Major league baseball has handed out MVP awards since 1911. It was originally called the Chalmers Award. Chalmers was an auto maker in that period. In 1910 they had a promotion that they were going to award a new car to the batting leaders in both leagues, but a scandal involving Ty Cobb and Napoleon Lajoie doomed it to a one-off award. Cobb held a slim lead in the batting race with a .385 mark. Lajoie’s Indians were playing the St. Louis Browns. Cobb sat out the last two games. Lajoie played a double-header. 
Cobb was universally disliked around the league. Browns manager, Jack O’Connor allegedly ordered rookie 3rd baseman, Red Corden, to play on the outfield grass. This virtually assured Lajoie of a hit every time he bunted. Lajoie got 8 bunt hits. His last at bat however ended in a throwing error. He and Cobb ended in a virtual tie, but a recalculation showed Cobb at .385 and Lajoie at .384. But Chalmers decided to give both players the car. Unusual for the times. The car was considered a luxury car. 
From 1911-14 the Chalmers company gave out an award for the Most Valuable Player. It was a trophy cup. The first winners were Ty Cobb in the AL and Frank Shulte of the Cubs. The first Dodger to win the award was Jake Daubert, the 1st baseman in 1913. After Chalmers quit giving out the award, there was no MVP in either league until what was known as League Award came to being in 1922. In 22 and 23, there were no winners in the NL. George Sisler, 22, and Babe Ruth, 23, won the first two. In 1924, the AL winner was Walter Johnson. The winner in the NL was Brooklyn’s Dazzy Vance. The award continued to be given until 1929 when it was discontinued. 
In 1931, the BBWAA began awarding the MVP award as we know it today. First two winners were Lefty Grove in the AL and Frankie Frisch in the NL. The first Brooklyn Dodger to win the award was Dolph Camilli in 1941. The Dodgers 1st baseman hit .285, with 34 homers and 120 driven in, both league highs. His OPS was .962. He got 89% of the vote. Dodgers finished 1-2-3 in the voting and also 7th and 10th. In order they were Pete Reiser, Whit Wyatt, Kirby Higbe, and Dixie Walker. 
The next winner came in 1949. This time it was Jackie Robinson. Jackie got 79% of the vote. He led the league with a .342 BA and stole 37 bases, also leading the league. He drove in 124 runs and his OPS was .960. He also led the league in WAR with a 9.3 mark. Robbie’s teammates, Reese 5, Furillo 6, and Newcombe 8, also finished in the top 10. Hodges finished 11th, Campanella 15th, and Roe 16th. Seven Dodgers got MVP votes.
Remember in this era, pitchers did not have an award, so winning the MVP for a pitcher was a pretty big deal. Especially in an era that several Hall of Fame hitters played. In 1950, Jim Konstanty won the award. He was basically a relief specialist for the Whiz Kids Phillies who barely beat out the Dodgers for the pennant. He did have a great year with a 16-7 record, 22 saves and a 2.66 ERA in 74 games. What amazes me about his winning is that he beat out the league’s best hitter, Stan Musial, who hit .346 and led the league in slugging and OPS, and he did it by getting an 85% share of the vote. Musial had 47%. Hodges, 8th and Snider 9th, finished in the top 10.
Campy
Roy Campanella was the next Dodger winner in 1951. The Dodger backstop got 72% on the strength of a .325 BA, 33 homers and 108 driven in for a team that led the league most of the year, only to be tied and then beaten by the Giants in a 3-game-playoff. Musial, who won the batting title again, finished a distant second with 57%. Roe 5th, and Robinson 6h, were in the top 10. Hank Sauer of the Cubs won the award in 52. Joe Black was the highest Brooklyn qualifier coming in 3rd just 4% points behind Sauer.
Campy earned the award again in 1953, posting a .312 average with 41 homers and a league leading 142 RBIs. Eddie Mathews the league’s HR leader with 47 finished 2nd. Duke Snider who led the league in runs, slugging and OPS, finished 3rd. Duke slugged 42 homers and hit .332 driving in 126 runs. Campy got an 88% share of the votes. Mathews had 64%. Erskine and Furillo rounded out the top 10.
Campy’s 52 Bowman Card
Snider in a Brooklyn Dodgers Uni.
