Dodgers Need to Be a Money Player

It is easy to understand how the Dodgers might view this as another winter trapped in a dilemma of dollars and sense.

Money talks, and what it’s saying is that any attempt to add the run-producing hitter the Dodgers desperately needed this season and the rotation insurance that now seems imperative for 2003 could be impeded by those inflated, inflexible and seemingly immovable contracts plaguing the roster.

Money talks, and what it’s saying is that with 12 players already guaranteed $95 million next year, with the Dodgers facing increased revenue sharing and a possible payroll tax and reluctant to exceed this year’s payroll of $105 million, with the farm system still being rebuilt, how are they going to bid for a free-agent hitter of the Jim Thome or Jeff Kent magnitude? And where would they play with first baseman Eric Karros and second baseman Mark Grudzielanek expensively under contract for another year and the trade market on both likely to be about as bullish as the Nasdaq?

Well, yes, the dollars do talk, but the sense of it is that they can’t really afford not to pursue a big-time hitter, and isn’t Kent the most realistic choice?

The Dodgers packed Sunday amid the painful images of the celebrating San Francisco Giants. There was no solace in 92 wins--their most since 1991--or the knowledge that they had proved again that the games of April are as important as those of September.

If the Dodgers hadn’t opened the season with those three straight losses to the Giants at Dodger Stadium they might have been packing for a playoff opener in Atlanta instead of making tee times.

It could also be said that if they hadn’t competed most of September with almost a complete rotation--Kevin Brown, Darren Dreifort, Kazuhisa Ishii and Andy Ashby--sidelined by injury, they might have survived an offense that provides the biggest if.

If the Dodgers hadn’t led the National League in runners left on base or finished 11th in home runs or eighth in runs or next-to-last in on-base percentage, they probably would have won the NL West even with the pitching injuries.

“In this ballpark, in this league, our focus will always be pitching and defense,” General Manager Dan Evans said. “No Dodger team has ever outslugged anyone in our ballpark.

“Having said that, we knew going in that our offense wouldn’t be among the league’s strongest, and we know it’s something we have to address.”

The Dodgers, of course, would prefer a less expensive route than free agency, than buying into another multiyear contract, but given their roster and position and trade limitations, given the absence of farm help, what choice does Evans have?

With the names of free agents such as Edgardo Alfonzo and Todd Zeile already floating around Dodger Stadium, Kent’s can’t be ignored.

“Jeff is going to explore the market and would be flattered to be considered by the Dodgers,” said Jeff Klein, his New York-based agent.

That was as far as Klein would go, considering the second baseman is still wearing a Giant uniform.

However, a person familiar with Kent and the situation said, “There’s great synergy between the Dodger needs and Jeff’s capability. There’s a lot of plusses to it. The Dodgers are committed to winning and Jeff knows the division and grew up in the area [attending Huntington Beach Edison High]. In addition, while his choice would be to remain at second, he has improved significantly at first base and can also play third.”

Those options are important, but it’s his bat that’s more attractive.

Kent is the only second baseman in history to have driven in 100 or more runs for six straight seasons, 108 this year. He has emerged from a big second half with 37 homers and a .313 average entering the playoffs--and shouldn’t the Dodgers salivate at the idea of stripping the hated Giants of Kent’s production and depriving the Braves, who will be looking for a second baseman, of a shot at him?

“Ideally,” said a Dodger official, “we’d like to improve the right side of the infield, but it’s going to be a challenge.”

It is hard, for example, to see the Dodgers simply releasing Karros and swallowing the $8 million he is owed next year, and it is hard to see anyone trading for a soon-to-be 35-year-old first baseman who will be coming off shoulder surgery, who hit only 13 home runs and who also could be owed a $9-million option or $1-million buyout in 2004.

It is also hard to see teams jumping at Grudzielanek. In an era of power-hitting middle infielders, he batted .271 with nine home runs and 50 runs batted in.

In contrast to Karros, however, there could be a modest market for Grudzielanek if the Dodgers pick up some of the $5.5 million he is owed next year.

The math isn’t easy.

The Dodgers have $26 million tied up in Brown and Dreifort with no assurance they will be anything more than relief pitchers next year, if that.

Ashby is owed $8 million and Ishii $2.2 million, and if there aren’t lingering physical questions with both, neither was a model of consistency in 2003.

In addition, Eric Gagne and Dave Roberts are in line for significant raises, and Odalis Perez and Adrian Beltre are arbitration-eligible.

So much for the $10 million the Dodgers will save if Omar Daal and Marquis Grissom leave as expected.

Beltre, of course, represents the club’s most marketable commodity, but despite the Dodgers’ frustration with his inconsistency and focus at times, he did hit 21 home runs and drive in 75 runs, and there is a considerable risk trading a 23-year-old player with his ceiling.

There also is a possibility that the Dodgers will find themselves with a $9-million windfall next year if Brian Jordan exercises his right to demand a trade. However, Jordan may decide there is too much uncertainty in that right, and the Dodgers, impressed by his leadership and clutch hitting down the stretch, may buy out his trade rights by guaranteeing his $10.5-million option for 2004.

How would Kent, who made $6 million this year and whom Barry Bonds recently urged the Giants to re-sign despite their tenuous relationship, fit into the equation, considering he is likely to seek a three- or four-year contract at $8 million to $12 million a year?

Well, what price do the Dodgers put on closing that narrow gap between 92 wins and the playoffs?

How can they look at their offensive numbers and not choose to provide Shawn Green with better protection in a strengthened lineup.

“We’re going to have to be creative,” said Evans, speaking generally, “but nobody thought we’d be able to do the amount of things we did last winter.”

Evans basically managed to revise the chemistry and composition in an executive-of-the-year performance.

Now he needs another hitter and another pitcher, and if he has an ear cocked to hear how loud money is talking, his other might pick up the persistent staccato of Jeff Kent’s bat.