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Dodgers, Bobby Abreu Agree To Deal

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The Dodgers have reached agreement on a deal with Bobby Abreu, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (via Twitter).  The Peter E. Greenberg & Associates client will serve as a bat off of the bench and a part-time outfielder.

On Wednesday, we learned that the Dodgers were in serious talks with the 38-year-old.  The Angels released Abreu one week ago and will be on the hook for the remainder of his $9MM salary.  Abreu's new deal could be for as little as the pro-rated portion of the MLB minimum.

Abreu took a step back in 2011 as he hit .253/.353/.365 with eight homers in 142 games.  He openly complained about his reduced role with the club and got off to a slow start in 2012, prompting his release.  The Angels appeared to have struck a deal for Abreu with the Indians in March but Cleveland balked at the portion of his salary they were being asked to pay.

The slugger hopes to play for two or three more seasons, according to Heyman (via Twitter).

Dodgers Notes: Offseason Moves, Walter, Payroll

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Here are a few items out of Los Angeles as the Dodgers enjoy an off day before starting a three-game series at Wrigley Field…

  • The Dodgers' seemingly minor offseason acquisitions have played a large role in the club's early success, writes MLB.com's Ken Gurnick.
  • Ramona Shelburne of ESPN Los Angeles profiles Mark Walter, the Dodgers' new majority owner who has purposely taken a back seat behind Magic Johnson and Stan Kasten as the faces of the team.
  • At the new ownership group's introductory press conference on Wednesday, Kasten told reporters (including Steve Dilbeck of the L.A. Times) that he will be flexible with any limit on the team's payroll.  “I expect moving forward it’s going to be north of where it is now,” Kasten said. “But I have to tell you, I never focus on a target in getting the 25 guys….So focus on the players that we get and don’t worry so much about the payroll. I don’t have a set number for you because we’re not going to do it that way. We’re going to take every opportunity that we can. If that means increasing payroll, then that’s what’s going to happen.”
  • In news from earlier tonight, the Dodgers designated Mike MacDougal for assignment in order to make roster space for another right-hander, Ronald Belisario.

Dodgers Designate Mike MacDougal For Assignment

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The Dodgers have designated right-hander Mike MacDougal for assignment, according to the club's official Twitter feed.  In a corresponding move, Ronald Belisario has been reinstated from the restricted list.

Despite posting some middling peripheral numbers, MacDougal managed a 2.05 ERA in 69 games for Los Angeles last season, earning himself a new one-year, $1MM contract in January.  He has posted a 7.94 ERA in seven appearances (5 2/3 innings) this season.  The 35-year-old reliever will now have to clear waivers before the Dodgers can send him back down to the minors.

Belisario was due to be activated after serving a 25-game suspension for failing a drug test.  The right-hander hasn't pitched since 2010 due to visa and substance abuse issues. 

Dodgers In Serious Talks With Bobby Abreu

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The Dodgers are in serious talks with Bobby Abreu, reports Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). Details still need to be worked out, so the deal is not yet done.

The Angels released the 38-year-old Abreu late last week, and earlier today we heard that several NL teams have expressed interest. Abreu posted a .353 on-base percentage with 21 stolen bases and 78 walks last year, but got off to a slow start in 2012. He is a client of Peter E. Greenberg & Associates and is available for a pro-rated portion of the MLB minimum at this point. The Angels are responsible for the remainder of his $9MM salary.

Dodgers Notes: McCourt, Magic, Kasten

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The Dodgers’ front office will likely renew its interest in the market for Latin American players, ESPN.com’s Buster Olney reported earlier today. Here are some more notes on the Dodgers, who are now officially under the ownership of Guggenheim Baseball Management:

  • Former owner Frank McCourt wrote a letter to the team's staff and Bill Shaikin of the LA Times obtained a copy (Twitter link). "We grew the value of the franchise well beyond what anyone thought was possible," McCourt wrote.
  • Magic Johnson invested more than $50MM in the team, Yahoo’s Tim Brown reports (Twitter link). The NBA legend takes over McCourt’s former office down the left field line at Dodger Stadium.
  • Johnson wants fans to look past the previous ownership group, Shaikin tweets. "Frank is not here,”Johnson said. “He is not part of the Dodgers anymore. We should be clapping for that."
  • The new ownership group took out a full-page ad in today's LA Times, Scott Miller of CBSSports.com reports. "We are committed to building the next dynasty," the owners told their fans.
  • CEO Stan Kasten says winning cultures start “with scouting and player development," Shaikin tweets.
  • "Can't give you a (payroll) number, but we'll be in on every major free agent," said Kasten according to ESPN's Molly Knight (on Twitter).

