In 2021, a player who at the end of the season was wearing a Dodger uniform won the National League batting title. That player was Trea Turner. But Turner came over in the big trade with Max Scherzer at the deadline. So, did a Dodger really win the batting title? Technically since he was wearing the uniform, one did. If you look on Baseball Reference’s page listing the batting title winners, it does not say Dodgers. It says total. Meaning his combined stats with DC and LA. His trade to LA definitely pushed him over the top. He was hitting .322 in DC; he hit .338 for LA. He finished the season with a .328 BA, beating out former teammate, Juan Soto, who hit .313.
Who was the last Los Angeles Dodger to win a batting title? Well, you have to go all the way back to 1963 when Tommy Davis batted .326 and won his second title in a row. He also won in 1962 when he hit .346. Winning batting titles has not really been a thing in Dodger history. Pitching is what carried this team to its 8 World Series wins, and many playoff appearances. It’s one reason why they have more Cy Young awards than batting titles. 
Since the league officially formed in 1890, the first Brooklyn winner was Dan Brouthers. Brouthers hit .335 in 1892, It was actually his second title in a row. He won the title in 1891 playing for Boston. Brouthers would play for 19 years. He only spent 2 seasons in Brooklyn. He was born on May 8, 1858, in Sylvan New York. He began his career in 1879 with the Troy Trojans. If you look on the baseball reference page, it says they were part of the NL. Troy is located in upstate New York. 
Brouthers in his long career, never stayed with any team longer than 5 years. That one team was the Buffalo Bisons. Dan was an excellent hitter. He finished with 2303 hits and a career BA of .342. Over his career he played the outfield, 3rd and 1st. He also pitched a little, not very well, he had an 0-2 record. He died in August of 1932; he was 74 years old. He was voted in to the Hall of Fame by the Veteran’s committee. 
It would be 1913 before the next Brooklyn player would win the title. Jake Daubert, the teams 1sr baseman, won the title with a .350 batting average. Jake also was the NL MVP that year. Jake played 15 years in the majors, 9 of them with Brooklyn. He would win the title again in 1914 batting .329. He was born in April of 1884 and died in October of 1924, just 40 years old. Jake batted .303 for his career. He finished with 2326 hits. 1387 of them came with Brooklyn. 
Next up was Zachariah Davis Wheat. Wheat joined Brooklyn in 1909. He became the regular leftfielder in 1910. He established himself as one of the better players on the team. He won his only batting title in 1918. Zack hit .335 that year. He played in just 105 games but had enough at bats to qualify for the title. By today’s standards, it was not a great year for him. He did not hit a single homer and had just 18 extra base hits. In 1922, he hit .335 but had 16 homers and drove in 112 runs. In 23-24 in his mid 30’s, he hit .375 both seasons. 
Zack was born in May of 1888 in Hamilton Missouri. He died in March of 1972, he was 83. He is tied with Bill Russell for the most seasons as a player for the Dodgers at 18. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1959. He was voted in by the Veterans committee. 2804 of his 2284 hits he got as a Dodger. The next title won by a Dodger would not come until 1932 and it would be accomplished by a 35-year-old leftfielder they got in a trade with the Phillies in 1930.
That player was Francis Joseph O’Doul. Better known as Lefty. O’Doul was born in March of 1897 in San Francisco. He began what would be an 11-year career in 1919 with the Yankees. It was 1928 before he finally got a real chance to prove himself, and it was the Giants who gave it to him. He was 31 years old. The Giants traded him that winter to the Phillies. He blossomed that year and won his first batting title with a .398 batting average. He also led the league in hits with 254. He hit 32 homers and drove in 122 runs. He finished 2nd in the MVP vote to Hall of Famer, Rogers Hornsby who was by then playing for the Cubs.
O’Doul was in his second year with Brooklyn; he had hit .336 in his 1931 season. In 1932, he hit .368 with 21 homers and 90 RBIs. He struck out just 20 times in 595 at bats. He also had 32 doubles and 8 triples. He would finish 3rd in the MVP vote behind Chuck Klein of the Phillies and pitcher, Lon Warneke of the Cubs. Lefty was a .349 hitter over his career. He died in December of 1969 in San Francisco at the age of 72. 