Willie Mays was the MVP in 1954. His WAR was 10.5. He led the league in hitting slugging and OPS. Duke Snider finished 4th. 1955 was not only the first World Series win for the Dodgers, but Roy also won his third MVP award. This time though, it was an extremely close vote, and not without controversy. Roy hit .318 with 32 homers and 107 RBI’s. Teammate Duke Snider hit .309 with 42 homers and 136 RBI’s which led the league. Allegedly, one voter either voted for Campy twice or left Snider off of his ballot. Campy had 67% and Duke 66. If the writer had voted for Campy twice, that ballot should have been thrown out. Duke should have won the MVP. 
Brooklyn made it back-to-back winners in 1956. Dodgers starter, Don Newcombe won the award with a 66% share. He beat out fellow Dodger, Sal Maglie who raked in a 54% share. Newk was really good that year, winning 27 and losing 7 His ERA was 3.06. He also had the lowest WHIP in the NL with a 0.989 mark. In 1956, baseball introduced the first award intended solely for pitchers, the Cy Young Award. Newcombe won that award too. Becoming the first pitcher to do so. 
The Dodgers left Brooklyn after the 1957 season. They would get their first MVP award in 1962 when SS Maury Wills won the award. It was a three-man race with Wills, Mays and Tommy Davis separated by slim margins. Wills pulled a 75% share and Mays 73. Wills had a record setting season smashing Ty Cobbs MLB record for stolen bases in a season, 96, by stealing 104 bases. Mays crushed 49 homers to lead the league, but Davis had a strong case leading the league with a .346 BA, 230 hits, and 153 RBI’s. 
They did not have to wait long for the next one. In 1963, Sandy Koufax won pitching’s triple crown, wins, ERA and strikeouts. He was 25-5 with a 1.88 ERA and he struck out 306 batters. Ron Perranoski, Jim Gilliam and Tommy Davis, who won his second batting title in a row at .326, were all in the top 10. Koufax also earned the Cy Young that year becoming the second pitcher in MLB history to win both in the same year.
#6 Steve Garvey
There would not be another MVP won by a Dodger until 1974. That winner was Steve Garvey. Garvey did not lead the NL in a single offensive category. He did hit .312 with 21 homers and he drove in 111 runs. He beat out Lou Brock who smashed Wills stolen base record with 118. What Garvey did do was win the MVP of the All-Star game as a write in starter. And he helped lead LA to their first World Series since 1966. He averaged .385 in the LCS and World Series.
It would be 14 years before a Dodger won again. In 1988, free agent signee, Kirk Gibson led the Dodgers to winning the West and then winning the playoff series with the Mets. Gibson set the tone when a spring training prank by Jesse Orosco backfired on the pitcher. He had put eye black in the liner of Gibson’s cap. When he discovered the prank, Gibson stormed off of the field wanting to know who the perpetrator was. He then proclaimed he was there to win baseball games and not to fool around. The laid-back culture in the clubhouse was transformed by his presence. 
Gibson won the award with some of the weaker stats that there have been. The only thing he led the league in was attitude. He garnered an 81% share of the votes, beating #2, Darrly Strawberry, who led the league in homers, slugging and OPS by 11%. Gibby batted .290, hit 25 homers and drove in 76 runs. He stole 31 bases. In the playoff with the Mets, he hit a game winning homer in the 12th inning of game four, keeping LA from falling into a 3-1 hole. Then he slugged a walk-off winner in game one of the World Series, maybe the most memorable homer in LA history. Along with Hershiser winning the Cy Young, LA won their 6th Championship. 
Up until 2020, the award was named for Judge Kennesaw Mountain Landis. But MLB changed that because of the huge uproar about Landis being a racist and opposing players of color playing in the majors for his entire tenure as the commissioner. The Dodger drought for MVP’s would last from 1988 until 2014. 26 years. In 2014, the player who broke the drought was another pitcher, Clayton Kershaw. Kershaw who had won Cy Youngs in 2011 and 13, earned the MVP on the strength of a 21-3 record, a 1.77 ERA and a league leading 0.857 WHIP. Kershaw also won his third Cy Young. Becoming the third LA Dodger to win both. 
The wait would only be 5 years after Kershaw’s win. Cody Bellinger, who was the Rookie of the Year in 2017, rebounded from a down second year to have a great season in 2019. He started off the season red hot, batting .336 in the first 88 games with 30 homers and 71 runs batted in. He slumped to .265 in the second half. He did slug 17 homers to finish at .305=47-115. He led the league in total bases with 351. He survived a furious charge by Christian Yelich who finished second with 75% to Bellinger’s 86%. Yelich led the league in BA, slugging, OBP and OPS.
