With the Reds seemingly looking to cut payroll, the Dodgers are looking to capitalize, as USA Today’s Bob Nightengale writes that Los Angeles has had talks with the Reds about right-handers Luis Castillo and Sonny Gray. It isn’t known if the two sides progressed far into negotiations, or if the Dodgers were doing their due diligence on potential pitching acquisitions.
Both pitchers come with two years of control. Castillo is arbitration-eligible through the 2023 season, and is projected to earn $7.6MM in 2022 (Castillo’s age-29 season). The 32-year-old Gray will earn $10.7MM in 2022, the final guaranteed season of his three-year/$30.5MM contract, and the Reds hold a $12.7MM club option on his services for 2023.
Castillo’s youth and higher ceiling makes him the bigger trade chip of the two hurlers, though Gray is hardly just a consolation prize for the Dodgers or any other team looking to dip into the Reds’ pitching staff. After an All-Star season in 2019 (his first in Cincinnati), Gray has continued to be solid in 2020-21, with a 4.05 ERA, 48.3% grounder rate, and 28% strikeout rate over his last 191 1/3 innings of work. Control is Gray’s persistent issue, as he hasn’t posted an above-average walk rate since the 2015 season when he pitched for the Athletics.
Reports from earlier this week suggested that the Reds are more open to trade discussions about Castillo than they’ve been in the past, which may be indicative of the Reds’ desire to cut the budget. Cincinnati already parted ways with one pitcher last week when Wade Miley was put on waivers and then claimed by the Cubs, thus saving the Reds the $1MM buyout of Miley’s $10MM club option for 2022, and saving the team the “risk” (from the perspective of this Reds payroll crunch) of not finding a trade partner for Miley if that option was exercised.
Any number of teams figure to be exploring just how much of a fire sale is taking place in Cincinnati, and Castillo and Gray will both garner lots of attention on the trade market. The Dodgers have a particular need for starting pitching, as Max Scherzer and Clayton Kershaw are both free agents, Dustin May’s rehab from Tommy John surgery will keep him out until the second half of the 2022 season at the earlier, and Trevor Bauer’s future is in limbo because of legal charges and a possible suspension. Los Angeles has already made one early move for pitching in signing left-hander Andrew Heaney on Wednesday, but a higher-profile addition like Castillo or Gray would slot in nicely behind Walker Buehler and Julio Urias in the Dodgers’ rotation, while still leaving the door open for Scherzer or Kershaw to return.
Is it me or does it seem like Kershaw ain’t coming back?
Cause he’s coming to Texas
Kershaw is injured in a very serious way. Damaged goods to say the least. Don’t buy the hype and believe he will be fully healthy and ready to go based on the reports. The reports said the same thing about deGrom and Trout, too. Those reports were obviously fabrications. Look at the area of injury. That’s the true story. Kershaw is injured in a terrible part of the body for a pitcher to be injured. No one would be surprised if he needed Tommy John surgery before Spring training ends.
That’s cool and all, but what does it have to do with Kershaw going to Texas?
@Kayrall: if you were asking me what Kershaw’s injury has to do with him going to Texas then that’s just stupid. Kershaw is clearly hurt. Texas would be getting damaged goods. That’s what it has to do with Kershaw going to Texas. I’m assuming you were referring to me because you trolled me before on another post and literally said, “That’s cool and all but what does that have to do with blah blah blah?” Trolls are lame and don’t be stupid. Kershaw’s forearm injury has plenty to do with Kershaw so it obviously has plenty to do with Kershaw potentially going to Texas. That’s like saying “What do grapes have to do with raisins?” If you can’t figure it out I can’t help you other than to let you know you need to find a better way to educate yourself.
Seems to me like you reply to the comment that would put yours as close to the top as possible regardless of the relevance.
No it was valid
Maybe Texas is where his surgeon is?
That’s where his surgeon is?
It seems Missed WAR is being excessively obtuse. For what ends, who knows, random people keep themselves busy on the interwebs for all sorts of shady reasons.
I am daring to bet that Kershaw will opt for retirement, if any good offer isn’t reached by December. Or, if he says he’s ok, he should do a showcase for different teams, as Verlander did, although I’m not sure that these type of displays show the reality of any pitcher who is coming from a serious injury.
