The Big Deals (Contest)

by Gradyforpresident on Jul 26, 2011 6:12 PM EDT

Nick killed the long-form version so I'm opting for brevity.

For an inexplicable reason I'm leaning toward the Indians making a bigger splash than we expect. It's obvious that the Indians have vast problems in run producing, but I wouldn't shy away from saying there is also a lot of value to gain in terms of additional run prevention.

That being said, I do expect Antonetti to make a move for some sort of offensive piece. Nick has put forth a very strong case for Melky Cabrera and I'm inclined to think he's spot on, which in reality means it probably won't happen. Honestly, I haven't looked at any rumors at all so I'm not certain who we've been linked with, but I would guess any move the front office is making is off the media's radar.

We've touched on Hiroki Kuroda, but I'm looking at another Dodger that's in the last year of their contract: Matt Kemp. (Update: As TheDanimal notes in the comments, Kemp is still under club contract for another year. I've thus added Hagadone into the deal).

The price he would command would be steep — or would it? The Indians would surely pick up the remainder of Kemp's $6.95 million salary, giving the Dodgers some much needed cash, and, we'll, Ned Colletti is a moron. I think Jeanmar Gomez and Chun-Hsiu Chen gets it done (again, provided we pick up Kemp's salary, and I'll say throw in an extra couple million).

I'd prefer if the front office made a move for another bullpen arm, either Koji Uehara of the Orioles or Grant Balfour of the Athletics, as I've no faith in Steel, Hermann and Durbin are destined for demotion and release respectively and Pestano is experiencing difficulties. But I don't think that'll happen.

My thinking on this goes back to when the Indians were apparently serious about attempting to trade for Alex Rodriguez a few years ago. I'm certain to be wildly off base but I can see the Indians even making a play to extend Kemp if they traded for him given their lack of future contractual obligations.

Tweet Comment 26 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Kemp is signed only through the end of this year, but unless I’m missing something he’s under club control for another year beyond that. I’m not saying we couldn’t get him, but I think the deal would have to be closer to what we got for Lee. I’m thinking White, Gomez, Chen and Wolters.

by TheDanimal on Jul 26, 2011 6:29 PM EDT reply actions

According to COT:

Matt Kemp of
2 years/$10.95M (2010-11)

    2 years/$10.95M (2010-11)
        re-signed by LA Dodgers 1/15/10 (avoided arbitration)
        10:$4M, 11:$6.95M
        2011 salary may increase based on 2010 PAs ($50,000 for 600 PAs, $0.1M for 650 PAs, $0.15M for 675 PAs)
    1 year/$0.467M (2009)
        re-signed by LA Dodgers 3/6/09
    1 year/$0.406M (2008)
        re-signed by LA Dodgers 2/23/08
    1 year/$0.383M (2007)
    drafted 2003 (6-181) (Midwest City HS, Okla)
    $0.13M signing bonus
    agent: Dave Stewart
    ML service: 4.049

Lou Marson fan.

by Gradyforpresident on Jul 26, 2011 6:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Wait. Yep. You’re right. Hmm. I still don’t think it’d take much more as Kemp is looking at a huge arbitration number. Add in a bullpen arm — Hagadone.

Lou Marson fan.

by Gradyforpresident on Jul 26, 2011 7:02 PM EDT up reply actions

We probably flip Kemp in the offseason.

by Jay on Jul 27, 2011 12:03 AM EDT up reply actions

Dammit, yes, for a better package than what we gave up.

Lou Marson fan.

by Gradyforpresident on Jul 27, 2011 7:46 AM EDT up reply actions

hell yeah! Strasburg, Harper and Morse. Then flip Harper because I hate him.

"I want to be playing at the end of October or the end of September -- not just at the beginning of April." —Grady

by westbrook on Jul 27, 2011 8:33 PM EDT up reply actions

And that appears to be a significantly greater haul than the Lee deal (which I’m a fan of) — a top flight pitching prospect and another young arm already in a major league rotation, plus two prospects.

Lou Marson fan.

by Gradyforpresident on Jul 26, 2011 7:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Maybe you’re right. In the Lee deal we three major league ready players, one with upside, and a prospect. I had thought of White and Carrasco as equals, but I guess since White has already made it to the bigs he should be a little more valuable. I’m with you on tossing in Hagadone, maybe Phelps as well (seriously, they’re employing Juan Uribe in the infield). Let’s call Ned.

by TheDanimal on Jul 26, 2011 9:28 PM EDT up reply actions

I also peddled around in my head deals for Ubaldo Jiminez and, for a brief minute, David Wright.

