Sometimes the best trades are the ones you don't make
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…
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 (163)
Disagree, not disagreeable
I will go out with a bang and say we get Dylan Cease last minute.
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.
Cease not coming per NIghtengale
Flaherty to O’s!
Not good enough AF! Just like your team
Bickford and Kolarek traded to the Mets
No idea what we get back, but I”ll assume it’s not Lindor or Pete Alonso
So what did AF mean when he said he will be ‘aggressive?
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.
Dodgers acquire Ryan Yarborough from KC
He won 16 games 5 years ago. Another reclamation project for Prior
Was hoping for RH stick – oh well
Pads get Barlow from KC – ughhh. Good pickup
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.
Yarborough’s last 2 starts have been very good. At least we don’t have to endure Grove starting any longer
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.
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).
Eddys Leonard to the Tigers for cash
Roberts said no IL for Martinez until further notice.
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.
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.
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”
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.
What is AF Definition of transition year.
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.
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.