Footprints in the Snow: Los Angeles Dodgers

Adios ... Amigos.

Footprints in the Snow is FanHouse's look at the paths to be forged by MLB teams this winter as they look ahead to 2009.

The funny thing about the Dodgers is that it's really, really easy to forget that before Manny Ramirez rode in on his dreadlocked donkey like a free-swinging Don Quixote, well, they were basically just your run of the mill mediocre baseball team.

Ned Colletti was, justifiably, on the hot seat, Andruw Jones and Juan Pierre were gathering ~~lard~~dustballs on the bench, and despite some pretty good pitching, there wasn't enough offense to limp the team towards a .500 National League West-winning record and OMG JOE TORRE FAIL.

But Manny did show up, and he did play the role of hero. The Dodgers streaked into the playoffs, the fans started flocking back to Chavez Ravine in their imitation 'locks and then Los Angeles shocked the world by sweeping the Cubs in the NLDS. Nowhere to go up but, right? Um, actually, no.

Who May Leave?
Manny Ramirez, OF, FA
Derek Lowe, SP, FA
Rafael Furcal, SS, FA
Greg Maddux, SP, FA/Retirement
Brad Penny, SP, FA/Club declined option
Casey Blake, 3B, FA
Jeff Kent, 2B, FA/Retirement
Nomar Garciaparra, 1B/Etc, FA
Chan Ho Park, SP, FA
Joe Beimel, RP, FA
Jason Johnson, SP, FA
Pablo Ozuna, 3B/Etc, FA
Andruw Jones, Juan Pierre, OFs, Possible "Accident"

What Do They Need?
They need to replace the elite talent that could be leaving, they need to get some offense, they need a top of the rotation starter and they need to let that "accident" mentioned above happen. Reeeeeeeeal shame if 'Druw and Juan can't collect a paycheck. Seriously though, they need offense badly. If Furcal and Man-Ram both leave, things are going to get ugly.

What Should They Do?
Well, they should not offer big money to Manny thinking that he might sign without seeing what other teams would offer him. Oh, they already did that? Whoops.

So, yeah, this seems a touch contradictory now, what with them already doing things that I want to tell them not to do. (I have officially confused myself.) Additionally, they need to get another front line starter. Lowe's 2008 season -- and pitching skillz as a whole -- are vastly underrated and they'll miss him. Yeah, Clayton Kershaw and James McDonald are going to develop and be very good and Chad Billingsley is special, but all these kids need some sort of mentor (Maddux was perfect but he's old and not elite obviously) and call me crazy, but Jason Schmidt doesn't really seem to fit the bill. Additionally, Penny's departure really -- in theory -- thins out this rotation and if they end up whiffing on any of the big(ger) names out there in FA to help out this rotation, things could get awkward before they get prettier.

What Will They Do?
They should keep raising their offer to Manny until Friday morning and then suddenly act all offended that Boras and Ramirez wouldn't actually take them seriously and then pull out of the Manny Sweepstakes. Then, when he torches them in every game they play against the team he ends up with and they end up not making the playoffs by one game, well, you get the point. (It being: they won't re-sign him.)

However, they will probably sign an overrated outfielder and then maybe ink someone like Joe Crede, just so they can further hinder the development of their young talent. Oh, and maybe go after Mark Teixeira really strong, just because, you know, James Loney is too cheap and talented.

And pardon me for being pessimistic, but this is a team, as I mentioned, that wasn't exactly constructed to dominate, but got lucky when the Red Sox pawned off Ramirez on the cheap and looked superb late in the season. On the bright side, at least they missed a terrific opportunity to replace Colletti.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

11-13-2008 @ 5:07PM

Martin said...

You need to quit being so pessimistic, as it's bad for your health. The Dodgers have a good, young, nucleus of players, namely Loney, Kemp, Ethier, Martin, DeWitt, Billingsley, Kershaw, Broxton, and McDonald, none of whom were paid more than $500,000 last year. This means the Dodgers have a lot of money to spend on the rest of the team. As for all of the people who may leave, they will give the Dodgers more money for free agents. Kent, Blake, and Garciaparra each earned about $10 million last year and if they leave, that's $30 million (which would more than cover C.C. Sabathia, for example). If Furcal leaves, that's another $15 million. And so on and so on. And LA, having made it to the playoffs, being managed by Joe Torre, and not being a god forsaken place like, for instance, Cleveland, is a place where free agents will like to play.
And if (and I admit that it's a big if) Saito, Jason Schmidt and/or Brad Penny return to form, that's just gravy.
Before Manny (is that abreviated BM?), the Dodgers were competitive (albeit in a very weak division) despite all of the injuries they had.
So although I agree that the team could look very different next year, the inexpensive nucleus of players that the Dodgers have should allow the Dodgers to get some good free agents and be very competitive next year, especially if they keep Colletti locked up in the attic with Andruw Jones.

11-13-2008 @ 6:16PM

dusto said...

Maybe its just me but Ned Colletti has set the Dodgers up to be the next 2008 Mariners of 2009. He'll get all the big names that can no longer play. Guys like Edgar Rentaria, Greg Maddux, Randy Johnson, Ray Durham, Joe Crede, and Perdo Martinez all come to mind.

Just a disaster waiting to happen.

11-13-2008 @ 6:45PM

Bruce said...

I agree the Dodgers have themselves in a difficult position.
Although you have some nice young players. You will never compete for a championship with this group.
I would trade Kemp who I believe alot of teams would be interested in. Make him the center piece of a trade for Adrian Beltre, or a quality starting pitcher.
They need to be willing to make some drastic moves and to spend some money if they expect to compete.
Manny is a great hitter, but unless they can sign him now they need to move on.

11-15-2008 @ 1:29PM

shadesof pastglory said...

its starting to be more and more clear that mc court just wants to pay ceap,well if thats the case then ive got a bunch of illegal ball players that will play for pesos not american money,and maybe his fricking profit margin will keep him and his family in their mansions ,while the fans that work hard for their money and we are the ones that flip the bill,so your so called half ass proposal is what it is just half ass,maybe you should sell the team mc court and get tf out of LA and sell it to someone who really wants to field a championship team ,and theway you get a winning team is you bring in some one who really impacts and is head and shoulders above anyone who is out there,little by little mc court you are killing the spirit of the true fans of the dodgers,and i for one will be in the cheap seats letting you know my descontent

12-15-2008 @ 11:27AM

buy new pc said...

I really apreciated this website! Thanks, This means the Dodgers have a lot of money to spend on the rest of the team. As for all of the people who may leave, they will give the Dodgers more money for free agents.

12-31-2008 @ 6:34AM

ViSalus said...

I would trade Kemp who I believe alot of teams would be interested in. Make him the center piece of a trade for Adrian Beltre, or a quality starting pitcher. I like your suggestions.