The New Paradigm

Posted By on December 25, 2019

Most people don’t get it. Some never will, but the Dodgers Farm System is arguably the most productive in MLB. Right after the trade with the Reds last season when the Dodgers sent Kyle Farmer, Matt, Kemp, Alex Wood, and Yasiel Puig to the Reds for Jeter Downs and Josiah Gray, Dodgers fans completely and totally took leave of their senses. “It’s a salary dump!” “The Front Office doesn’t care about winning… just making money.”

I totally understood what Andrew Friedman was doing, but fans were loud and irrational in proclaiming their hatred for anything related to Stan Kasten, Andrew Friedman or Guggenheim Baseball. How did that work out? One blogger also understood. Benjamin Chase of Fansided Call to the Pen wrote this:

“Once again, this is another instance of why the Los Angeles Dodgers are able to sustain their success. They can pursue high-priced players while staying under the luxury tax due to their ability to produce cheap players that are very useful to the team. While others are focusing on Kemp, Puig, and Wood, it could end up Downs and Gray that bring the most value out of this deal.”

Of course, the Dodger Blogs went crazy. Here was one headline:

Judging The Dodgers Puig, Kemp Trade to The Reds, Possibly One of The Worst in Dodgers History

I am not going to embarrass the person who penned it, but it’s pretty typical of the shortsightedness, total lack of reasoning, and myopia that runs rampant at that site.

Here are some quotes about the trade:

Friedman is “Fried” in the brain

Does Freidman secretly work for the Reds?

There had better be something else going on behind the scenes in order for this shitty deal to make any sense at all.

The FO screwed up with Ryu and Puig and Wood had to go.

Gentlemen, this is a salary dump, pure and simple. 

Well, they were dead wrong… as usual. Alex Verdugo, in an injury-shortened season, put up more WAR than all four of the players traded… combined and the Dodgers ended up with two Top Prospects, one of whom could easily be a #2 starter. Dodger fans are playing checkers while Andrew Friedman is playing chess.

Last offseason, the Dodgers signed Joe Kelly and AJ Pollock. I was not a big fan of either deal, but I root for both players and sometimes the second or third years of deals play out. At any rate, the Dodgers were lambasted for their inactivity and “salary dump” just like the Dodgers fans are going totally crazy on the front office right about now because of their not signing expensive free agents or trading the farms for Lindor or Betts.

I think the only player the Dodgers might have anted up Stupid Money for was Gerrit Cole and in fact, they did make him a $300 million dollar offer, which the Dodgers were never allowed to counter. Why? Cole did not want to play in LA. He wanted to be a Yankee.

“I can remember as a little boy dreaming about being a Major League Baseball player, specifically a Yankee. I’m just tremendously excited, and I hope there’s a lot of young boys out there that chase their dreams just like I did.”

Cole’s parents were Yankee fans and the Dodgers had no chance. That’s why Cole never gave the Dodgers a chance to beat the Yankees offer – he wanted to be a Yankee. End of story. The Dodgers made the offer and Cole declined. So, those of you who just keep beating the drum that “The Dodgers won’t spend the money”, just need to shut up! They tried and it did not work out. The Dodgers really could have used Cole and they made the pitch. Cole refused! End of Story! Rendon was not really a need, but his wife did not want to be in LA for whatever reason.

DodgerRick said this:

“if the season started today, the Dodgers go in without their best pitcher from last year (Ryu) .

OK, but he also wrote this:

“I can’t fault the Dodgers for letting Ryu go. He is the old and infirm. Also, they know more about his health than anyone. The fact that they didn’t resign him speaks volumes about what they think of his health.

Friedman would have taken Ryu for a much lesser deal. Most of the Dodger fans on this and other blogs blasted AF for giving Ryu the Qualifying Offer last season. It turns out it was a stroke of genius! He knew what he was doing. It was a one year risk worth taking. He also knows that Ryu has an extensive injury history. I should not have to explain to anyone that signing Ryu for $80 Million/4-Years is a dope-fiend deal. That a second or third-tier team signed him speaks volumes. No good team was going to pay that money. It a huge risk for Toronto who is desperate.

