Free agent outfielder A.J. Pollock is a “target” for the Dodgers, tweets Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, who adds the two sides are “in discussions.”
Los Angeles, which values balance, flexibility, and the platoon advantage perhaps as much as any team in baseball, currently finds itself with a dearth of right-handed options at play. There’s Justin Turner, of course, but the switch-hitting Yasmani Grandal has left, and the club sent Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp away in a December swap with the Reds, leaving Chris Taylor and the Austin Barnes/Russell Martin duo as the only other penciled-in regulars who hit from the right side. IF/OF Enrique Hernandez demonstrated, for the first time, an ability to produce against same-side arms last year, but the 27-year-old’s meager .221/.288/.377 (82 wRC+) career line vs. righties isn’t likely to suffuse the aggregate-loving front office with much hope.
Though the team’s lefties – Corey Seager, Cody Bellinger, and Max Muncy among them – rank as arguably the premier crop in the league, the team was often exposed against southpaws last season, especially late in games, or when facing a bullpen-heavy staff, and can’t hope to always rely on a platoon carousel around the diamond. Indeed, LA’s 2018 bunch was among the worst ever in late-game situations, speculatively owing to its limited bench options in crunch time, given the team’s propensity to hunt for opposite-side advantages in the middle innings.
Pollock, then, offers the perfect antidote, though perhaps not at the right price. As the premier center-fielder on the market, the 31-year-old remains in protracted limbo after early-offseason demands were deemed too high by a number of interested clubs. Recent demands are nebulous, though many have speculated the oft-injured outfielder may be forced to settle for a short-term, high-AAV deal, which would seem to place him right up any number of alleys in Los Angeles.
In his last two, injury-marred campaigns, Pollock’s offensive output has slipped considerably from his 2014-15 peak, when he delivered back-to-back 130 or higher wRC+ seasons. His center-field defense, however, has remained plus, at least per DRS, but he’s swiftly approaching the age at which even generational talents begin to experience a rapid diminishment in their ability to chase down fly balls. The Dodgers, under president of baseball ops Andrew Friedman, aren’t a team that will tolerate age-related decline in any facet, so any long-term deal with Los Angeles may be predicated on the 31-year-old eventually agreeing to move to a corner spot.
How such a signing would impact LA’s ostensible interest in Bryce Harper is unclear, but the club, which has run far away from massive free agent demands under the current regime, wouldn’t figure to be in play for both.
Always seen this as a fit especially after getting rid of two right handed OF, seems a very likely scenario
He will see limited action. He should be ok
Why anyone would be interested in a player who misses about 50 games a season is beyond me.
LA is used to that. See Hanley, Kershaw, Beckett, Hill, Ethier, Crawford, McCarthy, League, Turner, and Ryu.
Most of those are not Friedman guys.
Says the fan of the AARP team..Giants
My AARP team has given me 3 championships in my lifetime. I don’t know how being a fan of the giants can be used as an insult.. lol.
You’re a last place team for years to come and already have the second highest payroll in the MLB despite that, stop living in the past, Giants are done.
Were not gonna go down that tired road are we. ok sport, my favorite team has given me 7 championships in my lifetime.
Not to mention one of the worst farms in MLB.
Says the fan of the team that bought the vast majority of their titles.
Thanks. None of that changes the fact that I’ve been treated to 3 amazing championship runs, and am content with what I’ve had.
Another tired and so very untrue narrative. I bet you wish your team could though tad.
The worth of a person’s fandom should’nt be based on the success of the team. Honestly I respect Browns fans more than anyone because they can’t use team success as a defense
You ain’t got Bud Selig around anymore putting his foot on the Dodgers throat. No more Frank, no more Giants. Enjoy last place
Yeah I dunno. Even Machado was under 180 mil. May get Machado back. And don’t give me there’s nowhere for him. 35 homers says make room
Actually, my team can. Yankee fans are always so defensive about their team’s history and the facts. They seem to think the Yankees use of money to build a roster started with free agency. Hint: it didn’t.
You sound jealous, scared and basic. You know this place is filled with Giants haters. Literally no one brought up the Giants and you still have them embedded into your mind. You need a hug.
