I am going to be away for a few days as I travel to Reno to celebrate Christmas with my son, daughter in law, and granddaughter, and my grandson’s 15th birthday. Weather just did not permit it for Christmas. We think we have found a window where we can get there and back. We had to leave our winter vacation a couple of days early, but it is worth it. So I will be out for the next two days.
I was surprised to see that Tatsuya Imai signed with Houston. More important than me, MLBTR scored the chances of Imai signing with Houston as unlikely and less of a chance than the Dodgers signing him. Their reasons as to why it was unlikely was because Houston has made it clear that they want to stay under the luxury tax. The $18MM AAV of Imai brings them to less than $5MM of that level. They have 16 arbitration eligible players. That $5MM could get eaten up with miscalculations as to what the fair arbitration figures are. Plus, Imai should be able to make his first $3MM incentive by pitching 100 innings.
I am glad he signed in the AL rather than with SFG, Cubs, or Phillies where he could be more of a playoff problem for LAD. It is doubtful that Houston gets to the WS.
That is now two top Japanese FA who have signed underwhelming contracts, nowhere near what they were projected to sign. Kazuma Okamoto needs to sign before 2:00PM (PT) on Sunday. A 4th Japanese FA, Kona Takahashi, looks to headed back to Japan.
Bear posted a few trade scenarios from MLBTR, and I wanted to give my opinions as well. The two that seem to be able to make the biggest difference on the roster.
- LA trades Gavin Stone and Eduardo Quintero to the Guardians for Steven Kwan.
Stone is at least a mid-rotation pitcher for Cleveland, and OF Quintana is a top 100 prospect. IMO too much for 2 years of a singles hitting LF, even if he is GG. A corner OF, especially a LF better slug. Kwan has 649 hits, of which 489 are singles and 54 XBH. He is averaging around 50 RBIs per year. He does not strike out and he walks. Kwan has not started a game in CF since 2022, although he did play 1.0 inning in CF last year. He is not a CF.
Pass on this trade.
- LA trades Ben Casparius and Adam Serwinowski to the Astros for Bryan Abreu.
I see no reason for Houston to want to do this deal, but if they did, I would more than okay with Bryan Abreu in the LAD bullpen.
I have also read multiple comments on Luis Robert Jr. I for one have zero desire to trade valuable prospects for Robert Jr. He used to have a a high ceiling. For the last two years that has not been the case, and his defense is no longer stellar. The only full season where he excelled was 2023.
I have no idea what the Dodgers are going to do for the OF. I have no objection of trading a back end SP and top 100 prospect, but the return better be something closer to a sure thing. I know there is no such thing, but Robert Jr. is nowhere close to that.
Here is his statcast page for last year.
His 2024 statcast page is not any better.
It seems that there are better options to spend prospect capital on.
I’m ready for Bichette.
And I think they could trade for an OF as well.
No more relievers.
Enjoy your belated Christmas with the family, Jeff.
Add SD to the list of teams we should be glad did not sign Imai. In my opinion, they really need to add a couple of good starters.
With regard to Houston’s getting dangerously close to the luxury tax, nothing prevents them from trading someone to get back under. Anybody of interest on their roster that might help us? Jake Meyers? Paredes?
Only team I fear is Toronto in a WS rematch. And we might sign their best hitter. The rest can bite it.
ESPN MLB reporter Buster Olney was a guest on “First Up with Korolnek & Colaiacovo” on TSN 1050 Toronto on Friday. He talked about some of the top free agents, including Tucker. Olney said that he thought the Blue Jays have (perhaps unofficially) made the biggest offer to Tucker.
Olney said he thinks the Blue Jays will end up having offered Tucker the greatest amount of money in free agency. He feels Toronto will end up with either Bo Bichette or Kyle Tucker.
Let them have Tucker & we’ll take Bichette
Bingo.
Could Toronto sign both of them?
The Cease contract is for 210 million. Let’s say the floor for a Tucker contract is 300 million. That’s at least 510 million committed. The general consensus is that, with that much committed, Toronto couldn’t afford Bichette’s 200+ million. But Toronto, being just 2 outs away from a WS win might break the bank to win it all. We’ll find out soon enough.
& 2 inches
More like 2 millimeters.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Haha
Dodger Blue is reporting that the Dodgers still could sign one of the bigger free agents. Bellinger, Tucker, Bichette and Bregman are all still in play. Bichette could fill a need at second, and Tucker and Bellinger make the outfield better. Now, most want Tucker, I get that. But Bellinger is more versatile. He can play all three outfield positions with excellent defense, and he also is an excellent first baseman. The last three seasons he has cut his K rate way down. He has struck out less than 100 times all three seasons. He had a great season hitting in Yankee Stadium with 19 bombs and a .302. He is a good hitter at most NL West parks except San Francisco. Tucker is the better player for sure, but Cody is more versatile.
