For the first time since 1988, the Dodgers are World Series champions. Regardless of what they do this offseason, they’ll enter 2021 as favorites to win it all again, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the club make significant moves in order to bolster its chances of a repeat.
Guaranteed Contracts
- Mookie Betts, OF: $295MM through 2032
- David Price, LHP: $64MM through 2022
- AJ Pollock, OF: $30MM through 2022 (includes $5MM buyout for 2023)
- Clayton Kershaw, LHP: $23,333,333 through 2021
- Max Muncy, INF: $20.5MM through 2022
- Kenley Jansen, RHP: $20MM through 2021
- Joe Kelly, RHP: $12.5MM through 2021 (includes $4MM buyout for 2022)
- Chris Taylor, INF/OF: $7.8MM through 2021
Arbitration-Eligible Players
Note on arb-eligible players: this year’s arbitration projections are more volatile than ever, given the unprecedented revenue losses felt by clubs and the shortened 2020 schedule. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz, who developed our arbitration projection model, used three different methods to calculate different projection numbers. You can see the full projections and an explanation of each if you click here, but for the purposes of our Outlook series, we’ll be using Matt’s 37-percent method — extrapolating what degree of raise a player’s 2020 rate of play would have earned him in a full 162-game slate and then awarding him 37 percent of that raise.
- Austin Barnes – $1.3MM
- Cody Bellinger – $13.1MM
- Walker Buehler – $2.3MM
- Dylan Floro – $900K
- Corey Knebel: $5.125MM
- Corey Seager – $10.4MM
- Julio Urias – $1.7MM
Free Agents
- Justin Turner, Joc Pederson, Blake Treinen, Enrique Hernandez, Jake McGee, Pedro Baez, Alex Wood, Jimmy Nelson
There is very little to dislike about this Dodgers roster, though the team is facing some notable losses in free agency. It starts with third baseman Justin Turner, who has been an unexpected gem for the team since it signed him to a minor league contract before the 2014 campaign. The bearded Turner has since emerged as one of the faces of the Dodgers and one of their most productive players, but considering he’s 36 years old and there may not be a universal designated hitter in 2021, it’s possible the Dodgers will move on in the coming months.
If the Dodgers do let Turner walk, there are a few alternate routes they could take at the hot corner. Los Angeles could stay within and hand the position to Edwin Rios, who saw quite a bit of time at third in 2020, or shift shortstop Corey Seager there. Otherwise, Kris Bryant (Cubs), Nolan Arenado (Rockies) or even free-agent infielder DJ LeMahieu could end up as targets. An Arenado acquisition seems especially unlikely, though, in part because the Rockies and Dodgers are division rivals. ESPN’s Buster Olney recently reported there are “monumental” roadblocks standing in the way of a potential Arenado-Dodgers union.
Of course, one can’t rule out another major trade that would deliver a franchise shortstop to the Dodgers. They’re certainly in good hands at the position with Seager, but if they want to shift him to third, trading for the Indians’ Francisco Lindor would make sense. Lindor seems like a surefire bet to go in a trade this offseason because he’s projected to make anywhere from $17.5MM to $21MM in arbitration next year, and the Indians are a frugal franchise. The Dodgers have more than enough young talent to put together a package for Lindor, and as such a wealthy franchise, the four-time All-Star’s salary would not stand in their way. So, in short, the Dodgers are as logical a Lindor suitor as anyone.
Moving to the outfield, the Dodgers may wave goodbye to Joc Pederson, who has been part of the organization since it selected him in the 11th round in 2010. Pederson debuted in 2014 and has since delivered above-average offensive production, though the left-handed swinger has struggled versus same-handed pitchers. That doesn’t mean the Dodgers won’t bring Pederson back, but it doesn’t seem all that likely when considering the talent the team has in its outfield. Right fielder Mookie Betts obviously isn’t going anywhere. Cody Bellinger played the majority of the year in center, and he’s obviously there to stay. Pederson played 20 of 60 games in left, but that total fell short of AJ Pollock’s 22. The Dodgers also have Chris Taylor in the fold as someone who can play multiple outfield positions.
On the pitching side, the Dodgers are rife with quality arms, though they are dealing with some upheaval in their bullpen. The club made a notable trade last week when it acquired onetime All-Star closer Corey Knebel from the Brewers. Knebel was terrible over a small sample of work last season, but it doesn’t seem fair to write him off over what was his first action since undergoing March 2019 Tommy John surgery. As recently as 2018, Knebel was a terrific reliever; if healthy, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him at least re-emerge as a useful part of the Dodgers’ bullpen (especially considering their track record of getting the most out of veterans).
An effective Knebel would help the Dodgers replace Blake Treinen, Jake McGee and Pedro Baez, who are each free agents. Treinen was solid for the Dodgers after signing for $10MM last winter; McGee was even better on a per-inning basis after inking a low-risk deal in July; and Baez once again prevented numbers at a respectable clip. So how do the Dodgers replace those three? Well, they could re-sign any of them, but they’re otherwise looking at a free-agent market with a slew of familiar veteran relievers. And you can’t necessarily rule out another trade with the Brewers, who don’t seem to be closing the door on letting go of lights-out lefty Josh Hader. As with Lindor, the Dodgers have the talent to put together a deal for Hader.
The way the Dodgers assemble their bullpen will affect how they construct their starting staff (and vice versa). Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler have their spots locked down, and the same is probably true for David Price (if he returns next year after opting out in 2020). Beyond that group, Julio Urias, Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May – who combined for 28 starts last season – remain clear candidates for rotation spots. All three look more than qualified, but if the Dodgers would rather make a sizable splash (whether that means for another starter or a position player), at least one of them could fall out of contention or even be dealt elsewhere. The team has the money to sign the No. 1 free agent available, NL Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer, and it’s worth noting president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman was at the helm of Tampa Bay’s front office when the Rays drafted 2018 AL Cy Young winner Blake Snell in 2011. Snell could now be a trade candidate for the Rays, so it’s hard not to connect him to the Dodgers partly because of the Friedman connection. Barring the acquisition of a front-line starter, though, the Dodgers don’t look as if they really have to do much in their rotation. It’s a good-looking group as it is.
However this offseason goes, the Dodgers will enter 2021 as a well-oiled machine that should once again push for a World Series championship. But considering their financial prowess, their array of talent and many other teams hesitant to spend because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this winter could give the Dodgers a chance to become even better. That’s a scary thought for the rest of Major League Baseball.
Friedman best gm in baseball by far
Gms who have worked under him now run san fran,tampa,boston and houston
And Braves.
Makes it easier to be a successful GM when you have the biggest payroll in MLB and can spend $150M on guaranteed contracts alone, more than 75% of the rest of the teams’ entire payroll.
