Official Dodgers 2012-13 Off-Season Thread

[Kubrick]

Just bought the official 2013 Dodgers calendar and this gem was featured on the back cover.(see attached photo)

Two questions: 1) when did the Dodgers trade for Brewers career farmhand Mat Gamel? B) Whose brilliant idea was it to include Juan Rivera (and Juan Uribe) in a 2013 team calendar?

[doughtydiva]

Does anyone have an update on Yasiel Puig? Last I heard he's playing Winter Ball in Puerto Rico but I haven't seen any stats.

I heard he wasn't playing winter ball but is expected to start in double AA.It is still my guess that we see him at Chavez Ravine in 2013.

[doughtydiva]

I consider myself to be a huge true Dodger fan and we don't have a farm system worth mentioning thanks to Mcourt so players have had to be acquired through eating contracts or free agency.I'm not concerned about the spending because the Dodgers want to win and soon.If you look at what mediocre players are signing for you know how inflated it is..It's long overdue and if it gets us a championship then its all good.I like the Giants and I think what they have done is great but its our turn now and I am going to relish the rivalry next season.

[doughtydiva]

I seriously doubt they'd trade Ethier but it would be irresponsible of Ned not listen to any offers regarding players. Even for Kershaw. Most never pan out anyway. Who knows. Maybe Washington wants Kershaw for Stasberg and Harper. You don't know unless you ask.

You are kidding aren't you? Kershaw needs to be locked up and paid whatever he asks for

[doughtydiva]

Ive said it before and Ill say it again. If the Dodgers don't invest in infrastructure i.e. scouting, player development, international, they will constantly have to plug holes with big wads of cash. All they'll be left with is an aging roster.

It also won't be 'Dodger Baseball'. The team I grew up living always brought players up. I sincerely hope this is just to buy time until player development catches up.

I trust Stan Kasten and the organization that they will.You can't build up an anemic farm system over night.At least so far the Dodgers haven't had to give up anor ny pronspects this winter.The game has changed..

[doughtydiva]

On Ethier it was reported that the Red Sox inquired about Ethier and were told he wasn't available.Ethier isn't going anywhere

[doughtydiva]

Seriously. I've already seen people comparing this to the Kevin Brown deal in a negative sense.

Not even in the same stratosphere. Brown was 34 when he signed. Greinke is 29. Brown also pitched pretty damn well for most of his time with the Dodgers. If Greinke can have some seasons like Brown did, I'll be pretty damn happy.

Those people are a bunch of idiots.Greinke will do well with the Dodgers.He has had 15 wins past 3 of 4 seasons with so so teams.Dodger Stadium will be very nice to Zach Greinke and the long suffering Dodger fans.I am so impressed with this guy and how he approaches pitching and the game..No bs with him.He and Kersh will be a very powerfull duo

[doughtydiva]

One or both of those guys need to be traded for some mid-level prospects...

Harang and Capuano more than likely will go to the Mets for prospects.I looked at their roster and couldn't imagine who the Dodgers would be interested in but just not that familiar with anyone on that team.

[Frolov24]

So what's left for the off-season?

The surplus of starters is nice, but with two health question marks (Bills and Lilly) along with Ryu being completely unproven in the majors it would not surprise me to see the Dodgers go to spring training with all their current starters. I don't think they will receive a strong trade offer for Harang or Capuano. Both are #4-5 types on one year deals at $7MM and $6MM respectively, actually $9MM and $7MM with their 2014 option buyouts. These are not terribly attractive deals to another team unless that team loses a starter to injury. The back-loaded 2 year deals Ned handed out prior to last season are not trade friendly. My guess is they go to camp with all of them, Capuano is dealt late for a fringe bench player or prospect and Harang sticks due to a rotation injury or as insurance out of the bullpen. I am not expecting Lilly to make the team, either he'll be back on the DL or released/traded.

Still would like to see a righty bat added to the bench, someone that can be a 4th OF and spell Crawford and Ethier once or twice a week. I guess Hairston is technically that guy now, but don't want to see him getting 300+ at-bats. Cody Ross would have been nice, but that price was even too much for the Dodgers!

The pen is fine; League, Belisario, Jansen and Guerra are a nice core with Guerrier collecting a paycheck as a middle innings guy. I think Ryu or Harang will end up in the pen, Ryu if he struggles in spring or Harang if Ryu performs well enough to claim a rotation spot. There's decent depth in the minors as well, along with the likely Wright/MacDougal type veteran on a minor-league deal. Would love to see Paco Rodriguez take the role of shutdown lefty and run with it for the next 5 years.

Shumaker makes a nice platoon with Ellis at 2B, his OF ability doesn't help as much in LA where there are already two lefty hitting starters.

The only real question mark is 3B/SS. They still want to go with Hanley at SS, which I think is a mistake given his brutal defense there. He's no gold glover at 3B either, but the deficiencies are less glaring. Without any viable SS candidates in free agency or via trade, and Dee Gordon's defensive struggles making him a near non-factor to win the job, I fear we're looking at Hanley kicking around the ball up the middle for the majority of the season. Hopefully he hits enough to make it worthwhile.

[Frolov24]

Just bought the official 2013 Dodgers calendar and this gem was featured on the back cover.(see attached photo)

Two questions: 1) when did the Dodgers trade for Brewers career farmhand Mat Gamel? B) Whose brilliant idea was it to include Juan Rivera (and Juan Uribe) in a 2013 team calendar?

By my count it's likely half of the guys featured on the calendar will not be on the 2013 team; Loney is already on his 2nd team post Dodgers, Uribe is a goner, assuming Gamel is Rivera and neither will be a Dodger, and Capuano, Gordon, and Lilly are all unlikely to be on the roster.

Nice work, why not just do a retro superstar calendar? My choices: FP Santangelo, Trinidad Hubbard, Norihiro Nakamura, Brian Bohanon, Jose Lima, Jason Grabowski, Tripp Cromer, Wilton Guerrero, DJ Houlton, McKay Christensen, Omar Daal, and Charlie Haeger.