What Minor Leaguers Will We See in 2020?
Last year, the Dodgers had Nine (count em, 9) rookies on the roster in total. I did a hurried comparison and I think only San Francisco had as many rookies as the Dodgers. I could be wrong feel free to do the research and get back to me. But the point is: The Farm System is productive and still a TOP 3 system. In fact, if the Dodgers just
Last year, the Dodgers had Nine (count ’em, 9) rookies on the roster in total. I did a hurried comparison and I think only San Francisco had as many rookies as the Dodgers. I could be wrong … feel free to do the research and get back to me. But the point is: The Farm System is productive and still a TOP 3 system. In fact, if the Dodgers just sign Rendon and Cole and don’t make any prospect trades, it’s possible they could have the #1 farm system by spring. Here are the eight rookies:
- Alex Verdugo
- Gavin Lux
- Will Smith
- Matt Beaty
- Kyle Garlick
- Tony Gonsolin
- Dustin May
- Edwin Rios
- Josh Sborz
Is it possible we see nine rookies in 2020? Well, the answer is yes, because at least 6 of the above players will still be rookies in 2020, but who else could make it? Of course, Gavin Lux, Matt Beaty, Tony Gonsolin, Edwin Rios, and Dustin May will be on the list. Josh Sborz and Kyle Garlick will show up only in an emergency. Here are the other rookies who could see time with the Big Club in 2020:
Brett de Geus – He only pitched in High A Ball last year, where he dominated and again dominated in the AFL. He will start in AA next season and move up quickly if he keeps on this same track. In my opinion, his progress is predictable and sustainable. I think he will be in the LA bullpen sooner than later.
Keibert Ruiz – His 2019 season was shortened by injury. He will be 22 in July and hits better from the left side of the plate. Unless Austin Barnes really, really turns it around, I expect to see Kaybear platoon with Will Smith by the All-Star Break. Smith is superior defensively, but it’s not a by a huge margin. Ruiz is a very good catcher in his own right and his bat-to-ball skills are among the best I have ever seen.
Jo Jo Gray – He started out 2019 at Great Lakes, went to RC and ended up at Tulsa at the end of the season. For the season, he pitched 130 innings with a 2.28 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and struck out 147 while allowing just 98 hits. He may start out back at Tulsa or OKC, but if there are multiple injuries and Maeda is traded, we could easily see him in 2020. To me, he profiles as a #3… possibly a #2. He will be 22 in two weeks. This kid has a huge ceiling. Get back, Jo Jo.
Victor Gonzalez – He’s a 24-year-old LH pitcher whom the Dodgers added to the 40-man roster. Across 3 levels last season, he put up a 2.31 ERA in 89 innings. He is more effective against RHH than Adam Kolarek, so he has a chance to be a lefty in the bullpen. The Dodgers only have Kolarek, Alexander (coming off an injury), and Caleb Ferguson (who has allegedly accepted his bullpen role). Gonzo could see some time at the Show.
Other Possibilities – Dennis Santana, Mitch White, Michael Grove are on my watch list, but it would involve any of them taking a huge step forward. It’s not likely, but it is possible and if it happens, it could mean that other bad things have happened in the bullpen. Gerardo Carrillo has an outside shot, but I think he’s a year+ away and he has to wrap his head around relieving. I guess we could add Marshall Kasowski to that list… if he can develop another “plus” pitch. Big IF! BIG, BIG IF!
Position Players – Zach McKinstry was added to the 40-man, but he’s (in my opinion) the most likely to get traded. DJ Peters is at least a year away (if ever), and that is about it for 2020.
Memo to Fans Who Want to Make BIGGGGG Changes
It ain’t happening… nor should it. Lindor, Kluber, Betts, and others are FAKE NEWS manufactured by the media whose ratings depend upon what they write! I call BS on it all. I am certain that the Dodgers are in on Cole, Strasburg, Rendon, and Donaldson, but if someone is willing to overbid like the D-Bags were on Greinke, then AF will bow out – AND HE SHOULD! The reality is that the Dodgers may or may not end up with one of those players.
