You Be The GM

As Dodger GM, I would build the roster with 3 priorities:

1. Be pitching dominant in 2024

2. Upgrade the left side of the infield through trade and/or cash

3. Use prospects (including Outman) to land a solid outfielder

I think Kershaw leaves, but I think we sign Julio to a 3-yr $40/yr deal with opt-outs, which means we get him for one more season. Behind Julio would May, Buehler, Gonsolin, Miller, and Pepio. As Ohtani and it’s lights out. Other young arms (Grove, Stone, et al) continue to develop , get called-up for breathers, and possibly bolster the bullpen.

We need an elite fielding shortstop and third-baseman. We’re not likely to find them at the same time, but we need to be ready to pounce.

High caliber, right-handed power hitting outfielders are rare and expensive. I still think there’s a chance to get Reynolds from Pittsburgh. Outman’s value may never be higher. We need to be bold.

Interesting breakdown of Gavin Stone’s delivery on Dodger Digest. His issues look to be mechanical. Good video from 2022 and 2023. Shows differences in his break point of his hands and release point of his fastball, change and curve. If he can fix this he might be a big plus down the stretch.

There really isn’t anything that is appealing in the trade market this year. Hopefully Hudson can come back and shore up the bullpen. Bring up more pitching prospect to see if their future is a Dodger. I hate to say it and many will disagree, but this is NOT our year to compete for a World Series Championship. Too many injuries to key components. I would personally not give up key prospects for a short run in the playoffs.

Off-topic (but something that probably affects trade needs) –

I’ll probably incur the wrath-of-Mark for opining this, ..but though I’m still bullish on Vargas’ future with the bat, I just don’t think that “future” arrives any time this season, ..but will by sometime next year. So his present batting stats will remain fairly constant for the rest of this year.

Someone needs to have a word with the .500 DiamondBacks as they are known around these parts!

I am going to jump on the bandwagon and say it is time to move on from Max Muncy. His hammer is no longer silver, it is pewter.

Bear, look what you did. What a great, simple opening question to solicit conversation.

This question brought out opinions from the Varsity.

With the Dodgers off today, I turn my attention to the Angels, who had a pretty spectacular 9-6 road win in 12 innings over the hot Rangers.

The headline is that Ohtani hit his 20th homer in the 12th. Then Tim Wallach’s son Chad added another 2-run HR. There was plenty of drama along with way, with good defense and a controversial call that the Halos overcame.

The victory improve the Angels’ record to 37-31, just a bit worse than the Dodgers’ 37-29. And the Angels have been performing with Trout having an off-season, down about 75 points off his usual OPS

The Angels’ success this season may have some lessons for the Dodgers. Like why don’t the Dodgers have anyone like Chad Wallach? He was called up when rookie Logan O’ Hoppe became injured and he’s been excellent. With Barnes struggling so badly, I hope Hunter Feduccia gets a shot. Obviously the brass doesn’t want to rush Cartaya.

But hey, how about that Ohtani guy?

He’s on a pace to his about 57 HRs.

Not bad for a pitcher.

I think a proven SP will be the Dodgers’ greatest need. They’ll have plenty of competition from other contenders.

Another bat and a proven RP can also help.

AF could be busy. I like the idea of moving Mookie to SS to make room for a strong righty bat for the OF.

There is so little talent from selling teams and the competition will be fierce for what little is out there. And AF isn’t much of an over payer. I don’t expect any real difference makers come the deadline. Health is a big issue and someone from the bottom of the order to hit better. Like one of our ROY’s! Can our bullpen pitch anywhere like last year?

IMO: We need a right handed hitting outfielder. I wouldn’t give a lot for him. A David Fresse, or some constant right handed hitter that’s approaching the end but can still put the bat on the ball. If not an outfielder then a pinch hitter in that mode like a Nellie Cruz (Padres would never make the trade. I don’t think we need a brasher.

Bullpens are like trying to figure out jr. high kids. Their minds can be eight places at once. Personally I like our bullpen although it isn’t getting the job done right now. I’ll be in the minority but our pitching staff isn’t bad if we can just get a few pieces back from the IR.

What I love about our organization is that it is built within. The Padres are figuring out that castles built in the sand fall into the sea eventually. Please don’t blow up our system for rentals. When some of our players age out in the minors our front office has been masterful of trading those players for young players to help our system. Right now we are lacking left handed pitching. We could replenish this with some of our tweeners (players that are good in the minors but aren’t getting it done in the show and are out of options.) Or have the years to be a minor league free agent.

Fun subject

Martinez and Freddie the early leaders at their positions in the All-Star voting. Mookie in the top 3 for NL outfielders. Smith trails Atlanta’s Murphy by a couple hundred thousand votes. Nobody else in the running so far. Kersh will be an All-Star again unless the unthinkable happens.

