Coming off of two straight epic post-season meltdowns, is this Freidman’s most important off-season since he took over?
I get the impression from reading many baseball blogs and websites that the Dodgers fan base wants something really big and really dramatic.
I get the impression that half-measures and signing fringe guys is not going to satisfy the average Dodger fan. I see a lot of no more Peralta’s and no more Thor rhetoric. They want and feel the Dodgers should go after the star power that is out there this winter.
Ohtani, Imanaga, Yamamoto, Snell, and Montgomery – two of those would help satisfy some fans. Others want them to get Burnes in a trade with the Brewers.
That might be more possible than it would have been had Counsell stayed with Milwaukee and Woodruff not undergone surgery.
The Brewers are looking like they might begin a real reboot. Fans would also like to see someone other than Gavin Lux as the shortstop full-time. Adames has been mentioned. Good glove some power, but he strikes out WAY TOO MUCH. 165 times last season.
Plus, the Brewers most likely would want to include Christian Yelich in any deal to dump salary. Yelich has bounced back some from two straight bad seasons. But that contract still has 130 million dollars on it. He will be 32. At the end of the deal, 37. There are no guarantees his production will stay at the level it was this season.
One thing Yelich does that many lefties do not is hit left-handed pitching. He has a career .270 average against them, meaning he does not necessarily need to be platooned. And he is a full-time left-fielder now.
Watching the interview that was posted on the site with Andrew Freidman, I get the impression he is checking many avenues to improve the team. He also seems very committed to giving the SS position to Gavin Lux.
But we, as fans all know the Achilles heel on this team is experienced starting pitching. I think AF needs at least two experienced starters added to this roster. And one of them needs to be left-handed.
Most of the best starters in free agency are going to get contracts in excess of five years or so—especially those guys represented by Scott Boras. I think, and I believe, the only starting pitcher out there that AF would feel comfortable giving a five-year or more deal is Yamamoto.
Mainly because of his age. He is just 25. Just how much he gets between the posting fee and the contract remains to be seen, but he is obviously one of the most desirable arms on the market.
I could see them pursuing Montgomery, but like Snell, Boras is his agent, and he will be looking for years and money. Snell is a non-starter for me. He’s too erratic and just a five-inning guy all of his career, even in his two great seasons.
The Japanese lefty, Imanaga, is intriguing. But I would think AF might go out of the box here and sign Rodriguez, who now says there are no geographical restrictions on where he might sign. He was the Dodgers’ main target at the deadline and isn’t going to cost in years or money what Snell or Montgomery will.
Of course, this is all guesswork. None of us really has a clue which direction AF might go. But I get the feeling he really wants to make a huge splash. Not just to satisfy the fans but to make this team a whole lot better. Only time will tell.
Discussion (23)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Vargas had an injury that affected his swing. His stats in the majors should not be held against him. Let’s see what he does in the majors when healthy. He is younger than Busch, and more of a contact hitter. If he sucks at the big-league level over an entire year, then you can say I nailed that. Otherwise, he has not spent enough time in the majors to make a qualified judgement as to his readiness to play at the highest level. Many players struggle in their first trip to the bigs without being injured,
Wrong again! Vargas was 1.082 in 2022, and Deluca was 1.027. Selective amnesia?
You “proved me wrong about Vargas?”
Of course, you did because you knew Vargas would break two fingers and get derailed. If that had happened to Outman, he would have rubbed some dirt on it and hit 70 HRs. Ha!
If I were GM.
Starting pitchers:
Yamamoto
Imanaga
Miller
Sheehan
Pepiot
Buehler is a possibility
Position players:
DH JD Martinez or Justin Turner
C Smith
1B Freeman
2B Lux
SS Betts
3B Muncy
OF Outman
OF Rhys Hoskins
OF Busch/DeLuca platoon
I’m confused, they say there’s over 394 members of bbwaa but 30 is a unanimous vote on post season awards so who and where do the 30 that vote come from? Was able to find a list of the 394 but nothing more on it
The Dodgers have flopped in the playoffs 2 years in a row, along with 2 of their castaways, Seager and Bellinger, having excellent years with other teams. Will this put pressure on management to make big changes ?
