Shohei Ohtani, Gavin Lux, and Lorenzo Sciarrino

Posted By on November 27, 2023

At first blush, those are three things that are not the same… and as you suspect, they are not. Let’s talk about them one at a time. However, before I go there, let’s discuss what team is the best-run franchise in baseball, courtesy of Ken Rosenthal. You already know the answer. Even the morons who blast Roberts and Friedman know better…

Fast forward to the 23:20 mark.

Shohei Ohtani

While he is a great player, he will never be mentioned in the same breath as Ruth, Williams, Aaron, and Mantle due to his longevity. Going into his age 30 season, he has 171 Home Runs and a .922 OPS. A-Rod had 451 HR by age 30, Griffey had 438, etc. There are about 40 more players who had more home runs by age 30. Yes, he only has five full seasons (because of the partial COVID season) in MLB, and while he is a freak in that he has both pitched and hit, a rational-thinking person has to realize that there is a very substantial possibility that he will not pitch at a high level again. We don’t know – the same as we don’t know if Walker Buehler will come back… and Buehler was two years younger when he had his second UCL surgery.

All we know is that Ohtani had his best offensive season (by far) in 2023. We know that he was the sole star on a really bad team (most of the season), and we know that when he could not hit anymore due to his oblique strain, he cleaned out his locker and left the team. General manager Perry Minasian finally told reporters an MRI had revealed an issue with Ohtani’s oblique on September 11th, and “Ohtani apparently decided to clear out his locker because he is focusing on getting a procedure done on his elbow.” That procedure was done on October 1st. That’s all I’ll say about it! Draw your own conclusions… there are plenty of opinions on the internet about it. On the other hand, you will be loathe to get any of his former teammates to say anything bad about him.

Lorenzo Sciarrino

I am not against Ohtani, but I do not believe it is intelligent to sign him for $50+ MM a year with a ten-year commitment. Now, if they could sign him for a hitter contract for eight years and $320 MM with opt-outs if he wants to pitch, then I am fine with that. Make it happen, but I am not down with breaking the bank to sign Shohei! Of course, some uninformed fans point to the fact that the Dodgers recently named Lorenzo Sciarrino to the position of Senior Vice President of Global Partnerships. In his role, Sciarrino will head the Dodgers’ global sponsorship department, supervising and engineering franchise partnerships with businesses domestically and internationally.

Sciarrino’s new position marks his return to the Dodgers, where he spent 12 years, culminating in his role as VP of Corporate Partnerships. During his tenure, he helped architect a refined go-to-market partnership sales strategy that resulted in historic revenue growth for the organization.

“Lorenzo is a highly regarded leader in his field,” said Lon Rosen, Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer, Los Angeles Dodgers. “He has an incredible grasp of the complex sports ecosystem that features worldwide sponsorship at its center and dynamic business opportunities in its orbit. We are thrilled to welcome him back to the Dodgers and can’t wait to see what he brings back to the organization.”

So, of course, some fans believe that this proves the Dodgers are going after Ohtani! It very well may prove the opposite. I do not believe that signing Ohtani is in any way connected to the Dodgers bringing Lorenzo Sciarrino back to LA. It is more likely that he is there to help develop these global partnerships regardless of whether they sign Ohtani.

As a matter of fact, if you look at the Dodgers Front-office global partnerships, you will find this:

  • Senior Vice President, Global Partnerships: Lorenzo Sciarrino
  • Vice President, Global Partnerships: Jeanne Vetter
  • Senior Director, Global Partnership Administration & Services: Jenny Oh
  • Senior Director, Global Partnerships: RJ Mata
  • Senior Director, Marketing Solutions: Matt Grable
  • Director, Global Partnership Services: Kristen Jareck
  • Director, Global Partnership Services: Kali Hengsteler
  • Director, Global Partnership Services: Karen Luciano
  • Director, Global Partnerships: Sander Rodman
  • Manager, Global Partnerships: Matthew Walker
  • Manager, Global Partnerships: Tiffany Lam
  • Manager, Marketing Solutions: Matthew Diaz
  • Coordinator, Global Partnerships: Dominique Iezza
  • Coordinator, Marketing Solutions: Nala Osorio

BTW, Andrew Friedman has nothing to do with this. He is on the baseball side. The Dodgers are about 5000 steps ahead of any of us on this. If Shohei becomes a Dodger, I will root like hell for him – I just do not see it happening based on what he will command financially and based upon what the Morons by the Bay will offer! However, never fear – the Dodgers will be in on some other Asian Players. such as Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Many MLB people believe he has the ability to be a #1 Starter.

