The MLB trade deadline this year is July 30th. Right at 8 weeks from now. Will the Dodgers be active? Considering the state of the bench and the bullpen, I could see a couple of deals going down. Myself, I would find an outfielder who can hit. To keep from going back too far, I am only using trades starting in 2000. I will also include the deals made up until September 1st, when those were allowed.
2000
The most important trade for the 2000 season was actually made in December of 1999. The Dodgers sent Pedro Borbon and Raul Mondesi to the Blue Jays for a minor leaguer, Jorge Nunez, and Shawn Green. The only trade made at the deadline was two minor leaguers and Todd Hollandsworth to the Rockies for Tom Goodwin and cash. Also of note that year, they released Orel Hershiser in June.
2001
Former pitching coach, Dave Wallace, was the interim GM with the departure of Kevin Malone. The Dodgers made no trades at the winter meetings. They did sign a number of free agents. Their first major trade came in February when they got Marquis Grissom from the Brewers for Devon White. Pitching seemed to be the need so they made three deals prior to the deadline receiving pitchers, James Baldwin, Terry Mulholland and Mike Trombley. The only MLB player sent away was Mike Fetters in the Mulholland deal with the Pirates.
2002
Dan Evans was now the GM and Logan White took over the farm system. Evans made two December trades. One landed Cesar Izturis and Paul Quantrill, the other brought outfielder Dave Roberts to LA. The big trade came in February when he sent Gary Sheffield to the Braves for Andrew Brown, Brian Jordan and Odalis Perez. He made another trade in March that sent Matt Herges and Jorge Nunez to the Expos for Guillermo Mota and Wilken Ruan.
In July they made 3 trades in five days. July 23, Ben Diggens and Shane Nance to the Brewers for Tyler Houston and Brian Malette. July 25, Hiram Bocachica to the Tigers for Jason Frasor. July 28, Mulholland, Rodriguez and Cruceta to the Indians for Paul Shuey.
2003
In December they traded Grudzielanek and Karros to the Cubs for Todd Hundley and Chad Hermanson. On the 14th of July, they signed Rickey Henderson as a free agent, and traded three minor leaguers to the Mets for Jeromy Burnitz and cash. On the 31st, they traded Bubba Crosby and Scott Proctor to the Yankees for Robin Ventura.
2004
Paul DePodesta would take over in February of 2004 as the GM. But before he got there, they traded Kevin Brown to the Yankees for a minor leaguer, Yhency Brazoban and Jeff Weaver. The same day they traded a minor leaguer to the Marlins for Juan Encarnacion.
In March, they got Jason Werth from Toronto for Jason Frasor. They made two deals in April that would be of importance in another trade later. They got Milton Bradley from the Indians for Franklin Guiterrez. Then in an unnoticed trade, they got Antonio Perez from Tampa for Jason Romano.
On July 30, they traded DeLuca, Encarnacion and Mota to the Marlins for Hee-seop Choi, Brad Penny and Bill Murphy. The next day, they traded Reggie Abercrombie, Koyie Hill and Murphy to the D-Backs for Steve Finley and Brent Mayne. They then traded Roberts to the Red Sox for a minor leaguer.
In separate deals in August, they got Elmer Dessens, Mike Venafro and Tom Wilson. The biggest impact was made by Finley, whose grand slam on the last day of the season put LA into the playoffs.
2005
I should note that while all of these trades were happening, Logan White had rebuilt the farm system and several players who would impact the team were being drafted and signed. One notable drafted by the Dodgers who did not sign, David Price. 2005 was DePodesta’s final year. He would be fired after the season and Ned Colletti would take over.
DePodesta’s first deal was sending Shawn Green to the D-Backs for three minor leaguers and Dioner Novarro. I still consider this an awful trade. Amazingly, it was the only major trade made that season.
2006
Colletti’s first trade came in December of 05, when he sent Milton Bradley, whose meltdown at Dodger Stadium was well documented and Antonio Perez to the A’s for Andre Ethier. Colletti also loaded up on some free agents including Rafael Furcal, Nomar Garciaparra, Bill Mueller, and Kenny Lofton. In February, he signed Japanese pitcher Takashi Saito to a deal. Also of note, they drafted seven players in the 2006 draft, but five did not sign. One who did, Clayton Kershaw. Bryan Morris was the other.
In June they sent three players, Ruggiano, Novarro and Seo to the Rays for Mark Hendrickson and Toby Hall. In July they sent two minor leaguers and Odalis Perez to the Royals for Elmer Dessens. On the 28th they sent Willy Aybar, Danys Baez and cash to the Braves for Wilson Betemit. On the 31st they traded Joel Guzman and a minor leaguer to the Rays for Julio Lugo, and then sent Izturis to the Cubs for Greg Maddux. Their lone August 31 trade sent a minor leaguer to the Nats for Marlon Anderson.
2007
Once again Colletti was active in the free agent market. Some would work out, others turned into huge mistakes. Jason Schmidt would sign his contact in December of 2006. Later on it would be considered one of the worst free agent signings in Dodger history.
How many know that Fernando Tatis actually signed with the Dodgers? Well he did, but was gone by the middle of spring training. The first trade of 07 sent Dessens to Milwaukee for Brady Clark. He would be released in June. They sent Betemit to the Yankees at the deadline for Scott Proctor. In August they sent a minor leaguer to the Giants for Mark Sweeney. They signed David Wells as a free agent and got Esteban Loiza off waivers.
