The Dodgers announced that left-hander Clayton Kershaw has been activated from the injured list, with fellow lefty Victor González optioned in a corresponding move.
Kershaw, 35, was placed on the 15-day IL July 3, retroactive to June 30, due to soreness in his left shoulder. It was initially hoped that the southpaw could return after a brief respite, perhaps only missing a start or two since the All-Star break was coming up. However, subsequent reporting indicated he would likely be out until early August, which has now come to pass, as he will take the ball to start tonight’s game against the Rockies.
Prior to the IL stint, the results continued to be excellent for Kershaw. He’s thrown 95 1/3 innings over 16 starts so far this year, having allowed 2.55 earned runs per nine innings. His 27.7% strikeout rate, 6.3% walk rate and 47.2% ground ball rate are all above league average.
Trips to the IL have become the norm for him, with 2015 being the last season in which he didn’t have at least one stint away from the club. That was also the last year in which he topped 180 regular season innings, and he’s been held beneath 127 frames in each campaign since 2019.
Although Kershaw’s absence wasn’t especially long, rotation health has been and continues to be a major focus for the club. Walker Buehler has been on the IL all year due to last year’s Tommy John surgery. Dustin May required flexor tendon surgery a few months back and won’t return this year. Tony Gonsolin missed time due to an ankle sprain and Julio Urías was sidelined by a hamstring strain. Ryan Pepiot was on the IL for about four months due to an oblique strain and Michael Grove recently hit the shelf due to lat tightness.
The club acquired Lance Lynn from the White Sox prior to the deadline to bolster the rotation, though he has an ERA over 6.00 for the year. They also wanted to acquire Eduardo Rodriguez from the Tigers and reportedly had a deal in place, though he nixed that with his limited no-trade clause. That leaves the club with a five-man rotation of Kershaw, Lynn, Urías, Gonsolin and rookie Bobby Miller for the time being. Urías and Gonsolin have also been a bit shaky this year, with ERAs of 4.39 and 4.43, respectively. Depth options include Pepiot, Gavin Stone, and Emmet Sheehan, though each of those have posted middling results this year. Ryan Yarbrough is on hand as a long relief option in the bullpen and could perhaps jump into a rotation role, if needed.
Despite those rotation challenges, the Dodgers are still leading the National League West, six games clear of the Giants. The health and performance of the rotation figures to be an important factor in how strong they finish the regular season and perhaps how they perform in the postseason.
Much MUCH needed boost to the rotation having Kersh back. I hope he finishes the year without heading back to the IL. If Buehler can get back and build himself up, Dodgers will be in some good shape come September and into October.
The real “Left Arm of God”
The Dodgers system is so superior that they’ve gone the complete opposite of “all-in” and yet still remain in their customary place atop the NL West. It just shows how flawed the “all-in” strategy(Padres, Mets anyone)truly is, because it prioritizes this year over subsequent years, when you’ll also need a lot of those same resources that you spent or traded away, because of “winning the off-season”.
Wild to think that the Padres are currently 13 games back and stuck with these contracts for the next decade. Say what you will about the Giants, but at least Zaidi didn’t mortgage their future and spend foolishly.
If the Padres don’t win something or make the playoffs this year, they’ll be a bit hamstrung and will have to win with considerably less marquee talent in subsequent years.
You work in their front office? Prior to the season there was an article on MLBTR where their CEO was interviewed and he said they will not lose any money this season. That would point to them being able to continue to spend at this rate.
I don’t have to work for their front office to understand that Machado and Bogaerts signed for ~$630mm through the age of 40 as they already show signs of regression is likely not going to work out long term. Not to mention their other contracts and the fact that they have 3 shortstops.
Having 3 SS is way better than having, say, 3 1B
he tried but the x-rays were horrific
Spending on the right players*
The Dodgers have definitely used a model that means perpetually competing. A mixture of spending, drafting and developing well isn’t rocket science. The Padres in particular have probably blown their chance at something similar – they could have supplemented a competitive MLB team with a churn of good young players from the farm, but instead they threw it all in for a small window of competition unnecessarily.
