The Dodgers have agreed to a deal with top free agent starter Trevor Bauer, reports MLB Network’s Jon Heyman (via Twitter). It’s a three-year deal with opt-outs after year one and year two, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan. MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand adds that Bauer is guaranteed a total of $102MM on the deal, which includes a $40MM salary in 2021 and a $45MM salary in 2022. Both marks establish new records for the highest single-season salary, though the contract’s overall $34MM average annual value is still a bit shy of Gerrit Cole’s record $36MM. Bauer himself has confirmed the signing on YouTube.
The Mets offered Bauer more than the Dodgers did in the end, Joel Sherman of the New York Post tweets, but the Santa Clarita native and UCLA product was drawn both to Southern California, the opportunity to help defend a World Series championship and to the Dodgers’ “cutting edge,” technologically and data-driven pitching practices, per Sherman.
By landing Bauer, the Dodgers will be able to boast one of the more imposing rotations in recent memory. The reigning NL Cy Young winner will join a starting staff that already includes Walker Buehler, Clayton Kershaw, Julio Urias and David Price, with youngsters Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin available to soak up some innings as well as the club tries to manage workloads after a shortened 2020 schedule.
Bauer is a polarizing arm among MLB fans, both for his social media presence and for the volatility of his on-field performance. The right-hander was the No. 3 overall pick out of UCLA back in 2011, and while he was always billed as a potential top-of-the-rotation arm as a prospect, he settled in as more of a mid-rotation starter with tantalizing stuff for much of his early career.
Things changed in 2018 when Bauer broke out with a brilliant, Cy Young-caliber season. He may well have won the AL Cy Young with the Indians that year had a stress fracture in his right tibia not cut his season short by a month. Bauer started 27 games in 2018 and pitched to a pristine 2.21 ERA and 2.94 SIERA while striking out 30.8 percent of his opponents against just a 7.9 percent walk rate. Bauer posted a 13.3 percent swinging-strike rate that year, averaged 95 miles per hour on his four-seamer and, at age 27, looked to be breaking out as the ace he’d long been expected to become.
The pendulum swung back in the opposite direction early in 2019, however. Bauer got out to a fine start, pitching to a 3.49 ERA and racking up 152 1/3 innings through his first 23 starts before he was blown up for eight runs in a now-infamous start that saw him hurl the ball over the center field fence at Kansas City’s Kauffman Stadium upon being removed from the game. Bauer was surprisingly traded to the Reds just days later, and his initial stint in Cincinnati didn’t go well, to say the least. In 10 games with the Reds down the stretch in 2019, Bauer was hammered for a 6.39 ERA.
That bloated mark was due largely to a fluky home run rate, however, and Bauer saw both his strikeout and walk rates remain strong. Fielding-independent pitching metrics were more bullish on his work, and his velocity held up. Entering the 2020 season, he looked like a potential rebound candidate, and he achieved that feat and then some.
Bauer’s 1.73 ERA paced the National League and was second in all of MLB to Shane Bieber, while his 2.94 SIERA ranked fourth behind Bieber, Jacob deGrom and Kenta Maeda. Bieber and deGrom were the only two starters in the game to top Bauer’s 36 percent strikeout rate, and that same pair were the only two starters with a better K-BB% than Bauer’s 29.9.
Obviously, the historic contracts that both the Dodgers and Mets were willing to put forth in order to sign Bauer are bets not necessarily on his career marks but on his ability to continue pitching at his 2018 and 2020 levels. His detractors will regularly point out that Bauer has “only” had 1.5 elite seasons, while supporters can point to the fact that outside his final 11 starts in 2019, Bauer has been pitching at a front-of-the-rotation level since Opening Day 2018. Even with that brutal finish to the 2019 season, he owns a 3.18 ERA and 3.61 SIERA with premium strikeout and walk rates over the past three years combined.
Fans can — and will — debate whether that’s worth a record-setting investment, but it should also be noted that the reason for his sky-high AAV is that both the Dodgers and Mets were willing to pay a premium to limit the length of the contract. Had Bauer sought a contract of five, six or seven years in length, as most pitchers of his age and with his track record would have done, he’d have commanded a strong but decidedly smaller annual salary. The Dodgers have previously pursued this type of arrangement with other premier free agents, most notably including Bryce Harper, whom they reportedly offered roughly $45MM annually over a four-year term during his free agency a few years ago.
The Bauer contract will send the Dodgers skyrocketing past the $210MM luxury-tax barrier, making them the lone club in baseball this winter that has been willing to surpass that mark. While many owners have treated that threshold as a salary cap, the reality is that the Dodgers’ penalty for signing Bauer won’t be particularly heavy. They’d dipped south of the luxury line in 2019 and 2020, so they’ll be considered a first-time offender.
The Dodgers owe a 20 percent tax on the first $20MM by which they exceed the $210MM mark and a 32 percent tax on the next $20MM. Roster Resource’s Jason Martinez projects the team’s luxury obligations at roughly $239.5MM — meaning the Dodgers’ tax penalty, at present, will be a hair north of $7MM. That’s assuming no further additions or subtractions to the payroll, of course, but it’s certainly possible they could look for some creative trades to alter that financial outlook — particularly if they still hope to bring back franchise cornerstone Justin Turner.
We also can’t forget the Reds when talking about Bauer’s signing. While Cincinnati never looked like a realistic option to re-sign the Cy Young winner, the Reds did make him an $18.9MM qualifying offer, meaning they’re entitled to draft compensation. They’ll receive a pick at the end of the first round of next year’s draft, whereas the Dodgers will forfeit their second-highest selection in next year’s draft and also lose $500K of next year’s international bonus pool.
The last-minute Bauer strike by the Dodgers only further boosts what was already one of the game’s deepest and most talented pitching staffs. It also serves as counterpunch of sorts to an uber-aggressive winter from the division-rival Padres, who’ve added the likes of Blake Snell, Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove to their own staff. With the Rockies dealing away Nolan Arenado, the Giants making rather minimal additions and the D-backs largely sitting out the offseason, the stage is set for a two-team race for NL West supremacy.
While Bauer’s three-month free-agent saga has drawn to a dramatic close, it’s quite possible a similar cycle will play out again next winter. Tempting as the $45MM salary in 2022 would be, he’ll “only” have two years and $62MM remaining on his contract next winter. A $31MM annual value over a two-year term makes for quite the safety net, but if Bauer again pitches at an ace-caliber level, he’d surely be able to command a larger guarantee over a lengthier term — or at least secure a similar three-year deal with ultra-premium annual salaries once again.
Opting out of the $45MM salary in 2022 may seem unthinkable to some, but remember that as recently as 2019, Bauer was planning to only ever sign one-year contracts in his career, believing strongly in furthering the market for future pitchers, maintaining control over his career and maximizing his earnings through a series of year-to-year arrangements wherein he was taking on more risk than teams. Bauer obviously softened his stance and displayed a willingness to consider multi-year pacts this winter, but the opt-out provisions in this contract give him all the flexibility of a one-year pact, and he could look for a similar opportunity next winter if he has earning power beyond that $62MM guarantee.
Good signing by the Dodgers. They needed to do something after the Padres acquired Darvish, Snell, and Musgrove.
Finally!
It looks like there’s no doubt whatsoever the Dodgers are the N.L. and WS favorite once again.
I’m curious to see how much more the Mets offered than the Dodgers.
no way they did not per year maybe total
I dunno, but that deadline the Mets set looks like it scared the hell out of him.
Scared? I suspect annoyed may be more accurate. But I’m simply speculating.
While LAD offered slightly less total money, the higher AAV, opt-outs, the deadline, hometown team, and the LAD’s embracing of analytics (more than many teams) were all likely contributing factors.
Because of Bauer? The guy is a question mark IMO. Might be really good or mediocre. Too early to crown the dodgers.
So if the Mets had signed him, you would have loved the deal?
It’s the Dodgers crown until someone else proves otherwise…this is only going to make that harder to do…not impossible but harder
83sox94win05,
It’s what the Mets couldn’t offer — the weather.
Very happy that he didn’t take the Mets deal. What a waste of money. Now NY can sign Odorizzi or Taijuan Walker and get a centerfielder or thirdbaseman.
