The Dodgers and Braves swung an out-of-nowhere, payroll-geared trade Saturday consisting of five major leaguers, with just one (Matt Kemp) going to Los Angeles in exchange for Adrian Gonzalez, Scott Kazmir, Brandon McCarthy and Charlie Culberson. LA, which made the trade for luxury tax purposes, previously tried to send Gonzalez, Kazmir and McCarthy to the Marlins as part of a package for now-Yankee Giancarlo Stanton, according to Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times. Although that failed, Dodgers brass already had a fallback option in the Braves, whose general manager – Alex Anthopoulos – worked in LA’s front office until mid-November. The two sides began discussing the parameters of Saturday’s trade shortly after his hiring, per McCullough. Talks gained steam during this week’s Winter Meetings before culminating in an agreement Saturday.
- The Braves immediately designated Gonzalez for assignment after his acquisition, but the 35-year-old had to waive his no-trade clause before the deal could occur. Gonzalez touched on that choice afterward, saying in a statement: “My final decision was not based on playing time, as I had agreed to a limited bench role. It is a way to test the free-agent market and see what opportunities are out there for me so I can make the best decision moving forward for me and my family. Lifting the no-trade clause is the hardest decision I have ever made in my career due to the fact that I loved every single second being a Dodger.”
- The Padres will consider a reunion with Gonzalez if they’re unable to reel in free agent first baseman Eric Hosmer, Bob Nightengale of USA Today suggests (Twitter link). Gonzalez was a franchise player in San Diego from 2006-10, slashing .288/.374/.514 with 161 home runs in 3,425 plate appearances and earning three All-Star nods.
- Shortly after the news broke, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported the Dodgers would likely trade or release Kemp before he ever plays another game in their uniform (he was previously with LA from 2006-14). The Dodgers will first try to flip Kemp, confirms McCullough, who adds that they “appear willing to offer prospects” to help convince someone to take some of his contract. Kemp, 33, is due $21.5MM in each of the next two seasons. Keith Law of ESPN opines that he wouldn’t even be worth picking up if the Dodgers ate all of that money (subscription required and recommended). Regarding a discussion he had with Kemp, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said: “I was very open and honest with him about what the future might hold. It’s just too difficult to say, definitively, at this point.”
- Having completed this trade, it seems the Braves’ heavy lifting for the offseason is mostly over, as David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution details. They improved their defense by getting rid of Kemp, thus freeing up a spot in the outfield for elite prospect Ronald Acuna (he’ll be in the majors early in 2018, whether it’s Opening Day or a bit later); added a veteran starter in McCarthy (possibly two if Kazmir recovers from a hip injury); and landed a backup infielder they like in Culberson. While Anthopoulos said the Braves could still seek a third baseman and relief help, he noted that those areas are not priorities, O’Brien writes.
- Meanwhile, Nightengale, Jeff Sullivan of FanGraphs and Bill Shaikin of the LA Times agree that this trade will help set up an action-packed offseason in a year. Now that the Dodgers are unlikely to exceed the $197MM luxury tax threshold in 2018, they can be more aggressive in trying to reel in certain members of a star-studded class of free agents next winter. One of their own standouts, left-hander Clayton Kershaw, could be a prominent part of that group.
I would love Gonzalez back in San Diego. I wonder what his motivation is, Playing Time, Winning Team, or playing back at home.
Sounds like the Padres are doing everything they can to move Myers back to the OF
Prob winning and fit. I’d imagine he wants a good bit of playing time. But 150+ games is out of the question for Agonz.
The man just said it wasn’t about playing time. So that means maybe it is?
I wouldn’t mind seeing Boston pick him back up.
Braves don’t have to pay kemp for the 2019 season and the salary the obtained in this trade is off the books after this upcoming season
Dodgers get under the tax threshold
Clever albatross swap from both teams here !
It’s not really about the salary for the braves. It was somehow finding a taker for Matt Kemp, and opening a spot for Ronald Acuna. Also, they get some possible rotation pieces (one of them is a lock in McCarthy, Kazmir is just dreaming about his prime days at this point) for 2018.
It is about salary for the Braves since Kemp’s $20+ million is off the books for 2019, a huge free agency year.
true but they are paying more this year so that probably Cuts in a bit but they’re still Primed to spend next year
IIRC from a few hours ago granted, the Braves are still receiving money form the Padres (or did earlier to offset Kemps contract for this year) as well as receiving money from the Dodgers per part of the trade. In the end the money is actually pretty even as far as the Braves are concerned because they don’t have to return the money collected from the Padres for Kemp’s contract.
Yeah the books are clear for a huge free agency in 2019 for the Braves but to what exactly? They’re not signing any of those big time free agents…The top notch ones won’t come here plus the Braves never hand out those mega contracts. We always settle for overpaying the second and third tier free agents and then run them out of town when they don’t perform to their contract. BJ Upton was probably the most recent example of this. I agree with whoever said it’s just an NBA Trade, this isn’t anything about Braves planning for free agency IMO..
Great trade for both teams! I can see the Dodgers sending Kemp & some decent prospects to an AL team…they’ll likely need to eat/pay 10.5 m of his contract
The best intrest of both teams lined up well. Dodgers wanted less commitments this year. Braves wanted to take the expiring contracts. It was an NBA trade
Keith Law can keep his opinion and espn can screw itself and their insider articles.
Well this seems a little uncalled for but OK.
apparently Kemp’s mother is on this board…
Not a Keith Law fan at all and completely disagree with his opinion but….. you mad bro?
same
And please stop with the “subscription required AND recommended” crap. No one hear needs any recommendations. Is MLBTR getting a cut or something?
