Let me start with the fact that he wants to be a Dodgers and the Dodgers would like him back! Let me also add that last season he did not sign until Janualry 17th! I want to make it clear that this is a business and if some team offers just two or three million dollars more than the Dodgers, Teo is obligated to himself, his family and the MLBPA to take the best offer. Three million Dollars is still THREE MILLION DOLLARS. Money matters! That’s why, I have to laugh, when during the season, fans would say, “Extend Teo Already!” That’s crazy talk! I
If Andrew had offered Teoscar 4 years at $100 Million, Teo’s agent would have advised him to take it, because I did not think Teoscar would get 4 years… but he might. The Yankees, Mets, Red Sox and maybe others need a bat like Teo. Of course. so do the Dodgers.
Teoscar will be 33 before the end of the 2025 season. Maybe he has four more good years in him… maybe not. Decline can come quickly. Witness Nolan Arenado, who at age 33 is a shell of himself. The bat speed decline has been evident. The last two years his OPS+ has been 108 and in 2024, it was 101. He is barely better than “league average.” Max Muncy had a 141 OPS+ last year! I think the Dodgers are comfortable offering Teo a three year deal around $75 – $80 Million. Beyond that? I would be very cautious. BTW Teo’s OPS+ was 137.
Here’s why: Teoscar is a DH or a LF’er. He is not good in RF. The last I checked, the Dodgers have a DH. If they sign Teo, it is to play LF. Michael Conforto is not an everyday player due to his injury history and he is better in RF than Teo, so it’s only natural to have him platoon with Pages. Conforto is a guy who needs to limit his AB to around 400. I also think that the Dodgers hitting coaches can improve Confortos swing and results. Lots of other people who cover the game also think that. They sure helped Teo!
Comforto will be 32 this year. Don’t push him. Use that platoon and here’s the other factor: Dalton Rushing and Josue DePaula. Rushing is close while DePaula is likely a couple of years away. Rushing could platoon with Will Smith in 2016 and play some LF, but DePaula is a LF’er – Period! DePaula is going to rise rapidly!
The Dodgers have interest in Teo and it is recipriocated, but this is a business. If Teoscar can make a few million more, he has to take it… like it or not!
Another Pitching “Project.”
Remember This?
Sometimes it takes a long time for the truth to come out, but the Truth will set you free!
If the Dodgers are committed to the development of Pages, Rushing and/or DePaula, a platoon player like Conforto makes more sense than an everyday player like Teoscar. While I believe the Dodgers would welcome Teoscar back, even after the Conforto signing, I don’t believe Dodger brass is going to offer a 4-year deal. The NYY need Teoscar more than the LAD.
Personally, I give the LAD a 1-4 shot at signing Teoscar. Given their ability to play Teoscar as a DH in the latter part of a 4-year deal, the NYY, BoSox and Tor are more likely to ink him to a 4-year contract.
While I don’t believe signing Teoscar is as long of a shot than was their chance of landing Soto, the length of contact that Teoscar demands will eventually become too risky for the LAD.
A Kyle Tucker acquisition on the other hand was something I wished Dodger brass would have pursued.
But he would have been a 1-year rental unless the Dodgers wanted to sign him for a $400+ Million Dollar Contract.
True.
Tucker is terrific, but how many terrific players can the Dodgers afford? The Cubs seem intent on making him their franchise player with one of those “tentpole” mega-contracts. (They were hoping that it might be Belli, but…)
Luis Robert Jr., coming off a down year, is potentially terrific.
He’s under contract for the next three seasons, and thus an acquiring team would face less pressure to make a long-term commitment. He’s a little older than Tucker but five years younger than Teo, with a comparable bat but a much better defense. If an acceptable deal could be struck, Robert might be worth the risk. Meeting Teo’s price may be the safer “win-now” approach–but Robert could provide a bigger long-term payoff into the post-Freddie, aging-Mookie era.
If there are serious talks about Robert, perhaps the Dodgers could now keep Rushing and offer De Paula instead. Chicago might also prefer De Paula, having secured a top catching prospect in the Crochet deal. From what I read, De Paula is a mediocre fielder who might be best used as a DH. (So… DePaula + Bobby Miller + Lux + Ryan Ward??? Something like that?)
As Mark points out, Rushing could become Smith’s backup in ’26, if not sooner. If his defense is good enough, perhaps it would be a job share–and perhaps Rushing could get occasional starts at 1B, LF and DH. He just seems a lot more useful than De Paula.
With or without Teo, our lineup is deep whether or not we are facing a lefty or a righty. Teo needs to be paid and deserves to be paid but at the end of the day baseball is a business. Four years is to many years and three is a stretch in my unprofessional opinion. Hell give him 60 for two years. That would be a big overpay but it would show him we appreciate him and want him around. It would also reward him for playing a big role for bringing a World Championship to LA.
