DODGERS NEWS/RUMORS Thread

Hah, thanks! I used to have a Dodgers blog years ago, but once life got crazy, I didn't have time for it. I also was a lot more hot headed not nearly as much of a level thinker like I am now. I will provide a link that has much more in depth understanding of it, but it is the 20-80 scale that we are referring to when it comes to prospects. 50 is an average tool, 80 is elite. https://blogs.fangraphs.com/scouting-explained-the-20-80-scouting-scale/

 

Realistic Players that could be on the market this Winter:
The talk this winter is going to be the Dodgers and the Yankees, whether we like it or not. The media will be hounding the Dodgers about potential moves and the FO already stirred the pot with Andrew Friedman's recent comments. I have looked at some potential FA targets, and let's do the same for the trade market. Remember, these are players that are realistically available, would fit a need and not unrealistically push a player out of a role.

"Big Game Hunting"

Nolan Arenado, 3B Colorado Rockies, Signed Through 2026 $32.5M AAV - This one is only realistic due to their ownership saying some incredibly idiotic things to kick off the offseason. Arenado would not be an easy get, but he has said in the past that he wants to be a part of a winning franchise and if the Rockies are about to enter a rebuild, he may want out. He could use his NTC to come back home to SoCal making the Dodgers and Angels two threats for his services. The Dodgers have the prospects to make such a deal work and they covet the Rockies star 3B more than they do most others in the sport. If the team misses on Rendon, this would be a great consolation prize. Whether the Rockies move him or not is the biggest question mark as their ownership may just be happy to keep towing him along even if they don't project to be competitive. Arenado would be interesting to see away from the Rockies somewhat ancient methodology of game preparation. DJ LeMahieu surprised a lot of folks by taking off after his exit last season. Chances: Very Slim if only due to utter hatred for Dodgers franchise.

Mookie Betts, RF Boston Red Sox, Signed Through 2020, Arb Control $27M+ Projected - This would be a gigantic get and unlike Arenado, this player is much more likely to be moved. Betts is unarguably one of the best players in baseball on both sides of the ball. Adding him to an OF with Bellinger already in place would put the Dodgers as one of the top teams defensively out there. The Sox have removed him from 2020 marketing pieces and taken him out of team events. He would cost a lot, but there are not a lot of teams with the means of nabbing Betts in both MiLB talent + available funds. Would think the only way the Dodgers do this is if they were to re-sign him long term and this would likely not be paired with much else. Betts also has the versatility to play CF and 2B, but he seems much better suited in RF where he is one of the best players at the position. This would likely not cost nearly in prospects what Arenado would, but it would still cost some hefty pieces. I could very well seeing the FO saying no chance for them getting Lux or May since he has one year left, but probably anybody else is attainable. Chances: Better than people think. The Dodgers have the pieces, the money and aren't a divisional/league rival.

Francisco Lindor, SS Cleveland Indians, Signed Through 2021, 2 yrs of Arb Control $16M+ Projected - Compared to the last two, this would set off a big ripple effect through the franchise as it would mean the end of Corey Seager in Dodger Blue. Both Lindor and Seager have 2 years remaining, but Lindor offers more versatility and has not yet shown an apt talent for shitting all over himself during the playoffs. The Indians owner made some poorly received remarks about his star SS when he said, "enjoy him while you can" in regards to how expensive he was getting. The Dodgers would pair up nicely with the Indians as they would likely want to continue to compete in the years ahead. A potential prospect haul could be reduced with the inclusion of an OF'er or hitter along the lines of a Joc Pederson or Alex Verdugo. Lindor would offer more stability than Seager and is a better all-around player so a 1-1 swap is not realistic. Lindor would also add a bit more flair that was missing in the 2019 after Puig's exit. Chances: Slim. While rumors rumbling that he could be available, the Indians in no way need to trade him now.

