The Dodgers wrapped up their five-year agreement with Kenley Jansen yesterday and are nearing the completion of a four-year deal with Justin Turner — both ESPN’s Jim Bowden and FanRag’s Jon Heyman have reported today that just small details remain to be worked out — but Doug Padilla of ESPN.com reports that the impending re-signing of Turner doesn’t close the door on a trade for Minnesota’s Brian Dozier. Per Padilla, a trade package for the Twins’ slugging second baseman might have to center around right-hander Jose De Leon or a similar asset, but the Dodgers are reluctant to part with De Leon. A reunion with 2016 second baseman Chase Utley hasn’t been entirely ruled out either, according to Padilla. Utley delivered a solid season on a one-year deal with the Dodgers last year, hitting .252/.319/.396 with 14 homers, but Utley logged a dismal .154/.206/.264 slash in 97 plate appearances against lefties. The Dodgers’ greatest weakness in 2016 may have been their struggles against southpaws — an area where Dozier could provide a significant boost (.282/.353/.613 in 2016, .270/.343/.512 in his career).
A few more notes regarding the offseason trade and free-agent markets…
- FOX’s Ken Rosenthal tweets that with Jansen back in the fold, the Dodgers aren’t planning on offering more than a one-year deal to any free agent relievers. That, he notes, could take them out of the mix for Greg Holland in the event that Holland is still eyeing multi-year deals. Of course, it should be noted that it’s difficult to definitively rule the Dodgers out of making a bargain two-year play later in the offseason. If a pitcher that is widely believed to sign a lucrative two- or three-year pact at present sees his market crumble somewhat and loers his asking price on a two-year pact a few months from now, one can imagine the Dodgers jumping in and making a value play.
- Both the Rangers and Orioles have expressed some level of interest in free-agent slugger Chris Carter, per MLB Network’s Jon Morosi (on Twitter). Neither team is especially close to a deal with Carter, however, he cautions. The seriousness of the interest from Texas and Baltimore isn’t clear from Morosi’s brief report, though it’s easy to see how Carter could fit into the plans of either team. The Rangers abruptly lost Prince Fielder this past season when neck issues forced him to retire, while first baseman Mitch Moreland hit free agency and agreed to a deal with the Red Sox. The Orioles, meanwhile, could lose both Mark Trumbo and Pedro Alvarez to free agency, though they’re said to be in talks about retaining Trumbo. There’s certainly an argument that Carter is a similar and more cost-effective alternative to Trumbo, especially if the O’s are planning to use either at DH moving forward. Carter was non-tendered by Milwaukee last month on the heels of a .222/.321/.499 batting line and an NL-best 41 homers (as well as an NL-worst 206 strikeouts).
- Morosi also tweets that the Astros have had some talks with the Tigers regarding left-handed reliever Justin Wilson. Houston joins the Cubs as the most recent team to be linked to Wilson, who pitched to a 4.14 ERA in his first season with Detroit but also recorded career-bests in K/9, BB/9 and ground-ball rate. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz pegs him for a reasonable $2.7MM next year, and Wilson will be controllable through the 2018 season via the arbitration process.
- Speaking of the Cubs, they’re maintaining some interest in right-hander Tyson Ross, reports Bruce Levine of CBS Chicago/670 The Score. Ross was non-tendered by the Padres after undergoing surgery to alleviate thoracic outlet syndrome in October, and while he could well be ready to pitch early in the 2017 campaign, the Padres clearly weren’t comfortable with a projected salary between $9-10MM. Levine spoke to one NL exec who expected Ross to receive an incentive-laden contract that allows Ross to earn nearly as much as he otherwise would have through arbitration with the Padres. The Cubs, according to Levine, have had interest in Ross since the summer of 2015, when they tried to broker a deal that would’ve sent Starlin Castro to the Padres in return. According to Levine, the Rangers are also interested in swinging a deal with Ross now that he’s a free agent, though it’s easy to imagine a wide number of teams showing interest in a short-term commitment to a player with Ross’ upside. The 29-year-old turned in a 3.07 ERA with 9.2 K/9 against 3.5 BB/9 and a strong ground-ball rate in 516 2/3 innings with the Padres from 2013-15.
