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Dodgers Sign Mark Ellis

By Tim Dierkes | November 15, 2011 at 12:03pm CDT

Check another item off the Dodgers' winter to-do list, as the team officially signed second baseman Mark Ellis to a two-year, $8.75MM deal that includes a team option for 2014.  Dylan Hernandez has the contract breakdown; only $2.5MM is owed to Ellis in 2012.  He can earn an additional $125K per year in plate appearance-based incentives.   

EllisWith Dee Gordon penciled in at shortstop and Juan Uribe at third, second base was considered one of the Dodgers' offseason needs.  Ellis, 34, hit .248/.288/.346 in 519 plate appearances for the Athletics and Rockies this year.  He's best known for his strong second base defense.  Assuming the current free agent compensation system remains in place for this offseason, the Rockies will receive a supplemental draft pick for losing the Type B free agent.

Ellis' deal may have been based on Omar Infante's September pact with the Marlins.  Ellis is represented by TWC Sports.

It's been an active offseason for Dodgers GM Ned Colletti amid recent news of the team going up for sale.  Colletti reached an agreement with Matt Kemp on an eight-year, $160MM deal yesterday, signed Juan Rivera for $4.5MM, and made an offer to Ryan Doumit.

ESPN's Buster Olney broke the story of Ellis' agreement, with Ken Rosenthal adding the total and the option info.  Photo courtesy of Icon SMI.

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Los Angeles Dodgers Mark Ellis Transactions

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Comments

  1. vtadave

    9 years ago

    Meh….would much rather have seen Kelly Johnson signed.

    Hopefully the Dodgers get the 2010 Ellis and 2011 Kemp, and not the other way around.

    Like
    Reply
    • DodgerDen

      9 years ago

      100% agree … #1 choice was Aaron Hill and #2 was Mark Ellis or else let Sellers try to win the job UGH!!

      Like
      Reply
    • DodgerDen

      9 years ago

      100% agree … #1 choice was Aaron Hill and #2 was Mark Ellis or else let Sellers try to win the job UGH!!

      Like
      Reply
    • Jay Kay

      9 years ago

      well kelly johnson isn’t all that great either..

      Like
      Reply
      • vtadave

        9 years ago

        Never said he was “great”, but he’s got pop and he’s five years younger.

        Like
        Reply
    • Jay Kay

      9 years ago

      well kelly johnson isn’t all that great either..

      Like
      Reply
  2. Peter DeMarco

    9 years ago

    This is crack crazy

    Like
    Reply
    • BrocNessMonster

      9 years ago

      Awful…  as bad as the Dodgers were in 2011, this team may set a records for worst on base percentage for a team ever.

      Like
      Reply
  3. Cam Hodgson-Dwyer

    9 years ago

    8.75 mil?

    I’d much rather give Justin Sellers or Ivan Dejesus Jr a shot at the league minimum. Ellis’ defense is strong, but the lack of bat does hurt.

    Like
    Reply
  4. monkeydung

    9 years ago

    ugh. ugh. gah. grr.

    Like
    Reply
  5. InLeylandWeTrust

    9 years ago

    Seems like a little bit of an overpay.

    Like
    Reply
    • Ryan Klinkert

      9 years ago

      7 million over 2 years would’ve been more appropriate, but if he builds off his resurgence with Colorado, I can stomach this contract.

      Like
      Reply
    • Ryan Klinkert

      9 years ago

      7 million over 2 years would’ve been more appropriate, but if he builds off his resurgence with Colorado, I can stomach this contract.

      Like
      Reply
  6. InLeylandWeTrust

    9 years ago

    Seems like a little bit of an overpay.

    Like
    Reply
  7. thegrayrace

    9 years ago

    Another infielder with mediocre OBP. Just what the Dodgers needed!

    Like
    Reply
    • Lunchbox45

      9 years ago

      he wishes his OBP was mediocre

      Like
      Reply
  8. thegrayrace

    9 years ago

    Another infielder with mediocre OBP. Just what the Dodgers needed!

    Like
    Reply
  9. Eric Dixon

    9 years ago

    The Dodgers are overpaying, Matt Kemp included.

    Like
    Reply
    • Ryan Klinkert

      9 years ago

      Because Kemp could have been had for less on the open market, right?

      Like
      Reply
    • vtadave

      9 years ago

      Yeah the way to bring fans back would have been to let Kemp test the open market.