Mike Axisa contributed to this post.

Olney On Dodgers, Hamels

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The Dodgers should have the financial flexibility to pursue trades aggressively this summer, and there’s an expectation that the team’s payroll will rise next offseason, ESPN.com’s Buster Olney writes. The Dodgers’ new owners could pursue free agents such as Josh Hamilton, Miguel Montero and Mike Napoli next winter, assuming they’re willing to spend more than $90MM on payroll. Here’s more from Olney:

  • The Dodgers’ front office will likely renew its interest in the market for Latin American players, Olney reports. The team was relatively inactive in Latin America under former owner Frank McCourt, but has a history of star-caliber Latin American players.
  • The Phillies haven’t made recent progress with the representatives for Cole Hamels regarding a possible extension, Olney writes. The left-hander’s asking price won’t dip below five years and $112.5MM (Matt Cain’s contract) and seems to rise every day. Sources connected to the MLBPA believe Hamels will get six-year offers as a free agent.

Extension Possible For Ethier, Dodgers

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10:16pm: Ethier has let the new ownership group know that he's willing to discuss a contract extension during the season rather than wait until the winter, writes Heyman. Industry chatter says the outfielder could command a contract in the six-year, $90MM range.

3:01pm: The Dodgers’ new ownership group has been in place for a matter of hours, and they aren’t close to signing their right fielder to a long-term deal. But Andre Ethier could be in line for a contract extension before long.

The chances of a deal “improve drastically” with Guggenheim Baseball Management in place, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). Bill Shaikin of the LA Times points out that Dodgers GM Ned Colletti met with Ethier’s agent Friday and suggests a contract could be the new owners’ first order of business (Twitter link).

Ethier, 30, is a client of Nez Balelo of CAA Sports. He earns $10.95MM in 2012 and is on track for free agency this offseason. In seven MLB seasons, he has a .291/.363/.481 batting line with 114 home runs. MLBTR's Dan Mennella examined Ethier's free agent stock last month.

Mike Axisa contributed to this post.

Dodgers’ Sale Complete

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TUESDAY, 12:09pm: The Dodgers' sale has closed, Shaikin tweets. The team announced the sale and listed the official sale price at $2 billion.

MONDAY, 7:51pm: The sale will not close today, reports Bill Shaikin of The Los Angeles Times (on Twitter). The sale is not in danger and is expected to close early tomorrow.

9:23am: Frank McCourt is out and Magic Johnson and Stan Kasten are in. The sale of the Dodgers will close today, as expected, Yahoo's Tim Brown tweets. Lawyers from MLB and the incoming ownership group worked through the weekend to resolve outstanding issues.

Guggenheim Baseball Management agreed to buy the Dodgers for $2.15 billion last month, but the team has technically been McCourt's ever since. Dodgers fans can look forward to a return to prominence under Johnson, an NBA Hall of Famer, and Kasten, the former president of the Braves and Nationals. It's unclear whether the Dodgers will have payroll flexibility at the upcoming trade deadline.

Mike Axisa contributed to this post.

Dodgers Notes: McCourt, Mattingly, Kemp

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The Dodgers’ sale is expected to close today, ending the Frank McCourt era in Los Angeles. Guggenheim Baseball Management, the group fronted by Magic Johnson and Stan Kasten, could officially take ownership of the team within hours. In the meantime, here are the latest links related to the 16-7 Dodgers…

  • Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said McCourt’s ownership ended well in some respects, but remains incomplete in others. "Things obviously worked out financially, but it still can't be what you came for,” he said, according to Bill Shaikin of the LA Times (on Twitter). “You want to win a championship."
  • In a piece that focuses on the Rangers' impressive depth, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports says the Dodgers would be a mediocre team without Matt Kemp.

Colletti In Touch With Andre Ethier’s Agents

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Dodgers General Manager Ned Colletti has kept in contact with Andre Ethier's agents at CAA through the team's ownership change in hopes of reaching agreement on an extension, according to Jim Bowden of ESPN and MLB Network Radio (on Twitter).  In a followup tweet, Bowden says that he expects an extension would cover four or five years and pay the slugging right fielder $14-$15MM annually.

Over the past week we've heard that Colletti has talked with the new ownership group about a new deal for Ethier and his intention has always been to keep Ethier wearing Dodger blue.  The 30-year-old Ethier avoided arbitration this offseason, agreeing to a one-year deal worth $10.95MM.  He's enjoying a strong start to the 2012 season, batting .284/.326/.568 entering play today.

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