The Dodgers are in serious talks with Bobby Abreu, reports Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). Details still need to be worked out, so the deal is not yet done.
The Angels released the 38-year-old Abreu late last week, and earlier today we heard that several NL teams have expressed interest. Abreu posted a .353 on-base percentage with 21 stolen bases and 78 walks last year, but got off to a slow start in 2012. He is a client of Peter E. Greenberg & Associates and is available for a pro-rated portion of the MLB minimum at this point. The Angels are responsible for the remainder of his $9MM salary.
Why???
Dude! Promote Van Slyke or Sands and DFA Kennedy. Duh!!!
Sands is stinking up the joint in Triple A (and I am a guy who is really rooting for Sands to make it, I would love to see him eventually become our everyday LF). However, Van Slyke has been doing good, and I’ve been following him since he was with the IE66ers, so I wouldn’t mind giving him a look. I personally dont think we need any of those guys called up, but I would certainly hate to see Sands and Van Slyke’s chances at moving up for the sake of Abreau.
Didnt Kasten say he wants to build from within? I think we have a few kids that really deserve to get a shot to show if they can make it in the Show before we run off and grab a 38-year old who’s legs would let him down in a park like Dodger stadium
I’m aware of Sands slow start. That’s all it is though. We know he can hit. I’d rather give the kids an opportunity than bring in a bum who hasn’t/can’t/won’t hit. You know?
J Rivera plays 1B full time and Abreu plays LF, Loney rides the pine
I’d rather bleed out slowly than watch Abreu play defense.
Why would they want him of all people?
have you seen Kennedy? bobby like 3 year older and can still hit better
he still has to play the field
yea but it not like he will play alot
Gotta love ned.
hey ill take him any day over Kennedy
Does Abreu play infield? No. So he isn’t a swap-out for Kennedy. The question is who he’d replace in the roster.
Well, he actually could, since Gwynn isn’t really a guy you use to pinch-hit so he’s generally on the bench late, and Hairston can play the outfield as well. I’m not pulling for the Dodgers to sign Abreu, but Kennedy needs to go soon.
If Kennedy goes he needs to be replaced with another utility infielder, not a bench bat. Uribe looks like he’s headed for the DL again, so that leaves us shorthanded on the infield. Abreu isn’t the solution to that problem and actually could make it worse if he gets Kennedy’s roster slot.
I’m all for cutting Uribe and Kennedy.
Yeah, then we could start Hairston at third every day because we wouldn’t have anyone else. We could go the rest of the season that way, and with one utility infielder. Sounds like a plan.
You have got to be kidding me….I’m a Tigers fan and this looks awful…
no we have kennedy who hitting so bad. bobby will be a big upgrade
Useless and useless are equivalent. K? K.
if it’s a bench spot, I’ll take him over Adam Kennedy any day. If he’s expected to be starting, then it’s a different story….
i would love if he just a bench player and maybe try him at 1st once in a while
It’s definitely as a bench role, and I’m cool with that. A few starts here and there in LF won’t kill the Dodgers. Especially with how the other left fielders have been hitting…
Decent pinch hitter for the ML minimum. DFA Kennedy. Sounds alright.
Did anyone else laugh at “Serious Talks” and “Bobby Abreu” being in the same sentence? lol
A bench role is fine with me, however, anything other than that is not so good. I guess considering you get him at the league minimum and the Angels picking up the remaining, it is not bad considering Kennedy has done absolutely noting to this point!
The Dodgers are talking to Bobby Abreu. He’d be a great pickup for them. Juan Rivera in left is Jose Guillen redux.
They really have a crappy bunch of position besides their top 2.
Yeah, like Mark and AJ Ellis.
AJ is decent and Dee is learning, has a chance to be useful. The rest of them are pretty awful though.
AJ is more than “decent”. He’s a top tier catcher so far this season.
Bryan, thats what I’m asking. He could be an OK addition, a veteran bat off the bench, but I am struggling to think of who would be worth dropping in order to get him.
I think our bullpen is edgy, but only Todd Coffey seems like a guy that MIGHT be worth dropping for Abreau, but what about when Guerrier, Belissario and Hawksworth comeback? Rubby should also be back sometime after the All-Star Break (hopefully); I guess we could always drop McDougal since he seems to be really struggling this season, but unfortunately, Coffey and MacDougal cost us some descent coin, so it would seem silly to just drop them, then Abreau would cost us some $$$ even if we only pay him the league minimum.
What probably would happen (not to be confused with what SHOULD happen), is that Sellers gets sent back to the minors and Eovaldi is blocked from moving up. Both would be mistakes. Sellers may not be setting the world on fire with his hitting, but hes got an AWESOME glove and can play more than one position. Abreau can pretty much only hit (and hes not doing that very well right now). Eovaldi is an up and coming stud, he proved his worth last season, picking up where Rubby left off, So I’d hate to see his path blocked by Abreau.
