In the above statement, there are two contingencies:
- If the Blue Jays Decide to Trade Bo Bichette; and
- If they do, Andrew Friedman will be all in.
Let me break that down for you. The Blue Jays may or may not make Bo Bichette available. If they don’t, there is nothing to talk about. I have no clue if they will or they won’t, so we wait. However, I do know (for a certainty) that if Bo Bichette becomes available, Andrew Friedman will be “all in.” Bo Bichette is an Andrew Friedman kind of player. Make no mistake about it; Bo Bihette is an elite shortstop. He is middle-of-the-pack when it comes to defense, but he is elite offensively, even if he has had a bad first half of the season. If he is made available, Andrew Friedman will want him and Toronto will demand a huge “overpay” for him. So, there is that.
I am not going to spend a lot of time discussing this because it is simply conjecture at this juncture. However, in the next two weeks, we should know. Toronto is 41-49 and unless they go on a huge hot streak, Bichette will likely be available… no matter what their GM says right now. All I know is this: I will not include Justin Wrobkeski in that trade. To get Bichette, it will take substantial prospect collateral… maybe even DePaula or J. Vargas. Bichette is not even entering his prime, so I would pay it. No question.
What is happening to Max Muncy happened to Ryan Pepiot last year. He missed most of the season with an oblique that just did not respond to treatment until August 19th. Max Muncy may not be back until September. Let’s hope he has enough runway to get his timing down. Can you imagine how different this lineup would look with Betts, Muncy, and Bichette?
Wrobleski flashed his skills and made a couple of mistakes, but you can see that this kid is special! He’s definitely a keeper. He could be better than a tired Crochet down the stretch. Tomorrow we see the Phillies and hope that Bobby Miller is finally back 100%.
Discussion (35)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Dylan Hernandez, who I waffle on liking, has a piece where he wonders about Roberts’ lame duck status ($$$$)
https://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/story/2024-07-08/dylan-hernandez-column-on-dave-roberts
What I found interesting was this text that AF sent Dylan:
“Doc is a big part of what we have accomplished in the past and we look forward to him being a big part of what we will accomplish in the future. Right now, all of our focus and attention are on doing everything we can to win a Championship this season.”
Bear made a comment that I’d like to touch on, Corey Seager’s contract. Yes California has State income tax and Taxes doesn’t. When for example the Rangers play in California, all the Rangers pay the California taxes for the amount they make in those games as the Dodgers don’t pay State taxes when they pay in Florida or Texas,etc. another point Texas has the third highest property taxes in the country. Seager if he owns a home, car etc of property tax he pays that for the whole year. Texas Corporate income taxes are fairly low so they fund their a lot of their State Government with property taxes. So using State income tax as a reason needs to take a deeper look.
Not a fan of going all in for Bichette, Robert, Crochet, Bellinger, or many of the names being kicked around. With Betts return, the Dodgers top five are as good as any in baseball. If Muncy returns in time to be ready for the playoffs then the top six match up with any in baseball. We don’t need to overpay for improvements to lengthen the line up. I like Rojas at shortstop in the playoffs. He will need rest over the last eleven weeks but him batting ninth and playing great defense in a playoff series is fine. If Outman (vs. righties), Pages, and Vargas are batting 7th and 8th in a line up that may be fine as well. There are 15 games or so before the trade deadline to get a better idea. My point is that any offensive additions like Robert or Bichette or Bregman at the deadline don’t guarantee a damn thing. The Braves had the best line up in baseball history last year with five guys with 98 or more RBIs and were eliminated in the NLDS, just like the Dodgers. I am sure that the FO has done the risk – reward analysis with far more information than we have. None of these high cost acquisitions does much for me. The lower cost alternatives that have been mentioned make more sense – Pham, Hoerner, DeJong,etc. One or two of those to lengthen the bench depth make more sense with a much lower prospect cost. Save for the Trea Turner deadline deal they also seem more in keeping with AF’s approach. I think that Mookie Betts has worn down late in the season these last two years. A silver lining to his injury is we will see a fresher and more rested Betts in the playoffs.
Still doesn’t matter bradley! bregman is a cheater!!!!!!! don’t you understand that he is not dodger blue material? watch the look on his face after hitting the home run in the world series. he knew what was coming and the smirk on his face tells it all! kershaw couldn’t believe he hit that pitch!! he doesn’t deserve to wear the same uniform clayton wears! end of discussion!
