The Dodgers hope to lure a bopper to Los Angeles this winter in order to shore up the middle of their lineup, writes Ken Gurnick of MLB.com. Dodgers GM Ned Colletti has already acknowledged that adding a big bat will be a top priority this season.
There are some intriguing offensive options that will hit the open market this season including Adam Dunn, Carl Crawford, and a trio of former Dodgers in Jayson Werth, Paul Konerko, and possibly Adrian Beltre. While those players will all come with hefty price tags, the Dodgers will have as much as $38MM coming off of their payroll at season's end. That's money that the club could use in free agency though Gurnick writes that Colletti is more likely to get a power hitter via trade.
Gurnick also writes that Los Angeles needs a starting catcher, adding that Russell Martin was a question mark even before breaking his hip. The backstop has seen his offensive production drop significantly in the last two years, hitting just .249/.350/.330 with 12 homers.
How many pieces do we have to trade? I assume Loney will be on the table and could headline a package for a bat. Ugh hate this team right now.
I agree….I am a huge Dodger fan and i am just frustrated! these are my thoughts:
Starting Pitching: I like the majority of what you are saying. Lilly is a must get and the Dodger’s pitching is pretty bad so i see him back next year since he has been so dominant as a Dodger. Greinke deal isn’t going to happen. Exactly what the other guy said is we just flat out don’t have enough to get him.
Relief Pitching: RP for the Dodger’s this year have been awful but they have gotten better over the course of the season. I think Broxton will train a lot in the offseason and will be asked to practice and work on his pitches. Broxton has been a huge disappointment for the Dodger’s this year but i think he will bounce back strong next year. We have Kenley Jensen as a setup role who has been pretty dominant and should get even better over the offseason. Tronscoso, Dotel, Sherril, Belisario are a couple other names we have to make decisions on in the offseason.
Catcher is a big position need and i see one guy fitting in that role perfectly….Victor Martinez. He gives great experience, hits for Average and gets a good amount of HR and RBI’s.
1st base: I love the idea of getting some power in Dodger stadium with Adam Dunn. He hit 3 HR off of Kershaw earlier in the year at Dodger stadium so i think he could be a fit. Trade Loney for a nice prospect or maybe a 3B?
2nd Base: Ryan Theriot I think is a perfect fit. He is a great defender and can draw a lot of walks and he hits for a pretty good average, around .280-.290. He is also cheap so I think he stays a Dodger.
3rd base i have no idea what we are going to do with that position. They just placed Blake on waivers and he has been hitting very hot of late. It doesn’t look like the Dodger’s are going to make the playoffs so there might be some interested in Casey Blake from some contenders. So as for 3rd base in 2011 it is a ?. We could maybe try and trade Loney for a 3B instead of a prospect?
Shortstop is fine. Furcal is going to come back and it will be great. Maybe he gets another injury? We have out best prospect in Dee Gordon that could easily get a call up to the Majors. I don’t think we need to worry about the SS role.
Left Field: I was thinking about the possibility of the Dodger’s getting Carl Crawford but I like Podsendik and i think we should keep him. He is a lot cheaper than Crawford and their numbers are very similar. We also wouldn’t have the money to get Crawford if we got Martinez and Dunn.
Center Field:There has been many rumors about Matt Kemp wanting out of LA or his agent is saying he is being treated well. The flat out answer is that Matt Kemp hasn’t played well this season AT ALL. His agent can’t get mad at the Dodger’s for sitting Kemp a few games or the coach yelling at him? He is playing well and he needs to focus more on baseball more than his popular girlfriend. Even with all the distractions i see Matt Kemp staying a Dodger and i see a bounce back year out of him in 2011.
Right Field: Andre Ethier was hitting like a machine before he got injured before the All-Star break and after he got back he cooled off a lot. He is still a very talented RF who has very good numbers. Batting .297 with 20 HR and 71 RBI’s. So will stay and probably have an even better year with Adam Dunn in the lineup. Ethier’s production went up a lot when Manny was in the lineup when he was traded to the Dodgers. Will that happen with Dunn?
