Callaspo doesn't hesitate to block deal to Dodgers

Juan Uribe was THIS close to becoming an ex-Dodger today.

The only problem was that Alberto Callaspo didn't want to become a current one.

After the Dodgers and Braves agreed to a deal centered around swapping the third basemen and a few minor league players, Callaspo quickly put an end to it, as he rejected the trade.  It's not because he has a no-trade clause (far from it), it's because he had until June 15 to refuse any deal since he signed as a free agent this past offseason.

And you know what?  I don't blame Callaspo at all.

Think about it - For a guy who wants more playing time, isn't the Dodgers one of the last places to go?  Considering there's Justin Turner and Alex Guerrero already battling for at-bats, and Hector Olivera readying himself for the call-up, Callaspo would be nothing more than a pinch-hitting option late in the game.

It wasn't too long ago when Callaspo was a solid hand for the Angels, hitting .288 in 2011, then following that up with 10 homers and 53 RBIs the next season.  Last season with the A's his numbers went way down to .223/4/39, and this season with the Braves is even worse at .208/1/8.

Nonetheless, Callaspo appears to be fixated on getting more playing time somewhere else, and that's well within his rights.  Andrew Friedman liked him off the bench because he keeps his strikeouts low and has a career .328 OBP.  But, it wasn't meant to be.

Now the focus turns to Uribe, and what the Dodgers now do with him.  He's had one of the most bizarre careers in Dodgers' history, going from absolutely pathetic in 2011 and 2012, to reinvigorating himself at the plate and nearly winning a Gold Glove twice the last two seasons.  This season, though, he's down to .247 and a .287 OBP in 29 games, and is clearly getting passed over for Turner and Guerrero.

So, it should come as no surprise that Friedman is ready to let him go.  His glove is excellent, but at 36, in his 15th season, and with a recent history of leg injuries, it's not looking like he'll be the everyday third baseman again.

I wouldn't expect this to be the last of trying to move Uribe, as the younger, better options are making it necessary.

Frias rocked, so who are the possible trade options?

One day after Carlos Frias was unmercifully rocked 11-3 by the Padres (he only lasted four painful innings), it's safe to say Andrew Friedman and the Dodgers have ramped up their efforts to acquire starting pitching.

With that in mind, and based on the suggestions by the great writer Mark Saxon from ESPNLosAngeles.com, let's take a look at the seven starting pitchers he mentioned, with stats from this year and over their careers:

Scott Kazmir - Oakland
2015: 9 starts, 2-3, 3.09 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 53 K, 55 1/3 IP
Career: 249 starts (250 games), 93-82, 4.03 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 1372 K, 1425 2/3 IP

Jesse Chavez - Oakland
2015: 6 starts (10 games), 1-4, 2.89 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 41 K, 43 2/3 IP
Career: 29 starts (233 games), 18-27, 4.52 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 378 K, 424 1/3 IP

Kyle Lohse - Milwaukee
2015: 9 starts, 3-4, 5.53 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 42 K, 53 2/3 IP
Career: 403 starts (427 games), 145-132, 4.31 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 1546 K, 2423 2/3 IP

Matt Garza - Milwaukee
2015: 9 starts, 2-6, 5.71 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 38 K, 52 IP
Career: 227 starts (230 games), 77-81, 3.88 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 1165 K, 1397 2/3 IP

Johnny Cueto - Cincinnati
2015: 9 starts: 3-4, 3.03 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 60 K, 65 1/3 IP
Career: 203 starts, 88-61, 3.26 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 1055 K, 1273 2/3 IP

Mike Leake - Cincinnati
2015: 9 starts, 2-3, 4.14 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 30 K, 58 2/3 IP
Career: 151 starts (156 games), 55-45, 3.93 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 641 K, 950 1/3 IP

Yovani Gallardo - Texas
2015: 10 starts, 4-6, 4.13 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 40 K, 56 2/3 IP
Career: 221 starts (224 games), 93-70, 3.71 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 1266 K, 1346 IP

My Thoughts:
Obviously, Cueto will be the big chip every contender is gunning for.  It doesn't matter if the Dodgers' starting staff puts together a long run of quality starts, there's no denying just how big of an impact Cueto can make if he comes into the fold.  To be as dominant as he's been in the Reds' ballpark is even more impressive.  He's actually pitched much better at home (1.55 ERA) than on the road (4.21 ERA) this year.

Getting Cueto will not be easy or cheap, so perhaps the Dodgers shy away from trading some of their prospects and go in a different direction.  Of the names listed above, I'd lean more towards the American League guys than the National League ones.

Kazmir will also not come cheap, though I can't imagine his price will be as high as Cueto's.  Perhaps the Dodgers will look to replace their original #3 lefty starter Hyun-Jin Ryu with another lefty.  Kazmir's last couple of starts haven't been pretty, and his walks are starting to pile up, so that's something to keep an eye on.

I'd put Chavez and Gallardo on the next level, as either one of them can be pretty good.  Gallardo is the more experienced one if that makes a difference.  I'm just not sure the Rangers will be sellers because in the AL West, it's unlikely the Astros continue to play so well.  The Rangers can quietly make their move, and with Yu Darvish done for the season, Gallardo is arguably their best starter.

Chavez has only been a consistent starter since last season, as he was mostly a reliever since breaking in with the Pirates in 2008.  I only know him from being on one of my fantasy teams, but in looking at this numbers, he's only given up a couple of home runs and 13 walks in nearly 44 innings.  So, he doesn't let many people on base, or to circle the bases.  I can see him coming in and becoming a solid starter towards the back end of the rotation.

Might the Orioles be interested in Ethier?

That would be a yes, according to Orioles' insider Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports.  While no specifics were given, the O's and Dodgers have held discussions about an Ethier trade, not too long after a Matt Kemp deal never came to fruition.

From what I can gather, I wouldn't say a deal is anywhere close to being done, it's just being talked about.  The biggest holdup is (shocker of shocks...) Ethier's hefty contract.  Right now he's owed a whopping $53.5 million over the next three years.  He even has a vesting option for 2018 at $17.5 million, or a $2.5 million buyout.  Um... I think we know which deal he'll end up getting in 2018!

