As we await to find out who the Dodgers play in the first round of the playoffs, I think it’s appropriate that we look ahead and see what types of changes could be on the horizon for the Dodgers in 2018.
Changes in Players
Of course, we do know that Andre Ethier’s contract us up and unless he wants to sign a “Chase Utley” type contract, his Dodgers career is likely over. I do not think it is outside the realm of probability he will do that, especially if (The Big Dodger in the Sky forbid) the Dodgers do not win the World Series. He may want another chance to be part of that. I do think that Chase Utley’s time with the Dodgers is over, but I thought that last year too. Could he opt in for another season? I really don’t think so, but who knows? Only Chase and the Dodgers have a clue..
Adrian Gonzalez’ back is not going to just magically get better, and facing his last year under contract, it’s likely he will need surgery on his back and does he want to do that? I still think the Dodgers try and sign him to a long-term personal services contract which is a little tricky. He would have to announce his retirement and then the Dodgers could extend that deal. The MLBPA won’t want him to just walk away.
Scott Kazmir may be done as well. If the Dodgers have the contract insured they may try and cut ties. Among the pitchers, Brandon McCarthy will likely be back to pitch his final year as the trade market for him is nearly nothing. I really could see him part of the bullpen next year. Ryu and Meada have significant trade value and could be part of a deal, as could Joc Pederson. The Dodgers have Andrew Toles due back next Spring and he has shown a lot of promise, but nothing is a given.
What the Dodgers need is another “middle-of-the-order” hitter, like Giancarlo Stanton and make no mistake about it, Mark Walter is not afraid to take on big cash obligations if he gets back a valuable product. Stanton is a valuable product. Of course, that would come at significant cost. A player that Andrew Friedman has been loathe to trade (Alex Verdugo) would likely have to be part of that deal. The Dodgers might have to part with Buehler in that trade too, but could possibly use quantity over quality if they included players like Diaz, Alvarez, Oaks, Barlow, May or Santana in the deal. There are a lot of moving parts to this, including whether the Marlins take back any salary for 2018 (like Kaz and McCarthy – trading them frees up salary space next year, if Gonzo doesn’t come off the books).
We know that the Dodgers have several players knocking on the door, like Alex Verdugo, Walker Buehler, Kyle Farmer, Edwin Rios and several others. Chris Taylor wasn’t even on the radar this time last year. So, should they get a Giancarlo Stanton or should they just “Trust The Process” of promotion from within? Has Yasiel Puig really evolved and matured, and more importantly, can he evolve into more next year? I have no clue – he is talented beyond belief… and he is a knucklehead!
Yasmani Grandal will be a fre agent after 2018 and has considerable value. Austin Barnes and Kyle Farmer can hold down the Catching Position until Kiebert “Kay Bear” Ruiz arrives in 2019. Grandal could bring back some good prospects or trade for some particular need. There are lots of options and lots to be decided!
Changes in Managing, Coaching & Front Office
The Dodgers are going to lose some people in managing, coaching and the front office – that’s a given. It could be quite a few: Kapler, Anthropoulos, Byrnes, Zaidi, Geren, Lombard, Castro, Carr and Gasparino could be recruited to higher positions with other teams. It’s inevitable that it will happen! Several of their minor league managers and coaches will be recruited, including Pedro Mega, Shawn Wooten, Bill Haselman, Matt Herges, Jay Gibbons, Drew Saylor and Kip Wills. Some will not be there next season. When you are successful, other teams want what you have. It’s just the way it goes.
Nothing is as constant as change, and things will change – I guarantee it… and it will probably be something we have never thought about! In the meantime, enjoy the Wild Card Game. I don’t care who the Dodgers play – Colorado or Arizona. The Dodgers have a losing record against both teams this year. Don’t forget that they were 1-10 or 1-11 against the Mets during the regular season in 1988… and that turned out reasonably good! Vin Scully with the call:
Discussion (49)
Disagree, not disagreeable
With all the silly talk about small-ball and fielding, how about we look at what’s actually happening in the playoffs.
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It’s about HRs.
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And in recent history, it’s not about starters going 7.
