Mark is often criticizing many of us who seem to propose what he believes to be dope fiend moves. Now granted, there are some very silly FA signings, and perhaps dope fiend is a proper description. But just because a change is recommended and one does not agree with it, does not automatically qualify the transaction as being dope fiend.
Per an Andy McCullough article in the Athletic, In December 2015, AF believed he had a 6 year $160MM deal tied down with Zack Greinke, only for the DBacks to go crazy with adding $46.5MM to make it a 6 year $206.5MM deal. I think that qualifies as a dope fiend FA signing. Whereas a Drew Pomeranz 4 year deal for $34MM may qualify as very curious and unnecessary, it certainly is not dope fiend.
I woke up Wednesday to the news that my beloved USC Trojans were going to stay with what they had in head coach Clay Helton. So while Mark may think some transactions are dope fiend, I believe that to do nothing is an even more apt descriptor for dope fiend. Yes, Clay Helton is a fine man. Parents love that he is guiding them at such a perilous age. But he is a horrible coach for USC. He exudes mediocrity and quality HS players are no longer interested in this once hallowed program. While I was at USC, Coach McKay often preached that winning the Pac 8 and going to the Rose Bowl were expected…not goals. Winning national championships were their goals. Now, winning the Pac XII South and getting to the Pac XII Championship is the goal. And yet, the President, AD, and Board of Trustees feel comfortable with the status quo and just being competitive and hoping the results turn out positively. Starting to sound a little too familiar???
How does the current state of affairs for my Trojans impact the upcoming LAD season? IMO, there is something wrong with the Dodgers. I am not smart enough to know what it is or how it can be fixed, but I do believe that to do nothing is absolutely the wrong dope fiend move. There is a missing component…bullpen?, second Ace?, RH bat?, maybe all three? DC’s article on Pee Wee Reese and his leadership, and re-watching Kirk Gibson’s 1988 Game 1 Walk Off HR (I can never get enough), reminds me that there is no real team leadership on the field. Quality players? Unquestionable!! But the guy who stands up and tells everyone to get on his back and he will carry them to the finish line is missing. Gibson only needed the one AB to be that guy. And the Bulldog wrapped it up.
Who is the Kirk Gibson? Who is the Orel Hershiser? So far, nobody on the current roster. Maybe someone steps up, or maybe it is time to go outside the organization and find that player/pitcher. IMO it is more of a risk to do nothing than it is to try and find that game changing difference maker. To do nothing because of fear that it is the wrong move is not one of leadership. No baseball fan disputes that relief pitching is a guess more than any other position. But even Ray Charles can see that doing nothing with the current Dodgers bullpen is a dope fiend move.
For 2019, Mark continued to advise that the bullpen at the end of the season would not be the same as it was in the beginning. He was right; however most of the changes were due to starting pitchers going to the pen rather than in bringing true relievers. Is there a reliever out there who could have made a difference? Perhaps, but we will never know because the team did not make the attempt to find that reliever. So I am okay with giving a chance to Dellin Betances, or Blake Treinen, or Kevin Gausman, or Brandon Morrow part 2. If they can make a trade for a Josh Hader, they have to honestly consider it. I would also like to see if Mark Prior can fine tune a flame throwing 6’5” RHRP, Tayron Guerrero. He hits 104. You cannot teach 104. But if they can also make a trade for relievers like Ken Giles, or Aaron Bummer, or Jose Leclerc, or Taylor Rogers (in my dreams), then they should pursue them as well. There are others out there that are better options than who the Dodgers currently have on their roster. It may cost a bit more, but wins usually do.
A second Ace could be solved with a FA signing of Gerrit Cole or Stephen Strasburg. Zach Wheeler signed a Johnny Cueto like 5 year $118MM contract. At their best, Cueto is a better pitcher than Wheeler, but both contracts are out of line. Zach is no better than a #3. I do not consider Wheeler a co-Ace (a hard throwing #3 at best), so a nine figure contract for him seems out of touch considering the Dodgers current rotation and depth. Easy pass. Good for Philly.
The Dodgers did not win while Ryu was at his best, so how is he going to be a difference maker a year later and older?
Thus for me, the necessary improvement comes from signing Cole or Strasburg. What is that line in the sand contract mark? If Cole signs for less than $250MM, IMO it will be a fail if he is not signed by the Dodgers. If Strasburg signs for less than $210MM by someone other than LAD, that would also be a fail. Of course that all pre-supposes that Cole and Strasburg want to pitch in LA. Not necessarily true.
