Dodgers Need a Third Baseman

Ken Rosenthal has a bunch of news and notes, including a bit about the misshapen offense of the Dodgers.  They have plenty of bats and plenty of prospects, but not enough to solve every problem they've got.  Rosenthal mentions Morgan Ensberg, Hank Blalock, and Joe Crede as potential trade targets, but rightfully notes that none would make that big of a difference.

The Dodgers recently called up prospect Andy LaRoche, a third baseman, and moved another prospect, Tony Abreu, to third at Triple-A Las Vegas.  So they are at least trying some different things while Wilson Betemit continues to not hit.  Through yesterday's games, Dodgers 3Bs (mostly Betemit) combined to "hit" 183/291/240, which is barely 80 points of OPS better than Dodgers pitchers! 

The move that would solve all of their problems would be giving Nomar Garciaparra a shot back at the hot corner.  Nomar played some third with the Cubs in 2005, but I certainly understand the team's reluctance to put any more pressure on his body.  But it would be perfect: Nomar at third would open up first base for James Loney, one of the best blocked prospects in baseball, and one of the guys teams will invariably ask about as the Dodgers try to upgrade during the season.

By Jeff Sackmann
Brew Crew Ball

Comments

[dan1to]

With Betemit, LaRoche, and Abreu all playing third a platoon is more likely than moving Nomar. Unfortunately Nomar does block Loney, but management is sold on Nomar apparently. They worry about his arm strength making the throw from 3rd. If LaRoche and Betemit dont platoon well in the next few weeks, look for a trade. Hopefully they dont give up Loney, but we do need some consistent power!

[bobo]

So they sit on LaRoche as one of the best prospects in baseball for years, only to acquire an overpriced veteran to block him (a la Nomar/Loney) without even giving him a chance? I don't buy it. (Though yeah, I guess that has been their MO this year.)

They're playing well now - the most likely scenario will be once Gonzalez inevitably slumps and they acquire a power hitting OF. Of course Dunn is mentioned most often but there will be other options.

They have a wealth of young pitching, and Loney should be available as well. As good a hitter as he is, he's unlikely to hit for much power, limiting his value as a 1B.

But like I always say, there's not too much that can be done to easily improve this team, short of going back in time and undoing the Nomar, Gonzalez, and Pierre signings.

What about Gonzalez and a prospect (either a non-Elbert or Kershaw pitcher or the Asian SS whose name escapes me) for Dunn?

[DH]

Troy Glaus perhaps? Jays are spiralling out of it so a "reload" might be in order. Glaus is on quite a tear of late as well. Would probably cost Laroche and a near ready pitcher - Billinsley.

[mymrbig]

I love playing GM, but I don't have many suggestions for the Dodgers 3B situation. THey really should just give LaRoche a couple weeks before thinking of making any trades. Sure, he was ugly during spring training (offensively and defensively) and started out bad at AAA (offensively). But everyone knows he has a ton of potential and has a track-record of success at AA and AAA from last year. If he comes around, then he gives them a league average (or better) 3b.

I don't see Crede, Ensberg, or Blalock as improvements.

Blalock can't hit lefties and can't hit outside of Texas and Dodger Stadium isn't exactly hitter friendly.

Ensberg is inconsistent and could be really good (2005) or really bad (2006). Not worth giving up prospects to take a chance on him.

Crede is solid enough, but I just don't think he's so much of an upgrade over what LaRoche can do that it justifies trading a bunch of young guys.

I agree with bobo in that the best thing would be to go back in time and hit the "undo" button on most of their FA signings (Wolf was good, others bad). I agree with dan1to that trying Nomar at 3b would probably be preferable to a trade at this point if neither LaRoche or Betemit come around.

I would change my tune if there were a stud 3b available (A-Rod, A-Ram, Cabrera, etc.) that would guarantee to be a significant upgrade. But since none of that caliber player are available, the Dodgers should sit tight at least another 2-3 weeks and see what LaRoche can do.

[EM3]

Morgan Ensberg is a good one. The Red Sox will need a 3b next year, and I'd love to snag him. He's got a great eye, and I still believe he can regain that power stroke. How about a Coco for Ensberg trade, with Ellsbury taking over in CF?

[mymrbig]

Glaus would be a solid choice, but I wouldn't think of surrendering LaRoche & Billingsley for him!

Dunn would be a nice choice if he's available. But the NL Central is so wide open, the Reds should probably just try and make a run at it rather then trading Dunn. Plus, they probably want the OF depth with Griffey and Freel injury prone and Hamilton still unproven (scouting reports on him will improve). Their rotation can keep them competitive if Lohse somehow keeps his ERA in the low 4's and Guardado will give their bullpen some more depth.

LaRoche, Kershaw, and Broxton for Cabrera? I don't think the Fish have any interest in dealing Cabrera at this point, but the Dodgers certainly have enough prospects to make a trade if he is made available and they certainly have the $$ to pay him in the future.

[mymrbig]

Coco for Ensberg? I thought this thread was about the Dodgers?!

The Astros would never (or at least should never) make that trade. Coco isn't a great CF and the Astros already have Lee in left. Pence is holding his own so far and can do good enough defensively in center for the next few years while he's still young.

