NEWS/RUMORS/DISCUSSION Thread

Kendrick 'thankful' for Dodgers in unexpected offseason
by Eric Avakian | Dodger Blue — 6 hours ago

Entering the offseason, Howie Kendrick was among the players expected to receive and decline the qualifying offer. The Los Angeles Dodgers extended qualifying offers to three of their four eligible players — Brett Anderson, Zack Greinke and Howie Kendrick.

Jimmy Rollins did not receive a qualifying offer, and Greinke and Kendrick declined theirs. While Greinke went on to sign with the Arizona Diamondbacks, free agency was not nearly as kind for Kendrick.

Under the current collective bargaining agreement, once a player declines a qualifying offer any other team who signs said player must forfeit their highest draft pick; top-10 picks are protected and in that event, a club’s next-highest pick is forfeited.

This undeniably hamstrung the market for the 32-year-old Kendrick, who reportedly was seeking a four-year contract when free agency began.

He didn’t receive that, but signed a two-year deal with the Dodgers on Thursday. According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports, Kendrick was surprised by how the offseason unfolded:

“I figured there would be quite a few suitors for me, and nobody was really calling. Here it is, getting close to spring training, and you keep hearing the same thing over and over. Nobody wanted to give up that draft pick. It was a shocker.”​

The current system has seen quality players such as Dexter Fowler and Yovani Gallardo still without a contract as Spring Training nears. Kendrick, like others, believes a change is needed:

“When you get to free agency, you’re supposed to be a free agent,” Kendrick said. “Now, with this qualifying offer, teams are trying to decide: Do I make my major league team better or minor league system better? It forces teams to make a choice, and it’s hurting everybody. There are a lot of good players out there who can help teams. It’s such a strange market.”​

Prior to Kendrick re-signing, he received some interest from the Diamondbacks and Washington Nationals. However, Washington signed Daniel Murphy to a three-year, $37.5 million contract, and the Diamondbacks were hesitant to lose another draft pick.

Although the offseason did not go as anticipated for Kendrick, he’s pleased to remain in Los Angeles:

“I’m thankful for the Dodgers,” Kendrick said, “and I’m glad I’m going back, but I just never thought free agency would be like this. It’s tough when you know what type of player you are, knowing you can play and help win ballgames for your team but not get any knocks on the door.”​

Kendrick batted .295/.336/.409 with nine home runs, 54 RBIs, a .325 wOBA and 109 wRC+ in 117 games last season. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said there’s a possibility Kendrick will receive playing time at third base this season.

 

wasn't all that long ago...

Latest on Juan Uribe
by Jeff Todd | MLB Trade Rumors — 2 hours ago

Veteran third baseman Juan Uribe remains available in free agent as the market for infielders has continued to move slowly. He’s been a consistently productive player since turning around his fading career in 2013, putting up a .281/.329/.432 slash while averaging about a dozen home runs over 400 plate appearances annually since that time. And while defensive metrics didn’t view him as a huge contributor with the glove last year, as they had in the two prior seasons, Uribe factors as a positive in the field. Of course, he’s also closing in on 37 years of age.

Here’s the latest:

• The Giants have had talks with Uribe’s camp, says Buster Olney of ESPN.com (Twitter link). San Francisco obviously doesn’t have a starting role available, but could conceivably use Uribe at third, second, and even first. But the asking price remains too steep for San Francisco’s liking, Olney says.

• As far as Uribe’s negotiating stance goes, Olney adds in another tweet that his reps are telling teams that they are willing to “discuss salaries at two different scales.” The ask would be higher if the team proposes to use him as a regular, as opposed to a bench piece. With the Indians said to be looking at Uribe as a fairly significant contributor, it isn’t clear exactly how this line of thinking will impact the ultimate results.