Noah Syndergaard, RHP New York Mets, Signed Through 2021, 2 yrs of Arb Control $10M+ Projected - This one is really really REALLY up in the air. The Dodgers have been linked to Thor for the last year+ and there was a lot of talk around the deadline that he was as good as gone. This was pushed mostly by Syndergaard poking the bear with things he was saying and doing on social media, paired with a frustrated GM it seemed all the more likely that he was gone. Then the deadline passed and now he says he's a Met for life and BVW said he envisions something similar. SO WHO FUCKING KNOWS. With that said, if he is available, Syndergaard has the track record and stuff of an ace, but he has been anything but the past 2 seasons as he battled injuries and put together his worst season yet in 2019. It makes little sense for the Mets to move him now as the fears over injuries that plagued him in 17 and 18 were not quelled with what results we all saw in 2019. He would not be on the level of a Strasburg or Cole if they were acquired, but being removed from what is said to be a toxic environment could have a major impact. He has not lost anything in terms of velocity, but movement has taken a hit and he had a 5% drop in his slider usage which is his most elite pitch. There was a lot of criticism of his catcher, but they refused to go away from Ramos due to his bat. I think he is a great change of scenery candidate and though he may not be an ace, he should still be a valuable pitcher for a team with WS aspirations and is cheap enough that the club could still add a big FA alongside of him. Chances: Moderate. If the Mets wise up and move him, the Dodgers would likely make for a great partner with a mix of players that can build up their farm and impact the MLB roster immediately.

"Welp, They're Improvements"

Mychal Givens, RHP Baltimore Orioles, Signed Through 2021, 2 yrs of Arb Control $3M+ Projected - Givens is another change of scenery guy and he seems like someone that could really benefit from getting the hell out of Baltimore. His K numbers jumped in 2019, but saw more damage done in a very tough division and tough home ballpark. I have seen more than a couple folks that think him getting into a much more forward thinking franchise could escalate him into legit closer status. He is cheap and should not be impossible to pry out of Baltimore, though it is said the Astros really like him too. This is a problem as the GM of the O's is a former Astros assistant. Chances: Moderate. The Dodgers are said to have been kicking around him for a couple of years and were trying hard around the deadline.

Tommy Pham, OF Tampa Bay Rays, Signed Through 2021, 2 yrs of Arb Control $8M+ Projected - This is only here as Pham is starting to get pricey and the Rays don't like expensive players. The Rays farm is also loaded at the top, but depth drops off a good bit after their top 10. Pham is a good player at a good value, but the Rays could look to cash out early and get more pieces for what could be an interesting roster in a year or two. They would probably be able to land a solid OF piece from the Dodgers or piece together a 3 team trade where one of the Dodgers many pieces go somewhere else and spects go to Tampa. The Dodgers have been heavily linked to Pham in the past and his postseason performances should be intriguing. One knock on Pham is his attitude can sometimes get in the way as he can be a cranky dude at times and he will absolutely speak his mind. This is one of those deals you make in unison with a couple others (i.e Pollock and/or Pederson being shown the door).
Chances: Weak. I think Pham is an absolute upgrade, but he may not be that in the eyes of the Dodgers FO. He has a checkered injury history and is likely not viewed significantly better than AJ Pollock.


There really aren't on the surface a whole lot of reasonable targets. Whether we like it or not, they probably are going into the winter with a similar idea as the trade deadline of adding needle movers and not just middling guys. The farm and roster is loaded with enough players like that. For the guys that would immediately impact the 25-man roster, they are going to look for guys that are going slot in the rotation in the Top 3, be a Top or Middle of the Order Bat or a Bullpen arm for the back end. If they start to swing and miss behind the scenes, it will probably make for a VERY boring winter. Let's hope they hit on one of the first tier of players above and one of the FA's too!

 

We certainly don't need any cranky guys. Lol Mother hen DR won't know how to reach a no-nonsense type like Pham..oh wait, that's actually a positive. Loved Pham's intense post game interview after Game 4. Guy has an eye disease called keratoconus, is already doing postseason charity work. He's fine

I'd expect the FO to be as interested as ever in Pham. Hell, get both Betts and Pham. Move on from Joc and clear out the other corner as well. Pham, Belli, Betts in the OF works.

