Yeah, lotta "ifs". I'm actually more curious about the pitching staff...if Zack leaves, we are a completely different team. And I can see it now: 'let him go... the guy's too old to give him a big contract", "they'll have to pay him too much", blah blah...as if any of that matters when a team is paying 80M+ to guys not to play for them. And as if that matters for a guy like Greinke, who is really a horse....not in the Kershaw sense-that size-but in his actual performance over the years. It'll all come soon enough...it's this year front and center, and IMO, how we handle SF straight up when we meet them again...but you can't help wondering.
In regards to a trade and Kike taking over in LF, Ethier's 10/5 rights may come into play at the beginning of next season, so as much as Ethier's done for his trade value this season, next year he's obviously another year older as well as gaining that 10/5 power ( in May if I remember correctly). It may not get any easier to deal Ethier over the next year, but at least this is another year off the books I suppose and that's a positive. But Crawford is probably a mortal lock to stay a Dodger. If they're gonna send a bunch of money with either of these guys to help push a trade through, we know from experience and watching this FO deal that they're gonna want a worthwhile return and that it'd probably be some sort of 3 team trade. Still, though, somebody actually has to want their old asses enough to get a deal done. Preller gambled on a 30yr old Kemp. Hart gambled on a 30yr old Olivera. Who's gonna want a 34yr old Ethier or 35yr old Crawford enough to make a transaction that involves big money and hand-picked specs worthwhile? However, with all the talk about the NL possibly adopting the DH in the near future, I don't know if being stuck with both of those old, expensive fellas is a level 5 catastrophic event anymore. If they can ever just make it to the World Series, barring injury they should be able to flex their depth in that series. Especially if Ethier keeps playing well and Crawford gets back to his form from last year ( looks like he's heating up in 2nd half yet again). A Dodger team without a high caliber leadoff man could use a hot Crawford, who's potentially the DH, at the very top of the lineup. With that said, maybe SVS is the guy who should feel the most threatened by Kike. Especially since Kike is flexing power at the plate, but maybe just as much as that and his ability to play everywhere like a Zobrist, it looks like Kike is bringing a lot of energy to the clubhouse. And of course it's well documented that SVS is loved as a clubhouse guy as well, so Kike is kinda taking on SVS's role in a way, but he's 5yrs younger than SVS. And SVS is certainly the most tradable among the Ethier/Crawford/SVS group. Hopefully they keep SVS, though. Personally, I don't like losing good, young players that are great clubhouse guys that except their role. Even though SVS isn't " young " anymore per se at 29yrs old, compared to CC and Ethier he's a spring chicken.
Even though he is not playing much, SVS is still putting up good numbers (1.5 WAR in only 169 PA's). His D is valuable in LF and he does what our FO loves, play multiple positions (1B, LF, RF and CF if totally needed). SVS and Hernandez are both pieces I would like to see back next year since they are cheap and damn good. Carl Crawford absolutely needs to be the one to go at the end of the season. I would love to see the team acquire a bigtime power bat in LF, but could get behind a full LH/RH platoon of Ethier and SVS in LF with Hernandez coming in for Joc against the toughest lefties would be awesome next year