I heard his surgeon is. In texas. What do grapes have to do with raisins?
He isn’t “coming” to Texas as he already is a resident. Whether he joins the Group Texas Rangers organization is a different question. He appears to have sustained a significant injury. He is not the pitcher he was five years ago. If he needs TJ Surgery it probably means the loss of the next two seasons. He is a hall of famer first ballot but he clearly is in his declining years. And, when it comes to the post season, he has never really excelled.
LOL
Ah yes, leaving the Dodgers for a team that’s eliminated by August
Had a great career and it may not be over but if the Dodgers are passing given the history, it doesn’t seem likely that any big market competitive club has the tax budget available to take a chance. Texas has the money and the tax room to take a shot. Either he’s a big reason why the Rangers are surprisingly good next year or they have a big ticket sellable commodity at the deadline. Those are the two ups. The down is he ends up again on the IL for most of the year or shows he’s done.
You misspelled July….lol
The Dodgers aren’t passing on Kershaw. It has been made so perfectly clear that they want him back I don’t know how anyone who calls themselves a baseball fan can even make that ludicrous statement.
BlueSkies:. I was referring to the prior post which seemed to to infer a deal for years and dollars as if he was in his prime. Texas will likely offer such and if he wants top bucks it won’t come from any big market competing team.
It’s over.
They’re not paying to sit on the DL.
Dumbest statement so far.
I don’t know how anyone who calls themselves a baseball fan can even make that ludicrous statement.
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It’s a fairly intuitive statement. The LAD did not give him a qualifying offer. If they were truly intent on keeping him, that is automatically the first step. You can’t blame posters for thinking that LAD is not all in on him. That makes no sense imo.
@AngelsAdvocate For the right guy plenty of teams are willing to pay for a missed season if it means having a solid pitcher for 2 or 3 seasons after that.
Dodgers brass already said they didn’t issue him a QO out of respect. It puts a stopwatch on him to make a big decision, and limits his value as a free agent.
@Dewey: And yet, Kershaw is still worth more to the Dodgers than to any other team and management has already committed publicly to the absolute desire to bring him back to LA if he decides to play next year (which I believe he most certainly will). Nothing points to him going to Texas except the wishful thinking of Rangers fans and maybe their FO. But even they must know the real score.
@JoeBrady: I sure can blame posters for ignoring what has been said about this by the Dodgers, and also that little thing called reality. Nothing intuitive about that.
Jason correct. That was a classy move on their part too. Joe knows not what is speaking of.
Of course, that’s why you give a QO. If they truly wanted him back, they’d have made it more difficult for him to leave. IRT the respect, they did manage to give Seager and Taylor a QO.
They truly want him back, but they decided that the best strategy for getting him back was to give him the time and space he needed to decide about his future, rather than hold him to the deadline of a QO. This is exactly what was said and exactly what was done. And yet…
@Joe Taylor and Seager have a long way to go before they accumulate the kind of accommodation that Kershaw has tapped.
Breaking news on Yardbarker. Freddie Freeman has turned down a 5-year $135 million offer from the Braves. “Freeman is reportedly seeking a 6-year deal in the $200 million range.” Not great news for Braves fans. I’m surprised MLBTR hasn’t posted this yet. They did it with the $160M deal the Astros offered Correa. I guess they aren’t first on everything. They will probably read my comment and then look into it and post something afterwards.
Hell get it.
WOW!
Imagine that – a prime free agent gets an offer from his team on November 11, and he wants far more money. Earth shattering news. Don’t think we’ve ever seen anything like this! We all need to look into Yardbarker.
It’s 15 minutes since your update. Any other news on this?
Silly season continues to warm up……
You are the anti MMWar. While sometimes they are long winded and a tad annoying (sorry mate), they bring valuable points a lot and some good info. All you do is troll
I would guess they split the difference probably somewhere around 5/160 with an option for the 6th. What do you think?
This is the stupidest hot take ever. They offered Freeman that DURING the season. If you make braves offer 6 years its around 160 million. He wants 40 mil more. That aint a huge difference. And as a Braves fan let him walk if he wants over 200 mil.
1st base is easiest spot to fill. I assume he does 180 over 6 back to ATL. Which would be 240 mil over 6 if he went to a CA team cause of taxes.