Anyway, if you're the Dodgers, you're happy to engage in discussions, even with Kemp in San Diego.  Ethier did a good job in being very flexible last season, as he was called upon to play center after Kemp failed so badly at it in May.  Not soon after, he was riding the pine, as the Dodgers went with Carl Crawford in left, Yasiel Puig in center, and Kemp in right to win the division.

All the while, Ethier really didn't do anything to force Don Mattingly's hand, as his numbers fell off badly.  In 130 games, he hit a mere .249 with four homers, 42 RBIs, and two steals.  Simply put, his power just completely abandoned him.

There's no doubt that he's the kind of guy who needs a change of scenery.  He's not a big power hitter anymore, but I certainly don't think he's as bad as the numbers he put up in 2014, either.  Maybe Baltimore would be a good spot for him.  Nick Markakis is in Atlanta and Nelson Cruz is in Seattle, so there's really only Adam Jones in that outfield.  Ethier could slide right in.

Of course, any deal involving Ethier would have to include the Dodgers eating a big portion of that bloated deal.  But if the Dodgers really are ready to go with Joc Pederson playing a much larger role this upcoming season, then Ethier is expendable.

Gordon could go from All-Star to traded

While the Matt Kemp to San Diego rumors continue to dominate talk about the Dodgers at the Winter Meetings, here's another tidbit that could be interesting - Dee Gordon is being made available by the new management.

Who knows what the level of "available" is, as this doesn't initially strike me as something the Dodgers are hotly pursuing.  I get the feeling it's more of an "If you like him, let's talk" type of thing.

One team that perhaps would like to talk is the Marlins, who might already be showing some interest.

There are a couple of reasons to believe that Gordon really could be on his way out.  For starters, the Gordon we saw in the second half of last season did not come close to matching the All-Star reserve at second base we saw in the first.  His average was around the same (.292 before, .284 after), but his OBP went way down (.344/.300).  He also started striking out a bunch more, and while he led all of baseball in stolen bases at 64, he started getting caught more in the second half despite playing in much less games.

The other reason is that the Dodgers have Alex Guerrero and Erisbel Arruebarrena waiting in the wings, and they're not cheap.  They're pretty much opposites of each other right now, as Guerrero has the bat, and Arruebarrena has the glove.

A major factor that could keep Gordon right where he is is that Hanley Ramirez is now in Boston.  Perhaps the Dodgers would be satisfied with Arruebarrena at short and Guerrero at second, but that's a lot of inexperience up the middle on a "win now" club.

I'm not ready to give up on Gordon for slowing down in the second half, as his 148 games far outpaced his next highest career total of 87 in 2012.  I think a smaller, speedy guy like him just naturally started feeling the wear and tear of a long Major League season.  If you recall, he bulked up some before last season started, and helped the Dodgers solve their leadoff issues.

Right now the Dodgers are waiting to see if Jon Lester comes aboard, and maybe finalizing the Kemp trade to the Padres.  After that, then possibly this talk of moving Gordon begins to take on more importance.  Stay tuned.

Kemp to the Padres is heating up

For the first time in his career, Matt Kemp could be on his way out of LA.

I know, I know... we've certainly been through this before.  Kemp has battled trade rumors his whole career, save for a couple of years in which he turned himself into an MVP candidate.  But after coming off a season in which he hit .287 with 25 homers and 89 RBIs, perhaps the Dodgers feel the time is right to move him while he's healthy and his stock is high.

That leads us to his likely destination, the San Diego Padres.  The latest talk is that Kemp would move to the Padres for catcher Yasmani Grandal and a prospect.  The holdup appears to be just who that other prospect would be, along with how much of Kemp's contract the Dodgers would have to eat.

Those two things certainly aren't minor, so keep in mind that no matter what is reported, nothing is a guarantee until both sides make it official.

To take a quick look at Grandal, he's mostly a catcher who can sprinkle in some first base as well.  He's an emerging power threat from the right side of the plate, and is only 27.  Last season he hit 15 homers, 19 doubles, and 49 RBIs in 128 games.  So you can see why the Dodgers would like to add him, especially with the virtually non-existent numbers from A.J. Ellis last year.

The downside is that Grandal has already been busted for 50 games in 2012 for PEDs, and tore his ACL and MCL in July of 2013.  For his case, you hope he's already been through the worst of things.

One other guy who has been whispered to come along with Grandal is pitching prospect Matt Wisler, who is the Padres' #2 ranked prospect according to MLB.com.  He's a righty with both good movement and good control, so you can see why he'd be coveted.

Stay tuned to see if the Dodgers and Padres indeed do pull the trigger on this.

Lester coming in, Greinke going out?

If you thought the Dodgers would be content just signing guys like Chris Heisey and Darwin Barney this offseason, think again.

Now reports are surfacing that one of the crown jewels of the free agent market could be coming to LA.  Jon Lester is being wooed by the Dodgers, who seem to be competing with the Cubs, Red Sox, and Giants for the ace left-hander.  This is the first we've heard about the Dodgers having a horse in the race, as it was widely believed that those other teams had the best shot.

Who could blame the Dodgers for wanting to sign the guy?  His numbers split between the Red Sox and A's last year were fantastic, compiling a 16-11 record with a 2.46 ERA and 220 strikeouts in 219 2/3 innings.  He gave the A's everything they could've hoped for when they made the big acquisition for him at the deadline, though losing Yoenis Cespedes in the process may have been a bigger blow than anyone imagined.

It's hard to pinpoint exactly what it would take to sign Lester, but one guess is anywhere north of $120 million.  Even for the Dodgers, that's some serious cash.

So, what might the Dodgers do if they really do want to keep payroll manageable (for them, at least)?  They actually could look to shop Zack Greinke, who has an opt-out clause in his contract following the 2015 season.

Greinke is in the midst of a six-year, $147 million deal, which includes the clause of bolting when it's halfway over.  That halfway point will come after 2015, and considering his skill and the demand for top-tier pitching, he could actually roll the dice of getting more money.  When he signed with the Dodgers originally, he made no secret of the fact that money played a big role.  Hey, at least he admitted the obvious, unlike many others.