“Yamamoto in Japan over seven seasons, a 1.72 ERA. A 0.915 WHIP, averages more than a strikeout per inning, 6.2 hits per nine innings. His strikeout to walk ratio is 4.56 strikeouts for every walk.
“He is a strike-throwing machine. He is a strikeout, swing-and-miss pitcher, he is a workhorse. He is at times unhittable. He’s never given up double digit home runs in a single season.”

–Former Mets GM, Steve Phillips

He is only 5′ 10″ tall, but then again… so was Pedro Martinez. Additionally, the Dodgers are also looking at Shōta Imanaga, the Lefty who started against Team USA in the World Baseball Classic gold medal game. To me, it would be a marketing coup to get both Yamamoto and Imanaga to say nothing about helping the rotation. Yamamoto will likely command an 8-year/$230 Million Dollar Deal, and Imanaga will be in the neighborhood of a $100 Million/4 year deal since he is five years older.

Also, the Dodgers have already signed Hyun-suk Jang, the RH Pheonem from Korea, and then there is Jung Hoo Lee, who is considered an upgrade in CF. Lee will likely command a 5-year $100 Million deal as well), so the dollars to spend will be limited. I am not saying Shohei Ohtani will not be a Dodger, but it will not be at a ridiculous price, and it will have to make sense. JD Martinez is still available, and he wants to come back to the Dodgers.

Gavin Lux

I like Gavin’s bat, legs (although we shall have to see if he can maintain his speed after surgery), and glove. What scares me is his arm. It’s no secret that he has had the yips in the past, and he doesn’t have a cannon of an arm anyway. It’s strong but not noteworthy. I have no problem with Gavin at 2B, but I do not believe that he can play SS. You might say that Andrew Friedman believes Gavin is a SS, but maybe he is just trying to “sell” that idea. Until he actually starts at SS, I do not believe AF believes that, either. That is my opinion. I see Gavin Lux as a 20 HR/.290 hitter. If he plays 2B, I am down with that, although you have seen his throws from 2B be wildly unpredictable as well.

I honestly think Gavin should hit higher in the lineup, if he maintains his speed. In a perfect world, I’d like to see this:

  1. Betts SS (this will never happen)
  2. Lux 2B
  3. Ohtani DH
  4. Freeman 1B
  5. Smith C
  6. Muncy 3B
  7. Lee CF
  8. Heyward/Deluca RF
  9. Busch/Vargas/Outman LF (pick a pair and trade one)
  1. Yamamoto
  2. Miller
  3. Imanaga
  4. Pepiot
  5. Ryu
  6. Buehler

I like two lefties and with Buehler, Ryu, the youngsters, and the Japanese players who are used to pitching every six days, it makes sense to use a six-man rotation to protect the arms. That’s my story and I stand by it… with my really cool Dodger shirt on:

This article has 108 Comments

  1. Uh, Ohtani is already talked about in the same breath as Babe Ruth. Can’t put that genie back in the bottle.

    Btw, Sonny Gray signing with the Cards is the canary in the coal mine for fiscal insanity this offseason. Some have predicted 4y/$100m so take your over/under. [I’m under]

    1. If you really look at the stats, how can you make that comparison? He won 23 and 24 games before his 23rd birthday and hit 29 HR as a batter in his first full season as a batter (that was when the average was 6 HR). The next two years he hit 54 and 59 HRs. You can compare Shoehei to anyone, but it does not make it valid.

      1. Of course it’s valid to compare Ohtani to Ruth. They are having similar two-way careers, 100 years apart. And nobody else compares to them.
        Seriously, saying the comparison is worthy of the Book of Moron.
        Fun fact: Over the past three seasons, Shohei has won two MVPs and finished second once–to Judge, a guy who slugs like Ruth.
        But he isn’t Ruthian the way Ohtani is.

  2. I tend to agree with Rosenthal on Ohtani.

    Although the Dodgers need Ohtani to make a statement to their fan base, it’s a lot of money and you might be able to spend it more wisely and get better bang for the buck.

    There is no doubt that signing Ohtani will bring a surge in advertising, sponsorship and merchandising revenue to the signing team, the question is how much — $20 million, $50 million, or as high as $100 million annually. No idea, but various stories have reflected those kind of numbers.

