Tony Gonsolin looks to be back. His fastball was generally in the 92 to 94 MPH range, but occasionally he hit 95 MPH and even touched 96 MPH. At this stage of the season, I would slot Tony ahead of Dustin May, and May has also shown nice progress. Next week, the Dodgers get Kershaw back and Emmet Sheehan could very well be a rotation option soon. Roki Sasaki may have to go to OKC to learn how to pitch. The Dodgers will need some pitchers to eat some innings until Snell and Glasnow make it back… IF they make it back! Right now, Ben Casparius is 4th on the team in innings pitched, and Jack Dreyer and Tanner Scott are 5th and 6th. That needs to change. Landon Kanck and Matt Sauer will hopefully fill the void. We’ve got a week until Clayton returns, and I think he will surprise many of you with his effectiveness.
Still Pining for Gavin Lux… Don’t! Here’s why…
The Los Angeles Dodgers traded Gavin Lux to the Cincinnati Reds in January 2025 for several strategic reasons. But there was an unspoken reason: the Dodgers felt misled by him. How did he mislead the team? Well, in Spring Training of 2023… actually before that (over the Winter), Gavin had begged the Dodgers to let him go back to the “position I feel at home with.” It wasn’t so much that Andrew Friedman and the Dodgers felt he was a shortstop; it was his insistence that he could play there. The plan was for Mookie to go to 2B, but then, about two weeks before the end of Spring Training, Gavin lost confidence in his ability to play there. Thus, Mookie had to slide over to SS without any preparation. Gavin then blew out his knee and was finished for the season.
Gavin came back in 2024 and platooned at 2B (let’s face it: he is a platoon player, as he struggles against LHP). He hit .251 in 2024 with an OPS of .703. This season (mostly playing LF for the Reds), he is also platooning, hitting .282 with a .766 OPS. He’s a nice player, but just like Andrew Friedman did when he traded Michael Busch for Hope and Ferris, he traded Gavin Lux, a player who was not essential for a potential CF star. Mike Sirota is lean, athletic, strong, and has an intriguing collection of tools. He has plus bat speed and excellent bat-to-ball skills from the right side of the plate. Sirota entered the 2024 season as one of the top prospects in the draft class from a mid-major college program, with a chance to be a top 10 overall pick. The Dodgers wanted to draft him, but the Reds took him before they had the chance. Simply put: the Dodgers really, really wanted Sirota, and we are starting to see why: As I write this, in 99 at-bats, Mike Sirota is hitting .354 with a .443 OB% and 1.130 OPS and has 7 HRs.
Where would Gavin Lux play for the Dodgers? He is an average to below-average 2B defensively. The Dodgers signed Korean infielder Hyeseong Kim to a three-year contract. Kim’s defensive versatility and offensive potential made him a strong candidate for middle infield positions, creating direct competition for Lux. He is also more versatile, being able to play just about anywhere. This acquisition signaled the Dodgers’ intent to restructure their infield, making Lux’s role less certain. With Tommy Edman, or MiggyRo, or CT3, or Kike, or Kim at 2B, the Dodgers thought that Lux was a good choice to trade for Sirota, who profiles as a very good centerfielder. He also has a great arm to go with his speed.
After missing the entire 2023 season due to an ACL injury, Lux returned in 2024 but posted a modest .703 OPS over 139 games. The Dodgers may have assessed that Lux had reached his performance ceiling within their system, prompting them to explore other options. Despite his recent challenges, Lux retained value as a young, controllable infielder with postseason experience. By trading him to the Reds, the Dodgers acquired outfield prospect Mike Sirota and a Competitive Balance Round A draft pick, assets that could benefit their long-term plans. Andrew Friedman is about six steps of us all.
The trade gave the Dodgers greater flexibility to adjust their roster and pursue other strategic objectives. It also opened opportunities for other players within their organization to step into more prominent roles. In summary, the Dodgers’ decision to trade Gavin Lux was influenced by roster dynamics, performance evaluations, and strategic planning for the future. I don’t find it any more curious than trading Michael Busch. The Dodgers did not need Busch, and they certainly do not need Lux.
Sirota is due to move up to Great Lakes very soon. The last week of June, the Loons play six games in Ft. Wayne at one of the most beautiful venues in the minor leagues, Parkview Field. I plan to be there to see Hope, DePaula, and Sirota. That could be the Dodgers’ outfield in 2027. It doesn’t hurt that my daughter lives in Ft. Wayne…
Discussion (33)
Disagree, not disagreeable
I never want to see JP or Garcia ever pitch wearing a Dodger uniform again
It never ceases to amaze me how our pitchers continually get hurt.It is freaking ridiculous.I thought the last 2 or 3 years what are we going to do with all these starting pitchers.Crap it’s like we are cursed.