I hate mlbtraderumors. The stupid quick hits, the free agent profile, and just the lame way they some times write. But they are on top of transactions.
Considering the MLBTR is quoting and summarizing these subscription articles, the least MLBTR can do is recommend subscribing.
Do you need some cheese to go with all that whine??
ESPN sucks when it comes to baseball. Their opinion isn’t really worth much. Just stick to sucking up to the nba and nfl
Looks like a smart trade from both sides. Might not seem like it, but getting rid of kemp makes the braves a better team. Should have better defense out there now and maybe someone who can hit better
He was a win or more below replacement level last year even with league average offense, so I definitely think it’s fair to say that Atlanta got better
Nothing preventing the Dodgers from resigning him at the minimum now that the Braves are on the hook for his salary
There is no place for adrian on the team
Except why would Adrian sign for the minimum? He’s not a useful full-time player anymore, but he most certainly could snag on to another team for more than the league minimum.
Because he is already under contract.. He will get paid the same no matter how much he signs for with a new team..
He can’t he can only sign for the minimum.
Once he is released, he is a free agent. He can sign for whatever he wants. The Braves will still be responsible for the $22.3 million left on his contract for 2018.
That’s not true at all. There is no double dipping when it comes to mlb contracts. Gonzo is only eligible for mlb min.
Actually, the Braves are responsible for that total minus whatever Gonzalez signs for in 2018. It will most assuredly be the league minimum, but if for some reason he signed for $5M, the Braves would be responsible for $17.3M for 2018.
OMG blue painted you are so dumb. His contract is guaranteed. He gets his $23 million or whatever less the $545k minimum from a team signing him for the minimum. Example. If the Padres pick him up they will pay $545k and the Brwves the rest of his contract.
No one is signing him for more then then the minimum when the Braves or whoever pay his contract and why would Adrian ask for a penny more them the minimim when the money is not going to him
He can sign for more than the minimum, but that gets subtracted from the braves money
It might be worth it for teams to offer him more than the minimum for tax reasons to separate themselves from others offering that amount.
If he signs with any team the team that signs him will only pay the league mimiun and atlanta will pay the rest if the 21. million. So yes he could resign with LA for leagur mimiun if he and team both want.
Harper (who is from Vegas) could end up being a Dodger. I think it’s either Dodgers or Cubs
won’t be the cubs don’t want him plus we have too be careful salary start coming up 2020 yes I know we have a new tv deal coming but if you watch Theo and jed operate the try staying around the cap
The Cubs don’t want Harper? That’s the first time I’ve heard that. Got a source for that one?
They have nowhere to put him.
They won’t have a problem making room.
Yeah i dont think it would be difficult to find room for Harper. Schwarber is easily an odd man out
Why don’t they? Both Harper and Heyward have CF experience, and Almora still has to prove he’s an everyday player.
LOL. Yeah, sure… let’s just move Heyward & Almora to make room for Bryce. Get real
Where’s the source that they are interested. I have a hard time imagining them taking on $400-$500 million for an outfielder when their outfield is full and they have all these young stars they have to start paying big bucks to in the next few years.
Harper will not get $400-$500M.
He’ll ask for a lot, and rumors say $30, but we’ll see. Regardless, his next contract will be cleverly negotiated.
And yes, the Cubs certainly do have interest in him. The FO has beenokkkng forward to the 2019 FA class for awhile now. Theo cannot flat out say he wants to sign Harper. That would be tampering. But he sure did make comments about specific future plans they have for next year.
And don’t think that it’s a coincidence that both Heyward’s first opt-out and his full NTC ends after the 2018 season…and even if he stays, one of those extra outfielders easily gets thrown in a deal.
There is no doubt that Harper’s AAV will start with a 4.
No doubt you say? $40 M per year no doubt you say? Lets see what kind of year he has and how many games he plays first
I don’t see any team giving Harper $400 million. He has never driven in 100 in a season; is injury prone; averages about 135 hits; had one big HR year (42 in 2014 I think), and his hair gets in his eyes!
You know Harper was trolling Twitter when he said one said back to back with kris bryant. He admitted he was trolling. If anything like that happens it’s the next 12-15 all star games. Hopefully soon they’ll have one at Wrigley. Imagine the broken windows onto waveland and Sheffield. If the wind blows out for that. The home run derby will have some new records.
As of 2018 and 19. Nationals park and jacobs field will host the next two. 2020 is their next chance.
Which would be 30 years since the Last time Wrigley had the all star game.
He’s not getting more than 400 million. Those numbers are inflated by clickbait bloggers.
What team wouldn’t make room?
Don’t want Harper? That’s absurd
Rumor has it they don’t want Machado either, and they really really REALY don’t want Trout.
Funny! Heard they already told Kershaw thanks but no thanks. We are going with Montgomery.
Trout is not available Bozo
They wouldn’t be interested if he were!
and isn’t that the Cubs don’t want him it’s just that it does not a good fit they already have a competent and very full Outfield I think they’d spend their money another areas
Competent OF? They still throw Schwarber out there in left. They’ll trade him and make room.
Cubs very much want Harper. Yes they have legit concerns about paying there young core in the future also. It’s theos awful heyward contract that will come to haunt them.
Now Braves just need to trade Markakis Newcomb and another lower prospect for Prado and Yellich
Not even close to being in the ballpark.
if they trade him it will be a package similar trust me
Ok, I trust you.
Well, you made that easy, I for one find that offer ridiculous.
As a Braves fan I apologize for his trade proposal.
They would need top prospects and only top prospects to do that.
