Where do I start? How about trading Verdugo, Urias, Bellinger, Barnes, Taylor Pederson, Muncy, and Hernandez or not signing Kershaw, Ryu or Pollock? How about firing Dave Roberts or Andrew Friedman? You all know who you are and you would make some dope-fiend moves… in a heartbeat! Those are all real moves suggested by fans on this site. Dope-Fiend Fans championing Dope-Fiend moves.
It’s a good thing the inmates are not running the asylum and it’s just as well that Andrew Friedman is running the Dodgers… not you! AC brought up an excellent point yesterday: The Cubs did not win the 2016 World Series because of Aroldis Chapman… they won it in spite of him (thank you, AC).
Last year, the Red Sox had a bullpen in the bottom half of MLB in ERA and yet they won it all. I would always want to see the bullpen improved, but let’s not forget that the Dodgers are the best team in baseball and the bullpen, since the first week of May has been better every week. The point is: Andrew Friedman would like to improve the pen, but he will not make a dope-fiend move.
Right about now, GM’s who “might” be selling are asking a million dollars for a hundred thousand dollar value. Making a move TODAY would be a dope-fiend move. There is plenty of time and there will likely be a “flurry” of last-minute trades when a market is established. Let’s look at what teams might want for a few popular relievers:
Shane Greene
To say that Greene is an “elite reliever” this year is tantamount to saying that Superman is aerodynamic. Shane has been unhittable THIS year, but in the past, he has been the proverbial “batting practice pitcher.” Right about now, the Tigers would want Keibert Ruiz, Marshall Kasowski, and another prospect. They also may want you to take Nicholas Castellanos for some more prospects. As the deadline approaches, the price will drop but might include taking back salary.
Will Smith – The Pitcher
I don’t care if Zaidi was once part of “FAZ” (Friedman and Zaidi), Farhan is going to ask for all he can for Smith. Right now, I’ll bet he’s asking for Downs and Gray. That’s way too much. Let’s see what the market says. I would trade Edwin Rios, Edwin Uceta, and Kyle Garlick for two months of Will Smith (and that’s a big overpay). Let’s see who blinks first.
Jon Hand
Ain’t happening… Move on!
Felipe Vasquez
Dodger fans talk about offering Keibert Ruiz for Vasquez. Are they crazy? Francisco Cervelli has had multiple concussions and is headed to AAA to learn another position. The Pirates need an “MLB Ready Catcher.” Are you ready to give up Will Smith (the catcher), Gavin Lux and Dustin May? That’s what it will take to get 2 months and 3 years of Vasquez who may be the best “closer in the game.”
Right about now, it’s a sellers’ market. Right about now, all you can do is overpay. Forget Vasquez or Hand. That won’t happen. Greene and Smith are possibilities, as are several other “under-the-radar” arms. Friedman will not make any dope-field moves… Stay tuned!
Disclaimer
I wrote that during the game last night, before the 9th inning meltdown by Kenley Jansen. That was one of the most gut-wrenching losses I have ever experienced simply because the Dodgers came all the way back from a 6-1 deficit to take a 7-6 lead and then cough up a hairball. The loss is mostly on Kenley Jansen, but not because he’s not good anymore. It turns out that after he got hit on the ankle, he admits that it hurt and he should have come out of the game but told Doc he was OK.
Additionally, if you watch the replays, AJ Pollock should have caught the line drive to center, but he was playing deep and first broke back on the ball before moving forward. That happens a lot on line drives straight at you. I have seen Cody and Alex do exactly the same thing. Kenley did not give up any big flies and it was evident he was limping on his ankle. Not many players are going to ask out of the game and I am not convinced Kenley is toast.
I am becoming more and more convinced that Will Smith (the pitcher) is the guy the Dodgers really need to compliment Kenley. Kenley has had a few meltdowns this year and that is the reason, I was on record as saying I would not have re-signed him. You never know what you are going to get. That said, I still believe Kenley will be solid for the Dodgers and I would hope Farhan and Andrew can strike a deal. Vasquez is going to cost way too much.