If I were GM I would be looking for 2 starting pitchers and 1 or 2 big bats. Preferably, free agents.
The Dodgers have enough .200 hitters already. No need to sign any more of those. Let the prospects get the playing time.
Thanks for all the hot stove conjecture, guys. Good stuff!
I don’t understand those of you who are convinced that the Brewers will demand that whichever team trades for Burnes also has to take Yelich.
If they trade Burnes and Adames, that lops about 27 mil off of their 2024 payroll. Yes, Yelich will be paid almost 24 million, but almost all their other players will be earning under 2 million.
They may also non tender Woodruff rather than pay him not to pitch next year.
And now that they don’t have to pay Counsell, they’re saving another 8 million.
The Brewers can easily afford Yelich’s salary and demand a better prospect haul, as opposed to dumping him and getting much worse prospects in return.
After hiring that guy that does international stuff, I think AF is going to swerve the Ohtani Dodger fans and sign BOTH Yamamoto and Imanaga.
I read where Japanese players don’t like playing on same mlb team. Why is that I wonder. Home country exposure I’m guessing
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/11/dodgers-re-sign-ricky-vanasco-to-major-league-deal.html
Sign Ohtani and Yamamoto. Trade Frasso. Knack, Vivas and Pages for Burnes or Bieber.
Betts RF
Freeman 1B
Smith C
Ohtani DH
Muncy 3B
Busch/DeLuca LF
Vargas 2B
Outman CF
Lux SS
Burnes
Yamamoto
Buehler
Miller
Pepiot/Sheehan
Adames’ name keeps popping up for a few reasons.
One is that AF dealt for him when he was the GM for Tampa Bay. He was something of a coup for Friedman, a prospect who rose to become solid starter. The Rays later traded Adames to the Brewers to make room for phenom Wander Franco, which looked like a good move until it didn’t.
Adames is a first-rate defender with 20+ HR power. Yes, he Ks too much, but with superstar shortstops now earning $30 million per year, Adames is relatively cost-effective alternative. The rating systems say he is a better defender than Miguel Rojas, and obviously has a bigger bat. He’d be a substantial upgrade over Rojas.
Is he better than Lux? Certainly on defense he’d seem to be. He’s flexed more power, but Lux may have more potential and for now costs a lot less.
Not an easy call.
But if the Brewers really want Lux, a Wisconsin native, it could make it easier for the Dodgers to present a package for Burnes and Adames
I have faith that AF will build a 100+ win team again. But what needs to be fixed are several things in my mind.
1. Healthy pitching in the playoffs no matter what round we start in. No more excuses.
2. Mookie and Freddie start hitting like the stars they are. (Setting the table for the rest of the team.)
3. Stop chasing meaningless stats at the end the season causing bad habits. Home runs, doubles. (Mookie and Freddie)
4. Build around the young guys with the right mix of veterans who are both hungry and lead by example.
5. Lastly manage the playoffs using the eye test and stop relying solely on analytics. No more crash and burn Mr Roberts.
I find it interesting that il I’m reading that Ohtani may explore the possibility of taking a shorter, higher AAV package all of a sudden.
Whose MO does this smell of? Could it be that the first shots have been fired in opening negotiations between AF and SO’s people?
Sounds a lot like the ultimately failed attempt to entice Haroer s few years back.
Personally I’d be much more interested in Ohtani on a shorter deal, one that doesn’t Boat Anchor us indefinitely.
I think the interest is real. Don’t forget though that he’s turned us down before in favour of the no chance of competing Angels. Maybe he’s not worried about winning, more about feeling comfortable.
Mariners could be a good fit.
No matter what the Dodgers do, anything without Shohei Ohtani will be a downer, a cold winter.
No to Adames. Why does his name keep popping up? Rather have Gavin Lux. No to Arenado. Let one of the young guys get a fair shot.
No trading Sheehan. No way should they trade Pepiot. Deep breath.
The Dodgers and Friedman are on the clock. Go big or go home. Fans expect Big, not fringe.
