I am fascinated with people who believe that the best way to build a championship is by spending more than any other team. They contend that LAD ownership values profit more than winning. Hogwash. I understand how disappointed and frustrating it can be. I am the one who came on and stated the Dodgers need to go BOLD. What I did not realize is that to some only Cole/Strasburg/Rendon means bold. Strasburg and Cole were never going to be Dodgers. The picture for the article is of a young Gerrit Cole showing his allegiance to NYY. That means only signing Rendon could have been considered going BOLD to many. I do not know why AF got the impression that Rendon did not want to play for LAD, but they did. We will undoubtedly never know the real reason.
The offseason is not done, but no matter what, to some AF and the owners have failed because they did not spend on Cole/Strasburg/Rendon. BS. There are other moves the Dodgers can make that will signify going bold, but it will not be enough to many of you. To them, the only way to win a WS is to buy it. Some of you will be angry when the Dodgers win the WS but do not sweep the 11 games. It is your nature to always look at the negatives. William said this is baseball and not cancer research. Agreed, but then why so angry? Baseball is entertainment and I have been entertained by LAD since 1958. Save your anger for those who are not saved because cancer has not been eliminated.
Every owner and GM/President of Baseball Operations wants to win. Those of you who think otherwise cannot be helped if you are that delusional. Even if profit was their primary motive, there is more profit in winning a WS, so why wouldn’t a team just pay for super FA’s every year if that guaranteed them the WS championship.
Smart ownership groups look at how to build an organization that is sustainable. They resist paying outlandish salaries that many fans think they should spend because after all it is not their money and the owners are trillionaires. At least one person has said that the Dodger ownership group is a trillion dollar corporation. Nope. When Mark Walter, Todd Boehly, Magic Johnson, Stan Kasten, Peter Guber, and Bobby Patton bought the Los Angeles Dodgers, they paid $2.1 Billion assuming all of McCourt’s debt. How the cash portion of the purchase was financed has been scrutinized over and over, and created a lot of early financial concerns and some apparently considerable debt compliance issues.
Bill Shaikin of the LA Times is probably the most read and researched journalist when it comes to MLB debt compliance issues. While there have been multiple articles written by Shaikin on the subject, I often refer to a November 26, 2016 article discussing the early financial concerns and the need to get Dodger salaries down to $200MM by 2018 (which they did). The team may lead MLB in revenues (or near MLB lead), but that does not connote profit. If anyone believes otherwise, please go back and take a beginning accounting class. The Dodgers heavily reinvest in their development and analytics. H E A V I L Y. They believe that is the best way to create and sustain a perennial contender. So far they have been right. Unfortunately it has not led to a WS championship. Their best chance was 2017, however their dreams were dashed by the cheating Astros. If Doc Roberts manages differently in the 8th inning of Game 5, who knows what might have happened in 2019.
For those who care, below is the Bill Shaikin article:
https://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/la-sp-dodgers-debt-payroll-20161126-story.html
For those who refuse to believe about the debt compliance concerns, I cannot possibly begin to persuade you otherwise. And frankly, I do not care. Your disdain for rich MLB owners will never be extinguished. Why the Dodgers did not win with a $300MM payroll in 2015 cannot be explained. The Dodgers showed a loss for the first three years of the new ownership. They are not allowed to make that back? I do not have access to the Dodgers financial statements, and I have no idea what their debt structure is. Nor does anyone else on this site. But I am certain that it was at one time a concern, and still may be to a smaller degree. If you believe the original ownership group sold off additional minority shares to four new owners because they were nice, I cannot help you. You just want to believe the worst in Mark Walter, et al. A more likely scenario is that the organization needed an infusion of cash to retire some debt.
But that is enough preaching from me on the subject. Some of you just like being angry and hating on rich owners.
William wrote, “I just find these quick and inevitable pivots which the Dodgers make every year to be frustrating, and they look like the Dodgers are in another economic class than the Yankees and Angels.
First let’s look at the Angels history:
In 2002, the Angels won their only WS with Bengie Molina, Adam Kennedy, Troy Glaus, Garrett Anderson, Darin Erstad, Tim Salmon, Jarrod Washburn, Ramon Ortiz, John Lackey, Troy Percival, Scott Schoeneweis, and Scott Shields. All home grown. Others acquired via trade were Brad Fullmer and Kevin Appier. Picked up off waivers were David Eckstein and relievers Al Levine and Ben Weber. Reliever Brandon Donnelly was released 6 times before the Angels signed him as a FA. Scott Spezio was the only FA position player. Aaron Sele was a FA who pitched so poorly that he did not make the playoff rosters. But the one big FA they did have under contract was one of the worst FA contracts ever issued. Mo Vaughn signed a 6 year $80MM deal to begin in 1999. He didn’t even play in 2002.
