Prior to his trade to Cincinnati, the Dodgers were still telling everyone that Gavin Lux was the 2B. It just seemed that most outsiders were not buying it. As we now know, Lux was indeed traded to Cincinnati for OF prospect Mike Sirota and Competitive Balance A pick (#37), which will be 3 picks before the Dodgers previous top pick. The Dodgers are familiar with Sirota as he was a previous draft pick by LAD in 16th round in 2021. He did not sign, and was then the Reds 2024 #3 draft pick. Sirota slots in as the LAD #22 prospect. He is the 6th ranked OF in the Dodgers organization.
But why Hyeseong Kim? Let’s take a look at the organizational depth to perhaps learn more into the reason. Agree that Kim is the likely replacement for Chris Taylor for 2026. He is slated to be the Dodgers 2B. While that is subject to change, what is not questioned is his defensive chops. Here is a snapshot of some of his highlights:
Hyeseong Kim. Dodger. 🇰🇷
Enjoy his elite defensive highlight reel
— Shawn Spradling (@Shawn_Spradling) January 3, 2025
Let’s look at the rest.
While many have Dalton Rushing as the LAD #1 prospect, I am more partial to Alex Freeland. He is a player in AAA playing a position of need…SS. Freeland is the Dodgers #3 prospect per MLB Pipeline and Baseball America. He needs a full season at AAA to see if he is a legit MLB prospect. He has the tools to stick at SS and is believed to be at least a regular MLB player with the bat. Per MLB Pipeline:
Freeland’s advanced instincts allow him to play faster than his average speed on the bases and at shortstop. He has range to both sides, reliable hands and plus arm strength, allowing him to make all the plays.
Baseball America says the following about his future position:
Defensively, Freeland has a chance to stick at shortstop but second or third base are also viable options. His bat would profile at either spot. Freeland’s above-average arm makes third base his likeliest non-shortstop defensive home.
Freeland is a legit SS prospect. After that? The only AA middle infielder is glove first SS/2B, Noah Miller. Miller is the LAD #26 prospect. He will undoubtedly be more of a utility infielder.
At Great Lakes, Sean McLain figures to get the SS spot over Wilman Diaz. Sean is the younger brother of Cincinnati’s current starting 2B, Matt McLain. McLain had a ho-hum season, but turned it around in the Arizona Fall League. He is not a top 30 prospect, and currently figures as organizational depth.
Rancho Cucamonga will have two of the prized Dodgers SS prospects…Kellon Lindsey and Joendry Vargas. Lindsey will be making his professional debut this season. Vargas had a very good year offensively at the Arizona Complex League (ACL). Not so much defensively at SS. Lindsey is the one I am most intrigued by this year. Some question Lindsey’s arm at short, but not his range or hands. If he does not stick at SS, he could convert to 2B or even CF prospect. Maybe a Jackson Merrill type?
A third SS prospect currently slated for Rancho is Elijah Hainline. He was one of the 2024 draft picks to get playing time in 2024. He had a forgettable season at Rancho, but perhaps he learned from his missteps. Elijah played almost as much at 2B as he did at SS, and played well defensively at both positions.
The third top prospect should make his US debut in the ACL this year, Emil Morales. While he will get a long look at SS, most talent evaluators believe that with his fringy speed and plus arm, he is more likely slated for 3B as he develops. His bat will play very well at 3B.
There are no real 2B prospects, except those SS prospects who will also be considered as a 2B. Most of the 2B prospects in the LAD affiliates are more utility types than true 2B. They are led by 2B/OF/C Yeiner Fernandez who figures to land at AAA to start the season. Jordan Thompson and Sam Mongelli are two other primary 2B who will be playing multiple positions this year.
I am sorry to see Gavin Lux leave, and I would have thought the Dodgers might have got a MLB player in return. Reliever? Perhaps the other teams do not value Lux in the same manner as do LAD fans. They did not get an Emmanuel Rodriguez or a Chase DeLauter, but rather an OF prospect rated as the 6th best in the LAD system, plus the 37th pick in next July’s draft.