Offensively, it has been written ad nauseum that the Dodgers are too LH dominant. The OF is loaded in numbers, while Cody Bellinger is the only player whose name on the lineup sheet will be in pen. Alex Verdugo has the ability to play against all pitchers, and has the bat to ball skills to put up a good BA. But is his plate discipline good enough to push up those OBP numbers? Does he have enough pop to be a good bat as a corner OF? Is his defense sufficient to keep him in CF 150 games a year? Joc is a good LHH platoon corner OF, and unless AF can find an everyday RHH corner OF to replace Joc/AJ, or Joc/Kike’, or Joc/CT3, then the offense will be weakened. Unless Joc, Verdugo, or AJ are traded, it seems very unlikely that AF will sign or trade for an OF. There is no trade scenario for me that makes sense for one year of Mookie Betts.
From a FA position, 3B seems the most likely, with both Josh Donaldson and Anthony Rendon as possible considerations. Donaldson will cost less in both years and dollars, but is his power bat that preferable to move JT to 1B, and Muncy to 2B, and Gavin Lux to AAA? He is good defensively, but for how long? Rendon is a longer term solution, and has the overall ability to be a game changer. But his cost is going to reflect those skills. Is Rendon worth a $40MM AAV for five or six years?
Is Frankie Lindor a true option?
Some want AF to sign Rendon as their top priority. I am more than fine with Rendon at 3B for LA for the next 6 years. I would certainly welcome that. Some want AF to sign Cole or Strasburg as their top priority. IMO you do not pass on an Ace when you have the chance. Therefore, my preference is different than Watford’s…I would sign the Ace pitcher and look for the RH bat at the trade deadline to see how Lux performs at 2B through July. Who knows, maybe Verdugo is that missing spark. But if it appears likely that an Ace cannot be signed, I would not pass on Rendon. If the Dodgers did nothing but improve the bullpen and add Rendon, IMO it will be a successful winter. But I am greedy, and I want it all…an Ace, Rendon, and a bullpen upgrade.
AF has options to improve this team. Time will tell whether any FA signings or trades qualify as dope fiend. But my premise remains the same. The one true dope fiend move would be to stay status quo and do nothing except hope that the same players who could not bring home a championship before, can do so a year later. The team has the financial flexibility and the prospect collateral to go bold. Winter Meetings start in a few days, and maybe we will have a better picture of where the team may be headed after December 12. The Farmer trade was a true win for AF, but it did nothing to improve the 2019 roster except through attrition. To some that is enough. For me, it did not change the dynamics and bring in the game changer needed. The Dodgers have gone from 7th game WS, to 5th game WS, to losing in NLDS. They are going backwards. This year I hope some of the FA signings and/or trades will actually improve the 2020 roster. Even AF has said that the team needs to do something to shake things up. IMO, the true dope fiend move would be to do nothing.
GO BOLD!
Discussion (71)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Jorge,
Steve Cohen, the billionaire that I believe was one the bidders for the Dodgers, is reportedly in discussions to purchase the controlling interest in the Mets (he currently has a 20% stake in the team. If true, the Mets are likely
to become a major spender. It’s not a done deal, and I do recall that Cohen was under investigation for stock trading violations (don’t recall the details). Also, I know lots of Met fans here in NY, and every one of them would love to see Familia gone. No way the Dodgers want him, except maybe on a minor league contract.
Why give away so much of our young talent in trades when signing Rendon and Cole or Strasbourg gets it done. If we can’t win a WS with that team then it will never happen. And Eric we’re talking about Rendon because our offense has been horrible in the post season! Maybe he takes some of the pressure off Seager and Belly so they can finally produce.
Los Angeles Dodgers: 3-team trade ideas with White Sox for Joc Pederson…..
Trade 1:
Los Angeles Dodgers receive: Jeurys Familia, Kelvin Herrera, cash considerations
Chicago White Sox receive: Joc Pederson
New York Mets receive: Player to be named later
This trade is a perfect example of the Los Angeles Dodgers being savvy with the salary cap and taking advantage of other teams in order to bolster what is probably the weakest area of the team, the bullpen, which still is not all that weak.
