The latest rumor is Rōki Sasaki. A lot has been written about the Dodgers being the favorite to sign Sasaki. IMO, It kind of depends as to when the Chiba Lotte Marines post him. If they post him before December 15, he will fall in the 2024 class, and the Dodgers are the clear favorites in that scenario.
Los Angeles Dodgers have kept the most available space left in their 2024 signing bonus pool, $2,502,500. Baltimore has $2,147,300 remaining, the New York Yankees $1,487,200 and San Francisco $1,247,500. The other teams have under $1 million, including Tampa Bay and Texas with no money available and eight other clubs with less than $100,000.
If Sasaki is posted on January 15, 2025, he falls under the 2025 bonus pools. The Dodgers are at a huge disadvantage monetarily.
$7,555,500 Pool
Cincinnati Reds
Detroit Tigers
Miami Marlins
Milwaukee Brewers
Minnesota Twins
Oakland Athletics
Seattle Mariners
Tampa Bay Rays
$6,908,600 Pool
Arizona Diamondbacks
Baltimore Orioles
Cleveland Guardians
Colorado Rockies
Kansas City Royals
Pittsburgh Pirates
$6,261,600 Pool
Atlanta Braves
Boston Red Sox
Chicago Cubs
Chicago White Sox
Los Angeles Angels
New York Mets
New York Yankees
Philadelphia Phillies
San Diego Padres
Texas Rangers
Toronto Blue Jays
Washington Nationals
$5,646,200 Pool
Houston Astros
St. Louis Cardinals
$5,146,200 Pool
Los Angeles Dodgers
San Francisco Giants
San Diego (and NYY and NYM) has $1,115,400 more than LAD in 2025 IFA bonus $$$.
So if Rōki Sasaki wants to be a Dodger, he needs to convince the Marines to post him before December 15. But there is no incentive for the Marines to do so as they figure to get 20% of the bonus as a fee. There will be more $$$$ with the January 15 posting date. Joel Wolfe, his agent, is also going to push for him to be posted on January 15. Besides Yamamoto and Darvish, Wolfe also represents fellow Japanese players Seiya Suzuki (Cubs) and Kodai Senga (NYM).
Question – Will Wolfe think that with Ohtani and Yamamoto already Superstars with LAD (and Mookie & Freddie), how much more marketing $$$ will be available for a third Japanese player? I do not know the answer, but it is a legit question.
Then there is the question about Sasaki’s health. He just turned 23, and he has had multiple injury concerns. This might scare off a lot of would-be suitors, but the Dodgers have never been afraid of injuries.
Some of those injuries:
Right arm injury: In June 2024, Sasaki missed two consecutive starts due to a right arm injury. The Marines manager said the injury was due to the “poor condition of his right arm”.
Left oblique tear: Sasaki was shut down from throwing due to a left oblique tear.
Upper body fatigue: Sasaki failed to recover from upper body fatigue after a start against SoftBank in May 2024.
Arm soreness: Sasaki experienced arm soreness during the previous season.
Declining velocity: Sasaki’s velocity has declined slightly over the past few years.
Yes, Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki’s fastball velocity dropped from 98.9 mph in 2023 to 96.9 mph in 2024. That is 2.0 MPH loss for a 22-year-old. Is he a TJ surgery waiting to happen? The Dodgers can absorb the hit far better than other teams.
——————–
At last week’s GM meeting in San Antonio, there was a lot of rumors floated, and at least 2 offers to SS Willy Adames: LAD and NYM. We know the NYM offer was $160MM for 7 years, but Adames would have to move to 3B, which he said he would be agreeable for the right opportunity (offer). But really, would he???? Why minimize your leverage even though you have no desire to play anywhere other than SS.
