The Dodgers have agreed to sign outfielder Franklin Gutierrez, according to Manolo Hernandez of beisbolporgatas.com (via Twitter). He’ll earn $2.6MM and can tack on another $400K in incentives, per Jon Heyman of Fan Rag (Twitter link).
Soon to turn 34, Gutierrez has revived his career over the past two seasons with the Mariners after a variety of health issues had derailed him. In addition to suffering a series of injuries, Gutierrez had struggled to play through gastritis, a stomach condition.
Making his return to the M’s in 2015, Gutierrez posted a stunning .292/.354/.620 batting line with 15 home runs over his 189 plate appearances. That earned him a MLB deal with Seattle for the 2016 campaign. While he wasn’t quite as good, Gutierrez posted a strong .246/.329/.452 slash and popped another 14 long balls.
There are some limitations, of course. Once an everyday player, Gutierrez was used almost exclusively against left-handed pitching last year. Historically, he has been much better against southpaws, too. And despite his former status as a top-quality defender in center, Gutierrez rated most recently as a subpar fielder in a corner spot (though metrics took a more optimistic view of his glovework in 2015).
[RELATED: Updated Dodgers Depth Chart]
For the platoon-happy Dodgers, Gutierrez figures to occupy a similar role as a weapon against lefties. His addition certainly complicates matters for the remaining options on hand. Scott Van Slyke and Darin Ruf figure to compete for space on the Opening Day roster (barring injury) as a part-time first baseman, corner outfielder, and/or bench bat, while players such as Trayce Thompson and Brett Eibner may be on the outside looking in.
Though he has long been associated with the Mariners, this is something of a homecoming for Gutierrez. He started his career with the Los Angeles organization, though he never suited up for the club at the major league level. According to Hernandez (via Twitter), the Giants were the other finalist for Gutierrez, perhaps suggesting that the Dodgers’ NL West rivals are still looking to add to their own corner outfield mix.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
…but why…?
Bench bat, and the Dodgers got killed by lefties last year. Guti mashes lefties.
Yeah, are we going trade Van Slyke and some of the others?
No, jock can’t hit lefties and either can ethier. Having an outfield of Guti, Puig, and Thompson, Van Slyke at first, and maybe Kike at short vs lefties is a force in it self. All those guys smash lefties from the right side.
Why do the Dodgers need ANOTHER Outfielder
He’s not really an outfielder, just a bench bat. I really wish he could still play, becuse he still a great hitter but all of his medical issues have really caught up to him and most of it is just really bad luck. But seriously, he can still mash.
Definitely a useful bat. If spotted properly he could be an asset.
This really does make a lot of sense chances are if Ethier is healthy coming out of ST it was his job to lose. So it most likely means Ethier/Guti platoon. Plus Toles and Thompson, when healthy, get regular ABs until Ethier/Puig get injured or falter. Or they become trade chips. More likely Toles might eventually be on the move.
Toles hasn’t really proven anything. He will go back to obscurity before he ever does anything productive again.
Most 24 year olds haven’t proven anything….
What a load of bull….Duquette taking a snooze yet again….SMH
Think was a decent move for Duquette to let him slide if he really got that much. i do like Guety, but he WILL get hurt the more he plays and really is of no use in the field anymore Lefty. Got a hunch Duquette is still talking/waiting out Boras on Alvarez for a tiny bit more.. maybe 3-3.5m.
Gutierrez at 1-1.5m? sure, as just a DH, but no thanks to anything more to swing for the fences.. His GG caliber defense is long gone and hard to find.. He’s a liability in the field now.
Oh good heavens , we don’t need Alvarez.
Also I know, Guti is not the same, but still….
sorry lefty, I thought they would end up with him as a platoon but they don’t want to remove anyone else from the 40
Maybe. I don’t know. The O’s were never linked to Guti.
Great bat coming of the bench. Nice signing IMO
Not seeing much improvement over the guy they’ll have to cut to carry him. Typical Dodgers “who cares let’s spend $3m on a 0.1% improvement, just because we can”.
Ned Coletti was demoted.
They could fill a lineup card with all their outfielders…
Are they possibly dumping Ethier?
No way that happens now.
