March 16th, 2022 at 8:00 am 
by 0799291000348 While the pursuit of free-agent first baseman Freddie Freeman is grabbing the attention of MLB journalists, talk shows, and bloggers, there is a disquieting realization to the Dodgers’ aggressive approach.
Somethin’ ain’t right!
When free-agent shortstop Corey Seager signed with the Texas Rangers, he left a gap in the Dodgers’ offense from the left side of the plate. However, his 145 wRC+ in 2021 is somewhat misleading, as he only had 400 plate appearances, scored 54 runs, and had 57 RBI. Those totals should be more than made up by Cody Bellinger returning to All-Star form.
“I feel very good. I feel stronger,” Bellinger told reporters after Monday’s Spring Training workout at Camelback Ranch. “I feel like the ball’s jumping off the bat more so than it did last year, obviously.”
(Video capture courtesy of SportsNet LA)
In addition, left-handed power-hitter Edwin Rios returns to the team after missing almost all of the 2021 season. Then there’s the 2019 Minor League Player of the Year Gavin Lux, another lefty hitter who slashed .360/.467/.500/.957 in September 2021 (60 plate appearances) during the high-intensity games of the team’s postseason drive.
(Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)
And the Dodgers have one of the best left-handed-hitting prospects in professional baseball – Michael Busch – projected to make his Major League debut during the 2022 season.
So, why the aggressive quest for Freeman?
Are the Dodgers concerned that Max Muncy‘s torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his left elbow will not hold up for the 2022 season, perhaps requiring Tommy John surgery that could carry over to 2023?
Is the team worried that Bellinger will not return to All-Star form, that Lux will not reach the potential he showed in 2019 and flashed in September 2021, that Rios’ surgically repaired shoulder will significantly reduce his power? Perhaps Busch is not as close to the Majors as baseball pundits predict.
Or, is the acquisition of Freeman simply the first domino to fall in Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman‘s overall scheme to build the 2022 roster into 2022 World Champions?
To be determined.
…but at least we are discussing baseball rather than Collective Bargaining.
Go Dodgers!
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Posted in 
So Cal. Could the dodgers sign Freeman and flip Lux plus for the Reds Top Starting Pitcher Castillo?
Don’t forget the DH opens up additional positional player.
So adding Freeman moves Muncy to 2b Turner at SS Turner at 3b.
Yes, a deal like that is a most likely scenario. Perhaps Lux, Beaty, Gonsolin, and perhaps minor league pitcher Michael Grove.
Specifically regarding sought-after right-handers Luis Castillo and Tyler Mahle, Krall stated: “I don’t see us moving any of those two players.”
so there’s that. maybe it’s posturing for a better offer. maybe the Dodgers look elsewhere. maybe we limp Lux along until ’23 when he becomes the long term SS? i would hope a Lux decision wouldn’t happen until the TT situation is resolved.
Yes, saw that quote about Castillo and Mahle. Another trade partner for Dodgers could be the Marlins who are looking for offense and outfield help. Perhaps a deal involving Lux and Beaty for Pablo Lopez?
THANK YOU!!
exactly my thoughts. several of these issues would have to be in play for FF to make sense. as we discussed prior, there is no need.
i had suggested we get duffy or adrianza to bridge the gap to some prospects and apparently AF agreed. while alberto is not quite the level i would have persued, he’s not far off and our front office must believe he’s enough.
why do some people believe we should buy the best players every year?
remember when we couldn’t live without JT realamuto?
Lux seems to be forgotten across the majority of reporters and fans. Rios had minor surgery, not a reconstruction so he should bring that light tower power back. beaty may never be an all star but he’d probably be a starter on several teams. cody has the answer, if he sticks with that post season/mvp stance, muncy didnt hurt his throwing arm, but my question there is ‘can he pull the bat?’ mckinstry should be healthy and back to those ROY abilities we saw before the oblique. mookie says he’s 100%, cody says he feels strong.
injuries to corey, cody. mookie, rios, & mckinstry were a bit of a perfect storm.
we need pitching.
Good catch — I completely overlooked McKinstry. As I have written before, I prefer the Dodgers sign Kris Bryant than Freeman considering that this could be Justin Turners last season in LA (next year is a team option). Freeman is a terrific hitter, reports that he is a great teammate, and a so-so defensive first baseman (Muncy is better statistically). I am a fan of Rios who had surgery in May 2021 for a partially torn labrum in his right (throwing shoulder) — this was the second labrum surgery in that shoulder for Rios (also in college). I remember Adrian Gonzalez saying that it took him 2 full years to get full strength in that shoulder and he had to permanently change his swing. Hoping the very best for Rios.
I would not mind a pivot to Bryant. Younger and plays many positions.
Good news Giants missed on
Suzuki the Japanese phenom, Schwarber,Rosario, Cruz.
So far so good.
BTW so have the Padres.
Bryant now a Rockie blow to Giants.
Rockies management is certifiable — they trade Arenado and $51 million to Cardinals for prospects then sign Bryant. Weird management.
Bryant will love hitting in Colorado, and Rockies will still win less than half their games.
Well, he’s ours now. I will root for him every day and hope the club house gels well. We still need pitching.
Ditto! Now we see the next moves which are sure to come.
I can’t see any scenario where the commissioner will ban Bauer past May 1st. If Bauer pitches and I’m not talking about the kind of person he is the Dodgers have plenty of starting pitching.
As a society people who have done way worse than he was accused of are given 2nd, 3rd and even 4th chances.
absolutely Steve.
in my mind this has gone on too long. dock some of last years pay, call it a retro active suspension and get to AZ. it feels more of a persecution than prosecution at this point. Osuna choked and hit his wife… in the face… with his cast… in front of police. there is video but hardly a conversation.
that being said, with bauer & bueller ready to go, Julio threw almost as many innings last year as he has in his entire career. his recovery is TBD. that leaves Kersh who’s questionable, May is out till august or longer, Gonso has yet to really answer the call, Price is, well, Price, and Heaney who has never matured into the pitcher many thought he could be. we also lost Knebel, Kelly and KJ from the pen. (that’s a lot of Ks – pun intended) while Vasquez was only in two games, they were excellent and i’m confused that he was let go. we have some good looking young arms coming up but we have a lot of gaps from here to there.
I think you have it scoped out right on. But, MLB set a precedent last year with the retroactive suspension of Marcell Ozuna (20 games) — he had to pay back the money paid to him for that period while on paid administrative leave. I think Bauer and his legal team may be negotiating with MLB over the length of suspension that Bauer may accept without a grievance and/or law suit. Keeping Bauer out of spring training after this period of time for investigation appears to be an intentional discipline of Dodgers organization. To be clear, I am not a fan of Bauer – never have been — but he deserves due process.
i’m with you. i never was until he put on our whites. i will root for the name on the front. (UNLESS IT’S CORREA!)
i was mostly with the general public on him but i find myself pulling for most anyone convicted by the media before the courts.