When MT posted his Remember When post, it got me to thinking about trades. I have been obnoxiously opinionated in my zeal for at least one lock down late inning reliever and would prefer two. But I also know that there are NO GUARANTEES. The Darvish and Machado trades did not result in a WS championship, and they were good trades for the Dodgers. If the Dodgers got both Felipe Vazquez and Brad Hand, there would be no guarantees. But I would feel more comfortable after the starting pitcher went 7.0 strong innings.
I am more in favor of winter trades than deadline trades. They are generally less expensive in terms of prospect costs, and the traded players and their new teams have all spring and season to get acclimated without the added pressure of a pennant chase. This past winter, the Dodgers acquired ONE 25-man roster player through a trade, part-time catcher Russell Martin. We can revisit FA another time. But they also thinned their roster and added two quality minor leaguers that could be top ten Dodger prospects when the mid-season prospect lists are published; RHSP Josiah Gray, and the more heralded (at the time) SS/2B Jeter Downs, both at Rancho Cucamonga (A+).
I thought that I would go back to some of the more publicized trades of last winter and see how they may have turned out. It should come as no surprise that Jerry DiPoto and the Seattle Mariners were far and away the most active traders over the winter. During the winter alone, DiPoto traded 10 players from the 2018 roster, 2 MiLB players, and 1 player acquired in one of the trades (Carlos Santana). Two of the players acquired in winter trades were traded during the season; Edwin Encarnacion and Jay Bruce. DiPoto acquired 7 ML players, 10 MiLB players, and 1 Competitive Balance Round B selection. Of the 9 MiLB players, 8 are included in the Mariners top 25 prospects (per MLB Pipeline). Encarnacion also brought back top prospect #16. Three of the top prospects acquired are Top 100 prospects. That doubled the number of Top 100 prospects for the Mariners.
Seattle Trades:
- From Seattle – 2B Robinson Cano & RHRP Edwin Diaz to NYM for OF Jay Bruce, RHRP Anthony Swarzak, OF Jarred Kelenic (A+) (Seattle #1), RHSP Justin Dunn (AA) (Seattle #2), RHRP Gerston Bautista (AAA) (Seattle #25) (Reached MLB in 2019)
- From Seattle – LHSP James Paxton to NYY for LHSP Justus Sheffield (AA) (Seattle #4), RHSP Erik Swanson (AAA) (Seattle #9) & OF Dom Thompson-Williams (Seattle #15)
- From Seattle – 2B Jean Segura, RHRP Juan Nicasio, LHRP James Pazos (later traded to Rockies – AAA) to Philadelphia for 1B/DH Carlos Santana and SS JP Crawford.
- From Seattle – 1B/DH Carlos Santana & Cash to Cleveland for 1B/DH Edwin Encarnacion plus competitive balance round B pick (RHP Isaiah Campbell – Arkansas). In addition Cleveland sent 3B/1B Yandy Diaz and RHRP Cole Sulser (AAA) to Tampa Bay for Jake Bauers, and cash going to Seattle.
- From Seattle – C Mike Zunino, OF Guillermo Heredia, and LHSP Michael Plassmeyer (A+) to Tampa Bay for CF Mallex Smith and Of Jake Fraley (AAA) (Seattle #14)
- From Seattle – RHRP Alex Colome’ to White Sox for C Omar Narvaez
- From Seattle – 1B/DH Edwin Encarnacion to NYY for RHSP Juan Then (Rookie League) (Seattle #16)
- From Seattle – Josh Stowers (A) (NYY #24 prospect) for 2B Shed Long (AAA) (Seattle #12 prospect)
- From Seattle – OF Ben Gamel to Brewers for OF Domingo Santana.
Besides now listing prospects #1, #2, #4, #9, #12, #14, #15, and #25, the Mariners got out of the Robinson Cano contract boat anchor. Besides the prospect nuggets, the players the Mariners acquired and playing at the ML level:
C Omar Narvaez – .292/.370/.469/.839
OF Domingo Santana – .279/.347/.498/.846
OF Mallex Smith – .233/.304/.368/.671
SS JP Crawford – .316/.383/.500/.883
Anthony Swarzak – Mediocre at best results
• The Mariners cannot be graded until the prospects find their way to a permanent spot on the roster. Overall the Mariners are in a better position to contend by 2021.