2011 Lineup:
1. Scott Podsendik LF
2. Rafael Furcal SS
3. Andre Ethier RF
4. Adam Dunn 1B
5. Matt Kemp CF
6. Victor Martinez C
7. Ryan Theriot
8. Third Basemen?
9. Pitcher Spot
2011 Rotation:
Clayton Kershaw
Tedd Lilly
Chad Billingsley
Vicente Padilla
Maybe a FA we get cheap?
That would definitely be a playoff team and maybe even a World Series contender. I think we need to get rid of our old players now like Manny, Blake, Kuroda, etc. Try and get a little something for them and we can save money for this big Free Agency Summer. What do you guys think?
shortstop is fine? you kidding? raffy’s been sidelined as much if not more than manny — and he’s not getting any younger.
Did you read it all? “We have out best prospect in Dee Gordon that could easily get a call up to the Majors. I don’t think we need to worry about the SS role.” Read the whole thing!
Just my opinion, but I don’t think Dee Gordon will be as good as he’s been hyped. I hope he proves me wrong. I’ll eat crow if he does.
Yeah i don’t know what will happen either but 73 SB in A is saying something.
yeah, his AA OPS is under .700. He is definitely not ready.
i did read it all. dee will be up and down next year but i don’t think he’s ready to make the jump. i hope im wrong. my guess is, if torre’s back, dodgers sign another aging veteran infielder to fill in rather than bring up gordon.
and jamey carroll is coming back for year two of his deal.
raffy is raffy — he’ll miss 60-75 games.
dodgers will not get dunn or martinez
I don’t think VMart will be able to sign with any NL team without taking a huge paycut.
There is actually a good chance the Dodger’s land Dunn. Loney looks like he is moving and Dunn hit 3 HR off Kershaw earlier in the year so why would he not want to come to LA. Also the Dodger’s were interested in Dunn a few years ago as well.
If we’re getting Dunn, then he’ll be playing LF, not 1B. Loney will still be our 1B until he hits free agency at the end of the 2012 season.
I can’t tell if you’re trolling me or serious? What does Dunn hitting 3 HR’s off Kershaw have to do with his desire to go to LA? If anything, and I’m not saying 1 pitcher would really sway a player that much, wouldn’t he want to go to a team in the Dodgers division so he can face Kershaw more?I’m guessing/hoping you’re trolling..
where did you read or hear that loney is moving?
I agree we have to resign Lilly and Padilla, and then bring in someone else. Harang, Arroyo, Vazquez, De La Rosa, Garland are a few that I can think of pursuing.
For the bullpen, Jansen, Kuo and Broxton will be the 7-8-9 guys, in some order, next season. Not sure what decisions need to be made regarding the other guys. Sherrill is an obvious non-tender candidate. Dotel is not needed. Troncoso and Belisario wait and see, they are under team control.
The Dodgers have a lot of promising bullpen arms in the minor leagues like Guerra, De La Rosa, Miller. Maybe sign another lefty over the off-season. Not a major concern.
I don’t really like Victor Martinez as our catcher. He’s simply not that good behind the plate, and is better suited for 1B/DH. I’m hardly overwhelmed by his power numbers, either. I’d stick with the cheap option in Barajas, as the guy clearly loves playing in L.A. and is a quality catcher with some power.
Theriot and Furcal/Carroll are obviously going to make up the middle infield.
As far as 3B is concerned, Beltre seems unrealistic but I like the idea of giving Aramis Ramirez a shot. He’s 5 years younger than Blake and could rebound. Even in a down year coming off injuries, he’s hit 20 HRs.
Dunn is a no-brainer, I’d take him in LF or over Loney at 1B anyday. I was advocating signing Dunn over Manny in the ’08-’09 off-season (and spending the difference on pitching) and everyone thought I was crazy.
I’m not so high on Podsednik, though. Mediocre defense and no power. I’d rather give Sands or Robinson a shot, honestly. If they struggle, LFers are easy enough to acquire in a trade.
