Here s Johnny!
The next few hours are going to be crazier than Jack Nicholson in The Shining and none of us have any clue what will go down. Yesterday, I said that I doubted that Andrew Friedman will trade any of the Top 10 prospects, to which AC said he was OK with #10 (Mitchell White). I d agree with that. Other than DJ Peters (#13), I would trade any other prospects after
The next few hours are going to be crazier than Jack Nicholson in The Shining and none of us have any clue what will go down. Yesterday, I said that I doubted that Andrew Friedman will trade any of the Top 10 prospects, to which AC said he was OK with #10 (Mitchell White). I’d agree with that. Other than DJ Peters (#13), I would trade any other prospects after #9.
Will Smith was doing well at AAA, but remember, he is about 3 years older than Keibert Ruiz, whose upside is massive. At 21 years-old he has amassed more walks than strikeouts this year. How often do you see 21 year-olds do that? The last one I could find was 21 year-old Tony Gwynn who had 28 strikeouts and 28 BB at A and AA, not ever AAA. I called Alex Verdugo Tony Gwynn-esque and you can see how well he has done (forget his current slump – it happens to everyone). Kaybear has elite bat-to-ball skills. I would not trade him or any of the TOP NINE, and I do not think Friedman will either.
Many were quick to trade Ruiz and Gonsolin, but you also saw Tony’s potential last night at Coors Field. He has great command of his fastball and slider and while he has a curve, he doesn’t control it as well. He also has a change, but in the bullpen, all he needs is that fastball and slider. He can be elite THIS YEAR in the pen. I could also see Dustin May in the bullpen THIS YEAR. He has excellent control at age 21 and only needs to use two pitches.
If Friedman swings a deal for a Daniel Hudson or Shane Greene or Amir Garrett, for lessor prospects, then I am fine. There is no guarantee that a Felipe Vasquez will get us a Championship. I have said it all year and will continue to say it.
I still think something strange will happen to, like Joc traded and Castellanos and Greene coming to the Dodgers…. Who knows?
By the way, Negron and White played a nice role last night. Can Ryu handle Coors? No, not the beer… the Stadium!
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Discussion (258)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Yeah, we have 2 catchers, 3 starting pitchers, and 3 middle infielders in our top 10. We need one of those SPs to join Urias in the rotation next year and Lux at 2B. So 5 guys in our top 10 are expendable. Maybe you say May and Gonsolin are both keepers last night because Gonsolin can help out in the pen. That still makes White, Busch, Downs, Gray and Ruiz expendable.
Let’s make a deal!
Still think there is a chance that a player or two in the top 10 get traded, but can’t see Ruiz getting moved unless it’s for Vasquez. Gonsolin looked really good last night. Not sure we should even pursue Vasquez if there is no clear indication that the Pirates would actually move him. By now Friedman pretty much should know where the Dodgers stand. Greene and a good lefty, maybe a Garrett, who throws a pretty mean left hook, would be fine. Not sure the Reds really want to part with him. But there a couple of other lefties out there who would fit. Wouldn’t be surprised to see Joc move, probably would be best for him. Just doesn’t have a position. The rise of Matt Beatty may play into that too.
Gonsolin just pitched his way out of getting traded. Just one game, I’m not ready to call him the solution to our crappy bullpen. We still need a closer and a lefty and Abreu, unless Casty wants to play 1B.
A agree that we’ll probably see a trade that no one expected. I’ve been saying that for some time now. Unfortunately, White and Negron fit that description.
Very sad to be a Rockies pitcher. Last year Freeland was the Ace, the year before that Gray was. Then Gray sucked, now he’s the Ace again and Freeland sucks. Hopefully they continue this trend.
Today should be a busy day now that some big names have been traded, there should be some more.
The Giants lost last night and they’re one game over 500. Farhan’s got to be pretty pissed off right now because he know that his team has no chance to compete in the post-season and now he’s being handcuffed trying to restock the cupboard.
Ruiz could be great. He could be good. Maybe he just becomes a really solid catcher for 15 years, which is still awesome.
Felipe Vazquez is great now. In fact, he might be the best late inning option in baseball. And he’s cheap. And he’s young. And he’s controllable for 4 years. And he fills a much bigger need on the 2019 Dodgers, who need to win the World Series or it’s a failure of a year, than Keibert Ruiz.
In my mind, it’s a no brainer. Elite talent will cost you. Elite talent that’s elite MLB talent NOW vs. elite talent that may become elite MLB talent in 2022 is more important to the 2019 Dodgers.
Sorry Keibert, I wish you well, but you might need to be sacrificed for a World Series title. As Kobe said “ship his ass out!” Bring us a ring AF!!
I say no Ryu cannot. He relies on pinpoint control of breaking stuff which sometime impossible up there. Same problem with Bueler not getting any break on curveball
I will agree that Ruiz could be something really great and a player that could haunt us for years if traded. On the other hand if the Dodgers need Vasquez for the next 4 years then obviously we have to give quality to get quality. Tough decision for Friedman.
For some reason I am anxious to add Ian Kennedy to the bullpen. Jansen, Baez, Maeda, Kennedy would be a good core four. Hill is on his way. Ferguson may still make a big contribution this year.
A rotation of Kershaw, Ryu, Buehler, Urias, Gonsolin to get the Dodgers to the postseason could be fun to witness. It would also be fun if May got a few starts to delay Urias entry into the rotation.
Maybe Kennedy could be substituted for Floro, Garcia, Chargois if Kennedy’s host team eats some of his salary.
We all now Joc got off to a hot start and has cooled. But this is Verdugo’s line for July: 208 .262 .351 .613
It would not surprise me to see Joc and Stripling traded today or this winter. Both need a reset. Stripling is a starter and will help another club. Joc needs a reset and Doc criticism did not help. He is not a first baseman. He belongs in the outfield.
I am with you guys that Mitchell White can be traded. Keep DJ Peters.
Gosolin and Sadler looked good last night. They had good command of the strike zone. Giving up a few runs at Coors Field is not a knock on any pitcher. Our bull pen is well rested for today’s game. I would certainly keep Gosolin and Sadler and let them pitch themselves on or off the team. Garcia and others have had all year to prove themselves and have not proven to be good.