In March of 2012, Dodgers fans rejoiced when the news broke that Frank McCourt was selling the team to a group of investors. They did not know much about the new owners except the fact that one of them was Magic Johnson, former Laker great and LA Entrepeneur. Fans learned that Guggenheim Partners was a Chicago based investment and advisory company. It was chaired by Mark Walters. Other investors were Stan Kasten, former Braves executive, Johnson, Todd Boehly, who would depart in 2015, Peter Guber, who owns interest in the Golden State Warriors also. Robert Patton joined ownership in May of 2012.
One of the first things they said at their press conference was that they were committed to bringing a winner to Los Angeles. And by that they meant World Championships. McCourt’s teams had not gotten past the NLCS. They had lost all of the playoff series they had been in. LA itself, had not won a World Series since 1988. For the time being, they kept GM Ned Colletti in place. They also retained the manager, Don Mattingly, who had taken over when Joe Torre retired.
But changes would be forthcoming and soon. One of Colletti’s first big trades netted them Hanley Ramirez and Randy Choate for Eovaldi and Scott McGough. They showed they were not afraid to spend money when in August of 2012, they allowed Colletti to make what would be called “The Trade” with the Boston Red Sox. They sent James Loney, Ivan DeJesus, Allen Webster, and 2 players to be named, Rubby De La Rosa and Jerry Sands, for Josh Beckett, Nick Punto, Carl Crawford, Adrian Gonzalez and cash. Earlier in the year they signed a 21-year-old Cuban outfielder, Yasiel Puig to a contract. The scouting department also made their first draft under the new owners. Logan White and company picked several players who would eventually play in LA in that draft. Seager, Paco Rodriguez, Onelki Garcia, Stripling, Sweeney, Daniel Columbe, all would play at some point for LA. Jharel Cotton would be used in a big trade a couple of years later.
2012 did not see them make the playoffs, but that would change in 2013, and 12 years later, they haven’t missed a postseason yet. The winter of 2012-13 saw some significant additions to the Dodgers. Two of the biggest happened on consecutive days. On Dec 9th, they purchased the contract of Hyun Jin Ryu from the Hanwha Eagles of the KBO. The very next day, Colletti signed free agent Zack Greinke. On the 12th, he traded a minor leaguer to the Cardinals for Skip Schumaker.
In January, he signed LHRP J P Howell. By the end of June, the team was 5 games under .500, in last place. The June draft had netted them Cody Bellinger, Jacob Rhame, Brandon Dixon, Kyle Farmer, and Jose DeLeon. The team got hot in July. Two trades in July brought Ricky Nolasco and Drew Butera to the team. They really took off in August going 23-6. Over those two months they were 42-12. The cooled off in September and won only 12 and lost 15. But they won the west by 11 games. One of the additions to the team was former Giant closer, Brian Wilson. Wilson pitched in 18 games for LA and had a 0.66 ERA, he won 2 and lost 1. Ramirez was by far their best player in 13. He hit .345 with 20 homers and 57 driven in. He only played in 86 games because he injured his finger in the World Baseball Classic. Gonzo led the team with 22 homers and 100 driven in. Kershaw 16, Ryu 14 and Greinke 15, paced the pitching staff. Jansen had a 1,88 ERA out of the pen and saved 28 games. Brandon League saved 14.
They played the Braves in the LDS. Kershaw won game 1 in Atlanta, 6-1. Mike Minor outdueled Greinke in game 2, 4-3. The series shifted to Dodger Stadium for game 3. Ryu faced off against Julio Tehran. Braves jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first. In the bottom of the second, LA scored 4, 2 came on a Carl Crawford homer. Atlanta scored 2 in the top of the second. LA answered by retaking the lead with 2 of their own. LA put the game away in the bottom of the fourth with 4 more runs. Juan Uribe’s 2-run blast was the big blow. They scored 3 more in the bottom of the 8th. Heyward hit a 2-run shot off of Paco Rodriguez in the top of the 9th, but LA won, 11-6. Chris Capuano got the win in relief. Game four was started by Kershaw who went six innings giving up 2 unearned runs. Freddie Garcia matched him with 6 solid innings of his own, the only runs against him were scored on solo homers by Carl Crawford in the 1st and 3rd innings. Gonzo made 2 errors at first base, one of which led to the 2 Braves runs. The Dodgers would win the game on the strength of Juan Uribe’s 2-run homer in the 8th inning off of David Carpenter.
They then had to play in the NLCS against the St. Louis Cardinals. Game one in St. Louis went 13 innings. But the Dodgers suffered a huge blow when their hottest hitter, Hanley Ramirez, was hit in the ribs by a Joe Kelly pitch. Ramirez would be diagnosed with a cracked rib. He would miss game two but play in the next four. But he was not the same hitter. LA was beaten in six games.
They signed Dan Haren as a free agent in December. They signed Brian Wilson too. JP Howell, Juan Uribe and Jamie Wright were all signed in December. In February, Colletti signed a journeyman infielder as a free agent. He would stay with the Dodgers for the next 9 years and was an integral part of the team’s makeup, Justin Turner. The June draft saw them get Alex Verdugo, Grant Holmes, Brock Stewart and Trevor Oaks. In July they drafted Caleb Ferguson. Kiebert Ruiz was signed in July as an amateur free agent.
They traded for Darwin Barney in July, and picked up pitchers, Roberto Hernandez and Kevin Correa in August. They finished first but lost in the NLDS to the Cardinals in four games. After the 2014 season, Colletti was relieved of his duties and Andrew Friedman took over as the President of Baseball Operations and he named Farhan Zaidi his GM. De Jon Watson was replaced as Farm Director by Gabe Kaplan, and Logan White was replaced as Scouting Director by Billy Gasparino. 
