Chat: 12/2/15 2:33pm
Chat: 12/2/15 2:33pm
Shouts
<p>Well there had better be a Kuma equal or better coming on board before the season, or this will be a MAJOR loss. Suddenly the starting rotation looks VERY thin. This makes us WONDER if DiPoto knows what he's doing, but we don't yet KNOW that he doesn't. Let's hope the Winter Meetings bring a reassuring addition.</p>
<p>Dipoto going after a "second tier" pitcher-one of: Fister, Gallardo, Chen, Cliff Lee, Kazmir, Kennedy, Latos, Leake, Maeda, or Alvarez. However, I'm interested in what they talked to #Miami about. I see something happening there. Like Dipoto said, groundwork is laid before the meetings. Execution starts tomorrow. -didycel</p>
<p>I want to give the guy the benefit of the doubt, at least until we see the entire off-season unfold. But it's getting tougher to understand what the heck Dipoto is doing.</p>
<p>Heyman reporting the deal is done. The Bear to LAD for 3 years.</p>
<p>Kuma to the Dodgers is a huge...HUGE negative strike against Dipoto...who has managed to very rapidly convince me that he's a complete fool.</p>
<p>One can hope that the Dodgers simply offered more #Money and more years; that it really wasn't as Diderot speculates. But now the Ms HAVE to find a decent arm. I said I'd be more comfortable giving more years to Chen, who is 4 years younger than 'Kuma, and I hope that is really what drove this - the Ms didn't want to go past three and preferred 2 plus an option for the 34yo 'Kuma. But if they can sign Chen, even for 5 years (with an elbow/shoulder DL clause, which should be standard for pitcher contracts over 3 years), I believe the Ms will really have made out better in the long run. Everything we read about Chen fits the Dipoto pattern (fly-ball pitcher, will benefit by Safeco), so maybe there is a chance he is on the radar, even if he is borderline "marquee".</p>
<p>Pending a physical I'm sure. But it's the Dodgers or the Giants. We're not really in the running at the moment. A fair offer might have already had him on the Mariners, but we'll see what he eventually signs for -with another team. Hope we use that 20-something draftpick well.</p>
<p>Deal not confirmed yet... Mlbtraderumors not even running it - htownm</p>
<p>Iwakuma to Dodgers. What the fruitcake.</p>
<p>This one is on Dipoto. Take your choice:<br />
--insulted Iwakuma thinking the draft pick would scare off other teams<br />
--demeaned what Kuma is because he was 'a Zdurencik guy'<br />
--Horribly misjudged the market<br />
--all of the above</p>
<div class="indented">Reply - anonymous - 12/6/15 5:30pm<br><p>Like I said: blew the Iwakuma thing from the get-go, relying on the QO to try to scare teams away instead of giving him his due. And to the Dodgers he goes. Well done, DiPoto. We're a weaker team now than we were when the offseason started. ~G</p>
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<p>I have a feeling Adam Lind might be a trade target. He'd be a one-year rental, but he gives you solid ABs to "lengthen the lineup" and another year to figure out what DJ Peterson is going to be. Also would make a wicked platoon with Montero if they want to carry him on the roster.</p>
<p>Good news is that Buster Olney reports that the M's are working hard to keep Iwakuma. Main competition is supposed to be SF and LAD, after losing out on Greinke. <a href="https://twitter.com/Buster_ESPN/status/673421017700782081" target="_parent">https://twitter.com/...</a></p>
<p>We'll have to hope the QO counts for something with other teams. He wants a 3 year deal and LA will offer it if they don't care about their late-20s first rounder. I wouldn't go back to a team low-balling me after the ridiculously underpriced pitching I'd given them the last several years, but maybe he really, really loves the city and doesn't care to move. I expect him to be a Dodger for a minimum 3 year contract, last year vesting, several million buyout though.</p>
<p>Seems a little premature to assume we've blown it with Kuma. From what's been reported its just as easy to speculate that he is testing the market and giving the M's the final shot -htownm</p>
<p>Agreed, Matt. Had our chance at Kuma but either tested the winds and decided other teams would exceed our comfort zone or didn't care to re-sign him in the first place. We'll have to figure something else out while Kuma runs a 2 something ERA in the NL.</p>