The Dodgers wanted a top-of-the-rotation pitcher like Cole. They clearly thought they had a shot, but in the end, he wanted to fulfill his childhood dream and signed with the Yankees. Whether the Dodgers would have beaten the Yankees offer is irrelevant. They were never afforded the chance. Before the Free Agency Period started, MLB Trade Rumors estimated that Cole would get $245 Million. The Dodgers blew by that like Grant took Richmond, but didn’t get their man.

There was no other free agent they should have signed… even Will Smith. If I have to explain why you still won’t get it. The Dodgers don’t need Ryu, Keuchel, or Kluber – old guys on the downside of their career. William presented a long, well-reasoned argument that could be compelling yesterday, but it lacks one simple thing: Cole did not want to be a Dodger. He wanted to be a Yankee and no matter how you wrap it, that was the case. All those words change nothing.

I get it. Many of you are mad because it has been 31 years since the Dodgers won a World Series, but Andrew Friedman has only been here 5 years. Theo Epstein won the World Series in his 5th year with the Cubs because he was allowed to “BLOW UP” the team and build it the way he wanted with young, cost-controlled players. Friedman was not allowed to do that. His mandate was to build up the farm and win at the same time.

That has never been done in the history of the game, but Kasten mandated it. He knew that Dodger fans would not tolerate tanking which is why he authorized the Boston Trade Debacle. Friedman had nothing to do with that, but that handcuffed the Dodgers for three or four years… in some ways, it still does, but it’s mostly in the rear-view mirror.

In his 5th year, Theo deviated from his plan and traded one of his top prospects for Chapman. He also signed Heyward, Darvish and traded for some pitchers who really weighed down the Cubs. The Cubs are on the downhill slide again. Andrew Friedman is trying to keep the Dodger relevant every year. They should not just sign any free agent because fans are clamoring for it. Four years and $100 million is way too much for Josh Donaldson. The Dodgers just need to stand pat and not make any dope-fiend moves.

It is established that AF is playing chess, while fans are playing checkers. He’s not going to give in to your irrational rants. He knows exactly what he is doing. He is staying the course. Maybe he will sign or trade for another player or two, but he will not make a move just for the sake of making a move. Quit embarrassing yourselves with rants like the Farmer Trade last year.

The Red Sox are not stupid. If they trade Mookie Betts, it will be to get a haul of young players… that, and attaching Price’s contract to the deal. Lindor is a marginal improvement at SS. It would be a dope-fiend move to pay the Indians what they will demand for him. The Dodgers infield is full of players who can put up 4 to 5 WAR each, which makes them stars. It still makes a ton of sense to sign Nicholas Castellanos and I believe this is a AF-Type of a move. I’m the only one beating that drum, so we shall see.

Yesterday, Rick wrote this:

No one has contradicted my analysis – it’s not a binary choice. The Dodgers can focus their time/attention/money on “new age” stuff like analytics, player development, technology, etc. and continue to excel in those areas AND also acquire a star player who can be a difference maker. It hasn’t happened yet.

Rick, there was just one player they needed and they tried. He did not want to come to LA. Come on, give it up! Move on… there’s nothing else to see here folks. Rick ended up by saying: “They will still make the playoffs, but they need an ace SP at least.” I agree with that. That’s the play they tried to make.

I think the time has arrived to see what the Dodger youngsters can do. Specifically, Julio Urias and Dustin May. I think both are capable of being a #2 starter. This year? Maybe. Who envisioned Fernando as a rookie? I happen to think both pitchers will be very good this year and that both are capable of 170+ innings. I know many disagree… Adam summed it up yesterday:

It’s easy to see a lot of teams out of contention in June: Royals, Marlins, Orioles, Reds, Mariners, Giants, Rockies. Even the Mets might be having a fire sale.


