You know what? So do I! There are rumors that Bobby Miller, Ryan Pepiot, and Andy Pages are being discussed. If the Dodgers want Reynolds, that is what it would likely take.
For the record, I would make that trade. Here’s why:
Miller may be Nolan Ryan, or he could be a bust (he has the talent, but you never know).
Pepiot will not be Top Tier Starter, but he could be a nice #4 or #5. He might be a stud in the pen.
Pages is at least a year (maybe two) away and he could be very good… or not.
To get a player of Reynold’s stature is going to take Miller, Pepiot, and Pages.
Maybe Friedman is more of a believer in the trio the Dodgers would have to trade.
I would rather do Miller, Pepiot, and Busch… and for the record, on the record, I would do that!
Reynolds would play CF (even though he is not an Elite CFer, positioning may make him better – the Pirates don’t spend money on stuff like that).
Take a moment and look at this lineup:
- Betts RF (R)
- Reynolds CF (B)
- Freeman 1B (L)
- Martinez DH (R)
- Muncy 2B (L)
- Smith C (R)
- Lux SS (L) – I threw up in my mouth, writing this – I cannot see Lux at SS
- Vargas 3B (R)
- LF: Heyward, Dugger (he would play CF if he made it), Thompson, Outman, Taylor
That lineup might score more runs than last year’s lineup.
That said, I do not see Friedman making that trade just now. Maybe he doesn’t have to make it, but if he does, I think it will be at the trade deadline. We still don’t have a resolution to the Trevor Bauer situation. Of course, a trade could happen at any time, but I simply do not see it now. The sites writing about it are just attention hounds who like to throw stuff up against the wall and see if it sticks. Most of it is simply “made up.”
Sometimes rumors are right – most times, they are wrong! Remember that! The Dodgers are building a new Eight-Story Building in Chavez Ravine to house all the rumors!
Diego Cartaya
For the third year in a row, he is the Dodgers’ #1 Prospect by Baseball America, and he will likely start the season at Tulsa. Still just 21, BA says this:
“A large physical masher at 6′ 3″ and 219 pounds, Cartaya has grown into plus – plus power and has become one of baseballs most promising young power hitters. He demolishes baseballs…and droves them over the wall, even when he mishits them. He also plays up to the competition, including when he homered off Blake Snell during a rehab start.”
BA is questioning whether he will remain at C. He is very athletic, so he could easily play LF or 1B. The Dodgers will not rush him. Look for him in 2024, but maybe Will Smith stays at C. Here is the rest of the BA Top 10, which just came out:
2. Bobby Miller 3. Miguel Vargas 4. Michael Busch 5. Ryan Pepiot 6. Gavin Stone 7. Andy Pages
8. Dalton Rushing 9. Nick Nastrini 10. James Outman
The most interesting part of what BA wrote is that they project all the Top 10 Prospects (except for #1) to make the Show sometime in 2023.
Houston Mitchell Poll on Trevor Bauer
Since it is a free Newsletter, I will publish it:
Hi, and welcome to another edition of Dodgers Dugout. My name is Houston Mitchell, and spring training is just around the corner. OK, around the corner and down the street a bit, but it’s definitely getting closer.
Last week, I asked you to vote in an unscientific poll as to whether the Dodgers should keep Trevor Bauer, or release him. And, after 19,193 votes, the results are in:
Keep him, 51.2%
Release him, 48.8%Many people emailed with their thoughts on why they voted the way they did. Most of the people who voted “Keep him” fell into two distinct camps:
1. “He was found innocent in a court of law and should be allowed to play.” Well, Bauer wasn’t found innocent in a court of law. The district attorney’s office decided not to prosecute him, determining there was insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Bauer committed a crime. Plus, you aren’t found innocent in a court of law, you are found not guilty. Not guilty is a legal finding by the jury that the prosecution has not met its burden of proof.
It’s also important to note that the arbitrator found that Bauer did violate the league’s sexual assault and domestic abuse policy, which is a big reason his entire suspension wasn’t overturned, and left in place the longest suspension for this type of violation in MLB history. There also was more than just the San Diego woman making accusations, there were two other women. We don’t know what the arbitrator learned from witnesses who testified, because, as part of MLB’s policy, it can’t be released.
When Bauer’s attorneys asserted that the denial of the San Diego woman’s attempt to get a restraining order necessarily meant Bauer had not committed assault or battery, a federal court ruled the denial just meant Bauer was not a threat to harm the woman in the future. In November, U.S. District Judge James Selna ruled that “the state court proceedings did not necessarily decide that Bauer did not batter or sexually assault [her].”
So now the ball is in the Dodgers’ court. They have until Friday to activate him or release him. For those of you hoping for a trade, that seems extremely unlikely. Putting all the off the field issues aside and speaking from just a baseball sense, why give up anything for a guy who hasn’t pitched in 22 months? Especially when most reports say the Dodgers are going to release him? And he can’t be sent to the minors because he has enough service time to refuse the assignment.
What do the players think? None have commented publicly, but according to Bill Shaikin, “the front office has been told at least some players want Bauer back, people with knowledge of the situation but not authorized to speak publicly told The Times.”
The Dodgers owe him $22.5 million next season, which puts them right up against the payroll luxury tax threshold of $233 million. Which also means they probably won’t be adding any more players if they wish to remain below the threshold and reset their penalty for the 2024 season.
If you have questions on this you want answered, you should read Shaikin’s excellent Q&A on the subject by clicking here.
So, with all that said, we will go back to focusing on on-field issues with the Dodgers.
Discussion (26)
Disagree, not disagreeable
If Reynolds is traded at all, it won’t be before the deadline.
The Athletic’s Trade Suggestion:
Reynolds to Dodgers for RHP Bobby Miller, OF Jose Ramos and LHP Maddux Bruns
Rotation:
1. Urias
2. Gonsolin
3. Kershaw
4. May
5. Syndergaard
6. Bauer
Pepiot and Stone in the Bullpen…. don’t forget about Shelby Miller
Trevor Bauer decision today?
Sorry – first one disappeared so I posted again
World Darts Championship Final last night……
https://twitter.com/OfficialPDC/status/1610378769520377858?t=rVE8g71yNHKeonujHR6BnQ&s=19
For any of you who like your Darts, the World Championship Final last night, did not disappoint.
https://twitter.com/OfficialPDC/status/1610378769520377858/mediaViewer?currentTweet=1610378769520377858¤tTweetUser=OfficialPDC
I would not trade Miller nor Pages in a deal for Reynolds. I understand the Pirates asking for them and I doubt AF decides that is reasonable. The minor league deals for Zimmer, Dugger, and Heyward suggest that Dodgers are going to look at low cost solutions and their farm system to fill outfield holes – at least until they show they can’t. They also kept Jonny DeLuca on the 40 man roster for a reason. He may also be in line for a shot in center at some point. If Toronto got Daulton Varsho for a prized catching prospect Gabriel Moreno and Lourdes Gurriel then paying that much for Reynolds seems an overpay. Varsho had similar power and is a much better defender than Reynolds and is younger. This thinking may all change at trade deadline if these other options don’t pan out. We don’t need an all star or above average major leaguer at every position. The core of Freeman, Betts, Smith, Muncy, Martinez, and Lux is solid. By the end of last year our line up was essentially six deep with the struggles of Taylor Bellinger Gallo and Thompson among others. The Astros had a rookie shortstop and Chaz McCormick and Jake Meyers in center and Martin Maldonado catching. Just for comparison and speculation, I think Vargas will hit as well or better than Jeremy Pena (maybe not for same power numbers) and the Dodgers will find a center field platoon that can match what Houston got from their center fielders. If we get a rebound from Muncy and the Lux we saw before the neck injury then we can win with that offense. Like many of you I am excited for this season because we are more of an unknown this year and will be “chasing” San Diego in many people’s estimation (though I don’t think the gap is very significant. ) Going to be fun to watch.
Not sure what Dodgers will do with Trevor Bauer but like many of you I am ready for it to be over. I can’t blame the Dodgers if they cut him loose and pay his salary. Without getting bogged down in the politics of this, this is a baseball decision, a business decision, and a public relations decision. I don’t know what the Dodgers and MLB investigators know but I would be fine if they decide to cut him loose and avoid the inevitable distractions. He has not pitched in a major league game in 22 months so we are not likely not getting the pitcher who we signed two years ago. Lastly, if they keep Bauer they will effectively block Pepiot, Grove, Stone, and Miller which seems to be contrary to what the Dodgers want to do this year. Let the kids play. Put the Bauer situation behind us.
