***UPDATE***
Paul Maholm is officially a Dodger, inking a one-year deal for $1.5 million. It'll be Major League deal, and not a Minor League one which was the expectation, so good for him.
***
To answer the question I posed in my previous post: "No, because Arroyo apparently doesn't need the Dodgers either." After flirting with going to LA, Arroyo chose the Diamondbacks for two years (with an option for a third) along with $23.5 million. Can't blame him there.
Judging by the way Ned Colletti has pursued starting pitchers this offseason by signing Dan Haren and missing on Masahiro Tanaka and Arroyo, it shouldn't come as a surprise that he's looking to add another name for the back end of the rotation.
That man appears to be Paul Maholm.
Maholm is in Glendale, Arizona right now, undergoing a physical and looking to be on the verge of a minor league deal. Considering there's a locker with the name "Maholm" written above it, I'd say that's a good sign he's a Dodger.
So, let's go ahead and take a look at him. Last season the lefty was with the Braves, going 10-11 with a 4.41 ERA and 1.41 WHIP. Those were his highest numbers since 2010 with the Pirates, as the previous two seasons split between the Pirates, Cubs, and Braves saw an ERA at 3.66 and 3.67, along with a WHIP at 1.22 and 1.29. For his career, he's 76-95 with a 4.28 ERA and 1.40 WHIP.
Right away, the WHIP is what strikes me as way too high, but that could be a bit deceiving, too. Like I mentioned above, his WHIP was in the mid-1.20 range in 2011 and 2012, which is pretty good.. So, maybe last year was just a hiccup for some reason.
It's also obvious he won't blow anyone away, as he has 950 K's in 1,485 2/3 career innings. Last year he had 105 in 153 innings. Considering the Dodgers' pitchers were second in the NL last season in strikeouts, he doesn't exactly fit in. If he doesn't have his control, he suffers through rough starts.
Still, I'm willing to see where this could go. Rather than throwing $20 whatever million at Arroyo, maybe a smaller deal like this will bring similar results, as Maholm will only be asked to give some good innings as the fourth or fifth starter. His numbers last year were high, but the previous two were solid, including less hits than innings pitched in each of them, always a good sign.
Behind the big three of Clayton Kershaw, Zach Greinke, and Hyun-Jin Ryu, the battle for the final two spots looks to come down to Josh Beckett, Dan Haren, and Maholm (Chad Billingsley is out until July). Dodger fans are reminded about this all the time, but it's so true: you can never have enough quality starting pitching, as evidenced by last season.
Saturday, February 8, 2014
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Do the Dodgers really need Arroyo?
The long offseason wait for Bronson Arroyo may finally be coming to an end, as three teams are reportedly interested in the veteran right-hander: the Dodgers, Diamondbacks, and Orioles. Bob Nightengale of USA Today says the DBacks are the "slight favorites." No word yet on whether or not the breaking point is Arroyo getting the guaranteed third year he's been seeking.
That's all well and good, but I can't help but ask the obvious question: Do the Dodgers even need Arroyo?
First of all, you can't blame Ned Colletti for being aggressive in stockpiling starting pitchers after multiple injuries made a mess of the rotation last season. Only Clayton Kershaw and Hyun-Jin Ryu went unscathed (thankfully), while Zack Greinke, Chris Capuano, Ted Lilly, Josh Beckett, and Chad Billingsley all got hurt at one time or another. Heck, even Stephen Fife couldn't stay healthy, and he was barely in LA. Matt Magill did stay healthy, but pitched like someone who was hurt.
So, as I said above, you can understand Colletti's rationale in pursuing Arroyo, a guy who's made a career out of punching the clock over and over. Over 14 seasons, he's put together a 138-127 record with a 4.19 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and 1,479 K's. He appeared in the 2006 All-Star Game, won an NL Gold Glove in 2010, and twice led the NL in starts with 34.
Speaking of starts, he's never once appeared on the DL. Seriously. Think about it - that's 391 career starts, and not once has he been unable to take the mound because he's on the Disabled List. That's amazing.
Right now the rotation is Kershaw, Greinke, Ryu, Dan Haren, and hopefully Beckett, assuming he's ready to go. Waiting in the wings is Chad Billingsley, who might reappear around the All-Star break. Then there's also someone like prospect Zach Lee, who's quietly biding his time until his number is called.
With all of that said, if the Dodgers are able to give Arroyo a deal similar to what they gave Brian Wilson (one year, with an option for a second), then I'd go for it. If it's two years guaranteed I probably would as well, but three would seem like too much. I know that's what Arroyo wants, but maybe that's also why it's February and he hasn't been signed yet.
He's been a member of the Reds since 2006, and four of the past five seasons he's put together an ERA in the 3.70-3.80 range. That's pretty darn good considering Cincinnati is a hitter's park and he isn't getting any younger. Imagine what he can do in Dodger Stadium for a full season. That's even more reason to get excited.
If I'm Arroyo, I'm liking the Dodgers because of the opportunity to win, being in pitcher's ballpark, and the cash he can get is probably more than anywhere else. Why would I be a little nervous? Well, you saw the list of starts a few paragraphs above. I can't imagine he'd be willing to pitch out of the bullpen if everyone is healthy, especially considering he hasn't done so since 2005 with the Red Sox.
The Dodgers lost out on a mega-contract for Masahiro Tanaka, so let's see how much they want a veteran innings-eater like Arroyo instead.
That's all well and good, but I can't help but ask the obvious question: Do the Dodgers even need Arroyo?
First of all, you can't blame Ned Colletti for being aggressive in stockpiling starting pitchers after multiple injuries made a mess of the rotation last season. Only Clayton Kershaw and Hyun-Jin Ryu went unscathed (thankfully), while Zack Greinke, Chris Capuano, Ted Lilly, Josh Beckett, and Chad Billingsley all got hurt at one time or another. Heck, even Stephen Fife couldn't stay healthy, and he was barely in LA. Matt Magill did stay healthy, but pitched like someone who was hurt.
So, as I said above, you can understand Colletti's rationale in pursuing Arroyo, a guy who's made a career out of punching the clock over and over. Over 14 seasons, he's put together a 138-127 record with a 4.19 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and 1,479 K's. He appeared in the 2006 All-Star Game, won an NL Gold Glove in 2010, and twice led the NL in starts with 34.
Speaking of starts, he's never once appeared on the DL. Seriously. Think about it - that's 391 career starts, and not once has he been unable to take the mound because he's on the Disabled List. That's amazing.
Right now the rotation is Kershaw, Greinke, Ryu, Dan Haren, and hopefully Beckett, assuming he's ready to go. Waiting in the wings is Chad Billingsley, who might reappear around the All-Star break. Then there's also someone like prospect Zach Lee, who's quietly biding his time until his number is called.
With all of that said, if the Dodgers are able to give Arroyo a deal similar to what they gave Brian Wilson (one year, with an option for a second), then I'd go for it. If it's two years guaranteed I probably would as well, but three would seem like too much. I know that's what Arroyo wants, but maybe that's also why it's February and he hasn't been signed yet.
He's been a member of the Reds since 2006, and four of the past five seasons he's put together an ERA in the 3.70-3.80 range. That's pretty darn good considering Cincinnati is a hitter's park and he isn't getting any younger. Imagine what he can do in Dodger Stadium for a full season. That's even more reason to get excited.
