Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Winter Meetings are getting started today, which if nothing else at least means that we’ll be getting a ton of rumors. That’s not to say, of course, that there weren’t already rumors leading into the Winter Meetings, so we should review those now.
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By all accounts, Rich Hill has agreed to a three-year deal worth over $40 million with the Dodgers. However, the announcement is continually being pushed back.
Sounds like the Dodgers won't announce a deal with Rich Hill tonight. So there is that.
— Andy McCullough (@ByMcCullough) December 4, 2016
Why? Because the Dodgers are trying to shop Brandon McCarthy, Scott Kazmir, and others in order to solve their roster crunch.
Dodgers' 40-man roster at 39. They can't add Hill + anyone else until they clear spots. They are shopping Scott Kazmir, McCarthy, others.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) December 5, 2016
Makes sense that with a deal in place with Hill the Dodgers can start trying to dump the salaries of players who might not even make the Dodgers rotation next year.
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We’ve been talking about Brian Dozier around these parts for a while now, and the Dodgers are pursuing him.
The LA #Dodgers are the most aggressive team in trade talks with the #Twins for 2B Brian Dozier, and have now piqued Minnesota's interest.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 4, 2016
If the Dodgers can somehow add Dozier and retain Justin Turner, the lineup all of a sudden looks awful promising. Granted, it’s way too early to get excited about that possibility given the source and that things appear preliminary at best, but it’s an appealing dream.
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The Marlins are aiming to ruin everything for the Dodgers, as it’s reported they’re willing to go five years and $80 million on Kenley Jansen for whatever reason.
Rival clubs believe #Marlins willing to offer Jansen five years, $80M and lose No. 14 pick in draft. Marlins say they’re still discussing.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 5, 2016
I had the upper bounds of a potential Jansen contract at five years and $80 million, so if this is true then the Marlins may already be close to winning his services before the bidding war even got started.
Losing Kenley would be a huge blow to the Dodgers, both to the bullpen and just as fans, but if the bidding gets carried away like things did with Zack Greinke last year, there’s only so far it makes sense to chase.
Hopefully it’s just the Marlins posturing.
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Oh yeah, Shohei Otani is set to be posted next year.
Potentially huge news from Sponichi: Nippon Ham is set to post Shohei Otani after this season. https://t.co/64kY91U3PG
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 5, 2016
The question, if Nippon Ham posts Otani, is whether MLB/MLBPA will adjust the new international signing rules to accommodate for him coming.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 5, 2016
It’s hard to say much about it because it’s unclear how this might go down and what kind of rules might change. However, one just has to hope that the Dodger are eligible to get a shot at him.