I'm not sure I can see that happening, at least not this offseason.  In the first link above, ESPN's Jerry Crasnick basically shot any rumor of Greinke being dealt down.  Simply put, the Dodgers want to win now, and don't want to subtract stars from their roster.

We'll see where this all goes, but don't be surprised to see Lester in Dodger blue soon.  A rotation of Clayton Kershaw, Greinke, Lester, and Hyun-Jin Ryu?  Ohh.... that sounds too good to be true!  Let's hope it isn't!

Maybe Kemp is the one who gets dealt

Interesting story from baseball insider Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com this week, as he's hearing from sources within the industry that Matt Kemp is drawing strong trade interest from other teams.  So while the Dodgers would prefer to move guys like Andre Ethier and Carl Crawford, Kemp could be the more realistic deal.

The bottom line?  Andrew Friedman and the Dodgers are serious about moving an outfielder, and making Don Mattingly's life a lot easier in 2015.  Good for them.

There are seven reasons listed by Heyman as to why Kemp could be moved.  To view them, click on the link above.

Here's a few highlights from his article.  If the Dodgers are serious about dumping cash, then Heyman thinks teams would be willing to take on the entire $107 million left on Kemp's remaining five years.  The reason?  Kemp finished with 25 homers and 89 RBIs, and that was mostly from just one good half of the season after the All-Star break.  With power at such a premium, especially from the right side, Kemp could be coveted that much more.

Joc Pederson's presence in center could muddle things up a bit as well.  There's no doubt he's the guy to roam center for years to come.  That would bump Yasiel Puig back to right, which is his best position.  And Kemp?  Back to left, where he was clearly unhappy after being yanked from center early last season.  Kemp seemed to embrace going to right, but for whatever reason, wants nothing to do with left.

The final highlight is about "chemistry issues" in the clubhouse, and how Kemp might not exactly be helping things.  Who knows how true that is, as only the guys who are actually in the clubhouse day in and day out truly know what's going on.  But there's no secret that when things aren't going well, Kemp might not be the happiest guy to be around.

I'm sure the Dodgers would love to enter 2015 with a starting outfield of Kemp, Puig, and Pederson.  The reality is that if they want to lower their payroll and straighten out the crowded outfield, then Kemp could be the guy to go.  I've already accepted that, and at this point, I'm waiting for it to happen.

And if it does, whom will the Dodgers bring in?  More bullpen help?  A replacement for Hanley Ramirez at short?  Help for the end of the rotation?  Stay tuned and we will see.

The outfield logjam could soon be cleared

Reports are surfacing in recent days that the Dodgers are finally serious about clearing up their crowded outfield.  According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the main goal of president Andrew Friedman and general manager Farhan Zaidi at the General Managers' meetings is to move an outfielder.

Or two, maybe.

Right now, the Dodgers have four main guys (Yasiel Puig, Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, Carl Crawford) and one rising prospect (Joc Pederson).

With that said, let's take a look at each one.  In addition to their 2014 stats and remaining money owed, I'll discuss the pros and cons of each player, along with the possibility of each being moved.

Yasiel Puig
2014: 148 G, .296 AVG, .382 OBP, 37 2B, 9 3B, 16 HR, 69 RBI, 11 SB, 5.3 OWAR
Remaining Contract: Four years, $24 million

Pros: Simply put, when Puig puts his total game together, it's hard to find many who are better.  He can hit, run, and throw all at a very high level, which only guys like Mike Trout and Andrew McCutchen can claim to do.  His power was down this year, but he's shown in the past that he can certainly straighten that out.  He can hit anywhere in the order thanks to his speed.  And on defense, opposing runners are largely learned not to test his arm.  At 24 next season, the sky is still the limit.

Cons: There's always going to be questions about his maturity, as he showed way back in the first home game of the season that he can be hard to be relied upon when he was late to the park and scratched from the lineup.  A big swing shows his reluctance to get adjusted at the plate, as he was completely lost for nearly all of the NLDS.  Is he too stubborn to make changes?  That's still a question that lingers.

Trade Him?  Nope, I just can't see it happening.  There's way too much talent in that body, and for a team that desires to get younger, it's hard to imagine them getting rid of a chip like him.

Matt Kemp
2014: 150 G, .287 AVG, .346 OBP, 38 2B, 3 3B, 25 HR, 89 RBI, 8 SB, 3.8 OWAR
Remaining Contract: Five years, $107 million

Pros: It looked like it took awhile, but he finally reached a point in his recovery from all sorts of injuries where he put it all together in the second half of 2014.  He turned himself back into an MVP-type player, as the ball was jumping off of his bat.  He also found a home in right field after being so reluctant to switch from center.  It worked, as he was a huge reason why the Dodgers claimed the NL West.

Cons: With his recent success is also a reminder not to get too excited, as we've seen this before.  Fair or not, he's an injury-prone player, and when he's hurt, he's very easy to pitch to.  It's unknown if he'll ever be ready to be an effective center fielder again, as he's made it crystal clear that that's where he sees himself playing again.

Trade Him?  After watching him come back to life this past season, it's hard to see it happening.  Then again, maybe this is the time to get something good back for him if the Dodgers think he's already peaked.  I'm sure they would rather keep him, but if the offer is there, I bet they pull the trigger.

Carl Crawford
2014: 105 G, .300 AVG, .339 OBP, 14 2B, 3 3B, 8 HR, 46 RBI, 23 SB, 2.3 OWAR
Remaining Contract: Three years, $62.25 million

Pros: After battling his way back from injuries, he showed that he still has some magic back in that bat.  It's not as much, but much like Kemp, when he's locked in and feeling good, he can be an effective piece in the lineup.  He can still steal a base as well, albeit not at the humongous rate like he once did.

Cons: He'll turn 34 next August, but seems like he's much older.  His career has gone downhill since signing that mega-contract with the Red Sox back in 2011, which is the same contract the Dodgers must now deal with.  At this point he's a decent outfielder and a pretty good bad when healthy, but has not played in more than 116 games the last three seasons.

Trade Him?  Absolutely.  The Dodgers would love to make it happen, but it will come at a price.  Nonetheless, I would think they'd be OK with that, as he's obviously on the wrong side of his career, but can maybe still get something decent in return.

