It's A-Gon's world, and we're just living in it

How good must life be for Adrian Gonzalez right now?

Last night before the Dodgers played the final game of a three-game set against the Padres, Gonzalez picked up his fourth Gold Glove and second Silver Slugger awards from 2014.  He'd already collected six hits, two homers, and three RBIs through two games, and was clearly flying high.

Well, after Wednesday night's mammoth three home run outburst, which helped down the Padres 7-4, I'd say he's flying as high as the moon right now.

And with that, A-Gon set a bit of history by becoming the first player EVER to hit five home runs in the first three games of the season.  That's just incredible.  I'm a little surprised nobody else has done that in the history of baseball, not that it's an easy thing to do.  But to do something that nobody has ever done through all of the years of professional baseball is downright crazy.

I'm not sure many people would even remember, much less guess in the first place, that he led all of baseball in RBIs last season with 116.  Not Mike Trout.  Not Miguel Cabrera.  Not Giancarlo Stanton.  Gonzalez did.

So maybe we shouldn't be the least bit surprised at what he's doing, even as he's approaching the "old" age of 33 in about a month.  OK, so maybe that's not THAT old even in baseball terms, but it's still on the wrong age of 30 in a sport that focuses so much on young talent.  He's not getting any younger, but he's still playing at a very high level on both sides of the field.

It's hard to know where the Dodgers would be without him.  He came over to the club in the infamous mega-deal with the Red Sox in 2012, and he's been a fixture at first base ever since.  After hitting 22 homers and 100 RBIs in 2013, he followed that up with his 27/116 campaign last year.  Obviously, he won't kill the ball like this all season, but there's no reason to think that with a deeper lineup around him this year, those numbers won't go up even more when it's all said and done.

Let's see how long he can ride this current hitting streak, which can best be described as "white hot."  Maybe if we ask him nicely, he can spread out some of these home runs so the Dodgers can win every game?

Just a thought.

A lot went right on Opening Day

There was a lot of "new" in the air at Dodger Stadium on Opening Day.  New center fielder, new double play combination, new closer, and new rival in Matt Kemp.  There was also some "new" in Clayton Kershaw watching him give up three runs (the nerve of him!). 

But here's what was to like about the squad after beating the Padres 6-3.

* I have to start with the guy leading off, Jimmy Rollins.  He led off the game with a single, walked and stole second in his next at-bat, then provided the dramatics in his fifth AB.  With the score tied at three and two runners on, he whacked the eight pitch of the AB out to deep right for a three-run shot.  He was brought there for veteran, championship leadership, and after one game, he's already paying off.

* Kershaw is indeed human, though he deserved better than three runs over six innings.  Juan Uribe took too long to play a slow bouncer by Derek Norris with two outs in the sixth, leading to an infield single.  It was more like a "mental error" than a hit.  Sure enough, old friend Kemp gave the Padres a 3-2 lead with a two-run double.  Kershaw still struck out nine, and it was encouraging to see the offense pick him up when he wasn't at his best.

* Twice the Dodgers were down (1-0 and 3-2) and twice they came back to tie the score, and Rollins's homer grabbed the lead for good.

* The biggest question mark going into the season?  The bullpen, no doubt, especially with Kenley Jansen on the shelf for a month or so.  For one game at least, they were fantastic.  Yimi Garcia struck out two in an inning, Joel Peralta worked a scoreless eighth, and Chris Hatcher got the save thanks to a double play ball and a strikeout to end the game.

* Adrian Gonzalez continues to put up numbers quietly.  People thought he was washed up a few seasons ago after shoulder surgery zapped much of his power during a disappointing stint with the Red Sox.  On Monday he was 3-for-5 with a solo homer, double, and two runs.  Throw in Gold Glove defense, and I get the feeling he can play until he's 50.

* The other part of the double play combination, Howie Kendrick, had two hits, including the game-tying double in the seventh.  I was surprised to see him hit cleanup and not Puig, but Don Mattingly clearly likes Kendrick's ability to drive in runs when the pressure is on.  So far, he's right.

* Joe Pederson got his first taste as an everyday Big Leaguer, and he responded with a hit, walk, run scored, and diving catch.  Not a bad first day, and can only get better.

So as I said, there was plenty to like.  Zack Greinke will look to keep the good times rolling when he takes on Tyson Ross on Tuesday night.  We all know how good Greinke is, but Ross is a very underrated fireballer himself.  He gets practically no run support, which perfectly summarizes this stat: in six career starts against the Dodgers, he's 0-4 with a 2.45 ERA.  That's just crazy.

Dodgers set 25-man roster to begin 2015

It took until the very last Spring Training game to be played for the Dodgers to officially reveal their 25-man roster to open the new season.  Here's a look:

Catchers
A.J. Ellis
Yasmani Grandal

Infielders
Adrian Gonzalez
Howie Kendrick
Jimmy Rollins
Juan Uribe
Justin Turner
Alex Guerrero
Darwin Barney

Outfielders
Yasiel Puig
Joc Pederson
Carl Crawford
Scott Van Slyke
Andre Ethier

Starting Rotation
Clayton Kershaw
Zack Greinke
Brandon McCarthy
Brett Anderson

Bullpen
Joel Peralta
J.P. Howell
Chris Hatcher
Paco Rodriguez
Yimi Garcia
Pedro Baez
Juan Nicasio

Disabled List
Kenley Jansen
Hyun-Jin Ryu
Chris Withrow
Brandon League
Brandon Beachy

Analysis:
One point Don Mattingly and Andrew Friedman have been harping on over and over this spring is how much they like their depth.  And guess what?  It's true.  Just take a look at some of the names sent down after Saturday's game - David Huff, Sergio Santos, David Aardsma, Adam Liberatore, Chris Heisey, and Kiki Hernandez.  Sure, those names won't blow you away, but they are good enough to make many other clubs out of the gate.  This at least gives the team much more depth at the Triple-A level when the inevitable injuries occur.

