Earlier today, Dodgers general manager spoke with the Los Angeles media. In addition to confirming manager Don Mattingly's three-year extension, Colletti offered some insight into a number of Dodgers issues…
- Colletti confirmed to reporters that the Dodgers have spoken with Masahiro Tanaka's agent, Casey Close recently, tweets Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times. For the time being, Tanaka is in the "feeling out process," Colletti added (Hernandez tweeting).
- Offseason pickup Alexander Guerrero is the favorite to start at second base while Dee Gordon and Miguel Rojas should also be in the mix, according to Colletti (via Hernandez). It's not a huge surprise to hear that Guerrero is the frontrunner for the job after inking a four-year, $28MM deal that can reach $32MM with incentives. However, the Dodgers still would like to add another utility infielder, Colletti added (via MLB.com's Ken Gurnick on Twitter).
- Colletti indicated that he's had "a lot of conversations" with Clayton Kershaw on a new contract (Hernandez reporting). He's also checked in with Hanley Ramirez's reps on a new deal (also via Hernandez).
- Colletti also provided a number of health updates on his injured players. Josh Beckett is expected to be ready by the time Spring Training begins (Hernandez reporting), while Chad Billingsley and Scott Elbert are targeting respective June and July returns to the Majors (via Gurnick). Gurnick also relays that Matt Kemp has begun hitting and is expected to play during Spring Training.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
They really only need Beckett to be ready by the time Haren gets injured and Billingsley when Beckett gets hurt again.
Well put sir, well put
its funny. The majority of scouts have been extremely bearish after seeing Alex Guerrero stateside. Some have even gone as far to say that he is just simply not a major league caliber player. It will be interesting to see who gets burned first by one of these cuban signees as their scouting details are much lighter than any of the other international signees.
Guerrero is an example of extreme confidence by LAD scouts.or keeping Ellis or Schumaker makes this a very dicey move.
The LAD scouts have a decent track record thus far for international signings. Other scouts apparently don’t see the same thing or are sour because they did not sign Guerrero.
Agreed, but keeping some insurance would not have been a bad idea.
Defensively, Gordon can play 2B in his sleep. Offensively, he needs to hit above the Gordon line (.100).
Unfortunately he looked like he was playing short in his sleep a good part of the time.
Yes, scouts are writing bad reports because they did not sign Guerrero. They also want MORE TOYS and cookies before dinner.
Well, the response to the Puig and Ryu signings was overwhelmingly critical. Everyone knew Puig had talent, but questioned the dollars. Some weren’t sure Ryu could hack it in the bigs. In both cases, Dodgers scouts proved to be superior to the critics. Now maybe the critics are right this time, maybe Guerrero can’t produce at the ML level. But in the face of this recent history, I think the front office has placed complete faith in Dodger scouts. Even if we get burned this time, I can live with it in exchange for the Puig and Ryu successes.
Admittedly, I myself am not entirely sold on Guerrero. He’s really stiff, which concerns me. But getting him for 4/28 was much more desirable than Cano at 10/240. So I can live with it.
Yeah, prior to the 2013 season a lot of scouts were saying Ryu would probably end up in the bullpen, and that Puig was a huge overpay.
If the Mariners can sign Tanaka and that’s a big IF, I suspect that if Kemp can swing the bat in spring training, the M’s will make a hard push for him.
who will the M’s trade?
pike, taylor and paxton
The M’s could make that trade. All they need to do is go back in time and give them a young Ken Griffey Jr
lets be honest here. I think the dodgers are overvaluing Matt Kemp right now
They are because right now he is hurt. A healthy Matt Kemp is worth more then what the Dodgers are asking.
Taking on the 128 Mil left on his contract would be a good start.
A recent publication has a story regarding the “who”. This is what it said:
The Mariners could package starting pitcher James Paxton, shorts stop
Nick Franklin, third baseman Stefen Romero and reserve pitcher Tom
Wilhelmsen to the Dodgers in exchange for Kemp and cash considerations.
Think the Dodgers should do that deal if it’s really been offered. Yes Kemp could get back to previous form, but he just seems prone to getting re-injured at some point, especially if they insist on playing him in CF, which is when all his problems started IMO. Paxton/Franklin would bring some nice youth to the team. It seems like a considerable gamble on the M’s part though.