Dozier to the dodger for Deleon, Calhoun and Brock Stewart
Too much
too much a 30 hr second baseman who will get on base lead the team and homers and is just above league average defender for a 24 year old starting pitching who has only throw 100 inning 1 time and guy who doesnt have a postion and a number 5 starter lol thats kinda funny
Dozier has never batted over 268 his entire career. Until 2016 it was all 230 -240 range. Sure he hits alot of home runs but that doesn’t make him worth all that. His on base percentege is not good at all. Calhouns incredible upside with the bat makes them able to swallow sticking him in left.
Exactly. Two years of Dozier maybe gets them Calhoun and a mid-level prospect.
Have fun with utley cause your crazy
I’m sure the Dodgers would try to package Calhoun in any deal with an American League team. From almost every report I’ve read he is definitely a below average fielder and a future DH candidate
Yea so exactly what the twins are not looking for
So DeLeon’s value is low because he hasn’t pitched 100 MLB innings? He’s a consensus top 25-30 prospect in MLB,
Doziers worth that and more . Look at what the white Sox got for eaton. And I don’t get how people say Dozier is a below average defender. If you’ve ever seen him play you would say he’s at least above average
This where I’m torn because Dozier had a career year. In which he won’t repeat. He is great against lefties but essentially isn’t great against righties in which they will see far more. He doesn’t get on base at a great clip. He Ks a lot in a lineup that already Ks. So they are selling absolutely high. But boy is he cheap and crush lefties. That being said he’s not a star but he’s a good player and he adds a running dimension. I’m not sure the Dodgers want to give up what the twins want and I’m not sure the twins want to trade him.
not saying his value is low saying he has not pitched the inning so he has a lt to prove
Can someone explain how Justin Turner’s deal is all over the news but there has not been a move to make a spot for him on the 40 man roster?
I don’t think it’s been made official yet.
Until he officially signs the Dodgers don’t need to clear a spot yet.
His OPS+ was 136 last season. He draws walks, steals bases at a great rate, hits lots of homers and doubles and plays second base reasonably well. If you are looking at batting average to evaluate a player you’re doing it wrong.
You understand that he didn’t throw 100 innings because they started him late so he can have innings left for the playoffs unluckily he hurt his ankle and try to rush back. He is a college kid so his innings aren’t that big of an issue.
Not getting that in the offseason when the impetus to make the deal is discretionary. In the middle of a pennant chase at the deadline…maybe. But still a steep price. Nobody “needs” a second baseman that hits 30 HR – they’re a luxury. So yes, “too much” seems like an appropriate, although succinct, response.
You people have no idea what you’re talking about even talking about the Dodgers trading Calhoun. He’s their 2nd baseman of the future. The dude hit 27 dingers in the minors this year and isn’t great at defense but of course anyone can work on that (Which is why he’s playing 2nd). Has an average between .250-.260 which is exactly what Dozier hits. Yes of course Dozier is more proven, but they’re practically the same player statistically. Instead of giving up all these players for 2 years of one guy, hang on to them all, and get a guy with 1-2 years left on his contract that wouldn’t cost too much. The best option could very likely be just resigning Utley for a year. Actually a good option could be Josh Harrison of the Pirates. What about him? I dont know, those are just my opinions.
Eaton is under control for 3 more years.
Highly doubt that Calhoun is the Dodgers’ second baseman of the future, and its because of the defense. The criticisms of him I have read in scouting reports aren’t about things you “learn”, its about things like his weight, poor range, and hard hands.
From what I have read repeatedly, Willie Calhoun is all about his bat, which looks exceptional. However, his powerstroke relies on pulling the ball, at least as of now.
Sounds more to me like Alex Guerrero 2.0, but with a bit more flair at the plate.
Seems like an odd position to take on Dozier. Every position and subsequent production can be interpreted as a ‘luxury’ that way. Dozier is really good. The Dodgers should probably look into getting good players.
Eaton has 5 years of control 2 team options
Why not ask for the team bus while you’re at it?
