Editorials

Mailbag: Lorenzo Cain, Dre and Kemp, Pine Tar and more!

Dodgers Nation Mailbag is where fans on Facebook can ask questions and one of our writers will answer with their honest opinions!



I like Lorenzo Cain a lot actually, who I am assuming this gentleman meant. However, I don’t think this trade is what the Royals would look for in exchange for one of their most valuable pieces. The Royals don’t have a very positive future outlook, so they are likely looking to be rebuild. Their farm is in pretty rough shape, so they are likely looking for stronger pieces. I think to get Cain, you may have to swallow the possibility of trading someone like Joc Pederson and a a prospect in exchange for him. That might sound like a lot to pay, and Pederson might not even be the guy the Royals want, but it would take a quality piece, as well as a high upside piece to swing a deal.

It’s a little sad that an outfield featuring Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp never got the Dodgers where they needed to be, but they both had their shining moments. Ethier seems to struggle just to keep his body in shape, so I think you can safely say his time in a Dodger uniform is probably done. I think you could see another team take a flyer on him with a Minor League invite contract next year, and if he performs, he could see another year or two.

As for the Kemp trade, it’s often forgotten that we got Yasmani Grandal back for him. The other snake-oil piece we were sold in Joe Weiland flopped relatively miserably, and the remaining pieces were used to acquire Jimmy Rollins from the Phillies. Kemp’s contract was almost overvalued the moment he signed it, and his health concerns make him a ticking time bomb at any time. While he is seeing a huge resurgence, he struggled for a few years. He’s still owed 63.5 million over the next 3 years, so shedding his contract was a big reason they were able to re-sign players like Kenley and Turner this year. Its all connected, man!

When you’re right, you’re right!

It’s pine tar from his bat, actually. It will stick to him when he rests the bat on his shoulder.

Placing your best overall hitter in the 2 hole is a very common practice these days. When coupled with a high on-base leadoff man, the best hitter can do any number of things to drive that person in or over so that your 3rd hitter can bring down the house. Moving Seager to 3rd could be good, but it’s hard to say having him bat 2nd has been bad. Also, in the 2-hole, you’re more likely to get an extra at-bat toward the end of a game.

We’re not telling secrets if we say Puig has been struggling with the bat, as evidenced by his .725 OPS and 93 wRC+. It hasn’t been all bad at the plate, as he’s increased his walk rate while slightly reducing his strike out rate. It might time to just admit that this is who he may be at the plate, with some hot streaks in between. But as long as he keeps putting up acceptable numbers in the 8-hole while playing elite defense in Right, he’ll keep getting the call. Defense matters, and Puig is among the best RFers in the game.

Believe it or not, the Dodgers are averaging 5.15 runs per start for Kershaw right now. That’s not too bad and would equate to 810 runs in a season, which would be more runs than the Dodgers have scored this decade, and possibly more. I was admittedly too lazy to look back any further.

3 potential trade targets for the Dodgers

3 Comments

  1. Cain is a 31 year old FA after this season, so being traded during his walk year would leave the Dodgers with nothing in return and no assurance that he can successfully transition from the AL to NL. I like Cain, but trading Joc and/or a high level prospect is a huge overpayment for a rental.

  2. If we could have gotten Kemp back from SD for next to nothing, just picking up his salary and maybe a low tier minor leaguer or…we should have done it…We could have used his 31 Hrs last year in left field…As far a Dre goes…his best years were when he was batting before or after Manny…that was when he was a All-Star…Since…just a guy who can’t hit lefties…

  3. If we could have gotten Kemp back from SD for next to nothing, just picking up his salary and maybe a low tier minor leaguer or…we should have done it…We could have used his 31 Hrs last year in left field…As far a Dre goes…his best years were when he was batting before or after Manny…that was when he was a All-Star…Since…just a guy who can’t hit lefties…

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