Bleacher Report - Articles by Miguel Salcido

Manny Suspended 50 Games for Testing Positive

Miguel Salcido — Thu, 07 May 2009 12:34:11 -0400

It is being reported by LADodgerTalk.com and various sources including the LA Times that Manny Ramirez has tested positive for performance enhancing drugs and will be suspended for 50 games!

There are no comments from the Dodgers, Boras, the player's union, or Major League Baseball yet. It is indicated by an anonymous source that Manny will attribute the positive result to medication received by his doctor for a "personal ailment." Major league baseball does not allow players in violation of their drug policy to be paid during suspensions. This will result in a 31 percent pay cut for Manny, equating to roughly $7.7 million of his $25 million salary.

The dodgers have made the call to the farm for Xavier Paul for tonight's game against the the Nationals. All of this means that Manny will be out until July 3, and that Pierre is expected to get the lion's share of playing time in the outfield.

I expect Pierre to bat ninth because his speed is best utilized in that spot with our lineup. But who knows what Torre will do with the lineup now? If he was still trying to figure out who to put where then he has even more thinking to do!

If anything, it will be interesting to see what Paul can do. I got some good looks at him in Spring Training and he looked ready. But we will not know until he gets a run out there. There is a rather large mental part of this game, just ask James McDonald.

We can all go round and round about how terrible this is and speculate about this and that. We can wallow in self pity for losing one of THE best hitters in all of baseball for 50 games. But none of that will matter, or change anything.

So now let's hear your thoughts on what the lineup should look like without Manny.

Manny Signing with Dodgers This Week!!!

Miguel Salcido — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 18:55:19 -0500

A report today from 570 AM in Los Angeles says that an agreement has been reached between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Manny Ramirez camp.

The flagship AM radio station for Fox Radio is saying that it is a two year-contract with an option for a third year. This is not official and no other sources have broke this story. The official announcement is supposed to come later this week.

The third-year option is said to be heavily laden with incentives. This is exactly what people expected—a third or fourth year with massive incentives. Of course I would also expect a J.D. Drew-esque out clause negotiated in there by Scott Boras, Manny’s agent.

It appears that the Dodgers' strategy this offseason has really paid off big time! Getting Manny for two years with a third-year option is a great deal for them. Of course the numbers have not yet been announced; let’s just hope that they are near or below the earlier offer of two years at $45 million.

This is great news for Dodgers fans as it automatically catapults the team into the top echelon of the National League.

Their only perceived weakness so far seems to be pitching because of the lack of experience on the staff. But the team is laden with young talented arms that are ready for this season and many that are still marinating in the minors. I expect the Dodgers to have some exceptional homegrown pitching talent come of age this year and the coming years as well.

Adding Manny also makes Juan Pierre somewhat expendable. That and a logjam at certain positions internally put the Dodgers in a great spot to trade for some pitching as the season unfolds if necessary.

The Dodgers are prepared to run their kids out there this year and see what they can do.

And of course there are a slew of veterans trying to resurrect their careers as well. People like Claudio Vargas, Jason Schmidt, Shawn Estes, Jeff Weaver, and Eric Milton are all seasoned vets that could turn things around.

All said, the Dodgers lineup is looking mighty scary at this point and I am sure that Dodgers fans around the world are looking forward to the coming season!

Los Angeles Dodgers Sign Orlando Hudson

Miguel Salcido — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 18:06:10 -0500

The Los Angeles Dodgers today reached a one year agreement with Orlando Hudson today. The deal is believed to be worth $3.4 million with incentives that could add as much as $4.6 million to that, which could bring the deal to a total of $8 million for the year.

What a great pickup for the Dodgers. Hudson hit .305 with eight homers, 41 RBI, and a .367 on-base percentage in 107 games with the Diamondbacks in 2008.

He adds a versatile switch hitting and speedy duo at the top of the Dodgers lineup. This really improves the team as a whole, especially on the defensive side. I look forward to many dazzling plays and double plays between Furcal and Hudson this season!

Now the Dodgers lose their first-round Draft pick in June, No. 17 overall but Los Angeles will receive an additional sandwich pick between the first and second rounds, as well as the Atlanta Braves' second-round pick as compensation for the signing of Derek Lowe.

