Stan Kasten says it's 'way premature' for Dodgers fans to be unhappy
Many fans of the Los Angeles Dodgers have grown anxious at the lack of movement from the team's front office this offseason, angst that Dodgers president Stan Kasten believes is unnecessary.
"If you're feeling down right now about the Dodgers, I think it's unwarranted, as well as way premature," Kasten said. "We had all kinds of scenarios when the season ended. We did reach for some big-ticket items very early that didn't work out for various reasons."
One of the big-ticket items in which the Dodgers were involved was for 2015 NL Cy Young runner-up Zack Greinke, who pitched masterfully for the Dodgers over the past three seasons. Los Angeles reportedly was reluctant to give Greinke a sixth year on his contract, which allowed the Arizona Diamondbacks to swoop in and sign him to a six-year, $206 -million deal.
The loss of Greinke, in addition to a nixed deal with Hisashi Iwakuma after he failed a physical and a snuffed trade for Cincinnati Reds closer Aroldis Chapman amid domestic abuse allegations, has stranded the Dodgers in need of starting pitching.
However, Kasten says he's content with the decisions the Dodgers have made this offseason.
"We're much closer today than we were three years ago to being the long-term, self-sustaining organization, and that doesn't get enough attention," he said. "Fans look at the short-term snapshot and maybe don't have enough time to reflect on what we have been spending a lot of our time and energy and money building here in L.A."
