Dodgers Acquire Maddux

lol, so much for that. i wonder if the padres made the dodgers bend over backwards and have there way with them now that the dodgers didnt have a foot to stand on for this one. dodgers are safe, for now

I hope its not for anyone good. I don't see the dodgers trading a good young player to a division rival. Although with Colletti who knows?

I doubt it was for anyone close to being ready. This was more like getting someone young with good upside, but not close the majors. Of course with Colletti i could be wrong, but i doubt its that high of a prospect.

Mainly it clears his salary and gives a spot in the rotation to try out a young pitcher for next year.

lets see. padres have no starting pitching depth. CY is on the DL. and we trade Maddux.

idk why, it just seems like we're competing to get Strasburg... Especially because he's coming out of San Diego State, i see us making a serious run at that number one spot.

Hope the Pads got someone. Be ticked off if this was just a salary dump.

I really am a fan of this acquisiton for numerous reasons: mainly because it blocks other contending teams from acquiring him and Maddux is a much needed improvement over Eric Stults and Jason Johnson we all no that. If the Dodgers didnt give up too much for Maddux this can be a post deadline steal because he is a veteran with playoff experience who can provide that extra push to get the dodgers in the playoffs and after this year he can either resign to add depth and give the dodgers an experienced starter, leave and give the dodgers draft picks by signing with another team after denying arbitration, or simply retire and give the dodgers the luxury of trying young starting pitching and adding depth from within.

8 or 9 starts from Maddux? Hmm...How many wins will that be worth over Jason Johnson? 8 or 9?

I don't know of anyone of any real value that the Dodgers tried to slip through waivers, so it can't be anyone on the 40 man roster. Perhaps Elbert for Maddux and cash? Maybe someone with a little less upside?

"mainly because it blocks other contending teams from acquiring him and Maddux is a much needed improvement over Eric Stults and Jason Johnson we all no that."

1) No other contending team would have been able to get Maddux, because he would have blocked a trade to any other contender.

2) I don't necessarily think Maddux is an improvement over Stults. I think Johnson's success has been a bit of a surprise and that he is more suited to a long relief role, but Stults has great stuff and is left handed. That said, Maddux's stuff plays really well in Dodger Stadium.

All things considered, I'm not sure this is a huge improvement for the Dodgers. This isn't the Greg Maddux of the 90s. If you look at Maddux's home road splits, he's obviously benefited from spacious Petco Park. It's likely Maddux's last season, so no draft picks in compensation, so if the Pads got a good prospect, like McDonald, then it's a better move for the Pads than the Dodgers.

Right now in Maddux career he is probably not or maybe "slighty" better than Eric Stults, if the Dodgers are thinking Playoffs and want to win right now then my best bet is that they have Maddux in the rotation instead of a guy like jason johnson by the time the playoffs come thats just my opinion...

Start Wearing Purple

I agree this is most likely Maddux last season but like i said him leaving can help the Dodgers because it gives them a nice luxury to have with their starting rotation by experimenting with young pitching in their number 5 slot which i believe all teams should do if they need help is experiment with young guys instead of giving crap shoot players a chance but in this case Maddux would be helpful to the dodgers.. i maybe wrong but thats my opinion and obviously the opinion of the dodgers or else they wouldnt be looking to add him.

I'll give them Juan Pierre!

"All things considered, I'm not sure this is a huge improvement for the Dodgers. This isn't the Greg Maddux of the 90s. If you look at Maddux's home road splits, he's obviously benefited from spacious Petco Park. It's likely Maddux's last season, so no draft picks in compensation, so if the Pads got a good prospect, like McDonald, then it's a better move for the Pads than the Dodgers."

Pitching in Dodger Stadium will help. That said, McDonald wont be the guy. He would have had to clear waivers, as he is on the 40-man roster, and he is WAY too much to give up for Maddux. I mean, after Kershaw, he is the second best pitching prospect the Dodgers have.

"Right now in Maddux career he is probably not or maybe "slighty" better than Eric Stults, if the Dodgers are thinking Playoffs and want to win right now then my best bet is that they have Maddux in the rotation instead of a guy like jason johnson by the time the playoffs come thats just my opinion..."

