December 15th, 2019 at 8:00 am 
by 0799291000348 The 2019 Baseball Winter Meetings are fading in the rearview mirror, and the new year, 2020, is fast approaching. The Dodgers were able to check off one item from their to-do list by signing former Oakland A’s closer Blake Treinen to a one-year/$10 million contract. But there remain several important needs to be addressed before the team assembles for the first practice of spring training 2020.
Rumors and rumors of rumors continue to circulate about Dodgers free agent pursuits and possible trades, including potential for a blockbuster deal. There are too many rumors to go into the specifics of each, but enough to pique the debate talents of Dodgers fans. So, in alphabetical order, let’s consider a few of the more notable names that have been either directly or indirectly linked to Dodger moves.
Nolan Arenado – third base
Due to payroll budget issues, the Colorado Rockies say they will listen to offers for any of their players. The Dodgers passed on making an offer to Anthony Rendon so naturally, the baseball pundits will bring up the possibility of an Arenado trade. There is no reason to believe that the Dodgers would give back equal value to the Rockies when Arenado can opt-out of his contract after the 2021 season, or that the Rockies would even consider trading a player who is destined for Cooperstown to a division rival. Chances of Arenado becoming a Dodger in 2020 falls into the category of a snowball’s chance in hades.
Mookie Betts – right field
The Red Sox have openly admitted that they must get below the Competitive Balance (Luxury) Tax threshold and Mookie is looking forward to free agency after the 2020 season. Considering the Dodgers need to balance the lineup with a run-producing, right-handed bat, their current payroll flexibility, and the depth of high-quality prospects they can use as trade capital, rumors of a trade for Betts makes sense. But, will the Red Sox accept a reasonable package of players in return for a player who is likely to be a one-year rental?
Kris Bryant – third base
The Cubs have joined the Red Sox in trying to cut payroll, and Kris Bryant has been rumored to be available with free agency after the 2021 season, and possibly after 2020 if he wins his grievance about major league service time. That grievance was heard in arbitration in November 2019 and should be decided before the new year. Over the last five seasons, Mike Trout and Mookie Betts have the highest Fangraphs WAR (wins above replacement) amongst all MLB players; number three is Kris Bryant. For players with more than 3,000 plate appearances, Bryant’s 139 wRC+ (weighted runs accounted for) is better than Betts, Arenado, Lindor, Manny Machado, and Anthony Rendon. The Dodgers have the talent to trade for Bryant, but any deal will likely have to wait until the arbitrator’s decision.
Madison Bumgarner – starting pitcher
The Dodgers swung and missed on Gerrit Cole and Stephen Strasburg, so a legit option to consider is adding Mad Bum to the Dodgers starting rotation. Reports that there is mutual interest between the Dodgers and Bumgarner, so this rumor may have some serious legs upon which to move forward. Bumgarner remains a very fine starting pitcher and, under today’s contract environment, he can reasonably expect a nine-figure contract, a very reasonable amount for the talent, competitive spirit, and aggressiveness of Mad Bum.
Josh Donaldson – third base
Does it surprise you that over their respective careers that Donaldson is a better offensive player than Anthony Rendon (weighted runs scored) of 144 to Rendon’s 128, and 40.6 WAR to 32.7? Home runs? Not even close, Donaldson with 219, and Rendon 136. The only downside is age. Donaldson is five years older (34 to 29) than Rendon. The Dodgers prefer a three-year contract for Donaldson, who is looking for a four-year deal. Could they compromise on a 3-year/$100 million contract? It isn’t mandatory that the Dodgers acquire a third baseman, but for the right price, Donaldson would be a very nice addition, both his offense and defense.
Josh Hader – closer
It has been reported that the Milwaukee Brewers are listening to offers for one of the most dominant closers currently in Major League Baseball. It does not come as a surprise that the Dodgers are interested in Hader, but the price in players/prospects will be high – very high. The Brewers are in the enviable position of holding on to Hader until the trade deadline, or for another year or two if they do not get the package of players they demand in return. Don’t look for Hader to be wearing Dodger Blue at Camelback Ranch this spring.
