December 18th, 2019 at 8:00 am 
by 0799291000348 In professional sports, journalists and fans regularly affix the label of ‘untouchable’ to certain players who are so talented that they are believed to be exempt from any reasonable trade scenario. In reality, there is no such thing as an untouchable player (except, of course, for those with a full no-trade clause in their contract) when the right set of circumstances are aligned for teams. In such cases, any player may be traded.
For the Dodgers, Cody Bellinger, Walker Buehler, and Clayton Kershaw are the only veterans who may be characterized, at this time, as untouchable. The other rostered veterans range from unlikely to be traded (Corey Seager, Max Muncy, Alex Verdugo, Will Smith), to those who are likely to be used as trade chips (JT Chargois, Tyler White, Casey Sadler).
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)
Dodgers prospects who come close to the untouchable designation are middle infielder Gavin Lux, starting pitcher Dustin May, and catcher Keibert Ruiz. Frankly, it is unlikely that any of these prospects will be traded this year, at least not for the trade scenarios being rumored by baseball pundits.
For example: With the recent rumor of a Dodgers trade with the Cleveland Indians for shortstop Francisco Lindor and possibly starting pitcher Mike Clevinger in exchange for any two of Lux, May, and Ruiz, it’s no wonder that negotiations have reportedly stalled.
The Dodgers have the wherewithal to assemble a terrific package of prospects for Lindor and/or Clevinger that does not include any of the three untouchables, but the Indians are not motivated to make a deal until they are convinced that they have the very best package available for its All-Star players.
The Dodgers won 106 games during the 2019 regular season with a bullpen that, overall, was below average. They are in a perfect position to keep their best prospects, re-sign free-agent starting pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu, improve their bullpen, and compete for the 2020 World Championship.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)
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Agree 100% with everything you say.
For those who are disappointed Friedman hasn’t made any moves, he would have if there was any GOOD deals to be had.
12 yrs of Lux and May for two of Lindor isn’t a good deal.
$324M and a draft pick for Cole isn’t a good deal. Just ask the Red Sox how they feel about winning the 2015-2016 sweepstakes for David Price now, and that one only cost $217M.
I don’t want to see an overpay for this year’s shiny new object.
Ryu is there for the taking if the Dodgers want him, under the radar starters and bullpen improvements are also there and I’m sure Friedman is working on them. That’s all we really need. We have a great team and much to be thankful for going into 2020. Sit back and enjoy the ride.
And for those who think our players are a bunch of chokers, why weren’t you demanding we keep Kendrick and Hudson a couple years ago. This year’s chokers can be next years heroes!
I think the Dodgers will seriously regret if they DO re-sign Ryu. Why?
Yes, he was a lights-out pitcher in 2019, well except for a few games late in the season. BUT he’s been consistently injury-prone almost his entire time with the Dodgers.
He’s on the wrong side of age 30. Father Time is undefeated. No one gets healthier the older they get.
He wants a multi year contractor of 3-4 years worth something approaching $100MM.
He’s a very good pitcher who will be a bad financial bet for whatever team signs him.
Last, if they end up signing him I hope I am dead wrong.
Remember that the Dodgers signed him knowing that he had a tear in his pitching shoulder and would eventually need shoulder surgery. Yes, he has some other issues (hamstring and groin), but he knows how to “pitch” without overpowering fastball. In his last 44 games he has a 2.19 ERA. If he will sign a 3 year, $60M contract with a 4th year $20M option based on innings pitched / starts then he is worth the gamble (IMO).
Although no one wants to hear or even think it, ‘Pitchers Break‘ … ALL of them. Whether it be a short 10-day stint on the DL (sorry if I offend anyone by not calling it the IL, but tough) or an entire season lost to surgery(ies).
The bottom line is that it is – and always will be – a crapshoot. You simply have to pick your poison.