And IF Manny Ramirez decides to sign with another team the Dodgers would be in line for another draft pick as compensation. So the way I see it this was masterful because whether or not the Dodgers sing Manny they win. Its a win-win situation!

I don't know where all of this talk about moving Dewitt to third and Blake to left field is coming from but I don't like it one bit! Since when did Dewitt become better than Pierre? That scenario makes us weaker in left field (Blake has a fielding % in the outfield lower than Manny) and possibly at third although Dewitt was pretty good with the glove last season.

It also removes Pierre's speed, experience, and average from the lineup. I say that Dewitt goes to AAA and develops into next season's starting second baseman.

Here would be the projected batting order.

Furcal
Hudson
Ethier
Kemp
Loney
Blake
Martin
Pierre

Of course it could look alot better like this:

Furcal
Hudson
Ethier
Ramirez
Kemp
Loney
Blake
Martin

Sorry, I had to do that.

I want to hear, from everyone out there, what your projected batting orders would be now.

Manny Ramirez Deal with the LA Dodgers Is Dunn...Right?

Miguel Salcido — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:09:09 -0500

The Washington Nationals announced that they have signed Adam Dunn to a two-year deal today. Also announced was the the signing of Bobby Abreu by the Angels to a one-year deal. Wow! What does that mean for the Dodgers?

Adam Dunn was speculated, with good cause, to be the top target for the Dodgers after Manny Ramirez. And Bobby Abreu was believed to be third in line on the wish list. So, if the Dodgers did not sign Manny Ramirez to a deal, they would go after Dunn, and if they could not sign Dunn, they would then go after Abreu.

But wait a minute, both Abreu and Dunn have already signed, and the Dodgers still do not have Manny signed to a deal! Oh my, that really throws a wrench in the Dodgers' plans. Or does it? Boras will really have a lot of ammo to force the Dodgers to give up the dollars and the years. Or does it?

I am going to call it here right now. Manny Ramirez has already signed a deal with the Dodgers! Yes, I said it.

I have to believe that the only reason that Abreu AND Dunn have both been able to sign, and on the same day mind you, is because they are no longer blocked by Manny Ramirez. I am also guessing that the Dodgers are not dumb enough to allow them both to sign if they did not already have Manny signed.

Well, so what do you have to say about that? I want to know who disagrees or agrees and why. Only time will tell though.

Jon Garland to the Diamondbacks in One-Year Bargain Basement Deal

Miguel Salcido — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 14:28:16 -0500

Well, another one bites the dust. Jon Garland is set to sign with the Diamondbacks and yet another player who was offered arbitration and declined has taken a huge pay cut. Good thing these multi-million dollar players have "professional" agents and advisers to help them make good decisions regarding their career and contracts.

In a report out of AZ Central, Jon Garland and the Arizona Diamondbacks have come to terms on a one-year guaranteed contract at an estimated $6 million to $8 million, with a mutual option for a second year. The details are not yet available and it is not official until he completes the customary physical.

But this would put Garland in with Randy Wolf, Jason Varitek, and others in the category of players who have turned down big deals/arbitration and have ended up with the shorter end of the stick. Jason Varitek turned down $10m-12m in arbitration, only to finally be offered $5 millon. Wolf was earlier offered a three-year, $28.5 million deal that he did not seize quickly enough because it was pulled off the table.

Garland, to the surprise of many, turned down arbitration from the Angels that would have made him more than $12 million in 2009. The Angels are now set to replenish their minor league system with five of the first 45 picks because of all the free agents they lost this off-season.

The Diamondbacks are now in a much better position with a pretty solid rotation and will most likely slot Garland in the third spot behind Brandon Webb and Dan Haren. Seems like a pretty solid rotation to me. Looks like the Dodgers had better solidify their rotation to fight off the Giants and the Diamondbacks—either that or sign a certain offensive powerhouse, ahem, Manny Ramirez.

LA Dodgers and Shawn Estes Agree To Terms

Miguel Salcido — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 20:53:39 -0500

Pitcher Shawn Estes has agreed to terms of a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers which could be worth as much as $1.55 million.

Estes would get $550,000 if added to the Dodgers' 40-man roster, and would be able to earn an additional $1 million in performance bonuses. The bonuses are based on starts, from five to 30. There has not been an announcement by the Dodgers as of yet.