Subsequent to their WS championship year, the Angels decided to go big. Some other memorable FA contracts for LAA:
Gary Matthews Jr. – 5 years $50MM
CJ Wilson – 5 years $77.5MM
Albert Pujols – 10 years $250MM
Josh Hamilton – 5 yeas $125MM
How did those work out? Even the one FA that was productive did not get the Angels any closer to a WS Championship…Torii Hunter. So the Angels signing Anthony Rendon makes them WS caliber? With that pitching staff? The Angels forgot how to build a WS team. To this day, their farm system is one of the worst in MLB. Andrelton Simmons has one more year before he is a FA. What will they do with him then?
The one big FA playing in the 2002 WS was playing for the SF Giants…Barry Bonds. We all know who won that year. But SF later changed their approach and later earned 3 WS Championships in 5 years.
In 2010, home grown Buster Posey, Pablo Sandoval, Nate Schierholtz, Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum, MadBum, Jonathan Sanchez were joined by peripheral FA Aubrey Huff (1 year), Juan Uribe (1 year), Pat Burrell (mid-season 2010), and Aaron Rowand. Freddy Sanchez was acquired via trade. Their one big time FA didn’t even make the 2010 playoff roster…Barry Zito.
In 2012, the home grown players were joined by additional home grown players; Brandon Belt, Brandon Crawford and Ryan Vogelsong. Freddy Sanchez was replaced by 1 year FA, Ryan Theriot, and an OF made up of Melky Cabrera, Angel Pagan, and Hunter Pence, all acquired via trade. Pence was a trade deadline acquisition. This time Zito did make the playoff roster and did pitch relatively well in three games.
In 2014, home grown Joe Panik replaced Theriot, and journeyman FA Mike Morse replaced Cabrera. The starting pitching was starting to age but was relatively intact with Cain, Lincecum, Vogelsong, and MadBum. Barry Zito was replaced by Tim Hudson (2 year FA at end of career), The Giants also added Jake Peavy in a trade at the trade deadline.
So for three WS championships, the Giants had ONE big time FA, Barry Zito, and he was not a factor
I also need to chuckle at those who continue to spout that the Yankees bought their WS championships in 96, 98, 99,00.
While 96 was sort of an interim season for them, the only significant player FA was 37 year old Wade Boggs who signed a 2 year $4MM deal with a 3rd year option. He signed a 3 year $11MM contract for 93-95 that did not deliver any WS appearances. Pitching wise, Kenny Rogers would qualify, but he was certainly not a factor. Nor was veteran short term FA, Doc Gooden. Jimmie Key was not a big time FA, and neither was David Cone at that point in his career.
Tino Martinez was traded to NYY before the start of the season and was an integral part of those WS runs. Paul O’Neil was a trade acquisition in 1993 and was also with the team throughout their WS run. John Wetteland was acquired via trade in 1995. Ruben Sierra was a trade deadline acquisition. But let’s not forget the home grown talent…Jim Leyritz, Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, Andy Pettite, Ramiro Mendoza, and Marian Rivera. That was the CORE of those NYY teams.
Things began to take shape for a 4 year WS run (3 championships) in 1998. Still the core of the team was Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, Andy Pettite, Tino Martinez, Paul O’Neil, Ramiro Mendoza, David Cone, and Mariano Rivera. Jorge Posada was home grown and was the new catcher, and Orlando Hernandez (home grown) joined the rotation. Chuck Knoblauch, Scott Brosius, and Chad Curtis were acquired via trade. The one new FA was David Wells who signed a three year $13.5MM deal for the 1997 season, the one season they did not make the WS. Certainly not a big time FA contract. Boomer was on the team in 98 before getting traded after the season.
In 1999, the primary position players remained intact except home grown Ricky Ledee replaced Chad Curtis. Pitching was still intact with the exception of Roger Clemens replacing Boomer Wells, via trade.
In 2000, home grown Shane Spencer was part time DH and shared those duties with David Justice after he was acquired via trade at the deadline. Denny Neagle joined the back end of the rotation was acquired via trade.
