I was going to analyze the Dodger Bullpen today, but WOW, they have a lot of bullpen options…. so since I am not done, I will do that next week. I will not be surprised if Friedman adds another bullpen arm or two, but it’s very likley the Dodger bullpen could be great next season without any additions. The bigger question is: “What will happen at the Winter Meetings?” We may never know, because What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas! What we do know is that we are underwhelmed by what has happened to date.
This is where deals are done, free agents are signed and a variety of trades are made… or not! It’s hard to predict where this market will go. I do think that the best offer Bryce Harper will get was the one from the Nationals for $300 million. I would not pay him that and I am almost certain that Andrew Friedman will not pay him that. I still think he ends up back in The Swamp (D.C.)! I also think Machado is going to have difficulty breaking $200 million and even at that price, there’s no way I want him back!
Now that Eovaldi and Corbin have signed, there could be some interest in some of the Dodgers’ starting pitchers, like Wood, Stripling, Maeda or Hill. Out of about 100 Free Agents, only 15 have signed. There’s a lot of action that can happen… but will it be at the Winter Meetings? We shall see.
Even though the Dodgers have the best starting pitching staff in baseball, they could trade for Corey Kluber or Treavor Bauer – You can NEVER have enough pitching. However, if they acquire either one, I believe that two of the aforementioned Dodger starters will also be traded. Couldn’t the Phillies, Yankees, Braves, Orioles, et al use a Hill, Maeda, Wood or Stripling (I would not trade Stripling easily). We should also find out who wins the Yusei Kikuchi Sweepstakes soon. I have no idea of the Dodgers level of interest…
Las Vegas is probably a perfect place to have the Winter Meetings, especially the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino (hopefully there are no active shooters). The last Winter Meetings I attended was in Indy (which by the way, is now one of the Top 10 Convention Cities) . Here’s a link to Part 1 of a video I did of it (in case you have not already seen it): WINTER MEETINGS – INDY I do miss De Jon and Logan… but am thankful that Friedman is in charge. Andrew did try and retain Logan as he had a lot of respect for him.
I hear they are lined-up waiting to throw big dollars and a multitude of years to Yasmani Grandal… NOT! My. how far he has fallen! 1 year- $5 Million? What will Friedman do (WWFD)? We haven’t a clue!
Today’s Music
Discussion (28)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Interesting commends! What should the Dodgers do and what will they do? I don’t see any long-term contracts being given so I don’t see Harper in Dodger Blue. I don’t see JT Realmuto being acquired given the huge asking price when Smith and Ruiz are probably one year away. There are several cheaper options for a good defense catcher to share with Barnes. I don’t see Jose Abreu being acquired when the Dodgers have Bellinger, Freese and Muncy. With Seager coming back and with Turner, the infield only needs a 2nd baseman like DJ LeMahieu but there are several others who would cost less. Should the Dodgers pick another starting pitcher? Maybe, if they can move Woods. Kershaw is no longer the pitcher he was a couple years ago and so another ace would be good to go with Buehler. What should the Dodgers do? In my opinion, trade Kemp to an AL team and pay ½ of his salary; trade Woods; trade Muncy as he will not come close to last year’s magic, trade Pederson or Toles or Verdugo or Puig, and get a good starting pitcher and prospects. I hope both Verdugo and Puig remain, but value is required to get value. It will be interesting to see if any significant moves are made before mid-February. I would like to see Bellinger at 1st for most of the year and have Freese start about 40 games. I would like to see Muncy gone if only to get Bellinger back to 1st. Muncy belongs in the AL where he can be a corner infielder and DH. I like to see the Dodgers acquire a good CF who can hit and run. Except for Bellinger, there is none in the lineup. Puig and Verdugo and Toles and Pederson are all corner OF’s. Keep two and move two. The outfield I would like is Verdugo, Pollock and Puig. There are several other combinations that would be great. Keep Chris Taylor and R Hernandez for their utility value.
Friedman has announced that the Dodgers will not be replacing Zaidi this Winter. I think there are enough brains in the building.
Sources: Still “in” on J.T.Realmuto: NYM, PHI, SD, ATL, TB….not as aggressive but “in” are LA, COL, Milw, Hous, CWS
That’s from Jim Bowden’s twitter.
Finally tidbits from David Samson:
https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/barry-jackson/article222717600.html
Back to Winter Meetings… IMO it will be a good vacation for the Dodger FO and as AC said maybe we get a B/U catcher…
There’s always one of my last chance favories, ST… Around the 3/4 mark as players go down we trade… You come to us!!!
