Even though, he is not technically a prospect, James Outman, who spent most of 2024 at AAA has to be at the top of this list. In fact, I think this is a “make or break” year for James. There are a few other players who could make an impact for the Dodgers in 2025, but I think we should start with James because he has already played in the Show!
Andy Pages who is three years younger than Outman hit .248 with 13 HR and an OPS of .712. However, in his last 28 games of the Regular Season, Pages OPS’ed .898. In 2023, his roookie year, James hit 23 HR with the same .248 BA but with a .790 OPS. However, his strikeout percentage was 37.4%. Pages was 26.8%. You will not be able to play long in MLB with that kind of K rate. Hopefully, he can improve, but in 2024 at the Major Leage Level, Outman struck out over 40% of the time and was sent back to OKC where it dropped to 30.5%.
James did hit .279 at OKC with 17 HR and a .933 OPS in 265 ABs’. That’s worthy of another look. Now, James had a lot going on as his first child was born on Augut 26, 2024. So, there is that! There is no evidence that it was a difficult pregnancy or anything like that, but having to travel while your wife is pregnant can be distracting… to say the least. James is a great teammate and a fleet runner with good defensive ability. At the very least, he could platoon in RF with Andy Pages… that is… if the Dodgers do not sign another outfielder.
Some people think I disrespect James… No matter what I write, they will have that opinion. I love watching him play. It is just my belief that he will never hit LHP. I have always said he is a #4 or #5 outfielder and I still believe that. I said the same thing about Joc Pederson and he turned out to be a pretty good player (of course, DEFENSIVELY, Joc could not carry James’ Jock)… and then, some will say, “Well, you said Miguel Vargas would be a good hitter.” Yes, I did and so far, I have been very wrong about that. Here’s why: In the Minors, you don’t see 97 to 102 MPH fastballs like you do in the majors, so I watched Miguel Vargas hit well in all four levels of the minors… never knowing that he can’t hit “high cheese.” He has this season to “fix it” but I am certainly not as high on him as I used to be. He was exposed with that High Cheese. BTW, James Outman has the second best bat speed on the Dodgers (Ohtani is #1).
Outman was exposed by LH pitching and as MLB pitchers discovered the holes in his swing, they figured out that he couldn’t generate power against LHP. He hit a HR every 16 ABs against RHP while he hit a HR every 130 ABs against LHP. He could resurrect his career with a great Spring Training. Unless a trade or a Free Agent is signed, I see Conforto in LF (with CT3 occasionally backing him up), Edman in CF and Pages and Outman in a platoon in RF. It has potential… Remember, results are not linear.
Dalton Rushing – I do not see him playing in LF (maybe on occasion), but I could see him catching against some tough RH pitching to limit the wear and tear on Will Smith. What about Austin Barnes? I don’t know. Could the Dodgers carry three catchers, so that both Will and Austin could tutor Dalton? It’s entirely possible this happens after the All-Star Break
Alex Freeland – I guess he could have a hot Spring Training and force the Dodgers hand, but it seems to me that he likely starts at AAA and gets promoted at some point in the season.
Diego Cartaya – I suppose it’s possible he gets his swing fixed over the winter and forces the Dodgers to make a place for him, but that seems unlikely.
On the pitching side there are certainly more options, like Jack Dreyer, Ben Casparius, Edgardo Henriquez, and Justin Wrobleski. If Jackson Ferris makes it, a lot went wrong! A whole lot!
I think that the Dodgers will sign or trade for another outfielder, but no one has a gun to their head and they don’t have too. Of course, there will be injuries… especially when you have a lot of players over 30: Barnes, Betts, Freeman, Muncy, Ohtani, Rojas, Conforto… so there wiull be opportunities for some youngsters… Don’t forget David Bote – this under the radar deal could pay off big time!
Roki Sasaki: Dodger or Padres… or Even the Red Sox?
No team can sign Sasaki until January 15th…. but they can negotiate with him. In 2025, MLB teams can trade for up to $6 million in international signing bonus pool money. This limit is set by the league and is designed to regulate the signing of international amateur players. Teams can acquire this money through trades with other teams, but there are specific rules governing how and when these trades can occur, such as:
Maximum Amount: Teams can trade for a maximum of $6 million in a single season. However, a team cannot exceed its own international bonus pool by more than 50% through trades.
Timing: Trades for international bonus pool money can only occur during specific periods, typically between the end of the World Series and the end of the international signing period.
Contracts and Prospects: The trades can involve only cash or bonus pool money; players cannot be included in these trades.
