The Clock is Ticking on Deals

I’m not so sure we need a LHRP for the playoffs. Starters will be Kershaw, Wood, Hill, and McCarthy. That leaves Ryu and Kazmir for the bullpen.

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Yasiel Puig’s on pace to get near 30 homers for the first time in his career, but big picture rather than counting dingers: He’s not actually hitting any better (103 OPS+) than he has over the past two seasons (104 OPS+). The talks of his resurgence are mostly because of the recency bias created by a solid June (.965 OPS). Last month aside, I’d be surprised if Alex Verdugo wasn’t a better overall player than Puig was at this point. While it’s hard to make the move work from a roster standpoint, remember, I’m the guy with the Doomsday Laser.

I agree with many that:

1 – This is the year to pull out the stops

2 – The Braintrust thinks so too. That’s why they re-signed Turner, Jansen and Hill

3 – We all have different opinions about what it means to pull out the stops

4 – If the past few years have taught us anything, the Braintrust won’t likely trade the “wrong” prospects when making a trade for the last piece of the puzzle

5 – If the past few years have taught us anything, the pieces brought in by the Braintrust may not do much. This is the year that I hope that changes and that the pieces brought in will make the difference

6 – No way that the Dodgers will bring in guys with huge contracts (like Stanton) at the deadline – the past few years have shown us that too

7 – The BT is willing to bring in rentals – eg. Hill and Reddick

8 – They are willing to make incremental improvements but I doubt that they will do so this year – the bench and minors have been good enough that they won’t need to do so

9 – I still doubt they bring in a starter. There is going to be a lot of competition for a few high impact lefty relievers. I still want to see a RH power bat for the OF. Will they trade an existing OF in the process? Maybe – I have seen the arguments for either Puig or Pederson going and it is possible.

Regarding Mark’s waiver claim question on Stanton. I don’t see FAZ doing that. Terrible contract!

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Only way Stanton becomes a Dodger, in my opinion, is if Marlin take back dead weight contracts that get us out of 2018 luxury tax and Stanton agrees to changes on his no-trade. Maybe a no-trade clause through 2020, so he can be part of the Dodger Dynasty and go head to head against Judge in the W.S. for a few years. If I was him I would prefer that possibility rather than being stuck in Miami.

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Does anyone remember me asking, Would you trade Wood for Baez and Happ? Looks like that was exactly what Detroit wanted for 24 yr old MIchael Fulmer.

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The Cubs tried to engage the Tigers in trade talks on Michael Fulmer before acquiring Quintana, reports Nightengale in a full column. However, Detroit gave no indication that it was willing to listen unless the Cubs were willing to include both Javier Baez and Ian Happ in trade talks. GM Boxout isn’t sure he would have done that deal, without the scouting reports, but would have considered it.

I agree with you NorCal. I do not like the way Puig catches any fly ball. That is why I wish FAZ would bring Verdugo up now to give him two weeks to see what we have. I will not be unhappy if the Dodgers trade Puig. However, FAZ is very good at developing talent and know who they want to keep. I listen to the Calhoun interview at the all star game and he thinks he has improved defensively. He said he has done everything the Dodgers asked him to do.

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We just need a lock down LHRP. When Agon comes back we are going to have an extra outfielder. I agree with you Bum on finding out if Ryu can be a nice bull pen piece.

Friedman has made some of his best deals, on teams like the Dodgers, and other teams, that need a player, at the trade deadline.

And there are more sellers then buyers out there right now, so it is going to be hard, to make really good deal, so I think the front office is going to keep it simple.

And just try to get a good leftie for our bullpen, and maybe another arm, to freshen the bullpen up, like they did last year.

It would be great to get Britton, because he not only shut down lefties, he shut down righties last year too!

But the Oriole’s might be asking to much like most teams are, so I bet the front office have been looking at the different spin rates on pitchers, and strike out rates, to try to make a steal for a second arm, for the bullpen.

But Britton will definitely be a game changer, because with both Kenley and Britton in the bullpen, we will have upped, what the Cubs did last year, when they traded for Chapman!

Dodgers utilization of the bullpen is way down this year:

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I think the FO will go all in this season. As smart as FAZ et al are they know they have something special this year and will strike while the “window” is open. I can see them trading anyone in the minor leagues not named Walker Buehler and Mitchell White. I’m not advocating Verdugo or Alverez to be traded but this FO can evaluate talent not like other organizations and will move almost anyone to get BP help, SP help and maybe even a replacement for Puig (Stanton).

I’m not convinced the players and management fully support Puig. I was at a game at Coors Field this year and watched Puig nonchalantly go after a line drive that nearly got over his head. He made the catch but made it look more difficult than necessary. I watched as Kershaw spun and looked right in the dugout at Roberts. Easily you could tell Kershaw was not impressed with how Puig played the ball and looked exasperated as he glared in the dugout. Will Puig get traded? I don’t know, but would I be surprised if he is? No!

SD asked for Verudugo for Hand. Obviously we said no.

But I would consider Verdugo in a Britton deal, as he’s signed thru 2018 as well. Would an elite closer like that accept being a set up guy for the next 1.5 years though?

Bill Russell now works for major league baseball, and his job at every Dodgers home game is evaluating the umpires and making his report to the commissioner’s office. In his words, “There are not as many arguments as there used to be because umpires can look at the TV replay and then make their decision.”

Prospects are only prospects. FAZ has done a very good job in identifying and protecting the studs. I can see a trade of “top prospects” for a LHRP or even a bat.

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I’m just wondering how much longer FAZ can continue to trade “top prospects” before no one will trade with us.

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Now it’s time for Dodger baseball

In the next two weeks I would like to see what Ryu can do as a lock-down 8th inning reliever.