Dodgers are built on drafting and putting together the deepest and best 40 man roster in the game. Obviously, the money helps, but just look at the dodgers rotation this past postseason. Every single starter was home grown. Seager, Bellinger, Smith, Buehler, May, Gonsolin were all guys drafted who most teams could have drafted. Muncy, Taylor, Turner were players at one point any team could have signed.
Spare me your lazy bulls*** that it’s easy to be successful because of the payroll. It completely ignores why the dodgers are successful and will continue to be so.
No sir, I haven’t ignored any of that. Do you understand the difference between “easy” and “easier”. I used the latter but you tried to put words in my mouth by suggesting that I said the former. There is a big difference. Maybe you should be a politician or an attorney (or work for MSM), they’re all very good at lying and twisting others’ words.
Of course the Dodgers deserve credit for developing talent. That does not in any way detract from my TRUE statement that it is a lot EASIER when you have the payroll that they have so that not only can they afford to keep that talent when they get expensive (a dilemma all MLB teams except maybe the Yankees & Dodgers face), but they also have the cash to spend to bolster the roster by filling holes with top-level talent with no sacrifice elsewhere. Whether you want to admit it or not, it makes a huge difference. It’s not a level playing field. When was the last time the Dodgers had to let a player go because they were in an austerity program, or the player got too pricey to keep……uh, maybe NEVER.
Mono Sodium glutaMate is hiring?
Pardon my improper terms for a chemical compound…I see the dimly lit door to the right, down the conspiracy-laden stairs…
Here are the net worths of the richest principle owners in MLB. I think you’ll notice that Dodgers are 6th on that list. Yes they are owned not just by Mark Walter but by Guggenheim Baseball Management. However Walter is the principle owner of that group. Plenty of these other owners could spend big money if they wanted to. And they do. The important thing is spending it strategically. Please don’t try to give us this sad cry baby story that only the Dodgers have money to spend on payroll. It’s ridiculous and makes you sound very ignorant.
Steve Cohen (Mets): 14.6 Billion
Rogers Communications, Rogers Family (Blue Jays): $8.75 billion
Liberty Media Corporation, John Malone (Braves): $6.6 billion
Paul Dolan and Family (Indians): $4.6 Billion
Ted Lerner and Family (Nationals): $4.5 Billion
Charlie Johnson (Giants): $4.3 Billion
Mark Walter (Dodgers): $4 Billion
William DeWitt Jr. (Cardinals): $4 billion
Hal Steinbrenner (Yankees): $3.8 Billion
Ilitch Family (Tigers): $3.8 Billion
Jim Pohlad (Twins): $3.8 Billion
Arturo and Carole Moreno (Angels): $3.3 Billion
John Middleton (Phillies): $3.3 Billion
Interesting data, yet net worth does not equate to MLB team revenue. Correct me if I am wrong, but that is what revenue sharing and each team’s expenditures are based upon.
Do you even understand what the basis of the conversation is? The net worth of the owners is irrelevant to the discussion. You do not have access to the books of the teams nor the owners’ other business interests to know what their overall financial where-with-all is when it comes to actually SPENDING their $$ on the teams and their profitability. And for the sake of this discussion it does not matter. What we DO know is how much the teams actually do spend. And not surprisingly, lo and behold, it is the Dodgers & Yankees that consistently out-spend the other teams., because they make more money. DUHH!!! What matters is what is actually SPENT on the teams. Since 2013, the Dodgers opening day payroll has been anywhere from 2-10 times that of the lowest spending team, and six out of eight years has been 1.8 to 2 times the league average. That is what ACTUALLY HAPPENED, Every year in the off-season while preparing for the next season, the Dodgers start from a position of greater strength and have way more money to spend than almost every team….year after year. If you want to deny that this makes a difference in the ease of managing a team and being competitive, be my guest and own that opinion.
The Guggenheim Group manages over $275 billion dollars worth of assets. A couple hundred million worth of players here or there aren’t going to kill their numbers. I’d go on, but all you did is cherry pick some numbers that fit your narrative and aren’t worth anyone else’s time.
I cherry picked? The claim was they win because they lead Mlb in payroll. If you’re going to support a claim like that, your justification shouldn’t be “well since 2013”
The Dodgers are just an amazingly run franchise and are tremendous at identifying which veterans are spare parts. They traded away Puig and Wood for prospects a couple years ago and traded away Maeta who was awesome last year and STILL won the World Series. They also almost traded away Springer and Pederson to the Angels last year. So, yes, they are a wealthy franchise, but unlike my Cubs, they are tremendously astute at roster management.
So to emphasize, their success has more to do with (1) drafting well, (2) smart acquisitions, and (3) roster management (knowing who to trade) than spending $$$.
I do get your point it’s nice to have money for sure in baseball, but it’s not like the Dodgers are blowing way past the luxury tax every year. Plus the fact that they win every single yr means they’re getting really low draft picks every yr, which makes they’re drafting even more amazing.
I’m not a Dodger fan, but it’s hard to argue that what that front office does yr in and out as anything but pretty amazing.
Also, having lots of money often makes teams be stupid with the money and eventually locks them up to crap contracts like the Red Sox and Cubs have done in recent yrs. The Dodgers have mainly avoided those terrible deals, and keep drafting and developing no matter what.
At the risk of sounding like a 5-year old, you seem mean.
Don’t worry everyone else. I handled it.
Preach my man. You nailed it… The Dodgers are known by every member of every other franchise as THE class of The Game — from top to bottom (Friedman, Doc, Kasten to the last guy on the 40 Man, Terrance Gore?), every “branch” — Homegrown: Kersh, Bellinger, Seager, Buehler, Kenley, Pederson, Urias, Will Smith — Player Development Turner, Muncy, Taylor, Kike, two RP EVERY year — Trade Chips (if necessary): Lux, Ruiz, elite young pitching — Well Coached: you’ll rarely see a lapse on defense, base pads, the right play. Everyone runs out every pop up & each ground out. The pitchers ‘were’ always great at laying down a sac bunt…
Could go on and on. It’s just an impressive thing to break down piece by piece… Cream of the crop.
You’re right. I must point out that even the 2000-2010 stretch, when SF running things (& a little SD w/ Peavy & Chris Young) , Dodger Stadium was still leading MLB/NL in attendance, pushing 4 million each year… The fans deserved this 2020 run. It’s a shame they couldn’t be there.
In 2019 the Dodgers had 3,974,309 fans in attendance. According to the average Dodgers 2019 ticket price of $42.62 that’s $169,385,049.58 in ticket sales. That would be just off ticket sales they make enough to cover your 150million to cover contracts obviously there are other expenses and overhead. That’s just ticket sales alone no merchandise no food sales and no advertisement. So you’re telling me the team that has the most ticket sells year after year shouldn’t be able to afford to keep its players it drafts? I hear that argument all the time about “they can afford to keep who they want.” Well if you’re so upset by it and not being a Dodger fan why don’t you go to the games and support your team so they can afford to keep players.