2008
In December, Colletti signed Andruw Jones. Jones would be a huge disappointment and would be gone from the roster by the next year. Dodgers also got a new manager as Joe Torre took over for Grady Little. The Dodgers were not active at the winter meetings. The first trade came in June and sent Juan Rivera and cash to KC for Angel Berroa. In late July, things heated up. One the 26th, they sent Carlos Santana, yeah, that guy who is still playing, and Jon Meloan to the Indians for Casey Blake and cash. Then on deadline day, a blockbuster three team deal. When the dust cleared, the Dodgers sent Andy LaRoche, and Bryan Morris to the Pirates who also received Brandon Moss and Craig Hanson from the Red Sox who got Jason Bay, and the Dodgers, well they got Manny Ramirez.
The entire season changed. Manny went off and had one of the greatest stretches of any player in Dodger history plus Mannywood was created at Dodger Stadium and the team would make a run to the NLCS before losing to the Phillies. Colletti also made a trade in August which brought Greg Maddux to the Dodgers for a second time.
2009
Again, there was no activity during the winter except for free agent signings and then in January they released Andruw Jones. The big drama surrounded the speculation of whether or not Ramirez would re-sign with LA. That dragged on until March when Manny inked his new deal.
The Dodgers made two trades at the deadline, landing reliever George Sherrill from the Orioles, and then getting Vinny Rottino from the Brewers. They signed Vincente Padilla as a free agent in August. They made two trades at the August deadline, getting Jim Thome from the White Sox and Jon Garland from the D-Backs.
2010
Colletti’s first deal of the winter sent Juan Pierre to the White Sox for a pair of pitchers, John Ely and John Link. Mostly he chose to sign a lot of free agents, some made it through spring training, others did not. They were also dealing with Manny Ramirez being suspended for PED use.
He made his first in-season trade on the 28th of July when he traded C, Lucas May and a minor leaguer to the Royals for Scott Podsednik. He made two trades at the deadline, sending Andrew Lambo and James McDonald to the Pirates for Octavio Dotel. Then he swapped two minor leaguers and 3B Blake DeWitt to the Cubs for Ted Lilly and Ryan Theriot. At the end of August, Manny Ramirez was claimed by the White Sox on waivers.
2011
Joe Torre stepped down as manager, and Don Mattingly took over. Unknown to fans, behind the scenes owner Frank McCourt was having financial troubles and MLB eventually would take over the franchise until it could be sold. So Colletti was handcuffed in just what moves he could make.
He signed some free agents, Juan Uribe, Jon Garland, and in November he traded Ryan Theriot to the Cardinals for Blake Hawksworth. Other than free agents, he did not obtain a bona-fide MLB player until they paid cash for Juan Rivera in July. At the deadline, he made two deals. He sent Rafael Furcal to the Cardinals for OF Alex Castellanos, and then in a three team deal, they sent Trayvon Robinson to the Mariners and received a minor leaguer, Tim Federowicz and Stephen Fife from the Red Sox. The Red Sox got Erik Bedard and Josh Fields. The Dodgers had filed for bankruptcy in June. In November, McCourt agreed to sell the team with the proviso that the new owners be in place by opening day in 2012.
There were several suitors for the team, The Guggenheim group, Steven A. Cohen and Arn Tellum, Rick J Caruso and Joe Torre, Stanley Gold, Dennis Gilbert and Larry King, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, Orel Hershiser and Steve Garvey, Peter O’Malley and Korean conglomerate, E-Land, Fred Claire.
On March 27 it was announced that the team was to be sold to Guggenheim partners for a price of over 2 billion dollars. The team’s fortunes after the sale would turn dramatically.
2012
Colletti kept collecting free agents at the beginning of the off-season before the new management was in place. Mark Ellis and Adam Kennedy, Chris Capuano, Jerry Hairston Jr., John Grabow and Josh Fields. In May he signed Bobby Abreu. In June he signed a young Cuban outfielder, Yasiel Puig.
In July, he made three big trades. First on the 25th, he sent Nathan Eovaldi and Scott McGough to the Marlins for Hanley Ramirez and Randy Choate. On the 30th, he traded two minor leaguers to the Mariners for Brandon League, then on the 31st he traded Josh Lindblom, Ethan Martin and a PTBNL to the Phillies for Shane Victorino.
Now remember, you could still make trades before September 1st back then. On the third of August, he got Joe Blanton from the Phillies for a minor leaguer. But what he did next will forever be known as “The Trade”. On August 25th, they traded two players to be named later, who would turn out to be Jerry Sands, and Rubby De La Rosa, James Loney, Ivan De Jesus, and Allen Webster to the Red Sox for Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, Josh Beckett, Nick Punto and cash.
That trade did little to improve their standing in the league as they still finished out of the playoffs. But the next season would start a string of playoff appearances which is still intact today.
2013
With the financial restraints lifted, Colletti had money available to sign better free agents. His first major purchase was Korean star, Hyun Jin Ryu in December of 2012. He followed that up with Zack Greinke a day later. On the 12th, they traded a minor leaguer to the Cardinals for Skip Schumaker.
In April they traded P Aaron Harang to the Rockies for C Ramon Hernandez. He would be gone by June. In July he traded three players to the Marlins for P Ricky Nolasco. They signed Brian Wilson as a free agent on the 30th of July and traded for C, Drew Butera on the 31st.
On the last day of August, they traded P Rob Rasmussen to the Phillies for infielder Michael Young. They won the west, made the playoffs but were beaten in the NLCS when Hanley Ramirez was knocked out of the playoffs by Joe Kelly.
2014
2014 would be Colletti’s last year as the GM. But at the beginning of the off-season no one knew that. He spent most of the winter of 13 and early spring of 14 signing free agents. No trades were made at the winter meetings. He did not sign any big ticket free agents either. An under the radar free agent signing in February, would turn out to be a huge signing as time went on. Justin Turner signed with the team after being cut loose by the Mets.