Changes began happening very quickly. Hanley Ramirez declared for free agency and signed with Boston. On November 20th they traded a minor leaguer and Jose Dominguez to the Rays for Adam Liberatore and Joel Peralta. They paid cash for Mike Bolsinger from Arizona and traded a minor leaguer for P Juan Nicasio. Just before the winter meetings started, they got OF Chris Heisey from the Reds for Matt Magill. On December 11th, they made their first big trade. They sent Dee Gordon, Dan Haren, Miguel Rojas and cash to the Marlins for Austin Barnes, Kike Hernandez, Chris Hatcher and Andrew Heaney. Heaney did not stay long enough to shake hands; he was immediately dealt to the Angels for Howie Kendrick.
On the 16th they signed Brandon McCarthy to a 4-year deal. On the 18th, they traded Matt Kemp, Tim Federowicz and cash to the Padres for Zack Elfin, Yasmani Grandal and Joe Weiland. They released Brian Wilson the next day and traded Elfin and a minor leaguer to the Phillies for SS, Jimmy Rollins. They would sign all sorts of fringe players and pitchers to fill out the AAA roster, and the bullpen. Not many stuck around. In May they traded Juan Uribe and Chris Withrow to the Braves for Alberto Callaspo, Ian Thomas, Eric Stults and a minor leaguer.
The June draft brought Walker Buehler, Edwin Rios, Josh Sborz, Willie Calhoun, Brendon Davis, Kyle Garlick and Matt Beaty. In July they traded two international bonus slots to the Jays for Chase DeJong and Tim Locastro. The big trade came on July 30th. In a three-team deal, they sent Hector Olivera, Paco Rodriguez and a minor leaguer to the Braves, three minor leaguers to the Marlins, and received Bronson Arroyo, Alex Wood, Luis Avilan, Jim Johnson and Jose Peraza from the Braves, Mat Latos and Mike Morse from the Marlins. The next day they traded Morse to the Pirates for Jose Tabata. In August they traded two minor leaguers to the Phillies for Chase Utley.
They won the division again and lost the NLDS to the Mets in five games. Zack Greinke would leave after the season as a free agent, signing a huge deal with the D-Backs. 2016 would also see a new manager, Dave Roberts replaced Don Mattingly. Jimmy Rollins was allowed to leave as a free agent, but they re-signed Utley for the 2016 season. They made just one trade at the winter meetings, a three-team deal with the Reds and White Sox sending, Peraza, Dixon and Scott Schebler to the Reds and getting Micah Johnson. Frankie Montas and Trayce Thompson in return. Sox got Todd Frazier from the Reds.
They signed free agent pitchers, Scott Kazmir and Kenta Maeda from Japan. They traded a couple of players to the Yankees for Ron Segadin. Joe Blanton was signed in January and became a big help in the bullpen. They signed Howie Kendrick in early February just before heading to spring training. What fans were learning about how AF worked was that he seemed to constantly check the waiver wires and free agency for low-risk high reward type players. He would do this all through the season. For example, he picked up Casey Fien off waivers from Twins in May. Fien would pitch in 25 games that season.
The June draft in 2016 would produce 8 players who at some point would play for the Dodgers, Will Smith, Gavin Lux, Mitch White, Dustin May, D J Peters, Luke Raley, Tony Gonsolin, and Zach McKinstry. Peters and White are the only two currently not in the majors. Three players they drafted did not sign, Bailey Ober, drafted and signed by the Twins in 2017, Cal Stevenson, drafted and signed by the Jays in 2018, and Graham Ashcraft, who in 2019 was drafted and signed by the Reds. He is still a member of their pitching staff.
AJ Alexy, Cody Thomas, Devin Smeltzer, Andre Scrubb, and Dean Kremer, also drafted, have spent time in the majors with other organizations. Kremer would be used in the Machado trade in 2018. They also made a huge decision and released Carl Crawford in June, eating the last two years of his huge deal. Chris Taylor was added in a trade for Zach Lee in June. They traded a couple of minor leaguers to the Braves for Bud Norris on June 30th.
On August 1st, they made three deals, one sending Bolsinger to the Jays for reliever Jesse Chavez, then they sent Yordan Alvarez to the Stros for Josh Fields. And the final deal sent Cotton, Holmes and Montas to the A’s for Rich Hill and Josh Reddick. On the 25th of August, they made their last trade before the Sept 1 deadline and got Carlos Ruiz from the Phillies for AJ Ellis and a minor leaguer. SS Corey Seager would become the team’s 17th ROY with a stellar rookie year.
They would make it all the way to the NLCS before losing to the eventual World Champion Cubs. Another thing fans were learning about the way Freidman handled business, he rarely signed expected free agents to extensions or new contracts early. He always lets the process play out. After 2016 Justin Turner, Kenley Jansen, Rich Hill and Utley were all free agents. So, what was hit first trade or signing? He traded Howie Kendrick to the Phillies for Darren Ruf and Darnell Sweeney, who he had traded to get Rollins. He resigned Hill in December. They made no trades at the winter meetings. He also resigned Justin Turner to a six-year deal. Then in January he resigned Jansen to a 5/80 deal. Vin Scully retired after the 2016 season, to many he was the most valuable Dodger ever. “The Voice” was finally silenced. 
Just before spring training he traded a minor league pitcher to the Rays for 2B Logan Forsythe. He also signed veteran pitcher, Brandon Morrow, who would play a big role in the run to the pennant in 17. Some signings would work out, others not so much. In April they signed a free agent infielder and sent him to AAA. He would soon become a huge offensive force, Max Muncy. The June draft would yield some players who would eventually make it to the majors, although some not in LA. Connor Wong, Zach Pop, Rylan Bannon, Zach Reks, Jacob Amaya, Andre Jackson, and Brett de Gues. At the deadline they made three separate trades that brought 3 pitchers to the team. First, they got Tony Cingrani from the Reds for Van Slyke and a minor leaguer. Then they sent 3 prospects to the Rangers for Yu Darvish. And finally, they sent O’Neil Cruz and another minor leaguer for Tony Watson. Looking back, I would have kept Cruz. He has become quite the player for the Pirates. Adrian Gonzalez had been injured, and they called up Cody Bellinger to replace him. Bellinger would end up being the ROY as he put up big numbers.