Andre Ethier
2014: 130 G, .249 AVG, .322 OBP, 17 2B, 6 3B, 4 HR, 42 RBI, 2 SB, 0.8 OWAR
Remaining Contract: Three years, $56 million

Pros: Ethier got squeezed out by the logjam more than anyone, but has won both a Gold Glove (2011) and Silver Slugger (2009) in the past, which could earn him a starting job somewhere.  He can play any outfield position pretty well, as he originally took over for Kemp in center back in May.  Is much more effective against right-handed hurlers.

Cons: Another guy who's past the magic age of 30 (will be 33 next April), and isn't looked at as "Andre the Giant" like he once was.  What hurts him even more is his atrocious numbers against left-handed pitchers, as he's all but useless against them.  His power numbers are practically a thing of the past.

Trade Him?  Just like Crawford, absolutely.  In Ethier's case, it would appear to be an easier move, as he's a little younger, healthier, and has a slightly more manageable contract.  He's given LA many good moments, but it's time to move on, which is something I bet he wants more than anyone.

Joc Pederson
2014: 18 G, .143 AVG, .351 OBP, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB, -0.1 OWAR
Remaining Contract: ? (No information found)

Pros: Right now, we're judging him solely on his work in the minors.  Luckily for him, he did some very impressive things down on the farm, including 33 homers and 30 steals in Triple-A last season.  He also plays some great defense, as he's already been viewed as the next center fielder for years to come.  All in all, he has largely been considered the next big thing for the Dodgers.

Cons: The funny thing about potential is that you haven't actually done anything yet.  He still will get plenty of time to, but in his brief stint in LA during September, the game looked to be a little too big for him.  Granted, it's a very small sample size with only 28 at-bats, but no extra-base hits shows he has plenty of work left to do.

Trade Him?  No way.  There's too much untapped talent to move him now.  The management team before Friedman took over did not want to move him, and I can't imagine that changing now.

Dodgers could be a match for Papelbon

A week ago, Phillies' closer Jonathan Papelbon expressed an interest in being traded to a contender.  He's still owed some mega-bucks in his current deal, most likely limiting the amount of teams that would make a serious run at him.

But these are the Dodgers, they are contenders, and have the payroll flexibility to add more.

Jonathan, meet Los Angeles.

This is all just talk at this point, but with the trade deadline a couple of weeks away, Mark Saxson has tweeted that a baseball source expects the Dodgers to make a run at him.

And why not?  The Dodgers will no doubt look to add to their bullpen, as former closers like Brian Wilson and Chris Perez have underperformed this season.  Brandon League has a 2.09 ERA, but after being hit so hard last season, still does not appear to have Don Mattingly's full confidence in pitching more meaningful innings.

Papelbon would be an expensive setup man, as he's owed $13 million this year and next, and a vesting option for the same amount in 2016 for finishing a certain number of games (55 next year, or 100 total between this year and next).  But again, these are the Dodgers, and they show no care in the world about throwing big money at closers to pitch in middle relief.

I think this would be a great move for the Dodgers.  Papelbon has been a bright light in a dark Phillies' season, converting 22 of 24 save opportunities with a 1.21 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, and 33 K's in 37 1/3 innings.  He did blow seven saves last year, but still managed a 2.92 ERA and 1.14 WHIP, so it's not like he was atrocious like League.

Papelbon has championship experience with the Red Sox, so he knows what it's like to pitch in big games and succeed.  The price tag is high, but I'm guessing the Dodgers don't really care.

What's not to like about a Papelbon-Kenley Jansen combination to close out games?  That would be a huge advantage in the playoffs with their already strong starting rotation.  For that reason alone, I can see Ned Colletti aggressively pursuing a deal.

Will the Dodgers look to trade Matt Kemp?

If it's up to Kemp, it might just happen.

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported on Wednesday that Kemp's agent Dave Stewart, the former All-Star pitcher, acknowledged that if Kemp doesn't get a chance to play everyday in center field again, he'd be open to a trade.

That's not exactly the same as flat out saying he wants out, but it's not exactly a ringing endorsement of staying with the Dodgers long-term either.

Now let's ask the question - Should the Dodgers be willing to trade him?  I think so.

If you've read my recent posts, then you've seen that I haven't exactly been thrilled with the amount of strikeouts and bad clutch hitting Kemp has shown lately.  He did hit well in June at .317 with three homers and 16 RBIs, but in July it's .231 with no homers and four RBIs.  He's striking out once every three at-bats this month (13/39), and generally looks like he's lost.

That's not to mention his horrific play in center, which sent him packing to left in late May.  Don Mattingly hasn't appeared to entertain the thought of moving him back to his original position yet.

This is a bit of a tough call, because we've all seen how good he can be when he's on.  We'll never forget just how awesome he was in 2011, hitting .324 with 39 homers and 126 RBIs, while stealing 40 bases.  There was no better player in baseball that year, even though the soon-to-be busted Ryan Braun claimed the NL MVP award.

Since then, it's been a series of injuries, which has caused him to lose a step.  Or even two steps.  Basically, he looks like a shell of his former self.

Right now, the Dodgers have a couple of examples of guys who have turned things around after playing some atrocious baseball: Juan Uribe and Brandon League.  Uribe is one of the best defensive third basemen in baseball, and is hitting .297; League had a 5.30 ERA last year, and now it's 2.09.  So, it's very possible Kemp can start playing better.

Here's why I would be in favor of seeking out a trade: I have yet to hear Kemp say anything along the lines of "my bad."  I've heard him say he'll go to left for now, I've heard him say he would like to play everyday, and now I've heard him say he'd be open to being traded.  But when have you ever seen Kemp come out and admit he's been awful and needs to pick things up?

If he has, then I certainly missed it.  It would be nice if he just acknowledged how poorly he's looked rather than acting like he's owed what he wants.  Not on a team contending for a championship, and not on a team with four other legit starting outfield options.  No way.

Rosenthal pointed out that last year the Red Sox and Mariners expressed interest in Kemp, and the Sox were known to have scouted the Dodgers this year as well.  Were they looking at Kemp?  I wouldn't be surprised, as the Sox' offense has been horrible.

