Andruw Jones released
This comes as no surprise, of course. It's a sad end to a sad chapter in Dodgers' history, but it was a short chapter, nevertheless. Frank McCourt did confirm after today's tour/photo op at the new spring-training complex that team officials did discuss the possibility of trying to void the contract sometime last season -- he wouldn't say when, but it was obvious he was talking about mid-summer -- but that the decision was made not to proceed. McCourt denied that the decision not to proceed was based on the fact the club would have stood very little chance of emerging victorious in such a matter against the all-powerful players' union. He said the decision was instead based on not wanting to create a distraction for the team. ``We want to stay focused on winning a championship,'' McCourt said.
8 reasons why a trade for Jake Peavy to LAD is coming:
1. Sale of Padres=reduction of payroll/stocked farm needed
2. LA has future aces, needs present day ace
3. SD have an assistant GM who drafted players in 2004-2005 for Dodgers so I would assume he had a hand in the scouting and might find some of his former picks appealing in a return for Peavy
4. Aforementioned players include Elbert, DeJesus, Orenduff, Josh Bell and Brent Leach.
5. That group or some similar configuration would probably get it done
6. Payroll flexibilty added via AJ "bailout"
7. Kershaw should start season at AAA - he skipped it because of the homerun balls flying out of Vegas and the fact we needed him, not a reason to rush him if you have a warm weather AAA affiliate and Stults and McDonald rounding out the rotation at 4 and 5 respectively.
8. Manny wants to play for a winner!
Agree, LA needs Peavy. The Dodgers should trade their 4th OF'r ethier & 5 prospects...that ought to do it.
Why Peavy to L.A. ain't happening...
4. DePodesta would love to screw over the McCourts but everyone @ 1000 Elysian Park Way knows that fact and sees DePo coming from 125 miles away
3. Albuquerque's high altitude makes it more of a hitter's haven (see the ERAs for Dukes' pitchers during the 1980s) so that alone won't make Kershaw an Isotope
2. Dodgers still look to justify Schmidt's contract after having to eat Jones's
AND THE #1 REASON:
Old-School Coletti won't make a blockbuster trade within the NL West...
Or just maybe Ned realizes the Dodgers are way more than an ace away from doing any real damage in the playoffs...especially when it will take gutting the farm system (to a division rival) to get there...
And that the young arms in the minors will be ready right around the time the kids on the big club are hitting their collective strides...
More reasons the Dodgers won't be acquiring Peavy.
1. Peavy is guaranteed at least $63M over the next four years, plus he will want some money for waiving his no-trade. That sounds like more than McColletti want to commit to a pitcher - they didn't want to go more than three years with C.C. Sabathia.
2. Peavy missed 5-6 starts last year (27 instead of 32-33). Dodger FO is now very gun-shy with injury risk, Furcal notwithstanding (and he took a pay cut).
I have never understood the reasoning behind the failure of the clubs to enforce the clause demanding that the team can terminate a player who "shall at any time fail, refuse or neglect . . . to keep himself in first-class physical condition or to obey the club's training rules." If it's meaningless, get it stricken, and if it's got teeth, find out.
Bwahahahahaha! Skeptic FTW! Even if his hate for the Journey-E is unfounded, it is at the same time hilarious.