With apologies to Kenny Rogers for taking lyrical liberties with one of my favorites. However, we are 10 games into the season, and many are already talking about trades.
Let me say straight up, I am not a CJ Abrams fan. Is he a good offensive infielder? Sure. But does he have the personality or demeanor that will fit with the current LAD culture? Could the current LAD clubhouse make the necessary changes for him? Do they want to? I have not talked with him, so how can I say that he is a malcontent or can be molded and folded into LAD. OTOH, I have heard enough about Jazz Chisholm Jr. to know that I do not want him anywhere near the Dodgers.
As long as we are talking about 2B, and Nico Hoerner is now extended with the Cubs through 2032 (age 35), my efforts would be directed towards Brice Turang. I will say it before anyone else? Why would Milwaukee trade him? Quite simply, they wouldn’t, at least not now. Turang is controlled through 2029, and he is going to command a ransom when he becomes a FA. He will become available for trade after the 2028 season because Milwaukee will not pay him what he is worth.
AF/BG is not going to make a trade just to make a trade. Otherwise they might end up with Gorman Thomas. I am okay with letting Hyeseong Kim and Alex Freeland compete it out for the backup 2B job to Tommy Edman, once he returns. To be honest I doubt that any of the MLB SS/2B I would be looking at are anywhere close to being available.
I know most fans would not mind a trade overpay, but AF/BG is not prone to an overpay. They do the swindling, they are not swindled. I like it when trades work out for both sides, like Michael Busch to Chicago for Jackson Ferris and Zyhir Hope. I do not know if Hope or Jackson will turn into MLB regulars, but we know Busch was never going to get a legit opportunity with LAD.
Zach McKinstry was blocked with LAD, but he was worth a good reliever, Chris Martin, in a trade with the Cubs. McKinstry would later become an All Star with Detroit.
Ryan Ward? He was nothing more than a 4th or 5th OF, but he certainly deserved a chance with Michael Conforto struggling. He didn’t, and saw FA ahead until the Dodgers placed him on the 40 man. I hope his agent is scouring the NPB and KBO wires to learn when a spot for a foreign born player opens up, and he can ask for his release to sign in Japan or Korea.
I cannot imagine Boston ever wanting to trade with AF/BG again.
Busch was traded because he was blocked by Freddie Freeman, and had MLB skills. OTOH, the player drafted 6 slots before him by LAD, Kody Hoese, was also blocked, but the 28 year old 3B/1B is now looking for a MiLB job. He is still an unsigned FA.
The Dodgers seemingly prefer the vet over the kid, and that presents them with a dilemma. They have multiple top prospects that are blocked, and there is no way they can retain all of them.
- Josue De Paula – AA – 2027 ETA
- Zyhir Hope – AA – 2027 ETA
- Mike Sirota – A+ – 2027 ETA
- James Tibbs III – AAA – 2027 ETA
- Kendall George – AA – 2027 ETA
- Zach Ehrhard – AAA – 2027 ETA
- Eduardo Quintero – A+ – 2028 ETA
- Charles Davalan – A+ – 2028 ETA
- Landyn Vidourek – A+ – 2028 ETA
- Ching-Hsien Ko – Development List – 2029 ETA
- Brendan Tunink – A – 2029 ETA
Those are all LAD top 30 prospects, and they are all OF. Yes, Tibbs III can play 1B, but he has been playing mostly RF with Ryan Ward getting the majority of time at 1B.
It is also possible that Chase Harlan and Kellon Lindsey find their way to the OF.
Andy Pages is controlled through 2030, and is more likely to get that extension than being moved. Kyle Tucker is not going to opt out of his contract, and no team is going to trade for that contract. Thus Pages and Tucker will be LAD OF for a while.
That leaves Teoscar Hernández. He will be difficult to move with a $16.9MM 2027 contract and a $6.5MM 2028 option buyout guaranteed. I am not sure what kind of a return the Dodgers would get for a 34 year old LF with a $23.4MM guarantee. Then again, he could be in the MVP talk throughout the year.
While everybody has their favorites, none of us are anywhere close to being qualified to determine which of the above are going to be MLB OF as a regular, much less an All Star.
