moonslav59

So, a one year deal for Richards basically punts the pitching staff decision to next winter. Maybe better pitchers will be available. Maybe the economic outlook will look more stable. Maybe we will decide to cross the lux line significantly. Pedey's contract comes off the books while JD and Eovaldi's a winding down to their last seasons on the books. I'm waiting for a trade now- maybe Beni for a CF'er or RP'er or both. Maybe Beni for prospects, and we sign Pillar.

Maybe we trade Beni and go over by a little. Maybe we trade Beni & Eovaldi or Vaz. Maybe the rumors are wrong.

I must have suggested two dozen trades on BTV involving the Sox and Pitt- most involving Taillon- many with Frazier or Stallings with a third team involved and Vaz going there.

Not that $13M was enough to bring Kluber here, but how many think... $13M Kluber > $10M Richards?

Moved it to the IL.

Instead of a CF'er or RP'er or two? We probably can't do it all, unless we skimp.

Best case scenario at this point -- if Beni is moved for prospects -- may be Rosario, Marisnick and a bullpen arm. We could move Beni for a near min wage closer or CF'er and fill a slot without opening a new one, as Renfroe could play LF FT or platoon with Chavis. That frees up about $6M to add to further signings or additions while shrinking the amount of slots we need filled.

No, but that wasn't my point.

Trade Beni for a closer or CF'er and sign a FA to the other open slot. Maybe sign Marisnick as a 5th OF'er/D replacement.

Let's say we just get cash and a minor leaguer thrown in with Inciarte, and sign Odorizzi, Colome and maybe Marisnick as a 5th OF'er & late inning defensive replacement in LF. We'd still have a decent team.

Great, let Seattle sign Richards. I'll take Odorizzi 7 days a week.

5 years of Verdugo, 5+ of Downs and 5+ of Wong for 1 year of Betts is about the best we could expect. As I pointed out and hoped for, we could have gotten Verdugo and Maeda for Betts & Price +$- straight up. There's the SP'er we needed- signed at a reasonable cost (16-23: $3M annually & $3.125 on lux tax).

How about defesne? UZR/150 2B +0.4 Holt (1784 innings) -6.2 Hernandez (1263) CF +8.4 Hernandez (1109) This is JBJ territory! -17.5 Holt (76 innings) SS +10.4 Hernandez (536) +5.2 Holt (398) 3B -6.3 Holt (1030) -28.4 Hernandez (155) OF +12.0 Hernandez (2054) +2.0 Holt (1465) 1B +17.4 Hernandez (89) -4.0 Holt (224) DRS OF +21 Hernandez (2055 innings) +16 Holt (1465) 2B +18 Hernandez (1263) +1 Holt (1784)

Plus, Holt was never viewed as someone you'd want to be your FT anything. Kike can be viewed as a FT 2Bman or CF'er for us.

Most games played by a Dodger since 2017: 506 Bellinger 475 Taylor 463 Hernandez 442 Pederson 410 Turner (He placed 6th in PAs) How about more recently? (2019-2020) Hernandez placed 6th in games played (178) and 7th in PAs (608)with the Dodgers. In Holt's peak time with the Sox (2014-2018) he placed: Games 741 Bogey 644 Betts 634 JBJ 502 Holt 490 Pedey 439 Ortiz 429 HRam He placed 5th in PAs at 1856.

Just sign Odorizzi & Colome and end all this crap.

Verdugo was a crappy hand-me-down, right?

It's hard to know, since Beni might be gone, and we don't know who we replace him with and if we add someone else like Marisnick as a 5th OF'er or Pillar as a starting CF'er. I have been talking up using Hernandez in CF more than many think, but if Arroyo and Chavis, who may not even be viewed as a 2B option going forward, stink it up, he may be needed as our FT 2Bman. If we keep Beni, an OF or Beni-Verdugo-Renfroe looks better than playing Arroyo, but all bets are off if and when we trade Beni without knowing his replacement.

