caulfield12 Posted January 22 Author Share Posted January 22 14 minutes ago, chitownsportsfan said: I think it's more to do with flight times and the diaspora. A direct flight back to Tokyo from Seattle or LA is doable once a week in the offseason or so. It's a lot harder making connections and adding flight miles from anywhere else they play baseball in the US. That's why Toronto wasn't that far off, because of direct flights and global Arctic circle route saving a ton of time. (As long as they stay out of Russian air space.) Too bad Vancouver doesn't have their own team....too close to Seattle. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted January 22 Author Share Posted January 22 https://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/story/2025-01-21/dodgers-kirby-yates-free-agent-bullpen-reinforcement No deal finalized...will require an extensive physical after TJS in recent past. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteSox2023 Posted January 22 Share Posted January 22 https://fansided.com/updated-los-angeles-dodgers-payroll-kirby-yates-luxury-taxAccording to Fangraphs, just after the Scott signing alone, the Dodgers are sitting with a ridiculous luxury tax payroll of $370 million and some change ($370,816,946 if you want to be exact). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted January 22 Author Share Posted January 22 2 hours ago, WhiteSox2023 said: https://fansided.com/updated-los-angeles-dodgers-payroll-kirby-yates-luxury-tax Add Kirby Yates, Kershaw and Kiki Rodriguez. That will bring it to at least $400 million...first payroll that large in history, beating the Cohen/Mets' payroll in 2023. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted January 22 Author Share Posted January 22 (edited) Bob Nightengale/USA Today the only one reporting Yates' LAD deal as done, pending a physical. No terms announced as of yet. A certain team is not ruining baseball A lot of other teams are just doing very little — Jack Flaherty (@jflare_) January 21, 2025 "Not every team has the financial bandwidth to afford the type of offseason the Dodgers have had, but it when looking at teams like the Minnesota Twins, Miami Marlins, and San Diego Padres— they’ve spent a combined $0 in free agency this offseason— organizations that are looking to upgrade their teams clearly aren’t the ones that are leaving a blemish on the sport." https://www.truebluela.com/2025/1/22/24349242/dodgers-michael-kopech-jack-flaherty-ichiro-suzuki Edited January 22 by caulfield12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted January 22 Author Share Posted January 22 "The Dodgers will still hold fan fest this offseason, but due to ongoing renovations inside Dodger Stadium, the 2025 DodgerFest will be held in the parking lot on Saturday, February 1. DodgerFest this year will take place in Lots B, D, and P in the Dodger Stadium parking lot, with $20 tickets to the public going on sale on Thursday, January 23. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on February 1, with the parking lot gates opening at 10 a.m. The Dodgers say a portion of the proceeds from tickets will go to relief efforts for the recent Los Angeles fires." https://www.truebluela.com/2025/1/21/24348941/dodgers-fan-fest-dodger-stadium-february-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted January 24 Author Share Posted January 24 https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/43520552/mlb-2025-los-angeles-dodgers-spending-payroll-baseball-future-roki-sasaki-shohei-ohtani Jeff Passan on Sasaki deal, Dodgers’ spending spree that rocked baseball Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted January 26 Author Share Posted January 26 https://www.mlb.com/news/munetaka-murakami-guide Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted January 27 Author Share Posted January 27 (edited) https://www.mlb.com/news/ichiro-suzuki-first-asian-born-mlb-player-in-hall-of-fame What Ichiro's HOF induction means for future (and past) Asian ballplayers Edited January 27 by caulfield12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted January 29 Author Share Posted January 29 (edited) https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/01/kirby-yates-passes-physical-signs-one-year-deal-with-dodgers.html $13-14 million for Yates...another drop in the bucket Congrats to Kirby after being out the better part of three seasons with injuries...feels like four before