The infield is especially loaded, one year after Hanley Ramirez and Dee Gordon have moved on.  All four starters are very good with the gloves, and all can still do damage at the plate.  Turner is coming off of a fantastic year playing the utility role, Guerrero hit .308 with three homers and eight RBIs this spring, and Barney did even better by hitting .354 with six doubles, a triple, a homer, and four RBIs.  With Van Slyke and his great spring numbers (.354, three homers, nine RBIs) able to play some first base as well, Mattingly can easily find time to spot his starters and not miss a beat.

As for the outfield, it's pretty obvious that Pederson will be the starter in center.  He put up big numbers in the spring (.338, six homers, 13 RBIs, three stolen bases), and is clearly the starter for years to come.  This leaves Ethier in a position he won't like, and for that I certainly can't blame him.  His contract is so bloated, I'm not sure if trading him is a realistic possibility, so he might have to just grin and bear it for awhile.

The starting rotation was a mixed bag of results in the spring, but it's not anything I'd be even remotely worried about over the long haul.  You know Kershaw and Greinke will do their thing.  Heck, they can worse numbers than last year and still be the top 1-2 punch in the game.  McCarthy and Anderson both allowed .300+ averages, but again, it's hard to get too worked up over such a small sample size.  The only bummer is Ryu's injury, and the Dodgers really need him.  Hopefully it's nothing major and a little rest to start the season will do him good.

Finally, the bullpen is the biggest question mark, and that was before Jansen hurt his foot.  Now that he's out for a few weeks, there's no clear-cut closer.  My best guess is that Hatcher and Peralta get the first crack, and Howell perhaps if the situation is warranted (lefty on lefty).  Nicasio can play the swing man role, so maybe he gives a spot start if the #5 slot in the rotation is needed.  The best part about the 'pen is that there's a few names ready to be called up if any of the ones who made the big club flop.  It truly is put up or shut up.

With all that said, the Dodgers have to like their ability to make some noise from every spot in the order.  There's no "Stanton or Cabrera" threat to put one out of the park at any point, but there's plenty of guys who will drive in the big runs.  I do think we need to acknowledge Matt Kemp and Ramirez's abilities to drive in big runs during their tenures with the team, so replacing them won't be easy.

As with any club, getting guys healthy again will be huge, because Ryu and Jansen's injuries really cast a dark cloud over the pitching depth.  It's not like they will be lost without them, but their injuries do have a trickle down effect, especially in the bullpen.  Let's see how the month of April goes without them and hope for the best.

Pederson vs. Ethier: Who has the edge?

Don Mattingly is not ready to declare Joc Pederson or Andre Ethier as his starting center fielder come one week from today.  But that won't stop me from comparing how each has done this Spring Training, along with my pick.  Here goes...

Pederson: 22 G, .389 AVG, .421 OBP, 4 2B, 6 HR, 12 RBI, 2 SB

If Pederson was looking to leave his mark, he most certainly has this spring.  He leads the team in home runs, and is one behind Yasiel Puig in RBIs.  His 1.217 OPS is highest among potential starters, so he's showing everything he can do with the lumber.  That includes a team high 12 strikeouts, though that's not preventing him from getting on base.  His defensive abilities are rated as top notch, and he got at least some playing time there during his cup of coffee last September.  Add it all up, and he's doing everything possible to be the man in center.

Ethier: 18 G, .313 AVG, .389 OBP, 4 HR, 1 HR, 10 RBI, 0 SB

On the other hand, old dog Ethier is not ready to concede a starting spot just yet.  Well, I should say he's ready to prove why he should start again considering he was kicked to the curb by Mattingly last season (and justifiably so).  Let's not forget that just three years ago, he hit 36 doubles, 20 homers, and 89 RBIs.  Those numbers have gone way down since then, as injuries and poor play have made him almost a forgotten man.  To his credit, the numbers he's put up this spring show that he's all business and ready to show what he can do.  Maybe not for this team, but some other one.

Verdict:

With all of that said, it's just hard to picture Ethier being named the starting center fielder while Pederson is riding the pine.  This is actually eerily similar to a few seasons ago when Ethier was the fresh, new player, and Juan Pierre the old dog.  Joe Torre went with Ethier to start the season because the new guy gave him every reason why he's ready.  That's exactly what Pederson is doing right now.

Both men would hit closer to the bottom of the order, so the pressure is off to produce in the middle.  The Dodgers have plenty of guys who can reach base, and I can definitely see Pederson getting his chances to successfully drive in runs.  That's how he can build himself up to a future with a bigger role.

Ethier did a good job taking over for Matt Kemp in center last season, but it's not like he was out-of-this-world good, leading to Mattingly placing Puig there for the rest of the season.  Now Puig will be back in right because Pederson is looked at as the next big thing in center.  He already has the glove, and now that he's showing a relaxed approach at the plate, Mattingly needs to roll with him from here on out.

With just over a week to go, bullpen battles are heating up

Curious about just what the Dodgers' bullpen will look like once Opening Day comes on Monday, April 6?  Well, join the club, because it's anyone's guess.

Eric Stephen over at True Blue LA has been analyzing this during Spring Training, and he recently put together this handy bullpen flowchart to help track just who's out of options and who's not.

It's an interesting read, as there are a bunch of veterans fighting to get into the mix once the games count for real.  With news that Brandon League will be joining Kenley Jansen on the DL come April 6, that opens up yet another spot for someone.

If you're a newcomer to what a player having "options" is all about, think of it as a way to prevent clubs from constantly sending people up and down whenever they feel like it.  For young players, they have more "options" since they are, in fact, young and don't have many years in the Majors.  Older veterans will likely be out of "options."

If you no longer have that magic word, "options," then you can't be sent back down to the Minors.  You either make the big league club, or you can be released to sign with another team.  Often you will also see veterans accepting Minor League deals, but with clauses in the contracts that they must be called up by a certain date, or they will receive their release to sign elsewhere.