Honestly Verdugo is the only internal option on the 40 man roster... With Fenway's unique and difficult RF, moving Verdugo to CF severely weakens RF defense. We'd be robbing Peter to pay Paul. Renfroe is best in LF, as is Beni, if he's still around by opening day. I doubt we sign JBJ. We may add Pillar or Marisnik, but I'm with you, I think we trade for a very good defensive CF'er who is no slouch at bat. Trade Beni for a CF'er (and maybe a pitcher, too), and our OF would look solid on defense and offense. Kike at 2B and 4th OF'er seems like the best role for him, too. (He can also back up SS as Arroyo or Chavis play 2B.) Let's look at a bright scenario: let's say we trade Beni and Bello for Inciarte & Wright, sign Odorizzi, Marisnick and Colome. This could be our 26 man roster when and if everyone is healthy: 1.Inciarte CF (2B Kike v LHP .345 OBP) 2. Verdugo RF 3. Bogey SS 4. Devers 3B 5. JD DH 6. Dalbec 1B 7. Renfroe LF 8. Vazquez C 9. Kike 2B (Inciarte v LHP) Bench: Plawecki, Arroyo, Chavis, Marisnick Sale, Odorizzi, Eovaldi, ERod, Wright, Perez Pivetta (5th starter until ERod & Sale return), Houck (start in AAA?) Colome, Barnes, Brasier, DHern, Taylor, Andriese, Brice, Whitlock, Valdez (start in AAA) This is actually a decent move towards respectability while allowing for more serious improvements to be made at the deadline or next winter.

Then we still need a 2Bman. While I do see a role for Kike to play some CF, I doubt we paid him $7M to be our FT CF'er. A lot depends on how well or poorly Arroyo/Chavis/Arauz and maybe even Munoz-assuming we add him back to the 40 man- do at 2B.

I was wondering that, too. With needs at SP, Closer, RP, CF and 2B, our first two big moves are signing a utility player to $7M a year and someone to platoon in LF, where we already have Beni and maybe Chavis.

Verdugo is better and more needed in RF. Beni in CF would be a joke. Renfroe in CF? Why not just put JD there? Kike? Verdugo is a big bat in the OF. Since 2018: Ozuna: .276/.346/.483/.829 (age 27-29) Verdugo: .295/.348/.464/.812 (age 22-24) -- .827 the last 2 years with a .476 SLG% My guess is we go with someone like Pillar or trade for someone like Inciarte, Cain or Kiermaier.

These kinds of deals make too much sense to not happen. I seriously doubt we spend enough to get JBJ, when our pitching staff is so lacking- this of course, assumes we stay under or near the lux tax line. If we decide to go over, signing JBJ or Pillar along with Odorizzi and a decent RP'er or two shouldn't put us too far over. I do think Henry would like us to start 2022 with a clean lux tax slate, but that's just my opinion. There is no way anybody can look at our pitching staff and not gasp: Sale (ready by July?) Eovaldi (always on the IL) ERod (huge health questions) Perez (5th starter type) Pivetta (5th starter type w upside) Houck (innings will be limited) Barnes (not bad) Brasier (some hope remains) D Hern (need to stop walking someone every 1-2 innings) Taylor (questionable) Andriese (who?) Brice and Whitlock (not headliners) AAA: Mazza, Seabold, Mata, Weber, Hart, Gossett Brewer, Bazardo, Payamps, Gonsalves, Feltman, Shawaryn, Grotz Every slot is a question mark or barely above weak.

Renfroe/Beni platoon in LF

I'm pretty sure we'll be adding a CF'er before day one, but here's an interesting question. Which alignment do you prefer? A) LF: Renfroe/Beni platoon CF: E. Hernandez RF: Verdugo 2B: Arroyo/Chavis LF: Beni CF: Verdugo RF: Renfroe 2B: E Hernandez He could end up seeing significant time at 2B and CF, but it looks like he was signed to play mostly 2B. A lot may depend on how well or poorly Arroyo, Chavis, Beni & Renfroe do, this season.