The Last Laugh

He is, at least for now, “handcuffed” by some of the constraints that

exist for ninety percent of sports franchises.

I am not an admirer of the “spend more because fans in big markets are

more worthy than fans in smaller ones” gang.

I am a fan of spend better….

If Andrew Freidman does the same thing this year as last – (Last minute, too little, too late, and not address the team needs everyone has articulated- and not just this blog, but people who do this for a paycheck), I must conclude, despite his success to date, that he is handcuffed by management, or he does not have what it takes to get LA a WS championship.

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He can have a brilliant mind, be a wonderlick in Tampa Bay, the envy of MLB, but something less than the sum of those parts in Los Angeles.

Not all who post here are members of the First Church of Andrew Friedman. We are told continuously to “have faith”. All will be provided. The Gracious Dodgers’ Front Office will provide.

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Sounds a little silly to me – I only have that kind of faith in One. Friedman isn’t Him.

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Since I don’t have that kind of faith, I haven’t joined the flock of the Church of Friedman yet. So I question. Last pre-season, they made the Culberson salary dump trade and got Scott Alexander. This season, they have lost Kemp, Puig, Farmer, Wood and also Grandal, Machado and Dozier. And have added the corpse of Homer Bailey, Russell Martin and Wild Man Kelly.

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Not a net plus. No confidence in the catching team currently on the roster. Question marks about middle relief, 2B, Cory Seager’s health, and OF.

This CBT thing is such a load of hooey.

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The Dodgers are paying Martin 3+mm, but for CBT purposes they are paying him zero.

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I could understand if the team was using the threshold because there were payments to LPs that took precedence. Or if there were issues related to cashflow. But that’s not the case. The team spends boatloads on management, on player development, on analytics and on players (like Martin) who don’t count against the cap.

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This is just people arbitrarily making up a red line and not allowing the team to cross it.

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It’s ludicrous.

We all need to realize that not everyone posts at the same level of seriousness.

March 28 is opening day. Today is Jan 11. I”m not a math wiz, but I think that’s many days difference.

I think we have plenty of time to make moves and get that lineup set so that those who are a “tad antsy” about how this Jan 11 version of the Dodgers is constructed can be more confident about how that March 28 version of the Dodgers is constructed.

Many of us don’t understand the strategy (me included), but I for one have faith that the people in charge 1) DO have a strategy, and 2) are implementing measures to follow that strategy.

If we assume there is a strategy, then let’s also assume that completing that strategy doesn’t have a deadline of Jan 11 (or that the strategy doesn’t include keeping 27 utility backup middle infielders and 34 middle relief pitchers in our farm system)

I think Rendon is one of the most under rated players in baseball.

I think he has been more consistent then Harper.

Bobby finds it comical with those who freak out that the Dodgers do not have their NLDS Game 1 starting lineup set already! I agree with Dodgerrick…they do not have their March 28 lineup vs the DBacks set, or at least I hope not. I do not think any of us are “freaking” out. I think many of us are frustrated with the lack of movement, but that is certainly different than freaking out or panicking. We hope something significant is in the works. We were patient last year, and that did not pan out. Maybe this year will be different.

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Many of us really do not understand what the strategy is, and before anyone asks, I do not expect anyone to tell us. Are the Dodgers content to stay under the CBT threshold? Are they willing to spend on “a” player (i.e. Bryce Harper)? We know they are willing to simply give away some lower 3rd tier prospects, but what about trading from the tier one or two levels to get a player on a position of need?

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Are the Dodgers really a better team with Russell Martin at a cost of $3.6MM but without Andrew Sopko and Ronny Brito rather than with Martin Maldonado (probably less than $3.6MM) and holding on to Sopko and Brito? With no other move, that is the choice. No, this is not arguing or panicking or freaking out. It is a legit question. For me the answer is no. Is our farm system really at a point where it is okay to just jettison 3rd tier prospects because they are not in line to make the LAD ML team? If so, I can name dozens of players they can unload. I would prefer to trade them for other prospects at a position of need. But we all remember the last time prospects were traded for prospects…Frankie Montas, Micah Johnson, and Trayce Thompson received for Scott Schebler, Jose Peraza, and Brandon Dixon. I certainly would not put that in the plus column for trades. Why not include Brock Stewart, Yimi Garcia, or JT Chargois? They are probably going to lose them anyway.

