The Dodgers have been comparatively energetic to this point on the deadline, however the rumor mill has not been, as there aren’t many concrete connections to discover.
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Sadly, the thrill of the final rumors publish was short-lived, as we now know that any hopes of getting Nolan Arenado are lifeless, or at the very least distant.
“I’ve said we’re not buying and selling him, haven’t requested him to waive his [no-trade clause],” Mozeliak mentioned, based on the newspaper. “So at the moment, we’re engaged on constructing future success.”
That doesn’t imply talks between the Cardinals and Dodgers didn’t occur. Discussions centered on Arenado going to Los Angeles with a pitcher — Jack Flaherty or Jordan Montgomery — in trade for a package deal that includes pitching prospects. Arenado’s contract features a no-trade clause, however he would’ve waived it to affix the Dodgers, based on folks with data of the scenario.
Oh nicely, there’s all the time the low season.
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The Dodgers have now turned their consideration to the beginning pitching market in earnest, as Justin Verlander seems to be Plan A.
Plan A is a pursuit of New York Mets ace Justin Verlander — a possible blockbuster deal that is still on the desk forward of Tuesday’s 3 p.m. Pacific deadline, however would require the groups to bridge gaps on each the prospect return the Dodgers would ship to New York, in addition to how a lot of Verlander’s contract the Mets are prepared to pay down.
Verlander is 40 and has seen his numbers take a step again from his 2022 Cy Younger Award season, posting a 3.15 ERA, 3.29 xERA, and 4.61 DRA, and has notably seen his strikeout charge fall of the third 12 months in a row and is strolling nearly double the batters as he did in 2022.
He additionally missed all of April on account of a teres main pressure, however has discovered his type of late, posting a 1.69 ERA in 5 July begins, although the strikeout to stroll charge remains to be a pedestrian 32 to 16, which is why he has a 3.20 FIP over that point. Additionally, once more, he’s 40 so bouncing again from injury-riddled begin isn’t essentially a superb signal for future damage issues.
And that’s related as a result of he’s owed $15 million this 12 months, $43 million subsequent 12 months, and has a $35 million vesting possibility (140 innings in 2024) for 2025. Oh proper, he additionally has a no-trade clause as nicely, and may need the Dodgers to do one thing like make sure that 2025 choice to waive it. That’s an enormous outlay for a pitcher exhibiting fairly apparent indicators of decline.
Then again, the Dodgers are fairly rattling determined proper now, they usually’ve put themselves on this gap with the low season that they had, throughout which they needed to signal Verlander for about the identical outlay anyway. It’s additionally a Corridor Of Fame pitcher, who they certainly hope would determine changes to be efficient going ahead and will mentor their different younger arms.
Nonetheless, the one means I can see this working is that if the Mets both need to straight wage dump him or pay down his contract and solely request high-minor prospects (relatively than like Bobby Miller or Emmet Sheehan) in return. It appears unlikely.
Nonetheless, the more cash the Mets embody within the deal, the extra of a prospect package deal they’ll need in return, with younger Dodgers pitchers, together with Emmet Sheehan, believed to be coveted by New York, based on an individual with data of the scenario.
Yeah. Comprehensible, however except they’re prepared to take totally different prospects, I’m undecided how a lot sense it makes for the reason that Dodgers want all of the MLB-ready younger pitching they will get themselves.
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In the identical article, it’s talked about that Dodgers Digest Commerce Deadline Target Eduardo Rodriguez is the fallback possibility.
Plan B could possibly be a pivot to Detroit Tigers left-hander Eduardo Rodríguez — a 30-year-old veteran who’s having a career-best 12 months and will change into a free agent this winter.
We’ve already went deep on him within the goal article, however all the pieces has seemingly held since.
As with all the pieces else it will depend on the value, however this does appear to be essentially the most smart possibility in the intervening time.
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Mitch Keller is an thrilling risk…
Extra from David Vassegh on potential Mitch Keller commerce: “I am undecided if that is public data or not, however I used to be informed at present by any person in Pittsburgh that the Pirates low-balled an extension to Mitch Keller, and he turned it down.” https://t.co/Imeej4J9uF
— Matthew Moreno (@Matthew__Moreno) August 1, 2023
…although Bruce has heard in any other case.
We’ll see how the market develops (and also you by no means know what chaos can occur on deadline day), however the Pirates actually don’t have to maneuver Keller. He’s underneath crew management for 2 extra seasons so Pittsburgh has loads of leverage to face agency on their value.
— Bruce Kuntz (@Bnicklaus7) August 1, 2023
Sigh.
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Once more, not plenty of connections to others on the market like Jack Flaherty or Michael Lorenzen, however they certainly need to be in there as nicely. I haven’t seen Paul Blackburn’s title talked about, however he may make some sense as nicely. Hell, even Wealthy Hill. I imply, why not?
Both means, by admitting that even Lance Lynn is an improve, it appears clear the Dodgers know they should improve the pitching workers, it’s only a matter of discovering the best deal. I can’t think about them not getting a minimum of one other starter or this could possibly be an entire mess down the stretch.
