Wolf Headed to the Brew Crew

Here are all the links you need.

Randy Wolf's deal with the Brewers is for three years and just under $30MM, with a club option for a fourth year. Yikes!

I know he earned the deal with a stellar season with the Dodgers this past season, but three years seems like a lot for a him, especially in that ballpark. But I guess that's what happens when you follow up a solid season heading into free agency and you wind up ranked as the second or third best starting pitcher option among free agents.

I'm also still baffled as to why the Dodgers didn't offer this guy arbitration. Everyone knew he would get a multi-year deal after his solid performance this year and the Dodgers were only willing to do one-year to retain he services.

Bye bye, draft picks.

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Some other signings and tidbits...

Andy Pettitte, who was the other pitcher ranked second or third among starting pitchers on the free agent market (granted he didn't really make himself available to anyone but one team), has re-upped with the Yankees for another year at roughly $11.75MM. Shocker.

The Chone Figgins-to-Seattle Mariners deal became official yesterday, as well. Figgins agreed to a four-year deal late last week for roughly $36MM, with a fifth-year option, but the deal was hinged on whether or not Adrian Beltre accepted or declined the M's offer for arbitration. On Monday, Beltre, a Scott Boras client, officially declined before the deadline to make that decision.

So where does this leave Beltre? He'd be a perfect fit in Minnesota, I think.

Another former Dodger pitcher has found a new home. Brad Penny has moved on and signed with St. Louis. Penny's deal is for one-year, $7.5MM and with another $1.5MM in incentives (if he reaches 204 IP). Good luck with his two-cent head, Cards!

In a head-scratcher of a deal, the Nationals have signed former MVP catcher Ivan Rodriguez to a two-year deal for roughly $6MM. Say what?!

A Sweep and Interleague

Well, that was a nice ending to the Mets series. Dodgers complete a three-game sweep and improved their record to 29-13 (17-3 at home). But then last night happened.

During the Mets series, the Dodger offense started showing signs of living dangerously, and last night it caught up with them. It seems the Dodgers are starting to find it a wee-bit difficult to hit with runners in scoring position, and last night it proved to be costly as the Angels won the first game of their interleague matchup this weekendm handing the Dodgers a rare loss at home.

Clayton Kershaw didn't pitch very well either, but got lucky because the Angel bats had just as much trouble with runners in scoring position as the Dodgers did. The difference? While the Dodgers couldn't do anything against Angels starter Jered Weaver or the Angels pen, the Angels got that big hit when they needed it, and it turned out to be the game winner when Chone Figgins singled in two runs with the bases loaded in the 8th inning off losing pitcher Cory Wade.

The defense was pretty good in this game, as well. Most notably, Angel centerfielder Torii Hunter made two spectacular catches in the game, one of which probably saved an extra base hit off the bat of Casey Blake, and perhaps a run.

And, by the way, what has happened to Andre Ethier? His bat has gone comletely cold, and quiet, since Manny's suspension. I know the kid is a very good hitter, and a solid player, but it's become quite apparent that his offense has suffered immensely without Manny hitting in front of him. It is nice to see, however, Juan Pierre still tearing the cover off the ball in Manny's absence. Obviously Pierre doesn't possess the same power as Manny, but he's certainly proving his worth to this team by getting on base and being the table-setter for the offense. The Dodgers lead the Majors with 44 first inning runs.

Here is tonight's lineup, as the Dodgers send Randy Wolf to face off against Angels ace John Lackey, making just his third start of the season.