Got all of that?

There's a bunch of fancy language that explains it even further, but that's the best I can come up with to sum it all up.  So, Andrew Friedman will certainly be busy making decisions both before the regular season begins, and when Jansen is ready to come off the DL.  In other words, it's a never ending process.

A-Gon likes what he sees defensively

"We have guys with really high baseball IQs."

That's what Adrian Gonzalez recently told Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times.  He was referring to his new infield of Juan Uribe at third, Jimmy Rollins at short, and Howie Kendrick at second, in addition to the current Gold Glover at first.

It's not hard to see why A-Gon is this excited, because those names listed above are about as good an infield as it gets in baseball.

As Hernandez wrote, the new-look Dodgers' infield has a whole lot of experience and runs saved in comparison to last year.  Gone are Hanley Ramirez and Dee Gordon playing up the middle.  Hanley was clearly hanging onto his last breathe as an everyday shortstop (in fact, he's now the Red Sox left fielder).  Gordon was underrated as an improving second basemen, with plenty of room to still grow.  But he's no Kendrick with the leather.

Keeping those four guys healthy and in the everyday lineup will be huge, because the pitching staff is already getting hammered with one injury after another.  Hyun-Jin Ryu, Kenley Jansen, and Brandon League are already out for various periods of time.  Brett Anderson is always one misstep away from going to his second home, the DL.  The depth is being tested right away.

Knowing that four slick fielders are right behind the pitching rubber at least puts Don Mattingly's mind somewhat at ease as he runs out a bunch of pitchers he didn't think he'd have to use already in April.  Granted, guys like Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke won't need even average fielders to put up terrific numbers, but it certainly doesn't hurt either.

As Yasmani Grandal continues to get used to his new club, Yasiel Puig returns to his natural position of right field, and Joc Pederson hopefully gets the call to be the starting center fielder, nearly every part of the Dodgers' defense will be top notch and ready to win plenty of games of small ball.

About the only weak spot in the field belongs to Carl Crawford.  You know, the guy who dropped a fly ball and cost his team two runs last night against the Giants...

Puig's bringing pop this spring

One of the concerns of Dodger fans coming into 2015 was if Yasiel Puig could handle hitting in the heart of the order.  Hanley Ramirez and Matt Kemp are gone, and Puig went through quite the power outage after the All-Star break last season.

If Spring Training is any indication, then the answer is a resounding YES.

Granted, the circumstances are different than the regular season, but Puig just clocked his fifth homer of the spring today against the White Sox.  He's now hitting .263 with five homers and 12 RBIs, both tops on the team.  Say what you want about Spring Training, but that's very encouraging to see.

Then again, Puig started last year putting up monster numbers, earned himself a spot in the All-Star Game and Home Run Derby, then became a singles hitter at the end of the season.  So when Hanley and Kemp were shown the door, naturally, people wondered where the pop would come from.

Puig is helping put many people at ease, as is Joc Pederson, who has four homers this spring.  Put those two with Adrian Gonzalez, and the decent pop of Howie Kendrick, Jimmy Rollins, and Yasmani Grandal, and there's more production up and down the lineup that can pick up the missing slack.

The regular season is just over a week away, and I can't wait.  Dodgers vs. Padres, Kershaw vs. Kemp on Opening Day.  That's pretty sweet!

Olivera's signing could mean a whole new infield in 2016

If Yasiel Puig didn't exist, who knows if the Dodgers would ever aggressively pursue international talent like they have the last couple of years.

But he does, so they do.

Today it was the signing of Cuban infielder Hector Olivera, who reportedly has a six-year, $62.5 million deal signed, sealed, and delivered.  Oh ya, and a nice $28 million bonus to boot.

That's some serious cash for a team that already has the names Howie Kendrick, Jimmy Rollins, and Juan Uribe manning the positions that Olivera plays in second base, shortstop, and third base.  Let's not forget that Alex Guerrero is another international star who's making big bucks.

What does all of this tell me?  Expect to see some big changes in the Dodgers' infield for 2016.

Yes, I know Olivera will soon be 30 and is ready to help right now, and he very well could be a factor this year.  But there's no doubt Andrew Friedman is already planning for the next wave of Dodgers' stars, and Olivera, Guerrero, and Corey Seager teaming up with Adrian Gonzalez could be the fresh, new look he's envisioning next season and beyond.

It only makes sense, as Rollins is considered a one-year stop gap, and Uribe appears to be on his last contract with LA.  About the only other thing I would consider is re-signing Kendrick, putting Olivera at third, Seager at short, and looking to trade Guerrero.

All of this is obviously looking into the future, so let's take a look at what Olivera brings to the table right now.  As the link above states, he is a fantastic hitter who is capable of hitting 15-20 dingers and driving in 75 runs in the middle of a lineup.  Not bad for an infielder with no MLB experience, but that's how highly he's rated by scouts.

What's a reason for concern?  He supposedly has a damaged ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing arm, but he's vigorously disputed that by passing physicals with four other teams.  So go figure.

If you're a fan of finding the next big star from all over the globe, like Puig, then this signing appeals to you.  Who knows what kind of impact he'll make this year, but as I've stated before, I firmly believe this was made with 2016 and beyond in mind.  That's some serious talent on the Dodgers' infield if all works out.

If you don't believe in throwing out that kind of money to someone without even Minor League experience, then this might make you cringe a bit.  But let's give Friedman and his boys the benefit of the doubt: they turned around Tampa Bay by uncovering hidden talent, and with a much bigger wallet in LA, he can definitely do the same again.

Key games in the Dodgers' 2015 season

Spring Training is humming along without much news to report of.  About the only exciting things to have happened were Will Farrell pitching a perfect 1/3 of an inning, and Aroldis Chapman throwing behind Justin Turner for God knows what reason.  Other than that, not much going on.

