Dodgers 3, Diamondbacks 1: Scott Van Smash and Kid K wrangle Snakes

The 2014 "Season Opener" is officially in the books as the Dodgers took down the Diamondbacks 3-1 in Sydney, Australia. Behind Scott Van Slyke and Clayton Kershaw, the Blue Crew got the season started with a bang. Here are some notes from the opener, of which I saw four innings live before entrusting my DVR with the rest and knocking out at 3 a.m. PST.

• Today's game only further emphasizes why Scott Van Slyke should have been a part of the bench from day one in 2013. He's the only true power bat on the bench, can play three of the four corner spots, and crushes lefties. If a guy who posts a .342 OBP, .465 SLG, .353 wOBA, and 129 wRC+ can't find a permanent bench spot, what kind of bench are you building? Thankfully, SVS will have that permanent spot this season. A two-run bomb, double off the base of the wall, and walk is just the kind of start he needed.
• Kershaw was his usual dominant self in the end, although there was clearly a bit of rust and working out of early season kinks. He allowed six baserunners over six and two-thirds innings, whiffing seven while issuing a lone walk (102 pitches, 73 for strikes). He also singled before being thrown out trying to stretch it into a double.
• I'm no pitching expert by any means, but it did seem to me like Kersh was a bit too reliant on his fastball at times, particularly in a long at-bat against fellow pitcher Wade Miley.
• Hanley Ramirez pulled up lame as he headed back to the dugout late in the game, but did finish out the contest in the field. Hopefully it's nothing major, but I wouldn't play him today under any circumstances and would sit him until the real regular season stateside gets underway. He's far too important to risk, especially with the hammy injury last season.
• Kenley Jansen was Kenley Jansen, fanning one D-Back in a scoreless ninth.
• I'm surprised they sent Clayton back out for the seventh considering it's the opening game of the series; the quirkiness of playing it overseas; and Clayton running the bases hard in the top half of the inning.
• That being said, if you are going to send him out for that frame, let him get the final out in it when the batter is not Paul Goldschmidt, who had hit Clayton well. Clayton was obviously tired, but in no circumstance is Chris Perez a better option.
• Don Mattingly is truly like his mentor Joe Torre when it comes to bullpen management, which is to say I don't get it.
• A better defensive center fielder with more range probably catches Goldschmidt's double in the sixth inning.
• Yasiel Puig struck out three times while going 0-for-5, but he did lace a ball in his final at-bat.
• Alex Guerrero, who I would argue should be starting at second, technically made his debut as he was announced as a pinch-hitter before being pulled back for Mike Baxter.
• Mark Trumbo is such a bad defender that he fooled the cameras and SVS into thinking Scott's clear double off of the wall was a homer.
• A fan behind home plate wearing Red Sox garb attempted to start the Joseph Gordon-Levitt "Angels in the Outfield wings-wave" during the sixth inning. It failed. I would prefer that to the wave itself though.

Photo Credit: Dustin Nosler, Dodgers Digest

Open letter to Ned Colletti and Cesar Izturis in hopes of Dodgers' reunion

Dear Ned Colletti and Cesar Izturis,

Hi, Dustin Nosler here -- world-famous* Dodger blogger. (*- not really)

Look, there's no sense in going through a song and dance. The Dodgers need a backup infielder capable of fielding balls in play up the middle. Ned, Cesar is one of the best glove men I've ever seen in my 25 years of watching baseball. He and Alex Cora formed one of the best double play combinations I've ever seen.

Yes, Mr. Izturis has aged and his skills have declined a bit, but he's still fully capable of being a plus-defender at second base and probably at shortstop. Before you traded him to Chicago for now-hall of famer Greg Maddux -- a move I was upset about, at the time (in hindsight, it was the correct decision), he was even a plus defender at third base.

I envision Izturis as this year's Nick Punto, minus the head-first slides into first base. He's never been known for his bat, but he can hit enough to justify a spot on the Dodgers' 25-man roster. Not only would bringing Izturis back take some pressure off Alexander Guerrero and Dee Gordon, it'd also be nostalgic for yours truly.

The options on the market, as I'm sure you know, are less-than stellar. Unless you have a grand move to acquire Nick Franklin, Izzy might be the best option.

Cesar, you are one of my favorite Dodger players I've ever seen. Your magical defense was enough for me to fall in love with your game. When you had that fantastic offensive season in 2004, I thought you'd be around for the next 10 years. Here we are, 10 years later, and there's an opportunity for you to come back.

If you need me to relay the message to Ned and Co., let me know. I'd be glad to do so.

Anyway, that's about it. The Dodgers could use a sure-handed infielder on the bench for 2014, and Izturis is one of the best out there.

With Carl Crawford switching to No. 3, Izzy would have to choose another number. I'm thinking he could take No. 6, most recently worn by Jerry Hairston and most famously worn by Steve Garvey.

Best regards and much love,

Dustin Nosler
xoxo

Photo credit: Howcheng, Wikimedia Commons

Dodgers invite top prospects to 7th annual Winter Development Program

As they've done for seven straight years, the Dodgers are holding their Winter Development Program at Dodger Stadium, beginning Sunday.

The main goals of the program are to help Dodger minor-leaguers not only prepare for the majors, but also to prepare themselves for the off-the-field aspect of being a Major League Baseball player.

From the Dodgers' official press release:

"Fifteen of the club’s top minor league prospects will be in Los Angeles for the event, which includes seminars with Dodger staffers and workouts that focus on fundamentals, strength training and conditioning. Throughout the week, Dodger prospects will familiarize themselves with the greater Los Angeles area through social events and a community service visit to A Place Called Home, a youth center in South Los Angeles. The program is highlighted by sessions with Don Mattingly, Tommy Lasorda, Don Newcombe, Maury Wills, Eric Karros, Shawn Green, Stan Kasten and Ned Colletti and the annual Legends Dinner with Dodger alumni."