You mean the Dodgers that have spent $400 million more than the next highest spending team since 2013?
Padres are back being a top ten farm system in the updates. They are not hurting for prospects.
Link to your calculations and rankings please.
Cots Baseball Contracts for numbers. You can look that up and do calculations yourself.
Or you can look at articles on Baseball Prospectus. Do you subscribe?
Farm system rankings on BA. Behind pay wall unless you subscribe. MLB will be coming out this week. Thats free to view.
Probably why I pointed out spending as part of their model, right? It’s one facet of their success – which highlights the whole point of what I wrote. Spending at the Major League level doesn’t dictate success in drafting and developing. Every team CAN spend (some choose not to), not every team can develop their talent.
Also, saying the Padres are back being top ten “in the updates” is pretty vague. They’re outside the Top 10 at MLB.com, FG, BR and a handful of other outlets.
Wake me when AJ Preller’s plan works. Better yet – wake me when the Padres get to .500 again.
You make it sound like it’s a bad thing for them to spend as much as they do. With the revenue they make, would you rather the Dodgers just pocket the profits and not pay for good players? It’s no coincidence that that 10 year period coincides with 10 years of playoffs. Meanwhile you can see other teams that briefly peak in budget and drop back down because they don’t have a long term strategy that combines all the areas like the Dodgers do.
The Padres are NOT in the top ten of farm systems.
Spending is the whole of their success. Part of that spending is the highest number of people in baseball operations in the game.
Padres system ranked top ten in updated rankings on BA. Keith Law has them at #12 after draft. MLB updated rankings come out this week. You will have to wait for that. On MLB the Padres have 2 prospects in top ten overall. Dodgers have zero in top 40.
Not a Padres fan but even you can’t argue against the fact that they were in the NLCS last season and the Dodgers weren’t. What he is doing worked last season. If he keeps it up for a decade they will be the Dodgers.
Because consistently spending more $$$ works as the Dodgers have proven.
Absolutely not. Spending more consistently leads to more winning.
Its the people that try to say that its because they draft better that are full of it.
I wish the team I cheer for could spend like that. It wouldn’t have taken them 7 years to get back to winning.
Read BA. They are in the updated rankings. 2 players in top ten overall.
And cherry-picking one farm system ranking out of many does not prove the Padres have a top ten system right now. The consensus says no, so unless BA somehow trumps all other, it’s foolish to make such a claim.
They were the ONLY one that has updated farm system rankings out until 7:40 pm today when MLB.com released their updated rankings. You would have had no choice when I posted that except to quote BA before that.
Mlb.com ranks the Padres 4th in their updated rankings that came out tonight.
mlb.com/news/top-100-prospects-updated-2023-midsea…
Scroll down. You will find this:
“These are the 10 systems with the most Prospect Points following this update:
Orioles, 433 (Jackson Holliday, SS, No. 1)
Brewers, 353 (Jackson Chourio, OF, No. 2)
Pirates, 274 (Paul Skenes, RHP, No. 3)
Padres, 257 (Ethan Salas, C, No. 5)
Nationals, 249 (Dylan Crews, OF, No. 4)
Rays, 242 (Junior Caminero, 3B/SS, No. 6)
Tigers, 232 (Max Clark, OF, No. 15)
Reds, 228 (Noelvi Marte, 3B/SS, No. 24)
Cubs, 225 (Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF, No. 12)
Rangers, 218 (Evan Carter, OF, No. 8)”
In interview on MLB Network earlier this week Mayo talked about how far the Padres had risen in the rankings in a single year, the most of any team.
The Padres have the #5 and #9 overall prospects in baseball on MLB.com
So the consensus of the two that have updated farm system rankings out is that the Padres are either 4th or 10th. Take your pick.
I was going to comment something along the lines of this. Every team has bad contract signings at some point and spend more than what the value of the player brings. Although sports money is ridiculous right now, seeing an organization spend money to retain and keep good players isn’t a bad thing. That’s what makes playing for the Dodgers an added bonus. You get paid AND you contend year in and year out. The wealth is spread around not just being funneled to the top
Both BA and now MLB have the Padres in the top 10 in their post trade deadline updates.
