The Dodgers signed Brad Ausmus to a $1MM deal today. The backup catcher will earn $850K in 2010 and there's a mutual option worth $1MM for 2011 with a $150K buyout. Ausmus can earn an extra $100K based on plate appearance incentives this coming season.
Ausmus, 41 in April, hit .295/.343/.368 in 107 plate appearances for LA last season, though offense was never his calling card. His value lies in his defense and veteran leadership. Two NL West rivals – the Giants and Padres – were also connected to Ausmus at various points this offseason.
Dylan Hernandez of The Los Angeles Times broke the news of the signing.
Ben Nicholson-Smith contributed to this post.
Ned Colletti has been busy today!!!
Maybe the McCourts called a temporary cease-fire.
thats what happens when your team is already good and you only have to add complementery bench players
meant that as a reply to the comment below me by “xub”
Kind of sad when a GM’s “busy day” consists of re-signing a 35-year-old second baseman and a 41-year-old backup catcher.
Also sad when people don’t realize that all teams need 25 players and that they often have to sign guys to fill those slots.
I like him as a veteran presence for Martin, but I wish we had a backup that could give Martin some actual time off…
I like his veteran presence for the whole team, not just Martin. I think he meshes well with the young guys a lot better than the “other” old vets that the Dodgers had a few years back (Kent, Nomar, Gonzo). Unlike those three, Ausmus isn’t in the twilight of a superstar career and really recognizes that his purpose on the team is to teach and mentor. I’m really glad they brought him back, and if Ausmus can’t hack it on the field, the Dodgers could ask him to be bench coach of some sort and bring up May/Ellis to spell Russ behind the dish.
I think that Nomar was a pretty good mentor to some guys, but i get your point. Ausmus has accepted that he isnt a guy who should be in the headlines and he seems to like to help the young guys. As far as I could tell, everybody loved Brad last year.
With the catcher situation, I dont see it happening. My guess is they were worried about Ellis’ defense enough to want him to start everyday and feel that May doesnt have the bat to be a MLB player. Even worse, especially for a competing team, is that Ausmus would most likely be taking up a roster spot, both on the 40 and 25. To have a guy who will not be dressing and only being a coach on the 25 man roster is not wise.
Now, we could see something similar to Bill Mueller, where after he signs a contract he hangs it up during the year and becomes a coach/FO guy. Mueller left because of injury, but Ausmus may do it because of age.
I think that Nomar was a pretty good mentor to some guys, but i get your point. Ausmus has accepted that he isnt a guy who should be in the headlines and he seems to like to help the young guys. As far as I could tell, everybody loved Brad last year.
With the catcher situation, I dont see it happening. My guess is they were worried about Ellis’ defense enough to want him to start everyday and feel that May doesnt have the bat to be a MLB player. Even worse, especially for a competing team, is that Ausmus would most likely be taking up a roster spot, both on the 40 and 25. To have a guy who will not be dressing and only being a coach on the 25 man roster is not wise.
Now, we could see something similar to Bill Mueller, where after he signs a contract he hangs it up during the year and becomes a coach/FO guy. Mueller left because of injury, but Ausmus may do it because of age.
So that leaves Yorvit Torrealba as a possibility for the Padres? Or maybe Jedi is going to stick with Nick/Dusty.
In other news, Brad Ausmus has changed his last name to “Awesomest” in a move that he hopes will extend his career for another five or six years.
lol i glanced at this title and thought it said, “Dodgers Agree to deal with Colby Rasmus”
im like wtf…
i like the signing.
HEY MAN, WHEN ARE WE GETTING THE BAND BACK TOGETHER????
That band finished 7 games better than the Giants last season.
So what? That band lost to the Phillies two years running. They haven’t done anything that will improve the team. In fact have gotten worse by letting Wolf and others go.
You’re a genius. The Dodgers are a better team by far than the Giants, and many Dodgers unperformed in 2009, while the Giants played over their heads. The Dodgers and Giants allowed the same amount of runs to score, but the Dodgers scored over 100 runs more than the Giants. The only offensive loss is Hudson who did almost nothing in the 2nd half, and it should be around 140 games of Manny, not 110, and then the only real loss was losing Wolf, but Mcdonald with Padilla and Elbert should be able to pick up most of that slack, but most likely not all.
The Dodgers are the superior team to the Giants, so I’m fine with having the same team as last year. I know you couldn’t say the same at all.
LOL typical Dodger fan…your hatred for the Giants is more important than the W.S.
On paper, the Giants are a better team than in ’09. On paper, the Dodgers are a worse team than ’09. Obviously since you are a homer Dodger fan, you won’t agree…but like I said, that is “ON PAPER” what takes place on the field is a different story.
