MLB NEWS/RUMORS Thread

Discussion in 'Los Angeles DODGERS' started by irish, Nov 2, 2017.

?

If the Dodgers could acquire one player at the deadline, who would you prefer?

  1. Machado

    43.5%
  2. Front line starter (degrom, thor, et al)

    56.5%
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  1. ColoradoKidWitGame

    ColoradoKidWitGame DSP Legend Administrator

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    Same approach the Dodgers took to pitching the Cubs in the NLCS. Took an offseason for that team to adjust, hopefully it doesn't take us that long.
     
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  2. Gebbeth

    Gebbeth DSP Legend

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    With guys like CT, Puig, Barnes, Grandal, Belli....good luck with that.
     
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  3. ColoradoKidWitGame

    ColoradoKidWitGame DSP Legend Administrator

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    With the rosters expanding soon, time to look at some of the guys not on the 40-man roster that could be looked at for the stretch run(and some that aren't).
    • RHP John Axford - 10 Day DL, Fracture - Terrible waste of money at the deadline by the FO that got hurt after taking a comebacker from Trevor Story in his 3rd game. Should be back before the end of the season, but he is an MR at best and hasn't been good in 5 years.
    • RHP J.T. Chargois - 10 Day DL, Nerve Irritation- Injuries have derailed his career before. Stuff is best suited as a ROOGY right now in a much deeper bullpen. If healthy, he could be valuable in that role, but probably not playoff roster worthy.
    • LHP Tony Cingrani - 60 Day DL, Shoulder Strain- To me, this has been the worst injury to happen to the bullpen this year. He looked stellar early, but could never get over his injury issues that he at first tried to pitch through. Got a cortisone shot in early August and nothing since. my guess is he's done for the year at this point.
    • RHP Josh Fields - 60 Day DL, Right Shoulder Inflammation- Starting his MiLB rehab assignment with OKC. Will be a Sept call up when he gets healthy so someone will have to go. Kinda forget how valuable he was as a MR.
    • RHP Erik Goeddel - 10 Day DL, Right Elbow Inflammation- Both Hudson and Goeddel seem like phantom DL's as not much has been reported
    • RHP Daniel Hudson- 10 Day DL, Right Forearm Tightness- Both Hudson and Goeddel seem like phantom DL's as not much has been reported
    • RHP Tom Koehler - 60 Day DL, Strained Right Shoulder- Out for season.
    • LHP Adam Liberatore - 7 Day DL, MiLB - He's hurt, shocking... LOOGY at best at this point and has seen big drop in velocity and loss of command to boot.
    • LHP Zac Rosscup - 10 Day DL, Left Calf Strain- He's a LOOGY and not a very good one.
    • RHP Dennis Santana - 60 Day DL, Right Rotator Cuff Strain- Threw a 30 pitch bullpen on Aug 21st where he sat around 90 MPH. Team could and probably will elect to go the safe route with him. If he comes back to where he was before the injury, he is said by some to be moving up into being a top pitching prospect for 2019 after a second straight season of impressive improvements across all phases of his game. As a bullpen piece, he has 60/70 grade sinker that some feel could play up.
    • RHP Brock Stewart - AAA OKC - Has been moved back to a starters role and he has regained the look he had a couple years ago of a solid back of the rotation starter. Getting a lot more ground balls, but K's have taken a hit. May not be reliever material, but more stellar performances could cause the team to look at him as the #5 starter down the stretch if Wood continues to falter and the club elects to use him as a valuable BP piece. This is my own idea, but needs the offense to get going to make ANY sense.