So, let's get ourselves excited for when the games count for good.  Here's a look at some key/big/fun games in the Dodgers' 2015 schedule.

Monday, April 6 vs. Padres - Home opener, and the return of Matt Kemp
Monday, April 13 vs. Mariners - First Interleague set
Tuesday, April 21 at Giants - First tilt against the defending World Series champs
Monday, May 11 at Marlins - First matchup with old friends Dee Gordon and Dan Haren
Friday, May 29 at Cardinals - First matchup with the team that knocked the Dodgers out of the playoffs... again
Monday, June 22 at Cubs - Four-game set again Jon Lester, Joe Maddon, and a suddenly relevant Cubs team
Friday, July 17 at Nationals - First game after the All-Star break against a preseason World Series contender
Friday, July 31 vs. Angels - Freeway Series begins
Thursday, August 13 vs. Reds - First time seeing Chapman since Spring Training...
Monday, September 14 vs. Rockies - Last big homestand of the season, a 10-game set with the Rockies, Pirates, and Diamondbacks
Sunday, October 4 vs. Padres - Final game of the regular season, coming full circle

There you have it.  In examining the schedule, there are a heck of a lot of division games to start the season, and of course the last couple of weeks as well.  Then they have this quirk: they start July by playing the DBacks, end August with the Giants, and have no other division games in between.  That's right - there's virtually no games within the NL West for two straight months.  That seems very unusual.

The Interleague games are with the AL West.  The Freeway Series is always fun, and a bit more so this year with Howie Kendrick in Dodger blue.  Who knows what the A's will look like, but they always find a way.  The Mariners have two stars in Robinson Cano and King Felix.  The Rangers were just dealt a huge blow by losing Yu Darvish for the season.  And the Astros?  Well, they do have young talent, so we'll see.

Rollins to hit leadoff, but is he the best choice?

Don Mattingly and his boys are getting ready for their first Spring Training game of the season, which is tomorrow (Wednesday) against the White Sox.  One move he made was putting Jimmy Rollins in the leadoff slot, where he will probably stay for the season.

The reasoning?  Well, it's pretty simple: he's spent the majority of his career in that slot, and the Dodgers don't really have anyone else to do it.  So that's that.

With all of that said, I still have to wonder if Rollins is best utilized in that role at this point in his career.  For his career in the #1 spot, he's hit .272 with a .331 OBP.  The last couple of seasons, however, he's started to switch away from being exclusively a leadoff hitter, and started many more games in the #2 hole last season.

Dee Gordon was an obvious choice last season to hit leadoff.  He has blazing speed and was an emerging threat at the plate, even though his .326 OBP wasn't exactly through the roof.  This season, there's just not that one guy who plainly sticks out to set the table.  So you can understand why Mattingly wants to plug Rollins there based on his experience there.

Still, I look at a couple of other guys who could possibly fill this spot at times this upcoming season.  The first one is Carl Crawford, who is the early leader to start in left field.  Like Rollins, he's on the downside of his career and is looking to give that one last push towards a ring.  Last season in 105 games, he had a resurgence at the plate with a .300/.339 line, so he found ways to get on base.  He also swiped 23 bases with only six times being caught.  That's pretty good.

The other guy in my mind, believe it or not, is Yasiel Puig.  The Dodgers definitely want him to be that thumper in the heart of the order, especially with Matt Kemp and Hanley Ramirez gone.  But, because this is Puig we're talking about, nothing is a guarantee.  Despite having all the tools in the world to be a terrific run producer, he does have a .301/.389 line hitting leadoff, and has a high slugging % at .527 over the last two years.  Maybe he's just more comfortable there than the other spots.

Let's not forget that Rollins had 17 homers and 55 RBIs last season, and three years ago it was 23 and 68.  While he'll never be confused with the biggest ballplayer in the park, he still can hit for power, which could cause him to be moved to the middle of the order if the Dodgers are struggling in this regard.

It's just over a month away until the games start for real, so let's see if Mattingly is happy with Rollins taking that first at-bat of the game, or if someone else like Crawford or Puig is called upon.

Dodgers add Beachy with an eye towards the 2nd half

The Dodgers continued adding new pieces to their starting rotation today by signing Brandon Beachy to a one-year, $2.75 million deal with a club option for 2016.  He won't be needed until later in the season as he continues his rehabilitation from Tommy John surgery last March.

On paper, this looks like a good move, as the Dodgers can only hope he can give them an added boost later on in the season.  In a way, it reminds me of when they signed Brian Wilson at the trade deadline in 2013, who then went on to be a huge piece of the bullpen down the stretch.  Of course, he completely fell apart in 2014, but for a brief run, he was great.

Beachy certainly has some good numbers in his past appearances with the Braves, albeit in only 46 starts thanks to two TJ surgeries already.  For his career, he's 14-11 with a 3.23 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and 275 strikeouts in 267 2/3 innings pitched.

Now he can rest and rehab with his surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who just happens to be based in LA.  That turned out to be a key factor in Beachy's decision in coming to the West Coast, so hey, sometimes it's better to be lucky than good.

If Beachy can come back at full strength, then based on his past success in the National League, this move could turn out be like a deadline deal, only without needing to give anyone up to get him.  Also, he gives added insurance in case Brett Anderson can't shake the injury bug himself.  Beachy could very well end up trading off with Anderson in the second half of the season.

Keep Beachy's name in mind as the summer months of June and July begin heating up.

With Jansen out, who steps up to close?

Bad news coming out of LA yesterday, as Kenley Jansen will need 8-12 weeks to recover from left foot surgery.  Jansen was recently working out at Dodger Stadium when he reported discomfort in that foot.  Lo and behold, he has a growth on his fifth metatarsal, so he immediately when under the knife.

