Gammons Relays a Trade that Almost Happened

This evening, Peter Gammons released some scant details about a trade that was in serious discussions between the Dodgers, Angels and Kansas City Royals.  Per his blog, The Daily Gammons:

As it turns out, the Dodgers went right down to the trading deadline trying to add parts for a world series run. L.A. sources say they were working on deals with the Angels and Royals for Hochevar and Howie Kendrick and were willing to trade pitchers Zach Lee, Reed and Chris Withrow. It unraveled minutes from the deadline.

Since the deal never closed, we can only imagine what this could have meant for the Dodgers.

So, what do you think?  Would you have been willing to trade 2 of our top prospects?  Would our return have been the key ingredients needed for a championship run?

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Howie Kendrick would have been the key piece of the deal.  He is having a phenomenal season at the plate - batting .301 with a .778 OPS, and a WAR of 3.1.  There's no doubt Kendrick would have been a huge upgrade over Mark Ellis.  On the other hand, he much worse on the field.  Baseball America ranked Ellis the 3rd best defensive second baseman in the National League, while nobody would consider putting Howie on a similar list.  Also, Kendrick is under contract through the 2015 season, so he would have been under team control for a good amount of time.

Luke Hochevar, who was originally drafted by the Dodgers in 2002 in the 39th round, then again in the 1st round in 2005, would have been one of the more intriguing pick-ups.  He had been a spectacular failure as a starting pitcher in Kansas City, but has been great in relief this season - his first year in the pen.  Hochevar has an infinitesimal 1.65 ERA and a ERA+ of 248 in 2013.  Due to his experience as a starter, he has the ability to go long in relief.  Whether his role will only be as a reliever may be in question.  After all, there's a reason the Dodgers tried to draft him twice, and I'd be willing to bet they would have explored the idea of having him start a game, from time to time.  BTW, he is under team control until 2014 - arbitration eligible this coming Winter.

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Collection: Luke Hochevar Team USA Auto

I know. I know. Luke Hochevar is not a Dodger, but he was drafted by them back in 2002 and 2005. That last time he was chosen in the first round- 40th overall. As you recall, he did not sign, and instead held out for a season to play independent league Baseball. He was drafted again in 2006 by the Royals as the first overall pick and signed a hefty $5.3Mil Major League contract. Something I didn't know was this, from wikipedia:

After heated, desperate negotiations between the Dodgers, Hochevar, and his agent Scott Boras, Hochevar suddenly switched agents to Matt Sosnick, accepted a $2.98 million signing bonus from scouting director Logan White, then returned to Boras the next day and reneged on the deal.

Anyway, this is a 2005 Upper Deck Team USA National Team autographed card of Hochevar.

Luke in Blue??

I guess I spoke too soon. Luke will be wearing Blue. It'll just be Kansas City Blue. He was taken 1st in the 2006 draft and will be asking in the neighborhood of $5 million for his services. That's a lot of dough for a player not yet tested on the grand stage. Good luck in the Baseball wasteland we call Kansas City. At least it wasn't Tampa Bay.

Draft Signing Deadline

Well, Dodger Blue Heaven dreams of Luke Hochevar wearing the royal garb, the colors of flatbush, the Southlands real team uniform is all for naught. Today is the draft deadline and as the LA Times states,

"it appears it will pass without a deal."

No Luke in Blue.

Boras- you greedy bastard! You have infected the young Padawan with a nasty virus. A virus that has led him astray. It's a virus that infects the young too naive to understand the hurdles that still remain. You have killed the hopes and dreams of current and future Dodger/ Star Wars fans. You see, only the Force can save him now.

I was having wonderful dreams about Luke strutting up to the mound with a big grin on his face and a steady arm at his side. Then, Tommy would run out from the dugout being chased by pumpkin colored stormtroopers. Quickly, he would lance them all with his baseball bat shaped sword to protect the prized star pitcher. Slowly, Tommy would turn to Luke with an out-stretched hand and say, "Luke, I am your father." And then everything would be right with the world.

