The real question is “Does he want to be a Dodger?” The Dodgers will want him if he truly wants that. I am not sure what a deal looks like, but between Borasssss and Friedman, they can figure it out. While I am not a big Bryce Harper fan, I believe that Bryce Harper could go down in history as one of the All-Time Great Dodgers… if not THE All-Time Great Dodger!
But… it’s going to take lot of creativity. Borassss wants Harper to get the biggest All-Time Deal and Friedman is loathe to give out that kind of deal (and I am glad he is). There can be a compromise to give both parties what they want… probably in ways I have never imagined. Harper just has to tell Borasss to make it so.
I am not a Harper fan… but he is good… and he just might be better in LA. I am not against signing him, but it’s going to take something very unusual for that to happen. I have no clue what that might be, but it’s not my job to figure it out. Friedman and Borass can do that just fine.
Will the Dodgers be a better team with Harper? I think so. A Harper signing could precipitate trades which might net Kluber or Bauer. The players to be traded could be different from what you think.
Look at this lineup:
- Pollock CF
- Seager SS
- Turner 3B
- Harper LF
- Bellinger 1B
- Hernandez 2B
- Verdugo RF
- Martin/Barnes C
That means that Taylor, Pederson and Muncy could be traded… or not. I prefer Bauer, but AC likes Kluber, so I’ll take either one. But, all of this is conjecture because it is rumored that the Phillies have offered him over $300 million. How can he walk away from that “real money?” Maybe Friedman defers it over 25 years?
Rants & Raves
- Kershaw is not injured. Are you kidding me? Get the MRI and get the knife. Clayton can finish next year and the year after. Get the surgery. We all knew this was coming. If I am wrong, the MRI should show it, but MRI’s are not as effective on shoulders.
- Turner, Castro and Beaty all look hot. Mostly a bunch of AA and AAA and AAAA pitchers throttled the Cubs yesterday. Spring Training generally doesn’t mean much, but these guys have came out snarling!
- Since RVS became hitting coach, the Dodgers are averaging over 10 runs a game. Yeah, that is what will happen all season. 😉
- Lux is doing nothing to dispel that he is a top prospect.
- Garlick stinks… at least so far. I had to work that in.
- Russ Martin has had a level swing for a long time… since the beginning. This could be a “come to Jesus” season for him with RVS and launch angle. I am telling you: He is the Comeback Player of the Year. Yippie Kaaaayyy Ayyyyyyeee!
This is short and sweet as I am heading to Temecula from Irvine. 2Demeter, e-mail me your contact info at mark@uswatersystems.com Bobby, do the same. I can’t guarantee it, but I will try.
Discussion (87)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Take it with a grain of salt but this was posted on Twitter tonight:
More Harper stuff I was told:
*SF Giants told they’re out
*down to LA/Philly/mystery team
*if he was to sign today, #Dodgers
*Boras at odds with Harper & Harper’s family
*Harper’s family beyond Mrs. wants him in LA.
*family talked Bryce out of signing with Philly twice
I think the Aernado signing was good for both sides. Nolan is great in Colorado… he might have been good elsewhere. He will retire ahead of Todd Helton as the Greatest Rockie of all time.
Good for him.
I retract wanting Trevor Bauer. He is a World Class A-________!
Logan Forsythe signed minor league contract with Texas. Will get $2MM if he makes ML team. He is given a good chance to make it.
General comment. Not aimed at this blog.
Why do people not understand player opt-outs?
They are good for teams.
If Harper opts out after three years, you probably just got a hell of a three-year deal out if it.
Harper & Pollock would certainly be a great offensive upgrade on Kemp & Puig.
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Harper obviously wants to be a Dodger.
I think it’s gonna happen now. Just a matter of when.
We will have an incredibly long lineup, and very difficult to pitch through.
Looking forward to Opening Day.
MJ.
I don’t think it me you need to warn about drinking the Kool Aid. I’m not talking myself into it.
We’ll know if Harper will be a Dodger for sure if he dumps Boras and signs with Rich Paul and Klutch….
So if Arenado’s new deal is 8y/$260m, that is an $32.5 AAV.
Have to think 10y/$330m gets it done for Harper.
Question for AC – If the nuclear option happens and Kershaw has surgery and can’t play for a few years do the Dodgers get any relief against the cap?