Still not sold on Kennedy, but he has made a couple of clutch hits, and he can still play several positions, so hes versatile. I just don’t really see how Abreau can make this team better. He could be either the next Juan Rivera…or the next Garret Anderson.
Maybe we should deal Mc Doug, Coffey and Adam Kennedy for Vernon Wells + $2-3mill a year to help ease the pain of that contract from the Angels!
I assume your Vernon Wells trade proposal was done out of sarcasm… Aside from that the move is simple, you DFA Kennedy. He has no business on the roster and with Sellers on the big league team, it’s not like we’d be missing much. Abreu would be a much more solid piece off the bench, and if necessary you could throw him out on the field here and there. He still gets on base at a fairly decent clip and comes dirt cheap. It makes sense to me.
First of all, if this isnt posted blow your post, I apologise, for whatever reason, my posts arent appearing underneath the people who I reply to. so to Triple_Play_baseball: The Wells comment was half sarcastic, only because Wells is younger, even with his horrible BA, he is still hitting for power, and he can still field. Abreau’s power seems to be gone, and his BA is not much better than Wells, and Abreau would only be fine in the outfield IF its a park with a small outfield and we have a descent lead (lets face, he doenst have legs anymore), the sarcasm was more towars the idea of the Angels eating $19 mill of his contract for the next 3 years 😉
As far as Kennedy goes, I agree that his signing has been pretty pointless up to now. But to his defense, he really doesnt get to PH that much, and he has gotten a couple of clutch hits, and by a couple, I literally mean 2 🙂 . But he can still field. I agree that with Sellers, Hairston and Rivera (whenever Gwynn plays the outfield), we have a sold back up for the infield, I just don’t feel that Abreau is worth dropping anyone (other than a couple of our pen guys, who are probably gonna be dropped when the rest of our pen heals).
I said it before, he could be the next Rivera..or the next Anderson…
Our only two left handed pinch hit options are Kennedy and Gwynn. Kennedy may have somewhat of a glove, but so do Hairston and Sellers, which makes Kennedy pointless to retain on the roster. He isn’t a reliable bat to have off the bench, regardless of his defense. You’re not signing Abreu for his defense, you’re signing him to be a left handed pinch hit option. He is as big of a question mark as any other veteran signed for a bench role, but his upside offers much more than what Kennedy’s does.
Never mind, I see your point. You are right. We do have some nice options for IF. I guess Abreau it is!
Except that he can’t replace Kennedy.
He suggested trading FOR Wells. You’re still reading?
You mean that wasn’t supposed to be a joke?
mistake
i think its a good idea replacing Adam Kennedy cause he has not done anything with Bobby he could come off the bench and provide power yea he will play but not as starting thats why we got Juan Rivera Matt Kemp Andre Ethier Duh
Abreu hasn’t had power in a few years. Thanks for playing though!
I kinda sorta agree, cept Kennedy can at least still field. Abreau would practically be only a PH
This was a response to Randy on Adam’s response
I doubt they would ever use him in the field. Where exactly is he supposed to play anyway? the outfield at Dodger stadium and its massive outfield? Plus Kemp, Ethier, Rivera, Gwynn and Hairston have the outfield covered. Abreau would be a strictly PH option, and who would they drop from the 25-man roster to make room for him? Coffey I would not mind dropping, and maybe even McD, seeing as Guerrier, Hawk, and Bellasario are all due soon, and hopefully Eovaldi. I think Coffey and Jamie Wright are soon to be gone, even though Wright have been really good, except for today. McD would be a better option than Wright to disappear, cept McD would be sunk cost. But even if these guys are gone, their spots would be filled soon by the aforementioned guys.
I think, if Abreau is signed, they are going to send Sellers to the minors and Eovaldi prob wouldnt get the call up. Both moves would be a horrible, and simply not worth it for a pinch hitter.
this was a response to Triple, Jeffrey and jeremy
Dont agree. A bench spot is still a spot, and Kennedy can at least field still.
this was a response to randy
Good point about $$$. It looks like Sellers could be the casualty if this happens, would not like to see Nathan E. get blocked. I seems the Dodgers are losing patience in Kennedy, time and time again this year I have seen him at the plate with runners in scoring position and his bat just isn’t there! The Dodger lineup is anemic once you get past Mark Ellis, Kemp and Andre and AJ at times. Something has to be done to get another solid bat in the line up. However, I agree at what cost? I’m too surprised they are considering Bobby, but what else is available and at what cost? Dodger lead will evaporate very fast if they don’t get another solid bat soon! Coffey, McD I am totally fine if they are gone! Coffey is absolutely horrendous and I don’t know what happened to McD his days were better when he was back in KC.