The Yankees got a Top 10 MLP Prospect for two months of Chapman. Vasquez comes with two months and three years of control. Of course, we don’t really know what the Bucs will want for Felipe, but we do know they need a catcher… like NOW! I would think they would want the Dodgers most MLB-Ready catcher: Will Smith. I would not do that. I doubt they want to wait 2 years for Ruiz. They would probably ask for Lux and May as well. MLB.Radio called Vasquez, the “Best Closer in the NL” and with 3+ years of control, he’s going to cost a lot.
BTW, Will Smith had his own meltdown last night, but the Giants won anyway. That’s a problem as they are winning now and maybe they don’t become sellers….
Will Smith – The Catcher
Some people think I don’t like Will Smith, evidently because I like Keibert Ruiz, whom I think will be Verdugo-esque-like. I like Will Smith a lot. In the past year, he has really improved his “hit tool” but the PCL is a liar! It makes average players look great. Hopefully, Will Smith will be the player we have seen in his first 29 MLB at-bats, but he has to show us. He is absolutely “killing it” at OKC, but can he do it at the SHOW? I hope so… but we have to see it.
The thing is: The Dodgers don’t have to rush it, they are doing just fine without him. It would be wonderful to have a better catcher, but thank you very much, the team is doing just fine without him. He will get his chance.
P.S. What happened last night may have been Karma from the Baseball Gods for not hitting the first batter! Doc, you have to protect your guys or the Baseball Gods will haunt you!
MT’s Minor League Lowdown
I don’t have much time today, so I am going to just cover what I think is relevant. Fire me if you must!
OKC Dodgers: OKC beat the Iowa Cubs 13-4 as Will Smith drove in 7 runs with a 2-run shot followed up by a Grand Slam. Smith now has 21 HR (counting the 3 he hit for the LA Dodgers). Edwin Rios hit his 16th HR and Gavin Lux went 4-5 with his 17th HR of the year. Dennis Santana got his head screwed back on as he pitched 6 innings, allowed 4 hits and 1 ER. He struck out 6 and walked but 1. That is an amazing step forward from where he was. Caleb Ferguson struck out the side in the 8th and is still unscored upon in 13.1 innings at OKC. Sounds like he’s about ready for a call up.
Tulsa Drillers: The Drillers lost 5-2 as Kaybear Ruiz caught and Conner Wong played 2B. Santana and Estevez are both still hitting over .300. Logan Salow pitched 3 shutout innings in relief, striking out 4. His ERA is now 1.35. He’s a candidate to move up.
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes – Did not play
Great Lakes Loons – Did not play
Ogden Raptors – The Raptors won 9-6 over the Missoula Osprey as McWilloiams had 2 hits and Lao had 2 hits and a HR.
DSL Shoemakers – The Shoemakers lost 3-1 to the Rays, but Izturis had 2 hits. Those were the only games played.
Discussion (89)
Disagree, not disagreeable
The Dodgers have allowed 5 hits in the last 17 innings against the Phillies.
4 of them came in Kenley’s outing last night.
That was another satisfying victory, and JK pitched well again.
The Dodgers are head and shoulders better than Philadelphia.
Kike missed that pitch by a foot lol
Freese can hit righties look up his OPS vs righties. Home Run Freese off a righty.
The defense just blew the lead again.
Will Smith was injured in the OKC game. Apparently, he got crossed up on a pitch and took one in the wrist. He air mailed some warm up throws into the outfield and was taken out of the game.
One could argue that the Dodgers could acquire Smith, Vazquez and Yates, but if they hot s whopping .600 OPS in the world series again it won’t make a difference.
I think they’ll get a strong bullpen are. If they hit really well it may not matter
Totally agree, Singing, Farhan is gettin put into a corner. Have fun dude!
So far today, Gavin Lux in 2 at bats has 2 hr and 5 rbi
Looking forward to trading him to the Cubs for Jesse Chavez
Was reading an article on MLB. The reporter was saying don’t be fooled. As he said”Let’s say this slowly. The. Giants. Will. Sell. 59 and Singing can sniff the BS Farhan is throwing out there. Let the cat and mouse games begin. Farhan has 0 emotional attachment to these guys, an I think that’s part of the reason he was brought in,to make the tough roster decisions that have to be made this year with the core that won 3 rings. Glad it’s him and not me. Gonna be fun dealing with the Giant fan base after you traded a few of their icons.