    Andrew Friedman has suggested an organization shift in terms of how the team may view free agents. Partly it may be driven by ownership. We’ll see.

    Yamamoto is a future ace and the Dodgers need pitching. Plus he’s young and LA might be willing to invest in a long term and sizable contract. Apparently, the Dodgers have spent some time following Imanaga so he’s no doubt on a wish list. They like him, according to sources.

    I still believe the Dodgers will make a major trade for a pitcher. I don’t believe it will be Burnes, more likely Cease.

    All that being said, no signing or trade will have as much impact on the fan base than signing Ohtani.

    But after the hoopla and back slapping ends, you will have to live with the contract and the impact it has for years.

  3. Interesting stuff Mark as always. Gray is signing a three-year deal with St. Louis for 75 million. Imanaga was posted today. I would not sign Ryu. His age and the fact that he has pitched exactly 17 games in the last two years. He cannot stay on the field. The financial part of baseball is way over my head. I am trying to figure out how to survive on SSA. Lux might not be a SS. But for right now he is the starting SS of the Los Angeles Dodgers. I really dislike the fact that they are starting the season early in Korea.

  5. Seems to me that because of the 40 man roster, the Dodgers are committed to some type of trade before signing free agents. Would Busch, Outman, Cartaya, Stone and Knack get Robert and Cease? Then sign Ohtani and Yamamoto. Hey, it’s not my money!

  6. Would Busch, Outman, Cartaya, Stone and Knack get Robert and Cease?

    I would think they would ask for Rushing over Cartaya… and I would do that or even substitute Vargas for Busch if they prefer him.

    2. Excellent article on bad free agent signings.
      The Dodgers signing of Bauer could have been honorable mention. Signed him for $105 million for 3 years and he started 17 games for Dodgers. He actually pitched well with 2.59 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in the 17 starts. But Dodgers signed him coming off a World Series win, and should have focused on extending the WS MVP instead.
      In terms of the bad FA signings, it is often pitchers that fail the worst. I wanted Dodgers to trade for Montgomery at the trade deadline but they acquired Lynn instead. Montgomery helped lead the Rangers to a WS title. Amazing that last year the Rangers spent huge for pitching with DeGrom, Scherzer, Gray, Perez, Heaney, and Odirizzi. Yet their relatively modest acquisitions of Eovaldi and Montgomery carried them to a WS title.
      While Montgomery was very good this postseason, I would not pay huge for him as a free agent. He has a career record on 38-34 with a 3.68 era. Just 16 months ago the Yankees needed pitching, yet traded him at the trade deadline for an injured backup outfielder, Bader. And just 4 months ago, the Cardinals, who are desperate for pitching, traded him for the 11th and 14th rated prospects of the Rangers. I would hesitate to pay $150 million to a player who one season ago was a spot starter in the MLB and is 31 years old next month.

      1. Of course it’s a clubhouse move, why else would you sign the guy who OPSed .811 in the 1st half, .813 in the second half, and was +6 OAA in the OF.

        The hell could they be thinking otherwise?

  11. I had no idea the Dodgers had a global partnership program in place. I’ve always felt that Ohtani’s value has to expand beyond the LAD regional market, as the Dodgers have already done an excellent job at maximizing regional dollars; e.g. cable contract, high attendance, etc.

    Interesting stuff. Thanks for the insight!

    1. I cannot say definitively, but I think the Dodgers Global Partnership Program is the best in the Industry… by far!

  12. I have noticed that only the best managers leave the starting pitcher in to give up 4 HRs in one inning in the game that knocks the team out of the playoffs.

    2. Yeah, if Doc had taken him out after 3 HR, the Dodgers would have only lost by one run instead of two!

      So, just to be clear, if a pitcher gives up a solo HR, he is likely to give up a second, third and fourth? Doc should have taken him out after the first one… and everyone knows that when you score two whole runs, you usually win!

      The Dodgers averaged almost 6 runs a game in the regular season, but only scored 6 ruins in the entire series against the D-Back, yet you dare to blame Roberts? Hogwash! Blame Mookie, Freddy and the rest of the stiffs who failed to hit!

      1. I am not blaming Roberts for the playoff flop. I am saying he is a horrible manager. He has improved in making his lineups and the DH rule has eliminated half of his stupid mistakes. He is totally incompetent handling his pitching staff.
        He should have been fired many years ago and certainly after this years flop.