This is definitely a story to keep an eye on, as the trade deadline is a couple of weeks away.  Maybe the Dodgers aren't even considering this, but maybe they've been thinking about this for quite awhile.  I tend to lean towards the latter.  We'll all soon find out.

Looking at potential bullpen trade targets

As the Dodgers keep on rolling, this time with a 1-0 one-hit shutout of the Indians to propel them into first place of the NL West all by themselves, July means that the trade market will begin to heat up even more.

One of the biggest areas of need that will be targeted is the bullpen.  I know, every team says they need bullpen help, so it's not a surprise.  But, the Dodgers have excellent starting pitching and an offense that kind of comes and goes night by night.  Getting better arms in the 'pen is necessary with the close games they play.

Doug Mittler of ESPN.com (Insider only) took at look at this very subject, and suggested a few names.  Let's break down four of the top names suggested to see if it's even worth the trouble of trading for any of them.

Huston Street, RHP, Padres.  The Padres are horrendous again this year, and having gone through the sudden death of Tony Gwynn, it's been a tough year all around for that organization.  One guy who has delivered is Street, who is a perfect 22-22 in save opportunities with a 0.90 ERA and 0.77 WHIP.  In 30 games, he's given up only three runs.

Quietly, because nobody pays attention to the Padres, Street has been very good in his three years with the team, so the numbers and consistency are both there for a reliable arm.  As Mittler points out, the salary of $7 million this year and a team option for $7 million next year is very affordable in Dodgers' standards.  Maybe the Padres will be reluctant to help a division rival, but does it really matter?  The Padres need to just get better, period.  It shouldn't matter which team it's to.

Joakim Soria, RHP, Rangers.  The current Rangers' closer has enjoyed a good season, going 15-16 in save opportunities.  His ERA was down to 1.73, but four runs surrendered in his last two outings has sent it back up to 2.93.  Still, that's pretty darn good.

Once again, the money is more than manageable for the Dodgers, as he makes $5.5 million this year with a $7 team option for next.  The Rangers have fallen dangerously far back at 14 games in the AL West, so they could easily be sellers.  Soria has 175 saves in seven seasons, peaking at 43 with the Royals in '10, so the track record is really good.  Plus, with a microscopic 0.80 WHIP this year, he'd make a great addition.

Joaquin Benoit, RHP, Padres.  Another guy from the Padres who is having a great year is Benoit, one of the best setup men in baseball.  He has 13 holds in limited chances, because his team sucks.  He's currently gone scoreless in his last 17 appearances and has a 1.30 ERA and 0.72 WHIP.

There's a lot to like about him, but maybe the biggest thing is that he has proven how good he is in middle relief.  In other words, he's not one of those guys who can only close and won't adjust to other situations.  It doesn't matter that he's 36, I'd much rather see him than Brian Wilson, Chris Perez, or Brandon League, especially in the eighth.  He's making just over $6 million this season, another affordable contract for the Dodgers.

Brad Ziegler, RHP, Diamondbacks.  The righty with the sidearm delivery has enjoyed a solid season with 20 holds, one save, a 2.34 ERA, and 1.04 WHIP.  He's appeared in 44 games, and only twice has experienced a "bad" outing with more than one run allowed.  Considering his highest ERA out of any season was 3.26 in 2010 with the A's, I'd say he knows how to get hitters out.

Yet again, the Dodgers would face the obstacle of dealing with another team in their division.  This one could be trickier than the Padres considering the bad blood between the Dodgers and DBacks.  Much like Benoit, though, he's clearly comfortable pitching in middle relief, something the Dodgers are still looking to improve upon.  He's signed for two years and $10.5 million with a $5.5 million option for 2016.  So yes, yet again, the Dodgers can afford it.

Bottom Line:
The Dodgers would more than welcome any of these guys to pair up with J.P. Howell in the setup role.  Brian Wilson is still getting chance after chance in the eighth, maybe because Don Mattingly doesn't have confidence in anybody else.  That's understandable, but I would certainly hope that Donny's stance on the setup man would change if one of these guys is brought in.

I'm glad Ned Colletti has openly expressed his desire for bullpen help, but one thing he should not do is trade Joc Pederson to get his guy.  I don't care if Pederson is hurt right now, that's the guy of the future in the outfield.  Maybe even for next year.  Give the other team the cash they want, throw in a young guy or two, and wah lah!  The Dodgers bullpen has just improved.

Trade rumors for Kemp heating up

Have the Dodgers already run out of patience with Matt Kemp?

If you are to believe the rumors swirling around in the Hot Stove season, then perhaps they are.  As Kemp works to recover from ankle and shoulder injuries, both the Mariners and Rangers have been linked to acquiring him in recent days.

For the Dodgers, moving Kemp would serve a couple of purposes.  One, they still have four outfielders for three spots with the emergence of Yasiel Puig, who isn't going anywhere.  This was the same exact scenario all last season, but was never an issue because Kemp was hurt a lot, and Andre Ethier and Carl Crawford were banged up at times as well.  Don Mattingly never had to make any tough decisions because injuries controlled all of that.

The other reason is that the Dodgers might be admitting that they don't believe Kemp will ever live up to his massive eight-year, $160 million contract he inked in 2011.  He still has six years and $128 million remaining, which is huge for a guy who's spent much more time on the DL than producing wins for the Dodgers.

Sometimes injuries are chronic, which seems to be the case with Kemp's shoulder.  And sometimes injuries are freak accidents, like Kemp hurting his ankle with an awkward slide into home.  But no matter how it happens, right now he's a bit of damaged goods, and that might be putting it mildly.  Maybe the Dodgers would be wise to take a good offer if it comes their way.

While the rumors of moving to the Mariners don't include any names yet, the move to the Rangers is linked to shortstop Elvis Andrus.  Speaking of huge contracts, Andrus has nine years and $123 million remaining.  He's only 25, plays great defense, and has lightning fast speed.

The downside, other than that bloated contract, is his inability to get on base consistently.  He's not at all a power hitter (four homers, four triples, and 17 doubles this past season in 156 games), so a .328 OBP leaves something to be desired.  But 42 steals in 50 chances speaks for itself.  He was tied for fifth in baseball with teammate Alex Rios.

