20DodgerMiracle24
Legend
Rob Manfred is a disaster to our national pastime.
Posts: 1,790
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Post by 20DodgerMiracle24 on Jan 11, 2023 15:00:45 GMT
The Twins & Boras are finalizing a six year, 200 million dollar contract. HA-HA-HA-HA!! That's not raining on Correa's parade. 200 million dollars is a lot to most people. Just that Boras lost 7 years & $150,000,000. Betting this signing includes a BIG insurance policy that pays the Twins big time if Correa’s ankle degenerates prematurely and he’s only good for a few seasons. SS is probably one of the most, if not THE most demanding positions on the diamond. A bad ankle isn’t going to play there without consequences, few of which will be positive. GO DODGERS!!! I"m sure. SSs have to comminicate with the 2Bman when balls are hit up the middle. Which one of them goes after the ball and which covers second? And pretty much the same when the ball is hit to the 5.5 hole, does the SS field the ball or does the 3Bman? I'd think the SS has to do the most thinking of any position. |
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Post by Blunashun on Jan 12, 2023 17:54:52 GMT
The Dodgers traded minor leaguer Jacob Amaya to the Marlins for veteran Miguel Rojas. Rojas isn't much with the bat, but is known to be pretty slick in the field.
Must be insurance in case Lux can't cut it at shortstop.
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Post by Blunashun on Jan 13, 2023 21:09:54 GMT
Yankees-Pirates Bryan Reynolds trade talks include several top prospects
Published: Jan. 13, 2023, 5:00 a.m.
By Mike Rosenstein | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
This just in: Bryan Reynolds wants a trade.
OK, maybe that’s not exactly breaking news.
After all, we’ve been talking for weeks about how the Pittsburgh Pirates All-Star outfielder is hoping for a new home.
And we’ve been talking about how the New York Yankees are among the interested clubs, especially after Andrew Benintendi signed a five-year, $75 million contract with the Chicago White Sox.
But let’s get real for a second: if Brian Cashman trades for Reynolds, it will cost a lot. I mean, A LOT. Take a look at what the New York Post’s Jon Heyman is reporting.
One interested team executive complained the Pirates are looking for a “Juan Soto trade” for Bryan Reynolds, who seeks a way out of Pittsburgh. … Another exec predicts Reynolds will stay now, based on the asking price, but holds hope for a deadline deal. Word is, the Pirates sought four top prospects from the Yankees, including multiple players from the top group that includes Oswald Peraza, Anthony Volpe and Jasson Dominguez.
For those of you keeping score at home, Volpe is the Yankees’ top-ranked prospect (and MLB’s No. 5 overall). Dominguez is the Yankees’ No. 2 prospect. Peraza is No. 3.
That’s a lot to give up for the 27-year-old Reynolds, who hit a career-high 27 home runs in 2022 and is under team control through 2025.
But no one knows better than Cashman that to get something, you have to give up something. Now he just has to decide how much is too much.
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Post by Blunashun on Jan 14, 2023 17:55:45 GMT
Carlos Correa details Mets negotiations, conversation with Francisco Lindor about 3B
Phillip Martinez
Sat, January 14, 2023 at 6:20 AM PST·3 min read
The Carlos Correa free-agency saga ended with the All-Star shortstop returning to the Minnesota Twins after deals with the Giants and Mets fell through.
For both teams, the issue of his surgically repaired ankle raised red flags in his physicals.
Correa had surgery on his ankle in 2014 -- prior to joining the majors -- and, according to the 28-year-old in an interview with The Athletic, the Giants’ doctor believed it wouldn’t “hold up.”
“The Giants used an ankle specialist who didn’t pass me,” Correa said. “Then the Mets used the same specialist, who obviously wasn’t going to pass me. He had already given an opinion to another team about my ankle. He was not going to change that. He was going to stand by what he was saying, of course, because that is what he believed.”
Correa points to how he has never missed a game due to his ankle, and that he has done a lot of work to stabilize his ankles since his surgery.
The two-time All-Star previously agreed to a 13-year deal worth $350 million with the Giants, but once that deal hit a snag, Correa’s agent Scott Boras told him of the Mets’ interest.