Some good stuff there. I believe the only way the Dodgers would ever trade Kershaw is if he requested them to do it. CK pretty much has carte blanche with the front office and ownership. But I am also pretty certain that CK, being the professional he is, he would rather play the season out. If they were to win the series, and that is a huge if, then he might just retire. And the reason I say that is because I am not completely sold that getting to certain plateaus and records are that important to him. I think his family and his faith are his most important things. He has voiced his opinion about the pride night, the team and the media know exactly how he feels.

“Kershaw is not happy with the Dodgers handling of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence situation. I think he will go to the Rangers next year and finish his career there.”

All we need is the sisters to visit Globe Life, (Dallas is blue enough), this summer to ensure Clayton doesn’t go there.

I commented about a month ago that I would like to see AF get Luis Robert Jr. Don’t know if Chicago would tear it down that far. They’re only 4.5 games out of the central and might not be sellers.

If any moves are made I can see it for a couple under the radar relievers like Martin last year. Also maybe a #3 or 4 starter to eat innings.

Not sure any moves will be made I think the hope is to get healthy. I’m doubtful May or Buehler makes it back as a starter this year. Hudson, Nelson and Feyereisen healthy should help out the bullpen.

A healthy Pepiot and Urias would round out the rotation. DeLuca hitting lefties would help a lot. Better production from Rojas, Vargas and Outman would go along way for a playoff push. I like this year is a transition year, but I still believe this is a playoff team.

On Kershaw I always thought he would be back in 2024 to get 3000 strikeouts and be back in 2025 to pass Sutton for most wins as a Dodger. Now I’m not so sure after the pride night stuff.

Pitching, one good #3 or # 4 pitcher and a real closer. Don´t forget a Manager. Let Thor go. Go Dodgers.!!!!

Sign Urias.

Kershaw is not happy with the Dodgers handling of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence situation. I think he will go to the Rangers next year and finish his career there. Hope I am wrong.

May is done for the year.

Bobby Miller is the real deal and he knows it. Interested in how he will do when he goes around the league in the next few months. I believe he may initially struggle; however, he will adjust.

Hopefully, Friedman can make some moves to strengthen bullpen.

Dodgers will win what is not a strong division

Interesting takes here.

If we conceded that this was a transitional year and that things have subsequently gone against us, and the likelihood of success this year is remote and therefore decided to cash in some chips – who would we trade and what could we expect back?

Julio – FA after the season’s end would fetch a good haul of Prospects. He’s an Ace or thereabouts on most teams.

Kershaw – lots of Playoff experience – would get us a decent Prospect

JDM – having a great season -would certainly get a decent return.

Muncy – another year left but Dodgers might think it prudent to cash in – certainly would have his suitors with his lengthy history of post season success.(this one’s for you Bums).

Heyward – better than advertised – someone might want his experience off the bench.

Could we package CT3 with someone as a salary dump?

Not sure if there’s any Relievers who are on one year deals, or that others might deem a good pick up?

In the case’s of Julio, Clayton and JDM, we could sign them all back at the season’s end (with Cody)!

Imagine the Farm System which is already stacked, with the returns for the above?

Plus there’s a ton of money coming off the books next year which means we could look at the top of the FA market?

Not saying it’s what will happen, but it must be worth considering?

Honestly, I don’t think we have a chance to win the NLCS without two more quality starters and two more quality bull pen guys.

Why do I say that?

Easy….

DMay…. I’m not counting on seeing him at all in 2023 ….see you in 2024, if you’re lucky.

TGonsolin…..I don’t think he can sustain good health that long, so I expect him to be sidelined for the stretch run

Grove….not a chance

BMiller…..,I’m concerned that his arm won’t be able to take the mileage that will be asked of him. So yeah, I expect he will be iffy for the stretch run too.

JUrias…..I do expect him back, especially because he is playing for his next contract

CKershaw….based on his recent history, one could make a good case that he too will be sidelined at some point, but for how long is another question…but maybe not

Thor…..may this name be stricken from LADT dialog beginning now

Conclusion:

The way I see it, we can probably count on Urias and Kershaw, and maybe Miller. Imdont think that is enough, especially if one of those three drops out for good.

No need for me to analyze the bullpen for now….this has been too lengthy already.

I don’t know what will happen at the Trade Deadline. Some great comments here that are thought provoking, especially Jayne Cobb’s.

I personally don’t expect much action from the Dodgers. I think AF is biding him time and won’t do anything crazy in this year of transition. He sort of mapped this course in the off season and I don’t predict a change from that now. I think we will see lots of moves in the off-season and nothin much this year unless something falls into his lap. I’m still good with that. We aren’t going to rebuild a team at the deadline. We need to get guys healthy, hope the kids take advantage of their opportunities and the bottom of the order to play better offensively. At least get the ball in play and improve situational hitting.

