June 29th, 2016 at 6:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka Over the past couple of weeks there have been rumors floating around that the Milwaukee Brewers are considering unloading outfielder and admitted PED user Ryan Braun. And while the tainted 2011 NL MVP and Mission Hills, California native has a no-trade clause to several teams in his current contract, the Dodgers are not one of them. But while Braun’s current five-year / $105 million contract (with a mutual option for a sixth year) might be considered a bargain for a top-tier outfielder by today’s standards, do Dodger fans really want him here?
As every Dodger fan knows, Braun cheated former Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp out of the 2011 NL MVP title (not to mention he destroyed the career of test sample collector Dino Laurenzi Jr.), this in spite of the fact that Kemp was one home run shy of an extremely rare 40-40 season. The reason cited by the Baseball Writers Association of America for this travesty was that the Brewers had made the playoffs that year and the Dodgers did not, even though this is not and has never been a criteria for baseball’s most prestigious individual award.
Lo and behold, several months later Braun vehemently denied being a PED user, he was directly linked to the Biogenesis scandal, along with Alex Rodriguez and several other big-name players. But in spite of this and a 65-game suspension, Braun refused to relinquish his MVP title, nor did Matt Kemp want the now-tarnished award.
Prior to Braun being discovered as a cheater, for which he still receives boos at every MLB stadium not named Miller Park (and especially at Dodger Stadium), he was extremely well thought of by Dodger fans because he was a local boy who had made good – a graduate of Granada Hills High School located a mere 25 miles from Dodger Stadium – and finding his mom, dad and other family members seated out in the Left Field Pavilion was a common sight whenever the Brewers were in town.
Not anymore.
In fact, Braun’s family hasn’t been spotted at Dodger Stadium since he (finally) admitting that he had lied about his PED use after being confronted with indisputable evidence – this long after Laurenzi had been fired as a result of his lies.
The only cheers Ryan Braun gets at Dodger Stadium these days is when he strikes out.
(Photo credit – Harry How)
But even if Dodger fans were able to get over the fact that Braun cheated Kemp out of the MVP title, there is another factor that makes acquiring him an even greater risk for the Dodgers. His back.
In addition to a variety of other injuries over his 10-year MLB career, Braun underwent back surgery on October 8, 2015 – a surgery that took him longer to recover from than was initially expected. However, he was ready on Opening Day and, in fact, has appeared in all but 13 of the Brewers 76 games thus far this season and is currently hitting .322 – fifth best in the National League. He did, however, missed a couple games due to what was called a “stiff back” – certainly a red flag for any potential suitors of the now 32-year-old outfielder.
But are the Dodgers really serious about acquiring Braun and the $86 million still owed to him through the 2020 season (plus an option for 2021)? Although Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and general manager have not weighed-in on the topic, their M.O. is to get younger, not older – save for 37-year-old Chase Utley and 32-year-old Howie Kendrick. They also appear to be perfectly content with youngsters Yasiel Puig (25), Joc Pederson (24) and Trayce Thompson (25) as their so-called “everyday” outfielders and with Kiké Hernandez (24), Scott Van Slyke (29) and Kendrick filling in as back-ups depending on pitching match-ups. That being said, there has been recent chatter that F and Z are kicking the tires on adding an additional left-handed bat to compliment Pederson, with Reds outfielder Jay Bruce’s name coming up in the conversation (Braun is a pure right-handed hitter, albeit a pretty good one).
If the Dodgers do make a run at Bruce it would be as a mid-season rental, as he will become a free agent at the conclusion of the 2016 season if the last place Cincinnati Reds do not exercise their club option on him and instead choose to pay him a $1 million buyout. As such, he would undoubtedly cost the Dodgers a ton in prospects – something that Friedman and Zaidi have repeatedly balked at thus far.
Should the Dodgers land Braun, would Dodger fans eventually warm up to him? Possibly … in fact, even probably – especially if he helps the team get into the postseason and most definitely if he helps them win a World Series title.
Just sayin’.
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The most appalling thing about Braun was not that he used steroids or even that he robbed Kemp, but that he was willing to destroy some poor guy’s career. He should have been stripped of the MVP award, but that might have distracted crypt-keeper Bud Selig from coming up with new ways to degrade the game. Having said that, most fans root for laundry, and once a player puts on a Dodger uniform his past sins are covered…until he goes into a slump. I read that whenever Braun is in San Francisco he is taunted mercilessly by fans wearing Barry Bonds jerseys for being a cheat.
Terrific article and spot on in every regard. I don’t see Dodgers taking on his contract and hopefully we do not see Bruce on this roster. A guy I would like to see playing OF for Dodgers is Randal Grichuk, recently sent back to AAA by Cardinals, I like the way he plays the game and believe he will figure out his offense sooner than later. I know he isn’t LH, but rather have Grichuck and wait for Ethier in second half. For me, I would gladly trade Thompson for Grichuk.
Should the Dodgers land Braun, would Dodger fans eventually warm up to him? If history is any guide MOST DEFINITELY! I have NEVER not seen Dodger fans warm up to ANY productive player wearing a Dodger uniform. Sadly, I think most fans in 2016 would cheer for Charlie Manson if he could hit.