It has been reported that the Dodgers prefer to acquire a franchise SS for a multiyear term (5-6 years), thus the interest in Adames. For the Dodgers he would not be moved to 3B or 2B, and he would not need to be the face of the team like he was with Milwaukee. He could just play a solid SS and put up solid offensive and defensive metrics. Adames has averaged a 3.9 fWAR over the last 4 years, or $124.9MM value. It sure seems like $160MM over 6 years is a doable contract. He has a 4.8 fWAR last year for a value of $38.1MM.
Signing Adames would not be the end for Alex Freeland as a LAD. He can also play 3B. They can then wait for one of Joendry Vargas, Emil Morales, or Kellon Lindsey to break away from the others.
——————–
I think it is pretty clear that Mookie wants to play the infield (2B). Of course there will remain fans who believe he should play RF. I have to believe the Dodgers AF/BG have already had the discussion and came away with the understanding that Mookie wants the infield. Thus, the comment from Gomes at the GM meeting that Mookie was moving to the infield. I cannot see Gomes announcing that Mookie is moving back to the infield without Mookie’s “acknowledgement”. He will obviously play some RF in certain situations.
But with Mookie at 2B, that makes Lux a trade option. Lux is too good to be simply a bench player. CWS wants position players. Per Chris Getz (CWS GM):
“We are focusing on position player return,” Getz said. “That is our primary focus in any trade talks. The right players have to be there. We can’t force anything. We certainly need to improve our offense. That is very clear. That is what we need to do in any trade or free-agent acquisition ….
“You want to get the highest return for your club. Some organizations’ top talent is much different than others. We have spent a lot of time and resources studying other teams’ farm systems. Garrett had an outstanding year, so as much as other teams are interested, I can also see him making an Opening Day start for us as well.”
Gavin Lux is a huge improvement over Lenyn Sosa. Do the White Sox consider James Outman an improvement over Zach DeLoach? He certainly has much more power potential. Lux has 2 years control (same as Crochet), and Outman has 4 years of control.
One of Dalton Rushing or Josue DePaula would probably be required, and then one 10-20 prospect, and a DSL lottery ticket. Then again AF/BG may not be willing to give up a top 100 prospect with 2 MLB players. If the Dodgers want Crochet, they can get him.
For all those who do not want Crochet because of the 2nd half of last year, consider that before 2024 he had pitched 12.2 innings in relief for the prior two years. For his MLB career, prior to 2024, Crochet has thrown 73.0 innings all in relief. My guess is that he hit a wall in the 2nd half. He pitched more than double his career innings in 2024. He will be a 26-year-old LHSP, and the projected arbitration salaries are just about a wash: Crochet ($2.9MM) and Lux ($2.7MM).
——————–
The Dodgers are reported to be in contract negotiations with Walker Buehler.
My bad guys, I might have published this before Jeff finished it. Sorry.
No big deal. But if anyone out there finds any spelling or grammar errors, please be kind. 😉
I can go on and update before they find any 😍
Looks good to me–especially the content.
My crystal ball changes with every report I read. But right now I think the Dodgers will sign Adames and that Teo will be wooed away with a bigger contract from the Red Sox or another suitor. (This was, after all, always part of his plan: a one-year “prove it” deal to increase his value.)
Last season, Adames’ bat was similar to Teo’s. But Adames is a better defender and makes the Dodgers younger. He would essentially replace Teo in the lineup while strengthening the left side of the infield for the next 5-6 years to come.
Good point about Freeland. If he is ready, perhaps he could move into a reserve role, maybe platooning with Max. But I suspect Freeland is still at least another season away and will be blocked by Taylor and (I hope) Kike.
How about OF production?
Assuming Adames is at SS and Mookie’s at 2B, the OF could be a mix of Edman, Pages, Outman, Taylor and (we hope) Rushing. Not hard to imagine the switch-hitting Edman manning CF, with platoons in both corners. Rushing and Outman both bat lefty, while Pages and Taylor bat from the right side. (If Kike comes back, he’d be in the mix as well.)
There’s a lot of potential in that group, but also a lot of questions.