• The Mets are having problems with Robinson Cano, and Edwin Diaz is having mixed results.
• James Paxton is having a very mediocre year for NYY – 64.1 IP, 4.34 ERA, 1.43 WHIP.
• The Rays are in no way depending on Mike Zunino (.185/.236/.325/.561) or Guillermo Heredia (.235/.328/.353/.681).
• Alex Colome is having a very good year with the ChiSox – The Narvaez for Colome trade seems like a very fair trade for both sides. Narvaez is a clear upgrade over Zunino.
• Ben Gamel is having a decently productive year for Milwaukee, although not at the same production as Domingo Santana for Seattle.
Other publicized trades:
From Miami – Catcher JT Realmuto to Philadelphia for Catcher Jorge Alfaro, LHRP Will Stewart (A+), and RHSP Sixto Sanchez (20-year-old pitching well at AA) (Miami #1).
JT Realmuto is slashing .261/.318/.434/.752, which is not all that superior to Jorge Alfaro (who is batting in a lineup much less prodigious than Philadelphia) .261/.312/.419/.731. Realmuto has 10 HRs with home games in a far cozier park than Miami where Alfaro has 9. With the addition of their #1 prospect, and prospective Ace, Sixto Sanchez, the Marlins clearly have the advantage on this trade. Makes everyone appreciate AF so much more for not indulging the Marlins requirement of Cody Bellinger.
Advantage – Marlins
From Arizona – 1B Paul Goldschmidt to St. Louis for RHSP Luke Weaver, C Carson Kelly, 2B Andy Young (AAA), and a Competitive Balance Pick Round B (Dominic Fletcher).
If we are basing this trade on the 1st half of 2019, this is an overwhelming plus for the DBacks. In addition to the players received in the trade, the DBacks are getting a huge benefit with the breakout year from 1B Christian Walker. The DBacks have found their long-term catcher in Carson Kelly, and were getting a breakout year from RHSP Luke Weaver before the injury.
Goldschmidt – .253/.341/.418/.759 – 14 HR
Walker – .261/.332/.486/.818 – 14 HR
Kelly – .271/.354/.528/.882 – 9 HR
Weaver – 4-3, 62.1 IP, 3.03 ERA, 1.107 WHIP – His injuries are healing, and he should rejoin the DBacks this year.
Advantage – DBacks
From NYY – RHSP Sonny Gray to Cincinnati for 2B Shed Long (AAA) (Seattle #12) and Competitive Balance Pick A (LHP T. J. Sikkema – Missouri)
The Reds got their head of the rotation pitcher in Sonny Gray who also signed 3-year contract extension with a club option. NYY got out of a bad situation, and maybe a nice LHP from the competitive round A pick. This was a wash.
So far the Cardinals cannot feel positive about their trade and subsequent 5-year contract extension for Goldy. But the team that seems to be suffering the largest setback after Winter moves have been the Phillies. Their acquisition of Realmuto and Segura have been pedestrian at best, while the players they traded away are having fine years including Carlos Santana who is having an All-Star season thus far. But combined with the lackluster season (putting it kindly) that Bryce Harper is having, and that Andrew McCutcheon is out for the year, it is hard to visualize a team having a worse result from Winter transactions than the Phillies. If Gabe Kapler finishes the year as the Phillies Manager, he should consider it a success. Somebody is going to be a scapegoat.
I am certain that each of the team’s baseball personnel heads believed they were making positive trades when they made them. Just as I am certain that AF believes in every move he makes (or doesn’t make). So when it comes to this year’s trade deadline date, I feel confident that he will make what he considers the best trade to make the team better without giving up top prospects. The “problem” will be that the Dodger fans will not have a consensus opinion on the trade, and most voices will be against the trade(s).
AC MINOR LEAGUE REPORT
OKC Dodgers 10 – Nashville Sounds 7 (A’s)
The Dodgers broke open a 5-5 tie with a 5 run 8th inning, and then held on after the Sounds scored 2 runs in the 9th, with the tying run coming to the plate. Kevin Quackenbush struck out the only batter he faced to end the threat and earn his 4th save.