The inclusion of the New York Mets in this trade adds Jeurys Familia to the mix and the Dodgers would get him for virtually no cost. The Mets are looking to get under the luxury tax threshold next season and are reportedly willing to package Familia and/or Jed Lowrie with a young asset to free up money.
This trade allows the team to free up the money without giving away a young asset, thus why they are only getting a player to be named later in return.
This deal all boils down to finances. Instead of sending mid-tier prospects and adding Pederson’s salary, the White Sox are essentially going to swap Kelvin Herrera‘s salary with Pederson and add Familia’s salary, which would be like adding Pederson’s anyways.
Familia is owed $22 million over the next two years. The White Sox will pay all but $1 million of that salary this season (the Dodgers pay the remaining) and a third of his salary next season. That means they are on the books for $9 million in the luxury tax.
The Dodgers, meanwhile, are not adding much salary at all. Joc Pederson is estimated to make $8.5 million in arbitration and Herrera is making exactly $8.5 million this season with a club option next season.
So essentially the Dodgers would be getting two former elite arms with World Series experience that are both still young for one year of Pederson and one million extra in salary.
This sounds far-fetched but it really isn’t. The White Sox are only adding $9 million to the books this year, which is half a million less than they would add if they traded prospects for Pederson and the Mets get away from the financial commitment without giving up other assets.
If Herrera and Familia both returned to their old form then the Dodgers’ bullpen would be unhittable. If they were just half as good as they used to be in a new team then the Dodgers bullpen would be much better.
https://lasportshub.com/2019/12/05/los-angeles-dodgers-rumors-white-sox-joc-pederson-team/
Maybe it was yesterday’s post about team captains that made me want to add Lindor to the team. If Urias and May join Buehler to form a strong front end of the rotation next year then maybe what the Dodgers need is Kluber for two years and not Cole for 7 years.
Adding Kluber instead of Cole would leave money to re-sign Seager and Lindor in two years. Maybe there is money to add Betts as a free agent in 2021.
Lindor and Kluber for Muncy, Maeda, Taylor, Downs if Lindor and Seager can be extended and sub somebody else for Downs if there is doubt about re-signing/extending them. As you all know, I would extend Pederson and add Verdugo to that trade as needed.
All other signings aside, let’s hope Crosby is this year’s CT3/JT/Muncy.
He pitched in independent ball last year but in a pen session he really had some interesting numbers. Granted that this is just from the sidelines but this is how his numbers would stack up against MLB LHP:
FB velo – 99th percentile
FB vertical movement – 96th percentile
CB vertical movement – 99th percentile
Before we make our snide comments about AF going dumpster diving, just remember the three guys I mentioned above, although I’ll be the first to admit that this is much deeper into the dumpster. And as 59 alluded to, he doesn’t have the greatest control.
Are you guys forgetting that our primary catchers for most of last season were Martin and Barnes who combined had about a 650 OPS?
Forgetting Seager didn’t hit lefties last season anywhere near he did earlier in his career?
Forgetting Verdugo spent a lot of time on the IL?
Forgetting Pollock didn’t hit right handed pitching worth a sh** last season?
Forgetting Lux didn’t do much in the short time he was with the big team last season?
I see a lot of upside in the offense coming this season with who we already have. I see the potential of 5 positions out of 8 positions with upside.
Why the hell are we talking about Rendon or any other position player when we are losing Ryu and Hill in the starting rotation and when Doc didn’t trust the bullpen in game 5 that he used Kershaw who all year long struggled in the first inning he pitched and then used Joe wild man Kelley with the game on the line.
The Dodgers have reportedly agreed to terms with left-handed pitcher Casey Crosby. Crosby is 31 years old and has made it to the major leagues as recently as 2012. These days, Crosby is up to 96-98 miles per hour on his fastball with tremendous spin efficiency. Perhaps a reclamation project that we can dream on. However, I wouldn’t purchase the World Series tickets just yet.
Then just do it! Who doesn’t think we’d be huge WS favorites
with those two and a little bullpen help! And then in two years a lot comes off the payroll with Kersh and Jansen in time to sign Seager, Belly. Urias and then Buehler. Come on AF bring us a championship or two!
Isn’t the biggest role the manager has is to handle the bullpen decisions?
Didn’t the Dodgers get knocked out of the playoffs because the bullpen wasn’t handled right?
