For a second consecutive offseason, the White Sox are showing some interest in Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson, writes USA Today’s Bob Nightengale. Last winter’s talks between the two sides (obviously) didn’t lead to a deal, but the Sox and Dodgers have once again “engaged in preliminary trade talks” surrounding Pederson, per the report.
Chicago’s need for a right fielder is evident just by looking up and down the roster, and GM Rick Hahn has clearly indicated that right field could be an area of focus this winter. Pederson would provide a short-term option for the Sox in that regard, as he’s entering his final season of club control and is projected by MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz to earn $8.5MM in 2020.
Pederson, 28 next April, hit .249/.339/.538 in 514 plate appearances with the Dodgers in 2019, belting a career-high 36 home runs along the way (although any home run totals from 2019 should be taken with a grain of salt, given the juiced ball and leaguewide home run boom). Both OPS+ and wRC+ regarded Pederson as 27 percent better than a league-average hitter — the third time in the past four years that he’s been to 25 to 28 percent better than average in the estimation of those park- and league-adjusted metrics. For a White Sox club that saw its right fielders post an astonishingly terrible .220/.277/.288 batting line in 2019, Pederson’s appeal isn’t hard to see.
That said, it’s also worth noting that Pederson has been used primarily as a platoon player, so he’s not exactly a cure-all to the White Sox’ ailments in right. The Dodgers afforded Pederson just 50 plate appearances against lefties in 2019, and in 375 career plate appearances against same-handed pitchers, he’s a .188/.263/.310 hitter. The Sox (or any other club) would surely need a right-handed-hitting complement for Pederson in 2020, but a part-time asset in that mold shouldn’t be too tough to unearth.
As for the Dodgers, their motivation for moving Pederson likely comes down to a potential outfield surplus. Cody Bellinger, Alex Verdugo, A.J. Pollock, Chris Taylor and Enrique Hernandez are all viable option in the outfield, and Matt Beaty also saw time in left field after spending most of his minor league career as a corner infielder. Outfielder Kyle Garlick made his MLB debut in 2019 as well.
That’s not to say that Pederson is purely expendable, but the Dodgers’ outfield depth is a clear source of strength. And with Pederson set to hit the open market in a year’s time, flipping him for some help in another area of need — the bullpen, perhaps — while freeing up additional dollars to spend in free agency could be a sensible pursuit. That’d be all the more true were the front office to succeed in signing one of Anthony Rendon or Josh Donaldson, both of whom are reported to be of interest. A successful pursuit of either premium third baseman could push Justin Turner to first or second base, crowding the right side of the infield and making Bellinger even likelier to spend all of his time in the outfield. (Alternatively, it could make Turner himself a trade candidate.)
Of course, the Dodgers have perhaps the deepest pockets of any club in baseball, so there’s an argument that they should simply keep Pederson, pick up an additional high-end talent or two, and operate with an unparalleled level of depth in spite of the cost. But that hasn’t been this front office or ownership group’s preferred course of action in recent years; the Dodgers haven’t paid the luxury tax since 2016 and are currently about $29MM shy of the $208MM luxury barrier, per Jason Martinez of Roster Resource.
Joc Pederson and Austin Barnes for James Mccann
If I was Hahn I’d do that deal.
Could happen. Salaries aren’t too far off and won’t have to lose any prospects.
If the Dodgers trade Joc it will be to either clear salary or fill a need. This trade does neither so … Probably not very likely.
Yeah, I have to agree, so I could see the Dodgers looking to acquire a piece for the Dodgers pen. With that being said, I am sure the Dodgers are wanting Bummer from the White Sox..
Idk how highly the Sox value Bummer, but I, personally really like him, and think Bummer and his hard sinker would be a real asset in any pen..
If the Dodgers can get Bummer for Joc, heck I would take him..Let’s say Joc for Bummer and Dalquist (current SP with MOR upside, but 2019 draft pick, that could end up being an intriguing arm for the pen in the future)
That is a laughably bad deal for the White Sox.
Lmao. Dodgers would be so stupid to do that deal plus it makes no sense for them.
Why Austin Barnes Is Terrible He Is Just There As A Backup For Will Smith And We Have Many Left Handed OF And James Mccann Is A Solid Catcher
Because if Keibert Ruiz is the future at the position why the hell trade for McCann who will do nothing but disappoint next season.
