Indeed, the Los Angeles Dodgers have confirmed interest in free agent slugger Anthony Rendon. Furthermore, some credible experts believe the Dodgers will sign Rendon.
Remember though, reports are that Andrew Friedman loves both Rendon and free agent ace Gerrit Cole. Therefore, if the Dodgers are likely to sign only one of the pair, which one should they write the deal with?
Thankfully, Joel Sherman went on MLB Network’s Hot Stove and played the role of Dodgers’ general manager for a day. Moreover, Sherman says the Dodgers should focus first on signing the ace arm and not Rendon.
https://t.co/Mcou33ooJ9 Played GM for a day on #MLBNow #MLBNetwork spending a lot of #Dodgers dollars.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) November 19, 2019
Here is what Sherman says in regards to signing Cole over Rendon in Los Angeles:
“The first thing I would do is, I would seriously pursue Gerrit Cole,” Sherman said Monday on MLB Network’s “Hot Stove” program as he played the role of the Dodgers’ general manager.
Next, the reasoning Sherman provides is more important; and in this case it makes sense. Notably, Sherman believes that the Dodgers need two frontline starters to take that next step in the playoffs. To be honest, I agree with his next quote entirely.
“I want to get to the point where Cole and Walker Buehler are my No. 1 and 2 starters, and I begin to de-emphasize Clayton Kershaw, who’s still a very good Major League starter. But it gets to the postseason every year and they’re somehow beholden to Clayton Kershaw, who even himself, after [National League Division Series] Game 5 when they were eliminated against Washington, talked about his history in the postseason, which is, at best, mixed.”
Finally, I believe Sherman hits the nail on the proverbial head with this segment. While he gives mention to the Nationals eliminating the Dodgers – I look at how the Nationals won the World Series. Without question, it was having two frontline starters they could trot out in a short series to neutralize Houston’s powerful lineup.
This is why I have wanted Cole in Los Angeles as my number one option since winter began for the Dodgers. If you were the Dodgers, which player would you sign first and why? Is Sherman correct?
