I couldn't have imagined the offseason going as it has. I really thought Sabathia was above taking a boatload of cash to head to the evil empire. I was wrong. I also thought the dodgers and Manny were a match made in some strange hell. I think I'm still right on that. So, a lot of Boras clients are having trouble with the market Boras thought he could establish for them because he scared skiddish owners away from even talking to him. The dodgers are a beneficiary of some crazy luck in regards to this with Manny Ramirez. If the dodgers were smart and the McCourts opened up their wallet a little more, they could be the team to beat just by bailing out Boras a bit. Here's my evil plan.
The dodgers coax out a quicker resolution with Manny at 2 years 46 million with a 3'rd year team option for another 23 in exchange for some true bidding on the dodgers part for Boras client Derek Lowe. Derek, Boras, and the dodgers all know Derek hates L.A (really bad infield defenses coupled with worse offense will kill the numbers of a pitcher even as talented as Lowe is). Dodgers would love to have him back (it's the truth). Lowe would float it out there that he would reconsider the dodgers if the price were right. Dodgers proceed to get "serious" in negotiations for Lowe. Numbers get floated to the press. All of a sudden New York mets fans are sounding as impatient as a lot of dodger fans are right now about Manny. The hot stove pressure cooker squeezes a few more million a year (I think he deserves it myself) out of the Mets and it's a win-win for everyone (except maybe Oliver Perez).
What if the plan fails and the mets just work out something with Oliver Perez instead? Well, that's still a win-win as far as the dodgers are concerned. They can still afford Lowe. Their payroll is still under last year's. Jeff Kent (9 mill) Nomar (8.5 million) Lowe (10 mill) Penny (8.5 mill) all came off the books. They even saved money re-signing Furcal (about 3 a year). They're 39 million under where they were last year in terms of just FA leaving. 23 million to Manny still leaves 14-15 million to give to Lowe easily. That would wrap up the dodgers offseason and leave it with a rotation of:
Lowe
Billingsley
Kuroda
Kershaw
McDonald/Stults/Elbert/Kuo/Circus Vargas/NRI
the lineup will look decent with:
Furcal ss
Martin c
Ethier rf
Manny lf
Kemp cf
Loney 1b
Blake 3b
DeWitt 2b
The lineup is just hard to predict because guys like Kemp, Ethier, and Loney aren't really clearly defined as hitters yet and all saw time hitting ahead of Manny or as #3-4-or5 hitters. Torre moved the kids all over the place and I don't see why he wouldn't do that this year until someone breaks out and goes on a streak that becomes the new "them" as a hitter.
There's a lot improved about that new team. DeWitt full time at second owns Kent and his very limited range. A healthy Furcal covers a lot of ground (but then throws a few away with that rifle of his). I'm mixed on my take on Blake's defense but you have to figure what Blake can't get to to his left, Furcal will get to his right. Loney has good defense over at first. Maybe Martin will play more within himself this season and his defense will go back to what it used to be, especially with throwing out baserunners. Hate to say this but if Torre falls out of love with Blake DeWitt, at least they have Loretta there as a backup as they go through the usual suspects...I mean prospect middle infielders. Hard to say how DeWitt is going to turn out as he didn't show any power, but then again he was hardly pitched to in the number 8 hole. He dutifully took his walks most of the time.
The outfield may be in a bit of transition, so it might even out. Kemp doesn't look totally comfortable in center, but he's going to have to play there the majority of the time under this scenario and will most likely get better. Ethier has gunned down enough people to have a rep to not run on him. Jones should solidly improve the outfield defense when Kemp, Ethier, or Manny are on a day off. Pierre is alright in center but you have to worry about people running on his arm. Both kids will lose a day or so a week to Pierre and Jones. I'm sure Manny will love that the surplus of outfielders gives him a great excuse to rest his knees at least once or twice a week as well. That just might work out except for the fact that without Manny this team offensively isn't much to be scared of until one or two of the kids breaks out. The defense should be alright. Manny didn't look that bad in left at dodger stadium. I think his defense is ever so slightly underrated because he plays defense smart despite being extremely slow.
Wow. I spent way too much time pondering a pretend team.
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