The Dodgers have announced stunning news regarding top young shortstop Corey Seager. He’ll undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the remainder of the 2018 season, according to the team.
For the time being, infielder Breyvic Valera will come up to take the open roster spot created by Seager hitting the DL. But he won’t come close to accounting for the yawning gap created by Seager’s absence the rest of the way. Seager had dealt with elbow troubles late in 2017, but the news still comes as a major surprise.
Los Angeles entered the season with one of the game’s best duos on the left side of the infield. Though third baaseman Justin Turner has missed the first month of the season, the hope was that he’d soon re-join Seager and re-create a unit that combined for about 12 fWAR annually over the past two campaigns. Instead, the team will cross its fingers that Turner can regain his form at the hot corner while scrambling to account for the hole at short.
Despite a tepid start from the Dodgers overall, it has remained reasonable to anticipate that the club would begin picking up the pace as the season wears on. But losing Seager takes away the Los Angeles organization’s top position player and makes the road to a sixth-straight NL West title seem much tougher.
Despite his own middling run to begin the 2018 campaign — a .257/.339/.366 slash through 115 plate appearances — Seager is viewed as one of the top young talents in baseball. After all, he is a .301/.372/.492 hitter in over 1,500 MLB plate appearances, with quality glovework and baserunning adding to his value. And he just turned 24 three days ago.
Looking to the future, the hope will obviously be that Seager can rehab and get back to full health in advance of the 2019 season. As a position player, rather than a pitcher, the odds are much better that he’ll be able to participate fully in spring camp next year. In the best-case scenario, perhaps, he’ll also have an opportunity to rest some other maladies that have arisen over the years and enjoy a full and unrestrained 2019 campaign. Unfortunately for the young star, the timing of the injury will rob him of a chance at compiling statistics in his final pre-arbitration season, meaning he’ll earn far less next season (and for the following two campaigns) than he would reasonably have anticipated.
More immediately, the Dodgers need to figure out how to make it through the current season. Perhaps the club can account directly for the loss of Seager by moving Chris Taylor back to short, which is the position he broke into the majors playing. Of course, that’d just allow another leak to spring in center field, where Taylor has mostly lined up in 2018. While the organization can call upon its outfield depth — including just-promoted top prospect Alex Verdugo — to make things work, the result is obviously a less-fearsome lineup than it expected to be fielding.
The loss of Seager does create an obvious and intriguing — but still quite speculative — match on paper between the Dodgers and Orioles. The Baltimore club has limped out of the gates in spite of a monster first month from Manny Machado, who is one of a relative few players in baseball (and the only one reasonably available via trade) in Seager’s league at the shortstop position. Doing so, particularly early, would mean not only coughing up a haul of talent but also executing some financial tightrope walking. The club premised its offseason strategy on staying beneath the luxury tax line to re-set its tax obligations, and has just over $15MM of wiggle room to work with at last look. That makes Machado (who’s earning $16MM in his final season of arb eligibility) a tight squeeze. Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus, who could opt out of his contract in the coming offseason, is also an interesting-but-expensive conceivable target, though he’s on the DL at the moment. Odds are, the Dodgers will take their time in assessing the possibilities before they make a highly consequential move.
FreeTheFreeman
Well, that’s a disaster.
RedKing22
Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?
Alex Graboyes
Omg . This should be breaking news dodgers season is over .
carlote
really? for one player?
mrnatewalter
Barring a significant roster move (Machado?), that’s a loss of a 4-6 win player.
4-6 wins is a sizable gap to overcome.
driftcat28 2
That’d be an interesting move, but it’d cost a ton and idk if the dodgers would be willing to do it for half a season. Unless they make a deal in the next week or two
mrnatewalter
The quicker they make this move, the less of a blow this could be.
Their SS options are: Kiké Hernandez, Chris Taylor, or Breyvic Valera. That’s not a good option going forward. Machado isn’t necessarily the only option, but he presents the best overall safeguard.
rmullig2
Half a season?
takeyourbase
Texhinically only a month into the year but Machado seems like a pipe dream for fans at best
takeyourbase
Technically*
BlueSkyLA
Learn to know and love your edit link. You have five minutes to fix typos.
layventsky
Not if you’re using the app. App users can’t edit comments, upvote, downvote, or report spam.
