Dodgers, Korean lefty Hyun-Jin Ryu agree to contract at the last minute

It took the full 30 days, but the Dodgers and Hyun-Jin Ryu on Sunday agreed to a contract. The total financial commitment the Dodgers made is unknown, but it cost $25.7 million to get to this point. Odds are, it's going to be a $50 million-plus commitment.

Update (2:43 p.m.): Jon Heyman and Tim Brown tweet that Ryu will get $36 million over six years. He also can earn $1 million per season in performance bonuses. He also has an opt-out clause after five years and "an innings threshold." The total commitment to Ryu is six years and about $67.7 million. A hefty sum for a middle-of-the-rotation guy. Mike Petriello had the years/amount first (6/42).

As of this moment, the lefty is expected to be in the Dodgers' rotation -- at least, that's what a financial commitment of this type would indicate.

The rotation is jam-packed right now, but with the Zack Greinke signing and this deal, there will be a trade or two in the near future (I'm looking at you, Chris Capuano and Aaron Harang). With Chad Billingsley's status unknown, I'd venture a guess Ryu slots in as the team's No. 5 starter at this point.

And despite the Dodgers' adding two starting pitchers, word is they're looking to make another big splash -- in the starting rotation.

The team has been connected to Anibal Sanchez, Kyle Lohse (unfortunately), R.A. Dickey and James Shields. The Dodgers obviously have a better chance of landing a guy like Sanchez or Lohse, but they have enough to make a play for Dickey, if they wanted. Shields would be ideal, but is unlikely.

The Dodgers are putting an awful lot of money into the starting rotation. They could also use a third baseman, but the market is nowhere near as plentiful as it is for starting pitcher.

The Dodgers' front office obviously has a plan. Let's just hope they aren't planning on going into the 2013 with Luis Cruz as their starting third baseman.

Dodgers' news - Silverio, Ryu, rotation, Sanchez, Shields, Lohse, prospects

It's been a busy week without it having been a busy week. Sounds weird, I know. But the Dodgers have been involved in tons of rumors, but there haven't been a lot of transactions.

Here's a quick rundown of some of the Dodger-related news this week.

Silverio wasn't concussed?

Ben Badler of Baseball America was able to interview Alfredo Silverio, the former Dodger prospect who was selected by the Marlins in the Rule 5 Draft on Thursday.

There were a couple of interesting notes from the piece.

"The Dodgers brought Silverio in for tests and determined that he had a concussion. Only there was one problem: Silverio said the test was done in English. Silverio signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2003 and can speak English, but it's not his native language. Silverio said he understood everything the doctors were telling him, but he wanted to think about what they were saying before he responded, which may have been misinterpreted.

With Silverio's concussion, the Dodgers wanted him to stay off the field, but Silverio asked the Dodgers if he could get a second opinion. When Silverio went to the University of Pittsburgh a few weeks later for a test -- this time conducted in Spanish -- Silverio said they told him he did not have a concussion. Even with that, Silverio still missed the entire 2012 season, as he had Tommy John surgery that spring, which Silverio said he believes was the result of an elbow injury he sustained in the car accident."

The most interesting part of this is the fact Silverio's concussion might have been misdiagnosed. While it didn't matter in terms of playing time because of the elbow injury, it raises some concerns for me.

It's always better to be on the safe side, but in a situation like this, the Dodgers should have done a little more to make sure Silverio didn't actually have a concussion. It shows a lack of diligence on their part. Knowing the his first language isn't English, they should have conducted the examination in Spanish in the first place. And slow answers aren't the be-all, end-all when it comes to diagnosing a person with a concussion, but it is a significant part.

It obviously didn't scare the Marlins away, as they took Silverio early and likely expect him to contribute significantly in 2013.

There wasn't a spot for Silverio on the Dodgers' this season, so losing him doesn't hurt as much as it would have, say, last year. However, the Dodgers medical staff needs to do a better job in situations such as these in the future. While I haven't heard anything like this, it'd be in its best interest to make sure somethign like this doesn't happen again.

Ryu deadline Sunday

The Dodgers have until Sunday at 2 p.m. to sign Hyun-Jin Ryu to a contract. Mike Petriello reported Ryu has already passed his physical, which is the first step to getting the deal done.

Yes, the Dodgers and Ryu's agent Scott Boras have gone back and forth already, but that was just the opening salvo. Expect the negotiations to heat up Saturday with a deal being struck just prior to the deadline. It's the Scott Boras way.

