The Clock is Ticking on Deals
The trade deadline is a little over two weeks away. July 31st is the drop-dead date, but wait! Is it really? What would happen if the Marlins put Stanton on waivers in August? Miami could just let anyone who put in a claim have him if they truly wanted to dump salary, so the question is: If he isn t traded before July 31st, would anyone put in a waiver claim
The trade deadline is a little over two weeks away. July 31st is the drop-dead date, but wait! Is it really? What would happen if the Marlins put Stanton on waivers in August? Miami could just let anyone who put in a claim have him if they truly wanted to dump salary, so the question is: If he isn’t traded before July 31st, would anyone put in a waiver claim on him? We need to realize one thing: most of these deals we concoct will never happen!
However, this is baseball and you never know. I do know this: We have no idea what FAZ is doing. I am sure they have something up their sleeve that we never thought of. Some are extolling Theo’s acquisition of Quintana as being a “Bold Move” and it is because the Cubs gave up two highly rated prospects, but Theo had to make it because the Cubs do not have any depth in starting pitchers. That’s the difference. FAZ has the depth so that they do not have to make bold moves like that. That bold move may be good…. but what happens if Quintana doesn’t pitch well or gets injured?
FAZ has made moves that did not work (Johnson, Latos, Olivera, Reddick), but they never gave up Top Prospects to do them. I doubt they will do so this year either – they don’t have to. They have the best team in baseball – all it needs is a tweak here or there. A lockdown LH in the pen would be nice, but I don’t see them trading Verdugo.
Two weeks of playing wait and see and what if?
I’m ready for some Dodger baseball. How about you?
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Discussion (79)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Two outs, nobody on base, down a run in the top of the ninth, two consecutive hitters grind out two strike counts to get on base, and then Puig hangs in with a third two strike count, two out count to hit the game winner home run. This team knows how to use all 27 outs and knows how to win.
I worry just a little that Taylor will revert to his past. I probably need to stop worrying. He had two hits last night and a walk. He made a great play on a ball hit over his head and to his left. He probably is another Justin Turner. If you think of just those two players and what finds they were.
IMO Verdugo is the best AAA hitter the Dodgers have had since John Werhas. I hope not the same desire and drive to compete in the bigs.
D-backs and Rockies both lose lead is 8.5 and 10.5.
Didn’t see the first six! How did Mac look?
Puig Flys!
In Puig I Trust
He heard ya’ll talking! Best 8 hole hitter in MLB… try and say that fast…
Team of destiny?
We talk trade.. They say What?
Unbelievable!!!
27 come from behind wins.
They believe they can win every game so they are never out of a game.
And PUIG!
The look on Mattinglys face was priceless!
“New Half – Same Story!” Joe Davis
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Classic!
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The Dodgers don’t need a damn thing!
I ill be damed.
Can we stop talking about trading Puig now?
I think we should trade Puig:)
Like Mark said SD would never make that trade. My belief is they go north to Oakland for Doolittle
Funny how everyone wants to trade our trash for the other teams best. If you don’t want those guys what makes you think the other teams want them. Even paying down contracts won’t make it easier to move them and you still won’t get top players in return
I would like to see Gonzales finish his career in San Diego. He would probably make that his second choice with his first choice to stay with the Dodgers.
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San Diego could use Gonzales to help with their youth even though they would keep Meyer at first. Gonzales plus $10M and Oats for Hand would be nice.
All the talk about trading AGon , he does have a partial non trade clause. Romo, Utley, Gutierrez, Morrow, Van Slyke, Availan, Hatcher are free agent or non-tender candidates that’s close to 15 million that can come off the books. Forsythe has an option for about 10 million. That’s a lot more that comes off the books.
Stanton while I don’t think a trade happens, carries a 25 million per year payroll hit. For luxury tax purposes big contracts are counted on annual average value. If the National League goes to the DH Stanton might a big might make some sense.
My gut tells me FAZ goes north again for Doolittle and Gray, with a possible run at Khris Davis.
The 2018 payroll tax threshold is $197.
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2017 Dodger payroll includes 38 total players and $241,149,167 total salary.
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The 2018 payroll will not include Ethier at $17.5M, Crawford at $21.8M, Guerro at $7.5M for a total of $46M.
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Disregarding raises and new players, the Dodgers will go into 2018 at $241M less $46M = $195M
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Whomever they trade for, the Dodgers should try to include one or more of the following to offset the payroll increase from that trade to avoid the payroll tax penalty–
McCarthy $11.5M, Gonzales $22.4M, Puig $9.2M, Kazmir $17.7M, Ryu $7.8M, Maeda $3.1M
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Those players total $71.7M
Dodgers have also reached out to Balt re. the set up guy, Bach (who Mark wanted earlier this year!)
If Britton is too expensive, maybe Bach is the one.
We’ve also talked to Pitt about Cutch and leftie reliever Tony Watson (and to Det about Wilson/JD Martinez)
Let me remind you that power is usually the last thing to come. In about 4 AB’s in 2013 and 2014, Cody Bellinger hit 4, count ’em four home runs. I think Alex will be a 15-20 HR guy soon enough. He does have some issues evidently inherited from his dad, but his talent level is high with the bat.
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I honestly think he has a shot at being Tony Gwynn. He’s not fast but he has a great arm and could play in LF or RF.
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It would take a lot for me to trade him.
Urias isn’t going anywhere. Verdugo? That’s another question. From what I have read (no personal knowledge claimed here), he has 3 issues
1- gained weight and lost speed – no longer a CF
2 – no power in an era where power is coveted and hitters who hit .350 aren’t necessarily
3 – attitude is reported to be poor
I have no idea if he would be available in the right deal, but ask yourself this – how many regular players do the Dodgers have who aren’t capable of hitting 15+ HR/season? If the answer is zero, then ask whether the Braintrust wants one.
Throw in Urias.
Verdugo and Calhoun for Fullmer would be a steal for us. Throw in some minor league starter too. Fullmer can play.
I think everyone is sanctifying Verdugo like they did with Urias. He IS expendable. Can’t compare Puig,a proven major league hitter , with Verdugo who has not even taken a swing yet. Verdugo can go if the return is right. I’m glad Urias isn’t part of this conversation any more, but Verdugo is quickly taking his place. I would take Fullmer for Verdugo et al in a second.