MLB.com has the Padres ranked 4th.
So yes, the Padres do have a top ten farm system. You can say lots of bad things about Preller, but one thing that you cannot say is that he doesn’t know how to build a farm system. He is among the best in the business at doing that.
@Cam..If I could write as well as you, I would have said much the same. Extremely well stated point. The Padres are like an emotional, desperate, basket-case running a team, whereas the Dodgers use rational, thoughtful business and baseball methodology, mostly devoid of emotion.
Which is why the Padres were in the NLCS last season and the Dodgers were not.
Padres were in the NLCS because they won a single series against the Dodgers. And a fat lot of good it did, they got outclassed by a Phillies team that had even less business being in the NLCS.
But let’s talk about this year: did the Padres change their strategy? Because now they’re multiple games under .500, just got wrecked at home by these Dodgers. Something must be different, since the proclamation has been made that the Padres were in the NLCS instead of LA for reasons that weren’t simply the vagaries of year-to-year postseason variance.
The Padres beat two teams to get to the NLCS. A WC series on the road and then the Dodgers.
Dodgers have outspent every other team in baseball by $400 million over the last decade. They are over the CBT by $20 million this season. Spending more works.
In some cases spending more works. The Dodgers do much more than that though. They develop their talent like no other team does. That’s why they’ve been a powerhouse for over a decade now.
Frank McCrook brought them to the brink of bankruptcy. The current owners are doing it the right way.
Is that why they have 2 homegrown players in their starting 9?
The new owners are doing it the right way. They make the 2nd most money and they spend the most.
Kershaw, Will Smith and Outman. Muncy and Heyward were bargains from dumpster diving. Rosario and Peralta are rentals and Peralta is not expensive nor a star. Dodgers traded for Betts and splurged on Freeman rather than splurging on Trea or Max. After Atlanta, Houston and Tampa, Dodgers have the smartest front office. Baltimore, Cleveland and Milwaukee are also up there more recently. But while Preller has made some really bad moves, I do not mind the Padres spending, it is good for the game better than say the Pirates not spending. Why do you sign Bogaerts when you already have Machado Tatis and Kim you are paying a premium to get a player who plays a position that you have covered. You can get a good hitter for 1B, LF or DH for a fraction of the years and dollars that you paid to Bogey.
Bobby Miller, Urias, Gonsolin, and all the other rookies that have contributed this year. Plus Buehler and May who will be reappearing soon.
Two in their starting 9. Smith and Outman.
They have a large number of injured or poorly performing starting pitchers that are homegrown.
I can’t answer why they signed Bogaerts other than a guess that they wanted to get a 5 WAR bat into the lineup. How far he has regressed this year is a mystery to most. If he repeated his 2022 production no one would be questioning the signing today.
In all cases spending more money over an extended period works. It has worked for the Padres as they were in the NLCS last year, have been in the playoffs 2 of the last 3 seasons, and are at the top of the league in games sold out and in % of capacity sold this season.
When the current ownership group bought the Padres they were in the bottom 3 in spending most years and in the bottom 7 in revenue. That is not the case anymore.
The Padres have rebuilt their farm system already and if they continue to spend like this will have a great team for years to come. Just like the Dodgers have.
The Padres ownership/management takes hits from fans who don’t appreciate the changes for the better they’ve made in San Diego. For years this franchise was a footnote to an asterisk. Sure they’ve made bets that haven’t always paid off, but that’s baseball. The important part is they’re really making an effort on behalf of their fans, and it shows, unlike some other owners we could mention.
You said it urself. Ten years in a row, not much left to say.
Stop defending the undefendable.
they didn’t want him possibly going to the Dodgers who needed a ss. silly reason but the only one seems to make sense.
“Outspent every other team”..Have you by any chance seen the HUGE crowds DAILY at Chavez Ravine?…When your revenue streams, onfield-results and business plan support it, you should always efficiently allocate resources, aka “spend”. The difference, is the Pads wantonly, somewhat randomly spend and waste money every single yr, whereas the Dodgers “efficiently allocate resources” according to a 5 yr plan. The only time you can point to the Dodgers wasting money is when they first bought the team, because the plan was always to throw money into becoming relevant IMMEDIATELY.