The news is bad, but not devastating only because of the timeframe it occurred.  Yes, it would have been nice to get this over with all during the offseason, but Jansen had no control over that.  Instead, he'll be looking at a mid-May return, which puts him out around a month and a half.  That's much better than this happening smack dab in the middle of the season, at least.

So now, the Dodgers have a giant closer role to fill, which won't be easy considering Jansen had 44 saves last season.  Let's take a look at potential options, both on the inside and out.

Current Bullpen - Joel Peralta, Pedro Baez, Chris Hatcher, Brandon League
The first guy to jump out would be Peralta, who's been pitching in the Bigs since 2005, but only has 12 career saves.  He does get his fair share of strikeouts, though, so that could be a good sign that he can translate it to the ninth.

Baez is someone to keep an eye on.  He only has 20 games of experience last season, but throws very hard and got in some action in the NLDS.  He's also virtually unknown to people outside of big Dodger fans, which could help him against batters who are unfamiliar with him.  Hey, that's how Eric Gagne got his start years ago, so you never know.

Hatcher is very much like Baez in that he doesn't have much experience, but throws hard and keeps his walks down, so he could emerge.  I only included League because of his past experience closing, but it's a longshot.  And quite frankly, if the Dodgers have him going in the ninth, it's because everyone else has flopped so miserably, they had to resort to him.

Minor League Invites to Spring Training - Sergio Santos, David Aardsma
Santos could be an intriguing option if he can get things together in the spring.  He saved 30 games with the White Sox in 2011, but hasn't come anywhere close to that since then.  Last season was a complete disaster with the Blue Jays, compiling an 8.57 ERA in 28 games.  It's no wonder his stock is way down, but if his arm is right, the history of brief success is there.

Aardsma had two excellent seasons as the Mariners' closer in 2009-10, collecting 38 and 31 saves, respectively.  After injuries set in, he had a very good season pitching for the Cardinals' Triple-A affiliate last year, and went to the Dodgers after attracting interest from quite a few teams in the offseason.  Like Santos, if the injuries are behind him, then he could be a sleeper.

Free Agents - Francisco Rodriguez, Rafael Soriano
K-Rod came out of nowhere for an excellent 2014 campaign, saving 44 games for the Brewers.  He's still unsigned, and latest word is that he's seeking a two-year deal, or a $10 million deal for a season.  There's obvious hesitancy in giving him so much money, as he's about to enter his 14th season.  Plus, it's hard to know if he can come anywhere close to last season's types of numbers again.

Soriano has saved 40+ games three times since 2010, and 32 last season, albeit with seven blown saves.  So, it's a bit surprising that he still hasn't signed with any club, as he has a career 2.85 ERA and 1.07 WHIP.  It could be a money thing like K-Rod, as he views himself as a top-tier closer who will only sign for what he wants.

Trade Candidate - Jonathan Papelbon
With the Phillies practically a sinking ship, you would think they'll finally be serious about rebuilding this season.  Cole Hamels is the hottest name in trade talks, but Papelbon could be right behind.  As this great article from John Stolnis points out, Papelbon is probably a better option than K-Rod, and if the Phillies eat some of his money, could be less expensive as well.

My Take:
I don't see the Dodgers reaching out for either of the big two free agents, or a trade for Paps.  The only way a trade occurs is if the Phillies really want to move on from him, but that probably wouldn't happen until later in the season. 

I do see someone from the Santos/Aardsma combination making the big club, then getting thrown into the fire.  There's no real competition in LA right now, as every other option is not a true closer.  Peralta is better suited for a setup role, and who knows if Baez and Hatcher are ready for such a role.

Spring Training just got a whole lot more interesting, as it will be fun to watch these many options duke it out and step up into that role for the first few weeks of the season.  I just hope someone can hold the fort down for the time being so Jansen doesn't feel the need to rush back too soon.  The last thing the Dodgers need is for Jansen's injury to linger all season long.

2015 Season Preview: Outfield

Here is the last installment of my season preview series.  The outfield went through a big change by trading away Matt Kemp, and seemingly will now rely on Joc Pederson to be the next big thing in center.  Will it work?  Let's take a look.

2014
LF - Carl Crawford
CF - Yasiel Puig
RF - Matt Kemp
Bench - Andre Ethier, Scott Van Slyke, Joc Pederson

2015
LF - Carl Crawford
CF - Joc Pederson
RF - Yasiel Puig
Bench - Andre Ethier, Scott Van Slyke, Chris Heisey

Then Compared to Now:
Obviously, it's Kemp being gone.  After starting off 2014 so poorly in center that he mercifully was replaced by Ethier in late May, he turned things around to be a monster in the second half.  He even was responsible for leading the Dodgers to their only playoff win with a tiebreaking solo shot in the eighth.  He went from hitting .269 with 8 homers and 35 RBIs before the break, to .309/17/54 after, and that was with about 70 less at-bats.

Now the attention turns to a guy who was called up in September, someone who's absolutely torn up the minor leagues.  That guy is Pederson, and the Dodgers both before and during the Friedman Era have protected him from numerous trade inquiries.  Pederson struggled in September, going only 4-for-28, all singles.  That's a small sample size, but who knows if it's still something to be concerned about.

The rest of the faces stay the same, as Ethier appears to be on the outside looking in again.  About his only chance of getting regular playing time is if Crawford struggles or Pederson falls flat on his face in Spring Training.  Van Slyke is still a super sub off the bench with some power, and Heisey will look to play all three outfield positions if needed.

Individual Breakdown:
Crawford (2014 stats): .300 AVG, .339 OBP, 14 2B, 3 3B, 8 HR, 46 RBI, 23 SB
Boy, .300 looks a lot better than .299, doesn't it?  Anyway, when he was on the field, he showed that there was still some life in his bat with a good average.  Injuries and being on the wrong side of 30 have taken away his ability to relive his glory days from Tampa, but it was good to see him get on base and gather his most steals since his final year in Florida, 2010.  Defensively he won't give you much, so if he stops hitting, he'll find himself riding the pine in no time.