OK. I know this is crazy talk, but ya know what? Imagine all the great stories that we could have made up if Luke was coming to LA. The adventures of the young players, turn Padawans, facing the universe together as a united force. They would go through the galaxy without fear and trepidation knowing very well that their skipper and "old hands", The Jedi, will send them down the correct path. We could talk about the Death Star up north, run by the evil Barroid, trying to gobble up our peaceful lands. Daily taunts by the twisted cousins to the South would be a constant nuisance like Jar Jar Binks. It would have been awesome.

Not In Our Sights?

We got word yesterday that from the LA Times that Luke Hochevar may not be a target for Colletti.

"Do I feel the talent is worth the asking price? I don't agree," he said.

With one week left before we lose his rights, we apparently do not have an offer on the table. We are either playing hardball with Luke and Boras, or will be walking away from the table.

"I want guys that want to play," Colletti said, speaking generally. "If it's all about the money before the game starts, it will always be about the money."

Ned has a point. It's is now in Luke's court. Will he take the ball and proudly wear Blue, or will he choose to go elsewhere. This fan want to know.

Game 3 for Hochevar.

The LA Times lets us know that Luke Hochevar

"struck out 10 and gave up four hits and four walks in his second regular-season start for the independent Fort Worth Cats. His fastball was consistently in the low 90-mph range and he showed an above-average curveball."

Considering that this years draft class will probably be one of the weakest in the last decade it would make alot of sense to sign him now. I see a very productive future for this pitcher. Let's make sure he wears BLUE.

A Hochevar Sighting

Luke is on a roll. He pitched for the second time this year, yesterday, for the Fort Worth Cats. On 50 pitches Hochevar went 5 innings with 9 strike outs, on 4 hits, two run and 3 walks. Although he did not display the lightning 97+ mph speed from last week, Luke had more control as he

"mix(ed) in his slider and changeup while he used his curveball only sparingly."

His pitching coach Dan Smith added:

"Tonight I thought he was more composed," he said. "He had a game plan instead of just going out there and trying to throw 98. He pitched tonight, tried to locate his fastball and rely on movement. He showed a great breaking ball tonight. The poise that he had was great."

Hochevar also shows he understands what he needs to do.

"I executed my fastball a lot better,"

he said.

"My off-speed was also quite a bit better. Today I had quite a bit more command of it. I was in more control and had a better plan with these hitters. I knew how to pitch them, stuck with my plan and it worked out well."

I was just thinking about the Inside Dodgers comment from Roy Smith about Like Hochevar. His admission that negotiations did not end well, their continued belief that they made a fair offer and a comment about the recent signing of Jared Weaver (by the Angels) signals that the Dodgers want to re-start discussions. Not only that, I think the Dodgers made an new opening bid at the same number as the previous offer put on the table. So, considering his recent performance, I think the Dodger may be willing to come up if Luke willing to come down.

Boras... are you listening? Lets get the two together- Dodgers and Luke Hochevar.

Chasing Luke Hochevar

Inside the Dodgers gives us hints that Luke Hochevar could still be wearing Dodger Blue in the future. Why else would Roy Smith, Vice President of Scouting and Player Development, announce that

"we have monitored Luke all along and have had scouts at the games he has pitched for Fort Worth."

Then to add a little bit of intrigue the signing of the other Boras client is retold.

"As happened with Jered Weaver, who signed at the last minute with the Angels last year before the deadline to reenter the draft, anything is possible."

Luke pitched last week and had 95mph to 97mph heat. He was a bit wild, but that should be expected. I don't think he has pitched a game in awhile. Hochevar pitched 3 innings, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits, 4 walks and 4 strike outs. And these players aren't rookie league kids. As one scout in attendance said,

"He threw fastballs right by guys at the knees. These are 27-year-old guys who have been around. They are more apt to put the balls in play than someone at Vanderbilt."

Luke in Blue. That has a nice ring to it.