Corey Seager or Trea Turner?
Do you remember when many Dodger fans wanted to trade Gavin Lux, Keibert Ruiz, and the kitchen sink for Francisco Lindor who was allegedly the second coming? Remember how many were heartbroken when he was traded to the Mets who signed him to a $341 Million Dollar Deal? Remember when most fans wanted Lindor, Trevor Story, Carlos Correa, or Javier Baez instead of Corey Seager? Well, of those five (soon
Do you remember when many Dodger fans wanted to trade Gavin Lux, Keibert Ruiz, and the kitchen sink for Francisco Lindor who was allegedly the second coming? Remember how many were heartbroken when he was traded to the Mets who signed him to a $341 Million Dollar Deal? Remember when most fans wanted Lindor, Trevor Story, Carlos Correa, or Javier Baez instead of Corey Seager?
Well, of those five (soon to be free agent) shortstops, let’s look at their stats:
- Javier Baez – .241 BA/.757 OPS/24 HR/68 RBI Baez is a train wreck. I want to see what Fool GM gives him more than $80 Million.
- Carlos Correa – .269 BA/.839 OPS/18 HR/60 RBI Carlos is doing OK, but his history of back injuries has to give anyone pause.
- Francisco Lindor – .228 BA/.702 OPS/11 HR/36 RBI I’ll bet Steve Cohen has learned his lesson. This is potentiall a huge boat anchor contract.
- Trevor Story – .254 BA/.785 OPS/15 HR/54 RBI Certainly not the superstar that many thought. You have to dedcet a little from his offense for the Mile-High Factor
- Corey Seager – .276 BA/.799 OPS/5 HR/25 RBI Of course, he has been injured most of thr season. The final chapter is yet to be written… and is true with all five players.
Francisco Lindor’s inability to even be an average player started the domino effect to all the other shortstops. That contract looks like a boat anchor. I think because of that, most GMs will be very wary of giving out big contracts to these players. Some Dodger fans pined for Javy Baez. How do you like him now? No thank you! Corey Seager is heating up and getting his strike back. I predict that he will hit over .300… of course, he doesn’t have enough at-bats to qualify for anything. With a hot finish, Corey Seager will be the cream of the crop of Free Agent Shortstops, but what does that mean for the Dodgers?
We know that Trea Turner changes the whole Dodger Dynamic. However, I would not want to choose one player over the other… and I don’t think you have to. A sit-down after the season with both players could be productive. I can see both players wanting to test free agency. People who say “The Dodgers should lock up Seager (or Turner) now.” are not being realistic and lack understanding of how the free-agent process works. Trea Turner becomes a Free Agent in 2023 while Corey Seager is one after this season.
There are not that many teams that can afford either player, but right now our focus is on Corey. The Yankees can afford him, but will they? We know that was his childhood team, but does he still want to play there? Will the Yankees be a player for him? We don’t know. Corey will be 28 next season. I think he can play shortstop into his 30’s and slide over to 3B or 1B at that time. We know that he missed nearly a full season with elbow and hip surgery and recently missed months with a broken finger/hand. I do not think that makes him “injury prone.” Getting hit with a pitch is not proof of that.
Of course, Trea Turner also plays SS, and 2B and CF. He can be outstanding at any of these positions, but there is one thing to worry about with Trea Turner. We know his speed is elite, but we also know he is a year older than Corey. You don’t get faster as you get older. We also know that Trea has missed substantial time with injuries. As he ages, his speed will become less of a factor. The bottom line is I think Corey will get a bigger contract than Trea, but that is why players go to free agency to see what they can get.
If forced to sign one or the other, I would sign Corey Seager to an 8 year/$240 Million Dollar deal. That’s a big contract, but I do not believe any of the shortstops on the market this year will get anything approaching with Lindor did. Cody Bellinger is also showing signs of getting his stroke back, so the Dodgers will have to figure out how to sign him too.
Currently, Mookie Betts is likely headed back to the IL and I wonder how much of a factor he can be. He obviously needs surgery, but for what and how? We don’t know. I think the Dodgers do but aren’t saying. Justin Turner’s groin injury could also require an IL stint. Sometimes those take a while. CT3 can play there, but Max Muncy is a better option because of his experience.
