The Dodgers were in pursuit of free-agent reliever Liam Hendriks earlier this offseason, but that interest “has recently dissipated,” Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times writes. While Hendriks is viewed as the best reliever available on the open market, the former Athletics closer reportedly wants a four-year contract, and the Dodgers aren’t willing to sign him to that long of a deal, according to Castillo.
Although Hendriks appears to be out of the mix for Los Angeles, the reigning World Series champions do have other high-end relievers on their radar. Along with the previously reported Brad Hand, the Dodgers are eyeing right-hander Kirby Yates, per Castillo, who adds that they “have significant interest in him.” Yates shouldn’t cost as much as Hendriks or Hand, having missed almost all of last season with elbow problems, but the ex-Padres standout could be a relatively low-risk, high-reward pickup for any team that signs him. After all, the 33-year-old is just two seasons removed from posting a ridiculous 1.19 ERA with a 41.6 percent strikeout rate and a 5.3 percent walk rate over 60 2/3 innings. Yates also saved a National League-high 41 games in 44 chances that year.
A Yates signing for the Dodgers would be somewhat similar to 2020 additions such as Blake Treinen and Jake McGee, in that they’d be landing a proven reliever whose stock isn’t at an all-time high on a short-term pact. Both signings worked out well for LA last season, and the team was so impressed with Treinen’s work that it brought him back on a two-year, $17.5MM guarantee in free agency.
Mets wont make playoffs. Their pitching is trash
Stroman overrated and Syndergaard. Especially coming off TJ for someone that relies on velo. Cookie is decent but getting old. Peterson is unproven. And Bullpen is question mark, Lugo and may are the only reliable ones. Lindor has been struggling but he will bounce back but no playoffs lol…The Mets life
Diaz is really good in addition to Lugo
I agree but Diaz hasnt proven himself it was only 60 games. We need a full season
Diaz is someone I want o see succeed but just hasn’t been able to string together even 2 good seasons. Fantastic rookie season but then struggled with walks and home runs in 2017. Earned Cy Young votes in 2018 and then gave up home runs like no tomorrow in 2019 with the Mets. Hopefully 2020 wasn’t just a fluke, but that walk rate is a bit high for a closer.
Thanks for the well thought out analysis
thx you I know your joking. #MetsLife
Their pitching is not trash. Not the best in the league, but far from trash.
There’s another good description to summarize Diaz career so far. After 5 seasons he has only had one bad season. The rest of his work has been anywhere from good to elite. I think we aren’t giving Diaz enough credit.
Eh, his 2017 wasn’t really good when you look deeper into it. Gave up a lot of walks and home runs. Not a very good FIP or xFIP and had a 5.59 ERA in high leverage situations and an ERA over 10 with RISP. Not necessarily something you want to see when he’s the guy you are relying on to shut the door when it matters the most.
Who else besides lugo and may have been consistent? Starters included so degrom
I feel like their pitching is decent but their fielding is a red flag for sure. Defensively Lindor should be an upgrade but not an overly huge one over what Rosario has given them the last 4 years.
yeah you better have good fielding if your pitching isnt the best lol. Great point
Over Rosario? That’s a huge upgrade defensively. Rosario is a negative defender in almost every catergory and Lindor has been a top 3 defensive shortstop in all of baseball.
@mlb1225
Yeah, Rosario was a huge liability at short and Lindor should be an instant upgrade defensively. Assuming there’s no NL DH, the Mets should find sign a corner outfielder or middle infielder to plug another defensive hole. That way, Davis and Smith can split in the outfield instead of defending simultaneously at left field and third base respectively.
LeMahieu and JT are the most notable infield options, but Cesar Hernandez very quietly improved his defense at second with 6 DRS. McNeil could slide to third if the Mets feel comfortable with that move. Beyond Springer, Bradley Jr. And Pillar seem like reasonable fits if the Mets miss out.
