It's been an eventful week for the Dodgers, with news that Don Mattingly will replace Joe Torre as the team's manager. Let's check out a few more updates out of Los Angeles, as the club prepares for the offseason….
- GM Ned Colletti says he doesn't intend to drastically overhaul his roster this winter, according to MLB.com's Ken Gurnick. "A year like this makes you look at every aspect of the team and makes you more apt to listen [to trade overtures]," Colletti said. "But it won't make me aggressively tear it up."
- Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times thinks that Colletti would be right not to move Matt Kemp or Andre Ethier, but argues that the club should look into dealing James Loney. He also suggests that signing a free agent outfielder should be the Dodgers' "only big winter expenditure."
- According to Gurnick, Colletti would like to add a productive left fielder to replace Manny Ramirez. It's unclear whether the Dodgers will have the resources to bid on players like Carl Crawford and Jayson Werth.
- Catcher and third base also may be areas that need to be addressed, says Gurnick. Rod Barajas will be a free agent, Russell Martin will be recovering from a broken hip, and Casey Blake could be shifted into a utility role.
- The team is expected to try to retain free agents Ted Lilly, Jay Gibbons, and Barajas. They could also attempt to bring back Hiroki Kuroda and Vicente Padilla, depending on asking price and health.
- A few longtime Yankees weighed in on Torre's decision to step down, as Chad Jennings of the Journal News writes.
I don’t see how the Dodgers are going to retain any free agents if they are going to cut “costs” by 20-25% like what was reported in the divorce proceedings. They are already paying like $25M for players that are no longer on the team (Manny, Pierre, Schmidt, Nomar).
Don’t forget Andruw Jones (though I’m trying to) …still due quite a bit of deferred money.
Yeah, I forgot him… and the totl is more like $20M, not $25M like I thought (still too much though).
Yeah, I forgot him… and the totl is more like $20M, not $25M like I thought (still too much though).
Don’t forget Andruw Jones (though I’m trying to) …still due quite a bit of deferred money.
Gibbons, Kuroda, Barajas and Padilla shouldn’t cost much. Probably $11 million tops for all four. Kuroda’s a toss up since nobody really knows what he wants to do, but if does wish to return, a $5 million incentive-laden contract should get the job done. It’s figuring out third and left that’s an issue.
Kuroda is as good as any FA not named Cliff Lee on the FA market. If he wants to stay in the states he will command a 2 year minimum of 18 million deal (I personally wouldnt do that). And I’m the farthest thing from a Dodger fan that there is in this world.
He’s also going to be 36 and just went through his first injury-free season in the states. He’s good, but not that good.
dont forget ted lilly.
Disagree about the cost of Kuroda. He’ll get $9m/year somewhere, probably for 2 years, maybe an option for a 3rd year.
If the Dodgers are going to resign Gibbons, wouldn’t he play in LF? Or are you suggesting he’d be a bench player?
Anyway, I think a solution to most of the Dodgers offensive woes is Adrian Beltre. Beltre starts at 3B, then Blake and Loney can platoon at 1B (Loney is mediocre vs. LHP, Blake is mediocre vs. RHP, it’d work out).
Crawford and Dunn would obviously be significant improvements, too. I think the Dodgers need to sign at least one of those 3 to have a realistic chance next season.
Gibbons, Lindsey and Russell shouldn’t really be relied upon next season… but they could be, I suppose.
I’m in favor of Beltre.
I agree with Kuroda possibly getting 8-9 million.
Previous offseasons have shown pitchers like Wolf, Blanton, Marquis get anywhere form 7.5-10 million…Kuroda is probably better than any of them, although his inability to pitch an entire season will surely be a factor.
Gibbons, Kuroda, Barajas and Padilla shouldn’t cost much. Probably $11 million tops for all four. Kuroda’s a toss up since nobody really knows what he wants to do, but if does wish to return, a $5 million incentive-laden contract should get the job done. It’s figuring out third and left that’s an issue.
Looks like the Dodgers are going into a rebuliding process.
*Happy SF Giants fan*
Looks like the Dodgers are going into a rebuliding process.
*Happy SF Giants fan*
I imagine that Martin is going to get non-tendered this offseason.
Yeah he has had two abysmal seasons (.680 OPS) in a row and is set to make around $6 million in 2011. I was thinking he might have some trade value, but not with that price tag.
After the play of the catchers, there is no way the Dodgers non tender him. His injury showed everyone what an average catcher looks like. Martin plays above average to elite defense and gets on base at a great clip. No way he is non tendered after the play of Ausmus and Ellis(everyone knows Barajas’s Dodger time is not legit…)
He’s not worth the pay raise he’ll probably get. I didn’t say they won’t bring him back, but I’d non-tender him and offer a smaller contract. If he doesn’t want to, there’s a couple decent catchers on the market.
