NOTHING!
I don’t mean that they will do nothing, but it just will not be what you expect. There was a great article in THE ATHLETIC today (you can still subscribe for $1 a month right now), that most likely “perfectly describes” what Andrew Friedman is likely to do. It turns out that the Dodgers don’t have just a Plan A, but they also have a Plan B, C, E, E, F, G, H…. and Z! Andrew Friedman likeS “Optionality!” In part, the Athletic states:
“The word is classic jargon. But at its core, it’s about leaving the club with as much versatility as possible. Typically, whenever Friedman explains this philosophy, he’ll include the words “flexible” and “nimble” in his response. It can sound like a mission statement: The Dodgers are not tied to any individual or one thing. That includes roster-building. After years of throwing their financial weight around with short-term, high-dollar deals for free agents, they’ve issued two deals over the last three seasons that will tie the Dodgers down for a half-decade or more: Mookie Betts inked a 12-year, $365 million deal after arriving in Los Angeles via trade in 2020, and Freddie Freeman signed a six-year, $162 million deal as the Dodgers emerged as a surprising landing spot for the former MVP’s services last March.
Those contracts help produced a 111-win club, one of historic regular-season significance as they challenged all-time marks in run differential and dominance. That club cratered in October.
Rather than immediately signal they would run it back, the Dodgers have shed nearly $100 million in payroll. They appear, as currently constructed, in line to shave off the highest chunk of their year-over-year figure as any team in baseball. Among those now hitting free agency are the club’s longest-tenured position player, Justin Turner, its most recent MVP winner in Cody Bellinger as well as some large contracts for David Price and Craig Kimbrel that were used to help manufacture this kind of payroll shift this winter.
In explaining this sudden drop in payroll this month, Friedman turned back to a familiar phrase.
“Typically, we like to have as much optionality as possible,” Friedman said.“
The Athletic doesn’t care if I do this occasionally because I am trying to get them new subscribers. The content is excellent (but I digress). Friedman is not going to make the market. He is going to be opportunistic with the market… and sometimes that means waiting until a Freddie Freeman falls into your lap!
Will Smith
Will Smith is a keeper. He has exceeded all expectations as a catcher and in my opinion, is one of the TOP FIVE Catchers in all of baseball, if not TOP THREE, but if he looks in the rear-view mirror, he will see Diego Cartaya and Dalton Rushing gaining ground. I mention them both because Rushing is LH, while Cartaya is RH. Cartaya is better behind the plate, while Rushing is a professional LH hitter… perfect as a backup catcher. Both could be ready later this year, but most likely, they will be ready in 2024. Now it seems unlikely that the Dodgers would utilize two rookie catchers, but stranger things have happened. Austin Barnes contract is also up at the end of 2024, so he could serve as a mentor to the new Dynamic Duo.
Wait, what about Will Smith? I would love to see the Dodgers extend him now… maybe offer a $100 Million/7 year contract to lock him up to age 33. Diego Cartaya is a generational talent and a prototypical catcher. I have always felt that Will Smith could play another position while serving as the Emergency Catcher. It would seem logical that he could play 3B or 2B and maybe LF. Imagine Smith not getting his body battered so much and then playing more games. He would be a 30 HR and 100 RBI guy all day long. Catching is very hard, and Will is not a Big Guy. It extracts a hard toll from him. I see a move for him in 2024… maybe sooner.
Tim Anderson
To some people , Tim Anderson is an angry young black man. I think Tim Anderson can be that at times, but he is not defined by that. What he is defined by is his desire to make baseball fun again and bring individualism back to the game. Tim says:
“I’m bringing something to baseball that’s never been brought, as far as the swag,” he says. “I love fashion, and just being different, and bringing black culture to baseball and doing it in a different way, because today’s game is boring. . . . [After the bat flip,] a lot of people who don’t watch baseball, they actually gave me feedback, like, ‘Man, if this is going on in baseball, I better watch it.” — SI.com
Tim Anderson is a guy who could make your team… or he could break your team! (By the way, the SI article above was written by Stephanie Apstein in 2109. It is an excellent read.) He could “make” the Dodgers team because he has the “right edge” in that the locker room needs an “edge guy,” and he could be the man who could also “break” it if he becomes all about himself and the narcissism associated with that. I think he has the right Edge, and he is all about helping disadvantaged black youth. He would more of a star in LA than in Chicago – he is made for Hollywood. The Dodgers need a guy like him!
He becomes a free agent after 2024 and is owed $26 Million over the next few years. He will be 31 after this contract, so maybe the Dodgers would try and lock him up through his age-35 season with an extension before a trade, although that would not be a deal-killer for me. What would it take to get Anderson? Well, the Dodgers have the personnel to do it, but I would think it starts with Gavin Lux and not much more. I know that Lux and Pepiot would be more than enough.
