Now that I’ve just written that headline … I wonder if it is the right thing, considering that nearly every major move taken by Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti has gone so spectacularly wrong. I mean, it is possible for him to do anything right when his resume includes Andruw Jones, Jason Schmidt and Juan Pierre?
Maybe if we think of this as a not-quite-big move … then perhaps Ned can do the right thing.
The Dodgers traded two minor-leaguers and some cash to the Cleveland Indians today for Casey Blake, a third baseman formerly of the Cleveland Indians … and a guy whom they hope will give them some production from a corner infield position. (See the story here.)
Good call, Ned. At least, I’m pretty sure it is.
The Dodgers have been getting nothing from third base for the past month. Blake DeWitt had a decent start, then went fallow. (He has one RBI in three-plus weeks.) Andy LaRoche seems to demonstrate his inability to be a big-league regular with every game he plays at third. There was just nothing happening there, which is pretty much unacceptable, given that the Dodgers already have two automatic outs (Andruw Jones, the pitcher) in the lineup.
When punchless Juan Pierre plays, that’s a third open wound in the lineup. Well, and the Dodgers need help on offense.
Blake might be able to do that. He’s not Alex Rodriguez, but he’s averaged a homer every eight games or so, during his career, and an RBI every two games, and that qualifies him to hit, like, fifth for the Dodgers. Maybe even cleanup, on days Jeff Kent rests.
The two guys the Dodgers gave up: catcher Carlos Santana, who has been tearing up the Cal League, and right-hander Jon Meloan, who strikes out a lot of people but also hits a lot of bats; he was 5-10 this year with a 4.97 ERA at Las Vegas.
Santana … well, Russell Martin is gonna be the Dodgers’ catcher for a long time … and Meloan … the Dodgers have decent depth at starting pitcher. Though not so much if Clayton Kershaw turns into a bust.
Trading for Blake also makes more sense than dealing for a shortstop, because the guys available are pretty sketchy. David Eckstein, who I love but is fading, and malcontent Jack Wilson and … ?
The idea behind a shortstop would be to move Nomar Garciaparra back to third, presumably a little less tough for him than playing shortstop is. Nomar actually has looked good at shortstop, and he has been one of the Dodgers’ better hitters this month (.308 BA, 12 RBI, three homers).
Of course, if Nomar’s legs blow up, then the Dodgers are back to Angel Berroa or Pablo Ozuna at shortstop … and there could be issues.
Anyway, I like this trade. Blake can help the Dodgers immediately. Santana might have been a help in 3-4 years, and Meloan maybe never. Blake also comes with only a one-year contract, so it’s not as if the Dodgers are stuck with some long-term deal. (See: Pierre, Juan; Jones, Andruw.)
Good move, Ned. I’d like it even better if someone other than you had orchestrated it.
3 responses so far ↓
1 Char Ham // Jul 27, 2008 at 9:31 PM
As much as I liked Blake DeWitt (the last 3rd baseman I felt was influential was Ron Cey, and that says a lot), he still need seasoning in the minors, and is not ready for the pressure that last few months of the season. Hopefully Blake can contribute down the stretch. I would give DeWitt another season at least before keeping him full time in the “Show.”
2 Ryan // Jul 28, 2008 at 1:48 PM
This move is just as stupid as the rest of Ned’s moves. You have a catcher in Santana who could be one of the better catcher prospects in another year. Yes you have Martin as your catcher for years, but in a year or two Santana is the guy a blockbuster deal for a Sabathia that the deal is built around. WHy would you give away a guy like that for a 35 year old solid, but not spectacular player who’s a free agent after the year? On top of that you’re giving up Meloan who strikes out well over a batter per inning and whose numbers this year are more of a product of playing in the bandboxes in the PCL. One of these guys for Blake is a decent deal, but both is pure stupidity. What else should we expect from the Dodgers are this point though?
3 George Alfano // Jul 28, 2008 at 8:31 PM
It is not a good move on several levels.
First of all, they are getting Casey Blake for two months. DeWitt was reushed to the big leagues – that isn’t anybody’s fault because all of the third basemen got hurt. However, DeWitt can be a good third baseman, so they aren’t getting something in Blake that they won’t have pretty soon.
OK, let us say that this deal will help the Dodgers win the division. So what? This isn’t like when there were only two teams who made it to the World Series or four teams make the playoffs.
I don’t think the Dodgers can beat Arizona, but if they can, does anybody seriously think this team can win a pennant. The first round is a bit of a turkey shoot because it is five games, but the Dodgers aren’t going to win a seven-game series.
I have seen Carolos Santana. Don’t take my word that he is a great catching prospect, take the word of Peter Gammons, who said that on ESPN Sunday Night baseball. Santana is too good offensively for the Cal League, and the only reason he is still in A ball is because he is improving his defense. The change to the Carolina League may be an adjustment because he is a young Dominacan moving across the country, but he is a quality player. As for Russell Martin, catchers frequently get hurt so that isn’t the same thing as being set with a first baseman in the future. Also, Santana is a converted catcher and a switch hitter, so even if Martin is a fixture Santana may hit well enough so you would have to find a place for him as an outfielder or corner infielder. Meloan pitched very well in his last start.
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