Dodgers January Rumors and News Recap

The Dodgers have been busy this winter despite what you may be reading elsewhere. For those of you whose lives are too busy to keep with all the rumors and news on a daily basis, this is for you. This is the January monthly recap where you have a chance to get caught up on all that has gone on with one quick look. To keep up with all the latest Dodgers news and rumors easier, I recommend subscribing in a reader to get your daily dosage of Dodgers information.

For those of you who are not familiar with "readers" check out the following website www.google.com/reader

The month of January proved to be more productive than last month. Dodgers GM Ned Colletti was able to shore up the rest of the starting roster, and has a few more decisions to make.

I started the month of January with a projected outlook on filling the remaining holes of the Dodgers 25 man roster. Two short weeks later Colletti brought back Brad Ausmus, Ronnie Belliard, and Vicente Padilla on one year deals. With these transactions official, it was time to release volume two of filling the remaining holes.

GM Ned Colletti and his assistant Kim Ng worked together to avoid arbitration with all nine eligible players. The Dodgers were able to hand two year deals to Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, and Jonathan Broxton.

Matt Kemp and James Loney were two profiled players in the month of January. Both of these guys are going to be keys to the Dodgers success in 2010.


The Dodgers announced their 2010 minicamp participants, some exciting names to watch this year.

We also saw a few rumors regarding Garrett Anderson, Noah Lowry, Eric Gagne, Ben Sheets, and Robb Quinlan. All of these players remain possibilities except for Sheets who recently signed with Oakland Athletics.

A complete list of all the minor league signings was released, I still like Mientkiewicz to make the team.

Finally the options for the fifth spot in the rotation were presented. We all know Eric Stults is gunning for the fifth rotation spot, as he is looking for permanent role in 2010. While Charlie Haeger won the fans vote (and mine) for the fifth rotation spot.

James McDonald	(20%)
Eric Stults	(19%)
Charlie Haeger	(38%)
Josh Lindblom	(20%)

Around The Bases

Got some links from around the Dodgers web as we all get ready for the weekend.

For those of you who do not read or follow Jon Weisman's blog titled Dodger Thoughts, shame on you. The good news it's never too late, except you will follow him over at his new home espn.com/la as he is set to depart The Times next week. Good luck as you prepare for the new job.

Probably one of the last posts we will see from him while with The Times, Weisman shows us fifty ways to lose your luster. Weisman also updated us with his Dodgers 2010 projected payroll.

Diamond Leung provides a radio interview with Chad Billingsley talking about his 2009 late season struggles.

Memories of Kevin Malone has a great review on 2009 AAA Albuquerque season review part 2, and be sure to check out part 1 here.

Dylan Hernandez is tweeting that Josh Lindblom has an outside chance of making the majors in 2010. He still think Lindblom is one year away.

GM Ned Colletti, Dodgers Eyeing Garrett Anderson

Yahoo's Tim Brown is tweeting the Dodgers are eyeing Garrett Anderson as a possible fourth outfielder. I mentioned that Colletti would not be happy with Jason Repko or Xavier Paul as the fourth outfielder. I mentioned Jonny Gomes and Garrett Anderson as possible fits to Colletti's equation. I understand the Dodgers could use some power off the bench, but Anderson is not the answer. Anderson has been on a downward spiral since 2003, and this will be a typical waste of money veteran signing by Ned. There is nothing Garret Anderson can do that Repko or Paul can't.


2009 Season Stats

MLB-Garrett Anderson batted a .268 AVG, with a .326 OBP, and a .465 SLG%. He added 13 homeruns and 61 RBI's in 534 plate appearances. At the age of 37 it is fully possible these numbers tail off even more in 2010. Not exactly what the Dodgers need at this point.  Remember the Fred McGriff signing?

AAA-Jason Repko batted a .277 AVG, with a .329 OBP, and a .471 SLG%. Repko tacked on 16 homers, 47 runs batted in, and 24 stolen bases in 433 plate appearances. The Dodgers have a tendency to not fully trust the guys like Repko and take a chance, despite what the stats may say.

Sure Repko played in the minors, and Anderson played in the majors. But Repko is almost ten years younger than Anderson, and has a much better chance of putting up similar numbers in 2010. Whereas Anderson has a much better chance of continuing down the spiral. Both players have been hampered by injuries in the past, so the risk remains the same here. One big difference between the two is Repko has already been guaranteed a contract for 2010, therefore he doesn't cost any additional money like Anderson would.

Player Profile: Matt Kemp

Matt Kemp was born on September 23, 1984 in Midwest City, Oklahoma. He went to Midwest City High School and was a great baseball and basketball player. He was teammates with Shelden Williams of the Boston Celtics on his high school basketball team. Matt Kemp never attended college and decided to go for baseball rather than basketball and was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 6th round in the 2003 draft and signed with them on June 5, 2003. After a few years in the minor leagues, Kemp made the major league roster in 2007 but lost his place when he got injured by running into an outfield fence at Dodger Stadium. He was then sent to Las Vegas and wasn't called back up to the majors until mid-June. Matt Kemp then had a great season with a nice .342 batting average, 10 home runs, and 42 RBIs while sharing playing time with Andre Ethier.

Going into 2008, Matt Kemp was expected to battle for one of the corner outfield positions, but was most likely to play in right field. He was named NL Player of the Week for the week of April 28 to May 4, when he drove in 11 runs and stole 6 bases. After Andruw Jones got a knee injury, Kemp took the starting center field position. Over the course of the season, Matt Kemp started to build his speed and ended the season with 35 stolen bases, the second most on the team next to Juan Pierre.

On September 24 of the 2009 season, Matt Kemp became the first player in Dodger history to hit at least .295, with 25 home runs, 100 RBIs, and 30 stolen bases in one season. Kemp hit his first postseason home run on October 7 in his first at bat of the National League Divisional Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. After the 2009 season, he was selected as a recipient of both the Golden Glove Award and the Silver Slugger Award. Matt Kemp is surely one of the best players on the Dodgers' roster right now, and is definitely one of my favorite players.

Dodgers Offseason: Filling The Remaining Holes Volume 2

Updated 1/27/2010: Well that didn't take long. Volume 2 now reflects the Padilla, Ausmus, and Belliard signings.

There is no doubt the Dodgers have some holes to fill. Lately I've been getting the feeling that some people think our team is in shambles or something. Really, it's not like the Dodgers are going to fold and become a small market team because the owner is getting a divorce. When the dust settles the Dodgers will be the favorite to win the NL West again, mark my words. Now let's take a look at the current roster, with the holes unfilled.