He made his first trade on July 28th sending a minor leaguer to the Cubs for Darwin Barney. Next on August 7th, he sent two minor leaguers to the Phillies for Roberto Hernandez. On the 9th he made a cash transaction with the Twins for Kevin Correa. That would be the last trade Colletti would make.
After losing the playoff series for the second straight year to the Cardinals, in November, the owners hired Andrew Freidman to be the President of Baseball Operations. He hired Farhan Zaidi to be the new GM.
MiLB GAME SUMMARY REPORTS
OKC Baseball Club vs Round Rock Express (Texas) – Game was suspended
Amarillo Sod Poodles (Arizona) 5 – Tulsa Drillers 2
Tulsa Drillers is taking lessons from their MLB squad with 0-4 WRISP, while scoring their 2 runs on 2 solo HRs.
Jared Karros started for Tulsa. He allowed a solo HR to Kristian Robinson in the 3rd. In the 5th, the first two batters singled. A force out put runners on 1st and 3rd. A sac fly and double brought home both runners.
Karros finished with 5.2 IP on 93 pitches (69 strikes). Ronan Kopp got the final out in the 6th and pitched a scoreless 7th with 1 BB and 2 Ks.
Logan Boyer relieved Kopp in the 8th and allowed an unearned run.
José Ramos hit a solo HR (8) in the 2nd, and Brandon Davis hit a solo HR (5) in the 4th.
Brandon Lewis had the only other Drillers hit, a double (4).
Cedar Rapids Kernels (Minnesota) 5 – Great Lakes Loons 2
The Loons out hit Cedar Rapids 6-5. But they could not get a hit WRISP. Like Tulsa, GL is taking lessons from the parent club, the Loons were 0-5. Their two runs were the result of solo HRs. Jake Gelof hit his 2nd in the 4th, while Chris Newell hit his league leading 16th in the 6th.
Chris Campos retired the first 9 batters he faced. He gave up a double to lead off the 4th. Rubel Cespedes hit a 1-out 2 run HR.
In the 6th, Madison Jeffrey relieved Campos. He issued a BB, single, and BB to load the bases with no outs. After a strike out, a single and E-9 plated all three.
Brandon Neeck pitched a perfect 2.2 innings, with 4 Ks. Edgardo Henriquez pitched a perfect 9th with 2 Ks.
- Thayron Liranzo – 2-4, 2 doubles (10)
- Jake Gelof – 1-3, 1 BB, 1 run, 1 RBI, HR (2)
- Chris Newell – 1-3, 1 BB, 1 run, 1 RBI, HR (16)
- Sam Mongelli – Double (5)
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 11 – Visalia Rawhide (Arizona) 5
Payton Martin got the start at home. He retired the side in order in the 1st.
In the bottom of the 1st, Kendall George and Jeral Perez led off with singles, and Josue De Paula walked to load the bases. After a strikeout, Samuel Munoz hit a sac fly to get RC on the board. Logan Wagner drew a 2 out BB to load the bases, and Oswaldo Osorio followed with a bases loaded double (4).
Jeral Perez hit a solo HR (7) in the 2nd, Samuel Munoz hit a solo HR (2) in the 3rd, and Jordan Thompson hit a 3-run HR in the 4th.
Staked to a 7-1 lead, Gabe Emmett entered in the 5th . He allowed a pair of runs in both the 5th and 6th.
David Tiburcio followed Emmett in the 8th and a perfect 8th.
The Quakes scored a pair of runs in the 8th. Wilman Diaz hit a one out double and moved to 3rd on an infield single by Kendall George. Diaz was caught stealing home. George stole 2nd (16) and moved to 3rd on the throwing error. George scored on a WP.
Jeral Perez walked and Josue De Paula was HBP. Jordan Thompson reached on an error to load the bases. Perez scored on another WP.
Tiburcio got the first two outs in the 9th. A single, BB, and HBP loaded the bases, but Tiburcio got Druw Jones on a called 3rd strike to end the game.
- Kendall George – 2-4, 1 BB, 3 runs
- Jeral Perez – 2-3, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 4 runs, 1 RBI, HR (7)
- Josue De Paula – 0-1, 3 BB, 1 HBP, 1 run
- Jordan Thompson – 2-5, 1 run, 3 RBI, HR (7)
- Samuel Munoz – 1-3, 1 BB, 1 run, 2 RBI, HR (2)
- Antonio Osorio – 1-3, 1 BB, 3 RBI, double (4)
- Wilman Diaz – double (6)
ACL Dodgers 10 – ACL Reds 4
- Joendry Vargas, 2-3, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 2 runs, 1 RBI, double (3)
- Eduardo Quintero – 1-3, 2 BB, 1 run, 1 RBI
- Alexander Albertus – 2-4, 1 NN, 2 RBI
- Jose Meza – 1-5, 2 runs, 2 RBI, double (7)
- Mairoshendrick Martinus – 1-3, HBP, 1 run, 2 RBI, HR (3)
There was nothing positive to write about in last night’s game. So I decided to publish Bear’s article on Trades, which was eminently more informative than writing about where the Dodgers are at right now. I broke it up into 2 posts; 1 – pre- AF, and 2 – AF era. The second part will be published for Thursday.
Enjoy and comment on this post or the plight of LAD!
ESPN’s Jeff Passan has a thorough advance look at the upcoming trade market, which should be very busy. He doesn’t rule out the possibility that Luis Robert could be traded, but it would obviously be very expensive. There will be plenty of outfielders on the market.
Passan also suggests that Tanner Scott will definitely be dealt. He would give the pen another lefty, but with closer experience.
BTW, that trade for Eithier sure worked out well.
Can AF do something like that?
Loved that trade, outside of getting Manny, I think it was the best deal Colletti ever made. I did like it when he got Maddux. Getting to see him pitch as a Dodger was awesome. I do remember that so many of the Dodgers young pitchers were elated to work alongside the future Hall of Famer, and he helped many of them.
