bring the team 2 world series titles, but his defense is really bad in right field and may not be much better in left field! If they needed a DH , he would be perfect. A trade for Duran would also help them get younger and better defensively. if boston wants teo, make the deal. And if they really want to get creative, sign Bader to play center field, move Pages to right and put duran in left with donovan at second. Better defensive outfield, and the infield is solid. More contact in the lineup. With Max still there, he would be the only swing and miss guy left in the lineup. If they can pull all this off without trading Kim, great. maybe they really wouldn’t mind trading kim? i hate to lose him, but potential is just a word until it isn’t!
Mookie Betts ain’t done! Betcha a cold drink he hits second in Dave Roberts lineup next season! He’s got at least 3 very good years left in that small but powerful body. Never disrespect the Mook!
The guy lost 25 pounds to start the season…holy heck.
Everything I’ve read is that the Dodgers want a reliever on a short term deal. That eliminates Diaz from the Mets and they could sign Suarez from the Padres on a short term deal. Winter Meetings should be interesting and hopefully a lot of action in this so far boring off season. 73 days till pitchers and catchers report around February 16th.
About Mark’s new notion of a lineup….
I think Shohei is a pretty damn good leadoff hitter. He gets on base–and often circles the bases. His OBP was .392, second on the Dodgers to Will Smith’s .404. He led the majors in runs scored with 146. Would more RBIs be nice? Sure. But scoring runs is more important than knocking them in.
Mookie’s OBP was .326. He had a bad season that started with an illness that cost him 20 pounds. I expect a bounce-back, but the Dodgers don’t have to have him bat 2nd.
Anyway, let’s say the Dodgers nab Duran for Teo and some pitching prospects. How about this:
Shohei DH
Smith C
Freddie 1B
Mookie SS
Max 3B
Pages RF
Duran CF
Call/Ward/Rushing LF
Kim 2B
Makes sense, adding Ward to the mix puts some power in LF. Rushing could also spell Max if he improves his offense. Wonder if he worked on that during the winter.
I think Diaz was never a consideration, given the QO attached.
Suarez will be 35 next year, so I think a 2 (maybe 3) year deal might be what the Dodgers try.
Maybe two years… $30 Mil
At some point in time, they have to let Rushing hit.
Dodger brass needs to figure out a way to keep Will Smith’s bat effective through the 2026 WS (se what I did there?), Rushing should and will likely play a critical role in achieving this.
Have Smith DH when Ohtani pitches. Would hep keep both healthier
My thoughts on Mookie is that a change in position at this stage of his career is to commended. Especially, when we consider how his season began. The man was facing some health issues that caused him to lose a lot of weight. He may have recovered from the illness but I don’t think his body fully recovered. He looked frail for a longtime.
I share the sentiment that his best days are likely behind him, but the fact he managed to play defense at a high level at one, if not the most, athletically demanding positions tells us his body still has something left in the tank.
While I’m not expecting MVP type production, I expect him to outperform his 2025 numbers. A “down year” for Mookie is more than adequate out of the SS position.
Mookie is the last of my concerns this upcoming season.
With you. My concerns are:
1. An OF
2. Trend toward youth
3. CF/2B clarity
4. Probably a veteran back-end reliever
5. Health
Per Morosi:
River Ryan is one name to watch in the Dodgers’ 2026 pitching plans.
He underwent Tommy John surgery in August 2024 and progressed so quickly that he was under consideration for a postseason roster spot in October.
Fangraphs top 52 (52!) Dodger Prospects:
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/los-angeles-dodgers-top-52-prospects/
Via Longenhagen, Brendan Gawlowski and James Fegan
DePaula #1 (55 FV) followed by Hope, Quintero, Morales, the aforementioned Ryan at 50 FV.
Ryan Ward at #21, with a FV of 40.
Fangraphs top 52 (52!) prospects in the Dodgers system:
By: Eric Longenhagen, Brendan Gawlowski and James Fegan
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/los-angeles-dodgers-top-52-prospects/
This system is awesome and one of the best handful in the game despite lacking much polished impact pitching.
DePaula at the top, 55FV.
Followed by Hope, Quintero, Morales and River Ryan (all at 50FV)
Ryan Ward at 21, FWIW.
Who is Marlin Nieves?
Seriously?
Did you click on his name?
Did you search him on this thing called a “search engine” or at an “AI prompt”?
There are people who actually follow and report on prospects, and you can find their reports by looking for them quite easily, so easily that instead of typing “Who is Marlon Nieves” here, you could have done it into GEMINI and learned who he is. Instantly.
Fuck off, dude. I don’t AI
So… who is Marlin Nieves?
Olney and Passan preview the winter meetings:
It makes sense for teams that have trade candidates under team control into 2027 to weigh offers now because they might struggle to get proper value for those players next July, given the labor uncertainty after the season. That means players such as Mackenzie Gore of the Nationals and Kwan of the Guardians…
The Diamondbacks told interested teams in July that they wouldn’t trade Marte, but their posture now is very different; they have to improve their rotation, and the quickest way to do that would be to swap Marte…
Another second baseman teams are considering: Tampa Bay’s Brandon Lowe….
Miami is almost certain to move a starting pitcher this winter…
Boston has been discussing its outfield surplus with multiple teams…
Pittsburgh wants to trade a starter for a hitter…
The Brendan Donovan market remains conflagrant, as St. Louis considers whether its rebuild will include him or the hefty return he would fetch…
The juiciest rumor I heard this week was the notion that the Mets could push the Phillies for Schwarber, and there are a lot of reasons this could make sense. Beyond Schwarber’s power and on-base capability — can you imagine pitchers working to get through Schwarber and Soto in the same inning….
With the paucity of center fielders in free agency and on the trade market, Bader has a healthy market.
LA prospects might be more valuable to them precisely because of the position player age issue. MLB players will get hurt and or inevitably decline. Having farm talent to promote is the cheapest way to cover for both those risks. No WS last year without rookie contributions.
No more Carlos Santana for Casey Blake because $5M is too much salary to take on. They’re having their cake and eating it too because winning makes the most $$, and spending with a brain makes winning more likely