Mitchell White started and went 2.1 innings (47 pitches). He yielded 1 run on 2 hits, 2 walks, and 5 Ks. Daniel Corcino relieved White and when 4.2 innings giving up 4 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks, with 4 Ks. Jaime Schultz pitched a scoreless 8th and struck out the side. Shea Spitzbarth had another ineffective outing allowing 2 runs on 3 hits and 1 walk and 1 HBP in 0.2 IP, before giving way to Quackenbush.
The Dodgers had 12 hits, including 4 with 2 hits. Connor Joe including his 7th HR and 2 walks, Cameron Perkins including his 7th HR and 4 RBIs, , DJ Peters including his 3rd double, and Josh Thole. Jon Kemmer hit his first OKC Dodger HR, while Zach Reks (8) and Shane Peterson (11) each had doubles.
Tulsa Drillers 1 – Arkansas Travelers 2 (Mariners)
The offense disappeared again for this game. Of course, Seattle’s #4 prospect and the brother of the Drillers closer, Justus Sheffield, had something to do with that. He pitched a 2 hitter over 8 innings, but was being matched by Driller pitchers. Parker Curry and Michael Boyle pitched 6 scoreless innings. Ryan Moseley allowed one run and the two teams went into the bottom of the 9th tied 1-1. Edward Paredes started the 9th and after allowing a leadoff single. He allowed the runner to reach 2nd on a WP who went to 3rd on a sac bunt with one out. Yordy Cabrera relieved Parades and issue 2 IBB before giving up the winning single..
The Driller offense consisted of a Keibert Ruiz double (8) and a Brandon Montgomery single for his first AA RBI. Brandon was recently promoted to AA for the first time.
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 4 – Lancaster JetHawks 6 (Rockies)
The JetHawks scored one in the ninth to tie, and then 2 in the 12th to steal the victory, Jeter Downs was the offensive star going 2-5 with a HR (14) and double (17). Marcus Chiu and Brayan Morales each had a pair of hits. Leo Crawford struck out 8 in his 5.1 IP.
Great Lakes Loons (7) – Fort Wayne TinCaps 6 (Padres)
The two teams finished regulation time tied up at 5-5. Luke Heyer started at 2B but came in to pitch the 9th and 10th innings. He allowed 1 run in the 10th but with the bases loaded and nobody out, Heyer struck out a batter and then induced a DP to end the game. Dillon Paulson was the hitting star going 3-4 with 2 HRs. The former Trojan 1B now has 10 HRs on the season. Jair Camargo had a two-hit night. Hunter Feduccia (13) and Luke Heyer (7) had doubles, while Chris Roller had his third triple. With Luke Heyer starting at 2nd to start the 1oth, Chris Roller hit a triple (3) scoring Heyer. Roller then came around to score on a Jair Camargo.
Ogden Raptors 19 – Grand Junction Rockies 8
The Raptors scored 9 runs in the 2nd, 2 in the 3rd, 1 in the 5th, 3 in the 7th, and 4 in the 8th to plate 19 runs. There were multiple offensive stars in this game, but none more than 2B Sam McWilliams who hit 2 3-run HRs and 7 RBIs on the night. Jon Littell and Marco Hernandez each had 3 hits with Littell hitting his first triple. Justin Yurchak had two hits and 3 walks, Joe Vranesh had two hits and 4 RBIs, and Zac Ching had 2 hits.
21-year-old RHP Ricardo Hernandez was the one pitcher who had productive evening allowing 1 hit over 3.0 scoreless innings. No walks and 2 Ks.
AZL Dodgers Lasorda 8 – AZL Giants Black 4
The Lasordas fell behind 4-1 but scored 8 runs in the 7th and 1 more in the 8th. The Lasordas used 3 walks, 3 HBP, 2 singles, and a sac fly with a couple of errors to score 6 to take the lead. After SP Igor Avila allowed 4 runs, Adolpho Ramirez, Reinaldo De Paula, and Gabe Benavides pitched 7.1 scoreless innings to secure the victory. Aldo Espinoza had three hits, with Aldrich De Jongh, Yhostin Chirinos, Rolando Lebron, and Jorbit Vivas each with 2 hits.
