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Ken Rosenthal reports via Twitter that the Dodgers are close to signing outfielder Reed Johnson.

Johnson, 33, hit .255/.330/.412 with the Cubs last season, seeing time at all three outfield positions, though primarily in center field. He was limited to just 65 games as a result of a fractured left foot.

Jon’s Take: Not bad at all, if done for the right price. A left-handed bat in Garret Anderson sounded tempting, but in the end, I really doubt he would have come to the Dodgers.

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Today, we complete our trip Around the Nation in Right Field. Andre Ethier, was also the run away winner of the poll question for the past week. Dodgers Nation feels that he indeed will have the biggest impact on the club for the 2010 season, amongst all of the recent signees.

Right Field:

Incumbent: Andre Ethier
Age: 27
Last Year’s Contract: $3,100,000
Contract Status: Signed a 2-yr/$15.25 M deal on 1/20/10. Receives $6 M in 2010, and $9.25 M in 2011. Arbitration eligible in 2012. Free Agent in 2013.
Stats: .297 AVG, 26 HR, 101 RBI, .352 OBP, .842 OPS.

Analysis: Where were you on December 13, 2005? Chances are that you do not remember. Chances are that you wonder why I ask? Let me remind you. The Dodgers had just endured another disastrous year with then right fielder Milton Bradley. After weeks of negotiations, the Dodgers finally came up on an agreement with the Oakland A’s, to unload Bradley, along with second baseman Antonio Perez, in exchange for Andre Ethier. The initial reaction for A’s fans was: EITHER (Yes, many spelled it like that at first) TO THE DODGERS FOR BRADLEY!! YES!!!! The feeling was that as long as it was not Daric Barton, they were okay. The reaction of Dodgers fans was similar, but not so positive.

Time passed by, and Ethier only got better. When he got called up to the Dodgers in 2006, there was no looking back. Not only did he gain many fans, who cheer him on endlessly to this day, but he gained a permanent spot on the team. That year, in 126 games, Ethier posted a line of .308/11/55.

Initially, Ethier played in left field, as the Dodgers had much need for a decent left fielder, who would allow ex-Dodger Juan Pierre to play in his native center field. Ethier would continue to shift between left and right field up until the acquisition of Manny Ramirez. This would send Pierre to the bench, and Matt Kemp to center field, so that Ethier could man his position in right.

In 2009, much had been spoken about how Ethier has taken a hit in the batting average column, so that he could hit more for power. The end result was a line of .272/31/105. Let’s take a look at how all this came about month-by-month:

• April: .306 BA, 5 HR, 22 RBI, .423 OBP, .553 SLG, .976 OPS
• May: .211 BA, 1 HR, 8 RBI, .306 OBP, .295 SLG, .601 OPS
• June: .268 BA, 9 HR, 22 RBI, .333 OBP, .619 SLG, .952 OPS
• July: .287 BA, 6 HR, 14 RBI, .363 OBP, .545 SLG, .907 OPS
• August: .333 BA, 6 HR, 21 RBI, .411 OBP, .623 SLG, 1.034 OPS
• September: .212 BA, 4 HR, 18 RBI, .304 OBP, .394 SLG, .698 OPS

For every great month that Ethier had, he followed it up with a bad month. The special thing about Andre is that where he may lacks hitting for average, he makes up for by driving in runs.

For the record, in the postseason, Ethier hit .500, with 2 home runs against the Cardinals. However, against the Phillies, Ethier hit just .270, with a home run.

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Jon’s Take: When the Dodgers made the trade for Ethier, I thought that he had some upside, but otherwise would transition into a fourth outfielder, with some pop. I never envisioned him leading the team in home runs and RBIs.

Many people talk about how a player performs his best at age 27. I beg to differ that notion with Ethier. I feel that he is a young 27, who has yet to reach his peak. I expect him to continue his breakout season in 2010, but with a better batting average.

The Dodgers control Andre until at least 2013. By then, expect him to be locked into a long term deal that keeps him a Dodger until well into his mid-30s, or approximately 2018.

Sound off Dodgers Nation! Comment on Andre the Giant.

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Dodgers Nation Posts/Rumors via SMS Text Message!

Last month we ran a contest for your thoughts! One of our members Mikey requested text messages updates for rumors. We’re happy to announce we have implemented that request!

To sign up for text messages you can use the widget (on the right side of the website) right below the Polls or simply click here. Once you enter your information you’ll receive a text message with a verification code. Simply enter that code on the next screen and you’re up and running. We hope you enjoy the latest feature here at Dodgers Nation!

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Dodgers Nation Adds Cell Phone Friendly Version

Have you visited DodgersNation.com and had to wait for the long loading time? Or maybe your cell phone doesn’t even load the web site properly. Well, so are we! Now, when you visit Dodgers Nation from your cell phone, you’ll be greeted with a quick and clean layout!


