Dodgers' Loney on the move?
For all the talk about center fielder Matt Kemp, first baseman James Loney is the position player the Dodgers are most willing to trade, major-league sources say.
The Dodgers, seeking to add power, could upgrade at any or all of three positions - first base, third base and left field.
Loney, 26, was fifth in the National League with 41 doubles last season but hit only 10 home runs in 588 at-bats and batted .211/.285/.331 after the All-Star break.
His OPS has declined from .772 to .756 to .733 in his three full seasons. Yet, he will receive a raise from $3.1 million in 2011, his second year of arbitration.
Several teams had interest in Loney last July, sources say. If the Dodgers trade him, they could sign one of a number of power-hitting first basemen on the market.
Another option for the Dodgers is to upgrade over Casey Blake at third. Blake, who hit lefties much better than righties last season, could platoon with Jay Gibbons in left. If the Dodgers signed a better left fielder, they possibly could find a platoon partner for Blake at third.
The extent of the Dodgers' financial flexibility is not known, but the team already has re-signed left-hander Ted Lilly to a three-year, $33 million contract and reportedly is on the verge of re-signing righty Hiroki Kuroda to a one-year, $12 million deal.
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A kindergartener could have written that article. I can't understand what you're trying to imply here. Last June you recommended the Dodgers trade Matt Kemp to the Atlanta Braves for Melky Cabrera and a prospect, yet you still have a job today.
For the Dodgers to move Loney without re-signing him to a deal, they would need to complete a trade before December 2, which is the date all teams must non-tender players if no contract is offered. So are you saying Loney will be moved before December 2? Or will the Dodgers roll him into arbitration? Or will they sign him to a deal first and then trade him? What? What? What? If you're gonna take the time to write an article, you should write something that make sense and at least make an effort to add some detail. -
And how about the idea of Blake patrolling the outfield? Genius!