• The Yankees ought to consider making a play for Uribe to occupy the roster spot that might have gone to injured youngster Greg Bird, Joel Sherman of the New York Post suggests. New York hasn’t done so as of yet, Sherman notes, but ought to pursue a deal with the versatile defender. With Alex Rodriguez functioning as a bat-only player — a point which GM Brian Cashman made abundantly clear — Sherman suggests that flexibility is a higher need than another power hitter in the infield mix.

​

 

Van Slyke looking to return to 2014 form
by Daniel Starkand | Dodger Blue — 2 hours ago

While the Los Angeles Dodgers have undergone some roster changes during the offseason, the core of the 2015 team is in place to return this season.

One of the biggest strengths of last year’s group was depth on the bench. Injuries forced Los Angeles to rely on their bench more than anticipated, though the players responded.

Among those who filled in for injured or struggling regulars were A.J. Ellis, Andre Ethier, Kiké Hernandez and Scott Van Slyke, among others.

Van Slyke is entering his fifth season with the club, but is hoping to rebound from a disappointing close to 2015.

A wrist injury prevented Van Slyke from being included on the Dodgers’ postseason roster as his effectiveness at the plate washed away.

With Spring Training beginning in just under three weeks, the versatile outfielder has made a full recovery. “I haven’t had any problems with [the wrist] this offseason yet,” Van Slyke said.

“I obviously haven’t been diving and doing all that stuff so we’ll just see how it goes in Spring.” Van Slyke finished last season batting .239/.317/.383 with six home runs, 14 doubles and 30 RBIs in 253 plate appearances.

The 29 year old is hoping this season will resemble the success he had in 2014, which has been his best year in the Majors thus far. That season he hit .297/.386/.524 with 11 home runs and 29 RBIs in 246 plate appearances.

“I think 2014 would be my year to emulate every year. Obviously I didn’t get that last year, but for me and my role, it is important to be as productive as I can when I get the opportunity to play,” Van Slyke said.

“What that looks like, I don’t know, but I know that defensively I want to be an asset. Going into the seventh inning, I want to be able to make a play that the guy in before me couldn’t be able to make.”

The Dodgers outfield depth has been a talking point over the past three seasons, and doesn’t figure to be a topic that fades into the background anytime soon. Dodgers general manager Farhan Zaidi refuted the notion trades for Ethier, Yasiel Puig or others, are in the works.

Although Van Slyke’s role may still need to be determined, he’s more than content with simply being in the Majors. “The role is what it is and I am very happy with my job. I would never complain about being in the big leagues in any role I have,” he said.

“Obviously, when you do something in life, you want to do it to the best of your ability. So, whether that is playing once a week, I’m going to do that to the best of my ability. And whether it is playing six days a week, I’m going to do that to the best of my ability. I can only control my attitude and how I look at my situation as a positive.”

 

Puig says Mattingly did the best he could
by Matthew Moreno | Dodger Blue — 12 minutes ago



Immediately after the Los Angeles Dodgers hired Andrew Friedman as president of baseball operations in October 2014, speculation was rampant the new front-office head would replace then-manager Don Mattingly with a skipper of his choosing.

However, Friedman gave Mattingly a vote of support during his introductory press conference at Dodger Stadium. No matter, the opinion Mattingly would soon be out as manager remained a popular one, and the expectation intensified once Joe Maddon resigned as Tampa Bay Rays manager.

Maddon wound up with the Chicago Cubs and Mattingly remained the Dodgers through the 2015 season — his fifth at the helm in Los Angeles.

Despite hamstring injuries limiting Yasiel Puig to a career-low 79 games, and the Dodgers’ rotation losing Brandon McCarthy and Hyun-Jin Ryu for the year, the club was crowned National League West champions a third consecutive year.

Additionally, the Dodgers posted a third straight season with at least 90 wins for the first time in franchise history since 1976-78. However, they again were unable to advance beyond the National League Division Series, getting eliminated by the New York Mets in five games.