If Rushing proves he is ready for the majors, I hope Roberts finds multiple uses for him. We’re told that Rushing is OK in LF, but can he also play RF? I’d want Rushing to give Freddie an occasional break at 1B, and perhaps he could DH when Shohei pitches. And don’t just use him as the “emergency catcher”: put him back there in the blowouts. If Smith or Barnes get hurt, Rushing could be ready to step in.
Lux needs to be traded. If he could be packaged in a blockbuster for Crochet or Luzardo, great! If not, perhaps the brass would get a couple of decent prospects, like they did in dealing Busch and Almonte.
I do not believe Kike will be back. LA has 3 players of that ilk under contract already. Edman, Rojas and Taylor. Outside of his post season play, Kike is not all that great during the regular season, at least as a Dodger. He had a resurgence when he was first traded back in 23, but his 24 numbers do not excite anyone. OPS under .700? He is a .240 hitting bench player, the only reason he got a lot of playing time this year was because of all the injuries. Rushing has never played RF, and he has less than 40 games as a left-fielder. Pages is better suited for right.
I don’t think Freeland will be ready this year, at least not initially. He still needs to hit AAA pitching better than he did last year. I think he is a possible Max replacement for 2026.
I originally thought that Lux would be an ideal candidate to be traded for some top prospects as was Busch. But when I read that CWS wanted position players for Crochet, I looked at who was playing 2B for them and saw Lenyn Sosa and then Zach DeLoach was penciled in for RF, I thought that Lux and Outman would be a perfect start for them. There would have to be other additions.
The times I watched the games, he was not all that impressive to me. But I am no professional evaluator either.
News from around the league. Bud Daley passed away at age 92. Daley was from Long Beach and signed with the Indians out of high school. He was part of the trade to the Orioles that sent Larry Doby back to Cleveland. But he never pitched for Baltimore, he was flipped to the KC A’s for Arnie Portocarrero. He had two 16-win seasons in KC and then was traded to the Yankees mid-season in 61. He would finish his career with the Yankees and retired in 1964. He earned rings with the 61 and 62 teams. Jays released Emmanuel Ramirez. Yankees are showing a lot of interest in Carlos Estevez, the Phillies closer who is a free agent. Mets are showing interest in Garrett Crochet. Yankees signed Brandon Leibrandt to a minor league deal and the Reds signed Alex Jackson to a minor league deal. Teams are also contacting the Diamondbacks about the availability of any of their starting pitchers. The Angels have reached a new broadcast deal with Diamond Sports Group.
I remember Bud Daley when he was with the A’s and Yankees in the early 60s. Bud had a shriveled right arm which I believe was caused by polio.
I had a post a couple of days ago in the Yankees dynasty thread re: my experience with Bud Dailey. He was a nice man.
His Yankee card
I don’t see any path for Crochet
I wonder if Tyler O’Neill could be a replacement if Teo doesn’t resign.
I wonder if the team knew they would be getting Sasaki, or if they thought it was a good chance.
Still don’t see the team getting into a bidding war for Adames
No path for Crochet? Do you think the woeful Chisox keep him when they need so much help?
The Dodgers certainly have the prospect capital to swing a deal. The White Sox say they want position players, but they’ll also need to replace Crochet in the rotation.
How about:
Lux + De Paula + Feduccia + Wrobleski/Knack/???
They’d get a young veteran to play 2B,a top hitting prospect, a backup catcher and an ML-tested SP.
Hey, let’s throw in Ryan Ward, since the Dodgers seem unwilling to give him a chance.
I do not get the infatuation with Crochet. I would rather have Fried or Snell and keep the prospects for another deal, maybe Robert jun.
My approach would be: Sign Snell or Fried , then offer Lux-Wrobleski/Knack-Outman-Fiduccia / Cartaya for Robert jun.
That way you get a LH ace for the rotation plus a fantastic CF with 35plus HR power.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
S
Snell is a Boras client, he is not signing with the Dodgers.
