Yesterday, Bill Plunkett of the OC Register talked to Andrew Friedman, and this is what he said about the Dodgers trade Deadline Prospects:
“For us, I don’t think our mentality is different than it’s been in previous years in that we feel we have a really good team and to the extent that we can add really good players we’re going to be aggressive to do so. What appears to be a marginal upgrade is not something we’re going to spend a lot of time on. That doesn’t mean something is not going to happen along those lines but that’s not where our energy and focus will be.”
— Andrew Friedman
With James Outman struggling, it would seem to me that CF has to be a focus. We have no clue of the relationship between Bellinger and the Dodgers, but it may be strained. If Friedman only wants to add impact players, it has to be Luis Robert, Jr. who is going to be in high demand. To get a player like that (with three years of control) is going to cost DePaula, Rushing and others. It’s going to take a huge overpay. The Dodgers are not going to go out and trade for a top-tier 3B. They can put a patch on that until Max Muncy comes back which will likely be in September. I cannot see them getting Skubal or Crochet either, quantity is starting to be more important than quality as arms are falling off at record rates.
As I have said before, “You have to buy ’em cheap and stack ’em deep! The Dodgers have placed left-handed pitcher Jose Hernandez on outright waivers and assigned him to their Rookie-level affiliate in the Arizona Complex League, as recorded in the team’s transaction log on MLB.com. Hernandez had already been pitching in the ACL, preparing after a period of inactivity between his acquisition from Pittsburgh and his assignment to an affiliate. This transaction creates an opening on the 40-man roster, which is likely intended for top pitching prospect River Ryan, who is expected to make his major league debut this weekend.
Hernandez, 26, originally signed with the Dodgers from the Dominican Republic in 2016. He spent seven years within the Dodgers’ system before being selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2022 Rule 5 Draft. During the 2023 season, Hernandez pitched 50 2/3 innings for the Pirates, posting a 4.97 ERA, with a 27.8% strikeout rate and a 9.9% walk rate.
As a result of being on the Pirates’ roster for the entire season, Pittsburgh gained the ability to option Hernandez in future seasons. However, Hernandez struggled this season, pitching only 5 1/3 innings across seven MLB appearances and allowing 12 runs in 15 1/3 innings at the Pirates’ Triple-A affiliate in Indianapolis, where he also experienced reduced velocity. In June, the Pirates designated him for assignment and subsequently traded him back to the Dodgers for cash considerations. He is still a pitcher to watch!
X-CITES
Keith Law on the Dodger Draft
In The Athletic, this is what Keith says about the Dodgers draft:
“Shortstop Kellon Lindsey (1) was probably the fastest player in the draft class, and his body and skillset earned him comparisons to a young Trea Turner. He’s a true 80 runner and has the actions and arm to stay at shortstop, while at the plate, he has quick hands and enough loft in his finish for extra-base power. His pitch recognition is behind that of most of the other top high school position players in the class, as he played weak competition in high school and missed almost all of last summer and fall between football and injuries.
— Keith Law/The Athletic
Chase Harlan (3) has plus power but huge swing-and-miss issues that persisted into the spring, pushing him out of the top two rounds. He’s a third baseman now but big for the position and more likely to end up at first base. The Pennsylvania prep is committed to Clemson and only turned 18 a week before the draft.
Cal Poly left-hander Jakob Wright (4) is a groundball pitcher who throws a low-90s four-seamer, slider, cutter, and curveball, with a slot just below three-quarters, getting some deception from the delivery but also working away from contact, so he threw just 59 percent of pitches for strikes this year. If the control improves, he could stick as a starter. I was surprised at the groundball rate because his fastball doesn’t appear to have much sink to it.
Mississippi State reliever Brooks Auger (6) returned this year from Tommy John surgery and was up to 97 with two 55s in his slider and changeup. It’s a super-short arm action but aside from that I don’t see a reason he can’t start — and he did make five starts along with 15 relief appearances for the Bulldogs this year.
Oregon State shortstop Elijah Hainline (7) seems like a data pick — he had a very high Barrel rate, but swings and misses way too often at offspeed stuff and hit just .280/.402/.537 for the Beavers. Outfielder Brendan Tunink (8) is 5-11 with a long swing from the left side, loading his hands very deep, and had issues with contact even at some showcase events. The Illinois prep is also pitched in the past and he’s a plus runner, so he has the tools for right field, but the bat is a long way from there.”