It would be 1941 before the next Dodger won. This time it was 22-year-old Pete Reiser, the Dodger center fielder taking home the crown. Reiser had a great year. He led the league in WAR, 8.0, runs, 117, doubles, 39, triples, 17, BA, .343, slugging, .558, OPS.964, OPS+, 164 and total bases, 299. Reiser was from St. Louis Missouri. He was born there in March of 1919. He was originally signed by the Cardinals. In 1938, they found something in his signing that was illegal, and he became a free agent. He signed with the Dodgers in April of 1938. Pete’s career would be derailed by a couple of things, first, he served in the military for 3 years during WWII. Second, a series of serious injuries from running into walls chasing fly balls. He had at least 11 collisions with walls, which in his era, were not padded. But his injuries were indirectly responsible for teams beginning to pad the outfield walls. Pete spent 6 years in Brooklyn before being traded to the Braves. It is a shame he never reached his full potential. 
Next up was Dixie Walker in 1944. Dixie, real name Fred Walker, was born in Villa Rica Georgia in September of 1910. He was originally signed by the New York Yankees and his rookie year was 1933. He spent 5 years in NY before being traded to the White Sox where he spent 2 years. after being claimed off of waivers. The Sox traded him to the Tigers in December of 1937 with 2 other players for Marv Owen, Gee Walker and Mike Tresh. Tresh was the father of future MLB player, Tom Tresh. Walker was placed on waivers by the Tigers in July of 1939, and the Dodgers claimed him. He was in his 6th year with the team when he won the title in 1944. He batted .357/13/91. He also had 37 doubles and 9 triples. Walker was traded to the Pirates after the 1947 season. One of the reasons was his stand against playing with Jackie Robinson. He and two other dissenters to Robinson went to the Pirates for Billy Cox and Preacher Roe.
In 1949, Jackie Robinson won the title. He batted .342/16/124. He added 38 doubles and 12 triples to that. He led the league in WAR, 9.3, steals 37, caught stealing 17, and sacrifice bunts. He also won the NL MVP award. Jackie was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1962, named on 124 of 160 ballots. His number 42 was retired along with Koufax’s 32, and Campanella’s 39 at Dodger Stadium in 1972 in June.
Carl Furillo #6 Ol Skoonj
The last Brooklyn Dodger to win a batting title was Carl Furillo in 1953. Carl was born in Stony Creek Mills in Pennsylvania in March of 1922. He was obtained from Reading, a team in the Class-B Interstate League in 1941, Reading is located in Pennsylvania. Furillo, nicknamed Ol Skoonj by his teammates, batted .344/21/92. He had 38 doubles and 6 triples to his credit. He also had a cannon for an arm. He hit .333 with a homer and 4 driven in during the series loss to the Yankees. Carl played all 15 of his seasons as a Dodger. He played on the 55 and 59 Championship teams. 
The first LA Dodger, and so far, the last to win a batting title, was 2-time winner, 62-63, left fielder, Tommy Davis. Davis was a Brooklyn native born there in March of 1939. He signed with the Dodgers in 1956 when he was 17. He debuted with the team in LA in 1959 playing just 1 game. He became a regular in 1960. The Dodgers moved into their new home, Dodger Stadium in 1962 and Davis would have his best season ever. He batted .346/27/153. No Dodger has driven in more runs since. He led the league with 230 hits. He added 27 doubles and 9 triples to his numbers, and he stole 18 bases. He would follow that in 1963 with a .326/16/88 season. But LA won the pennant and then swept the Yankees 4-0 in the series. Davis hit .400 in the series. He hit .275 in 1964, a down year for the whole team. He was injured 17 games into the 1965 season and missed the rest of the year. He was replaced by journeyman outfielder, Sweet Lou Johnson. Even though he rebounded to hit .313 in 1966, he wasn’t the same player and LA traded him to the Mets. For his 19-year career, Tommy played for 10 different teams and had a career BA of .294.
HOMER KINGS
The first Brooklyn player to win the home run crown, actually tied two other players with 13 homers each in 1890. His name was Thomas Burns. His nickname was Oyster Burns. Burns was born in 1864 in Philadelphia. He started his pro baseball career in 1884 with Baltimore in the American Association. Burns joined the Brooklyn team in 1888 while they were still a part of the AA. His line in 1890 was .283/13/128. He also had 22 doubles and 12 triples to his credit. Over his career, Oyster hit 65 homers and batted exactly .300. Burns played multiple positions over his 11 years in the majors. 
In 1903, Jimmy Sheckard hit 9 homers to lead the National League. Sheckard, a Pennsylvania native born in 1878 played the outfield. He joined the Brooklyn team in 1897, and except for a 4-game stint in Baltimore in 1902, he would stay with them until 1905. The most homers he ever hit in a season was 11 in 1901. He would hit 36 in his 8 years with Brooklyn. He would play 17 years, retiring in 1913 after playing for the Reds. Also in 1903, he stole 67 bases and led the league. 