As we all know, the latest winner was last season when Shohei Ohtani won the award. Ohtani so far is the only unanimous winner in Dodger history getting all 30 first place votes. His season was historic as he became the first 50-50 man in MLB history. 54 homers, 59 steals, a .310 BA, leading the league with a 9.2 WAR. He also led the league in runs, homers, RBI’s, 130, OBP, slugging and OPS. Those are the players who have won the MVP as Dodgers. Who will win the award this year? Ohtani is having excellent offensive numbers, but he is being challenged by guys like Pete Crow-Armstrong. With 102 games already played, not counting today’s game with the Twins, the stretch run will be important for declaring a winner.
The Good:
Badly needed win in dramatic walkoff fashion.
Glasnow looking like a true ace. Fingers crossed he can stay healthy the rest of the season.
The Bad:
Not sending Pages from seccond on Edmans RBI single ? Why not put pressure on the defense when you just took the lead ? Especially with Outman coming up ? Then why not try the squeeze play right there with Outman ? Dodgers and Roberts still not using small ball as often as they should. Especially with runs at a premium in a close game and your worst hitter at the plate.
The UGLY:
Yates.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wouldn’t it be nice to have Cody Bellinger come back to the Dodgers in the off-season. And have a outfield of Pages LF Bellinger CF, Teoscar Hernandez RF at least next year we would get production from the leftfielder.position. or if they get Tucker from the Cubs would fans forget he was an Astro and have Hernandez LF Pages CF and Tucker RF. Do they move Betts to swcondbase because I think the postion change is to much for him and messing up his hitting. Like to see last year when he moved back to the outfield how much his hitting improved. That’s goong yo be the debate in the off-season go after a better shortstop or keep him there.
I have always loved Bellinger. He is having a pretty good season. He is hitting .285, with 18 homers, already as many as he hit last year. His OPS is .841, OPS+ 131. He is slugging over .500 and has 9 bags. His defense in the outfield is superior to any outfielder currently on the roster save maybe Outman. At 25 million, he is much more productive than Conforto who is making 17. He has 2 player options left on his deal with New York, both for 25 mil. Only way LA could get him is by him becoming a free agent, or a trade after he would use his option. Another thing I love about Bellinger, is that he is also an excellent first baseman, and could be a much better option to give Freeman a blow than Kike. As for Tucker, he was not part of the Astro’s cheaters, so LA has nothing to forgive about him playing in Houston. Unlike Correa.
No thanks on Cody
Check his stats, in the high-pressure environment that is New York, he is playing better than Teo or Conforto and he is a much better defensive outfielder.
I didn’t think Betts is at SS for the rest of his contact, 2B makes some sense.
In fact, it makes a lot more sense than Bellinger or Tucker.
I agree. I see Mookie moving to second in the next couple of years.
Betts was playing SS before his injury in 2024. According to AI Mookie Betts had a batting average of .289 in the 2024 season before his injury, according to StatMuse and MLB.com. He played 116 games before being sidelined with a fractured left hand. During that time, he also achieved a .372 on-base percentage and a .491 slugging percentage.
Good stats.
Mookie Betts is OPS’n .679 this year. Whatever the reason, he isn’t the top the lineup force he usta was. Is there someone else in the starting lineup that would be a better choice to be leading off or hitting in the 2 hole? Not really. Ideally it would Kim but is he ready for that?
I haven’t changed my position of not wanting Betts at short. Why would I? What I thought might happen has happened. Is his drop in offensive production because of his change in defensive position? I don’t know for sure. It might have happened anyway.
Yates needs a vacation. As does Casparius. Klein needs a sports psychologist. Treinen and Kopech need to return. Can Bobby Miller be a one or two inning reliever at the ML level? Can any of the top prospect do it? What about Frasso or Nastrini ? Ferris? Copen? Anybody?
Frasso or Nastrini ? Ferris? Copen? God question. I don’t know their stats but unless their control is worse than what we have why not give them a try.
I am not sure that Frasso has fully recovered from his shoulder surgery. Physically, he is pain free, but if you go back and look at Hyun-jin Ryu and Julio Urías after their shoulder surgeries, it wasn’t until the 2nd year before they felt strong and had their command back. Frasso’s strikeouts are way down and his walks are up. I am not passing judgement on him this year. He gets all winter to build up. That is why I am not as optimistic as many of you are on Graterol returning to be the pitcher he was prior to shoulder surgery.
Patrick Copen and Jackson Ferris could possibly pitch in 1 inning increments. I do not know how they would do coming in short relief. It is not as easy as some may think. Think 2017 version of Walker Buehler who was dismal in relief. They are accomplished AA starters at 23 and 21 respectively, and it would not be fair to their development if they were to suddenly go to the pen.
