Manny Ramirez Alternative Number Three
Eric Steven's Feb 14th deadline has come and gone and Manny is still on the open market and the Dodgers still have a team that is clearly short of the hitter they will need to join the elite teams of the NL.
So onto another possibility.
Orlando Hudson is stll on the market. The Dodgers seem primed to go in to battle with a 3rd baseman playing 2nd. DeWitt was okay defensively but it wouldn't take much to upgrade his defensive skill set at 2nd base. We know Hudson can hit, we think DeWitt can hit but he is still a wild card. Without Manny I'm not sure this team can afford Wildcards. The price for Hudson back in November sounded like 4-5 years at 10 Million per season. Now we are hearing he might take a one year deal for 3-5 Million.
So one possibility is to sign Hudson, trade something for Ryan Ludwick the slugger from St. Louis. The tricky part is coming up with what St. Louis would consider equitable in return for Ludwick. They need a 2nd baseman, backup or starting SS for when Green goes down or they realize how bad he is. Some relief pitching and maybe someone in the rotation if Carpenter can't make it. Colby Rasmus is ready to play everyday for them so they have an alternative to Ludwick. I'm going to suggest DeWitt, D Young, Chin Lung Hu for Ryan Ludwick. That may not be enough or to much depending on your point of view. St. Louis could sign Hudson themselves but they seem to be out of money. So they get three cheap young players for Ludwick.
Now Ludwick may have been a fluke but the underlying numbers suggest that is not the case. He has contact problems but his real problem is his health. Last year he was healthy and put up the numbers we exepcted from him when he was one of Texans top young prospects. If healthy we could be looking at a 850-875 OPS as his contact rate should drop his batting average around 25 points but the power is probably real based on G/L/F and HR/F rates.
Pro's:
1. One of the best fielding 2nd baseman in baseball Hudson would combine with Furcal to give the team a killer double play combo.
2. Over the last 5 years he has been one of the top 10 productive 2nd baseman in the NL.
3. Ludwick gives us a legitimate power threat and could be our clean up hitter.
Con's:
1. Hudson has had wrist problems each of the last two years which has cost the Diamondbacks dearly in the stretch run.
2. Hudson's great fielding days might be behind him which is a big part of his value.
3. Ludwick could easily get hurt just like he did every year from 2002 - 2006.
4. We could be trading a player in DeWitt that will come back and haunt us.
5. Hudson would cost us our 1st round pick. This is probably reason enough not to sign Hudson.
I'm starting to run out of ideas. Manny better sign soon. El Lay Dave's deadline will be the next to fall tomorrow.
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Pick It
I assume that Manny really can’t afford to sit out a year at his 37 years. Don’t we get a pick if he signs elsewhere (by x’s date), making your con point 5, which you say is reason enough not to do it, a wash?
re:
Depends who he signs with. If was to sign with the Giants we’d only get supplemental picks because their first round pick is protected.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
by Phil Gurnee on Feb 15, 2009 11:06 AM PST up reply actions
Also, Ludwick only has a couple years left before free agency.
This idea I would be vehemently be opposed to. Like, I’d rather just start Pierre and see what can be done at the trade deadline.
by Brendan Scolari on Feb 15, 2009 11:57 AM PST reply actions
This option
is affirmatively bad for the Dodgers. That is, irrespective of Manny, it makes our team worse. Your other two had some merit, but if this is really your 3rd best option, I think you can stop here.
re:
Just curious.
1. Do you think DeWitt and Pierre are better combined then Hudson/Ludwick?
2. Don’t like the idea of giving up anything for Ludwick?
3. Don’t like the idea of giving up our 17th pick for Hudson?
4. All of the above?
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
I wouldn't say "deadline," but maybe just another wrong prediction
Eric Steven’s Feb 14th deadline has come and gone and Manny is still on the open market and the Dodgers still have a team that is clearly short of the hitter they will need to join the elite teams of the NL.
I believe I owe you a dinner. Remind me to bet you something I can actually win one of these days.
re:
Welcome back. Did you have the shakes after 48 hours without broadband?
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
No internet = No fun
It’s amazing how much we rely on the internet. I felt like the kids of Springfield after Marge got Itchy & Scratchy censored. :)
by Eric Stephen on Feb 15, 2009 4:22 PM PST up reply actions















