It’s a brand new year and a brand new decade, but the same old rumors keep swirling around the Dodgers. Water, wet. Sky, blue. Grass, green. Dodgers rumored to be in on big names.
We’ve all heard that the Dodgers are talking to both the Cleveland Indians about Francisco Lindor, and that they are talking to the Boston Red Sox about Mookie Betts. Jon Morosi tonight has stated that the talks with the Indians have stalled and that the talks with the Red Sox are picking up steam.
On paper, at least, the trade with the Red Sox makes more sense. Betts gives them the dynamic right handed bat that the lineup needs. There is more room in the outfield than there is the infield, and less shuffling and disruption would be needed. Starting pitcher David Price is also rumored to be part of the deal, and he comes with a hefty contract.
Combined with the fact that Betts will be basically be a rental, as he will be testing the free agent market after the end of next season, the Dodgers wouldn’t have to give up nearly as many prospects and/or major league ready players to make the deal happen. Sounds like a win-win proposition to me. The Red Sox get to get rid of a big chunk of their payroll, and the Dodgers get their bat and a dynamic player, plus a pitcher that can fill in most of the innings left vacant by the departures of Hyun-Jin Ryu and Rich Hill. They also get to keep their prized prospects, namely Gavin Lux.
As an aside, I know we’ve been through all the reasons why this team needs to make a trade or big signing. All the big free agents are gone now, so the trade market is all that’s left. I think that the last thing the team needs is to head into Spring Training with the same old questions from the last few seasons still hanging over their heads. I think at this point, that would almost be worse than the World Series hangover that prevailed in the beginning of the 2018 season. How much better would it be, if Clayton Kershaw is asked, “Hey, how do you feel about these fabulous new additions?” as opposed to “the front office said that there would be a big overhaul this off-season. There wasn’t and you’re still heading into the next season not having bettered the team that couldn’t make it beyond the NLDS last year?” A feeling of positivity and looking forward and not the constant looking back would do this team a world of good.
Regardless, I’m done with that also. We all know what the team needs, and rehashing rumors and the last few seasons does no one any good. I won’t be writing about that perspective from now on. Just positivity from now on.
The Dodgers will make a big trade. The Dodgers will make a big trade. The Dodgers will make a big trade…
Think Blue Planning Committee 
Boston would have to eat a chunk of that salary. The 2 combined will bring close to a 60 million dollar price tag. And while Price might eat some innings, I just do not like the idea of him taking away innings from the kids, and as with all rumors surrounding AF,. I will believe it when I see it.
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Are you getting nervous Bear?
How about Betts and Price for Joc, Kike, Downs and Rios? We take on both Boston salaries and they pay for Joc and Kike which is about 14 million. Even better, sub Pollock for Joc but I doubt they would go for that. I would keep Joc or Pollock because we don’t know if Verdugo’s back will be OK by end March. Between probable injuries and the previous lack of innings by Urias and May, I have no problem adding Price’s innings to the mix.
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I never get nervous. I do not think the Sox bite on that package. And you subtract that 14 million from their combined salary’s and it still is 44 mill added to the payroll.
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Well if I did not think so before, I certainly do now, stupidity runs rampant of twitter. Some of the supposed packages these so called fans come up with are unreal, and not even close to what one would think would be a fair price. I think I will just go to bed and wake up when spring training starts and then check out the roster.
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Bear, that is probably the smartest thing any of us could do
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You are all forgetting that Andy is our GM, he ain’t pulling down that move. It just isn’t in his DNA.
Crank up Dream Weaver, I like that song.
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If you promise not to tell anyone, I hear that Andy is taking DiPoto DNA injections to enable him to get bolder.
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Scoop, you are pretty good at evaluating some of the stats, what do you think of price? do the metrics say he has fallen to far to be worth having on the dodgers, or does he still have some value?
There is no question about Mookie, he is a great player, but is one year of him worth taking on a large portion of the price contract? I don’t think a team will have to take the whole price contract, there will be some sort of salary relief for whoever takes him on even if that team does get Mookie in the deal.
The Boston team, as is could have a decent chance to win the WS, it’s a shame the ownership there feels it’s more important to get under the LT than it is to win a championships. Hopefully the dodgers can use their financial resources to take advantage of the Red Sox thriftiness.