Both Ferris and Copen are trade options depending on the return.
No on Nick Nastrini for this year. He was pushed to the CWS rotation before he was ready. However, he has always had control issues.
Copen was brought up by Baseball America as a possible trade piece, from their reporting I infer his value may be higher than fans think it is.
Forget Nastrini for the immediate future. The reason he has been traded or released by three teams in the last couple years is because he walks way too many batters.
You mean 43 in 46 innings? Yeah, I guess that’s too many.
Well, it is less than 1 per inning.
A nice win despite Yates’ inability to throw a strike. I would think that Griffin Jax will no longer be considered in a Dodger trade after his meltdown. They already has pitchers that do what he did in the ninth.
I would be surprised if the Dodgers trade for a top reliever for a couple of reasons. One, with all the injured pitchers that could return this season it might be uncomfortable to give up a top prospect(s) and then have too many on the active 26. Two, I don’t think teams with potential relief solutions would want Dodger prospects in a trade. The Dodgers seem to go out of the organization whenever there is a replacement needed. They don’t want to use them. So why would another team?
AF/BG are in a difficult situation. They wildly overspent on “top end” relievers in the offseason. Which was totally out of character for the front office. This, along with the never ending injuries to the entire pitching staff, puts them in a damn if you do and damn if you don’t situation. Bottom line is that the pitching has to stay healthy and be effective when called upon. The front office did their part. Now it’s time for the coaches, medical staff, and players to do theirs.
What has happened to Mookie Betts? He has to have an injury or personal issue that is affecting his baseball skills. To have such a great and dedicated athlete fall off so quickly there has to be a legit reason for it. Of course, with the Dodgers we will never hear about it. His frustration is growing with each failed AB. Let’s hope he can get it right soon.
Carry on.
Ted wrote:
“I don’t think teams with potential relief solutions would want Dodger prospects in a trade. The Dodgers seem to go out of the organization whenever there is a replacement needed. They don’t want to use them. So why would another team?”
Hasn’t this been disproven at almost every opportunity?
No. So, when a need for a pitcher arises the Dodgers only bring up a prospect to fill that need?
Such as:
Luis Garcia
Lou Trivino
Will Klein
Noah Davis
Yoendrys Gomez
Chris Stratton
Ryan Loutos
Jose Urena
JP Feyereisen
Julian Fernandez
Alex Diaz
Another petty response from you Bluto. I will give you credit for your consistency.
That list was incomplete and silly.
my point is that other teams have never shied away from trading with the Dodgers and many benefit from it.
But i think you know that.
That is one extensive list of terrible pitchers. If only you could go back in time and throw in Ramon Ortiz and Jack Taschner and the list would be complete
Had the same thought about Jax. I know it’s one game but it’s also an audition of sorts.
Subtact one name from the Dodger list of potential bullpen acquisitions. Felix Bautista, Orioles closer, to the IL with shoulder discomfort.
Thanks for the article Bear.
The Dodger offensive philosophy clearly is centered on power. Since June 1, Mookie has 3 home runs, Teoscar has 4 and Freddie has 1. 100 games in and Conforto has 7. Due to an early season slump and injuries, Muncy has 13 homers. Hard to shift that philosophy in middle of a season given the roster construction. If they do acquire a position player at the deadline, I would look for a very good defensive center fielder (preferably right handed hitter) with good contact skills.
Great stuff Bear. Can’t wait for part 2.
I was pissed yesterday over what I considered poor decisions by Doc.
That hasn’t been the case much this season, as the problems have been elsewhere. But I thought he wasted a great outing by Glasnow when he put Yates in the game in a high leverage situation when he can’t throw strikes. True to form, Yates threw 6 strikes out of 18 pitches, walking 3. Doc brought in Vesia, who got dinged with the blown save by the way, which is who Doc should have brought in after Glasnow to start with. I’m glad there’s not a 4 batter minimum to Yates would have walked 4.
Also, in the 8th, Doc puts Ruiz in to pinch run in an obvious steal situation, with Freddie up. Instead of calling a straight steal with Freddie taking a pitch, and getting into scoring position for Freddie, Doc goes with a hit & run or a run & hit and Freddie pops up. Then it 2 more pitches to Pages, including a bluff before Ruiz finally steals 2nd. What’s the friggin holdup, Doc? Steal the base so Freddie can be freed up to drive him in from 2nd.
