By Steve Urena
I couldn’t help but think of Dances with Wolves (one of my all time favorites) after the Max Scherzer and Trea Turner trade went down. Good trade for both parties. The Nats wanted to clean house and the Dodgers are, once again, World Series or bust.
The barbarians are at the gates and Andrew Friedman knew that coming into this year’s trade deadline. He had to do whatever it took to get the job done. In Friedman fashion, he did it with style. If LA can repeat, we need a statue of Friedman at Dodger Stadium. His moves have been fantastic and bold. He’s brought in Yasmani Grandal, Yu Darvish, Chris Taylor, Max Muncy (off the streets), the Cincy deal (that brought in Josiah Gray and Jeter Downs), Manny Machado, Mookie Betts and now Max Scherzer and Trea Turner. Success in LA is measured by championships. So far, we have one to show for all of our past successes. Dodger fans want a dynasty, not a flash in the pan. No one cares unless you win the last game of the season but Friedman has given us a helluva chance.
Now we know why Dave Robert’s started Scherzer in the All-Star Game. Doc had an ace up his sleeve. He knew the trade was in the works. Veteran move!
Let’s take the trade from the top…
Max Scherzer: Look, unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know the deal. Power, durability, crafty, experience. He’s got it all. I won’t even think about next year. Let’s focus on this year. Let’s get the job done.
Trea Turner: I know, where’s he going to play right? Corey Seager has only played SS so that makes it a no brainer. Trea has played 2B and CF. Perfect. This moves Chris Taylor to the OF and Gavin Lux becomes a bat off the bench. Let’s not forget, Trea can ball. Fantastic young player who’s not due for free agency until after 2022. Any good nicknames out there? Trea Swag? Trea Burner? Ice Trea? Drop a suggestion.
Prospects: Even if Josiah Gray goes on and wins the Cy Young, it won’t matter if we get another ring. Keibert Ruiz can go and become an All-Star catcher but it won’t matter for two reasons. First, we already have a great young catcher in Will Smith. The second, hanging banners is more important to Dodger fans than one player. As far as the other prospects, we can do without them too. It’s go time for the Blue Crew.
2021 MLB Trade Deadline
This has been one of the craziest trade deadlines in quite some time. I can’t remember another one that was so advantageous for so many teams. Let’s run through the rest of the big trades in 2021.
Anthony Rizzo, Yankees (Grade – A): Great pick up. Great teammate, power, lefty. Built for Yankee Stadium. With this new lease on life, Rizzo is going to put up some numbers.
Kris Bryant, Giants (Grade – A): Local kid, versatile, middle of the line-up kinda guy. Bryant will be able to move around on defense and we know what he can do on offense. If you’re a Giants fan, you love this move.
Javier Baez, Mets (Grade – B): Between him and Francisco Lindor, they own a combined batting average of .237. Not good for a $300 million dollar guy and a soon to be $200 million dollar guy. Offensively, Lindor has played well below his career stats. Baez has committed 19 errors this season. Lots of flash and potential here that’s why I gave them a B. If these two get rolling, watch out. If they don’t, it’s an expensive mistake for the Mets.
Kyle Schwarber, Red Sox (Grade – B+): Not too many guys have been hotter than Schwarber this season. He’s been a little banged up but when he’s been healthy he’s carried the load. His health and his prior cold streaks are what scares me. Nevertheless, it’s a good move for the Sox.
Craig Kimbrel, White Sox (Grade – A+): The White Sox just made every game a 7 inning affair. Liam Hendricks is still the closer but Kimbrel is one helluva sidekick. Tony LaRussa can say whatever he wants about the closer role but he’s going to go with the hot hand. Great move for the ChiSox. When they have a lead late in games, they will be tough to beat.
Jose Berrios, Blue Jays (Grade – A-): This kid reminds me a lot of the late Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez. He’s on the smaller side for a pitcher but he generates a lot of torque. Berrios has great stuff but the question with smaller guys is always longevity. Can he hold up year after year? Nice pick up for the Jays for a run this season.
Joey Gallo, Yankees (Grade – B+): Gallo has some serious pop. Put him in Yankee stadium and he’s going to do damage with the short porch in right field. The reason I gave him a B+ and not an A- is because he has yet to see the playoffs. Sometimes the dudes with big power numbers and low batting averages can struggle in October. Let’s first see if the Yanks can get him there to prove he’s elite.