In 1904, another Dodger took the crown, Harry Lumley, an outfielder from Forest City Pa. Lumley slugged 9 homers that year. It was his rookie season. He also led the league in triples with 18. Lumley, nicknamed, Judge, would play 7 years for Brooklyn. He would hit 38 homers in his career. But he had 66 triples. Unusual stat. 
In 1906, Tim Jordan, the team’s first baseman, won the first of two titles. He would win again in 1908. Jordan, a New York City native would play parts of 7 seasons in the majors. But he played only 4 full seasons. In 06 and 08 he hit 12 homers in each season to lead the NL. Over his career, he hit 32. Like Freddie Freeman, he batted left and threw right. 
It would be 1924 before another Brooklyn player won the crown. Jack Fournier, a left-handed hitting 1st baseman-outfielder, led the NL with 27 homers in his 12th year in the majors and his second in Brooklyn. He was 31 at the time. He was born in Au Sable Michigan. He batted .334 that year and drove in 116 runs. He also had 25 doubles and 4 triples. Furnier would hit 136 homers in his big-league career, 82 of them came in a Brooklyn uniform. 
It would be 1941 before the first Dodger led the league in homers. You have to remember that until the early 30’s, the team was still called the Robins. They did not officially change the name until 1932. In 41 the NL HR leader was first baseman, Dolph Camilli. Camilli smashed 34 homers and drove in 120 runs. Dolph was a native of San Francisco. He played for 12 years, with half of those coming in Brooklyn. He would hit 239 homers in his career with 139 of those as a Dodger. One more thing you should know about the long drought between HR champs, those were the heydays of guys like Hack Wilson, Chuck Klein, and Mel Ott. Johnny Mize won his first title in 1939 and repeated in 1940.
The Duke of Flatbush
Again, a long wait as the next Dodger winner would be Duke Snider in 1956 when he slugged a career high, 43. It was also the fourth straight season Duke had hit 40 or more. He would hit 40 for the last time in 1957. Duke was a Compton California native who played for 18 years, 16 of those as a Dodger. He led the NL in homers in the 50’s. His teammate, Gil Hodges was the only other player to hit more than 300 in that decade. Snider hit 326, Hodges 310. Eddie Mathews of the Braves just missed with 299. 
Duke is the All-time leader in career homers for the Dodgers, 389 with Hodges right behind him. 56 was his only home run title. He did hit 11 home runs in World Series play, giving him exactly 400 homers in a Dodger uniform. Duke was competing against Kiner, Mathews, Mays, Kluszewski, and Aaron during his peak years. It would be a very long drought after Snider’s win. Not until 2004 would a Dodger again lead the league. 48 years between winners. 
That guy was Adrian Beltre. In his walk year, Beltre made sure he was going to get a huge deal with a .334/48/121 line. He was 25 years old. The native of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic would never come close to repeating those numbers the rest of his 21-year career. He did slug 447 homers playing for the Dodgers, Mariners, Red Sox and then the Rangers. He spent one more year with Texas than he did LA, 8-7. He hit 199 homers for the Rangers and 147 for LA. 
Beltre was an excellent defender at third and Dodger fans have long rued the Dodgers not re-signing him as a free agent. But one must remember, 2004 was the first year of McCourt’s ownership of the Dodgers. It is doubtful McCourt had the resources to sigh Adrian. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2024. 
LA only had to wait seven years for the next champ, Matt Kemp just missed being a 40-40 guy in 2011 when he slugged 39 homers. The 26-year-old native of Midwest City in Oklahoma, led the NL in WAR, 8.0, runs, 115, RBI’s, 126 and OPS+, 172. He finished 2nd in the MVP voting, and most felt he was robbed when it went to Ryan Braun of the Brewers. He was also an All-Star that year and won a gold glove and a silver slugger award. He was never really the same player after injuring his shoulder in 2012. He hit 203 homers as a Dodger and 287 for his career. 