BTW, the Dodgers aren’t going to sign Kevin Kiermaier when James Outman is not that much of a step-down (maybe a step-up), but trading Lux would open up second base for Max Muncy or Mike Busch… or Mookie Betts, which could open up RF for a RH Power Bat. Know anyone? It’s a chance, but Tim Anderson on a team with Max Muncy, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Will Smith, and Clayton Kershaw, might just have that edge the Dodgers need to take them over the top in the post-season. At first, I did not like that trade suggestion, but after further review, I love it!
Discussion (19)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Duke let’s sweating the deal miller, Rushing, pepiot, and Bush Milwaukee adds Adamas
Locking up Will Smith long-term is a great idea.
But where does this notion that size adds to durability come from? The fact that Smith is not “a Big Guy” hardly seems like a liability.
Smith is listed at 5-10, 195 pounds, and Austin Barnes is the same height, a bit lighter. . They are both bigger than Yogi Berra. They are taller than Campanella was, and about ten pounds lighter. Pudge Rodriguez was 5-9, 205–and he was freaking great, and durable. (Years ago I found myself arguing with a friend that Pudge was better than Piazza because of his defense. But Pudge was no slouch with the bat, piling up over 2,800 hits.)
Anyway, that’s three HOFers who are roughly the same size as Will. Same ballpark, you might say.
Come to think of it, “squat” is a pretty common physical description for guys who do a lot of squatting.
I tend to think of Johnny Bench as the greatest ever. He was 6-1, about 200 pounds. Pretty big, but no giant…even if his hands were famously huge.
Flashback: 45 years back I shook the hand of two-time Olympic gold medalist wrestler from the old USSR. He was a heavyweight, about 6-3 and 240, I’d say. So a Big Guy. But his hands…. good Lord they were enormous.
Anyway, I wouldn’t move Smith from catcher unless Cartaya or whoever proves they are at least as good defensively.
The possibility that Smith could move to 3B or 2B could have Cartaya and Rushing sharing the catching duties. Maybe one could DH and we’d see all three in the same lineup.
But it’s more likely, I think, that one will be traded.
Miller + Rushing + ??? for Burnes, perhaps
Another thing stolen from Twitter and apropos of nothing, but being a cool stat:
Only 8 RP have recorded 10+ saves in each of the last three full seasons.
Edwin Diaz
Raisel Iglesias
Liam Hendriks
Kenley Jansen
Craig Kimbrel
Mark Melancon
Josh Hader
Ian Kennedy
If you go back five full seasons, the list drops to Diaz, Iglesias, Jansen, and Kimbrel.
What are the chances the Red Sox would be opened to trade Rafael Denver’s and how much would it cost us in prospects?
Couple of Dodger bites from Twitter:
Dodgers prospect news: RHPs Edgardo Henriquez and Carlos Duran both had Tommy John surgery recently. The two big, hard-throwing righthanders were among the Dodgers top pitching prospects at the Class A levels.
Fangraphs mentioned Dodger prospect Adolfo Ramirez as an R5 candidate, and with good reason. System K-BB% leaders, min 60 IP:
1. Emmet Sheehan – 26.9%
2. Gavin Stone – 25.0%
3. RAMIREZ – 24.3%
4. Nick Nastrini – 23.7%
5. Ronan Kopp – 23.1%
All you can do is hope they sneak by
Fleetwood Mac singer Christine McVie dead at the age of 79.
I wouldn’t be too sure that we’ll see either Cartaya or Rushing in 2024.
Cartaya spent part of last year at Rancho and 62 games at Great Lakes. He hasn’t even seen Tulsa yet and may not until mid 2023.
Rushing spent all of his time at Rancho last year.
Assuming that neither is traded, we may not see either of them until 2025.
If I was going to move Will Smith off catcher, I would definitely keep him in the infield and have Vargas play left field. Smith actually played some 3rd base in the minors.
I initially thought that MT’s suggestion of trading Lux and Pepiot for Anderson might be just the ticket to add that edge that the team could use. But, after checking Anderson’s stats and considering his “edge” qualities that could be a potential team chemistry killer I would pass. I would take Lux’s future play at either short or 2B straight up over Anderson. And, to consider Pepiot added to a trade? No thanks. I agree with dodgerpatch in that Lux gets minimal respect on this site. I’ve saying all season that leave him at 2B and let him develop as a consistent, everyday player. Will he be a star? I doubt it. But, who cares. Regardless what a prospect does in the minors if the Dodgers can get a solid, consistent player from each prospect then that’s a good thing. You know, like Gavin Lux. We have enough stars in Betts, Freeman, and Will Smith right now. And, maybe a fourth at SS as a FA this offseason. Three or four out of eight is a pretty good core. Maybe, in a year or two we can consider Gavin Lux in that group. That is if he isn’t traded…..
I’m glad MT brought up Will Smith’s future position situation. I was going to write something about his possible position switch today. There was some suggestions on where to play Vargas on a permanent basis and the spot was 3B. It sounded like the right move, but then I thought about where is Will Smith going to play after 2023.