That is 6 OF with a 2027 ETA, and logically only one possible spot available. Two more legit OF prospects with a 2028 ETA right behind them. You cannot keep them all. They already have Mike Sirota blocked from AA. Chris Newell and Kole Myers have no real trade value, and neither deserve to just be released. They can be traded for cash as was Damon Keith, who BTW is doing very well thus far at AA with Milwaukee. Does anyone truly believe that either Newell or Myers has a future as a LAD OF?
No team ever has enough pitching, so some could be moved for more top pitching at the A or rookie league level.
The closest the Dodgers have to a regular SS at the MLB level might be Kellon Lindsey, and he is on the Development List. Emil Morales will eventually end up at 3B. Noah Miller is destined to be a glove first utility player as a potential replacement for Miggy Ro.
So why not package some of these OF prospects with some pitching to find that elusive SS? They are not going to get Roch Cholowsky in the draft. I do not believe any prospect on the A’s is untouchable, but if anyone is knocking on that door, it is Leo De Vries. I do not know how, but if I were AF/BG I would be asking what it would take to get De Vries.
How long do you hold onto 2 or even 3 of De Paula, Hope, Sirota, and Quintero? Especially with Tibbs III knocking on the door. And that is another problem. Freddie wants to play 2 more years once his LAD contract is up. It is more likely that he gets extended before that happens. The Dodgers are going to want Freddie to get that 3,000th hit as a Dodger. Do you put Tibbs III on the bench as they did with Rushing?
Do you hold onto them long enough that they become the next Ryan Ward or Kody Hoese? You cannot hold them so that any trade value dissipates?
I have no idea if Tibbs III is going to continue this hot streak, but he was a top draft pick from a top baseball school (Florida State) in 2024, and is already dominating AAA a year and a half later. I would certainly consider Tibbs III if there is an injury to Teo or Tucker. And I would consider him a real option at LF next year.
Alex Call is the ideal 4th OF. He is 31 and controlled through 2029. He will be 35 when he becomes a FA. Kendall George will then be 25, and would be a logical replacement for Call as the 4th OF. George does not need to be protected until after 2027. I like George in that role.
The Dodgers have decisions as to whether to hold em or deal em. De Paula is the only OF that needs to be protected this year. But the Dodgers also have five pitchers at AAA/AA that also merit protection consideration:
- Jackson Ferris (L)
- Adam Serwinowski (L)
- Patrick Copen (R)
- Luke Fox (L)
- Wyatt Crowell (L)
So who are they going to protect? For those they choose not to protect, is the team better off packaging 2-3 of them for another need, or take their chance at losing them in the Rule 5 draft? Of course the timing of the next CBA will have an impact on that decision, as the draft cannot happen until the CBA is agreed to.
It will be an interesting trade deadline, and perhaps an even more interesting Winter Hot Stove League, again once the new CBA is signed.
Nothing kind or considerate about the way they treated Ward. The least they could do is release him or trade him to a lower level team and give him a shot. He deserves it. Kim will do fine at SS, at least until Edmon gets back and so far he is holding his own.
The Dodgers’ depth is a great problem to have, of course. And the frontliners are so strong–both hitters and pitchers–that it’s hard to identify plausible moves that could actually upgrade this team. (At least until the Tigers seek bids for Skubal.)
Today Dalton Rushing showed that he belongs, providing the power we’ve been expecting for awhile. How much offensive production can we expect from the Smith-Rushing job share? I would not be surprised catcher position produces an OPS over .900 with 30+ HRs.
The current Dodgers are so good that we find ourselves fretting about the problems that might arise in 2028, with seven OF prospects vying for a single opening.
The glut of OF talent has me thinking that an overpay for De Vries or other top-tier SS prospect to eventually succeed Mookie could make sense. The team might also shop for a stud catching prospect–the one position that seems a bit thin on the prospect level.
The A’s don’t need outfielders, maybe a center fielder, they extended Soderstrom , Rooker and Butler. They need pitching you would have to overpay with arms and one of Sirota or Quintero.
It’s early to get too excited, but I share the enthusiasm about JT3. We know that the Dodgers are too good to gettop draft picks–but the front office managed to acquire both Tibbs (No. 6 pick overall) and Erhard because they were blocked on the Red Sox.
It’s a bit ironic, because before the Tucker acquisition, a lot of us were hoping that the Dodgers could swing a deal for Jarron Duran or Wilyer Abreu.
If Tibbs continues to play well, he could be summoned if there is any injury to Freddie or an outfielder.
