NEWS/RUMORS/PROSPECTS Thread

Syndergaard ... lol

 

brett anderson ready to return to the mlb hoozah!

 

Rosenthal on the Dodgers and Swanson. Appears the Bauer contract is still a dark cloud over the organization.



A path exists for the Dodgers to sign free-agent shortstop Dansby Swanson. Not an obvious path. Not an especially likely path. But the Dodgers could significantly alter their up-the-middle defense if they add Swanson and complete their efforts to trade for a young center fielder.

The Dodgers, fearing they might owe tens of millions in salary and luxury-tax penalties if an arbitrator reduces or overturns Trevor Bauer’s two-year suspension, are proceeding with caution this offseason. They are not unwilling to spend amid the Bauer uncertainty, as evidenced by their addition of Freddie Freeman last March and recent bid for Justin Verlander. But club officials view the roster as deep enough for them to pursue free agents in their usual manner — at their price.


Swanson, entering his age 29 season, hardly figures to be a bargain at the current market rates for shortstops. Some with the Dodgers view Gavin Lux as a potential above-average defender at the position. Some rival executives, however, are skeptical the Dodgers will commit to Lux, a left-handed hitter who recently turned 25.

Perhaps the Dodgers will become a serious suitor for Swanson if the Cubs, Red Sox and Twins won’t pay him what he wants, and if he prefers to join a team more likely to be competitive. But in that scenario, Swanson might prefer to return to his previous club, the Braves.

Shortstop is Lux’s natural position. He made 50 starts at short in 2021 after Corey Seager fractured his right hand. Still, one rival executive asks a series of questions that might give the Dodgers pause:

Won’t the team at least need a platoon partner for Lux at short? (Lux in 230 career plate appearances against lefties has batted only .214 with a .587 OPS) Who would be the backups? (The leading internal alternatives are Chris Taylor, 32, and slick-fielding Jacob Amaya, 24) What happens if Lux flops? (The top free-agent shortstops next offseason are Miguel Rojas and Amed Rosario).

The Dodgers are keenly aware they lack a safety net for Lux. But between July 2020 and March 2022, they signed Mookie Betts, Bauer and Freeman to deals worth a combined $629 million. They’ve carried the sport’s highest luxury-tax payroll the past two seasons. And while they currently are about $32 million under the lowest threshold, the signing of Swanson and any payment they make on Bauer might put them over again.

Obviously, the Dodgers want to compete, as they repeatedly have demonstrated under the Guggenheim ownership. But if they can compete while mixing in young players and re-setting their luxury-tax penalty rates, it would position them that much better to spend in the future. Their best pitcher, Julio Urías, is eligible for free agency at the end of the season. So is Shohei Ohtani, whom the Dodgers — and other clubs — absolutely covet.


So, maybe a path opens for Swanson, and maybe it doesn’t. In the meantime, the Dodgers are actively pursuing trades for a center fielder. Taylor, James Outman, Trayce Thompson are their current options to replace Cody Bellinger, the worst-hitting center fielder in the majors the past two seasons. The Pirates’ Bryan Reynolds, Diamondbacks’ Alek Thomas, Cardinals’ Dylan Carlson and Mariners’ Jarred Kelenic are among the trade possibilities, and all fit the Dodgers’ need for a left-handed or switch-hitter.

Carlson could be the Cardinals’ odd man out with Lars Nootbaar a viable option in center, and Jordan Walker and Alec Burleson nearly ready to join the team’s outfield.

Thomas might be difficult to pry away from a division rival. The Pirates are telling teams they will not trade Reynolds unless they are overwhelmed. And the Mariners might be afraid to sell low on Kelenic, who is better defensively on a corner, anyway.

The Dodgers do not need to decide any of this right away. If they do not acquire a center fielder before Opening Day, they can try again at the deadline. And if they do not land Swanson, they could go with Lux at short to start the season and also incorporate rookie Miguel Vargas, who has been working out at second base all winter, into their infield. Perhaps the Brewers will make shortstop Willy Adames and starting pitchers Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff available at the deadline. A variety of other options could emerge.

The Dodgers will be quiet for only so long.

 

Swanson is going to the Cubs officially making this 0ff-season an utter failure.

It's officially time to move on from Fraudman and Guggenheim should sell the motherfucking team if they are going to act this fucking cheap. Seager, Machado, Scherzer and Trea all gone in 4 years and no fucking replacements in sight.

 

JD Martinez? lol fuck this front office

 

Maybe he'll hit four homers per game against teams that aren't the Dodgers.

Maybe.

 

Is it sexy? No, but JD Martinez still destroys lefties. As long as he is strictly a DH against lefties, that's not a bad pickup.

If they plan on using him as a full time DH, I'm not as okay with it.

 

lol for what? That infield is already packed. If they are trying to sign him, it's strictly a move to try to get under the skin of the Dodgers fan base.

 

It's possible he pulls a Jackie Robinson & retires rather than play for a hated rival...

I wouldn't bet on it but I can dream.

 

For sure his all-in numbers dropped but still put up a .998 OPS against lefties.

If we find a suitable lefty who can hit righties to platoon at DH (maybe Heyward lol but I won't hold my breath), that's all star level production.