  13. The article from the Dodgers website says Heyward helps solitify RF allowing Betts to play more 2B.

    Are they really going to move Betts back and forth from 2B to RF. Isn’t DeLuca the perfect fit to platoon with Heyward.

    Either way I think this is bad news for Busch and Vargas because I don’t think the Dodgers are going to platoon either one of them at 2B nor RF nor stick them in LF.

    Muncy signed a new contract and I read an article that Martinez would like to return to the Dodgers and there is the Ohtani talk too. So it seems like Muncy stays at 3B and the Dodgers currently have 3 guys that can play SS, Lux, Rojas, Taylor and all of them can play 2B too.

    To me, it seems like the Dodgers will be shopping for a DH (either Ohtani or Martinez) and another outfielder and probably trading BOTH Busch and Vargas for pitching. Maybe I’m wrong.

    1. I do not think they will trade both Busch and Vargas. Maybe they will trade one.

      I think as the team stands right about now, that DeLuca will platoon with Outman.

      I could see the Dodgers also getting a player like Hoskins to platoon with Heyward in LF.

      2. I don’t think Outman/DeLuca platoon should happen, but anyways.

        Busch and Vargas have nowhere to play, the infield is crowded as I pointed out. One of them or both depending on a trade would end up in the minors another year.

        Hoskins doesn’t need to be platooned. But it could be someone else platooning with Heyward.

  14. You can bet that Freeman was all over them bringing back his friend Jason. But now in order to do anything else, they need roster space. Trades seem to be the only route to that now. I wonder if they are second guessing tendering contracts to Almonte, and Yarbrough.

    1. I keep Yarbrough

      He’s useful – like a Utility Pitcher

      And he’s a Lefty

      Happy to see JHey back – boy I was wrong about him.

      In total agreement with Mark about Ohtani. Boat Anchor.

      I read the interesting post from Duke yesterday but couldn’t agree with the main sentiment, that the Dodgers are in the entertainment business ahead of the winning business.

      No way. Winning is everything. This period of dominance will mean little without another WS or two.

      1. Well baseball is in the entertainment business. They fight for the entertainment dollar. In California, especially LA, this is a very competitive place. Considering that 81 times a year, only 80 in 24 since they lost a home game to the Seoul Korea games, they averaged 47,000 plus a night. But there are so many options in Los Angeles. Other cities must fight for that audience too.

      2. Good points Watford!
        Happy to keep Yarbrough with pitching in such high demand.
        Even if he is just a reliever and opener, he is worth the low salary. But he could end up in the rotation as well.

        1. Exactly….hey guys, I am heading to California next week to spend the holidays with my family. I will be able to post some stuff I hope, but doing research on my laptop is a pain. But I will try. There was a post on one of the blogs that listed the 11 Dodgers most likely to be traded. Most of them have been listed here. Lux, Grove, Sheehan. Cartaya, Busch, Vargas, Vivas, Yarbrough, Stone and two others I can’t remember. Damn, getting old sucks.

  16. Got some movies I really wanted to see. I bought The Catcher was a Spy. Paul Rudd played Berg. Had Jeff Daniels, Mark Strong, Connie Neilson, Tom Wilkinson, Guy Pearce and Paul Giamatti in the cast. Also got Audie Murphy’s bio-pic, To Hell and Back on blu-ray. Got a great movie with Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas, Tough Guys, and American Underdog. The story of Kurt Warner.

      1. It’s funny to me that Ohtani would be perceived as a “boat anchor.”
        The guy just won his second MVP. He is in his prime and had the highest OPS in all of baseball last season by a fairly wide margin. He was comfortably en route to a 50+ HR season before his oblique injury. There’s no reason to think he won’t be the game’s best DH next year, and no reason to think he won’t be pitching again in ’25.
        Is there a risk? Of course there is. There’s a risk in every big contract. There have been times here when folks have said AF was wrong to give Mookie the megabuck, long-term deal that the Dodgers would live to regret–b that his game had regressed to from “superstar” to “star.” Et cetera. Is anybody here now going to argue that trading for and signing Mookie was a mistake? Please state your case.
        If you want to talk about “boat anchors,” consider the Halos: Pujols got the monster deal even though his legs were permanently damaged. Josh Hamilton got the huge deal despite a history of drug use and other personal problems. Anthony Rendon got the huge buck and has been a bust–and an asshole too.
        So I don’t see AF or other executives out there worrying that a big Ohtani deal will be an anchor. The better metaphor is a nuclear-powered engine.
        Mark sure is wearing a nice shirt in that picture. And the info about the Dodgers’ global operations should underscore that they are all-in on Ohtani.
        Maybe Yamamoto too. And if not him, perhaps Imanaga.