With both Cartaya and/or Rushing being close to advancing to the Dodgers in 2024 so Will Smith needs a position. I thought 3B, but Vargas would be there. Mark’s suggestion of LF for Smith could be a good move. I think he is athletic enough to play the position. That would leave Vargas at 3B which should help with his transition into the league. The move should allow Smith to be more productive as a hitter and extend his career as Mark stated. He would be a definite extension candidate. I agree that $100M+ right now would be a good deal for both parties.
Verlander signing? Very interesting. The Bauer situation has possibly been resolved? I can’t see AF committing to another huge salary for a pitcher if he has to pay Bauer as well.
Carry on.
If the personality is toxic, then you definitely want to avoid. However, you have put forth quite a judgement on the young man, by labeling him toxic, all about himself, a complete jerk and a cancer. Interested in hearing how you arrived at that conclusion.
“and he could be the man who could also “break” it if he becomes all about himself and the narcissism associated with that.”
A hard NO on Tim Anderson for exactly this reason.
Ok, you want someone with the “edge” you’re talking about, if the said “edge” is an intense competitive drive focused on winning. Kirk Gibson flipping out on the shoe polish in his cap is a good example. Tim Anderson making baseball all about him and being a complete jerk in the process is NOT a good example.
The Dodgers have done an outstanding job of building a top to bottom organization with a winning and professional culture. You could make a valid argument that a certain intensity and sense of urgency is lacking under Doc’s leadership, but you don’t fix that by bringing in a potentially toxic personality. Those people absolutely can ruin an organizational culture. You fire those people, not hire them.
Disruption in an organization can be good. Witness Elon Musk and Twitter. Inserting a potential cancer is not the right kind of disruption.
And poor friggen Gavin Lux! I think EVERY trade scenario you’ve proposed in the last two years has involved getting rid of Lux at the first opportunity. You are absolutely desperate to get rid of that guy. He can’t catch a break.
Since there is currently a shortage of infield position players up the middle, you need Lux. By trading him for Anderson, you just created a hole to fill a hole.
MLBTR reports that both the D-Backs and the Padres have an interest in Bogaerts. Padres have a couple of pretty decent SS in Tatis and Kim, so I do not get that.
Mattingly got hired by the Blue Jays as their new bench coach. Rumors abound that the Phillies have now made signing Trea Turner their priority.
Tim Anderson is the type of guy you love when he is on your team but despise when he’s in the opposing dugout. He’s just one of those guys that plays with a lot of emotion. IMO, that could be a double edge sword though; hence, “the wild horse” Puig. However, I agree with Mark, the Dodgers could use some of that moxie in the dugout. On the flip side, it would be interesting to see the type of impact that an established star like Mookie and an experienced manager like Roberts can have on the younger Tim Anderson. I think a move like that could be a career defining move for a player like Anderson. Making it a potential win-win-win for Anderson, the Dodgers and MLB in general as the sport could certainly use another African American star. I’ve always been a fan of Anderson and would be ecstatic to see him in Dodger blue.
Busch or Muncy, at 2B, make the Dodgers better ????
Anderson is certainly an interesting possibility. The Dodgers often seem like a self-satisfied bunch that can use a jolt of emotion. They really didn’t seem to have much fight at the end, in part because AF gave them some of wrong fighters. Agree that ML talent like Lux might have to be offered.
So finally we have real Dodger news! The report is it that the Dodgers are bringing in Shelby Miller for the relief corps. Could be a great move if the coaching staff works some of its magic.
This is, of course, a season of speculation. Somebody out there suggested that Dodgers aren’t all-in for Judge and won’t spend big on SS because they are really gearing up for a run at Ohtani, now just a season away from free agency.
Works for me.
For $1.5 million I think that’s an excellent purchase. Danny Duffy, Jimmy Nelson and Tommy Kahnle cost the Dodgers approx. $ 8 million for 12.2 innings (Kahnle only) in 2022.
While you guys are arguing about our shortstop, Andrew just went out and signed Shelby Miller (pending physical) as this year’s bullpen reclamation project. It will be a major league contract.
Anderson’s first good year was his age 26 season. Lux had a better year last year in his age 24 season, than Anderson had as a 24 or 25 year old. Anderson also had 28, 20 and 26 errors in his age 24-26 seasons, so if you’re worried about Lux’s defense, you’re gonna love Anderson. Plus, he’s a grade A A-hole! I’ll pass and I bet Andrew will as well. This is a non-option. No story, especially if it costs them Lux.
Actually, The Athletic is charging 1.99 a month. I just signed up for a year. Dodgers met with Verlander yesterday, and according to sources, the meeting went well. Morosi is now saying he believes Verlander ends up a Dodger. You said Iran’s scooter players, I think you ride scooters ya don’t play em. Woke up to a blanket of white this morning. Winter is here. I would love to see Anderson here. You are right, it would probably take Lux and one of our young pitchers. But Lux would be elated being that much closer to home in Wisconsin.