Good luck to Gavin, although I have no idea where he is going to play for Cincinnati.
Baseball Prospectus is Hopeful!
Zyhir nabs the top spot in its new Dodgers prospect rankings, followed by DePaula, Rushing, Ferris and Freeland.
Sirota hasn’t played pro ball yet. I wonder where he’ll fit in. Nice to have another promising outfielder down on the farm.
A lot of speculation that the Lux deal means Kike will be back soon. But I think other moves would have to be made to create a spot on the roster.
Very impressive footage of Kim fielding. Very quick release, covers a lot of ground. Would like to see some footage from his Gold Glove SS season. All the footage from above he was throwing like a second baseman, but, he was playing second base.
As for organizational depth, is there anyone there that looks like the next Seager or Bellinger? RC Dodger mentioned on the last thread something about wanting to keep homegrown talent. Well, that would be nice of course, but what homegrown talent in that starting lineup contributed to winning the championship? Look at the postseason stats. Of the leaders, none were homegrown. The Dodger Way is to trade prospects and sign free agents. That’s just a fact.
Will Smith
Read stats.
Key hits that are critical parts of victory are better than high ave or ops.
Good point I suppose. I was looking at postseason stats, month by month stats, first and second half stats, 2 out RISP, men on, wRC+ by month and vs R/L, you know, little things like that. It appears, and only appears, Smith may have run out of gas in the heat of the summer and in postseason. But, what do I know. They’re just numbers.
I made it out to Rancho for three games last year and plan to go to more this upcoming season. I saw George once, Hainline, Hope and Quintero twice. From what I saw all 4 struggled with the bat. Hainline is very good with the glove, Quintero was good in center, Hope has a cannon for an arm and for George the speed is real. I can’t wait for the season to start to see Lindsey, Morales, Sirota and Harlan. It should be a fun season.
Sad to see Lux traded. He was one of my favorit players, home grown , overcoming a devastating injury, helping the Dodgers win the WS last year with some key at bats in critical situations while playing very good defense. Wish him luck with the Reds.
I am probably in the minority but I do not like the trade too much. The return is marginal and I would have thought they got some internatinal pool money to increase the offer to Sasaki.
With Lux they also traded away one of the younger guys on the roster who had a controllable contract .
I don´t think Kim is ready to play 2b in 2025 , his bat likely is not ready for MLB pitching.
Now with an open roster spot on the 40 men roster is a Tanner Scott signing next ?
Would be a great move to strengthen the backend of the pen even more. We all saw what a lockdown bullpen can do in the postseason.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!
Me to Ram Lux was a favorite hope he gets to have a regular job in Cincy or where he winds up.
The Dodgers got the highest draft pick they have had in years and a young outfielder they drafted but did not sign. Lux’s trade value was not at a high return level. Team obviously placed a high value on what they got in return. I think Kim is going to surprise you. He is a superior defensive second baseman and has great bat to ball skills. He showed that when the Korean team played LA last spring
Hey Bear. It’s good to have you back here at LADC!
The CB pick they got I think is number 37 this year. The Dodgers’ original spot of #30 drops to #40 because of them exceeding the highest CBT. The important point is they will get an additional $2.3M in draft capital to spend on that slot or another selection(s) with this additional pick. So, it might be the money, not who they select at that spot, is what they wanted.
The Dodgers had a higher pick at 23 last year and pick 36 in 2022. From 2016 – 2021 they had picks 20,32,36,23,30,25,31,29,29.
Feeling better. Had my first PT session today. More exercise than I have done in years. Still cannot put all my weight on the ankle, but I am getting there.
Lux officially off of the roster. Gavin never really reached the heights some thought he would. His injury in spring training in 23 was a major setback. Had he gotten off to a good start this year, maybe he would not have been traded. But a glut of middle infielders on the roster sealed his fate. A’s signed Rooker to a 5 year deal worth 60 million.