        1. In that case, it might be better if they went for Lee. Then they bring in Korean fans as well.

  17. I’m sure the Dodgers know exactly what Ohtani is worth financially to the organization apart from his baseball value. If they pull the trigger it will have all been evaluated from every perspective. Both the Dodger mega contracts have worked out so far. In fact Freeman is an absolute steal!

    1. Agreed!!! And feels likes a fools errand to try to figure out the actual value from an organizational perspective. There are clearly other than on the field factors at play that we are unable to decipher without insight to all the marketing and financial factors at hand. Obviously, those factors will likely never end up being disclosed for obvious reasons.

      However, from an on the field perspective, I wonder whether the Dodgers would be better off waiting on Juan Soto to hit free agency to “splurge.”

      Juan Soto will be 26 years old when he hits free agency and heading into his prime years.

      As good as Ohtani has been, I believe Soto will end up putting superior numbers over the next 10 years. Juan Soto is still a kid and could end up putting up monster numbers that will likely pave his way to coopers town.

      To me, the longterm angle is not Ohtani, but who ends up signing Soto next offseason.

          1. 2024 SP:
            Burnes
            Buhler
            Miller
            Imanaga
            Pepiot/Sheehan/Knack/Frasso/Ryan/Grove (at least one gets dealt for Burnes or ??)
            Ryu? Kershaw ASG?

            2025:
            Burnes (if he pitches well the Dodgers will extend him)
            Ohtani (he’ll be ready)
            Buhler
            Miller
            Imanaga
            The usual suspects (see above) plus May and Gonsolin

            The Dodgers have A LOT of good pitching talent, but the need is for premium quality more than quantity. It’s nice to have depth, but better to have top-shelf, Grade A starters.
            In addition to Burnes and Cease, Glasnow and Bieber are ace-potential guys, albeit with question marks due to injuries. Giolito? Flaherty? Maybe. But Dodgers need a couple of SPs who will move the needle.
            With Sonny Gray joining the Cards and fresh reports that Atlanta is in talks for Cease, there could be a bit more pressure for the Dodgers to strike a deal for Burnes. Certainly the teams line up well for a multi-player involving Adames and/or Yelich. For Burnes straight up, it could be something like Sheehan plus ??. If they need a catcher, how about Grove + Yeiner Fernandez.
            I assume the Dodgers will land Ohtani. If he goes elsewhere, they may splurge on Yamamoto. For a lefty, I think Snell may be too expensive and Imanaga might want to join Ohtani on a winning franchise. (Shohei plus Yamamoto seems too expensive even for the Dodgers.)
            Also, I hope that Hurt gets some consideration as a starter. He has closer potential, but let’s recall how Bob Welch and Dave Stewart started in the bullpen before they became all-star starters.

        2. OK, let’s compare Soto to Ohtani…
          In 2004, Ohtani won his second MVP after compiling a 1.066 OPS, tops in the majors. He had a .304 BA, .412 OBP and slugged 44 HRs. He also had 102 runs scored and 95 RBI.
          But let’s note that his “counting stats”–HRs, runs, RBI–were limited by his injury. He played in 135 games. In a full season, he’d have likely reached 50 HRs and who knows how many runs and RBI. And the fact that Trout missed half the season means that teams were more likely to pitch around him. He accomplished those numbers without Trout hitting behind him or in front of him.
          Now let’s consider Soto, a hitter so talented that he’s been compared to Ted Williams.
          Soto had a fine season–and played in all 162 games. So kudos for that.
          His OPS was .929–excellent, but well short of 1.066. (He was also below Mookie at .987 and Freddie at .977.) Soto’s BA was .275, well below Ohtani’s .304. He finished with 35 HRs, 97 runs scored and 109 RBI.
          Also, while Ohtani DIDN’T have Trout for half the season, Soto was usually surrounded by guys like Machado, Tatis, Bogaerts.
          And let’s remember that Ohtani, when healthy, is also an ace-caliber pitcher. Soto is an OK outfielder.
          Past performance is not a guarantee of future results, but I’ve never understood all the hype around Soto. Yes, he’s an excellent player. All-star caliber. Walks more than he strikes out. The Padres will get some nice prospects when they deal him.
          But he ain’t Ted Williams. And he ain’t really close to Ohtani either.
          Seriously, would anybody here really want Soto instead of Ohtani?

