It Won t be Verlander

The Dodgers will not be trading for Justin Verlander, partly because of  a detail in the CBA that would penalize them immensely for an inflated payroll.  Here is what was reported by  MLB Trade Rumors:

MLB’s new Collective Bargaining Agreement contains a previously unknown detail that could potentially affect teams that spend heavily, Baseball America’s J.J. Cooper writes. In addition to the luxury tax, the CBA includes two surcharge thresholds that could cost big spenders extra money and that could even lower their top draft picks.

The financial details of the surcharge thresholds were previously known. If a team spends above $217MM in 2018, it will receive an extra 12% tax in addition to the usual 20%, 30% or 50% luxury tax. If a team spends over $237MM, it will receive an extra 42.5% or 45% surcharge tax.

Beginning in 2018, there will be an extra penalty for teams in that second category, Cooper notes. A team that spends above $237MM will also have its top draft pick lowered ten spots, unless that pick is in the top six, in which case the team’s second pick will be lowered ten spots.

As Cooper points out, the new rule could be a significant deterrent to teams hoping to be among baseball’s biggest spenders, since teams are generally quite protective of early-round draft picks. The Dodgers, for example, have had payrolls above $237MM for the past several seasons. Under the new system, they would pay a very significant penalty for spending so heavily. Cooper notes that a $260MM payroll in 2018 would cost the Dodgers over $50MM in luxury tax, plus the lowered draft pick.

No way any of that will happen.  Andrew Friedman is not going agree to drop 10 spots in the draft, nor are they going to pay that tax.  End of story.  “But Guggenheim has the money!”  Of course they do and they have that money because they are not stupid!  I think Texas is asking a ton for Yu Darvish and with his horrid past four week track record, there has to be some trepidation about his health and/or psyche. I can’t see Friedman paying close to the same for Darvish when he could have Gray… and more years of control.  It makes no sense to trade for Darvish.

Darvish and Verlander are fireballers who are on the downhill sides of their careers.  Sonny Gray is younger and controllable – his only question is health. I think Gray is the real target, but I would not be surprised if they stood pat.  The Dodgers don’t have to do anything and it’s pretty obvious that Clayton has nothing serious wring with his back.  He will be back by August 10th-15th.  It’s possible he will do one rehab start.  That might be fun.

Rants & Raves

• Of course, the FAZ-O-PHOBES are losing their minds about the Dodgers signing of Luke Ferrell.  Just liked they mocked the acquisitions of Utley, Dayton, Toles, Liberatore, Taylor, Morrow and others.  You would think that the morons would learn sooner or later, but they don’t because that are morons, I guess.  😉  FAZ’s MO is that they like to get THOSE players BEFORE they become THOSE players.  Remember that!  They churn a lot of players because you have to kiss a lot of frogs to find the prince.  I suppose scouts see something and they acquire the player to see if they can “fix” him.  That’s not a unique idea – it’s just that FAZ does it better than most.
• It took this team a while, but now that have bought into Turner Ward’s system and they believe.  It used to be they would get 12 hits and score 2 runs.  Last night they got just 6 hits and scored 6 runs.
• Joc is showing flashes.  If he can keep it up, all is peachy!
• Alex Wood is a six inning pitcher – leave it at that – There’s no shame in it!
• The Dodgers’ back of the bullpen is the most filthy bunch there is:
  • Stewart – 0.00 ERA
  • Ravin – 0.00 ERA
  • Baez – 1.48 ERA
  • Morrow – 1.66 ERA
  • Jansen – 1.39 ERA