BRAVES AND THE PEN:
Braves have now signed 3 pitchers who will serve as late inning high leverage relievers. On Monday they signed Chris Martin to a two year $14MM contract after signing Will Smith to a three year $40MM deal. Earlier this month, they signed Darren O’Day to a one year $2.25MM contract. They also have Mark Melancon in the final year of his four year $62MM contract. Thus far, the Braves are committed to the following AAV to relief pitchers:
Mark Melancon ($15.5MM)
Will Smith ($13.3MM)
Chris Martin ($7.0MM)
Shane Greene ($6.5MM projected)
Darren O’Day ($2.25MM)
That is $44.55MM committed for 2020 for five relievers. Even if the remaining three earn minimum MLB salary, the relievers will top $46MM in salary for 2020. If the Dodgers sign Drew Pomeranz and trade for Ken Giles, their top 5 relievers’ 2020 salaries will approach the Braves top 5. But that is a BIG IF.
I can hear Mark, just because they were good last year does not mean that they will continue to excel (Smith, Melancon, Martin, Greene). It seems curious to me though, how one can say that they do not think that relievers who have previously pitched well will all of a sudden fail to get outs, and yet pitchers who have never been good will all of a sudden be lights out (Alexander and Garcia). It is possible, but I do not believe that it is an objectively based position. I realize fans are not supposed to be objective. That is AF’s job. But really, who would you rather have in a playoff game in a high leverage situation…Will Smith or Yimi Garcia?
With Martin signing for two years and $14MM, I have no idea what that will mean for Drew Pomeranz. MLBTR has him projected at two years and $16MM. However, as many as 20+ teams are checking on Pomeranz, so he is going to get considerable cash this winter. It is entirely possible that the Dodgers would have to agree to a three year deal as hot as Pomeranz appears to be. Maybe a Joe Kelly contract will do it. Also with $14MM committed to Chris Martin, that would seem that Ken Giles, even as a gamble, will be well worth his projected $8.4MM arbitration contract. But who will Toronto ask for in return?
MORE WITH GAVIN LUX:
At 21, Gavin Lux had a fantastic 2019 season. To be named Minor League Player of the Year, you have to have had a very special year. Gavin got called up in September (before expected), and now we will need to see how the off season player personnel decisions are completed to determine if he will be a permanent member on the 26 man roster. He has all of the skills and intangibles to be something special, and the Dodgers have every right to be wary of including Lux in a trade. Lux and May are about as close to untouchable prospects as the Dodgers have.
But the Dodgers are not a team on the rise where they have the LUXury of playing up and comers during a rebuild. You do not win 106 games and need to rebuild. Gavin Lux has the ability to win the 2B job, but he should not be given the job. While their ceiling is nowhere near where Gavin Lux’s is, both CT3 and Kike’ are more than adequate 2B and/or backup SS. If the Dodgers bring in a star 3B moving the infield around a bit, then Gavin can be a utility player or go back to AAA for one more year.
Regardless as to whether Gavin Lux is ready for prime time and an everyday position, I did read earlier this week where someone wrote they would rather trade Corey Seager and keep Lux up all year at SS. Never mind that most scouting personnel do not consider Lux a sure thing at SS, but more of a 2B. Also never mind that at 21 years 4 months, Corey Seager was called up to take over the everyday SS position and went on to hit .337/.425/.561/.986 in 133 PA. Comparatively, at 21 years 9 months, Lux was called up as a platoon 2B and hit .240/.305/.400/.705 in 82 PA. Seager’s OBP was better than Lux’s slugging at the same juncture in their career, and we are ready to write off Corey Seager? Then I read that a reason to jettison Corey is because his agent is Scott Boras. I have not heard that Corey will be a mercenary like Greinke or Gerrit Cole. As a fan would I rather Corey have a different agent? Absolutely. But if we are going to trade players because their agent is Scott Boras, then why stop at Corey. Don’t even try to sign Gerrit Cole or Anthony Rendon or Stephen Strasburg or re-sign Ryu. And you better trade Cody Bellinger and Julio Urias because their agent is Scott Boras. AF can negotiate with Boras. Boras has been on record complimenting how the Dodgers organization fairly treated both Ryu and Urias in their recovery. He had no questions about how they were used.
