Dodgers Nation: Blue Heaven Podcast

Miguel Rojas signed an extension with the Dodgers over the weekend so D-Mac discuss the details of the contract and what it means for LA and Rojas. He also breaks down what Rojas's role will be with the Dodgers this season as he has put in some time with younger players like Miguel Vargas. D-Mac dives into what impact Rojas can make for the team on and off the field, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Dodgers had a busy weekend as FanFest was held at Dodger Stadium! We talk about our experiences with our interviews with players and interesting things said by stars like Freddie Freeman, Julio Urias, and manager Dave Roberts! We react to the announcement of Fernando Valenzuela getting his number retired! Will there be more numbers retired? We discuss that and dive into Dave Robert's comments about the outfield and what it'll look like for 2023. Over the weekend, Miguel Rojas signed an extension with the team, leading us to have a conversation about what it means for the team and why they gave Rojas an extension. We discuss the impact he has had on the younger players like Miguel Vargas and what Rojas's role will have this upcoming season. Former Astros coach Alex Cora made some BOLD comments recently about the sign-stealing scandal in 2017 that ultimately lead to the Dodgers losing the World Series that year to Houston. Cora almost seemed like he was bragging about robbing LA of a title so we react Cora's comments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tony Gonsolin has finally signed a contract extension to avoid further arbitration talks. Gonsolin and the Dodgers reached a deal for 2 years for $6.65 million. The Catman had been in talks with the Dodgers for a bit and finally reached a deal. Gonsolin played a great role in the 2022 season so D-Mac discusses what his role will be for LA in 2023 and what the extension means for LA moving forward. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this edition of the Dodgers Nation Dougout, D-Mac dives into whether the Dodgers will give star catcher Will Smith an extension. It is unusual for LA to lock down their talent early on unlike some other teams in the MLB but could Will Smith be an exception? D-Mac breaks down whether LA will give Smith an extension and what a contract proposal would look like. With other talent up the pipeline like Diego Cartaya, would it make LA reluctant to sign Will Smith to a BIG extension? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Dodgers will have new faces in the outfield and the infield. We dive into the infield players and how we think they will fit this year. We discuss Miguel Rojas and the impact he has had off the field with potential infielders like Miguel Vargas. Vargas and Rojas will be names to watch throughout the season as they find their roles in the lineup and within the team. Gavin Lux seems to be the top option for LA at shortstop so we discuss what it'll look like to have Lux at shortstop. We then round out the infield outlook talking about Mookie at 2nd base and if there is any potential seeing him there. We look into comments made by Andrew Friedman about Miguel Vargas, Gavin Lux, and Max Muncy as LA nears spring training. With officiating errors around sports, we talk about Robo Umps heading to the MLB and what impact it has on the sport if implemented. We talk about the ups and downs of having a Robo Ump over human umps. We round out the show discussing who we think will be the Opening Day starter between Julio Urias and Clayton Kershaw as both have a case but only one can start. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dodgers top prospect Diego Cartaya joins D-Mac for a great chat about his journey to the MLB! We get to know more about Cartaya through a rapid fire round of questions as we ask him about his interests and favorite teammates. D-Mac then dives deep into his offseason and where Cartaya has improved in his game as he looks to make his debut in the majors. We discuss whether he has played other positions like 3rd base or somewhere in the infield. D-Mac learns more about Cartaya's time with Miguel Vargas, Bobby Miller, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Dodgers made some more quiet moves in the offseason as they signed three pitchers with some BIG LEAGUE experience in Jordan Yamamoto, Wander Suero, and Jordan Gowdy. All three have had some experiences in the majors so D-Mac breaks down why there were signed by LA, what impact they could make, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