In 2001, there were one position player change. Alfonso Soriano (home grown) replaced Knoblauch at 2B. Knoblauch moved to the OF. But they also moved out of their home grown and strategic trade and hold realm by signing Mike Mussina to a 6 year $87MM deal. Before coming to NYY, Mussina was top 6 vote getter in CY in 7 of the 10 years he pitched in Baltimore, with reaching 2nd one year. Note – NYY did not win the 2001 WS, the year they spent big dollars on one of the top pitchers in MLB. 2001 was the last year Mussina received any CY votes.
But wait, the Yankees were not done. For 2002, NYY doubled down on another big time FA. They signed Jason Giambi for 7 years and $130MM. Neither Mussina or Giambi ever won a WS with NYY, and only Mussina made it to one. No, I think home grown Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, Andy Pettite, Jorge Posada, Ramiro Mendoza, and Mariano Rivera, with key trades for Tino Martinez, Paul O’Neil, and Roger Clemens were the impetus to their WS run, and not one single big time FA.
Maybe Gerrit Cole will get them to the WS, but maybe not. Right now, NYY is at $257MM in payroll; a full $9MM past the most onerous penalty level of $248MM. Nothing would please me more than to see NYY fall on their faces.
The 1996-2001 run for NYY and the 2010-2014 WS run for the SF Giants were done with primarily home grown players/pitchers. The only large dollar FA contract on either team that won the WS was Barry Zito, and he was not a true factor. And for all of this talk about how smart the Angels were for signing Rendon, almost every other one of their multiyear large dollar FA contracts back fired and have never got them to the WS, while their one championship was done almost entirely on home grown players/pitchers.
I still believe the Dodgers will do something, but it may be on the periphery (bullpen). Or it may be for attitude (MadBum or Donaldson). Or it may be nothing else at all. Dodgerrick believes as it is, this team is not as good as the 2019 team, and he may be right. But it does not need to be to win the NL West. First order of business get to the playoffs. I doubt they will win 106 games, but I doubt they would win 106 with Ryu, Hill, and Garcia. IMO, a full year of Verdugo, a full year of Seager being able to work out and condition instead of rehab, a full year of Smith over Barnes, a healthy JT, a year removed from KJ’s heart surgery, Urias and May in the rotation, Gonsolin and Treinen in the pen, and a promising Gavin Lux, all give me reason to believe this team can win. Also let’s see where this team is at the trade deadline where AF is more apt to do something significant.
If you cannot see the positives I am sorry for you. Be miserable for the 2020 season. But I am going to enjoy it from ST Game 1 to their WS Championship.
Discussion (73)
Disagree, not disagreeable
How can anyone come to the conclusion that the cost in players in a deal for Lindor is too high until the actual deal is made and we know the actual cost? Rumors are just that, rumors. I also think there is a tendency for fans to overvalue the prospects of their own team and undervalue those from other teams. I would love to have Lindor, but not at any price. He’s a better defensive shortstop than Seager, and if the Dodgers hung onto Seager, I believe that he has the arm and quickness to be an exceptional defensive 3rd baseman, and that over time he would become more comfortable at 3B, and more amenable to playing there.
I realize that there are a bunch of other issues to be addressed if the Dodgers acquire Lindor, and I am extremely confident that AF is perfectly capable addressing them favorably. And if not, he won’t sign off on a deal.
Rendon says he did not come to the dodgers because he does not like the Hollywood lifestyle.
I’m very scared of the rumored trade talks with the Indians, it’s been going on since the Dodgers were knocked out of the playoffs a little over 2 months ago. If Friedman is looking to the Indians for a starting pitcher in a trade, then I’m all in on either Bumgarner or Ryu to stop that trade from happening. If Friedman is looking to get Lindor, then I don’t know what to say except I’m in disagreement with him. The cost in players is way too much for those trades.
And Bums you forgot one thing. And Roberts will handle the pitching magnificently!
AC was that you being sarcastic? Singing I think you have it perfectly. Time to move on from those 3! I guess Rendon wouldn’t have played for the 80’s Lakers! Now THAT was Hollywood and more!
