Nothing to lose by Dodgers stockpiling potential left-handed pinch-hitters

So Doug Mientkiewicz and Brian Giles, what do you think of that move?

Garret Anderson, Los Angeles native, was signed by the Dodgers on Wednesday night to a minor league deal.

The Dodgers are stockpiling veteran left-handed hitters, and really, what do they have to lose by adding Anderson?

Joe Torre loves Mientkiewicz, who made the club last spring as a non-roster invitee, but he’s coming off that dislocated shoulder that cost him almost the entire season. There’s some unknown there.

Giles, 39, has 287 home runs but was off to a terrible start last season with the Padres (.191, two home runs, 23 RBIs in 225 at-bats) when he was lost in June for the rest of the season with a bruised knee. Bruised knee? There’s a lot of unknown there.

Anderson has 285 career home runs, and although his production continued to dip last season in Atlanta -- his first as anything other than an Angel -- he was still decent: .268, 13 home runs, 61 RBIs in 534 at-bats. Still, probably not what the Braves had in mind when they signed him to a one-year deal for $2.5 million.

Anderson, 37, found the market lacking this off-season and once again General Manager Ned Colletti was able to let a quality player fall to him.

Anderson knows there is no starting outfield position open with the Dodgers, and has to recognize his role here would primarily be as a left-handed pinch-hitter. He could, however, give the Dodgers an occasional outfield start.

Last year Anderson actually failed to hit better against right-handers (.262) than he did lefties (.283). He did, however, stay healthy.

Mientkiewicz, Giles and Anderson might prove an interesting spring competition. Colletti would apparently like one of them to emerge. Signing Anderson simply gave him another reasonable option.

-- Steve Dilbeck

Photo: Garret Anderson. Credit: Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images

Comments

[bob cuomo]

Garret Anderson is a very good hitter, no doubt about that, but I think he has to play every day (well, at least 120-125 games) to stay sharp, and that's obviously not going to happen here. Brian Giles might be done because of the knee. So I think Doug Mientkiewicz, who did well as a pinch-hitter last season, will be the left-handed bat off the bench. He's also a pretty good defensive first baseman, so Torre will be able to rest James Loney once in a while.

[Airedale]

Giles and Mientkiewicz probably feel exactly the same as Jason Repko did when the Dodgers signed Reed Johnson. Only difference, Rep's salary is guaranteed (is it not)?

The bench had taken a decidedly right handed lean, so this might be a good signing. Giles and Mientkeiwicz (how do guys who couldn't spell Hooton ever cope with this name?, CtrlC, CtrlZ), were both MIA in 2009, so this clearly gives the team a bona fide lefty bat with some pop off the bench.

One more nail in the coffin that was Jason Repko's Dodger career, however.

[Candy Maldanado]

Garret Anderson can provide Manny insurance. The role Juan Pierre played. Not at Juan's level, but at an affordable price. Unlike the others, he would really be a #4 outfielder.

[Erik]

I am going to look at this differently. Mientkiewicz is my least likely to make the club. I feel the Dodgers will use Belly off the bench and he is a righty which makes since for backing up Loney. DeWitt will start the season at 2nd, they have played him like a yo-yo for a couple seasons. It is time to see what he has learned. Reed Johnson is the 4th OF and Garret if he has some form a of production in the spring will make the club...

[Brian]

Dodgers will probably carry 12 pitchers, so the bench needs versatilty vs a lefty PH. I would give Repko another shot. He can play all 3 outfield spots.

[Luis Ayala]

Ned and Joe should be advised not to forget that new Dodger pitcher Luis Ayala is lethal with a bat in his hands.

[Go Blue 2010]

Rod Carew available?

[phil]

what did Beliard weigh in at?

[oldbrooklynfan]

I think Anderson should be competing with Johnson for the 4th outfielders spot, not with Mientkiewic and Giles for left handed pinch hitting.

[Steve Dilbeck]

Phil: Belliard claimed he was about two or three pounds over his required 209.

[Hollywood Dodger Mark]

Who will be the new Luis Gonzales for the Dodgers?

[Herman Baca II]

Garret Anderson a Dodger ...... Not a terrible pick up ! Los Angeles has definitely lost the speed of the '09 season -Odog gone ,Pierre gone, &
Furcals speed ...gone!
The only for sure base stealer IS Mr Kemp . Even Russ Coletrain Martin (now 25 lbs heavier but not fatter ) will not be asked to steal bases as much as he did in the past .
Oh yes Garret Anderson , Well a speedster he is not & his defense might make Manny look like Tori Hunter out there in left field . Not really but a veteran that knows his role & was a part of Scioscia's timely hitting machine down the road for 15 years IN Anaheim ,for under a million bucks !? He is another guy who wants to be a part of OUR team in ah-hem LOS ANGELES !!!! So without the speed out there a guy who can hit a dinger here & there or a timely clutch hit is all he's gona be asked to do . Not to mention talk hitting with the young Dodgers.
He's not a Dodger yet but compaired to Giles n Meikenwitz ( or how ever you spell his name ) Garret DID have 13 HRs & .268 . Not a bad man to call on with the game on the line . Washed up ? Maybe but he's not being asked to be an everyday playa & could make a game interesting for HIS home team A (So . Cal boy) & could make for an unlikely hero like Hmm I don't know ,
Mr. Mark Loretta .... Go Blue!!!!!!!!!!!!