August 2nd, 2019 at 10:30 am 
by 0799291000348 By any standard, the 2019 trade deadline for Dodgers fans was, to put it mildly, disappointing. With Dodger fans and MLB analysts proclaiming that the Dodgers needed to improve the backend of their bullpen, the team acquired 30-year old LOOGY (Left-handed One Out Guy) Adam Kolarek and a soon-to-be 31-year old, right-handed hitting infielder Jedd Gyorko, who was on the St. Louis Cardinals 60-day IL.
So what happened?
As the old idiom reminds us: ‘It takes two-to-tango,’ (or fight), or in this case, consummate a trade. Unless both parties agree to a deal, there is no deal! (Now, there is a cogent comment. Remember … you heard it here first.) Negotiating 101: if the other party isn’t serious about reaching an agreement, continuing to negotiate is, at best, a waste of time; or, at worst, you concede too much and come away the loser.
Were other teams not serious about trading their closers, or was there another reason?
One theory is that Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman has a history of (and is very skilled at) intimidating certain MLB General Managers – to the point of anxiety paralysis. Their agoraphobia of trading with Friedman prevents them from effecting any transaction that would benefit their teams, making them unwilling to consider any prospects other than the proverbial crème de la crème within the Dodgers organization.
(Photo credit – Scott Varley)
Either way, the uncompromising demand by teams for some combination of Gavin Lux, Dustin May, Keibert Ruiz, or Will Smith brings to mind the lyrics of the popular Kenny Rogers song ‘The Gambler’:
“If you’re gonna play the game, boy, ya gotta learn to play it right. You got to know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ‘em, know when to walk away and know when to run…Now Ev’ry gambler knows that the secret to survivin’ Is knowin’ what to throw away and knowing what to keep…”
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)
Doubtful that anyone considers Andrew Friedman a gambler when it comes to baseball trades, but knowing ‘when to hold’em, when to fold’em, and when to walk away’ seems to be his forte.
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Posted in 
This year was definitely the time to hold ’em! The homegrown kids have been relentlessly pushing their way through on this team so far this season and performing better than even the coaching staff AND management previously expected. On top of that, with MLB making July 31st the only trade deadline it forced many teams that were still on the fence in terms whether they were truly buyers or sellers to just freeze up and not do anything:::cough:::Pirates:::cough:::so they’re completely screwed for the time being. Dodgers with their supremely deep and talented farm system right now were in a good position to not get fleeced by desperate parties. This upcoming offseason’s gonna be VERY interesting indeed regardless of what the Dodgers do in the postseason…
AMEN! Love your “:::cough:::Pirates::: cough:::” you read my mind, or between the lines.
What was the supposed reason for elimination the waiver trade deadline? What was the intent and does anyone think it “worked”?
I’ve heard some suggest that the single trade deadline should be moved a couple days/weeks to maybe August 15th so team like the Pirates and the Giants can better know if they should buy or sell.
At any rate, it’s knee jerk to think Friedman didn’t do enough. The Dodgers are so deep at both the big league and minor league levels that they have a number of internal options; May is only one. If he emerges during his auditions he allows the Dodgers to feel confident in moving Maeda to the pen, or Hill (if he makes it back) or Stripling or keeping Urias there, etc. Adding Negron, White AND adding Gyorko only makes sense with CT3 and Kiké ailing since those proven strong utility pieces have been critical to their success. Everyone take a breath and just watch what the next two months bring.
reason for eliminating the August waiver trades was a negotiated agreement between the Players Association and MLB. If I recall correctly, the PA argued that moving players around in August, sometimes at the very end of the month, was too disruptive to the players. I do recall that some suggested moving the date non-waive trade period to mid-August, but the PA did not agree. Earlier this week the Rockies TV announcers mentioned that the players were relieved when the trade period passed and they did not have to worry about being traded in August. I have not read any “knee jerk” reactions from Dodgers fans — hearing the names May, Ruiz, Smith was more than enough to dissuade any criticism of Friedman.
Just a thought from a long-term / broad perspective. Maybe the revised trade deadline rules will inadvertently help teams with deep farm systems, such as the Dodgers. The Giants kept MadBum and did not replenish their decimated farm system. The Pirates had a chance to upgrade for the future, but elected to hold onto their current closer. If teams choose to hold onto their current players, hanging onto a slim chance of playoff success, they are foregoing an opportunity to strengthen their system for the future. Teams like the Dodgers, who have a deep farm system, can afford to make that decision regardless of how right or wrong they end up. If the Dodgers had pulled the trigger ad traded away some young talent and won the World Series this year, that would have worked out. If the Dodgers hold onto their young talent (as they chose to do this year), they are likely to still be in contention for the next several years as this young talent starts playing for the big league club. The Giants or Pirates, whose farms aren’t the same caliber as the Dodgers, may have set their organization back a year or three.
Thoughts?
For me, I would cutoff all trades the day before each season begins. Think about how meaningful the off season would be with teams signing free agents, trading, spring training competition, etc. Then, during the season teams are limited only to players in their respective organizations.
Sure would make the off-season more exciting.
The problem there is it doesn’t allow for situations that occur during the season.
I dislike Machado as much as most Dodger fans do. But can you deny that he was worth at least one victory? That was the difference between another west title and a wild card. Possibly he was the difference between a World Series and watching the entire post-season from home.
When they first made the decision to have one trade deadline I thought they should split the difference and make it August 15. I still feel that way and it may happen next year.
Consider it from the players perspective, no threat of being traded during the season. Teams would be forced to view the 40 man roster, and its minor league depth from a holistic perspective. I think all teams would adjust, perhaps there would be a two year adjustment period during which they would have ample opportunity to build up their organizational depth. Many times teams deliberately keep young players in the minors in order to delay the accumulation of major league service — this would no longer be the case as there would be no other choice during the season. Just an idea that likely has zero chance of happening, but I believe MLB and the union need to take a fresh view of the game / business and make changes that are good for the teams, the players, and the fans.
Thank you for the article. Helps to have solid words to go along with ‘runs the club’.
This team is one of the best since being in LA.
This trade dead line was like dodging a bullet.
We have such a talented bunch in Triple A and in LA. Dang on.
This is a blast. Dad got tickets for a WW’s game in 1959.
This is such a fine time to be a Dodger fan!
Lose three! Then win 4. This is bitch’n!
FUN!! Now.