When you win 3 in 5 and it was only 3 years ago….. You wouldn’t be hurt by those words. Also with the Warriors, we are champions constantly. 6 In last 9 years. Probably going to be 7 in 9. We don’t want to clog up the championships in every sport. Trying to be nice yet jealousy is still an issue. Sheeesh.
Warriors and Giants have 6 in last 9 and will have 7 by the end of this year. So what were you saying about 7? 49ers won once in our lifetime too. That’s 7 right now and will be 8 at the end of this year with the Dubs. And you were talking about how superior you were because the Giants haven’t won a title in 3 years? Yankees haven’t since 2009 so why does your allegiance hold anymore weight? All of my teams have been far superior in recent years and it’s not even near close. Say something. Please.
Be thankful the Giants haven’t won anymore. It would be embarrassing for you and every Dodgers fan If they even win one more in the next 5-10 years. Which I’m sure they will. Have fun online with your mouth. Warriors in 3….
Lakers. Do try to catch up. Without help from the commissioners.
Excuse me the 49ers have won 3 since I’ve been alive. So that’s 9 right now and will be 10 by the time the Warriors season is done. About the Giants in last place?
Get LA and Bay Area fans in 1 article and this is what happens lol
Help from the commissioner? Lol. Oh my goodness. I just fell over laughing. Your tears taste so good.
Every team has it’s haters, and I doubt that Giant’s fans are any more bothered about being hated than the Dodgers or Yankees are. A team being hated is like a player being booed on the road. But it seems obvious that fans that have a deep hatred of the Giants probably got their feelings hurt by the the Giants beating their team in the PS.
Yup. All of my friends are Dodgers fans. To my face they will say how much they love BCraw and Bum, Posey, Bochy. They are Lakers fans too and most of them come over here to watch Warriors games in the playoffs and root for the Warriors with me in the playoffs. I live in Central a California. I have nothing but love for my Dodgers/Lakers friends but one thing that can’t be disputed is since 2010 the Bay has owned LA in championships besides one sport. Hockey. And that’s a Canadian sport. So what are we really even talking about? It’s undeniable. LA besides hockey has 0 titles since the Giants and Warriors have won 6. To bring up the Lakers history is throwing in the white towel. My teams talk on the field. Dodgers/Lakers fans whimper online and off the field.
To me it’s kind of silly to start talking about the Lakers or the 49ers on a baseball site. The Warriors have nothing to do with the Giants. In fact, until they move to the new arena, they play their games right next to the A’s Stadium. And the Warriors have nothing to do with the A’s either.
As a Giant’s fan I don’t hate the Dodgers. I have a great deal of respect for their organization, especially since Frank McCourt sold the team. But there is also no team I want the Giants to beat more than the Dodgers, It’s kind of like the feeling I get beating my older brother.
Yeah I’m gonna say no real Giants fan is crying about our recent struggles. It’s the result of 3 WS rings. Other teams peak and fall apart having won 1 or none.
Dodgers 6 rings in my lifetime and currently the only team to have won the NL West in 6 years and running
All bay area and LA fans act like they are hurting bad. Trying being an Atlanta sports fan and you’ll know the meaning of pain lol
Dang Chris, you’re ancient. But good for you, having memories of those WS titles. Even though it’s been decades, I’m sure that makes their losing in October more tolerable. The younger fans dont really have that to lean on. They just see a team winning until it really matters. But you remember when you didnt have to say theres always next year; and that can get you through the tough times.
Turner/Muncy to 1b/2b. Seager SS and Bellinger to CF if that happened I would suppose?
Now the Astros and Red Sox pit their throats on Dodgers.
@terror661 dude… are you arguing with yourself?
The Dodgers/Giants rivalry is almost completely one-sided. Giants fans are obsessed with it. Dodger fans are barely aware such a thing exists….
May be done but, as mentioned, the Giants won three WS in the last decade or so. My Dodgers have not won since 1988.
Lol, Dodgers and Yankees fans have a lot in common. They talk big while their expensive teams fail to win. Meanwhile their rivals have been the two most successful franchises for awhile.
Come to Detroit.
Elite play even in a limited time is still more valuable than having a scrub play all 162.
