Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman spoke with reporters (including The Los Angeles Times’ Mike DiGiovanna, The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya, and The Orange County Register’s Bill Plunkett) about several topics surrounding the team, including how much payroll might be available to acquire or re-sign premium players this winter. Unsurprisingly, Friedman didn’t state any kind of dollar figure, noting that he has yet to receive an official budget for 2022. That said, he noted that “our [ownership] group has demonstrated at every single turn its strong desire to win, and this year will be no different. What that means in terms of an actual payroll number, I’m not sure, but I feel confident we’ll have the requisite talent to be a real championship competitor.”
By far the biggest spenders in baseball in 2021, the Dodgers soared over the Competitive Balance Tax threshold with an approximated $275MM tax number. While it isn’t clear if L.A. will quite hit those payroll heights again, it seems very likely that the Dodgers will pay more tax penalties next year considering how much money is already on their books. Of course, we also don’t know what the luxury tax threshold will even be next year, or if the CBT will be altered as players and owners negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement.
More from Friedman…
- It doesn’t seem like Mookie Betts will need any sort of procedure to fix the hip injuries that plagued him in 2021. Hip inflammation twice sent Betts to the 10-day injured list for brief absences last year, and while his production was down from his usual numbers, Betts still hit .264/.367/.487 with 23 homers over 550 plate appearances even while being less than 100 percent for most of the season.
- Freidman reiterated that the team wants manager Dave Roberts “to be a big part of what we accomplish looking forward,” though the Dodgers have more immediate offseason business that must be addressed before the club can talk with Roberts about a contract extension. Roberts’ four-year deal is up after the 2022 season, and the 49-year-old has an outstanding 542-329 record over his six seasons as the Los Angeles manager, with the 2020 World Series championship, two other NL pennants, and five NL West titles on his resume.
- The Dodgers already made a quick move to sign Andrew Heaney to a one-year, $8.5MM deal, and the Dodgers “feel like there’s some real upside we can tap into,” Friedman said. “He’s got really strong ingredients in place, and there are a few different levers we feel like we can potentially pull with him that he’s bought into and is eager to dive in on.” After a rough 2021 season, Heaney is hoping to rebound in Los Angeles and then re-enter the free agent market on the strength of a much better platform year. This one-year commitment is just fine with Friedman, as he noted that adding a veteran as rotation depth allows the Dodgers’ pitching prospects more seasoning time in the minors.
- Friedman also provided on some of the Dodgers’ Tommy John recovery cases. Tommy Kahnle and Caleb Ferguson respectively underwent their procedures in August 2020 and September 2020, and the PBO said both hurlers should “be ready by Opening Day or shortly thereafter.” Dustin May underwent his TJ surgery almost exactly six months ago and has already started a throwing program, tentatively setting up a return after the All-Star Game. “Everything to this point has been incredibly positive. I think [May] is going to impact us at some point in the second half,” Friedman said.
No comment from Friedman on the Trevor Bauer situation?
Ei or ie, make your mind up. Check the bullet points at the bottom.
I am trying to decide who I have new found admiration for.
Freidman or Friedman.
The Col. would be proud.
It could be worse…if this piece had been penned by TC Zencka, Andrew Friedman would have turned into Freddie Freeman halfway through the article.
Dodgers should sign:
1. Marcus Semien
2. Justin Verlander
3. Starling Marte
Resign:
Max Scherzer
Clayton Kershaw
C Smith
1B Muncy
2B Semien
SS T Turner
3B J Turner
LF Marte
CF Bellinger
RF Betts
Bench
Lux
Pollack
Whoever else lol
Scherzer and Kershaw are free agents, so they can’t resign from a team that they aren’t even part of. I think you are looking for “re-sign.”
Thanks for your English lesson!!! Now—-
Do you know anything about Baseball???
Geeze—- correcting someone’s grammar on a redneck baseball chat is pure stupidity within itself!!!!
Just say, “Hey, I am a wanna be joc! And I can’t spell ether!”
Sorry to hurt your feelings. To answer your question, I’m sure I know plenty about baseball considering I played college baseball. You can remain all out of sorts and I’ll enjoy the fact that my favorite team just won the World Series!
Lol. He played called baseball, everyone! He knows more than you do!