Non-Competitive Balance: Only teams that are not subject to competitive balance taxes can trade their bonus pool money.
Tracking: Teams must keep accurate records of their signing bonuses, and any trades must be reported to the league office.
If the Dodgers could obtain a few more million in signing bonus money, they could offer more upfront money, but of course, other teams could do the same.
Discussion (15)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Dano,
I agree 100%. I discovered Mark’s site this year and it has enhanced my Dodger fun 10 fold. I am truly grateful, not just to Mark, but to all who make up what I now understand is very much a community. Merry Christmas to all the LADT team!
merry christmas to all my dodgers brothers! santa, please bring Teo back!
Merry Christmas to all my friends at LADT. I’m thankful to have a place to interact with fellow Dodger fans. You guys are the best!
Book em
Shohei Ohtani ‘Very Honored’ to Be Named AP Male Athlete Of The Year
‘Shohei Ohtani had one of the all-time great seasons in his first year with the Los Angeles Dodgers, which was capped off with a World Series trophy and a unanimous National League MVP Award.
Ohtani was also previously named the NL Hank Aaron Award winner, the Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter, the NL Outstanding Player as part of the Players Choice Awards, Sporting News’ MLB Player of the Year, and he won his third Silver Slugger Award while being selected to the All-MLB Team”.
A Happy Safe Holiday Season to All. Still waiting for AF and BG to deliver much anticipated presernts,
I think we hace cussed and dis-cussed all the possibilities… so we wait.
Striker was a great Dodger! Teo was a great Dodger! Sadly those ships have sailed. But the future is bright when you root for a mega dynasty in the making. To do what the boys in blue are doing in this culture and time period is downright mindboggling. NBA and NFL can build super teams. Nobody in MLB has been able to do it. But the L.A. Dodgers are proving everybody wrong. They are a Dynasty. Good night now!
Book em
Referring to the original topic of this thread. With almost every other team in baseball, if they had Rushing, Freeland or Ferris, all we would be hearing is how they could be rookie of the year. With our talent rich team, they are just our best prospects, looking for a chance to make the team. All three of these guys are REALLY special. Jackson Ferris has a goal of being in baseball’s Hall of Fame. I love that kind of confidence and ambition. Alex has conquered so many obstacles, he’s destined for greatness. And the batting eye of Dalton, is just extraordinary for a power hitter. We have others down on the farm, but these guys are absolutely top notch. Great time to be a Dodger fan.
Goodbye Walker Buehler!
You are forever etched in Dodger Glory!
Score another one for the Trade Value Simulator WRT the Jesus Lazardo trade:
Phillies $22.7
Marlins $23.1
That’s an intriguing group of young men. They all have a chance at the dance. It’s a frickin long season, so they will all get a chance to show what they got. Get hot and increase your value to the team is the dream of them all. I’m hoping for the best. We will see. As for now….. Kike & Roki and maybe a couple more peripheral moves and we are set.
Two in a row is the Sho!
Book em
Pages + Wrobleski + Ryan Ward for Suzuki?
What do the Cubs need…
Fun fact: Outman and Pages both batted .248 in their rookie seasons.
But Outman’s on-base percentage was nearly 50 points higher. To quote Moneyball: “He gets on base.”
Outman’s OBP in ’23 was .352, while Pages’s in ’24 was .305. And Outman was close to .350 against both lefties and righties.
Yes, Outman had a high K rate. But his ratio of walks to Ks was much better than Pages.
In 567 plate appearances, Outman had 68 walks against 181 Ks .
In 443 PA, Pages had only 29 walks against 108 Ks.
One reason Outman had so many more trips to the plate was, of course, his superior defense. One reason Pages had fewer were his extreme splits. He crushed lefties with an OPS over .900 but struggled against rightes.
Outman’s ML performance in ’24 was awful, but he performed well in OKC, especially after his daughter was born. In ’23, he was allowed to recover from his slumps at the major league level. Well… maybe not Suzuki.
I’d be fine with packaging either Pages or Outman in a deal for Luis Robert Jr. or Seiya Suzuki.
But in ’25, an Outman/Pages platoon could produce more than 30 HRs and an OPS over .820.
I don’t believe money will be the ONLY issue in signing Roki Sasaki. It’s more where he feels more comfortable playing and with whom,West Coast vs East Coast, winning organization,, and pitching development. The Dodgers should be favored but until he fills that last 40 man roster spot available, you never know. It’s us or SD.
Kike’ played centerfield during the playoffs. His hitting improved once he started wearing glasses. Shouldn’t he in discussions as the Dodgers CF? Would probably require some moves on AF’s part.