Being the GM: 2009 Los Angeles Dodgers

November 6, 2008

Being the GM: 2009 Los Angeles Dodgers

11 Comments

By Evan

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Manny Ramirez - Naked Eyes

This series is predicated on educated guesses, past history of the team/general manager, rumors that have been out there for a while, and actions that I feel could be taken. This exercise is me playing GM to inspire conversation and a new way of approaching things. Moves that I complete as previous GMs of teams will carry over here. Trades only include principal, significant players.

The Los Angeles Dodgers weren't supposed to make the postseason. That is, until the Braided Hero, Manny Ramirez, arrived in the wild West. A national story later, the Dodgers were destined for the World Series, certainly after razing over the Cubs. A Phillie attack stopped that, so what will the Dodgers do in the face of a payroll slash needed?

Los Angeles Dodgers sign Craig Counsell, resign Nomar Garciaparra.

Jeff Kent is retiring, so the Dodgers need a second baseman, perhaps even a third baseman. In this scenario, they need both. Thus, they bring in both Counsell and Garciaparra and have them compete with Blake DeWitt for the starting/backup role at second. Nomar has the potential to see a lot of at-bats in the infield as a roving utilityman.

Los Angeles Dodgers sign Joe Crede.

Crede, the starting third-baseman for the White Sox these last several years, is a free agent who has back problems. After losing Casey Blake, Rafael Furcal and Andre Ethier (yep, keep reading), the Dodgers will need to take the flyer and take the risk. Hence the second baseman depth, so if Crede gets hurt, DeWitt can move there.

Los Angeles Dodgers resign Chan Ho Park.

Should be a no-brainer. He's had success with the Dodgers and can fill in as starter in a pinch.

Los Angeles Dodgers sign David Eckstein.

Upon Furcal departing for Kansas City, the Dodgers will lure Eckstein from the bidding war for second basemen (with Orlando Hudson headed to the Yankees) by promising him to play shortstop. Grit™ lives!

Los Angeles Dodgers sign Pedro Martinez.

Righting a wrong, the Dodgers bring Pedro back to Los Angeles for his swan song, a public relations answer to the bad PR so far. Pedro still claims he has enough left in the tank, and the Dodgers should be inclined to give him that opportunity.

Los Angeles Dodgers trade Andre Ethier for Andy Sonnastine, Chad Bradford.

(And likely a prospect to LA, too.) The Dodgers have a glut of outfielders and simply cannot sustain an Andruw Jones/Juan Pierre moneyhole occupying the fourth and fifth outfielder's slot. It's Coletti's own fault, but he's forced to have Jones and Pierre compete for the center field spot while shoring up another major, more pressing need: starting pitcher.

"Sonny" is the victim of a roster crunch in Tampa, where the club needs to move David Price into the rotation and also has Jacob McGee, Wade Davis and others in waiting. He'll head west along with Bradford, a ground-balling, sumbarine reliever imported from Baltimore for the stretch run by Tampa, but never likely to eat his entire salary.

Los Angeles Dodgers resign Manny Ramirez.

It would be a public relations nightmare. Simply that process will spur the Dodgers to earn just that one extra year and just that little extra price that keeps Manny in Dodger blue.

Coletti's going to have to start forcing his hand on some of the mistakes he's made, which either bodes well (if you're in the live and learn camp) or badly (if he keeps repeating the mistakes).

Either way, if he does the imaginary move of Ethier for Sonnastine and Bradford, it will shore up a rotation missing Greg Maddux (Giants) and Derek Lowe. A lot of punch will be lost from Jeff Kent, Rafael Furcal and Casey Blake, but Crede can hopefully make it up and the improvement in pitching will allow it to stay steady at pitching. It comes with an offensive tradeoff, but Manny helps settle that. They'd compete.

BEING THE GM SERIES
*if no link, check back soon for the coverage of the team!

AL EAST	NL EAST
BAL	ATL
BOS	FLA
NYY	NYM
TB	PHI
TOR	WAS
AL CENTRAL	NL CENTRAL
CLE	CHC
CHW	CIN
DET	HOU
KC	MIL
MIN	PIT
	STL
AL WEST	NL WEST
LAA	ARI
OAK	COL
TEX	LAD
SEA	SD
	SF

Tags: Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB

Discussion

11 Comments on "Being the GM: 2009 Los Angeles Dodgers"

Posted by Dusto, November 7, 2008 2:24 PM

You're an idiot.

Posted by John in reply to comment from Dusto, November 9, 2008 2:22 PM

Yes you are an idiot. Please just close shop on this site. You fail at being GM

Posted by Evan, November 9, 2008 6:56 PM

Great job furthering the conversation, guys. Feel better about yourselves now?