Exactly His Contact Is Small Low Risk Or Trade Him
Dodgers will not trade Pederson for a backup catcher. Throw in Bummer with McCann and you might get a deal
Bummer isn’t going anywhere
Yeah I Can See That
Smith is the future, Ruiz will be traded soon.
That’s the dumbest trade ever giving up a relief pitcher under control for four years for a one year rental that plays the outfield!
McCann isn’t gonna sell by himself for joc
Pederson is a one year rental and he isn’t that cheap. You’re not getting a multi-year asset for that. McCann makes sense because it’s an upgrade over Barnes and Pederson is a redundant piece. The move also adds cost savings for Los Angeles.
McCann and possibly one of the mid level prospects but Fry and Bummer are worth more than a one year rental who bats around .250. The White Sox might as well sign Puig!
McCann is a redundant piece that was buoyed by BABIPy type results. For his price of Arb you can get a better receiver, especially if they don’t believe in the bat. We all know how much the Dodgers value farmers so the proposed deal still makes zero sense. Even in a back up role the dodgers don’t care much for his greatest strength seeing as running games have gone extinct. If they are making this move they are doing so to clear space for a greater strength which lengthens the lineup even more more making McCann’s offensive output in the less cared about category. The Dodgers are going to target an undervalued piece or expand the package of superfluous pieces to target an interesting type prospect that undervalued.
Given the ridiculous hypothetical, your comment is casting pearls.
Why do the Dodgers value “farmers” so much?
McCann is a rental too
Why the caps?
Dodgers have Smith, Ruiz, and Barnes. They have zero interest in McCann.
Bummer.
It seems like Pederson and Bummer as principals is something the Dodgers would like. But other parts of trade are likely needed.
If the Dodgers wanted a back-up catcher with declining skills they would resign Martin. McCann would be a pass for LA.
It could be interrupted that way. But like beauty, value, is in the eye of beholder. Doesn’t mean it’s wrong, it’s just different. What’s valuable to teams that don’t have a clear cut starter, doesn’t make it more/less valuable to others that prefer a skill set. Much the same could be said about Joc.
Keibert Ruiz is not the future at the position and very few believe that anymore. Will Smith has it locked up
cute word salad.
How about Kelvin Herrara 9 mill salary and Sox eat half of it. Saves Dodgers 4.5 mill
Smith is the Dodgers catcher of the present and future. Ruiz is trade bait for a bigger fish.
No. Dodgers will get better offers than that.
Yea that’s why you guys haven’t won a World Series lol
I don’t really watch the Dodgers but i hate the cubs and in game 5 at wrigley series tied 2-2 in 16 you had choo-choo batting 4 against Lester in NLCS game 5 lol
But I’m glad he was able to frame pitches
Ruiz was the exact opposite of what is being discussed so… Them dumb Dodgers just trying to find an offensive C with Grandal playing on one knee. And clearly McCann has been the offensive wrecking force throughout his career that teams tremble at. But please continue as to why the Dodgers liking a good receiving back up C is the reason they can’t get over the hump. The trolling is enlightening lol. Because clearly every team is lining up to stick Maeda in as a future playoff rotation performer and a gassed Urias. Maybe someone should tell Friedman that it wasn’t the rotation or pen, it was Ruiz. The world has gone silent in utter shock.
Given the game wasn’t at Wrigley are u sure u watched.
“If the Dodgers wanted a back-up catcher with declining skills they would resign Martin. McCann would be a pass for LA.”
Guy has the best year of his career but he has declining skills? Interesting. You’d have a much better time arguing for regression instead of declining skills.
He’s a backup catcher this year. He was a starter last year. You’re not getting a stud lefty reliever with multiple years of control for a platoon RF.
Clearly you don’t follow dodgers baseball. I can’t think of the last time we traded a top prospect.
They are hungry?
How does that make any sense for the Dodgers?
Barnes alone is much better than McCann, and McCann slumped big time down the stretch anyway. He had a great first half, but if you look at the metrics, it was probably a mirage.
Wait, I got Barnes mixed up with Will Smith. I still probably wouldn’t do that if I’m the Dodgers though.
If you look at the metrics, you’ll see it was actually 1 bad month, not the entire second half.
He didn’t say he had a bad entire second half. He said, rightly, that the metrics point to his first half being a mirage. Coupled with his terrible framing numbers and the Dodgers depth at C, this is a terrible trade proposal.