DodgersNation picks on the idea that Luis Robert is on the market:
” Robert is just 26 years old, under multiple years of team control, and is coming off a 2023 season in which he slashed .264/.315/.542 with 38 home runs, 80 runs batted in, and an OPS of .857. He made the American League All-Star team, won a Silver Slugger award, and finished 12th in American League MVP voting.
Robert has only appeared in seven games this season due to a hip injury, but he was activated from the injured list Tuesday. If he can stay healthy, Robert will immediately become one of the most sought-after players at the trade deadline.”
I’ll add that Robert plays quality defense in CF.
SpotRac says that Robert is under contract through 2027. If the Dodgers like him, he could anchor the OF for the next 3.5 seasons. And he’s cheaper, in terms of AAV, than Teoscar. He is due $12.5m this season, $15m in ’25 and $20m in both ’26 and ’27.
This contract could be really appealing to the Dodgers.
I have only a vague notion of what the Sox would want, except that it would be a lot–a blockbuster–so we could start with….
Rushing + one of Outman/Pages + Knack + Varland… Plus lottery tickets, if needed. This deal would give the Sox three guys they could immediately plug into their roster, plus big power in the wings.
My rationale:
With Smith locked in at catcher, Rushing is expendable and his power would help the Sox compensate for the loss of Robert’s. (I would only move Rushing in an impact deal.) Outman is solid in CF; if he gets back to ’23 form he’s worth 20+ HRs with a .350 OBP–but the Sox might prefer Pages. Their choice. Every team needs pitchers; Knack is good but depth on the Dodgers. Varland is an RP with ML experience, but easily replaced by the Dodgers.
Would do that deal only if Robert jun. does not suffer another injury until the deadline but I´d prefer to hold on to Pages rather than Outman.
Joendry Vargas had two more hits yesterday at the ACL , now batting .368, playing solid defense too. Would like the Dodgers to put him on the fast track.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hopefully they can find someone who can actually hit wth risp
I concur with that. Time is short for those who are not contributing. Taylor, Kike and Lux should have a really short leash about now. They really miss Muncy’s bat.
I like Robert Jr. But I have a problem with giving up a lot of talent for a player who has been injured as much as he has. He has played more than 100 games once in his career. He strikes out an awful lot. 175 times last season. His team control and age are great, but he is a huge injury risk. One reason I have argued against trading for Byron Buxton every time his name was brought up. Robert was activated yesterday. Let’s see if he can put up some numbers before making a judgement on a trade. Also, I do not trade Rushing. Barnes has one year left on his deal. Rushing to me is a better back up option than any other catcher in the system. Smith could be moving to a new position sooner rather than later with a guy like Rushing ready to take over. And Rushing is at AA, thinking his power will immediately be seen in the majors is premature. He needs time at AAA and can get that next year.
It’s all speculation, of course, but a baseball Youtuber just reminded me of another reason that the cost for 3.5 years of Robert will be very high.
He argues that FOUR contenders could be making bids.
The obvious one is Atlanta, since Acuna out for the season. The others are the Dodgers, Phillies and Mariners.
Using MLB Trade Values, he suggested this package from the Dodgers: Josue de Paula, Peyton Martin, Landon Knack and Trey Sweeney.
I would do that but I suspect the Sox would ask for more. And perhaps they’d prefer an OF they could use immediately like Outman, Pages or Vargas.
Part of my thinking is that the Dodgers need to be in win-now mode to complement enhance the prime years of the Big Three, or Four if we count Dills. With the struggles of Taylor and Outman, outfield has become a need–and Robert would bring both a great glove and bat to the lineup.
Assuming Max returns, it could look like this:
Mookie SS/2B
Shohei DH
Freddie 1B
Dills C
Robert CF
Max 3B
Teoscar LF
Heyward/Pages RF
Lux/Rojas 2B
By Dills you are referring of Will Smith? I think they need at least one more super reliable bullpen piece and some help on the bench. A lefty bat with some pop would help. Heyward is heating up. 3 doubles today.
If I were the White Sox GM I would be looking at the outfield and pitching jewels of every organization in trade for Robert Jr.. With the Dodgers that would be DePaula and Stone.The Dodgers top pitching prospects in the minors look too old to me. And if I’m the Dodgers, I look elsewhere and wait to see the ask drop. Some team will likely overpay. Robert Jr appears to have tremendous potential but he hasn’t really put it together yet. In 5 years he’s had only one full season and in that season he OPS’d .857.
There is still time for Outman and Pages to show they are ready to play and play well into October. Same could be said for Lux but I find many of his st bats to be maddening. It’s like he isn’t sure of his strike zone and is a terrible two strike hitter. I think I’ve had it with Taylor. He hasn’t had 100 at bats yet, 78, but I don’t think 22 more are going to make a difference.
I look forward to what this team might look like when the injured pitchers get back. They won’t help the WRISP problem, but neither will adding one outfielder. The current lineup needs to get it together and I think they will.
Hope you are right on Pages, Outman and Lux gets it together. taylor appears a lost cause. Why do you think Vargas doesnt get many at bats is he in Roberts dog house? The lineup getting it together appears a huge ask at this point
I do not think Vargas is in any doghouse. I think his playing time is more dictated by the front office than the manager. Taylor started today because Roberts saw something he liked yesterday in Chris’s swing. He must really dislike that choice today. Not having a second LH hitting outfielder is really hamstringing this team.
I do not think LA would trade Stone, especially not this year.
I don’t either. Looking at it from Chicago’s perspective they would ask for our best young players. He’s one of them. The other top minor league pitching prospects we have are 25+ and I don’t know how interesting they would be to other organizations.
