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Mannymania Part II Almost!

Well, I ll be damned! I never thought it would happen and it hasn t actually happened, partially because the Baltimore Orioles medical staff is legendary for killing deals due to medical reports or actual physicals. It s possible it could still unravel remember Peter Angelos is the owner of one of the worst-run franchises in baseball. Hopefully it is finalized soon, so we can get on with it. When the Dodgers traded

By Mark Timmons3 min readJump to 116 comments

Well, I’ll be damned!  I never thought it would happen… and it hasn’t actually happened, partially because the Baltimore Orioles medical staff is legendary for killing deals due to medical reports or actual physicals.  It’s possible it could still unravel… remember Peter Angelos is the owner of one of the worst-run franchises in baseball.  Hopefully it is finalized soon, so we can get on with it.

When the Dodgers traded for Manny Ramirez back in the day, I said “I would rather lose without him, than win with him.”  I felt that Manny Ramirez was not a person I wanted on the Dodgers.  Oh, he certainly gave us some wonderful moments, but ultimately, his character determined his fate.  Manny Machado carries none of that baggage… and Manny is now almost a Dodger.  For how long?  Maybe for the next 10 years, because I think the Dodgers will be players in trying to sign him long term.  10 years/$350 million seems about right.

Of course, some fans will say that is not part of FAZ’s M.O.  Like I said a few days ago:

“It still seems like something FAZ would not do, but this is a new paradigm – FAZ has never been in this position.  They have always had several “dead contracts” on the books.  They were prepared to have “Dead Kemp” but he was resurrected! They ARE committed to staying under the salary cap and re-set the tax threshold, so that is an issue they have to work around.

I guess it is going to depend upon what they have to give up.  The farm system is deep, and while there are only a few who have “star potential” (Verdugo, Ruiz, Diaz), there are many others who have an opportunity to evolve into star caliber players. Like every Front Office, FAZ has had their share of mistakes.  Even the Cubs and Astros had their share of mistakes – it’s just easier to cover those mistakes when  you have a bunch of high draft picks, year-over-year.  FAZ has never had that luxury, so you really can’t use the same measure.  The last two starters acquired by Theo (Quintana and Darvish) have not delivered like expected.  Houston whiffed on their #1 draft pick two years in a row. Stuff happens.

Fans complain that FAZ won’t spend the money, but they HAVE spent the money.  They have paid more in salary than any team in baseball the past 5 years!  I am still very concerned about the “in fighting” and legal issues at Guggenheim.  That has the potential to wreck this team.”

I am always reminded of Mannymania, Part I with this song:

Maybe it will be part of Mannymania Part II. Who wants to sit in Mannywood?

This is a game changer and the trickle down effect should be interesting. I think there will now be other trades.  Puig, Toles, Pederson… even Chris Taylor could be on the move. The Dodgers need another lockdown reliever,  Maeda and Wood could fill that role, but maybe they are violently opposed to it.  After all, being a starter will get you many more dollars on the open market.  If so, one or both may be moved.

I can tell you a few things that Manny Machado brings:

  1. He is a much better shortstop defensively that you may think.  He is a great athlete and this is this first season back at SS in a long time.  He will get better;
  2. His low strikeout, high contact rate and the fact that he is RH cannot be underestimated.  This should help the Dodgers’s offensive struggles at times;
  3. His enthusiasm will be contagious.  He plays with pure joy.  Now, as part of a winning team, he should do even better.

I was not sure FAZ would trade enough prospects t get Manny, but evidently they did.  The Rumors are the Dodgers are sending Yusneil Diaz and maybe 4 other players to the O’s.  We have heard that Dustin May, Errol Robinson and others are involved, but this is not confirmed.  Hopefully, the deal is finalized soon, but I do not trust the Orioles. This deal is really not done… YET! Did I mention that I do not trust the Orioles?

Dodger News

  • Doc was determined to rest Kenley during the All-Star Game;
  • Matt Kemp is like a little kid in a candy store.  I never thought I’d call him a “clubhouse leader” but he is.  What a story!
  • New McDonalds Item: Smoked Chicken Strips… sorry Ross! I couldn’t resist… bad day!

Discussion (116)

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  1. TYLERDURDEN31July 19, 2018

    Could we trade toles for a good reliever?

  2. RichieFJuly 19, 2018

    Diaz now O’s #2 Prospect, Kremer#13, Bannon#17 and Pop#29. Just FYI

  3. roger askewJuly 19, 2018

    Still going to go on record that with the Machado trade, FAZ is signaling that they are all in for this year, DO NOT underestimate FAZ and their ability to make chicken salad out of chicken sh&%%t. They are not done. Unfortunately the next couple of moves might be the existing guys on the roster to upgrade the bullpen in a big way. Some of my favorite players might be on the move, but as Uncle Ned says, some of the best trades are ones that sting both sides. I can handle that.