He walks that money could sign Chirs Taylor and Marte with money left over (for a dominate RH RP). This season as a Braves fan learned its better to have a bunch of above average players than a hadful of superstars and the rest be below league average.
Mets something about WAR guy…….oh yes I’m sure the heavily paid and Unionized MLBTR writers often spend time away from writing articles reading the comments on their articles! Yep! You and I are on the top of their lists of “must reads” Haha
Not good news? It’s part of the negotiation process. Am I the only one sick of this know-it-all jackass?!?
They’re not union.
AngelsAdvocate- it was a joke bruvv. These MLBTR guys are independent contractors with no editors, no unions, no coffee breaks and certainly no fat salaries!
Yea I think he’s going to Texas along with Arlington born, Trevor Story.
Kershaw is not going to Texas. Anyone who follows Kershaw knows he is the ultimate competitor and wants to win. The Rangers are not competitive.
Kershaw is going to Texas, but only in the offseason, and when he retires.
I don’t see him leaving. He’s a dodger for life. Very rare in today’s world. I see him back on a 3 year deal with 2 mutual options. Somewhere in the 40-45 mill range. Gives them a hometown discount to continue going for rings.
He has said he would probably prefer 1 year deals at this stage if his career.
These replies.
Nice depth pieces in case Heaney gets hurt.
If the Dodgers get Castillo and Gray, the depth piece will be Heaney not the other way around.
Heaney > Castillo.
As the first paragraph says, due diligence. Their off-season plans can’t revolve around him. I think Kershaw is betting on himself to get healthy and then sign with the Dodgers a multi-year deal with a prorated ’22 salary. If next year’s Dodgers get rolling and don’t need him, so be it.
They don’t need him, nor want him on the roster.
Kershaw adds little value at this point.
@Angels Advocate Yeah, that’s the Anaheim take on pitching right there.
It seems like a good assumption at this point.
Dodgers can’t let him walk after not QOing him
It was a class move on their part to let him go wherever he chooses.
More like a stupidity move
I happen to have the same feeling. What an ungrateful organization the Dodgers are ! I hope the Jays go hard on him like they did when they also snap Ryu away from LA.
1.Kershaw
2.Ray
3.Berrios
4.Ryu
5.Manoah
Not bad at all !!!!
You’re an idiot. LA did exactly what they were supposed to do.
1.Buehler
2.Urias
3.Castillo
4.Gray
5.Gonsolin
They’ll still have May as well when he recovers !
They might try to bring Max back so it’ll likely be!
1.Scherzer
2.Urias
3.Buehler
4.Gray
5.Castillo
6.Gonzo !
They can’t bring Scherzer back.
Exactly
One of modern day baseball’s best pitchers who just happened to be a Dodger. The team hadn’t won the hardware since 1988 and 2020 is an asterisk but Kershaw has all the other accolades one would want in a HOF career. This does include the Championship albeit 60game season instead of 162. I wish him a healthy recovery and happy life. However I don’t see Joe Rogan providing any silly horse dewormers or whatever else these dumba55es thinks is boosting immunity or repairing elbows to get him in field next spring. Thanks CK
Just wait for them to be put on waivers
I still don’t understand why Miley was put on waivers. They basically just handed the Cubs an almost 6 WAR pitcher.
To be fair, I highly doubt he quite reaches that level again. But he could be the worst pitcher in the league next year, and I’d still argue it was a foolish decision at the time. Pathetic really.
Reds are being smart.
Some teams are just gonna be crap with all the cost cutting to the rosters. MLB is not looking competitive beyond 2 DIV.
Miley was garbage second half. Reminds me of Drew Smyly in 2020. Regression to the max.
Post asb Miley was 5-3 with a 4.1 era not great but hardly garbage.Learn facts before posting nonsense smh
Take away his last three starts. attempting to play through a neck injury, and those numbers come back to his seasonal norm. Ever since he learned the cutter he reinvented himself in the 89 mph range. He may not be a 6 war player but he will produce more value than his cost this year. For small market teams, specifically my reds, this should be a target not a give away to save .5 a mill.
Gavin Lux, Edwin Rios,Tony Gonsolin, and Dustin May for Sonny Gray and Luis Castillo
May is arguably better than both Gray and Castillo, coming from a Giants fan
You have to give up talent to get talent
While true, Castillo and Gray can step in immediately in 2022 and contribute. Mays out till mid season. If theyre going all in before the rest of the core hits free agency it’d be a quick fix to add depth to the rotation.
Buehler Urias Castillo Gray Heaney/Kershaw
Assuming he comes back fine.
May is out until after the 2022 All Star game at the earliest if everything goes 100% right in his recovery. Nothing ever goes 100% right. Probably not back to full strength until the 2023 season. If you are not playing, you are not better than anyone.
So wrong….
May might not be the same and is out till around the all star game, Gray and Castillo contribute now. May gets consistent starts and the Dodgers get 2 number 2-3 starters.
He’s not.
The Dodgers aren’t dumb,
Why give away those players when you can resign either Scherzer or Kershaw?
I think it’s possible they go for either Gray and Castillo but not both.
There’s no need to completely drain their farm.
cuz both those guys will cost $25M. Have you ever heard of the Luxury tax?
you’re dumb
DocBB is correct.
That’s just silly.
Their asking price was pretty high a year ago. Wonder what it is now. I’d like for the Angels to get Castillo but I don’t see them trading Marsh or Adell
We need OF’s and major-league ready ones. I can’t see us trading Castillo without getting Marsh or Adell
Good point. Not sure the Dodgers have that to offer though
You have Winker, Senzel, Naquin and Aquino to pair with the dollar-menu roster your FO so desperately wants. Don’t get greedy.
They’ll probably get both. Shrewd organization with pockets as deep as the Mariana Trench and a farm that simply clones replacements. Respect. My Padres, hopefully can emulate the Dodgers(maybe not dollar for dollar but acqusition wise) and Giants(extracting value) and just get in the playoffs.
Having an unfair advantage over most of your competition because you have the highest annual payroll doesn’t make you shrewd. Many teams have to trade or not re-sign their star players and go with their prospects. Teams with money trade those prospects to accumulate more wealth.
I’m a fan of the Reds but I’m not mad about the Dodgers’ payroll. They spend money AND develop better than most any other team. I’m jealous. The whole small market crap is PR from the front office of teams who would rather pocket money than try to field the best team they can.
I also am a Reds fan and not mad about the Dodger payroll either. They play within the rules. I disagree about what you call small market crap. The disadvantage those teams have is real. Reds team salary was 16th last year. Could the Reds spend more money or spend more wisely? Maybe, sure. But if say if all things are equal management wise I would rather be the team that has deep pockets.
Every team is getting 9 figure revenue sharing. Any team not spending 200 million is doing it cause the owners just want to make money. No team can actually cry poor and be serious.
Any team not spending 200 million is doing it cause the owners just want to make money.
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Care to show your numbers? I mean, if the small market teams can afford to spend $200M, then teams like the LAD should spending at least twice that amount. Are you saying that the Dodgers are being cheap?
@i like al conin Yeah, because teams that get extra draft picks yearly(#1 every few years) and extra cash for international signings is fair. Those teams also get revenue from larger markets.
@ jonbluvin: those competitive balance picks are after the first and second rounds. That’s not where the premium talent is unless they happen to develop better than expected. Whereas using your wealth to sign top free agents every year is usually a high percentage play to get premium talent. The risk is low and the return immediate, not 4-5 years on a maybe. And extra cash for internationals is the same. Many of those premium signings are busts, or take years. Therefore the competitive windows of the wealthier teams is longer than the poorer. The rich get richer that’s the law of the land.
@i like al conin It’s not just about the location of the picks. I would argue it’s strength lies in the extra money for signings. The added bonus money allows teams to sign over slot deals. San Diego used one of their over slot drafted players to get Blake Snell. And speaking of competitive balance teams, look at San Diego. They are up against the tax, they still receive the benefits, and they signed two players for $300 million and up. One of those players was a free agent. They gave out a larger free agent contract than the Dodgers ever have. The income disparity between the teams is not as bad as those cheap owners are claiming.
