Fake Winter Meetings Go On, Trading For Jarrod Saltalamacchia

So what kind of GM would I be? I don’t know. I’m not the kind to wear snake skin boots, and I don’t have an advanced degree in economics. But I do have something valuable. I have a high respect for the game. That’s all.

Ok enough of that silliness, I am sure you’re all dying to know what the second trade I made was. And why I am designating poor Drew Butera for assignment. I would have been happy to bring back Russell Martin, the crown jewel of free agent backstops this winter. But with him signing with Toronto, leaves me with limited choices.

There’s nobody in the organization that can catch above single-A ball that is anywhere near major league ready. Tim Federowicz is the exception of course.

But Fedex isn’t quite ready, and who else am I going to get? So when the Marlins came calling I had to listen. I probably gave up too much here, but screw it. That’s what I said when making this trade. I said screw it. That’s what good GM’s do before they make any trade. 

So I certainly did the right thing. I traded infielder Darnell Sweeney, and pitcher Chris Anderson for catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia. By getting Saltalamacchia I feel like I’m getting a solid catcher to pair with A.J. Ellis. You see Ellis I can’t get rid of. He’s Clayton Kershaw’s close buddy, so we have to keep him. Plus he does have the highest knowledge about the Dodger pitching staff.

So what we need to do is find somebody decent to pair with A.J. I simply cannot go another season with an A.J./Butera combination. Not on my watch as GM. So Saltalamacchia will slot in as the regular catcher with A.J. sliding into more of a backup/mentoring role. We’re talking about a 100/60 split in games played.

The original deal involved Zach Lee, but I decided that would be like the Marlins taking advantage of an inexperienced GM. And everyone would want to strangle and fire me. Nah, I took Lee out, but was willing to part with one decent prospect. Saltalamacchia’s name is hard to spell. Maybe I didn’t think this one through enough.

Let me reiterate again that this is a fake trade. It never happened in real life. Nor would it. But I have to make the disclaimer in case it did happen in real life. Now would you say I gave up too much? I know Sweeny is a very talented player, and Chris Anderson was a high draft pick that has good strikeout stuff. I probably gave up too much. I’m kind of rolling the dice on this one. In this regard I am more like a Ned Colletti, wheeling and dealing and rolling of the dice.

With all silliness aside, I did sign a pitcher as well. You’ll never guess who. Following with the current model of trying to trim payroll and curb spending. I have signed free agent right hander and old friend Edinson Volquez (3.04 ERA with Pittsburgh in 2014) to a one-year 6.5 million dollar deal.

I think it’s a pretty reasonable offer for the 31-year old sideways hat wearer. Rest assured he’ll wear that hat sideways again and would be a solid fifth starter to the Dodger rotation.

So we have a five man starting rotation with everyone under contract. Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Hyun-jin Ryu, Dan Haren, and Edinson Volquez. The bullpen has Kenley Jansen, J.P. Howell, Brian Wilson, Brandon League are all under contract. Add in the two guys from Seattle I picked up in trade (Dominic Leone, Lucas Luetge) makes up for an improved relief corps. We have a catching tandem of A.J. Ellis/Jarrod Saltalamacchia, and an outfield of Yasiel Puig, Matt Kemp, and either Joc Pederson, or Carl Crawford in left. Adrian Gonzalez, and Juan Uribe return to the Dodger corner infield spots, and Dee Gordon appears to be a lock at second base.

Now I just have to figure out what do about shortstop. The fake winter meetings go on through Monday. You can check out the latest fake news and see if I make anymore moves.