          1. Age 24 stats:
            286/343/505 and 18 HR
            275/410/519 and 35 HR

            Ohtani is in his prime, where as Soto’s most productive seasons are still ahead of him. Juan Soto is still a kid and will be just coming into his prime years when he hits free agency.

            IMO, Soto will end up with better numbers over the next 10 years.

            On a 5-year contract I’d go with Ohtani but on a 10-year contract Soto is the safer bet.

          2. It was 2023 that you are referring to, and that is called “cherry picking” your stats. Yes, Ohtani had his career year hitting, but lets’ look at their careers hitting wise.

            Both have six years of MLB experience and over 700 games.

            Soto:
            160 HR
            148 2B
            640 BB
            577 SO
            .284 BA
            .421 OB%
            .524 SLG
            .946 OPS
            157 OPS+

            Ohtani:
            171 HR
            129 2B
            351 BB
            755 SO
            .274 BA
            .366 OB%
            .556 SLG%
            .922 OPS
            148 OPS+

            Ohtani will be 31 in 2025.
            Soto will be 27 in 2025.

            So, yes, Based upon hitting, I would absolutely take Soto because he can also play the field.

            Then, there is the pitching part: There is a better than 20-30% chance Shoehei Ohtani will not pitch effectively again.

            So, my guy is Soto. Call me crazy, but the stats say I am not!

            Hard Pass on Ohtani! Unless we can get a great deal…

    1. Apologies for the typo.
      Mea culpa…. Mea maxima culpa…. (That’s Latin for: My bad.)
      Well, since comparing the performances in the most recent season is somehow considered “cherry-picking”–seems like apples to apples to me, like comparing Mookie’s stats to Acuna’s—let me ask another question:
      How should we assess Ohtani’s Nippon stats?
      Soto broke into the MLB at age 19, like Trout and few other prodigies. Very impressive!
      But this was not an option for Ohtani, who debuted with the Nippon Ham-Fighters at age 18. Yes, he was a prodigy too, one MLB teams had been scouting since high school. He probably could have debuted in the MLB at age 19 if he had the chance–perhaps as a pitcher, perhaps outfielder, perhaps both.
      It’s remarkable that Mark doesn’t seem to think Ohtani can do anything other than DH and pitch. Of course Ohtani could play OF with ease. He did so in Japan. ( If you could clone one ballplayer, wouldn’t it be Ohtani? He’s a great athlete and could have trained to play any position.)
      Soto could try pitching, I suppose, but I doubt he’d be effective.
      The stats Mark presents as a comparison shows that, as hitters, Soto and Ohtani are pretty much in the same ballpark. They are both excellent. But there’s only one unicorn here. Comparing Ohtani to Babe Ruth makes a lot more sense than comparing Soto to Ted Williams, whose career BA is about 50 points higher.
      For the next 8-10 years, I’ll take Ohtani, both for his bat and his arm. He’s already won two MVPs. Does anyone doubt that he could win a couple more?
      If I could lock up just one hitter for the next 7 or 8 years, it wouldn’t be Soto or Ohtani. It would be Acuna–but the Braves already have him. If I could lock up one PLAYER, it would be Ohtani.
      And the Dodgers have a chance to do just that right now.

        1. I think it’s fair to say that Ohtani is atypical.
          In the three seasons since he turned 26, Shohei has won two MVPs and finished second once. There are many stars who have stayed productive through their 30s. Freddie is now 34 and just had a fantastic year, finishing 3rd in MVP voting.
          But I think the general trend is noteworthy for the more “typical” talents.
          Top prospects like Michael Busch, age 26, could start losing their value as trade chips. Vargas is three years younger–and that should enhance his value.

      2. Since we’ve been comparing Ohtani and Soto, here’s another stat.
        Career WAR
        Ohtani 34.7
        Soto 28.6

  19. On Jason Heyward:

    The Athletic has a good piece on his re-signing:
    https://theathletic.com/5093751/2023/11/27/dodgers-jason-heyward-free-agent-return/?campaign=5888993&source=dailyemail

    In it, Andrew Friedman says this:

    “He’s gonna help the Dodgers organization a lot longer than he’s gonna play here,”

    Interesting.

