Dodgers: Among other Things, LA Could Use Another Big Bat.

OK, it’s been about a week now. Should I begin to make an effort to get out of bed yet? Eh, I’ll try again tomorrow. The pain from that World Series figures to live inside us all forever. Fast forward about 53 years from now. Joe Davis will still be calling games, incorrectly referring to the future Dodgers’ star lefty starter as Clayton Kershaw, just as Vinny used to call Kershaw, Koufax occasionally.

Forest Lawn will still be major advertisers around the stadium. After a World Series like the one we just witnessed, you can see why. You’ll be old, grey, and wrinkly, (if you aren’t already) and the trauma from the 2017 World Series will still be inside, eating away the last remnants of your Dodger soul. Isn’t that what being a fan is all about?

Perhaps, after 104 wins, our expectations in an offensive cast led primarily by rookies and youngsters were a bit too high. Barnes, Taylor, Bellinger, and Seager all hit below .225 in the final round. One could argue that pitching proved the team’s downfall, especially in game 7. I’d like to make the argument that in this new era of homer-happy baseball, LA proved severely outmatched offensively. 

Honestly, after brutally snatching defeat from the jaws of World Series victory, we all could use a pick-me-up. No, picking up Logan Forsythe’s option won’t suffice (although he was arguably LA’s best player in the Series). Perhaps that drives the point home clearer. LA needs another major right-handed stick.

Not just the fans, but the players could use a pick-me-up too, as a major World Series appearance hangover for the Dodgers seems imminent. Cleveland and Chicago experienced that hangover first hand in the first half of the season. Perhaps Cleveland saw it coming and countered with their acquisition of Edwin Encarnacion.

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No need to break out your tinfoil hats and Giancarlo Stanton conspiracy theories, the perfect solution resides in Pittsburgh. It’s finally time we see pirates star Andrew McCutchen in Dodger Blue. He’s still a real star in this league, after putting together a very nice bounce-back season last year, “Cutch” will be looking to cash in and put together a productive final year of his contract.

And that’s really the key here. No need to suck up more than a quarter of a billion dollars over the next decade for the oft-injured Stanton, even if he is baseball’s answer to the Incredible Hulk. Pittsburgh doesn’t figure to be terrible, but they won 75 games during Cutch’s and Josh Harrison’s bounce-back seasons. They probably won’t be major contenders next year, especially with St. Louis and Chicago looking to re-up. Pittsburgh could finally look to trade their star outfielder before he hits free agency.

McCutchen would fit in seamlessly in the heart of this Dodger order, taking a great deal of pressure off the young shoulders of Seager and Bellinger. The same could be said for McCutchen himself, who won’t be burdened by having to be the primary star on the team.  Throughout his career, he has obliterated pitching of all kinds, but especially lefties. That would seem to fit in nicely in an outfield already expecting lefties Joc Pederson, Alex Verdugo, and eventually Andrew Toles.

McCutchen won’t come cheap, but the Dodgers also have some resources to spend here. Financially speaking, they certainly will want to keep as many of their options open for the Armageddon that figures to be next offseason’s free agency extravaganza. McCutchen’s friendly contract still allows for this.

LA also has the displaced Yasmani Grandal, who very publicly lost his job during the Postseason. Nowadays, he’s more of a trade chip than a top 10 catcher in the league. It’s just a matter of time before he is melted down, and shipped out as the barrel of raw, tradable materials he has become. Sad but true, kinda like the many realizations we all made after game 7.

Next: 3 Dodgers up for an Award

Perhaps one of Pederson or Toles goes out the door with him? Or maybe the genie in the Dodger’s front office has one more wish left to grant, and they find another 20/20 guy off the scrap heap ala, Chris Taylor? Nope, not this time. LA will be searching for a reliable, yet a cost-effective player like Cutch. I guarantee it. And we all know, baseball internet people are never wrong in November.