Correa said he spoke to Mets owner Steve Cohen and his wife before he went to New York for the physical. He called Cohen a “really, really nice guy.”
He also spoke with Francisco Lindor.
The deal would have moved Correa to third base, something the Puerto Rican -- who has only played shortstop in the big leagues -- was happy to do for his fellow countryman.
“I was never going to step on his toes,” Correa said of his 45-minute conversation with Lindor. “Out of my mouth would never come the words, ‘I want to play shortstop.’ Out of my mouth would never come any form of betrayal toward him.
“From that moment on, from the moment the deal was agreed on, my mind was set to play third base every single day. That was never going to change. I wanted him to know I would always be loyal. I would always be there for him, whatever he needed. Just making sure we left everything clear. When players of both our calibers play shortstop and there’s a change there’s always some animosity in there. I wanted to make sure he knew out of the gate I was OK with playing third base. I was going to make the move, no problem.”
The two sides ended up agreeing to a 12-year, $315 million contract. But the issue of his ankle complicated the completion of the deal.
Correa says the Twins were always in the conversation because of how the city and organization treated him and his family in his one season with the club. But when the physical failed and the negotiations to alter contract language became “impossible to accomplish,” he told Boras “make me a Twin. Let’s make it work with the Twins.”
The Twins signed Correa for six years, $200 million.
Now that the offseason drama has ended for him, Correa is only thinking of winning and reiterated his feelings from his re-introduction press conference.
“There’s no hard feelings toward both [the Giants’ and Mets’] organizations,” he said. “There’s nothing but respect for them. Doctors have differences of opinion. That’s fine. But God took me here to the Minnesota Twins. I couldn’t be more grateful for this opportunity.”
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Post by Blunashun on Jan 14, 2023 18:08:42 GMT
So, on Planet Reality, Correa was slated to earn 35.1 million dollars in 2023 under his old contract with the Twins. Now he'll get 32 million dollars. Next year he would have gotten the same 35.1 million. Now it's 32 million dollars again. He DOES get an 8 million dollar signing bonus, split in half & covering those two seasons. So he recouped 8 million of the 6.2 million he lost. But he would have gotten a signing bonus after his Twins contract expired anyway. His per annum average of 35.1 million is now 33.3 million.
This isn't one Boras will hang on his wall.
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Post by Blunashun on Jan 14, 2023 18:26:28 GMT
Dodgers Rumors: Latest Reports on Bryan Reynolds Aren't Ideal for Fans in LA
MLB.com's Jon Morosi reports the Pirates are looking for multiple top pitching prospects in a trade for Bryan Reynolds, which will likely hamper the Dodgers' involvement.
JEFF J. SNIDER19 HOURS AGO
The Dodgers are on the hunt for another outfielder, and Pirates center-fielder Bryan Reynolds is said to be on the trading block. It seems like a match made in heaven, right?
Well, the problem is, while Reynolds wants to be traded partly because Pittsburgh wants to pay him like he's Sean Murphy, he's unlikely to be traded (especially to the Dodgers) because Pittsburgh wants other teams to act like he's Juan Soto.
everal reports have talked about the Pirates looking for a "Soto package" for Reynolds, and MLB.com's Jon Morosi reported recently that Pittsburgh is looking for "high-upside pitching prospects" in exchange for Reynolds.
MLB.com's Jon Paul Morosi reported during Wednesday's edition of Hot Stove that the Rangers are a "serious suitor" for Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds. The Yankees are still involved for the 2021 All-Star, but Morosi notes that Texas has an advantage over New York because it has the high-upside pitching prospects that the Pirates desire for Reynolds. The Rangers have three pitchers on MLB Pipeline's Top 100 prospects list: right-handers Jack Leiter (No. 45), Owen White (No. 59) and Brock Porter (No. 89). The Yankees have no pitchers in the current Top 100.
Yes, that's an "s" at the end of "high-upside pitching prospects," suggesting Pittsburgh wants plural of them. Who knows how they define "high-upside," but it's unlikely Los Angeles would give up Bobby Miller or Gavin Stone in a Reynolds trade, and it's unfathomable that they would give up both.