GiantsX3
Taylor to short and Kemp/Verdugo get an uptick in playing time.
hiflew
You are assuming they are replacing him with a zero win player. It’s the Dodgers, that ain’t happening. This is not the Pirates being forced to play with a AAAA player whenever they lose a big league guy. The Dodgers will buy someone, possibly Machado, and just plug them in.
Solaris601
I have to agree. They’ve gotten very little from those filling in for Turner at 3B, so it isn’t even like they can shift those guys over to SS when Turner returns. Bellinger isn’t hitting, Puig is out (he wasn’t hitting), Forsythe is out, and now this. As long as BAL is even slightly reasonable, Dodgers have to go get Machado not just to play SS but to pump some life into this lineup.
BlueSkyLA
Sounds like some really good reasons to not use the app.
frankiegxiii
The Dodgers need Machado, but end up going after someone like Adeiny Hechavarria or using Arrubarrena… unless they somehow shed some salary…
frankiegxiii
Joking btw
Brewers39
Then why use the App?
sixpacktwo
They move Taylor back to SS and trade for Hamilton to play center field. lose some hitting but gain ‘D’ and speed.
kimball0401
Ooooffff
Slipknot37
That hurt.
under raited
That totally sucks
yeahhhjeets
Wow…. what the..……
Rounding3rd
He had an odd throw in the Giants game over the weekend. I wonder if he was favoring the elbow.
socalblake
(Sad face)
RedKing22
That’s 2 position players to have TJS this year now, and like 3 or 4 pitchers…
em650r
JT out
Hill has blisters
Corey is a big blow
xabial
Hill doesn’t have blisters, but infection from cracked fingernail. He was set start Monday, but went on DL after it got infection. Hill described the DL stint as “precautionary,” and isn’t pleased he wasn’t allowed to pitch twitter.com/McCulloughTimes/status/986752555668520…
BlueSkyLA
No indication the “infection” is related to the fingernail.
xabial
It’s the same finger that has cracked fingernail. First Twitter link, was to show Hills frustration and desire to pitch through it.
Here’s (another link) to show you the infection is on the same finger with the cracked fingernail. twitter.com/alannarizzo/status/990668426929627136?…
BlueSkyLA
Hill always wants to pitch. If he ever didn’t, that would be news. The point being, it’s difficult to imagine how a cracked fingernail could lead to an infection. This FO comes up with all sorts of ways to manipulate the roster. This looks like another.
acarneglia
This sucks! Corey went to the same school as me.
Bart
I blame you then!!
sigdawg25
lol
acarneglia
I take full responsibility lol. I’ll go kick the athletic trainers ass tomorrow when I get there.
algionfriddo
I grew up in the same small town (2 years younger) than the Yankees Steve Kline. You had to really be careful who you got in a snowball fight with. At 11 he could kill you if you weren’t looking.
deweybelongsinthehall
Wasn’t Steve Kline traded to Cleveland with Charlie Spikes, Rusty Torres and a 4th player for Craig Nettles or Chris Chambliss? There were two separate trades then. The Yankees stole both. I guess I’ll go look them up.
BlueSkyLA
That’s nothing. Bruce Springsteen and I went to different high schools together.
walls17
Whoaaaa when the heck did this happen?
K3vin
Time to get Manny Machado
em650r
Manny would be huge but the front office will get some cliff Pennington or Danny Espinosa
frankiegxiii
That sounds exactly like something this front office would do
Christian Larsen
DBacks just became the clear favourites to win the NL West
Philliesfan4life
They prolly are gonna win it now with Seager out for the season, plus they don’t even have turner back yet. Kershaw is gonna have to carry them and I don’t see it happening.
cobe1224
I have a question. I had only heard of pitchers getting Tommy John Surgery. Now, Gleyber Torres and Corey Seager both get it. Torres is already back. What are the similarities and differences of pitchers and position players?
justin-turner overdrive
For position players its 8-12 months.
kimball0401
Torres got it on his non throwing arm and position players recover quicker because they don’t put as much strain on their arm as pitchers
Solaris601
Shin Soo Choo had TJ surgery like 8 or 9 years ago.
aj_54
same injury, but batters can come back quicker, I believe beacause they don’t rely on the arm as much
sacball
Mac Williamson had it a few years back in the minors, was back in about 9 months
jasonr
Torres hurt his NON THROWING elbow on a play at the plate. Less recovery time.
davidcoonce74
Position players have occasionally gotten it – I believe Profar is another one. Rocco Baldelli, Kyle Blanks, Mike Aviles, Molitor, Matt Holliday Shin-Soo Choo got it. Canseco, too, although he was a pitcher for like one inning!. There have been a bunch of catchers – mostly backup types like Curt Casali and Ben Davis, but Wieters had it too. . It’s obviously more common for guys who throw 100 times a game, but plenty of position players have gotten it; I’d assume with pitchers it is more of a gradual wearing and tearing of the ligament and with position players it’s more of a sudden injury. Oddest was probably Erubiel Durazo, who was not a pitcher or position player; he was almost exclusively a DH.