Is he worth 5M… maybe, maybe not. However, who would you rather have the Dodgers go after if they want to compete next year? And Vmart is not a catcher
Barajas is going to post around a .700 OPS and play decent defense back there, as will John Buck. Ramon Hernandez is a free agent and has an .800 OPS.
Barajas has posted more seasons with an OPS below 700 than above, and the only
reason his OPS this year is above 700 is because he has a 900 OPS in LA. And he
is NOT a good, or decent defender, sorry.
Buck has a career average of 241 and his OBP is 40 points lower than Martin’s.
And he is not as good of a defender as Martin either.
Lmao, you use Hernadez’s best year in 5 years to make your point.. ok.
If you want them on your team, ok. But they arent worth the 1m or 2m you will
save by signing them instead of Martin…
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Is he worth 5M… maybe, maybe not. However, who would you rather have the Dodgers go after if they want to compete next year? And Vmart is not a catcher
He’s not worth the pay raise he’ll probably get. I didn’t say they won’t bring him back, but I’d non-tender him and offer a smaller contract. If he doesn’t want to, there’s a couple decent catchers on the market.
Blah blah blah divorce blah blah
Actually, Bill Plaschke, Matt Kemp will have to be dealt. He already priced himself over what the Dodgers can spend, and it only seems fair to trade him for talent, or get draft picks from whoever signs him. Much smarter idea to trade him to some might say… Oakland, Atlanta, Boston, Cincinnati?
Atlanta would definitely be interested in Kemp and has the pieces to get it done. The only question is if he’d re-capture his form.
Ugh. I wanted the Dodgers to trade Kemp for Jurrjens when he was coming off the DL and many Braves fans thought they didn’t need him… guess it’s too late to revisit that one? 😉
puke
Anybody that thought we didn’t need him was/is an idiot, plain and simple. We could use a “right” Matt Kemp.
i would watch the whitesox is kemp is made available….he could slot over into right move carlos to DH it solves a ton of problems for the sox,,,gives kemo a fresh start in a hitters park…we have a log jam at CF with rips locked in there and then 2 more guys in the minors in mitchell and jordan danks. so moving one of the younger guys looks more likely to happen every day
Actually, Henry Castellanos, Matt Kemp makes $6.95 million next year. The Dodgers can afford him. Also, it sounds like you think he is a free agent next year. He will be a free agent in 2013. You can get draft picks for him then.
So, he has to be dealt when he is still signed for two more seasons and his value is lowest. You are either retarded or very biased hoping to get rid of Kemp
I think they should keep Ethier for sure but should get rid of Kemp. I think they should trade Loney to maybe Texas for a pitcher (not sure of their prospects). I say trade Kemp to the Cubs for Soriano and half of his salary. Then to fill the hole by Loney sign Adam Dunn. You are upgrading your offense even if you are downing your defense slightly. Not sure who you would put in center if it would be a prospect or sign a FA.
oh my god. Congrats. You have successfully posted the worst trade of all time. Quite a skill based on what has been posted here over the last couple of years
Which part is the worst of all time? The part where you get rid of a malcontent like Kemp for a proven slugger? Is it me or am I always hearing talk about Kemp being a problem? Yeah Soriano is a showboat but he at least backs it up. Or did you not like the part where you trade Loney (who I like but everyone crucifies for not having power) for a pitching prospect and sign one of the best power hitters in the game. I am not an idiot. I actually put a little thought into this before I wrote it out. The Dodgers are more of a win now team than a wait until Kemp develops some character organization. You already have a bit of youth on the team where are the proven veterans that win pennants?
Soriano is hitting 7 points higher than Kemp and is making 9 million more. He is
34, Kemp is 25. Kemp plays CF, Soriano can’t play LF. Please, tell me what makes
you think this is a good trade…?
Loney should be dealt, but he won’t be dealt for anything good because he isnt
good enough to pull in anything of value.
You want proven vets? We had Manny, Blake, Furcal, Padilla, Sherrill, Belliard,
Anderson, etc. But why didn’t we win!?!? Oh yea, because they have either sucked
or been hurt. Guess what, Soriano sucks. He has been bad for two years and youth
is not on his side.
Or, another way to look at it… why do you want the Cubs to get rid of Soriano?
Oh yea, its because he has the worst contract in baseball and sucks
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Which part is the worst of all time? The part where you get rid of a malcontent like Kemp for a proven slugger? Is it me or am I always hearing talk about Kemp being a problem? Yeah Soriano is a showboat but he at least backs it up. Or did you not like the part where you trade Loney (who I like but everyone crucifies for not having power) for a pitching prospect and sign one of the best power hitters in the game. I am not an idiot. I actually put a little thought into this before I wrote it out. The Dodgers are more of a win now team than a wait until Kemp develops some character organization. You already have a bit of youth on the team where are the proven veterans that win pennants?