Thirteen years after Kemp won, LA got its next champ in the person of Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani became the majors first 50-50 guy with 54 bombs and 59 steals. He did that at Miami with an epic 6-6, 3 homer, 10 RBI game. It was a shame he injured himself in game 2 of the World Series because we did not get to see the best of him in that series. He hit 3 homer and drove in 10, but all of that damage came in the NLDS and NLCS. He only had 2 hits in the World Series. Ohtani is leading the NL with 38 homers so far this season, his closest pursuer is Eugenio Suarez and Kyle Schwarber. There is a good chance that Suarez might be traded at the deadline since Az has already traded two players and seems to be in sell mode. If Ohtani does win another title, he would be the first Dodger ever to do that in back-to-back seasons. In just 2 years with the team, he has 92 homers. That gives him more than Joe Ferguson and Tommy Davis. He is tied with Roseboro. He is within striking distance of Adrian Gonzalez, Corey Seager and Yasiel Puig, who he will no doubted pass in the near future. He is just 16 back of Seager. Well, those are the hitting and home run kings. Hope you all enjoyed this.
MiLB GAME SUMMARY REPORTS
Reno Aces (Arizona) 6 – OKC Comets 2
The game started out well for OKC. Justin Dean doubled (9) and Ryan Ward singled him home with his 94th RBI, best in MiLB.
Reno got the run back after a single and double off SP, Landon Knack.
The scored remained tied at 1 until the bottom of the 5th. Knack issued a BB, single, and BB to load the bases. After a pop out, he gave up a run scoring single. Knack struck out the next batter and was then relieved by Ronan Kopp. Kopp gave up a 2-run double and BB before getting the final out.
Nick Frasso entered in the 6th. He gave up a leadoff single. Frasso got a strikeout and ground out, with runner moving into scoring position. A single brought home the 5th run.
OKC got a run back in the 8th. Nick Senzel singled, moved to 2nd on a Noah Miller BB and scored on an Austin Gauthier RBI single.
I watched Bobby Miller’s initial relief and it did not go well. He gave up a leadoff single on a 1-2 pitch, that was followed by a double. The runner was thrown out at the plate. The batter moved up to 3rd on the throw home, and scored on a single. The runner on 1st was thrown out on a steal attempt by Chuckie Robinson. Miller struck out the next batter to end the inning. IMO, there is absolutely no reason to give up on the Bobby Miller to reliever conversion. There is nothing to lose to continue the experiment. He has very limited trade value.
In the 9th, the Comets loaded the bases with 1 out, but Nick Senzel and CJ Alexander struck out to end the game.
Noah Miller and Austin Gauthier had 2 hits each, with Justin Dean and Noah Miller each having doubled (5).
Tulsa Drillers 3 – Springfield Cardinals 2
Patrick Copen started for Tulsa and had a rough 1st inning. He walked the first two batters he faced. Both runners moved up on a sac bunt. After Copen got the next batter on a K, Copen was about to get out of the inning. However, Griffin Lockwood-Powell allowed a passed ball and a run scored.
Tulsa tied it up in the bottom of the 1st, Damon Keith drew a 1-out BB. Kyle Nevin singled Keith to 2nd. Kendall Simmons then laced a 2-out single to plate Keith to briefly tie the score.
In the 2nd, Copen allowed a single, and after 2 stolen bases, the runner scored on a sac fly.
Copen finished 4.0 innings allowing just the two runs (1 earned) on 2 hits, 3 BB, and 5 K. Carson Hobbs pitched 2.0 perfect innings with 2 K.
The score remained 2-1 into the bottom of the 6th. Keith singled and was forced out at 2nd on a Kyle Nevin ground ball. Nevin advanced to 2nd on the throwing error from the relay to 1st. Chris Newell drew a BB, and a WP moved both runners into scoring position. Nelson Quiroz then hit a 2-run single to give the Drillers a 3-2 lead, and the ultimate final winning score.
Jerming Rosario and Antonio Knowles finished the final three innings with Knowles notching his 10th save.
Quiroz was the only Drillers’ hitter with a multi-hit game (2 singles). There were no XBH (by either team).
Beloit Sky Carp (Miami) 3 – Great Lakes Loons 0
The Loons managed 2 singles and 2 BB in this game.
Brooks Auger allowed 2 runs on 5 hits, 2 BB, and 1 HBP in 4.0 IP. He did register 2 Ks. Joseilyn Gonzalez a walk, single and 2 HBP in the 6th for the Sky Carp’s 3rd run.
Reynaldo Yean, Jorge Gonzalez, and Alex Makarewich followed with 3 hitless and scoreless innings (1.0 inning each).
Visalia Rawhide (Arizona) 11 – Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 7
The Visalia Rawhide capitalized on three Rancho errors on Sunday, holding on for an 11-7 win over the Quakes.
Rancho’s offense put 11 hits on the board, but left 13 men stranded, including the bases loaded three times in their final four innings.