If I'm Arroyo, I'm liking the Dodgers because of the opportunity to win, being in pitcher's ballpark, and the cash he can get is probably more than anywhere else. Why would I be a little nervous? Well, you saw the list of starts a few paragraphs above. I can't imagine he'd be willing to pitch out of the bullpen if everyone is healthy, especially considering he hasn't done so since 2005 with the Red Sox.
The Dodgers lost out on a mega-contract for Masahiro Tanaka, so let's see how much they want a veteran innings-eater like Arroyo instead.
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Kemp looking doubtful for Australia
A lot can change between now and March 22, but at this point, don't expect to see Matt Kemp in the lineup when the Dodgers take on the Diamondbacks in a two-game set Down Under.
It should be noted that the source of the above information is former All-Star Dave Stewart, whose current career is being Kemp's agent. The logic is simple: Kemp has rushed back way too many times before, so he shouldn't do it again.
Does that mean Kemp has suffered another setback? Apparently not. He's been lifting weights for awhile, and just recently started running on a treadmill. That's much more than he did last winter, when left shoulder surgery prevented him from doing much of anything with weights.
I'm sure when Spring Training starts, we'll be getting our daily updates on how Kemp looks and what he did on the field. We'll probably get just as many updates on how he thinks he "feels great" and is "ready for Opening Day."
Maybe the more realistic goal for him to is to be ready for the games back in the States. The Dodgers play three in San Diego, starting with ESPN Sunday Night Baseball on March 30, before playing the Giants for three on April 4 in Dodger Stadium. Possibly he'll pinch-hit against the Diamondbacks and Padres before starting in center against the Giants? Just a thought.
Let's hope Kemp finds any sort of consistent health this season. I know the Dodgers still made the NLCS without him contributing much last year, but as I've said all along, they need him to get to where they want to be (on top of the world).
In the meantime, it's good to know that he has a Kardashian to keep him occupied in the offseason!
It should be noted that the source of the above information is former All-Star Dave Stewart, whose current career is being Kemp's agent. The logic is simple: Kemp has rushed back way too many times before, so he shouldn't do it again.
Does that mean Kemp has suffered another setback? Apparently not. He's been lifting weights for awhile, and just recently started running on a treadmill. That's much more than he did last winter, when left shoulder surgery prevented him from doing much of anything with weights.
I'm sure when Spring Training starts, we'll be getting our daily updates on how Kemp looks and what he did on the field. We'll probably get just as many updates on how he thinks he "feels great" and is "ready for Opening Day."
Maybe the more realistic goal for him to is to be ready for the games back in the States. The Dodgers play three in San Diego, starting with ESPN Sunday Night Baseball on March 30, before playing the Giants for three on April 4 in Dodger Stadium. Possibly he'll pinch-hit against the Diamondbacks and Padres before starting in center against the Giants? Just a thought.
Let's hope Kemp finds any sort of consistent health this season. I know the Dodgers still made the NLCS without him contributing much last year, but as I've said all along, they need him to get to where they want to be (on top of the world).
In the meantime, it's good to know that he has a Kardashian to keep him occupied in the offseason!
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Yankees pony up for Tanaka, and the Dodgers are better off for it
No disrespect to Masahiro Tanaka, but I'm glad the Dodgers didn't get him.
Not for that price. Not even for a mega-rich team like the Dodgers.
For those of you who don't know, Japan's best pitcher decided to don the Yankee pinstripes for the next seven seasons and $155 million today. He'll get an opt-out after four seasons and a full no-trade clause. Not too shabby for a guy who has yet to make one big league pitch.
Look, would Tanaka have helped the Dodgers? Absolutely. If he signed, then the top four of their rotation of Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Hyun-Jin Ryu, and Tanaka would be deadly. There isn't a weak pitcher in that bunch, and you can legitimately say the Dodgers are favorites to beat almost anybody four out of five games.
But even though money is not an object in LA, they're still better off not giving ANOTHER huge contract to a pitcher. Just look at what the top three in the rotation are raking in: Kershaw - seven years and $215 million, Greinke - six years and $147 million, Ryu - six years and $36 million. Heck, even Chad Billingsley has one year left on his three-year, $35 million deal, with an option for 2015.
If you add up all the bucks, it's $433 million. Oh, and how about the $17 million for each of the past two seasons the Dodgers have been paying Josh Beckett since he came over in August of 2012 from the Red Sox. That's $34 million, bumping the total up to $467 million.
Do I even want to remind all of you about Brandon League's HORRIFIC three-year, $22.5 million deal that still has two years remaining? Sorry, but I had to go there.
The bottom line is that as good of a player as Tanaka could end up being, the Dodgers have more than committed enough money to the pitching side of the equation. Now they need to take that reported $100+ million they offered Tanaka and use it on the offense.
How about extending Hanley Ramirez? Yes, that comes with a risk, but it's hard to deny how impactful his bat was in the lineup last season. Perhaps the Dodgers show good faith in him by rewarding him with a deal before Spring Training.
In looking at the list of players in their "contract year," about the only ones who jump out are Billy Butler, Adam Lind, Chase Headley, and Aramis Ramirez. Not exactly the most exciting players, but ones who have shown some good to really good power. If any of them are on the trading block during the season, the Dodgers are definitely a team that could offer up the cash to take on a contract or two.
Best of luck to Tanaka in New York, as the Yankees are really trying to find superstars now that Robinson Cano, Mariano Rivera, and Alex Rodriguez are all gone for one reason or another, and Derek Jeter appears to be on his last legs of life. But in the end, I'm glad the Dodgers came up short.
That could lead them to coming out big in the end.
Not for that price. Not even for a mega-rich team like the Dodgers.
For those of you who don't know, Japan's best pitcher decided to don the Yankee pinstripes for the next seven seasons and $155 million today. He'll get an opt-out after four seasons and a full no-trade clause. Not too shabby for a guy who has yet to make one big league pitch.
Look, would Tanaka have helped the Dodgers? Absolutely. If he signed, then the top four of their rotation of Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Hyun-Jin Ryu, and Tanaka would be deadly. There isn't a weak pitcher in that bunch, and you can legitimately say the Dodgers are favorites to beat almost anybody four out of five games.
But even though money is not an object in LA, they're still better off not giving ANOTHER huge contract to a pitcher. Just look at what the top three in the rotation are raking in: Kershaw - seven years and $215 million, Greinke - six years and $147 million, Ryu - six years and $36 million. Heck, even Chad Billingsley has one year left on his three-year, $35 million deal, with an option for 2015.
If you add up all the bucks, it's $433 million. Oh, and how about the $17 million for each of the past two seasons the Dodgers have been paying Josh Beckett since he came over in August of 2012 from the Red Sox. That's $34 million, bumping the total up to $467 million.
Do I even want to remind all of you about Brandon League's HORRIFIC three-year, $22.5 million deal that still has two years remaining? Sorry, but I had to go there.
The bottom line is that as good of a player as Tanaka could end up being, the Dodgers have more than committed enough money to the pitching side of the equation. Now they need to take that reported $100+ million they offered Tanaka and use it on the offense.
How about extending Hanley Ramirez? Yes, that comes with a risk, but it's hard to deny how impactful his bat was in the lineup last season. Perhaps the Dodgers show good faith in him by rewarding him with a deal before Spring Training.
