Those power, 2B types are sooo valuable and rare. I love me a stable 2B... If they really do think his bat is gonna be a good one, and they sign him, I say we get ourselves a defensive heavy SS to move Hanley to third and have great up the middle D.
I'd basically agree though Hanley's D at SS has been acceptable and surprisingly fat Uribe's D at 3B has been better than expected. Sign Guerrero to replace Marky but keep those other thoughts shelved...
Dodgers near deal with Cuban infielder Guerrero http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/n...0909&content_id=60049042&vkey=news_la&c_id=la Cuban infield prospect Alexander Guerrero is closing in a multi-year deal worth $32 million with the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to industry sources. The pact is expected to be between five and seven years. An official announcement is expected this week. The 5-foot-11, 205-pound Guerrero is a veteran of Serie Nacional, the island's top league, and was an All-Star in 2010 and '11 with Las Tunas. He defected from Cuba earlier this year, established residency in Haiti and had been training in the Dominican Republic. Guerrero was granted free agency by Major League Baseball in July, but did not secure an unblocking license from the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which would allow him to sign with a Major League team, until last Friday. Guerrero participated in a series of showcases in front of scouts at the Dodgers' complex in the Dominican Republic in July, where Los Angeles eventually emerged as the favorite. Known for his powerful bat and speed on the bases, Guerrero felt slighted when he was left off the Cuban team roster for the 2013 World Baseball Classic and risked his life in search of his big league dreams.
So if it's a 5 year deal (which would have the highest AAV) it's at 6.4 mil per year. At worst, 4.57 mil per year which is pretty damn low. 5 year deal ends when he's 32, so presumably throughout just his prime. 7 year deal might get some decline in the end. I wonder how good he'll be, it doesn't seem like a huge risk but I wonder how big the upside is if we're nabbing him for those ages at that cost. having some stability at 2B is awesome though.
It seems he's missed the playoff eligibility deadline though, so this is a move for next year and beyond only
Hanley should be left alone. he's a happy man at SS and when he's happy he's a monster at the plate and we as Dodger fans are happy. until Hanley can no longer make routine plays ( or Seager just becomes a clear upgrade at that position and they can't hold him back any longer), Hanley should stay at short. i was thinking more along the lines of Howie Kendrick...get those trade talks back underway. but that's only if they don't get Guerrero or Cano doesn't accept a 4yr offer. Kendrick would be solid at the top of our order and Crawford could then be dealt...outside of his stint on the DL, Crawford's having a decent year and doin a number on his trade value. they'd still have to pay maybe a third or half his salary to move him, but maybe Tampa would bite on a Joc Pederson/Crawford offer for David Price. put Pederson and Crawford in the outfield with Will Meyers and we put Price in our rotation and have far and away the best 1-2-3 in recent memory
If this kid is a low OBP power guy with plus defense at 2B he's 2013 Brandon Phillips. That has immense value, and at 6 million a year is a steal. Let's hope he pans out (and that the report is correct)
I was in a good natured 15 minute argument with the guy next to me at the Reds game about Votto vs Phillips. He was a nice guy with a poor concept of value.
For me a guy who has career averages of .254/.336/.429/.765, 24 doubles, 15.5 HRs, 55 RBI and 10 SB is good.
