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
This is a tough group, and you all lack vision.
Lindor has a career OPS of .809. Batting average doesn’t mean as much as OPS. WAR also means more than BA.
In Lindors’ first three years in NY he had OPS in the .700’s. Last year it was .806. He is not doing great this year, but he has 9 HR.
RVS and company seem to click with talented players. Lindor is a talented player. In his best year, he put up a .871 OPS with 38 HR and 25 SBs.
Don’t always look at what is or what was… sometimes you have to have the vision to see WHAT CAN BE!
… and he is an IRON MAN. He plays every day.
Ohtani in left and JDM at dh
Ridiculous to have a guy like this shut us down!
Once again, the Dodgers return to Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers offense takes another nosedive at home to another last place team, the Rockies. Am I the only one who notices the bad Dodger offense at Dodger stadium?
Relax everybody, Walker will be a beast come August, Miller will be back as well, and Kersh on the horizon. Bullpen still missing Kelly , Graduerol, who might be out for a minute,. Also Mad Max will be back, low batting average and all, but still a big time home run threat . And we all know that come July that Freidman is never afraid to make a move at the trade deadline. Not even stressing, WAY too early to get your panties in a bunch. What’s amazing me and also is embarrassing as hell is all these Dodger fans who are living their lives game by game at bat by at bat , pitch by pitch. Fred Roggin on AM 570 sports talk LA said it perfectly today. The season is a novel, with lots of twists and turns, you just have to read the story. It’s only June 1st for God s sake!!! Just chill the hell out everybody , and let things play out. CT3 will either turn it around or he won’t. The outfield will either start producing or Freidman will pull the trigger at the deadline, and he has never been afraid to do so. Crack a damn beer and loosen the top button, it’s all gonna work out.
Bichette or Lindor isn’t the point. The point is that the strain of playing SS is wearing down Mookie and already beginning to negatively affect his offense. Whether they do it with Rojas or a trade – the Dodgers need to play someone else at SS so they can move Betts permanently back to 2B this season. ..Or else he’ll be worn out before the summer ends and never be the superstar bat this team needs him to be.
CJ Abrams. Push the chips in, whatever it takes..
We can always sign top end starting pitchers through Free Agency, and they always break anyway.
Elite core pieces, when you’re continually selecting at the bottom of the draft are hard to find, so use our stock of middling prospect depth to go get another elite and cheap, pillar of the lineup for years to come. That would give us,
Mookie
Shoehei
Freddie
Will
CJA
We desperately need a premier SS
Start the conversation with Bobby M, The Nats need some SP.
Can extend him and Freddie at any time.
Eric be civil in your comments and not anything personal against Mark, or anyone on the site. State your opinion and reargue the point or points and leave alone after that. Too much drama from you in the past.