Last Day of Business

Today is the last day of business before the New Year for MLB clubs. Barry M. (moron?) Bloom writes this for MLB.com:

Heading into their 50th anniversary season in Los Angeles, the Dodgers made a big splash this month by signing free agents Andruw Jones and Hiroki Kuroda. This coming after Torre left the Yankees and replaced Grady Little as manager.

Though Jones will displace Juan Pierre in center field, perhaps moving Pierre to left, the Blue Crew still could use another power bat in the middle of the lineup behind Jones and Jeff Kent. If not, they're eyeing another season using the oft-injured Nomar Garciaparra at third base.

While Scott Rolen would fit nicely into this picture, GM Ned Colletti may be more likely to pit Garciaparra and Andy LaRoche against each other this spring. An outfield surplus of Pierre and Andre Ethier gives Colletti some trading chips. And it's hard to believe, because of the current falling out between Rolen and manager Tony La Russa in St. Louis, that Rolen will remain with the Cardinals.

Keep this one on the front burner.

What the fuck? Please Ned Colletti keep this off the front burner, in fact keep it in the fridge. We already have one hobbled 3b in Garciahamm. Andy LaRoche at least deserves a shot if we can't acquire a solid 3b. Solid meaning someone who doesn't need crutches while taking his position. Crede would be a nice addition.

As for Bloom's contention that the Dodgers don't have any other power hitters, I beg to differ. Matt Kemp hit 10 homers in 292 AB, had an OPS of .849 & is still only 23. What about James Loney? He hit 15 dingers & had an OPS of .919. He too is only 23. What about Russell Martin? Well Mr. Martin knocked out 19 last season while playing the most physically demanding position in baseball. His OPS? .843. He'll be 25 when the season starts. This is a young team with the makings of a nucleus that could be together for a number of years. Remember those years of Sax, Garvey, Cey, Russell & Lopes? They all came up right around the same time & the Dodgers were a force to reckoned with.

Barry Bloom is a nationally read journalist a little fact checking and common sense should come into the equation. Scott Rolen is a liability the Cards can't wait to get rid of, he's been a cancer in nearly every clubhouse he's been and burned so many bridges that Tony La Russa publicly ridicules him. I do concede that there is one way this could happen & that is if the Dodgers move Pierre for Rolen straight up then move either LaRoche or Ethier to left and trade the odd man out for relief pitching. The salaries match up pretty closely & even Rolen is better than Pierre. Colletti has had a good spring thus far. I can't help but wait for the other shoe to drop.

Andy La Roche or Pedro Feliz?

I was reading Randy Youngman's column in the OC Register & I find it very hard to believe that Ned Colletti would prefer signing someone like Pedro Feliz or trading for Brandon Inge over playing Andy La Roche at 3b. Now, it's a well known fact that Ned Colletti is still a closet Giant lover (he wears that 2nd place ring all over the place), but even he should see the stupidity in signing Pedro Feliz. Jayson Stark has already pointed out that the Dodgers have no interest in Brandon Inge.

All I want for Christmas is a Starting Pitcher...Oh & maybe a reliever

So the Dodgers got one of their guys in Andruw Jones & it's a great pick-up (we've discussed this), but there are other needs still there. The need for a 3b is a need only if you don't think Andy La Roche can carry the load himself. True his stint in the majors last season was not impressive, but he did battle injuries all season & a full year with the big club may be just what he needs to raise his game to the next level.

What the Dodgers really need is a starting pitcher and some relief help. As I've written before, who knows how good or healthy Schmidt or Loaiza will be after they were hurt last season? If the Dodgers land Kuroda then the need for a starter is lessened and a middle reliever can be found for perhaps Ethier. The Tampa Bay Rays could be interested but will have to come up with some better offers than Al Reyes for Ethier straight up.

There have been some ruminations that the Dodgers are interested in Johan Santana. Of course, they are interested, the Pirates are interested, he's the best pitcher in baseball. The fact is, though, that Ned Colletti does not want to move Matt Kemp. In his own words, to Tony Jackson of the L.A. Times,

"I'd have to have a conversation where my jaw drops. It's got to be something you can't say no to. I haven't heard anything like that. In fact, teams have stopped asking."

He also said,

"We are not of the mind to give up three or four prospects for one player, I'll tell you that."

Any 4 for 1 or 5 for 1 rumors should be put to rest. It is inconceivable to me that the Dodgers would create holes at other positions to fill another. A great story was written about this on the blog Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness, basically saying how the Dodgers Farm system is so much better than almost anyone else's that other prospects are more highly valued because of the depth. I agree with that sentiment and believe that Logan White deserves much of the credit.