<p>For some reason, the Mariners decided that, while they had Iwakuma's undivided attention, they should insult him with a ludicrous lowball offer.</p>
<div class="indented">Reply - anonymous - 12/5/15 8:16pm<br><p>agree 100%</p>
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<p>I suggest you all make your peace with the fact that Iwakuma is gone and focus on other targets.</p>
<div class="indented">Reply - Wishhiker - 12/5/15 7:06pm<br><p>I'm ok with Iwakuma not being back for 4 years. I think we need him for 1-2 years and knew that was never possible. 3 years sounded possibly worth the outlay but the years and numbers that are being discussed now are easy for me to think we can be better off otherwise.</p>
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<p>Our pitching was down last season even with Kuma here as one of the guys. If we lose him we are getting worse in an area that's a key ingredient needed to make Dipoto's plan come together. Karns instead of Happ but essentially the same 7 deep as last season minus Kuma is a scary thought. We need to add a quality guy near the TOR not just more 4/5/6 types to improve the SP from 2015.</p>
<p>We can forget about Iwakuma. Gone. Just forget him. Dodgers want him. Dodgers will get him.</p>
<p>I think that the level of panic is a little premature. We haven't even gotten to the GM meetings and look what he's already done. Traded for a starting pitcher and some decent relievers. Signed Benoit and De Fracus. Completely overhauled the outfield. Made big improvements at catcher. We need a 1B, another SP and a couple of relievers. He's done all that and it's only Dec 5th. Personally, I think he's done a magnificent job, so far. As far as another SP goes, how about re-signing Chris Young? He'll be there with a quality start every fifth day and will do anything the team wants. They could probably sign him to a Happ type deal and plug him in behind Felix and Walker. He had a decent season last year and surprised us all when we had him the year before. jokestar</p>
<p>Unquestionably JeDi is lining something up for the Winter Meetings. Whether it includes Kuma signing and/or another TOR SP, time will reveal. Hopefully he brings home that SP AND 1B this team so badly needs. You'd have to think if he fails to do so would be considered a team failure. Not exactly the precedent he appears to be setting to begin his tenure. I'm looking forward to a successful Winter gathering.</p>
<p>Sounds like DiPoto has a big trade lined up for the winter meetings: "We’ve had exhaustive conversations with a lot of other clubs about potential trades, and there will be more trades. I shouldn’t say plural; at least trade." </p>
<p>Dipoto has cleared 1B and a 40-man spot, leaving the door wide open to trade Jack Z's prospects for a cost-effective major leaguer. So I'm just going to call it now: DJ Peterson and Edwin Diaz for Edwin Encarnacion.</p>
<p>I'd pass on Morneau. Seems like he's a HR celebration slap on the helmet away from another season ending concussion. Didn't he get one from just diving for a ball last year? Should maybe consider retiring from #Baseball so he can live the rest of his life as healthy as possible.</p>
<p>He did hit .242 on the road last year but hit .309 in a full season on the road in 2014. Fangraphs estimates him getting 1/7.</p>
<p>Justin Morneau is an intriguing name that hasn't come up much. A little older and coming off that injury but still slashed .310+/.363+/.458+ each of the last 2 seasons with solid career numbers and not too terrible defense if you squint. Not sure the price/years he's asking for but if it's reasonable we do have Montero as a platoon partner if he needs one nowadays and are willing to lose the bench spot. I'm not picky though, I just want the newcomer to equal Trumbo and keep that 2nd Half feel going for our offense in 2016.</p>
<p>Still, if the BoSox would pay ~1/2 of his remaining contract, I'd rather they got Hanley Ramirez. But even signing 1 starter in this market is looking tough, let alone also taking on $10M/yr at 1B. On Starters, since both have the QO, but 'Kuma is more 'proven', and therefore more likely of interest to the Dodgers, my guess now is that the M's are really looking at what it will take to sign Chen - if they commit to more years, it's better with a younger guy. They'll lose ~20 spots in the draft in the change, but none of the non-QO starters looks as good of a fit. But 5 years to Chen might be safer than 4 to 'Kuma.</p>