So, who knows? We wait and watch. The draft is like the playoffs: It’s crapshoot!
Discussion (21)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Muncy (oblique) took soft toss Thursday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
“Muncy was shut down from swinging July 6 but has resumed swinging a bat by taking soft toss Thursday. While a firm timetable for return hasn’t been established, Muncy has been ruled out until at least August, per manager Dave Roberts. Considering the 33-year-old hasn’t played since May, he’ll likely require a lengthy rehab assignment before being activated from the injured list”.
“Walker Buehler has been training in Florida, and will throw to hitters near his home in Kentucky this weekend before rejoining the Dodgers on Tuesday in Los Angeles to be evaluated by the staff. Buehler, on the injured list with right hip inflammation, last pitched for the Dodgers on June 18.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto is pain free in his right shoulder, and has been strengthening his arb by throwing long toss, up to 135 feet, per Roberts. Yamamoto has also been throwing his javelin during workouts. He’s on the 60-day injured list with a rotator cuff strain and won’t be eligible to return until at least August 15.
Brusdar Graterol has already pitched twice in the Arizona Complex League this week, and will move his rehab assignment to Triple-A with Oklahoma City this weekend.
Roberts said relievers Michael Grove (out since June 16 with a right intercostal strain) and Ryan Brasier (on the 60-day IL, out since April 29 with a right calf strain) are both nearing rehab assignments”.
Bobby Miller will start for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Saturday night in Round Rock, Texas, in his first game in 11 days.
“Miller was optioned on July 10, one day after the worst start in his career, allowing nine runs in four innings against the Phillies. That raised his ERA to 8.07 on the season, including 19 runs allowed in 17⅓ innings in four starts since returning from missing 10 weeks with right shoulder inflammation”.
Oklahoma City Baseball Club
@okc_baseball
Clayton Kershaw’s final line in Round Rock last night
4.0 IP | 6 H | 3 R | 3 ER | 0 BB | 2 K
67 pitches/49 strikes
These Dodgers rule
These Dodgers suck
I think I am starting to see what the Dodgers see in Vargas’ glove.
A big blow to the Dodgers organization is our current young positional players. Lux and Outman are busts. Vargas is heading in that direction. And Pages’ ceiling looks like an average corner outfielder. That means we’re going to have to fill SS and CF with expensive options. Begin at the deadline with Robert jr and figure out SS next year.
I just like Gavin Stone’s poise.
If he doesn’t burn out, I am comfortable with him as our #3.
Hope I don’t jinx him
Man, this Red Sox team has some speed and they hustle.
The Dodgers are top 2 in the majors in OB and Slugging, but 18th WRISP.
This has been our curse in the playoffs the last 3 yrs.
Along with pitchers arms falling off.
But I believe 18th is the worst we have been in some years WRISP during the regular season.
If we don’t figure out how to cut down on our swing and make better contact with men on, we are going to have a difficult playoff run.
Disappointing news that Michael Peterson is sent down to make room for Joe Kelly. I was thinking it would be Yohan Ramirez because that dude should never see a Dodger uniform again unless it’s on a hanger in a Dick’s Sporting Goods store.
Perhaps he’ll get sent down tomorrow when Glasnow is activated.
10:10 PM ET
Red Sox (53-42)
Dodgers (56-41)
SP Nick Pivetta R
4-6 4.18 ERA
SPGavin Stone R
9-3 3.26 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
C Will Smith R
1B F. Freeman L
RF T. Hernandez R
CF Andy Pages R
SS Miguel Rojas R
2B Gavin Lux L
LF M. Vargas R
3B Chris Taylor R
78° Wind 9 mph Out
Playing Vargas against a right handed pitcher seems like they’te showcasing him for a trade
dodgers minor league baseball isn’t producing position players like they did. only will smith tips the scales! no seagers, no bellinger, it seems when we do produce one or two, they end up leaving! need better results.
