Wednesday, November 02, 2011

Juan More Time

We're only days removed from the World Series and already Ned Colletti is chasing his beloved veterany goodness. From "Rivera appears headed back to Dodgers" by Ken Gurnick at Dodgers.com:

The Dodgers have reached a tentative agreement with free-agent outfielder Juan Rivera on a one-year contract with a 2013 option for approximately $4 million guaranteed, according to a baseball source.

Rivera was acquired at the All-Star break from the Toronto Blue Jays virtually for free and became the run producer the Dodgers have looking for since Manny Ramirez went wrong.

Rivera drove in 46 runs in 62 games, although he hit .274 with only five home runs in 219 at-bats and a .739 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage). The nine-year veteran had a career-high 25 home runs for the Angels in 2009 before being dealt to Toronto in the Vernon Wells trade. He just finished up a three-year, $12.75 million contract.

At least it's only a one-year deal for the 33-year-old Rivera. Wonder if he'll start in left field or platoon at first base.

photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

9 comments:

Nostradamus said...

I don't hate the deal, but here's hoping this isn't our "Big Signing"

Josh S. said...

That's waaaaayyy too high, considering the guy was DFA'd last year. Is the 2013 option club, player, or mutual?

That much devoted to Rivera, combined with the team going on record that Fielder is their #1 target, pretty much spells the end for Loney, no?

Jason said...

I'm assuming that part of that $4 million is the buyout on the option year. That would make this something like $3.5 million for 2012 plus $5.5 million (or something equally as ridiculous) for 2013 or a $500k buyout. The 2012 base salary is probably back-loaded 50-50 or 40-60 between 2012 and 2013 payouts (which is dumb if Frank actually sells the team with yet more deferred debt).

Jason said...

Loney doesn't have to be tendered until December 12th giving Ned a six weeks or so to make a token run at Fielder before coming back to the reality realizing that a huge contract probably isn't the best thing to hang on a team on the bankruptcy auction block.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Too much money, regardless of whether it's Loney or Fielder starting at first in 2012.

Nostradamus said...

...or I could be totally wrong. I still don't feel like this moves the needle one way or another (Given his production in platoon, not his Toronto hijinks)

Neeebs (The Original) said...

Meh. Too much money, but the one year thing ain't too bad.

Fielder would help ease the pain.

Followed by Kuroda for one more year.

Then all we need is a second baseman and a catcher.

All is good.

Kyle Baker said...

I'm not hating this at all. I think he provided a pretty decent bat the second half of the season (certainly, compared to most others not named Kemp), and was part of the reason we had a decent post- All Star Break.

A chunk of money, yeah, but hey, at least we're spending money, right?

Josh S. said...

Now it's $4.5 mil guaranteed, which could be $5 mil with incentives. The second year option is for another $4 mil.

This will only be OK if:

-they get another impact signing
-Rivera plays to that money level all year long