He actually said exactly that – “McCann slumped big time down the stretch anyway”
And I never said it was a good trade proposal; just pointing out that he wasn’t as miserable in the second half as some people want to believe.
Why would the Dodgers trade Pederson for a backup catcher?
Why do the Dodgers need six outfielders?
Has anyone noticed what Corey Dickerson has netted teams in his trades recently, pederson is a 1 year rental in the corner outfield who has severe platoon issues, look for a lottery ticket prospect that’s all he nets them
Good point ….. he may better than trading for joc
Right. Taking his salary off the books would be the main reason for the trade. The Dodgers might send along some cash to net a midlevel prospect though.
I think the common expectation is Joc would return either 1 upper/mid-level prospect or two lottery type prospects.
So lessen a log jam at one position and increase it at another. Seems legit.
Perhaps….. the Dodgers current back up catcher is the apple of some other team’s eye.. so they would need a replacement if he’s included as part of a different trade..
Example: the dodgers want to acquire Francisco Lindor.. The Indians insist on Keibert Ruiz or White.. By trading Joc and a prosect like Edwin Rios for McCann and one of Zack Burdi or Ian Hamilton (lower prospect.. most noted for not being names Bummer), the Dodgers can now offer Ruiz as part of the package for Lindor..
The CWSox win twice..they get Lindor out of thier division…. while getting help now (Joc) and help for the future.. the added arm..
Several other iterations can be made.. but the baseline is.. a true ML backup backstop would be needed to assure the Dodgers have coverage..
Thoughts?..
The main thought here is they have coverage. Ruiz doesn’t really factor into the discussion of the mlb roster, now and questionably if at all this season. This is along the lines of roster churning. So while McCann was popular on these boards during TDL as a name to throw out it’s just not the Dodgers preference (agreeable or not) and comes with an arb number that is likely to draw a skill set they prefer on the market.
As a Dodger fan you kind of see this coming a mile away where the add a package that includes players who have their own value, but aren’t a part of their future plans to obtain a piece or two they view as undervalued.
Do you know what words mean?
Is this a joke? And why are there people saying it makes sense?
Never going to happen. With Grandal, McCann, Collins and Abreu the Sox have catcher, first and DH covered. If the Dodgers wanted Kelvin Herrera and a minor leaguer (Jake Burger or Carson Fulmer are both previous first round picks that need a change of scenery). there might be a deal. Even then Pederson won’t get more than a 200 AB’s unless there is an injury because Leury Garcia has to play because Abeu had 120+ RBI with Garcia and Tim Anderson hitting in front of him. Garcia can also catch the ball in center, right or ss.. This whole story has to be a plant by Pederson’s agent.
Jake Burger needs a change of scenery? Will that magically make him healthy?
Comon Hahn! This guy’s playing 3d chess while the hater commenters are playing spitty slurpee. Take us to the promised land Rick!!!
Deep pockets but alligator arms.
Joc for fry and a lower prospect.
LOL!
Maybe Fry, McCann, and a low prospect
For a one year rental…of Joc Pederson?
Dodgers are gonna ask for the moon… you know that
Why would they ask for the moon? The rumors last year were Fulmer, Bummer (pre-breakout), and Bush. Now he has one less year of control.
You also have to ask yourself if Bummer was a breakout or a career year. Relievers, specially young relievers, are notorious for being great one season and then lousy the next. Just look at Blake Treinen who went from one of the best relief seasons ever to non tendered within 12 months. Flipping him now for an established position player has far more reward than risk.
Dodgers have zero negotiating power for him. Last year of his deal, a platoon player, who they are clearly looking to ship out as they have his next 3 replacements lined up.
Roster resource has Dodgers $48M below CBT threshold for 2020, not $29M
48m Might be pre-arb numbers, though haven’t looked to confirm so not sure if that’s its
No, I looked. It included projected arb numbers (I think around $51M)
Dodgers were 90 million before arbitration, and arbitration number est is 50 Million. leave about 40-50 million.
But do they account for player benefits like health insurance, minor league salaries, and, projected arb money? I’d bet it probably doesn’t fully
Yes. Look it up
They have them about 30 although that’s not all to accurate and you can subtract 7 M from whatever is currently there as they don’t include reasonable bonuses. Needless to say they are closer to 30M than 48.