Like Jesse, I believe that Ryu is – and always has been – the best free-agent option out there for the Dodgers. This includes the Stephen Strasburg and Gerrit Cole ships which, of course, have already sailed (to the tune of $245 million and $324 million respectively) which, of course, is absolutely ludicrous.
After all, ‘Pitchers Break.’ Right?
“Pitchers Break” was embossed on our Christmas Card from Mark Walters – 🙂
lol!
The Dodgers drafted Walker Buehler in the first round in 2015 with the knowledge that he would need Tommy John surgery.
That worked out well.
Dodgers seem to look for pitchers who fall in the draft due to physical issues, some are great like Buehler, but it does not always turn out well. Univ. of Texas RH power pitcher Morgan Cooper had TJ surgery in 2015, he was drafted by Dodgers in second round of the 2017 draft. 2019 draft the Dodgers selected RH pitcher Aaron Ochsenbein in the sixth round who had TJ surgery after his Freshman season (2015) at Eastern Kentucky. Aaron had an exceptional first season of pro ball, pitching in 18 games with a 1.44 ERA, striking out 35 in 25 innings pitched, walked only six, and help opposing batters to a .195 BA; he progressed from rookie ball to the Lo A Great Lakes Loons (13 of his games were at that level)
Ryu is the best solution. However 5 yrs 85 mil plus for Ryu I would pass. Then we must trade for a pitcher. I would take a shot at Price if we could offload Pollock.
That would be a 3 year maybe 66 mil commitment.
I don’t think any team will give Ryu a 5 year deal, but I believe he will get a deal for an AAV around $20M
Agreed, Ryu is probably the best solution, at the RIGHT price and years.
Dodgers are in the enviable position of already having a deep starting rotation, with several young potential top of the rotation guys. Additionally, they have money, prospects and MLB talent available for deals. Friedman is wisely waiting on Ryu. No reason to panic and sign him to a bad contract with so many options available.
Why 34 yr old Price? Why not 29 yr old innings eater, Julio Teheran? A lot cheaper with similar production. I also have to think Dodgers will be checking in on 29 yr old Alex Wood, 29 yr old Shelby Miller and 27 yr old Taijuan Walker. All cheap free-agents with potentially high upside.
Lots of options.
some of you guys mention signing ryu and buehler with injuries BUT the dollars reflected those injuries. signing ryu now for $80 or $100M with so many young arms in the pipeline is irresponsible.
they won ONE HUNDRED SIX ball games this year. we left the ball park happy three times to every one loss. if you only care about the last game of the season (understandably) then why is bellinger untouchable? i ask you all, (since you and i dont actually own any of the hardware), would you trade bellinger’s GG, SS, & MVP for a commissioner’s trophy in the dodgers case? he has struck out in 23 of 44 WS ABs and hit .063 last year!!
the dodgers could have lost his 9 WAR and still won the division easily. i’m trying to understand where a lot of people are coming from this winter because i think this team is great but recognize that we desperately need production from a key player in the post season.
” i ask you all, (since you and i dont actually own any of the hardware), would you trade bellinger’s GG, SS, & MVP for a commissioner’s trophy in the dodgers case?” – Yes, I would trade the hardware, but I would not trade Bellinger.
i believe you are a pretty sharp guy, are you being intentionally obtuse?
Ron, Jesse, I kind of go along as far as Ryu goes but not sure 4 years at $80 is ideal in his case, but we also know how Cole and Strasburg’s deals have jacked up the prices or so it appears. We do need another # 2 starter IMHO because CK is not that anymore either. BUT we do need to balance this LH hitting lineup with another RH impact bat. Dodgers have been too LH hitterish for far too long now and the results speak for themselves as far as October goes.
“4 years at $80 is ideal” for the Dodgers, but I really doubt Hyun-Jin can live on twenty dollars a year.
Of course I meant 4 years at $80 million.
Signing RYU would at least get us back to where we were in oct when we walked off the field. Im not worried about replacing much of what is missing other than RYU : Freese, Martin and Rich Hill.