Corey Kluber – starting pitcher
From 2014 through 2018, Kluber was one of the most dominant starting pitchers in MLB. On May 2, 2019, he was struck on his right (throwing) forearm by a line drive, breaking the arm and for all intents and purposes ending his season. The Indians exercised his $13.5 million club option for 2020 but would like to trade him and use those payroll dollars to improve other areas of their roster. The Dodgers are rumored to be interested, but apparently are more interested in Francisco Lindor (see below). If healthy, Kluber would be a nice addition to the top of the starting rotation; perhaps a blockbuster trade is possible for him and Lindor?
Francisco Lindor – shortstop
The Francisco Lindor to the Dodgers rumor persists from baseball journalists. For the right price, adding Lindor would be a very good move as long as Corey Seager is on-board with moving to either third base, second base, or first base. But fans need to temper their enthusiasm for Lindor by looking at some cogent stats, notably his offensive stats away from hitter-friendly Progressive Field. Since 2015, Lindor has slashed .266 / .320 / .461 / .781 on the road; not bad, but certainly not All-Star caliber numbers. And, for all of his speed and stolen bases, Fangraphs BsR (baserunning runs above average) was a -2.0 in 2019; Corey Seager was a +3.4. When healthy, Corey Seager has been the better all-around offensive player, and Lindor a superior defensive shortstop. Who would the Dodgers have to trade for Lindor? Rumors are Dustin May and Gavin Lux; a very steep price for what would likely be a two-year rental; he and Seager would both be free agents after 2021, and Lux would be in Cleveland.
Other rumors of note include free-agent reliever Dellin Betances and starting pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu, but it appears that the signing of Treinen makes Betances an unlikely signing, and apparently Dodgers prefer Bumgarner or Kluber over Ryu. The Astros have shown interest in acquiring backup catcher Austin Barnes to be their regular catcher.
Let us know if you have read or heard other rumors to which Dodgers fans should be paying attention. And which of these players, if any, do you believe will be wearing Dodger Blue in 2020.
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After, what it seems, the Dodgers lost out on both Cole and Rendon, so it stands to reason they still have the money (and the talent) to do something big. Just waiting to see what’s going to happen.
Old Brooklyn. Kluber just got traded to Texas so he comes off the board.
One would think Ryu or Madbum is going to the dodgers. Then a trade for a right bat.
Good summary of the big rumors.
Arenado, Agreed won’t happen. The 2021 opt-out is the elephant in the room and makes it very unlikely that he can be traded to anyone, unless Colorado needs to cut payroll at any cost.
Betts, Has Boston given up on 2020? Don’t see why they would have, but another team that overspent and is reaping the consequences of that. If I was Boston, I’d have to be blown away or I’d wait until the trade deadline.
Bryant, Agreed this will have to wait until the arbitrator’s decision. After that, this could be right up the Dodgers alley. They got the money, prospects and major league talent to make a good deal here AND the Cubs overspent and need to make a deal. Sad if you are a Cubs fan.
Bumgarner, This one has grown on me. Could be the steal of the offseason or a bust. The price has to be right, especially since we lose a draft pick or pass. $100M is too much.
Donaldson, 4yrs?? Pass, he is one year younger than Justin Turner and father time is batting 1000.
Hader, While I like that Dodgers check in on everything, can’t see the Brewers taking anything less than an overpay. Pass.
Kluber, Well he’s been traded to the Rangers for Clase and DeShields. Seemed like a Pederson for Kluber deal could have been a possibility and that is the MOST I would have given for Kluber, but no more.
Lindor, I don’t see this happening, Twelve years of (6 each) of Lux and May for two of Lindor when we already have Seager. I pass.
Ryu, I hope he is on the radar to buy his 33-35 age seasons for $66M with an option for the age 37 season. He just gets better and with his soft stuff should age well.
Betances, Hope they are in at the right price, a cheap incentive laden one-year contract.
I’m with OldBrooklynFan “Just waiting to see what’s going to happen”.
Friedman deserves the benefit of the doubt when it comes to trades/free agents, I’m sure he’s been working hard to find us something good. I admit, I was nonplussed at first with the Puig, Wood trade last year, but it looks like it could have been a major swindle. I guess that is why he makes the big bucks.
I would like to see Kris Bryant at third base for the Dodgers and hit behind Bellinger in the lineup. Cubs will want a lot if the arbitrator rules (as I think he will) that he will not be a free agent until after 2021 season.
Jesse, I am on board here because Bryant would be IDEAL to bat 5th and protect Bellinger in the lineup.. Not guys like Beaty or Kiki or Taylor. And since more $$ is coming off the books after 2020, no real reason that Dodgers could not extend Bryant’s deal past 2021.