The Dodgers weren't willing to give up a "Soto package" for actual Juan Soto last year, so they're not going to do it for a lesser player in Reynolds. (Reynolds is very good, mind you, but he's no Juan Soto.)
The Rangers might be willing to part with top pitching prospects simply because they signed Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi, Martin Perez, and Andrew Heaney this offseason to go along with Jon Gray, Taylor Hearn, Glen Otto, Cole Ragans, and Spencer Howard. But even then, Perez is on a one-year deal and Heaney on two, and the last few guys I listed probably don't compare to Jack Leiter in future value.
So Pittsburgh's price might have to come down if they're going to move Reynolds. If it does, expect Los Angeles to be aggressive, but they're not going to go outside their comfort zone to get a trade done.
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Post by Blunashun on Jan 15, 2023 9:27:38 GMT
Dodgers fail to settle with All-Star pitcher, headed for arbitration
Story by Joey Mistretta • Yesterday 7:59 AM
The Los Angeles Dodgers and 2022 All-Star pitcher Tony Gonsolin failed to come to terms on a contract to avoid arbitration, per Fabian Ardaya and Jack Harris. Gonsolin was the only Dodger out of 10 arbitration-eligible players who didn’t come to terms with LA. Other notable players who agreed to new contracts with the Dodgers include SP Julio Urias, SP Walker Buehler, SP Dustin May, and C Will Smith.
The Dodgers reportedly filed at $3 million, while Tony Gonsolin filed at $3.4 million, per Jon Heyman. Los Angeles and Gonsolin can still come to terms on an agreement before an arbitration hearing. It will be interesting to see if they can bridge the narrow gap in their differences. Other star pitchers who initially failed to come to terms with their teams include Max Fried of the Atlanta Braves and Corbin Burnes of the Milwaukee Brewers.
If Tony Gonsolin and the Dodgers end up entering an arbitration hearing, the right-hander will have an intriguing case. He made the All-Star team in 2022 and finished the season with a sparkling 2.14 ERA. However, he was limited to just 24 games after dealing with injury concerns.
Regardless of what ultimately happens, the Dodgers certainly value Gonsolin. He’s expected to play a pivotal role in the rotation behind Julio Urias and Clayton Kershaw during the 2023 campaign. If he manages to stay healthy this year, Gonsolin could be on track for another All-Star season.
We will continue to monitor and provide updates on the Dodgers’ contract situation as they are made available.
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Post by Blunashun on Jan 15, 2023 15:37:42 GMT
If the Dodgers are quibbling over $400,000, then they're trying really hard to stay under the cap.
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Post by Blunashun on Jan 15, 2023 15:42:08 GMT
What Dodgers’ Miguel Rojas-Jacob Amaya trade means for Gavin Lux
Published January 14, 2023 at 2:41 PM PST
By Joey Mistretta · 3 min read
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ recently acquired Miguel Rojas from the Miami Marlins for infield prospect Jacob Amaya. Many initial reports hinted that the Dodgers had finally found their Trea Turner shortstop replacement. But Dodgers’ fans began asking what the deal means for Gavin Lux. The Dodgers are expected to give both Rojas and Lux playing time at shortstop this year.
But at just 25-years old, one has to wonder what the future holds for Gavin Lux. Is he going to benefit from splitting time between 2B and SS? Will he factor into LA’s long-term plans?
Let’s take a closer look at what the Miguel Rojas trade means for Gavin Lux.
Gavin Lux’s Dodgers timeline
Gavin Lux was a highly-touted prospect in the Dodgers’ organization. He made his big league debut in 2019, but played in only 23 games. Lux then appeared in 19 games in 2020. He did not have a defined role during those seasons.
The Dodgers acquired Trea Turner via trade in 2021 who took over second base duties with Corey Seager manning shortstop. As a result, Gavin Lux was primarily utilized as a depth piece for the Dodgers. He appeared in 102 games and slashed .242/.328/.364 with 7 home runs.