I have to admit this Harper talk is exciting.
I think the best argument against signing Harper [the best obviously is that he’s an offensive force who only costs money] is the “many vs. one” argument.
Philosophically, we could sign a starting outfielder, a starting pitcher, a late-inning eliever and a major bench piece all for the price of one player.
Seen it that light it’s easy to understand why we’re not going to land him.
Yeah, I think now that Arrenado has been extended, I could see the Dodgers finally offering 6-7 years for a lot of money.
In fact, I am now officially making plans to be at opening day instead of just selling my tickets!
It is pretty obvious, he doesn’t want to go to Phillie, or this would be already done.
I was thinking, is this really going to happen, or did Friedman, Roberts, and Kasten, just want to stick it to our former GM, and make him spend a little more money, and have a quick men’s trip to Vegas.
I can see Roberts having fun with anyone, but I am not sure, about the Kasten connection, and Friedman.
But they said Harper only wanted to meet, with serious offers.
Jim Bowden agrees with Hawk:
The #Dodgers must realize with Arenado now not a FA option….and the industry believing Goldschmidt will eventually be extended by the #Cardinals & with no middle of the order bats in their system coming & Kershaw shoulder barking…they need to pivot & make strong run at Harper
The farm system has been drained to a certain extent do to trades for Darvish, Hill, and Machado. There are no middle of the order bats coming up in the system in the near future, and JT is on the wrong side of 30 with balky knees. #22 has a bad wing and if he needs surgery the shoulder is a two year deal. Harper needs to be signed. Don’t go and sign a 31-year old injury prone outfielder who costs more money than the 28 year old outfielder you just traded and then not get the deal done for Harper.
Meant, does NOT come, with Dodger mindset… my opinion
I am so not in on Harper, and it’s not just because of the dope fiend money, whatever that amount is. #1 Does come with the Dodger mindset, of course he might possibly adjust, he might. #2 I don’t think he’s really that good. Yeah he has had some great years, and a few good and some so so. (What has he done lately? Won the home run derby. #3 Do we need Him. Is that our biggest need. Not sure what it really is but don’t think it’s really him.
From John Paul Morosi:
Bryce Harper update: Some #Phillies officials have grown concerned Harper will sign with the #Dodgers if they make an offer that comes close to Philly’s. The ability to play close to home and train in Arizona both appeal to Harper, who is a @Lakers fan. @MLB @MLBNetwork
I think that’s an excellent idea.
Almost as good as the idea of using Kershaw’s insurance money to pay for Bryce Harper.
My lineup would be
Pollock CF
Seager SS
Turner 3b
Harper RF
Bellinger LF
Muncy 1B
CT3/Kike 2B
Barnes/Martin C
I live in Irvine.
I wonder if people realize who the worst defensive outfielder was in all of baseball last year, at least based on UZR.
Kemp? Castellanos? Nope.
https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=of&stats=fld&lg=all&qual=750&type=1&season=2018&month=0&season1=2018&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=23,a
His RC+ was 135, which is pretty much identical to Joc’s RC+ against RHs, and Joc is a better defender. Kike’s RC+ against LH is 113…so so.
His WAR last year was 3.5. Based on that, his AV should slot around 28 milion. But, that’s full retail. The beauty of home grown talent or the deft use of a lineup, is that you can get the same level of production and contribution to wins at a lower price.
You tell me. Is he worth it?
Phillies’ Offer To Harper Reportedly Worth More Than $300 Million
By Steve Adams | February 26, 2019 at 8:22am CDT
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/02/bryce-harper-rumors-phillies-300-million-offer.html
Have there been any Caleb Ferguson sightings? I haven’t heard his name this spring other than he’s working on a third pitch.
Ferguson, Santana, Gonsolin, May, White have me with delusions of grandeur right now.
You know I wanted Kluber all along. It is undoubtedly too little too late now. The time to plan for a Kershaw injury was in the off-season, not ST. IF (and I emphasize IF) he goes under the knife for his shoulder with the amount of mileage on that arm/shoulder he will never be the Clayton we all know and love. Regardless of the outcome, I am happy with his extension.
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The Dodgers are built to live with the loss of Kershaw. I have no idea what Ace will become available, but I am not in the least enamored with Keuchel, and I hope AF does not bite and go for him. I would not be against a back end rotation guy for 1 year like Gio Gonzalez. Let’s at least plan on the next SP going down. I also would not mind if they signed Clay Buchholz to a minor league contract.