Haha .. ohhh I remember. I remember when there were alot if braves fans being excited about Newcomb….. now he’s a hopeful trade piece in part of a package. LoL
newcomb looked impressive to me last year. not sure why anyone would be eager to trade him
how much is going to cost way way way more than that like Albie’s & seroka on top of that kind of more
It probably would take Markakis and a lower-level prospect to get just Prado, which actually wouldn’t be bad if AA could get MIA to pay a few million of Prado’s 2019 salary as well.
When did MLB become the NBA and start these bad contract trades and then release the players?
When MLB implemented a luxury tax threshold
Cub fans little knowledge of the game ceases to amaze me. But I guess most have only been following baseball for a couple of years now.
Trollollollolololl
When the luxury tax started, and then again when it was increased.
“They improved their defense by getting rid of Kemp.” Lol
To be fair, it is true. But yeah, it sounds funny.
pasres take back kemp for yasmani grandal and a prospect and this comes full circle lol.
padres*
The Dodgers add Grandal and a pitching prospect to the trade and then the Padres waive Kemp?
No chance in hell Kemp will be a Padre again.
Kemp,Sheffield,May, & peters with dodgers paying 11 mill of Kemps salary next season for Britton. Fair or not fair?
They’re better off offering verdugo, grandal, and may and kemps full salary for britton. clearing it completely opens up room in case they need to add someone mid season.
I agree with you that’s a better trade for the dodgers, I don’t know if it’s a good one for the orioles though
Britton was injured and/or horrible all season last year and only has one year left before he’s a FA. He is not that valuable.
The value in the deal isnt getting britton. the value in the deal is unloading kemps contract completely no money eaten so they have wiggle room come mid season if they need to acquire a starter or help.
as it stands todays trade hill, maeda, and ryu arent exactly the poster boys for health, kershaw missed time last year. Theyre poised to sign someone like darvish, but having that 22 mill wiggle room in case someone gets injured and you acquire a starter does them more good then verdugo grandal and may.
Dustin May and DJ Peters are not getting traded. Espically with the dodgers giving up money too
To get rid of an expensive 36 year old OF that produces a negative WAR the Dodgers will have to give up tremendous value in players/prospects unless they are eating most of Kemp’s contract. If they throw in $38.5 million, all that the Dodgers are responsible for, they may get an actual prospect back.
They wont trade DJ peters in a salary dump. I know that for a fact. They would rather straight up DFA kemp
Kemp is 33 years old not 36
Considering this was about the dodgers getting under the threshold and the braves opening a spot for Acuna, this was a great trade. Kind of wish Jerry Dipoto would have got some 3 team action going just for the excitement and picked up a player lol
Friedman blows!!! Treat such a respected veteran like trash
You’re out of your mind. What’s he suppose to do?? Pay all that money to just sit?? It’s business. A Gon didn’t have to agree to the trade but he did. I guess he should’ve just paid him to sit there right? That would’ve been fair to him to sit if he thinks he can still play? It’s his fault Bellinger is a stud and took over first base? What a ridiculous comment.
exactly Gonzales got to be a free agent out of this he’s one of the biggest winners here
Please! They were honest with Agon and he will be fine. I miss him already but, if the cleat was on the other foot, Agon would take the best deal he could get.
agon could be a Dodgers coach in the minors and then ML team even hitting coach.
Did you read Gonzalez’s statement on the matter?He and Friedman worked together every step of the way through this process.So your statement is totally backwards.The Dodgers gave Gonzalez what he wanted…a chance to play more often…which wasn’t going to happen in LA.
Gonzales has no place on the Padres. Also if Preller did a huge salary dump like this and take back a player only to release him, AJ would get roasted…o wait he did.
What do you mean he has no place? The Padres have been shopping for a 1B, so obviously they’re intending to move Myers to the OF.
Which is an extremely stupid idea putting him back in the outfield where he was hurt all the time. Just because the front office are looking for another 1b doesn’t mean we need it. Padres have a core group of players from last year. Also Alex Dickerson will be back from back surgery this year and can platoon Myers days off.
I’m still amazed at how well this trade works for both sides. The Dodgers essentially defer about half the money they owe to these guys into next year and reset their luxury tax penalty while clearing a few 40-man roster spots, while the Braves get rid of Kemp (which both improves their defense and makes room for Acuna) and add a veteran starter for a young rotation (maybe two depending on Kazmir) and add someone who can be their utilityman next year, while also getting out from all the money they still owe these guys after this year instead of after next year. It’s honestly incredible.
He is a better shortstop than the one atlanta has. He hit 500 when a played when Seager was hurt.
Think it’s obvious the Dodgers are trying to get under the tax threshold so next year when they go after some of the big names and if Kershaw opts out and they have to pay him they won’t pay as much of a penalty for being over. But I still feel like the Dodgers have something brewing, maybe signing Darvish or Arrieta or making a trade for Archer or Britton. Something just seems like it’s on the brink. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from watching Friedman is that he’s always one step ahead and is always making one move with the next move already in play as well. Think Grandal, Kemp and some prospects might be on the move, possibly even Joc. I’ve always been a fan of Kemp and if they can’t move him I think he’d be good to platoon and pinch hit here and there as well because the guy can still hit. He just can’t play the field well but a bat like that off the bench or to start against lefties wouldn’t hurt at all. Just really curious to see what happens and can’t help it if I kind of hope Kemp stays for one season until they go get Harper next season lol.
Kemp to first base, Bellinger to outfield. Just kidding
For 1 year?
Maybe!