Knack would fill the bill for a pitcher I believe. Stone is too much of a part of this rotation to be on the block.
Sometimes when a key player gets hurt the other players pic it up and play better. Players often play better in the last yr before becoming a free agent. Teams have been known to improve when a major shakeup happens like a trade or firing. We all know how hard it is to ramp back up after cruising with a big lead.
I’ve said this before.My point is this team needs a spark, a sense of urgency, a motivator, a leader that can bust some butts. Even with a bad bottom of the order there is plenty of talent to dominate, plus a good starting rotation for the playoffs. Too much glamour, not enough grit. Teams take on the personality of their manager. This team is congenial, friendly, wag their butts when they get on base and usually win if they get an early lead. No I’m not just pointing my finger at the manager. He is one piece, front office and player personnel also can have an influence.
Not a fan of their hands-in-the-air wag-butts when they get hits.
Looks dumb to me.
Yep. They need to move on from the butt wiggle, hand waving non sense. Especially the way they have been hitting lately. It was OK for about a week.
LOL. That wiggle is asking for insults.
No body seems to mind but the fans. And it isn’t any worse than some of the other celebrations teams have, like the Orioles spitting water on the field.
Frankly I’d like to see more of it. A LOT more of it.
Agree. Get rid of it.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!
Amen
SLUMPING SUPERSTARS
Mookie and Ohtani. They are both starting to annoy me and force me to revisit their career stats, once again. Both are streaky and often don’t break .300BA in a season. Sure, they are good, but a billion dollars good? Both are showing their backsides at the moment and have little impact on the team. Glasnow gives up 1 HR and loses the game, 1-0. I can’t blame the pitching for this loss. Where are the heads of these two superstars? Both free falling and I would not be surprised if neither of them breaks .300 by seasons end. At least Freddie looks like he’s coming back to life and may still be the heart and soul of this team.
I get it. But in the end it’s how much WAR they put up.
I had no idea Ohtani would be so streaky. He started slow, caught fire, and now he looks like he’s flailing away up there. With his innate talent one would think he’d at least make more consistent contact.
Jeff, don’t you know a pitcher can’t get beat giving up solo home runs?
Guy is hitting .322 with a .988 OPS and 15 bombs. Like all sluggers, he is going to have some bad days. Mookie has always been a streaky hitter. But one thing he has done his entire career is crank it up starting in July. Career wise, he hits .307 in the second half.
In an attempt to break the inanity today, this is interesting:
https://x.com/ballparkpal/status/1796882885397352764?s=46
RF balls?
*Get used to some cheese, boys. Jared Jones was at 101 with a 93 slider. Today it’s Paul Skenes who throws 100 falling out of bed.
Glasgow followed up with a pedestrian 97. And a 12 to 6 hammer.
Gawd, it’s a new day.
*Lux is tardy. When he face velocity, he has to start earlier. He has a pronounced, lazy, front knee lift and he doesn’t set that front foot down in time. He swings that left foot around and eventually steps slightly in the bucket, opening his hips. From that point, everything is tardy.
Stop the swinging stride. Pick the foot up, and set it down, and get ready early.
*I feel sorry for CT3. I’m a people person and don’t enjoy seeing a fellow human being struggle. I like Chris Taylor. He’s had his moments, is a hard worker, good teammate and a good guy. But it’s a production business. He still has some defensive chops but as a hitter, he’s done. I guess AF thinks we can delay the inevitable, but it’s time. Give a youngster a chance to break in and bid CT3 a fond farewell.
*In the 7th with CT up with the tying run at 2nd and again as the final out in the 9th, just for a change in fortune, I bet myself a steak dinner, a nice $65 dollar fillet, at the best broiler in town, that CT3 would get a hit. Well, it’s back to the hamburger helper.
*As CT3 flied out to left for the last out I couldn’t help but wonder about our bench in a 1 run game. Doc stuck with CT3, but the available pinch hitters were Barnes, Kike and Vargas, who I would gone to. But that’s pretty slim pickens off the bench for a team that has world championship aspirations
Apparently I am not the only one who thought about Garrett Crochet. One of the FanSided articles suggested the Dodgers could use a 24 year old LHP who is under control until 2027. Their suggestion – Josue De Paula, Trey Sweeney, and Samuel Munoz. Their other rationale is to stick it to the Padres. NEVER make a deal to stop another team from that deal. Improve your team, don’t worry about others. That is how the Dodgers ended up with Bauer
I still do not believe the Dodgers would actually contemplate such a deal, nor contemplate trading for Crochet at all.
I wanted the Dodgers to go after Luzardo before they signed Paxton. It’s been reported the Luzardo will be dealt this summer. Paxton threw a stinker today, but with Kershaw reportedly ahead of schedule I wonder if the Dodgers think they need a lefty.
Paxton is 5-1. He threw a bad game today and his overall ERA suffered for it. But he could just as well shut a team down his next start. He has been a pleasant surprise. Kershaw reportedly will be ready in about 6-8 weeks. Even if he is, I doubt very seriously that they let him pitch more than five innings in his first three starts. So, the bullpen better be good. Then you have Miller returning soon also, same scenario. I think they go to a six-man setup.
Before the season started, the two areas that I thought would negatively affect the Dodgers were infield defense and outfield offense. The infield has been better than expected. Both Muncy and Lux have been much better defensively than I expected and Betts has mostly been good at SS.
The OF offense, however, is even worse than I expected. I wasn’t ever convinced that Jason Hayward’s resurgence was more than a one year aberration, and feared that he would regress to the mean this year. I didn’t foresee Outman’s horrible start to 2024. I figured both Taylor and Kike were washed up.
