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Post by Blunashun on Feb 7, 2024 1:41:07 GMT
Cody Bellinger Rumors: Surprise NL Suitor Has Emerged in Sweepstakes for Former Dodgers MVP
Story by Noah Camras •
4h
Cody Bellinger remains a free agent as spring training nears. The former Dodgers MVP had a resurgent season with the Chicago Cubs in 2023, and entered this offseason hoping to secure a massive, long-term deal.
That deal is yet to come to fruition, and the list of potential suitors is continuing to shrink.
However, Bob Nightengale of USA Today listed a potential sleeper team that could make a push for Bellinger before the 2024 season begins.
"Several executives think the Philadelphia Phillies could be a sleeper for one of the remaining marquee free agents in starter Jordan Montgomery or center fielder Cody Bellinger."
The Phillies have made two straight NLCS appearances, and made the World Series in 2022.
They're becoming one of the premier teams in the National League, but have remained quiet this offseason after re-signing Aaron Nola on a seven-year, $172 million early in free agency.
Making a move for one of the top remaining free agents like Bellinger or Jordan Montgomery would put the Phillies in prime position for another deep run in October, and would provide a jolt to the team and fanbase just before spring training.
As of now, the only obvious suitor for Bellinger is the incumbent Cubs, but it sounds like Bellinger and his agent, Scott Boras, are continuing to hold out for the massive deal they want.
If the Phillies swoop in and make him a big offer, he'd likely be very happy to head East to team up with his former teammate in Los Angeles, Trea Turner. A lineup of Turner, Bellinger, Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Nick Castellanos and J.T. Realmuto would make a case for one of baseball's best.
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Post by Blunashun on Feb 7, 2024 1:44:40 GMT
Cody Bellinger Rumors: Surprise NL Suitor Has Emerged in Sweepstakes for Former Dodgers MVP
Story by Noah Camras •
4h
Cody Bellinger remains a free agent as spring training nears. The former Dodgers MVP had a resurgent season with the Chicago Cubs in 2023, and entered this offseason hoping to secure a massive, long-term deal.
That deal is yet to come to fruition, and the list of potential suitors is continuing to shrink.
However, Bob Nightengale of USA Today listed a potential sleeper team that could make a push for Bellinger before the 2024 season begins.
"Several executives think the Philadelphia Phillies could be a sleeper for one of the remaining marquee free agents in starter Jordan Montgomery or center fielder Cody Bellinger."
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Post by Blunashun on Feb 7, 2024 1:46:56 GMT
Wow. Is that weak or what? "Emerged" morphed into "several executives THINK the Phillies COULD be a "sleeper."
Nightengale must be getting paid by Boras to help him come up with a 'mystery' team.
Well, at least I don't have to feel paranoid to know I'm not the only one suspicious of Bellinger's work ethic.
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Post by Blunashun on Feb 7, 2024 2:11:41 GMT
5 years & $100,000,000. Incentives can bring it up to $150,000,000.
Give him an opt-out after two years. Hopefully he performs well & uses it.
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jrgreene6
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Post by jrgreene6 on Feb 7, 2024 3:07:22 GMT
5 years & $100,000,000. Incentives can bring it up to $150,000,000. Give him an opt-out after two years. Hopefully he performs well & uses it. That should keep him supplied with the best kush in the world for life. GO DODGERS!!! |
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20DodgerMiracle24
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Rob Manfred is a disaster to our national pastime.
Posts: 1,792
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Post by 20DodgerMiracle24 on Feb 7, 2024 3:24:08 GMT
Flea Market (Ferguson) and Fruit Salad (Almonte) along with Mary (Bickford). Gaterade, Brazier Burger and Train Wreck (?) at the top end of the Dodger pen. A choice of around eight others for the rotation; Kershaw back around mid-season; May possibly a little later. Pitching is starting to look as good as the lineup. We certainly cannot complain that ownership hasn’t gone all in this year and in the team’s future. These guys have all of the potential to pull off multiple titles if their play matches that potential and they can stay healthy. Of course, the Fraudy / Daisy factor will remain and I honestly don’t see how either keeps their jobs if LA fails to secure another title in the next year or two. But I’ve been saying that for years. GO DODGERS!!! Oh we'll win another division title. Now if only we can get past the first round of the playoffs |
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Post by Blunashun on Feb 9, 2024 0:54:07 GMT
Clayton Kershaw says he's staying with Dodgers for 17th season and could pitch in second half of '24
By David Brandt | AP
February 8, 2024 at 6:44 p.m. EST
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Clayton Kershaw says he will return for his 17th season with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Kershaw said Thursday he will be back with the team as part of an agreement that includes a player option for 2025. The three-time Cy Young Award winner spoke as the big-spending Dodgers became the first of the 30 teams to start spring training, opening on a dreary, wet and chilly Thursday morning at Camelback Ranch ahead of their opener against San Diego on March 20 at Seoul, South Korea.