I think:
1. Fergusson will have an outstanding year.
2. Urias will be a solid #3 and maybe #2.
3. Seager will have a strong year.
4. Smith will be a top 10 MLB wide catcher, maybe a top 5.
5. Verdugo will disappoint if he isn’t traded.
6. Pollock will earn his salary.
7. Buehler will be awesome.
8. Blake Treinen will again be the 2018 guy.
9. The Dodgers will sign Bettances.
10. The Dodgers will win their Division again.
So let’s see now, for those of you who are crucifying Friedman (and by extension Dodger ownership) for never being willing to go that extra mile and spend that extra million to get us the players we need:
Strasburg – pretty clearly was always going back to the Nats and just used everyone else to drive up his price
Cole – the Dodgers weren’t even given a chance to match or exceed the Yanks offer once it reached 9/324 so Cole knew he was going to NY and used the Dodgers and Angels to drive up the price.
Rendon – made it so clear that he didn’t want to play in “Hollywood” that AF didn’t even make an offer. From his statements at the presser today, his comments about L.A. (as opposed to OC) seem like both a political and cultural statement. He is very much entitled to his opinions and to play wherever he wants but this is not on the Dodger front office. Friedman indicated he was going after high-end players this winter and, for whatever reasons, all three of the top players didn’t want to come here. Blame them (or not) but don’t blame Friedman.
These kind of articles are fun for off-season time killing…
https://dodgers.mlblogs.com/top-10-longest-dodger-home-runs-13d0d23891e4
The longest home run on the year goes to Edwin Rios a whopping 473 feet at Petco (not Coors) field. Edwin had just 47 ABs in his brief time in the show last year, but he walked, hit bombs and K’d which is in line for many Dodgers hitters. He finished with a SSS OPS of 1.010 and was pretty damn good at 1B and passable at 3B. Some guys are talking about trading him for Giles, a closer with one year of control and elbow concerns last year. I’m not sure I would pull the trigger on that one just yet. I would be happier to see more Edwin Rios bombs next year. This guy rakes and has raked his entire minor league career.
New #Angels 3B Anthony Rendon on #Dodgers: “It’s not that we didn’t want to play for them, they’re a great organization that’s built to win. But what we heard about how the organization is, the Hollywood lifestyle, it didn’t seem like it would be a fit for me and my family.”
Now, can you shut up already Molly Knight and the other morons!
But not going to win a WS with Kersh as your playoff #2 starter. We can hope May or Urias develop into that 2nd ace but I think we realistically need to trade for that pitcher. That’s where a Lindor and Clevinger deal solves a lot of our needs and I’d be willing to include May and Lux to headline that deal. AF and company have done such a good job of developing young talent and pitching in particular so where are the young relievers we so desperately need. Let’s try Gonsolin in the pen next year
Do the Dodgers take a chance on a 5 year Bumgarner contract or a 4 year Ryu contract? Because apparently that is what it is going to take.
I like the Dodgers chances with May and Gonsolin in the starting rotation as long as the Dodgers shore up the bullpen with an additional 2 late inning relievers. I know Friedman said right after the season ended that Urias will be considered for the starting rotation, but stats say he is a much better reliever.
I don’t want to see Jansen and Kelly with the game on the line. Been there done that. Unfortunately those 2 have contracts that are either hard to move or impossible. I also don’t want to see Ferguson, Alexander, Chargois, Floro, Sadler, Kolarek (3 batter minimum rule) touch the 26 man roster and would prefer Stripling to not touch the 26 man roster either, but I could live with Stripling on the roster as the mop up guy in blowout games.
I’m afraid of trades because in order to get someone good you have to give up someone good. But I’m not afraid of trades for a pinch hitter off the bench or a reliever with 1 year left on a contract, because those trades don’t cost much in players going to the other team.
I believe in the Dodgers current offense, I believe in the Dodgers rookies and I believe that we will see both Ruiz and DJ Peters on the big league team sometime during the season, knocking Barnes off the team and hopefully Hernandez off the team.
Get me an additional 2 good late inning relievers without giving up too much and I will be a happy camper.
I was planning to look at the Cole and Rendon situations a little more, and I will do so. But I am really taken aback by the attacks, as if I or anyone else (and that includes all sorts of journalists who cover baseball, such as Ken Rosenthal, Molly Knight, Chad Moriyama, Dustin Nosier, and others) who criticizes the Dodgers for continually failing to land top free agents, or in looking like they are more concerned with profits than championships, are not only wrong, but horribly wrong; ignorant, bitter, confused, whatever. As if such criticism is an attack on Dodgers fans who are more sanguine about things, just love following the Dodgers, enjoying the younger players, and seeing what happens each year. That approach to fandom is fine, it is certainly a matter of choice or temperament. But what I see as almost reflexive support of whatever the Dodgers owners or front office does, is not the only way to look at things.
