Dodgers Give Juan Pierre 5 Years, $44-45 Million
Crazy, dumb and dumb. Contrary to popular belief, Pierre isn't a good player. He doesn't get on base much, he has no power at all, he doesn't play defense very well, and he doesn't steal bases nearly effectively enough to make up for any of those shortcomings.
Worse, the Dodgers have a legitimately excellent centerfield prospect in Matt Kemp. Kemp was only okay in a trial with the big club next year, but he was only 21. In a year or two - or maybe even less - he'll be playing circles around Pierre. So the solution here, it seems to me, would have been to sign a veteran centerfielder (like Kenny Lofton, who the Dodgers had last year) to a short-term deal and let him share playing time with Kemp. Instead, they've relegated Kemp to a corner outfield spot, while committing huge money to a guy who's likely to be pretty terrible in a few years when his foot speed starts to disappear. I don't think there is any way Pierre is worth half this much. He is badly overvalued, and the only reason why I can think of is that people are enamored of his stolen base totals.
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Pierre
But I must add that a scout I know well and sort of trust says Kemp is a poor defensive center fielder.
by bolton on Nov 21, 2006 7:11 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Really?
by Charlie on Nov 21, 2006 3:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Once more, with feeling
Or, Gonzalez for Ethier.
Or Wilson/Castillo and ... take your pick of Sharpless/Capps/Bayliss/Grabow/Marte/Torres for Ethier. Maybe they'd have to send some A-ball reliever to even it out if it was, say Wilson and Torres.
by azibuck on Nov 21, 2006 9:25 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

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