Advertisement

The Dodgers’ curious signing of Tony Gwynn Jr. will not send the heart aflutter

Share

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Are you excited? Or is that confused?

The Dodgers are close to signing another outfielder. Another left-handed-hitting outfielder. A weak-hitting, left-handed outfielder.

One we assume, who will not be splitting time in left-field with Jay Gibbons:

Tony Gwynn Jr.

Advertisement

That would be the Gwynn who was just non-tended by the San Diego Padres after hitting .204 last season, with a .304 on-base percentage and a miserable .287 slugging percentage.

And after he made only $419,800 last season. Somehow he used that impressive season to earn a raise to $675,000 in a one-year deal from the Dodgers.

Gwynn, 28, is good defensively and has can run the bases (17 steals in 21 attemps last season), so presumably his value is there.

But otherwise, he doesn’t seem much of an improvement from guys in the system, like an Xavier Paul (who’s out of options; see ya?) or Trayvon Robinson. They must really want to play those guys every day.

Hard to see where the love is coming from.

Gwynn certainly isn’t that other outfielder the Dodgers are hoping to acquire to either start in left field, or at least platoon with Gibbons.

Gwynn, 28, is the nephew of former Dodger Chris Gwynn. And, of course, the son of Hall of Fame member Tony Gwynn.

-- Steve Dilbeck

Advertisement