I perfectly realize that this is not life or death, it is just sports. It is for me, and I am sure for a lot of others, a welcome escape from some of the upsetting and and unpleasant news that we hear every day in other realms. I am not going to be miserable if the Dodgers never win a championship again, though I admit that I spent one sleepless night after we lost the deciding game to Washington; not so much because we had blown another title bid, but because each time this happens, and because each time that the ownership shows its colors to me (they spent all season with an iffy bullpen, everyone saw it, and yet they did almost nothing to try to fix it, while other teams, including Washington were doing so), it bothers me.
I think that an ownership which is making more profits than any baseball franchise, except possibly for the Yankees, should be out there with them trying everything reasonable to put together the best team in baseball. The Dodgers do not do that, at least in my opinion. No one expects the best team every year, but we should be that at least some of the years, and strive for it. You cannot consistently fail to land top free agents, or consistently pass on anyone at the trade deadline who is more than a three-month rental, and somehow expect to win titles, and then make excuses every time you fail. Well, you can, and they do. But it is an insult to the fans who pour through the turnstiles every year, many of whom put up with an immensely profitable but soulless TV contract which keeps them from seeing the games on TV at all.
Surely one can differ about what moves the Dodgers make or don’t make. Yes, not everything the Yankees do is right. I do not root for the Yankees, never have. But they win a lot of tiles, they have 27. We have 7. We did win one back in 1988, they have won five since then, not as many as they want, but they are on the verge of another big run, maybe four or five titles in the next ten years. How many do we look to win? If we surprise me, and most of our young players become stars, and we start winning titles, I will be thrilled. And people here might say, “Well, you were certainly wrong about this, weren’t you?” And perhaps so, but it certainly hasn’t happened so far. Last year , we won two playoff games. Our manager looked ridiculous. Our bullpen failed us at a crucial time, as was predictable. The lack of the fourth starter was not important in the best of five, but would have likely ruined us in a best of seven against NYY or Houston. But we’ll never know, because we didn’t get that far. But if preparation is essential to winning championships, we were not prepared in terms of roster or manager.
Now, I’ll get to Cole and Rendon even if it makes this post even longer than usual. The fact that we did not get either, can be explained away, and maybe the explanations proferred here about that are completely correct. I don’t know what was in the minds of either; or that of Verlander, whom we did not try to get three years ago; or Jon Lester, whom we refused to trade Joc Pederson for when Lester was at Boston, who helped the Cardinals win the title (he won a game against us in the playoffs); whom we then disdained to offer when he became a free agent again, and who went to the Cubs and beat us again in the playoffs. Or Christian Yelich, who grew up here, was apparently always a Dodgers fan, but whom we either didn’t go after when the Marlins were dumping his salary, or got outbid by the powerful Brewers organization, and who is probably the best player in the National League when healthy.. Or Giancarlo Stanton, who went to high school here and apparently kept waiting for an offer from the Dodgers when Miami was dumping his salary but did not get it, so signed with the Yankees. Maybe that was good, but he still could come back and hit fifty home runs next season. Or Max Scherzer, whom some pundits were naive enough to think that the Dodgers would go after when he became an FA from Arizona, who is amazingly rugged and healthy as a pitcher, but whom we didn’t even try for. Or Zach Britton, of whom the Dodgers publicity guy said, “The Dodgers have interest but are worried about his arm problems.” Well, not enough interest, and he hasn’t had notable arm problems since the Yankees signed him. Or Bryce Harper, who by all accounts wanted to come to LA, but was only offered four years here, at a very good yearly rate, but not close to the ten years the Giants offered, or the 13 the Phillies signed him for.
This is not bad luck or just happenstance, it is a pattern, it is a modus operandi for the Dodgers. Thinking otherwise is rather wishful or naive You can win without big free agent pickups, but it is harder, particularly when you never draft high. The other teams regularly or occasionally land a big FA, but not the Dodgers. Why do you think that is?
Back to Cole and Rendon. Why did Cole not sign here? Because he loved the Yankees so much? Perhaps. I will say that since we know that certain big names would prefer playing in smaller cities, or in the East or South, when we see those who would actually like to play here we should make sure we get them. But we don’t. It’s like playing poker and you don’t bet big when you have a strong hand; the the next times when you have weaker hands, you say, “well, I just didn’t have the cards to win this pot.” Maybe so, but why didn’t you go big when you did?