After a Jackson Nicklaus (2) homer gave them a 3-2 lead in the second, Rancho committed a crucial error behind Logan Tabeling (4-3) in the top of the third, as the Rawhide took a 4-3 lead.
They’d add six in the sixth to take a commanding 10-3.
Rancho got two back in the sixth and then two more in the eighth, but left the bases full in both the eighth and ninth, as they couldn’t take advantage of the eight walks served up by Rawhide pitching.
The Quakes still take four of six in the series as they enter Monday’s off-day. On Tuesday, they’ll resume action in Fresno, taking on the Grizzlies with right-hander Marlon Nieves taking on Fresno’s Marcos Herrera at 6:50pm.
- Ching-Hsien Ko – 2-4, 2 BB, 1 run, 1 RBI
- Jaron Elkins – 2-6, 1 run, 1 RBI, 2 doubles (24)
- Angel Diaz – 2-4, 1 BB
- Samuel Munoz – 1-4, 1 BB, 1 run, 1 RBI, triple (6)
- Jackson Nicklaus – 1-5, 1 run, 1 RBI, HR (2)
I bet Copen gets traded. Possibly Linan too. Helium guys. Zazueta possible.
I am beginning to believe that the Dodgers are not going to be as active at the deadline as most people think, and as most fans hope.
Only 3 days till the deadline, so you’re probably right.
I agree and I think it’s the right thing to do.
I think the Dodgers will make two big trades.
One for a closer, one for another bat.
Good to see Conforto break out a bit. But as soon as his bat heats up the glove goes south.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A bat and a closer seem possible, even though the bullpen is bulking up with Treinen and probably May. Now–finally–Bobby Miller is getting some reps as a reliever in OKC.
It’s maddening to think that Scott and Yates, the big acquisitions, have become the weak links in the pen. The rookies Dreyer and Caspius, while not great, have been more reliable. Vesia and Banda keep chugging along…
Without doing the research, I think May may thrive in a relief role. It seems that, as a starter, he’s been decent (not dominant) for a 2-3 innings and then blows up. Of course a lot of us have long speculated that May would be moved to the pen.
Another factor: The rotation is bulking up too, with Glasnow and soon Snell joining Shohei, Yamamoto, Kershaw and (I guess) Sheehan. Just stay healthy, guys!
Well, it won’t be that chowderhead Clase.
Bear, thanks for all the hard work you put in for us readers, great articles.
You are welcome. I love doing this.
Enjoy your stuff immensely as you know Duke and Sandy were my favorite Dodgers and you give them just desserts. thnx Bear. I agree pretty small trade deadline.
Noticed that Freeland is playing 3rd most of the time now with Miller getting most of the reps at SS.
They would make a good left side for the Dodgers.
Could It be that he will be part of a trade with Arizona for Suarez?
They won’t trade for a third baseman Sam, not with Muncy coming back much quicker than first thought.
With Treinen and Wrobo now up the pen looks a lot better .
Was surprised they sent down Henriquez and not Diaz.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They went for his experience. Man has 75 career saves achieved over the last 3 seasons with the Reds. If he is anywhere as good with LA, he is a steal.
The idea of limited room for an acquisition has been discussed. agree about Diaz over Henriquez.
Another great job Bear. Thanks
Thanks John
Bear –
Agree completely! Your articles are great for a trip done memory lane; at 79, I seem to spend a lot of time on that road these days. Tommy Davis was my favorite all-time Dodger along with Sandy Koufax. I have never seen a MLB hitter have a better year than he did in 1962 – that includes the PED era guys. Without that injury, he would be an all-time MLB great IMO. I believe his 16-year career batting average of .294 underscores that point….
The Duke was mine. I even copied his stance when I played. Loved Sandy and Big D, who to me along with Bob Gibson was the most intense guy on the mound I ever saw. Davis still holds the record for RBI’s in a season. I think Piazza’s non-title winning .362/40/124 in 1997 comes close. But Tommy had way more hits in 62.
Hey Tom1946. I totally agree on your evaluation of Tommy Davis. He had a monster season in 1962. With the Dodgers weak offense at the time it was encouraging to have Tommy providing a much needed boost.
It was so disheartening when he had such a serious injury. Along with being a big fan of TD, it was the same situation with Bill Buckner and his devastating ankle injury. He was another favorite of mine.
It’s the same today in trying to become a fan of a young Dodger pitcher.
Gavin Stone, Brusdar Graterol, Kyle Hurt, Tony Gonsolin, River Ryan, Roki Sasaki, Emmett Sheehan, and others who shown some promise yet all seem to get injured. Some several times.