If that’s the case holy cow imagine how much fans should ask for for Pederson because he’s the right handed version of Pederson. He just doesn’t get on base as much and Pederson plays a premier position.
same player? dozier has 20 points on him in average and dozers splits against righties are 238/312/417/.729 while pedersons are .125 /250/219/469 against lefties, pederson has not even been a 2 war player yet dozier has been well above 2 war in all 4 full seasons
Were talking about last year though right? Because that’s where most of Doziers value is going to derive from. And yes Pederson’s been essentially a 3 war player the last two season. Don’t give me average it’s a hollow stat. The others though do count.
no not all last season dozier is a almost 4,5 war player 3.7, 5.2,2.4, and 6.5 in his last 4 seasons
these are career numbers i am talking about not just last year, and im sorry i just never see pederson being a 5 win player and doxier has been twice in 4 years
Sure and I respect that and I disagree. I don’t see Dozier hitting 40 hrs with a .340 obp again. So we can agree to disagree.
he has had a 340 opb 2 times the last 3 years lol
How has Pederson not been a 2 win player? Unless Fangraphs is lying.
The only time Carter gets linked to the O’s is when someone in the media mentions he would be a good fit. Buck came right out and said Carter is not on his board of players that the team is interested in and he has no idea of where his name is coming from as being an Orioles target. They have also said if they can’t resign Trumbo that they are comfortable with Mancini being the DH.
no chance, it would have to be a de leon or alvarez, with an outfielder puig or verdgo, and a third peice like a buehler or sheffeild or lux
Keep Dozier for that price. We’re better off playing Kike or Taylor at 2B and keeping the farm stocked with talent for a better opportunity elsewhere.
Idk if they are better off. To be honest they do need to shave a lh bat for a RH bat sooner rather than later because the system is so flush with LH bats it’s not funny.
I definitely agree, but this FO has ways of unconventionally upgrading and sculpting the ML roster. Getting bogarted for close to ready prospects isn’t their MO. I’m curious to see if they can pry a serviceable 2B from somewhere who isn’t Kinsler, Dozier or Forsythe – whom are all good, mind you, but would cost a good chunk of our farm. At the risk of some Dodger homerism, our prospects are looking really good, like many can be ML main stays, so I feel like we’re better off keeping them and finding some buy low option for 2B.
No I get it. I’m honestly more worried about the rotation and flexibility with DeLeon there. And to be honest I’d rather they had a (S) hitting guy like Village to provide multi facets to the game. One being extreme speed. Which they have a guy like that in Johnson but one wonders if he can play defensively well enough and he’s also LH that’s seen his struggles in the minors against lefties.
Villar would be great but I’m not sure on his availability. It’s probable the Brewers would be apt to trading him, but it’d have to be a haul since I imagine they see him as a long term piece. In a vacuum scenario, my top 5 preference of 2B trade targets would be Devon Travis, Jonathan Villar, Ian Kinsler, Brian Dozier, Cesar Hernandez in that order. But they’re expensive so I think the dodgers are going to have to get creative.
The Blue Jays have no other viable options at 2nd so it wouldn’t really fit their plans to trade Travis either.
No your not
If Richard Urena was closer to being MLB ready, I could have seen a Jays-Dodgers matchup involving Travis and one of the Dodgers OF’s.
I honesty can still see them trying to move Ethier and Puig. Pompey would be nice for this team.
I’ve viewed the Jays and Dodgers as a good matchup for a trade for a while now.
Ethier intrigues me since he fits the lineup as a lefty bat and could form a very solid platoon with Upton. Only questions I have are how healthy is he, will he waive his 10/5 and what’s the salary split going to be(if any).
I’d love to have Puig in Toronto. Just very unsure on how to evaluate him in a trade scenario.
I don’t think he’s waiving it unless it’s a playoff team. Idk I’d like to see his career continue. I just think he would benefit from an available DH slot from time to time.
I also think the Dodgers would pay a decent amount of the salary.
I see Travis as the most likely big league player to be traded from the Jay’s. The Jay’s have Barney, Goins and Gurreili (not far off). Travis has the most trade value outside of Stroman and Sanchez.