People are still on this narrative? Please, any other exec in LA would have thrown money at guys like Jordan Zimmerman, Justin Upton, James Shields, Cueto, Cespedes or many of the other terrible contracts that were signed early in Friedmans Dodgers tenure. He had the discipline to wait years, build a good young team and then strike for a massive contract in a player who is worth it in Mookie.
Might want to sit this discussion out second string.
And why would I do that?
2ndFiddle…because complaining about market size and payroll is a tired, sour grape trope.
You definitely have a point about it being easier operating with a budget of NY or LA.
Your assertion of it being easier with more payroll is mostly accurate, but not entirely so.
Is Cashman’s & Friedman’s job easier than that of a head of baseball ops in TB or AZ? Until the LAD won this year, many fans were unwisely calling for Friedman’s termination. Does that happen I’m the smaller markets? Expectations are much lower in small markets outside of a few hardcore fan bases like STL.
Like Enrico laid out above, all these owners have tons of money. You’ve completely bought into the narrative that the owners want you to. They cry poor and you believe them. Obviously having a large market helps, but Friedman and his team have proven year after year that they are the best at what they do based on how they draft, develop and find talent on the margins. They spend as wisely as any team in baseball and have shown unbelievable restraint even the face of a rabid fan base screaming at them to spend.
And your assertion that dodgers never lose players over money is wrong. Dodgers lost out on Zack Grienke over another team outbidding them. Maybe know what you are talking about before opening your mouth.
They haven’t had the biggest payroll in baseball since 2017. Stop complaining because your team cannot grow talent like the Dodgers do. You’re a joke
Yeah? Well let’s do this. Let’s start a fantasy league where every player is assigned a value and we are each given a budget to buy new players for our team. Except to start off,, I have 75-80% “A-level” players and you only have about 20%. And I get 2x the budget you get to buy new players. That’s what it’s like for the Dodgers vs. most NL teams every year.
Hahaha. Now it’s only the NL teams they are owning, not all of Mlb?
You’re still wrong. You’re still a joke
7 of MLB’s top 10 payrolls in 2020 were in the NL
6/10 in 2019 AND 2018
Seems like LA just spends *better* than their competition
Do you believe in actual facts, or do you just speak in hyperboles?
What part of “Since 2013, the Dodgers opening day payroll has been anywhere from 2-10 times that of the lowest spending team, and six out of eight years has been 1.8 to 2 times the league average” did you not get? No other team except the Yankees is even close over that term as far as spending. It is what it is.
I know you must be a fan, but facts are facts man. More $$$ = better players = better team. Give them credit for good management, okay, they finally managed to win a WS. But at least admit that there is an advantage there.
Talk about moving goal posts. First it was vs all of mlb, then it was the NL, now you’re trying to compare them to Pitt and Miami
There are useful facts, and facts that have no bearing on the conversation. Who cares what teams that don’t want to compete spend? Why would you not look at teams that are competing? Isn’t that the field you should compare? How does comparing a team in Y1 of a 5 year rebuild have anything to do with WS contenders and fairness of competition? They aren’t competing for the same goals so no crap the spending is way off when you look at extremes. Once again, you’re complaining with useless hyperbole
You also conveniently use 2013 for your numbers, as those years they had almost 300M for multiple years in payroll, due to horrible Cuban signings, almost all of which have no impact on this current team
Why not since 2017, the start of them actually winning pennants and titles? Ohh yea because that would show the level of stupidity of your consistent complaints, where the numbers continue to not bare it out
Good, who said baseball should be fair go Dodgers. Why do Dodgers spend? Before the coronavirus Dodgers drew 4 million fans every year, so they had the money. So us it when you really want a player like Betts.
“Talk about moving goal posts. First it was vs all of mlb, then it was the NL, now you’re trying to compare them to Pitt and Miami”
. My comparison is to ALL other teams as well as the average. But you can compare them to MLB, NL, or any group of teams you’d like. The results are the same…they massively outspend everybody except the Yankees.
“They aren’t competing for the same goals so no crap the spending is way off when you look at extremes.”
Who’s looking at “extremes”?? I gave you the actual numbers and the average over an 8-year period, using that term because of the Dodgers that got significant playing time in 2020, that’s when their signings started. (Although Kershaw and Jansen go back even further.) I’m not cherry picking, choose any time frame you would like. When you’re spending 2x or more the league average almost every year, which they did as recently as 2020….it matters! And when you do it year after year, the cumulative effect matters a LOT. Why would you try to deny or even downplay that? It’s a huge factor.
“Who’s looking at extremes?”
YOU! You’re complaining about the dodgers because “the spend 2-10x more than the lowest payroll”. How is that not looking at the extremes of a situation? You are comparing them to Pitt now and complaining LAD outspends Pitt. Yeah, that’s the dodgers fault the gap is so large.
Notice how 6 teams had top 10 payrolls… and 6 teams made the year every year in the normal playoffs? It’s like every team that is a contender spends on a similar scale. Oh hey common sense!
You are literally looking at the lowest number then screaming how far it is from the top
And just stop with only everyone but the Yankees. Boston, Sf, Chi, Wash and many other teams spend like LA does year over year.
You’re the only one here claiming they do it just with money. Everyone else can acknowledge how good they have to be at development to draft 28th or later every year and yet have a top 3 farm
But if you acknowledged the farm, you’d have to admit your complaint is BS and fabricated
Are they following the rules of the cba? I understand what you are arguing, but I do not see how it matters. Are you saying they should pocket the money instead of spending it?
“ When you’re spending 2x or more the league average almost every year, which they did as recently as 2020….it matters! And when you do it year after year, the cumulative effect matters a LOT. Why would you try to deny or even downplay that? It’s a huge factor.”
I’m denying this because it’s false. “Almost every year” is BS and so are your hyperbolic complaints
You’ve provided no relevant data that supports your overarching claims
You’re still using teams like Miami and Pitt to massively suppress the average to claim LAD outspends everyone, while ignoring that 1/3 of the NL is spending in the same capacity as LA. So go cite the actual useful information, and you’ll see during the last 4 years, when LA has been most successful, they aren’t even the top payroll in the NL for half the time. Sometimes they are 3rd! Go complain about the Cubs+ SF spending if you care about payroll so much. Least LA wins with their money
La had more contributors from the 2016 draft than free agent signees.
Completely disregards what Friedman did as the Rays GM. Yes, money gives him more options, but he did it with one of the tightest budgets in baseball before the Dodgers brought him on board. And FYI, the Yankees had the highest payroll last year.
He was successful with Tampa Bay as well, where none of those things were factors.
