A young 3B available???

[berneree]

This was on MLB.com and I know it is an outsider just commenting on what the Dodgers in an ideal situation would like to do. I would love to try Beltre in Detroit though. He has had 2 very bad years OBP wise, but he is just turning 25, and has shown to be able to have a .360+ OBP in the majors and all over the minors.


Los Angeles Dodgers

Wish list: They'd love to add a bat like Jeff Kent, but the Dodgers don't have a lot of salary room to work with, if any. They also could use a power-hitting corner infielder, but the Dodgers would have to unload first baseman Eric Karros or third baseman Adrian Beltre to make that happen.


http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/news/mlb_news.jsp?ymd=20021105&content_id=171129&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp

Stats (http://www.forecaster.ca/thestar/baseball/player.cgi?1597)

[MotownRandy]

I've thought about this before and heard rumors about it. I would approve of a deal for Adrian Beltre, but I'm not sure who to give up for him. Since they want a powerhitting corner infielder we could give them Dmitri Young...I'd wouldn't mind acquiring one of their starting pitchers either.

[zachcadillac]

Problem is, we don't have a power-hitting corner IF to give up.

[Cult of Guillen]

Eric Munson projects to have very good power. Plus, he'd be a nice fit within the Dodger's high payroll. Then they could move Karros to a team like the Braves or A's, picking up part of his salary in the process.

Munson, Hannahan and Paquette (make them eat his salary) for Beltre? I'd jump at that chance. Beltre is still very young and should be a very good 3B.

[Shaggy Ry]

What does Beltre's salary look like? This would be a guy I'd be interested in as well - however why would the Dodgers make him available? Do they have a hot shot rookie ready to fill in? Beltre is the same age as Munson nad has 3+ years of major league experience and has to be a better defensive player. If they want corner power, the best we could offer would be Dmitri Young and Eric Munson for Eric Karros and Adrian Beltre - Karros would be more willing to DH and should have less years left on his deal.

[Ranger]

Salary for 2002:
Adrian Beltre - $2,800,000
Eric Karros - $6,875,000

-Beltre is arbitration eligible in 2003.
-Karros's contract for 2003 goes up to $8 mil then in 2004 there is a team option $9 mill or $1 mill buyout.

2002 Season:
Beltre: .257 BA/.303 OBP/.426 SLG/.729 OPS
Karros: .271 BA/.323 OBP/.399 SLG/.722 OPS

Career:
Beltre: .267 BA/.327 OBP/.426 SLG/.756 OPS
Karros: .269 BA/.325 OBP/.457 SLG/.782 OPS

I rather stick with Munson at 3rd and stay away from Karros. I'll be willing to bet anyone Munson put up the same or higher BA than Beltre and have a significantly higher OBP than Beltre. Munson has always shown good plate patience.

Munson 2002 Toledo Numbers: .262 BA/.367 OBP/.493 SLG

Maybe Fields can get through to Munson like he did the second half of last season and keep his hot bat through 162 games and if Munson continues that kind of plate discipline, it's well worth it.

He could be a surprise. As for defense, Beltre is no gold glover... 20 errors in 154 games started at 3B. Beltre is just a little better than Dean Palmer. I'm sure Munson could be too.

It either Lowell or Blalock or Munson for me.

[cedar]

Good post Ranger. Why over pay for the same or worse production?

[berneree]

We definitely need to stay away from Karros, let alone any other 1B or DH type. But I believe Beltre would be a major upgrade at 3B. Even though his numbers over the past 2 seasons were around average, his first 2 seasons were way above average. He had a .360 OBP and a .352 in those 2 seasons, with decent power.

NOTE: thru 2001 statistics.
Beltres career fielding percentage is around .940, while Deanos is around .935. Mediocre. In comparison, Rolen is at .964, Lowell is .974, and Chavez is .963.

Thus, your comparison of Beltre vs. Deano is right on. As for Munson, I see about 30 errors coming next season, which will be a fielding % around .900. But the big question that DD is willing to gamble on is whether he can maintain his .360 OBP at the major league level next season. I think he can, if they stick with him thru the entire season.

