January 18th, 2019 at 8:00 am 
by 0799291000348 Trying to predict how Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and company will fill out the Dodgers 2019 roster can be frustrating for devoted fans of the Dodgers as the “Hot Stove” has been little more than lukewarm thus far. If only we had access to Doc Brown’s DeLorean time machine to retrieve a future copy of “Grays Sports Almanac” and see what the Dodgers’ roster was on opening day 2019.
(Image courtesy of icollector.com)
There is no DeLorean time machine to be found, but we do have clues on how the future can be better if we recall the frustrations of 2018, notably a mediocre offensive performance with runners in scoring position (RISP) – .253/.349/.412/.760 – which ranked 13th in the MLB. RISP with two outs? The Dodgers were an anemic .199/.327/.312/.640 – which ranked 29th. Only the AL East 47-115 Baltimore Orioles were worse.
Enter Bryce Harper.
Harper will be expensive regardless of who he signs with … VERY expensive! But, he also has a lifetime .900 OPS with RISP, and .858 with two outs. In 2018 his RISP OPS was .982 and a remarkable 1.234 with two outs! How does he do against left-handed pitching? Right at .800 OPS.
And, he is only 26 years old!
(Photo credit – Russell Lansford)
An added benefit to signing Harper as a free agent is that it would allow the Dodgers to trade players and/or prospects to improve their roster in other areas, perhaps even for right-hander Corey Kluber or catcher J.T. Realmuto.
The Dodgers have the wherewithal to sign Bryce Harper and the team should not pass up the opportunity to add a player of his talent who is just entering the prime years of his career.
Pull the trigger, Andrew!
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Editor’s Note: ThinkBlueLA is pleased to welcome Jesse Pearce as the newest member of our writing staff. Jesse is a baby boomer Dodger fan born in Oklahoma. He grew up in Southern California as a huge fan of Duke Snider, Gil Hodges, Roy Campanella, Sandy Koufax, and Don Drysdale. Jesse is a California State University Long Beach alum (Go Dirtbags!) and currently resides in North Carolina. His favorite baseball movie of all time is ‘The Sandlot’ and he occasionally goes by the nickname of Scotty Smalls … as in “You’re killing me, Smalls.”
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I don’t expect anything to happen for the Dodgers where Bryce Harper is concerned until he shortens the number of years he’s looking for in a multi-year contract. Most teams are staying away from long term contracts.
Personally, unlike most Dodger fans, from what I’ve read, I would’ve love to have Machado back at shortstop with Justin Turner moving to 2B and Seager going to 3B. Too bad he mad a bad impression on everyone.
I’m with you OldBrooklynFan, I’d love to see Machado back at the right price.
We Dodger fans can dream, but the only way we get Machado or Harper is at the right price. I’m sure Investment Banker Friedman, has financial analytics that tell him what that price is.
Because of the “bad impression” Machado made on many people, some team might get a bargain price on him. If there is a bargain to be had, I gotta believe Friedman will be checking in.
Harper seems like more of a long shot to be signed at the right price. The cost of losing the 31st pick in this years MLB draft for signing Harper is certainly going to factor into the “right price” for Harper. Anybody have any thoughts on the value of that pick?
Speaking about Harper and the Dodger outfield (I was more concerned with Machado and the infield in my last comment), I’m wondering if Friedman has been checking out AJ Pollock, a guy who always seemed, to me, as a menus to the Dodgers these last few years.
I think Pollock would be a huge mistake for the Dodgers. His career slash line away from Chase Field is: .266/.324/.434/.758; and, in 2018 it was worse at .235/.288/.451/.739. And, he ha reverse splits in 2018 against LH pitching: .221/.277/.464/.742. I would rather have the younger, more productive, and less costly Kiké Hernandez or Chris Taylor than Pollock. If Dodgers sign Pollock it forfeits its second pick in next June’s draft and it International spending pool is reduced by $500K.
I would be fine with Dodgers just putting CT3 in CF and leaving him there without a need to platoon him. Remember the year he had in 2017? I also believe Dodgers won’t sign Pollock for basically those reasons you gave in the latter part of your post.
Hello OldBrooklynFan! I too would not mind if we got Machado back, as he’s an impact RHB we need for middle of lineup. However, I haven’t heard much in the way of Dodgers being in any way interested. And if we did get Machado back, I would not have Turner play 2nd, as his knees and or legs might not be able to stand up to that position’s demands for an entire year. Many players who do play SS have been found to be able to handle 2nd base and that ‘s where I would put Seager before Turner there. If Turner plays anywhere on the diamond other than 3rd he could and has played some 1st base. But this move would mean a player like Muncy perhaps needs to be dealt for another area of need.
