Is Kike Coming Back?
Many people have scoffed at the idea that Kike Hernandez might return to the Dodgers. He will be 32 next month and is in the midst of what may be his worst season. He has a -0.6 WAR and is OPS’ing .599. However, if you look beyond the obvious, maybe he makes too much sense to…
Many people have scoffed at the idea that Kike Hernandez might return to the Dodgers. He will be 32 next month and is in the midst of what may be his worst season. He has a -0.6 WAR and is OPS’ing .599. However, if you look beyond the obvious, maybe he makes too much sense to ignore.
First of all, we know that Kike was beloved by his teammates. He did keep them loose, and his charisma was contagious. So, would his personality be a fit on the team? Absolutely! He is also an extremely versatile player, meaning that he can play all over the diamond if needed. However, I think Andrew Friedman wants to acquire him to platoon in RF with Jason Heyward, so that Mookie can move to the infield, namely 2B or SS.
This could be a great solution: Heyward hits RHP to the tune of a .360 OB% and s .846 OPS. His OPS+ is 132. For his career, Kike Hernandez has struggled against RHP (.660 OPS), but he has a .811 OPS against LHP. Also, Robert Van Socyoc knows Kiki and could possibly believe that he can help Kike improve against LHP. Kike can play a fine RF, and he has a very good arm. This would strengthen the lineup against LHP, and Kike would serve as Heyward’s platoon partner.
I like the sound of it. Kike is not getting much PT of late. The Red Sox have too many RH infielders. Including Hernandez, the Sox have JT, Yu Chang, Christian Arroyo, Trevor Story, and Pablo Reyes. Kike is owed about $4 Million and is a free agent after the season. The Red Sox could use a LH 2B, and Jorbit Vivas is just that, although he is not really MLB-Ready! Yonny Hernandez is also a possibility!
I also think Andrew Friedman may be ready to move on from Austin Barnes, although I think they should promote Hunter Feduccia – he can’t be any worse. Austin is not even hitting his IQ! Emmet Sheehan needs to go back to AAA – he has a bright future, but that’s not today.
Clayton Kershaw and Chris Young
A few days ago, The Athletic reported that the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw, and Rangers GM Chris Young share a bond that goes beyond baseball. Chris Young lives two blocks away from Kershaw in a Dallas suburb. Their children are in the same Dallas-area school system and cross paths often, particularly when Young walks his kids past Kershaw’s house on their way to school. Ellen Kershaw and Youngs’ wife, Elizabeth, are friends. They’ll run into each other at dinner. Some family fate ties them: Young played high school basketball at Highland Park with Kershaw’s brother-in-law.
I get the feeling that Clayton could go home in 2024.
Phil Bickford
His teammates love him, but he is not getting the job done. This may be the last we see of the Bick!
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Discussion (118)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Isn’t it lovely watching Springer struggle so badly and look so unhappy about it !!!
Definitely the best win of the season.
WHAT A WIN!
Would it be insensitive to point out that Mark just proposed a righty-heavy lineup that included Kike but left Outman on the pine?
Pretty good night for the guy who did not get sent down to OKC before Vargas…. and who, by the way, doesn’t seem to care if the pitcher’s paw is from the south or north. (You can look it up.)
Not only did Outman get the game-winning hit, but he sparked that huge ninth-inning rally with a single.
Amazing game.
Wow. Just wow
Great win!!!!!! Outman!!!! He’s earning his own place on the team!! His new surname si Hitman ha ha ha
Wow… Helluva comeback….
Just a little more, please.
Ugh.
No podemos batear con hombres en posición de anotar Betts frío frio
Of more concern that getting a mediocre hitter like Kike is the regression and continued demise of Julio Urias. Supposedly he is the team’s ace. He is not pitching like it. he keeps putting the team in an early hole.
The Dodgers are averaging .227 against LHP this year, so at .260, Kike is an upgrade! In the past three years, the Dodgers have a losing record against LHP. They are trying to remedy that. Over his career, Lane Thomas BA against RHP is worse than Kike’s and his OPS is just a few points better.
I am a Big Kike Supporter. I like this deal.
Potentially, the acquisition of Kike gives the Dodgers the option of moving Mookie to the infield. I know many are skeptical of Kike, but he should be in a different role as I think he will only play against LHP.
Against LHP:
1. Betts 2B (R)
2. Freeman 1B (L)
3. Smith C (R)
4. Muncy 3B (L)
5. JDM DH (R)
6. Kike RF (R)
7. CT3 LF (R)
8. DeLuca CF (R)
9. Rojas (R)
I said a few days ago that if Andrew Friedman and Company brought Thor back, I was down with it because I trust them, Evidently (according to Juan Toribio, they are not) and I am down with that too.
I am not saying that Kiki is the Dodgers’ Savior, but he is intriguing. It’s true that he is not doing great against LHP this year, but it’s a small sampling as he has only 86 PA against LHP. He did hit .260, and he struck out 10 times. That’s one out of 8 times. Against RHP, he struck out 1one out of 4 times.