The attendees are as follows:

Pedro Baez
Chili Buss
Jose Dominguez
Yimi Garcia
Zach Lee
Matt Magill
Jarret Martin
Pratt Maynard
Chris O'Brien
Joc Pederson
Chris Reed
Miguel Rojas
Seth Rosin
Scott Schebler
Ross Stripling

Lee, Magill, Pederson and Reed all attended the 2013 Winter Development Program.

Baez, Garcia and Martin were added to the 40-man roster in November, so they were locks to be there. Lee and Schebeler were the Dodgers (and my) minor-league pitcher and player of the year, respectively.

Rosin was acquired from the Mets after they selected him from the Phillies in December's Rule 5 Draft. Stripling is the best prospect of the first-timers.

Magill threw a handful of games with the Dodgers, while Dominguez pitched briefly with them last season before suffering a quad injury. Buss had the smallest cup of coffee of any of the minor-leaguers invited to the program.

O'Brien

The two catchers -- Maynard and O'Brien -- both played in the Arizona Fall League (as did Garcia and Martin).

The most interesting -- and I use that term loosely -- is the inclusion of Rojas. General Manager Ned Colletti mentioned Rojas by name in a radio interview a couple weeks ago as someone who could be in the second base mix if Alexander Guerrero isn't ready to go. I blew off the thought, as did others. But the invitation to the program leads me to believe there's at least been some talk about him either being a utility infielder or the team's second baseman come March in Australia.

The Dodgers are really doing this just to spite me. I still maintain there's no way Rojas is on the Dodgers' roster come opening day. His glove may be really good (though, it probably isn't even a 65 or 70), but one has to at least hit a little to be a major leaguer. Rojas has displayed minimal ability to hit at the minor-league level. If I can say something nice about his offense, it's the fact he's walks a little (7.6 percent) and doesn't strikeout a whole lot (11.4 percent).

Photo credits: Dustin Nosler, Feelin' Kinda Blue

Dee Gordon could get one final shot to be a valuable player with the Dodgers

Dee Gordon shows the volatility that are prospects. He was once the Dodgers' top prospect, drawing comparisons to guys like Jose Reyes and Jimmy Rollins. Now, he's struggling to hang on as a utility player in the majors.

With Alexander Guerrero's injury concerns in the Dominican Winter League, perhaps Gordon gets one more shot as a starter in the majors -- at second base with the Dodgers.

Gordon began the offseason by going to the Dominican to play the outfield with Licey. He played primarily center field, but also dabbled in the corners. He handled himself well enough, reportedly, as he surely has the athleticism to handle the outfield. The bad thing is, his bat doesn't play especially well out there. He's a career .256/.301/.312 hitter in 669 plate appearances, which leaves a lot to be desired.

He's now playing in the Puerto Rican Winter League in hopes of him acclimating himself at second base. He played 20 games at second in Triple-A last year and three with the Dodgers (totaling 3 2/3 innings).

The question isn't particularly with his bat, but with his glove. He was a below-average shortstop. Second base isn't terribly different than shortstop, but a player still needs to be sure-handed at the position. That, and inaccurate throws, were Gordon's bugaboos at the position. A shift to second base should, in theory, cut down on the throwing errors. His arm is plenty strong, but sometimes he doesn't know where it's going.

With Guerrero's hamstring injury preventing him from playing a full winter ball season, second base could be wide open for Gordon's taking.

There is no other viable second base option beyond Gordon and Guerrero on the Dodgers' roster -- even in the minors. Sure, General Manager Ned Colletti mentioned Miguel Rojas by name in a radio interview, there's no earthly way Rojas breaks camp as the Dodgers' opening day second baseman. The Dodgers don't need an offensive powerhouse at second, but thinking Rojas -- a career .234/.302/.287 hitter in the minors -- could be the team's opening day second baseman is borderline clinical.

As of now, it's Gordon's job for the taking. It's entirely possible the Dodgers acquire someone to play a couple months as the starting second baseman while Guerrero gets more seasoning in the minors (preferably Triple-A). But Gordon being able to handle the position would make things a lot easier, and increase his utility.

Of course, the Dodgers not picking up Mark Ellis' option (would have cost them an additional $4.75 million) and them not retaining Nick Punto looks like a mistake right now. What do they say about hindsight and 20/20...?

If Gordon is ever going to amount to anything other than a mediocre utility player (which is isn't, at the moment), this could be his last shot at doing so. He could bat eighth, not make mind-numbing errors at second and be a player who provides positive value (or at the very least, replacement level value), then the Dodgers would be more than thrilled. But I'm not holding my breath.

Photo credit: Dustin Nosler, Feelin' Kinda Blue

Dodgers might need a 2B if Alexander Guerrero isn't ready by opening day

Alexander Guerrero was signed to be the Dodgers' everyday second baseman, but he hasn't looked like that so far this winter. Not because of poor performance -- he's hitting .289/.325/.447 -- but because he hasn't played that much (40 plate appearances).

Guerrero, 27,  suffered a hamstring injury in early November, sat out nearly three weeks, came back and seemed to reaggravate the injury last week. He totaled just five at-bats in the last three games. With him being such an unknown, the Dodgers can't go into the season with Guerrero expected to play 140-plus games at second base, can they?

The Dodgers lost their insurance policies in Mark Ellis after he signed a 1-year deal with the Cardinals on Sunday, and Nick Punto, who has long since signed with Oakland. The Dodgers probably won't acquire a big-name second baseman (i.e. Howie Kendrick), but a guy who's capable of playing 80-100 quality games at the position could be in order. The only problem is, there aren't a ton of those guys available -- either on the free agent market or via trade.