Who here knows who the MLB leader in men LOB is? It’s none other than Teoscar Hernandez, who has left 136 men on base. Second is Manny Machado with 119. Teo has knocked in 38. Not a great percentage, is it? (Freeman is 9th with 110, Ohtani is 21st with 104. If you get up with men on base, you might knock some in, but a good RBI man (and there is such a thing) figures out a way to bring the runners in.)
Incidentally the Dodgers also lead the league in men LOB/game.
Back to the OF, if you assume that Teo is still a net plus, who plays the other two OF spots? We are more than 38% of the way into the season. Right now, it doesn’t look like Pages is quite MLB ready, or at least he has to make adjustments, and he has said that it hasn’t been the pitchers who have made adjustments to him and are getting him out, he just isn’t hitting his pitches. If he doesn’t think that he needs to make adjustments, how likely is it that he will make them?
Luis Robert Jr. can’t stay healthy so until he shows he can actually stay on the field, he’s a no.
It seems that $1 Billion doesn’t go as far as it used to.
Teohas been a huge disappointment. Probably shouldn’t have been because he is a strikeout machine. Freddie has gotten off to a very bad start. He is starting to turn it around recently but everyone else is cold. I thought Ohtani would be a better hitter. He strikes out too much, expands the zone, and hits a lot of ground balls. He is a great player because he can be a dominant pitcher as well. Offensively, he has lots of room for improvement. Betts is just so streaky. Freeman is probably the best hitter of the 3 but he hasn’t been this year.
too many strikeouts in the lineup. U just know in clutch situations Ohtani, pages, outman, Muncy , teo, kike(righties), lux, are likely to strike out. Betts and Rojas don’t strike out much. Going to be hard to fix this offense.
We need a new hitting coach. RVS has ruined this club.
I’m not surprised by the overall LOB numbers but admittedly I had no idea Teo was that bad.
This is a streaky bunch. When the top of the order goes cold this team just won’t score much. The bottom of the order should not be Mendoza bad so I look for them to improve. How long will this go on? Who knows, but one outfielder won’t help all that much. 1-6 just has to hit. They are all well paid to do it, so, it’s on them.
Heyward is playing excellent baseball. He got three more hits today and lifted his average to .269. He also has an OPS of over .800. He won’t play against tough lefties, but he has more than held his own against RHP.
Haven’t verified this stat but assume it’s correct, posted by Vassegh after last night’s game. The Dodgers have not scored a run while Glasnow has been pitching IN HIS LAST 5 GAMES.
I’m concerned but we have a decent lead in the division and will wait to see what AF does at the deadline.
This problem is not going to go away. as I said before, they will continue to lose, and the losses will pile up. They’re going to have to make changes as soon as possible. The roster construction was poor, and it needs to get better before the season starts. It’s difficult to rebuild half the position player roster midseason.
With 5-6 automatic outs, they will continue to not score many runs. last night, another example. No runs, a bunch of men left on base. No situational hitting. No base running. nothing. Can’t expect for Mookie and Ohtani to hit .350 all season. That’s not realistic. When those guys have a little slump, then they won’t score at all. Again, they will lose, and keep losing.
The problem is there, and not going anywhere. in order to win in October, not only do you have to have a strong starting rotation, strong bullpen, solid defense, but you also have to have a well balanced lineup. That means 1-9. Not 4 hitters, and the rest of the team is a bunch of auto outs.
we’ll see how many runs they score today, but my guess is about 1-3. 3 is on the high side. Friedman is really stubborn about this stuff. My guess is they will wait until the trade deadline, do nothing and keep playing all the auto outs. and likely will continue to fall in the standings. I wouldnt be surprised if they lose every game on this roadtrip, and soon enough they should be hovering around .500.
It’s beyond time for a change.
Need to make changes to the roster/lineup – agree
The team as currently constructed is unlikely to go far in the playoffs – agree
Lose every game on the road trip? – disagree
Will soon hover around .500 – they’re currently 14 over. No way they even get within 3 or 4 games of .500
It’s time for a change – agree (depending on what your definition of change is)
Hovering around.500? Please.
So what specifically do you suggest?
well if they dont make any changes, and the auto outs don’t magically figure it out, then yes its possible they could lose enough games to hover around .500.
So what specifically do you suggest?
well, I dont know but I’ll take a shot….how about….
NOT WASTING ROSTER SPOTS ON TERRIBLE HITTERS
that’s my suggestion.
NOT WASTING ROSTER SPOTS ON TERRIBLE HITTERS
But who do you replace them with? It is easy to say get rid of the terrible hitters. But they have to be replaced.
We know you do not like Outman. And I am assuming that Pages is in your group of auto outs, since he is not in this the 1st 4. Ryan Ward? Drew Avans? Trey Sweeney? Andre Lipcius? Austin Gauthier? Kody Hoese? Chris Owings? Jonathan Araúz?
Who would be on your reasonable trade want list? Problem is easy. The solution?
My solution is to draft better. Thats why I liked Logan White, he knew how to draft well. Stop wasting draft picks on weak hitting middle infielders with no power, or guys who strike out a ton. And then hype them up like they are hall of famers.
I’m going to give you an answer similar to my answer last year, and it’s not one you’re going to like. Since it’s difficult very difficult to replace half the position player roster in the middle of the season, and there is nobody in the minors that can make a difference, that means this year is toast. They’re not going to win the WS this year. They can make the playoffs, but likely they will get beat again.
if they can’t swing any trades, then the only thing that may help is DFA lux and Taylor. They can choose to accept an assignment to OKC, or take their chances on the market. Thanks for the memories CT3, love you, but its time. Kike and Heyward can stay for now, but move them to the bench. Call up two players from OKC Lipcius, and Gautheir, move Rojas to SS permanently for the time being and Mookie to 2B.
draft better. The Dodgers are lucky the rest of the NL west is so bad this year.
