While Hyeseong Kim was not the impetus for my next forthcoming post, he is prominent. But for this post, I wanted to touch on Diego Cartaya. As mentioned by many on Friday, Cartaya was DFA. The Dodgers have 7 days from DFA to trade him or waive him. I am guessing that the Dodgers exhausted their efforts to trade him without the DFA.
This was both a surprise and expected at the same time for me. Everyone knew that it made no sense to carry three catchers at the AAA level, and get all of them meaningful time behind the dish. Brandon Gomes said the Dodgers were going to accentuate Dalton Rushing’s catching this year. Hunter Feduccia has already established that he can be a productive MLB backup catcher. That left Cartaya as the odd man out. He is only 23, and has been a consensus top 20 overall prospect. MLB Pipeline – #14; Baseball America – #18; Baseball Prospectus – #19.
Another factor for the Dodgers actions is that once Diego was optioned in 2025, he would be out of options. He is going to need to stick with a MLB team by 2026 or be subject to being released. The Dodgers did it a year early. That will be the same concern for any team signing him to a MLB contract, which I sincerely hope he does.
I know many out there consider me a negative nelly with respect to prospects. I consider myself more cautious with expectations. Those expectations come with a dose of reality. I think everyone knows that I believe the Dodgers are devoid of elite non-pitching talent but have a plethora of options for platoon/depth position players.
With the signing of Teoscar Hernández (last year), Jason Heyward, Michael Conforto, Hyeseong Kim, I think it shows AF/BG prefer the veteran to the unknown of the prospect. Gavin Lux, Andy Pages, James Outman would probably be a regular for many MLB teams, but are depth platoon players for the Dodgers.
The Dodgers do not have the luxury of waiting for a prospect to become established at MLB. Other teams like KC and Pittsburgh have that luxury.
MJ Melendez is the regular LF for KC. He has a career slash line of .221/.303/.397/.700 at the MLB level. Not much of a line for a corner OF. Would this be acceptable for the Dalton Rushing fans? However, before being moved to the OF, like Rushing, Melendez was a one of highest regarded catcher prospects in all of MiLB. Of course having Salvy Perez as the regular starting catcher had a lot to do with getting moved to the OF. In 2021 in MiLB, Melendez batted .288/.386/.625/1.011 (531 PA), with his AAA numbers of .293/.413/.620/1.033 (184 PA). He had 41 HRs for the season, with 13 at AAA. In 2022 (at 23), he was promoted to the Big League Club, but in three years has not come close to putting up those 2021 numbers. His HR totals for the three years are 18, 16, 17.
KC has had the luxury of waiting for these type of players to click at the MLB level. They are doing the same with Vinnie Pasquantino. The Dodgers do not have that level of patience.
Another highly regarded catching prospect moved to the OF to get his bat into the game is Dalton Rushing’s teammate and predecessor at catcher for Louisville, the Pirates’ Henry Davis. Davis was the first overall pick in the 2021 draft. As a 23 year old, he was first brought to MLB in June 2023 as a RF. He certainly did not establish himself as a fixture in MLB. In 255 PA, Davis hit .213/.302/.351/.653. For most fans that is grounds for immediate DFA. For Pittsburgh, it was sufficient to start 2024 with the MLB team. In 102 PA, Davis hit .153/.267/.235/.503, and was dispatched to AAA after June 14.
At AAA, Davis again showed why he was highly regarded by hitting .307/.401/.555/.956 in 254 PA. He was recalled August 26 where he had 2 singles in 19 AB the rest of the season. A forgettable MLB season for Davis. Davis will probably find himself fighting for a position on the 26 man roster this ST. I am sure Pittsburgh is hoping that he turns the corner to be considered a regular everyday OF. It will not be as a catcher, with Joey Bart finally established at the MLB level.
Teams like the Pirates can afford to wait for players like Jack Suwinski to finally blossom with on the job training at MLB. The Dodgers? No. Heck, the Dodgers did not give Gavin Lux ST to establish his bona fides as a MLB SS. At best Pages is now a 4th OF after putting up decent numbers last year, and with a couple of WS HRs to boot. After being #3 in ROY in 2023, James Outman is fighting for a job.