I have. I was there last homestand. I was also at 2 sold out games in San Diego.
According to an article on this website the Padres are not losing money this season so obviously they can afford to spend like they are now.
Does that scare you as a Dodger fan to have the Padres spend more than your team did?
“Does that scare you as a Dodgers fan”…I am not a fan of the LA Dodgers, per se, hut I’m definitely a fan of astute baseball mgmt. My favorite baseball team is actually the Angels, who make many of the same mistakes the Pads do. All that being said, your baseball theory is OLD, antiquated and died with “The Boss”, George Steinbrenner, who routinely thought you could buy championships and treated the farm as a mere afterthought and something to be continually mortgaged for the PRESENT.
Spending on accretive contracts and spending foolishly are two different things. As a Dodgers fan, I am pretty happy with the way the Padres have spent as there is limited financial flexibility for some of your best players in Snell, Hader, Kim and Soto.
@mlb fan The Yankees during those times especially in the 90’s really didn’t spend that big as many people think. Paul O’Neil Bernie Williams Tino Martinez Scott Brosious Jim
Leyrtiz, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte, and Jeter. Most of these guys weren’t big time free agents that they spent a ton of money on. That dynasty was more similar to how the Dodgers are doing things now imo.
Its not a theory. Its the facts of the matter. The teams that spend the most money make up more than 75% of playoff teams.
The Dodgers have spent more money than anyone else since the new ownership took over. They have made a lot of trips to the playoffs.
Spending money consistently works. The Dodgers are proof.
My best players. I am not a Padres fan. The team I root for has more wins than the Dodgers this season and far more home grown talent.
The Padres are drawing 96.3% of capacity. The highest in baseball.
The Dodgers are drawing 85.8% of capacity.
The difference is Dodger stadium holds 56k.
Considering the Padres have gone further in the playoffs since they started spending in the 2020-2021 offseason, I would say that the Padres are effectively and efficiently allocating resources. Especially since Erik Greupner, the Padres CEO said that the Padres are making a profit this season even with the large payroll.
I expect that Seidler will once again spend this offseason on extensions, Kim and possibly others, and spend in FA for pitching.
The Padres have the 4th or 10th best farm system in baseball including the #5 and #9 overall prospects in baseball, depending on if your preferred source is MLB.com or Baseball America, so their spending on the farm is working too.
The Dodgers have spent every single season, never falling below 5th and being #1 in spending 7 years since Guggenheim bought the team.
In the FWIW department, the capacity of Dodger Stadium may technically be 56k, but a sellout is around 3k less. I believe the difference is the center field seats that are covered as part of the batter’s eye.
I am so sorry. The Angels are the epitome of bad management While Moreno is spending money on the wrong things and refuses to spend on player development or on long term deals for pitchers, the team will miss the playoffs for the 9th year in a row if they don’t pick it up and fast this season. They also have one of the worst farm systems in baseball with no help coming from there.
The Padres have been in the playoffs 2 of the last 3 season and they have a strong farm system.
75% of the playoff teams since 2001 have been in the top 8 in spending. With the exception of the Royals in 2015 I believe all of the WS winners have been. The bottom line is you can buy a championship if you spend big every year for an extended period.
There are two ways to look at prospects.
You can use them as trade capital to acquire proven talent
Or you can develop them and hope that they make it to the majors and excel.
17% of top 100 prospects have made it to the majors and become a 2.0 WAR player or better, that is league average, and just 3% have become a 4.0 WAR or better player, that is All Star level play.
Both ways work. See the Dodgers that have imports as their 4 of their 5 best position players.
Why would you say that? Erik Greupner, the CEO of the Padres,said they are making a profit with this level of payroll. Seidler said they had the payroll flexibility to go out and get any player that they wanted in trades at the deadline this season. So obviously they are not worried about the spending. Why would you be?
BIL, who do you root for? I have never seen you say who that is. Only the Orioles, Rays, and Braves have more wins this season.