Starling Marte, A’s (Grade – B+): Marte’s home runs and RBIs don’t jump off the page but as a number two hitter his .300 average and high OBP are what the A’s were looking for. He may not be the game changer to get the A’s over the hump but he’s a solid player.
Dodgers on the Hot Seat
The Dodgers are going to come into next season with the highest payroll of all time. Clayton Kershaw’s contract is up, Kenley Jansen’s contract is up, Seager is due for FA, and Cody Bellinger and Trea Turner are due for FA the next seasons. Let’s assume Max Scherzer is signed to a multi-year deal. Trevor Bauer’s future is uncertain but he could still end up a Dodger (although it may not be likely). Things are going to get wild real soon. Competition is great for everyone. With such a high payroll, the Dodgers will need to find ways to trim the fat. Guys will be battling for spots from now until the last day of Spring Training. For the Dodgers front office, it’s simple, let the bats do the talking.
Bringing Trea Turner to LA puts a lot of Dodgers on the hot seat. The first is Corey Seager. At the end of the season, Seager is going to want a long term contract around the $300 million range. This one can get complicated. We’ve seen what Seager can do. He’s capable of carrying a great team. NLCS and World Series MVP. Even I know that ain’t something you can find just around the corner. I see two things play out here. The first is a try-out. After six years in the show, Seager should not have to try out but the last part of the season and his playoff run are going to have a lot to do with what the Dodgers do with him at the end of the year. The second, they let him walk and Trea Turner becomes our everyday SS. Keep in mind, Seager has had some stints on the IL.
Bellinger better start hitting like the MVP he once was and stop hitting worse than half the pitchers in baseball. He’s young, versatile, marketable and still has a lot of potential. Bellinger is going to want his share of the pie. If Bellinger continues to slump, he might become trade bait or might end up walking when he is due for FA. The rest of this year and the start of next year is huge for this young man.
Chris Taylor could make a case for Dodgers regular season MVP. CT3 is an all-star who can play just about every position. Relatively speaking, the Dodgers can snag him at a profit next season and for the next couple of seasons. He’s not making Gavin Lux’s future in LA very comfortable. At a bargain, I see CT3 sticking around, Lux has some serious impressing to do.
Turner might push Turner out. The name of the game is to sell high and buy low. Justin Turner is having a great season, especially for a 36 year old. He sits at the top of about every hitting category among third baseman. If the Dodgers decide to deal him at the end of the year, that could put Seager at 3B and Trea at SS. Dodger fans love JT but, it’s a cold, cold world. Seager is much younger and can potentially have more quality years to give an organization.
Edwin Rios will come roaring back next season and he will also be playing at a discounted price. He’s not ready to be an everyday player but he can spot-start at 3B, 1B, pinch hit and play DH during AL home games. With the Dodgers payroll, cheap players are going to be a great commodity, especially those with experience and success.
The Dodger outfield is going to be crowded. There’s AJ Pollock, Cody Bellinger, Chris Taylor and of course Mookie Betts. Chris Taylor can play the INF but with the arrival of Trea Turner, I just don’t see it happening. Dave Roberts will need to go with the hot hands come October. Even if that means Bellinger sits a few games.
The only Dodger position players I feel are safe next season are Mookie Betts and Max Muncy. Mookie is a Dodger for life and Muncy is the best 1B in baseball.
Kenley’s time in LA seems to be over. Even if it’s the best case scenario for him. I just don’t see the Dodgers and Kenley reaching a deal. Kenley feels like he’s still got some good seasons ahead of him so he’s not giving the Dodgers the hometown discount. I see him walking.
I really, really hope Kershaw can retire as a Dodger. It would break my heart to see him in another uniform. However, this is a business and both parties will do what is best for them. At 33, Kershaw still has some gas left in the tank. The question is how much? He’s been in the majors for 13 seasons now. He’s hurt every year. How much longer does the future Hall of Famer and World Series champ want to play? That is the question. Kersh is looking for one more contract and believe me, he’s going to want to get paid. I’m crossing my fingers and lighting a candle for this one.
The
Steven Urena
Contact Steve Urena at:
Email: theurenaexpress@gmail.com
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