July 11th, 2019 at 8:00 am 
by 0799291000348 It would not be surprising if Andrew Friedman’s to-do list includes the following commandment at the top of the page:
‘Thou shall not screw-up team chemistry … or the team’s future!‘
That one commandment covers the team’s core group of players as well as protecting their top prospects, while making certain that any player acquired will quickly meld into this season’s cohesive T-E-A-M. No more second-half malcontents or disasters like Manny Ramirez, Manny Machado, Hanley Ramirez, or Josh Reddick – Period!
The Top-3 improvements needed for the current Dodgers roster are:
- Bullpen
- Bullpen
- Bullpen
No more castoffs like Tom Koehler, Daniel Hudson, Luis Avilan, Joe Blanton, Jesse Chavez (etc.), but legit, late-inning relievers who can set up for Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen, or close a game out when Jansen needs a blow, and at least one must be a southpaw; not a specialist for left-handed hitters, but someone who can actually retire hitters regardless of which batter’s box they stand in.
Which teams will the Dodgers target for bullpen help? A good starting point are teams that, for all intents and purposes, are out of contention for 2019 postseason play, are focused on rebuilding, or are in such disarray that a roster make over is necessary. The Baltimore Orioles, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Miami Marlins, New York Mets, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, and Toronto Blue Jays fall into at least one of those categories.
We can eliminate the Orioles, Royals, Marlins, and Mets, as they do not have a pitcher who is a clear upgrade over current Dodgers relievers or minor league prospects. But what about the others?
Detroit Tigers closer Shane Greene: Right-handed, 30 years old, on the surface having a terrific season with a 1.09 ERA, but there are some red flags, notably a 3.72 FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching), an unsustainable BAA (Batting Average Against) of .183 (career BAA of .300), 5.12 ERA in 2018, and has lost velocity on his pitches over last two seasons. Who would Dodgers offer, if anyone? Perhaps Triple-A first baseman Edwin Rios, Advance Single-A catcher / infielder Connor Wong, and Double-A right-handed reliever Nolan Long? Another team will likely offer more.
San Francisco Giants closer Will Smith: Left-handed, 30 years old, free agent after this season, is available and there are several teams interested. But, it is unlikely that the Dodgers will trade highly regarded prospects to the Giants, nor will the Giants want to risk having Will Smith close for the Dodgers in the seventh game of this year’s World Series. Who would Dodgers have to give up for Smith? Perhaps former Double-A / current AZ Rookie League middle infielder Omar Estevez, Triple-A utility infielder / outfielder (and part time Dodger) Matt Beaty, and current (IL) Dodgers left-hander Scott Alexander?
(Photo credit – Ron Schwane)
A more likely trade target from the Giants might be 31-year-old, right-handed reliever Sam Dyson. He isn’t a closer, but has been a very effective late-innings reliever over the last two seasons and is under team control through 2020. Outfielder Kyle Garlick, Rios and pitcher Brock Stewart would seem to be a fair package going back to San Francisco, but former Dodgers general manager / current Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi knows the Dodgers prospects very well, so he will not accept anyone who doesn’t have a legitimate shot at being a major leaguer.
Seattle Mariners Austin Adams: Not the Detroit Tigers one-time closer, but the 28-year-old right-hander with a 95-mph fastball and a 90-mph slider (70 grade on the 20-80 scale) would be a nice addition to the Dodgers bullpen for the right price. What would Dodgers have to send to the Mariners in return? Would left-handed pitching prospect Leo Crawford and Wong do it?
Toronto Blue Jays closer Ken Giles: Right-handed, 28 years old, under team control through 2020, is the best available closer amongst these teams, with a 1.45 ERA this season, 1.49 FIP, more than 15 strikeouts per nine innings. His fastball is averaging almost 98 mph and his slider 87 mph. Who would Dodgers have to give up in order acquire Giles? It is likely that other teams would be involved in multi-team deal, which would likely drive up the asking price; perhaps a package of prospects like Beaty, Estevez, Advanced Single-A right-hander Jordan Sheffield and Triple-A right-hander Dennis Santana?
There are other relief pitchers who would help the Dodgers, but they are currently filling important roles for contending teams. The Dodgers certainly have the wherewithal to effect a trade(s) that would benefit both teams. This will be the focus of Part 2, as we consider Dodgers trade targets on or before the July 31 trade deadline.
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Posted in 
Just this morning, speaking with True Blue Will, he mentioned fearing Jansen in a big situation during the post season. I was feeling the same thing. Do the Dodgers look like they’re more in need of a closer than a setup man? I’m not saying they should get rid of Jansen but it looks like he can use some help. Whatever happens, it looks like it will sure be interesting.
I think the team must have a backup plan for Jansen, not only for this season and post season, but in the event he opts out of his contract and becomes a free agent. I believe Giles should be at the top of the Dodgers list of bullpen targets.
Manny Ramirez had his “Mannywood” antics, but he bashed the heck out of the ball when Colletti picked him up in the 3 way deal with Pirates and RedSox. I don’t recall exact numbers, but I think he hit almost 400, homered every 3 games and had more than an RBI/game after the trade. It was one of the BEST trade pick up LA ever made. The two year extension as a free agent didn’t turn out nearly so well.
Do not screw-up team chemistry! Ramirez, or anyone like him, is exactly the type of player the Dodgers should ignore.
