The 2012/13 Offseason Thread

In theory, there are some aspects of it that would make some sense, but I still don't like it...

Bottom line is dumping guys like Andre and shoving reclamation stars and FAs everywhere isn't the answer. Even if you're getting some farm help in the process.

Matt is seeing all of his friends disappear. Sure, Andre has some glaring flaws, but he's the most consistent inconsistent player you'll see. Highs and lows, but always ends up with the same bottom line. Plus he's a Dodger. He's one of the few core guys left and I don't want to enter 2013 hardly knowing my team anymore. I will always support the Dodgers regardless of who is on the team but completely stripping the identity so rapidly isn't sitting well (stripping Mccourt and Ned's Uribe projects is awesone...but getting rid of Andre isn't). I guess it's preference but I like Andre wearing Dodger blue.

 

I feel like Kemp, Bills, Kershaw, and Andre are what's left of a core that stuck through all the Mccourt crap and were a part of those teams that just weren't quite enough. And they should stay and get a chance here.

And with what happened last year with not everything going as well as we thought with the additions...would bringing in a psychopath like Hamilton be a great idea?

I genuinely believe buying the 2009 all star team is not the answer.

 

Speculation fwiw

http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/n...1030&content_id=40125812&vkey=news_la&c_id=la

 

Hopefully he'd want to come back. God knows how well he'd do with some actual run support for once.

 

When did they dump Lee?

 

I don't like Ethier going, but on some level sit makes sense. Puig is likely to push for a starting job by next year in ST. At a minimum they will want to start him then or mid 2014 simply because of the contract. Crawford and Kemp aren't going anywhere so two spots are locked up. Add in the fact that there are a Couple serviceable OFers who would take a 1 or maybe 2 year deal AND the likely haul of prospects we could bring in for Ethier and it really starts making sense. I'm not saying I like the idea of or the potential move, just saying it does make some sense in the big picture.

 

True but that is so far from a parallel to this that it's not even relevant, hahah

 

When they traded him to Seattle after they got Halladay.

 

I'm just comparing how a player wants to be in a place for a long time, and then they get traded. He wanted to resign and then the Phils traded him. Andre resigned and then we're "open" to trading him.

 

I was wondering if there is a chance that a Crawford for ARod trade might be in the works. Two bad contracts. Ned mentioned the "use your imagination" thing when talking about Victorino returning. Was he refering to trading Crawford or trading Ethier?

I'm stoked it's time for offseason shit, but I'm also scared of what Ned might dream up. Trading Ethier is a strange move but I admit I kind of expected it when there was no mention of a no trade clause in his contract extension. I think it's an option more for next year or after when Puig is deemed ready, now seems way to soon. His weakness vs. lefties is so disturbing to me especially when Crawford is the same way.

I'm still 99% against Hamilton becoming a Dodger.

 

I'd much rather keep Crawford than trade him for A-Shit.

 

From a Tweet based on unnamed sources. Hmmmmmm!

 

No need to be scared.

I am going after A-Rod but not for the reasons you believe. There's a lot of stuff going on behind the scenes, things you couldn't know about or possibly even contemplate. Most of you pull up a list of pending free agents and hypothesize, guess and/or hope what's going to happen -- or worse, what you believe should happen. I will admit… some of you come up with ideas that are very creative and sensible, but for the most part you guys don't have the slightest clue of what it takes to get a deal done.

Now that we have new owners, every other owner/GM/agent/player is looking to get over on us. This worried me initially, until Mark Walter assured me money was no object and to go after the best players regardless of cost. That's why we were willing to take on Carl Crawford's salary to get Adrian Gonzalez. And while I appreciate the optimism some of you are showing for Crawford to return to glory, it's unnecessary. And here's why:

As I mentioned earlier, we are going after A-Rod. But we're going after him in the way we went after Carl Crawford -- as something we have to take in order to get what we want. Here's the deal currently on the table and, trust me, the Yankees are seriously considering it.

Dodgers get:
Alex Rodriguez
Robinson Cano*
Phil Hughes*
Joba Chamberlain*

Yankees get:
Carl Crawford
Andre Ethier
Chris Capuano*
Aaron Harang*
Ted Lilly*
Dee Gordon
Mark Ellis*

*free agent in 2014

Before you scoff at the notion of the Yankee willingness to part with Cano, Hughes and Chamberlain, consider this -- * all three will be free agents in 2014, same with Capuano and Harang. The Yankees realize they'll have to pay through the nose to retain Cano, who's already made it clear he intends to pursue free agency. Hughes and Chamberlain won't come cheap either.

Here's why the deal makes sense, for both teams.

For the Yankees
They get out from under the albatross contract for a player (in A-Rod) they really no longer want. Looking back, I bet they wish they'd kept him off their postseason roster. They do take on an almost equally bad contract in Crawford, but at least he's young and has time to figure things out. Plus, they'd love nothing more for him to succeed so they can shove it in Red Sox Nation's face.

Mark Ellis takes over the 2B duties. He's not Cano, but he's solid.

Capuano, Harang and Lilly immediately improve their starting rotation. Sabathia is beginning to break down and, regardless, is no longer the dominating pitcher he once was. Kuroda is not going back -- I spoke to his agent who said it's either the west coast for one year or back to Japan. I'll keep you posted on that.

Ethier replaces Swisher in RF, and the Yankees are already salivating about the idea of him hitting to that short porch in right. They are also convinced they can get him to hit lefties. And since we don't actually have a hitting coach, they may be right.

But the most overlooked part of the deal is Dee Gordon, who allows them to get younger and more athletic at shortstop and move the aging Jeter to 3B.

For the Dodgers
All I can say about A-Rod is that he has to be included to get the deal done. And as much as he's struggled, he improves the team playing third base. Or do you believe we should hold out hope for Juan Uribe? Hairston and Cruz are versatile and will still get plenty of playing time, especially if Alex struggles. But I don't think he will. In fact, I'm betting that he'll win comeback player of the year -- playing shortstop. I know Los Angeles is a big market, but it's a lot more low key than cities like New York or Boston. The fans will welcome him with open arms, and once he returns to form it'll be Mannywood and Fernandomania rolled into one. And if all that somehow doesn't come to fruition, remember... he had to be included to get the deal done.

Southern California native Phil Hughes will thrive in a comfortable environment. He was 16-13 with a 4.23 ERA pitching in the AL East. Look for those numbers to improve dramatically, especially with his 3.59 K/BB ratio. Trust me, this guy was made to pitch at Dodger Stadium. He'll go well with the rest of the rotation I intend on assembling.

The only question with Robinson Cano will be what number he'll wear since Walter Alston's #24 has long since been retired. The last time we had a second baseman of his caliber, he wore #42. I know he wants to pursue free agency, but there's no way he'll be able to refuse what we'll offer him. He will be a fixture at 2B in Dodger Blue for years to come.

As for Joba Chamberlain, a healthy Joba Chamberlain, will be a savior in the bullpen. He and Kenley Janzen will split/share the set-up/closer duties, and both will excel.

So here's how our lineup/roster should look on opening day:

Lineup
Cano 2B
Crawford LF
Kemp CF
Gonzalez 1B
Ramirez 3B
A-Rod SS
Puig RF
Ellis C
Kershaw P

Rotation
Kershaw
Billingsley (Kuroda, if unavailable)
Beckett
Hughes
Greinke

Bench
Gomes
Federowicz
Cruz
Hairston

Bullpen
League
Choate
Chamberlain
Belisario
Elbert
Guerra
Guerrier
Jansen

Uribe (DFA)

Don't ever pretend to know what I'm thinking. You think you know, but you don't... you really don't.