Bad business if you make yourself dependent on who the players agent is . This is true not only for baseball but every business. If you want to maximize your business you have to deal and do even with guys you dislike when they are key players.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am stating facts Ram, not supposition. AF has never signed a Boras client to more than a 1-year deal. Last one was Paxton, only other Boras client on the roster, Graterol. No Boras client has been signed to a long-term deal by the Dodgers since 1999 when they signed Kevin Brown. Boras is just one of those people they do not like doing business with, he uses teams to drive up his client’s cost, nothing wrong with that, but LA doesn’t like to play that game. And except maybe Burnes, I don’t see any of those guys as a fit. Soto is a great hitter, but they have plenty of that. His defensive skills suck.
It isn’t AF or the team. It is Boras. He tries to milk every dollar out of a deal and uses the Dodgers to get it. They were in on Gerrit Cole until they reached $300MM. That is NYY swooped in with a nine year $324MM offer and stopped the bidding. It is now 10 years and $360MM. How do you think that contract is going to play out?
Another AF/Boras contract negotiation. The Dodgers gave Corey Seager their best offer and thought it was competitive considering his injury history, and Boras got $325MM out of Texas.
It is not that the Dodgers are unwilling to deal with Boras, they just have a limit and Boras always wants more than that and uses the Dodgers to get it.
It is not the LAD business model that is flawed, it is Scott Boras’ model.
Exactly, not going the Kevin Brown route again. Don’t get me wrong, Brown pitched well the first 3 years of his deal, but they did not win anything with him. They did not return to the playoffs until after he was traded to the Yankees.
Boras had Kevin Malone bidding against himself. Thank goodness, AF is not Kevin Malone.
Yep, the sheriff ended up getting fired. He and De Podestà the two worst GM’s I can remember, and whoever was running the show when Fox took over. Trading Piazza was NUTS.
Yeah; when was the last time the Dodgers swung that kind of deal for someone like Crochet.
Mookie Betts? Max Scherzer/Trea Turner?
You are putting Crochet at the level of Betts, Scherzer or Turner?
Well, if the Dodgers consider him at that level then I am definitely in the wrong and could very well be wrong again.
LA is short on LH starters. Not trading one in a deal for one. Ward is over the hill prospect wise, turns 27 in February, Feduccia is also 27, but closer to 28. They might want position players, but I believe they want guys who are proven, not wannabees.
If I’m giving up that much for one pitcher, I’m throwing in Chris Taylor. Ward is a rule 5, if they want him they can get him on the cheap. I guess I value prospects higher than a lot of you in this blog. Any two of those prospects plus a very young prospect is plenty for Crochet. You can never have enough pitching but with our pitchers coming back off of injuries we don’t have to throw the dice so hard.
To trade Taylor, LA would probably have to eat more than half of his money due this year. I am sure they would do that, but then they need to replace him on the roster. That would open the door to bring Kike back, but I am not sure that is going to happen.
Doesn’t make much sense. Taylor and Kike are basically the same player in the regular season. Now if AF could eat $8M of Taylors salary (saving $7M) to unload him, and then sign Kike for $7M it would be a wash.
My point is if they were going to give the Sox’s that many top prospects and young MLB players, they wouldn’t have to eat any of Taylor’s salary. It’s clearly an overpay on prospects so for the Dodgers to move that many prospects for one player Chicago would have to take Taylor’s salary. No pay down by the Dodgers.
Doubt the Sox would do that.
Simple then, walk away.
Most likely Taylor’s name will never come up in the conversation. The only people who think Taylor has no value are the fans. The Dodgers look at his stats the last month or so after he came back from the IL and see the player they signed.
John, you may value LAD prospects more than most, but I am not convinced that you follow them as much as I have over the last several decades. I have always followed MiLB players. I used to color code my Sporting News copy. I have seen well over 1,000 MiLB games live. When I lived in Southern California I attended every California League venue. I saw countless MiLB games my son played in. I was at the 2004 AAA All Star Game that my son played in. I used to have season tickets to the River Cats when they were the A’s AAA affiliate. That being said, I am not convinced that the Dodgers have a position player prospect ready to be a full time regular MLB player this year.