  4. DanielJuly 19, 2018

    The Dodgers calendar is very difficult after the break: Brewers, Philips, Braves, Brewers, Houston, Oklan

  5. TherealtenJuly 19, 2018

    This is quite a commitment from the front office to win now. He is certainly a great player and a right handed hitter to boot. I think they give the orioles a really good return. Díaz seems to be playing at his highest level, Kremer I think is underrated and has pitched in big games, Bannon awesome year, pop don’t know but AC has been high on him, Valera bench depth. I’m sure the competition was high and if you are going to get a great player you got to give good ones back. I’m happy he is a dodger, unlike the Dodgers the orioles will probably rush Diaz and he could flame out. The Dodgers could make trades to pick up a prospect or 2, the international money from the reds could help them get another outfielder. I expect the brain trust is working on sending some salary somewhere. If turner could get back to being Turner we could have an awesome offense.

  6. Always CompeteJuly 19, 2018

    Valera was on the 40 man, so there are no overall roster changes needed. But there will need to be a 25 man change. It could be that the FO is working around the clock to move Forsythe for the proverbial cash or PTBNL before Friday’s game.

  7. BobbyJuly 19, 2018

    1) It seems we really prioritized Lux and May. Now I’m really looking forward to the rest of their seasons, and especially Lux moving up to Tulsa

    2) Surprised we didn’t have to trade either of our highly touted catching prospects and does that mean one of them is available for the right price

  8. Always CompeteJuly 19, 2018

    It’s fun listening to the different takes from major leaguers and former major leaguers vs pundits and fans. I watched JT’s and Wood’s reaction, and read Kenley’s reaction. Then listened to Preston Wilson and Harold Reynolds. All they care about is the top 25 and winning now. Most of those guys don’t even know any of the players going in the trade. “How do they help us win this year? That is the Major Leaguer’s attitude. Why not, their careers are short compared to the organization.

    .

    Fans and front offices do care more about the overall sustainability and know who these players are. Five decent to good to potentially very good prospects helps the O’s who had a poor minor league system, but the Dodgers have replacements already in line. And now they have Manny Machado, easily one of top five players in MLB.

  9. Mark TimmonsJuly 19, 2018

    DODGERS ACQUIRE MANNY MACHADO

    LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers today acquired four-time All-Star shortstop Manny Machado from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for Rylan Bannon, Yusniel Díaz, Dean Kremer, Zach Pop and Breyvic Valera.

    Machado, 26, was the starting shortstop for the American League All-Star team after batting .315 with 21 doubles, 24 home runs and 65 RBI in 96 games this year for the Orioles. The Florida native ranked among the American League leaders in batting average (6th), hits (115, T-5th), home runs (6th), RBI (T-4th), on-base percentage (.387, 9th), slugging percentage (.575, 5th) and OPS (.963, 5th).

    A two-time Gold Glove winner at third base, including taking home the 2013 AL Platinum Glove Award as the league’s top defender, Machado has a .283 career batting average with 162 home runs and 471 RBI in 860 games over his seven big league seasons with the Orioles. He has a .311 career batting average with runners in scoring position and has hit .333 with the bases loaded, including eight grand slams. Since his first full season in 2013, Machado ranks among the AL’s best in hits (927, 5th), extra-base hits (351, 6th), doubles (189, T-2nd), home runs (155, T-7th) and slugging percentage (.489, 14th).

    Machado was originally selected by the Orioles in the first round (third overall) of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft.

    Bannon, 22, has slashed .296/.402/.559 with 17 doubles, six triples, 20 home runs and 61 RBI in 89 games with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga this season en route to the California League All-Star selection.

    Díaz, 21, participated in this year’s Future’s Game after hitting .314 with six homers and 30 RBI in 59 games with Double-A Tulsa.

    Kremer, 22, has gone 6-3 with a 3.03 ERA (29 ER/86.0 IP) in 17 combined starts this season with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga and Double-A Tulsa.

    Pop, 21, is 1-2 with seven saves and has posted a 1.04 ERA (5 ER/43.1 IP) in 30 combined games with Single-A Great Lakes and Single-A Rancho Cucamonga this year.

    Valera, 26, appeared in 20 games with the Dodgers this season batting .172 (5-for-29) with four runs and four RBI, while spending majority of the season with Triple-A Oklahoma City, slashing .284/.350/.433 with eight doubles, two triples, six home runs and 25 RBI in 56 games.

