More moves by Andrew Friedman… that’s what! Will they be sooner… or later? I smell a big one coming very soon! I think that by the weekend, Friedman has to decide if he is going to pull the trigger on Yamamoto, Burnes, or Cease. I believe that it is critical he gets one of the three… sooner, not later! This can all happen very fast! Stay tuned!
So, the Giants ended up with Jung Hoo Lee. What are the odds that LF for the Dodgers (Vargas or Busch) produces a better OPS than Lee? Freidman was never in on Lee, because Lee is a slap-hitter without a lot of power. I’m bettering that Vargas or Busch is at least Lee’s equal… or better. Actually, as I said yesterday, I hope it is Vargas as the Dodgers need an RH bat in LF. CT3 is the backup plan, and I am still hoping for Burnes and Adames to come back in the deal with Milwaukee. I am offering the Brewers Busch (1B) and Lux (2B) along with Knack and one other RHP – Stone, Ryan, Frasso, et al. Of course, Andrew Friedman did not approve that deal… so there is that!
Yes, I am trading Gavin Lux – not because I don’t like him. I like him a lot… but as a 2B, not a SS. In LA, he is a man without a home. If you did not read the Fangraphs Article on him yesterday, perhaps you should read it today. Mookie is the 2B, and the Dodgers need a SS. Adames makes perfect sense as a higher-caliber SS. If Milwaukee demands Vargas over Busch, I would do that as well. With Adames, the Dodgers would have seven players who could hit 30 HR. I am saying that they have the power… not that they will.
- Betts
- Ohtani
- Freeman
- Muncy
- Smith
- Adames
- Outman
Vargas or Busch could also be there someday, but not in 2024. However, the rumors are rampant, and I do not put much stock in them. The Glasnow/Margot/Arozarena trade seems a bit much and would eat up a lot of the $54 Million the Dodgers have to spend. Margot makes $10 Million. Arozarena will get $7-8 Million, and Glasnow will get $25 Million. Unless LA wants to blow by the Lux Tax Threshold (and they just might), there’s no room for Yamamoto, whom I believe they will put the “full court press on.”
Either way, if they get Burnes and Adames or the package from Tampa Bay, they will be over the threshold… again. I hate giving up Pepiot – I think he will be a solid #3 or #4, and the Dodgers need a Championship Caliber SS – that is Adames. The Dodgers meet with Yamamoto today, and since he knows Ohtani and was a Dodger fan as a kid, I have to believe there is a good chance the Dodgers will also sign him… with a quickness!
There is a lot that can happen VERY QUICKLY! No naps today!
Discussion (26)
Disagree, not disagreeable
A lot of cold water being tossed on the Arozarena notion.
Margot? I can see why the Rays want to dump his $10 million salary. Good glove, but his offensive stats are pretty meh.
Glasnow could be very good… and he could go down with an injury. He threw 120 innings last season–and that’s the most he has ever thrown.
Nice to hear that Shohei joined Mookie, Freddie and Will Smith in wooing Yamamoto.
Brewers are supposedly reluctant to trade Burnes, but perhaps they are being coy and hoping for an offer they can’t refuse.
Aparicio was perhaps the best base stealer before Maury came along.
Versailles won two gold gloves and won the MVP in 1965, mostly on the strength of an amazing second half that led the Twins to the AL title. One of the more surprising MVPs. I was happy when the Dodgers got him later in his career. He was good but the MVP year was a real outlier.
Per MLBTradeRumors:
Ohtani, who will officially be introduced by the Dodgers at a news conference on Thursday, would be allowed to terminate his deal if Mark Walter no longer is controlling owner or president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman no longer is with the team, the person said. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the terms were not announced.
https://apnews.com/article/shohei-otani-dodgers-3fe44e39efc42674f75b5233cc01b149?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=AP_Sports&utm_campaign=SocialFlow
I had not had the chance to write that I was very happy with the Ohtani signing,, and then very impressed with the deferrals of salary, giving the Dodgers the ability to sign some top pitchers, very important.
I did not like the Kelly signing, not for that price. The Dodgers have a sentimentality about bringing players back. Maybe a few other franchises do, too, but we are notable in that. I didn’t want Kelly, or Hernandez, neither did anything after they left here, and then didn’t do too much when here. But there they are, at least Kelly is.
