Daily Dodger in review: Rod Barajas enjoys his homecoming, but can it last?

ROD BARAJAS, 35, catcher

Final 2010 stats: .240 batting average, 17 home runs, 47 RBI, .284 on-base percentage, .447 slugging percentage in 313 at-bats.

Contract status: Free agent.

The good: After being claimed on waivers from the Mets at the end of August, he had a strong start as a Dodger. Hit three home runs in his first five games, including his first game as a Dodger at home. On the season overall, still showed some pop with 17 home runs. In his 64 at-bats as a Dodger, hit .297, on-base was .361 and slugging at .578. A local product (Santa Fe Springs High and Cerritos College) who actually wants to be a Dodger.

The bad: Throughout his 10-year career, has been pretty much a mediocre-hitting catcher (.239, .284, .412). After the hot start in his first five games as a Dodger, he cooled to hit .250 with two homers and seven RBI in his last 48 at-bats. He’s 35, so it’s not like he’s still peaking.

What’s next: Barajas is probably a backup plan for the Dodgers, everything at catcher will be determined by what they decide to do with Russell Martin. If they don’t return Russell or bring in a more significant free-agent catcher (John Buck, Miguel Olivo), then they could decide to go with a Barajas-A.J. Ellis combo.

The take: Which is not exactly appealing. This is a tough call for the Dodgers, because none of the options are particularly thrilling. Assuming they are unable to sign Buck, and they have flashed no signs of real interest.

Barajas’ home-run power is attractive in a lineup in dire need of extra pop, but it’s hard to get away from his career .239 batting average and woeful .284 on-base percentage. That has to be a better indicator of what the Dodgers could expect over the course of an entire season, rather than his brief streak in Los Angeles.

But I can’t fathom them committing to Martin for the season, when his hip health is such an unknown, not to mention his declining production. Somebody has to be behind the plate.

If the Dodgers are unable to go outside the organization to upgrade this position, they may yet be looking at Barajas-Ellis. Not exciting, considering their other lineup holes. That is, of course, if Barajas doesn’t sign elsewhere in the interim.

-- Steve Dilbeck

Comments

[Steve Wimer]

The Dodgers need to let Martin walk off into the sunset. He's not worth more than a million a year.

[Native Angeleno]

Someone mentioned Buck. Sorry, other than Manny, it's not Ned's way to grab a player and put out the bucks for someone everyone's talking about. Notice it never happens. Ned stays in the shadows, COMPLETELY out of the conversation every other GM of any team of note is in, until an Aundreuw rears its unwanted head, to receive buckets of gold from the only one incompetent enough to want him. Seems to me he'll take Martin once his price drops---same old story, no one else wants him---and we'll do it again with him and Barajas. Or Ellis. Snore. 5th place.

I wish someone could find out and report what's happened to Martin? Was he on drugs that took years to wear out once he stopped? What debilitating baseball illness has he otherwise contracted?? Last year his play was as if he was distracted, inexplicably. Will our reporters ever actually ask him not to give excuses and actually answer the question? He knows.

[OldBrooklynFan]

I doubt if Barajas will sign anywhere else to soon, unless he's offered a real attractive contract, since he seems to want to stay in L.A.
Unless the Dodgers can sign a real good backstop, with enough pop, I think they'll stick to Barajas, while they wait to see how Martin turns out.
Of course that's only my opinion.

[Labeldude]

Is Derrel Thomas available?

[Jeff Conner]

Let's get a good defensive option, let Martin go, and concentrate on upgrading the offense in LF and 3B.
The time of Blake and Martin has come and gone.

[16blows]

Last 60 some years, outside the legitimacy Hall of Famer Roy Campanella, a suspect baseball era's Mike Piazza or a brief rockets' red glare Joe Ferguson, Dodger catchers have been lunchpail types - power & defense as oil & water for the most, the rest defenseless the one hand or powerless at bat the other - some cases, x2.

Circa 2010, how nice would it be to have the consistency if not fireworks per se a John Roseboro, Tom Haller or Steve Yeager? As it doesn't appear Martin can be counted upon & as history shows entire package as celebrity less easily found, why not LA cast their lot with the likes Barajas and/or Ellis? If we gave them a chance just might be our Duke Sims & Jeff Torborg, i.e., until someone greater (and fi$cally po$$ible) arrives, sufficient.