AZL Dodgers Mota 3 – AZL Giants Orange 9
Jack Little started his second game and pitched two hitless innings with 3 Ks. 17-year-old SS Alex De Jesus continued to show a hot bat going 2-4, raising his AZL BA to .424. Luis Diaz hit his 2nd HR. Huei-Sheng Lin continued to struggle falling to 0-3 after allowing 6 runs on 8 hits in his 2.0 IP.
DSL Dodgers Bautista 2 – DSL Astros 3
Three Bautista pitchers pitched a solid game, but the defense failed them. They allowed 3 runs all unearned on 3 hits and 4 walks. The Bautistas had 4 errors creating the three-run opportunity. The three pitchers had a combined 11 K’s. The Bautistas scored two runs on 6 hits in the loss. Ender Avendano went 2-4 with a double (3), and Harold Restituyo also went 2-4. Amin Valdez hit his first double.
DSL Dodgers Shoemaker 14 – DSL Indians/Brewers 3
The Shoemakers broke open a close 4-2 game with a 9 run 5th. After a lead off walk, Bladimir De La Rosa launched a triple (2), which was followed by a Rushenten Tomsjansen triple (2) of his own. Tomsjansen then scored on a passed ball. Two singles, two 2-run scoring doubles by Luis Izturis (2) and De La Rosa (7), 4 walks, 1 HBP, and 5 WP was a recipe for 6 more runs. For the game, De La Rosa went 3-5 with 2 doubles and a triple, Rushenten Tomsjansen went 3-5 with a triple, Marion Cairo went 2-3.
Hugo Beltran started and went 4.0 innings allowing 2 runs on 2 hits. A trio of Luisenyer Perez, Frankelyn Feliz, and Horacio Andujar finished the game allowing one run on 3 hits.
Discussion (66)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Lux is taking no hostages…Where will he end up??? Should Seager start playing a little 2B after he gets back…
I know it’s early, but he impresses me more than Verdugo did…
Pollock & Freese expected back before AS break.
Good news.
Right on! We got the split in the House Of Horrors, and now it’s on to normal baseball. Great rebound game from last couple of nights. Joc impressed the hell out of me , junking the all or nothing approach and getting KEY base hits through out the game today. As Mark always says, nothing to see here, let’s move on !!!
Joc had a great game. Go Joc.
Don’t look now but the evil World Series rival of the Dodgers, the Yankees, are 1 game behind the Dodgers for the best record in baseball.
Wouldn’t it be nice if the Dodgers beat the Yankees in the World Series this year? Paybacks are a b****.
Just looked at the remaining schedule. Of the 9 games we have left with the Rockies, only 3 are at Coors, the last 3 days of July.
Meanwhile in Nashville – Gavin Lux led off the game with his 1st AAA HR. He got his third double in his second AB. Zach Reks singed him home. Lux – 2 AB – 2 R – 2 H – 2 RBI. – 2 innings. In his 3 games – 6 for 9, plus 2 walks. He has been on base 8 out of his 11 PA. He will obviously cool way down, but his confidence has to be sky high knowing he can compete at an elite level (so far) in AAA.
Dustin May is making his AAA debut on the hill.
5-1 OKC after 2.
Good win today! I think Roberts pulled maeda at the right time but Rosscup didn’t do his job. However, I believe Rosscup pitched 3 straight games so the results are not surprising. Yimi just can’t keep from giving up that homer. He should only be used as mop up or a last resort. Our defense in this series was really bad. Not just the errors but plays that should have been made. This kills your pitchers by adding stress and pitches. I would say a split here and now was good. Moving forward I would come back after the break with stripling, urias, kershaw, maeda, and buehler in that order. I would skip ryu a start and then put him back in for kershaw to skip a start, then I would skip buehler a start to give starters a break.
Muncy should be in the All-Star game as a second baseman, or as a first baseman. Of the 6 players on the team ahead of him at those positions, only one of them has a higher WAR and only 1 of them has less ABs. What a rip off!
When Hershiser said he was in favor of an electronic strike zone he must have been reading my mind, because it’s exactly what I was thinking at the time. In fact, I’ve got a feeling I wasn’t the only one thinking that.
