SoCalTiger

Perhaps limit all deal to one year and let everyone be free agent after four. Flood the market yearly with options.

So was Jack assuming the Tigers would not have made the qualifying offer ? Because if they did he could just accept , bank 2 million more and be done with the qualifying offer going forward. Now he makes less and still has to deal with the QO after 2026 (maybe). I don't get it. What did I miss ?

Jack at 20/ 1 year seems like win to me plus we can still do the qualifying offer after 2026 unless it's gone bye bye with the new labor deal which has a very good chance of happening.

Keep Skubal and sign Bregman seems like an off season we are heading towards.

The Mets trade would have to start with McLean or no trade.

And I would like to add that if we do keep Skubal for 2026 please do not take him out of the game early in the playoffs. If you do what's the point in having him.

I'm not sure we would get that kind of return even for Skubal. The Dodgers obviously don't need him and other teams value top 100 prospects quite highly . This is why I now am off the fence and think we will retain him for 2026. Now if Harris could get 3 or 4 top 100 prospects , providing there are teams with that many, then yes he will be moved. Yamamoto won three World Series games and in so doing proved how valuable a shut down starter is over a seven game series so we should keep him since he is the best "David" to the Dodgers "Goliath" in the game. Remember losing him to free agency in 2027 is hard but we still have the cash to expense elsewhere. Use it wisely and draft well and the gap to not trading him closes substantially.

I can’t imagine Harris not protecting Bricineo and Lorenzo.

Yes this is opposite my understanding which I note could be wrong but if the computer is calling balls and strikes does it matter at all how the pitch is caught? I thought it’s either in the box or not. My assumption was catchers and framing well be less valuable.

Rogers traded or non tendered ?

Well my dad wss Canadian but had a British Passport since they were still a colony back then so maybe that's discount and my Mother was American with American Indian bloodlines so that's an add on so I guess..well heck who can root for the pompous and conceited Dodgers so yes I am enjoying David slaying Goliath. Hope they get their scalp !

I am curious how the free agent market will be this year considering the labor negotiations before 2027. Will teams bid high to get players locked in before the possibility of a salary cap or will they be conservative taking a wait and see approach. If it's the latter there might be an opportunity to grab someone good at an acceptable price. Maybe skip Skubal and pay Tucker ? Who would we rather have given each could be had for say $350 -$400 million over 8 to 10 years ? Or pass on both ?

I don't subscribe to this well known theory. I think talent sprinkled with good health and a bit of luck wins. Last year we traded our number 2 starting pitcher and went on a great run. Players are professionals playing hard for their future as well as the team. I don't think they sulk and despair to the point of not trying.

Good answer but don't you believe in Magic ?

Indeed but doubtful. Maybe best they win so they don't bid on Skubal ?

That's what we have to hope for. That he can trade as well as draft. We are yet to see that. Maybe this off season we will.

Do you objectively think our team as constituted with Skubal and even adding a reliever and RHH can win a ring ?

Or if Skubal pushes a good starter out of their rotation and they send him to us. Perhaps their number four that would be our two or three after the trade or someone very close to major league ready. But your point is well taken and most likely the case.

Dodgers are rolling four maybe five games max.

I agree. He almost let the Tigers advance pitching to Carpenter as well.

So true. Many many options available. And I do think we can get one MLB piece, one close and one high end minor leaguer for Skubal and then sign some solid free agents. Adding Cease lessens the blow as you suggest. maybe we get Miller or Woo from Seattle along with Emerson. That keeps us competitive as well. Add Cease and Bryce Miller to our staff and it's still solid. Add some SOLID bullpen pieces. We can get to 87 wins with that....

Feel bad for Seattle. Their manager left their closer in the bullpen during the key moment of the game. At least we know Hinch wouldn't do that. Gotta be a crusher for their fans. Now it's on to the team that got Ohtani and the team that got close. Shohei v Vladdy. Japan v Canada.

I will add that if the offers come in like Mr. Kline is saying then Skubal will be traded but I don't think the offers will be that good nor do I think Skubal's payday will be as high as projected. Stearns/Mets don't like paying Big Dollars for pitching, the Dodgers don't need Skubal, the Phillies payroll is maxed and they will add Schwarber and Realumto back for big $, the Yankees payroll is up there also plus the HUGE SHADE of the 2027 Labor negotiations and potential payroll cap will temper the free agency after 2026 greatly. So keeping Skubal and "playing it out" remains the most obvious outcome to me.

Seattle offer looks promising also. They are the best offers I have seen. Solving shortstop and or third base and adding a starter makes any deal plausible. I see McGonigle at second and Keith as liability on the field apart from first base which is covered. Rainer is many years away, Sweeny a bust and Baez is aging so landing Colt Emerson and starting pitching with one being already in the majors sounds very tempting.

Is players moving from position to position a good thing for offense and defense ?