Rumors for Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers looking to add big bat this offseason
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MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick says the Los Angeles Dodgers need to address their inconsistency in the middle of their lineup, so you should expect the team to go after a big bat this offseason.
“We need to be more productive in the middle of the lineup,” manager Joe Torre said.
The team lost Manny Ramirez earlier this week, and outfielder Matt Kemp has not lived up to his two-year, $10.95 million contract that he signed last spring, so the Dodgers may be looking at a big name free agent. Some names the team could go after include Carl Crawford, Adam Dunn, Jayson Werth, Paul Konerko and maybe Adrian Beltre. Each of these players will be in the 10-figure per year salary range – a number that Los Angeles has tried to avoid.
Gurnick says GM Ned Colletti has already agreed that a big bat is a high priority this winter, and he’s probably more likely to land one via trade than free agency. In addition to a big bat on his wish list, the Dodgers need a starting catcher and a third baseman, and starting pitching.
Luckily for the Dodgers, the team has $38 million coming off the books, but with the pending divorce the McCourt family, the team may be restricted from spending big dollars to attract big name talent.
List of six GM candidates for Arizona Diamondbacks is taking shape
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FOXSports’ Jon Paul Morosi says the Arizona Diamondbacks’ list of potential general manager candidates is starting to take shape. According to sources close to Morosi, the Diamondbacks plan to speak with the following six people:
- Jerry Dipoto, Diamondbacks interim GM
- Peter Woodfork, Diamondbacks assistant GM
- Kevin Towers, former Padres GM and current Yankees adviser
- Damon Oppenheimer, Yankees vice president of amateur scouting
- De Jon Watson, Dodgers assistant GM for player development
- Logan White, Dodgers assistant GM for amateur and international scouting
Sources says that the Diamondbacks’ superiors were happy with the job that Dipoto did at the July 31st trade deadline. Among Dipoto’s accomplishments this season are: Dan Haren trade with the Los Angeles Angels, Edwin Jackson trade with the Chicago White Sox, Chad Qualls trade with the Tampa Bay Rays and the Chris Snyder trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Los Angeles Dodgers intend to pursue multi-year deal with Ted Lilly
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According to sources close to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports, the Los Angeles intend to pursue a multi-year deal with left-handed pitcher Ted Lilly. ESPN’s Buster Olney adds, “Ted Lilly’s agent says the pitcher wants to work out something to stay in L.A. — and the Dodgers want the same thing. Talks to come.”
Lilly was acquired by the Dodgers before the July 31st trade deadline. With an outside chance of making the playoffs, it was believed that Los Angeles may try to save on payroll and dump players such as Lilly.
The New York Yankees were awarded a waiver claim on Lilly before August 31, and they may continue to pursue acquiring Lilly with the hopes to add him to their post season roster.
New York Yankees to use loophole to acquire Ted Lilly and use him in postseason?
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A source close to The New York Daily News says the Yankees were awarded a waiver claim on Tuesday for Los Angeles Dodgers’ left-handed pitcher Ted Lilly, and should the Yankees acquire the pitcher they would like to use a “loophole” to use him in the postseason. A Yankees’ source says the team will continue to push to make a deal for Lilly.
The Daily News says, “the Yankees believe there is a loophole because they were awarded the claim before the first of the month, they could use Lilly on their postseason roster.”
By trading Lilly, the Dodgers would save about $2 million. However, GM Ned Colletti still believes his team is a Wild Card contender. The Dodgers are currently 6 1/2 games out of the Wild Card lead.
Update – San Diego Padres looking for starting pitcher
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8/31 20:15: A source from the Padres says via FOXSports’ Ken Rosenthal, “all quiet . . . don’t expect anything.” Rosenthal adds that it’s not for a lack of effort, the team just couldn’t pull off a deal for a starting pitcher.
8/31 14:34: FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal tweets that the San Diego Padres are looking for starting pitching. Rosenthal says nothing is close at this time.
Some starting pitchers that could be moved include Baltimore Orioles’ Kevin Millwood or Los Angeles Dodgers’ Ted Lilly. Pure speculation, but a long-shot for the Padres could be right-handed pitcher Mark Prior who has had two previous and unsuccessful Minor League stints with the Padres. Prior signed with Orange County of the independent Golden Baseball League earlier this month.