With the exodus of Diego Cartaya, Rushing will get a healthy dose of catching at AAA, with Hunter Feduccia. Rushing will also get OF time and DH time. Feduccia will also get DH time. Just in case, OKC should have a 3rd catcher in reserve. Griffin Lockwood-Powell has moved from catcher/1B to almost exclusive 1B. I no longer believe that Rushing will be traded this winter.
That being said, I ask the question again, why are so many out there so eager to accept Dalton Rushing will hit MLB pitching? He is only a year removed from having questions about his ability to hit higher velo. MiLB velo is not nearly the same as MLB velo in terms of both velo and movement. MLB is SOOOO much harder than MiLB, especially in a very hitter friendly league like the PCL.
I hope Rushing goes off this year, but the LAD front office has spoken. They do not believe that as a WS contender, that Dalton Rushing is preferred to Michael Conforto on the Dodgers roster. And they also do not like their prospects sitting on a bench in a platoon/reserve role, when there veterans available to do just that. LAD prefers their prospects to get steady AB in MiLB. That system has worked very well for the Dodgers, and I expect it will continue this year.
I also hope that Diego Cartaya lands on his feet and establishes himself as the prospect many expected of him.
Only three seasons ago I was reading that young Diego Cartaya, then catching at Rancho Cucamonga, was a sure thing with a winning personality that could make him a future “face of the franchise.”
He was a Salvador Perez-type whose talent would push Will Smith over to third base. He’d bat ahead of Smith in the middle of the order, knocking all-star Miguel Vargas in with regularity.
Cartaya and Vargas used to be rated 1-2 among Dodger prospects. Now we know that un-hyped guys like Luke Raley and Zach McKinstry will have longer ML careers.
I will be shocked if Rushing’s bat plays up to the Dodger’s standard in the OF. 800 OPS. I think he’s a back up catcher to Smith next year
So much variance in every prospect.
So much unknown in everything.
If the Dodgers win only another championship in the next 3 years, would that be considered a success or a failure? I guess winning 2 out of 3 would be wonderful, let alone winning 3 out of 3…. I ask because there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t read that they’re the best team and the best management and the best players and the best fans and one of the best stadiums…. Someone mentioned that if they don’t win another ring, they’ll be worse than the Braves.
IMHO it would be a resounding success. That would give us 3 WS titles in 7 years.
That is borderline dynasty. Especially in these days of the new playoff format.
How could that be worse than the Braves of the 90s ?
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It’s already a success.
Winning the championship is so fucking hard.
Whomever said that about the contrast with the Braves is a dingbat.
So is whoever uses “whomever” as a subject 😉
/unsubscribe
It would be considered a resounding success in by book. Winning the 2025 WS and going back to back would be the ultimate success. It would put us in historic territory.
I have always felt that prospects are suspects until they prove they are not. AAA is not MLB.
Agree. Still surprised they DFA Cartaya for Kim.
KBA numbers have to be taken with a grain of salt. Many believe the playing level over there is AAA at the very best.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Prospects are like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.
And they can kill dogs.
“I know many out there consider me a negative nelly with respect to prospects.”
I don’t. I accept your take on prospects as well researched.
“I think everyone knows that I believe the Dodgers are devoid of elite non-pitching talent”
Me too. And I’ve said as much several times. There will be one or two that will be promoted to the Dodgers varsity squad, the rest are trade bait.
I don’t see Rushing as an outfielder. I’m with Cassidy on this one. Leave him behind the plate, do those drills that speed up his bat and put him in as backup catcher in ‘26.
I still believe Pages could be a decent everyday outfielder. If not here, maybe with the White Sox.
I await two significant moves then ST. Especially ST. Winter sucks.
I have liked the idea of adding a rookie a year to the lineup as long as the other 8 could carry the offense while the rookie developed. I admit adding one a year would be difficult and at best might only be doable every other year.