You do not have to believe me, just look at the LAD roster. AF’s first draft was 2015. And since then he has exactly one position player come through the LAD system and assume a full time role…Will Smith. Gavin Lux, Andy Pages, and James Outman are all platoon players. Miguel Vargas and two other prospects were traded to CWS in a three team trade that netted LAD Michael Kopech and Tommy Edman. LAD does not win the WS without both of those traded for players using prospects. Michael Busch was traded for two other prospects, and IMO they are the two with the most helium going into the next season: LHSP Jackson Ferris and OF Zyhir Hope.
Even the pitchers they draft and develop cannot seem to stay healthy: Walker Buehler, Bobby Miller, Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin, Emmet Sheehan, Gavin Stone…
Alex Freeland comes the closest to being ready. He should make his MLB debut in 2025, but he is probably targeted for 2026 for a full time regular role for LAD.
Dalton Rushing? He is the #1 LAD prospect and he is a utility player. He too will make his MLB debut in 2025.
I am working on my MiLB autopsies. I love to follow the LAD Affiliates and Rookie League teams. I just do not expect as much as you may.
Jeff, I have the highest respect for your knowledge of not only the minor league system but baseball in general. I’ve attended a large number of minor league games but it doesn’t touch your resume. My point is some of us want to give four or five top prospects for a player. I loved the Micheal Busch trade. When I say that I value minor league players, I don’t necessarily want to hang on to them but be more realistic on the offers. The left hander form the White Sox’s looks to be a good player but he hasn’t really proven anything yet other than he liked to play business when he was on the block last season. Wanting to extend his contract then was a great business move.
Bear, your the man, I will never question your baseball knowledge. I’ve been involved in business deals for a very long time. I agree watch out when you deal with Boras. When you play with snakes you might get bitten. My point is all the names being thrown out for a pitcher even a rising star is a great time to dump an unwanted asset. Some consider Taylor an unwanted asset.
Personally I like Taylor and think he’s a very much a team player like Barnes. They are not going to hurt you its just a question on how much are they going to help you.
Sorry about the long winded. post.
To keep blabbing, the Dodgers don’t need to over pay on starting pitching. Agree with other people on this blog you can never have enough starting pitching but the Dodgers have an abundant, yes adding more is okay but not on an overpay with prospects. If we are going to overpay it should be for a centerfielder or perhaps a shortstop. It’s not like we are empty in either spot but those are areas that could use an upgrade. Also not next season but it could start next season we need to get Will Smith some reps at 3rd or 2nd or wherever the front office wants to put him. He was obviously getting ran down towards the end of the season. We need his bat in October.
If they sign Sasaki, they will really only need one more really reliable arm. But they are thin in the outfield too. Guys like Ward and Avans were never really considered top prospects.
O’Neil is a Boras client. I cannot see more than a 1-year deal, and I do not see O’Neil accepting that. They are already bidding on Adames with the Mets.
Exactly. Same play as Teo. Wait. If O’Neill is still available, he’ll be more amenable to a short-term deal.
Exact same play, just need the opportunity to arise.
I’ve watched O’Neil since he first came to the league, he’s been hurt in every season he’s played, and usually multiple times for extended amounts of time. He’s a very good hitter, but just can’t stay on the field, and we already have a DH. Had him on my fantasy team every year.
I’m rooting for Teo
Roberts wants him back too. The Dodgers are engaged heavily in talks for Crochet. Okay, lets trade Lux, Outman, Cartaya, and a few prospects, expand the deal to include Robert Jr. Resign Teo to play right, and the outfield would be pretty good with Rushing and Pages platooning in left.
Just curious, how do you know they are engaged heavily in talks for Crochet? Because the media says they are or do you have contact w someone in the front office?
There have been several reports on different outlets.
