Dodger Talk

I think they'll only spend on a bullpen arm, but we just saw the limit they won't cross is 10 million for Morrow so my hopes aren't even high on that front.

The biggest reason we couldn't trade for Stanton is money? With this FO that should never be an issue. It's insulting to me honestly.

The Dodgers will probably win the division again, but get bounced early in the playoffs. They'll have successfully squandered Kershaw's best years (and maybe give him up as a FA). We'll probably win 90-ish games if we stay healthy.

I don't see Verdugo being much of anything. I don't see Taylor having the same success. I could easily see our rotation implode. I hate standing pat as a franchise when you have momentum to do better.

 

I'm all for it. I want to improve and Ozuna and Yelich are better than our CFs are right now. Last I'd heard they were trying to sell Ozuna with a contract. I'll take the contract back as well and they can have Verdugo. That kid didn't impress me a whole lot.

It sounds like they won't be spending on a bullpen arm, they'll be bargain hunting there. Interestingly they're also still talking to Darvish. I'd like to keep Darvish around despite what happened in the World Series, but he'd have to take significantly less than expected to stay here.

 

Dodgers trade Adrian Gonzalez, Scott Kazmir, Brandon McCarthy, Charlie Culberson, and 4 million to the Braves for Matt Kemp. They save a ton of money.

I can't explain how angry this makes me knowing they could have done this sooner and gotten Stanton.

 

Then they better get those guys, that's all I can say. They're more or less punting on 2018 in terms of improving. They could still have Stanton and Kemp (although I expect Kemp to move). They've now got a good 40 million to spend before the hit the luxury tax levels. They could have done this and still had some money left to spend. Instead they passed on Stanton and I'm extremely unhappy with that prospect. They had better sign Harper. That's all I can say. If they did this, passed on Stanton, and don't get a big name next summer I'm going to be furious. I hate punting when you have a great team and that's what we're doing all for a shot at something that may not work.

This time next year we better have Harper, we better keep Kershaw, and I'll be disappointed if we don't grab another arm or two as well (Shields, Kimbrel, Andrew Miller).

All that said, we now have enough money to keep Darvish and we honestly need to do it. Without the "depth" that the FO was so proud of in McCarthy and Kazmir, we need quality starters again. I know Darvish's last two games left a sour taste for everyone, but I'd rather have him than relying on Buehler or Urias to make the leap next season. I don't think we can count on a Kershaw/Hill/Wood/Ryu/Maeda lineup all year to the tune of 100 wins again. At least two of those guys are serious injury risks, but they're all at least moderate injury risks.

Re-signing Yu would be my priority now. Then find someone to take some of Kemp's money, it doesn't have to be much. Maybe you can roll into 2019 with:

C- Barnes
1B- Bellinger
2B- Forsythe
3B- Turner
SS- Seager
LF- Verdugo
C- Taylor
RF- Harper

Pitchers: Kershaw, Darvish, Shields, Wood, Hill, Maeda.

 

The difference is the Dodgers are actually good so attracting a FA won't be as difficult. They've also got deep ties to Harper in their FO so I'm guessing he's been their target all along.

It does feel very similar though. I wouldn't be surprised if this time next year Harper/Kershaw are on the Dodgers and LeBron and/or Paul George is on the Lakers.

 

Yep. I understand the move, but I don't have to agree with it. The draft pick part is the only thing that truly stands out to me. Sliding in the draft is a tangible problem. If it's a question of money, I don't want to hear it. This is one of the most profitable teams in the world and when they're successful, they're going to make a crazy amount of money.

All that said, it's forgiven (like the Lakers) if you get the star FA.

 

Could be less. There was a report he's got a small tear in his Achilles, not a full one or a break. He could be back in 4-5 months.

The Orioles are impossible to trade with... I'd take a look next winter as a FA.

 

I honestly don't know much about him, but my friends tell me he's really good and cheap for a long time. I have no attachment to the other kids, so I'm fine with the move.

Weird that we haven't moved Kemp yet though.

 

I liked Darvish a lot and I thought the FO had finally figured things out and understood that championship windows aren't open forever... I'm afraid that's not true.

However, they did earn a bit of my goodwill back by making the move in the first place. They have a plan to go get Harper next winter. They better do it. If they fail to do that and they wasted the best years of Clayton Kershaw, I'll never forgive this franchise.

Buehler and Urias better be back and ready to go. Darvish may have choked in the playoffs, but our rotation is certainly weaker without him.