So Arte goes wild on Cole. If we signed Strasburg and Rendon for 70 mil/yr for the bothand traded JOC, Kike, Maeda and Stripling for bullpen help where would we stand financially against the 208 cap?
Like it or not, the Dodgers can add Cole and Rendon and Hand and not win.
You have to get there first and Friedman has had them “THERE” But, the players did not deliver. At some point (right about now), the Players have to step up!
Clayton needs to learn a change.
Kenley needs to figure out how to pitch differently.
Cody and Cory need to step up and put the team on their shoulders.
It’s that simple!
We need to place the blame where it belongs: On the players!
We missed out on relievers last year in the offseason, there were many. We missed out at the trade deadline as well. You can say the same for a right handed bat. Now, we expired two pieces of our rotation. We picked up Doc after he completely botches the last 6 outs of the NLDS and the team he botched against won it all. I’ll ask a simple question…
Is AF a failure if we don’t get one of the big three?
Dear Santa,
It’s time to step on the gas. I have been hearing for two years now that 2020 is the year the Dodgers are waiting to spend some money. The Dodgers need one of the top two F.A. pitchers, a strong right handed bat and a back end relief pitcher. I have been good this year except for one speeding ticket and I would prefer Cole, Rendon and Hader. Now is that asking too much? Stuff them fellows in your bag and head out to Chavez Ravine. This is a large market town so start acting like one. P.S. I have cookies.
I hope I am wrong about Lux and Smith. I just have this nagging feeling…
I remember when Joe Guzman was being touted as the next big thing… I never bought in.
Well, I certainly hope that Verdugo becomes the player that everyone thinks they see. I don’t hear anyone talking about CT3 the way they talk about Verdugo, but their stats aren’t far off. If Verdugo can add power, can CT3 reduce strikeouts? Can CT3 bat leadoff and play CF? Belli’s sprint speed lead the team at 28.8 seconds. CT3 was second at 28.7, Verdugo 10th 27.3, Pollock 28.0.
You get Rendon/Donaldson and Cole/Strasburg and trade some of your young studs for bullpen “relief”.. It is time that we bring out the “dope” and go all in for the trophy. If not now, when?
Thirty-one years, no World Championship, something is missing. Yes, I know, there were different owners, different situations, but it’s been seven now with this one. There is something missing. I was born in Los Angeles, and I have at times resented the “soft LA players” narrative usually coming from the East Coast fans. And MLB players come from various locales. But even so, there is something to that narrative. If you watch Rendon, you see a player who has confidence, concentration, a fearless attitude that maybe some of out players do not. Two years in a row, we’ve seen some of our players look awful at the plate in the playoffs, lunging at pitches a foot out of the strike zone. They are fine players, maybe even great ones, but they looked overmatched by top pitching. Remember, we benefit from playing in hitter friendly environments of Colorado and Arizona, and up until now there have not been many top pitchers in our league. It was quite depressing to watch some of our hitters look like they had no chance to get a big hit in a big game.
So Rendon is a clear upgrade in that area. Maybe there are others. I strongly believe that we need a real “professional hitter” in our lineup. Freese was that, but of course he could not play much. I don’t see any reason to believe that any of our players, with the possible exception of Seager, is going to have a better year next year than they did this year. Maybe Verdugo will rise up if he can play a whole year, but we are not sure. I want to see us have a potent bat, hopefully righthanded, in the middle of the lineup, particularly since we have Smith who will likely hit .220 or so, Hernandez, who hits .245 at best, Pederson the same. That’s not enough to manufacture much in the way of rallies against the better teams. And how much of a season will we get from Turner now, who misses about two months every year?
It seems obvious that we need another top starter. I was aghast at the potential (still may happen) rotation of Buehler (he’s great), Kershaw (not nearly what he was), Urias (has not proven anything notable as a starter yet and may be fragile) , Maeda (is not a very good starter, starts to get hit hard as a starter later in the season), May (may have great potential, or not; and even if so, is unlikely to be that great in his first few seasons), then maybe Stripling (has never shown consistent results as as starter, and Gonsolin (interesting potential, but certainly unproven). The Braves already have a better staff than that, some other NL teams might, too. Plus, someone is going to get Cole and someone is going to get Strasburg, if we do not.