We lucked out on this one, for a win. Good on Freddie but the Twins screwed the pooch with guess what? A WALK to Ruiz to get Freddie to the plate. Walks will kill you, as we know so well.
It was reported during the previous off-season, that the Dodgers were “Building a Dynasty”
Here’s a more detailed breakdown of the Dynasty Building: (yeah, I know, we lead the Division)
Tyler Glasnow, who signed a 5-year, $136.5 million contract extension with the Dodgers prior to the 2024 season, despite being on the MLB injured list at least four times: once for a strained forearm in 2019, and three times for elbow issues in 2021, 2022, and 2024.
* 2024 Production – 9 & 6 w/ a 3.49 era in 22 games and 134 innings. He had a .948 WHIP. All-Star first half, 4 starts the second half with injuries.
* 2025 Production -1 & 1, 2,75 era, 8 games, 36 innings. injured list with right shoulder inflammation from 4/27/25 to 7/9/25. Great when healthy
Blake Snell: Signed a five-year, $182 million contract. Production 2025 – 1 & 0, 2 games, 9 innings pitched. last pitched 4/2/25Roki Sasaki: Signed initially to a minor league contract, Production 2025 – 1 & 1, 8 games 34.1 innings. Last pitched 5/9/25Tanner Scott: Signed a four-year contract 4 yrs – $72 million.Production 2025 – leads league in blown saves. On 15 day IL for nowClayton Kershaw: Resigned on a one-year deal for 18th season. HOF’er Production 2025 – 4 & 1, 3.27 era. Kirby Yates: Signed a one-year deal, for $13 millionProduction 2025 – 37 games, 4 & 3, 3.86 era, 3 savesChris Stratton: Signed a major league contract and later DFA’ed. Teoscar Hernandez: Signed a three-year contract for 66 million. Production 2025 – .253 / .737, OPS+ = 104Michael Conforto – Signed 1 year at $17 millionProduction 2025 – .185 / .617, OPS+ = 75 Hyeseong Kim: Signed a three-year contract for $12.5 million.Production 2025 – .313 / .770. OPS+ = 116 in 54 gamesKiké Hernández: Re-signed on a one-year contract for $6.5 million. Production 2025 – 71 games, .195/.626, OPS+ = 75. went on IL 7/5.So there are some winners and some losers from these sighees. Is the Dodger brass a victim of bad luck with injuries, poor advanced scouting, misjudgments on players especially medicals, or players to blame for not performing up to expectations? (especially Scott and Yates),
Or all of the above? Being a GM is hard.
Thank you, Phil, always nice to know they are read and appreciated.
I’m still waiting to see who does what the last 3 months of the season. I look for a great finish from a majority of the guys who have been injured or just have had issues along the way. Not all of them of course, but enough of them to keep the team in contention into October. There’s a long way to go yet.
Hasn’t the dynasty already been built?
No. What a silly comment.
By the way Bear, I love the Maury Wills pic with the stolen bases piled up behind him.
Those were the old style bases that had straps that went through metal stays that were stabbed into the dirt to secure them as opposed to today’s bases that plug securely into the ground. The old bases moved, especially rotated with the straps. Some of the poorly secured ones on field, moved around a lot.
That would be interesting these days with replay. Runners would be off the bag because the bag moved.
The Thief O Bags Dad!
I’m getting confused by people liberally using (or hiding behind) the term “top reliever” or “high end closer”. Does this mean a player in the top 5 of saves? Of WHIP?
Or is it just a reliever in the upper cohort of who is available at the deadline?
You said high end “closer. Can’t use saves because some of the best relievers were not in a position to get a lot of saves. Who can consistently come in and shut down the opposition in the 9th (closer). Mariano Rivera, Trevor Hoffman, Billy Wagner, Eric Gagne, Trevor Hoffman, Kenley Jansen, Ryan Helsley (2022-2024, and some of 2025), Emmanuel Clase, Josh Hader, Edwin Diaz, 2022-2024 Devin Williams. This year’s Trevor Megill. Not someone who blows 7 of 26 save opportunities. No pitcher currently with LAD.
There are also shut down high leverage setup guys as well.
This year’s high end closers who MIGHT be available: David Bednar, Emmanuel Clase, Ryan Helsley, Jhoan Duran, June/July Mason Miller. Next tier is Pete Fairbanks. There are multiple other quality relievers who are not closers. I think this where AF/BG will focus.
As per the below, how many of those are on expiring deals or have one-year left?
In my mind it’s someone who can get 3 outs in the last 1/3 of the game. I thought we had them here already, but apparently I was wrong.
