DODGERS NEWS/RUMORS/AROUND MLB Thread

Dodgers Rumors: Dominican Outfielder Starling Heredia Drawing Interest
by Matthew Moreno | Dodgers Nation — 5 hours ago



The Los Angeles Dodgers decision to not go over their allotted signing bonus money for Yoan Moncada has largely been tied to the assumption they’ll spend big on the next influx of Cuban talent when the 2015 international signing period opens on July 2.

While that may certainly hold true, the Dodgers’ projected spending spree may also include Dominican center fielder Starling Heredia. According to Kiley McDaniel of FanGraphs, the Dodgers have replaced the Chicago Cubs as the team tied most to the 16 year old:

"I heard Heredia tied to the Cubs in October, but it wasn’t a done deal. I’ve been hearing him most with the Dodgers for the last month or two and that was a curious situation pre-Moncada signing, with most scouts assuming the Dodgers would sign Moncada, taking them out of play for the top 2015 July 2nd prospects. With the Dodgers decision to forego signing Moncada in the current period, allowing them to spend freely in the upcoing 2015 signing period, Heredia is still in play and their top 16-year-old target, but a deal isn’t done."​

Although McDaniel reports interest from the Dodgers, he adds the club may be taking a slow approach to a potential signing that may be in the neighborhood of $3 million:

"As I mentioned in my latest Yadier Alvarez update, the Dodgers are eyeing the option to go well over in 2015 and getting a number of players like Heredia, Alvarez and others, but one executive said the Dodgers were “dragging their feet” on this decision and “stringing out” Heredia. If Heredia signs with the Dodgers, the most common number I’m hearing is $3.0 million." ​

Along with Heredia, the Dodgers have been tied to Yadier Alvarez and Hector Olivera, among others. Olivera is the oldest of the group at 29 years old and has more than five years experience in a Cuban professional league, which means he isn’t bound to the same signing guidelines as the younger and more inexperienced international prospects.

Olivera recently took physicals for multiple teams, including the Dodgers, who reportedly have shown a strong interest. However, the same was also said about them and Moncada.

Given his young age, signing Heredia would certainly be a move for the future. It also raises an interesting scenario should he and Joc Pederson both pan out as center fielders. Putting an estimate on Heredia reaching the Majors at six to seven years, Pederson would only be 28 or 29 years old.

Of course, a general presumption is if an outfielder is capable of playing center field, they likely can also play either of the corner spots. Coincidentally, left field is one of the positions the Dodgers don’t have a highly touted prospect at in their farm system.

 

Dodgers Willing To Pay Half Of Ethier’s Contract In Trade
By Steve Adams [March 4, 2015 at 10:34pm CST]

The Dodgers’ expensive outfield logjam was a well-known issue entering the offseason, and while the team’s new-look front office has already unloaded Matt Kemp in a trade with the Padres, Andre Ethier remains in Los Angeles. Ethier has voiced an openness to a trade so that the he can receive regular at-bats with another club, and Jon Heyman of CBS Sports is now reporting that the Dodgers are willing to pay as much as half of the $56MM remaining on Ethier’s contract to facilitate a deal.

Ethier, 33 in early April, is entering the third season of a five-year, $85MM extension signed with the club back in 2012. However, his role with the Dodgers has diminished greatly in recent years as his offensive production has tailed off. Ethier has never hit left-handed pitching particularly well, but his production versus southpaws has tailed off even further since 2012, and his numbers against righties declined in 2014 as well.

Last season, Ethier batted .249/.322/.370 overall and a marginally better .253/.325/.385 against opposite-handed pitching. He’s stated in the past the difficulty that he’s had transitioning to a part-time role, and it’s certainly possible that there’s something to that theory after having been an everyday player for much of his career prior to 2014. However, testing that theory out is an expensive proposition — particularly at a stage of the offseason when most potential trade partners have already exhausted their budget.

Nonetheless, a return to form at the plate for Ethier would make him worth that ~$9MM annual value; from 2008-13, Ethier’s OPS+ never dipped below 121. In that time, he batted a healthy .286/.363/471, averaging 20 homers per season in a pitcher-friendly home park. While he’s at an age when many hitters do begin to decline, the thought of him enjoying another few productive seasons is far from outlandish. He’s not likely to contribute a significant amount of defensive value, but a team with a corner outfield need could make some sense, particularly one in the American League.

Heyman notes that the Orioles have had discussions with the Dodgers about Ethier — we last mentioned those talks in early January — and he lists the Blue Jays as a fit on paper (though Toronto’s financial limitations have been an oft-discussed storyline this winter). I’d also point out that the Rangers have done little to address their left field situation this offseason, making them a match on paper as well.