Seems to me that umpires are becoming increasingly inaccurate with strike calls. I suspect that an electronic strike zone might prove beneficial to hitters, as it would make the calls of balls and strikes more predictable.
From what I’ve read the Blue Jays are looking for outfielders and starting pitching.
Rios, Garlick, Stripling, and any 1 pitcher on this prospect list #6 or below for Ken Giles? Too much for Giles?
http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2019?list=la
Rosscup = scrap heap or should we start a thread that says Honey is working with him and he’s about to turn the corner and suddenly develop into a quality BP piece? You can put lipstick on a pig but she’s till a pig. The Dodger BP sucks right now.
Speaking of Alexander. Rosscup, doing his best Alexander impression gives up the lead when asked to throw to 2 lefties. Doc burned again by taking Maeda out too early and going to the lefty on lefty matchup. And of course, right after Maeda strikes out the last guy he faces.
We really do need a couple of lefties in the pen. Bye, bye Ruiz!
Alexander’s last appearance was June 5. He still isn’t throwing yet. He really must be injured, I’m suprised.
More homework to get ready for Dodgers in London:
Yankees beat the Red Sox again today. There was 50 runs scored in the 2 game set and we thought Coors was bad.
Oh my, Bellinger is on first. Never say never, or always.
Interesting info AC on trades. I know this a Dodger blog but I need to respond about Jerry Dipoto of the Mariners. You mentioned how the M’s are attempting to rebuild (Dipoto calls it “re-imagining”) by trading veterans for prospects. What you failed to mention is the amount of cash that was thrown in to depart with the vets, a habit of Dipoto’s. To unload Cano’s bloated salary they threw in Diaz, the best closer in the game last year AND 20 million to cover salary. They did, as you mentioned get prospects. That’s a pretty expensive deal especially if Diaz gets it going. As part of that deal the Mariners got Jay Bruce who they unloaded later to the Phillies for an older A+ infielder AND the M’s tossed in 18 million. Recently the M’s shipped Edwin Encarnacion to the Yankees for a prospect Seattle had previously traded TO the Yankees for a player that the M’s released AND the M’s are picking up half of Encarnacion’s salary of 15 million. To get Encarnacion last winter they shipped off Carlos Santana AND 6 million to Cleveland. I don’t know if they paid to deal other vets like Paxton, Zunino and others you mentioned. That’s about 50 million to get a couple MLB guys (Gersten Bautista on IL and Arodys Viscaino) but mostly prospects. If you throw in Felix Hernandez’s (currently on the IL, who they should have traded 3 years ago when he had value) salary of 28 million, that’s 78 million in cash that the M’s could have used elsewhere. I find it interesting that GM’s make trades that not only gives up veteran players for prospects buy millions of dollars to cover salary. An expensive way to do business and those prospects better turn out. Sorry for the chat about the M’s, but AC but you brought it up. Keep up the good posts.
Might the Dodgers have 3 lefty hitters with 40+ home runs this year.
Don’t forget Freese. He has been a great addition both on and off the field. Big game player. Great pick up by AF. I really believe the Dodgers are one 2nd closer away from a great shot at aWS title. Heavy favs to win NL title with a Smith or Vazquez pickup. Think about who you want facing that Yankee lineup late in WS games. If Hill comes back himself and can start then I’m comfortable with Urias, Baez and Jansen. I still think Kelly has the stuff to contribute but a Smith or Vazquez gives us a very good pen. Hill is not a reliever. He has historically struggled in first innings. Like Freese Hill is a big game pitcher and I’m all for him as our 4th starter. Make it happen AF. This is our best shot!
“Edwin Diaz’s latest meltdown Thursday, in which he gave up five runs on two homers to the Phillies in the bottom of the ninth, dealt the Mets a 6-3 loss at Citizens Bank Park. It was the closer’s fourth blown save in his last eight chances after blowing just four in 61 chances all of last season with the Mariners.”
https://nypost.com/2019/06/28/edwin-diaz-trade-to-mets-looking-worse-by-the-day/
Let’s bail the Mets out and take Diaz off their hands.