We know that Gerrit Cole grew up a Yankees fan. We know that he is from So-Cal. We don’t know if he wants to play on the Right or Left Coast. Maybe he doesn’t care… but maybe he does. I think it’s between the Yankees and the Dodgers, but I have no inside info. I think the Rangers will “way overpay” for Rendon and, being from Houston, he will go to Texas. Josh Donaldson could be “our guy” but someone may be willing to overpay for him too. There are so many dope fiends out there. On the field, Rendon is the better solution, but in the clubhouse, JD may be just what the Doctor ordered!
As the winter wears on and if the Indians feel the pressure to trade Lindor, maybe they would include Kluber in this deal: Lindor and Kluber for Pederson, Taylor, Maeda, Stripling, Beaty, and Dennis Santana. If that’s all they can get, the Indians might take it and they would likely be better!
There is so much uncertainty, that I can’t predict when the next sunrise might occur. But, I can tell you that AF will not get swindled. Many Most Dodger fans begged and pleaded for Giancarlo Stanton… and you should be happy AF did not make that Dope-Fiend Move. Stanton’s contract will be the worst boat anchor in the history of baseball.
The Yankees are allegedly “fixated” upon Cole. The order to get him came from Hal Steinbrenner. Hal gets what he wants as a rule. If the Yankees offer 8 years and $320 million to Cole should AF beat that? I think not! But, we don’t know the thought processes of any of the players, agents, and teams right about now. There are a lot of factors that go into this. In retrospect, Manny Machado was more Clark Kent than Superman outside of Camden Yards. Bryce Harper was/is a good, but not a great player. AF did right in allowing the other teams to make a dope-fiend move.
Yes, I believe in incremental growth. Look no further than Anthony Rendon. In his first two playoff years, he hit .150 and .175. Then in 2019, he was a stud! It paralleled his incremental growth each season. I also believe in keeping the Farm System strong and productive and AF has done just that. It doesn’t mean every player will be a major leaguer and the fact of the matter is that AF has traded a large number of prospects. It’s not like he doesn’t do that. I just don’t think now is the time to gut the farm. I don’t think you have to.
There is an opportunity to get a top player or two without giving up the farm. You only lose a draft pick and I know AF is OK with that in this situation. I know that Gerrit Cole is going to command the largest contract ever given to a pitcher. The biggest one (until now) was to David Price, the boat anchor to the Red Sox organization. If Cole costs $50 million more than Price, the Dodgers might be in. If it’s $100 million more, I would say “walk away.” I think Freidman will.
It will be a fun and interesting Winter Meetings. I have a feeling that Friedman has told Ryu to “get your best offer and come back to me before you sign.” That’s the fallback position. I would rather have Cole but not at any cost! Don’t forget that the last team who walked away from a $300 million dollar contract, won the World Series. Like AC, I believe in going BOLD… Just not Stupid!
One More Thing…
Ther is an interesting read at Dodgers.com on the best valve draft picks ever for each team. Of course, we all know the Dodgers was Mike Piazza but look at the rest of them right HERE. Some of it is luck and some of it is preparation. The Draft… even the lower levels can yield some gems.
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Discussion (74)
Disagree, not disagreeable
It is just about check in time at the Hilton in SD. Some interesting reading in multiple rumor sites.
1. The interest in Puig is less than that for Avisail Garcia. Garcia and Puig are the same age, Garcia had an arguably better 2019, and Garcia figures to sign for less.
2. Ryu tied to at least 4 teams with very little discussion back to LAD. He is being sought after by Minnesota, LAA, Texas, and Toronto. I would not at all be surprised if SD was also interested. Some have speculated that those not in on Cole or Strasburg are interested in perhaps signing both Ryu and MadBum (Minnesota) or Ryu and Keuchel (LAA and Toronto).
3. Some are now speculating that Boras is looking for 7 years for Rendon and not the 5 that many thought he was pursuing. 5 seemed just about right for LAD, but 7 seems out of the comfort zone for AF. Texas may be willing to go 7 to get the new face of the organization with a new ballpark.
4. It is curious that Josh Donaldson who was projected to sign early has not yet signed. It is plausible that the teams that are interested in a 3B are still in on Rendon and look at Josh as a backup. They are not going to commit to Donaldson until Rendon is signed. If the Dodgers were to make Donaldson a legit 3 year offer maybe they can sign him. If he was a fallback and 7 years is too much out of the comfort zone for Rendon, then make a legit offer to Donaldson. Or take a chance that Texas outbids LAD, and then Washington and Atlanta will go all out in signing Donaldson. I fear if LAD gets involved in a bidding war for any elite FA, they will come out on the losing end.
