Goobye Mr. Maddux
After helping lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to the postseason earlier this year, it looks like Greg Maddux is packing his bags and taking his 333 career wins and heading south to sunny San Diego. The 40 year old pitcher will be getting a two year deal worth about $20 million if he pitches enough innings in his second year with the Padres.
I can’t blame Maddux for taking the deal. Nor can I blame the Dodgers for not making more of an effort to keep Maddux, especially if, as Foxsports.com reports, they have reached an agreement with free agent pitcher Jason Schmidt. I was really excited over the summer when the Dodgers were able to trade for Maddux since I figured he would help get the Dodgers into the playoffs. But I also figured, along with all other Dodger fans, that he was probably only going to be a rental and would be leaving Los Angeles at the end of the season.
The only thing that bothers me about Maddux’s farewell is the fact that he’s going to a division rival. Given that San Diego’s PETCO Park is one of the friendliest stadium for pitchers, I expect Maddux will have his share of success next year and that success might keep the Dodgers out of the playoffs. It also hurts that if the Dodgers had offered Maddux arbitration and Maddux had signed with San Diego, the Padres would owe the Dodgers a draft pick. Apparently the Dodgers feared Maddux would accept and be awarded too much money in the arbitration. It’s unfortunate, but I still can’t blame the Dodgers or Maddux for the decisions they made.
A couple of other players that will be packing their bags are J.D. Drew and Julio Lugo. Not only will they be packing their bags but they can also share a flight, as both of them will be playing for the Boston Red Sox next year. It’s a little ironic. For the last couple of years it seemed that the Dodgers had been making an effort to become the Boston Red Sox West with the acquisition of Derek Lowe, Nomar Garciaparra, and Bill Mueller and the hiring of Grady Little. Now it’s the Red Sox that are going after one-time Dodgers.
While Lugo had some nice games for the Dodgers, his departure will hardly be noticed. I learned about the signing last night while watching ESPN News. This morning I went on to the Los Angeles Times site and read the Maddux/Drew story and found no mention of Lugo. I just found that a little amusing.
As for Drew, I won’t rehash the issue of whether he was morally right or wrong to opt out of his contract. He got his money so I’m sure he and his agent Scott Boras will be happy now. I am a bit bothered by the rumors I heard before the signing that Boras had mentioned Drew to the Red Sox prior to Drew’s exercising his option. But I’m just so happy to be rid of Drew that I don’t even really mind the tampering.
I’m also hopeful that the signing might help clear the way for Manny Ramirez to become a Dodger. While I’m somewhat excited by the signing of Jason Schmidt, who has been one of the National League’s best pitchers over the last five years, and the return of Nomar, I still really want to see the team acquire a big bat. Sure Manny is a bit of a diva and his elevator might not go all the way to the top, but you can’t deny he knows how to hit. Hopefully Dodger’s GM Ned Colletti will figure out the right pieces to send to Boston to get Manny without giving up too many of the Dodger’s young players. Now that the picture is a little clearer with all the recent signings, maybe it will finally get done.
I can’t blame Maddux for taking the deal. Nor can I blame the Dodgers for not making more of an effort to keep Maddux, especially if, as Foxsports.com reports, they have reached an agreement with free agent pitcher Jason Schmidt. I was really excited over the summer when the Dodgers were able to trade for Maddux since I figured he would help get the Dodgers into the playoffs. But I also figured, along with all other Dodger fans, that he was probably only going to be a rental and would be leaving Los Angeles at the end of the season.
The only thing that bothers me about Maddux’s farewell is the fact that he’s going to a division rival. Given that San Diego’s PETCO Park is one of the friendliest stadium for pitchers, I expect Maddux will have his share of success next year and that success might keep the Dodgers out of the playoffs. It also hurts that if the Dodgers had offered Maddux arbitration and Maddux had signed with San Diego, the Padres would owe the Dodgers a draft pick. Apparently the Dodgers feared Maddux would accept and be awarded too much money in the arbitration. It’s unfortunate, but I still can’t blame the Dodgers or Maddux for the decisions they made.
A couple of other players that will be packing their bags are J.D. Drew and Julio Lugo. Not only will they be packing their bags but they can also share a flight, as both of them will be playing for the Boston Red Sox next year. It’s a little ironic. For the last couple of years it seemed that the Dodgers had been making an effort to become the Boston Red Sox West with the acquisition of Derek Lowe, Nomar Garciaparra, and Bill Mueller and the hiring of Grady Little. Now it’s the Red Sox that are going after one-time Dodgers.
While Lugo had some nice games for the Dodgers, his departure will hardly be noticed. I learned about the signing last night while watching ESPN News. This morning I went on to the Los Angeles Times site and read the Maddux/Drew story and found no mention of Lugo. I just found that a little amusing.
As for Drew, I won’t rehash the issue of whether he was morally right or wrong to opt out of his contract. He got his money so I’m sure he and his agent Scott Boras will be happy now. I am a bit bothered by the rumors I heard before the signing that Boras had mentioned Drew to the Red Sox prior to Drew’s exercising his option. But I’m just so happy to be rid of Drew that I don’t even really mind the tampering.
I’m also hopeful that the signing might help clear the way for Manny Ramirez to become a Dodger. While I’m somewhat excited by the signing of Jason Schmidt, who has been one of the National League’s best pitchers over the last five years, and the return of Nomar, I still really want to see the team acquire a big bat. Sure Manny is a bit of a diva and his elevator might not go all the way to the top, but you can’t deny he knows how to hit. Hopefully Dodger’s GM Ned Colletti will figure out the right pieces to send to Boston to get Manny without giving up too many of the Dodger’s young players. Now that the picture is a little clearer with all the recent signings, maybe it will finally get done.
posted by The Pocho at 12:39 PM
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