Awesome article Bear. Enjoyed it very much. Kemp was truly robbed by Ryan Fraud.
Appreciate it Ohio.
Bear, it’s getting to the point that I can’t drink my morning coffee without one of your articles!
Waiting on my new closer from AF.
Thanks Cassidy, it makes me feel damn good that you guys enjoy them.
Well it won’t be Clase!!
Emmanuel Clase being investigated for sports betting and placed on paid leave.
OK, I’m changing my offer from Rushing to Hoese.
Clase placed on paid non disciplinary leave until August 31 being investigated for the same type of thing as Ortiz.
Sad to say they will never learn. Pete Rose is a perfect example of that.
Excellent read today, Bear. I especially enjoy the old photos.
Some takes from yesterday:
The Boston broadcast yesterday were talking about arm injuries specifically the Dodgers using 37 pitchers and said that Driveline has taken over the Dodger’s pitching program. They mentioned the Dodgers penchant for pursuing pitchers with high velocity and spin, many having had previous injuries. They sort of implied that Driveline’s influence had contributed to the amount of injuries.
This was news to me so I looked it up.
Here is what I found “While the Los Angeles Dodgers have significantly incorporated Driveline Baseball‘s methods and hired several of its staff members, they have not fully taken over the Dodgers’ pitching program. Driveline’s influence is notable, particularly through the hiring of Rob Hill as Consulting Pitching Coordinator and other staff members”.
So their statement was partially correct. I didn’t know, or I forgot, that Rob Hill is employed by the Dodgers.
I remember well when the conventional thinking by the Tom House, Ron Wolforth pitching gurus, was an adult pitcher with solid mechanics really couldn’t get serious upticks in velocity. Driveline changed that thinking completely.
I enjoyed the Red Sox broadcasts on Friday and Sunday. I can’t watch Jessica Mendoza.
It was mentioned here a lot yesterday, especially well by Norcaldodgerfan; No clutch hitting. The Dodgers desperately need a “butter and egg man”. The 3 runs, 13 LOB, 1 x 11 w/ RISP and wasting most of the 9 walks we got, doesn’t cut it. Teo, especially, along with Pages and Ohtani failed to deliver in too many RBI opportunities.
And Kim had another base running mistake. You can’t get doubled off on a line drive, NO excuses, with the exception of a laser to the first baseman behind the runner leading at first.
It looks like Buehler will never grow up and figure it out. While walking 5 batters his body language tells it all, not to mention the “F-bombs” he shouts out. I think his ERA in the 4th inning of his starts is 14.2.
Dan Merzel was horseshit behind the plate. He’s a “throw it in the dryer guy”. Close pitches are all balls, then he pulls a rabbit out of his hat like he did with Freddie batting in the 5th and Mookie in the 8th. And he robbed May of a K in the 2nd. That inconsistency is a killer.
Play better.
Thanks for getting my point Phil. I wasn’t lamenting the poor RISP rather the lack of clutch when the team needed it most. I was trying to convey that thought in a cogent straight-forward way but someone (just one person apparently) found it difficult to comprehend.
I wouldn’t worry too much about that one person.
You were spot on.
Thanks Phil. I really enjoy your additions to the site.
Clase situation: I wonder when the league advises the team that they are investigating the player? Does it happen just before the announcement? Or does the team get a heads up earlier than that.
If so, are they required to let a team know about it in trade talks?
What if a team had traded for Clase last week? Could they now back out of the deal?
I’d bet that if MLB was in the midst of the investigation they’d inform the Guardians in case of any imminent trade. I doubt they’d tell other teams (yet).
But, I’m still willing to trade Hoese and the rights to Trevno for Clase
He is on the IL, doubt he would be traded, and supposedly the Guardians pulled him and Smith off of the market. I am pretty sure MLB gave them a heads up.
Braves just traded with the Yankees for Carlos Carrasco. D-Backs are open to trading Gallen and Kelly.
Who did the Yankees get?
Braves rank with the Orioles as the most disappointing teams of ’25.
They got the PTBNL or cash.