@second string …… sure it does. But he knows how to evaluate talent as good as any, he knows how to work with nothing. Now he knows how to work with a lot. He’s seen it all and now done it all. I agree with the getridofsoftballplayers he is the best GM in baseball
I’m going to have to respectfully disagree with you on this one for one major reason…. How many of those guys have hung World Series pennants?
Theo Epstein and his minions on the other hand have raised the Commissioners Trophy on three separate occasions, Epstein in Boston (twice) Ben Cherrington in Boston and Jed Hoyer in Chicago.
Currently GM’s who have worked under Epstein include Hoyer (now President of baseball ops), Cherrington (Pirates), Harris (San Fransisco, Zhadi is the PBO), Jerry Dipoto (Seattle) worked under Cherrington in Boston.
Anyway, that is not taking anything away from Friedman, any team would love to have Friedman as their GM and now that Epstein has at least temporarily stepped away the “best GM” would be a fight between himself and Brian Cashman.
In my opinion, the true measure of success is not going to the World Series but winning a World Series. I’ve felt that has been Friedman’s biggest downfall (a 60 game season withstanding). And I think that is what kind of sets Epstein (and Cashman) apart from Friedman…. Esptein wasn’t afraid to deal Eloy, Cease, or Torres to win a World Series… He wasn’t afraid to send franchise icon Nomar out of Boston… He wasn’t afraid to deal Hanley Ramirez and so on. Some of those moves came back to bite him but 2 curses broken and three Titles speak for themselves.
I agree with your points, but Friedman wasn’t afraid to deal for Mookie Betts to win a World Series either
The true measure of success is both the ultimate success(banners) and long term consistent success(division titles+pennants)
Both Epstein and Cashman have had multiple non competitive seasons with massive payrolls. AF has never done this. Epstein has now left 2 teams with disasters on their hands. Epstein also clearly sucks at drafting. Remember when Chi was going to be a dynasty in 2016? Oops
How can you be “the best” when you leave+ require massive rebuilds because your work was so destructive.. twice?
I agree. Theo effectively closed the Cub’s window by trading elite talent to achieve the World series goal. As a fan, I would find it disappointing to go through 2 major rebuilds within 10 years. Meanwhile, Friedman navigated the LA rebuild while still remaining competitive and has it set up for years of success.
That is not even remotely correct…
When Epstein was in Boston, they where NEVER not competitive. They won at least 86 (low water mark) every single year. And that disaster that Epstein left Boston with, his horrid farm system, won the World Series one year after he left.
In Chicago, the Cubs also have been competitive every year since 2015, only failing to make the playoffs once.
Neither the Red Sox nor the Cubs required or will require a “massive” rebuild.
And if you want to talk about the “ultimate measure of success”… how about
1.) building a World Series winning team from scratch like he did in Chicago
2.) 3 World Series titles
3.) 2 broken curses
4.) 10 playoff trips
5.) never finishing below .500 outside of when he built the Cubs from the ground up.
I agree, heck of a GM. Honestly though, I would love to see what Antonetti/Chernoff, Forst, Neander, Moze, AA (not DET’s!), could do with a similar team salary. All of these guys draft/scout/develop really really well! That’s not to take anything away from Friedman or Cashman (either). As a DET fan, I would take any one of these GM’s over any FA on the market!
You do realize that Friedman was widely regarded as the best GM in baseball before he ever stepped foot in LA, right? He set the foundation for the Rays organization, who are still following his blue print. He just now has essentially unlimited resources with LA. He’s a genius at building teams in every category (draft, development, trades, maneuvering money, etc). He’s going to dominate the league for as long as he’s there. Also, just look at how very little guaranteed committed money he has on the books. After next 2022, it’s essentially just Mookie Betts. He will likely add another super star this season or next (Arenado, Lindor, insert name) simply because he has the resources and it doesn’t make sense not to.
Nice, I honestly did not know that. I agree, he’s definitely top tier through & through.
Let’s go get a few bullpen arms, a starter for depth and a right handed bat and go win another World Series.
Can say of their free agents only turner and one of treinen or mcgee will be back. Should turner get richer offers dodgers can shift focus to trade market or signing a free agent outright.
Lindor and potentially bryant stand out and would make the most sense off down years. If they bring either In for low cost and see how well they perform they can either extend them and let seager (Borus client) walk next summer. (Although it’s possible they can resign seager and worry about third base)If they don’t want to shell out for either they can let Rios play for a year to see what they have in him.
If they need be jump back into the free agent market for a shortstop in 2022 they can as there will be plenty available (seager,lindor,Correa)
Kershaws deal comes off books next summer odds are he might be back but with the monkey off his back he could leave and not be blacklisted by dodger fans since he did his job.
Lot of moving parts but I think the rotation could use more stability potentially turning two of May, gonsolin, or urias into 1 ace caliber pitcher could be the option.
A rotation of buehler, snell, kershaw, price, urias looks pretty formidable.
Lineup
Mookie
Seager
Lindor/bryant
Bellinger
Polluck
Taylor
Smith
Muncy (if not traded)
Knowing the way AF conducts offseason, I’m willing to bet none of that happens.
They’ll re up Turner, and save trade capital for the deadline. Bryant doesn’t fit that lineup remotely, approach wise and negates why Turner was so important to the lineup, the ability to put professional ABs & separate the K%s you’ll see out of Muncy & Bellinger.
Lindor while amazing is more so the premier all around SS which is headed to a team in need of both the plus bat and defensive ability. Beyond that you’re also talking about alienating a home grown SS on his walk year. Which knowing AF who has preached the importance of a clubhouse, just not at all the way you shake it up. The Dodgers will be in better position to allow Rios to give Turner rest with spot starts, and I don’t truly believe the Dodgers really have the arsenal to acquire Snell + Lindor plus potential needs at the deadline. Bryant is more along the lines of very talented, but more so in name comparative to production and health.
They do have the arsenal to allow the rotation of Buehler, Kersh, Price, Urias, and May+ Gonsolin to ride it out and acquire a 3/4 to solidify the playoff rotation as they eventually move that three of Urias, May, Gonsolin to the pen for the stretch run.
I just think it’s inevitable they use Turner as the bridge for Hoese. And allow Lux a runway. There’s this talking about handing another 300M contract out when no one has any idea what the new CBA is going to look like.
No one thought betts was possible! I think upgrading rotation and pen will be key working points this offseason. If the price is low enough af has shown the ability to fleece people for premium talent. Friedman also typically has a number in mind for free agents and if turner exceeds that he won’t bite. I agree that I would prefer seager to stay but with borus anything is possible.
Betts was a salary dump. So nobody thought thinking it would be possible, is an extreme understatement. Especially, when it became clear of the Red Soxs intentions. if you think about it, it became the perfect storm of salary dump, AF being in love with Betts, and the tremendous transaction cost. Their belief, or lack thereof, in Verdugo’s long term ability to play CF also played a part in being able to move him for value.
