It's done. Five years. $85 million. A full no-trade clause. Congrats, Tony Reagins.
(And don't feel too bad for Jered's older brother. Jeff made $40 million over his career and still holds the Weaver head-to-head crown.)
Now if only Ned Colletti could do the same with Clayton Kershaw. A reassuring thought from Jon Weisman:
If Dodgers were to follow Angels-Weaver timetable, Kershaw would sign extension in Summer 2013. Enough time for a new owner to get in place.
photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images
photos via @Dodgers
Dodgers.com looked like an episode of ER yesterday night.
Rafael Furcal is due for an MRI:
Once the results are in, the Dodgers will evaluate whether a trip to the disabled list is necessary for the shortstop. Manager Joe Torre said Furcal hurt himself playing a ball in the hole on Monday night against the Padres, twisting at a sharp angle to make a throw to first.
Furcal, an All-Star, has had a resurgent season with a .316 average, the fourth-best mark in the National League. He spent time on the disabled list this season for a hamstring injury and missed more time on the bereavement list, but his back, a problem in years past, had been healthy. He missed 125 games because of a lower back injury that required surgery in 2008.
"The fact that it just happened, that he felt it on that play," Torre said, "hopefully that indicates that it's something that's not related." LOS ANGELES -- Rafael Furcal missed batting practice at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday to have an MRI exam on his lower back, the latest blow to a struggling Dodgers offense.
Manny Ramirez's recovery is taking longer than expected:
Ramirez has been on the disabled list with a right calf strain since July 20 and is still experiencing discomfort. He's working out at the team's Spring Training complex in Glendale.
"Until we get him on the field and playing in a rehab game, it's really tough to really plan on getting him back at this point in time," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said. "I think it's going to be probably a couple weeks if what Stan says [is right], and this could change depending on how comfortable he is." LOS ANGELES -- Instead of Manny Ramirez visiting Dodger Stadium as was expected on Tuesday, team trainer Stan Conte flew to him in Arizona as Ramirez works through a setback.
Oh, and Jeff "Shaggy" Weaver has also hit the DL:
The Dodgers placed the soon-to-be 34-year-old on the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday because of tendinitis in his left knee. Reliever Ramon Troncoso was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque to assume the vacated roster spot.
Weaver, 5-1 with a 5.35 ERA in 36 appearances, had very visibly struggled in his last five outings, when he let up 10 runs -- half of those in two innings on Monday. Weaver said he first felt pain in his knee a couple of weeks ago, something he had experienced before, but never as persistently.
Weaver did not alert the team until pitching coach Rick Honeycutt talked to him after Monday night's 10-5 loss to the Padres.
"For a couple outings, it was irrelevant and I had some success, so I didn't really think twice about it," Weaver said. "But now when it's affecting the outcome of games, it's in all of our benefits not to go out there. They talked to me after the game yesterday. Command is a big part of my game ... obviously they're going to ask questions about what's going on. I guess it's time to throw pride aside and take care of it and come back 100 percent." LOS ANGELES -- It turns out there was something wrong with Jeff Weaver.
Remember back when the New York Times credited Stan Conte at using actuarial analyses to better predict (and prevent and avoid) injuries? Yeah, that approached has worked really well.
photo by Kathy Willens/AP
Thanks to Dusty for the tip: The Dodgers have signed Jeff Weaver to an $800,000 minor-league deal. Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports calls Weaver "unsung," but fans who followed the Dodgers last season know Weaver's worth. Consider his 2009 regular-season performance:
Weaver was asked to fill all sorts of roles last season and performed them well and without complaint. I had clubhouse access for a game against the Mets in which Weaver started. He developed a blood blister and left after five innings; afterward he covered his hand while answering questions for the press, minimizing its effect.
Weaver also played a veteran presence in the Dodgers' bullpen; who else do you think was responsible for the only rookie hazing we saw last season? Oh, and he outdueled his younger brother Jered in the Freeway Series, and even got the win in Game 1 of the NLDS. And all while earning only $431,694, according to True Blue LA.
So welcome back, Jeff. See you at the stadium.
Some Jeff Weaver content at SoSG from 2009:
AP photo
Russell Martin, August 19: ninth-inning error contributes to loss to Cards.
Russell Martin, August 20...
photos 1, 2 & 6 by Jacob de Golish/Getty Images; 3, 4 & 5 by Harry How/Getty Images
Sights from yesterday's slobberknocker at AT&T Park:
Belisario seemed to escape serious injury when his elbow came up tight this week, but he still figures to miss a minimum of a month. He will meet the club in Milwaukee for the weekend to be re-examined and discuss a recovery program for the All-Star break.
WP: Jeff Weaver (4-1), LP: Jered Weaver (7-3)
The parents Weaver didn't get their wish (two no-decisions), but we sure did. Russell Martin hit his first home run, Andre Ethier had two RBIs, and Orlando Hudson and Casey Blake each had one. Ronald Belisario, Ramon Troncoso and Jonathan Broxton did their usual bullpen thing and the Dodgers put themselves in a position to even their season record against the Angels tomorrow.
photos by Chris Carlson/AP; illustration by Clement Hurd
photo 1: Jon SooHoo/Dodgers; 4: Chris Carlson/AP
Their own parents refuse to commit to either side.
"We'll be pulling for a scoreless game through seven, eight innings," Gail (Weaver) said. "Let the bullpens come in and decide it."I heard their Mom also put some cash on the Dodgers. Just saying.
Personally, I hope it's as bloody as my other favorite battling brothers.
first photo by Jill Weisleder/Dodgers; all other photos by Jon SooHoo/Dodgers
This time it's Eric Milton. From an AP story at the Daily News blog:
Eric Milton is heading back to the big leagues after a nearly two-year absence.The Dodgers purchased the contract of the veteran left-hander from Triple-A Albuquerque after their 5-3, 10-inning win over the Phillies on Thursday.
Milton will start Saturday against the Florida Marlins in place of Jeff Weaver. The Dodgers optioned right-hander James McDonald (1-1, 6.75 ERA) to their Pacific Coast League club [Albuquerque].
The 33-year-old Milton hasn't pitched in the majors since elbow ligament replacement surgery in 2007. The former All-Star is 3-2 with a 2.83 ERA in seven minor league starts.
Does Weaver (last start: 5.0 IP, 3H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 2 K's) hate starting that much or is there something physically wrong with him?
MLB Trade Rumors tells us teams interested in World Series hero Jeff Weaver are the Cardinals, Pirates, Mariners and...Dodgers?
The Mariners or Dodgers could still make a play for Weaver as well. The Dodgers would really be stacked in the rotation, but maybe it would be to complement a trade.
