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rillyboy
What about a 3ways trade? Something like Ethier or Crawford to the Reds, 1 SP from the Reds to the Rockies and Tulo going to LAD? With cash and prospects here and here to tie up the packages.
Portland Micro-Brewers
Cueto to Colorado, Corey Seager and Ethier plus cash to Cin, and Tulo to LA? Would LA have to throw in a high minor league arm too? Maybe Onelki Garcia or Ross Strippling to Colorado. I just don’t see Colorado willing and to let Tulo stay in division. Interesting thought though.
Scott Brewer
Rockies would never swap tulo for cueto with him to hit free agency next year.
Rally Weimaraner
Ethier and/or Crawford are not going to net the Dodgers Tulo no matter how many teams are involved. The prospects would have to be the center piece, ridding themselves of Crawford/Ethier is just an added bonus for LAD.
vtadave
Yeah pretty clear Seager would be the centerpiece here. Just not sure trading Tulo for one year of Cueto is going to work for the Rockies. Seems the Reds win this one.
zeepatch
Cincinatti is shedding payroll, they are not taking on any expensive commitments
Flash Gordon
Not to be a stickler but it’s 107 million to Kemp through 2019 not 85.5 million.
Hopper15 2
The last year is a club option.
vtadave
Nope, flash is correct. 2019 is not a team option.
Hopper15 2
yes it is
vtadave
Curious where you see that. Per Cots, there is no mention of 2019 being a team option. Also no mention of the option in the original article in the LA Times.
Matt Kemp cf
8 years/$160M (2012-19)
signed extension with LA Dodgers 11/18/11 (avoided arbitration)
$2M signing bonus (paid 4/15/12)
12:$10M, 13:$20M, 14:$21M, 15:$21M, 16-19:$21.5M annually
$2M of 2012 salary deferred until 4/15/13
at signing, largest-ever deal for National League player and tied for seventh-largest ever
Flash Gordon
No it’s not. He signed an 8 year guaranteed contract for 160 million which covers the years 2012- 2019. Their are no options at all. Go look it up on Cots or Baseball Reference. He is under full contract for 5 more years at 107 million.l
Portland Micro-Brewers
Kenta looked impressive yesterday but I think the bidding might climb higher than LA should go. I’m excited to get a look at Chihiro Kaneko tonight. From what I’ve read about his arsenal, pitch ability, and monster 2014 stats he seems like a great candidate to be our 4-5th starter. McCarthy and Liriano also intrigue but like Meada I think they might get pricey. Brandon Morrow and Billingsly could be interesting swingmen/long relief. Haren is suspect at best and LA would be smart to have a backup plan.
stevedenesha
The Dodgers released Billingsley a couple weeks ago!
Portland Micro-Brewers
I’m cautious about long term deals for relievers but if Andrew Miller could be had for 3 years 30 mil I hope Friedman pulls the trigger. The lefty situation could get ugly quick if Howell falters and Paco or Coulombe can’t pick up the slack. Luke Hochevar is interesting coming off injury, I wonder how many years he’ll get. He might be better off going to a NL pitchers park and trying to rebuild value before signing long term.
Christopher Henderson
Next year they will have $38 million coming off the books. But naturally it doesnt mean the 2016 payroll will be under $200 million haha
Ivan
Ok, how about this? Trade for Ben Zobrist, trade Dee for prospects, relief help, or as part of a bigger deal. Trade Ethier and CC for anything we can get from them. Play Guerrero at 2B, Zobrist at SS and sign Martin for Catcher. Lineup would be: Zobrist (SS), Puig (RF), AGon (1B), Kemp (LF), Pederson (CF), Uribe (3B), Martin (C) and Guerrero (2B) with Van Slyke, Turner, Arruebarrena, Rojas and Ellis for the bench. That’s 13 position players plus 12 pitchers. I know it’s easier said than done, but that doesn’t seem so unrealistic and it’s a pretty balanced roster.
