It's Win Now!

I predict we agree to terms with Shohei late tonight. Classic news cycle move.

Rockies

D’Backs

Rays

I know it sounds negative but I’m so hoping we don’t sign Ohtani.

Couldn’t care less about all the International stuff – just what the contract would mean going forward.

Name the only three MLB teams that have never had an MVP. No googling.

David Rubenstein Reportedly In Talks To Acquire Baltimore Orioles

By Darragh McDonald | December 7, 2023 at 11:59pm CDT

Carlyle Group founder David Rubenstein is in talks to acquire the Baltimore Orioles, according to a report from Gillian Tan of Bloomberg. The O’s are currently owned by the Angelos family.

It’s unclear at this point what stage the talks are at or if any kind of deal is close at this time. It also doesn’t seem like Rubenstein is the only person pursuing the club, as the report states that he is “among suitors pursuing a transaction.” Whether the Angelos family has pursued this or have merely been approached by prospective buyers isn’t clear, but there has been plenty of uncertainty in recent years about the future of the franchise.

It will be interesting to see if this deal transpires and for how much.

I expect them to sign Ohtani. I do not think Guggenheim is worried about the cost. Ohtani can do the same thing for Japanese attendance at Dodger Stadium that Fernando di for the Hispanic community. LA has more Japanese residents than any other city, more than 60,000. The financial gain is there. I would bet within hours of the signings, his jersey sales would be right up there with Freddie and Mookie. They will get at least one front line pitcher, and sign a couple of reclamation projects. Brant Brown, former LA hitting coach, now the bench coach and game planner in Seattle.

Made it to Mesquite Nevada. In hotel for the night. No action, what a bummer.

Sure is a boring game of checkers, ugh I mean chess with so many holes in the pitching department and other area to fill.

The dodgers are asking Kelly to surrender his Jersey number what does this mean

Mark–Don’t get high on your own supply 😉

I kinda feel like Ohtani has ALREADY made his decision and the Dodgers know it – whether it is to sign with them or not. It feels like that was the sub text of Dave Robert’s comments about having met him and spent some time with him.

Personally, I cannot see how a $500MM/10 yr contract (or even more onerous!) doesn’t hamper the team long term. Either by limiting their willingness to sign other free agents or in the next few seasons, their willingness to sign their OWN emerging free agents, Guggenheim’s willingness to continue to own a baseball team and the expenses. ALL of which are BAAD for Dodgers fans.

Honestly, I wouldn’t do the Ohtani deal.

It’s supposedly between the Dodgers and Toronto. But it’s way too much money.

Since Ohtani is expected to generate $25 to $35 million in new revenue that means the team that’s signing him for $50 million per year will actually get him for $25 mil a year.

Seems logical, right. That’s the way it was explained on MLB TV yesterday.

So, would you be willing to pay $25 mil for Shohei? Absolutely.

Then you could go get a veteran pitcher or two. Obviously, the Dodgers have figured all this out.

That means you could sign both Ohtani and Yamamoto. Doesn’t mean they will, but they could, revenues making up the difference.

But that also means you probably will never get under the luxury tax and all the other penalties attached.

Just letting the wind blow and the grass grow. 900 runs huh? Not bad and that’s what is more pf a real championship should be comprised of. I mean, what more can really be asked for of players? It proves the effort is all there, though getting the runs could have a better placement, MLB is making it too hard on the best teams. It’s so watered down at this point that the regular season has almost nothing to do with the post season. It’s all great for one’s who are only interested in watching after season games. So maybe the World Series winner should face off with the season’s winner and play it all again backwards to a real title. Think of all that money MLB. The monster can only grow. Like the grass around my brain.

How about a Tyler O’Neil in leftfield with that lineup talk about a stacked lineup the Cardinals have no where for him to play when the dodgers need a Leftfielder then platoon in rightgoeld with Heyward and Deluca I heard rumor that Josh Donaldson might come to dodgers to play third base and be bench player so Muncy doesn’t get worn down is that true or a rumor.

I have never been so indifferent about a major free agent signing. If the Dodgers sign Ohtani, I will be excited about adding such an impact bat; however, if he signs elsewhere I will be relieved we do not have to carry that sizable salary during the downturn of his career.

If the NYY manage to retain (extend/resign) Soto, that acquisition is going to end up being the highlight of this offseason. Ohtani is a great player, but Soto has a chance to be special by the time his career is over. Too bad we had no chance at trading for him. There was no way the SDP were going to trade him the LAD. Not a chance!