Although it wasn’t a performance to write home about, he had finally accrued a decent amount of major league playing time in a single season.
Corey Seager’s free agency departure opened up a spot at second base with Trea Turner shifting over to shortstop in 2022. However, the Dodgers signed Freddie Freeman which took first base away from Max Muncy. Muncy became a candidate to take over second base with Justin Turner handling the hot corner.
Gavin Lux entered Spring Training with uncertainty surrounding his role once again. But he ended up playing well enough to become an everyday player for the most part. Lux primary played second base and appeared in 129 games in 2022. And it was a break out of sorts, as he slashed .276/.346/.399 with a .745 OPS. Lux hit just 6 home runs but led the league with 7 triples.
So this all led to the 2022-2023 MLB offseason. Gavin Lux will be a breakout candidate in 2023. However, he would benefit from playing one position on an everyday basis. And it appeared as if he was going to be the Dodgers’ primary shortstop prior to the Rojas trade.
Miguel Rojas trade impact on Lux
If Gavin Lux performs well to open the season, he could become the Dodgers’ everyday shortstop. With that being said, Los Angeles likes Miguel Rojas’ defense. Lux has potential as a second baseman and the Dodgers also have infielders Max Muncy and Miguel Vargas to think about.
LA will ultimately make their final decision in Spring Training. But an infield of Lux at shortstop, Muncy at second, and Vargas at third with Rojas playing a utility type of role may be the Dodgers’ best course of action.
To summarize, the Miguel Rojas trade places pressure on Lux to perform from a defensive standpoint. Dave Roberts and the team are well aware of his offensive prowess. Lux features a high-ceiling at the plate between his contact ability and discipline. But in order to earn the everyday shortstop job, Gavin Lux needs to come out in Spring Training and prove he can get the job done on defense.
The Rojas trade will motivate him to work as hard as possible on improving his defensive ability. It will be interesting to see how the Dodgers ultimately decide to implement their defense this season.
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jrgreene6
Legend
Married . . . With Cats
Posts: 7,438
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Post by jrgreene6 on Jan 15, 2023 18:56:40 GMT
What Dodgers’ Miguel Rojas-Jacob Amaya trade means for Gavin Lux Published January 14, 2023 at 2:41 PM PST By Joey Mistretta · 3 min read The Los Angeles Dodgers’ recently acquired Miguel Rojas from the Miami Marlins for infield prospect Jacob Amaya. Many initial reports hinted that the Dodgers had finally found their Trea Turner shortstop replacement. But Dodgers’ fans began asking what the deal means for Gavin Lux. The Dodgers are expected to give both Rojas and Lux playing time at shortstop this year. But at just 25-years old, one has to wonder what the future holds for Gavin Lux. Is he going to benefit from splitting time between 2B and SS? Will he factor into LA’s long-term plans? Let’s take a closer look at what the Miguel Rojas trade means for Gavin Lux. Gavin Lux’s Dodgers timeline Gavin Lux was a highly-touted prospect in the Dodgers’ organization. He made his big league debut in 2019, but played in only 23 games. Lux then appeared in 19 games in 2020. He did not have a defined role during those seasons. The Dodgers acquired Trea Turner via trade in 2021 who took over second base duties with Corey Seager manning shortstop. As a result, Gavin Lux was primarily utilized as a depth piece for the Dodgers. He appeared in 102 games and slashed .242/.328/.364 with 7 home runs. Although it wasn’t a performance to write home about, he had finally accrued a decent amount of major league playing time in a single season. Corey Seager’s free agency departure opened up a spot at second base with Trea Turner shifting over to shortstop in 2022. However, the Dodgers signed Freddie Freeman which took first base away from Max Muncy. Muncy became a candidate to take over second base with Justin Turner handling the hot corner. Gavin Lux entered Spring Training with uncertainty surrounding his role once again. But he ended up playing well enough to become an everyday player for the most part. Lux primary played second base and appeared in 129 games in 2022. And it was a break out of sorts, as he slashed .276/.346/.399 with a .745 OPS. Lux hit just 6 home runs but led the league with 7 triples. So this all led