The 210-game winner, who turns 36 on March 19, had a nameplate and a locker in the clubhouse even though his contract had not been announced by the team.
“I’m on a good path right now,” Kershaw said. “I’m excited about getting ready to pitch again at Dodger Stadium. That sounds fun.”
The Dodgers did announce one deal on Thursday, finalizing a $9 million, two-year contract to retain right-hander Ryan Brasier. To make room on the roster for Brasier — who is expected to work out of the bullpen — the Dodgers placed right-hander Dustin May on the 60-day injured list.
May is recovering from elbow surgery on July 18. The 36-year-old Brasier was released by Boston midway through last season, signed with the Dodgers, and had a 0.70 ERA over 38 2/3 innings and 39 appearances.
Kershaw had surgery Nov. 3 to repair his left shoulder capsule and glenohumeral ligaments, which reinforce the joint capsule. He expects to be available to pitch this summer.
Kershaw said he didn’t throw a baseball for three months following his surgery but is now in the second week of a throwing program. He said he’ll split time between his home in Texas and the Dodgers’ spring training facility during spring training.
“Summer is about as good as I can do,” Kershaw said of his return. “It’s probably not early summer ... I would say July-ish, August-ish, somewhere in there.”
Kershaw’s navigated several health issues over the past few seasons but continues to be productive when he’s on the mound. The lefty finished with a 13-5 record and 2.46 ERA in 131 2/3 innings over 24 starts last season.
In his final outing, he gave up six runs and got one out in the NL Division Series opener, starting Arizona to a three-game sweep of the Dodgers.
“Didn’t want to go out that way,” Kershaw said.
Dodgers pitchers and catchers and players coming off injuries reported on a day with steady rain and temperatures in the 50s. Shortstop Gavin Lux, who hopes to return from a torn right ACL sustained last Feb. 27, was among many in a rain-speckled shirt following a hitting session.
Kershaw’s return adds to a busy and expensive offseason for the Dodgers, who have allocated more than $1 billion to free agents. Los Angeles made its biggest move by signing two-way star Shohei Ohtani to a $700 million, 10-year contract in December. Days later, they landed right-handed pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto with a $325 million, 12-year deal.
Kershaw said Ohtani’s international stardom should make life easier on his teammates.
“He seems like he’s got a great head on his shoulders and he can handle it,” Kershaw said. “Honestly, it should be good for our other guys. Mookie (Betts), Freddie (Freeman) are superstars in their own right, but the attention is going to be on Shohei 24/7.”
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Post by Blunashun on Feb 9, 2024 2:45:01 GMT
MLB Trade Rumors: Red Sox's Kenley Jansen Targeted by Dodgers, Phillies, Padres
ZACH BACHAR
FEBRUARY 8, 2024
Boston Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen is receiving trade interest from several opposing teams ahead of the 2024 season.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that the Red Sox are still "fielding offers" for Jansen, mentioning the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers as possible trade destinations for the four-time All-Star.
MLB Network's Jon Morosi also mentioned the Dodgers' interest in a reunion on Thursday while bringing up the Philadelphia Phillies as a potential landing spot as well.
Jansen spent the first 12 seasons of his career with the Dodgers, blossoming into one of the league's top relief pitchers as he made three consecutive All-Star teams from 2016 through 2018. He's totaled 420 saves since he made his debut in 2010. That ranks No. 7 all-time and No. 1 among all active players.
Although his production declined prior to his eventual exit from Los Angeles, his resurgent performances throughout the past two seasons with the Atlanta Braves and Red Sox have led to several teams registering interest in his services.
In two years after leaving the Dodgers, Jansen compiled a commendable 3.48 ERA while striking out 137 batters in 108.2 innings of work. His 41 saves in 2022 represented the highest mark in the National League.
Trading Jansen could provide some financial flexibility for Boston, with the 36-year-old set to earn $16 million in 2024 (via Spotrac). For a Red Sox team operating with an eye on the future after a 78-84 season, Jansen likely doesn't fit into the organization's long-term plans.
Boston could opt to wait until the season begins and look for a deal ahead of the July 30 trade deadline, although the front office would risk receiving lesser offers due to the lack of time remaining on his contract.
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Post by Blunashun on Feb 9, 2024 2:46:47 GMT
If they want to get out of paying Kenley, the Red Sox won't wait.