    • RHP Ross Stripling - 10 Day DL, Lower Back Inflammation- He has blown by his IP total from last season and showed some serious wear down the stretch. Headed to the BP on Tuesday when he returns. Toss up for me, if his velocity and command don't take a step up in the pen, he could be more of a MR or LR. If the rest helps him regain his stuff, or it even takes a step forward then he will be a great option to pitch the 8th ahead of Jansen.
    • LHP Julio Urias - HiA Rancho - The long slow return from shoulder surgery is coming to a close, but it looks a little too late to positively impact the Dodgers stretch run. They have said that he will be brought up in Sept to pitch low leverage innings. Velocity has been 91-94 in each of his last 3 starts after some scary early reports. Should be seeing at least one more start before getting the call(not sure why they would not have him finish out the damned season with someone).
    • C/UTL Kyle Farmer - AAA OKC - Having another solid/unspectacular season, but the not great thing is that the club has cut WAY back on his catching duties where he is regarded as below average defensively. Has hit lefties well this year and COULD see himself getting some AB's against them down the stretch if the club chooses to go the offensive route over the abysmal performance from Barnes. Pretty much the closest thing to a guarantee call up on Sept 1.
    • SS Corey Seager - 60 DL, Right Elbow Reconstruction Surgery - Sigh....
    • CIF/COF Rob Segedin - 7 Day DL, MiLB - Hasn't been able to stay on the field for the second straight season.
    • 2B Chase Utley - 10 Day DL, Magical Injury When Team Needed The Roster Spot- Read injury report, he'll be back.
    • UTL Tim Locastro- AAA, OKC- The Hit (by pitch) Machine is enjoying another solid season in the Dodgers organization. Interesting UTL bat that could be valuable 24th/25th man on roster eventually. Unremarkable and non-factor this season in all likelihood, but on base abilities are very intriguing and could be used against LHP.
    • OF Andrew Toles- AAA, OKC- The board favorite of some has had a decent bounceback year from his awful season ending injury last year, though he has once again had injury issues this year. His skill set has shown that he is probably a good 4th OF option at this point and a great bat off the bench, especially when facing a FB heavy RH reliever. He has been eaten up by LHP, but has crushed RHP. Could be an option for the playoff roster due to his speed, arm and knack for putting the bat on the ball.
    • OF Alex Verdugo - AAA, OKC- My personal favorite is in the midst of another solid season. After a white hot streak that saw Verdugo's BA rise to nearly .350 at one point, the lefty outfielder ran into a slump that ended up seeing him miss a few games(injury? illness? mental health?) before seeing him start to string some hits together again over the last three games(including a 3-4 outing tonight.) Still not hitting for a lot of power, but still makes hard contact, doesn't K a lot and takes his walks to boot. Has taken care of himself versus both RHP(.817 OPS) and LHP(.984), not to mention good "clutch" numbers". I've said it over and over again that this is the type of hitter that this team is sorely missing. Give him a shot when rosters expand to take LF and put Belli in CF.