I disagree with a lot of your assessments tbh, I think when we discuss certain aspects of AF, we are doing so an opportunistic GM who places more value in evaluating team needs through the deadline with the flexibility to obtain that impact piece. Pen much of the same, it’s already pretty set, with the exception of a potential LHRP piece. AF loves to stretch guys out and lessen their workloads down the stretch as their stuff plays up in the pen.
It really does seem like a pretty quiet offseason for the Dodgers. I see the Dodgers waiting out the market for Turner, and a LH pen piece with minor moves here and there.
Again you shape your facts to fit your argument. Betts was not on dodgers radar as a team that won over 100 games the season before hand and found premium talent for a discounted price….again you just poach things to support your argument whether true or not. AF is trying to always make team better expect many more move between now and spring training. Again AF is a man of cause and effect, we will see if the first domino falls being turner but should the amount be too much AF will move to alternatives which usually sends a cascading effect through the rest of the offseason. Agree to disagree!
I think Bryant is more likely. I also don´t trust both May and Gonsolin, because they have issues they need to work out, especially with command, pitches thrown, and strikeout rate.
As a Braves fan, lord knows I hate the dodgers. As a baseball fan, they’re the best ran organization in all of baseball. Yes, they have some big pockets, but they’re roster has just been loaded with prospects seemingly called up left and right the past few years..And what is crazy is that they never seem to run out of quality, high-caliber guys!!! It is absurd!! lol..
Congrats goes out to the Dodgers and their fans though!! Maybe the Braves can catch them this year, although, even in a best case scenario, I fully realize that’s very improbable..lol
At least your a respectful fan unlike that guy briffle. Respect to you and your Braves your time will come sooner rather than later.
Braves88…considering the starters that ATL88 will have back, it’s easy to see ATL-LAD in a 7 game NLCS in 2021. Of course, much off-season still to go. If the Braves CF of the future produces like he did in the playoffs, they may not miss Ozuna at all.
ATL88= ATL too many typos commenting via the phone app
Braves are a problem. I’m far more concerned about ATL than I am about San Diego.
Keep sleeping on us, @Boe Jiden. We will pass your team up soon and you will be sorry.
A Brusdar Graterol cap toss and kiss to you and everyone in else San Diego.
Padres are a good team and are getting better. But LA just swept you. Dodgers barely got past ATL despite the rash of injuries they endured. So yea, I see the Braves as a far bigger threat to winning the pennant than I do the padres.
@Boe Jiden – I actually agree that the Dodgers are better than the Padres right now. The Dodgers just won the World Series, and deserve a lot of credit for that. However, barring any major free agent moves, I think that the Padres are more of a threat than the Braves this year.
Padres’ first baseman is horrible, he gave away many out by not catching throws that average first baseman would. He gave Dodgers 4 outs in several games,
Pads are going to be a problem for us too. They’re loaded with talent just as the Braves
Very improbable? Had them down 3-1 in the NLCS, took them to a Game 7. A win away from the WS with a decimated starting pitching staff. It came down to basically a coin toss. But to you, for the Braves to win the NL in 2021 is “very improbable”. WTF kind of fan are you? Not “realistic” because “very improbable” is not based on reality. Maybe you should find another team??
I forget that other fans can’t have opinions that don’t align with yours. Shame on that Braves fan for not having the perfect opinion like you. Troll.
Counterpoint, you got a career year out of Freeman and Ozuna, and Ozuna is not coming back
I put the Braves above SD until SD’s prospects actually become major leaguers, but let’s not pretend ATL is bringing back the same quality in 2021
How do you know “Ozuna is not coming back”? There’s a good chance the Braves will re-sign him, and if they don’t, look for a solid replacement. AA is not going backwards. They accomplished what they did last year with only one-and-a-half legitimate starting pitchers all year, so there will already be a big improvement there. And Albies missed about half the season. You may be badly misled to believe that there will be a regression.
Because Ozuna is getting a fat contract and like Donaldson, not from ATL
he just had his CAREER year. There’s zero way he signs another 1 year deal or anything less than top dollar on the market. Atl isn’t doing that. If you want to pretend they will, I’ll make sure to laugh at you when it comes out ATL didn’t make a final competitive offer… like Donaldson
Atlanta is also getting Mike Soroka back, plus Morton and Smyly to round out the rotation. They took LA to Game 7 last year with a fraction of an actual rotation.
Any comments on the Ozuna signing, or are you choking on the crow? ROFLMAO!!!
Yeah man, but at least the future looks bright for the Braves. I’m a Cubs fan and we got our long awaited Chip, so it’s hard to be mad but the Dodgers have been so so much smarter than the Cubs and pretty much all teams. Now the Cubs are screwed for not drafting and developing much. It’s hard not to be jealous of the Dodgers.
Stand by to stand by…. The Cubs farm system is drastically underrated and they knocked the 2020 draft out of the park!
The Cubs have a lot of arms in their system that can turn into very high leverage relievers. Lots of power arms with a good secondary pitch. Brennan Davis and Ed Howard are going to be studs, rumors are swirling about the Cubs having a very good international signing period as well. Strumph is probably the Cubs most underrated prospect and I think Nwogu is going to be the steal of the 2020 draft.
Nwogu has gotten better each year since he dedicated himself to baseball, built like Soler but with some crazy speed and solid contact rate. His hitting mechanics are already much improved and should improve further. His exit velocity is crazy good as well…
I hope you’re right man! It’s hard to have any faith in the Cubs developing pitchers at this point. They haven’t been exactly good at developing basically any arms, but hopefully that ends.
I think the Dodgers re-sign Turner and let everyone else walk. I would like to see Treinen back but I believe he showed enough to get a better deal from another team. I’m sure we’ll be active in the relief market, maybe Brad Hand if the price is right.
I do also hope that the Dodgers don’t make any big trades this winter. Keep the assets we have and resign them. That’s been AF’s mantra since he arrived and I see no reason to change that. We take guys that have some issues and find ways to help them.
Plus, there’s a lot of money that will need to go to Buehler, Seagar, and Bellinger in the next few offseasons. There’s not a problem unless you’re desperate to find one.
This team, without any additions right now, which is obviously not going to be the case, is a World Series favorite. I’m looking forward to a full 162 with Mookie and Belli in that outfield and I also think it’s been long enough since a repeat champ was crowned. Time to change that.
Keep in mind after next season both kershaw and kenleys deal come off books. Kenley looks finished and unless he takes paycut I don’t see him coming back. I see the same with turner if he take a 1/2 year deal at a modest rate he will definitely be back and they can move him to first if need be. I think muncy is the piece that moves, as he is on a bridge deal and is on wrong side of 30.