Danny Duffy, Victor Gonzalez, and Clayton Kershaw are also on the IL and probably won’t be back until September, whenever. The Good News is that Alex Vesia and Corey Knebel look healthy and effective out of the pen. Corey was 97-98 MPH consistently last night. This has been a trying season for the Dodgers and they will be tried even more, but even Mookie and JT out, the firepower brought by Turner, Seager, Muncy, Bellinger, and Taylor should be sufficient. It would be nice to win the division (and I still think the Dodgers will), but that is not the only path to success.
Regardless of the injuries, this team will be tough in the playoffs… they just have to get there first. However, anyone who thinks this team does not have depth is seriously mistaken.
Minor League News
- Gavin Lux played 3B at OKC and was 2-4 last night. He’s playing 3B, in case JT is down for any period of time. Gavin has not been the superstar (yet) that many wanted, but he is a solid player.. who may becaome THAT guy.
- Miguel Vargas continues to hit at Tulsa. He balsted his 10th HR last night and was 2-4 (.294 BA/.877 OPS)
Photo Credit: Alex Gallardo / Associated Press
Sign Her Up!
More from Dodger 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,…
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…
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…
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…
Discussion (153)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Bullpen game tomorrow. Wonder if they will call up White to make the start. Bazooka looked great tonight. First time I have seen him go two innings. Suarez starting for the Phillies. Mets have to play a doubleheader tomorrow. Mookie left for LA to be checked out. Reddick signs a deal with the Mets.
Belli’s 13 pitch at bat against Gibson was impressive. He did have trouble catching up to the high fastball again, but over all, Belli seems to be coming alive. 8 game hitting streak, 4 HR’s in his last 4 games. 4 RBI’s tonight. With Betts down, they need that bat. Bullpen, you watching Eric? Perfect again.
3Ks, 2 Bombs. This season is as crazy as Belli’s hitting.
Is 6 runs enough for Ucenta to mop up?
6-2 now. Bullpen unscored on so far again. Taylor not having a good night at the dish. Bellinger hits another, 2 HR’s, 4 RBI’s. Cody is coming back.
As I recall it, the sticking point on Lindor was Lux. Was Ruiz part of that proposed package? I don’t recall that being actually reported, and perhaps we’ll never know what offer was on the table. I’m sure there were a lot of moving parts.
But who now wouldn’t have given up Lux in a deal for Lindor, a multiple All Star with several gold gloves. If you checked his career stats at that juncture, Lindor was on a HOF trajectory. His recent struggles are not indicative of the player he has proven himself to be–while Lux’s struggles (especially against lefthanded pitching) may well reveal his limitations. Besides, the argument for Lindor over Seager was always, primarily, about the glove–because we’ve always known that Seager is a mediocre fielder at best. Getting Lindor would have forced Seager to move to either 3B or 1B–and the Dodgers would have won more games as a result. Plus, Lindor would have replaced Joc at the top of the order–and that would have won same games too.
The only reason I’m OK with that deal falling through is that AF then turned his attention to Mookie, who in addition to being an major offensive force is a Gold Glover. Very happy that worked out.
Listening to today’s game, I heard Rick Monday bemoan how the Dodgers messed up a routine double play–and that led to runs for the Phillies. Now, I didn’t see the play–I don’t who flubbed it–but it reflects how games often turn on defense. And these mistakes don’t necessarily get recorded as errors or measured in conventional statistics.
As I mentioned in a previous conversation, one reason the Giants are four games up on the Dodgers is that Brandon Crawford can make plays that Seager/Lux/Taylor can’t. Crawford was winning Gold Gloves in the NL Gold Gloves when Lindor was getting that hardware in the AL. We like to think that Seager is clearly superior to Crawford–but check out Crawford’s hitting stats and you may be surprised.
Should Trea Turner take over SS? Probably not yet. It would be disruptive and moving Seager to third or first would create problems as well.
I love fielding highlights. All those “web gems.” My baseball crazed son and I look them up on Youtube. And it’s really pretty rare to see any Dodger except Mookie or Belli make these plays. (Justin just had a great one–and he strained his groin.)