I think the Dodgers signed Conforto as insurance against not signing Hernandez.
I think the Dodgers signed Kim in an effort to get younger and better prepared to not have Muncy in 2026. Kim will get enough time to see what he can do before he becomes a regular if he ever does.
I think the Dodgers may add a reliever and be done which probably puts Outman and Pages in OK and Kim, Taylor, Barnes, and Rojas on the bench.
I think Gonsolin and May will be stretched out in Spring Training but most likely spend most of their time in relief during the season and if so, I don’t think the Dodgers should spend on Scott.
I don’t know, but I suspect Kim will be the best shortstop on the team, followed closely by a 36 year old Miguel Rojas.
“I think the Dodgers signed Kim in an effort to get younger and better prepared to not have Muncy in 2026. “
I don’t see Muncy and Kim having any connection at all. Kim will never be the Dodger third baseman (and neither will Mookie).
I think they signed Kim in an effort to get younger and better prepared to not have CT3 in 2026, and also to give them a better possibility of trading Lux if that is what they decide to do at some point.
As I recall, they have a $10MM team option on Max for 2026 and I’m thinking the odds of their picking that up are about 60-40 in favor.
Timing should be perfect in 2027 for Jake Gelof to take over at third and hit about .180 before they realize he probably isn’t the answer.
Mostly a good alternative except for the use of “never”. A good way to pass a quiz when not prepared is to reject answers that include always and never.
Kim can play third but I think Betts is moving to third no later than 2026. Kim, Edman, Lux can be or have been gold glove second basemen and Betts arm makes the better alternative for third. It keeps him in the infield where he wants to play and it is a better position for a big hitter moving into the later years of a career.
I should have included Taylor in regards to Kim making the Dodgers younger next year but Max, Taylor, Barnes, and Rojas need to make room for Kim, Edman, Freeland, Lux, Outman, Rushing, and Pages to get the Dodgers younger. Do it while Betts and Freeman and Smith, and Ohtani, and Hernandez can carry an offense.
Blue, I think you like Max more than I liked Joc.
Not sure about your last statement. Could be, but more likely I just like to argue with you.
I’m going to say this again, though. Mookie will never, I repeat never become the regular 3rd baseman of the Dodgers. I’ll be happy to eat crow (or some other bird like chicken or turkey) if I’m proven wrong.
Crows are smart birds. Eat them. Start looking for recipes. You’ll be eating sooner than you think.
I’d enjoy watching Outman more than Muncy.
So is the infield going to be Muncy Kim Betts Freeman Smith and Rojas Kike the backups once they trade Lux Outman And Chris Taylor I heard tslk the Philies woukd take luc tsylor outman for Bhrom to play thirdbase then that would move muncy to second and Betts to short and you still have Edman in centerfield sure sounds like a team where slmost rvery nute you could have a different lineup of players with all those guys that can play seversl positions the only set guys are Freeman and smith.
Kike is not coming back. Bank on it. Where did you read that the Phillies would want Lux, Taylor and Outman for Bohm. Betts is the starting SS. That was announced shortly after the World Serie with Lux being handed the second base job. They do not need Lux; Stott is their second baseman. Sosa is their super utility player and much cheaper than Taylor. Outman is the only guy they might want since neither of their CFs are offensive threats. You are dead wrong about everyday players. Teo, Betts, Freddie, Muncy and Ohtani and Edman will be in there 90% of the time.
Dodgers should trade Chris Taylor James Outman and Lux they be better off with bringing back Kike on the team and Daulton Rushing and Andy Pages I would take those three and trade those other three to Seattle or the Angels or Pirates or the Phillies. Why does everyone want Christ Taylor or Lux when they have Betts Muncny Edman Freeman and Rojas and now Kim would kike make most since to play outfield or infield if someone gets hurt over having Taylor play and his swing for the fences everytime he is up to bat.
Dear STB,
Now this (this!) is offensive usage / grammar.