FORMER DODGER PROSPECTS BEING PROTECTED:
Scott Pfeifer was a 2015 Dodger 3rd round draft pick and former Vanderbilt teammate with Walker Buehler. Along with fellow pitcher Caleb Dirks, Pfeifer was traded to Atlanta for Bud Norris after Clayton Kershaw went on the DL with his herniated disk in June 2016. It has been a long struggle, but Monday Pfeifer was officially added to Atlanta’s 40 man roster.
Also protected and added to the 40 man roster was former Dodger 14th round draft (2016) pick out of UNLV, Dean Kremer for the Orioles. Kremer was really starting to take off when he was traded to Baltimore along with Yusniel Diaz, Zach Pop, Rylan Bannon, and Breyvic Valera in the Manny Machado trade in July 2018.
Earlier in 2019, former Dodgers 5th round draft pick (2016) Devin Smeltzer out of San Jacinto JC, was included on the Twins 25 man roster. Next year I would suspect that former Dodger prospects, Yusniel Diaz, Luke Raley, and Rylan Bannon, will all get considerable consideration for Rule 5 Draft protection in 2020. This bodes well for Dodger prospects in future trade talks for prospect packages.
Let’s start out where we agree: GAVIN LUX. He absolutely will have to win the 2B job and he is not an everyday MLB shortstop.
WTF, Mark?
When I said…
Here’s Lux’s slash line from last year…
.240 .305 .400 .705
What screams full-time starter in that line?
His minor league numbers are impressive is an understatement. I certainly wouldn’t want to block him. But, to me he needs to earn that spot in Spring Training and may need to compete with Kike and CT3 to do so.
You replied…
A few AB’s at the end of season mean nothing.
Walker Buehler in his September callup: 7.71 ERA and 2.00 WHIP.
Using that same irrational thinking, Buehler had no chance.
By the same token, Will Smith looked like Babe Ruth. In July he hit .462 with a 1.621 OPS. That meant nothing.
Alex Verdugo hit .174 in his first September Callup. In his first season, he hit .294.
Mike Trout hit .220 in his first end of season call up.
Come on! That is weak! You can do better than that…
Now you agree with me?
Boy, you like to cherry-pick.
As we have seen in the past, what he did in his callup last year means nothing.
I do think he is ready, but it won’t be given to him and I never said that he should.
If Lux had hit .380, he would still have to earn a spot, so NO I do not agree.
Not sure what I cherry picked. A slash line is hardly “Cherry Picking” one stat to make a point as you often do. A slash line is a summary of almost all hitting stats, by definition it is not cherry picking. An example of cherry picking is your argument about bullpen ERA down the stretch last year. We all know how that worked out.
If you think a call up and what you do with it means nothing, I’ll disagree and leave it at that. You are not that naive to think what you do in your call up means nothing.
You did agree with me when I made the point that Lux has to earn his job in Spring Training. If you want to take that back, go edit your comment out.
No, what is cherry-picking is taking out of context that I agree with you.
I fail to see anything arguable.
$44.5 million for 5 good relievers actually makes more sense than $30 million for one ace. I agree it’s unlikely that all 5 relievers will regress. Having that kind of bullpen with Atlanta’s offense sounds like a winning strategy.
And yes, Lux should be given the opportunity to start, can Muncy play left?
Now, here’s where I disagree:
The Braves Bullpen reminds me of what the Rockies did two years ago.
Let’s look at the pieces one-by-one:
Will Smith: If he has a good year, I would not be surprised. He will be 31 next season and he flourished last year in his first season as a full-time closer. I would not have paid him $40 million, but I do think he will be good at least for a year or two. I would not have minded seeing Will Smith in Blue, but I think the QO stopped Friedman.
