DODGERS ANALYSIS: MAKING ROOM FOR A PHENOM; EXPANSION SHOULD HELP KONERKO.Byline: Kevin Acee Daily News Staff Writer The leak hit hard. The Dodgers did not protect first baseman Eric Karros n. Baseball The infielder who is positioned near and to the first-base side of second base. Noun 1. second baseman - (baseball) the person who plays second base second sacker Eric Young Eric Young can refer to:
n. Baseball The infielder stationed near third base. Noun 1. third baseman - (baseball) the person who plays third base third sacker Todd Zeile Then an instant later, it made sense. Maybe. Dodgers executive vice president Fred Claire Fred Claire (b. October 5, 1935 in Jamestown, OH) is a former major league baseball executive who served in numerous roles for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1969-1998 including the role of general manager from 1987-1998. , who is above all honest, will not compromise the agreement with his fellow general managers to keep their lists of protected players secret. He won't even come remotely close to discussing his list or his strategy in composing it. So it is impossible to know for sure what his thought process was in leaving the three high-priced veterans exposed for the first round. But here is the simple theory among numerous people close to the situation: Once either Karros or Zeile is selected, if they are selected, the Dodgers will pull the other one back. That will leave phenom Paul Konerko Paul Henry Konerko (born March 5, 1976 in Providence, Rhode Island) is a first baseman in Major League Baseball with the Chicago White Sox. He previously played with the Los Angeles Dodgers (1997-98) and Cincinnati Reds (1998). to replace the departed player. It will also save the Dodgers millions. ``The fact is,'' Claire said in a conversation last month, ``whenever Konerko plays, it will be as a rookie.'' With a rookie's salary. Zeile has $6.4 million and two years left on his contract; Karros $15 million and three years. Konkero will make less than $500,000. The risk here, and Claire obviously felt it was worth it, is that Zeile is selected and Konerko is forced to play third base. He has reportedly improved there in the past year, but most everyone is in agreement: Konerko is a first baseman. Claire has apparently also decided to give Wilton Guerrero Wilton Guerrero (born October 24, 1974 in the Don Gregorio, Dominican Republic) is a major league utility player who currently is a free agent. He previously played for the Los Angeles Dodgers (1996-1998), Montreal Expos (1998-2000, 2002), Cincinnati Reds (2001-2002), Kansas City another shot at being the Dodgers' second baseman. The preseason Rookie of the Year Rookie of the Year may refer to:
Young will likely command $4.5 million or more in arbitration. The Dodgers not only have Mike Piazza's demands for a renegotiated contract to contend with but hefty salary increases for Hideo Nomo Hideo Nomo (born Aug. 31, 1968 , Osaka, Japan) Japanese baseball pitcher whose success with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1995 created new opportunities for Asian players in Major League Baseball. and Ismael Valdes
Whatever happens Tuesday, it is likely the Dodgers will be stung more than they were in the 1992 expansion draft. That year, the Colorado Rockies took Young in the first round and right-handed pitcher Jamie McAndrew in the second round. The Florida Marlins took infielder Roberto Mejia in the third round. McAndrew and Mejia have both been bothered by injuries. Neither is with the organization that drafted them, and neither finished the 1997 season in the major leagues. Dodgers executives theorized last week the team would lose at least one player that would ``hurt'' in 1998 and maybe two. The theory is the Dodgers protected nine pitchers. One of the unprotected was right-handed reliever Darren Hall. It will be a surprise if he is not snatched up by the pitching-hungry expansion clubs. According to sources, outfielder Karim Garcia was left unprotected in favor of Todd Hollandsworth and perhaps Roger Cedeno. Unless the season-ending shoulder injury he suffered has some lingering effects that have not become public, his stock is still high enough and he is young enough to be extremely attractive to the expansioners. It is also possible the Devil Rays would want Billy Ashley, whom the Dodgers never found room for but who might blossom into a 30-homer guy as a designated hitter. PROJECTED DODGERS PROTECTED LIST PITCHERS: Darren Dreifort, Mike Judd, Ramon Martinez, Hideo Nomo, Antonio Osuna, Chan Ho Park, Scott Radinsky, Dennis Reyes and Ismael Valdes. CATCHER: - Mike Piazza. INFIELDERS: - Wilton Guerrero and Paul Konerko. OUTFIELDERS: - Roger Cedeno, Todd Hollandsworth and Raul Mondesi. CAPTION(S): 2 Photos, Box PHOTO (1) HOLLANDSWORTH (2) RADINSKY BOX: PROJECTED DODGERS PROTECTED LIST (see text) |
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