Maybe DeGrom, Thor, Danny Duffy, Mike Minor and others will be available.

So, here it is: It’s Christmas and some fans feel like they have been delivered a load of coal. That’s all in your minds. This team is very good. The youngsters will make it better. The Dodgers believe that Treinen, Kelly, and Jansen can bounce back in the pen and there are lots of other candidates. I was hoping for Cole but it’s neurotic to wish for something you can’t have. It’s psychotic to blame the front office for not signing him. I am neither neurotic or psychotic.

The facts are:

  • The Dodgers have spent more money the past 5 years than anyone in baseball.
  • The Dodger have won more games than anyone in baseball.
  • The Dodgers are the NL Favorites to win the pennant.
  • The farm system is loaded.
  • The major league team is deep and talented.
  • The Dodger can win it all in 2020 and have the resources to get that pitcher at the deadline, if necessary.

It should be a Merry Christmas… if only you can see the forest for the trees!

Today’s Music

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBCBIuJyDn4

Best Ending Line to a Movie:

Old Woman: “What’s your name?“

Girl: “Rey.”

Old Woman: “Rey who?”

Girl: “Rey Skywalker!“

It won’t spoil it….

This article has 50 Comments

  1. Merry Christmas Mark for you and for all the other participants that make this blog the best!

    1. Thank you for being the voice of reason among the cacophony of irrationalism. I agree, they just don’t understand the Kasten/Friedman strategy.
      There is still most likely a trade or 2 in the works, which is the only way I see a spot open for Castellanos.

  2. Grandkids playing with Christmas treasures, kitchen is abuzz with holiday recipes being exchanged, discarded wrappings and boxes in recycling, before long it will be warm enough outside to throw around the new footballs, shoot some hoops with the basketballs, and tryout that new skateboard, so a few minutes to wish all Dodgers fans a Merry Christmas. Thank you for the opportunity to discuss the team for which I have rooted since the mid-1950’s; may your passion for the Dodgers never fade.

  3. Merry Christmas to all our LADT posters. Keep the faith. You never know what Santa Friedman will deliver and when.
    For now just enjoy the day with WS rings dancing in your heads.

    Family celebration starts here on December 28. Our daughter Elanya is working at the IWK Children’s Hospital in Halifax today, tomorrow and Friday. On Saturday we will have Elanya and Dean, son Jamie, Laura and grandson 16-month-old Rowan. Plus three dogs and two cats.

  4. Merry Christmas MT, AC, DC, 2D2 and all the crazy commentors out there. This site is like a family, sometimes we argue and want to punch each other in the face, but there’s also a lot of love to go around.

    Once again, this is another instance of why the Los Angeles Dodgers are able to sustain their success. They can pursue high-priced players while staying under the luxury tax due to their ability to produce cheap players that are very useful to the team. While others are focusing on Kemp, Puig, and Wood, it could end up Downs and Gray that bring the most value out of this deal.”

    So, I guess “pursue high priced players” doesn’t actually mean obtain them?

    It’s been a crazy Christmas so far this year. My son moved out of the house this year after graduating from university and moved into a house with friends/girlfriends. He’s working on his teaching credential, so he works out in the cold as a valet, doing the boat parade in Newport Beach this time of the year. He over extended himself, and came down with a really bad flu and missed out on our traditional Italian American Christmas Eve dinner.

    I had my cousin and his family over. We started with Cheeses and olives, moved to the fish course of seafood salad and mussels in a wine sauce. The main course was home made ravioli, a family recipe with a 3 meat filling of veal, pork and beef, Romano cheese and spinach. After the pasta course, we moved onto two kinds of sausage and beef that was braised in the sauce. Next came the green salad, then finally the desert, various Christmas cookies and pineapple upside down cake.