That doesn’t mean it came from the FO. It’s still all terciary sources.
That’s O’Neill to a tee.
With Outman, Pages, Edman and Rushing you don’t think the Dodgers have depth to cover for his injuries?
He’s a tremendous athlete, no need for him to DH.
Interesting factoid from TrueBlueLA:
Rob Mains at Baseball Prospectus analyzed the Dodgers recent run of success, which fares quite well among various stretches in MLB history, and now includes two championships to go along with regular season success. The Dodgers’ 760-435 (.636) record dating back to 2017 is the second-best since integration, trailing only the 1950s Yankees.
“No team to compile a better record over eight years than the contemporary Dodgers has any living survivors,” Mains wrote. “This is the best team you’ve ever seen, and maybe the best one you ever will.”
With Sasaki it will all come down to where he wants to play. The money IMHO is not the deciding factor for him. If it would be he would have waited until his age 25 season.In the overall picture there is not a lot of difference between what he would get if he gets posted in 2024 or 2025. What also is on the Dodgers side; Nowhere will he get bigger endorsement deals than in LA.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Teo is a perfect fit for this team. He likes it here. I’d give him 3 years and put him in right field.
Is Rushing ready is a huge question for this team. If so left field appears to be spot for him.
Is Outman a major league player? If the Dodgers don’t think so why would any other team believe he is? We need a centerfielder and we’re not using him? Then again he could be this year’s Busch. He OPS’d .933 at OKC and that has to be noticed. I think packaging him, Lux and high prospects is a good idea. So is signing Fried, Flaherty and Buehler.
From what I read this morning (great piece Jeff) Sasaki sounds complicated. And it’s not possible for me to read all this about a young flame thrower and not think TJ surgery is in his future.
So once again, early winter. We watch football games and wait. UCLA looks they could become bowl eligible, USC is changing quarterbacks mid season (I look forward to see what the 6’4”” 230 pound rocket arm Maiava can do) and …. Go Rams! The West is available.
TJ surgery is in EVERY pitchers future, not sure what that worry conveys.
Who said there are two kind of pitchers: Those before TJ surgery and those after it.😉
Sadly very true.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Where is Pages?
He will be in the mix for RF.
If Pages remains in the mix, and you’re right, he probably is, Rushing is likely out. I don’t see both in the outfield together. I wonder if Chicago would be interested in Pages.
Possible, especially if we can get Robert Jr. to man CF.
Yes, they probably would. The Dodgers value him, so CWS has to, right?
If you are right about Sasaki being a TJ surgery waiting to happen, he would still be worth signing. If he has TJ, at worse case he would miss 2 seasons, if he is anywhere close to being the pitcher he’s reported to be, I think the Dodgers would still be happy, and ahead on the deal with the 4 seasons he could pitch.
Good thoughts Badger. Jeff’s comments and others I’ve read make me extremely skeptical of Sasaki. The last thing we need is another expensive guy with arm problems and his recent numbers made that look possible. Plus an expensive once a week pitcher. I’d prefer a pitcher with bigger statue who has avoided injury. There’s no guarantees for any pitcher but Sasaki looks risky.
I’d like Teo back and see no reason to move him from left field for Rushing. I personally don’t see why left field is easier to learn than moving to right. I don’t see that much difference in playing right or left field, other than I’d prefer a better arm in right, if possible. I don’t know Rushing’s arm but as a catcher, it must be okay.
I like Pages exclusively as a right fielder and his bat against left handed pitching. He hit .357 vs LHP vs .213 vs RHP. Rushing hit .272 as a LHB vs RHP, so that looks to me like an attractive platoon idea in right field, with Mookie at 2nd.