Still have my sights set on Felipe Vasquez despite the Pirates feeling they’re still in the WC race right now. Trade package of Keibert Ruiz, Omar Estevez, and Caleb Ferguson I’d offer up just to get initial talks going. Final offer I would swap out Estevez with either Niko Hulsizer or Devin Mann (let the Pirates front office decide which of the two they prefer), add Tony Gonsolin (selling high here), and stand firm. I also like Amir Garrett of the Reds quite a bit, but I’m not sure their front office wants to deal with the Dodgers again so soon due to being fleeced out of two of their best prospects by them this past winter, Josiah Gray especially (lol).
Giles I’d pass on as I get the nagging feeling he’s pitching well on account that he’s not in the midst of another pressure-packed playoff drive this season, BUT that Aaron Sanchez could be worth looking into as a potential “reclamation project” as his stuff’s still there and could possibly benefit from being moved back to the pen where he was at his most effective at the big-league level. However, I’d only explore that avenue at the deadline IF the Dodgers do wind up getting Vasquez.
We are in lock-step regarding Vazquez ditto Garrett. I will be addressing their “availability,” and others in Part 2.
My only concern about Giles is the time on IL earlier this season with an elbow issue; if healthy, he is worth acquiring. Check his splits in 2018, at home (Minute Maid Park) he was horrible, but on the road he was excellent.
If Giles is indeed back to form this season, then of course he would be worth acquiring (unless that recent elbow issue is something that still needs to be closely monitored, could be bone spurs/chips for all we know and that could very well knock him right off the trade market anyway).
Here’s another thing the Dodgers should probably consider right now. If Jansen is no longer the lights-out closer he used to be two years ago and with his contract including an opt-out clause at the end of this season, does he have ANY trade value left at this point and if so what could the front office expect to get back in return should they finally decide to move on without him??? Putting Friedman’s words in further context, Jansen was also one of the primary culprits in ruining team chemistry last season when he arrived in ST completely out of shape and sporting a very off-putting attitude around the clubhouse (no doubt on account of landing that nice little multi-year deal back during the 2017 offseason). I’m pretty sure Friedman still has that lying in the back of his mind as he considers how to best proceed with the trade deadline looming ever so near…
I don’t see the Dodgers trading Jansen. He is no longer an elite closer, but still effective overall. And he likely does not have a lot of trade value considering he is still owed $38MM over the next two seasons, plus the opt out clause. I do not recall reading or hearing about Jansen being disruptive in the clubhouse, that is an interesting tidbit of info.
First I’ve heard about it too. Also, don’t remember anything about him being out of shape. What I do remember was the the team made the decision to bring him along slowly in ST due to his workload the previous year. That turned out to be a bad idea, as we all saw.
Yeah, this happened right around ST last season when it was first reported (not widely, mind you) that Jansen was acting all “big-headed” around the clubhouse because he finally got a lucrative long-term deal and was coming off his first WS appearance the year before. It’s not one of those things that passes by me so easily. Anyway, I figured as much. Based on where he is at this point in his career, there’s NO way Jansen’s gonna opt out of all that money and that’s where I feel Friedman’s gonna regret giving him those extra two years moving forward. I was seriously wondering if they could potentially flip him for at least one Top 5 system prospect from another team based on his current value and also the likelihood that he could be shipped out this upcoming winter anyway if they do end up landing the big prize in the younger, more cost-controlled Vazquez at the trade deadline. Meh, just thinking out loud here. Besides, you never know if one of the Dodger brass just happens to be tuning in to this page so…
😉
I was at ST this year, last year, and the past eight years, and I’ve been in both clubhouses (CBR and DS) numerous times over those eight years and I’ve never witnessed anything even remotely close to what you have described. But … perhaps your sources are better than my own eyes and ears.
PS: Hi Andrew!
Ron, while you and the others on here are done protecting Kenley I’m just gonna come out with it. It was on one of the Dodger radio talk shows early last season that I first heard whispers of Jansen acting like a big shot around the clubhouse, calling his own team meetings (heard that didn’t go over too well with some of his teammates, heh) and basically “taking it easy” during ST when it quickly became apparent that he wasn’t in any real shape to pick up a baseball. I mean, how do any of you on here explain those nagging hamstring problems he wound up having all through ST and well into the first half of that season??? Then of course you have the infamous “heart scare” he suffered in the 2nd half and one really begins to wonder if this guy has ever truly taken care of himself physically all these years. Well we certainly got our answer this year when he came into ST 25 pounds LIGHTER and cutting all the junk food out of his diet. So far, no recurring leg problems and no further heart-related issues “surprisingly” enough. Go figure.
Point remains, Dodgers can’t rely on this guy to get them over the WS hump anymore and if they don’t go after one of THE top closers on the trade market this month they’re gonna end up right back where they were the past two seasons: a day late and a buck short. And I haven’t even gotten into how much of a financial and roster bind they’re gonna be in should Kenley decide NOT to opt out of those two Zaidi-gifted years remaining on his contract this upcoming winter. On the wrong side of 30 and declining steadily since the end of the 2017 season, think he would entertain the thought of giving up a guaranteed $38 mil and risk testing the FA market knowing full well he’s on the downside of his MLB career??? Yeah, definitely something to think about right there in the meantime…
Jansen is popular and not any kind of disruption. He is a total team player who made a strong attempt to return from illness last yr and was effective down the stretch and the playoffs. With Joe Kelly throwing great and Baez as well we are pretty good from the right side. Urias probably a top tier lefty and yimi improving-the pen is a lot better now than it was in April and may.I say go get Giles and you have 2 closers and three solid set up guys.
THIS is what I have seen of Jansen in both clubhouses.
I never heard anything about Jensen arriving at ST last year out of shape and ruining team chemistry. If that did happen I think it would have been reported on a very large scale.