I can forgive the steroid usage, although I don’t like it. Unfortunately, we live in a drug infested culture, where most everyone is taking something. We have very likely all known a person with a drug problem. They ALL lie about their usage, its nothing to be proud of. I grew up in the “Valley” in the 60’s, went to Granada Hills High, there was drug problems and a sense of entitlement even then. I can’t imagine the temptations that exist for kids today. When young people today are surrounded by others ingesting Drano/Cold Medicine made into Meth (or however they do it) even after seeing before and after pictures of meth users, how could PED’s look bad. I am sure taking PED’s seemed very natural and OK. Additionally, Braun might have “identified” as an Angel instead of a cheater. A lot of people today think “identifying” as something is all that matters. Baseball has accepted PED users, I guess I have too also.
All that being said, I bet FAZ passes on Bruce/Braun, unless the price is very reasonable. For Bruce it would have to be a minor prospect, nothing like the rumors I heard this weekend. For Braun it would have to be a Hanley Ramirez type deal. Just taking the player, and his salary, with maybe minor prospects again. Any more would not be FAZ like. I can’t see them blowing through the prospects for outfielders, this looks like an area of organizational strength. Besides isn’t Bruce, Ethier and isn’t Braun, Kemp? Kemp they already traded and they already have Ethier for the next year and a half.
I am not an advocate or apologist for PED usage. I know of more than a few minor league players who refused to take them, and were left on the cusp of making it at the ML level. Owners who complain about the usage are just spewing rhetoric. They knew players who took PEDs, and were privately cheering because it put behinds in the seats. The cries of ownership (and the Union) ring hollow with me, and yes I am bitter.
It’s not because of PED use that I would be against Ryan Braun becoming a Dodger. If he became a Dodger, I would cheer him as loudly as any other Dodger. As you alluded to, I am against Braun becoming a Dodger because of his back. The Dodgers already have a $20M+/year aging player with an ailing back, whose production is down, and not likely to repeat his prior AS seasons. Braun is producing this year, but so was AGon at 32. AGon will “earn” $43M for his age 35 and 36 season, as will Braun (actually $42M). How many games will he miss because of his back/neck? Does anyone really believe that Braun’s physical concerns are going to magically disappear?
I recognize that a Thompson/Pederson/Puig OF does not instill fear into the opposition, but adding Braun is not going to make this Dodger team more WS worthy. I would rather wait for Alex Verdugo (who at 20 went 3-5 in the AA AS game). I also believe that Willie Calhoun will end up in the OF, and I am hopeful that Yusniel Diaz, Mitch Hansen, Darrian Tubbs, and Luke Raley (and maybe Scavuzzo) will continue to produce and move up the ladder. There is no Byrce Harper or Mike Trout currently in the organization, but maybe there is a Lorenzo Cain.
Now if they can come up with a way of snatching Lucroy (and maybe extend him), then that would be a worthy acquisition of a position of need.
I agree 100%, except, Thompson/Pederson/Puig could instill fear very soon. I like them and the other players you mentioned very much.
What a catch by Pederson last night. Hate to think about the shoulder injury. After reading Ron’s and Gail’s very sensible comments on the earlier thread, I won’t jump to conclusions, but, Kershaw and now Pederson!!!!!
NO God! Please NO, NO, NO, NOOOOO!!! The sky is falling, The sky is falling. Panic attack, Panic attack!!! AAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
OK, OK, I am back under control now!!
I am not a proponent of a Braun acquisition but I agree with Boxout that Dodger fans would warm to Braun. All he would have to do is hit.
Fans warmed to Yasmani Grandal who was caught using PED’s but are not so warm now that he can’t seem to hit or catch all that well.
I think the team has to stay the course and accept short term pain for long term gain.
All I think about when I see Braun, is that his mother is a Milwaukee brewer. She brews beer in Milwaukee, This and he’s a real threat at the plate. I really can’t make up my mind how I feel about him being traded to the Dodgers.
Actually, I’d rather see a pitcher rather than a position player come to the team, but only time will tell.
Name three, Joe.
The Dodgers are loaded with pitching depth, including several of the top-ranked pitching prospects in the country. They are there … right there, yet F&Z will not bring them up or are babying their innings usage. This is bullshit – either play ’em or trade ’em. (e.g. Zach Lee).
But back to the point. What is the Dodgers greatest weakness right now, Joe? It’s not the pitching, it’s their lack of offense. Once again, I simply do not follow your logic.
Ron, I absolutely agree with you on the number of quality starting pitchers in the minors; however I would make the distinction between starting and relief pitching. I would seriously consider moving some of that excess starting pitching for one of (or two) of three relievers: Andrew Miller, Arodys Vizcaino, and Jake McGee. Outside of two absolutely horrid games (04/24 against LA, and 6/10 against Padres), McGee has been very solid. But then again, I have been on the McGee bandwagon for the last two years (and Miller for three).
There is a buzz going around that the Dodgers are looking at Braves right-hander Julio Teheran and A’a right-hander Sonny Gray.
Teheran is under contract through 2020 and Gray will be a free agent at the conclusion of this season, so it will either cost the Dodgers a boatload of money for Teheran or a boatload of prospects to rent Gray.
AC – I was on the Miller bandwagon in 2010 hoping the Dodgers would pick him up when he was pretty much discarded. They didn’t. The Red Sox did.
The Red Sox have signed Andrew Miller to a minor league contract with an invite to spring training, according to a team media release. December 2010.
I’m aware of the weak offense, but I still feel that a top starting pitcher is what they truly need. If the pitchers rehabbing at the moment can come back strong or somebody comes out of the farm system, I’d change my tune.
You can’t have it all, Joe. It doesn’t work that way.