Dodgers Official Offseason - Trade Talk Thread

[D Blue987]

Apparently the Mets have rekindled extension talks with Dickey. Article on ESPN describes the Mets as having vetted 8 teams for "difference makers", and coming up short. If they wanted "difference makers" we should be happy we're out on him. No way is a 38yr old worth "difference makers" and a 2 year $28 million extension.

Still, after signing Greinke - an ace on most teams - I wonder if we try to add another ace. Looking around the National League we can see that Greinke is not the best number 2 starter. Arguably, some teams have better pitchers in the 3rd slot of the rotation; Cole Hamels, for instance.

Trade would be preferential at this point. Despite all his accolades, Anibal Sanchez isn't the epitome of a front line starter and though I'd prefer Kyle Lohse amongst free agent options, he brings many a cause for concern. Unfortunately, there are no Cole Hamels or Cliff Lee types available to my knowledge, so it appears we would really need to WOW a team to part with an ace.

I still believe the pursuit of Josh Hamilton is our best option for landing a pitcher via trade. It would free up a gold glove outfielder in addition to middle and back of the order mlb pitchers, and some prospects that are approaching their maturity dates but won't have a chance to play; like Dee Gordon.

Overwhelm a team with the major league talent to make them competitive, some prospects to help them in the future, and the cash necessary to make such a pricey deal more tolerable and maybe something happens.

Though I'm satisfied with the Greinke signing, I just don't think he's as dynamic as most are giving him credit for. I believe we're still short in the "ace" department. Hopefully he proves me wrong.

Meh. If we shore up the offense some more like they are talking about, we should be just fine over the long haul. I expect Greinke to do better playing in DS in a pitchers park anyway. The SP is much better at the outset of this season compared to last season on paper. When Bills is our 4-5 starter, you know we are doing alright.

[GibbyIsMyHero]

he just has to fix one thing and that is to not overthink or over pitch when he gives up a run.

Though I agree, I think that's a task much easier planned than implemented. For instance, Billingsley has had the exact same problem for years and has yet to overcome.

If he had been able to overcome at any point earlier in his career, he'd be drawing comparisons with Matt Cain in the talent department. Instead he is now our 3rd, 4th, or even 5th best starter depending on which CBills shows up.

[Gibby23]

Though I agree, I think that's a task much easier planned than implemented. For instance, Billingsley has had the exact same problem for years and has yet to overcome.

If he had been able to overcome at any point earlier in his career, he'd be drawing comparisons with Matt Cain in the talent department. Instead he is now our 3rd, 4th, or even 5th best starter depending on which CBills shows up.

True, But Greinke has won a Cy Young and was one of the top 3 or 4 pitchers in the game. Can Billingsly say that? Greinke has been on like 3 teams in 3 years, that is 3 different pitching coaches and catchers in his ear.

[GibbyIsMyHero]

Meh. If we shore up the offense some more like they are talking about, we should be just fine over the long haul. I expect Greinke to do better playing in DS in a pitchers park anyway. The SP is much better at the outset of this season compared to last season on paper. When Bills is our 4-5 starter, you know we are doing alright.

I agree for the most part. However, starting pitching depth through the 5th spot is only great for the regular season. It won't matter who our 5th starter is come playoff time. If the Phillies and Nationals are healthy, we will have reason to be concerned for the matchups beyond Kershaw.

Beyond Clayton you'll have the following matchups against the Nats and Phills...

Game 2; Greinke vs Gio Gonzalez/Cliff Lee
Game 3; Beckett/Bills/Ryu vs Hamels/Zimmerman

Not one of those possible pitching matchups beyond Kershaw inspires confidence. Additionally, consider the possibility that we go into game 2 down 1-0 in a series. Would you be comfortable then?

Yes, we could shore up the offense, but it will be our front 3 starters that make the difference.

[Gibby23]

I agree for the most part. However, starting pitching depth through the 5th spot is only great for the regular season. It won't matter who our 5th starter is come playoff time. If the Phillies and Nationals are healthy, we will have reason to be concerned for the matchups beyond Kershaw.

Beyond Clayton you'll have the following matchups against the Nats and Phills...

Game 2; Greinke vs Gio Gonzalez/Cliff Lee
Game 3; Beckett/Bills/Ryu vs Hamels/Zimmerman

Not one of those possible pitching matchups beyond Kershaw inspires confidence. Additionally, consider the possibility that we go into game 2 down 1-0 in a series. Would you be comfortable then?

Yes, we could shore up the offense, but it will be our front 3 starters that make the difference.

You wouldn't be confident with Greinke going up against Gio or Lee? I would. I also think Beckett bounces back in a big way, he had a great 2011 season and was good in his time with the Dodgers last year.

[GibbyIsMyHero]

True, But Greinke has won a Cy Young and was one of the top 3 or 4 pitchers in the game. Can Billingsly say that? Greinke has been on like 3 teams in 3 years, that is 3 different pitching coaches and catchers in his ear.