Nationals’ and Ex Dodger Josiah Gray To Undergo UCL Surgery
By Steve Adams | July 19, 2024 at 2:00pm CDT
“Nationals right-hander Josiah Gray has been diagnosed with a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and will undergo season-ending surgery next week, tweets Bobby Blanco of MASNsports.com. Gray tells reporters that it hasn’t yet been determined whether he’ll undergo a traditional Tommy John surgery, an internal brace procedure or a hybrid of both (X link via Andrew Golden of the Washington Post). That determination won’t be made until the surgery is being performed, but he’ll be sidelined well into next season regardless.
Gray, 26, came to the Nats alongside catcher Keibert Ruiz in the blockbuster 2021 deadline trade sending Max Scherzer and Trea Turner to the Dodgers. He stepped into the Nats’ rotation that same summer and has been a fixture on the staff since, although he’s only been healthy enough to make two starts in 2024. Gray was rocked for 13 runs in just 8 1/3 innings across those two outings before heading to the injured list with a flexor strain.”
As predicted:
07/19/24 Los Angeles Dodgers activated RHP Joe Kelly from the 60-day injured list.
MLB lists the Dodgers top 30 and doesn’t have draft choices include yet.
Of the Dodgers top 30 prospects,
-12 are pitchers.
-Only 2 pitchers (Jesus Tillero and Hyun-Seok Jang from Korea) came from the Intl. signing process and 1 played in the (DSL)
-Of the remaining 10 top 30 pitchers
-We drafted 6
(Martin/Knack/Bruns/ Wrobleski/Kopp and Heubeck.
– the 4 others we got through trades
Of the 18 position top 30 players,
– 11 players came from the Intl signings process
-10 played in the
(DSL).
Of the remaining 7 top 30 position players
– we drafted 3 (Rushing/George and Gelof)
– the other 4 were traded for or signed as a FA
Looks like we need to continue to build up our intl signing pool $$ to get our better position prospects.
Then continue to get our pitchers from the draft.
Seems our:
intl. scouts are finding the hitters.
Granted most of these kids are in Arizona/ A and A+
So we will see how they transition to the higher levels of the minors.
It doesn’t get serious until they can perform at AA
Our domestic scouts are identifying the pitching and have done a very good job.
The pitching has developed well in the high minors and in some cases MLB
Maybe you can pick up the entire White Sox package with the right deal. Seems unlikely, but …
The Dodgers can offer an impressive package without damaging the farm system.
The question is will they? They just spent over a billion dollars in an effort to win the World Series.
Seems like they’re all in …
Saw bleacher reports top 10 minor league report. The Dodgers rank 16th.
5 of the 10 have come from the Dodgers Intl. signings and started their careers in the DSL – (Rookie Dominican League)
Top 10 Prospects:
1. OF Josue De Paula (Tier 1)
2. C/1B Dalton Rushing (Tier 1)
3. LHP Justin Wrobleski (Tier 2)
4. C Thayron Liranzo (Tier 2)
5. SS Alex Freeland (Tier 2)
6. RHP River Ryan (Tier 2)
7. SS Kellon Lindsey (Tier 2)—2024 Draft Pick
8. SS Joendry Vargas (Tier 2)
9. 2B Jeral Perez (Tier 3)
10. OF Eduardo Quintero (Tier 3)
What does it matter. Let’s just trade our lucky dice for their lucky dice and see who’s luckiest come October
Two major league ready youngsters and two top prospects.
Wrobleski/Ryan/Pages/Vargas
Rushing/Freeland/DePaula/Cartaya
How about Wrobleski, Vargas, Rushing & Heubeck?
I’m not worried, it’s too early for our hitters, especially Outman, to even try to hit. Roberts doesn’t need to worry about any of the pitchers as it’s too early to “turn it on”. All of them have a switch they can click when it’s time for games to count or the playoffs! They are just resting right now anyway.
Back in business tonight against the Red Sox. Pivetta 4-6 4.18 ERA is starting. No starter listed for LA yet. Kelly will probably be activated before the game. Pivetta has reverse splits, RH are hitting .253 against him with 8 homers. LH are hitting .205 with 5 homers. He has struck out 88 in 75.1 innings. Kershaw will be starting for OKC at Round Rock. Start time is 5:15 PST. Only 11 days until the trade deadline.