In looking at the list of players in their "contract year," about the only ones who jump out are Billy Butler, Adam Lind, Chase Headley, and Aramis Ramirez. Not exactly the most exciting players, but ones who have shown some good to really good power. If any of them are on the trading block during the season, the Dodgers are definitely a team that could offer up the cash to take on a contract or two.
Best of luck to Tanaka in New York, as the Yankees are really trying to find superstars now that Robinson Cano, Mariano Rivera, and Alex Rodriguez are all gone for one reason or another, and Derek Jeter appears to be on his last legs of life. But in the end, I'm glad the Dodgers came up short.
That could lead them to coming out big in the end.
Saturday, January 18, 2014
With a week to go, we'll see if the Dodgers really want Tanaka
Now that Clayton Kershaw is officially $215 million richer, the Dodgers, along with many other teams in baseball, are turning their attention to the top free agent, Masahiro Tanaka.
And if you thought the Dodgers would be priced out of the bidding war, think again.
Teams have until next Friday, January 24 to reach a deal with Tanaka after they have posted the $20 million fee. What kind of deal will he receive? It's hard to accurately pinpoint, but it's not out of the question to see him rake in over $100 million.
What's also hard to pinpoint is exactly how much interest the Dodgers have in Tanaka. Or more specifically, how much they're willing out outbid other teams like the Cubs, White Sox, and Yankees. Those are the teams we know about, but there could be more. On Tanaka's side, he's given virtually no indication which way he's leaning, so he's playing it right down the middle through all of this.
Ken Gurnick (the guy who wouldn't vote for Greg Maddux or Tom Glavine...) on Dodgers.com seems to think that the Dodgers will be in on Tanaka, but won't go overboard. They seem more likely to extend Hanley Ramirez than pour more bucks into a pitcher. He's not so sure Tanaka would want to "blend in" on a star studded Dodger team; he'd rather be the front and center star on another team, which is certainly his right. Ramirez has his drawbacks because of past maturity issues and current injuries, but as Gurnick point out, he still finished eighth in the NL MVP voting despite playing in only 86 games. That says it all about his massive talent right there.
If I had to guess, I'll say that Tanaka ends up with the Cubs. Lord knows they need an injection of life, and if Theo Epstein is looking to do that, he'll dish out the cash to get him. The only way the Dodgers end up with him is if other teams become too reluctant to make a big deal.
If the Dodgers do end up with Tanaka, then that is an absolutely lethal starting rotation of Kershaw, Tanaka, Zack Greinke, Hyun Jin-Ryu, and take your pick between Josh Beckett, Dan Haren, and Chad Billingsley. Let's just say pitching depth won't be a problem.
Keep an eye on the news over the next week, as MLBTradeRumors.com is on top of all of this, as it's an excellent site year round for baseball news.
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
The $30 Million Club begins with Clayton Kershaw
If there was ever someone who would break the $30 million annual salary plateau, it was Clayton Kershaw. And boy does he deserve it.
The Dodgers and Kershaw agreed to a seven-year, $215 million deal today, with an out clause after five years. It's by far the highest salary for a pitcher, eclipsing Justin Verlander's $180 million he signed for last season. It's also the highest per year salary ever ($30,714,286 to be exact), breaking Roger Clemens's $28 million he signed for in the 2007 season.
Wow.
As a die-hard Dodger fan, I'm pumped for a variety of reasons. Kershaw's starts are "Must See TV" every fifth day, as his dazzling display of fastball, slider, curveball, and changeup can get any hitter out. He's also the ultimate competitor, always looking for an advantage and battling to the last out.
He also means everything to Los Angeles, as he's earned his star status by winning two of the past three NL Cy Young Awards, including a second place finish to R.A. Dickey in 2012.
It's also exciting that the Dodgers didn't actually give him $300 million, which has been rumored since last summer. Hey, I love the guy, but that's a whole lot of bread, especially for a position so fragile as pitcher. $214 is certainly no joke, but MUCH more reasonable.
While there's a whole lot to like about this deal, I also have to acknowledge some obvious risks. As I just mentioned, there's always some apprehension when a pitcher not only receives so much dough, but gets multiple years as well. It's understandable, especially considering guys like Stephen Strasburg and Matt Harvey have gone through Tommy John surgeries lately.
Plus, the Dodgers have been burned in the past by dishing out big deals for pitchers. Remember Kevin Brown? He was pretty good for a bit, but that's it. How about Jason Schmidt? Yuck. The Dodgers have also given big deals to Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu, and while Ryu held up very well, Greinke had some ups and downs in the first half of last season with injuries.
The bottom line is that in order to keep a superstar, some concessions had to be made by Ned Colletti, and that's exactly what happened. Perhaps a little by Kershaw as well, as that $300 million deal could have come from some other team in free agency. We'll never know, and Dodger fans are grateful for it.
Now that Kershaw has his money and comfort of officially calling LA his home for the next several years, he'll have to do the same thing any other player with a big contract has had to do: prove that he's worth it. I can say with full confidence that there's no need to worry about that at all. Kershaw is a stud, plain and simple. And he'll continue to be one going forward.
Should we expect a 1.83 ERA and 232 K's for the next seven seasons? Probably not, and we shouldn't hold even someone as great as him to such a high standard. The 2013 season was a historically magnificent season, and even he would be hard pressed to match it. Let's not expect a complete game shutout every fifth day either.
What we can expect is the same dominant "gamer" we've grown to love the last few years. And we should also expect many big postseason starts as well. That's the guy I'm looking forward to seeing.
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Busy Dodgers to open the 2014 season... twice
The beginning of the 2014 season just got a little more interesting for the Dodgers.
We already know that they will open the season on March 22 and 23 against the Diamondbacks in Sydney, Australia in the "Stay Out of My Pool!" two-game series. Although if you want to be technical about it, both games are actually March 22 in the Eastern time zone, as the first game is at 4:00 AM and the second at 10:00 PM. Just in case you weren't confused enough already.
Then came word today that ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball season will kick off March 30 with the Dodgers visiting the San Diego Padres. Most other teams will open up the next day, and the Dodgers and Padres will resume their three-game set on Tuesday.
The announcement seemed a little strange, as making the Dodgers play three games before 27 other teams have even played one might not be the fairest thing I've ever heard. But then again, it's a compliment to the Dodgers that ESPN tabbed them to "open" the season (at least with many more eyes than the Australia games) on Sunday night. So it's cool.
Another cool thing is that we should be able get watch Clayton Kershaw get two starts in as many games. Can't beat those odds.
We already know that they will open the season on March 22 and 23 against the Diamondbacks in Sydney, Australia in the "Stay Out of My Pool!" two-game series. Although if you want to be technical about it, both games are actually March 22 in the Eastern time zone, as the first game is at 4:00 AM and the second at 10:00 PM. Just in case you weren't confused enough already.
Then came word today that ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball season will kick off March 30 with the Dodgers visiting the San Diego Padres. Most other teams will open up the next day, and the Dodgers and Padres will resume their three-game set on Tuesday.
The announcement seemed a little strange, as making the Dodgers play three games before 27 other teams have even played one might not be the fairest thing I've ever heard. But then again, it's a compliment to the Dodgers that ESPN tabbed them to "open" the season (at least with many more eyes than the Australia games) on Sunday night. So it's cool.
