Hector Olivera Signs . . . In LA

The chase to sign Hector Olivera ended today according MLB.Com’s Jesse Sanchez. Braves fans can relax or complain depending on their view of the saga but in the end money and connections made the difference.

The Dodgers?

The Dodgers did what the Braves and others wouldn’t do, they went to a six year, $62.5M deal with $28M paid immediately as a signing bonus; an AAV of $10.34M.  The Braves weren’t willing to go the sixth year for a 30 year old infielder with a history of health issues.

The signing seems contrary to the “buy undervalued player” methodology and the idea that they brought Friedman in to prune the payroll.  Where the Dodgers play him will be interesting.

What’s the Job

Earlier this off season Dee Gordon found himself in Miami and Howie Kendrick moved up the freeway to play in LA so it would seem that he’s their second baseman. Two years ago they signed second baseman Alex Guerrero ($28M) and he’s had a fine spring at the plate as well as learning to play third. He has to be on their major league roster this year and the practice at third seemed to be an indication that he would spell the aging Juan Uribe who hasn’t played more that 97 games lately.

Guerrero also took some fly balls in left but the Dodgers have a plethora of outfielders they can’t play now including over priced and untradeable Carl Crawford and Andre Ethier as well as off season signing Chris Heisey and the useful Scot Van Slyke. Someone(s) is going to have to go.

Oilivera could theoretically spell Jimmy Rollins at shortstop but Corey Seager is the shortstop of the future. It’s true that Rollins and Kendrick are free agents after this year but  it seems unlikely that they’ll pay Olivera that much money to sit on the bench or be in the minors; he’ll be in LA soon if not on April 5. In any event the Dodgers seem to be on their way to opening an extension of the Cuban embassy in LA.

Little Cuba II

In addition to Olivera and Guerrero the last two years saw them sign Yasiel Puig ($42M) and shortstop Erisbel Arreubuena ($25M).  Just two days ago  Ben Badler reported that that they had signed 25 year old RHP Pablo Fernandez to a minor league deal with a $8M signing bonus.

Arreubuena started alright but by the of the year was playing in Low A. he got a September call up but didn’t impress and this spring’s been a disaster so he could be a lost call. Fernandez will obviously start in the minors but with all their pitching issues this spring he could well join the team sometime this year.

The Braves

The Braves were willing to give Olivera up to five years at reported about $10M a year but with players in the system to play both of the positions Olivera could fill going longer or paying more didn’t make sense particularly as the team isn’t a serious contender this year – even if they won’t admit it.

That’s A Wrap

Keith Law just said during the Braves minor league game on ESPN that this is the Dodgers flexing their financial muscle, something Friedman hadn’t done since his arrival. I thought the size of and willingness to usetheir big bank account was well known but what do I know.

Law believes that Olivera will push Uribe off third and become their second baseman next season as the Dodgers move Seager to third and buy shortstop somewhere. He didn’t say what they would do with Guerrero, Crawford, Ethier or Uribe to make room for Olivera on the bench. Whatever happens Don Mattingly will have an interesting year getting everyone playing time.

I’m relieved that Olivera isn’t coming to Atlanta. I want the team to get younger not older and while his bat would have been nice, it wouldn’t have made a big difference this year can could have pushed Jace Peterson of the field. That would have been a shame.

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