The Dodgers are next in MLBTR’s 2013 Contract Issues series:
Eligible For Free Agency (5)
- Andre Ethier - The Dodgers would like to sign Ethier long-term, but it might require a $100MM commitment.
- James Loney - Loney doesn't hit much relative to other first basemen, so the Dodgers may let him walk in an attempt to improve their offense.
- Adam Kennedy - The 36-year-old will have to provide some offense to go along with his defensive versatility.
- Jamey Wright - Teams always need middle relievers, though Wright turns 38 this offseason.
- Bobby Abreu - Five games into Abreu's Dodgers career it's too early to know if he'll return in 2013.
Contract Options (3)
- Juan Rivera: $4MM club option with a $500K buyout. The Dodgers don't seem to trust Rivera against right-handed pitching, and given his struggles their hesitation is justified. $4MM is expensive for a platoon bat with little defensive value.
- Todd Coffey: $2.5MM club option with a $300K buyout. Coffey spent much of April on the disabled list, but he could earn a place in the Dodgers' 2013 'pen with a strong finish.
- Matt Treanor: $950K club option with a $150K buyout. The Dodgers may prefer to make Tim Federowicz their backup and save a little money.
Arbitration Eligible (2)
- First time: Blake Hawksworth, A.J. Ellis
Recently hired director of baseball contracts Alex Tamin will likely be up against one of the smallest arbitration classes in the game next offseason. Two players are eligible for the first time and that's it.
2013 Payroll Obligation
The Dodgers have a $105MM payroll this year, and they've already committed $103MM to next year's team, not including arbitration eligible players. It's a good thing new ownership expects payroll to rise, because the Dodgers are getting expensive.
Add Cole Hamels to that.
All those players except Ethier will likely be gone after this year.
I am hoping the Dodgers will be able to trade Capuano and Lilly if they continue to have strong seasons. We are probably stuck with Harang, unfortunately.
My offseason plan would be to have dealt Lilly and Capuano, which will free up about $20 million and put the Dodgers payroll around $80 mill.
Then I go out and sign Hamilton (6yrs/$150 mill) and Hamels (5yrs/$120 mill) and re-sign Ethier and go with a lineup of:
SS Gordon
LF Ethier
CF Kemp
RF Hamilton
1B Van Slyke
2B M.Ellis
3B Uribe
C A.J. Ellis
Rotation: Kershaw, Hamels, Billz, Eovaldi, Harang
Pen: LOOGY, Tolleson, Guerrier, Guerra, Lindblom, Belisario, Jansen
I would love to deal Uribe and/or Guerrier as well, but that is likely not an option.
If the Mets don’t pick up the option on Wright (which I expect them to do), then I would also be all for making a run at David Wright.
I agree with the first sentence, and question everything else.
You need to get yourself out of the McCourt mindset (as does the writer of this article). He is history. If we believe anything the new ownership has said so far, the driving force is no longer cutting effective players to “free up” payroll, the driving force is creating a winning roster at whatever the cost may be. Accordingly… if we’re looking for a first baseman, then we are not looking for a rookie who is not only completely unproven at the major league level, but who hasn’t even played much first base.
Second, if you’re trying to assemble a solid rotation, it makes no sense to drop the effective Lilly and Capuano in favor of a rookie (you might refresh yourself with a look at how Eovaldi is doing at AA this year) and a side of beef — even assuming the Dodgers could land Hamels, which is far from certain.
I am beginning to think Ted Lilly could maybe become the next Jamie Moyer, as long as he stays at Chavez Ravine..
Good for him (and LAD) like seeing old timers and also guys reinvent a career like he did switching leagues.
Lilly finished last season strong and has picked up right where he left off. Why some continue to be so down on him is mystifying to me.
It’s what I meant.. Since he went to the NL and especially Chavez Ravine.. The guy has turned into superman.. I ain’t down on him at all, just hope HE realizes it and stays put.. IMO and from the way he’s pitching (have watched some of his gems) he might go another 6+ seasons.. He pitches almost effortlessly out there.
He is the surprise of the year. I mean he just gave up HR after HR last year and now he is has been great for us. I guess this is why we signed him for 3 yrs. Good for him.
Regardless of who owns the team they will look to free up payroll in order to purchase players that are worth the money. Id free up money by eating some of it in trading away trash like Uribe.
Id also look to trade Capuano/Harang if they continue to work. I would prefer solid 1-3 guys w a solid pen over solid 1-5 w no pen. Our bullpen sucks. Its lost 9 games for us this year 7in on. We have Jansen and Limblom. What happened to Javy?
I know its a 162 games season but Id be in the mind set of building a playoff team. A team that is built to win a 7 game series. In 08/09 we were smoked in the NLCS bc of our bullpen.
If the Dodgers could pick up a player of the caliber of Bobby Abreu for nothing then I wonder what they could get for a player like Uribe. They’d probably have to release him just to open the roster spot. Same goes for Harang. OTOH, Capuano is pitching very well and I see no reason to move him. The bullpen is a mess right now, but not because of the rotation. It’s because Guerra folded and MacDougal, Coffee and Gurrier are all on the DL. If we could pick up another quality starter at the trade deadline (doubtful) I’d say move Harang to the ‘pen if help is still needed there.
If the Dodgers are going to spend money on a FA OF, I’d rather they go with Swisher, Ichiro, or Upton because Hamilton just made himself A LOT of money last night, and I don’t see him keeping up that pace for much longer.
If they are completely out of the race, an effective (read: ERA under 3) Capuano might be a good piece to move, but my expectation is that they will still be in the hunt for a playoff race.
I also don’t see the Dodgers trading Lilly at all.
I don’t mind paying Hamilton a boat load of money, as long as the years are right. Dodgers will have loads of money once they renegotiate a new TV deal after next season.
I prefer Hamilton because, frankly, he’s the best free agent bat that will be out there.
Lilly can get dealt. Same with Capuano. If the Dodgers falter, they could get dealt.
I would not be so sure this team is going to stay in the playoff race. They just lost a series against one of the worst teams in the NL (Cubs) and they are being hit with a rash of injuries and/or nicks and bruises. Hairston and likely Rivera are out and Kemp and Uribe are playing hurt.
There is not a lot of room for error or injuries for this ball club if they want to continue to contend.
NO ONE will give Hamels 24m a year. Hamilton will get more than 150m from most bidders. He might get Fielder money. You have to remember that NedCo is the GM and he gives mor emoney for less yrs. He also signs ex giants, aging vets, and trash.
I like NedCo as a trading GM bc he seems to be brilliant at that but as a FA GM he has done nothing but buy trash.
Hamels is going to get paid. His numbers are ridiculous, especially when you factor in his home park. He’s also performed well in the playoffs. He’s an ace.
Ned no longer has autonomy. Kasten is the president and he will have final say. Dodgers are also no longer hamstrung by having an owner who spends all of the team’s money on new houses, haircuts and fortune tellers.
The new ownership group is going to spend, especially considering a huge new TV deal is coming after next year and they need to get ratings up to maximize that new deal.
Im not saying they wont spend money. They SAY they will and we will find out but Hamels wont get 24mm a year. He will get paid and he is a great pitcher but wont get 24mm. If We gave him 24mm what do you think it will cost to ext Kershaw? Hamels will find a 5/6 yr 100mm deal. I see him getting 18-21 a yr.
I think your assessment of Ned’s FA history is decent, but I do think that McCourt handcuffed him a bit – especially on the backloaded contracts and the aging vets.
I think it’ll be a lot easier to get a big name FA in here long term now that Kemp is locked up for a time & Kershaw & Ethier likely will be too. I also think that simply replacing the name Frank McCourt with Magic Johnson makes the Dodgers a much sexier name.
Um did you forget about Rubby or what do you plan to do with him?
Federowicz wasn’t acquired to be groomed as a back-up catcher; if AJ Ellis is starting next year, and obviously he is doing nothing to hurt his case, FedEx will be getting playing time in ALB again.
Agreed, but then Ellis was being groomed as a backup catcher in all but name, and look what’s happened to him.
Difference is that Ellis showed clear talent for getting on base throughout his minor league career. FedEx hasn’t shown that.
Federowicz has good OBP numbers in the minors. Not through the roof like Ellis this season, but respectable. Just saying, a player can look like one thing for years and turn out to be another. For better or worse.
The Dodgers won’t be “expensive” past 2013. That’s when the idiotic backloaded contracts like Uribe, Capuano (I’m liking him more lately, however) and Harang come off the books. Also, no more Andruw Jones albatross or deferred payments to Manny. If they need, they can backload the FA deals. Ellis and Hawksworth won’t get that much in arb. Maybe $2m for Ellis if he finishes as strongly as he started and perhaps $1m for Hawskworth – if that.
I think Billingsly’s time is up. He is too inconsistent. Sure he was a 15 game winner last year but I dont see it this year. I agree with trying for Hamilton at any cost (except giving up kemp or ethier for him). Herrera seems to be fitting in good right now at 3rd or where ever he plays. Should have never let Beltre go. All in all, I like how the team is playing. Everyone is contributing in some way. Our homeruns are coming from a variety of players and not just one or two. We got speed on the bases. We got power in the bats. And gold glovers in the field. GO BLUE!!!