If the Dodgers don't sign another player, don't get that pitcher & go into the season with what they have now...I think it's safe to say that it would still be a successful winter. Ethier can come off the bench or turn Juan Pierre into one of the most expensive bench players ever (I believe Jason Giambi is the most expensive).

ANDRUW JONES SIGNS

Ken Gurnick form MLB.com reports that the Dodgers have reached an agreement with Andruw Jones for 2 years/36 million dollars. I know I'm pretty hard on Ned Colletti but this is a great deal. Great job, Ned!!!

Steve Phillips, by the way, is a huge idiot saying, "The Dodgers are a long way away from signing Jones and thinks we're gonna have to wait a while until this goes down." That was @ 9:30 pst. Gurnick broke this story at 10:09 pst.

Ned Colletti Speak

For all of you out there who aren't sure of what Ned Colletti means when he speaks, I will now translate for you. This from a recent article on Dodgers.com.

COLLETTI SPEAK: Colletti said he is not of the mind to break up the core of the youth movement and that three-for-one or four-for-one was too much to deal for any single player.

"You fill a one-year need with a tremendous player and look around and have three more needs to fill," he said. "I'm not sure how you gain on the process."

TRANSLATION -- I do not want to be the guy who traded away Clayton Kershaw like my predecessors traded away Pedro Martinez...fair enough.

COLLETTI SPEAK: "We believe in our scouts and when you listen to them talk about someone like Clayton Kershaw, for example, a few years down the road he might be the same guy [as Willis]. If there's four players you might deal and two of them have a chance to be one of those guys [like Willis], why would you do that?"

TRANSLATION: I have no balls.

COLLETTI SPEAK: "You see what it costs to acquire a player and how much the core of your team is uprooted to do it," he said. "We're on the right course. Other guys are on the verge of joining [James] Loney, Kemp, Broxton, [Chad] Billingsley. Maybe it's LaRoche, maybe it's Chin-lung Hu, maybe [James] McDonald or Kershaw."

TRANSLATION: Frank Mc Cheap would rather have these guys that he doesn't have to pay as much for another 5 or 6 years compared to some like Cabrera who will cost a fortune in two.

COLLETTI SPEAK: The Dodgers met with Jones' agent, Scott Boras, on Tuesday with both sides aware that the Dodgers are willing to offer a short-term contract to the 30-year-old center fielder, who is coming off his worst season (.222 average, 26 homers, 94 RBIs).

TRANSLATION: Frank Mc Cheap can't afford to pay someone for too long cause there is a good chance he will default on the loan he already has paying off the team still. Which is why his wife is in charge, better than actually having to pay someone who knows what the hell they're doing. The average may suck but he still had more homers than any Dodger & the flexibility of adding another OF would allow them to move someone like Kemp for someone like Bedard.

COLLETTI SPEAK: The Dodgers, however, would prefer to land Japanese right-hander Hiroki Kuroda, whose signing would come without dealing away any young players. Patience is required, however, as Kuroda has not given pursuing clubs a timetable on a decision and is considering a trip to the United States next week to visit the cities vying for him. Colletti said it was not decided whether Kuroda would visit Los Angeles.

TRANSLATION: Hey, we're the Dodgers we don't spend money. In fact, if Kuroda wants to come to L.A. he better pay for the ticket himself cause Mc Cheap can not afford to pay for him to fly here. Last season Mc Cheap wanted the Dodgers to forfeit all their road games on the East Coast to save money on airfare.

COLLETTI SPEAK: Colletti, on his stated desire to acquire a big bat, suggesting it might turn out to be Kemp or Loney: "How do you know we don't have that right there?"

TRANSLATION: How do you know that I'll have a job next winter. If I have to deal with an owner who's wallet hasn't been opened since the Carter administration then who's to say he'll not give the GM job to his Dog or the maid or maybe even his son Drew (I will root for the God Damn Giants if Drew gets anywhere near running anything, but the program stand outside of Dodger stadium).

COLLETTI SPEAK: And Colletti, referring to the clubhouse tension that boiled over in September, said: "I've got a real good idea what went on, I know why it occurred and it's been addressed in a lot of different ways."

TRANSLATION: Jeff Kent's Mustache was to blame. I asked him to shave, but he gave a convincing argument for keeping it on. We're on the hook for 9 million, 4.5 to that 'stache if he let's it go then we're paying 4.5 mil to a 'stache that is no longer on the team. We already have Juan Pierre and his 14 year old mustache to pay for the next three years.

Colletti get's interviewed

Joe Hamrahi from Baseball Digest interviewed Ned Colletti & considering Frank Mc Cheap's short leash when it comes to GM's I could very well see this being Colletti's last year. SPEND SOME MONEY YOU CHEAP BASTARD!!!

INTERVIEW WITH COLLETTI

Check out this interview with Ned Colletti from the NY Daily News. He actually might be starting to make some sense.