MLB is really about ENTERTAINMENT despite us purist fans out here that grew up playing the sport and appreciate the strategies and nuances of the game and the incredible athletic ability of many of the players. Gotta give it to the Friars unlike the Giants (my team) they have an array of players whether it translates to Championships or not that are just plain fun to watch. Really think that they are close to that elusive title don’t know if Melvin will get them there though. Think they may need a more fiery manager to get these superstar players to go all in.
Official capacity always takes into account seats covered for things like a batters eye. The Official capacity I quoted came from the Dodgers website. The batters eye in Dodger stadium is that empty area between the sections of the Pavilion. No seats there at all.
I know where it comes from, but am telling you a sellout for baseball is thousands less. You will never see an attendance of close to 56k seats, even for postseason games. Around 52,500 is the max seating capacity for ballgames. And two sections of seats are in fact covered in the pavilions on either side of the batter’s eye.
Friedman has way too much sense to sign a Xander Boegarts type contract. It’s not about how much you spend
A nice thing is that he recognizes he’ll pitch only 2/3 of season so he signs for 2/3 of an ace salary.
This just in. Kershaw back on the IL.
This just in. You’re an idiot.
Ha ha ha. Love it when losers need to feel big for some comment stuff. Hurt your ego buddy ?
🙁
Great to see him back. It’s too bad he couldn’t have returned on their last home stand while we were in town. At least we got to see Ohtani pitch.
Kershaw is truly one of the ATGreats. Regardless of whither you’re a Dodgers fan or not, it is a treat to watch him pitch. Watch him while you still can before injuries derail him permanently.
Always good to have Kershaw back. Kershaw is using his “new” changeup. Looks like he’s using a split finger grip.
Favourite as dodger hurlers , started watching ball after Koufax drysdale era ,
Orel Kershaw Fernando Greinke Sutcliffe
You forgot Don Sutton, Tommy John,Burt Hooton.
Funny late last night off top of my head, knew I forgot somebody , long time dodger ,whom I liked , didn’t come to me. It was Sutton. Ya I liked him a lot. Thank you.
Funny , maybe coz of baseball cards , when I think of Burt I see a Cubbie , and John a white Sox or Yankee. Though of course were terrific as dodgers.
Those teams sure had some great pitching. Honorable mention to Bob Welch, Steve Howe, Jerry Ruess.
Kevin Brown too a bit later was excellent.
Sutcliffe threw 400 out of 2700 career innings (14.7%) as a Dodger. I doubt you saw him pitch much lol.
Lol to you too. Rick is one of my all time fav players of all time. Saw him plenty. You ?
Happens to have been a dodger. My post was my favourite pitchers who were also dodgers . Didn’t say anything about all time dodger great list.
The NLWEST is a competition graveyard with the Dodgers winning it every year except one (Giants one and done in Playoffs vs LA) over the last decade if memory suits me right. Giants President Of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi needs to be shown the door. Its easy to build up a good farm system when you are not doing any high profile free agent deals he gets too much credit on that front besides only Patrick Bailey and Camilo D0val have really shined at the Major League level during his tenure as far as I am concerned. The only consolation prize in recent Giants fans’ memories is that the Dave Robert’s team is almost identical to the Braves Bobby Cox’s teams in that they win the division year after year but only have ONE World Series Title to show for it and that was a Covid shortened season. Let’s just hope SF is pooling all their financial resources for a run at Shohei Ohtani this off season but they still have to add at least an additional solid starter and rework this team to show him that they can win a title(s) if he did indeed sign with them. With the A’s heading to Vegas the Gigantes ought to be right at the top of the top five revenue producers just think of the $ that would be coming in on Ohtani starter gear alone. On a separate note what the heck are the NHL Sharks management doing this is a pitiful unwatchable team going nowhere fast.
Oh yeah add Logan Webb good ERA but poor record this year re: last in the Majors or there abouts for run support. The Giants this year are basically a trussed up Minor League franchise with a very small handful of solid MLB players. Kapler seems dazed and confused makes questionable decisions in tight spots and never takes on umpires even on horrible calls he may be on the way out with Zaidi this off season no real emotions just SOP. Even if they make the Wild Card Round will be one and done.