It is the time of the year when so many of us fans become rocking chair general managers. I do not have that kind of magic bottle! No genies popping out to make predictions. All guesswork and usually way wrong. Dodgerram is beating the Buxton drum. Bum just wants to get someone to replace Muncy. Most of us want to see a new CF and Teo moved out of right and Pages moved to right.
But changes are coming, many none of us will ever see coming. AF usually has a surprise or ten up his sleeve. How many foresaw Snell? Not me. That was totally unexpected. As I see it, the main needs are a lock down reliever, outfield help, and some thump off of the bench. They have plenty of starting pitching. They are set at first, SS, catcher. Edman most likely is used as a utility guy, the teams super sub. He could also be installed in CF if they want to go that route.
I have come to think that they are more satisfied with Pages play in CF than the fans are. I saw one post that suggested LA would be nuts to move him out of center after that great game saving catch in game seven of the World Series. I myself do not think one great play is enough to keep him out there. He did make some very good plays during the season, but he also missed several easy catches because of bad routes, or lousy timing.
As for Kim, he hasn’t really had a chance to play much at any position, but I think he should not be in the mix in CF simply because the guy has no power at all. Edman at least hit double digit homers. He would have hit more had he been healthy all season. That has been his Achilles heel in his little over a year tenure in LA. I believe a bench with Rojas, Kim, Call and Rushing is way too weak. Rushing is one of those guys who needs to play every day. Not happening as long as the Dodgers have Smith as the primary backstop.
They signed one catcher already, Alonzo, who will most likely be at AAA. He made it to that level with the Tigers last season. The only other catcher on OKC’s roster is Frank Rodriguez who is 24 years old and caught at A, AA and AAA last year. He is not a very good hitter. I totally expect AF to sign at least one or two catchers to minor league deals who have MLB experience. He has done that almost every year.
The roster stands at 37 as of today. These are your relievers, Banda, Casparius, Dreyer, Gervese, Graterol, Henriquez, Hurt, Klein, Kopp, Scott, Stewart. Treinen, Vesia. Guys with starting experience, Glasnow, Knack, Miller, Ryan, Sasaki, Sheehan, Snell, Stone, Wrobleski, Yamamoto, Ohtani. Infielders: Betts, Edman, Freeland, Freeman, Kim, Muncy. Outfielders: Call, Hernandez, Pages, Ruiz, Ward. Rushing and Smith at catcher and Ohtani as the DH.
The need for another outfielder, hopefully one with defensive chops and some pop is there for sure. Tucker? Doubtful with his having the QO attached. Bellinger? A lot of fans would like Cody back, and he is a much different player than the one who left after the 22 season. He strikes out a lot less, and his 29 homers last season would have been second on the Dodgers to Ohtani. Buxton? 32, had a great year, but only played in 100 or more games for just the third time in 11 seasons. Might be even better in this lineup with guys like Betts, Ohtani and Freeman around him. I just don’t like the fact that he is injured so much.
Do they trade for one? Buxton would be a trade candidate, or do they simply sign one? There are always a lot of outfielders who are free agents. Another question would be how much are they willing to spend for free agents? My reasons for not wanting a Buxton trade are well known here. He is obviously a superior talent——when he can stay on the field. Three 100 games played or more seasons in 11? No thank you. I also really have no obvious fix to the Dodgers Teo problem. He swings at way too many pitches he could never hit, and his defense is somewhat suspect. If he could possibly be moved in a trade, that would not bother me much. He does bring a lot of positive energy to the clubhouse, but he is better suited as a DH.
Like all of us fans, I will just have to sit and wait to see what AF and his brain trust do to improve a back-to-back championship team. Unlike when Freidman first took over, I have come to trust his judgement. He has made some pretty astute moves over the years. He has also had his misses, like Conforto. But there is nothing to be gained by beating a dead horse. It will be a very interesting winter.
Born June 14th, 1948, in Los Angeles California. AKA The Bear
Prediction: AF will trade for an OF we didn’t see coming.
I hope it’s Abreu we don’t see coming.
Buxtons injury history is concerning, no doubt about it.
but the Dodgers do not need him for 150 plus games during the regular season. They need him come October.
Just as they did with their starting pitching last season they can plan his workload . If he plays 100 games during the regular season and is ready for October it will be just fine. Another reason is his contract. Pretty affordable for the next 3 years.