Tibbs was not taken 6th, was he?
I thought it was the teens.
13th.
Interesting post Jeff. You are a prospect guy so I respect your take on it.
The way this team is constructed it appeared to me for at least the next two years replacement players weren’t supposed to be needed. Then Mookie goes down.
Is this a gulp moment? It certainly could be. Looking at his history he has only had two 150 game seasons out of the last five. And it appears he won’t have one this year. Personally I would prefer he finishes his career in a less demanding position than shortstop but it looks like that’s where he intends to play. For now anyway.
I am very curious what may be in store for Tibbs but Teo is the left fielder on this team and the Dodgers are lucky to have him. If Tibbs continues to pound AAA pitching I look for a trade.
Freeland and Kim. Will both be gone when Edman and Kiké return? One might stay and Espinal goes. Whatever happens the Dodgers will be deep with utility players.
What a team this is. I’ve been a Dodger fan for 67 years and I’ve never seen anything like this in LA. I am grateful to still be here for it.
This is truly the best time ever to be a Dodger fan. It almost feels embarrassing… almost!
The Dodgers have a glut of highly-rated outfielders, and I, too, have wondered if the A’s could be overwhelmed with prospects for DeVries.
It would take a huge overpay to get him. It might have to include Lindsay or Kim, but the centerpieces would have to be DePaula, Tibbs III, and/or Sirota. All are currently blocked.
I see Kendall George as a perfect 4th- or 5th-outfielder, but he needs to improve his reads on balls in CF.
In this case, the Dodgers may trade their top prospects and keep the role players. What a problem to have.
I still don’t see the signing of Tucker… but he can prove me wrong.
Tucker has been great. I appreciate his game more seeing him play everyday. His ability to take a walk separates him but his defense is solid, he has power and he rarely looks overmatched at the plate.
Last year Andy Pages’ reads were not very good. This year he looks much improved, and the more he is out there, the better he will get. He works very hard to improve his defense. For the first time, one of the LAD affiliates has a dedicated OF coach, David Dahl at OKC.. Dahl was a CF in MiLB but was moved to primarily play LF at MLB. Using Fangraphs’ DRS metric, he was not a good defensive OF.
Tulsa does not have an OF coach. Their manager, Eric Wedge, was a catcher/DH/PH. Johan Garcia, bench coach, was a utility infielder. Blake Gailan, hitting coach, was an OF. Does he do double duty? Two pitching coaches, a bullpen coach, a development coach, and a performance coach.
Why not hire Kevin Kiermaier to be one of the Dodgers 175 special assistants, and have him work with the OF across MLB and MiLB? Every affiliate has a performance coach and a development coach, but only OKC has an OF coach?
“Why not hire Kevin Kiermaier“
That’s a great idea.
We all should not worry about the future,but enjoy the present state of the Dodger team,because AF and BG are both smarter than all of us here and I’m sure they have a plan mapped out for all the prospect outfielders. When you have the kind of trading capital and money the Dodgers have,decisions are a lot easier. All the other 29 teams would love to have our problem of which prospect outfielder to keep or trade,
Yeah, stay in the moment. Tibbs is still 23 and will only be blocked if he has a great AAA year and doesn’t have a chanxe to make next year’s roster. For now he has jumped ahead the OF scrum behind him. A logjam could develop but we’re not quite there yet. Assets all.
I don’t worry about the future – I am not a worrier. If anything, I am a risk taker. In 25 years, I built a $100 Million Company by striving to be ahead of my competitors. I instilled those values in the next generation, and they are doing it better than I did. While not worrying about the future, I certainly keep an eye on it. It took years to train the current group of leaders, and it’s that way in baseball. You have to kiss a lot of frogs…
Looking to the future is in my DNA… that… and I always thought I could outwork anyone. That part is no longer true. 😉
It has been very heartwarming for me to see my son and seven or eight US Water employees open up our Tampa Branch… without my help. I am forever grateful, proud and blessed.
Mark –
You have built something great with your family!
Of course you should be incredibly proud of what you have accomplished especially seeing the next generation make it bigger and more importantly better!
