Hotmail
Sources: Dodgers seek Pirates SS, balk at price
MLB Hot Stove
Ken Rosenthal and our MLB crew have you covered. Check out all the news and notes from the hot stove.
|
The Pirates, who are discussing Wilson with several teams, wanted Dodgers shortstop Chin-Lung Hu, outfielder Delwyn Young and a third young player, sources say.
The teams spoke as recently as Monday, according to one source, but currently are at an impasse. The Dodgers first tried to obtain Wilson in early July, when Furcal was recovering from back surgery. It was then that the Pirates expressed their initial interest in Hu.
Wilson, signed for $7.25 million next season with an $8.4 million club option for 2010, would fit for the Dodgers as a short-term bridge to the organization's top shortstop prospect, Ivan DeJesus Jr.
The Dodgers, however, are not willing to pay a high price in prospects or dollars for Wilson, who is a below-average offensive player.
On the free-agent front, they are showing mild interest in free-agent shortstop Edgar Renteria but not Orlando Cabrera, believing that Cabrera would require too long a contract, sources say.
In addition to shortstop, the Dodgers are trying to fill holes at third base and left field, as well as in their starting rotation and bullpen. They could open next season with Angel Berroa and Hu at short, with DeJesus possibly joining the club at mid-season.
The Tigers also are showing interest in Wilson, but can not offer a major-league ready shortstop at the level of Hu, a gifted defender who has batted only .193 in his 145 major-league at-bats.
Furcal appears headed to the A's, Giants or an unidentified third club. The Dodgers are balking at giving him a four-year deal, and so far have made only an inquiry on Renteria.
Cabrera is drawing interest from four clubs, while Renteria continues to talk with the Giants and other teams. The Cardinals, Orioles, Tigers, Indians and Blue Jays are among the other clubs with possible or definite needs at short.
Wilson, who turns 32 on Dec. 29, is not a worthy offensive replacement for Furcal — his career on-base percentage is .312 while his career slugging mark is .375. His defense, however, remains strong.
The Dodgers, operating on a number of fronts, have made a bid to retain free-agent outfielder Manny Ramirez, continue to talk with free-agent third baseman Casey Blake and are expected to make a run at free-agent left-hander CC Sabathia.
Member Comments
and P.S.-I don't think the "long suffering Prates fans" have many tears left to cry anyway. Sad story for such a great franchise to keep giving away players anytime they get successful enough to actually merit a big money contract (see Xavier Nedy, Jason Bay, etc.)
11/29/2008 0:39:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Why waste time with Wilson when we already have a good defensive shortstop with weak offense in Berroa? Sorry UnckScrew, but the Pirates want a little too much if they think they can get Hu, Delwyn Yound AND a third player for Wilson.<br />Legendary's got it right, manny, 3rd base, and pitching for the Dodgers and it won't make much difference as long as we have a solid SS like Berroa in there.
11/29/2008 0:35:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Personally, as one of those long-suffering Pirates fans, if the Dodgers don't want to pay the price for Jumping Jack Flash, we here in Pgh. won't shed one single tear over him returning next year. The only way we're getting rid of Wilson is if we get a bonafide ML shortstop in return. If Dodger fans think so little of Jack Wilson, I invite them to peruse MLB.com and YouTube for highlights of his skill at turning the DP.
UnclScrewtape11/27/2008 18:02:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
The only way the Dodgers will be successful is if they fire Colletti and McCourt sells the team.
ByeByeKobe11/27/2008 10:23:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
They might as well just put Berroa in there instead of trade for Wilson, he is just as good defensively and was starting to hit at the end of the year. It really doesn't matter though because the Dodgers aren't going anywhere. Apparently it would feel "weird" to see the Dodgers pay someone right now, free agency has barely started and the Dodgers are already making me apathetic.
ByeByeKobe11/27/2008 10:21:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
if they can't keep Raffy, Berroa & Hu are good enough until DeJesus comes up.<br /><br />focus on 3rd base, pitching and MANNY.
11/26/2008 7:08:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Show me another SS who can carry Wilson's "strap" to the position. Best defensive stop in either league. Hitting? Put him in a lineup with quality players and he has as much going for him as anybody. But, then again, the Dodger lineup wouldn't be much of a change from Pittsburgh.
P3811/26/2008 6:13:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Resign maddux as player-coach, leave hu at ss and bring jesus up dureing season. sign pettitte, cc, and resign manny. Move Cory Wade into the rotation. But what do i know LOL
fm5215111/26/2008 4:57:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Why give up so much, ab played good d at short in furcals absents, ok he needs to work on the hitting but face it he was the starting ss most of the 2nd 1/2 and they made the playoffs, if hes cheap labor, save the money for manram, maybe he can work with ab on that on base % thing.
sr.advisor11/25/2008 23:35:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Javk Wilson sucks! Spend he money on Furcal. Even if he gets hurt he is still a better buy the Andrew Jones and Schmidt!
Dodgerblue198311/25/2008 21:55:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Dodgers should try and keep Furcal but if he is out of the question then wilson seems like a good enough fit.
ScottStebbs11/25/2008 16:29:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Keep Raffy!! Go 3 years and he'll stay. By the time his contract is up, Ivan should be ready especially being mentored by Raffy. <br />Jack Wilson? I didnt understand it last season yet alone to start off the '09 season.
BLEEDBLUE142011/25/2008 16:27:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
First!!! Manny Ramirez, CC Sabathia, Rafael Furcal........ and we are talking about freakin' Jack Wilson!! What the hell!!!
thething111/25/2008 16:08:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
advertisement