Goins is hawt garbage, Gurriel is getting reps in CF and needs to prove he can hit, and Barney should not be exposed to every day play. There isn’t a fit there.
I would take no less than a package for DeLeon and others, honestly why not, I think they are pushing for Urias
Won’t happen
But the White Sox can get Giolito Lopez and Dunning for Adam freaking Eaton. Whatever Dozier has a better WAR than him anyway 6.5 compared to 6.2 .
war wise they have been close but he has 5 years of team control dozier only 2
Eaton has several consistently good years as track record and a longer contract at a low salary. Washington expects about the same from him next year. Nobody expects Dozier to repeat the year he had. That’s not to say Dozier is not an intriguing player. Its to say why Eaton got so much more than Dozier should return.
Yeah dodgers will NOT trade urias
no way urias would be in a deal
I really like Dozier and think he would be great with the Dodgers really helps with lefties he kills them but there is no way they trade Urias. I do think that Dozier will cost Deleon plus for sure but he could be worth it.
Solarte for Gavin Lux, Sborz, and Mitchell Toles.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! No. No. It’s going to take a lot more than a package headlined by a team’s #9 prospect to get 3 years of an everyday Major League 3rd baseman coming off a season in which he posted an .808 OPS in 405 AB’s.
2014; OPS of .705 combined with Yankees an Padres in 131 games
2015 OPS of .748 with the Padres in 152 games.
2016 .OPS of .808 with the Padres in 109 games.
Don’t embarrass yourself again Ryan. You continuously demonstrate your inadequate and down right laughable baseball knowledge man. I truly do feel sorry for you that you think of yourself as some baseball guru it seems while everyone laughs at your comments.
In fact, you ONLY bring up Solarte’s .808 OPS LAST YEAR while COMPLETELY ignoring. his average defense at 3B, 2B, and his limitations on the base paths. As you have ALSO failed to notice- Solarte also increased his strike out rate in 2016 compared to 2015 and 2014. He never walks much, roughly 6%, and that doesn’t bode well into maintaining a OPS of .800+……
Course, I have seen you ignore people telling you this information before. Which just goes to show you what kind of person TheWestCoastRyan really is.
Seems weird to tear down a player you simultaneously want in a trade. It’s more likely that his value lies somewhere between both your evaluations.
I’m realistic about what Solarte is. He had a good season last year, but you can’t expect him to maintain that type of production, as such sell high on him. IF Solarte posts what he has posted the past 2 you wont get anything close to what I suggested. Lux, Sborz, White, and Toles make up a decent package for Solarte- no team is going to give up what he seems to be expecting them to give up. I was very high on Lux last year and wish he had fallen to the Padres. Sborz projects with a durable frame and mid rotation type, White has a cutter and curve that project as plus type pitches, and Andrew Toles adds to a surplus of OFs in which the Padres can deal from to address other team needs. If they deal Toles in a trade or deal the likes of Dickerson or Jankowski you have someone like Toles. More so aside from Toles the other players project to be ready when the Padres are ready for all their talent to come together.
First off, I have forgotten more about baseball than you will ever know.
Secondly, the player Solarte was in 2016 is the player he is now. He can flat out hit, plays the game with intensity, doesn’t embarrass us on the basepaths or on defense and is a positive presence in the clubhouse. If other teams don’t want to offer fair value for that player, they won’t get him. He can’t see free agency with a telescope so there really is nothing wrong with keeping him so he can help us when we do contend. I am sick and tired of hearing people refer to Solarte as a “nice little utility player, but would never start on a good team.” His stats indicate that he should be starting no matter who he is playing for. I can’t wait to see him stick around and prove you and the other doubters wrong.
Pretty sure he was trolling
He does. But what better way to scare off trolls than to use fact replant. But, more to the point, Padres have a dangerous habit of holding onto players way too long. Ross and Headley in recent memory. Padres should trade Solarte coming off for a good season before he loses value and resorts back to his norms or injuries drive his value down- he missed 53 games last year.
Fact replant doesn’t work. See any post involving the braves.
