The trade deadline is a little over two weeks away. July 31st is the drop-dead date, but wait! Is it really? What would happen if the Marlins put Stanton on waivers in August? Miami could just let anyone who put in a claim have him if they truly wanted to dump salary, so the question is: If he isn’t traded before July 31st, would anyone put in a waiver claim on him? We need to realize one thing: most of these deals we concoct will never happen!
However, this is baseball and you never know. I do know this: We have no idea what FAZ is doing. I am sure they have something up their sleeve that we never thought of. Some are extolling Theo’s acquisition of Quintana as being a “Bold Move” and it is because the Cubs gave up two highly rated prospects, but Theo had to make it because the Cubs do not have any depth in starting pitchers. That’s the difference. FAZ has the depth so that they do not have to make bold moves like that. That bold move may be good…. but what happens if Quintana doesn’t pitch well or gets injured?
FAZ has made moves that did not work (Johnson, Latos, Olivera, Reddick), but they never gave up Top Prospects to do them. I doubt they will do so this year either – they don’t have to. They have the best team in baseball – all it needs is a tweak here or there. A lockdown LH in the pen would be nice, but I don’t see them trading Verdugo.
Two weeks of playing wait and see and what if?
I’m ready for some Dodger baseball. How about you?
Discussion (79)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Two outs, nobody on base, down a run in the top of the ninth, two consecutive hitters grind out two strike counts to get on base, and then Puig hangs in with a third two strike count, two out count to hit the game winner home run. This team knows how to use all 27 outs and knows how to win.
I worry just a little that Taylor will revert to his past. I probably need to stop worrying. He had two hits last night and a walk. He made a great play on a ball hit over his head and to his left. He probably is another Justin Turner. If you think of just those two players and what finds they were.
IMO Verdugo is the best AAA hitter the Dodgers have had since John Werhas. I hope not the same desire and drive to compete in the bigs.
D-backs and Rockies both lose lead is 8.5 and 10.5.
Didn’t see the first six! How did Mac look?
Puig Flys!
In Puig I Trust
He heard ya’ll talking! Best 8 hole hitter in MLB… try and say that fast…
Team of destiny?
We talk trade.. They say What?
Unbelievable!!!
27 come from behind wins.
They believe they can win every game so they are never out of a game.
And PUIG!
The look on Mattinglys face was priceless!
“New Half – Same Story!” Joe Davis
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Classic!
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The Dodgers don’t need a damn thing!
I ill be damed.
Can we stop talking about trading Puig now?
I think we should trade Puig:)
Like Mark said SD would never make that trade. My belief is they go north to Oakland for Doolittle
Funny how everyone wants to trade our trash for the other teams best. If you don’t want those guys what makes you think the other teams want them. Even paying down contracts won’t make it easier to move them and you still won’t get top players in return
I would like to see Gonzales finish his career in San Diego. He would probably make that his second choice with his first choice to stay with the Dodgers.
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San Diego could use Gonzales to help with their youth even though they would keep Meyer at first. Gonzales plus $10M and Oats for Hand would be nice.
All the talk about trading AGon , he does have a partial non trade clause. Romo, Utley, Gutierrez, Morrow, Van Slyke, Availan, Hatcher are free agent or non-tender candidates that’s close to 15 million that can come off the books. Forsythe has an option for about 10 million. That’s a lot more that comes off the books.
Stanton while I don’t think a trade happens, carries a 25 million per year payroll hit. For luxury tax purposes big contracts are counted on annual average value. If the National League goes to the DH Stanton might a big might make some sense.
My gut tells me FAZ goes north again for Doolittle and Gray, with a possible run at Khris Davis.
The 2018 payroll tax threshold is $197.
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2017 Dodger payroll includes 38 total players and $241,149,167 total salary.
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The 2018 payroll will not include Ethier at $17.5M, Crawford at $21.8M, Guerro at $7.5M for a total of $46M.