Have to admit the HKim signing caught me by surprise. Seems like a low risk signing. I wish the Dodgers would just move on from Taylor. I was also hoping the Dodgers would bring Kike back.
Jeff,
Since you are closer to the mindset of a MLB player than anyone else here, I have a question.
Let’s flip the POV.
If YOU (or anyone reading) were Rushing which would you prefer:
Option A: Spend more time at OF where a path to the MLB may be optimal, even though the organization thinks it’s not an optimal value fit.
Option B: Spend more time at C where a path to making the most money is clearest, but a path to regular playing time in the short term is murkier.
Get traded to a team where I would have a good chance to earn a starting role in the show. Or at least a backup role.
A lot of noise about where Lux will be starting next year. What would the Dodgers want back in a package with Lux? A closer, a high quality OF prospect or 3B prospect?
Per Pat Ragazzo:
While the Yankees have inquired about him, the Mariners have expressed the most interest in Lux.
<Editor’s note: the Mariners have the most International $$$ to trade>
<Another Editor’s note: Joel Wolfe has said Sasaki will NOT sign right away>
<Another Editor’s note: Perhaps Sasaki is waiting for teams to accumulate more spending cash?>
Interesting take.
Mariners with $7.6m
Padres with $6.2m
Get some of 7.6 and it should be enough.
Interesting…
The Mariners also want a first baseman.
Give ‘em one. We got one or two at every level.
Rushing has a lot of 1B experience…
Hmm.
Dodgers really don’t need Castillo, especially if Sasaki is coming. (And they may already know the answer. If so, the rest of MLB will really be pisssed.)
Methinks the Orioles could spare one of their young studs for Castillo. Or maybe the Red Sox offer Casas if they sign Bregman and shift Devers to 1B.
Maybe just the best prospect, regardless of position.
Players will do whatever they can to make it to MLB as quick as they can. I consistently read about players who move to other positions because it makes them more versatile and thus more valuable as a player.
Think Mookie Betts, who was drafted as and started his career as a middle infielder. Boston loved his bat but knew that Mookie was blocked by Dustin Pedroia, so they moved him to RF.
MJ Melendez was moved from C to LF to get to the Show. He would still be blocked by Salvy Perez.
Ask any MiLB player and they will say they will do whatever they have to do to be one of 26.
I read a lot about the Dodgers getting younger. I prefer to hear how they can get better.
Keep spending $ and getting penalized 100 mil + every year. But is that sustainable even for the Dodgers.
As long as Ohtani and Betts are in their prime, yes.
Sometimes getting younger is getting better.
Yes, when you have a Jackson Chourio, Bobby Witt Jr., Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, Julio Rodriguez…to replace an older player. The Dodgers do not.
Or, having Outman in the lineup instead of Muncy. Old stats are just that especially when arguing for an aging player well past slender.
For those that can’t get past the box perimeter, yes, I realize Max and Outman play different positions.
I’ll hand it to you Fred, you’re consistent 🙂
I think this team is already better than the one which won the WS last season.
Jeff, what do you think of the M’s closer Andres Munoz? If we can’t sign Scott, I’d love to see what it would take to encourage Dipoto to send him here. I don’t suppose he would do it even up for Rushing but that might be a good start. Munoz has 4 years of control remaining and would really top off the bullpen nicely.
Since the Dodger front office seems to insist they want Rushing to be a catcher going forward and since I very much doubt they plan to move Smith to 3B any time in the near future, that makes Rushing, at best, a part time player for us. His trade value may never be higher and, as Fred points out, the M’s need a first baseman.
I like Andrés Muñoz, but I would not trade Dalton Rushing for a reliever. Lux and a pitching prospect, or OF prospect like Kendall George?
Baseball Trade Simulator considers the following a fair trade:
Andrés Muñoz (30.7) to LAD for Gavin Lux, Kendall George, Edgardo Henriquez, and Landon Knack (combined 32.0). But just last week, Brandon Gomes says he wants to sign a FA reliever rather than trade for one.