last season with the Rangers. Was also on the Braves briefly. Edited January 29 by caulfield12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted January 29 Author Share Posted January 29 (edited) https://www.truebluela.com/2025/1/27/24353426/dodgers-2025-international-signings Dodgers still announce 29 intl signings from 7 different countries...including South Sudan. Edited January 29 by caulfield12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted January 29 Author Share Posted January 29 (edited) "River Ryan is ranked 52nd by Law, even after the right-hander had Tommy John surgery in August that will likely sidelined him for this season. Law has consistently been the highest on Ryan among prospect rankers, and tabbed him at 33rd last season, noting that he might make his big league debut before September." Offered along with Gavin Lux for Crochet last summer. Z.Hope 58th after being unwanted. https://www.truebluela.com/2025/1/27/24352974/dodgers-prospects-top-100-athletic-river-ryan Edited January 29 by caulfield12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted January 29 Author Share Posted January 29 (edited) Roki Sasaki No. 1 on ESPN top-100 prospect list, which includes 8 Dodgers Sasaki, Rushing, De Paula all ranked in the top 20. Emil Morales, 18-year-old shortstop signed last year by LA, also made the top-100 after a strong pro debut. https://www.truebluela.com/2025/1/29/24354397/roki-sasaki-espn-top-100-prospects-dodgers Edited January 29 by caulfield12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted January 30 Author Share Posted January 30 https://www.mlb.com/news/dodgers-splitters-sasaki-yamamoto-ohtani Dodgers' secret sauce is the splitter-forkball...but that has traditionally led to a plethora of elbow injuries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted January 30 Author Share Posted January 30 (edited) Keith Law at The Athletic wrote about 15 prospects just outside of his top-100 list, including a pair of Dodgers — shortstop Kellon Lindsey and left-handed pitcher Jackson Ferris. Lindsey was the Dodgers’ first-round draft pick in 2024 and has yet to make his major league debut. “If he shows he can pick up spin better in 2025 than he did before the draft, he’s going to be in the top 50 at midseason, because it’s tools all day and a good swing to produce quality contact,” Law wrote. "Surprised to see BA had Lindsey above Wrobleski. Shows what kind of ceiling Lindsey has. I haven't read a single scouting report that doesn't reference Trea Turner. Get consistent with the bat-to-ball and the rest of the tools will carry." truebluela.com Law has the Dodgers ranked third system, right up there with Mariners and Red Sox now. Overrated: Landon Knack A solid AAAA pitcher, no doubt. He reminds me of a Trevor Oaks type. But some on here have said he's in the mix to be our 5th starter. I do see him making the occasional spot start for us this year and providing emergency depth/innings, but that's about it. I have Bobby Miller, Wrobleski and Casparius all ahead of him on the SP depth chart. Edited January 30 by caulfield12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted January 30 Author Share Posted January 30 (edited) "Dodgers: Emil Morales, SS Morales landed a $1,897,500 bonus out of the Dominican Republic because he had one of the highest ceilings in the 2024 international class, then backed it up with a huge pro debut. He won MVP and top prospect honors in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League after slashing .342/.478/.691 and topping the circuit in slugging, OPS (1.169), homers (14) and total bases (105). He has a smooth right-handed swing and hits the ball exceptionally hard for an 18-year-old, and he should still provide more than enough offense if he moves off shortstop." https://www.mlb.com/news/each-mlb-club-s-best-non-top-100-prospect-2025?t=mlb-pipeline-coverage Edited January 30 by caulfield12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted January 31 Author Share Posted January 31 "We are but nine days away from the first team (the Cubs) welcoming its pitchers and catchers to Spring Training, and only 46 days from the season opening with the Cubs “hosting” the Dodgers at the Tokyo Dome on March 18. (It’s very likely that the first pitch of 2025 will be thrown to Shohei Ohtani, by the way, perhaps even by countryman Shota Imanaga." source: mlb.