Assuming Jason Schmidt is a Credible Source...

AK,

HAHA! Will Schmiddy ever be so cool that he earns a nickname like "Princess"? HAHAHA!!

Wow!! This is why Ned didn't match SD's Maddux offer of $10 million. He was saving money to acquire Schmidt. I think Schmidt is the PRIZE of the FREE AGENT MARKET this year! Everybody else is OVERPRICED! Schmidt, true to Ned's philosophy (acquiring talent w/ a track record of success) is the BEST pitcher on the market.

Now the Dodgers are set and got all the best deals this Winter. They only need to get a BIG BAT and have talented pitchers to trade when one becomes available at a reasonable price. Come Feb/March, teams will again come to their senses and realize they need pitching and come calling to the Dodgers to unload their HITTERS. Ned, lets get rid of Penny then, for a BAT and I will forever say you are a GM God!

Penny and Hall for Burrell.
Could be a good fit.

How about Penny and two prospects for Manny being Manny?

We now have the surplus arms to get this deal done. Deep breath; say goodbye to Kemp and Laroche, and set up the porta-potty in LF!!

Jim,

I think we can do better than Burrel. Especially for Penny and Hall! I've been a Penny hater all last year but the guy's numbers warrant some more talent than Burrel. Penny was an All-Star and did well. He has some physical tools that can make him a "Front Line" pitcher as someone on here called him. He just LACKS a brain and heart. He needs to go to the Wizard of Oz and ask for one of each.

I want Penny gone more than any other blogger on here BUT you don't give away bargaining chips. Lets wait for a real BIG TIME HITTER. And don't just throw in Toby Hall. He is a legitimate starter in the league and catchers are hard to come by. Plus we haven't signed Lieberthal yet.

Brilliant! On one hand we shore up our rotation, from being solid-but-unspectacular to now (gasp!) actually quite good! On the other, this also effectively indicates we won't be committing that money to Manny in 2010. Great news all round! Have a cookie ned!

I thought it was funny that I kept hearing all the free-agent pitchers were waiting on Zito to "set the market". Nice of Schmiddy to make his own mark and set the mofo himself.

No, no Pat Burrell. If that's the kind of power you're looking for, we've already got it. Kent and Nomar can both hit for just as much power when they're healthy. Plus Burrell's AVG sucks! I think if we're after a power hitter it should be someone that hits 35+ each year. Even the Andruw Jones talks make me nervous. I don't like power hitters with an AVG under .280. I think they're a liability in the order.

Keep Penny.....what a starting 5!!! maybe trade Hendrickson/Tomko for the bat.

Here's a quick questions to all. Should we make a move for a slugger if it means breaking up this rotation?:

Schmiddy
Lowe
Penny
Wolf
Billz

I think that looks pretty damn good. It will help offset our lack of power somewhat. We still have a few other starting pitchers we can trade (Timberrr, Bombko, Dessens, Kuo, Stults) for a decent OF bat if we package them with a prospect.

WOW..what a ROTATION..
Schmiddy
Lowe
Penny
Wolf
Billz

..Kuo on deck if anyone of these guy struggle..WOW!! Look like we going to get LUIS GONZALEZ. He does not have as much as power but this guy plays with ALOT OF HEART, and a GREAT outfielder..did anyone of u guy saw his crazy catch to rob the HOMERUN, and plus he has a RING wich mean experience and know what it takes to get to the playoff.

Keep Kuo,
A lot more upside than Penny in my opinion.

HOT STOVE, BABY!! THIS IS WHAT IT"S ALL ABOUT!!

Maybe we can put Gonzo back on the roids so he puts up numbers similar to 2001.

Stove just got a hell of a lot hotter.

There is word that we might be after Mulder or Suppan. If that happened, we would be in a better position to deal out for Jones while keeping the farm.

Are those A. Jones rumors substantial?

Mulder higher risk higher reward. Suppan lower risk lower reward. IMO

STARGAZIN' NEEDS TO BE HIRED AS THE DODGERS PR GUY!!!!!!

Props To Lolo And Rob For The Good Responses On The Sammy Thread. After What I Seen From Kuo Last Year With My Own Eyes; I Would Trade Penny Before I Trade Him. The New Pitchers Made Penny Expendable. Besides Kuo Is A Lefty Which Makes Him More Valuable.

Legit Starters: Lowe, Schmitt, Penny, Wolf

Up-and-coming Starter: Billingsly

Promising pitcher who is only effective as a starter: Kuo

Long-relievers who masquerade as starters: Hendrickson, Tomko, Dessens (or is he a FA?)