How’s this for a black hole at the bottom of the lineup…. #6 — .176 #7–.171 #8–.164 Pitcher–.083
Yep that’s the Phillies lineup.
If you have a <500 record, an aging roster, a bad farm and a couple of expiring contracts that will help you rebuild and you decide to "go for it", you have a very dismal future.
Don’t look now, but if our bff’s the giants win today, they’d be 2.5 out of the 2nd wild card spot. All this “Will Smith to Will Smith with Will Smith in the stands” stuff may not get a chance to happen (at least this year!)
The NL playoff picture is so tight that even Puig’s Reds are only 5 games out of a wild card spot. We may have very little reliever options come 2 weeks from today!
Yeli vs. Belli reminisent of Sosa vs. Mcguire minus the PEDS…
Going to be great to watch for sure…
What a year!!!
Go Blue…
I brought this up yesterday but didn’t get a clear answer.
The Dodgers are willing to take on payroll according to an article I read.
Also I read the D-Backs and Mets would like to dump some payroll.
So do you think the Dodgers could make a trade for DeGrom or Grienke by trading prospects that are not part of our top 5 prospects considering we would be taking on a lot of payroll?
And would you make that trade?
This would shore up our starting rotation for the playoffs.
There are multiple opt out possibilities at the end of the season. Right now the one that most are talking about is Aroldis Chapman because one of his teammates allegedly said he is one million % sure that Chapman will opt out. He has since denied that. Other big names who can opt out are Stephen Strasburg, JDM, and Kenley. Here’s a crazy a– idea. See what the appetite is for Kenley for JDM. The Dodgers will need a closer, and there will be some relievers who the Dodgers may get. But maybe Mark is right and the Dodgers patchwork bullpen will get hot at the right time. Even Joe Kelly like 2018. It would never happen, but it is more likely than Alvarez, Kendall, Rios, and Garlick for Will Smith.
The lineup is out. I guess Roberts wanted to give Turner and Verdugo a rest.
I like what 59 said:
Trade Alvarez, Kendall, Rios and Garlick for Smith! It’s a crapshoot.
Lol. Thanks Mark.
Wow, the trade scenarios and possibilities are endless. This is going to be a fun two weeks. I really like the idea of targeting guys like Roenis Elias in addition to getting that second closer who is also preferably left handed.
I read something about the Yankees considering trading Chapman. So toss another hat into the ring with Hand, Vazquez and Smith.
Smith to the Dodgers seems like a match made in heaven. Farhan knows the system well and has a lefty closer with an expiring contract and a crappy minor league system. However, their best prospect is a catcher so we wouldn’t have to trades Mark’s favorite 20 year old. Plus you get the hole Will Smith pitching to Will Smith thing. I wonder if they would both have to adapt a middle initial on their jerseys? What fun is that!?!
Maybe Farhan can raid us and take a flier on Alvarez or Kendall, and then pick up a high floor middle infielder in Estevez and pick up a major league ready hitter like Rios or Beaty? Worst case scenerio is two useful major leaguers and a lottery ticket! Kendell would be able to chase down a ton of fly balls in that HUGE center field. Alvarez might be a closer when they’re ready to need one again.
A while back at LADT, a wise man once said, “you want to discover Felipe Vasquez before he becomes Felipe Vasquez”.
That’s very interesting, because that’s exactly what I suggested a while back when in fact he didn’t even exist.
He was plain ole Felipe Rivero back then, and I’d watched him throw a couple of lights outs performances against the Dodgers.
I suggested trading for him then, and again at the TD last season.
I put his name forward very early in this season, when it was obvious to anyone and everyone that our BP was going to be our Achilles Heal.
Our own AC, wanted Christian Yellich while he was on the terrible Marlins.
Imagine Yellich and Bellinger back to back.