And with the Dodgers less and less likely to land Zack Greinke, Ryu's signing could be that much more important.

Speaking of potentially no Greinke...

With the team contemplating a move to the next-best free agent starter -- Anibal Sanchez -- it could and should also explore the trade market even further.

The Dodgers have been linked to R.A. Dickey and James Shields. While it'd be easier to land Dickey, I still want the Dodgers to go after Shields. He provides more value, despite Dickey coming off a 2012 Cy Young season.

But whatever happens, the Dodgers need to steer way clear of Kyle Lohse. He isn't that good a pitcher and he'd cost the Dodgers their first-round draft pick. If the Dodgers were going to give up a draft pick to sign a pitcher, they should have just signed Hiroki Kuroda.

First prospect list of 2013

It's prospect season and True Blue L.A. is the first site to check in with a prospect list. Its fan voting concluded on Friday with not a lot of surprises.

Its Top 10 is as follows:

1. Yasiel Puig
2. Zach Lee
3. Corey Seager
4. Joc Pederson
5. Chris Reed
6. Matt Magill
7. Paco Rodriguez
8. Chris Withrow
9. Garrett Gould
10.  Onelki Garcia

Check out the full Top 20.

I'm shooting for the end of the month to release my Top 50. Right now, it's going to take some doing. If it doesn't go live this year, it in early January.

Photo credit: Cbl62, Wikimedia Commons

Reports: Dodgers and Pirates talking Capuano-for-Hanrahan swap

Word broke earlier today from Mark Saxon and Buster Olney of ESPN and Mike Petriello of Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness that the Dodgers and Pirates have talked about a deal that would send left-hander Chris Capuano to Pittsburgh for right-hander Joel Hanrahan.

This potential deal makes a ton of sense for both sides, but particularly for the Dodgers.

As solid as Capuano was for the Dodgers last season, at least one starting pitcher is going to have to be dealt this offseason to make room for a guy like Zack Greinke or Anibal Sanchez. This would be a step in the right direction.

The term "full circle" comes to mind, as Hanrahan was drafted by the Dodgers in the second round of the 2000 MLB Draft. He was once considered a top prospect as a starting pitcher. He even threw two no-hitters in the minors. However, he never made an appearance with the Dodgers before he was granted free agency in 2006.

Hanrahan, despite an odd 2012 campaign in which he gave up eight home runs (he gave up seven in the previous two seasons combined), had a 5.4 walks per nine innings and an ugly 4.45 FIP, he was able to compile a 2.72 ERA, 10.1 strikeouts per nine and 6.0 hits per nine.

Before 2012, he was on he was to elite status. I'm of the belief his 2012 was more of an aberration and his 2010 and 2011 seasons are more the norm.

The 31-year-old will likely earn about $6-$7 million in his final year of arbitration, which is a drop in the bucket to the Dodgers. Capuano is due $7 million guaranteed this season, so the salaries are almost a wash.

The Pirates need help in the rotation while the Dodgers need to free up space in the rotation -- it seems like a good match. If the Dodgers can land an arm such as Harahan for a guy like Capuano, it seems like a no-brainer for me.

While Capuano is a better pitcher than Aaron Harang and more of a sure thing than Ted Lilly, he also holds more trade value on the open market. There's no way a team like the Pirates would want Harang or Lilly for Harahan.

If the Dodgers land him, they'll have an absolutely nasty bullpen. He wouldn't close like he did in Pittsburgh, but it'd be tough to name a better seventh-inning guy than Hanrahan.

Potential bullpen

Ronald Belisario
Scott Elbert (provided his elbow is OK)
Hanrahan
Kenley Jansen
Brandon League
Paco Rodriguez

That's not even including guys like Javy Guerra, Shawn Tolleson or whoever else the Dodgers might acquire.

The Dodgers probably won't make this deal until they're sure his spot is upgraded. But it almost seems like a formality at this point. I'm all for it, if and when it happens.

Photo credit: UC International, Wikimedia Commons

Despite Hiroki Kuroda's ability, the Dodgers cannot afford to sign him

Hiroki Kuroda's major league career began with the Dodgers in 2008 at the spry old age of 33. He was nothing but good for the Dodgers (3.45 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 11.9 fWAR) and had a solid season for the Yankees in 2012.

But the Dodgers should not and cannot sign him.

It's nothing personal with the guy. Hell, the Dodgers should not have let him walk after the 2011 season. But the fact he was extended a qualifying offer by the Yankees should take the Dodgers out of the running for his services.