Agree, there’s a better than zero chance that Kemp starts the season with the Dodgers. Not huge, but not none, given the current lack of any other better RH bench bat.
Move Riley to the OF and let him develop for a year taking Markakis spot in 2019.
Sign Todd Frazier to play 3B for 3 yrs
Or
Trade a young arm for Chase Headley with Padres paying his salary and letting Riley develop at 3rd
& trade Markakis w/prospect to Toronto for Reese McGuire
Then trade Teheran to Brewers for Santana
Why in the hell would you ever deal a prospect for Chase Headley?
the braves designated gonzalez immediately? i thought it was written they had to wait until monday.
When a player is designated for assignment, the team has 10 DAYS to trade or release them. He can’t be RELEASED until Monday.
i knew that. evidently the writer didn’t
When are the Braves actually going to do something to better the team? They are very close to being contenders believe it or not. Lots of talent on both sides of the ball, but they consistently throw money down the toilet. Last year, they signed Colon and Dickey, complete waste of $20 million (or so). This year, they’ve added McCarthy and Kazmir… why?
I get that they want to get rid of Kemp and his contract, but they really need to start making moves that actually make the team better. There’s a very strong free agent class right now, lots of teams willing to trade some big name guys, (Cole, Archer, Machado) and the Braves have the pieces, and payroll, to make something happen.
If they were to sign Darvish and trade for either Cole or Archer, and trade for Machado, they are immediate Contenders. That would fill all of their needs and they’d still be within budget. They would have to surrender some valuable prospects sure, but they’re just prospects, you never know if they’ll end up being a Chris Archer or not. Also, I wouldn’t trade prospects for Machado unless they can sign him to a long-term contract beforehand. Not worth it for just one year.
Imagine a lineup with Enciarte, Freeman, Ocuna, Machado, Swanson, Obiles. That’s a SOLID core for the next 7 years.
Also, imagine a rotation with Darvish, Archer (or Cole), Teheran, Folty, and one of their many pitching prospects at 5.
They could be contenders now if they just spent their money and prospects in the right way.
thing is is that all those young players are going to be really good in a few years so instead of being contenders for a few here’s I could be a real Dynasty if they just hold their pieces and go for 2019-2020
Perhaps, but you never know with prospects. If you move a couple of them for a Machado and/or and Archer or Cole, then you know exactly what you’re getting and their all still very young too.
Ha ok sure. Lets sign Darvish, trade for Archer, and trade for Machado…shouldn’t be too hard!
Why would it be? The Orioles want 2 young pitchers, which the Braves have plenty of. They also have the pieces that the Rays or Pirates want too. Darvish will get about 20 million/year and the Braves have the payroll flexibility to make that happen as well. Not impossible at all.
If you want machado and archer. You’re losing whole lot of those prospects. The Braves aren’t that close yet. That would be rushing the rebuild. Swanson hasn’t shown he’s a capable SS you have no third 3rd baseman, the bullpen has plenty of question marks, and the young pitching may be very good one day but it isn’t yet. You’re a season too early on any of that.
So subtracting a player who had substantial negative WAR isn’t helping the team? Then replacing that salary with three guys who very easily COULD show positive WAR this upcoming season isn’t improving the team? Even if the trio combined for 0 WAR it is an improvement over Kemp being on the roster. Not to mention that Acuna is also basically replacing Kemp.
It may not be the big moves you want, but it is definitely a move that should improve the team.
I get what you’re saying, but this move doesn’t really help us contend at all. Maybe we win 1 or 2 more games because of the trade, but we’re still at the bottom of the national league standings when all is said and done. There’s a lot of great free agents and trade pieces available that could really help us now, and long term. Tired of them being comfortable with mediocrity. Freddy Freeman only has so much valuable time left.
In the end that Dodgers/Red Sox deal will go down as the worst of this century. Gonzalez, Beckett, Crawford and utility player for two prospects and salary relief. The Red Sox win a World Series afterwards and the Dodgers paid a lot of money for a whole lot of nothing.
The Piazza trade is still worse.
I mean the Dodgers main goal was to show fans they were serious about competing. The Gonzo trade was a show of good faith. None much different than trying to appease fans with the Kemp/Ethier extensions. Although this time the rationale was more sane. So it did a tremendous amount in getting fans back into the stadium and fans believing the Dodgers turned a new leaf. If dodger fans were completely honest last year was the first time it felt like the Dodgers had accumulated enough talent to win a WS. But hey facts and stuff…….
So, people who criticize that trade (and the Andre Either contract) need to go back and look at the lineup of the (3rd place) 2011 Dodgers:
C Barajas 98 OPS+
1B Loney 110 OPS+
2B Carroll 99 OPS+
3B Uribe 56 OPS+
SS Gordon 92 OPS+
LF Gwynn 85 OPS+
CF Kemp 172 OPS+
RF Ethier 121 OPS+
This was a team that had just two solid hitters in its lineup (Loney would have just two above-average seasons the rest of his career) and was badly in need of difference-makers. It was more than just demonstrating an effort to win; it was finding some hitters, first in Hanley Ramirez and then Gonzalez and Crawford.
Sure no one is disputing the impact Gonzo and Ethier had on the lineup. The issue with the Ethier extension was he trending down, headed towards the wrong side of 30, and he was essentially a platoon player. He was a nice piece, but he was somewhat of a defensive liability in his extended stints in CF/RF. The Dodgers didn’t necessarily value players properly at that time. It’s hindsight 20/20 obviously, but at the time it felt as though it was a bad contract to hand out and it turned out it was. You can appreciate Colletti’s rationale on both fronts. He needed a power bat, but the farm had been depleted for reasons out of his control. Boom insert Gonzo a very good player to slot him in the middle. Ethier was a productive complimentary piece. A fan favorite, but he had his clear knocks. Both moves made sense without completely blowing it all up. I’m not sure they could have done that at the time. It was quite evident though the team was operating under the stars and scrubs model and didn’t have a clear plan.
