Who Stays and Who Goes”?
There are thirteen pitchers who love Austin Barnes . He is an “on-the-field-pitching coach.” He is not going anywhere, so get that out of your mind. Hunter Feduccia, who happens to be LH, may or may not be a better hitter, and maybe his arm is slightly better, but he is no…
There are thirteen pitchers who love Austin Barnes. He is an “on-the-field-pitching coach.” He is not going anywhere, so get that out of your mind. Hunter Feduccia, who happens to be LH, may or may not be a better hitter, and maybe his arm is slightly better, but he is no Austin Barnes insofar as a receiver. Unless Barnes is injured, he is not going anywhere (did I mention that already?). Quit harping on Barnes! Just stop it… already! Disclaimer: All this goes out the window if Rushing is promoted to AAA.
So, I got that out of the way! That leaves seven more players who could stay or go:
- Miguel Rojas
- Chris Taylor
- Kike Hernandez
- Gavin Lux
- Andy Pages
- Miguel Vargas
- Jason Heyward
Let’s talk about who could stay or go, but before I get there, let’s not forget James Outman, who could very well come back in the second half of 2024. I am going to rank the order that players who could depart from this roster:
- Chris Taylor is a great guy, an awesome teammate, and a solid Dodger. However, his time is up. There is a 96% chance he will be gone.
- Andy Pages is the next most likely to be gone. It’s all about whether he can re-adjust. I hope he can, but we have to see. There is a 49% chance he will be gone.
- Miguel Vargas is untested, unproven, and untried. They have to give him an opportunity. It’s coming. There is a 40% chance he will be gone.
- Kike Hernandez is not likely to be traded, although if the Dodgers could get a good return, then it could be a possibility. I put it at less than 20%.
- Gavin Lux could be a part of a trade for a SS, but that seems unlikely dujring the season. There’s less than a 15% chance of that.
- Miguel Rojas won’t be traded UNLESS a contending team loses their SS and is willing to overpay. The chance of this happening is less than 10%.
- Jason Heyward is on the team unless he just totally tanks and can’t hit at all. The chance of that is less than 5%.
Note: The above highly scientific calculations were done through a process called WAG (Wild Ass Guessing). Chris Taylor is the most likely to go away and I think it should be sooner than later, so that we can see if Andre Lipcuis is for real or an illusion.
Bullpen Arms
Insofar as trading for a closer, there are just four words: It is not happening! Mason Miller will cost a boatloads and is a huge Tommy John Candidate. Andrew Friedman does not operate that way. The bullpen will be fine. Kyle Hurt should be back at some point. Clayton Kershaw will be back and push Stone to the Bullpen. Dustin May will probably be back. Ryan Brasiser will be back as will Brogden and you will need to keep an eye out for River Ryan. Don’t forget about Joe Kelly or the Bazooka. Bobby Miller is nearly ready as is Evan Phillips. Banda looks like he could be very promising and the jury is out on Yohan Ramirez. The Dodgers have a glut of excellent relievers so their is almost no chance they trade for a reliever… especially a significant one as other teams are lineup to overpay.
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Discussion (90)
Disagree, not disagreeable
1. These sound like changes for change’s sake. Marte will soon be 36. He has been in decline for two years.
2. Thomas is much younger, but (1) He can’t play CF, and (2) it is going to cost a lot more.
3. Bichette is worth a shot, as is Jansen, but I think it will take more to get him.
Is there really much buzz about a possible Taylor-for-Marte swap? Or is this just speculation?
Interesting idea.
In a vacuum, it makes a lot of sense. Marte’s OPS is hovering at a ho-hum .700, but Taylor’s is–yikes–.338.. I wanted the Dodgers to go after Marte a few seasons back.
But if I was running the Dodgers, I’d rather get a younger veteran on the rise than an overpriced 35-year-old in decline.
On the website there is an article saying Ohtani is throwin from 60 feet already.
It would help the Dodgers immensely if Ohtani would be able to play LF later in the season, say September.
Would open up more trade options for the Dodgers . Be it a pure DH or maybe 3b with MM moving to DH.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!1
I am going to wag it:
Taylor and a prospect traded to the mutts for Marte
Lux , Barnes , knack, outman, Bruns traded to the jays for Bichette and Jansen
Kike and a prospect traded to the nationals for lane Thomas
Pages sent down
Vargas , Rojas, Jansen, Heyward bench
Thomas, marte, teo of
Bullpen gets healthy
Doc says Muncy back soon. Muncy returns in August.
Lineup:
Betts 2b
Ohtani dh
Smith c. No more lefty openers
Freeman 1b
Bichette ss
Muncy 3b vs righties
Teo lf
Marte rf
Thomas cf
Glasnow, Yamamoto, miller, kershaw
Dodgers edge Yankees 4-2 in World Series! Ok dreaming certainly improbable but not impossible.
From The Athletic:
“I think it’s a lack of consistency of approach,” Roberts said. “We’re trying to cover too many parts of the zone, in my opinion, and we’re missing the fastball. I think that’s the crux.”
The fastball numbers track, as the Dodgers aren’t crushing hittable fastballs the way they have in years past.
“I don’t think we’re hitting the fastball very well right now,” Gavin Lux said of a figure repeated in hitter’s meetings this week. “You look at all the advanced stats, it’s no secret.”
That, Roberts said, is more on execution than game plans: “The execution part of it is harder. But having a plan and being consistent, that’s easy. It is. It really is.”
“The jury is out on Yohan Ramirez?”
They’ve returned the verdict and he is guilty of being a JAG. His outing on Friday should have resulted in a DFA with someone from MiLB brought up. I’ve seen enough to know he sucks and should never pitch in Dodger Blue again. We’ll see his DFA soon enough.
Victor Robles… anyone?
Diego Cartaya was 2-4 with 3 RBI as he brought his average up to .196.
Two of the runs vs B.Miller scored when a popup in the infield was dropped by a RC defender. His velo was right up there where it should be and had good movement too.
Phillpps looks ready to come back already.
Joendry Vargas went 4-6 with 7rbi yesterday. He will be at RC sooner than later.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!