The Trolley Dodger

The Marlins have put infielder Jose Castillo on waivers. He’s got stellar defense and is cheap, having signed a $650,000 contract with the Marlins to compete with Jorge Cantu for Miguel Cabrera’s old 3B position. He wouldn’t need to step in and drive the entire offense, just keep things together until Andy LaRoche gets healthy. Plus he could spell Jeff Kent at 2B.

Ignoring last year when the Pirates futzed with him, his stats seem decent enough for the price.

Do the Dodgers wait out the 72-hour waiver to see if the Marlins drop him, or do they work out a trade to make sure they get him? Do they even want him?

Update: So much for that: “Giants Claim Jose Castillo”

It’s been a weird few days in Dodger land. First off, of course, Joe Torre is still our manager — I keep forgetting, then I remember and utter a Keanu-like “Whoa.” But even stranger were the MLB headlines the past couple of days, where you could see simultaneously:

• Eric Gagne signs with Brewers.
• Milton Bradley signs with Rangers.
• Paul Lo Duca signs with Nationals.
• Randy Wolf signs with Padres.
• Andruw Jones signs with Dodgers.

Surreal.

The latest news is Jeff Kent finally got around to telling the Dodgers he was coming back. Oh, and we might have won the Hiroki Kuroda sweepstakes, according to various media reports. My favorite is Tony Jackson’s “Kuroda update: He’s leaving on a jet plane”,

A non-stop flight from Tokyo to Los Angeles, to be exact, and due to land at LAX at 9:30 tomorrow morning, from what I understand. That could mean one of two things. One, that he changed his mind yet again and decided to go ahead with his recruiting trip to Seattle and Los Angeles. Or, more likely, that he has decided to sign with the Dodgers. Sounds like this is really close to happening.

It’s funny — despite Andruw Jones’s “down year”, his 26 homers are still better than anybody else on the 2007 Dodgers.

And with today’s news that the Braves are cutting ties with him, the Dodgers Hot Stove has already begun to shine. :)

Isn’t it weird that no one has picked up Brady Clark yet? The Dodgers released him on June 20th, and while he wasn’t necessarily having a great season (he only had 58 at-bats), I can’t imagine someone doesn’t need a fourth outfielder.

Actually, I’m rather surprised the Mets haven’t swooped in to grab another ex-Dodger. ;)

UPDATE Well, not the Mets, but the other team snapping up former Dodgers. According to MLB Trade Rumors, “Red Sox Sign Brady Clark”

The news came today on MetsBlog (via DodgerThoughts) that the Mets have picked up Marlon Anderson, continuing their increasingly creepy stalking of former Dodger players. Granted, Marlon used to be on the Mets, but seriously.

Former Dodgers on the Mets 40-Man Roster currently:

• Guilliermo Mota
• Aaron Sele
• Sandy Alomar Jr
• Paul Lo Duca
• Jose Valentin
• Shawn Green
• Pedro Martinez (sigh)
• Duaner Sanchez

Former Dodgers and Dodger coaches on staff:

• Willie Randolph, manager
• Guy Conti, bullpen coach
• Rickey Henderson, hitting first-base coach

Marlon Anderson signed a minor-league deal and is headed to the New Orleans Zephyrs, who include these former Dodgers:

• Mark Brewer, pitching coach
• Steve Schmoll, pitcher
• Jesus Feliciano, OF (drafted by LA in 1997)

They even have a minor-league affiliate in Brooklyn! Will the stalking never stop?!

Former Mets on the Dodgers 40-Man?

• Tim Hamulack
• Jeff Kent

;)

UPDATE: Thanks to this Mets Today post for reminding me that the design for CitiField, the new Mets stadium, is based on Ebbets Field.

This is turning into Single White Female!