Projected 2010 Starting Lineup

SS-Rafael Furcal
CF-Matt Kemp
RF-Andre Ethier
LF-Manny Ramirez
1B-James Loney
3B-Casey Blake
 C-Russell Martin
2B-Ronnie Belliard

Projected 2010 Bench Players

IF-Jamey Carroll
IF-Nick Green
OF-Jason Repko
 C-Brad Ausmus
1B-Fill Hole Here


Projected 2010 Starting Rotation

RHP-Chad Billingsley
LHP-Clayton Kershaw
RHP-Hiroki Kuroda
RHP-Vicente Padilla
RHP-Charlie Haeger

Projected 2010 Bullpen

RHP-Ramon Troncoso
RHP-Ronald Belisario
LHP-Hong-Chih Kuo
LHP-Scott Elbert
RHP-Jon Link
LHP-George Sherrill
RHP-Jonathon Broxton

Look at that roster and tell me that team looks like a team in shambles. No. Quite the opposite actually. The Dodgers are missing Orlando Hudson, Randy Wolf, and a couple bench players that's it. So to think this team is not capable of winning the NL West, and competing in the playoffs again is simply ridiculous.

Some new names to the Dodgers which figure to make the opening day lineup. First is Jon Link, he figures to get a gig in the bullpen after his solid performance in winter ball. He went 2-0 with a 2.95 ERA in 15 outings, he also added seven saves in eight chances. Link will be competing with Carlos Monasterios for the final bullpen spot. He was acquired in the rule five draft, the right-hander has a lot of impressing to do in order to win a bullpen job, or any job for that matter. I think he has a chance of being this years Ronald Belisario. Jamey Carroll is another name new to the Dodgers. He will see plenty of playing time as the Dodgers super utility player. Carroll will likely also share some time as a starter in a platoon with Blake DeWitt at second.

Jason Repko and Xavier Paul will be battling it out for the fourth outfielder job. While I am perfectly fine with this. Colletti probably isn't, and instead will look to spend unnecessary money on someone like Jonny Gomes or Garrett Anderson. Let's all hope Colletti and Torre give these young guys a shot.

A.J. Ellis has been lost in the minor leagues for the last few years, and it looks like it's going to continue for at least one more year. I think a trade seems likely at this point. Ellis could have easily handled the backup job, but since Ausmus was convinced to come back, it's obvious the Dodgers didn't feel the same.

Charlie Haeger and his knuckleball saw some success in a few starts for the Dodgers last season. He will be competing with James McDonald and several others for the fifth spot in the rotation. Eric Stults, who is out of options also has to be considered for a roster spot, at least for the time being.

Alright, now it is time to fill some holes. Of course this is purely speculative with a bit of rumors and inside knowledge.

Current Holes In Order As Stated Above

1B- Doug Mientkiewicz will likely be awarded the job. He is a non-roster invitee and has Joe Torre as his biggest fan. It's a good fit since the Dodgers need a left handed bat. Barring an injury or a terrible spring, he is almost guaranteed to be on the bench on opening day.

XX- The final bench spot went to Ronnie Belliard. This move of course likely moves DeWitt back to the minors, and puts Carroll more firmly on the bench in a utility role. First of all I can't believe Felipe Lopez is still available. Secondly I can't believe the Dodgers signed Belliard with Lopez still available. I knew Colletti wasn't okay with DeWitt, but I am not sure Belliard was the answer. Nick Green will likely back up Rafael Furcal at shortstop in 2010, but I don't expect that to last very long.

Not much to do in the bullpen, as this is the strong point for the Dodgers in 2010. Unless there are any major injuries, count on the Dodgers bullpen to lead the majors in almost every single stat this season. It gets better too because every single player out of the bullpen except for Sherrill is under the age of 30. This means some of these guys are just entering the prime of their careers, and some haven't even reached it yet. We could also see Colletti deal some of this depth to fill other needs sometime in 2010.

Alright now that we got all of that squared away, let's take a look at the end result.

Projected 2010 Starting Lineup

SS-Rafael Furcal
CF-Matt Kemp
LF-Manny Ramirez
RF-Andre Ethier
1B-James Loney
3B-Casey Blake
 C-Russell Martin
2B-Ronnie Belliard

Projected 2010 Bench Players

IF-Jamey Carroll
OF-Jason Repko
 C-Brad Ausmus
1B-Doug Mientkiewicz
IF-Nick Green

Projected 2010 Starting Rotation

RHP-Chad Billingsley
LHP-Clayton Kershaw
RHP-Hiroki Kuroda
RHP-Vicente Padilla
RHP-Charlie Haeger

Projected 2010 Bullpen

RHP-Ramon Troncoso
RHP-Ronald Belisario
LHP-Hong-Chih Kuo
LHP-Scott Elbert
RHP-Jon Link
LHP-George Sherrill (Setup Man)
RHP-Jonathon Broxton (Closer)

As you can see I got Repko winning the fourth outfield job, but I got a feeling a signing of Jonny Gomes could happen at any moment. The Dodgers are looking for an outfielder with some pop to come off the bench, so I don't see Repko or Paul fitting. If no signing occurs then Repko's defense, speed, and ability to hit left-handers should be barely enough to win him the job. I think Link will easily win the last bullpen job, and will also make the Juan Pierre trade look even better by the end of the 2010 season.

The Dodgers are getting younger and better. I am really digging the direction this team is headed. This team will be a contender for many years as long as they are able to keep the core group from 2009 and 2010 from departing. The Dodgers will give you plenty to be excited about in 2010, so prepare to enjoy.

Dodgers Agree To Terms With Brad Ausmus

Dylan Hernandez is tweeting a one year deal between the Dodgers and Brad Ausmus is official. The deal is worth $850K and includes an option for 2011. If the Dodgers decline the option Ausmus receives $150K. Ausmus is slotted to be the backup catcher to Russell Martin, and will get 10 to 20 starts. A.J. Ellis is headed back to the minors. Not a bad deal, but I didn't see anything wrong with Ellis getting the backup job. Ausmus is a great guy to have around for both his leadership and team player attitude.

Dodgers Sign Belliard To One Year Deal, Now What?

Dylan Hernandez is tweeting, The Los Angeles Dodgers and Ronnie Belliard agreed to a one year deal worth $820K, and incentives up to $250K based on plate appearances. The physical has been completed, and this one is official. Hernandez also says that the contract is not guaranteed, unfortunately no details on exactly what this means yet. Next we have heard rumblings about some sorta weight clause built into the contract. Given the sensitive nature of the clause there is not a lot of details here. It seems as though according to Hernandez that Belliard's contract becomes guaranteed if he weighs in at 209 pounds or less at any point during spring training. (Man would this have been a nice clause in the Andruw Jones deal) Belliard's agent is denying the report of the clause, surprise.