If the Dodgers are targeting Pollock must mean they are out of the mix for at least Harper.
The Dodgers have not done long contracts in the Friedman era. Friedman is a money ball guy.
Dodgers told Pollock’s agent they are also considering a mystery outfielder.
Woah, a page out of the agents book
I read this as the opposite. I think this means LAD is in on Harper.
No need for Pollock. Why give up a draft pick? Never going to sign Harper anyways!
Yeah I dunno. Even Machado was under 180 mil. May get Machado back. And don’t give me there’s nowhere for him. 35 homers says make room
Insurance policy. Pollack will be in the crowded outfield and used mostly for pinch hitting
That’s going to be an expensive pinch hitter…
It means they traded away too many outfielders. They need pollack and Harper. Then again spending on a player and having him go on the DL or having him try to live up to a contract sometimes dont work out. Regardless he’s depth
@ Dodgerblog;
Read what Mr. Bradley wrote:
“Los Angeles, which values balance, flexibility, and the platoon advantage perhaps as much as any team in baseball, currently finds itself with a dearth of right-handed options at play.”
___
That’s been my thoughts on the “Harper to the Dodgers” rumors since day one (though I wouldn’t have been able to phrase it as succinctly and elegantly).
Because the Dodgers ML roster is stacked, they can bring in Pollack as a part of the team, and not an integral player. His health history is a major concern to potential employers. The Dodgers situation mitigates that to some degree.
The issue is now salary. The Dodgers will pay well, but they’re not going top-shelf. His market may well have dried up, leaving him with a chance to play on a contending team, get 450-500 PA’s, and be paid accordingly.
The ball’s in his court.
Why? That’s a dumb statement. It just means they want what has got them all these division titles and two World Series appearances. Depth
@ Dodgerblog;
“Dumb statement”?
lol
Let’s go slowly……
They traded away 2 RH hitting OF’s. They are now an overly balanced LH hitting team. Their style is to exploit LH/RH matchups. To get back the balance in the OF, they need another RH bat. Preferably one that can play CF and spell Bellinger.
Harper makes them too LH balanced, especially if they want to give Verdugo a good amount of playing time in 2019. Harper is a terrible OF that should never be placed in CF, and he wants at least $30m a year.
Yasmani Grandal was just signed by the Brewers…pretty sure he’s not playing left field for the Dodgers.
Never said he was.
“yasmani grandal has left”
not “can play left” or the like
Lol, completely read that wrong, honest mistake.
well i hardly can have a problem with this. even if you
meant it it wouldn’t be nearly the worst comment id seen here today.
He isn’t trying to throw playoff games either
Won’t be worth it if they have to forfeit the #31 pick in the draft. The only reason he would even be a fit is because he is right handed
Losing a #31 pick isn’t a sufficient reason to not go after A.J. Pollock.
The Dodgers 1st and 2nd round picks in the 2017 draft (Jeren Kendall, offensively can’t hit a lick and Morgan Cooper, who hasn’t thrown a pitch yet due to injury) and 2018 draft (J.T. Ginn, who did not sign, and Michael Grove, who also hasn’t thrown a pitch yet due to injury) have been major disappointments.
Since 2000, the Dodgers haven’t had first round success beyound Clayton Kershaw (7th overall), Corey Seager (18th), Chad Billingsley (24th), Walker Buehler (24th) and arguably James Loney (19th). All of those players were picked ahead of the 31st pick and in the case of Kershaw well ahead of the 31st pick.
They have traded way too much for rentals in the last 2 years. The farm system needs to be restocked a bit. Pollock doesn’t move the needle with this team. Look at his numbers vs every team but the Dodgers.
I think steelehere83 has a valid point. The chances of finding even an MLB average player is very low at 31. In the entire history of the draft there’s very few that did anything. Granted the best one was a superstar, Greg Maddux in 1984. But after him the best was Jarrod Washburn, J.P. Howell, and Kurt Manwaring. No one else has a WAR of even 1.8. Four guys in 54 years, and half of those somewhat marginal, wouldn’t suggest that the 31st pick has more value than what Pollock would provide.