    That is 20 players total, 5 of which are on the 60 Day with 2 for sure done for the season, 1 coming back this week and 2 unlikely to return at this point. If you look just at guys on the 40 man, there are a lot of filler bullpen options likely on their way back and gives the team some options to play match ups. Though LH relief pitching is looking REALLY shaky and that can be very dangerous for a rotation built around 4 lefties. A couple things to watch going forward.

    1. What does the club do with Segedin and Liberatore? I think Segedin at this point should just be DFA'd if the roster spot is needed and is the most likely candidate to go for Fields. He has been useless for some time now and is probably a goner in the offseason anyway. Liberatore still has 3 years of control and is arb eligible this next year, if he is unable to play the rest of the season, then they could activate him and then 60 Day him to free up an extra spot. The problem with this is that he wold then cost the team room against the tax(I could be wrong as his salary may be guaranteed just for being on the 40 man).
    2. Of all those people I mentioned above, only Hudson and Axford are free agents at the end of the season. Rosscup is the easiest to DFA in terms of sheer talent, but then comes the LOOGY issues. If the team has a trade to do, someone may have to fall on the sword to stay with the organization.
    3. The Dodgers are said to be looking at options at the catching position. It is not for a starter, but someone that hits lefties that would take over for Austin Barnes. The org is said to still love Austin and he is in the future plans, but they are going to see if they can nab a waiver guy to carry the load vs lefties.
    4. The club is reportedly looking at bullpen options, but nobody worth their salt is getting to them. I've said it a couple times, including earlier, but some sort of an offense re-emergence over the next couple of days could get the team to look at a starter and then moving Wood to the pen.
    5. The Dodgers have saved a bit more money than expected due to Kershaw and them being bigger dicks to Maeda than many of us thought they would be. If they are unable to land an arm, I would not be shocked to see them go after a RH bat for the OF.
    After all that, there is still more! So what other options might there be within the org that aren't on the 40 man? Well... not many:
    • CIF/LF Edwin Rios, AAA OKC - Someone who figured to be up with the club at some point this season, but an injury the last week of ST took a HUGE bite out of his season. Since coming back, the power has not been there, but by all accounts, the hit tool still is. He has been solid all season and has hit both LHP and RHP, though he is a LHH. Has light tower power usually, so could be an interesting bat. Does have a huge K rate. Still said to be pretty terrible with the glove.
    • UTL Matt Beaty, AAA OKC - This was a guy that I was hearing a lot about coming into the season as someone who could have been one of those older prospects that ends up being an impact player. Like Rios his season was hurt by injuries. He was actually supposed to be out for the season, but recovered in a matter of weeks and is back playing(though the results haven't been great). He is a UTL fielder and LHH, so I don't see him getting the call this year. Will need to be put on the 40 man this offseason or else he could be gone in the Rule 5 and I bet someone takes him.
    • LHP Manny Banuelos, AAA OKC- This is interesting in that Manny was the ace of the OKC Dodgers for most of the season, then at the start of August he was moved to the pen. It looks like it took him a couple games to adjust, but in his last 6 relief appearances, he has thrown 7.1 IP, 1 ER, 6 H, 0 BB and 8 K's. The only run came in a multi inning outing. Banuelos is a former top prospect that's career was derailed by injuries. He has also been very tough on lefties this year. This move has not gotten any attention, but I would not be shocked to see him get a shot if he continues to deal.
    • RHP Josh Sborz, AAA OKC- The move that everyone was waiting for finally happened when the Dodgers moved Sborz to the pen this year. Long regarded as solid relief prospect, the club held out hope that he could make it as a starter and kept him in that role. After a great run with Tulsa earlier this year, things stalled a bit in OKC before began to put together a few strings of solid outings. K's have jumped, but I suspect that he needs more seasoning before getting the call.
    • RHP Stetson Allie, AAA OKC- This is the guy that many have had their eyes on since he returned to pitching with a FB touching triple digits. Allie consistently works 99-101 with the fastball that he still is yet to truly harness. From what I have been told out of OKC, since joining the club, they have worked on him using his slider more and more as players have been sitting on the heat. It is not a great offering, but it is improving and it is at least keeping batters off balance somewhat. He has not been striking guys out yet at a great rate in AAA, but has only had one truly awful outing. He has been with OKC for 11 games, but by all accounts it sounds like the big club plans on giving him a shot this year.
    That is it I believe. Guys like Mitch White(finishing very strong) and Yadier Alvarez were players that could have seen a shot had they been able to A. Stay healthy and B. Just plain been better earlier in the season. White probably got the party started about a month too late.
     
  4. rube

    rube DSP Legend Staff Member Administrator

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    thing with analytics is that the other team has them too
    and he has them on you
    they always get figured out
    and then you need to change your figures
    which is fine with the A's and other small markets
    they can throw years away while they retool the formula
    then come back and rock the world again with their new thing
    until the novelty wears off
    and its back to the drawing board
    or spreadsheet in this case
     
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  5. Fall Winslow

    Fall Winslow McRib

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    If Kersh does opt out, seeing as how this FO didn't raise him, they'll probably throw a low-key party at HQ. If somebody else pays that price for an aging Kersh that misses significant time seemingly every year now, certainly can't be mad at it. That's the thing for me..when Kersh hits the DL that's just a hell of a lot of money sitting inactive. Doesn't matter what market you're in, which franchise you're talking about..a 35M a year guy sitting on the DL hurts.