      Like
      Reply
    • Eric Dixon

      9 years ago

      What I’m saying is that the Dodgers paid Kemp exactly what he has been worth over the last 4 years on average, for the next 8 years. There is little or no room for the Dodgers to profit from the deal. 

      Like
      Reply
      • BlueSkyLA

        9 years ago

        Profit from the deal? I thought we were talking baseball here.

        Like
        Reply
  10. Jay Kay

    9 years ago

    I guess the dodgers aren’t making the playoffs again this season..

    Like
    Reply
    • Gumby65

      9 years ago

      Um… This would hardly be a straw to break or heal a camel’s back.

      Like
      Reply
      • hartvig

        9 years ago

        While I agree with you, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where a team with an infield of Uribe, Gordon, Ellis & Loney could possibly compete for a division title. I think we’ve seen the best that Kemp, Ethier & Loney have to offer and would guess we’ll probably see a at least little regression from Kemp and more than a little from Loney and the only person with probable upside over this year would be Gordon. Kemp and their starting pitching is enough to keep them around .500. I don’t see anything here to take them over that.

        Like
        Reply
        • rd

          9 years ago

          Don’t disagree with your general sentiment, but Loney’s OPS last year was .755 and his career OPS is .778. By definition, it isn’t even possible for Loney to regress next year. 

          Like
          Reply
    • vtadave

      9 years ago

      Really? So not signing Ellis would mean that they DO make the playoffs?

      Like
      Reply
      • Ryan Klinkert

        9 years ago

        Makes perfect sense! Every player not signed equals more numbers in the W column!

        Like
        Reply
  11. Jay Kay

    9 years ago

    I guess the dodgers aren’t making the playoffs again this season..

    Like
    Reply
  12. FrankTheFunkasaurusRex

    9 years ago

    slightly better than Carroll. similar deal. Not bad.

    Like
    Reply
    • Ryan Klinkert

      9 years ago

      Not bad at all. Apparently every fan posting on here expected .300 BA and .360 OBP for the same price…

      He’s legit defensively, a quality clubhouse veteran, and has a career .266 BA and .331 OBP. 

      Slightly overpaid, but not a mistake by any means.

      Like
      Reply
    • sf55forlife

      9 years ago

      really? I’m not sure he is better than Carroll at all when you consider injury history and the ability to play multiple positions if necessary.

      Like
      Reply
  13. Joey E

    9 years ago

    ive always loved mark ellis, and the way this offseason has been with the contracts, whatever

    Like
    Reply
  14. bleedrockiepurple

    9 years ago

    People are mad about the money in the deal but it was not so much a bad move by Ned, the bar was set by other free agent 2B’s. And clearly Ned doesn’t feel Sellers or DeJesus Jr. are ready to play everyday at the MLB level.

    And I can also guarantee that this move by the Dodgers is making a division rival, the Rockies, scramble to find their own second basemen as they’re really isn’t an internal option.

    Like
    Reply
    • Alex Timmons

      9 years ago

      hey at least it wasnt another Juan Uribe deal. i was hoping to get kelly johnson first then hill but ellis isn’t that bad. would i have rather seen that money spent elsewhere sure but its not a killer contract.

      Like
      Reply
      • bleedrockiepurple

        9 years ago

        I hope to see Kelly Johnson in a Rox uni if they miss out on Prado. I understand the idea of the money being spent elsewhere but the club clearly feels Sellers/DeJesus are not the answers right now.

        Like
        Reply
    • Alex Timmons

      9 years ago

      hey at least it wasnt another Juan Uribe deal. i was hoping to get kelly johnson first then hill but ellis isn’t that bad. would i have rather seen that money spent elsewhere sure but its not a killer contract.

      Like
      Reply
  15. bleedrockiepurple

    9 years ago

    People are mad about the money in the deal but it was not so much a bad move by Ned, the bar was set by other free agent 2B’s. And clearly Ned doesn’t feel Sellers or DeJesus Jr. are ready to play everyday at the MLB level.

    And I can also guarantee that this move by the Dodgers is making a division rival, the Rockies, scramble to find their own second basemen as they’re really isn’t an internal option.

    Like
    Reply
  16. mister_rob

    9 years ago

    If Ned really wanted a bad obp and no power from 2nd base, he should have called Theo and asked about Darwin Barney and his 400K salary

    I mean is a 300obp/340slg really that hard to find?

