Dodgers Web musings: 2012 team is not wowing followers

It seems Ned Colletti’s off-season maneuverings aren’t exactly converting the skeptics. Guess a $90-million payroll just doesn’t buy what it once did.

So the team that returns the National League Cy Young Award winner and MVP runner-up is not exactly getting a lot of off-season media love. Of course, they did have Clayton Kershaw and Matt Kemp last season and all it netted them was an 82-79 record.

Know those power rankings that are still the rage in professional sports? In the early results, the Dodgers are not faring well. Not even as good as last year’s squad.

Sports Illustrated’s Joe Lemire ranks the Dodgers’ baseball’s 18th-best team. That’s actually down four spots from where he had them finish last year. Arizona is listed at No. 11 and San Francisco at No. 15.

Earlier, Yahoo Sports’ Tim Brown ranked the Dodgers 19th.

I don’t put much stake in these rankings, particularly at this time of the year, but it does indicate how the Dodgers are being perceived nationally.

Also on the Web:

--Bloomberg Businessweek’s Roben Farzad has a lengthy overview of the Dodgers’ sale.

“It’s a sports-business circus here,” said David Carter, executive director of the Sports Business Institute at USC.

Farzad claims the three current favorites in the bidding are the Rick Caruso-Joe Torre group, the Magic Johnson-Stan Kasten group and Steven Cohen.

--Hall of Fame baseball writer Ross Newhan doesn’t think South Korean conglomerate E-Land's financial backing of Peter O’Malley should negatively affect his bid.

Wrote Newhan: “No one has the ability to put the organization back together faster than the former owner.”

--Diamondbacks CEO Derrick Hall said he was staying with the team despite overtures from potential owners wanting him to run the Dodgers should their bids succeed. But, really, what else is he going to say?

--Dodgers.com’s Ken Gurnick said the Dodgers were thrilled with the results of their "young guns" mini-camp in Arizona. Also joining the prospects were Chris Capuano, Javy Guerra, Kenley Jansen and Scott Elbert.

--The Dodgers and White Sox have scheduled a spring game March 23 in Tucson to benefit the Christina-Taylor Green Foundation.

--Jamey Carroll tells MLB.com’s Rhett Bollinger he’s ready to be the Twins’ everyday shortstop.

--The Red Sox are hoping right-hander Vicente Padilla arrives to camp on time after a report in Nicaragua he may not be able to leave that country over a failure to pay child support.

--The Dodgers have released a copy of the Dodger Stadium 50th anniversary logo, sponsored by State Farm. The Times’ Dylan Hernandez wonders if it includes a discount on fire insurance.

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-- Steve Dilbeck

Photo: Ace pitcher Clayton Kershaw and slugging center fielder Matt Kemp celebrate after Kershaw's shutout against the Detroit Tigers last summer at Dodger Stadium. Credit: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images / June 20, 2011

The offensive emptiness that is the Dodgers 2012 bench

Look real hard and you can find it. It’s there, just not exactly under the spotlight. Maybe not in hiding, though you could make the argument that the Dodgers will try it.

It is the Dodgers’ bench, such as it. And as it is, it’s wholly unimpressive.

Presenting your 2012 Dodgers in reserve: catcher Matt Treanor, infielders Jerry Hairston Jr. and Adam Kennedy, and outfielders Tony Gwynn Jr. and Jerry Sands.

There’s some versatility and some nice defensive elements, but offensively there just isn’t much there. The power hitter is Sands, he of the 194 career at-bats? The left-handed bats are Gwynn and Kennedy?

This is all as currently scheduled, of course. And these things almost never go as scheduled. Which would explain why the Dodgers started last season with Xavier Paul, Hector Gimenez and Ivan DeJesus Jr. on the roster.

General manager Ned Colletti said he thinks this year’s bench can be superior to last season’s, before quickly asking which Dodgers’ bench he should reference.

"Unfortunately our bench ended up playing," Colletti said. "The bench was really the second bench."

