Shane Victorino would like to re-sign with the Dodgers when he hits free agency this coming offseason. But if there isn’t room in Los Angeles’ starting outfield, he won’t be back. The 31-year-old switch-hitter told Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times that he has no intention of returning as a bench player.
"Are you crazy?" Victorino said. "I'm not even thinking about stepping back. Why would I? I'm 31 years old. . . . I'm going to be an everyday play, whether it be here, whether it be Philly, whether it be any uniform."
Los Angeles seemed like a possible long-term fit for Victorino when he was acquired from the Phillies before the non-waiver trade deadline. The Dodgers have since acquired Carl Crawford, who’s under contract through 2017. However, Crawford recently underwent Tommy John surgery, so he might not be ready for the beginning of the 2013 season.
Victorino, who lives in Las Vegas, said he likes what the Dodgers are doing and would consider re-signing with the team if there’s interest on both sides. "Anything can happen,” he told Hernandez.
I think it would be pretty cool to see Victorino back where he belongs in 2013. I think it was the right move to make this year, even though Lindblom hasn’t been the answer to the Phillies bullpen woes, but Victorino coming back to Philly could be a shot in the arm for both the team and Shane. It’ll be interesting to see how the Dodgers handle Crawford, though, and I wonder if Victorino would view a platoon situation as the same as returning as a bench player, even if the salary were right.
As a Dodgers fan, I like Victorino a lot – but there’s no way they can pay him. Kemp makes 20 million next year, Crawford gets 20 million, and Ethier gets 13.5 million. That’s 53.5 million to three outfielders. Even if Crawford isn’t healthy in April, they’re not going to pay Victorino 6-10 million to be a fourth outfielder.
Yeah not to meantion got to think they will be extending Kershaw fairly soon. Victorino would ideally be perfect for the Dodgers given he crushes lefties and Eithier/Crawfords big issues with them but he will get a starting spot somewhere for sure
Start by saying there’s no room for him. The outfield is full and you can’t make Eithier a first baseman since AGon is there so where would he play?
Yup, that’s the real issue. Anyone who thinks the Dodgers can’t pay what it takes is living in the past.
I think he’s coming back to Philadelphia on a reasonable contract. (The Jimmy Rollins contract perhaps… something like 3 years $33 million with a vesting option for a fourth?) There’s no room in LA for him… and we obviously need a centerfielder.
For the longest time, I’ve advocated bringing Michael Bourn back to Philadelphia but not for $100 million. Victorino’s IMO the more valuable player going forward given that he has a variety of skills whereas Bourn is a speed first player.
Rollins
Victorino
Utley
Howard
Ruiz
Brown
Mayberry/Nix/Schierholtz
Galvis
Pitcher
Isn’t great but it’s not awful. Obviously, this doesn’t take into account any free agent additions beyond Victorino.
It’d be nice to despise Shane again 😉
Agreed. Never really liked him. He could end up with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters for all I care.
Then what happens with Crawford?
20 million a yr 4th OF. 😀
That does sound like something Ned Colleti would do.
Who would even ASK Victorino that question? Seriously….
So essentially Victorino won’t be back…
I doubt he’s coming back. Doesn’t make much sense, financially with Crawford, Kemp, Ethier, and Puig. I know that money isn’t an obstacle any more, but I just don’t see a random OF FA signing. If anything they should be spending money on pitching and and bench spots.
Something makes me thing he’ll be in Arlington next year.
I can’t see a practical scenario where there is room for Victorino next year. When the Boston trade was made it meant Victorino was not getting re-signed. He’s also not hit much since coming over.
While I’d prefer someone with more power, I wouldn’t mind seeing Victorino return to San Diego as the right fielder. He’s a clear upgrade over Venable, he’s a great #2 hitter, and he’s a good defender. His skill set is ideal for PetCo, and I think he brings a much needed edge to the team. Having him hit ahead of Headley, Quentin, Grandal and Alonso should give the Padres plenty of chances to score runs. He’d also be a nice fall back should the Padres decide Maybin isn’t the longterm answer in center.
Victorino on the Padres? Bwah hah hah hah.
Why not Mauer, ARod and Swisher while you’re at it?
How does signing Victorino correlate at all with taking on the ridiculous contracts of Arod and Mauer?
It makes a lot of sense, and though they haven’t talked payroll yet, I would expect the new ownership team to loosen the purse strings a litte.
It’s not that far fetched with new ownership coming in. There have been rumors they could have up to $40M to spend in the off-season. It depends entirely on how much Victorino thinks he’s worth, but there is no way he should garner $20M/yr on the open market. If someone pays him that much, they are out of their minds. I would expect the Padres new ownership to make some sort of splash in the free agent market, they need to show the fans they are serious about changing the way the franchise conducts its business.
Bring back Peavy, Adams and Victorino, and with a few guys staying healthy, the Padres could be contenders next year.
I’m sure MLB/MLBPA doesn’t have 10-day contracts like the NBA used to, so look for Gwynn/Riviera/Hairston/Van Slyke or whoever for a month. If Puig is destined for Albuquerque, it’d be a nice time to give him a month in the show too.
unless out know where dodgers trade Crawford and sign Victorino i prefer Victorino
The title is a tad misleading,
Yeah, it really should be “would” rather than “could.”
or it could be . ‘Shane Victorino will do something’
Victorino would obviously be a better option than Gwynn for our fourth outfielder spot next year. But since Shane is not up to that idea, then we should just let him go and let him sign with another team that is willing to let him play every day.
Reading between the lines of Victorino’s comments, you can see that he expects to get a starting job somewhere, and starting jobs pay a lot better.
I’m certain he will be SF’s starting center fielder next season.
Victorino won’t re-sign and the Dodgers will unload Crawford on someone. They have to make room for the eventual aquisition of Vernon Wells. (I can dream, can’t I?)
With Gonzo locking up 1B someone would have to be moved for this to happen. So I guess the question is if LA is higher on Ethier or Victorino.
Unless the Dodgers trade an outfielder during the off season, they’ll have Kemp, Ethier, Victorino and Crawford.
Did you read Victorino’s quotes?
I don’t see how Shane Victorino can stay in LA…there are simply too many starters locked up long-term. I think that the Dodgers will have no choice BUT to let Victorino walk in the offseason. San Francisco could be a nice landing spot, especially since I don’t see the Giants re-signing Melky Cabrera after he inflated his stats with testosterone. The Padres with new ownership now in place (that sale closed today) could also be a destination.
Sun Could Rise in the West Tomorrow.
No more room for Victorino next year.
The lineup already looks set:
LF Crawford
2B M.Ellis
CF Kemp
1B AGon
3B HanRam
RF Ethier
C A.J. Ellis
SS Dee Gordon
Don’t really see a spot for Victorino.
It is wacko-o he resigns with them, unless it as the best 4th OF in the game since Crisp was with Boston a few years ago and Victorino will not have any problems landing a 2-3Y gig and getting more money than Crisp was making as a 4th OF back then.. NO chance he returns and he isn’t even close to the talent of CC, Eitheir or Kemp to start ahead of them..
Sure, he could maybe be insurance for April and early May if CC is a bit slow on returning from TJ surgery, but does LA throw down 2-3Y and probably 25-30m for 2 months of a starting LF and then stick him on the bench as an emergency replacement OF, trying to find him AB’s? I can tell you how well that sat with Crisp, who knew he deserved to be starting for someone then and the Sox were always trying to get him AB’s somehow and LA has a talented front 3 lined up now also.
100% waste of resources to throw any $$$ at Victorino.
There is room for him in San Diego. SS Cabrera RF Victorino 3B Headley RF Quentin C Grandal 1B Alonso CF Maybin 2B Gyorko/Amarista/Forsythe Not a bad little lineup.
Shane is a Free Agent, he will not play for The Dodgers.. I see The Padres, Giants, Mariners all lining up for Shane Victorino.
Come on Ned spend another 40Million on a declining player
Not happening. Between Crawford, Kemp, Ethier and Puig, the Dodgers have like 1 billion dollars invested into the outfield… even if Crawford isn’t ready to start the season, the Dodgers will sign some Rivera-like stopgap or stick Hairston or Gwynn out there.
Extreme fear of gambling.
This is a bad joke 1st of all…
They can always get Danny Uggla from Atlanta if they want a contract the Braves may want to move.. he can hit for power at the plate, pitch selective, but is his defense (range wise) awful at 2b and he is owed 40m until 2015,
I think batting Gordon 8th is a good move. Takes pressure off of him so hopefully he can develop easier.
7th makes much more sense. You’d have one of the most patient batters in baseball in AJ Ellis batting behind him, giving him plenty of opportunities to steal. Having him bat in front of the pitcher would be a waste.