Now that Dodger season is officially over on the field, the team can start focusing on the off-the-field stuff with the off-season and the Hot Stove around the corner. Some might say the off-season is one of the best times of the baseball season as baseball people and experts start making their own predictions as to where the free agents will end up, who could be traded and where, and start preparing for following season with their predictions and projections. It is a time where teams start having their in-house organizational meetings to get their game plan together for the off-season heading into the following season as both the General Manager and Winter meetings approach. Of course, for most teams, this all usually starts the day after the regular season ends, but for eight teams, it begins sometime in the month of October, depending on whether their team advances deep into the playoffs, or gets eliminated early. In the case of the Dodgers, this began on Thursday.
The Dodgers have a lot of questions to ponder, and a lot of decisions to make. They have a number of free agents-to-be (players can start filing for free agency after the World Series, and the free agency period can begin two weeks after the last day of the World Series). Below is an unofficial list of the principle Dodger free agents.
Each of the players above have their own situations. We already know about Manny, so no need to delve deeper into that one. But to put my two cents in anyway, the Dodgers would be dumb not to go all out to try and lure him back to L.A. But of course, as owner Frank McCourt said the other day, "it takes two to tango." Obviously Manny will go where the money is, and hopefully McCourt will be willing to be at the top of that list. The last two paragraphs in my earlier post today more or less says it all about Manny and his impact on the team, the fans and the city.
As for the others, Derek Lowe had made it be known throughout his tenure in L.A. that he didn't feel like he was appreciated much in L.A., and it has become more and more obvious that he will likely go back east again, where he'd be closer to his family and be more comfortable. Perhaps a return to Boston?
Rafael Furcal still says he wants to stay in L.A., and the Dodgers want him back. There is still a concern about his back, which could prompt the Dodgers to offer a heavily incentive-laden one-year deal, perhaps with an option year. It seems because of the mutual interest, something will get done, perhaps sooner than later.
Casey Blake brought consistency back to third base for the Dodgers, something they've only had once since Ron Cey left after the 1982 season, and that was Adrian Beltre from 1998 to 2004. Blake has been non-commital when asked about whether or not he wants to return to L.A., but despite his age (35), the Dodgers would probably try to convince him to return for another year, to allow Blake Dewitt another year of seasoning.
Jeff Kent had already stated during last off-season that this would likely be his final season, but he, too, was non-commital when asked about it late in the season. At 41, and with a lack of consistency over the last two years, primarily because of injuries, it's pretty obvious the Dodgers will move in a different direction at second, with either DeWitt, another free agent (Orlando Hudson?), or via a trade.
Nomar Garciaparra has been a fan favorite ever since he "came home" to L.A. three years ago. However, the oft-injured Whittier native has probably played his last game in Blue despite his versatility around the infield. There is always the possibility that the Dodgers could try to persuade him to come back as a utility reserve specialist and right-handed bat off the bench, but it's more likely than not he still wants to play everyday, and thinks he can. Could he possibly land on a west coast AL team as a DH, say, with the Angels? We'll see.
Chan Ho Park was a pleasant surprise out of the Dodger bullpen, and as a spot starter, this season. It's no shock that Park has had a lot of success pitching in L.A. and he could be a cheap option to return next season as a key part of the bullpen core.
Brad Penny technically has one more season left on his contract, but it's an option year in which the team holds the option. Penny had a very solid 2007 but struggled mightily this season having spent three stints on the disabled list and never really getting any consistency going after mid-May. The team placed him on the 60-day DL in late September after he struggled in two outings to get anyone out after his second DL stint, and he was ultimately left off the playoff roster. This didn't sit well with him, and he was never around for the end of the season or the postseason to support his teammates. It is my thought that, all that aside, the Dodgers probably will buy out the option year of his contract, and Penny will become a free agent.
Greg Maddux was strictly a rent-a-pitcher, again. He struggled in most of his starts with the team, but was effective in his limited appearances in the post-season. Despite his age, Maddux probably has another year or two left in him because of his pitching style, but it probably wont be in L.A.
Several Dodgers are facing arbitration for the first time in their careers. I'm not 100% sure on all of these names, but I do believe these players - James Loney, Russell Martin, Chad Billingsley, Jonathan Broxton, Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier - are eligible. How much these players get through arbitration (if it gets to that point) will also determine how much the Dodgers might be willing to spend on free agents. The payroll was fairly high this season, and Frank McCourt has not indicated whether or not he would allow the payroll to increase if they need it to sign any free agents.
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As expected, through his agent, Juan Pierre has asked the Dodgers to trade him if they have no intention on playing him everyday. Pierre was a good sport and a professional about his situation when the Dodgers signed Andruw Jones before the season and it appeared that he would lose playing time behind Jones, Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier. He found his way into the lineup periodically when Jones got hurt and Ethier struggled at times. Then it appeared he would lose more playing time when the Dodgers traded for Manny Ramirez. And that's exactly what happened.
Pierre never should have been signed in the first place. I had said before they signed him before last season that the Dodgers should re-sign their 2006 centerfielder, Kenny Lofton, for one more season and then slide Matt Kemp into center this season. But after they signed Pierre last season, they signed Jones before this season, and then added Manny at the end of July, and created a logjam in the outfield.
It seems as if there's going to be a logjam again next season because all indications are they will make a valiant effort to bring Manny back to L.A. If they do (and Kemp and Ethier will the other outfielders regardless), then that leaves Jones as the 4th outfielder. If they don't, chances are they don't go after another outfielder and Pierre will likely get stuck behind the $18MM-man, Andruw Jones.