Good Monday everyone let’s see how I can stir the pot today and get everyone’s heart rate up a bit. The Dodgers don’t need to do anything at trade deadline hello. Did you see how Chapman came in as the closer and closed the game for the Red Sox wouldn’t that be nice since he will be a free agent ad you telling me the Dodgers wouldn’t like him. Okay fielding has git to be better I the outfield so centerfield yiu have four guys to go get and then move Pages to leftfield those guys would be Ramon Lauerorno from Orioles, Cedric Mullens Orioles, Jaren Duran Red Sox, or Harrison Bader Cardinals none of those guys would be great to improve the outfield. Now to the infield not going after Breden Donavan as your second baseman would improve the postion bith fielding and batting and what the heck trade Muncy to st Louis dor Arenaldo the poor guy wants to be a Dodger so bad it’s jus ment to be a Disney movie coming home and winning a World Series. So see yep they do need to make some moves to improve the team. Because if they had the guys in the minors they would call them up but they don’t have them.
A. Laureano is primarily a left or right fielder. He has only played 2 games in center. Mullins is hitting .217 with an OPS just barely above 700. Defensively, he is fine, but he doesn’t help the offense at all. The Red Sox are still in the race, so why would they trade Chapman? Sox have pulled Duran off of the market. Bader does not play for the Cardinals. He plays for the Twins and has been mentioned in trade talks. Donovan has also been mentioned in trade talks. But he would not come cheap. They are NOT going to trade Max Muncy to the Cardinals for Arenado. Period. Max is due back in about 2 weeks. You might not believe this, but Muncy is having a better offensive season than Arenado, plus Max has been better defensively before he went down. Arenado is hitting .235 with 10 homers, 43 driven in and an OPS below .700. Max is hitting .250 with 13 homers and 55 driven in with an OPS of .832. The Arenado ship has sailed. He is a superior defender, but this season he can’t carry Max’s jock on offense. Plus, he still has 2-years and 42 million owed to him. Max is a free agent after the year with just a 10-million-dollar option. Just quoting facts there Bradley. Heart rate is just fine thank you.
The Bear – Bradley dynamic is both awesome and surprising.
I will get him one day with a trade he will like just wait. You will see one of these days he will loke a guy I mention to help the Dodgers. Wouldn’t Ryan Ohearn look good platooning with Conforto in LF give you playoff hitters off the bench when you need a hit or legit hitter. And he could even give Freddie some days off before the playoffs. So a Ohearn and Dominguz trade from the Orioles and I thought Laureano used to play centerfielder for the A’s.
He is entitled to his opinion. I simply do not believe he gets the dynamics of how trades are made.
In Dodgers-adjacent news, it’s been reported that the Yankees’ acquisition of Ryan McMahon from the Rockies may clear 3B for Kyle Karros….
In Dodger news, I find myself thinking that the brass won’t make a big splash before the deadline. Maybe a medium-sized one. More likely a small one.
The rumors about the Cards’ Brendan Donovan and the Twins’ Harrison Bader seem credible, and Dodgers Digest makes a good case for the Twins’ Willi Castro.
Bader makes sense to me. He would be similar to Kiermeier last season–a Gold Glove quality defender with middling offense who would bat 8th or 9th in the lineup. Bader has an affordable option for ’26.
Teo has been awful on defense. With Bader in CF, Pages could move to RF and Teo could handle LF.
Whatever happens, I hope the brass includes Ryan Ward in any deal. The guy dominates AAA ball. Shohei’s job as DH and Ward’s defensive limitations, it seems, have prevented him from being tested against ML pitching. Who knows? He might be a solid DH for a team in need.
Detroit has acquired Twins RHSP Chris Paddack for 19 year old C/1B Enrique Jimenez (Detroit’s #14 prospect, 45 FV).
Jacob Stallings and Jon Singleton were DFAd by their respective teams. Paddack traded to the Tigers.
Today’s lineup, Yamamoto Vs Burns: Betts SS, Ohtani DH, Hernandez RF, Freeman 1B, Pages CF, Conforto LF, Kim 2B, Rojas 3B, Rushing C. Game time: 4.10 PDT.
Tampa Bay trades C Danny Jansen and cash to Milwaukee for infielder Jadher Areinamo (#24 prospect, 40 FV).
Rays are in talks with the Marlins to trade for C Nick Fortes.
Scratch Emmanuel Clase from the LAD wish list:
Fabian Ardaya is reporting the Dodgers are calling up Freeland
Dodgers slated to call up infield prospect Alex Freeland: Source – The Athletic
About time!
Thought it would happen, doubted it would happen, glad to see it did happen.
What is really interesting is that he gets the call almost immediately after Muncy’s good news is announced about this coming return.
