What If?

Some trade or player movement ideas including signing certain free agents are based on solid facts while others are based upon fantasy. What follows are some ideas on player acquisition. Some may seem “far out” and others may be more plausible to you. I would guess it depends upon your perspective. I have some old ideas as well as some new ones in todays blog.

Wil Myers Anyone?

Last year, when Mike Clevinger was linked to the Dodgers, I wrote that he was not healthy and was an injury waiting to happen. Well, to many Dodger fans dismay, the Padres traded for him and then it happened, and the Padres won’t have him in 2021 and maybe part of 2022. Could Trevor Bauer be on their radar? Maybe, but can they afford him? The Padres ownership group are not paupers, but they do not have the deep pockets of the Dodgers… nor the revenue.

It has been rumored that the Padres would like to move Wil Myers, who was once on track to be a star, but has never quite cut it. I find Myers intriguing and wonder what RVS and Company might be able do with him. The only problem is, there’s no place to play him. He has played 3B in the past and has considerable experience at 1B. If Justin Turner doesn’t return, the Dodgers could certainly use another RH bat.

Just a thought! Don’t kill me, but you might be able to have SD eat part of his salary and trade a mid-level prospect so they could sign Trevor Bauer… or not. It’s just a fall back position. But, you have to consider other possibilities, just in case someone makes JT an offer he can’t refuse. Last year, Wil Myers OPS’ed .953 but was over 1.000 against LHP.

Consider this for a second (we have to assume there is no DH right now, because there isn’t):

Against LHP

1. Betts RF (R)
2. Seager SS (L)
3. Pollock LF (R)
4. Muncy 2B (L)
5. Smith C (R)
6. Myers 1B (R)
7. Bellinger CF (L)
8. Taylor 3B (R)

AGAINST RHP

1. Betts RF (R)
2. Seager SS (L)
3. Bellinger CF (L)
4. Muncy 2B (L)
5. Smith C (R)
6. Rios 3B (L)
7. Myers 1B (R)
8. Lux LF (L)

I believe Taylor could be a good 3B if worked at it. He has the arm… in fact he has one of the better arms on the team. Leave Max Muncy at 2B and he will be solid… not spectacular. Myers is a solid 1B and is 6 or 7 years younger than Turner.

This is all contingent upon Justin Turner not returning and the DH not being a reality – which it isn’t right now. Of course, if they implement the DH and JT returns, Myers could still be a nice RH addition.

Essentially, Rios and Taylor platoon at 3B and Pollock and Lux platoon in LF. On a team that needs more RH bats, Myers could fill the bill, if the price was right.

How About Josh Hader?

Allegedly, the Milwaukee Brewers are willing to give up Josh Hader in order to upgrade their offense. With the arrival of Devin Williams, the fact that Hader has lost some velocity on his fastball and the cost to pay him this year, Hader could be a possibility for the Dodgers, Would you… trade Gavin Lux for him? I might! I would certainly give it a lot of thought. Lux is from Wisconsin so the Brewers might just make that move.

My only questions are: Are Hader’s best days behind him? Would the Dodgers be paying for his past production? Would he be worth it? He’s 26 and will not be a free agent until 2024. Yes, I would roll the dice and do it. McKinstry takes Lux’s roster spot! The Dodgers bullpen would look much better with Hader… still the fact that he has lost velocity at age 26 give me pause. Could he be a Tommy John Candidate?

The Lindor Rumors Won’t Die!

Yesterday, MLB.com purposed seven trades for Lindor. This was what they suggested for the Dodgers:

Lindor heads to Hollywood

Dodgers get: SS Francisco Lindor

Indians get: RHP Dustin May, 1B/OF Matt Beaty, OF Cody Thomas (Dodgers’ No. 30 prospect)

Why it could work: The Indians have a legitimate chance to be a contender in 2021 and beyond, even without Lindor on the team. Given that, a package that centers on Major League-ready level talent seems like an approach that could work — and helps the Dodgers retain top prospects, especially those who are still a few years away from the Majors. May had a strong regular season and showed flashes of the dominant pitcher he can be at points in the postseason. His 100-mph heat joining Shane Bieber and eventually Triston McKenzie in the Indians’ rotation could help continue the team’s strong recent pitching tradition. The Dodgers have 15 pitchers among their current top 30 prospects according to MLB Pipeline, so there is plenty more young pitching coming over the next handful of years.

Beaty offers another Major League-ready talent, and he could play in the infield, where the Indians need offensive help with Cesar Hernandez and Carlos Santana both free agents. He hit .265 and slugged .458 in 99 games in 2019, before taking a step back in 54 plate appearances in 2020, hitting .220 with a .360 slugging percentage. Beaty, a former top-30 prospect for the Dodgers, would likely benefit from more consistent playing time. Beaty can play first base every day. To bolster the outfield, there’s outfield prospect Cody Thomas, who played in Triple-A in 2019 and is close to Major League-ready.

In this scenario, the Dodgers can move Corey Seager to third base and not re-sign Justin Turner. Seager and Lindor are both set to be free agents after 2021 anyway, so at that point the team can choose to pursue either of them, as well as Rockies’ shortstop Trevor Story.

Who says no? The Dodgers. The freedom to move Seager to third and have both Lindor and Seager in the same lineup is certainly intriguing, but ultimately, the Dodgers already have a star-caliber shortstop on the roster, without giving up anything — even if he doesn’t have Lindor’s complete track record. After 2021, it’s hard to know, but based on what we’ve seen from Los Angeles, it will likely go after Lindor, Story and Carlos Correa in free agency, as well as consider keeping Seager on. This team just won the World Series in part due to its sheer depth, so it doesn’t need to give anything up to be good again in 2021 or beyond.

OK, I would do that deal on three conditions:

1. Seager is OK with moving to 3B ;
2. Seager signs a long-term deal; and
3. Lindor signs a long term deal.

Highly unlikely that all of that happens! But imagine this lineup:

1. Betts RF (R)
2. Lindor SS (L/R)
3. Seager 3B (L)
4. Muncy 2B (L)
5. Smith C (R)
6. Bellinger CF (L)
7. Pollock/Lux LF (R/L)
8. Rios/Taylor? 1B (L/R)

Just ideas… most that will never happen.

What the What?

• Oft-injured and seldom good Drew Smyly got an $11 million deal from the Atlanta Braves. He will either be very good or very bad. I think this is a bad signing.
• Trevor Bauer is trolling the Mets fans and praising Steve Cohen. Humm… I can see him in Queens. The Mets are also in on Ozuna. Steve Cohen is bent on Mating the Mets great again.
• The Cubs are a mess and Theo is considering blowing up the team. Bryant, Schwarber, Contreras, Baez, and Rizzo are all available for the taking. Kimbrel is owed $17 million in 21 and 22. How the mighty have fallen!
• Keep Tommy Lasorda in your prayers, but he is 93 and the Big Dodger in the Sky is going to get this baseball icon sooner or later. We love you Tommy!

Don’t Let the Old Man in

My youngest son turned me on to this…