But what if someone gives him 4 years at $85 Million…?
“Teo thank you for helping us bring a championship to LA. You’d be doing your family a disservice if you didn’t take the four year deal.vYou will always be appreciated as a Dodger. Good luck and God bless.”
Or something along those lines would be a good thing to say.
I don’t understand why Teo would be doing his family a disservice. They will have more money than they can ever spend even if he stays in LA at a sharp discount. If I were him I would choose the team that I would most want to play for and get the best deal they offer.
Long after the glow of a Championship, the Money sits in a bank and draws interest. At 5%, it would generate $750,000.00 a year – that’s enough to feed 20 families. It’s life changing money.
If you’re going to use the additional money to help the less fortunate then I couldn’t agree with you more, Mark. I just don’t think making your super wealthy family members even more super wealthy is a family obligation.
And thanks for the Duke lacrosse scandal update. Glad to hear the woman admitted her lie and apologized. Hopefully the thousands of race baiters who used her clearly false story to divide our nation even more will apologize as well.
Teoscar took a risk by accepting that one year deal from the Dodgers. Now is his time to capitalize on that. At 32 years old, this is likely his last opportunity to land a multiyear contract. It would be unreasonable to expect him not to maximize his earning potential.
Using your logic, it is also unreasonable to expect him to take less money so rich owners can pad the pockets of their wealthy families.
You guys probably know i am a big Teo fan but that is probably blinding my view of what is best for the team I love so much.And the team is what matters most so I am finally giving in to Mark and AF they know a lot more than I do.Hey I’m an old Basketball Jock anyway.What do I know about any thing.
You know as much as I do!
No I don’t.you have proven that to me in the last few years.I never played the game.But I picked up a little bit watching 140 games a year since 2017 on mlb. I am 62 and saw my first game in the Astrodome.We saw LA and Cincy play the Astros in 1977. We were on vacation going to Mexico .That was 2 great teams. Steve Garvey was my first hero.What great days.My parents was young and now my mom has Alhsemizer.My dad,sister and I have to take care of her.We need y’all’s prayers.The Little family in New Albany,Mississippi
Godspeed to all of you!
What an interesting, informative and intriguing last month. I would like to add my name to the list thanking Mark immensely for keeping this site open. Makes my coffee better every morning. Your knowledge of the sport, business, and the teams prospects is very educating.
Personally I am very impressed with the signings so far. Snell just looks like a Dodger, Edman flows like a Dodger, Treinen blows like a Dodger, and Conforto is comfortable being a Dodger. On Teoscar we wait, sad that if another team offers him 2% more he has to take it, even if he doesn’t want to. A Sasaki signing would be fun. Great time to be a Dodger fan.
A Merry Christmas and all the Best in 2025 to you and your Phenomenal Phamily Mark, and to all of the contributors to the site as well.
Thanks to Mark for posting the video link to Freddie’s grand slam. Watching the entire inning made the HR even more dramatic. I decided to keep going so I went to YouTube and watched the Yankees Game 5 melt-down inning–pure joy, and I ended my trifecta with the MLB highlight reel of our win over the Padres in the divisional series.
After watching the footage I realized the importance of moments, clutch hits, a timely double-play, etc. which seems to point to Dodger players who are able to block out the bright lights and be in the moment. Teo was one of those players last year, not just in the playoffs but all season. Like the rest of you, I would love Teo back, but I am more interested in a LF than can perform on the big stage.
Listening to AF, I believe the Dodgers will bring Freddie and Shohei back slowly from their surgeries, which means lots of playing time for our utility players –Rojas, CT, and Kike if signed.
Having OF stability and reliable production will be important.
The Dodgers do not see Comforto as a platoon player, he will be the starting LF… https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/michael-conforto-an-under-the-radar-pickup-for-dodgers
He will be a platoon player, especially if they sign Teo!
This time last year, the Dodgers and most fans were saying that Lux would play SS.
I told everyone otherwise!
I’m telling you right now that Conforto is a platoon player… for two reasons:
1. He has always hit RHP much better (except last year); and
2. He’s fragile and breaks if you play him too much!
Ok so Conforto hits rightys. That’s good to know. He also hit leftys last year. That’s good to know. I guess it all depends on his platoon partner how this will all work out. Either way he is a positive.
Now as far as Teoscar goes. Y’all are not gonna be happy. Andrew will take the comp pick. Give DePaula, Rushing and Outman a runway this spring and see where the chips fall. It might even be a showcase….for Robert’s Jr. Either way we are loaded.