I respect your view but It is a fact that teams like the Dodgers and Yankees do indeed have much higher payrolls than most teams, even under an unfounded assumption that the tax is not being reinvested sufficiently. Fans always cry their cheap owners, and while some pocketing might be occurring there’s little evidence that mid to lower tier payroll teams are not reinvesting enough money to bring parity. The markets and TV contract differences are prime examples. The A’s are a prime example. Their window has closed yet again. They will likely never win a championship under such a CBA and.current stadium situation.
@i like al conin. I’m glad you brought up the A’s. They are a prime example of an owner squeezing everything out of a franchise without doing the proper investments. In 1990, their year attendance was 2,900,217. Even as recently as 2014 they broke 2 million. The owner expects the cities in the area to build him a stadium. I used to live there and I know the fan base and the media market. That is a strong market and the return on investment in a local stadium would be good. MLB has also attributed to this mess because teams own markets and other teams aren’t allowed to move there. The A’s can’t move to San Jose because the Giants own it. No other professional sport does this. The A’s could absolutely win another championship under the current CBA. They choose not to by taking profits. It’s the owner’s right to do that, but I won’t feel sorry for smaller market teams that do.
In the past 8 years, pre-Covid, the As finished 1st twice, and made the playoffs 5x. And they only average a little over 1.6M fans a year during that period. Their record is comparable (or better) to Mil, Col, & StL, and they all draw 1M+ more. Seattle has missed the playoffs 20 years in a row and outdraw Oakland.
So is every other team.
This is what happens when small market teams get desperate and think they can spend their way into contention (as well as mid market and some large market teams).
What’s amazing is that there must have been a hundred situations since like since free agency came about ending in the franchise losing money and being forced into trading off most or all of their players making a decent salary .
All teams need a constant infusion of young, cheap, higher-upside players coming up from their farm system. That’s particularly true of small market teams. I would think everyone in upper levels of a MLB FO would know this. Maybe the owner was frustrated not winning; the FO convinced his that spending would work; or some combination. And the thing is – the Reds did have some very good prospects coming up from the minors…..just not enough. Unfortunately their FO was not smart enough to identify, bring in, and coach up available inexpensive players to add to the core.
Franchises don’t lose money. Ever. Don’t buy the manure these guys are selling. Only 3 times since 2000 have the Reds been in the top half of spenders still it’s not as if they went ‘all in’ to contend. They did half measures still
Well joeshmoe11, they went “all in” here the past few years. How did that work out? (Actually exactly as I wrote it would a few years ago here.)
People that put their money in conservative, insured investments don’t lose money either.
–
One reason franchises don’t lose money (actually they often do for a year or two at a time) is that when their revenue goes down they cut costs.
–
Of all the people in industrialized countries around the world, Americans are easily the most economically illiterate. Been that way since the WWII generation retired.
It turns out to still be true that if you want a guarantee you should buy a toaster.
We don’t know when baseball franchises make or lose money because their balance sheets are private. OTOH, we know how much ballplayers are paid right down to the penny. Go explain that.
Americans are easily the most economically illiterate.
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It’s actually worse than that. If being economically illiterate is bad, it becomes astronomically worse when they think they know what they are doing. Ordinary investors don’t get into the equity markets or the RE markets, or the collectible markets, until they see the markets go through the roof.. After sitting on the sidelines while something goes up 50%, they jump in with both feet, while, at the same time, the folks that have been in since the beginning, start to withdraw.
Franchises do lose money.
Castellini should just sell the team to someone that actually cares about Cincinnati baseball. This is pathetic! Then ownership and the GM can’t figured out why fans won’t support the team. INSANE!
Castellini spent money.
Isn’t that what 95% of the posters on this site – and sports fans around North America – think guarantees winning?
Castellini hasn’t spent money. Last 3 years they’ve been in the middle of the pack in spending (15th in 2019, 16th in 2020, and 17th in 2021). That’s as high as that miserly clown has ever gotten.
Brilliant joe;
Did you learn economics from Bernie Sanders?
Cincinnati ranks around 25th in market size of the 30 markets.
And they only spent “(15th in 2019, 16th in 2020, and 17th in 2021)”?
The people of Cincinnati should tar and feather that guy – then send him on a bareback horse and out of the city limits!