I think the Playoffs are what this move is being made for. Maddux is insurance for a Kuroda injury.

I'm pleading Ned Colletti, please make this happen...the D-backs would probably help you in any way to assist in you getting Maddux, since they absolutely mash against this guy.

so the doders pitchers would now be:

billingsley

kershaw

lowe

kuroda

maddux

That leaves them with Stults and Johnson as insurance polic pitcher to fill in just in case some one goes down due to injury.

policy*

I think everyone here is missing a key aspect of this deal: Saving Kershaw's arm.

Kershaw is already up to like 120 innings this year. Last season he pitched about 115. If he were to make the rest of his starts this season, about 7, he would likely close in on 170-180 innings. If the Dodgers make the playoffs, he'd be pitching wayyy too many innings. When you have a pitcher as special as Kershaw, you HAVE to protect his arm. He's so young he's got a massive future in front of him. Saving his arm by going into the playoffs with Billingsley, Lowe, Kuroda and Maddux would not only be a solid rotation, but it would help to ensure that Kershaw isn't overworked so early in his career.

I'm not sure how many people notice, and hell, maybe I'm completely misinterpreting this deal, but I think this is a very good move by Colletti. And that'd be his second one in the last three weeks.. Wow..

Does anyone have insider access on ESPN, to paraphrase Rob Neyer blog entry?

Also green grove you have to realize we are not going to compete this year and they want to turn the rotation over to pitcher that might make the team next year.

Like Geer and LeBlanc in AAA
and
Buschmann, Garrison, Inman, and Faris in AA

So why not give them a shot, see what they can do. If the team believes they are ready, then it makes sense in a lost year to give them their shot.

Okay, so being a Braves fan I understand Maddux. I understand he's a hall of fame pitcher & an experienced veteran. However, I don't understand how you send a pitcher from hitting purgatory A & send him into hitting purgatory B & all of a sudden he's the only thing the Dodgers needed to make the playoffs. Call me crazy, but I'd rather keep my prospect & let Stults/Johnson finish out the year...considering Maddux will get the Dodgers MAYBE...MAYBE one more win than the other two would have. It's not like it's 2002 & Maddux's ERA is going to be close to 3...Dude's near 4 and that's pitching a good amount at Petco. (I'm pretty sure they have enough veterans with playoff experience anyway -- Hello Manny, Blake, Nomar, Lowe, Kent, and Pierre).

I may be mistaken but doesnt this make Maddux the only pitcher ever to be TRADED twice since reaching their 300th win...

**twice in midseason**

Airman SD, i am all for allowing the prospects to prove their worth. i am all for that. im also all for getting strasburg but that's another matter.

however, i just get a feeling that the extremely conservative padres are just going to move someone like Ledezma into the rotation, something that doesnt help us out now, or in the future.

Thats a valid point about the padres being conservative. But lets see where it goes, Mad Dog is listed as our #2 starter something that he is no longer. So we can hopefully see some of the young arms we have get their shot.

As for Strassburg, i am not a fan of his signability, not since Matt Bush made this organization gun shy about draftees. But hell maybe. If thats the case, we might as well be shutting Peavy down with an "injury" as well.

Strasburg is a huge talent (only amateur to play for USA in the olympics) and is coming out of SDSU.

it almost seems to perfect for the padres. but im gonna hope as hard as i can anyways.

Alright, I never said Maddux was a bad move, but I'll agree now it could be worth it, especially if you consider their pitching staff is decimated. However, if McDonald does go (which is possible, he could be a PTBNL) then it would be a short sighted trade considering I doubt the Dodgers could survive against the Cubs.

As for Strasburg to the Pads, the Nats seem to be winning the race to the bottom. Which brings up an interesting question: If they won't pay $4M for a potential #2 arm (an ace for the Nats), would they be willing to pony up $6M–$10M on a potential ace? Especially if they have 2 top 15 picks. Even so... my money says he's a Mariner.