Who said anything about being worried? I see 6 OF, 3 of whom are top 100 prospects, with an ETA of 2027, and no place to put them. Maybe Teo gets moved next year, maybe not. AF/BG seem to prefer the vet. I simply asked a question. Never intimated that I was smarter than any Dodger executive. No speculation as to what they should do. But maybe if I was one of those 6 OF, I might be hoping that I would get moved like Michael Busch and not get the Ryan Ward treatment.
It seems like the Dodgers wanted to let players who were the core of back to back WS championships stay for a chance for a 3peat. If they do it, good chance Dodgers will keep them for a run at 4peat.
I’m guessing who stays after this year depends on if a 3peat happens.
Is it possible to trade some of our prospect OF depth for some infield prospects? Doesn’t seem to happen much. I know Red Sox won’t take our call!
Also is it possible in the next collective bargaining deal that MLB could force the Dodgers to cut their payroll?
Oh and Mark,
I’m jealous. I created a $100,000 company and none of my kids wanted anything to do with it!
My wife, our son, and my oldest daughter work there. My son is 26 and the CEO. My daughter is the Director of Service Operations.
My wife’s daughter and her husband also work for us. Her daughter is the Director of Social Media, and our son-in-law is the Director of Photography. Both are film school grads.
My wife’s sister and niece also work for us as clerks.
My brother is head of Skunkworks, and my nephew is VP of Business Development.
So we have 8 family members who work for us, about 92 employees.
If you are related, you have to work harder.
Are you looking for a guy to serve tandoori chicken? If so, I’d like to apply
I’m all in.
Mark, you’re not saying your brother has the position 1st. headed by Kelly Johnson, are you? That would be very mind blowing! Unless you say that to be the truth I have to believe “that can’t be”!! Johnson only had an I.Q. of over 1,000. Talk about a man with vision. Skunkworks or Skunk Works?
So what’s an error in Big League Baseball?
I’ve seen a number of plays lately in MLB, including the Dodger game last night, that make me question the scoring. Some decisions are changed in game or later.
According to MLB Rule 9.12, an error is charged to a fielder who commits a misplay—a fumble, muffed catch, or wild throw—that allows a batter to reach base safely, a runner to advance, or a batter to extend their at-bat, provided the fielder did not use “ordinary effort” to make the play.
I’ve heard the phases “ordinary effort” plenty as a determinator. Major league players are extraordinary athletics so what’s “ordinary” for them?
I’ve always used the determinator as, was it a “routine play” for a player at their competition level? Maybe ordinary effort and a routine play are not the same.
Who determines a big league error? Most of us know that an Official Scorer, appointed by Major League Baseball and stationed in the press box, determines if a play is a hit or an error based on whether a fielder could have made the play with “ordinary effort”. Certainly the Official Scorer couldn’t have made the play so everything is extraordinary.
I think scorers should hold MLB players to a higher standard. I know the game is hard but these guys should cover first base on time, pitchers should field their position and make accurate throws and players should display solid fundamentals. Everybody makes an occasional error, but rule it an error. Batting stats and ERA’s are skewed by inconsistent scoring.
Even AJ Pierniski (sp) stated he may have never made an out with the scoring in the game today. (someone needs to remind AJ that an error counts as a time at bat)
I finally got to watch a Dodger game live. My first in a few days. I’m at the mercy of MLB broadcasts to give me the Dodgers, since I will not sign up for an MLB Extra Innings package until I leave Phoenix on April 15th.
I think you can sign up wherever you are now because ESPN is the provider.
So what’s an error in Big League Baseball?
Technically – should an out have been made or was a base given up. We know it when we see it, or at least we think we do. But it is subjective.
Jackson Ferris is the starting pitcher for AAA Oklahoma City tonight.
D-Backs purchased the contract of Luken Baker and placed Carlos Santana on the 10-day IL. To make roster space, Jordan Lawler was moved to the 60-day IL. Baker was claimed on waivers by the Dodgers last year and spent time at OKC.
Luken is a beast. When I saw him in Spring Training, my jaw dropped. He’s listed at 6’4″ and looks taller. And he is all of the 285 he’s listed. He just ripples out of his uniform with massive guns.
He would scare the bejesus out of a a defensive back as a tight end.
Girst guy off the bus.
I’ve said this many, many times but in other ways and in other context.
Ryan Ward has nothing to do with the team’s other OF prospects frequently mentioned. All look to eventually easily outclass Ward. Ward could be traded for, he could be selected in the Rule 5.
