Because I Can

Ned Colletti made the move today of getting rid of every Dodger named Duaner. Duaner Sanchez is now a Met, as is Steve Schmoll. The Mets must put a lot of stock in Jae Seo, because along with him, they also dumped Tim Hamulack. Hamulack persisted for 10 years trying to make the majors, and finally did this year, giving up 6 runs in 6 appearances in a total of 2.1 innings pitched in the majors. Rightfully so for Seo, though; in his 14 starts, he went 8-2 with a 2.59 ERA, pitching a little over 90 innings. He could easily last over 180 innings for the Dodgers, puttin less strain on the bullpen, and actually win games, giving Eric Gagne something to do.

Sanchez will be missed, as he and Brazoban would easily be great setup men or fill-ins for Gagne, which is important with the way their starting pitchers go. He also will probably improve and be a great setup man for Wagner. Schmoll is young enough that he will likely improve a bit as well, and while he didn't do too bad, he did have an ERA over 5 last season.

Seo gives the Dodgers a complete starting lineup without having to rely on rookies that are not yet prepared, which is important for the organization. Edwin Jackson can master the minors a bit more before he comes up (which will be the next time Brad Penny gets injured), and he and Houlton can drastically improve then. The Dodgers also protected in this move secret weapons in the minors that they have yet to call up to the Major Leagues, which represent their future. Schmoll will be getting plenty of major league experience, though, as the Dodgers will need to use someone in their bullpen.

So let's recap the lineup. The Dodgers starting pitchers currently look like they'll be
Lowe
Penny
Perez
Seo
Tomko

and the bullpen will be
Gagne (Closer)
Brazoban
Broxton
Hamulack
a couple others

Their opening day position players as of today will be, in order of expected batting apperance
Shortstop Raphael Furcal
Center Field Kenny Lofton
Right Field JD Drew
Second Base Jeff Kent
First Base Nomar Garciaparra
Third Base Bill Mueller
Left Field Jose Cruz
Catcher Dioner Navarro

So with a 5 man starting rotation, 6 or 7 in the bullpen, and 8 starting position players, that leaves 5 or 6 bench players for opening day. These are my predictions
Hee Seop Choi
Jayson Werth
Willy Aybar
Ricky Ledee
Sandy Alomar
Olmedo Saenz or Oscar Robles

When Izturis gets back, assuming no infield or outfield injuries, Kent goes to 1st, Nomar goes to left, and Ledee goes to the Minors since Cruz will not be the 4th outfielder.

Kudos, Ned. It almost looked like he went on vacation, then he comes back and boom, an unexpected deal that gives the Dodgers a starting pitcher that's 14 years younger than David Wells. Let the Padres have him. The Dodgers can wait to deal Perez until after Jackson and Houlton, or some of their other young prospects are ready. Sure he's a lefty with a good arm, but he's also 43. I would expect him to last a little while longer, but the fact that he's talked to the Padres about a position with the organization after his playing career seems to exhibit that he's thinking he's near done. Besides, the Dodgers' pitching prospects are getting there, and LA might even be lucky with a non-roster invitee, a la Jose Lima 2004.

Weaver is a "long shot", as the Dodgers have made the smart move of assuming players that have Scott Boras as an agent want to be somewhere else. In fact, that seems to indicate why LA would even make the move to get Seo (who will be making a good bit under a million dollars, actually). But he would be nice to have again, given how dependable he's been for LA. That's not to mention what the Dodgers would be able to do with 6 dependable starting pitchers (like trade one).

Labels: Dodgers