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Dodgers Seek Bat, Reliever

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The latest on the Dodgers…

  • Dodgers GM Ned Colletti told MLB.com's Ken Gurnick he's looking for a position player upgrade.  The potential acquisition would be payroll neutral and has been a starter at his position.  Gurnick guesses Colletti is targeting an outfielder or first baseman and would be willing to trade James Loney.
  • Colletti apparently met Tuesday night with agents at Hendricks Sports, which represents free agent reliever Mike MacDougal as well as Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw.  The Dodgers appear interested in bringing MacDougal back, while Colletti isn't sure of Kershaw's interest level in an extension.
  • Dodgers assistant GM Logan White interviewed for the Astros GM position, reported MLB.com's Brian McTaggart yesterday in case you missed it.
  • The Dodgers and MLB filed a settlement in bankruptcy court yesterday, reported Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times.  Owner Frank McCourt must divest himself of the Dodgers and their stadium by April 30th, and initial bids for the team are due January 13th.  MLB will have to approve an initial small group of bidders.  McCourt has the option of keeping the parking lots around the stadium.  As part of the settlement, MLB agreed to remain neutral in the dispute between the Dodgers and FOX.  The Dodgers want to market their television rights as part of the sale, and FOX objects based on its current contract.

Dodgers To Sign Josh Bard?

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11:39pm: The Dodgers are still talking to other catchers and the Bard deal is "not a slam dunk," says Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times (via Twitter).

10:43pm: The Dodgers have agreed to sign Josh Bard to a one-year deal worth about $750K, tweets Jon Heyman of MLB Network. Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times hears that it's a minor league contract (Twitter link).

Bard, 33, has a career OPS of .705 in parts of ten big league seasons, but his production has slipped in recent years. Since 2008, he has hit .217/.282/.332 in 711 plate appearances. He spent the last two seasons as the backup catcher in Seattle on one-year deals.

The Dodgers have been very active on the free agent market this offseason, as MLBTR's free agent tracker shows. The team has already signed six big league free agents, including another catcher, Matt Treanor, who inked a one-year deal with a 2013 option.

Quick Hits: Nats, White, Montero, Cespedes, Mets

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Let's catch up on some links that have taken a backseat while we wait with bated breath to find out where Albert Pujols will sign…

  • The Nationals prefer to trade minor leaguers over big leaguers, as Mark Zuckerman writes at Nats Insider.
  • Dodgers assistant GM Logan White interviewed today for the Astros' GM opening, as MLB.com Brian McTaggart writes.
  • The Diamondbacks are at the "very early stages" of negotiations on a Miguel Montero contract extension, said GM Kevin Towers. He doesn't expect anything to be resolved this week, tweets Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic.
  • Yoenis Cespedes is still awaiting residency in the Dominican Republic, but when he gets it, bidding should be fast and strong, tweets Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com.
  • J.D. Martin has agreed to a minor league contract with the Marlins, tweets ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick.
  • Brandon Warne of Fangraphs breaks down the trade that sent Kevin Slowey to the Rockies.
  • The Mets will fill their backup catcher opening with an in-house option rather than a free agent, reports Adam Rubin of ESPN New York.

Prince Fielder Rumors: Monday

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The latest on free agent slugger Prince Fielder…

  • Fielder is too pricey to fit into the Dodgers' plans, writes Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times. That point is illustrated by GM Ned Colletti's rhetorical response when asked about the free agent slugger on Monday: "Can we sign Prince for $3 million this year and $30 million the next year?"
  • Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik seemed to suggest today that the Mariners have discussed Fielder with Scott Boras, writes MLB.com's Greg Johns. Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times views the GM's comments as a sign that the M's are in a holding pattern, waiting to see if Fielder's price tag will come down.
  • The Nationals are focused on pitching, and won't be a player for Fielder or Albert Pujols, a Nats source tells Jim Bowden of MLB Network Radio (Twitter link).
  • The Brewers are indicating that they're out of the running for Fielder and are moving on, tweets ESPN.com's Buster Olney.
  • The market for Fielder appears to be shrinking, hears Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel from team executives.
  • A person who knows Fielder tells ESPN's Jerry Crasnick comfort is important to the slugger and he's not necessarily going to chase the most money.
  • The Orioles are interested in Fielder, confirmed GM Dan Duquette.  However, Duquette also told Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com that he doesn't want fans to get their hopes up.  The Orioles' interest in Fielder is the secret mandate of owner Peter Angelos, tweets SI's Jon Heyman.  I think a team's owner will be involved no matter where Fielder signs.