What makes you so sure he will regress? The injury was a one-off thing, not something that you should expect to keep flaring up. Even if we did want to sell high on Solarte the trade you suggested isn’t nearly enough for a player who did what he did in 2016 and is controllable for 3 more years.
I’m serious. You have to give value to get value. You aren’t going to get a player of Solarte’s caliber with 3 years of control without giving up at least one impact prospect.
Mitchell White and Toles*
Everything I hear is the Twins won’t deal Dozier unless their asking price is met. My guess is their asking for a package like, Jose De Leon, Yadier Alverez, and Ronny Brito for Brian Dozier. Otherwise the Twins just keep him. At 6 million for 2017 and 9 million for 2018 Dozier is priced well below market value. So it not like the Twins can’t afford to keep him. Plus, keeping him helps sell some tickets.
yea if they dont get a great return no point to trading the face of the franchise, team leader, great in the community , and the guy who will be selling all the tickets for the next two year or until buxton sano and kepler get things figured out
Really? Dozier is the face of the franchise?
Who else would be? Hometown boy Joe Mauer is a shell of his former self. Buxton, Sano, Kepler have the talent to be, but haven’t proven they can turn that potential into production on a consistent basis. There are no other bats to speak of, and definitely no pitcher to call the face for the franchise!
It’s not pretty (but he does have the best hair in baseball) but he is the face of the Minnesota Twins right now.
who else would be
How about Paul Molitor? He’s more likely to be around longer. Dozier isn’t the face after one spectacular year. Can’t wait to see who’s on the cover of the press guide.
It gets really bad if the face of the franchise is the manager. Sure he’s a HOF but only players are seen as the face. Dozier has been marketed as the face by the team for a few years now.
If the Twins have hopes of making the playoffs in the next couple years, assuming Buxton, Sano, and the others figure things out, they might be better off keeping Dozier. He’s a valuable asset to the team
It would take some major steps forward from several players (Berrios/Sano/Buxton) as well as some resurgent performances from Perkins/Hughes/Mauer. It would take the best case scenario for them to compete against the Indians with how the roster is currently constructed.
How can guys like Joey Bats take a little longer time to develop and then have a great year and turn it into a great career but Dozier has no chance of repeating his career year? Some people on here are utterly rediculous. I agree that first Minnesota should be looking to move Dozier when he is at his highest but to say he it is just a fluke year is stupid. The Dodgers are a win now team sometimes you have to overpay a little to get what you may think is the missing piece.
And for all you guys who think Andrew McCutchen is done check out Frank Robinson and his bad year then after age 30 what he accomplished.
I think when we talk about Joey bats we talk about his major change in philosophy in terms of approach and his leg kick. He was always a shoot the ball the other way inside out the ball type of guy until he got to Toronto same thing with Turner and Murphy. And no Cutch isn’t done. He’s done in center but not at the dish.
because one changes their mechanics and another doesn’t. A change in mechanics is often what leads to these massive steps forward, not just “learning to do something”
Look at the contract Joey signed. He wasn’t valued as that level because he had only done it once. Toronto offered him a generous contract that was questioned by the rest of the league because it was uncertain he could repeat. It’s exactly like that with Dozier. Other than Bautista and EE, name me three other players that had a similar year and maintained it. I can give you Bert Campanaris and Ellsbury as a couple who didn’t.
Dodgers Nation reporting that Turner deal is done, citing Bowden. at ESPN.
I’m bored. Can the Cubs do something already, please? Ross, Smyly… Archer or Duffy!…, Wilson, Ziegler or Holland… Doolittle, Sonny Gray? but anyone really.
Lol the Cubs have been so active the Twins haven’t made a blockbuster in what seems like decades
cubs fans are suddenly spoiled
I know, it’s fantastic!
It’s annoying. Worse than Cowboys fans.