That is at least 8 and maybe 9 starting pitchers and starting pitcher wannabes.

The problem is Ned isn't going to be able to pawn off guys like Hendrickson, Tomko, and Dessens for anybody of decent quality. If we trade away Penny, one of these guys will be taking his place. Shudder the thought.

I like Kuo a lot. I think he has #3 starter potential if his arm can hold up. I'd hate to see him traded.

Personally, I think we should not trade anybody and go with the horses we got. Lets give guys like Loney and Kemp an opportunity to win a full-time job. If things aren't working by the all-star break then Ned can move Penny for some power, or Tomko and Hendrickson for a quality mid-level rent-a-player.

Len

I like the addition of Schmidt....I'm hoping that we can deal Penny and whoever else to get Beltre...I hear Seattle wants to dump Sexson and Beltre....I'm glad we didn't give up our best kids for Manny...especially want to keep Loney and Kemp...they have alot of upside if we have patience...remember what happened to Konerko after we let him go?....a little patience is required...Also...will hate to see Gagne in another uniform..have been reading teams will give him a 1 yr deal betwn..$5-9 mill...amazing...He should be a Dodger for life!

What are the odds that Boston fans get on Drew this year!!!!!!????? lol

That rotation certainly does look awfully strong, and it doesn't even include Kuo. Now, the Dodgers really have some leverage, if they truly want to go after the big bat.

I'm not so sure that it is necessary. They did just fine last year, with the achilles heel being that dreaded middle relief. The significantly improved rotation may take care of that problem.

But there are some good bargaining chips now available.

Doesn't Gonzo hate the Dodgers? He was at the front of the pack during those run-ins with the D-backs last year. I guess nothing a little cash wouldn't cure!

I thought about doing the ol' "my take" post on this signing, but then figured, why bother? There's not, frankly, enough potential downside to make this anything but an affirmation of what we already know- it's a good move. Sure, he could get hurt, but the same could be said of just about anyone. Sure, it's a lot of money, but with what they've taken off the books with Drew, Gagne, etc., it's not that bad. Plus, it's not my money, and the guy has a solid track record. And best of all, it leaves them with a surplus of starting pitchers. There's never a downside to that.

I agree with whoever mentioned we won't be getting anything of quality for Tomko, Hendrickson, Dessens, etc., but remember, too, even if they trade Penny and something happens to one of the starters, you're still talking about those guys as fifth starters. Not really a big deal.

BK

AK/BK,

Did I miss something somewhere? I keep running into info that says Gonzo is virtually onboard. Heard anything firm?

Whoa I'm hella excited! That is going to be one exciting pitching rotation. Now we just need an power bat! GO NED! GO DODGERS!

I'm bracing for the big trade that has been spelled out by all these moves. C'mon Vernon!!

i dont really think we need to go out and get a big bat. i think with our starting rotation we should be pretty competitive. i would rather see wat our young studs can do. if they dont do good, we can get someone at the trade deadline, or on the free agent market next year(isnt there supposed to be a lot more talent?) in a five game series in the playoffs how awesome would our rotation be if we keep all our pitchers we got now

There are some RUMORS flying about claiming that TB, ATL, and the Dodgers are involved in a 3-team deal that would bring Jones here.

IN CONCLUSION I WOULD LIKE TO SAY " TRADE LOLO
AND KEEP KUO AND LONEY AND KEMP."( HAHA - MOZILLA
2.0 GAVE ME A SPELLING ALERT ON ALL PROPER NAMES
EXCEPT KEMP).

I THINK KEMP, LONEY AND KUO HAVE BIG UPSIDES.
DO NOT TRADE. I'M WARNING YOU. YOU'LL BE SORRY.

IF WE CAN GET GOOD VALUE I WOULD TRADE PENNY.
HE'S ONLY GIVING US 5-6 INNINGS AND AT THE END OF THE SEASON IT MORE LIKE 2-3 INNINGS.

WE NEED 5 STARTERS THAT CAN GIVES US 7-9 INNINGS.

I THINK WE ALL HAD CONFIDENCE THAT NED WOULD GET
THE JOB DONE. NO SURPRISES HERE.
HE SAID A BIG BAT WAS A PRIORITY.
HE WILL DELIVER.