They won the division, then swept Arizona in the NLDS and finally they beat the Cubs in five games in the NLCS. CT-3 and JT were the series MVP’s. Kike hit 3 homers in the deciding game and drove in 7 runs. They met the Astros in the series eventually losing in 7 games. We won’t rehash what happened. We all know the story by now. Freidman did not re-sign Darvish. Not known whether his dismal performance in the World Series had anything to do with that decision, he would eventually sign with the Cubs.
Andre Eithier became a free agent, and he would retire. On December 17th they made what many considered a strange move. They traded Charlie Culberson, Adrian Gonzalez, Scott Kazmir, Brandon McCarthy and cash to the Braves for Matt Kemp. It was by all account’s a pure salary dump, and no one expected Kemp to be with the team by the time the season started. January saw a three-team trade with the Royals and White Sox. Kemp had a great spring and made the team. For most of the first half, Matt kept them in the race as he carried the team offensively.
They traded Mejia and Oaks to the Royals and Luis Avilan and cash to the Sox, getting Jake Peter from the Sox and LHRP Scott Alexander from the Royals. The Royals sent Joakim Soria and cash to the Sox. In February they claimed JT Chargois from the Twins. In April they signed Daniel Hudson. Seager went down to injury early in the season and Chris Taylor became the primary SS. Three of the June draftees would eventually make the team, Michael Grove, James Outman and Hunter Feduccia.
The team was in first place by 1/2 game when the All-Star break rolled around. On July 18th, during the All-Star break, they traded 5 players to the Orioles for SS Manny Machado. Even after trading for Machado, the team did not exactly catch fire. Max Muncy the minor league free agent from the year before, had become a huge force in the middle of the lineup and ended up hitting 35 homers, leading the team by a large margin. They were 6-6 through the rest of July. They were barely over .500 in August 14-13. The got hot in September, and they needed to. They were neck and neck with the Rockies, who were surprising everybody. At the end of 162 games, they were tied for the division lead with Colorado, forcing a game 163 to decide the West.
Walker Buehler beat the Rockies 5-2 and LA won the West and met the Braves in the NLDS beating them 3 games to 1. Milwaukee swept the Rockies who had won the wild card game. The Dodgers and Brewers played an exciting 7 game NLCS. LA eventually prevailed. Cody Bellinger was named the MVP of the NLCS. They went on to face the AL champion Red Sox. They won only 1 game, an extra inning affair that went 18 innings and was won on a walk off homer by Muncy. Disappointing to say the least. But the Red Sox were clearly a better team at that point. They let Machado walk after the season, and he would eventually sign with the Padres.
In 2019, the Dodgers would end up with 106 wins, the most in team history. But it would end with a devastating thud. But before the season, as happens every year, changes were coming to a loaded roster. Reliever Joe Kelly was signed in December. They traded Yasiel Puig, Kemp, Wood and Farmer to the Reds on the 21st of December for Homer Bailey, Jeter Downs, and Josiah Gray. Bailey was immediately released. Gray and Downs would later be central pieces in two trades.
In January they traded two minor leaguers to the Jays and brought back Russell Martin. They signed OF AJ Pollock as a free agent in January. By the end of April, the team was in first place to stay. Cody Bellinger was scorching hot. The June draft yielded Johnny DeLuca, Michael Busch, and Ryan Pepiot. None of the trades they made in July really helped all that much. Some made no sense to me, especially when they traded for Tyler White and Jedd Gyorko. None of the trades made a huge impact, Negron and Kolarek had some success, but the team was way ahead in the standings.
They ended up winning the division by 21 games. Bellinger would win the MVP award. They went into the NLDS overwhelming favorites to beat the Nationals, who had come from nowhere after a really bad start to earn the wild card. They then beat the Brewers. The Nat’s did have some pretty good pitchers though. Buehler shut out DC 6-0 in game 1 in LA. Strasburg beat Kershaw 4-2 in game 2. Hudson got the save for DC. They moved to DC for game 3. The Dodgers beat Corbin for the second time with a 10-4 win behind Ryu. Game 4 saw Max Scherzer win a 6-1 decision. They went back to LA for the deciding game 5.
The Dodgers jumped out to a 3-0 lead after two on the strength of a 2-run homer by Muncy and a solo shot by Kike in the second off of Strasburg. DC got a run back off of Buehler in the 7th. Kersh relieved him and got out of the inning. In a decision that would later have Dodger fans calling for his head, Roberts sent Kershaw back out in the 8th inning. He immediately gave up back-to-back homers to Rendon and Soto to tie the game.
His next decision would send Dodger fans to the asylum; after getting the Nat’s in the 9th, he sent Joe Kelly back to the mound in the top of the 10th. Mariachi Joe would get only 1 out, and then with the bases loaded, former Dodger, Howie Kendrick slugged a grand slam homer into the left field seats. LA lost the game 7-3 and everyone was stunned. There were many calls from fans for Roberts to be fired after that. The Nat’s eventually won the World Series. That made the loss that much harder to swallow.
