Trades Anyone?

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1. Agree about Casparius. Let him cook.

2. Would rather trade for a CF than a 2B.

   1. Any ideas… that might actually work?

      1. Take May out and AF may consider it. As much as they value pitching, they wouldn’t do the trade straight up for May.

      2. I agree that CF is a bigger issue than 2B. Heck, Edman is a gold glover at 2B, not CF. Kim might need some time in OKC to adjust, but there’s no reason to be pessimistic about him at 2B.
         So about centerfield…
         Luis Robert Jr. is still out there, but seems likely to stay with the White Sox. But if the Sox continue to struggle, perhaps they’ll be willing to deal him at midseason.
         I could see the Dodgers matching up with the O’s for Cedric Mullins, but his star has dimmed the last few season, which would bring the price down.
         Knack + Outman + ex-Baltimore prep star Huebeck might get it done.

      3. No

3. mark, that is a very good trade idea. i love McLain. he’s a baseball player! if possible, The dodgers should do that in a heartbeat!

4. Hmmm, McClain IS a good player…..as far as we know. BUT 2/3rd’s worth of a season’s AB’s and then injured doesn’t (yet) merit a 4 for 1 trade to me. Outman has struggled, no question but he was in the discussion for ROY in ’23. CT is a multi year proven versatile player (yeah, signs of decline but showed signs of improvement later in ’24) and two strong pitchers. Granted it might take an overpay to acquire him but I’d not think this is a good trade for the Dodgers. And I especially prefer Dustin May over Gonsolin. It’s just a hunch but I think Dustin will surprise a lot of people this season.

5. Mark, with all due respect, in your trade suggestion I believe we would be giving way to much. Even if the ten million is taken out it’s still very heavy load going for a player who had a great season and that wasn’t last year. I believe McLain will get off to a slow start as Lux did last year after sitting out the previous season. Take out the ten million and one of the pitchers then it’s getting close. But fans will need to be patient with McLain if he gets off to a slow start.

6. Matt McClain has been a good target for a couple of years–and he is a legit option at SS. With the spectacular Elly De La Cruz at SS for the Red, I’d been hoping the Dodgers could get McClain for SS, with Mookie at 2B.
   Of course, Mookie had other ideas.
   At any rate, I don’t think an Outman-Taylor-May-Wrobleski package would entice the Reds.
   May is the most interesting talent–he has ace stuff– but he alway seems like an injury waiting to happen. (Would Bobby Miller have more appeal?) Wrobleski is a back-of-the-rotation guy. Outman and Taylor are not appealing at this point; just add-ons.
   To get a front-line potential star like McClain, the offer would have to be better. The Reds would want to upgrade their roster, not just tread water.
   Who would be the headliner?
   If I ran the Reds, I’d try to get Rushing. Then we can talk about Wrobleski, Taylor, Outman…
   If I ran the Dodgers, I would not want to deal Rushing. But he is blocked by Smith, and McClain could be a long-time solution at 2B and SS.

   1. Looks like opinion is divided here between “that’s too much” and “that won’t do it”.
      I’m with you, Duke. I don’t think the Reds would be interested in that package.
      Outman has had far more failure than success so far.
      Wrobleski has shown promise but isn’t a sure thing by any means.
      May has thrown one inning this spring so nobody knows what kind of comeback year he’ll have and then he’s a free agent, and would be playing for a team that doesn’t like to spend money.

      If we want McClain, we’d have to put Rushing or Hope or DePaula into the deal. I’m not sure AF is ready to do that. And since none of the three I mentioned have had any major league success it would take more than just one of those guys.

7. When my bill to Dish reached $190, i went elsewhere and wound up with You tube TV. Apparently, I didn’t do enough research cause YT does not handle the MLB channel. I am looking for options that will give me good baseball coverage. Any suggestions? On a different note, my last post was about the fire situation in California. A problem with the CA firefighters that I failed to mention is that if they leave their home duty station, they go on portal to portal pay. That means that they are on the clock until they return, 24 hours per day. At least, that was the situation when I retired in 99. I am totally in favor of Doge reducing the work force of the USFS, but it should start at the top. That is where the most fat and the biggest savings are to be found. It would be much easier if congress would abolish or seriously amend NEPA. NEPA requires input from multiple disciplines that are not needed most of the time.

