The Dodgers officially signed Alfredo Amezaga to a minor league deal worth $650K with another $800K in incentives today. The 32-year-old worked out for four teams this week and attracted interest from ten-plus clubs earlier in the winter. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports first tweeted the agreement last night.
Amezaga appeared in just 27 games last season, hitting .217/.267/.261 as he struggled with knee problems. Amezaga distinguishes himself from other powerless hitters with his versatility. He has major league experience at all four infield positions and all three outfield positions. Most of his experience comes in center field and at shortstop; he grades well in limited samples at both positions, according to UZR/150.
The Dodgers have been adding steadily to their bench this offseason. They signed Ronnie Belliard and Jamey Carroll before adding Reed Johnson and Amezaga this week.
Blake Dewitt is definitely starting this year in AAA.
agree
With that much depth in the infield – could a trade be in the mix?
They might trade DeWitt….. if there was any reason to fully believe in Ronnie Belliard or Jamey Carroll is a legitimate playoff starting 2B.
I agree 661. Purely a depth signing? I know it isn’t for much money but still seems excessive.
I actually like it, but this and the Belliard move make the Carroll signing look unnecessary.
The two are very mutually exclusive. Carroll actually has some ability to get on base and contribute offensively. Amezaga is purely camp fodder.
Amezaga can play everywhere on the field and is a switch hitter, so just about everything you look for in a super utility man. His bat is nothing special but he isn’t a black hole.
Don’t think it’s excessive because he can bat left handed and play the OF, things Carroll and Belliard can’t do.
I agree. I liked the Carroll signing at the time. Now it is a waste however.
I dont get this though. We have Carroll who is going to get almost 4M in the next 2 yrs. Then we sign Belliard. And Berroa. And now Amezaga? When we have Hu, DeJesus(who seems like he is going to AA to start) and DeWitt(whos probably going to AAA). We also sign Doug M and Nick Green.
I like depth… but holy crap
I am totally fine with Belliard starting. I just hope Torre doesn’t play games and sets up the lineup in ST this year.
Who is going to have a better year? Belliard or Freddy Sanchez?
I feel like we have had this conversation many times. Id like to have DeWitt start, somewhere. I am ok with Belliard, as a short term answer, until one of DeJesus or DeWitt are ready
Better year? Um… i think they will be close. They are different players, but will probably bring simliar WAR to their teams… with Sanchez possibly having a slight edge
I actually like DeJesus and DeWitt in the minors all year…assuming Belliard and the others don’t get hurt and are productive. Without signing additional free-agents over the next 2 years, they are probably our future 2B and 3B.
I dont mind it either, I was simply pointing out the players we have in house that are right now better than Amezaga. I have said I want DeWitt to get full time ABs, somewhere. He deserves to be able to grow correctly. DeJesus could be our 5th IF, but he probably will get full time ABs to recover from the broken leg
This guy wont make the team out of Spring Training. It gives them insurance once one of the bench players goes down with an injury
Yea I agree. Carroll is wasted at this point I think, if only because of the money he is making. Berroa and Amezaga and Green and Hu will all probably battle to back up SS. Seems like this is just to promote competition. Doug M isn’t necessary unless Belliard starts full time at 2B because he can play 1st if need be. Blake can also play 1st with Belliard at 3B. Either way, half these guys wont be on the squad
Belliard is all but the starter. DeWitt will start in AAA, most likely, so that he can get full time Abs and will be able to make defensive mistakes(and work with the same infielder coach he has worked with all offseason). Doug M seems like a near lock to make the team
I dont think he will make the club out of Spring Training. He will be good insurance once one of the bench players goes down with an injury
Fantastic signing. I really wanted the Mets to sign him–especially BEFORE Omar re-signed Alex Cora for $2 million. Geez.
Pleny of Quanity, however not much on quality. You pay little you get little.
Not entirely sure what you meant.
I was one of those hoping Ned would screw his head on straight and sign Felipe Lopez. That’s pretty much out the window.
Lopez would of been nice, not a priority however.
Neither is a backup to a backup.
this signing makes no sense at all. we already have carroll, belliard, and dewitt. ned, stop giving these minor league contracts out and go get wang or bedard!
Next player to be signed: Every Bodyandtheirmother
I don’t know how Ned sells these to Frankamie.
Can we do like Monopoly where we trade like 4 bad properties
for one good thing?
bye bye Jason Repko
He’s not that bad!
Amezega is a great player to have! Trust me, I have watched him play here in Miami for the past few seasons! He is a gold-glove caliber player in EVERY position. Including CF and SS! His bat is ok..he is a streaky hitter. He’s not a starter but great off the bench. He also has above average speed! Don’t be fooled by his numbers. He is a hard nose player and one of the smartest…..baseball smarts that is!
I don’t think this really affects DeWitt’s status. As it was he was going to be a long shot anyway. No matter who the Dodgers 2B was, they still need to carry someone on the bech would could play SS. Their bench right now looks like: Ausmus, Johnson, Carroll, Belliard, Mienkiewicz, and any of the following: Amezaga/Green/Berroa/Hu. That’s if they carry 11 pitchers. They’ll probably carry 12, which means DeWitt to AAA and Belliard/Carroll at 2B.
It seems at this point that what money we have went to Carroll who is much easier to replace than pitching. We could’ve used that 2 mil on Wang or another pitcher. We need pitching depth not utility player depth!
surprised there weren’t more teams in on Amazaga.
not a great bat, but as versatile defensively as anybody in the bigs.
he’ll back up Furcal, and replace Pierre defensively, late innings for ManRam and occasional rest for Kemp (who, due to off-field ‘activities’ may need more rest!)
The signing is already up on the dodgers offical web site, so I don’t understand what is goig on.
nice to know we havent signed him. i hope we dont, we really have no need for a guy like amezaga.
why not? If it’s just a minor league deal, whats the risk?
Amezaga can play anywhere. Another solid signing. He’s the new Derrel Thomas.
Great name from the dodgers of the past. I remember watching him doing Willie Mays basket catches.
From a Marlins fan’s perspective: you just got one hell of a deal. I’d love to have Alfredo back, treasure him while you can. The guy is a defensive phenom and his bat is most definitely not a black hole like people seem to think, here.
Seriously, every time the Dodgers sign some replacement level vet to something above league minimum (Amezaga could get 1MM++ if he hits incentives), it just makes the decision not to offer Wolf arb look dumber and dumber.
Please do not rub it in, Sir.
There’s no logic behind not offering Wolf arbitration. I think McCourt may know that he fucked up, so he’s letting Colletti sign a bunch of cheap players who may be able to strike gold with them instead of signing (or even offering) 8-10 mill for an actual at least #3 pitcher.
I wish we didn’t sign Carroll.
This player is ok, he can play all of the postions, Blake will be going back to the minor to keep improving his skills, he should be starting next season at second it’s pretty hard to beleive that he will be traded, if Ronnie begans to struggle then kept Blake to come back and probly trade or release Ronnie, they only signed him to a minor league deal this is the way I think it will end up.
1-B James
2-B Ronnie
SS Rafael
3-B Casey
L-F Manny
C-F Matt
R-F Andre
Back up,
Johnson – outfield
Doug – first
Jamey – second
Brad – catcher
Alredo – everything but catcher he plays all the position
But noghting is for sure until spring training starts and have them prove them selfs.