MLBTR: McCourt Could Get Involved in A-Rod Talks

From MLB Trade Rumors:

I recently watched an ESPN video (top right corner) where Keith Law said he didn't see Colletti patching things up to cut a deal with Scott Boras. If the Dodgers are to sign A-Rod it might have to be Dodgers owner Frank McCourt taking care of things.

No matter what your position is on acquiring A-Rod, how troubling is that paragraph? If Ned is still pissed off at Boras over the J.D. Drew fiasco, he should use that chip in future negotiations rather than limit the team's options by refusing to deal with the agent representing such a significant portion of available free agents.

And imagining McCourt dealing directly with Boras conjures thoughts of Tom Hicks and $252 million deals. (Although McCourt somehow slipped a highly-leveraged purchase of the Dodger franchise past MLB; maybe he's got some tricks left).

MLBTR also offers this nugget:

A couple of vets would like to re-join the Dodgers in David Wells and Luis Gonzalez.

Well, a couple of Dodger fans would like to tell Gonzo to go [Rule 1 violation] yourself.

UPDATE:

At least Colletti and Boras are on speaking terms. From Dylan Hernandez at the LA Times:

Colletti spoke briefly with Rodriguez's agent, Scott Boras, on the final day of the general managers meetings last week.

"Hi Scott." "Hi Ned."

Dodgers Conspiracy Theory Links Wells Signing to Stadium Renovations

"Make those aisles wider and keep the beer flowing, Frankie!"

Call me Fox Mulder, but this "coincidence" seems pretty strange to me.

August 24, 2007: The Dodgers add David Wells to the team.

August 28, 2007: The Dodgers announce a new stadium renovation plan dedicated to doubling the number of concession stands, widening the concourses, and establishing some new "all-inclusive" dining options.

Thank God we have Takashi Saito as our closer. I shudder to think what renovations the Dodgers would have announced had we picked up Armando Benitez. (As if parking costs could go any higher. (That's right, Frank--we have a pretty good idea exactly how you're going to fund said renovation plans. I'm picking up an extra paper route this winter just to save up for the inevitable parking increase.))

The truth is out there, once every five days--and, it's 6'3" and 250 lbs.

Olmedo Saenz to Have Competition at Post-Game Buffet? Dodgers May Sign David Wells

From "Last gasp for Dodgers? Wells has tentative deal" by Buster Olney at ESPN.com:

Left-hander David Wells, released earlier this month by the San Diego Padres, reached a tentative contract agreement with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday.

It's expected that Wells, 44, will start for Los Angeles against the Mets on Sunday.

Wells was 5-8 with a 5.54 ERA and opponents had a .322 average against him when his hometown Padres designated him for assignment on Aug. 10. Talent evaluators who saw Wells pitch in July and August believe he was having a difficult time maintaining his delivery into the middle innings.

This move has the stench of desperation all over it, but the downside seems minimal given the wretched state of the Dodger rotation. And guess who's currently scheduled to start Sunday? Brett Tomko. Maybe not such a bad idea after all.

David Wells Has Diabetes, Plans to Stop Eating

From "Wells makes major lifestyle changes due to diabetes" at ESPN.com:

David Wells revealed Sunday that he has been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, but he vows to beat the disease and he has already drastically changed his lifestyle in order to do so....

"From the time I found out, I made changes. No more starches and sugar. No more rice, pasta, potatoes and white bread. No more fast food. I've cut out alcohol."

Bad but unsurprising news for Wells and Padres fans. How will he handle a major change in diet over the course of a 162-game season?

Padres About to Lock Up Wells; SDPD Hopes It Won't Have To

The AP/ESPN.com article about the one-year, $3 million contract David Wells is about to sign with the Padres contains this gem:

Wells will anchor a rotation that includes Jake Peavy, Chris Young, Clay Hensley and [Greg] Maddux, a four-time Cy Young Award winner.

Wells' listed weight: 248 lbs.

In other signing news, former Notre Dame receiver Jeff Samardzija signed a five-year, $10 million deal with the Cubs. Samardzjidzija will transition from catching to throwing the ball:

A 21-year-old right-hander, Samardzija was the Cubs' fifth-round pick in last year's amateur draft and had a 2.70 ERA in seven starts for their Class A teams at Boise and Peoria....

Samardzija's fastball was clocked at 97 mph last summer and [Cubs GM Jim] Hendry said the Cubs project him one day to a be "high end starter."

$10 million! How far apart were the Dodgers and Luke Hochevar, $1 million or so? Looks like this off-season's free-agent spending frenzy has trickled down to the minor leagues, at least for the Cubs.

UPDATE: Dayn Perry's take:

All in all, Samardzija projects as a reliever, but he's being paid like a starter. Needless to say, it's too early to say whether this move is definitively smart, dumb or somewhere in between, but at this juncture it looks like a serious reach on the part of the Cubs.