Not at all. Gonzo was really solid for 5 years and a key piece of the team until 2017. Carl Crawford singlehandedly won a playoff series for them (see 2013 nlds game 4). Gonzalez got some huge playoff hits too. In the end they got what they wantes. Beckett threw a no hitter as well. Its just money. no big deal
Does Kemp have any trade value? He’s a clubhouse nightmare hence why LA sent him packing in the first place. Good monetary move for both teams but the Boys in Blue won’t win the division this year.
Kemp has zero value, and there’s like a 98% chance they just release him eventually. As for your second assertion, they’re returning all the key pieces (except for Morrow, I guess) of a team that was clearly the best in the NL last year, so I’d consider them pretty heavy division favorites
Kemp has trade value. If you pay all of his contract and trade him to an AL team in need of a DH you could net a 20-30 team list prospect or at least have that team pay 5 million and get a filler prospect.
“…an AL team in need of a DH…” Please list those teams, and then explain how Kemp, a 1 WAR offensive player, would fill that need for that team.
2017 slash line: .276/.318/.463/.781
And once again we learn that WAR is not the one stat that rules them all.
Won’t win the division? And why is that??? They are the favorites to win the WS last I checked.
The Yankees are the 9/2 favorites.
Who’s going to win the division, I can’t wait to hear your answer 🙂
Any chance the Tigers take Kemp for the prospects?
Tigers are tearing down, not adding. And either way, why would they want him?
To also gain prospects from the Dodgers. It’s actually not that far fetched for them to essentially buy prospects from the Dodgers and take Kemp and then just DFA him themselves. Depends on the money and the prospects of course.
They just reduced their payroll by $100M, farm needs help, and their 2018 outfield is looking like Mahtook, Martín/Jones, Castellanos. If the prospects and money line up and Kemp has more than a snowball’s chance in hell of contributing then it could be interesting. Idk… was just wondering if anyone could see it happening.
Maybe STEVE Kemp….
could be a chance, just as the Braves did with Bronson Arroyo, getting Touki Touissant from the Diamondbacks.
If the Dodgers did attach assets to get rid of Kemp, it’d never be a huge overpay like that trade was. This Dodgers F.O. doesn’t have Dave Stewart running the show. lol
I like this trade for the Braves but I’m tired of these contract unloading. This has been going on since when? 2014? they got nothing special for Kimbrel, Justin Upton, Simmons etc…
Every year its, “2017 is the year”, then “2018 is the year”, then “2019 in the year”
I think you falling into the hype machine this Braves rebuild was always about 2019 but I think it could be a very special team at that point
I agree. They have the payroll and prospects to compete now. They should trade a few prospects for Machado (only if they can sign him to an extension) and either Archer or Cole, AND they should sign Darvish.
This would give them an imposing lineup for years to come, a strong rotation, and still have plenty of prospects without breaking the bank.
All completely unnecessary though. Just wait for next year and sign two good players. There is no reason to give up top prospects to compete against the Nationals this year.
It does seem like they keep pushing it back a year or two every offseason. The Simmons trade was absolute trash. That’s not a knock against Newcomb who could be fine but Simmons is an elite player. We could have got two more years from him and still got a Newcomb+prospects this offseason
Is there anything in the rules that says a team can’t extend a players contract for another year at a low salary and then cut him? Basically the Dodgers wanted a player whose money was spread out over two seasons instead of one because of the AAV, which takes them under the luxury threshold.
Something like this:
A player like Adrian Gonzalez signs a new contract with the Dodgers today for two seasons, whatever his current salary for this year, and something like 2-3M for next year. I don’t know what his current deal was, but let’s just say it was $21M, so now his new contract is 2/24, with an AAV of 12 instead of 21. This would be “saving” the team 9M against the tax. The player gets an extra 3M for nothing and for 3M the team gets 9M of relief.
Is that even allowed? Also, yes that puts 12M more on next years tax threshold, but if you’re going to go over next year anyway, that doesn’t really matter. And I know that would then be the most that player could make next season (you can’t double dip) but a player like Adrian won’t make 3M in 2019 anyway.
Just a thought and another way a rich team could manipulate the system if they really wanted to. This deal just made me think of it, and wonder if there is any rule in place to say you couldn’t do it.
Extensions and option years are considered new contracts and have their own separate Average Annual Value (AAV).
Essentially, changing the AAV by adding a year to a contract isn’t a backdoor way around the system.
Gonzalez is terrible. He’s one of the family above all guys. Not the type you want. Family above all means winning. His type doesnt understand that.
What are you even talking about with that last comment? Are you saying Gonzalez is or is not about winning? And what “type” is he?
Don’t fall for his BS. He’s trying to get you to bite.
As a orioles fan I wouldn’t mind a giolito cease package for Machado then I’d sign moose to like a 4-80 mill deal and extend schoop
If I am Rick Hahn I call Zaidi and offer to take all of Kemp’s salary off their hands for a package centered around Alvarez and Ruiz and if they say no start moving down their prospect list and asking LA to retain more and more salary. Sox get two more quality prospects and can absorb that salary as their payroll is low, and Dodgers get financial flexibility beyond just tax relief.
Kemp’s entire salary off the books opens up the ability to sign Darvish or Arrieta AND stay below the luxury tax threshold this year.
If I’m zaidi I hang up
Dodgers already got what they wanted. They wont trade 2 top 100s to trade kemps money. Yes thats realistically what it would take, but the dodgers wont do it. They already got under the luxury tax and fixed their rotation logjam
Why would the Dodgers attach assets to Kemp just to dump his salary? Their estimated opening day payroll now sits at around $175M, plus whatever Tom Koehler gets — let’s just pretend it’s $4M for the hell of it.
$197M – $179M = $18M to play with and there aren’t any holes on the roster. Plus, they can still move Grandal and his $7.7M (MLBTR projection), and/or Joc Pederson and his $2M (MLBTR projection) if need be.
*meaningful assets
I would call Grandal definitely in play. He is redundant and in the last year of team control. Pederson less so, but he could be used to sweeten a trade. Despite what I am hearing, the Dodgers are not really overstocked in the outfield. Taylor has done a great job in CF considering but they really must prefer a natural CF’er so they can better exploit Taylor’s super-utility talent. Toles may or may not come back, but even if he does, he’s probably best suited as a #4, and Verdugo may or may not be ready. Either way, I see a vacancy sign in the outfield.
@BlueSkyLa it’s interesting because you’d have to believe they have some faith in Thompson, who is out of options. I think on the OF front they have enough OFs as stands, but this is the make or break year for a guy like Joc. And shredding 2M of a guy like Fields is more valuable than trading Joc at his lowest value. If anything that’s a position that could be addressed come deadline time. In terms of OF Joc/Kikè, Taylor, Puig, Thompson seems like the logical opening day configuration. The question becomes: How does Toles look come spring training? How much time if any, does it take him to get his timing and swing where it was? Verdugo probably starts the season at AAA to mature a bit more. He’s also mentioned he’s looking to find a bit more power. Then you wonder if Locastro’s change in approach and new look OF flexibility is a legitimate cause for excitement or a AAAA filler. It’s interesting to say the least. If anything in a churn of Grandal you hope to get a controllable a (S) hitting CF/Mif, but that’s probably more wishful thinking.
That outfield alignment is certainly possible but is also flawed. Both Taylor and Hernandez are better used if they are available to play all over the field. Nailing Taylor down to CF and Hernandez to a LF platoon is sacrificing much of the flexibility they bring to the table. Then if Taylor is hurt or slumps, where are they? Thompson is this year’s Scott Van Slyke, a placeholder. At best Toles has a long road back and his defense was questionable before. If the FO is really making getting under the luxury tax threshold their top priority then I see them making few additional changes and going with a bunch of half-measures and stop-gaps. Not a rebuilding year as such, but certainly a reset that results in a less deep and probably less competitive team.
I can see them attaching assets just not major assets, I.e. a guy like Rios etc. it depends on what their main goal is. Is it completely getting under this year? If it is they have little wiggle room. If we use the estimated 179 on cots, we can conservatively say it’s more likely 186M after Maeda’s bonuses. Close to 190 after Koehler. So that leaves a little less than 7M, that’s not very much for the rest of the offseason and deadline. Last year I think it was estimated they picked up 8M at the deadline. Sure they can move Grandal, but chances are they don’t go into the season with two green C. So the gap there isn’t substantial. Maybe save about 3M after that transaction. Moving Kemp and attaching assets would be the cleanest way to do that. Major assets that’s hard to justify, but who knows. I’ve learned to expect the unexpected with this group.
That’s pretty ambitious.,, I’d happily take on that money for Lux though…
Let’s keep in mind that the young core of the Dodgers are going to be super expensive to retain in the near future. This is the first significant austerity measure taken by the FO to that end.
Interesting prospect: Romer Cuadrado
He’s far away, but there’s a very high ceiling. I would say if a team ate $7-$10 million annually, Kemp and Cuadrado would be intriguing.
Greinke in play for LA now?
Gonzalez and kemp in a mets uniform would be interesting
Kemp either goes to BaT in a 3 way trade with 2 Al teams or they play Catch with another former executive.
The TIP on Darvish is that he is no longer in play North of downtown LA.
As for Adrian, he’ll be back with the Dodgers in another capacity when the dust settles.
I think his European vacation during the World Series probably nixed any chance of that happening.
This isn’t just an important move for both clubs but it’s a complete changing of the guard for the Braves… This is the polar opposite of the old GM. I mean this is what happens when you have real relationships in your industry. A true win win for two teams. Great job by both clubs!
I still don’t get how these lame azz LAD fans could see a player who was once a cornerstone of your roster get traded and not offer up ANY farewells. It says a lot about the type of people they are away from sports as well. Plastic fans in a plastic city.
You might want to check his Twitter before you go fan bashing. What is a farewell on MLBTR going to do? Please get over yourself.
Ohhh Adrian, puleeeze don’t go! Ohhh, Adrian!
I hope that sounds sincere enough. 😉
Bottom line, Dodger fans knew Gonzales’ days with LA were done as early as last May. He knew it, and we knew it.
If you scroll through most Dodgers fans accounts on Instagram and Twitter, you’d see many farewell posts to AGon and Culberson who have meant the most to LA out of that group of four players that went the other way to ATL. In regards to Kemp, we don’t know his fate with the team yet and his farewell party was three years ago. In the time since, he has never turned down an opportunity to bad mouth LA in regards to how things went down. My favorite was saying LA wasn’t a “baseball town”, even though we’ve lead the league in attendance since he’s been gone, simply laughable. He’s bitter and so are you.
Sorry you guys have a patent on the going away whine and cheese gift baskets. And besides, it’s only been like 12 hours.