Yesterday, Bill Center of The San Diego Union-Tribune said the Padres attempts to acquire Dodgers’ starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda ended over the weekend when the Dodgers revoked Kuroda from waivers. The two teams were negotiating a waiver trade when the Dodgeres decided to pull him from waivers.
Joe Torre on managing next year – Working out a new deal won’t be an issue
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Joe Torre’s status on returning to the Los Angeles Dodgers as their manager for 2011 is still up in the air, but should he decide to come back working out a new deal won’t be an issue.
According to Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times, Torre said, “I thought we had an understanding” when extension talks broke off during Spring Training.
Torre has not indicated whether or not he will retire. Earlier this month, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com said Torre will announce his plans for next season the Dodgers’ clinch a post season berth or are eliminated from playoff contention. His name has come up for open managerial positions such as the Chicago Cubs and possibly the New York Mets.
Should Torre retire, candidates to take his job include Don Mattingly and Tim Wallach.
Ted Lilly staying put with the Dodgers – not being traded
Posted by: | CommentsJon Heyman of Sports Illustrated says the Los Angeles Dodgers have pulled Ted Lilly off of waivers, so the left-handed pitcher is staying with the team for the rest of the season. Heyman adds that the New York Yankees were at least one of the teams that claimed Lilly off of waivers.
Lilly was acquired by the Dodgers before the July 31st trade deadline. With an outside chance of making the playoffs, it was believed that Los Angeles may try to save on payroll and dump players such as Lilly.
Teams such as the New York Yankees and the San Diego Padres are known to be pursuing starting pitching in preparation for the final month of the season and the playoffs.
Lilly is making $12 million this season in the final year of his contract, and there’s a possibility the Dodgers may offer Lilly arbitration this winter.
Quiet Aug 31 trade deadline expected?
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Many people in the know, close to Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated, expect this year’s August 31st deadline to be the quietest in years. Most executives expect that only a few bullpen and bench pieces will get moved before tonight’s midnight deadline to have player on your roster eligible for post season player.
“It’s not as very attractive list,” one AL GM said. “Most guys got claimed, even guys making money.”
Here are few highlights from Heyman:
- Some big names that could be available include starting pitcher Kevin Millwood of the Baltimore Orioles, but he brings a relatively high price tag.
- The San Diego Padres and New York Yankees are looking for starting pitching help.
- The Los Angeles Dodgers Ted Lilly was placed on waivers but the team considers themselves in the race so they are unlikely to trade him.
- Other available players include: Carlos Beltran, Geoff Blum, Craig Counsell, Edwin Encarnacion, Kelly Johnson, Adam LaRoche, Lyle Overbay, George Sherrill and Brian Tallet.
Could the Chicago White Sox sign Manny Ramirez in 2011?
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Although Manny Ramirez has yet to play one game for the Chicago White Sox, questions are already popping up as far as what he’ll do next year.
‘I go into this with an open mind,” Williams said. ”He is our DH right now. Let’s see how it goes; let’s see how he fits. Let’s see how we all end up and what we have to work with dollarwise next year. But that’s 2011. ‘Let’s worry about 2010 now’ is my message to everyone.”
Ramirez is a free agent after this season, and his future salary could come down to what he does for the White Sox this last month of the season. He’s been injured for much of this year, and because he’ll have the opportunity to get at-bats without being a defensive liability by playing DH, it may help him secure a decent deal this off-season.
He made $20 million this season, but given his lackluster year, it’ll be tough for him to find something that big. However, you can’t count out his agent, Scott Boras. Boras has been known to create value for his clients.
Information from Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times was used in this article.
Manny Ramirez is officially moved to Chicago White Sox
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USA Today’s Bob Nightengale says via Twitter that the deal between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox for Manny Ramirez is official. Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated confirms that is it a straight waiver claim with no prospects involved. The White Sox will pay the $3.8 million left on Ramirez’s salary with no compensation to the Dodgers.
Ramirez was placed on waivers by the Dodgers on August 25. At that time, it was widely known that the Chicago White Sox were interested in the outfielder. Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times was the first to report that an unknown team made a claim on Ramirez on August 27. A source close to MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan was the first to report the Chicago White Sox were awarded the claim with ESPN’s Jayson Stark confirming it.
Ramirez, 38, is hitting .313/.407/.513 in 64 games with the Dodgers this season.
