Dodgers looking at Dunn

December 29, 2008   ·   Paul Raymond   ·   Jump to comments

Look what we have here, the big market Los Angeles Dodgers have decided to start talking to free agent players. Of course they waited for the big ticket items to go and are now concentrating on the second tier guys. Multiple sources are linking to the Dodgers to outfielder Adam Dunn and others have mentioned former New York Yankee Bobby Abreu. There’s a rumored Andruw Jones trade and a few other veteran pitchers. Let’s take a look at all of these, specifically Adam Dunn.

According to ESPN’s Jayson Stark the Dodgers contacted the agents of Adam Dunn during the holiday. This could be a good scenario for both parties. The Dodgers sorely need a power bat in their lineup and that is definitely something Dunn can provide. He’s hit 40 homers each of the last four seasons, which is exactly how long its been since the Dodgers have done so. Last time being Adrian Beltre in 2004. For Dunn, he’d get to play for a well liked players manager in Joe Torre and get to contribute to a playoff contender.

Dunn has received interest from quite a few teams over the past couple weeks. Notably the Chicago Cubs, Washington Nationals, Seattle Mariners, Milwaukee Brewers and the Baltimore Orioles. Stark mentions that the Cubbies have been Dunn’s first choice all along, but could that change now with the Dodgers involved? A signing of Dunn would also benefit the Dodgers in the fact that they would not have to give up a draft pick, as the Arizona Diamondbacks didn’t offer him arbitration. If Dunn his signed to a deal look for a trade to happen with either Andruw Jones or Juan Pierre.

Ken Gurnick at MLB.com mentions Bobby Abreu as another possibility. Abreu is a player that manager Joe Torre knows well from their days in New York. Abreu enjoyed his time with Torre and I’d have no doubts that he’d go back and play for him if given a chance. His patience at the plate is also something the Dodgers could desperately use as the current roster tends to be free swinging. If either Abreu or the forementioned Dunn are signed to a deal it will all but guarantee that Manny Ramirez will not be returning to Hollywood.

When it comes to the trade front there is a huge rumor brewing. Buster Olney reports that the New York Mets and Dodgers are talking about an Andruw Jones swap. The thinking here is that the Dodgers are looking to dump salary and the Mets would like another veteran outfielder. Would the Mets take Jones? Yea, on certain terms. They’d obviously look for the Dodgers to pay almost all of the insane $15 million he’s due this season. Would the Dodgers do that? Not a chance, they’ve already turned down other offers because that’s what every team is demanding. Olney suggests one way to make a deal work would be for the Mets to send Luis Castillo the LA and in return they’d request less cash from the Dodgers. I’d say that only happens if the Dodgers are desperate to dump Jones, as they already have a second baseman and Castillo is owed $18 million over the next three seasons. If this deal happens I’d be shocked.

Now to the pitching options. Gurnick mentions veterans Jon Garland and Randy Wolf as possibilities. Wolf was his usual self in Houston last year with a mid four era. Nothing to blow you away, but solid enough to keep his team in the game. The plus side in a move would be he’s always pitched well at Dodgers Stadium. Garland presents an interesting scenario, his era is usually mid four range just like Wolf, but he’s a pitcher who could possibly benefit from the spacious Dodgers Stadium. He has a career 1.28 GO/AO ratio, last year it ballooned to a 1.71. What is GO/AO? It’s the ground ball to fly ball ratio for a pitcher, so basically Garland gets a lot more ground outs then he does fly outs. Garland’s problem is a good amount of his fly balls leave the park, going to a big park in LA could help keep those balls in the park.

The Dodgers have been busy today and they need to be. The National League West is going to be improved next year with the stock piling of arms in San Francisco. The Dodgers may have won the division and made the playoffs but that was more due to Manny Ramirez. Taking him out of the lineup makes this a struggling team that will have to fight, so any moves to add players is beneficial.

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