OK, Dodgers are now up 5-2 in the 7th as I write this….. But if Monday is right, it should be 5-0
.
I know what’s going on with our starting pitching but I just don’t like David Price. He had a 778 OPS coming into the game and I bet it goes up after this game.
Nothing is quite like the joy you feel when a pitcher hits a gapper with an RBI to boot!
Belli’s last 7 games…. .318/.375/.818. I guess the problem of CT3 needing to take his spot fixed itself.
Maybe Lux will come back from the IL fixed.
Stranger things have happened. Seager just dove for a ball.
Bellinger saved some ass again, with the glove this time.
Hoping the gods are having pity on us
Knock on wood.
Or maybe they think we’ve been spanked enough , again knock on wood
What an at bat for Bellinger
That was epic
Such a beautiful thing we’ve all been praying for
And down it comes. Seager made a great play at short and threw out a speedy runner. Leave him where he is. I despise the weather in Pennsylvania. I remember many times being in storms that came out of nowhere and lasted a couple of hours totally disrupting traffic and my schedule. Build a dome! Turner leading the NL in hitting…for now anyway.
Smart move by Philly Mgr to not pitch his best pitcher and waste him for 2 innings only like what will happen to us. I doubt Price comes back out so say bye bye to him…..see you in 5 days.
He learned something from last night.
Too bad Doc didn’t. So now we will have two bullpen games assuming we resume and finish this game.
Rain forecast to start in 30-45 min from this post. Forecast to go for 90-120 minutes.
cheers
Despite the Baseball Gods making it tough, we still have a very talented team on the field even with Mookie, JT, CK all limited or done.
* I love the Hammer kid’s look. He does look like a Hansen Brother without the broken lenses. These are definitely BCG’s.
* Despite the win and giving up zero, we left the bags juiced in the 7th and 8th. In the 8th we spent too much time bitching at the ump about balls and strikes we forgot to swing. (his calls were accurate, by the way) A lot of pressure is put on our guy up with 2 outs because with none or one out, guys don’t have productive at bats. Muncy being an example. He failed to do the job when the game was still in doubt and then homered when it wasn’t. It didn’t matter last night but when we have lulls, this is why.
* Is anybody still in favor of platooning with Pollock? Damn, what do folks need him to do? Some fans have just never warmed up to the guy. especially Bum, who would prefer Joc over anybody. Pollock is healthy, playing good D and is hitting .309 / .895. His splits are .305 vs righties and .316 vs lefties. And a few want to platoon him. What’s this guy need to do to get a little respect (Rodney)
* Same with Seager. I remain a fan which doesn’t mean I don’t like TT. Too many folks here want him at 3rd or 1st or elsewhere. He is not a defensive wizard but he makes routine plays and hits. Tough crowd here.
* There is certainly a lot to talk and speculation right now about what the Dodgers should do next year and in the future. That’s fine stuff for useless conversations. The Lindor, Joc, K-Bear, Jo-Jo ships have sailed. Nobody has a clue about TT, JT, CK, KJ Kelly, or Seager. How will it work for Max and TT with Bellinger needing a major improvement in 2022.
* So while this is a semi-interesting and totally speculative conversation for suitable for the winter and nest spring, what I’m focused on is winning baseball games NOW. It’s not panic; it’s urgency.
* I’m not into Orel’s conversations about pitch counts and saving the bullpen one day to have a guy available for the next day. He wanted Vesia, who was dealing, out last night before 18 pitches so he’d be available today. Like at 18 pitches he needs a day’s rest. I’m extending guys within reason and circumstances to WIN ONE GAME AT A TIME. Win this one and worry about tomorrow’s game, tomorrow. I know we have 13 road games coming up and it would be swell to not overtax anybody. At same time we need to win baseball games and not coddle arms that should be more then capable at this point to go that extra inning. If we don’t, there will lots of rest time in about 1 1/2 months.
Betts placed on the 10 IL and he is returning to LA to be examined. Uceta activated.. oh no, I cannot take much more of that guy. Losing Betts means that they will have a 3 man bench with Turner ailing. What in the blue blazes is the front office thinking??
