2016-2017 off season thread.

[Quake Griffin]

Ruiz out

[Quake Griffin]

Joel Sherman ✔ @Joelsherman1
#Dodgers are getting back 1 40-man roster pitcher in deal for Ruiz from #Mariners
8:35 PM - 6 Nov 2016 · Phoenix, AZ, United States
38 38 Retweets 29 29 likes

[AGAVE]

Ok. I have heard some rumblings this year about Sale and his arm.
So we need durable arms through 6 innings.
Unless an Arm of value appears in a trade, it looks more and more likely we will rely on middle relief to get to the closer again.
Now awaiting our next move(s).

[Neddy]

Joel Sherman ✔ @Joelsherman1
#Dodgers are getting back 1 40-man roster pitcher in deal for Ruiz from #Mariners
8:35 PM - 6 Nov 2016 · Phoenix, AZ, United States
38 38 Retweets 29 29 likes

I hope it's not for Zach Lee

[Quake Griffin]

The Dodgers are likely to receive left-hander Vidal Nuno, per Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times (Twitter link). The 29-year-old threw 58 2/3 innings in 55 appearances (one start) with the Mariners in 2016 and logged a 3.53 ERA, 7.82 K/9 and 1.69 BB/9. Nuno previously racked up a combined 38 starts in 66 appearances with the Yankees, Diamondbacks and Mariners from 2014-15. He’s now eligible for arbitraion for the first time, and MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projects a $1.1MM salary for 2017.

[AGAVE]

Ok.
So Nuno is 26.
Left hander.
California product.
Lets get him some time with Grandal.
He has arbitration availability.
Would that possibly mean we keep him up until the trade deadline?
Or he gets packaged in a deal with another player for another via trade.

[Neddy]

The Dodgers are likely to receive left-hander Vidal Nuno, per Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times (Twitter link). The 29-year-old threw 58 2/3 innings in 55 appearances (one start) with the Mariners in 2016 and logged a 3.53 ERA, 7.82 K/9 and 1.69 BB/9. Nuno previously racked up a combined 38 starts in 66 appearances with the Yankees, Diamondbacks and Mariners from 2014-15. He’s now eligible for arbitraion for the first time, and MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projects a $1.1MM salary for 2017.

really? I am super happy then. his FIP is terrible but all of his other stats are looking pretty good and considering we gave up something we had no intention of bringing back ourselves, this is a damn good deal.

[Kilroy]

Hey guys, when a confirmed acquisition happens, can you start a new thread for it, rather than keeping it here? We need to get some of that dead weight off the main page if we can.
In fact, I'm leaning towards just doing away with the off season mega thread... It makes it seem like the forum is even more dead than it is.
I think there are a lot of new Dodgers fans out there but when they come here all they see is old threads... Not super interesting.

[Quake Griffin]

On it.

[Ranma]

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[Ranma]

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Bob Nightengale, USA Today (11/8/16)

The White Sox haven’t had a winning season since 2012, and haven’t reached the playoffs with Sale, so now they can’t help but wonder if trading Sale, with an asking price of five key players, could re-boot their title efforts.

“Chris is a very desirable target in the game, and it’s always been our obligation to listen to the value in Chris,’’ Hahn says. “He’s not alone on our roster but he’s certainly one that attracts the most headlines and speculation, and with good cause. He’s in his prime. And he’s controllable for the next three years.

“Our goal is was always to have him on the front end of a White Sox championship club, but we need to understand what the market value is for him, and other players, and do what’s in the best of our team in 2017 and beyond.’’

If Sale indeed is traded, the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Texas Rangers and Houston Astros figure to be in the forefront, with the farm systems deep and powerful enough to pull off the deal. If the Tigers unload Verlander or Cabrera, only the richest of franchises will be able to take on their contracts.

Can White Sox, Tigers stomach trading Chris Sale, Miguel Cabrera and Co.?

[Neddy]

well if Kendrick wants out, I would not mind as long as we get something of a value back. as long as it is not another middle of the road left handed reliever.

ready or not, maybe the clock is ticking to get Willie up in the majors to man up the second base.

