Odds & Ends: Dodgers, Torre, Wang, Wright

Cameron is dead on. Even if Wright turned out to be a nobody it was still a stupid move. Clearing some salary and getting any return is always better than holding onto a player who isn't part of next years plans when the team clearly won't be competing. Especially when arbitration isn't going to be offered.

It's sad, but so many people still don't get this simple principle.

"It's sad, but so many people still don't get this simple principle."

JP had just gotten the job, ripped apart the front office, lambasted the bare cupboard of a farm system to the media, and was going to give away Raul Mondesi for nothing. Now, you can blast him for not trying to rebuild that system, but Cruz Jr. was a fan favorite and it's quite possible at the trade deadline JP didn't want to move 2/3 of his starting OF and further piss off an already alienated fan base. David Wright was in his first full pro season, so for Jays fans, think of him as being where Kevin Ahrens was last year. It's not inconceivable that JP didn't see any utility in that sort of deal, and figured it would be better to hold on to Cruz and decide on arbitration later.

If, however, he knew he wasn't going to be offering Cruz Jr. arbitration at that time and he still turned down the deal, well that just makes no sense. Which is why I don't think it's the case, JP's moves didn't typically reek of a lack of logic. Cue up the posts ripping that last line, but if you're going to try, please come at me with something substantial that I won't be able to easily explain easily in context. Or maybe just realize that the fact Boston has already reached out to JP should tell you something.

Thank you. Good post. It's hilarious how fast 'fans' are to jump on JP, but rarely have anything to back it up.

Why would the Dodgers even consider that? They could've signed Lowe if they had wanted him. Kemp is worth twice what Lowe and Schaefer are worth...

"Yes, because Garrett Olsen would've enticed the Padres to trade Peavy. Is that even a serious statement?"

There was media speculation that the Cubs traded for Olson because the Pads wanted him. Again though... speculation.

Sabathia
Wang
Burnett
Pettitte
Hughes

Joba back to the Pen

Actually, Jose Cruz Jr. had another year of service before he became a FA. All the more so why it's understandable JP wanted to get value back if he was going to move him. Why he later decided to non-tender him I don't know, but it's way too tough to analyze these things 7 years later.

You can't say he royally screwed up on either Burnett or Halladay without knowing potential packages he could have received, and there's very little reason to believe he could have gotten enough for either of them.

I hate coming across as a JP apologist all the time, cuz I really have no love for the guy, and I'm happy he is gone. It's just incredible how people can misrepresent fact because of the power of the national media.

Torre is fond of money.Very fond of the green and therefore will be going nowhere.Of course,if the Dodgers don't give him enough he can always trash his players and front office in a book with the help of Tom Verducci(hack "journalist" extrodinaire).