to the 2022-2023 MLB offseason. Gavin Lux will be a breakout candidate in 2023. However, he would benefit from playing one position on an everyday basis. And it appeared as if he was going to be the Dodgers’ primary shortstop prior to the Rojas trade. Miguel Rojas trade impact on Lux If Gavin Lux performs well to open the season, he could become the Dodgers’ everyday shortstop. With that being said, Los Angeles likes Miguel Rojas’ defense. Lux has potential as a second baseman and the Dodgers also have infielders Max Muncy and Miguel Vargas to think about. LA will ultimately make their final decision in Spring Training. But an infield of Lux at shortstop, Muncy at second, and Vargas at third with Rojas playing a utility type of role may be the Dodgers’ best course of action. To summarize, the Miguel Rojas trade places pressure on Lux to perform from a defensive standpoint. Dave Roberts and the team are well aware of his offensive prowess. Lux features a high-ceiling at the plate between his contact ability and discipline. But in order to earn the everyday shortstop job, Gavin Lux needs to come out in Spring Training and prove he can get the job done on defense. The Rojas trade will motivate him to work as hard as possible on improving his defensive ability. It will be interesting to see how the Dodgers ultimately decide to implement their defense this season. I understand that they do not feel Rojas has the bat to stay in the daily lineup, but why go out and trade for him simply as a utility / bench player? Can he be any worse than the Bells / Muncy sub .200 averages we saw and they tolerated most of last year? What if Max continues to struggle? Does that bounce Lux back to second base? I think it’s a HUGE mistake to expect Lux to play SS. We witnessed first hand what effect a change of positions had on Bells - not to say that was the ONLY reason for his struggles. Lux’s bat is more important than his D, but he had Sax issues just getting the ball from second to first. How’s he going to make a longer throw in addition to pretty much “managing” the infield? And his range for fielding balls isn’t exactly world class. Keep Lux at second, hope Rojas learns to put a lot more wood on the ball or tolerate his offensive shortcomings and hope he’s the only hole in our lineup as opposed to last years combo of Bells, Muncy & more often than not Taylor. Rotate Muncy & Martinez at DH to keep both of them fresh and concentrating on their O. GO DODGERS!!! |
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Post by Blunashun on Jan 15, 2023 20:36:20 GMT
What Dodgers’ Miguel Rojas-Jacob Amaya trade means for Gavin Lux Published January 14, 2023 at 2:41 PM PST By Joey Mistretta · 3 min read The Los Angeles Dodgers’ recently acquired Miguel Rojas from the Miami Marlins for infield prospect Jacob Amaya. Many initial reports hinted that the Dodgers had finally found their Trea Turner shortstop replacement. But Dodgers’ fans began asking what the deal means for Gavin Lux. The Dodgers are expected to give both Rojas and Lux playing time at shortstop this year. But at just 25-years old, one has to wonder what the future holds for Gavin Lux. Is he going to benefit from splitting time between 2B and SS? Will he factor into LA’s long-term plans? Let’s take a closer look at what the Miguel Rojas trade means for Gavin Lux. Gavin Lux’s Dodgers timeline Gavin Lux was a highly-touted prospect in the Dodgers’ organization. He made his big league debut in 2019, but played in only 23 games. Lux then appeared in 19 games in 2020. He did not have a defined role during those seasons. The Dodgers acquired Trea Turner via trade in 2021 who took over second base duties with Corey Seager manning shortstop. As a result, Gavin Lux was primarily utilized as a depth piece for the Dodgers. He appeared in 102 games and slashed .242/.328/.364 with 7 home runs. Although it wasn’t a performance to write home about, he had finally accrued a decent amount of major league playing time in a single season. Corey Seager’s free agency departure opened up a spot at second base with Trea Turner shifting over to shortstop in 2022. However, the Dodgers signed Freddie Freeman which took first base away from Max Muncy. Muncy became a candidate to take over second base with Justin Turner handling the hot corner. Gavin Lux entered Spring Training with uncertainty surrounding his role once again. But he ended up playing well enough to become an everyday player for the most part. Lux primary played second base and appeared in 129 games