And I am convinced that we need a top closer in the bullpen, plus a proven set-up man, and we have neither. Maybe if we can get Cole/Strasburg and Rendon, we can afford to shuffle around some starters like Gonsolin to the pen, and make do with the bullpen, though we do need a closer, because Jansen is not it. The manager had so little confidence in him that he used him once with a 10-4 lead, and then did not put him in for the deciding game until we had already lost. We see that to win a championship, you usually need two top starters, and a strong closer. Right now, we have one top starter and no closer. It is not “dope fiend” moves to want to fix that. The fans of Los Angeles deserve a franchise which is dedicated to winning titles, and will go as all-out as possible to get them.
P.S. AC, I do feel some empathy for you having to keep Helton at USC, but as a UCLA alumnus, imagine how I feel about our football program. At least you won 8 games this year, we won 4. We used to be a respected football program. At least USC fans demand titles, and they will get more. UCLA fans likely will not. We can only hope that the Dodgers respond to their fans, and do not see this ownership as primarily a money-making venture.
I don’t want to add a free agent third baseman because one of Lux, Seager, Muncy, and Turner would no longer have a position. I am impressed with how quick Lux’ hands are and want to watch him grow starting in 2020. Also, Seager may need to move to third sooner rather than later.
Lindor is a team leader and captain type. So is Will Smith. A strong up the middle defense would have Smith, Lux, Lindor, Bellinger in it. That would move Seager to third and two competing for first in Turner and Muncy.
If it is Turner that takes over first then the question might be who will take over for him in 2021? Hoese? Bellinger? FA? Trade? Probably would want a righty bat unless it’s Belli and Pollock plays the CF position he was signed to play.
Turner at first would allow the Dodgers to include Muncy in a trade for Lindor. Replacing Muncy in the lineup with Lindor does not improve the offence but greatly improves the defense and adds a righty bat. It also increases the payroll. Lindor would be a free agent in 2022 at which time Lux might move to SS or the Dodgers re-sign Lindor. Or, maybe they extend Lindor immediately.
If the Dodgers don’t sign Cole or Stras then a Lindor Kluber trade might be a good one.
Love this website Mark. Thank you. Every morning at 5 AM, I’m drinking my coffee and reading about Dodger baseball.
I’m a first time poster and with such eloquent and incredibly knowledgeable responders, I feel pretty intimidated but I’m going to spit out a couple of my thoughts anyway.
I know Lux was only at the show for a month, but I feel if you can get a Lindor for Lux and a couple other pieces, you’ve got to do it. While I’m at the Cleveland mall, I’d also be shopping for a Kluber, Clevinger or Hand to go with my Lindor. I don’t have to tell any of you what you get in Lindor. My thought is what if Lux becomes a bust? To me, he looked good defensively but seemed vulnerable to the high strike. Can he hit to the opposite field? I don’t know. Did he hit near .300, NO. I don’t see a speedster that can steal you 35 bases either. It would be nice to have one of those at the top of your lineup. I’m not saying Lindor’s that guy. Maybe Jeter Downs in 2021. Maybe Downs and Lindor become the Dodgers DP combo for the next 7-8 years. The black factor plays in as well. We’ve all heard the rumblings in the past few days about 2019 being the first year since Jackie Robinson was a rookie that the Dodgers didn’t have any black players. I’m not saying the Dodgers need to get Lindor because he’s black. He’s a proven commodity. Lux is not. Lindor is a top 10 player and maybe a top 3 shortstop. Trade Lux now while he’s a hot commodity. After all, he’s just a prospect. Isn’t that what Allen Iverson said? We’ll, something like that.
I know the Dodgers won 106 games this past year and have won their division for the past 7, but they haven’t won the whole thing and have had basically the same core for the past 3 years. It’s time for some changes.
If I may be AF for the day, after I trade for Lindor and I’ll say Kluber, I’m signing Rendon and Ryu. I’d love to have Cole or Stausburg, but for that kind of money, give me an everyday player and we can slug it out with the competition. Plus Rendon balances out the lineup. Cole is a great pitcher but he’s not invincible. Didn’t he lose game 1 of the WS? If I could get Strausberg for 4/160 and have Rendon be the cherry on top, I’m all in. I don’t think that’s happening but I can see a Rendon and a Ryu signing.
Next, I’d trade Joc and Seager and maybe a lower level minor leaguer or two for some bullpen pieces. I figured Maeda and one of Kiki/Taylor would be a couple of pieces in the Lindor/Kluber trade.
Finally, I’m making Urias my closer.