Typical loser New Yorker. Guy wins the CY Young last year and this clown says it’s “Too early to crown the Dodgers”. They just gave the double middle fingers to the Padres with this deal. The bad a&& Mets thought they had this guy locked up and their big ego owner thought he could outspend every other team. It should come down to Dodgers, Padres, Mets, Braves and Cards as the top teams in the NL.
Or a winning team.
Odorizzi or Walker LOL Those are the types of pitchers the POS Angels usually end up signing.
DodgerJR: Why must you insult an entire city of people for one statement that is actually accurate? Seems a bit dramatic.
BWHahahaha typical clueless 7inning, 5 hour traffic fume sniffing dodger fan.
He pitched only against the Central division. The crappiest divisions in both leagues. No wonder his ERA was so low.
Good to see the Dodgers strapped for cash committed to Betts and now Bauer Close to luxury tax won’t be able to sign
Cody Berlinger
Geno55 bellinger isn’t a free agent till 25’ nice try troll
Dodgers are now $30+ milllion over CBT and it gets worse next season.
POS Angels? Classy comment.
Hey come on now. He had another good year when he was with Cleveland.
@pads fan 65 million off the books with kershaw, kenley and Kelly. Try again. Dodgers just ended padres chances in short and long term.
Mets already have deGrom and some good guys behind him. We need a CFr, not a way overpaid headcase. Odorizzi or Walker would be much better for us in that context. Not every signing need be buckets of money to a big name for it to be good. In fact, those big deals usually do more harm than good. Better off with JBJ and Walker for much less money.
But when you have the best TV deal in baseball, it cushions the financial blow
And? Seems as if they don’t care as much as you do.
@ Tatsumaki
Do you not see the Dodgers re-signing Kershaw and Seager? That will be around $60 million right there. If the Dodgers keep them they stay way over the lux tax. If they don’t re-sign them the team gets much worse, doesn’t it?
No matter how you look at it the $40 million for Bauer is $40 million less for other players. I personally don’t think this was the best allocation of Dodger’s resources. Just my opinion.
I agree with you. Bauer is a good pitcher, not a great pitcher. To offer a contract based on 11 starts, such a small sample, seems almost a move of desperation. Don’t get me wrong, I hope Bauer can turn in a solid full season, but I have serious doubts. My honest prediction: Dodgers will get burned and Bauer laughs all the way to the bank. Padres win the division.
@jerrybird pads are so thin at ever position and are relying on career years from half there squad. If you think pads win division you clearly know nothing about baseball
kershaw and jansen come off the books after this year I think, so if they both walk, that alone would get them under the cap next year, but no room for a SS signing….maybe david price comes off too? i think he’s 16 million in salary
Anybody see the piece on YouTube about Bauer? Interesting
Dodger JR=stereotype of the common knucklehead(and proud) sports fan.
Smith + prospects to Ray’s for kiermaier and Adames. What do you think?
Desperation, Jerry Bird? Yeah, Dodgers are really desperate.
Trevor Bauer just got megabucks on a “career year” of 11 starts, he will return to being average in 2021. I think you are the one who clearly knows nothing about baseball. Teams that win generally have several players with career years (remember the Cubs?). Wait and see on the Padres. They should have a good year. I appreciate your fine wisdom and true baseball knowledge, not to mention your blind judgement of others. You should change your name to Captain Obvious.
Fox471, dishing out that kind of money for Bauer has to be somewhat desperate. A season of 11 starts proves nothing but the Dodgers have to keep pace with the Padres. I’m not even a Padre fan, but they have made some good moves and have a lot of talent. I can respect that.
Had Bauer signed with anybody else, I’d feel the same way.
@tatsu. Pads are deep at every position. But then you knew that…
very on the same wavelength as you about Bauer looking like a mmediocre SP based on his history and numbers. BUT, I totally trust the Dodgers front office at this point. They know players and really have had a knack for finding gems in the recycle bin.
Maybe they, Friedman & the Boys, really saw something n Bauer the past couple seasons. He has been a big advocate for that camp up in Seattle(?), sorry I forget the name). My reading found references that is pitch metrics (mechanical) have improved a great deal. I sort of lean toward analyzing spin rate as a good indicator? Bauer has improved in that metric quite a bit in the past 3 seasons.
We will see, and I feel it is a good time to buy on the best players given how teams aren’t spending really. So why not take a flyer on a guy like Bauer because if he is what we all hope, this will be maybe the best rotation in my 60yrs on the planet. I also look at Price being back playing it like adding another high end FA starter. This is a seriously scary rotation if they are all healthy.
The addition, while one I am still not sold on, is a huge upside move. And also a clear sign they will likely go in on a fair deal for Turner who earned a raise to a bit over market for what he gave on ‘only’ a $16M wage…he deserves a 3yr + option 4th season at about $20M per. Yeah a bit of an overpay but they really do owe him for all the brought to the team since making the MLB roster…
Did you not see his playoff start against the Braves this past postseason? To bad the Reds couldn’t push a run or 2 across the plate for Bauer in that game.
Do you mean Dom Smith and Willy Adames? I think it would Dom for KK, Adames and a top-10 Rays’ prospect. KK is overpaid for his decking production and Adames is a solid backup.
@brewer88 so deep they got swept and fans cried they didn’t have there 2 best pitchers. We didn’t have buehler most of the season May and gonsolin stepped up. That’s called depth.
Adames is what?
Crown??? 50 games and the Dodgers are Champs?? Bullshit good team but show me the whole season… ws. Champs with asterisk for sure
Typical New Yorkers are Yankee Fans.. and we wouldn’t sign Bauer if he was free. Good job for LA though.. you just made a mediocre pitcher very very rich
the only ppl that care about winning the Division are ppl that never win a Division. at this point, Dodger fans could care less. Would actually be very funny if the Padres win the NL West but the Dodgers win the WS.
Chalk73….It does not appear that Dodger JR knows what classy is. Or he’s off his meds and self-medicating.
@MikeD ( my third favorite Beastie Boy)
LAD is likely not interested in Kermaier. Maybe some iteration of that (Smith for Adames) IF Barnes is hitting very well and Ruiz is banging down the door in the minors.
Crown them, they’re the champs!
If the champ doesn’t get the crown, who does?
They’re the deepest org in baseball.
Your asterisk theory is flawed
But aren’t the padres considered elite now because of a bunch of guys that had career years. Lamet, Darvish, Cronenworth, Grisham, and even
Machado had his best season.
Ray had a chance to deal Snell to dodgers will now regret that
@paddyo875 ( my third favorite Beastie Boy)
I am talking about Dom Smith ( Mets player)
They need a CF ( kiermaier) and Adames to play second or third. I am just playing Gm just like everybody else.
Which they already were even before this, were they not?
Braves were in play…until the very end
No one is worth that kind of yearly value unless they sell a lot of marketable items. Boy oh boy is that a lot of shirts and bobble head dolls.
I guess they were thinking that the year the Nationals knocked them out too right?
For people who don’t know about the NL West the Dodgers look good. But the Padres weakness last year was rotation, and they fixed that. They are going to win the division.
Further, the Dodgers were aided by the short season where Kershaw and the ‘pen were not gassed. That ring should be set with asterix cut gems. If they make the playoffs this year it will be as a wildcard and running on fumes. I don’t see them making a serious run as they are currently organized.
They are an injury or 2 from being the third place team and not making the playoffs.
That’s hysterical. The Dodgers won the division and made a WS without Corey Seager. They won a WS with Bellinger being a below average player, too. They could likely lose both of those guys for the year and still win the division.
Your bitterness as a Giants fan is coloring your objectivity, Are you actually trying to claim that the Giants, as configured, are a better team than the Dodgers minus one or two key players?
@giantshaverings 2 must be nice living in your own reality. The picture you paint is true with padres they have zero depth as hightlighted when lamet and Clevinger went down. That coupled with all there players getting bailed out by a shortened season and something that wouldn’t be sustained over a 162. Career years for machado, cronenworth, lamet, myers, hosmer to name a few. Dodgers had most guys underperforming and still swept padres with ease exposing padres for who they are. Will be nice to see padres miss playoffs when they come down to earth and have to play 162 instead of 62. Wonder what excuse will be?