And who is to say another OF will not go down with an injury or have an offseason like Conforto ? IMHO Buxton is a calculated risk with enormous upside. I would take a flyer on him in a trade if it does not cost the farm.
And for the record: I was all in for Snell last offseason.His signing was not a surprise for me after what the Dodgers endured with their starters in 2024😀
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That is a philosophy I totally disagree with Ram. He is an everyday player. As such just playing 100 games would be a waste at the price he would cost in trade. He has shown no inclination of waiving his no-trade clause. He had a very good season, but if you check his career stats, he is barely a .230 hitter with RISP, and in high leverage situations, which he would find in abundance in LA. At his age with his injury history, he is a definite no.
Fans aren’t happy with Twins owners and are close to disliking them as much as we disliked our parking lot guy.
Trading Buxton could have fans boycotting even more games. If Buxton is traded, Outman could be the replacement.
I prefer trading for their 3rd baseman, Royce Lewis. Maybe Freeland could join Outman in the Twins starting lineup. Max and Royce could share 3rd base and cover each for each other’s injuries.
What are the Cubs going to do when they lose Tucker?
If they are going to trade for a 3rd baseman, let them trade for someone who is actually healthy and can play for the entire year, plus be a great defender. Unfortunately, Brooks Robinson is dead.
Cubs have 3 MLB proven outfielders on their 40-man right now. Happ, Crow-Armstrong and Suzuki. Suzuki is a natural RF but spent most of last season as their DH because of Tucker. Defensively, there is not much difference between the two. They can find a 4th outfielder and a DH much easier than trying to replace Tucker. Lewis has a ton of talent. But again, his injury history to me is a huge deterrent. Last season he played in 103 games. The first time he has played in more than 100 in his career. Also, he is not that big of an upgrade at third defensively over Max. Why do fans want more injury prone players? LA has enough of those without trading for more.
If Suzuki becomes the Cubs RFer they will need a new DH.
Pages and Teo for PCA. Others involved?
Dodgers then sign Tucker.
23 year old Owen Caissie (Cubs #1 prospect) will probably take over for Tucker in RF, leaving Suzuki as the primary DH. Suzuki is RH hitter so he can spell Caissie in RF and Busch at 1B.
With a team loaded with slug, having Kim in CF would be ok. That’s assuming he can truly hit major league pitching.
Bellinger sounds good but he hit far better at Yankee Stadium then on the road.
In his career, Bellinger is only slightly better at home than on the road. Most players do hit better at home; they play there more. Bellinger’s career OPS on the road is .797 which is damn good. His OPS at home is .838. He has 8 more total bases at home than on the road, which means his power is there both at home and on the road. He is a career .249 hitter at Dodger Stadium and his slug there is .503 with a .841 OPS and 105 OPS+.I don’t believe Kim would be that great of a CF. He was not impressive at all the few times I saw him out there.
Interesting piece Michael.
I was thinking earlier about what Jeff said about a couple of Relievers and be done, and honestly I think he’s probably right. Personally I would be happy with adding Bichette and grabbing what else we need at the TD (lots of our own injured Pitchers coming back).
However, I think the fact that Shohei (and others) but particularly Shohei, have deferred so much money to guarantee that his 10 year contract means playing meaningful October Baseball every year, kinda forces AF’s hand. He has to hedge against the inevitable decline in our Superstar players, looking at Mookie, Freddie, Max and the wear and tear on Will, by restocking with the top elite FA’s when they become available.
The skill will be in how to manage those long term big money contracts while remaining WS contenders? It’s not an easy thing to do, but I feel AF is obligated – after all that’s why Shohei signed, and has deferred all that money. AF has no choice but to go for it.
I think we will sign one of Tucker or Bichette.
I don’t think they sign either of them. Tucker has a QO and so does Bichette.
I don’t agree with your point about QO signings, Bear. I think for the major signings like Tucker or Bichette, Andrew would have no problem giving up a draft pick or whatever the penalty might be. If we don’t get either of those guys (assuming AF is even interested) it will be purely a money thing, in my opinion.
For guys like Gallen, Cease or King, I could see the QO making a difference, but not for Tucker or Bichette. Just my opinion.
