Eric Chavez will work out with the Dodgers on January 20, and has two other private workouts lined up with American League clubs, writes Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. The AL teams aren't named, but Slusser says the A's aren't one of them, and specifies that the Dodgers are the only southern Californian team in the mix. (Twitter link) We heard last month that Seattle had "checked in" on Chavez, so they could be one of the two mystery teams.
The Dodgers were rumored to have an interest in bringing Chavez in for a workout. They fit Chavez's preference to remain in southern California and Slusser notes that Chavez has spoken to Don Mattingly. The left-handed hitting Chavez could be a nice platoon partner with incumbent Dodgers third baseman Casey Blake, a right-handed hitter who only managed a .663 OPS against right-handed pitching last season.
The big question, of course, is Chavez's health. He has undergone two back surguries and three shoulder surguries in his career and he has played in just 64 games since July 26, 2007. Chavez told Slusser that his "throwing has been unreal" in workout sessions at the Athletes' Performance center in Arizona (which is of particular interest given Chavez's Gold Glove defense in his prime) but he "needs to see live pitching to judge the hitting accurately."
my guess is the White Sox are the other AL team.
Angels should AT LEAST check in…it wouldn’t hurt, in my opinion.
Angels are already hurt because they missed out on Beltre.
I think the Rangers are hurt because they signed him to that ridiculous contract.
Didnt know one would need to workout to be a bench coach?
“Slusser specifies that the Dodgers are the only southern Californian team in the mix, which also excludes the Athletics.”
Am I reading this wrong? Most people don’t consider Oakland part of Southern California.
The writer is slacking it again, BIG TIME.
I hope it’s clear I didn’t write that. Since I work for the SF Chronicle and have covered the A’s for 13 years, I’m pretty clear on where Oakland is located.
Obviously, Mark failed Geography.
Obviously, Mark failed Geography.
I hope it’s clear that it wasn’t me writing that. I’ve covered the A’s for 13 years. I know where Oakland is.
I hope it’s clear I didn’t write that. I’ve covered the A’s for 13 years. I know where Oakland is.
Sorry for the triple post. First time on here.
Susan, wow, good to see you on here. Love reading all your A’s updates!
welcome to mlbtr! dont take offense to some of these guys, just giving you a hard time!
Whoops, double post.
Unreal! Great to see you on here Susan. Love your A’s updates. Great work!
Its cool.
And I would NEVER expect you to write that Oakland is Southern Calfiornia, not even in a fairy tale and less in any of your updates.
It was the writer from MLBTR.
It’s clear. That part was added by Mark.
Thanks MLBTR, which I love and they know it, and all you commenters.
Don’t worry- we figured that. Pretty cool that you responded personally though.
Read it again though. The writer only specifies that the A’s aren’t one of the AL teams, and then mentions that the Dodgers are the only team from Southern California that has interest in Chavez (thus excluding the Angels). The writer never specifically says or implies that Oakland is in Southern California.
Before it got edited, it used to say “Slusser specifies that the Dodgers are the only southern Californian team in the mix, which also excludes the Athletics.”
And both words in “Southern California” are capitalized. Last I heard, MLBTR didn’t have any writers located (literally) west of the Rockies, so these kinds of geographical mistakes are unsurprising.
Awkward Idea but what about Chavez to the braves on a minor league deal based if chipper goes down?
Heh heh…’cause two third basemen who can’t stay healthy are better than one? :p
Proooobably not what the Braves envision as an insurance policy, but you’re right that it’s not much of a risk on a minor league contract.
Could be Toronto kicking tires too
i would not be surprised
I’m calling it now. He gets injured signing the contract.
Oakland is not a Southern California team… It is a Northern California team
more or less a central Cali team. Oakland is only slightyly more north than San Fran and San Fran is closer to the south than north but still right around central
more or less a central Cali team. Oakland is only slightyly more north than San Fran and San Fran is closer to the south than north but still right around central
We in the bay area in general like to think of ourselves as norcal
i may not be from the bay but i have been there alot and i just looked at a map of cali while oakland and san fran are more north than south they really are in the middle of the state
Thanks for clearing that up. Yeesh.
well idk about this deal because that mean we have at 3rd base to guys in there 30s one who could be a few years close to retiring and one who cant stay healthy good job Ned not
Huge difference between nor cal and so cal. Oaktown is nor cal!!!
So are these two AL teams limited to those looking for a DH still? Any word on the type of role he could play on these mystery teams? Chicago might make some sense but so could a lot of other teams, depending on what he can offer… Judging by the way this post was written, it seems like there’s more confidence in his defense than his hitting, so would a DH role even make sense or does Chavez have to be a decent fielder while staying healthy?
In terms of Chicago, I thought so too. But they’ve already signed McPherson in a minor league deal, so I’m guessing no.
I don’t see an issue bringing him in on a minor league contract. You won’t know what you get until the time comes. History shows he’s headed for a trip to the DL, but maybe he’ll suprise people. I personally don’t believe he will, but… you never know. Anyone think he’d be a nice minor league sign for the Cards?
AAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA no.
Oh, got it. That makes sense then.
I’d say Toronto is one of them. No third basemen.
I’d say Toronto is one of them. No third basemen.
The two AL teams are probably the Blue Jays and the Angels, or the White Sox…. You gotta feel for Chavez though, he at one time was such a great player…
Eric Chavez’s New Year’s Resolution: “Be Less Injured”
bottomofthefourth.blogspot.com/2011/01/eric-chavez…
The Yankees will sign him away from all competition.
This is great! I’m psyched to see he could get a deal, and with the Dodgers would be cool. Chavvy has been, and will be for a long time, my favorite player. 🙂
would be a nice pick up by the Dodgers to platoon with Casey Blake at Third Base. the only problem would be of he can stay healty
Agreed. And if he really returned to form, he could be our primary 3B and move Blake into a platoon with Loney. (Look at Loney’s splits vs. LHP, they are frighteningly awful.)