Cole picked the Yankees because he was always going to? Maybe. Why were the Dodgers bidding for him, then? And do note that he took the higher offer. What if the Dodgers had come back after the Yankees bid an extra year than the Dodgers and an extra $24 million? What if the Dodgers had said, “Okay, we value you so much that we are willing to match the Yankees nine years at the same $37.5 million a year which we were offering for 8 years, for $337.500, plus we will round up a bit and give you $340 million for nine years, and no deferments” ? Would Cole surely have turned it down, because of course he wanted to play for the Yankees? Perhaps so, but then we would not have the fact that actually the Yankees offered more; so that if Cole actually were more interested in money and career security than anything, he would still have chosen the Yankees, who offered more and for longer, and didn’t have any deferments like the Dodgers insisted in including. Or maybe the Yankees would have just topped our bid, which would have cost them more. But as it stands, the Yankees got Cole for the better offer; it never came down to, “The Dodgers offered more, but he had the emotional tie to the Yankees, so took the lower offer from them.” Don’t let the Dodgers’ publicity machine obscure the fact that the Astros offered more than the Dodgers in terms of money, years, and no deferments of salary.
As to Rendon, that was strange. The Dodgers publicity guy said that “The Dodgers are in on Rendon.” But as it turned out, there was no offer. And it was because the Dodgers sensed that he did not want to play for them? How did they sense that? And isn’t it rather odd that someone who would not want to play for the Dodgers would quickly sign with the Angels? It is not some case of a player loving another part of the country, just not liking LA. OC is not much different from LA so it’s not that. Was it Dave Roberts; someone heard Rendon saying that he thought Roberts was a bad manager, after watching his work in the playoffs against them? No sense in dwelling on this, but doesn’t it seem odd that they seemed very interested in Rendon, many pundits including here, were speculating about how we would shuffle our infield with him here, and then we did not even offer, because “we decided that he didn’t want to play for the Dodgers,” without ever offering him to see?
I’m sure we’ll do something, to try to improve the team, maybe something good, or maybe not. We’re not going to go into next season with just what we have. I’m sure that Friedman wants to improve the team,. But I am absolutely convinced that Dodgers ownership is more fixated on a certain level of profits each year than some of the other ownerships, and that is why we have no players with long-term contracts, and always bail out in the bidding for the best free agents. In some sense we are playing with a handicap, we choose to limit our routes to putting together the best team each season. We can’t change how the Dodgers owners are, but we don’t have to like or admire it. I have no interest in the Lakers or Clippers or Rams or Angels, but I think that it is pretty obvious that their owners are much more determined to create or recreate a dynasty, and to pay for it, than are the Dodgers. And I think that this is appalling, and that the Dodgers owners in some sense pulled a bait and switch on the fans, when they spent big early, but only to get the big TV deal and the fan base back, and then went to a different approach to maximize profits and add investors.
Actually Mark, according to Bill Shaikin, it’s in the contract, the Dodgers have the right to buy McCourt out for $50 million. McCourt had a plan to eventually develop the parking lots with a museum, restaurants, other entertainment venues etc. The Dodgers ownership group has expressed interest in a similar development, although they haven’t mentioned it lately. Probably because they’re focused on the stadium improvements, which they’ve been working on for four years. The last time I spoke with a Dodgers official three years ago, they still have plans to create the entertainment complex. That will mean constructing parking garages. It also means changing the use permit for the site. The Giants and Angels have similar plans, which is why Arte Moreno worked hard to acquire the lots in Anaheim. They would partner with McCourt in that development is my understanding. Unless, of course, they use the option to buy him out. None of this is connected to the Dodgers or Dodger Stadium. It is a separate business venture.
It also figures to be a major source of revenue for ownership.
So now we are learning that the shorter term contract was what Rendon was originally asking for was fake news.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/12/rangers-notes-rendon-offer-lyles.html
When cash vs cash was determined that Texas’ offer was commensurate with LAA, Rendon apparently wanted that 7th year all along.
The Angels are desperate for pitching, catching, and third base. Trade Maeda, Gonsolin, Pedersen, Barnes, and Kike for Jo Adell and Cam Bedrosian.
Dodgers would gain a dependable reliever and future star RHH outfielder.