GoRockies
Miguel Sano has it about 4 years ago
xabial
Carl Crawford had it about 6 years ago
deweybelongsinthehall
what difference did it make to Crawford? He could never throw.
xabial
Probly no difference. I know the wounds from the Crawford albatross runs deep. I empathize with BOS fans, in that regard because we have our own version of Crawford in Ellsbury (who also cant throw)
Reason I brought it up, is TJ for a positional player is rarer than pitchers. davidcoonce74 provided excellent list of positional players who received it, and GoRockies added.
I wanted to add to both their lists of positional players, who got TJ.
davidcoonce74
Ha ha. But you actually need an elbow ligament to bend your elbow and bat too.
deweybelongsinthehall
New Dodgers ownership saved the Sox and took Crawford and Beckett when they wanted Gonzalez.
xabial
Profar never had Tommy John surgery when he missed all of ‘14 and ‘15.
Profar tore a shoulder muscle, opted for rest and rehab, instead of surgery, had a setback, and was out for entire 2014 season
When rest and rehab didn’t work, Profar had shoulder surgery to repair torn labrum, was out for the entire 2015 season.
davidcoonce74
Ah, thanks. I thought it was TJ but shoulder stuff is actually more scary.
tim815
The Brewers Keston Hiura will probably need it.
First round pick last June.
Ruben_Tomorrow 2
I believe Xavier Nady is the only position player to have multiple TJ surgeries.
leprechaun
He will also miss part of next year sad to say
justin-turner overdrive
Uhhh position players don’t have the same timetables as pitchers, use your head. Sano and Torres weren’t out that long. 10 months Seager should be good to go.
Steven Chinwood
Torres surgery was to his non-throwing arm.
jdgoat
That really doesn’t matter. I’m sure a position player can return quickly whether it’s either arm. As long as he can swing a bat, they could hide him at first since that’d be the least strenuous spot if his arm still wasn’t ready
nbgiant25
Yep, it’s not like they have anyone else worth mentioning playing 1B already…
jdgoat
Bellinger could play the outfield
CubsFanForLife
Dodgers are looking like the 2016 Giants in the sense that they can’t catch a break. Still likely a playoff team, but if they continue to endure injuries and less than stellar performances from their studs, then the Diamondbacks are a real threat to steal that division.
Steven Chinwood
This should definitely help open the WC door to another team from the Central. Two teams from the NL East could be in also.
justin-turner overdrive
Verdugo for Machado lets go
Solaris601
I’d make that deal today if I was either team.
jbigz12
I agree. Have to think about if you’re the Dodgers though. You’ve got Taylor in CF which we’ll say is fine but the way he’s been playing that’s no guarantee. You’ve got an injured Puig and Kemp in the corners… it’s not hard to imagine them needing Verdugo or another OFEr this year. How long can kemp keep this up? Will Taylor bounce back? Might make another hole in the roster.
Solaris601
Andre Ethier: “I’m still available. Just sayin.” Dodgers still have Toles at AAA. They won’t have to give up multiple blue chip prospects for Machado since he’s a rental, and as of the moment LAD is the only contender who would be in the market for a SS. Such a trade would only be possible if Peter Angelos’ sons really are calling the shots in BAL. If Angelos himself is still in total control, it would never happen.
Steven Chinwood
+?
mrnatewalter
I doubt anyone is throwing LA a bone. This is probably fair. I wouldn’t be surprised if teams make them overpay.
whatdoiget000
if there’s one thing the orioles have it’s OF prospects – Hays / Stewart / Mullins / Santander and there’s a good chance Mountcastle will end up in a corner too. Buehler on the other hand…
dutch91701
No shot Buehler goes anywhere. LA’s FO would sooner pack it in and accept missing the playoffs.
Kenleyfornia74
Machado
RedKing22
I mean, it’s good for the Dbacks, but I hate to see such a good young player go under the knife
jdgoat
Rip Dodgers
jdgoat
(This also sucks tremendously as a baseball fan)
wiggysf
Ik. I’m a Giants fan and I still don’t like it. Sorry Dodgers.