Resign Lilly. Resign Padilla. Resign Barajas. Sign Dunn. Sign Aramis Ramirez. Sign a lefty reliever. Sign a Harang/Arroyo/Garland/De La Rosa/Vazquez type. Done.
I’ve been patient with every core player but I say trade Martin in the offseason. He hasn’t done anything the past two seasons. The only problem is that there doesn’t seem to be a good fit at the C spot if we do trade him. Pitching and a Power Hitter are priorities.
who in their right mind would make a trade for russell martin? some are saying he may never play again.
Who is “some”? Just curious if you have a link.
my bad – it was the same kind of injury that ended bo jackson’s career.
Far far less severe than Bo’s injury.
Look for the ESPN article covering the injury. Bo severed a blood vessel that supplied blood to the joint in the hip, while Martin did not. It is fully expected that once the injury heals, he’ll be good as new.
But what does “good as new” mean? Like…good as he’s been the past 2 years?
Not very enticing.
Getting worse at baseball while simultaneously getting older and more expensive is not very…well, you get my point.
I’d resign Barajas and move Martin to more of a backup role, but his trade value right now is at its lowest. No sense moving him.
Dodger fans need to realize that you trade your players when their value is HIGH, not when it is LOW… for some reason, we can’t let go of these young guys when their numbers are still respectable.
Yea, why trade if we have so much money coming off payroll?
Hmmmmmm… trade for Fielder, possibly Loney, Martin, Monasterios and sign a FA backup, V-Mart? and keep Pods in left to have Pods, Furcal, Ethier, Fielder, V-Mart, Kemp, Blake, Theriot, P but the idea of Dunn is intruiging.. Sign Dunn put him in left.. and then sign Beltre and put blake on the bench! Furcal, Ethier, Dunn, Fielder, Beltre, Kemp, V-Mart, Theriot, P. Hey I can dream can’t I? Then keep the rotation Kershaw, Lilly, Billz, Padilla, Ely
You would really want Martinez behind the plate?
Gimme some other options who are FA catchers next year, first one with a bat I could think of
Wow, mannywood must be really big, especially if you have Pods and Dunn playing LF.
Furcal, Ethier, Dunn, Fielder, Beltre, Kemp, V-Mart, Theriot, P. Wheres Pods?
thats 1 of the funniest things i have evr heard dunn beltre and martinez . yeah they r pretty much going to sweep the big name fa’s they r lucky to get 1 of them. yet they r not going to go get fielder
Dunn in left, VMart behind the plate…Fielder at 1B…you definitely won’t be a “run prevention” team…lol
lol no way but imagine how many runs that lineup would bring in every night. If the top 4 guys from this year.. kershaw, billz, lilly, and padilla can pitch anything like they did this year with that lineup behind them we wouldnt lose
i doubt that trade would happen for fielder. the brewers have some decent young catching, and if you don’t want martin then why would they? Although i don’t mind the idea of getting loney, the rest of the package would most likely have to be all pitching
brewers MIGHT be interested in biilingsley. they need a front line pitcher — bills is the closest thing the dodgers would have to give up (kershaw aint goin nowhere).
fielder’s 2010 numbers have been way off.
I didn’t mean to make it seem like i don’t think a dodgers-brewers deal could be possible, i just don’t think the deal would be loney, martin, and monasterios. There is no denying that fielder had a bad start to the season, but he can definitely hit the ball and would make the dodger’s lineup much more dangerous.
I could see something involving billingsley too. Him and gallardo together give the brewer’s a respectable 1-2 and would help them out quite a bit
Sorry, but I couldn’t see that at all. The Dodgers aren’t going to upgrade at one position to open up a gaping hole at another.
Only way Dodgers trade Billz is if we sign or trade for another top of the rotation starter. Billingsley has season and career #s consistantly under 4.00 era and is still cheap so why would the penny pinching Dodgers trade a cheap, good, conistant, homegrown starter?
Loney, Ely, Monasterios? and maybe a decent pitching prospect. Remember Milwaukee wont be able to afford Fielder pretty soon so theyre gonna want to trade him before they get too desperate.