Now we got somewhat of a logjam in the middle infield, right? Actually no. Ronnie Belliard will open the season as the regular second baseman. Jamey Carroll will be firmly placed into a utility roll, and the Dodgers become super flexible in the middle infield. Nick Green or Chin-lung Hu should get an opportunity to play short, since Carroll and Belliard can't. Blake DeWitt is either on his way back to AAA where he figures to play every day, or he will get traded. Either way this confirms that the Dodgers have lost all confidence in DeWitt, although I don't think the confidence was ever there to begin with. Ta Da! Felipe Lopez would've been such a better fit...

Player Profile: James Loney

James Loney is a Major League first baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was born on May 7th, 1984 in Houston Texas. He was drafted in the first round number 19 overall by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2002 Amateur Draft. He had the option of attending Baylor University to play college baseball, however he decided to head the pros instead.

Loney began his professional career playing for the Great Falls Dodgers, a minor league affiliate of the major league team. He hit .371 in his first year and was named the top prospect in the Pioneer League. In 2003 Loney played for the Single-A Vero Beach team and hit .276 with 7 homers. 2004 is when people really began to take notice of the left hander as he was named the fourth best overall prospect in the Arizona Fall League. He then had an injury plagued season on the Jacksonville Suns team.

2006 is perhaps when Loney's career began to take off as he hit .380 for the Triple-A Las Vegas 51's. He was named the Dodgers Minor League Player of the Year. James Loney made his major league debut with the Dodgers on April 4, 2006 against the Atlanta Braves' John Smoltz. He wasted no time as he got a single in his first major league at bat. Later in the season on September 28th, Loney started a game against the Colorado Rockies where he went 4 for 5 hitting 9 RBI's. This tied a 56 year old franchise record held by Gil Hodges.

Loney was ranked the top 44 overall prospect by Baseball America entering the 2007 season. Despite his success in 2006 he began the season at AAA as the Dodgers chose to re-sign Nomar Garciaparra to play first base. On June 10, 2007 Loney was recalled to replace the often injured Garciaparra, and from here James would never look back. He brought a hot bat with him to Los Angeles that eventually forced Garciaparra to play third base and Loney had solidified his role as the Dodgers first baseman of the future. Loney finished his rookie season sixth in the voting of the NL Rookie of the Year Award.

The 2008 season began with James Loney as the starting first baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He got off to a quick start to the season with a 15 game hitting streak. He finished the season batting .289 with 13 homeruns and a team leading 90 RBI's. On October 1st, 2008 Loney hit a grand slam of the Chicago Cubs Ryan Dempster in the 2008 NLDS. This helped the Dodgers go on to win the game 7-2.

Loney is often compared to former American League All-Star John Olerud. Both players batted and threw left handed, and neither player has hit for a lot in the home run category. Both are superb fielders with the glove, Loney has yet to earn a Gold Glove award though. Olerud was a three time Gold Glove winner. Their look and approach to the plate is virtually identical, as well as their ability to hit doubles and drive in runs. Loney is still very young in his baseball career as he begins his second full season in the majors. Loney has plenty of time to develop and create consistency in his game. There is no doubt the potential Loney has, with an almost infinite ceiling. This guy should definitely be on your watch list for years to come.

Eric Stults Hoping To Find Permanent Role In Los Angeles

Eric Stults is looking for a long term fit as he prepares for the 2010 season with the Dodgers. Stults is out of options, and therefore can't be sent down to the minors without clearing waivers first. This basically means the Dodgers must find a roster spot for him in 2010, or they will have to trade him and hope for something in return. The problem is when teams get to this point other teams realize this which hurts the players value. A similar situation happened with Delwyn Young last season, this led to his trade to Pittsburgh, and the Dodgers left with virtually nothing in return.

Stults was recently quoted saying, "I'm out of options and something has to give, so I'm excited about this spring because a decision has to be made,"

The Dodgers have recently put Eric Stults up for sale, and have reportedly been in trade talks with the Chiba Lotte Marines from the Japanese League.

"I've heard from Japan in years past and I've said if I felt I had exhausted all my big league opportunities, I'd be open to that," Stults said. "I still feel I have value to a big league team." 

Stults faces an uphill battle at this point, and this will be a tough call for the Dodgers. While Stults has had glimpses of greatness recording a shutout in the last two seasons. He has also had several other solid games at the major league level, but just hasn't been able to stick for a long period of time. The thirty year old left hander has got to impress big time this spring or he will likely be handed a one way ticket out of Los Angeles. The most likely scenario is Stults is traded, and the Dodgers will likely get a player to be named later in the deal. If Stults can stay consistent, it's possible he could find himself as the fifth starter when the 2010 season opens.

Eric Gagne Wants To Make A Comeback

Update: Yahoo's Tim Brown is tweeting that the Dodgers can be added to the list of teams in attendance to watch Gagne throw yesterday.

Diamond Leung is reporting that Eric Gagne wants to make a comeback. He would like to contribute at the major league level in the near future. It seems he would like to pitch for the Dodgers again.

Gagne reportedly is willing to sign a minor-league contract and pitch in Triple-A or even Double-A. He spent 2009 pitching for the Quebec Capitales, going 6-6 with a 4.65 ERA as a starter. In 17 starts, he pitched two complete games and threw 102 2/3 innings.

You have got to be kidding me! This guy hasn't had a quality season in the major's since 2004. The fact is this guy was taking PED's, and as soon as he stopped, his career derailed. There was a time Eric Gagne was my favorite player, but I just don't see him ever making a positive impact on the Dodgers again. He last pitched in 2008 for the Milwaukee Brewers, and it wasn't anything to brag about. But I will say I don't see any risk to signing Gagne to a minor league deal if he wants to try and prove himself one last time.

Dodgers Bring Back Vicente Padilla For 2010

The Los Angeles Dodgers and starting pitcher Vicente Padilla reached an agreement on a one year deal today. Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times provides the parameters of the deal. The deal is reportedly worth $4.025MM plus a $1MM signing bonus which doesn't get paid until 2011. The Dodgers have also included up to $1MM in potential incentives, which are based on number of innings pitched.

Padilla was not my first choice, but for that money it's hard to argue the signing. Padilla was dominant for the Dodgers down the stretch going 4-0 with a 3.20 ERA. He carried this momentum right into the playoffs, as he had two solid back to back games in the playoffs for the Dodgers. His performance was so dominant it may go down as one best playoff pitching performances in Dodgers history.

The amount of money that the Dodgers are giving Padilla makes the signing look even better. The contract is more than reasonable, and definitely fits in the Dodgers budget.