I meant to say the way they got to the 30 M figure is inaccurate
yes, it’s all in there, if you want dodgers or any team google la dodgers 2020 payroll and see for yourself.
He’s a perfect fit here. Better bat at first than Pujols, better defender in left than Upton, could hold down right until Adell comes up. A plus, versatile defender and bat who happens to excel at our three areas of weakness.
He is a horrible defensive first baseman — Dodgers tried and it was a big fail
He was probably still better than Pujols though, possibly even Bour. The Dodgers did it with Pederson in the middle of the season, and while chasing down the division. Give Pederson all of spring to try and work things out, and it might work. They could easily use Joc in the outfield anyways. Pederson for Heaney.. who says no? You know what you’ll get from Pederson. Heaney is hurt a lot, but there’s a ton of upside, and an extra year of control. Probably the Angels say no, they need pitching, and badly.
I said he has a better bat.than Pujols. I’m hoping with a few reps the glove can be passable. He’d mostly be on the grass here, anyway.
That’s exactly why they’d say no. Not enough pitching for Heaney to be expendable. But also, they declined Calhouns option, I don’t think they’d want to trade for Pederson. We have plenty of OF’s coming up. Goodwin can hold down RF until Adell is ready.
Joc is pretty good in the OG and you probably don’t want him at 1B. That said I think he would be a good fit in Anaheim too.
Asinine move last year to have Joc move to 1B during the season. He was beyond terrible there.
why go after joc when Calhoun is basically the same with elite defense ?? and cost 0 prospects …
The Cardinals will be happy to surrended Dexter Fowler to the White Sox for cash considerations of $1
White Sox pass.
Turner is not a trade candidate so get over that idea.
I could see Hahn making this trade for a Jace Fry/Evan Marshall type. White Sox get the lefty RF type they desperately need.
Mlbtr got bored today so they re-hashed an article from LAST OFFSEASON. Snore. If this were going to happen, it would have happened already.
Not necessarily. I’d bet if LA became serious about a FA pitching arm that Joc $$ would be appealing to stay below cbt tax
I give it a 10 percent chance of happening and if it does the Sox will have to overpay cuz they’re in a bad position of having a man crush on a player that doesn’t need to be traded.
During hot stove season, 10% is noteworthy.
Kole Kalhoun thinks different
Have seen beat writers guessing it would take Bummer and his four years of control. Hope the Sox aren’t that dumb. They might make the playoffs next year if everything breaks right, but why trade a controlled and valuable arm for a rental?
Absurd
What beat writer(s)wrote that? Seriously. They need to be outed. They aren’t very good at their job if they think that’s a good trade. Fwiw, for perspective, Bummer has more than twice the trade value Pederson has if you were going by baseballtradevalues.com. I’m not saying that’s what mlb execs should go by, but they truly aren’t even close in value. Dumb.
Teams usually look for the most advantageous deal they can, and, when being approached aboit an asset they aren’t particularly looking to sell a dubious resource such as that one holds even less water.
If someone walked up to you on the street and said “I’ll pay you book value for your car, AND, you need to give me all receipts and maintenance info first before the deal is binding, and THEN once it’s binding just on you, my mechanic gets to comb over it” when you didn’t even list it for sale… well, of course you would JUMP at the offer. No???
That’s what that resource expects, even if it’s valuations were accurate – which it’s waaay off, and purportedly backwards edited to appear it had pre trade values right, or so I’ve heard.
It’s garbage.
bleacherreport.com/articles/2864503-lets-make-a-de…
bleacherreport. HAHAHAHA!!!
Also, dodgersway.com/2019/11/23/dodgers-white-sox-trade-…
And southsidehitpen.com/2019/11/26/joc-of-all-trades-p…
Not NBCSports or mlb.com, but still at least 3 different places I’ve read the same crappy proposal.
Because the value of relief pitchers is notoriously volatile. Look at Blake Treinen, who could have been moved for multiple top prospects LAST offseason, but gets non-tendered this offseason. Selling relievers at their high point is the mark of a brilliant baseball exec.
If he’s a free agent next year then wait. Sign someone else to a one year deal
Betts will be the free agent to go for next year
So is Springer which is why trading for a one year rental is not worth it.
No one year for a couple blue chip relief pitchers not a bad thing
Sox won’t give up Bummer or Marshall. Maybe Fry.