Your first idea works….the second one not so much. We dont have the money for this
Furcal, Ethier, Dunn, Fielder, Beltre, Kemp, V-Mart, Theriot
I was thinking more of this:
Pods, Furcal, Ethier, Fielder, V-Mart, Kemp, Blake, Theriot
or this:
Pods, Furcal, Ethier, Dunn, V-Mart, Kemp, Blake, Theriot if we can’t get Fielder(don’t think we have the pieces to get him)
Yeah i thought the first idea was the most realistic. The only problem with your last idea is we have no 3rd baseman and 4 outfielders
fyi every single 1 of your ideas arent realistic not alot of fa’s would want to come to la
Please stop. Yes, some of these ideas are unrealistic, but if the money is right, who WOULDN’T want to come to LA?
Please either shut your hole or actually contribute some meaningful dialogue here.
4 OF?
Pods(LF), Furcal(SS), Ethier(RF), Dunn(1B), V-Mart(C), Kemp(CF), Blake(3B), Theriot(2B)
Got it, didnt realize Loney was gone, whered he go if Fielders not in the lineup?
Think for once. You are saying every top free agent (V-Mart, Beltre, Dunn) will sign with the Dodgers?!?! Plus a trade for fielder, which you can’t make without screwing your rotation over. With your idea you have 2 first baseman in a no DH league (dunn,fielder), and are missing one outfielder. That will not happen for the dodgers, who are already in a dire financial situation, with half their team going to free agency.
right, the brewers will trade one of the best home run hitters in baseball for loney, a severely injured catcher and a rule five pitcher who can’t get out of the third inning.
1. Trade Casey Blake to Indians for Carlos Santana.
2. Get Jayson Werth for free from Phillies.
Then we need to figure out how to get Bell back from Baltimore
R U SERIES BLAKE FOR SANTANA!!! I WOULD TAKE ETHIER TO GET SANTANA
You think all these comments are serious dont you?
bballdue,
he was KIDDING
deal
Only if the Dodgers agree to pay Casey Blake’s salary.
Mike Napoli? Like or Dislike?
What I was thinking Delino4Pedro…
Exactly what I was thinking Delino4Pedro
You guys ever read the papers? McCourt has overleveraged. $38 mil off the books? They can’t even get the banks to TALK to them, he is so deep in debt. See LA Times story on the divorce.
Honestly, I think there is an 80% chance he isnt the owner by ST…
I can’t believe i’m reading people want Theriot and Podsednik back
As if these people are unaware of DeJesus, Gordon, Robinson and Paul. Also add Sands.
But then again, I don’t consider LA fans to be anywhere close to being knowledgable.
The only place we should consider “upgrading” is at C, but there isn’t a big market out there.
We WOULD have a big bopper at third with BELL, and a huge bat with C.Santana.
Go Ned!
Great idea lets bring up minor league talent to play in the majors. It will be a roster full of minor leaguers, and by the way increased admission. I am sure with Haeger and Ely showing the way the dodgers should win at least 35 games next year.Anthony if anyone of the players you mentioned have any real talent McCourt will find a way to sell that player.
You’re right, it will be a roster full of minor leaguers when there are only 2 or 3 open positions for anyone to step in. because 3 players play the whole field on their own right?
Silly me, once a minor leaguer always a minor leaguer. Because Major leaguers are deemed to be that way from the time they’re elementary schoolers, kind of like what takes place in “The Giver”
You will be lucky to find one major league talent out of the bunch. If they were any good McCourt would have sold them by now.If the Dodger expierence is to spend$20.00 for parking, $75.00 for a seat $7.00 for a pork bye product hot dog, $10.00 for a urine warm beer. On an on then enjoy yourself. You can drive down to cucamonga and watch the quakes for a fraction of the cost and see the same quality of baseball.