Another bitter Giants fan? The short season most likely helped Kershaw because he pitched less and was fresher for the playoffs, I get that argument. But there is no way that the Dodgers were not going to make the playoffs. The roster was too good and so deep. So, last year’ s playoffs added an extremely dumb best of three series. That is a complete random series. The Dodgers were the first ever WS team to go through that many opponents. So, yes they deserve an asterisk for winning the WS in the most challenging playoff environment.
Beyond dumb, giantsshawhatever.
Aptly named, chimp.
sigh…come on man, the Pads are not that great yet. They have built a really fun team though. I’m a lifetime Dodger fan (actually born in LA not far from Dodger stadium some 60yrs ago…hahaha). I love the Pads position players, I mean who can’t enjoy the talent they have on the BO…I sense they just need maybe anothe rseason to really reasize how good and talented they are…they need a Reggie (aka ‘the straw that stirs the drink’) sort of guy. They also need to stop playing like they need to hear it how good they are, until the actually do it on the field the will always questoin if they can beat the other great teams we see these days).
And your Giants actually are more of team I think will be a challenger this season,. Their play last two season looked like a confident bunch of guys who know they can win and are not judging each other but rather pull together as a team. That is the difference I see when comparing the Pads. Even right now I think the Giants are a better ‘team’. Not overall talent wise but their collective drive and clear desire to pick each other up was clearly there the past two seasons.
I love the idea of having 3 potentially amazing teams on the division for decades to come. I love watching the competition. Reminds me of the old days with the Reds, Cards, Dodgers pushing each other. In general I think we fans are in for a very fun and finally competitive season with a number of teams that can beat each other on any given day….So maybe enjoy that rather than try to knock the better team, respect the talent and realize they each need to push to higher levels to win.
I think we all knew once no news came out by noon that he was never going to the Mets. On a sad note: this probably means no more Turner which is sad but I think it was a great move overall by Friedman
What if Dodgers traded Jansen, $12 million and Rios to Jays for Shun Yamaguchi and a prospect. This should allow LA to bring Turner back
Jays trade grichuk, Roark, money + prospects to colorado for Blackmon.
Mike D – For the 2nd day in a row, Colorado will have to add money and prospects with Blackmon to secure Grichuk and Roark. Blackmon makes more money than both.
55m to 42m and blackmon is the better player, so the Jays would have to send some low level prospects, it makes sense for both teams I think.
Maybe not money.
I just like the idea of another Lefty bat in that lineup.
Springer
Blackmon
Bichette
Hernandez
Mike
Blackmons contract is underwater more then Grichuk and Roark combined ( by a significant amount)
Blackmon is 5 yrs older the Grichuk .
The Jays have no need for a 34 yr old 1War OF making 17.5m per with 3 yrs remaining.
Blackmon really sucks bad defensively neg drs
It’s not the $ for Turner as I believe the Dodger are now over the spending limit by signing Bauer. If Turner wants 2 years plus a team option he will be back but he is not getting 4 years from the Dodgers.
What spending limit? The lux tax which any team can go over so long as they are willing to pay the tax penalties?
Dodgers can afford it. Anything less than triggering the penalties for being $40M+ over the lux tax limit is palatable for high revenue teams. Is it smart to continually pay extra by being over the lux tax?
Maybe, maybe not depends on how much better it makes your team. Winning the WS puts a nice chunk of change in the bank account. Plus, Guggenheim is probably one of the whales rolling in Bitcoin and Ethereum profits now as well.
Being over the luxury tax threshold isn’t even that bad, as long as a team doesn’t do it for multiple consecutive seasons. The real heavy-duty penalties don’t kick in until (I think) 3 straight years of being over the cap. By being under the cap in 2018, they re-set the tax penalties, & considering they were under for each of the last 3 seasons, they may be willing to go another 3 yrs. of being over the tax threshold…
We knew at least a month ago that Turner wasn’t going to get four years from anybody. If any team was offering it, he’d have signed with them already.
On a sadder note for Sox fans but a great note for JBJ, the Mets have the bucks left to overpay for him. I guess it’s not an overpay is a team is willing to make the offer. I hope JBJ gets whatever it is he wants because more and more I realize the class act he’s been in Boston.
Yeah. The Dodgers had to make a move to stay ahead of the Padres on top of their highest payroll in the league.
You salty? Because almost all the Dodgers players are homegrown.
It a cumulative effect. If you have the money to keep your players and occasionally go out and buy another player you dont have to trade away prospects as often. Thus you wind up with more of your own home grown players. I dont blame them and say more power to them but the home grown argument has holes.
“almost all”
Other than the MVP you were gifted that was really the only reason you won.
Yep not like four guys had a higher WS OPS than Betts.
Does “almost all” mean 70%?
Is there some extra trophy for “Home Grown” that we’ve never seen?
I’m confused. Is the #1 goal diversity or winning a championship?
If you look at business, government, law, culture, sports, etc… the first goal is always diversity. Right/wrong, winning/losing, good/bad, don’t matter as much.
It’s just okay if it’s your baseball town who’s benefitting……
I think the goal for some people is to whine nonstop and and try to make everything about race, usually when it’s not relevant to the situation at all.
Just an argument against those who try blame teams like the Dodgers for “buying” championships, when they develop most of their talent from within the organization. Some people simply need obvious things pointed out to them.
Or the NL MVP from the 2019 in Bellinger or the 3 time CY Young award winner in Kershaw or the pitchers like Urias, Gossolin, May, Buehler. The reason the Dodgers sign the Betts and Bauer’s is they get almost 4 million fans a year and have a 2 Billion dollar TV deal with Time Warner so they have plenty of $$$$ to spend on top notch talent.
You mean the Dodgers who signed the FIRST BLACK PLAYER TO PLAY IN MLB? Ever heard of a cat named JACKIE ROBINSON. The Dodgers have alway been at the front of the Diversity movement for decades.
How is my comment salty? Why do the Dodgers “have to make a move” because they Padres did when they already have the highest payroll in baseball and are the defending champs? Sounds like you’re more defensive than anything.
You mean the 4th black player to play in the majors? The first was William White, who played a game and there is controversy around him. But undebatable the first (or second depending on the view of White) was Moses Walker.
There was just a really big gap from when the first 3 guys played and when Jackie finally started playing. The Blue Stockings were ahead of the diversity movement before anyone else.
Dodger all caps-
The Dodgers one season didnt even have a black player in the roster on Jackie Robinson Day. Pittsburgh was cutting edge too. First team go play an entirely black lineup….also won the series that season.
@ empirejim,Is this Jeff Spicoli? There just might a trophy for home grown somewhere.
I don’t think they did but fudge it here we goooo
Musgrove Lol
Musgrove… Lol
They really didn’t, but he is a great luxury
The Dodgers clearly bested you again Arte Moreno. Do the baseball world a favor and trade Trout
Trading Trout is the only options the ANGELS have to compete in the American League. Maybe the Dodgers should offer one of their AAA catchers and three or four minor leaguers to get him away or even offer them Gosolin. We all know if Trout stays with the ANGELS, he will never see the POSTSEASON….
Trade him to the Mets. He’s a Jersey boy.
He’s a Phillies fan. He would die on the inside and never be able to live with himself.
When Dodgers ripped off the land Pulling people From there homes kicking and screaming to build Dodgers Stadium ontop of Chavez Ravine
How quickly you forget once you have two nickels to rub together
For years the city was unsuccessful in attracting new developers to the site still earmarked for “public purposes.” Eventually it was offered to baseball mogul Walter O’Malley, who saw the potential for a new home for his team—the Brooklyn Dodgers. Predatory acquisition tactics ensued, including a tiered buy-out scheme which offered increasingly lower amounts to sellers who stalled, exploiting their fear of losing out on the maximum payment. In reality the prices paid were well below market value
It’s Trout’s fault he is with the Angels. He signed that long term contract knowing damn good and well what kind of garbage owner Artie is and will continue to be. I NO LOGER feel sorry for Mike Trout.
Bro you’re in here making all of us Dodgers fans look bad lol…be happy about Bauer but be humble as well. We are the champs let’s act like it
For years the dodger fans have booed mike trout at dodger Stadium are they jealous or Low class fans?