Colletti offered these thoughts about Padilla, “Vicente did a tremendous job for us down the stretch and his continued success in the postseason proved that he can pitch when there’s a lot at stake,”

Vicente Padilla's 2010 Projections

                  IP    ERA     BB/9   K/9  
Bill James:  141   4.66    3.26    6.19
Chone:        155   4.70    3.60    6.27

Overall the signing is a big win for the Dodgers. Joe Torre gets his veteran fourth starter, and the Dodgers didn't have to compromise with their budget. I don't see how the Dodgers could lose on this deal, and this signing could go down as the free agent bargain of the year. We all wanted Pineiro, but we got the next best thing with the Padilla signing.

Dodgers GM Ned Colletti Keeps Locking Them Up

The Dodgers as you probably already know have locked up Matt Kemp on a two year deal. They also signed Chad Billingsley to a one year deal last Friday. After these two studs were signed we started hearing rumblings that more were to follow, and was Ned ever busy today.

Today Ned Colletti locked up the remaining six arbitration eligible players. While no long term deals were handed out, this is a win win scenario for both parties. Yes, this means that the Dodgers front office has avoided salary arbitration with all nine of their players. This is quite an accomplishment, and the contracts seem fair for both sides. The real bonus here is the Dodgers are able to set the remaining budget for the rest of the offseason, and the Dodgers can now fill the rest of the remaining holes.

Russell Martin-This guy managed to steal a raise despite having two down years in a row. Martin made me eat my words today. "Martin will be lucky if he gets a raise at all, and if he does he probably won't see more than $5MM." Not only did he get a raise, he exceeded 5 million dollars. He signed a one year deal worth $5.05MM, man the Dodgers sure threw him a bone here.


Hong-Chih Kuo-He signed a one year deal worth $950,000 (plus $150,000 in appearance-based incentives)

Jonthan Broxton-The Dodgers pulled him in on a two year deal worth $11MM.

James Loney-He signed on for a one year deal worth $3.1MM.

George Sherrill-The lefty setup man signed on for 2010 at $4.5 million (plus $150,000 in appearance-based incentives)

Andre Ethier-By far the biggest winner of the group. Ethier was awarded for his career year in 2009 by raking in a two year deal worth $15.25MM plus incentives.

What are your thoughts? Who do you think is the biggest winner? Are there any losers in any of these deals? I think Ned Colletti and the Dodgers got it done today. I guess we should really be thanking Kim Ng, so sad no fun for her this year...

Two Down, Six To Go

With Matt Kemp and Chad Billingsley locked up, The Dodgers still have six more players eligible for arbitration: Andre Ethier, Jonathan Broxton, James Loney, Russell Martin, George Sherrill, and Hong-Chih Kuo.  If deals can't be reached by Tuesday, both the Dodgers and each player will submit salary figures for a potential February arbitration hearing.

Yesterday we heard from Dylan Hernandez that the Dodgers have been in contact with James Loney and his agent regarding a multi-year contract. Loney's agent, Joe Urbon says that he is looking for a one year deal.

In addition to the update we received from Dylan Hernandez, we got an update from Ken Gurnick. He says the Dodgers are already discussing multi-year deals with Andre Ethier and Jonathan Broxton. With Kemp set to earn just $4MM in 2010, you gotta figure Ethier will come in somewhere around $5MM after having a career season in 2009. He figures to get a similar deal to Kemp but at slightly more money.

To help calculate Broxton's salary we will use the recent arbitration avoider Bobby Jenks to help us. Jenks just signed a one year deal with the Chicago White Sox for $7.5MM, which is roughly a $2MM increase from 2009. Broxton, who earned just $1.925 million last year and his first All-Star berth, is in line for a significant raise above the $4MM Heath Bell just received.  My prediction Broxton signs for somewhere between $6MM and $7MM in 2010.

Martin, who earned $3.9 million in 2009, is coming off his second consecutive down season. In 2009 he hit .250 with seven homers and 53 RBIs. His defense was top notch however as he managed to throw out 25.3% percent of potential basestealers. Martin will be lucky if he gets a raise at all, and if he does he probably won't see more than $5MM.

Kuo, who earned $437,000 last year, went 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA and missed  about two months with more injuries. He is a little too hard to predict, but should come in somewhere between his 2009 salary and $1MM.

Sherrill, who earned $2.75 million last year, was the best man in the bullpen (minus Broxton) after being acquired from Baltimore on July 30. He allowed only two earned runs in 27 2/3 innings with the Dodgers, and had a combined 0.85 ERA after the All-Star break. He figures to get a nice raise at around $4.25MM in 2010.

While it's disappointing that the Dodgers are not able to reach longer term deals with some of the above players, the two year deals offer some advantages. The first is the Dodgers have absolutes when it comes to their payroll in 2010. We all know we will see little to no action until most of these players are signed. By avoiding arbitration it allows the Dodgers front office to know what money they have to spend, and therefore allows them to budget payroll dollars to fill the remaining holes. The second year that is being included in these deals offer guarantees to both the players and the Dodgers. This provides piece of mind on both ends, and allows the Dodgers to begin planning for next season. A few examples of this may be signing multi-year deals, or acquiring players via trade that have more than one year left on their contracts. You see without knowing the cards you are dealt, it becomes very difficult to play your hand.

Los Angeles Dodgers Owner Frank McCourt Speaks

The silence has finally been broken. We have heard from everyone but the man himself. Well below are some highlights from a recent update from Ken Gurnick.

"We're committed to developing young players, more so than ever. We've invested heavily in that area. And we're in the trade and free-agent markets to see if we can improve the team. We made decisions last year to put this club in a great position to compete at the highest level last year, and the vast majority of those players are back and there's not a lot we had to do this offseason. That said, we're working hard to address a few areas and I expect announcements on those things in the not-too-distant future."

Alright so that works for me, it's honest and without the fluff. I especially agree with the fact that there wasn't a lot the Dodgers had to do this offseason. I think this team is in a great position to compete as long as they fill the remaining holes with the correct pieces. On the other hand, I'm not sure that his "more so than ever" player development has any substance. I believe they are committed to the youth movement, but I am not sure they are going about it the right way.

In regards to the claims that everything is but business as usual, "To repeat what I said in October, my personal situation and divorce has no bearing on the team whatsoever," 

While I don't agree with this, I don't disagree either. It seems that McCourt and the Dodgers are playing it safe. McCourt has done nothing to prove this to be right or wrong yet. We should know if this is true or not in the 30 days or so.

"So what I say is, judge us on how well we do. When I bought the team, it hadn't won a postseason game in 15 years. We won a postseason game. It hadn't won a playoff series in 20 years. We won a playoff series. It hadn't won back-to-back division titles in 31 years. We won back-to-back titles. ... Those are the facts."

