RANDOM THOUGHTS ABOUT THE TRADE DEADLINE AND WEIRD THINGS IN BASEBALL:
● The Trade deadline is upon us, and as always, the question is, should the Dodgers make a move or stand pat? ● Obviously, the primary argument for making a trade is simply that no matter how good the team is, you can always get better. ● First question is always, what do the Dodgers need to finish out this year? Another ace pitcher wouldn’t hurt (do they ever hurt?)
● The Trade deadline is upon us, and as always, the question is, should the Dodgers make a move or stand pat?
● Obviously, the primary argument for making a trade is simply that no matter how good the team is, you can always get better.
● First question is always, what do the Dodgers need to finish out this year? Another ace pitcher wouldn’t hurt (do they ever hurt?) Perhaps a second baseman? Right handed bat?
● Looking at starting pitchers that might be available, would Dylan Bundy, Kevin Gausman, Johnny Cueto, or Robbie Ray make the team better? Probably not. How about Lance Lynn, Mike Clevinger or Trevor Bauer? Probably yes. But that begs the next question, what would you be willing to pay to have them on your team?
● My preference for a starter would be Trevor Bauer. He’s having a solid year, and I believe he would be especially pumped to pitch for the Dodgers. He makes the staff better. It’s doubtful that he’s available, but if he is, what players would you be willing to trade for him? Would you trade Lux for him? How about Mitch White and other pieces? It would be nice if the Reds would take Yaisel Sierra straight up for him, but that probably wouldn’t even happen in my dreams.
● I’m not as enamored with Lance Lynn or Mike Clevinger, but I can see how both have value. I’m just not sure how much better they would make us. Frankly, they may have more value to teams other than the Dodgers (Astros or Padres for example). Particularly if Lynn goes out and shuts down the Dodgers tonight(this being written on Saturday afternoon). I just can’t get excited about trading away top prospects for these pitchers. Perhaps you feel differently. Jim Bowden thinks we can acquire Lynn for Stripling and Gray. Would you do that deal?
● Whit Merrifield is currently the flavor of choice at 2nd base? Kansas City is not going to make the playoffs and they could want to retool. Though it is unlikely they trade the face of their franchise, unless they get a king’s ransom. What would you pay for him? Lux? Jo Jo Gray? Also, if you acquired Merrifield, what happens with Kike Hernandez? Do you keep him?
● An under the radar second baseman that I wouldn’t mind having the Dodgers look at is Hanser Alberto of the Orioles. He’s bounced around a few years, but had a break out year last season, and he’s followed that with a solid year this season.
● Anybody interested in Robinson Cano? I’m not. What about Mitch Moreland to play first base and DH, and move Muncy to second base? I might consider that. (Written before Moreland to SD)
● What about J. D. Martinez as a DH, right-handed bat? A reunion with RVS and being thrust into a pennant race, might be good for his bat’s revival. It could be a Manny Ramirez type of acquisition, though, I fear he’s not the hitter he used to be.
● What do the Dodgers do with Joc Pederson and Kike Hernandez? Ride them out for the rest of the season and then just wave goodby after the season ends? It’s very doubtful that either player returns to the Dodgers next year. With that in mind, do you try and trade them now, even though their value is extremely low, albeit, both have the “potential” to be really good. Maybe the Angels will bite on Pederson for Luis Rengifo deal again.
● Do the Dodgers have any untouchables? Dustin May? Tony Gonsolin? Julio Urias? Gavin Lux? Josiah Gray? Kody Hoese? I would say yes to May, Gonsolin and Gray. Probably yes to Lux and Urias, but I might have to think twice in the absolute right deal. As to Hoese, it’s too early to tell for me.
● My opinion is that this is a year that the Dodgers do very little at the trade deadline.
● To say this has been a weird season would be a major understatement. Who ever thought you could have a sacrifice fly by a batter leading off an inning. Well the Dodgers pulled that off against the Giants with Max Muncy. Weird.
● Mookie Betts became only the second player to hit 3 homeruns in a game for a team from Boston and another team. The only other player? Some slug named Babe Ruth.