The problem was he tried to move a wall with his shoulder. Are you saying that will happen again?
I am a Dodgers fan as well, but he’s had ankle, shoulder, and hamstring issues. A guy who’s averaged 90 games over the last two years has a lot to prove healthwise to me.
Surprised to hear you say this. Two game-related injuries, and he and hardly missed a game before them.
He came up as a corner OF. His physical size, the demands of CF, and his importance to the team to me requires that he go back to a corner OF spot. And yes, I think an injury is more likely in CF. Though the wall is equally unmovable throughout 🙂
I can see him going to a corner if the Dodgers could find someone better for center. Somebody has to tell me who that’s going to be though.
If they were to put Puig there from Day 1 in spring training this year, I think he could learn not to call people off when it’s not his, or risk a full-on open field tackle with his teammates each time. If you put your most athletic in CF, then that would be him. But the arm, I know that’s traditionally in RF. There’s some balls in CF that Ethier just can’t get to, that a true CF would. I recall a ball hit to the wall vs. the Cards, should have been caught.
Yes indeed, I was at that game. Had a pretty good look at Ethier not catching up to a play a faster outfielder makes in center. Puig may play CF some day, but he’s got so much to learn, and making him the captain out there is probably not the best way.
I doubt it! Between Cano, Kemp, Felix and Tanaka they would be paying 4 players 80-90 million dollars per year until at least 2019. That would be almost their entire payroll going to 4 players.
Tanaka to seattle 6 115 mill bank on it
Are you recommending we risk both car payments and the house on this?
“Car-car-house, lock of the decade?”
They can push all they want, they aren’t going to get him.
I think Tanaka will receive a 3-5 year deal. so that he has a chance to get another contract around the time he is going to turn 30. maybe 4 years 15 mil per season.
If he signs a short term deal I think it will be for a higher AAV. It will be Tanaka’s choice if he wants to bet on himself and sign a shorter high AAV deal or a long term deal that maximizes his financial security.
I think 6 maybe even 7 years. If he signs for shorter than that, the signing team will have arbitration rights with him as he won’t have enough MLB service time.
Not a chance, with all the mileage recorded on his arm he is taking 5-8 no doubt. He would be foolish to only take 3.
that is something nobody seems to have been paying attention to…Tanaka’s arm has been abused over the past few seasons. Used far more aggressively than any pitcher from Japan prior to arriving to US MLB.
Also any deal is going to result in Tanaka being the most tested and examined, poked, prob’d and prodded player for a contract in MLB history. And still it won’t matter since a pitcher’s arm falls off when it decides to fall off.
I even wonder if the alleged offer to stay in Japan was simply window dressing for them to help them look good AND help Tanaka get a better deal in the US. I wonder if they really wanted to sign him because they know more about his arm than anyone.
Have to believe the Dodgers will make an offer to Tanaka.
Eventually LAD has to run out of spots for SP’s on their 25 man roster…. Might be better off just extending Kershaw and Ramirez.
I agree with you, but they’ll still make an offer. The question is more of whether its a legitimate offer, or they make a half-hearted attempt.
Unless we’re really expecting Beckett to be capable of starting, with Billingsley unable to pitch until June, the Dodgers only have 4 MLB-caliber starters right now (Kershaw, Greinke, Ryu, Haren).
If Beckett isn’t able to pitch, the Dodgers are currently looking at Fife, Magill or Z. Lee in the #5 spot.
There is room for Tanaka in the rotation… its just a matter of whether the Dodgers feel the price is right, and whether they can afford it and still keep Kershaw and Hanley.
Also, Billingsley is a free agent after the season (unlikely the Dodgers exercise his option), as are Beckett and (likely) Haren, so Tanaka would be a more long-term option.
So they can afford Kershaw , Hanley and tanaka?
I have my doubts. Signing Tanaka would mean a payroll of 250 million. Plus their tax rate is higher this year. So we are talking more like 270 Million to sign tanaka and virtually guaranteeing they don’t go under the Tax for years. Of course they could try to unload salary somewhere but that’s a lot of money to be committed to without a sure fire way to cut payroll.
Sure. They have an average of $240m/year coming in under the new media deal alone, and billions backing that up from ownership. The question isn’t what they can afford, but how much they are willing to spend. That’s what we’re in the process of finding out.
