Roger Arrieta
Dodgers Editorial
There is no question the Arizona Diamondbacks have made some major moves in the last week to shake up the National League West. It started last week when they came in at the eleventh hour and were able to sign away Dodgers Co-Ace Zack Greinke. Up until Wednesday and Thursday, the Dodgers felt they were in great position to re-sign Greinke and felt they were on the two or three yard line. This notion was shattered when the Diamondbacks swooped in and as they say the rest is history.
The annual Winter Meetings took place in Nashville, Tennessee and once again the Diamondbacks were in the news. This time, the Diamondbacks made of the biggest trade of the meetings by acquiring RHP Shelby Miller from the Atlanta Braves. In return the Diamondbacks sent RHP Aaron Blair, Outfielder Ender Inciarte, and the number one overall all pick in the 2015 MLB Draft Shortstop Dansby Swanson. This was a hefty price to pay for Miller and one that many feel the Diamondbacks overpaid on.
So clearly the Diamondbacks are going for it and are expecting to win now. They are coming after the Dodgers three consecutive NL West Division titles. To this point the Dodgers have not improved and you can say are worse off from when the season ended. It remains to be seen what the season will hold for the Diamondbacks. Last winter the San Diego Padres went for it and we know where that got them. So are the Diamondbacks really in a better spot than the Dodgers? They are all in this season but at what cost? They have gutted their farm system and are expecting to win now or at the latest next two – three years, then what? Yes, if they win a title in that time frame then i’s all worth it, but what if they don’t?
The Dodgers are still looking to make moves and they will. Will they be blockbuster deals? Will there be deals just to keep them competitive. Andrew Friedman has stated the goal is to get younger. The goal is to get the farm system strong and competitive. The goal is to see these young guys within a few seasons starting from this season and going forward a few more years. We have seen Joc Pederson and Corey Seager come up, two of the three prized prospects in the Dodgers system. We should start to see Julio Urias in 2016 as the third piece of the puzzle. Then after that we will see guys like Jose De Leon, Grant Holmes, Walker Buehler, Alex Verdugo and other Dodgers prospects The flood gates will be opened and that’s not including some of the guys we saw this year like Jose Peraza, Austin Barnes and Scott Schebler.
So the question is who has the brighter future Dodgers or Diamondbacks? Diamondbacks have that small window and then who knows. I expect the Dodgers to be competitive this year and who knows what can happen but after this year I know they are going to be really competitive for many years to come. Jeff Passan from Yahoo Sports was recently on AM570 and he addressed this very issue. You can listen to what he thinks of the Diamondbacks trade and future. You can also hear the whole interview where he discusses all things that have happened at the Winter Meetings here.
Don’t worry that you are not paying a pitcher who is 32 years old more per year than any player in baseball history has gotten, that is not a good deal. You don’t want to be doing that. – Jeff Passan
Dodger fans don’t get discouraged they are working for a better future. I know we want to see instant success and the Dodgers ownership has tried since Guggenheim took over. The goal was keep the team contending while the farm system was rebuild. I think we are right on the verge of seeing the next step in the process.