Here's my best guess as to who the Dodgers could land to help out at second base.

Free agent

Alexi Casilla

Jamey Carroll

Chris Getz

Cesar Izturis

Paul Janish

Jayson Nix

Placido Polanco

Omar Quintanilla

Brian Roberts

Ramon Santiago

Justin Turner

Trade

Mike Aviles

Emilio Bonifacio

Alberto Callaspo

Nick Franklin

Maicer Izturis

Of the free agents, Turner has already been mentioned. Other guys I like from that list include Carroll, Getz, Izturis, Roberts and Santiago.

Carroll is a former Dodger and a little long in the tooth. He's been pretty poor since leaving the Dodgers after the 2011 season. He plays multiple positions, but he might not be a 100-games-played guy anymore.

Getz has a light bat and is exclusively a second baseman, but he does a couple things well. He doesn't strike out a lot (9.1 percent) and he's a really good basestealer (82.8 percent success rate).

Cesar Izturis is a personal favorite of mine. He's always been a plus defender and is adept at all three infield positions that aren't first base. His bat isn't much, but if the Dodgers are looking for a quality defensive backup, he might fit.

Roberts is the most interesting guy here. He was a budding star for the Orioles before injuries got the best of him. He's also deal with concussions in recent years, so that's always going to be an issue. He's 36 and has the best offensive upside of anyone on this list. He's strictly a second baseman, but also owns a .279/.349/.412 career slash line, which would be a nice complement to Guerrero's uncertainty.

Santiago is another multi-position infielder with a light bat. He's basically interchangeable with Carroll, Gets and Izturis.

Of the trade targets, it's obvious Franklin is the best. The Mariners signed Robinson Cano, so they're looking to move Franklin for some kind of upgrade elsewhere. Perhaps some kind of Andre Ethier-for-Franklin swap could be had. Acquiring him would likely mean Guerrero starts the season in the minors. When he's ready, the Dodgers can figure out what to do with Franklin after that. He'd be a nice trade chip come July.

Bonifacio and Callaspo are similar players. Both can play multiple infield positions, with Bonifacio being able to handle center field. Callaspo is the better offensive player, while Bonifacio is the better runner. The Royals don't have a great second base option, so Bonifacio might not be available right now. Callaspo figures to get a lot of playing time with the A's, but he's a little redundant with Punto on board. Acquiring either of these guys might not be likely (Callaspo more likely than Bonifacio), but either of them would fit nicely into a bench role for the Dodgers.

Maicer Izturis is similar to Callaspo, but there's no indication the Blue Jays are looking to move him.

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There are options out there. They're not terribly appealing, but they're out there for the Dodgers' taking. None of these guys -- outside of Franklin -- would cost a lot to acquire. I'd really like to see the Dodgers sign a guy like Roberts, despite his injury concerns. He's a solid defender who might have a little bit of offensive ability left in his bat.

If they don't acquire a second baseman -- with the way the roster is currently constructed -- Dee Gordon could be the team's starting second baseman in Australia on opening day. Yikes.

I'm still on board with the Guerrero signing, but with the injury concerns in winter ball and the lack of playing time over the last 18-24 months, it'd be a surprise if he were to open the season as the Dodgers' starting second baseman. Being an older signee actually works in his favor. A good spring training could change that, but a stopgap is probably more realistic at this point.

Photo credit: Keith Allison, Wikimedia Commons

Daniel Murphy-for-Chris Reed deal could make sense for Dodgers, Mets

Most Dodger fans are expecting Juan Uribe to return on a 1- or 2-year deal. As the best free agent third baseman available, Uribe has every right to test the market (he'd be foolish not to).

But the Dodgers can't wait around forever. It seems Uribe is holding up the Dodgers' offseason moves to some degree -- something that seems highly unlikely just a year ago. The White Sox are (or aren't interested), as are (or aren't) the Marlins.

I've pondered trades for Chase Headley, Will Middlebrooks and Aramis Ramirez -- none of which seem too likely. So, if Uribe or any of these three don't man the hot corner for the Dodgers in 2014, perhaps a second baseman could.

No, I'm not talking about Alexander Guerrero. I'm talking about a player I've seen suggested by some over the last year-plus -- the Mets' Daniel Murphy.

Murphy is far from ideal to play third base for the Dodgers, but he's better than some might expect (myself included).

In limited time (220 2/3 innings), he's posted a 7.2 UZR/150 and a +2 defensive runs saved number. Not bad, but with David Wright in New York, there wasn't much playing time to be had there. That works out to about 25 games played, and he hasn't played the position since 2011, but it also seems like a worthwhile risk. If he's athletic enough to play second, he's athletic enough to play third. His arm is the biggest question mark. If he can make the throw consistently, he should be decent enough defensively. He won't be Uribe there (though, he'd probably have better range), but he'd be solid.

Conversely, Murphy is one of the worst defensvie second basemen in the league, posting a career -7.3 UZR/150 and -26 DRS in more than 2,600 innings. While his bat plays better at the position, his glove plays better at third -- and that's good news for the Dodgers.

Murphy isn't a great hitter and doesn't walk particularly much. His on-base percentage is tied to his batting average. If he isn't hitting, he isn't getting on base. His 6.1 percent career walk rate leaves some to be desired. But at least he doesn't strike out at a ridiculous rate (13 percent).

His .424 career slugging percentage isn't great, but it's somewhat passable for a third baseman. Considering some of the names the Dodgers have thrown out there in recent years, he'd be a considerable upgrade.