And you totally left out the part about the Phillies (of course) I wouldn’t care if the Giants lost every game against the Dodgers if we won the other games on the way to a W.S.
I think the smog clouds all Dodger fan brains. You, 661, dodgerlaker fan…None of you guys would ever give credit to the Giants. It’s cool…that’s how you guys roll. Giants fans are a little more baseball educated and can give credit where it’s due. The Dodgers are still the team to beat in the N.L. West, but it’s closer this season than the past.
Why would I need to talk about the Phillies, you don’t have anything to do with the Phillies, i was talking to you about your and my team, nothing else. The Giants are a better team with a low OBP and above average slugging utility player and a 1B who is on the decline of his career coming off of his worst year of that career. I wouldn’t call that much better, if better at all. The Dodgers are worse, but the combination of Belliard and Dewitt should make up for most of Hudson’s absense, as well as the same for a full year of Padilla (who should be a fine 4 starter, nothing special, but that’s not what you need from a 4 starter) and Mcdonald getting another shot with Elbert finally getting a shot replacing Wolf. I wouldn’t act like that gap has been closed by any means.
Matt Cain pitched well over his head last year, ask any knowledgeable baseball fan, not just Dodger fans. With regression from Cain, and a little advancement from Sanchez (if it even happens) and the same years from Zito and Lincecum, the Giants are in for more losses in 2010, and it doesn’t take a genius to know that. Btw, do you even realize how lame of an insult the smog thing is? I might as well just call you and your fans pillow-biters; yeah, real original right?
The Dbacks will be more competitive, the Rockies will likely regress a bit, the Dodgers should be 2 or 3 wins off from last year, but Giants shouldn’t surpass their win total from 09 in 10, there’s nothing to support that.
YES! There it is…the carbon copy dodger fan reply. More of…you guys will be worse because your the Giants and we’ll be better because we are the Dodgers..LOL
You need to take time to read replies fully before answering. I conceded that the Dodgers are the team to beat. I DID NOT say the gap is closed, I said “CLOSER”
On Paper the Giants are better…
DeRosa > Lewis
F. Sanchez > Burriss/Frandsen/Downs
Bowker/Schierholtz > Winn
Molina hitting 7th > Molina hitting 4th
Runzler > Howry
Jouaquin > Valdez
Giants have upgraded in several key positions. Whether marginal or not, they are upgrades.
Cain will regress? The only place I’ve heard this is from Dodger fans here. I routinely watch Baseball Tonight and Hot Stove plus I live in Burbank so I get So. Cal sports talk. I’ve NEVER heard anything but good things about Cain. Please provide any link supporting this.
Dodger fans through and through are all the same….Our guys will do better because they are Our guys. LOL
Ill tell you what 55, Im a dodger fan, and hardly the typical one. But where is all this offense thats going to catch up with the Dodgers? I dont think the Giants have improved much at all. Id say the pitchers are neutral with the Dodgers offense being far better. You still dont have anybody that strikes fear in your lineup besides Panda.
That said though, it should be a great race this year, and Im looking foward to it. I hope the Giants are good, it seems since Barry left, the Dodger/Giant rivalry just hasnt been the same. The Rockies will be good, as well as the Jints, the D-backs got better, and the Pads were one of the better teams in the division the 2nd half, and have arguably the best stick in the division.
DeWitt gets screwed again !!!!!! I thought it was a good move letting him get a fair crack at the 2b position . He was a great defensive 3b with some amazing plays when he was asked to play 2b & also a productive batter that showed maturity at the plate & would worse case move runners over if he got out not run into rally killing double plays like the other Blake on 3b or K like Russ . I would have given him the 1st half of the season to prove himself in ’10 season as for the 1st couple months in ’08 he was on a rookie of the year pace. Well let’s see how Torre uses him & what kind of heart DeWitt plays with on the field.
GO BLUE !!!!!!
I like the signing, if Joe leaves next year Don will be the next manager and I beleive that Brad will take Don’s place, and hopefully Martin will get better spending more time with Brad.
I like the signing, if Joe leaves next year Don will be the next manager and I beleive that Brad will take Don’s place, and hopefully Martin will get better spending more time with Brad.
I know a 43 year old that could have made State if he had another chance.
Said he will sign for $50k. He expects a call from Colletti.
You heard it hear first!
thats right Fidel and after don has his turn brad will take his place as manager, if you recall brad was the honorary manager during the last game of the regular season catchers make great managers this is a great signing keeping ausmus in the dodger organization all you haters are just well… haters