As to trying to get elite pitching, I agree with others here that Glasnow is not what we want, particularly at the price. I like DeLuca, he seems to have the skills and temperament of a star, though of course it is just a hunch so far. I can see him becoming a star, where five years from now, we wish we had not traded him. I’d rather have him than Outman. Pepiot has gotten some high praise from a few baseball people.
I do realize that you have to give up something to get something. But we need to have an ace starter, because in short playoff series, it’s mano a mano against the other team’s ace. The Dodgers had the best pitcher in baseball in 1963 and 1965, in Koufax,; and another Hall of Famer in Drysdale,; and with teams whose lineups were pretty good in ’63, and not very good in ’65, we won two world titles. In ’88, we had the best pitcher that year, and he dominated the better lineups he faced.
I don’t want to see us win 105 games, and then get outmatched by Strider or Gallen or Nola. Yamamoto might be that great pitcher. Glasnow is not. Look around some more,, before letting TB pull off another great trade, where they fleece a richer franchise.
i would like glasnow, but not for pepiot! i would not mind arozarena, not margot. arozarena is an everyday player. margot would be another damn platoon player! adding glasnow and imanaga works for me. like mark said the other day., he’s bound to be healthy someday! 150 innings from him would be perfect. with walker coming back and a healthy kershaw later in the season, ( he will be back all you haters!) keep lux for now and let’s roll!
From Ken Rosenthal, re Ohtani’s contract:
Contract also states, “If specific change in Dodger personnel, player may opt out of contract at end of season the change occurs.” Not known at present who this refers to.
The Los Angeles Dodgers scheduled Shohei Ohtani’s introductory press conference at Dodger Stadium for 3 p.m. PT on Thursday afternoon. When taking into account time zone changes, Ohtani’s first appearance as a member of the Dodgers is taking place at 8 a.m. in Japan.
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman is going to accompany Ohtani in the center field plaza. It’s going to be at least Ohtani’s third trip to Dodger Stadium in December.
I believe the press conference will be carried on the MLB network.
Put me down as a no on trading Pepiot.
You see the shoulders on that guy ,he looks like he could turn into a real horse
Oblique injuries are tricky , far as I know he hasn’t had any arm or shoulder problems
Glasnow can’t help you if he’s not on the field, and let’s face it he has had a history of that
I don’t agree with the mad dog very often but he’s dead right on glasnow , when he says that guy doesn’t scare me
The Dodgers and right-hander Daniel Hudson have agreed to reunite on a minor league deal, reports Jeff Passan of ESPN. The righty will earn $2MM if he cracks the roster, with another $2MM available via incentives.
Good sign ! AF doin what he does.
Dodgers Met With Yoshinobu Yamamoto On Tuesday
By Anthony Franco | December 13, 2023 at 1:38pm CDT
Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman were all present at Dodger Stadium yesterday for the team’s recruitment pitch to Yamamoto, per Fabian Ardaya and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Dorsey tweets that Will Smith, Yamamoto’s potential battery mate if he signs in Los Angeles, was also present.
FWIW, Mark is totally on point in this article.
The Glasnow-to-LAD rumor feels like a media feint to leverage something else–whether it’s the Dodgers, Rays, or some other team doing the “feinting.” I just don’t see the appeal of acquiring an oft-injured SP for what the Rays are asking.
Why would AF accept Margot as part of the Glasnow trade? It seems like he would be to the outfield like Rojas was to the infield; decent defense; no bat. Dodgers need a decent hitter out there. Anyone?
Some of you are really something. Since when RPepiot is a reasonable fascimile of Glassnow? Last year I ask Mark what will a TGlasnow and WFranco trade cost the Dodgers and Mark responded : at least BMiller, GStone, MBusch, DCartaya & GLux.
RPepiot is still a pitcher that needs an opener. He also was out injured 4 months in his first full year. I will insist in RArozarena.
No way am I trading Pepiot, I see him as a ceiling as #2 or #3 . Wouldn’t mind Glasnow but not for Pepiot. Not a fan of Margot or Randy Arozarena.
This morning I wrote:
What are the odds that LF for the Dodgers (Vargas or Busch) produces a better OPS than Lee?
I think some of you think I was predicting that Vargas or Busch would be better than Lee. I was not. However, I have spent several years watching them in the minors, and I am certain I have watched more games than most of you… probably a whole lot more!
