Hello, and welcome to a different version of Dodgers Dugout. My identify is Houston Mitchell, and we are going to get a full 162-game season, even when it does begin later than regular.
The lockout is over. In case you are considering all of the monetary particulars, learn this story by Invoice Shaikin. Listed below are the important thing issues that you must know for subsequent season and past.
—Opening day for many of baseball is April 7. Opening day for the Dodgers might be on April 8 in Denver towards the Colorado Rockies. The Dodgers’ residence opener is Thursday, April 14 towards the Cincinnati Reds.
—A full 162-game schedule might be performed.
—Gamers should report back to spring coaching by Sunday.
—Spring coaching video games begin March 17
—Free brokers might be signed at any time. Anticipate a flurry of exercise.
—Playoffs broaden to 12 groups (three division winners, three wild-cards in every league. The highest two division winners obtain a first-round bye). The primary-round collection might be best-of-three, with the division winner with the worst document taking part in the wild-card staff with the worst document, and the opposite two wild-card groups dealing with one another. There might be no reseeding of groups after the primary spherical. In different phrases, the highest seed in every league will host the winner of the 4 vs. 5 wild-card collection within the second spherical, even when the No. 6 seed beats the No. 3 seed.
—There might be no Sport 163 to interrupt a tie. A formulaic tiebreaker might be used.
—Beginning this season, the Nationwide League can have the designated hitter. Final season, pitchers hit .110/.150/.142 throughout 4,830 plate appearances and struck out 44.3% of the time.
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—No extra “begin the inning with a runner at second” in additional innings.
—No extra seven-inning video games in doubleheaders (effectively, until it rains).
—Beginning after the 2022 season: A committee composed of 4 lively gamers, six members appointed by MLB and one umpire might be tasked with adopting modifications to taking part in guidelines similar to a pitch clock, base measurement, banning the shift and digital ball/strike calls.
—Starting in 2023, the schedule might be adjusted so each staff performs all 29 different groups in every season.
—The payroll tax threshold will start at $230 million and develop to $244 million. There’s a brand new wrinkle: Groups that surpass the brink by not less than $60 million might be topic to a brand new 80% tax-level penalty (beforehand, the best chance tax penalty was 45%).
—Minimal wage jumps from $570,500 to $700,000 and rising to $780,000.
—A draft lottery (to discouraging tanking). The primary six picks might be awarded by lottery. Odds can be based mostly on the reverse order of profitable proportion, with the underside three golf equipment having a 16.5% probability of getting the primary choose.
—Gamers not eligible totally free company or arbitration might be eligible to obtain cash from a $50 million pool of funds to be distributed to the highest 100 gamers based mostly on awards and statistical efficiency. MLB and the MLBPA will collectively develop a statistical methodology to allocate the funds. This offers extra money to youthful gamers who carry out effectively.
—Gamers might be despatched to the minors solely 5 occasions in a season.
—Adverts might be allowed on jerseys and helmets.
—Massive identify free brokers embody pitchers Clayton Kershaw and Kenley Jansen, shortstops Carlos Correa and Trevor Story, first baseman Freddie Freeman and third baseman Kris Bryant. There are greater than 200 free brokers.
What in regards to the Dodgers?
Earlier than the lockout, there was a whole lot of speak that the Dodgers had been within the hunt for Atlanta’s Freddie Freeman. That may transfer Max Muncy (if he’s wholesome, he says he's however we’ll know extra about his situation when spring coaching video games start) to second base. Muncy has stated he enjoys taking part in second. After all, with the DH, gamers might be moved round extra now. You possibly can begin Freeman at first, Muncy at third and put Justin Turner at DH. Then put Turner at third the following recreation and make Muncy the DH, and so forth.
The Dodgers are short-handed at beginning pitcher. Proper now, they've Walker Buehler, Julio Urías and Tony Gonsolin. Signing Kershaw would assist, with the caveat that nobody actually appears to know the standing of his elbow damage. Will he have the ability to pitch straight away? The Dodgers signed Andrew Heaney earlier than the lockout, saying they consider some changes will help him rebound from a depressing 2021 season (5.83 ERA). Spring coaching will inform us lots about him. Dustin Could had Tommy John surgical procedure and gained’t be again till someday after the All-Star break. So, there’s work to be achieved to bolster the rotation. Buying and selling for Cincinnati’s Luis Castillo and/or Sonny Grey is a chance. And sure, they nonetheless have Trevor Bauer, however he's most likely going to be suspended by MLB in some unspecified time in the future, and it appears unlikely that the Dodgers will ever need him pitching for them once more.
For the bullpen, Jansen most likely gained’t be again. Joe Kelly stated a few weeks in the past that he’d wish to return and that the Dodgers have proven curiosity in him returning. Blake Treinen can be the primary nearer.
The Dodgers fundamental starters as of this second:
C-Will Smith
1B-Max Muncy
2B-Gavin Lux/Chris Taylor
3B-Justin Turner
SS-Trea Turner
LF-AJ Pollock/Taylor
CF-Cody Bellinger
RF-Mookie Betts
We’ll maintain monitor of all of the strikes on this e-newsletter.
Odalis Perez dies
Former Dodgers pitcher Odalis Perez, who was with the staff from 2002-06, died Thursday at his residence within the Dominican Republic after falling off of a ladder. Perez, 43, was a lefty who went 45-40 with a 3.94 ERA with L.A., his finest season coming in 2002 when he went 15-10 with a 3.00 ERA and made the All-Star staff. He was acquired from the Atlanta Braves on Jan. 15, 2002, together with Andrew Brown and Brian Jordan in trade for Gary Sheffield. The Dodgers traded him to the Kansas Metropolis Royals throughout the 2006 season for Elmer Dessens.
Tales you might need missed
MLB lockout ends as gamers and staff homeowners comply with new contract phrases
Plaschke: With MLB lockout over, Dodgers want so as to add Freddie Freeman
With MLB again in enterprise, the free-agent frenzy is about to start
Breaking down the largest Dodgers and Angels questions forward of the season
And at last
To have fun the tip of the lockout, an oldie however a goodie: Danny Kaye sings the Dodgers track. Watch and hear right here.
Till subsequent time...
Have a remark or one thing you’d wish to see in a future Dodgers e-newsletter? E mail me at houston.mitchell@latimes.com, and comply with me on Twitter at @latimeshouston. To get this text in your inbox, click on right here.
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