Last but not least IMO Mr. Boras and dope fiend contracts have ruined the Hot Stove season for all of us…
Then there is this for a slow day:
https://sports.yahoo.com/disgruntled-yasiel-puig-could-traded-180627780.html
The BASE has spoken… A close friend of my family lost his 2 grandkids at that concert…
No bait… Just fact..
I think both Mark and AC are right here, so I would not assume anything.
But I also know these constant rumors can test everyone’s patience at times too.
Who saw Friedman trading A-Going- Going,-Gon, Cashmere, B-Mac and Culberson for Matt Kemp last year?
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No one, that’s who!
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Who expected Kemp to make a difference and be the Comeback Player of the Year?
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Only one!
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Be patient. Friedman at Work!
Interesting comments on Grandal. If true (1 year 5mil) is that because owners just don’t want to shell out those big bucks Grandal was looking for, or do those same owners value the total package; pitch framing, game calling, throwing out runners (all very good), brick glove, a big bat that disappears for long periods, and a total inability to do anything with the bat except swing for the fences (something to be desired).
Was Freidman hoping Grandal would decline the QO?
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We don’t need Grandal back even for one year – I think the Dodger ship has sailed, but its a rather scary proposition to have Barnes as your starter.
Damn Mark!!! Really??? Maybe you folks in Indiana weren’t effected !?
” Las Vegas is probably a perfect place to have the Winter Meetings, especially the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino (hopefully there are no active shooters). “
Unless the Dodgers can trade Puig and/or Wood, then there will be no money for any significant free agent or high dollar trade. But who is going to give back game changers for one year high salaried players? The Dodgers are going to have to include players like Stripling, Ferguson, Santana, May, Smith, Ruiz if they want to get anyone back that can help this year. Right now, for me Lux would be the only untouchable prospect because the Dodgers have nobody behind him that can replace him on that ladder to MLB. Do they really need both Smith AND Ruiz?
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As Adam is describing the current state of the LAD roster above, there are a lot of holes to fill with no money available to sign via FA. They cannot all be filled with trading marginal players or one year players like Puig, Wood, or Hill.
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So how can Friedman satisfy all Dodger fans if he cannot trade any of your favorite players, and mind you those favorite players change from fan to fan? While most on here would not be upset if Joc were traded, Bums would be. I like Alex Wood more than anyone on this site, but even I would like to see him moved. I want him moved because he cannot help the Dodgers as a swing man, and I would rather see him start for someone else. But he has limited trade value, so maybe Friedman holds onto him as a just in case depth pitcher because he has more value with the Dodgers in that role than he would bring back in a trade. Puig? How many have said they do not want to see Puig traded at all. Some do not want to trade Muncy because of what he did last year, never mind that it may be a one year thing and he will never have higher trade value.
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So unless you are okay with trading the true prospects and not just marginal players that no team really wants (because they have them to), the Dodgers will sign a back up catcher and some questionable relievers and call it a Meeting. I would want Kluber and Realmuto, but it is going to cost more than the proposals that I have seen floated.
Listened to the Rich Hill interview last night,he made some very interesting comments.
Friedman- let’s get moving, being methodical and slow everytime does not always work. There are other smart people in the room!!
I don’t feel this team as it is currently constructed is anymore then NL West Champs at most. Too many wildcards, Seager coming back and being our everyday two hole hitter, Jansen reverting to form after heart surgery and a down year, Muncy even coming close to last year’s magic, the pen not being just a bunch of average relievers some good and some bad, yes we are deep with starting pitching but beyond Buheler there is a lot of unknowns and injury candidates, catcher does not need to be talked about unless we are content with .220 and no power, and still see a hole at 2nd and player’s who can hit lefties??
Please Friedman stop playing roulette and betting long shots and start betting some favorites this weekend. Get it done!!
With Kershaw’s star beginning to fade, I think we could use another bonafide star. A legit threat to break the game wide open with one swing. LA thrives on stars. I know super stars don’t always translate into championships, but they do make the game more fun to watch. It was frustrating to see guys like CT, Dozier, Joc, Barnes and even at times Puig, flail away at pitches down in the dirt. We need someone else besides JT to be a legit threat to opposing pitchers. Kemp’s not the answer, maybe it will be Seager? I don’t want a dope-fiend move, but man, the threat of a JD Martinez or Stanton type would be awesome in the middle of the line-up… Friedman, make it happen!