Ummm...it's hard to argue with that right? Sure we all want to see the Dodgers win a World Series. But the fact is the Dodgers are a winning team, and half of the MLB teams would be happy with just winning their division, not to mention back to back appearances in the NLCS.

Gurnick also says, McCourt said talks continue with manager Joe Torre on a contract extension that would include a front-office role when he's done managing. He said coach Don Mattingly will "be here a long, long time," but stopped short of saying he is Torre's heir apparent as manager.

There are some additional highlights including McCourts thoughts on Manny Ramirez in 2009, and what to expect in 2010.

Ben Sheets Gaining Interest From Dodgers

The Dodgers will watch Sheets pitch, according to Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times .  A contract between the Dodgers and Ben Sheets makes a lot of sense. The reality is their are six to ten teams that have expressed interest, and you gotta figure someone is going to offer something better than the Dodgers. A one year incentive deal seems to be in order for Sheets.

Ben Sheets will throw for teams Tuesday at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, reports ESPN's Tim Kurkjian.  Sheets was recently quoted saying, "They're going to like what they see." 

We last saw Sheets in in 2008 where he posted  a winning record of 13 and 9 in 31 games. His ERA was an impressive 3.09 over 198 innings. 

Dodgers Announce 2010 Minicamp Participants

Ken Gurnick provides the list of this years minicamp participants, as well as some history as we head into the third year of the program.


Aaron Miller/LHP - 2010 is too soon. 2011 he should compete for a spot in the rotation.
Armando Zerpa/LHP - He was acquired in the Rule 5 draft and will be trying win the role of left handed setup man. 10% chance of making the 2010 team.
Brent Leach/LHP - He showed some glimpses of a big leaguer in 2009, but I don't think we will see him unless some injury or depth issues arise.
Carlos Monasterios/RHP - Another rule five pitcher who has a lot of impressing to do in order to win a bullpen job, or any job for that matter. He has a chance of being this years Ronald Belisario.
Chris Withrow/RHP - Don't expect to see him in 2010, but this kid could be huge.
Ethan Martin/RHP - This kid is at least two or three years away, but you gotta start somewhere.
Javy Guerra/RHP- He doesn't have a shot to see anytime in the majors this season.
John Ely/RHP - He was acquired in the Juan Pierre trade, and I could see him contending for the fifth spot in the starting rotation.
Jon Link/RHP -He was the other piece in the Juan Pierre trade, we will eventually see him in 2010.
Josh Lindblom/RHP - Had a great showing in camp in 2009, could this be his year? Unless he makes the rotation as the Dodgers fifth starter, expect him to open the year starting in the AAA Isotopes rotation.
Kenley Jansen/RHP - The converted catcher has no shot at the reaching the majors in 2010.
Travis Schlichting/RHP -Health bring the most concerns, lost most of 2009 to arm problems but is now healthy and ready to make his case for a spot in the bullpen.

A.J. Ellis/C - He should be the backup catcher to Russell Martin in 2010.
Lucas May/C- Too early for May as he continues to make his case as a future catcher.
Russell Mitchell/INF- This guy had a great second half, and then put up huge numbers in the AFL.
Ivan DeJesus/INF - If the leg is better and he can stay healthy he should get a callup.
Dee Gordon/INF - He is the Dodgers number one top prospect, and for plenty of reasons.
Andrew Lambo/OF - Second time in camp for Lambo, he has yet to prove anything to the people that matter.
Trayvon Robinson/OF - He is quickly building credibility and working up the ranks, I'll be shocked if we don't see him in some capacity this year.
Kyle Russell/OF - Zero chance in 2010.

Dodgers Hunt For Fourth Starter Becoming A Priority

After a rather slow and ice cold hot stove winter, things finally seem to be heating up. Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times is reporting the Dodgers have set their sights on Joel Pineiro, Vicente Padilla, Jon Garland, and Braden Looper. Wait. Braden Looper? Don't even get me started. For now let's assume that a Looper deal won't happen. We already know about Piniero, however some new details emerged today. ESPN's Buster Olney says the Dodgers "are going through the process of getting approval for the funds necessary to make a Pineiro deal." From Tim Brown's Twitter feed, "In the face of economic limitations, Dodgers working on a way to sign Joel Pineiro." Ned Colletti and the Dodgers definitely seem to be making Pineiro the priority, and I will be shocked if a deal is not reached within the next few days.


Ken Gurnick is reporting that the Dodgers have backed off Jon Garland, but a one year deal remains possible. Dylan Hernandez said the Dodgers were in contact with Garlands' agent as recent as Wednesday. If a deal with Pineiro isn't reached, the Dodgers will shift their focus to Vicente Padilla according to Jon Paul Morosi.

The likely order of the four pitchers goes like this, Pineiro, Padilla, Garland, and Looper. I can't believe Looper is even an option. There is nothing this guy can do that any of our fifth starter candidates can't.

Dodgers, Matt Kemp Complete Two Year Deal

Update: Dylan Hernandez has the final details on Kemp's two year deal. Kemp is set to earn $4MM in 2010, and $6.95MM in 2011.


Update: According to Ken Gurnick the deal has been completed. The Dodgers and Kemp have been working on a deal all week, and to no surprise a six year deal wasn't reached. Sigh. Kemp's contract is worth a total of almost $11 million over two years, according to Gurnick. I am really surprised if this report is accurate. I thought Kemp might see a contract worth closer to $20M over two years. Guess the Dodgers made out on this deal.

You may recall on December 31st Ken Gurnick was reporting that the Dodgers and Matt Kemp were discussing a multi-year deal. Not much has been heard on this story since, until now. Thanks to Tim Dierkes over at MLBTR (always getting the inside scoop) we got an update today.

Here is what we know so far:

• Dave Stewart, Kemp's agent said that if he and the Dodgers couldn't find common ground Kemp was comfortable going year to year.
• Matt Kemp has said he may prefer to go through the arbitration process, but would keep his options open.
• The 25-year-old Kemp hit .297/.352/.490 with 26 HRs in 2009, not to mention he won his first Gold Glove.
• Colletti made a similar attempt with Russell Martin a couple years ago, but Martin shut him down.

Jim Bowden is writing via twitter that the Matt Kemp and the Dodgers are close to a two year deal. Dave Stewart also indicated he believes the Dodgers ownership situation limited the number of years they could offer. There are no other details being reported yet, but I will follow this one closely.

Tim from MLBTR also points out the following, Nick Markakis and Carlos Beltran are two decent comparables for Kemp, in terms of where their simple career numbers were after three years service time.  On a six-year deal, Markakis will be paid $9.75MM for his first two arbitration years.  Beltran went year to year in 2002-03 and made $9.5MM.  I would guess Kemp would be in the $10MM range for 2010-11.

