Winter Meeting

Shopping List
Big ticket items:

1. Miguel Cabrera - safe to say, he's an offensive force at a tender age. Appears the Marlins asking price is to high for everyone and to the relief of many Dodger fans, Ned is not going to meet that price.
   
2. Johan Santana - since the word is that he's told the Twins he will only wave his no-trade for either the RedSox or Yankee's it also appears that we won't be a player for him even though we may be the best fit for what the Twins need.
   
3. Eric Bedard - I can envision us getting Bedard without giving up either Kemp, Billingsley, or Kershaw. The Orioles have enough holes that we could help them in 1st, LF, 3rd, SS, Rotation, or relief. They have Mora's 17 Million contract they would like to dump. Sometimes that is what being big market is about. Take a bad contract so you can have your hands on the good stuff. That is how the RedSox got Becket. They just got lucky or were smart enough to know that Lowell was going to bounce back. Bedard is one hell of a pitcher and if we can retain Billingsley and Kershaw a rotation in 2009 of  Bedard, Billingsley, Penny, and Kershaw would be about as good as it will ever get
   
4. Dan Haren - I've love to have Dan Haren but I don't think Billy Beane will trade him  without getting one of our big 3 back. He's got the great 3 year contract and he's a good pitcher. We just can't trade Billingsley or Kershaw for him. Do you make Kemp a centerpiece of the deal or can we get something done without the big 3? He might be worth more then Bedard since he's younger, has 3 years remaining on his contract, and is almost just as good.
   
5. Andruw Jones - only worth it, if we flip an outfielder for something else, or are able to dump Juan's contract. Makes no sense just to sign Andruw to CF and move Juan Pierre to LF and Ethier to the bench.
   
6. Mike Cameron - is going to mis 25 games. Still has plenty of defense and power. He'll be cheaper then the more reowned available center fielders, and he'll also probably be better.
   
7. Joe Blanton -  We could match up well enough with the A's to make a multi-player deal. They have many holes or good players who won't be around the next time the A's are good if Beane does a tear down. We could do something where we make LaRoche the centerpiece of a deal and end up with Blanton and Chavez and they end up with alot of our group B prospects or players.  
   
8. Sign Kuroda - I'd rather sign Kuroda then send prospects to Billy Beane for Joe Blanton.
   
9. Kyle Lohse - Just say no
   
10. Carlos Silva - Just say no
    
11. Aaron Rowand - Just say no, contracts like the ones that Pierre, Matthews, and now Hunter have gotten have made him ask for 5 years. Thank God he thinks he's good enough for a 5 year deal.
    

Small Ticket Items:

1. Mike Lamb - would make a great guy to play 1st, 3rd, and pinch hit.
   
2. Sign Lieber  - He'd be a nice plan B if we don't go anything else. He can fill the back end of the rotation as insurance while we wait for Kershaw, Elbert, and McDonald. He should be fairly cheap and not require more then a two year deal.
   
3. Backup Catcher - Miller, Leiberthal, Barajas- anyone will do.

Update 12/03
Under small ticket items the Dodgers have signed Robert Booth. Here is a scouting report from a friend at baseball HQ who follows the Japanese leagues and has a scouting report on anyone who might help a roto team.
Robert Booth: Pitcher. Japanese-American who plays for Asia University. Big (6’ 3") with a mid-90’s fastball. Born in Tokyo but has an American passport, meaning he won’t need any immigration documents. He’s only played one season of college ball but the Dodgers already have an eye on him. Comment: A real-long shot, but I liked the idea of sneaking in a pronounceable name for you.