Tag: Los Angeles Dodgers (Page 8 of 30)

      Orlando Hudson needs to get real

      January 30, 2010 /

      Orlando Hudson is in no position to ask for $9 million next year. On December 1, the Dodgers chose to not offer Hudson arbitration and to everyone’s surprise, he still remains on the market. The Nationals have emerged as the only serious contender, which should be a clear sign of Hudson’s current value.

      Fact is, $9 million is far too much money for a 32-year-old second baseman. True, Hudson does come with plenty of positives worthy of a decent contract. With a career batting average of .282, four Gold Gloves, and a perfect club-house personality, he’d be a key player on any team. However, Hudson can’t expect that kind of money when he doesn’t steal bases, hits for minimal power, and has a questionable back. For his body type, Hudson should steal about 20 bases per season. Also, if he wants to continue hitting higher up in the order, 10 home runs won’t do. Brian Roberts, Aaron Hill, Robinson Cano, Chase Utley, and Brandon Phillips are currently the most productive second basemen in the game. Cano, now 27 years old, will make $9 million next season — the same amount Hudson is seeking. In 2009, Cano hit .320 with 25 home runs and 85 RBIs, all the while helping the Yankees to a World Championship. Do Hudson and Cano really compare?

      No, they don’t.

      The Nationals are reportedly offering Hudson a one-year, $3 million deal. If the Nationals are serious, they’ll increase the amount to about $5 million. In that case, Hudson would be a fool to look elsewhere.


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      MLB

      Who will the Dodgers start at second base?

      January 28, 2010 /

      With the Dodgers re-signing of Ronnie Belliard the team might have found their starting second baseman. The contract, for one year and $875,000, is a steal of a deal for the Dodgers considering Belliard’s unexpected success with the team. Still, that money is only guaranteed if he hits 209 pounds or less during spring training.

      Before being acquired by the Dodgers in August of last year, Belliard was going nowhere in Washington. When he landed in Los Angeles, he took over for eventual Gold Glover Orlando Hudson. If Belliard had fallen on his face, the signing would have looked terrible. Instead, he was a pleasant surprise. He quickly won over the fans, posting a .351 average with 5 home runs and 17 RBIs. Remaining a starter in the playoffs, Belliard hit .300 and played strong defensively.

      But do the Dodgers stick with Belliard over the ever-patient Blake DeWitt? Manager Joe Torre has alluded to starting DeWitt, but that now remains uncertain given Belliard’s return. Also, DeWitt has never really made a splash on the big stage. Over the past couple years, DeWitt has been sent back and down to the minors a ridiculous amount of times. It’s just hard to believe the organization has confidence in the guy. While he is probably a better at second than Belliard, I think it comes down to their bats in this situation.

      As for Jamey Carroll, his signing just makes things worse for DeWitt. I think Carroll will end up spelling Belliard, further decreasing DeWitt’s role.


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      MLB

      Dodgers owner Frank McCourt still spending during divorce

      January 16, 2010 /

      Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt has assured the team’s fans that his impending divorce with his wife, Jamie, won’t discourage offseason transactions.

      From the Los Angeles Times:

      “I talk to fans too,” McCourt said in his first interview with The Times since it became public that he and his wife and former club president, Jamie McCourt, planned to divorce. “They’re very excited about the team. They’re very supportive of what we’re doing.”

      McCourt declared the Dodgers are “headed in the right direction,” pointing to how they have reached the postseason in four of the last six seasons and settled on an organizational philosophy of building around a group of homegrown players.

      McCourt said that his team’s lack of activity in the free-agent market should not be interpreted as a sign that his team is facing financial difficulties as a result of his personal situation.

      “My divorce has no bearing on the club whatsoever,” he said.

      McCourt’s statements come on the heels of two important transactions. Yesterday both Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp and pitcher Chad Billingsley avoided arbitration by signing contract extensions. Kemp will make $10.95 million over the next two years while Billingsley’s one-year deal is worth $3.85 million. Prior to the deals the Dodgers had only signed second baseman Jamey Carroll to a two-year, $3.85 contract this offseason.

      Dodgers fans are definitely skeptical about the entire situation. If Jamie McCourt gets what she wants, she’ll walk away with half of the the team’s worth, making spending increasingly difficult. With things as they are, I’m amazed the Dodgers got Kemp that cheap. He’s easily the best outfielder (both offensively and defensively) in the National League and is entering his prime. However, the Dodgers now have to work with Andre Ethier, Jonathan Broxton, James Loney, Russell Martin, George Sherrill, and Hong-Chi Kuo, whom all filed for arbitration on Friday. With this money tied up, I’m sure they’ll have to part with a couple of these players.


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      MLB

      Manny exercises option, will return to Dodgers

      November 7, 2009 /

      According to a report by SI.com, Manny Ramirez exercised his $20 million contract option for 2010 and will return to the Dodgers.

      The team said Friday that the slugger exercised his $20 million contract option for 2010. His agent Scott Boras informed Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti of the decision.

      Ramirez hit .290 with 19 home runs and 63 RBIs in 104 regular season games. He missed 50 games while suspended for violating baseball’s drug policy.

      In the NL division series against St. Louis, Ramirez batted .308 with no homers and two RBI. Against Philadelphia in the NL championship series, he hit .263 with one homer and two RBI.

      Ramirez was traded to the Dodgers from Boston in July 2008.

      Thank God. I don’t know if I could have gone another offseason talking about Man-Ram and his ongoing contract negotiations. Just thinking about it gives me a migraine.

      Maybe this year he won’t get busted for using women’s fertility drugs in spring training. Hi-yo!

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      MLB

      Dodgers’ owner fires CEO…who happens to be his wife.

      October 23, 2009 /

      A day after the Dodgers were eliminated from the NLCS, owner Frank McCourt fired Jamie McCourt, his CEO and his wife.

      From ESPN.com:

      Attorney Dennis Wasser said his client learned she was no longer employed by the Dodgers, who ended their season Wednesday after being bounced in the NLCS by the Philadelphia Phillies for the second straight year.

      Last week the couple confirmed in a terse statement that they have separated. Jamie McCourt sat in the first row of the owner’s box for Game 1 of the NLCS. Her husband was in the third row next to former Dodgers manager Tom Lasorda.
      The McCourts have been married since 1979 and have four grown sons.

      In March, Frank McCourt promoted his wife to chief executive officer of the team he gained ownership of in January 2004 after moving from his native Boston. The promotion made her the highest-ranking woman in Major League Baseball.

      Good thing they’re separated or else this would have made for a couple of awkward moments around the dinner table.

      “Uh honey, can you pass me the peas?”

      “Go to hell.”

      “That’s okay honey, I’ll get them myself.”

      MLB

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