The Dodgers project to enter the season with Carl Crawford, Joc Pederson and Yasiel Puig in their outfield (assuming Pederson performs well this spring), and they also have Scott Van Slyke and Chris Heisey on the 40-man roster.

 

kinda leaning toward thinking they should suspend him for the season and have him forfeit the $25MM
but i'm seriously afraid what this guy will do with the time off — that whole devil finding work for idle hands thing
captain obvious, but this guy needs some serious help

Latest On Josh Hamilton
By Steve Adams [March 4, 2015 at 9:03pm CST]

Josh Hamilton‘s fate is in the hands of an arbitrator, report Bill Shaikin and Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times, after a four-person panel was unable to come to an agreement on the course of treatment after the outfielder’s recent relapse with substance abuse. The panel, made up of a league-appointed doctor, a league-appointed lawyer, an MLBPA-appointed doctor and an MLBPA-appointed lawyer, split their vote down the middle, per the L.A. Time duo. As such, an arbitrator will break the tie.

As MLB.com’s Alden Gonzalez wrote earlier today, Hamilton was on the Rays’ 40-man roster for his first violation, so he is considered a multiple offender. (The Times duo notes that it is unclear how many of the “at least six drug tests” failed by Hamilton when with the Rays occurred whilst on the 40-man roster.) A first-time offender could be suspended for 15-25 games, a second-time offender for 25-50, a third-time offender for 50-75 and a fourth-time offender for a full season.

Per DiGiovanna and Shaikin, MLB is deciding whether or not to rule Hamilton as a fourth-time offender. That would mean that Hamilton could miss a whole season and forfeit the entirety of his $25MM salary. However, If Hamilton is ruled to enter a rehabilitation program, he’ll earn his full salary for 30 days and half his salary for the following 30 days, per the Times. That would come out to a bit less than $6.2MM.

Commissioner Rob Manfred would have final say on the length of any suspension for Hamilton. MLBPA executive director Tony Clark told both Gonzalez and the L.A. Times pairing that it is the Union’s “responsibility to protect the player and his rights in the process.” However, Clark voiced far more concern for Hamilton as a person than as a baseball player. “What I hope for is support for Josh. There are always baseball concerns. There are, more importantly, life concerns. We have protocols in place to handle the baseball-related issues. But I’m hopeful that anyone in the baseball family who finds himself in a tough spot gets support as a person beyond baseball.”​

 

party pooper

 

Dodgers Willing To Pay Half Of Andre Ethier’s Salary In Deal
by Vincent Samperio | Dodgers Nation — 7 minutes ago



The outfield situation for the Los Angeles Dodgers has been an ongoing issue of sorts in terms of playing time for multiple outfielders.

Last season, Don Mattingly began the year trying to juggle players before establishing a set outfield. This left veteran outfielder Andre Ethier without a starting job and he handled it well all season without complaints. Once the Dodgers lost in the postseason, Ethier made it clear that he wanted to start this year, whether it be in Los Angeles or elsewhere. While management has said nothing of the request, it appears they are trying to move the former All-Star.

According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, the team is also willing to eat some of the 32-year-old’s contract:

"The Dodgers have offered to pay down about half the $56 million remaining over three years on Andre Ethier’s contract in efforts to trade him, sources familiar with the talks say."​

The new front office has already shown that they are willing to trade players while paying part of their salary, evidenced by the Matt Kemp and Dan Haren deal. Ethier signed a five-year, $85 million extension in 2012 before the Guggenheim Partners took over. Since he’s signed the extension, his numbers and productivity have gone down.

Ethier’s decline peaked last season when he hit just .249 in 130 games. With the rise of prospect Joc Pederson in center field, it appears Ethier would start the year on the bench again. He got the start in center field for the first game of the spring, although he did mention that he doesn’t believe he should play in center.

If the Dodgers can find a deal, it would finally fix the logjam in the outfield. It would also make sense of the Chris Heisey deal made in December as well.

 

Joc Pederson has big upside, but big strikeout total
by Mark Saxon | ESPN Los Angeles — March, 4, 2015



GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Many of Joc Pederson’s numbers have an eye-opening quality to them. They’re the kind of numbers that can change a team’s plans.

His on-base percentage (.435), slugging percentage (.582), home runs (33), stolen bases (30) and walks (100) at Triple-A Albuquerque last season all speak to a player with nothing more to prove in the minor leagues.

That he accomplished them in a season he started as a 21-year-old suggests that he could be an All-Star for years to come. They built the case that the Los Angeles Dodgers simply had to make room for Pederson, and the team did that by trading Matt Kemp down the freeway to San Diego and moving Yasiel Puig back to right field.

Yet there is one number that has the potential to unravel the entire plan, a number that could put the Dodgers in a bit of a jam if it proves an omen.

