Editorials

“Genius Squad” Continues Dodgers Roster Overhaul With Big Day

Farhan Zaidi

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To the common fan, the beginning of the Andrew Friedman and Farhan Zaidi era in Los Angeles has been an uneventful one. Sure, they moved around some players on the fringe of the roster, but nothing major — right?

WRONG!

As Fangraph’s so beautifully points out, Zaidi and Friedman are doing what Ned Colletti has failed to do for years — construct a roster that goes 40+ deep. Basically, to put it in layman’s terms, the new regime is creating a roster that won’t require them to trade actual, live humans for players like Kevin Correia and Roberto Hernandez midway through the season in a pinch.

But even if trading for Juan Nicasio, Joel Peralta and Mike Bolsinger doesn’t get your pulse bumping, have no fear, because Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2014 was a day to remember (and it’s not even over yet!).

It started with a reported deal for Jimmy Rollins, which was quickly followed by the trade of Dee Gordon, Dan Haren and Miguel Rojas, then there was the alleged signing of Brandon McCarthy and finally, the trade for Howie Kendrick.

Yay Genius Squad!

Let’s start with Rollins — the perfect short-term solution to the Dodgers’ shortstop problem. Despite being fairly old (36), Rollins was still extremely productive last season — posting a WAR of 3.9, which was good for third-best among shortstops.

On the surface, Rollins’ .243 batting average will disappoint the traditional fan, but his .717 OPS and 17 home runs are more than adequate for Los Angeles — especially when you consider what an upgrade he is defensively.

In fact, I feel like there’s probably a better word than “upgrade” to use when you go from Hanley Ramirez to someone who is actually good defensively.

With their shortstop problem solved, the Dodgers moved on to a position they actually were fairly deep at — second base, by moving Gordon to Miami. With Darwin Barney, Alex Guerrero and Justin Turner all on the roster behind Gordon, it seems that Gordon had become expendable.

Especially when you wonder whether banking on a player with on-base percentages of .280 and .314 in 2012 and 2013 is really a good idea. Sure, Gordon turned things around and hit .289 last season, but he drew just four walks and failed on 10 of his 31 attempted steals after the All-Star break.

Is Gordon definitely due for regression going forward? Maybe, but it wasn’t a risk the Dodgers needed to take — especially when a team like the Marlins was willing to sell them prospects.

CONTINUE READING: Dodgers’ Genius Squad Works Wonders

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Staff Writer

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20 Comments

  1. They (Friedman & Zaidi) going to have to prove to me these were the right moves, as I don’t see it right now.

    1. El Senor Kasten is pleased with those trades that’s all that counts.I am a life long DODGER fan and I leave that side of the business to them. I like what they have done so far. They have enlighten us with a great team, enjoy and just wait for our time. It will be sweet.

  2. Genius>? Doubt that….trading Kemp in the division to one of your most bitter rivals is going to bite Zaidi on the ASS……..that being said…now Kemp gets to be thrown at by Zack Greinke……

    1. I don’t think you’re the person they were trying to prove their genius too. Especially after reading the article (if you did), how does one argue with the logic?

    1. that 10 mil comes off their salary for next year. they wont be getting taxed for that money. thats a big deal. kemps money too

      1. Thank you! I’m exhausted by all the people on here that don’t understand how that works.

  3. I have no complaints with the trades except for the Kemp trade.I’ve been a Dodgers fan all my life, seen a lot of trades. The Kemp trade was absolutely the dumbest I’ve seen. That’ll hurt ’em in the end. Of course we won’t know the outcome ’til the end of the year. IMO that was one dumb move. I don’t want to be another New York Yankees team!

  4. Giving up an injury prone and egotistical clubhouse cancer for a better then average catcher, oh and to offload most of that enormous contract and did I mention the ego?? Kemp may play 100 games for the fathers next year, thats a BIG maybe. Who wins, Matt Kemp wins, now he really is the star of a team just not the Dodgers 🙂

  5. It’s sometimes hard being a smart Dodgers fan that appreciates what they just did.

  6. THIS JUST IN!!… Andrew Friedman just traded Vin Scully to the Giants for a pair of winter socks and some s’mores.

    1. If you think they got NOBODYS for Kemp and Gordon than you don’t know anything about baseball.

    2. I know you obviously do not watch baseball. Kendrick is one of the best 2nd baseman in the past 30 years and Grandal is already a top 5 catcher in baseball all around and he is young and healthy while Kem is old and broken. These are why guys like you do what you do and GMS have their jobs.

  7. And you did not even mention the best trade of the Winter the Matt KemP for the All Star catcher Yasmani Grandal and Ian Thomas

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