Chris Martin: He will be 34 next year and has a career ERA of 4.51. He put up a 3.08 ERA for Texas in 38 innings but was over 4.00 for the Braves after he was traded. One thing he does have is great control. The jury is out on him.
Mark Melancon: He will be 35 next season and his best years are barely visible in the rear-view mirror. Can he re-invent himself as a $15 million setup man? I would bet against it, but you never know.
Darren O’Day: He is 37 and is capable of having a good year… if you don’t pitch him a lot. He pitched 20 innings in 2018 and 5 in 2019. As I said: don’t use him much!
Shane Greene: He is 31 and has a career ERA of 4.50. He is on track to make $6 to $7 million next season. He had a 1.18 ERA for the Tigers last year but put up a 4.01 for the Braves. I think he’s the later… not the former.
Summary: This bullpen is a potential trainwreck. Remember I said this. Memo to AJ, “AF taught you better than this.”
I will take Will Smith over any Dodger reliever. He had a better year than KJ did last year. His ERA was lower and he is younger. He hits all of your buttons of lower ERA and age. The money is irrelevant when you have $45MM before hitting CBT threshold, and the team is on record that they will not let the threshold be a deterrent to adding players.
Chris Martin – At least you did recognize that Chris Martin is a control machine. 65 K against 5 BB in 55.2 IP. He was both very hot and very cold in August, but was tremendous in September…6 games, 5.1 IP, 2 hits, 0 BB, 8 K. For the year, 1 of 5 inherited runners scored.
Mark Melancon – One year remaining on his contract, and he was 11 for 11 in save opportunities with Atlanta. In 18 games he was scored on in 4 games, one game was 4 ER in .1 IP. That will put a dent in one’s ERA. In September, he pitched in 10 games, 2 runs scored in one game, and 0 in 9 games. 1 BB against 10K. Admittedly he had a horrible inning against WSN in Game 3 of the NLDS, but he was unscored on in the other 2 games he pitched. He was unscored on in 4 games against LAD in the 2016 NLDS while with WSN. I would bet on Melancon for 1 more year.
Darren O’Day – The sidearm reliever allowed just one run over 5 1/3 innings (eight appearances) in September and earned a spot on the postseason roster. He retired five of the six batters he faced while making four appearances in the National League Division Series against the Cardinals. Sidearm is a different look.
Shane Greene – Was a very effective closer for Detroit before going to ATL. 22 saves, and 3 blown saves and a 1.18 ERA. For ATL he was not a very good closer, but was a very good setup for Melancon. He went to late inning setup on August 13 and from that date he pitched 22 games (20.2 IP). He was scored on in 4 games and scoreless in 18. He had 17 K and 3 BB, 9 holds, 1 save, no blown saves in those 20.2 IP, including 2 holds against LAD in August.
Current LAD Bullpen:
KJ
Kelly
Baez
Floro
Alexander
Chargois
Ferguson
Sadler
Kolarek
Stripling
Gonsolin???
Atlanta potential train wreck? What does that make the Dodgers? I know you keep telling us that Yimi Garcia and Scott Alexander are going to contend for Reliever of the Year. Yimi Garcia is so well thought of that he was left off the NLDS roster. Neither have put together any kind of resume before, but this is the year? The Dodgers bullpen was soooooo vaunted last year that the only relievers to make the NLDS roster were KJ, Kelly, Baez and Kolarek. Maeda SP. May SP. Urias – both. Strip – both., and CK were the other pitchers coming out of the pen. And as long as Kolarek faced Soto, he was unhittable. He faced 3 batters, all Soto. The 4 relievers pitched 5.2 innings and surrendered 7 runs. Urias and Strip pitched 4.2 innings and surrendered 4 runs. Maeda and May pitched 6.2 innings and surrendered 1 run. CK went .1 IP and surrendered 2 runs.