This on Twitter from Sean McAdam, Red Sox beat writer:
J.T. Watkins, suspended by MLB in 2020 for his involvement in video sign-stealing scandal, has left Red Sox to take position w/ the Dodgers. Watkins will help LA with its hitting game planning. His hiring came with strong recommendations from both J.D. Martinez and Mookie Betts.
Does this hire give us a hint as to how the front office might feel about people serving their penalties and being allowed to continue their careers?
Does anybody remember that Little League Coach who was throwing BP and got hit in the chest (heart) by a line drive and died suddenly ? Sounds like the current tragedy. Like Freud said: sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. Blaming every tragic death on the vax is dumb.
I have never wanted Bryan Reynolds, All I wanted, and did not get, was Bellinger playing like he did in 2019.
All these million and millions of $ at stake and no level heads to be seen. Damn, who woulda thought there’s no such thing as resolution ever other than time. Why should I care how it all turns out? If the answer is I shouldn’t then maybe i should go into the ‘murder for hire’ business these kind of situations show there’d be many clients who would choose murder the less expensive tidy method to bring it to end. And seems a person like me is going to Hell anyways and also being not so proud in the 1st place………. well money don’t that much to me either so i’ll just let the wind blow and cheer for my team and be entertained with whatever I get.
The Dodgers are bringing back Roger Owens, one of their all time best pitchers, for 2023 and were able to get him for peanuts so he won’t cause the Dodgers to exceed the CBT penalty threshold.
You are welcome.
What point are you trying to make?
(Addressing Eric’s post above)
Bulldogs
What does scouting reports have to do with OPS?
Are you saying I have no clue that Cartaya is the number 1 prospect in the Dodgers organization?
Are you saying I don’t know about this scouting report on him from dodgers.com (I can check others, there is the internet that’s full of information): Hit: 55 | Power: 60 | Run: 35 | Arm: 60 | Field: 55 | Overall: 60 ?
And as far as OPS goes, OPS is the end result of a slash line and if you want to know the details of the end result you can look at OBP and SLG. I look at the whole slash line including batting average.
As far as injury results are concerned it’s a moot point because you don’t know whether or not someone is playing with an injury and most of the time they are not. It’s what’s called the IL. Do you know Diego Cartaya personally? Did he tell you he was playing with an injury and how long that was the case?
Bryan Reynolds had a WAR of 2.9 last year with a batting average of 262 and OPS of 807. He was also rated as the worst defensive CF in baseball in 2022 based on both DRS of -14 and OAA of -7. Reynolds would definitely improve the lineup for the Dodgers and would bring a quality switch hitting bat. But he would not solve the defensive problem in CF now that Bellinger is gone. Even though Reynolds comes with a modest salary of $6.5 million, that would still put Dodgers over the luxury tax, and Reynolds also wants a new contract. I would not make this trade at the asking price of Miller, Pepiot, and Pages now, but at the trade deadline the Dodgers may be forced to pay up if their outfield is still uncertain.
However, both the Braves and Astros are examples of winning organizations who rely on their young minor leaguers much earlier than the Dodgers. The Braves are planning on starting Vaughn Grissom at SS this year. He is only 21 and turning 22 this week. He was drafted in the 11th round in 2019 and paid a modest bonus of $350,000. He has only played 22 games in AA and no games in AAA. He was the #21 prospect for the Braves in 2021 and not close to top 100 in MLB. Braves called up Michael Harris at 21 last year after only 43 AA games and 0 AAA games. He was only rated #11 in Braves prospect list in 2021. He proceeded to post 5.3 WAR in MLB and win ROY.
Jeremy Pena took over for Carlos Correa in 2022 as a 24 year old SS from Maine Univ. who had played 30 games in AAA and 0 games in AA with a career BA of 291 in the minors. Both Pena and Grissom were rated well below Jeter Downs and many other SS prospects. Pena posted 4.8 WAR in MLB last year and won World Series MVP.
Both the Braves and Astros seem to push their best prospects to MLB much earlier than Dodgers. And despite the consistently high rankings that Dodgers farm system receives, both the Astros and Braves have produced higher quality MLB talent recently. Maybe it is time to let Dodger top prospects sink or swim.
If the Dodgers let the players vote on keeping Bauer, you need to realize a number of the pitchers could vote no just to increase their chance of taking his spot!
If the majority of the clubhouse is okay with Trevor Bauer returning, he’s back and the media circus rolls into spring training and summer.
Bauer may have value. Getting a return would be a different story.
