Agony and Anticipation

Agony and anticipation. That is what the winter meetings have always felt like for me. I am pretty sure many others feel the same. It has been more that way since the advent of free agency. Back in the day when players got no more than a one year deal and were tied to their teams by the reserve clause. For you youngins, that means that the team that signed them or traded for them owned their contracts and the only way out was release or trade.

And back then if you were released you usually had to go back and work your way back into the majors. Consider Hall of famer, Dazzy Vance. Dazzy broke in at the age of 21 at class D York in the NESL. He pitched in the minors from 1912 to 1914 and broke in with the Yanks in 15 and went 0-3. He was traded to the Pirates and went 0-1. Sent down to the Minors he stayed there until 1918 returning to the Yankees where he had a 0-0 record.

Back to the minors. He spent the years from 1916 to 1921 back in the minors never rising above AA. But in 1921 he came to the Dodgers at the tender age of 31 and proceeded to put up good enough numbers to get into the hall.

Pretty impressive stuff. Back then things were a lot different. Older pitchers on their way down were usually the fodder coming out of the bullpen. Not like today when some kid throwing 100MPH heat walks in to relieve a tiring starter. You could also look at Grover Alexander, Old Pete as he was affectionately called. Over his last 3 full seasons he won 46 games and lost 27, and that was from age 40 to 42. In the first two years of that stretch he had a sub 4 ERA, including a 2.52 in 1927 and he started 37 games that year.

But aside from his stellar career numbers, what he did in the 1926 World Series against the Yankees is remarkable, and he was 39 years old. Traded to the Cardinals from the Cubs, he finished with a combined 12-10 record with an ERA a tick over 3. Against the Yanks he won his two starts including game 6. He was sent to the bullpen with no expectation of being used. But when the starter got in trouble and loaded the bases, Ol Pete was summoned. On zero rest he struck out Tony Lazzeri with the bases loaded and finished the game and the series for the save. Amazing for a guy that age.

I used those two examples to show how different and how changed the game is. Now the off season has more movement and action than ever before. But to most of us it moves at the pace of a snail with arthritis. Last winter was full of anticipation. Coming off of the playoff loss to the Nationals, most felt AF would be compelled to do something.

Between Nov 2nd and the 4th the free agents declared their intentions. They released Kris Negron on the 9th, he actually retired. And he signed a couple of minor league free agents on the 7th, and the 27th. They non tendered Garcia on the 9th of December. The first free agent signed for the big club was Treinen on the 15th of December. J. T. Chargois was released. Jimmy Nelson came in January. Alex Wood also was signed in January and in his first off season trade he sent Casey Sadler to the Cubs for a minor leaguer.

On the 10th of February, merely days before spring, he traded Jair Camargo and Kenta Maeda to the Twins for Luke Raley and Brusdar Graterol. And the same day traded Connor Wong, Jeter Downs and Alex Verdugo to the Sox for Mookie.

Three full months of agony waiting for something to happen and it went down like a hammer. Of course the final deal had been restructured since Graterol was originally slated to be part of the trade for Mookie. But the Sox, in a huge blunder in my book, did not like his medicals, so changes were made. He signed Terrance Gore, traded Kyle Garlick to the Phillies. And his spring roster was set.

Over all, a very satisfying off season, but not without moments of angst. There was the trade of Ross Stripling and Joc to the Angels for players that were never specified which Arte Moreno cancelled. Okay with me, I did not like what I saw of the return package from the Angels to begin with. Luis Rengifo? Please.

And just think of how the face of the team would have changed over the truncated season that followed. Strip was their winningest pitcher out of the gate. Pederson never really got hot until the World Series. But then his playoff bat came alive. Jake McGee who would contribute greatly was not signed until 3 days before the season commenced.

This winter the same thing is happening. None of the 8 players who are free agents have signed anywhere. There are arguments among Dodger fans as to who they should target to come back. And AF has told all of those players to explore what is available to them. 

Turner is currently a favorite of more than a few teams including the Blue Jays where a couple of old teammates are now playing. Joc has been mentioned in connection with several including the Giants and the Cardinals who need some pop really bad.

Kike’ is drawing interest from several teams including the Twins, who have both of their better utility players become free agents. Blake Treinen may want too much money, Pedro Baez want’s 3 years. McGee and Wood are both enticing options. Wood as a long man taking the job Strip had. McGee did an excellent job this year. But I see both as doubtful.

The meetings start on Monday, the 7th of December. 55 years to the day after I joined the Army. Was more nervous then than I am now. I trust AF will make the moves he thinks will benefit and improve a World Series champ. I do not see anything radical happening, although he could surprise us again. We all know the weaknesses. RH power, back end of the pen.

But you can bet there will be some nail biting and hand wringing going on this week and the days leading up to players reporting to spring training. As we saw last season, there could end up being no major movement until the last minute, and then again no movement at all. He has some roster spots open and will have one more when they can have the option of placing Caleb Ferguson on the 60 day IL. Until then, and they finally have the guys they want in camp, it will be anticipation and agony for most of us.