Sasaki to the IL. Just announced!
That’s the bad news.
The badder news is that J.P. Feyereisen was activated.
God help us!
Just announced that Sasaki is experiencing arm soreness. Hasn’t yet been decided if he’ll go to the IL.
Also announced that Kershaw will be Saturday’s starter against the Angels.
10:10 PM ET
Athletics (21-20)
Dodgers (27-14)
SP Jeffrey Springs L
4-3 4.81 ERA
SP Landon Knack R
2-0 4.61 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
SS Mookie Betts R
C Will Smith R
1B F. Freeman L
RF Andy Pages R
3B E. Hernandez R
LF M. Conforto L
2B Miguel Rojas R
CF Chris Taylor R
64° Wind 13 mph Out
For all those who want Pete Rose in the HOF
In a letter to Jeffrey M. Lenkov, the attorney for Mr. Rose, Commissioner Manfred wrote, “In my view, a determination must be made regarding how the phrase ‘permanently ineligible’ should be interpreted in light of the purposes and policies behind Rule 21, which are to: (1) protect the game from individuals who pose a risk to the integrity of the sport by prohibiting the participation of such individuals; and (2) create a deterrent effect that reduces the likelihood of future violations by others. In my view, once an individual has passed away, the purposes of Rule 21 have been served. Obviously, a person no longer with us cannot represent a threat to the integrity of the game. Moreover, it is hard to conceive of a penalty that has more deterrent effect than one that lasts a lifetime with no reprieve. Therefore, I have concluded that permanent ineligibility ends upon the passing of the disciplined individual, and Mr. Rose will be removed from the permanently ineligible list.”
https://x.com/Bnicklaus7/status/1922334736430555493
Sirota’s first line at Great Lakes in an early game today playing LF:
3AB 3H 1R 1BB 12B 1CS in the Loons 3-1 win.
Mike Sirota moves to Great Lakes.
I plan to see our Future outfield there in June:
DePaula, Sirota and Hope.
doc
More on Freddie.
https://x.com/i/grok/share/4u5lFCO55mYbHv2xlWJxdm2ov
“Emmet Sheehan missed all of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ World Series championship 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery last May.The right-handed starting pitcher recently took a major step in his recovery process. Sheehan began facing live hitters and threw 40 pitches in his session on Thursday, per Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register.Sheehan is reportedly a couple weeks away from a rehab assignment”.
You crushed this one. You deserve a fitting bat flip for a fine analysis on the Lux saga. The FO has an impeccable record when it comes to acquiring players. Mike Sirota no exception. It’s impossible for us fans to understand the mountains of information they sort through before each transaction. But when you’re 5 to 6 moves ahead of your competition. It makes their job a little easier. I mean, come on, all of us at LADT are barely playing checkers. So root for the Blue . I do. Just like you!
Book em
Bluto posted some good stuff above, which was in Jail most of the day. I just bailed it out.
Check it out. It’s excellent.
Thanks, Bluto!
“Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman was named National League player of the week on Monday after piling up the hits on the road against the Marlins and Diamondbacks.Freeman hit .500/.500/1.000 with three home runs, three doubles, and a triple, leading the NL with 14 hits and 12 RBI over the last week, while scoring seven runs in seven games”.
“The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired outfielder Steward Berroa from the Toronto Blue Jays for cash considerations, the team announced Monday.Berroa started the season in the minors, thus far hitting .195 with four runs batted in at Triple-A Buffalo. The outfielder made his Major League debut last season with the Blue Jays and finished his rookie year slashing .189/.333/.216 with no home runs and one RBI across 37 at-bats.The 25-year-old played in 28 big league games for Toronto last season”.
Lux had a great second half last year but is limited defensively and is primarily a platoon player. I wasn’t surprised by the Dodgers trading him. The Dodgers are doing a great job of rebuilding the farm by trading players they weren’t going to use anyway like Lux and Busch. They have more good hitters then they have had for a while.
It looks to me like Outman and Miller may need a change of scenery. Two more guys they can trade for prospects.
I always like Gonsolin. He pitches without elite velo by setting hitters up and knowing how to pitch. He may have a better future than May who has never figured this out.
