The Dodgers have traded outfielder Juan Pierre to the White Sox for two players to be named later, per Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports. Brown also reports the Dodgers are picking up "about half of remaining salary."
Buster Olney of ESPN reports the Dodgers will pay $7 million (of the $10 million) to Pierre in 2010, and $3.5 million (of the $8.5 million) in 2011.
General manager Ned Colletti had this to say:
Juan always put the Dodgers first, even when it wasn’t in his personal best interest. In this day, that is a rare attribute. When he and I spoke at the end of the season, we agreed that if an opportunity presented itself in which his chance to play would be enhanced, we would pursue it and that’s what we’ve done. He deserved the chance to play more.
I don't expect the pitchers to be much. This deal is pure salary relief for the Dodgers. The Dodgers have until January 7 to pick the two players from the White Sox.
Because it is a rule that when writing about Juan Pierre, it must be mentioned what a great guy he is, I will not deviate from that. Pierre is a hard worker, and by all accounts a good teammate. This is not in dispute, as I have seen it with my own eyes. This has also been mentioned for three seasons by many in the mainstream media, often before noting his acutal production on the baseball field.
In the interests of full disclosure, I will admit that the day Pierre signed with the Dodgers I sent an email to my family with the subject "God Damnit" because I was so pissed off at the signing. I hold no ill will toward Pierre the person, but I just want to lay out the facts about Pierre the player.
From 2007 to 2009, there have been 234 players with 1,000 plate appearances. Pierre ranks...
- 211th in OPS+ (84)
- 218th in SLG (.357)
OK, that's not fair. Pierre's game is getting on base and scoring runs. Among those 234 major leaguers, Pierre ranks...
- 140th in OBP (.339)
- 133rd in runs/PA (12.63%)
Heading into 2007, the Dodgers had Matt Kemp, who at the time was thought by many to be unable to play center field. The Dodgers chose to give Pierre five years rather than signing a stopgap like Kenny Lofton for one year. After 2007, the Dodgers thought so much of Pierre's defense in center field that they signed Andruw Jones. Now, both Pierre and Jones are on the White Sox, still getting paid by the Dodgers, and the Dodgers have their man in center field who has been here all along.
Thank you, Juan Pierre, for playing well for the first part of the Manny Ramirez suspension, in May, and creating trade value that wasn't there before this season.