    Fabian Ardaya tweeted:

    “A reunion made a ton of sense throughout, particularly as the Dodgers sought to add a corner outfielder this winter. Folks around the club raved about Heyward’s impact on and off the field, and this paves the way for Mookie Betts to continue being a second baseman against RHP.”

    That said, X is full of IDIOT DODGER fans devaluing Jason – even blaming the playoff losses on him. Yes, he is a great clubhouse presence and leader, but LH Gold Glove Caliber Outfielders who OPS .811 do not grow in trees. Pay $9 Million for 2.2 WAR is a bargain!

    Some idiots were even commenting that signing Heyward will cost the Dodgers Ohtani!

        1. Actually, I think that article quotes Freddie, not AF, re Heyward:

          “He’s gonna help the Dodgers organization a lot longer than he’s gonna play here,” Freeman said.

          At any rate, it’s a testament to Heyward’s character and impact on the team culture. Don’t see Heyward as a manager, but who knows? Perhaps he’ll chart a course like Dusty Baker.

  20. Very happy that Heyward is coming back.
    I think this means we’ll continue to see Mookie shuttle between 2B and RF. It’s kind of nice to have two Gold Glovers taking turns in RF.
    If the decision is made to make Mookie a full-time infielder–how about SS?–,then perhaps Taylor or DeLuca would platoon with Heyward in RF.
    Based on the current roster, LF could be a platoon of Busch and DeLuca/Taylor/Vargas.
    But one of these guys–perhaps a couple–seem certain to be dealt.

    1. 1. I believe Mookie can play SS at a high level.
      2. Let Lux play 2B. I like him there.
      3. Of course, AF never does anything because I like it.
      4. Get a RH hitter to platoon with Heyward in RF.
      5. Maybe DeLuca but he could also platoon with Outman! Maybe Kike Platoons with Outman.
      6. Vargas and Busch platoon in LF or until one steps up loudly?
      7. Sign JDM – 2 Years/$28 Million

      1. Betts SS
      2. Lux 2B
      3. Smith C
      4. Freeman 1B
      5. Martinez DH
      6. Muncy 3B
      7. Heyward/Kike
      8. Outman/Taylor CF
      9. Busch/Vargas LF

      That’s a long timeup!

      1. That is a good lineup.
        But except for the notion of Mookie at SS, I find it a bit boring. Every player has been in a recent Dodgers lineup. (You omitted DeLuca, which I assume is an oversight.)
        So I think it needs a jolt of adrenaline–the kind the Ohtani would provide.
        And I’d welcome another good addition.
        I still like the idea of FA Nick Senzel coming in as UT. He crushed southpaws last year. Good righthanded bat, plays 3B and OF. Partial platoon with Max?
        Among the pitching targets, I rate Yamamoto first and Burnes second. And if acquiring Burnes means taking on Adames’ contract, I’d be fine with that. Excellent defense, and the lefty-heavy lineup could use another righty bat.
        Hmm. I’ve been assuming the Brewers would want Lux. But maybe the Dodgers could keep Lux to play 2B and Brewers could take Busch + another prospect for Adames. With Lux at 2B, Mookie would return to RF full-time, and Heyward could move into a platoon in LF with DeLuca or Vargas or Taylor.
        So many possibilities….
        Mookie RF
        Freddie 1B
        Shohei DH
        Smith C
        Max /Senzel 3B
        Heyward/Vargas or DeLuca or Taylor LF
        Outman/ ?? CF
        Adames SS
        Lux 2B

        Outman would be a platoon candidate too, but he may progress on his fine rookie season. Still uncertain where Vargas fits in. Perhaps a platoon at 3B in place of Senzel.

  21. A long term 500+ mil contract for a 31 year old player just does not sound like an AF move. If that were to happen then there’s a lot more in play here then just baseball. I also love Heyward signing, but not a big believer in DeLuca.

    1. Agreed – Ohtani is not JUST an AF decision but ownership realizes whats at stake and what it means to team for the next 10 yrs. Even if AF doesnt want Ohtani long term, ownership will override that even if its ‘dope fiend’ contract because of the business side. I would rather sign 3 good players to complement team then Ohtani but LA is about home runs not singles.

        1. I think the final decision on Ohtani will be Ohtani’s.
          He’ll get several attractive offers, including one from the Dodgers.
          It’s long been assumed he likes LA. We know he’s a Mookie fan. He wants to win, and the Dodgers have a great track record. The business synergy seems promising.
          But who knows?
          He could surprise us.