I think the 40-man has about 42 players with first base experience on it.
Hello my friends. Would be fine with Machado back at a decent price, which may happen because Machado might like another chance to prove he is the superstar that he was supposed to be in our blue uniform.
And then there’s that report that says the Dodgers will remain under the de facto salary cap for the near future. Maybe Friedman’s hands are tied…
For the right player, owners will not have a problem paying tax for 1 year. Is Harper the right guy? If it were Trout there is no doubt owners would give a thumbs up to blowing through the CBT threshold.
That’s Trout and he becomes a free agent two years from now? They might be saving their pennies in anticipation of that day. They saw Machado up close and said No Thanks. And re: Harper they might think they’re already too left-handed.
Regarding Harper batting left handed: “How does he do against left-handed pitching? Right at .800 OPS.”
I don’t think that would be a sticking point.
Good point. And in 2018 Harper OPS against LH’ers was .857. He isn’t a guy who you have to platoon.
Trout was just an example, I was pointing out that for “the right player” the CBT threshold will not be an issue for the Dodgers for one season. Is Harper the right guy? I don’t know, but if Dodgers think so then they will not let the CBT stand in the way of signing him.
Okay, but judging from the lack of activity, nobody out there seems to be worth it. If Harper was the guy, why wait? I suppose perhaps they are stretching it out to see if they can get Harper on their terms, say, $30m for five years with an opt-out in the middle.
Yeah, Harper’s bat would be a welcome addition to any lineup. But how much would you guys advise paying for the “poor man’s” Muncy?
Harper’s bat was almost as good against both righty’s and lefties as Muncy’s in 2018 making him very valuable. However, in both cases their defense and versatility is a problem. Harper’s probably going to make $30M (On the 1st yr of a 8-10 yr contract) in 2019, Muncy $555,000.
Is Harper the right guy to “give a thumbs up to blowing through the CBT threshold”? Couple that with forfeiting their second pick (#31) in next June’s draft and having their International spending pool reduced by $500K, Doesn’t sound like a “bargain” to me. Therefore, I don’t think Friedman will think so.
Anybody have any ideas who the Machado “mystery team” might be?
WWE?
I’m seeing that Machado’s father said that the Dodgers have made an offer, Can he be lying?
I saw that also. Yeah, Dad could be B.S.ing, but makes a lot of sense.
As noted here many times, Machado has his warts, stepping on toes, doesn’t always hustle. But at least he hasn’t choked anyone or shot up his garage like Aroldis Chapman.
In any event, MLB teams are smelling blood and wanting a bargain with Machado. Machado costs ONLY MONEY and Dodgers are very well set-up money wise for a BIG 2-3 yr contract with opt-outs for somebody.
How about 3 yrs, $110M (payable $30M first yr and $40M next two yrs) with annual opt-outs? Gives Machado a chance to rehab himself and reenter free-agency at a better time, while playing on a World Series contender in the meantime.
“Poor man’s Muncy?” Would that not be “rich man’s Muncy?” 🙂 Yes, forfeiting the second pick and $500K of International money is a loss, but as you noted, it depends on the value Dodgers place on Harper.
No, if you look at their 2018 stats, Muncy was better.
I agree, “it depends on the value Dodgers place on Harper”. What value would you place on Harper? Any thoughts on the value of the pick?
Yes Muncy was better, but Harper more expensive, ergo the rich man’s Muncy 🙂 About 10 days to 2 weeks ago I was listening to MLB radio Hot Stove League talking about the upcoming June draft. I believe there was a rep from Baseball America discussing the overall talent level was meh. As he pointed out, this is January before any college or high school games have been played so things can change. Where I see additional value in signing Harper is allowing Dodgers to trade Pederson and/or Verdugo/Toles, perhaps for Realmuto, or Merrifield, or ???
Honestly, the sooner this Machado/Harper saga ends the better, as ST is just about a month away. Harper would mean a player or players such as Joc, Verdugo and or Toles would need to be moved. At this time I am not sure Dodgers are anywhere closer to signing either of these players than they were perhaps 4 + weeks ago.
SoCalBum, you got me wondering so I went to the Urban Dictionary and got the following:
poor man’s
A knock-off of inferior quality, or something similar to something else, but not as good.
Mr. Ed is the poor man’s John Kerry, since he has the same face but inferior public-speaking skills.
Jared was horrified when he remembered going home wasted with a Jessica Alba look-alike, then woke up the next morning naked next to the poor man’s Rosie O’Donnell.
Got a good laugh out of it, especially thinking of poor Jared waking up next to a poor man’s Rosie O’Donnell.
All y’alls Machado fans are going to like tomorrow’s (Sunday’s) article.
Stay tined…