I wonder if he’ll still be saying that if Tanner Scott comes off the market.
I think Dipoto might actually have to consider the deal you put up, since Knack could move into Castillo’s spot and enable them to trade him for another hitter. I’m not equating Knack with Castillo, talent-wise, but at least it’s a major league ready starter to move into the rotation.
I’d take a deep breath and do that deal from the Dodgers side, but only because Munoz has 4 years of control remaining.
Stumbled upon a bit of context as we consider who should play CF for the Dodgers next season….
About 11 months ago, MLB Network produced it’s list of the Top Ten centerfielders heading into the ’24 season.
How about that? Less than a year ago, Outman ranked 6th here, between Harris and Buxton. Pretty good company. Then came the dreaded sophomore jinx. On most other teams, Outman probably would have been able to work through his slumps at the ML level–as he did with the Dodgers in his rookie season. Instead, he was optioned to OKC, where he played well, with a particularly strong finish after his daughter was born.
Also notice that potential trade target Luis Robert Jr ranked 3rd, ahead of no less than Mike Trout. Robert also had a disappointing ’24 season. The only guy who really shined on this list was Judge… well, at least until that fateful fifth inning.
Right now, the assumption is that Edman will start at CF and Outman will have an uphill fight for the role of 4th outfielder.
But what if Outman has a strong spring? His offensive upside, especially in a platoon, is greater than Edman’s. Both play solid defense, so perhaps an Outman/Edman platoon would make sense.
Another possibility, certainly, is that Lux gets traded and Edman or perhaps Hye-Seong Kim takes over 2B, clearing the way for an Outman/Pages/Taylor job share in CF.
I hope the Dodgers either play Outman or trade him.
Outman’s career OPS vs. righties: .778 (including 27 HRs in 486 AB)
Edman’s career OPS vs. lefties: .831 (against .689 vs. righties)
11 months ago Outman was. Just a few months later he wasn’t.
I was and am an Outman fan. He was my prospect pick a couple years ago and if he’s the guy I will pull for him. I’m just not so sure.
And Friedman is loading up on utility guys, I believe mostly to give our older veterans time off, and if centerfield is destined to be a platoon I’ll support that plan.
In the meantime I’m still waiting.
“The Dodgers are better than they were last year.”
So are the dbacks, giants, Mets, probably the Phillies, and maybe the Padres. The point being every team is attempting to improve and every team has LA circled on the calendar.
What COULD still be done to make this team not just a better starting 9 every night but deeper on the bench and in the bullpen.
It sounds like some believe the team is set, or at least good enough. I don’t believe that.
There are still weeks before the team collects in Glendale. There is plenty of time for tweaking. Again, I don’t believe the front office is done.
I will give you that the Dbacks with Corbin Burnes, and full seasons with Eduardo Rodriguez and Merrill Kelly, will be better. Brandon Pfaadt is now their #5. Josh Naylor is a nice addition, but he is a step down from Christian Walker, especially defensively. But they were at least comparable to LAD offensively last year. Burnes alone makes them better. But did they improve as much as LAD?
You have to say that NYM with the addition of Juan Soto is improved. But the pitching is a potential problem. They have lost Luis Severino and replaced him with Frankie Montas. They could lose Jose Quintana but have reliever Clay Holmes and Paul Blackburn as replacements. Also David Peterson moves from the hybrid SP/RP to full time starter, at least for the beginning of the season. Kodai Senga needs to have a good season. Their bullpen was one of the worst in MLB last year, and they have not improved on it. Mark Vientos moves from 3B to 1B, and that leaves Brett Baty as the NYM 3B. They still have the deep pockets of Steve Cohen and a chance to re-sign Pete Alonso, SP Jose Quintana, and pick up a couple of high leverage relievers.