Not even close to Cowboys fans
So this is what I’m getting. The Dodgers would like to trade for Dozier but at the right price because they feel as though last year was a career year. There is major skepticism about the ability to repeat it. But the caveat is he relishes against lefties not so much against righties. He’s a huge K guy with a low OPS. The twins don’t really want to trade him. And if they do they want a significant overpay to sell to the fans. All in all Dozier is RH Pederson. The one thing he does better than Pederson is run. The one thing Pederson does better is get on base.
like i said earlier the splits are not even close to a comparison doizers splits against righties are 238/312/417/.729 while pedersons are .125 /250/219/469 against lefties if you say pederson gets on base more then dozier hits more 20 points higher average pedersonis a 2 war player last year in his second full year dozier has never been lower then a 2.2 war player in any of his 4 full years so dozier is a much better player then pederson
It’s better to have a player who crushes righties since ~65% of the leagues pitching is right handed.
if dozier is a hugh k guy whats that make pederson who strikes out 30 more times more in a 162 game aveage?
I never said Pederson wasn’t a huge k guy. And if you want to bring war into the mix which I think is stupid because that should be the only measure Pederson was a 2.9 and 3.6 war guy the last two seasons. He also play an above average premier position. I’m nice disputing the fact that Dozier is a nice player at all.
Shouldn’t**
you are looking at offensive war not just WAR they are two different starts owar just hitting war all around play
I’m not sure what you are talking about. joc was a 3.6 fwar player (which is overall) last year.
fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&…
Twins do not need a struggling prospect
Twins fans are insane.
I think the Jay’s should take a chance and sign Tyson Ross to a 3-4 yr deal. That would enable the Jay’s to think about trading Stroman to fill some other needs.
Given that he was just non-tendered, I would not bet on Tyson Ross being able to replace anyone right off the bat. There is a pretty good chance he’ll be a shell of his former self if he does make a come back… Not the type of guy you want to give a 4 year deal to.
Prospects are just well… prospects, and to get a guy who hit 42 homers last year you’re going to have to pay for it! Career year or not he’s gonna hit over 20 homers and give you above average defense For at least the next 2 years.
Sure but powers never been the problem for the Dodgers that’s further down the list. If they’re going to spend all that prospect depth I’d rather they do it on a guy like Villar.
If you thought Dozier had an unlikely to be reproduced career year, I’ve got news for you about Villar.
I’m not talking about the power numbers. I’m talking about his speed and ability to get on base. He’s also shown the ability to hit LH throughout his career those things have never changed.
He really hasn’t shown anything but speed before 2016. Last year he hit LH pitchers well thanks to a .401 BABIP against them, Before that the only year he was above average against lefties was 2015 when he had 61 plate appearances against them. He also lead the league in errors. If i’m the Brewers i’m thanking the heavens he had such a crazy lucky year at the plate, and selling high on him.
guess how many good mlb players were once prospects.
As A white Sox fan I want to see the Dodgers get Dozier Because I don’t want to see the Cubs win another World Series …….. But the way it looks it with all the National league teams mostly staying the Same it seems like the Cubs will Win the NL again
Are you dense? 1. a team’s chance to win the world series, especially from the start of a season is incredibly small. 2. The nats acquired adam eaton and will likely get a more healthy year from bharp 3. teams like the dodgers have returned their good players and will add more contributions from people like Urias and de Leon (barring trade) 4. why does it only matter what nl teams did if what you care about is not seeing the cubs win again, you do understand that in order to win a world series, an NL team must defeat an al team, yes?
I just can’t stand some ppl on here and the love for Prospects ……. You have to get a little to Get a little ……… Last year in game 5 of NLDS the Dodgers batted Carlos Ruiz #4 ……… If the Dodgers had Ryan Braun or Brian Dozier that would of been a completely different series
Where do you think Ryan Braun or Brian Dozier came from? Were they never “prospects?” “Prospects” grow into these all-star caliber players. It’s like saying you want corn but think it’s ridiculous to plant any and don’t want to. Eventually you’re out of “prospects” and can’t trade for anyone either. Then what? You have no corn.
When your team is close, you trade prospects for established players, because you cant wait, You want to win now. Two, three years from now, the roster will be different, possibly not as strong. You keep the maybes when the present team is weak. Are you saying the Dodgers are weak?