From what I have read, Snell is going to the doc for more info on what’s wrong since he doesn’t have an abnormality on MRI. Glasnow is going to get the OK to start throwing again. I wonder about Evan Phillips though. Is Tommy John in his future?
i think he needs to win at least one more. world series with the dodgers to cement him going in as a dodger. the guy did love atlanta. but i’m sure he has a sour taste in his mouth for the way they let him walk. Tough turds braves fans!
Outstanding piece, Mark
I would think Freddie is already headed to the HOF even his career ended tomorrow. Curious to see if others agree or disagree
he’s already a hallof famer! only question is what team he goes in as.
One of the remarkable things about Freeman and his .372 BA and 215 wRC+ is that he’s 35. He should be declining, and, to be honest, I was a little worried about he, Betts and Ohtani being on the wrong side of 30.
I was just thinking, he’s a year older than Puig. I remember being annoyed that Puig, after his torrid rookie start, got passed over for the 2013 All Star Game for some dweeb named Freeman.
A couple more years of this type of performance and he might be in then HOF conversation.
Most of this is just opinion anyway.
News from Internet:
MLB Pipeline updated their top 100:
https://www.mlb.com/milb/prospects
15. C/1B/OF Dalton Rushing
33. OF Josue De Paula
45. OF Zyhir Hope
48. INF Alex Freeland
63. LHP Jackson Ferris
Baseball America’s 3rd mock draft ($$$$)
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2025-mlb-mock-draft-3-0-first-round-pick-predictions-for-every-team/
40. Dodgers — Patrick Forbes, RHP, Louisville
…but the Dodgers might be a team that’s happy to scoop up his arm talent and help him find the zone more consistently….
Ben Clemens had a chat:
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/ben-clemens-fangraphs-chat-5-5-25/
Lord Thunder: LAD’s Muncy has had bad starts before, but usually heats up by now. How much of leash does he have to stay in the lineup?
Ben Clemens: Muncy, I’m pretty worried here, he’s 34, and the way he’s failing is the way you’d expect Max Muncy to fail. I’m sure teh Dodgers have more visibility into this than me but this looks bad! the skills that don’t seem likely to age, his plate discipline, are’nt aging
Tacoby Bellsbury: I’m loving the back-and-forth years of Judge and Ohtani. What’s Shohei going to do to one-up this in 2027?
Ben Clemens: what about a 50-homer, 150 IP season
Recent Dodger Farm promotions:
-RHP Jose Rodriguez —> AAA
-RHP Livan Reynoso —> AA
-RHP Shawndrick Oduber —> A
-IF Mairoshendrick Martinus —> A
-RHP prospects Sean Linan and Alex Makarewich have been promoted from Single-A to High-A
Note Bene: Linan had a 1.21 ERA, 44.2% strikeout rate and .146 AVG this year for RC, while Makarewich had an 0.68 ERA and 49.1% K in relief
From Future Projection: Episode 124: May Top 100 Prospect Update—The Up/Down Names To Know, May 9, 2025
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-124-may-top-100-prospect-update-the-up-down/id1555299031?i=1000706945464&r=3312
This material may be protected by copyright.”
“the two Dodgers, outfielders that they have right now in the Midwest League with Zyhir Hope and Josue De Paula. I would have both of these guys juiced even more than we do right now. We have De Paula 38, we have Zyhir Hope 40.
I think these are two elite young hitting prospects.”
Jerry Espinoza has a new sleeper prospect:
“For all you prospect watchers, Dodgers RHP Yoryi Simarra Arizona Complex League. Dodgers find them, this one is from Cartagena Columbia.””
Jay Jaffe had a chat:
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/jay-jaffe-fangraphs-chat-4-29-25/
12 to 6: will smith’s career ops is 74 points lower in the second half. he’s hammering the ball so far this year – given feduccia and rushing on the cusp, and knowing how the dodgers run smith into the ground during regular season, can we *please* get the fresh prince an “il” blow every once in a while to keep him fresh(er)?
Jay Jaffe: I tend to agree. I think once Ohtani is pitching and takes the occasional day off from DHing there will be a lane for Smith to get a bit of DH time and maybe take a look at Rushing, but I think his future as a receiver might lie in another organization.
Sirota was also acknowledged as a top performer by MLB Pipeline:
https://www.mlb.com/milb/news/top-prospect-performers-for-may-11-2025?t=mlb-pipeline-coverage
“…his first career multihomer game as part of a three-hit, five-RBI performance, cranking a two-run shot in the first and a three-run shot in the seventh.”
Brendan Tunink, DePaula, Hope, Eduardo Quintero and Sirota (OFs) make the Baseball America Hotsheet ($$$$)
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/ranking-the-20-hottest-mlb-prospects-hot-sheet-5-12-25/
“Tunink was an overslot signing for $412,500 at 250th overall and was an athletic testing standout.”