Grow up. If you have nothing constructive to say, don't waste your time. I guarantee you 100 percent I know more about baseball than you.

Posted by Table, November 9, 2008 7:10 PM

Sorry Evan, I think these are terrible Ideas. Both Nomar and Pedro have serious injury problems. Both Counsell and Eckstein are extemely light hitting infielders that are getting up there in years. Even If signing players like that might work for 09, they certainly wouldn't work out beyond. Do you think all of those players can be lured by one year deals? I don't think so. I definitely agree with the Joe Crede Idea but only on a one year deal. You aught to include info on salary and years of the contracts. That is if you really want to be GM like. I don't like the Ethier to Tampa deal at all. Kemp would have to play right, Pierre and Jones would be in center, I guess Young could factor in. Sorry, I don't dig your plan.

Posted by Table, November 9, 2008 7:19 PM

First off I see us doing our best to get one or two of Manny, CC, and Furcal. After that things should start to evolve. If we can't get CC, we will likely go after one of Sheets/Lowe/Burnnet. I don't think we should sign any of the mediocre mid level starters. Rather, I would bring in Veteran starters to one year deals. Pedro could be one, Randy Johnson would be better, also Maddux could work, but none of these should be our plan A, just additions. One issue is who would lead off if we sign Manny but not Furcal. Kemp could work, but the like of Hu and Dejesus aren't ready. I don't believe Jones should be traded if it means getting someone like Luis Castillo in return. But if we sign Manny Pierre must be traded for something, anything.I think trading for Beltre should be investigated. But only if Crede or Blake can not be had for one year deals. Dewitt could be our starter at third, but only if other wholes are filled first. The Dodgers can afford both Manny and CC

Posted by duke, November 10, 2008 1:23 AM

If the Dodger are going to go with a lack of production at short and second by signing Counsell and Eckstein, they would be better served to go with Hu or DeJesus at short and Dewitt at second. Agree with trying Crede at third. If they make the trade with Tampa Bay, they should also trade Pierre, Stults and cash to Cincy for Bronson Arroyo. Sign Raul Ibanez and make Jones th fourth outfielder.

Posted by Evan, November 10, 2008 3:36 PM

Table,

Randy Johnson would be a very intriguing start. The Diamondbacks apparently have huge money issues, so the Dodgers could theoretically sneak in. It'd bea good move on their part.

I disagree that the Dodgers can afford both Manny and CC. Frank McCourt made it clear to Ned that the Dodgers could not take on payroll, which makes it all that more impressive he was able to swing Manny and Casey Blake.

As for salary terms, Pedro, Eck, Counsell, Crede, Nomar would all be on one year pacts.

Posted by Kyle, November 14, 2008 2:38 PM

Signing Eckstein is a horrible idea. Grit or not, he's a horrible fielder and a bad hitter. If the Dodgers REALLY feel like they can't sign Furcal to a 3 year deal, they're better off chasing Renteria on a 1 or 2 year deal in hopes of him returning to his 2007 NL numbers. As for Ethier to the Rays, there would be a better return than a league average 25 year old and a 34 year old reliever.

Posted by cltdodgers, November 14, 2008 4:15 PM

There is so much to dislike about Evan's plan: signing Counsell, Eckstein, Crede, and Martinez, then trading Ethier will assure the Dodgers being also-rans in 2009. Here are my thoughts:

Resign Furcal, Blake, and Beimel. Trade Pierre to the Whitesox for Konerko; move Loney to leftfield for one year (Lambo is the leftfielder in 2010); trade Xavier Paul, Hu, MacDonald, and Elbert for Peavy; Dewitt stays at second or use him in a package for Brian Roberts. DeJesus plays at AAA for one year then replaces Roberts. Sign Garciaparra and Jose Vidro (minimum contracts) as utility players and pinch hitters. Pay most of Andru Jones' salary and see if another team will pick him up. Sign a couple B level pitchers to fill out the staff (or consider a couple of the available pitchers from the Nippon league) Still have your core team in tact, you will remain competitive in the West, and you will have 5 or 6 picks in the first 40 selections of the June 2009 draft.

#10

Posted by FuckThisWebsite, November 17, 2008 11:44 AM

I literally wanted to punch a child when I read this. The team you suggest the Dodgers put on the field next year would be a lock to lose 100 games. Kill yousrelf, thank you.

#11

Posted by Arjewtino, November 17, 2008 2:27 PM

How do you "right a wrong" by bringing back Pedro?

Unless you're Marty McFly, leave the future-HOFer-but-now-a-mediocre-pitcher in the Dodger dustbin of what might have been.