Why
Why
Why are we even considering trading our Young talent???
I dont even want to hear about letting talent go because the front off couldn’t get any deals done.
This team has the deepest pockets in baseball. The most lucrative TV deal and are under the luxury tax?
They don’t need to trade our young talent they needed to Sign free agents to fill In The gaps.
True Dodger fans would realize that development of the young guys are the future and that we should collectively hold the Front Office accountable for their apparent ineptitude.
Remember that prospects mentioned in this piece, and those in rumors by baseball journalists are just guesses. Friedman and his staff do an excellent job of controlling information “leaks.” The Dodgers have such a deep and talented prospect pipeline that it can not only afford to trade prospects, but it is necessary since all cannot be retained on the 40 man roster and eventually lost in rule 5 draft. The Dodgers are particularly deep in highly regarded prospects for catcher, first base, middle infield, and outfield. Trading Lux for example is possible with the progress of Jeter Downs, and the talent of Jacob Amaya.
I’m also a fan of holding onto talent, but if the FO just went and acquired highest priced FA every off-season, we would get into the Red Sox or Cubs jam, where we would have to trade franchise type players to get under tax penalties.
My guess, is the FO avoids long term contracts in order to have the flexibility to keep players like Bellinger, Buehler, Seager, Urias, etc once they reach FA (they have shown they will spend to keep players on the team).
While I’m also dissapointed to see us “miss” on certain FA and trade targets so far, I’m giving benefit of the doubt to FO, cause if they just listened to the loudest “fans” we would have been saddled with Bryce Harper right now which have done nothing to move our teams talent needle forward
Spot on!
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As is, the Dodgers are likely to be in a strong position to win the west again in 2020. It’s not the end of the world if the off season isn’t earth shaking. Friedman has a track record of adding big talent at the deadline, and at this point may prefer to stand pat until then. I like that the Dodgers continue to take a measured approach as opposed to making a reactionary ‘big deal’ because of early the playoff exit. Even so, there’s the Jansen albatross still looming in the bullpen.
Excellent points!
We can now scratch the Snot Rocket off the rumors list.
I stick with what I said above, Bumgarner could be the steal of the offseason or a bust. He went for a “reasonable” $85M. Dodgers passed, what does that tell us? Coupled with the reports that the Dodgers offered $300M to Cole, I think it means they are looking for quality if they add to the rotation. Don’t need any middle to bottom rotation innings eaters.
I still believe they are in on Ryu, who looks like he might represent the most bang for their buck free-agent starter. He represents pretty much a total return of the 2019 starter staff, worse things than that. Of course, if Clevinger or ???? becomes available at a reasonable price. All bets are off.
I wonder if it was Mad Bum who passed on the Dodgers? With the long history of Dodgers – Giants rivalry, and some very bad blood at times, Bumgarner may have decided not to cross the rivalry line. I have hoped for a re-signing of Ryu, and would be pleased if the Dodgers could trade Maeda to open a spot for a better starting pitcher.
Maeda has been a team player and accepted his ever changing role. I’m sure he would like certainly of whether he is a starter or reliever.
Trading him would be imprudent. He is another example of a Roberts/Honeycutt mismanagement of staff.
Hopefully Prior will bring better decisions for the pitching staff
Recently reported that Dodgers approached Maeda to re-negotiate the terms of his contract to give him more guaranteed money so that he would be compensated for time in the bullpen. Maeda and his agent turned down the request, flatly stating that Maeda wanted to be a starting pitcher with 30 to 32 starts per season. Maeda told Dodgers that he was upset with being shuffled between starting and relieving — he was a starter. I agree with you about the Dodgers approach to changing pitchers, but I don’t think that was Honeycutt, I think it was Roberts based on analytics provided by the front office. Nonetheless, in his Dodgers career as a starter (103 games) he has averaged 5 1/3 inning pitched, and his tOPS (Baseball Reference) is 101; basically an average starting pitcher — IMO that is not getting the job done for the Dodgers. Are the short starts because Maeda is not capable of pitching deeper into games, or because the analytics and Roberts do not trust him to pitch longer. Either way, Dodgers need a better pitcher. I must admit that I was completely turned off by Maeda’s response to the Dodgers.
“Go get it out of the swimming pool!”
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