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Post by Blunashun on Jul 19, 2018 19:49:51 GMT
First-place Dodgers primed to add relievers
LA finished first half on 37-16 run, seeks upgrades in 'pen before Deadline
By Ken Gurnick MLB.com @kengurnick
Jul. 18th, 2018
LOS ANGELES -- In all three seasons with Dave Roberts at the helm, the Dodgers have shaken off a first-half speed bump to emerge as the division leader, and 2018 is no different.
The Dodgers were nine games out of first place on May 8 and 10 games below .500 on May 16. But they finished the first half with a 37-16 surge and held a half-game lead in the National League West going into the All-Star break.
Current status: Buyer
With big-ticket item Manny Machado already acquired, the Dodgers are still buyers, but the payroll is just about maxed out, so it's time for bargain shopping.
What they are seeking
A year ago the Dodgers landed left-handed relievers Tony Cingrani and Tony Watson at the deadline. The need to improve the bullpen is even more acute this summer, but the payroll is tighter. They will probably get creative, throwing in a prospect or an unneeded salary to offset what they pick up.
What they have to offer
The Dodgers didn't trade any of their top three prospects for Machado, so they won't be moving Alex Verdugo, Keibert Ruiz or Mitchell White for a complementary reliever. After moving five young players for Machado, the system isn't as deep as a few days ago, but it's still plenty deep at catcher even beyond Ruiz, with high Draft picks Will Smith and Connor Wong, and this year's international coup, Diego Cartaya.
Possible scenario
The best way to predict the Dodgers' front office is to expect the unexpected. Multiple-team trades, salary-swap deals, international signing pools -- it's all in the tool kit. They won't be afraid to move salary (Yasiel Puig? Alex Wood?) to gain financial flexibility, especially with surpluses in the outfield and starting rotation.
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Post by coreycody on Jul 19, 2018 20:57:06 GMT
Well, Hand is gone & Nats pulled an early trigger with Herrera. One can only imagine the dominoes will fall quickly now so we better not wait.
IMHO, we need at least two guys, one for sure a setup guy for 8th & another. For God's sake let's not have Kenley & another guy pitch 9 or more outs anymore, Kenley has lost a lot since last season!
I really hope our young guys learned not to swing at obvious change up counts cause we're not gonna get many fastballs especially if we see Astro's again. I'm still puzzled on why Roberts or whomever threw any of those Astro hitters fastballs, back to back yet... Stripling is probably still thinking about them... LOL
Seriously, surprised we went & got Manny, but the FO really needs to upgrade the bullpen, no excuses!!!
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20DodgerMiracle24
Legend
Rob Manfred is a disaster to our national pastime.
Posts: 1,790
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Post by 20DodgerMiracle24 on Jul 20, 2018 15:46:52 GMT
Relievers aside from closers seem the easiest players to trade for. I think we need to trade Yadier Alvaraz and maybe another prospect for a good reliever, and at least one other. Getting Manny for five prospects, all with "iffy" futures, was a brilliant move if I ever saw one! Therefore, how hard can it be to get good bullpen help?
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Post by Blunashun on Jul 20, 2018 17:55:08 GMT
If it would help, & we could find a taker, I would trade Puig to free up cap space. I dread his going to free agency. Even arbitration. Not sure he wouldn't go right back to sleep again. Since his first couple of seasons, Yasiel has posted OPS+'s of 110, 98 & 117. His oWAR's have been 0.9, 0.6, & 1.9. dWAR's have been 0.1, 0.3, & 1.3. Despite Turner Ward being caked in slobber, Puig has had that reverse split thing going on for two years now. He hit .183 / .317 / .275 vs. southpaws last year. This year it's .209 / .289 / .349. Might as well play a lefty like Verdugo if that's what we're going to get.
Throwing Maeda back in the bullpen is another money saving option, & the Dodgers very well might do it. But I don't think they want to do it this soon because it sends the wrong message. Kenta signed a very team friendly contract. The Dodgers reward him by using it against him. Despite Kemp & Puig getting along in public, I seriously doubt Matt would shed any tears if Yasiel is dealt away.