Pederson struck out 149 times last year, leading some skeptics to believe his long, aggressive swing will be easy prey to more-experienced, harder-throwing pitchers in the major leagues. That many strikeouts could translate to 200 or more, they say, if Pederson plays a full major league season. Ryan Howard led the majors with 190 strikeouts in 2014.


Pederson hit 33 home runs last season at Triple-A but struck out 149 times (AP)

Getting Pederson more prone to contact has been a big point of emphasis for the Dodgers going back to last season. Acquiring contact hitters has been a big point of emphasis for the Dodgers’ new front office, which could make Pederson stand out in this lineup. One of the organization’s three top prospects, Pederson figures to get first crack at the starting center-field job, though veterans like Andre Ethier, Scott Van Slyke and Chris Heisey are on hand if Pederson fails.

“I don’t think anybody goes up there trying to strike out,” Pederson said. “Like I said, I’m working on all aspects of the game and I need to continue to improve. I mean, I wish it came a lot easier, but that’s just part of the process.”

The Dodgers have reason to trust the process in Pederson’s case. For one thing, he is the best natural center fielder in the organization. For another, he has shown the ability to adjust his game when they have asked him to tinker in a certain area. In 2013, he batted .200 against left-handed pitching. Last season, he hit .299 against lefties.

After seeing him bat .143 and strike out 11 times in 28 at-bats after a September call-up, Dodgers coaches met with Pederson before sending him off for the winter. Pederson wouldn’t elaborate on what aspects of his approach they wanted him to change, but he said he benefited from their advice and refined his play during winter ball in the Dominican Republic and at a winter development camp.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly has expressed his regard for Pederson’s talent the past several seasons, at one point comparing his swing to that of Carlos Gonzalez. Mattingly thinks Pederson will cut down on his strikeouts as he gains experience.

“Joc’s aggressive, he’s got power, he swings hard and he’s got a lot of movement in his swing,” Mattingly said. “As he understands his swing more and more and has it under control, I think when he’s swinging the bat well, we’re not going to be that concerned about strikeouts.”

There is plenty to encourage their enthusiasm. On Tuesday, Pederson launched line drive after line drive over the fence in left and left-center field, then hit a majestic fly ball over the batter’s eye in center field. Power to all fields is another aspect of Pederson’s game that has the Dodgers excited about his potential.

Pederson’s talent has elicited flattering comparisons. In addition to mentioning Gonzalez, Mattingly has also said Pederson's swing reminds him a bit of Robinson Cano’s. The man who managed Pederson in Albuquerque last season, Damon Berryhill, recalls a young Jim Edmonds playing with similar grace and a similarly vicious left-handed swing.

“He’s got tremendous power to all fields and takes pride in his defense, too,” Berryhill said. “He’s able to get good jumps and good reads and he’s out there paying attention and wants to be an all-around player.”

As the Dodgers have seen with Puig the past three seasons, players often show up in the major leagues these days with edges that need to be rounded off by time and experience.

Berryhill said Pederson has the aptitude to improve quickly. He also points out that Pederson led the Pacific Coast League in walks. Teams tolerate strikeouts more easily if the player is getting on base at a healthy rate.

“He’s still a young kid and he’s going to get to know the strike zone a little better, learn when to be aggressive and when to back off a little bit,” Berryhill said.

For now, the Dodgers aren’t backing off in their willingness to make Pederson part of what they expect to be a championship-caliber lineup. It might take months before they know whether to trust a handful of big numbers he put up last season, or just one big number.

 

Erik Bedard ticketed for Triple-A
by Mark Saxon | ESPN Los Angeles — 8 hours ago

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The Los Angeles Dodgers needed to reinforce their pitching depth with guys they can stash at Triple-A Oklahoma City. Erik Bedard is trying to kick-start a once-promising career. Both sides have gone into this relationship with open eyes.

Bedard said he is aware that, if the Dodgers’ other starting pitchers stay healthy, he will open the season in the minor leagues, where he hasn’t pitched regularly since 2003.

“I know where I stand. It feels fine,” Bedard said. “The game’s still fun and I like playing baseball is, basically, what it comes down to.”

Asked if he was OK with going to Oklahoma City, Bedard said, “I’ve never been there. Is it that bad? You’re scaring me.”

Bedard signed a minor-league deal with the Dodgers on Jan. 18. He started Wednesday’s Cactus League opener against the Chicago White Sox and got through two innings, allowing a run on two hits, Alexei Ramirez's single to center driving in Avisail Garcia.

Bedard, who turns 36 later this month, said his surgically repaired left shoulder has remained strong throughout camp, but he admitted he doesn’t have the same arsenal as he did when he was a member of the Seattle Mariners and still in his 20s.

“I used to throw hard,” Bedard said. “Now, not so hard.”