Earlier today we learned that Shane Victorino would like to re-sign with the Dodgers after this season, but the veteran has no interest in returning as a bench player. While Victorino seemed likely to be retained by the Dodgers when they traded for him, the club’s acquisition of Carl Crawford might alter their plans. Here’s more out of the National League West..
- Dodgers president Stan Kasten told Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times that he fears that Chad Billingsley’s elbow injury could sideline him for the remainder of the season. Kasten went on to say that the fear did not stem from “medical evidence”, which implies that it may just be a hunch at this juncture.
- Meanwhile, Dodgers GM Ned Colletti told Mark Saxon of ESPNLosAngeles.com that the talent pool that has cleared waivers or remains on waivers is “very thin right now.” Colletti wouldn’t completely rule out the idea of an acquisition taking place tonight or tomorrow but said that nothing is brewing at present.
- The Rockies will continue to use a four-man rotation in 2013, writes Troy Renck of The Denver Post. The club has experimented with using four starters on a limited pitch count with three “piggyback” relievers this season and will tweak the model to use four relievers next year. The plan was met with skepticism this season but the Rockies have been pitching better since making the switch.
- The Padres could contend for a Wild Card spot next season with some badly-needed upgrades to their rotation, writes Jeff Sullivan of Fangraphs. Earlier today, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported that Padres execs are encouraged by the team’s recent play and are adjusting their plans in order to win in the short-term. The report also suggested that San Diego could target an established starter like Hiroki Kuroda.
- Renck (via Twitter) doesn’t expect the Rockies to be in on Joe Mauer, in large part because they already have Wilin Rosario behind the plate and Mauer would lose value if moved elsewhere.
Going to throw this out for discussion purposes.
I think what the Dodgers did is great for their organization that has suffered under McCourt.
But…
What if each team is allowed a limited amount of claims, like 3 or 4, in one season thus creating competition during the trade July 31st deadline. Teams would have to strategize on who they want to block and who they want to claim.
In theory this also prevents a team from just claiming everyone. A high payroll team can do it but a lower payroll is limited in doing so. I’m probably overlooking some issues with this but that’s why I want to have a discussion about it.
or you are disappointed that some teams address their issues and others are only able to have in house players fill it. If teams don’t think they can improve in August, they must do so in July. Most teams know this and that is why you don’t see a lot of big trades in August
There is a risk in claiming players, especially those with large contracts. They easily could be stuck with them, probably the most famous of which is Randy Myers. So while a high payroll team may be able to take on more of these types of contracts, they will have a limit.
If you limit waiver claims, it will limit the opportunity for a team to improve at different positions. Plus the blocking aspect is what makes these types of situations interesting. It is a risk for the blocking team, but also a potential reward (either directly or indirectly) Plus this limit will only practically apply to the top 7-8 teams of each league, that is to say those competing for a playoff spot. What purpose does it then serve, when essentially entire rosters are waived and there are only roughly 48 allowed claims (practically speaking)? I don’t see how that promotes anymore competition during the July 31 deadline. It may actually facilitate more August trades, but then what is the point of the July deadline when the vast majority of players will be available till August 31?
Kuroda could be a good fit for San Diego, but i bet the yankees are going to cling to him like melky cabrera clings to a bearclaw.
Two badly needed upgrades to the Padres rotation would be a healthy Luebke and a stretched out Cashner. With their stuff, those two could be a 1-2 punch like the Padres have never seen. I would like to see the return of Peavy or even more so a Greinke signing, but the Padres can probably get by as long as they don’t have such awful injury luck to the rotation with what they have in house next season.
wish the dodgers sale situation happened far sooner than it did and they’d still have Kuroda helping to anchor our now floundering rotation.
I’m not looking for anything more from the Dodgers front office this season. They need to regroup and concentrate on next year. This season is over, as far as I can see.