I actually see Kershaw staying on or retiring. Obviously, he’d end up coming back on a cheaper deal if he did choose to stay.
Turner would be back on a 2 year, 20 million dollar deal. Maybe a 3rd year option.
Kenley won’t be back as he has clearly dropped off. I can actually see him retiring after next year as well.
Kershaw retiring after his age 33 season? Not a chance. He’ll get at least two more years from the Dodgers and they should get that one squared away before next spring. A performance-laden contract just like the one he’s on now.
Kershaw could retire. I don’t think he will, but his mentor–Sandy Koufax–retired at 30. With as much problems as he’s had with his back, Kershaw could conceivably hang it up. But I doubt it.
And pigs could fly. Koufax had terrible arm trouble and was pitching in tremendous pain for his last couple of seasons. That’s why he hung it up. Kershaw’s back issues have been manageable so far and he hasn’t had any arm issues. He’s probably good for several more years. He’ll retire when he feels like he can’t perform anymore, and not a day sooner.
Dodgers could move Muncy to third and Rios to first if Turner doesn’t come back,
Muncy already plays a lot of 1B and Rios 3B, so no reason to swap them around. More likely Turner comes back.
Agree on Jansen being gone. He is non-essential at this point and relief pitching is almost always available. It doesn’t even have to be a Josh Hader type either.
Muncy is pretty valuable, especially with the DH likely to return in 2022.
Urias closing out game 6 of the WS tells you everything you need to know about Kenley Jansen’s future as the Dodgers closer…
I have a good feeling about the Dodgers’ chances in 2021. I’m not worried about a championship hangover, I’m excited to see what they might do now that the pressure of coming so close but not winning it all is gone.
I think so I think kershaw might take less and slowly decline into a 3/4 but that’s okay I wouldn’t mind him retiring a dodger. Turner like you said unless it’s a great deal I would let walk and kenley is definitely gone. I hope seager is brought back! I think if I had to choose between seager and bellinger I would take seager
I agree with exactly that.
No blockbusters are necessary. Turner on a short-term deal is preferable to someone like Arenado since Hoese should be ready at some point in 2022. No need to wreck the payroll when the team is already a WS favorite. AF will fill out the 2021 roster with complementary pieces will also easing in prospects like Lux (remember him?), McKinstry, Ruiz, and Gray. There will also be a low-risk/high-reward reclamation project or two. In regard to the latter, those kinds of players love signing with the Dodgers due to recent success stories.
AF has set this team up well for the present and the future. What excites me most is how the pitching and catching are shaping up. While other teams overspend to fill those spots, the Dodgers rely on their well-developed prospects. It’s like a conveyor belt of MLB-ready youngsters. They shouldn’t have to buy or trade for a starting pitcher anytime soon. The next wave of prospects is on the horizon with the 2019 pitching draftees, Cartaya behind the plate, and Hoese and Busch as middle-of-the-order hitters. The Dodgers just keep pumping them out.
Correcting myself: 2020 pitching draftees.
Couldnt agree more with you Mr Cey Hey. I just dont get it why the so called expert in Sports Channel really linking the Dodgers with Arenado or Lindor. Not that theres anything wrong with Arenado and Lindor, since both of them are great player but it just the price too steep IMO and why trade prospect for some player that have salary like 35M / year and a player that only have 1 year of contract.
Agree. L.A. doesn’t need to get too crazy this offseason. Just re-sign Turner and make a decision on the starting rotation. David Price is like signing a FA. If they want to make a big splash, Blake Snell could probably be had using expendable LA pieces (Gonsolin, Ruiz, et al). I don’t think they should feel ANY pressure to go after a Lindor, Bryant type deal though.
But the Dodgers probably will make a blockbuster. Ruiz and Cartaya are blocked by Will Smith, and he´s here stay for at least a few more years, as is Austin Barnes. D.J. Peters is also a candidate, because he´s an all power outfielder with high strikeout rate and nowhere to go. Matt Beaty is also trade bait, because he has no clear position. The dodgers have about 2 holes to fill in the bullpen, 1 in the rotation, 1 at 2nd base(Taylor is not a viable everyday option, and Lux is miles away from being ready) and with Turner still unsigned- 3rd base is a hole as well. Rios plays below average defense and profiles more as a DH. I think an good solution is to sign D.J. LeMahieu for 2nd base, trade Ruiz and Lux for Blake Snell- match made in heaven for us and the Rays(who love controllable prospects and don´t have to pay jack for Snell), sign Brad Hand for the bullpen, and trade D.J. Peters, Matt Beaty, and a PTBL for Josh Hader in the bullpen, and, regrettably, resign Justin Turner. The only players in the minors I see making an impact are Kody Hoese(2023) Michael Busch(2022), Zach McKinstry(2021) and Josiah Gray(2022).
Whoa, as a Dodger fan, I am going to disagree with you that as of now were WS favorites with what we have on the roster.
We need bullpen help, and a 3rd baseman, then we can talk about favorites
Whoa, as a Dodgers fan, I am going to disagree with we’re favorites without any additions to our roster.
You do realize that we need a real 3rd baseman, and bullpen help especially in the back end
Until then I believe we are a legit WS favorite
I don’t have much to say, other than the Los Angeles Dodgers are the 2020 World Series Champions and it feels pretty good to say that.
Incredible team. Year after year I go to Spring Training and see wave after wave of young talent and get jealous. Beautiful facility too.
JT and “Kike” should be the priorities. Let the rest move on; 2 yr deal for Turner, 3 max for the defensive wizard.
I love the defensive wizard but think he is gone. Look for McKinstry to be the next super-utility guy. Not the glove of Hernandez, but a plus lefty bat who can play the middle infielder and assume Joc’s role in the outfield.
I love Mckinistry, but LA seems to love the right handed utility to counter their heavy left handed lineup. I look for Kike to resign or they will sign someone like DJL.
Re-sign 3B J.Turner
Acquire P B.Snell from Tampa Bay for P T.Gonsolin, C K.Ruiz
Buehler, Kershaw, Snell, Price, May, Urias
C Smith
1B Muncy
2B Lux / Taylor
SS Seager
3B Turner
LF Pollock
CF Bellinger
RF Betts
Nah, I’d rather keep Gonsolin and Ruiz. I don’t get why people think the Dodgers should trade Ruiz. Catching depth is a strength and needs to stay that way.
People suggest Ruiz becuase he fits the MO of prospects traded by LA who headline major trade packages. Top 100 prospects who are blocked by all star talent who have many years of control left. Young catching is especially valuable. I agree some give him away too lightly, but if there’s a top 10 prospect who looks like a solid bet to go, he’s high on that list. Top 5, he probably leads that list
Ruiz isn’t really blocked, though. He and Smith can eventually share the position, which would give Ruiz a chance to enhance his trade value even further. Look what happened with Verdugo. Friedman wouldn’t part with him in the Machado trade and in other proposals. As a result, Verdugo’s value jumped when he performed well as a rookie and was available when it came time to make THE right trade. The same thing can happen with Smith/Ruiz. Trading Rujiz too soon might be short-sighted.
