[PilotMan]

Hot Stove Notes


Bob Welch is gone to the KC Royals for 6 years/6.93M.


LA finds their replacement for Welch a few days later by signing John Denny away from the Tigers. He won the World Series last year, opted out of his 3yr deal there for more money. He signs for us for 6yrs/6M. So cheaper than Welch. He's a little older, but he is a bonafide ace pitcher.


The end of November the Dodgers consummated another trade, this time with the Padres. Here is the skinny: LA sends C Bob Brenly (.252/15/55) to the Padres for utility man Jim Pankovits (.313/6/34 in AAA) and P Kelly Downs (0-5, 3.46, 83.1IP). Downs was the #21 prospect in baseball in the spring of 1983 and at 23 he looks like a top line starter down the road. Depending on Scioscia, this looks like it has potential. Pankovits just adds gravy.


LA keeps spending. This time they've brought in an All-Star, Silver Slugger, and 3-time Gold Glove winner Dwayne Murphy. Murphy is 28 and hit 41 homers last year for the Brewers. He'll take over in CF and right now, Stubbs is getting pushed to LF. No comment from Kittle yet.


The next day Pedro Guerrero signs for the Phillies. He gets a 6yr/8.66M contract. At least he won't be around to commit 42 errors at third anymore. Still, that's a lot of offense to lose.


LA continues to commit to pitching. Prodigal son, Rich Rhoden is returning to the team, and coming off of a great year too. Rhoden went 21-13 last year with a 3.37 ERA in 272.1 IP. His deal is 3yrs/2.65M. That seems like a steal for another top level ace, who is only 30.


Now, let's get some more offense!


I'm watching free agency and all I can think is “fuck these Canadian teams.” How much talent is enough?!?!?!


Dang. LA is going with the full court press in pitching. Another pitcher is coming to LA. This time it's LHP Frank Tanana. Tanana (13-16, 3.65, 239IP) pitched for the Cardinals last year. His deal is 4yrs/3.1M with the 4^th year a player option year. Tanana is a 3-time All Star.


Whew. The rotation is sure going to look different in 1984. LA has penned another starter. This time it's RHP Milt Wilcox. Wilcox (13-14, 3.37, 254IP) pitched for the Twins last season and has been hit and miss over his career. His deal is 2yrs/1.22M and has to provide more insurance and depth the way that the Medich trade last year did.


1983 Top Five Draft Picks for the Dodgers


OF Doug Jennings (Sup 1^st)
3B Chuck Jackson (Sub 1^st)
1B Brad Pounders (3^rd)
P Joel Lono (4^th)
P Luis M de los Santos (5^th)


Woohoo.


Well now, this is interesting. Local boy Dwight Evans is coming back home. Big news today as the Dodgers got a deal too good to pass up. Evans (.271/30/96) brings a lot of pop, that our lineup was still missing from Guerrero's absence. The deal is 2yrs/2.16M, and even at 32, he's an Iron Man that will show up to play every day. As of right now it looks like both Stubbs and Kittle are out of the starting lineup. Evans is also a defensive stud, with a cannon for an arm. He pushes Marshall out of right over to left. It's a logjam now, but the team is still weak at 3B/SS (depending on where Smalley plays.)


The front office is busy, no question. Here's the low down on the latest trade:


The Dodgers get 2B Willie Randolph (.278/4/56), a 4-time All Star and Silver Slugger winner from the Mariners. They give up LHP Sid Fernandez (14-8, 3.53 at AAA, and Top PCL Pitcher and PCL MVP), IF Casey Candaele, a 1982 3^rd round pick, OF Stu Pederson (.269/9/52 combined minors), C Tony Merulla (.265/1/5 combined minors) and OF Reggie Montgomery (.273/8/64), a 5^th round pick in 1982, W.T.F. The top pitching prospect in the organization, along with 2 high level picks from a year ago, AND 2 other players. Holy crap. Now we have a major crowd at 2^nd base. I don't understand this deal at all.


The most recent signing for the Dodgers is Bobby Grich. Grich (.240/6/17) gets a 2yr/2.08M deal, with the second year being at the team option. He gets some good performance bonuses if he plays. He is a 5-time Gold Glove winner at 2^nd, 6-time All Star, and 2-time Silver Slugger, but...he rode the bench for the Angels last year and he's a primary second basemen. He'll be 35 by April. He's got a chance to win the job at third, but that's about it.