Two midlevel prospects & salary relief. It would be nice having Kershaw & Jansen back together again on this potential juggernaut.
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jrgreene6
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Post by jrgreene6 on Feb 9, 2024 3:55:29 GMT
If they want to get out of paying Kenley, the Red Sox won't wait. Two midlevel prospects & salary relief. It would be nice having Kershaw & Jansen back together again on this potential juggernaut. I’d be less than enthusiastic about the return of the Vulture. Even though he has shown a resurgence the last couple of seasons, I would be uncomfortable every time he took the mound. An ERA of nearly 3.50 isn’t exactly stellar or what I want to see out of a closer. Wilson Phillips, Gaterade and Train Wreck ALL give me a warmer, fuzzier feeling than the Vulture. Just my opinion . . . GO DODGERS!!! |
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20DodgerMiracle24
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Post by 20DodgerMiracle24 on Feb 9, 2024 12:07:51 GMT
If they want to get out of paying Kenley, the Red Sox won't wait. Two midlevel prospects & salary relief. It would be nice having Kershaw & Jansen back together again on this potential juggernaut. I’d be less than enthusiastic about the return of the Vulture. Even though he has shown a resurgence the last couple of seasons, I would be uncomfortable every time he took the mound. An ERA of nearly 3.50 isn’t exactly stellar or what I want to see out of a closer. Wilson Phillips, Gaterade and Train Wreck ALL give me a warmer, fuzzier feeling than the Vulture. Just my opinion . . . GO DODGERS!!! I realize it takes a certain kind of composure to be a closer, but are there no prospects who could handle it? The Vulture is way past his prime and he might blow a third of his save oppurtunities and we can't have that. Vintage Vulture was great, as was Hideki Kuroda and Eric Gagne but they're all long gone. |
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jrgreene6
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Post by jrgreene6 on Feb 9, 2024 20:41:57 GMT
I’d be less than enthusiastic about the return of the Vulture. Even though he has shown a resurgence the last couple of seasons, I would be uncomfortable every time he took the mound. An ERA of nearly 3.50 isn’t exactly stellar or what I want to see out of a closer. Wilson Phillips, Gaterade and Train Wreck ALL give me a warmer, fuzzier feeling than the Vulture. Just my opinion . . . GO DODGERS!!! I realize it takes a certain kind of composure to be a closer, but are there no prospects who could handle it? The Vulture is way past his prime and he might blow a third of his save oppurtunities and we can't have that. Vintage Vulture was great, as was Hideki Kuroda and Eric Gagne but they're all long gone. Although he likely won’t be ready until mid-summer, I like the idea of converting May to a closer. He seems to have that hell bent attitude that it takes and if he recovers fully, certainly has the arsenal of stuff to close out games. He’s big, throws hard and would probably be more effective than as a starter. In the meantime, the aforementioned trio could certainly handle the role and even continue to be used from time to time to keep May fresh. The Vulture made me nervous EVERY time he took the mound for LA those last couple of years. He was practically unhittable until that WS against Houston and I don’t know if he ever has or ever will mentally put that behind him, especially in a Dodger uniform. I say it’s a HARD pass on him and a second stint with LA. If they want to bring him back for a day so he can retire as a Dodger, I’d be all for that. Otherwise, thanks for what you gave us as an ace of the pen, but that time has long since passed. GO DODGERS!!! |
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Post by Blunashun on Feb 9, 2024 21:16:08 GMT
Dodgers’ Dustin May provides injury update before spring training
Story by Dan Fappiano •
2h
The Los Angeles Dodgers have invested heavily in their pitching rotation, adding players such as Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow and James Paxton. However, the Dodgers would get another strong weapon out of their rotation if Dustin May were healthy and performing.
However, May is still making his return back from flexor tendon surgery. The Dodgers have placed him on the 60-day injured list, meaning May will miss at least three first three months of the season with his elbow injury. Despite his long rehab process, the right-hander is trying to look ahead to better days, via SportsNet LA.
“Just trying to keep your head up and stay positive and look forward to the next day throwing has definitely been the biggest key,” May said.
May has made some improvements, now being able to throw three times a week. But after such a serious injury, both player and team won’t rush back May’s recovery. While he would be a welcome addition, LA wants him fully healthy before he contributes for the major league club again.
The righty has made just 20 appearances since 2021 due to injury. His career-high for appearances in a season is 14, which May set during his rookie season. But despite all his injuries, May has looked impressive when he has been on the mound. Over 46 career games, May holds a 12-9 record with a 3.10 record, 3.10 ERA and 174/57 K/BB ratio.
Los Angeles would love to have that production in their rotation again. Perhaps Dustin May will make his return by the end of the season. But in his return from elbow surgery, May still has a long way to go.