Another cool thing is that we should be able get watch Clayton Kershaw get two starts in as many games. Can't beat those odds.
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Mattingly gets his new deal
Monday, October 21, 2013 sure looked like the end of the line for Don Mattingly with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Instead, it may have only helped him get what he wanted.
About two-and-a-half months after that infamous press conference in which Mattingly and Ned Colletti practically refused to look to each other, the Dodgers have given Mattingly a new contract, reportedly for three years through 2016. Terms have yet to be disclosed.
It's the right move for both sides, as Mattingly made it clear that having a one-year, "lame duck" contract just wasn't going to cut it. His reasoning was that the players know he could be on the way out very soon, so he can't get as much production out of them. That's debatable, but certainly understandable from his point of view.
I'm not sure how many other managers can claim to have gone 42-8 during a 50-game stretch at any point of any season (probably very few), so he's shown he can win. He guided the Dodgers to Game 6 of the NLCS before the Cardinals advanced, and that was without Matt Kemp and with a very banged up Hanley Ramirez.
Now that Mattingly has been taken care of, it's time to keep moving forward. They certainly have the pitching addressed, as they've added arms like Dan Haren and Jamey Wright, and re-signed Brian Wilson and J.P. Howell. There's always the possibility of trading an outfielder, though that seems less likely as time passes. Maybe Andre Ethier gets moved closer to the season, if I had to guess.
I think the biggest issue is whether or not Clayton Kershaw and/or Hanley Ramirez get their extensions. I would certainly hope so, but that's going to cost a lot of loot. Even the Dodgers may have to be cautious there.
In the meantime, kudos to Colletti, Mattingly, and the rest of Dodgers' management for getting this deal done and moving forward. Let's remember that Mattingly has only managed three seasons (260-225), so he's still learning and improving his in-game tactics. With a new deal that brings stability, maybe 2014 is the year the Dodgers put it all together.
Instead, it may have only helped him get what he wanted.
About two-and-a-half months after that infamous press conference in which Mattingly and Ned Colletti practically refused to look to each other, the Dodgers have given Mattingly a new contract, reportedly for three years through 2016. Terms have yet to be disclosed.
It's the right move for both sides, as Mattingly made it clear that having a one-year, "lame duck" contract just wasn't going to cut it. His reasoning was that the players know he could be on the way out very soon, so he can't get as much production out of them. That's debatable, but certainly understandable from his point of view.
I'm not sure how many other managers can claim to have gone 42-8 during a 50-game stretch at any point of any season (probably very few), so he's shown he can win. He guided the Dodgers to Game 6 of the NLCS before the Cardinals advanced, and that was without Matt Kemp and with a very banged up Hanley Ramirez.
Now that Mattingly has been taken care of, it's time to keep moving forward. They certainly have the pitching addressed, as they've added arms like Dan Haren and Jamey Wright, and re-signed Brian Wilson and J.P. Howell. There's always the possibility of trading an outfielder, though that seems less likely as time passes. Maybe Andre Ethier gets moved closer to the season, if I had to guess.
I think the biggest issue is whether or not Clayton Kershaw and/or Hanley Ramirez get their extensions. I would certainly hope so, but that's going to cost a lot of loot. Even the Dodgers may have to be cautious there.
In the meantime, kudos to Colletti, Mattingly, and the rest of Dodgers' management for getting this deal done and moving forward. Let's remember that Mattingly has only managed three seasons (260-225), so he's still learning and improving his in-game tactics. With a new deal that brings stability, maybe 2014 is the year the Dodgers put it all together.
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Taking a look at the loaded Dodgers' bullpen
If you're a Dodger fan looking for quality arms, then Christmas was very kind. Ned Colletti announced the signings of Chris Perez, Jamey Wright, and J.P. Howell on Tuesday, giving the Dodgers one of the deepest, and hopefully best, bullpens in all of baseball.
To go along with the signings of those three is the return of Brian Wilson, who was re-signed about three weeks ago. With that in mind, let's take a look at the arms that could form the 'pen in April, with their 2013 stats in parenthesis.
Shoo-Ins:
Closer - RHP Kenley Jansen (28 saves, 16 holds, 1.88 ERA, 0.86 WHIP)
Enters the season as the clear-cut closer, and there's little reason to believe that will change. Then again, in a crazy spot like closer, anything can happen. Didn't Brandon League enter 2013 as the closer? And wasn't Jonathan Broxton once a "shutdown" closer? You get the point. Still, with a great fastball and cutter, it's hard to believe Jansen will flop.
Setup - RHP Brian Wilson (3 holds, 0.66 ERA, 0.88 WHIP)
In a great move by Colletti, was brought back as both the primary eighth inning guy, and a fallback option in case Jansen has some troubles. Was everything the Dodgers could have hoped for and more in 2013, and with more time ticking away since his Tommy John surgery in 2012, should have even stronger stuff for 2014.
LHP J.P. Howell (11 holds, 2.03 ERA, 1.05 WHIP)
Got the multi-year deal he was searching for, and with a .164 average against left-handed hitters, will find himself in plenty of big situations once again. Two straight seasons of great numbers with the Rays and Dodgers shows he's up for the challenge.
LHP Paco Rodriguez (20 holds, 2 saves, 2.32 ERA, 0.90 WHIP)
About the only thing that went wrong for him in an incredible rookie year was the nosedive he took at the end of last year, as he was actually left off of the NLCS roster. But with a fresh arm and deceptive delivery, showed what he could do for many months. The hope, of course, is that his arm strength can last during the rigors of a full season.
RHP Chris Perez (25 saves, 1 hold, 4.33 ERA, 1.43 WHIP with Indians)
He's a two-time All-Star, so he certainly knows how to get the big outs. Last season was a disaster in every way for him, whether he was getting hurt, blowing saves, or getting busted by the law. The best thing for him could very well be pitching in friendly Dodger Stadium against weaker offenses and away from the closing spotlight. I like the addition, as I'll take a chance on him over a bum like Ronald Belisario any day of the week.
Long Relief - RHP Jamey Wright (6 holds, 3.09 ERA, 1.20 WHIP with Rays)
As Colletti recently admitted, he wished he was more aggressive in re-signing him after the 2012 season. A year of long relief success later, that's exactly what he did in bringing him back to LA for the same role. There really aren't a whole heck of a lot of pitchers who actually embrace the role of getting ready quickly to pitch multiple innings at a moment's notice, and he's one of the best, so it's a good move.
Battling it Out:
RHP - Chris Withrow (4 holds, 1 save, 2.60 ERA, 0.90 WHIP)
Like Rodriguez, is another young arm who got plenty of big outs. I bet people will look at those numbers above and be pleasantly surprised. I can see him teaming with Perez and Rodriguez in the middle innings to bridge the gap to Wilson and Jansen. He's got the hard stuff to do it.
RHP Jose Dominguez (1 hold, 2.16 ERA, 1.68 WHIP)
A young man with electric stuff, as he can reach 100 MPH at any point. He's very fortunately to have such a low ERA, as opponents hit .314 off of him, albeit in a small sample size with 8 1/3 innings. Still, there's something about power arms out of the bullpen that is so intriguing, and if he can learn to pitch to corners and mix in some soft stuff, he can be a huge weapon.
