I did a post last year where I talked about the Asian players who the Dodgers have signed over the years. A few of them had a very positive impact on the Dodgers’ fortunes. The two very first were Park from Korea and Nomo, the Dodgers’ first Japanese signing.
This year, there are two very good and very intriguing pitchers from Japan about to be posted. Yamamoto is supposed to be posted today, and Imanaga, sometime before the deadline to post players on the 5th of December.
There is also a Korean outfielder, Lee Jung-hoo, who is also generating a lot of interest. Just how aggressive the Dodgers might be in attempting to sign any of these players remains to be seen. Lee is 24, Yamamoto is 25. and Imanaga is 29.
Of those three, Yamamoto seems to be the catch. He also will probably, because of his age, get a contract longer than five years, and as we all know, AF does not like to give long-term deals to pitchers.
Imanaga might be a more realistic choice since he is A. a lefty, and B. at his age, he won’t get much more than four years, if that.
Lee is interesting because he is a contact hitter and plays excellent defense. The contact part is intriguing since so few MLB players are taught that type of style, although it might be coming back. The Dodgers did draft a contact first, hitting outfielder Kendall George.
It is extremely doubtful the Dodgers could sign both pitchers, but I could see them bringing in Imanaga and Lee.
Anyway, the next couple of weeks are going to be very interesting. I think the Dodgers will definitely be in on all three of these guys.
Discussion (17)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Yusniel Diaz signs a minor league deal with the Giants. Zaidi poaches his first exe Dodger of the winter. He is looking for more.
While waiting for something to happen, I’m feeling pretty good about mlb.com’s new Dodgers Top 30 Prospects.
The list includes five catchers–Rushing, Cartaya, Yeiner Fernandez, Thayron Liranzo and Feduccia. All seem to have major league potential, either as starters or backups.
Feduccia is ready now. Rushing and Cartaya are still a year away, and Fernandez and Liranzo are farther out.
Would the Dodgers be willing to deal Cartaya to get Cease or Burnes?
If not, why not?
Then you’ve never met my wife. Apart from marrying me she’s batting a thousand.
A lot better if your predictions on Vargas and Busch pan out!
Looking back on Adrian Beltre, I took a lot of heat because, in his rookie year, I said he would be a Hall-of-Famer. I was mocked unmercifully.
How do you like me now?
Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report expects the two-way star to sign a 10-year deal worth up to $520 million with LA.
It’s been reported that Yamamoto would like to sign with a team that has other Japanese players.
1. Ohtani will cost the Dodgers their first pick.
2. He will start the season at age 29 and finish it at age 30.
3. Mike Trout was Superman until his age 29-30 season.
4. Up until that season, Mike Trout averaged n145 games a season.
5. Since then, Trout has averaged 79 games a season (not counting the COVID year).
6. Players start breaking down in their 30s. There is no guarantee Ohtani will pitch again and he missed the last few weeks of last season with an oblique strain… and he left the team. Can you say Primadonna?
7. If I were AF, I would sign players who did not cost any player or draft collateral. Forget Cease and Burnes. Sign Yamamoto, Imagana, Gray, Montgomery, Hoskins, Hernandez, and players who do not cost prospects or draft picks. Hoard the rookies, keep all the arms.
8. There is no Ohtani in team!
9. Spend the money – save the prospects.
Sure wish he’d sign somewhere soon. All the rumors and perditions got old long ago
Seby Zavala and right-hander Carlos Vargas are headed to the Mariners in exchange for third baseman Eugenio Suarez
You better watch out
You better not cry
You better not pout
I’m telling you why (Why?)
Shohei Otani is comin’ to town,
I totally agree with Mark on Adrian Beltre. Really dumb and I believe the moneyball guy spent more money on other players after losing Beltre.
I tend to believe the rumors on Yamamoto and Ohtani. Part of that is talent and some has to do with the Dodgers new push to move into international marketing, sponsorship and advertising. Millions and millions of dollars in new revenue.
Maybe as high as a $100 million a year according to a Chicago Tribune story.
Just not seeing Adames. Why?
Rumors persist about Cease. I like that move.
What about Paxton? Decent LHSP who might want to pitch in a good org.
I don’t believe the Dodgers have any interest in signing Ohtani after he had his second surgery. Every article and rumor about a Dodgers-Ohtani deal, to me, is simply the Dodgers doing what they do best — driving up the price up for other teams.
Ohtani is a high-priced DH whose swing may be slightly compromised in 2024. He doesn’t play the field and we do not need another left handed bat. Ohtani’s upside of being a two-way player is contingent upon his surgery and recovery. The Dodgers already have too many pitchers on the recovery curve — Buehler, May, Gonsolin, not to mention Kershaw.
AF could sign Yamamoto, Imanaga, and Martinez as well as trading for Burnes and Adames (Busch, Rushing & others) and still have less money tied up than with Ohtani. Rojas goes to Milwaukee too.
Rotation:
Burnes
Yamamoto
Buehler
Miller
Imanaga
Pepiot
Sheehan
I would go with a six-man rotation for Yamamoto and Buehler’s sake.
Lineup:
1. Betts RF
2. Freeman 1B
3. Smith C
4. Martinez DH
5. Muncy 3B
6. Adames SS
7. Outman CF
8. Vargas LF
9. Lux 2B
I think RVS can help Adames a lot, too! In 2021, he hit 20 HR (striking out 25% of the time) with a .285 BA/.366 OB% and a .886 OPS. I also try to see what a player might become other than what WAS.
I also look for Vargas to breakout!
Probably easier to list the top free agents that the Dodgers aren’t in on! And AF loves it that way. Can’t wait to see if he has something totally out of the box this year. Some three team deal that we don’t see coming. If we don’t sign Ohtani, then we need some bats. Hopefully JD waits out Ohtani decision.
This falls into the category that the truth eventually comes out:
https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2023-11-21/adrian-beltre-baseball-hall-of-fame-ballot-2024-chase-utley-joe-mauer
Paul DePodesta, the biggest moron to ever be the Dodgers GM tried to spin the story that his offer was close to what Seattle offered Adrian Beltre. Beltre disputes that in yesterday’s article in the Times:
“Beltré told The Times in 2018 that he made a tactical mistake during negotiations with the Dodgers after his landmark 2004 season. He said the Dodgers offered him only a three-year contract for about half the $64 million he received from the Mariners over six years.
“It was a mistake on my part to show it too much, that I wanted to stay [with the Dodgers],” he said. “They wanted to use that against me in the negotiation … I wanted to stay there forever. But it didn’t happen.”
How much different would Dodgers’ history have been if Beltre had stayed?
Damn you, Paul DePodesta for depriving the Dodgers of a first ballet Hall-of-Famer!
The latest Dodger Rumors:
https://www.mlb.com/news/dodgers-rumors-latest-trades-and-signings
Make of it what you will…