  10. Mark TimmonsJuly 19, 2018

    I think there will be more moves… soon.

    Puig, Pederson and Toles are all in the mix, but CT3 could be as well. Two of those players could be traded and the Dodgers would not miss a beat!

    Would Miami trade Bear Claw and Conley for a package of Puig (he would sell tickets, put BIS and help profits), Alvarez, Sheffield, Toles and Baez?

  11. Mark TimmonsJuly 19, 2018

    When you trade players, especially when they are young, you really never know how they will develop. On August 1, 2016, the Dodgers trade Yordan Alvarez for Josh Fields. He was 19 years old and not highly regarded. Now, at 21 he is highly regarded and is Houstons’ #3 Prospect. Of course, he has not made the Big Team, so the jury is out, but he looks pretty good right about now.

    It’s a crapshoot. Pop and Bannon could be solid. Diaz could be very good. Kremer has a shot and Valera was just organizational depth. I’m all in and so is FAZ!

  12. the truth hurtsJuly 19, 2018

    I mean, all we got was one of the best players in baseball, I need no Kleenex

  13. BlutoJuly 19, 2018

    If you look at the trade through this prism:

    `

    Yusniel Diaz: Signed for ~$30M out of Cuba

    `

    Zach Pop: 7th-round pick, 2017

    `

    Rylan Bannon: 8th round, 2017

    `

    Dean Kremer: 14th round, 2016

    `

    Breyvic Valera: Acquired for Johan Mieses, who two scouts believe won’t be a big leaguer

    `

    You can make the case that a combination of the Dodgers financial well-being (having excess money to spend internationally) and the Dodgers players development enabled them to procure Machado without giving up or really depleting the system.

  14. DionysisJuly 18, 2018

    Kudos to the draft and player development departments for helping this trade happen. This is an organizational win, regardless of what happens next.

  15. DionysisJuly 18, 2018

    Regarding kremer. There was a time I was upset over trading chuck tiffany. This too shall pass.

  16. Roger AskewJuly 18, 2018

    I agree, AC, FAZ is all in this year. They still have a bunch of bullets left in the chamber to make some deals for the bullpen in the next couple of weeks. How they only gave up Diaz and not the other guys you all were really high on just reinforces that Freidman and Zaida are the real deal, and they do their homework making these deals. They want to WIN the damn thing this year. I don’t think we are done by any means as far as trade deadline goes. Manny is just one thing they checked off the shopping list. Just like Darvish last year, they supply Roberts with the best guys they can get, and that’s all they can do. It’s up to the player to perform. Some can (Hill, Woods), some can’t (Riddick, Darvish). Tell you what, I sure am glad these guys are in our front office. Dodgers are in good hands. Bring on the second half!!

  17. DionysisJuly 18, 2018

    Pretty solid deal. We traded one top ten prospect, two helium types, a reliever. And a utility infielder. Overall I say favorable to us but if Bannon and kremer develop. Who knows

    I like kremers story and bannon’s lack of hype.

  18. BobbyJuly 18, 2018

    Ken Rosenthal says we’re sending Diaz, , Kramer, Bannon, Pop, Valera

  19. QuasimodoJuly 18, 2018

    Manny is a Dodger!

  20. BobbyJuly 18, 2018

    Ken Rosenthal just tweeted that Machado has been informed of the deal. It’s officially official kids!!

  21. BobbyJuly 18, 2018

    Latest “rumor” is Yusniel Diaz, Yadier Alvarez, Ryan Bannon, Errol Robinson are in this deal

  22. DionysisJuly 18, 2018

    Bannon not in tonight’s lineup. I’m guessing Diaz. Alvarez & three marginal guys. Bannon’s a touch above that.

  23. DanielJuly 18, 2018

    After a small medical holdup involving one of the prospects coming back, the Dodgers are set to acquire All-Star shortstop Manny Machado from the Orioles. Eduardo A. Encina of the Baltimore Sun tweets that the deal “will happen”, and that an agreement “has been made”, citing an industry source. Jon Heyman of Fancred Sports confirms the news, adding that the teams have gotten past the “brief medical blip”.

    More to come…

  24. DionysisJuly 18, 2018

    Machado figured something out at the plate this season. 45/51 bb/k. That’s turner-esque. Have to think justin will be relieved to have some pressure taken off him.

  25. HawkeyeDodgerJuly 18, 2018

    Mark’s boy, Bowden, (wink wink) now tweeting that medicals are no longer an issue and the deal will get done soon.

    ~

    Hader will now where Hater in his jersey as part of his sensitivity training.

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