Murphy, 29 in April, has a little pop, as he hit a career-high 13 home runs in 2013 and smacked 38 doubles. He's posted above-average OPS+ numbers in all but one year of his career (96 in 2009), so the potential for some extra base hit ability is there.

Steamer and Oliver projections have him posting less than favorable stat lines:

Steamer

.280/.323/.408, 8 HR, .127 ISO

Oliver

.283/.324/.406, 10 HR, .123 ISO

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I'd bet on a similar stat line he put up in 2013. He's a solid -- if unspectacular -- player. He probably wouldn't be the difference between the Dodgers winning and losing a World Series, but he'd be a nice alternative if the Dodgers don't bring back Uribe. He also seems like a more feasible acquisition rather than a guy like Headley.

I'm thinking Chris Reed gets a deal done. Others in the industry obviously like Reed more than I do, so I'm thinking a Top 10 pitching prospect in the Dodgers' system would be enough to land Murphy from the Mets.

The Mets are reportedly wanting Tyler Thornburg from the Brewers for Ike Davis. A team can never have enough pitching, and Reed could very well make his Major League debut in 2014.

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The Dodgers and Mets made a trade on Thursday. New York sent right-handed pitcher Seth Rosin to LA for cash considerations.

The 25-year-old was selected by the Mets (from the Phillies) in Thursday's Rule 5 Draft. The Dodgers made no other Rule 5 moves or lost anyone from their system.

Rosin is a big guy -- 6'5, 250 pounds -- and projects as a middle reliever. Because he was a Rule 5 pick, he'll need to remain on the Dodger active roster for the entire season. If not, he'll need to be offered back to the Mets for $25,000. The Dodgers had to pay $50,000 to get him, plus whatever extra they're giving the Mets.

With the Dodgers needing a long reliever, Rosin might fit that bill. They were interested in Jamey Wright at the Winter Meetings, and he has yet to decide on the Dodgers or the Rays. If Wright goes back to Tampa, Rosin's chances of sticking improve dramatically.

The Phillies tried Rosin as a starter in the minors in 2013 with not much success. He posted a 4.33 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 8.5 H/9, 0.9 HR/9, 2.5 BB/9 and a 6.8 K/9. Rosin is surprisingly adept at throwing strikes, something that eludes most pitchers who are available in the Rule 5. His career walk rate is 2.7 per nine innings. Couple that with an 8.3 K/9 in his career and you have the makings of a solid reliever.

From Phuture Phillies (May 2013):

"Rosin was a 2010 4th round pick by the San Francisco Giants out of the University of Minnesota. In college his fastball worked 91-92 touching 94, though the summer before he touched 96 on the Cape. His secondary offering were fringy and most scouts thought he belonged in the bullpen possibly in a high leverage role. The Giants moved him to the bullpen part time after drafting him, but after acquiring him in the Hunter Pence trade the Phillies moved him back to the rotation."

He's a flyball pitcher, so it appears Dodger Stadium is a good place for him. But he's never thrown a pitch beyond Double-A, so it remains to be seen how he performs in the majors (if the Dodgers keep him around that long).

It's a good gamble for the Dodgers to make. If Rosin is close to replacement level, that'll be just fine.

Photo credit: slgckgc, Flickr

Analyzing Baseball America's Dodgers' Top 10 prospects list for 2014

Baseball America is in full prospect-ranking season, and the Dodgers' Top 10 list officially drops online Monday.

However, the print publication (yes, print media still exist) came out on Tuesday to give us an early look at the list.

Big thanks to silverwidow99 for making the list public.

1. OF Joc Pederson

2. SS Corey Seager

3. LHP Julio Urias

4. RHP Zach Lee

5. RHP Chris Anderson

6. RHP Chris Withrow

7. 2B Alexander Guerrero

8. LHP Chris Reed

9. LHP Onelki Garcia

10. RHP Ross Stripling

I had originally planned to write a quick piece predicting the list, but I waited to long.

After a strong 2013 and winter ball season, Pederson lands at No. 1 -- and I like it. He's now established as a Top 50 prospect, and probably closer to Top 30.

Seager has the most potential of anyone on this list, especially if he's able to stick at shortstop (which he probably won't).

Yes, even more potential than Urias, but that's no knock on the 17-year-old. He was great in his professional debut.

Baseball America doesn't factor in service time into its prospect status, hence the inclusion of Withrow.

No. 8-10 are pretty interchangeable, although, I think Stripling deserves to be a bit higher.

The only ranking I question is Guerrero at No. 7. I get it, BA isn't particularly high on Guerrero. But one would think a potentially plus bat at a traditionally glove-first position has to be a Top 5 ranking in this system. Remember, they ranked Hyun-Jin Ryu at No. 1 heading into 2013, so they aren't averse to ranking older, international prospects high on their lists.

The ranking says a little about Guerrero and more about BA's intel, which is usually pretty good. I have a better feeling about Guerrero's future and am inclined to trust the Dodgers' scouting department (and yes, my opinion is obviously biased). After all, they've hit on their last three big international signings -- Hiroki Kuroda, Yasiel Puig and Ryu.

The Dodgers' system is pretty top-heavy, as evidenced by this list. I'm shooting for sometime in the next six weeks to unveil my Top 50 Dodger prospects. Admittedly, I'm waiting to see how the Masahiro Tanaka situation plays out. If he gets posted and the Dodgers sign him, he's the clear No. 1 prospect in the system.

We'll see what happens.

Photo credit: Dustin Nosler, Feelin' Kinda Blue

Video of Alexander Guerrero's first home run in Dominican Winter League

Yes, it's the Dominican Winter League, but Alexander Guerrero's first home run is a glimpse into what the Dodgers and their fans can expect from the offensive-minded second baseman going forward.