Where did I say I know more than anyone else? He asked if I knew anything about baseball, so I responded with that I played college baseball. It’s hard to play baseball into college without knowing anything about the game. I’m not stating I know more than anyone else, but nice try by failing to demonstrate reading comprehension skills.
When did this become a “redneck” baseball chat?
And all sports teams wonder why revenue has dropped off so much… snowflakes everywhere
I believe Kershaw wishes to test the FA market, the same with Sherzer. If gives them better leverage to re-sign a FA deal with the Dodgers.
Kershaw and his family want to live full time in Dallas but want to pitch for the Dodgers. It’s a bit of a unique case.
Scherzer is looking for a combo of premium AAV and team that’s a legit WS contender. Unless someone offers him a huge deal I think he waits to see what moves each team makes before signing. I imagine there are only a handful of teams that will be legit suitors.
I keep reading that. So he he was going to leave or chance he leaves why not qualifying offer? I kinda assume he is a dodger for life.
A persistent, unsourced rumor, really just based on speculation. He wasn’t offered the QO because the Dodgers know that if Kershaw wants to continue playing it’s going to be for the Dodgers, not some hapless team just because they are close to his offseason home.
Switch Marte with Taylor.
Also, Scherzer will be a Dodger if he wants to be. They will make him a competitive offer. It will be up to him if he wants to stay here. If he chases more money somewhere else, so be it. Boras might use the Dodgers to increase the money somewhere else like he tends to dol
Note: the next Scott Boras free agent that this Dodgers FO signs will be the first.
Taylor is 2 years younger and plays ANYWHERE. Marte plays CF, where we have Belli, and LF, where we have Pollock. Doesnt seem like this is a step forward given they are in similar salary ranges.
A lot of this is just front office publicity speak. I think in reality the Dodgers are going to scale down spending and try not to go over the limit so they can get a reset after going over this past season. Talent level will probably drop over the next few seasons unless the Dodgers can find better cheaper talent in their farm system or another project. When productive players continue to hit the free agent market the Dodgers will only be able to keep a fraction of those players due to the much higher market value that these players command. Last season they lost Joc and K Hernandez. This season they probably lose Seager and Taylor, and most likely Jansen, Knebel, Nelson, and Kelly don’t return. Probably won’t keep both Kershaw and Scherzer. Heaney is a project, but a very expensive project that I’m not sure the Dodgers can rely on. They do get Ferguson and Kahnle and then May. But again, even with a free agent signing or two, the overall talent level will most likely be a drop-off from the last couple of seasons unless a couple of players emerge out of the blue.
Uhm….the OC Register reporter is Bill Plunkett, not Jim.
These comments. Sheesh.
What do you think about the dodgers signing Jon Gray? Is he high on the dodgers radar? What’s his projected contract?
I don’t see Kershaw & Kenley going anywhere else. I want the Dodgers to make the extra effort to get Chris Taylor and Max back. If Bauer comes off the books, hopefully that makes their offers more competitive.
The double edged sword with Kershaw returning is with his age and injury history, there’s just no way he stays healthy for the full season. I hope they get a deep supply of starting pitching because as the 2021 season showed, you can’t have too many quality arms.
Now a days Ladies love getting in your pants and once you don’t please them or do as they say, it’s diametric abuse or a nine consensual case. How about when the Ladies harass the man because they’re or at least look to be wealthy or they’re what they often call “So Hot” ? How about when they sexually harass us as well ? Should that be taken lithely? Of Course Not. We men’s need to stop becoming the Lambs and start standing up for our rights as well. With that being said, Bauer could’ve possibly been frame were she gave consent, then it didn’t work out her way… Then she twist the pie around ! Ladies with all due respect need to grow up ! Guys on the other hand, need to be more alert, a gentleman, and walk away !
I meant Domestic…. Sorry !
No problem……
Clear as mud!
Mookie needs to stop bowling.
The Trevor Bauer comments on here are interesting. The league has no teeth. MANFRED HAS NO BALLS. They will allow this to drag on long enough for the Dodgers to have to pay without ever getting his pitching services. It was a desperation signing… they were scared that a rival (Mets, etc.) would get Bauer and completely ignored all the psychological warning signs. They need to learn.
Bauer will pitch again. Not for the Dodgers. If you think your team won’t sign him, take a look at who your city votes for. If your fan base thinks the 2020 World Series ANNNDDDDDDD the 2020 election don’t count, you’re likely to be rooting for Bauer in 2023.