The Dodgers made a host of signings official today and GM Ned Colletti spoke to reporters about a variety of topics this afternoon. A look at some of the highlights..
- The Dodgers wouldn't commit on whether the club will pursue Masahiro Tanaka if he's posted, tweets Ken Gurnick of MLB.com. Los Angeles has long been said to be high on the Japanese sensation.
- Colletti says he's "pretty much done" for the offseason unless something especially appealing presents itself, Gurnick tweets. However, a utility infielder is a possibility.
- The GM met with Chris Perez at the WInter Meetings and came away with no qualms about signing him despite his previous marijuana arrest, tweets Gurnick.
- Colletti said he's not stockpiling relievers with the intention of trading them, tweets Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times.
I’m a yanks fan but if I were the Dodgers I’d want a starting rotation with my first 4 being: Kershaw Greinke Tanaka and Ryu. That’d be devastating to teams in the NL West
What would they do with the dead weight in Billingsley and Beckett?
Both of their contracts expire after the 2014 season.
I know, which means their trade value isn’t very high. Which brings us back to the original question, what do the Dodgers do with them if they sign Tanaka?
Actually that increases their trade value. Injuries will occur and they will get time on the mound. If proven healthy answers will arise. Bills is a capable #3, people have just forgotten. He is a horse.
Billingsley won’t be ready for spring training (But before the All-Star break perhaps) and Beckett has velocity concerns. Chances are, the Dodgers won’t get much in return and still have to pay most of his (Billingsley) contract. However, I don’t think many teams would take a mid season flier on him.
Right now Billingsley is listed as possible for Spring Training, so it’s reasonable to guess he gets a rehab assignment in April or May. If that’s the case, he could be available for either the rotation or trade by June or July.
Colletti just came out and said that Bills won’t be back until probably June, and that he’s looking at him as more of a mid-season acquisition for the Dodgers.
Yes, I read that this morning too. This timetable suggests a rehab assignment in May. He could also be pitched out of the bullpen if the Dodgers sign another starter. Strangely, Beckett isn’t technically on the DL at the moment. Not sure what that means.
I think that you are stretching quite a bit, besides you’re scenario involves trading the pitchers needed to be moved in order to get Tanaka after the season has already started. They need to be moved prior for Tanaka to fit.
If either one can demonstrate a recovery from their injures by mid season, they’d both be good to excellent trade bait at the July deadline.
you can never have too much pitching. remember when the dodgers had “7 starters” last year? by the end of may it was down to 4. one of the starters will probably be injured by opening day, so the 6th will be the long reliever.
The problem with having that many starters comes in when all of them are on Major League contracts. Last year that forced the issue with Harang, and if Beckett and Billingsley hadn’t gone down too then it would have forced the issue with Capuano.
Most deadline deals are guys on expiring contracts. Billingsley had a career low in BB/9 and a 3.55 ERA over 150 innings before he hurt his arm. If he can return from Tommy John (seems like everyone does now a days) then someone making a playoff push would love an innings eater who could be a middle rotation guy. Beckett is a lotto ticket, odds are the Dodgers cut him if he doesn’t re-establish value by the deadline.
You need some offense. The Giants had great pitching in the past, but they need some offense.
Are you talking about the yankees or dodgers?
The Yankees have had problems with the offense staying healthy and the Dodgers have had problems with their offense.
The Yankees have a whole new lineup in 2014 compared to 2013. They’ve added 5 new starters so far so I don’t understand why your talking about. Tex is coming back from his surgery and Jeter isn’t expected to be playing everyday. So far they have upgraded offensively at every position except 2nd so you can expect their offense to be one of the better ones in the AL. Also, I’m pretty sure Dodgers had no problems with their offense when they went 42-8
I’d like to add that once Dean Anna wins the second base job I think he will be quite the surprising contributor to this Yankee team.
Completely forgot about Dean Anna I think we really struck gold with him. PLUS he should make our infield defense even better
He would since I’ve heard he has a pretty good glove and he can play multiple positions. I love Jeter but I just dream of Ryan and Anna being the dp duo next season. May not be much pop (at least from Ryan) but it would be beneficial to our defense up the middle.
The scouting report on Anna is that he is an “above average fielder”. He is not exactly Ozzie Smith.
Good thing I was not comparing him to or expecting him to be Ozzie Smith!
The Dodgers offense was fine last season with no Kemp and half of Hanley. I think they’ll be okay.
Exactly. I had no clue what he was talking about…
Might have something to do with him being a sf fan
The Yankees have had problems with the offense staying healthy and the Dodgers have had problems with their offense.
Devastating in any division, I think you meant to say.
I would be very surprised if the Dodgers weren’t in on Tanaka. He could be ace of Cubs or 3/4 at Dodgers. Money talks, and competing. In that order presumably
“commit”, didn’t you mean “comment”?
In this case it means nearly the same thing. No GM worth his salt is going to turn over his cards before it’s necessary.
I don’t see any way the Dodgers don’t make a run at Tanaka. Not saying they’ll end up winning his services, but I think they have to be considered serious suitors.
The Dodgers are going to make a run at Tanaka. I have no doubt about that. Not saying they land him, but they will be serious players. They would greatly prefer getting Tanaka to having to give up a bunch of prospects just to get 2 years of David Price. If you get Tanaka, you get him for probably 6-7 years and it doesn’t cost any prospects. Greinke could also opt out of his deal after the 2015 season and if he does, boom, you have his replacement. And if he doesn’t all the better, because you have 3 aces at the top of your rotation, a fantastic #4 in Ryu who is more like a #3, and you can find a #5 starter no problem with all the options they will have going forward in the coming seasons. If their offer is close to competitive, given the Dodgers’ contender status right now and given how much of an Asian-friendly city it is and that they have had past–and current–success with Asian players, I think there’s a very solid chance he signs there.
I forgot about Greinke’s ability to opt out. Plus there is a possibility that Kershaw walks after 2014. So that would be another reason for LAD to pursue Tanaka.
if dodgers got tanaka the rotation would be set with dan haren being the 5th pitcher. since both bills and beckett are both question marks next season and only minor league pitcher who could get a shot is lee.
As far as minor league pitchers are concerned, don’t forget about Stripling. Team seems to be high on him. They have a couple of other pitching prospects they are quite high on, too, but those aren’t quite as ready as they think Lee and Stripling might be.
No reason to worry about Perez’ marijuana arrest… As long as he relocates to Cali his dog can get a medicinal marijuana card…
devastating with Tanaka?? naw they’re already devastating in the weak N.L West with what they got. They ran away with the division last year and they had the most D.L stints than any other team in baseball! Tanaka makes it scary for the rest of the baseball world!
Hey Anthony the Dodgers wouldn’t just get 2 years of Price they wouldn’t do the trade unless he agreed on a sign and trade…………that’s already been reported. I’m caught in the middle myself. I would love to have Price because the Dodgers might be pretty much the fav to win it all next year and Price puts you over the top. If you do the trade you gut your farm system so there goes that. I would do the deal only if you don’t land Tanaka, why not? not all prospects pan out and Price is already a former Cy young winner that is only 28 yrs old……….plus there is no guarantee that Kershaw resigns this offseason so then you have the insurance with Price. Tough decision for the Dodgers