What do y’all think?
dieharddodgerfan
If the Dodgers are going to give up a 1st rounder to sign Martin, then I hope they also look to sign Scherzer, too. Definitely have to deal Ethier and/or Crawford. I could see the Dodgers dealing Dee for prospects and starting Guerrero at 2B. I’d be fine with Arruebarrena at SS. That would make only 2B a questionable defensive position on the infield:
I could see a lineup of:
LF Crawford
2B Guerrero
CF Puig
1B AGon
RF Kemp
C Martin
3B Uribe
SS Arruebarrena
Rotation: Kershaw, Greinke, Scherzer, Ryu & Haren
Obviously they need to fill out the bullpen, but Friedman should be able to capably do that. Signing Scherzer insures against Greinke opting out after ’15 (which I think he will do).
Ivan
That would be an amazing scenario, I just have a feeling that this new FO won’t make any big acquisitions this year. I think even Martin would be a bigger one than what they’ll actually go out and get. Scherzer would be outstanding on that rotation…
dieharddodgerfan
You could be right. I think it could hinge on whether they sign Martin. If they don’t sign Martin, then I think it means they are planning on not signing anyone who has a draft pick compensation tied to them, ruling out Scherzer & Shields. If they do sign Martin, then I could easily see them go after another guy with draft pick comp, like Scherzer. The elephant in the room for the Dodgers’ rotation is, IMO, Greinke leaving after next year. He will pitch really well in ’15 and should garner some really good interest in the market in the offseason after.
Rally Weimaraner
Puig is not a good CF’er
dieharddodgerfan
He’s not great, but he should improve with more time there and should be fine for 2015.
treday
I’m personally less worried about his defense and more worried about him breaking down. Center is a little rougher on the body, and for a guy that plays 100 mph all the time, it adds up. Just look at how he slowed down at the end of last season.
Curt Green
Trade for a pitcher who can beat the Cardinals, IMHO.
Christopher Henderson
Dodgers please dont trade Carl Crawford to the Blue Jays haha. Then we’d have to hear year round, his crying about how sports fans and media treated him… Even though we kept giving him the benefit of the doubt!!!!
redlake
Keep Kemp! Ethier has to go no matter what…for one thing he deserves to be on a team where he can play. I would not give Crawford away..but he should go as well. Kemp, Puig and Pedersen outfield sound good to me. Bad deals were made…bite the bullet now and move forward. Don’t even think about trading Seager. Sure wish Zach Lee would step up but have my doubts. If Bills could be signed for not too much might be worth a chance. Is Sweeney a sleeper option at SS?? He’s tearin it up in Arizona???? Why is Turner not considered an option at SS?
Ivan
Because Turner is almost as good a defender as Hanley was. I agree with most of what you said, just not that suggestion though.
redlake
That’s what I was thinking. Sweeney will be fun to see in ST
Portland Micro-Brewers
Sweeney isn’t a decent fielder at SS, he’s shaky at 2nd and he might move to CF. You’re right about him being on a tear in the AFL, his bat keeps improving.
vtadave
Here’s what I would like to see:
Sign Russell Martin – 4 years, $60 million
Sign Andrew Miller – 4 years, $36 million
Sign Pat Neshek – 2 years, $14 million
Trade Crawford and Ethier for whatever. Pederson to start in CF.
Sign Brandon McCarthy – 2 years, $24 million
Sign Stephen Drew to a 1 year deal for cheap.
Re-sign Billingsley to a one-year deal with incentives
Give Alex Guerrero first crack at SS and hope he can handle the position defensively. If neither he nor Gordon can handle that position, go with Drew and immediately look for an upgrade via the trade market or hope Seager develops rapidly this year.
We’ll see I guess if there’s that sort of money available.
Puig Power
I don’t know if the Dodgers want to lose that many draft picks. Although the Hanley supplemental will help and maybe they make up for it with some top international talent.
Portland Micro-Brewers
I think Martin is the only one who would cost a pick. Edit, nevermind
Puig Power
Also, you’ve completely written off Arruebarrena in your scenario. From the limited sample from last year I like him. I still think trading Gordon is something they’ll look at — I’m still not sold on his bat at all.
vtadave
I’m not sure Arruebarrena is going to hit enough to be much more than a defensive replacement / fill-in. I could see dealing Gordon I guess, but the return should be pretty good. As for the draft picks, isn’t Martin the only one above that would cost a pick?