I think Tim hit was right on the money with this one. Those are two great examples. I would really like to see Kemp get a deal similar to Markakis, we'll have to see how this plays out.

Outcome Prediction: Kemp signs a two year deal worth $22M. He earns $10.5M in 2010 and $11.5M in 2011. Ned Colletti kicks himself for not locking him up longer.

Chad Billingsley, Dodgers Avoid Arbitration

The Dodgers and All-Star pitcher Chad Billingsley on Friday agreed to a one-year contract worth $3.85 million, avoiding salary arbitration, according to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com. Dylan Hernandez is reporting the Dodgers did not discuss the option of a multi-year deal with Billingsley this winter.

Billingsley went 9-4 with a 3.38 ERA over the first half of 2009 and was selected to the National League All-Star team. But he struggled in the second half with a 3-7 record and a 5.20 ERA, then he went winless over his final seven starts going 0-5 with an ERA over 5. Multiple things went wrong in that final stretch, only receiving six runs of support in those games, two occurrences of hamstring tightness, and Billingsley said late in the season that his struggles were the result of a mechanical flaw in his delivery. This led to Billingsley being left off the postseason starting rotation, and his one relief appearance against with the Phillies in the NLCS led to two runs in 3 1/3 innings.

2010 should be a much different year for Billingsley. Everyone knows Billingsley has the capabilities of being a staff ace, he just needs to find a way to be consistent. I have the utmost confidence in Billingsley in 2010, as do most. I have no reason to believe Billingsley won't bounce back and improve on his 2009 performance, where he posted a winning record of 12-11 with a 4.03 ERA, he led the team in victories and managed to throw 196 1/3 innings.

2010 Projection: Billingsley goes 14-9, with an ERA of 3.71 in 190 2/3 innings. He will also lead the team in strikeouts as he will likely be near the 180K mark.

Around The Bases

Tony Jackson of the new espnlosangeles.com provides his analysis of the candidates for the Dodgers fifth rotation spot. Jackson points out that these pitchers might be going for the No. 4 spot too. Of course this scenario only occurs if the Dodgers do not sign a veteran starter before Opening Day.

TBLA provides a prospect report from Baseball HQ. These guys have an interesting way of evaluating and grading prospects. Definitely worth six and half minutes out of your day.

Mark Timmons provides two giant Dodgers announcements. Hopefully you follow his site, and if you don't you should. For those of you who don't understand his sense of humor and/or his style, check out the comments on his site

Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness is getting close to wrapping the Dodgers of the Decade series. The team and GM spots are all filled, and now it's time to find out who calls the shots on the field. So far Joe Torre is winning by a landslide. I voted. Did you?

Dodgers Stay The Course, Sign Nick Green

Nick Green and the Los Angeles Dodgers came to terms on a minor league contract today, tweets Ken Rosenthal. He also goes on to say Green would be Rafael Furcal's primary backup at shortstop.

Nick Green has been very unimpressive up to this point, so this is nothing to jump for joy over. Green is essentially replacing Juan Castro off the bench and nothing more. Green, 31, hit .236/.303/.366 in 309 plate appearances for the Red Sox last year, logging just under 650 innings.  His defense is average at best, Green had back surgery in November and was released shortly thereafter. 

I don't really get this move, maybe someone can help explain this one. While Nick Green is an upgrade over Juan Castro, isn't Chin-lung Hu a better option? All three players don't offer much from an offensive standpoint, so what gives? Hu has much better defense and a bigger upside. All in all it's not a big deal since he won't be taking up a guaranteed roster spot.

Los Angeles Dodgers Sign Ortiz, Restovich To Minors

Ken Gurnick is reporting the Dodgers have signed Russ Ortiz and Michael Resovich to minor league deals. They include an invite to Spring Training. Yeah Ortiz is terrible, and no he won't make the team. Ortiz needs more than a miracle to ever pitch for the Dodgers. Sure he will compete for the fourth or fifth outfielder spots that are currently vacant in the Dodgers rotation.  But really, who cares?

The 35-year-old Ortiz hasn't been an effective big leaguer since 2004, and even his minor league performance since then has been atrocious. But this guy won 21 games with Arizona, but that was a long time ago, and now he is 35 years old. He hasn't been able to pitch with an ERA under 5 in half a decade. 2010 will not be the year of Russ Ortiz.

Restovich, at the age of 31, has spent parts of six seasons in the big leagues, most recently with the Nationals in 2007. He's a career .239/.313/.377 hitter in the Majors, but has found some success hitting in the minors. Jason Repko and Xavier Paul remain the favorites despite the signing.

Dodgers Showing Interest In Robb Quinlan

MLB.com's Lyle Spencer is tweeting that the Dodgers are interested in the versatile Robb Quinlan as a fourth outfielder.

Now I know what you are thinking, so please refrain from cussing. The rumors of the washed up veterans, the reclamation projects, and players that don't really fill the void we are looking for, is getting really old and tiresome. Well don't kill the messenger is all I can say. The good news is, this is just a rumor, and not a guaranteed signing. The Dodgers are keeping their options open, something they should be doing.

While Quinlan is not better than any in-house option we may have. He remains an option, and the front office feels it's an option worth exploring. Quinlan could fill several voids the Dodgers face in 2010. He can play both corner outfield and infield positions, though defensively not very well. Guess what it gets better, he can't hit the ball, and he runs slower than Manny Ramirez. Oh and did I mention he is old, and never had a good season in the majors.

It will be a miracle if this guy even gets a non-roster invite from the Dodgers.

Jason Repko Signs To Avoid Arbitration

Jon Paul Morosi of Foxsports is reporting that the Dodgers and Jason Repko avoided arbitration today. Repko agreed to a one year deal worth 500K. This signing assures Jason Repko will be around next season, and he figures to be the Dodgers fourth outfielder.

He will fill the abscence of the departed Juan Pierre nicely. His speed off the bench will be a big plus in the Dodgers decision. Plus his ability to hit left-handers will be welcomed addition to the bench. There is also no denying Repko's heart, or his ability to field the ball well. Repko is not the best option for the Dodgers bench. But based on needs, and what Repko has to offer, it's his job to lose.

Noah Lowry Latest Pitcher To Catch Dodgers Interest

Tim Dierkes from MLBTR provides an update on the Noah Lowry audition. He confirms the audition is set for next Tuesday and the Dodgers will be in attendance.

Dylan Hernandez is tweeting the Dodgers have thrown their name in the hat for Noah Lowry's services. Now I going to make this perfectly clear. Noah Lowry is not a good option for the Dodgers in 2010. There are a total of 14 teams currently interested in Lowry. What? Am I missing something here? This guy hasn't been a good pitcher since 2005. Furthermore, why does Ned Colletti always have to look at ex-Giants players. I wouldn't worry to much anyway, with 14 teams interested somebody is going to offer a better deal than the Dodgers.

