Corey Seager has the eighth highest trade value in baseball, opines Sports Illustrated’s Jonah Keri in his annual review of the top assets in the sport. In recent years, Seager was a popular trade target for teams attempting to sell veterans to the Dodgers. For example, their decision to keep Seager rather than trade him (and others) for former Phillies ace Cole Hamels already looks brilliant. Hamels was ranked 39th last year and fell out of the top 50 this year. While nobody would argue that Seager is better than Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw (ranked 21), his superior contract situation and youth make him a superior long term bet. Top pitching prospect Julio Urias (43rd) also made the list.
Here’s more from the Dodgers:
- Japanese import Kenta Maeda made his Cactus League debut today, writes Ken Gurnick of MLB.com. His performance today (he did well) is hardly relevant, but Maeda has already taken on an important role in the team’s success. With Hyun-jin Ryu, Brett Anderson, and Brandon McCarthy set to miss chunks of the 2016 season, the Dodgers’ pitching depth will be tested. Maeda’s performance will help to determine how the favored Dodgers perform in a wide open NL West.
- Third baseman Justin Turner may return to game action as early as next week, writes Gurnick. Manager Dave Roberts would ease him back, using him as the designated hitter for a time. Turner had microfracture surgery over the offseason. A return to action next week would put him well ahead of the usual recovery timeline. Players like Carlos Beltran and Grady Sizemore had to ease back in to regular reps over a long period of time, although Turner’s specific situation may differ from theirs.
- One of Turner’s third base backups, Alex Guerrero, has been sidelined with a sore left knee, per Gurnick. The team does not believe the injury is serious, and they have not even ordered tests. The Dodgers have struggled to find Guerrero a regular role due to poor defensive chops at second base and an inconsistent bat. Should Turner and Guerrero both miss time, options to fill in at third include Howie Kendrick and Chase Utley.
“With Hyun-jin Ryu, Brett Anderson, and Brandon McCarthy set to miss chunks of the 2016 season”
“Monster” Ryu’s timetable to return is set in May, at least that’s what I heard via YTN.
Brad, sports illustrated would like a word about calling him ESPN’s Jonah Keri.
The prob is there’s even concerns about Maeda’s health. The next solid starter that comes from the minors will be the first since Kersh, and free agent signings have been abysmal except for Greinke & Ryu his first couple years. Urias and DeLeon will have to be as promised.
How does someone’s opinion of trade value mean that the Dodgers were right to not trade for Cole Hamels last year? That makes absolutely no sense. I’m not saying they should have made that trade, but someone’s opinion of trade value is not a key fact in determining that for me. Although after losing Greinke to Arizona and Anderson regaining his injury form and patching a rotation behind Kershaw, maybe picking up a TOR starter like Hamels might have been a good idea. Right now, they might have the Rookie of the Year on a possible non-playoff team. All I am saying is that it is easier and cheaper to find a shortstop than a starter like Hamels.
I think the evaluation of value suggests the Dodgers could get a pitcher like Hamels and then some for a player of Seager’s caliber. Perhaps Sonny Gray and top 5 prospect from the A’s for Seager? Both teams wouldn’t make the trade, but withholding Seager in the Hamels deal means they would receive even more for their young shortstop.
I wholeheartedly disagree. A potential cornerstone shortstop is a very rare thing indeed. Especially in this pitching dominated environment we have today.
The entire “trade value” exercise is kind of bent, especially if it factors in contracts, which apparently it does. Teams can write down contract costs, a little, a lot, or even to zero, if they are motivated to get the return they are after. Even players under team control get traded with cash. Even if contracts are excluded, it’s still questionable, if only because the market for any given player is going to depend on the demand.
Hamels was 7-1 for Texas last year and a HUGE reason they won the ALWest. I don’t see how/why his value is less than it was. I don’t blame the Dodgers for not making the deal IF they think Seager is that good. That’s fine…it’s a talent evaluation process that every team has to go through. I suspect the Dodgers also felt they wouldn’t lose Grienke in making that decision.