The follow cell phone user-agents are compatible:
android, aspen, blackberry9500, blackberry9530, cupcake, dream, incognito, iphone, ipod, opera mini, webmate, webos

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Dodgers and Brad Ausmus Come To Terms

Dylan Hernandez reports, “The Dodgers have agreed to a new deal with backup catcher Brad Ausmus, according to a source who spoke on the condition of anonymity.”

Update:
Ausmus’ deal Includes a mutual option for 2011. He will earn a base salary of $850k.

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Dodgers and Ronnie Belliard Agree to Terms (825K 1 year deal)

The Dodgers have signed Ronnie Belliard for 825K (250K available in incentives). I like this signing more so than I do the Jamey Carroll.  Belliard hit  .351/.398/.636 for the Dodgers coming via the trade deadline last year and took over where Orlando Hudson left off.

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MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick is reporting that the Dodgers have come to an agreement with Vicente Padilla on a 1-year deal worth $4 million dollars.

Padilla, 32, was solid for the Dodgers in the few outings he had with the team after coming over from the Texas Rangers. He expressed much happiness with the ball club, which in the end played a huge role in his returning to the club.

Padilla was 12-6, with a 4.46 ERA in 2009. While with the Dodgers, he was 4-0, with a 3.20 ERA.

Jon’s Take: How about taking a chance on Ben Sheets? If Sheets works out, the Dodgers will have a deadly staff, featuring three possible aces (Kershaw/Billingsley.) If not, at worst you have Sheets for a year as your fifth starter. Not too bad, right?

The Dodgers have been quite busy in the past week, signing much of their young core to deals that avoided arbitration. The following is a list of players who have signed:

• Andre Ethier: 2-yr/$15 M: $6 M in 2010; $9.25 M in 2011. Team holds rights to Ethier through 2012 season. Once contract is finished, they can negotiate a new deal with him.
• Jonathan Broxton: 2-yr/$11 M, plus escalators: $4 M in 2010; $7 M in 2011, plus can earn up to $500,000 extra if he finishes 68 games, or finishes first in the Rolaids Relief Man award. Finishing 64 games, or second in the Rolaids standings earns him $400,000. 60 games, or third place equals $300,000. 56 games, or fourth place equals $200,000. 53 games, or fifth place equals $100,000. The escalators are not cumulative. To give an idea, Broxton finished in 58 games, and was third in the standings behind Heath Bell and Ryan Franklin. Thus, he’d receive $300,000 for finishing in third.
• Russell Martin: 1-yr/$5.05 M
• George Sherrill: 1-yr/$4.5 M, plus incentives
• James Loney: 1-yr/$3.1 M
• Hong-Chih Kuo: 1-yr/$950 K
• Matt Kemp: 2-yr/$11 M: $4 M in 2010; $6.95 M in 2011
• Chad Billingsley: 1-yr/$3.85 M

Jon’s Take: Special thanks to Cisco Cee for the heads up a few days ago on the signings. These signings are genius. The Dodgers give multi-year deals to players who have already proven themselves in Kemp, Ethier, and Broxton. The rest of the bunch have something to prove next year. If they show up, they will be rewarded handsomely next off-season. If they do not perform, they will be back in arbitration earning considerably less. Kuo had a decent comeback, but injuries have dropped his value.

TOTAL SPENT: $31,450,000 in 2010 on 8 players; $23,200,000 in 2011 on 3 players to this point.

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Sources are reporting that the Dodgers have signed Matt Kemp and Chad Billingsley, avoiding arbitration with the two players.

Kemp signs for 2 years/$11 million.

Billingsley gets 1 year/$3.85 million.

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In lieu of the news that the Dodgers are progressing on a 2-year deal for Matt Kemp, it is time to take a look at the Dodgers’ young superstar.

Center Field:

Incumbent: Matt Kemp
Age: 25
Last Year’s Contract: $467,000
Contract Status: 2010-12: Arbitration Eligible; 2013: Free Agent
Stats: .297 AVG, 26 HR, 101 RBI, .352 OBP, .842 OPS.