    After our guests left, we had messages on our phones from our sick adult child and his girlfriend who were worried about my son’s 103 degree temperature. My wine soaked wife offered to go with them to the emergency room nearing midnight by the time they showed up at the front door. This is after he went to the doctor’s earlier in the day. I went outside to speak with him to see how he was. He answered questions coherently, so I convinced him to come inside because rest is more important to his condition than sitting, sick in an emergency room all night.

    I brought him in, made some tea, gave him some tylenol with some water with lemon and took his temperature. 99.7. He wound up staying the night and is in bed right now trying to rest. In two hours my 16 year old baby girl will be going to Del Taco to work her Christmas Day shift. No presents under the tree since we stored them in my son’s vacated and now occupied bedroom.

    This was the weirdest, most unorthodox Christmas we have ever had with our family. But, in years we will look back and laugh, realizing it was somehow special. Did I mention my son is leaving for a 3 week trip to Italy the day after tomorrow?

    I just thought I’d share my special Christmas Story with my LADT family. Somehow, this might parallel our Dodgers season where things might not go to plan, but will work out one way or another.

    Merry Christmas everyone! Hopefully, we’ll get to the movies to see Star Wars!

    1. I don’t want to punch anyone… maybe have them committed! 😉

      Wacky Christmas.

      We rarely have the whole family together at the same time…. Last year was the first in a while.

      This year, it’ my daughter and her family, step-daughter and her family and my 20-year-old son. My oldest son, just back from the DR is coming in for New Years, and my step-son is in SF.

      But… my wife’s niece and 7 kids will be here with her husband, so my son-in-law bought me a big bottle of Makers 46. Merry Christmas and I am just trying to keep you all from losing your sanity.

      1. My man-child’s fever broke over night. Everyone opened presents like normal, just finished. Enjoy your time with your family and your Makers. It will be nice having a full house.

  5. Mark , again ” winner winner, chicken dinner ”
    Thanks for this blog, it’s a great gift you have given us all.
    Merry Christmas to the
    LA DODGER TALK FAMILY

  6. Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to all. Thanks to all of you who write here on a regular basis. Some of the best and well thought out Dodger articles on the internet.
    Enjoyed hearing about your Christmas menu 59 and hope your son continues to feel better. I’m not Italian by heritage but my wife is and I can say from experience that there is nothing quite like an authentic Italian Christmas.
    A special thanks to Mark for maintaining this zoo and stirring things up, and an equal thanks to Dodger Blue Mom for being our constant source of reason and calming things down.
    Just attended my 55th high school reunion a few weeks ago and they say that at my age one needs to keep the brain stimulated. I get a dose of that here every day and for that I thank all of you.

    1. Thanks, I enjoy all the cooking and shopping. Made the sauce or “gravy” on Friday, ravioli stuffing on Saturday, fresh pasta sheets and assembled the ravioli on Sunday, fresh fish shopping on Monday and made the Seafood salad so it can sit overnight in the lemon and olive oil. Then, all the final cooking yesterday. I’m glad you get to experience that type of meal through your wife. I feel sad for all the people that aren’t Italian, especially at Christmas!

      1. Christmas Eve isn’t quite the same since my father in law passed away a few years ago. He was the chief cook and the one whom the entire holiday revolved around. I really miss him. My wife has taken on the mantle of doing most of the cooking, and she’s a great cook, but we just can’t duplicate Guido’s smile as he brought all that food to the table. There’s a little something missing now and this is when we miss him the most.
        If you’d be kind enough to provide me with your address and let me know what time dinner starts, we’ll be delighted to be at your place next year. There will be about 15 of us. Hope you have enough chairs. 🙂

  7. I think the Dodgers focus the last 2 offseasons, after losing 2 straight World Series, was to acquire a super elite talent. Last offseason I really believe they felt like they had a great shot at Nolan Arrenado after the 2019 season. But Arrenado suddenly resigned with Colorado, so our focus shifted to try and overpay Bryce Harper. When he said no, we went and got a good player in Pollock, and hoped to make another August splash. I suppose Sadler and Kolarek were that splash….

    This offseason, the goal was Cole, and again, we went all in. But for whatever reason, Cole chose the Yanks. After that, there was no super elite talent to go sign. So we let Ryu walk, because despite his amazing stats when he does pitch, he’s most likely not worth 4/80. I really really liked Ryu, but I understand not matching that contract (although I’m surprised Anaheim didn’t match it as they really needed him).

    Now, since Arrenado and Cole are gone, and there’s nobody sexy on the free agent market, I think we go hard for Betts, who to me is a super elite player AND is a game changer who fits perfectly in our lineup and in our city. And if we take on Price with him, then we pay less in prospect capital. That will come in handy come July, when some ace who isn’t on the market now but will be when his team sucks in the first half, could be had for the prospects we didn’t send to Boston for Betts/Price.

    There’s no reason to judge the front office now, good or bad. We went after the biggest free agent and didn’t get him. The rest of the guys (aside from Stras/Rendon), would only add depth to our already deep team. We need a frontline guy. I do think we go get our stud bat in Jan/Feb, and our stud pitcher in July.

    As much as I love Lux, and I was one of the few who stuck by Lux while the experts on this board rushed to be the first in line to call him to a bust after his fist 15 minutes in pro baseball, I think I love Dustin May a little more now. So to me, please please please do NOT trade May, unless it’s for a young ace. May might not be the co ace we need in Oct 2020 (but he could be), but he will be that co ace all thru the next decade. In fact, I think Buehler/Urias/May, barring injury, is going to be a dominant top 3 for the next decade. I’d rather trade Lux than May, and I really don’t want to trade either!

    I’ve not posted much since the season ended, but I read this blog multiple times a day. To all of you who are of a Christian faith, Merry Christmas! To those of you who are Sikh like me (I’ll guess I’m the only one), Happy Gurpurab!

    Go Lakers tonight! I really wanted to go, but some dummy on stubhub decided to give me $400 each for my tickets. So I’ll watch at home while counting the dollars.

    2. Happy Gurpurab Bobby. I am embarrassed to admit that I had never before heard of this holiday, even though one of my son’s best friends is Sikh. We go to ST in Arizona together every year and the topic never came up since we’re together in March, not December. In any case, enjoy the holiday.

  9. I enjoyed all the Christmas stories of families and friends on this wonderful day. 59, your menu sounds delicious and partly familiar as I, along with Singing The Blue, am IBM…..Italian By Marriage. I am spending the day with my husband and children and a grandson just newly graduated from SacState. We have lots to be thankful for and I wish everyone again, a very nice holiday.

  10. Just one little query, in the midst of the holiday wishes we are all sharing. If it was so obvious to some people that the Dodgers had no chance at signing Cole, why did the Dodgers make it known that they were very much in the bidding for Cole and why did they supposedly offer 8 years for $300 million? Is that playing chess? Bidding for someone you supposedly have no chance of getting?

    Ken Rosenthal wrote about the negotiations, that “the Yankees bullied the Dodgers.” I don’t think he is anti-Dodgers, why did he use that term? They just made it obvious to the Dodgers that whatever bid they made, they were going to go higher? That doesn’t really fit the term “bullying,” so I wonder what he meant. The “best” interpretation of things is that the Dodgers had no chance, but kept bidding, anyway. Doesn’t say much for their astuteness, unless they were just trying to propagandize for the fans. My best guess is that while Cole preferred the Yankees, he was open to the Dodgers, had they offered more than the Yankees. Again, if that is not true, why were the Dodgers raising their offers to Cole?

    And one other thing to consider: Christian Yelich grew up a Dodgers fan, and presumably wanted to play for them. The Dodgers let him get traded to Milwaukee instead. That is very likely because they much prefer having younger cost-controlled players, and because they don’t like trading away those cost-controlled prospects for more proven players, as they obviously never do. So when they have a great chance to get a player with a lot of potential who wants to come here, they don’t; and then they bid a lot of money for someone who they are now contending never wanted to come here in the first place. The bottom line is that we don’t have either of them.

    1. Compelling discussion points, William.

      However, your failure to overuse repetition, red herrings, condescension and bold type is a bad fit for this exchange.

      1. Happy Holidays, Mark!

        Oh, I don’t think “sinister.” I just think that these and some others are examples that the Dodgers’ owners and front office are not geniuses. They have done a very nice job of keeping the team more than competitive despite the consistent lower end draft positions which come from doing well. As far as doing the things which would make the Dodgers a championship club, and for more than one season out of the twenty or so in which these owners will be in charge, I would give them much lower marks

        I can only hope that you are right in your opinion that the Dodgers have a number of potential great players among the rookies and minor league prospects. If you are, then we are in good shape, although obtaining a great proven veteran player would be nice. If you have overrated the farm system, we we will possibly end up where the Peter O’Malley Dodgers did, with a few good players, not nearly enough of them, and no intention of trying to spend their way out of it.

    3. I guess you can attach something sinister to anything. I think that comes with your line of work.

      I would guess it is likely that Borass used the Dodgers to bid up Cole, knowing full well he would sign with the Yanks.

      Yelich was a young, cost-controlled player. In the past, teams have asked for Urias, Seager, Bellinger, May, and Verdugo and Friedman was not willing to trade them. I have no idea what Miami asked for Yelich, but they got some of Milwaukee’s top prospects… even if it has not panned out really well for them, at this juncture.

    4. The one disagreeable point I have is that you stated that the Dodgers let Yelich get traded to the Brewers. That is just not true. The Brewers paid a very heavy price for Yelich, and while nobody was a stronger advocate for Yelich than I was, I recognized that the price was very high. I would still have tried to beat the Brewers, but you have absolutely zero idea as to who Miami was looking for.

      Lewis Brinson may appear to be a bust for Miami, but he was #13 overall MLB prospect as a true CF. Milwaukee #1 prospect.
      Isan Diaz – Now 23 year old middle infielder, top 100 prospect. Milwaukee #8 prospect.
      Monte Harrison – Now 24 year old outfielder. Milwaukee #16 prospect.
      Jordan Yamamoto – Now 23 year old RHSP. He went from AA to MLB last year with the Fish. He did not excel, but he did have some very good starts. He was a very good MiLB pitcher in Milwaukee’s and Miami’s farm system.

      That is at least, Verdugo, Lux, Peters, and maybe Caleb Ferguson. Brinson was rated higher than Verdugo. Diaz was rated higher than Lux. Harrison was rated higher than Peters. And Caleb Ferguson were both young minor league starting pitchers that progressed quicker than most pitchers. At the time, most would have considered the Brewers prospects offer superior to what I listed which would have been the most fair comp. What if Miami insisted on Walker Buehler? Which they probably did, just as they insisted on Cody Bellinger in a J.T. Realmuto trade.

      You also have to remember, nobody (including the Brewers) saw Christian Yelich as a MVP. The most appealing part of the Yelich trade was his 7 year $49.5MM contract (thru 2021) with a $15MM option in 2022.

      It is very easy to blame AF for not getting Yelich, but unless you know what the Marlins were requiring from the Dodgers you are just upset that the Dodgers did not get Yelich.

      It is time to move on from losing out on Yelich. I do not know all of the facts, and the Brewer offer was very good (at the time).

  11. I’ve always found Brian Cashman’s comment that the Yankees are the Death Star somewhat curious. Obviously he wasn’t aware that things end badly for the Death Star. I hardly think the Yankees “bullied” the Dodgers. They did a better PR job than the Dodgers, who didn’t even use Clayton Kershaw as part of their pitch. I do find that a bit odd. Maybe the Yankees were a tad desperate. The Dodgers already have a legit number one, Walker Buehler. The Yankees didn’t until they acquired Cole.