RHP Brandon League (14 saves, 2 holds, 5.30 ERA, 1.55 WHIP)
Ahhh, good old League, the guy who won't go anywhere thanks to two years left on a three-year, $22.5 million contract. What a shame it would be if he beats out better arms like Withrow and Dominguez, but that's a definite possibility. Maybe Rick Honeycutt found something in his delivery that will improve him? I'm searching for something here, because it's hard to get even a little bit excited to see him pitch again.
Don't Forget About:
LHP Scott Elbert (Did not pitch in 2013)
Still recovering from Tommy John surgery, he will be out until around the All-Star break at best guess. Pitched mostly in 2011 and 2012, and with ERA's of 2.43 and 2.20, respectively, it's easy to see why a lefty with hard stuff like him sticks around. Suppose Rodriguez gets worn down again, then possibly Elbert steps in down the stretch. It might not be entirely realistic to count on him for any of 2014, but like it says above, don't forget about him.
Bottom Line:
By my count, that's nine guys duking it out for between 7-8 spots in the bullpen (taking out an injured Elbert). Plus, you have to remember that when fully healthy, the starting rotation sports six guys in Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Dan Haren, Chad Billingsley, and Josh Beckett. You know those first three names won't be anywhere near the bullpen, so one of Haren, Billingsley, or Beckett may have to be do the Chris Capuano act of bouncing between starter and reliever.
With the way this team gets hurt, Don Mattingly might not need to make many tough decisions on who stays and who goes, much like the outfield situation from last season. But of the three names on the "Battling it Out" list, I'd say as of right now Withrow gets the nod, with League and then Dominguez. League is awful, but has that damn contract, so he can't be ignored. Dominguez has to show more consistency before getting a permanent stay in LA.
Colletti has stated that he's all but done with roster moves, so it would be a surprise to see another reliever signed. Then again, if the Dodgers bid and are successful in getting Masahiro Tanaka, then that throws a wrench into all of these plans, not that that's a bad thing if this kid is the real deal. We shall see.
To go along with the signings of those three is the return of Brian Wilson, who was re-signed about three weeks ago. With that in mind, let's take a look at the arms that could form the 'pen in April, with their 2013 stats in parenthesis.
Shoo-Ins:
Closer - RHP Kenley Jansen (28 saves, 16 holds, 1.88 ERA, 0.86 WHIP)
Enters the season as the clear-cut closer, and there's little reason to believe that will change. Then again, in a crazy spot like closer, anything can happen. Didn't Brandon League enter 2013 as the closer? And wasn't Jonathan Broxton once a "shutdown" closer? You get the point. Still, with a great fastball and cutter, it's hard to believe Jansen will flop.
Setup - RHP Brian Wilson (3 holds, 0.66 ERA, 0.88 WHIP)
In a great move by Colletti, was brought back as both the primary eighth inning guy, and a fallback option in case Jansen has some troubles. Was everything the Dodgers could have hoped for and more in 2013, and with more time ticking away since his Tommy John surgery in 2012, should have even stronger stuff for 2014.
LHP J.P. Howell (11 holds, 2.03 ERA, 1.05 WHIP)
Got the multi-year deal he was searching for, and with a .164 average against left-handed hitters, will find himself in plenty of big situations once again. Two straight seasons of great numbers with the Rays and Dodgers shows he's up for the challenge.
LHP Paco Rodriguez (20 holds, 2 saves, 2.32 ERA, 0.90 WHIP)
About the only thing that went wrong for him in an incredible rookie year was the nosedive he took at the end of last year, as he was actually left off of the NLCS roster. But with a fresh arm and deceptive delivery, showed what he could do for many months. The hope, of course, is that his arm strength can last during the rigors of a full season.
RHP Chris Perez (25 saves, 1 hold, 4.33 ERA, 1.43 WHIP with Indians)
He's a two-time All-Star, so he certainly knows how to get the big outs. Last season was a disaster in every way for him, whether he was getting hurt, blowing saves, or getting busted by the law. The best thing for him could very well be pitching in friendly Dodger Stadium against weaker offenses and away from the closing spotlight. I like the addition, as I'll take a chance on him over a bum like Ronald Belisario any day of the week.
Long Relief - RHP Jamey Wright (6 holds, 3.09 ERA, 1.20 WHIP with Rays)
As Colletti recently admitted, he wished he was more aggressive in re-signing him after the 2012 season. A year of long relief success later, that's exactly what he did in bringing him back to LA for the same role. There really aren't a whole heck of a lot of pitchers who actually embrace the role of getting ready quickly to pitch multiple innings at a moment's notice, and he's one of the best, so it's a good move.
Battling it Out:
RHP - Chris Withrow (4 holds, 1 save, 2.60 ERA, 0.90 WHIP)
Like Rodriguez, is another young arm who got plenty of big outs. I bet people will look at those numbers above and be pleasantly surprised. I can see him teaming with Perez and Rodriguez in the middle innings to bridge the gap to Wilson and Jansen. He's got the hard stuff to do it.
RHP Jose Dominguez (1 hold, 2.16 ERA, 1.68 WHIP)
A young man with electric stuff, as he can reach 100 MPH at any point. He's very fortunately to have such a low ERA, as opponents hit .314 off of him, albeit in a small sample size with 8 1/3 innings. Still, there's something about power arms out of the bullpen that is so intriguing, and if he can learn to pitch to corners and mix in some soft stuff, he can be a huge weapon.
RHP Brandon League (14 saves, 2 holds, 5.30 ERA, 1.55 WHIP)
Ahhh, good old League, the guy who won't go anywhere thanks to two years left on a three-year, $22.5 million contract. What a shame it would be if he beats out better arms like Withrow and Dominguez, but that's a definite possibility. Maybe Rick Honeycutt found something in his delivery that will improve him? I'm searching for something here, because it's hard to get even a little bit excited to see him pitch again.
Don't Forget About:
LHP Scott Elbert (Did not pitch in 2013)
Still recovering from Tommy John surgery, he will be out until around the All-Star break at best guess. Pitched mostly in 2011 and 2012, and with ERA's of 2.43 and 2.20, respectively, it's easy to see why a lefty with hard stuff like him sticks around. Suppose Rodriguez gets worn down again, then possibly Elbert steps in down the stretch. It might not be entirely realistic to count on him for any of 2014, but like it says above, don't forget about him.
Bottom Line:
By my count, that's nine guys duking it out for between 7-8 spots in the bullpen (taking out an injured Elbert). Plus, you have to remember that when fully healthy, the starting rotation sports six guys in Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Dan Haren, Chad Billingsley, and Josh Beckett. You know those first three names won't be anywhere near the bullpen, so one of Haren, Billingsley, or Beckett may have to be do the Chris Capuano act of bouncing between starter and reliever.
With the way this team gets hurt, Don Mattingly might not need to make many tough decisions on who stays and who goes, much like the outfield situation from last season. But of the three names on the "Battling it Out" list, I'd say as of right now Withrow gets the nod, with League and then Dominguez. League is awful, but has that damn contract, so he can't be ignored. Dominguez has to show more consistency before getting a permanent stay in LA.
Colletti has stated that he's all but done with roster moves, so it would be a surprise to see another reliever signed. Then again, if the Dodgers bid and are successful in getting Masahiro Tanaka, then that throws a wrench into all of these plans, not that that's a bad thing if this kid is the real deal. We shall see.
