Last year, the Dodgers anointed Miguel Vargas as the Dodgers’ second-baseman and gave him the job… no questions asked. It went horribly wrong! He ended up back at OKC in June. Two broken fingers, a damaged psyche, and a bruised spirit later, he is back, and this time, he is going to have to obtain a job with the big club the old-fashioned way. He has to earn it!
This time around, Miguel Vargas will have to earn his position. Of course, two broken fingers and the resultant bad habits he may have developed did not help, but like any youngster, maybe he was a little full of himself. Last year was the first time that Miguel ever struggled. It all came so easily – maybe his struggles taught him something, but I think one thing is certain: Miguel Vargas will have to earn the LF Job. It will be a process, and it won’t just be handed to him again. I am still very high on Miguel Vargas, but the Dodgers likely know what they are doing in taking it slow this time.
POWER POLL
According to The Athletic, the Dodgers are still the Number One team in the MLB Power Poll, even though the Phillies have a better record. Pure and simple: The Dodgers have more depth! Here’s what they said:
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
— Tim Britton
Record: 33-17
Last Power Ranking: 1
Prospect to watch: RHP River Ryan
The players currently in the minor leagues with the best chance to help the Dodgers are probably James Outman and Miguel Vargas; the prospect with the best chance to help them hasn’t yet played in the minor leagues this year. Fun dynamic! The Dodgers are taking it slow with Ryan early in the season, given the shoulder fatigue he felt at the end of last season, when his 104 innings were double his previous high from college or pro ball. There are fewer questions about what Ryan can bring to the mound than how often he can bring it. The velocity is premium, even by today’s standards, and both the slider and curveball can play. While Ryan likely won’t be a traditional starter for the Dodgers at any point this season, he can definitely be a useful member of the staff in 2024.
Nabil Crismatt Elects Free Agency – That was the right move. He has no future in LA. Sorry, we hardly knew ya.’
Will Vargas get enough playing time to Earn It? That is the question.
It does not look that way.
When MM comes back there will be even less abs for him.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The best outcome for Vargas and Outman is that both get traded where they have a chance to play everyday. Both are at minimum salaries and would be attractive to teams trading for them. I would sign Teo to a 3 to 5 year contract. When you play for the Dodgers you have play every day which is nearly impossible and prove yourself and produce immediately which is hard on young players.
What AAV do you anticipate Teoscar signing for!
If he keeps his current pace up, he could get a $100 Million Deal!
25 million for 4 years.
You have to infuse some young and cheap talent to balance payroll. Not even the Dodgers can keep spending at this level. The penalties are adding up. The projected OF of Outman, Pages and Vargas in 25, looks highly unlikely now. We need a star OF bat in our lineup next year and will probably have to sign or trade for one
The only stat I see them pursuing is Soto, and they won’t spend enough to get him.
Yankees are resigning Soto.
He will be resigned with the Yankees before the trade deadline
Vargas can’t “earn it” if he doesn’t get regular AB’s. It’s still early into his recall, but assuming the Dodgers continue to sit him, that tells me either… A) The Dodgers pitching coaches need more time to work on his swing mechanics before they allow him back into the line-up …or… B) The FO simply brought Vargas up to be temporary injury-insurance, and actually view him as merely prospect-capital in a future trade.
I know for certain that the Dodgers are still high on Vargas. They were higher on him than Busch, and there was a lot to like about Busch. By the way, Busch is hitting .245/.785 OPS with 7 HR.
I think that he will get his shot, and he will have to seize the day.
It will be hard for the Dodgers to “maneuver” playing time for Vargas this season, but hopefully you’re right, because I too think his hitting potential is high ..even more than Pages.
I think it’s neither Wayne, they brought him up, and Roberts was pretty explicit about this, it was to play the OF against RHP.
Taylor came in last night because with that precondition about Vargas, Taylor has to get ABs as a PH.
I’ve now seen enough of Pages to see the warts in his swing. He definitely has the tools to eventually hit well in the majors. But gas up in the zone gives him trouble, and until he learns how to adjust his arms/hands/legs to hit pitches away on the outer edges of the strike zone, he’ll continue to pull & just ground those pitches to 3B — like he did with his last AB in yesterday’s game.