“…on Thursday night when he went deep twice, showcasing his power to both the opposite field and his pull side. The 19-year-old also swiped three bases, flashing his 60-grade speed. ”
“It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that Sirota may have already outgrown Low-A.”
“One scout described De Paula as having a Ken Griffey Jr.-esque swing. That kind of comparison brings some Bigfoot-sized shoes to fill, but so far, De Paula is backing it up..”
“The Dodgers have worked closely with Hope to better recognize and attack hittable pitches…”
DodgersDaily interviewed Dalton Rushing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WkucIUJ7yk
Good stuff about his progression as a catcher and a little bit on him as a left fielder.
Thomas Nestico breaks down Casparius:
https://x.com/TJStats/status/1917957188561052050
I learned early in my coaching career and then I was reminded in another job to never argue with a person who “has a barrel of ink.” So I’ll just state that I respectfully disagree with Mark’s evaluation of Lux.. I’m glad we got Sirota and hopefully he has a great career with the Dodgers. I’ll leave it that. Don’t want to argue:).
Mookie and Freddie with Mother’s Day homers, Freddie is the best player on this team. He hit’s em when they need em. His .376 BA is 52 points higher than #2, Machado. Judge is hitting .409. Cody Bellinger is hitting just .221 and striking out a lot. Seager is set to meet with the Texas doctors to find out why his hammy is still barking at him. Paul Goldschmidt is batting .349. Not homering as much, but getting a lot of hits, in line for comeback player of the year. Arenado is hitting .270, but has just 4 homers and 16 driven in.
Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow will both meet with Dr. Neal ElAttrache this week!
YIKES!
Great news on Clayton and Emmett! Any progress report on Gavin Stone love watching that kid pitch!… so what do the Dodgers do when Tommy and Teo come back? I would hate to see Kim sent back down. But who would you let go? Kim has played in Way fewer games than Taylor and has more hits. The Dodgers haven’t had that kind of speed they can bring off the bench and steal a base in a long time so what would you do mark? I’m not advocating to cut Taylor or even try to trade him, but so far Kim is proved to be valuable now yesterday he probably should’ve stopped at first, and then just stole second. But that kid can fly! I don’t know how much more being in the minors can help him…. Nice to see Conforto pick up a couple of base knocks yesterday I said earlier I thought he would come out of it and the signs are there…. Give Max credit, that was a heck of a play at third base yesterday! Just wish his bat would come around. There are some signs just like Conforto, so let’s keep our fingers crossed!…. As I said yesterday, Barnes looked awful, throwing the ball the second base on steal attempts. Just how strong is Dalton’s arm? …. Well in a more somber note, the Rockies finally made the decision for Bud Black. Why he stayed as long as he did I have no clue! He’s a good baseball man and a decent manager. He was in a no win situation.! Hopefully he’s financially set so he doesn’t have to go through anything like this again… speaking of managers, I thought Derek Shelton got a bit of a raw deal. The owner won’t spend any money to improve the team, so what does he expect? The same thing probably happens in Baltimore. Brandon Hyde is probably next if the Orioles continue to struggle. Well at least Dave Roberts has nothing to worry about supposed to rain here all day in Southwest Virginia. The Dodgers have a day off, so I guess I’ll just sit here and watch it rain! The athletics should provide some excellent competition for the Dodgers this week! Much improve team with a good manager. !
I was pining for Lux more when he was hitting .354 and playing LF, while Conforto’s BA was barely triple digits while playing sub-par defense.
Conforto’s still bad, but Lux’s tailspin back to his statistical mean makes me pine a lot less. Funny how that works.
BTW, Lux is hitting .080 against LHP … and his D is not good.
Much as I hate to admit when Mark is right, he’s right, at least here.
Can we move on from Outman??
Agree Lux didn’t fit, same as Busch. Nice players but we move on…..
DODGER MINOR LEAGUE STANDINGS 5/12/25
Oklahoma City AAA 25-14 1st place 4 games ahead
Tulsa AA 14-19 last place 5 games behind
Great Lakes A+ 17-16 5th place 4 games behind
Rancho Cucamongo A 23-10 1st place 8 games ahead
ACL Dodgers Rookie 4-2 2nd place 0.5 games behind
For more detailed recaps,stats,schedules, standings and box scores for Dodger minor league teams go to the top of this page and cIick on MINOR LEAGUE AFFLIATES.
Sirota really really needs to be promoted! He’s earned it