I really feel an improved defense will go a long way in assisting the maligned pitching staff, especially when factoring in how much Stroman relies on groundballs. We shouldn’t discount the replacement of Ramos with McCann either. Very volatile team, but they are laden with potential.
More good news for the White Sox. The Liam Hendriks sweepstakes might come down to a battle between the ChiSox and his former team in Toronto.
I’d be happy with Hendriks or Hand. I feel like Crochet is going to start in the minors to get stretched back out to be a starter.
I must have missed the first bit of good news if this represents more good news.
How about the earlier trade today that saw AL Central Division rival Cleveland shed two more key pieces from their 2021 MLB roster? Perhaps you didn’t get the memo.
You’ve convinced me. With all of this good news, I’m ready to Hahn executive of the year again.
I guess I’m picky, but I’d prefer the type of good news created by an action taken by Sox FO, not other clubs.
That starts with addressing the White Sox primary remaining need this offseason, finding a closer which started this discussion. Liam Hendriks tops the list of those available and is reportedly their #1 target. With the Dodgers apparently out on Hendriks, the bidding for Hendriks looks to be down to the White Sox and Blue Jays. Shall we continue or are we finished?
Btw: The White Sox are probably not done even with the addition of their next closer. They are still seeking another veteran SP to slot between their 3 TOR’s and young Dylan Cease. They may also add another veteran bat to DH, one who is also versatile enough defensively to play another position when top prospect Andrew Vaughn makes his MLB debut later this season. That bat will likely be a left-handed one with Michael Brantley at the top of most White Sox fans wish list. The front office may also settle for someone like Kyle Schwarber. Either Brantley or ‘Schwarbs’ can become their primary DH versus RHP and also provide backup at the corner OF spots, particularly LF where Eloy Jimenez has been an injury waiting to happen since his 2019 MLB debut. Bringing in either would also give manager Tony LaRussa the additional flexibility of allowing Jimenez to spend more time in the DH role during the season.
I read many of your comments, and I typically agree. But if you think closer is the Sox primary remaining need, I’ve gotta disagree. I would prioritize both a corner outfielder that is proven against RHP, and another protectable starting pitcher ahead of closer. You mentioned these, as well as a DH, which I would also prioritize ahead of closer. Don’t get me wrong, Hendricks would be great but I would rather see the Sox being more aggressive in any of those positions I just mentioned and I’m surprised you don’t feel the same way.
I only responded to you because I thought it was strange that you were so joyful about something that had little to do w/ Sox. Then I remembered that you are compelled for some reason to comment on every single post regarding the sox and that in most of your comments it sounds like you are trying to prove your knowledge of the club to someone. So if there is nothing notable to comment about, you’ll just take a stab and say something useless, and your first comment here is a good example. It’s okay to say nothing sometimes. Sorry if I sound like a jerk. Maybe I need your rose colored glasses so everything looks like good news. Could come in handy in ‘21.
Sugano
David Fletcher.
David Fletcher
Latest reports suggest the Padres are making a last ditch effort to sign Sugano before today’s posting deadline: mlb.com/news/tomoyuki-sugano-rumors
If that rumor is true, then AJ Preller has officially gone mad. We don’t need another starting pitcher, as we will be facing a logjam in our rotation when Clevinger comes back in 2022.
Can never have too much pitching though.
If it’s a cost value pitch it’s a fantastic move. Who pitches in the 7th, 8th, and 9th are more important than your 4th and 5th starters
@Dan. That’s in 2022. You have Denet, Clevinger and Darvish recently experienced injuries that were costly. Being over strength on pitching never lasts.
Ah yes, your 5 starting pitchers will all start 35 games and throw 200 IP. Pitchers neverrrrr get injured, right???
You will never run a baseball team.
agreed, would be quite an insult to the Gore/Paddack/Morejon/Weathers/Baez youngsters
No way Yates signs with the Doyers over the Padres
Really? He hates the Dodgers like you do?