● Thanks to Jayson Stark, I also learned that the Dodgers 10-8 loss to the Giants the other night was filled with several oddities:
● 367 pitches were thrown in the game, the Giants did not have a lead for the first 366 pitches. Weird.
● The Giants also used 10 pitchers in the game. There hasn’t been a single other game played before September in modern history in which that many pitchers pitched in a game of that few innings, for the team that won. Weird.
● The Dodgers held the lead in the 9th inning, the 10th inning and the 11th inning of the game, and they lost. That doesn’t sound particularly strange, except, the Dodgers had not blown a save in the 9th inning or later all year. Then the blew 3 in 3 innings. Weird.
● Do you know how hard it is to lose a game where you hold the lead in the 9th, 10th and 11th innings? Very, as according to STATS, it has only happened once before, in 1998 when the Marlins lost to the Phillies. Weird.
● Brandon Belt, Mauricio Dubon and Evan Longoria got game-tying hits in the 9th, 10th and 11th innings to keep this game rolling. Doesn’t seem that strange, except the last time the Giants got that many game-tying hits in the ninth inning or later of the same game, was July 3, 1951. That was a little over 2 months after I was born. Weird.
● Kenta Maeda is having a really good season with the Minnesota Twins. 4-0 with a 2.29 era, almost threw a no-hitter. I’m not sure he would have duplicated that success here, but I’m very happy he’s having such a successful season. That was a trade that was beneficial to both teams. Same is true for Alex Verdugo. I’m glad we have Mookie Betts and I don’t think Verdugo could have brought the talent level and leadership that Betts has, but I will always continue to cheer for Verdugo’s success (unless of course he’s playing the Dodgers).
My song parody for today, to stay with the trade deadline theme, is “You Ain’t Goin Nowhere” written by Bob Dylan, but popularized by the Byrds in their “Sweetheart of the Rodeo” album. Although this album did not have much commercial success, it is credited with being the spring board for the country rock genre of music. Gram Parsons and Chris Hillman played on this song and left to form the pioneer country rock group, the Flying Burrito Brothers who, if for nothing else, should get an award for creative band name.
The rumors are here
as the deadline draws near
Get us a starter that throws
98 and 7 innings or more
keep your mind on the job at hand
cause Lux you ain’t goin’ nowhere
Whoo-ee the price is too high
though tomorrow’s the day
the trade’s gonna come
Oh, oh, are they gonna sell high
or take my offer of Stripling and Gray
I don’t care
How many players they want
The deadline’s come and deadline’s went
Pack up your bags
And get on the bus
cause Lux you ain’t goin’ nowhere
Whoo-ee the price was too high
Tomorrow’s the day
the trade’s gonna come
Oh, oh, are they gonna sell high
or take my offer of Stripling and Gray
I wanted an ace
Or a second baseman that hits
Can’t keep playing our substitutes
I was only offered other teams junk
So I’ll stand pat with the team that I got
so Lux you ain’t goin’ nowhere
Whoo-ee the price is too high
though tomorrow’s the day
the trade’s gonna come
Oh, oh, are they gonna sell high
or take my offer of Stripling and Gray
Trevor Bauer – the Reds want to keep
They don’t have a chance win this year
With him or without him they’ll still shed a tear
So we’ll climb that hill no matter how steep
Our teams good enough to take us deep
so Lux you ain’t goin’ nowhere
Whoo-ee the price was too high
Tomorrow’s the day
the trade’s gonna come
Oh, oh, are they gonna sell high
or take my offer of Stripling and Gray
hey Lux you ain’t goin’ nowhere
Whoo-ee the price was too high
Tomorrow’s the day
the trade’s gonna come
Oh, oh, are they gonna sell high
or take my offer of Stripling and Gray
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Discussion (145)
Disagree, not disagreeable
The Dodgers weren’t going to make a move unless it was for a substantial upgrade and they didn’t have to trade top talent for a 1 month rental. It sounds like they tried to pry Lance Lynn loose but the Rangers wanted too much.
I have been advocating for a solid #3 starter for the post-season and it didn’t work out. I get it.