I can think of quite a few reasons why Roberts should be elusive about player injuries and I think others can as well if they think about it.
Today’s keep the winning streak going lineup
T Turner
Muncy
Smith
Seager
Taylor 3B
Bellinger
Pollock
Beaty RF
Price
Considering JT and Betts are banged up, I like these 8 guys. I’m glad Beaty is in there instead of McKinney.
Another thing, this is all premature if they do not reach a quick agreement on a new CBA. Unlikely. It will throw the entire free agent class a huge curve. This is going to be a contentious negotiation. NL getting the DH will be on the table as will some other rule changes.
I doubt the Giants will be in the market for a SS because they will resign Crawford. At least that will be their first priority.
Seager or T Turner? I say keep both of them. The 2B position has been a hole for awhile now. The powers that be should sit down with Trea Turner and convince him to play at 2B to finally solve that problem/hole.
I would definitely let Kenley Jansen leave. So there is that big contract gone. I would let Joe Kelly and his contract leave too. I would only sign Kershaw at a reasonable price.
A little early to be arguing about this. Only time will tell which direction ownership takes. When it comes to talking about injuries, Dave toes the company line and does no give much info unless they say go ahead. The Red Sox, who are in the midst of a huge flame out, are considering a lot of changes in the next few days. They have already shaken up their rotation with the expected return of Sale this weekend, but there are rumors that they are going to cut underachieving Marwin Gonzalez. I have never seen so many players on injured lists in the 60 plus years I have been watching this game. Something is definitely wrong with either the training regimen or the way players work out. The Dodgers have 16 players on the IL. Four of them out for the year, Rios, May, Kahnle and Ferguson. Including those four, four other players are on the 60 day IL. Kershaw, Duffy, Sherfy, and Nelson, who also is most likely gone for the year. Lux is the only player on the 10 day who is currently playing anywhere. How this all gets handled is going to have a huge affect these last 49 games.
I would sign Seager to play 3B, if he does not agree bye, bye, he should not play SS instead of TT, always the decision must be the team first and what is best for the team is the defense of TT In the SS, even in today’s game because of J Turner’s absence, Seager should be in 3B, TT SS and CT3 2B, that’s the best defensive infield the team can put in right now.
Signing Seager long-term makes sense because he’s a special hitter but as long as it’s 3B, in the future he can play 1B and DH to keep getting his offense, like I said before, if he doesn’t agree bye, bye, thanks for the memories.
Line Up 2022:
SS TT
3B Seager
RF Betts
CF Bellinger
DH Turner
1B Muncy
LF Pollock
C Smith
2B Lux
I think it’s going to be musical chairs when it comes to the FA SS market this offseason. I know Boras likes to wait out the offseason and have the market come to him. But, that may not work this time around. How many teams that need a SS have the money to spend on a long term $250M+ contract ? The Dodgers, Yankees, and Giants. So, with Seager, Story, Correa, Baez, Semien, Crawford, and others available and a limited amount of teams with the money to spend it should be fast and furious right from the get go. Those players who wait for a better deal might be standing without a chair.
As to Trea vs Corey? I’d take Trea for the excitement level he brings to the game. Like Mookie when he is healthy. Or Cody when he is able to make consistent contact. Must see players both on offense, but defense as well. Corey is an excellent hitter and can carry a team, but average defense and availability has been an issue. It’s going to be interesting and a tough call for AF.
Lets be honest. Watch the video. She made the guy slow down, but barely laid a hand on him!!!
To me the question is whether we want Trae Turner or Cody Bellinger longterm. With an aging Justin Turner destined to become a full time DH when/if the NL adopts the DH, who better to take over the hot corner than Corey Seager? I know Seager sees himself as a shortstop, but so did Manny Machado.
Machado was insentavised to make a permanent move to third base. I like Cody Bellinger but I don’t like him as much as Corey Seager or Trae Turner. The Dodgers would be better served building around Trae Turner, Corey Seager and Mookie Betts.
I want to enjoy Betts, Lux, Trea, Seager, Bellinger, and Smith playing together on the Dodgers for years.
As Trea gets older he will still be fast just not as fast.