Not such a good news day for the Dodgers

Apart from the welcome signing of Takashi Saito, this has not been a great day for Dodgers news.

First up, the Red Sox are apparently creating the east-coast equivalent of our last year’s Blue Sox strategy by signing both J.D. Drew and Julio Lugo. Can’t say I’m really sad to see either of them go, but I am concerned about where we will make up Drew’s production such as it was.

Meanwhile, back in the NL West, Greg Maddux is reported to have signed a deal with the San Diego Padres, leaving the Dodgers after a partial season. The one-year deal has now been reported as final on ESPN and elsewhere, although it has not shown up as an official release yet (see my Hot Stove League rules in the previous post) on the Padres homepage, instead being listed as “Padres awaiting Maddux’s decision”. There’s also an article on the Dodgers site from earlier this evening that said:

Boras said rumors that Maddux had agreed to a contract with the San Diego Padres weren’t true, saying only “we’re moving positively in a couple directions.” Maddux wants to remain in Southern California. The Padres are believed to be ready to guarantee a second year, while the Dodgers are not.

Take that for whatever it’s worth. Again, see rule in previous post about Boras. ;)

That article, by the way, is one with the sad title “Dodgers likely parting ways with Gagne”.

Eric Gagne isn’t completely gone yet and neither is Greg Maddux, but agent Scott Boras has them on the verge of becoming ex-Dodgers.

One day after general manager Ned Colletti indicated the Dodgers wouldn’t guarantee significant dollars to Gagne without assurances that he’s healthy, agent Scott Boras virtually cut ties on his client’s behalf, saying it was “very likely” that Gagne would be signed during the Winter Meetings, which close on Thursday.

Both of these could well be Boras trying to play Colletti against himself. No one knows for sure what’s true. Only time will tell.

A couple of other tidbits from that article: the Rangers have asked about Jason Repko (perhaps to bring back some relievers?), and the news about Mike Lieberthal’s signing is being delayed to see if they can trade Toby Hall.

So again, apart from Saito, this has been rather a sobering day for Dodger news. Things are really uncertain right now. Watching ESPNews, it almost feels like an exodus is beginning, even though it isn’t at all what’s going on. I’m looking forward to some more positive news.