IN THE END, MY CONCLUSION IS DON'T TRADE FOR BELTRE, UNLESS WE CAN GET HIM FOR EASLEY (LOL). We already have someone like him in Munson who is much cheaper. Although, I truly believe Beltre will bust out with 30/100/.300 next season and make me an idiot. BELTRE HAS MUCH MORE TALENT THAN MUNSON, he has just taken 2 seasons off.

[MotownRandy]

Dodgers decline option on Chad Kreuter
November 11, 2002


LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The Los Angeles Dodgers have declined their option on Chad Kreuter, opting to pay the 38-year-old switch-hitting catcher a $300,000 buyout rather than a $1.2 million salary next season.
Kreuter, a backup to Paul Lo Duca, played in 41 games last season, hitting .263 with two homers and 12 RBIs. The Dodgers were required to make a decision on their option on Kreuter within 15 days after the final game of the World Series.

Kreuter played in three seasons with the Dodgers, hitting .264 with six homers and 28 RBIs in 80 games in 2000 and .215 with six homers and 17 RBIs in 73 games in 2001.

He made his big league debut with Texas in 1988 and has also played for Detroit, Seattle, the Chicago White Sox, Anaheim and Kansas City. He signed as a free agent with the Dodgers on Jan. 20, 2000.

Maybe the Dodgers will need a back up catcher now. We could use Inge or Rivera in a package to acquire Beltre.

[Ranger]

Originally posted by MotownRandy
Maybe the Dodgers will need a back up catcher now. We could use Inge or Rivera in a package to acquire Beltre.
I hope you're not serious...

[jake]

The Tigers may sign Wilton Veras (pure speculation). He's playing winter ball for Bruce Fields.

[Ranger]

Originally posted by jake
The Tigers may sign Wilton Veras (pure speculation). He's playing winter ball for Bruce Fields.
That's nice...
he can join the Lombard, Bocachica, Inge, Torres group of "Never Gonna Make it as a Major Leaguer".

We should never have released Truby until after spring training - see if he can work on his hitting fundamentals over the winter or something like that. If not improved, at least we had a back-up back-up plan in him.

[Dan Gilmore]

The Tigers do have a backup plan. Halter. That is where he belongs, as a fallback when a team can't get the first couple of options to work out. If we can trade him (good luck) for anything of value, then maybe give Truby a call. The other fallback would be Pauqette, who I really hope we can trade, given his NL background.

[MotownRandy]

Originally posted by MotownRandy
Maybe the Dodgers will need a back up catcher now. We could use Inge or Rivera in a package to acquire Beltre.

I hope you're not serious...

Do you have a problem with the statement I made Ranger?

[Ranger]

Originally posted by MotownRandy
Do you have a problem with the statement I made Ranger?
Not really - back up catchers are as easy to come by as right-handed short inning mid relief pitchers.

Why the heck would the Dodgers trade for one that already sucks when they can sign one that already sucks and not give any talent up in return.

[jake]

I'm not saying it's the right move to sign Veras but we don't have anybody who can play 3rd if/when Palmer is hurt. We can't put a sieve like Halter there and try to develop young pitchers. Maybe they can sign that Truby guy. He's an excellent fielder but a bad hitter.

It's better than hitters peppering our lefties Van Hekkan, Redman, and Maroth all day to 3rd and having no one who can field it. Let's demoralize them completely and utterly by putting Halter there.

[MotownRandy]

Ok, Ranger that is a good point. Why dont they just keep Kreuter? Rumor is, Lo Duca might move to first base when Karros is gone. They'll need a new starting catcher. They could get him now and let him be the backup until the change. That was my reasoning.

[Ranger]

Kreuter is 38. That's why not resigned Kreuter.

Karros is still there, at least till 2004. I'm sure they don't consider Inge or Rivera starting catcher material either.

[MotownRandy]

Well, the Tigers consider at least one of them starting catcher material. I don't understand why you are taking such a minor thing and making a bigger issue. If the Tigers got Beltre it would likely be in a package type deal. The Dodgers may be in need of a catcher so that is a possibilty when considering a pacakge to send them. I obviously dont think it would be the focal point of the trade.