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 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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
Would anyone take Verdugo back if we could land James Paxton in a package deal???
Spend! Spend! Spend! Trade! Trade! Trade!
Apparently, the LAD are making a strong push for E-Rod according to Jon Heyman.
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.
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.
It appears plan A is Verlander, plan B E-Rod and plan C is nothing according to Jack Harris of the LA Times.
Old friend Rich Hill about to go to the Padres.
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.
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.
Where is Bradley, with his trade rumors
Dodgers are on Rodriguez’s no-trade list. Might need compensation to waive it.
My F5 finger getting work out today !!! :):):)
Verlander to the Trashtros
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.
Full trade, per ESPN sources:
Astros receive: RHP Justin Verlander.
Mets receive: OF Drew Gilbert and OF Ryan Clifford.
Drew Gilbert best OF propect
Sounds like Lorenzen to the Phillies.
Bradley, give AF a call and get his butt off the pot!
JDM to get MRI.
I think the next move we hear about will be from…
SAN DIEGO PADRES acquiring………