Yes, he's got all the excuses in the world, but we've gotta stop hanging our hats on Greinke's Cy Young season. Everyone who brings this up fails to point out that he followed up a magical 2009 with a 10-14 record and 4.17era in 2010, given the same staff and a better catcher (from Buck to Jason Kendall).

He's never come close to having a similar season while, in fact, he has shown that his numbers since and prior to 2009 have been consistent, and consistently nearer to his lifetime ERA of 3.77. In short, 2009 was the anomaly, not the rest of his career.

Yes he went to Milwaukee, where the balls fly, and held his own. But he went to Anaheim, a pitchers park similar to DS, and finished with a 3.83era over there. I'm not saying he isn't or won't be a good pitcher, but if your argument is that he needs to have stability in one place for more than 1.5yrs (his time in Milwaukee) to show his true capabilities, what does that tell us for this season?

[Gibby23]

Yes, he's got all the excuses in the world, but we've gotta stop hanging our hats on Greinke's Cy Young season. Everyone who brings this up fails to point out that he followed up a magical 2009 with a 10-14 record and 4.17era in 2010, given the same staff and a better catcher (from Buck to Jason Kendall).

He's never come close to having a similar season while, in fact, he has shown that his numbers since and prior to 2009 have been consistent, and consistently nearer to his lifetime ERA of 3.77. In short, 2009 was the anomaly, not the rest of his career.

Yes he went to Milwaukee, where the balls fly, and held his own. But he went to Anaheim, a pitchers park similar to DS, and finished with a 3.83era over there. I'm not saying he isn't or won't be a good pitcher, but if your argument is that he needs to have stability in one place for more than 1.5yrs (his time in Milwaukee) to show his true capabilities, what does that tell us for this season?

He finished pretty strong. He had a 3.5 era in Anaheim. His last 8 starts he had an ERA of 2.07 and a WHIP under 1.

[GibbyIsMyHero]

He finished pretty strong. He had a 3.5 era in Anaheim. His last 8 starts he had an ERA of 2.07 and a WHIP under 1.

Chris Capuano was 7-1 with a 2.14 as of May 27th...

Obviously not the same guy, just an example of regression to the mean

[Dodgerbluemmm24]

Yes, but Grenkie is a better pitcher than Capuano is.

I don't expect another 2009 (that was prime Pedro), but something like:

3.10 ERA
200+ inning
1.2 WHIP

Would be great.

[Gibby23]

Yes, but Grenkie is a better pitcher than Capuano is.

I don't expect another 2009 (that was prime Pedro), but something like:

3.10 ERA
200+ inning
1.2 WHIP

Would be great.

His manager from 2009 Trey Hillman is also our bench coach this year. He knows what kind of person Greinke is and has some insight on how to handle him. Good piece on dodgers.com

[GibbyIsMyHero]

Theoretically yes, but lets no forget that Trey Hillman was also his manager in 2010 - one of Greinke's worst statistical seasons.

Like I said, I hope he proves me wrong, but I will remain a skeptic until he shows it in practice. Theory simply doesn't do much for me.

I think more realistically he'll have an era of between 3.30-3.40 and eat a ton of innings. While that's still great - guys like Hamels, Lee, Zimmerman, & Gio will finish in the high twos to low threes. And no, that does not give me confidence especially considering the matchups for the following game.

[SportsWhooligan]

What I like about Greinke are the 200+ K's in 3 of th last 4 years. That shows he has nasty stuff. If he gets run support he'll be OK.

As far as Bills goes last year we finally got to see a nice consistent stretch which had been lacking the last 3 years. It seemed like he would fall apart in the 6th all the time. He'd enter with one or 2 hits and he'd give up home runs. Since he was going Against other teams 1 or 2 pitchers he had a small margin of error. With him sliding to 4 (where I'd slot him) he would have less chance of drawing a #1 when days off affect matchups. That would put our guys against other teams 3-5 pitchers which may mean more run support.

Of course I'd like to see the Dodgers surprise everyone with a Bills Ethier Gordon + trade to get another solid piece.

[Dodgerbluemmm24]

I'm not worried about his ERA.

He's going to be pitching in Petco, DS and AT&T. If his other stats (WHIP, K/9, BB/9) stay healthy, the ERA will take care of itself.

[SportsWhooligan]

I'm not worried about his ERA.

He's going to be pitching in Petco, DS and AT&T. If his other stats (WHIP, K/9, BB/9) stay healthy, the ERA will take care of itself.

I agree. This was my reasoning for why Kemp should've been the MVP last year. His numbers were right there with Braun but had to play in those parks day in and day out. He also faced much better pitching. The top Cy young vote getters were all out west.

[LA RO]

After signing Jason Grilli, #Pirates continue to talk about dealing Joel Hanrahan. Among teams with potential match: #Tigers & #Dodgers