Helms Designated For Assignment

Dodgers don't need Loretta. Coletti needs to stick to one guy at 3rd all season. Imho, DeWitt is that player. They can trade LaRoche soon before he becomes another Dallas MacPherson.

Why would Helms not playing 2nd base make him not a fit for the Dodgers? They're looking for a temporary third baseman. I would think he wouldn't be a bad pick up, but right now DeWitt looks solid filling in at third and also LaRoche is apparently healing a lot faster than expected. If they go with anyone outside the org it probably would be Helms, but I bet they stand pat.

Honestly, I really think the Dodgers can afford to wait it out as far as Helms goes. DeWitt has played really well in the first two games and has really showed a much better eye than he showed in the minors. Combine that with the fact that he defends well and can, in fact, play second base, and I don't see why they can't stick it out with him till they get Nomar and Abreu back at the least. If it really becomes a problem, they can just pick up Helms after the waiting period.

On that note, given the way Furcal seems to be rebounding, does anyone else think that sliding him over to third to allow Hu to start at short next year would be a good option? I assume Furcal takes a pay cut for a longer term deal and he is young enough to give a 4-5 year contract.

“Is there something about Crawford that makes you think he'd leave $20MM on the table? Especially if the other offer is from a perennial contender?”

There wouldn’t really be an offer on the table though ~ it would all be speculative money to Crawford because it would be a contract extension prior to you being a FA or play out your time and leave. Its take 6/80 to stay with the team you came up with as they are preparing to and/or are competing, or take your chances on the FA market maybe landing yourself 6/100.

Personally, I think he will get a contract worked out if the two side talk about the real plans of the club. Its not hard to see that this team is preparing to contend, and if the FO tells Crawford that they will do what is needed when its needed; well then his angst should be eased. I mean, we are still talking 3 years of negotiating time, and a lot can happen between now and then. The team could finish in second this year to the BoSox, spend for a needed FA or two for next year and all of a sudden Crawford would be changing his tune. I thinks it’s the Johan thing ~ if we are going to compete, lets compete; but I don’t want half-way commitments or compete solely from within.

In response to Scribbletone.

Until this sudden emergence, DeWitt wasn't even really an after thought in the Dodger organization, namely because he was kind of a ho hum hitter in the minors. I have a theory that he may actually be a better major league hitter because there are so many more strikes pitched allowing him to make contact, but that is for another day. The thing is, I don't think he was really "blocked". Further, DeWitt or Furcal could also play second, as Abreu is starting to look like another talent lost to chronic injury.

The reasons I look at Furcal and say the Dodgers would be smart to keep him are multi-fold. First, when he was healthy, he was their best all-around player and is an excellent lead-off threat. He is healthy again, and there is no reason he can't crank 15 home runs, steal 40 bases and equal the range of just about any shortstop in the league, with possibly the best arm of the bunch. He creates a threat that you just can't get from some of the other options out there. As for price, like I said, I think he would take a pay cut down to the 8-9 million range for some job security. Combine that with the fact that the Dodgers are going to get a cheaper pitching staff once Loaiza's contract is up and Lowe is potentially replaced by Kershaw, and you get a significant net savings.