The Dodgers announced that they have released infielder/outfielder Alex Guerrero, who was designated for assignment back on May 31.
The move brings to an end what will go down as a disappointing tenure for Guerrero, who signed a four-year, $28MM contract with the Dodgers back in 2013 on the heels of some impressive numbers in Cuba. Playing for los Lenadores de las Tunas, Guerrero compiled a lifetime .303/.386/.528 batting line across 2257 plate appearances in Cuba’s Serie Nacional. He’s delivered similarly impressive numbers in his brief minor league career, most notably slashing .323/.357/.598 in 266 PAs at the Triple-A level.
However, the 29-year-old Guerrero has struggled with big league pitching, hitting just .224/.251/.414 in 243 PAs, and he’s had even greater struggles on the defensive end of the game. Guerrero was primarily a shortstop while playing in Cuba, though he did see a couple hundred innings at second base as well. Even at the time of his signing, there was doubt as to whether he’d be able to handle shortstop in the Majors, and the Dodgers only gave him 47 innings at the position in the minors. He never saw action at shortstop in the Majors, spending the entirety of his time at third base and in left field while drawing mostly negative marks in the eyes of defensive metrics.
Guerrero didn’t see much in the way of regular at-bats with the Dodgers, and his time in the minors was even slowed somewhat by a bizarre incident in which teammate Miguel Olivo bit off a portion of his ear in a dugout altercation. A left knee injury prevented him from taking the field for the majority of the 2016 season, and he batted just .136/.162/.197 in 68 PAs during a recent minor league rehab assignment.
Guerrero will now be available to any club that wishes to take a chance on his production in Cuba and in Triple-A. The Dodgers are on the hook for the remainder of this season’s $5MM salary and the $5MM salary he’ll take home in 2016 as well, so he’d be available for the pro-rated portion of the league minimum.
I suspect the Indians are burning up the phone lines right now. “You play OF and we can sign you for the league minimum???? Hired!”
I would take him over that slouch Crawford. He can actually hit a basbeall from time to time. He does have power also.. Can he translate it? That remains to be seen
When he isn’t hurt, Crawford is the far better player. Not even close. Guerrero has exactly one good month in the majors to his name and no other measurable assets.
Very true, except for the fact that Crawford is permanently hurt now. That field in Tampa just destroyed him.
Thank your for speaking the truth. Right now (which all that matters anyway) Guerrero is a better player. Now,that is not saying much but that shows how much Crawford is worth.. Guerrero also has power which is easily valued than having nothing.. Crawford (at this stage) does nothing even average.. He can’t even play defense.anymore.
Thanks, Doc. It’s always nice to have an experienced medical professional in on these discussions.
I was a big fan of his coming out but man, I’m not sure what went wrong. With the way our season is circling the drain and considering the fact that we’ve been using JB Shuck and Jimmy Rollins as our DH, I wouldn’t mind giving him a shot.
Yea, just what the w sox need, another loser who can’t hit big league pitching. Sounds a lot like one of their farmhands, great in the minors can’t hit in the majors. Plus I’d like to know a little more about his missing ear.
So the dodgers are getting rid of all the horrible Cuban signings. Is Puig next?
What has made Puig a “horrible Cuban signing”?
Come on! #PuigYourFriend
The Dodgers have blown more money on stupid moves over many years…… Unbelievable …… Go Giants……!!!!!!!!!!!
Actually, Barry Zito cost more.
yeah but the difference is at least Barry Zito played out his contract
Yes, very poorly. I’m sure Guerrero would have played out his contract had he not been released for being so bad. Not sure why the Giants never released Zito. In his 7 years/126 Million dollars he provided exactly 3 WAR. In seven seasons.
Giants don’t win in 2012 without Barry Zito pitching that gem against the Cards in a must win game 5 of the NLCS. That game alone softened the blow of that contract for us Giants fans.
don’t forget about his hit in that game too!
Dim
More dead weight…… With a price tag…… Poor organization
being a Giants fan, I should remind you that we paid millions to make Dave Roberts and Aaron Rowand go away too, it happens to every org
Thank you for having common sense. It happens to all teams at some point.
Umm, and the Giants also spent millions and millions and millions on Barry Zito and Randy Winn and Marco Scutaro and Noah Lowry and Rowand and Roberts and Cain and Peavy and Casey McGehee…they are certainly not immune to the notion that having a huge payroll covers up lots of mistakes.
Marco Scuatro and Noah Lowry were victims of unfortunate/career ending injuries
Yep. Exactly the kind of things that small-market teams can’t afford, but big market teams like the Dodgers (highest payroll in baseball ) and Giants (fifth highest payroll in baseball) can easily absorb.
Scutaro, Cain, Zito, and Peavy were all major contributors on championship teams. Bad contracts don’t look as bad when they guys have some post season heroics mixed in there.
agreed 100%
Zito was not a major contributor. He pitched one good game and was left off the postseason roster entirely once. The point I was making is that huge budget teams like LA or SF can afford to make huge financial mistakes while teams like the Padres or Rays or Pittsburgh can’t throw money around like that and still be competitive. Basically, LA and SF (and the Yanks and Red Sox and Cubs) can throw money out the window and remain competitive, while small-market/budget teams cannot.
International signings like these is why the Dodgers now have five GM’s.
True, though I’d trade three of those GMs and cash considerations for one decent and preferably less smug Assistant GM and a fringe amateur scout to be named later.
Signings like this are why Colleti and his international scouting department is no longer employed with the Dodgers
Braves need to get him for 3b
Lol cause olivera worked out great for the braves.
His fielding is so bad that it would only make sense for him to play in the AL. Teams like the Braves need to rebuild around players who can help them in the future, and not give away runs in the field. He may be able to play the OF, but the Dodgers are well-stocked there.
He never really had a legitimate chance to prove himself. In the little time he played he showed some good power numbers. Awful defense though, he’s better off playing in the AL.
His issue is that he’s been nothing but a below-average hitter in the majors as well. The occasional HR doesn’t compensate for the high strikeout totals or absurdly poor plate discipline. He also brings no defensive value, has not carved out a niche against LHP, just came off of a brutal rehab assignment, and has a history, albeit a small one, of a much-publicized altercation with a teammate. Not sure he makes sense on any major league team, regardless of league. Screams AAAA players to me
Most of what you say is true, but I’m pretty sure he did not bite off his own ear.
is this the Kei Igawa of hitting?
I wouldn’t go quite that far, but that’s a pretty good analogy. Igawa was always a good minor league pitcher. I was going to offer Brandon Wood, but Wood was a good defensive third baseman.