Or, in fact, with DJLM in the same lineup.
And those are only 2 of the many suggestions that AC has proposed, that in hindsight would have improved the team.
But AC like myself and everyone here is an Armchair GM. What do we know?
Sure, to secure some of those players might have taken something from the core we have now. A Verdugo, a Julio or maybe a Jose de Leon or Zak Lee?
The point is this. Would trading for any of Vasquez, Yellich or JDLM have been Dope-Fiend moves if they secured the 1st WS Ring since 88?
Who’s to say AC wouldn’t have led us to our first win in 31 years if he’d been GM these past few years.
To imply that us Armchair GM’s don’t get it, is wrong.
We watch the games and can see the weakness’s.
Ultimately, AF has had as much success as any of us so far. Maybe we could have done better?
Dope fiend moves work both ways.
Sometimes it’s the ones you don’t make that hurt you.
I certainly hope that’s not the case again this year.
Another LHRP the Dodgers may pursue is Seattle’s Roenis Elias. He is another project AF loves to look for. He is making $910K and has two more arbitration years of control. Sounds like a match made in baseball heaven for AF.
More promotions: John Rooney and Guillermo Zuniga have been promoted to Rancho Cucamonga. Wes Helsabeck was released.
I have also thought about those players in a trade for Vasquez and I would make that deal. Kershaw, Buehler, Ryu with help from Stripling, Urias, and Gonsolin will get the Dodgers to the playoffs and from there will only need 4 starters. Hill might still make a contribution as well.
Maeda could replace Vasquez this year and Sheffield next year with Maeda returning to the rotation. The Pirates need a catcher. It is a good trade for them unless they can get more from another team.
I’ll go along with AC and save Estevez for a trade with the Giants.
If AF would give the Pirates Lux ,one of the two catchers and a high end Low A prospect Vazquez would be out the door so fast he wouldn’t know what hit him. I don’t think Andrew will trade two of the four in that deal but I firmly believe he could get it done with Ruiz, Maeda and one of Estevez/Uceta/Sheffield
Would it be wise to trade Maeda with Hill on the IL? I’m not sure how I feel about that but I think I would do it.
Well I rolled outta bed this morning, feet hit the floor and immediately said thanks…
Positioned my coffee near my computer and fired up a little Lynyrd Skynyard and Stevie Ray Vaughan… I am reporting that all is well with the world!!!
Oh Ya…Dodger Baseball…
BAD LOSS…Ugly… Defensive lapses.. Feeling bad for Walker….
I’m one of those fans that doesn’t want to lose 2 of my top 4 picks, but on the flip side have absolutely no control what the FO will do… Just don’t want to be put over a barrel..
We should revisit highly debated trades and non-trades (but were proposed and discussed).
Two that come to mind are:
1. Kemp/Puig/Wood/Farmer for Downs/Gray
2. JT Realmuto for Belli + top prospects
#2 was a prime example of a dope fiend move that the Dodgers avoided. After losing Grandal, the desperation to get a really good catcher caused a lot of fans to insist the Dodgers overpay to get Realmuto. Realmuto is batting around .270 and has 11 HRs. Realmuto for Belli straight up would have been dope fiend. Can you imagine trading Belli PLUS 1 of Ruiz/Smith/May/Lux for .270 and 11 HRs?!
Back to the trade that netted Downs/Gray. I’ve listened to a couple Reds games and the announcers seem pretty happy with Puig. He’s got a decent BA and he’s hitting home runs – which is not surprising given Puig’s work with Turner Ward and the ball park where the Reds play. I think Pollock is a better fit with the Dodgers, however. Plus, Verdugo is really playing well. Few had heard much about Downs and Gray but both are doing well – Gray in particular has advanced 2 levels after dominating on both the Loons and the Quakes. There are blogs that predict Josiah Gray will be ranked top 5 in the Dodgers system soon. True Blue LA is predicting that Downs will also get a promotion to AA soon. There’s a lot to like about this trade (and I was, and still am, a fan of Puig). It looks like a win/win – each team got something of value.