Agreed Markjsunz…….Minor league ball is better because it’s affordable to all. Parking $2, Tickets in the front row $10, Hot Dogs $3, Beer $3 and a FREE program……hmmm, around $20 in comparison to the $112 if you saw the boys at Chavez Ravine. Not only that, but having to fight the traffic going into downtown LA! So, to me, Minor Leaguers get the kudos. Plus you get some great baseball and an entertaining atmosphere to boot.
Here are some alternatives to the Majors in SoCal!
Inland Empire 66ers
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
High Desert Mavericks
Lake Elsinore Storm
Orange County Flyers (Golden League)
Lancaster Jet Hawks
Sounds good to me.
Antony,
i agree about pods. but youre dreamin if you think the dodgers start four or five rooks next year.
especially with joe torre as manager (if he is).
I’ll admittedly say that i’m counting my lucky stars that Ned is fired due to fears of Logan White leaving to a division rival, and Wallach is given the keys to this car because i’m sick of Torres inability to manage a game much less a bullpen
Robinson and Gordon are starting in the minors. DeJon has already said so. Sands will probably as well. Sands will eventually replace Loney. DeJesus starts at 2B, IMO. However, Id be in favor of flipping Blake or platooning him, possibly with Theriot. Blake has dominated LHP this year(last I looked, ~330 average) and Theriot is solid vs both LHP and RHP. Or we could trade Blake and have a Theriot and Russ Mitchell prospect at 3B. He is ready and deserves a chance.
I feel Paul will never get a shot with LA, but I hope he starts before Pods. I hate Pods.
There is no upgrading at C. You realize how many runners trying to steal we have thrown out since Martin went down? ZERO. It’s been, what, 3 weeks? Zero. Martin is a patient hitter and is very good defensively(BA rated him 2nd behind Y. Molina). Have Martin come back and start, see if Barajas will back up.
I’d like to hang on to both Barajas and Martin, and just play the hot hand. Martin is still solid defensively, and if he gets more rest his bat may improve and he won’t be as lazy about blocking balls in the dirt. I agree Victor Martinez is not the solution. Expensive, poor defense, really belongs at 1B or DH. And he’s not all that amazing with the bat.
I think Blake needs to go to the bench. Play him at 1B against lefties and sit Loney. What do you think about taking a shot on Aramis Ramirez at 3B? Even in a down year, coming off injuries, he’s hit 20 HRs. He’s 5 years younger than Blake, could definitely rebound. I’d be inclined to give him a shot, since Russ Mitchell isn’t really exactly a sure thing.
Personally, I feel that Barajas is a bench guy who can start, not a platoon guy. I think Martin’s OBP and defense alone makes him the starter. But I wouldn’t mind having Barajas get a start or more every week. Keep Martin fresh and rested
I forgot about a possible platoon of Loney and Blake. I don’t think the Aramis will leave or that the Dodgers could sign him if they did. Reason being, if he leaves he will because he feels he can get more than what his option is worth. And I feel that while Mitchell has split issues, he deserves a shot
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ah, damn, I thought Ramirez was a club option. Back to the drawing board…
Haha, I still like the Mitchell/Theriot idea because I wouldn’t want Ramirez or Beltre on a long term deal even without a sure-fire prospect. I feel they are too old for a team like us to commit that long term.
Haha, I still like the Mitchell/Theriot idea because I wouldn’t want Ramirez or Beltre on a long term deal even without a sure-fire prospect. I feel they are too old for a team like us to commit that long term.
ah, damn, I thought Ramirez was a club option. Back to the drawing board…
Personally, I feel that Barajas is a bench guy who can start, not a platoon guy. I think Martin’s OBP and defense alone makes him the starter. But I wouldn’t mind having Barajas get a start or more every week. Keep Martin fresh and rested
I forgot about a possible platoon of Loney and Blake. I don’t think the Aramis will leave or that the Dodgers could sign him if they did. Reason being, if he leaves he will because he feels he can get more than what his option is worth. And I feel that while Mitchell has split issues, he deserves a shot
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I’d like to hang on to both Barajas and Martin, and just play the hot hand. Martin is still solid defensively, and if he gets more rest his bat may improve and he won’t be as lazy about blocking balls in the dirt. I agree Victor Martinez is not the solution. Expensive, poor defense, really belongs at 1B or DH. And he’s not all that amazing with the bat.