In terms of going all in. I believe Cease is a bit overrated. I actually prefer Glasnow, in terms of potential playoff contribution capabilities, but Robert is a really good player. Regardless of what happens with Ohtani, the Dodgers should pursue this trade scenario.

Ohtani has amazing talents that make him a unique two way player. However, I would prefer to pass on Ohtani if the price tag exceeds $500 million. The Dodgers already limited efforts last year to win a championship in order to save money for Ohtani this year. That choice proved unwise as they were swept in the playoffs and still did not reset the luxury tax. The Dodgers went cheap and their starting pitching additions were Noah Syndergard and Lance Lynn. The Rangers added Eovaldi and Montgomery (who were both available to Dodgers for a little more money/prospects), and those two pitchers carried the Rangers to a World Series title.

This year the Dodgers clearly need starting pitching. Ohtani cannot pitch in 2024 and pitching in 2025 is questionable since Ohtani missed almost two years of pitching after his first TJ surgery. If they sign Ohtani, the Dodgers will still not be in position to win a World Series. He would be a modest upgrade over JDM at DH. JDM had an OPS of 893 last year, while Ohtani has a career OPS of 922. Even if the Dodgers don’t bring back JDM at DH, they could use Will Smith, Muncy, and Busch in a rotating DH role to make sure to get Smith in the lineup more. Instead of spending $600 million on a DH, the Dodgers could add 2-3 quality pitchers via free agency/trade for much less and it would improve the club more this year. I would prefer Burnes/Cease, Imanaga, and Lugo which would be a total commitment of about $120 million and annual AAV of about $40 million. Throw in JDM or JT or Soler for $15 million per year and you have a World Series contender for much less money.

Besides the money, the other reason to pass on Ohtani is that he requires and demands special treatment. No player should dictate what management and ownership can say. Ohtani demands to pitch every 6th day, DH every day, setup his own media schedule, and workout individually. The culture of the Dodgers is team first as modeled by Mookie playing any position, Kershaw and Buehler pitching on 3 days rest, Gonsolin pitching with TJ, Taylor filling in anywhere. Putting Ohtani on a pedestal does not seem to fit with the Dodgers culture.

Big bucks to a DH who may never pitch again. PLEASE NO

I predict that no matter what lineup we field in 2024 that it will not be s productive as 2023!!

Hey this site is for predictions and guesses. So that is mine 12/7/24

good lineup Mark. now if only AF would get going! don’t have to wait on ohtani to start trading.

I keep hearing the number 600 mil being thrown around for a DH this year and a future getting older quick pitcher coming off a second TJ who apparently has a me first attitude now there is a dope fiend move if I ever heard one. I say no way man let Toronto have him and get Yamamoto even if the number climbs close to two mil. Somehow trade for a another quality starter. Keep the draft picks and go from there. See what’s cooking at the deadline

Posting this almost exclusively because of the lead quote:

Related article is pay-walled:

“I have a hard time predicting what a player is going to do next year, let alone in 10 years.”

Execs are now predicting that Yoshinobu Yamamoto might get 10 years, $300 million.

He’s never thrown a pitch in MLB.

So I asked GMs why he’s worth that risk.

https://theathletic.com/5115966/2023/12/06/yoshinobu-yamamoto-contract-300-million?source=user-shared-article

Well, a couple days in Vegas really loosened you up. I kinda wish they would just scrap the whole Ohtani mess and go after everyone else. Without the Dodgers in the mix Ohtani might be able to stretch out his whole BS decision for another month or more.

Where’s Yamamoto? Probably need to buy him.

Dodgers need to get going.

Sign Ohtani.

Make a trade for Burnes.

Bring in another quality starting pitcher, preferably LHP.

These trhee moves should be financially possible , maybe even staying under last seasons salary number.

The subsequent lineup should score enough runs, maybe even more than last season.

And a rotation of Burnes, Miller, Buehler, Pepiot plus the free agent (LHP) would be formidable with more than enough depth provided by the kids not used in the Burnes trade.

Get rolling, Friedman. It is about time.

This season is time to think and act big, no more bargain huntin.

Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mark – Thanks for new article. Hoping you’re ‘tongue n cheek’ here with the ‘gut the farm’. You’re definitely more ‘all in’ if Ohtani signs because of the urgency. Hoping for little more action today. As this thing as played out – wish Ohtani signs with Toronto and let them deal with the headache. Lets bring in 4-5 new pieces and spend wisely.