This is your forum. Pick what you want to talk about today. A good place to start is The Athletic’s Molly Knight who talks about how what the Astros did is different… and why pitchers are livid.
This from MLB Trade Rumors.com:
Relief pitching looks to be a clear need for the Nationals this offseason…or is it? As Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post observes, the Nats’ early acquisitions of Trevor Rosenthal and Kyle Barraclough last winter ended up as disasters, and the club ended up more or less entirely remaking their bullpen by season’s end. With this in mind, the Nationals might aim lower in picking up any new relievers this offseason because, since relief pitching performance is so hard to predict from year to year, the club might prefer to save such acquisitions for closer to the trade deadline. GM Mike Rizzo “prefers to assess relievers in-season, with fresh data and video to parse through,” Dougherty writes.
These are the reigning World Champions and the bullpen is still a problem. It’s a problem for every team. Dope-fiend moves are almost every move involving a reliever. The guy you trade often is better than the guy you get.
Here we go…
Discussion (20)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Ok, Thank you 2D2. It is so hard for me to wait sometimes to get news. Night.
DBM – there’s not a whole lot to comment on until the Dodgers actually do something, which I don’t expect they will do anytime soon. It’s not AF’s style to be quick on the draw. If anything, they are deliberate in their decision making.
Didn’t the 1st Matt Kemp trade come fairly early in the offseason?
Winter Meetings 2014
Oh my. Sorry, I did not mean to be a blog stopper.
A very Happy Birthday to the greatest voice of the Dodgers…..Vince Scully.
The interview with Friedman sounded some what promising, let´s see what happens.
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/ringolsby-gerrit-cole-not-agent-scott-boras-will-call-free-agency-shots/
Nice article Bums. It goes against the group speak you normally hear about Boras. I hate to generalize about things like AF will never sign anyone to a large contract or Boras will always drag things on a squeeze every penny. The top executives and agents didn’t get this successful by being close minded and rigid.
Very touching video and song, Mark.
I’d definitely take a flyer on Treinen and probably on Betances. Maybe even Morrow. But I still think Friedman will look to acquire a couple of young and upcoming hard throwers in trade, possibly even a starter.
They probably have a couple of pretty good bullpen pieces on the roster in Kenta Maeda and Tony Gonsolin. But I’m thinking Maeda gets traded and I’m not sure how they want to use Gonsolin. May be a pretty good starting pitcher.
They could always start Maeda, then move him into the bullpen late, like they’ve been doing. Explain this is the way it will work, best for the team, then move on. But if he’s disgruntled, then he becomes an issue. Pay him the incentives so it’s not a financial issue. Maybe he doesn’t like it, but there are no guarantees in MLB.
Interesting interview with Friedman on MLB radio the other day. He said the Dodgers will pursue high end free agents. Since the Dodgers have payroll flexibility there seems to be a solid chance the Dodgers will ink one of the top free agents. He also indicated the Dodgers don’t have a set figure they won’t go past.
Friedman also said there were a lot of misperceptions about what the Dodgers will or won’t do. They have a lot of flexibility, depth in the farm system and assets on the current roster. He pointed out the Dodgers want to create numerous potential options regarding trades or free agent signings. They won’t simply lock in on one player or trade possibility.
Reading between the lines, it seems likely the Dodgers will be very active this winter on a number of fronts.
Very tough call on Treinen who is forecast to receive almost $8M in arbitration – a very expensive gamble even if the Dodgers sent a fringe prospect, or 2, to Oakland. Morrow on a minor league deal with ST invite; if he makes the team he gets an incentive heavy contract. I think Maeda and his agent have made it clear to the Dodgers, either consider Maeda a full time starting pitcher or trade him — I think Maeda will be traded before spring training. Maeda and others to the Yankees for LH reliever Zach Britton and others. Maeda and Rios to the Yankees for Britton and Clint Frazier for example?
Back on June 21st, I wrote this:
It was sad to see Rich Hill have to ask out of a game and whenever you hear “forearm” you think Tommy John. I hope that’s not it, but if it is the Dodgers do have the depth to handle it.
Well, it was… and he had TJ Revision which was invented for players who have already had it. I can see him coming back at the end of 2020.
MLB.com had this “7 blockbuster deals to dream of on Black Friday” article this am.
Their suggestion? We trade Verdugo, Gonsolin and Keibert Ruiz to Texas for Joey Gallo and Mike Minor. I about spit up my coffee!
https://www.mlb.com/news/black-friday-blockbuster-deals-wish-list
Crack is bad.
That is one of the most idiotic trade proposals I have ever read or heard.
I wouldn’t do it for the simple facts that Gallo is another all or nothing type hitter, homers and Ks. We have plenty of those. Mike Minor is a solid 3. Neither of those guys excite me. I would save my best trade chips for something better.
In addition, Gallo plays half his games in a very hitter friendly park, and is yet another LH hitter. I like Minor as a pitcher, but 2020 is his walk year for free agency. in 2019 Verdugo’s WAR was equivalent to Gallo’s.
That’s why guys like Verdugo and Ruiz are important. We have a lot of swing and missers. They need more contact hitters.
MT – That video got to me…Very cool…
This trade melodrama we encounter every year wears on you…
You’re right on the bullpen, but being a half full kinda guy, I have a feeling one or two pitchers in the ranks will step up!!!
That being said lets go out and get a RH bat…
We really ought to start seeing some arms come through the ranks, this year and next.
In 2018, arguably the best reliever in baseball was Blake Treinen with a 0.78 ERA. In 2017, it was 3.93 and last year it was 4.91. He’s a guy I would take a flyer on, but the guys who are good every year are rare. As in VERY!