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.