My point is that both of these guys are legitimate prospects whom I believe will be good MLB players. They need an opportunity, and while I have seen Vargas and Busch play in well over 100 games, I have only seen highlights of Lee… which is probably the same as you… except that you have probably only seen highlights of Busch and Vargas in MiLB as well.
It cracks me up when people say, “I knew Will Smith was going to be good!” NO, YOU DIDN’T – YOU NEVER REALLY SAW HIM or you would not say that.
You learn a lot by watching MiLB games and all I am saying is that Vargas and Busch are a lot better than many of you are giving them credit for and yet, you would still prefer Lee because of what?
Glasnow – Pepiot = 0 added to the rotation. Some people struggle with math.
54 million – 25 million = 29 million to actually ADD to the rotation.
What does it matter who we get or don’t get? Already easily got the talent to almost guarantee making playoffs and from there don’t matter who we get or don’t because it’s just a matter of where dice fall in the crapshoot where there is no determining which team is the champion. Only which is the luckiest
Glasnow is another rental. I am not into trading a talent like Pepiot for a rental. Trade some pitcher lower on the totem pole. As for Margot, no power, career OPS under .800. Career on base is just barely over .300. 29 years old, decent defender, but definitely not a difference maker. Arozarena at least can hit you some home runs. If you are going to trade prospects, get a player you do not have to sign again the next year unless it is someone really good like Burnes, but no to Adames. Glasnow has a history of injury, he has one really good season, last year. He is not durable and he damn sure is no innings eater. Margot comes with a buyout of 2 mil after the year along with his 10 million dollar salary.
If they got Arozarena instead of Margot I kind of like the deal. Swapping Glasnow for Pepiot is a + but the Dodgers would still need additional SP. Arozarena solves our need for a RH hitting LF, but Margot is a much more expensive DeLuca in my opinion.
Bottom line…Arozarena, yes make the deal. Margot, no thanks unless there is something else.
According to rosenthal dodgers are deep in talks with Rays to get glasnow and Margot for DeLuca and Pepiot. I really hope they don’t trade pepiot that will just create another hole in the rotation.
Tyler Glasnow is also 2-6 with a 5.72 ERA in October, so he’ll fit right in!!!!
Adames is this season’s Nolan Areanado. Gavin Lux is fine at shortstop, far cheaper, and controllable.
The Dodgers need pitching, not a shortstop, focus on what you need, not on what you desire. Bill Russell played SS for the Dodgers on a lot of great LA teams. Lux will be fine.
Yamamoto would be a great pick-up. Word is Cohen will outbid everyone, but why would anyone want to play for the Mets. Money, of course. But that’s probably the only reason. They throw around money, lots of it, but do they actually have a plan. They want to become the Dodgers of the east coast. Why not play for the real deal? Besides, they signed some big stars, things went bad and they ate a lot of money trading them.
Glasnow could be a great pick-up, probably less prospects involved in a trade. Cease would cost more in prospect capital. As for Arozarena, you would block Vargas and many in the Dodger organization think he’ll become an exceptional hitter. Right hand bat, low cost.
In no scenario, should the Dodgers trade Miller, Pepiot or Sheehan. They need the young starters as they move into the future.
Ya if anyone is willing to bet on 2024 Vargas/Busch over Jung Hoo Lee, I’m happy to take that bet.
I’m a Dodger fan, but I’m not blind. What’s next, Aaron Judge vs Jason Heyward??
I would bet on Lee over Busch and Vargas.
Lee’s best friend, it’s been said, is the Padres’ Ha-Seong Kim, who has been excellent. Pretty sure Lee is coming over with a better track record and a better understanding of what to expect.
And this is important: Lee’s contract guarantees that he’ll have every opportunity to prove himself. Will the Dodgers give Vargas or Busch that chance? It might have to be another team.
That said, I’m glad the Dodgers didn’t sign Lee. The Giants need to take the risk, and the Dodgers don’t. Outman is fine in CF, and DeLuca, Busch and Vargas can cover LF. In terms of position players, I think the Dodgers would be fine going with the current roster–with Lux at SS and some committee in LF. If AF decides against the committee approach, there are various proven free agent outfielders he could sign or trade for.
But AF does need to fix the rotation.
Too many trades