I no longer see us going after a major trade piece or a major free agent outside of Chapman. I still think they are hoping to pair him up with Jansen, if we can bring him back. Turner I think is as good as gone, and I wonder if we can give Puig a chance to man up the 3rd base... ?

[Ranma]

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[Quake Griffin]

I'd trade for Longoria, Re-sign Turner and put one of them at 1B

Time to move on from A-Gon....ship him to the AL...get a prospect for him.

[Ranma]

I'd actually prefer the following scenario right now:

• Re-sign Kenley Jansen.
• Sign Aroldis Chapman on condition he participates in domestic violence counseling to ease PR concerns.
• Trade for Chris Sale.
• Trade for Evan Longoria.
• Sign Lourdes Gurriel, Jr.
• Trade Howie Kendrick.
• Do not re-sign Chase Utley.

This would allow us to get a compensatory draft pick for Justin Turner while also getting his replacement at 3B on a more reasonable contract. Our bullpen would be strengthened with the powerful 1-2 punch that we wanted with Jansen as the undisputed closer. Also, trades for Sale and Longoria are on the condition of not including Julio Urias, Cody Bellinger, nor Yadier Alvarez.

If we can't trade for Longoria, then re-signing Turner would be another priority. I still want to hold onto Yasiel Puig, especially with the likelihood of not re-signing Josh Reddick. I'm also interested in giving a Greg Holland a spot in our bullpen if our scouts sign off on his performance during his showcases. I think we have our heir to A-Gon in Bellinger with the likes of Scott Van Slyke, Yasmani Grandal, and Longoria as stopgap backup options until he is ready.

I'm also open to giving Scott Kazmir a shot at returning to form with a spot in our starting rotation, but I won't oppose trading him either. I previously approved of giving Brett Anderson a qualifying offer but that is unlikely and unwise in hindsight.

[Quake Griffin]

I'd actually prefer the following scenario right now:

• Re-sign Kenley Jansen.
• Sign Aroldis Chapman on condition he participates in domestic violence counseling to ease PR concerns.
  
• Trade for Chris Sale.
• Trade for Evan Longoria.
• Sign Lourdes Gurriel, Jr.
• Trade Howie Kendrick.
• Do not re-sign Chase Utley.

This would allow us to get a compensatory draft pick for Justin Turner while also getting his replacement at 3B on a more reasonable contract. Our bullpen would be strengthened with the powerful 1-2 punch that we wanted with Jansen as the undisputed closer. Also, trades for Sale and Longoria are on the condition of not including Julio Urias, Cody Bellinger, nor Yadier Alvarez.

If we can't trade for Longoria, then re-signing Turner would be another priority. I still want to hold onto Yasiel Puig, especially with the likelihood of not re-signing Josh Reddick. I'm also interested in giving a Greg Holland a spot in our bullpen if our scouts sign off on his performance during his showcases. I think we have our heir to A-Gon in Bellinger with the likes of Scott Van Slyke, Yasmani Grandal, and Longoria as stopgap backup options until he is ready.

I'm also open to giving Scott Kazmir a shot at returning to form with a spot in our starting rotation, but I won't oppose trading him either. I previously approved of giving Brett Anderson a qualifying offer but that is unlikely and unwise in hindsight.

Let's discuss how the bolded, italicized and underlined is even possible.

I'm gonna re-quote this post later for other reasons.

[Ranma]

Also, trades for Sale and Longoria are on the condition of not including Julio Urias, Cody Bellinger, nor Yadier Alvarez.

Let's discuss how the bolded, italicized and underlined is even possible.

I'm gonna re-quote this post later for other reasons.

You're right. It's unrealistic since the remaining assets I would be willing to offer would mostly go to acquiring one or the other, preferrably Sale. I'm hoping that Tampa Bay would be inclined to dump salary in the long-term commitment to Longoria even though he's on a relatively reasonable contract. Maybe we can include Joc Pederson in the trade discussions if we have faith in Trayce Thompson to handle CF. I actually wouldn't be supportive of this. Or Scott Kazmir, Hyun-jin Ryu, and/or Brandon McCarthy could also be a part of the trade package.