Since only five or six teams can play in the Ohtani market, that shouldn’t hold up signings or deals.
Besides LA and San Fran, who else would be a legitimate contender? Chicago Cubs, the, Texas Rangers and maybe the Boston Red Sox.
Oh and this is just a thought, but why not extend Will Smith. Seems to be working for some other teams like Atlanta and Arizona. Maybe that would help with roster change turmoil.
Good write-up, Bear.
Owners vote unanimously allowing the A’s to move to Vegas.
Lets not put down Peralta. He had a great stretch until his injury that no one knew about until season was over.
Is Ohtani holding up the entire market? And will AF offer him 10+ years, 500+ mil (doubt it) or one of his infamous short term high AAV deals? Will another team give him the 10 and 500 deal?
I want to see Ohtani in Dodger Blue. The cost will be significant and somehow AF must also acquire at least two major league starting pitchers either through FA or trade. There is no way AF will go into the 2024 season with a SP staff consisting of two-time TJ recipient Buehler and four seemingly rookie/second year major league starters in Miller, Sheehan, Pepiot, Grove and rookies waiting in the wings like Frasso and Stone. Dodger fans will not be excited without the addition of veteran ML arms or young established arms from Japan.
This is a big off season for AF after two disappointing back-to-back post season exits and over $100 million in salary off the books. I think he”ll work his magic and at the end of the off season he will pull together a roster that combines young and veteran talent that will be well positioned for a 12th straight post season participation. There will be some very big additions to the roster including at least one block buster trade that none of us saw coming. As Dodger fans we want something more than a participation opportunity ,we want a parade. I think this perhaps might be the off season that means the most for AF and I think he knows it by the way he carefully selects his word in the interview.
Will he go big and add big pieces or will he continue to look for bargains that don’t move the “needle” much? Time will tell, butI have a sneaky suspicion he’s been given the “green light” by ownership to spend big and go big game
hunting.
Buckle up……it’s going to be a wild ride.
I did a deep dive into Cal Quantrill this morning and I am convinced that this is a guy AF is interested in. He another RHP, and they have a bunch already, but his fastball velocity is not trending down – it is ticking up. He has a cutter, split-finger, slider, change and curve… maybe too many pitches. The Indians have just a few days to trade him or lose him. I would offer a low-level prospect for him: maybe Kendall Williams.
He is a guy Prior and McGuinnes could fix.
Fraudman and Uncle Gomez need to get started ! What are they waiting on? He is allowing other teams to jump on and raise the stakes! Make offers they cannot refuse and get busy getting better . We need pitching , 3rd base, shortstop , and Ohtani! and they are sitting on their hands! Lets Go!!!
The Athletic speculates on what it would take to get Burnes from Milwaukee:
“Let’s make a deal: The Dodgers’ farm system remains one of the best so finding a trade that works for Milwaukee should not be difficult. Perhaps a package featuring two of their best pitching prospects, right-handers Emmet Sheehan and Ryan Pepiot, could be the foundation of a blockbuster. Or maybe a deeper dive into their system for a package of 19-year-old standouts, righty Payton Martin and outfielder Kendall George, a 2023 first-round pick who can really hit. Or perhaps something in between such as outfielder Andy Pages and third baseman Jake Gelof, a second-rounder this year. Bottom line, there are several ways the Dodgers and Brewers could match up on a trade for Burnes.”
Or… you could just keep all those prospects and sign a couple of rehab prospects. No way I would do any of those trades. You will see these young Dodgers pitchers take huge strides forward in 2024.
A couple of things:
1. Adames strikes out 31% of the time (Same as Outman); Lux Strikes out 25% of the time. I’d rather have Lux, but I am still unconvinced he is a SS (AF is sure he is) and will he be able to handle the position after knee surgery – although it will be more than a year.
2. AF knows he will never satisfy the fans. so he won’t even try. He will just try and make the team better. I continue to believe that it will be with 4-5 smaller movers, not one big move (Ohtani).
3. You are going to hear about the Dodgers every day being linked to some free agent. Believe none of what you hear and half of what you see!