The Dodgers had not won a title since 1988, fans were beyond restless. Despite that, it sure did not affect attendance. Following the season, Friedman knew he was going to have to make some changes to the roster. What he needed was a true superstar. Most of the fringe guys were allowed to walk. They signed A’s closer, Blake Treinen in December. They did not make any moves at the winter meetings. On February 10th, they completed a trade that had been rumored in the works with the Red Sox, sending Alex Verdugo, Jeter Downs, and Connor Wong to the Sox for David Price, Mookie Betts and cash. They also traded Kenta Maeda, Jair Camargo and cash to the Twins for Brusdar Graterol, Luke Raley and future considerations.
Spring training started and everything was looking good when on March 12th, MLB announced that spring training would be stopped for at least two weeks due to the Covid outbreak. It turned out to be a lot longer than that. They came close to cancelling the whole season, but after much discussion, it was decided there would be a truncated 60 game season, Spring training would resume on July 1st. It was rebranded Summer Camp. A lot of restrictions were put in place, including no fans in attendance. Teams would put cardboard cutouts in the stands and pipe in crowd noise. Players could also opt out of playing. David Price did that with the Dodgers, and Buster Posey did it with the Giants. Also, teams would only play teams in their geological area. In other words, the Dodgers only played against the AL and NL West. Plus, the All-Star game was cancelled. It was due to be played at Dodger Stadium. It was rescheduled there for 2022.
The season began on July 23rd. In June, the Dodgers had drafted four players since the draft was drastically reduced. Bobby Miller, Landon Knack, Gavin Stone and Clayton Beeter were the choices. After 20 games, the Dodgers were 13-7 and in first place. They stayed there the rest of the year. The playoffs were expanded to include a best of 3 wild card, the NLDS 5 game series, 7-game NLCS and then the World Series. The Dodgers finished 43-17, the best record in the majors. But it really did not matter since only the wild card round would be played at Dodger Stadium, and with no fans. They also signed Betts to a 12-year deal.
They beat Milwaukee 4-2 behind Urias, and 3-0 with Kershaw. San Diego was next. The rest of the playoffs would be in Texas at Globe Life Field, home of the Rangers. LA swept the Padres, 5-1 with May the winner, 6-5, Kershaw over Zack Davies, and 12-3, Urias beating Morejon. Will Smith became the first Dodger ever to have 5 hits in a playoff game in that series. They then faced the Braves in the NLDS. They lost the first two games, 5-1 and 8-7. In game 3 they scored 11 runs in the first inning and went on to a 15-3 rout. They hit 3 homers in the first inning, Pederson, Rios and Muncy’s slam, and two more, Bellinger and Seager in the second and third.
The Braves turned the tables on the Dodgers in game 4 with a 10-2-win scoring 9 runs in their last 3 at bats. Down 3-1 in the series, it wasn’t looking good. They were down 2-0 in game 5, then scored 7 unanswered with 1 in the fourth and 3 in the sixth and seventh for a 7-3 win. The Dodgers scored 3 in the first inning of game six and made it stand up with excellent pitching from Buehler and the bullpen and the series was tied.
Game seven was a nail biter. Braves again jumped out to a 2-0 lead. The Dodgers tied it in the bottom of the third, and the Braves went back up, 3-2 in the fourth. Kike Hernandez hit a PH homer in the 6th to tie the game, and Cody Bellinger hit a solo shot off of Chris Martin in the seventh for what would be the deciding run. Julio Urias pitched 3 perfect innings of relief, and the Dodgers headed to the World Series for the third time in four years. The Dodgers won it in six games over the Rays, Seager was the MVP of both the NLCS and the Series. There would be no parade though. The pandemic was still going on. The Lakers also won the NBA title in what was called the bubble.
Some called the title a Mickey Mouse title because of the conditions under which the season was played. But that is bunk. All teams played under the same rules, and the Dodgers had to win more games to win the title than any team ever had, plus coming back from down 3-1 in the LCS, they were truly the Champs. But now, AF had to start working towards the 21 season. And changes were on the horizon. Several players, Muncy, Bellinger, Pederson, had really dismal stats. Bellinger injured his shoulder when he did a forearm bash with Kike after his homer. He would require surgery to fix it.
They had several free agents. Kike left for the Red Sox; Joc Pederson signed with the Braves. They did resign Treinen and Justin Turner. They traded for Cory Knebel in December. In February they made two deals sending Floro to the Marlins for Vesia and Kyle Hurt, then they traded Kolarek and Cody Thomas to the A’s for Sheldon Nuese and Gus Varland. It was business as usual for AF. He would pick up players off waivers, like he did with Bickford from Milwaukee in May.
At the end of April, they were 16-11 and a half game out of first. Bellinger had broken his leg in April. On May 17th, they signed Albert Pujols as a free agent. Tio Albert as the players would call him, brought a great clubhouse presence to the team. By the end of June, they were 49-31 a game and a half back. The draft took place in July, and they drafted. Sheehan, Nastrani, Casparius, and Wrobleski. As the trade deadline approached, they were still in second place. On July 30th, AF made perhaps his biggest deadline trade sending Gray, Keibert Ruiz and 2 minor leaguers to the Nationals for Max Scherzer and Trea Turner.
With Corey Seager healthy, Turner became the everyday second baseman. The Dodgers won 21 games and lost 6 in August. They had a 9-game winning streak from the 13th to the 21st. By August 31 they were a half game back. But the Giants were having the best season they had since 2014. Eventually the Giants would win the west by just 1 game, but they won 107 games. The Dodgers won 106 and had to face St. Louis in a 1 game playoff. They won that game, 3-1 on Taylors 9th inning 2-run walk off homer. They then beat the Giants in 5 games to win the NLDS. But this time in the NLCS, they could not come back from being down 3-1 and lost in six games to the eventual Champion Braves.