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I think Price would fare well in the NL West. Would he earn his contract? Maybe, but even if he doesn’t he could chew up innings and be a benefit to the staff. He projects 160 innings of 4.0. In the NL West that could be 170 innings of 3.5. I think I would do this deal depending on who goes the other way. Maybe Betts would like it in LA.
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Boston needs to improve a lot if they want to compete with the Yankees. Subtracting their best player is not going to accomplish that. They have also been shopping Bradley JR.
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For those of us who were hoping AF might sign Will Harris, the Nats will be signing him. No details yet. I guess we really didn’t need him since we’ll be getting Hader, or Hand as part of a Lindor trade. I must be patient.
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3 years 24 million. That is what he got.
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Why don’t we just trade teams with Indians and go from there!
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Interesting proposal Rich. I think I’d rather keep our roster if it’s all the same to you. If they won’t trade us Lindor, Clevinger and Hand for Garlick, White and Sadler it’s their loss.
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We’d still win the West
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I think we are maybe 9 wins better that Cleveland. Of course if we trade for Lindor that number goes up.
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Thanks scoop, how about his velocity, or spin rates, we’re you able to find anything on those. I’ve read his velocity is down, but I didn’t know if was down a lot, or a little.
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Didn’t look yet Keith, but no doubt they are all down, just as Kershaw’s are. Price is not the pitcher he was in his prime. But obviously he still knows how to get people out.
https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/david-price-456034?stats=statcast-r-pitching-mlb
Spin rates below average, K rate above average. Go figure.
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I think it was morosi that said the Bosox liked will Smith. Scoop, I know your a big Ruiz fan, who would rather see in a trade to Boston, Smith or Ruiz, if you had to give up one of them.
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Personally I would give up Smith. I know I will get pushback on that, but I’m a huge Ruiz fan. That said I would think AF would rather do Ruiz. I don’t know that, it’s only a guess. But this isn’t about Price or which young prospect goes, this is about Betts. And I don’t believe Friedman would do something like this for a Betts rental. He must believe he can get Mookie to stay in LA or he wouldn’t do this.
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Well i guess Andrew is just resigned to sit on his ass and do nothing. There are officially no mid free agents at any position worth looking at now that he let Will Harris go so I have no clue what his plan is or if he’s just winging it. If you’re going after Betts fine but Price being in the deal doesn’t add producer capital to the trade, it decreases it. Taking on that ridiculous salary for a pitcher clearly in decline you better give me a decent deal on Betts who is only a rental. I would give them Keibert Ruiz, Dennis Santana and Edwin Rios. If I’m taking on that much money and giving you my top prospect you aren’t getting much else. I don’t put Joc in the deal because you can get value for him separately in another deal.
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AF is doing about what I thought he would do. All rumors, no action. Now if he does manage to pull off a trade that has a superstar player like Betts headed to LA, well kudos to him. But one thing we all know for sure. AF is not going to overpay for any player. He is not going to send players the other way unless he feels the trade is equitable. He is not going to exceed a package he thinks benefits the Dodgers in the long run, and contrary to what some may think, every indication is that Betts is testing free agency no matter what. He might like LA. But at the end of the day, after the 2020 season it is going to be about the contract and how much money he is going to make. For a guy like Betts, who will be 28 after the season is over, how many years, and how much money will it take to get him to stay in LA, in a state where the income tax and every other tax is through the roof. Does he get more endorsement deals in LA? Probably, and joining superstars like Lebron and AD would not hurt his image. But without a guarantee, I am not sending a huge package the other way. And there is one other thing to consider, which would be stupid for the MLBPA to consider, but will still be out there, a strike before the next CBA is negotiated. They are already at odds over a few things. Unfortunately Keith, Ruiz. Santana and Rios are not going to get you Betts.
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I wonder how many teams would actually be in on Betts at this point. I mean, for one year of 6 WAR what would you give? Reminds me of Wimpy – “I’ll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today”. Boston is going to want 2 hamburgers today. For that 6 WAR you are going to have give up controlled players that might possibly add up to 12 WAR on Tuesday. Most teams want nothing to do with that. There are only a small handful of teams that can afford him after next year. We are one of that small handful.
It isn’t Friedman that’s putting out rumors Bear.
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Never said it was. But he has done pretty much what I figured he would, which is nothing worth much so far. I do not believe every rumor I read. Most of the new Betts stuff is being posted by Morosi. From what I have seen, only the Dodgers are engaged with Boston about anything. Since they have so much faith in Lux, I could see them trying to move Seager. And indeed one of the first rumors was that Corey was offered to them. makes little sense since they have a pretty good SS in Bogaerts. A number of names have been tossed out there including Will Smith who the Sox supposedly like a lot. But like I said, when I see it announced by the team, that is when I will believe it.
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Not at all surprised that another really good pitcher did not sign with the Dodgers. He went to the defending World Champs, who despite losing Rendon, are still trying to get better. In light of what their competition is doing, they have to. In a division like the NL west, only SD and AZ making significant moves. Dodgers still can win the west, so what is the hurry in AF’s beady little mind to improve? I really am beginning to feel some genuine sorrow for the Schlemmings. They have been Hornswaggled! What does surprise me a little bit, is that AF has not been at all active signing non roster guys yet, and the other teams seem to be loading up on them. So not only are the quality players not coming to LA, so far AF’s bread and butter, the we might be a diamond in the rough bunch are not signing either.
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I honestly believe we should all adopt a I will believe it when I see it attitude about AF. If for no other reason than to allay the anxiety attacks his inactivity causes the Schlemmings.
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I got the I will believe it when I see it attitude exactly one season into AFs arrival. There is only one cure for that attitude leaving and that is AF leaving.
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Just a matter of time, but whilst we wait:
The Athletic’s Sickels has 5 prospects from the Dodgers in his Top 100.
4) Gavin Lux
14) Dustin May
31) Keibert Ruiz
84) Josiah Gray
95) Jeter Downs
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I’m thinking Gray moves up, Lux and May move out. Hoese will be in the Top 100 by the end of the year. And where’s Gonsolin?
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I don’t get all the AF animosity. I think he’s done a great job. He’s drafted well considering where we are drafting from each year. Our player development is as good as it gets. He hasn’t signed any big free agents but most have been bad signings. Hayward in Chicago, Sandoval in Boston and the Price signing is shaky, Stanton in NY via trade. These are some top organizations making bad long term decisions. AF hasn’t saddled us with those bad long term deals. This year the top three free agents all wanted to play elsewhere. He went after Cole who was the prize for us but he wanted to be a Yankee and just used us to get a ninth year from Yankees. Would you have gone 10 years and 360 mil? Would you want either Harper or Machado from last year? Not me. This team is too good to just add anything less than star players who can make an impact in October. I think it’s worth the wait to land a Lindor or Clevinger or a Betts. I think we had the best team in 17 but our best players didn’t deliver in crucial moments. I think we beat the Nationals last year if Roberts didn’t screw up and pitched Maeda and Kolarek against Rendon and Soto. Then who knows how our third trip to the WS would have turned out. That’s credit to AF. He’s put teams together that we’re more than able to win a couple of WS! And he hasn’t sacrificed the future to do it. I’m a fan!
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New name to remember – Oscar Colas. He’s a 21 year old who just defected from Cuba. An outfielder/pitcher (southpaw) who will be of interest to a lot of MLB teams. Apparently a good hitter and has a 95 mph fastball from the mound. I know we’ve had our misses with Cuban signees in the past, but I’m assuming AF will at least give him a look. He could sign now, but might wait until July when next year’s money is available. Lots of teams have already used up most of this year’s spending allotment.
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More info on Colas – apparently he played in Japan last year and hit .302/.350/.516 but I guess he was still considered a citizen of Cuba at that time.
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And a proud schlemming!
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Atta way Rich! Although I must point out again that despite Bear’s insistence on spelling it with a “c”, the word is a contraction of sheep and lemming and should therefore be spelled “Shlemming”.
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Here, here Alex, well said
Go team shlemming 😀
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Well Jeff as you know from some of my previous posts I’m not the worlds best speller!
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It’s the thought that counts. 🙂
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I gave Alex credit when I meant your post rich s. Sorry about that.
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