On the other hand, Puig is out yay
Cam
Huge blow. Looks like that elbow issue he carried through last season got worse.
Now, where can the Dodgers find a quality SS that would be okay as a rental?
Hello Mr Machado.
jbigz12
This should be good news for Baltimore. If we’re ready to punt as we should. The dodgers should be inclined to give up more much sooner in the season for Manny. He can essentially save their season.
stymeedone
Jose Iglesias, anyone?
Jordan 5
I agree k3vin. Go get machado and put Seager at 2nd if and when he comes back.
driftcat28 2
He’s done for the season, and Manny is a free agent at the end of the season. Chances are these two won’t become double play partners
leolujan77
Let’s go I feel really bad but as a giants fan good news but best wished ❤️
GONEcarlo
Terrible news. Best of luck to Corey as he rehabs through this.
camdenyards46
Now they should trade for Machado. One year replacement if Seager will be ready for next season, and they have the financial capability to resign him if they want to keep him around.
RedRooster
Financial capability to keep him around isn’t a reason to trade for him because it also means they have the financial capability to sign him in free agency without giving up any prospects. But with Seager out for the season this looks like a perfect match.
camdenyards46
If they traded for him then they would probably have a higher chance at landing him since he is familiar with the organization. I say probably because of cases like Darvish in the World Series last year sort of pushed him out.
RedRooster
The prospects Machado would cost in a trade are easily worth more than MAYBE having a marginally better chance of signing him in the offseason. If you are trading for Machado you are trading to have him on your team for 2018. Anything that happens after that is a separate and irrelevant transaction.
Anyway, the Dodgers don’t need to sign Machado. Seager should be back early in 2019. Trading for a rental SS is the smart move at this point for them.
camdenyards46
Yes, I agree that the prospects given up would be worth a whole lot more than a chance at better odds to resign him. But if they did want to resign him, since he is a great player, they could trade Forsythe and put Turner at second or trade Turner and put him at third. I know both of those indfield manipulation scenarios are unlikely, but in case they wanted to keep him around. But they would probably just want him to cover the hole in the infield for this year rather than Kike Hernandez.
BlueSkyLA
Trade Turner? Sheesh, are we going nuts here or what?
None of this nonsense is required to fix the infield hole created by Seager. If the Dodgers do get on the phone to Baltimore it will be about what it would cost to solve this year’s problem, not some meaningless speculation about next year.
RedRooster
Machado has said that he intends to sign as a shortstop, so he wouldn’t be re-signing in LA cuz of Seager. They only need him as a rental. So trading for him is perfect cuz the team that trades for him is only going to get him as a rental.
JoeyPankake
They should put Taylor at short and use their depth in the outfield for the time being rather than make a knee jerk trade.
davidcoonce74
Chris Taylor? He’s played 80 career games at short….I think they’ll find someone with a bit more experience. The knee-jerk panic thing would be to just throw someone out there with no business being on the field. I actually think Machado makes a ton of sense here; he gets to feel out the team, they get a very good player for the rest of the year, I think Machado’s game might be more suited to the NL anyway. It might be great for all sides, and Baltmore’s leverage in a trade is fairly low, despite Machado’s talent. (Obviously, LA would have to give up some serious talent, but they could pull off a Machado deal without touching the major League roster)
jbigz12
Buehler and Verdugo are both on the ML team. Their next best prospect is keibert Ruiz a very good prospect but a catcher. BAL has chance sisco so that’s not a match. Could they do it without Verdugo? Maybe they could but I think it’s more likely that you see him in the trade.
JoeyPankake
Who would get the deal done if you aren’t trading Verdugo or Buehler?
jbigz12
Urias would for sure. Don’t know exactly how untouchable he would be either but he’d certainly do it. Other than that it’d be tough like I said. They have yusniel Diaz, and white is also a pretty good prospect but that likely wouldn’t do it.