    3. Ohtani is 29 years old, not 31.
      It’s common practice to sign premium players to long-term deals but expect greater production in the first half of the contract. That’s just how the market works, in part because of the payroll tax.
      Mookie, who is now 31, is still in the early years of a 12-year contract worth $365 million. The AAV is about $30 million. I think we can expect good baseball from Mookie and Freddie well into their mid 30s. (Freddie is 34 now. )
      It’s all crazy money, but right now I think Mookie will age better than Mike Trout with his injuries.
      Really hoping that Trout can bounce back.

  22. kinda like it mark, but sure a lot of swing and miss 6-9. i just don’t believe busch and vargas both are on the opening day roster. unless AF signs someone like giolita, he has to make a move for someone such as Cease or Burnes. although either of the 2 japanese pitch make sense. the 40 man roster is full! so someone has to go if they sign a free agent. barnes?

    1. Both May and Gonsolin will go on 60 day IL which will free up 2 spots. And Bluto, Ohtani isn’t producing .184 OPS+ if he isn’t pitching. And mid 30’s scream injury/regression. I think AF offers short term, high AF, opt out deal, unless ownership deems otherwise. We’ll see how much he wants to be a Dodger

      3. OPS+ does not account for pitching or defense…my concern with Ohtani is regression due to age. Prototypically, player performance peaks between the age of 26-30. Performance starts to decline after the age of 30, but at age 35 is is when the biggest drop off occurs.

        A 5-6 year contract is ideal for Ohtani, but someone will be desperate enough to give him 10-year deal. I hope it is not the Dodgers.

        1. This is reality, aging curves account for this. This isn’t news to anyone.

          But you are dropping off from a peak of, let me repeat myself, 1.84 OPS+!

          1. That is an impressive peak, no doubt! However, is it wise to make the type of financial commitment that he is going to command expecting that type of result?

            A 5-6 year deal for Ohtani is a no brainer in my opinion. A 10-year contract, not so much. I stand by my comment though, I believe Juan Soto is going to outperform Ohtani over the life of their respective contracts.

            Juan Soto hasn’t reached his full potential but has consistently outperformed Ohtani at the same stage (age) of their respective careers.

            Both are phenoms. Ohtani has already peaked while Soto has not and is 4 years younger.

          2. That was his highest ever! It is an outlier.

            Soto’s OPS+ Career AVERAGE is 10 Points higher than Ohtani!

          4. I beg to differ. Signing Ohtani will negatively affect our ability to pursue Soto next offseason.

          5. This presumes:
            1. Soto will be available to be pursued
            2. Soto is interested in joining the Dodgers who have a RF of some renown.
            3. The Dodgers are as interested in Soto as they are in Ohtani.

            A bird in hand, they say, is worth two in the bush.

          7. However I agree, you can’t get both Ohtani and Soto.
            And Soto is younger.

            But Ohtani more likely and more available.

    2. It’s not the swings and misses to me so much as the large number of called third strikes by this team. I hope in ST Doc emphasizes the need to get the bats off the shoulders when the pitches are close with two strikes. Just to depart from the personnel conundrums…….

  23. I know the fireworks usually happen during or right after winter meetings. Was hoping with few signings yesterday we would see more action today . Patience.

  24. Maeda, DeJong and Gray signings are official now. Winter meetings open on Monday. Yankees apparently dropping out of the Ohtani sweepstakes.

    1. No but I’d do Yeiner
      Fernandez, Jose Ramos, Jorbit
      Vivas for Bregman. None of those guys are going to play at Dodger stadium. I doubt that would get it done.

      2. I like Bichette a lot more and there is rumors he might get traded. I’d trade Grove, Vivas, Vargas.

    3. Good question. I like Bregman, but I think it would be too expensive to extend him. Dodgers will need that $$ for Ohtani and a couple of pitchers, and perhaps to extend Will Smith.
      I think the extension of Max (a team-friendly bargain!) means he’ll be the primary third baseman for at least the next two years. By then maybe Vargas or Gelof will be ready to take over–again at a bargain price.
      I think AF is pretty strategic with fat contracts. Mookie, Freddie and Shohei all deserve the big bucks. Kershaw did well–and AF must love his desire for one-year contracts. I think AF overpaid Taylor–kudos to his agent–especially when you compare him to Max.
      Max sure does bleed Dodger blue, but his desire to stay has cost him millions. A lot of guys with weaker records are getting bigger contracts.

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