That is your right and what the site is here for. I don’t think the draft choices are the big problem as far as Tucker goes. I think it is the amount of money and the fact that he is not that great of a defender right now. He had more than his share of problems out there last season. As for Bichette, he is not a need. They do not need a 2nd baseman. Edman has a gold glove there, and he is better suited at second than he is as a CF. Kim is no MLB CF. Pages is much better as a corner OF. If they moved Teo in a trade and then signed Tucker to play left, I might buy it.
I hope you are right Bear. I think there is better value out there for the dollars.
If I had my choice of signings, I’d prefer Bichette much more over Tucker. Bigger area of need, much smaller contract. Technically Bichette is younger than Tucker by a year or so (I think).
Money aside, I’d be happy with either of those guys, but why do you say that Bichette is a bigger area of need, Bobby?
I thought bigger need in that Muncy may be approaching his last year, and while we have potentially 3-4 minor league outfield prospects who could come knocking on the door late 2026, we don’t really have the same in middle infielders, or 3b, unless we count Freeland.
I also think Bichette is every bit the player Tucker is; Toronto would be nuts to not want him back.
Plus the cost for Bichette might be 40% of the cost of Tucker
Bichette certainly is going to be a better value than Tucker but I’ve heard mixed reports about how his arm would play at 3B. If we sign him, his long term position might well have to be at 2B. There’s no denying it would be nice to have his bat in our lineup.
Not sure I’d want to pay a second baseman $200 million
You’d be paying for his bat, which is probably worth the 200 mil.
For all the Bichette guys, from what I read his defense at SS is diminishing enough that he may need to play elsewhere, STR says he’s heard reports questioning his ability to play third. Off the top of my head I can’t think of any second baseman with $200 million contracts, so where are you guys suggesting the Dodgers play him?
A little less than a year. Bo is 27, Tucker is 28. Tucker is basically a RF; Pages has a better arm and is much better there defensively. They could get a defensive first ok bat CF and that would improve the team.
Harrison Bader??
MLBTR estimates he will get 2/$22MM – a modest price with no players given up, and that timing would work well with giving our prospects a shot.
I would not mind Bader at all. He is a gritty player like Edman.
Guys I have no clue why it has been hard to get on the site the last couple of days. I do know Jeff has a ticket in with the sites technical support guy.
I can get in on my iPhone, but not my iPad. I get a “checking your browser” on the screen that won’t go away. I also noticed a while back clicking on a new post no longer takes me right to it.
Have had the same problem, but it is on my computer.
As Bear mentioned, LADC was hacked (and probably not the only site), and the maintenance team is still working on it. The reason for the browser notification is due to increased security layer on the hosting site to avoid any further hack attacks and viruses while they work to correct it. They said this will be ongoing for several hours.
I am going away for Thanksgiving (and Friday) and may not be able to monitor it as much as I would like.
I am trying.
No problem. Have a happy thanksgiving and safe travels.
Mike Schildt hired for a player development position by the Orioles. Anthony Rendon and the Angels discussing a buyout of the last year of his contract, one of the worst in MLB history, he would then retire. Dodgers not listed on MLBTRs list of best fits for Bo Bichette. Looks like the D-Backs have made Ketel Marte available in trade. Phillies and Jays kicking the tires.
Rendon could be available. Angels looking to buy out his contract. Arte buying the Angels has been one of the big bonuses for the Dodgers.
Rendon wants to be bought out of his contract so he can retire
Available for what?
The IL. Wouldn’t it be sweet if Dodgers picked him up for nothing and he had a comeback year!
https://www.instagram.com/p/DRgBtYfD5pc/?igsh=MXUzYnB0Z2UxcWt2Yw==
Dylan Cease signs a 7year/210mil deal with the Blue Jays
I think he was projected 150-180mill. The price for starters is through the roof
Dylan Cease predictions:
MLBTR – 7 years, $189MM ($27MM AAV)
ESPN – 5 years, $145 million ($29MM AAV)
The Athletic – 6-years, $187 million ($31+MM AAV)
Only MLBTR had him at 7 years, and The Athletic had him at north of $31MM AAV. Pre deferral calculation, Cease signed for a $30MM AAV. Toronto may have overpaid, but they got their pitcher. Re-signing Bichette now probably becomes more of a priority. Toronto is not going to lose 4 draft picks by signing 2 FA with a QO.
Makes the Snell deal look like a huge win for the Dodgers!
Toronto can have Bichette back if they really want him. They just need to be high bidder. He’s made it clear he’d like to stay there.