4:30pm: The Dodgers have officially announced the signing of Olivera to a six-year contract. Los Angeles also officially announced the signing of Cuban righty Pablo Millan Fernandez to a minor league contract — a previously reported signing that was said at the time to include an $8MM bonus.
12:16pm: Olivera is scheduled to work out in Arizona for a few weeks before beginning a minor league assignment, Rosenthal tweets.
11:57am: Much-hyped Cuban infielder Hector Olivera has passed his physical with the Dodgers, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports on Twitter. Presumably, an official announcement of his signing will be forthcoming in relatively short order.
Olivera, 29, reportedly inked a six-year, $62.5MM deal with Los Angeles back in March after something of a roller coaster of a signing process. The deal is said to include a clause that would grant the club an option for a seventh season in the event that Olivera requires Tommy John surgery on his right elbow.
The signing has, if anything, grown all the more interesting given developments in the interim. The Dodgers already looked to be loaded at second, third, and the corner outfield — Olivera’s potential positions — before reaching the deal. While Juan Uribe has struggled offensively, players like Justin Turner, Alex Guerrero, Enrique Hernandez, and Scott Van Slyke have been remarkably productive off the bench. (And that’s all before considering starters Howie Kendrick and Andre Ethier, who have been excellent, and a variety of other options in the infield and outfield.)
Olivera, obviously, was signed more as a long-term piece than to fill an immediate need. But given his age and salary commitment, it would be surprising if he does not receive a look at the big league level this year. That being said, the club’s array of options leave it in no rush to speed his progress, and Olivera will presumably be afforded plenty of time to adapt to the professional game and prepare for big league action.
With the deal set to hit the books, though, we can begin to look forward to a time when the roster crunch becomes all the more pressing. The Dodgers could well be on the market for pitching, and one wonders whether one or more of the team’s many interesting position players could be parlayed into arms.
Guerrero plus De Leon (the hot pitcher who just moved up to AA) for Hamels.
Nope.
Not even close.
With respect, lol. Actually, this may be the viewpoints from both sides.
they’d want a little bit more than that, and younger guys.
The phone call would end in about half a second if that was the offer.
Throw in one of the big 3 prospects and you have a deal..
Oiivera doesn’t need to “adapt to the professional game.” He is already a professional ballplayer. Cuban players often have much bigger problems adjusting to living in an entirely difficult culture and their sudden wealth.
With Kendrick a FA after the season, and Ethier still a strong candidate to be traded, it doesn’t seem likel that Olivera’s time being “blocked” will be very long. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Dodgers managed to move all of Ethier, Turner, and Guerrero between now and winter, while also watching Kendrick depart via FA. Olivera is a great depth move for them, as he figures nicely into the future as opposed to the number of guys they have on the team aimed at being the big winner THIS year.
From everything we’ve heard, Olivera’s future is at 3B. Kendrick might well be extended. This makes Uribe the most expendable, and possibly Guerrero (though his contract complicates matters). Turner is just too darned useful on this roster to trade. Unless/until Crawford and Puig return and look healthy, Ethier is locked into the roster (his trade value increasing daily).
There would be a lot less trouble for him throwing from second.
That worked well for Gordon, but Guerrero seems to be better at third. Olivera, however, has experience at 2B so you may be right.
Seems most of his work in Cuba was at 2B.
It would be nice if Uribe decided to remain with the Dodgers as a bench player. His leadership is valuable in the dugout.
He’s a glorified bench player now, but the problem will be just so many roster spots. He looks more like a trade chip every day.
It will be hard to trade Guerrero unless agrees ahead of time not to elect FA.
Yeah, it’s so hard to trade a 28 year old OPSing over 1.000 on the last year of his deal. In fact name me a better 2B or 3B for a 2015 playoff push available for trade? Teams would love to rent Alex Guerrero.
27 games…63 AB is all that needs to be said.
Yeah it’s not like he was over .895 for a half season in AAA or 5 in the CNS.
Yeah and AAA and CSN are not the MLB.
Guerrero can opt out if he is traded, hence the comment about not electing FA. Any team trading for him would just need to get him to agree to a deal or lose him to FA.. Just another bad contract from Colletti.
The month and half physical. Must have been very thorough
He obtained his visa and arrived in the U.S. four days ago.
I know. I was joking 🙂
Why would one get a minor league contract while the other got a major league contract?
It would be a big help if Olivera did not require a 40 man roster spot yet.