I’m hoping Ryan River gets the start on Thursday. He’s been really good his last couple starts. He’d have to be placed on the 40 man and he’s probably only going to be able to go five innings max, but I read it’s going to be a bullpen game. He’s looks like the real deal.
why does bradley continue to beat the Bregman drum?? True blue dodgers don’t want that piece of crap!! I’m a laid back type of guy. give and take type of guy. consider myself a forgiving type of guy. But Bregman can rot in , well you get it. The hall of fame takes character into consideration . Do any of you dodger fans consider any of those cheaters high character individuals? i sure as hell don’t! Would you have wanted Aaasrod or bonds on a dodger team? no way! so why bregman? Might be the reason Bauer will never ever be a dodger again. not saying he was guilty, saying he probably shouldn’t have been signed in the first place. Always been proud to be a dodger fan. Proud of the players they put on the field. So lets win with integrity, not cheaters!
And yes, I am a Dodger fan and I DO expect a Dodger SUPERTEAM out there.
I noticed for many years the Dodgers’ offense does not play well at Dodger Stadium. The recent series against the Rangers, the Diamondbacks and the Brewers are an example of that Oh, and don’t forget the Padres.
This guy is suggesting that Lux needs to go back to AAA:
Watch this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SToCVS7pQoM
Defense:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/epdiSfY4hDc
Good trade options are Ryan McMahon of the Rockies and Isaac Paredes of the Devil Rays. Both can play 3B and or when Muncy returns move over to 2B. Both would be cheaper options than Bichette. Food the thought.
If Bichette had been playing for the Dodgers this whole season, people would be pulling their hair out. BA. .226. 4 Homers, 30 RBI’s, .607 OPS, almost a 3 to 1 ratio on strikeouts vs. walks, OBP. 280, 1 triple, here is a decent stat 16 doubles, that’s okay, the rest is awful, past bad. He’s 36th in the MLB in batting average, OPS and OBP. Someone stated 300 million for ten years!!! Please someone educate me on all the love for Bichette. I have followed baseball real close for decades, I’m a stat freak, couldn’t wait each week to get the sporting news to go over it a number of times. Love to follow time frames such as 30 days, 15 days along with season. Bichette doesn’t show up good in any of these. Help me understand. Please
Bichette makes sense becaue they can sign him to the next seven years then move Rojas to secund base platoon with Taylor and hey how about this Mokkie plays Right foeld with platoon of Pages and outman in cf and Teo on leftfield so then they juts need to find someone to play thirdbase. How about Hornier from the Cubs or if aatrosslip Bregman talk about a lineup if Muncy can’t come back. And they add Bregman and could sign him in off season. Wow. They wouldnt need Muncy any more. They could trade Muncy and Buehler to the Red Sox for players. For outfielder and Jansen. All they could do but will they?
Saw this yesturday with regards to Bichette . It was also acknowledged the Dodgers biggest competition to get Bichette are Cleveland and Seattle.
From clutch points:
“They aren’t going to want to trade Bo Bichette and Vlad Guerrero Jr. with both having another year to go before free agency.
But word is, past long-term negotiations with both stars never came close to agreement.
And folks who know the pair believe the Jays have little to no chance to lock up Bichette, and maybe only a slightly better chance with Guerrero.”
MLBTR says Jazz Chisholm could be available. Started as a SS.
Free Miguel Vargas. Let him play 3B. I can’t believe playing Vargas at 3B will prevent the Dodgers from playing in the postseason. Maybe, with consistent play, his defense will be improved. Will he be Brooks Robinson? Of course not.
But, when was the last time the LA Dodgers have had a GG 3B? He can’t be that much worse than Biggio defensively and I would be shocked if Vargas’s bat wouldn’t be a major improvement. That would allow the Dodgers to have an outfield of Teoscar LF, Outman CF, and Pages/Heyman RF. Trade for Bichette and JT. Move Lux and Kiki. Wishing CT3 a hot 2-3 weeks in the postseason. Then all could be forgiven for his regular season play.
The Dodgers are in a “win now mode” as evidenced by Ohtani, Freeman, Muncy, Betts, Teoscar, Rojas, Kershaw, Taylor, Barnes, Kike, Heyward, et al all being on the wrong side of 30. They have a few good years left, but not as many as they once did. It would take several arms to get Crochet, but the Dodgers need to hoard arms, as they blow out more arms than anyone. I do not see them burning pitching prospects for someone like Garrett Crochet. Also, Max Muncy is signed for another year and other than his horrific injury at the end of 2022, he has been very durable. Oblique strains are hard to deal with, but I think they just have to shut him down totally until mid-August. I think it’s likely he will be back in early September and maybe Vargas can hold the spot down until Max returns. It’s worth a shot.