Billingsley and Beckett come off the books after this year , so there is $30 million. Gotta believe they don’t mind going over $250 million. Also can give Tanaka $10 million the first year and back load the rest of the contract so it’s not as big a burden for 2014. Remember the tv deal is for $8 BILLION over 25 years.
I think LAD should have traded Kemp and at least $16m of his salary to free up that money for Tanaka. Basically replacing Kemp salary savigns with Tanaka’s salary.
And if they don’t have to free up money, what then? And who plays CF under this scenario? You gotta love all these ides for making the Dodgers cheaper but not better.
Keep team as is, put a flak jacket on Hanley for at-bats in the playoffs (you know, take it off after getting on base like they do all the other protective apparatus!), and start lining up on Figueroa for the parade baby!!!
I should have seen Puig Shorts coming…
Yes you should have. After all, they are very bright, and tight.
Too much information!
LOL. I approve.
Remember that the luxury tax bill for 3rd time violation on a 250 million dollar payroll would be about 25 million so a 250 million dollar payroll is really a 275 million dollar payroll, even for the dodgers that’s getting pretty high!
Agree it is high but the ownership is not concerned with turning a profit. Even with revenue sharing and tax Dodgers will bring in over $600 million in 2014. If the extra spending is assured to help the team get to the WS I’m sure money is not a issue. Owners want to build the brand. Spend millions to make billions in the long run
That equates to $320M/yr just in TV revenue!!! Dang! Wonder how much Seattle’s new TV ownership is going to bring them. Rumor has it that it will put the Rangers and Angels TV deals to shame.
The deal is 7 bil over 25 years not 8 bil so it equals 280 mil per year, assuming it is pays out equally over the life of the contract (which I doubt)
whats your deal and hating the mariners so much? Are they not allowed to sign anyone important?
Early reports had it between 7-8 billion last Jan. latest reports as of June 2013 have it worth upto 8.5 billion. It all depends how TW cable asses fees to carry the channel for other service providers. Either way its a ton of money
$26 million in savings from Beckett and Billingsley. Then Haren’s $10 million and Wilson’s $10 million. Have to think the latter two can be replaced on the cheap.
The Dodgers will also have Andruw Jones finally coming off the books for 2015!
Hahaha… oh, Ned…
Haha, oh McCourts you mean
How much was LAD making on their previous TV deal annually?!
280 Mil before taxes and all that jazz.
What doe this mean?
I am not exactly sure what the Dodgers are (corporation, LLC, LLP ect) depending what they are the TV revenue could be taxed anywhere from 0-40%.
Profits are taxed, not revenues.
Only if you are an individual, corporations are subject to corporate taxes. If they were a sole proprietorship or standard partnership (which I doubt) you would be right.
No, no. I file a partnership return every year, and have been for decades. All of our expenses are deducted before distributing income to the partners. No taxes whatsoever are paid by the partnership. Even a corporation (which I safely assume the Dodgers are) don’t pay taxes on revenue, they pay them on profits. The bottom line, after expenses.
If ever I want an easy novel to read I’ll check out the Dodgers starting pitcher depth chart
It’s not as deep as last season, when the Dodgers had Kershaw, Greinke, Ryu, Beckett, Harang, Capuano, Lilly and Billingsley… all of whom appeared healthy at the time.
Now they have Kershaw, Greinke, Ryu, Haren.
You also have Beckett, who I personally don’t expect to ever be a decent major league pitcher again, and Billingsley, who probably doesn’t come back to the team until July, and even then may be limited to a bullpen role.
Beyond that, they have some minor league filler like Stephen Fife and Matt Magill. Zach Lee is the only highly touted pitching prospect the Dodgers have that may be ready this season. Stripling, Anderson, Windle, Urias are further away…
Dodgers will be seriously in on Tanaka. Doesn’t mean they will get him, but they can afford him. As others have mentioned, Beckett/Billingsley/Wilson/Haren come off the books next season. They can afford the raises for Kershaw and Hanley and the salary for Tanaka. Their front 4 in the rotation would be so good that they could allow their youngsters to wage a camp war for the #5 spot (Lee, Stripling, etc.). And guys like Withrow and Dominguez and possibly Garcia can take on more prominent roles in the bullpen.
I imagine by next year they’re hoping Zach Lee is ready for the full time starting gig (with the innings limit, I’m sure) in 2015.