Yates doesn’t like the Dodgers, so yes, clearly if he signs with them it’s a ploy to extract $ then toss gopher balls in the playoffs. Preller & Yates have it planned out
May as well use those psychic abilities of yours for good use – lottery numbers maybe. Your talent is wasted here.
If the Dodgers throw him more $ he may love the Dodgers! Money talks for most people.
All this bullpen chatter makes me feel theres something different on the horizon than Turner for 3b – I think they use prospects here for Suarez or J-Ram to gain full control of youth/payroll/stability moving forward
I love the amplified pen plan, been hoping the last 8 years we would pay more attention here – Big Knebel fan, he might oddly be the Dodger Im most excited to see 2021
Id shy away from Liam at 4 years to take a run at Yates/Hand on a 1+1 (perhaps vesting) – Probably have 1 more chess piece here for 2020 to play (40’s tight barring no trades) and the CBT is closing in fast
The signings of Treinen, Mcgee, and (what would be) Yates are a classic example of “If you can’t beat them, join them”.
McGee was dumped by the Rockies a week before the season started.
Because he couldn’t beat em’. Hence the proverb.
McGee couldn’t beat anyone with the Rockies. It’s not like he had a ton of options. The Dodgers brought low on all these guys except Joe Kelly
Just say No to Yates in LA!
yes, Yates to LA
Hendriks aiming for 4/80? He’s worth it.
No one is doing that. 4/$60 is a stretch. 4/$80 is ludicrous speed.
They’ve gone to plaid!
After re-signing Treinen it seemed unlikely the Dodgers would be in on Hendricks. If they want Yates its going to be as a buy low option and since there are teams that could offer Yates the chance to close he probably doesn’t have to sell himself short
Yates could be another short term value-rebuild deal like the one Treinen got last year.
Depends on if he wants to close. Padres, Red Sox, White Sox, Blue Jays, Astros, Indians could all offer him the chance to pitch the 9th
So can the Dodgers, actually.
With Treinen and Knebel both former Closers on hand and Graterol waiting in the wings it seems the Dodgers are well covered if Jansen loses his Closer job. However, the money owed to Kenley would indicate he gets first crack at the 9th inning
I don’t think Yates is going to return to his 2019 form, but if theoretically he was able to, then he’s probably the best of that bunch. His 2019 was truly elite and Kenley hasn’t had a season like that in four years.
He’s probably not going to come back that strong though so I think in that pen he’d probably end up setting up, but it is kind of interesting because you could make an argument for like four different guys to close for LAD if they signed him.
Did you watch any of the postseason last year? If you had you’d know that Jansen has already lost his closer job for all intents and purposes. The clear signal here is Roberts will handle the 9th situationally, using the best option at his disposal, and who is being paid the most won’t be a factor in his decision-making.
The last four postseasons has seen Roberts mishandle the bullpen so there is nothing new there.
However i doubt the Dodgers front office is thinking they are going to pay Jansen $20 million this season to pitch mop-up duty or low leverage situations. He’s going to go into the season as the Closer. How he does from there we’ll see
The Yates report that I read about the Padres interest in him basically mentioned that SD was interested in Yates for about $5M on some sort of incentive laden contract.
This is just a theory, but if SD wants to tie his pay to games finished or appearances something like that, and they are still considering other relief options on the market (like maybe re-signing Rosenthal), then it might make more sense for him to take a deal with LAD or someone who’s just going to pay him a normal guaranteed contract.
The only catch is, wouldn’t he want to go somewhere where he can for sure be the closer? I feel like a team like SF is a better landing spot, because he’s going to be on a “prove it” deal and presumably wants to have a good year closing to get another deal afterwards. With SD/LAD he could end up getting shuffled into some 7th or 8th inning role because of they’ll be in contention and can’t afford to just plug him into the 9th inning.
Yates will only sign with a contender. He said it a few times the last couple seasons. He wants to play in the post season.
Then sign with the Dodgers and you will be in the post-season.
Yates is 33, throws with max effort and missed all of last year with elbow problems.
50/50 he comes back anything like he was in 2019…