Bo Bichette will be 27 next year, and I could see his best years coming as a Dodger. I could see the Dodgers offering him a 10 year/$300 + Million extension. Rojas will be 36 next year and likely not an everyday player. Mookie would be better served at 2B.
I believe Bo would be a huge asset to this team and if you doubt his defensive prowess, just Google “Has Bo Bichette Improved on Defense?” Finally, if the Dodgers can acquire someone like BO, they do not need another 3B.
Damn, that’s really insightful Ted. I’m with you 100%.
Book em
Nice take Bradley!
I agree that if Bichette is available it would be a nice pickup for the Dodgers. Bear believes that it will take a major overpay to get him. That may be true, but if not AF will certainly make a legit offer. Without looking it up, how many contenders need a SS? I would guess not many. Supply and demand. If Bichette is obtained then Mookie is at 2B. So, who would you rather have, Bichette or Lux? I’ll take Bichette. With the exception of this year (so far) he has a proven record of offensive success. Lux needs a change of scenery. It would do both players good to move on.
In regards to Crochet, I would pass. Sure, he has been outstanding so far this season and he is only 25. He has pitched 105 innings so far which is twice his previous high. He was recovering from TJ surgery in 2022 and most of 2023. He’s a hard thrower which almost guarantees another TJ surgery in his future. I would think that Crochet is going to demand quite a haul. I don’t have a problem trading away prospects as most will never play for the Dodgers, but that doesn’t mean AF shouldn’t use the prospects wisely in trades. The Dodgers have enough pitchers like Crochet who have innings limitations and/or are recovering from injuries. With Glasnow and Stone rapidly approaching career highs in innings pitched and the uncertainty of Miller, Yamamoto, Kershaw, and Buehler returning from injury adding Crochet might be problematic. Throw in a injury history of Paxton. That leaves the inexperienced Knack and recently added Wrobleski as options.
Bottom line is that there is huge potential for a outstanding starting staff for the postseason. It’s, also, possible to have several bullpen games if the above pitchers run out of gas or don’t recover adequately by the end of the regular season. I don’t envy AF’s situation. It’s damn if you do and damn if you don’t. A second guesser’s perfect
scenario.
Carry on.
I love Miggy. Again what do his stats from April to June have to do with October. He’s 35 we need more. Outman ,Pages, Taylor in October? Really? Are the studs in the minors going to win us a World Series? No. I would be way more comfortable when the October crapshoot comes around if I had Bo and Luis. Not gonna happen but I am going to hope. Ok go ahead and get us an innings eater for a lottery pick. Hard no on giving up prospects for pitching otherwise. Way to fragile all across MLB.
Book em
Dodger need Bo Bichette Jack Flarethy and Jesse Winkler those three guys would improve this team and get rid of some of the strikeout kids. The fearsome six that strikeout every at bat. Go Dodgers.
I agree that thid base and pitching are the priorities.
I would also like to see Outman in center and Vargas at third get the opportunity to make their case in July. If one or both fail to convince AF then you go after Belli for center and trade for a contact hitting third baseman. I don’t know who might fit that role but I would be satified with a .240 hitter for more consistency in the back of the order.
I would also focus on the Cubs as a trading parter. With Busch’s performance to date, they might have a strong interest in more Dodger prospects.
Bear: I want to thank you for your comments – I read them all! I also admire your patience with Bradley.
Hang onto the pitching prospects!
Tough crowd!! Rojas is hitting .294 in the last 30 days he’s well over .300. Is he the long term answer? Who knows. He is having a special year and he deserves the opportunity to take this year as far as he can. If you’re going after a shortstop for the future, get Jacob Wilson from the A’s. Sure one can slide Rojas either direction but he is playing an elite shortstop right now. Discussing cool expensive items reminds me of discussions I have with my wife on her purchases. My guess I’ll have as much luck here of changing minds as I do with her. Taylor of the last month is fine at second, third has been a black hole. I’d rather have a platoon of Pages and Outman in Center than Roberts even without giving up elite prospects.
If Dodgers trade Vargas, wouldn’t it be a mistake? As far as I know, Friedman is not stupid, and he cares as much about this season as he does about the future, and I don’t know how many OF Dodgers he has in the minors, but I think Vargas, Outman and Pages would be the outfielders of the future.
Teo will be gone
Heyward will be gone
Kiki will be gone
The only one who can play OF is Taylor, and definitely no one wants him as a regular!