    Julio Urias and Dustin May are top of the rotation pitchers in the making. Tony Gonsolin and Josiah Gray add to the team’s bright future. And Clayton is still an exceptional pitcher.

    Looking forward to an exciting Roaring 20s.

    1. I think Death Star is appropriate. The Yankees have only one Ace. Why are they so overwhelming favorites?

      1. I think you’re selling Luis Severino a little short, especially if you think Bueller is an ace as many of us do.

  12. As kindly stated by our host, I am glad you are all here!

    Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy Gurpurab!

  13. First and foremost, I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy Gurpurab. This has been a very somber Christmas season for our family, but as I mentioned to 2D2 in a personal email, we needed to soldier on for our grandchildren. Our grandchildren are spoiled rotten but that is my wife’s and my Christmas seeing the joy on their faces.

    LADT is very much part of my extended family, and all of you have made this time less stressful for me, and thus making less stressful for my wife. So again, the Happiest Holiday season for all.

    Now to the Dodgers. In support of what Mark’s comments, what Ace or #2 has AF whiffed on? I think even the most egregious anti-AF and anti-Dodger owners must agree that neither Cole nor Strasburg were coming to the Dodgers. AF did not even get the chance to offer $400MM. Or maybe AF should have just offered $400MM up front? Taking those two out of the equation, what other Ace is available?

    There are a multitude of #3 – #5 pitchers that the AF can add. Will that satisfy you if AF just does something?

    Ryu? For those who complained about McCarthy, Anderson, and Kazmir, there is no way objectively that you would believe that Ryu should be signed for four years and $80MM. The difference between then and now, the farm system did not have a May/Gonsolin/Urias ready. They have Ross Stripling as a #6 who is better than any of those three. Different times, different needs.

    Clevinger is good, but he is no Ace, and maybe Dustin May and Julio Urias have a good learning curve 1st half and become more dominant the 2nd half. You get Mike Clevingers by drafting them or trading for them when they are in MiLB. You do not trade for them by giving away a Lux or May to get one. AF believes that both Urias and May will be better than Clevinger, just maybe not in April-June. Does anyone out there really believe the Dodgers should trade Lux and May for Clevinger? Lux or May and others?

    Price? If Betts comes too, then that is a cost I would be willing to pay. Price by himself? Pass.

    Syndergaard? The Mets are not trading either de Grom or Syndergaard. They believe they have a chance in the NL East. And definitely not if the cost is Seager as some baseball journalists have suggested.

    Charlie Morton? I would love to have Morton, but the earliest Tampa would move him is at the trade deadline.

    Robbie Ray? Jon Gray? German Marquez? AZ and Colorado are not trading within the division, especially to LAD without an extreme overpay.

    Jeff Samardzija? A great innings eater. But certainly not an Ace. I do think Farhan would trade to LAD if he felt he was getting a fair deal, and not necessarily an overpay.

    Johnny Cueto? Farhan would move him for a fair deal, but what is a fair deal for a two years of an overpriced question mark?

    Then there is Zack Greinke. I think Zack has done a good job at staying elite or at least near elite for four years of his six year contract. I think for two years at $24MM each he would be a good gamble. The Astros currently sit at $20.5 above the CBT threshold, and moving Greinke would get them below the threshold. Of course, they may wait to see what if any punishment will be doled out for cheating before moving Greinke.

    I have no objection to ripping apart AF, Kasten, and Guggs for not signing overpriced FA, if they can be signed. That becomes a debatable discussion. But when they will not come to LAD, what are they supposed to do, except make the best of what they have, which is not all that bad.

  14. AC. all the best to you and your family. The return of Greinke would give me one of my Christmas presents. Thank you for mentioning it. And how about bringing back Wood?