Lowry does have a desire to stay on the west coast, my prediction, the San Diego Padres make the signing. There is nothing that Noah Lowry can do that Stults, Haeger, Mcdonald, etc. can't do. Moving on...

Presenting The Dodgers Fifth Rotation Spot Options

What has started off being a rather quiet January in the Dodger rumors and news department, I felt it was a good time to evaluate the more likely options the Dodgers have to fill the fifth rotation spot.

James McDonald: My personal favorite of the group, however I don't think he will end up with the job. At least not yet. James McDonald is the most talented of the group, he also has the most potential. However McDonald struggled at the end of last season, and has done even worse this winter. He has been far from consistent and effective lately. Unfortunately his inability to be consistent is going to cost him a spot in the rotation and probably the majors. It won't last long, he has the tools to be a solid 3 or 4 starting pitcher for the Dodgers in the near future. Barring a perfect spring training, I am projecting he starts the season at AAA as a starter. He needs to get regular work, and since he fits the model of a major league starter, a move the Dodgers bullpen is not going to help him in any way. Look for McDonald to make it back to the majors before the July All-Star Game.

Eric Stults: He is probably the favorite to get the fifth rotation spot. He filled in nicely for the Dodgers during the 2009 season, especially with all the injuries to Kuroda. The problem with Stults is he is out of options, and the Dodgers have been unable to trade him for whatever reason. The Dodgers have resorted to trying to sell him to Orient, but have been unsuccessful so far. A trade to the far east seems the most likely, and therefore he wouldn't be considered for the job. If somehow a sale or trade doesn't work out, I would expect Stults to be in the rotation at the beginning of the season.

Charlie Haeger: He is the most practical and likely pitcher to get the nod for the fifth starter spot. It appears that all you readers agree with this so far as well. Though been a close race so far, the poll is showing Haeger leading the poll by 14%.  Haeger is known for bursting on the scene in 2009 with his unhittable knuckleball, and the seven inning shutout he pitched against the Chicago Cubs. When Haegers' knuckleball is working, lookout. He knows when to use his other pitches, and throws hitters off balance with relative ease. Haeger possess all the skills to be a regular pitcher in the majors, and the Dodgers clearly see that. Haeger will have to have a decent spring to get the job, but as it stands right now the job is his to lose.

Josh Lindblom: I am going to guess we will see Lindblom in the majors in 2010. After his performance in 2009, he has emerged as a contender for a major league roster spot. The Dodgers seem to be unclear on the direction they are going with him. I figured the Dodgers were grooming him to be a starter, but the possibility remains of using him as a setup man or closer. I thought it was a clear choice to use him as a starter, but what do I know? I like everything about this kid and I will go out on a limb and guess we will see him as soon as All-Star game time or as a September call-up. If the Dodgers open the season with depth issues, or get hampered with injuries, Lindblom could get a shot.

Dodgers Offseason: Filling The Remaining Holes

There is no doubt the Dodgers have some holes to fill. Lately I've been getting the feeling that some people think our team is in shambles or something. Really it's not like the Dodgers are going to fold and become a small market team because the owner is getting a divorce. When the dust settles the Dodgers will be the favorite to win the NL West again, mark my words. Now let's take a look at the current roster, with the holes unfilled.

Projected 2010 Starting Lineup

SS-Rafael Furcal
CF-Matt Kemp
RF-Andre Ethier
LF-Manny Ramirez
1B-James Loney
3B-Casey Blake
 C-Russell Martin
2B-Blake DeWitt

Projected 2010 Bench Players

IF-Jamey Carroll
OF-Jason Repko
 C-A.J. Ellis
1B-Fill Hole Here
XX-Fill Hole Here

Projected 2010 Starting Rotation

RHP-Chad Billingsley
LHP-Clayton Kershaw
RHP-Hiroki Kuroda
XHP-Fill Hole Here
RHP-Charlie Haeger

Projected 2010 Bullpen

RHP-Ramon Troncoso
RHP-Ronald Belisario
LHP-Hong-Chih Kuo
LHP-Scott Elbert
RHP-Jon Link
LHP-George Sherrill
RHP-Jonathon Broxton

Look at that roster and tell me that team looks like a team in shambles. No. Quite the opposite actually. The Dodgers are missing Orlando Hudson, Randy Wolf, and a couple bench players that's it. So to think this team is not capable of winning the NL West, and competing in the playoffs again is simply ridiculous.

Some new names to the Dodgers which figure to make the opening day lineup. First is Jon Link, he figures to get a gig in the bullpen after his solid performance in winter ball. He went 2-0 with a 2.95 ERA in 15 outings, he also added seven saves in eight chances. Jamey Carroll is another name new to the Dodgers. He will see plenty of playing time as the Dodgers super utility player. Carroll will also share some time as a starter as he is likely to platoon with Blake DeWitt at second. Repko and Ellis are long lost minor leaguers that should get a shot at the majors or be traded before opening day. Haeger and his knuckleball saw some success in a few starts for the Dodgers last season. He will be competing with James McDonald and a few others for the fifth spot in the rotation.

Alright, now it is time to fill some holes. Of course this is purely speculative with a bit of rumors and inside knowledge.

Current Holes In Order As Stated Above

1B- Doug Mientkiewicz will likely be awarded the job. He has Joe Torre as his biggest fan, and the Dodgers need a left handed bat. Barring an injury or a terrible spring, he is almost guaranteed to be on the bench on opening day.

XX- The final bench spot will go to Ronnie Belliard or Felipe Lopez. That's right I am predicting one of these two guys to sign with the Dodgers similar to how Orlando Hudson did last season. The Dodgers still have a hole at second base, and DeWitt has proven he can handle it yet. If the above two should sign elsewhere, the spot would then go to Chin-lung Hu. Hu would serve as a backup middle infielder, and the Dodgers would go to plan b, a platoon of DeWitt and Carroll.

4th Rotation Spot- I am predicting Jon Garland signs with the Dodgers on a one year deal with an option. The Dodgers need a veteran innings eater, and Garland fits the mold perfectly. Garland likes the west coast, and fit well on the Dodgers last season. The Dodgers have shown interest in Joel Pineiro, but his asking price will have to come down before the Dodgers will be able to afford him.

Not much to do in the bullpen, as this is the strong point for the Dodgers in 2010. Unless there are any major injuries, count on the Dodgers bullpen to lead the majors in almost every single stat. It gets better because every single player out of the bullpen except for Sherrill is under the age of 30. This means some of these guys are just entering the prime of their careers, and some haven't even reached it yet. We could also see Colletti deal some of this depth to fill other needs sometime in 2010.