Phil, Rushing as a platoon OF? I do not think you are wrong, but IMO that is a problem. The team’s consensus (unanimous?) #1 prospect is a backup catcher turning into a platoon OF? Maybe it is best to trade him this winter or take the chance that he turns into another Diego Cartaya. Let AF do what he seemingly does best; trade prospects for established MLB players. 3B Miguel Vargas, 2B Jeral Peraz (CWS #13), and INF Alexander Albertus (CWS #14) for Michael Kopech and Tommy Edman. I had zero problem with trading Trey Sweeney and Thayron Liranzo to Detroit for Jack Flaherty. Liranzo may turn out to be a stud (I hope he does), but IMO it would not have been with LAD.
Jeff, my thought is a platoon in right with Pages keeps his bat in the lineup vs LHP and keeps him out of center, if we sign TEO. If Rushing his the LHB he’s reported to be he starts as a platoon piece to start the season to get his LHB in the lineup. Then we see how it goes.
Rushing will never be anything but a backup catcher as long as Smith is around. He might eventually be a backup catcher after Barnes and a LHB in RF.
That’s a bargain deal, IF he can hit. And it save n$ for pitching and a SS.
If he gets interest in a package deal, so be it. But I don’t see him getting his feet wet as a platoon outfielder a waste of a prospect.
Nice article Jeff, I think you are close, at least it seems right. But like every off season none of the possibilities are coming from the team except for Gomes’ comment about Mookie. Everything else is just speculation from the journalists. None of us know how much they are willing to spend or what trade talks they are having.
You are absolutely 100% correct. Isn’t it great to sit back and speculate? 😃 I just love this time of year.
I’m not saying we shouldn’t speculate, it is major fun. But some will get to serious about their opinions and argue when we only have partial info.
I want to wish all of my fellow Vets out there a very happy Veterans Day. There are a lot of restaurants offering free meals to Vets. Take advantage of this little perk.
Thanks. Back at you. That’s tomorrow. Today is the Marine Corps birthday. 249 years. Older than the U.S.
Semper-Fi!
More MLB news, Reggie Jackson is stepping down from his front office position with the Astros. He wants to spend more time with family in California. Report that the Tigers are going to give Maeda every chance to win back his rotation spot. Also, the Dodgers are looking to extend Dave Roberts contract. Roberts wish list includes bringing back Teo, and Blake Treinen.
I just saw the email that Firehouse Subs is giving free meals to vets tomorrow.
Firehouse Subs is delicious, so if you vets have one near you, please go!
I was hoping for the Krispy Kremes freebies, but none close to where I live. Guess I will have to settle for IHOP.
Dodger roster currently sits at 38 players. I see three non-tender candidates, Logue, Brogdon and Feduccia.
Old friend Thayron Lirzano named MVP of the AFL.
Two things:
One: great for the kid! Another testament to Dodgers scouting and development
Two: high chance I misspelled his name
Liranzo is his last name, you got his first name right.
It’s Liranzo and I never heard of him.
Part of the Flaherty trade with Detroit along with Sweeney.
He’s a stud bat
I know. I was being facetiously snarky.
I figured that.
LF Soto
2B Betts
DH Ohtani
1B Freeman
C Smith
SS Edmand
CF Outman
RF Pages
3B Muncy
Roki
Yams
Buehler
Glasnow
Miller
Knack/Kershaw/Sheehan/May/Gonsolin
Here’s a question for Jeff, or Bear, can the Dodgers carry over their 2024 international money to 2025, or is it a spend it or lose type of thing.
Can’t carry it over, but it can be traded away or in.
Thanks Bluto, there is something else that could be thrown in on a Crochet deal, I’d imagine international money would help the Sox on their rebuild. I’m assuming the Sasaki gets posted after Jan. 15.
LOL.
This Crochet silly deal is becoming bigger and bigger!
You do not see Crochet being traded this Winter? Too anyone? But yet you see AF interested in signing a platoon OF Tyler O’Neill at a projected 3 years and $42MM?
None of that I’ve said.
None of that I believe.
What I have said, and said consistently or recently:
I don’t see Crochet being traded to the Dodgers. Just no precedent for it.
I see O’Neill (as actually stated!) for a one-year deal if his market doesn’t materialize.