Which is why the 2012 edition is so scary. Chances are, some of them are going to have to play more than expected. And this is what manager Don Mattingly will have to choose from based on last season’s numbers:

Player                         Avg.                OBP                 SLG

Treanor                      .214                .338                .291

Hairston                     .270                .344                .383

Kennedy                     .234                .277                .355

Gwynn                        .256                .308                .353

Sands                         .253                .338                .389

And as a group, it’s not like it’s a bunch of kids approaching their prime. Kennedy is 36, and Treanor will be in March and Hairston in May.

Plus you have to remember the Dodgers’ regular everyday lineup is already going to have its risks. Rookie shortstop Dee Gordon batted .304 last season but in only 224 at-bats, so we’ve yet to see if pitchers adjust to the slight Gordon. And A.J. Ellis is going to be the main catcher, and has a career .262 average with zippo power in 206 career at-bats.

There’s not a strong pinch-hitter in the group, either. Career averages as pinch-hitters: Treanor .200, Hairston .174, Kennedy .223, Gwynn .288, Sands .000 (only four at-bats). There's not really a reserve shortstop.

Last year the Dodgers wanted to start the season with a bench of Dioner Navarro, Jamey Carroll, Aaron Miles, Tony Gwynn Jr., Marcus Thames/Jay Gibbons. Navarro and Thames were busts, and Gibbons couldn’t overcome vision issues. Yet they still might prove a better group.

The Dodgers 25-man roster is basically set. If everyone makes it through spring healthy, there are no position openings.

 ``If it goes the way it’s planned, the team has some flexibility to it but not a whole lot,’’ Colletti said.

On days when Juan Rivera or James Loney don't start, the bench will get a boost but it could use plenty more. It could have used a Coco Crisp, but Colletti denied an interest in the outfielder before he re-signed with the A’s.

``Never had a conversation,’’ Colletti said.

Colletti is operating under budget constraints unworthy of a team playing in the second-largest market in the country, but such are the times when your team is in bankruptcy court.

And such is the bench.

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-- Steve Dilbeck

Photo: Dodger Stadium. Credit: Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times.

Dodgers nab a starting second baseman: Mark Ellis

Pretty sure this officially qualifies as a busy Monday for the Dodgers.

Not only do they have big contract news with Matt Kemp, but now claim a starting second baseman.

Will Ned Colletti have anything left to do at the winter meetings?

The Dodgers have agreed to a two-year deal with Mark Ellis for $8.75 million. The deal was first reported by ESPN’s Buster Olney.

This is what you might call a slightly more curious signing than Kemp.

Ellis turns 35 next season, hit .248 in 2011, and although a solid glove at second, cannot play shortstop.

As opposed to Jamey Carroll, who will be 38, but can play all over the field and recently left the Dodgers to sign with the Twins for two years for approximately $7 million. And hit .290.

The addition of Ellis -- who started last season with the A’s before being traded in June to the Rockies -- leaves the Dodgers a set infield of James Loney at first, Ellis at second, Juan Uribe at third and Dee Gordon at shortstop. At least until the Dodgers announce they have signed Albert Pujols.

Ellis has been in decline the past two years, but still offers more RBI production than the light-hitting Carroll. Ellis had 41 combined RBI last season, which would have been a career-high for Carroll, who had only 17 for the Dodgers. Ellis has mostly hit second in the lineup.

The Dodgers will still need a utility player who can play shortstop, which could spell the end of Aaron Miles but prove a boon to the hopes of versatile infielder Justin Sellers.

Of course, somebody had to play second base for the Dodgers, and the pool of available players was less than thrilling. And it only got worse when Aaron Hill decided to re-up with the Diamondbacks for two years at $11 million.

The market is what it is, which is head-scratching time, though it looks just lovely to aging infielders.

-- Steve Dilbeck

Photo: Rockies second baseman Mark Ellis slides safely into third base after advancing from first on a single by teammate Dexter Fowler against the Giants in San Francisco in September. Credit: Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images

Dodgers Web musings: What are the Dodgers really worth?

Traditional answer: Whatever someone is willing to pay.

OK, so that’s also the final answer. But in what baseball stratosphere will the sales price finally hover?

Forbes’ last estimate of the franchise’s worth pegged it at $800 million, which is now starting to sound like an opening bid. Only $1 billion has somehow become a popular number, even though no one has yet to look at their books. Still, even Forbes via Michael Ozanian now thinks the Dodgers could prove "easily worth over $1 billion."

