The Dodgers should have the financial flexibility to pursue trades aggressively this summer, and there’s an expectation that the team’s payroll will rise next offseason, ESPN.com’s Buster Olney writes. The Dodgers’ new owners could pursue free agents such as Josh Hamilton, Miguel Montero and Mike Napoli next winter, assuming they’re willing to spend more than $90MM on payroll. Here’s more from Olney:
- The Dodgers’ front office will likely renew its interest in the market for Latin American players, Olney reports. The team was relatively inactive in Latin America under former owner Frank McCourt, but has a history of star-caliber Latin American players.
- The Phillies haven’t made recent progress with the representatives for Cole Hamels regarding a possible extension, Olney writes. The left-hander’s asking price won’t dip below five years and $112.5MM (Matt Cain’s contract) and seems to rise every day. Sources connected to the MLBPA believe Hamels will get six-year offers as a free agent.
“The team was relatively inactive in Latin America under former owner Frank McCourt”
Yet another way McCourt laid waste to proud Dodger traditions, I see.
Not to mention the Dodgers have zero Asian-born players on their roster for the first time since the 90’s, I believe.
I’d be interested to see if the Dodger ago out and land three marquee free agents such as the Yankees did the offseason before they won the world series. This team is far from perfect, but there is a lot of potential of you can add a Hamilton, Montero or Napoli
Please, Hamels would get a 7 year offer in free agency.
The Phillies haven’t made recent progress with the representatives for Cole Hamels regarding a possible extension, Olney writes.
How many times has he said that since Spring Training?
The left-hander’s asking price won’t dip below five years and $112.5MM (Matt Cain’s
contract) and seems to rise every day.
Uh… duh, Hamels is better than Cain.
Sources connected to the MLBPA
believe Hamels will get six-year offers as a free agent.
My sources connected to common sense believe Hamels will get a six-year offers as a free agent.
I could be a “Espn Insider.”
After A.J. Ellis finally getting his shot at a starting role, and seeing how he’s produced (3rd in OPS. behing Wright/Kemp & defensive stud), Ned better not waste his time with Montero or Napoli. Go HARD after a Hamels, Hamilton or Wright! Fill the holes we actually need filling.
Napoli can play 1B for them and catch a few days as well. He’s gonna demand a lot of money, but he’s a big time bat. His power is for real but I don’t see these earth-shattering numbers holding up outside of Texas.
Yeah that would work, I just think there are more glaring needs at LF & 3B.
Napoli 2011 splits:
Home: 13 HR, 1.011 OPS
Away: 17 HR, 1.044 OPS
His most productive season, by far. Looking at his career line, the description “earth-shattering” doesn’t come to mind.
.264/.358/.515/.874
I don’t know. The earth certainly seems to be shattering to me as he runs down the baselines. At the very least it’s groaning. Guy’s a tank.
with his injuries, he *probably* makes the most sense on a team that can DH him once in a while.
I have to wonder if the discussion between Hamels’ reps and the Phillies is the same: Cole Hamels is testing free agency and will not give a hometown discount.
I see a bidding war between LA and Arizona.
“I see a bidding war between LA and Arizona.”
That’s like a bidding war between Yankees and Toronto.
Hamels went 4-0 in the post season in 2008 and nearly went 5-0 leading the Phils to a WS Championship. That far outweighs a meaningless Cy Young award. He is also entering his prime and seems to only be getting better. He is easily a #1 on half the teams in baseball, if not more.
That’s funny because he was the ace of a championship team… at 23.
Other than Verlander, every pitcher in baseball would be a #3 in a rotation with Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee.
I’d take Kershaw over all those guys. Felix Hernandez too.
*cough *cough. Clayton Kershaw bro.
My point is that you said he’d be no better than a #2 or #3 on a championship caliber team…He’s proven he can be a #1. He is deserving of whatever he gets.
He also had a 3.30 ERA and 5.7 k/9…
Hamels’ lowest K/9 was 7.8…
They’re not even comparable pitchers at all so I don’t understand why you’re making the comparison in the first place.
Cole Hamels’s best comparisons are Johan and Cliff. Taking into account the state of the market since Johan signed his deal, it’s more than fair for Cole.
You really don’t think he’s worth Matt Cain money? If Matt Cain is an Ace on a Championship Calliber team and Cole Hamels isn’t then you’re the one out to lunch.
What indicates that he isn’t worth that kind of risk? His 2.92 ERA from 2010-2011? His 8.6 K/9? His World Series and NLCS MVP? His 1.08 WHIP?
All numbers that rank among the best in the league despite pitching in one of the most hitter friendly parks in baseball.
You’d be one of the few. The only thing those two guys have on either of them is age and pure stuff. Not even close to the track record.
Kershaw still hasn’t done enough to be over Halladay. Their numbers were pretty similar last year… especially considering their advanced stats last year, which favored Halladay. Over Cliff I could see though.
If they were in the same rotation, Halladay’d be the #1/game 1 starter. Regardless of Kershaw’s talent, the proven guy’s always first.
You’re entitled to your opinion. But my name isn’t Dodgers_Aces35.
Hasn’t done enough? So we are talking about resumes or future performance. Halladay’s fastball has dropped below 90mph, he’s old. Kersh however? I don’t even need to explain. Try again my dude.
Good because that would be unoriginal.
Just for the record, I really love watching Clayton Kershaw pitch and had him as a breakout guy in 2011, I just value track record.
He wouldn’t be the ace of a staff with Roy Halladay on it…
Roy Halladay could retire today and he’d be a hall of famer. I’d put him ahead of Cliff Lee after checking out some of his numbers and watching video after this debate.
Any reasonable Dodgers fan (myself included) has to admit that Halladay is the best. But as you said, Kershaw is above Lee, although not by a huge margin.
Kershaw may one day take over as the best, but Halladay holds that title now. As much respect as Halladay gets, he still seems somehow underrated to me.
Wait a second… you call him the best, note as much respect as he gets, yet you still call him underrated? Are you kidding? On the underrated/overrated barometer, it’s definitely starting to lean away from the underrated side as his career goes on. Hall of Famer if he retired today?… absolutely! Underrated? Get out of here. And it would be nice if the guy had a slither of personality to make him marketable.