  15. Merry Christmas to all. Like others who have commented today, following the Dodgers isn’t just something that I have done for over 50 years – it is a link to my father and his father (former Brooklyn residents who were fans in the “old days” – my Dad as early as the 40s’ and my grandfather in the ’20s), and a great distraction from the troubles of the day.

    LADT has become an important part of being a Dodgers’ Fan, and I appreciate Mark, AC, DC and now d2d for their efforts.

    So – notwithstanding AC’s and Mark’s comments, does anyone here think that the Dodgers’ roster is better without the 2019 versions of Ryu and Freese than with them? I didn’t think so.

    So – we all hope that Urias is the 2nd coming of Fernando and that Dustin May is Orel Hersheiser or something, but they aren’t – at least not yet. And the way that the Dodgers have babied starting pitchers tells me all that I need to know about how many innings that they might be available.

    No, AC, I don’t want the detritus of the Giants (The Shark or Cueto) or their ilk. I am happy with Stripling as #4 or 5, at least for 1/2 season – he has faded in the second half in the past. But when Maeda does his 2nd half fade too, that leaves Buelher, Kershaw, untested kids and – well who exactly?

    So maybe Friedman waits ’till the deadline to fix the rotation? Maybe some more of the kids (Gonsolin, Gray) join?

    And when the Dodgers face, I don’t know, say the Nats (with Scherzer, Strasburg, Corbin or Braves (Soroka, Folty, Hamels, Fried) or most of the other top teams with a 2 man rotation in October???

    OK – So maybe Cole and Strasburg were never coming to LA, no matter how much money was offered (?) – it’s the front office’ job to secure the players necessary to win. It’s not enough to say “we tried”. I have to assume that the Dodgers have some other plan. Because if they don’t…..

  16. Then there are those who complained that the Dodgers did not do anything at last year’s trade deadline. They tried for Felipe Vazquez, but refused to include Gavin Lux. It was reported that they were willing to include Keibert Ruiz, but Neal Huntington balked, and the Dodgers dodged a bullet by not trading a top 50 MLB talent or two for an alleged child sexual porn and sexual assault felon. Perhaps the best trade deadline transaction last year was Daniel Hudson. I do not remember one person other than MT who even thought about Daniel Hudson. And yes MT did think that Hudson would have been a good addition to the bullpen. I do not remember one person who complained that the Dodgers did not re-sign Hudson after his one year deal was up after 2018. Shane Greene and Mark Melancon? They did not exactly shine on the playoff stage.

    Who did they miss out on? Zack Greinke? Maybe, but I cannot see AZ trading with LAD; especially at the trade deadline to help them win.

    Now some are complaining that AF has not addressed the loss of David Freese. Okay, you do not think Tyler White is that guy, then who? They tried with Jedd Gyorko. How did that work out? The Dodgers have two RH utility players/bench/PH in Kike’ and CT3. The two “best” RHH 1B-3B available are Ryan Zimmerman and Todd Frazier. Neither one is David Freese, but then who is? One of the best traits of David Freese was that he was agreeable to be a part time player. Are Zimmerman or Frazier? I fully believe that AF is more comfortable with Kike’ and CT3 than he is with Zimmerman and Frazier. Unfortunately the two best 1B-3B players the Dodgers have (other than Muncy) are Beaty and Rios who are LH, and many do not want to move either of them.

  18. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy Gurgurab to the LADT family. I love coming here on a daily basis and reading your insights and thoughts!!!

    Mark- I’m glad you’re here!

  19. Happy Xmas everyone from across the Pond. Hope you’re all having a good time.

    Enjoy yourselves.

  20. Greetings friends!, This holiday season and all other seasons for that matter. Well……..Mostly best wishes for the upcoming baseball season for Dodgers and their fans. Hopefully whichever season in mind is cheerful for us all and ends in success. Peace!

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