Say the Dodgers do pull the trigger on this deal, then would it work?  Defensively it would, as Andrus would play short and Hanley Ramirez can slide over to third, which would be better for his body, and Juan Uribe would be allowed to walk.  Plus a guy like Andre Ethier can enter the 2014 season knowing that centerfield is all his, and maybe would put up better numbers.

Offensively, however, I'm not so sure.  A healthy Kemp (if that ever happens again) is such an explosive hitter.  A 3-4 combination of Ramirez and Kemp can compete with anyone... if healthy.  You see, everything goes back to that word - "healthy."  Both of those guys have a hard time avoiding the injury bug.

We'll see over the winter if these Kemp trade rumors go anywhere, of if it's simply a case of Ned Colletti seeing what kind of value his star player has without really intending to move him.

Utley could be on the Dodgers' radar

The Dodgers appear to be on the verge of adding Carlos Marmol, who's had an absolutely atrocious season with the Cubs.  They also could be interested in another Cub, Matt Garza.

Now word is coming from Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com that the Dodgers could be in pursuit of Chase Utley.

Utley is a California native, having attended high school in Long Beach before taking his talents to UCLA.  The Dodgers have a need at second base as Mark Ellis has struggled to stay healthy, and utility players like Nick Punto and Skip Schumaker are decent, but certainly not in the class of Utley.

I'm sure that interest was ramped up a few notches after Utley's four-game stay in Dodger Stadium this past week.  He stroked three homers to go along with eight hits, and looked like a young star again.  The Dodgers took three of four, but certainly not because they shut him down.

If Utley does express interest in being a Dodger (the organization originally drafted him back in 1997 before he opted for UCLA instead), then I have to imagine Ned Colletti would jump all over it.  Injuries and age have taken their toll on Utley, as there's no way he'll return to his 30 homer, 100 RBI days.  But, he's still a big name, and has shown this season, especially against the Dodgers, that he's swinging a healthy bat.  He's already at 11 homers, which is the same amount he hit in each of the previous two seasons.

There are hurdles to this deal, however.  Phillies GM Ruben Amaro is obviously a big fan of Utley, as he's still a link to their championship team from 2008.  He's playing much better this season and is someone people will pay their money to see.  Plus, there's the $15 million he's owed this season.  That doesn't just magically go away...

... unless you're the Dodgers, and you've shown a willingness to take on large contracts.  With that said, Utley would have to waive his no-trade clause, and the Dodgers would have to send some good prospects to make this happen. 

I wouldn't say a deal sounds likely at this point, but it's worth keeping an eye on as the month of July progresses.

Dodgers in the mix for Matt Garza

The calendar hit July 1 today, and with that, trade rumors will start to swirl more and more each day.  We all know that's just the way the Dodgers like it as the deadline approaches on July 31.

Now that they've won eight of nine and are only four games in back of first in the NL West, you can bet Ned Colletti will be as motivated as ever to get this team back over the hump.

The biggest areas of need are third base, middle relief, and back end of the rotation.  Today, Jim Bowden of ESPN.com wrote about five possible destinations for Cubs' starter Matt Garza (Insider only).  The Cubs are facing yet another rebuilding season, so let's take a look at the proposed deal (which isn't real keep in mind, just what Bowden suggests) and if I would pull the trigger on it.

Garza to the Dodgers for RHPs Stephen Fife and Matt Magill

Garza:  He got a late start to the season thanks to a strained lat muscle, and as the Reds' Johnny Cueto can attest to, that's not an easy injury to get rid of.  But, Garza has pitched well in his eight starts, posting a 3-1 record with a 3.83 ERA and 1.16 WHIP.  His strikeouts have been growing with each start, as he has 18 in his last couple. 

He's a very consistent pitcher, as the only time he's topped a 3.95 ERA was when he was a young rookie with Minnesota in 2006.  He posted a very low .236 BAA last season, and .230 so far this season.  In other words, he doesn't allow many baserunners, and can be relied on for it.

Fife: After tossing seven scoreless innings on Sunday against the Phillies, who came in scorching the ball against Dodgers' pitching, you know his value just went up.  This season he's 3-2 with a 2.83 ERA and 1.21 WHIP.  He's only made 12 starts in his career spanning two seasons, but with a very good line of a 2.78 ERA and 1.28 WHIP.

Magill: The transition to the majors has not gone nearly as smooth for him, as he's been roughed up in his six starts to the tune of a 6.51 ERA and 1.99 WHIP.  He's walked 28 in 27 2/3 innings, which is obviously way too many.  To his defense, he's had to make some starts on pretty short notice thanks to the never ending injury situation in LA, but even with that, he's been pretty horrendous.

Bottom Line: As much as I like Fife, I would pull the trigger on this deal.  Garza is only 29 and has pitched in big games before.  He won the 2008 ALCS MVP thanks to two wins over the Red Sox, giving up two runs in 13 innings.  Yes, that was five years ago, but in five career postseason starts (including one more in 2010), he's 2-1 with a 3.48 ERA and 1.29 WHIP.

Garza strikes me as a guy who would thrive in the spotlight of LA, where he would get to make big starts down the stretch.  He made many big starts with the Rays from 2008-2010, and was one of their top pitchers.  Plus a rotation of Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Hyun-Jin Ryu, and Garza is pretty nasty.  That would be hard for any team to matchup with.

I would miss Fife because he is getting better at mixing his pitches and seems to step up to the challenge.  But, it's the old saying of in order to get something, you have to give up something.  Fife would be that guy.  I'd be perfectly happy if he does stay a Dodger though, don't get me wrong.

I don't have much confidence in Magill, who just doesn't strike me as anything special.  I know he won't always walk so many in future, but he just has "OK" written all over him.  No big deal if he goes.

I guess this is why the Dodgers want to trade for pitching

There's really only one way to sum up Friday night's 16-1 shellacking to the Phillies: it sucked.

End of story.

It was the worst home loss the Dodgers suffered since moving from Brooklyn, if you want to look further into it.  Chris Capuano was absolutely horrific, and the bullpen of Peter Moylan, Matt Guerrier, and Brandon League were just atrocious.

Oh, Skip Schumaker pitched a scoreless ninth.  That might be the most embarrassing stat of the night.

