Hot Stove Starts After the World Series

Well, in a couple of weeks, after the dust settles and a new Champion is crowned, if the Astro holes don’t win, we can all put on our GM caps and begin making our fantasy selections on just who the Dodgers might target via trade, free agency or dipping into the Asian free agent pool and plucking a Nipponese pitcher.

I expect some changes, maybe even one or two in the coaching ranks, and maybe the front office. Boston is looking for an exec. I believe the Mets are too. McCullough has been mentioned as a managerial candidate for a couple of teams. The Dodgers always seem to lose one that way to another organization. I myself would like to see some change in the hitting philosophy. But y’all know I am old school. I totally dislike strikeouts. Especially when players blow by 100 by July.

There will be a couple of very good starting pitchers on the market in Blake Snell and Yamamoto from Japan. There will also be a few who have had some success in the past but have fallen on tougher times lately. With Kershaw’s possible departure, and the Julio Urias debacle, LA might need a lefty. The best available is Snell. The problem is his agent. AF does not like doing business with Boras. Or at least with Bora’s high dollar clients.

He signed Martinez because he came relatively cheap. Snell is going to get major money and most likely a 5- or 6-year deal. Boras got Rodon a six-year deal with the Yankees, so I doubt he will have much trouble securing something close for Snell, who is a former Cy Young winner, something Rodon is not. And Snell will win the ERA title this year.

The one I would kick the tires on is Jordan Montgomery. He finished 4-2 for the Rangers with an ERA under 3. He is not a high strikeout guy, but he doesn’t walk a lot of hitters either. Only 48 in 188 innings. He only gave up 18 homers too. So, in almost half his starts, he did not allow a homer. He has also shown well in this postseason for the Rangers so far and pitched well enough for the Rangers to shutout Houston, 2-0 in game one of the ALCS.

The most prominent closer coming on the market is Josh Hader. Hader had 33 saves, 2 wins and 3 losses. He blew 5 saves. He gave up 3 long balls in 56 innings and struck out 85. His ERA was 1.28 and his WHIP was 1.101. He is one of the better closers in the game. But do the Dodgers want to pay him in excess of the 14 million he made last year because he is going to get more than that.

Others coming out as free agents, Will Smith, David Robertson, Craig Kimbrel and Trevor May. Daniel Hudson of the Dodgers has a 6.5 mil club option. I think they will not exercise it. There will be others as team’s non-tender players. So, the free agent list will be well over 100 players by the time of the winter meetings.

I have seen many posters saying the Dodgers need to sign a third baseman. Matt Chapman is the name mentioned the most. Arenado is who most actually want, but St. Louis does not seem to want to trade him. Me? Well, if they could swing a deal, I would take Ramirez of Cleveland. But there is a free agent who is 29 and I was impressed with his work as a Cub after he was traded to Chicago. Jemier Candelario. Candelario hit .254 and had 22 homers. He also is a very good defender.

But again, my gut feeling tells me that they are going to give their two kids a shot at everyday jobs. Busch or Vargas can play third. They both played there at OKC. Vargas and Busch also played 2nd base. So it remains to be seen whether the Dodgers pursue a trade or decide to play the kids.

I saw where Bradley had suggested that the Dodgers look at trying to get Ke’bryan Hayes from the Pirates along with Bryan Reynolds. Both would be very good acquisitions. The problem with the suggestion is that both of those guys just signed long term contracts with the Pirates. Hayes is only 27 and Reynolds 29. They both are signed for 7 more years with an option year added. Neither is all that expensive, but Pittsburgh signed those guys to be their core players over the next several years. They are not getting traded anytime soon.

There will be plenty of outfielders available once the non-tenders and outright release lists are finalized. Even old pal Joc will be free to sign wherever he wants. So far, the Giants are busy looking for a new manager. Four teams looking for those and there could be a fifth if Craig Counsell decides not to go back with the Brewers. His contract expires on the 31st of October.

So, get ready for the annual winter sleigh ride. For you guys in California and Arizona, that is a old time mode of transportation when it snows heavily. There will probably be some surprises in store. There always are. But come next February, we will have a much better idea of who is going to be at Camelback Ranch than we do now.