Atlanta Braves Still Seeing Events Worth A Closer Look
Dodger Fans Are A Little Happier – 2nd Base is Resolved
It’s hard to figure exactly what the Dodgers have been doing this off-season – most folks who have rated their efforts have put them in the “losers” camp. But at this point they have at least made sure that their needs have been addressed… one way or another. And in Kendrick, they actually got a great deal.
Now the question becomes this: what to do with the extra infielders on the Dodger roster? Here’s their situation:
- STARTERS: Adrian Gonzalez, Howie Kendrick, uber prospect Corey Seager, and…not sure who’s playing third base yet until Justin Turner rehabs his bum left knee (microfracture procedure).
- BENCH: A.J. Ellis, Enrique Hernandez, Chase Utley, Scott Van Slyke, and Carl Crawford (whose presence depends on whether he or Andre Ethier is starting in LF).
- ODD MEN OUT: Micah Johnson or Alexander Guerrero
More from Tomahawk Take
- Atlanta Braves 2012 Prospect Review: Joey Terdoslavich
- Braves News: Braves sign Fuentes, Andruw’s HOF candidacy, more
- The Weakest Braves Homers Since 2015
- Atlanta Braves Sign Joshua Fuentes to Minor League Deal
- Braves News: New Year’s Eve comes with several questions about the 2023 Braves
Guerrero has been the one oft speculated about, though if the Dodgers could have moved him – either to AAA or to another club – then they already would have done so. Johnson is probably the one they’d like to keep – having just acquired the second baseman in December and seeing his excellent numbers from AA and AAA.
But About Guerrero? Stop me if you’d heard this one before: a 29-year-old below-average 2B/3B/OF defector from Cuban who has some power. Oh, you have? Okay… so why would the Braves want a third one of these players?
I don’t think so – but somebody always seems to fall in love with players we don’t have.
And then there’s the contract thing. By now you are probably aware of that sticky bit, but we’ll look again anyway. This was either one of the most brilliant negotiating clauses ever… or one of the dumbest. Guerrero cannot be shuttled to the minors without his permission. Thus LA is forced to use up a 25-man slot for him… and they have no place for him to play (depending on Turner’s knee).
Not only that, but they’ve still got 2 years on his deal. The $10 million due isn’t a big deal, but he isn’t getting a lot of consistent playing time, and that’s exactly what he needs to have a chance to get better.
While there are some who think that Atlanta could use Guerrero, I am not in that camp. The “no-minors” clause would have to be negotiated away… and that could be expensive (more money or another year on the deal – something like that). Add his age, his defensive skill, and his strikeout rates… it just doesn’t add up for Atlanta.
It’s LA’s problem, and should probably remain with them.
Next: A Rocky Mountain Headache