In Buster Olney’s latest blog entry on ESPN Insider, he has this about the Scott Rolen to the Dodgers rumors:
There is some speculation, within GM circles, that the Cardinals will look to trade Scott Rolen as soon as the team raises the white flag on their season, and Rolen would make sense for the Dodgers, in some respects. He would give L.A. a strong defensive presence at third base, plus some experience, and he could hit in the last four spots in the lineup and not be expected to be one of the main guys. The Cardinals clearly would have to eat a huge chunk of the salary owed to Rolen in the future — he will make $12 million a year for each of the next three years — but they could get a decent (but not great) prospect from the Dodgers.
To me, if the Dodgers wanted Rolen, he would almost have to be somewhere in the 3-5 range, most likely 4th where Kent is currently, just due to his power potential. Thinking back to what Grady has been doing this year, I would imagine something like this:
- Furcal
- Pierre
- Nomar
- Rolen
- Kent
- Gonzo
- Martin
- Ethier
- (pitcher)
What about this?
- Pierre
- Martin or Furcal
- Furcal or Martin
- Rolen
- Kent
- Nomar or Gonzo
- Gonzo or Nomar
- Ethier
- (pitcher)
Plus I’m not that convinced the Cards would be willing to eat salary if they weren’t getting some value in return, i.e. multiple prospects.
Previously on Trolley Dodger: “Rolen to the Dodgers?”
Vaguely related idle speculation: do Troy Glaus’s injury issues have to do with playing on artificial turf?
blueboy | 19-May-07 at 7:46 pm | Permalink
Why spend all that money on Rolen, plus give up a prospect? This makes no sense. Platooning LaRoche and Betemit seems OK. If the Dodgers are gonna spend money, why not spend it on ARod next year? Kent is in the final year of his deal, and Furcal will have one more to go. ARod should play at short, with Furcal moving to second. Rolen isn’t exactly the healthiest guy in the world, and the Dodgers have too many third base options. If the money is gonna be spent, why not spend it wisely?
Robert | 19-May-07 at 9:52 pm | Permalink
Yeah, I’m not so sure Rolen or Glaus, much less anybody else available is the right answer. Betemit and LaRoche deserve the chance to show what they can do.
Besides, if we wait until nearer the trading deadline, folks might be more apt to give up a player for “less.”
SoSG Orel | 20-May-07 at 2:19 pm | Permalink
With the Dodgers making more errors than a dyslexic CPA, they’re going to need someone whose glove complements his bat.
Robert | 20-May-07 at 4:59 pm | Permalink
Not to mention some more fielding practice.
As you pointed out over on SoSG, the Dodgers had more errors than runs this weekend. Gnarly.