Ward is a AAAA OF who puts up great stats in a hitter’s park in a hitter’s league. He’s a mediocre, at best, defender.
TL;DR:
Let’s not forget that Alex Call rates higher than Ward.
No, Ward cannot be selected in Rule 5 draft. He is on the 40 man roster. He needs to be DFA, and outrighted if he passes through waivers, or be subject to two more years of options. After exhausting 3 years of options, he can then has to stick on the 26 man or be DFA. Since he was never outrighted, he does not have the opportunity to refuse the outright and become a FA.
Of course he has nothing to do with the other OF prospects. Nobody ever said he did. But is it fair that Ward was added to the 40-man right beofre he was to become a MiLB FA. So he exhausted 7 years of MiLB, and now is tied to the Dodgers for 3 more years. I do not know of anyone who disputes that the prospects are going to be better than Ward. That is the point. Why add him to the 40 man if he had no chance to make the 26 man.
Who has ever said that Ward rates higher than Call.
I think it is likely that Ward gets moved this season. The problem is: I don’t think he has any value.
I see him as Raley, Bannon, Beaty Lite
I don’t get Ward’s addition to the 40 man and I have stated that he’s being held captive like players were before free agency. Do him a favor and let him get on with his career elsewhere. He has no future with the Dodgers and as Mark mentions below, has questionable value in a trade.
I don’t get it.
There is NO STOPPING any other team from trading for Ward.
Prior to this past off-season there was NO STOPPING any other team from claiming Ward in the Rule 5.
The Dodgers have done immense favors for Ward by keeping him on the team, paying him and improving him.
It’s not the Dodgers burden to manufacture a market for a player.
Case in point this recent deal:
The Brewers acquired Minor League OF Damon Keith from the Dodgers for cash.
You are arguing a point nobody is making. Immense favors for paying him to do his job? What many of us have complained about is once Ward had FA in front of him, the Dodgers took it away from him and placed him on the 40 man. If the DOdgefrss wanted to do Ward a favor, they should have just let him go to FA. I do not think you understand the mentality of a MiLB player who is stuck in an organization where he has no chance of making it to MLB. That was my son with the Phillies. The Red Sox needed a catcher, and traded for him and he got his chance. That is what Ward wanted, and instead of caring about what is best for the MiLB player, you just say the Dodgers did him a favor.
Apologies if poorly phrased or unclear.
I was trying to respond to this from user phil jones:
..,I have stated that he’s being held captive like players were before free agency. Do him a favor and let him get on with his career elsewhere…
The dodgers have done him great favors.
I just don’t think there is any reason to think Ward’s fortunes would be better if he were a Minor League FA.
Nor do I think it fair or accurate to compare his situation to pre-Curt Flood players
If any team thought he was worthy of a major league contract he would have one.
Desantis is an FSU guy…..
Yep
Per Alex Freedman:
Jackson Ferris, the top left-handed pitching prospect in the #Dodgers organization, has joined OKC and will make his season and Triple-A debut tonight.
Was org’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2024 and last year ranked in org’s top 3 in starts, IP, ERA, BAA, and K.
Depending upon how he does, we could see him at a Ravine near you THIS YEAR!
7:07 PM ET
Dodgers (8-2)
Blue Jays (4-6)
SP Y. Yamamoto R
1-1 3.00 ERA
SP Kevin Gausman R
0-0 .75 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
RF Kyle Tucker L
C Will Smith R
1B F. Freeman L
LF T. Hernandez R
CF Andy Pages R
3B Max Muncy L
SS Miguel Rojas R
2B A. Freeland S
In Domed Stadium
It’s clear that they are giving Freeland all the runway he needs, but it won’t last forever. He has to hit.
He can sure field tho. It took some time for Tushing
No name-calling!
I will say after Stanton’s contract got dealt just about anyone is tradeable. I’m sure the Dodgers could get something for Teo if they really wanted to especially from an AL team.
I was just thinking last night if George could make consistent contact then Siani offers nothing at AAA that George couldn’t offer.
Teo is certainly tradeable… especially if he has a good year.
We may have found another SS…
I thought Siani would be better. Boy was I wrong.
Vesia is just so clutch! Good on Roberts leaving him in to pitch to Springer.
And NO trading my Teo!
Springer can eat a donkey d-ck.
Respectfully,