Let me take a crack at trade proposals for both players within my defined criteria:

Trade Proposal for Chris Sale

• Jose De Leon
• Alex Verdugo
• Alex Wood
• Brock Stewart
• Micah Johnson

Trade Proposal for Evan Longoria

• Willie Calhoun
• Walker Buehler
• Ross Stripling
• Hyun-jin Ryu / Scott Kazmir
• Trayce Thompson / Andrew Toles

We also have Yusniel Diaz, Jordan Sheffield, Gavin Lux to throw in if push came to shove. Sheffield would be more expendable if we somehow re-sign Jansen and sign Chapman as a free agent. I'd also hide Mitchell White in a closet so that other teams don't look to ask for him in either trade. Howie Kendrick is obviously available to throw in if either club is interested but he has minimal value with only 1 year left on his deal. **** Hernandez is also someone I'm willing to trade.

Also, don't forget that Alex Wood has actually drawn comparisons to Sale not too long ago and was pitching like Max Scherzer before he went down with his latest injury. While we're aware of his difficulties in facing the opposing lineup the 3rd time through the batting order, he could be an underrated trade asset for another team with the hopes of him starting for them.

We're not going to beat any other suitor's offer for either player if teams are offering their very best prospects, but starting with De Leon, Verdugo, and Calhoun as arguably our 2nd, 3rd, and 4th ranked prospects in a single package should go a long way towards acquiring one of them (again, preference for Sale). Sale should command a lot of high-end prospects, but Longoria less so in my opinion.

Also, even with my proposal, our farm would take a significant hit to our depth but I think we can recover in short order as long as we keep Bellinger, Alvarez, Diaz, and Lux to hold the fort as we replenish through the draft and international signing period even with our $300,000 signing limit. I'm optimistic that some of our lower level prospects like Mitchell White, D.J. Peters, and Mitchell Hansen will advance quickly in leveling themselves up from their present rankings. Plus, I have to give Gasparino credit that our 2016 draft class will provide us with a lot of depth at the lower levels with some showing signs of making quicker-than-expected progress towards the mid-level even if it's lacking in elite potential for the top level.

[Ranma]

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[Ranma]

Another idea to keep in mind is to take advantage of the barren market for pitching. Trading Kazmir to a team with hopes of contending and a need for starting pitching could net us a decent prospect to include in trade offers for either Sale or Longoria, especially if we package him with our own lower level prospects. The Yankees, for instance, seem to make sense in such a scenario.

We're not going to get any of their top 5 prospects (Clint Frazier, Gleyber Torres, Jorge Mateo, Aaron Judge, or Blake Rutherford), but maybe we can come away with 3B Miguel Andujar (7th overall), RHP Domingo Acevedo (8th overall), RHP Dillon Tate (10th overall), or SS/2B Wilkerman Garcia (11th overall).

Andujar is a 21-year-old right-handed power bat with a plus-plus arm on defense who's still a work in progress with regards to offensive and defensive consistency. Who knows? If things don't work out for him at the hot corner, maybe he could be converted to a hard-throwing relief pitcher with scouts projecting a 95-mph fastball if he went to the mound.

Acevedo is a 6'7" fireballer who regularly sits at 96-100 mph and has touched 103 mph. He's 22 years old and may be on the heavy side at around 240 lbs. but he has a good changeup with work still to be done on his slider and breaking ball. He also has a tendency to throw instead of pitch, which causes him to lose command and control but he supposedly has the potential to be a frontline starter or closer.

Tate became the 4th overall pick in the 2015 draft thanks to a lively 92-98 mph fastball and sharp 85-89 mph slider. He's working on a changeup that still has a ways to go. However, he's had some issues with his mechanics and suffered a strained hamstring that caused him to miss 3 weeks in April. Another concern is that his stuff has faded since being drafted and he's pitched a heavy load in innings so there is a bit of a red flag with him despite his athleticism.

The Yankees view Garcia as a long-term shortstop but some scouts think he might be better at 2B. He has plus speed and arm strength and shown an aptitude for controlling the strike zone and using the entire field as a switch hitter. At 18 years old, he's already strong for his age and has the bat speed and projectable frame to grow into average power once he matures physically. However, he batted below the Mendoza line last season in the Appalachian League.