Friday, November 12, 2010

My 2010-11 Los Angeles Dodgers off-season plan

I tried to stay within the realm of possibility, so despite my earlier posts wanting guys like Beltre and Werth, you won't find any big-name free agents or trade acquisitions here. Let me know what you think!

Non-tender
Russell Martin
George Sherrill
Ryan Theriot

Arbitration
Scott Podsednik (with the hope he declines)

Free Agents
J.J. Hardy - 2 years, $6M (3rd year club option at $4 million with $0.5M buyout)
Ted Lilly - 3 years, $33M
- 2011: $7 million ($0.5M signing bonus); 2012: $11.5M ($1.5M signing bonus); 2013: $12M ($1.5M signing bonus)
Vicente Padilla - 1 year, $4M ($2M in incentives)
- Incentives: performance bonuses: $0.25M each for 150, 160 IP; $0.3M for 170 IP; $0.35M for 180 IP; $0.5M for 190 IP; $0.6M for 200 IP

Analysis: No big splash here, as expected. Hopefully there will be in 2011.

Trades
To TB: 1B/OF Jerry Sands, RHP Chris Withrow, OF Kyle Russell
To LA: RHP Matt Garza, OF B.J. Upton

To KC: OF Brian Cavazos-Galvez,
OF Xavier Paul, RHP Nathan Eovaldi
To LA: 3B/OF Alex Gordon

Analysis: I'm sure many would disagree with dealing Sands, Dodgers' best power prospect. My hope is by next off-season, the Dodgers will have new ownership and the ability to sign either Albert Pujols or Adrian Gonzalez to fill the void at first base. Of course, James Loney could just have a career season and put all that worry to rest, but I'm not holding my breath. This trade might be a little out of the realm of possibility, but not completely impossible.

Gordon, who has seemingly fallen out of favor in Kansas City, gives the Dodgers an option other than Casey Blake at 3B.

Roster

Lineup (8)
Furcal SS
Upton CF
Ethier LF
Kemp RF
Loney 1B
Hardy 2B
Gordon 3B
Ellis C

Analysis: This lineup isn't going to scare anyone, but the outfield defense should be much improved. A few "ifs" in the lineup (Upton, Hardy, Gordon), but the talent is there for success.

Rotation (5)
Kershaw
Billingsley
Lilly
Garza
Padilla

Analysis: The only thing that would make this rotation better (aside from Zack Greinke) is if Kuroda was back instead of Padilla.

Bullpen (7)
Monasterios
Elbert
Troncoso
Belisario
Jansen
Broxton
Kuo

Analysis: If Broxton bounces back, a Jansen-Kuo-Broxton back end of the bullpen will be the best in baseball. Elbert needs to sink or swim as a left-handed reliever in this 'pen.

Bench (5)
Barajas C
Gibbons OF/1B
Hoffmann OF
Carroll IF
Blake 3B/1B/OF

Analysis: Solid bench, especially with Gibbons and Blake as part-time/platoon players.

Thanks for reading.

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