The Giants are at best incomplete. Willy Adames is a good addition, but the loss of Blake Snell hurts them. Does anyone really think a full season of Robbie Ray will replace Snell? They would like to upgrade 1B, but are reluctant to sign a long term 1B because they believe their top prospect, 1B Bryce Eldridge, will be ready soon. They lost Michael Conforto, but that should be somewhat offset with the full season of the overpaid Jung-Hoo Lee. Shame on the Giants for not going strong for Corbin Burnes. They could have matched Arizona, but Burnes probably felt Arizona is closer to the top than SF. BTW what power hitting player will want to sign with SFG?
Padres – Nope. They have lost or will lose – Ha-Seong Kim, Kyle Higashioka, Jurickson Profar, Tanner Scott, Donovan Solano, Elias Díaz, and Martín Pérez. They have lost Joe Musgrove for the year. They are trying to trade Dylan Cease. How long does Yu Darvish have? They did add Mike Brosseau to a MiLB deal with a ST invite. Now that John Seidler has taken full operational control of the Padres, will he be nearly as aggressive as his brother Peter was?
Phillies? They have added Jesus Luzardo who is better than Taijuan Walker, when he is healthy. But they have lost Jeff Hoffman, Carlos Estévez, and hybrid Spencer Turnbull from their bullpen. Does the Luzardo improvement over Walker offset the loss of Hoffman, Estévez, and Turnbull.
Other than the Dbacks, I am not sure who has improved as much as the Dodgers.
I think the Dodgers have had the biggest improvement mainly because I refuse to believe they’ll have anywhere near the amount of injuries to their starters as they did last year. If I’m right, that will be huge and the biggest improvement of any MLB team’s starters from last year to this. Plus we’ve added Snell who should be better than Flaherty and almost anyone would be better than what Buehler did during the regular season. And we may yet wind up with Sasaki.
I think the Mets rotation has way too many question marks and even if they bring Alonso back, I would put my money on the Phillies to win that division in 2025. Dave D. can easily pick up a reliever or two before the season starts.
I view the Padres as being much weaker, although you never know what Preller might pull out of his hat. But, as you’ve pointed out, they’ve lost a lot of guys, some of them quite important to past SD success.
Giants have improved, but not enough to challenge for the division, in my opinion, even if they sign Flaherty and/or Alonso. Although if they sign both of those guys, at least SF fans will be happier than they’ve been in a while.
Arizona definitely seems the most likely to cause us trouble. Corbin Carroll should get off to a much better start than last year and be way above average for the whole year. The pitching will be better because they’re getting a number of guys back from injury, and Burnes is a great addition.
The tense usage in this sentence is truly mind-boggling:
I think the Dodgers have had the biggest improvement mainly because I refuse to believe they’ll have anywhere near the amount of injuries to their starters as they did last year…
I’m pretty sure you meant to write:
I think the Dodgers will show the biggest improvement mainly because I refuse to believe they’ll have anywhere near the amount of injuries to their starters as they did last year…
You are a true asset to this blog Bluto.
Not only do you grade our comments based on baseball logic but now you’re also doing it based on English grammar.
I can’t argue with your correction though, so let’s go with “will show” and not “have had”. I apologize to anyone else who might have been in any way offended by my error
Does this make me a moron and does that mean that Mark will ban me from Jeff’s site?
Nyah, just human.
there was nothing offensive, quite sorry if that’s how you read “mind boggling”
Over the top
To your question, I’m thinking.
Gavin Lux traded to Cincinnati
Can’t see the Dodgers giving the starting 2B job to Kim just yet. I think Mookie goes to 2B, Edman to SS and they either start Pages in CF or continue the hunt for a CF. The trade also opens a roster spot so Kike can be signed.
Agree with your analysis except if Mookie wants to stay at SS and they move Edman to 2b where he won a gold glove.
Of course Kim may have only signed with us because they told him he would be the second baseman.
They gave Lux away, I just don’t get it sometimes
What’s not to get here? Lux has been a below average hitter for his entire MLB career. I knew as soon as I heard about the Kim signing that Lux would be dumped somewhere. There was no way they would be goiing another season with his middling numbers at the plate, no matter what position he played.
Sorry to say, but Lux is a bust, and so was Cartaya who was hyped almost as much as Lux.