For those of you wondering why the Dodgers would be linked to a guy like Ricky Nolasco of the Marlins, this is it.  I wrote the other day about how the Dodgers were getting good production from the back end of their rotation during this recent six-game winning streak.  Well, you can throw that out the window after Friday.  It's hard to imagine Capuano being much worse.

Nolasco seems to be the biggest name out there so far, at least well before the trade deadline at the end of July starts sparking new names.  He's the type of guy who certainly has the potential, but is notorious for not living up to those projections.  And guess what?  He was hit around by the Padres at home before the Dodgers took the field on Friday, giving up five runs and 11 hits in five innings.  Not exactly the type of start that encourages Dodger fans.

Still, would making a move for Nolasco be worth it?  There's understandable concern that Capuano, Stephen Fife, and Ted Lilly are not the answers down the stretch.  I like the way Fife has looked lately, so perhaps he'll be fine, but I can see why management wants an upgrade to solidify the fourth and fifth rotation spots.

This season, Nolasco is 4-8 with a 3.93 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and 83 K's in 103 1/3 innings.  Those numbers aren't bad, but he's in a rough patch right now.  He was only 1-4 in May, but with a 3.57 ERA.  In five June starts, he's fallen back at 1-2 with a 4.55 ERA.  One step forward, one step back.

Money is no object for the Dodgers anymore, so they can easily cover the remaining $6 million left on Nolasco's deal.  When it comes to players with big money owed, you can automatically link the Dodgers to them after the Red Sox trade from last year.  So that gives them an edge over teams reluctant to take on all that money.

Before Friday's game, I would have said that the Dodgers should steer clear of him.  But Capuano was so bad and so discouraging, I'm completely rethinking that stance.  I can't imagine the Dodgers would have to give up much to get him as long as they take his contract, so no major players would be on the move to Miami.  Maybe Nolasco is one of those "change of scenery" type of players where getting away can only help.  Rick Honeycutt has had success with all sorts of different pitchers, so I'd like to see what he can do with Nolasco.

As for the bullpen, I haven't seen any specific names linked to them, but that will change soon.  There's no way they can feel confident about winning anytime they give the ball to guys like League, Moylan, and Guerrier.  Ditto for Ronald Belisario.  The only ones they feel good about are Kenley Jansen, J.P. Howell, and Paco Rodriguez.  As much as Don Mattingly would like to, he can't put them in there EVERY game.

Dodgers may (or may not) add Hunter and trade Ethier

The offseason rumor mill continues to churn, with the latest news concerning the outfield.  It's being said that the Dodgers may try to sign free agent Torii Hunter, who's coming off a fine season with the fake Los Angeles team.

How would that be possible with Carl Crawford and Matt Kemp returning from injury, and Andre Ethier in the fold?  Apparently, it's Ethier who could become available.

Here's what we know about Hunter.  Initially, it was being reported that the Dodgers approached him about a two-year contract.  Last year, he hit .313 with 16 home runs and 92 RBIs for a disappointing Angels team that failed to even make the playoffs after splurging for Albert Pujols and CJ Wilson in the offseason.  Also, he's won a Gold Glove nine times.  Not too shabby.

Since this news surfaced last week, new details show that perhaps this report wasn't entirely accurate.  On one hand, it was Hunter's agent who approached Ned Colletti at the Winter Meetings about joining the club.  Also, who's to say Hunter would even want to risk accepting a lesser role if Ethier does stay?  It would be hard to imagine him signing as a fourth outfielder with his numbers.  That doesn't make any sense.

After coming off a season hitting .284 with 20 homers and 89 RBIs, Ethier is perhaps being dangled in trade talks.  This really isn't anything new, as he's the type of player you like to have on your club, but never seems to have the big numbers you want to see.  He signed a five-year, $85 million extension this past June, which appeared to end any thoughts of moving him.  Then again, maybe not.

It sure seems like these two moves directly correlate with each other.  Since word on signing Hunter has cooled in recent days, so should talk of trading Ethier.  Hunter is a tough player who will turn 38 next July, Ethier will be 31 next April.  Obviously, youth is on Ethier's side, who also has a Gold Glove in his trophy case.  Bottom line, unless the Dodgers are wowed with a trade offer for Ethier, I wouldn't be a fan of this trade off.

Dodgers and Red Sox working on a MAJOR deal

Word has come Friday afternoon that the Dodgers and Red Sox are piecing together a blockbuster deal that involves some major players.

Accoring to ESPN Boston, the Dodgers are about to receive Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford, and Nick Punto.  The Dodgers have been rumored to do anything from sending over players like Rubby De La Rosa, James Loney, Ivan De Jesus, and Jerry Sands, to simply taking on all of those contracts.  The Dodgers' part of the deal is still being worked out.

For the Dodgers, the deal means a HUGE upgrade at first (Gonzalez for Loney/Juan Rivera).  Plus, Beckett has plenty of big game experience, and could use a change of scenery to regain his fire, ala Hanley Ramirez.  And for the Sox, it's a great way to shed some mega contracts and somewhat start over.  It makes sense on both sides.

As we learned near the trade deadline with Ryan Dempster, let's not assume any trade is finalized until we get official word.  But if this does go down... whoa, baby!  This is a big day!

For updates on this, keep checking out MLBTradeRumors.com.

A bunch of trade chatter

The trade deadline is tomorrow at 4 P.M. Eastern, and there's a whole lot of talk involving the Dodgers.  Let's break it down player by player.

(Note: all of the below rumors are courtesy of MLBTradeRumors.com, an excellent baseball site, especially this time of year.)

Ryan Dempster - I guess we all should have known not to declare a deal is done before all parties involved make it official.  Hence the case with Dempster last week when he nixed a trade to the Braves, mostly because he wants to be a Dodger.  So for that I say... good for him!  Ha!

Anyway, the latest reports say that the Cubs and Dodgers are trying very hard to make a deal happen.  The Dodgers did not want to offer pitching prospect Allen Webster in the deal before, which held everything up.  There's also talk of Alfonso Soriano being involved, which makes sense considering his massive contract.