Angels would get two starting pitchers, starting catcher, starting 3B, and starting RF.
Well done AC! I appreciate the depth of your analysis. While I have some frustration over the lack of activity at the Winter Meetings, I’m not at all surprised by the Dodgers not signing any of the the big three. The off-season is hardly over.
AC, I’m really glad you wrote this. It’s a very good, well thought out Column. It probably won’t change any opinions, but it needed to be said.
After reading various opinions on this site and others, some simply sinking into the muck on those sites with name calling and then reading the LA Times letters to the sports department, it is obvious there is a lot of anger among the fan base.
Look, that has been simmering under the surface for some time. It started with Frank McCourt retaining a percentage of ownership in the parking lots. Magic Johnson couldn’t understand what the issue was, why fans were angry about that. Well, I was unhappy too. McCourt was a symbol of some very bad times for the Dodgers and their fans. This was a man who diverted money away from the team to buy several mansions, used funds to enhance he and his wife’s luxurious lifestyle. When all this came out in the divorce, pretty much everybody in LA were looking for a tar, feathers and rail moment.
Then comes the television deal and a lot of people can no longer watch the games on TV. While the new ownership group is spending money on both payroll and stadium improvements, there is still resentment among fans who can longer watch games on TV. I still hear this from people all the time. Streaming may eventually resolve the issue, but that doesn’t soothe fans who have gone years without being able to watch the Dodgers nightly on TV.
Now is the failure to launch regarding big free agents. The latest, of course, being Cole, Strasburg and Rendon. What made matters worse is that the Dodgers said they were going to be aggressive in the free agent market. I’m sure they were stunned that they could actually offer a player a $300 million contract and not get the player. Okay, I’m stunned too. To make matters worse, we’re not talking about Mike Trout here, but a pitcher, someone who plays every five days. That’s how bat crap crazy baseball has become. Who seriously believes this nonsense can continue without doing damage to organizations and their ability to create long term success? Scott Boras, maybe.
You already have two former World Series championship teams, the Chicago Cubs and the Boston Red Sox, looking to dump payroll, including star players. Yes, they won it all, but they’re paying a heavy price that could extend years. Remember, the Dodgers bailed the Red Sox out of a similar payroll mess years ago. That allowed the team to do a reset and win another WS. But the Dodgers won’t do it this time. Maybe somebody else will. Both those organizations have poor farm systems so no real help there. The rosters are also aging.
So here we are, today. The Dodgers created expectations and failed to ink one of the top three free agents. In some ways, they did that to themselves. They had won seven straight NL West titles, made it to two World Series, but admitted some thing was missing after getting bounced out early by the Nationals. No doubt, what they felt was missing was Cole. Not Rendon. They should have made it clear that high end starting pitching was what they were seeking and of course a way to improve the bullpen. But they left it open, thus creating even more anger when the Angels signed him and the Dodgers didn’t even make an offer. If they had made that clear from the start, nobody would have been angry about losing a third baseman when they already one, who just happens to be a fan favorite and arguably the best clutch hitter they have.
Now I watched three or four interviews with Stan Kasten and in all but one, he was fine. But that one, where he expressed anger about the team being called cheap and somehow he brought the Tampa Bay Rays and their low payroll into the discussion. Not a good moment. I’ve said this before, but either Kasten focuses on positives or maybe avoids interviews regarding those kind of subjects. He’s far better off talking about stadium improvements and the fan experience. Leave the team comments to Dave Roberts and Friedman.
Insiders like Ken Rosenthal, Jon Heyman, Pedro Moura and Bill Plunkett have talked extensively about how good Friedman is with trades and how he has a lot of irons in the fire. They all expect something to happen. So do I.
With the major improvements at Dodger Stadium, the All-Star game, the product on the field, the fans will come out again to experience Dodgers baseball.
All of this, of course, leads to the real issue here. The Sum of all Fears for Dodgers fans is that they are truly afraid the Dodgers are evolving into the second coming of the Atlanta Braves, Kasten’s old team. Won a Boatload of division titles, but only won World Series.
That, of course, won’t play well in LA.
One final thing, Stan, take $50 million and buy out McCourt’s share of the parking lots. You’ll make me a lot happier and a lot of other people too, especially when pay the outrageous parking fees.
Some of the people I am talking to speculate that 4 or 5 Astros could get the “Death Penalty” – Banned for Life. I have no opinion.
