Blog Kiosk: 2/6/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

Whoa! Check out that catch!

With the opening of spring training around the corner, I find myself searching for vintage spring training press photos like the one above. It is a 1954 United Press pic of a player on the bubble -- trying to make the team. Per the descriptor on the reverse (eBay auction link):

Bobbin' Bobby... Vero Beach, FLA: From the expression on Bobby Morgan's face, perhaps the ball landed just a bit too hard in the pocket of his mitt. The Brooklyn Dodgers chief utility man is training at the camp in Vero Beach, Florida, with the prospect of landing the regular third baseman's job. 2/27/54.

Bobby would not get that job. Instead, he would be traded to the Phillies a month later to become Philadelphia's starting shortstop. The Dodgers decided to go with veteran Billy Cox -- with 26-year old youngster Don Hoak as backup.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1956 Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley, in a last ditch effort to save baseball in Brooklyn, lends his public support for a Wagner-Cashmore plan to build a $30-million Brooklyn sports center -- promising to purchase $4 million worth of the bonds. Unfortunately of them, lack of funding from the city's Board of Estimates killed the plan. In 2014 the Dodgers officially signed a free agent minor league contract with third baseman Justin Turner. He had just been released by the Mets, and was only given an invitation to spring training by the Dodgers. To the surprise of many, Turner would have a breakout season and become an important leader in the clubhouse.
• Happy Birthday, Babe Ruth, Andy Sommerville, Rube Ward, Red Downey & Glenn Wright!
• WTF! Per Jack Baer at Yahoo Sports -- "Report: Mookie Betts trade hits potential snag after Red Sox change opinion on prospect."

Rosenthal reports that officials involved in the deal are still confident the trade will be completed, but some adjustment might have to be made.

Graterol is ranked as the No. 83 prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline, with a blazing fastball, above-average slider and below-average curveball and changeup. However, the 21-year-old has also undergone Tommy John surgery in the past and missed more than two months with a right shoulder impingement last year. He worked exclusively as a reliever in 2019 after Aug. 1, including 11 MLB appearances with the Twins to end the season.

Jeff Passan at ESPN provides additional detail here.

The Red Sox, sources said, were spooked by a medical review of Graterol, the hard-throwing 21-year-old right-hander who has undergone Tommy John surgery and missed time in 2019 because of a shoulder injury.

Alternative options to complete a deal exist, according to sources. The players involved could be amended, as could the amount of money Boston is sending to Los Angeles to cover a portion of the $96 million still owed Price. The Dodgers and Red Sox could theoretically opt for a two-team deal or involve a different third team; Graterol is currently with the Twins.

• Video: On USA Today - "How Mookie Betts pursuit for $400 million got him to the Dodgers" (Video Link).
• Per Ben Pickman at Sports Illustrated -- "Sports World Reacts to Dodgers Reportedly Acquiring Mookie Betts From Red Sox."
• Music to my ears. Per Alden Gonzalez at ESPN -- "'The '20s are going to be the Dodgers' decade': L.A. starts new chapter with Mookie Betts trade."

And maybe he'll be exactly what this team -- this market -- needs.

The Dodgers, mind you, didn't need Betts. Not to win the pennant. Perhaps not even to win it all. Before this move, their roster -- closely resembling the one that accumulated 106 regular-season victories last season -- remained the greatest and deepest in the National League.

• Listen to Walker Buehler talk about the trade with MLB Network Radio, via their twitter:

🅗🅨🅟🅔 🅛🅔🅥🅔🅛 💯

Walker Buehler on getting Mookie:@buehlersdayoff | @Dodgers | #Dodgers pic.twitter.com/4dgCSFFWJW

— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) February 5, 2020

• This is good news. Via Steve Adams at MLB Trade Rumors -- "Dodgers To Extend Max Muncy."

The $26MM guarantee will cover all three of Muncy’s would-be arbitration seasons (2020-22), while the fourth-year option will give the Dodgers the chance to control a free-agent year for an additional $13.5MM (or take a $1.5MM buyout). 

• Ha Ha! Via Jack Baer at Yahoo Sports -- "Nearly 3,000 Dodgers and Yankees fans to greet Astros at first series in Anaheim."
• Paul Lukas at UniWatch makes note in his Baseball News section that David Price always takes off the squatchee -- that little button on top of a cap -- and it's likely to be very noticable on a Dodgers cap.
• Dodgers add to their brain trust, via a tweet from Robert Murray:

Greg Golson, former Phillies and Yankees outfielder, has accepted a position in the Dodgers’ pro scouting department, source said. He interviewed with multiple teams for available coaching positions this offseason.

— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) February 4, 2020

• If you're in Arizona then you should check this out. Camelback Ranch is having an Open House. Via their twitter:

Celebrate the upcoming baseball season during Glendale’s Spring Training Open House, from 9am-12p on Sat, Feb. 15th. Community members and fans can enjoy free admission and easy access via the new Ballpark Blvd. extension! pic.twitter.com/YiNWXT7tXR

— Camelback Ranch (@camelbackranch) February 5, 2020

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