According to the RumorMill, Braves are among 4 teams considering a Minor League Contract with Tim Lincecum. Indians, A’s, and Marlins are others. Linceum will likely sign before the end of the year.
Could someone explain this trade to me? I understand it from the dodgers standpoint, financial relief. But why would the braves take on all that money and help the dodgers?
They essentially cleared a space for Acuna and payroll in 2019. They took on one year contracts and rid themselves of Kemp commitment. BMac could be interesting, caveat if healthy, inning water or trade piece. It came out to even contract swaps. Kemp’s just a hard guy to move without eating money off the top. It generally makes a lot of sense for both teams.
That’s for the explanation!!
Thanks***
A lot to do about nothing!! Trade Swanson and get a major league player for him.
White Sox should be looking into a deal with the Dodgers.
The Braves have A PLETHORA of options regarding what to do with McCarthy and Kazmir! Do we keep them/start them the 1st few months….showcasing them to other teams? Do we try one/both in the bullpen….showcasing them to other teams? Do we keep them AND INSTEAD trade one/both Julio Teheran/Mike Folty? Or do we package/mix and match a veteran/prospects proposed trade in an effort to acquire AN ACE?
Slow your roll, lol! Stay in your lane, lol! Hold your horses! As I’ve stated ALL ALONG….we simply have TOO MANY QUESTIONS that need answering in 2018…BEFORE we start making moves designed for a playoff push starting in 2019!
This year..is about giving our PLETHORA of talented pitching prospects (along with Ozzie Albies and Ronald Acuna) PLENTY of playing time in 2018…..to show us what they have! Kind of hard to fit either/both McCarthy AND Kazmir into a proposed rotation of Teheran, Folty, Gohara, Newcomb and Fried (with Sims as the long relief man/spot starter if someone gets hurt/needs rest in the 1st half of the season….while Mike Soroka and Kolby Allard will be doing their thing in Triple A, gearing up for a possible promotion to Atlanta in the 2nd half IF their Triple A performance warrants it. And of course, we have the likes of Kyle Wright and Tooki Tousiant in Double A….and Ian Anderson, Joey Wentz, Bryce Wilson and Kyle Muller in High Class A. In addition, Patrick Weigel will be coming back from his ACL injury in Triple A by the end of 2018, gearing to be in full force by Opening Day 2019).
Unless AA changes course, I see him dealing at least one of McCarthy/Kazmir by Opening Day (giving them some starts in Spring Training…to showcase them being able to stay healthy, lol). However, I’d love to see both of them gone by Opening Day! If someone gets hurt, we’ll still have the likes of Kris Medlen, Aaron Blair and Matt Wisler in Triple A to plug in until Soroka and Allard are ready later in 2018. No need to waste a roster spot for veteran pitchers whose only purpose is to take away spots in the rotation from the youngsters!
As far as The Bullpen….we’re set (no need to find a true closer for 2018…..we’ll get one in The 2018 Free Agent Offseason, when we’ll be positioned to offer Craig Kimbrel $18 mil a year to return to The Braves). In the meantime, we’ll have PLENTY of youngsters to pick from to build a bullpen in 2018 (with an eye on who can excel long term starting in 2019!).
One idea that AA may be pondering….is to wait until after Spring Training is over (you know, every year, someone/someones always gets hurt pitching-wise. Maybe it would be would be wise to hold onto McCarthy and Kazmir….and see who is healthy on Opening Day 2018. If everyone is…then we trade both of them (shouldnt be that hard). If some are hurt…then the next step depends on who is hurt. If McCarthy and Kazmir both excel, then our return in a trade could be nice.
At the end of the day…the Matt Kemp Trade was ALL ABOUT giving our young players a chance to SHOW US what we have going into 2019. Also……it clears our payroll for us to be SERIOUS PLAYERS come The 2018 Free Agent Offseason! Dare I say MANNY MACHADO, BRYCE HARPER & Craig Kimbrel will be Braves Opening Day 2019?
To close…I assume that we’re keeping Nick Markakis and moving him to left field (Ronald Acuna will be playing Right Field..with his blazing speed and rifle arm)!
Projected 2018 Line-up:
1. Ozzie Albies…..2nd
2. Ronald Acuna…RF
3. Freddie Freeman…1st
4. Tyler Flowers/Kurt Suzuki…C (righty-lefty balance…DO NOT want Markakis hitting clean-up)
5. Ender Inciarte….Center
6. Rio Ruiz/Adonis Garcia…3rd (I’d rather see Johan Carmago be our everyday supersub)
7. Nick Markakis…..Left
8. Dansby Swanson….SS (he’s suited to hitting 8th, draws lots of walks/gets the occasional bloop hit….clearing the pitcher’s spot in The National League has value. I’d rather see Dansby focus on that…as well as being a leader who focuses on playing STELLA DEFENSE. The offense will come IF it’s meant to come for him).
While far from playoff worthy…..it’s somewhat respectable. What I’m more focused on…is how Albies and Acuna WRECK HAVOC at the top of the order/setting the table for Freddie! AA can work on the 4-5-6 spots (3rd base, Left Field and Catcher, long term, lol) in the order by Opening Day 2019! We’ll have THE MONEY…..will AA be able to convince Liberty to go “ALL-IN” in The 2018 Free Agent Offseason?
Do the math now….on whether $150 mil Braves payroll in 2019..can absorb paying Machado and Harper $35 mil a year long term contracts…as well as Craig Kimbrel $18 mil a year (either 4 or 5 year contract)….for a total of $88 mil combined starting in 2019 (which would, in theory, leave $62 for the other 22 roster spots). Well, when you factor in Freddie Freeman’s $21 mil and Ender Inciarte’s $5 mil 2019 salaries…then that leaves only $36 mil for 20 roster spots (after Machado, Harper, Kimbrel, Freeman and Inciarte).
