There was an interesting discussion on another site regarding whether the Dodgers should sign Josh Hader. The author supplied some statistics supporting his stance that the Dodgers should sign him:
“Since the 2021 season, Hader has been named an All Star three years in a row, combining for a 2.45 ERA with 103 saves and an excellent 167 ERA+, even after posting a combined 77 ERA+ during the 2022 season. He might not be the same reliever who will strike out over 140 hitters, just as he did in 2018, but he continuously posts impressive strikeout numbers, posting 13.6 strikeouts per nine innings, which is somehow the lowest mark he’s posted since his rookie season in 2017.”
With the DFA of Bryan Hudson, the Dodgers are down to three LHRP on their 40 man: Caleb Ferguson, Alex Vesia and Ryan Yarbrough. The Dodgers do not have a true closer. Although they do not believe they need one. I am more old school and believe they do, but what do I know.
Hader was very insistent that he would not come in to pitch in the 8th inning. He only wants to close. I beleive he refused to pitch in the 8th in a late season Padres game.
Hader wants more than Edwin Diaz’s 5 year $102MM. Does anyone see AF agreeing to pay Hader that kind of $$$? Does anyone think he should?
IMO there are a couple of LHRP that are available that will come with a much less cost: Wandy Peralta, Brent Suter, and Matt Moore. Depending on what his medicals say, I think Jarlín García could be a consideration.
As far as closers go, I think that is becoming more of a luxury than a need. Most teams are going to close by committee based on who was coming up in the 9th. I like the shut down closer, but that is not how MLB is trending. With Brusdar Graterol and Evan Phillips, I think the Dodgers believe they have the 9th figured out. If Daniel Hudson is healthy, he figures to be able to close. Blake Treinen has closed. The Dodgers are not lacking in relievers with closer experience.
I like Kyle Hurt (RHRP) for 2024 late inning close consideration. I like Ronan Kopp (LHRP) for 2025 late inning close consideration. If he does not make the starting rotation long term, Emmet Sheehan has late inning “stuff” and bravado.
The Dodgers bullpen was a real strength for the club. They had the best bullpen in MLB beginning sometime in June. The Dodgers do not need to spend $100MM on a closer, even if he is LH. That was the strength, and it figures to be even better in 2024.
They still need another SP. If the Dodgers believe they have an extra $100MM, I think they would be better served with signing Shōta Imanaga for the rotation. I do not believe they spend another $100MM on a starter.
The Dodgers offense figures to be stout enough that they can afford to stick Miguel Vargas or Michael Busch in LF and let them prove they are MLB hitters…or not.
The Dodgers have the bullpen covered in mid-relief, multi-inning relief, and late inning high leverage relief. Complimentary LHRP could be targets. I have no idea why Cleveland would even consider trading Emmanuel Clase, but if they are (and it is reported that they are), then Dodgers should be able to put together a package headlined by Michael Busch and Kyle Hurt, to acquire Clase and Shane Bieber. Cleveland has one LHRP, thus maybe include Caleb Ferguson (or if they prefer swingman Ryan Yarbrough).
I think the only way Cleveland does trade Clase is to package him with the costlier Bieber. Bieber would be an excellent #5 or #6 in a 6-man rotation. He is an extension candidate who could assume the same role in 2025-2026.
IMO, Josh Hader is a luxury the Dodgers do not need.
What do you think?
Pass on Hader, don’t need him. Like you mentioned Hudson, Phillips, Graterol, and Treinen can all close. BP will have Kelly and Freyerisen along with Vesia and Ferguson and Almonte. BP appears to be a real strength and I don’t think it’s necessary to spend $$ there.
Would like to see one of either Vargas or Busch along with other minor league pieces used in a trade for more SP. With Giolito signing with the Red Sox I think Beiber or Luzardo would be a nice addition to the rotation.
Yes
I’m another no vote on Hader. Would rather spend money on another starter.
Another consideration in signing Hader is that it would cost us 2 more draft picks because of his QO. That would mean giving up 4 of our first 6 picks. No thanks.
I don’t like his haircut or lack thereof.
No on Hader. Not worth the money.
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No on Clase.
From Wikipedia ( I know, I know):
Clase was suspended for 80 games on May 1, 2020, after testing positive for Boldenone, a banned PED
If I am correct, another one of these suspensions would consume an entire season.
I think Clase has PED worries. He’s already been suspended for a slew of games and i think (too lazy to check) his next suspension would be a full year
I’ve said this on more than one occasion, but I think the whole notion of the closer is silly. I blame the creation of the Save statistic. It’s convoluted, and is dependent on a very specific order of inorganic circumstances in order for a pitcher to earn that Save. That statistic, in turn, has created a market for closers. Designated closers command big $$$.