There’s no way to know yet jf Kim can hold down 2b so there might be a trade about to happen for a centerfielder and have Edman play 2b…?
There’s no way Kim is the everyday second baseman. None at all.
much more likely a fluid situation, with pages in centerfield, Edmund at second, and Kike and out Man and Taylor all slotting in and out. Maybe Kim too if he’s not in AAA
From one short video it looked to me like Kim is immediately the best defensive middle infielder on the team. I think he should, and will, play a lot.
At the moment there are three utility players on this team. Four if you count Mookie, which I do, and five if Kiké comes back, which feels like a long shot to me.
I’m not sure what is going on here but I find it interesting. There remains weeks until Opening Day. Lots of time to shuffle the cards.
I’m not sure defense is as important to MLB teams, much less the Dodgers specifically, than you think.
And the delta there may be even bigger than I think.
I seriously doubt if Ozzie Smith would ever make it to the majors in the current mindset
And if you look at the last World Series, the Dodger defense was much better than the Yankees. Defense and great pitching wins games. Case closed.
Silly.
one game doesn’t make a case. The Yankees thrived with Judge in the OF, he dropped one ball. They should change their strategy?
silly.
the dodgers signed Teo and Conforto, neither are exceptional fielders, nor is Mookie.
In my humble opinion I look for better defenders in those more pivotal positions. Up the middle has historically been the most important defensive positions and that of course includes catcher. I believe that’s still true and I would add third base in the mix as well.
I was taught, and I coached, “take the outs they give you and steal a few now and then and they are playing with fewer innings than you are”. It always worked for me. Of course, I never played professionally. I realize things are different in the Major Leagues. And they are more different now than they’ve ever been. I’m a dinosaur in this arena.
“Old and in the way, that’s what I hear them say
They used to heed the words I said, but that was yesterday
Gold will turn to gray, and youth will fade away
They no longer care about you, call you old and in the way”
Yeah, there’s not much better than a slick fielding play. For me. To watch.
however, I don’t think it moves the needle as much on aggregate as bats do
Not silly, it is a fact, and it wasn’t just one game. Yanks made 5 errors in the series to the Dodgers 2. LA made all the routine plays and several that were not routine. NY had game 5 in the bag and their defense BLEW it. That is a fact, just because you think defense is not that important to MLB teams does not make it fact. Teams like players who are good both ways. Taylor was much more valuable when his bat was as good as his defense,
that’s my point!
Taylor is the perfect analog in terms of potential utility role. But only if the Batt and glove were up to par.
you have gone from silly to inane.
Kim‘s bat is nowhere, if he can get to a point where his bat and his glove are good, then he’ll be considered to be a regular second base option
And you are just argumentative and irrelevant. Those who live in glass houses should stay off of the sauce.
Quit while you’re behind.
Look, just because the fundamentals of the game escape your narrow view of the game and the right of others to disagree with you, does not mean I am behind. Widen your horizons and quit being a jerk.
True. But…
https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/WAR_def_leagues.shtml
There are MANY dWAR numbers that add tremendous value.
Have you seen Masyn Winn? He’s like the second coming of Ozzie, and he even plays for the Cards. Not sure if he can do the back flip like Ozzie, but he has a stronger arm.
He and Ezekial Tovar of the Rockies are two young glove-first shortstops that would have made terrific Dodgers. Like Ozzie, they also provide some offense.
Mookie, of course, will be a bat-first SS. If he can provide average defense, that would be great.
He obviously wants the challenge, and I won’t be surprised if he wins the MVP. He has a chance to do something that none of all-time greats have done. Correct me if I’m wrong, but is there precedent for an OF star shifting to SS in their 30s?
