NL West front offices: A midseason report for 2022
By Bill Felber
Los Angeles Dodgers front office, +2.9 WAA
Gomes, a former relief pitcher, has seemed to work seamlessly with Friedman. The tandem pulled off the winter’s biggest coup, signing Freddie Freeman away from Atlanta. They also got the biggest steal, pitcher Tyler Anderson.
Overall, Friedman-Gomes made only 20 moves impacting major league personnel in 2022, one of those being the loss of free agent shortstop Corey Seager to Texas. Seager’s only moderately strong start in Texas, coupled with the presence of Trea Turner, has mitigated the impact of that loss. Here are the five most impactful moves since the end of 2021.
March 18: If Friedman and Gomes expected Tyler Anderson to deliver a 9-1 record in 14 starts, they surely were the only ones. Prior to 2022, Anderson had been a journeyman in four cities with a 29-38 record and ERA consistently around 4.50. With injuries to Walker Buehler, Dustin May and Andrew Heaney, Anderson’s emergence has been central to the Dodgers’ ability to hold on to the division lead. He’s produced a +1.4 WAA through July 7.
March 18: One reason the Anderson signing went unnoticed is because that was also the day the Dodgers spirited Freeman away from Atlanta. That may make March 18 the single most important day for any MLB team through the season’s first half. Freeman has responded with 10 homers, a solid.297 average, an .857 OPS and a +1.3 WAA.
April 1: The Dodgers shipped A.J. Pollock, a solid outfield piece, to the White Sox in exchange for closer Craig Kimbrel. The Kimbrel pickup has been only ordinary; he has 14 saves but a 4.82 ERA and a negative WAA. But Pollock’s departure removed a declining asset, at least so far. In Chicago, he’s hit just .239 with no power and a .633 OPS, good for a -0.8 WAA.
March 28: Matt Beaty was a player without a position when the Dodgers shipped him to San Diego for a minor leaguer. Given the Padres’ role as prime challengers for division supremacy, the trade involved some risk. To date, however, it has actually helped Los Angeles. Beset all season by injuries, Beaty has made two trips to the IL while hitting just .108 and producing a -0.7 WAA.
March 23: March was a moving month for the Dodgers; all five of their biggest transactions occurred within a two-week period following the lockout’s end. The signing of Hanser Alberto as a free agent infield backup was the only one of the five that has not so far worked out in the Dodgers’ favor. He’s hitting just .224 with a .576 OPS and a -0.6 WAA.