As someone who has been watching Dodger games for a long time, I can say that I have never once heard Mike Trout booed at Dodger Stadium. You’re looking for your low class fans in the wrong place. Try the mirror.
Oh one of those type fake news
Mike Trout gets booed every time up at dodger Stadium The Covid masks are supposed to go over your mouth not your ears
apparently you have selective hearing
What’s the big deal about booing an opposing player? Is that not allowed anymore? In reality it happens at every stadium. Name calling, etc. is not good but booing an opposing player is not an issue. You’re supposed to do that. Now, I think most Dodger fans have an extreme appreciation for Trout and his talent. He’s also a classy guy and plays hard. Nitpicking much?
Nah, he’s just trolling.
Why would you ever feel sorry for Trout? He’s doing just fine.
They really didn’t need to do anything with their rotation. Bauer was an over-the-top-of-the-top move for their rotation. They still have Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin as well.
Their infield could benefit from some attention, but they’re probably not done yet.
Clearly Friedman didn’t see it your way from the Bauer acquisition. I’ve already posted numerous times why the Dodger rotation could use a Bauer boost. There were more question marks than you think. Don’t listen to these baseball writer hacks saying Dodgers’ rotation was stacked and Bauer was not necessary.
Clearly you know everything since you apparently posted numerous times why the Dodgers could use Bauer.
Let me take a wild guess…he makes them better?
That wasn’t point.
Point being that the young guys you point to are not necessarily going to perform the way you think they are. Things don’t always develop on a straight line. They also would have been on a stricter innings limit. With the shorter season that didn’t come into play in 2020. If the Dodgers didn’t have Bauer, they’d have a talented rotation but with plenty of question marks. Three very young pitchers. One old pitcher who didn’t pitch in 2020, and didn’t pitch so well in 2019. One older pitcher who pitched well in 2020 but on a shortened season and who has a history of back issues. Bauer in my opinion was a top priority. Turner is still in play. If they don’t resign him they will grab another 3B. I don’t see them handing the starting gig to Rios.
Padres will fade. I’m writing clevenger off and I honestly believe Snell will get frustrated by seeing just how better LA. Doubt he’d be able to repeat that great 2020 World Series performance because it’ll be on the back of his mind that his team simply isn’t better
I’m just glad this Bauer drama is over!
Yep, obviously the Padres acquisitions put pressure on the Dodgers. I think they had to make the Bauer deal to keep up. It’s an overpay but it’s essentially a two year deal. When the market didn’t materialize I knew that the Dodgers had a shot. Still somewhat surprised that Friedman agreed to pony up $85mm over 2 years.
LETS GO!!!
Los Angeles native Trevor Bauer said this months ago: “I want to play for the Dodgers.” Because of this, I think that he was always going to go to the Dodgers and that all of his antics leading up to the signing were to create demand.
I picked this one. At least I got one signing right.
Dodgers rotation is miles better than the Padres now.
Dodgers 2021 champs
Buehler > snell
Bauer > darvish
Kershaw > lamet
Price > musgrove
May > morejon/paddack
Easy dubs.
@Tatsu, you’re living in a different reality if you believe that the depth the Padres have at February ‘21 is the same as it was October ‘20.
Also you’re a year off on Bellinger. FA ‘24
Bauer is good, but I don’t think he is worth $40M/yr or $45M/yr. Wow.
Dang it!
-Giants fan
I’m so tired of reading comments about how Bauer is not good and as soon as he signs with the dodgers every one is talking about how good of a move that is
Wow. Hoping 1/35 million….likely means turner is gone as well
Or now that they’ve committed to go over the luxury tax, they won’t care as much.
I too hope its onl;y a 1 yr—- If they exceeding CBT they may as well push it to 249 mill
Do you think they were waiting to see if they could sign bauer before signing turner?
Clearly. Really interested if this is a one year deal. If so, watch out St Louis Cardinals wrt to your shiny new third baseman next year.
Plus if it’s a 1 year deal and the marriage works they can resign him next summer once they have more clarity on seager and kershaw. Hoping kershaw retires a dodger.
I think they can sign both and stay under 249 in the end- It might take selling a prospect for Kelley in the end but if they going this far for 2021 to field a Super-team that shouldnt get in the way- Dodgers have so many good prospects in the teens that its gonna be roster crunch galore in a year or 2 anyway
Or they may just pass on Turner as they fear the length he wants entirely – I do think they will make the effort tho as the last piece
@cap is it possible they move gonsolin or May in a deal for Chapman, or suarez? Also read that they might move price? Someone like angels might be interested if thats the case. Also makes me concerned for seager next summer. Head scratching.
Too much money…would exceed 250 at that point (May and gonzo make beans/and I dont think we would trade May)
Now if they can move Price (while kicking in some) then yes…. but its tough with Price as he hasnt pitched in a while and hes been hesitant to play under Covid
But yes Dodgers have the prospects to do anything – I really dont think Chapman is for Sale but maybe Eugenio…. we sure know the Reds like to give Dodgers a good deal!
I wouldnt be concerned about Seager; theres still enough left for him next year….. Shaw on the other hand could get a little dicey depending on this year…..Id really hate to Lose Kershaw and see this guy struggle with us in 2022……Kinda a BIG rosk here for AF, something he hasnt really done yet……and no MOOKIE was Not a risk
I don’t like this deal the more that comes out. I’m guessing that kershaw and seager are likely gone next year.
I only mention Chapman because he is right handed plays great defense and is 3 years from free agency at an affordable rate. (6 million in arb this year) Would think gonsolin, lux plus a few other toss ins would be enough to get the talks at least started.
Like you said I think price makes sense to keep this year he has more playoff experience over May and gonsolin. Hopefully, he could rebuild some value and be delt next year.
The only silver lining is that kenley, and Kelly are gone next year in addition to kershaw thats 60 million. If kershaw comes back at a lower rate then it’s possible to fit him and seager back in if price is moved. Also Isnt muncy on a bridge deal?
Muncy locked up 21 and 22 and has a 23 option for 13 mill
They will still have enough for Seager easily but this can definitely meddle with Kershaw next year- They are already going to be trying to talk him down and it just dosnt look as good when you gotta outsider pulling 45 mill AAV that year………. Im not happy at all today
I highly doubt Friedman would have signed Bauer without a plan to keep Kershaw and Seager, as well. He likely only signed Bauer knowing Kasten was on board with the acquisition. I really can’t see the Dodgers going after Bauer if they thought it would affect their ability to keep Kershaw and Seager.
*knowing Kasten was on board with the acquisition not preventing them from paying their own homegrown stars.
Chapman???? Are you serous??? We already have one wife beater on the team in Urias we don’t need another one.
@Chief – Sure theres a plan and then theres fast forwarding to next year when you sit down in a room with Clayton –
AF- Hey we Love you but we cant give you 30+AAV anymore, we need a team friendly deal (again)
Kershaw- *Brain thinks- Trevors getting 45 this year**?….. Ok so you were saying what Now Andrew, sorry I drifted off momentarily
@dodger jr Matt Chapman the 3rd baseman of the a’s moron
Not so sure on Kershaw. Most likely keeping Seager but with Boras you never know. Kershaw is probably gone but 2021 will tell us a lot where he’s at and what kind of market we’ll see for him.
Ice down your roll, junior.
For 3 years?????? Yikes don’t like this at all
I think that turner will come around and just sign a 2 year deal with the dodgers. They can afford him as well. Unlike most teams their focus is on winning and they know a higher payroll and winning can be just as profitable as trying to pinch pennies
“Unlike most teams their focus is on winning and they know a higher payroll and winning can be just as profitable as trying to pinch pennies”
Yes, it’s that simple. Playing in LA has nothing to do with it.
Call the Blue Jays and offer up Price and a prospect for a reliever. Open up some cash to re-sign Turner. Maybe the prospect is just Rios and the Jays offer up a Yamaguchi. Something along those lines.
Rather move kelly or kenley than price honestly.
