NEWS/RUMORS/AROUND MLB Thread (Oct 2016 - Feb 2017)

He is a career .218 (.640 OPS) vs LHP his struggles are not new, he is, always has been, always will be a platoon player.

 

I have no idea where the info originated, whether it was Reddick or not. If it was, why shouldn't he dislike it? Any player who doesn't at least resent being platooned has no fucking heart anyway. Unless you beliwve in it that you should be platooned.
It may not have even originated on the Dodgers, either, with Reddick's interview.
And I assumed they might be sugggesting Dozier, since he seems the only player they are after now. Maybe not.

 

Yeah, with those career numbers, makes you wonder why they went in that " direction" at all then.
But that was then, now is now.

 

Reddick is a proven platoon player, and an effective one (except with us)

But no disagreements on him being an idiot

 

His 1 saving grace against LHP was his contact rate and how little he strikes out against them.
He's got decent speed, so he doesn't ground into DPs much, so from a team/strategy approach it's possible for him to maybe be the 8th or 9th guy in the lineup against lefties and do at least some good even if it's very little.
But outside of that, yeah, platoon guy, but on the right side of the platoon..which is why he got 50MM
Reddick being against platoons is fine, however, he's not an established star so nobody really gives a rat's ass if he doesn't wanna be with LAD

 

Strictly from an on-field performance standpoint, IMO, the absolute best fit for 2B is Ian Kinsler.
Only problem is he played himself with that extension demand..could've reunited with his ASU guy Ethier and been a difference maker for a team that's damn near guaranteed to play in OCT for the foreseeable future ( unlike his current squad).
Can't say I blame him too much, though, because he's better than 10.5MM per over the next 2 years..way better, and it's his right to flex his no trade/power.
Kinsler plays the kind of high level defense that they like up the middle, he just basically hits on everything they value.

And then of course, never to be overlooked, in 37 career playoff games ( 161 plate appearances) Kinsler has a .291/.400/.448 line, so dude rakes when it matters most and has that OCT experience over Dozier as well.
For all those reasons, though, gotta be tough to get that deal done with a DET team that has Miggy on it and winning expectations.
If LAD is weighing whether or not to give up this spec or that spec for Dozier VS giving Kinsler say a substantial raise or extra year..think I'd be on board with not sending a Verdugo along w/JDL for Dozier and instead loading Kinsler up with the money he's pretty much earned with his performance and giving up lesser specs for the older more immediate fit, but of course the lux-tax comes into play

 

Blanton may be coming to a decision soon as interest has picked up in him. It was believed early that the Dodgers and Marlins had the most interest in his services, however the Marlins are likely out after a bevy of relief signings. He is said to want to remain on the West Coast so that should give the Dodgers an edge as teams like the Padres and A's are likely not to be contenders and the Angels may not shell out the cash. So Dodgers, Giants and Mariners are likely the teams he would target most. He has made $55 mil over his career, so money may not be his biggest draw at this point. If the team could bring him back to a multi year deal with an AAV close to his 4 mil salary last year, I am all for it. The thing is, his WAR from last year has him worth roughly in the range of 3 times that so I doubt I get my wish. If the team is to bring him back, it would be interesting to see what is would do to their pursuit of Holland.

 

He owns a winery in Napa Valley so Gnats would be a threat but ultimately I think Joe will come back here. The only sticking point would be the number of years because the Dodgers are looking to sign relievers on 1 year deals. Are you struck by the fact that the Dodgers haven't DFA'd guys yet so that they can announce the Kenley deal? Maybe they don't want to release guys due to the holidays?

 

Blanton cost us a World Series. I can't forgive him, and don't want to see him back.

 

And he man handled us to get into another..

 

He was overworked due to the freakish amount of injuries we had last year. Not likely to see that ever again so despite the WS thing I'd resign him but only for a year.

 

This. Exactly.

The guys worried about being platooned (and I don't blame them for being worried) are going to be fringey starters. Unless we are notorious for platooning guys for unwarranted reasons, then it just is what it is - a reflection of our depth. Ultimately we are better off when players want to play here, but we can't please everyone and the type of players we want to attract the most are the top free agents/super stars... not guys worried about being platooned.

 

2019 squad

SS Seager
3B Machado
RF Harper
1B Turner
LF Bellinger
CF Pederson
2B whoever
C Grandal

Payroll 500 million.

 

Not really. Jansen is probably still on his honeymoon and the club is likely looking at options to clear up the space. I don't see them DFA'ing anyone at this point as they have a pretty solid 40 man and could probably move each member somewhere for something in return

 

No way we would make it to the NLCS.

We'd lose in the NLDS or probably miss the post-season altogether.