Guerrero went 3-for-3 with a home run. He also exited the game early due to an apparent injury.

@FeelinKindaBlue also left the game after injuring himself. No word on if it was the hand again or what.
— Nic Jongeling (@NicJongeling) November 13, 2013

I'm sure the possible injury was minor. Even if it's significant, Guerrero has the rest of the winter to recover.

Now, it's hard to evaluate Guerrero's swing mechanics from one shaky video against a 24-year-old Japanese pitcher in Sho Iwasaki, but I'm going to try to do just that. Again, take this with a grain of salt -- or a full canister of Morton's Iodized Salt (no, I'm not getting any money from Morton's for that).



Guerrero's swing looks rather effortless and smooth. He takes a quick path to the ball with his swing, allowing him to pop the homer. His base is a wide stance with a significant leg kick during his load. His hands are quiet and don't move much pre-swing. His hips open up as his bat is quick through the zone, but not in a violent way. There's an ease about this swing that is encouraging.

Don't take what I write next literally, but his follow-through and finish look Alex Rodriguez-like. I'm in no way saying he's going to be Alex Rodriguez, but that's what I see (from this video) as he finishes his swing.

Here's hoping the injury is minor and Guerrero continues to get seasoning in the DWL. I don't think there's much danger of him missing the opening day roster, but the moves the Dodgers make this winter will shed light on that situation.

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Oh, Don Mattingly finished second behind Clint Hurdle in National League Manager of the Year voting. He received two first-place votes and 17 second-place votes. Not bad for a guy who was almost fired in June and was almost not brought back following a trip to the NLCS.

My 2013-14 Los Angeles Dodgers off-season plan: Headley, Tanaka, Wilson

If you listened to episode 61 of "Dugout Blues," you've already heard most of this. If you haven't, consider yourself lucky (or unlucky, I suppose).

This is my 2013-14 off-season plan for the Dodgers -- you know, what I'd do if I were in Ned Colletti's position. I try to be as realistic as possible and try not to get too far out there. Most of the dollar figures are educated guesses.

Without further adieu, here it is. Critique away. Let me know what you like, don't like, would do differently, etc.

2013-14 Los Angeles Dodgers off-season plan

Arbitration

Mike Baxter - $500,000

Drew Butera - $700,000

Scott Elbert - $600,000

A.J. Ellis - $3.2 million

Kenley Jansen - $4.8 million

- The only players of significance are Ellis and Jansen. Both are getting healthy pay raises.

Extension

Clayton Kershaw - 8 years, $225 million

- This is coming before the end of the winter. I just wish it were done already. He's set to make $18.25 million in arbitration, if no long-term contract is agreed to before the season.

Dodger free agents

J.P. Howell - 2 years, $7 million

Nick Punto - 1 year, $1.5 million

Brian Wilson - 2 years, $11 million

- Think Howell and Punto could be had rather easily. Not so confident Wilson will come back because he could get more money and a closing job elsewhere.

Free agents

Eric Chavez - 1 year, $3.2 million

Alexander Guerrero - 4 years, $28 million ($10 million signing bonus)

Dan Haren - 1 year, $5 million (with incentives up to $8 million)

James McDonald - 1 year, $1 million

Masahiro Tanaka - 6 years, $63 million ($52 million posting fee)

Chris Young - 1 year, $3.5 million

- Tanaka is the big prize here. My $115 million commitment is probably a little on the light side. Haren rounds out a strong rotation while Chavez and Young give the Dodgers some much-needed pop off the bench.

Outright/DFA/non-tender/waivers

Ronald Belisario (due $2.3 milliion in arbitration)

Elian Herrera (claimed by Milwaukee)

Brandon League - 2 years, $15 million remaining

- Belisario isn't worth what he'll make in arbitration. Herrera is already gone. And while I defended the League contract at the time of its signing, I couldn't have been more wrong about it.

Injured

Chad Billingsley (due back midseason)

Scott Elbert (due back midseason)

- Both should return in relief roles. Billingsley could crack the roatation later this season if his arm is healthy enough.

Trades

To New York Mets: OF Andre Ethier, cash ($23.8 million, 1/3 of remaining salary)

To Los Angeles: RHP Michael Fulmer, 1B Jayce Boyd

- The Mets need Major League-quality outfielders, but the Mets don't have a catcher or third baseman they'd trade the Dodgers for Ethier, so it's best to get a couple of mid-level prospects without having to pay all of Ethier's salary.

To Minnesota: RHP Josh Beckett, cash ($10 million)

To LA: SS Niko Goodrum

- Beckett should be healthy to start the 2014 seaosn and won't crack this rotation. The Twins just need guys who can eat innings. Goodrum is a nice high-upside prospect who probably won't ever become anything, but he's a middle-of-the-diamond player for the time being.

To San Diego: RHP Zach Lee, LHP Chris Reed, 1B Justin Chigbogu

To LA: 3B Chase Headley

- The Dodgers have been after Headley for awhile. After a down year and a projected $10 million salary, it's probably time for the Padres to trade him. They get two MLB-ready arms and a power-hitting prospect who's a few years away.