BlueSkyLA
Urias is a total lottery ticket now. He’s on a long road back, possibly to nowhere.
jbigz12
Urias still holds a great deal of value. You’re talking about a 21 year old left handed potential ace. You’d be selling low at this point but if he’s the headliner of the package with another quality prospect or two, that could certainly fetch a year of machado. With that being said the orioles have an aversion to taking potentially damaged goods in the rotation so he may not work for that reason. I don’t see a deal likely without Verdugo as I’ve said but then again I never imagined you’d get Gerrit Cole with Colin Moran as the headliner.
davidcoonce74
I think Urias would have to be part of the deal. Dude had serious skills and is still really young. There are plenty of pitchers in history who have had serious arm issues early on and had productive careers. And one of Verdugo or Buehler, I guess, so they would have to touch the ML roster. Or heck, they could go totally crazy and add Seager to the trade – that would be super-unorthodox but the Dodgers’ front office does think outside the box.
Every day closer to the trade deadline is a day the O’s have less leverage over Machado and his return. Unless they manage an extension (which would never happen in a billion years).
Cam
There is absolutely no way that the Dodgers will be trading Urias + Verdugo/Buehler, or parts PLUS Seager, for half a year ish of Machado. Absolute madness.
Seager still has 4 years of control after this lost season – plus he’s been better than Machado for the last couple.
Rentals don’t fetch what they used to. Teams are far smarter now. When all is said and done, Baltimore will be clutching to get two Top-50 guys from a buyer. Free agency around the corner guts Machado’s value.
RedRooster
Seager has three years of control after this one.
Cam
Yeah I blew that one, counted it as after, not in.
Take a percentage off my point.
xabial
Cam, you assumed 4 years, but the number was 3 years.
must take off 33% because that full year is 33% of Corey Seager’s remaining Arb years, after this one.
100-33% = 67% = D+ Congrats!! You still pass 😛
Cam
I’ll take that. Marginal, but enough to get a piece of paper.
BlueSkyLA
Urias had a surgery with a very uncertain prognosis, and he hasn’t thrown off a mound in more than a year. All of his previous potential goes right out the window until he shows he can pitch again. Until then, lottery ticket.
matthew102402
Taylor came up as a shortstop, and every game he played in 2014 was at short as well.
nbgiant25
Good call, davidcoonce74. Looks like Taylor is their SS for the moment…
davidcoonce74
Yeah, I guess so. Not the greatest idea since he isn’t that good but I assume he won’t be there for long.
jbigz12
They don’t have that much outfield depth and they’re hovering around .500. Puig is on the DL. That leaves Verdugo Pederson and kemp playing everyday. also locks Forsythe in everyday at 2B. That’s just not that great, honestly.
mrnatewalter
Yeah, I’ve been confused on this notion that the Dodgers are this extremely deep team since Spring Training started.
They are a very good team when healthy. Now that there’s so many injuries, we’re beginning to see that depth is not exactly in their favor.
jbigz12
Particularly in the rotation. They had about 11 capable starters last year. Rich hill is a lock to miss a chunk of the season and Buehler is just getting his feet wet in the major leagues. There’s not a ton of depth there anymore behind that. Chris Taylor isn’t the same spark plug he was. Though, IMO he was an easy pick for a good bit of regression before the season started. Hopefully he gets better but who knows what to expect out of him. Puig is a wildcard, Pederson is no sure thing. Kemp’s hot start has been great but do you really think he can play like this all year? Forsythe has been bad in everything but the postseason. You start looking at this team a little harder after the slow start and you think to yourself this team was really a lock to win nearly 100 games and the division title? They’ll get better with turner returning but it’s certainly a team with some clear holes.
Ninth 3 Year Plan
I almost feel bad for the doyers……..nah was just that last taco I ate
BEAT LA
Cam
I love it when a team lives rent free in someones head like this.
sportsfan 2
The Dodgers might want to call the Braves about Johan Camargo availability. Camargo he can play 2B,3B and at SS plus he is a good hitter. Now I am not saying that the Braves or will be willing to trade him.
jbigz12
Camargo won’t save the Dodgers season that’s for sure. He’s a useful utility infielder but we’re talking about replacing Corey Seager. They’re not in the same Area code.
RedRooster
Bet they trade for Machado now. No other contender needs a shortstop and non-contenders like the Phillies, White Sox or Padres that might be interested in him will just wait until the offseason to make a move for him, so the Dodgers don’t really have anyone else to drive up the price on them.
Mike_Davis
I don’t think that is true about the dodgers having no one to drive up the price. The diamondbacks had serious interest in Machado during the offseason. While Ahmed is still a wizard with the glove & has hit better this season, he is still below league average with the bat. If Machado is made available, I can see them taking a run at him.