Will one of the kids step up? Will they be able to throw more than 5 innings in a start? Right now, I’d say that May and Gonsolin have pitched the best to be #3 and #4 in a post-season rotation but we have another 25 games as an audition so I guess we will all find out who steps up.
Padres picked up another reliever. Cubs bragging about a 3 lefty pen.Ha, we have 5.
2D2, on this important trading day, your fine article gets a big thank you from me for compiling all that interesting information. By the way, loved your parody especially the chorus “ Lux you ain’t goin’ nowhere”
Mets acquire C Robinson Chirinos (Rangers), 3B Todd Frazier (Rangers), and RHRP Miguel Castro (Orioles).
Thinking about the Dodger’s need for a RH bat, I was thinking that it’s a real shame that David Freese decided to pack it in before it was announced that the DH would be employed in the NL this season. He would have been perfect in that role – saving his knees from too much strain.
That being said, maybe he didn’t fancy any more of Doc’s Playoff snubs either way?
Looks like we’ve stood pat.
Hope this doesn’t come back to bite us. Kersh back holds up ?, Buehler is Buehler, putting lot trust in May,Urias. Be curious to see what Texas wanted ? Lynn only making $8 mil next year
Well, well – “The deadline’s come and the deadline’s went; Pack up your bags and get on the bus
cause you ain’t goin’ nowhere”
Pretty much as I figured.
Lots of moves, none involving the Dodgers, and they cannot make any additions except from their 60 man pool, or a waiver wire pick up that is put on the 60 man. D-Backs went nuts at the deadline unloading Ray, Bradley, Chafin, and Marte. Rockies picked up Pillar. Giants and Dodgers stood pat.
Archie Bradley to Reds. Cameron Maybin to Cubs.
Word from Texas – Lynn is staying put.
Angels trade Brian Goodwin to Reds
Joel Sherman – just reported NO Lance Lynn
AC, on Lance Lynn, Joe Davis made an interesting remark about him last night during the game. Basically Joe said that Lynn sometimes wears his emotions on his sleeve and shows frustration to the umpires and his teammates. Did you heard that? And if you did, do you think that is a good thing. Thanks.
Cubs pick up another LHRP, Josh Osich, from Boston for PTBNL.
Rockies nab Kevin Pillar and cash from Red Sox for PTBNL and international slot $$$
According to MLB rumors, Dodgers Have “Stepped Up Efforts” To Acquire Lance Lynn
I still wait for news like JD Martinez, Whit Merrifield, Dylan Bundy or Lance Lynn to the Dodgers.
Another right handed batter and an established number 3 starter seems to be what is needed, just in case something is needed …
Next year they can worry about Gonsolin, Urias and May, but for now I don’t know if I could trust them for a third and decisive game
The DBacks just traded Starling Marte for LHSP Caleb Smith and RHSP Humberto Mejia and LHSP lottery pick Julio Frias.
Blue Jays picked up Robbie Ray (DBacks) and Jonathan Villar (Marlins)
Cubs get Andrew Chafin (DBacks)
Sometimes I think Dodgers fans look at things through their heart. Who cares about where the Padres farm system will be rated after the trades. The Pads are going for it this year and they do not need their farm system because the vast majority of their roster is chock full players with multiple years of control.
1B Eric Hosmer (30) – Controlled thru 2025
2B Jake Cronenworth (26) – Rookie
3B Manny Machado (28) – Controlled thru 2028
SS Fernando Tatis, Jr. (21) – Controlled thru 2024
C Austin Nola (30) – Controlled thru 2025
LF Tommy Pham (32) – Controlled thru 2021
CF Trent Grisham (23) – Controlled thru 2025
RF Wil Myers (29) – Controlled thru 2022
DH Mitch Moreland (34) – 2021 Team Option
SP Chris Paddack (24) – Controlled thru 2024
SP Mike Clevinger (29) – Controlled thru 2022
SP Dinelson Lamet (28) – Controlled thru 2023
SP Zach Davies (27) – Controlled thru 2021
SP Garrett Richards (32) – FA
SP MacKenzie Gore (21) – Still to make his debut
SP Luis Patino (20) – Rookie
RP Drew Pomeranz (31) – Controlled thru 2023
RP Trevor Rosenthal (30) – FA
RP Austin Adams (29) – Controlled thru 2024
RP Matt Straham (28) – Controlled thru 2022
RP Pierce Johnson (29) – Controlled thru 2025
RP Emilio Pagan (29) – Controlled thru 2023
They still have a top rated prospects in SS CJ Abrams (#7 rated SS), C Luis Campusano (#4 rated catcher), LHP MacKenzie Gore (#1 rated LHP), RHP Luis Patino (#7 rated RHP).