Perhaps it was just me, but there appeared be more consistency if not aplomb when the duo Rod & AJ's particular skill set tools of ignorance were applied in the starting 9 than when that son of a sax player Russell took squat behind the plate and dug in the box less liberal side the plate.

For my money (not Frank's - has none), resign Barajas and pair him with Ellis and let's get this 4th place show back on the road & do it again in 2011!

[Kenley Jansen]

When I am not pitching I can still catch.
.
In fact I might be able to catch my own pitches.

[Stan]

Sign him post-haste. It's a novelty nowadays when a player wants to put on a Dodger uniform.

[Jon]

Buck has signed and was way overrated anyway as he had one career year last year that's it.
Barajas is nothing more than a back-up. You keep him as you back-up and a power bat off the bench.
Sign Torrealba or Olivo are your only options it seems or take a chance on Martin, but only if you can get him cheap.

Martin wasn't as bad defensively as some people on here criticize him for, he actually was average to above average defensively and average just below average offensively (when compared to other catchers...) He's just not worth 6+ million.

[Dodger_Blue_2011]

Joe Ferguson is another option as well...

[realistic_dodger_fan]

Haha above average defensively wow please dont tell me that you are using UZr to figure that out. UZR for catchers is useless. Less face the facts Martin is good at working with the staff and calling pitches other than that he has troubles with balls in the dirt and consistant trouble throwing out runners, although that it seems to hold true that Dodger pitchers havent been able to hold runners. Behind the dish he looks lazy but you need to understand baseball to see it. Look Martin aas of this year is going to be overpaid for what he brings to the table. He has become a flat pull hitter which is sad because he flourished whenever he has dedicated himself to spraying the ball all over the field. Lets not lie here the Dodger starting staff still did a good job in Martin's absence. In a sense if you are going to have a defensive inept catcher it is better if you have a catcher that provides pop,Barajas, or a defensive minded catcher, Ellis. Torrealba and olivio are going to be the same types of players you would have in Ellis and Barajas. Resign Barajas platoon him with Ellis and trade Martin. Its sad though because Martin has every tool needed to be a prime time catcher but has not played like it. The old addage goes catching is the fastest way in and out of the bigs. Please also I dont want to hear any Martin being switched to 3rd ideas because he cant hit like a 3b and honestly his defense there would never cut it.

[realistic_dodger_fan]

Martins numbers are in line for defensive minded catchers aka Henry Blanco, Molinas. But lets be honest Benji and Yadi bring way more to the table

[West Coast Ram]

Rod's numbers look great if it is priced at $1M-1.5M when compared to Russ's numbers at $6M.

[darrelld]

LOL to Kenley Jansens comments.

The thing that sticks with me the most about Russell Martin is the way that his pitchers talk about him. His pitchers absolutely love him. Joe Torre? The soon to be HOF manager? Loved him.. In fact, he loved him so much that Martin was one of, if not the top, in innings caught. There are things that a player can bring to a team that do not show up on the back of his baseball card. Russell Martin is full of the baseball intangibles, and his value can be measured by the way the team was playing before his hip injury, and after. Im sure that all the fantasy baseball geeks will probably disagree with that statement, but I tend to look at the whole picture instead of purely, just stats. That said, I would love to see Rod Barajas back here. I think he would be a great back up to Russ. If anything happens, weve got a pretty good catcher in AJ Ellis, that can back them up. I feel that if Russ gets non-tendered, its a slap in our faces, the fans of the Dodgers.. because it shows that the orginization is not willing to stick to this core of players that have emerged over the last 4 or 5 years. Russell needs to be here. Whether he is going to succeed or fail, he needs to do it the way he came in.. as a Dodger!!

[darrelld]

And who is this 16blows character?? That sloppy writing style of jumbled up garbage, reminds me of the anti-famous I,Skeptic.

[N.P.Krohn]

The last month of the season Ellis showed what he is capable of and has done his entire(and lengthy)minor league career. He got on base, was solid behind the plate, and came up with some key singles and doubles. Barajas always has the potential to go yard, especially against lefties. Sign him and start him against lefties and watch the blues field the best $3mil. battery in baseball.