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I have already told 59 that I will say I was wrong if the Dodgers do sign Bryce Harper. I still see no evidence whatsoever that they will do so. I continue to believe that Harper is not the missing piece for a WS championship, but I would be more than happy to be wrong. But let’s not stop there.

Current AAV – $182,383,333

1. Add Russell Martin at $3.6MM

2. Sign Harper – $35MM AAV (That is what many here are willing to spend)

3. Trade Verdugo, Barnes, Alvarez and ??? to Miami for JT Realmuto (net AAV $5.1MM)

4. Trade Joc, Fields, and ??? to Detroit for Nick Castellanos (Net AAV $5.2MM)

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That would certainly move the Dodgers into the favorite role. The AAV would increase to $231,283,333 and would carry a luxury tax and surcharge tax of approximately $5.7MM. While I am firmly entrenched in the “If not this year, then when” mode, I see no evidence that this is even a slight consideration. Are the Dodgers a big market team or a team of “bean counters”? It is more likely that there will be very little further activity. The Dodgers have now addressed 2nd base (Kike’, CT3, and Muncy), catcher (Martin) and bullpen (Joe Kelly), RH bat (Martin). All perceived weaknesses have now been addressed and now the Dodgers should be huge favorites to win the 2019 WS. No more moves necessary.

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Am I snarky, sarcastic, and sardonic? Yes. But my point is still valid (IMO). Just because many of us do not agree with the lack of significant moves, does not mean that we think Friedman is a moron or that we are freaking out or panicking. We see a team that was not good enough to win the WS last year, and the current team is not as good as that one, all the while the Nats, Cards, Braves, Phils, NYY, and even the Mets have improved. Cubs and Brewers are still at least as good as they were last year, making them better than LAD this year. Of course, Mark and others may be right and Taylor, Kike’, Barnes, Cody will all have career years. Kershaw will stay off the DL and put up a 20-win sub 2.00 ERA season winning his 4th CY. Buehler will win 20 and come in 2nd. Muncy will have an OPS north of 1.000. Seager and JT will be #1 and #2 in MVP. And with the Dodgers having career years, deGrom and Thor will go on the DL in May and stay there. Scherzer will lose it and his ERA will balloon to 4.00 plus.

Not only is the $1.4M over projection for Seager the “right thing to do” it also may be an opening bargaining move for a future free agency signing or extension. He is a Boras client however.

Saw this on MLB Trade Rumors

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“The Dodgers have lined up deals with all of their arbitration-eligible players, J.P. Hoornstra of the Southern California News Group reports (Twitter links). Shortstop Corey Seager is slated to receive $4MM as a first-time arb eligible player. Seager had only a $2.6MM projection, but was clearly rewarded for the excellent output he turned in before missing all of the 2018 season due to Tommy John surgery.

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Yasiel Puig has struck a $9.7MM deal with his new team, the Reds, per MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon (via Twitter).”

Maybe Realmuto is no longer the target.

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Martin and Barnes can both play the infield.

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Maybe the Dodgers start the season with Barnes and Martin at C and then call up Kaybear.

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Maybe (hopefully) Casty is the target!

Looks like Toronto is including $16.4M which covers Martin’s $16.4M AAV. So Martin is CBT-wise free.

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I find this a fascinating game. Wondering what the final difference between payroll and CBT payroll will be. Friedman et al are always looking for “inefficiencies” to exploit.

Let’s see, the Rockies let DJLM go and paid 33 year-old Daniel Murphy (who allegedly can’t field) a guaranteed $18 million for two years with a option while letting DJLM who is 3 years younger go to the Yankees for $24 million.

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Max Muncy makes $560,000 a year – I’ll take him everyday over DJ, Dozier and Papa Murphy!

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I was listening to MLB.Radio and they said that there is no way Friedman trades Ruiz for Realmuto. They say Smith is who the Dodgers are offering. Verdugo is not included.

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They also say that Ruiz is a lot closer than many think after watching him in the AFL and that Martin might be his perfect mentor.

