Dodgers Trade Deadline Question: Win a World Series, or Keep the Farm?
With the trade deadline rapidly approaching, and the Dodgers still clearly are in need of some elite bullpen help. Recently on our Twitter, Dodgers Nation posed an interesting hypothetical question on Twitter for fans to ponder.
A) Give up the farm and win one World Series this year then fail to win for the next 10 years
or
B) Take our chances every year for the next 10 years because our prospects will most likely get us to the playoffs every year
That's basically the question now https://t.co/UMvbqlgQcB
— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) July 29, 2019
Safe to say, there were a lot of opinions from both sides…
Option A
Some fans are very firmly in option A’s camp, and reasonably so. Two straight heartbreaks in a row will do that. Moreover, the Dodgers haven’t won a World Series Championship since 1988, and quite frankly, it’s about time that drought finally ends.
People are tired of hearing the negative banter about LA’s inability to seal the deal at the end of the season.
For many, it’s a simple equation. First, seize the day and make the trade. Second, celebrate with a championship parade in late October. Third, worry about the future later.
Tough question but I’d say A. We’ve waited long enough and been so close.
— ryan decker (@rgd76) July 29, 2019
I’d rather have the one ring. Waited my entire life for one and am not interested in waiting any longer.
— Marshall Garvey (@MarshallGarvey) July 30, 2019
Option B is what we’ve done the last two years; the definition of insanity.
Open our wallet. Option A
— Joe Scibelli (@JoeScibelli) July 29, 2019
Outside Opinions
Fans from recent championship teams chipped in with their thoughts on the matter.
I’m a Cubs fan so I can give you my answer/perspective, it’s A every time. 2017-19 have been frustrating but I remember 2016 during every rough stretch and it’s worth it
— Youssef Ibrahim (@ptbnl_) July 29, 2019
As a Royals fan I will never regret giving up the farm to win the WS, plus the Dodger are much better at Player Dev. and scouting and will rebuild the farm quick.
— Michael Logerwell (@MJ_Log5) July 29, 2019
Option B
While trading our young guys for a sure championship this year sounds awesome, others are less attracted by that option in comparison to option B.
For those fans, retaining the farm, taking our chances this year, and thus competing for a championship for the next 10 years is a bit more enticing.
For many in that camp, there aren’t really any trade targets that they think makes option A a true reality.
Obviously, if we could see into the future and know the outcome of the trades they’re making, sure, buy the championship. But this isn’t how sports work, nothing is a 100% guarantee. Making a trade doesn’t ever GIVE you a championship.
— walker’s pants {on the IL/clothesline} ? (@dodgerdream6) July 29, 2019
There's no guarantee no matter who you acquire so its tricky dealing with hypotheticals like this. But if somehow you could magically guarantee either one World Series and thats it or 10 straight playoff appearances with the chance for multiple titles I'd prob go with the latter. https://t.co/140NVwrXZC
— Brian (@BriRobitaille) July 30, 2019
Looking at the Dodgers’ moves in the last two trade deadlines, this argument does make a lot of sense.
In 2017, the Dodgers traded for Yu Darvish, and at that point in that respective season, they seemed like clear favorites to take home the World Series title.
I’ll spare everyone and refrain from rehashing the Darvish World Series horrors, but we all know how that turned out.
And last year? Similar story. The Boys in Blue made up for losing Corey Seager in early April by replacing him with All-Star shortstop Manny Machado.
This was a huge addition for the team, and while Machado did produce and contribute for the Dodgers as they headed for a second straight NL pennant, he clearly didn’t get them over the hump.
Final Thoughts
Acquiring a reliever like Felipe Vazquez would no doubt improve this year’s roster. However, the truth is that Vasquez does not fully guarantee a championship.
In my opinion, the Dodgers should trade for him but only at the right price. They should not settle and end up selling the whole farm.
As much as I’d like to join the many Dodgers fans who are in camp A when it comes to the hypothetical question posed above, I feel as if I tend to agree more with the second option.