    If he leaves, hopefully, LAD would use that salary relief in search of a force multiplier. A great every day player with true spark culture-wise. Another Turner..or a younger, more talented Turner I should say. Have a sneaky suspicion that Arenado could be the force multiplier type in the right situation, the competitive fire and passion that he plays with daily, but of course, he's not free this offseason. Gibby was the force multiplier for that '88 team. Could Seager or Belli become that in the future? Jury's out for now, but that'd likely be down the line and I'm thinking about potential offseason additions that can have that type of impact in the more immediate future.

    FO is obviously all good data and development wise, and they're creative with their transactions, but now they get a chance to grab their 1st landmark FA and hopefully he's an alpha that this group full of betas can get behind. Really do wish Arenado were a free agent. He's not quite the hitter he's billed to be, but he is a consistent .850-ish OPS B+ hitter away from Coors. The best glove I've seen at 3B since peak Ken Caminiti, no contest. A real fighter too and a homeboy, Newport Beach kid. Whatever momentum the ROX have now as an org..we take Arenado and that fire is extinguished. But again, that couldn't happen until after next season and likely never happens if they ink Manny. But sign Harper this year and then go for Arenado after next year? Hmm. Manny's a better long term buy than Harper is because infielders generally age better, but that's maybe also why the Phillies will prioritize Manny over Harper this offseason and potentially leave Harper to LAD, SFG and a couple AL suitors.
     
  6. Lazy Bastard

    Lazy Bastard DSP Regular

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    #Dodgers[​IMG] sign reliever Zach McAllister to minor-league deal.

    Season Saved:hide:
     
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  7. LAdiablo

    LAdiablo descarado

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    I like how you broke it down between LHP and RHP but will request an additional catagory
    RIP Kenley Jansen, Former all star who consistently gets shelled since the end of the 2017 season.
     
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  8. ColoradoKidWitGame

    ColoradoKidWitGame DSP Legend Administrator

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    Urias continues to show improvement with every start. This report from the game from Baseball Prospectus writer, Wilson Karaman
    First hitter of the night for Julio Urias is Torii Hunter's kid. 89-90 out the gate, nudges up to 91-2 to second hitter, touches 94 with cut & life on a 3-2 to the third. Cmd's close, just a bit off. Feel for 82-3 CH is there, one humped curve stayed up at 77

    Solid 2nd (& final) frame for Urias, sitting low-90s, 94-95 on final 2 pitches, showing 2-way life w/ natural cut but will also run it, gets after the hands to RH & LH alike. Swinging strikes w/ FB (4), CH (1), and a tight 84 SL (1). Better hook, too - 75 w/ solid finish

    I'm encouraged if I'm LA. Urias' command was pretty good, delivery's fluid and easy. Had a full-throttle step-back pick attempt, throwing easy and clean w/o reservation
     
  9. Fall Winslow

    Fall Winslow McRib

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    Everything lookin good for Urias. Must mean its time to shut him down.
    Have him go out on a high note, George Costanza style

     
  10. ColoradoKidWitGame

    ColoradoKidWitGame DSP Legend Administrator

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    Honestly, I don't really want him up at all this year. Keep him in Rancho through their playoffs and either send him to instructionals or the AFL and try to build up his innings for next season. Starting out to the first batter throwing 89-90 MPH is not a great sign for a dude that is going to be relied upon for 1 maybe 2 innings in relief. I realize that they say they are not going to use him in high leverage situations, but when you are going to be in a dog fight down the stretch just to get the second wild card, there is no room for a guy like this unless they plan on being blown out or running away with a game every 5th/6th day(or I guess they feel they won't be in it).
     
