Many years ago, there was once a first baseman who, three times in his career, had driven in over 100 runs. His career batting average was .281, and he has a .341 OB%. It was in a time when Home Runs were few, but he was almost always in double digits. In his eleven years with his first team, he played 1,488 games – That’s an average of 135 games a year, which was back in the time when they played 154 games… not 162. At any rate, on June 2, 1925, this first baseman asked out of the lineup because of a headache. That was the end of his run as the Yankees’ First Baseman because Lou Gehrig took over for Wally Pipp and never looked back.
Gehrig is chiefly known for playing in 2,130 consecutive games for the Yankees, a magnificent streak long thought to have been unbreakable until Cal Ripken, Jr. came along. Gehrig wore uniform No. 4, because he hit behind Babe Ruth, the third batter in the Yankees’ lineup.
My point is you never know what is going to happen. We all know that progress is not linear. We also know that no matter how much you spend to stack a team so that you think you can win a championship, it does not always happen that way. Are you listening, Steve Cohen? The Mets loaded up last offseason and spent $330 Million to have a 50 -55 record as of today and reside in 4th place behind the Miami Marlins. Now remember that the Mets have a $330.6 Million dollar payroll, while the Miami Marlins have a $129.8 Million Dollar Payroll! The Meets cannot finish ahead of a team that has $200 Million Dollars less in payroll. Let that one sink in. Money doesn’t buy Championships, but most of you want to spend, spend, spend and trade, trade, trade!
One poster made a good point yesterday:
Here is a list of Rule 5 available Dodgers prospects:
–Dodgerram
Landon Knack
· Nick Frasso
· Kyle Hurt
· Yeiner Fernandez
· Kendall Williams
· Edgardo Henriquez
· Hunter Feduccia
· Devin Mann
· José Ramos
· Alec Gamboa
· Gus Varland
· Carlos Duran
Assuming the Dodgers will not keep Kike, Rosario, Lynn and their expiring contracts around for next season that gives us three open spots on the 40 men roster to protect 3 guys out of the group above.
Frasso and Knack probably are no brainers to protect. That leaves one open spot.
IMHO it would be better to use some of those guys in a trade package or two to get some help for the stretch run.
Better to overpay a little by including some of the above mentioned prospects than to lose them for nothing.
I would not automatically assume that Kike, Rosario, and Lynn will be offered contracts. Maybe one will. Additionally, teams that pick up these players under Rule 5 must keep them all season or return them to the Dodgers. That is what happened to Gus Varland this year when Milwaukee took him. With the expanded playoffs, more teams are in the running and cannot afford to keep a player who is still learning his trade. So, under the new playoff format, there are fewer Rule 5 picks.
However, here is the kicker: How do other teams value your players, and do they want them? For example, I would give the Mets the above list of players and say, “Pick any seven and give me Justin Verlander and pay $30 million of his contract.” The Mets would not do that. So, you have to have a trade partner. Additionally, the Dodgers have the offseason to include some of those players in trades.
Now, back to my Wally Pipp example: Sometimes, players step up when we least expect it. Maybe Michael Grove and Emmet Sheehan, who have not flourished as starters, could be unhittable in the bullpen. Throughout this season, many of us have been ready to throw away Jason Heyward, Max Muncy, David Peralta, and others, only to be proven wrong. Sometimes, you have to have faith that players whom you have trusted in the past will pull out of their funks. Think, Gonsolin, Urias, et al.
If Andrew Friedman and Brandon Gomes made a trade or trades at today’s 6 PM deadline, then I am fine, but I am also fine if they don’t. Making trades is not a surefire way to win. Sometimes, the best trades are the ones you don’t make! I have seen that time and again!
Discussion (82)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Lance Lynn is doing what Lance Lynn does… only better as a Dodger!
Now, if he could only hit!
DODGERS PRESS RELEASE
DODGERS ACQUIRE RYAN YARBROUGH
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers have acquired left-handed pitcher Ryan Yarbrough from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for minor league infielders Devin Mann and Derlin Figueroa.
Yarbrough, 31, made 14 appearances (seven starts) for the Royals, posting a 4-5 record with a 4.24 ERA (24 ER/51.0 IP) and 29 strikeouts. He has been in the Majors parts of six seasons with Tampa Bay (2018-2022) and Kansas City (2023) and he is a combined 44-36 with a 4.32 ERA (303 ER/630.2 IP) and 496 strikeouts against 140 walks. In his career, left-handed batters are hitting .223 (127-for-570) with a .655 OPS and 151 strikeouts. He was originally drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the fourth round of the 2016 First Year Player Draft out of All Saints Academy High School.