I think Blake needs to go to the bench. Play him at 1B against lefties and sit Loney. What do you think about taking a shot on Aramis Ramirez at 3B? Even in a down year, coming off injuries, he’s hit 20 HRs. He’s 5 years younger than Blake, could definitely rebound. I’d be inclined to give him a shot, since Russ Mitchell isn’t really exactly a sure thing.
Theriot is under contract for 2011. Of the players the Dodgers traded for, he is the only guy that is. That’s why people are assuming he’ll be back. Podsednik, well… there are obviously better options than resigning him.
This is more McCourt/ Coletti hype. If anybody is following the Divorce McCourt is broke, he is having trouble getting loans, and he has no prospects in sight for an infusion of cash. McCourts marketing plan is to raise prices and lower payroll. You will see a lot of recycled talent, guys on the cuff and guys who will take defered payments. When you pay nothing you get nothing.
Not that anyone with any other possible alternatives would take a deal to play for the Dodgers, anyway, at least until the McCourt Meltdown is over and new ownership emerges (and the antagonistic “coaching” system is tossed). Nobody wants to walk into a situation where both the business and the field operations are crumbling while the second-most-powerful media microscope in the country is focused on ’em, not to mention doing so at the same time as nearly everyone already on the roster is trying desperately to get out.
Trades (and, as we’ve seen recently, waiver claims) are really the club’s only option to restock with reasonable-quality talent.
Great comment.
The Dodger fans have always seen a Dodger game as destination stop. With a bad team the Dodgers will still be in the top 5 in attendance. Going to a Dodger game is as unique as a mid summer Los Angeles evening. If the Dodgers are in such a financial straight
as Mr. McCourt and his hired goons are trying to sell off on the judge why is he fighting tooth and nail to save his team? I would be so proud to tell my sons look how I tried to destroy your mother. Be proud Mr. McCourt and bare in mind every wicked deed always seems to be waiting up the road.
SOME OF THESE COMMENTS R RIDICULOUS
Spitballin dude, take a chill pill
First we need to get a good owner THEN we could go for sum FA and pieces
exactly, how people can’t wrap their heads around this is astonishing
It’s not really THAT astonishing. The average IQ of an American adult is what, 100? Maybe 115 if you went to college?
Dumb people can like baseball too š
Jayson Werth is NOT returning to the Dodgers. He felt like he was held back, and never given a chance to play every day in L.A. – now that he’s shown he has some talent, I doubt any amount of money is going to put him back with the Dodgers.
How silly is this “he felt”. . .
His hand was busted in an ST game thanks to AJ Burnett and THAT is why his time was up here in LA
The man had more PT in his time here than Grabowski
First, this great Dodger tradition needs new ownership. Get Frankie out of town, out of state.
Furcal, I would go in a different direction. He is just too injured, too many times — especially when he is needed.
Gordon is not even on the 40 man roster yet.
This new team for next season, will be more like a community all-star team going to a week-end tournament. It could see new players at: 1b, 3b, lf, c for sure. And even SS and another outfield slot if Kemp is traded. Add two new starters, and three in the pen. Plus some bench / role players — folks, a new team.
Also, Joe has to go as do most of the coaching staff.
I think the Dodgers of the past two seasons were playing better than this season. These guy, this season, just cannot come back, hard to get a rally going.
Hardly no one is in any of the Top 10 of hitting or pitching. Except Ethier and Kershaw, and a bit of Broxton.
There is — a lot of work to be done.
Final thought, If I am a free agent — do I really want to sign with the Dodgers, who do not look like they are going anywhere? Problems with ownership in crisis, an older manager that does not seem to get excited about his own team, and a pitching coach that just can seem to help his pitchers that much.