At least the team is spending money. I mean, damn, they are really putting it down. The newest arrival is veteran first basemen, Andre Thornton (.314/2/21). Thornton was actually voted in as an All Star last year, even though he wasn't the starter at first for the Pirates. He was coming off of a 31 hr, 130 RBI season in Cleveland before that. Even though he's 34, he's still got some skills. His deal is 2yrs/1.52M with the second year being a team option.


Another new outfielder. This time it's Ruppert Jones, who can't seem to get out of the NL West, having played for SD, ATL and HOU, the last couple years got a 3yr/1.51M contract. Jones (.248/6/21) , is a good defensive outfielder, and he's got an above average eye, and power. No idea how he'll get any playing time, but he's here now.


Other offseason signings include:


C Buck Martinez (.255/8/27)
SS UL Washington (.280/4/46)
P Dennis Eckersley (18-12, 263.2IP, 140K, 4.20)
OF George Foster (.296/13/83)
SS Gary Templeton (.279/5/47 21SB)
RP Rudy May (2-2, 15 S, 38.2IP, 1.63)




1984 Opening Day Roster


Starting Pitching


Fernando Valenzuela (19-11, 2.27)
Rick Rhoden (21-13, 3.37)
Frank Tanana (13-16, 3.65)
Alejandro Pena ( 4-5, 2.94)
Milt Wilcox (13-14, 3.47)


Bullpen


LR John Denny (19-13, 3.33)
LR Jerry Reuss (14-6, 3.27)
MR Dave Stewart (2-0, 2 S, 1.54)


SU Dennis Eckersley (18-12, 4.20)
SU Steve Howe (10-1, 38S, 1.62)


CL Tom Niedenfeuer (7-3, 8S, 1.86)


Catchers
Mike Scioscia (.227/2/17)
Buck Martinez (.255/8/27)


Looks like a Martinez will back up Scioscia, and possibly set up a platoon situation similar to what he had in Toronto.


First Base
Bobby Grich (.240/6/17)
Andre Thornton (.314/2/21)


Grich is going to start at first. Thornton could be, but for some reason he isn't. Garvey was designated for assignment, possibly getting released. Brock was optioned to AAA.


Second Base
Willie Randolph (.278/4/56)


It's all Randolph, no Sax, no Bernazard, both of them were optioned to AAA.


Third Base
Roy Smalley (.280/27/83)
Scotti Madison (.287/12/74 at AAA)


Smalley will improve our defense at third no question. Madision can play infield and catcher.


Shortstop
Garry Templeton (.279/5/47)
UL Washington (.280/4/46)


We're losing production here that we had last year. However, Templeton is quick, and he's a great fielder. We're going to save runs here.


Left Field
Mike Marshall (.310/25/87)
George Foster (.295/13/83)


Marshall is starting. One can only hope that his level of production is going to be close to what he did last year. Foster provides a nice option if he's hurt.


Center Field
Dwayne Murphy (.279/41/104)
Ruppert Jones (.248/6/21)


Murphy takes over. Jones can play all the outfield positions, he hits with power and isn't bad defensively. Probably an upgrade over Baker.


Right Field
Dwight Evans (.271/30/96)


Evans is backed up by Jones too.


So this is the new Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team for 1984. They look quite good on paper again. The newspaper has up picked to win the West again, with the best record in the National. So the expectation has to be a title. The team more than doubled the payroll for this year. There are All Stars at nearly every position. The rotation and bullpen are strong and deep.


So where are last years guys?


Garvey, Minton were both designated and taken off the 40-man. I'm guessing they both get claimed. Kittle, Stubbs, Sax, Bernazard, Bream, Brock, Brewer, Franco were all optioned to AAA. That AAA team is talented. Going to be a lot of unhappy players in the Dodgers organization. This team is built to win right now. If it doesn't happen this year the wheels might fall off.


Dusty Baker signed on with Boston and was moved to first base. Ron Cey is in Toronto. Doc Medich is in St Louis.


Play Ball!