Book em
Ah, the return of Mark “I-Told-You-So” Timmons…. And in bold-face!
You were certainly right about Lux not being up to the SS task. The mystery is why AF and the rest of the Dodgers brain trust seemed convinced that Lux could do the job.
But then these same guys were also convinced that Miguel Vargas could be a major-league quality second baseman.
I try to remember the Lux-Vargas plan whenever somebody proclaims that AF is a genius….
Seriously, did the Dodgers miss out on drafting Gunnar Henderson because the brass believed so strongly in Lux?
A Henderson-Lux keystone would have sweet.
So AF now has to be perfect?Cherry picker. Oh he also thought Outman could hit lefties.
Book em
If we sign Teo, Conforto might actually be the starting RF. He’s played almost as many games there in his career as he has in LF. He’s also played almost 150 games in CF.
If we sign Teo, then this is the alignment:
LF-Teoscar
CF – Tommy Baseball
RF- Conforto/Pages
Yes, they’d have the inside track.
But who might be the fifth outfielder?
Asking for my secret love child…
If Teo moves on, Conforto could be full-time. In ’24, he had reverse splits for the first time in his career. A lot of reasons to be optimistic about Conforto.
Yes, it could be Outman.
He will have to play his way onto the team.
The Dodgers have already rewarded Teo: they gave him a WS, they made him famous, they priced him and revalued him and that is why he will receive what he wants, 4 or 5 years, but from another team. Teo gave the team everything he had and that’s why we all love him but it’s time to leave. The Dodgers don’t owe Teo anything and vice versa, they both got what they wanted.
Wisdom!
As of this moment, for me, Bichette Jr is a “person of interest” to cover 3B in 2026.
Awesome take on Teo.
I Love Bo!
Book em
The Bo I loved was Jackson….
Is there some buzz about the Blue Jays’ Bo that I’ve missed?
Bichette for 3B? I wouldn’t bet against much-maligned Max. According to Spotrac, the Dodgers have a $10 million option to keep Max through the ’26 season. It would be his age 35 season.
Bichette really needs a strong ’25 to rebuild his value.
The Bo I loved was Derek.
Book em
I believe she was a 9.9!
Well, the Dodgers would be better with Teo than without him. I’m guessing he returns. Signs a good deal for himself. But if he doesn’t the Dodgers should be fine.
Ken Rosenthal also reported the Dodgers want to land Tanner Scott. That would b a good signing.
If Teo doesn’t return the Dodgers have an oppportunity to play Andy Pages, Dalton Rushing and James Outman. You need to give young players an opportunity. They could focus on acquiring a defensive player who has ball in play skills and not as much power.
I’m not sure why a player would try to push four years or a few extra million. Find some suitor willing to do that and end up in a bad environment. I get the union wants them to do that. Baseball contracts today are crazy. The player should sign where he’s going to be happy, not someplace that offers a bigger deal, unless that is your only goal. If you get three years at $25 mil annually, you are in a place where you truly can’t spend the money. Unless you are one of those athletes who blows all the money on fast cars, jewelry and a lifestyle of the rich and famous. But those athletes never seem to be happy, like some of the very wealthy people I know.
Money doesn’t buy happiness. If you enjoy playing in LA, make a deal. Based on the contracts LA is heading out, you won’t need food stamps. You can afford a nice house, a vacation house and nice cars.
Plus with the Dodgers, the organization wins every year. Most teams can’t say that. Isn’t that why players want to sign with the Dodgers.
David Bote looks like a good depth pickup. Will start in OKC and could come up if Max or UT guy gets hurt. Nice to have some major-league experience in OKC.
This report about the Dodgers auctioning the ball Judge famously dropped raises some questions for me….
Why was this ball the Dodgers’ property and not the property of MLB? (“To the winners go the spoils” or something?)
Who profits? I have the Dodgers have a charitable foundation or something….
In case you missed it, this report was on Dodgersnation:
“Just over a month after the Dodgers won the World Series — in large part thanks to the Yankees’ poor defensive performance — the Dodgers have put Judge’s dropped ball up for auction… seriously. Even crazier, the ball sold for a whopping $43,510.”
It was an online auction, evidently. I also wonder who bought it. Some rich guy with an odd collection of memorabilia, I guess. If the this fan really wants to rub it in, would he try to display the ball at Cooperstown? Or maybe Dodgers Stadium when the Yankees come to town?
The Dodgers just signed 7 kids with the left over international pool money. 5 pitchers and 6 from the DR. Again, Andrew playing chess.
Book em
So much talent from the Caribbean, the birthplace of so many free swingers.
Because as Vin reminded us, “Nobody walks off the island.”