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Quit losing your minds. There’s lots of time….

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Lots of possibilities.

Lemahieu and the Yankees agree to a two-year contract. Another possible acquisition I was looking forward to the Dodgers make happen. Scratch another player off the list in what is an ongoing frustrating off season.

I hear that Billingsley, Loney, and Laroche are being given contracts so the entire Jacksonville 5 gets a 2nd chance with the Dodgers.

Martin used to have 6 mound visits in one inning so with the new limits of 6 per game, I wonder how he found a way to just talk to himself?

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I will guess that Verdugo, Barnes, and Alvarez are traded for Realmuto. I am okay with that but it probably puts Hernandez in RF unless another trade or FA signing is made.

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Should the Dodgers wind up with Harper and Realmuto, I hope those that lacked patience and willingness to live with a little risk, relax and enjoy the journey. Although I throw as much spaghetti on the wall as does Mark, the two of are probably the most patient and willing to live with what the team already has in house. That goes for last year as well.

You’re telling me they couldn’t have dumped Kemp’s contact for Martin and still had Wood and Puig as assets. Martin was so overrated when he was last considered good. So far this offseason is a bust but I will continue to wait patiently for something good to happen.

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I did want to offer my congratulations to UCLA fans for no longer having to root for a terrible human being coaching their esteemed basketball team.

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Go Colts !

The only way I see this as a good trade for the Dodgers is if Miami and the Dodgers are still talking about Realmuto and Barnes is now one of the players the Dodgers are offering. Barnes and Martin I surly hope not.

When I saw the trade for Martin, the first thought I had was that Barnes was now available to go back to Miami as part of a package for JTR. Will that actually happen, I don’t have a clue, but if anything, it’s plausible. I still have confidence in AF, so whatever is to come, I remain hopeful.

There once was a time when Russ Martin was my favorite player, but his work ethic was overcame by his party life. At 35, he’s only a backup. He was horrible last year, but in case you haven’t noticed, lots of players have up or down seasons.

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The Yanks would not include Gary Sanchez who hit .186 last season in a trade for JT Realmuto. Why? because stuff happens, players ebb and flow.

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I have no idea if Martin can get his groove back, but at one time in his career he was the hardest working Dodger – first on the field, last one off. I like the move. Maybe he can pull an “Old Man Kemp.”

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This is a move – just not a key move.

Official Press Release

DODGERS ACQUIRE RUSSELL MARTIN

Four-Time All-Star heads back to Los Angeles, where he starred from 2006-10

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LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers today acquired catcher Russell Martin and cash considerations from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for minor league right-handed pitcher Andrew Sopko and minor league infielder Ronny Brito.

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Martin, 35, began his big league career as a Dodger in 2006 after being selected by Los Angeles in the 17th round of the 2002 First-Year Player Draft. With the Dodgers, Martin was an All-Star in 2007 and 2008 and helped lead the club to three Postseason appearances in his five seasons. The upcoming season will be Martin’s 14th in the Major Leagues and he owns a career slashline of .249/.349/.399 with 185 homers and 751 RBI with the Dodgers (2006-10), Yankees (2011-12), Pirates (2013-14) and Blue Jays (2015-18).

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Overall, Martin’s teams have made the Postseason nine times in 13 years and he has caught 1,519 games (1,455 starts), which ranks third among active players, trailing just Yadier Molina (1,836) and Brian McCann (1,529). He won both the Silver Slugger and Gold Glove awards in 2007, and in 2013 and 2014, he was named the Wilson Defensive Catcher of the Year.

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In 2018, Martin made 89 starts behind the plate and at third base for the Blue Jays, slashing .194/.338/.325 with 10 home runs and 35 RBI.

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Sopko, 24, was selected by the Dodgers in the seventh round of the 2015 MLB Draft from Gonzaga and has a career 27-17 minor league record with a 3.61 ERA (158 ER/394.1 IP) and 363 strikeouts against 112 walks over four minor league seasons.

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Brito, 19, signed with the Dodgers as an international free agent from the Dominican Republic on July 2, 2015 and has a career minor league slashline of .259/.339/.418 with 15 homers and 104 RBIs over three minor league seasons.

