When I heard that former San Francisco Giants assistant GM Ned Colletti was the new Dodger general manager, I was shocked to say the least. I thought they were going to go strongly after Theo Epstein but he turned another cheek by resigning with the Boston Red Sox and taking a sabbatical for who knows how long.
I thought Ned was an odd choice but is turns out it was a big addition and a plus for the Dodgers. He signed one of the best premiere shortstops in the league, Rafael Furcal, who hit .286, 12 homers, 58 RBIs, and 46 stolen bases. Simply stunning compared to Caesar Izturris who couldn’t steal a base if he was a foot away. But I do think when Caesar returns from the disabled list at the All-Star break he and Furcal are going to be a dynamic duo defensively up the middle.
Because of the long wait for a field manager distracting them, the Dodgers missed out on both power hitting first basemen Jim Thome and Carlos Delgado. At least they got a smart baseball man and a manger in Grady Little. Now I know he screwed up the Red Sox when he left Pedro Martinez in for too long and the Yankees beat the Red Sox, but when you’re beating the New York Yankees with your ace on the mound I think Little thought Pedro could battle through it. Unfortunately he did not succeed. But that incident is a thing in the past and Little brings a winning attitude to the blue crew.
Also, Colletti did his part when he went aggressively after free agent Brian Giles. He offered more money and a better deal for the power hitting right fielder than the Padres, Giles decided that three years for 30 million was enough to keep him in his hometown of San Diego…Alfonso Soriano was on the Dodgers radar and he got traded to the Nationals, I for one was not happy he got away…It is obvious that the Dodgers need for a Pitcher is also a top priority. It looks as if Jeff Weaver is out of the Dodgers price range, so they’re looking at Kevin Millwood who had a 2.86 ERA and more wins than losses, I would like to get him…I heard recently that the Dodgers contacted Roger Clemens, but then again so has every team so Roger in Dodger blue is not likely.
The Dodgers definitely need another stick in the lineup, preferably an outfielder. I heard they jumped in the Johnny Damon race. Damon would be a good asset to the top of the order behind Furcal, but he does not have the pop desperately needed there.
I also read that they were going after right fielder, Bobby Abreu of the Philadelphia Phillies, which would help tremendously, that means 25-plus homers a year. The deal would involve trading pitchers Derek Lowe, Duaner Sanchez, and two prospects, who were not mentioned…also involving the Phillies is a trade for David Bell. Bell is a veteran, a proven third basemen, and a positive influence in the clubhouse. I they don’t obtain Abreu, that deal would involve Duaner Sanchez as well…also in the third base department is Joe Randa and Bill Mueller. I haven’t heard any report on Randa but for Mueller it doesn’t look prominent. I would really like to acquire Mueller but the Pirates want him for three years and the Dodgers ‘ill go as far as a two year contract because they want to make room for top prospect, third baseman Andy LaRoche for next year or the year after.
There is a lot of stuff going on in the winter of off-season Baseball and I am doing my best to keep up with everything that is happening or about to happen with the Dodgers. Overall I like Ned Colletti, he is aggressive and not afraid to take chances, for instance, he recently signed Sandy Alomar Jr. Alomar only played 46 games last year but Colletti thinks that even though he is going to be a back-up catcher he can still tutor and mentor young catcher Dioner Navarro and Russell Martin.