Pederson: .143 AVG, .351 OBP, no other stats to speak of
Much like Alex Guerrero found out, the young guy with tons of potential at the plate didn't make the most of his brief opportunity.  Unlike Guerrero, it appears as if a starting position is Pederson's to lose, as his terrific glove is center has already given him a leg up on the competition.  He's a major reason why Kemp was moved, as it opens up a logjam of outfielders, and will hopefully allow him to relax and show off the talent that made him one of the best players in the minors last year.  If he can shorten that swing a bit and not try to hit the ball to the Dodger Stadium parking lot with each hack, he could be in for a big season.

Puig: .296 AVG, .382 OBP, 37 2B, 9 3B, 16 HR, 69 RBI, 11 SB
What an interesting season it was for him, as he went from starting in the All-Star Game (and striking out all three times), to enduring a huge power outage in the second half.  He played center field for most of the year when Kemp and Ethier couldn't get the job done, and through it all seemed to stay out of trouble.  Now with Kemp and Hanley Ramirez gone, all eyes are on him to step up even more in his second full season (third overall).  Can he focus on the game and get it done?  If he can regain some power while taking the walks that are there, then he can definitely be back in the ASG.  If he goes back to his immature ways, then maybe the Dodgers will miss Kemp more than they thought.

Ethier: .249 AVG, .322 OBP, 17 2B, 6 3B, 4 HR, 42 RBI, 2 SB
What a disappointing seasons it was for him, and I'm sure just as frustrating for him.  He basically was in and out of the starting lineup like a yo-yo for much of the season before Don Mattingly made him strictly a pinch-hitter down the stretch.  Unfortunately for him, his lifeless bat didn't give Mattingly much of a reason to change his mind.  It's pretty surprising to see that he only had four long balls, the first time in his career he's been under double-digits.  I don't see playing time getting much better for him, so I fully expect to see him traded during the season at some point.  He above most others would probably benefit from the change of scenery.

Van Slyke: .297 AVG, .386 OBP, 13 2B, 1 3B, 11 HR, 29 RBI, 4 SB
His best moment came in the season's first game Down Under, as his homer, double, and two RBIs helped the Dodgers to a win over the Diamondbacks.  From there, he was mostly used as a spot starter all over the outfield, and would occasionally spell Adrian Gonzalez at first.  I can see him having a carbon copy of 2014 this season, as his pop off the bench late in the game is a good weapon to have.

Heisey (with Reds): .222 AVG, .265 OBP, 15 2B, 2 3B, 8 HR, 22 RBI, 9 SB
As far as utility players go, the Dodgers appear to have a good one in him.  He's shown a good amount of pop in limited playing time in the past, peaking at 18 homers and 50 RBIs in 120 games in 2011.  He's not one who will take a walk and just accept getting to first, as he wants the big hit instead.  Defensively, he's been on the plus side of the DWAR battle the last two seasons, so I can see him replacing Crawford in left late in games, as Pederson and Puig wouldn't come out.  That's probably the best he can offer the Dodgers right now.

Is Now Better Than Then?
On paper, no.  That's a credit to what Kemp did in the second half of last season, as he finally found some good health and was able to return to the superstar he was from a few years back.  Whether or not he can continue that good string in San Diego remains to be seen.

With Kemp out and Pederson in for this season, expect to see a lot of stat comparisons between the two as the season progresses.  Fair or not, that's the matchup that will go a long way in determining if the Dodgers made a smart more in trading away Kemp.  Let's also remember that Pederson turns 23 in April, so his progress will be measured in the years to come.  If he is the real deal and Kemp's best seasons are clearly behind him, then it's a great tradeoff.

As for this season, it's hard to take Kemp's bat away from the lineup and say that the Dodgers will be better.  They'll have less drama by not having to worry about Kemp's ego, so that could be a huge plus.  But still, 25 homers and 89 RBIs is 25 homers and 89 RBIs, so replacing his numbers won't be easy.  If Puig can keep building his resume and Young Joc shows everyone what he's made of, then Kemp's departure won't be as difficult.

2015 Season Preview: Infield

I've already gone through the pitching staff, so now let's focus on the guys behind them.  Today will be all about the infield.

2014
C - A.J. Ellis
1B - Adrian Gonzalez
2B - Dee Gordon
SS - Hanley Ramirez
3B - Juan Uribe
Bench - Drew Butera, Tim Federowicz, Justin Turner, Miguel Rojas, Chone Figgins, Erisbel Arruebarrena, Darwin Barney

2015
C - A.J. Ellis/Yasmani Grandal
1B - Adrian Gonzalez
2B - Howie Kendrick
SS - Jimmy Rollins
3B - Juan Uribe
Bench - Ellis or Grandal, Justin Turner, Darwin Barney, Alex Guerrero

Then Compared to Now:
Obviously, there's a big change in the middle, as out go Hanley and Gordon, and in come Kendrick and Rollins.  Other than Matt Kemp being traded to San Diego, the infield is the biggest story.  Since A-Gon and Uribe stay the same, the major question will be whether or not the new is better than the old.

Let's not forget that Gordon started off the year as an afterthought, and barely even worth drafting in fantasy leagues.  He then turned himself into an All-Star who led the league in stolen bases pretty easily.  Hanley had a rough year for his standards by only playing in 128 games, but did hit .429 in the Division Series without a strikeout.

The other change is the addition of Grandal, who was part of the Kemp deal.  There's no doubt he brings much more offense than Ellis.  But defensively, he still has to prove he can handle a staff like Ellis can.

Individual Breakdown:
Ellis (2014 stats): .191 AVG, .323 OBP, 9 2B, 0 3B, 3 HR, 25 RBI, 0 SB
He's never been a star with the lumber, but even with that said, he really struggled to generate anything on offense.  About all he could give was a walk, which is why his OBP is so much higher.  There's no doubt, however, that the Dodgers did the right thing in bringing in an offensive catcher in Grandal.  As valuable as Ellis is behind the plate, especially with Clayton Kershaw, the offense just comes to a halt when he's up.