Oh yeah dont get me wrong i its tough to hit on these guys. Its more about not being a fan of Pollock. Their in house options are just as good
Gavin Lux would like a word.
Most prospects are busts. You only have hit on a few of them. With young players, there is less chance of injury and declining skills.
That’s just about .300. Really not that bad.. But your point is still a good one. The Dodgers are clearly in Win Now mode. Draft picks and prospects are getting way too much value these days. How do you choose a draft pick over a proven vet? The Rays….maybe, the Dodgers hell no. They are going to spend
Not sure but I think we will see both Harper and Machado signing for much less than predicted. If the Phillies do not bite those two can eventually land anywhere at this point with the exception I do not think the Yankees, Red sox or Astros will attempt to seriously snag one or two etc.
Why trade away puig and kemp if your not going to go after harper. Makes no sense
It does if the Dodgers ownership group isn’t a rich as everyone perceives them to be. Also, trading Kemp and Puig now got the Dodgers two solid prospects. That wasn’t a guarantee if they waited until the season ended.
It makes no sense for the Dodgers to not go after Harper, but trading Puig and Kemp have nothing to do with it. There was ample reason on it’s own to trade away both. The Dodgers still have enough decent out-fielders. That’s not an area of need. What is an area of need, as the article highlighted, is the lack of a enough right-handed bats. Harper is a lefty.
It makes total sense if you follow the Dodger’s. People should stick w their day jobs instead of continously criticizing these GMs that get paid to do this.
Where’s the fun in that?
Makes sense if youre a Dodger fan and know whats going on.
If this happens, Harper will be with the phillies and then I think the mystery team that put in a bid on machado will sign him. I think that team is the angels
an angels fan would say that. i doubt there is a “mystery team” at all, either there are no other serious contenders or a solid group of them.
If they added a bat like machado to pair with trout • simmons • upton & ohtani they have a shot.
How good are Machado’s secondary pitches?
The one about vacuum cleaners or the one about Encyclopedia Britannica?
I think the Angels would be more into Harper than Machado.
What would his contract look like ?
3 year 48 mil?
Dodgers downplaying their major L this offseason signing Pollock.
That makes zero sense.
Not a “major L” but they still have plenty of room for Harper, Realmuto and Kimbrel. Not much other they can add.
I think Pollick gets 2/32 from soneone.
2 years 15 mil each with all incentives reached. Two options years after. . .
I still think the mystery team in on Machado is the Dodgers. Makes perfect sense.
Dude seriously?
Machado a Dodger again makes perfect sense?
Please explain that one!
Half season was all I could stomach. Never in BLUE again!
Screw that. 35 homers? Yeah bring him in. I’m way over popularity contests. I want to win. And win now. Move Seager to second. Get some gonads and push for a title. Enough being sissies and character police
We just cleaned out the clubhouse. No need to swamp it up again. Line up is solid. Spend the money when we need to.
@Dodgerblog That is simply stupid.
What do you know about there clubhouse? If you don’t think manny machado’s bat helps the dodgers you are lost!
Drama queens
Machado gone
Kemp gone
Puig gone
If you watched any games you could see the team didn’t have good chemistry. I don’t want the dirtiest player in the league on my team, don’t care how good he is.
Nah its the Giants, that’s why those Longo rumors came up today.
Who the heck wants to play for those losers
Nah, it’s the White Socks, and they’re clearly just being used in an attempt to drive up the price for the White Sox.
I think LAD will trade for an OF. AJ Pollock doesn’t fit.
Sounds fishy to me.
Really!
Pollock fits fine if Verdugo is traded for Realmuto. Pederson/Taylor-Pollock-Bellinger.
So Verdugo is definitely going to Miami for JT then.
Think we are solid right now. Got rid of the drama queens. Ride out the first half and see where we are at come All Star break. FO can address issues as needed. Rather not crowd up the OF. Let the players play more consistent and stop all the platooning and switching out.
I would like Manny back. For 18 mil a year? That’s not a bad deal
First off Mannys ego would never let him sign for 18 mil? Don’t know where you got that. Second NEVER AGAIN IN BLUE!
