Much Too Early Prediction Monday

I wonder how AF views the value of Urias vs the value of May. Would he consider a trade involving Ruiz and Urias if he doesn’t want to trade May? Or does he view Urias as the pitcher with greater value to the Dodgers? How would the Indians react to a package including Ruiz and Urias as opposed to Ruiz and May?

Assuming that Clevinger isn’t going to happen and that a trade would only involve Lindor, we would first have to re-sign Ryu before it would make sense to trade either Urias or May.

How do the rest of you value Urias vs May?

We can debate back and forth all we want but at the end of the day, I see the Dodgers repeating what happened this year again next year unless they come up with another upper tier starter. PERIOD

An add: reports are that Dodgers trade talks with Cleveland “have stalled,” and there is no likelihood of any deal at this time. That is about what we heard last winter, with regard to various trade talks. Have the Dodgers pulled off even one notable offseason trade in the last few years? The only one before that was essentially Kemp for Grandal, whatever that was worth. It’s like a store putting on sales, but overpricing the value of their best merchandise, so that no one buys anything, maybe a few people purchase one of the cheaper items, but most don’t even want to bother negotiating with the store.

If Clevinger is as good as touted, then a trade of Lux, May and Ruiz for him and Lindor, would be worth it, if the Dodgers would be able to sign Lindor long term. How much better would May be than Clevinger? How great would Lux be, better than .300 with 20 or less home runs a year? Ruiz could be good ,but you don’t need three catchers, and we have Smith plus that other one (Fontana?) who is supposed to be good. If Ruiz is really good, then Smith becomes expendable, but we won’t know that for two years, and by then our no-titles streak will be 34 and counting. Now, if the best scouts project May to be a superstar pitcher, then I might reconsider this, but I have not heard those kind of predictions. If we do not want to trade May or Lux, we cannot make any meaningful trade, because there is no one else whom any team would give up anything significant for, and thus we must give up the charade, and just put essentially the same team out there next year that we had last year, minus Ryu, who is leaving. Even Friedman said that the team is missing something, and they would presumably still be missing it.

Besides, even if we try to hold on to all our cost-controlled players, we are going to lose a number of them to free agency, when we get outbid by the other teams. So for all those who might say, ‘We don’t want to sign someone for nine years when he might only be really good for six of them,” I would note that with our younger players most of them need a couple of years at least to blossom, so you only get four or so years out of them at best. With Seager, who was close to the #1 prospect in baseball, we have seen at best one strong season, injuries playing a part in that. And after two more years, he will leave. The main advantage in only having cost-controlled players is just that, they are much cheaper. toward payroll, which obviously matters more to the Dodgers than to some of the other teams. And averaging out payroll for the last five years (the earliest of those including the contracts which the Dodgers overpaid for when they were trying to get the fan base back and secure the TV contract), does not paint an accurate picture of the current trend.

I think it’s all about keeping the Dodgers competitive year after year rather than the boom or bust strategies of many of the other organisations.

RedSox and Cubs for example, already know in December that they will be winning Jack next season.

We get to go to the dance year on year.

Difficult to do both IMO.

2D2, I really appreciate your posts! You put a lot of time, research, and effort into making my daily life more enjoyable. Thanks!!

I don’t like for the Dodgers to have Players with huge contracts that no longer live up to those contracts. Yes, I would have been happy with Cole now but there might be more years of his tenure with the Dodgers that I wished he were not a Dodger. I would prefer paying $40M a year for 3 or 4 years than something less per year for 9 years.

The Dodgers need a pitcher that can throw 220 plus innings including playoffs. Clevinger might be that pitcher so they should be willing to give up prospects not named Lux and May to get him.

Adding Hill to join the rotation in August might be a good move on a one year contract.

Smith, Lux, Lindor, Bellinger up the middle would be a great defense.

Betts and Pederson in the outfield corners and Seager and Taylor in the infield corners would be fun for me.

Like Jon Heyman said, the only player who could be on this Dodger team is a “superstar.”

The Dodgers made a big play for Cole and Rendon was not an LA Guy!

Feel free to insert your own narrative regardless of the facts.

The Last 5 Years: Best Record in Baseball. Largest Payroll in Baseball.

When you say they are cheap, won’t spend money or can’t win, you might as well get a tattoo on your forehead saying “I am a Dumbass.”