I would guess they'll make an effort to trade him, but only after they know how the Manny situation plays out. Either way, I think the Dodgers have their hands tied because of Pierre's contract (he's still got three years left on it at roughly $11MM/year). They would almost have to be willing to eat some of the contract in order to convince a team to take him.
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Please take a moment to take some the polls in the column to left as they pertain to the free agents listed above, and such.
The Dodgers have a lot of questions to ponder, and a lot of decisions to make. They have a number of free agents-to-be (players can start filing for free agency after the World Series, and the free agency period can begin two weeks after the last day of the World Series). Below is an unofficial list of the principle Dodger free agents.
- Manny Ramirez
- Derek Lowe
- Rafael Furcal
- Casey Blake
- Jeff Kent
- Nomar Garciaparra
- Chan Ho Park
- Brad Penny
- Greg Maddux
Each of the players above have their own situations. We already know about Manny, so no need to delve deeper into that one. But to put my two cents in anyway, the Dodgers would be dumb not to go all out to try and lure him back to L.A. But of course, as owner Frank McCourt said the other day, "it takes two to tango." Obviously Manny will go where the money is, and hopefully McCourt will be willing to be at the top of that list. The last two paragraphs in my earlier post today more or less says it all about Manny and his impact on the team, the fans and the city.
As for the others, Derek Lowe had made it be known throughout his tenure in L.A. that he didn't feel like he was appreciated much in L.A., and it has become more and more obvious that he will likely go back east again, where he'd be closer to his family and be more comfortable. Perhaps a return to Boston?
Rafael Furcal still says he wants to stay in L.A., and the Dodgers want him back. There is still a concern about his back, which could prompt the Dodgers to offer a heavily incentive-laden one-year deal, perhaps with an option year. It seems because of the mutual interest, something will get done, perhaps sooner than later.
Casey Blake brought consistency back to third base for the Dodgers, something they've only had once since Ron Cey left after the 1982 season, and that was Adrian Beltre from 1998 to 2004. Blake has been non-commital when asked about whether or not he wants to return to L.A., but despite his age (35), the Dodgers would probably try to convince him to return for another year, to allow Blake Dewitt another year of seasoning.
Jeff Kent had already stated during last off-season that this would likely be his final season, but he, too, was non-commital when asked about it late in the season. At 41, and with a lack of consistency over the last two years, primarily because of injuries, it's pretty obvious the Dodgers will move in a different direction at second, with either DeWitt, another free agent (Orlando Hudson?), or via a trade.
Nomar Garciaparra has been a fan favorite ever since he "came home" to L.A. three years ago. However, the oft-injured Whittier native has probably played his last game in Blue despite his versatility around the infield. There is always the possibility that the Dodgers could try to persuade him to come back as a utility reserve specialist and right-handed bat off the bench, but it's more likely than not he still wants to play everyday, and thinks he can. Could he possibly land on a west coast AL team as a DH, say, with the Angels? We'll see.
Chan Ho Park was a pleasant surprise out of the Dodger bullpen, and as a spot starter, this season. It's no shock that Park has had a lot of success pitching in L.A. and he could be a cheap option to return next season as a key part of the bullpen core.
Brad Penny technically has one more season left on his contract, but it's an option year in which the team holds the option. Penny had a very solid 2007 but struggled mightily this season having spent three stints on the disabled list and never really getting any consistency going after mid-May. The team placed him on the 60-day DL in late September after he struggled in two outings to get anyone out after his second DL stint, and he was ultimately left off the playoff roster. This didn't sit well with him, and he was never around for the end of the season or the postseason to support his teammates. It is my thought that, all that aside, the Dodgers probably will buy out the option year of his contract, and Penny will become a free agent.
Greg Maddux was strictly a rent-a-pitcher, again. He struggled in most of his starts with the team, but was effective in his limited appearances in the post-season. Despite his age, Maddux probably has another year or two left in him because of his pitching style, but it probably wont be in L.A.
Several Dodgers are facing arbitration for the first time in their careers. I'm not 100% sure on all of these names, but I do believe these players - James Loney, Russell Martin, Chad Billingsley, Jonathan Broxton, Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier - are eligible. How much these players get through arbitration (if it gets to that point) will also determine how much the Dodgers might be willing to spend on free agents. The payroll was fairly high this season, and Frank McCourt has not indicated whether or not he would allow the payroll to increase if they need it to sign any free agents.
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As expected, through his agent, Juan Pierre has asked the Dodgers to trade him if they have no intention on playing him everyday. Pierre was a good sport and a professional about his situation when the Dodgers signed Andruw Jones before the season and it appeared that he would lose playing time behind Jones, Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier. He found his way into the lineup periodically when Jones got hurt and Ethier struggled at times. Then it appeared he would lose more playing time when the Dodgers traded for Manny Ramirez. And that's exactly what happened.
Pierre never should have been signed in the first place. I had said before they signed him before last season that the Dodgers should re-sign their 2006 centerfielder, Kenny Lofton, for one more season and then slide Matt Kemp into center this season. But after they signed Pierre last season, they signed Jones before this season, and then added Manny at the end of July, and created a logjam in the outfield.
It seems as if there's going to be a logjam again next season because all indications are they will make a valiant effort to bring Manny back to L.A. If they do (and Kemp and Ethier will the other outfielders regardless), then that leaves Jones as the 4th outfielder. If they don't, chances are they don't go after another outfielder and Pierre will likely get stuck behind the $18MM-man, Andruw Jones.
I would guess they'll make an effort to trade him, but only after they know how the Manny situation plays out. Either way, I think the Dodgers have their hands tied because of Pierre's contract (he's still got three years left on it at roughly $11MM/year). They would almost have to be willing to eat some of the contract in order to convince a team to take him.
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Please take a moment to take some the polls in the column to left as they pertain to the free agents listed above, and such.
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