WHAT IS THE STATUS OF HALL, HENDRICKSON AND BRAZOBAN????ARE THEY UNDER CONTRACT TO THE DODGERS
FOR NEXT YEAR??

LOLO- RUMORS ARE ALWAYS FLYING. GIVE US THE JUICY
DETAILS OR WE'RE GOING TRADE YOU TO THE ANGELS BLOG.

how about we trade penny to the pads and get back maddux. that way, maddux can wear number 31

AK- WE ALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU "ASSUME"
HAHAHAHAHA

AK- CAN YOU DEFINE "CREDIBLE"??

FOR EXAMPLE WOULD YOU CALL LOLO CREDIBLE????

I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A STAFF WITH TWO LEFTIES-
KUO AND WOLF. THE LEFTIES GIVE A LOT OF TEAMS
PROBLEMS. USE PENNY FOR TRADE BAIT.
KUO GOING BE GOOD BUT ONLY AS A STARTER.
TO KEEP HIM IN THE BULLPEN WOULD NOT BE USEFUL.

AND YOU CAN'T KEEP LONEY ON THE BENCH. HE'S READY.

In response to "Kate", saying that we should pick up Beltre and Sexson, I roll my eyes. Beltre and Sexson not only go under the "power hitters under .260" club with Burrell and Jones, but Beltre is grumpy and probably not a Dodger fan right now. Also, there is just about no other player I would rather NOT have than Sexson. He doesn't play good defense at first (certainly not as good as Loney, if he plays first, or even Nomar), and he isn't versatile enough to move to another position. He is a DH kind of player, and thank god the National League doesn't have that rule implemented.

On the topic of Schmidt, it's a great signing, and I've been very, very pleased with Colletti. I like his propensity to sign players to shorter deals, where if the player isn't enjoying his stay at Chavez Ravine or is playing like a Dodger Delino DeShields, then it's easier to either unload him, or wait. The Red Sox are facing that problem now with Manny Ramirez, as they have been every year, and it looks like, once again, this year is not the year.

From ESPN...

6:05 p.m., from Jerry Crasnick
Now that the Dodgers have added starters Randy Wolf and Jason Schmidt, they have enough depth in the rotation to trade a starter for a bat. Two baseball people said the Dodgers are shopping right-hander Brad Penny.

COULD WE TRADE LOLO FOR A USC OR UCLA BLOG.
THAT WOULD BE COOL.

I THOUGHT GONZO WAS RETIRING AND HAD A JOB IN THE
FRONT OFFICE W/D-BACKS.

LEVY- GOOD ONE.

I WOULD LOVE A UCLA BLOG!

DIM:

"...but Beltre is grumpy..."

ummm...I think not!!

:)

star

hall, hendrickson and brazoban are all under our control (ie under contract or only eligible for arbitration) for next year. brazoban is untradable because of his injury, but both hall and hendrickson are bait--and with lieberthal in the fold, hall is a goner. (unless Ned decides to trade martin--not)

First of i think the dodgers are looking VERY GOOD. I love the players that ned has signed. Lets take a look at our starting line up, Pierre as our lead off hiter, furcal the number two spot, garcia the third spot, kent as clean up, gonzo in the fifth spot, Either in the sixth spot, betemit in the seventh spot, martin in the eighth spot folowing the pitcher. What a line up. Starting pitching rotation, jason, derek, wolf, penny and chad. What a starting five. Excellent rotation. This is team is a playoff contender. Now lets talk about making this team a world series contender. I think in order for us to be a very dangerous team we need a power hitter. We have enough good pitchers to make a trade. First i would never trade my pitchers and prospects for a guy like manny. Because he is basically in his mid thirtys, he will soon be on his way out the mlb. Now ANDREW JONES!!! Now were talking. This is exsactly what the dodgers need. It doesnt matter that he hits between 270 and 280. The dodgers have plenty of players that produce hits. What we need is power. With jones in the line up, we would go from producing 6 to 7 runs to producing 8 to 9. Not only is he a power hitter, he steals a good number of bases and he drives in a average of 110 plus runs. A year!!! Not mentioning his gold glove. Let me keep on adding that his very good friends with furcal. And this is Los Angeles. What warmer place for jones to got to then LA. Dont be surprised when you see that dodger jersey on jones. Once we get that last piece of the puzzle, i dont care who we face you better be ready. GO DODGERS!!!!!!!!!! Been a true fan sense 1988. Man does this city deserve a championship!!!!! We are going to go crazy!!!!!! This is a city of champions, let make sure we stay that way.