Why Freddie Freeman Won't be a Dodger

There is no denying that Freddie Freeman is one of the best players in baseball. He is a stone-cold hitter and would really help the Dodgers, this year… but at what cost? Freddie Freeman will be 33 this season. Do you really want him blocking 22-year-old Miguel Vargas who really could be ready later this year, but who really needs to play 1B in the majors? The Dodgers have put Miguel on a “fast-track” because he has the advanced bat-to-ball skills to handle the challenge. He understands his right-handed swing mechanics, controls the strike zone, and uses the entire field. Vargas lacks speed and quick-twitch athleticism… kind of like the other Miguel… Cabrera. If he plays 3B, he will be a below-average defender, but at 1B he would be solid.

I think Andrew Friedman is just driving up the price the Braves have to pay for Freeman. It really makes NO SENSE for the Dodgers to sign him with prospects like Vargas, Busch, and Pages waiting in the wings. You have to look at the team you have and what it will look like a year or two down the road. Here’s what I think the team will look like in the future:

2023

1. Lux SS
2. Betts RF
3. Smith C
4. Muncy 2B
5. Bellinger CF
6. Vargas 1B
7. Busch DH
8. Pages LF
9. Rios 3B

2024

1. Lux SS
2. Betts RF
3. Smith 3B
4. Muncy 2B
5. Vargas 1B
6. Bellinger CF
7. Cartaya C
8. Pages LF
9. Busch DH

Of course, Wilman Diaz, Kody Hoese, Luis Rodriguez, Eddys Leonard, Jose Ramos, Jorbit Vivas, and others could have a say in that as well. Andrew Friedman knows that to keep building a sustainable winner, you just can’t keep signing free agents like they are going out of style. You have to keep dipping into the system. That’s a big reason why Freddie Freeman will not be a Dodger. Well, that and his $30 million dollar salary will result in a CBT Payment of about $30 Million over and above his salary.

BTW, did you know that Max Muncy had a higher WAR than Freddie Freeman last year? Just sayin’…

No to Nelson Cruz & Joe Kelly

He did well the first half of 2021 playing in the Twins Launching Pad but tanked when he went to Tampa Bay. He’s like Albert…. just too old. He has been in the AL all his career and may struggle in 2022 if he comes to the NL. It’s a hard “no” to me. With the Twin last season, he had a .903 OPS and was then traded to the Rays for the second half of the season, where his OPS was .725. Gavin Lux’s OPS was .773 in the second half. HARD NO!

I liked Joe Kelly… but not at $17 million guaranteed. I thought he might get a 1-year deal at $5 to 6 Million. Good Luck, Machine Gun! Craig Kimbrel is on the market… I’d rather have Kenley than Kimbrel! In fact, I do believe the Dodgers will try and sign Jansen and I know he wants to be a Dodger.

The Past is not Always the Future

Last year, we saw a few minor leaguers from the Dodger farm system. Unfortunately, most of them did not make a great impression. Let’s take a quick look at them:

• Luke Raley – The outfielder hot .182 in 66 AB’s. That’s avery small sampling, but he was never expected to be anything but a 5th outfielder. He could do it in 2022 or he could traded or released.
• Zach McKinstry – he started out well, got hurt and ws never the same. He hit .215 in 158 AB’s. Never expected to be more than a utilityman, he could be on the team, traded or released.
• Sheldon Neuse – Technically, he was released, but I think he is in the organization. He hit .169 in 65 AB’s. Nothing to see here, folks… move along.
• Justin Bruihl – A LH specialist, he posted a solid 2.89 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP. He stands to make the team in 2022.
• Mitch White – He was up and down more than a Duncan Yo-Yo, but his 1.18 WHIP belies his 3.66 ERA. He has a shot.
• Evan Phillips – A late-season pickup, he has some very overpowering stuff.
• Garrett Cleavinger – He looked lost at times and lights-out at other times. I think this power lefthander could be a high-leverage reliever in 2022.
• Darien Nunez – His 8.22 ERA in 7.2 innings dos not match his 1.57 WHIP. He has filthy stuff… the only question is can he harness it?

Of course, most of the abovementioned players will not make it, but there will be surprises. One player who did not pitch much, but whom I think will make a major impact is Victor Gonzalez! Michael Grove will start the season in the minors but he is being converted into a reliever and he has a live arm. These players are just-in-case-they-need-them players. You don’t count on them, but some will surprise you. We knew about Justin Bruihl last year, but who thought he would come up and put up a 2.89 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP?

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