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Disregarding raises and new players, the Dodgers will go into 2018 at $241M less $46M = $195M
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Whomever they trade for, the Dodgers should try to include one or more of the following to offset the payroll increase from that trade to avoid the payroll tax penalty–
McCarthy $11.5M, Gonzales $22.4M, Puig $9.2M, Kazmir $17.7M, Ryu $7.8M, Maeda $3.1M
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Those players total $71.7M
Dodgers have also reached out to Balt re. the set up guy, Bach (who Mark wanted earlier this year!)
If Britton is too expensive, maybe Bach is the one.
We’ve also talked to Pitt about Cutch and leftie reliever Tony Watson (and to Det about Wilson/JD Martinez)
Let me remind you that power is usually the last thing to come. In about 4 AB’s in 2013 and 2014, Cody Bellinger hit 4, count ’em four home runs. I think Alex will be a 15-20 HR guy soon enough. He does have some issues evidently inherited from his dad, but his talent level is high with the bat.
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I honestly think he has a shot at being Tony Gwynn. He’s not fast but he has a great arm and could play in LF or RF.
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It would take a lot for me to trade him.
Urias isn’t going anywhere. Verdugo? That’s another question. From what I have read (no personal knowledge claimed here), he has 3 issues
1- gained weight and lost speed – no longer a CF
2 – no power in an era where power is coveted and hitters who hit .350 aren’t necessarily
3 – attitude is reported to be poor
I have no idea if he would be available in the right deal, but ask yourself this – how many regular players do the Dodgers have who aren’t capable of hitting 15+ HR/season? If the answer is zero, then ask whether the Braintrust wants one.
Throw in Urias.
Verdugo and Calhoun for Fullmer would be a steal for us. Throw in some minor league starter too. Fullmer can play.
I think everyone is sanctifying Verdugo like they did with Urias. He IS expendable. Can’t compare Puig,a proven major league hitter , with Verdugo who has not even taken a swing yet. Verdugo can go if the return is right. I’m glad Urias isn’t part of this conversation any more, but Verdugo is quickly taking his place. I would take Fullmer for Verdugo et al in a second.
I’m not so sure we need a LHRP for the playoffs. Starters will be Kershaw, Wood, Hill, and McCarthy. That leaves Ryu and Kazmir for the bullpen.
http://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/story/_/id/19964788/mlb-one-move-team-make-second-half
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Yasiel Puig’s on pace to get near 30 homers for the first time in his career, but big picture rather than counting dingers: He’s not actually hitting any better (103 OPS+) than he has over the past two seasons (104 OPS+). The talks of his resurgence are mostly because of the recency bias created by a solid June (.965 OPS). Last month aside, I’d be surprised if Alex Verdugo wasn’t a better overall player than Puig was at this point. While it’s hard to make the move work from a roster standpoint, remember, I’m the guy with the Doomsday Laser.
I agree with many that:
1 – This is the year to pull out the stops
2 – The Braintrust thinks so too. That’s why they re-signed Turner, Jansen and Hill
3 – We all have different opinions about what it means to pull out the stops
4 – If the past few years have taught us anything, the Braintrust won’t likely trade the “wrong” prospects when making a trade for the last piece of the puzzle
5 – If the past few years have taught us anything, the pieces brought in by the Braintrust may not do much. This is the year that I hope that changes and that the pieces brought in will make the difference
6 – No way that the Dodgers will bring in guys with huge contracts (like Stanton) at the deadline – the past few years have shown us that too
7 – The BT is willing to bring in rentals – eg. Hill and Reddick
8 – They are willing to make incremental improvements but I doubt that they will do so this year – the bench and minors have been good enough that they won’t need to do so
9 – I still doubt they bring in a starter. There is going to be a lot of competition for a few high impact lefty relievers. I still want to see a RH power bat for the OF. Will they trade an existing OF in the process? Maybe – I have seen the arguments for either Puig or Pederson going and it is possible.
Regarding Mark’s waiver claim question on Stanton. I don’t see FAZ doing that. Terrible contract!
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Only way Stanton becomes a Dodger, in my opinion, is if Marlin take back dead weight contracts that get us out of 2018 luxury tax and Stanton agrees to changes on his no-trade. Maybe a no-trade clause through 2020, so he can be part of the Dodger Dynasty and go head to head against Judge in the W.S. for a few years. If I was him I would prefer that possibility rather than being stuck in Miami.
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Does anyone remember me asking, Would you trade Wood for Baez and Happ? Looks like that was exactly what Detroit wanted for 24 yr old MIchael Fulmer.
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The Cubs tried to engage the Tigers in trade talks on Michael Fulmer before acquiring Quintana, reports Nightengale in a full column. However, Detroit gave no indication that it was willing to listen unless the Cubs were willing to include both Javier Baez and Ian Happ in trade talks. GM Boxout isn’t sure he would have done that deal, without the scouting reports, but would have considered it.
I agree with you NorCal. I do not like the way Puig catches any fly ball. That is why I wish FAZ would bring Verdugo up now to give him two weeks to see what we have. I will not be unhappy if the Dodgers trade Puig. However, FAZ is very good at developing talent and know who they want to keep. I listen to the Calhoun interview at the all star game and he thinks he has improved defensively. He said he has done everything the Dodgers asked him to do.
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We just need a lock down LHRP. When Agon comes back we are going to have an extra outfielder. I agree with you Bum on finding out if Ryu can be a nice bull pen piece.
Friedman has made some of his best deals, on teams like the Dodgers, and other teams, that need a player, at the trade deadline.
And there are more sellers then buyers out there right now, so it is going to be hard, to make really good deal, so I think the front office is going to keep it simple.
And just try to get a good leftie for our bullpen, and maybe another arm, to freshen the bullpen up, like they did last year.
It would be great to get Britton, because he not only shut down lefties, he shut down righties last year too!
But the Oriole’s might be asking to much like most teams are, so I bet the front office have been looking at the different spin rates on pitchers, and strike out rates, to try to make a steal for a second arm, for the bullpen.
But Britton will definitely be a game changer, because with both Kenley and Britton in the bullpen, we will have upped, what the Cubs did last year, when they traded for Chapman!
Dodgers utilization of the bullpen is way down this year:
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https://www.truebluela.com/2017/7/14/15963464/dodgers-bullpen-usage-down-rested-relievers
I think the FO will go all in this season. As smart as FAZ et al are they know they have something special this year and will strike while the “window” is open. I can see them trading anyone in the minor leagues not named Walker Buehler and Mitchell White. I’m not advocating Verdugo or Alverez to be traded but this FO can evaluate talent not like other organizations and will move almost anyone to get BP help, SP help and maybe even a replacement for Puig (Stanton).
I’m not convinced the players and management fully support Puig. I was at a game at Coors Field this year and watched Puig nonchalantly go after a line drive that nearly got over his head. He made the catch but made it look more difficult than necessary. I watched as Kershaw spun and looked right in the dugout at Roberts. Easily you could tell Kershaw was not impressed with how Puig played the ball and looked exasperated as he glared in the dugout. Will Puig get traded? I don’t know, but would I be surprised if he is? No!
SD asked for Verudugo for Hand. Obviously we said no.
But I would consider Verdugo in a Britton deal, as he’s signed thru 2018 as well. Would an elite closer like that accept being a set up guy for the next 1.5 years though?
Bill Russell now works for major league baseball, and his job at every Dodgers home game is evaluating the umpires and making his report to the commissioner’s office. In his words, “There are not as many arguments as there used to be because umpires can look at the TV replay and then make their decision.”
Prospects are only prospects. FAZ has done a very good job in identifying and protecting the studs. I can see a trade of “top prospects” for a LHRP or even a bat.
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I’m just wondering how much longer FAZ can continue to trade “top prospects” before no one will trade with us.
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Now it’s time for Dodger baseball
In the next two weeks I would like to see what Ryu can do as a lock-down 8th inning reliever.