 

Dream free agent signings: Anthony Rendon, Will Smith and Gerrit Cole

Who we'll actually sign: Todd Frazier, Drew Pomeranz and a trade for Trevor Bauer with a dash of Houston Asstros Gerrit Cole seasoning on him

 

Fuck Dave Roberts

Fuck Corey Seager

Fuck Cody Bellinger

 

You forgot Gaspar Gomez and the fucking Diaz brothers.

 

Put Kershaw in any Mookie deal. Hell put him in any Mychael Givens deal.

 

That piece the other day where Turner said he would be happy to move positions for the club was interesting. The Dodgers had supposedly told him that he was getting moved off 3rd prior to 2016 as the team was bringing in Todd Frazier in what eventually became the 3 team trade with the Reds and White Sox. What was weird is they said the Dodgers were not the ones that made that call in the end for him not to come to LA. Not sure how that all works out since it was Sox=>Dodgers=>Reds=>Sox with player movement. I have heard mentions of this in the past by Bowden with everyone under the impression that the Dodgers had gotten Frazier. The lineup that year would have been a lot more interesting if Frazier had been on board with a much more analytically friendly club and I guess Turner at 2B.

 

Oh I would love Pham, was just pointing out the main thing that has gotten him in trouble in the past. With his contract coming up in a couple years, that could only intensify concerns for prospective clubs. He told the Cards FO that he wanted out(can't remember why, but I thought it was contract related) and then still burns them and their fans on occasion to this day. While we as fans go, "haha, I love his attitude, fuck the Cardinals!" the rest of the league looks at it as a potential risk as that could be them next. The new age FO's around the league are filled with risk averse pencil pushers. The last thing they want is some toxic dude coming into the clubhouse and blowing things up. With that said, I WOULD welcome his attitude into the Dodgers clubhouse. Too many nervous Nancy's with no spit or fire. Since Hernandez is more quirky these days, the only ones with any fire seem to be Verdugo and Hill, one if not both may be gone before the next season starts.

 

Think potentially one, MAYBE two of those guys we're lucky.

 

Rumors galore this morning

- The Mets supposedly have some "Bombshell" candidate for their coaching search that has not had their names released to the public. It is not David Wright or AJ Hinch, so speculation is off the charts. The only guys that cause a legit "whoa!" that I can think of are Bochy, La Russa or Torre if it is not someone currently managing somewhere else and two of those guys are too old to manage anymore, imo.

- The Astros have once again found a way to make them hated just in time to win a World Series. The Astros AGM repeatedly yelled at 3 female reporters that he was so glad they signed Osuna just after winning the ALCS. The club came out and said "fake news!" before multiple other reporters came forward to corroborate the SI.com report. This brought to light a story that had been gotten buried over the summer that revealed that the Astros were the only team to have shown considerable interest in OSU's pedophile pitcher, Luke Heimlich. From the sounds of it, it took multiple FO personnel threatening to leave the club before they decided not to sign him. This is becoming par for the course for a franchise that has a growing reputation to do whatever it takes to win even at the expense of their own moral values... but it's Texas and I know they don't give a shit about that stuff anyway.

- The Phillies are said to be split on a coaching decision as the FO wants Buck Showalter while the owner wants Joe Girardi. Personally think both of those are not great choices, so have at it Phill's!

- Forgot this a week or so ago, but most of the Dodgers FO has already had interview requests for positions with other orgs. Friedman alluded that if they lose a big chunk of these people, it could hamper the early part of the offseason as they have lost a number of upper management positions in recent years.

 

I honestly have no idea, but I doubt they have the power set in place for the Commish to come in and say "you can't sign that dude!. Said player could probably sue for discrimination and win, no matter what they did. I am also not a lawyer.