No on Stanton and no on Martinez. IMO, Stanton’s contract was stupid the day he signed it as his value is based solely on his power. I was one of the people pining for Martinez before the deadline as a rental but I don’t want him for what he’ll cost now. Someone will probably overpay Martinez this off-season based on his production since being traded. Hopefully it the d-backs. If the FO wants to sign/trade for an outfielder I think they should go after Khris Davis or Marcell Ozuna. They’ll both cost multiple players/prospects but don’t have large contracts and have some team control left. Miami needs pitching (their offense is pretty good) so they might be willing to take a Ryu, McCarthy or Maeda as part of a package. Oakland would want minor leaguers. I think Forsythe’s option will be picked up if for no other reason than he could be a valuable trade chip.
Kershaw, Hill, Darvish, Wood
Jansen, Morrow, Watson, Cingrani, Fields, Maeda, Baez,
Belly, Forsythe, Seager, JT, Grandal, Granderson, Taylor, Puig
Barnes, Utley, Kike, Ethier, Farmer
Bubble-Joc, Locastro, Stripling
I don’t think Stripling is in. I think he’s taxi guy with Gonzalez which leaves the final spot between Locastro and Joc. I guess Ethier could be a bubble guy too because he’s primarily LF only these days while Joc can play CF and LF, but I have to believe Ethier is in despite Doc not committing to it yesterday. I don’t know how good Locastro is at stealing bases. He’s been about 80% at stealing bases in the minors, but that’s not the big leagues. The Dodgers only have one guy, Grandal, who looks like he’s pulling a plow when he runs, but hardly a team of burners. Are Utley and Barnes enough as potential pinch runners. I would think they would like to use Barnes for more than that this year. Joc finally had some quality AB’s on Sunday. Could the workouts be a tie breaker? It seems like the Dodgers want to have all of their bases covered they way they’re talking about Locastro, but it seems odd that analytic guys would carry a pinch-runner.
I would have also rescinded the Chapman trade. But character issues or no character issues, what makes anyone think that the Dodgers would be interested in paying TWO mega bullpen contracts? Jansen is making $80 million over the life of his contract (or is it $90 million?), and I believe it’s $90 million for Chapman. Stanton’s a better deal than that. But as for Stanton, the Dodgers know better than I what they’re willing to pay. As for Machado and Harper, they might well surpass Stanton’s deal.
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Quite frankly all I can think about now is the upcoming NLDS against the D-Backs. Not ready to even consider what the Dodgers might do this off-season. Too many variables.
Ray threw 34 pitches. I think he would still start on Friday.
Looks like we are playing the D-Bags!
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Bring ’em on!
Paul Goldbrick ended the season 0 – 17 and was 0-11 against Jon Gray.
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3-Run Jack!
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The Playoffs start now. Forget the other crap!
Was that an obscene phone call or was that Quas??? That’s what I thought…
If I got the checkbook, I go for Machado… 3B or 2B…
I’m cool with that!!!
1. In my opinion the Dodgers were right to rescend the Chapman trade. He may be good (not as good as he used to be), but they don’t need that kind of character.
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2. I still would not trade Verdugo for JD Martinez. The Dodgers will bid up Martinez, but they will not sign him. Too expensive and too old.
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3. I think the Dodgers will consider Stanton. He could be quite the draw and he’s only a couple years older than Machado . If the deal is right, Walter will consider it.
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What about this:
1. Turner 3B
2. Seager SS
3. Bellinger 1B
4. Stanton LF
5. Taylor CF
6. Puig RF
7. Barnes C
8. 2B
“I know Chapman is a hothead and that he let his woman push the right buttons to do the wrong thing in turning him into a lunatic. That can happen to ANY man.He just has to come across the right woman for that job. We are all potential lunatics any shrink will confirm that.”
Quasimodo, you need some serious help.
The goal before the Bryce Harper/Manny Machado free agent class is to get under the luxury tax threshold.
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That’s nigh impossible by getting Stanton’s contract.
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Come on.
Change is a constant but one would hope it will be progressive change and not regressive. I for one prefer progress to regression in all aspects of revision. Going backwards is for losers.
I’m sure FAZ was watching Chapman last night with regrets of letting him slip through their fingers. Before I hear the flak on that ask yourselves if you’re more satisfied with Baez as Jansen’s set up man. I think Baez is going to do fairly well this post season, but I believe Chapman is quite a bit better.
Just a few points!
If we end up facing the Rockies, Kershaw better be ready, not to let the Rockies get to him!
Because Kershaw hasn’t been happy with the Rockies, messing with his routine, the last two times, that Kershaw has faced them.
And since it seems like what the Rockies did, seemed to work, I don’t see the Rockies changing a thing, if we play them!
I think Goldy might be dealing with something, much like Corey has had to deal with.
Because Goldy didn’t hit much at all in September, and infact, Goldy’s numbers in September, were much like Granderson’s numbers were, in August, and that is so unlike Goldy!
Remember when they had Goldie sit out one of those games, in the last series we played the Dbacks, at Dodger Stadium?
Maybe Goldy’s elbow, is more serious, then the Dbacks let on!
Unbelievable, JD hit in 68 runs, for the Dbacks this year!
But like everyone here already knows, baseball can be funny, and streaks are fleeting, so maybe JD’s streak, is about to slow down.
Because this is a whole new season for anyone, that is on a team, that is going to the post season!
So we might see some new stars in this next new season, because everything, and everyone, in this new season, starts out fresh!
So even the most obscure players can make their mark, and in fact, there has been more then a few obscure players, that have done just that!
Rick – I wonder if FAZ could use hindsight and revisit the TD, knowing now the almighty slump of September was going to happen, they might do things differently – namely do a deal for JDM?
I think it’s likely they would…
Agree with AC about Bob Geren. He was a great manager for Sacramento but didn’t get along with the huge ego of Billy Beane (like Art Howe and many others).
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I would be surprised if Ethier was invited back but I guess you never know. Utley has been valued not only for his play (which is mostly so-so at this point of his career) but his influence on young infielders and others in the clubhouse. Andre has never been known as a great clubhouse guy and I doubt that that would be a reason to retain him. He is mostly a pinch-hitter at this point and the Dodgers seem to value a flexible roster – Ethier is one-dimensional.
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Gonzalez looks to be done and at the very least the Dodgers don’t need anyone keeping Bellinger off of 1B. If he’s healthy he’s mostly a pinch-hitter for the Dodgers – one who can’t run and costs $21MM per year.
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It would make more sense to bring Utley back as a part-time player who can play 3 positions and can still run.
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The Dodgers have numerous pitchers who can’t really be counted on (my well known pet peeve) – McCarthy, Ryu, Maeda, Kazmir, etc. If the Dodgers can retire Kazmir, great. I see them keeping Maeda who’s contract is too good to get rid of, and Hill. If there is a way to part company with McCarthy and Ryu I would be in favor but it’s going to be hard to do that unless it’s part of some larger deal.
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No to Stanton and his $295MM contract.
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I think that JD Martinez would look very good in Dodger Blue patrolling LF – it’s going to cost 5/$125 or thereabouts to get it done but it’s still lots cheaper than Stanton’s contract. Another top of the rotation starter would be nice too.
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I noticed that Mark didn’t mention Forsythe as one who might be gone next year – he didn’t do too much to help this year and didn’t live up to his contract.
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Next year’s Dodgers WILL be different – and may be better than this year’s version.
Just watched the Gibson HR above, and the hairs on the back of my neck still stand up whenever I see it.
The commentary from Vin, or rather lack of it, is perfect.
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From Doc’s comments yesterday I think Baez gets a seat in the Bullpen.
I think I read somewhere that David Price’s best friend, Dennis Eckersley, was going to be doing some Dodger games during the playoffs. My question is WHY? He hasn’t seen an NL game since Gibson limped around the bases in ’88. I hope I read that wrong.
Does Orel have any interest in taking Honey’s position if Honey retires? What are the chances the Dodgers sign Otani for next season? Orel was in Japan checking him out a few months ago.
One change for sure (or as certain I can be without direct confirmation from FAZ), is that Bob Geren is the huuuuuuge favorite for the Mets manager position. Sandy Alderson loves Geren. Doc has relied, and learned, quite a bit from Geren, and he will be missed. I first met Geren when he was manager of the Sacramento River Cats. I had field level season tickets and talked with him more than a handful of times. He is extremely knowledgeable. Nobody can succeed as the A’s manager. It is a revolving door from players and managers. If he gets the Mets job, he will be closer to his 2 sons who play for the Princeton Tigers (smart and athletic). It will be interesting to see who will replace Bob.