So I was looking at the difference between 2022 and 111 wins and now. I’m just going to post this and you can draw your own conclusions:

Name / 2022 stats / 2023 stats

Alex Reyes – missed 2022 / 60 day IL, out for 2023

Blake Treinen – 1.80 / out for the season

Daniel Hudson – 2.22 / out for the season

Jimmy Nelson – missed 2022 / 60 day IL

J.P. Feyereisen – 0.00 ERA Tampa Bay / 60 day IL

Tyler Anderson – 2.57 / gone to Angels

Andrew Heaney – 3.10 / gone to Texas

Chris Martin – 1.46 / gone to Boston

Tommy Kahnle – 2.84 / gone to NYY

Adam Kolarek – 4.58 @ Oakland /just called up from AAA

Urias – 2.16 / 15 day IL

Buehler – 4.2 / 60 day IL (out until Aug – Sept at least)

May – 4.5 / 60 day IL (out until Aug – Sept at least)

Stone – MiLB / 14.40

Pepiot – 3.47 / 60 day IL

Bickford – 4.7 / 7.33 & 15 day IL

Fergie – 1.82 / 3.91

Andre Jackson – 1.86 / 6.62, just sent to AAA

Vesia – 2.15 / 6.61

Graterol – 3.26 / 1.95 (finally someone who improved)

Way too early to make a suggestion what should happen by the trade deadline.

Depends on health and where we are in the standings.

Suppose both May and Urias will not return or not return in due time and we fall farther behind in the standings.

Would you consider selling instead of buying ? A lot can happen in the next 6 weeks for the better or worse.

Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have to dive back into a decade or more ago since the Dodgers had this many issues in their pitching staff. Pitching depth has always been a priority and it has shown this year.

If you had told me before ST that Thor would completely implode. That the Dodgers would have Lux, May, Utias, Pepiot and Buehler out for the season or significant amount of time… AND that are best bullpen arms from last year would have ERAs in the 6:00+ range…….yet somehow we would still be 8 games over .500 and just 3.5 out of first and 5+ games ahead of the padres?? I would have laughed.

Our pitching depth has kept this from becoming a total disaster of a season. Train wreck level disaster.

We have been accustom to being at or near the top in team ERA for years. We are now simply average. Giving up almost 2 more runs a game than last year. But given the issues we have had, average is pretty impressive.

We lost Trea and Justin Turner. Lux for the season. And replaced them with JD , Miguel Rojas and a Jason Heyward we the whole of the MLB had written off. Yet, our offense has actually improved over last year. I wouldn’t have believed that either.

Somehow we’ve managed to cobble together a team every game that has kept the Dodgers right in the hunt. That, when taking a step back, is quite impressive. But I agree that AF will make some moves before the deadline. I agree with Bear, it won’t be a top of the rotation arm but likely back of the rotation. And I think he will add a bullpen piece. Likely an inning eater, or maybe two. High leverage arms cost a fortune in a trade and are anything but a sure thing.

And I don’t expect we will make many moves on offense. The available talent is likely going to so thin that landing anybody better than the options we have internally will require a massive overpay.

So aside from a couple moves to improve pitching depth, I think the Dodgers will look to stand pat on the offensive side. Hope that Outman improves. That Vargas gets hot (he has to at some point) and Heyward continues to be a solid productive outfielder. And that Muncy gets hot again (at the right time). I have a love hate with Muncy. He’s either the best power hitter in baseball or statue with a bat. When he’s cold it is painful to watch.

I think it’s very likely that we limp our way into the playoffs. After that anything can happen. And if we get more healthy, we could still win the division. Given all the issues, we’re lucky we are where we are. Just get into the playoffs. If we have Kersh, Urias and any other of our starters healthy… we have as good a chance as any, given the new playoff structure.

I look forward to reading Bradley’s GM moves…

Just peak at the right time. We don’t have to win 112 games to win it all….

Myself, I believe AF should have addressed some of the issues with this team during the winter. Of course his bullpen has been a huge disappointment. But the injuries to the starters have not helped much. The 8 are now 2. I think Grove has a long way to go before I would consider him a viable piece of the rotation. May might be back, and then again he might not pitch again until late in 24. Urias, even before the injury was not very consistent. Syndergaard is a disaster. Gonsolin, an injury waiting to happen. Good news is that he pitches well at Dodger Stadium. If they trade for a starter, I do not believe they will get a top of the rotation guy. They might even get someone who is struggling. Forget Ohtani, with the Angels still in contention, he is not going anywhere.