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Post by Blunashun on Feb 10, 2024 13:26:42 GMT
Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw made ‘big decision’ to have surgery, postpone retirement
Story by Bill Plunkett, The Orange County Register •
1d
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Faced with deciding between retirement or having the first major surgery of his life if he wanted to continue pitching, Clayton Kershaw turned to some of his closest advisors – his four kids.
“They didn’t really help too much honestly,” Kershaw said. “They were kind of indifferent.”
But Kershaw found he wasn’t indifferent about it. He had shoulder surgery in November and wound up re-signing with the Dodgers.
“I really never made a big decision in my life,” said Kershaw, who reported to Camelback Ranch and took his physical on Thursday. “I got drafted by the Dodgers. I married the same girl from high school. I didn’t have many decisions to make along the way. This was really kind of the first offseason where I had some choices to make and it wasn’t easy.”
The Dodgers’ 2023 season ended abruptly with a first-round playoff loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks and “you had to get away from the season a little bit” before thinking about his future. Pitching with an injured shoulder, Kershaw’s lone playoff start was a disaster and he “didn’t want to go out that way.”
“I think that was ultimately how I came to it,” he said.
“I went home and the season, the way it ended especially for our team and for me personally, wasn’t fun at all. A lot of doubts, a lot of different things and just really had to sit back on, if I wanted to do this it became pretty evident that I had to fix it and get surgery.“
Dr. Neal ElAttrache performed the surgery to repair the glenohumeral ligaments and capsule in Kershaw’s pitching shoulder. After three months of rehab, Kershaw started his throwing program last week and isn’t sure when his 17th season with the Dodgers will begin.
“Honestly I think summer is about as good as I can do,” he said. “It’s probably not early summer. … I hate saying a timetable because if I go below it or beyond it, it’s not good. But I would say July-ish, August-ish. Somewhere in there. I don’t know.”
The three-time Cy Young Award winner is more definitive about how he expects to pitch when he returns to the mound.
“I expect to be good,” he said. “I’ve said it before, I don’t want to be average. I don’t want to just pitch to pitch. I wanna be good. I wanna contribute and be part of this. So yeah, my expectations are no concessions. Just be good.”
Kershaw won’t be around for much of spring training. He returned home after taking his physical and doesn’t plan to return to camp until March “for a few weeks.” Once the season starts, he said he will join the team for homestands and then go back to Texas with his family when the Dodgers go on the road.
That will make Kershaw an interested observer of the Dodgers’ most anticipated season, perhaps in franchise history.
“This offseason has been pretty amazing to watch, honestly,” Kershaw said of the additions of Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow. “There’s definitely a part of me that wanted to be a part of that, part of this team. Winning an offseason doesn’t mean anything, but it’s a pretty good clubhouse of guys. The talent is probably the best I’ve ever been a part of. I’m hopeful that I can be a part of it, too.”
Kershaw took note of the extra media attention the presence of Ohtani and Yamamoto has already drawn this spring. Approximately 40 Japanese reporters were on hand Thursday as pitchers and catchers reported to Camelback Ranch.
“I think it’ll be like this pretty much the whole season, if not more,” Kershaw said. “I just talked to him (Ohtani) a little bit, I don’t know him super well. But he seems like he’s got a great head on his shoulders and he can handle it.
“Honestly, it should be good for our other guys. I think Mookie, Freddie – they’re superstars in their own right. But, I mean, the attention is going to be on Shohei 24/7. I think he can handle it from what I’ve seen and I think it should be good for our team.”
Kershaw said he has only seen videos of Yamamoto in action. But he is aware of the Japanese right-hander’s unique workout regimen – including throwing a javelin to build arm strength.
“Maybe I need to learn the javelin to come back,” Kershaw joked.
ALSO
The signing of right-hander Ryan Brasier was made official Thursday. Brasier will receive $4.5 million in salary each of the next two seasons with incentives that could make the two-year contract worth as much as $13 million. Right-hander Dustin May was placed on the 60-day Injured List to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Brasier. …
Dodgers signed veteran infielder Chris Owings to a minor-league contract with an invitation to major-league camp. Owings, 32, has spent parts of 11 seasons in the majors with six different teams, primarily the Diamondbacks.
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Post by Blunashun on Feb 11, 2024 20:14:25 GMT
It looks like Dave is trying to make Heyward a buffer for Ohtani & the media. It's anticipated to get that crazy. Good idea, if it works. Obviously, Jason can't ward off the Japanese media. But he might be able to soften it for their American counterparts.
It also reminds everyone this is a TEAM. It draws the TEAM closer together.
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