Btw, Barnes turns 31 on December 28 and is a FA after 2022. Since Barnes’ salary of $1.1 million doesn’t figure to jump much in arbitration, I might be inclined to trade Barnes and keep Ruiz. As you said, young catching and years of control are valuable. And given this depressed catching market, Barnes might be an attractive trade cheap after his strong post-season. I like Barnes and am not advocating for him to be dealt. However, he is a proven receiver with a reasonable contract…and several teams are hard-up for catching. So, this might be a good time to cash in that chip if he’s part of the right trade.
I’ve mentioned Barnes multiple times as a possible “we lost Realmuto and McCann” secondary prize
And yes, you’re right. Verdugo did improve his value. But he did so playing every day. That’s not happening until at least 2022 in La for Ruiz, and only if they get the DH and others don’t need the spot more
I don’t think Ruiz is dealt for any 1 year player. But Arenado, Hader, Snell? That’s long term immediate piece for a prospects who’s blocked as starter. It fits Friedman imo
Like Lux, he won’t give him away. I trust Friedman to have that restraint. But I think it’s very reasonable to expect someone like Ruiz and or Gonsolin being a valuable trade piece, in the right trade
Barnes will be gone in a year or two when a free agent, then Ruiz will be in La
100% this.
Cartaya is on the way, too. Apparently he’s seen as a superior bat to Ruiz, if you can believe that.
Ruiz’s scouting report was he had a high contact bat but lacked power. Idk how well Carataya’s defense has grown but if he’s making improvements there, that makes Ruiz that much more likely to at least be discussed in trades, if not this offseason, maybe next deadline
The Wealth of young catching is a genius value play. There isn’t an asset more valuable than a young talented catcher on both sides of the ball, and LA has two in that category, with two more guys to boot. I’d think it is Very helpful to make a package stand out in trade talks
Ruiz is a switch hitter so that could be a big deal also.
Ruiz’ name comes up simply because he has high upside and LA already has Will Smith and Austin Barnes. Ruiz is the type of guy teams will want in a deal for a high-end pitcher.
Lux is not ready, and Taylor is not an everyday player due to inconsistencies. We also need to fix a couple holes in the bullpen, and Freidman said the main thing he wants is a right-handed power bat- only Bryant, Lindor and Arenado fit that bill.
Funny calling Taylor not an everyday player when he plays almost every day at almost every position on the field, and has a career slash line that looks like: .263/.335/.444/.779.
Taylor games in last 4 years. 140, 155, 124, 56(of 60)
Sure sounds like an every day player or darn near close
… seems like an echo in here.
Taylor is huge for the Doyers, very important in 2020. He will need to get paid when he becomes a FA.
Arenado wants to come and holds all the cards.If the outstanding 3B of this generation is a possibility, it should be extensively explored.
Do the Rox want to pay an unhappy Face Of The Franchise in this Covid world of reduced income, bearing in mind he can walk for nothing in a year because of his opt out, or get something back from the Dodgers while they can.
Forget upsetting the fans, this is a business, and it’s highly unlikely that Colorado is going to best the Padres or Dodgers in the next couple of years.
AF would be foolish not to at least if a favourable deal could be had.
Arenado would also save money that would be otherwise spent on Turner, and fill the need, already expressed by AF, for a RH hitter in the middle of the lineup.
The most overrated team. It took a pandemic for them to win the World Series.
Yea that .717 winning percentage and pace to eclipse the all time win total in a season definitely doesn’t play over 162
Yeah, the team that went to two of the last three World Series, won 104 and 106 games in 2017 and 2019, then added Mookie Betts and won 43 of 60 to go to a third WS in four years while scoring the most runs and having the lowest staff ERA is overrated.
I’m no Dodgers fan, but where do you come up with this? L.A. had the best regular season and they won the last game of the season. How is it possible to “overrate” that?
Your “it took a pandemic” logic makes no sense, as it “took” that for anyone to win this year. They all played the same 60-game schedule. It’s not like LA got a free ride to the show.
The pandemic doesn’t play the games. The pandemic took away their #3 starter to an opt-out. The pandemic made them have to play a dangerous wild card round that division winners never have to play in. Name 1 better team in baseball. You can’t without lying.
The Dodgers also traded or lost four starting pitchers to free agency, two of which finished second and third in the AL Cy Young race this year.
Ryu, Maeda, Price, Hill, Stripling. How many teams would take that right now for their rotation? All pitchers the Dodgers were without in 2020, and they still were the best team in baseball wire to wire.
Bad take batter up. I’m guessing your a giants fan is this just sour grapes. The overwhelming consensus from the non-partisan world is that the 2020 Dodgers were an elite team.
If your team team would’ve won it all. You wouldn’t be typing this nonsense smh lol
sorry, troll…
As always, Friedman will hunt value. They have a known internal price for Snell, Bryant, Arenado, Lindor, Hader and anyone else, where they feel the net value is a win. If a team gets their asking price down to LAD’s comfort level, LAD will pull the trigger. And yea. That includes Seager to 3B and Lindor to SS, if the price is right. This in many ways is how they got Betts, Darvish and even Machado. Wait out the market
They could also trade Pollack, cash in on his big year and use that savings elsewhere, while refilling the farm. Him or Price could be a piece LA trades with money, to keep their own prospect cost down in a bigger deal, or beef up their return. Maeda+10M to the Twins, for example.
The number of avenues this team can go after a title is exciting. Let’s be honest, the other recent title winners were pretty locked into their core and somewhat financially hamstrung post title, (Wash, Bost, Hou, Philly, SF all fit the bill, and I’m sure the list goes on)
I do agree re signing JT is a high likelihood move. I also think they could go for a super team, IE Hader+Snell, but I can also seem them balking at prices and standing pat. Overall, In Friedman I trust
Friedman has a proven record of moving big contracts. It didn’t take him long to straighten out the payroll mess he inherited. I trust him completely. He has a plan, has stuck to it, and it is paying off. No complaints here. It is nice to watch a team year after year where every game is meaningful. Dodger fans should count their blessings.
Sometimes, I think AF knows more about other organizations than the organizations themselves. The Reds deal where he got Downs and Gray was pure genius. Some fans complained it was a fire sale when, in reality, AF was stockpiling assets. The Dodgers don’t just sign or trade for players. They have a developmental plan for that player before pulling the trigger. Stockpile, develop, then put the players on the conveyer belt to Los Angeles. It keeps the payroll manageable and makes it possible to make meaningful trades and signings when needed.
