trade deadline

[mvp 78]

Is there any reason to think there will be significant changes to the tax system? I think the only changes the players can really push for are higher thresholds.

 

Who knows? A higher threshold would be good.

[mvp 78]

If it was just up to Bloom and Henry, maybe.

 

My guess, there will be some sort of penalty for spending big.

 

Is baseball better now with a lux cap?

[moonslav59]

Is baseball better now with a lux cap?

 

I’d say very much so.

 

We can be pretty sure a few high spending teams would have spent more- maybe much more.

 

I’m not sure how much poorer teams have gained.

[moonslav59]

Is baseball better now with a lux cap?

 

I’d say very much so.

 

We can be pretty sure a few high spending teams would have spent more- maybe much more.

 

I’m not sure how much poorer teams have gained.

[Hugh2]

I kind of missed the days where you could trade for a player at the deadline and then let them walk and pick up a first-round pick for them. In 2011 the Sox had 4 first-round picks, lol.

 

I understand why the can't do that, and why they won't be going back to that, but it certainly would have made shopping at the deadline easier this year.

[Bellhorn04]

I kind of missed the days where you could trade for a player at the deadline and then let them walk and pick up a first-round pick for them. In 2011 the Sox had 4 first-round picks, lol.

 

I understand why the can't do that, and why they won't be going back to that, but it certainly would have made shopping at the deadline easier this year.

 

Theo got 2 picks for the Billy Wagner rental in 2009. It was kind of ridiculous, really.

[mvp 78]

I’d say very much so.

 

We can be pretty sure a few high spending teams would have spent more- maybe much more.

 

I’m not sure how much poorer teams have gained.

 

I don't know how you could say this. Did you see the attendance for the 2020 season? Despicable!

[a700hitter]

Dodgers To Sign Cole Hamels

 

By Steve Adams | August 4, 2021 at 11:00am CDT

11:00am: Hamels signed a Major League deal with a $1MM base salary, tweets ESPN’s Buster Olney. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale adds that Hamels will take home a $200K bonus for every start made.

 

10:32am: The Dodgers have a deal in place with Hamels, tweets Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times. He’ll first head to the team’s Spring Training complex in Arizona to continue building up arm strength.

 

9:00am: The Dodgers are nearing a deal with free-agent lefty Cole Hamels, reports MLB Network’s Jon Heyman (via Twitter). The 37-year-old Hamels recently held a widely attended showcase for clubs and will give the Dodgers another option in the rotation once he builds up to game readiness. Hamels is represented by JBA Sports.

Hamels’ 2020 season with the Braves was wiped out by a series of triceps and shoulder issues. Signed to a one-year, $18MM contract in December 2019, Hamels would only throw 3 1/3 innings during his time with Atlanta. A quiet offseason ensued, with Hamels waiting until his shoulder was back to 100 percent before auditioning for clubs. That might’ve taken longer than initially anticipated, but the lefty drew scouts from upwards of 20 teams last month once he felt ready to go.

 

It’s unlikely that Hamels will be an immediate option for the Dodgers. He’s pitched just 3 1/3 innings since the end of the 2019 season and hadn’t been throwing in game settings prior to his showcase. For some context, Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski discussed Hamels’ showcase with NBC Sports Philadelphia’s John Clark and laid out the reason that teams in need of immediate pitching help didn’t pounce on Hamels right away.

 

“The one thing in Cole’s case, and he’s the first to admit it, he’s not ready to pitch now,” said Dombrowski just a few days after Hamels’ showcase for teams. “He has to go through his own ’Spring Training,’ so you’re talking about somebody that’s maybe 30 to 40 days down the road helping you.”

Those comments came back on July 19, and Hamels has surely been working out in the interim — likely with more intensity as he geared up to sign with a team. Still, it stands to reason that the Dodgers would send him through at least a handful of minor league rehab starts, so Hamels seems like a late-August or early-September possibility more than someone who’ll be thrown right into the fire.

 

Whenever he does make his debut, Hamels will bring one of the more accomplished track records of the current generation of pitchers to the Dodgers’ staff. Hamels is a World Series champion and former World Series and NLCS MVP who has made four All-Star teams and has long been considered one of the game’s premier arms. His 2010-16 peak saw him pitch 1477 2/3 innings of 3.14 ERA ball. His work since that peak has dropped off a bit, but Hamels still tossed 480 1/3 innings of 3.92 ERA ball from 2017-19 before last year’s injury-ruined season.