Alright now that we got all of that squared away, let's take a look at the end result.

Projected 2010 Starting Lineup

SS-Rafael Furcal
CF-Matt Kemp
RF-Andre Ethier
LF-Manny Ramirez
1B-James Loney
3B-Casey Blake
2B-Ronnie Belliard
 C-Russell Martin


Projected 2010 Bench Players

IF-Jamey Carroll
OF-Jason Repko
 C-A.J. Ellis
1B-Doug Mientkiewicz
IF-Blake DeWitt

Projected 2010 Starting Rotation

RHP-Chad Billingsley
LHP-Clayton Kershaw
RHP-Hiroki Kuroda
RHP-Jon Garland
RHP-Charlie Haeger

Projected 2010 Bullpen

RHP-Ramon Troncoso
RHP-Ronald Belisario
LHP-Hong-Chih Kuo
LHP-Scott Elbert
RHP-Jon Link
LHP-George Sherrill (Setup)
RHP-Jonathon Broxton (Closer)

The Dodgers are getting younger and better. I am really digging the direction this team is headed. This team will be a contender for many years as long as they are able to keep the core group from 2009 and 2010 from departing. The Dodgers will give you plenty to be excited about in 2010, so prepare to enjoy.

Dodgers Offseason: The Final Stretch Begins

It's a new year, and we all know what that means. Spring Training is just 60 days away from today. The good news is Ned Colletti still has plenty of time to fill the remaining holes. The bargains will start emerging during the next 60 days, and this is exactly what Colletti is banking on. Last year he got several free agent bargains before the start of the year, and they paid off heavily. Colletti will be looking to repeat his good fortune of 2009 in 2010, time will soon tell.

Before the Dodgers arrive to Spring Training there are some obstacles the front office will have to deal with.

• The Dodgers are rumored to have a $100M payroll to work with. Even at $90M this is more than doable.
• The economy is still in a flux, and the Dodgers will have to be creative is stretching their dollars.
• Frank McCourt will have to deal with his divorce both personally and professionally. Frank is a businessman first and foremost, and he will handle this divorce accordingly.

Alright we all know the hurdles Ned Colletti and the Dodgers front office have been dealing with this winter. Let's face it, it is what it is, and it's time to stop blaming everything on Frank McCourt and his divorce. Frank wants to be successful both personally and professionally. With the divorce looming over him daily, now more than ever he wants to win a World Series. Sure his divorce has some affect on the offseason dealings, but let's be serious, you gotta know the hand you are dealt before you play the game. Right? Sure I was bummed we didn't offer arbitration to Wolf and Hudson, but looking back I can't really blame 'em. It was a gamble, and despite what little chance of accepting existed, it did exist. This risk that existed could have been disastrous to the 2010 payroll.

For those of you who are worried or think Frank McCourt is going to throw the Dodgers in the garbage, now would be a good time to take a chill pill. The Dodgers are more active in the front office than they have been in the last five years I have been following this stuff. Don't get crazy, everything will be just fine. Sure even I get frustrated at times, especially with the lack of baseball knowledge McCourt and Mannion have. But as long as people like Ned Colletti, Logan White, Kim Ng, Joe Torre, and let us not forget Tommy Lasorda, the Dodgers will be fine when it comes to operations and personnel decisions. Why do you think the Dodgers keep Tommy around? Tommy knows what it takes to win, and not many know baseball better than Tommy.

Now as far as the lack of big free agent signings go, all of you need to let it go. The Dodgers are learning from their mistakes, and with the trade of Pierre behind us, the Dodgers can finally move on. The Dodgers have finally got rid of all the bad contracts that have haunted them over the last few years, at least on the forefront. The bad news is the Dodgers have a lot of deferred money to deal with for the next several years. Andruw Jones($16M over 5 years), Manny Ramirez($30M over 4 years), and Juan Pierre's ($10.5M over 2 years) deferred salary total up to the tune of $56.5 million dollars. That is a lot of money tied up to players who won't even be on the team. Yet you all still wonder why the Dodgers are looking to sign free agents to big contracts. The Dodgers haven't done well in this department, and they are headed in a new direction. The Dodgers will be better in 2010 than 2009, mark my words. The Dodgers got to the NLCS with a $100M payroll, there is no reason to think they won't do it again.

LA Dodgers 2010 Top 20 Prospects

We got Baseball America's top 10 prospects in December. This month minorleagueball.com provides their version with the Top 20 Dodgers prospects of 2010.  For the most part the top ten looks very much the same as everyone elses. Except for me there is one glaring name at the number eight overall spot, Garrett Gould. I am not as big of a fan, but it could be I just haven't done a whole lot of research on this guy. I personally like Allen Webster more than Gould, as I don't think Gould should be in the top fifteen. Either way Gould looks like a good prospect to watch in 2010.

With Withrow, Martin, Miller, and Lindblom all in the top five, I see a very bright future for the Dodgers rotation. All of these guys could crack the rotation by 2013. Some feel Lindblom is better for the starting rotation, others feel he would be better in the bullpen. It will be interesting to see how he is developed, either way this guy is going to be great. The Dodgers are plenty deep when it comes to pitching, and it will be exciting to watch these guys crack the major league roster over the next few years.

After Gordon, Lambo, DeJesus, and Robinson, I get seriously concerned about the quality of our hitting prospects. I think Gordon will be a great replacement for Furcal, and I think he could contribute right now at the major league level if given an opportunity. He reminds me of Furcal is his early days, and I think Gordon could be just as good as Furcal, maybe better. Lambo at the young age of 21 still has tons of upside. He has all the tools to be a solid everyday player when he arrives in the majors. Considering his age and all of the tools this guy has, the Dodgers have to be careful and not rush him to the majors. He is my number one must watch prospect heading into the 2010 season. DeJesus must prove he can still compete after the major injury, and contribute at the AAA level. He was near major league ready before the leg injury, and there is no reason he can't get himself back to that level. Trayvon Robinson was such an exciting player to follow in the minors last season, but to me he still has a lot to prove.

After these guys is where the concern kicks in. Russell has loads of power, but a lot of question marks to go with it. May and Delmonico both have something to offer at the catcher position, but nothing to show me they will be an everyday catcher at the major league level yet. From here there are guys like Baez, Gallagher, and Paul, they have some tools, but I am just not blown away by any of these guys yet. Hitting and offensive players seems to be something the Dodgers need to address in this years draft. The loss of Josh Bell is hurting a lot more than I thought it would. Don't worry yet, a couple good picks this year and this thing will be looking much better next season.