Unfortunately, it will take at least one off-season to learn how to “adapt” his swing to hit pitches located in different parts of the strike zone — like the “big 4” in this line-up can do now.
I would not sign Teo to another contract. He is just a bridge to next year. You have Vargas, outman, pages who are cheap and hopefully productive. It is also a possibility (long shot) that Ohtani could play the outfield. If (big if) it works out that the Dodgers have Glasnow, Yamamoto, miller, Buehler? May, Gonsolin , Kershaw then Ohtani could be an everyday player. Doubt it because he is a star pitcher. You also still have Taylor unless he is cut or traded. I believe they will start the year with a young and cheap of until the deadline.
Flaw in your scenario is that Kershaw and Buehler are free agents after the season. Right now, the locks would be Glasnow, Yamamoto, Miller and Stone, who has done nothing but increase his stock as a starter. Ohtani will probably start next season as a two-way player. That is why he is getting the huge contract. As for May and Gonsolin, how effective can they be as starters? Gonsolin is not coming back this year at all, and what kind of a role May can play is certainly up in the air. He definitely won’t be a starter. He doesn’t have time to build up the innings. I could see him getting some late relief appearances. If Outman finds himself at AAA and Pages struggles, they could swap places later. But next year, if both Hernandez and Heyward are gone, the outfield could very well be Vargas, Pages and Outman. I still think at some point they will sign a veteran outfielder to back up the kids. If Taylor struggles much longer, they are going to have to make some tough choices. You also have Knack in the mix as a starter next year. Depending on how the rest of the season goes, I see Buehler and Kersh both in their last seasons as Dodgers. If LA wins the World Series, CK will retire. If Paxton continues to pitch as well as he has, that is a plus this post season. They only need 4 starters.
I had a question mark on Buehler. Kershaw I thought was a 2 year deal. Stone I forgot but yes he is worthy. May is quoted as saying he wants to start. Gonsolin who knows. That is why I said if all goes well. Don’t forget Hurt, Frasso, and River Ryan who are possible if healthy. A big if. The Dodgers have a 2025 player option on Kershaw.
I think Frasso and Sheehan are out for the season, but we should see Hurt and Ryan at some point.
And of course Bobby Miller fairly soon, and Kershaw later.
Landon Knack has stepped up very nicely. But with bigger talents in the wings–including May and Gonsolin, and maybe Sasaki!-he could become a centerpiece in a trade.
How about: Knack, Hurt, Cartaya and Gelof for the beastly Mason Miller?
Too much? Not enough? Seems in the ballpark to me.
May might want to start, but I doubt it is the best thing for him. 2 Tommy John’s? Frasso and Sheehan are down for the year. I do not expect much from Gonsolin next year or Sheehan or May. There is a 5-million-dollar player option attached to Kershaw’s deal, so theoretically he could be back. He will be 36 next season. The problem with May is that he is pretty much going all out from the beginning of the game. In short spurts he would be much more effective. Duke, the A’s are not going to trade Miller, and AF would not give up four players for a reliever, no matter how good he is.
The ’25 rotation could be…
Ohtani
Glasnow
Yamamoto
Sasaki
Bobby Miller
Kershaw
…and let’s have Stone as the 7th…or May…or Gonsolin… or Knack…or Ryan, Frasso, Sheehan….
And this list doesn’t include Buhler. Maybe he’ll stick around, or maybe not.
The SP depth goes on, with younger guys like Wrobleski, Bruns, Farris, Martin, Karros and others making progress.
A pitcher talented enough to play in the majors, but blocked on the Dodgers, should be traded for a guy that can make an impact today.
CT3 had a hit last night, yes I know he made an E but a hit is progress.
Stick with em…..
Stick with him or “em”?
Vargas and Taylor are now competing with each other for ABs. If Pages swoons, he’d be in that AB competition too as a righty bat.