Sad thing is for Dodgers fans, myself included, is that in addtion to the ownership drama, they really don’t have $38 million coming off the books. Incredibly, the Dodgers have the following 2011 payroll ogligations:
NO-freaking-MAR Garciaparra – $3.5 million
Manny – a prorated portion of $8.3 million – probably about $7 million
Jason Schmit – $3.5 million
Juan Pierre – $3.5 million
Andruw Jones – $3.2 million
Ethier, Kemp, Broxton, and Furcal get sizeable raises totalling more than $12 million.
Dodgers are strapped unless the ownership situation is resolved. Hopefully the judge is a Dodgers fan.
well . . . he is an LA boy (according to @Molly_Knight )
has anyone noticed that the white sox have the “dream” LA outfield?
manny, jones and pierre.
what a mess.
maybe the dodgers should just declare bankruptcy in the middle of the season…seemed to work for TX…?
as far as next yr however, i really thought the doidgers should have traded loney for dunn, however dunnis not a year long replacement. He is older (more prone for going on the DL) and his defense is not good! outfield is set with pods, kemp, ethier (if we resign pods) catcher…v-mart isant going to come to the didgers plus he is on the DL all the time too. though he wont do super awesome, barajas i think will sign cheap and give us average batting. an allstar built team does not always work..look at the 2008 yankees…
this is my projection for next yr, Prob will never happen but this i feel is realistic, players the dodgers can afford or at least defer. Just thought…which really isant all that bad…..
LF – pods
SS – Raffy
RF – Ethier
1B – Dunn/Fielder/Loney/Branyon (depends on if we sign FA, trade, or just become cheap, loney goes in trade for either Fielder or 3B)
RF – Kemp
3B – Ryan Zimmerman ( i think he is a 3b version of loney, so if we get a 1B as above, why not do a postion swap? worth a try)
2B – Theriot ( he is consistant)
c – Barajas
P – Kershaw
P – Bills
P – Lilly
P – Padilla
P – De la Rosa (i bet he can be signed for cheap and produce as a 5th starter should)
and if raffy doesant seem able to play or is DL all yrs, go after kelly johnson strong…he will explode…does either he or theriot have SS experiance though??
read up on the court proceedings, Dodger creditors have capped the team from any more deferred salaries
Also, why in the hell would anyone willingly want to impale our future with deferred payments when we already see how we’re strapped for cash and who we’re still paying? You want to hurt the future for a lackadaisical 2011 squad?
Pass… give the minor leaguers some PT in 2011 as it’s already a lost season in my eyes under this ownership
How on earth would the Dodgers pry Ryan Zimmerman out of DC?
And also…Loney isn’t even close to being the player Zimmerman is.
Yeah, I’ve seen a lot of Dodger fans mention Zimmerman recently. With Dunn likely leaving and Strasburg undergoing TJ, no way Zimmerman is moved, especially not for a below average 1B in Loney. He’s the face of their franchise at the moment.
Yeah, I’ve seen a lot of Dodger fans mention Zimmerman recently. With Dunn likely leaving and Strasburg undergoing TJ, no way Zimmerman is moved, especially not for a below average 1B in Loney. He’s the face of their franchise at the moment.
I like your enthusiasm. But honestly, Zimmerman is not the 3B version of Loney, not even close.
How does AZ get Loney from the Dodgers? How bout Drew for Loney…
Where do I sign?!?!? Drew has a .795 OPS to Loney’s .738, while Drew plays SS (where offense is harder to come by) and Loney plays 1B.
Arizona would be stupid to make that deal.
as to the ryan for loney reply, heres why i think its possiable. Zimmerman no doubt has more power then loney, however, loney produces more RBI’s and doubles. Dunn will most likely be gone for washington next season, and they want to become an impact team. Loney to the nats give them a major league impact ready player, and this will allow for gonzalez to take over 3b or pick up a free agent 3b aka beltre, tejada and so on. however unlickely, i think it COULD happen. again doubtfull but in the realm. and i never said loney is in AZ im saying if we need a infielder, kelly johnson is young enough and good enough to pick up. minus a dunn signing, none of them up there are huge contracts. even signing branyan would be cheaper as he has power, but strikes out alot… as i said before, building an allstar team and spending a crap load of money we dont have will win us a championship.