Of course, the numbers being thrown around assume the new owner buys what the McCourts originally purchased – the franchise, the stadium and surrounding parking lots. And Frank McCourt is of the mind that his final price would be enhanced if he’s allowed to sell his TV rights package first.

ESPN/LA’s Arash Markazi spoke to some sports economists, who estimate the final price will be approximately $1 billion. The Times’ Bill Shaikin has reported McCourt may need at least that much just to break even.

Anything over the $845 million the Cubs sold for two years ago would be a Major League Baseball record. And the Cubs did not come with all the valuable acreage surrounding their stadium.

In a video, Fox Sports’ Rick Horrow outlines his reasons why he thinks the Dodgers will shatter the Cubs’ record:

   

 Also on the Web:

— Peter O’Malley tells the Daily News’ Jill Painter he’s behind in putting his group together but is not concerned. He also, interestingly enough, warns against overpaying for the team.

— What next, an annoying Giants fan? Billionaire Tom Golisano, the former owner of the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, said he’s preparing a bid on the Dodgers. Golisano actually describes himself to the Wall Street Journal as a lifelong Yankees fan.

— ESPN/LA’s Ramona Shelburne warns the Dodgers don’t need to simply return to their past but find an owner ready to lead them into the future.

— The Hollywood Reporter on why it thinks Fox should reconsider buying the Dodgers back and the advantage of a cable operation ownership.

— Dodgers.com’s Ken Gurnick writes the Dodgers are looking for a starting second baseman, a utility infielder and a veteran option at catcher.

— Haven’t we gone this route before? Sports Illustrated’s Tom Verducci writes the Dodgers are ready to go sabermetric with the addition of Alex Tamin to the front office. Gurnick also profiles Tamin.

— ESPN’s Christina Kahrl is not impressed with the Twins’ signing of Jamey Carroll.

— Ex-Dodgers outfielder Mike Marshall is the new manager of the independent league San Rafael Pacifics. His wife, Mary, will serve as the assistant general manager. Both had the same roles last year for the Chico Outlaws.

— Steve Dilbeck

Jamey Carroll signs two-year deal with Twins

And then he was gone.

Multiple media outlets have reported that Jamey Carroll, one of the few pleasant Dodgers’ surprises the last two seasons, has agreed to a two-year deal and identified that mystery team as the Minnesota Twins.

Carroll, who turns 38 in February, is slotted to be the Twins' starting shortstop, an opportunity he wasn’t expected to have even at second base had he re-signed with the Dodgers. Carroll did not come cheaply, however, the Twins reportedly signing him for a contract worth approximately $7 million.

Carroll exceeded expectations by all concerned during his two seasons with the Dodgers, capitalizing on injury opportunities to pretty much become a regular. The Dodgers signed him for two years at $3.85 million, so he worked his stint here into a nice late-career raise.

He played hard and consistently hustled. In the Dodgers’ dismal 2010 season, many considered him the Dodgers’ most valuable player and he was awarded their Roy Campanella Award, given to the player who best exemplifies the spirit and leadership of the former catcher.

Carroll wasn’t much of a hitter with runners on, but he hit .290 in his two seasons with the Dodgers, was a solid glove and he will certainly be missed. He was scrappy, well liked among teammates and truly versatile.

Which is not the same as saying the Dodgers should have matched Minnesota’s offer. His great value with the Dodgers remained as a utility player, and $7 million is some reasonably serious dinero for a utility player heading into the twilight of his career.

Still, though his original signing in L.A. was greeted with something less than enthusiasm, this is one player who provided value and  whose career the Dodgers can never complain about.

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-- Steve Dilbeck

Photo: Dodgers second baseman Jamey Carroll can't handle a throw from catcher Rod Barajas as San Diego's Orlando Hudson steals second base during a game last season at Dodger Stadium. Credit: Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times

Exclusive: Dodgers are about to lose Jamey Carroll

The Dodgers are on the precipice of losing their favorite little super utility player, Jamey Carroll, the Los Angeles Times has learned.

Carroll is close to signing a multiyear deal with another team, sources said Friday. They didn't say which team.

Carroll, who will be 38 in February, is coming off a two-year, $3.85-million contract with the Dodgers. Due to team injuries, he played more like a starter, batting .290 in 803 at-bats during his two seasons with the Dodgers.