in 2022. And it was a break out of sorts, as he slashed .276/.346/.399 with a .745 OPS. Lux hit just 6 home runs but led the league with 7 triples. So this all led to the 2022-2023 MLB offseason. Gavin Lux will be a breakout candidate in 2023. However, he would benefit from playing one position on an everyday basis. And it appeared as if he was going to be the Dodgers’ primary shortstop prior to the Rojas trade. Miguel Rojas trade impact on Lux If Gavin Lux performs well to open the season, he could become the Dodgers’ everyday shortstop. With that being said, Los Angeles likes Miguel Rojas’ defense. Lux has potential as a second baseman and the Dodgers also have infielders Max Muncy and Miguel Vargas to think about. LA will ultimately make their final decision in Spring Training. But an infield of Lux at shortstop, Muncy at second, and Vargas at third with Rojas playing a utility type of role may be the Dodgers’ best course of action. To summarize, the Miguel Rojas trade places pressure on Lux to perform from a defensive standpoint. Dave Roberts and the team are well aware of his offensive prowess. Lux features a high-ceiling at the plate between his contact ability and discipline. But in order to earn the everyday shortstop job, Gavin Lux needs to come out in Spring Training and prove he can get the job done on defense. The Rojas trade will motivate him to work as hard as possible on improving his defensive ability. It will be interesting to see how the Dodgers ultimately decide to implement their defense this season. I understand that they do not feel Rojas has the bat to stay in the daily lineup, but why go out and trade for him simply as a utility / bench player? Can he be any worse than the Bells / Muncy sub .200 averages we saw and they tolerated most of last year? What if Max continues to struggle? Does that bounce Lux back to second base? I think it’s a HUGE mistake to expect Lux to play SS. We witnessed first hand what effect a change of positions had on Bells - not to say that was the ONLY reason for his struggles. Lux’s bat is more important than his D, but he had Sax issues just getting the ball from second to first. How’s he going to make a longer throw in addition to pretty much “managing” the infield? And his range for fielding balls isn’t exactly world class. Keep Lux at second, hope Rojas learns to put a lot more wood on the ball or tolerate his offensive shortcomings and hope he’s the only hole in our lineup as opposed to last years combo of Bells, Muncy & more often than not Taylor. Rotate Muncy & Martinez at DH to keep both of them fresh and concentrating on their O. GO DODGERS!!! If Lux was as bad as Sax throwing from second base WE'D have bruises. I swear I thought those might have been stigmata wounds I suffered in the 1980's. Rojas can come in handy if Lux truly can't switch back. You're right in that his range is limited. The throwing errors seemed more like laziness. Throwing off the wrong foot. Remember Offerman? We already know Muncy is a hack. Friedman doesn't put a premium on defense. The Dodgers might make one more trade. In this one, look for them to dump some payroll. Clear up a little breathing room. |
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Post by Blunashun on Jan 17, 2023 18:49:25 GMT
Jon Heyman of the N.Y. Post noted that California isn't a popular destination for free agents because of our high state income tax rates. Over 13%. He neglected to mention New York's state income tax rate of 9%. Freddie Freeman didn't seem to mind. His contract is looking like the steal of the decade.
Then Heyman kinda mentioned offhandedly the free agents the Padres & Angels have signed. Seems to me Tyler Anderson just went across town. Frisco was ready to ink Carlos Correa before his physical. Then he walked away from the Mets. No doubt because of ther prohibitive taxes.
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Post by Blunashun on Jan 19, 2023 21:43:39 GMT
Dodgers News: James Outman Somewhat Superstitious Over Uniform Number with LA
Story by Jeff J. Snider • 4h ago
Dodgers outfielder James Outman was assigned number 77 at random, but he superstitiously might want to keep it after last year's success.
When Dodgers prospect James Outman was called up for a cup of coffee with Los Angeles last summer, he was, as is tradition with rookies, assigned a high uniform number to wear in LA. In Outman's case, it was number 77, and the cup of coffee went very well, with the young outfielder going 6-for-13 with a 1.409 OPS in four games.
