With trade, Dodgers go for it all
Getting Betts from Red Sox shows Series ring top priority
LOS hands?
The Dodgers just balled those into fists and came out swinging. Afraid to open their wallet?
The Dodgers just climbed up on baseball’s main stage and made it rain.
Their competitiveness questioned, their intentions doubted, the Dodgers turned on a fastball of criticism Tuesday night to crush the biggest hit of the Guggenheim ownership era.
In acquiring former American League MVP Mookie Betts and expensively aging pitcher David Price from the Red Sox in a deal that sent outfielder Alex Verdugo to the Red Sox and pitcher Kenta Maeda to the Twins, the Dodgers did two things most folks lamented they would never do.
They traded the immediate future for now.
They spent bunches make that happen.
They made two championship decisions in a title-chasing shakeup that was hinted by team president Stan Kasten earlier this winter.
“The team we have now is not going to be the team we have to start the postseason,” Kasten vowed at the time. “I expect that team, this year, it looks like it’s going to be well over the (competitive balance tax), or somewhat over.”
Kasten added, “There are guys that we think could be difference makers and we have pursued them … when there is an opportunity we will certainly jump.”
Did they ever jump, leaping all the way from February to deep in October.
With Betts, the centerpiece of the deal and the corner outfielder of the Dodgers’ dreams, they obtained more than arguably baseball’s second-best player in the last four years behind Mike Trout.
They picked up more than just a hitter who has finished in the top eight in MVP voting for four years, more than just a right fielder who has won four consecutive Gold Glove awards.
They added more than a leadoff hitter in a batting order without one, and a right-handed power hitter in a lineup that needed one.
More important than all that, in Betts they may have finally found their missing championship piece.
It might seem like they’ve made this type of blockbuster addition before, but this time it feels different. This impact feels enormous. This hope feels real.
This is not the 2017 midseason trade for the pressure-wracked Yu Darvish. Betts has a ring after homering off Clayton Kershaw in the clinching game of the 2018 World Series.
This is also not the 2018 midseason trade for the selfish Manny Machado. Betts runs out ground balls and everything else, as he led the AL in runs scored in each of the last two years.
As compelling as what they acquired in Betts is what they didn’t acquire. They didn’t get a guarantee that he will be here more than one season.
The Dodgers wonderfully didn’t care. They’re going for it now.
Betts apparently would not have been traded here if the Dodgers didn’t agree to take on Price and some or all of the $96 million owed him. That’s a lot of money for a declining talent, yet Kasten apparently signed off on it anyway.
Who knows, maybe the sore-wristed Price can figure it out and again resemble the pitcher who went 2-0 with a 1.98 ERA against the Dodgers in that World Series championship.
As for what the Dodgers gave up, Verdugo could be an impact player one day, he’s no Betts, not right now. While Maeda was a nice regular-season starting pitcher, he spent his postseasons in the bullpen, and unhappily so.
Also Tuesday the Dodgers reportedly traded away a 36-homer guy in Joc Pederson, but, let’s be honest, in this new outfield he becomes a surplus bat.
On any other day, the Pederson deal to the Angels would have been the headlines, but Tuesday was far from any other day. It was a day when the Dodgers finally connected with their fans on their definition of success.
The Dodgers agreed it’s not about every year, it’s about this year, and it’s about time.
ANGELES
Sitting of on their hands money to
Miami Heat forward Derrick Jones Jr. dunks over Toronto Raptors forward Serge Ibaka during the second half of a Jan. 2 game in Miami. Jones will take part in the NBA’s slam dunk contest during All-Star weekend in Chicago.
Fully confident Jones prepared for dunk contest: I’ll jump over everybody even more. not know who Robinson was, Robinson
“I feel great, regardless, no matter who’s said, “It just adds fuel to the fire, a chip on in it,” Jones said after the Heat’s my shoulder.” shootaround at UCLA in advance of In the skills competition, Heat center Wednesday night’s game against the Los Bam Adebayo was given the longest odds in Angeles Clippers at Staples Center. “You the eight-player competition, at 12-to-1. could have Vince Carter in his prime, honestly, The odds in that competition have Detroit and I’m going to feel great. Me, personally, Pistons guard Derrick Rose and Nets I don’t think nobody jumps higher guard Spencer Dinwiddie as co-favorites than me, nah.” at 3-to-1, followed Indiana Pacers forward
In the 3-point contest, the Heat’s Duncan Domantas Sabonis and Boston Celtics Robinson is listed as tied for the No. 5 forward Jayson Tatum each at 6-to-1, then choice, with Sacramento Kings guard Bucks forward Khris Middleton and Los Buddy Hield, at 7-to-1. Angeles Clippers guard Patrick Beverley
“They probably look at it more as notoriety,” at 7-to-1, with Toronto Raptors forward Robinson said of his perceived longshot Pascal Siakam at 10-to-1 and then Adebayo. status. “It’s really my first year playing a role in the NBA, so it makes sense.” “It doesn’t matter,” Adebayo
Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard win, then they’re wrong.” and Brooklyn Nets guard Joe Harris are Adebayo said he expects the most difficult listed as co-favorites in the 3-point contest part of the event that involves shooting, at 7-to-2, followed, in order, by Atlanta passing and dribbling will be the required Hawks guard Trae Young at 5-to-1, Washington bounce pass through a target. Wizards forward Davis Bertans at “You’ve got to put the pass perfect for it to 6-1, then Hield and Robinson, followed by go in,” he said.
Charlotte Hornets guard Devonte Graham In addition to Jones, Robinson and Adebayo at 8-to-1 and Chicago Bulls guard Zach participating in All-Star Saturday, the LaVine at 10-to-1. Heat will have Kenrick Nunn and Tyler
As for former Heat center Shaquille Herro in the Rising Stars game on Feb. 14 O’Neal saying during TNT’s Tuesday announcement and Adebayo and Butler in the NBA All-Star of the participants that he did Game on Feb. 16.
LOS ANGELES — Derrick Jones Jr. had to wait until the entire All-Star Saturday cast was formally announced, but now he’s prepared to make the jump.
Over everybody.
Asked Wednesday if having five teammates alongside during All-Star Weekend provided the necessary props for his appearance in the annual dunk contest, he invited the rest of the roster to Chicago as well.
“Put the whole Miami Heat team out there,” he said. “I’ll jump over everybody.”
As it is, some don’t necessarily view him as having a jump on the competition.
Jones Jr. was installed Wednesday by BetOnLine as the second choice in the Feb. 15 four-player competition at the United Center, at 5-to-2, behind Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon, a near even-money favorite, at 11-to-10.
The odds for the rest of the field have Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard at 7-to-2 and Milwaukee Bucks forward Pat Connaughton at 5-to-1.
Jones said he did not consider listed second to Gordon as a slight.
“He got bounce,” he said. “I understand.” But he appreciates his leaping abilities being said,
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