It’s not possible.
Even IF the Nationals were inclined to trade Zimmerman, they could do a heck of a lot better than James Loney. I can’t believe how much Dodger fans overvalue Loney! He’s clearly a below-average 1B. And RBIs are not something to base a player’s value on.
The Dodgers are not going to have the money to go out and sign a Dunn or Crawford.
Reality is, the Dodgers are probably going to spend their money on arb raises for Billz, Loney, Broxton and Kuo and also will have to sign at least 2 SPs.
My guess is Lilly will sign with the Dodgers, giving us a hometown discount of sorts and the Dodgers will probably re-sign Padilla as well.
The fifth starter will probably come from either a minor leaguer that has a great spring or a vet that surprises in Spring Training.
I wouldn’t be shocked to see Trayvon Robinson (AA OF right now) end up the Dodgers’ CF next year, with Kemp moving to RF and Ethier to LF. Robinson is a good defensive OF and he has had a solid year in AA and can provide speed on the basepaths.
The Dodgers will also probably re-sign Barajas to a deal. He’s got decent power (especially for a catcher) and the L.A. native is obviously very happy to be a Dodger.
Here is my projected Opening Day lineup for 2011:
SS Furcal
2B Theriot
RF Kemp
LF Ethier
1B Loney
3B Blake
C Barajas
CF T.Robinson
That’s reality in a Dodger world as long as Frank McBroke owns the team.
Sadly, I agree that will probably be close to our opening lineup.
I like Barajas, honestly. I’d keep Martin around too, and just play whoever is hot.
I’d really like to get Blake and Loney out of the lineup. Blake is declining rapidly and Loney seems to be getting worse. Every year Dodger fans predict Loney is going to have a breakout season and hit 20-25 HRs, and it just isn’t happening. Time to move on.
I know the Dodgers aren’t going to be able to afford Beltre, but I’d take a chance on Aramis Ramirez at 3B. He’s young enough that he could still rebound, and even in a down year he’s hit 20 HRs. Blake would be nice to have in a bench role, and he can backup 1B and 3B.
The Dodgers do need to acquire a big bat for 1B or OF, though. Adam Dunn would be my choice. Left-handed bat would be better, too, considering the Dodgers swapped LH for RH by trading DeWitt for Theriot. We could experiment with Dunn in LF for awhile, give Loney one last shot… and if it doesn’t work out, move Dunn to 1B and bring up Robinson.
Furcal SS
Ethier RF
Kemp CF
Dunn LF
A. Ramirez 3B
Loney 1B
Barajas C (why is Torre batting this guy 8th?)
Theriot 2B
Dunn will be too expensive. I also wouldn’t hate seeing Dunn in LF (compared to Podsednik, he ain’t that awful of a LF and he has a lot of pop) but they just won’t be able to afford him.
I also don’t see them dumping Blake because he’s relatively cheap.
The Dodgers will spend their money on arb raises and signing SPs.
I agree Dunn is probably going to be out of the Dodgers price range, but I’m trying to be optimistic… I guess the Zach Lee signing gave me some hope.
I agree Dunn is probably going to be out of the Dodgers price range, but I’m trying to be optimistic… I guess the Zach Lee signing gave me some hope.
If McCourt still owns the team, it’ll look like this;
Scott Podsednik
Rafael Furcal
Andre Ethier
Matt Kemp
Casey Blake
James Loney
Rod Barajas
Ryan Theriot
A.J. Ellis
Ivan DeJesus Jr.
Jamey Carroll
Xavier Paul
Reed Johnson
Clayton Kershaw
Chad Billingsley
Ted Lilly
Vicente Padilla
Carlos Monasterios
Jonathan Broxton
Hong-Chih Kuo
Ramon Troncoso
Ronald Belisario
Octavio Dotel
Kenley Jansen
John Ely
Lilly, Barajas Padilla and Johnson want to be Dodgers. They, hopefully should re-sign.
If Dennis Gilbert gets the team…