 

Rotation help has become an unexpected need for the Dodgers, who lost Dustin May to Tommy John surgery early. Los Angeles also has both Clayton Kershaw (forearm inflammation) and Tony Gonsolin (shoulder inflammation) on the injured list at the moment. Trevor Bauer has been on administrative leave since early July following sexual assault allegations that were brought forth against him. Starter-turned-reliever David Price moved back into the rotation last month and built up to about 75 pitches, but his most recent outing was once again a single-inning relief appearance.

 

The Dodgers addressed their sudden lack of rotation depth at the trade deadline, first picking up the currently injured Danny Duffy before putting together a deadline-day blockbuster acquisition of Max Scherzer. That duo, plus the apparently impending addition of Hamels, ought to give the Dodgers some more firepower on the starting staff down the stretch in a tightly contested three-team race for the NL West crown. For now, the Dodgers will lean on Scherzer, Walker Buehler and Julio Urias as their top three options.

It’s not fully clear just when Hamels, Kershaw or Gonsolin could be cleared to pitch for the Dodgers. Hamels needs the aforementioned buildup, while the team’s last update on Kershaw was that he’d experienced some “residual soreness” following his latest throwing session. Gonsolin hit the 10-day IL on July 31, and there’s been no update since. Duffy landed on the injured list back on July 20, owing to a forearm strain. Royals GM Dayton Moore said on July 27 that the club felt Duffy was perhaps three to four weeks from a return.

The Dodgers themselves probably don’t know exactly how their rotation will shape up over the season’s final eight-plus weeks, but their recent pickups of Scherzer, Duffy and Hamels give the team an enviable stockpile of accomplished arms from which to draw as they look to chase down the first-place Giants and defend their 2020 World Series victory.

 

I guess that Bloom didn't have the pieces to get him either.

[Fan_since_Boggs]

I'm assuming that the Red Sox's owners didn't want Bloom to go over the luxury tax threshold and that took Hamels off the table. Still, Bloom made a number of bad decisions this year that put the Red Sox in a situation where they couldn't do more: paying Gonzalez 3 mil, paying Richards 8.5 mil, and paying Ottavino 8 million. Such moves were arguably a poor use of resources, totaling almost 20 mil dollars. While Ottavino was really good in the first half of the season, he is a set-up reliever with a recent history of late season struggles. Maybe the Red Sox should have searched for a more frugal alternative. And the prospect the Red Sox obtained from the Yankees to take on Ottavino's contract--F.German--looks pretty lousy at this point. Edited August 4, 2021 by Fan_since_Boggs

[Hugh2]

I'm assuming that the Red Sox's owners didn't want Bloom to go over the luxury tax threshold and that took Hamels off the table. Still, Bloom made a number of bad decisions this year that put the Red Sox in a situation where they couldn't do more: paying Gonzalez 3 mil, paying Richards 8.5 mil, and paying Ottavino 8 million. Such moves were arguably a poor use of resources, totaling almost 20 mil dollars. While Ottavino was really good in the first half of the season, he is a set-up reliever with a recent history of late season struggles. Maybe the Red Sox should have searched for a more frugal alternative. And the prospect the Red Sox obtained from the Yankees to take on Ottavino's contract--F.German--looks pretty lousy at this point.

 

That's exactly what's going on. Ownership does not want Bloom to go over the luxury tax limit. A man can only do so much when you're starting off right up against it.

[mvp 78]

I guess that Bloom didn't have the pieces to get him either.

 

Would have been pushed over the lux tax cap.

[mvp 78]

Hamels had a 8.10 ERA, he's done. Should go get very good Porcello.

[moonslav59]

That's exactly what's going on. Ownership does not want Bloom to go over the luxury tax limit. A man can only do so much when you're starting off right up against it.

 

He’s done wonders with what he was given.

 

The big test comes this winter when the wallet opens wider, presumably.

[moonslav59]

Hamels had a 8.10 ERA, he's done. Should go get very good Porcello.

 

I thought the whole Hamels thing was a joke.

[vegasbob]

He’s done wonders with what he was given.

 

The big test comes this winter when the wallet opens wider, presumably.

 

Agreed. Bloom and Ownership need to replace about 10 to 12 current roster inhabitants over this winter . Their actions then will tell you if it is all about being cheap or conning the paying fans.

[Hugh2]

He’s done wonders with what he was given.

 

The big test comes this winter when the wallet opens wider, presumably.

 

It's as if some people don't understand Bloom can't go over the luxury tax, and they're mad at him for doing his job.

 

It does appear that ownership is going to give Bloom the green light to go over the limit after this season.