5. Cubs looking to unload salaries. The likelihood of re-signing Castellanos is almost non-existent. Wilson Contreras is as good as traded. The Cubs would very much like some team to come in and offer a bag of balls for Yu Darvish and assume the entire salary. The same for Quintana. I think they would like to see what they could get back for Kris Bryant, but I do not think many teams are going to be offering anyone until they know how MLB is going to come down on Bryant’s grievance against the Cubs and his Super 2 status.
I think Frankie Lindor, Mookie Betts, Anthony Rendon, Josh Donaldson, Kris Bryant would all have the IT factor. Some to a larger degree than others. There are others, but those seem to be the most prominent possibilities as of now. I personally like the idea of Frankie Lindor and his personality in LA. I do not believe the stage is too big for Lindor, and I believe that both Belli and Seager would have less pressure on their back with Lindor. Negative factors would be Seager would have to move to 3B and I do not know how amenable he is to that move, and what that does to his desire to stay long term with LAD. It will take at least Lux, and if Lindor and Seager both leave after 2021, who plays SS for LAD? I suppose Jeter Downs or Chris Taylor if they extend him. I like Lindor, but it might be just too big of a sustainability risk to trade Lux. Cleveland would not do the deal without Lux, so I am guessing that AF will not swing a trade for Lindor. The best option for the IT factor would seem to be Anthony Rendon. Only $$$ and no lost prospects.
This figures to be a very active Winter Meetings. There have already been twice the number of top FA signings this year compared to last year, and several more lesser FA signings. There have been a few trades and so far not one involves Jerry Dipoto. But I do believe that many trades have already been vetted and will come to fruition this week. There are too many teams that believe they have a shot this year to get to the playoffs, and they have the dollars and prospects to spend. They are not going to wait for Boras to get his clients signed. I think teams learned from last year that too many were waiting on Harper, Machado, Keuchel, and Kimbrel and did not get what they wanted done. This year will be different.
One thing I do agree with Mark on, I never believed that AF was ever in on Harper or Machado last year, and that I am more than happy that the Dodgers did pass on them. I do believe they are in on the Top 3 but that their interest has a limit, and that limit will be surpassed by someone other than AF.
Here’s to a fruitful Winter Meetings in SD. BTW, I have never been to Nashville, so if next year’s Winter Meetings get back to Nashville, I plan on going. It will be my Christmas present to myself.
FYI
Open on nypost.comhttps://nypost.com/2019/12/08/gerrit-cole-sparks-rare-yankees-dodgers-heavyweight-fight/The thing is, there prices are not abberations. They are the market price for players of Cole, Stras, and Rendon quality.
The price is probably not coming down anytime soon for Aces and MVP candidates.
So if the Dodgers want to take their shot with this core, when is the time to do it, and why isn’t it now?
They have a boatload of available room under the tax, and could easily free up a sizable amount more with a few trades of players that are not essential.
I would like to see this team win, for me, but also Kershaw has two years left, and assuming that he is done after that (at least with LA), I would very much like the guy to win that ring……in LA.
If they balk at the cost of Cole, then fine but they have to get Strasburg or Rendon then.
And if they get Rendon, they still needs a 1/2 pitcher via trade, if there is anyone out there that is.
Honestly, I think that this team is in poor shape going forward……pitching wise. They are a Bueller injury from Golden State. No, not that bad but the pitching staff, outside of Bueller, is highly questionable. Assuming Ryu walks, and Hill isn’t back or healthy, its pretty slim outside of hopes and prayers that the rookies can be on top it all year.
AC…..you mentioned some good rumor sites. Can you pass that info on? I am always looking for more to read.
I go through MLB trade rumors of course and all the blogs linked from this site. Any other that you could link would be great.
A lot of silliness today.
Off-site Rosenthal playfully predicted Lindor to the Dodgers.
On-site:
The idea of a direct correlation between “money” and “a championship” is absurd.
The idea of DodgersNation.com being anything above my speculation in terms of relevance and accuracy is equally silly. For a while the most heavily cited author at that site was someone who works in IT.