This is your forum. Pick what you want to talk about today. A good place to start is The Athletic’s Molly Knight who talks about how what the Astros did is different… and why pitchers are livid.
This from MLB Trade Rumors.com:
Relief pitching looks to be a clear need for the Nationals this offseason…or is it? As Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post observes, the Nats’ early acquisitions of Trevor Rosenthal and Kyle Barraclough last winter ended up as disasters, and the club ended up more or less entirely remaking their bullpen by season’s end. With this in mind, the Nationals might aim lower in picking up any new relievers this offseason because, since relief pitching performance is so hard to predict from year to year, the club might prefer to save such acquisitions for closer to the trade deadline. GM Mike Rizzo “prefers to assess relievers in-season, with fresh data and video to parse through,” Dougherty writes.
These are the reigning World Champions and the bullpen is still a problem. It’s a problem for every team. Dope-fiend moves are almost every move involving a reliever. The guy you trade often is better than the guy you get.
Here we go…
Discussion (20)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Ok, Thank you 2D2. It is so hard for me to wait sometimes to get news. Night.
DBM – there’s not a whole lot to comment on until the Dodgers actually do something, which I don’t expect they will do anytime soon. It’s not AF’s style to be quick on the draw. If anything, they are deliberate in their decision making.
Oh my. Sorry, I did not mean to be a blog stopper.
A very Happy Birthday to the greatest voice of the Dodgers…..Vince Scully.
The interview with Friedman sounded some what promising, let´s see what happens.
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/ringolsby-gerrit-cole-not-agent-scott-boras-will-call-free-agency-shots/
Very touching video and song, Mark.
I’d definitely take a flyer on Treinen and probably on Betances. Maybe even Morrow. But I still think Friedman will look to acquire a couple of young and upcoming hard throwers in trade, possibly even a starter.
They probably have a couple of pretty good bullpen pieces on the roster in Kenta Maeda and Tony Gonsolin. But I’m thinking Maeda gets traded and I’m not sure how they want to use Gonsolin. May be a pretty good starting pitcher.
They could always start Maeda, then move him into the bullpen late, like they’ve been doing. Explain this is the way it will work, best for the team, then move on. But if he’s disgruntled, then he becomes an issue. Pay him the incentives so it’s not a financial issue. Maybe he doesn’t like it, but there are no guarantees in MLB.
Interesting interview with Friedman on MLB radio the other day. He said the Dodgers will pursue high end free agents. Since the Dodgers have payroll flexibility there seems to be a solid chance the Dodgers will ink one of the top free agents. He also indicated the Dodgers don’t have a set figure they won’t go past.
Friedman also said there were a lot of misperceptions about what the Dodgers will or won’t do. They have a lot of flexibility, depth in the farm system and assets on the current roster. He pointed out the Dodgers want to create numerous potential options regarding trades or free agent signings. They won’t simply lock in on one player or trade possibility.
Reading between the lines, it seems likely the Dodgers will be very active this winter on a number of fronts.
Back on June 21st, I wrote this:
It was sad to see Rich Hill have to ask out of a game and whenever you hear “forearm” you think Tommy John. I hope that’s not it, but if it is the Dodgers do have the depth to handle it.
Well, it was… and he had TJ Revision which was invented for players who have already had it. I can see him coming back at the end of 2020.
MLB.com had this “7 blockbuster deals to dream of on Black Friday” article this am.
Their suggestion? We trade Verdugo, Gonsolin and Keibert Ruiz to Texas for Joey Gallo and Mike Minor. I about spit up my coffee!
https://www.mlb.com/news/black-friday-blockbuster-deals-wish-list
MT – That video got to me…Very cool…
This trade melodrama we encounter every year wears on you…
You’re right on the bullpen, but being a half full kinda guy, I have a feeling one or two pitchers in the ranks will step up!!!
That being said lets go out and get a RH bat…