Does Betts have a brother-in-law to sign to ensure he goes to Chicago?
So there’s this assumption that the ball was juiced the last two years. I see a problem with this that should concern every fan and player. If you’re a player (or agent) and are two years away from your first shot at free agency, is is right or fair that MLB should chose to use a heavy ball for those two years? Say you’re a damn good player that has put up good numbers for the two years prior to the heavy ball, then all of a sudden went from 35 home runs to 28. Doesn’t that affect your market? I’m not liking the extent of control the league has on the game…the game…the only thing that matters…
The same ball is thrown to all players. GM’s don’t look at raw HR #’s or RBI’s when judging FA’s. A player who is 20% better than avg, will continue to be 20% above avg, regardless of ball.
He’s right, Williamson
Unexpected GGR reference.
Sox should absolutely NOT be giving up talent for 1 year stopgaps.
I still think the Sox should be aiming higher than Pederson. There’s just gotta be a better trade option with someone.
Blackmon is the dude they should be after, and he’s low key available. Great influence for young dudes too. But I expensive (in $).
Colome for joc?Dodgers May be overpaying but adding another solid arm to the pen could be beneficial for the season , and if the dodgers go with Betts . I don’t see why this would be an issue
Colome was 1st half luck just like McCann. Dodgers are smarter than that. They’ll look to flip 1 year of Joc for a few WS minor league arms- Stiever, + Dalquist or Thompson.
And the Sox would be making a huge mistake if they agree.
You can forget those 3 …. have more upside than 1 year of joc.
Trades are not only about upside. You can have all the upside in the world and never be able to realize that upside. You obviously have to give up more upside to get more right now and that’s what you get with Joc. Right now he’s better than your options or else the White Sox wouldn’t be having these conversations. Joc probably doesn’t OPS 0.877 again this year but he’ll produce power numbers and get on base enough to improve your RF situation.
Todd! Are you not aware that I get farty and bloated with a foamy latte!?
Huge over pay. They can do better than Colome for Joc.
They both are FA in 2012 , and both have similar contracts , Sox need offense and outfield help which is obviously more value able too then than colome would be to the dodgers but I think this really makes decent sense for both parties , maybe suck up Herrera’s contract and send him to LA for a change of scenery , both solid relives a couple years ago
Dodgers never had that deep of pockets, they went deep into debt during their rebuild, which was not a tanking style rebuild, but a money bought rebuild. In 2016 MLB issued a warning to the Dodgers that they were in too much debt. The level of spending now is what you should expect moving forward.
Yeah, but when you look at future commitments, the Dodgers are set to shed a ton of salary over the next two years. They can go over this year, and easily be right back under next.
That was a temporary technical issue in their financials from nearly four years ago. It was insignificant then and is completely irrelevant now. They are choosing not to pay the CBT now because it makes more profit.
Did they actually go into debt? I can’t imagine them going into debt. Every game is sold out, they’re a very popular franchise. They’ve had the same ballpark for a very long time. I can’t imagine them being in debt even when they had a payroll well into the 250 million range. I’d assume they were profitable even during those years.
They assumed over $400M in debt from McCourt when they bought the Dodgers. They weren’t profitable during the first three years when the payroll hit $300M.
Thanks, didn’t know that.
Everyone always forgets this. And acts like an investment company would just eat $400,000,000 in losses of they didn’t expect to make it back.
The Dodgers took on a significant amount of money and they subsequently worked it into their tv contract to come out annually. Then they took on more more debt equalling another 400M by upgrading the park with one time expenditures. So while the cash flow isn’t as abundant as an inflated tv contract would have you suggest at first glance, that’s not to say they should be feeling ramifications from it now after WS runs and playoff runs and continued record breaking attendance. Granted you chop close to 90M at the top off in their debt payments and rev sharing they are still pretty damn lucrative with no excuses anymore, especially with the tv contract being significantly viable to pay down their entire payroll. So let’s not buy the brain washing MLB is trying to condition. They already pocket gate receipts, as do most owners, so while asking them to go over the 2nd tier is a tad ridiculous, the 1st tier should not be an issue in the slightest.
Just a side note, salaries coming off for this team are meaningless unless we are discussing Kersh size, don’t mean much with arb raises the Dodgers have and will have, but let’s recognize the spending on FAs had been mid tier. So while they have some money coming off in next two years that money is going to easily be spoken for from Bellinger to Buhler, and even Seager. That shouldn’t really matter though.
