January 2nd, 2017 at 7:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka The very first thing that every journalist, beat writer, reporter, blogger or other media type does when they walk into the Dodgers clubhouse at Camelback Ranch on the morning that pitchers and catchers report – after exchanging pleasantries, of course – is to immediately begin scanning the names posted above each locker. The reason for this is not because Joe Jareck, Yvonne Carrasco, Jon Chapper, Daisuke Sugiura or the rest of the Dodgers great PR staff were negligent in keeping the media informed of any changes, heaven knows they are the absolute best in the business at this. It’s that there are always … always last minute additions (or subtractions) to the team’s 40-man roster and non-roster invitees that the PR staff simply hasn’t had time to notify the media corps of yet.
Last year’s late additions included the likes of Joe Blanton, Louis Coleman, Brandon Beachy and Frankie Montas. And even though Beachy would never fully recovered from his second Tommy John surgery and Montas would subsequently undergo rib resection surgery and would later be included in the trade with the Oakland A’s that brought Rich Hill and Josh Reddick to the Dodgers, Blanton and Coleman were absolute workhorses out of the Dodgers bullpen in 2016 and a huge reason why the team won their fourth consecutive National League West title.
It is very unlikely that the Dodgers would have won the NL West in 2016 were it not for the last minute signings of Joe Blanton and Louis Coleman. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka and Jon SooHoo)
With spring training now only a little more than a month away and with the Dodgers still in need of an everyday second baseman and additional bullpen help, Dodger fans can expect to see quite a bit of activity over the next couple of weeks – if not days. And even though Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and general manager Farhan Zaidi have thus far been unwilling to trade away the farm (literally) in exchange for Minnesota Twins All-Star second baseman Brian Dozier, many so-called baseball experts and analysts still believe that the 29-year-old Tupelo, Mississippi native will begin the 2017 season in a Dodger uniform.
As most fans know by now, Dozier still has two years remaining on his contract that guarantees him $6 million in 2017 and $9 million in 2018, which is an absolute steal for that price. However, because a deal for Dozier would be a trade (as opposed to a free agent signing), it would/will cost the Dodgers several of their top prospects – mostly starting pitchers. And while there is zero argument that Dozier’s right-handed power bat would be a huge addition for any team, the Dodgers are absolutely positively going to need starting pitching over the next two years – beginning this season.
Whether a deal for Brian Dozier happens before Dodgers pitchers and catchers report on February 15 is anyone’s guess and it is certainly understandable that this is currently the focal point for many/most Dodger fans (and undoubtedly Andrew Friedman and Farhan Zaidi) right now. But it is often those last minute, under-the-radar, gold nugget acquisitions that occur days or even hours before pitchers and catchers report that inevitably tend to lead to a trip to the postseason.
Stay tuned…
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I don’t know how the majority of Dodger fans feel, but, as I previously stated, I think the Dodgers should make a better offer for Brian Dozier.
I may be wrong but he looks like a very good addition to the Dodger infield.
I’m rooting for this to happen.
I agree. Perhaps give the Twins a list of players/prospects Dodgers are willing to part and let Twins pick one. If Twins come back with 2 or more Dodgers are prepared to either accept, walk away, or expand the trade to include a Twins prospect like Nick Burdi.
I have to believe that this has already occurred SCB. If so, it’s probably safe to say that the Twins want a hell of a lot more than what (who) the Dodgers are willing to part with.
If no other team comes in with a better offer – and I don’t think that anyone will – I can see the Twins eventually accepting the Dodgers best offer which, in my opinion, has already been made.
It has been well established that you do not follow nor do you have any interest in the Dodgers minor league teams, Joe; yet you are always willing to trade away their top prospects without having a clue as to their true potential – this in spite of what Harold often (and I occasionally) write about these kids.
I specifically recall you wanting the Dodgers to trade away Julio Urias, Jose De Leon, Joc Pederson and even Corey Seager. Thankfully, you’re not the one making these decisions.
OBF – I expect I would like to see Dozier as a Dodger, but not at all costs. There is no way I would allow Minnesota to dictate who they will accept in exchange for Dozier. I think Ron and SCB are right. That is, FAZ has put out there who they might trade, with a little wiggle room, but are not willing to stray far from the home grown plan.
Dozier will be a free agent after the 2018 season and will go into the 2019 season at age 32 wanting a 4-5 year deal. I think that also factors into it.
The farm system is strong at the top and bottom end. That is where the long term consistency of competing every year for a WS will come. I have always maintained, way back to the ITD days, that the Dodgers to be competitive (getting to the Big Show) consistently will only come when the starting staff has 3-4 real Dodgers in it. That is, home grown, and not bought after their primes. Now I wouldn’t mind picking up guys like Tim Belcher, Burt Hooten, Tim Leary, Claude Osteen who reached their prime with the Dodgers and became Dodgers.
I like SCB’s plan. That is, if Minnesota wants more, then they give up more like a top prospect such as Nick Burdi. The Twins has six pitchers listed in their top 10 prospects.
Can’t wait to see who this year’s good nuggets and surprise heroes will be!
Who knows what dialog has REALLY happened between the Twins and the Dodgers front offices?
My guess is that if the Dodgers are hanging tough on not including another player beside DeLeon it’s because they don’t feel they have to. Their information on what other teams are willing to offer is likely good and they probably know other teams haven’t offered as much as much as DeLeon means to the Twins…yet.
I agree, Dan, although I believe that the Dodgers’ offer included more than just De Leon. My guess is it was three players.
One possible “nugget” – Greg Holland to a ML contract loaded with incentives. Others? Veteran catcher who agrees to split minor/major league contract with ST invite (Kurt Suzuki?); LH hitting infielder who can backup both 3b and 2b (Chris Coghlan?)
I like the patience the Dodgers have shown. My preference would be to wait until we know what McCarthy, Kazmir, and Ryu can do and then see if one or more of them can be traded. Maybe a third team would be involved so that a Dozier trade includes another team’s pitching prospect that might accompany one from the Dodgers.
I also want to obtain a MLB prospects equal to the prospects the Dodgers would give up in a trade where both teams swap redundant strengths instead of using prospects to get short-term rentals.
I didn’t want to say it, but both you and Harold have eluded to Dozier as a rental – which is EXACTLY how I see him – albeit a two-year rental.
As for Mac, Kaz and Ryu, I do not see them going anywhere, at least not before P&C on February 15 (and Dozier will either be gone by then or back with the Twins). That said, there is zero argument that 2017 will be HUGE seasons for all three. We’re talking career-determining huge here.
In my opinion and as crazy as it may sound, I believe that the Dodgers top starting pitching prospects carry more trade value that any of these three guys do. And while unloading all three would be a GREAT salary dump and would remove the hurdles blocking the Dodgers’ top starting pitching prospects, I simple do not see any team willing to take on McCarthy’s, Kazmir’s or Ryu’s lofty contracts.
You are most likely right, Ron. I should pay more attention to our minor league system, I just feel that Dozier, noting his stats, makes me feel that he just might be one of the top players over the next few years.
I wouldn’t want the Dodgers to (Give up the farm ) for him, I just feel they should loosen up a little.
Well, who knows? I just hope the right move is made.
I haven’t made up my mind yet and am not sure that what I am about to say is nothing more than entertaining myself during a slow Hot Stove League. I worry about Kershaw’s ability to stay healthy through 2018 much less opting out of his contract. So,
I might trade Kershaw, Calhoun, and Grandal for Clint Frazier, Gleyber Torres, Gary Sánchez plus whatever else would balance that trade.