Andrew Friedman on the Dodgers’ biggest need:
“Adding a position player. Ideally, someone who is really good on both sides of the ball. We feel good about something lining up, but may have to be a little patient.”
I sure would like the know the definition of good from AF. Good compared to whom? If a player had a negative DRS, does that disqualify him as good on the defensive side and thus disqualify him in the AF search? What is good offense? We know AF has usually preferred slug over bat to ball. Thus it makes sense that SLG would be rated over BA. Does he have an OPS floor that he looks for? An OPS+ floor? OBP floor?
The Dodgers are not the only team to follow that logic. Arizona had Nolan Arenado fall into their laps. Arenado needs to average less than .75 fWAR/year for the next two years to justify this deal. He was .9 last year. Jordan Lawler has yet to break into the Dbacks lineup, so Arenado should be considered an upgrade over Lawler,
The Giants have also been patient for a 2B to fall to them. With Bregman signed by the Cubs, the Giants are now aggressively pursuing Nico Hoerner who is from the Bay Area. Effectuate a trade for Hoerner and then extend him. They are also pursuing Brendan Donovan, and now that Arenado is traded, St. Louis can fully focus on the future. Does anyone not believe that SF will get either Hoerner or Donovan? I can envision Seattle getting one of those two as well.
The question will be, does SF have a farm system sufficient to get Hoerner or Donovan? Bryce Eldridge is not getting traded. Depending as to what Chicago or St. Louis is looking for (MLB ready or longer term prospect), they should have the players to make it happen.
SF has also not closed the door on Bichette. Is the feeling mutual?
Or the Dodgers can be like Boston who waited for Bregman to sign with them only to find out that the Cubs scooped him up under their noses. I do not blame Boston for not believing that Bregman had a better offer out there. Scott Boras is famous for getting teams to bid against themselves. Unfortunately for Boston, he wasn’t bluffing this time.
Does Boston have time to get back into the Bichette sweepstakes? I am not sure that Boston outbids Philadelphia here. With Don Mattingly now the Phillies bench coach, will that give Bichette more comfortable? Are will they overpay for Hoerner or Donovan?
If Tucker does not sign with Toronto, do they circle back to Bichette, or has that ship sailed?
Boston does have the prospect capital to entertain a deal for Hoerner or Donovan. By missing out on Bregman, that may necessitate a potential overpay in a trade. Chicago and St. Louis will force teams to be even more patient as they let teams outbid each other. Dodgers will not overpay…at least not on purpose just to get the deal done.
However, the Dodgers are in a better position than most (if not all) teams to make it happen. Their target would not necessarily be Hoerner or Donovan, but more along the lines of Jarren Duran. Boston says no, but then they also thought they had Bregman.
Or you can be patient like NYY has been with Cody Bellinger who believes he is worth a 7 years with a $36MM to $37MM AAV, instead of 5 years $150MM to $155MM. NYY offered. NYY should tell Belli to pound sand and pivot. Because all teams have been patient for the market to come to them, there are plenty of alternatives for NYY to gravitate to. They just added another SP (Ryan Weathers), giving up 4 low tiered MiLB prospects.
Supposedly Kyle Tucker will be signing this week. Per Jon Heyman, the Mets have offered Tucker a short term deal with a $50MM AAV. I would be very surprised if the Dodgers had anything in that range. Interesting that Tucker has never had a fWAR of 5, and the Mets are offering a contract that he is going to need to average 6.25 fWAR for the next three years to justify the contract. That is Steve Cohen money. Tucker makes them better, so forget the fWAR value. He can afford to miss financially if the team is improved.
We have not heaed what Toronto’s offer is, but it sure appears that it will be for a longer term with a lower AAV. IMO, it is going to come down to the security of a long term deal (Toronto) or a short term high AAV deal (NYM) and a chance to become a FA again. I no longer think the Dodgers will be in a position to “wait and be patient” for Tucker as he will probably sign elsewhere.
Looking at AF’s priorities for a position player, Andy Ibáñez had a +4 DRS at 3B, but his OPS and OPS+ do not even register as average. I do not think this fulfills AF’s priority needs. Thus, someone else? Hopefully he is not that patient that he misses on everyone. Or maybe he is finished and is comfortable with Hyeseong Kim at 2B, Muncy and Miggy Ro at 3B, Ward and Call in LF, and Teo in RF. With their pitching, they are pretty solid, and the betting favorite to get back to the WS.
“Or maybe he is finished and is comfortable with Hyeseong Kim at 2B, Muncy and Miggy Ro at 3B, Ward and Call in LF”
Maybe. But I don’t think so. I think they may be ok with Kim in the starting lineup, defense and speed, live with possible growing pains at the plate. But it’s my belief they will improve the outfield.
Agree. As much as I would love Ward to advance to the BIGS and be good, I just don’t see AF not improving the offensive side of the ball. Duran, Tucker, Bader, Bellinger, Kwan?
Yeah, there’s no way.
We all saw the 2025 team, with a full and operational rotation, struggle to keep up with Toronto’s offense.
We need at least one more bat.