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted January 31 Author Share Posted January 31 (edited) For basically one full week, it's going to be all Dodgers/Cubs/NPB in the news...the White Sox will be even more of an afterthought. "Major League Baseball announced that its 2025 regular season will begin with the Tokyo Series presented by Guggenheim at the Tokyo Dome, featuring the Los Angeles Dodgers with Oshu, Japan native Shohei Ohtani and Bizen, Japan native Yoshinobu Yamamoto against the Chicago Cubs with Kitakyushu, Japan native Shota Imanaga and Arakawa, Japan native Seiya Suzuki on Tuesday, March 18th and Wednesday, March 19th. On March 15, the Chicago Cubs will take on the Hanshin Tigers at 12pm and the Yomiuri Giants will face the Los Angeles Dodgers at 7pm. On March 16, the Los Angeles Dodgers will take on the Hanshin Tigers at 12pm and the Yomiuri Giants will take on the Chicago Cubs at 7 p.m. All games of the 2025 MLB World Tour: Tokyo Series including the four exhibition games will be played at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo." https://www.mlb.com/international/events/tokyo-series Ofc, Guggenheim...the event's title sponsor, IS essentially the LA Dodgers Edited January 31 by caulfield12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted January 31 Author Share Posted January 31 (edited) Hanshin Tigers Staying with the “if 2023 Tigers were a car” analogies, 5'6" Koji (not a Fletcher) Chikamoto would be the wheels, as a car can move without an engine if it’s on a steep hill, but it’s not going anywhere without wheels. A dynamic 5-tool player (though he is lacking a bit home-run power), the 29-year old has been a model of consistency since being drafted as a 1st-round consolation pick. Over 5 full seasons, Chikamoto has a .291/.348/.402 career slashline for a 117 wRC+ while swiping 30 bags per season. 2023 was Chikamoto’s best year to date, as he had 44XBH (24 doubles, 12 triples and 8 homers), walked 11.5% of the time (double his career mark), while retaining his trademark skills of elite defense and baserunning. Yomiuri Giants This is about 1B/3B Kaz Okamoto though, who has been on one of the most impressive streaks in baseball, hitting 30+HR in each of the past 6 seasons, but only hitting 40+ once, in 2023, which made him NPB’s HR king. In 2023, Okamoto hit .278/.374/.584 with 41HR, 31 doubles for a 178wRC+, which was 2nd best across all qualified hitters. The 27-year old has been mostly at 3rd, with stints at 1st and LF, but he will settle in at 1st. https://borjaonsports.com/baseball/top-npb-hitters/ https://www.patreon.com/posts/top-25-under-25-87885632 https://www.mlb.com/news/roki-sasaki-japan-korea-players-who-could-come-to-mlb Edited January 31 by caulfield12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted January 31 Author Share Posted January 31 "The 28-year-old Okamoto has enough service time that he would not be subject to amateur signing-bonus restrictions upon entry. The Detroit Tigers are one potential suitor for Okamoto. They have expanded their scouting efforts in Asia since Scott Harris took over their baseball operations, and the Tigers are looking to add power after returning to the postseason this year." Detroit Tigers have been one of the main teams interested in Bregman...obviously AJ Hindu connection there as well. Torkelson has been a complete mess. You're going to have arguably the two best Japanese FA hitters next offseason as questionable 3B who best profile at 1B arguably. Seems the top guy in 2025 will go to the Dodgers and #2 to the Tigers if they pony up the cash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lip Man 1 Posted January 31 Share Posted January 31 2 hours ago, caulfield12 said: For basically one full week, it's going to be all Dodgers/Cubs/NPB in the news...the White Sox will be even more of an afterthought. "Major League Baseball announced that its 2025 regular season will begin with the Tokyo Series presented by Guggenheim at the Tokyo Dome, featuring the Los Angeles Dodgers with Oshu, Japan native Shohei Ohtani and Bizen, Japan native Yoshinobu Yamamoto against the Chicago Cubs with Kitakyushu, Japan native Shota Imanaga and Arakawa, Japan native Seiya Suzuki on Tuesday, March 18th and Wednesday, March 19th. On March 15, the Chicago Cubs will take on the Hanshin Tigers at 12pm and the Yomiuri Giants will face the Los Angeles Dodgers at 7pm. On March 16, the Los Angeles Dodgers will take on the Hanshin Tigers at 12pm and the Yomiuri Giants will take on the Chicago Cubs at 7 p.m. All games of the 2025 MLB World Tour: Tokyo Series including the four exhibition games will be played at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo." https://www.mlb.com/international/events/tokyo-series Ofc, Guggenheim...the event's title sponsor, IS essentially the LA Dodgers They have done nothing to change that narrative why should we expect anything different? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestEddy Posted January 31 Share Posted January 31 23 minutes ago, Lip Man 1 said: They have done nothing to change that narrative why should we expect anything different? Are you saying that the White Sox should rebel and schedule it's own regulation games in Japan, at the same time, right across the street to distract from the opening series? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted January 31 Author Share Posted January 31 (edited) 6 minutes ago, WestEddy said: Are you saying that the White Sox should rebel and schedule it's own regulation games in Japan, at the same time, right across the street to distract from the opening series? Be relevant enough to be under consideration might be at least somewhat helpful. "Noah Syndergaard could not figure himself out in LA, Jack Flaherty fell off a cliff from budding ace to middling starter after joining the Dodgers at the last deadline. Do we remember the Lance Lynn experiment, who by the way was pretty solid for the Cardinals last season? Walker Buehler was never the same post-sticky stuff crackdown, and now he is looking for a new life in Boston. Even with all these resources, the Dodgers are not immune to failed experiments. But if you do enough things well and commit to putting the best product out there, you’ll reap the rewards. Right now, for the Dodgers, that means being the premiere destination for many stars and solid players alike." https://www.truebluela.com/2025/1/31/24354453/dodgers-roster-destination-spot Edited January 31 by caulfield12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted January 31 Author Share Posted January 31 (edited) Ben Badler and Carlos Collazo talked about National League breakout prospects, and also were high on (Emil) Morales. “I like the swing, there’s a good eye for the strike zone. Big power for his age, and he’s 6’4 probably 195, close to 200 pounds,” Badler said. “The power potential is there for him to be a 25-30 home run guy. “Defensively I don’t think he’s a shortstop long-term, but it’s a rock solid third base profile. He has the arm, he has the hands, and certainly the offensive projection that suits him well over there.” Collazo mentioned Mike Sirota, the outfielder acquired from Cincinnati in the Gavin Lux trade, as a potential Dodgers breakout prospect this year. “I just like his overall skillset,” Collazo said. Eduardo Quintero, Justin Wrobleski and h.s. drafted Brendan Tuning were also prominently featured. https://www.truebluela.com/2025/1/31/24355741/dodgers-prospects-emil-morales-eduardo-quintero-brendan-tunink-mike-sirota Edited January 31 by caulfield12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Badler and Carlos Collazo talked about National League breakout prospects, and also were high on (Emil) Morales. “I like the swing, there’s a good eye for the strike zone. Big power for his age, and he’s 6’4 probably 195, close to 200 pounds,” Badler said. “The power potential is there for him to be a 25-30 home run guy. “Defensively I don’t think he’s a shortstop long-term, but it’s a rock solid third base profile. He has the arm, he has the hands, and certainly the offensive projection that suits him well over there.” Collazo mentioned Mike Sirota, the outfielder acquired from Cincinnati in the Gavin Lux trade, as a potential Dodgers breakout prospect this year. “I just like his overall skillset,” Collazo said. Eduardo Quintero, Justin Wrobleski and h.s. drafted Brendan Tuning were also prominently featured. https://www.truebluela.com/2025/1/31/24355741/dodgers-prospects-emil-morales-eduardo-quintero-brendan-tunink-mike-sirota
Bob Sacamano Posted January 31 Share Posted January 31 33 minutes ago, Lip Man 1 said: They have done nothing to change that narrative why should we expect anything different? Damn you blew it. Was quite the streak of unresponded to comments 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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