    Like
    Reply
    • Joey E

      9 years ago

      darwin is young
      ned only goes for vets

      Like
      Reply
      • Alex Timmons

        9 years ago

        lol by vets you mean over the hill like casey blake? sure lets trade our best hitting prospect for a great hitter like blake. wish u could take that one back huh Ned

        Like
        Reply
        • Bryce

          9 years ago

          I couldn’t agree more. I am actually not a big hater of Ned but after looking at all the terrible deals he has made I sure hope the new owner gets a new staff in the office! That trade was ridiculous!

          Like
          Reply
        • Bryce

          9 years ago

          I couldn’t agree more. I am actually not a big hater of Ned but after looking at all the terrible deals he has made I sure hope the new owner gets a new staff in the office! That trade was ridiculous!

          Like
          Reply
    • sherrilltradedooverexperience

      9 years ago

      i wouldn’t trust the dodgers trading with epstein

      Like
      Reply
      • Alex Timmons

        9 years ago

        oh god no, theo would screw the hell out of us.

        Like
        Reply
        • Philip Marlowe

          9 years ago

          It’s been so long since the Cubs have been the screwer instead of the screwee…

          Every time Theo Epstein makes a deal, an angel gets its wings.

          Like
          Reply
  17. JST1331

    9 years ago

    Is it me or does this guy always seem to land pricey contracts even with his mediocre hitting ability.

    Like
    Reply
  18. sherrilltradedooverexperience

    9 years ago

    hey Ryan Doumit!  Stick that in your pipe and smoke it

    Like
    Reply
  19. Emmitt_Smith

    9 years ago

    The Dodgers are a satire of modern American society.

    Like
    Reply
    • CAD_Monkey

      9 years ago

      Well, at least we haven’t sent scouts to Japan to watch a player pitch when he has the day off, yet…

      Like
      Reply
  20. nebelski

    9 years ago

    What the heck?  LOL… 2 years and >$8M???  Seems like an odd price to pay.

    Like
    Reply
  21. crashcameron

    9 years ago

    very simple, very obvious: McCourt getting his last screws into the Dodgers

    Like
    Reply
  22. $5474103

    9 years ago

    I’m not thrilled with the amount that they payed Ellis. But, I don’t think it’s an awful deal.

    Like
    Reply
    • meep

      9 years ago

      true people look to much in to the money and not in the player. i dont know much about him but i think this is a good sign. we dont have much in the minors for second and i dont see us getting anyone good in a trade with out giving up something good

      Like
      Reply
  23. Reaper87

    9 years ago

    If this makes them play Uribe at 3B everyday, then as a Giants fan I approve of it. Uribe is a hack at 3B compared to 2B and even SS

    Like
    Reply
    • Mike

      9 years ago

      I’m just happy we didn’t trade away any of our starting pitchers along with one of our pitching prospects for Melky Cabrera…

      Like
      Reply
      • Reaper87

        9 years ago

        J. Sanchez had to go, either by trade or release, so the move was probably the best they could have done for him at the moment. They have tons of relief prospects too, so it could be a lot worse than getting back a 27 year old switch hitter in a contract year

        Like
        Reply
      • Orlandojjk

        9 years ago

        lol. I was hoping for Aaron Hill but Ellis was my 2nd option. Kelly Johnson wouldnt fit into the plan since he’s a #2 hitter and another left hander. So late in games, opposing teams would use their left handers vs Gordon, Johnson, and possibbly Ethier and Loney. Im still hoping we land Prince.

        Like
        Reply
        • Mike

          9 years ago

          As much as I’d like to see Prince in Dodger blue, I’m not going to hold my breath. Kemp and Prince are buddies, but money talks and I think that with Kemp’s extension it’s going to put a freeze on any other big contracts until someone buys the team.

          Like
          Reply
          • Alex Timmons

            9 years ago

            fact is MLB told them they cant spend it on guys like prince or albert and if they were to spend major money it had to be on the guys currently in dodger blue

            Like
            Reply
  24. CaseyBlakeDeWitt

    9 years ago

    Perfect. Now we have two Ellis’. 

    Two Ellis’…

    How does that happen?