“but is there precedent for an OF star shifting to SS in their 30s”
Great question. I wouldn’t think so but I await the answer from someone with more knowledge on the subject than me. I still don’t get it. It seems like a desperate move to me and not in line with Dodger practices.
The signing of Kim suggests to me the team is looking for up the middle stability. At this time, Kim is my choice for shortstop.
Mickey Stanley 1968
Pages is NOT a CF. He tracked much better as a corner outfielder. His routes in center are awful. He does not read the ball well off of the bat. Edman and Outman are much better CF options, and I think you are dead wrong about Kim. He looks like a very good contact hitter and his fielding skills are far superior to Lux, plus, the guy steals bases. .304 hitter with 211 stolen bases and only caught 37 times. .364 OBP. Lux not even close to those numbers and he is 2 years younger and cheaper with Lux having 2 years of arbitration left. Kim will break camp on the 26-man, bank on it.
Ok!
I think your analysis is spot on Bear. Also glad your PT went well. Bust your ass.
Pages is a corner outfielder and runs some scary routes in center. Put Edman out there and leave him alone. But I love Pages’ bat vs LHP, so he gets a platoon role.
I will be surprised if Mookie sticks at 2nd. The same way I felt and witnessed last spring when Lux was the SS and clearly worse defensively then Miggy Rojas. So Lux moved to 2nd and was adequate. He solved his throwing yips thanks to Miggy helping his transition mechanics but Lux never had good feet at 2nd base. He had one comfortable drop set type pivot at 2nd and missed getting runners at first on what should have been routine double plays, by a 1/2 step, way too much. He just doesn’t. have good middle infielder feet nor a SS arm. I think Kim will be fine there but I still think Mookie won’t be a year-long SS role.
I see zero need for Kike despite liking the guy. And I’d still shed no tear if CT3 was elsewhere. But it’s obvious AF won’t eat his salary or even a portion . Maybe CT3 will hit more like he did in the 2nd half. Cross your fingers.
So, we’re about a week away from the opening of the signing period for Roki. He would be the cherry on top for me coming into Spring Training.
The next order of business is to figure out how to NOT have an entire pitching staff suffer injuries. We’ve had the misfortune to go into a season with questions about how to get all of our pitchers enough innings and end up the season with 3 starting pitchers. It would be nice to see that change.
I think AF and Gomes have had a great winter. Well done, especially if we get Roki.
I meant to say I will be surprised to see Mookie stick at SS. I think he’s best at 2nd. Or right field. But if he wants to play infield, 2nd is the spot.
I just had a birthday and my writing skills seem to be getting shitty.
As AF and others have said, I wouldn’t bet against Mookie.
The analysis of his SS play last season found that his range was fine, but throwing was a problem.
Remember: He lost the SS job last season not because of his defense, but because a pitch broke his hand. With a full season to prepare, I think Mookie will be better.
And while some people fret that playing SS will affect Mookie’s offensive production, that simply wasn’t the case last season.
He was an early MVP candidate before the injury. i would not be surprised if he makes the all-star team as an SS.
Before the brass declared that Mookie would play SS, I was expecting Mookie to play 2B and Edman to play SS, backed by Rojas. (I was hoping for Luis Robert Jr at CF, but I’d have been OK with a job share including Outman, Pages and Taylor. Come to think of it, I was also bullish on Adames–but giving Mookie the gig is more exciting.)
Now Lux has been replaced by Kim, who unlike Lux shouldn’t require a platoon, assuming that he succeeds.
Mookie, I think, will eventually move to 2B. It could be this season, or maybe the next. Before long Alex Freeland could be competing with Edman and Kim to take over SS. (Kim was an outstanding SS before he shifted to 2B.)
“Before the brass declared that Mookie would play SS, I was expecting Mookie to play 2B and Edman to play SS”
Me too.
As for his defensive metrics, according to fangraphs his DRS was 3, his range was a modest .2 and his UZR numbers were all in the negative. Could all that improve at age 32? Yeah, sure, maybe, probably not.