Bichette is good, yes, but SS is not a priority this season, no more than 3B or SP….
If Dodgers trade Vargas, wouldn’t it be a mistake? As far as I know, Friedman is not stupid, and he cares as much about this season as he does about the future, and I don’t know how many OF Dodgers he has in the minors, but I think Vargas, Outman and Pages would be the outfielders of the future.
Teo will be gone
Heyward will be gone
Kiki will be gone
The only one who can play OF is Taylor, and definitely no one wants him as a regular!
If we are going to trade for an infielder, it will be a 3rd baseman due to Muncy’s slow recovery. If we don’t want Mookie at SS because of shabby defense, why in the wide wide world of sports would we want Bichette there? I totally agree with Old Bear on this one. Bat Miggy 9th and rest him once or twice a week. Upgrade the Pitching because that’s what has killed us the last few years. Clayton and Walker just may not be the answer to our playoff needs. Play Vargas in LF, Mookie at 2nd base and strengthen the bullpen and get one more starter.
How the team is playing right now is is irrelevant. They will be in the dance. Of course they don’t need a ss or cf, now. But come October , Rojas and Pages? I don’t think so. And they will have plenty of stud pitchers come October. If your gonna trade the farm, make sure you get quality all star caliber every day players. Relax and enjoy the ride.
Book em
Why would Friedman overspend for pitching? We have plenty. 2 all star caliber players would look sweet . Their trade values are the lowest they will ever be, albeit still formidable. Let me see….Rojas over Bichette huh? Pages over Robert ? Double huh . It’s just a dream. But a damn good one. I don’t know what the FO will do. But that’s my 2 cents. Relax a little. It’s ok.
Book em
Vargas went 0 for 4 yesterday with 2 strikeouts. But every at bat was a quality at bat and the K’s were the result of a great pitch and a bad umpire.
I do not believe that Andrew will trade Vargas and that he will end up playing third base or left field for the remainder of this season, depending on who Andrew gets at the deadline.
I still want Cody back in centerfield.
Mark , agree on both points.
Justin Wrobkeski is not included.
Fully in on Bichette.
At 26 he should be our shortstop for the next 7-8 yrs.
I agree with Bear that
an extension must be in place for the deal to work.
With the prospect capital it’s going to cost, I don’t want a rental and were
back in the same boat after next year.
Go Dodgers !!
Well, the Dodgers had two elite shortstops, Corey Seager and Trey Turner and both walked away. They made a pretty good offer to Seager, but got outbid by the Texas Rangers. They let Turner go without even making him an offer, saying he wanted to play back east. Yet, when Turner was interviewed later, he said he had interest in re-signing with the Dodgers, but they never even approached him. Now you think the Dodgers will be all in on Bo Bichette. Seems like that isn’t exactly a priority at the moment. Miguel Vargas is playing well, both with the glove and the bat.
Sorry, but don’t they have other needs? More pressing needs. Like another starting pitcher.
Bichette would be an expensive trade in terms of prospects. Do the Dodgers really want to make that kind of deal. Who do you see in that deal, Mark?
What are the Dodgers priorities going into the trade deadline? Pitcher? Another hitter? Outfielder? Shortstop? Bullpen help?
The Dodgers could hold the line on pitching and hope the returning players come back healthy. That’s obviously a gamble so I think they do something. But will shortstop be a focus?
100% agreed that Wrobleski is a keeper. The curve ball for his 2nd strikeout was incredible.
I am leaning towards Mark’s position on Bichette (sorry Bear). We can’t continue to rely on Lux, Taylor or Kike going forward if we hope to win the WS.
Bichette has the proven track record (3+ yrs) with his offense no matter what his first half stats are and his defense is adequate.
The other big question is – what the heck are we going to do about 3rd base??
Again, we are screwed if it is a combo of Taylor, Kike and Biggo.
So I think something big will occur for either a SS or 3rd base solution – but cannot even conjecture what that will be – other than piggy-backing on some of the other posters here who are more informed on some of the players that may be available.
I think it is time for another one (or 2) of Eric’s crazy trade scenario’s!
If for nothing else than to generate some more dialogue:)
Wrobleski and Ferris are two special left handed pitchers in the Dodger’s system. Hopefully neither one of them will be traded at the deadline.
We have discussed this subject many times. Most fans want this guy. I disagree that Freidman will be all in. He will not overpay for any player, and I would not trade for him unless he signs an extension. But that is me, and I am not running the team. I think he goes pitching first, then worries about the peripherals like any infield or outfield position.