The Los Angeles Dodgers signed veteran lefty reliever Will Ohman to a one year deal worth 1.35 million today plus incentives and a 2010 option. Since Ohman is signing so late in the offseason he is agreeing to start the season in Albuquerque to get his work in before being called up after a week or so. My thoughts on the deal:
- Considering Joe Beimel signed for 2 million with the Nationals a few weeks back, this deal is pretty good. In virtually all ways Ohman was better than Beimel last year. Relievers tend to fluctuate year to year but both guys are the same age (both turn 32 during the 2009 season) so their decline should be similar. Ohman struck out 53 batters in 58 2/3 innings last year compared to 32 in 49 innings for Beimel. Ohman also held lefties to a .200/.257/.314 line (for those not familiar I will use the triple slash formula where Batting Average is the first number, On-Base Percentage is the second number, and Slugging Percentage is the third). Beimel, by comparison, held lefties to a .278/.330/.311 batting line. So Ohman was better and comes cheaper than Beimel. Ohman also allowed fewer inherited baserunners to score than Beimel, although that could have been a one year fluke.
- My issue with the deal is this: The Dodgers constantly feel the need to spend money on bit players when they have suitable young players making the minimum salary who could fill in and either perform the same as or even outperform these "proven vets". This year they spent 2.35 million on Guillermo Mota and his 4.30 ERA. They spent 1 million for Brad Ausmus to get 80 at-bats while backing up Russell Martin. And now they pay Ohman 1.35 million to pitch maybe 50 innings as a situational lefty. The constant need for veteran leadership baffles me. I want talent and I'll take it regardless if it comes with veteran leadership. The Dodgers easily could have plugged in Ramon Troncoso and his league minimum salary to fill Mota's spot. Danny Ardoin could probably out-hit Ausmus and he is making the league minimum. And Scott Elbert, who has explosive stuff, could have filled in for Ohman while making the minimum also. I understand these deals won't make or break the Dodgers. However, in a horrible economy where teams are afraid of spending money, the money should be spent on impact players. Valuable young players are an asset that should be taken advantage of. Wasting them while filling their spots with recycled veterans makes me mad. I hope these guys prove me wrong. I have a feeling they won't. We shall see as the season starts. One thing is for certain... It feels good talking about the Dodgers again.
Beimel had always been a great reliever for the Dodgers, and I think he could have fulfilled the call of duty, but Torre mismanaged him. He is more than just a situational one batter kind of pitcher, he can take a couple innings if we needed him to. I might be in the minority, but I think Torre is over rated and can't manage a bull pen to save his life. And as much as I couldn't stand Penny by the time he left, why not sign him for a year? I feel like our pitching has undergone quite the overhaul which makes me a little shakey to be honest with you.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree with you on the Torre mismanaging Beimel. Grady Little used Beimel as a regular reliever and he thrived while Torre used him as a specialist which he wasn't. I loved Joe Beimel so it's said to see him go. And ya our pitching has gone through an overhaul which makes it necessary for J-Mac and Clayton Kershaw (Clayshaw) to have big years. Torre is overrated for sure.
ReplyDeleteI really don't mind these sorts of personnel moves, given the volatility of relievers. Better for guys like Tron Tron and Elbert to be down in the minors seeing if they can be starters and then calling them up if you need them. Still, I agree as to Torre and his handling of pitchers as he tends to stick with the PVL when their performance indicates other than his gut. Bob Hendley
ReplyDeleteYa it's true that it creates depth. I just worry about Elbert's elbow as a starter and Troncoso has never really been a starter although his power sinker makes me think he can be a Fausto Carmona type as a starter.
ReplyDeleteOf course, Tron Tron started out as a starter, but may have been pushed up too quickly got bombed and may have lost his confidence. They did stretch him out in winter ball, though his ST has not been very impressive. Given the value of starters relative to relievers, I think we also need to see a bit more of Elbert in that role. Bob Hendley
ReplyDeleteYa Ramon really struggled this spring. He is still young enough to make the transformation to starter though. I really love his hard sinker and his breaking ball can be very good when he is on point.
ReplyDeleteStarters are way more valuable than relievers, but I just have doubts that Elbert can hold up there so I would rather have him help us in the pen this year. Then again if he can stay healthy while stretching himself out in the minors I really think he could be an intriguing option. It would give us two young power lefties in the rotation.
solid pickup, good depth for the bullpen and gives them another lefty besides Kuo
ReplyDeleteHey Vinnie - just heard about your blog from Adam's FB. Looks good so far...although I'm skipping over the non-Dodger stuff. : )
ReplyDeleteI like the Ohman deal. I wasn't comfortable with the slim pickings we had for lefty specialist. I completely agree with you about the PVL problem, but I don't see Ohman as being a "we must have (and overpay) a proven vet." Here, we're getting a solid guy and not paying a ridiculous sum. I would only have a problem with it if we were blocking someone who was superior or just as good, but not a vet. Or if we had to give up a draft pick (I like Hudson, but we're gonna miss that #17 pick). If Wade can have another good season, I think the bullpen is strong (even despite Mota's presence).
Regarding Beimel - the complete lack of interest on our part suggests to me that there was something wrong with him (personality-wise, not health reasons)and the team just wanted to jettison him. I understand not wanting to give him $2M, but we didn't even make an offer as far as I know. Was the team still pissed about the NYC incident or did something happen at the end of the season or offseason? I could be reading too much into it, but it just seemed odd.
btw...Dodger BBQ VII in just over 5 weeks!!
Not related to the post, but interesting....
ReplyDeleteThe Rays released Chuck Tiffany (and I still hate that trade).
http://blogs.tampabay.com/rays/2009/03/rays-release-tiffany.html
Wow the great Chuck Tiffany.. He was Scott Elbert before Scott Elbert. The trade wsa horrible. Any I agree with the team just being apathetic to bringing Beimel back. I'm dying for baseball season to start so I can start talking about the Dodgers daily. I'm going to do a two part baseball preview later this week. Part one will be my Dodgers preview and part two will be a MLB wide preview. Check back and let me know what you think.. I can't wait for the BBQ!
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