The search for a top-line starter

[toomanyhatz]

Am I alone in wishing they'd just stand pat? They already have a top-line starter, his name's Kershaw. Sign him long-term, which will already cost plenty, assume Beckett will at least partially recover his groove pitching in Dodger Stadium (he showed signs in '12), figure one of Lilly, Ryu and Billingsley will slot in to your #3 position, then slot the leftovers (including Capuano, who's exceeded expectations so far and been a rare Dodgers pitching bargain) into the 4 & 5 slots.

My bold (if pessimistic) prediction- give over $20 million a year to Grienke (unless it's for two years or less- not bloody likely) and he's going to break down. Grienke history shows he generally stays healthy, but Dodger history shows that the big pitcher contracts almost never work out.

[toomanyhatz]

Well, Kuroda went to the Yankees and I think that's a good thing. I'd love to see him back in Dodger blue, but at $15 mil plus a draft pick? Even the low-risk one-year deal doesn't make that worth it.

Hopefully they'll show a bit of the same caution toward the possibility of a Grienke signing instead of making them more desperate to open their wallets. I'm not holding my breath.

[bhss89]

Even though Boras is involved (ugh), I am hoping the Dodgers will sign Ryu. Fujikawa from Japan doesn't make sense to me, though. As is pointed out at dodgers.com, the team just resigned League to close, and Jansen will be setting up. Not sure where Kyuji would fit in.
In regard to the rotation, I am in favor of pursuing Anibal Sanchez or Kyle Lohse, but not Greinke. Less money involved for the first two, I would think, so that frees up that cash to be used in another way. I would not be unhappy with this: 1) Kershaw, 2) Beckett, 3) Ryu, 4) Sanchez/Lohse, and 5) Capuano. Jansen setting up, League closing.

BTW, toomanyhatz, I love your signature. My kids and I had that same fortune a while back. It still makes us crack up when one of us belts it out randomly!

[bhss89]

And I really hope the Dodgers sign Ryu. I believe he can win 15ish games per season in MLB for several years to come.

[toomanyhatz]

I will come right out and say it- the Ryu signing is a great signing, the Grienke one not so much. If Ryu pans out into a #3 starter- and from what I've heard MLB scouts all expect him to- the Dodgers are getting a good deal, tieing him up for a nice amount of time and reestablishing themselves in the international market, all in one signing that's, by their standards, relatively cheap.

Grienke on the other hand needed to be paid as a #1 starter when he's a solid #2. And it does not bode well for the Kershaw negotiations. I really wish they'd tied up Kershaw first then signed Grienke, but that ain't the way the West Coast Yankees are doing things these days.

All that said, it does add up to a pretty scary rotation. I think Beckett will revive his career pitching in Dodger Stadium, and Billingsley- hopefully, if he's healthy- can settle in as baseball's best #5 pitcher.

[DownUnderDodger]

Kershaw is smiling all the way to the bank. If they can spend that much on Grienke (way too much) then kershaw will no doubt be worth more unless he breaks down!!