I do realize that the dodgers can easily outbid the diamondbacks for Machado, but I can see the diamondbacks at least making it more expensive for the dodgers to acquire him.
RedRooster
All the Diamondbacks really have to offer are Duplantier and Smith and with Goldy likely leaving in free agency after 2019 trading Smith wouldn’t be a smart move.
jbigz12
If the dbacks offer duplantier and smith than that would make it hard for the Dodgers not to include Verdugo. The orioles don’t need Ruiz and Buehler is obviously off the table. That leaves a couple other good prospects in the Dodgers system but duplantier and smith would likely rank somewhere between #4-6 in the Dodgers system. Likely #4 and 5. Obviously if the Dodgers put Verdugo on the table that’s where he’ll go but if they’re unwilling to do so the diamondbacks could certainly put together a competitive package.
RedRooster
Duplantier and Smith are the Diamondbacks’ farm system and they are about to lose a lot of talent to free agency so they might not be so inclined to part with either but if they are then yeah, it might be hard for the Dodgers to get Manny without either giving up Verdugo or several guys in their 4-10 range.
jbigz12
With duplantier and smith being the entire system it might make more sense to go all in now. It’s hard to imagine them competing post Goldy and possibly pollock with only those 2 coming up as re-enforcements.
RedRooster
True that!
I will say tho that I trust Mike Hazen to make the right move. Such a smart hire.
RedRooster
Hmm… Do you think a package of Mitchell White, Yusniel Diaz, Yadier Alvarez and maybe Errol Robinson would get it done? It’s a little more quantity than quality but if the Dodgers aren’t willing to part with Verdugo they are going to have to do something like that.
jbigz12
Yadier Alvarez is more of a lottery ticket than a top prospect at this point. His stock has dropped a lot. Really struggling with his control. it would surprise me if we didn’t look for an impact talent in any trade. I would think we’d want a top guy Giving up machado. Especially with the way he’s playing.
RedRooster
My question was more whether or not you think that package is better than anything the Diamondbacks could offer. Obviously if the Dodgers are willing to part with Verdugo the Diamondbacks can’t really beat that without dealing off the Major League roster but I’m not sure the Dodgers are interested in giving up Verdugo for a rental.
For the moment the Dodgers, Diamondbacks and maybe the Cardinals are the only teams I see being interested in trading for Machado. That may change if someone else’s SS or 3B gets injured.
jbigz12
Diamondbacks don’t have a perfect package. The orioles have a glut of 1B options. Pavin smith would obviously have to be included due to their dearth of prospects but he doesn’t really fill a hole in Baltimore. We have Mancini and Davis long term as 1B options as well as Mountcastle’s eventual position change to a corner OF or 1B. So, yeah I think the Dodgers May be able to throw something together without their top 3 that is equivalent to what the Dbacks can offer. It’s hard to know how the front office views the prospects. I don’t know whether Duquette and co. would value a guy like pavin smith who is a 1B only guy much higher than a White or Diaz given our internal options. IMO the cardinals would be the easiest match prospect wise. If the cards offered Bader or O’Neill + Flaherty. That’d be a dream scenario though and I doubt a rental of machado would be able to command that with Flaherty included anyway.
jbigz12
Urias makes a ton of sense for me. I’m assuming the dodgers believe Buehler will impact the team this year and they’d rather not move him. If they feel urias likely won’t contribute much this year and the orioles believe his injuries aren’t too severe that would make a lot of sense to me anyway. It depends how the dodgers evaluate themselves. To me, they still have years left in their window with Seager, Bellinger, Jansen, and Turner all under contract for 3+ years. Kershaw is a pending FA and you never know what might happen with his performance or he may walk. You can’t get in the mind of these guys. Who knows.
bobtillman
Freidman should call his old friends in Tampa. Hechiaverra doesn’t hit much, but he might be the best defensive SS not named Simmons in MLB. And at 5M, Rays would love to give him away for a bag of balls.
nbgiant25
Hechavarria is a decent defensive SS, but he’s not anywhere near the top tier. Simmons, Lindor, Crawford, Iglesias are all light-years better (Russell tops the next tier down).
davidcoonce74
Or just down the road, they could get Galvis.
xabial
This time, Tommy John epidemic claims a star positional player 🙁
some guy 2
Sucks for Seager and baseball fans. But, presuming the Dodgers are now interested in Machado, what is a fair swap?
