Great pickup for the Dodgers. Didn’t have to give up anyone got a veteran 4th guy in the rotation. He was throwing at about 91 in the game footage below. It’s an all-star game, you’d think he’d be letting it all out, which worries me. He doesn’t have the deceptive delivery that most imports have. He may have to work on hiding the ball on his delivery, it’s kinda just out there for all to see what’s coming.
There are whispers that Hiroki Kuroda has chosen the Dodgers. According to Tony Jackson of the Daily News he’s on a flight to LA this morning and may be coming to put his pen to paper. This would be huge for the Dodgers. You would know have one of the best staffs in the NL with Lowe, Penny, Billingsley, Kuroda & Schmidt/Loiaza. If someone flames out you have the best minor league left hander in the business to bring up later in the season in Clayton Kershaw. This is a major move…Now the Dodgers can move Andre Eithier for a 3rd baseman or better yet move Juan Pierre for Joe Crede (reported in a chicago area paper yesterday). This move should help on another front…Get off of Frank McCourt’s back. The man spends money and is trying to bring a winning franchise to the Dodgers. Yes he switches people around too much, but it’s all in an effort to make the Dodgers better. To this point Ned Colletti has been checking his needs list and marking them off…Hopefully there’s a Crede for Pierre trade for Christmas!
In the wee hours of the night Dodgers GM Ned Colletti was finally getting the big bat he wanted. The Dodgers inked Andruw Jones to a 2 year $36 million deal. This is a win-win deal for Jones and the Dodgers. Andruw gets to raise his value (while getting paid well) for another run at free agency in 2 years, while the Dodgers get a gold glove center fielder and some thump in their lineup. The move will allow the Dodgers to hide Juan Pierre in left field, but at this point what good is he? With a surplus of outfielders the Dodgers will most likely move Andre Eithier for a 3rd baseman, I don’t believe there is a 3rd baseman out there that’s better then Matt Kemp. I would much rather have an outfield of Either, Jones, Kemp and ship Pierre out. Pay part of his contract whatever you have to do, you are better with Either over Pierre.
So the Dodgers patched up one of their holes and by doing so giving themselves a chip to fill the 3rd base hole. Ideally the Dodgers trade for Joe Crede (Eithier) and sign starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda. Otherwise Andy LaRoache and Kuroda would be fine. Overall I’m very happy the Dodgers added Andruw, hopefully more additions are on the way…
UPDATE: I found it very funny how much bashing Juan Pierre is taking in the Jones siging articles:
FoxSports:
“Light-hitting Juan Pierre, who had been in center field, could switch to left - potentially reducing playing time for Matt Kemp or Andre Ethier.”
LATimes:
“The Dodgers are expected to move weak-armed Juan Pierre to left field, leaving Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier for right.”