What If Mookie Doesn t Come to LA?

The Dodgers do not need Mookie Betts! Let me start by saying that. However, the NL West will not be a cakewalk. Colorado will likely be better than last year. The Padres and the D-Bags are also better. The Dodgers, most likely, will not run away with the NL West. However, the Dodger’s depth on the offensive and pitching side will prevail.

That said, I would really, really love to have Mookie Betts! However, it’s not at any price! I love Kaybear Ruiz, but I would include him in a deal for Betts… but not Verdugo. No way… No how! I also would not include Gray or Downs in any deal for Betts and it goes without saying that Lux and May are off-limits.

I am not big on trading the farm… especially for what could be one year of Mookie Betts. I might feel differently if I knew Betts would re-sign with the Dodgers. Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin, Gavin Lux, Keibert Ruiz, and Josiah Gray could all be part of the Dodger Roster THIS season. I feel strongly that two or three of the five will be All-Stars in a year or three.

I know, I know: “They are just prospects!” Yes, they are… but they are dang good prospects and most baseball types believe that at least May and Lux are All-Star material. JoJo Gray is a #3 starting in the wings and some people (myself included) believe he is ready to pitch to major league hitters THIS year.

I also know that to get something of value, you have to give up something of value. I get it. But, do we need Mookie now? How about we get him in the next offseason and only lose a draft pick, not multiple, potential All-Stars?

If there is doubt about Alex Verdugo’s back, then Boston is not going to take him in a trade. If there’s no problem with it, he’s a potential All-Star. Ken Gurnick of Dodgers .com said this: “While his name has reportedly been prominent in the Betts trade talks, it’s hard to imagine a club making him the return centerpiece in such a big a trade without seeing him in-game action.” In his part-time role, he was worth 3.1 WAR, so it’s not inconceivable to see him as a 4- or 5-win player, especially if he adds a little more power. He’s under team control through 2024. Mookie was a 2.1 WAR player as a rookie and 6.0 WAR the next year. Mookie is clearly an upgrade over Alex, but it may not be as huge as you think.

There’s something else that worries me about Betts, and David Schoenfield of ESPN.com said it best:

How will Betts hit away from Fenway?

Betts is a pull hitter, so his offensive game is perfectly tailored to Fenway Park. His career numbers:

Home: 1566 AB, .319/.387/.542, 65 HR, 135 2B
Away: 1637 AB, .285/.361/.497, 74 HR, 94 2B

He actually has homered a little more often on the road, but look at all those doubles — Mookie loves playing pingpong with the Green Monster. While it’s possible that some line drives turn from doubles into home runs, some fly balls will turn from doubles into outs.

On the other hand, maybe the bigger gaps down the left-field line and left-center gap will produce more hits — Fenway left field giveth but it also takes away some hits. In general, Dodger Stadium and Petco aren’t great hitters’ parks, so I would guess Betts will lose a few home runs and some points on his batting average (which has jumped up and down all over the place the past four years anyway) if he’s playing his home games on the West Coast in 2020.

The Dodgers have Cody Bellinger and Corey Seager who are potential All-Stars THIS year to go with Verdugo, Lux, Muncy, Pederson, Pollock (who many believe will be a comeback candidate), and Justin Turner. The way their lineup stack up right now, it may be the best in the NL anyway.

I see nothing good that could come from taking David Price either. Nothing to see there. Let the Padres gut their farm system to get Betts – they still won’t win the NL West! Then Andrew Friedman can sign him as a free agent after the 2020 season. I want Mookie Betts to be a Dodger… but can they just wait a year?

Other Dodger News

• The Dodgers “File and Trial” policy has been criticized and fans are worried that there will be hard feelings by the players. Well, there probably are already some hard feelings because the Dodgers would not compromise. This is the business side of baseball and I am sure it won’t be personal – just the facts, only the facts. “Joc can’t hit LHP, so he should not be paid a starter” is just an example. We shall see how it shakes out. I could see a couple of the players settling if Friedman would (which he has never done).
• Pitchers and Catchers report next week!

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