Only one team scored more runs than the Dodgers last season…
Another bat would be nice, but it’s not a critical situation.
You may be right about this. The names at the top of the lineup are all future HOF players.
But questions do exist. If you peruse the projections for these guys, specifically BR and Fangraphs, of the top 6 in the lineup only Betts is projected to improve. Well maybe Teo too. Maybe.
Now I don’t know how accurate these projections sites are, (perhaps someone here can comment to that) and a small drop in those numbers may not make a huge difference in total runs scored, but it certainly could.
And let’s not forget how badly this offense struggled through stretches last year, including stretches in the playoffs. I think another steady bat in the lineup would be a very good idea.
I we stand pat at this point( which I don’t think will happen) we are already improved;
Bullpen better
SP. Same or better
C. Same
1b. ?
2b same or better
3b. better if Muncy stays healthy
SS. Better now that Mookie knows he position he
Should hit better
Lf. Better. Anything is an improvement over
Conforto
Cf. Better. Pages should improve
Rf. Better. Teo played through a groin injury
I hope Bichette and Tucker land with AL teams.
I would bet pushups on Bellinger NOT getting anything larger than 5/150.
“Tucker, who turns 29 on Saturday, surely would deepen the Mets’ lineup. He was a Gold Glove finalist in 2020 and ‘21 and a winner in ‘22. But he has since declined in right field, and according to Outs Above Average, was a worse defensive outfielder last season than Brandon Nimmo. By the same metric, the Mets’ current $51 million per year man, Juan Soto, was the worst defensive right fielder in the game.
If the Mets sign Tucker, either he or Soto will need to move from right to left field. Perhaps the Mets could get more defensively out of both, to the point where they are at least average. But Tucker would be a curious choice for a team supposedly hellbent on improving its defense. His low-key personality might not be an ideal fit for the New York market either.”
What is 4 WAR worth going into this year?
It appears it may be more than $8 million per.
Kyle Tucker like many, maybe even most, peaked from years 24-26 where he put up 4.9 WAR each year. Steamer has him at 3.7 WAR for the coming year, FGDC has him at 4.4 WAR. The point being going forward his numbers will be going backwards. The Mets want to pay him anywhere near $50 million I sat let ‘em.
Would anyone be shocked if Bo Bichette put up a better WAR over the next 3 years than Tucker?
If I had my choice, I’d sign Bichette over Tucker.
I agree on Bichette. But he is most likely going to sign with Philadelphia. Philadelphia has the $$$ and is not afraid to spend them. Don Mattingly is the new bench coach for Philadelphia and is VERY close to Bichette. He hit with Bichette every day last year. I believe Bichette is crediting Mattingly for getting him back on track after 2024.
The Yankees got Ryan Weathers from the Marlins for four prospects. Huh? Four prospects for a reliever and spot starter who had an ERA that was almost 4. His career ERA is 4.93. It was well over 5 when he was with the Padres. Saw photos of the new ballpark the Dodgers High A Ontario Tower Buzzers will play in. Nice looking facility. The Royals are moving their outfield fences in. They are also lowering them all the way around the ballpark. Only CF will remain as it has been. 410 feet.
Bregman signing now official. Miggy Ro plans to work in the Dodgers player development department after he retires.
Breaking news, Red Sox signing Ranger Suarez to a 5-year, 130-million-dollar deal.
There goes any chance of Emmet Sheehan going to Boston for Duran.
Do you think this move takes the Bosox out of the competition for any of the other big name hitters/FAs
Bregman was their guy, and they swung and missed there. I think they still covet Bichette, but are more likely to make a trade for an infielder. They were never in on Tucker. I think they are comfortable with Marcelo Mayer at 3B, but I am not sure they are comfortable with both Mayer at 3B and Romy Gonzalez or Kristian Campbell at 2B.
Boston will undoubtedly try to move Tristan Casas and Masataka Yoshida to get that infielder.
Eugenio Suarez is till availbale but I am not sure how many teams want to invest multiple years in him. Boston might be interested in one year with Mayer moving to 2B.
Those points all make sense thanks.
The New York Mets had reportedly offered outfielder Kyle Tucker a short-term deal worth $50 million annually. That may have changed.
According to SNY analyst Jim Duquette, the Mets have likely added a fourth year to their offer. Duquette also noted that the deal would likely have at least one opt-out and that team owner Steve Cohen has become involved in contract talks.
NO team can EVER count on getting to the World Series even once. It’s harder to do and to win that it has ever been and the Dodgers have done it twice already. We all hop the Dodgers get there and win but I’d not be surprised if they don’t or if they go deep into the playoffs I’d have to be pleased.
The core is still strong but one or more may display they’re heading into their decline. It’s only logical in that so many are over (or well over!) 30.
We all loved Cody as the ROY and the NL MVP but those days are well over. Tucker’s price is just too much and too long.
Shohei’s contract fooled many teams into thinking players were worth way more than they are. Even Shohei isn’t worth that much as a player but he is as an investment. But the Mets gave Soto mad money thinking that is the new cost of acquisition. But he isn’t an investment, and as a player he is nowhere near that valuable.