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20DodgerMiracle24
Legend
Rob Manfred is a disaster to our national pastime.
Posts: 1,790
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Post by 20DodgerMiracle24 on Jul 20, 2018 19:48:14 GMT
If it would help, & we could find a taker, I would trade Puig to free up cap space. I dread his going to free agency. Even arbitration. Not sure he wouldn't go right back to sleep again. Since his first couple of seasons, Yasiel has posted OPS+'s of 110, 98 & 117. His oWAR's have been 0.9, 0.6, & 1.9. dWAR's have been 0.1, 0.3, & 1.3. Despite Turner Ward being caked in slobber, Puig has had that reverse split thing going on for two years now. He hit .183 / .317 / .275 vs. southpaws last year. This year it's .209 / .289 / .349. Might as well play a lefty like Verdugo if that's what we're going to get. Throwing Maeda back in the bullpen is another money saving option, & the Dodgers very well might do it. But I don't think they want to do it this soon because it sends the wrong message. Kenta signed a very team friendly contract. The Dodgers reward him by using it against him. Despite Kemp & Puig getting along in public, I seriously doubt Matt would shed any tears if Yasiel is dealt away. I'd be very open to trading Puig. Verdugo is tearing up AAA and has nothing left to prove. Puig, meanwhile, is moody and though his attitude has improved considerably over the past two years, he still tends to be flaky. We could get a good starting pitcher for him, or for sure a good reliever. |
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Post by 88bulldog on Jul 23, 2018 14:56:47 GMT
In the absence of someone being traded, it looks like they have about 2 million left to spend to stay under 197 mill. That's a reliever or 2 making about 6 million a year, prorated over last 2 months.
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Post by coreycody on Jul 24, 2018 20:30:19 GMT
In the absence of someone being traded, it looks like they have about 2 million left to spend to stay under 197 mill. That's a reliever or 2 making about 6 million a year, prorated over last 2 months. THIS IS EXACTLY what's wrong with the DODGERS, FOR CRY'IN OUT LOUD THEY ARE THE DODGERS, $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ OUT THE CAZOO, the is NO EXCUSE for not shelling out money or even WORRYING ABOUT LUXURY TAX (SAME GOES FOR LAKERS). Dodgers continue to BLOW MONEY on foreign players on international signings that are NOT WORKING OUT, but this OVER PAID FO doesn't wanna go over the luxury tax R U KIDDING ME, we're not Tampa Bay or low revenue teams, TOTAL JOKE about DODGERS & LUXURY TAX!!! LMAO |
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Post by 88bulldog on Jul 24, 2018 21:37:00 GMT
In the absence of someone being traded, it looks like they have about 2 million left to spend to stay under 197 mill. That's a reliever or 2 making about 6 million a year, prorated over last 2 months. THIS IS EXACTLY what's wrong with the DODGERS, FOR CRY'IN OUT LOUD THEY ARE THE DODGERS, $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ OUT THE CAZOO, the is NO EXCUSE for not shelling out money or even WORRYING ABOUT LUXURY TAX (SAME GOES FOR LAKERS). Dodgers continue to BLOW MONEY on foreign players on international signings that are NOT WORKING OUT, but this OVER PAID FO doesn't wanna go over the luxury tax R U KIDDING ME, we're not Tampa Bay or low revenue teams, TOTAL JOKE about DODGERS & LUXURY TAX!!! LMAO You're wrong about this. The luxury tax MUST reset this year in order to avoid massive penalties for going over in the future. the Yankees are currently doing the same exact thing. Thinking that a business should operate with an unlimited budget is just not wise. staying under this year frees up A LOT of money for next year. (Last year's luxury tax was $36 million). The front office has has not been a JOKE, they have done an incredible job this year. Continue your rant though. Lol. |
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Post by Blunashun on Jul 29, 2018 2:44:00 GMT
Joe Davis, & then later Ned Colletti & Co., both commented on Puig today. Davis quoted Dave Roberts as reminding Yasiel how good the Dodgers played in his absence. That it's good he was reminded. There's an internal competition. Why does Puig have to be reminded?