"Kershaw is already up to like 120 innings this year. Last season he pitched about 115. If he were to make the rest of his starts this season, about 7, he would likely close in on 170-180 innings. If the Dodgers make the playoffs, he'd be pitching wayyy too many innings. When you have a pitcher as special as Kershaw, you HAVE to protect his arm. He's so young he's got a massive future in front of him. Saving his arm by going into the playoffs with Billingsley, Lowe, Kuroda and Maddux would not only be a solid rotation, but it would help to ensure that Kershaw isn't overworked so early in his career."

Kershaw pitched just over 120 innings last year and is up to just over 130 this year. By comparison, Billingsley did a total of 151 in 2006 (age 21) and 147 last year in mixed relief/starting (considering the arm stress of relief, it was probably more like 175). I don't think a 40 inning jump is all that much, especially when you consider Kershaw's build and smooth mechanics. What I do think the Dodgers want to do is what the Angels have done. Go to a true 5 man rotation with no skipping of the 5th starter when off days are used. That would cut down the innings of every pitcher and allow for a fresher staff.

"However, if McDonald does go (which is possible, he could be a PTBNL) then it would be a short sighted trade considering I doubt the Dodgers could survive against the Cubs."

This is an absolutely unacceptable deal if McDonald is the guy. That said, the Dodgers have hit Cubs pitching well this year and it took uncharacteristic blown saves from the Dodgers to give the Cubs some of their victories.

Greg Maddux touring the NL West before retiring, returning not to Atlanta or CHC, but to LA for his last hurrah.

The Phillies can't hit.

The Yankees look like they will miss the playoffs.

Manny Ramirez is playing under Joe Torre.

The Rays are making a serious bid for the AL East.

The NL Central may just be the best division in Major League Baseball.

What is the world coming to?

I am still utterly clueless as to why he wasn't claimed by Colorado or Arizona, just to block him from going to the Dodgers.

I've been begging for an explanation, and nobody can provide one.

What am I missing? The DBacks (and Rockies) completely blew this one. Even if they didn't want him, they knew Maddux would block the waiver claim so they wouldn't end up with him anyway.

bobo

My guess is that, unlike Dunn and the Reds, the Padres might have just dumped Maddux for only salary. While they are getting back 2 players with the Dodgers, the Pads are still on the hook for a portion of his salary.

And while Maddux did say he would veto a deal to teams not in So Cal, it's hard to know for sure if he would actually follow through with it.

At the end of the day it was a minimal risk to try and block the Dodgers. However, I can understand why teams might have been a little hesitant to tempt fate.

Are the Padres trying to endear themselves to SoCal Dodger fans or what?

"And while Maddux did say he would veto a deal to teams not in So Cal, it's hard to know for sure if he would actually follow through with it."

If Maddux wasn't serious about that, he would have been traded already.

Wow Padres you are absolutely a terrible team. Padres should just release and trade everyone besides Peavy, Young, Adrian Gonzalez, Chase Headley, Cla Meredith.

Cubbies2008 though we suck something fierce this year, doesn't mean we are going to blow up the entire team. We need to rebuild there is no doubting that. But Kouz, Greene, and Bard are good younger players, who all have seen their stock come down, why would we trade them at their lowest value?

What we need is to allow the some of the younger guys to play more, and see where it gets us. But trading anyone right now is not going t

stupid typekey....

But trading anyone right now is not going to help if we dont allow them to rebuild some of their value. Some of the team will be traded/released (hopefully) but it makes no sense to do it when they are all at their lowest possible values.

I don't think I would put Cla on that list. However, I could see Clay Hensley becoming a solid 7th inning type if he finally accepts the fact that he is not a starter. Mike Adams is doing well in the pen. Gerut is tearing it up too. We will be to 40 mil with all the contracts off the book. Iguchi 3mil, Clark 1mil, Maddog 10mil, Wolf 4mil+, Hoffy 6.5mil, Barrett 6.5mil, Edmonds 7mil. Add another 6mil if we don't pick up Giles (which would anger me.) That's 38mil while keeping Giles. So lets just hope the 40mil payroll rumors are false and we can attrack any FA.

