Dodgers: 5 things L.A. Should Not Do at the Winter Meetings

Next to the World Series and the July 31 trade deadline, baseball’s annual Winter Meetings are the most exciting time of the year for baseball fans, and Dodger fans in particular.

With Andrew Friedman and Farhan Zaidi working their annual magic, odds are pretty darn good that the Dodgers will come away with a significant piece or two by the end of next week’s Meetings. Here are five things the Dodgers should not do at the Winter Meetings (and one thing they should):

1. Do not re-sign Yu Darvish

There aren’t a lot of top-tier starting pitchers on the market this off-season. Darvish, Jake Arrieta, Alex Cobb and Lance Lynn are among the top free agents available, while names like Chris Archer continually pop up in trade talk. But Yu Darvish is not a name the Dodgers should be focusing on.

In a previous post, we discussed some of Darvish’s numbers from 2017, and his climbing earned run averages in each of the past four seasons. Combine those numbers with the hundred million or so other numbers that follow a dollar sign, and taking a pass on Darvish would appear to be a no-brainer.

Would signing Darvish be the end of the world? No, but it would be a huge block to the “unless” part of No. 2 …

1. Do not trade for Giancarlo Stanton … unless

Giancarlo Stanton would normally cost more than any team is willing to take on in salary AND with prospects. Friedman and Zaidi have worked very hard to get the team’s payroll out of the “something we’ve never seen in a professional franchise before” category and into the simply “stratospheric” category. That means taking on fewer contracts that go into six figures.

Adding Stanton’s 10 years and $295 million to a payroll that Cot’s Baseball Contracts estimates at $206,189,286 (for Competitive Balance Tax purposes) for 2018 isn’t the type of frugal move that GMs who used to work in Tampa Bay and Oakland usually make.

The Dodgers have a guy by the name of Alex Verdugo anxiously waiting to become the next Corey Seager or Cody Bellinger. The kid can hit. He’s a gap hitter who could develop more power as he matures, and he’s an above average fielder with an exceptional arm.

So the Dodgers should not pursue a trade for Stanton… Unless… The Marlins are willing to bend. With full no-trade protection, Stanton can play hardball and let Miami know, in no uncertain terms, that he will only accept a trade to his hometown Dodgers, which would put L.A. in the driver’s seat.

The Dodgers can then demand that either the Marlins take on some of the $295 million, or they drastically lower their asking price in player return.

If either of these happens, the Dodgers should jump in with both feet. (Remember, the Clayton Kershaw window could slam shut as early as next November, so winning time is now).

The Marlins, however, have begun playing hardball themselves, saying that if Stanton refuses to ease up on his “no-trade” demands, they will tear down the rest of the roster to pare payroll, leaving Stanton as the only quality player on next year’s team. It’s high noon in Miami. Who will blink first?

1. Do not trade anyone named Buehler, Verdugo or Alvarez

Despite the graduations of Seager, Bellinger and (sort of) Julio Urias to the Majors, the Dodgers still boast a top five farm system.

According to MLB.com, the Dodgers have six players currently ranked in the Top 100, including RHP Walker Buehler (#10 overall), OF Alex Verdugo (#23) and RHP Yadier Alvarez (#45).

While most people seem to glance over Alvarez when talking about top Dodgers prospects, he’s got a live arm with a fastball that can push 100 mph and a mid-80s wipeout slider. Consistent control is his main issue at 21 years old.

If Stanton happens to come available without requiring a Buehler or a Verdugo, then the Dodgers should engage in discussions. I’m okay with a trade that is centered around  Alvarez and Jeren Kendall and possibly even  Keibert Ruiz.

The Dodgers are rich at catcher and in the outfield, making Alvarez the only loss that could hurt down the line.

1. Do not rest on their laurels

More from Dodgers Way

• Kevin Kiermaier being ‘top target’ to replace Cody Bellinger is bad sign for Dodgers
• Are the Dodgers really prepared to hand Shohei Ohtani a blank check?
• Dodgers fans shouldn’t dismiss interest in Dansby Swanson for this reason
• Giants laughably sign pitcher that Dodgers absolutely own
• Dave Roberts’ quote about Padres in NLDS should motivate Dodgers

This is the easiest call. There is no way on God’s green Earth that this front office will stand pat. Yes, if they go into next season with the exact same roster as 2017, they will be the odds-on favorite to win the NL pennant, if not the World Series. But where’s the fun in that?

This team has been building toward “juggernaut” since 2012. Something will happen next week, or at least by the end of the year.

This front office knows it must strike while the iron is hot. And the iron has never been hotter under this regime. As long as they don’t do any of these five things, the Dodgers will be OK in 2018. But, there is …

Now I’ve mentioned the few things they should not do. Here is the one thing they should do.

Steer the ship as far away from Chase Utley as possible. Was Utley an integral part of the Phillies 2008 World Series title? Absolutely. Was Utley important in the maturation process for Corey Seager the past two seasons? Undoubtedly.

Did Utley go 0-for-his-last-30 in postseason play, dating back to Game 4 of the 2016 National League Division Series against the Washington Nationals? Sadly, yes.

Next: Dodgers Need to Focus on a Starting Pitcher

There is absolutely no need whatsoever to bring Utley back to play once or twice a week and take up a valuable roster spot that the Dodgers so highly value. Depth is what got the Dodgers to Game 7, and depth is what will take them that next step.

Utley does not provide that. Don’t do these 5, and do this one, and the Dodgers will be set for 2018 and beyond.