Hunter to Dodgers just makes sense
Yes, Hunter will be overpaid as a free agent — he turns 33 next season and could decline over the course of a long-term deal.
Andruw Jones, the other top center fielder on the market, is more than two years younger than Hunter. He is superior defensively, and until last season, was superior offensively, too. The problem with Jones, at least from the Dodgers' perspective, is that he lacks Hunter's presence.
Aaron Rowand, who is four months younger than Jones, offers intangibles similar to Hunter's, but is more a leader by example. By adding Hunter on top of manager Joe Torre, the Dodgers would improve their clubhouse culture dramatically. Declining veterans such as Jeff Kent and Nomar Garciaparra would lose stature. Brash youngsters such as Matt Kemp would learn to show more respect.
The Dodgers might even be more comfortable trading for Marlins third baseman Miguel Cabrera, whose dedication is in question. A deal for Cabrera might cost the team Kemp, but rest assured that the Dodgers would not again finish 10th in the National League in runs scored.
Picture this lineup:
Rafael Furcal
Juan Pierre
Cabrera
Kent
Hunter
James Loney
Russell Martin
Andre Ethier
General manager Ned Colletti, mindful that right-hander Jason Schmidt is coming off shoulder surgery, says his biggest priority is starting pitching. Fine, forget Cabrera and trade for Hunter's former Twins teammate, left-hander Johan Santana. The Dodgers have the prospects to pull it off.
The signing of Hunter would force Pierre to left field, with Kemp and/or Ethier in right. Hunter might not be as dynamic offensively playing his home games at Dodger Stadium. But for the Dodgers, a center fielder who has averaged 30 homers and 103 RBIs the past two seasons would be a modern-day Duke Snider.
It's almost too obvious.
The Dodgers should sign Hunter.
Relief market ready to erupt
The Phillies' signing of left-hander J.C. Romero to a three-year, $12 million contract was only the beginning. One general manager seeking bullpen help says those terms likely will be the minimum for a number of free-agent relievers.
Closer Francisco Cordero already has received a four-year offer from an unidentified team, the G.M. says, and set-up types such as right-handers Scott Linebrink, LaTroy Hawkins and David Riske as well as lefties Ron Mahay and Jeremy Affeldt figure to strike it rich.
Linebrink regressed in the final three months of last season, but it's easy to envision him reuniting with former Padres manager Bruce Bochy in San Francisco and becoming the Giants' closer.
Hawkins and another Rockies free-agent reliever, righty Matt Herges, also carry risk; neither is a high-strikeout pitcher, and the Rockies' defense was historically good last season by virtually every standard and sabermetric measure.
Affeldt, a left-hander, will draw interest regardless. Brian Fuentes, a Rockies reliever who is not a free agent, will be attractive to teams searching for left-handed relief help in a trade.
Take it, Mariano
The Yankees' three-year, $45-million offer to free-agent closer Mariano Rivera was more than generous. Rivera's $15 million average salary would dwarf that of the highest-paid closer, Billy Wagner, who is earning $10.75 million per season.
Rivera, who turns 38 later this month, mentioned possibly joining Joe Torre and the Dodgers to the Associated Press. The Dodgers wouldn't pay Rivera nearly as much as the Yankees, but the idea that they wouldn't have interest in him due to the presence of closer Takashi Saito is ridiculous.
Imagine a bullpen anchored by Jonathan Broxton, Saito and Rivera, one of the best closers in the history of the game. The Dodgers wouldn't need to worry about their rotation as much, would they?
A fitting farewell
Free-agent outfielder Geoff Jenkins showed class by purchasing a full-page ad thanking Brewers' fans in last Saturday's Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.
"Over the past 10 seasons, I've had the pleasure of playing in front of the best fans in the country," Jenkins wrote. "I thank you for all of your support and will always remember my time in Milwaukee. You have made me feel like a part of your community and those memories will last a lifetime."
The Cubs and Padres are among the teams showing interest in Jenkins, along with the Giants, Rangers and Royals.
Around the horn
The Tigers' payroll will surpass $115 million, according to a rival club's projection. The team began its off-season by exercising catcher Ivan Rodriguez's $13 million option. It then traded for shortstop Edgar Renteria, who will earn $9 million, and outfielder Jacque Jones, who will cost the Tigers $3 million with the Cubs contributing $2 million. Closer Todd Jones returned for $7 million, and the Tigers still want to keep left-hander Kenny Rogers, who earned $8 million last season...
The Mets, needing more of an ace than an innings-eater, are divided on whether to make a strong push for free-agent right-hander Livan Hernandez. The Cardinals and Astros are among the clubs that figure to show interest in Hernandez, who turns 33 in February. Hernandez, Glavine and Greg Maddux are the only major-league pitchers to make 30 or more starts in each of the past 10 seasons...
The biggest question for the Reds is whether to trade a young position player such as first baseman/outfielder Joey Votto for pitching when the contracts of outfielders Ken Griffey Jr. and Adam Dunn expire after this season. The Reds almost certainly will not move their top position prospect, outfielder Jay Bruce, but they could be open-minded on Josh Hamilton. Some executives believe that Hamilton's past substance abuse left his body more susceptible to injury and illness...
Free-agent first baseman Tony Clark, who turns 35 in June, could make an interesting pickup, particularly for an American League club. Clark, a switch-hitter, has hit 53 home runs in 702 at-bats over the past three seasons playing part-time for the Diamondbacks. After earning a mere $1.034 million in each of the past two seasons, he figures to seek increases in both money and playing time. The Blue Jays recently re-signed Matt Stairs — a player who outperformed Clark last season — to a two-year, $3.25 million contract. However, Stairs turns 40 in February...
One thing to keep in mind as the Twins ponder whether to trade Santana and the Orioles do the same with left-hander Erik Bedard: Top starting pitchers are always in demand at the non-waiver deadline, and virtually every contender would be interested. The market generally is more limited for top hitters at the deadline; not every team will have a need at the required position.
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