Totally agree Guests – If they buy down Price to a 2/18 for Toronto the prospect would just be in name sake – Good deal for both sides –
Shaving 9 AAV off Price actually only makes Bauers AAV 25 mil for 22 in which should be his last year in Blue – I think teams at least want to see Price make a S/T start….could see him being a late late deal right before the season opens up
Thank God
As a Braves fan, I’m happy it wasn’t the Mets.
As a Mets fan I’m delighted
As a Mets fan I am deeply reileved.
As a fan I deeply relieve on the Mets
Dude Im a Nats fan and I wanted him to go to Mets so Soto could crush him. You didnt want Acuna for him todo the same
Yeah, I want all the rival teams in my division to have elite pitchers too. That’s good for my team.
Machado owned Bauer when they were both in the AL. Should be interesting to watch.
Bauer had a 4.00 ERA in the AL. Everyone owned him.
By your same logic you say bauer performed well in a weak division the same could be said about darvish and musgrove. Funny how that works
But was Bauer using the foreign substance back then? Can Machado hit Bauer if he’s using the substance?
Funny thing is Bauer was not implicated over the Bubba scandal. Verlander, Cole, Kluber, Wainwright, etc. were named. Some say as much as 70% of pitchers use some kind of substance. If so, and properly enforced, everything is relative right?
It’s pretty clear Bauer used a substance last year.
Big surprise
So glad this BS is over. I’m sure the Mets are too.
Dude, it’s free agency. BS? Hardly
I just wish I found Bauer as interesting and engaging as he finds himself. He’s a great pitcher and I’m all for players expressing themselves, he’s just not my cup of tea.
Yeah I agree. He’s kind of irritating. One thing I will say about him though is that he doesn’t seem like he’ll be forced into playing the part of the faithful family man like so many other sleazy athletes. I respect that he’s honest about who he is.
Weekapaug- my concern is that he could be a negative down the road for an organization and embarrass them. I don’t trust his growth. He was livid at the Astros and I think hes started loading up the ball to gain their spin rate…he reminds me Bonds a little…the ego. I dont trust him not to put himself above his team and the game. And I dont think hes worth this contract. Hes just too volatile to me..and it’s not a good crazy.
Why are you on MLB Trade Rumors if you hate trade rumors?
I think he means Bauer’s antics.
Good thing I have you to put words in my mouth so I don’t have to keep writing responses lol.
Calcetines:
IF the Yankees were to package Gleyber Torres, Andujar, and young SP(s) and position player to Colorado, do you think they would be able to get a return of Story, Marquez, Freeland?
I think they may do it and it may very well be worth it IF the Yankees want to win. LAD is going for it again and so are NYM. They will cancel each other out, and they have to content with SD, so only one will remain, but the AL is far from a lock.
Dodgers are a scary good team and their owners are obviously committed to winning.
The rockies wouldn’t do that
Something like
Gleyber
Dominguez
Garcia
Plus a lottery ticket or 2
Thats what it would take for story and marquez
Rob, that’s way overvaluing if you look at trade values. There’s no way they would ask or the Yankees would do that. You’re waaay too high. Which one of them would get Dominguez? Garcia? Maybe, but if Torres is included you say their top pitching prospect AND one of the top prospects in baseball? See: Darvish, Lindor, Arenado, Snell, etc, etc, etc…..
No, Andujar can provide value specifically to Colorado. I’m not a proponent of the Yankees trades nothing-for-all, with Andujar and Frazier in every one. In this case, he could be very useful to them. Remember he’s not a centerpiece to this, like in many proposals, but an ancillary piece.
That’s what it would take for Story alone.
Andujar should never be included in a trade proposal ever again. He has, at best, no trade value, and at worst, negative value. Many people think he has straight up negative value, and I can’t entirely disagree. He is a sell low, low, low at this point, and needs to prove himself before he means anything in the market. Also, as a terrible 3B, Andujar offers nothing to the Rockies if they are dealing Story, Marquez and Freeland. Frankly, the Rockies don’t take this deal.
It is time to put the Andujar trade rumors to bed. Not because he won’t be traded, but because he’s just not worth much.
Exactly, he’s a DH at best.
I wouldn’t count on that. If he has a good half-year with the bat, don’t be surprised if he’s a side piece in a deal. Remember, I never said, as many do posit, that he’s a centerpiece.
I think they should confer with the Rockies, I just don’t think they will.
And why wouldn’t the Rockies do that? Look at what they’ve done with their team! Is any of that truly predictable? No. It’s worth a shot. They need / want young controllable talent; Freeland struggled, Marquez’ time there is closing and Story’s value is gone with the wind in six months.
@yankeeclipper Yes, if Andujar plays better he will be worth more. What a take.
I’m not sure but I also would assume they’d be looking for guys with a lot of control, and Andujar would be an afterthought in any deal.
But it goes without saying that the Rockies should totally blow everything up ASAP. Both the NL and their division have really good teams, and thinking you could beat any or all of them right now and win the pennant is insane.
How are the Mutts going for it?
They almost got Bauer (even though I’m not convinced he’s going to be that good), but they traded for Lindor and Carrasco, signed McCann, and are actively filling areas of need with performers. I didn’t say they would make it, just that they’re clearly going for it.
Mo 99 & Eatdust: Friendly bet about Andujar – I say he gets traded if/when his bat comes around, and it won’t be at a negative value. If I’m wrong, I’ll eat a steak and have a drink, right here while I type. Cashman is too clever to Make the same mistake twice with him.
I’ve watched his winter ball and his swing looks better, he’s getting reps in, and with a full season, he may be wearing Rocky Mountain (or other) pinstripes.
I don’t mind that “punishment.” I hear by declare that if anyone does anything…or doesn’t…I’ll eat a steak and have a drink, right here while I type.. then I’ll do it again. I can’t be stopped!
Yankee Clipper
That bet is entirely different from your original trade proposal. You did not say “after” Andujar proved himself. I said that. I said he had to prove himself to be a worthwhile trade candidate. So I’m not going to bet against myself.
Andujar’s biggest issue is that he cannot play defense, so why would an NL team trade for him in a year with no DH? If his bat comes around, they might be able to trade him to a team like DET who needs a good young DH but that’s about it. No NL team is going to take him without a DH spot available and without him proving that he wasn’t a one year wonder with the bat too. His trade value today is worse than Benentendi’s.
I’m shocked, but to be honest it doesn’t scare me as a Giants fan.
You guys are basically a AAA team compared to the Dodgers.
Sorry to inform you that pretty much all of baseball is at this point.
SFG are always a AAA team compared to the LAD but curiously, we got THREE rings last decade.
Exactly
2014 was a long time ago at this point. No one cares.
Pelosi rigged it
You know what else was a long time ago? The last time the Dodgers won a WS without an asterisk
SFG also only made the playoffs three times last decade. Just goes to show that October is the only thing that matters, and that the 2020 ring does not deserve an asterisk
Actually four, but who was more successful? LA or SF? lol
Math…wrong…Nl had a DH, only could play your own division, didn’t have to go through 162 games of exhaustion and injuries. Bellinger would have been hurt around the 75 game mark with his shoulder or at least some point in the season. A lot could’ve happened. Teams get hot like the Nationals did towards the end of a season and won it all. You’re taking away from all past champions who fought 162 games to win out and giving an equal sign to a shortened season. Nope.
Padres458…lol, that’s a good statement. I would hate to be reminded of the Padres 2010 till 2020 years! Haha
Balk-All the teams had a shortened season, and everyone had the same rules so that argument doesn’t really hold water. Any team could’ve been hit by injuries at any time. Further, the expanded playoffs were more dangerous than they ever were- the Dodgers almost lost in the NLCS, remember?
Imagine football did the thing and only played half a season of just division games. You had the bills playing the dolphins, jets, patriots, giants, redskins, cowbows, and eagles. They would have moonwalked to the playoffs and probably be able to rest people pretty regularly. Where you had teams like in the south central and west with multiple good teams grinding out wins.
And Yes i said the bills after all these years are the beasts of the east. One day the jets will be relevant again.