What has transpired since is well documented. Familiar faces left the team, Jansen, Turner, Kike. They let Scherzer walk after the 21 season, Trea Turner left after 22. Seager would leave after the 21 season and sign a huge deal with the Rangers. He would become a two time Series MVP in 23. The team had epic disappointments in the LDS in both 22 and 23. 22 was especially harsh since they had won a team record 111 games, and they lost to a team they dominated during the season. The sweep by the D-Backs in 23 was equally as bad. But ownership let AF spend more than a billion dollars after the season, and this year they brought the trophy and the parade home. Fans are happy. But what lies ahead? What will the Dodgers do this offseason to improve a very well balanced and powerful team? We will know all the answers in the next 2 1/2 months leading into spring training for 25. It should be a fun ride.
According to Yardbarker, Mark Prior stated that the Dodger staff will meet after Thanksgiving to try and solve the injury problem from inside the organization. He stated that they wanted to if they find something common, to act on it in a smart way, not a reactionary way. This will be throughout the organization, even in the minors. He also reported that Tyler Glasnow will begin throwing in January and should be ready by spring training.
Peace for our time
Grips, off speed, command, strength and conditioning, added recovery time, less work load. You can still throw 98, but only on occasion and make sure it at least flirts with the strike zone.
Guggenheim built a winner with smart investments. Smart. Science and arithmetic. Algorithms. They’ve always existed. We’re just beginning to understand them. Friedman learned this early in his career.
Frank McCourt is an idiot who, like many, was handed a fortune, lost it, fell flat on his face and got up covered in money. Only in America.
Who else sounds like that?
He who shall not be named.
Hmm. He had his 71st birthday the other day.
Nope.
But I guess maybe him too.
According to Jon Heyman, Austin Slater, the former Giant CF, has signed a MLB contract with the White Sox. Terms not disclosed. Slater finished last season with the Orioles.
Great read Bear
Comprehensive review of all those trades!
The best big Dodger trade in recent years, I suspect, was for Mookie.
It’s interesting (at least to me) how often a minor name in a deal emerges as a key player.
Kyle Farmer, for example. The Dodgers wanted to convert him from college SS to big-league catcher. The Dodgers packaged Farmer with Puig, Kemp and Alex Wood in that salary-dump deal with the Reds. Puig and Kemp are out of the bigs, and Wood (I think) is a low-level FA now. Farmer has had the bigger impact, first as the Reds SS and now continuing to plug away at about a league-average level as a UT guy, now with the Twins.
Hope we have a couple of more trades this winter….
Kemp retired; Puig is going to play in Korea again this year after spending 24 in the Mexican league. Farmer and Wood are free agents. Wood was 9-9 with Oakland last year, but his ERA was over 6. Farmer had his worst MLB season hitting only. 214.Biggest in season deal was for Scherzer and Turner. Scherzer came () that close to tossing a perfect game against the Padres in September and Turner hit so well with LA that he won the batting title. He also led the league in steals. Found out today that old friend Rich Hill is pitching for team USA in a tournament in Japan.
Thank you, John.
A terrific write up, Mr. Norris! I can’t even imagine how much effort you put into these columns. All these year later I still haven’t forgiven Joe Kelly for nailing Hanley in the ribs back in 2014. Any chance we had of winning that year went down the drain with his ribs.
Thanks. I disliked Kelly for a long time for that and even more after he pitched so well for Boston against the Dodgers in the 2018 World Series. But he won me over when he struck out Correa in a series against the Astros.
Today is protection day. Dodgers have to decide who will be protected and who won’t, those have to be submitted by 5PM today, CT. Rule 5 draft is December 11th.
What are your sources telling you about our meeting with Soto, Bear?
Supposedly they are meeting with Boras and Soto today. What I have been reading is that the Mets offered him 660 million for 15 years. And that is supposed to be without any money being deferred. I honestly believe that all the Dodgers are doing is their due diligence. Cohen has money to burn, and he is willing to outbid everyone for Soto. And we all know AF does not like to get drawn into a bidding war. I expect LA will pass on Soto and concentrate on pitching and maybe signing Teo and Adames. I think Lux and Outman might be trade fodder.
Maybe the Dodgers will tell Boras and Soto that they want him but will not get involved in a long bidding war. Treat it like an arbitration hearing. You offer a number and we will offer a number. No negotiations, just have to agree on one of those two numbers and do it quickly.
Exactly. Make an offer and if he really wants to play for the Dodgers he will take it . If not ,fine, turn to Teo and Adames and pitching immeiately.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!
As most of us know, Kershaw is considered one of the best pitchers of this era. That being said, he will never in my mind replace Koufax as the best pitcher in Dodger history. The reason is simple, at least for me. Every time I saw Koufax pitch; I felt I could witness history. 4 no-hitters, 1 of them a perfect game. Two of his four World Series wins were clinchers. He struck out 18 hitters in a game twice. He had as many complete games in one season as Kershaw has in his career. 300 strikeouts accomplished three times. He still holds the NL record for strikeouts in a season with 382, just 1 behind Ryan’s MLB record. 5 straight ERA titles. 3 Cy Youngs and an MVP. Two World Series MVP awards. Yes, Kersh will probably record his 3000th K sometime in 25 since he is only 32 strikeouts away. Yes, Kersh also has at this point, 47 more wins than Sandy had. But he has played 5 years longer than Koufax. And to be very honest, Kersh has been on better teams. At least offensively. I give Kersh kudos for all he has done so far, but the best I have seen in a Dodger uni, and they guy I would give the ball to in a must win game would be Koufax. Two other times he could have won the Cy Young and MVP< but he finished 2nd to Mays in 65 and 2nd to Clemente in 66.
Agree 100%. Sandy is the All time King.
Kershaw a strong Nr. 2.
Since you posted Sandys WS stats:
Walker Buehler is 2-0, 1 save, 0.47 ERA, 19 IP, 7 hits, 3BBs, 24 Ks.
Wow, just wow!
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and this is why I want Walker Buehler resigned. I don’t want to face him in October.
