Dodgers 2024

Dodgers' Gavin Lux: Could be out of starting job
Rotowire 17 mins ago
Lux might be out of a starting job next season with the Dodgers planning to move Mookie Betts back to the infield, Noah Camras of DodgersNation.com reports.

The Dodgers have not said whether Betts would play shortstop or second base, but with Miguel Rojas and Tommy Edman available as shortstop options, Betts' likelier destination is probably the keystone. Seemingly, that would push Lux to the bench or perhaps the trade block. Lux had a .562 OPS in the first half of the 2024 season but finished strong in the second half with an .899 OPS. He then struggled in the postseason (.580 OPS) while battling a hip issue. Lux will turn 27 later this month and is under team control through 2026.

Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Surgery likely to delay pitching
Rotowire 34 mins ago
Ohtani's left shoulder surgery is likely to delay his pitching debut for the Dodgers, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Ohtani underwent surgery Tuesday to repair a labrum tear in his left (non-throwing) shoulder, an injury he suffered during Game 2 of the World Series. While the expectation is that he will be ready to serve as a designated hitter during spring training and Opening Day, the timetable for Ohtani's first start on the mound for the Dodgers looks cloudy. The team elected to pause Ohtani's throwing program during the playoffs as he comes back from Tommy John surgery so as to not overtax him and now the shoulder surgery will further delay the throwing program indefinitely. The Dodgers have a two-game series versus the Cubs in Japan from March 18-19 and then have their domestic opener against the Tigers on March 27. General manager Brandon Gomes this week didn't rule out Ohtani being ready to pitch by the domestic opener, but Gomes "did not cast an optimistic picture of that possibility," per Harris. Ohtani was going to have workload restrictions in place on the mound, anyway, in his first year back from Tommy John surgery, so in that respect the delay isn't a huge deal. However, the situation creates an air of uncertainty with the two-way superstar's status. More clarity on Ohtani's situation should be available later in the offseason and into spring training.

Dodgers' Tyler Glasnow: Says elbow is fully healed
Rotowire 3 hrs ago
Glasnow said in an interview on Foul Territory TV in late October that he had imaging on his right elbow recently and "it looks like it's fully healed."

Glasnow also mentioned that he planned to throw twice per week throughout the offseason rather than taking an extended break as he has done in the past, with the goal being to "try to get my tissue used to that workload." The righty's final appearance for the Dodgers this season came on Aug. 11 and imaging after a setback in September showed a sprain. While the early offseason prognosis appears positive, Glasnow still has a long ways to go before he's out of the woods.

Not a huge fan of moving Mookie back to second, but I wasn’t a fan when they did it the first time.

The big question is - does this put LA in the mix for the Juan Soto sweepstakes?

If they re-sign Oscar Meyer for LF, both CF & RF will be an open competition. Outman coming back would be a possibility, but then who else?

Pages, Taylor & Kiké (also a free agent) can all play the OF, but their bats certainly are not going to make them every day lineup entries.

The only issue with Soto is he doesn’t seem to be a “team” player and has already been on four different teams in his short career.

His D is also said to be “subject”.

But that bat in the LA lineup would certainly be formidable.

I’d still like to see LA shore things up at third. Maxine is meh at best and his .200 average, despite the HR’s & RBI’s could surely be improved upon.

Are there any decent 3B opting for Free Agency? Is there no one in the system that might compete for the spot come March in Glendale?

Only @ 15 weeks before pitchers and catchers report!

GO DODGERS!!!

I don’t think he gets it but SOMEONE will overpay. I just have to ask, how much is enough?

I get the aura that comes with being the highest paid in whatever sport, entertainment, etc.

But really - how much can you really spend and do all of those excesses make you satisfied?

We’d ALL love to be billionaires and not have a care in the world as far as ever having to worry about money.

But there’s probably been a helluva lot more that have blown every cent than those who have saved and invested in their futures.

And all for what? Material things - cars, yachts, mansions, etc.

Thing is - you can’t take any of it with you when you’re six feet under.

And you can’t buy extra time to enjoy it.

The saddest part about it is the owners will continue to dish it out while padding their own coffers and portfolios by passing those costs onto us fans and paying customers.

And we’ll continue to pay ridiculous prices to spend a few hours with them.

GO DODGERS!!!

Here's what Goose Gossage has to say about today's pitching and Manjerk:

I used to think that ERA was the gold standard of evaluating pitchers.  It still is to a big extent, but it doesn't tell the whole story.  Bob Fellar's career ERA was 3.25, which is pretty good, but he said he didnt care about that.  If the Injuns got a big lead early in the game, say 12-0, he'd relax and let the other team score 4-5 runs off him but wouldn't let them get any closer.  It was in tight games that he beared down and was all but unhittable.  His K/BB rate was 3-2 which meant he walked a lot of hitters.  I looked up the top 100 pitchers of all time and he's ranked 9th.  That ranking was based on several factors, unfairly in my opinion, longevity.  Sandy Koufax is ranked 34th and Kersh 20th.  Fellar was very durable, and once pitched I think 371 innings, and never had an arm problem.  
baseballegg.com/all-time-player-rankings/baseballs-greatest-starting-pitchers-of-all-time/