So, does anyone know just who the Dodgers are sending? If one of them is McDonald, Colletti should be fired immediately. Perhaps a B+ level pitcher (someone like Elbert) and a B- level position player? Perhaps DeJesus is involved somehow?

I doubt any top prospects (McDonald, Elbert, DeJesus, etc.)are being sent by the Dodgers and if they are it only further solidifies Colletti's incompetence. However, Logan White protects his kids, plus Maddux had the Padres by the b*lls and would only go to the Dodgers leaving the Padres with very little leverage.

More importantly has anyone else realized that this leaves the Dodgers with 5 starters with sub-4.00 ERA's.

Billingsley 3.10
Kershaw 3.59
Kuroda 3.88
Lowe 3.99
Maddux 3.99

Does any other starting rotation in baseball have all 5 starters with sub 4 ERA's?

Also the back-up starters Johnson, Stults, Park all carry ERA's of 3.18 or below, not that those ERA's would hold with larger samples, but still)

The Dodgers have gotten seriously good pitching from top to bottom, other than Penny and Proctor. The park is part of that, but they have done on well on the road as well. As for the 5th starters currently on the roster, I doubt Park would have regressed if he remained a starter, but I agree on Stults and Johnson

Funny too see a Cub fanbashing the Padre franchise, when in the recent years, the Cubs have spent big money, underperformed, given out bad contracts, and never had much success, while at the same time, the Padres spend a minimal amount of money, always find great players where nobody else is looking, constantly overachieve, and have seen more playoff action then the Cubs have lately.

By the way, the Dodgers, Cubs, Brewers, Mets, and D'backs all have pretty stacked rotations. I think the only two AL teams that can compete with the NL pitching staffs are the Rays and the Halos. Redsox have good pitching, but Beckett is having a bad year, and you don't know what to expect out of the Rays staff the first time they will be pitching meaningful late season/playoff games. Lackey is a stud, similar to Beckett to me, big time pitcher, big game pitcher. While the Sox and Twins have nice rotations, they don't really scare you. Liriano could be scary come playoff time though. The Mets, Cubs, Brewers, and Diamondbacks all have a certified ace, and they all also have extremely formidable 2's and 3's. The Cubs obviously have Harden, the Crew Sheets, the D backs Dan Haren, and with the Mets there have been 2 guys that have have been pitching like top flight pitchers for months now, in Pelfrey and Oliver Perez, and Pedro Martinez is still Pedro Martinez, he is back healthy, getting better every start, and I want him on the mound in a big game. I think that he would pitch game 2 for the Mets in a playoff series should they make it, with Oliver Perez pitching 3rd and Pelfrey and Maine battling fdor the 4th spot with the other in the pen.

The point of this long rant is that I think that the reign of dominance of the AL over the NL is coming to an end, because a lot of NL teams seem to be developing very, very good starting pitching. Besides the teams I previously mentioned, the Marlins, Reds, Giants and Rockies are all doing nice things in their rotations. Cook and Ubaldo in Colorado, Harang, Cueto, Volquez, Bailey in Cinci, Cain, Lincecum, and Sanchez in SF with more help on the way, and Nolasco, Olsen, Miller, Volstad, Johnson, Sanchez, etc, etc. in Fla.

Any of the Brewers, Mets, Cubs, Diamondbacks, or Dodgers would present a problem for an AL team in the world series.

oooohhh burn nrmax88, I like it! Cubs fans are trying to become the new yankee/red sox fan, but without the consistent winning.

I just can't believe they won't even give us elbert!

"By the way, the Dodgers, Cubs, Brewers, Mets, and D'backs all have pretty stacked rotations."

Dodgers, Cubs and Mets I agree with. The Brewers have an amazing top 2, maybe better than even the D'Backs, but they kind of fall off once you get past an above-average Parra. The D'Backs are kind of in the same boat as the Brewers, with an awesome top 2, an above-average-when-right Randy Johnson and kind of a fall off with Davis (who has looked awful lately) and Petit.

"I just can't believe they won't even give us elbert!"

Maddux isn't worth Elbert + $900,000 at this point.