Colin Cowherd once had a saying…”Never fall in love with players, fall in like with them”.
I like Lux, he’s a nice kid. but his skills never translated into MLB success, at least well enough for him to stay with the Dodgers long-term. He’ll probably be a useful piece for the Reds if he can hit at any average level.
Hey Bluto. Looks like we were correct (as they say in the media, Bluto had it first) that the minute Gomes announced Lux would be the second baseman after the Kim signing he should have started packing.
“Dee Gordon is our second baseman” lives!
From what I’ve read Dodgers have long wanted Sirota. Here is Glaser:
Some background here: The Dodgers drafted Sirota out of high school and were very disappointed they couldn’t sign him.
They’ve liked him and wanted him for a long time. Now, they finally got him.
other interesting angle is that when Santander signs the pick will fall to #41. last year’s 41st pick had a slot value of nearly $2.3M, a considerable amount to add.
Mike Sirota,
From Baseball Savant
2024
Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 60 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 45
Sirota was relatively unknown when he was selected out of the Connecticut high school ranks late in the 2021 Draft by the Dodgers, but he went on to play for Mike Glavine at Northeastern University in Boston. He had hit everywhere he’d been, from his first two seasons in college (1.060 OPS) to back-to-back turns in the Cape Cod League (.942 OPS), making the grand-nephew of Whitey Ford the best Huskies product since Carlos Peña went No. 10 overall in 1998. He failed to live up to top-of-the-first-round expectations by really scuffling for much of his junior season, though he righted the ship enough to land to the Reds in the third round and sign for right around slot value.
Lean, athletic and strong, Sirota has an intriguing collection of tools. He has plus bat speed with excellent bat-to-ball skills from the right side of the plate, though his timing was off for much of the spring, keeping him from squaring up the ball as consistently as he has in the past. There’s raw power for him to tap into — he had 18 homers in his sophomore season — and when combined with his plus speed, he has 20-20 potential at the highest level.
That speed makes Sirota a legitimate longterm center fielder. He makes good reads and routes and has a tick-above-average arm to boot, with his all-around tools and makeup giving the Reds confidence he can rediscover his consistency.
We’ve done very nicely plucking recently drafted River Ryan from the Pads and Zyhir Hope from the Cubs. Maybe Sirota will be another one.
Bring Kike back!!!
I thought you said you wanted Outman to get a fair chance
I don’t believe Kike would block Outman if he has a good Spring.
So this is another surprise: Lux goes to the Reds for OF prospect Mike Sirota and and a player to be drafted later.
All I know about Sirota is that the Dodgers drafted him out of high school but didn’t sign him. Nice to get a draft pick.
I am puzzled by the Reds’ thinking, with Matt McClain slotted to play 2B. Will they now flip Lux to Seattle or maybe the Yankees? I was hoping Lux would go to a team that really needs a new second baseman–a place where Lux could play full-time and bat high in the order.
The deal is great news for not just Kim, but also Alex Freeland. One less obstacle to moving up. And Outman could benefit too.
If Kim struggles, Edman could shift to 2B.
Yes, I really want Outman to get a fair shake this season…
Does Kim go to SS or 2nd base. From what I recall his throwing rated 40, so second base seems more likely.
I too would like to see Outman get a good look this Spring. I think he will.
Good for Lux. As you know, I’ve been saying goodbye to him for a while now, but that was because I wanted Mookie where he belongs, second base. “Mookie wants to play shortstop”. I thought he “volunteered” because the team needed him there. Well, they don’t need him there anymore. Kim, Rojas and Edman can handle that position just fine.
Sirota. 21. Has he played a professional game yet? If he’s any good, he might be playing centerfield in 3-4 years. Who plays it now? And I figured Lux would be traded for International $$. Do the Dodgers figure they don’t really need it?
I still believe there will be more moves.
According to Ardaya, the plan is to keep Mookie at ss
And Lux at 2nd
I apologize but I got my elevated heart rate again, and I need to lie down and will not be able to finish my post.
