Dodgers - white flag time?

[Madhawk23]

We just saw the Nats give up on their season, which was pretty shocking considering their expectations coming into this season.

 

I know it's a pipe dream with the Dodgers getting SD and TEX here before the August 31 deadline, but let's say something crazy happens and the Dodgers lose 4 out of their next 6 games to those cellar dwellars, and fall even further out of a playoff spot. Would they then consider putting some of their veteran guys on waivers? And if so, who would be intriguing for the Brewers to go after if they cleared waivers? Grandal? Alex Wood? Anyone else?

 

Again - I know this is a pipe dream that they would suddenly become sellers in the next 6 days, but just throwing this crazy scenario out there for thoughts.

[MrTPlush]

No, they would not. They won't fall nearly far enough to give up.

[pacopete4]

They should. I mentioned it earlier in the season but that team could’ve took a step back this year to take a huge step forward next year if they had made some moves. It’s hard to blame them for trying to get in the playoffs but they haven’t been healthy from the start and they could have “reloaded” in some sense of the word and became a juggernaut next season. They seem destined to never reach the top with Kershaw.

[Samurai Bucky]

They don't really have many top-quality players that would be good rentals, do they?

 

https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/free-agents/los-angeles-dodgers/

 

Edit -- I don't see Kershaw on this list... I thought he was a FA at the end of the year.

[Madhawk23]

I thought Kershaw was a F/A at the end of this season too, but his baseball reference page shows that he's still under contract for two more years after this season. What gives? Could have sworn that he was hitting free agency this offseason.

[Madhawk23]

I thought Kershaw was a F/A at the end of this season too, but his baseball reference page shows that he's still under contract for two more years after this season. What gives? Could have sworn that he was hitting free agency this offseason.

[RollieTime]

They don't really have many top-quality players that would be good rentals, do they?

 

https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/free-agents/los-angeles-dodgers/

 

Edit -- I don't see Kershaw on this list... I thought he was a FA at the end of the year.

 

Kershaw has an opt out after this season. If he decides to opt out, he would leave 2 years and $65 million on the table. I personally think that he will opt out, but won’t get a deal where he will make $33 million per season, especially because of his injury history the past few season, including a couple back issues. But I could see him getting a long term deal at a lesser amount per season. He will be 31 before next season as well and he probably wants to get one more big contract. I would guess something around 6 years, $175 million.

[splitterpfj]

They don't really have many top-quality players that would be good rentals, do they?

 

https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/free-agents/los-angeles-dodgers/

 

Edit -- I don't see Kershaw on this list... I thought he was a FA at the end of the year.

 

I believe they have that Machado fellow ....

[reillymcshane]

If the Dodgers are 5 games back, they should still go for it. Yeah it's not likely, but they have a lot of talent. If some things click, all it takes is a good run to get right back in it.

 

Again, too much talent to bail, imo.

[StearnBrewliever]

LOL . The Dodgers arent giving up before September especially. I scoreboard watch them even more than the Cardinals.

[Roderick]

They don't really have many top-quality players that would be good rentals, do they?

 

https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/free-agents/los-angeles-dodgers/

 

Edit -- I don't see Kershaw on this list... I thought he was a FA at the end of the year.

 

I believe they have that Machado fellow ....

 

That would be hilarious. I have an annual bet with a Dodgers fan. That would be salt in the wound.

[brewcrewdue80]

As of this posting the Dodgers are 3.5 games back of Arizona for the division. 13 games of last 30 vs. Col or Arizona. Who play eachother 7 more times this season. So, that essentially can be determined as they are 0 games behind Arizona at this moment.

 

You can't sell when you are this close within the division where h2hs are 2 game swings. If they lost the next 5 then I suppose at the deadline for Aug 31st they could part with a guy like Machado. Only thing is the next 4 of those 5 are again SD and Tex a combined 55 games below .500. And then that 5th game is against Arizona where a win is two game swing making isvery unlikely to move on from the playoff race.

[MrTPlush]

H2H games are one game swings. .5 game for the win and .5 game for the other team losing.

 

That being said a 3 game sweep is a 3 game swing. That’s how you catch up. 2-1 series wins are nice vs. who is ahead of you, but in reality only gaining a game after 3 games is not that great. Especially come the second half of September.

[istanbultaye]

It's a 1 game difference in the standings, but it's a 2 game difference in the magic numbers, so there is some truth to them counting for 2.

[adambr2]

Dodgers are now 2.5 games out of 1st and have the highest playoff odds in the NL besides the Cubs.

[brewcrewdue80]

H2H games are one game swings. .5 game for the win and .5 game for the other team losing.

 

That being said a 3 game sweep is a 3 game swing. That’s how you catch up. 2-1 series wins are nice vs. who is ahead of you, but in reality only gaining a game after 3 games is not that great. Especially come the second half of September.

 

3-0 vs 2-1. 1 game lost was a 2game swing in the standings.

[Fear The Chorizo]

I think the nl west is going to beat up on each other in september and wind up with the division winner being the only playoff representative....likewise for the nl east.

 

If the brewers play over 0.500 the rest of the way they will get a wild card spot, no doubt.

[Madhawk23]

I think the nl west is going to beat up on each other in september and wind up with the division winner being the only playoff representative....likewise for the nl east.

 

If the brewers play over 0.500 the rest of the way they will get a wild card spot, no doubt.

 

Unfortunately, I think the same can be said for the NL Central - with the Cubs, Cards and Brewers all playing each other a lot down the stretch and probably beating each other up. Throw in a solid Pitt team (more than solid against us) and a Reds team that can score runs with the best of them, and I definitely don't think it is going to be a cake walk for the Brewers or Cards to make one of those WC spots either.

[KeithStone53151]

The general consensus seems to be virtually zero chance they throw in the towel, and I agree. Even if they lose every game up until the deadline, they won't do it. They have really nothing to gain by trading a couple rentals anyways, may as well try to go on a run down the stretch.

 

Regarding the wildcards, the cards and brewers are probably the most likely at the moment but the lead is far too thin for anyone to feel comfortable. Even the Cubs shouldn't feel totally comfortable with their spot. If they maintain 4 or more game lead on everybody into mid-september, they can probably feel comfortable...but not yet. If anything, the phillies are in the easiest of the 3 divisions and could beat up on the marlins and mets on their way to a wildcard.