Puig Power
I apologize, I was under the impression that Miller would cost one. The logic is sound to replace the lost pick for Martin with the supplemental. Not that far apart pick-wise. I guess I’m just of the opinion that a great defensive SS is worth the bat trade-off, especially with a potentially best-in-the-NL staff.
vtadave
No worries. Yeah I’d be much more willing to sacrifice offense at SS if there was that sort of upgrade at catcher.
dillon
Why would the Dodgers start Pederson in CF? He has done nothing to prove himself so far. 4 singles in 28 ab’s?
Puig Power
Really? You’re going to evaluate him on 28 ABs? He needs to have a chance to prove himself, no? Or do you feel he needs to prove more than he has in AAA, which is somewhat impossible to accomplish.
BlueSkyLA
Proving yourself in the PCL and in the majors are very different things. No doubt he will get some playing time this year but I would not want to see the Dodgers gamble the season on him being ready.
vtadave
So they should put him back in AAA where he hit .303/.435/.582? 28 at-bats isn’t enough for me to conclude that he’s not ready. He’s likely the team’s best CF defender and at some point you have to give guys a chance. Worst case you have an OF consisting of Van Slyke, Puig, and Kemp. Pretty easy to find a 4th OF in free agency, and you have internal options as well such as Sweeney at some point, Schebler, etc.
bdpecore
Would the Dodgers trade Zach Lee for Gallardo?
vtadave
More than likely they would, yes, even though Gallardo is a free agent after 2015.
Portland Micro-Brewers
I disagree. Lee will be 23 all of next season and a lot of teams would write off a 22 year old’s season in Albuquerque (a place with worse park factors than Coors). He’s always been a high floor guy and Gallardo’s production is that floor. One year of Gallardo for the multiple years of cost control Lee has is the exact type of move Friedman doesn’t do. Maybe Colleti would have if Kasten hadn’t kept such a tight leash. Gallardo will make 13 million this year, I’m sure Friedman and Zaidi would rather allocate that elsewhere.
Kershawshank Redemption
Assuming he becomes a FA this winter, What about Jose Fernandez? Does he play SS? How long would he need in the minors?
bleedDODGERblue
Sign Martin and a couple relievers [maybe 2 of Miller, Jannsen, Gregerson]. Trade for A.Ramirez and Hellickson [I can see Dodgers being the rumored NL team trying to trade for him] and trade Ethier for a spec or bullpen piece. Then give one of our younger guys from the system a shot at the last ‘pen spot.
lineup : Gordon, Puig, Gonzalez, Kemp, Martin, Uribe, Ramirez, Crawford
rotation : Kershaw, Grienke, Ryu, Hellickson, Haren
bullpen : Jansen, Jannsen/Miller, Wilson, Gregerson, League, Howell, return for Ethier/young reliever
bench : VanSlyke, Turner, Arrurbuena, Barney, Ellis
Then look at trading Crawford midseason and promoting Joc or just wait until Crawford inevitability gets hurt
BlueSkyLA
I agree with most of this, but I think the boat is being missed again on the Crawford story. His play in 2014 was limited by the odd-man-out platoon used by Mattingley. Crawford started the season poorly and mostly sat on the bench. He rebounded in May but then injured his ankle. This was an in-game injury, not the reappearance of a chronic health issue. When he came back in July he wasn’t automatically back in the lineup because in the meantime the Dodgers had moved Kemp to LF. When the OF was realigned again and Crawford played regularly he was very good at the plate, and his base path speed was returning. It doesn’t make sense to say that he has to play like he did at Tampa Bay to be useful. Finally, his contract does not make him hard to trade. If the Dodgers do try to move him they would have to pay it down quite a bit, but his performance in the second half was easily good enough to make him interesting to any team in need of a LF. At $10m a season he’d move quickly.