Kolarek – 3 games – 1.0 IP – 0 runs
Maeda – 3 games – 3.1 IP – 0 runs
Kelly – 3 games – 2.1 IP – 6 runs
Baez – 2 games – .2 IP – 1 run
May – 2 games – 3.1 IP – 1 run
Urias – 3 games – 3.2 IP – 3 runs
KJ – 2 games – 1.2 IP – 0 runs
Strip – 1 game – 1.0 IP – 1 run
Kershaw – 1 game – .1 IP – 2 runs
Maeda, Kolarek, and KJ were the only pitchers to go unscathed in the NLDS. Maeda is a SP, Kolarek faced only 1 batter in his 3 games (but not in critical Game 5), and Doc did not have the confidence in KJ that he sent Kelly out for a 2nd inning with KJ warm in Game 5.
Gavin Lux will be the starting second baseman coming into spring training. Those are the expectations of the Dodgers, Roberts and Friedman included. But he may also be given some time in the outfield because the Dodgers value versatility and being able to move players around.
How high is the organization on Lux? Off the charts.
Now, he could stumble in spring training, many have and get another month or two at Oklahoma City. But I don’t think the Dodgers expect that to happen.
How all this plays out probably depends somewhat on whether the Dodgers sign Rendon or Donaldson … or acquire a 3B in a trade. Although the debate rages on as to who the Dodgers pursue in free agency, the Dodgers won 106 games last year, have won seven straight NL West titles. What they haven’t done is win the World Series. Does signing Rendon, for example, change that?
Why didn’t they win the World Series? Bullpen? Yah, that was a problem, no question. But relievers have a sketchy past, good one year, not so much the next. Will that strategy work for the Braves? Didn’t work for the Rockies. Might make sense for the Dodgers to pursue Pomeranz and then look on the trade market for a couple of up and coming young relievers. Low cost, big upside.
When you look at the current Dodger rotation (Buehler, Kershaw, Urias, Maeda and … May, Gonsolin, Stripling), the Dodgers have an obvious need. Some of the younger pitchers will be on innings limits and who steps up in the playoffs? I think Maeda gets traded if he’s not willing to move to the bullpen for the playoffs. Best trade asset the Dodgers have. Maybe they bring back Ryu, perhaps Hill. But that doesn’t improve their playoff chances and both have injury histories. Hill had been great in the playoffs, but he’ll be another year older and 2019 didn’t end well. I think I’d still bring him back on a one year deal.
So it would seem to be somewhat logical to pursue a big time starter like Gerrit Cole or another high level pitcher. Will they? Whether they admit it or not, lot more pressure on Friedman and ownership this time around. Best guess, they do something. Perhaps they go big. Those who cover the Dodgers daily have doubts. They point to history. If Friedman has never done this, he never will. Not sure I’d put money on that, but one thing is certain, the Dodgers won’ t be rolling out the 2019 team. Change is definitely in the air. Someone on the Dodger network suggested a creative contract for Cole, heavily front loaded. Interesting winter ahead.
What gives the Dodgers the best opportunity to win it all in 2020? That should be the only real question for Friedman and ownership. Everything else is simply background noise.
I don’t have the stats/detail knowledge of a lot of writers on this site, but I do read a lot and have finally come to a conclusion about what the Dodger’s should go.
-AF is truly a visionary to have the Dodger’s farm system the only one ranked in the top 10 for each of the years the ranking has been in effect and still win 106 games and 5 straight division titles. I don’t know if that has ever happened before.
-You have to win the regular season first (we keep only talking about the World Series) and then I really believe a LOT of luck comes into play. The Nationals were the oldest team in MLB, with the dead last bullpen, and a lot of senior citizens that had career post seasons all at the same time. You can’t use logic to beat that. Boston had the same fluke luck with Pierce and Kelly. I know having two/three aces would be nice and that just seems to be the popular strategy recently. There have been a lot of World Series winners with only one ace (see Dodgers in 1988). If it’s your turn, it’s your turn!! Luckily we just keep trying.