Now Carroll reportedly wants a starting position, and despite his success in Los Angeles and an opening at second base, the Dodgers are apparently not looking at Carroll as a regular.

The Colorado Rockies, one of the veteran’s previous teams, were reportedly interested in signing Carroll but were thought to be balking at an asking price that approached the two-year, $8-million deal signed by light-hitting infielder Omar Infante with the Marlins. The Braves have also shown interest in Carroll.

The Dodgers don’t have an obvious in-house candidate to start at second base. They could re-sign free agent Aaron Miles, another utility player last season. Otherwise they're looking at bringing in a free agent. Justin Sellers is a candidate for a utility role.

On Thursday the Dodgers lost catcher Rod Barajas to Pittsburgh.

— Dylan Hernandez, reporting from State College, Pa., with Steve Dilbeck

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Photo: Jamey Carroll. Credit: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times.

Dodgers web musings: Does sale put Matt Kemp return in danger?

While everybody and his gardener seem to be putting a group together to bid on the Dodgers, what’s to become of the team in the interim?

Yahoo Sports’ Tim Brown is not only concerned what the Dodgers might look like on opening day 2012, but that the ownership change could mean not re-signing star outfielder Matt Kemp.

Brown doesn’t like the chances of Frank McCourt adding more debt to the team before heading out of town, but holds out hope after talking to a friend of McCourt:

"The friend told me McCourt still hopes to repair his relationship with Dodgers fans, in part by helping put the team together again, and that to leave the Dodgers short now would weigh on McCourt’s conscience."

Hmm. Some openings you just have to pass on …

Also on the web:

-- ESPN’s Buster Olney, however, said the assumption throughout baseball is whoever the new owner is, he will re-sign Kemp (Insider status required). Which is a good thing, because he doesn’t think much of the 2012 free-agent class.

-- ESPN/LA’s Tony Jackson said MLB will sort through potential new owners before the bidding process, leaving McCourt pretty much his pick.

-- MLB.com’s Jenifer Langosch likes the chances of Clayton Kershaw getting the N.L. Cy Young award.

-- The Register's Howard Cole is tired of the dire predictions of the team's post-ownership situation.

-- ESPN’s Jim Caple has his own list of potential new owners  for the Dodgers. Alas, the Dilbeck Investment Group is not on it, but Brad Pitt is.

-- Good news for Jamey Carroll. CBS’ Scott Miller reports utility infielder Willlie Bloomquist has signed a two-year, $3.8-million deal with the Diamondbacks, which Mike Petriello of Mike Scioscia’s Tragic Illness fears signals a ridiculous baseball off-season.

-- ESPN/LA’s Arash Markazi said Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, who purchased Magic Johnson’s stake in the Lakers, has been approached by at least one group wanting to buy the Dodgers. Apparently he’s thinking about it.

-- Bloomberg’s Alan Sherman said Time-Warner is considering a bid on the Dodgers.

-- ESPN/Florida’s Tommy Rancel thinks the Rays could be interested in signing Jonathan Broxton. Hey, I just provide the links.

-- Evan Bladh of Opinion of Dave Kingman’s Performance, a brave man, tries to identify the positives in the McCourts’ ownership. He tries really hard.

-- 24/7 Wall Street lists seven other professional sports teams in danger of going bankrupt, none from MLB.

-- Steve Dilbeck

Rockies are interested in signing Jamey Carroll; are Dodgers?

For some, baseball’s offseason is almost as much fun as the regular season. All that speculation, all that second-guessing of signings and trades. All the angst and anticipation set up for the coming season.

Who should come, go or be retained? One decision often leads to the next, of course, and one of the choices the Dodgers are going to have to make is whether they want infielder Jamey Carroll back.

That’s if the choice is left to them.

The Denver Post’s Troy Renck wrote Sunday that the Colorado Rockies have expressed interest in bringing Carroll back as their starting second baseman and he has interest in a return. Carroll previously played two years for the Rockies, enjoying perhaps his finest season in 2006 when batted .300 for Colorado.

Renck, however, thinks the Rockies will balk at what is expected to be the going rate, established when the Marlins renewed the contract of second baseman Omar Infante last September for two years at $8 million.

