Let me start with the fact that he wants to be a Dodgers and the Dodgers would like him back! Let me also add that last season he did not sign until Janualry 17th! I want to make it clear that this is a business and if some team offers just two or three million dollars more than the Dodgers, Teo is obligated to himself, his family and the MLBPA to take the best offer. Three million Dollars is still THREE MILLION DOLLARS. Money matters! That’s why, I have to laugh, when during the season, fans would say, “Extend Teo Already!” That’s crazy talk! I
If Andrew had offered Teoscar 4 years at $100 Million, Teo’s agent would have advised him to take it, because I did not think Teoscar would get 4 years… but he might. The Yankees, Mets, Red Sox and maybe others need a bat like Teo. Of course. so do the Dodgers.
Teoscar will be 33 before the end of the 2025 season. Maybe he has four more good years in him… maybe not. Decline can come quickly. Witness Nolan Arenado, who at age 33 is a shell of himself. The bat speed decline has been evident. The last two years his OPS+ has been 108 and in 2024, it was 101. He is barely better than “league average.” Max Muncy had a 141 OPS+ last year! I think the Dodgers are comfortable offering Teo a three year deal around $75 – $80 Million. Beyond that? I would be very cautious. BTW Teo’s OPS+ was 137.
Here’s why: Teoscar is a DH or a LF’er. He is not good in RF. The last I checked, the Dodgers have a DH. If they sign Teo, it is to play LF. Michael Conforto is not an everyday player due to his injury history and he is better in RF than Teo, so it’s only natural to have him platoon with Pages. Conforto is a guy who needs to limit his AB to around 400. I also think that the Dodgers hitting coaches can improve Confortos swing and results. Lots of other people who cover the game also think that. They sure helped Teo!
Comforto will be 32 this year. Don’t push him. Use that platoon and here’s the other factor: Dalton Rushing and Josue DePaula. Rushing is close while DePaula is likely a couple of years away. Rushing could platoon with Will Smith in 2016 and play some LF, but DePaula is a LF’er – Period! DePaula is going to rise rapidly!
The Dodgers have interest in Teo and it is recipriocated, but this is a business. If Teoscar can make a few million more, he has to take it… like it or not!
Another Pitching “Project.”
Remember This?
Sometimes it takes a long time for the truth to come out, but the Truth will set you free!
Discussion (9)
Disagree, not disagreeable
The Dodgers just signed 7 kids with the left over international pool money. 5 pitchers and 6 from the DR. Again, Andrew playing chess.
Book em
Well, the Dodgers would be better with Teo than without him. I’m guessing he returns. Signs a good deal for himself. But if he doesn’t the Dodgers should be fine.
Ken Rosenthal also reported the Dodgers want to land Tanner Scott. That would b a good signing.
If Teo doesn’t return the Dodgers have an oppportunity to play Andy Pages, Dalton Rushing and James Outman. You need to give young players an opportunity. They could focus on acquiring a defensive player who has ball in play skills and not as much power.
I’m not sure why a player would try to push four years or a few extra million. Find some suitor willing to do that and end up in a bad environment. I get the union wants them to do that. Baseball contracts today are crazy. The player should sign where he’s going to be happy, not someplace that offers a bigger deal, unless that is your only goal. If you get three years at $25 mil annually, you are in a place where you truly can’t spend the money. Unless you are one of those athletes who blows all the money on fast cars, jewelry and a lifestyle of the rich and famous. But those athletes never seem to be happy, like some of the very wealthy people I know.
Money doesn’t buy happiness. If you enjoy playing in LA, make a deal. Based on the contracts LA is heading out, you won’t need food stamps. You can afford a nice house, a vacation house and nice cars.
Plus with the Dodgers, the organization wins every year. Most teams can’t say that. Isn’t that why players want to sign with the Dodgers.
As of this moment, for me, Bichette Jr is a “person of interest” to cover 3B in 2026.
The Dodgers have already rewarded Teo: they gave him a WS, they made him famous, they priced him and revalued him and that is why he will receive what he wants, 4 or 5 years, but from another team. Teo gave the team everything he had and that’s why we all love him but it’s time to leave. The Dodgers don’t owe Teo anything and vice versa, they both got what they wanted.
The Dodgers do not see Comforto as a platoon player, he will be the starting LF… https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/michael-conforto-an-under-the-radar-pickup-for-dodgers
Thanks to Mark for posting the video link to Freddie’s grand slam. Watching the entire inning made the HR even more dramatic. I decided to keep going so I went to YouTube and watched the Yankees Game 5 melt-down inning–pure joy, and I ended my trifecta with the MLB highlight reel of our win over the Padres in the divisional series.
After watching the footage I realized the importance of moments, clutch hits, a timely double-play, etc. which seems to point to Dodger players who are able to block out the bright lights and be in the moment. Teo was one of those players last year, not just in the playoffs but all season. Like the rest of you, I would love Teo back, but I am more interested in a LF than can perform on the big stage.
Listening to AF, I believe the Dodgers will bring Freddie and Shohei back slowly from their surgeries, which means lots of playing time for our utility players –Rojas, CT, and Kike if signed.
Having OF stability and reliable production will be important.
What an interesting, informative and intriguing last month. I would like to add my name to the list thanking Mark immensely for keeping this site open. Makes my coffee better every morning. Your knowledge of the sport, business, and the teams prospects is very educating.
Personally I am very impressed with the signings so far. Snell just looks like a Dodger, Edman flows like a Dodger, Treinen blows like a Dodger, and Conforto is comfortable being a Dodger. On Teoscar we wait, sad that if another team offers him 2% more he has to take it, even if he doesn’t want to. A Sasaki signing would be fun. Great time to be a Dodger fan.
A Merry Christmas and all the Best in 2025 to you and your Phenomenal Phamily Mark, and to all of the contributors to the site as well.
With or without Teo, our lineup is deep whether or not we are facing a lefty or a righty. Teo needs to be paid and deserves to be paid but at the end of the day baseball is a business. Four years is to many years and three is a stretch in my unprofessional opinion. Hell give him 60 for two years. That would be a big overpay but it would show him we appreciate him and want him around. It would also reward him for playing a big role for bringing a World Championship to LA.
If the Dodgers are committed to the development of Pages, Rushing and/or DePaula, a platoon player like Conforto makes more sense than an everyday player like Teoscar. While I believe the Dodgers would welcome Teoscar back, even after the Conforto signing, I don’t believe Dodger brass is going to offer a 4-year deal. The NYY need Teoscar more than the LAD.
Personally, I give the LAD a 1-4 shot at signing Teoscar. Given their ability to play Teoscar as a DH in the latter part of a 4-year deal, the NYY, BoSox and Tor are more likely to ink him to a 4-year contract.
While I don’t believe signing Teoscar is as long of a shot than was their chance of landing Soto, the length of contact that Teoscar demands will eventually become too risky for the LAD.
A Kyle Tucker acquisition on the other hand was something I wished Dodger brass would have pursued.