Thefamousking…it doesn’t matter what all the other teams did. The rules were changed bud…period…and I don’t care if the whole season was the playoffs…it’s still not a 162 game season and will go down in the history books as a shortened season just like next years strike that’s probably gonna happen. Stop acting like it’s going to be in the books as a regular season, it’s not. Period
Balk- All I said about other teams was any of them could’ve been hit by injuries per your comment that the Dodgers would’ve been hit by injuries. I’m not saying it was a regular season, but you saying that it deserves an asterisk to me implies that the accomplishment is less valid than it is for other teams because of the shortened season. If that’s what you think, then I respectfully disagree because everyone had the same opportunities- teams can get hot at any time and injuries can happen at any time. The playoffs were also considerably more intense; the accomlishment and trophy are valid- moreso than the 2017/18 championships where cheating was involved.
Dude, you don’t know what you’re talking about…
1. Short schedule should’ve hurt the Dodgers more than any other team, They’re built for a long season; their greatest strength is their depth, hence the 8 straight Division titles. A short season hurts the Dodgers b/c any bump in the road, any short losing streak, or any hot streak by another team, like SD, puts the division title at risk. If this team played 162 games, they would’ve finished the best record in MLB…again.
2. The playoffs were tougher than any playoffs in the history of MLB. No other champion ever had to go thru a 1st rd best of 3… Baseball is a sport where any pitcher on any given night can get hot & be tough to beat. Alec Mills, mediocre journeyman threw a no-hitter last year. A long series balances the odds in favor of the better team (Dodgers), whereas short series makes things more of a toss up, which again hurts the better team.
3. The Dodgers did not have home field advantage in any series, other than the Wild Card series. True, the opposing team didn’t get to play at home either, but since the Dodgers had the best record in baseball, the team that was hurt the most by having to play on a neutral site was LA.
4. Universal DH helped the Rays in the World Series, not the Dodgers. In most WS, the AL teams have to adjust to playing w/o a DH, which gives the NL team an advantage in NL home games. AL teams either have to sit their DH, who likely was 1 of their middle-of-the-order hitters, or force that DH to play the field, which the DH may not have done much of in the season. It also forces the AL manager to manage his bench & bullpen in a way that he has not for most of the season. Yes, the NL team gets to use the DH, which is easier, but the new rules were implemented late into the off season, so NL teams were not necessarily constructed to have full-time DHs. The advantage clearly goes to the AL team.
Bahahaha, adamsessler! I know exactly what I’m talking about. You can put all the spin you want on it, and try to make yourself feel better about last year that’s your right, but facts don’t change. It wasn’t a normal season! They only played against their own division. Weak one at that! Why do you think the Padres won so many games? They played their own weak division. As far as DH, your nuts dude, you take out a pitcher and insert a batter it will always help any team. It was nothing but a bigger benefit for NL teams. Asterisk will always be by 2020! Period. Just like when they striked in the 90s, it went in the book as a half season.
@Balk Bellinger shoulder? He played through that injury before. He’s only played 156 games, 162 games and 132 games (called up for game #21) the last three years. Desperation. Tell me about the Giants playing an extra three games series in the playoffs where it could be a complete crapshoot. Even though it was a shortened season the Dodgers dominated the entire season. They only lost 1 series the entire season.
@Balk It’s one thing to be clueless but another thing to be clueless and loud.
Bills are the Beasts of the East until DeShaun gets traded to Miami.
To all of you that @me about this and that. Bottom line is, the Dodgers will have an asterisk next to their title. Why? Because it was 2020, a shortened season. Ole mlbdodgerfan15 thinks I say these things because I’m desperate and clueless…wrong, am I so clueless that the history books will show they won a title only playing 60 games? Yes. Will the history books reflect the Astros cheated? Yes. Is that clueless? No. As a Giants fan for 40 years I’ve loved and played ball. One of my favorite players is Kershaw. Class act. Your entitled to your own words but not your own facts. Until the Dodgers win 162 game season and win the title, people will be critical of this past year. Facts
Nothing should scare Giants fans, they don’t have chance in hell.
To be honest…I wouldn’t give Bauer big money, and the Dodgers should have many more rings these past ten years, and the only thing they have to show for it is a shortened season championship where a DH was in the NL and you could basically only play your own division.. Let’s see how they fair. They will be back. If they can win then it quiets all critics about the short season.
They played their own division in the playoffs?
Does it matter who they played? What matters is when you look back in the history books it’s going to say “during a major pandemic, the season was shortened and the Dodgers won a championship, getting to their championship ring by playing their own division, having a NL DH, with zero fans and playing in an extended playoffs with teams below .500 that they should’ve easily beat, except for the Braves.” That’s what it’s going to say.
Actually, it won’t say any of that in the “history books,” as you put it.
“Hey, Pa….what’s that over there on the shelf?”
“”Them’s history books, boy. Some say maybe filled with stories from long times ago. I wouldn’t know on account of I ain’t much fer book-learnin.”
Chief one hand….actually it’s exactly what it will say. However you choose to get your history lesson, (back of a baseball card, almanac etc..) it will say 60 game season. You actually had me busting up though. Good stuff
It really doesn’t scare anyone. From 2013-2019 Bauer had a 3.99 ERA.
12 starts in 2020 against inferior NL and AL Central competition says doesn’t say much about him as a starter.
@pads fan funny how fast you and other padres fan come here to talk smack, have we hurt you that bad over the years? Gonna be funny when you guys miss the playoffs next year
Lol, another winner from Bob Nightengale. 3/110?
I thought the same thing. Dude is cursed anything he says it’s the opposite
And Nightengale strikes out swinging, Bauer’s first K as a Dodger.
It’s because he seems to guess. Or he doesn’t bother to validate anything in the name of expediency. Either way, he’s wrong too consistently for it to be bad luck.
Wow, 3 years @ 102M? They matched the Mets and upped it!
Yea I’ll give the dodgers credit where it’s due. Not afraid to keep spending unlike some teams with huge billion dollar evaluations.
Nightengale isn’t cursed, he’s lazy. He doesn’t spend any time following up leads to see if they are accurate before he posts them, he’s concerned with being first not with being right.
Anything Bob Nightengale says will happen, you can assume that the opposite will happen.
Back to Back confirmed.
Nothing is ever confirmed, but if they win again, at least it will be a real win and not a 60 gamer
Exactly
Your team played in a 60 game season as well, and lost……..
Everyone but one loses kid, not the point he was making. Let’s see if the Dodgers can quiet the critics by going through the fatigued 162 game season, with no Dh in NL and not only playing against your own division
@Balk, the Dodgers have proven over and over again that the 162 isn’t the problem, October is. In October 2020 they: played an extra 3-game round that no champion has ever had to play, played a 7-game championship series on 7 consecutive days, played against both of the other top 3 teams in the NL (which no top seed has ever had to do), and won the World Series on a neutral site. Anyone claiming asterisk is an obvious hater.
Haha, math….I love baseball…don’t hate any team. I am a Giants fan but love to watch Kershaw pitch. One of my favorite players. I don’t care what type of spin you put on it. It was not a normal season. Nationals wouldn’t of been champions if it weren’t for 162 games. On top playoffs weren’t a normal playoffs. Nothing was normal. They will go down in the history books for winning a shortened season. It’s facts. It’s an asterisk
well they have 8 straight division titles, seven coming without Betts and Bauer, so something tells me they can make it through a 162-game season.
Didn’t the Dodgers go to 2 WS during a 162 game season recently? Asking for a friend……..
Math….let them quiet the critics by winning out a full season. That’s all they have to do. I believe they can. I believe they should’ve won several times, but baseball through the course of a season is tough. Kershaw had terrible numbers in the post. A lot of Dodgers tanked in the post season throughout the years, which is why people are critical of them winning a shortened season. That’s all
Yes they did
But they haven’t won 162 game championship vtadave…which is our point
Arthur…tell your friend they lost both times. Which is why people are saying, let’s see them actually win a 162 game season. Like every 162 game champion has done.
I do agree. And it is funny the Dodgers have both of the fake titles (81 & 20).
They’re fake because you don’t like the Dodgers.
They’re fake because facts
Do you consider the WS that the Astro’s won “fake”?
No, they’re fake because feelings.
It was only “fake” for the Astros, their cheating directly skewed the results of the postseason. Had the Astros been beaten in the first round, it wouldn’t have been anywhere near as big of a deal.
Where he’s wanted to sign all along.
But but but Cohen and the Mets and New York and and and…..
