Nomar Garciaparra to the Dodgers at 1B (1 y/$6M)

[GBrushTWood]

Per Peter King of the NY Post:

Last night, the former Red Sox shortstop agreed in principle to a one-year deal with the Dodgers worth $6 million in base salary. The 32-year-old will play first base.

According to a plate-appearance incentive, Garciaparra could earn more than $8 million next year. He made $8.25 million last year for the Cubs when he played in only 62 games due to a severe left-groin injury.

Looks like all those Nomar to L.A. rumors about 4 years ago finally came true. All these infield signings seem to create a bit of a roster crunch in L.A., IMO. Where does Cesar Izturis fit into this? If they move Izturis to 2B when he recovers from TJ surgery, what happens to Kent?

They have 5 players for 4 spots, all of whom are starters. Bill Mueller, Rafael Furcal, Cesar Izturis, Jeff Kent, Nomar Garciaparra.

[jt45]

Re: Nomar Garciaparra to the Dodgers at 1B (1 y/$6M)

Per Peter King of the NY Post:



Looks like all those Nomar to L.A. rumors about 4 years ago finally came true. All these infield signings seem to create a bit of a roster crunch in L.A., IMO. Where does Cesar Izturis fit into this? If they move Izturis to 2B when he recovers from TJ surgery, what happens to Kent?

They have 5 players for 4 spots, all of whom are starters. Bill Mueller, Rafael Furcal, Cesar Izturis, Jeff Kent, Nomar Garciaparra.

Izturis had TJ surgery, so he's out for a while.

[glucklich]

Re: Nomar Garciaparra to the Dodgers at 1B (1 y/$6M)

I wonder if Nomar will even hit 10 HRs next year and Im not sure his average will be high enough to justify having him at 1B. Nomars value was as a middle infielder not a 1B. Interesting move by LA.

[dbly32]

Re: Nomar Garciaparra to the Dodgers at 1B (1 y/$6M)

As previously stated, Izturis is out until midseason next year.

From the official Dodgers website:

Colletti sidestepped addressing the potential crowded infield.

"We've got a lot of what-ifs. Let's see what happens with Nomar and take it from there," he said. "As circumstances are presented and the season is under way and people recover from injury, we'll make decisions as we have to make them. It's all premature."

[billmatic]

Re: Nomar Garciaparra to the Dodgers at 1B (1 y/$6M)

They have 5 players for 4 spots, all of whom are starters. Bill Mueller, Rafael Furcal, Cesar Izturis, Jeff Kent, Nomar Garciaparra.

like everyone else said, Cesar is out a while, and with all the injuries they had last year this seems like a good thing, not a bad thing. when Cesar does return, this will just give them the opportunity to give players more days off, which considering some of their ages, is probably for the best.

[SPTO]

Re: Nomar Garciaparra to the Dodgers at 1B (1 y/$6M)

This could be either really good or really bad. One thing about Nomar that was mentioned a couple nights ago is that he has a body that is TOO tight. He is more like a thoroughbred horse then a baseball player.

If his 2nd half numbers last year is indicative of how he plays in '06 then this is a solid pick up IMO.

[Lintyfresh85]

Re: Nomar Garciaparra to the Dodgers at 1B (1 y/$6M)

goodness gracious, when are the Indians gonna land a free agent?

[billmatic]

Re: Nomar Garciaparra to the Dodgers at 1B (1 y/$6M)

it's only a 1 year / $6 mil contract, so if it works out great, and if not, no big deal.

[dbly32]

Re: Nomar Garciaparra to the Dodgers at 1B (1 y/$6M)

Grady Little, Derek Lowe, Nomar Garciaparra, Bill Mueller.......bring on Manny! He can be a crazy *** all he wants, they already had Bradley and it doesn't get much crazier than Bradley.

Starting to look like the Red Sox of the West. Maybe they'll change their names to the Boston Dodgers of Los Angeles. Haha, no team would be stupid enough to name themselves as being from a city they're not even in. Oh wait...

[UMass03]

Re: Nomar Garciaparra to the Dodgers at 1B (1 y/$6M)

Thank God he didn't sign with the Yankees. I couldn't handle that.

[dieselboy]

Re: Nomar Garciaparra to the Dodgers at 1B (1 y/$6M)

it's only a 1 year / $6 mil contract, so if it works out great, and if not, no big deal.

I agree, if he gets hurt again, then they just let him walk.

[theMansoon]

Re: Nomar Garciaparra to the Dodgers at 1B (1 y/$6M)

Per Peter King of the NY Post:



Looks like all those Nomar to L.A. rumors about 4 years ago finally came true. All these infield signings seem to create a bit of a roster crunch in L.A., IMO. Where does Cesar Izturis fit into this? If they move Izturis to 2B when he recovers from TJ surgery, what happens to Kent?

They have 5 players for 4 spots, all of whom are starters. Bill Mueller, Rafael Furcal, Cesar Izturis, Jeff Kent, Nomar Garciaparra.

is anyone reading the articles...

pretty sure it was stated that they signed nomar as a 1B till izturis is back, and then he will move to the outfield. izzy plays 2nd, kent moves to 1st. mueller and furcal stay put. izturis doesn't just have the TJ ligament issue, he has an arthritic condition on the bone as well, they claim that even after he recovers it is still a concern, and the shorter throw from 2nd might be a good idea as a permanent thing.

[GBrushTWood]

Re: Nomar Garciaparra to the Dodgers at 1B (1 y/$6M)

is anyone reading the articles...

pretty sure it was stated that they signed nomar as a 1B till izturis is back, and then he will move to the outfield. izzy plays 2nd, kent moves to 1st. mueller and furcal stay put. izturis doesn't just have the TJ ligament issue, he has an arthritic condition on the bone as well, they claim that even after he recovers it is still a concern, and the shorter throw from 2nd might be a good idea as a permanent thing.

So, then they move Kent to 1B and Garciaparra to the OF, a position he has never played? Or they move Kent to the OF, a position (I think) he has never played? Doesn't sound like a no brainer to me at all. It's that, or have Izturis as a bench/role player.

Anyway you slice it, somebody gets left out and becomes angry with the team for being put in a role they may not fit in. I don't think it is at all trivial to speculate on such an issue. The only way this doesn't become a factor is if one of them get hurt before Izturis returns. This is certainly possible, but to simply dismiss any notion of a problem is a bit ostrich-esque.

*Edit*

Ken Rosenthal adds this:

The issue is one the Dodgers do not need to address right away. By the time Izturis returns, it's possible that injury or ineffectiveness will create an infield opening. But Garciaparra emphasized during his negotiations that he wanted to play one position, rather than be shifted around. It's highly unlikely he would move to left field, another position he has never played, in the middle of a season.

[BGarrett7]

Re: Nomar Garciaparra to the Dodgers at 1B (1 y/$6M)

With the moves they have made this offseason, the Dodgers will be in last place for good by mid-May.

[rsox]

Re: Nomar Garciaparra to the Dodgers at 1B (1 y/$6M)

The Dodgers had to make a move regarding either First or Second Base. After trading Antonio Perez in the Milton Bradley deal the Dodgers would have been left with Oscar Robles at 2B and Kent at 1B (the Dodgers are likely going to non-tender Hee Seop Choi), at least now Kent can play 2B until Izturis is ready and Nomar at 1B. Nomar may be a defensive liability for a while but at least he gives them a much needed bat.