Because he was extended the offer, the signing team would have to give up its first-round draft pick. The teams interested in Kuroda's services include the Yankees, Red Sox and the Dodgers. There is also a chance he could return to Japan.

Yet, reports say he's one of the team's top targets this winter. From Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times:

"The Dodgers' pursuit of free-agent pitcher Hiroki Kuroda illustrates how much the franchise's economic realities have changed in the last year.

The Dodgers never made Kuroda a formal offer when he was a free agent last winter, as they were still owned by Frank McCourt and in bankruptcy. Now, even with six starting pitchers under contract for next season, they are among the teams in active talks with Kuroda's agent."

Thankfully, Hernandez goes on to write this:

"The Dodgers are also believed to be interested in Zack Greinke and Anibal Sanchez."

I get it. Kuroda is a quality pitcher, something the Dodgers could use in the rotation. But he's not a young guy and having to give up the draft pick is the only reason I don't want to see the Dodgers bring him back.

Now, before you call me a prospect hoarder, let me justify my stance.

Many experts are saying the 2013 draft class could be even weaker than the 2012 class, which wasn't particularly strong. With the Dodgers not getting any competitive balance compensatory selections or any picks from their free agents, they can't afford to give up their pick for a guy in his late-30s -- no matter how good he is.

Love ya, Hiroki, but the Dodgers need to stay away.

Report: Dodgers interested on Korean lefty

The Dodgers are interested in acquiring Korean left-handed pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin. The 25-year-old is considered to be the best pitcher available from the country.

The Cubs have submitted a bid for him. It's unknown if any other bids were made for Hyun-jin's services.

Photo credit: Cbl62, Wikimedia Commons

Catching up on Dodgers' news: Kerhsaw, Greinke, Sanchez, prospects

Clayton Kershaw is one of the three finalists for the National League Cy Young Award. He's competing against the Mets' R.A. Dickey and the Nationals' Gio Gonzalez.

Kershaw, the reigning winner, wasn't as good in 2012 as he was in 2011, but his 2011 was quite dominant.

Good money says Dickey will win, but Kershaw was the best pitcher in the NL this season.

Greinke, Sanchez among Dodger rotation targets

Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times reported the Dodgers will try to land at least one starting pitcher, and the name Zack Greinke has come up.

He's by far the best starting pitcher available and the Dodgers have lots of money to spend.

I penned a post in September that the Dodgers would sign Greinke to a mega deal this winter. I still stand by that prediction. He'd be the perfect No. 2 starter to slot in behind Kershaw.

Jayson Stark of ESPN tweeted the Dodgers could also look to Anibal Sanchez to fill the rotation need. Sanchez was traded to the Tigers from the Marlins in July and pitched relatively well. He wouldn't be the big-name pitcher Greinke would be, but he'd be a solid backup option.

Garcia makes AFL debut

Dodgers' prospect Onelki Garcia made his long-awaited debut in the Arizona Fall League on Tuesday. His status was in doubt due to a potential oblique injury.

If that was the case, Garcia showed no ill effects of the injury. His line: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 26 pitches, 17 strikes.

Garica, 23, was the Dodgers' third-round draft pick this year.

Another 2012 draftee chimed in on Garcia's potential. From John Sgromolo, 37th-round draft pick: 

"(F)aced him in a sim game, electric stuff! Great guy too!"

Dominguez suspended 25 games

Prospect Jose Dominguez, a favorite of Jared Massey's (LA Dugout), was suspended 25 games for violating the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

No word on if it was a recreational drug or a performance-enhancer.

Dominguez, 22, threw 72 of his 79 innings for the Loons this season in Low-A before a late-season promotion to Double-A. He averaged nearly 10 strikeouts per nine innings while boasting an upper-90s fastball.

Silverio outrighted, re-signed

The Dodgers outrighted outfielder Alfredo Silverio to Triple-A and was subsequently re-signed. The move was made to clear a spot on the 40-man roster.

Silverio, coming off a breakout 2011, was in a car accident in January that resulted in him needing Tommy John surgery.

The Dodgers must have been rather confident they could re-sign him, otherwise they wouldn't have risked losing him. Then again, how many teams would be lining up to sign a 25-year-old minor-league outfielder coming off a lost season?

Photo credits

Kershaw: Dustin Nosler, Feelin' Kinda Blue

Greinke: Jninja, Wikimedia Commons