Kim at short, Mookie at second, Edman in center and keep an eye out for an every day 8.
All of those guys will probably get moved around the diamond and see reps at all of those positions. The Dodgers love versatility as we’ve seen and love to move guys around a lot.
The pt was,is, a trade mjght be in the works
I expect Kim to get a good, long look at 2B. Dodgers have made the investment and need to give him a chance against stiffer competition. His defense should be good no matter what his offense does.
Mookie will also get a better, longer look at SS.
If Outman has a strong spring, he could get into a platoon with Edman in CF.
A bounce-back season from Outman could really help this team.
Thank you Gavin for your years here, hope you do well in Cinci…..honestly, I’m okay with this trade and losing him. We have plenty of qualified replacements. That video of Kim is electric….I’m sure his bat will come along as well. And I hope we re-sign Kike, but don’t forget, Tommy Edman is always available to play anywhere we need for him. I probably should also mention that we have CT3, but I’m still hoping not for long.
Kim makes accurate throws from crazy angles. He could still end up in a utility role if Outman bounces back.
Absolutely.
To me, Outman is the X-factor on this roster. We don’t know what to expect–but it could be really good.
In ’23, only Freddie and Mookie played more games. Outman produced a .790 OPS with 23 HRs while playing a high-quality CF. With an OBP over .350 against both lefties and righties, he did not require a platoon–but a platoon with Edman probably makes sense.
If Edman or Pages delivered numbers similar to Outman’s rookie season, the Dodgers brass and the fans would be thrilled.
Per Pasternostro:
Doing this the day my Dodgers list goes up of course. Sirota would probably be 13th behind Quintero and ahead of the arms.
I hope that Zyhir Hope and Sirota get invited to spring training.
As I recall it, Pages was 19 when he was first invited to spring training.
Keith Law ($$$$) on the Kim signing and the Lux trade:
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6043336/2025/01/06/gavin-lux-trade-analysis-reds-dodgers/
likes the trade for both sides, thinks Dodgers development will add lift and power eventually for Kim.
The lights don’t shine as bright in Cincinnati. I think Lux just might reach his potential there.
Kim. Lift and power? 5’10, 172 pounds, raw power 40, speed 60. Left handed. How about bunting down the line. and maybe oppo gap power? Hit him ninth. Bunt to get on, steal second and be in scoring position for the top of this lineup.
I really look forward to seeing this guy in a Dodger uniform.
I’d love to see Kim add a contact hitter tool to the line up, including bunting for base hits. His strike out % was only 19% last year and 22% for his career.
I see contact emphasis slowly creeping back into the game for many teams. I’d like to see the Dodgers as one of them to set the table for our power guys.
He’s never seen fastballs like he’s about to see. What’s the best approach for contacting them?
Hit the first off speed pitch you see.
😃
Just playing in Cincy should improve Lux’s numbers. Very much a hitters’ park–but it’s still not clear where he’ll play.
Kim could be the ideal “second leadoff” guy. Good plate discipline. Walks almost as much as the strikes out. And yes, the speed plays.
Lux lacked speed. Perhaps the ACL injury was a factor. But on a few occasions Chris Taylor was summoned to pinch run for a guy about 7 years younger.
Sorry to see Gavin Lux move on. Being the Reds have De La Cruz and McLain as there everyday SS and 2B where is Lux going to play? Lux isn’t a utility guy. It seems like a strange trade by the Reds.
I was a Gavin Lux fan. Sure, he wasn’t the All Star that most felt he would be after his tremendous success in MiLB. For Lux to become a solid major league player was OK with me. His knee injury certainly set him back at the beginning of last year. For a young player to be unable to do any baseball activities for a year has to be extremely tough. I was looking forward to watching Lux finally have a productive offensive year with a continued improvement at 2B in 2025. And, now he is traded to a team that has no apparent position for him to play. Another major hurdle for Gavin Lux to overcome in his brief MLB career.