However, the remaining non-minimum wage players left are Julio Teheran ($11 mil in 2019)….Mike Folty (3 years of arbitration left after 2018…expected to make around $5-$6 mil in 2019).. Adroys Vizcaino (approximately $5-$6 mil in 2019…Free Agent in 2020)..and Dan Winkler ($1.5-$2 mil in 2019…a FA after 2020). Depending on how those four perform in 2018 (and ESPECIALLY how our PLETHORA of high profile young pitching prospects performs in 2018)…all four could either return OR be traded by The End of The 2018 Season.
Albies, Acuna, Swanson, Minter, Soroka, Allard, Gohara, Fried, Wright, Newcomb, Lane Adams, Johan Carmago, Lucas Sims, Jose Ramirez and Anyelo Gomez (who we drafted from The Yankees in The Rule 5 Draft….if he stays with The Braves in 2018)….(that’s at least 15 players slated to make The MLB Minimum Opening Day 2019)…which leaves 5 spots to fill (15 times $550k MLB Minimum….equals approximately $8.25 mil)…out the remaining $27.75 mil in remaining salary to fill The approximate hypothetical $150 mil 2019 Team Payroll.
With Dan Winkler ($1.5-$2 mil in 2019)….along with one more year each (hypothetically speaking) of Tyler Flowers/Kurt Suzuki (same contracts as 2018 for 2019), a combined $7.5 mil. That’s 3 players at a combined cost of $9.5 mil. That’s a total of 23 players for a total of $132.75 mil.
If I had to make a decision today, I feel that either Teheran or Folty will rise up in 2018 and stake a claim to be THE ACE of this staff going into 2019. My guess…is that it will be Folty. Teheran could…but chances are Sun Trust Field is in his head….and even if he has a decent season, he will probably be traded. Folty’s stuff is simply TOO GOOD to be a mediocre pitcher. Add Folty’s projected $5-$6 mil 2019 salary to the mix…24 players/$138.75 mil total…leaving 1 player left/$11.25 mil left.
That would leave $11.25 mil to fill out the last reserve player (I’ll leave that up to AA to find…assuming we’d be going into 2019 with a 4 man bench like in 2018…..2019 bench would be Carmago, backup catcher-Flowers/Suzuki, Lane Adams, and AA’s choice).
2019 Starting 8 would be:
1. Ozzie Albies…2nd…$550k
2. Ronald Acuna…RF…$550k
3. Freddie Freeman…1st…$21 mil
4. Manny Machado….3rd….$35 mil
5. Bryce Harper….LF….$35 mil
6. Flowers/Suzuki..C….combined $7.5 mil
7. Ender Inciarte…Center…$5 mil
8. Dansby Swanson…SS….$550k
2019 Starting 5 Rotation:
1. Mike Folty….$6 mil
2. Luiz Gohara…..$550k
3. Mike Soroka…..$550k
4. Kolby Allard……$550k
5. Kyle Wright….$550k (to be honest, we’re going to have Tooki Tousiant, Joey Wentz, Bryce Wilson and Ian Anderson waiting in the wings to make a push by Opening Day 2020, lol…that is how SICK our depth is, lol. Not to mention Patrick Weigel and Kyle Muller, lol).
2019 Bench
1. Johan Carmago….$550k
2. Suzuki/Flowers….$0.00 (already accounted for in the starting lineup)
3. Lane Adams……..$550k
4. AA’s choice………(he has $11.25 mil to play with).
2019 Bullpen
1. Craig Kimbrel….$18 mil
2. Dan Winkler…..$2 mil
3. AJ Minter……..$550k
4. Sean Newcomb….$550k
5. Max Fried………$550k
6. Anyelo Gomez….$550k
7. Lucas Sims…….$550k
8.Jose Ramirez…..$550k
To be honest, a number of those bullpen arms will be interchangeable/rotated between Triple A/The Disabled List/Atlanta throughout the 2019 Season! We’ll have the likes of Akeel Mooris/Jacob Lindgren, Grant Dayton, Josh Ravin, Devan Watts, Corbin Clouse, Josh Graham, Mauricio Cabrera (if he ever gets his act together), Adam McCreery, etc. to slide in when needed!
Now doesnt that have the makings of A POTENTIAL DEEP PLAYOFF RUN type team? Unless AA went with a really PRICEY bench piece with the $11.25 mil left I ‘gave him’ to spend…..I think I did AN AMAZING JOB ‘spending’ $138.75 mil on this roster!
Depending on what we’d gotten back from trading Teheran (in this scenario)…as well as Kazmir and McCarthy….we could either have some more Lower Minor League Depth…OR a more valuable bench piece than Culberson, lol!
To all you who felt that there would be NO WAY for The Braves to spend $150 mil and field a competitive playoff team….NOT ONLY did I do so…but I did so with $11.25 mil LEFT (again, assuming AA didnt go for a PRICEY bench piece..he’s going to have around $10 mil left to ‘play with’ during the season IF a need arises…with the option of increasing the $150 mil payroll to $160 mil or so IF something happens). However, given our depth in The Minors…we’ll be fine pitching-wise. However if a Harper, Machado or Freeman got hurt…then yes, we’d need to make some sort of move to address that for the short team! Barring that….this team is STACKED/LOADED/and more importantly…HELLA YOUNG!
Your thoughts?
You’re on fire
Off the wall