Dodgers give up a draft pick, $500K of its International spending pool, and overpay for an OF’er who did not perform as well last season as utility player Kiké Hernandez in the same number of plate appearances? Ridiculous! Away from hitter friendly Chase Field Pollock is no better than an average hitter, and last season had reverse splits against LH pitchers. Puig is a better all around player and less expensive.
Pollack has upside as a pinch hitter. Puig demanded a trade.
$12MM to $16MM PH’er — I don’t think so
No mention of David Freese?
I don’t understand this. If you’re gonna spend on Pollack, spend more at get Bryce. As a LA local, this team is getting lit up by fans, media on stations like 570a. They’re done with being close, being bridesmaids, they want the ring. Harper is a great fit with their young core and they have the money.
This is the most angry i have seen Dodger fans in an offseason. Even more than last year when they went out of business for the offseason. At least this year they helped the pen and will probably add another bat.
LA locals aren’t seeing the overall picture. Friedman has put together a team that has gotten to the WS 2 year, yeah lost both sucks, but he is just getting started. Ton of money freed up after this season. Harper is not the difference between us going to the WS this year or not. Have some faith!
I think for most teams, Harper isn’t the difference maker, BUT for the Dodgers… I do believe he puts them over the top and delivers them a ring. I’m not even a Dodger fan, I live in LA, but I’m a Cubs fan. As an unbiased fan, I kinda see where the fans and local media are coming from. Bryce can be had, they can afford them and he puts them over the top, imo.
What they would have to trade to make room for his contract would not make them a WS team. They will not exceed the luxury tax threshold therefore it wouldn’t put them over the top
How do you know they won’t exceed the luxury tax? You state it like it’s fact. Fact is you don’t know nor does anyone else. The luxury tax excuse for not signing Harper is weak and hollow but as long as beat writers keep pushing the narrative, saps are gonna buy into it. Be like Black flag… Rise Above
Friedman has made it clear since coming to the Dodgers he is not going over. If its not fact, call it common sense, simple observation, what ever floats your boat. He’s not going over.
Beat writers????? If it was up to them, Dodgers would’ve signed every free agent by now. Including Pollock apparently.
Please show me your “facts” that the Dodgers have done anything since Friedman has taken over that they are going over to sign Harper.
Black Flag?? Hmmm sorry dude, not that serious. I guess. Lost me on that one
Actually, LA has been in the luxury tax for years. They reset it last winter so they wouldn’t be repeat offenders THIS winter.
“Please show me your “facts” that the Dodgers have done anything since Friedman has taken over that they are going over to sign Harper.”
I don’t know what you mean by this statement as it makes no grammatical sense. I think I know what you’re trying to say but I don’t want to speculate as I’m not interested in arguing….not my style. I will say that Friedman and company did make it a point of focus to get below the luxury tax threshold in the last few seasons for the purposes of resetting the penalty, which they have successfully done. There is no evidence whatsoever, aside from some 2 year old Bill Shakin LA Times article, that the Dodgers aren’t willing to exceed said tax again, especially now that they’d be penalized as first time offenders. It hasn’t mattered in years past and I don’t honestly think it matters going forward. Los Angeles is blanketed in obscene amounts of money and the front office has proven time and time again that it is not the driving factor for fielding a competitive team. It is national sports writers (better?) and online baseball outlets that keep pushing this false narrative of the Dodgers not exceeding the luxury tax no matter what. It’s just not true, especially if it means passing on an opportunity to fill a real need. Now the definition of real need is subjective based upon your position but I’d say people that actually work for the Dodgers are much more qualified to identify those needs than anybody on this website, that’s for damn sure.
Black Flag was a punk band with a song called Rise Above……sorry for the confusion. Maybe I should’ve gone with Public Enemy and said Don’t Believe the Hype!
Cool
Dodgers aren’t signing Harper
Do you really think Harper’s .249 ba is going to carry the Dodgers to the WS? It didn’t with Washington. Really good player but the hype is better than his contribution could be.
He didn’t get that done in D.C. because he was the main man. And you’re right he didn’t exactly pull that off.
However put him in Dodger blue and a whole lot changes. That lineup is stacked without him. Tons of protection and rbi opportunities will be had in this lineup. Without the stress of carrying a lineup he really could start to live up to the hype. Also Harpers personality would be a great fit in L.A.