Preller realizes that the chances of catching LAD for the West Division are not very good. What he has done is set the Pads up to go deep into the playoffs, and challenge the Dodgers, probably in the NLCS. I do not care if Zach Davies is in the rotation not involving the Dodgers, because he will be one of the four going against LAD. He has been very good against LAD. In 7 starts (43.1IP), he has a 2.08 ERA and a batting against line of .217/.263/.350/.614.
The Pads already had a better offense than did the Dodgers before they upgraded the catcher with the addition of Austin Nola over Austin Hedges.
BA – Padres #3 (.266); LAD #12 (.251)
OBP – Padres #3 (.343); LAD #8 (.334)
SLG – Padres #1 (.493); LAD #3 (.471)
OPS – Padres #1 (.836); LAD #4 (.805)
Runs – Padres #1 (205); LAD #2 (204)
HR – LAD #1 (38); Padres #2 (66)
The Padres have more hits, more extra base hits, and more stolen bases. They have now upgraded their starting pitching and relief pitching.
Head to head, the Dodgers are 4-3 against the Pads, and the Pads have improved while the Dodgers have not (yet).
I only read that the Dodgers are interested in Hader, but they are just rumors, nothing about Nightingale, one more of the many false rumors
Wow. Lots of activity. No question, the Padres are a lot better. Guessing Andrew Friedman is hanging around the backboard to see what bounces off that might make sense.
The only thing that bothers me about Clevinger is that he broke health protocol, which created clubhouse issues in Cleveland. Now that Dave Roberts has said Gavin Lux will start against right-handers, seems to indicate the Dodgers feel comfortable with second base moving forward. Still think Lux has huge upside.
I think it was a dumb trade. Quantrill COULD outpitch Clevinger THIS year. Clevinger is rather brittle. I think it is a “dope-fiend” AJ Preller move that will cost him his job!
Pads now second best team in NL. Hopefully Machado plays like he did for us in the playoffs. It will be interesting how their clubhouse chemistry plays out.
Every season, in the trade deadline AF has done magic and has always surprised us, this year will it be the same? Let’s wait to see what happens, I personally trust him …
A couple of things we know. AF is not going to make a panic move just to counter the Pads getting Clevinger. Pads are 5 games back with 25 to play, and the Dodgers won’t see them in the first round, so Clevinger is a non factor except maybe the one 3 game series the Dodgers have left in SD. Padres have to get a new catcher up to speed with the pitching staff in a very short time. Nola showed his hitting wares against the Dodgers in the 3 game set in Seattle. But they have seen him now, and probably have a better idea how to pitch to him, and he is not Hedges defensively. Of greater concern is JT’s hammy strain. The lack of offense from the 2nd base position, and the starters, outside of May and Kersh, not giving the team much length in their starts. The # 8 seed right now is the Phillies or the Marlins. They are tied for 7th. 3 teams from the NL West would get in, LA, SD and Colo. Atl, Phi, and Miami in the east, and Chicago and St Louis in the central. LA would play the 8, SD the 7, Cubs the 6, and Colo would get the 5. So, at this point, who would you rather play? Mia, or Philly? Of course this will all probably change in the next couple of weeks. Mets are doing the slow slide south, D-Backs are looking to sell, Giants supposedly looking to buy. They are only a game behind the Rockies, and have played 2 less than the Rocks. And here is something to chew on, not official yet, but Nightingale says the Dodgers are getting Hader for a PTBNL. He said that 11 minutes ago on Twitter.
Thanks everyone. Just was a wee bit concerned. It seemed like a lot of movement.