DODGERS NEWS/RUMORS thread

he signed his letter of intent

 

this ought to make you happier...

https://www.dodgersnation.com/charley-steiner-signs-3-year-extension-ag1214/2018/12/15/

 

The market for Troy Tulowitzki
by TC Zencka | MLB Trade Rumors — 2 hours ago



There are six teams currently in the running to sign shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, per Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle (via Twitter). Tulo and his agent plan on narrowing the field as early as tomorrow.

Though they’ve been rumored as a logical landing spot, the Oakland A’s are not one of the clubs with expressed interest. Tulo was an A’s fan growing up, but according to his agent Paul Cohen, Oakland has not been in touch with the California native. Speculatively speaking, the Pirates, Mets, Yankees, Padres or Brewers could be potential fits for the 6-time All-Star.

One team that has checked in with Tulo is the the Cubs, per Fancred’s Jon Heyman (via Twitter). Considering the financial restraints and lofty aspirations of Chicago’s Northsiders, Tulo makes sense as a low-cost, high-ceiling target, despite the presence of Javier Baez at shortstop. Addison Russell will also be an option for Chicago when he returns from his suspension, but there’s obviously enough uncertainty there for the Cubs to take a look.

There’s not a team in the league that wouldn’t want a healthy and productive Tulowitzki on their roster, but after missing all of 2018 with bone spurs in his heels, it’s unclear how much of peak-Tulo remains. Tulowitzki, 34, hasn’t been a significant contributor since 2016, his first full season in Toronto.

For the first decade of his career, however, he was perhaps the preeminent two-way shortstop in the sport. He boasts a career .290/.361/.495 line with 224 home runs and 9.4 BB% against 16.6 K%.

Defensively, prime Tulo was as good as they come. He posted positive defensive metrics at short as recently as 2016, lending credence to his stated desire to stick there. After his somewhat surprising release from the Blue Jays, however, his agent indicated a willingness to move off that spot if needed.

The trade that sent Tulo from Colorado to Toronto in the summer of 2015 was dispiriting and disillusioning for the superstar – nonetheless, he mentored Josh Donaldson as the latter blossomed into an MVP for competitive Blue Jays clubs in 2015 and 2016, per the Athletic’s John Lott (subscription link). Tulo’s intensity sometimes plays poorly with the media, but his presence ought to buoy whichever clubhouse welcomes him next. Whether or not he has anything left to offer on the diamond is the open question.

 

Friedman feels good about acquiring quality catcher due to surplus of options
by Matt Borelli | Dodger Blue — 18 minutes ago

The 2018 Winter Meetings came and went without the Los Angeles Dodgers making a splash that many in the industry had anticipated. The club’s lone reported move was coming to terms with free agent reliever Joe Kelly on a three-year contract that has yet to be officially announced.

Now at the midway point in December, the Dodgers still have plenty of work to do with rounding out the remainder of their roster. While Los Angeles filled an important need in their bullpen, one position that needs to be addressed is catcher.

They have been active on the trade front in their search for a new starting backstop and are said to be one of six finalists in the running for Miami Marlins All-Star J.T. Realmuto. What’s more, the Dodgers also held discussions with the Pittsburgh Pirates regarding Francisco Cervelli.

President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman is confident that his team will eventually land a quality catcher this offseason due to the surplus of options available, via Jorge Castillo of the L.A. Times:

“There are enough interesting names that we feel good about the outcome, because of the number of guys out there.”​

In addition to a robust trade market filled with many possibilities, the Dodgers could also turn their attention to free agency for a catcher. That’s where the likes of Yasmani Grandal, Nick Hundley, Jonathan Lucroy, Wilson Ramos and Matt Wieters are all available to sign.

The Dodgers reportedly approached Ramos with the possibility of signing a one-year contract, but he wasn’t interested in inking a short-term pact.