   1. For the first time I bought MLB Extra Innings, $150 for all games & 35% off if you have a student in the family with an ID.me account.

   2. NEPA, CEPA, Jones Act.

      Poorly written regulations are the enemy.

8. The Reds aren’t trading a payroll controllable player like McClain, Bet it!!!!

9. Watching Kim play in most of the Spring Training games,he is not ready for prime time. His bat is slow with very little power behind it. He could spend significant time at Oklahoma City and maybe after all is said and done just a defensive wizard and that’s all. We’ll have to wait and see.

10. I probably will get criticized but the Dodger’s depth gives young players like Pages and Outman no chance of making the 26 man roster. I believe that Pages could help the team as platoon player against lefties. I have to see Outman more to determine his ultimate status. He’s looked good the last two time he has played. Taylor by taking a spot on the roster is hurting young player development.

    1. Pages may make it this year.

       Outman has never been able to hit LHP. Right about now, he can’t hit RHP either.

11. 3:10 PM ET

    Dodgers (98-64) (2-5)
    Rockies (61-101) (5-1)

    SP Landon Knack R
    0-0 .00 ERA
    SP Bradley Blalock R
    0-0 .00 ERA

    Confirmed Lineup
    SS Mookie Betts R
    DH F. Freeman L
    LF M. Conforto L
    3B E. Hernandez R
    CF Tommy Edman S
    C A. Barnes R
    RF James Outman L
    2B David Bote R
    1B G. Lockwood-Powell R

    79° Wind 13 mph R-L

    Freddie’s back!!!!!

    1. Who’s GLP??

       1. A non drafted player who also catches.He is on the Dodger’s Tulsa roster.

          1. Here’s the total scoop on Griffin Patrick Lockwood-Powell. He was born on February 23, 1998, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is an American professional baseball catcher and first baseman. He stands 6 feet 2 inches tall, weighs 195 pounds, and bats and throws right-handed.

             Lockwood-Powell attended Lincoln High School in Sioux Falls, where he was a four-year letterwinner. During his sophomore year in 2014, he contributed to the school’s first state championship victory. In his junior year, he achieved a .375 batting average with a .500 on-base percentage, earning South Dakota High School Baseball Association All-Region and All-State honors. He also received the Jorgen Yde Award, presented to the junior who demonstrates leadership, sportsmanship, and all-around good character.

             Lockwood-Powell played collegiate baseball at Central Michigan University (CMU). As a redshirt freshman in 2018, he earned a spot on the All-Mid-American Conference (MAC) First Team, ranking second on the team in batting average (.311) and home runs (4), and tying for second in RBIs (36). In 2019, he was named to the ABCA/Rawlings All-Region First Team and earned the MAC Tournament Most Valuable Player Award after hitting .545 with a home run, a double, and six RBIs in CMU’s three-game run to the tournament crown. He shared the league lead with 11 home runs and led the conference with a program-record 74 RBIs.

             Despite his collegiate success, Lockwood-Powell went undrafted in the 2021 MLB Draft. He signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on August 11, 2021. He began his professional career in 2022, playing for the Arizona Complex League Dodgers and the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, where he posted a combined .287 batting average with eight home runs and 28 RBIs over 38 games. In 2023, he advanced to the Great Lakes Loons, recording a .238 batting average with 13 home runs and 54 RBIs in 98 games. The following year, he played for the Tulsa Drillers, achieving a .231 batting average with 14 home runs and 55 RBIs over 111 games.

             On January 24, 2025, the Dodgers invited Lockwood-Powell to their spring training as a non-roster invitee.

             Lockwood-Powell is known for his defensive versatility, capable of playing both catcher and first base. He is praised for his balanced offensive approach, effectively using the entire field, and is regarded as an “elite” teammate. Lockwood-Powell continues to pursue his goal of reaching the major leagues, building upon his experiences and successes in both collegiate and minor league baseball.