This is what I think too. A relief arm that can be used in high leverage spots. But another way to read “top reliever” is only an elite closer. Is it not?
Bear I think Cody would be a great addition.
Rather have Tucker.
go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Maybe, but he is going to be the target of a bunch of teams and he won’t be cheap. Cody is a superior defender to Tucker.
IMHO Dodgers need one out of Duran, Mason Miller, Bednard to be their closer for a serious run at a repeat.
I have no trust in Yates, Scott at all. Treinen is not a sure thing either because of injury concerns.
Would be willing to give up hope or dePaula to headline a potential deal if need to be. Parades over prospects.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ram, weren’t you fervently pushing for Tanner Scott before the Dodgers signed him?
I foolishly caucused for Yates. But that was just a one year commitment that the Dodgers can walk away from.
Yes, I was pushing for him hard. And still think it was the right decision given what we and the Dodgers knew back then.
Liked the Yates signing too. One year contracts will never kill you. The fact that both guys are totally unreliable so far could not been foreseen.
Dodgers will have pay up for this development now.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!
The Dodgers made the decision with the best information they had at the time. They needed a closer. I do not think the Dodgers were all that convinced that Evan Phillips was going to come back healthy. Kopech is a free agent tfor 2026. Graterol was not coming back until the end of 2025, if at all in the season. So Scott was a legit FA signing. I was in the camp if the Dodgers signed him, okay, but he was not a priority. But I was not in favor of 4 years and $72MM. Can’t fault the process, even if the results have not been good.
dePaula left yesterdays gane at GL after diving back to 1b on a pickoff attempt. Did not look good.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!
Can’t really say “that doesn’t look good” but I’m the son of a doctor, not a doctor!
I’ll keep my eyes peeled for further news.
On teh Dodger Prospect front, Keith Law updated his top 60 ($$$).
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6502957/2025/07/24/mlb-top-prospects-2025-kevin-mcgonigle/
The Dodgers have 5!
The aforementioned DePaula, Ko, Sirota, Quintero and Hope.
All are OF! Unless you count DePaula differently.
On Ko:
“Ko signed 18 months ago for a paltry $650,000 bonus, playing only nine games last summer, but he’s busted out as the Arizona Complex League’s best player this year, leading the ACL in average and OBP (through Tuesday’s games) and ranking ninth in slugging. He’s 6-foot-3, very athletic, with 55 range in center and a plus arm, while he still offers significant projection to get to 20+ home run power as well, especially if the Dodgers loosen up his stance a little so he can get more rotational. There was some question coming into the year about how much he’d hit right out of the gate, but I think he’s answered that fairly well already. Stupid Dodgers, with all their scouts and analysts and “working together” hippie ideas.”
Ko has come out of nowhere and pushed himself to the national prospect recognition. He started off hot in the ACL and has not let up.
I am sad, Hulk Hogan passed away today at the age of 71 of a cardiac arrest at his home in Clearwater Florida. Was a huge fan and Hulkamaniac back in the day. RIP Hulk.
Very sad to see that this this AM. Never a big wrestling fan, but I knew and watched Hulk Hogan. Yes, RIP, Brother.
The greatest Heel Turn ever!
Those were epic charaters back then. Andre the Giant, Ultimate Warrior, Randy Savage, Undertaker and so many more. But the Hulkster was the GOAT.
RIP.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!
His match where he lifted Andre over his head was epic.
News from Rosenthal ($$$$)
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6512322/2025/07/24/mlb-notes-trade-deadline-brewers-dodgers/
May may (hee hee) be offered as a trade chip with “only so much value as a rental with a 4.73 ERA.”
Very doubtful they move Rushing or Freeland, the club considers them nigh-untouchable.
That said many other names are offered. Some that I haven’t seen brought up here include: Kellon Lindsey and Emil Morales…third baseman Chase Harlan.
Freeland for me should not be an untouchable. A .250 average at OKC is nothing to write home about.
Yes, he is versatile but no way he should not be considered untouchable iMHO.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!
All three are legit trade options, but it would have to be a difference maker to pry Lindsey, Morales, and Harlan from LAD. All three are in the 9-12 range of LAD prospects for the recently updated BA top 30, and 7-16 in MLB Pipeline’s. BA has both Lindsey and Morales with a 55 FV and Harlan with a 50. MLB has both Lindsey and Morales with a 50 FV and Harlan with a 45. If the Dodgers are talking to Cleveland about Steven Kwan, sure. If they are talking to Atlanta about Dylan Lee, no.
