Editorials

Dodgers Rumors: Dodgers Look At Victorino, Pence, Soriano, LaHair, Morneau

The Dodgers are in the hunt for an impact bat and front-line pitcher before the trade deadline. They have interest in many players, but only three days left to complete trades. The desired location for a player is outfield, first base, and possibly even third base.

Let’s review the ones that the Dodgers have recently been discussing with other clubs.

Outfielders:

There are three main outfield targets that are possibilities in Shane Victorino , Hunter Pence, and Alfonso Soriano.

Each one of these players represent the same need, however the cost to acquire and length of contracts differ greatly.

Let’s take a look:
[table caption=”Comparing Outfielders”] Player,Age, Yearly Salary, FA Date,HR, RBI,AVG, SB,wOBA,WAR
Victorino,31,$9.5M,2013,8, 39,.256,23,.320,2.2
Pence,29,$10.4M,2014,17,59,.267,4,.337,1.2
Soriano,36,$18M,2015,19,59,.274,2,.351,2.8
[/table]

All players stand out as an upgrade in the outfield in terms of power, defense, and overall value. Soriano and Pence get the long ball more, while Victorino’s speed sets him far apart in terms of stolen bases.

It comes down the cost. It’s already been discussed that Victorino would cost Josh Lindblom. The Cubs’ desire is to get a return of better prospects in exchange for Soriano, while eating all but $2M of his salary. While, Pence is the target that would cost the most in terms of prospects to acquire.

First Basemen:

The one and only reason we still see James Loney playing first base so often is because of his defense. He offers no speed or power to this lineup and has had a terrible first half of the season. That said, the Dodgers are looking a few possible upgrades at first base.

Back to the tables:

[table caption=”Comparing Infielders”] Player,Age, Yearly Salary, FA Date,HR, RBI,AVG,wOBA,WAR
LaHair,29,$482K,2018,14,31,.272,.353,1.1
Morneau,31,$14M,2014,12,44,.256,.326,0.4
[/table]

Judging from the table above you might be attracted to LaHair. He’s very cheap in terms of salary and under team control until 2018.

But if you take away his great April, you have someone whose power and average have dropped off the map.

Morneau on the other hand hasn’t flashed the same power that he did early in the season. However, his average has gone up over the months and he’s hitting to the tune of .307 AVG over the month of July.

Verdict:

If the Dodgers are only able to get one player from the list above, it would be pretty simple. I would go with Hunter Pence. With James Loney hitting .328 over the month of July, we have a bigger need to upgrade our outfield. Pence is an overall great player and would fit perfect in our outfield through next season while we wait for the arrival of Yasiel Puig.

[poll id=”146″]

Staff Writer

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13 Comments

  1. I’d be happy with Pence or Soriano, and keep Rivera at 1b for now. Or better yet, let’s get Pence/Soriano AND Morneaux! We could use them both! I’d pass on Victorino. I’d like to pour another beer on his head like those nutty cubs fans.

    1. I second that! Pence rather than soriano (just for age reasons if we are building a team not just a run at the title this year) and while id take shane i too would like to pour a beer on him lol…

  2. I think the smarter option would be Soriano, for several reasons. While he has never been known as a defensive player, Soriano has 0 errors this season. Secondly, Kemp and Ethier are locks at CF and RF, meaning that in choosing an outfielder, a primarily LF would be preferred, which Soriano is a LF.Now, the three biggest reasons why Soriano would be the best option:1.) His power numbers and WAR are the best of any of the 5 player mentioned.2.) Chicago is willing to eat $16M of the $18M.3.) If it’s a matter of waiting for Puig to come up, why would we get Pence who is under control until 2018? Either Pence or Puig would become expendable. Soriano is the oldest player on here, so he has only about 1 or 2 good-decent seasons left, which is pretty much all we need before Puig arrives. Soriano would be pretty much a rental, which is what we need- a stop-gap player.

      1. DMoore21 – I’d eat more salary to lessen the package going back. Assuming that’s an option.

  3. Soriano would be killer for 2 years. No one would know how to pitch to this lineup anymore. It is true that the Dodgers have Puig who is likely to be ready by then If not then you use Soriano like they have used Abreu and Rivera while Puig is adjusting to major leagues. This guy can hit and hit for power. How would anyone pitch around the Dodger lineup with him in it??

  4. I think the Dodgers are waiting to see if they can get Pence or Choo. If that fails, they’ll accept the Demspter + Soriano deal.

  5. If you look at 2013 free agent outfielders it seems that pulling the trigger now makes more sense. Soriano is on target for 30 homers and 100 RBI. He has always been a great player and doesn’t seem to be on the downslide. He is a perfect for the the next two years. If they go for Pence what do you do with him when Puig shows up in 2 years? Pence would cost prospects now, Soriano wouldn’t. He is the best fit. It then leaves just finding a power first baseman. Getting Dempster along with having Lilly and DeLa Rosa coming back will leave few missing pieces going forward.

    1. Agreed! BUT Why are we banking on Puig already… Understood he is a great player but 2 years is a long time at the major league level. This new ownership group said we will compete NOW, not lets continue to add players in the tail end of their career. Pence is proven and would bring intense heat to a heated Kemp, Ethier, and Ramirez in the middle of that order… This makes them instant favorites in the NL west but most importantly keep Pence out of ATT park… Thoughts?

      1. Aevalenz dod2002 – We invested a ton in Puig, but not with expectations of starting him any time soon.  But you never know. That said, I think the two top targets are Pence and Choo, both are under control one more year and thats about the window for Puig.

  6. I don’t see the Dodgers banking on Puig now. It is true they just signed him but that does now he is ready now. He probably needs time to get up to speed and that timing is probably two years realistically not next year. I doubt LA has the pieces to get Pence anyway

  7. Frank McCourt spent the least amount on minor league prospects of ALL major league teams. It is nor realistic to think about Pence and Choo. They do not have the chess pieces to trade for Choo and Pence. Soriano and Dempster is realistically a possibility. Lee Webster and Castellanos would not get Pence AND Choo.

    1. dod2002 – not both, one or the other. We only have 1 OF spot available.I think the reason we haven’t completed a deal for dempster yet, is because we are still waiting to see if we can get Choo or Pence. Otherwise we’d pull the trigger on Dempster and Soriano ….just my opinion.

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