That seems extreme, a new owner would suffice.
joeshmoe1116 hours ago
Castellini hasn’t spent money. Last 3 years they’ve been in the middle of the pack in spending (15th in 2019, 16th in 2020, and 17th in 2021).
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You are proving just the opposite of what you are trying to prove. If someone with a small market team is in the middle of the pack relative to spending, it means they are spending a much bigger % of their revenue than the other teams.
You are absolutely correct, Mr Castellini’s has had plenty of time to improve this team and this city will support a winning team
Revenue has nothing to do with the personal wealth of a team’s owner. It has to do with local TV contracts, which are based entirely on size of market, and park revenue, which is based on attendance and how high a team can push ticket prices. The Reds owner really is irrelevant, and in fact has been spending more than most, as compared to their market size.
@ seamaholic 2;
There you go again…….
Being rational and reasonable on this board.
For shame. shame! Shame!!! SHAME!!!!!!!!!!
Or kick the you know what…
Gray is an affordable mid rotation starter for the Dodgers. I wonder who the Reds would want in return?
To quote my friends in ABBA….
“MONEY MONEY MONEY
ALWAYS SUNNY
IN THE RICH MAN’S WORLD”
and of course, three Dominican League players named Daryl, Daryl and Daryl. The Reds showed who they were with the Miley move.
If Gray couldn’t handle the pressure of NY what makes anyone think Gray can handle LA.
Gray couldn’t handle a pitching coach that tried to change what had worked for him. Rothschild is not in LA. He is out of a job.
The “pressure”?
NYY are simply an average team with poor player development and questionable pitching coordination.
Yankee / Met fan or not, there is definitely more pressure playing in certain markets, and NY is one of them
Any team who wants Castillo and Gray are likely needing to take Moose as well
It’s so awesome watching the Dodgers spend spend spend only to lose lose lose.
I’ll take 106 wins any season over your team. Winning the series is a crapshoot. Competing ever year isn’t.
My team competes every year too, you clown. But they don’t spend $200,000,000 to do it – and then LOSE.
Is there some special trophy for winning the Series on the cheap? So your team spends less to lose. BIG WOOP.
Dude your name is San Diego baseball guy wtf you talkin competing willis
Has made it clear that they are a dodgers fan
He’s more than one person?
Red must be resetting completely if they put a guy on waivers to avoid a $1 million option buyout and are trading two guys who are solid major league starters and will only cost about $18.3M combined next year and provided a combined 8.1 WAR in 2021. They’re both earning their salaries and might even be performing to the point of being discount players.
Is Votto immovable or are they holding on to him for appearances sake, as the franchise player?
I have heard Votto has a no trade and doesn’t want to leave Cincinnati.
10 and 5 I believe. Money normally talks but perhaps he wants to end his career the way it began.
He has a full no trade in his contract but also has 10 and 5 rights. He loves Cincy and has no desire to move.
Gray folded like a cheap lawn chair in the NY spotlight. Even though it’s almost always sunny in LA, it won’t be for Sonny. Ahahahaha!
Because the Yankees are incompetent with pitching. They had to spend 320 million to get an ace because they have a complete inability to develop pitchers.
Listen pops, maybe you should get your facts straight before you start shooting off your mouth so you don’t sound like a damn fool. But thanks for playing. Ahahahaha!
Who have the Yankees developed? Luis Severino? Congratulations!
The list is a lot longer than that pal, but I don’t have time to look it up for you – the hookers are due any minute – do your own research then send me a nice fruit basket with your apologies & maybe we can still be friends. Ahahahaha!
It’s not long, at all.
NYY has two OF’s that carry the team – that’s it.
This is correct. So incompetent.
That’s not why he didn’t well.
That’s right. The Yanks tried to make him throw sliders nonstop. That’s not Sonny. He’s a slurve, curve, and fastball guy. The Teds went back to his strengths and he’s done great.
Yea that’s what it was. Ahahahahaha!
Btw, who the hell are the Teds? What a maroon. Ahahahahaha!
Love these articles that state Bauer’s or Ozuna’s future is unclear with their present team, like there’s any chance either will ever play again.
@amk. I have been saying that all along that the Yankees can’t draft and develop any starting pitchers.
Correct.
They will.