Grandal (with Padres): .225 AVG, .327 OBP, 19 2B, 1 3B, 15 HR, 49 RBI, 3 SB
He's been busted for PED use, he's torn up his knee, and he's not even considered that great of a defensive catcher.  But he is still young (26), and he's clearly shown good pop from behind the plate when he can stay on the field.  Plus, he appeared in 37 games last season at first base, which is great since he hits right-handed and can spell Gonzalez if need be.  There's a lot to like about him, but as I said before, he'll have to show he can stay on the field to really be worth the while.

Gonzalez: .276 AVG, .335 OBP, 41 2B, 0 3B, 27 HR, 116 RBI, 1 SB
I'll bet very few people, outside of Dodger fans, would be able to tell you that A-Gon led all of baseball in RBIs last season, even ahead of the mighty Mike Trout and Miguel Cabrera.  That's because he played in 159 games last season, and hit .333 with runners in scoring position.  Plus, his defense improved, cutting down on his errors from 11 to 6.  All in all, he's Mr. Reliable, and even as he turns 33 in May, has proven to be the rock in the Dodgers' lineup.

Kendrick (with Angels): .293 AVG, .347 OBP, 33 2B, 5 3B, 7 HR, 75 RBI, 14 SB
Two big reasons why the Dodgers preferred him over Gordon: he's consistently put up numbers at the plate since his debut in 2006, and the brass feels as though Gordon has already peaked with his best season in 2014.  Time will only tell about that last statement, as Gordon will have lots of chances to show his worth in Miami.  As for Kendrick, he's a clutch hitter who also brings the goods in the field, rating at an excellent 1.4 DWAR.  He'll be playing for a new contract this year, so there's even more motivation for him to show his addition was a smart move.

Rollins: .243 AVG, .323 OBP, 22 2B, 4 3B, 17 HR, 55 RBI, 28 SB
Boy will this be weird seeing him in Dodger blue this season.  It will be an adjustment for everybody, but after Hanley bolted for Boston, the addition of Rollins looks like a great move.  He's won a ring once, lost in the World Series to the Yankees another time, and will be looking to provide the leadership the Dodgers need to bring them their first title since 1988.  He looked completely washed up in 2013, but fought back for a much better 2014.  He won't be the same hitter Hanley was, but defensively, he's light years better, and that's what the Dodgers want the most.

Uribe: .311 AVG, .337 OBP, 23 2B, 0 3B, 9 HR, 54 RBI, 0 SB
Entering the last year of his contract, he backed up his resurgent (and that's an understatement) 2013 with another good year at the plate.  Most importantly, he gave Gold Glove caliber defense at the hot corner, barely losing out on the award again.  He'll be 36 when the season begins in April, making him a little long in the tooth, so you have to wonder if this is his last year in LA.  He needs to show that he can stay on the field more as well, playing in a low 103 games last season.

Turner: .340 AVG, .404 OBP, 21 2B, 1 3B, 7 HR, 43 RBI, 6 SB
What an addition he turned out to be, as he constantly gave bit hits off the bench (.400 as a PH), and played all four infield positions.  Heck, he could've probably been a better option out of the bullpen than the bums the Dodgers had last year as well.  While it would be very hard to expect those types of offensive numbers again, they can expect him to provide a lift when needed, and play the role of late-inning sparkplug.

Barney (with Cubs and Dodgers): .241 AVG, .300 OBP, 11 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 23 RBI, 1 SB
A deadline addition by the Dodgers last season, he only got 33 at-bats in LA, and was mostly brought in for insurance with Hanley constantly in and out of the lineup, and Gordon fading some in the second half.  He'll probably resume that role this season, as he can spot Kendrick a day off here and there if needed.

Guerrero: .077 AVG, .077 OBP, no other stats to speak of
Who knows if he'll even be on the roster Opening Day, but considering his potential to be a good hitter, he's someone to remember.  He only appeared in the beginning of the season and at the end with September call-ups, in between getting into a fight with Miguel Olivo and getting part of his ear bitten off.  Let's just hope he avoids the drama this season and give the Dodgers a lift off the bench.

Is Now Better Than Then?
Defensively, absolutely.  There's no question about that.  Rollins and Kendrick are a huge upgrade over Hanley and Gordon as a double play combination.  While Gordon I believe was a bit underrated for his improvements made with the glove, Hanley became a big liability at short.  Perhaps we remember his error that cost Kershaw a chance at a perfect game?  That's just one example of how bad he became, and now he's in left field for the Red Sox.

At the plate, it will remain to be seen mostly because of Gordon.  If he shows that he's not a one-year wonder, then losing his speed at the top will definitely hurt.  However, Rollins and Kendrick both stole their share of bases as well, and combined hit for more power.  In the end, if those numbers stay the same, then the Dodgers are not only an upgrade in the field, but at the plate as well.

Grandal will be given plenty of chances to stay in the lineup if he can get his bat going.  The Dodgers don't have that instant pop that Kemp and Hanley provided when healthy, so they'll be relying on a few guys do pull their weight instead.  A power hitting catcher is one way of picking up the slack.  I fully expect Ellis to be Kershaw's personal catcher, but after that, it should be Grandal's job to lose.

With two great, albeit older, fielders at the corners, the Dodgers are a more well-rounded, better team all across the infield for 2015.

2015 Season Preview: Bullpen

Here is the second installment in my season preview series.  Last season, the bullpen was a huge weak spot on a division winning team, as the Dodgers had a very difficult time getting the ball to their dominant closer, Kenley Jansen.  It ended up being one of the big reasons they Dodgers went four and out in the playoffs.

So, have the flurry of moves made this unit stronger heading in '15?  Let's take a look.