He may be way over hyped… But it’s hard to deny that his potential could be maxed out in a better line up
2 years 24 million. 3rd year team option 2 million buyout. Book it!
Whoa! That’s awfully light for Pollack. Even in a seemingly depressed market, that’s really light.
Why would LA move Puig who just settled for 9.7 mil, and sign Polluck for 12-15 mil ? Their numbers were almost identical.
Now if AJ is cheaper, maybe yes.
I think getting Harper would be great for RF.. his on base % has been around .400 since he came up. Love to see the Dodgers get Realmuto for either Joc or Verdugo.
Puig apparently wanted out, and the relationship hasn’t been good anyway. Plus Puig has only 1 year of control left. Pollock would presumably be signed for 3-4 years. Pollock is the better defender, even if his arm strength isn’t what Puig’s is.
Harper would be great in RF for any team.
And Joc or Verdugo aren’t going to bring back Realmuto. Maybe Joc and Verdugo, but not sure how the Marlins feel about either.
I think only Verdugo, Smith/Ruiz + could bring Rea to LA
Quantity isn’t better than quality. They apparently turned down Robles from the Nats because they wanted Soto. If that’s true I don’t think Verdugo and Smith/Ruiz + are going to get Realmuto.
Joc AND Verdugo for a mere 2 years of Realmuto. Please! A seasoned baseball eye can see Verdugo has all the tools, is what they look like and has a very promising future ahead of him. People that merely THINK they know talent believe It would be wise to deal him for a two year rental. They’re quite simply wrong. It’s very easy to recognize talent if you know how. It’s not very easy if you don’t know how.
Well quite frankly Pollock is a better fit. The ability to play CF, we’ve seen what the Dodgers have been able to do with positioning, the ability to hit lhp, and you can plug/play Pollock in the upper half of the lineup. None of those things you can really say for Puig. Puig has developed into a really good player, just not a fit on the current roster, especially with his inability to consistently hit lhp the last two years. He didn’t really fit the future of this team so it was foreseeable that he’d get churned, which he did.
This Pollock rumor makes me cringe the way I did when it was reported years ago the Dodgers were gonna sign Juan Pierre.
Juan Pierre hit .293, .283 and .308 and stole 64, 40 and 30bases for the Dodgers in the 3 seasons he played for them. Go away.
Don’t throw shade on Juan Pierre. He brought to the table exactly what each team that signed him wanted. Higher average and stealing bases. Not for his golden arm or slugging over .400.
If we are going to bring in an outfielder and give up our 2nd highest pick for him, it better be Harper. Pollock is not worth the $ and pick he would command. Why spend big money and a pick on a guy who misses 1/3 of the season every year? I get that its not a Friedman thing to pay for a Harper type contract but it makes more sense than pollock if you want to win it all.
The dollars for Pollock versus Harper are not at all comparable. Harper is 3-4x what Pollock would cost. The 31st pick is not that valuable. And the whole basis for the interest in right-handed hitting Pollock is that the left-handedness of the lineup is a distinct disadvantage. Lefty Harper does not solve that issue at all. Harper makes sense for the Dodgers, but it means a lot of subsequent moves to address the handedness of the lineup.. Signing Pollock doesn’t mean re-jiggering the entire roster the way signing Harper does. The two are just not comparable at all.
Dodgers could cruise through the all star break in first place with their current roster. Why take a chance on Pollock’s health or trade away top prospects now when they don’t really need them until the playoffs. Dodgers can easily cherry pick all they need for the playoffs and more at a discount just before the deadline?
The Dodgers could cruise, but to assume they will would be a huge mistake. They didn’t exactly cruise last season. They won the division by 1 game over the Rockies. All it would take would be a couple of key injuries for them to be looking up to a division leader at the AS break. If they are trading at the deadline they want to be doing that from a position of strength, like last year. Every year has its surprises, like unexpected teams contending, and vice versa. No one wants to be that team that’s the big disappointment.
@left
Word!
Thank goodness there’s some folks out there with some common sense. All this crap about signing Harper or Machado is making me sick.