As much as I was rooting for Lux, there was always something with his mental makeup that concerned me. He didn’t seem to be focused much of the time. His nonchalant attitude was bothersome as well. I have nothing to confirm this. With this trade, maybe, the Dodgers felt something along these lines as well.
All the best to Gavin Lux. I hope he finds a spot with the Reds where he can finally show his skills both at the bat and in the field.
The Dodgers are now down to one homegrown position player in Will Smith. What kind of message does this send to their position player prospects? To keep grinding away and hopefully get traded to a place where you can play in MLB when ready to do so. Because it’s probably not ever going to be with the Dodgers.
Carry on.
MLB Network speculated either Lux or McLain could wind up at 3rd.
Well, there you go. I hope that works out for Gavin. With his throwing issues I would think Lux would be at 2B with McLain at 3B.
Thanks for the update Fred.
Also some speculation that McLain could play CF, a la former SS Jackson Merril. But I think the Reds have a pretty good one out their already…
The Padres’ plans to sign Roki Sasaki may have hit a brick wall.
The wife of late San Diego Padres owner Peter Seidler, Sheel Seidler, sued brothers-in-law Matthew and Robert on Monday, attempting to prevent another brother, John, from taking control of the team rather than her. This figures to be a messy long drawn out expensive litigation for the Padres. Not knowing who is going to control the team or what their cash situation truly is should give Sasaki pause to sign with them, and be controlled for 6 years by an organization seemingly in limbo.
At the end of 2020, there was such a strong young core of homegrown players that seemed would propel us forward for many years. Now Seager, Bellinger, Pederdon, Lux, Urias and Buehler are all gone. Only Smith survived. And now all our outstanding young starters are all looking up at Ohtani, Yamamoto, Snell, Glasnow and probably Sasaki. I’d be a little depressed being a Dodger prospect.
I wonder if Seager, Bellinger, Pederson, Lux, Urias and Buehler are lamenting their time with the Dodgers from their primary residence, beach house or ski lodge.
All kidding aside, I would point out that they are all millionaires because (mostly? partially?) of their time as Dodger prospects.
Obviously some (Buehler, Urias, Pederson) more than others, but all unquestionably benefited.
And Pederson has quietly become fully vested in the MLB retirement system now that he has 10+ full years in.
Good observation Jeff, I had read the Padre thing, but never thought how it would effect player personnel, I wouldn’t want to go to a team that has its ownership suing each other if I were a free agent.
I read it too. The Padres are now projected to win 82. Dbacks 86. I thought the Padres had a legit shot at Roki, and that’s why I initially said they would be trying to improve. 82 wins sounds about right.
Michael Baumann has just a lovely piece at Fangraphs primarily about the Kim signing, but also about the active roster construction strategy, Cartaya’s fall from grace and the preponderance of immovable forces in the Dodgers’ lineup.
Also, this is a comment I found on another board that I think is very thoughtful:
Much like the Michael Busch trade, the Dodgers are dealing a solid player, who will soon be entering his late 20s, for two lottery tickets with upside.
My guess is we’ve stacked our draft board and feel pretty good about the player we’d select around pick 37.
Sacrificing mid-level players to go after the best of the best is a recurring theme for us. Especially given our depth now.
For example, I like Lux at 2B. But is he really that much better than Rojas? Or Kim, after we’ve worked with him? Or guys at other positions who may spend time there, like Edman or Betts? Or an upcoming prospect like Alex Freeland?
It’s a calculated risk without much downside imo.
Adding a “what if” to the equation: what if James Outman wins the CF job in spring training? It could happen. That would move Edman to the infield and Kim to the utility role and make them stronger defensively. I don’t think AF or Roberts would mind that at all.
I finally got time to watch the defensive highlights on Kim. I don’t know how he’ll hit MLB pitching, but it looks like he can play defense at the major league level, I don’t think Lux can put up a highlight reel that impressive. I’m not sure about offensively, but I would say the Dodgers just got better on defense.