That would be a serious raise for free-agent Carroll, who turns 38 in February. He is coming off a two-year, $3.85-million deal with the Dodgers.

The Dodgers, of course, also need a starting second baseman. Carroll hit .290 with a .368 on-base percentage and .344 slugging percentage the last two seasons for the Dodgers.

But with the Dodgers, Carroll played the role of the super utility infielder, filling in plenty at shortstop during Rafael Furcal’s frequent visits to the disabled list, while also playing second and some third.

He hustled almost every moment of the game, was a terrific presence in the clubhouse and so versatile he could he even play a little outfield.

There is little doubt the Dodgers would like him back, though probably in a utility role if they can locate a player with more power to play second base (or even third and move Juan Uribe back to second).

But do they want him back at something close to $8 million? Are they convinced Justin Sellers could fill the utility role decently enough at a fraction of the cost?

The Hot Stove League warms up.

-- Steve Dilbeck

Photo: Dodgers infielder Jamey Carroll upends Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips to prevent a double play during a game last season at Dodger Stadium. Credit: Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times

Daily Dodger in review: Justin Sellers shows off versatility

JUSTIN SELLERS, 25, infielder

Final 2011 stats: .203 batting average, .283 on-base percentage, .301 slugging percentage, 20 runs, nine doubles in 123 at-bats, one error.

Contract status: Under team control.

The good: Injuries forced the August call-up of Sellers, and the Dodgers had to like what they saw from him defensively. He’s currently a better shortstop than Dee Gordon, plays a very good second and also can fill in at third.

Great nickname. All tatted up, he’s called "Cellblock." Plays hard and with enthusiasm. Hit .300 against left-handers and .278 in his first 16 games.

The bad: Trouble was, he hit .145 in his 20 games after that. Has a touch of power, but if he has any hopes of making it as a major leaguer he can’t afford a sub-.250 batting average. Turns 26 in February.

What’s next: It’s possible he could make the team next year as a utility infielder, but the Dodgers are hopefully more ambitious and looking for more certainty in that role.

The take: There’s enough to like about Sellers, who after his encouraging start was being compared to a younger Jamey Carroll. Alas, it was just one month.

In the short term they would be better served trying to bring back Carroll and letting Sellers at least start the year back at triple-A Albuquerque. If injuries continue to hit this team next season like they did in 2011, he’d get called up soon enough and maybe even stick (witness Aaron Miles).

They currently do not have a starting second baseman, but if Sellers should somehow win the spot, you’ll know how the Dodgers' off-season went.

— Steve Dilbeck

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Clock ticking for teams to re-sign free agents

Photo: Justin Sellers hits an RBI during the 7th inning of the Dodger's 4 - 2 victory over the Diamondbacks in September. Credit: Christian Petersen / Getty Images

Dodgers have most free agents, four days of exclusivity to re-sign

The clock is now ticking on the exclusive window for teams to re-sign their free agents.

The Dodgers, with 10 free agents -– the most in baseball, have until 9 p.m. Wednesday before the players are free to also negotiate with other teams.

The four-day exclusive period for a team to re-sign its free agents began Saturday night.

Of the Dodgers’ 10 free agents, only one –- catcher Rod Barajas -– is thought to project as a Type B free agent, which could provide a team a supplemental draft pick if the Dodgers offer arbitration.

Of course, what the Dodgers can do financially is the great unknown. The team remains tied up in bankruptcy court. The team and Major League Baseball are reportedly working on a settlement. Their trial is currently scheduled to start Nov. 29.

Barajas, 36, earned $3.25 million last season with a one-year contract. The Dodgers are looking at going young behind the plate and not expected to offer him arbitration.

The Dodgers’ other free agents are: infielders Casey Blake, Jamey Carroll and Aaron Miles, pitchers Jonathan Broxton, Jon Garland, Hiroki Kuroda, Mike MacDougal and Vicente Padilla, and outfielder Juan Rivera.

Any could return, but it’s hard to have a firm offseason plan when ownership and a true budget is uncertain.

-- Steve Dilbeck

Photo: Outfielder Juan Rivera connects for a two-run double in a Dodgers victory over the Pirates in September. Credit: Stephen Dunn / Getty Images