The Dodgers mutually parted ways with Mattingly one week after the club’s season came to an end. While the 54-year-old skipper was unable to get the Dodgers over the hump, Puig credited Mattingly for managing to the best of his abilities, according to Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com:



Just as they did with Mattingly prior to the 2011 season, the Dodgers again hand the reins to a first-year manager. Dave Roberts arrived with plenty of promise and praise, but ultimately is an unproven commodity.

Roberts is aware of the high expectations that come with managing the Dodgers, and he welcomes them. He’s also placed an importance on forging a strong bond with his roster, with an emphasis on guiding Puig to a bounce-back season.

Roberts and Puig met for the first time during the Dodgers’ FanFest event last weekend. They both provided a positive recap of the encounter. They’ll spend considerable more time together once position players report for Spring Training on Feb. 24.

 

hey preller,
how'd all that asinine shit, er, creative stuff you tried last offseason work out?
what, it didn't? who would have guessed?
certainly not (those mindless asshats at) mlb network who praised all the stupid shit, er, bold moves you made
and good job firing bud black who clearly didn't utilize the defensively inept pieces of shit, er, players you acquired properly
oh, and please tell logan white we said hello
yeah, our international scouting really took a nosedive after his departure
oh well, fuck off, er, best of luck in 2015!
sincerely,
any/everyone with a baseball iq >1
:tuborg:

Padres Notes
by Mark Polishuk | MLB Trade Rumors — 1 minute ago

In a wide-ranging interview with several members of Padres upper management, Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune hears that the club isn’t looking at 2016 as a rebuilding year. “[2015] was part of a journey, part of the plan. 2016 brings a next step with a new manager and a team we think is going to compete,” team president/CEO Mike Dee said. The general refrain is that the Padres’ quieter offseason has been about bolstering the minor league ranks while also adding some Major League pieces “who are going to be a fit and complement the roster,” GM A.J. Preller said. Part of the reason for optimism is, simply, the feeling that the Padres are bound to improve simply because pretty much everything went wrong last season.

Preller defended the decision to not trade Craig Kimbrel, Ian Kennedy or other pieces at last July’s deadline, noting that what was offered for those players last year wasn’t as valuable as what the Padres eventually got back from the Red Sox for Kimbrel, or the first-round compensation pick received when Kennedy signed with the Royals. “There’s always a time and a place to make deals. It’s not as easy as saying, hey, we should’ve traded everyone at the trade deadline. Whether it’s adding or moving players, you’re trying to get value,” Preller said.

The Padres are widely expected to be heavy spenders in the 2016-17 international signing period that opens on July 2, and they also own six picks within the top 85 selections of the 2016 amateur draft. This focus on lower-priced youngsters who (ideally) can develop into stars is a key part of San Diego’s strategy. “What we feel strategically is, money spent on amateur draft signings is money well spent,” chief shareholder Peter Seidler tells Lin. “It’s basically going to be almost certainly less than what Ian Kennedy gets for one year…If we get back out of this draft two players that go through our system and become All-Stars, obviously it’s money well spent.”

ESPN’s Buster Olney took a much less optimistic view of the Padres’ situation in a recent subscription-only column, arguing that the team’s offseason moves have all the look of a club that is embarking on a rebuild. The Padres, in Olney’s view, have little choice but to start over after “last winter’s ill-fated binge” of spending. Between adding expensive salaries and trading prospects, Olney hears from some rival evaluators that the Padres cost themselves hundreds of millions worth of value last offseason. Olney suggests that the Padres should take advantage of the weak 2016-17 free agent class by offering their veterans (and really, anyone on the roster) in trades to amass young talent.