All considered, I’d prefer to see Vargas and Pages, as a young players, get a chance to prove themselves than help Taylor get his groove back.
If Vargas gets hot, the Dodgers might want to keep him. If not, he could be decent trade chip. If the Dodgers want to shore up the OF, several proven veterans could be available this summer.
The Jays are struggling and could deal Kiermeier, a golf glover AF tried to sign in the past. He’d rule CF and bat 8th or 9th. A cheaper option could be old friend Kevin Pillar, now enjoying a resurgence with the Angels with a 1.195 OPS in 44 ABs. That won’t last, of course, but Pillar could fit. The Angels would surely flip him for a decent prospect. (Arozarena is also rumored to be on the market, but he’s off to a terrible start this season.)
And because it’s fun to think big, how about a blockbuster for Kiermeier and the struggling Bo Bichette?
Dodgers could start with an offer of Lux and Outman.
What else would the Jays want?
And would there be enough left over to make a good offer for Mason Miller?
there are only 4 regulars on the dodgers guaranteed to be there the next year. .. more than likely Max will also be back for the last year of his contract. i would offer Teo a 2 year extension and see if he might accept it to stay a dodger. i think he might. i don’t see Outman ever being a regular outfielder on this team again. i hate saying that but ii don’t think he’ll ever get the opportunity again…..Pages? Maybe , but not positive. Vargas? another maybe…..So i agree with an earlier post, the dodgers need a big time outfielder next year! … As far as pitching, if Walker pitches the rest of the season like saturday, just can’t let him go without an offer!! …. AF won’t resign Paxton, especially if Clayton is healthy and wants to pitch again next season. …Glasnow, Miller,Stone, Yamamoto, and Kershaw, plus May, Gonsolin, Sheehan later on. That’s a good thing! … oh and Max Fried may be on their radar.
Here’s the simple math:
If the Dodgers offer is for two years and $50 Million, he will sign with whoever pays him more… maybe $100 Million.
Teoscar was off to a fast start, especially in HR and RBI. But his 762 OPS does not seem to warrant a$100 million deal, when he is turning 32 this year. For comparison Joc Pederson has a 989 OPS and is making $9.5 million this year.
To sign, or not to sign…
Fried or Buehler?
Or Sasaki?
Matt Beaty signed a minor league deal with the D-Backs. They will be his fourth western division team if he spends time in the majors. Jake Lamb is hitting well over .300 at the Pirates AAA team.
This team has one too many Hernández’ on it!
Actually it has one too many Taylor’s
Word
10:10 PM ET
Diamondbacks (22-26)
Dodgers (33-17)
SP Brandon Pfaadt R
1-3 4.17 ERA
SP Gavin Stone R
4-1 3.27 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
SS Mookie Betts R
DH S. Ohtani L
1B F. Freeman L
C Will Smith R
RF T. Hernandez R
2B Gavin Lux L
CF Andy Pages R
3B E. Hernandez R
LF M. Vargas R
64° Wind 10 mph Out
Toronto is tanking. I would try to get Bichette. Buy low , he is having a bad year but he is still has the potential upside. He may have an injury affecting him or just slumping. Of course we don’t want damaged goods. He has quit running so I expect he has a leg injury. If he is just slumping he may need a change of scenery.. He plays the right position. If he doesn’t have a long term injury I would target him.
Sorry, I just got back. Was watching the Pacers and Celtics. I am going to Saturday’s Game but it appears the NBA wants the Celtics to win.
Vargas hits a double by adjusting his arms and hands IN to get his bat around an inside pitch. Nice! Showed some talent on his first hit back in the majors.
Lead off triple followed by pages n Kiki strikeouts. The dbacks would have given a run but couldn’t put the bat on the ball. This is one game but typical bottom of the lineup. Hernandez bad with a righty pitching.
Btw Joc seems to kill the Dodgers year after year. We could have had him fairly cheap but I guess we didn’t want him or he didn’t want LA.
Kiermier cF and Bichette ss from Bluejays two positions the dodgers need then Betts can move to 2B and can trade Lux and Outman and a minor league pitcher to the Bluejays.