Not sure where you got the impression I saw things otherwise.
What I read was that they expect the Sox to trade him by the winter meetings.
I’m back, just curious, why do you say it’s silly Bluto? he has two years of control he’ll only cost 3 mil next season, he is a front end of rotation lefty (on most teams) and we could use a lefty.
Once again.
The Dodgers haven’t, but that doesn’t mean they can’t, EVER really pursued non-superstars to that effect.
They don’t do it!
Especially at pitcher.
If this were the trading deadline? And the team in contention?
Different story. But look at every single off-season.
It is, to the best of my knowledge:
• resignings
• superstars
• value signings
Not once “pretty good” to “really good” players pursued unless it’s like Teo. Someone at a value.
Thanks Bluto
It’s because Bluto is a troll. He has nothing to say so just reacts to what others say.
Or that!
You can either look to history, or look to the guy calling people names!
Don’t pick on Bluto, sometimes he’s right sometimes he’s wrong, especially when he doesn’t agree with me.😀
Bluto is no troll.
You forgot Ohtani in the rotation.
I knew there was someone I wasn’t thinking of but it wouldn’t pop into my head. Funny that it wound up being Ohtani.
I’m out got to go to my grandsons 5th birthday party. Being a grand parent is the best.
Most of the grandkids are grown. The two youngest are in high school. But I have a 5-year-old Great granddaughter.
Bear reminded me that Ohtani is a Dodger pitcher so by including him in the rotation could allow the Dodgers to stay away from big dollar pitchers.
HS Kim has the arm to play third and would give the Dodgers a lot more contact and defense at third but I wouldn’t spend free agent money on him if it meant not signing Soto.
I would go after Robert Jr in a trade since I don’t have Lux in the lineup. Would he be less susceptible to injury if he played a corner outfield spot?
Soto?
Soto, Outman and Pages. I wonder what the combination OAA numbers work look like with that group.
Outman is a good CFer and Pages should be pretty good in RF. Robert Jr. would help.
Sign Kim to play third and trade Lux and Muncy for Robert Jr. Who else?
According to the Trade Simulator, Lux by himself is worth more than Robert Jr. Of course the Sox would never do that deal one for one.
They also wouldn’t want Max so you need to come up with a trade for them to move him along somewhere else.
How about sending him to the Yankees? He’d love that short right field porch and they probably won’t re-sign Rizzo so he could take over first base for them.
Now you need to find Doc a third baseman for half a season because Kim probably won’t be back until June-July.
Taylor, Rojas/
I included Muncy to make the trade for Robert Jr more payroll neutral. I can live without Robert Jr and his 30% K rate.
Yankees more likely to trade for Bellinger. Who would you want to get back from the Yankees.
They are not trading Muncy period. His career OPS is .826. Robert Jr.s is .790. Muncy’s OPS last season was .852. His OPS+ was 141. He is an affordable and valuable player to the team despite what fans might think of him. Everyone looks at his bad World Series, but even Hall of Famers can have a bad five games. Gil Hodges went 0-21 in a series once. Max played well against the Mets. And considering how many games he missed, he still clubbed 15 homers. Over a full season he would have had well over 30. His defense was better than it was in 23.
Goodbye Clayton McCullough, new Marlins manager.
Good luck in that ballpark with that team. Hope he enjoys losing.
You gotta start somewhere, good luck Clayton
I understand that, but that franchise is a mess.
So who coaches 1st base next year
They will most likely promote from within. Maybe one of the minor league managers or coaches. Or they might hire someone else.
Chris Woodward is back in the organization after his manager gig with the Rangers. He coached third base for us previously. Maybe a move across the diamond.
Marlins have hired Pedro Guererro as their hitting coach. No, not that one a different Pedro. He was the Giants assistant hitting coach the last few years. Started under Kapler. Since Kapler is the assistant GM in Miami, it figures that the FO will be picking McCullough’s staff. All of the coaches in Miam will be new hires.