Mets fans be like @#$& $%=/
And Angels fans be like …….why not us???? Where you at Moreno????? Where you at Minasian???? Can Fowler out of the bullpen instead of right field??
Gozurman1, I am pretty sure that Bauer would not have accepted the $8mil the Angels have under the Luxury Tax threshold. Angel fans crack me up. They whine incessantly about dead money contracts (Pujols, Upton) yet want Moreno to throw good money after bad by incurring a Luxury Tax.
Can you support that, I don’t believe the Angels are that close to the threshold.
Not that I expected Moreno to go for Bauer, but I believe they have more than 8 million.
I believe they have 20 million.
spotrac.com/mlb/tax/
You probably didn’t know that they add “Player Benefits” to the payroll.
Go to Cotts.
Between AAV and how much other teams are paying for their players, they have 20 million.
Player benefits sand minor leaguers usually add an extra 18 mill avg to a team –
I use spotrac not Cots but most people just look at the teams AAV total and dont add that 18 mill
@ hossmandu—I know that. That is why they have not been active in the pitching market for the name guys. Most average fans never think of the business end and only want to complain that their team is not willing to spend or not smart enough to be going after certain players. Happens in every city with every sport. Fun to watch the hysteria reign!
Wrong again Halo11Fan
@Goz – They have tried though. I’ve listed before all the guys they’ve tried to get and they just miss. Guys want to play in certain areas, they get barely outbid with an extra year, or other teams simply overpay. Just because they want somebody doesn’t mean they can wave a magic wand and viola the guys sign.
Angels need to focus all their attention on Odorizzi at this point. Paxton would be OK, but the last thing they need is another SP with a wicked injury history.
They Angels are not adding another Starter. They went with the two no ceiling low floor guys in Cobb and Quintana.
Dodger fans be like F$%$#@
I’m a Mets fan and couldn’t be happier.
Why? Cause you didn’t get better?
I think it’s maybe because we didn’t pay 40 mil for a #2-4 pitcher.
A pitcher who had his best season last year in 8 games against below .500 teams. 2-pit, 2-det 1-kc and 3 mil. 3 against teams above .500 and his team only won once.
Potential PR headache,
Potential down the stretch distraction for an opt out and clubhouse distraction.
Suspected spin rate /pine tar drama.
I mean really. the NY media only wanted him for the sheer drama and spectacle of it.
He’s good but it would have been and huge over pay and risk for the Mets in NY..
I for one am relieved he’s not coming to the Mets.
Hantoneenee
On no staff is Bauer a #4. Not even the Dodgers. #3 at worst. On the Dodgers I would say a #2 but I wouldn’t argue hard against placing him #3.
@MikeD that’s just stupid. Do better if you want me to talk to you.
Mo, where do you place a pitcher with a 3.90 ERA? Certainly not opening day starter. He is not starting in front of Kershaw or Buehler. He is a #3 or #4 starter on the Dodgers.
@ MoRivera 1999
At best on the Mets he’s #2. at worst on the Mets he’s #4. That’s what I meant.. Carrasco has done it longer and more consistently than Bauer and without drama.
If Stroman out pitches Bauer that would be worst possible scenario.
I’m just happy he’s not coming to NY at those $’s. He got his money and good for him but I think it’s better for the Mets long term.
If people want to believe he’s the real deal that’s fine. He’s got to produce to make the price tag seem like a good deal. He’s better off with the Dodgers. If he struggles from the get go it won’t be as big of a deal if he’d struggled out of the gate with the Mets.
Pads Fans
Did I suggest Bauer would be opening day starter on the Dodgers? No, I did not. So what the heck are you saying. I said he would be 2 or 3. Then you said he would be 3 (or 4), as if saying he would be 3 is something different from what I said. It isn’t. Where we differ is on #4. I don’t believe he’s there #4. Not at all. And THAT is what I said to begin with. I never said he would be there #1.
If you say that having bauer for the next 3 seasons doesn’t make your team better, yeah I agree it’s stupid.
Bauer’s numbers Las 3 seasons
461 innings
144 era+
11k/9
Better numbers than Kershaw and way more innings than both Kershaw and buehler.
Did someone say that? Nope! This is why I said do better.
PitcherMeRolling: Because you’re smart.
@pitchermerolling. Great, great screen name!
Thanks
Mets fans be like “Thank God” they didn’t sign him to a 3/110….use that money to sign Conforto & Lindor. Besides it’s only a 1 year deal for Bauer. He’ll be back on the market next year.
He’s not going back next yr with $45mill for 2022.. he’ll be back on market in 2023
@BAT1126: Don’t forget Thor and Stroman. Next offseason is going to take a massive outlay of money just to keep this team together. Adding a wildly inconsistent pitcher like Bauer for $40 million would have been absurdly short-sighted.
As a Mets fan, I am ecstatic that they did not sign him.
Mets fans be like “Thank God” they didn’t sign him to a 3yr/$110….use that money to sign Conforto & Lindor. Besides it’s only a 1 year deal for Bauer. He’ll be back on the market next year.
I’m a Mets guy, and I’m like ‘Phew !’ Gotta get busy signing Lindor and Conforto, not throw 40 mil at a guy who can walk after next year, if he feels like it.
Mets fans be like “WHEW”!!! Dodged a huge bullet there.
Heyman finally got his take
Lol Mets?
HAHA! Cue the ” I didn’t want him anyway” from Mets fans…..
Some of us actually didn’t want him.
The Woke crowd was unhappy with him
I’m a Dodger fan and I’m not sure I want him. Worried about his “antics”.
I didn’t want him, especially for that price. We still need a few last-minute pieces, cash for trade acquisitions and money to offer extensions next year w/o going over the CBT. Would rather look for another late-inning arm and perhaps a CF, maybe a cheap mid-rotation arm too.
Quite a few of us didn’t and still don’t.
I sure didn’t want him at $40 mil a year, he is not worth that sum
Read the Mets blogs. Almost none of them wanted him.
To be fair, a pretty high number of Mets fans were complaining about signing this guy before this was announced. I really don’t believe this will be an upgrade for the Dodgers, but we’ll see.
Most of us wanted springer way more than bauer. Losing springer hurt, I can’t lie about that, but bauer isn’t worth 45 million a year.
Especially with JBJ wanting 4-5 years. I would’ve been perfectly fine with him in lieu of Springer for the next 2 years, maybe 3 with a team or vesting option.
Lolmets
60M/1yr?
Now they are going to really be the favorite.
Lol
F@ck
Damn
LMAO BOB NIGHTENGALE SCREWED THE METS!!!
Anyways, great move for the dodgers and Bauer. Hope he succeeds in LA.
The National League is going to be a lot of fun to watch this season.
LAD, SD, NYM, ATL… Freakin’ boatload of juggernauts.
I think Mets will be OK without him, though it’d would’ve been a good get.
This is Great
As a Padre fan I’m all for this. A pitcher on the wrong side of 30 with a 3.90 ERA, I hope they broke the bank
I’m sure you are lol. Darvish is younger right? Jeez
Darvish doesn’t cost 40M a year
1 year deal
3 year deal. 40/45/30
Bauer’s really good, but look up Machado’s career numbers against him. I’m not worried about this signing.
Padres are overrated, just look at machado career numbers versus the shortened 2020 season. Traded for snell who can’t go more than 4.7 innings a game, darvish who played in same division as bauer and benefited and lamet whos likely gonna need Tommy John 2.0. We aren’t scared at all! Sham diego
If you’re referring to triple slash line plus OPS and OPS+, here you go: 2020: .304/.370/.580 with a .950 OPS and a 158 OPS+. Career: .280/.337/.488 with a .825 OPS and a 121 OPS+.
Sounds like someone is worried about the Padres rotation. Literally the only Dodger pitchers that worry me are Urias and May.
Haha ok what about Darvish?
MLB still waiting for you guys to do something on the playoffs. Might get clapped by the Dodgers again if you’re lucky.
Mets DODGED a bullet
Can’t help but feel the same way. All I kept thinking was that in September if the Mets were in a stretch run, all we’d hear is “is Bauer opting out”. All the freaking time. The way this guy handles his business it’d be a daily thing that would get old quick.