Also for Jeff D:
Dodgers signed RHP Cullen McKay as a UDFA. Two years at Virginia before transferring to Coastal. Only 12.1 IP last season, but allowed just two runs in three starts with 18/10 K/BB.
and
Nondrafted free agent Tommy Case signs wDodgers
for $422,500 ($272,500 counts vs bonus pool), largest NDFA bonus in 2025. New York prep RHP, fastball to 94 mph, good feel for spin. St. John’s recruit.
I don’t remember ever seeing a NDFA sign for that kind of money before.
Poor Rushing just can’t catch a break.
News from Internet:
BA’s July update to the Top 100
($$$$)
https://www.baseballamerica.com/rankings/2025-top-100-prospects/
Rushing and DePaula in top 20.
Hope, Sasaki and Sirota in top 50
Freeland and QUintero also land on the list
Two UDFA’s signed (posted elsewhere)
Dodgers signed RHP Cullen McKay as a UDFA. Two years at Virginia before transferring to Coastal. Only 12.1 IP last season, but allowed just two runs in three starts with 18/10 K/BB.
and
Nondrafted free agent Tommy Case signs wDodgers
for $422,500 ($272,500 counts vs bonus pool), largest UDFA bonus in 2025. New York prep RHP, fastball to 94 mph, good feel for spin. St. John’s recruit.
From Bluto’s favorite, the trade value simulator:
Cardinals GET
River Ryan
Emmet Sheehan
Jackson Ferris
Total Value
49.60
Dodgers GET
Ryan Helsley
Brendan Donovan
Thomas Saggasse
Total Value
51
Dodgers Get:
Kyle Stowers
Anthony Bender
Total Value
29.5
Marlins get
Emmet Sheehan
29.4
Dodgers Digest on trade targets (alliteration!)
Eric Longenhagen chat:
Dodgers: Chances Hope or De Paula get traded?
Eric A Longenhagen: Given what the market value of prospects seems to be right now, I’d say it’s unlikely. I’m not sure there’s a big enough fish out there to merit either’s inclusion unless it’s a bold one-for-one deal, or if it turns out someone we didn’t know was available gets moved.
X look at how prospect reliever Jose Rodriguez unlocked more velocity:
https://x.com/ben_baggett/status/1948376622840868944
The almost as bad as Bob Nightengale, Jim Bowden, reviews user trade proposals ($$$)
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6518481/2025/07/28/mlb-trade-deadline-scenarios-teams-targets/
“3. Dodgers get: OF Jarren Duran
Red Sox get: C Dalton Rushing, RHP Dustin May and OF Kendall George ssubmitted by: Marco Esquadolas
The Dodgers say no.
16. Dodgers get: OF Steven Kwan and RHP Emmanuel Clase
Guardians get: RHP Dustin May, OF James Outman and OF Zyhir Hope submitted by: Andre M.
The Guardians say no.””
Mark Feinsand AMA
Q: Hey Mark,
If you had to guess, what do you think the highest-profile player will be traded is that will be a “surprise?” Ie not someone on a typical seller or just someone who is not being reported on as a likely candidate.
Thanks for your time!
A: I get this question every year, and every year I have the same answer: If we knew, it wouldn’t be a surprise! We’ve heard about some controllable players that could be available such as Emmanuel Clase, Joe Ryan and Steven Kwan, but if any of them get traded, I think that would qualify as a surprise.
Q: What is the relief pitcher market looking like?
A: Like most years, the relief market offers the widest variety of players available. The biggest difference this year is that most of the top relievers are controllable through at least 2026: David Bednar, Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax, Emmanuel Clase and Pete Fairbanks, just to name a handful. There are also some rentals (Ryan Helsley, Kyle Finnegan) to be had, but the controllable guys are the most coveted. Then there are the “no-name” guys who won’t move any needles within a fan base, but could be impactful regardless. The Rockies have three you should watch: Victor Vodnik, Seth Halvorsen and Jake Bird, all of whom are generating plenty of interest from other teams.
Baseball America’s Hot Sheet top 20 for this week ($$$$)
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/ranking-the-20-hottest-mlb-prospects-hot-sheet-7-28-25/
Hope and Coppen.
I had these set up to go tonight.
UDFA for $$$$
Another UDFA
sorry.
feel free to remove from my post or anything of course.
Ace like tonight and we needed it! August should be fun when we get the big four going 7 innings a start. The bullpen won’t know what to do with themselves.
Just heard Ryne Sandberg has passed away at 65. Very sad. Way to soon.
Very sad news (again). Cubs HOF 2B, Ryne Sandberg passed away today at the age of 65, due to complications from cancer. From 20th round draft pick to HOF.
RIP, Ryno.
What a ball player!