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Another bullpen boost as Howell re-signs
More good news for the Dodgers' bullpen, as J.P. Howell has signed for two years and $11.25 million, with a vesting option for 2016.
The option would be triggered if he makes 120 appearances in the next two seasons. Will that happen? It's possible, as 55 appearances with the Rays in 2011 led to 67 with the Dodgers last season, which adds up to 122. He's made 60+ appearances two other times with the Rays in 2008 and 2009.
Last season was his first in LA, and it was a good one. He pitched in 67 games, which was good for fourth on the club behind Paco Rodriguez, Kenley Jansen, and the legendary Ronald Belisario (not). Primarily as a middle-late inning reliever, he collected 11 holds while going 4-1 with a sparkling 2.03 ERA and 1.05 WHIP.
In addition, left-handed batters hit a mere .164 against him, and right-handed ones weren't much better at .222. He only surrendered two home runs in 62 innings, and struck out 54.
All in all, he was more than effective in getting the job done, and teamed with Rodriguez to form a pretty deadly duo from the left side. Now that same combination will be back to get the ball to Brian Wilson and Jansen in the late innings. It's a win-win.
Not surprisingly, Howell was originally seeking a three-year deal after his big season. Ned Colletti was reluctant to do so, and Howell can blame the awful Matt Guerrier and Brandon League for that. Much like Juan Uribe, Colletti was able to find a common ground by settling at two years. The only difference is that Howell got a $6.25 million option for a third year, and Uribe only has two years.
There's still more work to be done if you're Colletti, as a bullpen that relies on guys like Chris Withrow, Javy Guerra, Jose Dominguez, and League are either inexperience, bad, or both. There's four good relievers in Rodriguez, Howell, Wilson, and Jansen, no doubt, but putting in a right-handed pitcher to get out of a sticky situation in the earlier innings is still important.
The option would be triggered if he makes 120 appearances in the next two seasons. Will that happen? It's possible, as 55 appearances with the Rays in 2011 led to 67 with the Dodgers last season, which adds up to 122. He's made 60+ appearances two other times with the Rays in 2008 and 2009.
Last season was his first in LA, and it was a good one. He pitched in 67 games, which was good for fourth on the club behind Paco Rodriguez, Kenley Jansen, and the legendary Ronald Belisario (not). Primarily as a middle-late inning reliever, he collected 11 holds while going 4-1 with a sparkling 2.03 ERA and 1.05 WHIP.
In addition, left-handed batters hit a mere .164 against him, and right-handed ones weren't much better at .222. He only surrendered two home runs in 62 innings, and struck out 54.
All in all, he was more than effective in getting the job done, and teamed with Rodriguez to form a pretty deadly duo from the left side. Now that same combination will be back to get the ball to Brian Wilson and Jansen in the late innings. It's a win-win.
Not surprisingly, Howell was originally seeking a three-year deal after his big season. Ned Colletti was reluctant to do so, and Howell can blame the awful Matt Guerrier and Brandon League for that. Much like Juan Uribe, Colletti was able to find a common ground by settling at two years. The only difference is that Howell got a $6.25 million option for a third year, and Uribe only has two years.
There's still more work to be done if you're Colletti, as a bullpen that relies on guys like Chris Withrow, Javy Guerra, Jose Dominguez, and League are either inexperience, bad, or both. There's four good relievers in Rodriguez, Howell, Wilson, and Jansen, no doubt, but putting in a right-handed pitcher to get out of a sticky situation in the earlier innings is still important.
Sunday, December 15, 2013
With Ellis gone, Dodgers' bench looks depleted
Yesterday the Dodgers decided to bring back Juan Uribe on a two-year, $15 million deal to remain the starting third baseman. Today, their bench took a hit when Mark Ellis decided to sign with the Cardinals.
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports that Ellis will ink a one-year deal with St. Louis, pending a physical. It's not too surprising that Ellis is gone considering the Dodgers declined his option after signing Alexander Guerrero to a four-year deal, but there was still some talk of keep him aboard as insurance. Now, he becomes insurance for talented youngster Kolten Wong.
Now that Ellis has moved on, the Dodgers' bench suddenly looks pretty bare. The following have packed their bags for elsewhere this offsesason: Nick Punto (A's), Skip Schumaker (Reds), Jerry Hairston (retired), and now Ellis. Not exactly the most productive players at the plate, but versatile guys who filled in at multiple positions. And with an injury-prone team like the Dodgers, little things like bench depth becomes that much more important.
The question now is what the Dodgers will do with their bench for 2014. Some in-house candidates include Tim Federowicz, Dee Gordon, Scott Van Slyke, and Elian Herrera. All four have big league experience, albeit with not very good results. Other candidates could be Nick Buss, Drew Butera, and Justin Sellers.
All of these guys are decent, but certainly not the greatest options to fill in when called upon. Ned Colletti made it a point after the Dodgers were eliminated by the Cardinals in the NLCS that he wants to get younger on the bench. With that in mind, it's not surprising that he let some of the old boys go.
Who's out there that the Dodgers can sign for their bench? Just to throw some names out there, there's Mark Reynolds, Casey McGehee, Jayson Nix, Roger Bernadina, and Chris Coghlan, to name a few. There's always the trade option, and if Colletti really is serious about moving one of his outfielders, you can guess he'll want some depth in return for salary relief.
I'll miss Ellis, as I always appreciated how hard he played no matter how banged up he was. It's obvious he's not scaring anyone at the plate anymore, but his defense earned him a final nod for Gold Glove this year, something I'm not sure many people realized. He probably felt like the Dodgers didn't find him very useful anymore, so I can't blame him for leaving.
I can see Colletti either relying on some of the youngsters to step up and fill roles, or blow the thing up completely and sign a few new guys. Depth on the bench and in the bullpen are his biggest priorities as January starts to roll around. Let's see what kinds of moves he makes.
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports that Ellis will ink a one-year deal with St. Louis, pending a physical. It's not too surprising that Ellis is gone considering the Dodgers declined his option after signing Alexander Guerrero to a four-year deal, but there was still some talk of keep him aboard as insurance. Now, he becomes insurance for talented youngster Kolten Wong.
Now that Ellis has moved on, the Dodgers' bench suddenly looks pretty bare. The following have packed their bags for elsewhere this offsesason: Nick Punto (A's), Skip Schumaker (Reds), Jerry Hairston (retired), and now Ellis. Not exactly the most productive players at the plate, but versatile guys who filled in at multiple positions. And with an injury-prone team like the Dodgers, little things like bench depth becomes that much more important.
The question now is what the Dodgers will do with their bench for 2014. Some in-house candidates include Tim Federowicz, Dee Gordon, Scott Van Slyke, and Elian Herrera. All four have big league experience, albeit with not very good results. Other candidates could be Nick Buss, Drew Butera, and Justin Sellers.
All of these guys are decent, but certainly not the greatest options to fill in when called upon. Ned Colletti made it a point after the Dodgers were eliminated by the Cardinals in the NLCS that he wants to get younger on the bench. With that in mind, it's not surprising that he let some of the old boys go.
Who's out there that the Dodgers can sign for their bench? Just to throw some names out there, there's Mark Reynolds, Casey McGehee, Jayson Nix, Roger Bernadina, and Chris Coghlan, to name a few. There's always the trade option, and if Colletti really is serious about moving one of his outfielders, you can guess he'll want some depth in return for salary relief.
