Back for another installment of my MLB Offseason Breakdown for the 2020 season. If you are new here, what I do is write about all the acquisitions and losses the team had, my projected lineups and rotations, grade for the offseason, and my prediction for the team in the 2020 season. Let’s get into it.
Offseason Acquisition and Loses:
Dodgers trade CF Alex Verdugo, C Connor Wong, and SS Jeter Downs to Boston for RF Mookie Betts and LHP David Price
The Dodgers got a STEAL in this trade. They gave up some valuable pieces in this trade, but got one of the best players in baseball. What a win. Now this trade does depend on Betts staying with LA this offseason, but I have a good feeling that he will. I feel like he will like the Dodgers and sign a long term deal this offseason. Also, adding Price is a good extra piece because they lost this man.
LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu signs a 4 year $80 million contract with Toronto
A year after Ryu was one of the best pitchers in baseball and finished second in Cy Young voting, the Dodgers decided not to bring back Ryu. I think it is a smart move because even though he did lead the MLB in lowest ERA last year, I find him a bit overrated. I don’t really have much to prove it but after his spectacular start last season, he looked pretty bad after the All-Star break. In 12 starts he had an ERA of 3.18.
Dodgers trade RHP Kenta Maeda and C Jair Camargo to Minnesota for RHP Brusdar Graterol and RF Luke Raley
Another steal as Brusdar Graterol was originally supposed to go to Boston in the Mookie trade, but due to medical problems, he is now on the Dodgers. They get a nice future star relief pitcher in Graterol as the Dodgers just pulled excellent move all offseason to improve upon this team.
RHP Blake Treinen signs a 1 year $10 million contract
I like this move by LA as they take a chance on Treinen, whos season last year was very unexpected. Treinen was far and away the best relief pitchers in 2018 where he only allowed 7 earned runs in 80 innings pitched. Last season though was much different as he just could not find his groove, posting a 4.91 ERA in 58.2 innings pitched. Dodgers hope Treinen can find some magic that made him successful in 2018.
LHP Alex Wood signs a 1 year $4 million contract
Alex Wood is back in LA after being traded last offseason to Cincinnati. Wood did not do so well there as he only was able to play 7 games as he injured his back in Spring Training. Wood is only 28 so I expect him to get back on track from what he was doing before he was traded.
Projected Lineup:
C: Will Smith
1B: Max Muncy
2B: Gavin Lux
3B: Justin Turner
SS: Corey Seager
LF: A.J. Pollock
CF: Cody Bellinger
RF: Mookie Betts
Projected Rotation
1. Walker Buehler
2. Clayton Kershaw
3. David Price
4. Julio Urias
5. Alex Wood
Offseason Grade: A+
2020 Prediction:
What’s there to say. The Dodgers are far the best team in the NL and will definitely be top 2 in records for the whole MLB. They have Betts who won the MVP in 2018, Bellinger who just won last year. I mean this team will be unstoppable. They will be back where they were in 2018 and make another World Series. The only thing tho, I have the Astros winning it. I know no Dodger wants to hear that but they have so much hate this year that they are going to use it and win another World Series (cleanly (I hope)).
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Previous Offseason Breakdowns:
MLB 2020 Offseason Breakdown: Arizona Diamondbacks
MLB 2020 Offseason Breakdown: Atlanta Braves
MLB 2020 Offseason Breakdown: Baltimore Orioles
MLB 2020 Offseason Breakdown: Boston Red Sox
MLB 2020 Offseason Breakdown: Chicago Cubs
MLB 2020 Offseason Breakdown: Chicago White Sox
MLB 2020 Offseason Breakdown: Cincinnati Reds
MLB 2020 Offseason Breakdown: Cleveland Indians
MLB 2020 Offseason Breakdown: Colorado Rockies
MLB 2020 Offseason Breakdown: Detroit Tigers
MLB 2020 Offseason Breakdown: Houston Astros
MLB 2020 Offseason Breakdown: Kansas City Royals
MLB 2020 Offseason Breakdown: Los Angeles Angels
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