He had a 2-3 record with a 4.74 ERA in nine games for the San Diego Padres last season. And he has a 101-93 record with a 4.71 ERA with San Francisco, the New York Mets, Cincinnati, the Chicago Cubs, Colorado, Arizona and San Diego.

Signing with the Dodgers could round out his career since it would mean that he has played on every National League West team!

Estes has had some good years, he made his major league debut with the Giants in 1995, and he had his best season two years later, going 19-5 with a 3.18 ERA. He also won 15 games with the Giants in 2000 and again with the Rockies in 2004.

If he ends up making the rotation, or even the bullpen, then the Dodgers will have added a valuable lefty to their lineup.

The Dodgers And Andruw Jones Finally Done

Miguel Salcido — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 17:38:53 -0500

Bill Shaikin of the LA Times confirmed that the Dodgers and Andruw Jones have agreed to restructure his contract in order to facilitate a trade. Apparently the Dodgers have agreed to either trade or release Jones for a deferment of the $22 million owed to him. The deal would cut $12 million from the 2009 budget and defer $5 million to next season.

It is noted that these negotiations pre-dated the latest Ramirez talks and that any deal with Ramirez would be independent of this one.

If the Dodgers cannot trade Jones, even at this discounted rate then Jones can ask for his release before spring training. If the Dodgers would have to release Jones outright then they would have to pay everything owed to him minus the league minimum of $400,000.

Now that is highly unlikely. So I would expect to hear news of a Jones trade coming VERY soon.

I have to mention that the Dodgers have not yet confirmed this story so the exact details are not yet known.

Dodgers Working to Move Andruw Jones to Make Room for Manny

Miguel Salcido — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 14:30:09 -0500

T.J.Simmers of the LA Times reports that the Dodgers are plotting to cut ties with Jones and save $12 million at the same time. Well, duh! I mean, it sounds like a fantasy dream come true.

But what leads me to believe that T.J. may be on to something here are a few things.

First of all Mr. Simmers regularly uses the Dodgers for his Page 2 column, and therefore is privy to the kinds of inside info on the team that most of us can only dream of, or as he might tell you, have night terrors about.

He is around the organization regularly, and has access to management and the locker room. And he seems to be indicating that he is aware of some masterful plan/plot that the Dodgers are engineering. I have not known Mr. Simmers to fabricate stories and have followed him all season.

Something else I know is that Jones does not want to play for the Dodgers after having embarrassed himself last season. And I can't say that I blame him that much. I would not expect his fragile psyche to be able to withstand the constant booing that Dodgers fans would serenade him with both at home and away, should he continue his current level of play.

This leaves open a possible scenario in which Jones makes a deal with the Dodgers. Jones may just give the Dodgers a break and work out some sort of arrangement that would allow him to be granted his unconditional release. I am not sure if that is even possible contractually, but if it is, then that would be fantastic. You must consider that it is almost totally guaranteed that Jones will never produce for the Dodgers. I really do hope that I am proven wrong in that prediction, but I would not count on it.

Here comes the best part: Freeing up the money which Jones is due would enable the Dodgers to pursue Manny Ramirez! Which leads me to my last reason for believing that something could happen: Scott Boras represents both Jones and Ramirez.

Let me know your thoughts below in the comments and the poll. I really want to see how many people feel that something like this will happen.

UPDATE: Two minutes before publishing this, MLB.com reported that there is in fact something in the works. In response to the $21.1 million still owed Jones this year, Ken Gurnick reports,

"The Dodgers are hoping to spread that money over more years. It could be done through an extension, which would move a chunk of money off the 2009 payroll. There also is the possibility of a deferred buyout, either to facilitate a trade or allow Jones to become a free agent."

Giants Making A Run At Manny Ramirez? Boras Is Getting Desperate!

Miguel Salcido — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 07:52:09 -0500

Just when you think you've heard it all....

There is a report out of the Denver Post quietly divulging that a "major league source" notes that the San Francisco Giants are "quietly" making an aggressive run at Manny Ramirez. Now I don't know about you but that seems VERY odd to me. And I agree with Roto World, how quiet can the Giants interest be if a Denver newspaper has wind?

This smells of vintage Boras desperation. Wonder why Colletti has been holding back and not bidding against himself this year? Scotty, we are all onto your tricks now!

