So a popular question lately has been: “What the hell happened to Shohei Otani?” In short? Nothing, because despite whatever speculation there had been about MLB teams technically having no need to respect NPB exclusivity rights, like I said in a previous post about the situation, I see no upside for an MLB team to just barge in and violate ... Read More »
Luis Cruz I can safely say that I’m not the only one who had no idea who Luis Cruz was at the outset of the 2012 season. By the end of it, the once unknown 28-year-old journeyman had become a cult hero in Los Angeles. Heading into 2013, it appears he’ll not only hold down a roster spot, but be the ... Read More »
The Dodgers officially announced the hiring of Mark McGwire as hitting coach, replacing Dave Hansen. McGwire spent the past three years with the Cardinals as their hitting coach. Under his tutelage, the Cards offense was top-five in OBP in each of his seasons at the offensive helm, leading all of baseball last year. McGwire has stated that his philosophy includes ... Read More »
Brandon League has signed a three-year, $22.5 million deal with the Dodgers, according to MLB.com and … everybody. The Dodgers re-signed reliever Brandon League to a three-year contract for $22.5 million Tuesday, and general manager Ned Colletti said the right-hander will be the closer. MLB Trade Rumors provides further information on the option. 10:24pm: The 2016 vesting option can escalate ... Read More »
I didn’t like the Brandon League trade at the time it was executed, primarily because the effect that a reliever can have in such a short time period is both volatile and minimal. That dislike for the deal grew to mockery when he got off to a horrid start, but after the Dodgers said they fixed his mechanics (and I ... Read More »
The Dodgers have hired Gerry Hunsicker to be the Senior Advisor of Baseball Operations, according to an official release from the team. LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers today hired Gerry Hunsicker as Senior Advisor, Baseball Operations. Dodger General Manager Ned Colletti made the announcement. “Gerry brings a wealth of senior level experience and knowledge that will assist baseball ... Read More »
The Dodgers have announced that all members of the 2012 coaching staff will return in 2013 with the lone exception being hitting coach Dave Hansen, whom the club has parted ways with after he spent just over a season in the position. While it’s true that this squad was fairly terrible offensively for most of the season, I can’t and ... Read More »
I previously complimented (sorta) Ned Colletti for potentially taking a sabermetric stance on the issue of Andre Ethier hitting against lefties, but after reading the rest of the interview with Barry Bloom of MLB.com, perhaps I spoke too soon. MLB.com: Do you think there has been enough time for all these parts to fit together? Colletti: What guys have been ... Read More »
Barry Bloom of MLB.com revealed through an interview that Ned Colletti and the Dodger coaching staff got into a bit of an argument after Tuesday’s 2-1 loss to the Padres. MLB.com: So there was a little blowup in the clubhouse after Tuesday night’s loss here. We heard that was you. Colletti: I had a passionate exchange in the coach’s room. ... Read More »
Chad delved into it further here, but the Dodgers have retained the services of Ned Colletti with a multi-year extension. They have also let it be known that Don Mattingly won’t be going anywhere. Mattingly I can live with (but please, for the love of every God ever worshiped, stop bunting, especially with A.J. Ellis), though my preference has always ... Read More »
Both Ned Colletti and Don Mattingly will return to the Dodgers in 2013. Colletti’s extension is according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, though no details have been released yet. Dodgers GM Ned Colletti and the team have a new deal to keep Colletti in the role he’s held since late 2005, CBSSports.com has learned. Colletti’s contract called for mutual ... Read More »
Don Mattingly will “likely” be retained by the Dodgers no matter how they finish the season, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. How about Sciosica to the Dodgers, Don Mattingly to the Yankees? Fun to think about, but extremely unlikely. The Dodgers are negotiating a contract extension with GM Ned Colletti and likely will do the same with Mattingly ... Read More »
In March, I wrote that international spending needs to be a priority for the new owners, referencing the Dodgers disappearing presence on the international stage and also their lack of draft spending. Well, so far, so good. From 2007 to 2011, the Dodgers draft budget ranked 26th in the league, which is incomprehensibly low for a team that was still ... Read More »
In a surprising move late yesterday, the Dodgers traded prospects Leon Landry and Logan Bawcom to the Mariners for Brandon League. League, 29, is owed approximately $1.8MM for the rest of the season before becoming a free agent this winter. He’s pitched to a 3.63 ERA with 5.4 K/9 and 3.8 BB/9 in 44 2/3 innings this year, plus his ... Read More »
GM Ned Colletti says the Dodgers are far from done after landing Hanley Ramirez, as they still want a starter and a bat. The Dodgers landed the middle-of-the-order bat they’ve been looking for in Hanley Ramirez, but general manager Ned Colletti on Wednesday said he’s still looking for a starting pitcher and another hitter. “We’re still hunting for starting pitching. ... Read More »
Chad Moriyama Dodgers, Sabermetrics, Scouting