Lineup

Yasiel Puig RF

Carl Crawford LF

Hanley Ramirez SS

Adrian Gonzalez 1B

Matt Kemp CF

Chase Headley 3B

Alexander Guerrero 2B

A.J. Ellis C

Rotation

Clayton Kershaw LHP

Zack Greinke RHP

Hyun-jin Ryu LHP

Masahiro Tanaka RHP

Dan Haren RHP

Bullpen

James McDonald RHP

J.P. Howell LHP

Jose Dominguez RHP

Paco Rodriguez LHP

Chris Withrow RHP

Brian Wilson RHP

Kenley Jansen RHP

Bench

Eric Chavez 3B/1B

Tim Federowicz C

Nick Punto IF

Scott Van Slyke OF/1B

Chris Young OF

Remainder of 40-man roster

Mike Baxter OF

Drew Butera C

Stephen Fife RHP

Onelki Garcia LHP

Yimi Garcia RHP

Dee Gordon IF/OF

Javy Guerra RHP

Matt Magill RHP

Justin Sellers SS

Shawn Tolleson RHP

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That's it. Like I said, let me know what you think in the comments section or on Twitter.

Photo credit: Dustin Nosler, Feelin' Kinda Blue

Podcast: 'Dugout Blues' episode 60 - NLCS review, Guerrero, Kershaw, more

On this episode of "Dugout Blues," Jared Massey (Dodger Diamond) and I lament the end of the Dodgers' season after losing 4-2 in the 2013 National League Championship Series. Go Red Sox.

But before this, Jared paid tribute to the recently departed Alex Castellanos. He was designated for assignment late last week (and was traded to Boston on Wednesday).

Surprisingly, we don't spend a ton of time on that series. Instead, Don Mattingly and his Monday press conference was the topic of a lot of discussion. I'm still not sold he's going to be back, but the longer he's still the Dodger manager after Monday, the better.

The Dodgers finally signed Alexander Guerrero after trying multiple times. He should be the team's starting second baseman for the foreseeable future.

Clayton Kershaw, despite a terrible Game 6, is in line for a huge payday. It seems like we've been saying this for awhile, but, unlike Mattingly returning, I am confident this deal will get done before the start of the 2014 season.

Stop me if you've heard this one: Matt Kemp had another surgery. This time, it was his ankle. He had shoulder surgery a few weeks ago. Here's hoping he comes back healthy for 2014, even if it isn't for the start of the season.

David Price rumors are still floating around. We do our best to sift through everything and give our opinion on the situation. Anytime you can add an elite pitcher, it certainly isn't a bad thing (see: Zack Greinke).

Episode dedications
Jared: Alex Castellanos
Dustin: Masao Kida (even if Jared wouldn't let me say it)

Then, we close with Q&A, which were plentiful. Keep it up!

We'll probably record every other week, or as news warrants, during the winter.

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Look for new episodes of "Dugout Blues" every Wednesday. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and review us on iTunes. We want to make this the best podcast we can so we're always looking for suggestions and ways to improve.

If you have questions you'd like us to answer or certain topics/players you want to hear more about, feel free to email us (ladugout@gmail.com or feelinkindablue@gmail.com) or send us messages on Twitter (@Dodger_Diamond or @FeelinKindaBlue). You can also "Like" the podcast on Facebook. We always welcome audience participation.

Image credit: Joe Martin

Extending Clayton Kershaw should be Dodgers' No. 1 priority this winter

This is a few days late, but wow. Never in my wildest dream did I think Clayton Kershaw would lay an egg like he did on Friday in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series.

And yet, he's still the best pitcher in baseball and is worth every penny the Dodgers are about to pay him.

No, I don't think Buster Olney's report of $300 million is legit, because Kershaw would have signed it already (he'd be foolish not to). Instead, I'm in line with Mike Petriello's thinking that it's going to be somewhere the neighborhood of eight years and $220 million.

He'd be the highest-paid pitcher in baseball history and one of the highest-paid players, period.

What makes a deal like this more than paletable is the fact Kershaw just finished his age-25 season, and he did so in great fashion (NLCS Game 6 notwithstanding). He's the first pitcher to finish a season with a sub-2 ERA since Pedro Martinez in 2000 (1.74) and first in the National League since Greg Maddux in 1995 (1.63). He's a true ace when there are fewer and fewer true aces these days.

Kershaw should be (and probably is) the Dodgers' No. 1 priority heading into the offseason. Getting him locked up and happy is vital for the team's future success.

Why did Kershaw perform so poorly in Game 6? It could have been fatigue -- he threw a career-high 236 innings in 2013. Add an additional 23 in the postseason, and he's at nearly 260 innings. That's a lot for any player these days, let alone a 25-year-old.

In no way am I blaming the Dodgers. I'd give the ball to Kershaw as many times as humanly possible. I'm just trying to figure out why he was so bad when the Dodgers needed him most.

He wasn't locating his pitches well. He threw a ton of hanging breaking balls -- pitches that had been so good in his first three playoff outings.

But, that happens sometimes. It's baseball. The Cardinals are a good team, but the Dodger pitching neutralized them for five consecutive games -- the bats just didn't show up. With Hanley Ramirez hurting, it was going to be hard to win the NLCS, let alone the World Series in 2013.

The Dodgers have already made their first offseason move, signing 26-year-old Cuban Alexander Guerrero on Monday to be their second baseman. It won't be the last transaction the Dodgers make this winter. But I'm hoping their next is locking up Kershaw for nearly the next decade.

Photo credit: SD Dirk, Flickr

After a few months, the Dodgers finally sign Alexander Guerrero to 4-year deal

For the third time since July, it appears the Dodgers have signed Cuban infielder Alexander Guerrero.

Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com reported it's a 4-year, $28 million deal that could be worth as much as $32 million. Jon Heyman of CBS Sports corroborated the report, adding Guerrero will get a $10 million signing bonus.

Original reports had the deal at 7 years and $32 million. Then the next report had it at 5 years, $32 million. this deal is much more paletable and better for all involved.

Guerrero, 26, will make his MLB debut in his age-27 season. There's no guarantee Guerrero will be good enough to justify a 7-year commitment, so a 4-year deal seems just right.