Right-handed pitching prospect Ryan Butler has been issued a 50-game suspension for violating the minor league drug policy, Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. This is Butler’s second positive test for a drug of abuse. The 23-year-old Butler was a seventh-round draft pick for the Padres in 2014 and he cracked the Double-A level for the first time last season. Butler was ranked 13th (by MLB.com) and 14th (by Baseball America) in recent rankings of the top prospects in San Diego’s minor league system, with MLB.com’s scouting report noting that Butler could be on the fast track to the majors if he was made a full-time reliever.​

 

Seager, Montas make exclusive list
by Justin Russo | Dodgers Nation — 6 minutes ago

Today, Bleacher Report posted a list of the “Top MLB Prospects Who Could Force Way onto 25-Man Rosters in 2016 Spring Camp.” On that list were two members of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and one of them was a tad shocking until you delve deeper into why it isn’t.

First on the list was shortstop Corey Seager, and that totally makes sense since Seager is slated to be the Opening Day shortstop after he OPS’d .986 in 113 plate appearances to end the season. In all likelihood, it appears that Seager is going to win the National League Rookie of the Year Award.

The interesting part came with the last name on the slideshow list, and that was right-hander Frankie Montas. While he’s certainly not the prospect that left-hander Julio Urias and right-hander Jose De Leon are, at least from a pure pitching standpoint, he has something that those two don’t – a devastating power fastball.

From the Bleacher Report article:

"So if a need arises for a hard-throwing bullpen arm, it would make sense for Montas to be the first selected of the three. De Leon and Urias project as starters right now."​

This makes complete sense. With Montas’ ability to reach back and throw close to 102 MPH, the Dodgers might have use for a flamethrowing right-hander out of the bullpen to compliment the other pieces that they have. He’d certainly give them an added dimension.

When the Dodgers missed out on trading for star closer Aroldis Chapman, they missed the opportunity to add a power-thrower out of the pen, and they might be able to get that with Montas. It just won’t be from the left side, but that’s okay.

The Spring Training battle between some of the bullpen arms and Montas will be something to watch out for. If Montas makes the team out of camp, they might have their power reliever.

 

it wasn't so much a slam on white
it was directed at the naysayers who said we would be fucked without him
that his absence would hurt us internationally

 

Puig embracing change in 2016 season
by Jorge Morejón | ESPN — 12 hours ago

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic -- Yasiel Puig is focused on leaving his mistakes in the past and performing as expected in 2016 for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

A few pounds lighter, the Cuban outfielder said he is focused on playing all 162 games this regular season, unlike last season, when injuries limited him to just 79.

"I am working to strengthen the legs and prevent injuries like last year and focused on continuing adjusting to my new life in the majors, to get along with my teammates and try to help the team," Puig said Friday in an interview with ESPN Deportes.

Puig already has met new Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who replaced Don Mattingly this offseason.

"I talked to him and I am glad that he's on board, because I believe that he will help me a lot to relate to everybody on the team," Puig said. "When I was in Cuba [in December], I asked Nelson Cruz and Miguel Cabrera for some advice, because in their beginnings in MLB, they were also criticized. I don't know how to do it [to relate]. I'm not going locker by locker, shaking hands with everyone. The people like to criticize everything. They even criticized God, whom they didn't know, so, it doesn't matter if they criticize Yasiel Puig."

Puig joined the ESPN Deportes broadcast team Friday in the press box of Estadio Quisqueya. Like Cuban compatriots Aroldis Chapman and Adeiny Hechavarria did last year in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Puig came to support the team of Ciego de Avila, which is representing Cuba in the Caribbean Series.

Puig even joked a little bit about the future in his conversation with broadcasters Enrique Rojas, Ozzie Guillen, Ernesto Jerez and Luis Alfredo Alvarez.

"I'm practicing just in case I have to prepare to do something else besides play baseball," he said. "If the Dodgers release me, and nobody else give me a job, then maybe I'll apply for a job at ESPN."

 

Dodgers 2016 bullpen will be a group effort, like always
by Eric Stephen | True Blue LA — 2 hours ago

LOS ANGELES -- We are two weeks from the first Dodgers spring training workout with pitchers and catchers, but it appears — appears — the opening day 25-man roster is mostly set. That includes the bullpen, in which I would contend there are six current locks.

