I wonder where this guy got the "weigh heavily" idea about contracts during the season??? IMO, DBB's is the least troublesome.
From dodgersnation.com: The first move of the Los Angeles Dodgers off-season was acquiring Cuban infielder Alexander Guerrero. He was expected to begin the season at second base, but now there’s some uncertainty whether Guerrero is ready to compete at the major league level. Guerrero’s natural position is shortstop, but the Dodgers need him at second and while he’s been trying to learn the position, it might take longer than originally expected. Under his contract stipulations, Guerrero can be sent down to the minors without his consent, but only in his rookie season. The Dodgers might take the same approach they did with Yasiel Puig, start him at Double A and bring him up after he’s ready to and experienced at the position. He was supposed to gain valuable experience in winter ball, but a hamstring injury slowed him down. The Dodgers will now have to work with him until Spring Training and hope he’s ready to go by opening day. GM Ned Colleti said the Dodgers could sign a veteran infielder as a backup plan, especially if they feel Guerrero still has a long way to go. With the loss of Skip Schumaker, Jerry Hairston, Jr. and Nick Punto, Dee Gordon would be the internal candidate for the job. The Dodgers might need to act fast and sign some middle-infield depth, otherwise Gordon will be their only option.
Yeah....shoulda' signed Mark anyway, even without the disappointing Guerrero injury. Not a good "non-move' by NedCo. So the fabulously rich and flush LAD are looking at guys like Jamie now? Talk about anti-climax.
Jamey Wright signed his first Major League contract since 2005 when he agreed to a one-year, $1.8MM deal with the Dodgers last week. Fangraphs' Mike Petriello looks at how Wright has revived his career by adding a cutter to his arsenal, which led to more strikeouts and more success against right-handed batters. Right-hander Javy Guerra has become little more than a minor league depth option for the Dodgers, and Steve Dilbeck of the Los Angeles Times opines that Guerra could become trade bait. Guerra emerged as the Dodgers' closer in 2011 but hasn't been nearly as effective since, pitching in just 10 2/3 Major League innings in 2013. __
meh...it would have been nice to keep Mark Ellis around, but they said they wanted to get younger, so i get why they let him walk. they wanna get younger/more athletic. even if they let Dee man 2B it works for what they wanted to do. they may think Dee is closer to his 2011 self at the plate...he did have a good run in winter ball, playing center. i get why everyone is anti-Dee, but our lineup should be so powerful with a healthy Kemp added to it that the 8-hole hitter shouldn't matter much. if Dee can play decent defense @ 2B and back Kemp up in center he might bring some value as a young utility guy.
meh, fwiw... Los Angeles Dodgers Don't Need Brandon Phillips, Despite What Fans Might Say Yahoo Contributor Network By Dustin Nosler 38 minutes agoBrandon Phillips looks good in a Reds jersey. Dodger fans should hope it stays that way. COMMENTARY | There are some things in baseball that are just generally accepted. Bunting is good, Jack Morris is worthy of the Hall of Fame and Brandon Phillips is an elite second baseman.Funny thing is, none of those things are correct. So, I can't figure out for the life of me why some Dodger fans want the team to trade for the Cincinnati Reds' second baseman. I've seen it on Twitter and heard it on the radio. I just don't get it. The Los Angeles Dodgers signed 27-year-old Cuban second baseman Alexander Guerrero shortly after their season ended with the intention of him being their opening day starter at the position. Guerrero, a shortstop in Cuba, struggled to stay healthy during the Dominican Winter League season, which didn't give the Dodgers an ample look at this abilities. So, it's only logical that fans are looking for more of a sure thing at second base. I've suggested a number of options -- none of which are appealing. The most realistic choice to start at second base come opening day is Dee Gordon, but it's far from the most appealing. But he'd make a ton more sense than a guy like Phillips. Phillips, 32, is a pretty good defensive second baseman. That part of his game isn't overrated. He's posted a positive UZR/150 in every season he's been a full-time player, including a mark of 8.1 or better in the last four seasons. He's tied for sixth-best in defensive runs saved over the last four years at 28. In contrast, former Dodger Mark Ellis, whom they probably should have retained, is second-best with 47 DRS. Sixes are prominent here, but Phillips does have the sixth-best WAR of any second baseman in the last four seasons, but that takes into account a career-best 5.6 in 2011. His WAR is trending downward as he posted a 3.7 mark in 2012 and 2.6 in 2013. Projections have him as a 2-plus win player in 2014, which is fine. But that number isn't worth the $11 million he'll make in 2014, nor is it worth the $50 million he's due in the next four seasons. Phillips isn't the poster child for sabermetrics, as his walk rate is a paltry 5.8 percent for his career. His career .271 batting average is solid, but his .320 on-base percentage leaves a lot to be desired. Luckily, for him, he makes up for it with a career .429 slugging percentage. But a career .749 OPS isn't great for a perceived offensive threat, even at second base. Plus, if the Dodgers were (foolishly) to acquire Phillips, they'd essentially block Guerrero for the four years to which he's signed. Guerrero wouldn't bump Hanley Ramirez off shortstop for at least two years, as Juan Uribe is signed through 2015. Plus, the Dodgers are looking to extend Ramirez as he's entering his walk year. The best course of action for the Dodgers is to fill second base internally while they wait for Guerrero to be ready. It's entirely possible Guerrero has a strong spring training and proves he's ready for opening day, but I'm not counting on that. Dodger fans should get familiar with Gordon as the starting second baseman. Barring a Yasiel Puig-like spring training from Guerrero, that's probably going to be the case for a month or two. Dustin Nosler has followed the Dodgers from Northern California all his life. He's the founder of Feelin' Kinda Blue, a Los Angeles Dodgers' blog. He also co-hosts "Dugout Blues," a weekly Dodger podcast and writes about the St. Louis Rams on the Yahoo Contributor Network. Find him on Twitter @FeelinKindaBlue. __
The ones he made up so he could write a story. On the other hands perhaps they were Reds fans posing as Dodger fans. They probably suggested we should trade for Phillips and give up Kemp, Lee and another top prospect or two.
To be honest, before they signed the Cuban there was a bit of talk about going after Phillips from some corners. But it mostly died off as a result of the signing. There is always talk of going after somebody, no matter how incredulous it might be. Some of these come from what I call "knee jerk" fans. At the first sign of a problem their first reaction is "trade for player X" or "sign player Y".
I cringe every time I hear Vassegh or Kennedy talk about how the Dodgers should resign Michael Young.
I think you're right. I remember hearing that talks had occurred, but that the Reds wanted a ton for Phillips.
Dodgers ink five young international players Team signs teens from Curacao, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Netherlands The Dodgers announced the recent signing of five international prospects Tuesday -- outfielders Shakir Albert and Julio Lugo, catchers Hendrik Clementina and Gersel Pitre and right-hander Misja Harcksen. Albert (16 years old) and Clementina (16) are from Curacao, while Lugo (16) is from the Dominican Republic, Pitre (17) is a native of Venezuela and Harcksen (18) hails from The Netherlands. The signings cap a 2013 calendar year that saw the Dodgers sign 47 international amateur prospects, including 23 from the Dominican Republic, 10 from Venezuela, four from Mexico, two each from Colombia and Curacao, and one each from Brazil, Germany, Italy, Japan, Panama and The Netherlands.
More renovations for Dodger Stadium http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/la/...d_20140108_16754684&vkey=news_la&ymd=20140107