I would rather they move Maddux Bruns to Cleveland to see what they can do for him that the Dodgers can’t. But my fear is that the Dodgers are a couple years too late on traing Bruns.
Nick Amed and Jesse Chavez, both who had short tenures with the Dodgers, announced their retirements today. Dodgers signed 1st baseman/outfielder Matt Gorski to a minor league contract. He will report to OKC.
Remember a couple years ago when we we were crying for some decent outfield prospects? Now we have DePaula, Hope, Sirota and Ko. Wouldn’t be at all surprised to see one of them in a different organization come August 1st.
Add Quintero and Tunink and to a lesser degree, Elkins. While I do not see him as an All Star, Kendall George is more than seviceable. The dude can run.
How could I forget Tunink. He was my “pick to click” on draft day last year.
And Quintero, whom many feel may be the best of them all.
OK, let’s put Hope and Jackson together in a deal and see what we can get.
Steven Kwan?
ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports that the asking price on Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax has been so high that some teams aren’t even spending time contemplating a real run at Ryan, whose price would be even higher. Minnesota has been seeking “at least two top-100-caliber prospects” to part with either Duran or Jax, per Passan.
This is why the Dodgers will not be shopping in the multi-year controllable closer aisle.
Have the Dodgers ever acquired a player with term at the deadline?
Maybe just Edman
Trea Turner. Michael Kopech. Tommy Edman had one year before the extension.
i think this may be relevant and not a coincidence, perhaps because of the elevated cost that comes with more than a year left, maybe the Dodgers just do t trade for players with a lot left..
I think that is their plan. Plan A is a rental. Plan B is one year other control.
Would you trade Hope and Jackson (2 top 100 guys) for Duran?
Let’s make that either Duran, Jhoan or Jarren?
No on both. I am not trading two top 100 guys for a reliever, and Jarren is having a down year and is not worth 2 top 100 guys at ths time. I reserve the right to change my mind on Jarren in the offseason.
Well, for a closer of Durans status 2 100 prospects is more than a fair price.
Dodgers have several 100 prospect guys in Freeland, dePaula, Hope, Ferris, Sirota, Quintero.
I would be okay with either dePaula or Hope plus one out of the other 4.
Parades over prospect. Especially when those kids with the exception of Freeland have not even reached AA ball yet .
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AF absolutely does not want to pau that high of a price for a reliever. Has not ever done that.
The Dodgers found their OF/1B. They signed Matt Gorski to a MiLB contract after he was released by Pittsburgh. They are all set now. 😈
With all the teams needing relievers I’m sure the Dodgers are being asked about Yates😀
You’re very nasty, Mr. Rap.
We are friends, you can call me Bums
OK, my friend, but you’re still nasty.
You just watch, Yates will be our playoff hero.
Or maybe we’ll DFA him tomorrow.
I think the Dodgers will hold onto their top prospects, but they will shop at the bargain bin for some relief. Bargain bin does not mean waiver wire. Like they did for Michael Kopech and Joe Kelly. They will pursue relievers who will not require multiple top end prospects. Where they may wander is for the OF. The Dodgers might be willing to move one of their top OF prospects ++ for Steven Kwan. I would hate to see him in San Diego. With Kwan and Arraez at the top of the order table setting for Tatis Jr., Machado, Bogaerts, and Merrill they would be more than formidable with their pitching.
I have already succumbed to the idea of Luis Robert Jr. coming to LAD. Two others to monitor is Baltimore’s Ramón Laureano and the Twins’ Harrison Bader. I do not see Jarren Duran as a real possibility. Boston is not going to sell low, and the Dodgers are not going to overpay for a top LF in a down year. Maybe San Diego will overpay. But, IMO, Duran gets traded in the offseason.
Did you see where the Twins released Cartaya today?
If I were Preller, I’d happily include their young catching prospect Salas in a deal for something good this month. He’s on the IL with back problems. If I recall, that’s what started Cartaya’s downfall.
Yep, saw that.
Why would Boston sell at all? They are only 6 back of first, and in control of a Wild Card spot.
They have a glut of MLB OF. Duran is the odd man out. And they need pitching. Those are the reasons I have read. But yeah. It is going to take an overpay.
The OF is a bit of a mess and a poor allocation of assets.
I do think a trade with the Orioles makes the most sense. You get a closer in Felix Bautista a middle reliever in Seranthony Soto and Ryan Ohearn gives you a corner outfielder and first baseman to give Freddie some days off and he has a decent bat. That’s who I would make the trade for. And trade Conforto to them he can go play there and hi low batting average.