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The Dodgers currently have 39 players on their 40-man roster.

I really hope we’re not arguing over which unattractive catching option we should have gone with: Martin, Maldanado, Hundley, etc. They’re all the same to me. Those guys are here to back up, be vet leaders, help Austin Barnes regain his stroke, and keep the seat warm for Ruiz/Smith.

We’re paying $2mil for Martin, and gave away a couple of guys that aren’t even in our top 20 prospect list. If Ronny Brito or Andrew Sopko have any kind of success in the bigs, I’ll buy the naysayers a Don Julio. Meet me at the stadium!

Gotta be official, it’s up on the Dodgers site. Brito got a $2M signing bonus out of Cuba.

https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/dodgers-trading-for-catcher-russell-martin/c-302619222

Martin hit .198 last year and OPS’d .663 last year. He only threw out 22% of base stealers last year. His last “good” season was 2016. How’s this going to help? And how much of the $20MM that Martin’s supposed to make are they paying?

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I agree with AC. This doesn’t make any sense – at least not yet.

Get Dre out of retirement

Fu%k yeah! Bringing back Martin this year is almost as good as bring back Kemp last year. Good move. Now we can send Barnes back to Miami for his triumphant return in the JTRM trade. Looks like the off-season is really coming together, boys! Looks like Bryce is gonna be the check mate move now that all the good second baseman are accounted for. We filled the catching hole and the setup hole, now we just need one outfielder out of Bryce, Pollock or Castellanos. Maybe we get two of those, but judging by what’s already been done, we wind up with trading for a former Dodger at the end of his usefulness.

Ronny Brito and Andrew Sopko going to Jays

https://bleacherreport.com/los-angeles-dodgers

Brito and Sopko going to Toronto

Russell is still among the best catchers in baseball, for blocking pitches.

Let’s project a little more. Miami wants a ML catcher in return for JTR, and consider Barnes to be more than acceptable. Could this be move one of two?

Just trying to remember I think if Toronto pays 10 million of Russell’s contract only the 10 million the Dodgers pay counts towards the CBT. Does anyone know for sure

Didn’t see that coming…speculated a couple minor league players going to Jays and they eat at least $15M of his $20M contract. Some estimated $16 to $18M paid by Jays.

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Arbitration settlements should be dropping any time now, predicting all Dodgers reach agreement avoiding hearings.

Our Leader will be happy

Martin hit 194 overall last year, and hit 184 against righties, and OPS in high 600s.

His defensive numbers look good, but his War was 0.6

How much of the twenty million he gets this year, will we have to pay?

RussellMartin coming home

Dodger Rick, there you go, Russell Martin to the Dodgers.

I wonder how much we are paying on his salary because he is making quite a bit.

Quite possibly the Dodgers passed on Lemahieu because they didn’t want a repeat of the Forsythe/Dozier syndrome – painful watching those two with a bat in their hands. Kiki at 2B is not the answer either. In my opinion Kiki is not the answer as a regular at any position – he’s great as a sub, leave him there.

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Hope your right Mark that something will happen, but we still need a 2B, C, RH bat….time is getting short, while Andrew waits.

LeMahieu to Yankees, 2 years, $24 million.

You know anything about this jt rlmto 5.9 million settlement mean??

The situation at catcher is even worse. I am re-posting this from last night:

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This is from an article in The Athletic on contending teams and their biggest holes and how to best fill them with available free agents:

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“Los Angeles Dodgers

2018 Finish: 92-71, lost World Series

Biggest need: Catcher

Top FA Target: Martín Maldonado

The Dodgers balked at retaining Grandal after his pitch-blocking yips in the postseason, but also failed to land Wilson Ramos, Kurt Suzuki, Robinson Chirinos, Jonathan Lucroy, or Brian or James McCann. So, now they’re down to Maldonado, who is effectively Jeff Mathis with occasional pop, as a best available free agent beyond hoping that Austin Barnes can rediscover his 2017 form. That’s a big drop-off at the plate for a team that just traded a pair of 120 OPS+ outfielders for prospects. So, when does the Bryce Harper signing happen?