I love Kennedy but he is just not hitting. The bench will only be better with this move: C Treanor Ut Hairston Of Gwynn Of Abreu INF Sellers. Bullpen needs a little help though. I think we should sign Mike Gonzalez to be a set up guy/ lefty specialist to help Elbert out. If MacDougal keeps pitching the way he is, I don’t see him staying w. LA for much longer.
idk how anyone can hate on this
abreu isn’t jim thome in the field. he can still play a little. they would have rivera as backup 1B and hairston can play anywhere, sellers/kennedy(whoever stays) is your 2nd backup middle infielder.
good move for the minimum
The Dodger bench is terrible. It inspires fear in no one. I like Gwynn, but he can go. Kennedy had no business even making the roster out of ST. Sellers swings a spaghetti noodle and Treanor was just as terrible a signing as Kennedy. Uribe needs to be DFA’d, McDougal needs to be DFA’d, and Coffey needs to be DFA’d. If you were to replace any of those dudes with Abreu, that wouldn’t bother me in the least…
Hairston, Jr. has been a positive addition.
I agree Jerry has been a good signing, he can play everywhere and can get you some good at bats. Like him at 3rd.
What’s with the Dodgers signing all the Angels rejects lately? Rivera, Kennedy, and now Abreu.
Garrett Anderson
Giants castoffs as well.
People realize that the first reason he got released was that he basically refused to accept a bench role, right?
uh, they aren’t forcing him to take a lesser role with the dodgers. he obviously understands this is who he is now. no way he plays everyday here
The thought of an Abreu/Kemp/Ethier defensive alignment is truly horrifying.
Bobby Abreu paid $8m to block Mike Trout and a hot early season Mark Trumbo? No.
Bobby Abreu paid the prorated minimum to be a LH bat off the bench and part time platoon in LF (at least the guy can still throw), who likes to preach patience on a team with Dee Gordon, in a stadium that is much more friendly to LH power (what he has left anyway) and who can run off the bench once Gwynn is used up? That’s not a bad deal at all.
Well now it looks as if a potential DL stint for Uribe, retroactive to his last game, keeps all IF’s in question on the roster. When that time is up? Sellers > Kennedy.
Yep. Kennedy isn’t a good defender anymore and doesn’t play SS. Sellers is a good defender at any of the skilled infield positions, and has some actual pop (something Kennedy hasn’t had…well…since the 2002 ALCS)
Big problem. Sellers is the only player on the roster with the ability to back up Gordon at short. If Uribe lands on the DL, and Kennedy isn’t an option, then nobody is left to play behind Gordon. In that scenario we get Hairston as the starting third baseman. Basically another desperate Jamie Carroll-type situation where you use a utility player every day and hope he can hold it together. Bad deal. So I don’t really care what you say about Kennedy, the infield just doesn’t work if you cut him.
1) Hairston has 146 career games at SS
2) Alex Castellanos certainly can come up and make the IF “work”
3) You underestimate just how bad Adam Kennedy is at this point in his career.
I haven’t estimated anything, over or under, I am simply pointing out the roster issues. Teams carry at least two utility infielders on their rosters for a reason. Sure, Hairston can play short (I expect to see him warming up in the bullpen one of these days) but he is also counted on to play some OF. Maybe the thinking with Abreu is to keep Hairston for infield work, but that scenario sounds a little shaky to me since Abreu isn’t going to help defensively nor will he start games.
I think you answered your own question. Abreu, if he is anything beside patient, is durable. Doesn’t have the history of leg trouble (mostly after that horrid broken leg) that Rivera has. You basically end up with 2 OFers on the bench and 2 IFers, with Hairston starting most days with Uribe out. You can then bring up Castellanos if you have an issue. Kennedy is beyond useless at 3B anyway and Ellis isn’t going anywhere at 2B.
The workability of that roster scenario depends heavily on the ability of Abreu to start games when needed. The general opinion I’m hearing on that seems to be “maybe” (note, he was released, not traded). If Abreu takes Kennedy’s roster spot then you can’t bring up another infielder without demoting someone else. It could work, but you lose some of the roster flexibility that Hairston brings.
If Uribe ends up on the DL, then they can sign Abreu, DFA Kennedy and promote Josh Fields to back up Hairston at 3B.
Abreu and Rivera can platoon in LF and Abreu is a much better LH bat off the bench at this point than Kennedy is.
Abreu helps to improve LF and as LH pinch hitter against righties.
Its a solid move by Ned to bolster both areas of need.
According to the LA Times the Dodgers are now “close to signing” Abreu, and he could appear in uniform as early as Friday. They won’t have to deal with the roster problem until Uribe comes off the DL. Nobody will be DFA’d until then and I hope they don’t make any move to bring up the dreadful Josh Fields.
Lot of Bobby haters . Why? Bobby still has all the fundamentals to play first ,he can DH in inter-league and on top of all that him hitting NL pitching again on a daily basis ,I think he would do very well. I have watched Bobby play from minor leagues in New Orleans to the Stro’s and if it had not been for Steinbrenner thinking he would be a good AL player he would have stayed NL. He can still hit, everybody goes through a slump and add limited playing time on top of that and you have the scenario you see now. GO BOBBY. And they could trade Loney.