Outman was on local Los Angeles radio recently, and he and the host talked about uniform numbers. Heading into what he hopes will be his first full season in the big leagues, Outman will likely have the opportunity to choose his own uniform number. But Outman says he might not want to change.
"I haven't put much thought into it yet. You know, the superstitious part of me thinks that 77 is a good number now but we'll see. I'll let the moment speak to me."
Seventy-seven is a pretty cool number, all things considered. After Yasiel Puig was assigned number 66 in spring training in 2013, he liked it so much that he kept it throughout his big-league career. For Outman, there's the cool factor of the number and the fact that he played really, really well in number 77 last year.
Of course, he also played really well wearing number 55 for the Oklahoma City Dodgers last year, and 55 is currently available in Dodger blue, last worn by Albert Pujols in 2021. Number 55 is at least as cool as 77, and it has a solid history with the team, with Russell Martin and Orel Hershiser wearing it in addition to Pujols.
Spring training starts in about a month, and we'll get an idea what number Outman will wear by then, if not sooner.
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Post by Blunashun on Jan 19, 2023 21:51:28 GMT
Report: Dodgers taxed $32M, MLB payrolls record $4.5B
Associated Press
Wed, January 18, 2023 at 8:48 PM PST·4 min read
NEW YORK – The Los Angeles Dodgers were hit with a $32 million luxury tax for the second straight season, among six teams paying a penalty as baseball payrolls rebounded after the lockout to a record $4.56 billion.
The New York Mets set a luxury tax payroll record at $299.8 million, topping the $297.9 million of the 2015 Dodgers, and will pay tax for the first time since the penalty started in 2003, according to final figures compiled by Major League Baseball and obtained by The Associated Press.
NL champion Philadelphia, the New York Yankees, San Diego and Boston also exceeded the $230 million tax threshold. The total tax of $78 million topped the previous high of $74 million in 2016, when six teams also paid.
The Dodgers, assessed at a higher rate because they exceeded the threshold for the second straight year, owe $32.4 million on a luxury tax payroll of $293.3 million. That was down slightly from their $32.6 million penalty for 2021.
Trevor Bauer was counted at $4,109,890 for the luxury tax in 2022 and $3,868,131 for regular payroll. Any money saved from the clawback in 2023 during Bauer’s suspension under the domestic violence policy will be reflected in the Dodgers’ 2023 payroll figures.
With pitcher Max Scherzer leading the big leagues at a $43.3 million salary, the Mets shot up to second in payroll and owe $30.8 million. Under owner Steven Cohen, who bought the team before the 2021 season, New York has boosted its projected tax payroll for 2023 to nearly $400 million. The Mets and the Dodgers both pay the so-called new “Cohen Tax,” a new fourth threshold starting at $290 million agreed to by negotiators for teams and players last March.
The Yankees owe $9.7 million, the Phillies $2.9 million, the Padres $1.5 million and the Red Sox $1.2 million after finishing last in the AL East. San Diego also exceeded the initial threshold for the second year in a row.
Tax money is due to MLB by Friday.
Total spending, based on regular payrolls, rose 12.6% from $4.05 billion in 2021, the lowest in a fully completed season since $3.9 billion in 2015. The previous high of just under $4.25 billion was set in 2017, also the first year of a collective bargaining agreement.
The first $3.5 million of tax money is used to fund player benefits and 50% of the remainder will be used to fund player Individual Retirement Accounts. The other 50% of the remainder goes to a supplemental commissioner’s discretionary fund intended to be given to teams receiving revenue-sharing money that have grown their non-media local revenue over several years.
Tax payrolls are caluculated by average annual values, including earned bonuses, for players on 40-man rosters along with just over $16 million per team for benefits and $1.67 million for each club’s share of the new $50 million pool for pre-arbitration players.
Last season’s four tax thresholds were $230 million, $250 million, $270 million and $290 million. First-time offenders pay 20% on the amount above the first threshold, 32% above the second, 62.5% above the third and 80% above the fourth. As repeat offenders, the Dodgers and Padres pay 30% above the first, 42% above the second, 75% above the third and 90% above the fourth.
