Let s Get Real!

Maybe you missed it, but the 2020 Dodgers are the World Champions. Yes, by golly, they won it again after just 32 short years. It wasn’t a fluke and going into 2021, they are the odds on favorite to win it all again.

“Hey You’all, watch this: I’ll blow up the team and make dope-fiend trades just because I can”, said the stupid Redneck! “I’ll do it out by my new swimmin’ pool! Let’s make some trades…”

I hate to break the news to you, but you are not going to see a lot of movement by the Dodgers and I will add this caveat: “If you thought of it – It probably ain’t happening!” Then someone will say “Hey Timmons, didn’t you used to dream up some wild dumba$$ trades?” The answer is yes, but that was when the Dodgers NEEDED to do something. They don’t need to do anything now! Nothing. ZERO! ZIP! NADA!

As great as Justin Turner has been for them, they will not break the bank to sign him. I see a one-year… maybe two-year deal at $8 to $10 Million per year. He’s 36! That’s it! This is 20COVID. Things have changed. Anyone of the Dodgers free agents could be back… but most likely won’t be back. Move along, there’s nothing to see here folks.

Mike Trout, Francisco Lindor, Trevor Bauer, Gylber Torres, Chris Archer, Josh Hader and Chris Bryant all have the same odds of being a Dodger next year – ZERO! You don’t bring in Lindor and piss off your MVP SS and you don’t put the best defensive SS in baseball at 2B.

The 2021 version of the Dodgers needs very little in the form of change. A new closer would be nice – Jeff Dominique has suggested Trevor May (and I agree) but at what price? He made $2.25 Million last year. What about 2 Years/$10 Million? If not, walk away – there will be plenty of arms available at the trade deadline next year.

There is no need to make any dope-fiend moves. Even if Turner doesn’t re-sign and all of the Free Agents sign elsewhere, the options are plentiful. Consider this:

• Zach McKinstry becomes a LH Kike Hernandez
• Brett de Geus takes Pedro Baez’ spot in the bullpen
• Kody Hoese takes Justin Turners place
• Alex Wood really didn’t have a “place” until the World Series but you could do worse than Scott Alexander
• Mitch White takes Blake Trienen’s spot

Cody Thomas, Keibert Ruiz, Michael Busch, and Gavin Lux could all be ready in 2021. So could Bobby Miller, Michael Grove, Landon Knack, and Clayton Beeter.

The Dodgers have three positions that are question marks, but they also have plenty of solutions:

• 2B – McKinstry, Smith, Lux, Muncy, and Busch
• 3B – Hoese, Smith, McKinstry, Mann, Muncy, and Rios
• LF – Lux, Pollock, Thomas, McKinstry, and Rios

Francisco Lindo is not coming to the Dodgers. Mookie Betts did that! The Dodgers farm system is loaded, with guys like McKinstry, Hoese, Busch, Mann, Lux, Thomas, Ruiz, and others. A couple may be All-Stars. Most are Role Players!

The Team’s Offensive Core

Mookie Betts – He had a good year in 2020, but if you know baseball, you are waiting for that MVP year. You know, when he hits .330 with 35 HR and 100 RBI from the leadoff spot. He’s the best right fielder in baseball. It will happen…

Corey Seager – This is another guy who could win an MVP. He has already won the World Series MVP. Depending upon what happens over the winter, Corey could hit second or third. While not elite, his defense is underrated.

Max Muncy – Max Muncy hit 37 HR in 2018 and 2019. 2020 was an off-year by his standards, but in the Postseason, his OB% was .438, with a .904 OPS and he drove in 14 Runs. Give him another year and his defense will be near the top. His glove is much underrated.

Will Smith – I believe he on his way to having an All-Star bat. Most likely he stays at catcher, but if Ruiz has kept up his growth and there is a need, Will could play 2B or 3B. I have not heard this from the organization. This is just my idea… so don’t put much stock into it.

Cody Bellinger – Former MVP who has elite defense in CF. He had an off-season, but you absolutely know he will work on his swing all winter and come back to compete for another NL MVP. He is THAT guy!

AJ Pollock – He had a solid season, hitting .276 with a .881 OPS. In a 162 game season, that’s a pace for 48 HR and 102 RBI. He hit .345 against LHP and his defense in LF is above average. HE should have another good season or two left. He is best in a platoon role as in 9 years, he has only recorded more than 450 AB’s only once. Get him his 400 AB’s and find a LH platoon partner.

Austin Barnes – Beloved as a receiver, but underrated as a hitter, Austin’s intangibles are off-the-charts. This guy plays a critical role for the Dodger pitching staff.

Chris Taylor – Going into 2021, he is a man without a position and maybe the hire apparent to Kike Hernandez (I am going to miss Kike). He can play 2B or LF at a high level and fill in just about anywhere else. Highly underrated, he hit .270 with a .366 OB% and OPS’ed .842. As a starter or a utilityman, he is solid.

The Up-and-Coming Dodgers

This has to start with Gavin Lux, who has great potential to yet be tapped. I could think of nothing better than to partner him with AJ in LF and earn his playing time. I would keep my eye on Cody Thomas as a possible successor to Joc Pederson. There is a remote possibility Joc comes back.

Next, we have Kiebert Ruiz whose bat-to-ball skills are legendary. Is he ready for the Show? Then there is Kody Hoese, who just might have that right-handed bat the Dodgers so desperately need. I would love to pencil him in at 3B, but Edwin Rios is not to be doubted. He has OPS’ed .972 in his short MLB career and has 12 HR in 123 AB’s! 2021 could be his “breakout” year. His “Light Tower Power” is among the top 1% in baseball!

Mike Busch has an elite hit-tool and is turning heads with better than expected play at 2B. Like the rest of the youngsters, including Lux, he will have to earn his playing time, but I expect at least two, maybe three of these guys will step up and do just that. This is the fun of Spring Training and I hope we get to see it in its entirety! Don’t forget about Zach McKinstry who may be the new LH Swiss Army Knife.

Logical Conclusion

Andrew Friedman will follow his plan. He will seek value where he can get it, not overpay and grow from within… this includes trying to lock up his core players: Seager, Buehler, and Bellinger. If Andrew Friedman does nothing, including not signing any of their own free agents, the Dodgers are still likely to be the odds-on-favorites to win the 2021 World Series.

You can bet your sweet bippy that AF will not stand pat, but I doubt that anyone who wrote or reads this has a clue what he will do. Enjoy the ride! I remain optimistic that well will have a season in 2020. For those of you who care, here is the NY TIMES CORONAVIRUS VACCINE TRACKER. This is not political, but rather about the reality of a vaccine to save our people, our way of life, and most importantly, the 2021 baseball season! I remain very optimistic! Keep the discussion to baseball and leave the political aspects out!

And It’s Still Alright