Rest up Jeff
Some info on Sirota from mlb.com:
“Relatively unknown in high school, Sirota was selected late in the 2021 Draft out of the Connecticut high school ranks by the Dodgers, but went on to play for Mike Glavine at Northeastern University in Boston. He had hit everywhere he’d been, from his first two seasons in college (1.060 OPS) to back-to-back turns in the Cape Cod League (.942 OPS), making the grand-nephew of Whitey Ford the best Huskies product since Carlos Peña went No. 10 overall in 1996. He failed to live up to top of the first round expectations by really scuffling for much of his junior season.
Lean, athletic and strong, Sirota has an intriguing collection of tools. He has plus bat speed with excellent bat-to-ball skills from the right side of the plate, though his timing was off for much of the spring, keeping him from squaring up the ball as consistently as he has in the past. There’s raw power for him to tap into — he had 18 homers in his sophomore season — and when combined with his plus speed, he has 20-20 potential at the highest level.
That speed makes Sirota a legitimate long-term center fielder. He makes good reads and routes and has a tick-above-average arm to boot. He’s a better, more physical player than the best college bat in the area last year, Travis Honeyman, who went in the third round, and while he may have fallen out of the first-round picture for many teams, his all-around tools and makeup should keep him from falling too far.”
I like the sound of “legitimate long-term center fielder.”
So instead of Lux-in-a-blockbuster, we get a chess move. And it looks good.
Reminds me of how AF flipped Busch (and Yancy Almonte) for top prospects Ferris and Hope. The Dodgers reportedly wanted to draft both of those guys, only to be beat out by the Cubs. And we know that Dodgers scouts were so high on Sirota that they actually drafted him out of high school. And in addition to a top prospect in Sirota–he hasn’t played pro ball yet–they also get the competitive balance pick, which is essentially a high 2nd round choice.
The deal also reminds me of when AF flipped RP Dylan Floro for prospects Alex Vesia and Kyle Hurt. The Marlins–or was it the Rays?–got a proven veteran to help close out games, and the Dodgers got some raw talent that they made better. Vesia, of course, is cog in the current pen, while Hurt recuperating along with Stone, Ryan, Sheehan…. The Dodgers might have a six-man rotation on the IL.
Certainly wishing Lux all the best. If the Reds let him play full-time and he starts to hit lefties, he still has all-star potential. There is speculation that the Reds could shift either Elly De La Cruz or Matt McClain to 3B to accommodate Lux. The current third baseman could shift to 1B. The Reds are an interesting team.
The big winner is Kim, who will open Spring training as the frontrunner for a full-time job at 2B. In Korea, he hit both lefties and righties and played gold-glove quality defense.
Gee, it seems that the Dodgers may have learned from the mistake they made when they gift-wrapped the 2B job for Miguel Vargas.
Disappointed to see Gavin Lux traded from the Dodgers. He was the top prospect in the MLB in 2019 and spent his entire career with the Dodgers after being drafted out of high school. He overcome several injuries once he reached the MLB and his first season was also the Covid year. He had a couple of really good stretches in the big leagues in 2022 before hurting his shoulder in August, and during the second half of 2024.
Lux was one of my favorite Dodgers and it is sad to see him shipped out. He was only making $2.7 million yet they could not fit him into their $350 million budget. And the only return is a college draftee from northeastern and a draft pick this year. Neither will help them win in the next several years. The front office is brilliant and very successful, but also not very attached to their homegrown or long time players. With Buehler, Bellinger, Turner, Seager, Busch and others, the team seems to prioritize the external free agents. I prefer to keep homegrown talent and to supplement it with trades and free agents. But the Dodgers have an unlimited budget that they can spend on external talent primarily. At least Smith received an extension and Kershaw will be back.
Best of luck to Gavin Lux in Cincy and thanks for contributing to two World Championships.
Maybe this move opens up a spot for Scott. I will miss Lux. I think he’ll have a big year for Reds
Agree with a lot of this, well said