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I am in the same boat as MT on Harper. He would undoubtedly make the team better, but is that where you would want to invest $35-$40MM for 5-10 years? There would absolutely be a return on that investment financially to offset a portion of that salary (maybe enough to offset the expected 2019 luxury tax??). Next year the team gets way under the CBT threshold, so 2018 is the only year the luxury tax would be expected, until Seager/Bellinger/Urias/Buehler reach FA status.
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I am no longer in the camp that says the FO will not sign Harper. It is certainly plausible. I still will not endorse it as I do not think Harper is the be all end all difference maker. He is not Mike Trout. But he will bring excitement to the team. He does have the ability to carry a team on his back, and criticism seems to just wash off. Criticism is something Puig could never get over.
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I also agree with Mark that if Harper wants to be a Dodger both Boras and AF can find a way to make it happen. They are both financially creative geniuses. He does not want to be a Phillie and I doubt that he wants to suffer thru whatever the Giants will be undergoing in the next several years. Boras/Harper need to let go of some ego, and AF needs to be a little more receptive to going past his comfort zone in years/salary.
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Let’s just get Harper signed somewhere so we can just concentrate on life after Kershaw.
Or, maybe the Dodgers are placating the players association by feigning interest in Harper.
Arenado – Reported 8 years $260MM extension. He appears to be a Rockie thruout his career. Reported opt out after 3 years. Good for Nolan.
My thoughts: If Kershaw goes under the knife, then it increases the likelihood that the Dodgers make a serious attempt to sign Harper. It would be a good way to keep the fans at bay and avoid a public relations disaster.
If Harper is signed, what then? Pederson traded (Roberts has stated that he sees a much more mature player in camp). Verdugo traded? What is the possible return? I would expect it would be a package deal of sorts. Perhaps including Maeda. From my perspective he seems to be the odd man out, even though he is right-handed. Might he bring a bigger return because of his favorable contract?
Probably none of this happens, but it will keep us engaged with speculation for the next week or so. Then once Harper signs with the Rangers, Tigers or some other unforeseen team, we’ll think what the heck, glad he didn’t sign with us. When it’s springtime in Arizona, I love it!!
The Dodgers tend to be conservative in promoting minor leaguers to the MLB level. Lux is young, but looking like a real player. What a luxury! The sample size is still small and they don’t feel in a rush to make any major changes to their philosophy. Should they? I wouldn’t mind seeing some creative moves from the FO. Look at Muncy. Bingo.
I also don’t think the Dodgers are committed to Verdugo and would use him in a trade willingly to bring in another OFielder or pitcher. Problem is his $value is low so including him in a trade would only be wishful thinking for another team to want him. He has no real proven track record. It would be like trading a prospect. He will not be a HOF’er. Keeping Joc may be inevitable but that’s not so bad as a 4th Ofielder. If Pollock provides us with a bonafide leadoff batter, we will be off to the races. Can Taylor play RF?
I will guess that the longer the Harper contract or should I say the longer the years before the first opt out, the larger the probability that Verdugo is traded. If for no other reason than Verdugo has more controllable years than Joc there are teams that would rather have Verdugo. If Harper can opt out in 3 years then then there is more of a reason to keep Verdugo and his longer team control.
Lux could be ready to fill in for Seager now so along with Hernandez there is a chance Taylor could be traded.
I don’t like to propose trades once Spring Training begins but if Harper is signed and with Kershaw in limbo, there is more of a chance the Dodgers will try to trade for an Ace. Salary wise, that trade could include Hill and Maeda in addition to lower cost controllable players like Muncy and Verdugo.
Hang on, we are going for a ride this week.
I´ll take Kluber.
Your feelings on Harper are the same as mine. Will root for him and I think he could be very good. I just do not like the arrogance, but most good players are arrogant to some degree. I agree that if Harper wants to be a Dodger, he will be a Dodger.
I do not think Taylor will be traded. He is the insurance policy for Seager. He can also sub in the outfield. Muncey and Joc would be expendable. However, I could see the Dodgers keeping both of them.
Kershaw needs to find out what is wrong.
Boy, do I love to watch the farm kids in ST. I know it is early, but we have some good players.