I agree.
With Kim, Betts, Edman and even Taylor, or infield up the middle looks solid. Now, about every day centerfield.
RIP Peter Yarrow, Peter, Paul & Mary member. Passed away at age 86.
Thanks PP&M for many great songs to enjoy.
As a kid, I remember some parents who insisted that Puff was all about the evil marijuana stuff…
Jackie Paper? Like rolling paper?
Very suspicious.
Yarrow wrote the song, doubt he imbibed.
Lux was not a favorite of mine but I had confidence with him. He was not a weakness and instead was a great value player. Can’t have 26 players making $15M+.
I don’t like his swing but so what.
Now Didgers can go get Arenaldo right would any one mind say a Outman Chris Taylor and a Max Muncy to St Louis and get us Arenaldo and a centerfielder. Okay then you move Edman in to play short or second base and put Betts at Short or secondbase and Arenaldo at thirdbase and Freeman at first and you have Rojas and Kim as your utility infielders but they have to get a centerfielder from St Louis to do this trade a legit centerfielder. #2 or they use taylor outman and Miller and go get Robert Jr from the whitesox and and move edmans into the infield.
A. The Cardinals are not trading their SS Winn. He is an up-and-coming star. Arenado in almost 300 more at bats hit one homer more than Muncy. He is still solid defensively but is noy close to the hitter he once was. Nobody want’s Taylor’s contract and the Dodgers are not going to pay any of it. B. Mookie is the SS period until he isn’t. B. Robert Jr. is huge injury risk. Sox asking price for him is way more than LA is willing to pay. Sox want MLB ready players, and not someone’s aging stars, aka Muncy. Edman is fine in CF, no need to trade for one.
Just need to move Taylor some how and this team would be better. I can think of so many players I’d rather have then Outman and Taylor on the Dodgers. And players who swing a way better bat then these two.
heh heh heh
I bet most teams the Dodgers approach trying to trade Chris Taylor to, also “can think of so many players I’d rather have then Outman and Taylor”
..
May I ask, what is your problem with Outman? James had happen to him what happens to many second-year players. The dreaded Sophomore Jinx. But I would bet you were cheering him in 23 when he was an ROY candidate. He never got untracked at the big-league level last season. He found his stroke at OKC and played well. In 23, he actually had a higher BA against LHP than he did right. But against RHP his OPS was .836. Right now, barring some catastrophe, he has not shot at cracking the starting lineup. It is going to be Teo, Conforto, and Edman out there most nights. Pages will start over Conforto against LHP. If anything, Outman is injury insurance in case of injury. At this point he is still the best defensive CF on the team. His OBP left vs right is almost identical from both sides. He has less power against LHP so far. You might not value Taylor, but the team does. Last year he was injury plagued. But he had a very good second half. .303 with a .765 OPS. Gut plays all three outfield positions, 2nd, SS and third. No other player on the team that versatile. Also, way above average defensively at all of them. Barring some unforeseen development, Taylor will play out his contract with the Dodgers. Yes, both could be traded, but the possibility of that happening anytime soon is slim,
Giants reportedly agree to one year deal with Justin Verlander.
Verlander just signed a one–year deal with the Giants
Baseball America conducted a survey of baseball scouts (real ones) and it’s not the most encouraging story ($$$$)
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/baseball-americas-2025-scout-survey-evaluators-fear-games-direction-amid-doom-and-gloom-offseason/
Lots of gloom about the scouting profession, nor do a lot see it getting better.
That said, the Dodgers again shine.
The Top 5 of most scout friendly teams are:
The top 5 teams for ID’ing talent:
Marty Lamb and Billy Gasparino made the list of most impressive scouts in the game.
The Dodgers’ skill in “ID’ing talent” is why I approve of the Lux deal.
