Steve Dilbeck of the Los Angeles Times has a slew of information from Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti regarding the team's offseason plans. Colletti feels that his team's pitching and defense have been sufficient, but that the offense is lacking and needs to be bolstered:
"I say the most dramatic way we can improve the offense, that would be the way we would go," Colletti said.
Obviously, that could be an allusion to Prince Fielder or Albert Pujols, but the Dodgers' uncertain ownership and financial situations make a signing of that magnitude a stretch. Dilbeck points out that Colletti has never signed a player to a $100MM+ deal, and that Kevin Brown is the only player in Dodgers' history to receive such a contract. At the same time, however, Dilbeck also notes that the Dodgers do have $25MM in contracts coming off the books, so a run at one of the Top 2 free agents isn't necessarily unfathomable.
In the likely event that neither player comes to the Dodgers, Colletti says that James Loney is someone they'd "love to have back." Loney's overall numbers don't appear all that productive, but he's batting .355/.435/.653 with seven homers in his last 37 games. A strong finish could persuade the Dodgers to bring him back, although doing so would require giving him a raise on this year's $4.875MM salary — a risk given Loney's mostly underwhelming numbers.
Colletti also mentions re-signing Hiroki Kuroda as a priority; even if they were to retain Kuroda though, they'd require a fifth starter. Nathan Eovaldi and Dana Eveland can both be candidates, and of course the free agent market figures to offer plenty of low-budget reclamation projects that could be brought in to fill that role as well.
Beyond that, role players such as Tony Gwynn Jr., Casey Blake, Aaron Miles, and Juan Rivera may all return "in the right situation." For what it's worth, Gwynn told Dilbeck's colleague Jim Peltz that he hopes to return to the Dodgers next season.
They cloned Juan Rivera o0
Ned, just go away!
Matt Kemp has a higher upside than either Fielder or Pujols. Ned better save his money to re-sign him AND Ethier as they both will be FA after next season.
Stick to rummaging through the Giants’ recycle bin, Ned. You’re good at that.
I’d deal Ethier during the offseason. His production has dropped significantly and he’s going to be on the wrong side of 30 when he becomes a free agent. Package Ethier and some combination of Elbert/Gould/Withrow for David Wright, maybe, and see if the Mets would bite?
Rather than a big ticket signing, go with a one or two year deal for someone like Beltran or Jason Kubel. I’d also give Loney ONE MORE SHOT to lock down the first base gig. Handled correctly, the 2012 Dodgers could be a very competitive team; I see the roster as being something along the lines of the below (projections, specious as they may be, are mine):
Lineup
1. Dee Gordon (ss) .264-2-41-46
2. Carlos Beltran (lf) .287-21-82-5
3. Matt Kemp (cf) .304-36-114-28
4. David Wright (3b) .284-23-92-18
5. Jerry Sands (rf) .257-18-74
6. James Loney (1b) .291-17-90
7. Juan Uribe (2b) .253-17-73
8. AJ Ellis/Tim Federowicz (c) .244-8-51
Pitching
Rotation
1. Clayton Kershaw 2.63, 19-7, 244ks
2. Chad Billingsley 3.55, 14-9, 183ks
3. Hiroki Kuroda 3.43, 13-11, 153ks
4. Ted Lilly 4.04, 13-11, 161ksks
5. Nathan Eovaldi 3.81, 10-7, 131ks
Bullpen
CL Javy Guerra
RP Mike Guerrier
RP Mike MacDougal
RP Kenley Jansen
RP Josh Lindblom
RP Scott Elbert/Hong Chih-Kuo
I have to imagine that Ethier’s weak 2011 season hurt his trade value considerably. I’d go to arbitration with him and look to trading him at the 2012 trade deadline.
Lock up Kemp and Kershaw long term as soon as possible.
Doubt I’d resign MacDougal. His numbers are deceptive. He’s allowed a ridiculous numbers of inherited runners to score. His BAA and WHIP are mediocre. Hawksworth actually has better numbers once you get over the ERA (better K/9, BB/9, H/9, WHIP, BAA).
Elbert and Kuo will both be back. Tolleson and/or St. Clair could make a bullpen appearance in 2012, too.
Sounds about right except for Loney hitting 17HR’S.. Also I think Aramis should be considered.. Once Kemp & Claw get locked up for life.. Which is still the #1 priorty.
Ideally Id go with:
1B – Fielder
2B – Sellers/Uribe
SS – Gordon
3B – Loney/Miles/Uribe
RF – Ethier (although I would not mind trading him to free up money for
Fielder)/Rivera/Loney
CF – Kemp
LF – Loney/Sands/Gwynn
C – Barrajas/Ellis
I have Loney sloted in three places because 1) Sellers is an unreal
fielder, but his hitting is a bit edgy 2) Uribe is a good fielder, but he
imploded with the bat this season. If Sellers and Uribe both have strong
Springs, then Id have Sellers at 2B and Uribe at 3B. 3) if we trade
Ethier, then we put James in on RF and let Sands and Gwynn battle for LF-
Sands has more pop, but Gwynn has more speed and he’s is killer
defensively, whatever his shortcomings he had with the bat (and he
improved this year), he more than makes up for it with run-saving plays,
so it’s a toss up.
There’s alot of ways this could go, and it all comes down to whether:
1) We can realistically sign Fielder
2) We keep Ethier (personally, I think we should trade him, not just
because he had an off year, but because he really does not want to be a
Dodger-let’s face it, he wants to be a Diamondback or a BoSox)
3) Uribe can bounce back
4) Sellers can be more consistent with his hitting. (I don’t like the idea
of Sellers being a bench guy, he’s too young and inexperienced to NOT play
everyday, best thing to do if his hitting doesn’t improve by Spring is to
send him back to the minors for some more ABs and have Miles man 2B until
Sellers is ready to come back up)
On the mound I’d have:
1) Kershaw
2) Kuroda
3) Eovaldi
4) Bills
5) Lilly
I’d also send Lilly to the Pen when (if) Ruby returns. Obviously Guerra
and Jansen have earned their roles as stoppers in the late inning, and
Lindbloom has also earned a relief job next year. I like MacDougal and we
are kinda stuck with Guerrier, hopefully he can regain his form. I would
also keep Elbert and Eveland in the pen, send Trancoso back to the minors,
and give The Hawk and Kuo their walking papers.
I’ve posted this above but it is worth repeating.
Hawksworth has significantly better numbers than MacDougal once you get over the ERA. Hawksworth has a better K/9, BB/9, H/9, WHIP and BAA. Not by small margins, either.
MacDougal has also allowed more inherited runners to score than anyone else in the Dodger bullpen, which doesn’t count against his ERA.
Also, Hawksworth is arbitration eligible, MacDougal will be a free agent.
Hawksworth stays, MacDougal goes.
Fair point on hawksworth. The Dodgers have bullpen arms coming up anyway, so I have no issue with letter McDougal walk.
How come we see no information on Stephen Ames, even a scouting report? His ML numbers are INSANE: over three seasons (a bit old for the levels, but still) 2.14 era in 109 innings pitched, 164 ks and only 22(!) walks.
I really liked what The Hawk was doing the first half of the season, he just kinda lost it a bit in the second half. I would still take MacDougal over The Hawk, but perhaps have him be the guy to start an inning over coming in to get a a pitcher out of a jam. Either way, I would not mind keeping the Hawk either, I do think he’s a quality reliever.
I remember reading awhile back Prince said he wasnt sure if he would want to play for a team with unstable ownership. I would love to have him but i think his demands are going to be crazy.. i would rather spend that money on Claw & Kemp..