Well, that was a close game last night. I guess being World Series Champs doesn’t get you much respect. The Rangers need someone who can actually manage the team! 😉 At least Vargas got an AB. Ha!
It seems that most Dodger fans are concocting trades for Luis Robert, Jr., Bo Bichette, Kyle Tucker, Mason Miller, and others. However, there are three names on this list that I think are more likely to help the team (at least short term) and don’t cost any prospect collateral:
- Miguel Vargas is already on the roster, but he is being frozen out of the lineup for reasons I can only imagine.
- Andre Lipcius – Maybe another Max Muncy or CT3? Only one way to find out!
- James Outman – Bring him back already and have him face RHP only.
But herein lies the problem: Vargas is already on the roster, but two players have to be moved for Outman and Lipcius. One is easy: CT3 has to go. Great guy, Great Dodger – his time is up. Bye! The other one is harder… but it is Kike Hernandez. I love the guy, but it’s time. As much as CT3 and Kike are beloved by fans and their teammates, this needs to happen soon because if it doesn’t work, then there is the trade deadline. The sooner, the better!
This team is older, and so are Kike and CT3. As good as they are in the clubhouse, this team needs youth. Andrew Friedman knows this as well. It is going to hurt to let them walk, but I would DFA them out of respect for their service. Let them go where they want. If you DFA them, they can cut their own deal. This is the part of baseball that sucks… but it’s time to turn the page. I love Kike and Chris.
HERE’S THE DEAL:
We have seen what Chris Taylor, Kike Hernandez, and others can do. It’s time to see what Vargas, Lipcius, and Outman can do. Just do it already! Do it now, and if the new guys can’t cut it, then go the trade route! Do it Quickly! Do it Now! Do it Today!
There is a great article in The Athletic on the Resurgence of Alex Vesia today.
Welcome Back
I have to acknowledge that I am very happy Ted Raymond 2.0 is back. We got sideways a while back, and I don’t even remember why (nor do I care), but he adds a lot to this site. I’m glad you are back, Ted!
Taylor today, now.
Kike can wait another week.
And I would add Joe Kelly to the list, although they say you can never have enough pitching, right?
And finally, something that I would add to the list, although not of roster movements, would be that NO MORE THAT STUPID DANCE OR MOVEMENT AFTER EVERY HIT!
It’s already too boring and unfunny, they already look similar, if not worse, than the fuking assholes from SD!
Jorge, why do you hate San Diego so much?
I don’t hate them, they’re indifferent to me, I’m just saying what they are… A bunch of morons & clowns.
There are a lot more moronic celebrations than what the Dodgers do. It is fun for the players, and it doesn’t offend anyone. Remember that big SD on a chain the Padres did a few years ago? That was obnoxious. Mariners hand out a trident after homers. Reds point at each other and make what looks like gang signs. One team, I can’t remember who, puts on an Oakley helmet after a homer. I remember when the Dodgers had their bubble machine. Last year the Dodgers threw water on a player after a homer, this year it is sunflower seeds to the face. Orioles spit water when something good happens.
I fully endorse the CT3 DFA, but I would hold off on a DFA for Hernandez. He’s a veteran which you will need in the post season and still has some life in his bat, unlike CT3. Bring up Lipcius and see what he can do……as they say nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Dodgers minors: Edgardo Henriquez promoted to Double-A Tulsa
Fireballer reaches his third minor league level of 2024, after a 2.38 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 22â…” innings in both Class-A levels combined.
Wednesday schedule
10 a.m. PT: Tulsa (Orlando Ortiz-Mayr) vs. Arkansas (Reid VanScoter)
4:05 p.m.: Great Lakes (Jackson Ferris) at Dayton (Jonathan Harmon)
5:05 p.m.: Oklahoma City (Ben Casparius) at Sugar Land (Ryan Gusto)
6:50 p.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (Patrick Copen) at Fresno (Bryan Perez)
” Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register reports that reliever Brusdar Graterol will throw a bullpen session this week. The right-hander has been out since spring training with a shoulder injury, and he suffered a setback in late April, forcing him to shut down his throwing program. Graterol played a key role in the Dodgers bullpen last season, pitching to a 1.20 ERA and 3.31 SIERA over 68 appearances, racking up seven saves, 19 holds, and leading the pitching staff in Win Probability Added (WPA”).
Mark –
I agree with your approach! Let’s find out what the three young guys can do now. If one or more don’t work out in a platoon situation, go the trade deadline route to get ready for the playoffs….
Cavan Biggio new Dodger
The Dodgers and Blue Jays are in agreement on a trade sending infielder/outfielder Cavan Biggio from Toronto to Los Angeles in exchange for a minor league player, reports Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet. Biggio was designated for assignment earlier in the week.
Sounds like it.
It will be interesting who they get. Biggio is Kike and CT3… Right? The Dodgers love those players.
He’s LH and has a career .725 OPS. which is higher than Kike but lower than CT3.
However, Kike has almost .800 OPS against LHP.
I do not see a spot for CT3 and Biggio.
Well, someone is going down or getting released. He is another Swiss Army knife type player. 2nd, 3rd, RF and 1B this season. Hitting .200 with 2 long balls. Maybe they feel the change of scenery will help him gain some of his mojo back. Basically, a super utility guy. Not much pop. OPS is .725 for his career.