This is a low cost move that could pay BIG dividends.
We’re good now. Hope Kike can at least pitch into the sixth inning.
PRESS RELEASE
DODGERS ACQUIRE KIKÉ HERNÁNDEZ
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired infielder/outfielder Kiké Hernández and cash from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for right-handed pitchers Nick Robertson and Justin Hagenman.
Hernández, 31, returns to the Dodgers for his second stint with the club after helping the 2020 team capture their 7th World Series Championship in franchise history. The Puerto Rican native is batting .222 (66-for-297) with 11 doubles, six homers and 31 RBI in 76 games with the Red Sox. He has been with Boston parts of three seasons, slashing .234/.308/.382 with 32 homers and 136 RBI. Prior to joining Boston, he spent six seasons with the Dodgers, hitting .240 (400-for-1670) with 68 homers and 213 RBI in 648 games. During his career, he has been in the postseason seven seasons, clubbing 13 homers and driving in 27 and posting a .900 career OPS in 69 postseason games. He was originally drafted by the Houston Astros in the sixth round of the 2009 First Year Player Draft out of the American Military Academy out of Toa Baja, Puerto Rico.
Robertson, 24, appeared in nine games for the Dodgers, allowing 10 runs (seven earned) in 10.1 innings with 13 strikeouts. With Oklahoma City, he was 2-0 with a 2.54 ERA (8 ER/28.1 IP) and 42 strikeouts. He is in his fourth minor league season with the Dodgers, and he is a combined 5-7 with a 3.54 ERA (67 ER/170.1 IP) and 215 strikeouts in 135 games. He was originally a seventh-round selection in the 2019 First Year Player Draft out of James Madison University.
Hagenman, 26, appeared in 25 games (five starts) for Triple-A Oklahoma City, going 4-0 with a 2.78 ERA (17 ER/55.0 IP) with 60 strikeouts. In five minor league seasons with the Dodgers, he was a combined 26-9 with a 3.61 ERA (115 ER/287.0 IP) and 295 strikeouts in 156 games (10 starts). He was originally drafted by the Dodgers in the 23rd round of the 2018 First Year Player Draft out of Penn State University.
I don’t see the Kike trade as a big gamble one way or another. So he has 2 months to see what he can do. If he is crap they can just leave him off the playoff roster. He didn’t cost much.
Well one thing we know, Kike will NOT be wearing # 14. It is now retired for Gil Hodges.
I just read a piece by Juan Toribio who wrote the following:
Noah Syndergaard was at Dodger Stadium on Monday, but that has been a failed experiment since he landed on the IL in June, and it’s very unlikely that he pitches again for Los Angeles this season.
I think he knows something we don’t.
LHP Javen Coleman is returning to LSU.
He was taken in Rd. 16 (490) by the Dodgers but the sides were far apart in the negotiations.
Robertson and Hagenman could both be solid pitchers. They are very good at AAA, but lack “overpowering” or unique stuff. Maybe one or both will learn another pitch.
That neither was a Top 30 Prospect is a testament to how deep the Dodgers system is. It will be interesting to see if one or both breaks Boston’s Top 30.
10:10 PM ET
Blue Jays (56-45)
Dodgers (57-42)
SP Chris Bassitt R
10-5 3.92 ERA
SP Julio Urias L
7-6 5.02 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
2B Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
C Will Smith R
3B Max Muncy L
DH J. Martinez R
LF D. Peralta L
RF J. Heyward L
CF James Outman L
SS Miguel Rojas R
81° Wind 9 mph Out
Evidently the umpires had Michael Grove change his pants between innings. After the change was when he gave up 2 runs and the conspiracy begins.
Open on www.si.comhttps://www.si.com/extra-mustard/2023/07/25/dodgers-michael-grove-forced-to-change-pants-by-umps-fans-reactHappy to have Kike back in LA where he is happy and has been productive. I will take his .811 OPS against LHP to the bank. As I recall, I think he does well in the playoffs too. I will have to check on that….this just coming off the top of my head.
The Sox are receiving Nick Robertson and Justin Hagenman, tweets Jeff Passan of ESPN.
Kike’s OPS this season is .599. He’s been terrible at SS, especially his throw. He’s been a bit better against southpaws, at .652.
Right now I’d classify this under WTF?
But after another move or two it could make sense.
So Kike is indeed returning. Just heard the report on the radio. There’s a rumor that turned out to be true.
Loved Kike with the Dodgers, but he’s been pretty awful this year, and a chance of scenery can’t hurt. Or at least it can’t hurt Kike… but it could hurt the Dodgers. Not exactly the bold move I’ve been hoping for.
As I write this, I haven’t heard what the Dodgers are giving up. Can’t be much. Sounds like the Red Sox wanted to move on. Maybe the proverbial PTBNL.
Just a little chess move to set up something else? Perhaps the brass wants another veteran UT guy for the postseason. A little cushion for after Busch or Vargas get traded.