It will be interesting to see what happens if the Astros don't come around and have a fire sale. Their 2 best potential trade pieces would hypothetically be Ensberg and Lidge, but both have been off so far this year. The Astros have a pretty weak farm system, so would probably be best for the organization if they continue to struggle this year and re-stock at the trade deadline. Ensberg, Lidge, Loretta, Lane, Scott, Jennings, Wheeler, and Lamb could all be useful pieces for another team, come July/August.

I'm an Astros fan, but I don't know if they have the starting pitching (even with a healthy Jennings) to compete.

[ca!i sty!e]

Forget the trade right now...Give laroche a chance, if he doesn't prove himself in a few weeks, we can look in other corners. As of now, he had a great one hand grab/throw last night against marlins, and he's scored in both games. I think he has 1 more major leauge hit than betemit this season too!

Worse case, we move nomar to third, bring loney to first and if nomar does get hurt we have laroche/valdez/aberu as backup.

[jskohl]

The Dodgers shot themselves in the foot by resigning Nomar and by signing Luis Gonzalez and Juan Pierre. They blocked themselves from making any good future moves. Now, with Jeff Kent being in his last year, and Rafael Furcal having one year to go, I think the Dodgers should concentrate on a power hitting middle infielder. La Roche should remain at third, and they should try to get Loney playing first/outfield somehow. Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier are great trade bait. The Dodgers know they need some power in the middle of the lineup, and they have wisely overstocked players at every position. Hopefully, Ned Colletti wont make anymore bonehead moves like Pierre and Gonzalez.

[jskohl]

The Dodgers shot themselves in the foot by resigning Nomar and by signing Luis Gonzalez and Juan Pierre. They blocked themselves from making any good future moves. Now, with Jeff Kent being in his last year, and Rafael Furcal having one year to go, I think the Dodgers should concentrate on a power hitting middle infielder. La Roche should remain at third, and they should try to get Loney playing first/outfield somehow. Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier are great trade bait. The Dodgers know they need some power in the middle of the lineup, and they have wisely overstocked players at every position. Hopefully, Ned Colletti wont make anymore bonehead moves like Pierre and Gonzalez.

[baseballfiles]

I don't have the answer for a 3B acquisition, but what about swapping some Triple A pitchers to the Rays for Rocco or Crawford? The Rays need relief, Dodgers need a bat. Seems like a good fit to me!

[la16]

The Dodgers DON'T need a 3rd baseman. They have La Roche to fill in that spot. Even if La Roche struggles I don't think the Dodger brass are dumb enough to trade him away for Crede, Ensberg or any other available 3B out there.

Also, LA would be very stupid to trade either Ethier or Kemp. Then again, they were stupid to sign Gonzalez and Pierre this past off-season. Kemp and Loney will have to wait 'til next year I guess. (sigh)

[Zonis]

Eric Chavez for Andy LaRoche!

[billcolctr]

jeez, give the kid a chance. you guys are talking about giving him a couple of weeks to establish himself. Try a couple of months. He's hit at every level, but sometimes gets off to a slow start. he's way better than betemit and probably has a better bat than nomar is swinging right now. loney at first isnt exactly the cure for for an anemic offense given that his career high in hr's is 11 and he is currently hitting .250 at triple-a. nomar isnt mcgwire but he will get hot in the summer. the only deal the dodgers should make is for a marquee hitter like manny or arod should they become available.

[DentalPlan]

Yeah, what is the deal with Dodgers' prospects? Everyone talks them up, but they don't seem to be trusted to actually *play.* Jason Repko would be a lifer on the Nationals. Matt Kemp, Loney, LaRoche, will these guys ever get a shot? Russell Martin was a no-brainer, but what about the rest? It's been more than a year since people have projected Billingsley as a great starter, what's happening there? I don't really understand how the club works.

[bobo]

Yeah, I don't get it at all. Even Martin started playing only because they didn't have any other options.

I could maybe understand Nomar - he can at a decent price and apparently was loved in LA.

I'm not willing to excuse the Pierre signing, but it could fall into the "We're clueless and think he's actually a good player" category intead of the "we're clueless and want to block our young players with worse veterans at 30 times the cost" category.

But Gonzalez? How can any justification be made for that at all?

Not that Carlos Lee or Soriano are that amazing, and yes they're obviously much longer-term committments, but wouldn't you rather have Lee, Kemp, Ethier, and Loney at <$20M a season than Gonzalez, Pierre, Nomar, and Kemp/Ethier for $25M+?

[Devlsh]

It wouldn't surprise me to see the Cardinals in a position to move Rolen by the trade deadline, and regardless of his slow start, Rolen qualifies as a rock-steady ballplayer with postseason experience and Gold Glove defense. While the Cardinals problem is offense, they could be on the verge of a rebuilding phase, and a package of Laroche, Brazoban and SS Chin-Lung Hu would fill three holes for St. Louis without denting the Dodgers minor league depth. Rolen may become a 10-5 player around midseason and his 2006 postseason spat with Larussa could help grease the wheels for his exit.

[Aduncaroo]

I don't see Rolen leaving...I really don't. Jocketty would have to be giving up to move him. They have so much money that they didn't spend, I think that they are going to be huge buyers at the deadline, not sellers. Of coarse, he is smart enough to see that if there are really good prospects involved...and he could dump Rolen's 10 mil plus contract...he might at least take a look at it. I still think that he is in the market for a big bat for RF.