It’s disappointing that DJ is signing with NYY. He is a gold glove 2nd baseman that can hit. The Yanks got him for 2 yrs 24 mil. WTF, I thought we were the LA Dodgers with some money? Lowrie is gone now also. Marwin Gonzales is the only guy left that’s worth having. I sure hope Kiki and CT3 plan on making some contact in 2019 and not swinging from the heels every at bat. Oh yea, there’s Muncy who has the range of Daniel Murphy at best. I wasn’t as concerned yesterday but today is a different story. Andrew had better have some Aces up his sleeve.

I would have liked to have DJ , especially for a short term deal. But I also didn’t expect anything close to his Colorado numbers if he were to become a Dodger.

Granted in Ny he may put up some nice numbers

Well many of you have to be extremely relieved now that DJLM has signed with NYY and not LAD. You all will get your wish that Kike’ or CT3 will be the everyday 2B. Kike’ was so much loved at 2B last year that the team went out and traded for Brian Dozier…the same player nobody wanted.

59, I really like the reasoning you gave for signing Harper. Our friend with the inside sources noted in the last thread that Bryce will sign in LA next week. If that happens, I’m buying that person a drink (and no, no some nasty beer; a real drink!)

Mark, I know you pick your Colts this weekend. I”m also rooting for Indi, because if the Chargers can pull of a win in NE, the AFC title game would be in LA. Same reason I”ll disgustingly root for Philly Sunday, so the NFC title game would be in LA, after the Rams beat up on Dallas.

For disclosure sake, I’m a Bears fan, but thanks to our defense not showing up when it mattered, and our kicker aiming for crossbars all season, we’re out. So Go Los Angeles!! (both of them)

Lotś of opinions,sooner or later we will get some answers.

I think it’s time to trust your player deveolpment. I learned that from watch the Colts this year. Sports without steroids are a young man’s game and I think many players will step up if given the opportunity.

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If the Dodgers are in on Harper and sign him, I will be happy, but I happen to think there is a lot of internal growth that can happen.

Mark, right on except for Casty. Dodgers are projected to have the third highest wins next year and most in NL.

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The Dodgers probably want to give Smith more time to work on hitting at OK but all seem to agree he is ready for the Show now defensively. Catcher is a defensive first position. I want to watch Smith and can’t while he is in OK. I therefore want to give him the backup catcher in LA to start the season.

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It does not take long for a player to wear out their welcome with poor defensive play. It gets old quickly.

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Something to watch with Verdugo is his need or tendency to set his feet or even take a hop before he throws. Puig didn’t do that and he was accurate. A strong throw can take away one runner’s step but if the thrower uses it to make a throw, that strong throw is neutralized. A throw three feet wide of the bag will give the runner at least half a step advantage. But with all that said, everybody knows I was ready for Puig to move on to add safety to other players.

I find it odd to say the least that Bryce Harper isn’t a fit, but Casty is. Both are bad defensively, Harper has a better arm. Harper is a better hitter. Is it just because one is right handed and the other left? I would rather the Dodgers spend some of my ticket and beer money than prospects, so for me Bryce is the guy. I actually agree that the Dodgers should sign Bryce for their fans. As a fan, I think the Dodgers should go out and get that top talent free agent every so often. Looking at the current roster, there is nobody that was once a top free agent. I’m not talking about resigning our own guy, but getting someone from the outside that is a perennial All-Star. Bryce fits that bill. Talk about a guy that won’t wilt under the lights of LA, Bryce is that guy. He’s been under the spotlight since he’s been a teenager. Forget about WAR, an imperfect that weights unreliable defensive statistical measures to judge overall performance. Forget about the fact that he’s only had 1 100 RBI season. I remember a guy with similar stats through his age 25 season, similar left handedness, similar strong arm, but not good enough defensively to play CF or RF. His name is Barry Bonds. He turned out just fine. Let’s throw a bunch of money at Bryce, throw a bunch of prospects at Miami for JTRM and win the offseason and then the WS. Nobody remembers the runner up. Vice presidents don’t get libraries. We need to be bold or we will always be bridesmaids. I’m freaking sick of waiting.

The Dodgers will not be able to make a QO to Castellanos. Not as a player traded one season before he becomes a free agent.