-The one statement that always makes sense to me is “why would you make major changes to a team that won 106 games?”. As Dodger fans we are spoiled and should be more appreciative of the results AF achieves. If the Dodgers track record in not good enough the Pirates and Orioles could always use more fans.
-I am not saying we are so good we need to stand pat but please don’t talk about trading Seager before he has a full healthy off season, please don’t spend a fortune/prospects on Betts or Lindor or Donaldson (the only thing he has over Turner at third base is a lot more cost at about the same age and a lot less leadership).
-Enough preaching, I do believe everyone has the right to their own wish list and their opinions- that is actually fun. I am just pleased to know I will have a team ranked as one of the favorites to make it to the World Series. Many say we shouldn’t count on our young players coming up (we need to add established vets) but so far the ones that have come up have formed the core of the team and been successful. Why would this stop now? Why pay a fortune to GAMBLE on a free agent at the end of his career versus give lots of young inexpensive players a chance. Many won’t make it but we have such a large number to choose from the odds are in our favor.
Very rational post in my opinion.
Thanks Mark, I always like your insight.
Grandal signs a 4/73 deal with the White Sox
Good for him.
Do not count the ChiSox out of the Gerrit Cole auction. They were right there at the end with Machado last year.
ChiSox believe they have a real shot in that division. That team can use a player like Joc, and they have a reliever (Aaron Bummer) who can really help the Dodgers. But it will take more than 1 year of Joc to get 5 years of Bummer.
How about Joc and Maeda and Stripling?
Maybe Joc and one of Maeda or Strip, but not both Another one to consider is Edwin Rios. Rios can replace Abreu when he is done, and still get meaningful ABs as a part-time 1B and DH. Also, consider Scott Alexander. LH ground ball relief pitcher with 3 years control to replace Bummer. Don’t get me wrong. I like Aaron Bummer. I liked him more last winter when he had not yet had the big season. But it is just one season. He would not close, so I would not expect a fall like Jose Leclerc last year. But he was very solid and much more reliable than any of the Dodger relievers. He entered 24 games with runners on base and runs scored in 5 of those games. 7 runs scored on 36 inherited runners. He allowed 4 HRs in 67.2 IP. 60 K and 24 BB in those 67.2 IP. He is a ground ball pitcher with 15 GDP. I think I would try Joc, Alexander, and Rios. The ChiSox can use LH bats. They have two LH bats on the 40 man; Zack Collins (C), and Blake Rutherford (OF). They have a combined 86 career ABs. They do have some quality switch hitters, Yoan Moncada, Yolmer Sanchez, Yasmani Grandal, Leury Garcia and Luis Alexander Basabe. The Dodgers have the players to make it work. I will leave it to AF to make the personnel decisions as to who should go. I would leave Maeda and Strip for bigger fish.
If Rios can replace Abreu, we should hold onto him.
You really think the Dodgers have a hole at 1B? How long do you want to hold onto Rios whose best position is DH. He can play 1B for ChiSox to give Abreu a break. But with Muncy, Beaty, Belli, and probably soon to be JT, I think 1B is covered. Beaty was getting a lot more time at 1B. I have no idea how long Tyler White will be with LAD, but he is also a reserve 1B candidate.
If I can improve the team by trading Rios rather than him continuing his yo-yo up and down between LA and OKC why not do it? Most prospects are products of diminishing returns. Right now Rios’s value is higher than it would be if he goes back down to OKC. He will be 26 next April, so as long as the Dodgers have Muncy to play 1B we hold on to Rios for a just in case, or do we try to find a RH bat, SP or RP with him in a package?
The one caveat is if Rios can actually play a ML 3B. But he is still another LH bat.
You don’t think we should hold onto one of Maeda or Stripling? Seems like a lot for a reliever that’s only had one good year. You backing off your “relievers are inconsistent” hypothesis?
Should only take Stripling.