Andrew Friedman will make the trade or trades he and the other Dodger personal feel is the best they can do based on what they have to give up to get what they want Those decisions will be based on many things but none will be based on what the fans think. I have my ideas on who the Dodgers need and who I would give up to acquire those players but as a fan I have the faith Friedman will do everything he can to make the present team better and that is all I ask.
Great recap of the offseason trades AC. Kinda like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get. On the flip side, there’s been some great trades that worked out well for the team acquiring big time players. Manny Ramirez comes to mind. And how about the D-Backs getting Schilling?
The “problem” will be that the Dodger fans will not have a consensus opinion on the trade, and most voices will be against the trade(s). – I don’t believe this is a problem at all. Mainly for two reasons. 1) AF has a good track record, he knows what he’s doing. 2) Most voices are coming from people who don’t have a track record at all and don’t know what the hell they’re doing.
AF brought in some crappy relievers last year, but they used their best pieces to acquire Machado, without him we likely don’t make the playoffs. I can give him a break on that. Now, that his biggest need is a starter, I don’t expect him to be rummaging through the bargain bin again. I think K-Bear is his biggest chip and he knows that K-Bear’s value is off the charts. He’s not going to trade him for a reliever with an expiring contract. Vazquez, does NOT fit that description and neither does Hand. We don’t need both K-Bear and Smith and Smith is ready now.
This is going to be an extremely interesting trade deadline. Could Joc be dealt? Rios, Beaty, Garlick? Any of the 10 crappy relievers on the 40 man?
Like each year, Friedman has stated that he’s looking for impact type players. He has delivered with Machado, Darvish*, Hill and Reddick. I can’t wait to see what he comes up with this year.
I’m also interested to see what effect we see from the removal of the waiver deadline. I would think more teams will be selling early effectively making less buyers in the process. However, there will be less total assets available at the same time since some teams won’t be able to bail out late and dump a couple of big contracts in the process.
The wild card races are pretty bunched up at the halfway point in the season. How many of these teams really think they have a chance to win the Wild Card game and make it into a post-season series? The financial incentive is great to do so.
The Rangers have just released Josh Fields from their AAA team, where he had a 6.57 ERA.
This is our big chance to re-sign him, same as we did with Rosscup.
Then, maybe we could trade him to the Astros for Yordan Alvarez. 🙂
Good write up AC. To trade or not to trade, always a tough question. I too would feel more comfortable going into the playoffs with one or two lock down relievers. But, as we learned with Machado and Darvish, acquiring the best player available doesn’t always guarantee a WS ring. On the surface, it would have seemed that obtaining Goldschmidt was a stroke of genius for the Cardinals. Hasn’t quite worked out that way. Perhaps it will.
Rethinking these and other trades it seems that unloading large contracts and stockpiling top prospects is a better recipe for success. I would find it hard to believe that any Dodger fan would exchange Verdugo for Puig or Beaty, Garlick and Rios for Kemp today. Nor would we trade Josiah Gray straight up for Alex Wood.
Baseball is a funny game, but I love it!!!
If the FO can use Keekay in a trade this summer, please do it. Every AB it seems he swings for the fences and if he could shorten up a bit and think oppo it just might improve his offensive game. Once Seager gets back, CT3 becomes the everyday 2B moving Muncy to 1B.
Joc will play LF in a platoon role but moving forward Joc should never play 1B again and Keekay is a late-inning defensive replacement and a PH only. He was awarded the 2B job out of ST and squandered that gig with his woeful offensive season so far. Joe Davis said yesterday on the national broadcast that Keekay had the worst offensive production of all players in the NL.
Cody and Alex are 1st and 2nd in all of baseball in DRS, Verdugo is 15th in all of baseball in BA (.311) 8th in the NL. He is 1st in baseball in AB per Strikeout (9.3) 9th in NL WAR (3.0) 8th in Defensive WAR (1.1)
I remember when writers and bloggers wrote that Verdugo couldn’t handle CF at the big league level…
This Year Trade Deadline : Trade Kike for anything you can get !! Maybe Barnes but leave him as a backup and let Will Smith play. Also Edwin Rios looks good , i know Beaty has been good but i think Rios has much more power potential and could be a Muncy type and could play 1B instead of Joc. Beaty seems like a good bench platoon bat maybe good trade piece.