Buehler is projected to sign a one year $12M contract and Beiber is projected to sign a one year $15M contract. I want both.
If Justin Turner retires could he be the Dodgers next first base coach?
What about Sasaki? He would be cheaper than both of them and he is just a kid. Bieber’s health is in question too. He only pitched in 2 games last season. JT would love to return to LA after his career is over. I think a coaching job could be his, but I also think he plans to play this year. First base? I think they stay within the organization and go with one of the minor league coaches. Travis Barbary maybe.
Give me Sasaki and Snell and Striker Buehler. I am greedy.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Snell is another Boras client, and he will want more than the 2 years the Giants gave him. Personally, I can’t stand Snell. He is a five inning pitcher most of the time. And he walks way too many hitters. Look at his record, he is almost 32 and he has pitched more than 129 innings twice in his career.
Also sign Sasaki
I agree, I love Striker. Big game pitcher and he has learned how to get outs without trying to strike everyone out. Morosi is saying that the Orioles and Dodgers considered the front runners for Burnes. But Burnes is also a Boras client and the want 7 years. I can’t see LA giving a pitcher not named Yamamoto, that many years.
Agree.
I find it bizarre when Kershaw is refered to as the GOAT. Generational peers like Verlander and Scherzer offer serious competition.
My all-time Dodgers rotation: Koufax, Fernando, Drysdale, Kershaw, Orel…
No Newk? No Dazzy Vance? LOL
Totally agree.
Bear, I’ve felt this way as well. Nothing against Kershaw but Sandy regularly pitched in 4 man rotations on 3 days rest. When the team really needed him he pitched on 2 days rest. And for those old enough to remember, his fastball seemed unhittable. Let’s also remember that Sandy pitched in an era where hitters put the ball in play unlike today’s home run or bust game. So in my opinion his 382 strikeouts (along with Ryan’s 383) are even more impressive.
I remember a quote I heard not long after he pitched his perfect game. Sandy admitted later that it took him some time to get loose during the game. He felt he found his rhythm about the 4th inning. He also relied mostly on his fastball that night because his curve was not working all that great. Everyone knew about his icing his arm because of the soreness after every game. But one quote stood out to me, supposedly after striking out on a Koufax heater, Harvey Kuenn said, sore arm my ass! What is also lost to most fans is the fact that the Cubs pitcher, Bob Hendley, threw a one-hitter and lost. He had a no-hitter until the 7th inning when Sweet Lou Johnson singled. Koufax threw 113 pitches, 79 were strikes. His 14 Ks were the most ever in a perfect game. There were only 2 baserunners the entire game. He struck out at least 1 hitter in every inning, and the last six outs were all by strikeout.
Yep, most likely the best pitched game on both sides in major league history. Even better than the Marichal-Spahn 16 inning 1-0 gem.
Sandy is my all time favorite Dodger pitcher. Not even close for me.
I do wonder how many games Don Sutton would have won playing on a Dodger team as good as those Kershaw has played on. 16 years a Dodger. 233 wins, 156 complete games, 52 shutouts.
Sutton was very good and very durable.
But did he ever achieve moments of greatness?
Fernando and Orel never compiled HOF-worthy stats. But for a time, they were both great.
Never won a Cy Young. Won 20 just once, when wins meant something at the negotiating table. Led the league in ERA once. Only major pitching stat he ever led the league in. Took him 23 seasons to win 300. Averaged 14 wins a year and 11 losses. Never pitched a no hitter. He was a very good but unspectacular pitcher. He didn’t scare anybody.
Another great write up Bear. Guggs and company have done an outstanding job resurrecting the Dodgers after the McCourt fiasco. Still sucks that the carpetbagger McCourt walked away scot-free and rich after his mismanagement and greed bankrupted the Dodgers. He should have been prosecuted.
I was not a fan of “The Trade” at the time. Mostly because of Carl Crawford. However, We did not give up much in prospects and players in the trade as it turns out. Only really cost us money which Guggs has plenty of. So in retrospect it was not a horrible deal. I still would not have done it.
I was totally against the Joey Gallo acquisition. The Machado and Reddick trades looked good when the trades were made, but just did not pan out. Especially Reddick. And I never liked Guano Joe Kelly and still don’t get AF’s fascination with him.
Lastly, probably AF’s biggest bust has been Taylor. They need to cut him, eat the money and move on. They did it with Crawford.
Crawford actually was pretty decent when he was on the field. He just did not play a lot. He hit .283 his first year and .300 his second. As for Taylor, he has been injured a lot the last two seasons. But let’s look at that deal. When he signed that deal, he was coming off of a season, 2021 where he hit .253 with 20 homers and 73 driven in. He made his first All-Star team that year. He also was one of the few Dodgers who had good numbers in the 21 playoffs. He beat the Cards in the wild card game with his walk off homer, and he hit 4 homers in the playoffs overall and drove in 12 runs. Kike had left, so he was the main utility player on that team. One thing you cannot plan for is injuries. Since he signed the deal, he hasn’t really had an injury free year. The first two seasons he played ok, not great, but last season he never really got going until the last month or so and then only after he went back to his old stance. Considering he is only getting 13 mil; he is relatively cheap for what he brings to the team. His versatility is where his value to the team lies. Fans might not see any value in him, but obviously the team does. I think he stays, plays out the contract, and then does not have his option picked up after the season. Kike is a free agent again, and they really do not need another utility type player.
Taylor will probably have a career year as he is playing for his next contract.
Chris Taylor has been good with the Dodgers until the last 2 years. He wasn’t a bust. Friedman traded a bust, Zach Lee to acquire Chris Taylor.
I do not think that many (if any) think CT3 was a bust. Pre-extension, Taylor was one of the best utility players in all of MLB. I think what most detractors believe was that his $60MM 4 year extension was an overpayment. I believe I am one of the few (outside of LAD) that believe that Taylor has a chance of turning it around this year.