2014
Closer - Kenley Jansen
Setup - Brian Wilson
J.P. Howell
Brandon League
Chris Perez
Jamey Wright
Pedro Baez

2015
Closer - Kenley Jansen
Setup - Joel Peralta
J.P. Howell
Pedro Baez
Brandon League
Juan Nicasio
Chris Hatcher

Then Compared to Now:
Right off the bat, what jumps out is the addition by subtraction.  That is, getting rid of dead weight in Wilson and Perez.  They both were so horrendous last season, it's hard to imagine those two signings going any worse.  Wilson had a 4.66 ERA in 61 games, and Perez collected a 4.27 in 49.  Awful, just awful.  Good riddance!

In their places come Peralta, Nicasio, and Hatcher.  The biggest name is Peralta, who's coming off of three straight seasons of more strikeouts than innings pitched.  But, he's also seen his ERA creep up the last few seasons as well.  Like Peralta, Hatcher relies on his fastball to blow hitters away, so the strikeout is always a possibility.

Howell will look to pitch more like the guy the first few months of the season, and less like the one who was knocked around at the end.  Baez will look to step up into a bigger role, and Nicasio will look to play the swingman role of long reliever and spot starter.

Individual Breakdown:
Jansen (2014 stats): 2-3, 44 SV, 2.76 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 101 K's in 65 1/2 IP
After some bumps in the road to start the season, he really turned it on as the summer months got hotter and hotter.  The result was another terrific season in which he by far posted his most career saves.  He's in love with the cutter, and when it has a sharp bite, it's practically unhittable.  When he mixes in softer stuff like a slider, he's even more effective.  He's only 27 with not much mileage, so the Dodgers have very little worry that he'll continue that success.

Peralta (with Rays): 3-4, 1 SV, 18 HLD, 4.41 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 74 K's in 63 1/3 IP
The good news is that he can't possibly be worse than Wilson in the setup role (right?).  The bad news is that he appears to be going in the same direction as Wilson.  Of course, that's not to say he'll completely fall off the map too, as I can't imagine he'll get roughed up nearly as bad as The Beard did.  The strikeouts are still there, and he only walked 15 last season in 69 appearances, which is very good.  With an improved defense behind him, those are reasons to believe he'll be effective.  Is he an everyday setup man?  That might be a stretch, but we shall see.

Howell: 3-3, 27 HLD, 2.39 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 48 K's in 49 IP
It's a shame he started getting shelled in September, because before that, he was really, really good.  And what do you know, he's once again the only lefty in the bullpen.  Like it or not, he's the man to face tough lefties.  He's not going to blow you away, as he's a location and breaking ball type of guy.  When it's working, it's good.  When it's not, it's practically batting practice.  Maybe he just ran out of steam last season, so hopefully he can be fresher down the stretch, because he'll be needed.

Baez: 0-0, 5 HLD, 2.63 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 18 K's in 24 IP
In his first season, he only appeared in 20 games, so the sample size is small.  Even with that, he was thrust right into the spotlight of the postseason, giving up a huge three-run shot to Matt Holliday in that epic meltdown in Game 1 against the Cardinals.  Still, I like what he offers, as he throws hard and seems to have good composure on the mound.  With Chris Withrow most likely out for all of 2015, his role will be increased even more.

League: 2-3, 11 HLD, 2.57 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 38 K's in 63 IP
What a roller coaster ride it's been for him since being traded to the Dodgers from the Mariners in 2012.  He went from closer of the future to a complete waste of a big money deal.  Then he posted a fantastic ERA last season, but a very high WHIP showed just how often he was playing with fire.  At this point, he is what he is - a guy who will fool some with his breaking stuff, and will go through awful stretches where he lets everyone on base.  He survived the offseason without getting canned, but if he falters once again, he'll be sent packing.

Nicasio (with Rockies): 6-6, 1 HLD, 5.38 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 63 K's in 93 2/3 IP
The best thing for any young pitcher is to finally get out of Coors Field, as he owns a 5.24 career ERA at home.  It's not like he lit it up on the road, though, with a 4.81 ERA.  Still, he has to feel great about coming to the Dodgers and taking the ball in a much friendlier ballpark.  If there's a silver lining, he's made six career starts in LA (seven games overall), and owns a 3.63 ERA.  That's something to build on.

Hatcher (with Marlins): 0-3, 6 HLD, 3.38 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 60 K's in 56 IP
Like Jansen, he was once a catcher who converted to a hard throwing reliever.  His first few seasons weren't so hot, but after getting called up in late May with the Marlins last season, put together a good season.  He throws hard and keeps his walks low, which is always a good combination.  Right now he's a young, power arm on the rise, so if he can keep missing bats and avoid the free passes, he'll be a good weapon.

Other Names to Remember: Daniel Coulombe, Carlos Frias, Yimi Garcia, Paco Rodriguez

Is Now Better Than Then?
The Dodgers could pair just about anyone up with Jansen and be considered better this season.  They absolutely needed to dump Wilson, even if it cost them $10 million in dead salary.  Big deal, it needed to be done.  And thank the Lord that it did.

The guys who were brought in - Peralta, Hatcher, and Nicasio - aren't names that will jump off the page, and will have to prove that they can be the answer.  Peralta appears to be the first in line to pitch the eighth, and finally give a reliable bridge to Jansen in the ninth.  That, in my opinion, was the biggest Achilles' heel of the Dodgers last year, so that's something that absolutely needs to get better if they want to take the next step in the playoffs.  If not Peralta, then maybe a surprise name such as Baez or Hatcher can be that guy.

Two other guys who are gone from last year are Wright and Perez, as their best days are clearly behind them.  Because of those subtractions, I'll easily take this year's squad as an upgrade over last year's.  But, does that mean this year's group is good?  There's always a huge plus with Jansen at the end, but the newcomers and young guys like Baez will have to show they can put up consistent numbers all season long to be one of the better bullpens in baseball.