RedRooster
I would say Verdugo would be in play but at this point all they realistically have to do is be the highest bidder and with the Diamondbacks and maybe the Cardinals being the only other bidders they might be able to get it done without giving up Verdugo.
ttinsley1434
They are not trading Machado for a rental.
ttinsley1434
Sorry, Verdugo.
RedRooster
The alternative is to either let the division rival Diamondbacks trade for him and have to face him down the stretch or to trade several of their 4-10 ranked prospects for him.
ttinsley1434
If it costs them Verdugo, then I say let the D-Backs have Machado. If they can make it work with more of the lower ranked prospects, then I’m ok with it. I just don’t think that Verdugo is worth a 1 year rental. Just my take on it.
RedRooster
You might be right, but if the Diamondbacks put Duplantier or Smith on the table it might be hard to outbid them without offering Verdugo.
bigrman
Just when he was finally swinging the bar! Verdugo in center and Taylor to short? They’re not going to re-sign machado if they trade for him and they’re going to have to overpay for machado. It really depends on how they see this season going. But with the state of their bullpen, I’m up for a quick overhaul to get ready for next year. I would trade Kershaw while he has any surplus value and avoid paying him crazy money for his decline years and while his contract has surplus value. Maybe to the yanees for Torres, #1 pitching prospect, and a high upside pitcher in the lower minors. Give Brock Stewart a chance in the rotation. If Hill comes back and throws well, trade him at the deadline and kick in some money for bullpen pieces for next year. If Kemp continues playing well, trade him for lower tier but high upside prospects and get the money off the books for next year. Make a play for Chris Archer and Michael Fullmer of the tigers in the off-season. Re-sign grandal maybe 3/33 million. The hardest part would be to trade Kershaw, but looking at just his stuff, it has clearly declined. It’s tough for the fan base to swallow, but I don’t see whoever signs him to the monster contract he ends up signing getting any surplus value from it and spending the resources (money) elsewhere provides better bang for their buck.
Philliesfan4life
It sucks to see a young player like Seager go down for the season but right now the dodgers are in a big hole. If the dbacks take this series starting tonight, Im giving them the nl west.
ttinsley1434
So what you’re saying is, If the D-backs take a series in April, you’re giving them the division? Cool story, Bro!
Javi Padilla
It does not matter what position players we have out there with our pitching staff we weren’t going anywhere. other than Kershaw the rest struggle just to reach the 5th inning. Bullpen pitches more innings then the starters. just bring up the kids slash friedman and zhadis hoarded prospects. Archer please that name ive heard since friedman came over in 2014 and refuse to pull trigger.
srdiaz1972
Sign Erick Aybar….
RedRooster
Cool!
srdiaz1972
Sign Erick Aybar
RedRooster
Cool!
deweybelongsinthehall
Wow! Fitting Machado’s salary is easily offset with sending back to Baltimore contracts with top prospects. It’s certainly early enough to make up for their rough start. The long term question though is unless you want him next year, why not dial up Detroit and get Iglasias? Certainly not MM offensively but will cost much less and allow another move or two on 07/31.
jbigz12
What other move do you make at the deadline that’s more impactful than manny? You drag your feet with a barely above replacement level SS until the deadline and then you look for what? Your biggest hole would still be SS. There’s only one player on the market who replaces Seager without feeling that drop in production and that’s Manny. And the dodgers have the prospect capital to acquire more than just machado if that’s what they wish to do. The luxury tax is their biggest hurdle.
deweybelongsinthehall
Dodgers priority by 07/31 could be pitching. You never know and you have to leave flexibility if you remain committed to restarting the tax threshold.
leftykoufax
Tough break, but that’s baseball, and the reason its a 25 team roster.
BlueSkyLA
Just when you think it couldn’t possibly get any worse.
bencole
Why in the G D world did he not have this surgery on November 8???? They knew he had a problem, and didn’t correct it… he would be back in June at the latest if they did their job. Either the player made the decision for his own benefit and should be embarrassed publicly by the front office for it, or the front office should be gutted for making him miss a whole season plus playoffs for it. Inexcusable. Also not a Dodgers fan, and yes I know how good Friedman has been, but he hasn’t won, and if Seager had had the surgery at the right time he’d be in the playoffs if the Dodgers made it this year.
jdgoat
They probably had a doctor recommend not getting it
stymeedone
Maybe, just maybe, there was no indication that anything more than a few months of rest was needed on Nov 8th. TJ surgery is not a “just in case” type of surgery.