D-Mac is joined by Dodgers pitcher Ryan Pepiot for a SPECIAL interview! They do a little rapid fire round of questions to get to know Pepiot a little better then dive into his first taste in the majors this past season. They discuss his wicked changeup pitch and why it is so effective for him on the mound. They talk about his offseason and how he has progressed his offseason and what his role could potentially be with LA this season. They go over some Dodgers prospects that may make an impact this year and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this edition of the Dodgers Nation Dougout, D-Mac breaks down the signing of Tyler Cyr! A right-handed relief pitcher with some MLB experience that might see some actions if certain things happen through the season. D-Mac discussed the impact Cyr could have and if we will see Cyr at Dodger Stadium this year. He then goes into whether LA should consider signing Blake Treinen to reset luxury tax in order to get some pieces that will help the team win now or potential space for a big signing in the offseason. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this edition of the Dodgers Nation Dougout, D-Mac discusses how the Dodgers could land MLB superstar Shohei Ohtani. Reports from ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan talked about how many around the MLB believed that Ohtani would be the first $500 million dollar man. He breaks down what it'll take the Dodgers to get him and what the competition will be like to get him at Dodger Stadium. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We begin the show talking about some non roster impact players especially in the center field position. We dive deep into the battles that we will see among Jason Hayward, Bradley Zimmer, and Steven Dugger. We talk a bit about whether Trayce Thompson will have a role in the outfield for the Dodgers this upcoming season. We then discuss the young players within the farm system that can make an impact on the roster this year like Miguel Vargas, Gavin Stone, and Diego Cartaya. We do some Dodgers news roundup talking about the impact of signing Tyler Cyr, Tony Gonsolin's retooling in his mechanics/arbitration talks, Miguel Rojas already making an impact with some of the potential rookies being brought up, Stephen Nelson joining the broadcast team, and the rehiring of Chris Woodward as a front office assistant. We finish off the show talking about Arte Moreno no longer selling the Angels and what that could potentially mean for the Dodgers in a potential Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes this season or in the next offseason. We give a recap of our favorite Dodgers bat flips as well! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

D-Mac is joined by Dodgers writer Tim Rogers to talk about James Outman! With the departure of Cody Bellinger, D-Mac and Tim break down James Outman potentially being brought up to play centerfield. The Dodgers seem to be moving toward getting younger in certain positions, giving opportunities to younger prospects like James Outman, who showed some spark this past season. They talk about how Outman could fill the needs in the outfield for LA and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this edition of the Dodgers Nation Dougout, D-Mac gives a recap of Dodgers arbitration deals as Julio Urias, Walker Buehler, Dustin May, Will Smith, and others find a way to get contract talks negotiated with LA while Tony Gonsolin seems to be headed towards arbitration with LA soon. D-Mac breaks down the talks between Gonsolin and the Dodgers as they look to settle at a certain price. He also discusses expectations for Julio Urias to get a massive contract next offseason if he continues to dominate as he has the last couple of years. He dives into what Trevor Bauer's impact is on the payroll and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Doug McKain is joined by Dodgers infielder Max Muncy! D-Mac asks Muncy about his offseason as he looks to bounce back from a rocky 2022 season, Muncy's thoughts on the new look Dodgers with the departures of Justin Turner and Cody Bellinger, Max's reaction the Rojas trade, the Padres-Dodgers matchup, and much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

LA finished negotiations with certain players this past weekend to avoid arbitration except Tony Gonsolin so the two sides will enter arbitration in order to figure out contractual means. We talk about the impact of the Cat Man and what arbitration between the two sides will look like. We try to break down what the two sides will settle at and what Gonsolin's impact will be this season. Other than Gonsolin, we gave a quick recap of contract talks between the Dodgers and certain players like Will Smith, Walker Buehler, Julio Urias and others! Last week, the Dodgers made a trade with the Miami Marlins for Miguel Rojas. We break down what the Miguel Rojas trade means for the upcoming season as Rojas looks to make an impact on the lineup. We dive into the mixed reactions of the Rojas trade as well as giving our own reactions to the Rojas-Amaya trade. To finish out the show, the DN crew gives our predictions on what the lineup will look like for the Dodgers in the upcoming 2023 season! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices