A number of notable clubs entered Spring Training looking for clear answers at second base, and other teams could face looming questions at the position. Here's a roundup of items about the keystone…
- Multiple talent evaluators tell ESPN's Jim Bowden that Alexander Guerrero needs a lot of time at Triple-A in order to both learn second base and simply to regain his form after not playing last season. In the Insider-only piece, Bowden looks at internal and external second base answers the Dodgers could explore to solidify themselves at the position.
- Early word on Guerrero hasn't been too positive, as one evaluator tells ESPN's Buster Olney (another Insider-only piece) that the Dodgers "could get him through outright waivers right now if they need a roster spot." Olney speculates that the Nationals could generate some interest in Danny Espinosa given the number of teams (including the Dodgers and Yankees) looking for second base help, though Washington wouldn't want to accept a sell-low offer for Espinosa given his poor 2013 season.
- The Royals are lacking in middle infield depth behind Omar Infante and Alcides Escobar, as Andy McCullough of the Kansas City Star notes may not have the 25-man roster space for a backup infielder. Since Ned Yost plans to carry 12 pitchers, that leaves only four bench spots for Justin Maxwell, Jarrod Dyson, Danny Valencia and the backup catcher. Christian Colon, Pedro Ciriaco and Johnny Giavotella are currently fighting for a roster spot in camp and the team will have Valencia and Mike Moustakas work out at second in case they need to be emergency options. “It’s not ideal not to have a backup middle infielder on the team,” GM Dayton Moore said. “However, I do anticipate Infante and Escobar in the lineup most days.”
- Marco Scutaro is only beginning to take grounders and has yet to swing a bat, CSNBayArea.com's Andrew Baggarly reports. The veteran infielder is purposely taking a slow start to Spring Training in order to keep himself healthy and free of hip problems, and Giants GM Brian Sabean admits that the team probably should've shut Scutaro down last year when he was battling multiple nagging injuries. Despite Scutaro's issues, Sabean is confident he'll be ready for Opening Day though he only said "we'll see" when asked if he was comfortable with the team's second base depth.
The worst offseason move the Dodgers made this year is a move they didn’t make: picking up the option on Mark Ellis.
Agreed. It was a cheap option that would not have prevented them from going after Guerrero in any way.
The reasoning behind letting Ellis go must have been more of a professional courtesy than anything else. I can’t think of any other good reason, except that he plays only the one position and would have been awkward to keep on the roster if/when Guerrero is ready. He’d have been pretty easy to trade at that point, though.
It really was dumb. Can’t wait to see the 6’4″ Dee Gordon make a double play pivot at second.
“It’s not ideal not to have a backup middle infielder on the team,” GM Dayton Moore said.
Well, I am just surprised that the Royals didn’t try and sign Ramon Santiago or Casilla ( who wound up signing with us the Orioles). It’s not like Dayton didn’t get a good look at them since they both played in their division. Hopefully, the Royals come up with something. Or the O’s trade Flaherty for Crow. That would work for me! =P
Moore let Bonifacio go, which surprised me given he had the ability to play super-utility even if not top flight. He offered more than Dyson.
Does Alexander Guerrero count against the Dodger’s luxury tax?
Scut’s awesome. I really hope he gets healthy and back in the show.
He really needs to stay healthy and hit around .300 again, or else he doesn’t provide much value, especially at his salary. Potentially huge mistake not shutting him down last September looking ahead to this year.
“It’s not ideal not to have a backup middle infielder on the team”
It’s this type of hard-hitting personnel analysis that has made Dayton Moore a luminary in the field of crafting a perfect baseball roster.
Rickie Weeks is available and off to a hot start in Arizona in the first few games, Imagine the Dodgers will be looking at Weeks.
I wonder if it’s occurred to Billy Beane (of course it has) that this could be a way to pawn off Hiro Nakajima, who was absolutely buried in Sacramento after the A’s picked up Jed Lowrie, then Alberto Callaspo… and Sogard has been doing well, and now they have Punto, and Jake Elmore (hmm, maybe they could flip him and pick up Parrino again on a minor-league deal). Not that any of these guys are really answers for the Dodgers, but it’s a lot of maybe slightly better than replacement level depth. It’d also be nice, though, to see if the Brewers could get some actual value for Weeks.
what would it take for the Giants to get Altuve from the Stros’? He’s signed at a nice deal through 2017