Who do you believe?
Nobody! John Mozeliak, the GM of the St. Louis Cardinals, now says that the Cards are not trading Nolan Arenado… and maybe they aren’t. However, don’t believe anything any MLB baseball executive tells you. PERIOD! Nolan has five years and $144MM remaining on his contract and…
Nobody!
John Mozeliak, the GM of the St. Louis Cardinals, now says that the Cards are not trading Nolan Arenado… and maybe they aren’t. However, don’t believe anything any MLB baseball executive tells you. PERIOD! Nolan has five years and $144MM remaining on his contract and could likely have beaten that deal if he opted out of his contract… but he did not! Arenado and the Cardinals seem to have a good relationship, and he seems happy there.
What about him allegedly waiving his no-trade clause? The report on the talks with the Dodgers indicated he was willing to accept a deal only to the Dodgers, having always wanted to play for them as a Southern California native. But Arenado told reporters last night that he had not been approached about his clause. Who do you believe?
John Mozeliak is no greenhorn. He wants to make the Cardinals better. In order to do that, if he trades Arenado, he needs to make sure he gets a substantial return. Evidently, he does not like what the Dodgers offered, so the simple thing is to say, “We are not trading Aernado.” If the Dodgers want him bad enough, they will pony up. If not, then he is not on the market. Right about now, you can believe no one. In fact, don’t even believe this, but the teams are still talking! Just to be clear, I am not saying that the deal is happening; I am just saying that they are talking. It’s also possible the Dodgers will trade for Montgomery or Flaherty, but that could be last minute.
This and That
- The Dodgers were two-hit last night, but those two hits were Big Flies by Mad Max! Max Muncy should only play against RHP! Sorry, Max!
- Who wants to send Emmet Sheehan back to AAA now? Emmet was the “Flavor-of-the-Week to send back to OKC, but that all changed!
- The Phillies and Cardinals are allegedly discussing a Paul Goldschmidt deal. That makes too much sense!
- Miguel Vargas and Michael Busch were both 2-5 last night. They could still play a big role in this team’s quest for a title this year!
- Gavin Stone threw four innings, allowing two hits and 2 runs.
- Ken Giles is starting to strike out hitters. He struck out 3 in his inning last night. He also allowed two hits and 1 one run, but it is progress!
- Diego Cartaya hit his 13th HR – a 2-run Blast!
- River Ryan – 4 shutout innings with 6 K’s.
- Thayron Liranzo may soon pass Diego as the Dodgers’ #1 catching prospect. At RC, here are his stats: 236 AB/16 HR/45 RBI/.263 BA/.389 OB%/.923 OPS.
A couple more days of rumors, and then it’s over!
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Discussion (193)
Disagree, not disagreeable
So if they went for Jack Flarethy and Michael Lorezen and Barlow and didn’t add a right handed batter you think they would be contenders or behind the braves. Or if they add Verlander Pham and Flarethy they become leaders in the national league and jump over the Braves to get in the World Series. I think there going to look to add Verlander and a closer and keep the batter they have which we know how that goes 1 thru five in lineup tough but 6 thru 9 isnt a threat. I kind of think they use Taylor and minor leaguers to get a better right-handed hitter and a starter and closer. Tommorow rumors will be interesting is it Keller and Bednar from pirates and Tommy Pham from the Mets which is basically Peralta but he hits right handed
this could be the guys?????
One last thing before I put this to bed. There are no guarantees or sure things out there on the trade market who will guarantee you a trip to the World Series. There are players who will help, and some who might not. If you look at the Dodgers major deadline deals in the past, none got them the prize. Oh, they went to the Series in 17 and 18 after huge deals bringing first, Darvish, and then Machado the following year. Both of those guys crashed and burned in the World Series. Getting Verlander, or Bednar, would make them a better team, but not necessarily improve their odds of winning or even getting to the Series or the playoffs. Baseball is a team game. It takes all 26 men on the roster and even more coming up from the minors to help a team win. The Dodgers, considering their roster makeup and the injuries they have suffered are in a position no one expected. They are leading the west albeit by a hair. But this was supposed to be San Diegos year. Anything can and usually will happen in baseball. It is simply out of the fans hands.
Since the Dodgers are off tomorrow, they finish the month at 13-10. Considering how bad the starting pitching was, 6.18 ERA, the worst since 1944 when they posted a 7.31 in July. That is not a bad month. Their lead in the NL West is down to 2 as the Giants beat the Red Sox in extra’s. Next opponent is the A’s who come in with the worst record in the majors. Lance Lynn will be the starting pitcher against the hapless A’s who have lost 77 games already. Lynn is 5-2 in his career against Oakland. He has not faced the A’s this year. He also in his career is better at home than on the road. We will also know prior to the game starting if the Dodgers have made any other deals or player moves. For fans hoping for a impactful front of the rotation type pitcher, the waiting is the worst part. Coming away empty handed would make it even worse. Plan for now is that Kershaw could return as soon as the series in Arizona following the four games with the Padres. Grove is a prime candidate to be sent back to AAA. There is no real solution at AAA. Andriese is their winningest pitcher with a 8-5 record, but his ERA is over 5. Montgomery has the most experience as a starter, but he is still building up his innings. He has a 2.86 ERA in 9 games, 34.2 innings pitched. No, improvement is going to have to come from Urias, Gonsolin, Miller and Sheehan until they figure out who is who. Urias is key. He needs to get a whole lot better than he has been. Buehler will not be used out of the pen when and if he does return per Dave Roberts. He will be used as an opener going at least a couple innings to begin with.