He also has options left, so there is that!
The cost of Biggio is Braydon Fisher.
Just read on MLB Rumors, Biggio has NO options left:
“Biggio passed five years of major league service time earlier this season, meaning he can’t be optioned to Triple-A without his consent. He’ll likely join the big league roster and do so at the expense one of those struggling veterans”.
He has options but has to agree to accept it. They can’t option him without his permission.
Good to see both Lux and Pages hitting.
Joendry Vargas with another 3-4 day plus a BB. Now batting .368 at the ACL.
Time to promote him to RC ?!
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
One way or another, Taylor needs to removed from the roster to make room for Lipcius…or for a trade acquisition to be named later.
With Taylor gone, Vargas should get plenty of action in LF. No platoon.
With Lipcius up, he starts at 3B instead of Kike or Rojas. Let’s see what he can do until Max is ready to come back. (Rojas can continue in the SS-2B mix, while Kike helps out all over.)
If Vargas struggles–or maybe Pages swoons-one of them should be returned to OKC and Outman should be brought up. A struggling Kike is much more valuable than a struggling Vargas or Pages. Outman has earned a return engagement, and he improves the outfield D.
It’s possible, though not likely, that AF could swing a couple of deals and create an OF with both Teoscar and Luis Robert for the next 3.5 years. Both bat from the right side. Outman, a lefty hitter who plays solid D, could complement this pair, possibly as a platoon partner and defensive replacement for Vargas. (This assumes Pages departs in the Robert deal.)
Mark will call Outman “a fourth outfielder” and proclaim victory.
He has always been a 4th outfielder… some just refuse to realize that.
Oh my…. Just saw the Cavan Biggio news.
Verrrry interesting.
Yes, that should increase the pressure to move Taylor.
I can also imagine that Biggio never plays for the Dodgers but gets packaged in a bigger deal.
He was just DFAd. I do not think Biggio has a whole lot of trade value right now. Any team could have picked him up cheap.
I think Biggio may be the platoon partner at 2B with Lux.
Now, we wait and see if Vargas or CT3 goes…
One or the other goes today! Maybe…
My bet is Vargas gets optioned.
The team must see some value with Biggio. Maybe they think they can fix his offensive production.
They are both left–handed hitters, so platooning them does not make sense. I guess we will know something around game time.
My “knee-jerk reaction” was “Cavan Biggio…why?”
But, then I remembered CT3, Max Muncy, Andre Lipcius and others…
Do the Dodgers value Biggio over Lipcius or Vargas?
AF prefers veterans over non veterans. That is his track record.
Here are the options:
1. Someone could go on the IL;
2. Biggio could be optioned;
3. CT3 could accept an assignment to Arizona for 15 days;
4. Vargas could be optioned;
5. Kike could be traded; or
6. All of the above.
Biggio can’t be optioned without his consent and Taylor thus far has not accepted a trip to Arizona but Vargas will be optioned.
My opinion is Vargas gets optioned, Biggio gets added with the 40 man roster (currently at 39,) Taylor plays LF against left handed pitchers and Biggio plays 3rd against right handed pitchers replacing Kki who replaced Muncy. Kiki is better with left handed pitching..
I agree, I think it could be, plus we need a left-handed hitter on the bench
Laker legend Jerry West dead at 86 years of age.
Not only one of the greatest players of all time but also one of the greatest executives as well. Incredible judge of talent! He and Buss were a dynamic duo for Lakers
Mark, why would they platoon Biggio with Lux ? They both bat left handed. Furthermore, why get him. Career BA of .227. What is AF’s constant infatuation with other teams discarded players ? Why won’t he bring up Knack and Lipcuis ? Give Andre a chance, release CT3. And when Muncy comes back , we’ll have to move on from Kike or by then know if Lipcuis is an MLB player. The only way Outman comes back is if Pages or Vargas get sent back down. Personally, I’d like to see Miguel Vargas play some 3rd. with the Dodgers. Could he really be any worse than Max, defensively ? I’m hoping Biggio goes to OKC, and is just an injury insurance player. My two cents.
In Seattle for meetings. White Sox’s are in town. Roberts Jr. hitting .182. Still don’t think he’s worth three top prospects.
Still think he might be worth two prospects whose name isn’t De Paula or Rushing if they would take a bad contract off out hands , Taylor. Otherwise one prospect perhaps Cartaya, if they won’t take Taylor’s contract. We might want Roberts Jr. but we don’t need him. When one is dealing from the side of strength you make deals that certainly will help. If Robert’s continues to struggle it costed a couple of prospects and we got rid of a bad contract. If the Sox’s take one prospect I think it’s worth a shot as long as it isn’t DePaula or Rushing.
Vargas optioned to OKC according to Jack Harris of the LA Times.
Build up Vargas’s stats and trade value at Oklahoma City. I think he will not be a Dodger possibly at the trade deadline or in the off season because of his lack of recent playing time. There were many situations where he could’ve of played and didn’t .AF has a plan for him, but not with the Dodgers.. The Dodgers don’t have the patience for a young player to fail. Vargas right now is a liability playing LF.