 

I love the Dodgers cap insignia on top of scarecrow Dave's hat

 

The Dodgers need to dump Kelly out of principle alone. Breaks Hanley's ribs, destroys us in the WS, and gives up the season ending GS in a Dodger uniform.

Granted, the last one was Dave's fault. All the data shows he is only good for 1 inning.

Still.

Fucking shit!!!!

 

So here we are after the first two games of the World Series. As expected, the Astros are destroying the Nationals and leaving a trail of dead bodies along the way. Wait, what is that you say? Well... fuck this game and fuck Dave Roberts.

Rumors:

• The Yankees are planning on a full fledged effort to sign Gerrit Cole according to a report out yesterday. This would put the Yankees WELL into the luxury tax for 2020 as their AAV is at $156M before Arb numbers that will include Aaron Judge, James Paxton and Gary Sanchez. The Yankees are said to have been Cole's favorite team growing up, which is weird since there was a report a couple days ago saying that the Angels were his favorite team. Cole was originally a first round pick by the club out of HS, but he turned them down to go to UCLA.

• The Cubs have made David Ross their new manager. Ross is said to have a blunt personality that will have no problem getting in the face of a player. This was said to be a major problem the last two years as Maddon would not hold players accountable and kind of let them walk all over him.

• The Padres have named Jayce Tingler as the new manager. He was a part of the front office for the Rangers, leading their development side. This is interesting as the Rangers have not exactly been churning out talent in recent years and their top prospects have almost all fizzled out. Joey Gallo was having a breakout year before getting hurt, but he was still K'ing nearly 50% of the time!

• The Phillies also have a new man in charge as they have hired Joe Girardi as their manager this morning. Girardi has been a pretty stellar coach in his 11 year career that has seen just one losing season. He has a bit of a history of battling with ownership and the front office, so it will be fun to see how this plays out in the city of brotherly love.

• Giants, Mets, Pirates and Royals are the only teams left now with managing vacancies. The Royals are said to be closing in on Mike Matheny, which would be just fucking hilarious since he was downright awful with the Cardinals. The Giants have a second interview today with Astros bench coach Joe Espada and the Pirates have interest in him as well. Bob Geren was said to be on a couple of short lists once the season was over, but there has been no word since on any interest, let alone interviews for him. Wondering if the Dodgers cataclysmic meltdown impacted that interest as being a bench coach, you take some of the blame for in-game decisions.

• Yankees are likely to go without Aaron Hicks this season as he will be undergoing TJ surgery next week.

 

Yup... I was thinking the same thing. They have still not hired a new GM and that is said to maybe not be in the cards this year. They have lost pieces from that vaunted front office of the past and instead of getting replacements, they have left the spots relatively empty. That was what made that FO so dangerous was that there were a lot of dudes with different views in there and they came together to make some pretty good moves. Then we started losing guys and what has happened? Two consecutive offseasons of little impact or highly questionable players added to the roster, an admittedly solid deadline in 2018, but a total shit one in 19. Having multiple different guys in there also lead to the club having connections to other front offices for deals. AA, FZ, Kapler and the guy the Twins took(honestly forget his name) have all left within the past two offseasons and all were strong voices in the FO. They need to get back to that this offseason and add some more talent to the FO, get a damn GM and have a big offseason for christ's sake.

 

I haven't watched one pitch of the playoffs since Howie Kendrick made contact. It's too upsetting to watch baseball. However, I've given up on the idea that if we would have won game 5, that we would have had a chance to win the World Series. Yes, the Cardinals suck and Washington is demolishing the Astros, but do not be fooled. No team being led offensively by the likes of Cody Bellinger was going to win the World Series. I almost feel grateful that we lost in the first round. Hopefully we can ditch some of our gutless pieces of s*** in this organization. not getting rid of Dave is devastating, though. It will take some major signings and roster purging in the offseason to get me excited about baseball again.

 

The Cody MVP promo tour is infuriating, I hope he loses

 

#notmyMVP