The Stripling trade s another mov that might eventually pay off. Trade a serviceable player who’s not really needed, acquire two young players who possibly will develop into Major Leaguers. The Jays still owe the Dodgers a second player in that one.
The trade with the Reds wasn’t a fire sale, but it was a salary dump to keep payroll below the CBT and the Dodgers did have take on a big dead contract and send cash to the Reds to balance the books.
Not a salary dump as none of the players the Dodgers surrendered was needed. Kemp was done, Puig not as good as the player (Verdugo) who would be replacing him, Wood was excess, Farmer a spare part. It wasn’t just trimming salary. It was getting two legitimate prospects for guys not worth keeping in a strict baseball sense. Downs has already paid a huge dividend, Gray will be in MLB soon. Cincy is left with just Farmer as they construct yet another plan. Think the Reds would do that one over if given a chance?
I think you both are correct. Remember LA did take back a dead contract as well, like BSLA is mentioning. But as you said, it was all done with the CBT in mind, while turning excess/spare parts into long term assets
Teams are afraid of “dead” money, but sometimes you gotta buy the prospect. AF must be a helluva negotiator haha
You are only looking at one side of the ledger. The Reds cleared Homer Bailey’s dead contract off their books and got cash from the Dodgers too. That was a big part of the motivation for them. The Dodgers don’t get anything else back in that deal without it. And whether the Dodgers had any use for the players they traded is irrelevant to the question of whether it was a salary dump. It got the Dodgers under the CBT and created salary space they later used. It also wasn’t any small thing for the Dodgers to have sent Puig away. In fact letting him go was seen as a big deal at the time.
If Dodgers look into acquiring Arenado, they should send Jansen and his $20M salary to Colorado. Sign Brad Hand or Liam Hendriks to close.
I know they may not “need” to care about this, but Kenley had a pretty serious heart scare a few years ago in Col and rarely pitches there. I doubt LA would send him there (or that Col would take the risk he’d be okay all year)
More likely he’s involved in a 3 way deal with Col but Kenley ending elsewhere, than straight up to Col
I’m still a big proponent for Hand and/or Hendricks, even if Kenley is in LA in 2021. It is his last year
Agree with Liam Hendriks, also Yates, and Trevor Rosenthal. Hand has lost mph on fastball last 2 years.
Sadly, I’m not sure Colorado would have a reason for a ninth-inning guy. They probably won’t carry that many leads to necessitate a “save”.
Betts is owed more than $295m, his entire bonus $65m was deferred.
Dodgers are only paying half of Price’s contract
The Dodgers could use a specialized left-handed pitcher. someone who is brought in the takedown left-handed batters who struggle against left-handed pitchers. I would definitely keep Turner for one more season. He has already proven what he can do and accomplish.
How about Urias out of the pen? Or do you mean an additional LH reliever?
Urias will be a starter next year, just like he was this year. He was only used as a reliever and for short starts after his shoulder surgery. He is far too valuable in a starter role to be pitched out of the pen except in special situations, such as Game 6 of the World Series.
Hand or bringing back McGee on a short term deal would work.
Victor Gonzalez is pretty nasty from the left side too.
I feel like E.Hernandez is probably gone, if only because someone (Oakland?) might give him a chance to start at 2B instead of staying a utility guy.
Agreed. Kike is huge for the Doyers but its his time to get paid and be an everyday player…
Not a Dodgers fan, but a baseball fan. A question to fellow baseball fans, which all of us here are. If the Dodgers win another championship in 2021, MLB’s first back-to-back titles since the turn of the century, could they be considered a dynasty? The first since the Yankees 1996-2003 run of 6 pennants and four World Series titles? Dynasties to me are very rare, requiring multiple titles, and regular season dominance at a level where they’re the team to beat from the first pitch of the season for a number of years. The Dodgers were coming up short, but if they now win a second title in back-to-back fashion, coupled with nine straight division titles and four NL pennants, I think we have a team for the record books and our first dynasty in a couple decades.
Back to back champions, 9 division titles, 4 pennants. Yes, they would be considered a dynasty.. the Big Red Machine Reds are considered a dynasty and they also won back to back titles and 4 pennants
I feel like Turner is coming back. He’s just too important to the franchise to let him walk. That dude was born to be a Dodger. But I also feel that Bryant is a perfect fit, even if they resign Turner. Bryant can play multiple positions, and he’s a big right handed bat. I could easily see Bryant at 1b, Muncy at 2B (which seems to be his best defensive position), Seager at SS, and Turner at 3b. Then you have Taylor as your backup SS and Alex Rios and Zach McKinstry are in the mix too. And you could also plug Bryant into the OF on days where you want to stack righties, against a tough lefty.
My prediction is the dodgers get 1 more RP that gives their bullpen a “different look” like Kirby Yates (with his splitter) or Shane Greene (with his sinker) and a random UT guy.
IMO, what separates AF from Theo, Cashman and others is that his business model allows for sustainable success. The Dodgers don’t have rebuilding years and none are on the horizon.
I echo what many of the pro AF crowd have said already… best PoBO/GM in the game.
The dodgers pitching staff is stacked.
So many talented young guys like Graterol, Josiah Gray, Mitchell White, Victor Gonzalez are buried on the depth chart.
The pitching depth+ catching depth with young, talented but unproven guys screams “AF swings another blockbuster”
Let’s be real. Post 2019 was Mookie. Post 2018 was the big Reds deal sending Puig off. Mid 2018 they got Machado. Mid 2017 they got Darvish. It’s a fairly safe bet LAD will make some noteworthy acquisition before Opening day, imo
I like the way you think.
Hopefully a blocked catcher and young pitcher bring back a Lindor type talent.
Do you think that Will Smith is being groomed to play third base? What other positions has he played (besides Catcher and DH) in the minors or college? I think it”s a great way to keep his bat in the game. Plus it saves his hands from wear and tear which usually affects hitting in a negative way. I heard a rumor of this third base consideration, but as I searched for verification, I couldn’t find any.
Smith has played 3B and RF in his career, though I don’t recall either happening in his MLB career (maybe 3B?).
The best thing to do is to let Justin Turner walk. He’s getting lots of interest from other teams which makes saying goodbye easier to a beloved teammate. The organization has got to give opportunities to the young guys. Plus, Keibert Ruiz and Will Smith need secondary positions to keep them in the game.. Will Smith can play third base. Keibert Ruiz can play first base (that’s my guess). Those are the two positions that Justin Turner would be occupying.
We’ve got three catchers ready to play in 2021 at the major league level. And solving that dilemma (which is a good problem to have) means giving them time at other positions.
Agreed. there is a point when it makes sense to let JT go. The Doyers have to look ahead, not at the past…