Hey guys. You know what else the Yankees need? A new F’ING MANAGER!!! For those of you who watched or saw the highlights of the Yanks-O’s game… JOE G, should have called a squeeze!!! I mean, Nuñez(love to watch that kid play)was at third after Gonzalez threw the ball into the stands, and Peña was supposedly up there to move Nuñez along. Ok, so he calls in Thames as a pinch hitter. He strikes out. Then BUCK SHOWALTER(ABSOLUTELY GREAT MANAGER GOOD SIGNING O’S)INT. BB’s Tex and Jeter right? So now it’s up to Berkman, the walking GIDP. What does he do? DO I NEED TO SPELL IT OUT FOR YOU?!? I DONT CARE WHICH BATTER IT WAS A SQUEEZ SHOULD HAVE BEEN CALLED!!!! It would give the Yanks the lead and try to close out the game. Yet once again the stupidity of Joe Girardi costs the Yankees a W, and a game up in the standings because the Rays lost. Buck Showalter has some goddamn cojones calling that call and it was excecuted as it should have been. Great, great manager. On the other hand, the Yankees should get rid of Joe G, and put up there a good guy who knows how to manage and play the game, and actually has the cojones to take a chance!! And not only the half of it! Some one who uses his starters and bullpen efficiently, because I’m telling you, Hughes’s arm is being ruined by the likes of that yellow toothed, no-smarts, no-fundamental Joe G!!!
THE O’S FULLY DESERVED THAT VICTORY!!!
ok, you no longer need to respond to my post above. This post shows me you have no idea what you are talking about
The only player that the Dodgers should be looking to trade is Loney, and that’s only if they can get another 1B who is cheap. Loney isn’t that great of a hitter or defender, BUT a lot of people have the impression that he is so hopefully the team can use that to their advantage.
The team should also hold on to both Kemp and Ethier, since they’d be selling low on both players.
The Dodgers should be looking to sign stopgap type players in both LF and 1B (if Loney is traded). Hopefully both Sands (1B) and Robinson (CF/RF) progress well enough in the minors next year that at least one of them gets a mid-season call up.
I agree with thegreyrace that the Dodgers should look into signing Beltre. If they can afford one big free agent this offseason then it should be him because the team doesn’t have anyone in the minor leagues to take over 3B.
There are so many free agent first basemen that I think it will lower Loney’s trade value, especially considering his annually declining OPS. Kemp has really only had one good season in his career but I think the general lack of available OF’s this year will inflate his trade value. Ethier had a monster first half this year so I could see the asking price for him to be considerable. Of course, the general unavaiability of quality outfieders makes Kemp and Ethier that much more valuable to the Dodgers next season.
Kemp has only been playing for 3 complete seasons, and has had one good, one bad and one that made him considered the best CF in the game last year… he isnt being dealt.
Andre was on fire and since breaking his finger, has hit in the low 200s. While he is a good offensive OF, I doubt he is dealt. However, outta Kemp and Andre, it should be Andre first
Beltre’s two best years have been contract years. He is a sure fire great defender, but I am not convinced this isnt just a contract year mirage
It is a contract year, but he brings ~.800 OPS, 25HR power and stellar defense on a yearly basis. That’s worth some serious coin.
In his two big contract years, he has hit 76 of his 278 career homeruns, 77 of his 393 doubles and those are his only two seasons that he has an OPS of over 835(which he did at age 21). The next highest is 802 in 2007, and then it decreases so that every year is in the 600s and 700s for OPS. His career OPS is 792, his OPS in 2010 and 2004 were 945 and 1.017. If you dont think he knows how to perform in his contract years, you are lying to yourself
In his two big contract years, he has hit 76 of his 278 career homeruns, 77 of his 393 doubles and those are his only two seasons that he has an OPS of over 835(which he did at age 21). The next highest is 802 in 2007, and then it decreases so that every year is in the 600s and 700s for OPS. His career OPS is 792, his OPS in 2010 and 2004 were 945 and 1.017. If you dont think he knows how to perform in his contract years, you are lying to yourself
I don’t see a team offering us anything good for Loney or Martin, unless they’re part of a package where Kemp or Ethier is the centerpiece. Most of the teams in the market for a first baseman will want someone with more power in their bat. When you look at all the other big first base free agents and the offensive numbers they put up, Loney is kind of a joke. I had high hopes for him back in 2007, but he never really delivered.