What I See...
Most of you want to keep Freddie, and that is your opinion. I love Freddie and what he stands for, but I think he is very close to the end, and his decline will get steeper.
As I have emphasized many times, this team is still relevant. They don't need to blow it up - they just need a minor renovation and a different approach. The Dodgers swing for the fences every time (almost). That has to change. They need to swing for the fences when the situation calls for it.
EXAMPLE: Let's say the Brewers get the first two hitters on. What happens? Each batter is looking to move the runner, maybe an opposite-field hit... even a bunt to get runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out. Then a ground ball doesn't end an inning with a double play... it scores a run! A fly ball scores a run... and maybe the hitter gets THE PITCH and sends it out.
Too many times, the Dodgers get runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs, and it's a pop-up, a strikeout, a strikeout, or a double play. That's what happens when you swing from the heels.
Also, for the record, I just want to see the Dodgers get younger... overall!
I do not believe they need to sign any big free agents.
Most of you want to keep Freddie, and that is your opinion. I love Freddie and what he stands for, but I think he is very close to the end, and his decline will get steeper. I think that Atlanta would take him back as a DH for a Reunion Tour if the Dodgers paid half his salary.
Sentimental? This is a business... Sorry!
That is my opinion. We will find out.
Do we need a new SS? Maybe... maybe not. Mookie is fine for another year, but Freeland can play it as well.
The biggest problem many of you have is that you look at young players (think Alex Freeland and Miguel Vargas). You look at their first or second year, or their first or second cup of coffee, and in your mind... that is what they are.
That is not true. Look at Milwaukee's players. Up and down their roster, you see growth.
At some point, you need to let players like Alex Freeland play. He might be Jeremy Pena! I can see him hitting .260 with a .775 OPS next year, with further growth after that. Using the players we have, we are still the class of the NL West.
Kim will get another opportunity, but so far, I see a tremendous athlete with great speed who can't hit. He is going to have t be able to OPS bettwr than .674 at AAA to ever be taken seriously.
I would not be afraid to go with this lineup in 2027:
1. DePaula LF
2. Pages CF
3. Ohtani DH
4. Smith C
5. Muncy 3B
6. Betts 2B
7. Tucker RF
8. Freeland SS
9. Tibbs3 1B
Bench: Edman, Feduccia, Sirota (better than Call), Kim (I am giving him a chance).
The Dodgers have to protect Zazueta, Ferris, Gelof, and Serwinski or risk losing them in Rule 5. Kike, MiggyRo, Lauer, and Call make the decision easy.
The Mets have not learned and will outbid the Dodgers for Skubal. He's gone!
I can see as many as 15 players who are on the roster now being gone by Spring!
FROM MLB.COM
Jesús Made, SS, Brewers: The No. 1 prospect in baseball, Made went 2-for-5 on Sunday for Licey, raising his Dominican winter league batting average to .310. It was yet another solid day at the plate for Made, who now has four multi-hit games in just seven games in winter ball. Despite being among the youngest players in the league, Made has more walks (six) than strikeouts (4). In a lineup with seven players with MLB experience, the 19-year-old has batted leadoff or second in all seven games. He is hitting .310/.429/.414.
Jesus will likely be at SS next year for the Brewers. They will keep getting younger.
Discussion (14)
Disagree, not disagreeable
First I’ve heard of this,
This year, Major League Baseball's newest experiment is to restrict the positioning of outfielders on every at-bat.
The goal is to boost the game's sluggish offense by making outfielders play straight up -- instead of adjusting for individual hitters' tendencies -- which will in theory lead to more doubles and triples.
The outfield positioning experiment is limited to just games that are played at Salt River Fields, since it has similar technology to MLB parks.
How it works is outfielders will look up at a small video board that can tell a player where they are in the field and will either generate an "X," if he's incorrectly positioned or an "O" if he is in a defensively acceptable spot.
Mark, it sounds like you would try to trade Freeman and Teo this off-season. I'm ready to replace Teo immediately but would keep Freddie through the end of his contract.
If we want a younger faster team that also plays great defense, I wouldn't give JPD left field to lose status.
I think LF is wide open with George, Edman, Sirota, JDP, and a traded for candidate. I think Freeland has the best chance for a young player to be in the regular lineup.
I get it, but it isn't going to happen. LA is not trading him to anyone, especially the Braves. If he wants to return there in free agency then so be it, but they like Freddie too much.