Guerrero played shortstop in Cuba, but almost everyone believes he'll be a second baseman in the majors. The Dodgers have a gaping hole at the position, so it makes sense.

This spells the end of the Mark Ellis era as the Dodgers' starting second baseman and likely takes the Dodgers out of the bidding for Yankees' free agent to be Robinson Cano.

With this kind of contract and a full winter, I'd be shocked if Guerrero isn't the Dodgers' starting second baseman for both opening days in 2014.

Here's some video of the Dodgers' new second baseman.

This is just the first of what I expect to be many and potentially impactful offseason moves for the Dodgers. After falling short in the NLCS, they need to get stronger at a couple positions and have some quality depth. That depth was tested this season, and it wasn't that great.

I'm just glad the Guerrero saga is over. Now, when is Masahiro Tanaka getting posted...?

Podcast: 'Dugout Blues' episode 56 - Kemp, Ramirez, injuries, Guerrero

On this episode of "Dugout Blues," Jared Massey (Dodger Diamond) and I chat about the Dodgers' recent struggles as Tuesday night's Dodger game is taking place. Spoiler alert: they won 9-3 and the Dodgers are one win (today or tomorrow) from clinching the National League West title.

Matt Kemp made his triumphant return. Well, it was supposed to be, as Don Mattingly sent him up in a crucial situation only for him to strikeout. Fortunately, he looked like the Matt Kemp of old last night, going 4-for-4 with two doubles (one that would have been a home run in most any other stadium in baseball) and three RBI. Welcome back, Matt.

The Dodgers also have a rash of injuries to deal with in the season's final two weeks. The aforementioned Kemp is coming back, Hanley Ramirez came back (and he looks good to go again), Carl Crawford has a bad back and Andre Ethier has a sparined ankle. Here's hoping everyone is good to go in a couple weeks.

Alexander Guerrero may or may not be a thing. The latest is he signed with Scott Boras, making his previous two agreements with the Dodgers null and void. At this rate, I'd rather the Dodgers go after someone else at second base come 2014.

The Dodgers are sending Onelki Garcia, Yimi Garcia, Shawn Tolleson and Michael Thomas to the Arizona Fall League to go along with Brian Cavazos-Galvez, Pratt Maynard, Chris O'Brien and Corey Seager.

Episode dedications
Jared: Hong-Chih Kuo
Dustin: Pedro Astascio

Finally, we get to listener questions. There were a lot of really good ones. Please, keep them coming.

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Direct link
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Look for new episodes of "Dugout Blues" every Wednesday. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and review us on iTunes. We want to make this the best podcast we can so we're always looking for suggestions and ways to improve.

If you have questions you'd like us to answer or certain topics/players you want to hear more about, feel free to email us (ladugout@gmail.com or feelinkindablue@gmail.com) or send us messages on Twitter (@Dodger_Diamond or @FeelinKindaBlue). You can also "Like" the podcast on Facebook. We always welcome audience participation.

Image credit: Joe Martin

Podcast: 'Dugout Blues' episode 55 - Dodgers, Uribe, Guerrero, Garcia

On this episode of "Dugout Blues," Jared Massey (Dodger Diamond) and I talk about the humbling sweep at the hands of the Cincinnati Reds. And no, it's not the end of the world.

Juan Uribe had a hell of a game, belting three home runs on Monday night. This entire season has pretty much made up for the first two horrific seasons he spent in Dodger Blue.

We touch on Onelki Garcia's promotion to the majors and how the Dodgers plan to use him this season and in the future. Too bad he walked the only hitter he faced last night.

The Dodgers are closing in on signing their second baseman of the future in Alexander Guerrero. Jared and I both like the move, but I like it a bit more than he does.

We also talk about other Dodgerness and how the Dodgers are looking for October. Spoiler alert: they're looking pretty good.

Episode dedications
Jared: Orel Hershiser
Dustin: Russell Martin

Finally, we get to listener questions. There were a ton of them. Please, keep them coming.

Libsyn link
Direct link
iTunes link

Look for new episodes of "Dugout Blues" every Wednesday. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and review us on iTunes. We want to make this the best podcast we can so we're always looking for suggestions and ways to improve.

If you have questions you'd like us to answer or certain topics/players you want to hear more about, feel free to email us (ladugout@gmail.com or feelinkindablue@gmail.com) or send us messages on Twitter (@Dodger_Diamond or @FeelinKindaBlue). You can also "Like" the podcast on Facebook. We always welcome audience participation.

Image credit: Joe Martin

Report: Dodgers close to signing Cuban infielder Alexander Guerrero

After weeks of speculation, it looks like the Alexander Guerrero sweepstakes is nearing an end.

Word broke this morning of the Office of Foreign Assets Control clearing the 26-year-old Cuban infielder, making him a free agent. Shortly after, the Dodgers -- who have been the favorites all along -- are close to signing him to a 5- or 7-year deal in the neighborhood of $32 million, Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com reported. That's the amount that was reported in mid-July.

The Dodgers' main competition for Guerrero have been the Minnesota Twins. It looks like the Dodgers are going to win out, though.

Guerrero profiles as a second baseman in the majors, even though he played shortstop while in Cuba. There's an outside shot could play third base, but an offensive-minded second baseman appears to be his calling.

This is from my first post about the Dodgers agreeing to terms with the middle infielder:

"Guerrero has posted some impressive numbers in Cuba the last few years:

• 2009: .338/.408/.641
• 2010: .343/.414/.583
• 2011: .310/.400/.599

He also averaged 20 home runs per season in those seasons (886 at-bats). Hat tip to Chad Moriyama on the statistics.

Despite the big power numbers, he stands about 5’10, 190 to 200 pounds. He didn’t play at all in 2012 before defecting.