Your most effective pitcher should not necessarily pitch in the 9th inning of a close game. The closer mentality neglects the importance of matchups. If your team is facing the top of the order in the 7th inning in a one run game, why isn’t your “closer” pitching against the other team’s best hitters?
I think the Save stat and the closer mystique that surrounds it has also created a prima donna culture among the top closers. Having Hader would be nice, for sure, but I’d rather have 2-3 really really good relief pitchers who you could mix and match based on matchups.
I wouldn’t mind trading for Clase and Bieber. As much as I would like to hold on to Busch as an eventual replacement for Muncy, Max is going to be around for two more years and Busch is blocked. He’s 26 and MLB ready. You can’t stash him in the minors any longer. He just becomes a depreciating asset (and it’s not fair to him).
Clase wasn’t as dominant last year and Bieber’s velo has been down for the last few years, so there’s risk; and my problem with the Dodgers getting any new starting pitcher is the reality that next year will be a logjam with Ohtani, May, Gonsolin and maybe even Kershaw coming back. Why take on Bieber if his ceiling is a #3/4 when you have a glut of #3-4s, especially with the Sheehans, Knacks, Frassos etc. who are almost ready?
Here’s a link to a Jeff Passan article on Yamamoto. Lots of really interesting background on him, including his training regimen.
He’s got a training guru, Yata Sensei, who approaches things completely differently than Amercian players do. Yamamoto doesn’t lift weights but does lots of yoga and throws a javelin. Sensei will be coming over with YY and I read somewhere that the Dodgers will be bringing him aboard so he might work with some of their other guys as well.
Anyway, this is worth the read (written just before he decided to sign here):
How Yoshinobu Yamamoto became baseball’s most coveted free agent – ABC7 San Francisco (abc7news.com)
Interesting that the site I was reading about Hader, most wanted the Dodgers to sign him. That is what prompted me to write this post. I did not get it.
I agree with Badger. I cannot see Miami trading Jesus Luzardo unless it is a massive overpay. I think they are dangling Luzardo and then try to convince the trading team that who they really want is Edward Cabrera or Trevor Rogers. But neither pitcher has proven to be able to be an effective innings eater, which is what most teams want at the back end of the rotation.
With the increased number of teams in the playoffs, most teams believe they can contend, at least to the trade deadline. Why would they give up their top pitching without an egregious overpay? However, Trevor Rogers is LHP and would qualify as a reclamation project in the Mark Prior lab. I still like the idea of Braxton Garrett in a trade. A decent consolation prize when missing on Luzardo.
I also believe that Shane Bieber can be a target for that one year reclamation project. The cost would not be that prohibitive.
Sean Manaea is more of the FA reclamation project that AF/BG might consider. I have also read where some believe that Michael Lorenzen would be a logical target.
Imanaga has to make a decision by January 11.
Considering the pros and cons and a willingness to spend that much more money probably be wiser to spend elsewhere but sure be fun having Hader along with how much the odds would increase come October
Chris Sale traded to the Braves. Wonder how good he could be over there?
Scott Boras got one of his pitchers signed today. No, not Montgomery or Snell, but Frankie Montas, who signed a 1 year deal with Cincinnati for $16MM. Montas is the 2nd Boras pitching client to sign with Cincinnati this year. Nick Martinez signed earlier. Cincinnati is compiling a decent rotation to go with their offense. They could be a threat in the NL Central.
Sale trade could further put pressure on the Dodgers for a RHH
Stole this from Twitter:
Talk about masterclass – Ismael Cruz’s 1st IFA group (2017) after coming from Toronto, max bonus was 300k
Miguel Vargas
Andy Pages
Jorbit Vivas
Eddys Leonard
Guillermo Zuniga
Darien Nunez
Carlos Duran
, the IFA pipeline is just starting 🔥
Oh hell no.
Hader won’t be signed by the Dodgers and the reason is simple. Hader got a QO. AF signs Hader, he loses two more draft picks this season. Those would be 2-3-5-6. He has already lost two with the Ohtani signing. AF loves his picks, Hader, not so much. In a Motel 6 in Green River Utah. I will be home sometime tomorrow.
Loop loop LLP
Too bad Justin Turner can’t play left field. I think he would love to be in on this with his hometown team. Fans would love it. He can still hit, and he can probably still play a few infield positions, though certainly not every day. Perhaps at 39 he can pow wow with YoYama’s fitness guru and keep playing for 3 years. Taylor in left and Turner takes his bench role. Yeah, I know, not likely. A different team might do something like that. Not the Dodgers. What is likely is AF will shop for a RH slugger in left.