    2. It looks like Bote is inching his way on the roster not only by his excellent Spring thus far but by playing another postion other than first base by plaing second base today.

       1. Bote is primarily a 2B and 3B but can play 1B, too.

          1. Interesting to learn that Bote had worked with the Dodgers’ hitting coaches BEFORE he signed his contract.
             One reason he signed, he said, because he was impressed by the coaching.
             Bote could well take Kim’s spot on the OD roster. If the Dodgers somehow deal Taylor, Rosario could be the lefty hitter off the bench. (Or Outman, if his bat comes to life.)
             I hope the competition intensifies and the brass have some difficult decisions.

12. Maybe McClain should move to CF and Edman to 2nd base.

    Rojas is looking good. How much play will he get and where?

    How many innings will Roki pitch? May? Gonsolin? Glasnow? All have had enough time on the IL to give pause to trading a pitcher.

    The Dodgers have more depth at corner outfield spots compared to CFer so swap Pages in for Outman.

    Knack, Wrobleski, Pages, Taylor, $14M for McClain.

    2026
    3B. Betts
    SS McClain
    2B. Edmand

    Hopefully Freeland forces his way into the infield late this year.

    1. McLain can play SS, but I suspect Betts is better. McLain is a great 2B and an average SS.

    2. I’m going to say this every time you put Mookie at 3B.
       Mookie Betts will never, ever be the every-day third baseman for the LA Dodgers.
       When I was speaking to him the other day (in my imagination) he informed me that he does not want to play an infield position where the ball comes at him at ridiculous speeds and where he doesn’t have much chance to move around. He’ll play SS. He’ll play 2B. He doesn’t want to play 3B.

       If Max doesn’t come back next year or isn’t the every day guy, I think Freeland might have a shot at 3B or maybe AF will trade some of our excess pitching for a really good third baseman.

       Assuming that Shohei, Yoshi, Roki, Glasnow and Snell will make up the first 5 spots in the rotation for the next few years that leaves the following all competing for the 6th spot next year: Gonsolin, May (if re-signed in free agency),
       Stone, Knack, Wrobleski, Ryan, Sheehan, Casparius, Frasso, Kershaw (if he doesn’t retire), Miller and Ferris.

       That’s up to 12 guys competing for 1 spot. We need to use some of them to trade for a third baseman this winter.

       1. As shortstops age, they often move to 3rd or 1st.

          1. Not this one.
             He’s not moving to a corner unless it’s an outfield corner.
             Hey, I could be very wrong here. I often am when I’m as positive about a statement as I am about the one I made above.
             If so, I’ll admit I was wrong……………………………………or just disappear.

13. That report on Casparius is very encouraging.
    With Phillips and Kopech not ready for opening day, perhaps May and Casparius will make the roster.
    Just so much pitching on this team…..

    1. May has to be on the roster – he has no options.

       1. Or they could trade him.
          Or put him on the IL again. He has a second home there, like the one you’re looking to buy in Phoenix. 🙂

14. Another stinker offensively, and that was with four regulars in the lineup. Outman is hitting his way to OKC. He struck out three more times, that makes 9 times in 13 at bats. His new hitting style is not working at this point. Bote making a push to be on the 26-man opening day roster. 11 more Ks. Ohtani and Smith will be playing against the Angels tomorrow night. Freeman will not be in the lineup. Conforto got his first spring hit, a ringing double off of the wall in right center field. Scott and Yates tagged with the runs today, Yates got the loss. Scott has a 13.50 ERA so far.

15. Plunkett takes a look at the mechanical changes Glasnow is working with:

    https://www.ocregister.com/2025/02/27/dodgers-tyler-gasnow-hopes-subtle-change-in-mechanics-keeps-him-healthy/

    “I think having that happen it was time to say, ‘Alright, I need to change something,’” Glasnow said… A look at the biomechanics of his throwing motion offered him something to focus on – the angle of his spine as his front foot lands on the downslope of the mound sometimes gets too extreme, causing his arm to drag behind in the kinetic chain. That puts added stress on the elbow ligaments.

    And MLB’s David Adler looks at starter’s split-finger FBs:

    https://x.com/_dadler/status/1880421957386289595

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