When CT3 returned from the IL on August 24, he finished the season .314/.368/.412/.780 in 57 PA. Just for the month of September, CT3 hit .333/.370/.452/.822 in 46 PA. He will bat almost eclusively against LHP. With the number of positions that Taylor can play and play well, his production offensively and defensively from August 24 will be difficult to replicate. Will he? He revamped his swing to the swing he was previously productive with that has worked wonders, so why not?
Taylor is now 34. He’s streaky, but a very useful UT guy. Played well after the all-star break–and Roberts used him as a pinch-runner for Lux in the WS. (Was Lux hurt? Or is Taylor just faster and a better baserunner than a guy who is seven years younger?)
It will always amaze me that Taylor scored a better contract–more money, more security–than Max, a guy who logs more innings and has the habit of hitting 35 HRs per season.
Perhaps Taylor will platoon with Max in ’25. Kike would be better, I think–but he may not be back.
No surprise here, reported that Soto rejected the QO from the Yankees.
This week the current roster construction will begin to come into focus. Today, the Dodgers need to protect players subject to the Rule 5 draft that will take place in December at the Winter Meetings.
Players are eligible for selection in the Rule 5 draft if they are not on their major league organization’s 40-man roster and:
The Dodgers have 37 eligible players to be protected. IMO the most vulnerable are:
· Austin Gauthier – Utility – LAD loves their utility players
· Jack Dreyer – LHRP – Tough to say goodbye to potential high leverage late inning LHRP
· Carlos Duran – RHP – He had a tougher time coming back from TJ surgery than did Edgardo Henriquez. He has a 60 fastball (touches 98) and slider, with the slider potentially moving to 70.
Two others that I believe could potentially be protected because there may still possess abilities and will become MiLB Free Agents if not added some time this year:
· Ryan Ward – LH hitting corner OF
· Kody Hoese – 3B/1B – Is he a potential Max Muncy replacement????
Also, Andre Lipcius will get consideration. He is the quintessential AAAA player who can help. They are needed, but do they need to be protected.
Two recent players signed to MiLB contracts over the last week and are also Rule 5 eligible:
· RHP – Justin Jarvis (will be 25 in 2025)
· Utility INF – Aaron Bracho (will be 24 in 2025)
I have no idea of the contract amount of the MiLB contract for either player. But maybe it is large enough to give pause to other teams. That is a strategy that some use. I know my son got a healthy MiLB contract when he was first eligible for Rule 5.
None of the LAD eligibles is a difference maker for LAD this year. Some will be depth, but the Dodgers have that covered. The Dodgers do not usually protect relievers or utility players. So it is plausible that they do not protect anyone.
On Friday contracts need to be tendered to all players if the team wants to retain them. The Dodgers have 8 players that are arbitration eligible and subject to being non-tendered, making them free agents. The players and their expected arbitration salaries:
· Dustin May – 5.059 years MLB service – $2.135MM
· Michael Kopech – 5.041 years MLB service – $5.2MM
· Brusdar Graterol – 4.167 years MLB service – $2.7MM
· Tony Gonsolin – 4.152 years of MLB service – $5.4MM
· Evan Phillips – 4.136 years of MLB service – $6.2MM
· Gavin Lux – 4.114 years of MLB service – $2.7MM
· Alex Vesia – 4.078 years of MLB service – $1.9MM
· Anthony Banda – 3.135 years of MLB service – $1.1MM
The team and players do not have to agree on terms at this time, the Dodgers just have to offer a MLB contract offer to keep them in the organization. IMO not one of the above should be non-tendered.
More than a couple of publications speculate that Dustin May is a potential non tender candidate. I cannot see that. The Dodgers can afford 1 year at $2.135MM. But May becomes a free agent for 2026, and maybe the Dodgers do not see the long term benefit of keeping May. IMO, offer the contract, and then trade him if need be.
Others have speculated LHRP Anthony Banda. LHP is sacred in MLB and Banda was excellent for LAD in 2024. But Banda has had a lackluster career before that. Maybe the changes made for Banda’s arm angle adjustment and slider grip adjustment have satisfied the Dodgers to keep him.
A nice article on the transformation of Banda and why he should be offered a contract (IMO):
Tony Gonsolin has also been mentioned as a potential non-tender. Gonsolin may (probably) end up in the bullpen, but $5.4MM is not out of line for that ability.
Players can always be DFA’d later in the season. The contract amounts would not be onerous. If the Dodgers need another 40 man spot, LHP Zach Logue could be DFA’d before any of the above.
Jeff, is Jerming Rosario rule-5 eligible>>>???
Yes, and he is a personal favorite of mine. I just do not see him being protected. I also do not see another team selecting him and keeping him on the MLB contract for the full year. If they do, good for Jerming.
Others – Alec Gamboa LHP, Ryan Sublette RHRP, LHRP Ben Harris, 2B/C Yeiner Fernandez, OF Damon Keith, OF Jose Ramos, 1B/3B Brandon Lewis.
Just about all of these guys could be nice sweeteners in deals with the White Sox or Brewers or ???
how are they sweeteners and not dead weight?
the acquirer would also need to roster them before the draft.
Walker Buehler is honored in his hometown, Lexington, Kentucky.
Juan Morillo is a former LAD farm hand who became a MiLB free agent this winter. Morillo was just signed to a MiLB deal with Arizona. The Dodgers have better options, but this is one that could become “one that got away”.
Mets acquire CF Jose Siri from Tampa Bay for 27 year old RHRP Eric Orze.
12 of the 13 players extended a QO have declined it, incluing Teoscar Hernandez. Only Reds RHP, Nick Martinez, accepted the QO. We will see how this turns out for a couple on the fence: Nick Pivetta and Luis Severino.