Friedman and company did a great job recovering from the bad contracts given out by Colletti and company. I doubt you see the Dodgers spend $300mm again. They wanted to field a competitive team but had overpriced players to pay, including the Carl Crawfords and Josh Becketts of the world. They still have some bad contracts and last season’s free agency (Pollock and Joe Kelly) didn’t work out so well but not colossal bad contracts like you had with Colletti. I like it how in general they’re very disciplined in free agency and trades.
I’m sorry, this is just plain nonsense. The big payrolls were part of a deliberate plan by the new ownership to jumpstart the team and get the fans back into the house, and it worked. It was not some sort of “mistake” made by Ned Colletti. He followed the direction of ownership then in exactly the same way Friedman is doing now.
Completely disagree. Yes, new ownership wanted to make a splash but just because you have the bankroll doesn’t mean you should be stupid about spending. Go ask the Yankees. The Boston trade is the one that really drove me nuts. Colletti was essentially negotiating against himself. Boston was desperately trying to unwind their bad contracts and found a taker (sucker) in the Dodgers. There were talks of another team but seems like the only team willing to take on that much contract were the Dodgers. Not only did we take Crawford’s and Beckett’s shtty contracts but somehow Boston was also able to get decent prospects out of it. Luckily they did not pan out. We got AGon but even his contract was bloated for the last two seasons. Ownership okay’d all those deals and were onboard with the big spend but stupid spend is still stupid spend. I like Friedman’s disciplined approach much better.
If this trade happens, the Sox should consider picking up Santana, who was just non-tendered by the M’s. He would be a good platoon fit with Joc in RF and not a bad DH option. Probably pretty affordable as well.
Too many strikeouts
He does strike out a lot, but has a good OBP and OPS over 800. Just never ever stick him LF. He’s below avg in RF, but a complete disaster anywhere else.
I think the common expectation is Joc would return either 1 upper/mid-level prospect or two lottery type prospects.
I assume LA is looking to flip him for a couple low minor leaguers that have promise. The vets on the WS are either too bad to trade for LA to trade for, too expensive for LA to trade for, or too good for the WS to trade for Joc.
Cole Calhoun is the same player and a free agent that you could sign to a 1 year deal. If they trade for Pederson they’ll trade from surplus..Collins or Sheets.
Joc LIED to me
Joc for a #15-20 prospect
Interesting scenario. On one hand Joc was a bust in the second half of his rookie year and third year so his value has gone up dramatically but capped by only one year of control remaining and platoon player. Maybe a similar trade with the Reds that got the Dodges Jeter Downs and Josiah Gray. That turned out well for the Dodgers. But I worry about the lost production. Some of that can be recouped but not sure if all of it unless they’re planning on signing a big bat. Not a big fan of AJ Pollock playing more. So, if the Dodgers are not going to get adequate value they’re better off keeping Joc and moving someone else.
Forget Pederson. He doesn’t help get the Sox into the playoffs. Blackmon & $$ to Sox for Engel and Rodon.
You don’t trade a controllable left handed starter…and Blackmon is on the decline.
I would agree with you if the left handed made 25-30 starts a year. Unfortunately, Rodon favorite position is the DL every year. As for Blackmon being on the decline isn’t factual. Look at his stats. Besides he’s the right fielder the Sox are looking for that bats left-handed.
Engel is not a major leaguer and you admit Rodon lives on the DL. Dodgers will find better offers or get another 3+ fWAR year out of Joc.
He was spitballing the Rodon and Engel part for Blackmon + cash.
look at Blackmon split at Coors field and away games. Blabkmon was neg DRS in center that why they moved him to right.
If the Brewers are really making Hader available, then the Dodgers should be all-in on getting him. They need a bullpen if they are ever going to break the cycle of “coming up just short”. They need at least one SP and some bullpen help, not Rendon or Donaldson
Sure, every team would like to have Hader but at what acquisition cost? My guess a very steep cost. The Dodgers in general don’t like to overpay in a trade or free agency. They prefer depth and flexibility, and not afraid to bring in young players from the minors to fill in. I agree that at some point they’ll have to produce a better playoff-type team that has more 25-man talent and less depth.
