Tomorrow's notebook
By Tony Jackson
Staff Writer
NEW YORK -- The Dodgers severed ties with embattled right-hander Brett Tomko on Friday, designating him for assignment to clear a roster spot for newly signed lefty David Wells. But Tomko, who is a miserable 2-11 with a 5.80 ERA this season, wasn't exactly devastated upon being told of his fate.
``There is a little bit of a sense of relief,'' he said. ``I love all the guys on this team, and the coaching staff has been great. But it has been a rough year for me in L.A. I haven't been received well at all there. Hopefully, I will get the chance to go somewhere and get a fresh start for a month and get back to the basics of what made me successful.''
The Dodgers have 10 days to either trade or release Tomko. There is a strong likelihood that a handful of other clubs will have interest in him, but they might wait until the Dodgers release Tomko to sign him. It is believed the Dodgers front office has been trying for weeks to trade him but couldn't find another club willing to give up much to get him.
The Dodgers still owe Tomko the rest of his $4.1 million salary for this season plus a $1 million buyout of his $4.5 million mutual option for 2008.
``Brett struggled for a good part of the year,'' Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said. ``At this stage of the season, we had to make a move. We had to give ourselves a chance, even if it's only 1 percent more of a chance.''
Tomko, who also pitched in San Francisco while Colletti was the Giants' assistant GM, was optimistic about landing with another club.
``Ned and I have a pretty tight relationship,'' Tomko said. ``I don't think there will ever be any hard feelings. I hope he will take care of me out of respect and not let me sit around and rot without a chance to go pitch.''
Wells rusty: Wells threw a light side session, saying later it was the first time he had thrown off a mound since being designated for assignment by San Diego on Aug. 9. He will make his Dodgers debut on Sunday night against the New York Mets, his first start since Aug. 6, and it isn't clear how deep into that game he will be able to go.
``I'll just pitch my heart out until they take me out, I guess,'' Wells said. ``Every starter would love to go nine innings, but this being my first start back, I don't know what is going to happen. I'll just give it my all and hope for the best.''
Dodgers manager Grady Little didn't say what he expects of Wells.
``The only thing I know about David Wells is that every time he goes out there, he is going to give it everything he has,'' Little said. ``I have seen that for a few years, and he is no different right now. How many (pitches) that is, I can't answer that.''
The Dodgers are paying Wells a base salary of only about $80,000, a prorated share of the major-league minimum $380,000, with the Padres picking up the rest of his $1 million salary for the season. His agreement with the Dodgers also includes incentives based on games started that could result in the Dodgers paying him a total of $800,000 if he doesn't miss a start the rest of this season. The detailed breakdown of those incentives isn't clear.
Although Wells said he hopes to be pitching somewhere next year, he spent the past week believing his career was over, and he still believes it probably will be when the season ends.
``It kind of looks that way, but I have been lying ... for a long time saying I was going to retire,'' Wells said. ``I'll just see what happens next spring, if I can get an invitation early enough that I can get ready for another season.
``I might not look sexy, but I feel sexy.''
Tony Jackson is in his fourth season covering the Dodgers for the 
Comments
Tomko is such a baby. This was long overdue.
Posted by: The_Great_Arcade_Fire | August 24, 2007 5:59 PM
So in desperation, the Dodgers decide to possibly spend about $900,000 (salary + incentives) to a likely washed up pitcher, but refuse to spend what it would have taken to sign Kyle Blair (5th round pick, 1st round talent) because they didn't want to upset the commissioner and go over slot (something done by numerous other teams). Management needs to get its priorities straight.
Blair may never have developed into anything. But one thing is certain, spending that amount of money on David Wells is insane. No different than putting the money in a gasoline soaked pile and lighting a match.
I'm beginning to have serious doubts about Colletti. Keep in mind, he is NOT the architect of the re-birth of the Dodger farm system. That was the work of Dan Evans and Logan White. I read Baseball America, and have not seen any evidence that the Dodgers were particularly active during the July international signing period, as were a number of other teams.
I was under the impression that the Dodgers were in the process of reversing the policy set in place by Paul DePodesta, who severely cut the international scouting budget. I was further encouraged, because Logan White was reportedly put in charge of international scouting. But now I'm afraid that Colletti (maybe McCourt) is not following through. The failure to go over slot for Blair may be a further sympton of management's unwillingness to spend what it takes to keep the Dodgers competitive.
I'm concerned that after our current prospects complete the cycle from minors to majors, that the pipeline will begin to dry up. I don't have any solid evidence for this, just a feeling.
Posted by: Brooklyn Dodger | August 24, 2007 8:51 PM
Brooklyn,
If Wells is washed up, then the Dodgers won't be paying him $900k. They're not going to run him out there every five days if he doesn't have it anymore. I think he's got two starts, maybe three, to prove himself. If he wins, the incentive is worth it. If not, much of it will not be paid and Wells himself will be gone.
Posted by: Vail Beach
|
August 25, 2007 1:03 AM
Vail,
I thought of that. But at $175K per start, 3 starts = $525K. Add his $80K base salary, and it's $605K. That money could have been better spent signing Kyle Blair. Maybe Blair would have never worked out, but signing him as opposed to Wells would have been been a totally different message regarding direction and priorities, both of which I am beginning to think are skewed in the wrong direction.
Posted by: Brooklyn Dodger | August 25, 2007 11:13 AM