I don’t have to call you one. You brand yourself…

Very good read 2D2 and the parody on Dear Mr. Fantasy was excellent. I cannot make a prediction on the team for next year. I am not as knowledgeable as everyone who comments here, All I have is a hope to see the team go farther than last year. But, if not, will still root for them and always be a fan. Thanks to everyone here for their input.

Before wishing you a Merry Christmas I have a couple of comments. Please bear in mind that I don’t know as much about baseball as you do. It´s a shame our team definitely don’t have the same interest as other teams to win the World Series. When it comes to hiring the best players, the Dodgers’ offers always remain a couple of millions or a couple of years below the others. This time we will compete again with a team similar to the previous years. It exceeds the average, but it is not substantially higher. It is clear that this is because the Management is more interested in making money, which is fair. They are in it for business not for fun. The same cannot be said of the Yankees, they also do business, but when they want to win they spend, period. That’s why I don’t have many expectations.

Certainly, if the team has flaws, the only way to support them is to acquire players that fill those needs. Undoubtedly, when that is not done, the needs will persist, unless by chance, or luck, something unexpected happens. Thus, for the boys in blue, any chance of winning the World Series depends, as usual, on the unexpected. That is certainly tiresome, but also better to acknowledge if you are a fan of such a team

Well I say goodbye for now. I hope everyone enjoy the holidays parties in the company of your loved ones.

From Costa Rica, Merry Christmas

Carlos Zamora.

So, looking at the numbers, the Dodgers don’t have to do anything. That would be an exceptional team. If AJ Pollock stays healthy, I think those numbers play. I think Julio Urias will post better numbers, particularly the ERA. Expect improved numbers from Joe Kelly, who can be totally dominate. I found it interesting that Jon Heyman pointed out that the Dodgers roster is so good that only a superstar could make it. Probably why we read so much about the Dodgers looking for only elite players.

Jorge Castillo’s story in today’s LA Times pointed out as names connected to the Dodgers continue to slip away, the team’s wish list is still viable with pretty much all the focus centered on Francisco Lindor and to a lesser extent Mike Clevinger.

The Dodgers believe that Lindor is the premier player who can get them over the October slump.

If they can acquire Clevinger, he would pitch between Buehler and Kershaw. But it would cost Dustin May and the Dodgers aren’t in dire need of rotation help.

The Dodgers obviously don’t want to give up Gavin Lux, who many in baseball think will be the next Lindor, and is controllable for six years, not two.

I’m wondering where all this leaves Ryu, who would seem likely to re-sign with the Dodgers. That may depend on whether the Dodgers can acquire Clevinger without giving up May.

Any trades will also involve MLB roster players as well as prospects so there will be some change.

Dodgers are going to stay below cbt. New minority owners in the mix. Front office just cares about profit. Fans are mad because of lies. Friedman and roberts said it was time to be aggressive. Actions speak louder than words. 0 moves. Dodgers as constructed arent going to win the world series. Mic drop

Don’t see AJ Pollock hitting 22 HR’s. His career high was 21 in 460 PA in 2018. He hit 20 HR in 673 PA in 2015. With his diminishing skills he’ll platoon with a LH hitter (Beatty, Joc, Rios) he might not get as many AB’s in 2020 even if he stays healthy.

Keith Law

Jeff: Dodgers linked to Lindor & Clevinger a lot recently, what would be a fair exchange for both sides in your opinion?

Keith Law: Depends on whether Seager is in the deal, but I think the Dodgers would have to put Keibert Ruiz, one of Josiah Gray/Tony Gonsolin, and Jeter Downs in such a trade. Cleveland shouldn’t sell those two guys for less than a home run package and I think that would be one.

I will check if my favorite tease simulator concurs with this value after the dog walk

Excellent choice of music.

That’s 313 HR! I’ll take it!

I pretty much agree in principle, and I hope you are right about AJ Pollock.

I think Ruiz will be on the team by the break and look for an ERA of around 3.00 from Julio. I see you have him at 177 IP. I think that’s about right. Some say he can’t pitch that many, because he only pitched 80 innings last year. But then they want Kluber who only pitched 35. BOOM!

I see Julio as the #2. Kershaw is also capable of putting up a sub 3.00 ERA… that remains to be seen.

So many fans look at last year and think that is what they will see this year. That is especially wrong when it comes to pitching and especially relievers.