Like explained before, Bautista just went on the IL, Seranthony’s name is Ramirez. O’Hearn plays 1st and DH more than he does the outfield where he is mediocre at best as a defender.
Seranthony Domínguez and Gregory Soto. Both are free agents.
A couple of problems there, Bradley. Bautista was put on the IL today with a shoulder problem. No thanks.
Why in the world would Baltimore, not in line for a playoff spot, want Conforto who is having a horrible year at a ridiculously overpriced salary?
Nothing says the Dodgers can’t hold on to a lot of Conforto’s salary.
Conforto, like the Edsel, just needs a little more time to be successful.
Might Sasaki wind up as the closer when he returns in August?
Kershaw and May for 8+ innings.
I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Roki spend the rest of the season at OKC once he returns.
They can work with him there without the pressure of a pennant race. If he does well, they can always consider adding him to the playoff roster.
Make a note of this, Bums, we will trade for old friend Brock Stewart this month. Won’t be our only deal, but Brock will be back in Dodger Blue by August 1st.
Ex shortstop, can’t go wrong
Very possible on Brock Stewart!!
If Andrew doesn’t want to give up the whole farm system for a back end reliever, I could definitely see him going after Helsley, who is just a rental and will come with a much smaller price tag.
Helsley is better than what they currently have, and he does fit their rental mode. It will still cost because other teams will be in on him as well.
Well, Joe Kelly is out there. Not advocating for him or a fan of his. Just putting it out there. He would be cheap and cost no prospects.
Bluto –
Jhoan Duran controlled thru 2027.
Griffin Jax controlled thru 2027.
David Bednar controlled thru 2026.
Emmanuel Clase controlled thru 2026 + 2 club options.
Cade Smith controlled thru 2029.
Félix Bautista controlled thru 2027.
Ryan Helsley – FA
Ramón Laureano – FA
Harrison Bader – FA
Luis Robert Jr. – Thru 2025 + 2 team $20MM option years, with a $2.0MM buyout
Steven Kwan controlled thru 2027. $4.1MM 2025 + 2 arbitration years.
Kwan is the one player that perhaps might entice AF/BG to make that multiyear investment.
so. Bednar or Clase. Clase is a down year, maybe he can be of interest as a value to slightly rehab.
When you say that about Kwan, is it because he is similar to a past acquisition or something you have read? Is he equivalent to Edman in terms of profile? (with his lack of versatility being offset by a good contract? )
so. Bedard or Clase. Clase is a down year, maybe he can be of interest as a value to slightly rehab.
When you say that about Kwan, is it because he is similar to a past acquisition or something you have read? Is he equivalent to Edman in terms of profile? (with his lack of versatility being offset by a good contract? )
No! It’s the move on from Conforto move! got it
Clase’s “down year” this year is still better than most relievers.
Edman is far more versatile than Kwan but Kwan is a far better hitter.
Kwan is also a 3-time LF GG. He has more BB than K. He strikes out at 8.4%. A true bat to ball leadoff hitter. A GG defense in LF. Current salary at $4.1MM with 2 years of arbitration. What is not to like?
I would prefer a center fielder but Kwan’s profile is exactly what they need in a bat. Bat to ball skill, gold glove defense, and he is not blocking any of the young outfielders like Sirota, Quintero, Hope or DePaula. Dodgers are loaded with young outfield prospects so they can deal from a position of strength to acquire Kwan.
A combination of Cade Smith and Kwan would be a nice trade deadline.
Yeah, I just checked trade values and don’t think either is viable.
Bednar from Jeff D’s list is my latest guess.
Bednar is my first choice for reliever.
Pirates are listening to offers for Oneal Cruz. Ko promoted to Rancho as was Morales.
Diamondbacks begin their sell off of players. Naylor sent to the Mariners. No return reported yet per MLBTR
Well it looks like AZ is definitely in the sell mode. They traded 1B/OF Josh Naylor to Seattle for LHP Brandyn Garcia (Seattle #13) and RHP Ashton Izzi (Seattle #16).
Josh Naylor was not a complicated deal, and the two pitchers AZ got back are both 45 FV, and I do not think they could do much better. Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly are having down seasons, and the return may not be as much as they hoped, so they could go next. But they will wait it out. Kelly will bring back more than Gallen this year. But he is 36 so he is a clear rental. Geno Suarez could go on 07/31 to the highest bidder. I still go with NYY. Cubs will be involved. So will Brewers and Tigers. All 4 teams are firmly in the playoff hunt. Suarez will make them better.