I have zero faith in Krall getting fair or above market value for either pitcher
Dodgers focus should be extending Buehler and Urias maybe even Will Smith….get Seaver signed, sadly think it’s time to let Kershaw and Jansen go it’s just business….Gonsolin at 3, 4th/5th man Jackson, Miller, Knack (You’ll get lucky with 1 of them) hope May can help in August
Tom Terrific rides again!
Reds…If you’re gonna trade Castillo…get the ranch, and nothing less.
Few will give up too much.
Only need 1, otherwise keep him
Dodgers and Reds have swung big trades in the past. I cannot trust Krall to not get swindled (cringing thinking about it). Sell the team Castellini!
Gray over Kershaw? The Dodgers are drinking what the Rockies have been drinking.
As the wealthiest team, the Dodgers will continue to sign the priciest FAs in hopes that they can buy a championship.
You understand that they would have to trade for both of these players, right?
Yes, but was considering some of the available FAs such as Max
So that makes your comment here rather random, doesn’t it?
I would say general, more than random
Continue? What pricey free agents have they signed? Other than relievers the Dodgers make their moves through trades, their farm, and the scrap heap.
But I guess that doesnt fit your, “We’re just a poor small market team” scenario where you are the wounded victim.
I’d be looking at the Jays if I wanted to cry about snapping up expensive free agents.
Nah, LA fans still deny they build with wealth? Bauer ring a bell? My team (Giants) isn’t poor so of what team do you speak?
All teams build with wealth, some happen to have a lot more of it than others. A team that pulls in $300M a year in media revenue and sells 3M tickets every year is going to be on the long end. It’s the system MLB wants and so it’s the system MLB gets.
But his point still stands. Until the Dodgers signed Betts, this FO hadn’t committed more than $100M to anybody, and you could count on one hand the number of players on the roster today who were signed as free agents.
Exactly, the differences in relative wealth among teams is tremendous, and the wealthiest teams will buy the priciest players and the poorer teams won’t. His comment wasn’t about the past, and it doesn’t stand well in the present.
I’m not arguing about the disparity in financial resources between teams, but on the other part I don’t think you’re really getting my point. For a team with such huge resources the Dodgers have made surprisingly few large free agent commitments. Really just Betts. A very big part of their payroll goes to players who they have retained through arbitration and extended. The smaller market teams have a difficult time doing either, and again, this is the system MLB wants, so that’s why it exists.
I do understand the Dodgers are well run and that they’ve used all their abundant resources effectively (much better than other wealthy teams for example). But I’m pretty sure my comments above are not in conflict with that – sorry if they were. We seem in agreement that the Dodgers have more resources to work with than most if not all other teams. I emphasized FA because of late they’ve been more inclined to outbid other teams for top dollar players, and I should have extended that comment beyond FA to include trades for pricey guys like Scherzer, Betts, Turner, Price, etc…
Well fair enough, but every time a team with financial muscle actually exercises it, somebody is bound to say that they are “trying to buy a championship,” as if that can actually be done. And further, if this is the case, then everybody is trying to buy one. File under “how baseball works.”
Fact is 15 of the last 16 WS winners were upper tier payroll teams. So spending does equate, it’s an arms race and the Dodgers happen to be at the top? And while the present-day Orioles, Pirates, and Marlins will spend about 10 x less than these teams, they’re spending level has no real intention of buying a championship. It’s merely to field a representative product that entertains a bit.
Be careful with your facts. If those teams were actually spending “ten times less,” their payrolls would be under $30M. And we know that isn’t happening, right? The fact remains that the teams with less to spend are doing their level best to “buy a championship,” and sometimes they actually succeed. I’m not disputing the imbalances in baseball financing or its implications, I am resisting oversimplification and exaggeration.
You seem careless now, which is unlike you. The fact that I presented was about the winners of 15 of the last 16 WS. Spending by an organization is more than about payroll, I stand by my “about 10x” comment. I didn’t present that as a fact but as an approximation.
It isn’t even a rough approximation. Your math is so far off you really shouldn’t be accusing anyone else of being careless.
Try resisting misrepresentation and petty logic while conducting the exploration of your own ego, eh?
Sigh.
Peace
Just give a few scenarios of who the dodgers would be willing to trade to acquire Sonny Gray and Luis Castillo?