Daily Dodger in review: Ryan Theriot -- should he stay or should he go now?
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RYAN THERIOT, 30, second baseman.
Final 2010 stats: .270 batting average, two home runs, 29 RBIs, 20 stolen bases, .321 on-base percentage, .312 slugging percentage.
Contract status: Arbitration eligible.
The good: Better defensive second baseman than most anticipated. Career .284 batting average. A plus in the clubhouse. Scrappy, hustling player.
The bad: Hit an empty .242 after coming over from the Cubs in a July 31 deadline deal. Was advertised as having more pop than Blake DeWitt, but it never materialized. On the season in 586 at-bats, he hit two home runs. DeWitt hit five in 440 at-bats.
In his last 92 at-bats, Theriot did not collect a single extra-base hit. He’s a lineup problem. His on-base percentage is so weak, it doesn’t warrant batting him high in the order, and he has little power to bat at the end of it.
What’s next:The Dodgers have to decide whether to offer him arbitration. Most have simply assumed they will since they 1) need a second baseman, and 2) probably feel they have to show something for their trading of DeWitt, particularly if they are unable to re-sign left-hander Ted Lilly.
There is reason, however, to non-tender Theriot. He made $2.6 million last season, will probably get close to $4 million in arbitration and turns 31 in December.
The take:It seems like Theriot hasn’t been around long enough to get much of a feel for him. Of course, that could simply be in response to what little impact he’s had since donning Dodger Blue.
More careful consideration of what Theriot brings to the roster makes offering arbitration far less than certain. There are a host of players who can put up numbers similar to Theriot’s.
Mike Petriello of MikeSciosciasTragicIllness.com makes a pretty convincing case for letting him walk. He would prefer the Dodgers spend another mil or so and land Juan Uribe, who would at least offer some power.
I understand there is also this guy named Orlando Hudson available. And, really, think triple-A Albuquerque’s Ivan DeJesus couldn’t put up stats similar to Theriot’s and at about $3 million less?
--Steve Dilbeck