If the Dodgers sign Wells then I know they're desperate. Just what we need, a pitcher with Tomko-like stats to replace Tomko. Boomer for Bombko.

Wells is 44, has an ERA of 5.54, and has given up 156 hits in 118.2 innings.

What is Colletti doing, looking for more veteran leadership? We have Gonzo, Kent and Nomar for that. It's bad enough that the fading Gonzo keeps Ethier and Kemp from playing regularly, but are we now going to hire another past his prime veteran to fill a spot that could probably be better filled by Eric Stults or Brian Houlton?

What is Colletti thinking? Does he really believe that aging veterans with diminished skills are preferable to less experienced players with emerging skills?

I hope that this is just rumor and nothing else. Signing Wells would be a waste of money and a waste of time. It would also make me wonder what Colletti's vision is for the future. Are the younger players ever going to get a chance to play regularly, or can we look forward to a winter in which we add on a few more aging veterans with diminished skills.

The difference between Wells and Tomko is that Wells was a league-average pitcher in '05 and '06, and has actually been a good, successful pitcher for multiple seasons in his career. Not so for Brett. Of course, Wells could simply be done.

At the minimum cost, Wells might be worth a flier, but not with the incentives. (It's truly desperation time when you think you're in a pennant or wild card race and your 4th starter is Eric Stults and your fifth starter choices are Tomko, Wells or D. J. Houlton.)

Tony, enjoy your meals in Manhattan.

BOMBKO IS GONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BOMBKO IS GONE!!!!!!!!

To Brooklyn Dodger

By the tone of your post you would have thought Ned traded Ethier and Loney for Steve Trachsel. It's just taking a flier on an old guy that used to be and could be very good in pinches. A very poor man's Greg Maddux. It's not that big a deal, but it shows the dodgers are still trying to win, which to me as a fan is a good thing despite my being mad every time they lose when they can't hit a lick and I lose all hope in them and turn the channel for about 5 minutes.

Anyways I'll address most of your comments.
1. Yeah, the dodgers are desperate. They have to be when they've had to DL 3 guys that are capable of starting. If we were the Marlins or Giants we wouldn't be desperate because we wouldn't be in the race at all. Team is still trying to win. That's the point. Lots of other teams are in the same boat with broken down pitching staffs. That's a part of baseball.

2. Tomko's whip is higher than Wells. Their stats are both ugly. Nobody is arguing Wells has pitched well this year.

3. No and No. Colletti is simply trying to improve the dodgers chances of going to the post-season by adding pitcher Wells to a staff shredded by injuries.

Stults is still in the rotation. Wells is taking Tomko out of the rotation. It's D.J. (Dennis), not Brian Houlton and he's not young at age 27 and if this is his prime he's probably not going to be in anyone's rotation soon (sorry, D.J.). I've seen him pitch enough times in Vegas to know this guy isn't going to pull a Stults if put into the rotation. Think a slightly worse version of Elmer Dessens and he went before Houlton.

4. I think Ned is thinking the dodgers could still make the posts-season, which is a good thing in my opinion.

I don't know what he's thinking but I guess one could assume he thinks Wells is a better option to take a gamble on in the starting rotation than any other player within the organization that is developed enough to pitch at the mlb level. I don't think this is a moneyball argument. The dodgers don't have younger options with upside like you attempt to keep stating. He DFA'd Tomko and not D.J Houlton or Stults. He chose to lose a vet over the younger pitchers. I think this shows your rhetorical question about vets versus kids is a bit off base.

5 It's not a rumor, its fact. Wells signing might turn out to be a waste of time and money, but in this case I believe it's good to try instead of putting Tomko out there after his implosion last outing. Your kids versus vet argument ignores the fact that there are 7 young players on the active rosters 5 of whom have regular jobs. You might be right to complain why Kemp and Ethier aren't getting more at-bats, but Gonzo is being benched more and more if you look at the lineups.

Just to be clear, there aren't any young pitching prospects to call up that are ready. Tony just did an article in which they stated McDonald's arm is tireed and his velocity is down to 87-88. Elbert is hurt. Morris is hurt. Kershaw is still too young (just got into AA). The guy you might see come up is the young reliever currently in AAA. He could be a surprise. Meloan.