The Yankees have been taxed nearly $358 million since the penalties began, followed by the Dodgers at $215 million.
Among regular payrolls, the Mets led at $274.9 million, followed by the Dodgers at $270.6 million, the Yankees at $254.7 million and Philadelphia at $238.5 million. Six teams topped $200 million, up from two in 2021 and the previous high of five in 2019.
World Series champion Houston was ninth at $187.5 million. Nine teams among the top 12 payrolls reached the playoffs, all but Boston, the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Angels. Three teams from the 10 lowest spenders reached the postseason: Cleveland, Tampa Bay and Seattle, and none of them reached the League Championship Series.
Oakland’s $49.1 million was the lowest total of any team in a full season since Houston’s $29.3 million in 2013.
Regular payrolls are based on 2022 salaries, earned bonuses and prorated shares of signing bonuses for 40-man rosters.
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Post by Blunashun on Jan 19, 2023 21:58:03 GMT
Dodgers add pair of talented Dominican prospects
January 15th, 2023
Jesse Sanchez
@jessesanchezmlb
The Dodgers’ history on the international market dates back to the 1970s with the creation of an academy in the Dominican Republic.
The commitment to scouring Latin America and the Caribbean to find top prospects remains as strong as ever.
The club announced Sunday that it has agreed to terms with 13 international amateur free agents, a group headlined by shortstop Joendry Vargas, the No. 3 overall prospect on the top 50 international list, and outfielder Arnaldo Lantigua, who ranks No. 23. The group includes six right-handed pitchers, five shortstops, an outfielder and a catcher. Six players were signed out of the Domincan Republic, while seven were signed out of Venezuela.
• Signing tracker | Top 50 Prospects list | Each team's best int'l prospect
The Dodgers, who have a base signing pool of $4,144,000, have not confirmed the agreements. The deals are pending physicals. Last year, the Dodgers surpassed the luxury tax threshold and had to forfeit $1,000,000 for signing Freddie Freeman.
At 6-foot-3, the long and lean Vargas will face questions about his ability to stay at shortstop, but the Dominican Republic native already shows a quick first step, good hands and instincts for the position. He’ll stay in the middle of the infield for as long as he can, but his plus arm potential will serve him well if he transitions to third base in the future.
At the plate, Vargas shows an advanced approach with the ability to hit for average. One of the top hitters in the class, he hits line drives to all fields and shows home run potential with a mechanically sound swing. He is expected to show more raw power and rack up extra-base hits as he fills out his frame. Vargas trains with Raul “Banana” Valera, a member of MLB’s Trainer Partnership Program.
A power-hitting outfielder from the Dominican Republic, Lantigua is big and strong now, and more strength could be on the way. His ability to make consistent contact and hit for power emerged in recent years. If he continues to develop at a normal pace, he could turn into a middle-of-the order bat in the future because of his offensive prowess. Lantigua can be overly aggressive in the batter’s box and needs to be more patient at the plate, but he’s working on strike zone recognition and fine-tuning his approach.
Overall, he has a chance to stay in center field because of his speed and arm strength, but he also profiles as a right fielder for those reasons. He trains with Marino Sierra in the Dominican Republic.
The Dodgers also agreed to deals with the following players:
Dominican Republic
Erick Batista, RHP
Anderson Jerez, RHP
Elias Medina, SS
Daniel Mielcarek, SS
Venezuela
Luis Carias, RHP
Harold Gonzalez, SS
Javier Herrera, SS
Eduardo Quintero, C
Samuel Sanchez, RHP
Jesus Tillero, RHP
Robinson Ventura, RHP
An international player is eligible to sign with a Major League team between Jan. 15 and Dec. 15. He must turn 16 before he signs and be 17 before Sept. 1 the following year -- in practical terms, that means players born between Sept. 1, 2005, and Aug. 31, 2006, will be eligible to sign in the upcoming signing period. Players have to be registered with Major League Baseball in advance in order to be eligible to sign.
Teams are allowed to trade international bonus pool money starting Jan. 15.
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