If the Dodgers had a fire-sale…

By On June 28, 2011 · 14 Comments · In Trade Musings

So, the Dodgers filed for bankruptcy yesterday. Immediately, this doesn’t really have much of an impact of the Yankees and I’m not nearly well versed enough to understand the nuances and intricacies of bankruptcy and finance and all that stuff, so let’s just pretend for a second that the Dodgers were going to have a fire-sale and just start getting rid of everyone of any value in order to save some dough. Disclaimer, and I’m going to make this all bolded and caps locked and italicized and what not:

I AM NOT SAYING ANY OF THIS STUFF IS GOING TO HAPPEN. IN FACT, IT’S PRETTY UNLIKELY THAT ANY OF IT HAPPENS. MOST OF WHAT FOLLOWS IS THE EPITOME OF A PIPE DREAM.

First on the list, of course, would be . He’s cheap this year, but is arbitration eligible in 2012 and is a free agent in 2015. He’s only making $500K, but after this year, he’s going to start getting really expensive. This year has been the best in his already bright career and this young lefty would look all sorts of fantastic in pinstripes. The prospect cost, of course, would be beyond astronomical. This would cost Jesus Montero + a lot of other guys. But you know what? I think it would be worth it.

Next would be , who’s also having a ridiculous year. Now, don’t get me wrong. I like a lot, but if you let me pick between him and Matt Kemp to play LF for the Yankees for the foreseeable future, I’d take Kemp and never look back. Kemp is signed through this year, arb eligible in 2012, and a free agent in 2013. His prospect cost would be less because he has fewer years of team control left, but this would also start with Montero and could be worth it.

This part is at least plausible, and may even be a little likely. The Yankees can and likely will (and should) inquire about right handed pitcher . Kuroda is making $12MM this year and is a free agent after the year’s over. The Yankees most definitely have the ability to eat a lot of money if the Dodgers need that, but they also have the ability to move the right prospects to LA. Right now, Kuroda qualifies as a Type B free agent (link). Kuroda may be a bit older than we like–he’s 36 right now–but his performance has been good this year. His strikeouts and grounders are down, but he’s still got good control and his league/park adjusted xFIP of 3.55 is more than acceptable. Like with just about any trade target, Kuroda is a good fit depending on what the price is. Of course, the Yankees aren’t going to be the only team on him and may need to up their offer if other teams give the Dodgers competitive offers.

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14 Responses to If the Dodgers had a fire-sale…

  1. Justice Beaver says:
    June 28, 2011 at 11:58 am

    I think the Yankees would and should give up the farm for both Kemp and Kershaw… Im talking Montero, Betances, Banuelos, Romine, Slade, Warren, Noesi, Laird and Gardner

    That would be an insane trade both ways, probably unprecedented in terms of talent and prospects.

    Reply
    • YankeesJunkie says:
      June 28, 2011 at 12:35 pm

      Kershaw and Kuroda would be pretty easy to pull the trigger on. Kuroda should not be the hardest to acquire prospect wise, however Kershaw is different story. Guys like him don’t grow on trees and I would be willing to trade Montero plus other prospects for thi guy.

      Reply
  2. Adam B says:
    June 28, 2011 at 12:43 pm

    Kershaw’s not going anywhere, why would they ever move him? he doesn’t make any money… however if they did the yankees are one of the only teams who can absorb that type of loss in terms of prospects.

    Reply
  3. bornwithpinstripes says:
    June 28, 2011 at 12:56 pm

    i would make the trade for kemp and put him in right field he has a great arm..kershaw would be a great fit a real lefty, i would not look for a righty ,, we must have another lefty in the rotation and in the pen.. getting clayton is not beyond reach ,it would cost alot talent..if they can get a deal done for both those guys we would be in great shape..i would make the move

    Reply
  4. Phil C says:
    June 28, 2011 at 1:28 pm

    Not to rain on the parade, but if the Dodgers starter a “fire sale,” even with a ton of prospects in return, what would be the position of MLB? I wouldn’t be surprised if they blocked the moves. Just think of the reaction of the Red Sox if the Yankees got Kershaw & Kemp, even if they emptied their farm system. And vice versa.

    Reply
    • T.O. Chris says:
      June 29, 2011 at 10:55 pm

      It would have much more to do with attracting a new owner, not what the Red Sox think. I don’t think Selig would allow Kemp, or Kershaw to be traded because of that. If you start getting rid of all the draws to the park, it’s going to be much harder to find an owner willing to come in.

      Reply
  5. T.J. Saint says:
    June 28, 2011 at 4:08 pm

    Great piece Matt! I think getting Kershaw would be neat. Picture a rotation with him and a healthy Bartolo Colon.

    1. Clayton Kershaw: 2.93 ERA
    2. CC Sabathia: 3.25 ERA
    3. Bartolo Colon: 3.10 ERA
    4. AJ Burnett: 4.15 ERA
    5. Freddy Garcia: 3.30 ERA

    I’m no manager, but that would be a Scary rotation to be up against.

    Reply
    • Adam B says:
      June 28, 2011 at 4:20 pm

      would phil hughes be part of the trade?

      Reply
      • T.J. Saint says:
        June 28, 2011 at 6:33 pm

        It’s certainly possible. I find it hard to believe that Phil will ever become an Ace. His biggest problem is that he doesn’t have 3 solid pitches, and he no longer has that pinpoint command. Getting rid of Phil could open up that spot needed to place Kershaw in the rotation.

        Reply
        • T.O. Chris says:
          June 29, 2011 at 10:56 pm

          No longer has that pinpoint command? When did he ever have it? He’s always been an extremely wild pitcher withing the strikezone, and he misses his location all the time. This isn’t a new development.

          Reply
  6. Dangerous Dean says:
    June 28, 2011 at 5:14 pm

    Far be it from me to pee into your corn flakes. But if I were the GM of the Dodgers, I would slice my own head off with a rusty butter knife before I moved Kershaw for any reason.

    Players who are That Good, That Young and still under club control that long are the most valuable commodities in baseball.

    While there is nothing wrong with longing for a player you would have in a fantasy-league world, I don’t think anyone in the Dodger front office would even THINK of dealing Kershaw. If so, he should be removed from power immediately and forced to watch Justin Beiber videos on a continuous loop.

    Reply

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