I'll miss Ellis, as I always appreciated how hard he played no matter how banged up he was. It's obvious he's not scaring anyone at the plate anymore, but his defense earned him a final nod for Gold Glove this year, something I'm not sure many people realized. He probably felt like the Dodgers didn't find him very useful anymore, so I can't blame him for leaving.
I can see Colletti either relying on some of the youngsters to step up and fill roles, or blow the thing up completely and sign a few new guys. Depth on the bench and in the bullpen are his biggest priorities as January starts to roll around. Let's see what kinds of moves he makes.
Saturday, December 14, 2013
Welcome back, Juan Uribe
*** UPDATE ***
The deal is for two years and $15 million, according to Buster Olney of ESPN.
***
After floating the idea out there that Michael Young could be the Dodgers' starting third baseman in 2014, Ned Colletti was able to convince Juan Uribe to stick around after all.
Uribe has agreed to stay in LA by signing a two-year deal, as first reported by Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The money is not known yet, but is probably in the $10-15 million range, as best I can guess.
The picture above is a huge reason why Uribe was able to get something more than just a one-year deal with maybe an option for another, as his NLDS-winning two-run run to beat the Braves will go down as one of the biggest moments in Dodgers' postseason history. That hit was the culmination of a complete turnaround from where he was after the previous two seasons.
And what a turnaround it was. After winning a World Series ring with the Giants in 2010, he signed a three-year, $21 million deal with the Dodgers. In 2011, he played in 77 games and hit .204 with 4 homers and 28 RBIs. The following year he played in 66 games, hitting an even more pathetic .191 with 2 homers and 17 RBIs.
Yet, there he was on the 2013 Opening Day roster at third base, albeit as a backup to Luis Cruz. Thanks in large part to Cruz's own incompetence, Uribe slowly got more starts, and ended up playing in 132 games, hitting .278 with 12 homers and 50 RBIs. He also was fantastic at the hot corner, becoming one of the three finalists for Gold Glove that ended up going to the Rockies' Nolan Arenado.
During the latter part of the season, I wrote about how Uribe probably earned himself a new deal thanks in large part to his good season, and because the free agent market for third basemen was so pitiful (check out my article here). There was a thought that the Dodgers would chase after current shortstop and World Series champion Stephen Drew and push Hanley Ramirez to third. Then there was the recent talk of putting Young at third, which seemed like a pretty desperate solution.
Now that Uribe is back for the next two seasons, the Dodgers obviously have to hope that he doesn't repeat the first couple of season from his old deal. It's hard to name a worse player in all of baseball than him from that time, or at least one who received as much playing time as him. He was slow, old, out-of-shape, and had a look on his face that suggested he was completely lost. I couldn't wait for him to leave town.
Then 2013 hit, and when the other options weren't there, I never thought I'd say this, but I'm happy Colletti was able to convince him to stay with a reasonable deal. One year with an option would have been better, but two years isn't a big commitment in the grand scheme of things (Uribe reportedly wanted a three-year deal to start the offseason). For Uribe, the motivation will be to prove that he's not simply another "contract year" player who rose to the occasion, got the money, then tanked again.
Colletti can now shift his focus on adding to the bullpen and his bench... and who knows, maybe a trade of one of his outfielders? We'll see.
Saturday, December 7, 2013
Dodgers enter Winter Meetings looking to get younger, fill some gaps
Mark Saxon over at ESPNLosAngeles.com wrote his latest blog about the Dodgers' intentions as they head to Lake Buena Vista, Florida for the Winter Meetings. In a nutshell, don't expect a huge splash like they had last year in signing Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu.
What we should expect to see is a focus on adding a third baseman (which could mean re-signing Juan Uribe), and a focus on restoring bench depth and relievers.
It's not exactly the most exciting news in the world, but keep in mind the Dodgers have already done some work in November. They signed Alexander Guerrero with the hope that he can anchor second base the next four years, or even play some short and shift Hanley Ramirez to third. Dan Haren was chosen for one year over Ricky Nolasco for four, which was a smart move. They also brought back Brian Wilson to continue one of the best late inning combinations with Kenley Jansen, a fantastic move.
As I pointed out during the year, the timing for Uribe's resurgence could not have been any better for him. The free agent market for third basemen is basically zilch. Uribe went from hitting .191 with 2 homers and 17 RBIs in 2012 to .278/12/50 this past year. His OBP shot up from .258 to .331, and his games played from 66 to 132. There's always a risk that he could regress again, but a similar contract to Wilson's (one year, with an option for another) would make sense.
On the relief side, there's a bunch of guys with closing experience like Grant Balfour, Joaquin Benoit, Fernando Rodney, and Kevin Gregg (who was actually released by the Dodgers last Spring Training). Those guys will probably require longer contracts than one or two years the Dodgers will offer, so I'd be surprised if any of those guys sign.
For middle relief, names like Mitchell Boggs, Jesse Crain, and Kyle Farnsworth pop up from the right side, and J.P. Howell and Matt Thornton from the left side. The Dodgers would like to bring back Howell, but again, he wants a three-year deal, and the Dodgers appear to have learned their lesson from the horrible Matt Guerrier and Brandon League deals, and don't want to go above to. Good for them.
None of these names will blow you away, but then again, the Dodgers have their core in place, especially if Clayton Kershaw and Hanley Ramirez get extended before next season. Right now it's all about plugging in holes, so stay tuned for small signings here and there.
What's about the only news that could blow you away? If Matt Kemp or Andre Ethier get traded. Buster Olney takes a look at that possibility (Insider only).
What we should expect to see is a focus on adding a third baseman (which could mean re-signing Juan Uribe), and a focus on restoring bench depth and relievers.
It's not exactly the most exciting news in the world, but keep in mind the Dodgers have already done some work in November. They signed Alexander Guerrero with the hope that he can anchor second base the next four years, or even play some short and shift Hanley Ramirez to third. Dan Haren was chosen for one year over Ricky Nolasco for four, which was a smart move. They also brought back Brian Wilson to continue one of the best late inning combinations with Kenley Jansen, a fantastic move.
As I pointed out during the year, the timing for Uribe's resurgence could not have been any better for him. The free agent market for third basemen is basically zilch. Uribe went from hitting .191 with 2 homers and 17 RBIs in 2012 to .278/12/50 this past year. His OBP shot up from .258 to .331, and his games played from 66 to 132. There's always a risk that he could regress again, but a similar contract to Wilson's (one year, with an option for another) would make sense.
On the relief side, there's a bunch of guys with closing experience like Grant Balfour, Joaquin Benoit, Fernando Rodney, and Kevin Gregg (who was actually released by the Dodgers last Spring Training). Those guys will probably require longer contracts than one or two years the Dodgers will offer, so I'd be surprised if any of those guys sign.
For middle relief, names like Mitchell Boggs, Jesse Crain, and Kyle Farnsworth pop up from the right side, and J.P. Howell and Matt Thornton from the left side. The Dodgers would like to bring back Howell, but again, he wants a three-year deal, and the Dodgers appear to have learned their lesson from the horrible Matt Guerrier and Brandon League deals, and don't want to go above to. Good for them.