Here is why I am calling shenanigans here. The Giants had roughly $64 million committed for the '09 squad. They entered the '08 season with a $76.6 million payroll, so they had about $12-13 million to spend this offseason. With the recent signings of Renteria, Johnson, and others I do not think that they have another $20-25 million laying around to make an "aggressive" run at Manny.

Plus, the Giants just got done washing the stink of Bonds off of their franchise. And they are still reeling from that terrible deal that Boras squeezed out of them for Bonds. Guess what, he is trying to do the same thing with Manny this year, sell him into his senior years as a productive geriatric.

We all saw how terrible Bonds was in the field those final years, it was painful to watch. And Bonds at least was a great defensive player. Manny has never been even a decent defensive player, imagine how terrible he will get in his later years.

Nothing adds up here, except for Boras' desperation. His last attempt to salvage some respect after completely botching Manny's affairs this offseason. He played the market completely wrong this year and with his past embarrassment with Alex Rodriguez he is looking more and more like mortal than a super agent. If the Yankees did not swoop in and save his behind by throwing obscene amounts of money at his players he would have looked like a complete failure this offseason!

These are the desperate actions of a desperate man. Scotty, we are all on to you!

UPDATE: Just saw the report on ESPN Bottom Line ticker. Maybe there is some merit to the news. But then again, ESPN has published a lot of bad news before. Remember the recent Buster Olney false report about the Dodgers/Mets Jones trade? I'd like to hear everyone's thoughts on this story. Let me know what you think by leaving a comment.

SECOND UPDATE: T.J. Simers of the LA Times reiterates my belief that the Boras camp probably started this report as a falsehood in order to drive up the price and interest of the Dodgers.

Why Did The Dodgers Not Re-Sign Penny?

Miguel Salcido — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 09:40:33 -0500

There has been nary a peep about Brad Penny all off season. And with just about every team in need of starting pitchers, many would wonder why Penny's name was not being thrown around the rumor mill. I mean after all he has post season experience, has had some great years, and throws electric stuff when he is healthy. Of course he was injured this past year, but so was Ben Sheets. In fact, Sheets has a more injury prone resume than Penny does. Yet we have heard Sheets mentioned a lot more than Penny in this off season.

Plus, the Dodgers are more in need of starting pitching than most other clubs. Why did they turn down his $9.25 million club option (a relative bargain considering today's market) for this year and instead opt to pay him $2 million to get out? Sure there are issues with his health, but the Dodgers should know better than anyone what the health situation with Penny is, right?

With all the reports coming out of Boston that they have inked him to a $5 million one-year contract with incentives for innings pitched I feel that it is time to explain why the Dodgers, and not many other clubs have been willing to consider Penny. Here are a few reasons:

Penny has had back, blister, rib cage, forearm, elbow, biceps nerve, and shoulder problems over the years. But hey, what pitcher has not had some or all of these injuries?
He was never worked particularly hard according to his managers past and present.
He is noted to have a low tolerance for pain, meaning he is a heartless cry baby. Remember Curt Schilling and his bloody ankle pitching? That was heart.
He became severely disgruntled when the Dodgers would not offer him a contract extension last spring, coming off of a couple of good seasons. He was also miffed that the Dodgers would not guarantee his option for 2009 (good thing they did not after his dismal 2008).
There have been many speculations that Penny is not a "team player" having thwarted a speculated trade, and that he was more interested in the Hollywood party/dating scene than anything else.
Penny has been doing his best to get his option declined this year. Including getting in bar fights at Hollywood clubs.
He was so miffed about being left off the playoff roster this year that he did not even want to be in the dugout with the teammates, he claims to love so much, to support them. In fact he just disappeared.

So there you have it. It appears that the Dodgers DID in fact know some things that others did not or were simply ignoring. I believe that there are probably even more examples of why Brad Penny is simply not a good teammate that the Dodgers have respectfully or legally kept internal. I guess the main reasons for the Dodgers not picking up his option or renegotiating were because of his poor work ethic and disgruntled attitude.

I cannot imagine why any team would want a potentially broken down pitcher that is over weight, has a poor work ethic, and is not a real team player. On the flip side, I can see how teams could also assume that since he was going to sign a one-year deal that he would be highly motivated to work harder this year to showcase his stuff in order to set himself up for a big contract next year. It is amazing how contracts can motivate, before they are signed that is!

UPDATE: Penny is nominated for the Second Annual Douchie Awards and is leading by a good margin. Vote here.