The Yankees biggest need was starting pitching. They certainly paid the price to get it. The Angels are apparently going to try to outscore everyone. But, their division got a little more winnable with the demise of the Astros, who lost half their pitching staff, rotation and bullpen to free agency.
You showed a few instances of free agents not helping. Fine. But there are teams that won with big free agent signings as well. You don’t have to go back too far to note JDM and the Sox and Lester, Lackey and Zobrist on the Cubbies. If not free agents, trades.
The point is that you have to address your weaknesses somehow and it is almost never that you can win the big one without outside help. We whiffed on the free agents (so far, Donaldson and MadBum remain available), lets make a trade to balance the lineup.
I’m on the fence about Mad Bum. My first thought was NEVER! But, you can’t deny his post-season prowess. He’ll take some pressure off the pen as well by eating some innings. He’ll push May and Gonsolin into the pen for the post-season, so that’s another added benefit. He’s also a year younger that Stras.
If we signed Bum and Donaldson, we’re definitely the best team heading into next year. I think the Yankees are bit over-rated. They got a ton of unexpected production that I think will fall off a bit next year. If we add Bum, Donaldson and Treinen, we’re clearly better than we were last year. If not Donaldson, trade for Nolan, Betts or Bryant. I think the fallback is Lindor and Clevenger since it will cost Lux and May.
I am intrigued by Conner McGinness, the Dodgers need Asst. Pitching Coach. Here’s his Bio:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/connor-mcguiness-04470874/
Dammit AC would you listen to Jeff and learn something!!!
Just playing…
Great post AC… As usual you keep it simple and to the point…
Many of us believe in what you say and have said repeatedly…
As his Immenseness would say “patience grasshopper”
Andrew Friedman said this about missing out on Gerrit Cole despite reportedly offering a $300M contract: “There have been and there are going to be lots of times when someone’s first choice is the Dodgers and we get that advantage. When we don’t, we certainly understand it.”
AC, I still have no idea of what you mean by ‘going BOLD’? If bold to you is not top tier talent, why use that word? The Dodgers want a game changer, or so they say. Is Kris Bryant a game changer? Madbum? Please tell us what you mean by bold and if you didn’t mean what i just described about a game changing top tier talent, why make any point of it? Bold is something unusual, not the run of the mill trades or acquisitions that go on every year for every team.
If you really don’t think we need something bold, as I describe it, that’s fine. Just don’t call it bold.
Stick with home grown players, it is best for the team,and individual moral. Don’t trade May or Lux and may I also add I personally think May could be our next Orel Hershiser aka the bulldog.
Very good synopsis AC.
It’s weird, because the effect of not signing any of the so called Big 3 this week, has only served to warm me towards AF.
I like people with a definite ideal. It’s taken me time to grasp it, but he is sticking to what he believes to be the right path for the on going success of the LAD.
So far he has achieved it. He has made us competitive every year that he has been here, and barring a disaster, for the foreseeable future.
He is a fine evaluator of Prospects, and sees the value in home grown talent, as opposed to FA signings, in the chemistry it engenders.
Yes we havnt won a WS yet, but we will before long, because he is not mortgaging the future for success now.
The Red Sox and others have won and tanked while we have had sustained journeys into the Playoffs. I would rather have the latter year on year.
I think we will inevitably sign a player or two, but I’m really excited to see what our young core can do.
AF will not make knee jerk decisions.
He will stay true to himself, and I’m happy about that.
We are better set than any other team for long term success.
This is heresy, AC. They are going to string you up… with me alongside!
I am talking to baseball-people all over here. Pretty cool.
Some are telling me how the White Sox used to use a camera in CF 20 years ago, and Tony LaRussa told them if he saw it come on, he was going to report it.
Someone else said that Rendon was all about himself and “2019 will be the best season of his career… by far!” Make of it what you will.
I will say this: Lots of closers over the years have had bad years and then bounced back. Lee Smith, Trevor Hoffman, Bruce Sutter – Shoot, Sutter had a 4.23 ERA one year and followed it up with a 1.54 the next. There is a lot of hope for Kenley, Blake and Joe.
People are going to believe what they want, let them, trying to change their minds will not work because the ones that believe the way you just described are not very knowledgeable about the game of baseball and all the preaching you or anyone else does will not change their lack of understanding this game. To many articles on this site are given to those that don´t understand, let´s talk baseball and what we think the Dodgers will do to make the team better than last year,I don´t think it will take much.