So yeah, my gut says we dodged a bullet as well.
In the end, the Mets were in a no-win situation. They’d be LOL’ed for spending too much for Bauer, or they’d be LOL’ed for once again being left at the alter. The Mets want to be viewed as the Dodgers or the Yankees as a preferred destination, but perceptions take a while to change.
As a Mets fan I would rather they take the money and extend Lindor and try to lock up some of their current players like Conforto, etc..
And if the rotation needs help, wait out one of the mid-rotation arms for a better deal. We have the top talent, just need solid depth.
Or spend next year on a much better, much more proven FA SP!
For the money Bauer commanded, Mets could extend Lindor, Conforto AND sign Odorizzi. And probably get some CF help (Marisnick, Pillar, Almora?) as well.
Odorizzi had a better ERA from 2013-2019 than Bauer did.
Those are the only full seasons that Bauer has played in, which is why I am using those numbers.
They are both 30 years old.
You’ve summed it up perfectly
Mets fans be like “We never wanted him.”
not sure if im happy or not
I think it’s a bad contract, but the Mets and Dodgers could afford it without any serious issue. Dude would have improved the Mets rotation no doubt, so I’m happy he’s out of division. That being said Mets are going to target some of the guys the Phillies were looking at now.
Listen, Darkside, you can’t think of this in baseball terms you have to think about it like a WWE storyline. All Bauer and his agent Rachel Luba wanted more than anything was to have Bauer himself break the news on his youtube.
Then enters Bob. Out of all baseball writers he is near the top when it comes to the need to be first to break news. He is also like Mush in A Bronx Tale where every bet he makes loses. This brings in Heyman to the story who becomes the first person to announce the decision which screws over Bob, Trevor, and Rachel. I love it.
I always wondered if Bauer and co. were doing this for the “likes”
Well you know I didn’t.
Bob struck again. You can’t convince me that Bauer ended up signing in LA for any other reason than Bob said he signed with the Mets.
How did that song about Nightengale go again? “Voodoo school dropout…no graduation day for you…”
Wow, thought Mets for sure. But, makes complete sense with his home being in the area. Took less than what the Mets offered?
Lol at bob nightengale royally pissing off mets fans.
He literally tried to guess at the timing hoping to get credit. He’s a joke.
Yes 99, and it’s not the first time. Someone (maybe a friend) should sit him down and explain the damage to his career this does. And, why does anyone report on what he says?! He’s now become his source(s) – unreliable at best.
We don’t know the details yet. Would anyone be shocked if Bauer had instigated some hijinks for the sake of drama?
Yes!
SCREW OFF! AARRRRGGGHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
Has this been confirmed? What makes this “Dodgers sign Bauer” report any more real than the Mets one?
The link to Bauer on youtube sadly ;(
IT WAS BY ANYONE OTHER THAN B NIGHTENGALE
But mainly because Bauer and his agent confirmed it, which tends to help.
I wonder if Bauer can throw one over the LF bleachers at Chavez Ravine?
wow go figure
Hey @Cey Hey… u mad bro?
Not happy. I like every single player on the team. This guy will take some getting used to. No joke, baseball is the only sport I still follow and I have considered dropping sports entirely. The tough part is that I am planning a Dodgers/baseball memoir. Baseball has always been there for me; just not sure that it needs to be. I’ll give this some time to kick in.
For the record, I have NEVER watched the Super Bowl and would be hard-pressed to name six active NFL players (never been a football fan). I was a massive hockey fan until 1989 but can now name just one active player (assuming Sidney Crosby is still active).
Give him a chance Cey Hey. He will grow on you. Bauer has good intentions in what he does; his goal is to interact with the fans and introduce a young generation into the game. His instructional videos have actually taught me some valuable techniques that I use when pitching. He isn’t this pig that people have made him out to be. He’s essentially a better version of Chris Paddack. Energetic, engaging, and really really good.
Francisco Lindor said he was a really good teammate, so I assume that’s something, coming from those who know him most intimately (don’t take that out of context, it is meant in its purest sense)
Rangers29, I’ve been wondering for a few days if the recent Callaway stuff might be a reason for Bauer not liking him. Btw, despite being “old,” I want to see baseball make changes that attract new fans. I’m one of those people who love the free runner in extra innings. I thought I would hate it but it adds instant excitement. If I can get behind that, then I owe it to myself to pay better attention to the inner workings of Trevor Bauer’s mind. Plus, I trust Andrew Friedman with the keys to the Dodgers’ car.
I’d like you to watch some of Bauer’s “Bauer Bytes” series on Youtube, Cey Hey. Here’s a link to one: youtube.com/watch?v=LRwZ3nkVnY0
They are these little dinner interviews he does with ex-major leaguers or people from around the game. Cool series, and a very interesting one if you want to hear some of the cool stories from the annals of baseball.
He also did a series on his other Youtube channel called Tips with Trev, and they are just these informal videos about pitching which I loved. Here’s that link: youtube.com/watch?v=DMbuo9b6ZIo&list=PLIAmwQK…
I think you will begin to like him after a while, but he does some truly great stuff.
Except when he decides to throw a temper tantrum mid game. Or screw around before a big playoff game and slice up his pitching hand. Or bully a young woman so much she drops her Twitter handle.
He only has good intentions when it suits him, he’s the classic example of a selfish player. Which doesn’t necessarily have to be a horrible thing, but pretending like he’s a good person isn’t very accurate.
So cyber bullying and stalking a girl for a full weekend on twitter was good intentions huh. You need a better role model son.
Dude, c’mon, @cey hey.
I’m not buying it. You’re really that irate over some tweety stuff, or whatever?
You’ll be cheering for the Dodgers all year & next year, too. I’ve watched this same “threat” made by Yankee fans in re Aroldis Chapman. “I’m tempted to not watch the Yankees anymore blahfeckingblahblahblah”.
Yet they continue to watch & root for them. Be the same thing with you.
Bet.
Even if you don’t like him the guy knows how to market himself.
His ERA+ puts him in the top 10 best pitchers in the last 3 years. Even if you don’t have the “best” starting pitching staff you definitely have the deepest.
good riddance this guys a head case.
I thought the Dodgers wanted to improve their rotation?
They did! He’s not the ace on a Dodgers rotation. He’ll probably be the 3rd/4th starter in the rotation. 3/4 of the league, he’d be there #1
How may rotations have a guy with a career 3.90 ERA as their #1?
I’m so bummed the Pads had the World Series wrapped up and now we are also rans, again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again, ad nauseum…all we have left are reruns of Ted Burgundy now……boo who….
I so didn’t want him to go to the Dodgers, dang it
Nightengale wrong for the millionth time
Does his fall to earth come in ‘21 or ‘22? Solid pitcher, but don’t expect another Cy Young season. Still, a very dangerous rotation just got deeper.
We should take bets on when the first feelings of regret begin.
Depends on how MLB addresses the pine tar/rosin scandal. If it’s anything like the Astros, he won’t ever fall back to earth because no one will get any consequences.
Im happy the Mets didnt get him. One ok year because of a shortened season. Im more upset by losing Springer!
As a mets fan, let me just say Thank God.
$40 million for one year of a human scumbag with career #3 starter numbers ain’t interesting.
Thank you! One of the few Mets fans that get it.
Sucks for Mets fans
Not going to lie. Would have liked him. But how loud do you think Mets fans will boo when we see him.
Good to hear from you. I was worried that you had jumped off the Queensboro Bridge, when you read the news of Bauer signing with LA.
Lol
hopefully paves the way for the brewers to sign Turner. Maybe the dodgers budget wont allow them to resign turner
Pretty sure Dodgers took Turner into consideration, He will be back.
Dodgers now have $240 million payroll for CBT purposes in 2021.
I hope the Phillies take a flyer on Julio Tehran. I forget if he’s been signed or not.
Please sign him, though Bryce will won’t you to not sign him so he can face him. Bryce has always destroyed Teheran.
True, but if he signs with an AL West team…
Rich get richer … at least in terms of talent
AJ Preller and Sandy Alderson just simultaneously soiled themselves. Cleanup in aisles 2 and 3!!!!
All those great salaries some of these athletes make! Wow!
1 year at $42,069,696.96 probably.