But consider this a reminder that no matter the seven or so relievers that will be in the Dodgers bullpen at Petco Park on April 4, the team's relief effort is likely to feature several contributors, because that is what always happens.

There is no greater source of fan angst than bullpen performance. No matter how well a relief corps is performing, fans will always think they should do better, but that comes with the volatility of the position. This offseason, the Dodgers' major bullpen changes have consisted of one agreed-to-but-aborted trade for closer Aroldis Chapman and the signing of 35-year-old Joe Blanton, who found renewed life in relief after hitting a dead end as a starter.

"We're big believers in Pedro Baez, Yimi Garcia, and Chris Hatcher," Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said last Saturday at FanFest.

That trio, plus Blanton, closer Kenley Jansen and left-hander J.P. Howell are my six roster locks for the bullpen at the moment. Those six pitchers combined for a 2.85 ERA in 2015, with a combined strikeout rate of 28.6 percent, nobody under the 20.5-percent mark by Howell. The walk rate for those six in 2015 was just 5.5 percent.

It's not just the extraordinary Jansen skewing the numbers, either. Remove the closer, and the other five combined for a 2.94 ERA with a 26.5-percent strikeout rate and 6.2-percent walk rate, still very strong numbers.

As for the seventh spot in the bullpen, it could be Luis Avilan to open the season. Or if Hyun-jin Ryu is healthy and ready to start, then Alex Wood might find his way toward relief work. Or perhaps Carlos Frias if he's not starting in Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Friedman also mentioned Frankie Montas and Yaisel Sierra as potential bullpen options throughout the season. Though the Cuban defector Sierra still hasn't officially signed yet, his reported six-year, $30 million contract currently waiting in bureaucratic limbo.

"It's a complicated process. It's just going to take time, and there's not a ton of transparency to how that works in terms of timing," Friedman said of Sierra. "We're hopeful to have him in spring training when pitchers and catchers report."

Currently, there is also potential relief help on the 40-man in the form of Adam Liberatore, Ian Thomas, Josh Ravin and Jharel Cotton.

But the point is there will be several pitchers in relief for the Dodgers in 2016. Last year, 12 different Dodgers made at least 10 relief appearances, one shy of the franchise record set in 2005 and 2006. Ten different Dodgers pitched at least 20 games in relief.

That seems to be the trend of late.

Over the last 10 years, the Dodgers have averaged just over 18 relief pitchers used per season and just under nine pitchers each year making at least 20 appearances in relief.

Expect that to continue going forward. In other words, there is more to the season than just the opening day roster.

 

Kershaw, others view Maeda in high regard
by Eric Avakian | Dodger Blue — 8 hours ago



It wasn’t first without a few twists and turns, but the Los Angeles Dodgers managed to move on from losing Zack Greinke to the Arizona Diamondbacks by signing Scott Kazmir and Kenta Maeda.

Kazmir was the first to sign, receiving a three-year, $48 million deal. Maeda’s signing of an eight-year, $25 million contract was officially announced roughly one week later.

Not only does Maeda present plenty of intrigue as he’s the lone right-handed starter currently projected to be in the Opening Day rotation, he’s also somewhat of an unknown as this season will mark his first outside Nippon Professional Baseball.

Having watched video of Maeda, Clayton Kershaw believes the Japanese native has the skill set to succeed in the Majors.

“It looks like he throws a ton of strikes and is able to command the ball really well. You know, I think if anything, just knowing how (Hiroki) Kuroda came over and what he did, it’s not easy to go from pitching once a week to every five days,” Kershaw said at Dodgers FanFest.

As is the case when Japanese starting pitchers make the transition, the Dodgers ace stressed the importance of adjusting to pitching more frequently. “I think if he can figure that out pretty quickly in Spring Training, he’ll be fine because obviously the talent level is there,” Kershaw said.

