DODGERS: News/Rumors

So if Sands is sent down for Kennedy we essentially had replaced Kennedy for Gwynn Jr meanwhile keeping Uribe, Loney, and Rivera...

 

Is the Juan Uribe era nearly over?
August, 7, 2012 | 5:52 PM PT
By Mark Saxon | ESPNLosAngeles.com

Normally, the return of a 36-year-old, .250-hitting utility player wouldn't garner much attention.

But many people have begun anticipating the corresponding roster move the Dodgers must make Friday, when Adam Kennedy is scheduled to come off the disabled list in Miami. Will the Dodgers cut ties with Juan Uribe and get nothing out of the $10 million they'll be paying him through the end of next season, or take the safer route and send Jerry Sands back to Triple-A?

Asked to describe Uribe's role Tuesday, manager Don Mattingly didn't exactly give an indication the team has big plans.

"He's an extra, basically, on a team that's pretty well set, lineup-wise," Mattingly said.

Uribe, batting .193 with two home runs in 150 at-bats, hasn't played since Aug. 1 and hasn't started since July 22. The Dodgers have an everyday shortstop now, Hanley Ramirez, and they seem to prefer Jerry Hairston Jr. and Luis Cruz at third.

Kennedy was scheduled to play in rehabilitation games for Triple-A Albuquerque the next two nights and then travel to meet the team in South Florida.

* Shane Victorino said Monday he would like to re-sign with the Dodgers when his contract expires after this season and Mattingly sounded fond of the idea when asked about it before Tuesday's game.

"He fits," Mattingly said. "He fits, really, for what we've missed. We were looking for a guy up front, at the top of the order. We talked about it many times, with Dee [Gordon's] struggles, we didn't really have a leadoff guy. Obviously, switch hitter, a lot of speed, which is nice."

 

Heyman On Dodgers, Phillies, Red Sox
By Ben Nicholson-Smith [August 8 at 8:43am CST]

Ned Colletti says the Dodgers’ new ownership group has encouraged bold midseason deals, even if the moves require cash, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports. Though the Dodgers have no intention of being reckless, they won’t hesitate to make moves that improve their roster, as evidenced by their flurry of midseason additions and waiver claim on well-compensated left-hander Cliff Lee. Here are some highlights from Heyman’s article:

• Though player salaries matter to any GM, they are not the most important variable in Los Angeles. "We're back to thinking about players in a baseball context," Colletti said. "Salary is part of the checklist. But it's not necessarily an obstacle."

• The Dodgers attempted to trade for Lee after claiming him, making the Phillies multiple offers before being shut down quickly. The Phillies would only have considered trades if they got significant MLB players in return, plus complete salary relief.

• The Dodgers inquired on Adrian Gonzalez, but "it takes two to make a deal," one Red Sox person told Heyman.

 

Rangers and Josh Hamilton won't talk money until after the year​

By Jon Heyman | Baseball Insider​

August 8, 2012 3:44 pm ET​

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With no common ground found between the Rangers and superstar outfielder Josh Hamilton, the sides aren't expected to pick up contract talks until after the year, people familiar with the situation tell CBSSports.com.​

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The Rangers have yet to make a contract offer this year for the free-agent-to-be star, quite possibly because they view the gap as being too wide to bridge. Hamilton was said this spring by a source to be seeking to be paid like an "elite'' player, which presumably means a deal along the lines of the 9- and 10-year, $200-million-plus deals received by Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder and Joey Votto at about that time.​

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Two rival GMs said Hamilton shouldn't expect more than a four-to-five year deal, with one saying "it should be $100 (million) for five, tops'' and another predicting Hamilton should get $25-to-28 million a year for five, which translates to $125 million to $140 million.​

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The Rangers have purposely stayed away from ultra-long deals in all cases, and indications are that they won't buck that trend here. While they love Hamilton, better than anyone they also know the risks. Rangers president Nolan Ryan recently criticized Hamilton's lack of plate discipline, and Hamilton later beat himself up over his inability to quit chewing tobacco.​

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Hamilton's agent Michael Moye said it's against his company policy to discuss ongoing contract situations. Rangers GM Jon Daniels also declined to comment.​

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The Rangers have been disciplined about not going overboard with contracts for stars, at least in terms of term. They gave a five-year deal with vesting option to Adrian Beltre and have given Michael Young and Ian Kinsler five-year extensions. They are believed to have offered a six-year deal to Cliff Lee, who took similar money over five years when he chose to sign with the Phillies instead. The Rangers tried for Fielder but are believed to have held the line there at six years, as well.​

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Hamilton, 31, has had two relapses during his otherwise extremely successful time with the Rangers, which included an MVP, a batting title and two World Series appearances. He was batting .281 with 29 home runs and 91 RBI going into this afternoon's game against the Red Sox, in which he hit his 30th home run. Hamilton seems to be gaining steam after a slide following an extraordinary start that saw him have a 1.181 OPS going into June.​

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While the competing execs predict a five-year deal for Hamilton, they allow for the "only takes one'' theory to rule. The Dodgers are a new big player for the big players, and one of the GMs noted, "I think he would fit for the Dodgers. Imagine Kemp-Hamilton-Hanley-Ethier.''​

 

Only Hamilton if it's reasonable. A seven year deal for him would be stupid.