I’m okay with your trade proposal, Mark, but I’m not tossing in Bobby Miller. The Dodgers have plenty of highly rated young talent. Obviously, Pittsburgh believes they’re in the driver’s seat and the Dodgers definitely have a need. But Reynolds wants out and he’s made it public. They’ll move him somewhere before spring training. Better return, remove negative elements come spring.
Unless the Dodgers move a player like Chris Taylor or Max Muncy, there is no way LA stays under the first tax threshold.
Why havent the Red Sawks announce the Turner signing yet? Is he having 2nd thoughts????
I did see an interesting trade proposal for Bauer on ThinkBlueLA, The Dodgers could send Bauer to the Cubs, taking back the salary of Kyle Hendricks. The deal could be expanded to include a mid-level pitcher to the Cubs and Nick Madrigal coming back to LA. With the Cardinals, they could get Paul DeJong back. Expand the trade and send Pepiot with CF Dylan Carlson coming to LA. Kill two birds with one stone.
Me? I wish the whole Bauer situation was just over one way or the other. I am not going to judge the man since I simply do not have all the facts. Now the arbitrator upheld the largest portion of the suspension. All that matters now is the fact that if they release him, they are eating 23.5 million dollars with no room for error or movement on the roster unless they dump salary ASAP. I do not think just releasing him is in the best interest of the team. A, He is an asset and makes the starting rotation that much tougher. B. He is a huge insurance policy against one or two of the starters on the roster getting injured. They have no wiggle room to sign another starting pitcher to a major league deal. I do believe they will stockpile some at AAA.
Very slanted piece by Mitchell, not surprising since he works for the LA Times. He failed to include what the Judge actually said. Here’s a couple of tidbits…
“We consider in a sexual encounter that when a woman says no she should be believed,” Gould-Saltman said. “So, what should we do when she says yes?” Gould-Saltman added that the woman’s petition requesting a restraining order was “materially misleading.”
“When she set boundaries, [Bauer] respected them,” the judge told the courtroom following closing arguments.”
Gould-Saltman ruled that Bauer, in his conduct with his accuser, “did not coerce her or threaten her into sexual activity.” She said testimony established that the accuser’s Instagram direct messages and text messages to Bauer indicated to him that she “wanted rough sex in the first encounter and rougher sex in the second.”
I think it’s shameful that Houston Mitchell would write a piece in this manner. While saying that he wasn’t found innocent is technically correct, the fact that the DA did not press charges has even more weight than a court ruling of “Beyond a reasonable doubt”. You don’t even need “Beyond a reasonable doubt” to pursue charges. That is for the court to decide. The reason they didn’t file charges is because there was plenty of doubt within her testimony.
He chose to put a quote from a federal judge saying “the state court proceedings did not necessarily decide that Bauer did not batter or sexually assault [her].” While this is technically true, you can see by the quotes from the judge that presided over the hearing that wasn’t her opinion. “When she set boundaries, [Bauer] respected them,” That sure doesn’t sound like assault or battery to me.
Like everyone else that works at the LA Times, Houston Mitchell is a hack and is letting his politics get in the way of providing valid information to his audience. You suck Houston!
3 more days (or less) and this saga comes to an end.
Im not including Miller.
Pepiot, Pages, and Rushing I do that.
Bryan Reynolds is owed something like 6.8 mil this season. The Dodgers are not going to squeak under the cap by a few thousand dollars by shedding or not signing the players they did and taking the chance on rookies just to go over now. If they’re going to reset with with Urias a FA next year and Buehler a FA the year after, this is the time to do it. A reset cap will give them flexibility next year to sign Urias if they choose to deal with Boras.
I don’t see Reynolds happening unless Bauer opts out or they work a trade where their trading partner doesn’t at least eat some of his salary.
The “journalists” writing that the Dodgers are planning on releasing Bauer and eating the entirety of his salary just so he can pitch for a rival for the league minimum are just simply insane, vindictive cultists. They would rather the Dodgers sabotage the team just to signal social justice virtue. Beware toxic, irrational people like that. Unfortunately these people have thoroughly infiltrated many parts of media and the professional class of white collar, upper middle class and affluent culture.
If Dodgers are going to deal for Reynolds, I think those are the prospects I’d be willing to part with that have value. I don’t think anything needs to happen until the deadline.
Update above!
Yeah right! Brian Reynolds for Miller, Pepiot and Pages? That’s 2, 5 and 7. That’s a better haul than the Nats got for Soto and the Nats included Josh Bell.