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  11. Bluezoo

    Bluezoo Among the Pantheon

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    It's pretty much the LAD FO/mgr approach all damn year. Dave a huge proponent of this format...different lineup every night.
    The time for hesitation is through, no time to wallow in the mire... time to light the fire.
    But tough to do when a team is constructed and managed like LA, and "experimentation" (either by choice or necessity) at this point, is high percentage counter productive...even hack announcers are remarking on how consistency gets the best out of players, and LA does the exact opposite of this.
     
  12. Fall Winslow

    Fall Winslow McRib

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    Yeah, I was only half joking there. I agree. Shit, Julio's career right now is essentially a high leverage situation. It's time to be cautious, especially with a recovering shoulder. Call this year of rehabilitation a success and look towards next season, definitely on board with that. He can go into the offseason with some optimism, feeling good after a long, tough road back.
     
  13. VRP

    VRP DSP Legend

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    Lol I hear what you’re saying, but I’d rather 14 year old Julio Urias throwing with his right hand than Dylan Floro or Pedro Baez throwing one pitch in the playoffs
     
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  14. ColoradoKidWitGame

    ColoradoKidWitGame DSP Legend Administrator

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    The Phillies landed Jose Bautista from the Mets. After a hot start with the club, he has really fallen off. The Phillies are currently tied with the Dodgers at 2.5 games out of the second WC, but their slumping offense and a terrible defense are causing them some problems.

    Winning a wild card spot is going to be incredibly difficult as the 3 leading Central clubs schedules are all fairly favorable. They barely play each other down the stretch, but do get a lot of the teams that are out of it. The Dodgers are somehow still considered the favorites to win the West due to them having a friendly SOS when not playing the top 2 AND they have the deepest 4o-man of the 3 west teams. The D'Backs bullpen has started to show cracks of late, but the Rockies offense has woken up to pair with a very good rotation(that too may be showing signs of wear). Both the D'Backs and Dodgers have what I would call a couple of "Trap Series" as they are playing some bad teams ahead of their important head to head series. The Dodgers need to take care of business in Texas otherwise they are going to be in a lot of trouble going into the weekend.
     
  15. Fall Winslow

    Fall Winslow McRib

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    I don't know if there's necessarily a single year scenario where I'd be willing to jeopardize Julio's progress/development, but I do know that this surely wouldn't be the year. Not for some underachieving lot
     
  16. Fall Winslow

    Fall Winslow McRib

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    A September surge isn't out of the question with the depth and the call ups, but of course, will Roberts know what to do with the depth and will these players not just choke?

    It's hard for me to look a strength of schedule right now because getting punked by SFG at home is still fresh on the brain. Kapler must be loving this opportunity. I don't even know what Philly's payroll looks like, but I'm sure it's nowhere near LAD's. Can't be.
     
  17. VRP

    VRP DSP Legend

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    Don’t agree that him throwing 5-10 innings in the playoffs has any effect on his development after missing two years
     
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  18. Fall Winslow

    Fall Winslow McRib

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    Except we both know that there's more to it than just showing up for games and appearances. He'll have to continue to throw sessions outside of games/appearances. Less about development and more about the progress he's made. We'll see what happens pretty soon.
     
  19. Fall Winslow

    Fall Winslow McRib

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    Sean Manaea now looking for a 2nd opinion on his own shoulder
    Mark this under shocking..A's place Brett Anderson on the DL
     
  20. ColoradoKidWitGame

    ColoradoKidWitGame DSP Legend Administrator

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    The team announced that Urias will not be ready to go when rosters expand on Sept 1. Roberts said that they want him to get 2-3 more starts before potentially coming up. 3 Starts is probably not really in the equation, but 2 certainly is with a couple of the MiLB affiliates heading to their post season.
     
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