Mann, 26, appeared in 89 games for the Oklahoma City Dodgers, hitting .307 (101-for-329) with 14 homers and 71 RBI. He has been in the Dodgers minor league system six seasons, hitting a combined .270 (454-for-1683) with 65 homers and 288 RBI in 485 games. He was drafted in the fifth round of the 2018 First Year Player Draft out of the University of Louisville.
Figueroa, 19, appeared in 31 games for the AZL Dodgers, hitting .237 (22-for-93) with three homers and 21 RBI. In three minor league seasons with the Dodgers, he has hit a combined .233 (86-for-369) with 12 homers and 73 RBI. He was signed by the Dodgers as an international free agent from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on February 1, 2021.
Bellinger has made himself about 300 mil this year. Good for him! And how much is Julio leaving on the table?
Andrew Friedman said in conversations with the Tigers and Eduardo Rodriguez’s agent, he was never directly told he would waive his no-trade. They were surprised it became an issue at the end of the deal.
Lynn – Syndergaard
Kelly – Brickford
Yarbrough – Grove
Rosario – Y. Hernandez
Kike – Thompson
The same, better or worse ???
Don’t mind how the deadline went. More concerned with Muncy batting 5th against a lefty. Hope he makes this statement make me look stupid but history is on my side.
Didn’t read everyone’s posts but I DID read Plaschke’s ridiculous column. He claims the Dodgers were one player away from a potential championship. NO THEY AREN’T.
Like ALL contending teams they are 11 wins away from a potential championship and one player in no way assures you get those 11 wins. Even if they’d traded for Scherzer (ugh) or Verlander (bigger UGH because he’s a cheater) there was NO ASSURANCE that would result in a championship.
He’s using the talk radio strategy of say something outrageous just to get your audience worked up. Obviously it work on me! Annoying as hell to read people that have no eff’ing clue.
As far as I’m concern, AF was aggressive. He landed Lynn and had a deal in place for the type of pitcher we needed. Unfortunately, E-Rod did not waive his no trade clause.
If you want to be upset at anyone look at the Tigers front office for failing to clear a potential trade to the Dodgers before conducting negotiations.
It would’ve been great having Verlander on board, but I don’t want anything to do with a potential vesting option for the 2025 season.
I’m sure AF will put out statement that he wished the front office could’ve done more. The most important thing that was achieved is that we added some depth pieces without mortgaging our future in both potential albatross contracts and the depleting of our system.
Agree with Dodger Dave. AF has been signaling his intentions throughout the off season and during the season. Fill gaps with one year contracts to veterans with good clubhouse presence, maintain financial flexibility to sign Ohtani and reset the roster and commit to introducing some talented young (and affordable) players to the major league roster over the next three to four years. And they are still sitting in first place in the West.
What is AF Definition of transition year.
It looks to me like the Dodgers picked up a shortstop and one starting pitcher that should be helpful. The rest are a crapshoot. I think if the Dodgers can have 4 functioning starting pitchers they have a shot.
This is what AF could be telling us by his actions.
1. The Dodgers don’t have a good hand. Why throw more money in the pot ?
2. AF is confident Kershaw,Urias, Gonsolin and one other will pull it together.
3. AF does not want to add payroll because he wants Ohtani.
4. AF has a few positions to fill next year and wants to keep the flexibility.
There is no doubt “Sometimes, the best operations are the ones you don’t do” time will prove us right with several of these guys who will be great ballplayers and that today we do not change for “burnt cartridges”
The two chaps might work as a cushion, while Kershaw, Urias and Gonsolin are better, and Walker Buehler perhaps. We will be fine. Go Dodgers.
Wait they only got Ryan Yarborough from Kansas City no Keller no Bedhar no Flarethy no Cease no Roberts no Pham and no Arenado and yet the Padres get Hill Garrett Cooper and Diaz from the Rockies I heard for a catcher and another bullpen arm. Why do the Padres always come threw at the deadline. Poor Giants fans all they got was AJ Pollack superised we didn’t get him since the whole team for 2018 is almost back together. LOL not aggressive as I thought AF and I think we’re still behind the Braves on talent and I give the Angels and padres credit they went out an shot players to help make a run. I think the thing AF should have done was get Arenado Montgomery and Dejong when he got Hernandez and Rosario that’s when they should have done the deal once that didn’t happen AF said oh well go with what we have then wait for free agency off season and get Soto or Ohtani and some pitching. Very disappointed when the teams behind you made better deals then you did.
Roberts said no IL for Martinez until further notice.