[vegasbob]

I thought the whole Hamels thing was a joke.

 

Hamels will be lucky to get 5 or 6 starts at max for the Dodgers , 25-30 innings at best. Lucky to make the LAD postseason roster if his shoulder stays attached.

[mvp 78]

I thought the whole Hamels thing was a joke.

 

Hamels' arm is a joke. Yes.

[moonslav59]

Agreed. Bloom and Ownership need to replace about 10 to 12 current roster inhabitants over this winter . Their actions then will tell you if it is all about being cheap or conning the paying fans.

 

And, maybe next summer will be all in time- maybe Bloom will never go all in.

[vegasbob]

I think most of the frutration with this year's deadline limited actions is that a team doesn't always find itself in the top spot , especially with some level of overachievement, so how can you let the opportunity pass without a major commitment right then. Even with a roster overhaul and upgrade for 2022, you cannot predict the outcome conclusively .

 

I do think the "metrics" told Bloom and Henry that they were lucky to be in first place, but it was not sustainable and a couple of lux tax busters would not be the difference for a WS appearance. So they stayed under the tax line , stayed on plan to rebuild from the bottom up through the farm, and remain patient. Let this group of players continue to contend in their own way and see what happens, call it a success no matter what.

[a700hitter]

Rizzo with another HR for the Yankees

[mvp 78]

And, maybe next summer will be all in time- maybe Bloom will never go all in.

 

If we put off the lux cap indefinitely, they'll never go over.

[notin]

Agreed. Bloom and Ownership need to replace about 10 to 12 current roster inhabitants over this winter . Their actions then will tell you if it is all about being cheap or conning the paying fans.

 

Unless it actually works..

[notin]

Hamels' arm is a joke. Yes.

 

I wouldn't have minded adding Hamels, but I'm not going to pretend he would have been anything beyond a minor depth piece at this stage of his career. Not like this is 2016 and he is still a difference-making arm. I'm not sure he is any better than Richards and I doubt he will be any better than Perez...

[notin]

Hamels will be lucky to get 5 or 6 starts at max for the Dodgers , 25-30 innings at best. Lucky to make the LAD postseason roster if his shoulder stays attached.

 

Considering the article says he isn’t ready and will be in Arizona building up strength, your totals are probably a best case scenario. I’d expect he finishes with about half of those numbers, or less (2-3 starts, 10-20 IP)

 

He might not even see the parent club in August, just like he wouldn’t had Bloom been the GM to sign him. Given the terms of his contract, the Dodgers clearly expect very little out of him.

 

Of all the pitchers to complain about missing out on, Hamels should probably be last on the list. The Sox would have been better off outbidding the Cardinals for JA Happ or Jon Lester…

Edited August 5, 2021 by notin

[Hugh2]

If we put off the lux cap indefinitely, they'll never go over.

 

Timing is everything with the luxury tax, you need to stay under to reset and then go over. They're resetting this year so they can go big presumably next year. It's not just going over or not going over.

[Bellhorn04]

Timing is everything with the luxury tax, you need to stay under to reset and then go over. They're resetting this year so they can go big presumably next year. It's not just going over or not going over.

 

Correction: they reset in 2020.

[Nick]

Whatever the sport, I look for team's best lineup and see if the team can match other teams.

 

Right Now (just my perception, mind you)

 

C Vaz.......C-

1B F

2B Kike B

SS Xandr A

3B Devers A

LF Verdugo C+

CF Duran D (small sample size)

RF Renfroe B-

DH JD A-

 

We don't even have to discuss starting pitching.

 

This team is not capable of winning the World Series. I'll take any bets.

[Bellhorn04]

Whatever the sport, I look for team's best lineup and see if the team can match other teams.

 

Right Now (just my perception, mind you)

 

C Vaz.......C-

1B F

2B Kike B

SS Xandr A

3B Devers A

LF Verdugo C+

CF Duran D (small sample size)

RF Renfroe B-

DH JD A-

 

We don't even have to discuss starting pitching.

 

This team is not capable of winning the World Series. I'll take any bets.

 

a) I don't see why this methodology for rating offenses is better than things like runs scored per game.

The starting pitching may look a whole lot better if Sale and E-Rod pitch up to their capabilities.

c) I think this team is capable of making it to the ALCS. On paper, we might get smoked once we get there, but then you have your crapshoot factors too.

[mvp 78]

Correction: they reset in 2020.

 

Yup. If you reset in the prior year, it's weird to say that they reset again this year.