For 2020:
SS Lindor (S)
1B Turner (R)
CF Bellinger (L)
3B Rendon (R)
2B Muncy (L)
LF Pollock (R)
RF Verdugo (L)
C Smith (R)
Buehler
Ryu
Kluber
Kershaw
May
First of all, good job AC. Very interesting and I second your opinion on wanting Cole or Stras, Rendon and a bullpen upgrade. All three would make my day. To me, trading Lux would be a dope-fiend move. He has ROY, and future all-star written all over him.
Someone asked for an explanation what the difference is as opposed to Verdugo in center and Bellinger in center. My answer is speed. Both have good arms but Bellinger’s speed allows him to get to balls better than Verdugo.
Lux is special. Got to walk away with one of the big three. Going to be expensive.
I think most of us are in agreement that Cole/Strasburg would be the choice over Rendon, IF we had to choose which player was more needed.
Part of my wish for Cole (then Strasburg) over Rendon is that there aren’t as many top of the rotation guys that could be available in July, where there will be tons of hitters that could be available. Cole/Stras, Buehler, Kersh, Urias, May is a filthy rotation, and it really sets up for a filthy rotation for years to come (barring injury)
To me, Gavin Lux has superstar potential. 2 years ago, I asked if Lux had a young Chase Utley type game. I still think that is Lux’ upside, and if he hits it, we have dynamite at 2b for the next 10 years. Don’t trade that unless you are getting an absolute stud in return.
People have commented that they don’t think Verdugo has the power to be a corner outfielder.
If Bellinger with his power plays center and Verdugo plays right, could someone explain what the difference is as opposed to Verdugo in center and Belli in right? If they’re both in the lineup and your power hitter happens to be your center fielder, what’s the problem there?
No way I trade Lux at this point at least until I see him play every day for a season. For a kid his age, he has tremendous poise, not to mention his physical attributes. I’ll be amazed if he isn’t an All Star in three or four years.
Just a hunch, but I think we’re going to wind up with Strasburg. I don’t think AF will give Cole the number of years he wants but Strasburg will settle for a shorter contract and I don’t think SD wants still another very large contract on their books.
Here’s another question. Who does the front office value more, Urias or May? I’m thinking it might be May and although we haven’t heard any noise about this, I’m thinking they might consider moving Urias in the right trade (meaning for something special), but only if they sign Stras or Cole.
I’d like to see the Dodgers use their pocketbook and not elite prospects to upgrade this team. I want to see Verdugo, Lux, Kaybear, Gosselin and May in Dodger blue. Using other pieces takes AF creativity (and that’s why he gets the big bucks). Let the farm bloom….
I will keep saying it has to be Strasberg or Cole. We need that second ace. Rendon is nice but not a must do deal. I am going to disagree with Mark on Lux. I think he is a keeper. I would not trade Ruiz. If Smith falters, we need to have Ruiz as the back up. We have some good catchers in the system, but none ready to be major leaguers now. I think we need a right handed bat, but I have no idea who.
Nice article AC and I think this is the year AF indeed goes BIG! Three straight post season failures, ownership that has gone on record with an edict to get under the CBT, a rebuilt farm system, a lot of dollars invested in analytics, the building of a new front door to Dodger Stadium and the all star game at DS for the first time since 1980 means AF has to go BIG!
One of trio (Rendon, Cole, Strasburg) must be a Dodger.
I am very conflicted over Lux and Will Smith. I “knew” that Verdugo, Buehler, Bellinger, Seager, and Kershaw were going to be very, very good as they rose through the minors. I do not have that same feeling with Lux and Smith.
I know they are MLB players, but I do not see a high-ceiling for either, While I am not always right about prospects, I am pretty close. I always said Joc would be a 4th or 5th Outfielder at best. It turns out he is a very flawed but powerful hitter,
I was very high on Russ Martin and he delivered for about 4 years and then lost it, but remained relevant. I liked Loney, Kemp, Ethier (not so much) and Billingsley but felt they were journeymen, although I loved them as Dodgers. I flat-out missed totally on Andy LaRoche. My eyes fooled me. However, right about now, my eyes are not convinced about Gavin Lux and Will Smith. AS long as they are Dodgers, I hope I am wrong.
I would have trepidation, and maybe I would not do it, but I would consider trading Lux… in the right deal. I would not trade any of the other TOP 100 Prospects. I am all in on Cole and Rendon.