I lean toward a smaller payroll. That is probably why I didn’t like the Glasnow trade but I might not like the trade because I liked Pepiot, his youth, and the fact he represented promotion from within the Dodger system.
Glasnow and Hernandez and Scott are the three salaries I would like to swap for smaller ones. Maybe that won’t happen until the trade deadline and if so I don’t want to make payroll higher with big free agent signings.
I am willing to gamble if that is the right word with Stone, Ryan, and Sheehan being part of the core rotation should Glasnow be traded. Sasaki provides insurance and depth.
I don’t want to trade for a 30+ year old CFer.
Tucker is just 14 days shy of his 29th birthday. Bellinger is 30. Buxton is 32, Robert Jr. 28, Duran 29. 30 or older is about all that is available. No one is going to trade good young talent without some sort of big return. Even Kwan is 28 closing in on 29. If LA wants young outfielders, they will most likely have to look internally.
No interest in trading Glasnow.
Only reason woukd be salary dump and we don’t need that.
Boston’s not trading us Duran for him.
He’s one of the four aces.
Of the 3 you mention, Teo has the best chance of being moved. Scott is not going anywhere for this season at least. Glasnow either.
Thanks for the obvious. How about your thoughts on the Dodger payroll instead?
If they were at all concerned about the payroll, they would make a concerted effort to get under the luxury tax. They paid well over 150 million in penalties for this year. That is why they would have no issues adding Tucker or Bichette at whatever price they wanted. Not my money, so spend, sign Tucker and Bichette. Trade Teo, Glasnow to AL teams. Would work for me.
If Dodgers aren’t concerned with the payroll, why should you be? Dodger fans only fans in sports complaining that their team is spending too much money!
Amazing, isn’t it? They have complained all during this stretch of UNPRECEDENTED success in the regular season because they have only won 3 titles. But 3 in 6 years? That is pretty damn good.
Blue Jays sign Okamoto and presumably to play 3B moving Clement to 2B. Does that mean they’re not expecting to sign Bichette and/or Tucker?
That would be a huge sign that they have moved on.
Imai won’t have a chance to stick it to LA unless they meet in the World Series. His team will play the Dodgers just 9 times over the course of his contract.
The older I get the faster time speeds on by except the offseason. Every year it seems to take longer and longer.
Compared to NBA & NFL it’s glacial
Hurry and bring on March and with it a big bat also. In order to make my new favorite word threepeat more attainable. I’m ready already. Let’s do it once again.
I’ll settle for Feb. 11th
The Blue Jays are ruining baseball. I mean come on they’ve signed Cease, Ponce, Roger’s and now Okamoto. It’s like they want to win and it’s just not fair. Sarcasm intended!
I love it. And I love it more because Bo Bichette has been show the door by Toronto, and his best course of revenge is to come to LA (or of course NY/Boston/Baltimore in division).
He’s ours now if we want him and I really hope we want him.
Was he injured in 2024?
Kwan strikes me as Plan H for the outfield.
A- Tucker… Very expensive, but clearly the biggest upgrade.
B- Buxton… Injury prone, but his ’25 performance topped Tucker’s and was the best of his career.
C- Duran…. A good fit–but the Red Sox may be asking too much.
D- Abreu…. Ditto.
E- Belli…. Also expensive–but is he now an average player outside of Yankee Stadium?
F- Bader…. But reports suggest he wants at least a 3-year deal
G- Robert Jr…. High risk, but with 40 HR, all-star potential. A roll of the dice. .
H- Kwan…. Meh. I’d rather roll with a Ward/Call platoon.
A. It’s just money
B. Doubt it
C. My choice
D. Gold Glove in his prime. He works
E. Nope
F. Maybe.
G. Sure. But I also doubt it
H. Nice fit I suppose, but…
In my orbit Bichette now becomes Option #1 for the lineup. The outfield? I keep reading Edman in center. Not my choice. He can do it of course but I still see him in a Kiké role. And Kim? Also utility, but he could get more at bats and put up 3 WAR somewhere else. Where? You tell me.
Something is about to happen.
My guess……….Bichette a Dodger on a five-year deal with opt outs in years 1 and 3.
Go with Bader on a 3 year deal.
My wishlist: sign Bichette & trade for Duran.
Bichette & maybe a defensive-minded 4th OF option
Mine too Brooklyn.
I would jump for joy if acquired both Bichette and Duran. It’s debatable of course but I’m thinking that would make us the best team in history