Thinking Outside the Box

January 3, 2018

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…

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What’s Up With 2017 Free Agents

December 28, 2017

What’s happening to this year’s crop of free agents?  This is December 27, and out of the top 50 MLB TradeRumors free agent predictions, only 19 have signed new contracts, and one decided not to opt out (Masahiro Tanaka).  Of the 30 unsigned players, none of the top 11 have signed new contracts (excluding Tanaka not opting out), and 15 of the top 20 are still unsigned.   Of the…

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Let’s Assume FAZ Does Nothing

December 23, 2017

If the Dodgers do nothing, this is what I would expect come Spring Training.   1B – Bellinger 2B – Forsythe 3B – JT SS – Seager LF – Kike’ and Joc/Toles CF – Taylor RF – Puig C – Barnes Rotation:  Kershaw, Hill, Wood, Maeda, Ryu Bullpen:  Jansen, Baez, Fields, Garcia, Koehler, Stripling, Avilan, Cingrani Bench:  Grandal, 2 of Kike’/Joc/Toles, and Locastro   Grandal and JT can relieve Bellinger…

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Damn Lies and Statistics

December 21, 2017

Figures don’t lie, but liars figure… and sometimes they are not even liars – they are just using unreliable figures. There are several websites that keep track of teams salaries.  In this instant case, I am speaking about the salary obligations of the Los Angeles Dodgers for the 2018 season.  You would think stuff like this would be cut and dried, but it’s evidently not. Let’s look at a couple…

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What Winter Meetings?

December 16, 2017

Well this has been some Hot Stove League for the Dodgers thus far, right?  The Winter Meetings went just about as most expected…the current 40 man roster is the same as before the meetings started.  I don’t count Koehler because he was post Winter Meetings, and the signing is still pending physical.  I never thought Stanton was an option, but it was fun to fantasize.  My only disappointment is that…

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Stop the Insanity!

December 14, 2017

Just because other teams make dope-fiend moves, doesn’t mean the Dodger have to.  Look, they have been paying the luxury tax for too long and have paid about $300 million in penalties.  It started with foolish, long-term deals to Kemp and Ethier and then came THE TRADE (Beckett, Gonzalez and Crawdad).  The Dodgers owe Kemp $5.5 million over the next two year, but after next season, most of the obligations…

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The Whole Truth!

December 12, 2017

It was fun to dream: Ohtani, Stanton, Ozuna, Rivero, et al. – I did it to mask the pain from the loss of the World Series, but now I am sobered up and back to reality. Now I am going to tell you the truth: The Dodgers will be below $237 Million in salary… if only by $1.00. BET ON IT; The Dodgers will not sign anyone to a long-term…

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It’s Time to Get Back to Reality!

December 10, 2017

OK, I’ll put down my crack pipe, if you put down yours.  Stanton and Ohtani were crack!  Just say no to drugs! This Team Is Still Pretty Special. The won 104 games and just missed winning the World Series by “that much.” Let’s start with this:  The Dodgers are set at a number of positions with some high quality players, most of whom are young enough to improve even more….

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There’s a Better Choice for the Dodgers Than Stanton

December 9, 2017

I have reached the point that I don’t care where Stanton goes… so long as it is not in the NL West.  Let the Yankees have him.  I’m down with that… as long as the Dodgers get someone else. OK, I admit to having been a big proponent that the Dodgers should acquire Giancarlo Stanton.  Especially now, that the Angels have signed Ohtani, it would really be nice to counteract…

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Luxury Tax Concerns

December 1, 2017

I continue to read that Dodger Ownership/Management wants to get under the luxury tax threshold THIS year.  That is certainly a laudable goal, and under normal circumstances I can see why that should always be the goal.  But is 2018 the year to draw the line?   Sometimes you need to spend money to make money.  In home building, finishes are upgraded to get buyers to sign. Buyers are visual…bling…

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