What would your answer be to our question above? Let us know below!
Win now mode
Why can’t they do both? There is no relief pitcher out there who can guarantee a World Series title. Looking at the contenders, they all could use bullpen help. Most of them could also use a starter or two. This is not a problem for the Dodgers, who will be moving starters to the bullpen in October. One more reliever would be nice, but this team is built for a deep run regardless.
Both…no question. Lux, Smith and May are off the table though. Any request that includes them should immediately be countered. Ultimately, if something doesn’t get done, then it’s on the brass to get it done with what we have. If we would have just signed Verlander instead of Darvish 2 years ago, we would have won WS1. Failure to sign Verlander, in my opinion, was the ultimate fail and unforgivable. We must win this year, next year and next year…etc, etc, etc.
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Completely agree. Front office said “we’re all in” and then traded for Darvish instead of Verlander
To Patient Zero:
Agreed.
Make reasonable trade for quality relief pitcher. Do not give up whole farm. There are no guarantees in this life.
Do something Friedman!!
I’ve been A DODGERS FAN SENSE 1974. I’VE SEEN THEM COME AND GO. I THINK WE ARE GOING TO BE BETTER FOR GOING ALL IN RIGHT NOW. I’M SO SICK IF THE DODGERS MANAGEMENT GOING TO THE BARGAIN FOR GUYS THAT DON’T REALLY HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN. REMEMBER THAT PROSPECTS ARE JUST A HOPE FOR THE FUTURE. I REMEMBER THAT THE DODGERS TRADED FOR A GUY NAMED PEDRO GUERRERO. THEY DIDN’T THINK MUCH OF HIM, SAYING CLEVELAND. THE REST IS HISTORY.WE ALL KNOW WHAT HE DID IN DODGERS BLUE. WHAT IS THE POINT OF HORDING ALL OF THE PROSPECTS AND NOT DOING ANYTHING WITH THEM. EITHER BRING THEM UP OR GET THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF VALUE FOR THEM.
Only guarantee I see would be a 50-yr. rollback for Koufax and Gibson plus a redux version of Lazarus for Cy Young. Since that’s not possible, go with what we have; keep the young’uns. Robert
People who want to “win” now and sell the farm, doesn’t understand the concept of “non-guarantee” are the same people that will be saying “Damn…why did they trade the HOF player like Pedro Martinez”
That “non-guarantee” also applies to prospects becoming stars.
Pedro Martinez wasn’t on the farm. Worst Dodger trade ever in my opinion but he was already in the show.
Option B. Personally the entertainment and joy I get out of watching them play in October while other teams fans also have to watch the Dodgers because their team already lost is enough for me. I’ll take the extended fun over a single spike.
Wouldn’t be a “single spike”. With Belli, Buehler, Verdugo, Seager, Smith, Beaty we’re already set to compete for years. But at some point you’ve got to stop hoarding prospects and just win the thing.
Championships are a complete team effort from top to bottom. Seems like the bottom is performing every year but at the top of the heap it’s idiots like A. Friedman spending money on mental cases like Joe Kelly and a habitually injured AJ Pollock instead of spending money or trading prospects to acquire a quality catcher like a Realmuto. Instead poor decisions are made causing more problems and then desperation follows. This is a sign of poor planning and judgement. To make matters worse Dave Roberts is not a good manager. He continually puts players like Joc Pederson in a position to fail. If our best option at first base is Cody Bellinger then why is he playing right field? Cody is a potential gold glove winner at first base and Joc Pederson is on his way to being a dh in the American League. Bottom line is we continue to lose because poor decisions are being made. Get rid of the decision makers and replace them with real experienced baseball people and then you will have your WS Trophy.
Bellinger Will probably win a Gold Glove this year in right. Last I knew helped MLB in defensive runs prevented. Pederson should have been trade bait.
I’ll take Will Smith over realmuto,who’s not having that great of a year
I’ll take Will Smith over anyone we currently have out there in the BP.
Time to win a World Series!