Eddys Leonard to the Tigers for cash
Dodgers Acquire Ryan Yarbrough
By Mark Polishuk | August 1, 2023 at 5:33pm CDT
5:33pm: Kansas City is receiving minor league infielders Devin Mann and Derlin Figueroa, reports Mark Feinsand of MLB.com (on Twitter).
does it look worse for the Tigers not to have been able to move ERod, or the Dodgers in not being able to acquire a pitcher like him?
Unbelievably this is a hard call.
Yarborough’s last 2 starts have been very good. At least we don’t have to endure Grove starting any longer
Padres got Garrett Cooper from the Marlins and traded Ryan Weathers to Miami. Red Sox got Luis Urias. Miami also got Josh Bell, Angels picked up Sergio Leone.
Pads get Barlow from KC – ughhh. Good pickup
Was hoping for RH stick – oh well
He won 16 games 5 years ago. Another reclamation project for Prior
Dodgers acquire Ryan Yarborough from KC
The Mets acquired pitchers Phil Bickford and Adam Kolarek from the Dodgers, tweets Robert Murray of FanSided. The Dodgers will receive cash as compensation, tweets Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
So what did AF mean when he said he will be ‘aggressive?
Bickford and Kolarek traded to the Mets
No idea what we get back, but I”ll assume it’s not Lindor or Pete Alonso
Not good enough AF! Just like your team
Flaherty to O’s!
Cease not coming per NIghtengale
I need to go back on the July 30 post. Jim Gilliam needs to definitely go on the Dodger Legends walkway. He defines the two words: baseball player. The ultimate team player. Great baseball mind and instincts. He was VERY instrumental in Maury’s 104 SB’s in 1962. Rookie of the Year in 1953. From around 1962, until he retired and became a coach, Gilliam always started out the year not being a regular. And, then crunch time would arrive, and, Jim Gilliam was back in the line up, and was a valuable part of the drive to the pennant. Remember 1965? Wes Parker hit #2 behind Maury at the beginning of the year; Gilliam got back in line up and hit second and played third; and, made the great play at 3rd to save Sandy’s shutout in the series clinching win. Gilliam would have become a manager, no doubt. Please Dodgers, put #19 in the Dodger Legends.
I will go out with a bang and say we get Dylan Cease last minute.
Think Mark might be right. Tried to get ERod didnt work out , we tried. Get Kersh back, see what striker has and let the kids roll
looks like Orioles getting Flaherty
So Phillies get Lorenzen one nothing guy!! So you mean to say we didn’t have anything better to offer
I’m glad Rodriguez is not a Dodger. He got his $70m and obviously doesn’t care about winning. He’s rather just cash his checks on a crap team with no pressure on him at all.
I’m all for players with character. Family guys. People who have integrity. But I also want players who have a drive to win. Above all else. He’s obviously not that guy.
It’s 2:37 pm, California time. Rodrigues exercised his no trade clause; not coming to Dodgers.
Here’s hoping Kershaw comes back strong and Urias removes his head from his posterior.
Wouldn’t second guess if Dodgers made no more moves.
“The Lake Wobegon effect
The characterization that “all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average” has been used to describe a real and pervasive human tendency to overestimate one’s achievements and capabilities in relation to others.”
In other words, Dodgers’ prospects are better than other teams’ because they are the Dodgers. The problem with this is that it doesn’t hold up.
I know that it’s early, but look at all of the rookies who have received playing time this year and look at how they have done.
Using Baseball Reference WAR as a barometer, James Outman is the #8 Dodger in WAR (1.6). Miguel Vargas has .2, Michael Busch -.2, Johnny Deluca is .3, Jonny Hernandez -.1
Of the pitchers, Michael Grove is -.9, Bobby Miller is .8, Emmet Sheehan -.1, Andre Jackson -.1, Gavin Stone -.8, Nick Robertson -.4.
I read here regularly that most or all of these guys are can’t miss prospects. There is no evidence of that yet. There are glimmers of potential, but little realized potential as yet.
If these prospects were major league ready, the Dodgers would not have to trade for the likes of Lance Lynn, Ahmed Rosario, or Joe Kelly, none of whom have played well this year. The fact that the Dodgers have made these trades shows that the team is not yet ready to rely on these prospects. The results thus far support that the Dodgers are unable to rely on their rookies, with the possible exception of Outman and Miller.
No one here can predict which of these prospects, if any, will pan out for the Dodgers in 2024 or sometime thereafter. The Dodgers, when planning for the future, will consider this I’m sure.