We all know what happened last time the Dodgers signed a Cuban who hadn’t played in roughly 18 months -- Yasiel Puig. I’m not saying Guerrero is the next Puig (because that would be extremely foolish), but the Dodgers obviously saw enough out of Guerrero to give him a Puig-esque deal. This is Vice President of International Scouting Bob Engle’s first big-money Latin American signing."

This is my own speculation, but I don't think he'll play in the majors in 2013. He's not eligible for the postseason because he wasn't in the organization before Aug. 31, so there's no added playoff benefit. What's more likely is he'll play winter ball and be penciled in as the Dodgers' starting second baseman come 2014. There's no way they're going to give him $30-plus million to have him be a utility infielder.

Here are a couple videos of Guerrero:





Seeing as the Dodgers have a severe lack of middle infielders in the upper levels of the minors, this is a fantastic signing. If he's a .270/.340/.420 guy in the majors, he'll be well worth the money. I'm expecting better numbers than that, though. I'm a big believer in his bat.

Graphic credit: CIA World Factbook

Update on Alexander Guerrero and the Dodgers' attempt to land him (w/ video)

There hasn't been much news on the Alexander Guerrero front since it was reported he had signed with the Dodgers on July 22.

Guerrero has yet to be cleared by the Office of Foreign Assests Control, meaning he can't sign with a Major League team even if he wanted to. That's why Guerrero's agent Rudy Santin came out and completely denied the initial reports.

Polo Ascencio of Time Warner Cable tweeted on Friday a source told him an American League team swooped in and offered Guerrero a better deal than the 7-year, $32 million offer from the Dodgers, leading to some confusion and doubt that he'd sign with the Dodgers (when allowed).

But, Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com has also tweeted on Friday the Dodgers are still the frontrunners for Guerrero's services.

Chad Moriyama opined on the topic on Monday.

"And that’s why 'agreeing to terms' and 'handshake agreements' are not final, I suppose. That said, I wouldn’t give up on the prospect of Guerrero being a Dodger, especially since money is the primary issue."

Pretty much.

Guerrero could be cleared by OFAC within the next two weeks. I'm skeptical he'll be able to help the Dodgers much this season. This possible moves seems more about the Dodgers' future at second base than it is the present. With Mark Ellis playing his best ball of the season for the last month and the team failing to land a second baseman at Wednesday's trade deadline, the Dodgers probably won't thrust Guerrero into a full-time role after having not played for nearly a year-and-a-half.

Here's some video of Santin talking about Guerrero's abilities.



I don't think he'll be a "middle-of-the-order" bat as Santin said, but he should be a bat-first second baseman. If there's something else to take away from the video is Santin said Guerrero has great makeup. You can't coach makeup. That's definitely a plus.

And from the looks of it, Guerrero appears to be in great shape, ala Yasiel Puig after the Dodgers signed him last year.

I'm still expecting Guerrero to land with the Dodgers. I don't know how much he'll help the 2013 team (he is 26, after all), but he could be the team's second baseman of the future. If that's the case, I say sign him up and stay away from Robinson Cano this winter.

Report: Dodgers sign Cuban infielder Alexander Guerrero to $32 million deal

Reports came in this morning the Dodgers signed Cuban shortstop Alexander Guerrero to a 7-year, $32 million deal. This comes on the heels of the team reportedly dropping out of the Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez sweepstakes.

Neftali Ruiz of CDN first reported the deal with Dionisio Soldevila of ESPN Deportes confirming it. I couldn’t get a source to confirm the signing, though.

Guerrero, 26, defected from Cuba in January because he wasn’t included on the country’s World Baseball Classic roster. Roberto Baly wrote Guerrero left Cuba, ended up in Haiti before training in the Dominican Republic.

Listed as a shortstop, the Dodgers might see him as a second- or third baseman. Soldevila reported Guerrero will play second- or third base at either Double-A Chattanooga or Triple-A Albuquerque with the Dodgers planning to recall him to play second base in the majors. If true, that’s aggressive, unconventional and somewhat risky -- and I like it.

I’m as big a Mark Ellis fan as there is in the blogging world, but Ellis’ play has been subpar this season. His defense hasn’t been where it was in seasons past, but he’s been better of late. Still, the potential to add a potential offensive force at second is tempting and intriguing.

Guerrero has posted some impressive numbers in Cuba the last few years:

• 2009: .338/.408/.641
• 2010: .343/.414/.583
• 2011: .310/.400/.599

He also averaged 20 home runs per season in those seasons (886 at-bats). Hat tip to Chad Moriyama on the statistics.

Despite the big power numbers, he stands about 5’10, 190 to 200 pounds. He didn’t play at all in 2012 before defecting.

We all know what happened last time the Dodgers signed a Cuban who hadn’t played in roughly 18 months -- Yasiel Puig. I’m not saying Guerrero is the next Puig (because that would be extremely foolish), but the Dodgers obviously saw enough out of Guerrero to give him a Puig-esque deal. This is Vice President of International Scouting Bob Engle’s first big-money Latin American signing.

Here's some video of the soon-to-be-Dodger.


It remains to be seen if Guerrero actually signed and if he’ll pan out. I don’t think the Dodgers move Hanley Ramirez off shortstop next year, so it seems Guerrero’s best bet to stick in the majors is at second- or third base. Either way, they’re positions at which the Dodgers could use help. Juan Uribe is a free agent after the season and Ellis has a team option that will almost assuredly be declined.

The Isotopes are up my way next week. If Guerrero signs and is sent to Albuquerque, you can bet I’ll be out there to see him. This potential signing also means the Dodgers probably won’t acquire an infielder of significance before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.

Graphic credit: CIA World Factbook