Dodgers, Aaron Harang Making Progress On Deal

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5:27pm: Talks between the two sides are still progressing, with terms in the ballpark of two years and $12MM, tweets Rosenthal.

2:23pm: The Dodgers are making progress on a deal with starter Aaron Harang, tweet Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.  The deal is expected to be for two years, tweets Morosi.  Jim Bowden of ESPN and MLB Network Radio adds that the two sides are close to an agreement.  Bowden says the two sides have agreed to terms but are just waiting on dotting i's and crossing t's.

Harang, 33, aimed to remain on the West Coast after spending 2011 in his native San Diego.  The Dodgers signed Chris Capuano earlier this month.  The two veterans would complement a rotation that includes Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley, and Ted Lilly.    

Harang posted a 3.64 ERA, 6.5 K/9, 3.1 BB/9, 1.05 HR/9, and 40.6% groundball rate in 170 2/3 innings for the Padres this year, earning $4MM.

Dodgers Sign Jerry Hairston Jr.

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The Dodgers have signed Jerry Hairston Jr. to a two-year deal worth $6MM plus incentives, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter). The 35-year-old has passed his physical. Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times reports that the contract will pay Hairston $2.25MM in 2012 and $3.75MM in 2013.

Hairston hit .270/.344/.383 in 376 plate appearances for the Brewers and Nationals in 2011. His production was remarkably consistent before and after the Nats moved him at the trade deadline — he had a .727 OPS for both teams. The Brewers and Giants were among the other clubs interested in signing Hairston.

MLB Network's Jon Heyman first reported that Hairston and the Dodgers were getting close to a two-year deal.

NL West Rumors: Ludwick, Gillick, Padres, Rockies

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The latest on various NL West clubs…

Dodgers, Hairston Jr. Talking Two-Year Deal

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The Dodgers are in talks with Jerry Hairston Jr. about a multiyear contract, tweets SI.com's Jon Heyman. Heyman cautions that nothing is done yet, but says the two sides are discussing a two-year deal for about $6MM (Twitter link).

The Dodgers, Brewers, and Giants were rumored to be interested in Hairston. Earlier this afternoon, we heard that the Giants are no longer pursuing the veteran utility player.

Dodgers, Kershaw Had Preliminary Extension Talks

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The Dodgers already locked up one of their cornerstones this offseason when they signed Matt Kemp to an eight-year, $160MM extension, but they may be eyeing a repeat. ESPN's Buster Olney tweets that the Dodgers have met with 2011 Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw's representatives and discussed a long-term deal, though no serious talks have taken place yet.

Kershaw, who will be 24 on Opening Day, will be arbitration eligible for the first time this offseason. With the help of Matt Swartz, MLBTR projects the southpaw to earn a whopping $8.4MM, which would be a record for a first-time arbitration case.

If Kershaw continues at his current pace, he could be in line for $20MM through the arbitration process by his third year of eligibility. A long-term deal for the Dodger southpaw would likely exceed the value of the five-year pacts signed by both Justin Verlander ($80MM) and Felix Hernandez ($78MM) in lieu of their second rounds of arbitration.

Both Verlander and Hernandez signed their extensions prior to winning the AL Cy Young Award, and both pitchers' projected second-year arbitration salaries compare at least somewhat favorably to what Kershaw would earn in his first. When examining the situation in the Dodgers edition of the Offseason Outlook series, Tim Dierkes estimated that Kershaw could command something along the lines of $90MM over the course of six years.  Remarkably, an extension could approach nine figures, despite the fact that Kershaw has yet to see his 24th birthday.

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