Then the guys later mentioned Yasiel fidgeting & maybe acting hurt. They said something to the effect of "you never know with Puig," & "it might be acting."
Homerun or no, that guy scares me. No way I would give him a multiyear extension.
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20DodgerMiracle24
Legend
Rob Manfred is a disaster to our national pastime.
Posts: 1,790
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Post by 20DodgerMiracle24 on Jul 29, 2018 4:18:39 GMT
Joe Davis, & then later Ned Colletti & Co., both commented on Puig today. Davis quoted Dave Roberts as reminding Yasiel how good the Dodgers played in his absence. That it's good he was reminded. There's an internal competition. Why does Puig have to be reminded? Then the guys later mentioned Yasiel fidgeting & maybe acting hurt. They said something to the effect of "you never know with Puig," & "it might be acting." Homerun or no, that guy scares me. No way I would give him a multiyear extension. Me too. It's Puig's FA year isn't it? Let him walk. It's Verdugo time. I said it earlier, that he has nothing left to prove in the minors. He himself hit a big homer yesterday and he's ready to be our starting RF. |
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Post by Blunashun on Jul 29, 2018 4:27:15 GMT
Joe Davis, & then later Ned Colletti & Co., both commented on Puig today. Davis quoted Dave Roberts as reminding Yasiel how good the Dodgers played in his absence. That it's good he was reminded. There's an internal competition. Why does Puig have to be reminded? Then the guys later mentioned Yasiel fidgeting & maybe acting hurt. They said something to the effect of "you never know with Puig," & "it might be acting." Homerun or no, that guy scares me. No way I would give him a multiyear extension. Me too. It's Puig's FA year isn't it? Let him walk. It's Verdugo time. I said it earlier, that he has nothing left to prove in the minors. He himself hit a big homer yesterday and he's ready to be our starting RF. Arbitration year. 2020 is free agency. But say he gets 12-15 million dollars in arbitration. We could get similar (or better) production for the major league minimum. That frees up payroll for more pressing needs. |
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Post by truedodger on Jul 31, 2018 18:35:23 GMT
Me too. It's Puig's FA year isn't it? Let him walk. It's Verdugo time. I said it earlier, that he has nothing left to prove in the minors. He himself hit a big homer yesterday and he's ready to be our starting RF. Arbitration year. 2020 is free agency. But say he gets 12-15 million dollars in arbitration. We could get similar (or better) production for the major league minimum. That frees up payroll for more pressing needs. You take that money and include it in a new Machado deal. If the team keeps JT then you move him to 1st and Bellinger goes to RF and you have Verdugo and Toles to play with in CF and LF, assuming Kemp also stays. |
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Post by Blunashun on Jul 31, 2018 19:18:54 GMT
Arbitration year. 2020 is free agency. But say he gets 12-15 million dollars in arbitration. We could get similar (or better) production for the major league minimum. That frees up payroll for more pressing needs. You take that money and include it in a new Machado deal. If the team keeps JT then you move him to 1st and Bellinger goes to RF and you have Verdugo and Toles to play with in CF and LF, assuming Kemp also stays. One thing with that scenario though is what to do with Taylor. I'd like to see how Chris reacts to playing center again. He's batting .289-1-9 / .367 / .489 since the Dodgers got Machado. |
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Post by truedodger on Jul 31, 2018 19:31:51 GMT
You take that money and include it in a new Machado deal. If the team keeps JT then you move him to 1st and Bellinger goes to RF and you have Verdugo and Toles to play with in CF and LF, assuming Kemp also stays. One thing with that scenario though is what to do with Taylor. I'd like to see how Chris reacts to playing center again. He's batting .289-1-9 / .367 / .489 since the Dodgers got Machado. A lot of good options. |
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Post by Blunashun on Jul 31, 2018 19:44:14 GMT
I just noticed that recent line of Taylor's almost exactly mirrors what he did last year.
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