SponsorUS Water Systems
LA Dodger Talk

Thinking Outside the Box

The Hot Stove is Cold We are all going stir-crazy! OK, let s get really crazy: The Dodgers trade Matt Kemp, Pedro Baez and Clayton Kershaw to Texas for Cole Hamels and Jose Leclerc. That frees up $35 million in 2018. Next, they sign Yu Darvish as a Free Agent and trade Yadier Alvarez, Yusneil Diaz, Jordon Sheffield and Kenta Maeda to Pittsburgh for Andrew McCutchen and Gerrit Cole. Rotation: Hamels

By Mark Timmons1 min read26 comments

The Hot Stove is Cold… We are all going stir-crazy!

OK, let’s get really crazy:

The Dodgers trade Matt Kemp, Pedro Baez and Clayton Kershaw to Texas for Cole Hamels and Jose Leclerc.  That frees up $35 million in 2018.

Next, they sign Yu Darvish as a Free Agent and trade Yadier Alvarez, Yusneil Diaz, Jordon Sheffield and Kenta Maeda to Pittsburgh for Andrew McCutchen and Gerrit Cole.

Rotation:

  1. Hamels
  2. Darvish
  3. Cole
  4. Wood
  5. Ryu

Hill, Urias, Buehler, Oaks

Hill goes from the #2 to the #6 starter. Leclerc is a candidate to be the 8th inning man. He has some amazing stuff.

Lineup:

  1. Taylor  CF
  2. Seager  SS
  3. Turner  3B
  4. Bellinger  1B
  5. McCutchen  LF
  6. Puig  RF
  7. Barnes/Grandal  C
  8. Forsythe  2B

Here’s the rationale:

  • The Dodgers lose their Ace and end up with 3 Aces and several more starters in waiting.
  • Maeda fills a spot in Pittsburgh’s rotation.
  • The Pirates get salary relief and prospects.
  • Texas gets a Hometown boy and a big bat.
  • The Dodgers maybe lose the best pitcher in baseball but will be stacked for the playoffs.

Clayton Kershaw is my favorite Dodger, but this is about winning.  I think this gives the Dodgers a better chance at winning it all.  They are stacked for 2018… and beyond with this.   Hamels comes off the books in 2019 and Cole in 2020.  No long-term lock-ups.

It’s been calm… up until now.  Let’s get crazy!

Discussion (26)

Disagree, not disagreeable

Be civil — moderation is real. Links may need a moment of review.

  1. HawkeyeDodgerJanuary 4, 2018

    Dodgers rumored to be in trade talks for KC lefty Scott Alexander. Also looking at taking a flyer on Kris Medlen.

  2. CampyJanuary 4, 2018

    As great and popular as Kershaw is, I think there is a possibility that he gets traded in a blockbuster deal. This front office seem willing to do just about anything to make sure we improve our team

  3. dodgerpatchJanuary 4, 2018

    LOL…it is outside the box.

    The Pirates will want more for Cole. ..and his stock has dropped. He’s not the pitcher he was 2-3 years ago.

    Dervish is risky just because of his inconsistency. Are the Dodgers going to get game seven performances from him for 150 million? Whether it’s because he’s tipping pitches or not, that performance sealed it for me. No thanks.

    The wheels are about to come off of the Cole Hamels wagon. He’s well past 30 and he suffered from injury and poor performance last year. I diidnt want him for Seager, Joc Urias. I dont want him now. And you’re cheapening the return on Kershaw by throwing in Kemp. If you’re going to trade the best pitcher of a generation in his prime, you better be getting a lot more than Cole Hamels and some relief pitcher.

    Get back in your box, Timmons! LOL.

  4. BumsrapJanuary 4, 2018

    If I were to suggest a crazy trade it would be that the Dodgers would trade for Stanton after the 2018 season if the Yankees signed Harper.

    .

    The Mets need an infielder. Forsythe?

    The Orioles need rotation help. Hill?

    The Re Sox need a power bat for LF. Kemp?

    The Cardinals need a closser. Maeda?

    .

    Crazy, but the Dodgers could reduce payroll greatly with those trades.

  5. BumsrapJanuary 4, 2018

    There is a difference between thinking outside the box and thinking outside your mind. I am guilty of throwing out some whopper trade scenarios but I never went that far. You win, I am not worthy.

  6. norcaldodgerfanJanuary 4, 2018

    Great conversation piece, but NO THANKS!

  7. Rudy ByrdJanuary 4, 2018

    Me thinks you are having a brain freeze.

  8. IdahoalJanuary 4, 2018

    Mark, that is a good conversation starter. The answer is no and hell no. You are just reshuffling the cards. That does not make us better and we are giving up prospects. McCutchen is a non starter for me. Hamels is getting old. McCutchen is getting old.

  9. Jorge ValenzuelaJanuary 4, 2018

    I like that idea about the trade, let’s do it !!

  10. Mark TimmonsJanuary 4, 2018

    BTW, I never said I would do any of the above.

    –

    Just ideas for conversation and reasons for me to seek help.

  11. Idaho ElwoodJanuary 4, 2018

    I know I’m new here, but this seems to be more in line with thinking upon the doctors sofa…

  12. boboJanuary 4, 2018

    I wish Dodgers would of won the World Series. That would of been great.

    Being National League Champions is pretty special too. Dodgers provided a pretty awesome season for their fans.

  13. thepalekingJanuary 4, 2018

    no

  14. BobbyJanuary 4, 2018

    Dodgers sent me (and every other season ticket holder) a coffee mug with “2017 NL Champions” on it for Xmas

    I may send this right back to them and say I don’t want this crap

  15. Dirk CalderwoodJanuary 4, 2018

    What if Clayton stats throwing that curve as a primary pitch and reinvents himself as an even more dominant pitcher than before? No? Well, it’s no sillier than what you wrote

More from Dodger Talk

DodgertalkDodger Talk

Dodgers Food Trailer

I did this interview a couple of weeks ago with Chef Mike, who runs the Dodgers Food Trailer for the Great Lakes Loons. They are there for every home and road regular season and playoff game. They prepare three meals a day for approximately 50 people (players and coaches). Since games end late most evenings, they do not prepare breakfast. Many of their hotels have a complimentary breakfast anyway. However,…

By Mark Timmons · July 17, 202649
DodgertalkDodger Talk

Meet LAD 2026 Draft Picks 1-12

3 picks were High School players (2 SS and 1 OF). There was a college OF, college catcher, college SS, and 10 college pitchers. Of all the talk for a need for a catcher, the only catcher the Dodgers selected was Luke Bard, son of LAD bullpen coach Josh Bard. Bard was a 4th year senior from Houston Christian University. He is not a prospect, so the Dodgers are still…

By Jeff Dominique · July 16, 202674
DodgertalkDodger Talk

Interview with Paul Beachy – Team Bus Driver For The Great Lakes Loons (LA Dodgers Minor League Team)

It’s been a few days since I did this interview. We have evidently been working my son-in-law (the video guy) like a rented mule at US Water Systems. However, I am taking him to London with me in a few days, so maybe Watford will buy him a pint as a tip, but he’s a dang Red Sox fan, so there is that! I thought that it would be interesting…

By Mark Timmons · July 15, 202652
DodgertalkDodger Talk

Thanks for Your Service: Chris Taylor

I was going to do this post when Chris announced he was retiring, then he changed his mind, but since the chances of him ever playing for the Dodgers again are slim and non-existent, I will go ahead with this post. He unretired, went on the IL, then decided to call it quits on May 24th. Taylor was born in Virginia Beach VA on August 29th, 1990. He attended Great…

By Michael "Bear" Norris · July 14, 202676