That’s not at all the point. The point being you don’t trade the farm especially SPs MLB close to ready on a team with fragility throughout the staff. That’s the main problem. Right now you’re paying for a career year in which he’s probably not going to duplicate again. Hell if the staff proves to be fine and he’s still on pace for last years numbers then get him at the deadline. Right now this team is pretty good I just don’t truly believe Kinsler, and Forsythe are actually available until the deadline unless there is an outrageous overpay. I also don’t believe the twins new FO truly wants to trade Dozier at this point.
Agreed. But the nerds in the front office want to prove that they can win doing it their way. Cheap prospect players like the Rays and A’s did for years, and try to avoid over paying for years that have already gone by. So these deals we are giving Turner and Kenley will probably not be the case in another 5 years. You will see them lock up guys long term like Seager, similar to Longoria, but they want to show that the computers can win. And I hate it.
Yay anti-intellectualism!
It’s not the love for prospects per se. It’s who there being traded for and the need on the roster. Simple fact is it’s not a different series because the dodger had a gassed Kersh a gassed Maeda and a gassed Urias. Even if they make it to the WS it was quite clear that the injury wore on Kersh, Maeda, Urias, and even Blanton as the bp was abused. It also came down to the fact that they crumbled defensively. Ruiz hit bullets against Lester they were just right at people. Ruiz also made a bone head play with Baez hung up at 3rd. We can also bring up the grand slam game and the inability to keep a lead close cough cough Baez and Strip. So would a Bruan or Dozier might have helped sure but doesn’t mean anything as the bridge was not there for Jansen. So yes the Cubs got a little luck but they also flat out did not make the major mistakes the dodgers did.
** If the Dodgers had Ryan Braun or Brian Dozier that would of been a completely different series**
I disagree. I think the Dodgers postseason was marred due to the lack of healthy pitching all season long finally catching up to Doc Roberts. He was masterful in cobbling innings into games all season long, but the staff just ran out of altitude in October.
I understand that you can’t fall in love with your prospects, but I would be very reluctant to give up some financially controlled, young strapping arms to pursue some extra pop. There’s plenty of pop on our roster right now. I’d rather have a high contact type hitter fill the hole at second.
Wow, if only we had a 2B that could bat lead off, played great defense, stole bases, got on base at a great clip….oh that’s right, we traded Dee Gordon…FML
Which one is he the one from 2015 or the one after who was popped for PEDs. Also doesn’t help the LH situation.
Oh yeah he also wasn’t a very good 2b until he worked with the inf whisperer lol in Perry Hill
Even though that trade led to Howie, still sucks we sold high on a good 2B. Despite the PED scandal, would have been nice to have a speed guy with a good glove that can get on base on the roster. Too bad Kikes bat hasn’t developed, that would’ve made that trade worth it.
why dont they just go after profar?
He’s been injured for multiple years and he finally came back last year and did…..not much. He played in 90 games, batted .239 & had a .660OPS. I dislike WAR as a stand alone stat…but he had 0.0.
2 year of Dozier for $15m. Would that take Buhler/Calhoun/Stewart?
I don’t think the Twins do a deal with the Dodgers without DeLeon. It may happen without him, but I’d be absolutely shocked if they didn’t get him.
Dodgers hang on to prospects. There will be no deal for Dozier.
point on – BA never above .26.8 usually around .240 – doesn’t walk much so not an on-base guy. You don’t want to pay for the 42 HRs he hit last year. Not the supper player – don’t give up too much- no real plus 2nd basemen out there
been a 5 war playing in 2 of the last 3 seasons has also been a 340 obp in 2 of the last 3 years
I could see going after Carter before Batista and have Moreland and Hanley platoon at 1 b and Carter Dh vs lefties with Hanley playing 90 % of all games.
Cubs should sign Ross and Holland. Both can get 8-10 mil with player options. Both are hurt low risk high reward. Holland koji/strop and wade Davis/rondon is scary. 6-9innings. Then the cubs can extend Arrieta for 4 years with multiple options. Being that his agent is a greedy old talentless man that won’t happen. He’s gonna try to sway his getting him 7years and 210mil.