Monday, January 04, 2010

Others Grow Bolder While Dodgers Grow Moss

As per Buster Olney's Mailbag from New Years' Eve (insider only; no link):

As a long-time Dodgers fan, what should I expect this offseason in terms of filling out our 2010 roster? From a business standpoint, not offering arbitration to Randy Wolf was a huge mistake; we have serious holes in the rotation. Wouldn't Ben Sheets make the most sense or is the budget locked up for this year? --Eric, Philadelphia

Eric: Sheets will start throwing for teams in the weeks ahead, and he could be an option. But the Dodgers' payroll is locked up because of the long list of arbitration-eligible players and because of the impending divorce of the McCourts. Some money could be freed up as the arbitration cases are resolved, and it could be that they'll lock in on somebody like Sheets or Joel Pineiro. They need at least two starting pitchers to solidify the rotation. Interestingly, I've heard rival executives say that the Dodgers' inactivity is emboldening other teams to make moves, because of the shrinking gap between L.A. and those other squads.

Happy New Year, Dodger Fans!

23 comments:

rbnlaw said...

It's news like this that finds me straining to remain positive about the 2010 season, per my New Year's Resolution.
*grits teeth*

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Hold it right there, Jon Heyman. Am I reading this correctly?

The Red Sox, Giants, A's and possibly even the Dodgers are seen as having interest in Adrian Beltre.

Can somebody explain this? Either Heyman has been plowed this whole weekend or I'm starting to think the front office is getting much dumber.

Steve Sax said...

I admit that I'm a Beltre fan. How could you not like someone who plays third without a cup?

For the right price, Beltre could provide some pop...

Kyle Baker said...

Last time I checked, we already had an effective, well-liked, under contract, perpetually-bearded 3rd baseman who is smart enough to wear a cup.

Kyle Baker said...

Oh, and with two SPs needed, and aforementioned 3rd baseman already in place, why would we be looking at Beltre? Doesn't pass my logic test.

But then, it's a crazy world out there.

Fred's Brim said...

I loved 2004 as much as the next guy (in particular the 2 homer game against the Braves), but he would have to come really cheap and Casey would have to be shipped to save money/get a starting/pitcher/both.

BEARD!
(i had to say that - it's been a long time and I missed it)

Orel said...

Sign Beltre, move Blake to first, trade Loney for a starting pitcher. I don't want that to happen, but it could.

Steve Sax said...

Okay, since I'm also admitting I'm a Loney fan--if that's what it takes to get Beltre in the infield, then I'm out on Beltre.

I'm not hating on the Beard. Casey's great, and I don't want to lose or even necessarily move him.

I suppose I just want the Dodgers to be in a situation where their cup runneth over. So to speak.

Nostradamus said...

Sax,

I respect you for going all that way for that punchline.

Greg Hao said...

I had to laugh at the final line of the post, was the gap between the Dodgers and the "others" ever that great in the first place? The Dodgers payroll are full of bloated mistakes from Ned Coletti's early years.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I would be okay with trading His Beardness if only because he's getting old, but I'd rather not trade Loney.

Orel said...

Blake is owed a minimum of $12.5M over the next two years—that doesn't seem too tradeable.

Jason said...

It won't happen but I wouldn't be too opposed to moving Blake to the 4-corners utility role. MSTI has been quibbling about this for a while now. He could platoon with Ethier against the tougher left handed pitchers, spell Loney when he gets into a GIDP funk, caddy for Manny and of course fill in for Beltre when he finds himself on the 15 day DL due with "a testicle." With Pierre gone, we need a massively overpaid backup anyway.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Heyman says that 3 teams are in the mix for Beltre. He says one is Boston (even though Mike Silverman of the Boston Herald has said that the Sox are out), the other is Oakland, and the third is unknown.

Kyle Baker said...

Update to MLASF's post: None of the teams competing in the Beltre Cup appear to be Dodgers. Angels are the closest being mentioned.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Strange...

Heyman removed his mention of the Dodgers on his Beltre piece. Mistaken, perhaps?

Kyle Baker said...

This is what Heyman just posted:

"adrian beltre is close to a deal with the #redsox, si.com has learned. story should be up soon."

Kyle Baker said...

Sounds like it's Boston, indeed.

Now how do all of you who so quickly through Beard under the bus feel? Are you ashamed of yourselves? Do you feel dirty? Go to your rooms!

Greg Hao said...

bastard heyman getting me all excited. Damn you Heyman!

Orel said...

Sounds like Dusty has his whiskers all in a bunch.

Kyle Baker said...

I'm just kidding around. Laughing because everyone was all up in Beltre's grill when there, realistically, was never a sniff of a chance.

Eyes on the prize, folks: starting pitchers.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Now all the chatter is about a Castillo-for-Lowell trade. The BoSox have to find a way to flip Lowell; their corner infield account is already backlogged as it is.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

That's Luis Castillo