MLB offseason thread

[LHG]

LOL. It’s funny that there was even a real dialogue about this. I guess SD was a dark horse, but he was always going to the Dodgers. Toronto was great as a “pretend” destination. Nobody really wants to play there.

When Sasaki first met with Wolfe about being posted.

Sasaki (through translator): "I want to sign with the Dodgers"

Wolfe: "Yeah, we've already got a verbal agreement in place. But we need to make this look like everyone had a chance. Now, you'll have to pretend to listen when the other 29 teams come to our office and pitch their teams. Just smile and nod. I'll tell the media that this isn't some sham circus we are running. No one will be the wiser. Just make sure you don't announce its the Dodgers on the first day possible. That will make people suspicious. We'll make it look like other teams are in the running and turning the screws on them while we slowly let it out who you will sign with. It will be great!"

 

[Shanemansj13]

Is anyone really surprised?

It’s a joke at this point

 

[calsnowskier]

It’s a joke at this point

So much worse than the Spanks of the ‘90s. The Spanks still had a kick-ass home grown core, and they still just outspent everyone because George WANTED to.

This is LA getting these players, not the Dodgers. And the doggies don’t have a homegrown core that is head and shoulders above everyone else. This is just everyone converging in LA. And they will be paid by outside sources (LA marketing) that other teams (Yanks, Mets, Angels and MAYBE Cubs and White Sox excluded) have no possible way to compete with.

I dont think there is a solution to this problem, though. I think the sport is just broken at this point.

 

[chappee11]

So much worse than the Spanks of the ‘90s. The Spanks still had a kick-ass home grown core, and they still just outspent everyone because George WANTED to.

This is LA getting these players, not the Dodgers. And the doggies don’t have a homegrown core that is head and shoulders above everyone else. This is just everyone converging in LA. And they will be paid by outside sources (LA marketing) that other teams (Yanks, Mets, Angels and MAYBE Cubs and White Sox excluded) have no possible way to compete with.

I dont think there is a solution to this problem, though. I think the sport is just broken at this point.

It speaks volumes that the Angels aren’t even in the conversation for Japanese talent at this point. They should have the same geographical advantage that the Dodgers do. At least on paper. But I bet all these guys want to play with Ohtani(and maybe Yamamoto) and build a Japanese super-team. This is something that might need to be addressed in the next CBA. This kind of talent used to get spread around(Ichiro, Darvish, Dice-K, Matsui etc…) and not concentrated on one team. It’s definitely bad for the game.

I also want to mention just how good the Dodgers’ farm system has been. Traditionally they’ve had a conveyor belt of talent heading to the Majors. They’ve developed the likes of Corey Seager, Bellinger, Buehler, Will Smith, Joe Pederson, Urias, May, Gonsolin & others while still having the prospects to trade for Betts, Scherzer, Trea Turner, Glasnow, Kopech and more. Meanwhile, they have been really good at finding diamonds in the rough like Justin Turner, Max Muncy, Chris Taylor(and others). This is simply one of the best-run organizations in the game. They don’t need to have all the Asian talent clamoring to play for them, as well.

 

[TheGoodMan19]

People blubbered about the post 2000 Yankees. Using cash or prospects to build an all star team. Clemens, RJ, Giambi, A-Rod, Mussina et al. Baseball survived. And, guess what, the Yanks won nada after 2000. Dodgers have won two rings, one the faux season of COVID

The league should stop the deferred contract nonsense. Dodgers got Ohtani for the price of a 9th inning defensive replacement. His contract should have crippled LA as far as the salary cap went.