Lou Marson fan.

by Gradyforpresident on Jul 26, 2011 6:56 PM EDT reply actions

Actually I’m back in on Wright, with a massive caveat that he’d move to 1B, which is probably a non-starter, so I’m back out on him.

Lou Marson fan.

by Gradyforpresident on Jul 26, 2011 7:07 PM EDT up reply actions

that would be great to get kemp

by danmang on Jul 26, 2011 6:59 PM EDT reply actions

Matt and I have been IM-ing all day about what we’re going to buy with the gift cards, so this is awkward.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Jul 26, 2011 7:14 PM EDT reply actions 4 recs

And now junkballer has a post up. The nerve.

"By being the manager and just playing whoever I want." - Acta on how he would choose to split playing time between Kearns and Buck.

by Matt Y. on Jul 27, 2011 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions

yeah, the lack of competition has had me seriously considering entering. It’d just be a sarcastic entry of how to get Bavasi hired by the Cubs or something though.

"I want to be playing at the end of October or the end of September -- not just at the beginning of April." —Grady

by westbrook on Jul 27, 2011 8:34 PM EDT up reply actions

My big deal is to go all in on Colby Rasmus. I’ve read he’s on the market, and he matches our current and future needs better than just about anyone available.

by mcrose on Jul 27, 2011 8:12 AM EDT reply actions

sad trombone sound for this.

"Mixed emotions. Rather see him hit PEDroia [with that pitch]. I don’t care if he is in the dugout"

by Gradysmanldy on Jul 27, 2011 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Wah-wahhh. Yep, apparently we didn’t go all in on Rasmus. I have a feeling the price will end up being higher than initial reports, but still – we had the goods to swing the trade without involving a third team.

Not keen on Ubaldo – price will be higher than Rasmus and it does not address our weakness. We need an OF bat, either a fairly cheap rental (see Beltran deal), or a young player that we can retain for at least next year.

I still like Upton as a medium trade. For a big deal, I’d trade for Adam Jones and be willing to part with Pomz.

by mcrose on Jul 27, 2011 8:58 PM EDT up reply actions

i wouldn’t deal pomz for jones

Lou Marson fan.

by Gradyforpresident on Jul 27, 2011 9:47 PM EDT up reply actions

I would. Trade strength for weakness. We have absolute zero in the pipeline for the OF, and Jones would be a mainstay, this year and beyond.

To truly improve this team we need offense. And its gotta be in the OF, given the IF layout right now. This is the non-rental scenario, where we trade for a longer term solution.

To get that, we’ll have to trade White or Pomz. I’d trade Pomz. He’s at the top of the market right now, and I have doubts he can hang as a starter. White can pitch deep into games, not sure Pomz can.

Of course, I’d rather trade Santana, but the O’s already have their own young catcher.

by mcrose on Jul 27, 2011 10:48 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree, except for trading Santana.

"By being the manager and just playing whoever I want." - Acta on how he would choose to split playing time between Kearns and Buck.

by Matt Y. on Jul 27, 2011 11:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Again, strength and weakness. We have a superior defensive catcher already in Marson. Trade Santana for equivalent offense at a position where we need it.

I’m totally fine with Marson as starting catcher. Santana will never be our fulltime catcher because we want to save his bat, and never our fulltime 1B because, well, he’s too short, and on this team he’ll always be splitting time. I’d rather trade him to a team that needs a fulltime catcher for equivalent talent.

As long as we insist on having plus, middle of the order offensive production from our day to day catcher, the longer we’re making the wrong bet. See Martinez, Victor.

by mcrose on Jul 28, 2011 12:27 AM EDT up reply actions

I don’t think Jones is that good.

Lou Marson fan.

by Gradyforpresident on Jul 28, 2011 8:17 AM EDT up reply actions

Well, he’s already good and has the talent to be better, just like Santana.

by mcrose on Jul 28, 2011 9:24 AM EDT up reply actions

If he opened his eyes when he played, he would be better.

by emd2k3 on Jul 28, 2011 9:51 AM EDT up reply actions

I’ve read before that with LA’s ownership situation, MLB will not allow them to do a firesale and trade Kemp/Ethier. They are kind of hamstrung.

by TribeJay on Jul 28, 2011 9:55 AM EDT reply actions

I think MLB explicitly doesn’t want to see any more Santana deals from them, where they are giving away huge future value in order to feed McCourt’s present-day cash-burning machine. The Santana deal was in a sense just a small prelude to the enormous FoxSports deal that Selig nixed. An owner can embezzle somewhat from the present-day club, but Selig drew the line at watching McCourt withdraw cash from the 2020 Dodgers and 2030 Dodgers.

by Jay on Jul 28, 2011 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions