It s Time to Get Back to Reality!
OK, I ll put down my crack pipe, if you put down yours. Stanton and Ohtani were crack! Just say no to drugs! This Team Is Still Pretty Special. The won 104 games and just missed winning the World Series by that much. Let s start with this: The Dodgers are set at a number of positions with some high quality players, most of whom are young enough to improve even more .
OK, I’ll put down my crack pipe, if you put down yours. Stanton and Ohtani were crack! Just say no to drugs!
This Team Is Still Pretty Special. The won 104 games and just missed winning the World Series by “that much.” Let’s start with this: The Dodgers are set at a number of positions with some high quality players, most of whom are young enough to improve even more. Offensively, here’s where the Dodgers are set by position:
Catcher – Right now the Dodgers have two starters: Yasmani Grandal and Austin Barnes. Catching is in good hands, but some think Grandal could be traded. It does make sense if the Dodgers can get a good return. Kyle Farmer is however, not ready now (if ever) to be a backup catcher on the MLB level. Will Smith is an option internally.
First Base – The only two words you need to know are “Cody Bellinger.” He’s a future MVP and Gold Glove Candidate. Don’t let a few bad games in the World Series erase his body of work and his work ethic.
Second Base – The plan is to let Logan Forsythe play out his tenure as a Dodger as the starting second baseman. He changed leagues and for whatever reason had a down year last season, but I think he will work extremely hard to return to form and get the biggest contact he can in 2019. He could have his career year…
Shortstop – This is manned by All-Star Corey Seager… and if there was any inkling his elbow was not sound, he would be getting surgery right about now. Rest assured he has lots of second opinions by world class doctors.
Third Base – For three more years, it’s Justin Turner. Not quite an All-Star or Gold Glover, but he will do pretty well until that guy arrives… if he does arrive.
Center Field – Chris Taylor had NEVER played the outfield in the major or minor leagues until last season. He started in Left Field and ended up in Center Field. Chris is currently the best CF’er on the team. That was after one season. With a full Spring Training and playing nothing but CF, I think he will be even better in 2018. Not Gold Glove, but darn good. He is such an athlete that I could see a Gold Glove in his future. Center field is well manned with Taylor there.
Right Field – Until I see otherwise, I am standing by the former-knucklehead, Yasiel Puig. He made great strides last year both offensively and defensively. He did regress against LH pitching in 2017 for some reason, and if he works that out, he will be even better. It looks to me that he is just reaching his potential as a player. He can be “scary good.”
Left Field – Currently, there are four candidates: (1) Kike Hernandez, who my opinion could be a “breakout candidate;” (2) Andrew Toles who tantalized us with his story a performance for parts of two seasons; (3) Joc Pederson who is maddening and yet talented; and (4) Alex Verdugo, who could be Tony Gwynn at best, or Chris Gwynn at worst! Who knows? I have to believe that one or two may fulfill their promise and one or two could be traded.
I think the current core of Dodgers will improve as most are young enough to do so. With Ohtani and Stanton both not coming to the Dodgers, maybe it’s time to just focus on better pitching. I really don’t think the Dodgers need more offense. Ohtani and/or Stanton would have been very nice, but at what cost?
Brandon Morrow was great last year, but I question if he can stay healthy, and the Cubs (not the Dodgers) are taking the risk to find out. So, the Dodgers need an 8th inning man… or two. In fact, I think in today’s game, it is two. Here are the pitchers I would like, and I think that their respective teams could be motivated to trade them for more prospects.
Raisel Iglesias – He is the RH component in the pen for the 8th inning.
Felipe Rivero – Felipe is the LH component in the pen for the 8th inning.
I’ll let FAZ figure out how to make that happen. It will involve some prospects, but both are controlled through 2022. Under Honeycutt, both could get better.
I thought about Chris Archer as a starter, but he would cost too many prospects and I don’t really think he is that much of an upgrade over Jhoulys Chacin who would be very useful to the Dodgers. I would sign him to a 3 year/$25-30 Million deal and I think he just might evolve to a #3 or #4 with Honeycutt’s help. MLB Trade Rumors predicted a 2 year/$14 million deal for him but I suspect it will be more. They also predicted a $20 million dollar deal for Tyler Chatwood too, but the Cubs gave him 3 years/$38 Million. Chacin will get a lot more too.
I would also try and re-work Kenta Maeda’s contract so as to pay him for bullpen performance. He might be good for 90 innings out of the pen and not that much more as a starter.
Rotation:
- Kershaw
- Hill
- Wood
- Ryu – I look for him to pitch 170 innings
- Chacin –
- McCarthy – can we get something?
- Kazmir – Probably not?
- Oaks
- Buehler – 2nd half
- Urias – 2nd half
Pen:
- Stripling
- Stewart
- Maeda
- Avilan
- Rivero
- Iglesias
- Jansen
- Baez
- Fields
- Cingrani
- Font
I also like AC’s suggestion to sign Jace Peterson as LH utility bat. I do not see A-Gon on the team next year.
None of the trades or signings I suggest will likely happen, but this is pretty good team and with a little luck, they could win 100 games again…. and beyond. FAZ has a better idea.
Let the Winter Meetings begin. It just might get crazy!
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Discussion (90)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Mark, You have made this site the best blog ever (for us Dodger fans) and I just want to thank you for adding such a blessing to my life.
Tommy Hunter is off the boards. Headed to Philly. I really would have liked to see what he could have done with the Dodgers.
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Rangers in talks with DBacks about Greinke.
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Zaidi said:
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1. Trades are more likely than free agent signings for the Dodgers in the next week. He expects the next two weeks to be busy in the industry after a slow winter.\
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2. The club’s search for relief help is focused on the value end, not the top end. Sorry those who were delusional about Britton.
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3. The club still is having active dialogue with Darvish, a free agent. About the story dealing with him tipping pitches, said the possibility was already on club radar before Game 7. Thus, in response to the unasked question, “Did they have something on him? It’s certainly possible.”
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4. The team doesn’t feel it needs a lefty hitting 2B, Chase Utley’s role the last two seasons.
I think this would be a big mistake, giving so much money to a player only affects and damages the baseball …….
Open on bleacherreport.comhttp://bleacherreport.com/articles/2748572-imagining-sky-high-contracts-if-mlbs-biggest-stars-were-free-agents-right-nowMcCarthy, Ryu, Fields for Britton. Or switch Avilon for Fields. Or Baez for Fields.
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Grandal and Forsythe and Fields/Baez/Libortore for Cron and Parker Bridwell
Truth be told, I would rather have Machado than Stanton. He’s 25 and would be 35 at the end of the deal. He’s a first ballet HOF just like Adrian Beltre who left the Dodgers at age 25.
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This might help me to get over that and move on with my life…
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Pretty please?
Would the Dodgers consider this?
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Verdugo, Alvarez, Buehler, Grandal, Forsythe, McCarthy, Pederson, Baez, Stripling and Ryu to the Orioles for Manny, Britton and Brach…
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PROVIDING Manny signs a 10 year/$340 Million deal and PROVIDING Corey Seager moves to 3B because Manny wants to play SS.
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The Dodgers would take on a little salary (not much) and this would be the lineup:
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1. Taylor CF
2. Machado SS
3. Seager 3B
4. Bellinger 1B
5. Turner 2B
6. Puig RF
7. Toles/Kike LF
8. Barnes C
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Would you?
Dave Roberts said Walker Buehler will be a starter in 2018 after relieving for Dodgers in September.
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Roberts said Andrew Toles is expected to be healthy and will compete for LF job.
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Roberts won’t give timeline on Julio Urias’ return from shoulder surgery beyond sometime in 2018.
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Roberts said he wasn’t surprised to hear Yu Darvish was tipping pitches to Astros in World Series, but said there also was poor pitch execution.
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Roberts reiterated that Kenta Maeda is expected to be a starter after relieving in the postseason.
For some reason the Padres just re-acquired Chase Headley.
With all these young arms the Dodgers will figure out where they need to pitch. Sometimes you just have to throw them in the fire. Even Kershaw has trouble adjusting sometimes. Doc sometimes needs to be more patient. He needs to let pitchers fight through the line up for the third time. Pitching is the most important ingredient in putting a team together.
From what I can tell the following teams need SP: Yankees, Twinkies, Orioles, Cubs, Midgets, Madres, and probably others. Free agents will fill some holes, but why not get Ryu in exchange for a second tier prospect rather than overpay for Darvish or Cobb? Also, some teams will need SP during spring training when injuries start happening.
I see the Yankees dealt the Padres a mid-level prospect to take Headley’s contract off their hands. MCCarthy anyone?
While I believe what I wrote yesterday that the Dodgers will not do anything at the Winter Meetings, that does not mean that they will not try. They cannot do anything of significance without unloading contracts. I do not believe that the Dodgers will be able to move McCarthy and his $12M AAV, but maybe Hawkeye is right and someone will look at the $5M option as a possibility. In addition to McCarthy, the Dodgers have three other payroll luxuries that can be moved; Forsythe, Grandal, and Ryu. But in order to move them, there has to be an interested team to deal with.
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With McCarthy, Grandal, Forsythe, and Ryu, FAZ would have to look at teams looking to make a go for it in 2018, and if it does not work out, possible trade deadline possibilities because none of the four are qualifying offer possibilities. In my mind, two teams stand out with needs who in all likelihood will go for it in 2018; Angels and Orioles. O’s more of an unknown right now. Neither team has luxury tax concerns and can take on the salaries if they want to. The Angels need a 2B, catching, and relief pitching. Forsythe, Grandal, Fields, Avilan are all potential here. They could also use a SP who is less of a question than what the Angels have, and that could be Ryu. The Angels have a lot of young pitchers that may be available. My two favorite are Parker Bridwell and Nick Tropeano, both RHSP. I would include Heaney, but LAD does not need another LHSP.
