Out of all the free agents available at the moment, there are a number of them who have been mentioned as being particularly interested in the Dodgers, or vice versa. A lot of times a name will crop up for no real reason, but there are some intriguing possibilities out there of the ones connected with LA. And now with the unexpected departure of JD Drew, there will need to be some especially intense analysis of who’s available and for how much.
A lot of pundits will point out that buying high is the absolute wrong thing to be doing. In other words, like a stock or other asset, you want to be buying low and selling high. With that theory, and with what is looked on as inevitable decline, most of these folks are too risky to pay the amount of money they’ll be demanding during this off-season. This does make sense. Adding big names with big skills makes sense as well, of course, so it depends on how much of your team’s owners’ money you mind spending. And free agents aren’t the only possibilities for filling holes — there are always potential trades.
Something else to keep in mind is that with the notable exception of the Greg Maddux pickup, many of Ned Colletti’s moves haven’t been rumored to be in progress until they’ve happened, so all of these names should be taken with an especially large grain of salt.
Pitchers
Barry Zito (LHP). The non-evil Barry from up north is arguably the best free agent pitching option generally available this offseason (not counting Daisuke Matsuzaka). This 28-year-old starter would seem to be a good fit with both SoCal and the Dodgers, according to all accounts…but that means he’s also suitable for the Padres and Angels. Both New York teams have also been mentioned, and the latest news is he’s interested in the Rangers now after their hiring of manager Ron Washington. Or maybe it’s just a ploy to drive up his price. Guess who his agent is? Yep, the same one for JD Drew and Eric Gagne — and Greg Maddux, interestingly — Scott Boras. I wouldn’t mind seeing his reliable innings on the team at all, even if he isn’t the Cy Young winner of yesteryear, but at what price?
Jason Schmidt (RHP) Now this would be trippy as hell — I’m not sure I’d be able to deal with seeing him in a Dodger uniform. Unfortunately, he’s likely the second best option after Zito. And with an established relationship with Colletti, it would be easy to pencil him into the rotation. There have been questions regarding the 33-year-old’s health, but I would not be surprised to see this one happen.
Mark Mulder (LHP) Another guy with the possibility of health issues, the 29-year-old lefty is recovering from September rotator cuff surgery. His eventual deal may come from whoever offers the best incentives, and that might well be his 2006 team, the Cardinals. He seems the least likely of these three to wind up in Dodger Blue, but stranger things have happened.
Eric Gagne (RP) Speaking of health issues and things to prove, Eric Gagne is a risk that will require both some real health evaluation (beyond his personal assurances) and probably an incentive-laden deal. Assuming he’s healthy, Eric would be welcomed like a hero in LA again…especially if Takashi Saito does not return.
Infielders
Aramis Ramirez (3B) It’s hard to argue with this guy, also 28 years old, and with a 2006 line of .291/.352/.561, 38 HR and 119 RBI. A power bat we need and solidifying a position that has been dicey since Adrian Beltre left. Picking him up might also allow us to move Betemit or another person in a deal for pitching or an outfield bat. On the downside, the Angels have also been associated with him, naturally, and there’s word that he’s looking for a 5- or 6-year deal. Colletti has been more willing to give more money but for fewer years (e.g. Rafael Furcal last year).
Nomar Garciaparra (1B) While it might not make perfect sense to bring him back with the ascension of James Loney at first base and Wilson Betemit at third (with the promising Andy Laroche on his way), bringing Nomar’s bat and hometown boy popularity back to Chavez Ravine does. There’s a possibility been mentioned by Colletti and others of Loney moving to the outfield, thus helping a couple of different problems, but we will have to see. Will Nomar be willing to go with another incentive contract? Will the Angels, Yankees, Cubs, or (God forbid) Giants attract him away from home? Inquiring minds want to know. I want to know, as he quickly became one of my favorite players ever last year.
Outfielders
Alfonso Soriano (LF) Talk about the man of the hour, or rather of the year since he has been rumored going to pretty much every team in both leagues in 2006. The 30-year-old slugger and his .277/.351/.560, 46 HR, 95 RBI, and 41 stolen bases, is the poster child for this off-season: with the high demand and few available, he will likely reap the benefits of a stellar season. It’s been reported he’s looking for a similar deal to Ramirez’s, 5+ years. Will that preclude him coming to LA?
Gary Matthews Jr. (CF) Performer of one of the craziest outfield catches last season, the 32-year-old former Ranger has been mentioned along with a number of teams. He would seem to fit Dodger needs, especially with Drew going bye-bye, but will he cost too much for what his real skills are? Last season, .313/.371/.495. 19 HR (in a hitter-friendly park, no less) and 79 RBI. Hard to say.
JD Drew (RF) Back with the Dodgers? Here’s what Ned said:
“He wants out, he can have out. He’s moving on, we’re moving on. We’ll find players who like playing here. If he doesn’t want to be here, he has the right to leave, and he’s exercising that right.”
So, that’s a no. Next?