As great as Chad Billingsley and Stephen Fife have looked the last couple of starts, there's no denying that Dempster would be a big upgrade in the rotation.  A playoff rotation of Clayton Kershaw, Chris Capuano, Dempster, and Harang would be sweet. 

Justin Morneau - There was some interest here, but the Twins no longer appeared interested.  The Dodgers moved Nathan Eovaldi in the Hanley Ramirez deal, and since the Twins want a starting pitcher, there's really no match anymore. 

Morneau has gone from budding superstar and AL MVP in 2006 to an injury-plagued question mark, all thanks to the dreaded concussion.  He combined to play only 150 games in 2010-2011.  This season he's played in 78 games, which shows that maybe he's finally OK, hitting .260 with 13 homers and 46 RBIs. 

No disrespect to Morneau, but I don't think the Dodgers should mess with him.  Even though he's been healthier this year, I think the Dodgers could do better.

Shane Victorino - Jayson Stark of ESPN stated that the Dodgers appear the favorite to land the Ex-Dodger Victorino.  Many teams have been attached to him, but with the Dodgers' willingness to take on money, they suddenly are the frontrunners.

This season hasn't been as kind to Victorino, who's hitting .261 with 9 homers, 40 RBIs, and 24 stolen bases.  It's not like he's been bad; he just hasn't been on base as much.  But as you see with the steals, he can still fly.  Plus, he has plenty of big game experience.

I'll state upfront that I'm just not a Victorino fan.  It probably goes back to the playoffs a few years back when he got upset when Hong-Chih Kuo threw at him, despite the Phillies throwing at Manny Ramirez before.  The dude has just always bugged me.  But with Bobby Abreu really slowing down and Tony Gywnn never getting a hit, he would be a clear upgrade in left.  So, reluctantly, I would take him.

Speaking of Gwynn, it looks like either he or Josh Lindblom are names that could go to Philly in return.  Fine with me.

Brandon League - The forgotten League has many teams calling up the Mariners for his services.  The Dodgers really need bullpen help, especially with Ronald Belisario bumbling in the setup role of late.

After going 37-42 in save situations last year, League lost his closer's role after blowing his fourth save in late May.  He actually was figuring things out quite nicely before getting hit around by the Royals on Sunday.  Still, since being demoted, he's lowered his ERA from 4.43 to 3.63.  Throw out Sunday's game, and his ERA was at 3.05.  So there has been clear improvement.

I think League has a lot to offer, so I would jump on a deal.  At this point, I'm willing to see anyone pitch in the eighth inning, and he would be the guy.  The Dodgers have already added Randy Choate on the left side, and if they get League on the right, that would be another good addition in front of Kenley Jansen.

With Dempster gone, Dodgers eye Garza

Ryan Dempster looks to have been traded, just not to the Dodgers.  He will be moved to the Braves today for starter Randall Delgado.  With Dempster and the emergence out of nowhere of Ben Sheets, the Braves have definitely upgraded their rotation.

Now the Dodgers have shifted their focus to another Cubs' starting pitcher, Matt Garza.  The difference between the two is that Garza can be retained next season as an arbitration-eligible player.  Dempster is a free agent after this season.  If the Dodgers do let go of Zach Lee, and it looks like they'd have to if they want Garza, then it's easier to pull the trigger knowing he'll be in the starting rotation next year, too.

This season, Garza is 5-7 with a 3.91 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and 93 K's in 103 2/3 innings.  In seven big league seasons, he's 57-61 with a 3.84 ERA and 1.29 WHIP.

I'll wait and see if this deal does go down before diving deeper into what it means for the Dodgers going forward.

Dodgers want Dempster, but will they part with Lee?

With the trade deadline approaching, the Dodgers appear to have made the first move to improve their starting pitching.  Reports have surfaced that they have reached out to the Cubs to acquire Ryan Dempster.  With Cole Hamels quite possibly extending with the Phillies, Dempster is arguably the top dog on the pitching market.

A couple of factors are unknown about this deal.  First, we don't even know which players the Dodgers have offered.  We do know that the Cubs value young pitching in return for any deal, which is understandable considering they are in the full rebuilding mode. 

The second question, and most important one, is if the Dodgers are willing to include Zach Lee in the deal.  You have to think that if that answer is yes, the Cubs would pull the trigger on this in an instant.

To start with, let's take a look at Dempster.  To say that he is putting it all together this year would be an understatement.  And guess what?  He currently has a scoreless inning steak of 33.  Talk about perfect timing!  On the year, he's 5-3 with a minuscule 1.86 ERA and 1.02 WHIP.  Teams are hitting only .204 against him.  Simply put, he's one of the very few bright spots in another dark season for the Cubs.  It's not hard to see why teams value him so highly.

For those of you unacquainted with Lee, he was the first pick by the Dodgers in the 2010 draft.  After last season, he already was rated the top-ranked prospect in the farm system, and #62 overall by Baseball America.  Not bad for a guy who was pitching in high school two years ago.

Lee started this season at High-A Rancho Cucamonga, where he went 4-3 with a 4.55 ERA in 12 starts.  He's since made four starts in Double-A Chattanooga, and he's 0-2 with a 8.82 ERA.  Not exactly the greatest numbers, but that doesn't change the fact that he's still a highly sought after young prospect that a team like the Cubs would covet.

The Dodgers have already let it be known that they are willing to take on high salaries if it will improve their club.  Dempster in the final year of his four-year deal, making $14 million this season.  It's not like we can expect him to pitch to an ERA of sub-2 the whole season, but he's still a huge improvement over Chad Billingsley.  A rotation of Clayton Kershaw, Chris Capuano, and Dempster would be great to start a playoff series with.

However, I'm not at all a fan of moving Lee in this deal.  Some people may look at Lee's numbers this year and wonder what the big deal is, but you have to understand that's he's still only 20, and already has been lauded for his control.  In other words, the guy appears to know how to pitch, and not just try to blow everyone away.  That's a guy you want in your system.

As much as I'd like to see Dempster replace Billingsley in the rotation, I think the Dodgers need a power bat even more.  I'll give you two reasons why: Juan Uribe and James Loney.  Enough said.  If the Cubs insist on Lee as part of the deal, then I would move on from it.  Give Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier somebody else who can consistently drive in runs to help protect them.  That's their biggest need.