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The O’s need starting pitching and starting pitching and starting pitching. They have two starters right now; Bundy and Gausman. Maybe they would be willing to take McCarthy for that proverbial player to be named later. While his AAV is $12M, his actual salary is $10M, making him more of a possibility. He is less of a risk than Chris Tillman who they are considering. Since they do not have any real LHSP potential, Ryu is also a possible fit. The O’s do not need to commit to multi-year contracts for Lance Lynn, Jason Vargas, or Alex Cobb this year. With Caleb Joseph as the only potential backup for Chance Sisco, Grandal should be a consideration. Also, the only four infielders on the 40 man are Tim Beckham, Chris Davis, Manny Machado, and Jonathan Schoop. They are four solid starters, but Logan Forsythe could give them some utility usage.
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The Dodgers are not going to resign any of Grandal, Forsythe, Ryu, or McCarthy, so the moving of any of them would help this year if for nothing else, getting closer to the luxury tax threshold. That is more than $30M in salary relief which they could use.
With all the arms the Dodgers have in the minors, the more I think it is possible we will see some youngsters in the pen, like:
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Buehler
White
Santana
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I am not convinced that any of them is a starter. I’m not saying they aren’t either, but with Kershaw and Urias, you “KNEW” they were starters. I thought that about De Leon too… in 2015, I got to thinking he might be better suited for the pen.
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Santana, White and Buehler could be “lock-down relievers.” It’s the mental aspect, you have to worry about.
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Right now, I am convinced that Dustin May is a starter. This could be his year to bloom. Alvarez could be a high-leverage reliever. The jury is still out on whether he can start.
The End is Near! It has to be when Bill Plaschke commends (not condemns) the Dodgers:
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Open on www.latimes.comhttp://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-dodgers-plaschke-20171211-story.html–
On the Dodgers not getting Giancarlo Stanton:
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They weren’t 59 home runs from a championship last year. They were nine innings.
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It took a while, but now even Plaschke is a fan of this front office.
How we know that Darvish was indeed tipping pitches in the WS:
Open on www.si.comhttps://www.si.com/mlb/2017/12/11/dodgers-yu-darvish-tipped-pitches-world-series-astrosWhat did we get out of Either in the last two years? What did we get out of Agon last year and what this year? Add Kasmir and McCarthy to this list and you have a lot of wasted money. Home grown farm kids look pretty appealing.
I hear that McCarthy and Kazmir are both working with specialists so as to be ready next year. I am not holding my breath…
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But, you never know.
It is indisputable that Kazmir has been an utterly bad deal for the Dodgers.
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Here’s what is also indisputable:
2013 – 158 IP – 4.04 ERA
2014 – 190 IP – 3.55 ERA
2015 – 183 IP – 3.10 ERA
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Those are very good stats for a 31 year-old LH pitcher who would sign a 3 Year/$48 million deal. I can see that it did not work, but I can also see why they did it. How many other pitchers with those stats were available for such a short-term deal? They were wanting him to be a #4 or #5. Who knew his hip would fall off?
Love the FO but you have to wonder what the heck they were thinking when they signed Kazmir. He was a very average, well-traveled MLB pitcher when they signed him to a three year $16 million AAV contract. That signing at the time was a “head scratcher,” and still is.
I agree with AC’s post 100%. The Dodgers won’t spend the money that it would take to get a guy like Stanton for 3 reasons:
1 – They have a team that just won 104 games and will improve where needed but not much is needed;
2 – They have luxury tax problem.
3 – They are philosophically opposed to big money contracts where they are buying too many years of questionable performance.
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The days of even contracts like Kershaw’s are probably over.
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None of the 3 guys that they extended last year are signed for more than 5 years (Jansen).
Neshek is back with the Phils at 2 years $16-$17M. Under their current salary constraints, they cannot compete with that kind of offer for a 2nd tier reliever (albeit a good one).
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Friedman has indicated that he is going to concentrate on the bullpen at the Winter Meetings. Minor League and waiver wire contracts? More for the OKC shuttle?
I don’t believe the Dodgers will get Ozuna. Teams like the Cardinals and Giants need him much more than the Dodgers and those two specifically have been through the trade process in swapping names with Marlins during the Stanton ordeal. It will be bullpen pieces and then head into the season with what they’ve got.
Mark, you’re probably correct in your assumptions about the un-retired debt. But I also wonder, as I noted a while back in another post, whether or not Guggs has any plans to develop the land around Dodger Stadium. I don’t remember the details, but I recall reading a couple of years ago, or thereabouts, that the Giants had a plan to develop land around AT&T. If that’s so, I can’t imagine that the Dodgers aren’t planning the same, even though it would be a cooperative deal with Frank McCourt. Ugh!!!
Vegas, this is splitting hairs, but if memory serves the Dodgers TV deal was for 25 years, NOT 20 years. If you use the average over those years, the annual return to the Dodgers is $334,000,000, which is still a whole bunch of change. But, of course, we really don’t know how the Dodgers are paid. My best guess is that it isn’t the same every year, and is probably a number that increases over time. However, I believe it’s by far the largest TV contract anywhere, and that given the current problems Time Warner is having selling it to other providers, it may well be the last contract of its kind, at least in present day dollars. But whatever the case, it’s still got a lot of years to run, and by the time it ends I will probably not be around to care.