TradeAcuna
This just screams Manny Machado , doesn’t it? The Dodgers have good pieces to give back to the O’s.
RedRooster
Tbh if I’m the Dodgers FO I’m trading for Machado ASAP so that I get as much of his season as I can and don’t risk some other team creeping into the picture because their 3B or SS got injured.
stymeedone
If I’m Baltimore, I am in no rush to make a trade, as there is only one team with a real need. If I am not overwhelmed by the offer, I can wait thru the deadline.
deweybelongsinthehall
Assuming the Dodgers remain competitive. While they hope for a bidding war, they risk getting little. Remember the prospects Detroit got last year for JDM were less that expected. Only pitching seems to now bring back a haul.
jbigz12
JDM is also an oft injured terrible defensive player at a non premium position. I don’t believe you’ll see a return anywhere near that poor for Machado.
deweybelongsinthehall
JDM averaged about 120 games per year. Given he started on the DL, there were no additional injury issues and he was by far the best available bat when traded. Time will tell but my guess is the Orioles’ return will be much less than the same situation just three years ago.
TheAdrianBeltre
Pipe dream: Machado. Reality: Profar.
jdubs346
My fantasy team …..
Backatitagain
Charlie Culbertson is available.
BlueSkyLA
Let’s not do irony, okay?
leftcoaster
JJ Hardy?
imindless
Trade for machado and extended for 350 million slide seager over to second coming back from tj never had the greatest arm and would change arm angle playing from second. Turner at 3rd machado at short, seager at second bellinger at 1st thats a hell of an infield.
xabial
People might disagree with your hypothetical extension number, but I like your style.^^
imindless
True but 350 for 10 years isnt unreasonable. Living in la under the brightest lights and for the most part in contention. Wouldnt be the worst idea.
RedRooster
You’re gonna have to offer him more than that to get an extension.
xabial
You don’t know that. That would be the most lucrative extension in the history of the game, even greater than Stanton’s “extension” which bought out his Arb years, and guaranteed him 325M over 13
Good team. Good money. (350M over 10, theoretically) And his agent isn’t Boras.
jbigz12
He’ll also get taxed the heaviest playing his games in California. If he’s trying to max out his deal he won’t be doing it in Cali.
RedRooster
Yes I do know that and I don’t see him wanting to sign with LA in the first place cuz he wants to play SS and Seager is only out for one year.
Anyway, I don’t know why people keep acting like an extension is the key to any Machado trade. At the amount of money it will cost, you aren’t going to be getting any surplus value from it. So if getting him long-term is the priority, you are better off keeping your prospects and making a play for him in free agency.
davidcoonce74
Yes, no multi-millionaires live in California.
imindless
People question seager range and arm for years. Dodgers have no one in pipeline for second and will have a hole next year. You slide him and his tj’ed arm over to second and manny can play short. Dodgers did the deal this year with atl to make a run at harper or machado and right now machado makes more sense than harper.
jbigz12
That’s not the point at all. If he wants the most dollars it won’t be in California unless they outbid everyone by 15+ million because of taxes. Philadelphia will have the most money to offer and they don’t have the tax bracket disadvantage.
paddyo furnichuh
Overly reactionary comments are commonplace for many sites and MLBTR is no different.
As Todd explains, Dodgers will take time and evaluate options. Hopefully the vaunted Dodgers depth shines here. Maybe Verdugo and Pederson step up and CT3 polishes up on his old SS skills.
Hopefully, the end result will be-at most- that MLB is without one of its best young hitters for 2018.
Vickers
Guess it’s time to turn the focus from a deep playoff run to salvaging the regular season.
Badfinger
A yawning gap?
sandman12
Starlin Castro?
ray_derek
intriguing, this could happen, i like it. Although i think defensibly at SS he may be a bit of a liability
mlb1225
If The Rays aren’t in any sort of contention by June, The Dodgers should ask them about Hech.
bobbleheadguru
Jose Iglesias makes the most sense.
RedRooster
I’m thinking the Dodgers would prefer Machado over a guy with no power who is only getting on base 26% of the time.
frankf
Starlin Castro is a pretty ideal fit, I’d say.
BlueSkyLA
This is true, though he’s signed through 2019 with an option for 2020. This complicates matters somewhat unless the Dodgers can see him moving over to 2B next year when they will likely have a vacancy at that position.
66TheNumberOfTheBest
I know a guy who can play a solid 3B and a decent SS as long as you don’t care about his driving…