The thing is they won’t fail to win for 10 years just because they win this year. They still draft well and have plenty of prospects as well as good young players on the mlb roster and because of our money we will always have good veterans as well
Friedman Sucks cant pull the trigger he is a coward. LA fans deserve the front office to have some B@!!s. That’s my rant looking like another year of disappointment in October. I am getting really tired of saying this is our year, with all I have said i will still cheer and support the Team I grew up with GO DODGERS!!!!!!!
We should have gone for it now. There’s no guarantee a trade would win the series, but there’s also no guarantee the prospects will be great. Or that when they are ready, we’ll be in a position to win it all. We have sufficient young stars (Belli, Corey, Buehler, Verdugo, Beaty, Smith) that we should be competitive for years to come. But it’s time to win it all.
The question is faulty. If they traded Ruiz and May for Vasquez, they would likely win the World Series this year AND next year. After that, yes, maybe they don’t get back for a while, but we would have had Vazquez for two years of cheap control.
Save your time Dodger fans. No point in watching remaining games. The Dodgers lost the World Series today. One LOOGY does not a bullpen make. The reason they lost the WS last year is still there.
Losing May in a trade for Vasquez would have hurt the farm but, not burn it down. There’s still Gonsolin, Gray, White and Santana in the farm. Atlanta got Shane Greene for a AA pitcher with a 4.72 ERA, and the Dodgers couldn’t make a better offer??
A 7th consecutive division title would mean zero to me at this point
We’re going for the Best Farm Club (BFC) of the year Title. Who cares about the Series this year? I want to see those big BFC rings this fall!
I’d say it’s time to win now. They have everything they need to be championship team and there’s not a higher guarantee in the future that they’ll ever have as good a chance to finish the deal as they do this year. As a side note, Dodgers please leave the clubhouse celebrations for when you (hopefully) win the WS not during the playoffs. The champagne spraying and ski goggles are meant for being champions not for winning divisions and early rounds. Stay hungry. IMHO anyway.
What is a Gyorko? I agree with a previous comment. We will NEVER win with
Roberts as the manager! I wanted and the Dodgers had to get Vasquez. No go. They have a bad habit when it comes to trades that involve 2nd baseman and pitchers.
Anyone remember, Pedro Martinez for Delino Dashields? I know that went the other way but, it really doesn’t matter, Robert would have found a way to screw it up anyway.
The Astros made moves to try and secure a 2nd world series trophy. The Dodgers made no significant moves so they can be competitive for the future. I’ll take a world series trophy over being competitive anyday. Time to fire the front office.
I am disappointed that we did not pick up a relief pitcher at the deadline today. However, there were lots of other teams out there that also wanted and needed relief help. I am glad that the Dodgers never traded away Seager, Bellinger, and Smith when they were simply prospects in the minor leagues.
I will say this though, Houston was a dangerous team before today’s deadline. If we face them in this years World Series, they are going to be favored to win as they have no weaknesses.
And the A’s were favored in 1988…..And frankly who cares if the Astros are favored. Them getting Greinke, so what. We had Darvish and………… exactly.
Obviously he thinks the future for the Dodgers is the farm system, prospects and our current rookies and recent ones as well. We have a great team. It’s do or die. If our defense returns to stellar and the relief pitching steps up a notch and we keep hitting and winning, no one will stop us this year or any year for the foreseeable future. Andrew Friedman did the RIGHT thing. The proof is in the pudding. What did Machado and Yu Darvish get us???? 2019 will be different….GO DODGERS!!
I have been a Dodger fan most of my life, since 4th Grade, 47-48 season and of course I want them to win another WS, but a couple of bad games in the playoffs, which any team can have, is not worth selling the farm! I LOVE SEEING THE REST OF THE NATIONAL LEAGE TRYING TO BEST THE DODGERS EVERY YEAR!
Giving up the farm is one thing, when it’s a relatively fair deal. But overpaying isn’t smart, especially for a reliever when you already have Jansen, Baez, Urias, Maeda, Kelly, Floro and Kolarek.