Sometimes when we discuss trade proposal for certain players (e.g., Joc), many commenters interpret that as a knock on the player. They assume the only players we trade away are bad ones. First of all, bad players don’t bring anything in return – you usually have to give up something of value to get something of value. Secondly, sometimes you can find good players on the Dodgers who are covered by their depth. e.g., Joc is a power left hand outfielder. The Dodgers have a lot of power left handed hitters and more than enough good outfielders. Joc deserves more playing time. He won’t get it on the Dodgers. He will get it on many other teams. If the Dodgers do wind up trading him, I hope they get a lot of value in return because he is a really good player. If no one else offers anything that is of value in return for Joc, then it’s fine that he stay on and contribute in a platoon (note: even though I see improvement, I’m still not thrilled about the experiment at 1st).
Awesome news about Gray.
Kenley gave up a 1 out double, and then a weak chopper that found a hole for a single. Can’t fault him for a seeing eye single. Can’t fault him for a high pop up that 2 players couldn’t get to. However, he grooved one to Harper. Maybe by that point, his ankle was bothering him, so he couldn’t locate the pitch.
Either way, I think Kenley had been starting to look better and was fine yesterday until Harper’s AB. Give him few days off now to rest that ankle.
Ferguson has crazy strike out rates in AAA. Lux has insane numbers so far in AAA! DJ Peter struck out 4 times yesterday; that’s more like it.
The reports last week said Pitt would ask for 2 of Lux, May, Ruiz/Smith. I don’t believe it’ll take 2 of those guys when it’s all said and done. And it certainly won’t cost us Lux May AND Smith/Ruiz!! John Hand doesn’t excite me, but I would love Brad Hand!
Haha, and whoever’s been suggesting Jake Diekman the past few weeks may be on to something. Now reports are out we’re discussing him as well. Maybe he’ll be come the new Cingrani?
In better news: Josiah Gray has been promoted to Tulsa. Nice first year in the organization.
Relax.
Greene comes with a “buyer beware sign” prominently displayed. In addition to his previous years as a batting practice pitcher, his fastball velocity is down almost 2 mph, his ERA is 1.06, but FIP is 3.65, and xFIP 4.04; Batted ball in play is .179, but in his career it is over .300. Do not drink the cool-aide and pass on Greene.
This is the first year (in a few) when I have not had the back end confidence in the pen. The cutter isn’t cutting like it has. It’s a shame because the team is so solid in all the other areas!
Imagine if the 5-6 games this year we’ve blown late, were the wins we typically expect from this bullpen! 68-29, or something close. Last night was ouchy….
I feel AF will feel obligated to do something because if I feel like this, he surely does!
I just wish we had a couple dudes that could come from the farm and make it happen here. I hate to give up great kids but want the big prize. I trust our brain trust. Go be great…..
Roberts will yank Hill without a second thought and let Kershaw and Jansen continue to pitch when there are obvious and big reasons to yank them. Maybe he doesn’t feel he has a suitable option for K and J but that doesn’t explain why he always feels he has one with Hill.
Roberts needs a couple more relievers he trusts to help him with difficult decisions.
I am still sick after watching Kenley melt last night. Kenley looked great a few nights ago and horrible last night. Yes the defense didn’t help but his stuff was very hittable. I don’t have the answers, I’ll leave that to this board and the Dodgers front office but I do know the problem. We can hope to make it back to the World Series again this year but this time we had better be ready. These chances don’t roll around that often (1988).
I do remember someone that called for the firing of Roberts because of his stupid moves.
The Dodgers pen so far this season have come into games with 103 inherited runners on base and let 43 of those runners score or 42% which ties the Dodgers with Baltimore for next to last in the ML,only Washington at 44% is worst. but I´m very glad to see the Dodgers pen is getting better everyday.
Should Friedman go and overpay for some relief pitchers that could improve the pen,I say no, and he will not, he will do the best that he can while dealing with GM´s who are going to say take it or leave it, and Friedman will leave it,good for him.
Barnes has August to show improvement on offense before the Dodgers need to do anything with Smith, if Barnes is showing no improvement than Smith will have September to show the Dodgers what he can do.