10:10 PM ET
Athletics (30-77)
Dodgers (59-45)
SP Ken Waldichuk L
2-6 6.38 ERA
SPLance Lynn R
6-9 6.47 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
RF Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
C Will Smith R
2B Amed Rosario R
3B Max Muncy L
DH Chris Taylor R
CF James Outman L
LF E. Hernandez R
SS Miguel Rojas R
78° Wind 10 mph Out
Maybe sometimes the best trades are the ones that get cancelled by a player with a no-trade clause…
Ok only a little while to go. If no deals then we ‘keep fingers crossed’. No reliable starting pitchers , plus Mookie, Smith and JDM injured.
Rest assured, Andrew Friedman will not make a trade simply because we might think he needs to.
Remember the title of this blog today!
I think we either do nothing or AF pulls off something big out of left field. I don’t see him overpaying for a #4/5 starter. He may have to go big to extract value.
That description of these guys seems correct to me, it’s a question for you because I don’t understand it considering the category of team that is DODGERS.
From 2013-2022 of 573 prospects traded only 62 went on to become impact players or contributors 11%. Only 3%, 17 players became impact players. Make a deal AF! And 29% never played a day in the big leagues.
ERod wouldve been nice but AF will pivot and add. Overpay for Cease ?
Price just went up for Keller and Cease
Less than an hour to go, and we can all stop this foolish banter!
😉
Why did idiot Verlander and asshole Rodríguez prefer another team than the Dodgers?
I hope that one day we will face each other sportingly and take revenge for this affront, (at least for me)
Apparently the Dodgers had a deal for Rodriguez but he refused to remove his no trade clause.
Per Jeff Passan
Trade with the pirate then the closer Bednar is better then any of those rookies in Oklahoma and Keller as a starter to because he has experience in the majors and now comes to a better team. That’s all I can see. And for what the dodgers have pitchers and players to trade which won’t be here in majors but they could play for the pirates.
Passan says we had a trade in place for Eduardo Rodriguez, but he invoked his no trade clause and said no.
He’s a loser clearly. Also an idiot. Who the hell stays in crap detroit over LA??
This is fascinating from @Ken_Rosenthal: Max Scherzer told the Mets he’d prefer to stick around if they were planning to be a contending team in 2024, but they told him “our vision now is for 2025-2026.”
Mets’ opening day payroll was over $350 million.
Again two players for Verlander two players for Sherzier why do dodgers seem to have eto give up six players to get a pitcher like that when other teams give up two players. I swear if the Padres get Rodriguez for two player in double AA ball and the dodgers miss out on getting a good pitcher that could help them down the stretch and into the playoffs Keller and Bednar at least do that AF.
Orioles better farm than LAD going make splash !! Have to go for it
The waiting is the hardest part
Every day you get one more yard
You take it on faith, you take it to the heart
The waiting is the hardest part
It starting to seem as if other teams want the Dodgers to overpay to deal with us. I’ve asked before why do other teams want to help the Dodgers who always win when other teams are after the same player.
I think the next move we hear about will be from…
SAN DIEGO PADRES acquiring………
JDM to get MRI.
Bradley, give AF a call and get his butt off the pot!
Sounds like Lorenzen to the Phillies.
Full trade, per ESPN sources:
Astros receive: RHP Justin Verlander.
Mets receive: OF Drew Gilbert and OF Ryan Clifford.
Drew Gilbert best OF propect
By moving Verlander and Scherzer, Mets have put themselves in good position to make free agency run at Ohtani.
On another note, ChiSox have made Dylan Cease available.
Verlander to the Trashtros
My F5 finger getting work out today !!! :):):)
Dodgers are on Rodriguez’s no-trade list. Might need compensation to waive it.
Where is Bradley, with his trade rumors
Anybody else on board if we could get a Cease,Jimenez package from Chisox. Sox are unloading, as much as I would love to get Robert Jr don’t think hes going anywhere.
Brad Hand to the Braves, Padres just finalizing a deal for Rich Hill and Ji-Man Choi. Toronto in heavy pursuit of DeJong because of the injury to Bichette. IL stint likely for JD Martinez if he cannot go tonight. Call up Busch, put him at third and make Muncy the DH.
Old friend Rich Hill about to go to the Padres.
It appears plan A is Verlander, plan B E-Rod and plan C is nothing according to Jack Harris of the LA Times.
Good point from Ram on all the Rule 5 possibilities.
This is prime trade fodder. Perhaps Busch or ??? will get packaged with one for Eduardo Rodriguez
I remain concerned about catcher. If Will goes down with an injury, we’d have Barnes and Feduccia, who has yet to reach the majors. A couple of other backup types in OKC too, I think. At any rate, the drop from Smith to an alternative is huge.
