Dodgers Reportedly Close to Signing Free Agent Utility Player
The Dodgers appear to have made a Winter Meetings move, but likely not one that you were hoping for. Andrew Friedman and his front office are notorious for taking flyers on players by offering them minor league contracts, and he’s nabbed another.
It was reported by The OC Register’s JP Hoornstra today that the Dodgers are closing in on signing utility player Carlos Asuaje. Asuaje has been a bit of a journeyman since he was drafted by the Red Sox in 2013. His only Major League time was served with the Padres from 2016 to 2018.
Sources: the Dodgers are close to finalizing an agreement with journeyman utility player Carlos Asuaje on a minor-league contract.
— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) December 11, 2020
Asuaje has spent the last couple of years bouncing around the minor league system and even playing in the Korean Baseball Organization. The Cubs last signed him to a minor-league deal in January before cutting him loose in May. The Dodgers could be looking for depth, or they really could be looking for their Enrique Hernandez replacement.
Asuaje has never quite played to the level that Hernandez did, but his defensive versatility is where his value is found. The Dodgers have made it clear over the years that they prefer players that can play multiple positions, and it has paid off in a huge way.
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What??? Bring a mediocre journeyman in to replace the best utility player in baseball? Just make a decent offer to Kike and move forward. Again, What???
This guy is just organizational depth. Not guaranteed any major-league time, and doubt we’ll see much of him, if at all. Kiki and Joc will sign where they have legitimate shots at starting roles, as they should. Sure, they were excellent bench guys while they were in team control, but now they can seek better opportunities on teams that are not so loaded like the Dodgers. They are in their prime years, and getting stuck behind guys who are better than they are is not in their professional or financial interests.
Except you would have said the exact same thing when the dodgers brought in Kike Hernandez, who was a total unknown fringe player, to replace the more popular Dodger veterans at second base
Me thinks other teams are making a better offer than a “decent offer”, and the Dodgers know that…
what the hell do dodgers need a utility player when the have kika & christ,2 of the best.offer kika a contract that will keep him l.a.
Kike is a better buy! Kike is Clutch in the pinch hitter spot too!
Asuaje is not replacing Kike. He’s minor league depth, that’s it.
Keep Kiki if you can. Good team mate and can be clutch!
Save your money on these nonsense picks! Get someone who will make an immediate impact!