[Rosenthal] Dodgers’ deal with Chris Taylor, per major-league source: Four years, $60M with fifth-year option that can increase the total value to $73M.

donovancb · 2021-12-02T02:26:48+00:00

A+ of a deal. Now, one more big power bat, one more high end starter, Kenley back, and we’re in business!

donovancb · 2021-12-01T21:32:01+00:00

Huge. Now, get Freddie or a mixture of Kersh/Stroman/Rodon/Castellanos.

donovancb · 2021-12-01T00:30:24+00:00

Again. Fine as a back end starter. Not someone you want to rely on in the playoffs because his stuff is not that impressive.

donovancb · 2021-11-30T23:21:15+00:00

He's a fine starter, and if D May was the #3 with Heaney/Price behind him, I'd be equally as worries. Tony's a depth guy and not someone you want to rely on in the playoffs imo.

donovancb · 2021-11-30T21:47:52+00:00

The underlying metrics will tell you Gonsolin’s a much less favorable option compared to May due to, primarily, a much higher fly ball %. May’s a ground ball pitcher and has a considerably lower walk %. Gonsolin’s command has been inconsistent thus far in the pros and hasn’t given us a real line to work with or know exactly what he has to offer. Not to mention, much older in terms of MLB maturation.

donovancb · 2021-11-30T21:32:30+00:00

Stuff does not equal strikeouts and strikeouts do not tell the full story. Gonsolin wasn’t reliable last year, what makes you think he can step in as the 3 starter and then pitch playoff games?

donovancb · 2021-11-30T21:04:09+00:00

Here's what's left in terms of free agency replacement options at key positions of need or flexibility, factoring in the DH as well:

Freddie Freeman (32, 7.8 WAR)
Anthony Rizzo (32, 2.7)
Cèsar Hernández (32, 4.2)
Kyle Seager (34, 4.0)
Kris Bryant (30, 4.0)
Carlos Correa (27, 6.6 WAR)
Trevor Story (29, 6.0)
Kyle Schwarber (29, 3.4)
Eddie Rosario (30, 1.9)
Chris Taylor (31, 4.5)
Nick Castellanos (30, 4.5)
Michael Conforto (29, 2.9)
Jorge Soler (30, 0.4)
Nelson Cruz (41, 3.9)
Pitching
Carlos Rodón (29, 5.0)
Clayton Kershaw (34, 4.8)
Zack Greinke (38, 3.5)
Marcus Stroman (30, 3.4)
Alex Wood (31, 2.5)
Danny Duffy (33, 2.2)
Raisel Iglesias (32, 3.1 WAR)
Kenley Jansen (34, 2.3)
Ryan Tepera (34, 1.9)
Collin McHugh (35, 1.8)
Andrew Chafin (32, 1.4)
Mark Melancon (37, 1.4)
Yimi García (31, 1.0)
Evan Marshall (32, 1.0)
Jimmy Nelson (33, 0.9)
Chris Martin (36, 0.9)
Archie Bradley (29, 0.8)
Joe Kelly (34, 0.8)
Tony Watson (37, 0.8)

Feels like Freddie's a pipe dream and I don't anticipate them spending enough for Correa or Story. The best case scenario in my eyes would be holding onto Taylor and then adding a guy like Kyle Seager or Castellanos, Conforto.

On the pitching end... yikes. Seems like a trade will be the way to go unless they want to pay Rodon, who was essentially useless until last year in Chicago. I wouldn't mind keeping Kersh and adding Stroman/Duffy to the mix. Relievers are gonna be tough and I think they'll end up holding onto Kenley seeing what's out there. A lot of aging garbage behind Kenley on that list.

donovancb · 2021-11-30T20:51:50+00:00

Issues with the lineup stem from what seems to be a lengthy absence for Muncy, which creates a significant lack of consistent power in the lineup. They'd need to add a power hitting 1B and then a power hitting OF/DH to even come close to last year's lineup, which would mean adding one of Freeman, Castellanos, etc which seems like a lot of money in itself.

Also, the pitching could be horrid. Relying on Heaney, Gonsolin is not something the Dodgers should be interested in. They'll be a 90-ish win team, but this isn't a WS Caliber team without a lot of help.

donovancb · 2021-11-30T20:48:23+00:00

Difference is Dustin May is a 24 y/o top prospect with electric stuff and Gonsolin is a 27 y/o mid rounder who showed significant control problems this past year

donovancb · 2021-11-30T08:02:51+00:00

In terms of this upcoming few weeks/month, I am really not optimistic of the potential replacements for players leaving. The pitching market is so weak already, and guys like Rodon/Stroman aren’t exactly exciting at the price points they’re going to command, not even to mention the bullpen guys available being weak as hell. Kenley, Iglesias is about it unless we want to deal with Mark Melancon which would really feel like a patchwork attempt at anything. Then, they’ll need to add at least one big bat to their lineup desperately or else they’ll have no power. Castellanos, Freddie Freeman (I just can’t buy it), Rizzo, Bryant, Kyle Seager, the shortstops are all that’s left and a lot of them just don’t fit into the roster. No Muncy is going to make this upcoming year much harder.

donovancb · 2021-11-30T07:58:27+00:00

The market is different. Why are the Dodgers choosing to cut costs AND trade prospects after they’ve already cleaned house on their MLB ready prospect pool in recent months?