Analysis: We go from a player in Manny Ramirez that offers the Dodgers much uncertainty as far as what you are going to get to a player in Matt Kemp that is as consistent as they get. In 2006 there was much talk about the Jacksonville 5 (a group of Dodgers’ top prospects consisting of Chad Billingsley, Andy LaRoche, Joel Guzman, Russell Martin, and Jonathan Broxton.) coming up to the Dodgers organization and making an impact. Three of the five would make it to the Dodgers permanently. LaRoche went off to Pittsburgh, and Guzman off to Tampa Bay. However, one name that wasn’t apart of that group was Matt Kemp. Kemp at the time was at Single-A Vero Beach and was absolutely tearing it up. As a matter of fact, he tore it up at every level. He showed that he was THE example of a five-tool player. Let’s take a look at his numbers in the minors:

• 2003: (18) Gulf Coast Dodgers: 43 G, .270 BA, 1 HR, 17 RBI, 2 SB, 1 CS, .985 FLD
• 2004: (19) A & A_Advanced: 122 G, .293 BA, 18 HR, 75 RBI, 10 SB, 8 CS, .964 FLD
• 2005: (20) A_Advanced Vero Beach: 109 G, .306 BA, 26 HR, 90 RBI, 23 SB, 6 CS, .976 FLD
• 2006: (21) AA: 48 G, .327 BA, 7 HR, 34 RBI, 11 SB, 2 CS, .981 FLD
  AAA: 44 G, .368 BA, 3 HR, 36 RBI, 14 SB, 3 CS, .990 FLD
• 2007: (22) AAA: 39 G, .329 BA, 4 HR, 20 RBI, 9 SB, 2 CS, .990 FLD

Eventually the conversation would switch from Guzman being the Dodgers top hitting prospect over to Kemp. Kemp would show that some work was still needed in a brief big league stint in 2006. Kemp showed impatience at the plate, striking out 53 times in 154 at-bats. He also would show signs of lacking discipline as he would have difficulty controlling his speed on the base-paths, running right through stop signs given to him by third base coaches.

He’d end up in the minors to start 2007, but as they say: “It’s not where you begin, it’s where you end up that matters.” That’s exactly what happened to Matt. He posted decent numbers in Las Vegas, and was called up in June. Kemp would go on to shine in ‘07 in 98 games by hitting .342/10/42.

In 2008, Kemp showed us all about that speed we had heard so much about in the minors. By now, you all know that in high school, Kemp was also a standout basketball player, who had a scholarship to play at the University of Oklahoma for then coach, Kelvin Sampson. However, he turned that down to play baseball with the Dodgers. That athleticism translated to a freakish athlete who would hit 18 home runs and steal 35 bases in 2008, en route to the Dodgers going all the way to the NLCS.

This past season the Dodgers knew that the outfield was set with Kemp, Ethier, and Ramirez. What they didn’t know was just that Ramirez wouldn’t be the star of the bunch. Matt Kemp made a strong case to be the star in 2009, batting .297/26/101. Kemp was hitting in the .320s for most of the season, but a slide in September dropped the average. Let’s take a look at his month by month production:

• April: .325 BA, 3 HR, 16 RBI, 5 SB, 1 CS, .402 OBP, .990 OPS
• May: .292 BA, 3 HR, 14 RBI, 7 SB, 1 CS, .355 OBP, .762 OPS
• June: .305 BA, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 7 SB, 1 CS, .350 OBP, .823 OPS
• July: .344 BA, 3 HR, 18 RBI, 3 SB, 1 CS, .423 OBP, .923 OPS
• August: .313 BA, 9 HR, 27 RBI, 6 SB, 3 CS, .342 OBP, .976 OPS
• September: .241 BA, 4 HR, 14 RBI, 6 SB, 1 CS, .281 OBP, .679 OPS

What a season by Kemp. He would add a fielding percentage of .986 to his long list of impressive stats in 2009. His strikeout problems have decreased a bit, but are understandable for a power hitter. He struck out 139 times in 667 plate appearances.

The season would be capped off by Kemp finishing 10th in the National League MVP voting. He would be awarded a Gold Glove, and a Silver Slugger award for the first time.

At the beginning of the off-season in 2009, there were rumblings about the Dodgers trying to sign an extension with Matt Kemp and avoid salary arbitration. At first, the word was that Kemp would rather take his contract year-by-year. However, as of a few days ago, sources have revealed that Kemp is close to signing a two-year extension, that would take him to the end of the 2011 season (he’ll be 27, a.k.a. statistically the best year of a player’s career). Stay tuned. Details are sure to come later today.

Jon’s Take: A special player such as Matt Kemp doesn’t come around every day. The Dodgers were even more fortunate that their 6th round pick in the 2003 Amateur Draft was spent on Kemp. The #1 pick that year was Minnesota Twin outfielder, Delmon Young. I’d take Kemp over Young. As a matter of fact, the only player drafted in the top 10 that year that I might THINK about taking over Kemp, is Oriole outfielder Nick Markakis. Check out the list HERE. For those wondering, the Dodgers drafted Chad Billingsley with their first pick (24th) that year.

The Dodgers were patient with Kemp, and held on to Kemp, as his name surfaced in trade talks, and demands (example: Roy Halladay). Kemp may not be a cheap signing for this 2-year deal, but he will be worth every penny. Nobody will go out on the field and hustle harder than Kemp has done for the Dodgers.

Sound off Dodgers Nation! What are your thoughts on Kemp?

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