They need Joc more than they need Strip. They need a big LH bat to compliment Eloy Jimenez. I think the Sox are committed to their young pitchers: Reynaldo Lopez, Dylan Cease, Lucas Giolito, Dane Dunning, and Michael Kopech. The oldest of which is Lopez at 25. They have also said that they will be negotiating hard for an Ace to help the kids. They will be in on Cole, Wheeler, and MadBum until the end. They have a ton $$$ available. Strip is not an Ace. He is a back end rotation pitcher.
I think Joc, Alexander, and Rios is a fair deal for Bummer. Bluto, you need to plug that into your trade scenario package and see how that works out. It will probably be all thumbs down.
That’s how i got Stripling, almost equal value to bummer.
Okay then. I would do it, but I do not think Chicago would. It is such that Chicago is the perfect team for Joc. Maybe Cleveland. Maybe Toronto. But they do not need Joc as much as do the ChiSox. I can still be very content with Joc still wearing Dodger Blue, and a teammate of Aaron Bummer.
https://www.baseballtradevalues.com/trade-simulator/
I agree Pederson has value to the ChiSox. However, I read this online:
The Chicago White Sox are reportedly set to shift their focus to free-agent starting pitcher after they the signing of catcher Yasmani Grandal on Thursday. of SNY reported the White Sox are expected to have an “active offseason” but could face a challenge from the New York Yankees for Wheeler.
If you put both Pederson and Stripling in, you could get:
Bummer, Matt Canterino and Luis Gonzalez!
As I opined earlier, the White Sox will be all in on Cole, Wheeler, and MadBum. They need an Ace to lead the kids. Many Machado would have been a White Sox had AJ Preller not gone out of his way to reeeeaaaaaly over pay for him.
I would be all in on Matt Centerino. I think he could be another big find like Jo Jo Gray. I am not all that gung-ho on Luis Gonzalez, another LH hitting OF.
But you are on to something. There is a trade to be made between these two teams.
Good for Yas. Turns out betting on himself last year and signing that one year deal worked out just fine. I don’t think I saw anyone who predicted he’d get this big a deal.
Also nice to see another big signing so early in the winter. Maybe we’ll actually have a Winter Meetings worth watching this year except, of course, for Cole who will sign as he’s packing his car to head off for Spring Training.
Mark Feinsand suggested a deal for Mookie this morning: May, Ruiz and Joc. Said he realized that was a lot to give up but maybe they could get a few days to try to extend him (not gonna happen) and if not, L.A. is easy to sell to a free agent so they could always re-sign him next year. Am I crazy? No way I do that deal for one guaranteed year of Mookie. Would any of you out there do that deal? Convince me.
There’s an interesting article in MLB Trade Rumors about the relief market this year.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/11/taking-stock-of-the-relief-market-2.html
A mostly uninspiring group of arms there. A couple of bounce back options to take fliers on, a couple of interesting names but mostly yuck.
If the Dodgers are going to improve the pen with outsiders, it will probably be guys we haven’t thought of.
I would be interested in Colin McHugh, Pedro Strop as bounce back candidates. I don’t see a closer to replace or augment Jansen that I’m interested in.
I have been scouring that reliever FA list since it was first published, and I still am underwhelmed. However, I think you are selling Drew Pomeranz short. He was not a good starting pitcher, but he sure was a good reliever. Just before he was traded to Milwaukee he was put in the Giants pen and pitched 5.1 shutout innings in 4 games, allowing 1 hit and 1BB, striking out 8. Then went to Milwaukee and was fantastic. If there is a pitcher who screams Brandon Morrow, it is Drew Pomeranz.
I know Eric likes Will Harris, but I am indifferent. He has been good for the ‘Stros, but has never been a pitcher to put up big innings. His last 3 years with Houston he pitched 45.1 IP, 56.2 IP, and 60.0 IP. He was fantastic last year (WS notwithstanding). Will he be able to go back to back games? If he were to accept a 2 year deal, I can see AF checking into Harris.