As I understand it, this means that the QO can’t apply to Nick Martinez after next season, which would increase his value on the market because teams wouldn’t have to sacrifice a draft pick. Is that correct?
Joc took the QO from the Giants a couple years back and it paid off for him. Now he’s on the market again after a great year for the Snakes.
ESPN published its annual postseason survey of major league executives today.
($$$$$)
https://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/story/_/id/42408823/mlb-offseason-2024-25-survey-baseball-insiders-predict-free-agency-trades
Dodgers highest likelihood (Teo not projected on) was 2nd most likely destination for Max Fried.
not in top 3 for:
Crochet, Soto, Snell or Bergman amongst others
Rosenthal on how when Sasaki signs he’s going to leave a wake of once-promised Intl players with drawn short straws.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5931348/2024/11/19/roki-sasaki-signing-impact-international-free-agents/?source=user_shared_article
Good article (because I agree) by Juan Toribio on why we should resign Walker Buehler:
https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/the-case-for-the-dodgers-to-sign-walker-buehler
Lot of moves today as some players DFAd to make room on the rosters. Cubs DFAd Adbert Adzolay, their former closer. Two exe Dodgers, Eddys Leonard and Ricky Vanasco DFAd by Detroit. As of right now, 4:44 MST, the Dodgers have not announced any roster moves at all. Correction, Jack Dreyer added to 40-man roster. No other moves announced yet.
very surprised at Duran not being added.
meh surprised at Gauthier.
Jack Dreyer was indeed added to the 40 man roster and is now protected from the Rule 5 draft. The 40 man roster now sits at 38. I was not surprised about Austin Gauthier not being added. The last thing the Dodgers need is still another utility player on the 40 man. I hope that both Gauthier and Carlos Duran get drafted. They both deserve the opportunity.
Vogt and Murphy named managers of the year. I don’t think we will see any DFAs until they hit the non-tender date. They have a few guys who are vulnerable.
Non tender date is Friday, and I do not see anyone not getting a contract offer. They do not need to finalize terms, just offer a MLB contract. Which of the following do you see get non-tendered.
· Dustin May – 5.059 years MLB service – $2.135MM
· Michael Kopech – 5.041 years MLB service – $5.2MM
· Brusdar Graterol – 4.167 years MLB service – $2.7MM
· Tony Gonsolin – 4.152 years of MLB service – $5.4MM
· Evan Phillips – 4.136 years of MLB service – $6.2MM
· Gavin Lux – 4.114 years of MLB service – $2.7MM
· Alex Vesia – 4.078 years of MLB service – $1.9MM
· Anthony Banda – 3.135 years of MLB service – $1.1MM
They can always be DFA’d later if a spot is needed. The consequence is they remain obligated for the contract. None of those contracts are that onerous that would scare the Dodgers.
Logue,
Sure Logue could be non tendered. He is not arbitration eligible and he is estimated to make $800K. There is no reason to non tender a LHRP who makes $40K above minimum salary. He is 29 in 2025, and is not arbitration eligible until 2027. They would have control of him through 2029. He could be DFA’d later if a need arises. There is no upside to DFA Logue at this time.
Okie dokey.
Let’s offer Lux + Duran + ?? for Devin Williams…
I would rather see some overpays to small market teams than have guys like Ryan Ward withering on the farm system vines.
Happy about Jack Dreyer being protected. When Vesia or Banda get hurt, he could be the next lefty up.
Question, why would Milwaukee even consider dealing Williams?
Because he’s a free agent after next season and he’s going to cost them 10.5 mil next year. And they have almost no hope of signing him after that.
They did something similar with Burnes.
It’s all a matter of whether they feel they can get something in return that makes a trade worthwhile. And I have no doubt that they can.
Well, if they do deal him, it won’t be until the deadline I would bet. He only pitched in 22 games last year. His value at this point is diminished. He is going to have to prove he is healthy first.
FYI, Baseball America will report their LAD top 10 prospects on Wednesday, November 20.
Nice
After the WS parade, Mookie had a bunch of the guys over to the house and they taped a video talking about the post season.
It’s almost an hour long, but a very good listen/watch. Gives you an idea of what was going through their heads at various times, and it’s easy to see that this was a very tight knit group.
Three different groups of players, with Mookie running the show.
It starts with a short ad which you can skip about half way through.
Video Ad
I watched some of it on X. Buehler’s segment was pretty interesting.
Great video!
Great team!
Great victory!
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If the Dodgers got Soto and Adames and Roki Saki would they need any other free agents. If theu just git those three guys with what they have. And lost Buehler Flarethy and Teoscar and KiKi oh and Trienen. Would they have enough to get back to world series I believe so they could put Pages on LF and Soto in Rf with Edman in CF and Rushing and Taylor as the other outfielders. They might need a reliever to replace Trienen unless May becomes like the closer which I think they do. Now if they don’t get Soto then they go after Teoscar and Keke.
They need to re-tool the pen. But you can forget Soto. He is not coming to LA. Teo is a possibility. I think Treinen gets re-signed. And getting Sasaki is no lock either. If he isn’t posted until after the next posting period starts, LA has less pool money to offer him. Padres are pushing hard using his friendship with Darvish to try and convince him to play in SD. If they keep Taylor, they do not need Kike. They already have 3 utility type players on the roster as it is, Rojas, Edman and Taylor.
Since the Rays traded Siri, MLBTR is reporting that Johnny DeLuca will be the Rays primary CF next season. Mariners DFAd JT Chargois, the former Dodger and traded for infielder Austin Shenton, from the Rays for cash considerations.
So… nothing has happened yet.
Winter. And it won’t actually be winter for another month.
It has been winter here for about two weeks. Cy Young will be named tonight.