This is a strong argument is why the Dodgers has been unable to win/get back to the WS. Friedman is too conservative in trades and going after FA pitchers. The last 3 WS winners had one or more big name pitchers acquired through trades or big free agent signings. Lately, the Dodgers barely even acquire role playing relievers that way much less starters. Their biggest recent trade was for a one year rental of a very good but flawed player in Manny Machado. They need to go bigger imo, at least for pitching, in the FA or trade market.
I didn’t like Pollock or Kelly acquisitions. I agree that they could be more aggressive but I’d rather not grossly overpay. Most of the times that doesn’t work out. Certainly don’t think you should overpay for relievers. Wouldn’t have minded if they let Kershaw walk out in his opt out. I think Friedman in general is playing the cards right. Just a few tweaks to the more aggressive side.
It worries me that the Sox are so sold on Joc, they’d go back to that well a second time. Unless they’re convinced they can get him for cheap. As a platoon piece, sure. But as a guy that barely bats his weight against lefties, I don’t like asking him to be an every day player. I’m definitely not giving up McCann. We actually have depth at an important position. If Grandal gets hurt, asking Collins to be an every day catcher is a nightmare scenario. And these people throwing Bummer’s name out there are crazy. He’s the best arm in our bullpen and he’s one of the best lefty bullpen arms in the AL. For a one year platoon level RF? No thanks.
He’s a left-handed hitting platoon guy, so he’s going to get 450+ at bats. An 0.876 OPS (0.920 vs RH pitching) is nothing to sneeze at. Just need a right-handed RF that can give you 150-200 at bats. Hardly an issue.
Hahn isn’t stupid. He said from the get go the approach is build to win long term. Her hasn’t deviated from that yet and i don’t see it changing.
I don’t understand the White Sox’s obsession with Joc Pederson. He’s a left handed hitter, but so what. He’s one-dimensional, and a rental. I’d rather see them trade for Verdugo or sign a 5-tool player like Puig to a 1-yr contract.
Pederson plays decent defense so he’s hardly one dimensional, Verdugo isn’t going anywhere, and puig isn’t signing a one year deal. Any other hot takes?
I’m pretty confident the Sox could sign Puig on a 1 or two year deal with a team option if they wanted to. There aren’t many teams lining up for Puig, even though he’s a decent player.
Agreed on all fronts with that.
Chicago needs outfielders, left-hand bat, and home run power hitter.
Puig is not a 5-tool player. He once had 5-tool potential, but it’s not there anymore.
Hits for decent average w/ power, can play RF, stole 24 bag if I remember correctly. That would make him a 5-tool player.
Maybe, Pederson for a reliever.
Why trade for this guy when you could just sign Ozuna/Castellanos or if looking for a cheaper option, Calhoun/Dickerson?
Ozuna won’t be signed for a draft pick loss. Castellanos makes sense but he’s a below average fielder and they already have Eloy in LF.
Calhoun and Dickerson for a year makes more sense.
Kole kalhoun will prob end up signing a one year contract……. so if they’re asking for anything of value I’d just wait
But i do like the way joc plays the game
He’ll sign him and puig to platoon see how many fights the 2 of them get us in
lol, I like they way you think.
Lux, Pederson and Ruiz to reds for eugenio Suarez and vlad Gutierrez (rhp reds #7 prospect)
Trade Pollock and Joe Kelly
Doubt you’d have any takers unless the Dodgers eat most of their salaries.
why not get Kole Calhoun? same number and will play elite right field too. and durable. plus you dont have to give up anyone
Kole Calhoun? Joc’s numbers are way better. Calhoun has never had a season close to 0.876 OPS. He has a better glove and arm than Joc but his offensive numbers don’t come close to Joc’s.
I wonder if they’d be interested in Mazara.
They will be but the Rangers will ask for too much because of his age.
The White Sox could try to sign Avisail Garcia. I know he been up and down with the sox. But he had a good season with Rays. He could handle RF and put up some decent numbers with the bat.
I’d take him in a platoon with Joc…
1) The Sox aren’t interested in trading McCann. They just gave him $500k more than his projected arb number for a reason.
2) Unless Joc is basically a salary dump for the Dodgers, a deal makes no sense for the White Sox at this time. There are too many FA’s available that can provide similar impact without giving up legitimate prospects.
This Joc stuff has Ken Williams written all over it. Stand your ground, Rick!