I would not be alarmed if the Dodgers took a chance on Dellin Betances, Tony Cingrani, or Arodys Vizcaino as FA. No more than a one year heavily incentive laden contract. I could also be interested in Jose Urena (Miami) or Shane Greene (Atl) as trades for middle relief and some late inning work (especially Greene who has done well in setup role). I still like Chad Green and Jose Leclerc even though their 2019 were forgettable. I have already gone on record for Aaron Bummer.
As closers, you are right. There is not a single closer or potential closer on the FA list. I would like to see LAD take a chance of Edwin Diaz. But Carlos Beltran has made it clear, that Diaz is his project, and I would suspect a return (or near return) to the Seattle version. Ken Giles is available, and I think LAD can make a good offer to get him. He is risky with post season games. But his seasons with Philadelphia and Toronto were very good years, and apparently his once poor attitude had turned the corner. He is the best closer who is deemed available. I do not believe Brad Hand is available, and the Pads will certainly not trade Kirby Yates to LAD. I would inquire with Boston about Brandon Workman. He is projected to earn $3.4MM in arbitration. Maybe an Eduardo Rodriguez/Brandon Workman duo. I haven’t thought about the return. And I would take a flyer on Jharel Cotton on a MiLB contract with a T invite. He is the epitome of the high reward low risk pitcher. I have always liked him, and I think he is a great candidate to move into the bullpen.
Internally, I think Tony Gonsolin is a potential closer. 2020 might be a little early for him, but he should get a chance to close a few games. I have not given up on Dennis Santana as a prospective closer. But he is going to have to really impress in ST to get a chance. I like Caleb Ferguson, but not as a closer. His curve ball is just too erratic right now. Baez – No. Kelly – No. Garcia – No. Floro/Shaggy/Sadler/Kolarek/Strip – No. I am not sure that Jordan Sheffield will get past Rule 5, but if he does, I am still hopeful that he can continue his development as a closer.
There are quality relievers out there for the Dodgers to choose from. But if the Dodgers even consider Roberto Osuna I will be heart-broken. He is persona non grata for me.
I am 100% on board with Pomeranz who could also start in a pinch. I would pass on Cingrani – left shoulder labrum surgery last June; no telling how long it will take for him to be 100%, if ever. If Betances is 100% healthy then he is definitely worth an incentive contract. I like Shane Greene better than Ken Giles – Braves may be willing to take Jordan Sheffield and Leonardo Crawford in return to dump his contract. Definite yes on Workman depending on who Bosox want in return — Ross Stripling might work, but seems like an overpay from Dodgers perspective considering Workman is a FA after 2020.
Of course you are right with Cingrani. I should have prefaced my opinions with… pending medical information. I have always liked Cingrani, but if his shoulder will not let him pitch, of course it would be a hard pass. My bad.
If the Braves would take Jordan Sheffield and Leo Crawford for Shane Greene, I would do that.
After more consideration of relievers, Betances seems to stand out to me as perhaps the best of the bunch. The others don’t have the track record to tickle my interest. If the idea is to win NOW, and the BP needs insurance, Betances seems to be the guy. He will cost more than the others, as he should. Career .236 ERA, 1.043 WHIP. Has dominating presence, 381IP, 621 SO’s. There is our guy.
To use an old cliche, I am tickled pink, about DJ Peters. Hope he does well and cuts back on strikeouts. I read that he was a very good defensive player. True?
I believe he is considered a well above average fielder and Doc has, on numerous occasions, complimented him on his work ethic and general overall attitude.
If he can solve his strikeout problem (and there was an indication last season that it was getting better) he could have a bright future, although it might be with another organization since we have lots of outfielders.
He is a good defensive OF. He is not elite in the Cody class, but most Dodger scouts consider him as good as Verdugo on reacting to, getting a jump on, and chasing down fly balls. While his arm is plus, it is not in the Verdugo class. He is a big man who can play CF very well. I am guessing that he will get a taste this year. His biggest weakness is strikeouts, but that does not appear to be an impediment for Dodger brass.
Ok thank you both AC and Singing The Blue.