Clearly the scouts have been tracking Sirota for a while, and they probably have a good idea about what talent they can pick up with that draft pick.
The previous deals that picked up Vesia and Hurt, and later top prospects Ferris and Hope are other examples.
Very good track record.
Picking out of the top 30 I would look for fast twitch world class athletes with 20/10 vision in both eyes, reflexes of a cat and the hand eye coordination of a gibbon.
Ok, that last request is a stretch. Humans actually have the best hand eye coordination. The gibbon thing was just for entertainment purposes only.
A hand eye test we used in the Human Performance Lab in college was, from 3-6 feet away throwing a tennis ball against a wall with the right hand, catching it with the left hand, then throwing it back against wall with the left hand catching with the right hand. Do it for 30 seconds as many times as you can. Then do it again going from a standing position to your knees and standing up again. Try it sometime. We did a lot of fun things in that lab. I invented this one: Hit a ping pong ball thrown from about 15’ with a 34” broom stick. A female student came up with this one: sew left handed. Ok, I’m done.
Is White still with the Padres? He drafted well while with the Dodgers.
I think he is in some respect. He wasn’t called out in the article.
From the Padres:
Outstanding article. I read it yesterday.
I agree. Thanks to Bluto for sharing this Baseball America article which is long and very interesting.
My scouting friends are generally older veterans now and close to retirement either by choice or cutbacks. Few express much remorse in leaving the professions and don’t love the job anymore. Their attitude is reflected in a statement in the article,
“Pure scouting has been pushed aside and disregarded. Scouting directors no longer spend time with their scouts. They have little to no interaction with their scouts. The instincts of scouting is disregarded and has been replaced with analytical analysis. Scouts have lost their voice of what truly matters. (Draft) round cuts, team cuts, job cuts have only compounded the problem. Older, veteran scouts (are) pushed aside for analytics. The state of the scouting industry is at its lowest point ever.”
An old scout friend works for one to the poorly rated organizations listed in the article. He is yearly frustrated that he hasn’t had a player that he has scouted, drafted in ages. He’s discouraged and feels his work is useless. I guess it is. He’s going through the motions now with little incentive.
Another, much younger friend is a regional cross-checker and the son of my college roommate. Dad reports to me that things might get interesting for cross-checker son. He’s married and has 2 young kids. They live in a warm desert climate and love their home and his wife has a great job. His organization is applying more pressure for him to move to work in the organization’s home office. While it would be a promotion and more stability, they don’t want to move to the cold climate. At some point, he will probably have to make the move, not unlike young executives in other businesses.
A once attractive job becomes less and less so. He may be out of baseball, which is all he’s ever done.
The young stud scouts, and a few females, now show up with so much electronic shit, it’s funny. Many can only send in info on guys they are assigned to scout. If they see somebody they are interested in, they need permission to write the kid up and send in info. Everybody has a radar guy, computer at hand, a camera to submit video and god knows what else, I haven’t see. I’ve joked that if it rains, these young scouts could be electrocuted. But they are no more than information gatherers, sending in data to be evaluated by the next level evaluators.
I miss the old days when an old salty scout like Eddie Taylor of the Yankees would show up. He’s sign so many kids, some had to make it and enhance his reputation. Guys like Mel Stottlemeyer made Eddie’s career. He smelled of scotch and cigar smoke. He offered me advice once on relaxing at the plate. I needed to “relax those muscles form the top of my cap to the tip of my dick”.
This scouting business is certainly different and less colorful these days.
guys, my senior writer Oscar Martinez, passed away on Tuesday night. I will have a memorial post up on LADR soon. if you enjoyed reading his articles, or watching his videos, drop a comment if you like.
He was a close friend of mine, and will be sorely missed.
Sorry for your loss Scott
Scott I am so sorry to hear that. I did enjoy reading Oscar’s posts.
RIP, Oscar!
Amed Rosario inks one-year deal with DC.