    Like
    Reply
  25. Sammy Mastroianni

    9 years ago

    A lot of you people forgot to mention that this article also noted Juan Uribe at 3rd…

    Like
    Reply
    • meep

      9 years ago

      i dont like Uribe bat but he wasnt that bad on defense for 3rd. so sound like Blake done with the dodgers?

      Like
      Reply
  26. dodgers1994

    9 years ago

    trade that f*** boy either and his attitude 

    Like
    Reply
    • whatever

      9 years ago

      OH MAN, so awesome

      Like
      Reply
  27. BruinPirateAnteater

    9 years ago

    Kelly Johnson would have been an upgrade to Carroll. All I see with Ellis is an overpriced Sellers. Would have much rather saved that money, stuck Sellers at second and used the extra cash on Fielder. Dont understand the Dodgers passing on Carrol and Barajas. We lost someone whose been bery solid for us, and someone who hit 16 HRs for us. We pick up a guy with a good glove, a shaky bat and we pay him 8 mill over 2 years? The smart thing to do would have been to either sign Carrol or start Sellers and resign Barrajas….and of course, go after Fielder.

    Like
    Reply
    • Alex Timmons

      9 years ago

      they can’t MLB wont allow the dodgers to pursue a contract that big for a player not on the team already.

      Like
      Reply
  28. Zach

    9 years ago

    I would have rather we kept Carroll. 

    Like
    Reply
  29. Dodgerbluez

    9 years ago

    Would have liked to have signed Aramis to play 3rd.. Keep Juan/Miles/Sellers @2nd..

    Like
    Reply
  30. Bob George

    9 years ago

    That’s a horrible infield the Dodgers have.

    Like
    Reply
    • dieharddodgerfan

      9 years ago

      Actually, if Loney stays at 1B, then the right side of the infield is a very good defensive one. Dee Gordon is still erratic at SS, but Loney will help save some of his errant throws. Uribe is not great at 3B, but shouldn’t be a down grade defensively from Blake, who was an average 3B.

      The issue will be offense. We would have to pray that Loney’s hot finish was more of things to come and that Ellis can produce more along the lines of what he did during his early years with the A’s.

      Now if Fielder signs, the defense of the infield could really be suspect, but then you obviously get an impact bat w/Fielder.

      Like
      Reply
      • BlueSkyLA

        9 years ago

        I think you nailed it. Defensively this infield looks very good, with the possible exception of Gordon. He has the range but is still a little rough around the edges, as you’d expect for a rookie. Uribe will be fine at third, assuming he gets himself healthy. He’s certainly not a defensive liability.

        Like
        Reply
    • Pete

      9 years ago

      It really is. If they can’t upgrade from the pathetic Loney at 1B, they should target Aramis Ramirez for 3B to make it slightly tolerable.

      Like
      Reply
  31. baseball52

    9 years ago

    Mark Ellis is the epitome of a “nice” player.

    Like
    Reply
  32. Pete

    9 years ago

    One of the most boring players in recent baseball history.

    Like
    Reply
  33. aj7380

    9 years ago

    After seeing what Carroll actually got from the Twins, this deal looks worse now. Should’ve tried to get in on Prado(they still can, but they won’t) if they were going to spend “Infante-type money” on a 2B. Infante is at least versatile and has some pop. Ellis can only really play 2B, and will not make any impact offensively.
    Add to that the team being close to getting Treanor, and the offseason is not looking great, sans keeping Kemp. There better be a Kershaw extension coming around the bend.

    Like
    Reply
  34. aj7380

    9 years ago

    After seeing what Carroll actually got from the Twins, this deal looks worse now. Should’ve tried to get in on Prado(they still can, but they won’t) if they were going to spend “Infante-type money” on a 2B. Infante is at least versatile and has some pop. Ellis can only really play 2B, and will not make any impact offensively.
    Add to that the team being close to getting Treanor, and the offseason is not looking great, sans keeping Kemp. There better be a Kershaw extension coming around the bend.

    Like
    Reply
  35. Mack22

    9 years ago

    This makes zero sense to me. Why would you let Carroll walk
    and sign Ellis for more money when he’s half the player? Better yet play
    Sellars and use this money to get a catcher instead of this broken down Mendoza
    line hugging below ave Treanor. Well at least Ned is consistent. Just be a
    bigger mess to clean up for the new owner and GM.

    Like
    Reply
  36. Triple Hawpes Brewed

    9 years ago

    Juan Uribe at 3rd….what a joke.

    Like
    Reply

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