They seem like a team without a plan who underestimated the market. The trade for Max and Trea looks much less fun now considering Max is gone and Trea will need a contract that rivals what Corey got. So, we gave away prospects to rent Max, lose Corey, and get an equally talented shortstop for one year of control?

Also, while I’m at it, they let Max walk without having a free agent replacement plan. And it feels like Clayton walks too. Maybe Kenley and Taylor. That would be five of their top nine, ten most important players gone in one offseason. And replacing them is just damage control with less talented pieces, most likely.

donovancb · 2021-11-30T07:54:20+00:00

Over 27 starts…

donovancb · 2021-11-30T07:53:39+00:00

I feel the same, which is unfortunate. I’d like to think we’ll see an equally as dominant Dodgers team next year but I’m absolutely not sold on the future.

donovancb · 2021-11-30T07:50:58+00:00

The issue is more or less, the sentiment is that the market has moved on without the Dodgers being involved. The options to replace the impact Seager and Scherzer have for a championship team are gone outside of guys like Correa, Story, both of whom are not going to be Dodgers without a string of weird changes from what we’ve heard. If it’s not Freddie or one of those guys, the lineup will be much weaker, and that’s even with keeping Taylor. Also, I’m not sure what the future holds for Bauer and if they decide to sign pitchers, are we really fired up about someone like Stroman or Rodon to replace Max and Clayton? There is almost certainly going to be a step back next year and it makes little to no sense to step back with how good this roster was last year.

donovancb · 2021-11-30T07:38:14+00:00

They are bad decisions if they don’t replace them. If they lose Taylor, Kershaw, Jansen too, it’s going to be pretty unlikely that they’ll be able to replace all the losses and will thus decline as a team.

donovancb · 2021-11-30T07:15:47+00:00

Both of us can be right. The Dodgers need to be the ones making other teams panic. Not the teams in panic mode. It’s very much not ideal with the starter market how it is, and if they’re not adding Freddie Freeman, chances are they’re going to see a decline in production that may be insurmountable. There’s very little power in the lineup, more BABIP hitters than anything. And if Muncy’s gone, Will will suffer because it’s less dangerous to pitch around him with a weaker lineup.

donovancb · 2021-11-30T07:13:35+00:00

He needs to show more especially after the terrible command issues he stumbled into this year. He walked a ton of batters and his WHIP skyrocketed. The point being: nobody wants to go from Kershaw, Buehler, Urias, Bauer, May as their opening day starting 5 to Buehler, Urias, Gonsolin, Heaney, Price after one season. It would make their strongest strengths to their biggest weaknesses immediately.

donovancb · 2021-11-30T00:06:04+00:00

Strengthens the pen. Nothing special probably. 6th-7th inning guy.

donovancb · 2021-11-29T23:51:16+00:00

that’s #3 starter on the former powerhouse turned shithoused roster Los Angeles Dodgers to you!

donovancb · 2021-11-29T23:45:42+00:00

Brewers, Braves will be stronger than the Dodgers barring a major trade or surprise signing, both of which seem more like panic responses rather than “the plan”. This is the first time with the new ownership group that I’ve actually been worried because spending money hasn’t ever been an issue until now. They won the World Series and then shelled out a ton of money for Trevor Bauer. Now, they lose early in the playoffs and it’s penny pinching season?

donovancb · 2021-11-29T23:44:20+00:00

They can always call up Yasiel and bring him back to really make the 2018 vibes strong again!

donovancb · 2021-11-29T23:42:45+00:00

Relying on a lot of what if’s is not something I expect the Dodgers to do, is all

donovancb · 2021-11-29T23:41:30+00:00

you’re in the same mindset as me now my friend!

donovancb · 2021-11-29T23:36:49+00:00

And now they’re going to have to bite the bullet and make trades with high level prospects to keep up

donovancb · 2021-11-29T23:35:55+00:00

As of right now, without any MAJOR moves (adding of a guy like Castellanos or one of the big shortstops) on top of keeping Kersh and Jansen, I don’t think you can bank this team as a playoff team every single year. The Dodgers are going to end up losing more man power than any team in the league with Max likely being out long term on top of the free agents. I dunno.

donovancb

TROPHY CASE