None of these names will blow you away, but then again, the Dodgers have their core in place, especially if Clayton Kershaw and Hanley Ramirez get extended before next season. Right now it's all about plugging in holes, so stay tuned for small signings here and there.
What's about the only news that could blow you away? If Matt Kemp or Andre Ethier get traded. Buster Olney takes a look at that possibility (Insider only).
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Wilson is back, as Belisario gets booted
Some good news coming out of the Dodgers' bullpen these last few days. Brian Wilson has been re-signed to a one-year, $10 million contract on Thursday, with a player option for 2015 that could pay him the same.
The other good news? Ronald Belisario has been non-tendered, mercifully ending his roller coaster ride in LA.
Wilson did everything the Dodgers could have hoped for towards the end of 2013, and then some. He was signed as a free agent in late-July after winning two World Series rings with the Giants (one as their closer, another as he was recovering from Tommy John surgery). He made his debut on August 19 and proceeded to go 2-1 with an 0.66 ERA and 0.88 WHIP in 18 appearances covering 13 2/3 innings.
In the playoffs, he made six appearances without surrendering a run, as he clearly showed the world that he has plenty of gas left in the tank.
With that in mind, I'm shocked that he's back. I thought for sure he would land a closer's role somewhere. Maybe he could've and never could agree on terms, or maybe he just liked pitching in LA and was never blown away by any other offer. Either way, it'll be great to see the Wilson-Kenley Jansen combination shutting down the eighth and ninth innings again. That's great news for a team looking to take the next step to the World Series.
If I'm a starting pitcher for the Dodgers, I'm thrilled that Wilson is back because my chances for a higher win total just went up.
As for Belisario, there was no way the Dodgers could conceivably give him another deal after watching how inconsistent he's been the last couple of seasons. This past year in 77 appearances, he went 5-7 with a 3.97 ERA and 1.47 WHIP, which is very high. His stuff is never in doubt, but his ability to throw for strikes consistently was only getting worse and worse. Plus, he had a 7.36 ERA in seven postseason appearances.
In other words, good bye, and good riddance!
The other good news? Ronald Belisario has been non-tendered, mercifully ending his roller coaster ride in LA.
Wilson did everything the Dodgers could have hoped for towards the end of 2013, and then some. He was signed as a free agent in late-July after winning two World Series rings with the Giants (one as their closer, another as he was recovering from Tommy John surgery). He made his debut on August 19 and proceeded to go 2-1 with an 0.66 ERA and 0.88 WHIP in 18 appearances covering 13 2/3 innings.
In the playoffs, he made six appearances without surrendering a run, as he clearly showed the world that he has plenty of gas left in the tank.
With that in mind, I'm shocked that he's back. I thought for sure he would land a closer's role somewhere. Maybe he could've and never could agree on terms, or maybe he just liked pitching in LA and was never blown away by any other offer. Either way, it'll be great to see the Wilson-Kenley Jansen combination shutting down the eighth and ninth innings again. That's great news for a team looking to take the next step to the World Series.
If I'm a starting pitcher for the Dodgers, I'm thrilled that Wilson is back because my chances for a higher win total just went up.
As for Belisario, there was no way the Dodgers could conceivably give him another deal after watching how inconsistent he's been the last couple of seasons. This past year in 77 appearances, he went 5-7 with a 3.97 ERA and 1.47 WHIP, which is very high. His stuff is never in doubt, but his ability to throw for strikes consistently was only getting worse and worse. Plus, he had a 7.36 ERA in seven postseason appearances.
In other words, good bye, and good riddance!
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Hanley wants to stay awhile... and the Dodgers will take him
As Hanley Ramirez was celebrating a World Baseball Classic championship with his Dominican Republic teammates on Thursday, he dropped a bit of news: he's working on a contract extension with the Dodgers, and it could be done this winter.
For how much and how long? That he wouldn't say, so let the speculation commence.
Ramirez enters 2014 in the final year of his six-year, $70 million contract he originally inked with the Marlins in 2009. We all know how he started off as the next five-tool star, only to fall on some pretty hard times before reviving his career with the Dodgers.
Despite all of the injuries Ramirez went through last season (thumb, hamstring, back, ribs), there was no doubt this guy meant everything to the Dodgers in winning the NL West. It seems like he played in more than 86 games, but alas, we only saw him in about half of the games. In those games, he hit .345 with 20 homers and 57 RBIs, a clear indication of just how good he was.
The Dodgers really have no choice but to extend him. Obviously they still feel that at 30 entering next season, he still is in the prime of his career and is an MVP-like player. The fact that he put up those great numbers with injuries all over his body shows the talent he has. Plus, his defense at short was much-improved, and he may actually switch to third for next season if needed.
Those who are skeptical of such an extension will point out that both Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier received mega-deals after they put up big numbers, and proceeded to see their numbers go down ever since. Ramirez, fair or not, is injury prone, though the Dodgers hope he can't possibly be as banged up in the future as he was in 2013. The bottom line is, no matter who the player is, there's always risk involved in long-term investments.
I'll wait to see what kind of deal Ramirez does sign, but I'm probably going to like it no matter what. Along with Yasiel Puig, Ramirez brought so much more energy and production to a fledgling Dodgers' squad this past season. Look how flat they were once he was beaned in the ribs during Game 1 of the NLCS. They only could muster a couple of wins as their offense tanked. A healthy Ramirez was good enough to lift them to the Fall Classic.
Hopefully the Dodgers get this done soon, then shift their attention to filling other spots, such as in the bullpen. Could a trade of Kemp, Ethier, or Carl Crawford be next? You never know.
For how much and how long? That he wouldn't say, so let the speculation commence.
Ramirez enters 2014 in the final year of his six-year, $70 million contract he originally inked with the Marlins in 2009. We all know how he started off as the next five-tool star, only to fall on some pretty hard times before reviving his career with the Dodgers.
Despite all of the injuries Ramirez went through last season (thumb, hamstring, back, ribs), there was no doubt this guy meant everything to the Dodgers in winning the NL West. It seems like he played in more than 86 games, but alas, we only saw him in about half of the games. In those games, he hit .345 with 20 homers and 57 RBIs, a clear indication of just how good he was.
The Dodgers really have no choice but to extend him. Obviously they still feel that at 30 entering next season, he still is in the prime of his career and is an MVP-like player. The fact that he put up those great numbers with injuries all over his body shows the talent he has. Plus, his defense at short was much-improved, and he may actually switch to third for next season if needed.
Those who are skeptical of such an extension will point out that both Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier received mega-deals after they put up big numbers, and proceeded to see their numbers go down ever since. Ramirez, fair or not, is injury prone, though the Dodgers hope he can't possibly be as banged up in the future as he was in 2013. The bottom line is, no matter who the player is, there's always risk involved in long-term investments.
I'll wait to see what kind of deal Ramirez does sign, but I'm probably going to like it no matter what. Along with Yasiel Puig, Ramirez brought so much more energy and production to a fledgling Dodgers' squad this past season. Look how flat they were once he was beaned in the ribs during Game 1 of the NLCS. They only could muster a couple of wins as their offense tanked. A healthy Ramirez was good enough to lift them to the Fall Classic.
Hopefully the Dodgers get this done soon, then shift their attention to filling other spots, such as in the bullpen. Could a trade of Kemp, Ethier, or Carl Crawford be next? You never know.
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