Dodgers’ strategy here seems to be to keep their fingers crossed.
Contrast this with the Angels. They started the season with top rookie O’Hoppe and solid vet Stassi. Both go down with injuries– and the Angels can bring in Matt Thaiss (their former top pick) and Chad Wallach (Tim’s boy). Both Thaiss and Wallach have played well–a bit part of the reason the Halos are still in the hunt.
So in addition to an SP, i hope the Dodgers swing some deal to get a bit more catching experience, perhaps just to stash in OKC. And maybe a righty bat like Pham, especially since there’s some concern about JDM. (Angels may have snaked the Dodgers on Grichuk. )
I optimistic about Lynn and Kelly. But I’m pessimistic about the catching situation.
Sure anything could happen. But going into the playoffs would you rather have our 2022 roster or the 1988? I don’t think we will score enough runs to go anywhere if we have no decent starting pitchers. On the other hand adding one guy might not make a difference.
Apparently, the LAD are making a strong push for E-Rod according to Jon Heyman.
Spend! Spend! Spend! Trade! Trade! Trade!
Would anyone take Verdugo back if we could land James Paxton in a package deal???
I’d like to see one more starting pitcher.
Keep hearing Rodriguez from Detroit but I’d still take Lorenzen. Dylan Cease is who I would like to see them get but not sure the White Sox really want to trade him and the price is going to be steep.
Not sure if they will add any offensive players. I think our offense is not our issue. Wish they would give Feduccia a try. I’m sure he will be a September call up but I believe you can only bring up a handful compared to previous years.
Still think they will not go crazy and are looking to go all in on Ohtani in the off season.
The deals they are trying to pull off involve expensive complicated contracts, especially Verlander.
The Mets apparently want Sheehan and others for Verlander, who has potentially two more years.
It’s a massive contract and even if you get him it doesn’t mean you have a great fall and make the World Series.
The Mets had both Scherzer and Verlander, didn’t make much difference this summer.
The Dodgers are apparently also maintaining interest in Eduardo Rodriquez, the Detroit lefty, again a complicated contract.
Then there is Dylan Cease, supposedly he may be on the market. A cheaper buy is Jack Flaherty.
The Dodgers have been in on a number of pitchers, but didn’t like the asking price.
It is what it is. Won’t likely get better today with dwindling choices.
I still recall all the deals the Dodgers swung in 2004. Actually didn’t improve their winning percentage after the trade.
But it’s probably make a deal or keep your fingers crossed that Kershaw is back healthy and Julio and Catman find themselves.
No great expectations. I like Verlander, but I’m not sure the cost is worth it.
Oh and I wouldn’t give up Miller or Sheehan.
Anyone that thinks this roster is the best in baseball is wrong . If you do not try to improve it then they should get someone who wil.
Nice perspective, but the Dodgers need some additional reinforcements in the SP rotation and BP. Buehler, Hudson, Treinen, Freyersein and Nelson etc. cannot be expected to return and in Nelson’s case it doesn’t appear his rehab is worthy of a roster activation.
Is CK going to be healthy enough to pitch down the stretch? Can Miller keep producing and a playoff race and post season that has to rely on Sheehan and Grove seems rather hapless at this juncture. Can Julio rebound and find his previous year(s) performance? Way too many questions for the front office not to add pitching. AF has been impressive with his previous deadline deals of Darvish, Machado , Scherzer, Trea Turner and Rich Hill but last year’s Joey Gallo version was a dud.
Lance Lynn might find his groove and be just was the “doctor ordered” or he might flop and continue with his inopportune gopher ball pitching. AF has to do something. I wouldn’t at all be surprised if Austin Barnes is dealt for a veteran back-up catcher (AF traded AJ Ellis for Carlos Ruiz) and I wouldn’t at all surprised that by the the deadline the Dodgers acquire one or two of the following:
Verlander
Flaherty
Barlow
Ottavino
Bednar
Keller
Cease
Bummer
Finnegan
Fasten your seatbelt, there will be some trades and like always some of us will be delighted and others will hate it.
Should be an interesting and fun day. GM’s will be forced to make decisions.
I am still expecting the Aerando trade to happen regardless of what the GM said a couple of days ago. The Cards are in sell mode so why would they stop now. They are waiting until the last minute to ensure that they can get the best possible deal.
I am confident that Andrew will do everything humanly possible to improve the team.
If nothing happens we will move on from here and see what we can do with what we have.
Remember this is a transition year.
Go Andrew!
I think just about everyone here will be disappointed if we don’t add at least one more player…including you, Mark. I know the OldBear will be for sure.