“It’s just a matter of figuring out how to throw 33 starts as opposed to 28. He’s been healthy over there and done it. It’s just a matter of that every fifth day comes really fast, so if he can figure that out he’ll be fine.”

Kazmir is another who has watched film of Maeda and is eager to see his teammate during Spring Training. “I can’t wait to see him out on the mound to really see how he goes about everything, his pitches and everything,” Kazmir said.

“I expect to see a competitor, from what I saw in the videos. A guy that really attacks the strike zone, pinpoint location, and just keeps hitters off balance. That’s what you need in this league.”

Yasmani Grandal hasn’t yet spoken with Maeda, though wants to see much of the same from the soon-to-be-28-year-old. “Somebody asked me yesterday what would be my best advice for him, and I said not to change. I like everything about him, I like everything he does,” Grandal said.

“He looks like he is a very smart pitcher. I’m just excited to have him in the rotation. We got a lot of guys that can compete that are really good. Our starting pitching just got that much better with him, and Kazmir, and (Hyun-Jin) Ryu is coming back.”

Maeda was 15-8 with a 2.09 ERA and 1.01 WHIP last season. He won a second career Sawamura Award, which is the equivalent to MLB’s Cy Young Award. While the $25 million contract guarantee was lower than anticipated — explained by “irregularities” that arose in a physical — Maeda can ultimately earn just shy of $100 million by reaching incentives.

Both Maeda and Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman are confident the elbow will not be an issue moving forward, citing Maeda’s healthy track record over the past eight seasons.

 

hopefully miggy didn't offer any culinary advice :eating:

Puig sought advice from Miguel Cabrera and Nelson Cruz
By Matthew Moreno | Dodger Blue — 2 hours ago



Since signing a seven-year, $42 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers in June 2012, Yasiel Puig has been a target of criticism. It began with claims the Dodgers severely overpaid for the Cuban import, and has continued with Puig’s work ethic and attitude coming under fire.

One season removed from being named a National League All-Star, the polarizing outfielder was limited to a career-low 79 games due to multiple hamstring injuries that required stints on the disabled list.

He managed to return in time for the final two regular-season games and made the Dodgers’ postseason roster, but was a non-factor in three games (one start) against the New York Mets.

While Puig’s name has surfaced in trade rumors this offseason, the Dodgers have maintained a stance of wanting to keep him on their roster, with a focus on getting the 25 year old back on track.

Part of that entails new manager Dave Roberts forming a strong relationship with Puig. The two met for the first time at the Dodgers FanFest event on Jan. 30, and by all accounts it went well.

Another hurdle of sorts that needs to be cleared is Puig and his teammates developing better relationships. According to ESPN’s Jorge Morejón, Puig believes Roberts will aid that process, and the Dodgers outfielder also turned to Miguel Cabrera and Nelson Cruz for advice:

“I talked to him and I am glad that he’s on board, because I believe that he will help me a lot to relate to everybody on the team,” Puig said. “When I was in Cuba [in December], I asked Nelson Cruz and Miguel Cabrera for some advice, because in their beginnings in MLB, they were also criticized. I don’t know how to do it [to relate]. I’m not going locker by locker, shaking hands with everyone. The people like to criticize everything. They even criticized God, whom they didn’t know, so, it doesn’t matter if they criticize Yasiel Puig.”​

Last November, Andy Van Slyke, father of Dodgers outfielder Scott Van Slyke, implied during a radio interview that Clayton Kershaw asked the club to trade Puig. The close relationship between Kershaw and Scott gave the claim some merit.

Both Kershaw and Van Slyke largely denied such a conversation took place between the two. Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said last December he was not approached by Kershaw with the request or demand.

Puig enters the 2016 season with an opportunity to start from scratch — at least with his manager. He’ll be attempting to do so having trimmed down, with the hope it will help alleviate the hamstring injuries that plagued him last season.​