Not always about the players the Dodgers might have who are considered better prospects. A lot of times, it comes down to who the team trading the veteran player covets the most. Hence, Montgomery and Stratton to the Rangers. I still expect at least one more starting pitcher picked up by the deadline. Two dark horse candidates would be Keller from the Pirates and Singer of the Royals.
Angels just traded with the Rockies and got two right handed hitters, CJ Cron and Randal Grichuk. They just lost Ward to the IL with face fractures.
Let’s go Dodgers misses out on Montgomery for two minor league guys who I never heard of really you telling me the dodgers didn’t have better players then those two guys the Rangers gave up. Must be Flarethy and Arenodo hmm would think cardinals would have wanted better unless they go after Verlander and mark Cahda thinking that his power off the bench and he can play third base and the outfield or dh. Or dodgers could look at Rodriguez from Detroit and think okay prospects but tigers don’t have any hitters that the dodgers would want. And now Bellinger staying with the cubs.
Today, both Vargas and Busch were 3-6 with 3 RBI each. Busch had 2 HR and Vargas had 1.
On the year:
Busch – .318 BA/1.028 OPS – 18 HR/66 RBI
Vargas – .317 BA/1.005 OPS – 4 HR/12 RBI
Who has the current longest hit streak on the team?
Verlander might still get traded, but Houston, who has been in contact with the Mets, want the Mets to pay a significant portion of his salary. And they are a little concerned about his vesting option for 25 should he hit 140 innings next season.
Dahl just hit his second homer of the game to put OKC on top 16-14 in the top of the 11th inning. Ward stole third base just prior to the homer. Yonny Hernandez on to pitch. Looks like OKC ran out of arms. Knack had a decent start, one run over four innings. He threw 79 pitches, walked four and had 5 K’s. Yonny gets the save! Gave up a run on a sac fly. Giles gets the win despite blowing the save. OKC wins 16-15. Busch and Vargas both now hitting .317.
Montgomery-Stratton to the Rangers. Texas adds two starting pitchers and a reliever that Bochy is familiar with from when he was a Padre. Giants-Red Sox tied into the 10th. JT hit a go-ahead 2 run homer in the 8th. Giants came back to tie the game. OKC in another slugfest with Reno. 14-11 in the 10th inning. Giles now pitching for the Dodgers. Busch has 2 homers on a 3-6 day. Vargas and Ward also homered. Vargas also 3-6. Ward, Vargas, Busch and Dahl all have driven in 3. Reno just tied the game on a three-run homer by Bliss off of Giles. Giles ERA now sits at 19.80. Giants win, now only 2 back of LA.
MushersPop posted this the other day. It didn’t get much attention at the time. it seems a little more relevant today doesn’t it? Or does it?
Open on www.si.comhttps://www.si.com/extra-mustard/2023/07/25/dodgers-michael-grove-forced-to-change-pants-by-umps-fans-reactThis was shown after his last start against the Blue Jays. Most of us ignored it, including myself . Seems a little more meaningful today though doesn’t it? Or does it?
JDM …? Will Smith…? When it rains it pours
Open on www.si.comhttps://www.si.com/extra-mustard/2023/07/25/dodgers-michael-grove-forced-to-change-pants-by-umps-fans-reactReally bad pitching performance by Grove. Of the 18 outs in six innings he worked, ten were by a strikeout yet he allowed eight earned runs.
I do like what AF and Gomes have done so far with the acquisitions of Lynn, Kelly, Hernandez and Rosario, but it does seem we are a bit heavy in the Swiss Army Knife type player with Rojas, CT3, Rosario and Hernandez. Would still like to see a true everyday OF who can hit both RHP and LHP and I’m very concerned we still don’t have enough SP. Was somewhat hoping for Montgomery from the Cardinals but he was acquired by the Blue Jays today.
I’m assuming any future trades will be with an emphasis on SP and RP (Verlander and Barlow) and I don’t think Arenado is going to happen. Team needs Mookie in the line-up to be competitive offensively. The three outcome offense of Muncy and CT3 is frustrating as hell. Will one of them be traded by Tuesday?
Lance Lynn save us!
Right now no way this is a WS championship team no matter who we pick up.
7 hits in last two games.
Peralta flunks as leadoff hitter
Mercifully, it is over!
Totally embarrassing
“Left hamstring tightness” for JDM.
Well, OK.
Still think the Dodgers need to shore up the catching position. Promoting Feduccia would be a start. With Barnes struggling so badly, Smith is probably the toughest player to replace in the current lineup…
Oh, an “elbow contusion” for Smith.
Come on up, Hunter!
Looks like Grove today was auditioning to be the new Bickford.
I still like Grove as the Long man in the bullpen.
The only thing I know to be true about the Arenado trade is that it’s a possibility until it isn’t. And the isn’t part doesn’t happen until Tuesday.
Austin Barnes comes through!
Not sure why he was put in for Smith and Taylor for JDM, unless Roberts has decided to give up on this game.
Or perhaps something else is afoot….
I could see the Dodgers dealing JDM for a third catcher if it’s a good one. Getting some insurance for Smith would be helpful, and the Dodgers can mix and match at DH with Smith, Muncy, Rosario….
A lot has been said about Doc but when you start three rookies for the better part of 6-7 weeks (as I recall), have CK on the IL for a month, a Julio Urias whose ERA is doubled what it was last year you really have to tip your cap to him for having the dodgers in first place through 103 games played.
Having said that, AF has to see the Dodgers do not have enough SP to make a deep run into the post season. Kids just lack the consistent put away stuff (sans Bobby Miller) experience and repeatable pitch execution to be consistently effective down the stretch and into a pressure packed post season. He has to get some additional SP. Who will it be?