I’d look at him more at a bench player like Van slyke, than a actual outfielder. It might mean a minor trade of another outfielder, maybe not
Either or puig will be spelled by the deadline if not both any one agree?
No chance they both get traded. This is eithers swan song with the dodgers and he is a very reliable hitter
The actual deal is ok but how is there room? Now 2 people need to be taken off the 40 man , since romo isnt offical yet. The opening day roster is extremely crowded especially in the outfield. This signals the end of utley for sure.
Well no really only one move needs to be made. On the 17th Garcia goes onto the 60 day. Chance are Eibner, Segedin are at risk especially seeing as they tried to ship Segedin to Japan. I’m not really even sure this closes the door on anything. Ruf is also out of options so he might be a victim seeing as now he’s redundant.
Looks like you were wrong. Chase Utley added. Now they need to drop three people.
Yeah i thought for sure there wasn’t room on the 40 man. Guess i was wrong
Why don’t the Dodgers and Rangers ever do trades?
What?? Both those teams make alot of trades
Wow…kind of puzzled by this…we have almost a 25 man roster of outfielders on the squad already I’m hoping that this is an indication that something bigger may be in play…can’t really come up with what that would look like at this point though
Eibner getting DFAd. Toles and Thompson getting regular AAA ABs just in case Ethier get injured or falters or Puig well yeah…….
Yeah last year when they had so many starters I said the same thing and we ended up needing all of them and then some
Gonna miss ya in Seattle guti
What in tarnation… was happy about this until I couldn’t find the words minor league deal with invite to spring training. That’s what Van Slyke gets for being hurt last year, a mountain of depth in front of him now.
I hope he does really good, I don’t know if he’ll get a lot of at bats but I hope he makes good of what he is given.
Trade. Trayce. Thompson. To. Oakland. Right. Now.
Thompson for Liam Hendriks lets go
Na. He’s really the only one that makes sense to not trade. He’s a RH who can play all three most importantly CF. So it’s just not happening. Toles on the other hand is probably now available mid season.
He’s an everyday player who is buried on that depth chart – move him to a place where he can play! He’s too good to not be given an everyday shot, which he will never get in LA.
They have Hernandez who can play CF too, along with Toles, Eibner and Puig. Hendriks is better than half the guys in the Dodgers pen, perfect match.
Except last year he was getting everyday ABs until he was injured. Ethier is on his way out and Puig is on his last leg. So in a lh heavy lineup he will get everyday ABs if he performs.
Haha you used Kikè and Eibner. I just had a great laugh. Toles isn’t a true CF and his LH splits that’s the problem. Thompson isn’t getting traded this FO loves it depth and it’s more likely Thompson starts in AAA to prove he’s healthy or forces his way onto the roster like he did last year. Eibner looks like a DFA casualty. It’s also clear Kikè is by far better suited as an inf. So no in a lh heavy lineup and next wave Thompson is the one sitting pretty to stay.
Glad you find naming players on the roster who play that position that the Dodgers will use for those 10 or so games where they will need a fill-in for Pederson so humorous. Do you find paint drying funny too?
Well because you’re totally ignoring the way this FO does things. Improve around the edges until another upgrade is available. Hence Eibner is a place holder. Kikè isn’t safe on the roster. Etc we can go on.
Trayce for a trash reliever that wouldn’t make the Dodgers 40 man lol
Liar, Hendriks has had a sub 3.00 FIP the last 3 seasons. He is legitimately good.
Trayce isn’t getting traded for a reliever
The Giants would have been a better fit playing time wise. The Giants still need help in their outfield. I know they say that they’re comfortable with the Parker/Williamson combo in left, but what happens if Span or Pence get hurt? I can’t believe that they haven’t brought in another outfielder to strengthen their group.
Gastritis, huh? Man, I bet it stinks having to deal with that.
Be prepared for another move.
You were right, but not the move you expected.
Love the Utley deal but this one is kind of a head scratcher to me. I know we need help against lefties but I still don’t really like it. If Thompson is healthy he is a way better option, he is younger and can flat out play.
He started out in the Dodgers system , they should have a good file on him. His splits look really good against lefties.
I’ll always remember Gutierrez for being a part of that crazy 3-way, 13 player trade with the Mets, Indians, and Seattle. The Mets got absolutely fleeced in that trade.
SMH. I did not get it.