Reality Check
This could fall under the category of “Go Big or Go Home! Fans who think the Dodgers should make a trade right about now are simply uninformed or borderline delusional. It’s always been about the trade deadline, not the last day of May. Teams that are out of it will look to…
This could fall under the category of “Go Big or Go Home!
Fans who think the Dodgers should make a trade right about now are simply uninformed or borderline delusional. It’s always been about the trade deadline, not the last day of May. Teams that are out of it will look to sell, and teams like the Dodgers will look to buy. In the NL West, the Rockies will be sellers and, quite likely, the D-Backs (whom I predicted would have a sub-.500 record before the season began). The Marlins and the Mets will look to sell and, to a lesser extent, the Nationals. It is yet to be decided, but the Cardinals, Cubs, Pirates and Reds could also be sellers in the NL.
In the AL, the Red Sox, Rays, and Jays are all teetering around the .500 mark, so they could be buyers or sellers. We will have to wait until the trade deadline. Of course, the White Sox are sellers, but so could the Tigers and Twins in the AL Central. I could also see any team in the AL West becoming a seller: The Mariners, Rangers, Astros, As, and Angels are all underwhelming, but some could also be buyers. The Trade Deadline is August 1st, which means that teams are jockeying for position all of June and July.
Shoot, now that the Braves have lost Acuna and Strider, I could see a scenario where they sell. It’s not likely, but it could happen. There is a lot of time and circumstance before the trade starts going down, and I do believe that you will see a flurry of activity at the August 1 deadline. Who buys and who sells is still up in the air, but the Dodgers will absolutely be buyers.
Let me float an idea that may seem absurd to a team that already has a $312 million team payroll. If the Dodgers are not satisfied with their situation at 2B by the deadline, would they consider trading for Francisco Lindor and moving Mookie back to 2B? The Mets will be sellers. Alonzo and others are rumored to be on the block, but why not a guy who is now 30 and is owed $34.1 million for the next seven years? Yes, he is underperforming, and maybe he won’t be the offensive force he once was, but he is a wizard with the glove, has power, and would certainly be solid at SS.
Lux would have to be part of the deal, but his value is not high. What would it take to get Lindor? Well, the Mets need to rebuild, so it starts with Josue DePaula and Joendry Vargas, and includes River Ryan Landon Knack and a 5th player. That’s a lot to pay, but remember, the Dodgers are getting one of the best shortstops in the game in Lindor! The Mets could easily be persuaded to take back CT3’s contract in the deal.
The lineup would be lengthened immensely with Lindor’s career .809 OPS.
- Betts 2B
- Ohtani DH
- Freeman 1B
- Smith C
- Teoscar RF
- Muncy 3B
- Lindor SS
- Vargas LF
- Outman/Pages CF
Bench: Kike, Heyward, Barnes, Rojas
It is a consideration in my opinion. Print the tickets!
Chris Vallimont
Much of this is from MLBTRADERUMORS.com
The Dodgers have signed right-hander Chris Vallimont to a minor league contract, as announced by Triple-A broadcaster Alex Freedman (X link). Vallimont started for OKC last night and went 6 innings, allowing 4 hits, zero runs, 1 BB while striking out 5.
A fifth-round pick of the Marlins in 2018, Vallimont has now been a part of five organizations in affiliated ball. He was traded to the Twins in 2019 and subsequently bounced to the Orioles and Guardians via waivers or minor trade. Vallimont’s only major league appearance came with Baltimore last July. The Guardians acquired him from the O’s shortly thereafter but ran him through outright waivers without getting him into an MLB game.
The 27-year-old has struggled in the upper minors. Vallimont carries a 6.07 ERA in 123 Double-A frames and has allowed 5.46 earned runs per nine over 158 1/3 innings at the top minor league level. The Mercyhurst product has a decent 22% strikeout rate in his Triple-A career, though, and he’s coming off a strong showing in independent ball.
Vallimont, who elected minor league free agency last October, began this year with the Atlantic League’s York Revolution. He threw 27 1/3 innings over five starts, turning in a 3.29 ERA while striking out nearly 31% of batters faced. It seems he’ll work as rotation depth for the Dodgers and he has prior experience in long relief.
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Discussion (72)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Seriously, Lindor over Bichete? Someone proposed a trade for Bichete and no one thought it was a good idea (I really liked it). But does a trade for Lindor seem like a good idea? Wow!
If it were up to me, I would go for a starter and a power OF who can plays every day. Or in the last case, for a second baseman.
Hey Bradley, you going to Santa Barbara this weekend to watch our Dogs baseball team??
I like your Lindor idea!!! Only one thing i would do different. i would keep Lux , dump Taylor, and use Gavin as utility player. With Lindor at shortstop it would make the left side of the infield better defensively. You would have Mookie at second with Lux and Rojas off the bench. Could even have Mookie play some outfield now and then. Even. Bichette would make a lot of sense! He’s going to get traded! But Lindor is under control so that’s probably the best move. …….. The Rockies been playing a lot better lately!! So don’t take them lightly this weekend!! ………. 3 game homestand and back on the road??? weird schedule! ……. Tommy Pham has always been marked as a discontent. But he’s wanted to be a Dodger for awhile. Wouldn’t hurt to take a flyer on him would it? …. The NBA finals are ready to start. Who gives a sh*t?? Know i don’t!! Good weekend everybody!! Go Barnes!!!
Wondering if anyone out there knows the logic…… And the question is about how the MLB does things, so there’s that… But living in Colorado I’m blacked out for tonight’s game, but the Rockies no longer have a local broadcast partner. So how does anyone in Colorado watch this game? Seems kind of weird to me. But this was their announcement back whenever.
>>a result the Rockies have partnered with Major League Baseball to produce and distribute all Colorado Rockies games in 2024.<<
It says the MLB is producing the games for the Rockies. This just seems stupid to me.
I’ll give credit for the outside the box Lindor trade.
But no way does he garner multiple elite prospects or even one.
Salary dump
A trade for Lindor?
Now that’s probably the boldest idea I’ve seen you float, Mark. And it actually makes some sense, assuming that the Mets would consider it. If they want to fully rebuild, Lindor would certainly bring a big return. The Dodgers have the pieces to pull it off, though they might lack the will.
Lindor would be expensive, of course, but he would provide the Dodgers with a proven SS, top-tier on both offense and defense, and enable Mookie to move back to 2B.
What do the Mets need?
Perhaps the better question is what don’t they need, especially if they deal their marquee shortstop.
Lindor, huh?
Uh, no.
Would Lindor make a difference when it comes to the playoffs? Or the World Series? How much payroll can the Dodgers absorb?
No doubt they need a solution at shortstop. Maybe they should have signed Corey Seager when they had a chance . Or Trea Turner. But Lindor?
Hasn’t Lindor been pretty much a below average hitter lately? You point that out. So this is all about his glove, right? Pretty expensive glove. If I’m the Mets, I’d love to make a deal with the Dodgers. The Mets are an expensive mess. Lindor is a part of the mess, bad contract and all. Let the Mets keep him.
The Dodgers are a very good baseball team. Not a super team, but a good team. We’re on the edge of June. Maybe take a deep breath and see how things look in July. I’m sure the Dodgers will find ways to improve. Not sure shortstop will be at the top of Friedman’s list.
Dalton Rushing is definitely one of the brightest prospects the Dodgers have in the minors.
Good write-up today, Mark.
Why wait untill the trade deadline. Call up the Mets.