Oh and hey it’s now 6-0 Pittsburgh. looks like another pathetic loss. My guess is they will lose every game on this road trip, come home and keep on losing.
the problem remains.
I am working on something with respect to Logan White and the draft. I agree that Logan White is a better judge of amateur talent than is Billy Gasparino.
May 10 – 2-1 loss to Padres. He was losing 1-0 after he completed his 7th inning. Technically he was still the pitcher of record when the Dodgers scored a run in the top of the 8th.
May 16 – 7-2 loss to Reds. He was losing 4-0 after completing his 5th inning. Dodgers waited until 9th to score 2 runs.
May 22 – 6-0 loss to Dbacks. He was losing 3-0 after his 5.0 IP. Dodgers did not score.
May 29 – 5-2 win vs NYM (10 innings) – He was losing 2-0 after completing his 7th inning. Technically he was still the pitcher of record when the Dodgers scored a run in the top of the 8th.
June 4 – 1-0 loss to Pirates. He was losing 1-0 when he left after completing 6.0 innings.
If Vassegh wants to say they did not score while he was pitching, okay. But he was technically still the LAD pitcher when they scored runs in the 8th in the May 10 and June 4 game.
Regardless, 0 runs or 2 runs from your team in 5 games and 30 IP is not good. What a shame this team is wasting Glasnow’s starts.
I think the quote was “while he was in the game”.
I’m assuming Vassegh meant actually on the mound, not technically the official pitcher.
Then he was correct.
The Dodgers are throwing the exact same lineup today as they had against Jones. What is the over under on Skenes Ks? 12?
I’ll take the under. These guys are starting to feel embarrassed so they’ll probably come to the park today with a little bit of anger and frustration. I’m figuring about 9-10 k’s.
With regard to the lineup, yesterday CT3 started in CF and Rojas at 3B. The lineup I saw for today had CT3 at 3B and Pages in CF. Not that this will cut down any on the strike outs.
You are right. I guess I saw Taylor and did not notice Pages. Rojas has certainly not been the problem.
I like to disagree with Scott, but I cannot justifiably argue against his points. The same with Dodgerrick. Rick has most often taken the position opposite of mine, but always backs it up with quality support, and writes impeccably. Even though we do not often agree, Rick will always be one of my favorites.
I wish I could have that Pollyanna attitude as some out there have. And you know who you are. But this team has too many holes to stand pat.
I cannot argue what Rick and Scott have written. I have made those same observations and documented them in my workbooks, only to look away believing that the team was about ready to explode. I needed to stay positive.
But this inability to score runs with RISP is no longer a simple few games.
In the last 22 games:
104 of 353 WRISP – .198 – 82 runs scored vs 70 runs against – That is less than 4 runs per game in the last 22 games (3.73/game). 12-10 in those games.
In their last 11 games:
27 of 146 WRISP – .185 – 61 runs scored vs 60 runs against – 6-5 in those games.
That does not inspire a lot of confidence that this is a temporary situation.
I said it in an earlier post, and I agree with Scott…Andrew you have to get out of your comfort zone. Make that trade to bring in a difference maker even if you believe you are going to lose the trade. With both Urquidy and Javier out for the year (and part of next year) with elbow surgery, Houston is going to need pitching. Badly! AF should do his best AJ Preller and get Kyle Tucker.
Houston will try to push Bregman who is in his walk year and will require less in prospect capital, but resist the urge. Hold out for Tucker.
There is nobody in AAA that will turn this season around. The help has to come from outside the organization. And that is what happens when you miss so many years on position players in the draft.
If that means trading Lux. Do it. If that means trading Outman. Do it. If that means DFA Chris Taylor, do it. You cannot possibly hold onto all of Sheehan, Ryan, Hurt, Frasso, Knack. Rushing is luxury, not a need. Trade him while he is near his top. You might as well hold on to Cartaya. You have lost any trade value by waiting.
Tell RVS he needs to go back to private coaching. This all or nothing approach is killing this team. Because right now it is nothing. Have the guts to do what Seattle did to Brant Brown. I do not know if Emmanuel Burriss is the right choice, but give him the job for the year as an audition.
The Dodgers get shutout by Jared Jones and they trot out the same lineup against Paul Skenes. Roberts talks about switching Ohtani and Freeman in the lineup. Quit talking about it…DO IT!
Just do something different.
Based!
I would be all in on Tucker No idea what the ask would be but he would be a great addition and potentially extend him in the offseason. Baltimore apparently has too much talent in the outfield and not enough playing time for everyone. I know that they are not performing at their normal levels but it seems Austin Hays and Cedric Mullins are getting reduced playing time. Maybe get one of them if Tucker doesn’t make it to being a trade candidate. Perhaps a change of scenery would be good for them.
I would love to see Tucker in Dodger Blue. I do not know how the Dodgers feel about him. He has a 16% career K rate. He has more BB this year than K. I really cannot see Houston trading him. IMO, they are going to push Bregman. If Tucker is traded and it is not to the Dodgers, AF should be on a short leash.
Trade Simulator says Tucker fair value would be:
Rushing
Ryan
Knack
Vargas
Tucker is currently hurt after fouling a ball off of his leg. No fracture and he is day to day. I think the Astros will be hunting starting pitching at the deadline. Bregman is their most tradeable piece. If they feel they won’t be able to re-sign Tucker, then maybe they move him. They lost Urquidy to season-ending surgery.
I’m not one of your favorites Jeff…..?
You are one of mine. 😀
I have been discussing with Rick since 2017. He and I have had some very good “discussions”. And yes, I do like commenting with you.
So I am your second favorite. Noted. lol😎
Let’s not expect Roberts to come up with any innovations. Not sure he is capable of this. He is a creature of habit. Bad medicine for baseball teams.
Just as I predicted. But then it wasn’t very hard to come to that conclusion.
Add Sweeney to the list of guys we should be trading. And do it quickly while his value is high. In my opinion, he will never be a starter for this team.
Agreed, but AF will keep him.
LH hitting SS are a coveted commodity.
7 runs without a HR? RVS and Dodger management are asking…”How is that possible?” Sac bunt? Every time the Dodgers play a young team, they get schooled on small ball and situational hitting.
No Bluto, I am not joking.
Pittsburgh is 4-6 WRISP in 1 inning. The Dodgers are 4-35 WRISP in four games.
So, in other words, each team has gotten 4 hits with RISP. I feel better now.
Yeah well if the Dodgers were hitting against James Paxton….
ok
I think you raise a good point in your serious point. It’s proving much harder, in modern day baseball, to consistently score via small ball and situational hitting.
How can we know. We never try it.
A lot of free passes helped this. Walks have been Paxton’s Kryptonite this year.
I know it looks bad at the present time but I’m hearing what I consider knee jerk reactions in here today.
There’s 7 weeks to the deadline. I intend to stay calm for most of that time as I still believe in this team.
I’ll also add it’s probably only a few short years before this kid Skenes needs TJ surgery.
It’s all knee-jerk stuff. Inconsequential.
It’s even worse on Mark T’s board, where it’s knee-jerk reactions by morons.
What constitutes a moron Bluto? Someone who does not believe that the Dodgers team as it is now constructed can win the WS. Then I guess I am a moron.
Raises hand….I am a moron as well. 😆
You said it, Scott.
THIS WAS A JOKE!
You take the internet very seriously Bluto lol
No.
And you are definitely not a moron.
But do you want examples?
It’s pretty rampant over there.
Who gives a shit, Bluto.
The GOAT has spoken!!!
😊
Knee jerk? Perhaps. But how many games does hitting WRISP below Mendoza constitute more than just a slump? At what point are you ready to say that something needs to change offensively? Can we push contact over slug? Especially with 2 strikes? Do you think that the answer is in OKC? I am genuinely asking.
Not to speak for Badger, but to change the batting strategy that has undergirded the Dodgers unprecedented recent success?
Changes to the pitching mound or further rule changes that diminish the import of slug?
Without that, maybe a couple of sub .500 seasons?
I honestly don’t know. But not when the team is leading the division by 7, certainly not.
Winning the Division has not been a problem since 2013 (except 2021). If that is your standard, then I guess this team meets your satisfaction. It is not mine. Just getting to the playoffs may be a success for you, but it is not for me (or Mark Walter). We just have different standards.
That’s not the question you posed.
we’re not defining success. We’re discussing the hitting coach!
I’ve been a vocal proponent of replacing Roberts, who has a MUCH bigger impact on post-season success than a hitting coach.
You really think the all or nothing approach is good? I prefer the ground ball singles by Freeman and Smith WRISP to the warning track power the Dodgers have been hitting. Even in tonight’s game, 3 runs were due to HR, one on a passed ball, and then the two ground ball singles. Good for Smith and Freeman. If the Dodgers had two ground ball singles WRISP instead of warning track power fly balls in the first game, the Dodgers would have won the game.
Again, this isn’t what you asked!
I think the game with its accentuated focus on slug is a very hard watch. But we were discussing changing the hitting coach!
maybe if (when?!?!) Roberts is canned the new manager could want his/her own batting coach, but I’m unclear if RVS is a Friedman call.
if so, it gets even harder to foresee a change.
i also believe the Dodgers would have won the game also if:
one: Paxton pitched better
two: Teoscar homered in the fifth
three: Ohtani homered in the eighth
It don’t mean a thing if you ain’t got the ring. Entertaining and fun to win 100 games and the division, but, ultimately very disappointing.
I am not who you were responding to, but agree with this!
Just would remove the penultimate word “very”.
I dunno. I am pretty damn disappointed when we bomb in the playoffs. LOL
Today looks like a pitching failure so do we now look to trade for more pitching to go along with replacing Lux and Taylor with two clutch hitters?
Bluto is right. This organization has more wins than any team in baseball since Friedman and Roberts have taken over. This current team has a substantial lead in the Division and I fully expect them to win it again by season’s end.
I believe moves will be made at the deadline but it’s just too early to know what they might be. In the meantime I will choose to keep the faith.
I still think Taylor has to be in shouting distance of Carl Crawford land.
He’s -3 in OPS+
Nobody would miss him.
Even with the current schneid the Dodgers are second to the Yankees in team WAR and OPS.
Today they scored 6 which should have been enough against the Pirates who are 24th in scoring.
I understand people are frustrated. I say relax. It’s the first week of June. The playoffs are months away.
People are frustrated….yes indeed. Just wait until they get swept by the Yankees and come home 6 games above .500….more losing coming. Prepare.
Stay positive Scott!
Passan’s Early Thoughts about the Dodgers at the deadline:
($$$)
It’s easy to look past deficiencies when a team’s first four hitters are as good as Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman and Will Smith, but L.A. needs to figure out what it’s going to do in the outfield. It’s conceivable James Outman returns from Triple-A and plays like he did last season, or that Chris Taylor remembers how to hit
…
With the scarcity of outfield bats, incremental upgrades might be the best bet, but with MLB so wide open, the Dodgers owe it to themselves to do more.
Personally, I do not care for the RVS school of hitting. But do all of the hitters just use his philosophy, or do he and Aaron Bates teach the exact same thing? I am old school. Swing level and make contact. The power will come. Make these guys do the same thing Rickey did with Duke Snider. Have him stand at home plate, not be allowed to string, and call the pitches. Strike or ball. And for Pete’s sake, quit chasing pitches so far out of the zone you could not hit them if you tried.